"Pay close attention, everyone. I don't have the time or energy to repeat this information twice."

In the Hall of Heroes, every available agent sat silent, eyes fixed on Director Palmer. Above her head, a map of the world was projected onto the white plaster wall. Five red dots gleamed at specific locations: central China, northern Pakistan, southern Mexico, northern Sudan, and western Iraq. No one asked what the markings were for. No one needed to.

"The citadels have apparently decided that now is the time to become active. Around 26 hours ago the one in Henan province opened its gates and sent out...something. I've emailed you all the images of the creature if you feel like your stomach is strong enough to look at it, but I'm not gonna put it up here in case somebody hurls. Needless to say, the creature proved enormous, highly aggressive, and irritatingly bulletproof. It tried to break through the security perimeter we established around the citadel, and almost succeeded before we made an effective response. In the process, Doctors Tesar and Manco, as well as Pocket Watch, were trapped and trampled."

Amanda clicked to the next slide: a satellite image of what appeared to be a black, white and red forest fire. According to the scale on the image, the conflagration was nearly a square mile in area. Amanda allowed herself a thin smile.

"Fortunately, Director Sato was on-site and eliminated the threat with extreme prejudice. A more subtle approach occurred around two hours ago: while Devi and former Sentry the Sorceress were monitoring the Pakistani citadel, it released a potent biological agent that killed a substantial number of the personnel guarding the vicinity and would have contaminated the Indus River watershed if not for the immediate action of both Devi and the Sorceress. They're both still at work trying to scrub the agent from the environment, as well as keep guard on their citadel."

A somewhat grisly image of a row of beds, pustule-ridden personnel in rictuses of pain on each. Several members in the audience flinched.

"Swarm's left for that site to try and analyze the agent, maybe come up with an effective countermeasure. Crown's busy trying to convince the various nuclear powers that H-bombing the sites might do more harm than good. That leaves three sites, one director, the likely event of a threat of unknown nature emerging to wreak havoc on everything in the area, and 22 hours to try and get something resembling a defense against it ready."

There was complete silence in the Hall of Heroes. Amanda took a deep breath, then exhaled. 

"If you smoke, buy an extra pack today. I think you're gonna need it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Requirements

-You must go to one of the three remaining sites (in Mexico, northern Sudan, or Iraq) as part of an emergency response team.

-While you're there, the citadel will create a deadly danger capable of destroying security around the area, including yourself. Respond to it. Stop it, preferably.

-Have fun coming up with the nature of the threat: it can be anything you want barring 1. an alien colossus and 2. a deadly pathogen. No repeats, guys.

Deaths: None you're responsible for in ballots or the entry. Three tributes will receive byes into the next round. The rest will go up for votes,with one being eliminated.

Deadline: Wednesday, May 15 at 10 PM EST

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The Song

Enjoy your song, Nyelia! Excuse the small English lyrics- this was the only lyric video I could find.

https://youtu.be/2eZ8yFkKPSQ