piratejournal | [written]

So, a new year is about to start. That certainly makes it feel as though we've been here for a long time. In all the chaos we'd had, I almost didn't realize how much time was passing. None of us have been here a year, and I'm still holding out hope that none of us will be, but those of us remaining from the first group have been here nearly four months, and it seems clear that we're in this for the long haul, so to speak.

Now, during that time we have accomplished some rhings. We've found one piece of the Piedra Roja, we've learned the schedule for new arrivals, and we've successfully fought off the Navy and kept Isla Empieza as a friendly port. Obviously there is a long way to go, but given that we did all this while having people constantly appear and disappear around us and in many cases while we were still learning how to sail, I believe it's fair for us to feel proud of what we've done.

Some points of order:

It would appear that new arrivals appear on a regular schedule, as we suspected. Given this, it would be prudent for us to ensure these newcomers are informed quickly of the situation, to avoid incidents like the one that prompted the Navy blockade in the first place.
Scurvy Dog has implied that the Navy is working on something to use against us. Details weren't given. We need to find out what this is.
Related to both of the above, we need to establish a method of preventing, well, stupid questions from being asked. The individuals involved are gone now, but in September there was a proposal to plan questions for Scurvy Dog in advance and vote on one to ask each week. I suggest reviving this plan.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A pause. Looking at this logically...]

We have to proceed on the assumption that it won't work like the curses, simply because if it does then we're doomed from the start.

...unless we can find out where they're developing it...

If Scurvy Dog barely knows anything about it, though, that information will not be easy to come by.

[ She thinks for a moment. ]

Without bloodshed, mayhem, and half the Navy after us for kidnapping a VIP, at least.

Kidnapping a... no. No, that's insane.

[Could they even do that? It'd mean coming way too close to a Navy ship for comfort. They'd have to catch it unaware somehow... maybe approach from the land rather than sea...]

That is insane, right?

No less insane than a disorganized rabble of "pirate" ships taking on a Navy blockade and winning.

[ ... wait, is she really considering it? Are THEY really considering it? ]

I wouldn't recommend it, though.

No, this is different. We'd be directly attacking them, and specifically going after someone who would likely be more than capable of defending themself, under heavy guard, or both. It's... it wouldn't be impossible, but success would be phenomenally unlikely.

[so WHY DOES SHE WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT WORK]

It would be best to start with a distraction- the bigger, the better. Preferably multiple distractions, fronting for a capture team capable of stealth, speed, or both.

[ ... yeah, no, they really shouldn't be mulling this over even though it's one hell of a thought exercise. So Homura decides to try and slip in a few disclaimers to really hammer home how hard this would be. ]

Before that, it would be a matter of finding someone with high enough clearance to know concrete specifics about the Navy's secret project, and another thing entirely to track them down...

Which is of course far beyond us. We really don't know anything about their high-ranking officers to begin with.

[Good. Okay. They don't have a starting point so they can't do it.

Although now she's wondering if maybe this is information they need.]

[ ... Homura's thoughts aren't too far from Karen's. ]

Come to think of it, we need a way to find that out. We don't know a thing about how the Navy works, period. Where they're based, where they recruit from, the extent of their territory...

A good start might be finding out exactly whose Navy they are. For all we know, they might not even be a legitimate authority.

Not that I'm certain that would be helpful to us in any way.

True. Even if they're not officially sanctioned, the number of ships they have carries an authority all on its own. Especially out in the islands.

Any knowledge on the Navy couldn't hurt, though.

A question for the dog, perhaps. --No, no, if they're any sort of legitimate authority then people will know about them. There are probably people in town who can answer that.

The hardest part may be getting them to willingly answer us. Of course... I'm still not sure how their opinions of us may have changed after the Navy blockade.

We'd probably find sympathy at the shipyard, at least. The blockade probably hurt them more than it hurt us--there isn't much demand to build or repair ships if nobody's allowed to sail.

[ ... brainstorming with Karen really is quite refreshing, even if it occasionally leads them down some worrisome paths. ]

True. And if anyone's bound to know anything about the Navy, it will be those who are forced to deal with their rules and regulations on a regular basis. We should start there.

[This is what happens when they don't have pink magical girl supervision.]

It might also be worth looking into what other Navies might exist, if only because we stand a chance of having to deal with them in the future.

[ Two cool-headed, emotionally-detached, analytical magical girls from different teams talking shop? What could possibly go wrong? ]

That could be difficult. No one seems willing or able to tell us what other countries actually exist in this world. It's as if this place contains nothing but islands.

[Maybe if everyone is very lucky they'll be entirely good influences on each other ahahahahahaha.]

That can't be right. There are resources that have to have come from somewhere.

[ And then they exchanged tips on how best to stalk their friends, leading to a wonderful learning experience for everyone! ]

We've been here for months, and I don't believe anyone's discovered anything larger than an archipelago yet. Most perishable resources can't be coming from that far away, either.

["Remember, it's more fun if you do it as a group!"]

[Heavy sigh.] Sometimes this place makes no sense.

[ Have a sigh in return. ]

Very little about this place makes any sense. At least with magic and magical girls, you know where you stand.

Most of the time, anyway.

True enough. ... in any case, please let me know if you find out any details. I'll be sure to do the same.

[ It's almost like one professional talking to another. ]

Of course.

Take care of yourself.

[Now, there's a career. Professional magical girls. (I feel like I've heard about a show like that.)]

Same to you. Stay safe.

[ As if they weren't all professionals already- pffthahaha ]

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