Welcome to the Network! ;video

[truthchanges]

[ The camera opens onto a somewhat cluttered office. It didn't seem like it was cleaned often, if at all, with several cabinets only half closed, notices and sticky notes pinned about the wall, the window letting in the city lights from outside through shifted, broken blinds. The NSO building was a nice place, but some people had issues with tidyness. And Aya Hosada, the bespectacled woman smiling at the camera, was probably the worst case of it. Hey, she did used to be a programmer. She was used to this.

On her desk was her holokeyboard, a coffee thermos... three of them, actually, strewn papers, and several small, cute statues of anthropomorphized animals. This was basically home for her, though she supposed she could present it better. Ah well. ]

Greetings, everyone! If you're new around here, my name is Aya Hosada, Director of Personnel and Resident Liaison for the Neo Sapien Organization. And this is the Neo Sapien Network! It's a new feature we're going to be putting out from here on, programmed by yours truly~!

[ She's pretty proud of it, giving a wink at the camera before sipping her coffee. ]

Here's how it works; it's essentially a city-wide semi-private intranet. The NSO catalogs nothing, nor do we attach any software for tacking or conservation of data without user consent. It's basically the ultimate "safe" internet for people who don't particularly trust communications networks run by other companies. [ They knew the one she meant. ]

You can do test posts, voice posts, video posts, holo posts, you name it! Think of it like a social media service with, like, actual free speech. Try it out!

Let's see... [ Aya adjusts her glasses, taking another sip of her coffee and going over some other notes ]

Alright, a big special thanks to everyone who attended the fundraising gala. I know they can be a bit of a... hard pill to swallow, sometimes, but it's really important we keep up impressions! And look, Dr. Annan didn't get into a fist-fight this time with some rich heckler! Be sure to congratulate him when you see him next~! [ Aya giggled, winking again ]

Also, NSO efforts to restore power in the Parish were successful, and the shelter directors there send their regards. I won't name names, or call anyone out on a public post like this, but you know who you are when I say thank you, from the deepest place in my heart. You're the good we work for in this world, in action. Again, thank you...

... Although, I do fear I have to report that Yakashbah's stunt in Arcadia has lead to a lot of arrests and spiked security. Please be careful out there, okay?

[ Aya let out a heavy sigh, her expression drooping for a moment before picking up another sheet of pepper, pepping up once she saw what it was. ]

Oh! Also, the roommate assignments for this year are out, so be sure to check the roster postings at the nearest terminal to know who your new roomie is! The roommate program is Dr. Annan's way of helping us all socialize a little more, in an otherwise kinda hostile world, so hopefully you manage to make a new friend! Let's see, who did everyone get... [ She sips her coffee, going over the list until her eyes go wide and she spits out a bit of her drink, immediately reaching for a terminal beside her. ]

Um! Dr. Annan! This is Ms. Hosada, and I just saw the roommate roster, and I noticed my name was on it despite explicitly not volunteering [ said through her teeth ] Could you please explain?!

[ There was a long silence on the other end, leaving Aya looking progressively more nervous until Dr. Annan's familiar chuckled came through over the voice channel, before calmly saying...

"Your congratulations, Ms. Hosada, are graciously accepted. Thank you."

Aya's hand slowly drew back and she slumped in her desk some. ]

Oh boy... Welcome to the network, everyone.

[ Another dramatic sigh from Aya before she reached to shut the video off. ]

OOC: Welcome to the game! The network and log comms are now both open to be freely posted in, but feel free to use this post as a network mingle if you like! There will be a sub-header for threads specifically for Aya, if you want them, but otherwise feel free to make your own top level comments and respond to others!

Comments

Text

[mammal_robot]

Hello NSO members!

I've had my staff going over this network and as far as we can tell, this network actually is as secure as Ms. Hosada claims it is.

I'm not going to lie, I am quite pleased about getting in with this organization. Their fight-- YOUR fight -- lines up all too well with my own, and their resources far outstrip Tesladyne's.

Speaking of which, for anyone with a background in the sciences, Tesladyne is hiring, AND we offer internships! If you have projects that other people have laughed at for being too unfeasible, we may be able to help you as well.

Sorry, I won't go into a whole sales pitch in here, but you can contact me privately if you want to learn more.

Sincerely,
Atomic Robo

PS: Zeke, feel free to claim as much of the space as you like. I probably won't actually be in our room much at all, as I don't eat or sleep and have my own office in the Middle Ward.

[People call Atomic Robo "old man" sometimes. One of the reasons is that he writes his texts like he was writing a letter.]

Private and secured forever, text, username Triskelion

[lightnovelexperiences]

I would be interested in testing the limits of my talent, and continuing our previous discussion, more frankly.

As secure as this is, I was wondering if there would be a preferred location for us to meet?

[mammal_robot]

You're going to have to go into a little more detail on that one.

[lightnovelexperiences]

We spoke at the party? You reminded me that we were likely being overheard. I’d like to resume that conversation when and where we can speak freely.

As for the details of my powers, I can safely tell you that I’m a biokinetic. I have very fine control over my own body. Might that be useful for your research?

[mammal_robot]

I mean

There's a lot we don't know about metahumans, so if you're offering to sit in for some tests I could probably find a use for you.

[lightnovelexperiences]

That’s what I’m offering, yes. Morning is better than afternoon or evening for me to come in.

[thezekeinator]

Do we need to discuss 'tie on the door knob' protocol or is that a thing you know already?

[mammal_robot]

I'm familiar.

Is this something you predict to be a common occurrence?

[thezekeinator]

A man can dream, right?

[mammal_robot]

I wish you the best of luck, then, on the sole condition that you don't give me any of the details should you succeed.

[thezekeinator]

Looks like this is the start of a beautiful friendship!

[ayoungman]

um, okay?
and who's to say you're not just working for this ms.honda lady are in cahoots and you're just verifying her word in order to lure more people to place their information into the hands of this network?

seems pretty fishy to me.

[mammal_robot]

You can look me up online kid, my politics are WELL known. I want this venture to succeed just as much as anyone.

[ayoungman]

uh-huh.
you think a simple background check makes you trustworthy?
even as someone who agrees with what you're saying for the most part even i know that nothing casually said on open network should ever be trusted.
that's like, internet safety 101 that they teach you in elementary school to loser babies.
can't even trust anyone saying they are who they really are on these things.

for all you know i could be some middle-aged dz or government worker disguising himself as some kid on the internet in order to gather info on potential "terrorist threats".

[mammal_robot]

So you don't trust ANYONE on this network? Why are you even here if it's so obviously compromised?

[ayoungman]

because, in the end, it's still even slightly more trustworthy than any browser set up by the dz or the government.
and even the slightest bit more security is better than none at all.
still doesn't mean i'll be dropping much personal info on here though.

no place is safe, especially if you don't know who it is you're talking to or the people who control the system.
no place.