melodiesoflife | Event || The Empire Strikes Back

Event || The Empire Strikes Back

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.]

[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?

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?

[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.]

[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.]

[her discomfort is likely visible enough, in turn. Sacrificing himself to bring down a foe… She understands, but it shouldn't have been necessary. If they didn't come back…

She nods, listening to the rest of his story. It's not much, but-]

No, that's fine. Whatever you think will help.

[ah. But that… is a concern, and reasonable enough to her. She hesitates, trying to think of an appropriate response.]

…Perhaps so. But, having been called… what can we do, but what we believe to be right? What of the people who live here?

[The intent hadn't been for self sacrifice. The mech just happened to shoot him at the same time so they took each other out simultaneously. His hope was to stop it and get away with his life.

But that's in the past now.]

Well...I tried to help with the evacuation. [Cloud sighs and shakes his head.] Not as many people left as we hoped. A lot wanted to stay and either defend their city or were too stubborn to leave. Not much we can do but try to protect them as best we can.

[she nods, slowly.] Their efforts are appreciated, of course, but… [if they haven't the training, it could be just as much trouble as help. Still.] We'll do what we can.

[she pauses, tail flicking.] I don't believe I introduced myself earlier. K'pandolu Tohka, at your service.

[Cloud smiles and offers his hand. Cloud Strife. Corporal back home. Here? Hero, I guess. And Chocobo rancher.

[He chuckles and shakes his head.]

Well, if a washout like me could become a hero, maybe they can too. Good luck out there and be safe.

[she reaches out to take it for a moment, with a nod and a smile.] You work with the birds, then? How do you find it?

A… washout? […he seems to be handling that weapon well enough, as best she can tell. Still, she nods.] The same to you.

A little smelly. And the stablehand likes to load me up with work. But the birds are taken care of and it's a good place.

[He smirks a bit as she pushes the point on the washout.] Back home I joined the military with the dream of being a big hero. A SOLDIER First Class, like my own hero. Instead I wound up only being fit for grunt work. I made another friend in SOLDIER who was trying to show me the ropes. Help make my dream come true.

[He chuckles and shakes his head.] Zack has been in crystal stasis for a long time now and ever since we got here me and Sephiroth have been almost evenly matched thanks to how this world works. It's funny, isn't it?

[she chuckles at that] They do have a distinctive smell, don't they? [and her expression softens for a moment.] That's a good thing, then.

[she listens, ears twitching forwards.] Well… Everyone has to start somewhere. [start with the small tasks, Momodi had said, and build a reputation for herself. That had always been her plan, even if she hadn't gotten mixed up with the affairs of the Ul'dahn upperclass.] Having someone who'll support you should be a help, too.

[though it's not so good to hear he's caught in stasis. She nods, expression dropping for a moment.] I suppose it is. It seems almost as if it wants to start everyone on the same footing.

Yeah. We have our hands full right now but I still wonder why it is we've been picked and were given these powers. I mean, whatever Kalki is saying about the Calamity probably has something to it but... [The who and why, the force more than any vague things that Kalki had been telling them, that's what Cloud still wonders about.]

Sorry. I have a lot on my mind right now. There will be time to find out more about all of this once this battle is over. Be safe out there, okay?

I'd like to hear more about it from other people. [why should they trust her, after all?]

[she nods, expression serious. If they come through this…] Of course. I'll see you when this is all done.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Event || The Empire Strikes Back

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