Council of War ((Open forum RP))

"I think it's interesting to note how much the Rikti appear to rely on local resources", says Jakob, " we know that attacks on the pylons around the crashed ship disrupt their efforts temporarirly, that they've been recruiting via the Lost, and that even their bombs gather materials from the Earth before exploding. How much of this was developed solely for their stranded troops after the first war, and how much is due to a desire to avoid inter-dimensional supply lines, I cannot say. It's also worth noticing that they have been unable to reach Independence Port in the same numbers that we've been seeing elsewhere in the city -perhaps they are using beachheads other than the one in White Plains. Do we have any reports from the Sewer team that can confirm or deny this?"

Twilight smiled at Tara. "The TLF well send forces to whatever is decided here today. I already have the Cactus Brawler under orders to assist any hero in action in the RWZ," he looked at Jakob, "You seem to be right there Jakob they have been using many of earths resources.. most importantly us as a resource. Most disturbing, has anyone else noticed they seem to target those with latent pyschic abilities?"

"Nonetheless...since the beginning, I have believed that the first strike must be against their portals. From their beachhead, it seem certain they can only arrive from their world in that one area. Cutting them off from their people, commanders and reinforcements will severely weaken them, and make clearing up the remainder that much easier. We just need to know where to strike."

As the others were busy talking, Drade was quickly tapping away on his communicator, his eyes darting up from the screen every so often to see who was speaking. Clearly he wasn't about to butt in on the action of the speaking but was more interested on what was on his communicator display.

Britanic's Personal Data Device started to vibrate on his wrist, and his face dropped as data started scrolling across it's screen. as soon as it finished he stood up to address the assembly.

"Ladies, and gentleman it looks like we will have to adjourn this meeting early. Im getting reports of Rikti assaulting Kings Row, Founders Falls, Talos Island, Port Oakes, Sharkhead Isle, and St.Martial at this very moment. I think we'd best deal with those threats. Unless there is any objection I suggest we reconvene Wednesday 31st, where we can also get details from the sewer sweep Zortel is leading. Should anything especially pressing happen in the meantime, I suggest messages be left here at Pocket D, and im sure everybody will find a way to get them."

Without waiting for anybody to voice any objections Britanic spoke again.

"lets go people, the war won't wait for ever you know."

((I was getting concerned the continuity of the thread was getting blurred, the sewer sweep hadn't happened at the time of this meeting, and some characters were unavailable IC. By closing this meeting and opening another things can get back on track again.))

Tyger didn't reply. He was already on his way out.

{Wednesday 31st of July, Pocket D}

Britanic looked around at those gathered for this meeting. most looked as tired as he did, several sporting injuries of battle, and a few faces were even absent. Britanic hoped that this meeting might provide some concrete answers for dealing with the Rikti threat.

Zorielle was sat in her chair, wearing the black and white uniform of the Unity Vigil instead of her Zortel Armour. She had a tablet PC on her lap, and was idly dragging her finger across it and double tapping. She looked a little tired, a strand or two of grey noticable in her hair.

A tall bodybuilder in a business suit sat next to Zorielle, sitting a bit rigid with the odd ripple of his jaw muscle when he moved. His hat lay on the table in front of him as he looked around.

Erik, the vit and body builder but otherwise normal looking investment banker was sitting there. Instead of the bulked up blue collosal Tower of Power that was his alter ego.

Out of action as he might be, he refused to take up hospital space when he could walk. He might not be fit for battle, but he would do what he could to help. And if he could take some stress of family friend Zorielle, all the better for it.

(( PS. Wednesday was the 1st of August ))

Drade sat at the meeting again, this time however he was wearing his full armour, and had put is blade resting up against the table next to him, he glance around at those there quickly before tapping something into his communicator, which was laying on the table infront of him.

Jakob enters and takes a seat. He makes a quick hand gesture and his tactical armour gently loosens as it powers down.

Doctor Helios enters, this time entirely unarmoured, and looking fatigued. The lack of Big Lunk immediately obvious, he checks his watch and frowns. Taking a seat swiftly, he starts muttering into his comms, eyes on the entrance.

Britanic briefly looked at Helios as if to ask where is Lunk, but judging by the way Dr Helios was looking about, he guessed he was probably thinking the same thing.

"Ok people lets get started, late comers will have to catch up."

Partisan spoke out from his corner of the room. "Indeed Britanic, war waits for no man...or anything else for that matter."

Britanic didn't give Partisan the satisfaction of looking at him, or any inkling the masked terrorist's sarcasm had any effect.

"Ok unless there is any objections id like for Zortel to report our findings from our sewer sweep she commanded."

Zortel nods and stands, adjusting her jacket.

"Thank you, Britanic. Yesterday, a team of us entered the Abandoned Sewer Network from Steel Canyon. At first, other than Hydra and Circle mages, there was no sign of the Rikti. Making a barter with some of the Circle, I was able to buy us safe passage and information.

A large number of the Rikti had left following the second invasion to bolster troops on the surface, as well as at the mother ship. There are still a considerable number of Rikti below, all having been upgraded with new weaponry and armour.

We discovered stockpiles of this new weaponry as well, that we took out using a Plasma Difuser device that renders the gun unable to work and very difficult to repair. We took out 30 stockpiles in total.

We also discovered containers that contained personal items of civilians, that we have taken to the PPD HQ in Kings Row to be identified, as well as a locket. In addition, we found several tablets of Rikti glyphs, which are being translated by Nene MacAllister of the Guardians of Destiny.

Upon starting to make our way out, Rikti teleported in en masse, and we fought a pitched running battle through the sewer system with no losses, emerging at the Kings Row sewer access terminal by the aquaducts running to the east of the Gish.

Lastly, we came across an oddity in the Sewer system, a section of tunnel which was ice cold, with a film of ice on the wall. Lost and Rikti were found masacred in the tunnel, killed by a variety of means. We aren't sure what did that. While I remember, there was also fighting between Rikti Traditionalist and Ressurectionist Factions that we observed as well."

The smell of cigar smoke wafts around the room, then a deep, huskey voice bellows out from the corner of the room. Standing there is the large intimidating form of Headbreaker, a rising villain in the isles. He stood wearing his long leather jacket, black shirt with a bright red tie, he raised his hand to his mouth and removed the smoldering cigar, he held the smoke in his mouth for a second before he finally spoke, thick black smoke escaped his mouth as he did,

"The Rikti are getting desperate. If any of you where in Sharkshead recently i think we can safely say they where pulling out all the stoppers. I think we counted 6 ships circling the hospital dropping a constant payload into the scrapyarders slums, the fighters and their own men.
I think some of the actions recently have been in desperation and fear rather than well thought out tatics. We've got them on the ropes and we gotta keep them that way.
That being said though they have been clever this time. It sounds like they have been dropping weapons caches where they are going to be hitting heavily...according to Zortel, she found some-thing like that in the sewer's in Steel. We'd probably find some-thing similar in Sharkshead and St Marital where peronsally they've been rather dedicated to fighting at. The argument is...has all this mass fighint been to diguse secret weapon drops ready for some big end game?"

Headbreaker took another long draw on the cigar and waited to see if any-one replied.

Erik listened carefully, going over things in his mind.

He recounted the points, both for himself as outloud.
"So..
The Rikti have been resupplied.
They are relocated to reinforce the active troops.
They have stockpiles for resupplying down there."

He paused for a moment before continuing:
"They have personal items of citizens, perhaps those of the Lost, perhaps not.
Why is the locket mentioned seperately?
I hope the tablets contain useful information."

"The ice and murders indicate they either have more enemies down there, or that just a section is off limits to them."

"They teleported in as you were leaving, how long did it take them to respond?"

"At least it is good to know not all Rikti support this invasion, and are actively doing something."

Erik took a deep breath and supressed a groan as some stitches were pulled.
"This has raised a lot of implications and questions."

Headbreaker pointed his cigar at Erik

"The real question is can we use the Rouge element to our advantage?"

Zorielle looks to Erik. "Firstly, there was an invasion of Steel Canyon just past eight o'clock, when we were gathering. They must have had good timing. Their reaction time in the sewer, they were teleporting in behind us, but it was only once we started our retreat that they began to attack en mass, perhaps it took time for them to get the forces together in significant numbers?"

Pausing, Zortel sipped at a glass of water and brushed a few stray locks of hair from her face. "The locket was mentioned due to something one of the psychic heroes with us picked up about it. It was not with the cache of personal items we found, and it radiated an intense feeling of sentiment and emotion for the psychic, signifiying its importance to someone..."

Pelire sat quietly but smiling smugly. She was apparently in a company where a game of connecting the dots would have been too big a challenge, which in turn suited her just fine.

Speaking of dimwits, Pelire looked about again to be sure, Coile was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he had become a raodkill somewhere. That would have suited pelire equally fine.

She let go of an inner sigh. This ragtag band of heroes and villains would be needed to win this war. So, she had to put up with these meetings. A price to pay, so to say.

Lunk trudges in as Zorielle speaks, and slumps into an empty seat.
His armour gone, his hair down and a mess, and his clothing torn.

Headbreaker watches Lunk enter. As soon as Zorielle is done talking he speaks up,

"Some-one get a med-kit, looks like Lunk's had a hard day in the office..."

He walks over to check if he's okay...

Lunk holds his hand up in dismissal, with his head hanging forward and to one side "I'm fine..."

Zorielle looks over to Lunk with some concern. "I hope so... anyone else have any news they need to raise? I've got one last bit, but it is nothing major related to our campaign."

Erik looked around and spoke with a business tone of voice that betrayed little of his frustrations.
"Due to losses sustained during the closing of a remote base in Baumton, the Chess Club now has too few active members to act independantly. We will help where we can, for the moment in the direct defense of Paragon."

"A small matter, but significant. We at EVIL have developed a weapon which I believe is capable of debilitating all Rikti in a local area. This weapon is likely to be counteracted quickly, so we will have one shot with it. Essentially...when we decide where and when to strike, we have something that may just raise the odds against us."