[color=papayawhip][center][h3][color=slategray]⚙[/color][color=cadetblue][u]Lucias Caldera [/u] [u] Graywall District [/u][/color][color=slategray]⚙[/color][/h3][/center] [center][sup][color=limegreen][i]8:11p.m, Sunday, April Sixth, 187A.E[/i][/color][/sup][/center] Heavy black boots rested atop a scattering of loose papers that were largely being ignore for the time being. A pale smoke drifted down a set of legs clad in the perfectly ironed fabric of black dress slacks, before billowing out over the polished, cluttered desk. A large man recline back in a chair, tipped to an angle dangerously close to snapping its tilting mechanism. A grizzled face wore a triumphant smile, one sculpted with a neatly trimmed beard and a fat patch of hair that sat above his lip. He inhaled again, savoring the flavor of the expensive cigar, something he only treated himself to on special occasions. The tingle on his tongue was a nice change of pace from the cheaper shit he smoked, but he didn't want to think about that now. His gaze traveled outwards, beyond the holo monitors currently broadcasting lives feeds of raids across the sector. Up and out, beyond two cushioned chairs, past the bookcase with books her never read and further still, beyond plants he never watered to the open office area of the precinct. Cheap bottle of champagne were frothing as the desk jockeys congratulated themselves. Operations were going underway, and they seemed to be doing quite well. Weeks of compiling information, pulling all of the strings, double checking all of the sources for a simultaneous, sector wide raid against filthy terrorists. Lucias exhaled, watching the smoke frolic in the stir of cool air, as he watched the scene unfolding on his holo screen. Live coverage was being aired, showing a line of nondescript looking people on their knees, rough bags tied tightly over their heads. A moment later and the bodies fell back, limp, crimson stains oozing out against their cloth concealing their faces. Small fry terrorists only, not worth the time. Though, the execution was only a statement, the majority of the criminals would find themselves in Sector Three. The leaders, well, John would likely call for a public hanging, another statement to quell the common vermin. He nodded in satisfaction to himself, yet a part of him longed to put his boots on the ground. This position had far too much paperwork for his liking, but since he began this position the watchmen were really making a difference. Lucias had a brilliant mind, and he knew it, his wits were far superior to whatever ragtag leader the terrorists were trying to hide. He would find them, and methodically crush them one by one. He sat up, flicking over the channel. [i]'Silence in the Slums, a vision of a peaceful future or an omen of war?'[/i] a headline read, scrolling across the bottom of the screen. Lucias shook his head, the news would make a story out of anything just to stir the pot. Always about the ratings, but nobody cared about the slums. Likely, the vagabonds and beggars had moved out in fear of Lucias' new campaign. Zero tolerance, that's how you cleaned up the streets. The door to his office hissed up into the ceiling as one of the workers from communications and logistics strode in. Lucias returned the salute before beckoning the jittery looking fellow to a seat. The young man's mouth worked, but nothing came out. He looked like a fish struggling to speak. Well, it wasn't uncommon for younger lads to lose their nerve in Lucias' presence. The older man chuckled, taking a honey-amber bottle from his drawer. He poured two smalls glasses, motioning the rookie to have a drink. Lucias was enjoying the bitter, warming liquid when the kid finally found his words. [color=sandybrown]"There's ah.. trouble, sir,"[/color] He murmured, deciding he did want that drink. Lucias chuckled, like a bear having a good laugh, [color=cadetblue]"There's always trouble son, that's the life we've chosen to live."[/color] Lucias slapped his glass against the desk, sighing pleasantly as he turned back to nursing his cigar. [color=sandybrown]"No.. I m-mean yes, Sir, it's the slums,"[/color] The young man spluttered, swallowing his nervousness and downing the glass like a champ. [color=cadetblue]"What's your name son? Do you smoke?"[/color] Lucias asked, holding out a steel case holding rows of slim, cheaper cigars. [color=sandybrown]"T-Tobiath Daryl, Sir,"[/color] came the reply, the boy's hands were shaking too violently to properly cut the end. [color=cadetblue]Alright, Tobiath,"[/color] Lucias began, holding out a flame for his underling, [color=cadetblue]"Why don't you take a deep breath, and relax a moment alright? Do you watch the news Son?"[/color] [color=sandybrown]"Ah, yes sir,"[/color] Tobiath answered, choking on the repugnant smoke. Lucias let out a fatherly chuckle. [color=cadetblue]"You hold the smoke in your mouth, you've gotta be a grizzled old man like me to inhale it,"[/color] Lucias instructed, tapping out the growing stem of ash into a small porcelain tray. [color=cadetblue]"What's the situation?"[/color] [color=sandybrown]"There's a situation near one of the maintenance access points,"[/color] Tobiath explained, finally composing himself though he retained a white knuckled grip on the cigar, [color=sandybrown]"We lost a squad in the tunnels, and one on the surface."[/color] Lucias nodded gravely, it was understandable that during these times of certain victory there would be some losses, [color=cadetblue]"So the Libbies are hiding in the tunnels then?"[/color] [color=sandybrown]"Well.. comm chatter indicated that the ah, men saw something that.. well.. wasn't human,"[/color] Tobiath managed. [color=cadetblue]"So, they're trying some sort of fear tactic then?"[/color] Lucias dug patiently, his eyes flickering to the holovision as he flipped through some of the channels. [color=sandybrown]"Perhaps sir, something about glowing blue monsters with uhm.. inhuman strength and speed, ripping people apart."[/color] [color=cadetblue]"Oh?"[/color] Lucias questioned, flipping back to the earlier story about the slums. He set the sound to low, so he could listen to the pretty blonde haired woman talk as he turned towards man before him, looking him in the eye. Tobiath was a thin, gaunt thing who barely seemed to fillout the chair he was residing in. A mop of sweaty brown hair was layered over his face, shifted only by his bony hands. [color=cadetblue]"Well,"[/color] Lucias sighed, thinking about the definite lack of extra resources he had, [color=cadetblue]"Send in the Heimdall Unit, they can handle it. Kratos and Badger are also in the area, tell them to hold their positions after the raid, we don't want to overthink this too much."[/color] The kid nodded, pulling up his wrist computer, his cigar sat forgotten in the tray as he send the orders back to Logistics, likely to someone higher of rank. Lucias reached over and tapped it for him, reminded of his early days with DigiCorp. The thought brought him back to his daughter, the chink in his armor. She had ripped a hole in his heart when she left, and filled it with blame and guilt. He checked his own communicator, debating on sending her a written message, or if he should just accept her hatred of him. His bushy brows drooped sadly as he turned away from the screen, once more returning to the simple pleasantry of his cigar. [color=cadetblue]"How long have you been here son?"[/color] Lucias asked absentmindedly, his attention once more captured by the images on the holoscreen. [color=sandybrown]"I'm a week out of the academy sir, I wasn't too great with the physical stuff.. but they said I've got a good head about me,"[/color] Tobiath explained. Lucias nodded with a grunt, leaning closer towards the screen. [color=cadetblue]"Hold on a second,"[/color] He murmured, turning up the broadcast. With nothing better to do as Lucias diverted his attention elsewhere, Tobiath finally remembered his cigar. A new development was scrolling across the screen, it looked as if Lucias would get to see these new Liberata tactics first hand. Sometimes, the news gave information faster than his own intelligence department, which was disheartening, perhaps he should hire the reporters. He mused over the thought as the news crew ran towards, well, he didn't quite know but he was certainty going to wait and find out. The reporter was in a sort of half turn as she tried to jog towards the scene, and report the unfolding events at the same time. Lucias grinned through the cigar between his teeth, he wouldn't mind a blonde bombshell like her. Big brown eyes, big set of- [color=thistle]"Oh my god.."[/color] The woman said, frozen in the street. The cameraman, bless him, remained dutiful to his task and zoomed in on a.. Lucias leaned in further, captivated by the images, the boy was speaking but Lucias couldn't hear him. On the screen a blue.. a blue man was literally tearing somebody apart, blood and gore flying in all directions. Lucias stared at the deranged beings back, in tattered, bloody clothes and pasty gray skill split with glowing blue cracks. The thing stopped, snapping it's head up to attention with an unnatural jerk. It stood, head turned towards the sky, before looking ominously in the direction of the camera crew. [color=cadetblue]"What the.."[/color] Lucias said, his eyes pinching as he tried to make out more details. Tobiath wandered up to the desk, unable to contain his curiosity from the other side, and peered over Lucias' shoulder rather meekly. Lucias heard the boy gasp as the faceless creature's mouth parted in an earth splitting shriek, it's disgusting flesh wobbling with the intensity of the sound. Its call was answered by another, and another, until there was nothing but a constant howl emitting from the speakers. It charged forward, towards the woman and her coworkers. It was so fast, too fast. In what seemed like an instant, a span of time much to short to be real, it was on her. She shrieked as the cameraman's human instincts finally kicked in. The image fell to the ground, dead center on her as the creature tore at her back, its ghastly hands tipped with claws that flung chunks off her off screen. Somewhere off in the distance, Tobiath was retching, but Lucias couldn't look away. The beast kneeled on the open cavity ripped in her back, screaming once more into the night. He couldn't tell if there was more of the woman splattered against the beast, or splattered across the street. A low rumbling sounded through the feed. Seconds later the image began to shift slightly, which changed into a steady vibration as the object was shaken by the force of and endless number of legs crowding the small lens of the camera. It had to be hundreds, thousands even, the constant stream of blue flashes was like trying to watch a river composed entirely of fish. It was unending, a horde so thick Lucias couldn't see anything other than mottled gray skin and blue streaks as their stampede thundered out into the office. He sucked in a breath, finally tearing himself away from the display as the feed broke, the image tearing and the colors warping before cutting completely. For a second longer, he stared at the technical difficulties message, moving to take a drag of his cigar and finding that it had gone out. [color=cadetblue]"I.."[/color] He searched for the words, an unfamiliar feeling ripping through his body. He felt cold, and hollow, and for the first time in years his hands were shaking. It was fear, he was truly, and honestly afraid. [color=cadetblue]"Tobiath.."[/color] [color=sandybrown]"ugh..er.. yes Colonel?"[/color] Tobiath responded weakly from his position on the floor, that plant would never be the same. [color=cadetblue]"Send everybody.. pull them.. all of them,"[/color] He began, his nerves returned, only gone for a second yet the dull feeling in the pit of his stomach remained, [color=cadetblue]"Get a hold Syndustries and DigiCorp.. we're going to need them."[/color] Lucias left the boy kneeling on the ground, Tobiath didn't even bother getting up, but rather was typing out a message to logistics with a furious intensity. The mood in the outer office died immediately as he swept through, before he reached the end of the room the terminals began going off. A cacophony of pulsing beeps echoed through the office as a swarm of messages came in. A buzz picked up as the employees dropped their celebration in light of the new task at hand—Mobilizing Everyone. Like a wraith from the shadows Sergeant Azerix was at Lucias' side within a minute of the order going out. [color=cadetblue]"Azerix?"[/color] Lucias asked, he didn't need to say anymore. [color=6ecff6]"I just got the message, the calls should be going out now. I've also put in to contact the private security firms sir, I'm sure by everybody, you meant it,"[/color] The Sergeant explained, her never looked up from his wristpad as he matched Lucias stride for stride. [color=6ecff6]"It must be serious.."[/color] Azerix noted, peering up the entryway to the precinct's armory. [color=cadetblue]"It is Sergeant, get me a van mobile and waiting I'll be down in four minutes,"[/color] Lucias commanded, pausing in the doorway, [color=cadetblue]"And Sergeant.."[/color] [color=6ecff6]"Yes sir?"[/color] [color=cadetblue]"Shut it down, all of it."[/color][/color]