008 ↔ video & text; mutiny day 2, 1545hrs

[5055034455]

[Saul would've come to the network sooner, but his earpiece picked something up not long after the network came back online.

So, he waited.

And waited.

And now, he thinks, is as good a time as any for this broadcast.

He's seated in DITR's office; the interior looks much the same as any other bedroom on the base, but in lieu of the beds, there's a medium-sized desk. This is where he's perched in his usual pose with elbows on his knees, hands folded, leaning forward just slightly and addressing the camera — which someone else is holding — with an expression so grim it somehow almost seems amused.]

This is not how you get what you want.

[A pause. He appears thoughtful for a moment, then waves a dismissive hand at nothing and smooths down his tie.]

I mean, sure, it must've sounded great in theory. And I'd bet any amount of money that you all thought you had your bases nice and covered, buuut —

[Tch.]

Looks like maybe not, if the network being back online is any indication. Hi, by the way. Are you having fun yet? Because that whole lack of gravity thing — man, that was a blast. I'm just wondering, you know, if this is gonna work in your favor the way you'd all hoped. Messing with the systems is all well and good and yeah, okay, we get your point: you're mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore. Fine.

But I think — and this is just my lawyerly opinion — you're gonna have a hell of a time dealing with the fallout from this. And I promise you, Charlie, there will be fallout. Civilized fallout, of course, assuming no one gets hurt. I'll keep my promise if you keep yours.

[He grins, then winks.]

Anyway, I dunno about everyone else, but I'm waiting with bated breath for your next move. And if you need anything from us —

[A quick sweep of his arm to indicate the entirety of the room and, with it, the entirety of DITR's staff. Whatever anger he's been keeping at bay finally seeps through, Saul's eyes narrowing for the split second it takes him to say:]

Good fucking luck.

[And off goes the video feed.]

*

[PRIVATE to all members of the Department EXCEPT Jesse, Mike, and Stephanie:]

If you haven't come to the office in room 206 yet, please report to Roslyn Small or another member of the police force for further instructions. They're set up in the cafeteria.

Comments

[totallytrustworthy]

Which is all well and good, but it's not gonna stop the UE rover that's sitting off somewhere outside, now is it?

I don't care if you don't want to talk to the Initiative, what I need is for you to handle your own end. Those people love you-- and while the why of it's beyond me [ it comes out as fairly mild, so it's hard to say whether she means it or not]-- you have the chance to show just how dedicated transports are to a cause. The right way.

Even if it's, you know, stopping us.

Still hoping you'll change your mind on that bit though.

[khajidont]

Nothing needs to stop that rover. It's defunct.

[totallytrustworthy]

And from what I've heard it's due for an inspection. Either way, it's not all that difficult to put two and two together when it comes to a 'one: they stole our spaceship, two: hey lads remember that one time there was a base on the moon' scenario.

[khajidont]

Hey, I wasn't saying that we don't need to keep an eye out for it, just that we're on top of that one. We need to keep on getting people out there to keep an eye out for whenever they decide to send another one up here.

[totallytrustworthy]

Look, I'm not about to slap your hands for trying, yeah? But don't you think this ought to be common knowledge? Shouldn't everyone be leaping on this to make sure the UE doesn't just slam a missile right down on our heads?

Too many transports are just settling in on their heels and it has got to change before we're all done in.

[khajidont]

Okay. [He can concede her that point, just as he can agree with everything they've been saying over the PA.] We need more communication, we need to do more, sure. But what does that have to do with what you're doing now?

[totallytrustworthy]

Meetings won't do it, losing a city full of innocent people hasn't done it, being on the bloody moon certainly hasn't changed a thing. [Chloe pauses for a moment, scrubbing at her own cheek with the flat of her hand though he can't see it.] We don't have forever.

And you can't force something to move without applying a little pressure.

[khajidont]

[The losing a city full of innocent people rubs against a raw nerve, and there's a different texture to his - still technologically filtered - voice when he speaks next.] I only remember the one meeting. You got something organized enough to turn off all of our, our - [go vocabulary skills, go!] - our everything.

[Nailed it.]

But I'm still not seeing how this is forcing us to move anywhere.

[totallytrustworthy]

[Jaime I love you. More importantly though, the genuine emotion he's pressing into his voice does a great deal to soften Chloe's tone; it's lighter. Easier. Like talking to a friend instead of someone you've only just met.] I did. And we're small, mate. Barely a handful out of god knows how many.

I'm not here because I want to be, I'm here because what I want is for us to pull through to solid ground in one piece. Together.

[khajidont]

That's what we all want. And that includes the people that are on the other side of the Transporter. You know, the ones who can't get back so long as you guys have control over it?

[totallytrustworthy]

I got stuck on the other end for a month while Exsilium was torn apart; I think they'll be all right for a few days.

[khajidont]

Yeah, but you don't know that. Did you guys even check to see where you've left them?

[totallytrustworthy]

[And now it's her turn to concede.] Nnnno.

--but I'll see what I can do to double check that.

[khajidont]

And if you find out that one of them could be in danger? [It's a sharp question, made sharper still because he doesn't know where Sango's missions have taken her this month.]

[totallytrustworthy]

[Cue one lengthy pause and an audible groan. God, it's a rock and a bloody hard place, isn't it? Exposing their vulnerable underbelly for the sake of taking the high road.

Chloe's never been all that good at making the right choice gracefully.] We'll bring them back.

private

[gevurah]

[ As Kate Kane.

She sighs. She didn't know passing that information along would bite them all in the ass. ]

I passed it along to Cutter.

private

[khajidont]

That explains why they're using it as ammunition. [It's said through gritted teeth. No matter how they announce it next, it's going to make it sound like they're just covering their asses.]

But you're not with them, right?

private

[gevurah]

[ Charlie did seem agitated when they had spoken, but it appears to be his M.O.

She could punch herself in the face right now. ]

No.

We'll regroup on the rover later. [ A pause. ] Sorry.

private

[khajidont]

[He nods, though she can't see it, relieved to hear that Kate's on their side. He doesn't know her well on a personal level, but he likes her, and certainly wouldn't want her on the opposing side.]

No, it's fine. It wasn't like we weren't going to let everyone know soon anyway. It'll just have to wait.

[If it can. Wouldn't it just be hilarious if the UE decided to send a rover over while this is going on and nobody can get out?]

private

[gevurah]

Just the thought of a rover set people on edge. They have a right to know, but... I don't know. We need to figure out what to do with it.

[ And she can't with this going on. ]

You doing alright?

private

[khajidont]

They need to know, it's just... [Just trying to think about it now makes him want to shut down. One thing at a time.] Later.

Yeah. I'm doing all right. I'll be doing a lot better once this crap's over and done with. How 'bout you, Kate?

private

[gevurah]

Annoyed.

But I'll be fine. Stay safe.

[5055034455]

[Since the rover comment's being handled, Saul focuses on the rest:]

I'm happy to talk to anyone, but I'm not doing it under these circumstances. You can't get what you want this way, Chloe. It's not gonna work.

[totallytrustworthy]

[The feed goes quiet for a moment or two. She could lose her temper again over it-- snap and pitch a fit about not getting a much needed hand the way she did before-- but it's not as if he hasn't got a fair point about the means, and it's not as if she has any right to demand that he go about dirtying his hands for their sake. So Chloe doesn't. Waits a few breaths more before saying, sincerely:]

Good luck, Saul. I mean that.

[5055034455]

[Saul wonders if both Chloe's and Charlie's pauses are indicative of anything.

He hopes so.]

Yeah. You too.

[Also said sincerely.

He really doesn't want anyone getting hurt.]