The Council presentation was handled by Gabriel and Dr. Zerachiel. For the first half, the doctor went over the analysis of the data from Tasha's survey runs, pointing the most likely water reserves, their volumes and likely rates of replenishment. From there he went into details of the strata, focusing on porous rocks and sands that would act as natural filters. The 'bowl' that served as the bottom of the pit was irregular, due to settling of the land mass and differing densities of the native and foreign rocks. The conclusion was that the Pit, having a base of granite, was lighter than the Abaddonian volcanic basalt, which was resulting in some unique hydrological upwelling as the ground beneath was slowly rising.
In the second half, Commander Akkers discussed the easiest locations for drilling test wells and what sort of technology the JEF could bring to bear - mostly in the form of machine designs and power. Two of the bore holes would need to be in Confederate territory, near the edge of the Pit, which certainly was welcome news to Councilman Cornelius. Other locations where highly dependant on favorable geographic features, which made access problematical at times, but also weren't located in the middle of any of the more fertile zones. Tapping the wells - should the water prove viable - would require a good bit of extra infrastructure in the form of pipelines and pumping stations.
After the presentation, the Council dove into logistical details and costs. The two 'easy' locations within the Confederate zones would almost certainly be the first ones to test, which would mean a certain amount of development for the areas. Budgets were discussed, along with project management. When Gabriel suggested Dr. Zerachiel for the project lead, the Council unanimously agreed to the appointment. Subtly, the JEF became the independent Resource Development arm of the PHTO.
When most of the attention was focused on Zerachiel, Gabriel stepped aside for a moment to sit next to Tasha, away from the conference table. "So, was I boring, or extremely boring up there?" he asks the young woman.
"I liked the idea of Eli being at the forefront, and I think the location of the first two sites will do a lot for Confederate confidence, but the budget and infrastructure areas were a little dry," Tasha replies, laughing. She grins at the man, spreading her hands and admitting, "But what do I know? I can only keep up because of Nora, and even then I never would have thought of any of this. When we finally have some personnel, I don't think I'll be appointed to logistics!"
"You're a pilot," Gabriel notes, patting Tasha's shoulder. "And our mascot! After this meeting, you'll need to figure out what governments you want to contact on Sinai - and start asking the Council ambassadors for help in getting your hoof in the door, so to speak."
"I'm the mascot, am I? "Join the JEF, We're a Bit of Everything" -- is that it?" Chuckling, the young woman nods, reaches over to pat the pouch where she keeps her datapad. "I'm all set, although there's not too much to say, since this is really my first concentrated political effort and I really don't know where to begin. At the very least, I'll need Rephidimite, Imperial -- Sinaian Imperial, not Abaddonian Imperial -- and Emirate acceptance, each for different reasons. For Rephidim and the Empire, I can look to their respective Abaddonian governments for help, although Rephidim is probably someone all the governments want in on. The Emirate, well, I'm sure somebody here has a word on them. I'm also debating if I should tell them about Harmonia ... Hmm." Tasha rubs her muzzle in a conspicuous, thoughtful manner, then asks, "Maybe I'm the mascot of disaster?"
"Harmonia is independent, isn't she?" Gabriel asks. "It's not like you can offer her or anything. And don't forget the Knights Templar. They aren't part of the Rephidim Temple anymore, but they also had a knack for collecting odd relics and people."
"Well, it's more that I'm worried they'll notice her, and then what am I going to say? "Oh, that's just my friend, the Khattan space frigate with an anti-matter drive, don't mind her." Although, I suppose I could just talk about her if it becomes an issue, like you say, she's not part of the JEF and is an independent entity not beholden to the PHTO, as we are. I guess it's just my Vartan bluntness kicking in. I'll table it for now." Taking a breath, Tasha glances towards the table, pursing her muzzle a moment. "You know, that's an idea. The Knights Templar would be the best contact here, but it may be tricky to reach the Knights on Sinai, as last I heard, they had all left."
"They maintain their bases and sanctuaries, I believe," Gabriel says. "Madame Smith probably knows more than we do about it."
"She probably does, you're right. Honestly, I tried to stay away from the Knights Templar until recently!" Head shaking, Tasha looks down and begins counting off on her fingers. "Knights. Rephidim. Empire. Emirate. That should be sufficent, at least for now. We can safely rule out Babel -- thank the gods -- as I have the 'Confederate' Titan. Things may get tricky if Harbinger resources moved somewhere with difficult politics, but since we can't really anticipate what those may be, we'll have to deal with it when and if it happens. The Lucifer could be anywhere, though, and not necessarily on Imperial lands, especially now that the Empire is just one piece of a big political mess."
"What about the Silent Ones on Sinai?" Gabriel asks.
"Umm, well ... They were slaves until recently," Tasha admits, looking down and tapping her fingers in a way reminiscent of Mariel. "To be honest, I really didn't think of them very much. Things changed when the Captain Astromancer at the time -- I think it's the same one? -- freed them, but since they couldn't talk, I'd grown up tretaing them like robots, and I couldn't understand what they were saying ... Well, I know more about Silent-Ones than Savanites. I had heard they had a city somewhere, something about Hands? That makes sense, doens't it? Hands? And, well, that the Empire wasn't thrilled with it. I think Aaron knows more."
"They have a head of state and rule the country of Xenea now," Gabriel notes. "Your friend the Archon might be able to fill you in better, assuming the Silent Ones and Savanites maintain communication."
"Oi, should I be embarassed you know more about my world than I do? Oh well, it's a good thing I consider myself a resident of this world, or I'd be feeling rather dumb right now!" After barking a laugh, Tasha grins. "I'll ask him. At least thinking of a 'Spotty nation' won't seem far-fetched anymore."
Gabriel chuckles and shakes his head slightly, glancing at Eli to see if he's needed again or not. "I'm an explorer, Tasha - and Sinai was the world I came to explore. Of course I learned all that I could while we were in Rephidim."
"That does explain all that reading you were doing, instead of paying attention to me," Tasha says, smiling toothily. "Not that I was very interesting back then." She blances Eli's way, too, following her mate's earlier gaze. "Maybe he can numb them for me."
"I think they're all too excited for that now," Gabriel notes. "After all, they just made a big bet - on us - and it looks like they hit the jackpot.. or at least are heading towards one."
"Really?" Tasha blinks, glancing between Gabriel and the Coucil table. "Is that how it is? I thought they'd be happy, but I didn't realize just how big this is for them. It's nice to be the gold shekel off a good hand, though." Tasha winks, batting at the golden lock of hair that has slipped from its bun. "I guess it's not very flashy, even if it is important. But like I said, it's not my strength, and I'm the pilot. I do, maybe not also understand."
"I imagine it also raises their importance with their home governments," Gabriel supposes. "The Pit is under pressure to produce, so when it does it's a relief to everyone."
"I notivced we also seem to be in charge of independent resource location and acquisition, which means we are part of that production, raising our importance, as well," Tasha points out. "Now," and here she grins a bit more, "I always knew I was important, but it seems the rpoof has finally arrived!"
"Well, I think you've put your 'head of drilling and pumping' phase behind you now," Gabriel remarks with a sly wink.
Tasha laughs so hard she coughs, having to take a moment to clear her throat and pat her chest. "Oi, you!" A couple more coughs, and she seems to have recovered, looking up says, "That does sort of make me wonder just what I am for. This comign expedition aside, my skillset isn't exactly broad. Once we have more people, I have a feeling I'll quickly be outpaced by specialist learning and experience."
The laughing-coughing jag draws the attention of Archon Strength-of-Stones who turns to wiggle his ears at the couple. The notepad in his hand is covered with sketches of.. aqueducts?
Tasha gives the Archon a wave, then a thumbs-up at the aquaduct drawings before lifting her other hand and signing, "I cannot wait to see what you create with the data."
"The JEF mission in the Pit may be mostly construction, but we're still an exploration group, first and foremost," Gabriel notes, smirking a bit. "There will always be a need for people who like to poke their noses into new places.."
Tasha begins to open her mouth, but pauses, giving her mate a considering look. Even as she steadies her voice and says, "Oh, I'm sure. Do you think I'll need to talk at this meeting?" She signs"He's baiting me again. Older men are very clever," behind her back.
With his hands full, and his 'assistant' Scholar-to-Aliens doing most of the participation in the discussion, Strength-of-Stones just gives Tasha an amused shrug and flip of his tail.
"This is all planning and domestic stuff," Gabriel assures Tasha. "You'll mainly be needed for any sort of defense strategy if it comes up - or maybe as a portable crane in Eli's crew. I'm sure he'll make use of the Titans available.."
Tasha glances over to wink back, then shooes him with a hand while pointing towards Scholar-to=Aliens, warning him. She can only imagine how irate the severe woman would be to know her student is talking behind her back. "Well, I am half a bird, so I'm worth half a crane, right?" She asks, looking back at Gabriel and grinning. "As for defense, I seem to be able to deal with nonsentient, non-ranged monstrocities, but I'd have trouble with anything that doesn't want to get in shaard range on the ground. I suppose that in a pinch I could ask Harmonia for help and use a high-atmospheric stator assisted bombardment or some sort, or lense energy, and there's the weapon if things get really desperate. So ... what I'm saying here is OK!"
"You have the fastest flying machine on the planet," Gabriel notes. "There are those hand-held cannons for Titans as well, and dropping a bomb isn't hard."
"Ah, of course I'd have support of local munitions and weapons! I don't know why i didn't think of that -- honestly, I'm a little nervous with the Council meeting in progress and I think I'm slipping a bit!" Tasha puts a hand on her chest, taking a deep breath, then exhaling. "These meetings are always nerve-wracking, however much I may enjoy the attention. You also reminded me of an idea I had: if Eli finds the topogoric to function like I think it might, I'm considering remodeling the Melchior to include the stuff as stators, and add an on-board reactor. This configuration would allow significant increases in manuverability, flight time, defense, offense, and allow for escape velocity and space travel."
"That would be.. quite a kludge," Gabriel notes. "We don't have anyone qualified to modify a Tech 1 Gryphon, and who knows what effects that toporgic material has. Eli talked about a 'force prism' effect or something last night when it came up, but I was ready to tune out by then."
"I'd have to consult with the manual, Fred, Melchior and Harmonia to figure out how viable the idea is. The pome sort of seems to suggest it, in the line, "When all of the feathers be from him gone, he standeth here still as a stone" -- no wings, no feathers, and the still as stone part could mean the topogoric, but, well, there's many other ways to interpret that line, too, so ... We'll see." Glancing back at the table, Tasha asks without looking back. "Do you think Eli's happy, Gabe?"
Zerachiel seems to be doing well - he probably planned to be a professor at some point before joining the Expedition.
"He's needed something to really dig into," Gabriel claims. "It might even get him a girlfriend! The other special projects will take time to prepare for, after all."
"I've nudged Hakeber his way, so we'll see if that works out," Tasha admits, lowering her voice. "Hakeber may be more my type, though. She made a pass at me on Harmonia! I'll just say that I love you very much." She winks, then asks, "What special project is that? The topogoric? We have so many special projects these days ... "
"Our original special project," Gabriel says cryptically. Maybe he's worried about eavesdroppers despite all the activity at the table.
"Oh," Tasha replies, despite not really knowing. She has ideas, but she'll have to get the specifics later. "Well, it doesn't matter right now anyway. We still have this to do, and the expedition, so we'll be bbust for a while. And, if we find anything of interest, we can always return and offload before venturing out again. There's no need to do everything in one pass."
"Unless there really is another group out there looking for the same things that would be alerted by your initial forays," Gabriel points out, but is smiling. "I doubt any exist though. They would have acted by now - it's been years since travel through the Gateways has been possible, after all."
"Well, there is the Offworld Legion, but they could just as easily -- and more likely -- be looking for standard resources, so, I think you're probably right. After all, I've had the Melchior out and about for a while, and no one's so much as mentioned it. If they knew about Harmonia, they certainly aren't raising an alarm that it's moved. We should probably just focus on the other dangers -- a pickpocket and a knife in the gut can ruin things just as easily as a mysterious antagonist," Tasha agrees.
"Another reason to make sure we're expected wherever we may wish to travel," Gabriel notes, then stands and stretches a bit. "Speaking of your new girlfriend, she'll probably want to go out for a drink later. I wouldn't mind that myself."
"Just because the government welcomes us doens't mean everyone will be friendly. I don't know what your world was like, if there were dangers like we have here, but we should always be cautious and keep a weapon close by when on Sinai. It'll be important you learn how to use a Sinaian weapon, too." After her lecture, Tasha follows the man up, stretching her wings. "I know of a place to drink, but it's a dive and one of those dangerous sort of places I just mentioned. There might be another place, though -- I remember a few taverns from back before Elamoore decided to jump ship."
"You want me to carry a sword?" Gabriel asks Tasha. "Arrrr.."
Tasha laughs, holding up a hand to forestall any further pirate jokes. "I know, I know -- I can see what Nora though of swords, too, after all! But we're in Sifran space, and back on Sinai, a sword is a common place, everyday weapon. We use bows ad crossbows, too, not pistols and rifles. If you try to even bring a flintlock pistol to the surface, it will explode. Anyone that plans to threaten us will do it with swords or something similiar if we're on the ground, or that and maybe a ballista or cannon in the air," she insists. "You need to be able to protect yourself, as I can't be everywhere at once, and you're the person with the most combat experience."
"I'll have to refresh my training, certainly," Gabriel notes, then looks at Tasha. "I don't recall you using a sword. Do you still have your whip, or did Hakeber borrow it already?"
Tasha clamps her muzzle, putting a paw over it and looking like she might very well explode herself, she coughs, clears her throat, and replies, "I didn't use a sword because A, I couldn't afford one, B, neither my mother nor Captain Eyeshine would allow it and they scary together, and C, well ... I'm not sure what C is, but it was probably that I didn't need one. I was also surrounded by many burly Vartans and I wasn't worth more than a few shekels, but we range from vital to priceless, and we'll probably be unable to hide it completely. And ... Oh! I know what C is: C is that I had other people fighting for me: Layth, the Amazonians, my crewmates, Captain Eyeshine, my mother, so all I needed to be was quick witted and good with my fists most of the time, and I lost, and I lost badly even then. I don't want to take any risks."
"And my whip is in my room. I put it aside to not cause confusion," the young woman adds.
"We'll need to have gets swords and training from the Knights here, probably," Gabriel says.
"Probably. I can just unload my microshaard and use that, and I think it'd be wise to have Fred strip one or more of our powered suits for use as non-powered body armor, probably covered up by a cloak or something else. Very little on Sinai can match our armor, so we'd at least have one or two people woho could win by defense, if not offense," Tasha agrees. She tilts her head, considering, then adds, "I guess the next stop will be getting Council approval. After that we'll hit the Knights for training, and whatever embassay we need additional support from that isn't covered in the general outline before the Council members. We've got a ways to go yet before we can take wing."