Le Prefecture De Police was an impressive building, but that wasn't the reason it had been chosen by the members of the civilian council; it had been chosen because none of the Councilmen (and women) had any ties to it, making it neutral ground. There was also the potential for everyone to have an office with a desk in the same general vicinity if they so chose, making communication easier.

One of the larger rooms had been cleared of most of the furniture, except for chairs and a few tables. It had been left up to each individual where they wanted to sit, and how, since they were all currently equals.

The Council had a lot to discuss. They had yet to choose a chairperson, and three major issues had popped up in a relatively short amount of time: Mei-Xing's clone, Schmuz and Iniss the yeerks, and whether there should be mandatory physicals and/or psychiatric evaluations for the crew.

They were also going to have a few guests presenting information, but at the moment, people were still arriving.

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 green-skinned alien 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.]

You know, I don't think I've sat through an election before, Roy thinks, pacing slowly down the hallway from the Sensoriums.

His tie is loose, though he's forgotten that he had loosened it while sparring. His sleeves are also rolled up, and though he is aware of this alteration to his proper dress, the heat of this level of the ship has gotten to him. The choice to leave them as they are seems odd to him, and he's worrying about them rather abstractedly. Of course, he's still thinking about the election, as well as a myriad other bothersome, minuscule things, so don't mind him if he doesn't notice you coming around the corner.

It probably doesn't help that his eyes are, oddly enough, trained on the ceiling.

The reactor may have been saved, but the Ohm's primary purpose in overloading it had been achieved: the planetary defense network on Zokez II was now deactivated.

It was now the true invasion could begin.

A matter of minutes after the reactor had been saved, a number of vast, Ohm Leviathans appeared in orbit above the planet, some of them devouring those fleeing ships they could get their hands on.

Across all of the islands on the planet below, numerous shimmering lights appeared, and out of them poured hordes of Grunts, Grenadiers, Tanks, and all manner of other Ohm types. They swarmed over the cities, destroying everything in their path, and slaughtering anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in their way.

Wherever they went, destruction followed. Left unopposed, they would raze the entire planet without any effort.

But they are not unopposed.

It was time for the crew to finally do what they were Chosen to do.

[ooc: General Ohm fightyness! Check here before posting.]

Night had fallen and Ed was out in full force.

Having decided to wait till the evening to make the effort even more spectacular, Ed had waited till the sun had set before performing his alchemy. A fitting tribute and all together frivolous, he clapped his hands.

A ring of energy formed and a statue formed of Alphonse in what he considered to be a heroic pose. He clapped his hands again and more statues formed; Armstrong without his shirt and posing, Fuery looking heroic with gun at his side while petting Den, Breda with a sandwich, Havoc in mid-drag of his ever-present cigarettes, Granny Pinako with her pipe, and even Hoenheim, as much as Ed was frustrated with him deserved a spot on his little beachfront adjustment. May stood at the bottom of the group, hands folded into her sleeves, and Ran Fan's grandfather stood in the final position.

It would stand here on the beach, rimming a set of rocks that he also had transmuted into strong glass and marble. A statement that the Fullmetal Alchemist had been here, and he was leaving his mark across the universe.

Ed grinned as he tapped his sneaker against the sand. "Looks pretty decent," he said to himself.

He felt that he didn't need to add statues of those awake. They being on this planet was enough.

Roy thought that he had left heat of this kind back in Ishval, and he can't say that he's finding it much more pleasant than he did the first time. Also, he can't decide whether the humidity thrown into the equation makes the experience better or worse.

At least he has real clothes again. It has taken him a few months, but, finally, he has found slacks and a jacket that suit his tastes, as well as a decent shirt and functional suspenders. The shoes could be better, but he's willing to cope as long as he doesn't have to put the plantsuit back on for a good long while. Unfortunately, the aforementioned heat is trying to convince him that the clothes in which he is most comfortable are highly, highly impractical, the waves of hot rising from the pavement singing "Exchange the shirt for something lighter, Colonel! Try a T-shirt, maybe, or maybe just forgo the shirt entirely! We promise you won't regret your decision!"

He's fairly sure that he will regret the decision, though, so he settles for rolling his sleeves past his elbows, folding his jacket over his arm, and snagging a pair of dark glasses to block out the sun.

Now to find Riza, and perhaps shade and cold drinks.

The Mess Hall. Riza could hardly help but feel almost amused. It was rare that the team had ever used the cafeteria in the Eastern or Central command center. Often the Colonel mentioned "team dinners" or all of them just ate out. The only things they ever ate from the military bases, well it wasn't even eating, it was drinking, was the coffee. The coffee that tasted bland and was fairly disgusting no matter how hard you tried to prep it, but still it had become their ritual every day to make the disgusting coffee and drink it. She'd normally been the one to serve it, but it was always a nice gesture.

She was thinking of this as she took the plate and went into the corner of the mess hall with Hayate for few simple reasons. One of them being that eating in this place somehow reminded her of that coffee. Disgusting, but somehow a ritual that became comforting. Even if the 'slop' wasn't very delicious, there was the fact that there was something comforting in still being allowed to eat. Especially after being stripped of so many other things that were a comfort, showering included. (Yes, she realized the plant-suit did all that for them, but she was one of those people who did just enjoy showering to shower.)

Shaking her head, Riza shook off the thoughts. Feeling nostalgic was a strange idea, especially when she had no reason to be nostalgic... Even if those team moments had ended months ago, all the way back when Havoc became paralyzed. That idea made her frown as she sat. She was still trying to figure that out, what the Colonel should know, and what he shouldn't. For her, it seemed a definite that Havoc, the team being 'defanged' and Envy, of course, should never be allowed out to him. Things he didn't need to know, things that would probably make him do and think stupid things. He knew some though, thanks to Edward, and she at least had a starting place to her thoughts though.

With a sigh, she glanced at the food---she really didn't call it food, but it was at the very least nourishment-- and her amber eyes spun in thought. After a moment she looked at the pup who was now pawing and standing on her leg, despite training. She smiled some, reaching over to pet him on the head. "A moment, Hayate, and I'll give you something." A resounding yip as the pup stuck his tongue out and let it lull on the side of his face. But even that didn't amuse her for long as her thoughts turned back and a frown presented itself on her features once more.

Roy blinks from his newly attained stretch of floor, wondering at his overwhelming craving for some of that delicious cake that Gracia always made for his birthday.  He never ate more than one slice, but you know how these things go.  Two weeks of being taunted by a completely bizarre entity that he will never understand with promises of seemingly nonexistent cake tends to give you irrational hankerings for baked goods.

With a grunt, Roy heaves himself to his feet, tugging his greatcoat straight as he looks up and down the hall.  Where the hell is he?

"Engineering?" he mutters, sweeping off towards the left, ungloved hand sweeping through his hair.  He pauses to stare at his bare hand in confusion, wondering when that happened, frowns, shrugs it off, and keeps going.

Oh hey, Engineering.  What a surprise.

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 green-skinned alien 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.]

There's something to be said for finding a place to decompress. Normally, Jamie would go to the City and practice his bagpipes when he wanted to do so. But the city is in shambles, and he's still not up for his usual explorations of the ship. Instead, he turns to the Sensoriums, bringing up a familiar place - a peaceful and quiet location that holds a little bit of home.

There is no strange and interesting technology this time, no war torn battlefield, no people at all. What is there is a small loch, with a tree covered hill visible on its opposite bank. On side closest to the entrance are birch trees, with one standing quite close to the water. Greenish lichen covers a good deal of its trunk, and a faint breeze rustles the summer-green leaves. The hum of insects can be heard, as well as the occasional movement of some small unseen animal passing by.

Jamie rolls up his sleeves, then lies down on the ground next to a nearby rocky outcropping. Supporting himself with one arm, he reaches into the water with the other and begins to feel underneath the rock.

Perhaps it has to do with the silvery shapes that can occasionally be seen darting just under the water's surface, or perhaps he's just lost something. Either way, he has yet to realize there's someone here besides himself and the fish...

The crew dreams.

As they have been for the past while, their dreams are being tampered with, but tonight it's different. Roxie, one of the crew members has done rituals to try to give the crew good dreams. However, the power of the Nightmare King can't easily be overcome, as a result, rather than pleasant or nightmarish, people's dreams are instead taking a turn for the surreal tonight.

Get ready to go down the rabbit hole, Meatship.

The jovial extra terrestrial sporadically giggled at the sight of the imaginary synthetic meat by-product. Exuberance!

Curiouser and curiouser.

It is that time again, meatship.

Once again, the King of Nightmares has deigned to spread his touch to all of your dreams.

This time, however, he has decided to give them a much more personal touch, sending his very own children to visit each and every one of you, slowly sowing the seeds of madness within all of you.

Such a kind and loving king he is, isn't he?

[ooc: Alright folks, Nightmare King is ramping things up a bit. These nightmares are a good bit more dangerous now, and he's sending in his minions to make things a little more real. The nightmares will be of a much more serious nature this time, designed to start driving the crew slowly insane. Characters are more likely to run into nightmare minions in the guise of someone or something that will tug at the edges of their sanity. Also, this time, the characters can have joint dreams, as these nightmares are of a more mystical nature this time. Once again, tagging in isn't mandatory, but if you want to, go crazy (literally)!]

[Additional Note: Any injuries won't be carrying over to real life at this point in the plot but don't worry, we'll get there eventually!]

It wouldn't have been much of an exaggeration to say that Roy hasn't really left his room for a month. Prone to more than a bit of over-thinking things, he's nearly driven himself insane with all the dwelling he's done. Really, though, what else is one supposed to do when they find out that everything they've been taken away from is gone?

It doesn't help that he hasn't run into a single person he's known yet, that Ed or Riza or Havoc or General Armstrong or anyone hasn't come wandering dazedly into the Obs Deck after waking up naked and covered in alien snot. Hell, at this point, he would have been happy to see the goddamn Führer, but it really doesn't look like that's gonna happen, does it?

Fortunately, he's come to a stable enough state of mind that he feels comfortable leaving the confines of his room in favor of the dim, winding hallways. He passes through a few of the more open spaces, but tries to stick to the less traveled paths skirting places like the Sensoriums and the City, snapping occasionally to keep himself occupied. The small bursts of flame throw his shadow on the curved walls, twisting and contorting enough to make him smirk grimly, something vague and dark about Ishval floating through his head.

In such a fashion, Roy effectively putters about, muttering to himself, rubbing his forehead to banish bad thoughts, dark eyes flashing the whole while.

A mass of zombies has laid seige to the Vatican.

Time to fight for your lives!!!

The Vatican had a lot of ground to cover. Normally covered in expansive gardens (just empty plots on the ship) and comprised of a multitude of buildings, holing up there meant holing up in simply a part of the Vatican. The group was therefore in St. Peter's Basilica, which had had most of its entrances sealed off. Now they had to work on small windows and a few other entrances left neglected, but overall, it was a very defensible position. There were no exits other than the ones leading to the sacristy and treasury--which was their main avenue of escape, and heavily guarded. The prisoners were being kept in this area, and guarded by the rear guards, as leaving them in the prison was deemed too dangerous for their safety. As bad as they'd been with the Yeerk conflict, they were crew, and no one wanted them to die.

The courtyard was a chokepoint. Gunners could sit on the roofs of the buildings running alongside the courtyard to strafe St. Peter's square from the sides.

The various chapels and vestibules along the sides made excellent areas for food, medical, and weapons supplies to be gathered, and most were clustered in the middle of the basilica. The Medical area was in the Chapel of the Column, the main weapons and ammo caches, and Food storage areas were in the two Transepts, respectively, to the sides of the Papal altar. Pews all in the main areas had been converted to sleeping areas, right in the center of the whole place.

There was still work to be done, before the other group could leave. Last minute barricades, blocking more windows, moving the last of the medical supplies, inventorying the food, and so on. Then it would be time to hunker down.

So push up your sleeves and lend someone else a hand, folks.

[ooc: Read instructions for these threads here!]

Wyn thought she could head out to the Obs Deck and wait for the array to finish running on its own. She thought she had double-checked it. She thought she could have some downtime before everything started going crazy around her yet again. Clearly she was wrong, as she sprinted down the hallway towards the sound of the explosion she had just heard. At least she had remembered to put up a containment field around her desk, just in case-- although she certainly didn't remember her omnicom. That was left on one of the bone-like tables near where she had been sitting.

This? This is why Wyn shouldn't be allowed to leave Special Weapons until her projects were completely finished.

Having spent the last week or so exploring this odd vessel, Roy is hardly surprised when he finally manages to get to the Sensoriums in one shot. Getting lost has become a part of his routine, but out of sheer determination he has figured Stacy's confusing hallways out.

He allows himself a small smile, a miniscule quirk of his lips in recognition of this small triumph against his captor. Pulling his gloves from the pocket of his greatcoat, he exhales steadily, loudly, his eyes narrowing as the room summons a series of moving targets in the shape of various creatures. He eyes one, internally forming an alchemic equation suited to large explosions, and dodges out of the way as it lunges at him. A snap is barely heard over the sounds of running feet, snarling, and the nearest set of targets explodes in a ball of flame directed from Roy's index finger.

As the room continually summons more targets for him to singe, his equations shift from explosions to slow burning flames to lakes of fire to something akin to lightning, a technique he was still perfecting.

A smirk blossoms, his telltale cockiness showing through as he incinerates yet another target.

Another day, another podpop. The crew and command crew has gathered on Obs Deck to greet the newbs, but right now the atmosphere is tense. People are taking turns on rotations to alternately hunt for Sam--who'd been kept in prison during the trial to present his assassinating the Yeerk-- and guard said parasite so it can have a fair trial. The Jury is in recess, for the moment, but will be deciding the Yeerk's fate very soon. A bunch of new people thrown into the mix is tremendous complication.

Meanwhile, the newbies are waking up to a strange, new world, one unlike anything they may have ever seen before. In the Obs Deck, the light of stars--and parallel universes--streaks past in a sleek, transcendent sheet of multi-colored lights in the large, eye-like windows. (They're inside the eyes, looking out, it seems). The statue in the center of the room, going up the domed ceiling is intimidating--and seems to be looking at them.

The tension is palpable, though a few individuals are trying to cut through it with friendliness for the benefit of the scared and bewildered new people now waking up from their gooey slumber.

[ooc: Newbie Helpers List | Instructions: Post your character with one post establishing them as being podpopped. If you would like to play out them talking to the AI, please send an email to the mods making the request--we do this only by request. Then move onto the big Newbie Meeting. Once your character has gotten the rundown from the old crew, you may start posting entrance posts and freely tagging.]


||Pod Release Protocols Initating|| Stacy's familiar voice sounds out to all the podmates through the ship.

In the Pod Caverns, there are the sounds of: Pop. Pop pop pop. Poppuhpoppoppop. KASCHUNKhiiiiiiiissssss.

There is condensation and mist spraying out from cracks in the pods, as the people inside slide out onto the floors, covered in slime.

--

( There was nothing... )

While the newly pod-released members of the crew happened to mostly miss each other in the Pod Caverns and the clothing chamber, they all happen to congregate in the Weapons and Possessions Lockers at the same time. This cavernous warehouse of a chamber has shelves and shelves and racks of belongings and weapons that go off as far as the eye can see. Everything from massive sidearms to impossibly huge swords, to Hello Kitty lunchboxes.

Their own belongings are here near the front--they've been moved to make finding them more easy, but it will take a bit of hunting.

Either way, they won't be searching alone. Everyone's piling in at the same time.