One more caper....

[Feng]

The Chibi ninja stare quizzically at the droids. There is an awkward silence.

"Seriously?" one of them pipes up. "Of course we're not gonna let you spy on us!" The other ninja nod their assent, drawing their obsidian tetsubo.

---

"I demand all of them!" cackles Bones. "Muffinville. Academy City. The whole pot! Surrender to my authority or be destroyed."

The young albino would see a Chibi flanked by two diminutive ninja at the doorway. Judging by his attire, he appeared to be a priest of some sort.

"Forgive our intrusion, Tall One, but we have business to discuss. On behalf of the Black Temple, we wish to offer a prospective alliance against the looming threat."

---

"Idle threats, Chevalier. Idle threats!"

There is a swish of the androids arms, revealing a derringer. It is aimed directly at Dact's face.

"I do appreciate your bimbo maid idea, however. I'm sure you'll make a fine addition to the Storm Crow!"

[Whatevr89532]

"...And then what?" Bones's communication with the CTC is cut into by a third party. This person doesn't seem to care to appear on screen, but she sounds like a young girl. "What will you do with two or more cities full of people who don't really accept your right to rule? If you kill them, you have no cities. If you rule poorly, you will be deposed. It sounds like more trouble than it's worth, frankly."

((Eeeh, I can delete this post if it's bad for me to interrupt at this stage))

[Jello Shot Mischa]

The Chibi ninja stare quizzically at the droids. There is an awkward silence.

"Seriously?" one of them pipes up. "Of course we're not gonna let you spy on us!" The other ninja nod their assent, drawing their obsidian tetsubo.

The drones pause a moment, and then spread out, electrolaser gunports opening up in their hulls as they start to fire at the Chibi while weaving about!

Meanwhile, from the armored force in the suburbs, a pair of vertols lift off, heading towards the Storm Crow.

"I demand all of them!" cackles Bones. "Muffinville. Academy City. The whole pot! Surrender to my authority or be destroyed."

The young albino would see a Chibi flanked by two diminutive ninja at the doorway. Judging by his attire, he appeared to be a priest of some sort.

"Forgive our intrusion, Tall One, but we have business to discuss. On behalf of the Black Temple, we wish to offer a prospective alliance against the looming threat."

"...And then what?" Bones's communication with the CTC is cut into by a third party. This person doesn't seem to care to appear on screen, but she sounds like a young girl. "What will you do with two or more cities full of people who don't really accept your right to rule? If you kill them, you have no cities. If you rule poorly, you will be deposed. It sounds like more trouble than it's worth, frankly."

((Eeeh, I can delete this post if it's bad for me to interrupt at this stage))

Commander Pleasance pauses to pinch her nose as Lord Bones gleefully cackles on the display, and is about to respond when an unknown voice breaks into the conversation. At a cybernetic command, the communications staff attempt to trace the source of this new transmission, but she continues talking smoothly to the two. "I'm afraid that Lord Bones has most of the stereotypical characteristics of a villain..." she explains, "And given his larcenous bent, I am certain that it is most likely that he simply covets the entirety of the material value of both cities and their inhabitants, without really giving thought to what he would actually do with them." She lets out a sigh, before focusing her attention on Lord Bones. "Lord Bones.... I'm sure you recall what happened to the Sand Academy for Young Women. When the individual known as Dee chose to threaten the entirety of the Muffinverse with her powers, I did not hesitate to respond." She leans back in her seat, steepling her fingers together. "Are you prepared to initiate hostilities with the CTC with your demands?"

Meanwhile, the young albino woman approaches the Chibi priest, and bows respectfully. "I'm afraid the Commander is busy at the moment, although I believe she will be able to speak with you shortly. Is there anything I can assist you with?" she asks.

[Feng]

Bones paused as the transmission is interrupted by a third party.

"Who is this? I, your future overseer and benevolent dictator DEMAND you step forward interloper!" he roared to the disembodied voice.

He casts a rueful glare at the Chibi operative working the radio. "I thought this frequency was private! What sort of operation are you running here?!"

"Hey man, I just brew the coffee. I'm new here" grumbled the Chibi intern.

Bones returned to the screen.

"Look Commander Pleasance and.... Ghost of Christmas Past. You would be wise not to take my threat lightly. Do you not recall who it was who flooded the city with Jusenkyo water all those years ago? Do you not remember who it was who blew up city hall with Pinemango gas? Shall I remind you who it was who stole every left sock within the Tri-County area?!?"

His speech was interrupted by a voice on a different frequency.

::It is almost done, Lord Bones:: replied a Chibiwanbanshu on a different frequency. ::The ritual merely requires a sacrifice.::

"Very good" said Bones, taking a moment to sip his tea before turning to face the screen once more.

"I suppose a show of sufficient force is in order" The man pulled an Obsidian Knife and a piece of paper from his cloak.

"IA! IA! FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE PRIMORDIAL OCEAN, DO I CALL YOU DROWNED ONE! BY YOUR SECRET NAME DO I BIND YOU TO SERVICE!"

He proceeds to set the paper aflame. High above the storm clouds thickened. Surveying equipment would detect a huge spike in energy building up within the storm.

"MASTER OF WATERS! LORD OF SLIPPERY DOMAINS! I IMPLORE THEE.... COME FORTH AND SCOURGE THE LAND WITH YOUR ANCIENT DELUGE!"

Using the knife he slit his palm.

"DESTROY THE CITY!"


A powerful bolt of lightning struck, creating a small fissure in the ground.... And from the crack emerged.... a tiny green frog!

[Whatevr89532]

Whoever she is, this third party seems to be pretty good at hiding her transmission's origin. It's like little fragments of it are being sent in each from a completely different location, all perfectly timed to produce a consistent, singular-looking signal. Attempting to trace any one of those fragments individually leads down a deep rabbit-hole of proxies of proxies and so on. Viewing the initial locations those fragments are coming from as a bunch of points on a map, however, will roughly form a circle...the center of which is directly above the subterranean temple the summoning was being conducted in.
"I've never heard of any of those things," she says dispassionately. "But I do have several varieties of weaponry aimed directly at what you just summoned. I wonder which one I should try first?"

Held aloft by some low-level thrusters, a small humanoid powersuit floats in the air in the vicinity of the frog.

[Jello Shot Mischa]

Bones paused as the transmission is interrupted by a third party.

"Who is this? I, your future overseer and benevolent dictator DEMAND you step forward interloper!" he roared to the disembodied voice.

He casts a rueful glare at the Chibi operative working the radio. "I thought this frequency was private! What sort of operation are you running here?!"

"Hey man, I just brew the coffee. I'm new here" grumbled the Chibi intern.

Bones returned to the screen.

"Look Commander Pleasance and.... Ghost of Christmas Past. You would be wise not to take my threat lightly. Do you not recall who it was who flooded the city with Jusenkyo water all those years ago? Do you not remember who it was who blew up city hall with Pinemango gas? Shall I remind you who it was who stole every left sock within the Tri-County area?!?"

His speech was interrupted by a voice on a different frequency.

::It is almost done, Lord Bones:: replied a Chibiwanbanshu on a different frequency. ::The ritual merely requires a sacrifice.::

"Very good" said Bones, taking a moment to sip his tea before turning to face the screen once more.

"I suppose a show of sufficient force is in order" The man pulled an Obsidian Knife and a piece of paper from his cloak.

"IA! IA! FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE PRIMORDIAL OCEAN, DO I CALL YOU DROWNED ONE! BY YOUR SECRET NAME DO I BIND YOU TO SERVICE!"

He proceeds to set the paper aflame. High above the storm clouds thickened. Surveying equipment would detect a huge spike in energy building up within the storm.

"MASTER OF WATERS! LORD OF SLIPPERY DOMAINS! I IMPLORE THEE.... COME FORTH AND SCOURGE THE LAND WITH YOUR ANCIENT DELUGE!"

Using the knife he slit his palm.

"DESTROY THE CITY!"


A powerful bolt of lightning struck, creating a small fissure in the ground.... And from the crack emerged.... a tiny green frog!

Commander Pleasance leaned back in her chair. "Very well... Although, please have one of your minions inform us as to your preferred flavor of tea." With that, she mutes the voice pick-ups, and shifts her attention to the displays mounted on the walls in her office. They begin to display a variety of tactical data, as the CTC shifts to a combat footing.

"Attention all units... the CTC is now engaged in a hostile action. Academy City should go on full lockdown. All units mobilize."

Alarms ring out across Academy City. Within all CTC facilities, emergency shutters start closing, sentry turrets waking up and swinging about as they begin scanning for threats. The streets are deserted as the last few citizens out and about run for shelters, and armored louvres begin closing over many of the buildings. On rooftops, shutters open up and cannon turrets deploy, as the entire city turns itself into an armored fortress.

Out at sea.... vertical launch missile cells open up on the Drumfire and her escorts, and three dozen missiles climb skywards on columns of fire, before adjusting course and streaking towards the newly identified threat -- the tiny frog crawling free of the fissure in the ground.

Meanwhile.... Commander Pleasance turns, and rises from her seat to walk over to where the Chibi priest and his ninjas are waiting. "Forgive me for the delay.... Some things required my attention. You have information about this new threat, you said?" she asks them.

[Feng]

Joe Dirt was your typical down-on-your-luck NPC, struggling to find meaningful employment in this economy. A graduate of Muffinville University, the poor man found himself transitioning from one odd job to the next to make ends meet, all while trying to retain his precious masculinity in a city that seemed damned-determined to put him in a skirt. Today had been particularly tough for Joe as he had received his fifteenth job rejection letter and with looming financial obligations on the horrizon.... He just wanted to get a CENSOR'D drink!

It was just at that moment that he should pass by a small green frog staring up at him with those big judgmental eyes. The NPC scowled.

"Get lost Kermit!" he shouted, stomping the frog flat with his foot. "Cheeky amphibian" Joe muttered under his breath.

The was an awkward pause.... followed by a tremor as a puddle of water began to well itself up beneath Joe's shoe. It expanded quickly into a bubbling pool that quickly engulfed Joe's foot.... then his legs.... his torso until *Plop* the irate NPC was consumed by the growing blob!

---

"Indeed I do, Tall One" said the priest grimly. "It would seem that Bones intends to summon a slumbering evil related to the Drowned One...."

He blinked.

"Oh. I guess he just said that...."

He shook his head.

"Attempting to destroy the creature with excessive firepower is unwise. The creature is comprised of sentient water; what you throw at it, it will consume. To stop it, you must head to the source of the problem!"

---

The floating humanoid would observe the growing aquatic mass growing higher and higher..... It is already the size of a large mansion! From the depths, two yellow lights circle about.... Following the movements of the powersuit as if they were... eyes?

[Knight Errant]

"Idle threats, Chevalier. Idle threats!"

There is a swish of the androids arms, revealing a derringer. It is aimed directly at Dact's face.

"I do appreciate your bimbo maid idea, however. I'm sure you'll make a fine addition to the Storm Crow!"

Well... with that... he goes to plunge the spear into the pseudo-Feng's chest!

[Whatevr89532]

Since Feng doesn't respond to her taunt, the interloper cuts off the communication. Curiously, however, the signals forming that circle are still being sent to the CTC, just some white noise from each location.

The suit itself is something about halfway between Iron man and Samus-style, in the shape of a werewolf complete with muzzle, tail, and digitigrade feet. It's colored in an appealing pattern of dark and light, and the "eyes" glow faintly yellow. Inside, not broadcasting to anyone, is that girl--a girl with the ears and tail of a wolf, but otherwise looking like a small, young one. She watches the frog's progress, and finds herself in disbelief. Not at its abilities, no...but at the sheer coincidence of the situation. "I think...it's time for an experiment." One of the suit's hands opens up and spits out a small vial into the other hand. The vial is not made of glass, but what it is made out of is still see-through; the inside is held in suspended animation, containing something which seems to be a small quantity of water...on fire.

What the vial contains truly is no ordinary fire; it's a sample from a recent incident in which a reality-warper accidentally made something capable of using the very things one normally puts fire out with as fuel, in addition to the usual sources. The vial is tossed and a single laser blast from one of the suit's hands follows, shattering the material containing it and spraying the impossibly burning water right at the forming aquatic mass.

[Jello Shot Mischa]

Joe Dirt was your typical down-on-your-luck NPC, struggling to find meaningful employment in this economy. A graduate of Muffinville University, the poor man found himself transitioning from one odd job to the next to make ends meet, all while trying to retain his precious masculinity in a city that seemed damned-determined to put him in a skirt. Today had been particularly tough for Joe as he had received his fifteenth job rejection letter and with looming financial obligations on the horrizon.... He just wanted to get a CENSOR'D drink!

It was just at that moment that he should pass by a small green frog staring up at him with those big judgmental eyes. The NPC scowled.

"Get lost Kermit!" he shouted, stomping the frog flat with his foot. "Cheeky amphibian" Joe muttered under his breath.

The was an awkward pause.... followed by a tremor as a puddle of water began to well itself up beneath Joe's shoe. It expanded quickly into a bubbling pool that quickly engulfed Joe's foot.... then his legs.... his torso until *Plop* the irate NPC was consumed by the growing blob!

---

"Indeed I do, Tall One" said the priest grimly. "It would seem that Bones intends to summon a slumbering evil related to the Drowned One...."

He blinked.

"Oh. I guess he just said that...."

He shook his head.

"Attempting to destroy the creature with excessive firepower is unwise. The creature is comprised of sentient water; what you throw at it, it will consume. To stop it, you must head to the source of the problem!"

Commander Pleasance nods as she listens to the Chibi priest, although her attention is divided between her guest and updates from the various drones and sensors monitoring the progress of the frog. She'd hoped it had originally appeared a distance from town, and could be destroyed before it reached the city properly.... but apparently, it was now in the midst of Muffinville. She frowns at the explanation of the creature's form, however, and with a mental command, orders the missile attack to break off, the missiles diverting and self-destructing harmlessly in midair.

"I'd like one of our scientists to attend this meeting as well..." she explains to the priest, cybernetically sending out a request for the individual in question. "Dr. Quinn is the current representative of the Gendanken... their assistance will likely be invaluable. We do have methods to try and contain or even destroy an entity made of water... although I suspect, as you say, conventional methods such as burning or even vaporizing it would likely be.... dangerous..."

Her voice falters as she's notified of the individual in the powered suit's attempt to set the sentient water on fire...

[AmbushCat]

*Transmissions across Muffinville are interrupted for a moment as a static-filled, furious and childish female voice can be heard on all fronts.*

DON'T MAKE ME COME OUT THERE!

*The voice is gone as quickly as it came, with no trace of its presence. Weird.*