Challenge #02484-F294: Essential Briefing

A new security force is in training so they can be assigned to various stations. The subject of this particular lecture was the phenomena involving human Silly Seasons. What they were, how to recognize when one was about to happen, how to handle them, and most important, how to curtail the humans safely before the Silly Season got too far out of hand. -- DaniAndShali

Given that this station has opened its airlocks to admit Humans, we at Administration are well aware of your concerns. We're well aware of Humans' unpredictability and the unique ur-festival known amongst their kind as Silly Season. Just as we are aware that one is impending. Humans get bored, no matter what their opportunities for enrichment are. The resultant tensions build up and result in a chaotic party-adjacent atmosphere that spreads like a virus until the Humans vent their pent-up tensions.

This... is Silly Season. The soundless video shows a chaotic group of Humans jumping and cavorting in a group. Some of them, judging strictly by the rhythm of their gyrations, were possibly singing and dancing. Many were just doing chaotic things. Most were laughing.

For the most part, these activities are harmless. Humans play pranks - practical jokes - on each other and any species they know can withstand the jape in question. They do understand that there are environmental and biota protection laws and the pranks will follow most of those legislations. Expect flour bombs- the video showed a thrown object exploding in white powder -water bombs- another missile, this time soaking the target on impact -and organic glitter or confetti bombs- the thrown object cascaded small items around the target. Here, the only lingering problem is clean-up. Fortunately, the Cleaners are attracted to this kind of nonsense.

What we have to be concerned about is the minor crime. Accidental assault, noise pollution, minor theft, public disarray, that sort of thing. Humans in a party mood do not always consider the full consequences of their actions. Humans will not lay charges against other Humans, and may consider accidental assault to be part of the party atmosphere. It is therefore our duty to prevent the frailer Havenworlders - level three and above - from entering the contaminated zone. The most common cause of the minor thefts is mistaken ownership. One Human puts a thing down and a different Human picks it up. This sort of thing should be taken to the nearest security booth to resolve by footage review.

Prevention is key. However, there is very little that can stop a Silly Season once it starts. Scientists are still attempting to discover all the signs and causes. The instant you spot an outbreak, the procedure is as follows:

One: call Security Central with your location so that the footage can be scanned for any inciting incident. If you can identify the Humans at the centre of the initial outbreak, all the better. If we can identify them, they can be interviewed afterwards to find the inciting spark. This is not your priority, only a bonus.

Two: Locate any and all level four or above Havenworlders and escort them from the immediate area. Any Humans already inside the area are already a lost cause. They will be infected by the mood.

Three: Notify traffic control. They will reroute foot and vehicle traffic to avoid the zone of influence. Do attempt to prevent the contagion spreading.

Species most at risk of joining Silly Season are: Melil, due to telepathic and empathic contamination; Gyiiks, because they never turn a festival down; Nufurrian Augments, because they are Humanity's creations and it shows; and of course, the Consortium of Steam. It's in their core programming. If you can, prevent any of those species especially from entering the ongoing mayhem.

If we let this situation progress to the state of a station-wide party, our best options are to secure the Havenworlders, close all docks, and cut off their sugar and caffeine supplies. They may be pursuit predators with a seemingly unnatural endurance capacity, but even they have to sleep sometime.

Once a Human becomes drowsy, or is falling asleep, that is when you escort them to the cells to dry out, calm down, or wear out. Whichever happens first. Document everything, stay with your partner, and above all, do not ingest or otherwise consume anything a Human gives you.

Stunners ready? Let's do this.

[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / pressmaster]

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