[OPEN] DEFENSE MEETING

[uncalled_for]

Date & Time: Five days after the completion of the bombing event. Starting early morning.
Location: Whatever area is decently clear of debris.
Characters: Anyone, whether it was previously arranged with Fiona, someone else did the convincing, or they just happen to be around the cleared area at the right time.
Summary: First “Defense” Group Meeting. Some chatting, some sparring, a little showing off, and everything in between.
Warnings: Violence and swearing, I guarantee it.


[When most have gathered Fiona will find some small piles of debris to climb on so she can at least be eye level with everyone else. It’s not the biggest of groups but it will hardly do if no one can see whoever is speaking. She’ll tap her staff to get some attention.]

Thank you all for coming and taking an interest. I’m Fiona, the one who spoke on the network before. Sorry there was a delay but I appreciate everyone coming nonetheless. [Detecting a little anger here…]

If what’s happened this past week has proved anything, it’s proved we need to work together and defend ourselves and each other. Those bastards aren’t going to help us no matter what lies they feed us. They can’t defend us, they have proven that again and again. They say they’re glad we survived, but how many of us didn’t make it through this last endeavor? We’re dealing with complete fools and we have only ourselves to rely on. So we need to find a way to help each other. You don’t have to agree with all of my opinions, but at least stay long enough to try and see if this will work.

[She’ll take a deep breath] This is only our first meeting, none of us really know each other or what each other is capable of. If we actually intend to defend each other then that is the first thing we need to fix. Use this meeting time to get to know the person next to you and what they’re capable of. And if you can fight then show everyone else what you’ve got. [She’ll hold up her hand and produce a tiny ball of fire, whirl it around a moment and wink it out as quickly as she made it.] Lets not be caught off-guard by those bastards again.

[And then she'll start hopping off the debris. Ah, wait. Almost forgot something.] Thank you.


[OOC: Behold the tiny organization abilities. All right so, here’s how I’m thinking this can roll. We’ve got a little fighting and a little chatting for threads. If conversation leads to battle you are welcome to keep it to the talking thread, just maybe tack it into the subject line “Chat -> Fighting” or hop to the Battle thread! Feel free to jump in as you please, opened, closed, whatever. This is a fantastic chance for CR, spoil it rotten! And thanks for being patient with me despite the OOC delays. :)

Edit: Okay so. People are on hiatus and stuff and that's okay. If your character would happen to be here, but you just can't toss them in, try putting down a placeholder reply or something. I am gonna be doing a headcount from the tags list when this wraps up so leader picking later on is easier to handle. :)]

Comments

[bratworth]

At the most basic level, communication between all parties involved, which I believe was on the original goals of this meeting. If we keep each other well-informed of occurrences happening in our own immediate surroundings, it will be easier to deal with problems should they so arise.

[ofthegrey]

Indeed, although I must say I'd feel better if we found a way to do it that doesn't involve these devices. The potential for our captors to monitor us is too great a risk to use them for anything of real import.

[bratworth]

So what you're suggesting is... what? Rebellion against the Initiative?

[ofthegrey]

I'm not ruling it out. I'm not at all convinced they have our interest at heart in any way. Why make it easier to be manipulated while we're trying to figure out what we're going to do to look out for each other better?

[bratworth]

They might not have all our interests at heart, but I do not believe they would want us dead... unless we were to become unmanageable. [ His mouth twists. ]

I'll be frank. The power of balance is not in our hands.

[ofthegrey]

It doesn't seem to be, no. I can readily agree with that.

[Power balances could shift over time, could be shifted, but he's not there to push an agenda. Not this day.]

What of law here? Is there any sort of code to which we are expected to adhere, or has that been undefined?

[bratworth]

[ He shakes his head jerkily. ]

No official laws, no. Not yet.

[ofthegrey]

You'd like to see us adapt a more official code? [It's toned conversationally, not confrontationally.]

[bratworth]

That would be my preference, yes. [ Once a lawyer, always a lawyer. Even in the absence of actual... laws. ]

[ofthegrey]

I imagine that will be quite the challenge given the disparity among the worlds. Have you received any support from others for this idea?

[bratworth]

I did talk about my ideas on the network last month. A number of people offered to assist as police, and I have at least other skilled prosecutor here with me, as well as the support of a judge. [ He leaves off 'of Hell' part. ]

Some people did raise some concerns, but I would do my utmost to ensure that they are taken into consideration, and of course I would seek more feedback before going further with these plans.

... It is worth noting, however, that the local population has started to amass a police force of their own volition - what they were going to do with the criminals once they caught them is anyone's guess.

[ofthegrey]

[He nods thoughtfully. He has been on both sides of the law, enough to believe that some order is a good thing as long as it is tempered with compassion.]

The locals? Natives? Is there much friction between them and the Transports? I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the idea of them holding jurisdiction. It's not as though we came here of our own volition.

[bratworth]

Not currently. I was told that there was some in the past, but that all changed after a mission some months ago. In any case, as far as I'm aware, not all of the natives are involved with the Initiative, and if we were to attempt to create some sort of system that dealt only with transports, not only would that increase our chances of failure, it would mean that our jurisdiction would only cover transports, making it fundamentally useless when dealing with potential conflicts that may arise with natives and the like.

[ofthegrey]

How are we to get them to accept any sort of autonomy or authority coming from us? Essentially, we are little better than invaders, although we haven't come here of our own accord.

You believe they would be interested in a sharing of power or jurisdiction? Have any of them made overtures to that effect?

[bratworth]

It's certainly a possibility. I've been in contact with the chief of this burgeoning native police force -- I'm to speak with him soon. I suppose I'll ask him these questions then.

[ofthegrey]

Please do. I'd also be interested to hear their opinions on how we're brought here and whether they view it as something as helpful to them as this Initiative does.

[He's curious if they'll find true allies in this native populace, or if it's merely another shade of their being used.]

There's much to consider in all of this. We've all been thrown into a bit of a mess. Whatever comes of these meetings of Fiona's, I can assure you of one thing. We were a force of order in our world, not of chaos. We're not interested in changing that now.

[bratworth]

Indeed. I hope that some good will come of it -- you knew Ms. Fiona in your own reality, then?

(ooc: if you were interested, did you want to handwave Edgeworth telling Duncan the results of his meeting with the police Chief-- I can write up what he would ICly know by now and such! He doesn't mind telling.)

[ofthegrey]

I did. We've been friends and colleagues for many years, more than she recalls. Thankfully she did know and remember me, however. Our timelines don't seem to be divergent in that respect.

((OOC: That would be great! I really appreciate it. It's something he is interested in hearing about and knowing more about. In time he may throw his support behind those efforts, too.))

[bratworth]

How many years difference are there between your two... timelines? [ He'd been thinking of them as different realities, himself, because he didn't care to think of the glimpses he'd seen of the future as his. ]

(ooc: awesome, would you like a backdated message on an ic contact or should I just explain here/in a PM?)

[ofthegrey]

I don't have a precise number, but I'd say easily twenty years. She recalls me as a wet behind the ears recruit, and I recall her as...much older.

[Withdrawn. Making moves he would never have expected of her. Something best not shared with someone he doesn't know well.]

((OOC: A PM would probably be easiest. Thank you!))

[bratworth]

I see. [ A beat. ] I'm in a similar position with some other people from my own reality as well.

[ofthegrey]

It seems from conversations I've had that this is common. Some also seem to be from different realities, as well. It's impossible for me to tell if this is so with Fiona, for all of our conversations thus far lie in accord with what I recall of that time.

It is not so for some other people from my world. However, their experiences aren't mine to relate.

[bratworth]

Understandable. [ Yes, for once, Miles Edgeworth is not pushing the issue. ] I must say, it's fascinating that so many people who are brought here are in some way related to others who are present. Considering all the possible realities that must exist... don't you think that unusual?

[ofthegrey]

[He lets out a soft chuff of laughter that seems more self-directed than anything else.]

I think I am so ignorant of the topic of traveling through time or between worlds that I couldn't begin to tell you if it's unusual or not. Just a month ago, if anyone had asked me if time travel was possible, I would have said no.

As for traveling between worlds, it happens in my world on very rare occasions, except it's always to one realm, the Fade, and if it happens to the living who aren't mages it means something has gone terribly wrong.

[bratworth]

So it's only people that, er, possess certain abilities that can travel to this 'Fade'? [ A beat. ] Also, I understand completely. Before I arrived here, technology such as the Initiative's only existed in fiction, nowhere else.