Alsadair, Bio Security Squad
7.3.104

If I may intervene in this discussion, I'd like to give my humble opinion:

It's my experience that scientific studies in the Tower have benefitted since the Scholars began in this duty. Before that, when the scientific stations were under vote like factories, you could never know who you'd be dealing with next year. One year you might be given a go on your project, only to be cancelled by an unfortunate voting result. Next year you might get it running again, only to discover half of your experiments have become outdated. Or worse:

One year, I was studying mycotoxicology in one of the labs administered by our ring. I had a very delicate micro-ecosystem with a culture of various fungi, some of which had DNA of Da Vincian origin. My goal was to research how the different branches of DNA would interact in a controlled environment. I was just about to analyze my first results when the year came to an end..

The Umbra had decided they needed labs for their pharmaceutical research, and since our ring had expended most of our votes on some critical factory lines, we were an easy target. They outvoted us on the last minute, and refused to hear my pleas. They turned my micro-ecosystem into a cooking tank for some of their new medicine tests and recycled my fungus!

The Association of Scholars may have acted questionably in the past but it's easily outweighted by the stability they've brought to the scientific community. I'm working on several research projects at the moment, all of which span several years, and can be reasonably confident that they won't be haphazardly killed. Of course, the Scholars have cancelled projects before, but not without good reason, and certainly not because of a lost vote!

Mohale, The Association of Scholars, Council Member
3.3.104

*Sigh*

I've made some calculations. If I had spent the time I've spent responding to these accusations over and over again doing actual research, we'd be building new Seed ships by now...

The decicion of the Ringleader Meeting was to grant us the administration rights to the science stations. As you know, in exchange our ringmembers can't become administrations elsewhere, allowing us to focus on our primary duty: science. An integral part of administration rights has always been the ability to make calls on what will be done with the equipment. There's nothing more to it, plain and simple.

Compared to many other rings, our procedures for choosing the supported projects are transparent and fair, no matter what some denigrators may say. The documents on our council meetings is freely available as well as the reasonings to the choices. Our criteria has always been the advancement of science, instead of some obscure personal goals.

The membership of our ring is simply a formal way to denote that one has proven their ability and willingness to follow safe and efficient procedures in their research. Those who rather join other rings, can still prove this as they apply for their projects. This is what you refer to as "ridiculous applications". Let me assure you that these "ridiculous applications" are indeed necessary to minimize the risk for incidents. The claim that we routineously turn down the research of others is simply not true and I don't understand how anyone can come to such a conclusion: you only need to look at our project history (readily available for everyone) to realize that.

You must be referring to the donations we've received, or perhaps our consultation service. Yes, we do receive contributions from people who wish to support research but are not scientifically inclined themselves. We also offer consultation services to those who wish to do research but aren't certain how to do it safely and effectively. We do ask a fair compensation for that. You may use "haggling" or other dirty words for it if you like.

I understand why this thread has been created, Tianyi, but I fear it'll only encourage these accusations. Personally, I hope it'll become a very short thread, but I don't see that as a possible future.

Grassroots Insights: Batch 448

DVI-Inet has began a series of interviews whose goal is to shed light on how the regular colonist feels about life in the Tower. Even though the work done by our leaders is important, the future is truly built by the hardworking repairmen, brave medics, and brilliant scientists that perform their work without asking for glory. With this series, DVI-Inet gives them a voice.

For each issue of the magazine, we're going to interview one batch of colonists. The first one our random number generator chose for us is batch 448, awakened on 10.5.104. The full batch consisted of Andrea, Mizuki, Tagato, Ishi, Mike, and Farid, the last of whom unfortunately was born without the sparkle of thought. The rest are live and well, and we managed to steal some of the time of Tagato, Ishi, and Mike. Ishi had to leave at an early point, but we got some good input from her nevertheless.

You've been part of the Tower community for half a year now. How has it been, to adjust to the way of life here?

Mike: It's very different from what the speedgrowth made us expect, of course.

Ishi: It was a shock at first, but I've adapted quickly.

Tagato: There was no problem for me, after realizing the situation.

You seem to have adapted well then. I suppose you've found yourselves a place in the Tower, a purpose perhaps?

M: A purpose? I don't think I ever thought about that. The everyday life, the constant work, has kept me far too busy.

T: Pressing problems, short-term goals and tasks. That's all it is for me.

I: I think people's choice of Ring says at leats something about their purpose, or at leats their hopes. What they think they're doing all this work for.

Yes, the rings. Mike and Ishi, I understand you chose The Horizon as your ring. Why did you pick that one out of all the possibilities?

I: The size was an important factor to me. A big ring like that can work towards long term goals, and I agree with theirs. The prospect of terraforming to an extent but still retaining Da Vinci's native beauty appeals to me.

M: When I joined The Horizon, it seemed the ring had the desire to make the whole Tower work together towards prosperity and survival. Now I'm not so certain anymore... They certainly have their share of plotting and schemes... But to be fair, they do take good care of their members.

May I ask you what kind of schemes are making you worried?

M: Secrecy, seeking to gain power over others... But I can't get into any details on this. In any case, they're far from perfect.

Have you considered changing your ring then?

M: The thought has crossed my mind. I doubt any ring is perfect, though - politics seem to be everywhere. I considered The Association of Scholars at one point, but they're no better than my current ring. The only viable option for me right now seems to be Society of Free Colonists.

What have you learned about The Scholars then?

M: I have reason to believe they're not being as open about their research as they make themselves seem. Knowledge is power, after all. Let's just say I have some reason to believe The Scholars are keeping some secrets about the reactivation of the AINNs during the Blackout. I fear they'll try to use them for gaining power over others.

Please tell the readers something about what you've been doing. Any special projects? Great successes or failures?

M: I've been working on the TAU Basecode Project, and damage control. And then certain things I'm not allowed to talk about. Oh, and during the Blackout I found out about the rogue Chimbots using a factory in Canyon C. At first, I didn't realize what they were, though.

Three of your patch have joined the same ring, while one, Andrea, has chosen to join Society of Free Colonists, whose views and methods are very different from The Horizon's. Has this come between you five or has the batch managed to stick together?

T: I think we get along well enough, dispite everything.

M: Society of Free Colonists is more of a loose group than a political entity, so there isn't so much political enmity. At least as far as I recall.

Where do you see yourselves five years from now?

T: Recycled...

M: I strive to be one of the best in my field, computer engineering.

How do you see Da Vinci, in your mind's eye, as you look into the future?

T: I don't look. What I see in the present is bad enough.

M: I haven't really thought about that.

Some people have placed hope on the prospect that sooner of later, there's going to be others coming from Earth or the other four colonies, to set things right in here. How do you feel about this idea?

T: We should assume the worst: that everyone's in the same kind of situation as we are.

I understand you've been baptised to The One Faith, Mike. Can you tell me what brought you to spirituality - not one of the most popular choices today?

M: I'm not sure really.  There's something comforting in the thought that some sort of higher being is watching over us, even if He does let bad things happen.  And that there is a better place our souls will go to when we die.

Some - most - would say that comfort comes from a lie.

M: Perhaps it is a lie.  Perhaps not.  Science can't really prove it one way or another.  But if that thought will help people to carry on even in the current bleak situation, it will help us towards a better tomorrow. I just hope people will not recreate the holy wars.

As we all know, the five most important virtues of The Technocracy are considered to be: Liberty, Wisdom, Creativity, Patience, and Solidarity. Which one do you think is the most important one?

T: Creativity. Problem solving drives drives society forward. The others are important as well - it's their perfect unity that makes them a working system.

M: Liberty and Solidarity. We have free will, and must be allowed to make our own decicions. However, the benefit of the community must always come before personal gain.

To conclude the interview: is there anything you'd like to say to the Tower?

M: Colonists, forget your differences.  Work together to save the Tower.

T: (shakes his head and stays silent)

We thank Mike, Tagato, and Ishi for their precious time, and hope this interview, and the others to come, will help people to broaden their perspectives. I, for one, have found the thoughts and ideas of these people inspiring, and will look forward to working with them towards the dream of a better future.

Lange, Da Vinci Information Network

Changed the lore so that the votes are public, to avoid TSR meddling.

The Economy

The economy in the Tower revolves around administrators, material goods (raw materials, tools, spare parts...), favors, reputation, and access codes. Most people strive to support the work they deem most important, which usually means aquiring resources and reputation to themselves or their ring. This leads to a complex web of bargains going on constantly on high and grassroot levels of the Tower society.

Many consider this bargaining a distasteful waste of time but the sad fact is that if you don't participate in it, you don't get much done. There's a lot of free sharing and cooperation going on too, of course, but that's mostly between those with similar views.

Ownership

What you're carrying with you is generally considered yours and it's very rude to try to steal it. In addition, the truly valuable items are usually protected by owner chips, so robberies are very rare. Of course, most factories and such are also protected by owner chips.

Bartering

A major part of the Tower economy is the bartering of one thing for another. The central place for bartering is The Mall, but shadier deals are made in shadier places. One can barter anything from spare parts and raw materials to favors and administratorial rights.

Access Codes

Access codes can allow a variety of things, from receiving a single item from a sharepoint to the administrator's rights to a factory. They're shared through a direct, secure necklink connection, or if you don't trust that security, on datachips.

Sharepoints

Sharepoints are semi-spherical structures about two to twenty meters in diameter. They're connected to automatic underground storage spaces that store various items. At request, the items are brought from the storage to one of the sharepoint's hatches and given to the user. Alternatively, the user can donate items into the sharepoint.

Who can receive what from a sharepoint is dictated by its administrator. It can be completely free for all, or it can have any kind of advanced rule systems. Some store their items in a sharepoint and then trade access codes for those items to others. Other sharepoints may be accessible to members of one ring only. Some might employ complex trading logic, such as providing tools in exchange of raw materials or vice versa. A few even have a money-like point system where one has to gain points by donating items before being able to receive what they need. However, all such currencies are sharepoint or ring-specific.

Vote Trading

Accepting votes in a trade is a risky business, since a promise to vote for someone is just that, a promise. That's why vote trading is the most popular during the vote, when you can observe the vote being placed where it should.

Supporting Damage-Control Teams

There's no direct reward for doing repairs. However, few things are better for ones public image than being seen working on a piece of critical machinery, or being spoken well of by those who do. That's why many rings, particularly production-oriented ones, support repairers by supplying them with tools and spare parts. One could say that repairing provides one with reputation, which can be traded like any other commodity.

What's Being Voted for?

The machines whose ownership comes under vote during the election runs can be roughly divided into the following groups:

Factories and workbenches: Machines used to produce tools, spare parts and other items. They've usually been built by colonists at some point. The bigger factories have one administrator each, while smaller ones, particularly workbenches, are divided into bigger admin sets. The block distribution is decided by TSR and is relatively unchanging. The factory admins can make changes to the factories and control who has access to the items produced.

Expensive tools: The most expensive tools can also be voted on, though this is less common due to minimum votes. Usually these tools are large machines instead of hand-held ones, but not always.

Raw material pumps: Perhaps the most contested administratorial position is the right to control the pumps that bring raw materials. Each pump has its own administrator who's allowed to ration the materials being pumped to colonists as they see fit.

TAU Core CPU time: The CPU time of the TAU AI Core (underneath Ringlab Alpha) is divided into 20 equal shares, each of which is designated a different administrator. The CPU admins schedule the computing between different projects. (If they leave some CPU time idle, it's shared between requests.)

Power distribution points: The plasma currents that transfer energy upwards from the reactor can be accessed only at designated points. (Often, there's a hub built around those points.) These have administrators to regulate the currents going to the different power lines leaving from those poitns. They can't control what's plugged into those lines, though. So far, power has not been really in shortage, so the power admin rights are usually easy to obtain.

Exceptions:

Science stations (Dec 104): Legacy to a decicion by a Ringleader Meeting, all administration rights to all science stations, including both laboratories and simulators, are exclusively in the hands of The Association of Scholars. This is to allow them to prevent people from doing unsafe experiments such as Tyler's project - one person with one labstation could jeopardize the entire Tower by accident. For balance, their ringmembers can't become candidates for other administratorial positions. Lately, there's been a lot of movement towards countering this special arrangement, but the needed unanimosity hasn't been reached.

Life-critical machinery: Certain critical machinery, such as floatbeds and life-support systems, doesn't have owner chips and thus can't be voted for. TSR and the Ringleader Meeting have decided that giving one person the control to shut them down could be disastrous. (Of course, the control now lies with TSR.)

Some big-nosed cartoon dog, perhaps?

Human skin up close?

A corn field from above?

"Who?" snapped Siyanda. "Is it the Lambda 41 again? You can tell them that calling their production runs 'emergency' will not make them any less ridiculous. I'm sure Johnathan knows exactly what to do with his own biomatter, don't you, Johnathan?"