Walk the Line

[Deo Prisco]

Deo realized that it was now or never.

Deo waited till he could talk privately with Cal, Val, and Minerva. "Listen, I'm not sure where everyone's head is at, but I think it's time we straightened things out. I'm a peacekeeper, in fact we're all peacekeepers and we made an oath. We vowed to protect the Capitol and the people living here. If we let this war continue hundreds of thousands of people will die. I can't stand by and watch that happen. I know the Hunger Games wasn't the best way to suppress the Districts, but it's a hell of a lot better than what we have happening now. If we all band together now, we can win this thing. We're at least evenly matched against the rebels today. We need to hack the Watchtower, to stand a chance. If not we'll lose it all. I have friends and family here, I know you do too. I don't want to see them die." he pleaded with the tributes.

[Cal Mensen]

With the mystery liquid getting to him, Cal decided to excuse himself from the game for a bit.

Guys, Deo's reaching out to the Peacebringers. I'll keep you updated. Val, Sydney, play along if you'd like.

Guys, Deo's reaching out to the Peacebringers. I'll keep you updated. Val, Sydney, play along if you'd like.

Cal turns to Deo, his face focused.

"About time one of you guys spoke up, I wasn't sure how long I could keep up this cover. The Capital, the people, Panem needs us. I think you're right Deo, we're about evenly matched. How should we coordinate?"

Cal turns to Deo, his face focused.

"About time one of you guys spoke up, I wasn't sure how long I could keep up this cover. The Capital, the people, Panem needs us. I think you're right Deo, we're about evenly matched. How should we coordinate?"

[Deo Prisco]

"It's getting rowdy really fast in their," said Deo. "I'm not used to so many people getting loose like this." he laughed

"Thank god, I thought you had really turned!" said Deo. "All i'm asking is that you spend one action hacking this place. I think we can take it with three people.. The rest of the actions are up to you. If you need food or want to search the tower for anything else it's up to you."

[Cal Mensen]

Cal nodded, enjoying the bit of solitude.

"It's really hard to keep up with all this, maybe things will be simpler soon."

Deo: "Thank god, I thought you had really turned!" said Deo. "All I'm asking is that you spend one action hacking this place. I think we can take it with three people.. The rest of the actions are up to you. If you need food or want to search the tower for anything else it's up to you."

Deo: "Thank god, I thought you had really turned!" said Deo. "All I'm asking is that you spend one action hacking this place. I think we can take it with three people.. The rest of the actions are up to you. If you need food or want to search the tower for anything else it's up to you."

"Alright, this will also split our risk between the three of us. I think the three of us can hack the point together, but just in case we'll be able to walk away with minimal damage from turrets. I might be able to convince them to lend me some materials for our eventual departure. Anything I should focus on?"

"Alright, this will also split our risk between the three of us. I think the three of us can hack the point together, but just in case we'll be able to walk away with minimal damage from turrets. I might be able to convince them to lend me some materials for our eventual departure. Anything I should focus on?"

[Sydney Gardiner]

Sydney walked towards the pair, still getting the absolute last bit of nicotine out of the stick between her fingers. "Looks like there's a mini party over here."

[Cal Mensen]

Cal's smile perks up as Sydney approaches. The smell of the tobacco smoke reminded him of home.

"Welcome, winner of the card game. Please, take a moment and enjoy the time apart from the group."

Guys... Sydney just approached and I can't read her whispers. I'm going to remind her to keep me in the loop, but I'm concerned she may be flipping sides. We'll have to plan around this just in case we don't have her arrows to rely on.

"Hey... I can't quite hear you over the noise coming from the other room. Can you step a bit closer so I can hear your whispers?"

"Hey Sydney, come to talk business? We've got our hands full here, could use the help."

[Sydney Gardiner]

"I just need a minute, I almost sort of forgot what human contact felt like, it was very quiet at the hospital those few days I was over there. You remember, right Deo? I think you were there with me."

"I'm just trying to get a read on him. That's easily been one of the hardest things since this whole thing began, truthfully.

"I'm always down for business. It's what we're all here for, right?" She looked at the pair of them and gave a sly smile. "The tower's proven to be very useful, especially now."

[Cal Mensen]

"I forgot you guys were there. Even from up here, that place was a mystery, probably much more interesting now."

Sydney:
"I'm just trying to get a read on him. That's easily been one of the hardest things since this whole thing began, truthfully."

Sydney, to the peacekeepers I'm assuming:
"I'm always down for business. It's what we're all here for, right?" She looked at the pair of them and gave a sly smile. "The tower's proven to be very useful, especially now."

"Why do you think I stuck around here the first four days? Being able to see enemies coming before they reach here has been a boon, created a robust information network. Glad you're joining us in our conversation. Deo suggests we each try hacking the Watchtower, once each. I am concerned though, once we've done this our cover is blown. Are you sure you don't want to hold off a while longer, Sydney? I imagine the rebels would trust you if you play along with them."

"Why do you think I stuck around here the first four days? Being able to see enemies coming before they reach here has been a boon, created a robust information network. Glad you're joining us in our conversation. Deo suggests we each try hacking the Watchtower, once each. I am concerned though, once we've done this our cover is blown. Are you sure you don't want to hold off a while longer, Sydney? I imagine the rebels would trust you if you play along with them."

OOC: Alright guys, I'm officially out of fuel. If there's no more posts after this, I'm hitting the hey. I'll reply in the morning.

[Deo Prisco]

"Yeah, there were a lot of scared tributes at the Hospital. No one was talking." replied Deo.

"If Sydney's a peacekeeper than this really opens up some options. Cal, do you know what the rest of them are carrying? That could help us figure out what supplies we might be able to trade or who to attack. Holly and Wren are definitely the most dangerous in the group I would want to attack one of them first."

"There isn't much time left to turn this war around. I think in another 4 days this thing will end. I think this is the perfect moment to strike," said Deo replying to Cal.
"Also, Valeria doesn't seem to be joining the conversation, There's a good chance that she is letting the rebels know about our planning. I'm leaving her out of this message. I knew this was a risky move, but they should already know who we are."

[Cal Mensen]

Cal made a small smile. "That's certainly not a problem here."

This is his first message to me since Sydney stepped in, so take this as you will. Could be worthless now.
Deo: "If Sydney's a peacekeeper than this really opens up some options. Cal, do you know what the rest of them are carrying? That could help us figure out what supplies we might be able to trade or who to attack. Holly and Wren are definitely the most dangerous in the group I would want to attack one of them first."



"There isn't much time left to turn this war around. I think in another 4 days this thing will end. I think this is the perfect moment to strike," said Deo replying to Cal.

"Also, Valeria doesn't seem to be joining the conversation, There's a good chance that she is letting the rebels know about our planning. I'm leaving her out of this message. I knew this was a risky move, but they should already know who we are."

Deo: "If Sydney's a peacekeeper than this really opens up some options. Cal, do you know what the rest of them are carrying? That could help us figure out what supplies we might be able to trade or who to attack. Holly and Wren are definitely the most dangerous in the group I would want to attack one of them first."



"There isn't much time left to turn this war around. I think in another 4 days this thing will end. I think this is the perfect moment to strike," said Deo replying to Cal.

"Also, Valeria doesn't seem to be joining the conversation, There's a good chance that she is letting the rebels know about our planning. I'm leaving her out of this message. I knew this was a risky move, but they should already know who we are."

Here's my response to them:
"I have my doubts that Val would ever turn on the Accord. She's put herself in a compromising position, its unlikely she would support her Peacekeeper roots. It was probably for the best you kept her out of future communications."



"As for targets, Wren and Holly are definitely running the show. They don't have any weapons that I know of, so they won't have much means of retaliating. They're able to hack control points, so that makes them prime targets. I have a pistol with a single bullet and a powerful unarmed attack skill, I can use those for my remaining two actions. Who should we be focusing our efforts on?"

"I have my doubts that Val would ever turn on the Accord. She's put herself in a compromising position, its unlikely she would support her Peacekeeper roots. It was probably for the best you kept her out of future communications."

"As for targets, Wren and Holly are definitely running the show. They don't have any weapons that I know of, so they won't have much means of retaliating. They're able to hack control points, so that makes them prime targets. I have a pistol with a single bullet and a powerful unarmed attack skill, I can use those for my remaining two actions. Who should we be focusing our efforts on?"

[Sydney Gardiner]

Sydney smiled and shrugged. "I mean, no one's really been to a hospital unless they're in a compromised position. So there's that."

"Cal knows more about that circle than I do, truthfully. I've been just minding my own over here. If we're talking about armed attack, I have three arrows here and I can use them all. You know as well as I do that combat is key in this sort of thing." Sydney shrugged. "I've honestly just waited for a chance to use them because everywhere I've been has been so quiet. Any particular person you want me to take aim at?"

[Cal Mensen]

Sydney's post:
"Cal knows more about that circle than I do, truthfully. I've been just minding my own over here. If we're talking about armed attack, I have three arrows here and I can use them all. You know as well as I do that combat is key in this sort of thing." Sydney shrugged. "I've honestly just waited for a chance to use them because everywhere I've been has been so quiet. Any particular person you want me to take aim at?"

Cal nodded, imagining he would have a similar attitude if trapped somewhere with no one to trust.

He had been contemplating strategy for a while now, he decided to throw in his two cents.

"I may need to be brought up to speed, but why is our goal at this point targeting Rebels? For that matter, why leaders? Demitri met his end in the Market yesterday, but there has been no disorganization, no repercussions to the Accords' momentum. We're halfway through this war and set pretty far behind. If we're aiming for the big picture, shouldn't we be keeping the Watchtower under Peacekeeper control, then migrating to a new point to grab?"

He shakes his head, still unsure what the best course of action is.

"Deo, out of all of us here, you've been working towards a Peacekeeper victory longer than any of us. What's the play?"

Ghost notes: You realize this might compromise my entire effort...? I guess if it nudges the needle even a hair away from Accord harm, then alright, worth it.

Here's what I posted:

He had been contemplating strategy for a while now, he decided to throw in his two cents.



"I may need to be brought up to speed, but why is our goal at this point targeting Rebels? For that matter, why leaders? Demitri met his end in the Market yesterday, but there has been no disorganization, no repercussions to the Accords' momentum. We're halfway through this war and set pretty far behind. If we're aiming for the big picture, shouldn't we be keeping the Watchtower under Peacekeeper control, then migrating to a new point to grab?"



He shakes his head, still unsure what the best course of action is.



"Deo, out of all of us here, you've been working towards a Peacekeeper victory longer than any of us. What's the play?"

[Valeria DeMasque]

"Deo!" Val exclaimed with a warm smile upon hearing him speak for the first time in a while, "How is my bacon buddy doing?"

"All my friends and family are back home..." Val added, "or here in this watchtower."

She sighed, "I didn't really sign up for the peacekeepers... I made some mistakes in my early life and it was the only way to avoid having others pay for them."

"I'm not going to tell you how to live your life because at the end of the day," she grinned, "unless you're fighting for what you believe in, whether that's freedom, law and order, or even your own life, you might as well be fighting yourself."

"Love is a powerful thing and you seem like you have people here in this capitol that you love very much," she frowned, "I can't tell you to turn their backs on them the same you can't ask me to turn my back on my friends right here in the watchtower."

"So from one sappy overly dramatic freedom fighter to another," she smiled, "If you really understand that emotion of fighting for people you care about at least let us leave with our lives intact."

"So," she said lighting a cigarette, "are you planning on becoming a killer or can we part ways peacefully?"

"All my friends and family are back home..." Val added, "or here in this watchtower."



She sighed, "I didn't really sign up for the peacekeepers... I made some mistakes in my early life and it was the only way to avoid having others pay for them."



"I'm not going to tell you how to live your life because at the end of the day," she grinned, "unless you're fighting for what you believe in, whether that's freedom, law and order, or even your own life, you might as well be fighting yourself."



"Love is a powerful thing and you seem like you have people here in this capitol that you love very much," she frowned, "I can't tell you to turn their backs on them the same you can't ask me to turn my back on my friends right here in the watchtower."



"So from one sappy overly dramatic freedom fighter to another," she smiled, "If you really understand that emotion of fighting for people you care about at least let us leave with our lives intact."



"So," she said lighting a cigarette, "are you planning on becoming a killer or can we part ways peacefully?"

[Cal Mensen]

OOC: Val, this is only readable by you.
"This is all an act. I fight for the Accord alone. I've already spent my actions attacking Deo, got a pistol shot and a punch in. I had thought... in case Sydney didn't really want to be a Peacebringer, she's already informed Deo of my leaking his whispers to the Accord. It's a bad case of "I know that you know that I know...", a mess. I have no idea how to fix this situation, the only idea that's come into my head is if I challenge Deo, taunt him, insult him, get his attention, draw his fire.

I'm so grateful for you and Gwen, and the faith you've placed into me. I'd like to repay that. Whatever you choose to do, I'll back you up in the thread. I've already attacked him, but based on how you handle this, it'll either be a sneak attack from me or we take him down together.

I... think me and Wren are done. But that doesn't break my promise. I will protect you three any way I can."

Cal jumps back a little as Val arrives. This hallway is getting crowded, but it's hard to beat the company.

 

"Well... that's quite an offer. Deo, what's the call?"

[Deo Prisco]

Deo laughed, "The thought of bacon is making me a little sick."

"We're to far behind not to attack. Everyone needs to hack at least once with a decent score and then attack Wren. He seems like a nice kid, but he's just too much of a threat. We need to take out rebels who can hack well, and take more points. It's time to get to work."

"I get it Valeria. I won't ask you to attack your friends. I honestly didn't think you would be interested in switching sides, but the peacekeeper situation is dire."

[Cal Mensen]

Cal chuckles, "Damn, almost forgot about Bacon. We have hangups for food these days."

From Deo:

"We're to far behind not to attack. Everyone needs to hack at least once with a decent score and then attack Wren. He seems like a nice kid, but he's just too much of a threat. We need to take out rebels who can hack well, and take more points. It's time to get to work."

Cal's eyes dart to Val, seething with wrath.
"Val, I want Deo's fucking head. Say the word, lets take him down."

OOC: I've included you, Val, in my reply to Deo. If there's a chance to give him the wrong impression, I'm taking it. If we're fighting him, I'd gladly smash his face in and get out of this whispering.

Cal nods his head, it's almost a bit comforting following orders again.

"Understood. I've rolled a 7 so far on hacking, should I give it another shot before shooting Wren?"

[Deo Prisco]

"Tell me about it." said Deo.

"I think you've hacked well enough. No reason to waste an action"

[Deo Prisco]

"You, know what Val, I take it back. I don't get it. You expect us to leave your friends with their lives intact and ignore the fact that your friends have attacked and bombed the Capitol. How are we expected to show you mercy?

Honestly, if I wasn't so level headed I would kill you first. There is nothing worse than a turncoat. You are a coward and a liar. The very worst type of person.

I'm sure you've already told your rebels friends that the peacekeepers are trying to take the Watchtower. If you are a traitor you might as well be a rat too. I just want you to know I'm prepared for whatever happens. My people will bring peace and order back to Panem no matter how hard you try to stop us."

[Valeria DeMasque]

Val teared up a little.

"You're being played..."

"I'm going to have to pull a trigger at some point," she said with such hate for herself in her voice, "but ...I'm not a rat."

"If you make it through today you need to watch who you trust," she frowned, "You have every right to hate me. I'm sorry.  But...I'm not the rat."

[Cal Mensen]

Enough.

Cal turns his gaze on Deo, a predatory gaze locked on him.

"Deo... if you think Val's bad, you're going to hate me."

He slams his fist into Deo's smug face.

[Valeria DeMasque]

Val was caught off guard by this...she couldn't let Cal lose his place among the peacekeepers for her.

"Cal! It's alright I deserve it!" she exclaimed, "I just can't follow the code like you and Deo can..."

She turned to leave, "I know you hoped to turn me back over to your side...but...you don't have to protect me anymore. I'm not one of you. Don't throw out the oath for me!"

She threw a punch at Cal

tgrtYuS21d10+1

Through the small amount of tears in her eyes it was hard to aim the punch properly and it simply grazed his shoulder.

"Don't throw out your only advantage right now for my sake..." she said in hushed tones.

Val wiped the moisture off her face, "They need to believe they can trust you."

1d10+1

[Sydney Gardiner]

Sydney watched with wide eyes as people were yelling and throwing punches.

"HEY. KNOCK IT OFF. If we can't work together then there's no point! Deo, uncalled for. If that's how you treat your own, karma's gonna come back. And I hear she's a bit of a bitch."

[Cal Mensen]

Cal ducks aside Val's blow, a little confused but still fuming.

"He can't talk to you like that! We've each made our choices, I can't stand by and let him berate you."

He slips in a whisper to Val.

"Val, I threw that punch over 24 hours ago, along with shooting him very soon. They'll know what side I'm on soon enough, once actions are revealed. At least this way, he's not sure where it's all coming from."

[Sydney Gardiner]

Syd placed one hand on Val's shoulder.

"Are you all right?"

[Deo Prisco]

Deo wiped the blood from his lip. "Wow. Cal, you cheap shot me and that's all you got?" he said with a smirk. The sting of Cal's blow paled in comparison to his own feeling of inadequacy.

He knew discussing plans with Cal and Valeria was a dangerous idea, but he did it anyway. The one chance to unite the peacekeepers, a waste. "You were a fool for trying Deo." he thought to himself.