filtered to the crew of the atalanta

[alsohawkeye]

[ She may reply in text later but this at least starts off video because an introduction is of limited use if you wouldn't recognize the person making it if you passed them in the hall. Kate is leaned against a railing down at the dock, image carefully framed so she's visible from the shoulders up but off center, the better to show the bulk of a ship behind her. She smiles, polite but warm, a trace of genuine excitement in it she's not bothering to hide. ]

Hello! Some of us have met before but if not, I'm Kate Bishop and behind me you see the warship Atalanta. I'm now its captain and you're getting this message because you are its crew. Welcome.



I thought I'd introduce myself, then if you can each do the same we can all get a head start on getting to know each other and talk about what's next. I'm attaching the crew list in text and am going to stop filming because it's loud as hell down here, I just wanted to give you a glimpse. [ she pauses, and her smile ticks crooked and wider ] Of the ship. I look forward to meeting in person and working together soon.

[ The feed ends and a text comes next, as promised. ]

CAPTAIN: Kate Bishop
FIRST OFFICER: Deucalion
OPERATOR: Milagros Gallo
PILOT: Garrett Hawke (Trainee Capacity)
OPERATIVE: Fenris
OPERATIVE: Emily Finch

To those of you who don't know me, I've been with the ZDG for about five years now. I served most recently on the Durga during the post-crash mission, and before that on the Erebus, where I specialized in in-Matrix recon and combat. I've also done some weapons work and a little piloting, and when I'm not on mission I work as a trainer. If you have questions, feel free to ask.

Comments

[forcemageure]

Well then! I'm Hawke, I've been with nothing for any length of time, but I have had 'the basic ability not to get anyone killed' drilled directly into the back of my head.

On that note I'd like to know when I can see the inside of the ship, if that's possible? I assume you'd like me to familiarize myself with all the things I have to touch.

[alsohawkeye]

Hi Hawke. My callsign is actually Hawkeye, hopefully that won't get confusing. That's definitely a key skill to get uploaded, and hopefully you have some sort of actual piloting experience/training, too?

Good question: there's still some last minute work being done but I anticipate we'll have full access in a couple days at most. I'll definitely let you know as soon as it's ready so you can start touching things.

[forcemageure]

I can only imagine calls for you will be much weightier and laden with responsibility and things. That should make things easier.

Yes, that program was entitled "How not to Crash into the Walls." But let's be honest, I doubt there's much I can do from here to reassure you about a 'trainee pilot' you've never seen pilot anything before.

[alsohawkeye]

No doubt. Whereas yours will probably followed by 'slow down!' or 'not so close to the--!!'

True. I trust the council's judgment that you're ready to take it on, but let's plan to meet at the piloting sims tomorrow afternoon. I'd like to take the pressure off the first time you fly something with me watching by having it not be our ship.

[milagros]

Captain.

Milagros Gallo. I've served as an operator for the past year, and did a stint prior to that as a matrix operative.

( and ... what

mila has no idea what kind of delightful engaging things are supposed to go here, so there aren't any. )

[alsohawkeye]

Nice to meet you. Do you prefer Milagros, Mila, Gallo, something else entirely?

Do you prefer operator or operative? I know the council doesn't always give people a say when making assignments.

[milagros]

My call-sign is Miracle. Gallo is fine.

( she does actually have friends, and they do call her mila, but she is not in the habit of inviting people to use her given name in the first conversation.

there are exceptions, but it's unlikely she and kate are going to bang, so. )

[alsohawkeye]

[ wow says who ]

Got it.

I ask about your preferences because we're not at capacity. I obviously can't guarantee anything but I can be on the lookout for an additional operator if you would ideally like the flexibility to work in-Matrix as well.

[halatinous]

[Hawke's is the only name he recognizes, which is fine--better than expected, in fact. And this captain seems cordial enough.]

fenris. i haven't been here long.

[That's real fuckin' helpful, guy.]

[alsohawkeye]

[ such a chatty crew ]

Nice to meet you, Fenris. How long is not-long?

[halatinous]

about two months, now. i've nearly mastered the delicate art of walking

[alsohawkeye]

[ oh boy thanks council FNBs everywhere ]

Don't worry, walking's overrated on-board. Lots of things to lean on all around.

In terms of operative skill sets, what would you guess your specialties are?

[emptychamber]

Nice to meet you, captain. I usually go by Finch, though I'm sure I'll have a proper callsign shortly.

[She trusts she doesn't need to spell out that this means she's newer than anyone, including herself, would probably strictly prefer.]

Maybe it would be simplest to meet at some point to discuss my background and your expectations?

[Emily is not yet great at texting. Also mildly paranoid, but that's no reason not to be responsive. She did want something to do, after all.]

[alsohawkeye]

You're welcome to go by whatever you like. I have no problem with you keeping Finch if you're happy with it.

We can definitely do that. Though are you uncomfortable with the network generally, or is it specifically text, or the topic of conversation? It would be helpful for me to know going forward.

[emptychamber]

Sorry if I seem stiff. A little of column A, a little of column "texting didn't exist in my matrix and I'm still getting used to the conventions of it?" The topic's fine.

[alsohawkeye]

That's okay, I'm just trying to get the lay of the land with people.

Getting everything finalized and off the ground means my schedule is pretty packed at the moment, but we could meet for breakfast the day after tomorrow. We can also do voice or video now if that'd be any better than text?

[scission]

Deucalion. Roughly a year's experience as an operative, most recently assisting with extractions on the Scramasax and rehabilitation on the Shangrila. Those are my specialisations, though I have some prior experience in leading, before I cause any doubts.

[Not that Kate will need to be told about that. Which leads him to the next part-]

[PRIVATE TO KATE]

I suppose we should take some time to speak face to face, Captain.

[alsohawkeye]

[ PRIVATE ]

Yes, we should. I'm overseeing some final modifications to the weapons systems this afternoon; meet me at the dock at 3pm, repair bay 7Q.

[alsohawkeye]

You can all thank our lovely operator for giving me the idea, but rather than ask each of you individually and haphazardly as I've been doing, please answer this brief survey. Obviously I'm not making any promises that I will deliver on whatever you say here, but I'm also not necessarily holding you to it in the future. It's just a baseline for us to start working from. The questions re: skills and training are the most important. It's my hope that we can help each other out on those fronts.

1. How long ago were you unplugged?

2. Briefly describe the key features of the sort of matrix you came from. I've seen a lot of them, so broad strokes are fine. 'It's earth in 2014 but zombies took over' 'there are knights and kings and no technology' 'i was blue and had four arms and lived in space this technology is so lame', etc. It's helpful to know what your background frame of reference is for those of you who are very new.

3. For all except our operator: what are your strongest in-matrix skills? What are your weakest? Can you upload anomalous abilities?

4. Other than the job you've been assigned, do you have any other real world skills or experience you think could be useful? Medical/mechanical/piloting/brewing/making slop taste good/anything

5. Are there any particular skills you're most interested in learning, either in-matrix or out?

6. Is there any type of mission you're most hoping for?

7. Is there any type of mission you're morally opposed to in some way?

[alsohawkeye]

In a show of responsible and egalitarian captaining or something like that, here are my own answers:

1. About 5 years.

2. "standard modern earth" in 2014 except with superpowered heroes and villains, aliens, magic users, interdimensional and space travel.

3. Projectile weaponry is my specialty, followed by various types of close quarters combat. My favorites are classic recurve bows and hand to hand, but I've done it all. My weakest areas are technical matters and the parts of an extraction where you talk the subject around. I can upload anomalous abilities, but that's because I'm very familiar with and comfortable with them, not because I ever had them myself in my matrix, so it's somewhat limited.

4. I have some experience and training in piloting but only ever served as a back-up. I'm an excellent shot with on-board weapons. I can do basic first aid including stitching if necessary. I can juggle. I will kick your ass at slap cup. I train people in real world combat skills.

5. I'd like to learn more about the mechanical/technical side of things, particularly basic ship repairs and operator programming.

7. I don't have a lot of hard and fast rules about missions, I think context is too important for absolutes. The Atalanta is a midweight which makes it a versatile ship, so we will probably do a little of everything. But I will say this much: we will never redpill someone by force or trickery or anything less than honesty about what it really means, unless the only alternative is death by Agent. That's my number one rule.

[emptychamber]

1. Approximately 21 weeks.

2. Earth, 1978. I haven't really gotten a good sense of what is "standard" or not just yet. Magic existed, though, and technology, though not to the level available here. Phones, cars. Rudimentary space flight.

3. I've had military training in my home matrix; specialty in sharpshooting and marksmanship with firearms. I've also had experience with thrown knives and hand-to-hand. I've been adjusting those in training. Most of my sim training, such as it's been, has been combat-focused so far, but I'm still logging my hours.

4. Before I was unplugged, I was mostly focused in diplomacy. I know some basic field first aid. I was a good driver for cars, but I don't know that it matters here. I was a decent photographer. I can ski. I know a great many drinking songs in several languages if we get bored.

5. Anything anyone wants to show me how to do. I'm a fast learner and I hate sitting around.

6./7. Too new to have anything specific for either of these so far.

[forcemageure]

1. Three months. Tremble at my experience, I know I do. In between the occasional spates of my legs refusing to work. But hey, eyebrows now!

2. I'm informed it's somewhat analogous to the 'average' Matrix's Medieval period. Make your jokes now before I get hold of them myself. The key features seem to be a tendency to never stop trying to kill one another, especially since no one can stop having nitpicky little arguments amongst themselves about magic. Most of it was on fire when I was unplugged!

3. ...Ironically, magic. Apparently this makes it easier for me to become even more anomalous. What a delightful prospect. My weakest I suppose are anything that clangs and whistles and stomps around all futuristic like, although how that isn't magic you tell me.

On second thought, please don't.

4. In a pinch I could probably keep us alive in barren wilderness. And I'm excellent at slop.

5. We don't have a medic, do we? Magic used to lend me a certain terrible baseline shittiness at healing, but in its absence I suppose someone had better put in for the job.

6. What about ones where none of us die awfully? I'm fond of that sort.

7. I suppose we could keep the wholesale slaughter to a minimum unless we really must do otherwise.

[halatinous]

[He's just going to slide down here.]

1. just about two months.

2.'there are knights and kings and no technology'

3. two-handed weaponry. greatswords, mauls, so on and so forth. i do have anomalous skills. a set of tattoos, infused with magic. when they are active, they allow me to phase through solid objects, human or otherwise. among other things.

4. i would not call myself a diplomat, but i learn quickly. languages, cultures. i have played the negotiator role in the past.

5. i'm comfortable with the weapons i know, but those weapons for the world i also knew. i'd like to understand more modern forms of combat, and have been training myself as such.

6/7. the worlds we came from are the lies of a machine, and i support missions to reveal that lie to others. i do not support any forced choices from that revelation.

i have no qualms with killing those who would try to do us harm, or those who would do harm to the innocents in whatever matrix we visit.

[forcemageure]

He's also a magnificent dancer.

[halatinous]

ballroom only.