mogmelodies | (no subject)

Hello, my name is Dr. Ray Stantz. I've already met a few of you, but what you may not be aware of is that I was a Ghostbuster long before arriving here. In fact, I helped invent most of the equipment associated with the job. I'm aware that doesn't make much sense, considering the Job class was available before I even arrived here, but I gather there's probably more than a few temporal shenanigans going on.

Anyways, considering my prior knowledge about the subject, I've been asked by Cid to write a guide on it. So, without further ado...

RAY'S GUIDE TO GHOSTBUSTING

THE PROTON PACK

Apart from one's own mind, the most important tool in a Ghostbuster's arsenal is the Proton Pack^{(see diagram 1)}. While there are several different variations in the design of said pack, for the most part they all function in similar ways. All proton packs consist of a portable particle accelerator, powered by a nuclear power cell, linked to a handheld Particle Thrower, aka Neutrona Wand, aka Proton Gun. When fired, the particle thrower emits a stream of highly charged ionized protons. This stream is able to harm, and even wrangle, any ghost it hits.

(diagram 1)

THIS IN NO WAY MEANS IT IS INCAPABLE OF HARMING LIVING BEINGS OR INANIMATE OBJECTS.

Should it strike a living being, it will almost certainly cause anything from second to third degree burns, and various other forms of soft tissue damage. Should it be fired inside a building, it will likely end up breaking several fragile objects and cause light to severe structural damage. Please keep this in mind when using it.

Many proton packs are modified to produce exotic particles. These particles are able to freeze ghosts right in their tracks. However, the effects on biological entities is less well known. Should your Proton Pack include a Dark Matter Generator, please do not use that setting to fire at sentient beings. I'd rather not know what happens in that case.

Additionally, do not attempt to open the proton pack without proper safety equipment. The power cell is required to be shielded at all times. Opening the pack will cause it to become unshielded, and you will likely end up with radiation poisoning, and possibly cancer. The shielding is necessary to prevent either of these things from happening.
Finally, and most importantly...

DO NOT CROSS THE STREAMS.

Doing so can cause extreme injury, and even death, to you and anyone near you. A worst case scenario is instantaneously ending all life as we know it. A more likely worst case scenario will only vaporise yourself and everything within a mile radius of your location. It's important to note that, thankfully, it's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to cross them accidentally. The positively charged streams of energy will naturally repel each other, thereby preventing any accidental contact.
As an additional note, there may be times when crossing the streams is necessary. Please use the following checklist if you are unsure whether given incident may require crossing the streams.

Have I exhausted all other possible options?
Is the entity I'm combating a literal deity?
Is the entity both willing and capable of committing mass genocide under it's own power?
Is the entity both willing and capable of leveling several cities within a day to week long period?
Is the entity capable of destroying the planet?
Am I, and everyone in a mile radius of my location, probably going to die anyways should I fail to stop the entity?

Keep all this in mind, and above all be careful. Should you do so, I believe the proton pack will be a welcome addition to any Hero of Light's arsenal.

SENSOR EQUIPMENT

You might have been provided with various equipment to track spectral entities. A dark light uses ultraviolet light to illuminate things that may otherwise be invisible. That said, there are places you may want to think twice about using it. Hotel rooms come to mind. Even in the realm of paranormal investigation there are things you really don't want to know.

Additionally, you might receive a PKE Meter^{(see diagram 2)}. These can be used to measure and track psychokinetic energy, thereby allowing you to trace the remnants of a ghosts PKE signature back to the source. You can even use it track down supernatural objects. The bars rise as the PKE meter either approaches comes closer to a given PKE manifestation, or encounters a particularly strong one.

(diagram 2)

Do not attempt to modify the PKE Meter. Certain parts inside contain materials that can cause incredibly difficult to remove stains should they come into contact with human skin.

CONTAINMENT

Now that you've tracked down your ghost and weakened it, it's time to capture it. For this, you may have been provided with a Ghost Trap^{(see diagram 3)}. Under normal circumstances, the trap is a temporary measure for holding ghosts until they can be transferred to a much large containment unit. However, I've been given to understand that here, they can hold ghosts indefinitely.

(diagram 3)

Roll the trap directly underneath the weakened entity, wrangle the entity into position, and press down on the attached foot pedal to open the trap. The entity will be dragged inside, and you may then lift your foot off of the pedal, thereby closing the trap.

DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE TRAP.

While it's less dangerous than some of the other warnings mentioned here, looking directly into the trap may cause flash blindness. This can be a safety issue, especially if dealing with multiple other spectral entities.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Try to be polite. It's not always necessary or advisable to capture a ghost. You may be able to head off any possible confrontations or by simply making polite conversation with the entity. Best case scenario, you may even be able to convince it to move on from this plane of existence.
Research, research, research. Find out everything you can about a given entity. The one bit of extra knowledge could be the key to talking it down, or should you need to fight, it's defeat.
Don't be afraid to bust some heads, in a spiritual sense, of course. There may not even be the option of conversation. Be prepared to lay the positronic smackdown on whatever entity you're dealing with.
If someone asks if you're a god, you say yes. Evil Deities are much more willing to chat if they think you have the power to stop them. Or they may ask for proof, and attack you if you don't measure up. It's still a better deal than saying no and being attacked outright. I learned that one from experience.

If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Threaded | Flat

This is the nerdiest thing in the world, and I love it. Dr. Stantz, I would subscribe to your newsletter.

So this job is available to anyone right now, and you have a primer here I see. Anything else we need to know about it? Augmentations? Maint?

Mr Stanz,

Your designs and blueprints, if I am free to say so, are absolutely brilliant! Though, I'd be interested to hear what you might think about some tweaks and improvements on the design. There might be a better way to extrapolate power from the core of the pack to either offer greater tackling power, or maybe even a propulsion containment unit that can be attached to the beam?

I guess what I'm saying is that I'd very much like to speak with you whenever you might have the free time. I fancy myself to be a bit of an inventor, and would love to exchange ideas so long as you're free and willing.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes,
Bulma Briefs

Dear Dr. Ray Stantz,

This would have been very helpful about a month ago. I guess it's a good thing that you are here now. We have actually crossed the streams, me and a few others. I died from the encounter but the others were fine, more or less. There are some things I'd like to talk to you about...

In a spiritual sense.

Though my world is very different than yours most likely. We know what happens to the dead there and their spirits.

-Yunie

Ray,

Thank you for writing such an in depth report. I recently acquired a dark matter generator for my own proton pack, but I wasn't entirely sure as to how to operate that particular feature, nor was I clear on what it would do. From what I understand, it can be used to incapacitate spiritual entities and prevent them from moving? I would appreciate any further details you could provide.

I want to express again that I am glad you could join us in this world. You've adapted swiftly, and I'm quite pleased at your rapid progress. Should you require my assistance, you have but to ask. Currently I am stationed in Esdham to the south, but I plan to make routine visits to Aqures Ixen when I am able.

~Rukia

[Johnny's going to spend a good long while staring at this letter, staring at the name attached to it, and quietly freaking out to himself about this. There's a Ghostbuster here. Like a real one. Amazing.]

Hey man, this is good stuff. Thanks for the in-depth analysis.

As a head's up, some of us tried the crossing the streams thing, and actually manages to survive it. I'm as surprised as you are. But it seemed the only way to stop the giantic marshamallow moogle from hell that was trying to destroy this city that I just spent the last several months busting my ass to help fix. It took five of us, and a lot of other people hitting it with cannon fire and stuff, but it worked in the end.

-- Johnny D'Amico

Edited 2015-11-16 03:36 (UTC)