@gaby

[vns]

A few of you haven't had a proper introduction with me. Hi. I'm Gaby. From day one with the Displaced, I've been your handler. I was asked to stick around despite the fact that, legally speaking, the safehouse is owned by the Displaced proper. But I am part of Morningstar.

Which is why I'm writing.

Morningstar needs more numbers here. Back in September, our numbers were severely depleted. Aside from me, we had to clear out. The UNA moved in. Undid every part of life that they had here. Thanks to the Displaced, most people were saved before the UNA soldiers got them. The rest were recovered at the end of November on a rescue operation.

In order to try to get back on our feet, we looked to the Displaced for help. First, as a give and take situation. And then, with them leading. And they did. But you don't know this world as well as Morningstar's natives do. It led to some mistakes. I don't fault any of you for that.

Unfortunately, it meant that the beginning foundations of Morningstar promptly came apart at the seams. So, now El and I are bringing in some new people. That's why I'm writing.

We're transferring operatives from other cities to help out. The problem is, they can't know about El. Can't know that El is more than IT. It's an open secret among the Displaced now, but it can't reach the rest of Morningstar. This world isn't ready to have its only opposition come in the form of an altruistic AI seeking redemption.

But for anyone who's here, who's interested in Morningstar's mission—I won't turn you away. I've been reminded countless times over that you all have the chops and the training. You just lack the know-how of this world. But I'm here to help. To make sure you don't go in blind. I need to do that. I need to be less hands off. But you're the ones with the skills to take point. To look forward. I welcome it. Even if you're new.

This is not a dubious recruiting message. I only want you if you want to help this world. El does, too. No one wants you to feel obligated or to make you think you owe us. You don't. But we could use some experienced personnel in New Amsterdam, to match the experienced people coming in. Someone who can understand the discretion of what comes next.

Anyway.

Go ahead.

Ask questions.

Comments

@kira.solo

[forcevisions]

Does this mean we can start thinking about recruiting new members from among the locals as well?

[ she's insisted on it before and gotten push back from gaby specifically, so it's worth nudging at. ]

[vns]

We need to shore up contacts. New and old. My earlier trepidation still stands.

But getting more people spreading the word, showing that we're not recklessly endangering people, that can help. Recruiting can do that. Or even seeing who needs our help who's been left without it. I've been doing what I can, but there are limits.

[forcevisions]

Everyone who I'd tried to build up trust with before the EMP is gone.

[ not dead, but gone to her. because rey nolo is dead, for all intents and purposes. ]

But someone else could follow up with them, maybe.

[ it's a bad idea for her to try to reach out, even to the people she'd been building relationships with who she'd helped during the original heat wave and displacement by monster attack. too close to rey nolo. ]

@marcos.diaz

[heliophilous]

Last time someone thought I was Morningstar, I nearly died.

[ some of that might have been his fault though. ]

Still, I don't want that to hold me back from helping with the things we've spoken about before.

[vns]

I'm sorry for that. Though I would ask that you're more cautious about the circumstances that led to it.

[ Gaby isn't a fan of violent interrogation techniques. ]

I'd like your help with that. Once they're here.

[heliophilous]

[ don't @ him, gaby. he knows that was a bad move. he hasn't done it since then. that counts for something, doesn't it? ]

You have a timeline? Or just a wait and see thing?

@gaby.teller

[myownwoman]

Fault may not be necessary, but there certainly should be some kind of accountability.

[ she worked herself into a mini dehydration coma during the emp and then suddenly everyone with a blue glow is under suspicion? no thank you. fault was cassius', many more people needed accountability. ]

[vns]

For the Displaced?

[myownwoman]

The Displaced within Morningstar. Public castigation seems unnecessary and cruel, and perhaps El already has precautions in mind, but I wouldn't feel comfortable working under the masterminds of these previous endeavors.

That being said, I do have an idea for how to promote Morningstar's social efforts without alerting the UNA. It may be archaic to you considering the technological advances of the time, but you might want to consider paper.

@carol.danvers

[flyfightwin]

You'll have to forgive me if I'm a little skeptical on the benevolent AI front. I haven't had much in the way of positive examples as far as my past is concerned, so it's a big ask to keep that secret.

[That's putting it mildly, but an argument about whether or not El has this world's best interests at heart isn't really why she's here. She has a goal in mind, and as much as she would like to think that she can be a one woman army and muscle her way through this on her own, Carol knows she's going to have to rely on others.]

But I've never been the kind of person who could turn a blind eye to anyone needing help. I might not be as familiar with your operations, but that's not necessarily a terrible thing.

Count me in.

[vns]

I don't believe in benevolent AI, but I believe in Morningstar. One forces the other, and El knows where I stand. But Morningstar falls if they know El is in charge.

[ everything about how Morningstar has survived makes sense. ]

I'm happy to tell you more about that if you'd like to know.

As it is, I'm glad you're interested. You've come recommended already.

[flyfightwin]

I've got no doubt that if the organization at large were aware they'd have some very strong misgivings about maintaining their support too. I get the need for the secrecy.

Since I am agreeing to keeping this secret for the good of the group, perhaps you'll be willing to divulge how you've reconciled your belief that there aren't benevolent AIs with the reality that we're dealing with one that while perhaps not good, per se, but at least not expressly malicious.

And while you're at it, maybe you can clue me in on just who apparently knows me well enough to know that I'd want to offer my support.

[Really, she thought she was flying under the radar. So much for being subtle.]

@lorna.dane

[geomagnetically]

I'm oh-so-very new, but, yeah — sure. What exactly is Morningstar looking for in a Displaced? I'm sure there's some skills more in demand than others.

[ An 'altruistic AI seeking redemption' might sound more like a funny joke to her than not, but she does, in fact, lack the know-how of this world — more so than any Displaced who have been here longer than she. Aligning herself with people who need Displaced help, and want to help Displaced isn't a bad first start. Plus, it means if she doesn't screw up, she may put herself in a position to help with some sort of control of things go really badly down the road. Being an extra hand on the wheel is better than letting go, or something like that. ]

[vns]

Welcome, Lorna.

All skills are in demand. It's up to you to decide what you have to offer to us. I have my personal biases, but I've needed to open my mind more.

[ to a degree. Gaby will always be extremely pacifistic. nothing will change that. ]

Trained operatives would be nice. Someone who's willing to do the research. To slow down.

[geomagnetically]

I've trained and led a few teams back on my earth, so, developing strengths in tactics/strategy/recruiting came with that territory; various infiltration skills. Parsing through jargon is an old pal of mine since I spent time as a geophysicist. Without my original powers, I'm probably not going to be the smartest top choice for anything combat-heavy at least until I get a handle on...whatever it is I can do here; I mean, I know how to not die in combat, but at that rate it's more or less bar meet floor.

@tomoe.mikage

[jinshi]

Hmm. So you need more support from the common people?

I'm no stranger to bending over backwards to build a reputation, although I'm not accustomed to such a large scale. What is it that Morningstar is offering these people?

[vns]

For many of them? Support. A better life, if they need it. Opportunities to get jobs.

But our overall goal isn't so small. We want to change the world as it is. It doesn't function the right way. It's fucked. Imbalanced.

So most people are fucked with it.

@cassian.andor

[evasives]

I have no issue keeping El's identity a secret regardless of my level of Morningstar participation.

What is the experience either of you have with recruitment?

[vns]

I can't speak for El, but I know ze was less hands on once the spark of Morningstar took motion. Having to be a face to the rest of you hasn't been easy.

For myself, most of my recruitment has been with you guys. I've focused on helping people get better lives more than I've focused on getting new members. My life doesn't grant me the freedom to run around and tell people that Morningstar is good.

@kylo.ren

[warfares]

What of the other one? Cassius.

( because upping their numbers has been thoroughly covered, it seems. and he agrees for the most part, even if he's still trying to decide just how precisely he feels about everything following the emp. el, he trusts ... more or less.

cassius is an unknown quantity and he doesn't much care for that. )

[vns]

Cassius nearly destroyed my city.

@hafid.alghul. private.

[batricide]

[ There's a lot he could say. A lot he probably should say. Damian as a general rule of thumb speaks exactly what is on his mind when it crosses it, in the exact way it crosses it.

Or did.

So instead of demanding answers - and that's surely coming - he opts for a different approach. ]

This is going to get ugly when it comes out, Gaby.

[ She... already knows that and he knowws that she knows that so he tries again. ]

Have you two thought of how you're going to handle the fallout?

private all the way

[vns]

We handle it when we get there. When it happens.

We don't have a choice.

[ she's not looking forward to being lectured on this.

but this also isn't her choice. ]

I believe in Morningstar. And I love my city. But I know it's inevitable that it'll come out. I know that.

But if you want to talk contingencies, talk to El.

[ not that it's El's fault that zeir former friends are all crazy AI. probably. ]

@steve.rogers

[shield]

Hi Gaby. My name is Steve Rogers.

There's a lot I'm still catching up on. [ It only took him years to catch up on 70 years of missed history. At that rate, he should be caught up on the last five centuries within the decade. ] Can I ask what you mean by that last part? Understanding the discretion of what comes next? What experience are you looking for in personnel?

[vns]

Hi, Steve. Sorry, it all ties together. We want people who can understand the need to keep El's identity a secret. Maybe people who have experience with operations where you do something uncomfortable like that.

That's all I ask, personally.

In terms of skill, people who know how to handle operations on a big and small skill. Who can help people, ward off trouble, and do right in the world.

A lot of Displaced think we're here to fight the UNA. That isn't it. That's not a fight we should be thinking of taking. But I want to help with that more.