Reference:2003-12-05 Michael Engberg in Ae'gura

Explorers confront Michael Engberg over the state of the Cavern. The existence of Sharper's city office is revealed to the DRC.

---

Chat.log started…
Michael Engberg: Okay, Brian, what did you want to talk about?
Brian Fioca: I was interested in discussing the state of affairs down here.
Michael Engberg: Cool, Brian, what would you like to know?
Brian Fioca: Why are you keeping information from us? I realize you're working hard on restoration but with all the silence and delays, and delays about silence, it doesn't help your cause about sticking to the rules when you go about breaking them yourself.
Michael Engberg: Okay, Brian, what information do you want?
Brian Fioca: What have you discovered about the creatures, the Bahro?
Michael Engberg: Why do you want to know that?
Brian Fioca: Ha! Because we would like to explore it!
Michael Engberg: So, Brian, you asked to talk about the state of the Cavern, but now you want information on the Bahro?
Brian Fioca: I think they have something to do with what's going on with Phil.
Michael Engberg: Why do you believe that? Could you tell me your theory?
Dusante: We were told they would effect the restoration.
Brian Fioca: We don't even know if they're a danger to us.
Michael Engberg: We know those Ages are safe. The ones with the stamp.
Brian Fioca: Why? Because that way you can make sure we don't find out your secrets?
IMForeman: They mean made safe, Brian.
Michael Engberg: Brian, don't assume you know everything. I said safe.
Brian Fioca: I don't know everything! Ha! That is the problem. The advantage you have with this dictatorship of yours is you can wipe all of the Ages clean before anyone gets there.
Michael Engberg: Again, assuming.
Brian Fioca: There are others who agree with me on this. Many.
Michael Engberg: Honestly, if you really wanted to know the state of the Cavern, that’s fine. But, to assume and belittle the DRC, well, I just don't have time for it.
IMForeman: I agree with Michael.
Michael Engberg: Thank you, IMF.
IMForeman: No problem.
Brian Fioca: What is the state of the Cavern then? I'm interested now. How are things down here?
Michael Engberg: Well, the state of the Cavern, currently we opened the Courtyard.
Brian Fioca: (sighs) Really? What are the plans for the next opening?
IMForeman: The DRC have been very kind and polite to me since they invited me here. It's the brigade of people Zandi let in that have been assuming some grand conspiracy.
Michael Engberg: The Nexus has been having some problems and we are working on the KI more everyday.
Brian Fioca: Good. Upgrades? To the KI?
Michael Engberg: Laxman has been working on a few things. It’s talked about in his bio on the website, www.drcsite.org.
IMForeman: Michael, do you know what state K'Veer is in? Has restoration started on it? Last time I asked Kodama, it wasn't being touched yet.
Michael Engberg: IMF, I am currently in Er'cana and I don't really keep up on other areas.
IMForeman: Okay. Thanks.
Brian Fioca: Okay.
Brian Fioca: And the library? When will that be open? Rough guess.
John Lynch (private message): Sorry for interrupting. But, I have heard reports that the Library was once opened to the Explorers. A simple explanation on why it was closed again will help. I have heard many conspiracy theories from your critics.
Michael Engberg: John, I will address this publicly.
John Lynch: Okay. Thanks.
Michael Engberg: Some people have said that other areas of the city were open and are now closed. If Explorers were in those other areas, it was before the Cavern was open to the public.
Brian Fioca: Understood.
Michael Engberg: Some might have heard that it’s not open now, but with the major amount of public we needed to close areas off. Sorry for the inconvenience.
John Lynch: Aaaah. So you’re restricting areas to ensure visitors don't destroy important artifacts by accident until you can secure the area better?
IMForeman: Or get killed, John. I can understand that. How many people do you think that bridge would support at once? Particularly that rope one.
Michael Engberg: IMF, who really knows, or wants to find out?
IMForeman: Not me.
plinthon: Could we have access to a map... so we can identify some of the structures?
IMForeman: There was one here once.
Michael Engberg: I'll talk to the DRC about giving a map out. Maybe even put it on the site.
IMForeman: The last thing that anyone needs down here is for an Explorer to be killed by unsafe structures. Best to play it a bit cautious.
Private Message.
Michael Engberg: Brian, I don't leak anything. Loose lips sink ships.
Brian Fioca: Interesting. So, you do have something to hide then?
Michael Engberg: It's just a saying.
Brian Fioca: I see. That it is.
Michael Engberg: Again, it’s just a saying.
Brian Fioca: Yup. You're right.
Michael Engberg: Brian, I will bring up the concern about giving more information out.
Brian Fioca: Thank you, Michael. That's all we ask. It'll make a difference. But, it has to be done. No more delays.
John Lynch: Mr Engberg. Just a small question: Could you explain why certain information needs to be kept secret or slowly released to the public? I have read transcripts where you said it's important to slowly release the information. I can't understand why though...
Michael Engberg: John, Dr. K. is thinking about giving all the information about ages out. I just believe that giving out information a bit at a time is better then all at once. We will see what the DRC agrees with.
Brian Fioca: Why is that? What possible reason is there for that?
Michael Engberg: Well, say I only knew your name.
Brian Fioca: Which you do.
John Lynch: Thanks a lot for taking the time out from your important work in Er'Cana Mr. Engberg. It's greatly appreciated.
Michael Engberg: It’s hard to explain. Let me try my best.
Brian Fioca: Sure. I'm a reasonable person.
Michael Engberg: Say we know Age names of 50 places. Yes, we can give out those names. But, wouldn't it be better to really research the one Age and give out one Age at a time?
Brian Fioca: Well, it might be good to release information incrementally about the Age earlier in the cycle.
Michael Engberg: Give you all the information on that one Age in a more detailed form, pictures, maybe movies, and a nice document, then just giving you a bunch of names?
Brian Fioca: Well, the problem is more complicated than that.
IMForeman: I can just imaging if the DRC gave out early info that later turned out to be a wrong guess... then people like yourself would accuse them of lying.
Michael Engberg: IMF, that, too.
John Lynch: That makes sense. However, if you already know the 50 names before you begin researching one age in depth, why not just release the 50 names? Sure a details form would be nice. But, if you already know the 50 names, why not bother telling them as well? I imagine it wouldn't take much effort if you already have the information.
Michael Engberg: John, it’s more on what IMF had to say, wrong information. Name changes because the D'ni wasn't translated right.
John Lynch: Oh, okay. So the information you haven't released, you’re unsure as to its reliability?
Brian Fioca: Who's to say you haven’t already hidden information by the time you release everything.
Michael Engberg: Brian, people will think what they will. No matter what we do.
Brian Fioca: But, we wouldn't know if they were. You understand that this civilization was more advanced than our own. There is a likelihood that they have information that could give some people lots of power. And you could understand why they would want to keep it to themselves, could you not?
Michael Engberg: Brian, what information do you really think we have?
Brian Fioca: I... there's no way to know. (sighs)
Michael Engberg: The DRC always needs to look over information before we release anything.
Brian Fioca: For safety, right?
John Lynch: Brian, instead of assuming they're guilty of something, why not assume they're innocent of something and look at the evidence from that standpoint?
Brian Fioca: John, I'll look at it from another perspective if you will.
Michael Engberg: Brian, there are so many unknowns down here.
Brian Fioca: I understand, Michael. Believe me.
Michael Engberg: Columbus thought he sailed to India then called the Native Americans Indians. Look how that has entered history books.
John Lynch: Good point. I would rather not have inaccuracies written in text books. Ancient Egyptian textbooks are annoying in that regard.
IMForeman: It seems to me, Brian, that you are basing all this off Sharper's ill-will... and Sharper ain’t the nicest guy in the world. In fact, he's highly questionable.
Brian Fioca: Sharper's not around. He's going with Phil, I think.
John Lynch: What?! What makes you think that, Brian?
Brian Fioca: Rumors.
IMForeman: I doubt Phil would keep Sharper around. Phil seems concerned about things. Sharper's a killer.
Brian Fioca: Killer??
IMForeman: Not exactly a match made in Heaven.
Brian Fioca: Listen, Phil told me that Sharper was kind to him.
IMForeman: He killed one of the Teledahn creatures. And sunk the body.
Brian Fioca: Are you sure?
IMForeman: Sold bits of it, too.
Brian Fioca: Have you seen it?
Michael Engberg: So many rumors about Sharper.
IMForeman: It's in his Journal.
Brian Fioca: Ha! Reading peoples journals…
IMForeman: Plus, he's a Patriots fan... bah!
Brian Fioca: Sharper's an honest, hard working guy. I respect his commitment to helping fix up the place.
Michael Engberg: I don't go reading other people private stuff, and I have never even seen his Journal.
IMForeman: I think he made it very easy to find, Michael. He seemed to want it to be found. His journal makes very interesting reading.
John Lynch: Yes, there are [many rumors], Mr. Engberg. But despite the unorthodox methods of gaining the information, there doesn't seem much room for speculation.
John Lynch: Mr. Engberg, have you even seen his office? It has a very nice view of Kerath's Arch.
Brian Fioca: I suppose you're going to take him there, John?
John Lynch: No need, Brian. I'm sure he knows where it is and can get there himself.
Michael Engberg: His office?
IMForeman: The office overlooks the courtyard.
Michael Engberg: I need to go, talk later… interesting… Office... hmm.
Brian Fioca: Alright, we're getting off topic here.
IMForeman: Later, Michael.
John Lynch: Bye, Mr. Engberg. And thanks.
Brian Fioca: Remember the meeting about giving more information. Make sure it happens. Phil is in the Nexus.
…Chat.log stopped.