Video #1 UN: Waltz

[enveloped]

[Unlike some people whose biggest concerns are their inappropriate footwear, Cam is all business.

Speaking to you live from a crumbling room within the colony is a tall, bearded man wearing a suit. Or half of one. He has his sleeves rolled up, Prada jacket slung over an overturned desk. His face isn't unfriendly, but there are well-worn lines speaking to a serious nature.

This man does not wear flip-flops.]

Hello, my name is Cameron Waltz. Like you I am a recent arrival, and have more questions than answers regarding this place, and why we're here. Back home I was a humanitarian interpreter and cultural mediator specializing in foreign aid and disaster relief. Experience I hope will be useful, considering the conditions, as it appears we've found ourselves in something of a disaster.

In my brief exploration of the colony, it appears many of the necessary facilities are damaged and in disarray. Those few blocks that aren't already compromised will be well on their way if the problems regarding utilities and structural decay aren't addressed.

Especially since we appear to be activating potentially hazardous technology left and right. All it takes is one spark to set an electrical fire, or worse.

If we're going to survive here, it's important we work together to increase our chances. There are far too many repairs to complete alone. We need to survive before we can return home.

I don't know how many of you are out there, but if you can read this I would appreciate a response. A rough headcount would be helpful in terms of rationing supplies. People with engineering skills and knowledge relevant to repairing or securing the colony, please name yourself and what you can do.

A directory of skills could be incredibly helpful in terms of creating working teams to get things done.

To everyone who may be out there, you are not alone. If you are hurt, or simply don't know what to do, I and many others will be here to help.

[A man can hope.]

Comments

text; @ GOSUCKADICK

[substances]

holy shit
hello mr. president

text;

[enveloped]

[What is that username? Is that simple immaturity, or does someone here have the dirt on him already?]

Funny. I have no desire to reenact Lord of the Flies.

If I take on any role within the community, it will be as volunteer coordinator.

[substances]

[Excuse you, it's complex immaturity!!!!]

well i'd vote for u if u kno wat i mean ;);)

and i'm not super useful unless u need 2 talk 2 dead ppl or fight a guerrilla war in a jungle

audio; @ parrish

[seorsum]

[The voice that comes over the connection is steady and calm, but tired, with a distinct Southern accent.]

I'm a passable mechanic and I've already taken a look at the vehicles in the garage.

UN: s.desc, video

[postpartor]

[ It takes Shannon a good five minutes of petting her cat to feel calm enough to frame a reply.

Blueberry Fondue is still in the frame and being petted when she finally turns on the camera.]

I can't say I'm any happier to see you here than I was to see my cat.

video; UN: wingingit

[volitaunt]

[ Poe leans in toward the camera, frowning a little--WAIT. AHA. He leans back and gestures widely. ]

You're that cultural arts festival guy!

video; un: Odair65

[fishermansweater]

[ There's something about the guy that has Finnick a little on edge. He's known guys who gave off that sort of air of authority before, and they've usually not been good people to know.

But Annie had gestured to him, pointing out that they should reply to the question, and Finnick considers for a moment what they should say.

The man who appears in the video is in his mid-twenties, dressed in a grey military uniform with no discernible insignia, and appears to be sitting in one of the near-identical lodging rooms.

Not visible is the small redheaded woman sitting nearby. ]

My wife and I know about fishing and fish farming and some basic repairs. Not great with the technology though.

Video; UN: Spides

[itsnotaonesie]

[So this kid starts his video with a bit of an awkward wave. Hey bud how's it goin']

So um-- h-hi, I'm Peter. Uh, I've already been looking into getting some of the tech around here repaired and, y'know, back up to code, I guess. It's totally doable, mostly a matter of tracking down tools and spare parts, prioritizing which things need looked into first.

[enveloped]

[He does not want to know what you mean, and he'll be brushing that right off.

Attempting to, anyway.]

I appreciate your support.

Those are both useful skills. The dead may hold valuable information, and we don't know if there are any external security risks. Judging by the bullet holes and surplus weaponry, I would say these people likely had a few enemies.

[substances]

[Rude, come on.]

ya they might if they werent all glitched up like a tv w/ bad reception
dead ppl dont make much sense 2 begin w/ and this is pushin it

o man id have killed 4 some grenades or a rifle in the last place i was in

audio;

[enveloped]

[You can hear the smile in his voice.]

Wonderful. A mechanic. No need to be modest, I'm sure you're more than passable.

What are we looking at in terms of viable transportation?

video;

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I was surprised to see Calhoun here, but considering they also transported your cat...

[Who is equally cute and useless as the former.]

While it's unusual we're both here, I don't believe we were targeted due to our... line of work. It doesn't make sense. Either way, I can't say I'm disappointed to see a familiar face. At least I know what you're capable of.

video;

[enveloped]

[Cam would have remembered that face. He blinks back at the camera, a moment of being startled before collecting himself and smiling.]

That's very possible. I have taken part in many cultural arts festivals.

When and where was this, if you don't mind specifying?

video;

[enveloped]

Any skill is a good skill, and there is have a lake. No idea if there are any fish at present, but from what I've heard it's possible to re-introduce species back into the wild.

In which case, it would be lovely to have fresh seafood. Anything is better than the rations I found in a vending machine the other day. I'm fairly certain they were made of clay.

[A pause, studying the young man's face.]

Hm. Both you and your wife were taken? I can't decide if you're incredibly lucky or unlucky.

[seorsum]

[Flattery. It puts Adam on edge, just a little, always hypersensitive to anything that might be condescending or patronizing. There's the sound of a sharp little breath, but then he calms down a bit when the guy asks a valid question.]

Three functioning battery powered vehicles. They look similar to Jeeps but they're not. The engine function is close enough to what I'm used to that I might be able to fix the other two.

video;

[enveloped]

[This boy is young. Very young. He can't be much older than Cam's daughter. That's alarming.

Cam puts a smile on, because he doesn't want to look half so uncomfortable with Peter's presence as he is.]

Hello Peter, nice to meet you. It sounds like you've been busy. I'm not an engineering man in any way, shape, or form, so I'm entirely useless in that department, but from what I understand we're I'm in complete agreement.

We can do this. It's just a matter of time, supplies, and manpower.

[Finally, because he can't help himself--]

Did you learn about this kind of thing in school?

video;

[fishermansweater]

If we can find enough specimens, we should be able to. We both know a little about fish population management, and if there's fish in the lake already, that will help.

[ He'd learned fairly quickly in the occasional classes he'd been forced to take in District Thirteen how very inadequate a District Four education was, but at least he knew that much: fishing and fish science and fishery management.

That's longer term than he's comfortable thinking about right now, but it's a practical skill. ]

I'll go with lucky. Least we're together, this way.

[ That's what matters; he tries to make it sound offhand, but there's genuine belief flashing through underneath the casual words.

Together is always better for Finnick and Annie. ]

video; UN: drake

[nonscriptum]

I've got some mechanical skills.

[ Mechanical skills being disarming alarm systems, manipulating electrical equipment, hotwiring cars and the like.

That's a big list of accomplishments by comparison, so much so that Nate almost feels as though he should have shown up here with a resume and a portfolio. Not that "decimating several cities" would go over well with someone who seems to work in foreign affairs. ]

Nothing fancy, but we didn't exactly have technology like this where I'm from.

[volitaunt]

Riverview. The colony moon...? You did the calligraphy animals, I gave one to a friend--she liked it, by the way. Really liked it.

[ He says that, but the energy is starting to go out of his voice. It's not that he expects to be remembered from one encounter, but what if this isn't the guy he thinks it is? Name's the same, but how much does that really mean? He'd been so desperate for someone even passingly familiar. ]

Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?

text | @lazarus

[benhargreeves]

[ Well, thinking about his response to this sure has been an interval of grim and depressing self-analysis that Ben hasn't enjoyed. At least it's a little easier writing it down than it would be having a conversation aloud. Ben's decided texting is good, actually. ]

I don't know anything about engineering or advanced technology, but I am willing to learn. I want to help as much as I can. Please keep that in mind when you're reading the next part.

Skills: knowledge of first aid, knowledge of human anatomy, knowledge of various disaster and weather survival techniques, knowledge of battlefield strategy, training in surviving extreme conditions, extensive experience at neutralizing hostile targets.

[ He'd thought that would sound better than 'I can make a lot of people very dead very easily' but the euphemisms, once he's typed them, look much worse. But the guy had wanted a skills directory and well, here are his skills. ]

I guess I could probably be helpful if there's any demolition stuff, too.

[postpartor]

Wait, that sandals man is Jeff Calhoun?

[ Shannon snorts, lifting the cat up to kiss his head. ]

Aren't you lucky.

[ She settles back in her chair like the villainess in a Disney movie. ]

That had occurred to me, but if Calhoun is here too, it's a pretty strong argument against it.

[ A few silent moments while she pets Blueberry. ] I'd like visual confirmation that we're both in the same city, if you don't mind.

[enveloped]

Help me understand, the ghosts-- they're fuzzy? That's very odd. I wonder if that's simply the nature of this place, or something more...

[Sinister. He'll have to look into it.]

Did you come from a war-zone?

[enveloped]

By my count of the colony inhabitants, five vehicles may be enough to support a mass evacuation of the colony, if such a thing were necessary.

It's great we have three to start, but repairing the other units should be a top priority.

Would you be comfortable taking that on? It's a lot of work, but I'm certain you could find someone else to assist you. Most people know how to hold a wrench. Myself included.

[enveloped]

Yes. The man having the flip-flop crises is indeed that Jeff.

I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere in life to be forced to breathe the same recycled oxygen as him.

[A pause, raising a brow.]

Visual confirmation how? I'm on video, and the room behind me is a disaster. If I find a scenic postcard of the vast red nothingness I'll let you know.

[enveloped]

Uhm. Unfortunately I do not. Not in recent memory. I'm sorry.

[Cam hasn't displayed his limited range of artwork anywhere. Not since college. He's rather sensitive about his drawings being judged too harshly. A man has his pride.]

I would say you've mistaken me for someone else, but... your description of my doodling is incredibly accurate.