@gaby

[vns]

[ this was supposed to be one of Gaby's days off. in fact, she's not in the safehouse when the message comes in. ]

Turns out that we're missing two new faces around the safehouse.

I'd play a guessing game as to why I wasn't told, but I don't care. These two faces apparently murdered two people that night.

I don't know who they are, but I do know that they're locked up. Any guesses as to what's going to happen to them?

Genuine question. Because I don't know.

Oh, and because some of you think you can do whatever the hell you want around here: don't think the way out for them is a jail break. Don't even fucking try it. And no, Morningstar isn't in the business of breaking people out of jail, because that would be stupid.

[ she's a little angry. no. a lot. but mostly she doesn't know how to handle this one. ]

Look. You know something? Tell me. You won't be "in trouble."

Comments

[vns]

I didn't think I'd have to wake up today to tell people not to kill killers, but here we are.

[cyberlife]

They want to protect their own. I feel their frustration, I don't want anything to happen to our people, but there are better ways to go about silencing people like this.

El's capabilities... do they extend to unregistered implants?

[vns]

Not easily.

[cyberlife]

This isn't a very easy situation, so I think that'd be an easier bet than the things that've been suggested so far.

All technology is weak to viruses, no matter how advanced. Could El upload something like that into their implants? Leave a trail on it that looks like someone sabotaged them, or use it to corrupt a system? An EMP might also be an option, if anyone could get their hands on something like that.

@leo.fitz

[retravel]

Just adding my support for your ideas.
EMP is definitely doable, MS or otherwise.
There are at least five engineers among the displaced. I can ping them, if Gaby is inclined toward that as a solution.

[ Rey, Johnny, Wrench, Dick, and himself. ]

[cyberlife]

How did I know you'd follow-up on this?🕵

To naysay my own idea, disabling their implants or the precinct's tech would be a gamble as it'd prove that there's something big happening under their noses - it could get the government involved immediately. They could already know all about it now, though, which would give us probable cause to move forward.

[retravel]

Must be your superpower.

[ cute emojis even in this time of stress... ]

Fair points, though. The needs of the many outweigh the few, and we've a great many beyond ourselves to consider.

[ Morningstar. ]

A counter to your counter: Is our intervention necessary? How much could two new arrivals compromise us, in the end?
They know nothing, and their medical reports are likely to show nothing. I would assume they'll be held separately, which minimises the likelihood of glowing.
The only issue is the potential activation of their powers, really.

[ uuuuh and their HUMAN LIVES ]

@markus.manfred

[saviorexe]

[Sorry, sliding in here temporarily.]

The issue is not knowing who they are. What their personalities are like, if they’ll keep a cool head or detail everything that had happened to them. And that includes the knowledge that there were others on that transport when they were dropped off in the middle of the festival. And thus, the net for answers casts wider, knowing that there are more individuals with no identities floating around.

[A threadbare link that might turn into something more detrimental.]

Murder turns into conspiracy.

[retravel]

[ mmmm it's a fair point, but is it still enough to warrant intervention? ]

You raise valid points. It may add weight to the other conspiracies surrounding us (the fight against the monster, the glowing individuals during the outbreak, and so on) or mark a new spiralling thread for local forces to investigate.
The question is whether this is substantial enough information to risk an intervention? Which, I suppose, depends on the risks of the intervention in question.
Which is riskier?

[ risk risk risk ]

[saviorexe]

The truth of the matter is, we don’t have enough information to make a reasonable decision either way. We either risk revealing that there’s something more happening under their noses, as Connor said, or we hope that those undergoing questioning are surprisingly discreet.

Either way, I think it’s naive to think that we’re not already compromised in some small way.

And I think it might be wise to skew our focus to preparing for that, accordingly.

[cyberlife]

If our third party decides to issue a truthful statement about his connection to the authorities, then absolutely. We will be leaking information and quite quickly.

It's ultimately up to Morningstar how we proceed. I'll respect their decision at that time.

[saviorexe]

Gaby doesn’t seem to want to make any kind of move, so you might just get your preference regarding all of this. Though I’ve spoken to her about what we might need to do if things go south.

[retravel]

I like that better.

[ he's still on team "just let it happen." hell, maybe they'll be bait for the og captors. ]

Agreeing with Connor re: Morningstar's call.
But it should be noted that the newer arrivals among us will be most vulnerable, without even a month or two of appearances on footage or pings at nearby locations. The same goes for those of us who chose ridiculous identities.

[ deadeyes wrench, matches, etc. ]

[cyberlife]

Good point, Markus.

(hey boo)

Their very existence is worrisome, but that damage has been done now. So do you think it'd be best to spring them, or let them stay in there longer?

[saviorexe]

[hey hon]

You know I don’t like sitting and waiting for something to happen.

[It sets his nerves on fire.]

But this is dangerous. There are already tenuous connections that could lead back to us, if they right questions are asked. It’s hard to argue throwing out another lifeline to solidify that connection.

Yet the other argument is this: they’re still one of us. They were definitely drugged, and likely confused, when they were dropped off. Murder is hard to overlook, but given it isn’t so black and white, should we just leave them twisting in the wind without taking any kind of action at all?

[Once upon a time, he was also blamed for the very accidental death of someone. So. You know. Open mind and all that.]

[cyberlife]

I'd blame it on drugs and disorientation sooner than I'd blame it on them, personally, but I can't say I have all of the details. I don't and that - bothers me.

(connor doesn't mind letting markus know that. give him some insight on how he's feeling.)

We both understand this better than anyone else does. How it feels to follow orders you can't resist.

I want to help. It's just that... waiting might also be the best way to do that.

[cyberlife]

Yes, leaving them to fend for themselves is an option and one I happen to like. Markus is right, however, in that their presence itself is cause for alarm. Deeper questions are already being asked - surely.

In times of duress, the powers may activate... and they have footage on social media of members like Thor creating a disturbance with the creature that attacked the city. They'll be able to put two and two together easily. So how do we get in there quietly, without being seen, get them out, and leave without a trace?

Gaby suggests it's impossible.

[retravel]

Might already be too late.
Regarding compromisation, at least, and perhaps intervention as well.

[ if their abilities are anything like hafid "house on fire" al ghul he's js. as for the other rescuers: well, MS is considering a plan of some sort, surely; and their initial transports are wont to have an eye on the situation.

maybe someone else will assassinate them. ]

Otherwise, if we've any invisible teleporters, they ought to step forward now.

[ jokes!! his portal powers aren't up to scratch (six by six and within his sightline does not a getaway make), and he isn't like to mention them (that's classified) and throw his lot into this shitstorm, anyway, but maybe someone is better-suited ability and heroism-wise. ]

[cyberlife]

Maybe they have already and we just can't see them.

(oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can make dad jokes in serious posts...)

If it's too late, then we should be considering other factors. Like whether or not it was the drugs that made them commit these murders, if they're reliable enough to rescue, and how to do that. I don't want to throw my lot in with remorseless killers.

But if they were just doing as they were told... they deserve a second chance. They're us, whether we're open to accepting that or not.

[retravel]

I think they deserve anonymity in the first instance, at least until we have the information you've mentioned.

[ again: wait and see. it's more noncommittal (and topic-shifting) than his other answers, as he doesn't believe he can engage in further scenario thinking without passing judgment, and he has no right to do that. ]

Our eyewitnesses on this post ought to have kept their names out of it, too.

[ fitz worries that others among the displaced, not just the bat boys, will take it upon themselves to enact justice, and go through rider and the other commenter (yet to be identified as cain) to do so. connor seems to know the former, so he's just going to flag that up as a potential problem. ]

[deicider]

Even if we don't need them now, having EMPs on hand would be great.

[LOVE a good EMP. ]

@leo.fitz

[retravel]

[ a friendship forged by comment plus ones, bless. ]

I'll put it on the list.

[ someone more into groupwork should really spearhead a geek squad, man. ]

[deicider]

[Jocks and nerds uniting over tactical weaponry.]

I'd like to take a look at the full list some time.

[retravel]

I'm open to discussions offline.
And I take requests.

[ depending on the requester. ]

[cyberlife]

I think so too. EMPs would be extremely useful in a world so dependent on technology.

Just don't use it around our people...