[ It's been a while, huh? Normally Wayne -- Doug -- doesn't see the need to address people en mass, but, sometimes it's necessary. Unlike last time he isn't going to bother with fumbling text (fake lawyer, can't spell) so the video displays his very sleep-deprived-looking face and hair that's mussed from carelessly running a hand through it too many times. He in fact does it again without noticing as he adjusts the tablet, looking into the camera. ]

Hey. Hi there. This is Doug Rich again. Long time no... well you know how it goes. [ He cocks his head slightly in a cheekily impatient sort of shrug. ] Um-- so, I'm not sure how we've all been feeling these days, but not too long ago people were throwing around the idea of having some kind of code of conduct that we can all agree to... pay attention to. There aren't really laws and maybe it's not our biggest priority, but I think--

[ He blinks, train of thought momentarily derailed. He gestures circularly with his hand, trying to get it going again. ]

Uh-- I think it'd be useful. At least helpful. For... safety. Communities like this -- all over -- that's what they do. And usually they're smaller. Draft would need some work but everyone could vote on it, make sure it's fair. I've got-- [ But he cuts himself off, deciding that mentioning whatever first pass he's worked on isn't relevant yet. Might sound too eager or demanding or something, better to play it cool and passive. ] Um... yeah. That's it. I'll... we'll -- let me know about... we can talk later. More. More later.

[ Good conclusion. Good talk. ]

( OOC: With endgame on the horizon I haven't been sure the best way to proceed with this -- apologies -- but I've got an open log here for general CR follow-up/closure things in which I'm happy to put up a "code coordination" thread up in should people still be interested in having characters discuss ICly it on a not-one-on-one basis. Or if there's enough interest in a separate log I can put one of those together too. )

[For his second message Victor's really kicked things up a notch. He's actually learned how to use the damned thing finally, which means that there's no more awkward half-faces or yelling. Instead the device is propped against something, giving the viewer a good look of all six feet of Victor Goddamn Sullivan and his mustache. He's sitting comfortably behind a large desk, hands folded on the surface. It would be a rather impressive look, but wherever he is it's dimly lit, dirty and rundown looking. Still, the desk is solid and heavy, and his bearing has all the confidence of someone not sitting in a crumbling-down disaster.]

Evening folks. Some of you might know me, but for those of you who don't, my name's Victor Sullivan.

[He smiles charmingly throughout, and even if he can't shake your hand you get the feeling he would if he could.]

I'm coming to you all with an exciting opportunity. I, and a few associates, have been working towards opening a new business in the heart of New Exsilium. I have a location, and the means, but I'm looking for some help from my fellow transports.

[There's a clear shift in gears, and he leans over his elbows, getting closer to the screen. It's intimate.]

I'm looking for a few strong men to help me get the place in order. I've got enough cash to pay the locals for the heavy-duty stuff, but people willing to chip in to help move furniture, paint, and get the place cleaned up would be appreciated. I'm also looking for some staff, especially people with previous bar, kitchen, or service experience.

If you think that sounds like you, and you're looking for some work, let me know.

[The seriousness fades like it was never there, and he leans back in his chair again, spreading his hands.]

As for the rest of you, look forward to the opening of The Stag soon. Thank you and I look forward to seeing ya.

( ((With that he switches to private, for Nathan Drake, Chloe Frazer, Charlie Cutter, Apollo, and Doctor Facilier)) )

So before the glow of coming back here after being somewhere much better for a year wears off and I decide I dislike you people all over again, I figured I'd better pass out the presents to the masses.

Don't expect anything specific, because it's really just a great big pile of media files. I had the dummy AI we took with us convert them into whatever runs on the tablets, so they should all work for the most part. It's just a lot of books, movies, music, and some other stuff from the 2900s. Some of them are probably in French, but that's your problem, not mine.

You can browse what we brought back in the following link.

[ And as he's finally had way too much time to practice making links on computers, it doesn't even take a minute to attach it to his network clip, open for all those interested and willing to click strange links from some random guy. ]

And don't ask for anything rated -18. I didn't bring any movies like that back with us.

[ the video's not all that well focused or held, mostly getting her shoulder and part of her face except for the moments she readjusts it back to focusing on her face temporarily. the light is dim, wherever she is, and between the blood drying on her and the way her voice keeps hitching as she stumbles over words, the unsteadiness of her hands holding the tablet, and the way her head tips back against the wall she's leaning against every so often as if she can't quite hold it up - she's not in great shape. ]

You know, someone should get to work on this machine's timing. Adjust it a little bit. Make it stop being a fucking piece of shit. Or taking people who don't want to be taken. Or - I don't know, what else is it up to lately? How long's it been.

[ breaking off. she's forgotten what she needed to say, is looking off at nothing in particular for a long moment. abruptly - ]

What's that story about the lady and the tiger? With the princess whose lover has to pick one of two doors as punishment, and one has a tiger and the other has a woman he'll have to marry. And she makes a gesture to tell him which one to pick, but the story doesn't tell you which one the door had behind it.

I guess a little closure's too much to ask for.

[ blood loss: good for clarity. ]

I could use a doctor.

[ ooc: charlie cutter & tempest get providing aid rights, but if you would rather action it up she'll be wandering around the area for part of the day and can be run into most anywhere just checking everything out. ]

I have information to share with you all, about information that we lack.

[a pause.]

( LOTS OF TALKING )

[ when the feed clicks on, marduk is in what appears to be a ruined building near the edge of town. there's snow on the floor and holes in the walls, but he's not wearing a single scrap of winter clothing. more importantly, he doesn't look especially pleased to be doing this. ]

Recently, one of the locals here went missing. Don't ask me what his name was, I'm not the one who gives a shit. I'm just here to solve the mystery.

He's missing because he's dead, and he's dead because I killed him.

[ he pauses here. it looks like it's for dramatic effect, but really he's just trying to figure out how to end the announcement. ]

Most of you would call that murder, wouldn't you? Can't remember if you all figured out what to do about that, but-- if you want retribution, you can come and get it.

[ good enough. the video ends there. ]

[ bright and early, splayed on the network feed in somewhat old-timey poster fashion: ]

IMMEDIATE HELP WANTED

with the

Refurbishment and Construction

of

Shelters and Outposts

for purposes including but not limited to

Accommodation, Assembly, Defense, Medical Aid, Technical Support, Supply Reserves, Agriculture

and other prospective services to Transports and other associates.

All forms of assistance and input welcome and encouraged

including but not limited to technical aid, general labor, delivery and supply, security, liaison with third parties, and crew support.

Inquire in this post for further details.

----

( video version, within the same post )

(( OOC: APOLOGIES FOR THE SLOWDOWN IN REPLIES I'll get to everyone's as soon as I can ))

[The face that pops up on the screen is clearly in need of at least a small shave -- he's gotten lazy in the middle of the tundra. Of course, as soon as he turns on the feed he seems to be having second thoughts about doing so.

Probably should've been a little more discreet about what he's asking to keep certain people from fussing. That's almost the exact thing someone might hear in their head when they catch his awkward pause on camera before he jumps right into...whatever it is he's going to say.]

So. Hey. Good day for freezing your ass off, isn't it?

[There's a series of deep playful barks that occur off screen. Focusing on the backdrop of the flat, one might spot a flash or two of black and white dashing away as Nate moves aside for his new companions. The camera focuses back on him pretty quickly, which is about the point that Nate decides he's going to ask a different question.]

Most of you don't know me, and I don't know most of you. Or maybe you do know me. I've apparently been around the bend here once or twice before. But let's forget about that and talk about venison. Game-y sort of meat, right? I'm sure deer is being declared an endangered species in these parts by now even with that in mind -- so if you're looking to turn some over I'm your man.

Name's Drake. And hey, if you have other food stores you're looking to get rid of, talk to me. Between you, me, and the wall I'm not quite ready to dive head first into the snow.

[Which is a lie, but nobody has to know that.]

[Unless you've met this kid in person, you've probably never seen him. He's not a video post kind of guy. But this is important, and it's hard to summarize in a text post. So here he is, the face to a name that's been around for 6 months now.

He's pale, maybe a little shaken. And for some reason, he's wearing a new coat.]

Uh...

Listen. I-

[He takes a breath, realizing that he's stuttering a bit, and tries again. No, really. It's important.]

If anyone here met Richard Lawson...he's gone. And I'm sure. I-

I saw it. He- I don't know. He disappeared. He just raved about us and then disappeared. Um. He used to be on the UE council, so he knew some stuff about them. And he told me that they're still out there and that-

[Stanley swallows, and glances away from the camera for a moment. It sucks, to watch someone disappear. Fade away. But he can't think about that yet. Right now, he has to pass the message along. So he looks back, right at the camera lens this time.]

He said we have to make sure they don't find us.

(OoC: Derp, forgot to give you guys the relevant link.)

Hey, I hope everyone's managing to stay warm enough. I know some of us are still back on the moon base as well; how are things up there?

[Asbel pauses unneccessarily, as if halfway expecting a response -- somehow, even though he's still recording -- before he continues at a calm, measured pace.]

Anyway, a couple of thoughts. The next wave of Transports won't be arriving until the eighth, right? I was thinking maybe we could set aside some extra space for them. In cabins and wherever else people have found to live. That way, they can move out of the facility as soon as they're ready without having to worry so much about where to go. As such, is there anyone who's still looking for a place to stay?

Also, there are a lot of organizations and small groups among us. If you've started or are part of one of these, whether it's official or not, do you think you could tell me a little bit about their purpose and who else is involved? I'm not much for making lists, but I'd like to at least try to keep track of them all.

And lastly... [At this point, his posture slackens, and he spreads his hands casually.] It's more of a personal question and doesn't have anything to do with the rest. Do you remember any hobbies or activities you really enjoyed when you were young? Everyone's been talking about resolutions, and there's something I'd like to do in the upcoming year.

[There's something different about Saul today.

He's seated in front of the camera, as usual, and he's in a suit, also as usual, but —

Oh, maybe it's the fact that Stephanie's leaning against his shoulders as he speaks, which takes away all possibility of him being his usual, businesslike self.

It might be that.]

Hey, everyone. As some of you've noticed, Jesse Pinkman went home a couple of weeks ago. Since there was some concern over the cookie situation last month, we — [With a brief nod upward, toward Steph — ] Figured that we'd harness some of the holiday spirit that's been goin' around and make sure this month's newbies are fed and clothed. Feferi will be taking care of handing out jackets and whatnot on the first, and Steph and I will be manning the cookie table alongside anyone else who decides to join us.

[Without missing a beat, Steph adds:]

Might even see if I can get one of those big urns to put hot cocoa in, to help warm the newbies up, and us, if we're hanging around there for a while. Any chance you can help out with that, Ella?

[She gives the camera a bright smile, which is mostly for Ella's sake. Sorry about abusing your powers.]

What we're not gonna do is make a party of it. I know that kinda sucks, but we just don't have the space, so the plan is that everyone who wants to can bake a couple batches in their own ovens, then bring them to our place sometime on the thirty first. If you don't know the address already and you're planning to help out, I'll give it to you here. [But she's not - just giving it out on the network openly.] If you need ingredients, let me know; I went on a mission and made sure we had plenty of stuff so I can give you flour or sugar or choc chips. Same goes for the recipe. Annnnd if you need help getting cookies to us, speak up, and we'll work something out.

[For a second, it looks like she's about to wrap it up, but then something else occurs to her.]

Speaking of parties, I dunno if anyone's doing anything for New Year's Eve, but if they are, can everyone try to get the cookies to me before like - seven, so I can still go out. Thanks.

[At which point Saul looks up and over at her, feigning a pout.]

Sorry, so we can go out.

[And then he's all smiles.

Before the feed clicks off, he adds another "thanks," and away they go.]

( Then, a private text to Sonya from Steph, sent only moments later: )

[ The camera cuts on, and Jude stares at it for a few seconds. He hesitates, before leaping right into what he wanted to discuss here. ]

I realize because of our actions while we were stuck on the moonbase that we've changed things here on Earth, but just because the environment in Exsilium is different I think the chances are pretty high that the United Earth will come after us again now that we're back on the planet. And as far as I know we don't actually have any reliable means of uncovering any plots against us. There's no telling when and how they'll strike, and even if there was... do we even have any plans ourselves on how to deal with it? Unless we have advance warning and several days to move people back up to the moon I haven't heard about any ways to protect the Transports from the United Earth.

Besides that, I can't be the only one that would like to think of a defense plan that would protect the citizens of Exsilium as well.

[At eight-thirty in the morning the crisp voice of a young woman begins to drone.] So the holiday of Christmas is just around the corner. For those of you not in the know - of whom I'm sure there are many, I was such a one myself less than 2 years ago - Christmas is a winter festival, meaning its hallmarks are decoration in the red and green hues that are so rare in this desolate season. There is delicious food, and an exchange of gifts, and an overall pretense of universal goodwill. It is, as they say, the most wonderful time of the year.

That time of the year, Christmas Day, is the 25th of December. Celebrations often start earlier on Christmas Eve, or the 24th. If you're familiar with the calendar that governs timekeeping in Exsilium, you'll know that means we have less than a week left.

Now I happen to work with Vennett, the temporal programmer. There are two main things of public import I've learned from him. First, New York and Las Vegas are some of the most popular destinations for missions that procure physical goods and no other result. Second, encoding a unique destination is a non-neglegible drain on resources, especially when the goal of the mission is not related to the location.

If you intend to spend the holidays in Las Vegas, enjoying whatever entertainments it has to offer, I can't really stop you. On the other hand, I have a proposal for whoever else has Christmas shopping to do: We all go to New York, together. I've made this announcement early in the day hoping to organize an expedition this evening; if there are enough interested parties who consider this notice to be too short, a delay of a day or more is perfectly feasible. Either way, we meet in front of the Transporter at 6 o'clock.

And one more thing. Should you be repulsed by the location or perceived frivolity of this entire exercise, but still want to get out of here, for the sake of a [she says like it's a dirty word] 'vacation' or any other reason, why don't you consider the latest lovely selection of mission proposals? AI's new simulations are absolutely top-notch, and we've been getting excellent results already.

Alright, that's all for now. I hope everyone listening to this has a Merry Christmas when the day comes.

[Yuri turns on the feed, greeting everyone with a lopsided smile. Almost telling that he has a really smartass remark to make...]

Am I the only one waiting for something bad to happen? Not that I wish it, but it's actually kinda nice right now. The calm before the storm, right? We're all working together, almost as if forgetting there was a civil war among us on the moon about sides and everything. Now, suddenly everything's sunshine and rainbows. [The last part is overly sarcastic. Of course, he knows not everything's going well, but for him and the journey he was on in his world, this is pretty damn chill.]

Though, gotta thank the place for supplying monsters. Kinda missed fighting regularly, and they're strong too. Gets me excited to actually do stuff now here. [Instead of moping around in his room about how much he hates this damn place, but ah, well, beggars can't be choosers.]

If anyone ever cares to join me, I wouldn't mind. Maybe I could find a few sparring partners that way. Gets boring with Flynn all the time. [He chuckles once at the end before turning off the feed.]

[Video]

[It is a very solemn Giovanni who addresses everyone today. Maybe it’s due to the cold which, admittedly was a problem that even an extra wrap could not quite solve, but more likely it was due to the book on Renaissance history that was sitting open faced on his lap. He had finally found the time to read the book he had traded Cat (a.k.a. Arya Stark) for and the manuscript held a grim glimpse into the future. ]

We are brought here, told that changing the past is the way to correct the future but I find myself wondering if that is true. Has anything that has been done really been for the best? Those who were native in Exsilium before our arrival have been nearly entirely wiped from history. Instead of correcting the troubles with these ‘nuclear bombs’ we have only plunged the planet into a deep cold. Now we are told we must do more of these missions to gather supplies and correct these new problems. Does it ever end?

I wonder how many of you agree with this. Is changing the past in this manner something you feel is right?

[His voice took on an even softer tone as he thought back on what he had read. ]

What would you do if you had future knowledge of a terrible event? Would you journey to the past to stop it from happening or would you be too concerned it might cause something even worse to occur?

[the camera starts off upside down, before Tempest hisses out a curse and rights it. She briefly makes a face and pushes some hair out of her face - hair that is distinctly longer and a different, somewhat lighter color than the stark black it had been. Which . . . could explain why she's been MIA for the past two days, and why she looks confused at first]

Well, this is . . . hm. Odd. [she mutters just loud enough for the camera to hear] It really has been a while . . . .

Anyway, I've an offer and a request. I plan to do some hunting, so if anyone is in need of meat I would be more than willing to hunt a little extra. I am not looking to trade, though I will not say no to anyone who offers to.

As for my request, I am looking for someone familiar with . . . hm, symbols? Any kind. My thanks in advance.

Hey everyone.

First, if anyone here knew Ed Elric, he's left us for home. He was my lab partner and friend for the last few months, and I'm going to miss him.

Second: this cold isn't exactly the best environment for plant growth, but plants are an important food group for most of us. I've brought some spectrum lamps for plant growth back from Hydroponics on the base, along with some I built myself. There should be enough to power a small indoor agriculture operation for a while, and I'm working on more with my limited supplies.

Third: I'm also working on compact heaters if any of you ended up in unheated residences. The process is slow without supplies or collaborators, but if current progress holds, five should be ready within the week.

[ Hi so here's a video of this asshole sitting on the floor of her moonbase room, looking... messily festive. She's got a few strings of silver tinsel randomly wrapped around her head and shoulders, a string of blinking, multi coloured lights hanging over her wings, and there appears to be a snowman sticker stuck to her cheek. ]

Right so I've been packin' shit up and I realized I never said hey fuck you guys like I should've, so hey fuck you guys, especially you Earthy folk 'cause not a single one of you fucks told me about department stores. I mean fuckin' come on, look at all the shit they have -

[ She tilts the camera to the floor around her and wow yeah she sure has been robbing Walmarts. Actually you can't even see the floor itself, it's just... stuff, literally everywhere, with barely a thing in her suitcase (which still has all the tags on it) that's just laying there among the pile, open and abandoned. Apollo then sets the tablet back down on the bed so she can once again have her hands free. ]

Hey by the way, Donny and medfriends, got the shit you wanted. Got uh, little hammered there for a bit and I mighta temporarily lost the damn bag I put it all in but I got it again! You assholes still on the moon or didya take off to snowland already? And actually y'know what, speakin' of snowland, I'm gonna be real sweet and letcha haaaaave [ rustle rustle ] some of these too! ( an ooc but totally not ic cut, JUST IN CASE since she's gonna be real vulgar for a second here sorry )



By hey seriously it looks really goddamn cold down there and Metalhead ate the gloves I stole, anyone wanna help a tropical girl out and gimme somethin' to keep my fingers from freezin' the fuck off?

[You are treated today, Exsilium, to the sight of an absolutely irate looking woman who is not even close to hiding her hurt and disgust from the camera- and likely wouldn't be able to even if she wanted to.]

All of you who speak of laws in this place, of justice and freedom- you all wear two faces and you lie! You do not know what is fair, you bow your heads and you do the bidding of these slavers who have dragged us here to fight as pawns in a war that is not ours without complaint and you cage those who have the courage to make a stand for your freedom.

[And here comes the crux of the matter, here stands a mother grieving for a loss she believes she has been dealt due to her son's involvement in the mutiny. Timing's a bitch, it seems.]

My son wanted nothing more than to see us all free once more, he cared for your liberty and someone in this damned place has taken him from here, taken him in secret and punished him and now he is gone from here. I do not know who, I do not know how, but I will find them whether they are in this metal prison or the land below. Is this what people call justice?

[Vehemently, she takes the hatchet she claimed for herself months ago, and with all her strength she buries it in a water pipe. She does not seem to care for the upset to the plumbing she has caused.]

His name is Ratonhnhaké:ton. He is called Connor by some. Whoever is responsible will know me and will not suffer their regret for long when I find them.

[She ends the feed, with water still gushing over the blade of her buried hatchet.]

[ Roslyn is behind the camera again, face stern, Vennett & Lowell seated just behind her. She’s looking as calm and professional as she can, though traces of exhaustion are seeping through regardless of her best efforts. ]

I’m going to make this as brief as possible. We do not have laws governing the actions undertaken recently by people currently in custody. While hopefully there will shortly be a fuller code of conduct, we cannot apply it retroactively. I do not have the resources to keep anyone locked up indefinitely, nor can I provide a fair trial, and it would be morally suspect to do either in the current environment.

I believe there is a solution to this, one that several others agree with, including Lowell Orwin and Vennett here with me, both of whom were held hostage by these people and have a fair amount of insight into their mindset. However, given that you will all have to live with it as well, I’m going to bring this solution to general consensus.

Under this arrangement, as a first part all current prisoners will be released into the custody of someone who will agree to monitor their actions and ensure that they are not able to plan anything further. These parole officers will either be volunteers from the general population or police officers if necessary, and all will be very carefully vetted. If it is necessary we will ask them to submit to a brief telepathic scan.

The second part of this arrangement would be undertaking a set amount of missions under the supervision of Orwin and Vennett with the goal of putting forth effort into our return to Earth. I am assured that they will be doing real work that will benefit us all.

This is the solution that I and others hope will work best for everyone involved, as well as free up resources to continue working towards getting off of this base and setting up an actual system of leadership.

While Jesse Pinkman was not a member of this, as he has given back all powers taken he would be released under the same conditions.

This is being presented to you all as, essentially, a poll. That is the first option. The second option is ‘other’, and if that is your answer I must insist you provide a fully thought through and careful plan that does not simply consist of ‘strand them somewhere’ or ‘airlock them’. Should enough support be shown for a provided 'other' plan over parole, it will be considered as an option. 

Thank you all for your time. I hope this will be resolved very shortly.

[ And cut. ]


[ ooc: this is an ic poll of the population! you may vote once with each character you have in game. roslyn and others are available for question answering and so forth. ]

[He's so bored, he can't take it anymore. Asking for trouble, maybe, but there's all kinds of excitement he's missing with the new arrivals, and he's not used to missing out on it. He keeps the video feed off, unlike usual, because both his cell and he himself are a mess. His voice is only slightly hoarse, recovering from a first week in custody that was spent screaming.]

So what's the deal with all you new guys? Usually I do this in person but I'm, uh, a little tied up right now. Anyway, lemme hear it. Where you from? Whatcha usually get up to? How you feeling about being in this skanky shithole up on the moon?

Hope the rest of you guys didn't leave 'em starving.

[The voice is that of a young woman speaking in a crisp English accent. She sounds entirely unamused, though not necessarily resigned to her situation.]

If the circumstances here are truly as they've been presented to me, it would seem that my travel plans will need to be revised and that I shan't be leaving for Paris in the morning after all. More pressing, however, is the lack of access to my own finances. I find this irritating, to say the least.

[A girl's gotta have some cash. Real money, too, not this fake stuff they're touting. This is absolutely ridiculous. She sighs, voice taking on a slightly more sympathetic tone.]

As I said, if I can't go to Paris tomorrow, I shall have to alter my plans. I am in dire need of a tailor. Someone skilled. Not a dressmaker. I shall impart the details of my commission to said tailor, if and when we are introduced.

At present I have nothing to barter with aside from my good name and promise of repayment at a future date. And with all these witnesses, that ought to be enough. My name is a very good one, if that matters to anyone at all.

[There's a deliberate pause before she speaks again.]

Though if anyone should have pertinent information on how one might go about securing passage away from this this... settlement, I should be much obliged for your assistance.

[She'd been tempted to send a simple Donny Casey is gone text out on the network, but using the text function would imply that she's not capable of anything else, and god forbid she seem as upset by Donny's deperature as she is.

And she realizes that if she's going to be helping with this little government they're putting together, she needs to put herself out more, and being associated with Donny could be an advantage. Not everyone respected him, but he was well liked, and that goes a long way. She can manage the respect part by herself.

So: a video of a young woman, blonde hair tied back and make up simple (though still there, because appearances are important) as she addresses the camera.]

Donny Casey has returned home; considering his involvement in the clinic, I thought it would be best to ensure everyone is aware, rather than trying to track down individuals.

[Also she just doesn't want to talk to that many people one-on-one right now.]

For anyone I haven't met, my name is Max Briest, I am Donny's - partner. [There's a pause before the word, but not as long as it might have been a few months ago.] If there are any arrangements or commitments he had made to you, I will do my best to fulfill them, though if it's in regards to the clinic you may prefer to conact Ashraf or Kirian.

To the new arrivals, welcome, and my apologies for the circustances, as much as they are out of our control. I hope you can all settle in smoothly.

Thank you for your time.

[the feed cuts.]

[Hello, friends. A cold-eyed elf with a fairly significant skin condition stares at the camera, his jaw set, his mouth a thin, inscrutable line.]

Talk of a council is all well and good, but we have another matter in front of us.

As many of you have pointed out, there is no formal system of law in place. At present, those of you who acted as peace officers have simply continued as you were in your own worlds. If you brought others to justice, if you spoke about justice -- you have continued to see this as your right.

[His eyes narrow, drawing his long eyebrows together.]

But it is not your right. Your laws are not universal. Your morality is not sacrosanct.

We must decide on appropriate conduct as a whole, with consideration given to perspectives outside of our own.

I propose that any code we settle on be simple and direct. For example:

1. Murder shall be abolished. In the case of murder, execution.

2. Theft shall be abolished. In the case of theft, the hand shall be cut off at the wrist. Repeat offenders shall lose both hands.

3. Conspiring with the United Earth shall be considered treason. In the case of treason, suspected or actual, execution.

4. Bodily autonomy shall be respected. Knowing efforts to mind control, telepathically invade, steal, or otherwise forcibly take spiritual or physical authority over another sentient being will constitute assault. In the case of this assault, execution.

And so forth.  These are merely ideas, of course.

[His lower lip twitches, suggesting that he's perfectly aware of the extremes he's recommended. Suggesting that he's just trying to get your attention, to get you to think about how you would define your own terms. What constitutes murder? Theft? Conspiracy? Justice? He's only asking.

Maybe.]

[After several hours, the post is edited with a very carefully recorded text attachment.]

( alternatives.txt )

[Last time Jaime posted as Blue Beetle, he kept to text. This time, he thinks that people might need a face - masked as it may be - to match to the words. His voice is put through a technological filter, just distorted enough for him to keep from being recognized. He's in the VR room in the most professional looking room he could think of, which is essentially a large table with wall-to-wall windows behind him looking out onto San Francisco - potentially recognizable to some canonmates as a loose copy of the Titans Tower meeting room, which is fairly generic anyway.]

So... hi. I'm Blue Beetle. A bunch of you already know that I've been trying to dig up as much info on the Chimera Project as I can - those are the cloned children, for you new guys - and I think I've got enough information to get going. Thanks to everyone who helped me out with this, by the way - you know who you are. I know everyone must be really tired of hearing people give long speeches by now, so I'll try to keep it short. [He smiles at the camera for an instant, a flash of white, human teeth behind the armour]

[He's making an effort to sound professional, but he's not used to public speaking. Sometimes, he looks down at his lap instead of the camera (consulting his notes as if he's giving a speech for class if he's honest about it) and he's stiff, uncomfortable, but his voice is even and steady. Small victories, and victories born of actually rehearsing.

Are you ready for a fun history lesson, Transports? Because you're sure as hell going to get one.]

( Non-IC cut! )

Hi! Hi again, to people I know already, hello for the first time, to anyone I haven't met yet. I'm Ashraf Salib, one of the heads of the clinic, high priest, snazzy dresser… [ He waves a hand. ] General things like that.

So, I'll get straight to the point. In the wake of the mutiny, I've seen a lot of talk on the network that I haven't seen before. Establishing a code of conduct, uniting… there was even some discussion of who you personally look to as a leader. Whatever your opinion of the mutiny may be, you have to admit that it's sparked some new subjects for us. And I'd say they're things we've been needing to talk about.

It isn't just a matter of wresting control from the Initiative, I think that was overly hasty and shortsighted. I think what we should be looking at is how to take control of ourselves. We're a really big group up here, with over three-hundred of us. That's a lot of voices to be heard at once, especially when none of them have much in the way of a recognized authority.

So, I think that should change.

My suggestion would be a council, voted on by the entire Transport body from a number of nominations. The people that we most trust are the ones we should have speaking for us — deciding for us. Because someone needs to. That we're still locked in this base after over two months up here should be evidence enough that it's difficult to achieve much of anything with no one calling the shots.

I've got some specific ideas about the organization of this council, which I wrote down and can attach here, but I want to hear from you. How should we organize ourselves? How can we decide who to listen to? This won't work if we don't all agree to it, and we need to agree on something. We're in a precarious position up here that frankly can't last, and it's past time that we take it into our own hands to change that.

( Council Specifics )

[Peter is ... angry. Angry is a good word for it, because he's mixed up, he's confused, and he's hating that he's hearing what's going on. Threats of torture? Maybe they were said in anger—and he's definitely done stupid things in anger himself—but that's not helping. But all he's seeing is a weird understanding that maybe SHIELD had the right idea by taking the reins back home, because this is what happens when people are left to their own devices.

Then again, SHIELD isn't really good at keeping the psychologically unstable types off the street. He knows that all too well, too. SHIELD also probably doesn't give a damn if people are infighting as long as they've got buttons to push and to control in the process.

He debates responding to Sofiya's commentary instead, but he has some sweeping questions that need to be answered.]

Have any of you ever read Lord of the Flies? Or ... I dunno, Battle Royale? The really terrifying thing about these books is the idea of humans going out and hunting one another. That we're a game. There was a guy on TV a year or so ago who decided he was gonna go after Spider-Man. It was stupid, but he thought that he'd make big ratings because he'd be able to take down this guy that everyone was calling a masked menace. Of course, as you should know right up front, Spider-Man's a good guy. Not a good guy as in let's-all-be-friends-with-Spider-Man, but he definitely isn't out there to hurt anyone, he's just wearing the mask for a reason ... he's a vigilante, but not the type that hurts people to prove something. Or kills. None of that. No bullets, no necks snapped, none of it.

[There's a pause where he breathes out, because that was a lot of quick babbling with very few pauses.]

If you can't make the connection from my well-placed pop culture references or my babbling about Spider-Man, what I'm seeing here is a lot of infighting. People are hurting each other and disagreeing over how we're meant to do this. People are talking about the law, but honestly, what law? We're locking people up because it's generally what is deemed the right thing, but none of us really know what we're doing. I mean, I've seem some crappy cops in my time, and believe me. You guys need some work.

Uh, but no offense, because I'm not here to criticize everyone. That's just gonna create even more infighting amongst us.

But I do think that all of us sitting down and agreeing we're in over our heads is a good place to start. Got it. You sitting yet? Actually, I bet you're turning this off, which fine, suit yourself.

What's happening is that we're going all Lord of the Flies on one another. We're going all rated-R Survivor to ensure that none of us get off this moonbase alive. And above all else, we're being idiots and making this about ourselves. Okay, I don't doubt that the release of those files might be some well-timed emotional manipulation, and I'm a bleeding heart who gives in to that crap. I can't deny it.

And maybe things will stop, but all I see is us redirecting our tensions elsewhere, and honestly, I ... I don't want people to die. I don't want any of that sort of thing to happen. That's my thing. I helped out with the guys who were trying to undo the mutiny's mess because I saw that as a danger to everyone's life. But I think moving forward, we need to try to be a little less Lord of the Flies and a little more boy band.

Don't get what I mean?

Come on, just look at the Backstreet Boys. I bet anything those guys didn't get together all that willingly. But they all stand together in uncomfortable leather pants and continue to sing terrible songs even though they're definitely nearing fifty. They're outliving The Beatles! Except one of the guys left, but that really says something about situations like that. It leaves room for imperfection.

So we can all band together and get really stupid haircuts and manicures and wear leather pants and ...

My point is, can we try to work together a little more? Just maybe? And instead of remarking on all of the above, let's hear some suggestions moving forward. You might think it's not the time, but I'd rather stop this from escalating.

[ Sadly, Aurican didn't quite understand what is going with the tablets and the kittens part despite his earlier discussion at Susan Storm's post.

To those more technologically-inclinded there was a brief moment of him mentioning missions, along with the words "U.E", "nuclear warfare" and "understanding the science", which is enough for a certain program to swap his transmission for a picture everyone is familiar with. ]

( Cut for you know what )

[Fenris so rarely uses the tablet, even less so to publicly speak to everyone. It's pointless, as far as he's concerned. Sharing words on a machine when they could be shared face to face. This time, though, is different. He feels this is important enough to share. Not one for chatting purposelessly, he gets right to the point]

Today, I awoke with a message on this contraption. It appears to be one of the memoirs that have been brought up of late. I suppose it might be important to some of you, so listen.

[And he'll play the file, the tablet giving out the automated text-reader of the file (because Maker knows, Fenris can neither read nor write it onto the tablet himself, the electronic voice crackling out the message. Perhaps it detracts from the emotion of the message, or perhaps hearing the words from a voice, albeit a robotic one does the exact opposite. However people may feel about it, the message plays on:]

The "E" in my name is for "Elaine", so my name is Joyce Elaine--which means "Joyful Light". Well, let me tell you, I don't feel like a happy ray of sunshine at the moment. I feel angry. And scared.

But mostly scared.

I don't want to die. I don't care what anyone says. No one can be prepared for death--not even those who have lived a long time. There's got to be some final struggle involved; some sense of staying on this blasted world for one moment longer...

And this is my struggle. This is me. My final thoughts and my final fight against the reaper. As long as this survives--I'll always be. Just do me a favor and don't erase this, okay?

Thanks.

[Fenris considers leaving it there, his job done. But he feels maybe it would be wrong to the memory of this Elaine to do so. As much as he disliked the Initiative as a whole, he understood the words she spoke. There was some common ground, here]

Her words are wise ones. Perhaps it would do some of you good to learn from them.

( When she speaks, Collette aims to sound warm. She's tired, keyed up, and confused as well as trying to understand what's gone on since the mutiny began, and what's continuing in the aftermath. She brings a question she'd talked to Ros about, in her own way; something she wants to know very simply because she doesn't, and it's all the more important now.

Out of respect for that same woman, she keep's Ros's name out of this. )

When it comes down to do or die, who do you trust here to make decisions to pull people through, and not leave people stranded high and dry, or freeze up and fall into inaction? People who keep their temper in heated circumstances. Ones who maybe aren't going to forget the bigger picture, even if that doesn't make it easy on the smaller scale.

I've got a few names myself! Blue, Kate Kane, Nathan Summers, Caesar Silverberg, Lenalee Lee, Xerxes Break, Gilbert Nightray, Jaime Reyes, Ashraf, Kang, Peter Quill, Donny, Armin Arlert, Chrono and Rosette, even Dick Grayson and Ahiru and Vanadi, of all people, would stand by you figuring things out.

Those are some of mine. What're yours?

( I'm going to keep talking, though, so you might want to tune out if you don't want to hear me ramble about a few maybe important, maybe not things! )

[Cy's in pretty bad shape, even if it can't be seen it can definitely be heard.  His voice is ragged, a growl to it as if he's trying to keep himself together.]

I know all of you...  You're pr--  You're blood is pretty precious to you but...  [He pauses, sucking in a pained breath so he can go on.]

I need to feed.  If I don't...  Well, it'll be bad.  [He gives a bitter little laugh.  Bad is an understatement here.]

Needs to be human.  Can't...nothing else works. 

[As if an afterthought.]  Please.

[The video flicks on to a shaky view of the ceiling, and the only sound is indistinct muttering for a few seconds until Victor figures out he's recording] Ha! Got ya.

[Theres a blur of movement and then a face, front and center. The man on the other end, who has smears of dirt across his brow and is holding his tablet in both hands, looks pleased as punch for a moment before he remembers why he's doing this.]

Name's Victor Sullivan. Right. I know everyone's in a tizzy right now about whatever goddamn thing has gone sideways, but I've got a request. These Initiative fellas didn't exactly give me fair warning before hauling me in, so I've got about six layers of grime and and I smell like the ass-end of a skunk.

[He looks away from the screen and scratches absently at an eyebrow, the arm is equally dirty and the sleeves of his shirt look stained at best.]

I managed to find the showers finally, but I don't have anything to change into so I can get these damn clothes washed. If anyone's got something they could lend me for a couple of hours, I'd sure appreciate it.

[He considers his position for a moment, then grins] Truth is I don't have much to offer in exchange but I'll gladly share a cigar with the man willing to lend me a hand.

[The voice on the network may not technically be shouting, but there's a distinctly hard edge to the words that easily translates into 'Oh my god I can't even believe this right now.']

Oi! Anyone using fire to deal with this nonsense had better knock it right off! I don't care if your fire's made of magic, Harry Potter, it's still probably burning up oxygen when you use it to light these bastards up-- and I don't know if you've noticed, but we're in bloody space.

[There's a beat, a sharp intake of breath as Charlie wills himself to not flip the nearest table. Finally, in a low steely tone:] We need oxygen for other things. Like, oh, breathing. Figure out a different way of doing things.

The more I talk to other people here, the more it sounds like the UE's genetech is what we have to watch out for. While there are ways of shifting things in the past to lessen the effect, we have more pressing concerns right now. [like, oh, that nuclear missile strike]

Out of the other people who were taken, what innate powers do you have? We need to know just how much the UE got from us - and more importantly, what they couldn't get, because those powers represent our best offense and defense right now.

May as well start myself.

[Text]
high-level telepathy and telekinesis