the network

ortech
pinesnet

(on the network at about 1 this afternoon (the 13th) is a familiar voice to all but the newest arrivals - and perhaps even to them, if they've taken the time to review ortech's announcements a few short weeks ago. this time, she seems much better-rested and in generally good spirits.)

Good afternoon, Wayward Pines! For those who don't yet know me, my name is Charlotte Rousseau and I have the pleasure of acting as Ortech's liaison while we restructure a few things behind the scenes to make room and opportunity for you to lead the dialogue for yourselves and to take much of the responsibility for our town of Wayward Pines into your own hands.

Arriving on each of your mobile devices is a brand new app called uExplore. On it, you'll find a map of Wayward Pines comparable in detail to Google Maps - for those who are familiar - as well as a topographical map of the world outside of the fence. Here comes the fun part: The capital 'O' in the top left corner lets you access a list of available assignments for a number of expeditions outside of our gates, which you're free to claim as soon as you've gained clearance. These assignments tend to focus on securing resources, investigating potential threats, and learning more about the world we've inherited. Once you have a few Ortech-issued assignments under your belt and have started to get a lay of the land, you'll have the opportunity to take on official expeditions of your own design... And once we have a more secure understanding of our surroundings, to come and go as you please.

Now, you're probably wondering exactly what I meant by 'clearance'. A large tent has been erected in the field just beside the campgrounds, and it's currently staffed during all daylight hours by at least two individuals who are poised and ready to help you see the outside... Or to keep you safe in Wayward Pines if it seems like a trip outside is likely to lead to your death or general dismemberment. Testing for clearance shouldn't take more than an hour, and you're done once you've demonstrated that you can both flee from danger and defend yourself if fleeing isn't an option. Don't worry: Those who aren't able to gain clearance are still more than welcome to join in on expeditions, provided they have a sufficient number of teammates with clearance to keep them safe if the need arises.

Our first batch of available assignments are now live on uExplore, just in time for the next piece of news on our agenda:

Tomorrow - the 14th - from noon to 6 PM, WPU is hosting an Ortech-sponsored wilderness fair. Come learn a host of survival skills from both Ortech representatives and your own peers! On the flip side, if you have a survival skill you'd be willing to teach, consider doing so tomorrow at the fair. All you have to do is claim a booth and give one of our representatives a list of supplies you'll need.

Have a good afternoon, and we hope to see you at the fair!

MOD NOTES

Relevant links: Expeditions (where all available expeditions are posted) & Clearance (where characters are cleared to go outside the fence).

A mingle log for the Wilderness Fair will be going up tomorrow (the 14th). All characters are welcome to show up and learn or teach!

Replies to this post will likely get an IC response, but it may not be ICly prompt.

officialnotice
pinesnet

( the following message from dr. charlotte rousseau is on the phone network + transcribed via text on the message board. )

Hello again, Wayward Pines. You've had a couple of days now to work through the things we explained to you on Thursday. Now, we're opening the floor to you — for your questions, and hopefully to begin the dialogue that will help all of us figure out how to peacefully coexist.

officialnotice
pinesnet

( shortly after the last of the intruders are finished off, an exhausted-sounding sheriff danny griffith sounds off on the official broadcast channel. )

Well, we did it. Giving the woods one last sweep, but it looks like we wiped them out. Should be safe out, no matter what hour.

Now, we just clean up and rebuild. Get in touch if you can lend us a hand. ( a pause, and then: ) Wish I had more I could tell you.

(and then he hangs up.

it's utterly anti-climactic, possibly even infuriating. people died, and that's all the town gets? you might be about ready to march down to the police station and give him a piece of your mind... )

---

( ...but five minutes later, a second announcement comes. this one is a less familiar voice to most, though not to all. if she's anything close to as tired as the sheriff, she disguises it expertly. )

Hello, Wayward Pines. My name is Dr. Charlotte Rousseau. Some of you have visited me for counseling, to help you reach a peace of mind about unfortunate ambiguity surrounding the town we live in.

Today, I hope to offer you more than that.

For close to four years now, we've done everything in our power to give this town and its citizens everything they need to live a happy, peaceful life. In order to do so, the decision was reached to keep all but a few of you in the dark. We haven't told you what lies outside the walls. We haven't told you of the dangers that threaten your lives each day.

We did this for your peace of mind, and it was a mistake. One that we want to amend as best we can by offering our utmost honesty and cooperation from this point onward.

(a pause, and then:)

I've composed this next segment to appear on the message boards, to allow you to take in the information at your own pace. I'll read it aloud to you here, but should you prefer, you're welcome to hang up the phone and read it there instead.

(sure enough, a condensed version of the introduction + the following message are now live on the message board. while it's presented here in text, assume that dr. rousseau reads it aloud, word for word, with all of the appropriate inflection and emphasis.)

( essentially an ic faq )

MOD NOTES

This is the public address mentioned in the latter part of the Who's That Pokemon infopost!

On an IC level, both posts are currently available on Channel 0, one after the other, like two parts of a single post. On the message board, you'll find only Dr. Rousseau's post.

You are welcome to use this post to thread amongst yourselves, but Dr. Rousseau will not be responding directly. A follow-up post will go up on the 25th in which Rousseau will address any lingering questions and concerns.

If your character wants to help the police force with their clean-up and rebuild efforts, there will be a top-level below in which to ICly volunteer.

officialnotice
pinesnet

( mid-morning on the 15th, every phone begins to ring. answer it, and the characters will find a new recording on the seldom-used channel 0 - the one reserved exclusively for use by town officials.

surprise surprise, it's apparently the mayor himself. most won't recognize his voice, but he introduces himself immediately (as 'mayor townsend' to be specific), followed by: )

After what happened last month, with the flood that swept through our woods and our homes, I felt it was prudent to say a few words of encouragement to all of you brave souls who had to endure it.

( he sounds like he's in his late 40's, without the polished politician's tone you might get from the mayor of a bigger, busier town. so far anyway, he sounds like a guy who sincerely cares about the town he's trying to oversee.

listening beyond the overtones of warmth, however, he honestly just sounds kind of stressed. a little tired, and strangely enough, anxious. henceforth, he's clearly reading something he wrote out in advance, though it's unconvincing. some sections are read a little too quickly; in others, he trips up on one too many words. )

As you very well know, we've had more than our fair share of difficult winters here in Wayward Pines, but what happened last month was unprecedented in our— rather, in the the history of the town. Prevention efforts were rendered useless in the first couple of days. Emergency response teams were— were overwhelmed and underprepared.

And yet, here we are. Unharmed, with most structural damage avoided— well, mitigated almost completely by the hard work of our friends and neighbors, who tire— worked tirelessly to steer water away from homes and businesses alike, and who even now volunteer their time and effort to help rebuild what little the water did manage to sweep away.

( those who remember hearing the mayor speak before will know this is a step down from his typical fluency.

a pause, and a faint shuffle. it sounds like he set down the paper he's been reading, and the next bit buzzes with the faintest undertone of poorly-concealed nerves. )

I want you to know that I— I'm proud to represent you as your mayor. I don't— I mean, I wish I could tell you why any of this was haptic— happening, ( he's quick to correct. it's almost as if this speech is the last thing on his mind. ) But I can tell you this: Wayward Pines, well, it's a town that survives. And I'm proud to be a part of it.

( and perhaps a little too quickly, he hangs up. )