[MISSION: HYRYPIA] the moon drops one or two feathers into the field

[isorropia]

CHARACTERS: Everyone
WHERE: The Station
WHEN: DAY :055
SUMMARY: Two veteran hosts arrive on the Station and a mandatory meeting is called. It's time to prepare for a new mission.
WARNINGS: Just chill dudes having a chill time. (Will add warnings as necessary)


I. THE SHIP.
((closed to one thread with a maximum of two player characters; first come, first serve; please don't nab this if you want to play an AFTERMATH prompt and vice versa))

[Early in the day, one of the hangar's platforms rotates upward into place. On it sits a long, bird beak shaped ship. For a moment it has all the appearance of being held together with little more than hope and a prayer. Its nose panels are scorched from the punching in and out of atmosphere and its wings have a rugged, rudimentary sweep to them. Then the illusion melts away and the ship becomes fundamentally concrete, though no less strange as it twists into a shape more closely resembling some complex origami. From it comes two hosts, both in elaborately layered stiff edged garments that cloak them from neck to knee.]

Double time, darling.

[The pale alien flashes a broad grin at her comrade as she vaults from the cockpit to the hangar floor. Her partner, hood thrown back and his scarves unwound to reveal short, tawny fur and two sets of small horns, tosses two bags down after her then follows her down.

The ship seals itself after them like a fan folding closed.]

II. MENTAL LINK.

[There is a strange, unfamiliar voice in your mind. It comes without a greeting and without the polite request for attention, but rather like a voice over an intercom, curt and low:]

( Hosts will report to the briefing room in- ) [the measurement of time that filters into your mind is not quite numbers, untethered by the standards of one people, but the meaning of it is clear- approximately 15 minutes] ( You have received the mission info on your personal databank. Proceed to the location upon review. )

[There is no invitation to continued conversation, but there is the impression of a location, one which you are unfamiliar with. The space it occupies pressed into your mind like a seal into hot wax. You can find it. You know it.]

III. BRIEFING.
((thread jacking encouraged for this - speedier back and forths seem like the funnest way to accomplish a group meeting; tag order will be treated cavalierly at best in any group threads!))

[Not far from the hangar deck, the corridors curve and then abruptly dead end at a circular room with a series of tiered benches seemingly carved from the Station's structure. Is this where you meant to be? Well, the voice had seemed like it wasn’t optional.

At the center of the small briefing room sit two Hosts. The first, a tall narrow alien with long pointed ears and solid green eyes sits straight with military precision, facing forward and not moving except to breath. The second, a pale alien with fringe touched by gold and dark lip lacquer is sitting in a spindly chair and aggressively typing on her tablet. She's shed her elaborate outerwear for one of the Station's bodysuits. She doesn't look up for a long time.

Eventually once everyone is seated, Rhan folds her databank up into a cube, sets it on the pedestal beside her and strokes along its side to trigger a projection of glittering gossamer images into the dim room's center.]

Let's get down to business, shall we? Hopefully you've all done your homework, [She arches an eyebrow, flashing a quick grin] --so the nuts and bolts won't be shocking. But Siva'co and I wanted to go over a few particulars before we take you all on this charming little adventure. Namely this one:

[She taps the side of the cube with her finger with a click of her long fingernail. The briefing report sent to the hosts earlier scrolls rapidly to the line '--one of these major diplomatic factions is believed to have been infiltrated by 'Enemy' agents.'.]

Now we've worked rather hard for the last year in this universe and we both would be very unhappy for all that effort to go down the drain just because someone thinks they'd like to be a hero. Isn't that right, Siva'co? I don't know how much contact you've had with our good friends out there, but let's be clear about this: if the Enemy becomes aware of our presence on this planet, this mission will be aborted. They'll get whatever they want out of this universe and, most importantly, some of us will die while running with our tails between our legs.

[Rhan tips her head to her partner.]

How do you feel about getting killed by someone with ideals, Siva'co?

[There is a long pause before he answers- and it is difficult to read his face exactly, but he seems somewhat exasperated.] Whatever the source of the failure, to die for reason other than the success of the mission is not acceptable. All must fulfill their roles with focus and dedication in order to see victory. Foolishness will not be tolerated.

[Rhan looks back to the assembled Hosts, cheerful smile unflagging.]

Questions?

IV. AFTERMATH.
((each prompt limited to one thread, first come first serve; please don't pull one of these if you nabbed THE SHIP prompt and vice versa.))

SIVA'CO.
[Regardless of the fact that the meeting is complete, Siva’co does not immediately leave. Rather a) he waits, stiff backed and formal by the door as Host’s filter out, not particularly inviting conversation but not fleeing, either. When the last host has left the room, he is found b) in the Training Wing, working his way through a number of the exercise machines with a single-minded focus, breathing heavily through his noses, hooved feet silent on the treadmill and the foam mats.

RHAN.
[After the briefing sessions, someone quick on their feet might manage to catch Rhan a) in the corridor leading from the briefing room. But you'll have to be very quick as she clearly has things to do and is shortly swallowed up by the labyrinthine corridors of the Station's interior. Some time later, she appears b) in the library, making space to shelve a series of small leatherbound books. Rhan flips open each one to check the label on the first page as she takes them from the open bag at her feet. The bag itself appears to be stuffed with…. well, stuff in addition to the books.]

Comments

[isorropia]

[Siva'co cuts in, words clipped, tone slightly lower- irritation beginning to seep from his mind. They did argue.]

She said it was rumor. We do not know exactly what does and does not work against them, or if there is any consistency. The rumored issues may not even be due to their status as agents of the Enemy, they could simply be due to a power natural to their people. [He turns his attention away from Lexa and to the room as a whole-] Use your abilities cautiously.

[He shifts back in his seat and then presses his hands against the arms of the chair and pushes himself to stand at his full height.]

You do not need a complete history prepared and you do not need a set role. We have chosen the Carbauschians precisely because they are deeply secretive. And none of you are expected to be the leads of the delegation. Collector, Lyr, Rhan and I have the most experience with the people and the current political situation, and we will take point. Lyr and Collector are already on Hyrypia, acting as the forward vanguard in their role as lesser nobility.

[He is silent a moment, eyes flickering slightly- as if remembering something, suddenly.]

It is good to be thoughtful of your strengths and how to best apply them to the success of the mission.

[The thin praise complete, he rests his hands across his stomach, elbows at sharp angles.] Any further questions?

[unfavoured]

[ Parker lets out a dry, humourless chuckle when Misato asks her question that could very well just be an hyena throwing up bile. It's a closed-mouth sound from the back of her throat. And when the answer comes, she isn't the least bit surprised. In fact, she had written it out, something similar to that. Just a little ghost with "it is a mystery" scribbled on it.

Her humour is terrible, but nobody ever claimed otherwise.

While Siva'co talks, Parker closes her notebook, turning off the datapad. She stands up while he's still talking, exiting the room without a word. ]

[miscreant]

Far be it for me to keep you all from your meals.

[Before any circular discussions begin again, and before anyone can try to call her out for her attention to one specific detail, she turns her back and folds her hands at a parade rest.

Her typical farewell has only been earned by two people in the room, so she chooses another:]

Ashes to ashes.

[And she leaves.]

[earthborn]

[Shepard shakes her head at that, barks a laugh, at the hesitation in Seviilia. This op is a disaster. They are absolutely going to end up burning this planet down.]

It's gonna be a crowded shuttle.

[Why are they all going? Shepard wants to see some horizon as much as anyone, by now, but it's a lot of bodies. A lot of risk. But this is Rhan and Siva'co's intel, and if they think they need boots on the ground more than anything else... Well, that's what had been said, at least. Not Shepard's place to question why, so the saying goes.]

See you round.

[And she'll be off.]