Rachel was the first to arrive and give voice to Duncan's suspicions. [b]'I hope you're wrong but as it stands, looks like we've run afoul of one Machiavellian cunt.'[/b] He sighed exhaustedly and slid the plans over for Rachel's perusal. [b]'We've got contingencies for this sorta thing, but it's still a blow.'[/b] Soon after the other began trickling in, Hector and co in typically bombastic style. Duncan bit back a snarky remark over the outfit, treating them to a droll grimace instead. [b]'... Pretty fucking fucked my man.',[/b] he replied to Jericho. [b]'But not as fucked as your arm. Just let him do his work, I need you at 100%.'[/b] Kein rounded on the wounded SeeD, gesturing irritably. [b]'See? Just lemme see, I ain't gonna tear it off...'[/b] Once everyone was in the room, Duncan stood and cleared his throat. Naturally, Xerox cut him off.

Honestly Duncan didn't really consider a walking mascot to be a good source of intelligence, but Rue had proven annoyingly competent so far. [b]'"Not long", eh? Well I dunno. Could be anything, but the timing's certainly suspicious... It goes without saying that we've stepped in shit that neither Garden Intel nor the Faction saw coming. I'll be blunt; I haven't got a bloody clue what's going on.'[/b] He waved toward the contingency plans being passed around. [b]'But I know what we're gonna do; get the hell outta dodge. As per the contingency plans so thoughtfully provided by Corvo, we'll be exfilling to Timber via a pair of trucks stashed outside the city and from there, airlifted back to Garden.'[/b] He couldn't help but marvel at the detail that Corvo had gone into, the sheer number of extraction vectors he had planned. Hell, they could have gone by sub if they really wanted to. [b]'But before we can do that, we leave the city. That's where things get awkward. We can eithe-[/b]' A series of explosions suddenly rocked the building, throwing them all to the floor. [b]'What the fuck was that!?'[/b]

[hr]

[b]'Sir, I've got loads of contacts on the sensors... Biorhythms, electrical pulses, hundreds of 'em.'[/b] The officer leaned over, frowning. [b]'No, that can't be right... Is it the mob dispersing?'[/b] But there was no way that could be the cause. Hundreds of contacts were swarming toward the mansion from all sides, an eclectic mix of soldiers, mechs and civilians. He switched to the live camera feeds. The streets thronged with screaming humanity, all enraged, all heading... [b]'... this way... Alert the Marshal. Get the guards out, now, move, [i]fucking mo-[/i]'[/b] An explosion rocked the building as a precision missile strike destroyed the control tower. Out on the road front, a mech crashed through the gate and the enraged horde poured in.

[hr]

[b]'Duncan! Duncan, get up boy!'[/b] Hauled to his feet, Duncan blinked in utter bewilderment as his father thrust a rifle into his hands. [b]'The hell's going on?'[/b] Constantine didn't answer, pointing instead out the window, where utter chaos reigned. [b]'Holy fuck buddies... Alright, alright, the hell do we do? Guys, ideas please? Anything?'[/b] Nothing had prepared him for [i]this.[/i] The gardens were rapidly turning into a battlefield as the mansions automated defences and his father's soldiers engaged the attacking mob. Here and there, massive mechs dove through to wreak havoc on the defenders. [b]'Son, you can't stay here. Take your team to the roof, use my personal airship and get out of the city. We will hold them here.'[/b] For a long second Duncan stared at his father, shocked that he would even consider sacrificing himself for his progeny. [b]'... Thank you, but priorities. Syrus! Take Eika and the Faction girl, get on that airship and get 'em home.'[/b] The redhead spluttered an objection, but was cut off. [b]'Look kid, I'm trusting you here. Get her home in one piece, or I'll fucking flay you alive. Capice?'[/b] An angry retort died in Syrus' throat when he recognised the edge of pleading in Duncan's voice and he nodded curtly. [b]'Don't worry man, we'll be fine. Just don't do anything stupid, alright?'[/b]

There was no reply. Instead Duncan turned to the rest of the team and took a deep, bracing breath. [b]'Ladies and gentlemen, we are well and truly fucked now.'[/b] Another explosion, closer this time, served to emphasise the point. [b]'So here's what we're gonna do. We go out there and cut a path right through 'em. Keep heading north in small groups.'[/b] Despite his calm voice, he was quaking. [i]No[/i] SeeD, no matter how powerful could hope to stand up to these kind of odds. [b]'Break out of the city, regroup at the Timber safehouse. If someone doesn't turn up after three days, assume the worst and head home to report.'[/b] Duncan paused to spark up a cigarette, keenly aware that it might be his last. [b]'... Any questions?'[/b]