[video]

[blue_ice]

[ Someone is trying very hard to be professional, an utter contrast to his last broadcast. He's wearing his orange uniform properly for once, no popped collars or dangling hoodies. He begins with a small wave. He's trying to look friendly. ]

If you haven't met me before, I'm Seto Kaiba, and I'm running for a position train council. I wish the best to all our candidates, of course, and I urge everyone to hear us out and make your decision based on who will best represent our interests as a group.

I thought I'd tell you a little about myself, to better inform you. On my home world I'm CEO of Kaiba Corporation, one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies. We develop video games and virtual reality augmentation for board, tabletop, and card games. If I have enough points after the bear donations I promised, I'll give a demonstration of my work.

I'll acknowledge that going from chairman to counsel would be an adjustment for me. If you knew me from home, you'd know that I have a reputation for being...standoffish, to put it as mildly as possible. I didn't like people and made it known. I wanted to be left alone to pursue my digital dreams and share them with the world from on high.

But living and working with all of you for the past few weeks has reminded me that I started my journey wanting to help others who needed joy in their lives. I want to do this because the more prepared we are, the safer we'll all be. That's why I'm looking to expand our educational offerings, as well as our gaming car's activities---gaming has a way of teaching us about life. And binding us together.

Now I'll open the floor to any questions. Thanks for listening, and best of luck to everyone.

[ He wipes a little sweat from his brow before pausing. That was...difficult, to say the least. But he's glad to get it out there. ]

Comments

[maxwellsdaemon]

[Tilts his head, a small, half smile upon his lips.]

You made video games? And hate people. And you've changed in the last few weeks?

What's stoppin you from changing back and becomin a dick who hates people?

What makes you qualified to look after a train of over 100 people when all you know is video games?

[blue_ice]

Oh, I'm still not nice. I acknowledge that now. I have a lot more to learn about working with people on a personal level. But I'm rational, and I know that this experience will be better for all of us, including myself, in the long run if the peace is kept.

First, games are not all I know, and I've worked with thousands on a professional level. The company was a weapons dealing enterprise when I first arrived. As I rose through the ranks, I worked on a plan to turn all that state of the art technology toward enriching lives instead of destroying them. And I carried it out.

I know weapons and defense tech because that's what I was trained for. If we amass the right resources, I can build us a defense that we sorely need after the last disaster of a mission. We were sent to a crumbling space station and thrown headfirst into being fighter pilots and mechanics, with little training on the matter. I want to better prepare us for the next disaster. Many were hurt and one even died. I don't want to see that again.

[ Oh, what's this. Duo's getting a bit of emotion out of him. He looks like he's lost in thought for a moment. ]

[maxwellsdaemon]

You need to work on your people skills. And whats relevant.

All that bullshit about your business? Don't care. I mean, some might. But that doesn't tell me squat about what you'd gonna do for us right here and now.

But the rest? You're right. Those are valid concerns and valid reasons, but also somethin you can do without being on the council. Kinda wondering if there should be two... I know you guys have team leaders and things. But a group of people who deal with mission stuff, defence, weapons and preparing for those things would be ideal.

... I've talked to people. People who should not be fighting. But they're made to. That's fucked up. I get that it's what this train does, doesn't stop it being fucked up. Helping keep those people safe should be a priority. And the rest of us armed. Less people will die that way.

That's just my two cents. But I'm less a strategy guy.

[blue_ice]

Understood. Look, I know that I'm a longshot at best. I want to raise these issues to the attention of the eventual council.

But my main issue is protecting children, I agree on that. I didn't have a childhood, but I gave everything so my younger brother could still have one. I'd take the ice bucket again if that means the kids have a reason to laugh today.

Most of them want to help and don't want to be coddled, I can see that. So I'll teach what I can of the tasks further from the front line. Repairs, simple first aid. But no one should be forced to. To be alone and afraid...it's a horrible experience, and I want to protect everyone I can.

[maxwellsdaemon]

[Idly scratches the side of his cheek as he thinks about that.]

But that's not campaigning, is it? Dude, you're doing this wrong. You're supposed to be selling yourself, not being a down on yourself.

[He frowns]

Join the club. Never had one of those. Kids shouldn't be fighting full stop. But I know shit happens. They shouldn't be forced to grow up too fast... But that's just my opinion based on my experiences.

Teaching things like that is a good idea. A good start.

[blue_ice]

I'm being realistic. I have to be prepared to work within my role as it is now, to overcome setbacks.

Maybe I'm not ready. But I'm not happy with the current situation, the conflation of military and domestic leadership, and I want to clearly separate them. There are no permanent records of past events or past decisions to look back on, and we should have those for transparency's sake.