[ TEXT ] SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. TO THE WORLD

[goddamngrenades]

Quick Check in for Members of Project Freelancer, the UNSC, and our mutual associates- or anyone that wants to get word out about themselves having changed or not changed or...whatever. Has questions? This is Agent York and Delta, so far we're unaffected by this time ripple thing. Connie, North, Wash, Grif, Chief, Theta, Cortana, Locus, Azucar, Parker, Pidge, Fareeha, Amélie - and anyone else I'm forgetting, shoot me a text back, alright?

I'll deliver pancakes and blankets or other care package items if needed. If you'd rather come talk in person swing by my habitat, I'll be hanging in the bar. Directions are below. Also, Jason- buddy? Swing by, I feel like I owe you a beer.

[ In neat green lines there's a little holographic map showing how to get to York's dive bar from the recipient's current location, wherever they might be. ]

Specific refreshments are available upon request.

Comments

[goddamngrenades]

Former Sergeant Murray, reporting. I'm not kidding.

[ God, just typing that makes his stomach clench- but it is what it is and if Chief needs some kind of framework? He can swing it again. ]

PFL didn't teach me shit, true, but I had a squad during the war. I can work as a go-between till y'all get something better set up.

[steelandtemper]

[She can't run voice stress analysis on text, and even if she could, she cares about York's problems a whole lot less than she does John's.]

You can just tell him you were honorably discharged if you want. Hopefully that's not a lie, and if it is, don't tell me. Certainly don't tell him.

The issue is that he doesn't know how to deal with civilians, and that's how everyone around here acts.

[goddamngrenades]

I was honorably discharged, actually, so that works.

[ Something something trauma something something bureaucratic red tape something something. Should've kept to the front, shouldn't have signed on with the project- old issues, old news. ]

Yeah that- that's gonna be a problem.

[steelandtemper]

[Cortana herself is the galaxy's biggest protocol-violating smartass, but there's an asterisk on AIs even in the UNSC, their eccentricities tolerated in light of their irreplaceable abilities.]

He might just retreat to the Hab Deck once he establishes there's nothing for him to do...or he might try to invent his own assignment.

[goddamngrenades]

Could we spin 'lent out to a civilian run organization' and 'getting to know his teammates' as an assignment? Because neither of those are untrue.

[steelandtemper]

Actually, I'm just going to tell him there's a temporal anomaly that researchers are working to resolve and that he's on leave. It's only the "on leave" part I'm worried about.

[goddamngrenades]

Organize the leave time. Give him a rough schedule like he'd have back home; coupla guys in my squad had a hard time relaxing when they got the chance. Organizing shit made it feel easier for them.

[steelandtemper]

0830-0900: Nervous breakdown over enforced idleness

He'll see through busywork, but I might be able to throw together something that'll hold his attention.

[goddamngrenades]

When in doubt: Training sim. He'll have to learn how to fly, that'll buy you some time.

[steelandtemper]

I don't think you really appreciate how quickly Spartans learn.

[goddamngrenades]

Five minutes of him figuring shit out is five more minutes you've got to think- and you can come up with a lot in five minutes.

[steelandtemper]

He'll cheerfully run combat sims 'til he drops. The problem is putting together a fireteam that can keep up with him. Shame Namorita's gone. Her tactics were terrible but I'm not sure she understood the concept of fatigue.

[goddamngrenades]

I'll put a call out, see if anyone bites.

Arranging playdates for a supersoldier- this is not how I thought my day would go.

i'm pretty much just trying to set up cap and baby john, here

[steelandtemper]

He will sleep eventually. For about four hours.

[He's not a toddler, Cortana.]

it SHALL BE DONE

[goddamngrenades]

Sounds like someone I used to know. I'll put an ear to the ground and get back to you, feed you a list of potentials.