Open (Council) House [Open to every single person here!]

[itsaboutaction.livejournal.com]

Despite Superman's suddenly odd penchant for sporting mullets, it was time to have a heart-to-heart chat... between the Council and the rest of the crew. If there was some sort of bond between them and the crew that needed to be made, it needed to be done without hiding behind Omnicomms and other decisions.

Thus, the Council was gathered within La Prefecture and everyone was welcome to come in and make their concerns, questions, complaints and what have you known. Care to join us?

(OoC: This is open to everybody and everyone! Also, don't wait for the Council to address you guys! If your characters have concerns, start up a subthread and we'll gladly tag it!)

Comments

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

The Chancellor stood, arms folded, at a good spot along the wall with a view of the area. He hesitated, not knowing the format of such a situation.

[coldhardfisting.livejournal.com]

Snow knew he was going to have no really big things to talk about, but he did want to drop by and see what this was all about. Especially if it would give him a better idea about the people who were apparently helping to run this ship. Hell, maybe he even would end up speaking up depending on what happened today. He figured he'd just roll with whatever was going on and only speak up if he really felt he had to. He was still new, after all. He had a lot of questions.

"Yo, Chance!" he called, the dragon standing out a lot more than the other crewmembers, Snow's familiarity with him aside. He walked over to the Chancellor, seeing nobody else familiar just yet as they all began to show up.

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

Ridiculous nickname or not, the Chancellor smiles. "Hello, Snow," he says quietly. "How is your young lady?" His eyes still scan the crowd.

[futureisclear.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Ildraniath was here. She'd decided to not wear the armor, however, settling for the robes she'd managed to get. She was somewhere near the front, waiting and watching attentively. She'd probably have quite a few things to say when this meeting really got moving.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

There had been a lot of things going on in the back of her mind, but there was one specific issue she was still wrestling with, one that even Billy and Ronnae had forgotten about. She was here, actually to address that issue, and had every intention of having her voice heard. That, and honestly, she was curious about what other people on the ship had to say about the Council.

That, and she wondered what the Overlord would do about some of these issues.

The Overlord's Proposals

[badassfreakingoverlord]

Zetta, looking particularly awesome with flaming hair and billowing cape, stood at an opportune moment to seize the floor with raw force of personality and badassitude.

"All right, ship crew. Today's your lucky day, because I, the magnificent Ovelord Zetta, am gonna give you a hint of what I intend to run up the flagpole today."

Re: The Overlord's Proposals

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"And what would that be?"

[badassfreakingoverlord]

"First," Zetta said. "Basic 'get your ass to shelter' training for the crew. Call it fire drills or whatever. The ship has a nasty habit of things popping up that want to lay waste to it and people within it, and basically for any given threat there's two power levels involved: 'competitive' and 'doomed'. I'm proposing that we come up with safe and sensible emergency plans so all the 'doomed' class people can get somewhere where the marauding whatever isn't.

"Related to that, I'm thinking some of our departments should work together on finding or making shelters in the City. Since that's where a lot of this stuff happens, and there's no protectotentacles there.

"Third, I'd like to see official Department Projects. We have these departments but people are pretty much doing their own thing. Let's have some official direction."

Having tossed all that out there, he sat back to wait for comments.

The Azula Incident

[governorkang]

After glancing at the other Councilors, Kang stood up from his seat and took a step forward to address everyone in the room, using what his friend had once deemed his sons-of-bitches voice.

"For those who don't know me, I am Councilor Kang. We have an announcement regarding the crewmember known as Azula, who attacked Zuko during the last podpop in the Observation Deck; she will not be charged with any crime, as she was not of sound mind at the time.

"However, we are requiring that she meet with the ship's psychiatrists for regular treatment, and that Zam Tolen is to be appointed as her parole officer until such time as we are sure that Azula is mentally sound."

He looked at Zam and quirked an eyebrow ridge, "We expect regular updates, and we may check in every now and then without warning."

Re: The Azula Incident

[ternaui.livejournal.com]

"Excuse me. Do we have reason to believe the young lady is of any sounder mind at the moment than she was at the time of the attack?"

[governorkang]

"Councilor Zetta has spoken with her, as has Ms. Tolen, and Azula is now much more calm. She has agreed to set aside her hostility with her brother and others from her world," Kang stated. "Ms. Tolen's duty as parole officer is to ensure that Azula attends all of her psychiatric meetings and that she does not cause further harm to Zuko or any other crewmembers, or herself."

Re: The Azula Incident

[knifeurrib.livejournal.com]

"You're kidding, right?"

Yeah, that was Mai. She cared enough about this particular issue to speak up.

Re: The Azula Incident

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"Excuse me?!" Kaya stood up now, livid, hardy believing what she was hearing. "Azula gets a by for attacking Zuko because she wasn't of sound MIND? She got him when his back was turned, while he wasn't posing a threat! I suppose you're also going to just forget she attacked Mai just before on a whim? But I suppose that's ok because she was crazy too?"

THIS was the Council's decison?!

[governorkang]

Kang frowned briefly, and turned his attention to Mai. "That is the decision we have made. We are aware that not everyone will be happy about it, but we feel that it is the best course of action after listening to several crewmembers' opinions and discussing the facts ourselves."

Re: The Azula Incident

[8wings.livejournal.com]

Anwei had been standing towards the back of the room, listening, head down in thought. Right now there was a little battle going on in her brain, between self-preservation and memory.

You shouldn't get involved, said one part of her. Those people are all dangerous. Even commenting in support of the Council could be dangerous. Just keep still and keep quiet. You don't know any of them. It's none of your business. But there was another part of her that said she had to speak. Because once, someone had spoken to her. And that had changed everything.

She took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Esteemed Council members, and members of the crew. I also visited Azula in confinement. I know nothing of her past history. But as a perhaps overly informed layperson, I feel that she is very confused, in pain, and possibly unable to decide whether she is ready to set aside her hostility. Because the part of her that makes that sort of decision can't be trusted – by us, and worst of all by her." She touched two fingers to her brow, over her right eye. "That being said, leaving her locked up alone won't help her."

"The brig is not an appropriate inpatient treatment location, nor is it fair to the people running it to have to handle her. Letting her move around - with supervision, with the requirement of treatment - may be the best of several bad choices. If we do manage to bring her back to being of sound mind, and find we need to confine her anyway, at least we will know that she is not in insane pain. I only hope that when current or future members of the crew are in similar mental distress, the Council will find it in them to treat them as kindly."

The Ohm, harsh realities and modest myths

[ronnae.livejournal.com]

Ronnae had been waiting for a chance like this one to present itself, and she was fairly surprised when she saw the open house meeting. She was nervous, yes, very much so actually. But this was something that had been gnawing at her for quite a while, and something that a few people she'd met had asked her about, making her feel worse when she didn't have the answers.

She took a deep breath fidgeting as she tried to move around and through the crowd, her nerves starting to get the best of her. She quickly pulled the cowl of her hoodie over her head and moved closer to the council to be heard, but a bit of a safe distance away from the gathering crowd.

She looked down, biting her lip and closing her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before speaking;

"I... ummm e-esteemed council," she spoke timidly before bowing down very low as both a sign of respect and a moment to steady her nerves. "My name is Ronnae 'Mash Belore Ryllos, and I've been wondering, after a few of our missions and encounters... Is there somewhere that the crew can easily access what we do or don't know about the Ohm, and our situation? Many of the crew members, new and old have asked this and I feel a bit uneasy when I can't answer their concerns as they are some of my own as well... Has there been any progress on t-the situation both with the D-daligig and Ohm?"

Sure she wanted the ship to eat her now, drag her through the floor and take her away from this precise moment, but it was something she had to do both for her sake and those who had voice their concerns.

[itsaboutaction.livejournal.com]

Superman was the first to respond to Ronnae's questions.

"Of course. We do have files concerning the Ohm (http://trans9.wikia.com/wiki/Friends_and_Foes) as well as our situation. (http://governmentninja.livejournal.com/41577.html)" he said. "A lot of it is on the Omnicomms, so it's easy to look up."

With a bit of a sigh, he continued. "However, we don't have much in terms of progress with either. There was a recent space battle between our fighter pilot members, but besides our teams coming back victorious, we don't know much else at the moment."

[ronnae.livejournal.com]

Ronnae pressed her fingers nervously, feeling a bit dumb for not thinking about the files before hand... She just felt they didn't give as much information as she and others had hoped.

"I... Is there maybe a way that it can be easily viewed near the living quarters? I've noticed some of the crew members don't understand the use of the omnicomms. So it's hard for them to get the answers they seek from the files. J-just some simple inst-- actually I suppose that's something I should have done myself..." keep it together Ronnie or you'll breakdown...

"We didn't send scouts and recon units into the battle to gather combat data?" She asked curiously at the battle statement.

Yeerk Issues

[jesushasayak.livejournal.com]

"Esteemed Councilors, there's something else I wanted to speak to you about."

Aang wasn't feeling especially unquestioning after the Azula issues, and he had promised Marco.

"I've been told by a member of the crew that someone who was forcibly infested by intelligent parasites was asked to play host again until an alternative could be found for the parasite involved. I would like to know if and how this situation was resolved, and what your plans are in the future when it comes to similar situations. There have been multiple problems involving parasites that override the wills of people on this ship, committing a grave crime against them in body and spirit, and while they should be treated like any other intelligent living beings as far as their rights go, I find it worrying that you could allow someone who'd once been forcibly enslaved to undergo that again, especially considering their possible mental state--since things of that nature are apparently a grave concern of yours."

Nice guy though he was, and bad as he was at being aggressive, he wasn't always above getting a passive aggressive shot in. He was human, after all.

"I promised the person I talked to that I would discuss this with you and figure out why things were done the way they were. I know they likely can't be changed now, but there is always the chance similar decisions might need to be made in the future."

Re: Yeerk Issues

[hexyeah]

"Thank you for your concern, Aang. I want to let everyone know that I share it. The Yeerk situation was hotly debated- and I strongly oppose the Council's decision." Here she glanced at her fellow council members. "However, as we are based in a democratic system, those concerns were overruled and outvoted. If, God forbid, another similar situation occurs, I trust that the Council will come to the right decision." This time.

The Map

[futureisclear.livejournal.com]

Ildraniath stands, fingertips pressed together as she surveys the Council. Interesting to see them all in one place. She would have to remember their faces and their names. For future reference. She dipped her head in a slight bow of respect and then began.

"Esteemed Council-members, I have a simple question for you. Or, a series of questions, I suppose. I understand that we have in our possession a map of some sort. I am curious - what is being done to unravel its secrets? And will the crew be informed when anything of interest has been discovered? Further, will we be allowed access to it? Or will it remain under the c are of your guardian?"

Re: The Map

[badassfreakingoverlord]

"Cargn's working on it," Zetta said. "In his head, since that seems to be the only way it can be done. Frankly, that map is weird as hell. It's apparently aware, it's Overlord-level powerful, and when I poked at it just to check its status screen it started poking back. If you want to see it, I'd ask him about it."

As for her other question... Zetta frowned. "If we find out anything, I don't intend to keep it a secret. But that assumes it comes to the Council. If it goes to the Captain..." He shrugged.

[dragonlordbight]

Bight was there, standing in the background for the moment, a somewhat different position than usual in such council matters back in Sanction. It would do him well though to see just how this council operated. Nevertheless he maintained a confident bearing and demeanor as he watched the proceedings with seemingly idle interest.

A Matter of Trust (1/?)

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

“For those of you that I haven’t had a chance to meet yet, my name is Kanoe Zouichi, and I am a member of the Security Department. I’m sure some of you are familiar with us, or have seen an officer on patrol. We are here to maintain the law, defuse conflicts, and deal with onboard intrusions and threats to crewmember safety.

Before I begin, I wish to emphasize that I am here as an individual officer; I do not presume to speak for the Department as a whole.”

He paused.

“During recent events, a number of crew members were observed losing their memories and reverting to prior stages in their lives. Some of these incidents caused only minor inconveniences, but some caused threats to shipboard security. In particular, two crew members, deprived of their memories, were deemed likely to attack others. These crew members possessed previously undisclosed powers; after it became known that they had become hostile, a brief notice about these powers was issued to the crew at large by Councilor Kang – that they could take the form of animals or other people.

Through my conversations with another member of the crew, I was informed that these abilities were not limited merely to changing their appearance, but that they were also capable of copying the powers of those whose form they assumed. I’m sure I do not need to mention to anyone that many of our crewmates possess unique abilities that can be used to great destructive effect, abilities that in the hands of an individual bent on attacking others aboard the ship could threaten many lives.

I was also given additional information, including the fact that at least some members of the Council had been aware of these powers well before the crew members in question displayed any symptoms. I admit that I acted without much thought when I addressed my subsequent channel post to the Council and the heads of Security about the situation. I was angry, and at the time all I could think of was that someone could have gotten seriously hurt or killed while the Council sat on this information. While the people who are supposed to be defending the crew against just such a threat – those of us in Security – were simply passed over and disregarded.”

Zouichi took a deep breath – he was still angry about it, but now wasn’t the time.

“I can at least say in his favor, however, that Kang elaborated on these powers when questioned.

“Through my correspondence with the Councilor, I learned that only two Councilors possessed prior knowledge of these powers, himself included. In fact, this knowledge came to light some time ago, through a combination of circumstance and conversation. During the conversation, Kang expressed a number of views I found extremely troubling.

Chief among them was his belief that because he felt he knew these crew members personally, and because he had previously deemed that they did not pose -- and would not in the future pose -- any danger to the crew, that he was justified in keeping his knowledge of these abilities from the rest of the Council. And anyone else, for that matter. 

However, I would like to point out that events could easily have gone differently. If a similar threat were to occur in the future, and the Councilor withholding information about this threat was unable to warn the crew – what then?

Nothing happened as a result of the Councilor’s decision to withhold information. This time. But I do not feel comfortable trusting that we will always be this lucky.

Re: A Matter of Trust (2/?)

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Unexpected events affect the ship on a regular basis; people lose their memories, people disappear, people become victims of magical possession, people are targeted by dangerous criminals apparently stored in rooms aboard the ship itself – criminals that the ship’s security systems cannot contain. I believe it is incredibly shortsighted to entrust the future and the safety of this crew to a single Councilor – any Councilor, but especially one who feels their personal loyalties outweigh the safety of the crew at large, and who does not or will not realize that no matter how noble their intentions, something could easily happen to take them out of the picture and leave the ship without anyone to relay information about a particular threat.

I am not optimistic enough to believe that we can always anticipate future threats. But I would like to believe that members of the Council are not compounding the problems we must face by putting their personal priorities above the safety of the crew.

For whatever reason, at least one of those to whom I’ve presented this argument believe that I advocate requiring all crew to disclose any and all unusual abilities and weaknesses to the rest of the ship, or to a specific group of those in power. I do not.

I am not asking that anyone turn in their friends. I am not asking that anyone turn themselves in. I am not expecting anyone to register anything.

I want to make it absolutely clear that I do not blame anyone who wishes to keep their powers secret. That is their prerogative, and removing their ability to do so would be a gross violation of their privacy. I feel that coercing the entire crew to part with their personal information would not only be impossible to enforce, but detrimental to the ship environs as a whole. It would foster an atmosphere of suspicion and fear, at the time when we need to trust each other the most. Rather, were anyone to suggest such a requirement, I would fight wholeheartedly against it.

My main issue is this: I do not want to be in a position where the safety of the crew depends on the knowledge of one – or even two – elected officials who consider themselves adequate arbiter of what the rest of the crew needs to know.

We elect multiple Councilors, presumably because we do not want one person singlehandedly deciding how the ship will be run. Because we want them to confer with each other, to share responsibility with each other, to temper the judgment of their peers. We want one to point out to another those times in which they are allowing their personal loyalties to interfere with their duty to the rest of the ship. The safety of this ship should never be in the hands of a single elected official.

I don’t think this should be treated as a matter of all or nothing. I’m not asking that Councilors who come across sensitive information about a crew member then broadcast that information to the entire ship.

I ask that if a Councilor obtains information, whether through casual conversation or simply through circumstance,  about a potential shipwide threat, that they be expected to tell someone about this threat – hopefully, at least their fellow Councilors -- rather than simply keeping it to themselves under the assumption that no one else needs to know.