Mandatory Assembly

[wrnpcs]

Character(s): Everyone
Location: the Quad
Rating: PG-13 (possibly for language)
Open/Closed/Finished: Open
Summary: Headmaster Cid's called a mandatory assembly for all students.



After yesterday's meeting with the new Commander, Headmaster Cid knew he had little choice but to gather the students today to alert them about the changes that'd happen at their (and his) beloved Balamb Garden.

So he'd made an annoucement over the intercom and alerted all students, staff, and SeeD that they needed to be at the Quad promptly at 7:00 PM sharp after dinner. The stage's up and ready for the assembly, the folded chairs are all in place, but the chill in the air's enough to alert people to potential problems - if the new Commander sitting beside him doesn't alert people as it is.

[ooc: you don't have to respond in prose! feel free to use commentspam or prose, whichever you're more comfortable with, in your replies.]

Comments

Gathering [Open]

[wrnpcs]

Attendees were free to arrive early, and take whatever seat they desires. Until the beginning of the meeting, they could talk freely amongst themselves as they desired.

[9tailedtemptress]

Ahri didn't really care much for meetings, gatherings and other such nonsense, specially in this world... unless she was a bit hungry and gatherings such as this one would provide small snacks here and there until she was satisfied depending on the number of people who showed up.

She made her way to one of the center chairs and took her seat as best she could as her tails seemed more animated than usual.

[werepanther]

[It wasn't entirely often that Tom was early for something, much less a formal assembly, but something about this didn't sit right with him. He's opted for standing the entire time, with his arms folded, though he'll manage a smile whenever people pass him by.

He's suspicious, not heartless.]

The Speech [Closed]

[wrnpcs]

[commanderzabala]

The Commander stepped to center stage, sweeping her eyes over the assembled occupants of Garden. What a group. And she was expected to restore this to the state of an elite mercenary force?

Ah well. The task would, at least, be a challenge.

"Cadets. SeeDs. I make note of our staff as well, but it is to the cadets and SeeDs I speak primarily, because you are soldiers under my command. I am the Commander. You answer to me."

Commander Zabala paused to let that sink in.

"This is not how you are accustomed to the Garden being run, but it is how the Garden should be, and will be, run from this moment on. I will be frank with you, ladies and gentleman -- the policies of Balamb Garden, up to this moment, have placed this institution in a deplorable financial state. It is my job to turn it around, and it is your job and in your best interests to follow my commands to the letter, before this Garden closes its doors and the majority of you are dropped into a world that is not your own and left to fend for yourself."

Again, a pause.

"You will doubtless be pleased to know that so long as your education serves the interest of Garden by ensuring cadets can become competent SeeDs, I will not be interfering in the running of your classes, nor your day-to-day life. Balamb Garden's status as a safe haven for offworlders will not change. However, you must all exert yourselves to to the fullest so that this state of affairs can continue.

"To to that end, I am hereby ordering a complete revision of the Rank system. Our current state of affairs, thanks to the disruption of the command hierarchy, is untenable, and your performances thus far are completely inadequate representations of your worth. Therefore, as of this moment, all SeeDs are awarded Rank 6, and all Instructors Rank 12." This pause was only a heartbeat, as she raised her voice slightly to retain control of the speech. "No, I will not pretend that this measure is also in part an effort to decrease our salary costs. If you wish to return to what you were formerly earning, I suggest you work hard and apply yourselves to missions.

"And there are missions. Your days of sitting idle around Garden are at an end. We have made arrangements with several sources for employment of our forces, and I expect all of you to take on missions to the best of your ability. Offworlders, this includes you as well." She sought out some of the most obvious offworlders, looking at them steadily once she found them in the crowd. "We have made arrangements to ensure you can continue to take missions as well. I cannot promise they will be pleasant, but they are necessary, and I expect that no mission will be disrupted by a principle's complaints about or Sorceresses. Garden has given a great deal to you, and will continue to do so; the time, therefore, has come for you to give back.

"Ladies, gentlemen. You have your orders. Act on them. Dismissed."

Reactions!

[wrnpcs]

With the speech at an end and the assembly dismissed, the gathered residents of Garden were once again free to talk amongst themselves. No one is shooing them out of the Quad, so they can stay or go as they like.

[shiest_sunbeam]

Why did this all remind her of Garrosh's Horde... The militaristic feel and the harshness of the commander made her feel both upset and comfortable... if that made any sense?

It was like being back in the ranks of the Assault team except this time she wasn't a Captain, instead she was just another grunt, again.

She didn't know what to think just yet, but it as clear that she wasn't all too comfortable.

[alwaysanarcher]

After hearing that kind of speech, Cissie felt a shiver go through her spine. How could someone be that merciless? Not even the JLA was that harsh, and they were the good guys too!

Spotting Ronnae, Cissie heads over, though she doesn't see much point in hiding her displeasure. "Hey. The new Commander... she's certainly something, isn't she?"

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae looks over and offers a small smile as if it'll at least lighten up the mood a bit.

"Y-yeah... Something is what I was thinking too... Reminds me of one of the leaders back home." She let out a small sigh and looked down in thought.

"Makes me wonder how things will be around here now. It might not be as pleasant as before..." So close to graduation too...

[alwaysanarcher]

No kidding! Cissie only had a few weeks left before that field exam herself. "Probably not," she admitted, sighing as she folded her arms. "The stuffy types tend to suck all of the fun out with them."

"Still, it sucks that you've got someone like that back home. We do too, but he's at least got people who can balance his doom and gloom out."

[shiest_sunbeam]

"I wish he had those kinds of people to balance him out back home, but it seems not even our allies like him much to begin with." she shrugged and shook her head.

"I really hope it's not as bad as I think it can get... especially for us off-worlders..." She now thought that word felt more... dirty instead of different.

[moirailcompass]

This was odd. Nepeta still felt that there was a lot that hadn't been addressed in this. She was having a bit of difficulty seeing how the ranking system might aid in the financial crisis. Where once she would have been happy to just let it be, now she was sincerely interested into the details of these new plans.

Of course chances were she wasn't going to find out what they were. Alas.

She went over to Ronnae and gave her a small nudge. "What do you think?"

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae hadn't seen her friend in a while so her approach brought a smile to the young half-orc's face.

"Hey Nepeta," she greeted warmly, trying to keep her thoughts in check.

She paused for a moment, looking over to where the new Commander had been then back at her friend and sighed.

"I... don't know. It feels wrong somehow... Not that we're being asked more of us, I don't mind that after all, we're guests in this world but... It feels like we're being targeted?"

[moirailcompass]

She mulled over Ronnae's words for a moment and tried to think over everything the Commander had said. She had certainly been pretty harsh with her language but Nepeta was a bit accustomed to that sort of thing.

Ronnae certainly did seem to have a point the more and more she thought about it. At several points in the Commander's speech she had sounded more like she was talking about the outsiders than the whole of Balamb Garden.

"I guess that is sort of to be expected. As you said we're guests and Balamb was purrobably just as surpurrised to see us arrive in this world, as we were to arrive in it. I can see why they might be purrty furustrated with taking care of us, especially if they've been having money issues.

I think you are right, but I think it's kinda to be expected. Something that's not anyone's fault really."

[espio]

Give back?

[Espio pulls a face, though he's talking to nobody in particular. He really did not like the way she had pointedly looked at him, one of the most obvious off-worlders in the crowd.]

Where does she get off suggesting we're sitting around Garden doing nothing? I'm training their cadets! Flying their vehicles!

She had better not mess with my classes.

[redcinemareel]

Grell assembled and listened. This new commander was a step above Squall, but woman's intuition told her that she was stuffy, just like William. The entire time, Grell had her arms crossed, and rose an eyebrow as this woman scanned the crowd for offworlders like herself.

"Rank means little if one cannot best another." Besides, she still earned enough to go shopping later that afternoon.

[grollschwert]

[It seems there has been a change in command while she was away, or just after it...

While she could care less about finances, she was glad to have more opportunities to act.]

[bratbeyond]

[The changing of the guard doesn't sound like a good one. Damian was about to scamper off, but he notices Grolla first.]

I'd be careful if I were you.

[grollschwert]

You think she has another agenda?

[Straight to the point.]

[bratbeyond]

Probably. She says Garden's in dire financial straits, but I'm reluctant to believe that. [He'd say more, but he knows better than to openly admit it.]

[fotlenke]

Sigyn scowled, folding her arms over her chest, annoyed. "I would rather return home, if that is all right with our esteemed betters."

Re: Reactions!

[absolute_zero]

There was still a good deal Jin did not understand about this world, but the new Commander speaks to some basic, simply truths that applied no matter where one came from - an organization that had been run poorly and inefficiently was about to experience a brusque change in culture with all the difficulties that came with it. The Cadet was perceptive to have already noticed much of what she spoke about-the students here seemed to place far too much emphasis on social aspects to actual education in his opinion-and the Kisaragi heir found himself unconsciously nodding with the sentiment of "that's right" throughout key points in her speech.

He remains in his seat once it is over, arms crossed and thoughtfully musing on the implications this might have for him. "Well, it's interesting that the rankings have all been leveled." How meritocratic, how Kisaragi-like, "I'm interested to see how i'll fare against the rest of student body now that no one has a lead by seniority."

Re: Reactions!

[cryingcamellia]

Tsubaki Yayoi might be new here, but she's certainly dutiful: She was seated and ready well ahead of the mandatory assembly, and she listened dutifully to the whole thing.

It was rather Kisaragi-like, wasn't it? Level the playing field and force everyone to earn their way up. One would think that the Yayoi heir would be bothered more by it, given that her family was so opposite. But honestly, even at home she hadn't wanted to be treated differently at the Academy, and here... Well, without knowing why politics of why everything needed "leveling" all she can think of is the most practical issue here:

"...I'm more concerned to hear that this Academy is apparently having financial problems," Tsubaki murmurs in response, her voice politely lowered. It sounds uncomfortable, as if the fact somehow reflected on her. "I hadn't expected that."

Re: Reactions!

[absolute_zero]

"Yes, that was a bit unexpected..." Naturally, Jin knows to be discrete as well, content to chat hush-hush with Tsubaki as others stand from their seats, mill about or hold similar conversations, "I'd never have imagined they might have funding problems." Considering their only prior example for comparison was the NOL Military Academy-which was supported by the state-the idea was particularly unconscionable.

"At least this new commander seems to be set on doing something about it." Jin can't help but wonder with a rarely-amused smirk what those nattering schoolgirls he'd encountered the other day made of all this, "We're definitely better off staying here than dealing with the outside world before we're ready." They still needed to learn more before deciding what to do next.

"By the way." He glanced to Tsubaki with a modicum of polite interest, "Have you managed to make any friends here, yet?"

Re: Reactions!

[cryingcamellia]

"Yes... This doesn't seem like a /particularly/ peaceful world, so I can only imagine..." She speaks politely, implies much, and says nothing untoward at all. Because, clearly, it has to be a matter of management. She only says it--softly--because it worries her.

"But nothing the Commander said sounded unreasonable. As cadets, it doesn't affect us /very/ much... But I suppose there's nothing to do but wait and see how it all pans out. This sounds like it could affect a great many of our superiors." And hopfully there isn't some sort of SEED-level outcry. Some of the comments, scattered throughout the Quad, /do/ sound rather unhappy...

But that last comment pulls her out of her thoughts. And, for a moment, she looks a little flustered, "Ahh... Not yet. That's unlike me, isn't it? There's been so much settling in to do... And it's still so odd to not have any roommates at all."