WT: Paquin - Self-Immolation
Colorful banners, streamers, and flags snap in the wind on the tall poles that circle the Spaceport, adding a festive mood to this busy place. While simplistic, the Starport has been built with ease of access and comfort in mind. Paquin has long been the artistic center of the border worlds--some rather patriotic citizens claim it not only rivals but surpasses Sihnon. Since the government of Paquin recognizes that fact and strives to maintain that reputation, aesthetics are--and will likely remain--the most important consideration in their design of public works.
A myriad of ships can be found here at any time, mirroring the type of people that frequent this world. Rusty buckets of bolts that might just be held together solely by lengths of tape and epoxy are seen side by side with sleek, streamlined, state-of-the-art vessels. Paquin is nothing if not eclectic in its people... and all else.
After the security breach on Londinium, Paquin is one of the planets that has attempted to go on full lockdown. Many citizens that have become enraged, confused or otherwise terrified could become a potential threat with many more attempting to flee the vacation planet. Paquin has a very wealthy population that are Pro-Alliance who welcome their assistance and protection. Many businesses are also open to their support as well. There are, however, people who have things to hide and there is a healthy underworld population. Security checkpoints have been set up and Alliance forces conduct regular patrols in major population centers, especially where the wealth is located. The planet's established spaceports are heavily monitored for both incoming and outgoing traffic.
Recently, a half dozen MULEs were parked and then abandoned in the main spaceport proper. Before anyone could claim these vehicles, they were secured by local Alliance personnel.
Moving down from the Spacer's District to return to the last of the mules parked, the Babylon's Pianist lights up a cigarette. Then, before extinguishing the flame, he squats near one of the fuel canisters and jams a screw driver into the pressure lock, releasing the liquid to pour on the ground around him, over him and onto the flame. Without a cry, the musician is consumed, stumbles about, and falls to the ground to continue burning. <English>
It all started with just a lonely spark. There was no bang or shout, or curse, or shot. There was just a man on fire and that fire spread, quickly and without fanfare it consumed. It was in its nature. This is when the shouts came and the uproar of surprise, shock. People begin moving. Ashley Stratton looks up from the far side of the spaceport, having been in the middle of speaking to one of his fellow investigators regarding something hush-hush and relatively under breaths. His mouth opens. The man turns further just in time to witness the first explosion, the one that Curtis Parker had sabotaged. The fires lick at the air. They're hungry. Ashley meanwhile shields his eyes and then falls backwards a step and a half under the sudden weight of overpressure and a sickening wash of heat. Still, others are moving. <English>
Since the mules had started appearing Dinger had been working to get them moved back behind the Alliance lines to ensure they didn't create the chaos of a free for all if people can to 'claim them'. With the general press of people though it was taking time and only half had been secured by the time the fire started. Being in the process of checking one over to ensure it's not trapped or such Dinger quickly retreats from it and orders a few of the men with him to make sure no one gets too close, in case others start going up as well. "Gorram hell," he mutters to himself as he squints towards the bright light of the fire. His long experience as a mechanics means he recognizes the smell immediately, fuel. Simple, but effective. Moving through the crowd as fast as the press of bodies allow he starts calling out as he goes, "keep back! Let the fire crews through! Clear the area!" It's largely ineffective due to the nature of crowds, but the heat of the fire is at least creating a small clear zone around the vehicle. <English>
For a moment, Ashley Stratton simply stands there. His eyes are blinded by adjusting from calm skies to an intense light in an instant. He cannot hear save for a subtle buzz scratching and clawing at the back of his mind, muffled yelling, and the vague sense of throbbing. It's like firing a weapon next to his head. Then everything rushes back and the colors swarm his gaze. He blinks it back and looks around. The throbbing, he realizes, is his heartbeat and its quickened pace. His fellow is getting back up on his feet. A spilled drink is left behind as they begin running forward to assist, worming their way through the crowd. It isn't long until he manages toward someone who can take charge, that someone being Dinger: "Hey! Hey! Get your guys to move the other ones before it spreads!" <English>
Dinger is really not getting paid enough for this but hey, he's the one here, so that makes it his problem. Ashley is spotted and in his chain of command or not, an order is yelled his way, "keep the crowds back, extinguishers are on th... " He never finishes the sentence, for its then that he spots the burning form of Curtis Parker in the flames. A string of colorful language in both Chinese and English follows as he skirts round the edge of the flames to try and see if there's any point where he can get close enough to make a grab for the man and drag what is left out of the flames. "Get the others moved!" he yells, to any of his men who happen to be close enough to hear, cos Ashley is right, more going up would be counter-productive in the extreme, then he strips off his jacket to start beating back what flames he can, still with a mind of hauling Parker out. <English>
Ashley starts to say something potentially in protest but the other man is already moving away and someone next to him, a middle-aged woman, is pulling at Stratton's arm. There's a plea attached to the tugging but there is so much going on that the officer can hardly focus. Ashley turns, grabbing the woman's shoulders and then nods at his investigator in making a trade-off. "I'll find your kid! Don't worry!" is yelled. The kid's lost. Somewhere. One of the closest buildings around is the cargo office and its secondary facilities. It's also one of the sturdier Ashley points in that direction. That's where his fellow begins directing portions of the crowd. "Stay back and follow the others!" Ashley Stratton holds his arms up in waving and then pointing into the background. A bright violet streamer whips silently back and forth in the air as it falls gently down to the ground. Ashley turns his head to see where Dinger is, only to see him right next to the flames trying to recover something- no, someone. <English>
In the background, above the roar of the flames, Dinger can hear other engines starting up, which he presumes is the other Mules being moved, but right now he's concentrating on the issue directly in front of him. Beating the flames back a foot or two with his jacket he manages to grab at the fallen man's leg and tug. It's a hard pull though and eventually he has to drop the arm that's hovering his nose and mouth to protect from the fumes and use both arms to drag. Jacket lost to the flames he keels over once their both clear, racking cough starting. <English>
Ashley inhales and then stumbles forward with the abrupt change of direction. He's now heading in Dinger's direction. He can worry about whatever and wherever his guy is after these next few moments pass. These next few moments involve him shielding his eyes as he heads closer to the fires. "You're damn insane, you know that!" The young man yells even if he cannot hear half of the things he's yelling. Taking one last inhale, he holds his breath and leans in next to the other man in order to help support the dragging, taking the burning figure's opposite leg. His eyes water. The acrid smoke wraps a tight vice around the base of his neck. <English>
When the air is good enough that he can get a reasonably clear lungful, Dinger nods to Ashley before replying between coughs, "so I'm" cough "told." Glancing to the body they just retrieved his expression falls somewhat. To say it doesn't look good would be an understatement, but he's not a doctor so the call goes up for a "Medic!" <English>
Ashley Stratton falls forward onto his knees and then elbows the ground to his right before rolling over onto his rear and sitting up. He's breathing heavily and clearing his throat as he watches the remains that they have dragged out. It distracts him, too. However, he does eventually follow up with Dinger's reply and offers a laugh mixed with a quick wheeze. "It could have been worse," he finally manages to say. He rubs his forehead, slick with sweat, with the back of his arm. His hands are stinging. It only smears and dirties himself further with ash. Something finally hits him: "Medic?" <English>
"They might be able to do," cough, "something," Dinger notes before turning his head to one side as he has another mini coughing fit. Not that he sounds hopeful mind, but they have to try. Fit subsided he gulps down a few lungfuls of air then turns to try and drag the form a couple of feet further from the flames which now, he notes are starting g to be attacked by actual fire extinguishers. "Cavalry's arrived," he notes, pointing vaguely to the purple uniforms holding said extinguishers, "where's the gorram medic?" <English>
Ashley begins to hum under his breath. "This little light of mine... I'm gonna let it shine..." he chuckles at himself and then sits up further, trying to stand. On one hand, the fire is being fairly contained between the other vehicles having been relocated to a safe position and more personnel bringing in extinguishers. On the other hand, there are people that are being treated by what medical professionals there are in the area. It just hasn't occurred to them that Ashley and Dinger need them, too. He coughs. "Well, shit." he manages, moving to help again. "I don't have the power to rule him dead, but he's pretty dead, man. I didn't even notice him. Let's... let's get to the others." <English>
Dinger peers back at the smouldering body as Ashley talks, squinting briefly as sweat trickles into his eyes before he does a similar soot smearing exercise to clear it. "Can't call it either," he notes, but he's not arguing with the futility of it. Lifting himself to a crouch, which produces a few more coughs, he beckons over an extinguisher equipped Lance Corporal and puts her in charge of ensuring the corpse isn't disturbed until a medic can take a look. Then back to Ashley he asks, "What happened? Bomb, or accident?" <English>
Ashley looks to the smoldering body as well before down at his hands. He has all of his fingers and thumbs and they look fairly okay, but it's difficult to tell. The pain is radiating all over them. Burns, light but scathingly reminding him of their existence. He knits his eyebrows out of suddenly piqued frustration and confusion, his eyes glancing in Dinger's direction and then focusing on the wreckage and those Alliance personnel still surrounding it. "That's a good question. I didn't see it." He sniffs loudly, then spits. "Gut instinct says bomb, honestly. We'll canvas the area. See what's what. So you didn't see anything either then, huh?" <English>
Dinger puts his hands to his knees and pushes himself standing. On the plus side, he's now upright again, on the negative it allows his hands to push the pain they're in through the shield his adrenalin had been helpfully providing. "Gorram hell," he mutters again, glancing to the backs and them palms of each, before glancing across to Ashley's, "still need that medic I guess." There's another cough or two, but the distance from the smoke seems to be helping there at least. As the rest sinks in though he adds, "better get a perimeter set up then, but no, I was checking one of the ones we'd moved for just such a device." A turn of his head and someone else is dispatched to make sure all the vehicles have an exclusion zone set up around them, and bomb techs get first shot at going over them. <English>
"Eventually," agrees Ashley. They will definitely be needing a doctor sometime in the near future, sooner rather than later. Ashley closes his eyes for a spell and then grimaces at himself before refocusing on the scene at hand. He needs to focus. "We're going to need more people in the area just for damage control. I'll make a call to the local station. Then- then," he begins walking in the direction of the cargo office, "I love having good days like this. This is just the greatest, ever. I'm gonna go sit down until the doctors free themselves up." <English>
Dinger gives Ashley a nod in understanding before peering down at his hands again. Damn. Damn damn damn damn damn. "Could be worse," he mutters, echoing the earlier sentiment before heading off in the other direction to start working on getting perimeters and searches set up. <English>
With a tighter perimeter being established as an outer cordon around the spaceport and then another for the incident site, the Alliance are quick to respond to the immediate aftereffects of the fire and resultant fire. Injuries are minor except for the recovered body of the man that had committed the self-immolation. Even the little kid is found and safely returned to her mother. <English>
