001 ⌥ VOICE

[femshep]

My name's Commander Shepard, of the SSV Normandy, and if anyone's ready to give higher brain function a shot, I think I can keep us all alive.

[There's a pause as she pulls together what to say next, but not a long one. She pulls speeches out of her ass for a living. ...Well, that's part of her job, anyway.]

Now that you've all had your asses handed to you on a silver platter, we're starting to see what kind of enemy we're up against. Hell, we still don't know--don't you think for a second that they weren't holding back. And the only reason we fought back even as well as we did was because a few of us know how to handle a gun.

So here's what I'm thinking: I'm thinking we should organize. We'd all do a hell of a lot better if we established some sort of order here. If we knew who needed protection and who could be the ones to protect them. If we knew who the hell was guarding the damn ship instead of pairing off with the first idiot who shows a ounce of interest and taking off on some half-assed adventure. Because at this point I'm thinking it's pretty obvious that ship's what the enemy wants, and it's something we need to keep in one piece until we figure out why.

On top of that, I'm thinking the people with some sort of artillery and training should be the ones who start throwing themselves in the line of fire--exploration teams, search parties, even raids if that's what it comes to--and the people who've spent their lives at a desk or in some sort of lab should stay the hell in the city until they know which end of the gun to point. Shit, it doesn't even have to take long. I'll teach you, if I have to.

[There's a pause, and when she continues, her voice is a little quieter, a little less authoritative.]

I don't have any of the big answers. I don't know why we're here, and I don't know for how long. But I know how to survive, and how to make sure everyone else does to. So if you've got suggestions, I'm all ears. If you want to learn how to shoot, how to fight, I've got time for that too. [There's another pause, and she she exhales something between a laugh and a sigh.] And in the meantime, where am I looking to go to get some sort of drink?

Comments

[truth_is_cold]

I want to know why they're collaring us instead of killing us. If "limitation" is their only goal, or do the collars gather information as well. I also want to know how I can be brought from a time prior to my Captain. [Which is very inconvenient for him. Thanks ship.]

Whatever is exceptional about the ship and whatever they are, they see both us and the ship as a threat, regardless of reason. If the ship loses power, we'll be trapped. I suspect they won't see any sentient being lying between them and it as anything more than expendable.

[femshep]

That depends. They went after the ship once before, didn't we? Now I'm not about to go and say we drove them off, but I know for a fact that they weren't expecting what hit them. As for why, it's not as irrelevant as you think. It might not change how the hell they're coming at us, but it might give us some of the answers we're after.

Until then, all we've got are good questions.

[truth_is_cold]

If they're collecting information, then they will know what to expect next time. And there will be more death.

[He's wondering how difficult it'll be to acquire information on the dome, find people capable of infiltration. They seem pretty segregated from the locals.]

Were there any soldiers that survived the attack that remained trapped outside of the dome?

[voice]

[radars]

[ Hoarse, exhausted. This is a man who's been pushed close to the limit of his energy. ]

So we prepare, and they watch us. This won't deter them. They will strike again, with a better plan, more weapons, and more soldiers. And we will retaliate. And people will die. This isn't a clever idea, Commander Shepard. This is the beginning of a brutal cycle that can only end in death.

Why not put your energies towards finding a solution?

[voice]

[femshep]

I never said it was clever. I said it was necessary. Because you're right. They will strike again, and they will be stronger. Now we have two options from there: We roll over and take it and they kill us all next time, or we step up our game and they just leave a dent.

[She knows what he's saying, though. Trust me, she's had that same argument, in the past.] If rolling over and playing dead would keep them the hell of our backs, I'd be all for it. The people here don't need a fight they can avoid. But it wouldn't, and you know that.

[There's a pause, contemplating, deciding. Then, in a less 'military' tone:] Did anyone ever get that collar off?

[voice]

[radars]

I didn't say we should roll over and play dead. Since when has one group's unquestioned dominance over another been anything but a terrible idea?

permatext - private

[relativistic]

[you're not getting rid of him, mom.]

reporting

permatext - private

[femshep]

[God, this one again? Points for persistence... And for knowing where to throw his subornation, but that's not the point quite yet.]

And what are the odds you'll explain yourself this time around?

[relativistic]

[heh. that's progress. commanders are always flattered by this kind of thing.]

depends. how many guns do you have with you, and do i get to pat them and borrow them instead of being attacked like dead grannies in a butchershop.

[odd analogy, but unfortunately, that's how he was trained.]

[seesobserves]

Is that what passes for higher brain function in your military?

[So unimpressed.]

Brilliant way to get us all killed.

[femshep]

I think you're doing a great job of that all on your own, actually.

[seesobserves]

Hardly representative of the ones who got themselves killed, seeing as I'm still alive.

[buckingauthority]

[Sounds like a decent idea maybe, but you're not gonna see Starbuck toeing the line too smartly. Her loyalties are with Captain Adama and her crew back on Galactica. She'll present herself for duty once she's decided this isn't gonna blow up in their collective faces. If she can find a way to leave and head back home, she'll take that option first.]

You and Colonel Telford should have a sit down, hash it out caveman style. I'm offering liquor if you're interested.

[femshep]

[She sounds a little amused.] Telford's actually an ally of mine. Didn't have any input in this, but we talked about some of it before.

I'm sure as hell not gonna turn down good liquor, though, so if 'sit down with the Colonel' are your terms, I'll take it.

[buckingauthority]

Hold up a second. I didn't volunteer to host this meeting of the top brass. Just so we're clear.

[Although, it's not the worst idea she ever heard. But she's not command track, and so she's gonna leave the strategic planning to those who are.]

text;

[lehnsherr]

You're making plans like these in a public communication; one that they would be more than capable of accessing.

text;

[femshep]

[And now that he's called attention to it, there's no way to tell him she took that into account without the authorities knowing she's potentially playing them.]

At this point, it was the only plausible way to get communications to everyone.

[video]

[waspromisedcake]

[She's not sure if she's suppose to not like what the woman said about people in labs or not. As it is, she'll just correct her.]

I was in a lab, but I know how to shoot a gun.

[video]

[femshep]

[...She should've been more specific there. She can tell already that this girl isn't the type she was referring to.]

I meant... The science-types. The ones who think they know how to handle the outside world just because they've studied parts of it in a sterilized room.

[video;]

[tailless]

They're a powerful group, whoever they are.

I may not have my powers, but I can use a gun.

[video;]

[femshep]

[She's actually... surprisingly glad to have him on board with this. He's just one of those people whose presence demands a little respect, and Shepard can't put her finger on why. It sure as hell isn't the hairstyle.]

Do you have one on you?

[cametohissenses]

Not sure if it still needs to be said at this point but count me in.

[femshep]

Appreciated. [She sounds like she means it, too. He's turning out to be... well, she can't say 'a valuable ally' yet, that kind of thing comes with time, but he's got a level head and a steady aim and that's damn sure good enough for her. Military rank earned him a little respect, too.

Which reminds her:]

Had a talk with a woman named Kara Thrace a minute ago, and it made me realize how useful it'd be if we had some sort of meeting. Hell, I don't even have to run it--I sure as hell pissed off enough people today. But we need to put our heads together somewhere--[Somewhere where the enemy can't listen in.] Somewhere in-person.

[breakablegirl]

I want to fight. I'd really appreciate some help learning how.

[femshep]

What's your name?