exsilium | [Voice] Roll Call

Fuck this. I'm tired of waiting for those damn bastards to get their act together. It's not going to happen.

I need everyone's attention. And I mean everyone.

Those Initiative bastards are continuously dragging people, us, to fight in their failure of a war. We hardly have a choice in the matter, and the entire situation is just sick and wrong. But the worst of it is that they're dragging in anyone they can grab. Not all of us can hold a sword or throw fireballs at our enemies and yet they're supposed to be able to defend themselves.

And before any of you get started, this isn't some kind of rebellion.

What I'm proposing is that we get our own act together and organize. Which is why everyone needs to listen to this. If you prefer to be difficult? Fine. I'll be knocking on doors anyways.

First, we need to know who can fight and who can't. DO NOT play hero because you saying you can and want to help others when you actually can't is going to get both you and the person who should have been defending you killed. So be honest.

And if you can fight it'd be nice to know how you can pull that off. In my own case, I'm a mage. I can use both offensive and defensive spells, but I need someone to watch my back and keep the enemies busy while I cast my spells. The idea is to get evenly matched teams so when we're thrown into a battlefield in the middle of our sleep three or seven or whenever nights from now, we'll be able to organize ourselves and survive.

[Taking in a deep breath, she's getting so worked up! She needs a moment, okay.]

I can't organize this on my own and I shouldn't even have to. If you think you can help gather answers from others, do it. Let's not keep making these same damn mistakes.

[A long pause and then...]

... Thanks.

[OOC: Okay. I'm making a spreadsheet for everything that will act as both an OOC reference and an IC reference for organizing actual battle parties. I'm hoping to have the spreadsheet basics done by tomorrow and I'll post that on the OOC comm then (it's a Google doc/spreadsheet). The way the spreadsheet will work is going to do with numbers 1-10 on ability (-numbers meaning a threat, 1 meaning defenseless, 10 meaning you're god in a bottle), list of types, and so on. Details on that OOC post tomorrow. BUT IC responses will also be useful! Because Fiona really will be knocking on doors. And it may help me get a basis to better shape the spreadsheet. IC wise, no need for numbers. That's just weird.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not that I think it's an entirely bad idea, but... Just tossing people into a group based on wanting to evenly match their abilities doesn't make for a good team.

[Pause.] Or mean that they'll cooperate together in a fight.

There's going to be more to it than that. This is just the start of things.

And what would you have me do then? I don't need people pointing out the flaws in this idea, I know that not everyone wants to cooperate and I don't damn well care. The groups might not work at all. But at least I'm giving it a try. And some people need these groups.

So do you have anything useful to suggest or not?

[There's another pause before Shepard laughs.] You don't want the flaws in this? You're going to get people killed that way. I didn't say the groups were a bad idea, but the idea of "trial and error" and them not working out in the middle of a battle means there will be casualties.

What I'm saying is useful.

And I have every intention of not waiting until one of these battles to trial these groups. There's a training room for us so we might as well use the damn thing. If something seems wrong, groups can be changed. If we get this information then it will be that much easier to rearrange and find what's best.

Training rooms can only show you so much of what a person can actually do, but it's a better idea than nothing at all. You know each group is going to need a leader, and you can't judge a leader simply by their skills.

This kind of thing is really where you need to get to know the people and have one person that they can rally around. [Trust her. It's something that she's had to do for the last three years.]

Fair enough. Can I take it that you'd qualify as one of these leaders?

When I said before that I shouldn't have to be organizing this, I meant it. This isn't my expertise. But at least it's someone trying. So do you feel like helping me get to know these people so we can better this situation or...?

I've been the commander of my own ship for three years. [Tech...nically.] And I've led missions for longer than that. But I'm more than comfortable sticking with my crew. I know them, and they don't take orders from other people too well.

I... Look, sorry for jumping down your throat about it. I've seen way too many people try to take charge when they have no business doing it. It's good to see someone try. [Shepard pauses before laughing softly again.] Yeah, I'll help you at least figure your way around this, but I'm not good at following orders myself.

Fine with me. But can your crew manage to gain any numbers at all?

[Pffhaaaa.] It's certainly not my business. But I don't see anyone else pushing the matter.

And no one has to be following orders. [Snort.] And hardly anyone is following anyone now. If calling it a team effort makes you feel better then I'm fine with that. I just want something to be done before there's a casualty count.

[Mmmr.] Depends.

It should be everyone's business, but not everyone is going to want to work together.

[Uh huh...] Then we'll dissolve into a pile of chaos. [Which is basically what they are now, aren't they?] You're pretty abrasive, you know that?

Of course not everyone will. But that's also why there can be groups. I don't expect everyone to be willing but this is... getting a little ridiculous.

['Tch!' sound. She's not gonna deny it though...] Well, I'm not sure what else to do. It can end up being more chaotic or just the same but nothing's going to change if no one does anything.

War is a difficult thing, and you have to give the people a purpose to pull together and fight. One common goal. [A sigh.] Our common goal should be finding a way to be returned to our homes, but we have no idea if our fighting will accomplish that. Not to mention that this isn't like any other war ever fought.

You're right. We need to pull together.

[Voice] Roll Call

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