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]

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??]

wow rude

[alittlesweptup]

[There's a 'THWAP!' as the packet hits on target, and a low little 'fucking hell--' from his end of things.]

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. ]