19392/New Themyscira New Problems

New Themyscira New Problems
Date of Scene:	28 October 2024
Location:	New Themyscira
Synopsis:	Cassie and Diana arrive on New Themyscira, to get a rundown on the status of the planet, and the colony developing there.
Cast of Characters:	Diana Prince, Cassie Sandsmark

---

Diana Prince has posed:
This colony world had been named on a whim, an unexpected suggestion that seemed to stick for what was a place that needed an identity. This place was a melting pot of different species displaced by the heinous acts of Galactus, and what was worse? Everyone here was suffering from the anxiety of not being free from another attack by the giant planet eating monstrosity of a galactic sized threat.

The planet was going through growing pains too, or at least the community that was being built upon it. The homes and other structures, that were being built to service the people of this new colony world, were being built with great care. A number of Amazons were the lead designers of the new settlement, and because of it, it was looking quite a lot like Themyscira City itself, only with a lot more modern amenities mixed in with alien technologies.

It was kind of beautiful, in an eerie way. The brand new structures harkened right back to places that Diana, and Cassie, were surely familiar with, but there were things built in to the architecture, like alien power generators, street lamps, and holographic projection machines, creating a fusion of so many cultures all in such a small area of an otherwise untamed world.

The starport was the busiest area of the settlement still, though, with a market and a big tent city near to the landed barge ships, and smaller space vessels that were collected on the flat land, with throngs of people coming and going from the port to the settlement itself.

It was here that Diana and Cassie had just arrived, aboard the Invisible Jet, which was very visible right now. parked in a section of the port that was guarded by a number of Amazon soldiers, the duo were here for a tour of the settlement, lead by a tall Amazon woman of dark skin, and beefy muscled arms. Shadra.

Shadra held her golden and silver helmet under one arm, her black hair tied in to a thick braid, as she lead the Wonder duo along a pathway toward the city. "Food production is our biggest concern. Many of the group elders are bickering about how to produce the food that matters most to their individual species. They want to hunt, they want meat. But the less inclined to meat? They want all focus on aggricultural development, tending to the wild lands to the east. We have found a number of threatening predators, however, that will attack on sight. We are training many of them to be able to fend these types of attacks off, but it has been an.. ordeal." She explained, as she glanced to the two women of great importance. "It is good that you both are here, it will inspire those who are so far from home."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Is it strange that Cassie has fit right in with this project? Or is it really just like her?

Either way it's true. Given that she had a lot of involvement with some of the problems at the Starport when these refugees first started showing up on Earth, seeking one home they were ultimately denied, the ongoing issue has become one that matters to her. And although she may seem more 'down to Earth' than Diana in her day-to-day life, more like a normal human twentysomething and not the ancient font of wisdom that her sister represents, the truth is that Cassie is no less capable of grandiose cosmic adventure. She learned that on her first trip to Jupiter with the Titans, even if it ended up kind of poorly...

So it isn't Cassie's first time here. As much as she's been able, she's taken time to join the rotations of Amazons delegated to the planet, pitching in where she can. Though she does lack her own easy means of transport. So that's meant coming with Diana on her Jet, or via what few ships the refugees still have functioning.

Listening to Shadra's report, Cassie is therefore more than familiar with these ongoing problems. In fact, the issue of food goes all the way back to the Starport. "Sometimes its even worse than just bickering about meat and veggies. These people are from entirely different worlds. In some cases, the fundamental chemistry isn't even the same. Remember the Taco Whiz cheese riot?" That's a real thing that happened, that will be listed in history! "Those kids got really sick."

"So that means setting aside different plots of land to grow what they individually need... and naturally, the bickering that comes if one group thinks they've been given the less ideal of two probably equally crappy options." She puts on an exasperated face for a moment, before pushing past it.

"So what's on deck, for us to be inspiring about, today?"

Diana Prince has posed:
To be on an alien world, yet for it to look so much like Earth, was a bit of a surprise, for some in the Amazon Starguard, but it was true. This planet was such a match to Earth, that even the natural beauty of it was hard to distinguish differences, without looking closely. This was the first Themysciran Starguard expedition too, even if there were roughly only 50 Amazons on planet, this was a big deal for the starguard operation, and military wing of the Themysciran society. The Queen was eager for updates, as were all Amazons back home.

Diana, dressed in her Starguard uniform, that mirrored the colors of her regular armor, walked alongside Cassie, though her eyes were scanning this way, and that way, taking in the sights of the place, and offering little waves to those who connected with her with motions of their own hands, or smiles when close enough.

At the question of what they could immediately provide, Shadra paused when they walked across a arching stone bridge that reached over a dried up creek bed, that extended out to the west, wehre it went in to a wooded area. Shadra faced both women, on the edge of the main settlement's main road, all of the newly built buildings spread out before them, with a smattering of people milling about between them, some of which were settlers, carrying baskets of goods, clearly having already moved in to their new homes, or places of business, while others were still forced to wait on a lottery system to select them for entry in to the newly built buildings.

"Cassandra." Shadra said, nodding toward the blonde. "I admire your straight forward questioning, and quite honestly? Your charm is what I was hoping to utilize. you have the ability to talk people through emotions, and a way to smile your enemies in to listening to you, if you'll accept me saying my observations of you over the years. Because of that, I was hoping you would help me train the new hunters. They are eager to learn the ways in which we take down the predators here, but they are bickering amongst one another far too much."

Diana raised her eyebrows, and glanced toward her sister, showing a small smile.

"Diana?" Shadra asked, as she caught the Princess' stare. "The people would like to have you speak to them, hopefully tonight at the feast of celebration we are hosting. This is a milestone for the settlement, as it has been six months since we arrived, and the people are eager to begin traditions here, to build holidays. I think having you speak, would bring a lot of inspiration in that regard."

She looked between the two women then, and nodded once. "Of course, if neither of these things are what you are up for, I would understand that too."

Diana smirked, and even laughed softly. "I would be happy to speak to everyone who attends tonight."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Normally, Cassie has never been big on the uniforms and costumes. But she wears her ceremonial armor for ceremonial reasons, the battle stuff for, well, practical reasons... and this time? Well, since it's a literal SPACE UNIFORM?

She's not only wearing it, but after they've walked a short distance from the Invisible jet, she pauses to (you guessed it) take out a phone and get a nice selfie of her in the getup, backed by the Jet and the unfamiliar sky above it. No doubt she also did a full 'try on' video at some point while they were flying over! Gotta hype that Starguard brand!

As they trek on further, she occasionally takes more photos, or often, even longer clips of video, even going so far as to turn her phone sideways (GASP) and get proper landscape orientation shots. These don't have the constant streamer-ish hype commentary over them, nor do they mostly include her or Diana and Shadra, but rather they just take in swathes of the alien-yet-familiar landscape, as well as the structures being built, recording it for not just her viewers... but in effect, for all of Earth. It's not like they have a lot proper news media out here!

Getting a bit lost in her documentarian mission, Cassie turns her head with an audible 'hmm?' as Shadra tries to get her attention. "What's up? Oh. Yeah, I mean, I could help with that. Though I'm uh..." She glances over at Miss 'Literally named for the goddess of the Hunt' and back. It's among the most sacred of Amazon traditions and thus one where modern-sensibilities Cassie often more clearly stands out. She grew up eating her food from a supermarket, not with arrow-flight and whispered prayers to Artemis.

"There's... a lot of better hunters," she points out, in summary. "But then again, from what we know I don't think the wildlife here is quite as dangerous as on Old Themyscira," oh yes, she's going there, name-wise. Old Themysicra, home of Old Diana! "So if it's more about just getting the hunters not to kill EACH OTHER, I can probably help with that." Big grin.

All of this is quickly forgotten with the mention of what Shadra wants Diana to help with, though.

"Oooooh, we're having a party?" Obviously parties are her favorite, whatever the cause or occasion! "That sounds like a great idea. I'm sure people could use something positive to focus on, to help keep their minds off other things. I'm sure they'll all bring their own holidays to the planet, but having some to bring everyone together..."

Diana Prince has posed:
It's true. Hunting was one of Diana's favorite skillsets. The bow was Diana's favorite weapon. Cassie knew this of her mentor too, but when she insinuated Diana would be a better choice, Shadra just tilted her head, and gave the young Amazon a large smirk. "I am not going to simply bypass you, in exchange for putting all that which we need on to the shoulders of the Princess." She fired back, the Commander of the Starguard detachment said back to Cassie, before she smirked, and Diana smirked along with her.

"It is about inter-personal connections, more than it is about the use of weapons, or tracking." Shadra explained, as she turned to look toward the east, where a road wound around some of the larger structures in the center of the town. "There is a Hunting Lodge area setup on the eastern edge of the city. there is where the training grounds lie, and there is where the volunteered 'best of' warriors and hunters are from each of the represented cultures. Many of them are exceptional hunters, all on their own. But, we do not want tribalism to set in, and for the cultures to become rooted in their individual pots. You cannot have a melting pot of culture, if all the cultures hide within their own pots. So, this is where I hope to have your help, Cassandra. Help our people find ways to make the cultures come together. Be it through inter-mixed hunting parties, ore just helping break the ice during training. You are good with that, as I have watched you break up many angry scuffles at the Arts Center, or back on the shores of 'Old themyscira'." That last part is said with a bit of obvious intention of insinuating reserved offense taken!

Diana, standing quietly beside her sister, smiled at some of what Shadra said, before she looked to Cassie again. "I like the sound of this." She said in that lovely chipper style, as the sun shine down upon them from the blue sky above, glinting the golden trim of Diana's leather and soft materialed uniform. "I will go and check on the gathering hall, and meet you there after you've settled in at the Hunting Lodge."

Shadra nodded lightly to Diana, before she motioned to Cassie. "They're gathered now, for training, if you'd like to come and observe?" The Commander asked of the young, vivacious, blonde Amazon zoomer.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"Yeah, all of that tracks." It isn't as if Shadra didn't point that out from the start, where she saw Cassie's strength in things. Most of it is just a matter of the young woman thinking out loud at this stage, talking through the points. For a moment, she's given up her filming and stands, one hand on her hip, looking off and... well, simply looking like she's thinking it all through.

"I think, hmm. Don't either of you get too mad at me for saying this, because well, I know it is such a huge Amazon thing... but I'm not sure this is really even about hunting, or that it's the root issue in what you're talking about." She glances back and forth between them. "You're used to a small-scale society on the island, where the community is tight-knit and that kind of activity can form a serious backbone. It's an activity that binds you together, and the rituals are part of daily life. So you're thinking about weaving those together here. But..."

"It doesn't scale. Already, these alien populations are vastly larger, and it's only going to get bigger from here." She shakes her head. "In the long term, aside from... patrols for making sure no alien monsters come rampaging in, you're going to be looking at developing domestication and animal husbandry, over hunting. Actually going out and getting something for food? That's not sustainable. Plus some of these species are MUCH more, uh, technologically focused. They haven't used bows or spears for thousands of years. They have laser guns. So, sure, the Tamaraneans might be into it, they're basically space Amazons. But the Karidians?" She shakes her head. "This may be new Themyscira, but we can't treat all these people like Amazons. They're very different from us."

Shadra might have started off talking about hunts and training and small-scale bonding, but Cassie is jumping ahead here and talking, well, wide-scale civilization. Maybe some of her fancy education is sneaking in...

"Anyway. It's not that I don't want to help with it. What I mean is, I think the two things, Di's party, and me maybe taking some aliens hunting together, those are closer together conceptually. They're both ceremonies, cultural practices. Teaching these people to work together, cooperatively, that's worth a lot. These people aren't going to be hunter-gatherers, in the long term, at least not most of them. But it's still an option to have them work together cooperatively, to bond a little. Especially if we tie it in to the celebrations..." And thus she looks back toward Di. "So maybe we tie the two things together. A big hunt FOR the big party, you know?"

IT's at this point, maybe, that Cassie realizes how far astray of the initial conversation she's gone. There's still a gathering of would-be hunters waiting for her, even if that may be a small party of the destiny of these people as a whole. "... yeah OK, maybe none of that is happening today. But food for thought. Let's go see what kind of folks I'm going to be working with, here..."

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana was unusually quiet, following the Commander's words, and Cassandra's response. The Princess elected to stay quiet in the moment, for the sake of hearing her sister dealing with this little interaction devoid of Diana's thoughts, or nudging of directions. Sometimes, you just needed to let your party members do the talking in the RPG of life. All of what Cassie says, too, causes Diana to smile with a self-satisfied expression, perhaps pleased to see her youthful protege step up with some spoken knowledge that sounded both on-point, and insightful. Or, perhaps, Diana just liked hearing Cassie talk about something that did not involve her butt being wagged in front of a camera recording device, with the destination of it landing on the internet in some untold dark spaces of utter ill-repute.

Whatever Diana's reasonings for it, she was smiling in a proud fashion all the same.

Commander Shadra? She took in a deep breath through her nose, and raised her chin up. The sunlight from above shined on her dark skinned cheeks, highlighting the Commander's rather impressive facial semetry. She nodded then once to Cassie, gave a glance to Diana, and then reached behind her back. She produced a rather menacing silvery laser pistol, that she held up, and aimed skyward, allowing Cassie to see a side profile of it, so she knew precisely what it was.

"We are adapting to their cultures, as well, Cassandra." Shadra stated. "With permission granted from the Queen, the Starguard is undergoing training with their advanced weaponry too. It is only fair, afterall, that we learn from them as much as they learn from us. We are not in command of them, we are simply here to help them, and there is no better way to showcase that, then to show that we are willing to learn their ways too." She flipped the gun around, and swept it back behind her back where it was returned to a holster on the harness at the small of her back. "We started considering this more in depth after the events in the Savage Lands. The United States military employs a number of heavy weapon machine guns, and some of our people utilized them to help kill the Brood King. Since then, there has been a growing push for more advanced weapons training within our ranks. It is not something we have wanted to explore at the Themysciran Arts Center, though... as the general public? They have expectations for what they'll witness us teaching, and training with. But out here? This is a new frontier. For all of us."

Diana showed a quick smile, before she nodded her head once, and repeated. "A new frontier. I like that. To boldly go, right?" She asked, as she gave a look from one of them, to the other. Behind Shadra, a contingent of Amazon arrived, at the lead of them was a tall redheaded Amazon, one who had lived at the Themysciran Embassy since before Cassie even called it her full time home. Adrastea, notorious best friend to Galatea, who still resided back at the Embassy.

Adra approached the group, and was quick to offer salute. "We are ready for you, Princess." She said, before she cast Cassie a smile, that ebbed in to a slight grin. Adra had always been the closest thing to an actual 'zoomer' Amazon, and had always related better to Cassie than most. she had a youthful edge to her, even if she was older than Diana even was. "Good luck, Cassie." Adra offered in encouragement. "There are some real grumps in that group."

Shadra shot Adra a glare, to which Adra apologized to the Commander with her eyes alone. The Commander turned back to Cassie, and nodded once. "I admire your insight, Cassandra, and I believe you are more on the mark than you realize. Let us go, and you will get an even clearer image of what is to come, I think."

Diana, smiling, offered a finger wave to Shadra, and Cassie, before she moved to walk with Adrastea, to catch up with her and make their way to the Great Hall, its newly finished form shining in the sunlight in the distance to the north.