Sem Lockdown, Day 23
A mood fell upon Alpha Radio Station 1, though it wasn't exactly easy to put your finger on what sort of mood it was. It wasn't exactly melancholy, everyone was too excited the prospect of the easing of lockdown for that. It wasn't exactly boredom, Akira was still singing as she vacuumed the main corridor while Miles kept time with a spork he was meant to be washing. It wasn't exactly quiet or dispirited either, due to the above reason. It was probably more so a mood of anticipation. Everyone was too eager to pack up and leave the radio station and their lockdown jobs behind to focus on the task at hand.
Tristan was starting to catch onto this and he was finding it rather frustrating. He didn't want to make a mess of the daily reports now, after all their efforts, and especially not due to something as small as a lack of focus.
With his Captain-like attitude in full swing, he decided to raise it at the daily meeting: "I have come up with a plan to boost team morale."
If the others had physically been in the room with him, they would have exchanged subtle looks of disbelief. Instead, they just gave the looks of disbelief to their individual screens.
"I don't understand, Captain. I think everyone's doing pretty well," Kain started, "We're all getting along well and having a good time, despite the circumstances." Akira and Miles nodded in agreement.
"That's the problem. You're all too busy having a good time to concentrate on why we're here in the first place - to give the people the information they need. That should be far more important to you than putting on a mini-concert for your own amusement..." an awkward and slightly embarrassed silence fell. Tristan cleared his throat, "Please understand, I'm not saying that you can't have fun, it's just that there's a time and a place for it. At this crucial point in current events, ensuring everyone has the necessary information with a side of accuracy and a sprinkle of clarity is top priority."
"Di.. Did you just refer to information as a meal?" Kain asked.
"Yes, yes I did."
"Bit unlike you."
Tristan gave him a mere shrug in response.
"Okay then, but what's the plan?" Akira mused.
"Yes, thanks for that. I would like to do some early morning exercises, proper old-school military style." These words were spoken as corners of mouths fell, the light of great hope and excitement disappeared from eyes and good spirits melted to a soggy, grey goo and slid out the gaps underneath doors. "I'm talking the ancient practice of regimes: 100 squats, push-ups and sit-ups and being timed running up and down stairs as you carry heavy bags of flour. That should sharpen your minds in preparation for a full day of hard work."
"Do we even have heavy bags of flour?" Kain asked.
"Nope, but we have boxes of other heavy stuff aplenty in here."
"But, Captain, I'm already doing 30 reps of sit-ups as part of my daily exercise routine," Miles protested.
"Perfect, this way you can challenge yourself even further."
Looks of disbelief intensified by 100 percent.
Tristan was starting to catch onto this and he was finding it rather frustrating. He didn't want to make a mess of the daily reports now, after all their efforts, and especially not due to something as small as a lack of focus.
With his Captain-like attitude in full swing, he decided to raise it at the daily meeting: "I have come up with a plan to boost team morale."
If the others had physically been in the room with him, they would have exchanged subtle looks of disbelief. Instead, they just gave the looks of disbelief to their individual screens.
"I don't understand, Captain. I think everyone's doing pretty well," Kain started, "We're all getting along well and having a good time, despite the circumstances." Akira and Miles nodded in agreement.
"That's the problem. You're all too busy having a good time to concentrate on why we're here in the first place - to give the people the information they need. That should be far more important to you than putting on a mini-concert for your own amusement..." an awkward and slightly embarrassed silence fell. Tristan cleared his throat, "Please understand, I'm not saying that you can't have fun, it's just that there's a time and a place for it. At this crucial point in current events, ensuring everyone has the necessary information with a side of accuracy and a sprinkle of clarity is top priority."
"Di.. Did you just refer to information as a meal?" Kain asked.
"Yes, yes I did."
"Bit unlike you."
Tristan gave him a mere shrug in response.
"Okay then, but what's the plan?" Akira mused.
"Yes, thanks for that. I would like to do some early morning exercises, proper old-school military style." These words were spoken as corners of mouths fell, the light of great hope and excitement disappeared from eyes and good spirits melted to a soggy, grey goo and slid out the gaps underneath doors. "I'm talking the ancient practice of regimes: 100 squats, push-ups and sit-ups and being timed running up and down stairs as you carry heavy bags of flour. That should sharpen your minds in preparation for a full day of hard work."
"Do we even have heavy bags of flour?" Kain asked.
"Nope, but we have boxes of other heavy stuff aplenty in here."
"But, Captain, I'm already doing 30 reps of sit-ups as part of my daily exercise routine," Miles protested.
"Perfect, this way you can challenge yourself even further."
Looks of disbelief intensified by 100 percent.
******
"Good evening, fellow citizens. There's a lot to get through this evening but first, I would like to discuss the importance of exercising the mind. I know we're almost out of lockdown by now but it has come to my attention that there is great benefit in keeping yourself active. I believe we put some suggestions on our website earlier, so you can have a look on there, but even just ensuring you get your daily exercise, home-growing some vegetables or playing a game while keeping in contact with family and friends is enough.
Anyway, I am delighted to announce that the Supreme Leader has made the definitive confirmation that he will be here to join us as of tomorrow evening so please pay attention for his special segment, we have decided it will be coming in place of my usual opening. I will be honest, I enjoy this bit vey much so it is a slight pity for me, but there really is no one better to take over the job than him, I suppose.
With plenty of news to report today, here's Kain Douglas."
******
"Good evening, everyone.
First of all, I have reports that the single remaining member of the cheese analysis team was caught administering Sterculian cheese to her teammates, who have all contracted crāpulavirus. This sounds rather ridiculous but, she has fully admitted to the claims and has said the following, which should hopefully explain it a bit:
I was really hoping that this would go undiscovered for a few more days, so each and every one of you could understand my team and I's decision. No part of this was illegal: if I had not been caught outside my friend's house with a hypoallergenic bag containing the cheese, everyone would be reporting today that the cheese was found to be uncontaminated. Each and every other member of the research team consented to being a part of this test, which has been carried out due to a breakthrough I had where I realised that the properties of the cheese could have an effect on the virus. I will explain further on that at a later date but, basically, if you noticed that some of your plants wilted during the smellier part of the Sterculian invasion, that's essentially what should happen to the virus molecules in your system. Yes, the cheese really is so potent that it might be able to aid in fighting the virus outbreak.
Military officials say that these findings will be discussed in meetings tomorrow and that, so long as the information behind this strange test can be proven as being completely safe, they are eager to follow the results and will potentially base some official decisions from them. It has also been advised that no one compares this to back on Earth when that president said that non-sensical thing about bleach, since any decision arising from this would be based on genuine scientific fact.
That is obviously this evening's main news story. However, I do have some updates for changes in the travel industry:
After these events, we have realised that closer travel links between the few living at the West Pole and those in Secat would be desired by enough individuals to warrant the creation of new plans. The main suggestion up for discussion at the moment is an underwater tunnel, though the environmental impact of something like this would require vigorous research. This is exciting news for those looking for work though, as this is expected to create a lot of jobs if it goes ahead,
Here's Miles with today's medical updates:
******
"Good evening, everybody. I don't know about you, but I'm really excited to find out about the findings from this new research.
That said, there are plenty of other strategies being explored to prevent outbreaks like this happening again, such as research was being put into create a vaccine. Military officials are also looking into strategies of preventing future outbreaks, worse than this one, from spreading too fast. This may involve shutting off travel links. Sir Leonty Hershall, our Supreme Leader, will speak more on this tomorrow.
I know now that it's looking like people, if they are released a bit earlier than the month we were meant to be in lockdown for, won't be getting out many days sooner than they'd hoped. I sympathise with those of you who are a bit bummed out about this, but I suppose you just have to look on the bright side that it's looking like it might be a tad sooner rather than later.
Anyway, keep following the guidelines and I shall pass you onto Akira with the weather."
******
"Thanks, Miles.
Due to Storm François, Central Secat will experience rain tomorrow, with the whole country being rather windy and the average temperature being 9 degrees centigrade. Simul Santu will be slightly windy but still quite warm with an average temperature of 15 degrees centigrade. Piscanturia will be warmer still with an average temperature of 23 degrees centigrade.
The stormy weather at the West Pole should begin to ease off as it sweeps eastwards. The North Pole and the South Pole could both experience snowfall tomorrow as temperatures begin to drop again.
That's all from me this evening. Back to you, Captain."
******
"Thanks, Akira, and thank you all for your undying attention and co-operation during these times.
Just a reminder, our Supreme Leader will be starting off the broadcast tomorrow. It will be an honour to have him with us and I'm sure you'll all be looking forward to getting the scoop on what we can expect in the coming days.
Here's a song from Kain to play us out tonight.
Goodnight, fellow citizens. Take care."
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