ximilia | ✨ XIMILIA TOWN HALL MEETING ✨ ( video/audio/action )

✨ XIMILIA TOWN HALL MEETING ✨ ( video/audio/action )

[ some morning in the middle of the week, during their return to the station, an invitation will be taped on the door of every orber. though the calligraphy would suggest this must have been typed on a computer and printer, each invitation is actually very carefully hand-written and reads as follows: ]

[ the idea is for everyone to meet in the mess hall at the intended time, but if some choose not to attend, the meeting can still be accessed by the earpieces, allowing all orbers to watch or listen in and contribute however they wish, no matter where they are.

however, for those who do decide to attend, the mess hall features a full display of bagels and donuts, along with plenty of fresh coffee, all to help everyone wake up and feel refreshed for the meeting that's about to take place.

a makeshift little stage, arranged by stacking together a few metal boxes is at the center of the room, atop of it being the one and only rita farr herself, with a bright optimistic smile. when she sees enough people present and settled, she speaks up, loud and clear: ]

Hello, everyone! Welcome to our first Annual — or monthly, or however we decide to do it — Town Hall meeting! Thank you all for coming and please enjoy the food to your heart's content. For those who don't know me, I'm Rita Farr. Now— though my name does appear on the invitation, this is hardly about me. This is about all of us.

After our ... last mission, it became quite clear that our group could use a bit of improvement with how we approach our next missions moving forward. And I thought the best way to plan for that is to allow all of us an opportunity to discuss how we all feel about what we've done well and what we could do better. After all, everyone deserves a say in this, right?

[ she points behind her where a giant board is on display on an easel, once again, hand-written with careful and precise calligraphy in giant letters: ]

Here, I've written some sample questions we can all try to offer answers to, but the floor will also be open for any other questions and suggestions that anyone might have. Remember, there are no wrong answers! We're all here for an open forum discussion. But before that!

[ she reaches over to the board, pulling it off to reveal another one behind it. this one reads as follows: ]

Please consider the "Keys to Success", not only on our missions, but as we talk together in this room right now. We'll go ahead and take turns either stepping up here on the stage or speaking out from wherever you are. There are no microphones but the earpieces should get your voices out to everyone. Now, who would like to start?

( this post is open to all! the idea is that everyone is taking turns in each thread to speak out to the entire group (whether from within the room or from elsewhere), but thread-jacking and hopping around for discussion is the key here! feel free to run wild with ic suggestions or questions regarding mission layouts or planning or whatever floats your boat (ic complaining/protest is always an option too). though rita is organizing it, it's open to whatever people are inclined to discuss. )

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[mnh...]

Has it been done before? Foregoing the others, simply advancing...

Well, often, things happen that render all debate irrelevant, because we have no choice but to respond to what's happening. And in Giva and Viveca's world, we made choices that affected what happened without consulting the crew as a whole.

But as far as I know, none of us have tried negotiating for the orb without consultation. If we offered something that the rest of the crew wasn't interested in giving, things would go badly.

Then... The disagreement will stand. Until...such time...consequences are realized.

[Natasha comes to listen more than to speak up. Which isn't to say she won't have opinions or offer them as they come up, but her first objective here is to get a read on the mood of the orbers in general. It's already clear that many of them are feeling the sting after the last mission, and not without reason, but also she's already seen that reaction isn't entirely universal.

The bagels and coffee don't hurt, either. She hasn't had breakfast yet and it would be a pity to let the food go to waste.

Which may also extend to the meeting in general, actually. Rita has clearly put a lot of time and energy into trying to foster a productive conversation. While the calligraphy might be a little much, it would be a shame to let the opportunity go to waste.]

And we have to make those choices based on a various amount of other factors. Where we are, what's happening around us, who we're with, what we've found, how much time we have to make a choice, depending on what it is.

There has and there will continue to come times where there's no time to reach out to anybody else and those there will simply have to act based on what they know and what they feel is right. We've done that numerous times on these missions, with numerous outcomes. And I hate failing or making the wrong choice as much as anybody else does, but there's only so much cohesion and control we have when things escalate or we split up. Given our constantly limited and changing information, I think this team isn't doing that bad a job when it comes to action taken, all things considered.

Stealing one would be so much easier if there were no bargain attached to whoever had it in their possession. But most of the time, in a case like that, there is. [ Look a little innocent thievery is just fine if they don't have to kill someone over it. Not that he hasn't killed to steal before, that's how he got a Gundam. ]

True. The problem is that we don't have a way of knowing if there is a bargain until we take it. And if there is, the orb's current owner will be far less disposed to negotiate with us.

[So if they're lucky, mission accomplished, if they're unlucky, resolving things peacefully just got much harder.]

ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER

ota;

（ itachi is not here in person, he has sent a clone. the clone is dressed very simply in a tanktop and loose drawstring pants, and it lingers on the sidelines, cinnabar-red eyes alighting on the attendees like a shadow. it is functionally expressionless, and does not take food or drink.

it offers no commentary on what is being discussed, nor does it step forward with any opinions. should anyone venture nearer to it, it will give them a nod and ask in a politely neutral tone, ）

What are your thoughts on this engagement?

( Arriving a bit late, with a mind to mostly listen, he quietly makes his way to the table of breakfast articles, joining Natasha at the small assortment of beverages. Slightly unfocused, he shakes out an ache in his hand and goes for the coffee pot. )

Coffee, Ms. Romanoff?

[Oh, he's well aware of the long fight against injustice and suffering. It's been his life's work, after all. So again, he sympathizes, but more and more he's seeing how focusing on the orbs themselves is itself an important fight against suffering. The quicker they collect them, the less damage they do

Still, he's not going to argue, and just nods along with her explanation. He does understand. He did want to help, too, when they agreed to stay so that those with the right expertise could try to fix the atmosphere. Staying may not have been ultimately for the best, but he doesn't regret his vote completely, and they learned from it, didn't they?]

I see. I knew that was the plan, but hadn't heard for sure that it was achieved. Well... I'm glad to know that we have the option, even if it's one we probably shouldn't exercise in the future outside of extreme circumstances.

[ Rodimus doesn't like meetings, but he's here in person - mostly to listen and maybe comment. He does like to be in charge, after all, but he's also acutely aware of his own newcomer status.

So maybe he shouldn't say a whole lot just yet.

But he's here, which is better than the alternative. ]

〈 “dead inside” reflecting on the outside: 〉 Too early. Need coffee.

〈 the sum of her thoughts tbh 〉

[Natasha lets most of the conversation pass easily, listening to different opinions, but there is one thing Sabriel mentions that she does want to add her voice to, if only to agree with the point.]

Having a better idea of people's skill sets and abilities could be very helpful. There's a lot we can't predict going into things, but knowing what we have at our disposal where could streamline things.

I think I have a fairly good idea who has medical knowledge. [That much had been fairly easily accessible.] Outside of that, things get more hit and miss.

True. It's... probably not a path we should take again, unless we're in a situation where there are multiple orbs, so we don't need to try to arrange to get all of them at the same time.

We should probably trust that people in a world have the ability to handle their own problems, as long as the orb is taken away.

Does the symbiote not negate the effects of stimulants on your system?

（ 'your bloodline is weak'. ）

[Natasha doesn't have a problem waiting while McCoy helps himself, but if he's going to offer, she won't turn up her nose.

Let no one say the future doesn't have any gentlemen.]

Thanks. Black's fine.

[Might as well make it easy.

Then after a beat, because the distraction and the gesture aren't lost on her.]

You holding up okay?

Right. Every mission save one has ended in a fight, so knowing who can heal injuries is important.

Perhaps we could have a form people fill out, and then pass out a list before every mission? About what skills they're willing to offer, in case anyone runs into a problem, they'll know who to contact.

〈 gwen glares at him. 〉

Not if it wants to keep this host.

Originally, I was of the belief that staying longer on the planet would simply be an act of contributing to a good deed — helping to make sure the locals were comfortable after the climax of their war. But —

[ she brings her hands together, folding her fingers together almost nervously as she recalls her days during those extra three weeks on the planet. the way they were all disgusted by "that giant woman". ]

I know from experience — both recently and prior — that we should learn to accept when we aren't wanted, however good our intentions may be. And I've begun to agree that we should do better about laser focusing our efforts on the mission in capturing the orb.

We shouldn't completely ignore anyone in need of help, but there's such a thing as overstaying our welcome.

[ rita smiles at the start of his speech, bowing her head. ]

Thank you very much for taking the time to come, Minimus.

[ because, in all honesty, she hadn't been sure exactly how many people would actually come and speak up. ]

Honestly, I think there's potential in a very good idea there. Though I don't expect every planet to be the same, there probably should be certain limitations on how much ... "interrupt" the existing populace. After all, at least in my two missions here so far, the main instruction we received before arriving was to blend in. And we ... might have stumbled in doing so at the end of our last one.

[ she clears her throat, a little embarrassed, aware that she'd turned into a 60-foot tall woman, doing the very most opposite to blend in anywhere. ]

As an actress, I have plenty of experience in putting on a role, so if it's necessary for us to limit ourselves in exposing our identities and capabilities, I'd be happy to help train anyone in how to put on an act.

Plus even if we didn't have a fight, knowing where to go if someone's injured makes sense as a high priority. It's the kind of information it makes sense to share...

[Natasha nods along with the suggestion of a form thoughtfully. Though it still might leave gaps since it might be hard to know what skills would come in useful in the future, or when some of them might be inaccessible.]

Even if we could put together and update some kind of directory—people could put their name and general skill level under different specialties. Who's savvy with what level of tech, who has magic or other powers, who's good for a quick extraction... whatever else seems useful.

I suppose fighting skills would be good to have notes on, too, even if it sort of seems like most of us.

Intentions are not enough. It is our actions that impact the mission. While some urged us to remain on the planet out of sympathy, we overstepped our responsibilities. Simply removing the orb or explaining the cause would have fit our goal...which was never agreed upon.

If we read these guidelines, all would have the awareness of the Ximilia's mission statement and have a core set of rules on which to fall back.

Well, the intention of this is definitely not to blend us all into a single hivemind.

[ not for rita farr, who will always like to stand out in the spotlight instead of morphing into a group. even if she's trying to at least do better in a team. ]

There's no way to set an exact flawless plan for these things, especially when things happen as fast as they do once we're on the mission, but I do think a little more organization prior can at least be beneficial. Such as being better aware of everyone's skills and capabilities, having emergency protocols in place, communicating more when we discover new information that's beneficial to the group as a whole — those kinds of things.

[He does give her a brief look for commenting on blending into the setting while growing to the size larger than a Cybertronian.]

I appreciate the offer, but acting is not the same thing as espionage. [He tugs on his mustache with something weighing on his mind.] To pretend that you are another person, or even to pretend that you belong in a exclusive group...there's a level of self-deception required.

[he nods gently.]

A better grasp...of each other's capabilities... I do agree, I would like to have that much.

[...]

And...countermeasures...for when our own capabilities may go awry.

[he still wears a frown, but all the same:] I don't mind...reading the detail. If you have it prepared for review.

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✨ XIMILIA TOWN HALL MEETING ✨ ( video/audio/action )

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