Chapter 3

[thenine]

Who: OTA
Where: Quad
When: Week IV, Day VII - Week VI, Day VI
Summary: Chapter 3 prompts!
Restrictions/Warnings: Violence, blood, et cetera. For anything surpassing 'R' on a rating scale, please create your own log.
Notes: Please title your subject line in the following format -- Open / Closed | Date. OOC event information can be found here. Calendar information/dates can be found here.

Quick Navigation
The Nine
The Company
Westies
True Leithians
Leith
Resistance
The RAC

The Nine: Promises Unmade

Using the increase in unrest, as so many opportunists do, those within the Nine who seek to pursue their own agendas - whether that be family prestige, personal gain, or systematic upheaval - will find bountiful footholds to secure their positions. Land Kendry continues to assert itself as a leader in these troubling times, with Land Derrish falling in tow. Their first target, Land Hyponia, is shaken, careful not to make any mistakes that could crumble the already cracked mortar holding them together with the nobility. Aggressive though Land Derrish may have been, their sights have moved elsewhere, now focusing on driving forward oppressive legislation to replace the Seventh Generation Accords, rather than further eroding the power of Land Hyponia. Kendry is looking to control a functioning oligarchy, not cause a war over the territory that would be up for grabs should Land Hyponia fall. With the announcement of the Seventh Generation accords confirming already widespread rumors, those within the Nine are careful to place blame for the decision on the activities of the Resistance. For many, this is a believable conclusion, as the attacks by the True Leithans shook society at its core on both Westerley and Leith. Being a radical group, their intentions have been conflated with those of the Resistance in the eyes of many. Discourse on the subject isn't uncommon, but any within the Nine who seek a different target of blame best do so quietly, as dissent from within could quickly have one labeled a sympathizer of the unjust cause of the Resistance. On the surface a harmless placating measure taken by the Nine, the new PDDs being distributed through the Quad are touted as the pinnacle of communication technology. While some higher ranking Company officials and members of the nobility may already have access to quick and reliable network connection, these capabilities are now universal with the installation of the Meshwork. The Meshwork will enable all characters to interact in real time via text, video, or voice, but it isn't without side effects. For some reason, characters who frequently use their PDDs or who are in areas of heavily concentrated network use may suffer from headaches, nosebleeds, blurred vision, and/or dizziness, with more severe side effects including temporary blindness, loss of balance, short-term memory loss, and hallucinations. Connection of these symptoms to the PDDs is not the most common diagnosis, as many think the afflictions are a result of the aftershocks of P43X.

The Company: Balancing Act

With clean up from the P43X attack not yet completed, all Company officials should expect to have no singular responsibility, and little time for sleep, as they find the expectations levied upon them to only grow. Frayed nerves can create a hostile working environment, though anyone could be on the receiving end of any outbursts. The streets have returned from their throes of death with new life, but the city's usual clamor is being overtaken by the roar of protest. Some are peaceful demonstrations; some are violent riots, every display a reaction to the repeal of the Seventh Generation Accords. …At least, that’s what it says on paper, the docket that many Company officials receive outlining simple but brutal crowd control and suppression tasks. Whether a bar has been taken over as a hub of dissent, a street corner filled with unmoving protestors, or a Company affiliated storehouse raided, there's plenty to do for those tasked with keeping the peace. You may simply wish to make arrests, or you may welcome the chance to get your hands dirty - the law is on your side, and all voices daring to oppose the order of things need silenced. Those who don't take to the streets will likely find themselves on border control duty, checking the identification and supply dossiers of all incoming and outgoing ships. No one gets in, or out, without the proper clearance. Ship-wide searches have become standard practice, producing storerooms overflowing with contraband. Some may welcome the chance for banal organization, while others may take some 'bonus compensation' for themselves. With the tightening of rules comes the increase of bribery, and Company officials looking to line their pockets will find their opportunities in surplus. Get caught, however, and there's no second-chances. Although the Company audits have concluded, tensions only grow, and anyone found helping those with diverging agendas will be punished swiftly, cast in with the rest of the dissenters.

Westies: Tidal Force

Bereavement weighs heavy in the wake of the P43X attack on Westerley. Burdened by being both the last location of infection and the last to receive medicinal aid, Westies are entrenched in the solemn task of burying their fallen while the merciless machine of the economy marches on. Whether it’s the result of a lost loved one or the continued illness of primary caretakers, the end result is the same: families all across Old Town struggle to feed their children and make ends meet. It’s always been a guiding principle of Westerley—if you can’t work, you can’t eat—but with so many who can do neither, the situation in Old Town begins to grow dire. But there’s hope, albeit in the form of a double-edged blade: with the newly distributed PDDs and Meshwork installation, nonprofit organizations are able to conduct themselves on a wider scale, drawing in more donors from outside of Westerley. While their efforts are ultimately but a drop in the ocean, the renewed spirit of community and altruism provides relief—as well as nourishment—for many who might very well die without it. That same tool which allows the people to come together is also used to rend it; rumors begin to circulate through encrypted bulletins about the emergency meeting held on (Week IV, Day VII). Some of the rumors are wild speculation and fanciful daydreams, but in the mire of them, a grain of truth slips through. The Accords have fallen, they say. Be ready. Most people disregard the rumors, writing them off as the idle machinations of conspiracy theorists. They cling to their hope that soon their children will walk a planet that is bountiful in food and sunshine, that the land promised on Leith will deliver them from the hell they current endure. It’s those people who shout the loudest when the official announcement confirms the rumor. The Accords have been repealed. (Week V, Day III) At first, protestors gather in small, grumbling groups, little more than angry drunks. But as more and more people take to the Meshwork, the wrath of the few awakens the desperation of the many, and over the course of the night, the peaceful protest swells into an unruly riot. Workers strike, but without any legal protection, they swiftly find themselves rebuked by unemployment. Now with nothing to lose and everything to gain, the riots expand, filling the streets of Old Town with anger and tension. Company personnel become popular targets, and within the next day, all travel permits to and from Westerley are temporarily revoked. The moon closes its docks in an attempt to smother the flames of the rebellion. What starts as a movement for change shifts into a violent cataclysm, homes and businesses burned down, families torn apart by dissent within and outside of themselves. The Company seems content to let Old Town destroy itself, to let them “get it out of their system”, but all too soon that stance changes as well. With the death of a distant cousin of the Derrish, Company orders shift. Lethal force is authorized, and all too eagerly, used. Once the death toll begins to climb, the protests decline. The riots soften, though they do not disappear outright. Company and Westie optimists take to podiums in a desperate attempt to bid their fellow compatriots once more into peace. But something else awakens in the fires of those riots. Something far more dangerous than the chaos of anger: something controlled, methodical. They call themselves Hyperion, and they are the new faces of the Resistance.

True Leithians: Rested Laurels

For this faction, the time to scatter is nigh. Their work is complete: the Accords are no more, and the militant leaders order the reintegration of their soldiers into civilian life. Leith’s rightful owners retain the precious land that was once threatened, and although their methods were extreme, they are justified by the end result. But while the True Leithians see this as only a rested pause in their work, their benefactors—those who provided the resource and information that allowed their wicked deeds to see fruition—see this time as the closing of a chapter. Loose ends that might later lead to Qreshi officials or even potentially the Nine themselves are dealt with severely and harshly, albeit quietly. Several prominent figures of Leith’s highest echelon of society simply disappear, and curiously, those around them don’t seem to remember that they were ever there in the first place. Their benefactors are not the only group that would see the True Leithians burn. Among the first wave of missions delegated beneath the Resistance is the assassination of known True Leithian sympathizers. Unlike the Company, the members of Hyperion are ordered to perform their tasks loudly, to send a message written in the blood of the True Leithians. The citizens of Westerley will no longer be the gutless pawns of the Quad. They will strike back, and they will uncover the source of the True Leithian’s funding and information. If the True Leithians thought themselves ruthless, they’ll soon learn a new measure of savagery when Hyperion converges on their trail.

Leith: Olive Branch

The atmosphere of Leith is one of both hope and mourning. Recovery on Leith proceeds more efficiently than that on Westerley, their infrastructure and resources better able to accommodate those that were felled in the P43X attack. But although agency has the streets of Leith cleaner and the surfaces shining, the spirit of the moon itself suffers a devastating blow in the wake of the attack, the people of Leith unprepared and unseasoned to deal with the psychological ramifications of so much death. But they are not yet hardened by the experience, drawing together in the spirit of cooperation to restore not just the physical aspects of their homes, but the mental fortitude of their people. Charity drives and galas proceed in extravagant fashion, as if by the display of their assets they might rebel against the somber circumstances on which they’re hosted. For most on Leith, the fall of the Accords arrives as welcomed news, the citizens of the moon long since opposed to sharing their land with those of Westerley. But although the sense of satisfaction with the ends is high, there’s also an undercurrent of regret for the means which provided it. Unlike the True Leithians, most of the citizens of Leith are not radical or extreme, and they offer their sympathies—but only their sympathies—to those Westies in their midst. News of the riots results in tighter security around the Westies still stationed on the moon, and for the days that the violent storm on Westerley builds, Leith in turn becomes markedly quieter and more conscientious. Moderates come together over the Meshwork and propose a Peace Summit, a meeting of both delegation and charity, once the riots and dangers of traveling have passed. The summit is sanctioned by Leithian officials, as well as the allocation of surplus resources to aid their sister moon in her recovery. While many citizens of Leith eagerly await the news of lands once lost to their families for the Accords, many more donate their time and hands as part of the newly created Good Will Corps, a coalition of both political pundits and regular people devoted to strengthening the connection between the moons rather than sowing division. Volunteers—and some individuals who are voluntold, join the Good Will Corps on a trip to Old Town where the Peace Summit is scheduled (Week VI, Day III), lending their time, their labor, and their technology as a gesture of good faith. But whether or not that’s sufficient to see the Peace Summit garner any steps towards system stability is another matter altogether.

Resistance: Sacred Grove

The people of the Quad barely have time to remove the packaging from their new PDDs before a new voice of dissent begins to worm its way down the feed. Encrypted messages, quick flashes of imagery begin appearing at random on open networks and closed channels alike, pitting the harsh realities of the suffering, suffocating Westerley against the excess and decadence on display by both Leithians and the Nine, showcasing the disparity in the starkest of lights. All of it aimed at one purpose, to spread one solemn truth: the branches of the Mother Tree are burning… and the Nine seem to be holding the matches. The name whispered, the one goading dissent, echoes through the Quad - Hyperion - followed slowly with the murmur of hope. Of an intellect so profound that not even the Nine themselves will be able to stop it. With an artful ease, this new force begins to reach out, to commandeer the discordant efforts of the Resistance and reforge it into something stronger, faster. Deadlier. It starts with a select few receiving instructions directing them to safe houses already stocked with equipment and supplies, each with tech tailored to that cell's purpose and loaded with dossiers far too complete to have been compiled by the average citizen. Some of the background information appears to come directly from the records of the Company, or the Nine themselves, while still more from planets outside the Quad. Some even hint at records long since sealed by the RAC. Nothing points to one faction over another. Nothing reveals the how or why this Hyperion has decided to play these particular cards now, but one thing is quite clear. There's a deep laid plan being set into motion, and neither the Company or the Nine will see it coming. All these leaders have to do is gather their forces...

The RAC: New Grade

The citizens of the Quad were not the only ones affected by the P43X - the upper ranks of the RAC's field agents is notably thinner - and with tensions shifting yet again between the moons, they cannot afford to be ill-prepared and understaffed. In order to bolster their ranks, the decision comes down the pipe of a new assessment system: Peer Evaluations. Many of those that have been in their current ranks - those between Levels I - III - will be eligible to receive a two-part assessment of their capabilities to operate efficiently at the next level through successful completion of live warrants. These field evaluations can be conducted by any Level IV agent and turned into Central Command for compilation and rank change approval. Unlike the lower level agents, Level IV assessments will still be conducted by RAC's Central Command, once all of the subordinate assessments have been completed and processed. These agents should take note - part of their own evaluations for Level V will be the efficiency with which they're able to evaluate those below them. During this time, warrants will still flow in and agents sent to answer - especially once the travel bans go into effect on Westerley, as those agents alone bearing active warrants will be able to enter and leave the atmosphere, though their docking point will be limited to the Prisoner Intake facilities.

Comments

[digophelia]

"Inpathetic"?

[ Fortunately, Alice is feeling too polite to say anything after she realizes what he means. ]

Ah- well, yes. I mean that you may not be wrong; it may be so that they can look like proper Leithians or better social standing.

[digophelia]

[ A dread follows Alice after she introduces herself, at times, though not currently. Finding solace by stepping out to the pavilion, Alice can relax. Her shoulders loosen as she tucks the long hair she hides behind over her ear. ]

Likewise. And may I say it's wonderful to meet someone as much as wallflower as I am.

[ It isn't a terrible thing, that politeness. He seems sincere to her and it's a breath of fresh air. No one to demean, fuss over, or scold her, someone speaking to her like a peer. ]

[eusford]

[ If any sort of misfortune were to hit Qresh the response would definitely look much different. It's a proven fact given recent events, with a woman missing from the Derrish and so many scattering to find the soon-to-be mother of the only direct heir--but the Quad doesn't shake when every person turns out missing. ]

That's very simple thinking. [ He doesn't seem impressed. ]

I like your answer. [ It's so damn refreshing to hear, actually, and if it wasn't for the fact that he needs to keep his appearances in check he'd probably be looking to Rin as if he's a child. ] Perhaps I can find some motivation in you... as long as you don't say stupid things all the time.

[eusford]

It's always money, isn't it? [ Again, not surprised. ] Is this only going to beneficial to you or are you doing this out of the goodness of your heart?

... Or perhaps it's so you can look like a caring person to the people?

[ It's not like he needs an answer, however, probably interrupting Rhys as he opens his mouth once more: ] Just tell me what you want me to do.

[digophelia]

[ It can be perceived as sad, even downright pitiful by someone else, how Alice looks up at him in silence, unable to conjure up a feeling associated with that. On the other hand, it's a testament to her lack of trust in others when she can only really say she has no friends.

Well, with the exception of Steinbeck, if only her past with him. She stares up at him and blinks once- ]

Well, that's not a very good description.

[ Which is a very Alice thing to say, questioning and prying about her surroundings around her. Leaving no chance to have a rebuttal, Alice moves around him, thinking what else she needs to do.

Even things not here. ]

Possibly, though- ah, I wonder if it would help you. Collecting donations is all fine and good, but I am planning much more.

[eusford]

That's a very interesting thing you have there.

[ And it may seem that the conversation has ended, with Crowley looking indifferent as he turns his head slightly. It's simply to catch the gaze of his previous partner briefly, who is now stomping off elsewhere, and causes him to settle back with a toothy grin. ]

I can do something pretty off, too, but I'm willing to bet we both want to keep these secrets to ourselves, right?

[brokeassgoing]

[because his dick is 3 inches

HE'S WAY COOLER THAN LAVI GET OUTTA HERE

Badou does lead him without more than a bitchy look because soon the sweet smell of nicotine and Other Smokes will wrap around them like the sweet embrace of death]

[refactor]

[ At the very least, Juvia is hardly alone in being momentarily overwhelmed by Jack being... himself. To call him talkative is a vast understatement, since it's more like he seems to be in love with his own voice with how animatedly and how easily he talks. Though at least he falls into a short silence as he watches Juvia haul the guy up. Very short, since as soon as her expression brightens, his grin widens. ]

Great! Good to hear it. And—

[ He smacks the guy on the back, and not at all gently. ]

You two are in luck, because I can give you a personal escort. Since, y'know, lunch break's probably over. Or whatever. So! Why don't all three of us just mosey on over to where we can get this fella off to Intake?

[rhygret]

[ Well it's definitely not out of the kindness of his heart, that's for sure. Having the people on his side overall isn't so important to him either, but it is beneficial. What Rhys really craves is the power that comes from being in charge of something, or getting to make his own decisions and move forward under his own ability.

This is hopefully the first step in that. ]

I need to keep the other families of the Nine from shutting this down before it even begins. They don't like the people on Westerley and...honestly neither do I. But if I can get this going it could be pretty viable--we don't have to give them any of the land land. We just need them to think we're cleaning it up for them to keep them in line and working.

That's the idea I need the other families to have if anything comes up. Maybe...I dunno, maybe make them want to support it to? I mean it'd be nice if I could do it without the Company you know? I just need them to not be opposed to it--can you do anything about that? [ He knows Crowley usually stays out of the public eye due to his "illness," but there's a lot word-of-mouth can do. ]

Aaaand...if you've got any extra Joy lying around or some extra scientists that'd be pretty great too. Just saying. I'll fully compensate you for it.

[tousei]

[ In a way, they are similar - he did not have much exposure to the political sphere either, being shut away and then constantly off-moon on Company duty. ]

Likewise. I find the machinations here to be quite ironic.

[ It's for charity, but the people here all only wish to further their own gains. ]

[lacuscular]

[ It doesn't take her long to spot that head of vibrant red in the crowd, having been looking for something to focus on to get her senses back. She doesn't notice the gun at first, already being too focused on the peculiar stranger among the crowd.

She reads his gaze with a clarity she honestly didn't think she had. Her leader shouts, near screams, 'What are you waiting for?' as she stands dumbfounded. The only thing she can think of is the weapon in his hand and the opportunity before her.

Juvia feels her anxiety build up, making it a little harder to articulate her thoughts and breathe properly without trembling. She shakes her head, only thinking about the splatter of fresh blood if he took the shot. She doesn't know what she's trying to tell him, if she's even pleading to the stranger before her. She, right now, believes there is nothing he can do without incriminating himself.

Two of the captured Westies have already fallen, the shots having faded out of her awareness.

She feels deaf, so much that she's barely registering the lack of noise as her leader saunters towards her. Her prisoner struggles even more, barely recognizing the danger and power they have over Juvia. They're coming to hammer the nail in the coffin, to pressure her. Articles of clothes de-materialize and form into water ('You, cut that out' and 'Weapons only, no enhancements!'), more of her liquid gathering as the leader approaches. ]

[eggplanting]

[She hesitates, weighing up the offer and the potential risk, brow furrowed, then she gives a small nod.]

Just be careful, please? It's not worth you drawing attention to yourself.

[And then as something occurs to her that frown deepens for a second, her hand moving a few inches across the table as if she was going to reach out for Rhys before she stops herself, unsure if the gesture is wanted.]

I didn't tell you this because I wanted you to go digging for me. You know that, right? I told you 'cause I trust you.

[moneyman]

[ he will then proceed to use all three of those things. he's a little bit weird. ]

No, you're right, they're super boring. Like, I'm all for donating money for a good cause, but could they at least provide some entertainment or something? Or like, raffle off some cool stuff? I mean, god, come on.

[moneyman]

[ his expression falls immediately. oh, yeah. that old thing. ]

...Yeah, that's what I've been hearing. I guess I've been trying not to think about it too hard. I mean, I don't do anything sketchy with it, but...

[ shit, what was he expecting, speaking up like that? especially in a place like this? he frowns and puts it back away. ]

I'm... not sure what you mean by "their ilk," but if it's the Nine, then no. Far from it.

[ ...well. not that far from it, but he certainly doesn't have any delusions of importance about himself. ]

[moneyman]

[ no problem, dude, he's got that part covered. mostly. ]

—I mean, no, not exactly, but I didn't come up with any of it or do any of the work, so...

[moneyman]

[ yeah, well, he's a pro at complaining about prices, even though he does fairly well for himself. feel free to steal his shitty jokes. better not tell him about the ditched servant, though. as a former servant himself, he might be a little distressed. ]

Yeah, definitely. You, too! What've you been up to?

[ ...oh, right. the bag. he looks a little sheepish. ] Oh, it's just, uh... something for later. Something I shouldn't be eating, for sure, but sometimes you just need a treat, you know?

[ spoilers: it's a pastry of some kind. possibly multiple. god help him. ]

[tropism]

If you give them to me, I'll keep them. And then you'll have to figure out a different way to beg, because I doubt they'd be willing to give you extra papers at this point.

[ giorno looks at him with a frown. ] Settle down and have a beer somewhere until things blow over.

[brokeassgoing]

FUCK NO! Only when I sell out-- and today ain't that day. You never know! Your guys can be pushovers.

[he's frowning right back]

Unless you're buying, I don't think so.

[eusford]

[ Wow he's so ambitious, they very opposite of Crowley... and probably the reason why he came to him with that suggestion.

He leans to the side, eyes narrowing as he gathers all his attention to what Rhys has to say. Admittedly it's quite impressive, considering all the conversations they had, and it's made evident that Crowley is moderately surprised with a quirk of his brow. ]

You think they'll listen to me? [ Well... he is the person who persuaded Rhys easily into becoming a temporary blood bank for him. He also got his family to not basically strip him of his name and power so... it makes sense. ] And there are like two decent people on Westerly, just so you know.

You're a really awful person for doing all of this, you know? [ It's said without reservation, but by the tone of his voice it's easy to tell that there's no malice in his words. ] Just don't hold your breath, I'll keep them from meddling in but supporting on the sidelines. I'm pretty sure that's the most they'd wanna do in case you fail and make a fool of yourself.

[rhygret]

I...yeah, I mean of course I know that. I just offered because I wanted to help. [ This Rhys finds easy to say, perplexed by her sudden concern and the vague gesture he's not sure what to do with. He regards her for a moment, wondering if she really is...that worried about him.

It's not a bad thing. It just hasn't happened much in his life. Vaughn's been the only one to ever really care about what happens to him. As far as his parents were concerned as long as it didn't reflect back on the family it wasn't their problem. ]

We'll figure this out Steph. Promise.

[rhygret]

I wouldn't--I wouldn't say it looks bad, it's not like it m-makes you look....I mean, it could definitely be worse? It. Uhhh.

[ Rhys rubs the back of his neck. ]

...Okay yeah it looks a little bad. But like--not bad bad, you know? More like you got slugged a little bit. I'm sure it'll be fine in a few days...heheh.

ok lapis is adorable and I should have been threading with her from the start ;v;

[rhygret]

And...what sort of tech is that? I mean if the toxic waste is everywhere you'd have to have something pretty specific right?

[ This Rhys asks already knowing full-well he's putout a warrant for the retrieval of this very sort of tech from outlaws living in the Badlands presently, but it can't hurt to know more. If anything it'll give him a better idea of what he's going to need to look for in the future.

What he's recovered so far is a good stop-gap in the short term, but overall? Not enough to "clean" anything permanently; it's just enough to keep a small facility at acceptable levels. Long-term exposure will probably result in far-reaching health problems down the road which isn't what he's looking for. ]

[rhygret]

Well...you can be in charge of all the money and funding and stuff? I mean you already...pretty much do that for me anyway right? And there's no one else I'd trust to keep a bunch of money off-record for me. You're great at that sort of thing!

[ Vaughn is a wizard when it comes to numbers. Rhys has probably never come close to beating him in any math-related activity. ]

[brickinthewall]

[Her eyes fixate on his, punctuated with deep suspicion and curiosity. Ouranos had no shortage of of subjects, but she'd never gotten to know them. She was already too erratic; the mods only made it worse.]

Not much of a secret in my line of work.

[It's all she can say to that. RAC has her paperwork, extensive as it is, so really, anyone who bothered could know that she's more than just a lethally amazing Killjoy.]

I love that icon, just saying

[rhygret]

I think what you mean to say is that I'm a genius for doing all of this, and if all goes well neither of us will need to worry about relying on our families for anything going forward.

[ No more being used as insurance for his parents' fortunes and titles or having to be reliant on them for everything he has. Because although being Qreshi is definitely a blessing and gives him a lot it gives no one else, there's also a lot of pressure and expectation put down. He knows he was only born to make sure no other relatives divvied up his parents' land and fortunes. He knows that he has no hope for the position of Seyah, and that he needs to appear to be in support of Land Kendry's decisions because they "need to appear unified as strong leadership."

Rhys would rather have power on his own terms. And if he can pull it right out from under their noses...why not? It's not as if Delle has never done anything underhanded to get where she is. And look how many Nine fall into step behind her. ]

And that's actually pretty much perfect honestly. That kind of attitude is exactly what I need right now. { The less anyone actually high up takes him seriously and keeps an eye on him, the better. ]