>>5329736The strangest part was easily that some of the ruins were still standing all the way down here, well. Not literally. Propped against a large pile of rubbish or simply lying along the ground. Whole parts of ancient buildings seem to have miraculously survived, while peppered with plants and grime of age the frames held. All were bent, bowing inwards towards the center point. The cavernous hole. A few of the more stable buildings were defiantly upright, leaning out over the massive vacuum like bridges. Inching closer and closer your team witnesses more oddities. Bodies piled on top of one another as some of the pilots claim dark patches were shadows in frightful human shapes.
Braving the open area the drones swoop around, sharing additional images and recordings. The unit's range finders fail to ping the bottom as thrown depth measuring pellets continue to count out the length without end. The numbers simply roll higher and higher. You were at the ground zero of something. "Is this on the map?" Six asks, hefting up the rear half of a car before tossing it into the expanse. Your stomach drops as you watch the bisected vehicle get swallowed by the dark after a few seconds. The others weren't approaching the edge as freely. No one answered. "Empress. What is this place?" Three gasps, the maniacal ticking of the depth distance tolling in the background of his broadcast. The fire team stood around basking in uncertainty. "This must be an ordnance test site?" Three proposes, clearly trying to put everyone at ease. Tension began to rouse its head as Nineteen hisses. "In the middle of a city… isn't it obvious? This is...." No one had to say it. None wanted to be responsible for confirming the truth. So no one did.
Sometimes questions were better left unanswered. A moment passes as you all soak in the horrific sight. The mission still lay ahead and time was slipping between your fingers. "We aren't gonna reach in time if we have to circle this…" Eleven notes, none of you had time to mourn. "Exactly! Prepare to move out!" You order hauling the pilots from their stupor. Hastily you peruse the scout data. The arching towers rest and almost meet, forming a possible crossing. The massive constructs remind you of Kahva, a twisted mimicry. Aloud you wonder how many tons it could possibly hold, the Knights could surely cross. But you and the Maxima might be pushing it. The Fire Team waits for your word as you think about how to still make the schedule.
>What do you do, Pilot?>What do you say?Write in?>Try to cross the fallen buildings?>Take the long way around?>Split up?>Do something else?Write in 