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

[rematching]

The offer is appreciated.

[Even if she can't foresee herself ever calling upon him in the future. He's... a nice boy, she supposes. Even if he feels familiar in a way she can't place. It isn't important, so she tucks it in the back of her mind once more.]

[everydayraphael]

[Raphael's just glad that someone like Michel isn't here. He was already catching on before, and working with the guy on papers and in Simon's shop only worsened it. And with hope Charlie would remain unaware.

Not that it'd matter much if she found out, really. But she's a lot nicer when she doesn't know she's talking to Phantom R. It's pleasant. And amusing.]

I guess we'll leave you to your thoughts then. Come on, Fondue, let's check out the living quarters. We still haven't found our bed yet have we?

[Noeuf! Er, woeuf! Have not. Raphael stands, brushing off the seat of his pants, and Fondue gives Charlie and friendly nudge with his nose. If you'll excuse them, they'll totally start to leave with a wave--]

[rematching]

[Charlie raises her hand for a wave -- might as well while she's got the idea!] Hold on a minute there, Raphael! You wouldn't know anything about a Phantom R, would you? I don't think he'd be here - that idiot's been missing for the last six months, and I wouldn't bet on him showing his face around now - but back in Paris, did you hear anything?

[Not that she's been looking for him exclusively, but no one will talk to her about the incident and he's on the coattails of it.]

[everydayraphael]

[He stops mid-step, then turns around to stare at her.

Missing for half a year, huh? Sounds like a plan. In fact, it was something he was thinking about... Anyway, it's time to answer, Fondue. Look sharp.]

He's the famous art thief in Paris, right? A lot of people have different opinions on him, but I don't really know much about him. I spend more time working than I do talking to others... But they're not exactly quiet about their talk, so I've heard a few interesting things about him. [A pause to think.] Like how he's doing it all for publicity, he can hypnotize anyone with a wave of his hips, and that he helped to save Paris from that weird floating thing in the sky. A lot of people think they were just seeing things and the papers don't say anything either, but Fondue and I were almost struck by lightning, so it's kind of hard to forget.

[He shrugs.]

[rematching]

Lucky the Eiffel Tower's got a lightning rod, hm? [She waves this time, then settles back to go through the information she can bring up on her tablet. After a second, though:] See you two around, I suppose. Good luck finding your unit, or whatever it is passes for housing here.

[everydayraphael]

[He chuckles at the first bit, remember his daring jump onto the Hanging Gardens of Babylon after stealing their thunder, and nods.]

You should look into it as well, Inspector, or you'll be wandering the halls by yourself when you finally get sleepy. I hope we'll get to talk again soon!

[Dodoo, let's go Fondue.]