eripui: (Default)
▓▓▒░ ([personal profile] eripui) wrote in [community profile] ataraxion2015-07-21 12:46 am

VIDEO ▒ OPEN BROADCAST ▒ FORWARD DATED JULY 30 ░▒▓█▛▟▛▙▚▞▗ ▘

[ The feed begins with a single tone, low, as if testing the audio capabilities of the devices. On the screen is an older man, white haired with bright blue eyes, standing in front of a deep blue banner emblazoned in gold with a circular symbol containing three five-pointed stars. Though his face now is solemn, there are laughter lines soft at corners of his eyes, the set of his mouth one clearly used to the curve of a smile. He only waits a moment before beginning to speak, voice level, carrying an assured authority, a confidence borne from experience. ]

Residents of the Tranquility, I greet you today after many, many years of waiting. My name is Hendrik van Rijn, Prime Minister of the Miraxian Triad, the people who built and launched the ship you've been trapped on. You may not have heard of me, but I have heard of you, and all the terrible events you've been forced to endure as a result of the unprecedented malfunction which took the Tranquility so far from her intended path. I offer you the deepest sympathies of my people, and myself. Mistakes have been made, and I give you every assurance that now, with your return to us, we will find the cause of this tragedy and set things right.

I know you may have heard promises before, and met with the unfortunate souls in our society who prefer to cheat and steal than offer a helping hand. I know you have no reason to trust me; if I'd been through as much as you have, I wouldn't trust me either. But we have someone else here to speak to you, and I hope hearing from her will help to show the truth of our intentions, and allow us to begin the forging of a strong partnership as we move into the future.


[ With a last look to the camera, he steps back, turning his attention to the side and holding out a hand to greet and guide the woman joining him to take center. The woman's face is one known to many aboard the ship. She's gracious as she steps into view, appearing to squeeze the man's hand before she lets go and takes her place.

Odessa Knutson.
]

Thank you, Prime Minister.

[ Her attention turns to the camera then, head tilting to one side as a wide smile spreads across her familiar features. She has a look of health to her. A better diet, some proper sunlight, and time will do that. ]

Hello, Tranquility. [ Spoken in the same way one might ask, did you miss me? ] It's been a long time. Too long. For all of us. [ That smile turns a little sad. They've been through some horrors, haven't they? Time and distance has allowed much of it to become a distant memory. ]

The time has come to stop running. When I left the ship, I didn't know what to expect. We received so many conflicting stories, didn't we? I expected all the worst ones to be true, but it was a risk I was willing to take. I'm sure many of you can understand why. Still, I was afraid that I would find monsters. That I would be thrown in a dark cell and never see the light of day again. Now, I don't say this often, but... [ Her hands spread out to her sides, palms up in a gesture that says just look at me. ] I was wrong. After my escape two years ago, Prime Minister van Rijn's people found me. They gave me food, clothing, shelter, a new life and a new purpose...

To find all of you, and help you to be rescued as I had been rescued. I know most of you aren't like me; I'm starting over here, and I'm happier than I've ever been, but many of you have lives you want to return to.
[ The delight she has in sharing this good news seems genuine enough, especially (or even) to those who know her well. She clasps her hands in front of her, a light in her eyes. ] I've seen what the Miraxians have been working on myself. There's hope, so much hope.

Pack your bags, my friends. We're coming to take you home.


[[ OOC: van Rijn exited stage left once off camera, and responses will come from Odessa Knutson only. ]]
treasonista: (why can't this be killing you)

[personal profile] treasonista 2015-07-22 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
You shouldn't have to be.
treasonista: (lie lie to my face)

[personal profile] treasonista 2015-07-22 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry the fact that I returned with reinforcements doesn't count as internal in your books.

[ Not the most accurate representation of the situation at hand, but it works well enough. ]

I'm afraid I haven't got any on hand. It's mostly PR sorts around here. I'd offer to bring one on for you, but I don't think I'll have the time. This ship has a long history of things going sideways very, very quickly, and it's our intent to move people off the vessel as swiftly as possible. I'd be happy to arrange for you to meet with someone once you're safely off the Tranquility, however.
theroadwarrior: (Default)

[personal profile] theroadwarrior 2015-07-22 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
Mm. Finding new planets.

Did they ever speak to you about their experiments on living prisoners?

[Max has been listening to the network very well, yes.]
circumitus: Legit 2 miles, and purchased 7 half gallons. One for each of us. Intense. (we walked 2 miles)

[personal profile] circumitus 2015-07-22 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
[She thinks.]

Heard about your departure after the forty-third jump. The most recent one was the forty-fifth.

So, not very long for us at all. Which you can probably see why some people are still a bit sour.
yardbird: Because it ain't no trivia about my flat in West Bolivia. (your honor; i'ma have to get rid of ya)

1/2

[personal profile] yardbird 2015-07-22 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
What the hell're you--?
yardbird: I may be going to jail... (don't taze me bro)

[personal profile] yardbird 2015-07-22 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh.

[Oh, shit.

[ODESSA COME ON. COME THE FUCK ON.]
ontheline: (pic#9204750)

[personal profile] ontheline 2015-07-22 05:23 am (UTC)(link)
Because if I joined you, your people would inevitably do what my people did in the war.

A general word of experience — nobody brings their attack ships without full-well meaning to attack. They already know your word against the gathered intel and suspicion on the ship wouldn't amount to much. They merely hoped that they could spare some of their battle ships, should you be able to actually convince us.

That is one thing I can credit your new people for — they are careful with their resources.
tongueamok: (➣ it's unfortunate to feel such guilt)

[personal profile] tongueamok 2015-07-22 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
Gifts come with a price. They always do.
dreamcrutcher: (pic#9155531)

[personal profile] dreamcrutcher 2015-07-22 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ The calm is gone. Release the storm. aka; Samantha has issues w/authority. ]

Check it out— We were brought to this ship for a reason or we wouldn't be here at all. As fucked up as it sounds like it can get, it's where we live. It's where we sleep at space night. It's where we survive together every day. And I definitely do not like the idea of some random chick coming in and messing that up. Maybe our reason here is to keep it safe from you. So put me on whatever blacklist you want, I don't care.


Because this is our home now. Just try and take it.
throwsdown: <user name=bushyeyebrows> (found my suit in a cereal box)

[personal profile] throwsdown 2015-07-22 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
[The politest little fuck off in the whole wide galaxy, madam.]

Thanks! I gotta be. This is my home.

Just 'cus bad stuff happens here doesn't mean it's wrong.
yardbird: But you went boom boom. (he went zoom zoom)

[personal profile] yardbird 2015-07-22 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
[And then he clears his throat. Fuck.]

Right. It was just a... a stupid theory of mine.

...

So, where, er. Are you right now, exactly? ["Somewhere safe? Nearby, maybe?"] Just... lookin' forward to seeing a friendly face over there.





[...Yeah.]
fullmoon: (pic#7740738)

[personal profile] fullmoon 2015-07-22 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
I won't argue with that. [ That sad face, man, why wasn't she this nice when she was here? ] But we can endure it a while longer if it means not dragging the rest of this universe in with us.

Do they at least know what it is?
treasonista: (never can take the fight out the fish)

[personal profile] treasonista 2015-07-22 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
I wanted out of this place. I'm not the only one who would have taken that opportunity. I'm on your side. I always have been.
treasonista: (excessively cheerful)

[personal profile] treasonista 2015-07-22 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ It's the closest Odessa's come to showing real fear for her own safety - rather than concern for others' - since she first appeared on camera. She's quick with a smile, and wave a dismissive hand. ]

It's understandable. We've all been through some very trying circumstances. We tend to assume the worst.

[ As to his query... ] Well, I'm within communications range, and aboard the same vessel as the Prime Minister, so... I'm not far, to answer your question. [ And presumably under very heavy guard should the fecal matter hit the oscillating unit. ] It will be good to see you again!

[ She seems to be relaxing again, but she is also very pointedly not lifting her gaze from the screen to glance around. ]
Edited 2015-07-22 05:42 (UTC)
vdova: (caps8587)

[video]

[personal profile] vdova 2015-07-22 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ Natasha's mostly tired of typing, so her next response is video, her face a mask of unimpressed neutrality. ] That isn't what I asked. If the majority of the people on this ship refuse to go with you, will you let us go quietly? Or is that what the guns are for?
overdraws: (318006098)

private video;

[personal profile] overdraws 2015-07-22 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
...Tyke?
treasonista: (step by step you can feel it)

[personal profile] treasonista 2015-07-22 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
[ She said it before to Murphy, and she'll echo a variation of it now to Max: ]

Nobody here is aware of any experimentation on prisoners aboard the Tranquility.
vdova: (caps4066)

not here!

[personal profile] vdova 2015-07-22 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ Natasha doesn't know Tyke very well, but she's wondering... Well. She's keeping an eye on this, at any rate. ]
hirobotics: (not for long for long)

[personal profile] hirobotics 2015-07-22 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
[He bites his lip, searches the floor for a second, then looks up again.]

Even... the people who're... [And here his voice lowers into just above a whisper, like he's almost afraid to say it out loud.] ..dead... Could they be alive again when they go back..?
ryuuzaki: (nightshift - thinky)

shake shake shake señora

[personal profile] ryuuzaki 2015-07-22 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure what you believe is relevant here. That is, I understand that you may believe it, but "if A, then B" doesn't necessarily apply: the way you were treated, given your value as a propaganda piece, isn't automatically how the rest of us would be treated. If you've been given the job of spokesperson, it's better for you to think that you're telling the truth.

[Especially since some people don't have the sense to play dumb about the manticores, knowing that Resnik claims to have been put away because of her own knowledge of them. Yes, certainly, let's make it clear that we're aware of them, everyone. That's going to ensure that we're treated as promised.

He feels a little sick, but his tone remains conversational.]


You're asking extremely skeptical people to suddenly become extremely trusting, with very little basis for trust, and to give what little ground we have in exchange for vague assurances that it will be worth it. You're speaking as someone who left the ship behind -- not on Arima, but, I assume, specifically to try to offer yourself as a valuable tool. You may not know whether or not you're selling us out in some way, but from my point of view, we only have your assurances that you aren't.

Likewise, it might be better for the Miraxians if they forget this ship ever existed. It wouldn't be inaccurate to say that it seems to be cursed. No one should want it anywhere near their home. A refusal to cooperate on our part may be an attempt at self-preservation, or it may be an act of kindness.

Are you sure that your comfortable life will continue if you fail to convince everyone?
Edited 2015-07-22 06:04 (UTC)
theroadwarrior: <user name=bushyeyebrows> (pic#9272442)

[personal profile] theroadwarrior 2015-07-22 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
Are you saying that there wasn't experimentation, or are you implying your leader never knew about them?

Find that hard to believe.
treasonista: (you are no match for what's happening)

[personal profile] treasonista 2015-07-22 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
Gracious. That's hardly any time. I hope you'll bear with me. I'm at something of a disadvantage here...

[ It narrows down other variables at play, though. While Odessa doesn't like to recall her time on the Tranquility all that often, it's still vivid whether she likes it or not. ]

Something did change, though. The DUPRR boarded the ship. Perhaps the outside influence was enough to urge the ship to familiar space? [ She saw what Basher was capable of. ] Or maybe one of your prisoners isn't as secure as you thought.
treasonista: (you know it ain't right)

[personal profile] treasonista 2015-07-22 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
Have you heard the stories of what happens to those who encounter this ship? They're wiped out. This is only a precaution. It helps them to feel safe against an enemy they know precious little about.

If they wanted to wipe you all out, they could have done it by now. If they wanted to intimidate you, I wouldn't be engaging in friendly discourse.
treasonista: (i come here every night to work)

[personal profile] treasonista 2015-07-22 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe the price has already been paid.
treasonista: (never can take the fight out the fish)

[personal profile] treasonista 2015-07-22 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
You are making a mistake. That place isn't a home, it's a prison.

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