[Nexus] Remnant HQ

[UncleWolf]

Inside

The Tunnel Rat looks truly sad and apologetic and hangs her head. "I...we're sorry, but...it was his idea. Told us to tell you that he loved you, and would be back soon." Unable to see how this affects her, she turns and lets Bugs treat her wounds.

[happyturtle]

Repairing Guns

No. I want to work, Sunny says to Grace. And "Thank you," to the Tunnel Rat. Except that she gets a little confused trying to do language multitasking, and both responses get said aloud and telepathically sent.

[UncleWolf]

Command Tent

A tent has been put up in the center of the courtyard, and the casualty list is brought in once Bugs finishes his rounds. "Not including the Penal Troops, we lost 12 Tunnel Rats, 4 Soldiers on the wall, 9 tank crew, 3 tanks beyond repair, 1 Walker with pilot, 6 Flak Gunners, 1 Flak Gun, and 4 Heavy Weapon crews who total 8 men, bringing the total list to 40 dead. Six others will have to be pulled from duty barring magical healing, the rest of the injured are walking wounded and should recover within a few hours or a day or two. As for Mortal Coil, Jyarl and Carl are dead, Sue is badly burned but should recover, and the clerics and Aliz are waking up, but are severely weakened by the Wheel. They should recover their full abilities with some rest." Bugs gives a glance at the small woman with glasses laying on the nearby cot, looking dead. "Anna...she appears to be comatose for now. She was hit the hardest, and I can't be sure if she'll ever recover. And if she does, I cannot say if she'll ever recover her abilities."

Vasquez and the other officers, IA, ISF, and M.C. alike, all listen to the report, frowning. They've all removed their designation patches, a single force now, whatever disagreements and differences they once had are now gone. Eventually, the leader of Remnant nods. "Very well. We'll inform the families of the dead. I've also got reports of other surviving units throughout the city, and they should be trickling in." She tells them as she points at locations on the map. "We also got lucky." She taps a location near the docks. "Turns out, a pair of Phantasms survived, but the other two are destroyed, and we also have several smaller fighters and a pair of bombers there were saved while out on a scouting mission. They were out of the Carrier when it vanished. They've been reassigned to bring in our units from the outlaying villages and townships. Should have at least another 200 coming in."

A lot of the officers breathe easier, but a few of the more experienced ones know that they were still a far cry from the powerful Empire they once were, and would likely never be that powerful again. "That said, we still have the Accounts and all the funds within them. We can buy a lot of what we need, but we'll have to be careful since we now lack the income we once had. We need to downsize, regroup, and end up hiring more Independent Contractors. We use only those we can trust. Sunny, Iggy, and Alizarin, Possibly Erin's for cheap things. Definitely not Magt-."

"Alizarin is dead. Burned alive a month or so back. Body was confirmed without a doubt." Geoff interrupts.

Vasquez pauses for a moment and curses. "Alright, then we need to find a new source of the Wheels, or maybe something similar to combat magic. Geoff, you and Sunny will have to get together and design new armor systems. We'll need better all-round protection. I'm going to get a base suit from Erin's, and I want you to modify it. Same with weapons. You saw how ineffective they were against Gordon. We need that changed now." She says before passing out rosters with names and new teams. "Luckily, we had plans in case something like this happened. All we needed were names to fill in. These will be the new units. Veteran units will stay together, but those who are relatively inexperienced or too decimated to keep going will be merged together. There will also be specialist teams being put together such as the Tunnel Rats." She turns to a tall scruffy man who had just arrived. He looks thin, and slightly starved, but she gives him a genuine smile. "Hicks, it's good to see you again. Want your job back?"

He gives his old Co-Lieutenant a slight smile, tired. "I'd love it."

She smirks. "Too bad, you're being promoted. Counter Intel and Internal Affairs. Pull whoever you feel is necessary to do the task." She looks at a man in a brown suit, brown glasses, and brown briefcase, ignoring the stunned look on Hick's face. "And you'll report directly to LT. Colonel Hicks, understand?" The Informant nods.

Vasquez turns to the final person, Edijar. "Take the remaining Heavy Power Suits and weapons from the old IA stock, and outfit them however necessary beyond the specs on your sheet. You and your men will form a...well, Praetorian Guard. You're some of the few who've been through the Original Empire, New Empire, and now."

She looks over them all slowly, watching their expressions as they absorb the situation fully now that they've had a moment to think. "We're no longer an Empire." She tells them. "So we can't act like one. Our focus will now only be on Inside, and the protection of the people from threats, both foreign and domestic, and from themselves. We need to give them a reason to trust us, to look up to us, and most importantly, to believe in us. We are the Remnants, and we have our duty to fulfill."

[AmberVael]

Repairing Guns

If you would like to assist the efforts I'm having Aurora contribute to, I'll be happy to give you some directions. You're free to help out where you wish though.
Sunny will probably feel sympathy from Grace, but also senses that Grace feels a bit pressured to get working on her own projects.
Do you know who is currently in charge down there? I don't have very up to date information, but I should contact them.

[happyturtle]

Repairing Guns

I think Vasquez. Sunny says. I want to help you, but I want to help here more. Which sounds kind of rude, but she means it well. She wants to tell Grace about Carl, but she is afraid she'll say something she isn't supposed to, so doesn't. Then, abruptly, I need to go get the dog. Magtok has him.

[AmberVael]

Repairing Guns

Grace doesn't even seem to notice.
It's all the same task, don't worry about it. Thank you, Sunny. Don't push yourself too hard.
With that, Grace will end the conversation, assuming Sunny has nothing else to say.



Command Tent

A few threads of reality get tweaked, and suddenly a voice speaks up out of nowhere next to Vasquez.
"You have a contact from: Grace of Celestial Dynamics, Leader of Aurora. Would you like to accept?"

[happyturtle]

Repairing the gun >> Carl's Quarters>> Off base

Sunny carefully sets the helmet down and continues to repair the flak gun.

Once that's done, she carries the helmet to Carl's quarters and sets it down on the table. After a moment, she picks it up and kisses it, then sets it down again. Then she heads off base, with the intention of telewarping to the MagCave to get Archer.

[Morty]

Command Tent

Anatolij listens to Vasquez's speech grimly and says nothing for now. He's still roughed up after his chase after Gordon.

[UncleWolf]

Command Tent

Vasquez frowns when she hears the voice, and a few of the officers draw their side arms, but she motions them to stop. "I'll pick it up."

Sunny

Sunny won't be stopped, and many of the Remnants nod to her in deep respect for what she's done. Without her, things would have been much worse.

[AmberVael]

Command Tent

"Contact accepted."
There a pause, then Grace speaks.
"Commander Vasquez. I've been keeping tabs on the situation in Inside, and have been gathering supplies and volunteers, and attempting to conduct some general assistance, but I feel a coordinated effort would be the best approach."
She asks no questions, but it feels like there are a few unspoken and lingering ones, some obvious, some less so.

[UncleWolf]

Command Tent

Vasquez picks up on the questions. "Ask your questions."

[AmberVael]

Command Tent

"Is the Empire going to be able to maintain control of Inside?"
Grace asks bluntly. Vasquez asked, after all. It's not her only question, but all the others hinge on it.

[UncleWolf]

Command Tent

"No." Vasquez answers. "Because we're no longer the Empire. We're Remnant. And we'll be able to keep order Inside within the next 48 hours. All personnel from outside the walls has been recalled, and redeployment is happening within the hour."

[AmberVael]

Command Tent

"I see. Where can Aurora assist most in dealing with the aftermath of the fight?"
Grace asks, revealing nothing of her thoughts on the dissolution of the Empire.

[UncleWolf]

Command Tent

"We've received reports of people taking advantage of the situation by trying to seize control of portions of Inside. So far, parts of what was commonly called Red Zone, and the parts near MagMart by Magtok. We can handle the latter in time as he's less of a threat, but eyes in Red would be useful." She says, her voice obviously showing that she's fairly untrusting, but willing to work with Grace for now. "Our Clinics are taking care of the wounded, and squads are being sent to check on the Emergency Shelters, but to make it faster, I would like to commandeer your Riftline for the next 24 hours, no more, to move my supplies and troops quickly throughout Inside. You will be fairly compensated."

[The Bushranger]

Somewhere?

As the effects of the Wheel fade, Eileen Thorsson, Favored Soul of Valen, one-time hospitalier, lover of an evil witch ("Oi, she's not evil!") and ISF member, starts to stir.

[Zefir]

Phone 2

"If you are an AMENite and offering us the transmitter, approach the gate under a white flag and one of us will come to meet you."

Inside

Sunny may see one of the Tunnel Rats, nursing a broken arm, look around before spotting Sunny. She gives Bugs a glare when he tries to stop her to look at her arm, and walks past him. Carl's cracked helmet is in her hands. When close enough, she looks down, sad, and offers it to Sunny silently.

Phone 2 -> Main Gate

"Sure that is the plan."with that he ends the call

And he ggoes to the main gate. First he watches the Main Gate a bit then he used his improvised white flag and walks to the gate slowly.

[AmberVael]

Command Tent

"That's one of the few things I can't provide, Vasquez. I've rallied some civilian volunteers for more community efforts, but I don't have people I can station in Red Zone for that sort of task."
Grace seems a bit reluctant to admit this, more out of disappointment with her own resources than anything else.
"I can try and do some scouting through Inside, but I'll be much less suited to it than your soldiers would be, and I won't be able to cover a significant portion since I'll be on my own."

"Riftline is yours to use though. I've used the Riftline stations as gathering points for all the supplies and volunteers I can raise, as I have some resources and associated workers there. If you have any needs, they might be able to assist. Among other things, they have food, temporary shelters, and supplies for a small amount of repairing and rebuilding."

[UncleWolf]

Main Gate

A hostile looking woman with red scales growing back on her cheeks is waiting for him, gun ready, and with several other guards. She raises her hand for him to stop when he gets within the teleblocker/Reality Anchor limits. "You can deal with us from here. You aren't getting Inside."

Inside

Eileen will see Bugs approach her, offering coffee. "If you're able to heal yet, it'd be much appreciated."

Command Tent

Vasquez stays silent for a moment, all sorts of plans forming in her mind, but she puts them aside for later. "Very well, it's appreciated it. And we only need a general idea anyway. Anything else?"

[Zefir]

Main Gate

He looks like a normal henchman he wears a helm so his face isn't visible for her.

"Cool down."

He keeps on hand up and sticks the white flag into the bottom.

"May I ask some questions please?"

[UncleWolf]

Main Gate

"You said you had a transmitter for us?" Dizzy asks before giving him a slow nod. They keep their weapons on him though.

[AmberVael]

Command Tent

"If you have no other suggestions for how I can assist, then no. I'll leave you to your work then."
Unless Vasquez says something else, Grace will end the contact.

[UncleWolf]

Command Tent

"My men and supplies will be arriving at your Riftline momentarily." Vasquez says, finished with the conversation.

[TechnoScrabble]

Front Gate

The alien drone that Phil left behind when he died is still hovering patiently outside the main compound, bobbing up and down peacefully.

[The Bushranger]

Inside

Eileen will see Bugs approach her, offering coffee. "If you're able to heal yet, it'd be much appreciated."

Eileen blearily sits up.
"Right now I'm not sure if I'm able to anything," she mutters, accepting the coffee...and downing the whole cup in one gulp. "What in blazes happened?"

[UncleWolf]

Main Gate

And the Alien drone will be aimed at unless it does something.

Inside

"It's called a Warlock's Wheel. It sucked all the magic out of a large radius. You're experiencing the after effects. It should clear up in an hour or two."

Command Tent

Vasquez looks over the map of the compound a bit more, an idea forming. The foundations was dozens of feet thick...

She calls Geoff over, and he looks at where she points. "Geoff, how long would it take to make this place mobile?"

[The Bushranger]

Inside

"Warn people next time," Eileen mutters. "I might not be able to cast any spells until tomorrow. But I can try mundane healing if you need it."

Is Zel being kept nearby, perhaps?

[TechnoScrabble]

Main Gate

The alien drone is just waving a tiny white flag via small gravitic manipulators and sitting there, occasionally sending out the words 'graceful', 'meeting', and 'deal' in morse code.

[Zefir]

Main Gate

"You said you had a transmitter for us?" Dizzy asks before giving him a slow nod. They keep their weapons on him though.

Main Gate

He slowly reaches into his bag so the guards have no reason to shoot at him. Slowly he grag out the AMEN transmiter.

"Yes I have, but how is the chance I could join in here. You can look through your data I haven't done anything bad. I have done something that you may call good."

[happyturtle]

Outside >> Carl's Quarters

Sunny returns with Archer and takes him on a long walk around the HQ, keeping an eye out for Jyarl's puppy. If she finds the latter, she'll eventually return to Carl's Quarters with both dogs and give them both plenty of food and chew toys.

Then she sits down at the table and starts working on repairing Carl's helmet.