(Union Story) The Fallen: Remember: Always

((I know we aren't really registering the event until the changes it brings physically in a later issue, at least on Union, but I wanted to get this bit of writing down while it was still in my mind. Set for whenever the changes actually kick in and are meaningful))

Vanguard HQ, The Rikti Warzone

The day itself had been uneventful. Besides the occasionally muted thud of an outposts automated artillery gun, or a brief chatter of gunfire as patrols spotted distant targets, even the scarred expanse of the White Plains area seemed to sit silent and still.
Silence would have ruled within the confines of the Vanguard main bunker too...had it not been for the sound. The rising and falling dirge, the hummed tune, even though there were no lips or mouths that hummed it.

"Kenny?" Kitsune Vixen whispered, as she crept to the doorway. The be-furred doctor, dressed in her lab coat and medical equipment, rested a hand on the armoured arm of the Rikti stood just inside the room.

Traditionalist Psi-Scout Ky'Net turned his head, nodding once to her, ruby eyes shining faintly.
"Our singing," he said simply, nodding to the circle of Rikti Traditionalists that had stopped and gathered in the centre of the room as the news had come in. Pskyers, warriors, guardians and technical specialists. Helmeted, bare headed, armoured and un-armoured. The Rikti swayed from side to side, silent except for the reverberating hum.

"The Fallen: We remember," a synthesised voice murmured behind Vix, causing her to jump slightly. A fully armoured commando stood behind them, but she recognised the personal markings and subtle patterns on the armour.

"Fal'Knar." She nodded to the soldier, who bowed his head in return. "This is how Rikti sing?"
"We sing: for the fallen. Sing for: Hero among Heroes. For: Man among Men. For: Paragon," Fal'Knar replied, before bowing his head and seamlessly joining the sound.
"We knew him as a monster: leader of monsters," Ky'Net picked up, causing Vix to blink as she looked back to him. "Then we knew him as: a leader of men. Finally: we knew him as a Paragon of Heroes. An exemplar: icon: mentor. We knew him as: Statesman."

The hummed song rose in pitch, and Vix could feel the psychic glow that linked the Rikti Traditionalists. She glanced at a group of nearby Vanguard mentalists, and knew they could feel it to. There was something serenely beautiful about the voiceless music, something hard to fathom. Subconsciously she reached up a hand to rub her face, brushing away the tears that were starting to trickle down her cheeks.

"They called him: Incarnate of Zeus," Ky'Net added, lifting his head. "Reality: Incarnate of Men. A living example. It may be he was one of a kind."

"While mankind still lives, he won't be," Vix replied with a shake of her head. "We won't forget him. And, through that example, more will come. Heh," she chuckled weakly, "Names may come and go, but Heroes are eternal."

So saying she fell silent, instead lending her mind to the psychic choir, the Vanguard mentalists following suit. The song rose and hummed on, Rikti and Human united in their eulogy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

((More fiction, surprisingly by request. Again, set after we actually acknowledge State's death in-game))

Above Talos Island

"This is Dispatch, any units in the Boardwalk area, can we get confirmation of increased numbers of the Warriors gang? Civilians have reported multiple groups spotted in that area, over."

A seagull, previously coasting on the up-draft, squawked and dived aside as a white and red figure jetted past.
"This is Chief Centurion Z1, Dispatch," the mechanical leader of SABRE team replied, even as he began arcing down towards a cluster of dockside warehouses. "Confirmed, I've been noticing them all morning. Moving in to investigate."

"Copy that, Chief. Good hunting."

---

The warehouse was, surprisingly, mostly empty and silent. The towering robot paused, shutting the door quietly behind him. Even the method of entry seemed strange; no forced doors, no signs of struggle. But, judging by the number of heat signatures further in, something big was going on.

Moving slowly and surprisingly quietly for eight foot of metallic body-plate and steel servo-muscle, he moved onwards. The mass of warriors, nearing a hundred strong by the looks of it, were all gathered in one of the larger storage room.
The actual sight that met his optics as he glanced around the corner, however, was enough to make him stop dead.

The Warriors were arrayed in neat ranks, kneeling with weapons drawn and held before them. A few of higher rank, judging by their weaponry and ornate wrist guards, were stood on a small raised podium, heads bowed.
And, on the podium, on a carefully constructed altar of weaponry and ancient looking greek shields, was a simple poster, the same as one might find on a street billboard.
A poster of Statesman.

"What do you want, 'Hero'?"
The Chief's gaze moved to the Warrior who had spoken, one of the leaders who was stood to one side instead of on the platform. A few of the ranked warriors glanced around and glared at him, before resuming their knelt silence.

"What are you doing here?"
"We pay tribute to the glorious dead," the warrior replied with a scowl, as it talking to an idiot. "To the Avatar of almighty Zeus, a great and mighty warrior."
"A man who would have put all of you in jail were he here," the Chief pointed out, although keeping his voice low and impassive.
The warrior merely shrugged.
"He did not agree with our methods, nor did we with all of his. That matters not. He was empowered by Zeus, and a powerful fighter. And thus he deserves our respect and tribute."

The Chief nodded as the man fell silent. He remained, for a few moments, before turning and silently heading back the way he had come.

"Dispatch."
"Reading you, Chief. What was it?"
"Nothing, Dispatch. Nothing at all."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

((Tried to stick as close to canon as possible with this one, but I felt some of the main characters should get a look in))

Grandville, The WEB

Arbiter Daos was not a man who felt fear. These days he barely registered any emotions at all. They were an inconvenience at best, a weakness at worst.
But even he, a man who had stared down and out-right threatened some of the most horrific and inhuman scum the Rogue Isles had to offer, felt uncomfortable in the room right now.

Webmaster Commander Marien King did not seem to share the feeling, or was too preoccupied to notice the metaphorical chill in the air.
“With Statesman gone the ‘Heroes’ will be in disarray,” she commented, tapping an armoured finger on the map that occupied the main table, lacing the H word with predictable venom “I can have two strike forces in motion immediately, with three more ready to deploy as soon as they hit Paragon. We can crush those fools before they even know what hit them!”

“You will do no such thing, Commander.”
King’s gaze jolted upward, blank helm staring at the back of the figure by the window. The Lord of Many Arms was stood by the red tinted plexiglass, hands folded behind his back and spider-arms twitching faintly.
“There is nothing more to discuss here,” he added without looking round. There was something in the tone, something even Daos had not heard before. Something that made the venerable Chief Arbiter take a slight step back.

“With all due respect, Sir, this is the perfect opportunity!” King snapped, straightening up. “We will not have another chance like this.”
When Lord Recluse did not reply she sighed sharply, turning to Daos.
“I will begin mobilisation at once, the fliers will be airborne in-“

The move was sudden, swift and violent. Recluse spun, spider arms lashing out with their bladed ends gleaming. With a sound like tearing paper half the table was shorn off, before being thrown forcibly at King. Only a lifetime of training and enhanced reactions stopped the Commander from being smashed squarely into the wall; as it was, the force of the glancing blow hurled her across the room, landing in a heap by the door.
“If you DARE to countermand my orders I will gut you myself, you miserable little whelp!” Recluse roared, eyes blazing like an inferno. Even the air itself felt static and heavy with menace. “There will be no action at this time,” he hissed, lowering his voice and fixing both King and Daos with a seething glare. “Obey, or die. Get out.”

Without another word he spun back to the window, resting both clenched fists on the sill. Behind him he heard the quick, subtle footsteps as Daos swiftly left, followed by the sound of Commander King pulling herself upright and ducking hastily out the door.
Silence fell, and remained so for many minutes after. It was finally broken by a ragged sigh.
“Gods damn you, Marcus,” Recluse growled under his breath. “Who gave you permission to up and die…?”

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

((Snipped post))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

((Edited out the Nemesis post in light of the official Dev RP post on the matter will update more of these when I get around to it))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.