Who: Everyone
When: July 1 and onward. See this post for info.
Where: Kauto + Chioni + Ingress Complex
Warnings: Potential violence. Please label warn-worthy content in your subject headers.

There's a burst of light in the sky when the Ingress breaks, a final flare followed by a shuddering that only those in the facility can feel. A flurry of panicked activity in the complex follows, ushering new arrivals to where they need to go in a hurry, with little time to give them the needed information, much less answer questions. The lights remain on, but dimmer now, life functions still operating but little else. On Kauto and Chioni below, the sky fades into an early twilight, followed by night, and day does not come again.

nerds save the world

Before the end of the day, all TABs receive an emergency broadcast notification outlining the situation. The speaker, a lead Savriite Ingress technician, does not invite panic but nor does he mince words. The Ingress is broken; their best efforts have failed to restore it. The time has come to turn to anyone who can help: scientists, engineers, those who have worked with advanced technology on any world. Formal qualifications don't matter when it could be the end of everything.

"Help us. Before it is too late."

Those who come will have the run of the complex and full access to the Ingress, as well as whatever tools are available and as much coffee as they can drink. People are encouraged to work in groups and share ideas, and a small number of young and nervous technical assistants will be on hand.

the land below

As Thisavrou is denied light and warmth, the weather becomes brisk and descends into bitter cold. Chioni is evacuated due to the effects on the already-harsh weather cycles there, although a skeleton crew of scientists remain behind. On Kauto, the arboreal Region Three and pastoral Region Two suffer the most from the temperatures and the snow that eventually begins to fall. Many crops are frozen over, and refugee citizens are driven from their homes to the Regions One and Five, where stored energy will keep dwellings warm. Save for those who choose to leave the underwater facilities, Region Four remains largely unchanged, but there are unverified accounts of strange aquatic animal behavior near the surface.

Overcrowding, limited supplies and a pervasive fear presents the opportunity for both heroism and foul deeds. Many come together to share resources, supplies and fellowship in what could be the end of worlds, while others take what they can from the unwilling or exploit the desperate. Sentient evacuees are followed by fauna from Region Three and unsettled lands beyond, in search of warmth or food or merely confused by the change in habitat. Some are unthreatening herbivores, while tanglesnakes and clownbees are more troublesome. Others are poisonous hunters, while still others are small, but dangerous when faced as a pack.

Just when all seems lost, light returns to the sky. The Ingress begins to function once more.

the coming days

As the temperatures rise, many demand answers, but most turn to the rebuilding of their lives first. Damage has been done that isn't so easily fixed, and even in the least-affected areas, remnants of the crisis show in the lack of fresh food, in the increased signs of criminal activity. Those who can help others through their own efforts of by organizing assistance are needed, but those with impure intentions are more likely to go unnoticed.

Eavesdropping on the streets may reveal a desire for vengeance. "Those intruders from last week. They're responsible for this, aren't they? What's being done?" But don't listen too closely, or a suspicious eye may be turned on you. "Aren't you one of the refugees from the Midway Hub? You should return to where you came from! All the trouble began when your people showed up!"

Life goes on. But life does not go on unchanged.

[quick ooc note: the Region 4 search & retrieval mission/RNG fight will be posted in a separate log.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Probably the piggybackride isn't strictly necessary, but it helps the kid get a better vantage point, and hey, he's got a soft spot for kids. Even alien ones.

"No," the little girl says after taking a moment, apparently to debate whether this grown-up is a good one or not. "I don't think it was real far from here—but now I'm here and they're not—"

"Hey, it's gonna be fine. We'll find 'em." Nate turns his head back to give her an an encouraging smile and a little bounce on his back before turning back to the woman. "I don't suppose you have magic tracking skills or anything. Oh—I'm Nate. This is Loo. Apparently."

Never having dealt much with children during her trek across Europe, Diana has little idea how to comfort them aside from what comes naturally. But this man seems deft enough in the ways of childcare, and he's even calmed the girl enough to be able to carry her upon his back, which will make the search easier. For both these things, Diana is grateful.

She shakes her head, honestly wishing she did so that she might make the search go faster. "I do not. But I have other abilities which may help." After a brief pause, she adds: "My name is Diana." She turns to the girl again, smiling. "You said it was not far from here. Do you think if you were higher up, you might be able to see them?"

The girl hesitates, but seems to relax. "Maybe! Let's go look." And then she kicks Nate lightly, like he's some kind of horse being spurred on. He's got too much dignity to say "ow", but he's thinking it.

"Looks like that's the plan," he says. "If you might be able to help, I'm not going to turn you down."

Being able to help like this, even if it's a small thing, delights Diana. She searches the area, and spots a two-story building just down the street a little. It's high enough to be a vantage point, but not too high where faces will be invisible. "There," she points to it before opening her arms to the two of them. "I can get us there, and then you can try to find your family more easily."

Nate hesitates at the offer of...a group hug? That can't be right.

"Uh, great." He waits for half a second, as if her meaning will become clear. Nope. "Get us there how?"

There is no joking in Diana's face or tone. "By jumping." Her arms are still open, ready. She'll wait.

Loo reaches over Nate's shoulder, ready to go, but he still hangs back.

"Uh, I don't know if you noticed," he says, not wanting to imply she's dumb but not sure how else to put it. "I'm kind of a big guy."

Diana does not flinch, arms still outstretched. She is not so easily deterred. "I am very strong," she assures him, flashing a smile. "I promise I will not drop you."

Well. All right. If he ends up looking completely ridiculous...well, it won't be the first time.

"If you say so. Just try to let me fall ass-first if it happens anyway."

He cracks a smile, shrugs, and steps forward.

With a laugh, Diana scoops Nathan and the child into her arms as if they weigh nothing, careful to make sure they are both secure. "I will keep that in mind." Bending her knees, the Amazon pauses for a moment before launching the three of them into the air with a mighty leap, headed right for the aforementioned roof.

"That's good to—holy crap."

He's kind of expecting it, yet he definitely isn't expecting it when she jumps, and Nate finds himself clinging to both the kiddo and Diana. True to her word, she doesn't drop either of them.

Good thing; his ass definitely couldn't take a fall from the height she reached."

"Jesus," he manages once they've reached their destination. "You do that kind of thing all the time?"

A little bit of the ledge crumbles beneath her feet when she lands, but she quickly steps on to the roof proper and gently sets her companions down. Diana tilts her head slightly. "What do you mean by all the time? I just do things like that when it is necessary."

"I guess I mean any time."

It's not that he's more likely to drop her up here than he was down on the street, but Nate figures it's better for Loo to have her feet on the ground. Err, roof. Whatever.

"Most people can't jump like that," he says, brushing himself off. "Not most of the people I know, anyway."

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nerds save the world

the land below

the coming days

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