The Consortium Corporate Headquarters: Alverton Building
Downtown Boston
21st January, 2011.
7:01 amThere is only so far deep breathing can get you in life.
That is precisely why the rhythmic
clack clack of a Newton’s Cradle filled my office. Far too many upstarts had found their way into the city, lately. Knowing who was the cause of it all riled me far more than some freak of a Thinker. Faxing off an email to what would surely be a rather upset Happenstance, I spoke to my empty office once again.
“Remain outside, then. I’d much rather the cleaners didn’t come bursting in here to sweep the floors again, anyway. I’ll simply send the babysitters down to collect you when they arrive.” I allowed myself a smirk. It’s the little things that get you through the day. “A friendly word of advice, however. You may wish to hold your tongue around your betters - especially in Allston. I have better things to do than informing the higher-ups that one of their Thinkers had been turned into a fine, red mist.”
@ProPro@FancyHats@hagroden
Gladius Base
Brookline
21st January, 2011.
9:11 amThe reports coming in from the soldiers weren’t good. Our first squad had completely ballsed up their operation and brought a hive of aggravated Wonderland mooks crashing down around them. Now the number of bodies - dead or otherwise - littering the street continued to grow as both side refused to back down. I wanted as little backlash from this as possible, though. Sending Vulcan or Arms Race to clean up the mess would be the logical thing to do.
But I’d be fucked if I was giving Sickle-Cell any more reason to come knocking.
Instead, i began calling in a few favour from unaffiliated capes to bolster our ranks in the hopes of salvaging something out of the carnage before the Protectorate or PRT showed up and ruined all the fun.
Leaning against the table, I massaged the temples of my head. It wasn’t even sunrise and I already had a headache.
That’ll teach me to hire lackluster lackeys.
Protectorate Headquarters: The Zenith
Above Boston
21st January, 2011.
9:20 amAnomaly appeared first, but I didn’t bother turning to greet her. From the full-wall window, I could see a plume of smoke drifting up from some of the smaller buildings. Christ knows what those idiots were doing down there. Muffled laughter echoed from just outside the door before it slid open to reveal Gestalt and Septima - both already in costume. They had continued to joke until the last second, and now looked awkwardly around the pristine room.
“Are you both quite finished?” I barked. “You aren’t here to mess around.”
The Ward’s eyes went wide. Gestalt shifted nervously from foot to foot, while Septima recovered slightly quicker. “Y...Yes, sir.”
Knight clunked through the door a half-second later.
“Good, you’re all here.” Turning from the window, the sun chose that exact moment to appear over the horizon. The room was suddenly turned into a bright orange fireball - light glaring off every possible surface - before the automatic shades kicked in and darkened the room. My hand swiped through the air and brought up a holographic screen currently showing a battle from a variety of different angles.
The fighting was relatively fierce, but both sides hand entrenched themselves behind vehicles or in alleyways, so neither side was making any advance. “A Wonderland drug run came under fire by a number of Gladius soldiers. Despite ostensibly having the element of surprise, Gladius dropped the ball and all-out war has kicked off in a contained block in the Dorchester district.”
“Since these animals have decided to pick rush-hour as the time for their little dominance conflict, the impact on the city is higher than normal. I want this situation to remain contained - and I want you to bring an end to it as fast as possible. Apprehend as many gangbangers in as you can. A VTOL is fueled and waiting in the hanger, and i’m requisitioning an PRT APC for support, with the usual armaments.”
“Knight,” I said, turning my attention to the young woman. “We can’t spare any more resources than this. You are in charge. Keep the Wards out of trouble.”
Swiping my hand through the air, the screen disappeared, and the room darkened somewhat. “Now, go,” I said, overriding the shades and letting the room be bathed in orange light once more.
@Banana@PlatinumSkink
Gladius Border Territory
Dorchester
21st January, 2011.
9:24 amNothing much had happened for several hours. We’d been firing a few rounds back and forward, rationing the ammo. One Wonderland goon had been killed and another badly injured, because the drugged up psychopaths continue to think that crowbars can deflect bullets.
Things were steadily getting out of hand, however. A number of Wonderland capes showed up and made life hell for us. Ball bearings came screaming through the cars we had been using for cover, piercing them like paper. That cut into our numbers bad enough, but then a group of rabid bloody human-
things started tearing my fallen men to pieces. Askaryan and Freakshow.
A thunderous crack split the ground beneath our previous position, sending the first wave of clones skyward with pillars of earth rising from the ground. Once at full height, these began to settle back into the street. The man standing there wore a browny-leather jacket with a basic earth-coloured mask showing a large fissure. Next to him was a girl clad from head-to-toe in biker leathers; a large metal chain hanging from each arm. Independant capes. Curbstomp and… Sidestep, I think.
The car caught up in the fissure exploded, sending blazing-hot shards of shrapnel scattering across the street.
And then the fight really kicked off.
@Kiddo@Lasrever
PlatinumSkink