[Video]

[weremongoose]

[Barabas appears on the video -- fully clothed, thank you -- with a sedate expression, cordial enough. Bright red hair is less styled than he'd prefer it (his kingdom for decent hair product, really) but he still looks sharp, put together. He's set his watch somewhere so that he's in fame, seated at a table, from about the chest up, hands folded in front of him.]

Hello. I've already met some of you, but for those of you I haven't had the pleasure of encountering yet, my name is Barabas. Everyone seems fairly alive, which is better than the alternative. There's a new vacation spot in town, complete with an off-brand Loch Ness Monster. What more could anyone ask for?

[He spreads his hands.]

As... charming... as this place is, there is a disturbing lack of information infrastructure. Even Astoria doesn't quite seem to be able to keep track of who is coming and going at all times -- since the last bunch of us were apparently unexpected guests. I don't exactly find that reassuring. It does not make me feel warm and fuzzy.

[At all.]

In that vein, I think we should address this, put in place some way to keep track of who is here, who is no longer here, the abilities we each possess. [He ticks these items off on his fingers.] And a collection of information of the places that Astoria has sent us, and the general outcome of each trip. And really any other useful things to know, for all of us, and those who may be brought here in the future.

[A smile now, no teeth, but still pleasant.] Sadly, I'm only one man, so I suppose what I'm looking for is twofold:

First, would anyone be willing to help gather and compile this data?

Second, those of you who've been here longer than I have, perhaps we can chat about your experiences.

Comments

[video - Private]

[spaceforged]

[Shiro chews on that. They need something to unite them. He stares off to the side with a thousand yard stare and focuses back on the screen. There has to be something.] You’re right. That can be a difficult decision and as we get more people we can’t count of them to stay united based on moral choices alone.

The only motivation I can think of is our desire to go home. Not everyone will want to. Even that could fall through. [He drums his fingers on the surface in front of him. He sighs.]

Sometimes I feel like we’re piloting through a storm with one wing.

[video - Private]

[weremongoose]

No, not everyone will want to. But enough people might. Framing it as a step to getting back where we belong, that could certainly go along way.

[THAT SAID. He hesitates at the thought that flickers through his head, that a common enemy unites people like few other things can match. For now he keeps that to himself. He hasn't quite figured Astoria out enough yet. And that mindset carries risks with it, to say the least.]

It does feel like that, doesn't it? But between us, we've got a few functional pairs of wings, if we cooperate.

[video - Private]

[spaceforged]

And more than enough pilots to keep us on course. [He keeps the thought to himself that a common enemy could unite them or split them. It had with the Qri. God, it had.

He shakes his head slowly.] Ask me more questions. I think we've exhausted this line of thought for now.