Mina Parker
Mina thought that there were multiple things that didn't add up in this whole story, but it would be equally as obvious to the other party members, so to bring them back up wouldn't be of much use. Plus, Daniel had just noted another incongruous point about Scythirax's operation, so what use was belaboring it, aside from making everyone worry even more about the circumstances? They'd either be able to see what was happening in the warehouse once they got there or they would not. End of story.
With that decision made about the mindset she would approach this mission with, Mina nodded silently and readied herself for the expedition. She downed a couple of energy bars and some water, otherwise refreshing herself for the challenges to come. As for Cici...she did hope that the poor girl was alright, however slim that chance was.
Edited by JumpingFruit on Jun 13th 2024 at 4:20:07 AM
I wear the skin of the Elder Things, having come unto my own.Ross - Perpetual Forge
Sigh.
They didn't go as far unnoticed as he hoped. Do they have cameras? Vibration sensors? Mana sensors? All of the above, probably. Now, as flattering as it was to see a guy with a Forge-grade flamethrower to threaten to call backup on them instead of threatening to just use his weapon... Ross probably needed to give a reasonable answer, and the design of the surveillance drones?..., the flying machines gave him an idea.
He cracked open the window, breaking into a coughing fit, pretty sure he just breathed in enough heavy metals to last a lifetime. Eventually, though...
"Is that Forgesmith Lockwood's work? He asked, glancing at the things, at the jetpacks, and the jet engine built into their heads, pretty confident whose touches those were. He was careful to use the official title. Something about not encouraging other Forge members to be overly familiar. "It just so happens that it's who I'm seeking audience with, yeah?"
Here in my car, I feel safest of all. I can lock all my doors, it's the only way to live in cars.Colt Griese - I’m So Sorry
“…’m no one. Just stay out of my way and I’ll stay out yours.”
Colt ducked his head again and moved to leave, fully expecting Luke to follow close behind. He jammed his hands into his pockets and slumped forward. These refugees had him on edge. Too many people and too dark. Even if things took a turn for the worse, the delinquent wasn’t certain he could take all of them. Certainly didn’t have any faith in Luke to.
Beyond that, though, he felt a stirring beneath his skin. Like his visitor was telling him wherever he needed to go, he needed to go fast.
Edited by Yayakuza on Jun 11th 2024 at 4:19:01 AM
WITH A HAIL OF HARPOONS! WITH EVERY LAST DROP OF MY BEING!It was a relief to see that they had the sanction of the 317th. He would, had the need arisen, been willing to flout their authority, but it was good that that necessity had never transpired. It looked like the militia had some interest in this case too, if only in figuring out what the Horde was up to. "I'll go find the others and fill them in then.
At that announcement he got up, walking out of the school proper back towards the marketplace where he had just left his teammates. He could only hope they would be willing to go forward with such a dangerous mission, if Scythriax lived up to his reputation they would need all the firepower they could muster.
Rebecca Weathers - Perpetual Forge
"Definetly interesting," Becca replied to Ross and Veda before getting into the truck.
As they drove closer to the forge, Becca could see there was clearly lots of fire around. It would seem that her powers would be put to the test. And when the two patrolling machines confronted them, Becca was confident she'd have to do so.
Even with the air around her being manipulated by magic, Becca's face scrunched up when the polluted air got in from Ross opening the window. She decided to let the driver try and talk their way in first... but she made sure the door next to her seat was unlocked as she put her hand next to its handle.
Without The Hat On, Your Hunger Is Mundane, Banal
Heather gave out a little sigh and nodded at Pablo, letting out an "eyup" before pausing for a moment and smiling.
"We're crux-walkers, the weight of our wills hangs significant upon events. What we do out there, the way we crush the sorrows arrayed against us? That will shape the world to come, my friend."
She let that ominous little statement hang in the air as she takes another look around for food stalls before she straightens up and glances in Pablo's direction.
"We've got big protagonist energy. That's what I mean."
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.Veda - Perpetual Forge
As they drove, Veda took in the environment. Though he appeared to be casually looking out the window, his oculus gave him a wide-angle view of the area, and he took in the crude machinery and polluted air.
Is this what they call progress, here? He wondered. A place thick with smog and devoid of life?
For all the resources they harvested, their machines were ugly and twisted things. Well made, he could tell, but lacking heart. Function was more important than form, true, but to put no effort into form at all only proved they had no concern for the beauty of the world.
Veda offered a forced smile to the Forge members as Ross cracked the window, visible through the shimmer of a purple translucent mask that appeared over his face. An energy construct designed to filter out at least some of the particulates in the air.
He let Ross do the talking, for now. As they spoke, Veda focused on the cyborgs and their machines, swiftly identifying any possible weak points in case conflict broke out.
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?"Ohh Jayden, I wouldn't dream of being akin to the emboldened pillagers and plunderers who so classlessly destroyed your home..." Elwood cupped his chin and then said, "Twas simply a detail of this place's security, and to ensure you weren't bothered I neutralized the detail as nonlethally as I can~"
He then answered Jayden's question, slithering and fretting as he sighed audibly, "It's truly a very regrettable thing, why people might go for your house. It shows what monsters war makes people into. You see, its now known that your dear mother and your family in general live with, support and work for Elijah Gibbs. And those who live in Sandfield do not much care for Gardners right now. Oh dear, it was ever so terrible to hear in progress. The hate, the rancor, the vitriol..."
He then sighed, "I had several less than ideal interactions with him that indicated microaggressive bigotry, but never would I have ever surmised that Matthew Streiss would do as he did!" Elwood then stated, "T'was he that revealed your family's involvement. And now, the masses of Sandfield are crazed for blood..."
A pause from the Perpetual Forge men outside. Their machines awaited orders, and these orders did not yet come. The cyborgs seemed to converse among themselves, whispering in one another's ear. They seemed conflicted. But then a loudspeaker sounded off - a young man's voice issuing forth from somewhere else; "Let em through. If they know someone here by name, they're not like the last bunch of interlopers."
The singed red-head took a look at the bald guy and both shrugged.
"Alright!" The red-head shouted, "The Forgemaster seems to think you're good company. Don't misbehave now, or you'll get burnt to a crisp." He then signalled - and the broad doors leading into the Forge started to open, giving more of an impression of the internal workings.
Looking inside, Ross, Veda and the others would be able to see there might well be some sort of concept of odd beauty that the Forge had. Not a common one. The interior was marked by an immense number of conveyor belts and interlocking levels, walkways and mechanical workings - all surrounded by long tubes and vents that belched out fire at certain intervals.
If the Perpetual Forge found anything beautiful, they found fire to be beautiful. Because even just looking inside they could see innumerable jets of flame and burner devices. People were affixing flamethrowers and firespitters on to patchwork robots. Mechanical golems affixed with constantly fire-spitting "exhaust" pipes ambled to and fro, carrying items for the cybernetically amplified workers.
Rather than just lights, some areas were lit solely by giant braziers constantly belching fire, and multiple smaller vents that pumped it out in bursts.
It could be said the Perpetual Forge burnt with passion.
Luke huffed and walked along after Colt, not eager to give much more than the time of day to the guy who honestly gave "escaped convict" vibes to him. If he had gotten out of some jail or some such, going by that outfit, he should've honestly just rotten in there.
But now, Carl just walked along the same path toward the Two Schools area - coincidentally going along with Colt and Luke.
For his part, Carl just shrugged at the evasive answer, "Sure thing, No One, sure thing. And I'm sure your ma is Miss Nobody, and your pa is Mister Nondescript, cool guy." Carl put his hands behind his neck as he walked.
With that, the Investigation Team were shown the way to a helicopter by a couple of 317th Soldiers, who would both be handling the trip out there as well as the extraction. The individuals in question were around the same age or slightly older - yet even just looking at them, the Team would be able to see Tom was not an outlier. They seemed taller and broader built than most of the normal people they'd have seen in the town district.
Maybe it was just coincidence. Or maybe it hinted toward something that made them what they were. A becoming, of sorts.
"Alright, I'll be your pilot today. Name's Keith. Remember, this isn't a smash em up mission." He started getting everything ready for flight. "The Commander says this is a rescue. Get in, get the girl, get out. Minimal fighting." And then with practiced ease, Keith started the helicopter up. The flight out to the warehouse district was go.
Mina Parker
After the short introduction to the pilot, Mina piled in quietly after giving a polite nod, with the rest of her mechanical flock acting as their honor guard and one remaining bird on her shoulder looking down at the streets below to film. She had acquired some footage on the way to the base, but it wouldn't hurt to collect more to show the current state of Sandfield. It was…in ruins. Maybe it could make for a suitably somber backdrop to read the names of the missing people over later. Too depressing. Mina shook her head.
Cici…hang in there. We're coming for you.
Edited by JumpingFruit on Jun 30th 2024 at 9:22:37 AM
I wear the skin of the Elder Things, having come unto my own."About as good a move as we can come up now" Pablo commented. The situation was ridiculous for anyone whose world didn't utterly fall apart in such a short time. The sight of people his age or not much apart looking like eighties action stars was surreal. Sure, he spent time in a bunker, but getting that kinda results by just themselves would take quite a while.
Was there always a bodybuilding society hidden under Sandfield? He thought Or the juice trade really went out of hand once the wall raised.
Too many things to consider.
Still, his own body will have to be enough to carry him to the end of this, whatever that is.
"Once we can enter, things won't look so desperate"
Not the best at pep talks, this one.
Wake me up at your own risk.Jayden
Jayden's eyes went wide, the resolve to conceal his emotions going completely out the window. "Security detail?!" Oh, crap, they've noticed I'm gone by now, haven't they? He started heading down the stairs, just barely remembering to slow down so he didn't trip. "I— I would love to stay and chat, but I need to— get back to the Wall before—"
Then the rest of what Elwood said registered, and Jayden stopped.
Matthew— told everyone about his mom's involvement? But why? What could he possibly have to gain from revealing that? Did he have anything to gain at all? Had he just been bitter about Jayden quitting and revealed it for revenge? Well—assuming it was even Matthew at all, Elwood could just be lying about something his own faction had done.
"D-do you—" Jayden took a deep breath, forcing his voice to steady. "Do you have any proof it was Matthew?"
"Look inside yourself and to the stars; there, you will find your answers."Ross Chase - Perpetual Forge
Lil' Katie, despite her off-road prep, looked, well, lil' as she drove through a gate meant for a taller mech. Which was good. It was all about being underestimated.
As Ross drove between and underneath the various belts and presses, he prepared himself for the conversation. What to ask. How to phrase it. And how to behave around the Forgemaster? To be entirely honest, his contacts within the forge were limited to his liaison, pretty much.
"Anyone else curious to meet the man behind all this?" He asked the passengers.
Here in my car, I feel safest of all. I can lock all my doors, it's the only way to live in cars.James nodded at their instructions as he climbed into the helicopter "Understood, we weren't looking for another fight anyway". He shifted in his seat. It was uncomfortable in the interior of the vehicle in a way it hadn't been previously. That was hardly surprising, he reflected; last time they had been flying away from a mission well executed, this time they were headed to an uncertain fate, for them and Cici both.
He smiled weakly at Pablo's comment. He didn't really buy the reassurance, but seeing the others show some confidence bolstered his own resolve in turn. It helped him believe that they were ready to face whatever horrors they found in that warehouse, though he didn't really buy that either.
"We'll get in, get the job done, and get out; same as we always have."
The Helicopter Briefing Scene Is Usually Known For One Thing...
"A twenty minute adventure!" Heather chimes up from her seat in the helicopter, picking at her teeth for last shreds of whatever snack she had grabbed at the market. She didn't really want to invoke the curse of the complication but all these remarks about how easy it would be would have done it regardless so she felt safe to merely pile on with the dooming remarks.
Her attention instead turned to the soldiery, the meat-hunks that made the remains of the Investigation team look downright pathetic. There was clearly something going on here, oh sure it'd been a few months but this kind of transformation was... Well. A transformation. A loose thought caught her fiddling with the black strap of the seat restraints until she snapped out of it and decided to just ask.
"So, how'd you guys get all Space Marine-y? Like, getting down with the buffness. Not asking for myself of course, I roll on dexterity and charisma. Just kinda... Curious."
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.A quick glance between Keith and his fellow soldier. As if gauging how much they should say, and what they should say. But they seemed to nod, and as Keith flew the copter, he said to Heather, "It can be said that becoming a man of the 317th changes you. That much is for certain. We're given the strength and skill we lacked before, and a certainty that the dawn remains beyond the wall's night."
Keith then chuckled suddenly, and grinned, "How's that for the poetic bullshit speech? Shin...and now you, am I right? Well, we certainly get stronger after the Joining Procedure. Magic stuff. Can't say what goes into it. But I mean...I can't exactly cast aspersions on the result. My girlfriend sure can't!" Keith and his friend then laughed riotously - though despite their chat, it was clear that the two handled the vehicle like they had been trained for years in this.
And as they flew slowly downward, toward a landing spot near the warehouse district, it seemed they chose a spot close enough, but nowhere near any security systems. Seeing as how the Umbral Horde likely repurposed those.
Elwood curled around and seemed to take up, however delicately, a slightly banged up looking phone from inside some kind of armor compartment. He slithered along to the side, "The men were handled, dear Jayden, and nothing to worry over. The security of this walled community are hardly worth a fuss. As to the nature of the scandalous betrayal, the seduction of this besotted community..." Elwood delicately pressed a few buttons on the phone. And what would play was a radio recording, logged by the phone.
"People of Sandfield. This is Matthew Streiss, Lord Commander of the 317th. The Machines that march on our fair town have incited so much loss of life. Harmed so many people - and we can place a name to their creator. Gardner - Helen Gardner. The architect of woes, the machinist of the evil engines. You can look at her and her work and see every Thresher. Every rampaging machine. Her crimes are a mile wide - and they will all be answered."
It was clearly enough a recording from the town's radio - the only way to get a message across town now. Down to the slightest vocal inflections.
The recording then started to go into a different topic, but Elwood paused it and breathed, "It never gets easier, hearing how so very readily someone viewed with such rosy tinted glasses sinks into demagoguery." The serpentine man glanced at Jayden, "That your name was poisoned so...so blatantly..."
"Just think about what may happen if he wins against the militia. There will be a vengeance. A reckoning, against all who backed "the enemy"."
The Perpetual Forge
As Katie went along the winding and scorched path through the center of the Forge, those inside would be able to see numerous people hard at work. Creating limbs, weapons, odd combinations thereof, sending things off to be welded together. Smashing metal and various pieces together. Some hammers were held in mechanical hands. Others were part of those hands. But it was clear the ramshackle cybernetics were a blatant commonality.
As they drove along, they would see a tall, imposing figure framed by a number of huge flaming braziers, carrying a massive hammer over the shoulder with just one hand. The figure's shadow cast on the long walls as he walked from the entrance to the deeper Yuex Forge...
...And then as he approached the car it would become clearer he was a young man indeed. Dressed less in kingly regalia but in tattered jeans and a tight, singed white thin material tank top. Thick, red and black mechanical gloves and boots covered his hands and feet.
Welcome back, Jackson White. The young man's hair seemed slicked back now with sweat and grease. He was less officious, less prim, more rough and tumble.
"So." Jackson started as he hoisted his hammer. What started as a simple blacksmith's work hammer was now covered in cables, wires and jagged mechanical pieces, numerous interlocking pieces fused to the head. It seethed with a hot red mist from several points, making it clear that like many things here, Jackson's personal weapon of choice came with some fiery additions. "Evelynn's friends, am I right? C'mon, c'mon, get your asses outta the car I wanna talk to you!"
Edited by NickTheSwing on Jul 1st 2024 at 4:52:02 AM
Mina Parker
Mina jotted down in her little journalist's notebook Joining Procedure? for later questioning, but before she could bring it up, they had already landed. It was clear there was some magical augmentation involved in the 317th's recruitment process, but if it was considered crucial to propaganda purposes not to reveal it, then she at least had to try and ascertain there wasn't anything invasive or predatory happening in the background. However, she believed that for now, it seemed like nothing shady was going on, and she could ask more about it once they had completed the current mission.
She was one of the first to get off, sending out a few of her bird drones to circle overhead and get a good lay of the land as she waited for the others. Mina silently reviewed the images as they were sent in. Still no movement up ahead? That was either a good sign, or a bad one, depending on how one looked at it.
Edited by JumpingFruit on Jul 1st 2024 at 11:40:18 AM
I wear the skin of the Elder Things, having come unto my own.Ross Chase - Perpetual Forge
In honesty, Ross was never a big follower of high school sports. A bit out of the way of the school's social life, more likely to spend his time tinkering with Katie than talking to people. And so, he never quite got to meet Jackson White the Monroe's quarterback. Even without that familiarity though, Jackson White the Forgemaster was an imposing figure. Ross hesitantly opened the drivers door, and exited the car. He really wished he could just talk to Lynne and be done with it, but fate seemed to have other plans in hand. Bracing himself for the conversation, he put his hand on Katie's fender for reassurance.
"Forgemaster," he said, quietly. "I didn't think we'd be talking directly to you."
There. Respectful enough without being sycophantic. You're doing great, Ross.
"Me and Lynne have been helping each other since nearly the beginning of siege, yes," he continued, "Is she alright? "
Normally, she'd be here, roasting the shit out of Ross and his timid nature. All in good nature, of course. That would probably be better than talking to someone who might want to roast you in a more literal manner.
"You've spotted us rather quickly," he added, hoping White would bring up the hazard gate interlopers himself.
Edited by JackCossack on Jul 2nd 2024 at 2:46:38 PM
Here in my car, I feel safest of all. I can lock all my doors, it's the only way to live in cars.What does the initiation involve? Super Soldier Serum? Pablo looked uneasy for a second, but cracked his neck in preparation for what's to come.
Now that the goal was on sigh, he followed Mina out, he knew he had to get going. His breathing was steady, and his heartrate slowed down, especially noticeable given how tense everything is around him.
"Time to leave the doubts on the front door. Bats Listen" Every step, flap seemed to become clearer to him. If Mina has her eyes on the sky, he might as well cover what he can.
Wake me up at your own risk.Jayden
The world around him seemed to halt.
Elwood was saying something, but Jayden had no idea what—every word, every sound had faded into incomprehensible static. He said nothing, did nothing...he simply stood there, glassy eyes staring into space.
Matthew had...actually done that. Thrown his mother under the bus. No, worse than that—revealing who was behind the Threshers wasn't exactly cruel. But the way he spoke...he was treating Jayden's mother like she was just as irredeemably evil as every enemy they'd fought way back when.
Does he think I betrayed them? Is that why...?
"Just think about what may happen if he wins against the militia. There will be a vengeance. A reckoning, against all who backed 'the enemy'."
And that brought Jayden back to reality.
He gritted his teeth. He wasn't going to help the Umbral Horde win, he sure as hell wasn't going to help the militia win, and if Matthew left him alone then he'd do the same...but he wasn't keen on working with him either. There was only one goal now: get his family out of Sandfield safely. He'd already lost his dad; he wasn't going to lose anyone else.
And if anyone, even Matthew and whatever the 317th were, tried to stop him? Then they could take it up with his swords.
(It occurred to him, later, that this goal would likely put him in conflict with the Investigation Club, who had hung off Matthew's every word then and was probably still doing so now. It didn't bother him as much as it probably should've.)
Jayden took a deep breath, then schooled his face into an impassive mask. "Thank you for letting me know," he said monotonously, the emotion drained from his voice. "Is there anything else we have to discuss? Because if not, I should be heading back by now."
"Look inside yourself and to the stars; there, you will find your answers."Veda - Perpetual Forge
"I am admittedly curious as to what kind of mind could produce... this." Veda mused.
His curiosity was sated as they met the man himself. Slowly exiting the car, dropping his filter-mask before Jackson could see it so as to avoid causing offense, Veda raised a hand in greeting.
"Forgemaster," He greeted, "Pleasure to meet you."
As always, Veda was pleasant, giving away nothing of their intentions. He wasn't familiar with the Forge, so he wasn't certain how best to navigate the conversation; he'd leave that to Ross, for now.
What is so amusing about this? Why do you take lives? How can you forget?Rebecca Weathers - Perpetual Forge
"I'd like to know why he made the place so damn hot," Becca said, her voice showing an unusual emotion for her: discomfort. She was glancing around nervously at all the flames, making sure the air around herself remained cold.
Once Jackson approached them, Becca followed Ross out of the vehicle, lowering the temperature of the air around her further now that she wouldn't have to worry about the others being too close. Having no knowledge of Jackson, before or after he became the Forgemaster, she chose to simply stand back and let Ross do the talking... but she made sure to cross her arms and make sure her posture would be suitably intimidating, just so the Forgemaster would know their little group had at least one person who could put up a fight.
James laughed uncomfortably along with the two boys. They had confirmed his suspicions, that the 317th was somehow enhancing its soldiers. He supposed that he should find that reassuring, it was clear that their pilots sure did, but something about it didn't sit right. He kept turning back to the same two images in his mind, the weedy little Tom he'd known before, and the supersoldier who had embraced them at the Gibbs Base.
He was, for the moment, glad to get out of the helicopter. No more worrying about ifs and whats, they could get down to business. "Any of the cameras in the warehouse still active?" he asked Mina.
The location was a slightly wooded hilly area just due east of the Warehouse District. Mina would be able to detect that it seemed like only the one from earlier that they'd so used was operational. From this spot, if one didn't look too far off from the hill or at the copter, it would almost seem like they were just climbing around in Sandfield. Normal youthly excursion.
But the circumstances were anything but normal.
The fences near the warehouse had been wrapped with barbed wire at several points, and the teens - once they ventured a little closer - would be able to see that this base could not be more different from the accommodations of Kellon Nyczus.
The warehouse in question was large, but the additions from the new occupants were squarely medieval. Mounted on one of the walls was a flagpole, with the stark image of the flaming, stylized tiger. The emblem of an old, old Umbral Horde Branch.
The one operational camera clicked and moved - unable to see the approaching teens. Taking it out would be simple.
However, they would be unable to see what state the inside of the warehouse was in. The windows were tinted, and no details could be seen of the inside. But one of the doors seemed slightly ajar.
"This must be a lot for you to unpack, and you must be exhausted, having come down here most likely under your own power..." Elwood demurred, and looked out at the door, "Considering all that's gone on, I don't want to force you to undertake a treacherous trek. I have a safe, secure shortcut that you will be able to make use of - to come back here when you please, to a couple other Districts, should you so desire."
"I usually have my eye on goings on like this, don't really like to be taken by surprise." Jackson chuckled again and slapped his knee, looking at the group assembled here. "Yes, Lynne from Duradach Forge. I'm familiar with her work. I'll admit I'm kinda wondering what you need. I mean, I can recognize fine magitech work at a look, and that car of yours is something else already."
He then glanced at Becca and Veda, nodding. He gave Veda's work a once over, appreciatively evaluating the young man's own work.
"I'd like to welcome you to my humble home in its current configuration. I know not everyone's comfy with the heat like me and my merry men are, so if you'd prefer we could use my office space."

Jayden
"Then what exactly were you doing that would make that kind of racket?"
Jayden wasn't going to let up. He might not have gotten answers to his earlier questions, but he was bound and determined to get answers to these ones. "I can't think of much 'business' you would have to take care of that doesn't involve fighting. Unless you were stealing something, but you want me to trust you, so that's not it, is it?"
His eyes narrowed, and he started coming down the stairs. "And yes, I noticed how ransacked my place was. What I don't understand is why. What, exactly, did my house have that none of these other houses had?"
"Look inside yourself and to the stars; there, you will find your answers."