@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. ]

[vns]

It's a start. I need to hit the ground, too. It'll be easier when the newcomers get here. More help so I can focus on what I know.

I know you want to push for more numbers. That you believe in us.

Thank you.

[forcevisions]

Of course.

[ but it's a big deal for gaby to say it, since rey has only ever understood her as untrusting of the displaced's investment in morningstar's goals, too new to the world to care. but for rey, it's about ideals; not just this situation itself, but the intolerability of anything like it, in any galaxy. ]

Just how many newcomers are you bringing in?

[vns]

We're still waiting on exact numbers. A few will be coming in from New Tokyo. Some faces you all met there, and impressed there. Some from New Prague, too.

[ mentioned for a reason. places that Rey herself touched.

Gaby knows she's conservative when it comes to helping out the Displaced. has always been. it's why she doesn't take up more of a leadership position. doesn't feel right in doing it. ]

@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.

@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. ]

[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?

[forcevisions]

It'll be good to see them again.

[ and in the case of new prague, while she's on her feet. ]

So how do we help with the restoration of the city, and let people know it's Morningstar helping, without the UN getting wind?

[ she's listening. because she's fucked that sort of thing up before -- riding the line of openness and discretion. ]

@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]

What you did earlier on. Giving out supplies. That's a good start.

From there, it's a matter of listening. See who needs more than a blanket. More than what any charity might offer.

Only one group can pull that off.

[vns]

My best guess is early February. They'll know the city well by then and I can turn my sights on what I care about.

[vns]

For the Displaced?

[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.

[heliophilous]

All right.

[ so, there was some time but not a ton of it. ]

Would I be able to focus in one area? I'd rather avoid the whole foot soldier thing.

[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.

[vns]

Paper isn't on the table (for more than one reason).

[vns]

Migration and managing safehouses should be a good focus. I'm not a foot soldier myself.

[ gun shy and all that. ]

[myownwoman]

If the availability of it is your main constraint, I have a book.

[vns]

[ she squints at this. ]

What's your idea? I'm not saying it'll work, but I might be able to explain why it won't.

[myownwoman]

In your distant past the resistance used newspapers to disseminate information, among the resistance and among the common people alike. It offered news to combat the misinformation spread by the war, advertisement for charity, information on how to deal with enemy soldiers, anti-fascist propaganda cartoons, resistance motivation.

Paper can be burned or soaked or otherwise disposed of.

[vns]

But still an object. One that needs to be burned. The ashes can leave tracks if someone's not careful enough. Most of Morningstar isn't full of trained spies, but normal people off the streets.

It's an idea, but it's not good to pass information that can be taken. Not with the advancements in codebreaking that we have now.

[myownwoman]

The Resistance was not made of spies either. Ordinary people who could not watch their countries burn.