tushanshu_logs | Event | Console Crash Chaos

Event | Console Crash Chaos | Phase One

Characters: ALL!
Date: April 17-30, 2014
Location: Keeliai
Situation: In an unexpected and bold attack by Malicant, the console system is completely shut down while food and supply locations all around the city are targeted by bombings.
Warnings/Rating: Explosions! Possible descriptions of related aftermaths, injuries, death, etc.

Shortly after eight in the morning of the 17th, the consoles experience a strange glitching effect. They'll display 15-20 seconds of static, interrupting anything being done on them at the time, before going utterly dark. No power, no signal, completely offline even to detection of their normal bio-mechanical signatures. No amount of energy influx will get them going again, though taking them apart (or trying to) will still cause them to melt into goo.

Within minutes of the console shutdown, explosions will begin ripping through Keeliai. The bombs are all timed as close to simultaneous as coordinating a city-wide attack can be, with many going off within seconds of each other, throwing the thriving morning rush into chaos. They tear into businesses and across public spaces, collapsing walls and blowing piles of debris into the streets. Places of high traffic quickly become evident as prime targets: marketplaces, hospitals, schools and cafes. The streets take only moments to fill with panicking, screaming kedan trying to pull their injured fellows out of harm's way. All told, the explosions take place across approximately a 10-minute stretch and their explosive yields are fairly high.

In addition to the bombs that cause destruction through their blasts, smaller bombs are going off around the city that specifically target food and water supplies, particularly where large stocks of it were kept such as grocers, produce markets, and the like. Rather than cause mass damage, these explosions spray out a fine mist of spores. Any perishables in their immediate area that are splattered develop an oozing black mold within minutes, eventually breaking down organic substances that turn to foul smelling rot and release their own mist, perpetuating the cycle. While skin contact with the mist doesn't harm, inhaling or ingesting it will produce shakes, fever, vomiting with a cumulative effect that has the potential to be fatal. It is much slower to infect the water supply but the sheer volume of rotting perishables will eventually put enough of the spores to taint water sources, approximately 6-8 hours after the original bombings.

The police force are out as soon as possible and within the hour are helping move the injured to safer locations with Evandau in charge, right in their midst and shoulder to shoulder with his subordinates. Not being stockpiles for any of the apparent targets, many of the Foreigner residences have been left undamaged and, wary of putting them in further danger by collecting large groups in public spaces, Foreigners may even be asked to take in a few individuals or a kedan family.

Despite the number of explosions, there are far more reports of injuries as opposed to casualties. The person or persons (or That Bad Guy) responsible for this were, for this attack at least, more intent on damage than on death.

LINKS
Fire Sector | Earth Sector | Metal Sector | Water Sector | Wood Sector
Treating the Injured & Safe Houses | Investigations | OOC Plot Post

OOC NOTE: Remember that the consoles and network will be completely offline for the duration of this aspect of the the plot running April 17-23, though Foreigner tech is not affected. Plot questions can be directed to this comment. Have fun!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What we do not need for immediate wound care, of course. The germs you mentioned ARE a problem, but I would also not have someone bleed out before we get them to a proper place.

[How many had bled out at the barricades, before their deaths?, he wonders, even as he moves on to grab a table cloth to begin tearing, making his way toward another bit of rubble where an arm is sticking out. How many more would bleed out here, before they received help? How many, and, should one of them not be him?

The things that Malicant had said come back to him, but thankfully, the task at hand is simple enough that it does not show on his face, and cannot affect his work here. Later, he will worry for it, but for now, there are more important, more immediate matters, he decides, as he tears away.]

Yes--yes, of course.

[Carefully he pulls at another chunk of debris, moving slowly so as not to jar his current passenger. Already his mind is buzzing with thoughts--there is no question as to who could have done this, as far as he is concerned, but that does not change the how of it, or the why. Simple chaos is one thing: this seems planned, for reasons more complicated than that.]

What of the other Amis? Were they with you? If the cafe was attacked, it can only be because our enemy intended to target all of you.

Combeferre was here, and Eponine. They both seem all right. Eponine was escorting those who could go, out. I've not heard from, or seen the others so far.

[He's saying this with a small, worried frown.]

It has to be our enemy, yes, but it does make me wonder if he's struck anywhere else. If it was to be all of us, then there might be more evidence, in other sectors of the city. Bossuet's over in the Water Sector for one. I would hope that nothing has hit there. We will need to find that out, when we are done here.

[For now, there is work to be done, and no time to be spent in worrying idly, though Enjolras does, as he uncovers another patron of the cafe, attached to that arm he'd spotted before Temeraire had lifted it, and finds himself occupied in getting the kedan over to the dragon's side, where he can be secured.

Worry for the others, though he is certainly worried, must come later, he tells himself, focused on the task at hand. Even so, the thought feels like an empty pit growing in his stomach as he carefully makes a few strong knots that ought to hold.]

If anything has happened, well, the others will need help as well, no matter who they are. I would hope it is isolated, but just in case, I think we ought to check somehow. Perhaps we could try one of the devices later. Everyone will need to know what's happened at any rate.

But all of you meet here: very nearly everyone knows that. If he wished to kill all of you at once, it makes sense that he would plant a bomb here, where he could be certain of doing the most damage, rather than in your homes.

[He shakes his head.] I saw smoke rising from Water Sector, during my flight here, but it was not near the foreigner apartments. The clinic has been attacked, and some weapon-merchants I know in Fire, and there are other targets, too: but which ones precisely, and why they were attacked, I do not yet know.

It does seem like a working theory, at that. He certainly has no qualms about being rid of bystanders, as demonstrated before. This place has become something like a home. It stands to reason, even those of us who had not died would be disheartened by this.

But smoke from there...and the Clinic itself? This may be larger scale than us at that rate. The clinic is chancy, less of a sure thing than here. And would harm far more people. I suppose what remains, later on, is the actual intent. And if we were the targets, finding ways to keep others safe from those effects.

Oh, I did not mean the Amis were the only targets, [says Temeraire hurriedly. A careful twitch of his wing, and the second kedan is nudged into position.] Only that you must be one of them: it seems to me as if our enemy is focusing on those he views as concentrated threats. Any sign of conscious organization must prompt a violent response; it would be the only logical course of action, if I were to stage an attack myself.

It WOULD be much easier if that was the case, I think.

[There is an attempt at a grim smile there, and Enjolras is back to sorting through the rubble.]

To limit it to one group, or even those related to all of the people who have had personal encounters with him would seem obvious but...this has to be much bigger to warrant all of this.

I suppose we are all somewhat in the way.

[And then with a sense of horror, something else occurs to Enjolras.]

Or perhaps, as the Empress told us, when she chose to reveal everything, it lies in the matter of the darkness, and its ability to spread to other worlds. We are the only thing that stands between that and our worlds, in some cases there are those who are the only ones who come from a place... If they were removed...

[A shudder as he considers those implications.]

Certainly that would be concentrated, and the possibility of wiping out the rest of us would be enticing as a prospect.

It would make sense, to strike first at the vanguard. So he has made his move, and we were caught unawares.

[There is no real horror in his voice, only a careful distance: it is easier to think of it as a sort of problem, which ought to be solved, as if they are only gathered around a flight-table, discussing strategy.

He thinks, unaccountably, of Iskierka, and the distance is abruptly gone. Was she attacked? Has she been hurt? Suddenly it is very important that he know.]

I must-- [he says, suddenly, and half-rears up on his hind legs before he remembers his passengers.] I must find Iskierka; we are the only two left, from our world--

So we were.

[Enjolras's assessment there sounds rather flat, acknowledging that this has happened, but, with an air of some detachment for the moment. He'll allow himself horror later but right now, it seems more like a time for action, if it might be had. Action, and to find his other friends.

And then the mention of Iskierka comes, and Enjolras feels something like a punch to the gut, actually shrinking back at the thought.]

Oh God. Yes, yes of course we must. If she has come to any harm...

[There's a bit of an angry glint in Enjolras's eye as he thinks of that, of her being hurt. Malicant will have much to answer for indeed, if that is the case.]

Climb aboard. [There is a low rumble underlying Temeraire's words now: he takes a step back, ready to spring into the air in an instant.] We will deliver these two to my apartment, and then we will look for Iskierka.

[A pause, then, aware of the destroyed cafe still in front of them, he adds,] If she is unharmed, she can help us dig everyone else out.

A good idea.

[Enjolras is in motion already, getting himself secured quickly as possible, skills practiced with the armee training so far. He'd never thought that they would have to be used in these circumstances, but, well...he IS prepared enough, he thinks, for most outcomes.]

We'll find her. [His voice is rather firm at that point. Because Iskierka cannot be anything but all right in this, can she?

[Temeraire pauses only long enough to admonish the kedan to hang on, and then he is aloft, the earth dropping dizzyingly away from under them.

He makes straight for Fire Sector, unpleasantly aware of yet more plumes of smoke rising from the stricken city. But there is no time to stop: he flies straight as an arrow, faster than he has flown in some time, and in less than five minutes has dropped with unerring instinct into the street in front of his apartment.]

My harness, [he manages, sides heaving with the effort.] It is in my quarters--I did not think to wear it, this morning--pray bring it out, and help me put it on; it will be easier for everyone else, later.

Right.

[Enjolras, who had been attempting to help stabilize the wounded as he could, is now leaping from the dragon's back and racing towards Temeraire's quarters, seeing the need for both the harness, and that he hurry himself.

Not much longer, and he's returned, and luckily, has learned a fair bit of harnessing by now so that it should not be too much of a struggle. He's gasping himself a little as he returns, but still certainly going strong, urged on by the thought that he must hurry now.]

[As distressed as he is by this attack upon his friends, Temeraire is grateful enough to appreciate that Enjolras is one of the most experienced members of the new Corps, at least in terms of airtime. It saves his having to explain how to put the harness on, at least, and while it is difficult with only one person manoeuvring the leather straps around, the entire thing is buckled and tightened in comparatively short order.

He rears up once, hurriedly, on his hind legs, and drops back down hard, shaking the harness as per Corps protocol to ensure it is secure.]

All lies well; now pray hurry, we must away.

[While more of his experience lies in fitting Iskierka, adjusting Temeraire's harness is, at least, something that is almost second nature to him now. Enjolras does wish he could be faster with it, given the need to hurry, but it does not take much time, really, to get the harness on, and the wounded seen to before Enjolras is pulling himself back aboard, thoughts racing through his mind now.

Iskierka. If he's done anything to her, and if some ill fortune has descended on Joly or Bossuet as well...At least he knows that Combeferre is safe for now, which does a little to negate the tension, but still, considering the obvious perpetrator of this act, he does feel rather as if he might be sick.]

Then let's do so at once. The sooner we find out, the better. At least I hope it's to the better.

[It is a little odd to have Enjolras aboard, when he is so clearly part of Iskierka's crew, but some selfish part of Temeraire's mind decides it feels right.

But even that thought flies in the face of the impending danger to their friends. Temeraire takes a deep breath, crouches, and kicks off into the air again.

He corkscrews into a sharp turn as he turns to face the rest of the apartments in Fire. Iskierka, he knows, lives in one of the buildings down the street, but there is no guarantee she is still there now. Still, it is as good a place as any to start, and he darts forward, wings beating furiously.]

[At the moment, in terms of going to seek Iskierka, why not? After all, Temeraire is a trusted friend and companion, and Enjolras regards him as one of les amis, at least in spirit.

Still, it takes some getting used to, being with Temeraire instead, and if it takes Enjolras a few moments of experimenting to find the right position to do this safely, well, at least he is secure enough that he doesn't fall.

And then, they are up again in the air and once he's found his footing, Enjolras is moving about, attempting to see anything that could be of use in explaining what's just happened.

At any other time, flying like this would be amazing, but for the moment, other priorities do rather take over.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Event | Console Crash Chaos | Phase One

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