Raiders Renewed - MO - Rising from the Ashes

[Resonance]

Demandred's attack began with some very high profile targets; the Raiders' HQ and the TDF control center.  The city had remained relatively intact during the occupation, that is until the final battle started.  Though most civilian locations weren't directly targeted, there was a great deal of fallout from the aerial battle above them.  New Haven was hit particularly hard, with some blocks being reduced to rubble.

As soon as they were able, rescue teams had converged on New Haven.  Firefighers, EMTs, construction crews, and more, all pitched in to tend the wounded and rescue as many trapped Mobians as they could.  The initial surge of chaos steadily died down as the rescue mission inevitably became one of recovery, but everyone was determined to find every last soul burried in the rubble.  Resonance was no exception.

She had told some of the others of her intentions to go down and help with the recovery efforts, but her motive was more personal than just helping out.  When she arrived on the scene, there were a few remaining fire trucks and a couple of ambulances on stand by.  Police officers were helping keep a safe perimeter around the different sites.  She zipped up her Raiders jacket and shifted her backpack, glancing back to the others who joined her to gauge how they were doing.  When they were all ready, she lead the way across the perimeter, nodding to the officers.

[Kyt]

Robyn had rarely been seen during their time underground, occasionally passed in the hallway and infrequently spotted in the training room when there was literally nothing for her to do. The wolf ran missions and took orders with soldier-like efficiency, and there was always need of fast and effective muscle.

The enemy might be demolished (and good riddance), but there was still work to be done. Resonance had managed to catch her on one of her few pass-throughs, and she wouldn't have turned her down even if there had been an overriding mission.

Standing before the rubble, she surveyed the wreck with a critical eye, already noting what areas had been worked on and what looked untouched. But Reson was leading this mission, and with a nod, she followed after her.

Can't forget her trusty partner Orion! The large dog stood at attention, heeling perfectly after Robyn as they started in.

[Uberwulf X]

Metzli was present, her game face on as she surveyed the scene. It was time to put her raw power, and her ability to search and affect the shadows, to good use. She'd never done anything like this, but knew enough about physics that she couldn't toss around rubble willy-nilly. This would be an important other use for her abilities, and she was more than happy to lend a hand until she was fully exhausted. That said, she had eaten a decent meal before coming, as she planned to be out here for a long time. Damien expressed interest in being there, his ability to smell blood being good to help find the injured, but he did have some other important things to tend to. Still, he was on call if they absolutely needed him.

It was odd-- hearing that the Junior Raiders were assembling those available to help clear rubble gave Celeste pause. There was a memory there, one not mentioned as she pledged to join. None of the other Dolls were asked to join; she was well aware that a request from her may read as an order, and there were plenty other efforts of recovery the team could place their talents. However, as they all tended to be aware of each other's movements, they would know that she was there.

[Resonance]

Res was glad for the company as she started walking around the edge of a collapsed residential building. Resources had been spred thin, so once the main rescue mission turned to recovery, the crews had to converge on only a handful of sites at a time. This building was in the queue, but hadn't been seen to past the first few waves of rescue attempts throughout the area. She turned towards the others, "this is probably as good a place as any to start. We can help the crews by clearing some of the more manageable debris, and finding and marking any dangerously unstable structures or hidden pockets. Metz, can you get a mapping of the building with your shadowcraft? Then we can figure out where best to approach from." She took off her backpack and pulled out four utility belts to hand out to the group, "I've brought water and first aid supplies in my pack, your belts have masks, gloves, spray paint for marking the structure, and short range walkie-talkies." Reson paused for a moment then continued, "I'm sure we all know what we're likely to find in the rubble. We've all seen bodies before, but still... I'm going to use my Spirit Sight to see if I can find anyone as we work, but I don't expect anyone to follow me if I'm drawn to a certain location. This is going to be difficult work... emotionally and physically... so do what you can, but step away, take a breath, whenever you need to."

Well, we can't have Orion without Gimbal, who lept at the chance to join mommy on a mission. Gimbal had been a very good doggie and had done many good things for the Raiders while they were in hiding. She was an expert doggie at delivering messages when radios and phones weren't safe, yes she was. She was also good at sniffing out the bad guy hiding spots! And now she could help mommy on a very important mission where her expert doggie nose would be very useful. She and Orion would be very helpful doggies. Gimbal looked up at mommy as she spoke.  She sounded a bit sad? or concerned? or cautious?  She wasn't sure, but she leaned into mommy's leg anyway and gave her hand a lick to cheer her up. Gimbal was rewarded with very nice ear scratches and neck pets. She was a very good doggie indeed.

[Kyt]

Robyn nodded as Resonance laid out their instructions. Contrary to their past excursions, Robyn seemed much more serious and focused, mentally noting spots as she started limbering up for some heavy lifting. "Sounds good. Everyone, be careful though. Collapsed structures are no joke."

When they'd stopped, Orion had wandered over towards the other animal companion present, giving the smaller dog a forceful lick that nearly bowled poor Gimble over. A short whistle quickly brought him back to Robyn's side, though, the giant dog taking a seat with his tongue lolling out.

"I'm good." Was all she added to Resonance's ending warning about the intensity of the work ahead.

[Uberwulf X]

Metzli nodded as she put on her utility belt. "Right, let's get this done," she said before taking a deep breath and spreading her senses outward, getting a general feel of the unseen places before them. This was a general mapping, a mental silhouette; she'd have to focus on a place to sharpen the image, but that was no issue. If they were initially just looking for the best way to even begin, then this would do. "Please let us know if you need help with anything. I'll move as much as I can, as safely as I can, so if you think there's even a slim chance of helping someone, I'll be there ASAP."

Celeste wordlessly took the pack and started putting on her mask and gloves.

[Resonance]

Likewise, Reson also put on her mask and gloves. She gave Gimbal and Orion a few pets, “if you two smell anything other than concrete and debris, give us a bark, okay? People, running water, gas or oil… anything like that. But don’t stray too far.”

Gimbal did a little hopping doggie nod, then set off cautiously towards the right, giving every crack a good sniff.

Reson then closed her eyes and took a slow breath, willing her Sight to open.


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[Kyt]

Orion gave a low woof of acknowledgment, then waited for a nod from Robyn before trotting off in the other direction from Gimbal.

Robyn waited, her face stoic. Reson and Metzli were their starting point, she was mostly just muscle on this endeavor. "Just give us a starting point. Better to work from stable places, and if something has no gaps or pockets....well."

[Uberwulf X]

Metzli nodded, turning her head to a particular patch of rubble. "Y'know, I think there to the left is the best place for us to start." She looked over to Resonance, before starting over and calling out. "Hello! Rescue services are here, please say something if you can hear us!" Even as she called out, Metzli kept her shadow-senses searching for movement.

The companions were... small. Far be it for Celeste to question the use of small animals, surely they had their use, but she was used to full-sized canines and avians being used. That said, she would not believe that the Raiders would bring the untrained and untested to a disaster site. She'd watch their work, genuinely curious about their roles, and level of involvement, but as Metzli called out for people, she'd listen for responses.

[Resonance]

Reson opened her Eyes and saw a somewhat jarring overlay of the spirit realm on top of the mortal realm. It was as if the building itself was lingering there, as she saw faint outlines of what the structure used to look like before it was rubble. There were traces of spirit energy scattered here and there… but nothing drawing her attention as of yet.

Her companions each had their own spiritual signature as well, but they were more familiar to her. “Lead the way, Metz,” she followed behind the blue jaguar as they started to pick their way over the rubble.

Gimbal raised her head when Metzli indicated their heading and adjusted her own to be closer to the group. She jumped up on a bit of broken wall and gave a good sniff around it, not smelling anything out of the ordinary. With a huff of her little nose to clear the dust, she hopped up onto the next pile ahead of the group to continue sniffing.


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[Kyt]

Robyn had no special abilities to help locate people, but she'd done search and rescues before. She'd occasionally call out her own "Rescue! Respond if you can hear us!" but would allow for silence to reign between any of their calls so they could more easily hear any responses.

Orion stayed within a rough sight of the group as they moved away, occasionally dipping behind piles of rubble, but wouldn't linger unless he smelled or heard anything.

[Uberwulf X]

There was nothing wrong with slightly casual, but meaningful banter while they worked, right? When Metzli spoke her voice was low, so she could hear any responses to their calls.

"Your special sight, how does that work, Reson? I don't think I ever asked about it, considering everything else that was going on, y'know?" She steadied herself on a piece of fallen rubble, pipes sticking out from the cement. She gave a small pause after a couple more steps, but immediately gave a sigh of relief as she realized that she'd caught sight of a stray boot, rather than a gnarled leg. She called out to potential victims, before continuing.

"I imagine that it's something like... seeing someone's magical aura, but different?" The fact that classic Mobians wouldn't have a magic aura wasn't lost on her, but her mind was on the animated shows she saw where one's spirit or chi could be seen through lenses, or with certain abilities.

[Resonance]

Nothing wrong with casual chat at all since this wasn’t any kind of urgent mission, in fact Res really appreciated it. “Yeah, kind of like that. Instead of magical aura I’m looking for spiritual signature.” As if she knew exactly what Metz was thinking she added, “unlike magical auras that only metas have, everyone has a spiritual presence. Even non living things have a presence. Like I can see traces of what the building used to look like, for example, the imprint of what it left behind until it settles into its new shape, I guess. For people, the signatures are stronger. I can even see when someone’s soul has left their body…” She paused, “which is what I’m looking for today. Souls that haven’t moved on.”


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[Kyt]

"That's...." Robyn snorted. "I would say weird, but we've seen weirder. A lot weirder." She shifted a piece of rubble out of her path, stepping carefully. "I don't know how you all manage having stuff like that."

[Uberwulf X]

Celeste turned her head to observe Robyn, who had just revealed she wasn't a metaMobian. Her look wasn't one of shock or scorn, simply the same blank visage she offered everyone.

"For most of us," Metzli answered, it's just... something you have to get used to. It would be creepy and weird if this were a world where nobody else had powers, but nowadays, there are enough that it's just... whatever, y'know?"

She sighed. They had just come off a war about this, about the fear people had when it came to metaMobian abilities. She knew her brother had mixed feelings about all of it but she was much more sure that no, everything that had happened was actually bullshit.

"We take heart that there are ways to train and learn, people who can teach you control so you don't become a supernova. Not all powers are destructive of course, but can be really scary when they first manifest, and when you learn something knew down the road, y'know? I still remember how terrified I was with Vouse on my back during my first shadow step; I planned to just jump across a building, using my shadow to slingshot me like I've done plenty of times before, but chaos was being wonky and you'd either not be able to use it, or you'd use it way too well. So instead of jumping across a building, I accidentally dragged Vouse and myself into the shadows. Thankfully, I'd already experienced shadow stepping with Crevon, and the academy was really good about making sure we had space for practical lessons after our book learning on the foundations of magic."

She looked back to Robyn with a smile. "Anyway, I just think of it as a different muscle people may or may not have, y'know? Damien's got wings, but I don't have the muscles on my back for that. I don't really think I want them, either."