Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Aria Jenneth]

"... Sure."

Aria's attention is decreasingly on the topic at hand as she goes back to watching her surroundings (though she also tends to be within a couple feet of Utari).

"That last scanner back there ... that was checking us for biologicals. I guess they're worried about invasive species, that sort of thing? ... I guess it's not surprising on such an important planet, though I can't see very many exactly thriving here. Well-- aside from microorganisms, I guess. Those seem to pop up everywhere."

[Utari Onzo]

Utari nods to Ché. "Well, if you two don't mind me bumbling along, we can go see about renting one."

He listens to Aria, then turns back from where they came, his brow furrowing slightly as he contemplates. "I'd well imagine it's that, any invasive flora and fauna that could survive would already be established by now, especially after generations of space travel.. Amoung other things. Microbial would be the biggest threat. A new virus, or bacteria, perhaps a fungus that could enter the ecosystem would cause absolute havoc. It's not like this planet breeds much variety genetically speaking. You grow strong and resistant to cold, or you die. Only a small number of species of plant and animal life, comparitively speaking, endure."

[Ché Biko]

"Not at all." Ché smiles to Onzo, then looks around the terminal for a moment before returning his attention to the conversation.

[Aria Jenneth]

"Well ... put an ocean or a mountain range in the way and I'd think things would look pretty different in a million years, but ... I guess people haven't been here that long, anyway. I'm sure someone's worked out which plants and animals here share a lot of the human genome and which ... well, don't?"

[Utari Onzo]

"Oh I don't doubt that. Anyways, shall we?" Utari gestures further down the Terminal, towards the exit. If they agree, he leads the group to a small desk where he signs the paperwork to rent a hovercar.

"So, anywhere in paticular to explore in this city? I've heard of a few good places if you want to see the nitty gritty of it, but I was interested in your opinions?"

[Aria Jenneth]

"Uh ... the list of things that don't interest me is really short?"

[Utari Onzo]

"Alright, well, I think I know a good place. The Akiikala park in Dostrict 7. The canopy is something to see, after that perhaps the business area of District 24. Should give you a taste of the hodge podge of Gallente and Caldari culture here to start off."

Utari smiles as he leads the group further through to the Terminal's exit. Outside, the constant snow continues to fall down from the heavens as a modest hovercar is pulled up. He gestures for Ché and Aria to climb on in before taking the driver's seat.

Driving off at an easy pace, Utari gestures to the buildings of District One and towards the Qaiian Tower. Tall, and proud, the reconstructed spire almost seems to point upwards in an act of defiance against natural laws. A true monument of glass and steel.

"The one thing that surprises me of this city is, for one of the more exposed cities, it retains a lot of its Caldari heritage in the architecture. I'm interested to see if that applies to the local families as well. Considering the majority here still identify as Caldari by heritage if not by citizenship, it makes for quite the melting pot I imagine."

He takes a moment's pause as they travel further down the autoroad from the Terminal, the  Gravball Stadium coming in to view. "Of course, the Gallente have still made their mark. As much as that Stadium over there tries to emulate the heritage of the Caldari, it just can't help adding colour."

The Stadium itself arcs upwards like a large birds nest. Steel and glass exterior cover the oval shape, while giant screens around its exterior show advertisement and promotional videos for the Arcurio team and their sponsors.

[Aria Jenneth]

"It's interesting that they try, though...."

[Utari Onzo]

Utari nods as he listens to Aria. "Aye, it is. But I think that might have something to do with Gallente culture more then Caldari. I get the impression the Federation seeks to quietly absorb, rather then crush, adding those elements it likes over generations and slowly drowning away those it doesn't. It's like a cultural survival of the fittest. Of course, all Cultures do this to a greater or lesser extent, but in the Federation it's on overdrive."

He pulls off the main highway as they approach District 7, signs in dual Napanii and Gallente pointing the way to various sub districts. Approaching the park, a giant oval shaped building greets the party. Its canopy, bulging slightly up from the sides is made of several glass and metal framed parts, slowly pulling open like a flower bud as the snow subsides. Shining like a jewel in the cold air, the glass 'petals' fold up and back, crowning the long curve of the building. Multiple entrances and carparks dot along its length and it is at one of these Utari pulls up.

"Well, here we are, just in time to see it open up too."

[Aria Jenneth]

"Do you think they do that kind of cultural ... drowning away, on purpose? ... Oh."

Aria watches the unfolding structure.

"That ..." she seems to look for something to say, then gives up and goes with "... is really pretty."

[Utari Onzo]

Utari considers Aria's reply as he gets out of the hovercar. "Aye it is pretty, let's see how it looks inside."

He escorts the group to the entrance, a large set of double doors that slide back upon their approach. Immediately upon entering, the group is met with an enourmous park lawn, complete with meandering paths, large groupings of evergreen trees and various citizens relaxing among the grass. What almost appears to be a small wood dominates the center, with the interior walls cladded with reflective mirrors to give the illusion of an infinite expanse. Above, the roof petals continue to shimmer in the cold air, the Caldari Prime sunlight reflecting down on the greenland underneath.

"Do I think it's deliberate? Yes. For any civilisation to survive it requires a fundamental purpose, a core belief that glues it together. As much as a certain amount of cultural osmosis takes place for adaptability, a civilisation still needs to discard those traits that threaten that core belief or be damned to fail. The Federation's core belief is Liberty, almost at any cost."

[Aria Jenneth]

"Well ... that's true, but I kind of thought you were speaking more broadly. What about traits that aren't inimical to it that it just doesn't ... really take to? I've heard that the Raata living in the Federation might actually be closer to the old Caldari way of life than the Caldari are."

[Utari Onzo]

He walks steadily along one of the park's paths with the group, enjoying the sights as he replies. "In the case of groups like the Raata, who is to say they haven't yet influenced the Federation in some way? If not now, I can imagine in a few years some fashion designer will rip off the clothing, or someone might make a holofilm about them that'll prove wildly popular. Perhaps tourism afterwards will want to come and see. Just because their way of life isn't something the every man of the Federation chooses for himself doesn't mean that there won't be some form of influence, even if it's perhaps in a twisted form. Still, so long as a trait isn't seen as a threat or detrimental, generally it'll be slowly consumed, or left at the wayside and ignored.

On the counter side, should the Federation turn to a much more nationalistic streak, more anti-caldari in all its forms, do you think they'll spare the Raata simply because they don't associate with the State? What of the small Achur community?"

[Aria Jenneth]

"Well ... that's partly what I'm here to see, after all."

[Utari Onzo]

Utari nods to Aria. "Naturally." He stops and gestures to a collection of sarcodes gathered near a pine tree. It looks to be growing strong and healthy, the fringed bracts coloured from a light orange blending out to a deep scarlet towards the edges.

"Consider this flower. It's the Snowflower, so named as it blossoms here just as the worst of the snow stops. But the scientific name in the Amarr tongue is sarcodes sanguinea. It lives in a co-existance with the trees, or more exactly the mycorrhiza fungus that lives off of the trees. Exchanging fixed carbon for nutrients and water, it's a hardy flower. The fungus itself lives off of the tree root, and protects both the tree and the sarcodes from various pathogens. For a 'vampire' flower it's awfully considerate."

He then points out an artificial pond not far off, with a few lily pads floating along the surface. "And over there, we have yellow water lilies from the Federation. These ones have been bred to survive lower temperatures I've heard, lying dormant when the frost sets in as they are still doing now. During the warmer months, they flower quite beautifully. However, one must consider that water lilies left unchecked can be an invasive plant. Pretty, delicate and popular, but allowed to run loose it's able to slowly suffocate out the other plants around it."