The Doctor is In–DrJ’s Threads Character Blog

I have a sister? I have a sister! Evidently, Boston had its own Joe Johnston. Who had a daughter name of Erin, and subsequently died defending his home/engaging in armed insurrection (amazing how the labels change). Nico says there’s very little chance of an issue in letting her change residence to Ithaca. Hopefully, she’ll house-sit for me for a while, while she’s sorting out what she wants to do/where she wants to go to school, etc.

And I’m “Auntie Julia” to a 9-yo name of Tara who has spent the last I don’t even know what to call the time period being 9 at a Chucky’s that used to be in Piscataway, NJ. It was Mesmer. I’m afraid that even though we evac’d the kids (two of whom had been adults) and collapsed the thread, Mesmer got more data he needed. I don’t mind looking 20-something again, but re-experiencing 20-something angst and teen-something pigheadedness… that I could have done without. And starting to lose memory was horrifying.

Why did I wind up inhabiting the bodies of a Soviet flight instructor and a VC jet jock? I expected that I’d be an American… unless it was because of my *ahem* paternal contribution?

Thank God and St Brigid they got SIG out of Christi’s head. I was really worried that we’d have to implement one or more backup plans.

Now to tell Da “You’ve got a daughter,” and reassure Mom that it wasn’t him misbehaving.

Julia has ‘extra BGAs’ at 3.

BGA #1 (1 point)

1. Name of BGA: Support ‘USD Follow-up,’ Mike K’s(?)’s BGA

2. Type of BGA: (group; influence)

3. Description: Join the group that’s heading back to USD to try to sort things.

4. Relevant stats or contacts: Medicine plus background with Rochester

5. Are you expecting a reply? Yes

6. If this is a group bga, who else is involved? Lisa, Kirt, annA, Mike K

7. Which GM(s) do you believe is in charge of this BGA? Anandi, Andy

8. How many BGA points have you spent on this already? 0

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BGA #2 (1 point)

1. Name of BGA: Support ‘City of Glass Logistics’, Aaron’s Group BGA

2. Type of BGA: (group; influence)

2a. If this is a group BGA, who is the lead? Nigel

5. Are you expecting a reply? yes

6. If this is a group bga, who else is involved? Pete B

7. Which GM(s) do you believe is in charge of this BGA? Andy

8. How many BGA points have you spent on this already? 0

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BGA #3 (1 point)

1. Name of BGA: Support ‘Santa Lance,’ Andy’s group BGA

2. Type of BGA: (group; influence)

4. Relevant stats or contacts: Medicine, ENY AF Group Resources, ENY Doctor Personal Resources

7. Which GM(s) do you believe is in charge of this BGA? Lawrence

8. How many BGA points have you spent on this already? 6(7?)

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BGA #4 (1 point)

1. Name of BGA: Further research on Vampire blood

2. Type of BGA: (group; ressearch)

2a. If this is a group BGA, who is the lead? DrJ

3. Description: Continue investigation of vampire blood; research ghoul blood with an eye towards developing a vaccine; supervise [Brad's Danzig character] and his assistants in their research of Vampire blood.

4. Relevant stats or contacts: Medicine, Biology, Supernatural

5. Are you expecting a reply? yes

6. If this is a group bga, who else is involved? Dave H, Brad

7. Which GM(s) do you believe is in charge of this BGA? Andy

8. How many BGA points have you spent on this already? 1

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BGA #5 (1 point)

1. Name of BGA: Support ‘Relief Mission to Manhattan,’ Merry Peck’s group BGA.

2. Type of BGA: (group; influence)

2a. If this is a group BGA, who is the lead? Merry

4. Relevant stats or contacts: Medicine, ENY AF, Cornell

5. Are you expecting a reply? yes

7. Which GM(s) do you believe is in charge of this BGA? Gordon?

8. How many BGA points have you spent on this already? 0

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BGA #6 (1 point)

1. Name of BGA: Support ‘Organize State Department,’ Jim G’s group BGA.

2. Type of BGA: (group; fix)

3. Description: Give Nico a couple of grad students to assist him with getting the State Department set up.

4. Relevant stats or contacts: Cornell resources

5. Are you expecting a reply? yes

6. If this is a group bga, who else is involved? Lackey, Cameron?

7. Which GM(s) do you believe is in charge of this BGA? Gordon

8. How many BGA points have you spent on this already? 0

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BGA #7 (0 points)

1. Name of BGA: Support formation of ANALOG

2. Type of BGA: (group)

2a. If this is a group BGA, who is the lead? Arnis

5. Are you expecting a reply? (yes OR fyi only)

6. If this is a group bga, who else is involved? Pat, Kirt, Mike Young, John Cooke…

7. Which GM(s) do you believe is in charge of this BGA? ??

8. How many BGA points have you spent on this already? 0

Julia has ‘extra BGAs’ at 3.

BGA #1 (1 point)

1. Name: Support ‘Prepare ENY NOLA force,’ Eric Smith’s Group BGA.

4. Relevant Stats/Contacts: Military (1), Group Resources: ENY AF (2)

7. GM: Gordon

8. Points already spent: 0

BGA #2 (1 point)

1. Name: Support ‘Working on cure/vaccine for CANCaL, both versions,’ Kirt’s Group BGA.

4. Relevant Stats/Contacts: Group resources: ENY Medical community (2); Personalresources: ENY doctor (3); Medicine (5); Biology/Chemistry (4); Supernatural (2)

7. GM: Lawrence

8. Points already spent: 8(9?)

BGA #3 (1 point)

1. Name: Support ‘CANCaL 2.0,’ Peter Bensch’s Group BGA

4. Relevant Stats/Contacts: see BGA #2

7. GM: Lawrence

8. Points already spent: 1

BGA 4 (1 point)

1. Name: Support ‘Santa Lance,’ Andy Kirschbaum’s Group BGA

4. Relevant Stats/Contacts: see BGA #2 plus Group resources: Cornell University community

7. GM: Lawrence(?)

8. Points already spent: 5(6?)

BGA 5 (1 point)

1. Name: Support ‘Vampires: Threat or Menace,’ Justin’s (Dr Charlton) Group BGA

3. Description: I have samples of blood from: Georgianna, Victor, and Dmitri Alexsandrovitch. Valerie’s participating, so we’ll have a sample from her, as well. We also have data given to us in an unknown format by Lacey Deschene.

4. Relevant Stats/Contacts: see BGA #4, plus Hive scientific & technical resources per Kirt.

7. GM: Lawrence(?)

8. Points already spent:0

BGA 6 (1 point)

1. Name: Support ‘Move the Ship,’ Kirt’s Group BGA

4. Relevant Stats/Contacts: Astronaut proficiency (2); Operate airplane (3) ((int + operate airplane + astronaut proficiency) >= 10) is the requirement for safely operating an Earth Station Angel-class shuttle).

7. GM: Rita

8. Points already spent: 0

Well, I’m not going home for the foreseeable future.

We had all these ideas about what we were going to do with Dr Heintz when we got him. He’s 70+ years old, with a bad heart, and a bad hip, and a (so far) impenetrable sense that he’s done something heroic for the human race. His most recent project, before we “invited” him to join us: CANCaL/RAID 2.0. Skin contact transmissible. Kills a Hiver in 5-10 minutes. And now I–along with Rom, and ZQ, and Bud–am a carrier. So, I’m not going home to Ithaca for now; sent email to Mom, and she’s going to box up some books and my favorite silk PJs and such, and send me regular care packages of things that actually have a flavor.

In the meantime, I work with these people, and wonder when the quick-test I made up will tell me that it’s time to spend all my time outside my room in a 3-suit. I can get Dr Patel-Morrison to pick a resident to do the Santa Lance rounds for me… I think I have a dim sense of how a late-20^th person with AIDS felt.

Julia has ‘extra BGAs’ at 3.

BGA 1

1. Type of BGA: Scientific/Personal research
2. Short Description: Continue research into birth family
3. Relevant Proficiency, Skill or Contacts: Medicine (5), Life Sciences (4)
4. Where are you doing this thing: Hive
5. What do you expect the outcome to be: Sent Information from GMs
6. Maximum Points to devote to this BGA: 1
7. Long description: Continue research. Who/What was my bio-dad?

BGA 2

1. Type of BGA: Support Andy’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Santa Lance

BGA 3

1. Type of BGA: Support Eric Smith’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Support “Prepare reconnaissance and pre-emptive strike on Air Pirates.”

BGA 4

1. Type of BGA: Support Eric Smith’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Support “Dealing with Dr. Heintz.”

BGA 5

1. Type of BGA: Support Anna’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Support “Investigate Darkling DNA”

BGA 1

1. Type of BGA: Scientific Research
2. Short Description: Continue work on CANCaL, including possible uses of vaccine vs Darklings
3. Relevant Proficiency, Skill or Contacts: Medicine (5), Life Sciences (4), ENY Medical Community Resources (2), ENY AF Resources (2)
4. Where are you doing this thing: Hive
5. What do you expect the outcome to be: Sent Information from GMs; Cause things in the world to change
6. Maximum Points to devote to this BGA: 1
7. Long description: This contributes to Kirt’s Group BGA.

BGA 7

1. Type of BGA: Scientific research
2. Short Description: Coordinate examination of a patient suffering from Dementia Infernalis.
3. Relevant Proficiency, Skill or Contacts: Medicine (5), Life Sciences (4), Authority (2), Org Resources-ENY Medical Community (2), Org Resources-Cornell Community (1),
   Personal Resources-ENY Doctor (3)
4. Where are you doing this thing: ENY
5. What do you expect the outcome to be: Sent Information from GMs
6. Maximum Points to devote to this BGA: 1
7. Long description: Assemble a team from among my fellow doctors and Cornell colleagues to examine, physically, psychologically and perhaps spiritually a person suffering from Dementia Infernalis in ENY (i.e. a low-magic environment).

Julia has ‘extra BGAs’ at 2.

BGA 1

1. Type of BGA: Scientific Research
2. Short Description: CANCaL Vaccine development
3. Relevant Proficiency, Skill or Contacts: Medicine (5), Life Sciences (4), ENY Medical Community Resources (2), ENY AF Resources (2)
4. Where are you doing this thing: Hive
5. What do you expect the outcome to be: Sent Information from GMs; Cause things in the world to change
6. Maximum Points to devote to this BGA: 2
7. Long description: We have the original virus plus Dr Harding’s lab notes. Time to get working on the vaccine. This contributes to Kirt’s Group BGA.

BGA 2

1. Type of BGA: Support Rita’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Danzig weapon magic removal

BGA 3

1. Type of BGA: Scientific/Personal research
2. Short Description: Research family relationships and letter from Mom (?!?)
3. Relevant Proficiency, Skill or Contacts: Medicine (5), Life Sciences (4)
4. Where are you doing this thing: Hive, while I’m there for CANCaL research; ENY
5. What do you expect the outcome to be: Sent Information from GMs
6. Maximum Points to devote to this BGA: 1
7. Long description: More samples: Smiley Watkins; Rosa DeLucca. Also researching which is the right person from Falco’s research.

BGA 4

1. Type of BGA: Support John Cooke’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Support “Next Rising Sun space mission.”

BGA 5

1. Type of BGA: Support Eric Smith’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Support “Official ENY visit to San Diego.”

Julia has ‘extra BGAs’ at 2 and one point not used from Post-LA.

BGA 1

1. Type of BGA: Support Eric Smith’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Support Masters AFB

BGA 2

1. Type of BGA: Support ??’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Support school & hospital at Masters AFB

BGA 3

1. Type of BGA: Support Eric Smith’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Assist with Broken Arrow investigation; relevant skills: Military proficiency (1), Supernatural proficiency (2), Clairvoyance (2)

BGA 4

1. Type of BGA: Support Andy Kirshbaum’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Continue “Improve the medical situation in the ‘Poc” in support of Santa Lance (but I’m not going along this time)

BGA 5

1. Type of BGA: Scientific/Personal research
2. Short Description: Research family relationships and letter from Mom (?!?)
3. Relevant Proficiency, Skill or Contacts: Medicine (5), Life Sciences (4)
4. Where are you doing this thing: Hive, while I’m there for CANCaL research
5. What do you expect the outcome to be: Sent Information from GMs
6. Maximum Points to devote to this BGA: 1
7. Long description: I have DNA swabs (and permission) from Christi, Angie and myself. Will sequence and compare for degrees of relatedness. Examine letter ostensibly from my Mother for fingerprints and/or DNA (e.g. saliva on envelope flap).

BGA 6

1. Type of BGA: Support John Cooke’s Group BGA — 1 point
2. Short Description: Support “Check out Earth Station’s Moonbase.”

So, there’s a durable ‘bandage’ on the vortex issue, and we get to stand down.

Dr Cox, as it has been explained, threw himself and the advancing maelstrom into stasis. This is not a permanent solution, but it does buy us time to figure one out.

From the reports, Dr Cox had a moderate-to-severe MI. Assuming a long-term solution that includes removing him from his self-imposed stasis, I believe that I can save his life… iff the the Technosphere are willing to let me. In the meantime, Dr Archibald Mk.2 asked if I could start the idea of an honor guard circulating. He also put a piece of major temptation in my path: if I can get the ENY government to buy in on his “Glass City in the ‘Poc” idea, he’ll get me a stasis generator plus a TL 7 generator for one of the hospitals. I wonder how portable the combined equipment would be, and whether it could be mounted in an ambulance instead.

ZQ’s going to visit ENY sometime next week, primarily to talk with the General and me about the Historian question. I think I’ll invite him over for dinner. It feels like years since I’ve done mundane tasks like go to the grocery store and cook. Sometimes I think I should sublet the house, put my crap in storage, and move into BOQ… but then I couldn’t do things like invite ZQ over for dinner.

The question is: where do we go from here? Well, first we survive the all-eating vortex. Then the Pappalia mess needs to get sorted out. Maybe the Empire will be willing to listen to voices for change once things settle down. Yeah, and maybe HM will adopt me. And maybe we’ll stumble across those flying pigs. Hah.

Fortunately for me, the General said yes to my request to go on Ravens rotation. I need some sky time.

Aristocracies/Oligarchies can be a good method of governing IF the ‘in group’ is not fixed. There have to be opportunities for movement up… and movement down for people that don’t behave to the standard, whatever the standard is.

History tends to indicate that hereditary monarchies are good for 3 generations, 4 tops. Heirs raised in an environment of privilege, protection and expectation tend to become less and less responsive to the populace.

The Empire is squandering an incalculable percentage of its native talent because we’re not Italians, not men or both. If opportunities for non-Italians–leadership, military, whatever–become fewer over time, ENY will wither. I did make it into “Empire in Excellence,” which is careful to hold at least some of its slots open for us 2^nd and 3^rd class peeps. On the other hand… I had a 3.99 GPA and all these extracurriculars; I should have made Valedictorian at Ithaca High, but, even in that ‘hotbed of Liberals,’ that went to Marco–captain of the football team, 3.97 GPA. I’m betting that an Italian General of wouldn’t have picked me to replace Dr Fox.

So, we have Italian nobility, mark…6? But these men’s Das and Granddas were New York mobsters-I-mean-legitimate-businessmen. ‘Noblesse oblige’ is not something they’re teaching in Cavaliere school, AFAIK. An example: Shortly after he settled in as our Ambassador, I tried to help Dr Archibald with ’securing some resources.’ It turned out that the Consigliere had other plans for these same resources and that I wasn’t (until later) on the need-to-know list for those plans. The bit of that interaction relevant to the need for noblesse oblige lessons for these new-minted nobles is this: I know Cornell, and Cornell knows me. Both Mom and Da teach; I grew up on campus; I came back for med school; I work there. All that plus JET posting plus oak leaves, and the bun tyen-shung duh ee-dway-ro local soldato told me that I should “stop asking questions and see the Consigliere if I had a problem with that.” I doubt if he knew that I could talk to the Consigliere. Perhaps he had his instructions, but what he didn’t have was manners.

Jeez, I sound like one of Professor Klein’s history lectures.

I hate this waiting… too many opportunities for too much introspection. None of this helps with the current threat. None of it helps with the state of the Empire.