the veil is thin . . .

[thespaceopera]

[ On the night of the 16th, the feeling of tension and horrid anticipation comes to a head. Everything stops when the sun goes down-- even the ever-present music in the hoppingest part of the city center. One by one, everyone turns their eyes to the skies. The young and old alike pour out of their houses, some in bare feet, and they point to the velvety blanket of stars.

It takes a second to find it, especially if one is unaccustomed to the starscape. But even a casual observer can see it.

A brightly-shining star, larger than the others, and growing larger.

An announcement cuts across all communication channels that encourages people to evacuate to the space station, but it’s clear that these are just people and they’ll need some help. Supplies, equipment, organization, there’s something for everyone to do.

Civilization is disrupted by a panicked stampede of people vying for limited seats aboard spacefaring craft. Within hours, there will be crushed glass, looting, and chaos.

The clock is ticking. Will you help? Or would you rather watch the dying gasps of a Singing Planet from a safe distance? ]

[OOC: Please see this post for plot details. Phase two has begun! Feel free to use this post as a reaction post, mingle, etc. or make your own!]

Comments

[bryces_pup]

[Riona nods, securely holding onto the girl's legs as she wraps her arms around the top of her head.]

Fingers crossed that's where they are and it isn't serious. Do you know where it is? I haven't seen it yet. [she taps the girl's leg.]

You keep looking, okay?

[expellerhead]

It's across the clearing. [the one packed with people, of course. they might actually have better luck just going around.] Hang onto her. There's been a couple incidents.

[bryces_pup]

Lovely. [Riona's hold tightens on her legs.] People have been panicking a lot. Heard there was almost a stampede earlier today.

[expellerhead]

Almost. [aizawa glances discreetly back at the little girl.] There's actually a surprising amount of organization for a sudden evacuation like this. Especially for something so unpredictable as an undetected meteor.

[bryces_pup]

So it's not just me who's blown away by their preparedness. [It's almost like they planned it or something. Which, who anticipates a meteor? But maybe it's one of those things they just had the sense to have some foresight about.] Not to complain, I'm glad they are. Perhaps they laid out a plan at some point, in the event of one hitting their world?

[expellerhead]

I would say it's more the affect of our presence here. [aizawa jerks his head in the direction of where their ships are moored.] Most of the Fleet personnel are people accustomed to danger, to widescale organization. Have you noticed? The sheer number of us who are combat-trained is disproportionately high compared to our homes.

[bryces_pup]

We've certainly helped, that's for sure. [They could debate how much of the effort is their help and what the government here has coordinated, but it's pointless.] There are a lot of fighters, though, that's true. A good thing, too.

[expellerhead]

Perhaps. [in cases like these, it seems to go fifty-fifty.

aizawa spies the canvas for the tent ahead and waves riona his way.] Over here. I'll go ask at check-in; would you take her over to the waiting area, see if she spots anybody?

[bryces_pup]

[Riona nods, meandering over while Aizawa goes up to the tent to check.

Suddenly, the child starts kicking and shouting.]

"Mama!!"

[Riona glances over at Aizawa's direction, hoping to catch his attention, before following where the child is pointing. Eventually, a woman glances over at her, and her eyes immediately go wide. She calls out for the child, running over to Riona, arms outstretched.]

[expellerhead]

[aizawa returns to see riona carrying the girl back to her mother, bending to slide the child off her shoulders and into her mother's arms.

he hangs back with a little smile; they can't save the day here, but they can do plenty on their own. judging by the way the mother tearfully thanks riona, clutching her hands and pressing them to her forehead, she definitely saved the day for at least two people here.

he turns and disappears back into the crowd, leaving riona to accept the mother's gratitude. he can go make board useful elsewhere.]

[bryces_pup]

[Riona smiles, explaining to the mother what happened. She goes to gesture to Aizawa and explain how much he helped, but he's already walking away. Riona calls out, but he seems to be out of earshot. Huff. The mother asks Riona to tell him thanks for her, before taking her daughter and disappearing into the crowd.]