Video;

[prisonking]

[ If the state of the office is any indication of the state of the department, the city is in trouble.

The room is papered from floor to ceiling in layers of maps, diagrams, post-its and technical drawings. What table surface isn’t covered in coffee cups, take-out boxes and junk food wrappers is home to more of the same, held down at the corners by pieces of half-finished robotics projects repurposed into paperweights. Three different colours of marker express problems, ideas, arguments, formulas, jokes and doodles over every inch of the large windows looking out over the city.

It’s been a long forty-eight hours, and the three men standing in front of the camera are in only slightly better shape than the workplace disaster zone around them. A giant topographical city map covers the wall behind their backs, dotted with push pins and bits of string radiating out from the centre.

Off camera, a voice many will recognize as Clark Kent, reporter for the Riverview News and volunteer camera-man: 3, 2, 1, and rolling.

Left; Michael sits on the edge of a desk. Seemingly in his element in the midst of chaos. Focused. He pins the camera with his eyes before speaking. ]

This is Michael Scofield, Structural Integrity Project Lead of the Wall Research and Development Department.

[ Center; Tony blinks, pulling his gaze up from the paper he was scribbling on (honestly, paper) to pay some attention. He’s not in great condition, with electrified hair and dark circles under his bright eyes, but manages a tight smile.]

Uh, Tony Stark. Um, I do what he said, except different because I deal with weapons and defense and-- Whatever, I work with these two in order to keep this place as safe as possible from the shit that is out there. [ A gesture behind him, to the map on the wall.]

Well, mostly out there. Because thanks to this shit that--

THAT-- [ Right; Ray seems to realize instantly how loud that just was, laughs, and then tones his volume down a little. ] --Michael will tell you all about, in a second. [ There’s one clear meaning to the quick and slightly confused look he’s giving Tony: I thought we talked about this?!? ]

Right. [ Can you hear him rolling his eyes, Ray? Can you? Because he is, even as he steps back with a huff. ]

But hi! I’m Ray! Tony and I are both Perimeter Defense Engineers and Coordinators — haha, that’s kinda funny, it’s like we can coordinate each other or something — anyways! [ Back on topic. Anyone who’s able to see them right now can probably tell … Ray’s overcaffeinated. ] We’re here to ask for all of your help.

[ Michael stands up, pushing both Tony and Ray off to one side, and out of the way of the city map. He’ll be illustrating the key points of the following report with a laser pointer. ]

Two days ago a breach in the wall exterior was discovered. One thing people should know about the wall is that it’s not a solid mass. Within the wall is a network of maintenance tunnels for internal repair and reinforcement, many dating back to the wall’s inception. With the latest defense improvements, as well as the addition of the outer fence, most of the tunnels were sealed, but a few were left intact for research and development purposes.

I’m sure you’ve noticed the recent power outages. Riverview’s utilities are largely automated, self-sustaining, and renewably resourced, with the majority of treatment, processing and distribution occurring beneath the city.

We don’t know the exact timeline, or scenario, but we can hypothesize that in the past six months to a year, a local predator got inside one of tunnels, and through it was able to find access to the city’s underground infrastructure. There, it bred. Both Tony and Ray performed fly-throughs, and estimate the number of offspring somewhere in the range of five-hundred to a thousand.

It’s impossible to tell how much damage has been done without clearing the area. A failure to act may result in a loss of power and vital resources to Riverview. That’s where you come in. We’ve tried several methods of mass extermination, but with the risk of contaminating the city’s water supply, our options are limited. Our best bet is to gather a force large enough to do a full-scale manual extermination.

We’ve brought our findings to the Riverview council and they’ve granted us as many of the Perimeter Guard as they can spare, and clearance to seek assistance from the general public to fill in the gaps. We’ll need people who can exterminate, people who can perform urgent repairs, and people skilled in first-aid.

I’ll be performing structural integrity tests as the extermination progresses to ensure the safety of the operation. Please keep explosions and seismic damages to a minimum. You can volunteer here, or at your local Perimeter guard.

[ Michael steps back, giving Tony and Ray the floor again. ]

I will be looking for people to help make repairs in critical areas, trying to keep the power grid operational and the attacks minimal. I need people who are good with electrical engineering, work quickly, and can handle themselves in a fight if need be.

[ There is a pause before: ] Steve, I’ll message you about some things later.

[ Then Tony ducks out of the camera’s view, possibly for a shower, possibly for more coffee. He doesn’t return. ]

[ Ray waves to Tony as he leaves, like that’s normal, even if Tony can’t see him doing it. But then he focuses on the camera again. ]

I’m looking for chemists, city planners, maybe some … runners? [ Lightbulb moment. Really. It’s the best idea he’s had all day. ] Yeah, runners.

I’m so close to finding a formula that can put the monsters to sleep, instead of the rest of us. [ aka Ray is stuck and he refuses to admit it. ] And they’re in an enclosed space! We have to be able to use that and build some kind of delivery mechanism. Just- you know- without … knocking out all of our friends who are fighting the monsters ... instead of the monsters themselves. Anyways. Let’s do a team up!

[ Michael can't help but smile at Ray. Now that everything is more or less said and done, he almost looks as tired as he feels. Still, he keeps his head up and eyes focused. ] This is our city now. Let’s do our best to keep it safe.

What Michael said. And uh, just remember. When fighting monsters, safety is number one!

[ The 'Underground' Mission will be available as a prompt in the next TDM! Anyone and everyone is welcome to take part, make up their own related missions, etc. This plot was a collaborative effort between the players and the mods, thanks guys! ]

Comments

[anotheroldsoldier]

Contain or eliminate? [It's a pointed question - there's a big difference between wanting to relocate the creatures versus simply wanting to get them out.] I'll leave the repairs to those with the know-how, but you know what I can do. I'll take your advice for where I'd be most useful.

[amelioraate]

I want to say contain, but I feel like elimination is going to be part of the job at this rate. They don't respond well to interaction, no matter how polite you are.

[ Because, despite what Loki might say, he is very polite about shit okok. V E R Y.] Honestly, wouldn't mind having you at my back if you can be spared.

[ Tony can work and protect, but let's be honest, he would prioritize getting the shit repaired over his own safety, and he knows that Bucky can be as invisible or visible as needed.]

I need to find some more people that are good with engineering, though, you met anyone that you think could help out?

[anotheroldsoldier]

If there are as many as you say, maybe some could be relocated, but not all. I'll stock up on ammo. [It's not that he necessarily wants anything to go extinct, but they have prioritize the city and the people here, including themselves. If some of the bleeding hearts want to relocate some of the creatures, sure, but Bucky isn't going to put their lives over Tony's, or his own, or Steve's, or anybody's.

The corners of his lips quirk up at the request. Of course he'll have Tony's back.] I think they can spare me. Consider me your protection detail.

I haven't yet, but I can ask around.

[amelioraate]

I don't think it matters much what we plan on doing, I've learned if there is even a slight chance of it going pear shaped, that is how it is going to go. But nothing too explosive, the infrastructure is weaker in some spots than others and we can't get into to repair that until later.

[ Tony sighs, deflating a little before he gives Bucky a small smile in return.] Thanks, I will make you a fancy lightsaber upgrade or something when this is all over.

[anotheroldsoldier]

Hope for the best, plan for the worst. [That might as well have been the Army's motto during the war, at least in the places Bucky served.] You don't have to worry about explosions from me. [Well, not to say he's never thrown a grenade or two to solve a problem, but he'll be good this time.] I'll make sure no one else wrecks the tunnels too bad.

The last thing I need is more tech on me. [He gives him a slight smile.] I'll make you pancakes, you can upgrade my pistol a little bit.

[amelioraate]

Excellent, no explosion.

[ Look, if blowing shit up would solve it, Tony would be all over that, to be honest. But, alas, integrity and shit.]

Pancakes for pistol upgrades? I think that works in my favour, but sounds good.

[anotheroldsoldier]

Things should work in your favor once in a while.

Try to get some sleep when you can. I'm bringing dinner for the three of you brains.

[amelioraate]

Sleep? What is this sleep you speak of?

[ But he laughs even as he shrugs.] But thanks, you don't have to. I think there is some weird protein bar thing in one of the drawers. Maybe.

[anotheroldsoldier]

Too late. I'm bringing food by. You better eat it. [It's already decided, apparently. Tony and Michael (and Ray but he cares less about someone he hasn't met) are working hard, and this is Bucky's way of pitching in before the other work begins.]