GBG Session 12: The Mist

<Darkling> It's the morning after their first night with their new house guest. There's a light drizzle outside, misting up the air and making everything feel damp, grey and hazy.
Rasia yawns, dangling from something in the living room to do pull-ups.
Wilhelm_Faustus sits on the couch, slowly flipping through a book.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja paces about, tablet in hand. She seems fairly energetic today.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stops long enough to scratch Hel behind an ear, then turns a page.
Corrin is up and about, slightly bleary-eyed. It had taken him a while to get back to sleep.
<Darkling> Madeline has the news on the television, a reporter talking about the abnormal mist they are receiving in the dome. She reports there appears to be a malfunction in the sprinkler systems as a result of some explosions last night.
Rasia drops down from the ceiling, narrowly missing Hel. She rolls her shoulders. The news catches her gaze.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stops her pacing to watch the news. She actually smiles at it in a peculiar way.
<Darkling> She goes on to say there may be rolling fog patches, that are making it extremely hard to see, and people should stay indoors to avoid accidents. The light rain will be likely to continue for a day or two while they repair the systems
<Darkling> At this time, it is unknown as to how the explosions occurred, but a possible explanation is poor maintenance.
Corrin watches the television with the others, frowning.
Rasia growls. Mist is good for ambushes.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "It reminds me of a book, actually." He mutters, still reading as he pets Hel.
<Corrin> "Someone didn't do their job right." Corrin mutters.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "If there were explosions should we be worried about gas again?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Doubtful."
<Darkling> Madeline mutes the television, subtitles popping up keeping them informed as she talks. "We are still attending to matters at the base today. So do not think for one moment you can be lazy and not do your duty. I expect you all set in half an hour."
Rasia bares her teeth at the woman.
<Darkling> She snaps her fingers. "That means move pilots!" She pointedly ignores Rasia's glare.
[2011-07-24 20:27:55] <Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja gives Madeline a stiff, very brief salute, then wanders out of the area. She makes her way over to her room.
Wilhelm_Faustus doesn't move, ready to leave at any time. So he continues to read.
<Corrin> "Yes, ma'am!" Corrin responds automatically, running off at at the snap.
Rasia skulks off to get dayclothes on, dressing warm again.
<Darkling> Ivy is pulling on some pants as you get to your room Lahja. She smiles happily. "Morning! Are we going to the base yet?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Soon. We have approximately half an hour to get ready and meet with Madeline." Lahja offers a brief smile in return, then examines herself in the mirror. "Did you hear about the fog?"
<Darkling> "Fog? No. It feels kind of odd in the air though." She finishes sliding in her pants. *zip*
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "May I ask what it is we will be going exactly?" He lowers the book enough to peer over the top.
<Darkling> Madeline on half scowls. "Since you will be seeing it shortly, there is no harm in telling you. e are to help Miss Hollander with some contact experiments with the Aesir and new technology."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "There were some explosions last night. They're blaming the fog on the sprinkler system having issues." She doesn't sound entirely convinced. She begins brushing out her hair. "Going to be dangerous to be on the road."
Rasia skulks back out, wearing enough winterwear to keep an eskimo warm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I see. Thank you."
<Darkling> Madeline raises an eyebrow disapprovingly of Rasia, a small "tsk" escaping her lips.
<Darkling> "Oh my. I hope everyone that works there is safe at least. I guess that's why the air seems heavy."
Corrin finishes changing into street clothes and heads back into the hallway, now wearing battered, black boots on his feet. He's fully shaken off sleep now, and has his head raised as he heads back to the living room.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He peers at Rasia. "Feeling alright?"
Rasia nods heavily in reply.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I think it's going to be pretty outside."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He puts his book down and picks up Hel so shes looking him in the face. "...no wild parties while we're away."
<Darkling> Ivy pulls her hair into a ponytail and straightens her shirt. "I hope so!" Then skips out of the room.
<Darkling> Madeline checks her watch, still scowling.
Corrin appears in the doorway, making his way over to the other two pilots. "Ready and willing, ma'am." he announces, standing straight.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja lurks about in her room, quietly counting up to sixty and doing absolutely nothing else in the process. But afterwards she finishes dressing, only slightly warmer than usual, and makes her way back out.
<Darkling> "Quicker than I expected." Madeline notes. "Good. Let's us get going then." She walks to the elevator pushing the button to call it.
<Rasia> To the base!
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Hel is put back down as Wil stands to follow after the woman.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja follows as well.
Corrin follows at a distance, his usual energy returning. Wearing plain clothes in his usual khaki, he stands there, glancing from side to side until the elevator arrives.
<Darkling> They ride down, the elevator seeming even more coffin like with Madeline's deathly scowl. It even seems colder in it. Reaching the ground floor, Madeline leads the way, headinout outside to the ready waiting APC and climbs in the front.
Rasia stares Ivy down, even if Ivy doesn't participate.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm hesitates only breifly before getting in as well.
<Darkling> Ivy climbs int he back of the APC with the pilots. "I'm excited! I haven't been to the base yet."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja enters as well, settling into a seat. "You'd normally see some nice scenery as we get closer to the base."
<Darkling> Staring out of the back of the APC, you can see the fog rolling about thickly, seeming to cling to the buildings as it moves along the streets. Very few people are walking around, still waking up in the early morning.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "This is still very nice, though..." Lahja stares rather dreamily at the foggy landscape.
<Darkling> A slow moving shadow, looking like a big van, passes through the fog in the intersection outside, the wind from it's passing pulling the fog along leaving the street clear as the APC closes up.
Corrin sits back, head raised. "It looks empty."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It's pretty. I like how it obscures things." She watches the van go by.
Rasia brooooood.
<Darkling> The APC pulls into the street, chauffeuring the pilots away to the base. Outside the slim windows almost nothing can be seen, the haze thickening and thinning from obscuring the buildings to blocking vision completely. It's obvious the driver is taking care, as the APC moves along very slowly.
Rasia bristles, her teeth grinding audibly. At least Ivy isn't the one to blame for putting her quite this on-edge.
Corrin squints at the window, trying to make out shapes and details as they pass on.
Corrin shifts in his seat. "It's colder than usual too."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "For some of us, maybe."
Rasia looks over at Lahja.
Corrin looks at Lahja at that, the other Pilot's comment going over his head.
<Darkling> "I'm glad it's a little cold. The heat is gross."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Yes. Heat makes people sweat. Do you enjoy sweating, Pilot Corrin?"
<Rasia> "..."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Yaaawn~
<Darkling> Ivy shudders.
Corrin finally just shrugs.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...something to the right." He sits up a bit straighter, looking.
Rasia jerks her head.
<Darkling> Something big slams into the side of the APC, tilting it up off one set of tracks, and skewing it's course on the road.
Rasia grabs at the walls, rising to her feet before the APC's stable.
<Darkling> The driver recovers quickly though something hits the back of the APC again, spinning it once, throwing the passengers about before its course is corrected again.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Being always right isn't all its cracked up to be.
<Rasia> "Fight!"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja shrieks, getting tossed around. She grabs the nearest support afterwards, wide eyed.
<Darkling> The APC picks up speed, putting distance between the collision scene, and metal slides over the window slits blacking out the fog beyond them.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He groans as he rights himself, falling back into his seat.
<Corrin> "What the hell was that?" Corrin asks as the APC moves on, picking himself up. "Pilot Wilhelm, what'd you see? Ivy?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I didn't see anything."
<Darkling> An unfamiliar voice from the front comes over the speaker, "No idea what that was, might have been cars that couldn't see their way. We're in the forest now so almost to the base."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja picks herself up afterwards, returning to her seat. She looks grumpy. "Yes, what the hell."
Rasia breathes, hard and fast, through her flared nostrils, still standing.
<Darkling> Ivy never left her seat, some how managing to have stayed in it, though she's clutching her legs to her chest tight. She just shakes her head.
<Darkling> The APC comes to a stop, and you can hear boots clomping outside as the APC opens up allowing the pilots out.
<Darkling> Some armed guards are present, usher the pilots out. "We'll be escorting you from here."
Corrin just nods after stumbling out, looking to the others.
<Darkling> A stretcher is being carted away from the APC, already moving quick off into the distance.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja exits the APC, looking herself over and doing some tentative stretches. She takes a long look at the side of the APC.
Rasia keeps her eyes and ears peeled, nose scrunching.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm straightens his shirt, following along.
<Rasia> "..." She watches the stretcher go. Madeline was up front...
<Darkling> "Let's go pilots." The lead guard orders.
<Darkling> Moving around the side of the APC as you follow the guards, you might notice the front right end is smashed in, the glass in the door shattered, and a large amount of blood covering everything.
<Rasia> Monster. It's a good thing Raz is wearing such heavy garb.
<Corrin> "Yes, sir." Corrin responds. "Let's go." he adds more quietly to the others, swallowing at the sight of the ruined APC.
<Darkling> The rush you off, taking you at a jogging speed down some hallways, past the cages, and to a meeting room.
<Darkling> Once the pilots are inside, the guards step out and close the door.
<Corrin> "You okay?" Corrin asks Ivy quietly.
<Darkling> "I think so," she looks a little shaken, though less so than in the APC.
Rasia prowls the room, pacing the whole of its perimeter like a fish in a bowl.
Wilhelm_Faustus watches Rasia.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stands at attention, a little confused. Why all the urgency?
Corrin nods. "Come on, Ivy. You're the best, right? Top of the class." More loudly, he speaks again. "Anyone see what happened?"
<Darkling> "...I didn't see it." She says.
<Rasia> Around and around she goes.
<Darkling> A wall screen flicks on at the far side of the room, the Vice-comm's face appearing. "Pilots." He greets.
Rasia jerks her head, mittins still curling and uncurling to satisfy her anxiety.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja salutes the image.
<Darkling> "I understand that Captain Pilon was injured en route to the base, do any of you have information regarding what hit your APC?"
<Rasia> "Enemy." Rasia snarls, her certainty alone enough to justify ignoring her.
<Darkling> Ivy speaks up. "I don't think it was a truck."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "The most I was able to see was a van going by, sir. But that was well before whatever happened."
<Darkling> The Vice'comm turns, speaking to someone else in hushed tones. "Thank you. We're not sure what is going on, but we are receiving reports from inside the dome of odd attacks. We think you might have encountered one."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Judging by the size and force..." He mutters.
<Darkling> "We've sent out a recon force out with equipment that will pierce through the fog. Here's a live feed."
<Darkling> The screen splits in half, showing a thermal image coming from a soldiers goggles as he moves through the streets.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks on, rather interested.
<Darkling> Several more armed personnel are with him, and the move ahead done an empty street, nothing in sight yet.
<Darkling> The figure of a woman appears on the screen, running from up ahead, then several more figures come into view, all running from the same direction.
<Darkling> An unseen entity picks up the woman like a ragdoll, her body crumpling in the air as she's tossed sideways into a building before falling lifeless to the ground.
Rasia growls, the hair on her neck standing up on end.
<Darkling> The entity registers for a moment on the screen, colder than everything else before it fades back into the grey of the fog. More of the civilians fleeing are picked up and thrown through the air, torn apart, or smashed into the street.
<Darkling> Orders are given, though no sound feed comes through, and gunfire is seen shooting almost blindly into the fog.
<Darkling> The Vice-comm's face is grim on the other half of the screen, he must have his sound off too, as he's shouting orders in the command center.
Rasia clicks her teeth, looking back at the other pilots.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wil is watching with his arms folded over his chest, cool as snow.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Will Captain Pilon be alright, sir?" Lahja asks with an absent sort of interest when it looks like there's no more shouting. In all likelihood every bit of that interest is over the foggy scene.
<Darkling> "She's in stable condition, she will live." He takes a deep breath, then turns back to giving orders.
Corrin stands there, fists clenched and attention fixed on the feed half of the screen.
<Darkling> A soldier is picked up, his gun arm torn from it's socket, and tossed back twenty feet to slam through a second story window.
<Darkling> The Vice-comm turns back. "Ivy, we're sending a guard to escort you to the cages. The rest of the pilots please stay in the conference room."
Rasia scowls, barking out. "Fight!"
Corrin just stares at the feed in mixed horror and utter loathing. At the Commander's words, he jerks his gaze away from the carnage. "Sir?" he asks.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...rather one-sided."
<Darkling> "No questions, we don't have time." The door clicks open, a guard enters and Ivy rises to follow him out.
<Darkling> She offers a smile as she exits.
Rasia hunches, chewing on her tongue more than hard enough to draw blood.
<Darkling> Another soldier is slammed into the ground, a form appearing to hover over him with a long serrated tail through the body.
<Rasia> ...Rasia goes for the door.
<Darkling> Locked firmly from the other side.
<Rasia> WHAM!
<Darkling> "Pilot Rasia, please calm down. We will deploy you and the others when necessary." The Vice-comm's voice is stern, but there is concern in his voice.
<Darkling> The form on the other half of the screen flickers and disappears, the  soldier your feed is coming from seems to be the last one standing.
<Rasia> Wrrrt. Whumpf. Rasia pulls up a chair and sits in it, curled up and arms folded. The poutiest little beast.
Corrin just stands there, staring at the closed door. More than a little of him wants to join Rasia in the attempt, but...orders. He exhales at the Vice Commander's last words, in what might be relief, standing there.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks on calmly, though hints of a probably unhealthy interest show through. She quietly ponders that last soldier and why he isn't running for dear life yet.
<Darkling> The door held firm, though there's a solid dent where Rasia slammed into it.
<Darkling> The soldier's camera suddenly jerks up, a clear view of the dome and buildings shown before it whips around violently and bricks speed into it, the signal goes scrambled and cuts out, the feed lost.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja sighs at that. She salutes the scrambled feed afterwards, maintaining the salute a while longer than she normally bothers.
<Darkling> The feed link disappears and instead you see a view of the inside of a plug, showing off Ivy in a seat and a white plug suit.
<Corrin> "Ivy!"
<Darkling> "I'm all set for launch," she says with a grin.
Rasia seethes in silence, a dozen negative emotions bubbling under her skin.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...none of us would have guessed. Thank you Corrin."
<Darkling> "Pilot's, I would like to formally introduce you to the latest Pilot in our program. I'm sorry for the secretive nature, but we did not want you to feel like she was invading or taking over your position."
<Rasia> Kinda messed that one up, VC. Rasia wipes saliva-diluted blood from her mouth.
Corrin shakes his head slowly, taking it in. Despite himself, he's smiling. "Wow...Congratulations, Pilot Hollander."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm reaches over to pet Rasia, watching the screen closely.
<Darkling> "Ivy's Aesir is much smaller in nature than yours. As such, we are able to safely deploy her in the city to deal with the situation. We are working on determining the source of the invasion and sending you after that."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja doesn't seem particularly bothered or surprised. "Congratulations. I look forward to seeing you in action, Ivy."
<Rasia> Her head bobs. An obliging noise comes out.
<Darkling> "Launch the pilot!" He orders, and the picture of Ivy starts to vibrate as she's sent up into the city.
<Corrin> "It doesn't stand a chance." Corrin declares loudly. A bit too loudly. "Show it why you're the best, Ivy!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Quiet."
Corrin glares at Wilhelm, fists balled, but doesn't take his gaze off the screen for long.
<Darkling> The screen splits again, now into quarters. Two camera angles showing the new Aesir as it enters the streets. A much smaller Unit, about half the size of yours, all white with black markings stands proud. It's lightly armoured, holding a long spear in its hands, it's face pulled into a big grin.
<Darkling> "All readings are clear Pilot. Find those Trolls and eliminate them."
<Darkling> "Read you loud and clear." Ivy responds and moves her Unit out.
Corrin stands there, watching the display silently.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stares at it, reflecting on the peculiar design. It lends a bit more weight to the idea of them being alive.
<Darkling> The unit moves swiftly through the streets, , spear swinging and stabbing at invisible foes on the cameras. She doesn't miss a hit once, the bodies of the trolls coming into view after their death as they dissolve into LCL.
<Darkling> "Five targets eliminated." She keeps moving. The streets are flooded with bodies, cars that were smashed or torn apart and demolished city structures.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Did you know she was that good, Pilot Corrin?"
Corrin nods, not taking his eyes off the feeds. "Still top of the class..."
<Darkling> Another spear thrust, a Troll picked out of the sky. You can see it clearly as it folds around the spear. Long thin wings droop down around the serpentine body. A snake-like face with hollow eyes and it's backside ending in a good dozen foot long serrated tail.
<Darkling> "Pilot's, we think the MAGI have determined the source of the Trolls. An escort will be arriving in a moment to take you to the cages."
Rasia licks her teeth, only glancing at the feed  to get a proper visual on the enemy. Then it's back to hating the wall until it dies to death.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Cheer up, you get to fight soon." His only comment as he continues to watch.
Corrin looks away from the screen, a gleam in his eyes. "Yes, sir!"
<Darkling> "I'm still detecting one enemy within the walls of the dome." Ivy reports, her Unit moving swiftly through the streets.
<Darkling> The door clicks, and a familiar scruffy face appears. "Hey guys!" Lit smiles. "Come on, I don't have long to get you to the plug before I have to get back."
<Corrin> "Captain?" Corrin says in surprise, then moves for the door. "Yes, sir!"
<Rasia> Her eyes brighten. Just a little. She hops to her feet.
<Darkling> He steps in the room as Ivy's Unit on the screen jumps, finding a foothold on a bulding, and leaping into the air, blue wings shimmering to life behind it as it gains height, then drops, slamming the spear through the last of her targets. "All targets are eliminated."
<Darkling> "I see you've met the competition," Lit remarks. "Come on," he holds the door open for you.
<Rasia> To the Cages.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...welcome back." He stands, hands clasped behind his back as he steps out.
<Darkling> It's unfortunately a short trip, and he has to leave at the change rooms. "I'll see you guys soon again hopefully." He salutes and winks before heading off down the hall.
Rasia gives him a little nudge before he leaves, jogging to change into that stuffy environmental suit.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "See you soon, Captain." Lahja returns the salute before running off to the changing room... to change.
<Rasia> She's almost too eager, sliding into that horizontal plug of hers. Revenge, maybe?
Corrin heads for the changing room at a dead run, a look of anticipation on his face. Time to kill the enemy. To do his duty.
Wilhelm_Faustus changes into his plugsuit quietly. Not a word to Corrin, and once finished he steps out into the Cage.
<Darkling> The Vice-comm's voice can be heard over the coms in the plugs. "Let us know when you are set to go Pilots. We've good reading on Rasia already."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Ready."
Corrin sits in his own Plug soon afterwards, hands around the yokes and looking ahead through the LCL. "Ready and willing, sir."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Ready!"
Rasia bares her teeth.
<Corrin> "Our turn to do our duty."
<Darkling> =================END=================