[video]

[mismanagement]

[The video shows Maketh and Henry sitting next to each other. Maketh’s uniform has been ironed half to death, all of the angles sharp enough to cut, and she quite possibly has never looked so professional in her life.]

Hello, Hadriel. Many of you have been patrolling and protecting the city on your own. It’s time to make that official. We have taken one of the unoccupied buildings to serve as a headquarters and would invite anyone and everyone who wishes to help to come and sign up. We are going to start patrolling on a schedule, with regular reports and check-ins. It appears that we’re going to be stuck here for a while, so we ought to do this right.

We are also looking for anyone willing to teach self-defense to the civilians. Speak to myself or Henry Percy if you are interested.

[Henry wears full plate armour, of late fourteenth century craftsmanship. There is assurance in his posture throughout Maketh's address. He speaks only after she has said all that needs to be said.]

The strength of any community is bestowed in part by its unity. To that end, we aim to make a worthy contribution. Soon those who seek assistance may easily avail themselves of ours.

[Attached to the message is a map, with the location guard headquarters marked.]

Comments

[Video]

[mismanagement]

Cibo. [It's been a while. They didn't meet under the best circumstances.] You are very welcome to join us.

[watashinonamaewa]

[ No, it wasn't the best, was it? But they made it through. ]

Is there anywhere you need me most?

[mismanagement]

Patrols, I think. We need more bodies, to put it bluntly.

[watashinonamaewa]

I can do that. Are there routes or groups put together yet?

[mismanagement]

Routes, yes. The groups are still being determined.

[watashinonamaewa]

Alright. I'm also capable of double shifts, in case someone's schedule doesn't work out. Or if we're short in numbers.

[ She shifts the towel from her hair to her shoulder. ]

You're trained, aren't you? I didn't get the chance to talk to you about that.

[mismanagement]

I shall make a note of that.

[Maketh hesitates.]

Yes. I was an officer of the Imperial court, once.

[watashinonamaewa]

That's good training to have.

[ Most of her strategy and skills were learned on the fly in order to survive. Very impromtu and unpredictable, for the most part. ]

You're likely the best candidate to lead this then.

[mismanagement]

It was. [Maketh hesitates.] I...no, I don't intend to take charge. It will be a group effort.

[watashinonamaewa]

Group efforts are often more effective in these situations.

[ Cibo affirms with a nod. She doesn't feel the need to mention anything about the last time they worked together. It was a bad situation for everyone. It goes unsaid that she appreciates this will be under better circumstances. Significantly more pleasant, in the very least. ]

Please let me know when you'd like me to get started. If there's anything else I can do for you?

[mismanagement]

Have you been in a situation like this before?

As soon as possible, if you can. I look forward to working with you.

[watashinonamaewa]

Pretty similar to this actually. And my groups have been very small. Myself and my partner mostly. Four at our best.

[ It stings to think about Killy, Domochevsky and Iko when she knows where they are and what they must be dealing with by themselves. ]

I'll be available this evening. Shoot me a message when you're ready and I'll come meet you.

[mismanagement]

Interesting. You're not the first.

Excellent. Come over whenever you please. I imagine I'll be there all night.

[So. Much. Paperwork.]

→ action

[watashinonamaewa]

Thanks, Maketh. I'll see you later tonight.

[ A small wave before she hangs up.


It's later than she expects when she finally gets to the headquarters. She's careful not to startle anyone who may be still up this late while she searches for Maketh. ]

Hello?

pema-action

[mismanagement]

[The building they've picked for headquarters is relatively intact, though dusty. Maketh can't imagine what it was used for previously. A warehouse of some sort. Either way she's found a desk and some filing cabinets, all dragged over into a corner, and marked off a space for hand-to-hand combat training, soon to be covered in mats.

In the meantime, she's surrounded herself with self-inflicted paperwork. Someone must create the rosters and the patrol guidelines and then the filing system for the field reports, and it all must be done now. But, for better or worse, Maketh thrives under pressure and enjoys this sort of detail work.

It's almost midnight and she's on her fourth cup of coffee when she hears the voice. Maketh rubs her eyes and stands.] Cibo, hello. I apologize for the mess.

[watashinonamaewa]

[ The building feels like home. Old and weathered. She's surprised it's as cleaned up as it is to fit Maketh's needs. ]

Don't apologize. Seems like I wasn't the only one working late.

[ She eyes the piles of paper, wondering how detailed Maketh expects all this to be. Which isn't a bad thing at all. Only that paper just seems so inconvenient to maintain. ]

You definitely look like you could use some help.

[ It's a wonder why humans work themselves far beyond their limits for simple things. ]

Or at least a nap?

[mismanagement]

[Maketh straightens her coat with a sigh. Already there's so much to be done, much more than before, and so far no one else has stepped forward to help with the paperwork. Perhaps it doesn't matter. But it can't hurt if they're organized. Who knows how long they'll be stuck here?] I've had too much coffee to sleep now, I'm afraid. But I'd welcome the help. What can you do?

[watashinonamaewa]

I was once Head Scientist to a major corporation. Though I specialized in actual scientific projects, I had a hand in some administration.

[ Cibo steps over to the desk to skim over the papers. Quite the workload for one person. ]

I'll file what's completed to clear some of this away for you.

[mismanagement]

I--really? [Maketh blinks, refocusing.] That's wonderful, actually. Once I'm finished with this, I'd like to discuss some matters with you. What was your specialty?

[watashinonamaewa]

Bio-engineering. Mostly.

[ She answers absently while reading a page. Then she looks to Maketh with her full attention. ]

I'm sorry. You did mean my science, right? I have several other skills than that.

Is that what you want to talk about?

[mismanagement]

[Maketh nods, wishing she'd thought to request this meeting at a more reasonable hour. She'll focus, though. She'll make herself focus.] I wanted to ask your opinion about some aspects of Hadriel. I've discussed them with several individuals with...well, who have magic. If you could share any theories about how any of this mess works, then perhaps we can better defend against it.

[watashinonamaewa]

You're talking about the gods, aren't you? I'm still not sure if I believe that. Then again, I don't come from a place where magic or religion exists.

[ Cibo shrugs. She takes a few papers to examine them before organizing them into the cabinets. Then continues anyway. ]

They act like A.I. gone rogue. When I questioned them, they didn't react much like A.I. at all. Though sometimes it can be difficult to trick them into exposing themselves. I could go into the details of how they do it and why, except I'm not sure it's going to help.

Or I could be entirely wrong and they might be a more advanced tech than even I could understand.

[mismanagement]

[Maketh exhales slowly.] My world has both. I'm thinking it might be a combination of the two - or, as you say, a technology so advanced that it can be passed off as magic.

In your world, how would you deal with such an A.I.?

[watashinonamaewa]

You, uh... [ Maketh isn't going to like this answer. ] Typically you don't.

In a perfect world you find the sever they may be embedded in and shut them down at the source. But they are very powerful in their realm and tend to make that task nearly possible. So it's best to just get far away as fast as possible.

[ Clearly not an option in this hell cave, she knows. ]

And that's only when one is in control. Here there are several. It's not what I would normally consider an ideal situation.

[mismanagement]

[Maketh frowns, considering.] Do you think it matters that they seem to be at odds with each other? Whatever Fear intends, the others are trying to stop him.