The Return (IC/OPEN)

[Dalria]

"Look, I have several Nevidian hostages. I will trade you them for a bargaining tool against the local Nevidian populace, please" Leo raised his hand and holstered his gun. "Look, you need your men to fight the GEE and my men shall take a hell of a lot men with you plus you've have a hard time leaving this district there will be riots if HGV forces kill an innocent man as my men will spread the propaganda. Let me go and we shall be on our way" Leo was more afraid of losing his men's life then his own yet he was worried where Kylia was.

[Lancearc]

"Look, I have several Nevidian hostages. I will trade you them for a bargaining tool against the local Nevidian populace, please" Leo raised his hand and holstered his gun. "Look, you need your men to fight the GEE and my men shall take a hell of a lot men with you plus you've have a hard time leaving this district there will be riots if HGV forces kill an innocent man as my men will spread the propaganda. Let me go and we shall be on our way" Leo was more afraid of losing his men's life then his own yet he was worried where Kylia was.

"Actually, I have a better idea." the HGV man began with a chuckle, still keeping his weapon honed on the criminal. "What with our recent woes we need all the advantages we can get. You and your little organization pay a 'tribute' of, say, 5,000 pounds a week for a set number of weeks, and we can reach some sort of agreement to not have you and your men wiped off the face of the earth." the red uniformed officer suggested, though it was more a demand than it sounded.

[Dalria]

"Or, or we can walk off no casualties and my men will support you in the oncoming war. Come on we are on the same page here. No casualties except Nevidians and everything shall resolve nicely or we can all die in some fire fight that didn't help shit on either side. Think with your damn heads lads" Leo kept pleading for the loss of life to stop.

[Lancearc]

"Or, or we can walk off no casualties and my men will support you in the oncoming war. Come on we are on the same page here. No casualties except Nevidians and everything shall resolve nicely or we can all die in some fire fight that didn't help shit on either side. Think with your damn heads lads" Leo kept pleading for the loss of life to stop.

"If you wanted to help us you would disband your pitiful little organization and enlist with the HGV properly. Do not pretend that after this war is over you will not return to causing trouble and running rampant in the streets. It's either the tribute or your lives." the man said, moving his finger back towards the trigger. "Perhaps, if you act as a loyal little helper, we might actually lower the tribute."

[Dalria]

"Well, if you want to be assholes" Leo dove as an little motor scooter rolled down the alley way, a brick on the pedal. In less then a minute the large explosion went off, it was packed with a pound of C4 and hundreds of fireworks. The fireworks rang into the sky blinding the opponents as the men dashed. They knew the streets better then anyone and scattered like rats through abandoned buildings, sewage lines, and roof tops. As Leo scrambled away finding himself escaping through the alleyways he stumbled upon Kylia's body. At first he was going to leave her, she ditched him why should he care but he felt pity and threw her over his shoulder. They made their way into an abandoned apartment, the pub was to far for him to carry her and he knew his men had escaped safely and warned the others to dispatch into the sewer systems. He sat there catching his breath, watching the soot from the old rotten ceiling fall, as he awaited Kylia to awake.

[The Keystone Federation]

The wound Kylia had received was something of a miracle. The ricochet not only went straight through, but only barely missed her vitals. Just a few millimeter and she could be dead. Once her brain realized the situation her body was in, it began to flow some blood away from her vitals and back to her brain. A slight twitch indicated she was slowly coming back. As she began to open her eyes, the pain came back as quick as ever, but was slowly calmed by more adrenaline. As she woke up, she turned her head, trying to figure out where she was. She put her hand over her wound as the initial pain surprised her. Still slightly out of it, she could only make out a figure next to her. Not sure who it was, she started frantically trying to scramble to her feet with what little strength she could muster up.

[Lancearc]

The explosion had killed off most of the initial group, though the reinforcements arrived soon to scout about the area. The less than thorough search was more a product of no actual desire to waste the time and resources looking for the inconsequential scum rather than a kind of laziness, and after the possibly deliberately fruitless search the red uniforms continued towards what had been their original objective, reinforcing the devastated camp.

---

While running from the HGV was the most sensible course of action available to the two vagrants, stopping to fire upon the soldiers was likely far from the smartest thing that they could have done. They managed to kill three of the soldiers, leaving nine to return fire with their L85A2 assault rifles, filling the small alleyway with flying lead, heading in the direction of the two runners. While some of the two scoundrels' rounds hit the HGV men, the smaller rounds were just barely enough to penetrate any body armor worn by the HGV men.

---

Cymitia lashed out at the HGV man as he cut Jakov's throat--or at least, tried to, being strapped down to the table as she was. The force behind the sudden outburst was surprising for the smaller frame of the woman and she thought for a brief moment she broke the restraints before coming back to reality. When the man wiped Jakov's blood against her pale skin she shivered, but only looked away from him and keeping any reaction other than anger pent up within herself, so as to not let the man have the pleasure of seeing her fearful.

Zachary laughed at her attempts. He knew she was afraid.
"I have done things similar to this - no, WORSE than this - many, many times, my dear. I don't have to see your expressions of fear... I can smell it...", he said sadistically and in a threatening tone, right into her ear. He then slammed his knife hard into the table, nearly stabbing her arm, purposely missing by two inches. He laughed at the fact it would make her jump, as that was a natural reaction for anyone.

The knife being plunged near her arm caused her to recoil and her heart rate skyrocketed, though other than the expected there was no reaction from the Nevidian woman. She only listed as the man spoke, not responding for a few seconds. "For all of this talk I've yet to see much to back it up..." she spat defiantly.

[Dalria]

The wound Kylia had received was something of a miracle. The ricochet not only went straight through, but only barely missed her vitals. Just a few millimeter and she could be dead. Once her brain realized the situation her body was in, it began to flow some blood away from her vitals and back to her brain. A slight twitch indicated she was slowly coming back. As she began to open her eyes, the pain came back as quick as ever, but was slowly calmed by more adrenaline. As she woke up, she turned her head, trying to figure out where she was. She put her hand over her wound as the initial pain surprised her. Still slightly out of it, she could only make out a figure next to her. Not sure who it was, she started trying to scramble to her feet with what little strength she could muster up.

"Whoa little one, just sit down and relax. Guards should be sweeping soon we need to be quiet as lambs, this building was condemned they won't look here we are safe" Leo clenched his leg and let out a sigh of pain. "We should be out of here in a few hours i'll get you a warm bed and some food" he breathed in an out slowly as he unwrapped the loin around his leg seeing signs of infection.

[Lancearc]

"Ya aren't doin' a very good job o' keepin' quiet so far, ya might want ta work on that. I heard ya comin' up tha stairs from a mile away."

The voice that broke the silence following the criminal's statement was, to anyone native to the area, quite obviously a thick Scottish accent. It was difficult to see in the dark, but the pair that had entered would become aware of a gaping hole that connected two of the apartments, and standing in the opening was a man adorned in dark combat fatigues and gripping a rifle much similar to the one used by the HGV men hunting them, although this one was heavily modified with a suppressor and some sort of light-gathering scope. The man was quite obviously a soldier, professional, but there was certainly no markings on his uniform that gave away his loyalties.

This man, and the way he carried himself, with his gun lowered and announcing his previously unknown presence to these strange people, resonated of confidence. It was well deserved. Unbeknownst to his visitors he was perhaps one of the finest fighters within the arsenal of whatever faction he devoted himself to, and he didn't show fear of announcing his presence because he had nothing to fear of these people. "So do tell me, are ya here on business or pleasure?" he said with a wide smirk, the weapon in his hands still directed to the floor. He spoke quietly, ears scanning for any hint that anyone else was entering the building.

[Dalria]

"Pleasure, you see I have a fetish of being shot in the leg and crawling into an abandoned apartment building. Do not ruin my orgasm now" Leo barked sarcastically. "Now who the hell are you, if your gonna kill us, just let the girl go" Leo didn't have much fear before just like how he showed with his men, he'd rather die then an innocent person, of course Nevidians and soldiers did not account to his agenda.

[Lancearc]

"Pleasure, you see I have a fetish of being shot in the leg and crawling into an abandoned apartment building. Do not ruin my orgasm now" Leo barked sarcastically. "Now who the hell are you, if your gonna kill us, just let the girl go" Leo didn't have much fear before just like how he showed with his men, he'd rather die then an innocent person, of course Nevidians and soldiers did not account to his agenda.

The Scotsman chuckled somewhat here, shaking his head. "Oi, you're a funny one, if I was gonna kill ya, ya wouldn't have known I was ever here in tha first place. Would'a been two quick shots, if I decided ta shoot tha lass you brought along." the man said, leaning against the nearby wall. "I happened ta take notice of yer scuffle with tha reds though, a shame ya let yerself get cornered like a rat in a maze but I suppose if you get out it doesn't matter how ya do it." the man said, shaking his head slightly as he tinkered with his weapon, speaking without looking up. "If I may make an observation though, runnin' into an alley isn't the best route to take when yer in enemy territory."

[Dalria]

"Enemy territory" Leo scoffed, "McCarthy gang runs this area. I know it like the back of my thumb", Leo let out a loud cough and continued on. "You sound like a fellow Scotts man, I was born there but left the accent behind I still have a trace of it though" he stared blindly at the man and had his hand squeezed tightly on the trigger in case anything would happen.

[Lancearc]

"Enemy territory" Leo scoffed, "McCarthy gang runs this area. I know it like the back of my thumb", Leo let out a loud cough and continued on. "You sound like a fellow Scotts man, I was born there but left the accent behind I still have a trace of it though" he stared blindly at the man and had his hand squeezed tightly on the trigger in case anything would happen.

"Ya sound more like a Londoner than ya do a highlander, I can tell." the man nodded. "For all tha talk about runnin' tha place there isn't too much stoppin' tha HGV from marchin' through these parts in patrols just about every day of the week. I would know." he hinted with a smirk. "And it seems to me that they're startin' ta march more frequently. Aye, I guess I would be scared out o' my skin bein' them, with that war machine ready to bust through tha walls. If ya don't mind my sayin', ya could'a picked a better spot ta hole up too. I've been takin' a look at some o' tha nearby...real estate." the Scott observed.

[Dalria]

"I left the accent behind when my parents and the nation of Scotland fell as disease ran rampant and destroyed it. Scots were almost treated as bad as the Nevidian and were believed to be diseases carriers, I was not going to have that life put upon me. I fixed my bloody accent so I wouldn't be prosecuted like the rest. I was not going to live with those dirty Nevidians" every time Leo brought up the past memories flew by he shook them from his head. "Now once again what do you want lad" Leo was growing anxious.

[Mincaldenteans]

"Lord Edeson," Margaret called out as she fumbled hastily through the halls. "Lord Edeson!"

"Yes yes, what is it woman? Can't you see I'm in the middle of an important charter revision?" Edeson said somewhat annoyed, though he hardly glanced her way, his attention focused on the ratification of the newest bill that would pass with a sweeping majority if they ever manage to put Parliament back in power.

"Sir," Margaret replied back, a tone of motherly aggravation hinted with it, "Rumors abound that an important GEE figurehead may be in the city."

Edeson perked his head up this time, "Are you certain? I would hate to go on a wild goose chase."

The maid could only give a shrug in response, "Members of Parliament are in an uproar, some claiming that this figurehead is here to supplant the power base, outright dissolve or simply shove Parliament aside while it sets its own agenda."

"These are rumors, my dear, and the best rumors are always left for the tabloids. In fact-"

"They just landed near Parliament," Margaret exclaimed.

"What?! How in bloody hell does someone just land by Parliament!?"

Margaret could only shake her head. Years of working with the man and sometimes he could only spew out the most ridiculous of statements.

"You realize we do have a city in turmoil, don't you m'Lord? Security is definitely not up to par. Whoever this is, you should be out there!"

"Indeed," Edeson said with a sigh. "Ready my car, Margaret, I'll need to visit them at once.

---

It had been a difficult task to weave through the city than it was before the artillery support. Their cell leader informed them that the GEE, their erstwhile allies, had only began supporting them in logistic and strategic areas but had kept the actual fighting to the rebels to handle. It didn't bode well at many points, as rebels were normally outgunned and undermanned. Still, no gains were made by the HGV, but for every five HGV men than fell, two rebel fighters were taken - they were bleeding men and fast. Hunter had been warned to use the alleyways, backstreets, rooftops and sewers, a combination of any of those as no one area was safe, thus hindering his and George's journey back to the compound.

It had been close to 18 hours, Hunter hadn't realize the night and day had come after another, too concerned and on edge to think about anything or anyone other than Cymitia. He'd never be able to forgive himself if she was indeed dead. What's worse was that he didn't know what he'd do if he found her as such. The journey had been one of pit stops, close calls, and a few unavoidable sorties. By the time they reached their checkpoint, something of a misnomer as none in the rebellion actually sanctioned their OP, nor were they aware of what was going on; yet Hunter hoped that just by proving they were part of the rebellion, a little relief would be granted from their trek on foot.

Stopping at a corner that led to a boiler room, the sky was a dark grey, fooling anyone into thinking it was actually midday. The rain was a cold bath that dropped sideways and thunder echoed the war torn streets of London every so often. Nodding at George that they reached their last checkpoint, supplied by a fellow rebel fighter that took off minutes after meeting Hunter and George, Hunter slammed his shoulder against the decrepit door and entered room. It was dusty, the particles clogging his nose immediately and there was a sour stench to the place, as though wet clothes had been left here. It was only a rest stop, and Hunter had no intention of resting anymore than necessary.

Though he had to grudgingly admit, it had been a long while since they even took a break, and the fatigue was noticeable the moment he sat down. Even if he wasn't out of shape or weak, Hunter mused he could use a long nap to recharge. Though Cymitia didn't have hours, hell, it had been a day and fates only knew what the HGV were doing to her or anyone else they had left behind in their little stint. He hadn't said much to George in the last 22 hours either, having not much to say, not really know what he was suppose to say or talk about, but the worry etched on Hunter's face was enough to fill volumes.

"I'll take first watch, we'll leave in 4 hours," Hunter offered, rising up from the wall he didn't realize he was leaning against. "Go on, George, take a nap, it'll be over sooner than you realize, and we need all the rest we can get." Clutching his rifle he went by the exit and kept a look out.

Hang on, I'm coming...

[Vaxon]

The explosion had killed off most of the initial group, though the reinforcements arrived soon to scout about the area. The less than thorough search was more a product of no actual desire to waste the time and resources looking for the inconsequential scum rather than a kind of laziness, and after the possibly deliberately fruitless search the red uniforms continued towards what had been their original objective, reinforcing the devastated camp.

---

Zachary laughed at her attempts. He knew she was afraid.
"I have done things similar to this - no, WORSE than this - many, many times, my dear. I don't have to see your expressions of fear... I can smell it...", he said sadistically and in a threatening tone, right into her ear. He then slammed his knife hard into the table, nearly stabbing her arm, purposely missing by two inches. He laughed at the fact it would make her jump, as that was a natural reaction for anyone.

The knife being plunged near her arm caused her to recoil and her heart rate skyrocketed, though other than the expected there was no reaction from the Nevidian woman. She only listed as the man spoke, not responding for a few seconds. "For all of this talk I've yet to see much to back it up..." she spat defiantly.

Zachary chuckled. He grabbed her chin and looked at either side of her face.
"I have an idea to prove myself, if you really want proof. How about I make sure your boyfriend isn't the first one to have his way with you.", he said in a sadistic, but slightly serious tone. He started laughing afterwards. Zachary walked next to a machine as he began dissecting Jakov as if a frog.

[Lancearc]

Cymitia didn't respond here, only directing her gaze elsewhere in the small room. Even when not looking she found that her breath was becoming ragged and labored, and she struggled to hold back tears, like many times before, except now she didn't have Hunter to seek comfort from, like when her father had died, after they watched George's tape detailing the mass executions, and when fire had fallen from the sky at the bridge. She was just glad that the man was too wrapped up in his hacking into Jakov's corpse that he hadn't noticed her tears
welling up and then draining from her eyes, just barely able to avoid shedding her tears like a child.

---

It had been a risky move, landing before the parliament building itself, but there was no other alternative, really. The GEE surely didn't consider escorting their emperor through the war-torn city by ground vehicle. Due to the lack of effective anti-air weapons within the city, they figured simply landing directly near the building was the best way to get the emperor before the government of London quickly. Regardless of the thinking behind the decision, the helicopter's rotors slowly came to halt, the side door of the aircraft sliding open to reveal several armed guards stepping out, much similarly attired to the guards of the Queen's Guard, save for the bearskin caps. Each of them took up positions on either side of the door, before Peter Marsh stepped from the chopper and, last out of the aircraft, the emperor himself--the tall Nevidian man wore the finest of suits, the black in stark contrast to his pale skin and hair. The man did not speak or make any moves to budge from his position, rather glancing about--surely they would have someone to question why exactly these men were here, and who they were.

---

"I left the accent behind when my parents and the nation of Scotland fell as disease ran rampant and destroyed it. Scots were almost treated as bad as the Nevidian and were believed to be diseases carriers, I was not going to have that life put upon me. I fixed my bloody accent so I wouldn't be prosecuted like the rest. I was not going to live with those dirty Nevidians" every time Leo brought up the past memories flew by he shook them from his head. "Now once again what do you want lad" Leo was growing anxious.

"If I had my way you 'n yer companion wouldn't be within miles o' my little outpost, but ya had ta come bargin' in here anyway. Not good for keepin' quiet, now I'll have ta change positions. Again." the man retorted.

[Vaxon]

Cymitia didn't respond here, only directing her gaze elsewhere in the small room. Even when not looking she found that her breath was becoming ragged and labored, and she struggled to hold back tears, like many times before, except now she didn't have Hunter to seek comfort from, like when her father had died, after they watched George's tape detailing the mass executions, and when fire had fallen from the sky at the bridge. She was just glad that the man was too wrapped up in his hacking into Jakov's corpse that he hadn't noticed her tears
welling up and then draining from her eyes, just barely able to avoid shedding her tears like a child.

---

It had been a risky move, landing before the parliament building itself, but there was no other alternative, really. The GEE surely didn't consider escorting their emperor through the war-torn city by ground vehicle. Due to the lack of effective anti-air weapons within the city, they figured simply landing directly near the building was the best way to get the emperor before the government of London quickly. Regardless of the thinking behind the decision, the helicopter's rotors slowly came to halt, the side door of the aircraft sliding open to reveal several armed guards stepping out, much similarly attired to the guards of the Queen's Guard, save for the bearskin caps. Each of them took up positions on either side of the door, before Peter Marsh stepped from the chopper and, last out of the aircraft, the emperor himself--the tall Nevidian man wore the finest of suits, the black in stark contrast to his pale skin and hair. The man did not speak or make any moves to budge from his position, rather glancing about--surely they would have someone to question why exactly these men were here, and who they were.

---

"I left the accent behind when my parents and the nation of Scotland fell as disease ran rampant and destroyed it. Scots were almost treated as bad as the Nevidian and were believed to be diseases carriers, I was not going to have that life put upon me. I fixed my bloody accent so I wouldn't be prosecuted like the rest. I was not going to live with those dirty Nevidians" every time Leo brought up the past memories flew by he shook them from his head. "Now once again what do you want lad" Leo was growing anxious.

"If I had my way you 'n yer companion wouldn't be within miles o' my little outpost, but ya had ta come bargin' in here anyway. Not good for keepin' quiet, now I'll have ta change positions. Again." the man retorted.

Zachary chuckled.
"D'mitri, treat our guest to your...special...", he said in a near perfect evil tone.
Then, a very tall and strong man walked out and grabbed Cymitia.


(OOC: Time Skipz ahoy! )

[Dalria]

"If I had my way you 'n yer companion wouldn't be within miles o' my little outpost, but ya had ta come bargin' in here anyway. Not good for keepin' quiet, now I'll have ta change positions. Again." the man retorted.

"Look, it was survival instinct. I came in here so we wouldn't get brutally murdered out there. If you have a problem for people saving themselves, you must be a very fucked up man. Now I've never see you around these parts tell me your name" Leo was very aggravated at this man.

[Mincaldenteans]

It had been a risky move, landing before the parliament building itself, but there was no other alternative, really. The GEE surely didn't consider escorting their emperor through the war-torn city by ground vehicle. Due to the lack of effective anti-air weapons within the city, they figured simply landing directly near the building was the best way to get the emperor before the government of London quickly. Regardless of the thinking behind the decision, the helicopter's rotors slowly came to halt, the side door of the aircraft sliding open to reveal several armed guards stepping out, much similarly attired to the guards of the Queen's Guard, save for the bearskin caps. Each of them took up positions on either side of the door, before Peter Marsh stepped from the chopper and, last out of the aircraft, the emperor himself--the tall Nevidian man wore the finest of suits, the black in stark contrast to his pale skin and hair. The man did not speak or make any moves to budge from his position, rather glancing about--surely they would have someone to question why exactly these men were here, and who they were.

"Where in blazes is that boy, Malone?" Edeson said out loud to anyone that was within hearing range. In the last week Edeson had worked tirelessly to get that boy a seat in Parliament, even calling in an emergency session that had angered quite a few of his own friends, but in the end it was done. Now, as some figurehead stood outside Parliament, the rest of the members had looked to Lord Edeson to lead them. He admitted to himself, he was nervous, not knowing what to expect.

"Someone find that boy, and so help me if he was holding some party, I'll have his hide!" Edeson shouted to those behind him while he strode through the halls and to the exit of Parliament. Edeson didn't have to look up, he knew his own security personnel were at strategic areas and access points if things turned awry. They had come in Parliament discreetly and blended in with the main security force that was usually here. A chopper had landed outside, right on the streets, and a figure was coming out. Edeson opened the door and walked out onto the steps and stopped halfway.

---

No easy way to do this, Hunter and George had moved slowly to enter the complex. It was taking too much time and Hunter's frustration was showing to a point that George had stopped him in his tracks, pointing it out sternly. Their latest confrontation was with two HGV men that were guarding a remote checkpoint area four blocks out of the main complex. Nowhere as near as Hunter wanted to be in.

"Hunt, got an idea," George exclaimed and pointed at the two HGV men.

A jeep swung around some time after, Hunter and George coming out.

"Where's Kohlson and Maddox?"

"Dunno, mate, they weren't here when we checked in," George said amiably.

"And who are you two? I don't recognize either."

"We joined up only a few days ago. Our section leader told us to get our first assignment here, procedures for checkpoints. Its been empty since," Hunter supplied. The uniform was a little baggy on him and it itched.

"Damn those two, they'll be death of us if we ever put that lot to front duty. Get in the jeep, we're headed for the factory, some jackoff over there needs reinforcements and those bloody GEE have destroyed nearly a quarter of the factory."

Getting in, Hunter's heart pounded against his chest. This had better work, or they'd be dead before they even made it to the entrance.

[[ooc: and yes, I used George again, but this puts us in the factory and time skipped appropriately, but this concludes my control of said char]]

[Dalria]

Tipper got the call, he was excited, real power for once. He dressed in his best suit that had costed him a mint, sprayed on the best cologne, and had a hairdresser come in to fix his hair. Clancy briefed him on everything he could about the parliament building and such as Tipper hurried down the star well to his Porsche 911 Turbo S waiting in the parkling lot. "For gods sake Tipper, if it wasn't for me I swear you'd lose your head" Clancy winked and chucked him the keys. Tipper took off down the road and in ten minutes made it to the parliament building, he decided to go around the back side not to make a scene in front of the Emperor. As he zoomed past the guards who followed close, unknowing who he was he yelled, "Tipper Malone, newly elected parliament member leave me alone" he ran inside the back door. "Lord Edison" he called out awaiting someone to take him to him.

[Mincaldenteans]

Tipper got the call, he was excited, real power for once. He dressed in his best suit that had costed him a mint, sprayed on the best cologne, and had a hairdresser come in to fix his hair. Clancy briefed him on everything he could about the parliament building and such as Tipper hurried down the star well to his Porsche 911 Turbo S waiting in the parkling lot. "For gods sake Tipper, if it wasn't for me I swear you'd lose your head" Clancy winked and chucked him the keys. Tipper took off down the road and in ten minutes made it to the parliament building, he decided to go around the back side not to make a scene in front of the Emperor. As he zoomed past the guards who followed close, unknowing who he was he yelled, "Tipper Malone, newly elected parliament member leave me alone" he ran inside the back door. "Lord Edison" he called out awaiting someone to take him to him.

"Well its about bloody time," Margaret shrilled, pulling the boy's hand as she led him through Parliament halls. "You're lucky Edeson doesn't have a potato peeler with him, he'd skin you right now if he could. Fortunately for you lad, he's outside right now about to reintroduce himself to the Emperor of the GEE," she griped at him the way a mother would a child.

Stopping short at the exit, eyes of members of Parliament looked upon him with enough tension, apprehension, anxiety and expectation that was so thick one would need a sword to cut through. Margaret's face was stern, a passionate fire in her eyes, "Now listen good, lad. Lord Edeson is counting upon your utmost professionalism in this matter. We have to make sure the GEE realizes we are not some puppet show that need to be curtailed. Edeson counts on you to make a good case for us. Bring that fire he said you have, but don't bring in that shenanigans we saw earlier." Her face suddenly lit up in a goofy smile, "This is exciting, now shoo! Outside with you."

Outside

"I bid the welcome," Lord Edeson said with his hands cupped together in front of him and tiled his head in greeting. He knew the face, it was the Emperor himself. The old man swallowed a lump of nervousness. "I regret that our first face-to-face has to be in such.. dire conditions. I hope your trip here went smoothly."

[Dalria]

Tipper ran towards the door outside but quickly stopped to check his hair. As he walked out he stood behind Lord Edison, "it is a pleasure to meet you mi'lord" Tipper smiled trying to reintegrate the elegance but mother forced upon him as a child.

[Mincaldenteans]

Tipper ran towards the door outside but quickly stopped to check his hair. As he walked out he stood behind Lord Edison, "it is a pleasure to meet you mi'lord" Tipper smiled trying to reintegrate the elegance but mother forced upon him as a child.

"Bout bloody time you're here," Edeson muttered as they watched the Emperor approach the two of them. He gestured for Edeson to stand next to him as customary. Standing behind would do little to show solidarity.

[Cadia]

Walking down the main road, Mike was heading for something that was always on his mind: food.

He stopped into a quaint little shop about a five minute walk away from the gates. Looking at the various produce that was stocked, he heard whispers about a purge of some sort that was supposed to be happening nearby. He thought nothing of it, and began to scan the drinks. He began to jot down the various things he would be eating that night: Potatoes, steaks, beer. Grabbing those items, he headed for checkout. He spoke with the cashier, who was quite used to seeing Mike at the store.

"Looking for a decent dinner, Mike?" she asked. Mike found her quite attractive, but noticed the bruises on her arms.

"Yeah. Say, who've you been with recently?" he questioned.

"Just some guys. Why?". He pointed at her arms.

"You've been near the human side and got jumped, didn't you?"

The cashier said nothing and tallied the price: 21.07. Paying her the amount, he took a few dollars and gave it to her.

"Hopefully the situation has died down around there, and it'll be safe to walk at night." He smiled, walking out.

He heard a patrol vehicle and hid in the shadows. For some reason, buying things from Nevidians was frowned upon. He watched it slowly drive by, it looked like it was searching for something.