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

[lazyinlove]

[Is she arguing semantics with him? What...well. Okay, whatever. He's not going to make a thing out if it. Hes tired and philosophical questions without immidiate relevance to their situation just aren't important right now.]

She needs a bath. And a nap. And some food. Think you know where to get that stuff?

[reassures]

[There was a point she was trying to make, but it doesn't seem that important. She thinks about it for a moment. A bath might be difficult - she's not sure what the water supply up here is like, but...]

I can find her something to eat. She can sleep in my bunk.

[lazyinlove]

Okay.

[reassures]

[Nill nods, and starts typing again, before frowning slightly. She glances at the girl, and then backspaces, before typing again and holding it up.]

Do you know if she can read?

[lazyinlove]

Oh...no. She can't. Uh. I'll just...read it.

[reassures]

[Well that's going to make this... a little difficult. Nill's wings flutter against her back, an awkward gesture, before they settle and she nods.]

Could you tell her my name?

[lazyinlove]

[Stanley nods, and leans to the other side of the little girl and whispers something to her. Nill might catch her own name if she's listening closely, and something about her feathers. Whatever he says seems to work, though. The little girl doesn't seem as nervous anymore.]

[reassures]

[Nill waits patiently, and when Stan is done talking to the girl, she manages a small smile. She figures the girl might not know what a handshake is, so instead she offers her a little wave of greeting before returning to typing. (She tried not to listen in too much, but she does appreciate the feather warning. Having those pulled out or yanked on hurts more than you would think.)]

Do you know her name?

[lazyinlove]

Peace.

[Around here it's a horrible joke, dark and grim and ugly. But he doesn't say it in an ugly tone. If anything, it's a bit wistful. Understandably sad.

At her name, the little girl touches Stanley's face, but she doesn't react aside from that. She's tired, and confused, and the only person she knows and trusts here seems very unhappy. It's difficult for someone so young to understand.]