concoursec | Mandatory Assembly

Entry tags:

Mandatory Assembly

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.]

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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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?"

[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.]

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...

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?"

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?"

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."

Ronnae nodded, "I am all for doing more work to help with the money issues. Heavy workloads are something I'm very familiar with... I guess I'm just upset that we weren't told earlier... and that now it seems almost accusatory is all."

She sighed and shook her head before trying to smile.

"Maybe it won't be as bad as it sounds. It might just be a more militaristic institution which again I'm more than used to."

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."

Ahh, Nepeta nodded. "Yea, that is kinda fooey of them. Waiting till the situation was this dire was a pretty poor move on their choice.

"Hopefully not! She did say she wouldn't interfere in our day to day lives so I think things will be ok. It'll just mean a lot more busywork for all of us and that could be a good thing. It's pretty easy to get restless here. Especially in between quarters."

"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.

"This is true. I suppose I shouldn't be such a worry wart and try to make the best of it with what's given to me."

She paused and giggled a bit awkwardly, embarrassed, "S'not like I got much else to do huh?"

Nepeta gave a playful little nudge to let her know it was alright.

"Worry isn't a bad thing as long as you don't let it keep you furom being happy. Heck, it can be a good thing if anything. If they let Cadets start doing missions then maybe we'll be able to do one together all the sooner. Especially with Purfessor Slughorn's new potion we really will be able to go anywhere without having to worry!"

[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.]

It felt kind of like a slur now. Cissie nodded in agreement. "I want to say things'll get better, but if anything... this lady's enough incentive for us to try and find our own ways back home."

She paused, as if just realizing something, "I mean, I've been around for about a year myself, right? That's a long time to come up empty-handed."

Ronnae smiled timidly and nodded,

"Going on a mission together would be great I'll admit. The potion however..."

She paused and looked a bit uncomfortable about the thought.

"I think I'll be fine without it... I... Don't like things like that is all."

Ronnae nodded, "Yeah, I'd say so. Even with the time lapse were I got returned, it's about the same time I've been here."

She paused and looked over a bit worried. "I'd like to help them, I really want to. But if they eventually start pushing us away... there's not much else I can do about it."

[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.

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Page 1 of 3

Mandatory Assembly

Gathering [Open]

The Speech [Closed]

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