Let's be war buddies...

[initiates]

Date & Time: 18th, beginning at 2100 hours, through to the 20th.
Location: All around Exsilium.
Characters: Everyone!
Summary: The United Earth decides Exsilium had obviously not learned its lesson back in October, and does another round of humble-making bombing for those impertinent exiles. OOC info can be found here.
Warnings: Violence, death, general gloom and doom.

The warning had gone out approximately two hours before the bombing began, broadcast to any available receptor on the island: UE aggressions incoming, bombs expected; please proceed to Catacombs immediately. It repeats over and over, right up until the first bomb, aimed at the Hold itself, silences the signal.

The air is thick with smoke and worse. Every one to two hours another bomb shakes the island. Buildings crumble and shatter, but the focus is on the Hold and the native hospital. Initiative employees, some sick as anyone else, are steadfast in their escorting natives and transports alike into the underground catacombs. For two days the bombs continue ceaselessly, dropped by their cloaked and invisible carriers overhead.

The United Earth is nothing if not thorough.

Comments

c. because all of the cat jokes, all of them

[taijiya]

[Al will be beset upon by a familiar two-tailed cat looking much healthier than the last time he saw her, carrying a scruffy kitten who'd managed to wander off off in her mouth.

Following Kirara is Sango, who is looking fairly curious--and then fairly surprised as she discovers Al's veritable cat shelter.]

So, this is where the little guy came from...

[alphonse]

Thanks, girl.

[Al carefully pats Kirara on the head, both because he's grateful to have the kitten returned and because it's a relief to see her doing well (who really knew if the Initiative's resurrection methods would extend to animals?). It's enough of a distraction that for a moment he forgets her master will most likely be following closely behind, leaving him completely caught off guard by Sango's sudden presence. He all but jumps to his feet.]

Sango! [It's not what it looks like probably won't work here. Should he offer to explain?] Um. Hi.

[taijiya]

[His surprise is kind of hilarious, especially coming from a giant suit of armor, so Sango chuckles.] Hello. I see you've got quite the rescue project going on here.

[alphonse]

It was kind of an accident, but...

[He shrugs and reaches down to absently scratch one of the kittens behind the ears.]

It wouldn't have been right to just leave them out there either.

al why are you the cutest thing to grace the earth

[taijiya]

I guess not. Humans aren't the only ones in danger, are they?

[A meow from Kirara, who is currently watching the pack of cats idly.]

And I'm sure Kirara is grateful that you've saved some of her cousins.

never encourage dumb cat posts

[alphonse]

A lot of them are still too small to fend for themselves during something like this.

[The few kittens who don't seem to be able to do more than lie still and breathe heavily are a sad example of what being exposed to the gases can do to their tiny bodies. Al's quick to accept the subject change and look to Kirara.]

It's nice to see her looking better. Have you two been okay?

do you mean always encourage dumb cat posts

[taijiya]

[Sango gives a shrug.]

Well, as okay as people can be with the virus going around. We're still going and that's what matters.

[alphonse]

All things considered, that's pretty lucky. Have you been helping with the evacuation?

[He might not know her very well, but it still seems like the sort of thing she'd do.]

[taijiya]

Yes. I'm about to go out again.

[Have a conveniently timed cough.]

[alphonse]

Have you seen a doctor since you've been down here? I'm sure someone could make time for you.

[taijiya]

No, but someone gave me some extra medicine, so...

[Al come on if she goes to a doctor they'll only tell her to go rest and she can't rest because it will drive her nuts.]

[alphonse]

That's not really the same, is it? You should--

[Any attempt to sound like a serious giver of advice is interrupted by a couple of kittens trotting past him and all but leaping on Kirara in fascination. Al ducks his head a bit in lieu of being able to wince and fails at not letting his distraction show.]

Um, I mean, it'd be better if you got the all clear before going back out.

[taijiya]

[Kirara is happy to bat at the kittens and entertain them because wow cuties. Sango can't stop a smile at Al's distraction.]

Yeah, but...

[But stubborn is what.]

They're all really busy... I'll see if I can find one who's not...

[alphonse]

Good luck. The better off you are, the more people you'll be able to help in the long run, right?

After all... [He grows a little more somber.] We still can't be sure what the United Earth is planning to do next.

[taijiya]

Exactly...

[A faint sigh as she pets one of the kittens.] Yeah. I'm hoping we'll catch a break, but...

[alphonse]

[It's a good thing kittens are so comforting!]

I guess trying to stay prepared is really all we can do. Most of us aren't in any shape to be fighting yet, and after last time...

[They'd lost badly even at full strength. Al shakes his head as if to dispel the thought.]

--Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to start sounding depressing.

[taijiya]

[Thank god for kittens.]

No, it's not your fault, you know? It's just. The current situation.

Anyway... how are you holding up? I'm surprised to see you're still in full armor down here.

[Because obviously you want to take the gauntlets off to be able to handle the kitties!!!]

[alphonse]

You are? [The concept of taking off the armor is so foreign to him that he doesn't immediately follow her meaning. Still, it's an easy routine to slip back into.]

I'm okay. I haven't been sick and I've got my armor to help protect me when I go above ground. It's less of a hassle to just leave it on.

[taijiya]

I guess so.

[She leaves her armor on too, but it's much less extensive than his...]

It's good that you haven't been sick, though.