[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ktlhhm5.png[/img][/center]
Ah, there she was, missing the point again.

Brent suppressed a chuckle as Angelic let out a scream, the sonic blast smacking one of the birds right out of the air. He had intended on her using her superhuman voice to say something encouraging or badass, but…this was probably a better use of her power anyways. They were doing well, if nothing else. With the support of the Remnants of the Main Team, not a single clockwork monster had made it past their offense. Things were going down, and now, up in the sky, Brent could see the dark form of Chris, catapulting through the air towards the birds that he hid from. Good, he could breathe a little more ea-

The sky burned red, a searing beam remaining in his vision long after it had faded.

He could feel the sudden burst of heat even at a distance, and immediately, Angelic’s voice crackled through the radio, filled with worry, even as she had her own problems to deal with. Brent’s jaw tightened, swallowing the bile that had crept up his throat. The raven-haired x-marked was kind, but she had her own things to worry about. Sander was invulnerable, and Callan was strong. If they were done in before even reaching Factory, that wouldn’t even be funny as a joke. They were alive.

He forced himself to believe that, and soon, it turned out that his beliefs were correct.

His gas mask hissed again, taking in the filtered, rubbery air that he had now become accustomed to.

Angelic, Siena, Emma, Grant, and Hazel were all handling things well. Chris had just tore apart a flock of birds by himself. Sander and Callan, judging by the map on the phone, were both going strong after all, reaching Factory. Healer teams weren’t close to any of the giant fatties that were lumbering around. Evacuation team was just cruising on by, hopefully with the ability to run over any clockwork mooks that were in their way. But…

[color=B0C4DE]“Grego,”[/color] Brent said, bringing up the phone closer, [color=B0C4DE]“Giant thing is real close. How th- Can you escape? Need any help?”[/color]

One thing that was problematic with these radio phones: no messaging capabilities. If the clockwork giant had the ability to hear, Gregory would be pretty screwed if he tried to respond. But on the other hand…how did that thing get so close without the blond x-marked noticing anyways? The Arbiter bit his lower lip, before balancing his phone on his knee. The map was useful. He really shouldn’t be keeping it in his pockets, lest he end up like Gregory.

Turning his attention back to Offensive Support, the youth clicked his tongue at the rising smoke that obstructed his vision. Hazel had launched another one of her explosive attacks, and now, it looked like the Aberration was shrouded in dust, blinded by her own attack. It was thin enough that he could make out the shadow of her form, standing at the edges of the smokescreen, but Brent unattached the scope from his gun anyways.

The function was improving visibility. The improvement was adding infrared capabilities. The inspiration was in the equipment firefighters used to see through smoke.

Silver circuits ran beneath his skin, dimmed slightly by the wishalloy before touching scope, filling it with a fluorescence. It disassembled and reassembled within an instant, noticeably bulkier, with the lenses a shade of red instead of clear. He brought it up to his right eye, peered through, and breathed. The smoke and any other obscurant was gone, replaced by a light shade of grey that indicated where it still was. Though reduced to black and white, he could clearly see Hazel’s form, as well as that of the clockwork dogs within.

If they were still alive, if they were still moving, if they were using this dust cloud as cover to attack unseen angles, Brent would be ready to alert Offensive Support.

His gun was in his right hand, but it lingered, close to the radio, ready to snatch it up immediately if those monsters had survived Hazel’s second destructive wave.
[hider=Cliffnotes]
[b]Scope[/b]: First Clock (0 minutes)
Buffed towards improving visibility. Infrared light used to filter out visual obscurants.

Remaining in position.
[/hider]