>>5298118“Amara, could you run a Skinternet search based on this woman’s description?” You ask, vision shifting from your scout’s compound vision back to binocular as you glance to the little girl beside you…and even before the request is out of your mouth, she’s already grinning up at you.
“Already on it!” She informs you, and you ruffle her hair with a smile before turning to Dorian.
“Call Gina.” You begin, the young man snapping to attention under your gaze. “Ask for a status report, and let them know we may be calling on them for reinforcements, soon. It's not a given, but something to be ready for if we do.”
“Ma’am.” He sharply nods, and he’s already pacing a short ways down the tunnel before Amara tugs at your hip.
“That lady’s Hephesta! The one not-Alecja said to watch out for!”
“Good job. Any word on her powers?” You ask, and your little one scrunches her eyes tightly closed.
“She can make all sortsa Relics, like Snowbird and November can, but not anything above Tier Four! She’s also really good at messing with her enemies’ Relics too, like Rath, but she can affect a whole lot all at once!” She rattles off, breathlessly.
“Does she have a way to use more than a few Relics at once? November’s limited in what she can bring to bear, after all.” You muse aloud, and Amara’s eyes fly open.
“She’s…Hephesta’s a lotta people.” She murmurs, eyes going wide before turning to you. “She’s got something like you do! The Spiritus Shells, only she can send out eleven of ‘em! She used to have a family, like us, but…they all offered to get eaten by Hephesta so they could run at the Cord!”
“…Christ. How similar are they to my Shells?” You groan. “Are they classified as Daughters, Relics, or something else?”
“Well…it’s kinda hard to tell, but word is that they seem pretty immune to most things that would harm constructs, so they may not count if she’s got some augments. Her Relics can’t be damaged, either. Her usual strategy is to overwhelm with everybody she’s got in her, all at once. They use the Relics she forges on the spot, and it works really, really well!”
She scowls, adding decisively; “I think i’ssa trap, Mom!”
“Very much so, sweetie.” You say, forcing a smile as you pat her head affectionately. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“They’re ready to go on your mark, Miss Shu.” Dorian informs you, blitzing across the tunnel and back to your side. “Nothing to report save for spotting Vector’s earlier scouting.”
“Ddddoing your due diligence, Defiant?” Hephesta chuckles, the alliteration making your teeth vibrate across the line to your swarmling that still hovers before her…a woman, made legion by the willing sacrifice of her allies.
Your focus shifts to her via FuzzBuzz proxy as you consider your reply.
Risk versus reward, weighted on precipitous scales.
>>Engage>>Decline>>Write-InYOU ARE IN CONTROL
