outer_divide | [VIDEO | 004: ] Sunday Night, Week 10

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[VIDEO | 004: ] Sunday Night, Week 10

[The broadcast is short, and there's no-one left hanging on the line for a reply. Kaidan is clad in armour and wrapped in an eerie blue glow as he crouches amidst a thin veil of corn stalks. There's mud, water, and the crackle of flames in the air, along with the sound of hovercraft, bullets and the snarls and growls of some sort of canine on the attack.]

This is Major Alenko. Down to six fliers at the fields, but we need additional support, badly. Will lead them on a chase as long as I can.

[There's an eerie thrum and the blue lighting shifts and flickers just ahead of the feed shaking as he bursts into movement. The video feed cuts off a moment later.]

[[OOC: If anyone's been trying to decide where to go/what to do, Kaidan and Lyall could use some extra Authority-smacking talent over here.]]

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[He's getting a whole bunch of static for a couple of seconds, but it sounds like someone on the other end is trying to talk. Like somewhere between here and there, the feed's getting interference. Then a single word comes through loud and clear:]

--masks--

Edited (or i can just edit forever, that works too) 2012-07-10 15:31 (UTC)

Major! I am attempting to shield some of the civilians against -

[BLAM. Walker lets out a hushed grunt as heavy gunshot rings out. He wants to put up some kind of fight, but if he rises up to do so, the bombers get a free pass to level buildings.]

-nngh...attempting to shield civilians. I will come to you when the bombardment st-stops!

[BLAM. BLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLABMBMBMBMBMBMBM]

[panting]

...do not give up Hope!

Edited 2012-07-13 09:53 (UTC)

Kaidan? What is going on?

Liara. Good, you're safe. Sorry for the delay.

[Kaidan sounds like he's in one piece, at least, and the combat-adrenaline has drained from his voice to be replaced by exhaustion.]

That moron's speech called down the Outer Authorities on the city. Big force. Targeted the hospital and the fields, just smashing things for fun and profit. Took a few hits, but nothing that can't be dealt with.

[Now, anyways. Kaidan's got bigger things to worry about.]

I can't raise Shepard. There was that one broadcast, and then one to my terminal, signal mangled all to hell...

I should have been there. I cannot even run a trace from here, let alone--

Do you still have the old communication protocols on your omni-tool? That band would be more secure, and we are still well within range.

[It takes a moment or two for Kaidan to resurrect the old protocol, but he's back after that -- audio-only, but familiar and far more secure audio at that.]

You know me, I never throw it away if it could still be useful.

[Or if it's a source of techno-nostalgia for better, simpler days like hunting down Saren.]

Don't feel guilty for not being here. We'd still have been badly outnumbered, and those supplies are going to be even more necessary now... although there's this one guy who's a healer. I've never seen his species before, so I don't know if that's a general trait or not.

A healer? That is - unusual. Hopefully it does not put undue strain on the systems of other species.

He seemed to be tired, but he almost seemed to have a compulsion at work. I'm going to have to ask him what's going on with that when I'm not-- Uh, when things are a little more settled.

[Smooth cover, Major. Smoooooooth.]

My main worry is that I can't raise Shepard. Did you see that broadcast from her?

How badly are you hurt?

[Spoilers: she's not going to believe "not at all".]

I received a portion of the transmission. It was badly corrupted, and I am not familiar enough with this technology to restore it.

Now? Just bruises, and one of those restraint collars like the kind Shepard has us help pull off that one guy.

[And he's still trying to clean the vomit out of his helmet. But injuries now healed really aren't something to worry her about, right?

He heaves a worried, but not terribly surprised, sigh at Liara's verdict.]

That's about what I figured. I'm planning to start some sweeps on foot as soon as I can. Her dinosaur was taken out of his pen, too.

Be careful. If there is anything I can do to assist from here, let me know.

I'm planning to be smart for once and lie low, at least 'til you folks are back. I'll let you know if anything big comes up, or when I track down Shepard.

I believe we are remaining here tomorrow, but it is possible that the attack may move the schedule up.

[That she's hoping so is perfectly clear, even without any video input.]

If you're staying longer to get more supplies, don't cut things short because of this -- we're going to need everything you can bring back.

[And then some. But Kaidan's attempting to keep positive.]

How bad is it? There is only so much to find, even here, but we will do all we can.

There are a lot of injured civilians, and while there's that healer he can't get everyone. The big new thing is that the Authorities also hit the fields as well as the hospital.

There were defenders at the hospital. Fields, it was just me and a really intelligent wolf, although I think someone else came along at some point. And I had some locals on fire control... it could've been worse.

[There's still a concealed note in his voice that codes an unspoken 'but it wasn't enough'.]

[She knows that tone. Uses one similar, all too often.]

It could have been. If it wasn't, that is entirely thanks to you.

And the folks with me. The locals... give them the right resources and a little breathing room they could pull off a hell of a lot. What they're managing now is still pretty impressive.

[His lips curve, silent thanks for the reassurance on an unspoken worry.]

I suppose it will be up to us to give them that breathing room, then.

May's well earn our keep somehow. [A wry laugh huffs in the background.] Assuming they don't decide it would be less of a hassle to just shoot everyone coming off the ship and save themselves further headaches.

I am not sure I would blame them, although I would prefer they focus any homicidal tendencies on the fool who brought this about.

Yeah, he's on my list of people to find -- no sign of him since this broke. To the surprise of all, I'm sure.

Perhaps it is for the best. If he is in hiding, he cannot cause any more destruction. Not with the resources available on this planet, at least.

Edited 2012-07-23 18:15 (UTC)

I'll try and share your faith in that. How's the trade mission going? Anything interesting in the wide world of a ten minute trip by hovercar?

Travel is maddeningly slow. And the people here are even less familiar with other races than those in the city. I did learn a little about this town's history in return for stories from the stars. And we have managed to secure some medicine - hopefully it will be enough for the wounded there.

A farm near my grandparents' place had horses, when I was a kid. My cousins and I would feed them apples over the fence sometimes. Never thought I'd end up somewhere that riding them would actually be a viable means of transportation.

And that's some damn' good news on the medicine front. I have a few units of medi-gel, but I'm keeping those back for when it's really down to the wire.

[There's a slight vein of guilt behind the admission, even if it's paired with enough surety to suggest he's going with tactics on this one.]

Maybe the ship will decant a medical researcher or a molecular biologist next.

Hopefully one familiar with the current level of technology. Although I would have been fascinated to see what Doctor Solus might have come up with, had he survived.

Doctor who? Is this one of Shepard's, uh, people that we're talking about?

[Yes, Kaidan, if you don't mention the Cerberus in the room, nobody will remember Horizon. This will clearly work.]

I had assumed you would have read the reports - Dr. Solus is...was a salarian scientist, formerly of the STG. He did work with Shepard to halt the Collector attacks, and gave his life on Tuchanka to cure the genophage not long before I awoke here.

Almost everything about what Shepard was up to is under a need-to-know cap that a major's not getting through. Even without the insinuations about being emotionally compromised, insert bullshit here.

[Kaidan's frustration is strong enough that it takes a moment for the latter half of the explanation to sink in. When it does, it's at least an impressive moment of bluescreening.]

Cure-- The genophage? I thought that thing was-- I mean, not that it wasn't a horrific thing to do, and curing it's--

The entire story is an extremely long one, but suffice to say that Wrex's price for involving the krogan in freeing Palaven was a cure for his people.

[She pauses a moment.]

I do have some files I can transfer, once we are in closer proximity.

Liara?

[The name comes after an even longer pause, and when he speaks it's with a tone of helpless calm; a man surrendered to the fact that his bemusement is only going to get worse before it gets better.]

I think it's going to take more than files, because I'm missing half the reference library for what you're talking about. Can we, uh, sit down when you get back?

Assuming there is still anywhere to sit down by the time I return, certainly. I am afraid most of it will be unpleasant news.

[She sounds uneasy - deeply so, as though it is less due to his possible reaction to what she'll have to say than to the necessity of saying it at all.

Friends missing their memories: not her favourite thing ever.]

Well, that would just fit with the general trend, then.

[Kaidan would argue this isn't pessimism, it's just being realistic. After all, you should be aware of just how bad it all is before you try and make it better, right?]

I'll take unpleasant over knowing nothing at all. Stay safe out there, all right?

Don't worry about me. We will be fine. I will see you in a few days. [She kills the channel, finally.]

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[VIDEO | 004: ] Sunday Night, Week 10

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Omni-Tool Protocols!

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Omni-Tool Protocols!

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