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

[infiltrative]

Really? I thought you had to pick something.

[crocodilesmiles]

They like you to, but they can't force you, so they usually don't. There's useful stuff in there, though, you know? And most people give in to the nagging.

[infiltrative]

It seemed useful so I took it. [ SHRUG he doesn't entirely trust it, but he figures it doesn't hurt to try. ]

I'm Rush, by the way.

[crocodilesmiles]

That's 'cause it usually is.

( She holds out a hand. )

I'm Collette! It's nice to meet you, Rush. Nice as it can be!

[infiltrative]

[ The hand gets an apprehensive look and in the next instant Collette will find herself holding an energy bar instead.

He figures it's a fair enough trade for all the information and also a nice excuse not to shake hands. ]

Likewise. [ It doesn't sound entirely sincere, but more so because he's just not one for pleasantries. ]

[crocodilesmiles]

( What in the -- she blinks and holds on to the energy bar, plainly confused. )

Where did this --

[infiltrative]

[ He can't help but smirk a little, amused. ]

My belt. [ Pointing to his utility belt for emphasis. He just grabbed it too fast to see. ]

[crocodilesmiles]

You're so fast!

( she says with a laugh, bringing the bar up to her face, then down to about midchest. )

Thank you!

[infiltrative]

It's not Rush for nothing.

[ Hah. Except the boastfulness kind of falls away at the words of gratitude and he shrugs uncomfortably. ]

For the information.

[crocodilesmiles]

And they always told me not to rush things...

( She's still grinning, and she holds up the energy bar again, a sort of almost-salute. )

Anytime, Rush! Catch you around later, speedy. Come find me if you ever have an off the wall question or two you want answered!

[infiltrative]

[ That gets a grin and, after he gets to his feet, he gives a proper salute in return. ]

Right. See ye around. [ AND THEN HE'S GONE WITH THE WIND. Sort of. ]