[video] as sun tzu once said, light 'em up

[nonscriptum]

There are a bunch of new people around, so...hey, I'm Nate.

[ It's been a while since he posted to the network, but things are starting to get sticky - and not even in the comparatively fun, sweaty jungle way - around these parts and tension feels like it's ramping higher. Crackling in the air. It makes the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He's not in the city, as evidenced by the dense, green foliage at his back. His sketchbook is out, open, but he's talking with both his hands. ]

I realize we're kind of running the gauntlet right now in terms of what's being thrown at us, and we're basically getting ready for an inevitable showdown, and there are already a lot of efforts being made toward preparing.

[ Sonya - a woman he doesn't know - was proposing escape routes and manageable cover strategies for civilian types. It's a good idea to have those routes mapped sooner rather than later. ]

But I've spent a lot of time since we got here getting to know this landscape, the topography. What I'm looking for are people with actual combat experience, whether that's strategic, logistical, or something similar. Fight's gonna come to us whether we want it to or not, and weaponizing the environment is one of the best chances we have at mitigating the risks. Guerrilla warfare isn't pretty, but we have the resources for it.

[ For a moment he looks distracted, thinking of something, writing it down and talking over the act as he does so. ]

So just, um. Call in if you've got the know-how. Thanks.

Comments

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[bloodbathing]

Makes sense.

You assigning zones? [ Then, remembering to add an "I": ] I can take vulnerable points. Less natural defenses.

[ Basically: he can be a wall where there isn't one. ]

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[nonscriptum]

yeah, i'm starting to come up with a good division of areas based on topography and proximity to certain buildings in the city.

i know you're a tank, dude, but what's your threshold? and don't sugarcoat it

[ Since the foundation of their horrifically strange relationship is honesty, anyway. ]

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[bloodbathing]

[ His threshold? He thinks about it. Privates the feed before continuing. ]

Need oxygen. Punctured lung knocked me out. Nine bullets in throat, too.
Got back up. Kept fighting. Just injured.

Can't walk off long falls. Can't survive poison gas.

[ Hm. He remembers his death being difficult to talk about before he returned home a second time. Weird. ]

Can't go into shock. Will fight until dead.

[ The last part is classified. He finds he doesn't care. ]

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[nonscriptum]

wow

[ The honesty startles him. Maine tends to come across as someone who keeps his weaknesses under lock and key, so Nate is both appreciative and grateful for plainness. They don't have the luxury of bullshitting. ]

okay, i don't think they'll bring chem warfare into the mix, but if they do then we're all screwed, so i wouldn't worry about that

i'm attaching a map of the area

[ sorryaboutthecoffeestains.jpg ]

i think we should sequester safe territory to the northeast side of the river. if the null breach our lines on the southwest side of the city, we evac toward the foothills.

if we evac, i think you should destroy the bridges.

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[bloodbathing]

[ Usually, Maine plays his cards very close to the chest. But if Nate's taking charge, he needs to know what Maine can (and can't) survive. And although years passed for Maine the last time he was sent home, he remembers liking Nate. Remembers trusting him. ]

Roger. Won't need explosives.

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[nonscriptum]

good to know. i'm giving everyone else the heads-up that you'll be leading that effort, i trust you to know when things are dire enough that we'll need it.

[ The implication here being that Nate doesn't expect Maine to do a headcount of guerrillas falling back, but that he at least expects him to make sure almost everybody is across. Nate not included - he can handle himself. ]

and maine?

glad you're here.

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[bloodbathing]

Understood.

[ That last part takes him aback. He's not sure how to respond to it. Not sure what to do with the feelings of warmth and gratitude.

In the end, he settles on: ]

:) Thanks.