[video; open]

[original_fine]

[Jim's propped up in a dingy hospital room, looking worse for wear but better than he has been. Not that anyone's seen him since the attack. (ooc: Yes, I'm handwaving that he threw himself into protecting others, and was injured.)]

My apologies to those I made arrangements with earlier and failed to follow through on. My special apologies to those hurt in the attack. I... underestimated their firepower.

[Yes, he's been out of commission since then, in a coma and healing.]

I'd like to know if we've learned anything else about why it happened. And I want to throw my efforts back into the plans to organize. Commander Shepard, Colonel Telford, I know you've been attempting this. Any progress? Any use for a man with leadership and combat experience? [He smiles wryly.] My recent performance notwithstanding.


[private to River Tam]

Miss Tam, your broadcast of several days ago concerns me. Are you there?

Comments

[video]

[knightoflight]

[A worried sound. ]

The fight was chaotic. We were unprepared. We lost sight of each other. [To the fact that Wing hadn't realized Kirk had gone silent.]

You are well? Operational again?

[video]

[original_fine]

I'm afraid I lost sight of everyone. Yes, I'm... operational again. [A small smile.] Took me a little longer than usual.

[video]

[knightoflight]

We need to do better. They will be back.

[He shows his hands, palms open.]

I have never led troops in battle. I am no leader. We need to come together.

Longer than usual? Are you getting proper repair?

[video]

[original_fine]

I agree. And we will. [Though even Jim has realized it may not be entirely prudent to discuss it here.]

I am. Just... primitive, compared to what I'm used to.

[video]

[knightoflight]

[A nod. Wing isn't accustomed to having to watch his words, but he can pick up a hint.]

I wonder if that is part of the reason we were taken: the fact that many of us seem...more advanced?

[video]

[original_fine]

It's possible. That would imply there's a consciousness behind this--which there must be, of course, but it's curious we haven't seen a sign of them.

[video]

[knightoflight]

Something that could gather us--across a number of dimensions--clearly has abilities beyond my world.

[video]

[original_fine]

At least, that you know of. I've met very powerful beings who remained silent for generations, for their own purposes.

[video]

[knightoflight]

True. We are only aware of one threat, from another dimension. Most of our enemies, sadly, are all too vocal.

[video]

[original_fine]

It's my experience, too, that many "advanced" races have achieved very long lifespans, and so experience time differently than we do. A few generations of silent plotting is nothing to them.