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Grendyne groans and starts pulling on her boots when the alarm goes off. Again. She quick-marches to the broom hangar, sits on her machine and is handed a plethora of loaded weapons by attentive corporals.
"Two flyers in one day? They're getting way too common."
"It's worse," the commander informs them, "South Karlsland got hit with three at once. We're taking Lytee's express and sleeping there. You can sit out if you absolutely need to, but Freya's still recovering so we could use you as a comms relay."
"No, I'll come. I just reserve the right to complain about it."
The 42nd United Forces Witch Wing takes off and assembles into a perfect synchronized formation as Lytee charges her teleport power.
...This is not South Karlsland wilderness.
[note: halfway through this thread I created a unique account for Grendyne. Do not be alarmed by the change in account. -Rockeye]
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characterquarry
wormcan
"You, probably. Or the army you're part of, whichever. If it's part of opening inter-world negotiations, my employers aren't exactly going to lay claim to it."
witchwatcher
"I can definitely see myself spearing Neuroi on this thing. If I show up on this it'll definitely get everyone interested in a big hurry. I know some engineers, I'll make sure they get on the shortlist to visit."
The commander has figured out the borrowed computer's email client. Director, you can expect a delegation from our world in the designated place probably some time tomorrow. Anything else before we leave?
The commander has figured out the borrowed computer's email client. Director, you can expect a delegation from our world in the designated place probably some time tomorrow. Anything else before we leave?
witchwatcher
They disappear.
Next afternoon, Scatter, Highlander, Copycat, Angel, Knight, and Seer are back, escorting a dozen older, variously self-important people.
The biggest trade on offer is Witchpower in exchange for shipments of weapons and training, and hopefully mass manufacturing of Steelwings (two of these fellows design the things).
Next afternoon, Scatter, Highlander, Copycat, Angel, Knight, and Seer are back, escorting a dozen older, variously self-important people.
The biggest trade on offer is Witchpower in exchange for shipments of weapons and training, and hopefully mass manufacturing of Steelwings (two of these fellows design the things).
wormcan
A trade they're happy to make. Crates of weapons have been obtained since yesterday, though Earth Bet suggests sending some people to train the users in the new weapons. The bottleneck on what they can send is likely to be how much can be teleported; this may limit their ability to provide artillery. They're trading primarily for as many difficult prophecies as Seer is able and willing to make, along with Copycat to add more, though firepower at approximate three-month intervals would be appreciated. They are very clear up front that volunteering for the latter comes with a substantial risk of injury or death.
The local PRT is not doing most of the negotiation. Apparently the government has designated "first contact" diplomats. (One of whom is the Chief Director of the PRT, naturally, or else she's just there because it's a particularly relevant first contact.)
The local PRT is not doing most of the negotiation. Apparently the government has designated "first contact" diplomats. (One of whom is the Chief Director of the PRT, naturally, or else she's just there because it's a particularly relevant first contact.)
witchwatcher
Part of Seer's enlistment contract included a limit on how often they could order her to predict things. She wants large bonuses for bumping this number up and still won't do it for more than a few hours a day.
Copycat might join the PRT, as long as the training and weapons returned to her side are more than worth her absence, and the pay is good. Mostly because there's more interesting stuff over here.
There are more teleporters available. The bottleneck on moving people and material back and forth is wider than one person. The UDF is perfectly happy to have people come with and train their soldiers on the weapons. Deploying Witches against Endbringers will be a volunteers-only mission.
They also want technology and engineering skills in full generality to deploy and start mass-producing in their world (Suggested name: Terra). The most advanced thing they can make on their own is a telegraph, for reference.
Copycat might join the PRT, as long as the training and weapons returned to her side are more than worth her absence, and the pay is good. Mostly because there's more interesting stuff over here.
There are more teleporters available. The bottleneck on moving people and material back and forth is wider than one person. The UDF is perfectly happy to have people come with and train their soldiers on the weapons. Deploying Witches against Endbringers will be a volunteers-only mission.
They also want technology and engineering skills in full generality to deploy and start mass-producing in their world (Suggested name: Terra). The most advanced thing they can make on their own is a telegraph, for reference.
wormcan
The people from Earth Bet, especially the PRT people, are very willing to supply large bonuses. Silver and gems as well, if the material is in short supply; production is better here. Infrastructure and education and so on are going to take time to increase technology but there's no reason not to start. (Earth Bet has been internally calling the new world Earth Gimel, since they have a sequence going, but there's little reason not to use Terra's preferred name in negotiations.)
The PRT is glad to have Copycat join; a power as versatile as hers would be useful anywhere. And the amount of firepower they're supplying to Terra is hopefully enough that the loss of a single Witch is a rounding error.
The PRT is glad to have Copycat join; a power as versatile as hers would be useful anywhere. And the amount of firepower they're supplying to Terra is hopefully enough that the loss of a single Witch is a rounding error.
witchwatcher
Gold, silver, and gems are indeed very welcome forms of payment. The stuff is hideously expensive on Terra, since its rarity is compounded by excellent practical applications.
Negotiations, training, and infrastructure-preparation continue. Seer predicts various things in the meantime, with Copycat helping to the extent she can.
The paperwork for Copycat's transfer is complete in short order, and she is no longer part of the UDF. She signs on to the Wards after negotiating a slightly higher than usual wage, and she's no longer particularly relevant to the continuing diplomatic exchange.
She is presumably assigned living space and schooling in a similar way to most Wards. Though disguising her foreignness might be tricky.
Negotiations, training, and infrastructure-preparation continue. Seer predicts various things in the meantime, with Copycat helping to the extent she can.
The paperwork for Copycat's transfer is complete in short order, and she is no longer part of the UDF. She signs on to the Wards after negotiating a slightly higher than usual wage, and she's no longer particularly relevant to the continuing diplomatic exchange.
She is presumably assigned living space and schooling in a similar way to most Wards. Though disguising her foreignness might be tricky.
wormcan
She gets assigned space in the combination Wards/PRT building (coincidentally upstairs from here). Wards typically don't live here full-time, due to usually not having appeared out of nowhere, but some did appear out of nowhere and others just find it more convenient. Most of the pay for Wards goes into a trust fund they receive when they turn eighteen. Something about this civilization not liking to give children large sums of money for some reason.
It's suggested that she adopt a secret identity—she herself doesn't have family members to be targeted, but it might endanger other Wards if their faces and civilian names are often seen around the known cape. She will also need a costume; a military uniform for a force that doesn't exist would send a variety of confusing messages.
The school for most of the local Wards (officially all of them, but no reason not to use some misdirection) is Arcadia High. Earth Bet's ordinary curriculum is probably unfamiliar to her.
It's suggested that she adopt a secret identity—she herself doesn't have family members to be targeted, but it might endanger other Wards if their faces and civilian names are often seen around the known cape. She will also need a costume; a military uniform for a force that doesn't exist would send a variety of confusing messages.
The school for most of the local Wards (officially all of them, but no reason not to use some misdirection) is Arcadia High. Earth Bet's ordinary curriculum is probably unfamiliar to her.
witchwatcher
The money thing is a bit annoying. But she mostly wanted it to send to her mom, so she just uses her savings from Terra. She'll be 18 by the time it runs out.
Her codename from her old unit, Copycat, would do unless it's taken. She'll need to think some more if so. The ordinary curriculum is indeed very, very strange. She assumes they'll cut her some slack as long as she makes a good effort.
As to a costume... She discovers the most popular Cape forum after a couple hours of browsing for ideas, registers under the name 'witchwatcher,' says she can fly and blast and shield and lots of little things, she likes purple and maybe the witch aesthetic, who has costume advice?
Her codename from her old unit, Copycat, would do unless it's taken. She'll need to think some more if so. The ordinary curriculum is indeed very, very strange. She assumes they'll cut her some slack as long as she makes a good effort.
As to a costume... She discovers the most popular Cape forum after a couple hours of browsing for ideas, registers under the name 'witchwatcher,' says she can fly and blast and shield and lots of little things, she likes purple and maybe the witch aesthetic, who has costume advice?
wormcan
It's a large enough forum that she gets suggestions (mostly taking the aesthetic bit literally, complete with pointed hat; they may not be entirely serious). Since she's not yet verified as a cape not everyone believes her; this is apparently a fairly common first post from the less-than-reliable members of the Internet. But given the number of people, there are probably suggestions or at least elements of suggestions that she might like.
witchwatcher
Not being taken seriously is annoying. She sends an email to the guy who arranged her housing asking how to be a 'verified Cape' as witchwatcher and generically thanks everyone for their suggestions, saying she'll sleep on it.
In the meantime, she should probably meet her new teammates before they're required to work together on some sort of crisis.
In the meantime, she should probably meet her new teammates before they're required to work together on some sort of crisis.
wormcan
Not all of them are in the Wards base, but a few are.
"I'm Aegis," one of them says, and takes off his helmet. "Carlos, out of costume. Welcome to the team."
The others introduce themselves. Clockblocker, Vista, Browbeat, and civilian identities for each.
"I'm Aegis," one of them says, and takes off his helmet. "Carlos, out of costume. Welcome to the team."
The others introduce themselves. Clockblocker, Vista, Browbeat, and civilian identities for each.
witchwatcher
"Grendyne Nylund. I'll probably go by Copycat, since I can copy powers. With varying difficulty, though, and I don't have great endurance. I can keep the simple ones though, I've got a bit of an arsenal built up."
wormcan
Browbeat whistles. "I see why they wanted you on the team. That's impressive."
"You're just glad not to be the new guy anymore."
"Shut up, Dennis."
"You're just glad not to be the new guy anymore."
"Shut up, Dennis."
witchwatcher
"You lot know how I'm from another world? I'm new here, sure, but not entirely inexperienced... Browbeat, Vista, I can get your powers. Mostly... But I don't think I'll be able to copy time-freezing unless I'm looking right at you."
wormcan
"What about mine?" Aegis asks. The flight, durability, and strength are probably redundant with what she already has, but there's no reason not to ask.
"Even if you copying's hard, it's not like we couldn't use the help." The other three agree.
"Even if you copying's hard, it's not like we couldn't use the help." The other three agree.
witchwatcher
"It's unusually shaped. More like really stubborn regen than the kind of defenses I'm used to. I don't think I could use it very well."
witchwatcher
"Maybe not as good as yours. My body itself isn't especially tough, but I have these shields as my go-to." She holds out a hand and a disk of glittering blue light with faint abstract patterns appears in front of her. "I've stopped Neuroi beans that would've levelled houses."
wormcan
There are two—well, one and a half—other ways of stopping that in this room, but a reliable and fast one is even more useful.
"Even better. Purity is working close with Empire Eighty-Eight again, and beams that level houses are her thing."
"Even better. Purity is working close with Empire Eighty-Eight again, and beams that level houses are her thing."
witchwatcher
"I'm gonna need to read up on everyone in this city with powers. I was walking around on this world for all of a day before Coil kidnapped me, and it's only been another couple days since my original wing rescued me. This place is bloody complicated."
witchwatcher
"Arrived via teleporting accident, helped catch Bakuda, got lied to extensively by Coil, got kidnapped by Coil, got rescued, helped my world open negotiation and trade. Busy week. I almost want to just sit in a bath for a whole day, to decompress."
wormcan
"That was you who fought Bakuda? Armsmaster mentioned having met a cape he didn't know.
We've been fighting her teammates on and off since then."
We've been fighting her teammates on and off since then."