[The Mayor is standing with his arms crossed, leaning against his desk, a serious expression on his face - indeed, a Dad Has Things To Say expression on his face. And so Dad starts in with the things he has to say, solemn but still with a politician's smoothness:]

Well, this sure isn't a happy day, but it's good to see almost all of us made it out of that okay. And it's good to see we kept a good number of them alive, as well. Getting blood on your hands is an ugly thing, and I'm sorry to all of you who went through with it.

[He straightens up.]

But it seems to me like we have another ugly thing in front of us. There are more than a few bodies out there, and sure, we didn't like 'em while they were alive, but that doesn't mean they don't have the right to a decent burial. Besides which, we sure as heck don't want 'em stinking up the place a month from now.

Now, I don't know much about space, but if we were at sea we'd be burying them at sea - so I assume the best thing to do would be to push them out the airlocks, right? And anyone who's able to do so can read the last rites.

[Probably better if he doesn't; the orders that he's a priest of tend to have...unpleasant going-away sermons.]

I understand that there have been injuries and losses throughout the ship during the last few days. I'll make this brief. Security reports Tyke's injury, but I'd like to hear reports from the other departments: their injured, dead, and with time a list of items stolen or destroyed in the firefight, if it's come to that. Communications was below most of the fighting, so we got off light. Medbay - Jenna - you make it through alright?

Damage has been done to the kitchens on the upper decks. Since there's no specific department that deals with that, and it's likely to remain that way, I'm looking for a group of civilian volunteers to clear them up. It's not a glamorous job, but I'm pretty sure Security is too busy to deal with it. Despite all this, we'll be jumping in a little under two weeks. It's important everyone is accounted for before then.

I want to reassure everyone that Security has all the pirates contained. [ He's not sure about it himself, but he says it with conviction. There's a pause, and finally he opens his mouth to say more. Before he can his expression darkens, and then he settles on something else, something simple, eloquent, and brimming with uncertainty: ] God help them.


[ This is dated yesterday, plot wise. And no, there's not a mention of communication's bungle in here. ]