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

[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.

[Kang listens, an incredulous look on his face at some of the things Connor says.]

This is not a black and white issue. Us opposing you does not mean that we think you agree in any way with the United Earth.

No, we are not happy with how the Initiative has treated us. What you are doing is only making the situation worse, dividing us when we should be standing as one. You think you speak for us all when you clearly don't, and you endanger everyone on this base by tampering with the systems and making us vulnerable to attack.

There is a better way to make the Initiative deal with us as equals. Others have already been working towards that, and if we all stand behind them, we are far more likely to achieve our goal.

And what have you done to show how you feel? Be unhappy all you like, it clearly suits the Initiative just fine if we stew quietly instead of standing up for ourselves. If we throw feasts and forget that they left multitudes to die while preserving their precious soldiers!

[Maria speaks for the first time, her tone filled with anger. Connor's words—his speech, almost—reflect her thoughts as well as his, but while it might be better to let him speak for the both of them and let the intruders believe he is a lone defender, she can't hold her scorn back any longer.

In war, resources are not unlimited and effective soldiers must be placed where they can do the most good. Not everyone can be saved. She understands all of this, yet she can't forget what it felt like when she realized that they had been taken to the moon base against their will, that their free choice to help as many natives escape as possible had been disregarded.]

We're resources to them, nothing more, resources whose beliefs and choices can be disregarded until they become inconvenient. We're making them inconvenient.

[Her outburst is shorter than the Assassin's, but no less heartfelt. And then she's on the move, positioning herself strategically. The first person to move toward Connor's position will put themselves in a position for her to target.]

We haven't held anyone hostage or taken over the base by force, messing with the gravity or preventing anyone that was currently on a mission and possibly in danger from returning.

[Kang starts threading his Weapon behind his words, searching for any hint in Maria and Connor that they have any willingness to listen to reason, to stand down and let them talk things out.]

Sometimes hard decisions have to be made in order to be able to fight another day. I've had to make some of those hard decisions myself, as a former military officer. I doubt that more than a handful liked doing what we did. I certainly didn't.

I also understand that morale needs to be kept up during war. No one has forgotten what happened. Many of us are doing what we can to prevent it, but it's not that easy.

[OOC: He can't make anyone do anything against their will. It only... makes him more persuasive if a person can be persuaded.]

[ She isn't interested in an Olympics competition to see who's done what and who's done it better. They've all messed up and they've continued to do so, without the Initiative.

She grips her fist, locked in place still. ]

None of us asked to be here. [ Her tone isn't angry, but it remains sharp and on edge. ] The Initiative has no power anymore; there's a handful of them compared to the number of Transports.

You want to be mad at someone? Be mad at the people who are content to wait around for others to solve the situation at hand. The people who aren't pulling their own weight.

Edited 2013-11-19 00:25 (UTC)

[Raiden comes to stand between Batwoman and Kang, scanning the area with his sword at the ready, wishing he still had his visor.

His stance is defensive, ready to leap into action if he has to. This time when he speaks it's with measured calm.]

We were brought here to fight an asymmetric war. Things are always going to be confusing and we'll probably still get taken by surprise.

The only way we'll survive is if we stay together. Fighting in the ranks won't solve anything.

[He shakes his head.]

I know you're frustrated but war is never easy.

[Not much of a speech, but he felt like he had to say something.]

Edited 2013-11-19 04:30 (UTC)

[Unfortunately for Kang, Connor's mind is completely made up on this matter.

And he wasn't kidding about that warning being his last.

It's frustrating that it's come to this, but what other option does he have? They need to leave and neither words nor idle threats have dissuaded them. So be it. Connor hauls the bow string back and fires his second arrow. Similar to the first arrow shot, it isn't aimed at anyone in particular but rather snaps into the middle of the group, around the level of their knees this time.

Before it's even reached them, though, Connor's up and moving, his bow slung back around him. He abandons stealth for another tactic: he leaps up onto the junk he'd been taking cover behind and sprints across an unstable 'bridge' to a larger pile nearby. Stepping up to the top of that heap, he uses his weight to tip the wobbling structure forward. He draws his tomahawk and a small sphere from his jacket belt as he rides the collapsing pile down pretty much on top of the group.

To complicate things further, he throws the sphere as he falls. The smoke bomb explodes on contact with the floor, releasing a thick, grey cloud his opponents will have to fight through until it dissipates. He engages his left hidden blade to arm his now free hand and gives the tomahawk a quick spin, triggering the effect it's gained as it's evolved with his training: thin glowing beams lash out around the weapon, burning anything they come in contact with.]

[Well, talking is apparently not working. Something dark inside Raiden is okay with this and uncoils when it becomes time to take action.

He is in motion the moment Connor is and he turns towards the toppling debris as it falls, hopping over and across boxes when they slide towards him.

The smoke bomb goes off near his feet, blinding him for a second but he continues to swing his sword in the direction he suspects Connor is moving in. The blade clangs against the whirling tomahawk in an awkward parry and the beams lash across Raiden's armor plating, raising sparks. Raiden doesn't feel any pain with his inhibitors still running but he knows he's taken damage.]

STOP!

Edited 2013-11-19 21:48 (UTC)

[It's a good thing that no one else in the loading bay knows Nerakese, because the curses that leave Kang's mouth are particularly dirty as the arrow misses his legs, but grazes his tail, leaving a scratch with a line of greenish blood. He takes a deep breath as soon as he sees the smoke bomb, reaching into a pouch at his side to pull out a piece of something wispy and white before chanting words in a different language and pointing at Connor. If he doesn't dodge it, the spell will trap the assassin in place. There's plenty of surfaces for the strands to adhere to, thanks to his defensive setup.]

Shit!

[So much for the defensive plan. Then again, it was clear that negotiations (such as they were) were about to break down, and they'd always known it would come to this. Maria would still rather this not get deadly, but she's irrevocably cast her lot in with the mutineers, and she'll have Connor's back all the way.

Which is easier said than done. A man that size has no business being so fast, and she's several seconds behind him when she manages to scramble around the pile that had concealed her. Connor's got matters well in hand—her eyes go wide at the sight of very familiar glowing beams.

But no matter how well he's doing, three against one makes for bad odds. The least she can do is try to even them out. Sword in hand, Maria goes for the woman, and hopes that Connor can take care of the other two.]

[ Well, that went wonderful.

Ella had let the adults talk, but once things starte spiraling out of control she closes the distance once more. Being slightly behind actually proved to be useful, as the whole commotion cause by Connor doesn't quite reach her by surprise. And this time she doesn't even get hit. ]

I guess this is when we try to restrain them without hurting them too much, right?

[ Seeing how Raiden and Kang are busy with Connor, Ella goes over to Kate, a hand raised towards Maria.

Moments later, sparks start flying from her fingers, extending to her entire hand and all the way up to her elbow; it's as if Ella is basically holding a lightning on her hand, electricity flowing from it and sometimes "spilling" down to the floor, leaving dark charred marks. ]

Stand down! I can set it to stun, but it's not going to be pretty anyway.

[ As everyone springs into action, Batwoman follows suite.

She hauls her cape close to her mouth as a safety precaution, but as it's made clear the bomb is only meant to veil Connor and Maria's movements, she drops everything and reaches toward her mask. ]

Activate infrared.

[ The whites of her "eyes" drown in blood red, allowing to gaze through the smoke for heat signals.

While the men fight with each other, Batwoman looks for Maria. Drawing out her grappling gun, she stalks through the smoke for the other woman. ]

Don't —

[ She's seen Ella burned already. No matter how powerful or skilled she might be, she pushes herself past Ella to get between her and Maria.

The sword grazes her arm and she groans aloud. Stupid, should have —

She aims her line toward Maria's leg and fires, to try and ensnare her and yank her down. ]

[

[First blood is hers, and that might be all she gets, because before Maria can even identify the weapon Batwoman's drawn, the line whips around her lower calves, the force of it knocking her to the ground and nearly knocking the wind out of her.]

Damn!

[She's down, but not out—ignoring the pain of impact, Maria holds her sword defensively, ready to protect herself from whoever approaches next and attack if they're stupid enough to get close. All the while she wriggles her ankles frantically, trying to slip her feet out of the line, but it's too tight and there's a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. With her left hand, she reaches for a dagger at her side, but there may not be enough time to try and cut the line.]

Batwoman, stand back.

[ Not wasting a moment, Ella crouches and focuses on the ground. She wasn't so good at intimidating Maria, but she was going to make sure she didn't go anywhere anytime soon.

Her fingers brush the floor, and a moment later, a a thick portion of it rises and quickly envelopes her like a blanket, pinning her down to the ground, the sword disappearing on a "fold" of the piece of the floor crawling on her. It's tight, but nothing too tight; other than moving, Maria is fine. ]

Now, don't move.

Edited 2013-11-20 03:14 (UTC)

She's not going anywhere.

[ She watches as Ella works her magic and retracts her line, listening for the hook to click back in place. She slips it back into her belt, gazing coldly down at Maria.

Torn skin burns. She had grown sturdier, but Maria had gotten close enough to her to do some damage. She'll have to stitch it back on her own later. ]

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

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