[Nate's voice is rough, when it comes over the comm, but he manages to keep it steady. Mostly]

For those who knew him, Soldier Blue has passed away. [It's been a long time since he's been the one to bear this sort of bad news, and he feels distantly sympathetic for Scott - out of all of the responsibilities that come with being a leader, this is one of the worst]

I've spoken to the Initiative - because it was due to natural causes, and with the shifts in the timestream, the resurection tech won't work. It was... peaceful, though. [Enough that he didn't sense the moment of death, anyway]

There'll be a memorial at some point - I'll let everyone know.

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

[a pause.]

( LOTS OF TALKING )

[This query brought to you by a pretty handful of missing puzzle pieces, not that you'd know, since Lenalee has no intent to justify or explain that imagery, nor to keep picking at scabs until they fester.]

We've already seen how the smallest change made can rewrite the entire history of this world. People are unborn, warheads are undropped... because we've cut out the circumstances which led to their happening.

How do you think that it might be the same for us? Transports come and go so often here and no one knows why. Whatever we do, we are always altering chances, there is no reason not to consider they could also be our own. That someone arrived on a day no longer existing may suddenly leave, or return by new circumstance, or forget they were ever here before.

It may be that we don't "go home", just. "Never arrive".

[ about ten minutes after broadcast, through careful squinting and experimentation, the feed is locked from Gilbert Nightray ]

[ 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 ))

[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.)

I heard it's possible to lock these things? Make sure that only some people see what you're sending?

[He looks a little embarrassed.]

I was wondering if anyone would be willing to show me how to do that.

Uhm. Thanks.

Hi, I'm Kate Bishop, and I'm a superhero. [There's a pause before she goes on.] There's a chance that doesn't mean much to many of you. There may even be some of you questioning the legality of vigilantes, but I'm not the type that goes too far. There's a reason why we kind of prefer "superhero" over "vigilante" anyway. For those of you who do know them, I'm an Avenger. But that's meaningless here. And I'm not really here to ... brag, either.

[Her voice is warm either way. There's a reason why she's here.]

Back home, I've got a like-minded group that tends to go on missions like the ones here. I was hoping to form something like that. It won't be the same, but I've got a couple teammates and not the whole set. We'd do pretty well for ourselves, but we need a couple more helping hands. So that's why I'm here. Well, partly.

[There is a question she has about this whole alternate earth business, but she'll get to it. She really wants a cohesive unit working together, as that seems to be the best way to proceed forward.]

The other goal I'd like for our group is to mobilize and help people in need. I can do this myself, and I'm planning on it, but more hands at the deck might help out. We don't just need this in missions, and from what I've read, we don't know what's gonna come next. I know it's risky to put together a group like this with how people come and go, but I'm prepared to deal with that. Plus, I don't just back down from something. I'm kind of stubborn that way.

If you've already got something like this going and wouldn't mind a few more people, I'd love to chat with you. I'm an archer mostly, but I have other gifts. One member is a ... [a trickster? How does one even sell Loki?] ... well, I'm sure he's good at something. And the final is an alien with advanced knowledge of technology that he might share. He's also got bug DNA and is extremely flexible. [That last bit. She really had to add that last bit.] So let me know.

The other question is: in the annals of this world, have people of Earth found evidence that they existed? Back home, alternate Earths like this usually mean ... alternate versions of us, which can either be a good thing, or a very, very bad thing. I'm thinking bad, considering the state of things. I was just wondering.

[the camera shifts beneath the hands of an amateur as it's set on a flat surface. it's on a bit of an angle, but the position is acceptable. Loki skitters back eagerly, peering into the camera and then waving his hands in show. as he scoots back it's apparent some awful fashion travesty has happened, because he's wearing a terrible Christmas sweater, complete with a big bow pulled over his Asgardian robes. it goes down to his knees.]

It's been an exciting few weeks now, hasn't it? Hello again, Exsilium! I've come to give the gift of Christmas Spirit, marketing gimmicks aside, of course! [he takes a few steps backward as he faces the camera, holding a hand to his chin.] Why, what could be done to spread the cheer of the Yule holiday? With everything that's happened, it does get a bit depressing here ... right in the center of a self-defeating winter full of abominable beasts that wish for nothing more then our untimely demises. And there's still time travel to think about! And our impending existential crises! Terrible, right?

[he holds up a finger suddenly.] Yet I bring Yuletide cheer to brighten all. Surprise! Nothing so extreme as coal in socks and indefinitely kept cakes of fruit, but something more humble in its ageless practice! The ugly Christmas sweater! [he suddenly steps aside and there is a very festive looking red and green pile of awful, terrible, but very warm looking ugly Christmas sweaters. the mass has to at least be up to his shoulder, and there are all different kinds. but is where he got all these fugly knit novelties really a question that anyone wants to ask?] I'm opening requests to lend everyone some spirit! Please make them below so they can all be filled in a timely fashion, all formality, of course. No need to crowd, there's plenty for everyone. All requests can picked up promptly.

Jolly exclamations of ho ho ho and stuff!

-
UGLY YULE KNIT THREADS ADOPTION FORM
(1) Your name (or your unknowing buddy's name), of course, and the sweater you wish to adopt.
(2) Tell me of your intended sweater schemes. How will it aid you on endeavor to spread holiday cheer?
(3) Very fashion!
(4) Are you a super hero (Peter Parker)? Put your name (not Peter Parker) here!


( OOC: go ahead and pick a sweater, he has a load of them. you don't have to fill out the form or anything if you want one! just go ahead and reply however you want. obviously come put them on people who will not put them on themselves. )

[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.]

[It takes Estelle a little tinkering to get used to the idea of the tablet. But she thinks she sort of gets the idea, managing to open up a video feed.]

Oh! There, it seems like it's working now. [It's almost like seeing Rita working with her blastia research a little....

[She pulls back a little from peering closely at the tablet, smiling almost triumphantly at having figured it out for the most part and giving a small wave.]

Hello everyone! I guess I'm one of the newer arrivals and my name is Estellise. Oh, but you can just call me 'Estelle'. I might not be quite as aware on the situation as others who have been here longer, but I'll help as best I can. War is a terrible thing and I'd like to do my best to prevent it escalating if possible. I've done some fighting back home and I wouldn't like for things to get too out of hand, with children or civilians getting hurt and caught up in this.

[She's worried there, obviously upset at the situation from what she has gathered. It's not quite as dangerous as back home with the threat of the Adephagos, but even so, this is still serious and it seems like they are bringing in a lot of people to help out the Initiative.]

Though I guess all of this might take a bit of....getting used to. This is quite different from Zaphias back home. I can heal, so if there is some sort of clinic or something I'd like to offer my help if I can.

Oh! I'm not sure if there are any books here but I'd still like to hear some stories! I think this is a wonderful chance to learn so much with people from such different places! I've never heard of 'Earth' before I came here so I'd love to hear more about it.

I wanted to also thank everyone that helped me when I first got here too. I think I'm getting used to things here now.

And....I'm sorry if Yuri caused anyone any trouble. It's...not necessarily his fault but trouble sort of seems to follow him sometimes.

[A light, almost sheepish smile. She knows what Yuri can be like at times and even unintentionally how often he ends up in the middle of things.]

So another month, another batch of poor lost souls that are wondering what did they do to deserve this fate. Kinda sucks huh? At least we're going back down, although apparently we're not in Kansas anymore.

[ Here she takes a moment to take a little breath. ]

I mean, we weren't in Kansas to begin with, but hopefully at least half of you will get the reference, or I'll be a very sad Ella. While we're on introductions though, this is Ella Ellis speaking, Doer of Things, Helper of the Needy, God of Awesome. I also make a mean mac & cheese, by the way.

[ At least she's grown comfortable talking through the tablet? Is that even a good thing? ]

Anyway, I plan to remain in the Moon Base until the twentieth or so, so if anyone around needs something done, let me know. For the new kids that means I can make most things out of thin air, and I'm being rather literal here. For the old folks, well, you either believe me by now or you don't.

[ Ella then proceeds to drum on the tablet's surface for a solid minute. ]

Oh, I almost forgot: How do you guys celebrate Christmas? Hanukkah? The equivalent I'm obviously missing? I thought it would be cool to make pines or seeds to grow and plant them somewhere, but then I realized not everyone might know about it. Then it hit me that me being me, this should probably freak me out in so many levels you don't even know, but if you don't mention the whole religious implications, I sure won't.

Anyway, I'm out of things to say. Stay safe, stay sane, and always wash your hands after using the toilet.

Ella out~

[ The voice will be a new one to many and much more subdued than some may have heard on her arrival. The sound might be a bit odd, talking can be a little tricky in the vast void of space. Koriand'r has spent the bulk of her time since arriving outside and that is where she is now, several miles above the moon base. ]

Even though I knew they would be different, it is still painful to see how different the stars are here.  I can't see my home star anymore.

I have been reading a little of what has gone on here and I don't understand this place at all.  It seems as though all of the most confusing parts of Earth have been brought here, along with the rest of us.  At the same time, it reminds me of the ship I was held on the first time I was taken by force from my home. 

[ A pause. ]

What are the sorts of things do you do here when we are not fighting?

[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.