exsiliumlogs | (CLOSED) My hands are tied, for all I've seen has changed my mind

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(CLOSED) My hands are tied, for all I've seen has changed my mind

Date & Time: Forward-dated to Nov. 16 0300hrs through Nov.19th ~0230hrs
Location: Observatory, East Loading Bay, Transporter Room, Various (read: everywhere)
Characters: Pro-Initiative and Mutineer action teams
Summary: With mutineers occupying the transporter room and vital base systems hamstrung, Pro-Initiative forces work against mutineer teams to bring those systems back online and reach the transporter room.
Warnings: None yet (will update as necessary...because lbr ‘none yet’ isn’t going to last long)
Notes: All threads, with the exception of the Transporter Room B, are open for posting beginning now. Transporter Room B will kick off on Nov.16th proper in order to incorporate decision making from earlier action team’s choices and to maintain tonal cohesion. Community wide mingle log for the mutiny will go up on Nov. 16th.

[At 0300hrs on November 16th, things suddenly go wrong. The network cuts out, lighting abruptly goes from artificially sterile to the unsettling flickering of red emergency lighting. Furniture, supplies and even Transports suddenly find themselves untethered from the ground as the base’s gravity regulation abruptly shuts down; moreover, it isn’t long before Transports begin to realize they’ve been locked off from anything but the housing(/restrooms), vr and cafeteria sections of the base. Not long after:

Click-HHHSSSHK-click!

A woman’s voice speaks over the moon base’s PA system, echoing through the dark corridors and off the odds and ends gently floating through them thanks to the lack of gravity regulation. The voice is rich and accented, with a certain practiced ease to it - one that sharpens to a point the longer she talks:]

Testing. Testing-- are we good? Christ, I'm not echoing, am I? No?

All right good. Listen up, fellow transports. As you might have noticed, some of the base's general systems have gone offline: this, I assure you, is absolutely intentional. There's no need to panic.

So moving on from the understandably frustrating to the even more frustrating, I'm sure you all have also noticed the fact that we're currently all stuck-- starving and defenseless-- on the bloody moon. In a base that was, up until a few days ago, overrun with zombies. And before that, thousands of lives were bombed right out of existence, and before that, an entire world-- and before that we were all still being thrown at the United Earth for the sake of dying off repeatedly in a war we never stood a chance or had a say in. Transports have been treated like pawns since day one, and I'm sorry, but we don't deserve it.

If we're giving up our lives and our freedom, I'd say it's about time we earned ourselves a little equality.

We deserve a say in what goes on in this fight, and with that in mind, a few of us have decided to hold onto the transporter for a while. Just until the Initiative agrees to treat us like people instead of ammunition. Trust me, we’re not here to hurt anyone; none of this has to end badly. But it does need to end. Things have got to change. And if this is what it takes? This is what it’s going to be.

We need your help; please don’t make it any harder for us.

[The PA clicks off, pitching the base once more into complete radio silence.

Over the course of the next four days, pro-Initiative transports gather their resources and individuals form impromptu (or well planned) teams to bring these systems back online and out of the hands of mutineers so they can ultimately reach the transporter room and set things to right -- whatever that “right” may be.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When "Cobalt" is sent out of the transporter room to help defend it, he sets to work preparing the east loading bay immediately. The mutiny hasn't gone as smoothly as they might have hoped it would and now they're facing considerable opposition from their fellow Transports. Connor isn't surprised by this development himself: he has long known just how many Transports side with their captors, through thick, thin, and even the most foolish and criminal of their decisions.

So it's come down to this, a final effort by a select few of Chloe and Charlie's ragtag group to fend off those blind soldiers. The mutineers must hold the transporter room or all their planning and hard work could be for naught...

Those who approach the east loading bay will find a small tripwire bomb inside the hallway door. Though it's a rudimentary explosive and not very powerful, it packs enough of a punch to knock a grown man off his feet and cause some superficial damage. Connor doesn't honestly expect anyone will be careless enough to step on an unconcealed bomb planted right in the middle of their path, but hopefully it will serve as a deterrent or at least slow advancing Transports down.

Beyond the doorway and the bomb lies a loading bay that appears to be empty... of living occupants, anyway. Some of the contents of the storage compartments have been dragged out and arranged into piles. Strategic clutter piles.

It looks a little like a maze, actually.

The mutineers assigned to this area could be anywhere, taking cover behind any given heap of stuff. And who knows what powers they possess or what weapons they might have aimed at the doorway? Best tread with caution.]

[Maria was uncertain, at first, how much help she could really be in all this. She's more than willing, but she has no powers and few weapons.

Fortunately, she does have a mind for tactics—as does Connor, and for one of the first times since she arrived here, they're of one mind and more than able to work in accord. It may just be the two of them at the final line of defense on this side of the transporter room, but the key factor is that no one knows that.

No one in a position to stand against them, at least.

She maintains her position far enough from Connor that if an attack comes, they won't be boxed in together, but maintaining a clear eyeline. The radio is with her, but having sat through instruction on its operation, its volume is at a low setting to avoid giving away her station.]

[Well. Kang can't help but be a little impressed by the setup. He's still pissed this is even happening, but they seem to know what they're doing, at least when it comes to defense.

He has no idea what to expect, so he's being cautious. So far, the mutineers have been very clear on not wanting any violence, but it's entirely possible not everyone is going with the plan. He doesn't want any violence, either. He approaches slowly with a hand on the hilt of his sword, trying his best to not let his claws click on the metal floor and give away their position (that is, if they haven't already been spotted).]

Ssssso.

[ Ella mutters next to him as she looks around casually, although she's also making her best attempt at being silent. Years of hiding have made her particularly good at it. ]

I take it they're not inviting us to play hide and seek, right? Nothing can ever be simple.

[ Humor beats her incredibly spoiled mood at the moment, really! ]

[Raiden is grateful for his stealth training now, otherwise his heavy, metal body would be making a lot of noise.

He slinks alongside Ella, his AR visor drawn over his face and his sword at the ready. The Augmented Reality display shows people hiding throughout the loading bay. Useful to know their general location, but since his AR does not show walls very well it's hard to pinpoint them.]

They're hiding...

[His voice is soft, and rusty and he speaks mostly to Kang.]

I can take point if you want. I'm a scout. Maybe I can flush them out....

[ Batwoman moves quietly along with the group, ever vigilant and ready to strike at a moment's notice. Despite the lack of violence in this takeover, she doesn't doubt there are trigger and stab happy mutineers. Better to be cautious than unsuspecting in a situation with too many unknown variables. ]

They haven't hurt anyone... yet. [ Her voice is hushed, but firm. Raiden is heavily armed, he might spook them. ] We should consider reasoning with them.

[Kang shakes his head with a wry smile.]

No, nothing ever is.

[He looks at Raiden, and then Kate, snorting softly to himself.]

As much as I doubt it'll work. She's right, though; and, I don't want anyone to get hurt either. We might get lucky.

[He looks towards Batwoman and hesitates. These are the people he's sworn to protect-both the mutineers and his companions. He feels embarrassed that anyone would think he'd try to hurt somebody.

But you would, he feels something whisper inside him. You would attack at a moment's notice if you had an excuse. If the mutineers are violent, you're just the reaper, right?.

He remains standing still for a moment too long. His face would be going pale behind the visor if it could.

After the span of a mechanical heartbeat he nods at Batwoman and Kang.]

...Right. Someone should still take point, though. Negotiating won't work if we all end up dead somehow.

Edited 2013-11-16 08:14 (UTC)

[ Ella just looks at the adults talk and talk. Well, they do make a point. ]

Okay then, I'll take point. No offense, but you all are a little too badass and intimidating to walk in and expect people not to shoot you something.

[ The bad guys surely won't shoot an apparently harmless teenager, right? With that idea she starts walking. ]

Be a little more positive, Raiden; I mean, they only took the moon base by force, it's not like the lack mann-

[ "Manners", she finishes in her mind as she turns around to face the group, now at medium distance from them. And she would have finished the sentence if her foot hadn't pulled a string she didn't know it was there, a metallic click going off behind her. She has heard a click like that before, and the string is basically a classic from action movies, but Ella wasn't expecting there to be traps.

Since she has turned to look at the group, the last thing they would be able to see is Ella quickly rolling her eyes as she's engulfed in the flames of the explosion. ]

Edited 2013-11-16 13:40 (UTC)

[Raiden walks after Ella at a short distance and sees the trip wire in his AR scan. Before he can call out a warning it goes off.]

Ella!

[He runs forward to catch her and stumbles back as debris flies into his face and cracks the visor. For one split second all he sees is a burst of static and he falls to his knees with one arm lifted defensively in front of him, the broken visor lifting away from his face.]

Shit!

[As soon as he hears that metallic click, Kang curses as well, in Nerakese, and quickly steps in front of Kate, pulling one of his wings forward to shield them from the blast. They mean business.

He does see Ella's eye roll, though, and he has a feeling that she's fine.]

Ella?

I'm okay, I'm-

[ Ella coughs and her body starts coming to shape as she sits up and waves a hand. Her hair is wild, her clothes are charred, but she looks in one piece. ]

Okay, they're not playing around. I'm kind of pissed off now.

[ She stands with a groan and dust her clothes off, although there's not much of a change. She then takes a deep breath and her clothes, as well as herself seem to become cleaner, the damage done do her jacket and jeans closing, her hair going back to normal.

It wasn't that much of an explosion, actually, but what does she know? She was on her feet, there was a boom, and then she was on the floor. Just someone else trying to hurt her and failing to do so, and that annoys her like whoa.

A moment later, Ella looks just like she did before. Damage? What damage. ]

I feel like negotiating the fuck out of someone.

Edited 2013-11-17 03:45 (UTC)

Kid!

[ Kate appreciates the sentiment, but searing heat is repelled mostly through her uniform. She lifts her cape over herself to prevent injury and waits for the explosion to die down before she's also moving toward Ella's side. ]

Explosives in a contained environment.

[ She moves toward the now useless bomb, examining the tripwire and the leftover materials. ]

Whether or not they're following orders, they mean business.

[Maria winces at the sound of the explosion, but not for the woman's sake. While she would must prefer not hurting anyone, she knew what she was getting into when she joined the mutiny, and she's been to war before.

But the bomb was also meant to be a deterrent. Ideally, they would have hesitated longer before approaching it—giving them as much time as they could buy. She can only hope that having set it off, they'll be more cautious as they venture forward.

She glances at Connor, then tightens her grip on the hilt of her sword as she focuses on the intruders and on remaining absolutely silent.]

[Raiden gets back to his feet and sneers. Ella seems okay, which is strange but he's become used to strange. Nothing else on his chassis seems damaged either. All in all, that could have gone worse.]

Visor's broken.

[He taps next to his single eye to indicate that this means he can't see the mutineers on AR anymore, though he doesn't say anything out loud.]

They're not gonna make this easy.

[But that's okay. He never liked it when things were too easy. He starts to slide ahead of the group, taking point for a moment at least to peer around the loading bay. Even without the visor he is still a well trained tracker and scout.]

I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE. JUST COME OUT AND LET'S SETTLE THIS!

[He's not sure anyone from the mutiny will answer and he shifts back slightly, hoping that if anyone does answer someone else in his group will be willing to talk. For all of his combat training, he's not very good with diplomacy.]

Edited 2013-11-17 05:12 (UTC)

[Connor doesn't look back at Maria. He stares intently at the door from where he kneels, listening to all the noise the Transports are making. Someone triggered the tripwire bomb. Maybe he overestimated their abilities... or at least their observation skills.

He finally raises his hand and holds up four fingers to signal to his teammate the number of people he believes are headed their way. There could be a fifth Transport he hasn't heard yet, but there are definitely at least four.

Calmly, Connor reaches over his shoulder to the quiver strapped to his back.

Mere seconds after Raiden calls out, an arrow sails into the hall, aimed high enough that it should go well over most of them. Kang might want to duck a bit.]

[Kang sighs, both in relief that Ella is alright, and at Raiden's poor attempt at diplomacy (if it could even be called that). Keeping an eye out for further traps, he moves forward with his hands up to show that he's not wanting a fight, dodging the arrow with a curse. He knows he's taking a huge risk.]

Let's talk this out like civilized people. There's no need for further violence.

[ This is beginning to escalate and while she could go for decking someone in the face right now, they can't afford to damage the base any further after the outbreak of necromorphs.

Batwoman grimaces as the arrow misses Kang and she moves closer to his side, ready to defend him. She thinks of activating infrared and tracing heat signals. ]

Enough.

Edited 2013-11-17 09:32 (UTC)

You have come to reinstate the Initiative and give them back full control over our lives, have you not? Leave now and there will be no further violence.

[Connor speaks up and then slinks to another hiding spot. He needs to keep moving or they'll pinpoint his location easily either by following the trajectory of his arrows or by following his voice.]

[Although she commanded her fair share of troops in her time as Robert de Sable's steward, Maria has already made the reluctant decision to cede to Connor's leadership here. Going to war with disciplined soldiers is a far cry from what they're doing here, though no less important. She may not know all of Connor's background, but as an Assassin, she's certain he's fought very different battles.

Following his lead—though not his path—Maria moves to another spot as well. While her sword isn't made for long-distance fighting, she does have a few throwing daggers at hand, though she's not in a position to use them yet.]

The Initiative is not your enemy!

[Raiden steps back to stand alongside Kang.]

And we're not your enemy! The United Earth is, can't you see that? We need to stand together!

[He is attempting reason, though there is still a note of anger and exasperation in his rusty voice. It's been such a long month and it's only half over.]

[He's glad for the physical backup, and hopes that they remember to move away from him if he becomes mortally wounded.]

No, we're not here to give the Initiative full control of our lives again. They aren't the enemy, but they've made mistakes, and things shouldn't continue as they are.

[Kang snorts softly. Wrong angle to go for, Raiden.]

But this isn't the way to go about changing things. You've just angered and inconvenienced a lot of people who are on your side.

And you planted a bomb too.

[ Well someone needs to say it. ]

You do realize we need to work as one even more than before, don't you? It was bad enough in the island, since the UE kept on making life worse than it was without their help, but up here it's us against a really inconvenient set of choices.

[ Ella takes a few steps in front again; if there are more small bombs it better be her getting hit than others. ]

I know it sounds ridiculous, but nobody told you not to voice your displeasure. Waiting until you are angry enough to blindly act is far from responsible, you know?

Now stand down.

[ She doesn't need to argue any further for the others; they've made reasoning clear.

Her hand rests close to her belt, the grappling gun hidden behind her cape. She waits for them to make the first move, if they are keen to make good on their threat. ]

Had it been my intention to cause harm with that bomb, I would have hidden it from view.

[Perhaps he should have put a sign up. "There is a bomb right here. Go away."]

The Initiative is my enemy! So, too, is the United Earth! You believe because we find serious fault in the Initiative's actions that we argue the United Earth is good or innocent? The United Earth's evil is plain to see and they must be stopped. But we will never succeed in this endeavor with the Initiative stumbling through one asinine plan after another and committing countless crimes along the way.

[Connor picks out another arrow and fits it loosely to the bow string as he moves.]

The Initiative stole us from our homes and our times and then forced our participation in their war. We have been enslaved and given no real choice what we do or what is done with us.

[Another taller heap suits him, allowing him to straighten up slightly. Not that there could be any doubt where in the room he is with him all but yelling. That part of the plan isn't panning out so well.]

And the great and terrible joke of it is it has accomplished nothing. Almost eleven months I have been here and what progress have they made? We are set back to the point we are hiding on the moon. Their people are dead, their land is destroyed. Even if we manage to undo that wrong, how many years are you all content to spend here or back in their city, having your safety threatened by both the Initiative's ignorance and the United Earth's agenda? How much of your life will you give to stealing artwork and collecting rocks for your captors? How many worlds will you watch fall while you defend them? You decry our mission and would see it stopped, but the Initiative bringing us into this, keeping us here, ordering us about... Oh, that is excusable. That is for the greater good. That is responsible.

How dare we anger or inconvenience anyone.

[He aims his arrow through a narrow slot in the junk piled up. The emotion in his voice is sharply reined in when he goes on a few seconds later.]

Things must change and they must change now. What would you propose we do instead of this? I have voiced my opinion since the day I arrived. The Initiative has ignored me and most Transports choose to look away from the truth. I do not blame those Transports who are unable to stomach it: there are too many here who have never known war and who have no business being involved in the fighting of one. The Initiative's silence and unwavering dedication to a path that has not only failed to prevent further ruin but has at times led directly to it, though... Enough, as you say. It is enough.

I cannot claim I understand everything my teammates have done with this fort's machines, but I have no doubt that each and every act was necessary. No one listens until you stand with more than words. Your eyes and ears had to be opened. The Initiative had to hear us.

[And dammit there were no boxes of tea or conveniently placed harbors to make their point with.]

When they agree to our terms, this ends. We will work as one. Their knowledge, our experience, our skills. Until they have decided we are worth treating as equals, you four have no business here. This is my last warning to you: leave on your own power or be escorted out.

EAST LOADING BAY

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