epidemiology | EVENT ★ THE BATTLE FOR OSKA

THE BATTLE FOR OSKA

A message is sent to teams Audentes, Unicorn, and Ambrosia via magitek early in the morning, alerting all users to expect to be rifted back to Oska in three hours. Shortly after that comes a message from the Queen of Terra Felis, requesting that recruits stop by the palace briefly to receive her blessing. Any recruits who oblige her will find that her blessing is actually a very physical gift: a feeling of peace that washes over each person as soon as they step into the palace. This feeling will persist for the next 12 hours, and comes with a boost to either strength or speed for the duration of it. It's the Queen's way of wishing her departing guests good luck.

Then comes the rift, and finally, Oska.

ARRIVAL

Oska isn't doing well. The devastation is immediately apparent in the blistered and blackened stone of the castle, completely blasted apart in some areas. Plantlife about the castle has been completely shredded, entire trees reduced to splintered stumps. The area recruits are rifted into is temporarily safe, guarded by team Mariposa, all of them of a large, fiercely warlike species, each heavily armed. There are only five of them, but that's enough to defend the little corner of Oska set up to receive the incoming teams.

The largest, most battle-scarred member of Mariposa issues no orders, but fills arrivals in on the situation: there are several models of robots focusing on the destruction of the castle. Hear that distant, repetitive thud? The largest robots, the 15-foot (457cm) models, area busy hammering at an interior wall, trying to break into the Mechanical Room. They're the main priority -- but don't lose track of the flanking and defensive models, they're there to cause whatever carnage they can while the largest ones tear down the castle itself. Basically, take out every robot you see, as fast as you can.

Those who can't fight have another, even more important job. There are defense nodes scattered throughout Oska, some inside the castle, some outside, even some in the village. These are small panels that blend in with the scenery. They each need to be opened up and rebooted with an access code put in via number pad. When every single node has been rebooted, the cloaking device will fully activate throughout this entire dimension, getting it permanently off of Zymandis's radar once more. Any recruit who volunteers for this job will have a map of each node location sent to their magitek. The robots don't seem to realize the importance of these nodes and usually ignore them, but will attack anyone they see working at one.

OPPONENTS

The biggest models are the PW15s; with sledgehammers at the end of their arms, they're programmed just to break down and tear apart foundation. They're currently working on busting their way into the Mechanical Room, where the TIMELINE.exe is kept. They must be stopped. Without the TIMELINE.exe, ALASTAIR is left aimless and adrift. These machines work ceaselessly at their task, and can only be distracted by focusing temporarily on a target right in front of them. Otherwise, they will ignore any attacks on them and keep working on the wall in front of them until they are torn apart themselves.

PW15s are guarded by the Shielders. These are the basic eight-foot (245cm) models, but each comes with a large light shield it will use to defend itself and the PW15s. They stay behind these impenetrable shields and fire lasers from safety, but don't have very advanced programming. They will swivel around to face their target, leaving themselves open to attacks from behind. Tag teaming these robots is very effective.

Airbombers can be tricky to navigate, as these robots fly. They're light and fast, but shots from their canons don't do much more than issue small but severe burns. The real danger is in letting one get directly overhead, as once it has done so it will release two to six bombs, which do great damage to people and property upon impact.

The last model to look out for is the T15, which is small but tenacious. These are no bigger than a large dog, and will scuttle quickly forward until they've spotted a target. At that point they plant themselves and begin to fire a concentrated beam of laser at whatever they've spotted until it has stopped moving. These models have very simple programming and few defenses, but are impossible to dissuade from firing while their target is still in sight. They have no sense of object permanence, though, and even ducking behind scenery will confuse one into thinking it's eliminated its target.

THE FIGHT

The arrival of the three teams from Terra Felis do a lot to tip the scales in Oska's favor, but the fight still rages for a full day after their arrival. Team Kittypaw can be seen engaging throughout the grounds -- Uruz and Dagny fiercely defend the stables and the squidge garden, and are tired but nowhere near ready to give up. Cassie leads attacks into robot-heavy areas with gun-blazing gusto and seems to be having the time of her life, but even her energy isn't unlimited. Cherenkov and Crowley are on defense node duty, and can be spotted as a black or white streak on their way to activate the next node, avoiding the bulk of the fighting.

Anyone who needs a break will be instructed to visit the library. Not even the robots are a match for the librarians, who have made it their utmost priority to ensure that nothing unauthorized sets foot among the books. Food and pillows have been brought in, and the area can be used as a base for resting and refueling between fights. Between fending off robots, the librarians will still warily scrutinize anyone eating or drinking too close to a book. They've allowed it, but don't push your luck and get messy.

The fight drags on for almost a full, exhausting 24 hours, but just as dawn begins to come to the little scrap of Oska's dimension, a shimmering races briefly through the sky as the last defense node is rebooted and the shield is reactivated. Any remaining robots jolt and then go still, permanently offline. (Friendly robots might also feel a jolt, but are spared any damage thanks to careful programming.) The collective teams of ALASTAIR finally have a moment to breathe and relax. The fight is over.

AFTERMATH

There is a lot to rebuild and, unfortunately, some mourning to do. Services for those fallen in the fight will be held the following day. They are quick but heartfelt affairs, with friends of the downed recruits speaking a few words about what will be most remembered and missed about their comrades.

Overall, though, the mood is grimly triumphant -- they've just managed to fend off Zymandis, after all. Or at least, a fraction of Zymandis. There are quite a few murmurs of gratitude for the shields being restored in time to stop anything bigger from finding them.

The castle begins to slowly rebuild itself, rocks teetering their way back into place and tapestries slowly restitching themselves. Left to its own devices, it would probably take several years of this for the castle to fully restore itself. It very obviously appreciates recruits lending a hand to rebuilding, though. Suits of armor will bring workers little trinkets of gratitude, or food from the kitchen, which produces it in generous heaps. The castle's rebuilding efforts will even focus a little more strongly on the rooms of anyone helping out, down to any personal effects that were damaged in the fight or otherwise.

Welcome home, Audentes. Rebuilding will last for the full three weeks given until their next mission, and still won't be complete by the time they ship out. But still, try to relax before your next trip out.

OOC NOTES

This log will last ICly and OOCly for three weeks (with the initial battle lasting one day), with the next mission beginning on 21 May. Please use this post to plot amongst yourselves!

The other ALASTAIR teams in Oska at the moment are Unicorn and Ambrosia, who were with Audentes in Terra Felis, Kittypaw, Mariposa, who greeted the new arrivals, and Kraken, a 10-recruit team made of various aquatic and amphibious species who use the lake as their home base during the fight. More teams will be rifting in to help with reconstruction, after the battle is over.

Questions about this log can be directed here. Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ. You may also submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[If nothing else, Scott McCall is no stranger to clipped guys who actually intend to help. He had once been more suspicious about it, but by now, he's far more understanding about the various approaches that people have to being ... well ... themselves. He can tell that a lot of effort goes into this, and in that moment, that brief, though almost blinding moment, the effort leads to the erasure of a threat. Scott can tell why they had to stand back.

His empathy kicks in quickly, just as it appears that Ahad's strength is leaving him. He moves up beside him, face looking quite like a normal teenage boy's, while his hand drops to the small of his back to help steady him with any movement he intends to make.]

Do you need anything?

[ Ahad freezes at the touch, but neither dismisses Scott or moves away. He's not someone who is ever comfortable with being touched by strangers, but his nature craves contact and support. If he weren't so weak he'd fight himself, but there's little left in him to fight again what his nature demands.

The least he can do is not lean into the support at his back. ]

Nothing I would ask for. [ The "from you" is unspoken. ]

[For his part, the "from you" is not assumed in any way, shape, or form. His brow furrows at the response.]

Do you normally ask for things when you need them? [It's a detour to getting an answer he needs. Is this guy the type of person who refuses to ask for help? The blaring neon sign over his head that says he's not so unlike Derek Hale basically tells Scott that he is like that, but maybe he's wrong.]

Does it matter? [ It's said caustically, but Ahad does turn his head enough to stare unblinkingly at Scott. He's more puzzled than annoyed, but it's likely difficult to tell.

He's still made no move to shift away from Scott's support. ]

Actually? Yeah, it does. There are all different types. [Like those who don't lean away from his support when he offers it despite looking at him that way.

Those types.]

[ He looks almost offended at "different types". Clearly it's time to start to lean away from Scott's support. ]

It does not matter to me.

All right. [That lean away is noticeable, so he draws his hand back.] I just wanted to help.

You have helped enough.

[ He'll glance toward the squidges, as he speaks.

While Ahad looks momentarily worse at the loss of contact, it's quickly covered by his stoicism. It's easy enough to miss. ]

[Scott pulls back, straightening his posture. His arms hang loosely at his sides, but it's clear that he's providing Ahad space.]

Hey. I'm sorry. [The words are easy and genuine, but even if they do come easily to him, the genuine part is really apparent.] I—I know a guy back home. You reminded me of him a bit. I messed up a lot in understanding where he was coming from. [They worked through it, blah blah blah, he doesn't add any of this.

Instead, he says:] I wanted to know if it was just me, and there was someone I could call to help you—or if you prefer to handle this yourself. That's all.

[ If nothing else, Ahad can tell how genuine Scott's feelings are. It's awkward, in a way he would rather ignore if he could. ]

Save your apology. You've done nothing that warrants one. [ Nothing to him, that is.

Ahad will stand straighter, but it's clear he's pushing himself. There's an aura of exhaustion that surrounds him, even if he seems intent on ignoring it. ]

I will recover in time. There's no need to draw anyone away from their tasks.

Yeah, of course you will. Just try to take a breather, okay? [Scott knows better than to discount his ability to recover. He doesn't strike him as the type of guy who would act without knowing he can get better.

But the fact that he might need help getting there is ... well.

Scott knows better than to force the matter. Even if he really, really wants to.]

Don't tell me what to do. [ It's more reflective than anything else, and there's no bite to his words. At least it was a question and not an actual demand.

...his next comment, however, is said almost grudgingly. ] Your concern is noted, but I do know my own limits. [ This is a terrible lie, but he says it confidently enough. ]

Yeah? I'll believe that when you head off to take a break. [Scott's already said his apologies, and while those initial words from Ahad managed to hit a guilty nerve for him, he knows better than to retread that path. Part of him feels like he's on solid footing regarding.]

Me? I'm gonna stay here and keep an eye on these guys for a while.

Whatever. [ His tone seems to indicate that he could care less about what Scott believes or not.

The squidges, however, he drifts a little closer toward. ] Someone should. Their ability to defend themselves is limited.

I noticed. [A beat, unsure of whether inviting Ahad to join him will make him leave.] I have a feeling they could use more than one person for company. [Just saying. Maybe. Was he sly enough? He hopes so!]

[ That earns Scott a look. Ahad isn't blind to what's going on here.

...that, and he's not used to someone managing him so well in their first interaction. It's not as discomforting as Ahad wishes it was. ]

I intended to stay.

[ He's trying for a dignified response, but that's almost ruined by a squidge toddling close enough to cling to his leg. ]

Edited 2017-05-31 01:09 (UTC)

I'm glad to hear it. [Oh, Scott definitely doesn't read it as dignified. But he does offer Ahad an easy smile before leaving him to his clinging squidge. Scott will take care of some of his own alien blob friends across the way a little, so that they really can divide their energies.]

EVENT ★ THE BATTLE FOR OSKA

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