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

( e )

[hbisea]

[ Perhaps she hasn't succumbed to the disease due to having a different biology from the others or that she's from another dimension. Years ago when she and Arthur fought, she was accidentally impaled. It should have been fatal, but it was not.

The time for dwelling on the past is not now, although Mera's fury peeks at the thought of the dead and dying children around the city and the growing number of casualties.

When the bombs fall, she stands in the middle of the street, ordering everyone to get back and head to the catacombs. As she yells her commands, all around her water begins to gather from the ground and from midair, forming a sphere-like shield above her and the natives who take cover as gas bombs strike the solid wall of water. The gas releases, but does no damage being caught in the water. ]

[taijiya]

[Mera is surrounded by a crowd of people, and crowds of people are what Sango is aiming for. At the sight of a far-off bomb and the sound of screams, the demon slayer arrives on a leaping Kirara and dismounts immediately, boomerang in tow.

She recognizes Mera and eyes the now-harmless explosion, and approaches.]

Mera. I can lead them towards the caves. Would you cover us?

[hbisea]

[ When her eyes lay on Kirara, she's momentarily surprised by such a creature, but she steels herself once more and gives Sango a firm nod. She sees the girl's weapon; she can protect herself if she needs to, however Mera will stay close. ]

I can. [ If it's not a gas bomb, though... she's going to have to brace herself for impact and strain her body to ensure shrapnel doesn't break through her defenses. ] Lead the way, Sango.

[taijiya]

Thank you.

[Sango sends Kirara to herd stragglers (a large scary looking cat is often an effective incentive to run the opposite way) and begins to herd the main body of locals. They are not particularly happy to see her, of course, but they do like living.]

This way!

[hbisea]

[ Mera follows en suite, keeping her focus on the gallons of water above them and keeping it compact and close enough so anything that hits the water bounces off or explodes within it. ]

This must be what they meant by Code 416. Those monsters.

[taijiya]

This is your first taste of the UE, isn't it?

[Sango's jogging quickly and breathing hard--not to mention coughing pretty hard too.]

They don't have much trouble giving you a reason to hate them.

[hbisea]

[ Before she can answer, her eyes flutter over to Sango as does her concern. ]

You're infected. [ She gasps quietly. In the haze of it all, she hadn't taken a better look at Sango and now she can clearly see the girl is ill and probably pushing herself to the limit by helping these people. ] Sango...

[taijiya]

Well, yeah. Most people were infected. [Cough-pant, still jogging.] But I've been in the hospital the past few days, so this is just... leftovers. I'm okay, really.

[This is a girl who clawed herself out of her own grave. It's gonna take more than lung-hacking to keep her down.]

[hbisea]

You don't sound okay. [ Her tone is flat; she doesn't appreciate being lied to. ] Once we get to the catacombs you should rest for some time.

[ Without being able to see the bombs until they hit the shield, Mera has no idea what they're to expect. She's strong enough to keep back major damage, but at a great strain of course.

Something heavy hits her shield and nearly breaks through and she has to stop and raise her arms to the side. ] Nng... [ She shuts her eyes, grinding the teeth in her mouth. An explosion erupts on the other side of the water shield, but the shock waves and proximity are too strong. ]

Sango, I ca-- [ She's blown back and all the water collapses around them. The shock wave knocks her clear off her feet, breaking parts of buildings around them and even sending people falling atop each other. ]

[taijiya]

I don't need to...

[At Mera's groan, Sango lurches to a stop and turns in concern.]

Mera--

[And then the water collapses, and Sango, being near Mera, is flung to the ground as well, the wind knocked out of her. As soon as she struggles back to her feet, Sango's sprinting to Mera, not surprised to find Kirara heading there as well.]

Mera! Are you alright?

[hbisea]

[ Mera rolls herself over, managing to force herself on her knees. Her form quivers as an aftereffect of the explosion and her ears ring. She doesn't hear Sango call her name until she's closer to her.

She presses a hand against her forehead, reaching for the trident she carried on her back that had been flung away in the ensuing explosion. ]

Yes, I'm fine -- the others? Are you? [ She quickly looks and sees everyone is in one piece. She exhales heavily, relieved. ] There must be a ship directly above us.

[ But she can't see it, of course. This is the worrisome part. ]

also, do you mind if i add you on plurk? :U

[taijiya]

A ship...? You mean--

[Sango looks upward--nothing. Of course, something has to be dropping the bombs. And being invisible certainly isn't outside the UE's abilities.

Sango coughs again into a hand, more out of exasperation than anything.]

Shit. Kirara, go have the locals take cover.

[The large feline darts away and Sango is left trying to help Mera to her feet.]

Mera, come on, we've got to go... you've been the one casting the shields so they're going to go for you...

not at all!

[hbisea]

[ She's not surprised they have cloaking devices as well as the ability to silence their movement. Where the rain ceases to fall is probably where they are. She could try to bring one down with her powers, but where could she put it? It may as well be dropping a larger bomb on the entire city.

She accepts help from Sango and rises, looking to the sky and then back to the people fleeing. She knows Sango is right and while she hates running, these people need their combined efforts. ]

I'll follow closely. How far are we from these catacombs?

<3

[taijiya]

Only another half mile. They're close.

[Sango sets off at a sprint, looking back to make sure Mera is following, and sorely wishing she'd ridden Kirara instead of taking the long way--but Kirara is needed to help the others.]

[hbisea]

Then let's hurry. Who knows what other weapons they have. [ Or if those ships carry soldiers on the inside. She doesn't want to find out. She ushers forward, any stragglers on the street who seem to be confused and panicked she calls to and orders them to follow. ]

[taijiya]

[They are very, very close to the entrance--to the point where maybe half the group they're ushering is already within--when the sound of another bomb dropping hits.

Sango presses her gas mask hard into her face and dives for cover, yelling for everyone else to get down.]

[hbisea]

[ This time Mera is ready. Her arms wave to the side, a powerful stream of water following her movement and striking at the bomb to knock it into an empty street. Waves of water rise again and encase them before the gas can get any further. ]

I will not allow these people to be harmed.

[taijiya]

[Sango is huffing and panting hard as she pushes back to her feet, coughing a little more in the process.]

Thanks--we're almost there--

[Aaaaand back to ushering and running...]

[hbisea]

[ As they get to the entrance, Mera stands just at the entrance and keeps a solid wall up, though no bombs have fallen again just yet. She's not letting it down until every last person has gone far enough into the catacombs and out of harm's way. ]

[taijiya]

[Sango stays behind as well until the last straggler is through and Kirara arrives. Then she motions for Mera to follow her inside.]

[hbisea]

[ As soon as she gets the signal, she releases the water and it crashes to the ground, splashing around in every direction. Unfazed as it hits her, she pivots on her heel and follows Sango, placing a hand on the young girl's shoulder. ]

Are you alright? [ People have been dying as a result of disease. She doesn't know bad Sango has it. ]

[taijiya]

[Sango releases a little sigh, followed by a cough, because she knows Mera's not asking about the bombs.]

Yes, I promise. I'm still coughing, but it's so much better than it was days ago. I was in the hospital for a while and I've had the mask on before and after that, so I've had more protection than most people.

[hbisea]

[ She arches a slender eyebrow, highly skeptical of that answer. ]

You should rest with the others here for now. They may have supplies -- medicine -- you can take if your symptoms worsen.

[taijiya]

[No but really she wasn't as bad off as other people!! It took her like a whole week to finally collapse. And she didn't die! Sango is doing pretty well for an epidemic!]

Mera, I appreciate it, and I'm going to take a few minutes to breathe, but I can't sit here while there are people still out there I could be helping.

[hbisea]

[ She releases Sango's shoulder, but a frown passes over her features now. ]

You won't be much help if you don't allow your body to recuperate for even a short period. I can stand guard until then.