Meat n' Greet

[cityship]

The rest of the crew assembled on the Observation Deck to meet the latest editions to their numbers. After the revelation that their worlds are gone, many of them are even more eager to see people they knew from home.

Several people are set up near the doors to provide the new people with omnicoms and comm rings. New crew-mates might see a tall

Comments

[lackofdarkwings]

Questions that Need Answering. That was what Matt's sign read as he held it up in the OBS deck, determined to do his job. He slacked off last time, and it was about time he earned his reputation for being the Council leader.

Or something like that.

"I can field questions here!" he called over the din.

[unicornjesus]

Jan's nostrils flared in surprise at the powerful smell of two-foots that permeated this place overtop the ambient scent of some living thing he couldn't recognize. The place itself?

He was wary of this group, because his only other experience with the species had begun with his imprisonment and ended in a fight for freedom.

He approached the male warily, unable to read the sign or know its significance, but taking the call as an invitation.

"Tell me, two-foot, how do you speak my tongue?"

[lackofdarkwings]

"Translation microbes," said Matt pleasantly as he nodded at the unicorn. "They translate languages for us into a common sort of "basic" that everyone speaks despite our nationalities. Although some words do slip by in our native tongues."

"Is there anything else I can help with?"

[unicornjesus]

Jan exhaled. Well, so far there was no hostility. In fact, the two-foot seemed to be quite calm in his presence, much unlike the fear and awe he had inspired in the city of the chon.

This was all very reassuring.

"My name is Aljan Moonbrow, Prince of the unicorns of the Hallow Hills," he said, beginning with his title. "You may call me Jan. I seek my kinsmen. Have you seen other unicorns in this place?"

[lackofdarkwings]

"Well met Jan," said Matt politely. "Matt Olsen, Civilian Council Head at your service."

"As for your question, I have not," said Matt. "There used to be a River Spirit named Haku here, and there is always our non-human crewmates who should be around somewhere. I know Kang's hard to miss. They're all good people mind you."

[unicornjesus]

Ah, a member of the Council! Humans (so that was their word for themselves!) had one too. Though this male seemed quite young to be a Councilor by unicorn standards, much less the head. It was a job for Elders, usually.

Still, he had to worry. What of Tek? Dhattar? Aiony? Dag? Ryhenna? Were they safe and hale?

Jan relaxed. Whatever the danger, he at least was safe among these strangers. "I thank you then, Matt Olsen, for easing my fears. Is all that I was told by this "Stacy" true? Who and what is she, and how does she speak from afar?"

[lackofdarkwings]

"I'm afraid it is all very true, I've seen the horrors first hand." said Matt with a shake of his head. "But you are among friends."

"Stacy is the ships' main AI, an intelligence that runs the place we stand in," he said, gesturing to the room around us. "She has some kind of transmission, sent directly to our minds to converse. Alternatively, she sets up holograms if she wants to address us more directly."

[level12headache]

There's a face that might look familiar- somewhat. Though he didn't have the three prominent circles on his forehead, Querl Dox bore a strong resemblance to his previous counterparts on the meatship.

"Who is responsible for abducting me and for what purpose?" Querl snapped. "I know it can't be you, I can tell all ready you lack the intellect." That and anyone who had done this wouldn't be dumb enough to make a sign that might as well have been a bullseye for angry, disoriented people.

[lackofdarkwings]

"That would be our saviors, the Dialgig," said Matt patiently, completely used to angry people who were disoriented and uppity. Ignoring the jab about his intellect (he was a gooddamn wizard he didn't need a high common sense score), he added, "They saved us from our respective worlds when they went boom."

[level12headache]

"I have not heard of the Daligig." Querl said flatly. "And precisely what do you mean by 'boom?'"

[lackofdarkwings]

"Not many have, but they do exist and they are fighting a interstellar war right now against the Ohm," said Matt.

"And I mean boom, vaporized. No more. Ctrl, Alt, Del."

[level12headache]

Querl blinked. "Come again?"

[lackofdarkwings]

"Videos of the methodology can be found in the Media Center," said Matt. "But I'm sorry: our worlds have been destroyed. Not going to sugar coat it for you sir but sadly that's what happened. All of us are refugees in a big fight for our very realities."

[level12headache]

[lackofdarkwings]

"From what experience and verification told me, we are in a war, an inter-reality war that the Ohm has spurned for some reason or another. The opposing force the Dialgig is set on defending the rest of the known space, but they need our help. As such, they have been rescuing people and setting them on ships, and from what command has received, we're not the first."

Matt clasped his hand behind his back and in no uncertain terms did he look serious. "We're at war, but it's a war that we need to work together to overcome. If you're willing to devote your time and effort to help defend everyone."

[level12headache]