Event || The Empire Strikes Back

[melodiesmods]

Characters: Everyone participating in the event
Where: Aqures Ixen
When: July 27th to August 02nd
Summary: The battle for Aqures Ixen is about to begin! The Heroes of Light are going to do their best to defend Aqures Ixen, but will this be enough? Feel free to participate and reply to appropriate threads. New top-level threads will be posted regularly as the battle progresses.
Warning: N/A, will be updated.

July 27th || Mingle
July 28th || Bomb Defusing / Imperial Assault
July 29th || Mingle / Attack on the 13th District / Aerial Battles / Imperial Camp
July 30th || 14th District on Fire / The Hospital / Mognet Office Attacked
July 31st || The Fire Spreads / Betrayals
August 01st || The Second Wave / Ultima Weapon
August 02nd || Final

Comments

July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud had done his best to help with the evacuations, but perhaps it wasn't enough. There were still so many people left in the city and now they would weigh on his mind for the coming battle. He wasn't distracted, but it meant even more now that Jessie's plan succeed even if it was a longshot. And once they took control of the Weapon they'd have to be careful not to accidentally harm those still in the city.

And so Cloud decided to do something he could control. If he was going to fight then he needed to get ready and he fell back on military habits. Claiming a table in the observatory he laid out his gear, taking the time to check everything and decide what he was going to use.

As the blonde looks over his equipment, the expression on his face is different from that those who have met him may be used to. And yet the seriousness is one that a select few might well recognize. Cloud is going to war and he doesn't have time to smile. Once again he picks up his gunblade, one similar to the ShinRa style of a shotgun with long blades on the top and bottom of the barrel, opening it to check the chamber. The last thing he needs is a misfire in combat.]

July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[goddessofthesky]

[Since Link went into crystal stasis Zelda had been living at the Observatory. She had heard Cloud come in and the noise is enough to pull her attention away from her work. She's setting up the observatory as a war zone which means that most anything that can be moved has been moved. A lot of furniture is in storage, placed below in the basement except for two of the individual rooms that Zelda and Ashelia usually used.

She peeks out from her room and then follows the sounds until she found Cloud working on his weapons in the main meeting room. She has a few maps on the far side of the table though she's glad they hadn't gotten in his way.]

Cloud.

[Zelda steps into the room fully, her blond hair hasn't been put and she looks tired.]

How are you fairing?

Re: July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud jumps a bit as Zelda speaks up. At first he thought it would be okay to use this space, as much as it normally would be okay under less dire circumstances. Seeing Zelda prepare as she was he meant to get out of her way as quickly as he could.

Blushing, he smiles at her but then avoids eye contact.]

Hi Zelda...sorry. I didn't know you were going to be doing all of this. I should be done soon.

[His gunblade is set aside now and he's presently busy inspecting his armor. It's been a few months since he's worn it.]

This is going to be big. How are you doing?

July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[goddessofthesky]

[She shakes her head slowly.]

There are already a lot of traps set here. I posted a notice. I've had help from Ophelia and she might have gotten a little out of hand.

[Zelda's smile is small as she steps forward.]

I'm glad you didn't trip one.

[She doesn't want the young hero to be hurt before the battle has even started and Ophelia's ideas of traps are rather extreme.]

Re: July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud chuckles and flashes a warmer smile at Zelda, still embarrassed but feeling a little less under foot.]

I almost did but Mako stopped me before I hurt myself.

[The blonde scratches the back of his head, running his fingers through his hair. He's been running around keeping himself busy a lot lately and it looks like he's a bit overdue for a haircut. Moreso than usual.]

So what sort of things did you two set up? Do you really think this place will get attacked?

July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[goddessofthesky]

[Zelda tilts her head to the side.]

If not I'm going to lure them here. [She's already decided.]

Um... let's see.

[Zelda pulls out a map with a bunch of notes written on it mostly from Ophelia.]

Outside--low maze of trip wires about 2ft off the ground along the floor to the stairs.

1st floor: Trip wires at ankle height at each entry way. Trigger a very basic smoke-bomb when tripped in rooms 2-5. There is a rigged up net of sharp and annoying objects to drop on intruders in room 1 there are trip wires at the entry to each stair well. Between the 1st and 2nd floor, the 3-5th steps are greased to increase slipperiness

2nd and 3rd Floor: Small cloth-bags filled with glue on the floor to be stepped on, and sharp-things. Stairs between floors are booby-trapped with grease--this time the 6-7th step. There are again, Trip-wires at each entry point the 3rd floor also has a disguised, weakened hole in the middle, whereby people will fall to the second floor.

Re: July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[neverfirstclass]

Are you sure Zelda? It might be better to get to saf-

[He trails off as she pulls out the map and reads of the list of traps. His eyes widen almost comically as he listens to the whole thing.]

Wow...Remind me never to get you mad at me. Even so, don't take any risks you don't have to, okay?

[unyieldingspirit]

[she's passing by and pauses, attention caught. He's… one of the others from the meeting, isn't he? Did she catch his name?

… Either way, it can't hurt to speak with him a little- she hopes, anyhow. She moves to pull up a seat for herself, eyes going to his weapon for a moment.]

How are your preparations coming along?

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud looks up from where he's inspecting his gunblade and his gaze lingers for a moment. Compared to many heroes she doesn't stand out as much to him, but the cat ears are certainly something new. Right now the fact that she's a fellow Hero is more important.

His gaze returns to the gunblade as he looks down the barrel, making sure the blades are aligned properly.]

Well enough. At least we have some warning this time.

[His voice carries the tone that he's not so sure how well this will all end. But it is true that this is their first defensive engagement with the Empire where they really have some forewarning and time to prepare.]

[unyieldingspirit]

[he's hardly the only one to be uncertain. Still- at this point, she can't really afford to show it. If they're not confident… it could all fall apart. Though that could happen anyway- but as long as they believe, perhaps it will be a little bit closer.

She nods.]

And some experience with them from before, I take it?

[neverfirstclass]

There was the time they invaded Esdham. We were able to help fight them off but some of our own got taken captive. I don't think us attacking them to save them really counts.

And then there was the time some of their agents tried to sneak into the Magitek Research facility here. It was rough. I was in the group who fought their own Magitek Knight.... [He grimaced, remembering how it happened.] You know what happens to us if we...die...right?

[unyieldingspirit]

[she considers it for a moment, frowning.]

Perhaps. But you've faced them all the same. [it's possible they could have different tactics this time, still. But perhaps not entirely.

A flicker of concern passes across her face, and she shifts, leaning forward the smallest bit.]

…I'd heard. That those who… die become crystalised. Is that right? [she scans his face for a response.]

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud nods, trying to hide his own reaction. It's not precisely perfect.]

Yeah. When we first ran into the Imperials my group was fighting a guy in a magitek armor. They told me later I was able to destroy it, but the explosion took me out too. I just remember it hurt. I don't want anyone else going through that if we can help it.

[He grimaces a bit.]

I've fought other soldiers in the Esdham in that invasion too. I helped Sephiroth fight his way through the city and defend the coliseum there. I'm sorry, I guess I don't know...

[He sighs, closes his eyes and takes a breath. Even if they won that conflict some of their own were taken captive and tortured. He still hadn't asked Yuffie for more about it. Turning, he leans back against the table behind him, resting his weight on his palms.]

We're about to be invaded by a bunch of enemies and for what? The crystal that brought us here? And if we fall in battle we come back. But if we kill them they're dead for real. It's hard to not wonder if we're the monsters here.

[This doubt isn't something he needs for the upcoming fight, but it's something that's been bothering him ever since the conflict at Esdham.]

[soldierofloveandbeauty]

[Minako was unusually calm for someone who would say she only did fighting on video games. But in reality this was nothing new, although the war and the way it was going to happen was somewhat different. She had checked things over at least a few times and had found herself calmly wondering around, checking up on people and making sure things were a-okay. However she stops when she spots a familiar face, one she had seen during the meeting. Walking over, she places her arms behind her back.]

Making sure you are ready before everything happens?

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud jumps a bit, so focused as he was on inspecting his equipment. Glancing over his shoulder he sets the gunblade back down on the table next to a heavy looking set of armor.]

Yeah. I'm glad we have some time to prepare but...This can wind up going really badly if we're not going to stop them.

[The Heroes have a way to bounce back from death, Cloud has already experienced that. The problem is that if the Imperials do too much damage to the cit or even reach the crystal there is no telling what will happen.]

[soldierofloveandbeauty]

Well...I think we were lucky to ever have this. I find sometime's people don't have as much time. So let's just hope we are all using it productively.

[She knew she was, making sure she was in top shapes for just in case. She was going to make sure she was fit enough and skilled enough to do something.]

I have faith we'll stop them to the best of our ability. Sure, there will probably be some damage, but we'll make sure it all isn't destroyed.

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud wasn't going to disagree with Minako on that point and he gave her a firm nod in agreement. Still, he couldn't help but feel the weight of anticipation on his shoulders.]

Yeah, I know. I'm a soldier back home. I've seen my comrades fall before and... [In my own future my best friend gives his life for me. And another friend for the world later on.]

Maybe it's too much to hope we all get through this okay, but like you said we'll do our best. I just hope Jessie's plan works.

[soldierofloveandbeauty]

Yeah... it's never nice to see comrades fall, but that gives one more of a drive to keep going forwards, to keep trying ones best to that others don't. At least this is how I see it.

[She felt like she had started to make friends here and she didn't want them to fall, to die. So in her mind she was going to do her best with what she had.]

I believe it could, but there is also a chance it might not. So I wonder if we should of had a back up plan for just in case.

[neverfirstclass]

[Even if the heroes have a way of coming back to life, it's something Cloud has enough experience with that he knows he doesn't want anyone going through it. It isn't just the pain he felt at the time. It's the worry that if he can come back to life he might not be the real him anymore. Or maybe that was a worry of the him from the other timeline. He isn't sure.]

Yeah, that'd be a good idea, though I'm not sure what we can do to stop that thing if we can't control it. What about you? What will you be doing in all of this?

Re: July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[ninjainviolet]

[ While Cloud had chosen to prepare for battle that way, Sheena had opted for a less obvious method to steel herself for what lay ahead. Having already looked over the weapons she would carry, she now had to focus on the largest one in her arsenal.

Herself.

And the Observatory seems the best place to do such a thing, up and away from the others, facing towards the untainted sky as she readies her mind and soul for the upcoming battle. New skills had been granted her upon arrival, skills that don't exist on her world--as well as some that do. She had always been a ninja, but to also be a Warrior? She needs some time to align and reconcile those new skills with the old, and what better way than through meditation? Entering the room, she stops short when she sees someone checking out their weapons. ]

Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was in here. Despite the serious expression on his face, she doesn't turn around and leave, however. She watches, fascinated, instinctively knowing she can use that weapon in his hands. Stepping over to him, she clears her throat gently. ] Excuse me, but what is that weapon called?

[ Just because she knows she can use it, doesn't mean she knows what it is. ]

Re: July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud was doing his best to keep out of Zelda's way as she prepared the Observatory for any impending attack. The ninja may have noticed the traps that were being set up throughout the building.

Hearing the voice behind him and her not being the first to speak to him today he turns and offers her a smile.]

It's fine. It's a gunblade. It's the signature weapon of the Magitek Knight class.

[Finishing his check of it he turns and holds it out for her to look at. His own gunblade is a bit less elegant than others, being pretty much a shotgun with blades on it, but both rigged up so as not to interfere with the others.]

It's a job we got from the Imperials. You're probably going to be fighting people using weapons like these, so be careful.

[For his own part, Cloud's biggest roll in the upcoming battle wouldn't rely on his weapons either, but he'd still need them to get him there.]

Sorry I'm....not sure if we've met before. I'm Cloud.

Re: July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[ninjainviolet]

[ Oh, Sheena had noticed them, all right. And had decided to stay away from them. She had just arrived and wasn't used to a lot of the things here, so she didn't want to make a mistake and ruin things.

That hadn't stopped her from wanting to help, though.

She meets his smile with one of her own. A slightly confused one, but still a smile. ]

Gunblade? I've never heard of that before.

[ She reaches for the gunblade, but stops, following a code concerning touching someone else's weapon. He hadn't invited her to do so, so she shouldn't. She does, however, peer at it closely, everything about it clicking into place as she does so. ]

Magitek? As in magitechnology? Does it use mana? do they use mana?

[ No. Her excitement over that isn't obvious, is it? Not at all, she'll wager. Stepping back from her scrutiny, she nods, taking him seriously. ]

I've fought against people with swords before, but never against anyone with something like this. I guess I could throw my kunai at them from a distance. [ She's not joking, either. ] And I have my katana...

Huh? Oh, no I don't think we have. My name's Sheena. It's nice to meet you, Cloud.

Re: July 27th | Mingle - Observatory

[neverfirstclass]

[Cloud smiles at the introduction, and also the ninja's excitement over all of this. With everything weighing down on them and things getting so serious it's nice to see some honest enthusiasm.]

It's mostly machines and equipment emulating magic, though it's a bit more complex than that. I can also cast on my own but it's basically a cross between being a knight and a mage. Jessie could probably explain all it to you when this is finally behind us. The real power comes out of the riding armor the Imperials have. Sparks has one but I missed a chance to steal one for myself.

[He's about to help hijack something much bigger than a standard magitek mount, though he doubts he'll get to keep it when they're done.

Seeing her interest, he holds his weapon out in offering.]

My gunblade is a bit more...simple than some you might see out there. It's closer to a trooper design from my own world. But being able to cut and shoot someone at the same time, or switch between long and short range easily is where gunblades are useful.

smiling Cloud.... :D

[ninjainviolet]

[ It was actually the term "Magitek" that had Sheena excited. Not because it implied power or magic, but because it was a word similar to one from her world. A word no longer really used, but still made her wonder if there was a connection.

Maybe through those Crystals...

Looking up at him, she nods. ]

The mana on my world is the basis of all life and magic, and we had magictechnology that would use that mana in different ways. Even as a mana cannon. [ Yep. Sucking up raw mana and shooting it at your enemies... So not a good idea. ] I heard a little about being able to do magic, and anyone can do that? You don't have to be an elf in order to have that job as a mage?

[ Tells you the world she comes from. ]

I'm a ninja back home, and one here, so I'm not used to wearing armor, but I'm curious. What makes the riding armor so special?

[ She's just arrived, so she hasn't heard all the details yet, but she's heard the quiet hints about something big about to happen. Doesn't it always in operations like these?

Spotting the weapon held out to her, she reaches for it a bit hesitantly, but as soon ans she touches it, she's wielding it like she'd been trained to do so from birth. As he speaks, she examines it, her brows knitting together as she holds it back out to him. ]

A weapon that can do that is a pretty handy one. [ She had her own version back home. ] But what's the difference between a trooper one and a non-trooper one? A bigger range when used for long distance?

[neverfirstclass]

Ah. No. I'm not an elf and I was able to use magic here. Where I come from we would need to have these gems of compressed Mako energy called Materia to use magic, but here I was just able to cast it as a Black Mage.

[Her enthusiasm is indeed making more and more sense to him.]

The magitek armor on the other hand, the riding armor...think of a giant suit of armor, one you ride on top of and control. And they can use attacks that are basically artificially amplified spells. The problem is we don't really have a way to get them for ourselves.

[He really wants one though.]

As for the gunblade I guess I wasn't really clear. This design is more like a shotgun and it's based on what I've seen from my world. The Imperial troopers here, their gunblades are a bit more like rifles I think.

[Mostly it's an issue of weapon scale and gun design, and he tries to explain it as best he can.