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

[farr]

[ 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. )

Comments

[coordination]

Things that even I know wouldn't go over well, given my experience.

[ He leans down a little bit to save him from having to tilt his head up too much, and so he can really just speak to him one-on-one. ]

... I can't believe I'm going back to your god damned coordinating Coordinator crack, but you know what? It's correct. That level of difficulty is near impossible because I'm a Coordinator. Or rather, because I'm the only Coordinator here. In my own military, we've had defections, betrayals. Even I've ... bent some rules where I've seen loopholes without outright breaking them.

But ZAFT is a military, and this team is not. Were this all my people, odds are we'd take into consideration who the soldiers are, what everybody's ranks are, and due to the fact that we come from the same place with the same experiences, we'd probably fall into a similar step and put that trust into those with experience that's kept them safe thus far to lead and make the decisions in the end.

That won't happen here. Not just because we're not all soldiers, but because even those who lead like I do not only have different experiences, but different military structures. And I know from my own feelings on the matter, that I would be hard pressed to relinquish decision-making to someone else even if they had as much experience as I did. Because as we've learned as a collective here, what works in one place won't always work in another.

So as of right now, [ He lets out a thoughtful exhale as he looks around the room. ] I'm honestly not sure what I would change. Because this gathering is commendable, but even it has its limits to what can be done.

Reaching the limit possible right now, though, would be a good start. Because reaching new heights can tend to unlock more possibilities than one didn't know existed.

[firstroar]

[Blue listens, tilting his head a little just out of reflex for want to be nearer. his gaze drifts across the room while Yzak speaks, his hands folding and unfolding in his lap.]

Reaching...that limit, hmh. [a new ceiling.] I think...that can be done, yes.

[malta]

[ joe assumes finn is simply as bad at conversationu as nicolò originally was. ]

No, and thinking we can be there without intervening is childish. [ he shakes his head, it's foolish is what it is. ] There is this idea of observation and non-interference, but that isn't possible. The moment we set foot in a place or a planet we don't belong, we have interfered, like a pebble thrown into a puddle. The ripples may be small but they still effect the environment — displacing water, eroding soil, putting bacteria into a water source that might not have been there. One small act, ripples out into generations: a child saved today could go on to help their planet in ways we cannot imagine. A corrupt government overthrown could be replaced by something made with the people in mind only to fall prey to the same power-hungry iniquity that preceded it.

[ he gestures expansively. ] We can't know, we can only hope.

[coordination]

Depends on what you mean by help.

Will our next mission flow in a way where everybody will have the same opinions on matters and unify for every decision? Absolutely not.

If help means less obnoxious throwing around of de-facto morals and orders over the network, it could curb having too much of that again, moving forward.

This isn't a bad idea, don't get me wrong. It's praiseworthy. But I do think it will only accomplish so much, given how the structure of things here is.

[homeostatic]

( he murmurs a 'thanks' as he's brought up to speed, with a mind to speak to Rosinante in a sec, but first? his frown grows. )

But we never gave the orb up in the end. That was squared away weeks ago.

( McCoy looks back at Newt, concerned for him now. )

[coordination]

Of course it's not always a guarantee that greater heights will reveal themselves.

Regardless, though it would still be nice to reach what's possible now. I don't like knowing something is achievable and not aim for it.

[firstroar]

[mn.]

At the very least... I liked the notion...of bettering our understanding of each other's capabilities. Limitations.

[bindsthedead]

True. And any information we bring with us on missions should be kept on the earpieces. No need to risk anyone else finding that information.

[hatejakku]

[ Peter's right. Talking about it is the last thing he wants to do. But even though he looks away when that feels like where they're headed, he looks back up again when names are mentioned. Jack. Percival... He had no idea there were others.

He'd barely known Percival, could barely claim to know Jack, but-... He looks away and shake his head. ]

It's all right. I'm... okay. I'm sorry. [ He's not okay, but he is sorry. About... all kinds of things. ] Thank you...

[ A pause... and he's going for a hug. ]

[hatejakku]

[ Finn's not great at conversation on a good day, no. Joe is, though, and he makes a lot of great points. ]

So-... [ A pause. A shrug. ] Do we try our best, then? Learn from the past and keep doing better?

That used to sound so easy before this place... And I just came out of a war. [ Well, a year ago. ]

[hatejakku]

... I think this whole thing is a good idea. It's just- In practice-

[ Well, you see some of them already arguing. ]

But you're hopefully right. Even if it just helps with perspective, that could be enough.

[blackfire]

No, but it was discussed. It is not unreasonable to think such a concern may arise on another of our missions in the future. He is looking at our situation as only a man of his experiences can, and he is understandably fearful.

（ he shakes his head faintly, red eyes focused on where newt is an animate figure in the distance. he switches to a private audio channel, not especially wishing to be overheard: ）

«Have you spoken with Minimus on his plans for this charter of his?»

（ he has not divulged his feelings on the cybertronian's plans to anyone, but he is curious what mccoy may feel. ）

[blackfire]

（ conviction. that is a polite way of putting that, and his expression flickers, briefly resembling something wry. ）

Conflict is inevitable when ideals and experiences meet. What matters is how it is resolved.

（ he'd like a little less murder than last time, thanks. ）

[blackfire]

It can be.

（ he will not say it is in this instance, as some emotions are still raw. to set aside one's own ego is not innate to most. ）

But whether it accomplishes Rita's goal or not will be difficult to say until our next mission.

[firstroar]

As far as...resolutions go... [his mouth twitches.] A whiteboard...and a group chat isn't the worst.

[malta]

[ joe's mouth slants into a frown, big fucking doe eyes gone soft. almost a thousand years and he still hates the idea of young people in war. ]

Sometimes it feels like nothing changes, one war ends for another to begin, one people find freedom only to turn around and subjugate another people. [ he sighs, running a hand over his beard. he really does believe the best in people only to be saddened and disappointed when he sees them willfully choosing to hurt others, sometimes for "the greater good", sometimes for personal malice, sometimes for utter selfishness at the expense of others.

he is always so surprised by these bad actions though because he knows there is a better way. he sees nicky choose to be better every single day. ]

Sometimes, no matter what you do, hate will eat away at people's hearts like rust, and we will fail. But sometimes, we will save one person, change one mind, and that can be enough to keep going when it feels hopeless. And just because it's simple, doesn't mean it is ever easy.

[blackfire]

What would you wish to see improved of our communications?

（ yzak, at least, is military. their experiences do not reflect one another, but he is drawing from a command structure. ）

[hatejakku]

[ Finn (much like every other opinion at this meeting) sort of disagrees. He thinks it's good for them to argue now rather than when the clock is ticking, get out every issue they have with each other out in the open, all of the grievances and insults and misunderstandings- All of it. While it all may seem like it's going nowhere fast, he can't help but feel that this is just how progress is done.

At least, it is for this crew. ]

Yeah... I think it's not hurting anything, at least.

[ If a doughnut fight suddenly broke out, which is entirely possible, he really does believe that. ]

We have to learn each other somehow. Might as well be where we can do the least collateral damage.

[blackfire]

And 'donuts', I suppose.

（ he secretly loves them. ）

[blackfire]

（ the clone is here to listen and pay mind to the crowd, sorting out potential problems and threats.

but that does not mean its attention does not flicker to alina at that... clear rejection of gwen's favourite beverage.

the clone appears at her side, and drily hands her a napkin. ）

There is tea, if the coffee is not to your taste.

[firstroar]

[that draws his gaze back over, faint amusement glimmering in his eyes.]

...You can take my share back with you. Enjoy them for me?

🔒

[homeostatic]

( Enjoy his sidelong glance, Itachi!clone, the subject of Newt left behind. )

I intend to. It sounds very much like a regulation we have in Starfleet.

I think it's a worthwhile gesture, and I think we need to all square with the same working definition of what "non-interference" means. Ultimately it's unenforceable.

[blackfire]

（ he makes a graceful interjection, giving her a nod. ）

I believe at least one individual among the crew has spoken on being a spy, you may be able to compare notes.

（ sorry, natasha, he's only throwing you a little under the bus for your admission all those months ago. itachi cocks his head, and asks with all earnestness — ）

Forgive my lack of understanding for the craft, but I have been under the impression that to be an actor is a matter of following scripts, or improvisation in sterile environments. Is that not the case?

[farr]

[ honestly, rita can be very forgiving about being a little late, but as soon as he brings up the invitation, she casually steps her way over, wearing a polite smile. ]

Forgive me. Were you saying you had a ... problem with the invitation?

[coordination]

As do I. For those who wish to be forthcoming about them, anyway.

[ A couple of beats of silence pass as Yzak shifts, removing his hands from the handles of the chair to swing around and lean on the nearest (table, chair, wall, doorframe, whatever) ]

And? What about you? What is it that you'd want to change if it were within our control?