handwritten; semi-open action; March 17th

[hotshots]

So, some of you might be wondering what the hell happened to all those giant robots, and just what the government is doing. Luckily, we were not just tossed into a cell with the key thrown away, but I guess let me get my introduction out of the way. Again.

Obviously, my name's not Lockon Stratos. I'd feel sorry for any kid who had to write that on their tests growing up. My actual name's Neil Dylandy. Honestly, coming on here, you all looked sort of crazy so I had good reason to try and cover myself until I figured out what was what. I kind of see that better now.

It's because I saw what a lot of you were made of that I'm trying to put in whatever good words I can. None of us asked for this crap. But I'm hoping they'll listen to at least some of what I've got to say - it might not mean a lot nowadays, but I used to be Army. It's something, right? So the Feds know things now. Understand that. Maybe there's bastards like Sherman in their ranks too, but there's a chance that has to be taken there.

I'm coming clean with you all because we're all going to have to do that a lot more of that if we're going to get anywhere. There's probably a hell of a lot more work to do. We need to make sure we've got the ability to meet it. Fighting the US Government on top of aliens isn't going to help us, obviously.

We're fine. We're not being held captive. The robots are fine. We can check in on them.

I'm not saying to not be careful around these guys, because I am - why do you think I'm writing this long-assed letter by hand? - but we've gotta find things to trust, hard as it is. I want to trust you guys, but we've gotta make sure the world trusts us too.

[And he leaves it there, because his hand is starting to cramp. Technology has made us all lazy.

Some people might not be happy with him there, but that's fine. It was things that needed to be said - painting the picture that the FBI was actually cooperating with him, which they were, seems like a necessary step. He waits for any responses that might come through, but after that will end up spending most of his day where the aforementioned giant robots are being held.]

[ooc - Anyone who's present around either the mecha pilots hotel or the Mechanical Engineering Department where the aforementioned giant robots are being held can feel free to knock him over at any point in time for this day~]

Comments

[written - she doesn't want this on her phone]

[jasminebloominginshadow]

You have to understand, some of us are worried we won't be seen as human anymore.

I've seen the videos on-line. They're already asking if I'm some kind of cryptid or something.

I don't want to be captured and studied or anything.

written;

[hotshots]

If you've got reasons to keep your head low, and it's not from doing something illegal, then by all means. Do it.

But what I mean is we've got other enemies here. We need to make sure we can distinguish who those are.

Action - pilots hotel

[buildyourworld]

[ Have an angry Eugen, Neil because he doesn't appreciate what you're doing. Eugen, of course, is of the opinion that they should keep this quiet so they would involve as little people as possible in their situation. Therefore, Neil's post is certainly not going to fly with him. ]

What the hell are you doing? Do you realize there are double agents in the network? What the heck were you thinking putting your name out there?!

[hotshots]

[Have a mild shrug, Eugen.]

They're gonna be looking for these folks soon, Eugen. A whole lot of 'em are even younger than Banagher. People need to know the Feds might just not be our enemy, right?

Why the hell would they trust me if I don't put something out there in exchange?

[Text]

[gobybessie]

You mean you've been talking with the government?

written;

[hotshots]

Yup.

Didn't really have a choice, what with the giant robot and all.

( action PILOT HOTEL YO )

[argents]

[ Going from save-the-city mode to cabin-fever mode full stop was a little rough. Granted, it was by choice. And Banagher had spent nearly the entirety of Tuesday sleeping the previous two days off, having been put through the ringer by the Feds and his own Gundam. At least it was the government's tab, so he didn't feel too bad about ordering as many extra blankets and pillows as they'd hand over.

A handful of which is propped up against the headboard of one of the beds where he's sitting. Idly, he pops orange Haro up into the air with the tips of his fingers like a basketball, catching him again. A notepad lies by his side. ]

I wonder how everyone's going to react to that.

[ "That" being Neil's message. He'd talked. They'd all talked. ]

[hotshots]

[Neil laughs. It's a bit bitter, and he spins around in his chair, spinning a pen around in his hand while the notepad on the desk before him is going off like the Fourth of July. There's a few notepads stacked next to it. Haro makes what almost sounds like a joyful noise as he's tossed up and down, but it's nothing decipherable as actual words.]

I expect I'm gonna piss a few people off. [Like Eugen.] But if we can convince a few people, then that's worth it.

[He leans back.] Can't say I'm gonna fully trust the Feds one hundred percent yet either, but hell... what options do we have? Can't just swipe the Gundams and hide in the mountains or something. We'd have tanks and jets taking us down before we even got out of the city limits.

text;

[labrador]

... That is a rather vague explanation of what they potentially know...

written;

[hotshots]

We both came on around the same time, right? We probably know about the same, then. Hell, you might know a bit more being in with the cops.

That's what they potentially know. Including about the rats running around in your ship, like Sherman.

Action

[soulsborderline]

Don't listen to the prettyboy, Neil, I was about to do the same thing.

[Asuka's looking less frazzled and more like her old pays-too-much-for-shampoo self now that she's kind of settled in and her robot's safely on the university campus.]

Not that I couldn't hear him yelling from down the hall, or anything.

[hotshots]

Well, that's one less person yelling at me. It's appreciated.

[He gives a mild shrug, leaning up against a wall with his arms crossed. His leg was doing a lot better after a week of rest, but sometimes you still need to lean.]

You holdin' up alright dealing with all this crap, though?

[text]

[stopinthenameofawe]

I'm guessing someone's not happy with you over this. [She can picture Eugen's freakout in her head.] How much do you think they know about the network at large?

written;

[hotshots]

What was your first clue? Was kind of expecting it, though.

Network at large, though - I figure that's the hardest pill for them to swallow. Since I can't show it to them but it's kind of hard to avoid talking about if I'm going to even start to explain this shit.

[Text]

[shiromadoushi]

The military's been involved since day one, the hell do you think they're truthworthy at all?

You better not be telling them anything they don't already know.

written;

[hotshots]

The hell did I say anything about the military? I know that.

This is FBI.

Believe me when I say that's an entirely different thing. Government branches don't exactly always see eye to eye on things, and if they're cooperating now, that could spin to our advantage.

private;

[centurian]

[ Since Gerald really doesn't feel like outing himself just yet to the network masses... Have a private message. ]

Honestly, the FBI was completely kept in the dark. When they're looking to a rookie agent to debrief his superiors, you've gotta realize that either we're talking about a conspiracy to top all conspiracies, or they genuinely want to help.

written; private;

[hotshots]

This is what I'm hoping.

I just hope other folks see it that way.

And that I'm hoping in the right direction.

audio;

[neonnerd]

[Well, this isn't awkward at all.]

Do you happen to know how... heavily they're looking into the robots they currently don't have?

written;

[hotshots]

Wish I could say, man.

Given how quickly they moved to start guarding our machines and then moving them the next day, if I'd have to hazard a guess?

I'd reckon pretty heavily.

text

[testsonseashells]

Understand your reasons - agree to some extent. Still - want to know exactly what you've told them.

Also - see if allowed to record interviews. If not allowed, might be able to post them to network through unconventional means.

written;

[hotshots]

Folks with weird powers or objects. Memories of other lives. Invisible Network. Corrupt officials. Aliens. I'd go into details, but writing these replies by hand is a bitch.

It all sounds pretty far fetched, but I've got a huge ass robot to kind of prove my point right now.

Really doubt they're gonna let me go recording interviews, though. Feds are picky about that, and I expect they're watching me close enough to get suspicious if I tried jotting a number down in the middle of it.

That said, I'm not sure it's necessary. They're people, and unlike us they're normal people by and large as far as I can tell. They're going to be scared finding out about us, and curious. I haven't seen any reason why working against them is gonna help us, right now, so I'll cooperate.

[handwritten]

[amberhearted]

[ To match, just 'cause. ]

Good to hear you're all safe. The news says you guys took over part of the university. Is that true?

written;

[hotshots]

Yeah, kinda hard to miss us. Hell, hard to miss those other units - our Gundams are big enough as it is. Those other ones are frigging huge.

action at the mecha hotel

[talkshitgetsis]

You. [Rei manages to catch him as he's passing by her, or as she's passing by him, either way, they were near enough for her to feel compelled to approach him.]

You're the one that wrote the thing.

[hotshots]

[Neil pauses in his stride, turning to face her with one hand on his hip.] Name's Neil, but yeah. Getting that a lot today.

action; hotel

[neopianangst]

[Shinji's spent pretty much the entire time he's been here glued to Rei's side, and being pretty quiet and shy hasn't really said much to anyone he didn't already know.

He's without his twin sister for once hen he runs into Neil, though he's not exactly alone either. He has an excitable white ball of fluff with him, because he's the kind of animal lover who just had to ask the feds to make the hotel let him bring his puppy. And said puppy being restless is enough of a reason for Shinji to venture out alone for once.

He's kind of hesitant about speaking up, but forces himself to anyway.]

Um, if you're the right guy--I read your post and some of the replies...was telling them about the network really a good idea?

Re: action; hotel

[hotshots]

[Neil catches sight of him and laughs a bit, bending over with a slight wince towards the puppy.]

Sure hope so. But I mean, it's something they could have gotten out of us eventually anyway, if they really wanted. Better for them to know now than to deal with how they'd react coming back later to us withholding information.

[He grins as he pulls himself back up.] Cute pup you've got there.

[ TEXT ]

[keywarding]

I'm glad we can trust them even a little bit! I don't want to believe everyone is bad. Thank you for telling us this. I know some people won't believe you but I do!

written;

[hotshots]

Just be careful with that. I'm writing this stuff on a notepad for a reason.

[Typing it out was just asking for keyloggers, and he was sure any computers they had access to would open him right to that.]

But it's appreciated. Really.

[text; private]

[healspec]

[wait...he knows that name. screw the rest of it about the FBI and giant robots and whatever else, he's more interested in hey I know that guy.]

[and because he is a paranoid asshole about using his real name on the network, he's going to make this private]

Do you remember a Sergeant Savarna?

written; private;

[hotshots]

[Well that's.

Unexpected.]

Who wants to know?