to: everyone

[assembles]

Hey there, everyone. My name is Steve Rogers and I'm one of the people most recently summoned to the Free Cities. I'm also a good friend of Sam Wilson's — we've worked together for a number of years. I know he's made quite the name for himself here.

I've only been here for a little over a month, but in that time I've noticed a sudden increase in military activity within Cadens. There's increased drills and training exercises, equipment moving in and out, that kind of thing. I went by Fort Wilbridge and tried to ask some questions, but all they really had to say was that they were acting out of an abundance of caution. Almost like they're expecting something.

It seems suspicious, so I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a change in how the factions are behaving, whether it's something I haven't picked up on in Cadens or something going on in Thorne or Solvunn. I figure it might be a good idea to compare notes so we won't be completely blindsided if something else is coming our way.

That's all I've got for now, but it's nice to meet you all. In a manner of speaking, anyway.

Comments

[catholica]

Could it just be a bluff? I know a lot of militaries back where I come from like to huff and puff and not actually blow the house down.

They just want people to think they can.

[assembles]

I know what you mean,

[ Clearly. They're from the same place. ]

but it sounds like the conflict here has been brewing for long enough that I'm not sure we can just assume it'll never progress past grandstanding.

[catholica]

Probably not.

( probably a bad idea to turn and look the other way. )

You have something you wanna do about it?

[assembles]

I'd rather not just stand around as a bystander. If nothing else, I'd like to run some damage control. Civilians shouldn't be caught in the crossfire.

[catholica]

I agree.

If I can help, I'd like to. I've felt like I've done nothing else but stand back and let things happen around me so far.

[assembles]

With those nightmares, it's not like we had much choice. Don't beat yourself up over it.

Matt Murdock, right? I'm sure Sam would agree we'll take all the help we can get.

[catholica]

Yes, Matthew Murdock.

I'm not a military man but I've lived around Hell's Kitchen and New York long enough to see the collateral damage that happens when conflict can't be avoided.

[assembles]

Nice to meet you.

Yeah, I bet. New York's been through more than it's fair share of that. It just kind of kept up after 2012.

[ Avengers Tower was there until they moved upstate, and the Sanctum's still operational. Trouble just seems to congregate there. ]

[catholica]

Seems to be a hotspot for all kinds

( he trails off and smirks to himself. )

Activity. Guess everyone just wants to be a New Yorker at least once even if it means destroying it to get that title.

[assembles]

[ Steve can guess it's probably a joke. It's kind of hard to tell without tone to judge from, but still.

So. ]

Don't they know you've gotta have lived there at least five years to qualify? Come on.

[catholica]

You'd think they'd at least ask.

( the nerve. matt sighs. )

I'd like to hope that this isn't gonna turn into another New York. Then again, New York didn't do all out war. If that's what you think is going to happen here, that's bad news.

[assembles]

I think I got here around the same time as you, so I'm only going off of what I've heard from people who've been here longer and the signs I'm seeing. But based off of that? It's not looking great.

[catholica]

From what you've said, it definitely sounds like something's on the horizon. The question becomes what, how serious, and how will those not from here be involved.

It still feels strange to call myself Summoned.

[assembles]

It just seems to be the moniker that everyone uses. But I get what you mean.

I'm gathering as much intel as I can. There may not be many of us, but as you probably already know, it's surprising what a small group of people can pull off.

[catholica]

Yeah, I know.

( though he hopes this place doesn't turn into another new york. but, if it happens, it happens. )

I don't know what else we could do to prepare besides just to be ready for the worst. Hopefully we'd get the best, though.

Not sure what the best is here but...I'm sure there's something.

[assembles]

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, right?

Hopefully whatever fighting does break out takes place outside the city, somewhere there wouldn't be many civilians. If it does come here, we'll need to start figuring out ways to keep people out of the crossfire, running damage control, that sort of thing.

[catholica]

Yeah.

I would like to hope there are some spaces that would house civilians should an evacuation of some kind be needed.

[assembles]

With how long these factions have been gearing up for war, you'd hope as much. Most nations also don't want to fight on their own soil. If we're lucky, the worst of it will take place in the Badlands.

[catholica]

There's an actual place here called the Badlands. And here I thought I'd only encounter that in books and movies.

[assembles]

Yeah, apparently that's the name. Though I'm not sure if that was coined by a Summoned or if it's actually what it's called.

It's the area northwest of here. It's neutral land between the Free Cities and Thorne, where the Singularity's located. I haven't been there myself, but Sam has.

[catholica]

The Singularity's something I have heard of. And how people from way out of town are the only ones that can access it.

Which immediately makes me uneasy but not like I can do anything about that.

[assembles]

Yeah, we've got a connection to it that the people of this world are interested in. For better or worse.

[ It's possibly the real reason that they're here, all talk of war aside. ]

[catholica]

So I've heard.

Kind of makes me uneasy.

[assembles]

That's understandable. It's already messed with us once, and it sounds like there was another time before the nightmares.

[catholica]

You know anything about that since we both weren't here?