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

We don't get a lot of chances to cross paths! [She runs a bar full time and Stefan doesn't drink.] But hey. Better late than never, right?

Exactly. And hey, I know you've probably got work, so I'll keep track of what's going on and send you whatever you might've missed.

[It's no skin off his back; he'll write up a storm for his own sake and peace of mind.]

Great! Thanks. Work'll keep for a while, but I'll have to go eventually. [She's got about an hour, so that's plenty of time to at least get to know her fellow captains.]

You're on the Paisley, right?

Right. I've been captain for... six months now? Something like that.

[And prior to that, he had been first mate for way too long.]

Your ship's the Bloodsport, right?

That's right. Kind of misleading name. [Grin.]

Six months sounds about right for me too, actually. Before me, it was Robin. I got the impression he'd been around for a while.

Yeah, he was around when the Cycle first started?

I didn't really know him, but I thought he was like Allen or Aunt Beverly - like a Fleet institution.

I've talked to Allen. Aunt Beverley...? You guys related?

[She knows Beverley by sight, given she's growing trees in the gardens here, but...]

Not by blood.

[He should've expected this, back when he had started calling her his aunt, but most cultures don't seem to allow for honorary aunts or uncles. It's something he has to constantly remind himself of.]

It's more uh - that we feel like we're family? Even though we're not, technically?

Oh, well that's fair. I don't think any of the people I class as family are related by blood. I was just curious, that's all.

Does that mean you both came from the same place, or you grew to know each other here?

Very much the latter. She's actually worked in outer space before - my Earth has space travel, but nothing to the extent of hers.

[Technically, he would live to see that day, maybe even join Starflleet if he gets the opportunity. Stefan hadn't thought about it much,but if their worlds were more similar than he realized? He would try to find her again, no questions asked.]

Another one of our rarities. You notice 99 per cent of us come from places that balk at the idea of being up here in the first place? [Hah. She glances across the room to Kirk.]

Did she know Kirk? Or Simon?

At this point, I've gotta believe it's on purpose.

[He follows her gaze, tilting his head a little at the good Captain.]

You know, I'm not sure. I think she and Kirk are from the same world, but different points in time? You'd have to ask her.

[She's not curious enough to follow it up; at least, not with Beverly right there to ask. But she grins a little.]

You know, it's funny. Space is meant to be this incredibly vast place, right? Connecting all kinds of planets. You ever think we all do exist in the same place, just... really far removed from each other?

[--wait.] Though I guess that doesn't explain the many different variations on Earth.

It could, theoretically. I'm from a pretty small town in America, and while I haven't heard about what's happened in other places? It wouldn't be far-fetched to assume a lot of us come from the same world, just. you know. Not really hearing about each other.

[At least, he's not ruling it out just yet. Even though he knows, for a fact, that his Earth is nothing like most people's.]

That could definitely explain it, though I do wonder. I'd have to go and match up historical events for people from there to be sure. I wonder if it's worth the effort.

Probably not. Let's say half the Fleet's from Earth. You'll be chasing down way too many people, and from what I can tell, the differences aren't that big.

Most of us have had the same presidents and prime ministers and wars. The differences are more "do you have werewolves? Or superheroes? Or artificial intelligence that can interact with people?"

[He shifts his weight a little, giving her a helpless shrug.]

Which. You know, is interesting but not usually ridiculously huge.

Edited 2017-01-10 05:23 (UTC)

....right. So something I should save for when I'm in danger of dying from boredom. [Seriously, the finicky details therein.]

Pretty much. I just hope it never gets to that point – it's useful for us Earthlings but not much else.

[The honesty is strong in this one.]