Telepathic message, during the Awakened battle

[kokuyoyo]

We're not getting anywhere. These things aren't the real threat, and they're only going to keep coming.

Second round, pay attention.

If your username had a wheel, immediately look for people who are murdering these things with apparent experience. Keep finding more of them. Make sure a group can keep you safe. Stay away from the lockers.

If you had a pair of blades, find the people being most targeted and defend them. If these things get rid of us Navigators, you'll die easily.

Do that immediately.

And for everyone... We need to lure the true form of our enemy out. These rats are just meant to exhaust us.

If we can find a way to a larger area like the gymnasium, we should set up bait. Since these things want Navigators so badly, some of us should be what sets the trap.

[There's the sound of a mental sigh that whispers through everyone's minds.]

Unless anyone has any better ideas...

Comments

[connivingbird]

It's a battle. I cannot begin to tell you just how confusing a battle can get, especially with new people in the lines. It wouldn't be too unreasonable if we actually end up fighting each other in the confusion.

[ There is a moment and a loud snort from ankh at the arguing from others. ]

This ends now. [ And he launches his own response to everything. ]

[kouteipenguin]

If you can heal, don't be in that group. Stay to the sides and keep us alive.

[osakanpride]

[ Heh. The only reason his healing spell even activated was because his desire to help Ran outweighed his grasp on logic. There was no way he would willingly subject his reason like that again until instinct (yet again) set in. The instinct to prevent death, that was.

Heiji had so many reserves. ]

That would only work if I myself am not targeted.

[ And he healed in the first place, but details. ]

[kouteipenguin]

One target surrounded by protectors weighed against three unprotected targets is less tempting. You'll have that much as protection.

[osakanpride]

By that logic, it's assumed that the threat has an overwhelming advantage against navigators even with numbers.

[ One thing to think about. ]

The body count still seems unreasonably high even with the advantage against us.

[ Meaning either they were still risking a lot, or the threat might be detered from showing altogether. ]

These are odds everyone agrees with?

[kouteipenguin]

I'd rather risk that than leave one person to take all the risk. I believe this much is agreed with. At least those who don't agree won't stop it.

[osakanpride]

[ There were the reinforcements to consider once the trap worked, but even then, that would require well-timed execution. ]

No sense in appealin' it.

[ Especially with that latest telepathy signal deciding the course of action based on the discussions recently held. ]

What's the rendezvous point?

[ And Heiji will have to rely on instinct if he truly didn't want them to die. Good thing he doesn't. ]

[theserpentsmiles]

I'm a fighter, not a navigator, but I'm physically nonthreatening and I know how to conceal my presence. If I appear to be injured I might be seen as minimal threat.

Do we have a plan of action yet?

[singlefaith]

[She flushes a little, not liking that he -- or anyone else -- had heard the gasp.]

I am a healer. Or at least I can do it, anyway.

[Her mental voice is just a little shaky, worn.] I can manage. But all the arguing has to stop. There's enough to deal with as it is. And not everyone is even used to their powers or this kind of talking, which makes it worse.

Someone's going to get really hurt. And we all need to get out of this.

[theserpentsmiles]

If we create a layer of debris, they don't need to be under the floor. Think of it like a snake hidden in fallen leaves, or land mines barely buried in sand.

Takebayashi-kun was the explosives specialist, not me, but I know some. Since we're improvising, setting them up for remote detonation might be difficult, but one person could lie in wait for the signal and set them off. It's a dangerous role, but manageable.

[blackdogdown]

Ah. Yes that would be very feasible. We'll have some stuff left over from deconstructing chairs, we could use that to cover up explosives.

A Nav can cover a telepathic signal and I suppose someone with fire powers or a lighter could trigger the explosives if needed...They'd still have to be close though...

[singlefaith]

[The dream, however brief, is dizzying. Ran falters back a little to the wall, even as Zepar cleaves through yet another rat with her sword. The persona fades, and Ran shakes her head quickly to try to clear it. Somehow she has to get used to this.]

What . . . was that?

We're in danger if people keep arguing. If it's affecting me, it's probably affecting other people. We're not all used to it yet.

I just don't want anyone hurt. I'll do what I have to to keep that from happening.

[She does not like the idea of bait. But if she can be there to protect . . . at least that's something. And something does need to happen before they all wear themselves down too far to do anything.]

[singlefaith]

[He can probably almost feel the upset silence from Ran.]

[Finally:] I'll do what I have to to help keep people safe.

But no doing anything stupid or reckless.

And we have to find Conan-kun.

[theserpentsmiles]

Yeah, they'd be at ground zero. Fire, electricity, something to cause a spark. There will only be about a second, maybe two before the spark reaches the fuel and everything blows, depending on exactly what we're using, but after that it's just a matter of outrunning the blast. It'll be fine, I'm trained in free-running.

[Maybe if this weren't mental he'd be a bit less casual, a bit more clear, but he absolutely has been thinking through the whole scenario with himself on ignition duty.]

[draculabackwards]

Are you certain of that? [For a newly Awakened or an about to be one? Ridiculously unsafe but what choice to they have?]

[draculabackwards]

[Although Alucard is more than capable of taking care of himself in his own world, it's become increasingly obvious that fighting solo is not the way to do anything here. Fighting takes up time. The only way is to fuse their group as a whole. So while he's hacking through rats, he's listening in the back of his mind.

He has to let himself be directed and Chikusa is someone who clearly knows how to arrange people together.]

The only thing better than the gymnasium would be a sports field, but I surmise that in an open area, the rats won't take the bait. Do you need to be guard anyone or be anywhere while this baiting is going on?

[hachitaro]

Yes. I'm not going to run away.

[blackdogdown]

[Why is every child in Guts life so desperate to die. The drop in his stomach is nearly audiable, along with the uncensored ] Not again

[Deep breaths Guts, deep breaths. He takes a break to kill a few rats. The blood calms him down a little.]

You... [He is so tired of this conversation. He takes a deep breath. ] ....Aren't you a little young for a suicide mission.

[sociallyarcward]

I'm not sure we have time to figure out the layout---we're going to have to move fast now.

I know, that's why I'm trying to get this plan fleshed out. I know we can't over plan because there is too much going on...but we can be better prepared.

[sociallyarcward]

Kidou fought alongside me last time. I saw what he was like in a tough situation first hand. I've met most of his friends by now and they all kinda have the same vibe. They're prepared, at least as far as information goes...as much as we can have information after all of this.

Besides, it's a battlefield...I can't do this alone and I may as well trust you guys.
I don't have the luxury to doubt you all now, especially since we all have a common goal at the moment.

[theserpentsmiles]

How do you know about the grenade thing? [It's a gut response, Morty hadn't mentioned his first real assassination attempt to anyone, not in any words clearer than 'I blew up'. Logic weighs in moments later, suggesting that it must be a reference to something else.]

I'm fifteen. I'll be alright; it's only a suicide mission if I plan on dying.

[connivingbird]

The warning we received right before this. It's why we needed to get you here and now.

Take a deep breath, focus on staying alive, and worry about the rest after this is done. We're still learning too, and it's hard for us to do the same.

[forsteri]

I'm not sure you understand what kind of impression you're giving.

Either way, it doesn't matter. I'm done arguing. I'm on guard duty. That's it.

[blackdogdown]

The...grenade...thing...? [The words are hard to dicipher over the sheer amount of frustration churning through the link. Its not exactly directed at Nagisa though, more at an overall hatred of the world.

Luckily for Nagisa, 15 registers as adult to Guts, so he reluctantly relents. Saved by midlands high death rate!]

Fine... Don't let any of the younger ones in on this. The bait things is bad enough.

...But seriously...grenades?

[draculabackwards]

I will assume with all the chatter going around that you are already protected. Be careful.