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Post by Kooshmeister on Nov 28, 2004 18:41:12 GMT -5
This may seem odd but, in continuing to turn over in my brain the plot idea for a toad spy, I began to start getting some really weird ideas.
Namely, a toad spy who is a toad... or used to be one, but underwent some experimental surgery/gene therapy to change his appearance to that of a mammal, then he's planted amongst some mammal slaves and "rescued" and given a job at the U.A.C./S.P.A.C.E. or something, thus allowing the toads to have themselves a reliable spy without having to bother with turning a real mammal.
If this sounds either ridiculously stupid, or if it's already been done (I still haven't found the time to read through the web series in its entirity or check out other people's fanfics), then don't pay me any mind. It's just something that's been bouncing around in my head for the past week and I just had to get it out, because I really crave people's opinions of my ideas, good or bad, y'know?
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Post by ImPOwree on Nov 29, 2004 0:47:44 GMT -5
Isn't it easier to just use an android or costumes? I remember in the toad TV show, there;s a scene in which the toads are making a 'Godzilla-like movie', and the mammals are actually toads in disguise....
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RyanLewis
S.P.A.C.E. Commander
"All for naught, or not at all"
Posts: 123
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Post by RyanLewis on Nov 29, 2004 1:14:19 GMT -5
Kinda hard question on me. I have no idea what security measures might be in use in such a place. Somehow I doubt what you look like will really matter at all when it comes down to important, sensitive stuff. Genetic tests for security checks would sound rather, stupid. Pulling off an exact genetic duplicate might be hard by the hands of man at this time, but we call natural examples "identical twins". A synthetic identical twin (also called a "clone") would foil a genetic test. My best guess would be, a spy would have to be custom worked depending on what exactly its task was to be, and be good for perhaps one task in its existance before its found out.
Best spy I can think of? A spy that does not look like a person, but as an object. A shoe, a buckle, a glove. Something that an unwitting pawn could put on and take with them where you would need a spy. This might be accomplished in a number of ways. Best I can even imagine would be molecular rearrangment of matter so that molecules acted as small parts in a device. In this method, even a rock could function as a computer. It would not just look like a rock, it IS rock.
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Post by Kooshmeister on Nov 29, 2004 2:06:19 GMT -5
Powree - An android would find mimicking living things extremely difficult. As for costumes, that's too risky. The spy would have to take the costume off at least occasionally, something he couldn't do due to the fact that he'd be too easily discovered.
Ryan - You make some interesting points, and your idea wouldn't make for an interesting adventure but, well, lemme explain:
The whole idea came to me in the form of a mental image of a "mammal" keeping the heat in his quarters turned up real high, complaining that it's too cold elsewhere, eating what the other mammals eat when he's around them... and then pigging out on chocolate-covered grasshoppers and jellied mosquitos once he's alone. It's an extremely creepy mental image, and I love creepy mental imagery.
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RyanLewis
S.P.A.C.E. Commander
"All for naught, or not at all"
Posts: 123
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Post by RyanLewis on Nov 29, 2004 18:31:29 GMT -5
An android would find it difficult to emulate a living thing? Perhaps it would be hard, but if there is anything in the whole story line I can think of that could pull off crafting an android able to do just that, it would be Komplex itself. Komplex has an impressive resume of constructing machines and mental conditioning and modification. What would be needed would not likely be a very tall order.
My points might not make for an interesting adventure, granted. Then again, the key always is in how what is given is used. Personally, I have a tendency to see if something is believable before I look at if its interesting or not. Sadly, this does make it very hard for me to enjoy many modern movies that fling donkey dung while making it sound factual and serious. In this category you can find The Core, Blade and Matrix. A few that actually had genuine appeal were The Rock, Crimson Tide and Pirates of the Caribbean.
While your outlook on a toad in mammal skin lends itself well to story line, I would find the whole idea hard to accept. This is no reason not to go for it, my tastes are rare and its but one nut-cases opinion anyway. If you actually put your hand to write a fic or the like, its more than I've done. Gumption counts for much ^ ^.
As for creepy imagery, something called Fatal Frame comes to mind... "My eyes! My eyes! They've taken my eyes"
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Post by Kooshmeister on Nov 29, 2004 23:27:15 GMT -5
Ryan - You make some interesting points, and your idea wouldn't make for an interesting adventure but, well, lemme explain: Agh, crap, uh, I meant to say that it would make an interesting story...
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Post by Pow! on Nov 30, 2004 5:56:59 GMT -5
Even so, I think any sane toads would think that to become a 'mammal' is the most disgusting, low thing to do... for a toad.
It has to be one who is fanatical to KOMPLEX to do so...
It's funny though, that animal senses are rarely used in furry world...
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Post by Kooshmeister on Nov 30, 2004 18:06:35 GMT -5
Precisely. And likely a mammal would hate being a toad, too. Which is why it'd have to be one really dedicated Stormtoad... either one who has a low sense of self-worth, or one who's really fanatical.
I even wrote up this little scene, just for the heck of it:
[The Air Marshal, accompanied by Toadborg and a lab-coated scientist, enters a debriefing room where a dozen Stormtoads are lined up.] Toadborg: These are the best of the cadets from the training facility? Air Marshal: That's what they tell me. [to the Stormtoads] All right, men! Look sharp! [They all snap to attention. Toadborg walks up and stands before them, the toad scientist at his side.] Toadborg: We need a volunteer for Professor Wartmon's experiment. No doubt you've already been brief by the Air Marshal about the rather... distasteful aspects of the procedure. [The Stormtoads all glance around at one another in various expressions of worry, disgust, and even amusement. Finally, one steps forward.] Stormtoad: I'll do it. Toadborg: That's what I like to see! KOMPLEX liks to see his troops taking initiative. You wart-brains should all follow the example of, er, what's your name, Stormtoad? Stormtoad: Cadet Billings, sir. [Toadborg gestures to the toad scientist, Professor Wartmon, who approaches Billings.] Wartmon: Take off your helmet. [Billings complies. Wartmon immediately begins to feel all over the young Stormtoad's face and head, much to Billings' obvious discomfort.] Toadborg: Well, Professor? Has he met with your approval? Wartmon: His bone structure is perfect. [to the rest of the Stormtoads] The rest of you are dismissed! Commander Toadborg, come back to my lab in two weeks, tops, and you won't even recognize Cadet Billings here. Toadborg: Excellent.
Or something like that, heh.
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Post by Hush Mazmanos on Dec 1, 2004 22:08:10 GMT -5
If you ask me I think it' a pretty good idea but you still have to face the fact that most of the Toads can't stand mammals being near them.
[glow=purple,2,300]Hush[/glow]
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Post by Norris on Dec 28, 2004 5:28:27 GMT -5
There could be another way to change Toads into Mammals and vice versa. If in a biological sense, a serum was injected into the body of say... a rabbit. If this serum could restructure the DNA of the rabbit's infrastructure to that of a weasel, par say, then a biological mutation would cause the rabbit to change into a weasel. This would mean adding and removing genes from the chromosomes, so much so that a genetic mutation would be imminent.
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Post by Kooshmeister on Dec 29, 2004 18:18:03 GMT -5
Hmm, now I feel stupid for not thinking about that. My train of thought, though, is that I'm not looking to turn Billings completely into a mammal but rather just make him up to look like one to the naked eye (a la the S.P.E.C.T.R.E. agent in Thunderball). Still, I enjoy others' insight in this fashion, so thank you. ;D
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Post by Norris on Dec 30, 2004 4:07:35 GMT -5
No problem. Incidentally, you'll see a sneak preview of the DNA theory in one of my upcoming stories, TRADING FACES. I'll let you guess what happens, as I don't want to spoil it.
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Post by Autobahn on Jan 3, 2005 20:08:54 GMT -5
There could be another way to change Toads into Mammals and vice versa. If in a biological sense, a serum was injected into the body of say... a rabbit. If this serum could restructure the DNA of the rabbit's infrastructure to that of a weasel, par say, then a biological mutation would cause the rabbit to change into a weasel. This would mean adding and removing genes from the chromosomes, so much so that a genetic mutation would be imminent. But also remember toad scientists never attended ethics 101...
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Post by Kooshmeister on Jan 3, 2005 21:12:09 GMT -5
Professor Wartmon: "Ethics? Ethics, schmethics! That sort of mindset only holds science back! In fact, that's why we toads are the foremost scientists in the Aniverse, because we just threw cautioun to the winds."
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Post by Norris on Jan 4, 2005 12:58:52 GMT -5
Touche!
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