inbox.

[arora]

text While we try to get to tags sent to Aurora's inbox, this may not always be possible. We will do our best to be prompt, but the best way to get quick tagbacks from Aurora is to wait for mission announcements and respond there!

Comments

un: ltsetsu

[backtostart]

Hello, Aurora.

Lately, I've been wondering something: What defenses are in place for this city? This planet? Is there anything protecting the barrier?

Also, with our previous mission... Did we fail? What happened to that Earth?

[arora]

The barrier is reinforced and I have upgraded it several times over the last few months. My companion bots and I protect this city, and our planet is within Echo's pocket universe. It is unlikely anyone would be able to find us to harm us unless they had already been within it.

Mission parameters are subjective. I am sorry, but I cannot tell you whether you had failed or succeeded. The planet you had been on, however, continues to exist in the state it had before I collected all of you.

[backtostart]

Thank you for the information. That's actually reassuring. I heard that a ship crashed into the barrier before and cracked it, so I had been worried something else could happen to it.

Although I appreciate that, "unlikely" doesn't mean it's impossible, does it? Radio waves can travel indefinitely, and that signal that was sent out recent, it was too big to fade away easily. What if something intercepts it?

[ Not said: If someone had been here and left, that would be the exact kind of person that would hold a grudge against it. Not important to get into right now, though. ]

I think we should consider that possibility and how to handle if something does want to harm us, now or in the future, for all our sakes. If evacuation becomes necessary, are there procedures in place for that? And the food and other resources we have here... Where do they come from? How limited are they? [ Can we be starved? ]

As for the mission: I understand. Thank you. [ Next time, they need to do better... ]

[arora]

Food and other resources come from below the surface of the hospital. Echo has provided the means to keep all of you fed and sheltered for the duration of your stay on Etraya. They are not limited to the extent one should be concerned, and I do have stores in case something were to happen to my sources.

I would not be able to evacuate should the need arise. This is not something I am capable of assisting with, given the limitations of my programming. But this planet, and the city of Etraya itself, are within a pocket universe managed by Echo themself. I would not be concerned.

[backtostart]

I see. So everything is stored down there. [ "Means" and "sources" are such vague words to use. Is it actually as simple as "an industrial-grade food printer"? That doesn't feel quite right... Not with the rest of this message, anyway, but Setsu doubts they'll get a clearer answer. ] I'm grateful you have your own stores, too, if it comes to that. Approximately how long will the supplies provided by Echo last?

I understand. In that case, I hope evacuation never becomes necessary... If it's not possible with your programming, then I'll think of ways to prepare for that possibility instead.

Sorry, but I am still concerned. When you say it's a "pocket universe managed by Echo," what does that mean? What is a "pocket universe"?

[arora]

A pocket universe is a singularly created universe that exists within another universe. This particular one is maintained by Echo.

Supplies from Echo will last as long as this required. If those supplies were to end, I have enough in reserve to last us for approximately three months currently.

You are welcome to prepare as you see fit.

[backtostart]

I guess that makes sense... Although I have more questions now, if that's okay with you. I don't know if you can answer all of them, but what is Echo? Are they human, or were once human? Or are they some kind of irregularity...? Are they also the creator of this pocket universe? What universe is this pocket universe located within? Is it one anyone here is familiar with?

Sorry, that's probably a lot at once.

Thank you for the info. [ Even if the first half isn't quite an answer. ] For the record, another resident was wondering about our resources... I intend to share this information with him. There's no problem with that, right?

I'll do what I can to prepare.

[arora]

Echo is Echo. Echo lives within Echo's home universe.

There is no issue with you sharing information with others, no.

[backtostart]

[ ... Yep, that's about the answer they expected, but you miss every shot you don't take. ]

Okay. Leaving aside Echo's identity and their location, as far as "maintaining" goes, is this pocket dimension maintained in the way an aquarium is maintained—by supplying food, goods, enrichment, and the population—or is it more than that?

Understood. Then I'll share this with others.

[arora]

Your comparison is relatively accurate.

[backtostart]

I see. I'm guessing you can't tell me which points are less accurate, right?

I'll let you get back to your own work soon, but can I ask if Echo is the one who made this dimension, too?

[arora]

Echo created everything you can see.

[backtostart]

Okay...

All right. Thank you for your time and assistance, Aurora.