report: 004 [text | audio | commentlog.]

[catherine_b320]

[BEGIN UNHACKABLE || TEXT]

12/09/2552
UNKNOWN TERRITORY: 'VERTILINE' | SUB-AREA: 'EIDER'
08:12
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER KAT-320 | NOBLE TWO
REGISTRATION ID B320-xxxx-xxx|

The first wave of this so-called invasion was trivial at best. The 'jackmice', despite their mitotic behavior, were nothing I would consider a threat. To the grain

Comments

[memoriesinsmoke]

Count me in. [You already know her name and capabilities, Kat.]

[catherine_b320]

Thanks.

[She will be putting you to work ASAP, Liz, look out.]

What do you make of Eider so far?

[memoriesinsmoke]

[Fine by her. She's used to being put to work.]

Interesting enough, but it needs protection just as much as any other part of this place.

[catherine_b320]

See if you can track down Rezza, I've a few things I want to discuss with the both of you. Coordinates to follow.

[She doesn't bother adding 'come armed', as she might have with your average civvie. Look, it's damn near a measure of trust, or something equally weird. S'up, Liz. She also tacks her coordinates onto a tiny ping message, for Greater Justice. Or maybe just homance shenanigans. The world may never know.]

[pimp_hat]

If jah be needin' help I'll give it.

[catherine_b320]

Good.

Are you still at the temple grounds?

[pimp_hat]

At da moment, yeah.

[catherine_b320]

What's the situation like there, in the wake of the terrifying rodent invasion?

[private transmission]

[were_it_so_easy]

What is it you want, Demon?

[private transmission]

[catherine_b320]

A moment of your time.

[Whups, is that a twinge of sarcasm to her tone?]

[private transmission]

[were_it_so_easy]

[Pause. Sarcasm contemplated; a shallow grunt. (And that is not a Grunt in a wading pool.)]

Very well. I will be there.

[commentlog]

[catherine_b320]

[And lo, the Spartan waits. Still armless. Thanks, Arbiter, for that particular gesture of restraint and goodwill. She's waiting just inside the border to Eider, and you had sure as hell better be prompt. Hell hath no anything like a Spartan waiting idle.]

[misguides]

You still need people?

[catherine_b320]

I do. Who are you?

[misguides]

Wolfwood.

[catherine_b320]

Noble Two.

So, where do your specialities lie?

[brittlenerves]

[Eider Forest. Half a day's walk from the temple. Normally Xanth would be hanging around the temple still, but it's almost boring there. There's no work. He hasn't spent this many days off work in ages! Or ever!

So he explores, his capybara at his side.

When he does make it to Eider, he sees Kat making fortifications.

Holy shit, she is so tall. And Xanth thought he was tall! What is she, seven feet!?

Oh crap is that a missing arm, too? But it doesn't look like a regular arm wound, and she's... still managing to carry such big things??

gape gape gape]

[catherine_b320]

[She may not have eyes in the back of her head, Xanth, but it's a near thing, and you are, after all, breathing in the presence of someone who is well used to tracking enemies by that alone. She turns to face him and, having identified him as Not Being Any Kind Of Threat Lol At The Thought, she tips her head to one side.]

Well? Are you going to stand there and gawk, or would you like to give me a hand with this?

[She's spent the better part of the day building a watchtower in the most defensible location possible. Spartans don't really know the meaning of vacation.]

[brittlenerves]

[EEP, she sensed him! What kind of magic is that? Damn, man. Er, woman. He comes to attention at the opportunity.]

O--Of course!

[...]

Wh-- wh, what, uh, should-- sh-should I-I d-do?

[Cause he sees you carrying that stuff, but he's not sure where to or from or for what purpose.]

[catherine_b320]

[Kat lifts one shoulder in a shrug. It may or may not be the shoulder that currently does not end attached to an arm.]

You can start by introducing yourself.

[Xanth is, after all, a babby. And a stuttery one, at that. No sense scaring him too much.]