Testing, testing... Is this thing on? ALFRED?

[ Despite the sound of rain mostly being filtered out of the audio, there comes a slightly-computerized male voice with none of the background interference. As if it's speaking from inside the microphone. ] We're transmitting.

Positive?

Positive.

All right, and now... [ Video! Here's a young woman with some bright red hair tamped down by the wet rain falling all over her as she walks down the street. She does have a rain jacket on with the hood up, but that never really helps completely. She's wearing a frameless visor over her eyes, but even with that, she may look pretty familiar to some of the Transports here, though her "user name" identifies her as 4d 69 73 68 61 20 48 75 6e 74. ] Voi la! Are we in business?

Not only that, but it's booming.

Great. Okay, now to finally have a point to this instead of just futzing with my new toy. What's the current progress? I mean, sure, all these links to history and general info is great, but there isn't a whole lot of talk on how far we are now, what's left to go, how coordinated the actual effort is... Basically, how much shit is this Initiative still in and how much do we "Transports" have to keep digging?

... also. [ She flips the notepad around to momentarily show the street that she's on, heading toward the apartments. ] Am I going the right way?

[The prim young man on screen does not look amused. But he also looks like the sort that possibly is never amused.]

I'll do my best to save you all from the complaining I am sure you all hear when a group of newbies is dropped off here. However, I can't help but think this is a piss-poor way to raise an army. It's like playing some sort of cosmic lottery and hoping you snag Napoleon or Genghis Khan by sheer luck.

I want to know what you've been doing as far as formulating an army; training, planning, strategy, that sort of thing. The Initiative gave us weapons and a history lessons, and then a hearty pat on the back and a "good luck", essentially. [He grimaces. He doesn't like them already.] I know there's the daily training they offer, but I want to know what the rest of you are doing as well.

Any more information on the United Earth that what the Initiative has provided for us at the start would also be helpful. Know thy enemy and all that. [He idly pokes at his tablet as he continues to talk.] Is there a library here? Or is everything digital?

Ah. I suppose I should introduce myself. Alucard Anselm. Before you ask, no, I am not a vampire and neither are my parents. "Al" will suffice. [Said like someone who's heard the comments a million times, and had to give this spiel just as much.]

[With that, he signs off. Alisha and Monica, Al's new roommates, will find him in his new room with the door open. He's doing his best to keep composure as the reality of this whole crazy situation starts to sink in. He's not even quite sure what to do with himself right now. It's not like he even has anything to unpack.]

[ Ever since that brief meeting within the courtyard, several questions plagued Cao Cao's mind. He had hoped to find the information on his own with the Initiative's help, but they weren't very...helpful in his opinion. Besides the whole notion of them using sorcery to unravel the United Earth's influences through a series of smaller skirmishes, Cao Cao wasn't certain as of how this war could possibly be won. From what little he's managed to understand, the enemy outnumbers them greatly and there's great dissent amongst the transports here.

Still trying to understand his role in all this, the King of Wei decided to act. He never used such a device before. These "tablets" as they call them were nearly two-thousand years ahead of his time. Though with some luck and minor concentration, he managed to operate one. He was still far from proficient with this odd device, but at least he got it work.

Now staring into the blank screen of the tablet, Cao Cao speaks. ]

Just how many generals sit amongst us? How many soldiers and how many strategists? If this is a war, then shouldn't we treat it as such?

[ He paused momentarily in hopes of hearing an answer, but nothing was said. So he continued. ]

I've won wars before but nothing resembling this kind of scale. Gathering the information necessary about my foes was never so daunting as this. Virtually nothing is known about the United Earth or their method of combat. I'm aware that they hold the most influence in this realm, but how so?

[ Mengde wondered if their were other factions out there who hoped to rebel against their federation. He wouldn't be surprised if there were, but they assist them? Surely this war doesn't fall upon the shoulders of a wayward few.

That would be suicide. ]

In truth, I see no victory in sight but I refuse to die a martyr's death.