New kid on the block

[ezra_of_lothal]

WHO: Ezra and anyone, shipmates especially welcome
WHERE: Network and hangar
WHAT: Introductions and settling in
WHEN: Mid Feb/first few days after Ezra arrives
WARNINGS: Some discussion of violence and body horror

.
A. Network [Video]

So, I'm new. My name's Ezra Bridger. I'm from Lothal, if you know where that is.

Mr. Vanth recommended I go by the hangar, so I'll be doing that in a little while, if you want to say hello face to face. It looks like I'm assigned to the Vanquish. Whatever that means, in a practical sense.

I guess my first question is - what needs doing around here? I have some experience scavenging and setting up base in only sort of habitable spots, but this situation doesn't quite fit anything I've done before.

How are we doing on, oh, food?

B. Hangar

He can see why people might congregate here. It's a relatively enclosed, defendable space, and the ships have systems that are probably easier to maintain than the entire infrastructure of a mostly abandoned city. And it's familiar to him, too, sharing ships about this size with a handful of people.

On the other hand, before he joined the crew of the Ghost, he'd had an entire communications tower to himself. It had taken him a while to get used to sharing a cabin with Zeb, and adjusting to all the demands of being part of a crew.

He hasn't made up his mind, which living situation he's leaning towards, here and now. He plans to pitch in, regardless, that's nothing wrong with having some space to himself again.

Once he actually lets himself onto the Vanquish, he's very open about looking around, and a little more cautious about touching than he'd been years ago, the first time he really was on a ship. Years of Hera being particular about her ship have made their mark.

Anyone he come across, he tries to shoot them a friendly smile.

Comments

Re: B

[ezra_of_lothal]

Very new. I'm Ezra.

[tempredmental]

Keith. Nice to meet you.

[He nodded, noting the other seemed to be headed for the Vanquish.]

Are you on that ship?

[ezra_of_lothal]

That's what I'm listed under on the communicator thingy. What that means - no idea yet.

[tempredmental]

Oh, that just means you'll be on that ship when we head out to do like missions and stuff. [Keith shrugged.] I'm on the Bloodsport.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He shakes his head.] Who named these ships?

[tempredmental]

Whoever it was that created Drift Fleet, I guess.

[Keith shrugged.]

No one really knows.

[ezra_of_lothal]

"Wait, wait. What's the Drift Fleet?"

That wasn't in the info that got zapped into his brain on arrival.

[tempredmental]

"Ah... right. Not everyone here knows about that." Keith smiled weakly. "These ships... a number of us were in another universe between home and here. We were on these ships, and part of something called Drift Fleet." Keith looked over at the ships. "I don't really know why they're here now, but they showed up shortly after we did. But, whoever runs this place doesn't seem to be related to who was in charge of the Fleet."

[ezra_of_lothal]

He mulls that over a second. "What did you do was part of the fleet?"

[tempredmental]

"I was a pilot for the Huntress..." Keith gestured over to the extra ships that were also in the hangar, but didn't have crews right now. "Eventually captain."

[ezra_of_lothal]

"I guess a better question is - what did the Fleet do, in general? Explore?"

[tempredmental]

"Oh... well, heh... that's an interesting story."

So, Keith gestured for Ezra to come into the Bloodsport with him and sit down.

"For what we actually did... we traveled around space, and always seemed to end up somewhere in a place that needed some sort of help. I don't know why, but we did a lot of problem solving. See, there was this main ship called the Marsiva that the smaller ships couldn't get further than a certain distance away from. We tried it. The ships would threaten to self-destruct if we got too close to the edge of the range, and no one actually tried to test how honest the automated message was being." Scary thought, yeah? Yeah. Keith led Ezra into the main lounge area and indicated he could sit, taking a seat himself.

"That ship controlled where we went, and the rest of the Fleet would sort of just follow. We had some freedom of movement within the range we were given, which was helpful during times when we were attacked by other fleets out in space. It gave us maneuvering room." He shrugged a little. "Either way, that's kind of what we did... like, just helping out and traveling around. And that seemed kind of weird and stuff in and of itself, but, the main purpose? We were apparently doing for the entertainment of other people." Keith frowned here, looking frustrated. "See, everything we did was apparently being broadcast out to other universes for them to watch... like a show."

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ezra follows along and takes a seat willingly enough as he listens.

"So, for all we know this could be...part two? It seems like this all works on similar principles. We supposed to help, but no one asked for us to volunteer. And the threat may not be as explicit, but we can't really leave the planet, and trying to split up just leaves us all more vulnerable."

[tempredmental]

"It could be," Keith agreed. "When the Agrii tried to send us home after they got the help they felt they needed from us, something else intervened and prevented it. We still haven't figured out exactly what."

[ezra_of_lothal]

"There's two obvious options- although we have to keep our eyes open for other information - either the Agrii weren't sincere about trying to send you home or there's some other force or group in play."

[tempredmental]

Keith stood with his hands on his hips, clearly thinking. He nodded in agreement as Ezra paused speaking.

"Yeah. I'm leaning toward the latter... but I'm not completely discounting the Agrii for potentially keeping us here regardless and just stringing us along."

He frowned, visibly someone who didn't trust lightly.