One small step for man, one giant leap for the soldiers

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Characters: Bao Ying and other NPC soldiers, OPEN to those with good hacking skills at Cole's morning thread only, as well as for Allelujah Haptism (afternoon thread), Lockon Stratus (afternoon thread), Cole McGrath (morning), Unohana Retsu (evening thread), Lelouch Lamperouge (evening thread), and Chaera (evening thread).
When: Friday, all day

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Friday Morning (Open Thread)

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The group showed up early to the coordinates Cole had provided, keeping a wary eye out. This tour should help them learn more about the status of the people outside the inner city, and give them a better idea of how much the soldiers had been lied to when it came to general details.

With a quick motion of her hand, Bao directed her men to fan out in order to watch as much of the area as possible.

[electric_dui]

The buildings that made up Adstringendum were crumbling and unstable, but Cole was used to everything looking like crap. Even before the blast, the Raysphere, and the powers he got in his world, urban exploration was one of his things. At least when he got bored, the environment gave him something to do. So he leapt and climbed around the city, keeping an eye on the PCD (which he now kept on his chest, on the strap of his bag, where his cellphone used to be) When he arrived he kneeled down from the roof of a building, overloooking Bao and her soldiers.

He was used to working with shady government-type (or at least connected) people, but even with his temper these didn't look like the kind of guys worth upsetting.

"HEY!" He figured a quick warning would be good before he started climbing down.

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The guns were pointed in his direction almost immediately, small red dots dancing on his chest, but Bao immediately barked and order and the gunmen lowered their weapons. They still had their hands on the trigger, though, and none of them had let their guard down.

Bao looked up to the man and put her hands behind her back.

"You are Cole McGrath, correct ?"

[electric_dui]

The dancing dots of death on his yellow jacket made him gulp, and he decided to descend a little slower. When he reached the second story he held onto what USED to be a light-up sign with one hand and hung in front of them.

"Yeah... uh... sorry for the scare, it's faster to get place-to-place from the roofs for me."

Friday Afternoon (for Alle, Lockon, and allies they choose to bring)

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This was the tricky meeting, the one where everything could go wrong fast. But the two had been reasonable at the end of the last encounter, and Bao knew that she was offering help they couldn't otherwise get. They didn't strike her as stupid and right now she would be useful to them. Her and her men started getting to work on the area while they waited. It was certainly damaged.

Friday Afternoon (for Alle, Lockon, and allies they choose to bring)

[alle_halle]

Allelujah was cautious. Although their earlier encounter with Bao Yin proved that she's a honorable person, both him and Lockon were rather careful. At the set time, they arrived at the location. Of course, both were armed just in case. The note they got before proved it won't be just a renovation help meeting.

Lockon wondered why that woman decided to contact them of all people, joining forces with Mello before shouldn't make them look trustworthy. Though it might be the reason as well. Quick glance around; if it was a trap...

"Good afternoon." he greeted them. "Are we late?"

[[ooc: joined tag, written via mobile-gmail since Lockon-mun won't have comp access till tomorrow :/]]

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Bao nodded her head to him as they approached, keeping an eye out in case they'd brought others. But no one seemed lurking or waiting to attack.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Haptism. You are not late. I'm glad you chose to come." She gestured behind herself. "You've seen them before, aside from Zack Lyle," she pointed, "and Patrick Cosgrave." She watched them both. They had been friends of Mello, but chances were they had not seen Patrick.

"You may speak freely in front of all of these gathered." And now for the difficult plunge, the one that could set her on a very dangerous path. "I'm increasingly convinced that the Chairman and the rest of the Project are lying to me on many topics. It's for this reason that I want to strengthen the ties between my men and the people outside. I need to assure myself and them that if something was to backfire further on the scientists, we would not pay again. We're already trapped, as you are."

"I don't know where to start, though."

[meteo_sniper]

Following her words, Lockon looked at all her men, acting as if he was seeing Patrick for the first time. Indeed, it was a dangerous path to choose, both for her, and for them.

"While I wish we could originally meet in better circumstances,your motives are understandable. Just like questions you may have for us." a small smile appeared on his lips. He might have been a tad bit too careful with his words, but before they agree that Allelujah will speak in details. He had no idea why, as he was the one more intensely cooperating with Mello, but he agreed on it.

Friday Evening Part One

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Bao's group had split up to examine the fence as best they could. She remained with Patrick and one marksman as they semi-efficiently shut off a portion of the fence, re-wired it, and turned it back on. This would be a project too big for one day of work, but at least it was started. They could return later when opportunity allowed.

Friday Evening Part One

[bunny_flower]

Unohana had felt the alien energies moving around. It really did seem like Colonel Bao was out and about and making good on her offer. That spoke in favor of the woman.

The shinigami flash-stepped to about two hundred meters of where she had detected them, and walked the rest of the way. They were probably armed, and there was no need to provoke an accident by surprising them. She did have Minazuki with her, though. Her zanpakutou did not leave her, in times such as these.

"Good evening, Colonel Bao."

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Bao turned, her hands out, palm-down. There were no guns raised, the men knew she'd spoken to Unohana before. They stood, if not relaxed, not entirely tense, either, for a moment. Finally they returned to working on the fence at Bao's nod.

"Good evening, Miss Unohana. I'm glad you've made it out here. How have things been fairing among the O-- people outside?" That was a change that was going to take time, but Bao would work on it. Her men were as well. She just wished there was an better title to use instead.

[bunny_flower]

Unohana looked sad for a second, shaking her head with a small smile.

"As usual, Colonel. As soon as there is joy, murder and blood are following in its wake. And as soon as death strikes, something happens that gives us hope again."

She turned to the several men and women working on the fence and bowed to them.

"Thank you for coming to our aid in our time of need. Your help is greatly appreciated."

Friday Evening Part Two

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The group was at their last location of the day, the water tower. Much to Bao's surprise, the water tower appeared complete and structurally intact. She had Zack and one of her marksmen check for stability, but it seemed good. It wasn't what would be found in a modern city, but for what the people out here had to work with... Bao was impressed.

"If there are any improvements that can be made, let me know. If not, let's get ready to head home for today."

Friday Evening Part Two

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The soldiers were not letting their guards down, but they had gotten better at not immediately putting up their guns when faced with newcomers. They were ready and aware, but not overly threatening. At least, not overly threatening for people in full military combat equipment.

Bao took a step forward, with Lopéz and Cosgrave flanking her.

"We were going to, but this tower appears to be fully functional. Lelouch Lamperouge, if I am not mistaken ?"