bravenewworld | A Close Call?

It comes suddenly and without warning. The ground beneath the land shakes with great force and fury, the great towers of Union shifting dangerously due to the magnitude. Somehow, miraculously, nobody is injured, but great structural damage is sustained on many of the connecting bridges that keep the city together.

On the streets, people are fearful. What if another quake comes? What if they aren't as lucky that time? Teams of Engineers are all over the city, checking on the damage and making what repairs they can. Electricity has been knocked out in many areas and crews are still struggling to recover it, although the Signal Tower remains with power and broadcasts over radio and television are sent to reassure the populace.

Thankfully, no aftershocks come. Messages are already coming in from other ally cities, Caldera and Citadel are mostly fine, Refuge, while fine, has devolved into panicked prayer to appease whoever they offended to send such a large quake. As surveyors go out to examine the damage, they will find that new underground routes have been opened all over. Unfortunately, those who went to investigate have not returned, sending a second wave of panic through many of the cities. The Union Council is working with the governments of the other cities to plan a proper response, and they hope to announce within the next few days as the city recovers. For now, however, the new paths are strictly off-limits to all citizens, and have been placed under heavy guard by the Swords of the Savior, the Steel Battalion, and some Valkyrie volunteers.

((Feel free to use this post as an IC mingle to react to the earthquakes!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yuuna's just returning from a short patrol, looking for people stuck outside the city and surveying for more cracks when she spots Feliks just in time to have him grab her shoulder.]

We know that there was an earthquake, and there are cracks appearing in the ground.

[A grim expression crosses her face, but her voice is steady, solid.]

It looks a bit like the canyon from the air.

...Like the size of the Canyon?

[Gods, he really hopes not.]

[Deadpan:]

Don't be absurd. The city is still here.

Rude, I was just checking and junk!

...So how big?

Pockmarked caves wide enough for people. But we're not sure how deep they run. The Swords are keeping people out, and the Rangers are checking for more outside.

[And she looks exhausted, okay?]

As near as I can tell, though, the damage to Union itself isn't too bad. Damage to the infrastructure seems to be the worst that I can see.

[He lets out a little sigh of relief at that last part.]

I felt it, like, super far away, so...

[So he's glad everyone seems more or less fine.]

...How many? Do you know that yet?

You felt it? Where at?

[She sounds troubled.]

Because I was at the Citadel and felt it.

[And thankfully airborne.]

And no...I have no clue. A lot?

In the desert? Too far south of Caldera to bother going via there.

Like, 12 a lot, or "maybe hundreds" a lot?

At least twelve. But not hundreds. Nothing that bad.

[A frown]

It's...I wonder what caused it.

I'd say these things don't always have some kind of cause, but like, everything's been so weird lately that I don't know about that.

Somebody was telling me on the network some of the towers and bridges are damaged, but nobody's hurt too bad? Have we got temporary shelters set up, or what?

I think so, yeah. I know my tower ended up alright, but there's definitely some folks who've had to move in with family or into emergency housing. This could've been a lot worse...and it'll probably have us expanding a bit soon. Just to earthquake proof what we can.