Meat n' Greet

[cityship]

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers. After the revelation that their worlds are gone, many of them are even more eager to see people they knew from home.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicoms and comm rings. New crew-mates might see a tall man in green armor and snake girl among their number. There are also several authoritative-looking figures ready to introduce themselves.

There's a lot to tell the new people. It's going to be a lot to take in.

[ooc: Only new characters and Command Staff can start new threads for introductions, to limit the number of threads. Everyone else, just tag in and have your guys greet the newbies.]

Comments

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Let me guess - technological innovations? We aren't as far ahead, but we're crafty and learn quickly?" It was the reason the Andalites were afraid of them after all. A little bit more flattering than the 'there's a lot of you' rationale for the Yeerks. "You must be very proud of her."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"Indeed. The Federation normally makes sure a lesser race's technological development is stagnated once it reaches a certain point. With humans, this is impossible. You progress too fast." He smiles softly, only a few Sharp pointy Teeth showing. "Yes, very proud."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

She wonders if he feels the same way she did every time Marco came home from a mission, back in the Hork-Bajir valley. She wonders if the Chancellor's emotions are human-like enough that he feels not only the pride, but that well of sadness that one's child must be involved. "So you've been plotting this revolution for a long time. You must be very patient."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"It was necessary. One move before we were ready would be sacrificing billions of lives. The Federation would allow nothing to come in the way of their stability."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"No, I understand that. I try not to be the rash and impulsive kind myself." Not that she doesn't have her moments. "I'm sure the status quo was hardly preferable to whatever you were trying to achieve."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"The status quo is stagnation, slavery, and genocide. A Constitution used entirely to the benefit of 22 species at the expense of hundreds. Yes, I believe the Empire has a better idea."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Sounds charming. We just got the slavery and genocide." Slavery, with Yeerks involved, is self-explanatory. Combine that with the way the Yeerks used the Arn as target practice, or tried to eliminate uninfestible races, and you have a winning combination for losing the intergalactic popularity contest. "I'm sorry this little trip into multispace will put off you getting to see that new Empire."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"Much appreciated. While it is highly reminiscent of the old days, it could be worse. At least I have complete control of my own body this time."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Mm." Eva suppresses a wince, but not the urge to run her hand over the band of light scar tissue on the back of her neck. Her teeth grit ever so slightly and after touching the portable Kandrona scar, her hand pauses slightly at her ear before returning to her side, where she taps a spastic little rhythm again. "Never something to take for granted. If you don't mind me asking...the slavery was that total?"

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"Only for our kind, and only from the particular Saernai in command -- although we made sure to behave the same with all of them, for the day when we could surprise them a little. A physiological issue. The humans were kept in line through the use of pain, hostages, and murder -- I am upsetting you," he suddenly realizes. "Apologies.

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"No, no, it's fine," she says, cheeks flushing a bit with embarrassment. "Back on my world, I was a government advisor working with integrating former slaves with their non-neutered former masters. The war ended with the freeing of the hosts, for the most part."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"That is excellent."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Mostly," she says. The fighting ended, but that didn't mean there wasn't an incredibly depressing aftermath to deal with. Both politically and most days, very personally. "Earth's involvement in the war was only about a decade. Nowhere near your four hundred years."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"It is all quite complicated. Earth itself has only been brought into the fight relatively recently. We told the humans we couldn't risk their being followed back to their home planet."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"How far from Earth is Camelot? It's either within a lifetime's travel or you have faster-than-light technology."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"The Empire has managed in the past four hundred years to nontuple the FTL capacities of the Federation. Camelot is far, far, from Earth as well as from any Galactic Trade Routes. When we seized the ship, we simply pointed it as far away from any civilization as possible to find a place to regroup and rearm."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like desperate measures," she murmurs. "On a more personal note, aside from your daughter, are you looking for anyone else? I haven't heard of anyone from your precise scenario but I may have seen someone. I don't know."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"Anyone from the Empire would be welcome. I have several daughters, veronica was simply the one I was with at the time. If you've seen a human male, only a little taller than Veronica, with dark hair, a triangular beard, and a scar down his cheek named George Wincaster, or his wife Matilda, whose hair is long and light and...crinkled, or Archbishop Timothy, a very broadshouldered man would certainly be lecturing someone about despair being an affront to God.... really, there are few I would not wish to see. And most of those few are dead."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"I haven't run into any of them, but I'll keep my eyes peeled. Perhaps the Archbishop would gravitate to the Vatican? Stacy has a copy of it, here in the City."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

It takes him a while to process what 'the Vatican' is, but The Chancellor's eyes brighten. "A replica of the Basilica in Rome? Yes, I believe he would. Can you show me, Eva?"

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Of course. I've been a few times, though I'm woefully out of practice with my faith," she says, reaching tentatively to take the Chancellor by the hand, willing to stop if he seems the slightest bit uncomfortable. "Don't be disappointed, though, if he's not there. The last time I went it was empty. He may still be resting in the pods."

If he is at all, of course, but Eva's not about to air that unspoken comment.

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

He nods. "Thank you, Eva." A pause. "Are there no weekly Masses? Is there difficulty with calculating Sundays? Our humans always had to estimate, aboard ship."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"No, no weekly Masses. This is a secular ship, it seems. I've run into a few other Catholics and some religions I haven't ever seen on Earth, but people here keep their faiths to themselves, which is fine." She gets the impression that religion was very uniform on Camelor, from the Chancellor's words. "We seem to do fine with our days of the week. Sesame Street served us well."

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"How interesting. I am aware that other human religions exist, but The Church is a major force for progress in the Empire."

[vissernone.livejournal.com]

"Even back on my Earth, the Church's hold had lessened. And even those of us who consider ourselves Catholic tend to be phenomenally lazy about it," she says, clearly a bit abashed.