sooner or later, god'll cut you down.

[thespaceopera]

Who: Everyone
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Lato'li's orbit and also planetside.
When: Forward dated to 11/15.

[The Interceptor Fleet moves into position, waiting for the last few shield generators to fall. And in the early hours of the 15th, they do. The shield dissolves with a blip as if it was never there, leaving the man-eaters as prone as their prey. The Interceptors send out a transmission-- an unholy mix of Cockney and Australian that graces every available communicator-- if they answer it.]

We’re firin’! Do yer worst, Vieziri! We’re gonna kick yer sorry arses so hard you’ll kiss the moons!

[Five Interceptor ships swoop out of the dark and unload their various weaponry onto the Vieziri warships. At the same time, people stranded on the planet below ready the anti-aircraft guns onto their makers. And of course there is the Fleet itself, battered and yet beautiful across the velvet sky, as they fire everything they have.

Now the Vieziri start moving. Though the big red ship can’t do much maneuvering, the rest of the Vieziri warships certainly can. They fire back at the Interceptors and whoever else fires at them, willing to defend their leader and lose their lives in the process.

Luckily, the Interceptors have their own daring ships, which may look familiar to those who were here for the raider attack. One is emblazoned with racing stripes and flames all along the hull, and it moves so fast it nearly enters hyperspace. It’s there and gone in a flash, weaving past the enemy in crazy thrillseeking loops. Still another Interceptor ship is painted red and orange with a gold plate near the front, which reads BAMF with no explanation. This one has guns aplenty and easily weathers any duel it gets into. The third Interceptor ship is beautiful gold and black, sleek as hell and engineered with sense; this one packs the most gadgets and formidable guns of all calibers, and appears to do the most damage. Trailing behind is a much smaller ship, so nondescript it almost doesn’t stand out at all-- that is, until it forms a barrier to absorb some oncoming fire and reflect it back at the Vieziri.

There’s one ship that’s missing, though-- the one that was blown up several months ago after the heist. In its place is a small black ship that runs invisible to radar, sweeping past with silent speed as it lets loose a barrage of photon missiles onto the Vieziri flagship.

Down below, the Vieziri come out in full force-- one last stand before the warlord falls, trying to finish their fell rituals. Some of them rush the encampments, some go for the cities. Near the restored comms tower, a cloaked figure with a plain white mask fights their way through the onslaught using a plasma blade and a laser rifle.

After an hours-long siege, the big warship finally takes too much fire and breaks apart, lighting up the sky with falling shards like stars. The biggest debris burns up in orbit, but little pieces still rain down. It signals the end as the Vieziri begin to retreat both on ground and in the air. The loss of their leadership leaves them scattered and panicked.

The Fleet has won the day, but as the sun rises again over the wreckage, there is still plenty of work to be done.]

[ooc: Feel free to assume the Interceptors are helping your ships! The gold and black ship can be hailed and will give responses, as she’s been the main point of contact during this plot. You can also run into Zhade, though tags will be slow for both accounting for RL things. Please mark Zhade or Interceptors in the header of your toplevel if you’d like NPC interaction.

Any questions should be asked on the plot post for phase two.]

Comments

[brainiest]

[ There's not really anything like rest, as far as Hermione's concerned, and she's in a constant state of rushing around and making herself useful and busy even after the battle. There are people to heal, people to look after, and that means she can't just stop. She still feels the weight of an age-old duty, and the Marchioness part of her isn't ready to fade away just yet.

There's no mistaking Justice, though, and she can't help the soft laugh that comes from her as he comes over at another moment where she feels as though her body is going to give up on her. She just needs a half hour rest and she'll be fine, but she's on the edge of being too exhausted. ]

It's a little eerie, isn't it?

[ She pushes herself up to look at him a little better. ]

Are you alright? You're not hurt?

[whatisright]

I suffered no major injuries. And yourself?

[Justice sits down next to her, looking her up and down to check for wounds. Once again, she is overtaxing herself, though he is not sure if it is with magic or just running around. He admires her drive and altruism, though, even if she runs the risk of working until she's the one who needs help.]

[brainiest]

I'm alright, thank you. Just a little tired.

[ And, thankfully, it's true. She's got a few bruises and a couple of scratches, but it's nothing that some magic can't fix once she's done helping other people. When Hermione sits up tall again it's so she can drink Justice in, watching him for a moment before she smiles, a little softer. ]

You should rest for a little too.

[whatisright]

I am not human. I do not require rest as you do.

[Although he is not complaining that there is a brief lull in the work. The previous month spent waiting and not fulfilling his purpose had taken a toll on him, and releasing all that pent up energy at once leaves him feeling satisfied but drained.]

You do require rest, however. What have you been doing for these people? [If the work isn't specialized, then Justice is happy to take her place while she takes a breather.]

[brainiest]

But you require something like rest?

[ Hermione has known all sorts of beings in her time - demigods, godlike, heroic spirits, demons, ghosts, even her share of dragons. They'd all needed some sort of rest, something to gather their strength, especially after a long battle. At least he's taking the time to settle down beside her. ]

I've been making sure they're not hurt, that they have some supplies to keep them going, that all their family is back. That sort of thing.

[whatisright]

Not much. Not if I am as I should be. [Which is to say, healthy and with the ability to fulfill his virtue, preferably surrounded by people who at least have some respect for the virtue to which he aspires. Which... hasn't quite been the case on this planet, but now that he's helped vanquish the Vieziri, he should be okay again.]

I am able to do these things while you rest. You can rest for a while longer and they will be tended to.

[brainiest]

But a little all the same. [ There's no getting out of this one, not as far as Hermione's concerned, and she wants to make sure Justice is alright. He's a nice person, and kind, and wants to help, and that means a lot to her in a world like this.

Frowning, she shakes her head, reaching to tie her hair up behind her. ] I'll be alright. Don't worry, I can keep going.

[whatisright]

If you wish for me to rest, then you should as well. [After all, humans need more than spirits. He sees you, Hermione. He can't help you with physical exhaustion so it's best to take care of yourself so you don't pass out while helping others.]

[brainiest]

I am resting. [ But she does smile, shifting a little and moving to stretch her legs out. ] I'll make sure I'm not wearing myself out, I promise. I'm happy if you want to stay here for a little bit, though.

[whatisright]

[Justice stretches out his senses, searching for anything that needs his attention. Finding nothing urgent, he leans back, propping himself up on his hands.]

Very well. I will stay for now. [Justice may not need rest like humans do, but taking a breather definitely won't kill him. Especially when the company is good.] Have you been staying in a settlement since the ships crashed?

[brainiest]

[ Hermione relaxes a little as he does, shifting to make herself more comfortable, closing her eyes as she breathes out. ]

I'm glad to hear it. [ His question makes her pause and she glances over. ] I was with Adalwolfe for a little while, but I returned to the town when I realised the Vieziri were coming. How about you?

[whatisright]

[Justice doesn't visibly react to Adalwolfe's name. He told Anders that he means to give the man a clean slate moving forward, and he meant it.]

I lingered the most with Anders. He was injured and I was concerned.

[He's surprised he and the young mage hadn't crossed paths, but then again, he had also been gone often to track the Vieziri.]

[brainiest]

Anders was hurt?

[ Wolfe had said that he was healing, so she had assumed... ]

Is he alright? It wasn't too bad, was it?

[whatisright]

He was wounded gravely. It would have been lethal had he not received immediate healing.

[Justice does not do sugarcoating. Anders could have died. That is a fact.]

He is healing well now, however. I believe he will be fully recovered soon. [At least he will once he can heal himself, which shouldn't be long now that he won't have to worry about healing the rest of them after cannibal attacks.]

[brainiest]

Wolfe told me that he'd healed him, but I didn't realise...

[ She frowns, staring down at her hands. Another planet where they'd suffered and struggled, and for what? The people were free, but they were still going to be thrown through space on the fleet. She's glad they could save more people and fend of the Vieziri, but she can't help her own sadness and discomfort. ]

That's good. I'll have to make sure to check in on him. Thank you for letting me know.

[whatisright]

[Justice hadn't meant to distress her, though if she knows Anders and his boyfriend, he understands why she finds the news distressing.]

You are welcome. [He cocks his head at her, his only visible indication of curiosity.] How do you know Anders?

[brainiest]

[ She loves both of them - and they're her family, now, and that's what matters to her. Softening, she smiles, tilting her head up and watching Justice fondly. ]

We've known each other since the first time that he was here on the fleet. He's been my friend for a long time now - him and Wolfe both. We're both mages, so...

[whatisright]

[Justice nods in acknowledgment. Yes, he imagines it is easier for mages to make friends with each other than with those who might fear or misunderstand their power.]

We are from the same world. I fought by Anders' side against darkspawn in Amaranthine. [Beat.] I am unsure if that means anything to you.

[He's pretty vague on what worlds have in common, if anything.]

[brainiest]

[ It's normal for Hermione, who's used to people not having magic now, but it does help. They bonded over it and it helped forge a friendship. ]

I've heard of Darkspawn, but I've never heard of Amaranthine. It's not something that Nasrin ever brought up.

[whatisright]

Amaranthine is a part of Ferelden. It is on the coast with a large port city and plenty of land for farming. It used to belong to the Howe family before the king gave it to the Gray Wardens.

That is where Anders became a Gray Warden, and where I joined them as well.

[brainiest]

I see. I heard a little bit about Ferelden, but only what Nasrin and Aveline could tell me. We didn't have much time to talk about home for the most part.

[ But she nods, curious and interested. ]

I've heard that before - Grey Warden. What are they?

[whatisright]

The Grey Wardens are an order of mortals dedicated to stopping the Blight and killing darkspawn. They accept mortals from all walks of life, but joining them is a lifelong commitment. The body I was originally forced into belonged to a Gray Warden.

[There’s a lot more to it—the Gray Wardens require many sacrifices—but one of the many things that Justice picked up from Kristoff’s remainder is a respect for the Wardens’ secrets.]

[brainiest]

I see. So your body was a Grey Warden, so were you technically one as well? Or is that not how it worked?

[ Her curiosity about the Wardens might go back to the nature of them, eventually. ]

[whatisright]

I was a Warden, for all intents and purposes, though I was only beholden to their chain of command by choice. Perhaps I would still be considered a Warden, but it is unclear whether that is the case.

[brainiest]

Do you think you'd like to still be considered one?