[ 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 ))

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 )

So, I've been thinking the last couple of days, watching and listening to everything that's going on and something that... uh...

[Hold on, he's checking the post history.]

...Collette mentioned earlier on popped into my head. Odds are we're never going ot agree on someone to lead us, let alone make decisions for everyone - we're from way too many different worlds for that.

[Although he also doesn't really think that should be a giant obstacle, but considering the giant buckets o' opinions this place has...]

We don't even really have a set of laws to govern us - or a government. Which is understandable, given we're basically a bunch of refugees. Anyway - Collette mentioned putting together a code of conduct we can all agree on - or at least most of us can - and that we use to sort of guide our interactions with each other.

It won't be a law, we won't really have punishments or anything set out. But at least we'll have an idea of what's not OK to do to one another. And maybe it'll let us get ourselves sorted out so we can really start addressing how we're going to win this war and get off of this rock.

[No offense, people who like Earth's moon.]

We're not exactly going to be able to do that if we're busy yelling at each other about... cirme and punishment. Maybe I have more sympathy for that line of thinking, since I'm in a rebellion back home.

What do you guys think? Oh, and sorry Collette. I know it's your idea, but I thought I'd get it out there for people to see. Uh, hear.

( 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! )

[ As soon as the transporter is back up, Feferi comes back from her mission and after getting caught up on things, is not very happy. She's been given the run down, she's skimmed all the posts and comments. Even her fins are all puffed out, it's that serious. Even though most of the known mutineers have been captured now, she still feels the need to say her own piece.

Sollux is somewhere in the background making faces and being generally disgruntled. ]

So, the next time anyone wants to try and take over, maybe they should stop and think it through a little more! Maybe don't strand people on missions, or try to think about those of us do not have anywhere to go back to except being dead, or worse! Try to think about everyone else's worlds that need protecting!

If you really want change, you should try helping us! The Department of Initiative-Transport Relations exists for a reason, and when we opened, I asked everyone for their thoughts, and barely got any. Why didn't you come to us?

[ So this is nothing that hasn't been said before, but... hey, she was stranded and she's mad. ]

I really hope you're happy now, because we are right back where we started! And I am going to go right back to what I was doing, except now we have even more work to do and I do not even know who I can trust to not want to ruin the one good thing some people have here.

[ She looks like she wants to say something witty or cutting to end her commentary, but she comes up with nothing and ends the feed with a little huff, before hitting the off button. ]

[Kido is trying not to be agitated since a good leader shouldn't be but hey she's tired, things have sucked, the reports from the rescue mission really suck and yeah. So she finds some solace in her old role.

She taps her fingers against her leg, hair damp from one of those lovely short showers with a towel around her neck.]

Hey everyone. I've been thinking it'd be easier to figure out things if we were all together. You know, like a real meeting. What if we just pick a day and grab one of the VR rooms and try to figure this out. Everyone's been getting together the information they got from the rescue mission- [She frowns slightly. None of it sounded good.] -so we've got a better idea of what we're up against now.

[A beat.] I'm not in charge of everyone, but we need to be organized. [She gives a lopsided smile.] Some of you are better at it than others. If no one else will take up the lead, then I'll pick a day and spam everyone with it.

[She's kind of hoping someone else does though. Leading the Mekakushi Dan and leading a small army are pretty different things.]

I've seen a lot of you with good thoughts and ideas though so... let's keep this up.

Um... hey. My name's Xion.

[She fumbles a bit with the device. Except for that brief stint where she ran across Dist's post, Xion hasn't used this since before she went back the first time]

Some of you know me already. From... when we were in the UE Compound. I know I talked to a lot of people...

Anyway, I know it's been a while, but a lot of things have happened and I guess I just wanted to make sure everyone I met was okay, since I haven't been able to find everybody. I don't think I got everyone's names....

[Okay. That should probably do it. She hopes. Except... everybody could see this, right?]

Or if we've just met, hi, I guess.

[ And here appears the face of an elf, one with short and dark hair scattered with braids, tattoos swirling across her face and around her large, almost insect-like green eyes. Her smile is awkward, only half there as aware as she is that it's a poor time to smile. ]

Hello there. This is Merrill again, um. I suppose it has been some time, but then I haven't had anything worth saying. And then I did, perhaps, but it didn't seem a good time. Is it ever a good time? Well, near half a million people have been destroyed despite our best efforts. That doesn't seem like a good time.

I am sorry. Especially to those who were from there. So sorry.

But I cannot put off this question any longer. My curiosity has gotten the best of me, and maybe a distraction would not be out of place for a short amount of time. [ She clears her throat and taps a fingertip to her lower lip, near pouting. ] I suppose a joke or story would be better in that case, but there I go again with my poor sense of timing.

In any case, does anyone here know of the Chimera Project? [ The petite elf holds up a small booklet, or thick leaflet, however you choose to see it. The title is clear as day. It's stained with something, though... ] I regret to say that...ale spilled all over it in the drastic move, sorry about the appearance. But I would like to hear if any Transports or even Initiative employees know of this.

( private; Fenris )

[ ooc; Sorry I might be slow on tagging back some threads until I hear more about the pamphlet thingy. Will get to them ASAP! ]

[ If he doesn't need this bad right now, come five to six days from now he's really going to need it. ]

Alcohol. They carry any of it here?

[When the video feed begins, it starts with Sollux leaning heavily on both his hands. Although it's video, it doesn't look like it's entirely intentional he meant for it to be a video broadcast, and he drags his hands away from his face and stares plainly at the communicator's camera. He looks a lot older right now than fifteen, his actual age. Like he hasn't slept in a week, (spoiler: He hasn't). On top of how tired he looks, his voice sounds hollow. ]

I can't believe I wath tho thtupid to think that thith place could be thomething worth trying to save. That we actually had a shot. It was all self-delusion, mostly. I should have known that it wath only a matter of time, before we would lose everything.

My bees are dead. Equius.

[A hard swallow.]

Equius is gone.

I can hear the screams of the Exiles and their future deaths. Every single one.

[He's in full Doom mode right now, it seems.]

For a surprising change of pace, who is actually in favor of leaving the locals behind? Five hundred thousand odd lives, good as gone. Three hundred fifty of us in safety.

[because everyone who isn't is honestly an idiot.]

No lynching, please, ladies and gentlemen, let's have a civil discussion.

Hey, does anyone know where I can get some supplies and survival gear? I'm thinking of heading out of the city for a little bit to get my bearings and see what's out there.

[Somebody's looking grumpy today, and it's not even morning this time.]

Okay so I need some help [Yes, she's admitting it, don't get too excited.] and this is supposed to be the best way to get people listening.

Anybody here good at meditating? You know, all the peace and tranquility and inner focus mumbo jumbo. I kinda need some tips, 'cause the "relax and let your mind be free" thing? Not really working for me.

[Sorry, Tenzin. There's just too many thoughts going on in here.]

There's something else. I'm looking for another air element user to spar with. [Maybe she'll get lucky and everything will just click for her when she's under pressure again.] Any takers?

( Private: Fenris )

[ Over the network, a quiet voice speaks up, getting louder and more excited as she progresses, only to slow down somberly towards the end. Merrill is somewhat reluctant to use the video feature this time, wondering if people will treat her better if they don't know she's an elf right away. Not that she's ashamed! It's just an experiment, right? ]

Hello, everybody! My name is Merrill, and it's so good to meet you. But oh, I suppose this isn't really the same as meeting, is it? I mean, you can't really bow or shake hands or see the way someone stands, or go places with them. But it's still a marvelous creation, this contraption! If we had such a thing on Thedas, I wonder how much more quickly everything would be taken care of! But then people might visit each other less, and that's no good.

[ Although if she fixes the Eluvian, won't that virtually be the same thing? Maybe that's why this thing fascinates her so. There might come a time when she has to take it apart. ]

Is that the case here? I hope not. It's much more fun to go to the market with an actual person, but then I guess this is better than a ball of twine! I do wish I had a ball of twine, though, to keep me from getting lost. Even with the map, it doesn't seem to help much, but fellow Transports have been very kind with directions. And speaking of, what I was hoping to ask is if anybody knows of a proper garden? I know of where there used to be one, but it's clearly been abandoned.

I am sure there are many plants of this world that could be revived and nurtured if we could create the proper environment, and I also have acquired some very interesting seeds and species from that ancient beach we all visited! Most of what I scavenged was lost in the trip, I'm so very embarrassed to admit, but not all of it! Beyond the barrier, you see, there was so much more than you can even imagine.

Here, even if it isn't bright and warm, I just think there must be something we lot can do to make this soil healthy again, even if it's just a small start. If there's really nothing to hunt, then I suppose we should rely more on what can grow from the ground, if we can only attempt as much. And imagine if we had actual flowers...and trees of grandeur and health!

This place is simply...too sad and too lonely, no matter where it is I step; Inside or out, it chills my feet and my bone.

[ Aerith appears to have finally decided to get around to using her communicator more, now that she's had some time to get settled in and explore (and also establish that there really isn't anyone she knows from home around here). Her hair looks a little damp and her face a little flushed, like she's been out in the rain, but she's smiling, an empty basket in her hands. ]

I don't suppose there are very many flowers growing around here, are there? It looks like it might take a little time to get back in business since I have to work from scratch.

[ She shifts the basket aside, pointing the camera toward a raw patch of earth that she's clearly been tilling, dug right down into in a particularly large section of missing/damaged pavement. There's a scattering of flowers there, growing just as resiliently as ever in a place where they have no business being. ]

No place is too gloomy for me to work with. Soon, I'll be able to fill the whole basket! I'll accept orders in advance, limit one per person.

[ She laughs faintly, playful, teasing, and turns the camera upward again. ]

Do you think—"they" would allow something like a flower shop around here, anyway? If I'm going to be here awhile, it may not be a bad idea to keep busy. —Busy-er.

[the camera is on Renee in Nondescript Alley #9, not wearing the mask that usually renders her faceless. She figures unless she wants to walk around with the mask 24/7 she'll need people to get used to seeing her normal face and avoid associating with her Question identity.]

Haven't had much use for this thing so far, but I'm getting desperate so I figured I'd give it a shot. Tell me someone knows where I can get a drinkable cup of coffee in this dump. Anyone who does gets a cup for themselves on me.

[No she's not going to give her name and background. If you need it she's likely already found you or will find you. Pardon her attitude, recovering alcoholic/ex-cop in a city with more bars than coffee places does not make for a happy Renee. Still, at least she's offering a reward. She taps her finger on the side of the computer for a second, then looks vaguely irritated at something and goes on]

Also, I've been hearing stories about tension between arrivals and exiles, not to mention inter-group conflict. Anyone doing anything about that? Doesn't seem to be any sort of police force.

( [Filtered to Riku] )

[The vid feed is dark. In the shelter of the alleyway, there's some flickering attempts at a fire in the shelter of the eaves. Luke ventures away from the camera to try and feed more paper and fuel into the half-busted can, but he's not very good at this. After a sigh, he returns to the tablet and flops down. The rain drones on just a couple feet away.]

Heh, I thought building a fire would make me feel better, but I can't even do that properly...

[He runs a hand through his hair to briefly collect himself]

I wanted to let everyone know that Asch and Guy are both gone. I don't know how many friends they had, but Asch had a lot of connections. [He doesn't look at the camera. Guy is okay, he's sure of it, but Asch...]

There's-- there's so much he left unfinished. I'm not Asch, but if anyone needed his help with something, then... please, let me try in his stead.

[His fingers tighten in the gathered fabric around his knee, trembling visibly. He reaches over and turns off the tablet.]

[It's the first time she's shown her face on the network, attached it to her name; an unprecedented situation calls for caution. But the moment now is opportune. Her words will have more resonance if the people can see who's behind them.

Words that, while delayed slightly because of circumstance, have been far from forgotten.]

In my short time here, it has been clear to me that a lack of organization is a detriment to the operations of the Initiative, and, by extension, the well-being of Transports. Efforts have been made recently to address this lack of organization, but while commendable, they are not without their concerns.

By making a move such as that proposed to create a Transport-only governing body, we forget ourselves, as well as our cause. We forget that the Transport population is merely part of a whole, one that must be united in the face of a common threat. By making such a move, we only risk further alienating the Exiles, creating a larger rift when we cannot afford one in the first place.

I do not believe this move is ideal. More time and care are needed to consider the consequences it might have. To consider alternative solutions.

[She pauses, gives time for all of that to breathe before she concludes.]

If you have thoughts or concerns, I urge you to air them. This is a matter which affects us all, and every voice that wishes to be heard should be allowed the opportunity.

You are all far too comfortable here.

[Seviilia is sitting in the outlands peering down at her tablet almost lazily as she rolls ice over a rock in her hand.]

Talk of self-governing bodies and other such things that suggest longevity. [She had opted out of the survey for this reason.] We exist in a rebel compound in a world tangled in war, where everyone is on the opposing side. A war that you all were conscripted for without your say-so. A war that has most likely taken you from those you love, a family, an agenda of some sort, all for strangers who expect foreigners to erect defenses for them.

[She frowns a little too harshly. Its been days since she had blooded anything, and it seems to be getting the better of her temper and tone. Her words are clipped and barbed.]

I am still keeping count of the days that pass between bombings, you know. And you, Exsilium? Or shall we continue to sit around and bask in the sunlight until they come and knock upon the Initiative's door once more? Perhaps run some more errands until they deem a proper opportunity for us to strike back?

[Seviilia's eyelids lower.]

They could do with cleaning the land up a bit, if they're good for nothing else. Perhaps grow and ferment something strong enough to win a battle against my liver with the clean soil.