[hr][center][sub][color=cecece]DAY 1[/color] [color=ea3333]《》[/color] [color=cecece]STEELWATER [Ground - UDF Portable Research Station][/color] [color=ea3333]《》[/color] [color=cecece]Late Morning[/color] [color=ea3333]《》[/color] [@Aeolian][/sub][/center][hr][table][row][/row][row][cell][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5383761][img]https://i.imgur.com/OjKGhlK.png[/img][/url][color=2e2c2c]▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇[/color][/cell][cell][quote] [color=8d8e8f][quote][center][color=ed1c24]RECAP:[/color] Last we saw Dr. Isolde Featherswallow (Lady of Shadows), she was in the UDF Portable Research Station, east of a now besieged Steelwater. Inside the domed enclosure were medical staff tending to injured soldiers and civilians who hadn't perished in the city or in the throngs of war. There was also ResDiv personnel conducting sensitive research. Within this station was a special room that housed people who had been infected by the stigma, their health deteriorating rapidly by a deathly fever. Only Dr. Poole, Isolde, and the last remaining infection specialist could access this special room (the other infection specialists had died during the last relocation of the UDF PRS). With only a few fever agents on hand (thanks to Dr. Featherswallow) and no duplicator to quickly reproduce them, Isolde and her small team went to work on the time-consuming task of manually making more--time they did not have to spare. Accuracy and urgency were key to achieving the outcome that Isolde sought after. UDF soldiers stood guard on all sides of the dome in case stigma made it through. Marcus, Isolde's son and bodyguard, joined them in duty. Now, let's continue. --- [/center][/quote] Isolde walked with purpose. Despite the chaos of the situation, she seemed poised, calm even. Not a glisten of sweat licked her skin. Had it not been for the moans of pained soldiers or the beeping of equipment, you'd of thought she was walking down a red carpet. It was a shocking scene, truly, the difference in her step compared to the fervent movements of Dr. Poole or the timid scurrying of Oerba (Isolde's assistant). After entering the special Infection Room, a woman tending to one of the infected patients approached them. Dr. Poole, still riled up from everything, gestured to her. [color=silver]"This is Dr. Helen Khan, our last infection specialist. I don't know how I would have managed without her."[/color] Dr. Khan put out her hand for a shake and when she did not receive one in turn, she gave Isolde a brief glare and then dropped her hands and settled for clasping them together instead. Isolde gazed at the woman with no particular interest, surveying her up and down. [color=8882be]"Their condition?"[/color] Isolde began, ignoring formalities. Dr. Helen let out a deep breath, [color=silver]"Bleak, but manageable, for now."[/color] They moved toward one of the patients and Isolde followed. The patient was unconscious but breathing heavily, their form soaked in a fever sweat so unnatural and severe that it couldn't possibly have been caused by something from the natural world. One after another, they moved to each patient and Dr. Khan informed Isolde about their current condition. Some were far more along in the fever than others and though she did not say it aloud, Isolde knew some of them would not make it to inoculation. Time just was not on their side. This was a pill that Isolde found easy to swallow, but Dr. Khan was presently fatigued, her essence weighed down by the inevitable reality that she knew to be true as well. But Isolde, never smothered by the death of others, simply turned to Oerba and a medic Dr. Poole had pulled into the room. [color=8882be]"Administer the remaining fever agents to the patients who are in the poorest condition"[/color]. As if on cue, Dr. Khan stepped forward and handed Oerba a list of the patients to tend to first, each one designated by a number. Oerba's hands were shaking as she looked over the list, clearly unnerved to be in such close proximity to the infected. The medic sympathetically placed a hand on Oerba's arm to calm her quivering and nodded, [color=silver]"We'll handle it. But what about the remaining patients?"[/color] Before Isolde could respond, Dr. Khan cut in, earning her a sideways look from Isolde. [color=silver]"Just focus on your task at hand."[/color] The medic nodded to them and then looked to Oerba, pulling her along, [color=silver]"Come. Don't be nervous. I'll show you how to do it".[/color] Oerba looked back to Isolde, nervousness twisting her countenance. Isolde gave Oerba a commanding nod and then looked to Dr. Khan and Dr. Poole. [color=8882be]"I think it needs to be said--some of these patients won't make it."[/color] Isolde stated matter of factly. Dr. Khan scrunched up her face, annoyed at Isolde's bluntness. [color=silver]"But we'll try to save them all if possible."[/color] [color=8882be]"It's not."[/color] The two women glared at each other, invisible electricity sparking between them. Dr. Poole, jumping up and down in his lab coat, interrupted their staring contest by grunting loudly. [color=silver]"Ehh ermm. I've..ummm...I've prepared the necessary materials to begin fever agent production."[/color] He shifted his glasses and then gestured toward the aforementioned resources and materials lumped on the other side of the Infection Room. [color=silver]"Now all we need are six hands, three brilliant minds, and some teamwork to get them ready."[/color] Both women looked at Dr. Poole, then back to each other, and then nodded, relenting. As they began working, Dr. Poole, equal parts anxious as he was giddy, shifted his glasses nervously. He looked at Isolde, then back to this work, then back to Isolde and then back to this work again. He did this a few more times until Isolde noticed him out of her peripherals. She rolled her eyes and then gave him her attention as though he were a pesky child. [color=8882be]"Yes?"[/color] she inquired, peeved at his interruption. Dr. Poole was trying to stifle his inner fanboy, unsuccessfully of course. [color=silver]"I'm an admirer. Truly. I've been following your work for years. The last journal published about your progress in finding a cure...nothing short of pure genius."[/color] Isolde couldn't help but smile. She loved compliments. But Dr. Khan snorted, unimpressed. Isolde looked at the infection specialist, raising an eyebrow. [color=8882be]"Deary, do you have something to add?"[/color] In truth, Dr. Khan did. But she knew of Isolde's ranking and reputation, and she was highly outclassed. She was very much aware of their gap in the hierarchy. One word to the UDF higher ups and Isolde could have her position terminated. She was petty like that. But most of all, she knew Dr. Featherswallow was an Aeon, and that simple nugget of knowledge scared her more than the idea of getting fired or even the rumors in the Emberletter tabloids. Dr. Khan, with all the strength she could muster, bit her tongue and simply shook her head. A cheeky grin settled onto Isolde's plush lips, satisfaction filling her. She enjoyed it when people knew their place without her having to expressly state the obvious. It meant the structure of the hierarchy was well-intact, and she thrived on it. But for now, a heavy silence settled between them once again and they continued working. [center][quote]In the distance, a sonorous rumbling could be felt under their soles. Something large and scary loomed. Whatever it was, Isolde got the feeling that its destruction was pivotal to their continued survival. [/quote][/center] [center] [hider=NPCs] Dr. Poole [img]https://i.imgur.com/0hXxm9V.png[/img] Infection Specialist Dr. Helen Khan [img]https://i.imgur.com/mPMQZUL.png[/img] Oerba [img]https://i.imgur.com/k0WCDmD.jpg[/img] Marcus [img]https://i.imgur.com/6D2iTHz.jpg[/img] [/hider] [/center] [/color][/quote][/cell][/row][/table] [color=99945e][b]Summary[/b][/color][hr][color=99945e]Inside the UDF Portable Research Station, Isolde, along with the help of Dr. Poole and infection specialist Dr. Helen Khan, have begun manual production of additional fever agents to try and reduce the fever in patient's infected with the stigma. Not all will survive. Oerba, Isolde's assistant, along with a medic, are dispensing what current supplies they have. Dr. Poole admires Isolde, while Dr. Khan and she very obviously do not get along.[/color]