[indent][b][u]December 25th, 1:20 AM (Atlantic Time)
Atlantean War Room, Poseidonis, Atlantis[/u][/b][/indent]

Orin glared daggers at the map of the sunken continent of Atlantis, the spotlight in his war room illuminating it with a harsh light. Surrounded by aides and generals, the military minds of the lost civilization had been running themselves ragged for the past month. First the dead came back from their rest, abandoning the coral tombs and attempting to reenter the city, and now, just as the bodies were being cleaned up ancient monsters had begun to attack! Sirens had been seen skulking outside the city wall, and had already lured half a dozen Atlanteans outside. Fortunately, most of them were relatively unharmed due to their inability to drown, but two had been attacked and whisked away somewhere. Even more disturbing though, were the reports coming in from his scouts of old sleeping beasts, no longer asleep. Krakens. Most of them seeming content to terrorize the ocean at large, but there were at least two on the way to the city. Fortunately, this was not the first time Atlantis had dealt with the Greek myths.

A dozen aides burst into the war room carrying boxes, crates, and some loose scrolls. Opening the lids and laying out the contents, Orin quickly glanced over the haul. Books, scrolls, tablets, even some painted pottery. Written in Greek and Old Atlantean, Orin could pick out a few key words. ‘Katea’, the word for Kraken. Everything in the Domed Library on Krakens, and how to fight them. [color=lightseagreen]”Good, good. Get all of this transferred and translated, we need it as soon as possible. I’m not worried about them breaching the wall; if an asteroid couldn’t do it then we should be safe inside. But I don’t want us to end up under siege, and we still have to defend the rest of the seas. Meanwhile,”[/color] Orin said, turning back to the map. [color=lightseagreen]”We need to prepare for the possibility of ending up under siege anyway. Harvest everything, bring what we can into the city. After that--”[/color]

The room went quiet at the sound of a comm shell vibrating. Who in Hades had brought a comm-- Oh, it was Orin’s. The special one. [color=lightseagreen]”... Excuse me. I have to take this.”[/color] Orin said, pulling the shell off his belt and flicking it open. It wasn’t Lady Arcana though, but it looked like… Grim? From the Arab Federation incident and the radioactive man?. [color=lightseagreen]”This is King Orin of Atlantis. A pleasure speaking with you Grim; though I don’t remember giving you a shell? What’s going on?”[/color]

[hr]

[indent][u][b]December 25, 12:23am (Eastern Time)
Amnesty Bay, Maine.[/b][/u][/indent]

Girard smiled as he watched cartoons with his daughters, they had gotten into an old collection of cds and tapes he hadn’t had time to sell off or throw out, but on the brightside it meant he got to see them enjoying the stuff he used to watch once he got the VHS player working again. It was nice to have some time to relax lately after the whole undead invasion happened and go figure it calmed some of the locals down leaving him with less vigilante work around home. He did have the nagging feeling that pleasant as it was the whole situation was a bit too quite for his liking to the point he had started jumping states looking to make his presence felt by anyone looking to make trouble. After the first couple of times it seemed like more people were beginning to recognise him which he thought was maybe a good thing, made him seem more reliable than just some random guy in a helmet who kicked around criminals or made an occasional big show like with the war in the Middle East or dealing with a lot of zombies quickly. He had to get word around somehow and honestly he wasn’t big on interviews or stuff like that so this was the next good bet.

The big guy laughed a bit when Haylee and Leila started mimicking the characters on screen for  a little bit since the current episode was getting to the end. He had done it too when he was that age and his parents could attest to it making it all the funnier to him. It didn’t take long for it to finish from there and it was about time to check out the news to see if anything caught his interest, his two little goofballs were due for a break so it was as good a time as any plus they could play with some of the new toys they opened up not a minute after twelve o'clock. Nothing unusual showed up at first which was a kindness because of all days in the year he really wanted to stay home it was definitely Christmas. They still had plenty of celebrating to do with a nice dinner to top it all off by the evening so it was kind of a big deal.

Of course that was before the alert came up about fucking minotaurs and cyclops among other things rampaging around Gotham’s outskirts which after a few moments of watching he got a pretty good idea of just where they were. 

[color=A9A9A9]“You have got to be kidding me…”[/color] Girard mumbled with displeasure recognising Kasimir Castle very easily and wondering why walking myths were trying to tear up the place.

He was quick to turn the channel so his daughters wouldn’t have to see it figuring that was the last thing they needed.

[color=A9A9A9]“Uh girls go ahead and pop in another cartoon if you want, I’m gonna go talk to your mom.”[/color] He said giving them a quick smile before quickly shooting over to the kitchen where his wife had been getting them all some drink and snacks.

True to form his expression gave away the seriousness of the issue immediately and Abigail was prepared to take care of the day while he was gone which she had to stress to him. Girard went to the guest room where he had been keeping some of his new equipment so to speak including the spare emergency phone with line back to Zoey if anything came up, it was ringing out as he opened up the compartment underneath the bed and he answered quickly.

[color=A9A9A9]“Hello, just saw the news report and go figure this phone is lighting up.”[/color] Tank said starting to get his new and improved costume on for what looked like a big old fight to come. [color=A9A9A9]“Could use some filling in on the details while I get ready.”[/color]

[hr]

[indent][b][u]December 25th, 12:24AM
Kasimir Castle, Gotham City[/u][/b][/indent]

As the Grim Grotto finally emptied of all but the three who lived in the castle above, Grim remained at her computer station, glowing white eyes fixated on the ringing. Finally King Orin came online, shortly followed by Tank before she could get past more than a greeting and explanation that Arcana had given her the means to contact Orin.

[color=IndianRed]”Glad to see you two are alright. We have a bit of a situation on our hands, as I’m sure you’re both aware.”[/color] The billionaire’s fingers tapped against the desk, metal on metal as she gathered her thoughts. [color=IndianRed]”What you may not be aware of, is that there’s more than just an influx of mythical creatures.”[/color]

A pause. Inhale. A shuddering exhale.

[color=IndianRed]”This is a full scale invasion of earth by [i]Gods[/i]. Lady Arcana has already gone to Olympus, the Bush Whacker to Tartarus.”[/color] Glowing white eyes didn’t move, though Grim’s gaze flicked passed the call to take in the various live feeds broadcast along her wall. [color=IndianRed]”Hundred foot Titans walk the lands now. Monsters. Gods. It’s more than any [i]one[/i] of us can handle. I’m looking for those who can help.”[/color]

Orin paused, taking a long look at the gathered generals in the room. Excusing himself quickly, he stepped out into a hallway, taking care to make sure he was alone. [color=lightseagreen]”The [i]Gods[/i] are against us? Titans have been released? Grim, this is… This is serious. We’ve simply been dealing with Sirens and preparing for Kraken assaults, but… How do you expect me to leave my people now? If [i]Titans[/i] are on their way, I don’t know that Atlantis can stand against that without me…”[/color]

It took a few moments for the whole of the situation to hit home in Girard’s mind, they were against gods and titans so he figured it.wasn’t horrible to just absorb it as much as he could now rather than in the middle of a slugging match with something that much higher on the pay grade. Not only that but a full on invasion of monsters to go along with them made for pretty much utter chaos if they couldn’t make a dent in them before large numbers hit population centers. The odds weren’t all that great either but what choice did they have? No way could any of them just stand down from this because if they did there might not be anything to stand on afterwards. Everything was at stake so in all reality they would have to give as good as they were about to be getting.

[color=A9A9A9]“Wow…that is really bad.”[/color] Was all the big man could get out at first shuffling on his jacket but he did have plenty to say,.[color=A9A9A9]“Sounds like we’ve already got our magic people on the one side and us here to hold in the meantime. If Aquaman needs time to help Atlantis out I understand so just point me in the right direction and I’ll fight tooth and nail to beat the crap out of any threats even if they are plenty big or powerful. They picked the wrong day to invade, I [b]am[/b] not missing Christmas with my family because of these assholes.”[/color]

Despite the situation a grim chuckle escaped the Gotham hero’s armored mouth at her friend’s words, nodding her agreement. However, unseen beneath it, a frown still marred her lips as she considered the situation.

[color=IndianRed]”I understand your reluctance,”[/color] She began slowly, directing her words to the underwater King. [color=IndianRed]”I’m not exactly fond of the idea of leaving Gotham, either. The fact of the matter is though, [i]no one[/i] will be able to stand against the Titans if we don’t come together.”[/color] Her eyes trailed to one of the feeds on her screen, displaying a great being towering over the city crushing beneath his feet, hundreds of feet tall and absolutely exuding power. Buildings, people, an entire [i]society[/i] was vanishing along his path, and he wasn’t the only one even displayed on her monitor!

[color=IndianRed]”... We’re needed. More than a single person, or a single city. The [i]world[/i] needs us. If you need to stay, I understand. You do what you need to do. Tank, we’re headed to Washington.”[/color]

King Orin stared at the screen in silence, feeling torn about his options. He had his city, his people to care for. But Titans, gods, a unified attack against humanity? That needed a defense, something he could help with. Listening to Tank’s determination, even in the face of leaving his family spoke to Orin. His eyes drifted away from the screen as he saw the door to the war room open, the bright red hair of Mera, his betrothed peeking out and making eye contact with him. She was a fighter, a warrior among Atlantis’s best. Regal, nobel, brilliant. Everything one could want in a queen. A leader, for when the king was unavailable… 

[color=lightseagreen]”Grim.”[/color] Orin said, loudly enough for Mera to hear him. [color=lightseagreen]”Tell me I can help. Convince me that I will be of more use to you there than I will be to my people here. Tell me you have a plan to end this. Then… Maybe.”[/color]

[color=IndianRed]”I do,”[/color] Was the grim response, the Gotham Hero bringing her hands together behind her back. Gazing upon the monitors rather than the call she let out an exhale, heavy and rumbling through the mask. [color=IndianRed]”I know you two are powerful. I saw your work in the middle east. There are others as well - Green Squire and Celebrity to name two. Vine Talker and Lady Arcana will join us as soon as they can as well. Whoever is behind this has been probing and pushing at our defenses for almost a year - I don’t think this is another test.”

“This is their [i]plan[/i]. Their come one, come all. It’s time to bring the fight to them. To do that, we’re going to have to cause a ruckus against their plan. Personally, slaying a titan would draw my attention.”[/color]

[color=A9A9A9]“Makes sense, the bigger the noise we make the less pressure the others have to deal with. Better we get all of the attention focused in as few areas as possible so we can mop up the weaker monsters.”[/color] Tank said before donning his helmet and heading for the backdoor in a hurry.

Orin’s eyes narrowed at the list of names he was [i]pretty sure[/i] were wrong; but that thought was eclipsed by the idea presented by Grim. Killing a Titan… Could such a thing really be done? By mortals, no less? Well… [i]Mostly[/i] mortal anyway. Orin looked up at Mera down the hall, expecting to see anger or betrayal in her eyes. Instead, she was marching towards him, excitement flashing in her green eyes.

“[i]Titans[/i], Orin?!” She hissed, her shoulders shaking with barely-contained excitement. “You would be the greatest king we’ve ever had, the greatest the world has ever seen!”

[color=lightseagreen]”What.”[/color]

“I’m serious! You’ve already outlined the plan for us here, I can lead the armies if it comes to that. But if there’s a chance you can fell a Titan and cut this off at the source, you cannot in good conscience ignore that!” Mera exclaimed.

Good to know the Queen was on the same page as Orin in this matter, at least.

Orin nodded, sighing softly. [color=lightseagreen]”You know the plan then, Mera. Listen to the generals if anything goes wrong. If we fall under siege don’t be afraid to start rationing supplies, but remember that a ration applies to [i]every[/i] person in the city, palace included. I’m getting my trident.”[/color] He said before turning and striding down the hall, already trying to remember what he knew of the Greek myths. [color=lightseagreen]”Grim,”[/color] He said into the comm shell, [color=lightseagreen]”I’m coming to help. I can be in Gotham harbor inside an hour.”[/color]

[color=IndianRed]”I’ll meet you both with the jet.”[/color] The line was cut before Grim turned to her two sons, a deep sigh heaving through her chest. Getting them to stay was going to be a fight of titanic proportions all itself.