[Video] Tuesday evening

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[Wes was expecting just another routine patrol. Okay, it was probably going to go poorly because that's been a problem of late. But poorly in a standard way.

And the patrol had been fine. It was getting back into Poseidon when the trouble started. So now he's in his alternate accomodations in the Old City outpost. And a bit annoyed.]

Okay, what the kriff is going on?

Comments

[erranthero]

Whole town's gone karking insane.

[The most technical answer.]

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[The technicalest]

Just what we needed.

[erranthero]

Yeah. More crazy. You okay? Anything get banged up?

[kettchmeifyoucan]

I'm fine. They're not letting anyone in or out of town.

[Guess how he figured that out!]

[erranthero]

Who? The Authorities?

[kettchmeifyoucan]

You know those checkpoints that have been up for weeks?

[erranthero]

Actually no, not really. But okay?

[kettchmeifyoucan]

They've been checking anyone going in and out of town ever since Nem. Watching out for anyone planning to cause trouble. But they've moved from checking everyone's business to stopping all traffic.

[erranthero]

Huh. Guess I missed that. I've been on delivery assignments and flight orders the last week.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Didn't miss much. Just a lot of sitting around explaining that you had a legitimate reason to head up that way.

[On the bright side he wasn't trying to sneak by with fake id]

[erranthero]

How far out are you?

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Back in the Old City. Didn't really fancy camping out by the roadside.

[erranthero]

I can swing by and give you a lift tomorrow morning, when I'm out doing a delivery if you need.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Up for some daring maneuvers?

[erranthero]

Wouldn't really call it daring in the hulk they have my flying, but I can swing by. Nobody'll mind.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Careful to steer clear of the checkpoints then.

[Oh those words take him back]

[erranthero]

Boy that takes me back.

[Her too, actually.]

You just be ready, Jansen.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Always ready for checkpoint running.

[erranthero]

Good. I'll be there in five or six hours. South edge of town.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Got it.

Guess I'll nap until then.

[unofficial_ambassador]

[Kerra did give the most technical answer, but here's another one.]

The riots started on the docks, but I don't - it feels like the whole city is on fire.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[He's been in more than his fair share of riots. Kerra's answer was pretty apt.]

So they're trying to keep anyone from coming int to add fuel then.

[unofficial_ambassador]

To add fuel or to be it. They're coming after us now.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Go after the ones that stand out they, make a good scapegoat.

[It's probably bad that he can see exactly what's happening so easily]

Empire did the same thing with non-humans.

[unofficial_ambassador]

They think that we're behind those murders, and it's hard to blame them.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Wouldn't be surprised if that image is being cultivated on purpose.

[unofficial_ambassador]

That awful video that was leaked over the weekend was shot by one of us. Only someone with access to him or to our network could have done it.

[Which has some unpleasant implications. Inara has a suspect in mind and there is nothing good about this at all.]

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[Wes grimaces]

That doesn't help.

[unofficial_ambassador]

You're probably lucky to be where you are. Things are only going to get worse.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Tends to happen, with civil unrest.

How is everyone doing?

[unofficial_ambassador]

At the Flop? Restless. Nervous. No one's been seriously hurt that I know of.

[The 'yet' hangs unsaid in the air for a moment.]

Most people are either trying to keep indoors or running around outside trying to put out fires.

[Which should let him know how Luke is doing.]

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Hopefully we can keep it that way.

[Realistically, someone is going to get hurt sooner or later.]

Staying in's the best plan for civilians.

[Luke and Kerra, of course, are never going to go for that. Wes wouldn't, if he was there.]

[unofficial_ambassador]

Staying in is the best plan for all of us. Seeing us only provokes them.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

At least some of us are better equipped for it.

[You try keeping... just about everyone from his homeworld away]

[girlworthfighting]

Riots. Fires. Unrest and chaos.

If you feel up to doing something to help, please do. Otherwise try to stay out of the way and safe. I'm afraid there's not much time right now for talk.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Stay out of the way's a bit mandatory. They've shut down traffic in and out of the city.

[He isn't quite ready to start running guarded borders for old times' sake]

[girlworthfighting]

So you mean you're not even back yet. [She isn't sure whether to be annoyed or not. Another set of hands would have been nice, but at least that's one person she knows she won't have to worry about being in the line of fire.] Guess that means you lucked out. Anyone else I know with you?

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Just me in the Old City at the moment. I think the ship people had mostly headed back for the day by the time this got started.

[The borders don't always keep regular hours]

[girlworthfighting]

Well try to get some rest then for whenever you do get to come back. I don't think any of this is settling down overnight.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Civil unrest usually doesn't.

[girlworthfighting]

I think you know more about it already than I. But even so, hearing that doesn't surprise me.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Once something like this boils over, you can't just put it back in the pot.

[girlworthfighting]

Then that must mean there's nothing left but to wait for it to all boil itself out.