un: aximili | voice [forward dated to 12/24 evening]

[canadese]

[For those uninitiated, suddenly experiencing thought-speak is probably pretty strange. It's sort-of-but-not-quite like telepathy, almost, and it's apparently coming out of your communicator. Weird!

The "voice," such as it is, sounds young, male, and somewhat wary.]

<Hello.

Does anyone here know what "protocol S-1704" is?>

Comments

[canadese]

<If there is a test, it would have been as part of their own training. I doubt you would be expected to know it unless you are staff.>

[Which is the whole problem. Are you gonna be helpful or not???]

[straycloud]

Ha, that's a relief. That means we don't have to try to get anyone to share the answers.

[ He hums thoughtfully under his breath. ] Then again, it might be worth it just to be on the safe side. Pop quizzes are the worst.

[canadese]

[????????]

<I'm not asking because I'm worried about a test. It might concern the status of this ship.>

[straycloud]

The worst. [ He says it as if he'd received agreement. ] Some people like to share their notes freely, but most people don't. When I was still studying, sometimes thanking others in advance helped.

[canadese]

<If you are not actually going to listen to me I am going to turn this communicator off.>

[straycloud]

We should all be sure to listen carefully. That kind of test can be tricky.

[canadese]

[Never let it be sad Ax doesn't make good on his promises!!

Click.]