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

[outshine]

Well first off, I wasn't talking to you, and second off, prove it, and third off you could at least do us the favor of dropping this whole innocent kindness facade, because we all know whose interests you've got in mind, and it sure as hell ain't anyone's but your own.

[totallytrustworthy]

Easy, love. Easy. Charlie and I are running this together. Trust me, you're not being detailed here.

As for the rest, I can't knock you for thinking that. But I want you to understand that this is not just about power: it's about opening up lines of communication so that Exsilium isn't lost-- the people in it-- aren't lost for a third time.

[5055034455]

[Oops sorry, butting in:]

You and Charlie are all about the irony, aren't you? You talk about getting us out of here, but take control of the transporter. Now it's about communication, but you shut down the network yesterday. Weird...

[totallytrustworthy]

And if you had the Initiative's ear as much as you say you do, then why didn't you tell them not to take a United Earth space ship to the bloody moon. Our backs are to the wall now because of it and those people were abandoned down there to die off and for what? Parties in the VR rooms? Meetings that go belly up because everyone's too busy pretending that we're fine?

We're not fine. And this? This isn't the most attractive way to go about things but it sure as hell seems to have won everyone's attention, hasn't it. [And she sounds practically livid when she says it; hair trigger temper finally snagged on Saul's words. ]

[5055034455]

I don't think this is the kind of attention you want.

[That's it. That's all she's getting out of him.]

[outshine]

Not sure if you're still trying to convince anyone, or if you've actually deluded yourself into believing that's actually true. The thing is, those lines were already wide open, but I wouldn't be surprised if they get closed for good after they got you locked up. Good job on that one.

[totallytrustworthy]

Not if we play our cards right they won't: if we press the transports to rally together against us, they'll stop sitting idle. If we work out a proper compromise with the rest of staff about where to go from here, I'll still be content.

Take it however you like, but whether I'm locked up or pacing the halls after this ends I'll know that I did something while the clock was ticking.

[outshine]

Sorry, no compromise here. Not with you, anyway... you didn't say please, after all. I'll stick to working with the ones who play nice, like Mr. Goodman here. Maybe if you ask nicely, he'll tell you some of his secrets. They mostly involve, oh I don't know... not kidnapping people, not putting people at risk of injury.

[alittlesweptup]

Fine. Don't barter with us. Just know you're the one dragging this out, not us.

[outshine]

Funny thing about that is... we're not. See, I know this is hard to understand, but you kind of started this whole thing. Crazy, isn't it? And it's only going to be over under one of two conditions: you give it up, or we make you give it up.

...or I guess we all come to some horrible end because we're too busy in-fighting and the UE has an opening to have their way with us. Also an option.

[alittlesweptup]

Newsflash: the UE doesn't need an opening to wipe us off the face of the map.

[outshine]

Except now, instead of spending time getting back our resources and being vigilant, we're at each other's necks.

[alittlesweptup]

Don't play the 'we're getting prepared' card with me because I've seen the supply lists. Where are the missions to erase that rover from history? The ones to get us back to your home and save your people?

Vigilance isn't fancy soaps and even if it was, it doesn't mean shit if the people you're watching for can blow you away as easy as kiss my hand. Why aren't you more appalled by the way people are so happy to cool their heels and wait to be ruined?

[outshine]

So if you know everything about fixing time, care to tell me when we should go back to? Because here's a bit of news for you, it's not just a matter of go back and stop everything from happening. If that was the case, we wouldn't be here, would be?

But hey, if you want to blame your actions on fancy soap, go ahead. You might want to spend think a little harden on that excuse though. Just saying.

[alittlesweptup]

Yeah, thank you. I've read The Time Machine actually. Maybe you ought to make that point to the people you've got running about in the past doing whatever they like.

So stop dodging the question: why aren't you angry? We've been here over a month and we're no closer to taking back Exsilium than we were from day one and we're a hell of a lot closer to some nebulous deadline of 'how long does it take the UE to track down their own bloody spaceship and bomb the moon too?'

[outshine]

I can't answer that question, you're the one who decided I'm not angry. You'll have to figure that one out for yourself, because I haven't a clue why you think that.

Now why don't you stop dodging my question: what's your big plan after this that you think you've really got it right, and everyone else has got it wrong? Do you have one, or are you just winging it like the rest of your transport friends?

[alittlesweptup]

[So he comes back swinging, every consonant sharpened like a weapon.]

Maybe because you and the rest of your bloody coworkers have done jack shit to impress upon the Transports the importance of getting off this rock. You've lost more than we have - your home, hell maybe your family - and you're letting us go on with this stupidity like that isn't damaging. Like it didn't bloody happen. So maybe stop patting the bums of the people who would rather sit on their hands and do nothing but stay comfortable and get off the backs of the ones trying to fix it.

Because that's the big goddamn plan. We've got people here - generals and psychics and people with real, concrete skills that are being pissed away because you lot, or the people above you, decided it was better to keep us in the dark until the ninth fucking hour. Not just this time, but every time. And now you're paying for it and I'm paying for it and we're all expected to pay for it and take that and fall into lock step.

The big plan? Make people give a shit long enough for them to realize how important it is for them to do something about it instead of just continuing to either firing blind into the dark or do nothing at all.

[outshine]

Don't you dare tell me what I've lost, or act like what you're doing isn't damaging, and you're the only one who cares about anything. Because all I'm hearing is that you don't really have any more of a plan than anyone else has got. What you care about is people doing it your way, but do tell, what did you do to help the situation? How many missions did you go on? How many times did you try to rally anyone by, oh, I don't know... talking to them? Go on, I want to hear it.

shoves charlie out an airlock :,>

[alittlesweptup]

[Not enough times, is the small voice in the very back of his head - the one he's grown tired of listening to and good at wrestling down.]

I've done plenty, but anything I try to say isn't going to mean shit to you because you're so busy trying to vilify the people trying to force some actual progress that nothing I say is going to change your mind. I care. We care. Everyone on this bloody base cares apparently. But caring from a comfortable armchair means fuck all.

If you can't understand that something beyond twiddling our thumbs and hoping for the best needs to be done, then you Initiative people are stupider than I made you out to be.

pelts him with food packets

[totallytrustworthy]

Okay! [CRITICAL DIPLOMACY FAILURE: ABORT. ABORT.] No more sugar before bedtime for you, mate.

Sorry. Men, am I right? [Its a rhetorical question; she's too busy doing her best to peg Charlie square in the side of his head with a spare oatmeal packet from clear across the room. What are you doing??]

that would be too swift and merciless

[outshine]

You've done nothing. That's all I needed to know.

[ yeah she is just done here. so done. ]

[totallytrustworthy]

Surprisingly enough those have never been my strong points. [It's a joke. Something light and easy whether it's received well or not despite the small truth in it because it does, thankfully, mean that progress is being made: strengthening existing ties in a way that might actually bring about drastic change. And Chloe is-- always will be-- a creature of change. ]

[outshine]

[ Too bad she's just saying it for show; what little affection Trish had towards transports, even DITR, is rapidly depelting. As much as she's siding with Saul and his people for now, it's a means to an end. ]

Can't say I'm surprised at all, actually.

[totallytrustworthy]

[All the things Chloe will sadly never know.] No? And here I thought I was doing so well.

Look, I'll see what I can do about getting your mates in touch with you here in a bit without compromising out position. Until then just sit tight.

[outshine]

If a single hair on their head is out of place...

[ Best not to go there. Not to be abrupt, but she's just going to. Hang up now. There's a cabinet of sedatives calling her name right now. ]