Lirath - Ship Survival

[meat_mooks]

 As the battle raged outside, those remaining aboard Stacy had their hands full preparing for the incoming flood of refugees.

Positioned near the Bleed-Gate orbiting Lirath, Stacy stood ready to receive the refugees. Ship after ship ascended as quickly as they could, some of them making a break for the Bleed-Gate itself while the smaller ships were

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Part 2: Terrorist Attack!

[catastrotastic]

As the battle continued, more and more refugee ships scrambled aboard. The crew managed to get a good routine going, and processing all of the incoming refugees and calming them down became somewhat easier as time went on

[dhianeila]

Just when she had found a spot to sit and rest in Hydroponics, and sent herself outside to begin her search for the Ohm, it happened. The stab of those ill intentions to her heart, breaking her from that focus. Her violet eyes snapped open, and she looked around nervously. She knew they were taking in refugees, but this ... was it unrest? Fear? No ... it was something worse. Something instilled with fear, but much stronger, and much more dangerous than it. The intent to kill, to harm others as well as themselves.

But why...? Why would they wish to do this? Wasn't there enough dying going on all around them already? Dhianeila stood up, trying to figure out how strong that energy was, how many of them there were that managed to get onto the ship.

[armsraced]

As the battle raged on in the other parts of the ship, a squad of GIA troopers entered Hydroponics. One of the troopers noticed Dhianeila a little ways off from their position.

"You there, ma'am--holy crap, this place is pretty--er, you there!" he called out, somewhat distracted by the scenery for a moment. "We've got reports of a terrorist cult attacking civilians on board this ship, and some of them were seen moving out this way. It isn't safe to be alone."

[dhianeila]

She nodded to the trooper politely. "I am aware, thank you, sir. I only wish we knew why they've resorted to such violence..."

Dhianeila wasn't so much worried for her own safety, as much as everyone else on board. Including these GIA members on board to aid them. "Please, though, if you would stay where you are, it would be better that way for both of us."

[armsraced]

"What? Why--" the trooper said, before the sound of an explosion out in the halls interrupted him.

"Damn, they're here. Ma'am, get to cover!"

He barked orders at his men to take up defensive positions, taking aim at the entrance to Hydroponics, waiting for the enemy to arrive.

[catastrotastic]

It wasn't long before the Catastrophists arrived.

A group of armored cultists appeared at the doorway, immediately opening fire. One of the GIA soldiers was clipped by a shot, but continued firing anyway. Several of the cultists were cut down in the exchange of fire, but there were more of them than there were of the GIA soldiers.

[dhianeila]

The explosion rocked her, and her reflexive reaction to the situation was to fall to her knees, arms going up to cover her ears and head. After a moment's passing, she slowly looked back up to the GIA troops positioning themselves to fire.

She stood, and she moved away from direct sight of the entrance, but she didn't hide. Not when there could have been a way to end this without anybody dying.

When they entered and immediately started firing, she didn't flinch, instead speaking, pleading to them. "Please stop this! There is no need for any more death!" Not when she could feel so much happening around them outside of the ship as it was.

[catastrotastic]

"The End comes for all! There is no escape! There is no mercy!"

The cultists continued firing, and two of the GIA soldiers were killed in the crossfire, as several more cultists fell.

"I think you'll need to do better than that to convince them, ma'am!" the lead GIA soldier called back to her, mostly concerned she wasn't really taking cover like she should.

Dhianeila could likely sense the twisted, warped presence that filled each of the cultists minds thanks to her powers. Each of them had been subjected to terrible psycho-conditioning, each being perfectly warped into homicidal maniacs.

[dhianeila]

And that did get her to flinch, seeing the soldiers and cultmembers that fell, never to get up again. But this was not the time to falter, and Dhianeila gathered herself up, giving the cultist that spoke a hard, serious look as she took a step toward them. "That is not something for you to decide for others."

She felt how different they were from everyone else around her. Their thoughts not exactly not their own, but something about the way they felt that told her they acted this way because it was something forced upon them. She wondered if it was possible to save them at all, from it. "If you wish to seek an end, do not take the unwilling with you. But why do you seek to simply embrace it?"

[catastrotastic]

Three more GIA soldiers fell, leaving only the sergeant to continue fighting. Thankfully, most of the cultists were dead by now, but the few that remained were still more than the sergeant was capable of defeating on his own.

"All of existence is warped, corrupt!" one of the remaining cultists shouted. "The Harbinger shall bring the glorious End upon all, wiping the slate clean!"

The GIA sergeant took down another cultist, but just as he was moving to reload, the last three rushed forward, making a beeline straight for Dhianeila.

"MA'AM!" the GIA soldier called out, drawing his combat knife and rushing towards one of the cultists. He plunged the blade into the man's chest, but in that moment, the cultist activated the explosive device implanted within him, taking both him and the sergeant to their graves.

The other two, having paid no heed to their fallen comrade, instead continued rushing forward, eventually getting within ten meters of Dhianeila...

[dhianeila]

"No...!"

They had enough happening outside, didn't they? Why did things have to come to this? To more death, even outside of their encounters with the Ohm? Why when there were already so many misunderstandings between races, did they also have to fight amongst each other?

"Please!" he begged them again. Not for her own life, not even for their own safety at that point, but for them to simply stop. Because if they finished her and moved on that meant more people were going to die.

But then they got too close, it was too late. Their thoughts and feelings so close to not only Dhianeila's, but the power of her ability to feel those things as well as send out the power herself - it wasn't just a strain on her, but it would definitely be quite a strain on them.

[catastrotastic]

Despite all of the fervor with which they had charged at Dhianeila, her power overcame them, and it wasn't long before the two men collapsed on the ground before her.

It was over, but not without a great cost.

[dhianeila]

The silence that followed was so heavy. Dhianeila would have even apologized to the fallen cultmembers if there had been no bloodshed. But there was, and it was all she was left with.

She had to make sure-- make sure that none of them were only just hurt. But first she had to get help, she'd call med-bay. She'd call security for the two that just fell. She could do so quickly, and once it was done ... well. She'd be left in the silence, tears rolling down her face for those who were so quickly taken away, and especially those who looked out for her well being.

Let's Go Kamen Rider!

[memory_hax]

"They made their move," stated Philip when the screaming began. "Shoutarou, Hoshi, Ren, let's move."

Dialing in a number on his StagPhone, there was an answering beep as a small form crept out into the garage, headed for the RevolGarry in the city. Jumping in, it peeled off towards the refugee zone.

"Time to go." And Philip darted into the fray, his book tossed to a random girl. "Do not lose that!"

[thisclinchesit]

"Damn it all." Shoutarou pulled out the Double Driver, and strapped it on as he hopped onto the Hardboilder. Might as well be ready once they get there.

After gunning the engine a couple of times, Shoutarou took off after Philip. It was rough enough that they were having to protect the people from the Ohm, but now there's people among them that were attacking, too?

[catastrotastic]

There were a number of armored cultists gathering, some of them setting up some kind of strange looking device. One of them was barking orders at the others, while several of them were continuing to fire upon innocent civilians.

Whatever it was they were up to, it didn't look good.