<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/8b/Tyrone.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Tyrone Pryk<br/><strong>Date/Time:</strong>March 11th, 9am GMT<br/><strong>Location:</strong>On a shuttle approaching the Odyssey<br/><strong>Content:</strong>First approach to the ship<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Petra Sabio, Any Eavesdroppers<br/><hr/><br/><em>"But having experienced some of what is possible with - and I apologise, again, if my terminology is inaccurate or oversimplified - the art of 'Networking', I am enviously in awe of much of what a telepath might learn to accomplish.  An entire group of people, communicating fluently without need for a common tongue or even much of a shared frame of reference... each time I have been privileged to be part of such a network, it has felt truly special."</em><br/><br/>"Yes, it is a rather impressive capability, even for someone who has used it on numerous times. I gather that you have had the ability for the basics of telepathy for a while, as you seem not to be too unsettled by the intimacy that is involved with such contact. It is nice to meet someone who is not... disturbed to be in the presence of a telepath."<br/><br/><em>"But before I was a psion, I was a student of languages, and of the, ahh, <em>difficulties</em> that hindered understanding between communities and of the problems that arise when understanding breaks down.  Some of what telepaths can do - especially those possessed of more than a passing acquaintance with the rudiments of the art - can make my lore and learning seem simultaneously obsolete and newly relevant.  Once upon a time, being fluent in half a dozen tongues would have made me a valuable translator: now, a vocoder might grant someone real-time translation of a dozen languages... while a single telepath can grant an entire group of people <em>perfect</em> translation, instantly and between every single one of them.  To me, that capacity to bridge distance - even great chasms of cultural divergence - between people, regardless of their origin or even their species... it's quite truly astonishing."</em><br/><br/>Both of Tyrone's eyebrows lifted a little at the declaration of Petra regarding the power of communication and the ability for a telepath to bridge the gaps. He wondered if the Ministry, with their foolish narrow focus on just Chinese members, missed out on an excellent recruit. But then, given their outlook, Petra probably would not have been given the chances to excel with her talents. Misogyny was still a problem that was slowly disappearing, but Tyrone wasn't sure if that would ever vanish, or be reduced enough to ensure those who were not men would get the chances that the men seemed to get.<br/><br/>"That is something that I can fully relate to. As a member of the Office of Semiotics, language and culture are matters of interest. The better you understand both, the better you can deal with others in a constructive manner. A benefit of the telepathy at the levels I can reach is that I am able to to get a lot of the nuances that can be lost even in translation. Mechanical devices have been a great help, but the inflection in the voice is missing from vocoders. But, to know that the other person feels when they speak of something, to know the emotion that is being carried in the voice, without much error, that makes errors even smaller and rarer, in my experience."<br/><br/><em>"I can survive things precious few others could, and can even 'turn into' a VARG by summoning it forth around me.  My Aptitude makes me a protector and a scout, and it is in great part those things that made me a favoured selection for this role: the Norça will gladly have me put myself between the crew and danger, to boost the chances of the Odyssey's safety and success.  But I also actively </em>sought<em> the opportunity to travel with the ship.  This is a chance to see my old calling carried to new horizons.  To the </em>stars<em>."[/color]</em><br/><br/>"That is quite a shift in life focus. Going from the life of an academic to one of a more dangerous profession must have come as a bit of a shock, and a time of adjustment for you. I will admit, I am fascinated by the ability to use your noetic pattern in such an effective manner. It would come in very useful in emergencies, saving time on getting to it and donning it."<br/><br/><em>"All of which is a long-winded academic's build-up to providing an actual </em>answer<em> to your query.  Formally, I was selected and am here under orders.  But as soon as I heard of the project's existence, I pursued the posting.  I would probably have asked to take a sabbatical so that I might seek Aeon's permission to come as a volunteer, if I had not been officially assigned!"[/color]</em><br/><br/>Tyrone shared a smile, one of simple understanding. "I am very used to 'long-winded academics' and their answers. Numerous members of the Office of Semiotics are pure academics with no noetic capabilities. They make up for their perceived shortfall by being very wordy, and at time pedantic, when they make requests and give answers. It is not uncommon to have someone lecture me for upwards of ten minutes for the supposed poor choice of words in my communications." The smile morphed into some akin to a cheeky child's smile. "I will admit to enjoying correcting those lecturers when they do that to me. I am very well versed in the language, as well as four of the major dialects and regional variants. Being able to supply correct definitions and uses, straight from the very sources they were quoting in their defence, is one of my small... sinful pleasures.<br/><br/>"Do not be concerned about the length of an answer outside of critical events. As long as it delivers the necessary information, then all is fine. I look forward to learning more about you, as well as working with you on this mission."