[Click! The feed opens to Tails fooling around with an anklet - one that seems to be giving off a lot of heat and steam.] Hi, guys! I just wanted to let you all know that I'm opening a shop near the Hold! It's not really a store, since I don't have anything prepared right now. But I can make things for people who need them! Jetpacks, other modes of transportation, even lower-tech weapons!

[No, don't you dare ask. He's not going to build you high-powered ray guns. Or high-tech weapons of mass destruction. OR AT-ATs. So don't ask.]

The more advanced the item is, the longer it'll take to make it. I'm not going to charge anyone for these things yet, since what I can make is rather... well, limited. [He's still finding parts around the city, and he doesn't have quite the repertoire of supplies he did back at home. BUT HEY donations are cool!] If anyone happens to know where I can find more spare parts, please let me know.

I don't have anything set up to take orders in, so for now you guys can contact me by replying to this video.

[Suddenly the anklet boosts itself out of Tails' hands and onto the floor. He turns the feed off and presumably runs after it.]

( OOC information! )

My name is Adam Jensen, and I've been with the Detroit Police Department and its SWAT division for almost ten years. The last two, I worked as a Private Security Specialist. Earth, 2027, no major deviations.

With that out of the way, I've [ hacked through everything ] read up on past events since the transports started and noticed that the security measures around the compound, the city in general and especially the transport apartments are insufficient; and I think it's in everyone's best interest that we maintain a safe and secure environment for ourselves because I don't think the Initiative gives much of a shit. I'll try and do something about it provided they let me mess around with their precious security systems and joke of a network.

Until I sorted that out, I can at least provide you with an impromptu code I whipped up a little while ago that should make your online communications a tiny bit more secure. Feel free to use it—you just need to download and unpack it, then apply it to any transmission.

>> DOWNLOAD (icarusencrypt.exe)

[ so, using this encryption will make all your private conversations about 25% more unhackable and it will also PING YOU when someone tries to hack through it. On the downside, using it will enable Adam to stalk all the private conversations you apply it to UNNOTICED because hell, he wrote this shit and is still too nosy for his own good. ]

*

[ the following is edited in about twenty minutes later ]

addendum;

Is there someone among you who would consider themselves knowledgeable with prosthetics. Or cybernetics. Preferably both.

[ There's a video attached of a rather dark, gloomy place; but after two seconds this thing comes into view, SANS BLADE, of course. Just looking at it, it seems to be made of sleek black metal and moves absolutely naturally... if it weren't for two fingers being locked into rather unnatural positions, like they're dislocated. This'll teach Adam not to do too much weird shit with his hands when he can't be sure if any specialists are around, sigh. There's a low rasp, just two words lacking any emotion, ]

It's stuck.

The rumors are true. [A big red eye and a face that seems too wide for the frame blips onto screen. The voice is gruff, but with a hint of amusement to its tone.] There is a new monster in town.

Hrm. And that's all anyone seems to know about me. Why else would that human willingly hand over some magic advanced weapon? [He chuckles lowly.] Famous first—and last—mistake.

Anyway, let's get this over with. Point me toward the enemy.

HEY GUYS IT WASN'T MY FAULT ALRIGHT
they locked me off your network (LIKE THEY THINK THAT WILL STOP ME I BUILT THAT NETWORK) but hey i just wanted to say some asshat kicked it off EARLY. i said a week, didn't i! that wasn't anyone's version of a week! look i'm gonna reboot it, no more memories, we got a real default battleground coded into it now so it

uh oh found out
oh come on I WASN'T DONE TYPI

[ Broadcast end. Anyone trying to reach this network ID will be met with the polite but persistent reply: "This host banned, please reroute your query." There won't be any NPC replies, but feel free to thread here! ]

[As the video starts recording, an older gentleman inspects the device, unsure if it's actually recording. After a few seconds, he shrugs his shoulders and decides to leave it be and sits in an uncomfortable looking aluminum chair in front of it. Victor Sullivan, an older mustachioed gentleman, sporting a worn Havana shirt and holding a lit cigar in his right hand. Looking exhausted and in need of sleep, he leans back in the chair casually and looks directly into the camera.]

 

Goddamn, I must have one helluva hangover. I feel like I've been stuffed in a barrel...

 

[He taps the ashes of his cigar on an off screen ash tray, and takes a drag from the cigar. He returns his attention to the camera as he exhales slowly.]

 

Look I don't know what I'm doing here, one minute I'm in this peaceful little village chatting up a friend, next thing I know this, actually pretty cute, woman is talking nonsense... offering me weapons, I think she might have been coming onto me? I don't know I didn't get her number... Then suddenly I'm in this room... cigar in one hand, this little electronic doohickey in the other. Apparently this is to be my "living quarters", hah, as if. Nate, I don't know if this can even reach you, but I hope you're alright. Assuming you are, get over here! Quick! I need you to come pick my ass up, pretty sure you owe me one after I used all our money to bail YOU out. Christ I feel like I'm on lock down!

 

[He puts the cigar down and leans forward in the chair, moving in closer to the camera. He sighs and smoothes his mustache anxiously]

 

Seriously though, if anyone get's this message, anyone at all.... someone please fill me in. I could really use a familia- hell even just a friendly face right now. 

 

[He laughs nervously, his weak smile quickly fading in defeat. He stands up out of his chair and picks up the camera.]

 

Yeah... well it was worth a shot anyway. ... I need a drink...

 

[The video abruptly stops]

[The first thing the feed shows is a blur of green and brown rushing past at amazing speeds, the ground rushing by at blinding speed; a blur of red and white in the corner, the toe of a sneaker going faster than any sneaker has a right to. Then the view lurches into a dizzying overhand spin as its carrier performs a fast series of flips, shuddering as he lands...]

[And then the spiky blue... THING, flashes a grin at the camera.]

Helooooo Exsilium! My name's Sonic: Sonic the Hedgehog! And it looks like I'm going to be fighting alongside you guys now! I just took an easy jog out to the coast and back; Those guys really take themselves seriously, huh? Blockades, machine guns, constant patrols... and that's for their own citizens! I dunno about you guys, but I can't wait to cut 'em down to size!

[The video feed opens to tails swishing around in the distance. Not one, but two tails. Seems the person who turned this on got distracted by something. But a moment later, he sets something down, turns around and walks towards the netbook he had set down a few moments ago.]

Oh, cool! It works! [More tail-swishing as the fox grins.] Hi, everyone! My name's Tails. This broadcasts to everyone else, doesn't it?

[In the distance, it becomes clear that what Tails had set down was a wrench. A rather odd one, at that.]

Well, it was kinda odd, being thrown into here, but I guess you guys came here the same way, right? How long has this been going on?

... Oh and has anyone seen a blue hedgehog around here? Or anything like him? If he was here, his name would be Sonic the Hedgehog.

Ooh, I think I got it to work!  The little light's blinking. That's like the universal sign for 'working', isn't it? [ the young girl, clad in a quite.. quirky outfit peers at the camera on the device quizzically. ] That means I'm being recorded, right? Well, a magician has to keep up appearances, so! Hello, Citizens of Exsilium! My name's Trucy Wright, Ace Magician! Maybe you've heard of me! Or maybe you've heard of daddy, that usually seems to be the case. [ she bounces on her heels a bit. ] I don't really know what's going on, but while I'm stuck here, let's have some fun, okay?

Let's start with an icebreaker! [ Trucy holds up a deck of redbacked playing cards. She then spreads all 52 out in her hand. ] Pick a card, any card!