This is Ufi Wrennit from the Port Outreach Spiral, keeping you on the crest of the currents of our times.  I’ve managed to secure a rare interview with the elusive coordinator of the Rabbit Rover mediator team, who are as the spinal cord to our fair city’s protective neural network.  So, JH…
 
JH Mediator, chuckling: I think you give us too much credit, Ufi. There are other roaming teams.
 
Ufi Wrennit: But none quite so dashingly prominent in the public awareness as your team.  In fact, many claim your group is more attention-seeking than mediating, though not all agree, of course.  Do you have an answer to such allegations?
 
JH: Are you sure there’ve been many, or is this one of those things journalists ask to get a rise out of their subjects?
 
Ufi: Tell us about a typical Rover mediation shift.
 
JH: I don’t think there is a typical one, but on a usual day I sign on from one of the Mediator Houses, often in the Wrecks or Twin Cables. When a vicinage-local mediator team needs assistance, the call is referred to the roaming teams. A lot of what we handle are unusual situations, or the kinds of things that might take a local mediator out of action too long, like negotiating relationship difficulties between members of a pod.
 
Ufi: Interesting, how does it help to have you taken out of rotation for relationship counseling?  Wouldn’t that be a vicinage-local responsibility?
 
JH: Again, it’s just one example of many. But relationship troubles often benefit from the insight of a total outsider, and they potentially take a mediator off their patrol for an entire night. We like to keep locals out and available wherever possible. Besides, it’s the kind of work that’s potentially very exhausting so if a mediator has been handling a lot of it, they might call a roamer just for a break.
 
Ufi: Well that sounds a bit less exciting than your acquired reputation, surely it’s not all pod counseling.
 
JH: There certainly is more to it. Mediators see almost every aspect of life in the city in our duties: births and deaths, accidents and celebrations. A lot of what we do is just try to understand what is happening in the city. When you hear a weird noise late at night, its often a mediator who finds out it’s actually Jonas Hall practicing their ‘Sonata for Murdered Squeezebox’ in your garden.
 
Ufi: Yes, we had an essay assessing the essential jejune and puerile qualities of the Jonas Hall Troupe’s performance art shows just last issue.  What sort of unusual situations arise for your team, outside of regular life routines?
 
JH: Just the other night we dealt with some kind of prank at a research facility in the Triangle. All I knew was there was a report of something strange going on, and the next thing I know my Roamers are surrounded by young nagara wearing underwraps on their heads, opening every door and dumping out the contents of desks. That was certainly weird.
 
Ufi: I think I heard about that one, rumor was that your prized Rovers couldn’t prevent the pranksters from causing significant property damage, even though there were three of your team on site, correct?
 
JH: That’s correct. Three of my top mediators were at the location. I think you overestimate the damage the pranksters did, but it’s immaterial: the job of the mediators in a unfamiliar situation is always to observe first, intercede later. We watch, and then respond. That’s why we wear the eye. Our presence prevented repeat underwraps invasions, and my roamers helped assess the damage and clean up.
 
Ufi: There have also been rumors about a higher than normal incidence of the percentage of your team on medical or personal leave.  Is it time to do a bit of metaphorical deck-cleaning?
 
JH: I’m not going to comment on leave, you’ll have to ask the individual mediators. I will say I am more confident than ever in the reliability of my team, and their ability to ask for leave when they need it.
 
Ufi: If the rest of the Rabbit Rovers are as imperturbable as you, JH, then I’d say Port Outreach is in well-caring hands.  Any final remarks you want to leave with our interested readers?
 
JH: If there are nagara out there who are looking for a way to experience their city in a way unlike any other, I’d encourage mediator training. Ask at your local Mediator House or ask your local mediator — there’s one closer than you think. Thanks for having me, Ufi.
 
Ufi: We’ll be in touch if any of our readers have more questions for you, JH.  Thanks for your time, and remember, Port Outreach is watching you!
 
JH: And we’re watching Port Outreach. Goodnight.