driftfleet | assume formation

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assume formation

[with everyone's augmentations having returned to proper functioning order, all interference has cleared from the network. Atroma's signal comes through loud and clear, with the usual jingle announcing this week's shuffle uninterrupted. and when it finishes, Diamond's voice rings out with overflowing excitement.]

Fifteen ships! ...Have you all looked out the windows, dear passengers? Have you noticed the way that the Fleet swells with life and activity? The SS Paisley drifts with us now, empty and waiting for someone to boldly take command.

...Will it be one of you? Or are we waiting on the next round of intrepid souls to fill her halls? The suspense is palpable! We're on the edge of our seats, here...

The first fifteen of the fleet are flying, and as a reward, they've all received a little boost. Just a little roomier, a little shinier, just for you.

[and she pauses for a deep, satisfied breath. give her just a moment.]

...As such, there are seven new souls joining our ranks this week, replacing the three that are leaving us. Please make them feel welcome!

The fleet is heading toward a special treat this month, since you've all been so wonderful. We will be stopping by one of the most famous historic getaway spots in this stretch of the system, so take advantage of it! There aren't many of these left in such pristine condition, so don't miss out.

And please behave yourselves. ...Though, I don't need to remind you of that, do I?

[she's grinning when she says it. it's there in her voice.]

Remember, the worlds are watching!

ooc post: → here

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She nods.]

I figured as much, but if the shuttles aren't running on autopilot, I may be able to figure out how the flight systems work on these ships by practicing on them first.

Now that is good thinking! Man, I am so glad you're on this ship!

[She laughs.]

Don't get too excited yet. I'm a doctor, not a pilot. I can't make any guarantees.

Hey, you've still got way more experience with this kind of thing than the rest of us. It's a start!

True. But there is no reason the rest of you can't learn. Cross-training will only benefit us in the long run.

I'll give pretty much anything a try. I've designed ships and stuff, just nothing like this. And I've never flew anything like this.

See? You're ahead of me there. I've never designed or engineered anything myself, though I find the process fascinating, especially when it comes to robotics and cybernetics.

We don't have that level of advancement, back home.

I got a hot air balloon working? That was pretty cool.

And then the enemy stole it. Less cool.

[That earns Sokka another Sympathetic Mom Look. She won't say anything about it for now, but him fighting in a war upsets her, as it always does whenever she runs into children and teenagers like him.]

A hot air balloon does sound ... "cool."

[She may sound vaguely like a grandma trying to use this slang, but to her, Sokka is the one who sounds ancient.]

I always wanted to go up in one. I've read there used to be a lot of hot air balloon festivals on Earth, but I suppose once we travelling the stars at warp speed, they lost their appeal.

[She really does. She sounds exactly like Gran-Gran when she tries to be "hip with the kids!!!". It's creepy.]

I guess. I met the guy who had invented them, but he couldn't get the system to work right. It was pretty neat when I finally worked it out, and we got to ride in one.

I mean, I flt all the time on my friend's flying bison, but it's not the same. Less hairballs for one thing.

A flying bison? How fascinating!

He's the last of his kind, his name's Appa.

...He's okay, he's comfy.

Oh. That's always sad, to hear about a species going extinct. What happened to the rest of them?

My guess is they were all hunted down with the Air Nomads. [His smile fades. ] The Fire Nation slaughtered them all, except for my friend and his bison, they... [there's no way to explain 'getting frozen in a block of ice for a hundred years'] they managed to get away from it all.

[She doesn't know who the Air Nomads or the Fire Nation are, but the mention of genocide is enough to make her angry on Sokka and his friend's behalf. Her jaw tightens.]

Appalling... it seems no universe is entirely free of such atrocities.

[She lightly touches his upper arm.]

I'm sorry. I did not mean to bring up anything that might be painful for you.

It's okay. [He gives a small, sad smile. He's seen too much Fire Nation damage at this point, it's not hurting as much as it used to. He just wants it made right. ]

We're still fighting. We might not get the Air Nomads back, but we can at least make the world safe again.

Hundreds of years ago on Earth, we suffered a catastrophic planet-wide war that nearly destroyed us, but it did spur us to enter a new era of cooperation and tolerance. It's a long and difficult process, but trust me, humans can rise above our past mistakes.

That's what we're hoping for. My friend? That's why he exists. He's called the Avatar. He gets reincarnated every time he dies, and it's his job to keep the world in balance.

[The burden of world peace seems too much to place on a singular person, however, Beverly won't say so. She may not be one for religion or spirituality personally, but she well knows what a powerful force belief can be.]

All the more reason to get you home. I'm sure he needs the support of his friends.

[Even more for a twelve year old boy.]

Yeah, he really does.

[He;s worried. Aang's been coming apart at the seams, the closer to the final battle they get. He needs support more than ever.]

I know it's a small comfort, but at least we know no one at home has noticed our absence. To them, it'll feel like we've never been gone.

I know, but I'm still worried about them.

[He just wants to be with them, to KNOW they're safe.]

[Nodding.] I understand. When you're separated from those you love and you know they are in trouble and there's nothing you can do about it... I've been in that position all too often.

It's a pretty cruddy position to be in, right?

["Cruddy." Is she ever going to get used to historical slang?]

It is.

[She starts walking again.]

How often does Atroma send people home? Has anybody even gone home yet?

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