The old man in the darkness giggled almost inaudibly.  "Lots of stuff going on out there, lonely boy," he said.  "Lots of things eating other things.  Lots of shredding and killing.  And explosions!  Those are my favorite.  They go boom, like thunder!"  He giggled some more, then relaxed.  There was a pause.<br/><br/>"You're a plant, aren't you?" his voice was different - lower, and more controlled.  It was almost as if he had achieved sanity.  "She couldn't get me to talk my pulling my intestines out through my navel, or by searing parts of me off.  So she stuck you in here with me to try and...<span style="font-style: italic">talk</span>information out of me?"  Suddenly he was giggling again.  "You're a plant!  A big, leafy plant with flowers!"<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>"We all need help," the First Sergeant said to Emiko.  "If we want to win, we need to get help so we can.  But I was wondering what you could tell us about everyone here," he gestured to all the peace protesters.  "Anyone here going to make trouble with us?  Like him?" He pointed to Faust before taking a small flask from inside his jacket and opening it, taking a swig.  He offered it to Emiko.  "It's water," he said.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Shark was pleased.  House Blotar had effectively fallen.  It was almost too easy.  But his conquest was not yet complete.  He screamed out from atop the burning building, grabbing everyone's attention with his booming, raspy voice.<br/><br/>"WE'RE NOT DONE!" he cried.  "I'M HUNGRY..." he swung the blade in his hand to point at Fort Blotar, "...FOR BEEF!"<br/><br/>A maniacal cheer arose from the Resistance troops in the immediate area.  Without much further coaxing, any man with a weapon was making a bee-line for the castle.  All manner of projectiles - bullets, grenades, rockets, even a few fireworks - were hurled at the structure, causing the guards, the Baron's defenders, to shy away from their firing ports.  It was such a barrage that inside it sounded as if Hell itself had torn open just outside the castle walls.<br/><br/>The defenders did what they could, picking off humans they could get a clean shot at, but the hordes of humans that were rushing to the edge of the moat were too numerous.  However, a sort of stalemate settled in as the humans tried to find a way across the moat to the castle walls.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Colonel Merelli nodded at Jania.  "I understand," he said.  "Your friend can get medical aid in the warehouse across the street."<br/><br/>He smiled at Chiro's reply, then his face grew hard at Iln's news.  "Alhanda will pay for what she has done to you, I promise."<br/><br/>He held a hand up to Bane, signaling for a moment's pause.  "First I must hear this recording."  He turned to look around the gazebo.  "Listen up!  If you are not part of First Platoon or the brigade command staff, go take a walk for a few minutes."  A few low-level soldiers left the gazebo, heading in the direction of the dining area.  After a moment, Merelli started playing the recording back.<br/><br/>Everyone in the gazebo listened intently to the "conversation" that went on between Lady Alhanda and Mark Karogen.  The recording ended just after the Lady finally lost her temper and had read off Eric Lentan's background.  It was at that point that Sara had picked up the recorder.<br/><br/>Merelli straightened his back a little and his eyes were bright.  "This is very important, to say the least."  He stepped away from the group for a moment, going to his brigade's main radio set on a table nearby.  He keyed the handset and spoke quietly.  "Drop Chute to Dead Coney, Drop Chute to Dead Coney, over," he called.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>In the Resistance command bunker, Eric Lentan got the call on his headset.  "Dead Coney here, go ahead," he said into the microphone.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>((OOC:  Keep in mind nobody here has heard Lentan's voice except for the humans.))<br/><br/>"Others in reception," said Merelli.<br/><br/>"Acknowledged," came Lentan's reply.  "Others in reception" was a signal that there would be others listening to their conversation on Merelli's end.  It told Lentan not to use their call signs any further.<br/><br/>Satisfied, the colonel took the radio over to the others and set it down near them.  "I have received some news you may want to hear.  Mark Karogen is alive."<br/><br/>There was a pause on the other end of the line.  "How did you get this information?"<br/><br/>"One of my platoons has made contact with a group called the Slayer Cult.  They are a small group, only four of them here in Kazmer, but I have met three of them.  The fourth one is inside the Palace of the Wolf, acting undercover.  She is wearing a microphone.  The Slayers brought to me a taped conversation of the Lady herself speaking with Karogen in her dining hall."<br/><br/>"What was said?"  Lentan's voice was earnest but calm.<br/><br/>"The Lady tried to get information about the Resistance out of him," said Merelli.  "She appeared not to be toturing him, but merely interrogating him.  He let out very little before the recording ended."<br/><br/>There was another brief pause.  Then Lentan's voice came back, "Do you believe the recording is authentic?"<br/><br/>"Yes," said Merelli.  "I have known of the Slayers since I was young.  They are very trustworthy."  He glanced at Baz, Jania, and Sara.<br/><br/>"Wait one," came the reply on the radio.<br/><br/>Merelli let the push-to-talk key go and spoke to the Slayers.  "I had an uncle from the Highlands.  He used to tell me stories-"<br/><br/>Lentan's voice returned.  "I am en route to take command of the situation."<br/><br/>"Understood," said Merelli.  "I request that a scientific advisor accompany you," he added, nodding at Bane.<br/><br/>"Roger," came Lentan's answer.  "Out."<br/><br/>The radio fell silent.  Merelli returned it to its previous table and looked over the group.  "The Commander is coming here," he said.  "He will be here soon.  And I am sure he is looking forward to meeting all of you."<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Outside the S.E.M. building, the First Sergeant had just held out his flask to Emiko when a call came over the walkie-talkie in his pocket.  Hastily, he handed the flask to Emiko and pulled out the handset.  "Crude here, go ahead," he said.<br/><br/>"You are to relocate all S.E.M. personnel to Crown Park," said the voice on the other end.  "Temporary command of your platoon is being given to Fourth Brigade."<br/><br/>The First Sergeant's brow furrowed.  "Understood," he said.  "Out."  He looked at Emiko.  "Well, looks like we get to do some walking.  See if you can get everybody up and moving."  He walked away, giving orders to his troops, forgetting he had left his flask with Emiko.