Video; un: R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

[In the wake of Paul's warning, Raleigh hasn't been able to rest. If the beast doesn't come then at least they're all prepared to scramble, but if it does come and they ignored the klaxons? He'd never be able to forgive himself. 

If you've been down to the waterfront you will have seen the hive of activity. The tents full of strategists and logistic stewards. The fighters training. The engineers building away. You might have seen Raleigh, himself, trying to help where he can. 

You all know Raleigh, don't you? The bean guy. That nice guy who lives all the way out in Ache on a chicken farm? He comes into town once a week and sells eggs and fresh chicken in Willful Machine, accompanied by his omen Spaghetti the raccoon (Fritter's mother, if you want to know) and occasionally his long time partner Chuck Hansen. But that isn't the Raleigh you get today. Today you get a man who is willing to humiliate himself for the war effort, filmed by the unseen, snickering Australian, who talked him into it.

Today you get him shirtless with his hands on his hips, standing on the foot of a mech the size of a skyscraper. He is in peak physical condition with abs you could wash your clothes against. His hair is done for once, his face is shaved, and there is strategically placed mechanic's grease for added intrigue. 

Welcome to Propaganda Raleigh.]

Citizens of Trench. My name is Raleigh Becket, I'm a Jaeger Pilot here as part of the levithan defense corps. 

[A small sigh. They have done this so many times and he was dead inside by the third take. Chuck giggles off camera and Raleigh gives him a very pointed look.]

This, is a Jaeger.



[He gestures and the camera pans up and up and up. Two hundred and fifty feet tall and nearly two thousand tons of mechanical whoop-ass. The kind of machine that could level Trench in a heartbeat. Or save it. The camera pans back and he itches his eyebrow. There's grease on his finger and it leaves a black smudge. To those with very keen eyes, the sheen across his chest highlights a series of intricate burn scars that spider across his right side like computer circuitry. It is what it is.

Listen, we need your help. The engineers here, Hunk and Asami Sato lead by Chuck Hansen, have figured out a way to keep Striker's size and power but we need darkblood to sustain it. A lot of it. Together we can use the energy to steady not only Striker Eureka here, but the Paladins of Voltron's lions too. And a second Jaeger, if we had the pilots...

If this monster really does come, then we're running out of time. Look around you. All of this, your closest loved ones, the lives you've worked so hard to build. If this monster is as bad as we think it is, then we could lose everything. Speaking as someone who has? You don't want to.

Together, we can end this without the monster ever making landfall. We can protect our city and we can win.

So, please. If you're a darkblood or you know a darkblood that would be willing to contribute power or blood, come see me or Chuck or anyone down here at the camp who can direct you to the Jaeger Bay.

[Replies will come from both Raleigh Becket and Chuck Hansen]

Comments

video; un: scifo

[thinkfirst]

[ A very inspiring speech for some very dire subject matter. Flynn isn't going to pick at what they're asking, because he knows how hard they've been working to come up with a workable solution in this city, but it...

It hits a little close to home, asking to power a giant mech with the thing that also powers life itself. His face is grave. ]

What is your estimate of the amount of darkblood required to power these?

[lefthemisphere]

A lot.

Video; un: R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

It’s not so much power as it is to sustain their size, Commander. We’ve converted to lunar essence, but we need to keep a powerful darkblood on deck inside which we can only do for two of the fleet and even then it could split their concentration.

So we need to go lateral and use crystals.

And they gotta be bigger than one person can give safely.

[The cost, you ask, per jaeger? Without collaboration? Is one human life.]

video; un: bad.apple

[laniidae]

[There was probably a point to this broadcast, and the thing is Renfri is fully aware that there was a point to this broadcast, and in fact she probably even listened to the message of it, AND YET.]

Sorry, did you say something? I thought I might have seen your lips moving, a little above where I was looking.

video; un r.hansen

[lefthemisphere]

You an’ everyone else, love.

text - UN: IceCream

[threelayers]

[It was really the 'All this' that got to her. Why? Because all that was something she wanted to still be here next month for someone else who might or might not be here. It made her teeth grit and she finally sighed.]

While you lot are doing this defense force, I have to keep watch.
The streets will get out of control if we're not careful and keep all eyes one way.
But, I haven't been to donate yet this month to the ministers like a good girl.

I can spare you what I spare them normally.
Too much and I won't be able to do my job properly.
You got a minister who can handle the transfer?

Text; un: R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

Thank you for your contribution. Not yet in terms of Sleepers. We were going to draft a local if you have any recommendations?

[unsheathedfromreality]

[Illarion does appreciate a good piece of propaganda in an aesthetic sense, even if his moral intuitions on the art were more mixed.

This at least is a licit use, as much for collective morale as anything.]

I also wish to know how much blood may be required.

Though I am Darkblooded, and do not think I can be bled to death.

[righthemisphere]

[Anything for the cause, right? Lucky he’s a cold blood or he’d be frozen by now.

This is not the first time Raleigh has been on the propaganda circuit but it’s been long enough to wonder what the hell he’d been thinking back then.]

About a person’s worth. I’m hoping to avoid that kind of sacrifice.

Video | Clickclickbloom

[onekindsoul]

[Ruby was a weapons specialist helping out with making sure everyone was equipped for the Leviathan fight. This thing had made her mouth water. The robot, not Releigh. Ew. Boys are smelly.]

I still love, love love this thing!

You know. We could probably use more cold blood too. Imagine if we gave all the weapons an elemental coating too!

We could do some serious damage.

[righthemisphere]

Ruby, that’s a great idea.

I’m a coldblood. Take what you need.

video; un: cakeguy

[vibing]

Nice tits.

[ It's the other cake guy, as far as Yuri can tell. Last name is the same, and that's got to mean something ]

Think that thing is big enough?

[righthemisphere]

[You.]

Thanks. I grew them myself.

[Sure is crossing his arms, though.]

What, she isn't big enough for you, Yuri?

un; bluebird69

[venatoris]

[ that’s a lotta


everything but ]

Okay, this is literally the coolest thing I’ve ever seen but are you sure that’s not a gundam?

[righthemisphere]

[It's a lot for him, too. Pity him, Dean.]

It's definitely a gundam.

video; un: tabris

[peripheries]

Interesting. It's not just the humans in my world who insist on creating giant machines in their image to solve humanity's problems. And they always come at a price.

[He leans back, this kid, who seems a little too cocky but his ears might be slightly red when he glances back and focuses more on Raleigh this time than the Jaeger.]

How much blood do you need?

[righthemisphere]

Seems to be a common reaction.

The numbers are saying about a person's worth. We're trying to avoid that by combining what we can get.

video; un: wulala

[royalfling]

[ Wu is just wolf whistling at Raleigh. That's it. That's the whole tag ]

[righthemisphere]

[Oh you get such a look.

But also it's Wu. So he flexes. Yes, he can move his pecs and yes he can make them dance.]

video || un: oswin

[oddbod]

[Okay, you've got her attention. Big, flashy robot, half-naked bloke. She's only human(-ish), and not entirely immune to this brand of propaganda. As she listens to his spiel, though, her eyes go from amused to- well, still amused, but with something sharper underneath.]

So what's your plan to make sure your little toy's death match doesn't destroy everything anyway? That would be a bit counterproductive.

[righthemisphere]

It's not a toy, Miss. And the idea is that we intercept at sea before it ever gets to shore. We have parameters to limit collateral damage.

Text; un: Reaper

[no_reload]

[Oh great, they have a giant omnic that requires pilots in this place, and it just so happens to be maintained with blood. Now he was the first to know technology could be a boon in wartimes, but that massive rig seemed... in excess.]

What's the point of having something that large operational when most battles are fought on the streets between Sleepers?

What command checks and balances are in place to make certain the pilots don't go rogue from blood corruption or a need for power?

text; un: R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

Fair questions.

The plan is to intercept the leviathan before it makes landfall. We have distance parameters in place to limit collateral damage and the Jaeger will not engage within the city's limits, handing over to our forces on foot.

The blood is for a crystal to maintain the Jaeger's size, it's power bank's are being retrofitted from electricity to lunar essence.

And speaking from personal experience, Jaeger pilots don't do that, but if one were to fall, the Jaeger will cease to function. We pilot in pairs because the neural load of controlling one is too much alone and the pilot will almost certainly die.

[Says the man who has ridden solo and spent a year in the hospital with swiss cheese for brains as a result.]

video | un: stiles

[queenofsarcasm]

[He may be stuck as a girl right now, but his capacity for being a little shit is still intact. There's mischief and sarcasm in in his tone.] Dunno, I might need a little more convincing.

[righthemisphere]

[Squint]

I don't strip if that's what you're getting at..

text; un: doublehedgedsword

[laminae]

oh wow that robot is sick
if my brothers were here they'd think this is the coolest thing ever

i got loads of darkblood you can use
i've been down at the beach making weapons and junk with Pentas
we're testing my plants with his reality warping

[righthemisphere]

Thanks, Fern.

We appreciate your contribution.

Actually, I've been meaning to find you about an unrelated mission. Do you have a moment?

video | un: deku

[wannasmash]

[ He knew it was going to be a thing. He frequented the camp regularly for combat training. But nothing compares to seeing it like it's on a TV commercial. He didn't know their efforts were going to be on TV! And they built so much already!

The high schooler in a green costume fit for a comic convention tries to get a hold of himself. Be cool, be cool! Midoriya sees a giant mecha, yes, and it is far cooler than his school's giant robots because it can be piloted and is therefore more dangerous. But he also sees... an opportunity. ]

Nice to meet you, I'm Deku. [ He says too fast and too loud to the very aesthetically pleasing muscley muscle pilot. He even forgets to attempt English as a courtesy, but that's probably for the best. ]

I would be honored to help stress test your Jaeger. Please let me be your kaiju!

[ He quickly bows where he's sitting. Please say yes, please say yes... ]

[righthemisphere]

[Well, If Deku is speaking Japanese, he's in the right place. Raleigh is fluent. His accent is terrible but it is what it is.

It's hard not to laugh, though. This is very sweet.

He folds his arms over his chest with an amused smile and matches either language.]

I don't know. You're a little small for a kaiju, kiddo.

voice; un zhongli

[brokebitchmountain]

In all my years of life, I have never seen anything quite like this.

[ Zhongli is pretty intrigued to say the least. ]

I will offer my blood if it means to protect the city as a whole. Perhaps I might even be able to erect a shield around this contraption of yours for added protection. If not that then those who will be controlling it.

[righthemisphere]

[Raleigh smiles, dopey and lopsided.]

We appreciate your contribution. Jaegers really are something, aren't they. I felt like I was living in a comic book when they first rolled out.

What kind of shielding do you have?

video | un: 🐟 wanda

[explosion]

You can put your shirt back on.

[ really, it's just not necessary. ]

I'm a Darkblood with a lot of power. If you still need one.

[ once upon a time, wanda never would've raised her hand for anything. she's trying out some new tricks like having some confidence in herself. ]

un; r.hansen

[lefthemisphere]

We're sure not gonna turn it down. These babies take a whole lotta power.

un: eudaimonikos; video

[eudaimonikos]

Do Jaeger pilots just not wear shirts, or...?

[Michael doesn't see the point of this! But anyway:]

Sure, you can have some of my blood. I've never had blood before - I don't really know how much I can lose.

[righthemisphere]

[Weird flex but.. okay?]

Well I..... we appreciate your donation. Really. I promise it won't be too much. I don't know how blood regenerates for darkbloods.

text; un: hh

[luckystriker]

Was the topless selling point really necessary?

[ Herc assumes Chuck's responsible. ]

Is it only darkblood that works? No way to convert other bloodtypes?

text; un: R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

[Raleigh has to sit with this for a while. He recognizes the user name but he hasn't seen it since Deerington. Not a peep since the world ended. Nothing. It hurts in a way he can't articulate.

Herc has been here? All this time? All this time and he hasn't said a word? Not until they've bent over backwards to raise a weapon- Herc's weapon- to fight off a coming kaiju threat?

He's stunned.]

Herc?

text; un: GoldenFlowers

[the_obedient_servant]

[Why is this adult man baring his tits out for the world to see. They're neurodivergent and a minor.]

I'm a darkblood. I'll give you as much as possible, it shouldn't be too much trouble.

There's also the monsters trapped in the Gate. I haven't read enough to know if blood that corrupted is still a viable fuel source, but I think it might be a good idea to put a few of them out of their misery.

[righthemisphere]

[The Gate.. OH- ]

Thank you for your donation. It will make all the difference.

I hadn't considered those monsters. I didn't know they were still there.

You're saying they're made of darkblood?

private audio.

[albaedo]

I see you've already amassed a number of willing contributors. But if a shortage is ever on the horizon, I am also a Darkblood and will gladly offer a donation of my own.

[ with that out of the way— ]

... Though I'd like to ask: what are the capabilities of a Jaeger? I presume it's a man-made invention.

[righthemisphere]

Hi. Yes, it is.

We need... a lot of blood. Your donation would be very welcome. when you have a moment please come down to the camp and someone will direct you our way. He have a blood guy on standby.

What do you mean capabilities? She's got a lot.

holy late replies batman, text; un: violet

[virtuosital]

...wow, that's a really big metal person.

[She's a little stupid.]

[righthemisphere]

Well I should hope so. It's gonna fight a really big monster here in a bit.

Video | un: alphatwin

[sparklehorror]

[Today is a fantastic day to be a fourteen-year-old girl, honestly. The other Pines, consisting of two old grunkles and her twin brother, are probably just delighted to have made familial blood bonds with Mabel in this moment. Woe betide whichever one of them realizes first that Mabel's sudden surge of cackling glee coincides with "darn beautiful men parading around on the network", as Stan would say.

It is okay. Mabel is equally impressed by giant robots and will hone in on that, because commenting on the eye candy would be very rude.]

That. Is. Amazing. How did it get here? Did you, like, build it out of Trench stuff?

[righthemisphere]

[Well, you know. He's all for women in tech and science. And Striker is hella cool.]

No, amazingly.. she's from my world. We recovered her not that long ago. Kind of perfect timing.