((OOC:  I've made a<a class="postlink" href="https://aryion.com/modules.php?name=Forums&amp;file=weblog_entry&amp;e=1441">recent post to my blog</a>.  When you read it, please keep in mind that I'm not coming down on anyone in particular.  I'm just a little exasperated, is all.  I hope you've all had good summers so far!))<br/><br/>Eric Lentan slid back slightly in his chair as he saw, on the camera he'd focused on the Palace, the massive shape of a naga descend to the pavement in pursuit of Chiro.  A hand went to his brow, wiping a thick layer of sweat away.  He was relieved to see that Chiro had escaped... but he wasn't expecting that kind of pursuit.  And he couldn't see the other, the foxboy named Arget that he'd sent with Chiro.  He drew his dagger from his belt and began to chew along the broken end, the sensations meant to remove the nervous edge his teeth had been set on.  Their mission was almost over.  He could only hope Arget had made it out a different way, and that the ones in the sewers were also on their way out.<br/><br/>On the whole, Lentan's war was approaching a crucial moment.  The daytime heat would soon set in.  Although the slaves of Kazmer would not wither like their armored, furred enemies, they would soon be faced with the advanced units of the Fanged Lady's army.  Her elite units, her air force, her artillery... the Lady's full might could not have been far from being fully mobilized.<br/><br/>For decades, the Resistance had planned their moves, knowing the precise timing of every event.  These earliest stages of the fight were the most critical.  The Lady would soon come down on them with the force of a sandstorm... whether she wanted to or not.  And humanity would be ready.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>"I don't know," said Janus in reply to Heretic.  He gazed about him at the park.  Most of the dead Blood Cultists had been cleaned up and fed to Iln.  The Resistance dead were being buried.  He saw with a pang in his heart that Collins' grave had become one in a forest.<br/><br/>The young man took his eyes from that sight and looked at Heretic.  The fox's battle was over - the Blood Cult had been vanquished.  The wolf Bachera was under his control.  It looked like Heretic's whole life was taking a new direction.  He thought about what he'd said... that none of them were out of the woods yet.  "Heretic... are you sticking with the Resistance?"<br/><br/>Fenson's head jerked to a commotion across the way - a small group of Resistance men were emerging from the warehouse and hustling a wounded man towards Iln... Colonel Merelli.  Fenson jabbed Janus in the arm and both of them rushed to the colonel's side, beckoning Heretic to follow them.  The colonel was held before the dragoness.<br/><br/>"My Iln,<span style="font-style: italic">anvti firicia</span>... I am in your need once more," said Merelli, the needles left in his skin shifting with his every movement.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>The Resistance men had left Jenten, Raice, and Marice alone in the room with the dead Midnight Guard and the body of the First Sergeant.  Before they'd left, one of them had answered Jenten with the simple statement, "Do what you want.  We've got a bigger problem right now."<br/><br/>Raice's searching hands found a small dagger, twisted and reddened like all Blood Cult weapons.  Beneath that was a pair of vials marked "100%" and a few others with indiscernible markings.  He also found a pair of syringes loaded with Berserker Juice, some money, and a handful of tarnished rings.  Beneath those...<br/><br/>His hand struck on a small metallic object, barely larger than his thumbnail.  When he drew it out, he could see that it was round, like a coin, only much thicker.  There was a small seam on one side, in the shape of a small door - a battery compartment, perhaps?  But whatever it held could have scarcely been larger than a watch battery.  Besides this, there was nothing else.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>((OOC:  Um... nothing's left on the roof with Arget, and I already laid out that the way across the lake was clear for him in my last post. Chiro and Mag have already given him plenty to react to, so I'll just go on to the next plotline.))<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Halvorson's eyes jerked to look at Feign, then Baz as the two of them spoke.  He'd heard of the Tengu during his training days; his training officer had given him a book about the Tengu clans when he was still learning how to read.  It was supposed to be "elementary level," but it had frustrated him nonetheless.  All Halvorson could remember at the moment was that the Tengu were raven-morphs.  And if Feign was telling the truth, he was a long way from home.<br/><br/>He watched Karogen for a reaction to what Baz had said.  The kid was facing away from him, being in front of him in line as they worked their way back to the lake outlet, but he could see the slump in his shoulders - something like shame and embarrassment.<br/><br/>He called up to Feign, "So you're what, a scout?  Sent here to feel out the war, see if it's even worth your folks jumping in?"  Somehow, he didn't like the feeling that gave him.  "I guess it's easy for the Tengu to hedge their bets like that.  Must be nice to be free to make that kind of choice.  But we'll take their help all the same.  Don't let me stop you.  Anyone who wants to die with us is welcome to, even if they would've let us die alone if things were different."  After his words left his lips, he found himself disliking their flavor.  He shook his head and spoke to Baz.  "You're talking sense.  Keep that up.  I'm not sure I'm in the right place to do that, right about now."  Then his eyes alighted on Karogen again.  "I don't get it, Karogen," he said.  "You're the one who's supposed to be the big-time leader.  You don't have anything to say?"<br/><br/>"Mnnnh..." moaned O'Toole on his shoulder.  He flicked a brief glance at her.  He wasn't sure how long it would be before she could carry herself, but his frame was beginning to buckle under the weight of all the recent events.<br/><br/>They made it to the outlet onto Lake Kassemar.  There was no evidence of any ambush set up there, as the brick tunnel jutted far enough from the bank to prevent anyone from standing near the opening without being inside of it.  Halvorson clasped a hand to his head, massaging his scalp through the do-rag.  He wanted to be out of these damned tunnels.  He silently ushered those ahead of them to return to the adjacent sewer tunnel.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Maeve's throat knotted when she heard Dreamer speak.  She heard the smirk in his voice... he sounded like he would enjoy the death he was about to deal - that he<span style="font-style: italic">wanted</span>to deal.  She laid a hand on the SMG Sherra held, her eyes pleading.  She spoke softly to Dreamer, the words quivering in the air.  "Dreamer... don't... let's just keep going... please..."<br/><br/>Feldana was burying her head in Maeve's bosom.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Vultana heard all four of the roof-access doors all open, within seconds of each other.  Lupine soldiers in body armor emerged from each, casting their eyes quickly about the roof, searching for the sniper they'd been alerted about.  They held their curved scimitars low, waiting for a sign of movement.  They began to systematically cover the roof in blocks, no one guard losing sight of at least one other as they moved, trying to hem in their unseen enemy.  One of their radios briefly spat static, telling Vultana that these soldiers were not without backup.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Only four soldiers were left alive on the lower wall of the Palace.  They reeled back as Mag collapsed onto the pavement before them.  Jania couldn't miss an impact like that.  Chiro could see Arget's revolver lying discarded on the pavement below, and Jania probably would have seen it clatter there as well.