driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Wrath
Broadcast: video to everyone
Action: Iskaulit, interfaith center (feel free to treat the action as a mingle)
When: broadcast is current, action happens the next day

[Wrath, all uniformed up and serious. Anyone who's seen it before will recognize this as her "in command" face, though she mercifully looks less pissed-off than she ever has before in this mode. More... thoughtful.]

This is a message aimed at the ship captains and first mates in the fleet, but I don't think it's a bad idea for other people to hear it. I'm Wrath, now captain of the Windrose.

This place is... weird, because we're given officer titles without an actual command structure in place, and without a legal code, oath, or universal moral authority over us. As someone who was a military officer for... I guess over twenty years, I find that really difficult.

It's pretty obvious that the intention for these ranks to be hollow, and for that to be a source of stress and drama that will entertain the audience. But captain is only an empty title if you let it be. And while we don't have any kind of unified mission or directive, there's one part of being an officer that can and should always apply: we take care of the people under our command.

I know a lot of you have gotten these arbitrary ranks without wanting them or having civilian or military command experience. I think it'd be helpful if we talked. I've got experience I can share, and I know other people do as well. And maybe together, we can come up with some ideas that will make everyone's lives better.

Stefan's said he doesn't mind if we borrow the meeting space in the Interfaith Center on the Iskaulit. This isn't for religious reasons, but because it's a nice space with plenty of chairs and hot drinks and stuff. If you want to participate in this discussion, let's get together tomorrow afternoon while we're still drifting, get to know each other, and talk.

Wrath out.

[Wrath doesn't really have expectations as such for people showing up, but she's made sure to get together some refreshments (tea and coffee-esque beverages, juice, and water) and some vegetarian snacks.

The space is set up to be friendly and welcoming, for people to talk in groups large or small, rather than as some kind of lecture thing. She's serious about wanting to keep it informal for now.

To hopefully keep the atmosphere relaxed even if she's in a more focused, serious mindset, Jellybean and Officer Snuggles are wandering around and will be happy to have attention from anyone.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think sharing experiences will be a good thing.

And I'm hoping that we can find some points of agreement between everyone or at least most of the captains.

I have very little experience to share, unless someone wants to hear about how often I get teased.

I don't think that would be too hard - we're all on the same page when it comes to protecting our ships, aren't we? I think everyone takes it with some level of seriousness.

Teasing is a very important part of morale and unit cohesion as long as it's not insubordinate.

I'm hoping so! And there's definitely stuff we can all do to make life easier for our crewmen.

Oh, it's incredibly insubordinate. Terribly so.

[he's absolutely joking. He doesn't mind the teasing, even if it had only served to add to the panic when he had first been promoted]

Mm, there really is. It'll be interesting to see how the other ships work together, too.

If we can come up with some standard agreements between some of the ships, that would be a big step. But that's probably like a step further than things should be in an informal setting right now.

It couldn't hurt to have a plan in place, just in case. I'd rather be prepared for the worst and never have to use it, than not be prepared at all.

Definitely. The more operating procedures you have figured out before an emergency happens, the faster any response is at least. You can drill and train for things easier if you know who else will be going things and what they'll be doing.

Mm, exactly. And for those of us who are a step above paranoid, it helps a lot. [that part is mostly a joke at his expense]

It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you, Hank.

It's still some paranoia.

Keeps you alive. Paranoia's a survival trait.

Hah, that's true. It keeps me busy, too.

I think it would be a good idea to share the security technology we've developed.

After some of the things that have happened since I've been here . . . that's a great idea. I'd love to implement something on our ship, and - you know, elsewhere.

I'm thinking we'd need a security S.O.P. to make sure everyone's on the same page with stuff like that. It's something to definitely work on. And obviously no one has to adopt the S.O.P. if they don't want to.

[he nods, crossing his arms and head tilting in thought]

Mm, I doubt all of the ships encounter the same problems, so not all of them would need to impliment one. Though - maybe having something in place where other ships can be contacted if another is in danger is something to work on, too.

The point of the SOP is that it's there in case you do need it, and if you don't, then you don't have to.

That would be a really good idea as well. Better communication helps with everything.

Mmm. Especially if a ship doesn't have a communications officer, like mine.

I'm not even sure how it works, if there's no communications officer. I'll have to ask Kurt.

If you could, I'd be interested in hearing what he says.