That's pretty much exactly it, yes. If we combine time-of-flight (fire pulse, wait for pulse to return, like with sonar) with computed tomography (take images from multiple angles and do a reconstruction) we can probably get a ridiculously accurate scan of the surrounding area.
Or, better, just go full bayes. Skip past all the 2d-3d approximations and do for every cubic centimeter of space a "probability of this cc having X density given observed photon detections and emissions".
[x] Visit Kuroki's last known location in person.
-[x] Use grief constructs to locate her phone, if it's within 100m of the area.
--[x] If located, attempt to use grief to read the stored data. Do not show to Mami in case of witchbomb.
-[x] Generate an area scanner that works on actual physical principles to construct a 3D map of the region.
--[x] Analysze for misplaced teenage girls (grief analysis may function once data is within 100m).
-[x] If nothing of real note is found, continue, else, break for vote.
I feel like this should be where the vote should cut. Small updates are fast updates, and if we're deciding to spend some time searching, we're spending some time searching and can cruise through the vote for that. No reason to try to do three updates worth of vote all at once.
Exactly the opposite, in fact. They key measurement is absorbed energy. To get a certain quality of image, you need some amount of energy to arrive to be reflected enough that we can see it. With a broad source, your intensity drops with the square of the range, so to go twice as far you have to put out four times as much energy, which is super dangerous for people nearby. However, with a coherent source, the energy doesn't spread out, so the energy you need at the target is the same energy you put out and nobody's in danger anywhere.
Well, two things here - coherence isn't the same as collimation. You can principally have one without the other - coherent but non-collimated light is trivially obtained from a planar source impinging on a single slit, for example. Second, it's true that you'd reduce the net power output with a collimated beam for "illumination", but given that you need a three dimensional sweep, to gain equal resolution you'd have to sweep the entire volume. The surface integral of power absorbed, assuming a stationary target, would result in the same if not more energy delivered.
Also, not quite related, but backscatter is decidedly not collimated. Or even coherent.
That vote is kind of large, yeah. Summarize, please, particularly that first part - you don't need to go into quite that much detail.
Well, two things here - coherence isn't the same as collimation. You can principally have one without the other - coherent but non-collimated light is trivially obtained from a planar source impinging on a single slit, for example. Second, it's true that you'd reduce the net power output with a collimated beam for "illumination", but given that you need a three dimensional sweep, to gain equal resolution you'd have to sweep the entire volume. The surface integral of power absorbed, assuming a stationary target, would result in the same if not more energy delivered.
Also, not quite related, but backscatter is decidedly not collimated. Or even coherent.
[x] Visit Kuroki's last known location in person.
-[x] Look for clues. SCIENCE as appropriate. Break to voting if you find something.
[X] Talk to Mami about Kyouko: About how Kyouko's doing, and how you want them to be friends again.
-[X] Hug Mami closer.
-[X] Ask Mami if she's OK with Kyouko entering Mitakihara to train Sayaka.
[x] Go with Mami to buy the things Kirika wanted and visit the Mikunis.
-[x] Privacy field. While there, broach the subject of Asunaro. Give Oriko an out in case of Witchbomb.
--[x] Only commit to visiting tommorow if it's urgent.
[x] Head home
-[x] Chill a bit, then let Mami know Homu wanted to chat a bit: you'll be right back.
--[x] Break for voting.
If we don't find anything, then waiting a few hours before involving Homura won't change much. If we do, better to react organically instead of on autopilot.
[x] Talk to Mami about Kyouko training Sayaka once you're alone.
-[x] Personally: Kyouko is getting better, recovering from what happened to her family. Yuma. You think you can set things up such that they reconcile. You'll stay, of course - this isn't a replacement.
-[x] Practically: Kyoko is very skilled at melee in particular, and is located nearby. Sayaka needs a consistent base to build her varied powers upon.
[ ] Talk to Mami about Kyouko: About how Kyouko's doing, and how you want them to be friends again.
-[ ] Hug Mami closer.
-[ ] Ask Mami if she's OK with Kyouko entering Mitakihara to train Sayaka.
[ ] Talk to Mami about Kyouko: About how Kyouko's doing, and how you want them to be friends again.
-[ ] Hug Mami closer.
-[ ] Ask Mami if she's OK with Kyouko entering Mitakihara to train Sayaka.
Homutalks. Homutalks need to happen. Homu is love.
[X] Tell Mami you need to talk with Homura, in private. It'll take no time. Hugs.
[X] Telepathy Homura: Ask if you can have that talk now, using her power? Once in timestop, ask if you can keep searching for Kuroki while you talk.
-[X] Talk while searching: Refrain from being overbearing.
-[X] Tell Homura how the trip went - still no Walpurgis help, but meguca are very grateful so far. Some of them should help. Also, Nadia's sending those two megucas over.
-[X] Now... Madoka. Explain what you know about Madoka's reasons for Wishing, and why she would not Wish. Try and suggest Homura explain the loops, all her hardships, to Madoka. Madoka will respect that, once she learns.
-[X] We've got Walpurgis covered. Once we save the city, Madoka will have no reason to Wish anymore.
Kuroki search on the side, considering it should take no time.
Agreed, but I want to get our other stuff done first. Homutalks are important enough, and we have enough backlog of actions with her, that unless we find some actual clue to limit our search space, I'm against burning her patience on something almost guaranteed to fail.
As far as finding Kuroki, I'd like to broach a couple other possibilities that occur to me:
The first idea, is that it may simply be best to delegate.
Sayaka has a whole bunch of shiny new power, of which cloning, invisibility and eyesight all look like they have potential in this scenario, and given just how much she wants to be useful, I expect she'd jump at the chance to use them.
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Second, and this is definitely the weirder of the two ideas, is using the possibility that Kuroki is hunting witches to make her find us.
Trapping is a time honored technique of finding things you can't see and, If it looks like a witch, and it has an ominous presence like a witch, and it has an open and inviting barrier like a witch... It might just be Sabrina.
Still evocative as that is, I realize that particular permutation is probably not an option. The kin to it that might be is having an ominous presence that Kuroki would try to investigate and putting it near a grief seed. There's no guarantee that it would help find Kuroki, but if she finds it and takes the bait, even if she gets away with it, the deadline is extended.
And as an added bonus, If we can think up a good setup, especially one that doesn't rely on our power, we might well be able to literally do it in our sleep.
Adhoc vote count started by Firnagzen on May 25, 2017 at 10:08 AM, finished with 117371 posts and 7 votes.
[x] Visit Kuroki's last known location in person. -[x] Look for clues. SCIENCE as appropriate. Break to voting if you find something. [X] Talk to Mami about Kyouko: About how Kyouko's doing, and how you want them to be friends again. -[X] Hug Mami closer. -[X] Ask Mami if she's OK with Kyouko entering Mitakihara to train Sayaka. [x] Go with Mami to buy the things Kirika wanted and visit the Mikunis. -[x] Privacy field. While there, broach the subject of Asunaro. Give Oriko an out in case of Witchbomb. --[x] Only commit to visiting tommorow if it's urgent. [x] Head home -[x] Chill a bit, then let Mami know Homu wanted to chat a bit: you'll be right back. --[x] Break for voting.
[X] Tell Mami you need to talk with Homura. Hugs.
[X] Call Homura for a talk; ask if she can use her powers for privacy.
-[X] Ask Homura if she'd be OK with flying/walking around while talking. You want to search for that Kuroki girl some more.
[X] Conversation: Try and lead in with soft topics, but ultimately try and breach the Madoka issue. Use the search as an excuse to pause and take a breather as needed.
[X] Possible topics:
-[X] How the trip went.
-[X] Nadia's cool.
-[X] Your plan to visit Asunaro.
-[X] How Sayaka's doing.
-[X] Meguca being grateful, chances of getting help for Walpurgisnacht.
[X] Important talk: Homura opening up to Madoka is essential for Madoka to not Contract. Madoka will respect Homura's hardships. Then we just need to handle Walpurgisnacht, together.
Agreed, but I want to get our other stuff done first. Homutalks are important enough, and we have enough backlog of actions with her, that unless we find some actual clue to limit our search space, I'm against burning her patience on something almost guaranteed to fail.
I'd take it as a nice trip throught the timestop world, something to fill in the blanks of Homutalk. Because there's lots of blanks and stretched silences during Homutalks.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I like it.
I think Homu would like having some silence time in between points of the conversation. It's a loaded conversation we need to have. Some distractions, reasons to stop talking heavy stuff for a moment, are good, useful things.
[X] Tell Mami you need to talk with Homura. Hugs.
[X] Call Homura for a talk; ask if she can use her powers for privacy.
-[X] Ask Homura if she'd be OK with flying/walking around while talking. You want to search for that Kuroki girl some more.
[X] Conversation: Try and lead in with soft topics, but ultimately try and breach the Madoka issue. Use the search as an excuse to pause and take a breather as needed.
[X] Possible topics:
-[X] How the trip went.
-[X] Nadia's cool.
-[X] Your plan to visit Asunaro.
-[X] How Sayaka's doing.
-[X] Meguca being grateful, chances of getting help for Walpurgisnacht.
[X] Important talk: Homura opening up to Madoka is essential for Madoka to not Contract. Madoka will respect Homura's hardships. Then we just need to handle Walpurgisnacht, together.
I'd take it as a nice trip throught the timestop world, something to fill in the blanks of Homutalk. Because there's lots of blanks and stretched silences during Homutalks.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I like it.
I think Homu would like having some silence time in between points of the conversation. It's a loaded conversation we need to have. Some distractions, reasons to stop talking heavy stuff for a moment, are good, useful things.
That's what the military base raid would be for, something we committed to doing already. Interestingly, we could also offer to head to literally any other military base in the world and raid that too; we're not limited to JSDF ones near Mitakihara with Sabrina's orbital flight capabilities. In fact that would be a great way to test Sabrina's orbital flight capabilities in general, as well as get some practice in making a griefhax instrument panel.
We'll just ask Homura if she wants to make a quick stop at a US Air Force Materiel Command base and pick up a few dozen Mark 77s.
As far as finding Kuroki, I'd like to broach a couple other possibilities that occur to me:
The first idea, is that it may simply be best to delegate.
Sayaka has a whole bunch of shiny new power, of which cloning, invisibility and eyesight all look like they have potential in this scenario, and given just how much she wants to be useful, I expect she'd jump at the chance to use them.
Kuroki's still a rookie MG, right? If that's the case, wouldn't she still be leaving craters and other colllateral damage from her roofhopping at thispoint, like Sabrina did back at the beginning? Have we tried looking for those?
