[ When this video starts, it should be noted that this was perhaps one of the rare time that anyone ever seen the King of Wei outside of his armor. During the first several weeks Cao Cao spent here in Exsilium, the warlord refused to leave his armor aside. He was always dressed for war and the Wrath of Heaven would never be too far from his side.

However, today was different. While he refused to part with his blade, the King of Wei didn't look any less regal without his armor. Though, it's clear judging from the feed that he's been raiding the library for their books.

Someone definitely been a tad preoccupied as of late. ]

No word still from our adversaries? Hm. It's only a matter of time until our brief respite is disrupted. While the Initiative gives us much in the means of food and perhaps armament; I truly believe we're still ill-prepared.

[ A thoughtful pause lingered in-between his words as he pondered of a decent way to summarize his thoughts. It's unlike him to prattle endlessly about anything but as of lately, Cao Cao's been plagued with worry. ]

When will their next strike come? This is a question that none of us can answer but what can we do to prepare?

[The camera is going, for once! Rin never uses video. This is a departure from that rule only because the camera isn't on her face, but focused on the ground, and a variety of feathers arranged from longest to shortest laid out for viewing.]

Look what I found... just lying around, and stuff. I guess they really shed just like birds. They're pretty, right? I'm going to take them home...

[It'll be the first personalized mission-ey touch she's added to her room! Along with breaking off seed pods, and the mission requisites of rock and mud.

Rin sounds happy. This is honestly a bit of a rarity, as usually she sounds cynical, or cranky, or sarcastic.]

It's good to be out, right? I start to forget that the world isn't all about bad weather and raining... and it's so nice here. It's exciting to think of setting up a new home on the moon too, isn't it? It's like we really did something that time, and it didn't all go haywire in a split second.

I really hope that at the end of everything we can leave the world a little more like this. I mean, well, not with dinosaurs tromping around, I guess. But a good world where people can enjoy sunshine and can feed themselves, and have a fighting chance. There's no point in winning the war if we can't fix the world too, right...? The world they'd be left with isn't very nice...

[A pause, where it seems like she might say more. But that feels like enough. Somewhat self-consciously, Rin cuts the video feed off.]

[Hey there, Exsilium. Asbel's finally gotten the hang of this whole technology business - about as much as he's going to, anyway - and so he holds the device out from himself. It's not quite stationary, but at least he manages to get his face and shoulders inside the camera frame. For anyone who knows him, they might notice he seems a bit more reserved than usual.]

Um, hey. I hope everyone's doing all right. I know things have been difficult lately...

[His voice trails off.]

For those of you I haven't met yet, my name is Asbel Lhant. I've been here for a little over a month now.

Anyway, I have two reasons for contacting you today. First off, I'm actually looking for some people to train with. Additional training, I mean. There's a lot we can learn from each other, and I think we should try to take full advantage of that. I fight with a sword, but I do have some basic knowledge of other weapon types. To be honest, I'm willing to give anything a shot, and I'll be more than happy to share what I know.

And the second thing is... [He glances down briefly before looking back at the camera.] Well, I was wondering if any of you have kids of your own, either here or back where you come from. I know it sounds kind of weird, but I think I could use some advice.

[there's the sound of scuffling, and a perfectly fine view of the ceiling before Artie's tablet gets knocked off the pile of books it had been sitting on as he rummages around. he likely turned it on by accident in his search ... think of it like pocket dialing. he's talking to himself as he does so]

No, no, I know it's in here, it's got to be in here - unless it's in the wash, I hope it isn't in the wash, then it's ruined and where am I going to find a clockmaker to fix it in this place? At least one that will actually want to do business with me...

[he paces past the table, though the view is sideways and lopsided. he's patting down his pockets, frantically]

-- Of course I haven't completely lost it, why would you say that? I would never - no! No, not even now. ... I don't hate him that much, he - it wasn't his - well maybe it was but I don't ... he was my ...

[he shakes his head, looking almost desperate, then scowls suddenly] NO. That is NOT my fault and don't you even TRY to tell me that it was, he made his OWN decisions, and -- and -- DON'T YOU EVEN SAY HER NAME, DON'T YOU DARE.

[he picks up an empty glass from the table and hurls it into a shadowy corner with extreme prejudice]

I can take you wheedling me about my father. About my family. About Moscow and the NSA and about Carol and Jimmy, I've been doing that myself for years, but YOU DO. NOT. MENTION --

[and then he looks over and sees that the tablet is on. cue deer in headlights.]

((OOC: Have one more Transport seein' runeblade demons! Enjoy your peek at the skeletons in Artie's closet, and please feel free to poke the badger.))

[ Sharpe has his tablet set on the table facing him, and his foot is on the chair, knee near his ear. His rifle is propped up against his other shoulder, and his fingers and moving down it, fingering the barrel. ]

I ain't one fer long speeches, so I'll keep this short. [ His eyes flicker finally towards the screen, and he stares straight into it. ]

I know I ain't the only one that's being given dirty looks by the Exiles - that's the proper name fer the poor bastards who're here 'fore all of us, fer those of you who don't know. And I'm telling you right out: if I see anyone fighting or using weapons against them, no matter what they're doing, I'll hunt you down and shoot you in the face. [ Said the most casually ever. But he is leaning forward. ]

That's a promise.

[ A second passes, and Sharpe seems satisfied with what he just said, so he drops back to his seat. ]

Listen. I've seen people like 'em before. People who just want peaceful lives but are dumped in the midst of war. [ Snorts. ] You all know the sickness and bombs last month [ pause ] - if you don't know, read back on the buggering network 'cause I ain't explaining shite you can read yerself - [ back to the topic ] and that's more than enough ta make anyone resentful. They hate us 'cause they think we brought the war ta 'em. We all know we didn't, but resentment's never been particularly logical. Grit yer teeth and bear it. Be decent.

If you try ta hurt 'em, it'll make things worse, and I'd rather not have ta make me own tea because the man in the shop I like starts hating me for the stupid shite any of you are doing. [ His eyes flicker up again. ] I don't ever miss, aye?

[ Pause. As if he's just thought of it. ] Me name's Major Richard Sharpe of the Prince of Wales's Own in Duke Wellington's army. [ A crooked smile, a salute. ] If that means anything ta any of you.

[ ooc; for more info, check out the outline about native hostility. I'm the slowest ever. ]

[ 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.