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

[eripui]

[ 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. ]]

Comments

[treasonista]

You might have more luck getting an audience with him in person if you wait too long.

[ The smile she wears might be pleasant, but it's also reminiscent of a person in customer service who's had to deal with a lot of difficult people lately. ]

The answers are with the ship. We can't find out how it's done what it's done if we can't access it. Being as how none of you - excepting a small handful - are actually from this universe, and I presume the experts are being kept away from anything that even resembles a control panel, I don't expect you and your fellow passengers are equipped to fix things.

Look at how long we wandered aimlessly, unable to control where each jump took us. Being as you are where you are, I'm going to guess that not much has changed in the past two years.

He intends to set things right by returning home those of you who wish to return home. And those of you like me, who wish to remain, will be given every advantage to start a new life in the Miraxian Triad. Did that answer your question?

[ryuuzaki]

If the time comes, I'd be interested in a personal audience.

[This is the even tone he'd use to talk to the Americans, when they're becoming more of a hindrance than anything. He might not like what he's hearing, but there's a level of power that it's important to handle carefully.]

I can't say that it does answer my question. It would if I'd asked what you've been told to say... and to be honest, the fact that Mr. Van Rijn has stepped away doesn't lead me to believe that he's terribly concerned about winning our trust.

Would two years of good living make it difficult for you to put yourself in our position? I anticipate that you'll say that you can and you have, but I'm speaking of a matter of perspective, not operating from a premise you're attempting to set.

[treasonista]

[ A deep breath doesn't do much to banish the sense of irritation Odessa feels when dealing with Ryuuzaki. He reminds her of somebody she used to know, and the hint of nostalgia from that is what keeps her from wishing she could reach through the comm device and shake him. ]

It dims it some, I'll admit. You know I've been where you've been, though. I've faced what you've faced. That's why I believe you deserve to be rescued, rather than abandoned to your fate.

shake shake shake señora

[ryuuzaki]

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?

okay i believe you

[treasonista]

I left with the intention of finding a place to hide. I was terrified of these people, just as many of you are. But things didn't work out according to my plan, and for once, I couldn't be more glad for it.

It's difficult to forget the existence of a ship that leaves such terrible devastation in its wake. The Cyllene. Strella. Arima! This ship is a threat. I've managed to convince them that the people aboard it are not!

No one asked me to convince you. I volunteered for the job. I hoped that if you saw me, one of the most vocal opponents of exactly what I'm proposing now, that you might know that there really is more to it than what the others have told you. The truth has three sides, after all. You're only getting part of it.

[ryuuzaki]

A place to hide. In deep space?

[Odessa, please. Don't make this any more apparently insulting than it has to be.]

It was a job you knew was available, yes? And had incentive to take?

[And you dodged that pointed question he asked?]

[treasonista]

There are settlements. I hoped to disappear.

[ The only one being insulting here... ]

The ship appeared from nowhere. I came as soon as I heard. I wanted to help.

[ Finally, she snaps: ] For once in my life, I'm trying to do the right thing, damn it! Why won't you let me help you?!

[ryuuzaki]

[He sighs... not in exasperation, but patience and resignation. Snapping at him really doesn't faze him.]

It isn't my decision.

Also, even if everyone believes you, or enough to make a difference, it doesn't necessarily follow that you haven't been misled. We have to make this decision with that knowledge.

[He wonders about her behavior in her conversation with Murphy, along with a few of her other exchanges... the avoidance of his pointed question... what's going on over there?]

Even if we were to consent to join you -- which I'm not convinced would be a prudent course -- I'm not sure that we can in good conscience let anyone board this ship without warning them against that action in the strongest terms. Returning it to any kind of populated area would probably be worse... it's not an object to pin any hopes on. It seems to have wanted the Miraxians dead the first time around. Why not now?

[He's not exactly speaking of the ship, but close enough for this conversation.]

[treasonista]

[ And that's what makes him the perfect target for her frustration. Everything seems to roll off his shoulders. She takes a breath, regains some of her composure. ]

I've warned them what the ship is capable of. [ Though she's beginning to believe that it's capable of more than she knows, given some of the responses she's received. ] The ship can't be allowed to continue jumping around the galaxy unchecked. The people here have the best chance of reining her in.

[ryuuzaki]

[No, they have the best chance of being wiped out of existence, he thinks.]

If we were to leave the ship, it should be destroyed. I'm assuming they would know how to do that, too.

Even that might not ensure their safety: the anomalies are more serious than you understand, maybe more than any of us understand. I know you're aware that it's difficult for us to deal with, that we've been tested, but up to this point, I don't think it's really wanted us dead. [That red figure looking into his pod, though... that leaves him with some doubts.] It should never be taken anywhere near the populace, and boarding it should be considered a suicide mission.

I doubt that any of us wants the ship, and if we could believe that this offer was made in good faith, a number of us would be likely to take it. I'd certainly be interested in assisting the government in certain capacities. [He's lying, but it doesn't sound like it; maybe he'd consider assisting them to the point where he could subtly undermine them, if he ever had the chance.] But even if we could... even if the potential cost of an error in judgment wasn't so high... there would still be the fact that any attempt to get further utility out of the Tranquility is likely to be a disaster.