For the People

Tal Vok, Soldier of the Steel Meridian. (Indie Warframe OC.  Multifandom/nonfandom friendly!)

[meridiangrunt]

// I might have a little too much in-game time, actually.

[massvitrify]

Distress signal out of a Grineer mobile shipyard orbiting Deimos.

Phorid manifestation.

It is in everyone's best interest if it is quelled quickly.

What is exciting is how they react to me being the one who answers their SOS.

[meridiangrunt]

Troops tell tales of such long after the battle.  There is fear.  Awe, for those brave enough to utter such.  Anger, frequently.

But the system has never seen a Tenno tell a lie, or to fall for one twice.  When one offers aid, there is not a single thought of betrayal.

[meridiangrunt]

infested-meridian​:

I know that was meant to be a warning but it has only encouraged me

It was more in jest than warning.  Have never seen them show jealousy.

Might be amusing if they did.

[meridiangrunt]

infested-meridian​:

Perhaps a mask as well, then? Not of Grineer make, but if I am to be resigned to life as an urban legend I may as well look the part.

Hm. My attempt at humor makes me sound more bitter than I am.

Only downside of that plan?  Tenno might get jealous if one not of them manages to become a legend in Ostron eyes.

Would make for quite the story, though.

[infested-meridian]

Im at peace with being a charger but i wish i didn't look infested sometimes. I want to go shopping in Cetus but half of my body is covered in grey Meat Moss

Also I'm Grineer but i think they're familiar enough with the Meridian to recognize a defector.

[meridiangrunt]

They know of us, but their hate of Grineer runs deep.  Cannot blame them for this.  Have had easier visits wearing heavy canvas, hooded robes - not armor.  

Suggest you disguise, Ostron are very wary of infections.  Covering entirely might be your only means of peaceful entrance.   They will be suspicious, but better suspect than hostile; you would not be the first hooded figure they’ve seen.  Suggest travel during sunrise, as the days get too hot for heavy clothing.

[meridiangrunt]

massvitrify​:

I see. I suppose I should not judge too harshly. I myself am far too dense to swim without aid. 

Judge as you will.  It should not take Tenno wisdom to know limbs of metal and chassis of steel make poor floatation.

[meridiangrunt]

dr-ducttape​:

Ugh. I am forever greatful i was with Lech Kril instead of Hek.

You and your ears both.  I’m happy to not have to hear that voice any longer.

Meridian is much easier to take orders from.  More sensible.

[meridiangrunt]

One may ask how Grineer boots end in Ostron lakes.

Try watching Grineer swim.  The answer will quickly follow.

Our clones are all full of holes and metal parts.

[dr-ducttape]

One would think they would teach us. But no.

[meridiangrunt]

Imagine the attempt.  The bellowing at heavily armoured bodies flailing in knee high water.  

“FLOAT!  FLOAT BETTER, MAGGOTS!  BREATHE AIR!  STOP BREATHING WATER!”

The pointlessness.  

[wolfsong-the-bloody-beast]

I'm obsessed with this Steel Meridian Grineer that regularly interrupts his work to water the plant nearby, which seems to be thriving.

[meridiangrunt]

massvitrify​:

Yes, the Strata relay. I remember. I was active during that operation, I was recommended to it via Cephalon Simaris, who I had been working with. The Ostron would certainly know of me. 

On this platform? That answer is more difficult than it has any right to be. There was a period of… temporal disconnect. I spent several years dead. I am told those years passed as if in an instant, from the perspective of those I had spoken to on here.

Strange things, and stranger times.  If you have no answer, then I do not think I could grasp one either.  Time passed painfully with the golden kings and their masked thralls.  To think others did not see the hours and days, weeks and months, and years and pains brought by the golden thralls and their king... I would envy that.  

Still, we remain, which is more than can be said for many and some.  Perhaps we will undo another of the Balor’s tragedies, and rebuild another relay to honour those lost.

[meridiangrunt]

One may ask how Grineer boots end in Ostron lakes.

Try watching Grineer swim.  The answer will quickly follow.

Our clones are all full of holes and metal parts.

[massvitrify]

When raiding Corpus targets I will take the time to do a quick sweep of any storage caches to confiscate some more difficult to source resources, such as Fieldron samples, Muon batteries, etc.

Occasionally, upon opening a locker, I will find a Corpus crewman cowering inside.

I do spare them.

I would not consider it much of a mercy, however, considering what their supervisors will do in my stead.

[meridiangrunt]

Defectors are born by such acts.  Seeing an enemy offer more mercy than their own superiors would grant raises many questions for soldiers.

You may meet them again later.  Perhaps they will be better then.

[meridiangrunt]

massvitrify​:

Steel Meridian. Then I have reason to believe we are allies. That is good.

I am… aware that my open social presence is well outside the norm for my kind. But, we are in strange times, and strange things do happen. Yes. It is good to meet you as well, Tal Vok. I am the Tenno known as Gara.

I think the relay your kind and ours worked to rebuild are testament enough to allegiance.  Have heard of you in particular, from Ostron.

How long have you been here?

[meridiangrunt]

It is strange to call war ‘glorious’.

War is no glory.  To be so afraid of others that you destroy their homes, bring ruin to their people, and burn their knowledge.  To inflict suffering and despair on those who meant no harm to you.  To destroy things that are not yours, because they would not be given freely to you.

War is cowardice.

[meridiangrunt]

massvitrify​:

Then I have been proven wrong. Yes. I am Tenno. And who are you? One of those mentioned above, or a different category entirely?

Tal Vok.  Valiant of the Steel Meridian.  

There were more, before, of those aware but not of your kind.  Grineer, corpus, civilians.  Less now, though.  

Think we might both know why.  Hard to miss it.

Good to meet you.

[meridiangrunt]

There are not as many here as there once was.  Unfortunate, but such happens over...

...Two years.

Unexpected.

[massvitrify]

Occasionally the messages I receive sound as if they could have been sent by a relay attendant, or a Cephalon, or even a Corpus separatist. And yet, I have not encountered such. Perhaps the odd temporal and transdimensional properties of this datachannel are to blame.

[meridiangrunt]

There are some of those who you have mentioned.

Tenno.