[Voice, locked to residents] --EMERGENCY--EMERGENCY--EMERGENCY--EMERGENCY--

[malnosso]

[At 2:15AM, the journals suddenly blare out an alarm, followed by this message.]

EMERGENCY. EMERGENCY. This is an emergency.

The following occupants of the Luceti enclosure must report to the teleporters in twenty minutes. You are required as reinforcements in Region 13. Bring all necessary armaments with you. You will be teleported directly into combat.

Anyone who fails to comply will be forcibly escorted to the teleporters by droids.

This is not a drill. I repeat: this is not a drill. You have twenty minutes.

[The message repeats twice more, the alarm continuing until the twenty minutes has elapsed. No questions will be answered.]

Comments

[Teleporters]

[stopmjolnirtime]

[Laden with what water-skins and weapons Loki had no room for on his person or with his magics as well as his own supplies, Thor arrives at the teleporter in full armor, Mjolnir humming on his belt. It had been a mad dash from the house to arrive; only what he had heard of Drafts past and his brother's unease any manner of hint for what is to pass. He waits, fingers drumming against the haft of his hammer, torn between dread and impatience.]

[Teleporters]

[fashionably_strong]

[Bulla's got no armour save for a pair of shiny gauntlets sized perfectly to fit her small hands. There's a crest in navy blue on the back of each hand. She's pacing back and forth. While she feels substantially more confident about a Draft than she would have if this happened last year, she's still nervous.

She decides to take some of the edge off of that by being sociable.]

Hey Thor. All set?

[Teleporters]

[stopmjolnirtime]

Lady Bulla.

[He manages a grim smile for her sake, though he likes this sudden mad scramble little.]

I am as prepared as I shall ever be. And yourself?

[He doesn't recognize that crest, but then that had ever been Loki's area of study. Though it does seem significant in no small way. Were this a less stressful moment, he might ask.]

Have you seen this manner of combat before?

[fashionably_strong]

I'm ready to punch some Third Party cultists in the face. I wish we'd gotten more notice, though. I wasn't drafted last time one of these happened...but everyone got two days notice. Way more time to prepare.

[She shakes her head. Things must be bad if the Malnosso couldn't give them more notice. While the Malnosso are jerks, it's in their best interest to make sure all of the people in Luceti are well rested and prepared to fight.]

I haven't been drafted ever, but I have fought the Third Party before when Zompano messed with everyone's minds and made everyone think we'd all lived here our whole lives as totally normal humans. The Third Party attacked when people's memories and powers started coming back.

[stopmjolnirtime]

The situation must be dire indeed.

[It does little to comfort him- but the promise of knowledge of his enemies? Warms him a little. That someone so young and fierce has battled them and come through after is heartening.]

Then you might tell me what I should expect. I've heard of these cultists but I have not faced them myself. What do you know of them?

[fashionably_strong]

Not too much, but I can tell you that their wings are just as vulnerable as ours, although they're bigger and can be used for flight.

[It's something she's made great use of when fighting against them in the Battle Dome training simulations.]

Apparently all attempts at reasoning with them have failed and they're determined to kill every last person in Luceti and enclosures just like ours. I can confirm the 'wanting to kill us' part personally. Dad and I didn't even DO anything to them and they tried to kill us. They wouldn't even explain themselves.

[stopmjolnirtime]

A fanatical foe is one of the most worrisome. Such determination could be bent to our advantage but only if we know its terms. The more I hear of them? The less I should wish to do so.

[He drums his fingers on the haft of Mjolnir, mind sorting through what he has read and been told, attempting to pick through for what will be of the most use once they're in battle.]

[fashionably_strong]

The best thing to do is just go in fighting them seriously, I think. A captured Third Party cultist might be more likely to talk things out with everyone if he or she had been away from the rest of the Third Party for a couple of months...but as a group? No. They're crazy and they need to go down so that they don't hurt people who can't protect themselves.

[It's that last part that makes her resolved to fight. She's not an experienced warrior like Thor or her father, but she can protect herself much better than some.]

[stopmjolnirtime]

I fear the haste with which we have been gathered that may already be the case, Lady Bulla.

[fashionably_strong]

[Bulla frowns and looks down, thinking on that for a moment.]

You might be right, Thor. I hope you're wrong and that they realized the Third Party were moving in before anyone was hurt, but...

[Well, if they were under siege and had been attacked by surprise, it does explain having to call upon people at two in the morning with twenty minutes' notice.]

[stopmjolnirtime]

Tis better to prepare for whatever we might face than it is to hope. We shall do what we can for those we arrive in time to lend our aid- but the rest? We cannot carry the burden of worry.

[fashionably_strong]

Yeah...

[Bulla nods and lets her expression brighten. She's not feeling completely optimistic, but she does try to keep a positive outlook as much as possible.]

So let's teach these Third Party creeps not to mess with our enclosure!

[stopmjolnirtime]

They will learn, and learn well that we are not to be trifled with.

[ Bulla's determination is heartening. Whatever they might face? They will face it well, and perhaps come through intact. ]

[Teleporters]

[lostinmyway]

Good morning, Thor!

[Have one bright-eyed Grune smiling away at you, in spite of the harsh wake-up and harsher circumstances.]

Are you going to protect the village?

[Teleporters]

[stopmjolnirtime]

Lady Grune.

[This does give him pause- someone so compassionate and kind, brought to war? He knows not of her skills only of her temperament. The idea of seeing her swathed in blood is most disconcerting. But then he thinks of the Lady Sif and of his mother, of their pleasant smiles and lethal skills.

Maybe there is more than he knows?]

And any that require it, yes. Are you to come with us as well?

[Teleporters]

[lostinmyway]

[She shakes her head.]

No, I'm staying here to welcome everyone home again. I'll make sure to bake a nice big cake so everyone can have something sweet to eat after working hard.

[Teleporters]

[stopmjolnirtime]

Something to celebrate our safe return, then.

[Teleporters]

[lostinmyway]

That's right! What kind of cake do you like, Thor?

Re: [Teleporters]

[stopmjolnirtime]

I have found myself most fond of the spice cake. It is not too sweet, moist, and does not require icing in my mind. Anything that goes well with a pint of ale or glass of mead I enjoy the most.

[Teleporters]

[lostinmyway]

Oh, spice cake sounds delicious! I'll make sure to find a good recipe.

[Teleporters]

[stopmjolnirtime]

And I shall greatly look forward to enjoying it upon my safe return.

[Teleporters]

[lostinmyway]

[She beams.]

I'll make it with lots of love, just for you!

[Teleporters]

[stopmjolnirtime]

There is no better reward for a battle well fought that I could think of, Lady Grune.

[Teleporters]

[lostinmyway]

Thank you! [He's so sweet!]

Do you have some friends going with you?

[Teleporters]

[stopmjolnirtime]

My brother, his Lady, Steve and Billy are all called to action as well, I think. I shall do what I can to ensure their safe return.