saveourearth | Now You Know Me [Open Log, Action]

Entry tags:

Now You Know Me [Open Log, Action]

Date: June 10th through June 22nd
Characters: Benjiro; Open to new CR when out for supplies, around the sixth form college, or at the library, open to established CR for boat construction

After Russell had facilitated mending the fissure between the cousins and their aunts, Benjiro had returned to living with Rosemary and Agatha. It had become his home too. Given such a boon, he had nothing more to ask for as his birthday came and went. Now officially clear of final exams and confirmed as a successful graduate of the local sixth form college, Benjiro sets his attention to all of the pieces he has collected to the expansive puzzle of the Numbers.

His teacher had agreed to allow him to use the lab on the last days with staff presence. Benjiro set to work as soon as the doors were open to test the samples collected. The samples prepped for testing include stone taken from exploring the old tunnels back in the fall, dried mud from the riverbed where Sadie had explored in her dive taken from her borrow wetsuit before cleaning, and comparison samples such as a rock from the tunnel entrance and mud from kilometers up the same river. While the lab is limited in what he can test, he does make full use of the supplies in testing composition and reactions. He documents the results as he goes, using his phone to take video of reaction tests.

After spending a couple days at the school for that explicit purpose, he turns his attention to the more demanding plan to dive into the depths of the bay and scout the Moss Army Fort. Two tasks need to be undertaken, and each requires a boat. While Sadie’s brother has a boat, he dare not put the vessel at risk or increase the risk of discovery of their activities. So, he takes time to go to the library prior to a shift at the warehouse to examine available documents in books and papers on the bay and the outpost it shelters.

What follows are numerous trips throughout the weekend and next week into Mossgate for supplies as well as to the junkyard to obtain parts and materials as he builds. At the very least, he can make use of the same rope from the dive excursion at the river mouth, but he needs fuel for the loaned welder and the most critical parts in new condition. The construction of a stealth boat is simple enough for Benjiro, but it will take time. Calculations are scribbled in his notebook, and he then draws up the blueprints before setting to work in the shed and behind the house. Every spare minute is spent working on the construction.

Friends are always welcome to drop by or contact him while he makes his own version of a stealth boat.

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When Benjiro tests the samples, the results will be as follows:

The samples from the old tunnels are exactly what you'd expect. The rocks are rocks. The moss is very healthy and still a bit alive even now. The two species of animals that have used them as loos are bats and mice. While looking at the samples from the tunnels, Benjiro will receive a plot echo.

What really stands out when he compares riverbed, the mud from a few kilometres up the river, the rock from the tunnel entrance and the samples from the tunnels is that they don't seem to match. He likely doesn't have the knowledge to make further observations, but they somehow are very different for coming from the same area.

Walter continues to be a familiar presence in Ben's Aunts' household, assisting Ben in fetching parts (though, what with his speed being greater than his strength, there's only so much he can card around on his bike) and quadruple-checking calculations.

Buying fuel without drawing attention is also something he can help with, and he offers to do so freely.

When it comes to putting the boat together, however, the best he can do is sit somewhere not directly in Ben's way and hand over parts as needed, or point out leaks.

Given that this is the largest project Benjiro has undertaken to date, he is grateful for every hour of company and assistance that Walter lends. Tasks of purchasing specific parts for the motor and electronic system that could not be recovered from the junkyard as well as picking up some of the fuel for the welder are gladly given to Walter along with the necessary funds to cover each buy. It allows Benjiro to focus on construction of the build and lend his full attention to that which requires more brawn over brain, such as arranging the frame while Walter is occupied.

Midway through the project one afternoon, when he is installing the propulsion system, Benjiro is laying on his back as he tightens a part into place. Something he has been mulling over for a while springs back into his thoughts, and he decides to broach the second intended purpose of the vessel with Walter, "Hey, Walter? After we've had a chance to thoroughly examine the bay, I was thinking... Maybe it'd be prudent to take a look at the Moss Army Fort. I have no doubt I can get up there."

Walter nods in reply, but lets a dubious expression show on his face.

"If you're sure you won't be spotted - the physical trappings of camouflage can only go so far, and last I heard they were watching over the place."

“Nothing is guaranteed, but this is meant to be a stealth craft when finished. I was already intending to go out during the night, so between a nearly silent propulsion and darkness over the bay, it seems unlikely,” he answers. “Unless they have personnel at the fort,” he adds with barely a breath between.

Weather might also lend some cover, but the rain would add risk to his climb to enter.

"Captain Fairhurst said there would be people watching the fort, but not necessarily at it," Walter states reluctantly.

He's very much rules-lawyering it, though, and he'd really rather Ben not be the one who's caught given all the steps the teen has taken to avoid attracting attention.

"I can stay on the shore, keeping lookout for any personnel."

And of course, if they're using wi-fi he could track them right away - when it comes to Ben's safety the question of whether or not he should hack their connections isn't even asked.

The clarification of watch over the location rather than at it, even given with some degree of objection to the idea, is appreciated. That Walter is willing to assist is what makes Benjiro smile from under his construction.

In an attempt to reassure his friend, he replies, “If you would, I’d be grateful. I don’t expect to spend much time out there. I simply want to eliminate it as a possible location to conceal something related to the things that have happened. Out in the bay, it may have nothing, but I can’t help but worry it could if I don’t check. Plus, maybe it could prove a useful location for us if it happens to be empty.”

After all, who would expect them to fall back there if anything went horribly wrong?

"They do know I already asked about it, however; that no one else was using it beforehand either wouldn't impress them."

Walter shifts where he's sitting, then reaches for a handy tool to hold on to and fiddle with.

"But apart from that - what would you do, if there was already someone out there who wasn't with the military? We should have some contingencies arranged."

And if Walter knows Ben, then the teen's already been musing on a few.

Or a few dozen.

By now, that question is likely mostly forgotten. At the very least, it could be a good place for dangerous Echoed items to be stored. Less of a hassle to retrieve them as opposed to securing them in more remote locations.

“I was already thinking of taking a drone out with me. Searching the forts will be much faster with it, but a drone cannot go out there against the winds and retain enough charge to search thoroughly,” he begins. “If I found someone with the drone, it could be used to misdirect. Of course, if I found someone out there before using the drone, I might be able to get away with simply being a curious teenager. We supposedly do stupid, dangerous stuff all the time.”

Walter does try not to assume such things; given how much he himself has changed, though, ascribing similar capacities of memory feels only natural...

He does snort derisively at Ben's last comment, though.

"Oh, no. Only the intelligent, dangerous stuff for us."

He does bring up a smile.

Unable to see Walter’s expression, he hears enough from his friend’s voice to understand and chuckles, “But they wouldn’t know that.” The hypothetical person already present at the fort would not know anything about Benjiro.

His own tone calms as he asks more seriously, “I would appreciate your input on other scenarios. Or other measures I could take to make it as safe as possible.” He does not include responsibility for Walter, as Benjiro would rather not make assumptions about whether he wants to be present for the venture.

Edited 2019-07-16 11:55 (UTC)

"If you're accounting for radar, most kinds of sight, and sound-"

And, like with the motorbike, had designed the boat keeping reflective surfaces out of the matter-

"Then a space you can duck down into wouldn't go amiss. Let someone think it really is an empty boat if they inspect it. If it can block smell that would be all the better, but as you'd already be on the water perhaps that would be overkill."

"Or- a dummy that could be thrown overboard. Something inflatable, to minimize how much space it takes up in storage."

“Radar is tricky since I cannot afford RAM on a budget, but I do not plan on adding a reflector, and if I go out on calm water or in the rain, that should reduce visibility of the craft. The sound will be managed by the type of engine and propulsion. Going all electric. As for sight, if I go out at night I can paint it black.”

“I agree blocking smell would be a bit overkill, and I would argue the same for adding a compartment. I want to keep it as small as possible, and adding dead space would alter dimensions and could cause amplification of sounds of me moving while on board.”

“An inflatable dummy would probably be identifiable, even at a distance...”

On they talk for some time about possible features and measures for prevention and emergencies alike. It makes Benjiro feel more confident to have his best friend to soundboard from on the project. After a while, he slides out from beneath and sits up, looking to Walter, “Mind giving me a hand with some wiring? It’d be a lot faster between the two of us.”

Edited 2019-07-20 01:10 (UTC)

The soundboarding itself is likely the biggest help; some ideas Walter only voices so that the two of them can laugh at the imagery together.

Ben needs more reasons to laugh, after all.

"Sure, it's no trouble," he responds, dismounting from where he's been sitting in order to have better reach.

Whether the indicated wiring is beside where Ben's working or on the other side of the craft, he's ready to help.

After a few unwelcome revelations courtesy of echoes, Jimmy had sought refuge in the library. But there was only so long even he could bury himself in books without wanting a distraction.

When he sees Benjiro at one of the library tables, he can't resist going over to say hello.

When Jimmy approaches, Benjiro is writing in his crisp new notebook to copy a passage from a book he holds open with his left hand. He isn’t copying it directly in English however, as the symbols he writes on the lined paper are quite different. Enough so that poor handwriting cannot be to blame.

Noticing that someone is standing with him at the table, Benjiro looks up from the pages to see Jimmy. Immediately he offers a smile from behind his half mask with a quiet greeting, “Hey. How are you?”

"Its complicated, but I'll go with I'm doing okay for now." He casts an interested glance over the table. "Are you working on something?"

The answer is met with a small tilt of his head to one side, but that will be the most Benjiro pries. If nothing more, it sounded honest.

Attention placed on his notes, he glances down briefly then back to Jimmy, “I always am these days, but this is for a bigger project.” Benjiro quiets as he gives their general vicinity a glance. No one else is too close, so he flips the pages of his notebook back to a page of calculations and the rough design of a boat. His voice, already quiet to suit the setting, drops to a hushed level, “I plan to build a boat to go into the bay to look for more unusual spots like in the river mouth.”

Jimmy blinks in surprise, but lowers his voice as well.

"A boat? Do you think its possible? Those are supposed to be hard to build on your own, aren't they?"

“Difficult, yes, but I do have an advantage over most people that would attempt it. Careful planning may be enough if I think it through step by step, but if I do run into complications, I can always ask for a hand,” he would rather not bother anyone, but he would welcome helping hands.

A closer look at the book might give away that Benjiro is not intending to build an ordinary boat. He’s looking at military crafts.

Jimmy shrugs. "I don't know much about boats, but if you need any help with anything, just let me know."

Benjiro smiles behind his facemask, “Neither did I before. I understood the basic concepts sure, but there are some precise calculations for achieving specific functionality. Actually building it, I’ll definitely give you a call if I get stuck. Otherwise, you’re welcome to come help if you get bored.”

Realizing Jimmy is still standing, he gestures with an open hand as invitation to sit with him.

Jimmy grins at the invitation and takes a seat.

"Anything I can help with now?"

His smile sticks around as Jimmy joins him, and at the question, he nods and reaches to the stack of books on the table with them. He lifts the top of the stack to take one from lower down, and slides it to Jimmy, “Absolutely. If you could, would you mind thumbing through here and looking for any discussions on marine radar?”

"No problem." He cracks the book open and goes immediately to the index.

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Now You Know Me [Open Log, Action]

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Which day works best?

All the days clearly

Space is warped and time is bendable!

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Handwave some more sophisticated suggestions? >.>

Probably

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At the Library

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