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[ Bruce greets the camera with a cordial smile, there and gone, replaced with a somewhat tired and worried look. ]

Hi, Moira. Bruce Banner, for those of you who don't know me, and I'm the Chief Science Officer on board. In light of our current situation, I've been working on a number of devices to be placed on the surface of the planet, that once activated will link together and create a barrier around the planet. It will work as a kind of shield that would effectively make it impossible for any ship to dock on the planet, or for anyone to go down to the surface.

I've talked to the captains about this, and we're going ahead with the project. Needless to say that this is incredibly time-sensitive, and while so far everything's going smoothly and the results are promising, I could use as many people with the necessary knowledge involved in this as possible. Science officers on board are working exclusively on this right now, and I'm contacting a few people that I know have the knowledge necessary to help, but if anyone else thinks they have what it takes to join in, drop me a line.

This is a serious request. Don't waste my or anyone else's time, please.

[ Not that he thinks anyone would, but just covering his bases, in case there's some prankster or smartass on board. ]

I'll also need people to place the devices down on the surface of the planet. It's a fairly simple process so no need to have any kind of knowledge about how the machines were built or how they work, so long as you can handle the weight with relative care.

Another note— [ He pauses, presses his lips for a moment. ] Along with a holographic map of our journey, I've been putting together an information file about our current situation, to be delivered to all the new arrivals as they come in. Things I'd like to cover include: where we are, how or why we're here, who here can help them with certain fundamental needs, a rough overview of varying timelines and parallel universes, as well as a general overview of what's happened so far. I'm also planning to include the information regarding the Space 101 lesson that's held after each wave of new arrivals, to those that might need it. There's no guarantee everyone will read it, of course, but it might cut down on the number of people asking similar questions time and again.

Furthermore, I've put together a file about my condition. At this point about half the ship already knows about it, but I'm posting it on public domain and making it available for anyone to consult at any time. This document will also be attached to the main information file when sent to all the new arrivals. For anyone interested in reading it now, follow the link.

[ Attached to the message, follows said link. ]

If anyone wants to suggest any information they think important to add to the main information file, let me know here. As for my personal file, I wrote it because I don't think keeping it a secret is feasible anymore, and even if it were I think it's safer for everyone here to know what they're dealing with, and avoid potentially dangerous situations. I'm not going to write files on everyone on board or anything like that, don't worry.

[ He takes a deep breath, silent, shoulders lowering. ] That's it. Let me know if you have any questions about any of this.

[ And the feed cuts off. ]

(( ooc: details about the machines, how they work or how they're built will be handwaved on my end, since it's all technical gibberish and I don't have the necessary knowledge or the time/patience to go googling about it right now. SORRY. ))

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I don't have a brain like a human's, sport. It's made to be able to run the functions of an entire spaceship, and I'm really good at multi-tasking.

[She closes it again, and lets it fall into her palm.]

Right. Well, you'll have to excuse my dumb questions sometimes, but I don't know a lot about Indogenes. Only what you've told me so far, basically.

[ Never heard of them before coming here, and so far as he knows, she's the only one around, so. ]

[ It had to happen at some point. Which is as unsettling a thought as it is unusual to him, when he's very much the kind to just run and stay away from something or someone he wants to avoid. But he can't exactly do that here, and despite his instinct telling him to ignore her next text, he makes his way over to the door of the department instead.

She'll wait for a good while, though. The department's a big area, and right now it has quite a few people working on the devices. Eventually the door slides open and Bruce's standing inside, eyes on her for the fraction of a second it takes him to look away again. ]

You could've just come in. It's not locked.

No problem. Just also keep in mind I'm chronically incapable of not picking on people. But that's not from being an Indogene that's long-suffering irritability.

Anyway, I'll see you there.

[Except the lab is his safe space and Wanda imagines Bruce wouldn't be comfortable with the idea of her just showing up when he doesn't want her here to begin with. But of course she can't say that.]

I would have been in the way.

[Fortunately she's become very good at pretending she doesn't notice when her presence makes people uneasy or afraid. Honestly, Wanda's planning to keep talking to a minimum - fewer chances to make Bruce hate her even more than he does already.]

[the Hulk File is a chilling reminder of the severity of Bruce's condition -- and of his courage in making the information public, barely a breath after the detailed briefing of the ambitious shielding plan. tactically, it's perfectly sound, much better than exposing the volatile atmosphere to firefights or risking intrepid hunters slipping through the mercenary blockade. practically, the scope and technology and power involved is daunting. Bel hopes fervently that they succeed in time.

a fair practical grasp of shielding mechanics specific to their home universe doesn't qualify Bel as the type of expert the project needs, but there's another point to bring up.]

That's good work. [an understatement, but after a while there aren't enough superlatives for planet-saving heroics, whether performed in the field or in the lab.] Who will be controlling and maintaining the equipment? Can the Cetans operate it?

I'm trying to design it to be self-sufficient and self-repairing on a long-term perspective, but as you can likely imagine, it's impossible to know for how long exactly it'll work, and we don't have the time to test it out.

[ He'd like to offer a more definitive answer on that front— alas. ]

So far as I know, the creatures are the only beings living in Ceta. And unless they understand basic technology, no, they wouldn't be able to fix anything. But if all goes according to plan, it won't need to be maintained or operated.

Definitely more important to get it in place, I understand.

I'm just concerned that the Cetans themselves might need to lower the barrier someday. Who knows, maybe in the distant future, but if they develop space flight -- or learn it from the tech that's dropped on the planet already -- they should have the option. [they should be safe, not trapped.....] If there's no time before we leave, do you think something could be developed to send back to them later, if we find a willing courier along the way?

Then it's a good thing I'm a very patient person. [ He smiles a little. ]

I'll be around. See you soon.

[ Well, he did tell her to drop by, didn't he? And it's a good thing she doesn't say that, he'd probably find it laughable after knowing that she basically invaded his head. ]

There's plenty of room.

[ And plenty of people dropping by. A second's pause, then he turns, gesturing vaguely for her to follow as he leads the way to where the devices are being worked on. Some have cables hooked onto them, connected to the computers, a few people with their heads and hands shoved into the shell as they put them together. Bruce makes his way to the two that seem more or less finished, walking around them and checking them to make sure they're somewhat stable first. ]

Want to try and lift it off the ground a little?

[ Bruce falls silent, considering. He hadn't really thought of this particular species, sentient or not, ever developing any kind of technology such as their own, and even if so, to have the wish to leave their planet. But... he can work with that possibility too. ]

We can build in some kind of shutdown mechanism, in case they ever want to turn it off. A manual override. Something not so simple that they'd lower the barrier accidentally, but not so complex that they couldn't figure it out how to do it. [ Balance is complicated there, though. He doesn't know nearly enough about these creatures— but he can try. ]

That'd work. An off-on switch. [mouth quirks grimly] There should be enough anatomical information in that damned museum to give a rough idea of what they're capable of physically. Or voice-activation could work.

If someone could get you that information, would that help?

Actually yes, it would. I've managed to gather some information on them even from the Moira, but having more data will definitely be a plus for this. [ And at least the museum, gruesome as it is, will serve a purpose. ]

Are you offering?

[This seems like quite a lot of resources to spend on a slightly interesting, if mostly unremarkable planet. But he supposes the 'Right''' thing to do would be to help.]

If you're still in need of hands for transporting the shield generators, I can gather some of the other Autobots to distribute them.

The weight shouldn't be an issue, and they've spent enough time lying around and doing nothing.

[ That's humans for you, overly sentimental at times. Bruce tried to keep himself somewhat detached from what was happening down at the planet, but he can't ignore the creatures' plight anymore, especially now. ]

That would be of great help, actually. Thank you. [ He offers a small cordial smile. ] I thought about you guys, so it's great that you're offering.

[ He's seen the Autobots around, often at the cargo bay —difficult to miss the tallest members of the crew, after all—, and of course they came to mind, when he knew he'd need someone strong to carry the devices across the planet's surface. ]

Who me? [He points to himself, mocking confusion.] Do I look like the kind of guy who complains?

[Deacon isn't a scientist, and from the sounds of things the devices Bruce is making are probably too heavy for him to carry safely. He's better at stealth than strength.

But the information on Bruce's transformations interests him greatly. Anything to do with radiation could be useful knowledge back home. And the creature Bruce describes, it sounds almost like a super mutant. Yeah, he can see why it would be bad if that were let out.]

So, no sneaking up and popping balloons by your ear. Got it.

No, not really. I'm just covering my bases here, in case you get tired of me throwing snacks for you to catch mid-air. [ That does sound like fun, though. Silly and stupid fun, but still. ]

[ Bruce's staring flatly at the camera when he replies, jaw tense as he manages to stretch his lips into a thin smile, not the least bit genuine. ]

I have a better lid on it than that. But I'd still appreciate no balloon popping. [ That gets annoying real fast and even Bruce's patience has its limits. ]

Did they ever figure out how to do permanent radiation resistance without, you know, turning a person into an indestructible green rage monster? Not that there's anything wrong with being an indestructible green rage monster sometimes but...yeah. That's a pretty major side effect.

No, not that I know of. [ He hesitates, swallows dryly before he goes on. ] Pretty much all our work was destroyed during the lab incident, and it's highly unlikely they'd find someone else who could do the work that we did. Not to mention that the project was completely scrapped after what happened. Thankfully.

It's a shame it didn't work out. RadX is great in that it can save your life but...it's not really that great. It only lasts a few minutes. Something permanent would be revolutionary, but it always seems to come with a crappy downside.

So, what was "the lab incident?"

They were never working on radiation resistance, anyway. That was just the lie we were fed. They were using our work to try and build super soldiers. Weapons. That's why I turned out the way I did. And by lab incident, I mean the testing that flooded me with gamma radiation, which triggered my first transformation.

What's RadX?

Shit, so they really were building a super mutant. [That's how the super mutants started, too. Somebody wanted an army.]

Rad-X is a pill that provides radiation resistance, pretty decent if you take it properly. One dose only lasts about four minutes or so, but that's usually enough time to get out of an irradiated area in a pinch. And if you've got enough doses on you, you're golden for as long as you remember to keep taking it.

I'm sure that this isn't exactly what they had in mind. [ Though that didn't stop the General from trying to get his hands on him and his blood anyway. ]

Really? [ Interest piqued. ] You had a lot of areas like that, back in your world? How come?

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that's a surprisingly accurate portrait of the hulk-- i mean what

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