Prologue: The Commission

[Carthrat]

"That's right," replies Arkian. "Well, not until after I left the military. But I only got half the jobs I did because of my magic. I'm afraid my actual knowledge of the workings of most of them is rather thin, and, well, generally, I was only hired for one job here or there."

[Ebiris]

"Magic can make a very effective substitute for actual knowledge, though," Rowan grins, waiting for the next train. "That's what I do if I don't know the answer to something - I summon up someone or something that does and ask them."

[Carthrat]

Arkian chuckles. "I'll say. But with the way technology and magic are progressing together, that might not be an option for me any longer. I think I'm very lucky to have gotten this mission just now."

[Ebiris]

"How do you mean?" the not very technically minded summoner asks.

[Carthrat]

"Think about it," replies Arkian. "Certainly, my magic is very useful for all sorts of odd jobs. But at the rate mages are being trained, and with the rapid progress of science, I don't think it will be long before people begin to specialize much more in certain areas. Say, a mage dedicated to building dams, or some such.

I suppose they could easily combine magical knowledge with scientific know-how- as is being done already- and be very good at what they do.

So people with more general magical skills, like myself, or perhaps even you, will find ourselves losing jobs and whatnot to the people who specialize further."

Arkian blinks. "Of course, that's all just some speculation. After all, the kingdom hasn't been around that long, and with colonization imminent, I doubt it will be hard for anyone to get a job.."

[Ebiris]

Rowan shakes her head, sighing softly. "It's a question of focus and personality, not magical aptitude.

"While I can think of several ways to magically create a dam, some of which may be better than others, the magic used isn't the be all and end all of the endeavour.

"Honestly, I think you're worrying over nothing. I went to a magic-focused high school, and then I studied magical theory at university - I've known hundreds of magically talented people, of all kinds of affinities. And I can tell you that not one of them said 'I want to create the BEST spell in the world for building dams, and do NOTHING else!'

"People - especially mages - just aren't that focused by nature. Sure, we have specialties, but those still allow for a great degree of versatility."

Shrugging, she adds, "Besides, how often are new dams built? If that's all you can do, you're going to be unemployed for fairly long stretches."

[Carthrat]

Arkian shrugs. "Maybe you're right. I still believe, though, that with the huge number of magi that are being taught.. that they will begin to fall into less broad catagories.

Of course, I'm speaking from the viewpoint of one who was never formally educated. You're probably the first mage I'm ever going to have directly worked with for an extended period of time."

[Ebiris]

"Even without magic, there's still plenty of jobs out there," Rowan shrugs, boarding the train as it pulls up. "If it worries you that much, console yourself with the fact that you can make a decent living doing public speaking once you're famous from this mission."

[Carthrat]

Arkian pulls himself into the train, seating himself on a seat near the door. "If you havn't noticed, that's one thing I'm not so good at," he replies, dryly.

[Ebiris]

Rowan gives him a thin-lipped smile. "Then practice and specialise in it?"

[thepanda]

“Ha! I’m government employed. I wonder what kind of benefits package we get?” Chris grins as he’s given his badge, not even bothered by the rather lacking photo of himself, very rumpled looking, adorning the ID. Even after all this time there was still no such thing as a good picture taken for a photo ID.

“Oh well, I’ll see about that later.” With pep in his step, Chris struts out of the palace, flagging a taxi for the trip home. “Lates, people!” he calls over his shoulder.

[Jon]

Michael fingers the ID holo wryly. "Stalkers?" he asks himself halfheartedly as he walks back to the train station to pick up his luggage. "I wonder what our missing member is like."

[Carthrat]

Arkian chuckles. "Perhaps," he offers, as the train pulls off.

[Halbarad]

The subway delivers the two explorers to their places of residence without further incident, allowing the two to get about the business of packing and preparing for an extended stay in the palace.

The next morning finds all four surveyors at the palace, waiting for Alena. The queen's attendant appears just as she said she would, right at 10 am on the nose. She makes a bit of small talk as she leads the foursome through the hallways of the palace yet again, although this journey is much shorter than the trip to the throne room. She leaves them all in a fairly large (if rather cluttered) office, and within a few minutes a smiling woman with short blue hair enters, dressed in a no-frills skirt suit and a lab coat.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Dr. Ami Mizuno, and I'll be your supervisor for this mission." She waits for each of you to introduce yourselves, then proceeds.

"As I believe you heard in the meeting with her Majesty yesterday, there have been a few slight changes in the plans due to Ms. Kitagawa's absence from the team. Rather than Mars - where we really need a biologist's input - we'll be sending you to Mercury first." There's a slight glint in her eye at that, but she goes on quickly.

"As most of you are no doubt aware, Mercury isn't exactly the most hospitable of places.  With it being as close to the Sun as it is, the surface is unimaginably hot during the Mercurian day, and at night - like most other astronomical bodies without a significant atmosphere - it's almost unbearably cold. Yet it supported life during the Silver Millenium, and thanks to the memories of the Queen and a few others, we think we know why.

"Mercury's surface wasn't colonized - the strain of protecting anything on the surface from the harsh conditions would be taxing on any kind of enchantment, to say the least. We believe the old Mercurian colonies were constructed underground. With more than a thousand meters of rock separating the actual colonies from the surface, the temperature shifts would have been little problem, and with the Mercurians' reliance on technology more so than magic, we tend to believe that at least a few of these underground colonies must still exist today.

"What this means for you is simple. Try to see if you can locate one of the entrances to these underground colonies, and if you can, explore it to see if it's still structurally sound enough to use for a colony in the modern era. Additionally," here she turns to Arkian in particular. "We'd like to determine if the rock comprising the surface is stable enough to create new colonies of the same type. We suspect that it is, but first-hand measurements will be required."

She nods at that, glancing around at the four in the room. "Before I go on, are there any further questions?"

[Ebiris]

"I do," Rowan raises her hand a bit. "With the Mercurians being as technically minded as you say - as opposed to magic - would air and temperature in the underground colonies be created or controlled by mechanical means rather than magical enchantments?"