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video;
[A brand new face greets the network today. Although this is Alexander Hamilton's first time using such a device to address a large group of people, it would be hard to guess based off of the confident gleam in his dark, intelligent eyes and the cordial smile he offers his audience as he holds the MID out far enough for people to clearly see him.
In other words...GATHER ROUND CHILDREN, 'CAUSE THIS ASSHOLE HAS BEEN HERE FOR ALL OF 48 HOURS AND HE'S READY TO SOLVE SOME PROBLEMS.]
Ladies and gentleman, and all androgynous species I've yet to have the pleasure of meeting:
It has recently come to my attention that this ship is in apparent need of a new justice system, as well as security measures designed to curtail future violence. But before I delve into that, I'd like to establish some reasons for making these changes in the first place.
I probably don't need to remind you, but I think it bears mentioning: we have given our consent to live and work aboard this vessel until it reaches its destination. This destination, as I've been told, houses people with knowledge and expertise related to the Ingress, and are currently our best bet in getting home. Personally, I've got a lot of shit to do back home, and I highly doubt I'm the only one here who wants to leave. Do we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that these Ingress experts can help us? No, but until we find any better clues, this is the best shot we've got, and I'm going to take it while learning as much as I can about this universe and the circumstances that brought us here in the first place in hopes of going back as soon as possible.
Undoubtedly, some of you take issue over whether our current destination is the best course, but I think we can all agree on this: the ship doesn't run as efficiently when crew members do harm to one another, which hinders our ultimate goal of finding a way out of this mess. We can argue about morality and cultural difference all day long, but it doesn't change that fact. Any policies or laws we put in place must absolutely promote and uphold the objective of keeping ship life running smoothly and effectively so we're better equipped to reach our respective destinations, wherever they may be, as quickly as possible.
With that in mind, I'd like to posit the following basic principles underlying the plan I've written:
[Hamilton shuffles some notes he's written for himself, his eyes glancing downward for just for a moment before he straightens his posture and continues.]
Number one - The consequences of murder as it is defined on the Moira are not permanent; therefore, permanent punitive measures are unreasonable and unjust.
Number two - The Moira is not a sovereign state nor a military vessel, and it should not be governed as such.
Number three - Crew members should be judged by their deeds and actions from the time they officially give consent to live and work on board the Moira. If all crew members are to be treated the same, then all crew members should be granted the same freedom to define the content of their character on their own terms. This protects innocent crew members from potential slander they have no way to defend against, and also gives others the opportunity to start over and lead better lives regardless of their prior circumstances.
Number four - Due to long-standing conflicts between many crew members, it's unrealistic to expect that the certainty of punishment will be enough to deter every act of violence and subsequent disruptions to ship life.
Number five - The previous point necessitates the creation of a Security Council, assembled by crew members through a democratic process with regular elections, which works in tandem with security officers who've already been appointed by the Captains. The Council should focus on drafting and implementing measures to curtail violence while remaining flexible enough to meet the needs of the ever-changing ship population.
Number six - Although all crew members begin at the same rank and are afforded the freedom to define their character and role on board the Moira, the responsibility of making ship-wide decisions should predominantly go to those who have grown accustomed to ship life and have demonstrated a consistent willingness to cooperate with fellow crew members for the sake of finding a way home as quickly as possible.
Number seven - In order to ensure trust, transparency and consistency, the Security Council must be governed by a constitution that has been ratified through a vote and has been granted approval by the ship's Captains. The constitution should provide a general outline of the Council's objectives and binding principles in order to serve as a measuring stick for elected members of the Council and give them the authority to draft measures on the crew's behalf.
Number eight - Due to the transient nature of the crew's overall makeup, Security Council positions should include roles reserved for technically-minded individuals who have the talent and dedication to come up with inventive, innovative ways to uphold ship safety and security without the need for an overly-large police force.
Number nine - Disciplinary measures should include programs and methods to peacefully manage long-standing conflicts between crew members and promote troubled individuals' rehabilitation and reintegration into ship life.
[To signify a shift in his address, he pauses and leans his weight to one side.]
Now, based off of these simple concepts, I've drafted a basic plan that should mitigate a lot of our current security and safety problems.
First of all, I believe that the crime of murder, as it's been defined on the Moira, should be met with a reset to Incipen rank, the loss of all corresponding rewards of the offender's previous rank, as well as a temporary suspension of armory and weapons training privileges.
I'm also personally fond of Mister Barnes' suggestion of swapping long-term solitary confinement out for something more constructive and useful, like exercises or tasks that promote teamwork in the simulation room. Aside from that, it would be good to assign probation officers too, to make sure that recent offenders are integrating back into ship life while staying out of trouble and doing their fair share of work.
Some of you are probably asking how to determine what counts as murder and what should be considered self-defense. For that, I propose a trial system in which the accused should be allowed to make a statement defending his or herself. Witnesses should have the opportunity to give an account of what they saw, and any relevant evidence should be presented. The verdict can be determined by a jury consisting of the Captains, members of the Security Council, and a select number of crew members who are not on the Security Council. The third group of jurors should be randomly selected from a larger pool of crew members who are eligible to vote. This will prevent matters of guilt from turning into a popularity contest and ensure that those who do vote have carefully considered all the evidence.
As far as Security Council elections go, I believe those with a rank of Legato or higher should be eligible to run, and those with a rank of Gubernato or higher should be eligible to vote, as this demonstrates that the crew members in question possess the qualities and willingness to cooperate in day-to-day ship life and are familiar enough with ship culture and objectives to make ship-wide decisions.
To account for disappearances and other likely changes in the crew's population, Security Council elections can be held every six months or if a third of the Council seats become vacant, whichever comes first. Once elected, a crew member can keep their seat on the Council until they either step down, are removed from the directory, or are stripped of the rank necessary to remain eligible for their position. If all positions are full by the time the next election period arrives, other eligible crew members can come forward to challenge individual Security Council members for their seat.
We'll need to determine appropriate punishments for milder altercations and infractions, of course, but we won't have any effective framework of how to deal with other crimes 'til we decide on how to handle the most violent offenses. For that reason, I strongly suggest we first decide on a clear way to deal with murder charges and maintain ship security. This will set a precedent on how to address other policy changes regarding crime and safety.
So! [The word is punctuated with a bold smile.] Now that we've gone over this plan and its underlying principles, we've got a couple of choices. We can all keep spitting disorganized ideas into the wind, or we can hold an official discussion over my plan, make any modifications needed to satisfy people's misgivings, and put it into action. What do you say?
[Hamilton doesn't address the fact he's a new arrival or spend any time propping up his credentials. His message, he believes, should speak for itself. And if anyone wants to take umbrage with some upstart's ambitious proposal, well...they won't be the first, and they sure as hell won't be the last. That's fine, though. He loves to talk to people about his ideas, about the future, and if "talking" occasionally involves yelling and hurling insults, he'll gladly chomp at that too.
YOU'RE WELCOME, EVERYONE.]
In other words...GATHER ROUND CHILDREN, 'CAUSE THIS ASSHOLE HAS BEEN HERE FOR ALL OF 48 HOURS AND HE'S READY TO SOLVE SOME PROBLEMS.]
Ladies and gentleman, and all androgynous species I've yet to have the pleasure of meeting:
It has recently come to my attention that this ship is in apparent need of a new justice system, as well as security measures designed to curtail future violence. But before I delve into that, I'd like to establish some reasons for making these changes in the first place.
I probably don't need to remind you, but I think it bears mentioning: we have given our consent to live and work aboard this vessel until it reaches its destination. This destination, as I've been told, houses people with knowledge and expertise related to the Ingress, and are currently our best bet in getting home. Personally, I've got a lot of shit to do back home, and I highly doubt I'm the only one here who wants to leave. Do we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that these Ingress experts can help us? No, but until we find any better clues, this is the best shot we've got, and I'm going to take it while learning as much as I can about this universe and the circumstances that brought us here in the first place in hopes of going back as soon as possible.
Undoubtedly, some of you take issue over whether our current destination is the best course, but I think we can all agree on this: the ship doesn't run as efficiently when crew members do harm to one another, which hinders our ultimate goal of finding a way out of this mess. We can argue about morality and cultural difference all day long, but it doesn't change that fact. Any policies or laws we put in place must absolutely promote and uphold the objective of keeping ship life running smoothly and effectively so we're better equipped to reach our respective destinations, wherever they may be, as quickly as possible.
With that in mind, I'd like to posit the following basic principles underlying the plan I've written:
[Hamilton shuffles some notes he's written for himself, his eyes glancing downward for just for a moment before he straightens his posture and continues.]
Number one - The consequences of murder as it is defined on the Moira are not permanent; therefore, permanent punitive measures are unreasonable and unjust.
Number two - The Moira is not a sovereign state nor a military vessel, and it should not be governed as such.
Number three - Crew members should be judged by their deeds and actions from the time they officially give consent to live and work on board the Moira. If all crew members are to be treated the same, then all crew members should be granted the same freedom to define the content of their character on their own terms. This protects innocent crew members from potential slander they have no way to defend against, and also gives others the opportunity to start over and lead better lives regardless of their prior circumstances.
Number four - Due to long-standing conflicts between many crew members, it's unrealistic to expect that the certainty of punishment will be enough to deter every act of violence and subsequent disruptions to ship life.
Number five - The previous point necessitates the creation of a Security Council, assembled by crew members through a democratic process with regular elections, which works in tandem with security officers who've already been appointed by the Captains. The Council should focus on drafting and implementing measures to curtail violence while remaining flexible enough to meet the needs of the ever-changing ship population.
Number six - Although all crew members begin at the same rank and are afforded the freedom to define their character and role on board the Moira, the responsibility of making ship-wide decisions should predominantly go to those who have grown accustomed to ship life and have demonstrated a consistent willingness to cooperate with fellow crew members for the sake of finding a way home as quickly as possible.
Number seven - In order to ensure trust, transparency and consistency, the Security Council must be governed by a constitution that has been ratified through a vote and has been granted approval by the ship's Captains. The constitution should provide a general outline of the Council's objectives and binding principles in order to serve as a measuring stick for elected members of the Council and give them the authority to draft measures on the crew's behalf.
Number eight - Due to the transient nature of the crew's overall makeup, Security Council positions should include roles reserved for technically-minded individuals who have the talent and dedication to come up with inventive, innovative ways to uphold ship safety and security without the need for an overly-large police force.
Number nine - Disciplinary measures should include programs and methods to peacefully manage long-standing conflicts between crew members and promote troubled individuals' rehabilitation and reintegration into ship life.
[To signify a shift in his address, he pauses and leans his weight to one side.]
Now, based off of these simple concepts, I've drafted a basic plan that should mitigate a lot of our current security and safety problems.
First of all, I believe that the crime of murder, as it's been defined on the Moira, should be met with a reset to Incipen rank, the loss of all corresponding rewards of the offender's previous rank, as well as a temporary suspension of armory and weapons training privileges.
I'm also personally fond of Mister Barnes' suggestion of swapping long-term solitary confinement out for something more constructive and useful, like exercises or tasks that promote teamwork in the simulation room. Aside from that, it would be good to assign probation officers too, to make sure that recent offenders are integrating back into ship life while staying out of trouble and doing their fair share of work.
Some of you are probably asking how to determine what counts as murder and what should be considered self-defense. For that, I propose a trial system in which the accused should be allowed to make a statement defending his or herself. Witnesses should have the opportunity to give an account of what they saw, and any relevant evidence should be presented. The verdict can be determined by a jury consisting of the Captains, members of the Security Council, and a select number of crew members who are not on the Security Council. The third group of jurors should be randomly selected from a larger pool of crew members who are eligible to vote. This will prevent matters of guilt from turning into a popularity contest and ensure that those who do vote have carefully considered all the evidence.
As far as Security Council elections go, I believe those with a rank of Legato or higher should be eligible to run, and those with a rank of Gubernato or higher should be eligible to vote, as this demonstrates that the crew members in question possess the qualities and willingness to cooperate in day-to-day ship life and are familiar enough with ship culture and objectives to make ship-wide decisions.
To account for disappearances and other likely changes in the crew's population, Security Council elections can be held every six months or if a third of the Council seats become vacant, whichever comes first. Once elected, a crew member can keep their seat on the Council until they either step down, are removed from the directory, or are stripped of the rank necessary to remain eligible for their position. If all positions are full by the time the next election period arrives, other eligible crew members can come forward to challenge individual Security Council members for their seat.
We'll need to determine appropriate punishments for milder altercations and infractions, of course, but we won't have any effective framework of how to deal with other crimes 'til we decide on how to handle the most violent offenses. For that reason, I strongly suggest we first decide on a clear way to deal with murder charges and maintain ship security. This will set a precedent on how to address other policy changes regarding crime and safety.
So! [The word is punctuated with a bold smile.] Now that we've gone over this plan and its underlying principles, we've got a couple of choices. We can all keep spitting disorganized ideas into the wind, or we can hold an official discussion over my plan, make any modifications needed to satisfy people's misgivings, and put it into action. What do you say?
[Hamilton doesn't address the fact he's a new arrival or spend any time propping up his credentials. His message, he believes, should speak for itself. And if anyone wants to take umbrage with some upstart's ambitious proposal, well...they won't be the first, and they sure as hell won't be the last. That's fine, though. He loves to talk to people about his ideas, about the future, and if "talking" occasionally involves yelling and hurling insults, he'll gladly chomp at that too.
YOU'RE WELCOME, EVERYONE.]
voice;
Usually when they don't have anything useful to add to the discussion.
[He does talk a lot, it's a fair criticism that Hamilton can admit to, but now's not really the time for it.]
voice;
Point taken. But y'know, sometimes there's only a finite amount of words to say about any one point. Pretty sure you just used 'em all.
[Another beat, another crunch.]
You're an Incipen, right?
voice;
That's right.
voice;
Still.
He just kinda seems like he'll get mad easy.]
You've got a long way to Gubernato. [The smile in his voice is palpable. Cheerful moreso than mocking.] Sure you've properly demonstrated your familiarity with the ship culture and objectives to be making ship-wide decisions?
voice;
voice;
You must really wanna get home.
voice;
Yes! As a matter of fact, I do want to get home. I don't know why people are so shocked that I care about what happens to us on the way there.
voice;
I'm sympathetic, pal, really. And a little jealous, not gonna lie. [Is that sincerity? Weird.] But I'd run outta phalanges before I finished counting off how many people don't got a home to go back to.
Couldn't help but notice a gap in your proclamation for those poor jerks. Consider it a little constructive criticism.
voice;
...Look, I'm sorry you don't have a home to go back to. [And he is, really.] At the same time, I don't see why that means we should permit violence in our halls. Besides, if we find a way to send people back home, wouldn't it be possible to accompany someone to a world with the means to take you in?
voice;
[It's a hasty evasion, certainly not one of his cleanest, but all the same.]
N' I'm not saying violence is the answer. Don't really care for it myself, personally. I'm just saying the spirit of cooperation is gonna be a tough sell for those saps when they don't feel they have any freedom or choice in their lives to start with.
[He'd leave it there but, well, the speculative science there is enough to make Sans chuckle.]
How versed are you in quantum mechanics, pal?
voice;
[He lets out a small breath and admits:] I'm not. It wasn't relevant in my line of work.
[It wasn't really around yet either, where he's from, but he's not going to draw attention to that.]
voice;
[To say the least.]
I'm not sure how viable it is to jump into a time you don't belong to. Sorta makes it tough for a guy to find their motivation. Feeling like you don't have agency can throw a wrench into any codified system. Add in prejudice and you've got yourself a shit cocktail, my friend.
[There's a beat of pause.]
Something tells me you already know that, though. This your day job? [His grin is almost audible.] "Conflict resolution?"
voice;
[..."Conflict resolution", he says.] Hah! Well, I helped win a war, so I'd say that qualifies. Before I came here, though, I'd just started practicing law.
voice;
[It's a phone call, sure, but his wink comes unbidden all the same.]
But what do i gotta tell you that for. A soldier turned lawyer... sounds like you've got the cosmic dissonance thing down. [What war? Sans won't ask. He likes this guy, even if he does talk a whole lot. The last thing he wants to is to find out he was on the opposite side of the war that imprisoned his people.] Or do you just like picking fights?
voice;
I prefer the term spirited debate, personally. To say I enjoy starting them isn’t entirely accurate, either. [His life would be a lot simpler if he didn’t have to claw his way through everything.] Finishing what I start, though…now that I like.
[Let’s be real, though, he likes picking them too.]
voice;
[He flops backwards into the library chair he's currently occupying, a low chuckle bit between his teeth.]
So. What does finishing what you start look like, in this particular case? Shipwide peace or you with a first mate badge?
voice;
[Upon hearing that last question, the confident smile comes through in Hamilton's voice.]
Why not both? [Hah.] In all seriousness, though, it all boils down to making a system that actually works. If I have to become first mate to do that, fine. If not, that's fine too. I'm not power hungry, if that's what you're asking.
voice;
[Is he complimenting him? No? Maybe? It's not entirely clear. It's endearing, if nothing else. Distantly, Sans thinks of his brother.]
This place'll eat you alive if you're not careful, though.
voice;
[Honestly, he has bigger fish to fry than to start vying for a first mate’s badge just because it’s shiny.
The warning has him cracking a small smile.]
Lemme guess. “Careful”, in this case, means “talk less, smile more”?
voice;
[At the clarification, Sans just chuckles.]
What, you don't like that philosophy? Works pretty well for me.
[Then again, he is a skeleton. The smiling is semi-automatic.]