10th February 2011- Director Emily Piggot

'It was Coil. Remember when he sicked Tattletale on me? He's still jelly he couldn't get me on his payroll so he used Gesellshaft as a patsy to give me the business. Obvious, really.'

The boy had seemed so damned sure. Then you had Kaiser utterly disavowing Gesellshaft in response and claiming his Empire had nothing to do with it and it really started to look like a way to remove the leader of the Protectorate ENE, a rising star who could root out spies at a glance, Gesellshaft's backing for the Empire along with whatever public credibility they had.

Then, even in the plans failure the Empire still lost out and Greg was being temporarily moved away for his own safety. Not that this benefited only Coil, the ABB, the Merchants and every other two bit villain in the city profited from this loss.

Just another day.

"Thank you for agreeing to take him, Director Armstrong, even with his spotty track record. He should behave, so long as you keep him otherwise occupied."

"It's no problem," Armstrong's voice issued from the secure line. "With the seriousness of the situation it's the least I can do. It's a strange one though, have you found out why German capes were committing killings in an American city?"

Emily grunted. "We suspect they were part of Krieg's Gesellshaft contacts in town for a visit doing him the favour of removing another local villain's plants in the Empire organisation, and they then proceeded to take matters into their own hands after someone leaked the identities of two of their capes and told them it was Dark Smoke Puncher. We presume it was the same villain whose moles they killed, but nothing is confirmed."

Armstrong gave a little coughing chuckle, "still not as bad as Accord for confusing plans, so I can fully sympathise with the headache you have on your hands there."

Emily rolled her eyes, "yeah. In any case, thanks again, I'll get in contact again soon to arrange the move."

"Of course, have a pleasant evening, Emily."

"Likewise, Edward."

The phone clicked and beeped once before she set the receiver down. It was fortuitous that this was going to over smoothly in this regard, for truthfully she would have rather sent the boy to Alexandria all the way over in Los Angeles to have her straighten him out while things died down, but his parents insisted he was not to go too far away so Boston was the compromise.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes for ten seconds, and paged Armsmaster. He opened the door and stepped inside from where he had been waiting, and took a few lightly whirring steps before coming to attention.

"What do you make of the analysis?"

"I agree," he said, wiggling the folder in his hand. "Very unlikely that Kaiser would cut ties with Gesellshaft over this and lose their support, it's a ruse to preserve his image. Americans won't care about a European gang so he loses nothing from them by public renouncing them while dealing behind closed doors. It's also likely he tacitly approved the hit on myself and Dark Smoke Puncher, but I can't see that as the kind of thing he'd come out and say even if Dark Smoke had actually released the identities."

Emily nodded once, "I see. We're still going to milk this for all its worth, am I right in assuming you'll handle the press announcement?"

"As always," he smirked, if a little wryly.

"Before I have the PR department email you the details, we have to plan our retaliation against The Empire."

11th February 2011- Taylor Hebert

The city was afraid. Afraid of itself. Afraid of the gangs. Of me. I could feel it, seeping in through my every pore, it was enough to make a girl sick.

Even sitting here in my room, every night I could feel them. Strangers, my neighbours… even my father. Everyone I meet, and the ones I never see, won't stop fearing. And for those who thrive on that, they'll feel it too. I'll make them. I'll make them give back this city. Take back everything they've corrupted, and I won't rest until I do.

My fingers played over the pieces of my mask, yet to come together. Fear was my weapon, but they didn't know it like I do. Couldn't wield it like I do. The terror.

It was enough to make a girl sick.