here they talked of revolution, here it was they lit the flame

[initiates]

Date: October 1st
Location: The Observatory.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports arrive and are shuffled into the Observatory for the show of the year. Initial briefings are very brief this time around, and that Greeter just won't stop crying.
Warnings: new confused people and old sad people??

Your arrival here has been very unceremonious. One second you were somewhere else, and now, very suddenly, your feet hit the glowing white of the Transporter pad, and you're here. You aren't alone, either. There's a crowd of others around you, each seeming just as bewildered, angry, or confused as you might feel. At the head of the group is a woman in purple robes, with eyes red as if she'd just finished crying. She hurries over a quick overview of your intended purpose here, and gives direct answers when asked for them, but to most things she simply shows you how to access the tablet you've just been given. There, you can find the history of this place and a record of what your new cohorts have experienced — although it won't have Network access for another 8 hours. Someone stands on hand to give you a weapon, and though the armory is now greatly reduced, you should be able to find something to suit you.

You're shepherded down a walkway tunnel and into the Observatory, where you will find screens mounted on three sides of the wide room. The only lighting comes from dull red emergency lights, and the scenes of a dreary, rainy city from various cameras up on the screens; the largest of the screens opens up to a view of Earth from a good distance away -- this one isn't a screen at all, you might realize, but a window. As you watch, all screens in the room fill with light, impossibly bright. It consumes the buildings, the people, everything. There is no sound played, perhaps mercifully, only that white light -- and then nothing.

Through the large window, there's a pinprick of light over one of the landmasses on the blue planet. It grows to a tiny blossom and then dies away, but a cloud begins to mushroom outward in the same spot. It pushes the natural clouds out of the way, claiming that small portion of the world and wrapping it in a uniform gray.

Strings of numbers begin to fill the blanked out screens as the base's AI begins collecting data and calculations, but the show seems to be over. You're free to explore the base, visit and use any of the VR rooms, or discover your new room and roommates, but try not to step out of any airlocks if oxygen is a requirement for your system.

Welcome to the moon base, with front row seats to the grave of Exsilium.

[[ooc; reminder! The Network will be down for 8 hours after the wave of new Transports.]]

Comments

[trickmyheart]

[ Well, honestly, after realizing she's on the MOON, among other things ... a talking dog isn't really that odd. Especially since its voice sounds more mechanical ... Celes is content to assume it's just a toy. Still, a talking animal toy is about the last thing she wants to see right now, after the place she's just managed to escape from.

She looks down at Ren, a bored expression on her face ]

My, my .... who sent a mutt like you out to play?

[pomerenian]

[Ren sits back, head tilted curiously.]

I do not believe this All Mate body qualifies as a mutt. I believe it was intent to be a purebred pomeranian.

It is my duty to come and assist new arrivals in adjusting to their new surroundings by being a calming presence. I am also able to answer many questions that you might have.

1/2

[trickmyheart]

Hmf ...

[ Who does this dog think he is, being all smart and shit? But it does prompt a question from her ... ]

[trickmyheart]

So what are you really, then?

[pomerenian]

I am an All Mate. All Mates are AI systems that are common where I am from. All Mates specialize in acting as Network Support Systems and are popularly used for playing the virtual game Rhyme.

[trickmyheart]

[ Well, at least that seems fairly innocuous. Much less arrogant than that awful Monobear, anyways. ]

What sort of game is that?

[pomerenian]

It is a versus battle game between two All Mate users. Each All Mate is programmed with different abilities and battle functions. There are many groups that challenge each other and play it. Though it is largely monitored, there have been many instances of hacking the game to remove the limits that make the game harmless.

[trickmyheart]

I see. So you battle another creature in order to win.

[ Sounds simple enough! ]

Is this game played here?

[pomerenian]

Not to my knowledge. I believe I am the only All Mate that has been transported here. If another All Mate arrived, or one was able to be built, it is likely the game would be playable here. However, it is my opinion that it would not be appropriate to play games like that here when there are important things at stake.

[trickmyheart]

[ Although he's probably right about there being more important things to do, it irritates her that she's getting lectured by a toy dog ]

I didn't know that a beast like yourself was allowed to have opinions.

[pomerenian]

[Ren knows he's not just an All Mate, and that Aoba validated his personal existence, so he's rightfully allowed his own opinion but... His ears still drop and he looks like a scolded dog might. He tries to sit up straighter though.]

Aoba has allowed me to have opinions.

[trickmyheart]

[ SORRY REN. She is stressed and unhappy and taking it out on even adorable puppies. ]

Aoba?

Your owner, perhaps?

[pomerenian]

[Good thing he has a hard time taking offense to things, because he isn't always sure when someone is being outright insulting!]

Aoba is more like a partner. ...A friend.

[trickmyheart]

[ That's probably a good thing when talking to miss meanie pants Celes ]

Is this Aoba-san here as well, then?