Author's Note: The title says it all. It's all about to come crashing down.

….

Explosion

Soleil's efforts had stalled, and her friends had to continue without her. Luna had died suddenly in her sleep. Porter was completely devastated, there was a funeral to plan, and the Capitol was watching Five's victors keenly. Continuing with her efforts was too risky.

She had to be present to support Porter in her grief. For so long, she had held Luna together and had not realised how much she needed Luna at her side. But now she was gone, and Porter did not know what to do.

She spent her days despondent and overthinking Luna's wishes for her funeral. Soleil had to take control and manage arrangements whilst trying to keep Hal in check. Five's only male victor had become even more lonely. Soleil had very little time for him and his outbursts. Porter had tried with him but never managed to gain the common ground that Luna had as his mentor. Even that had taken her years but now she was gone, and Hal was cast even further adrift.

It was a small service ending with the burial in the victors' cemetery alongside Ellen who had laid at rest alone for decades. Luna had kept in contact with her family and her nieces, nephews and their children were genuinely upset at the loss of their aunt. They would inherit what Luna had to give away and suddenly find themselves wealthy in a district that was slowly falling apart.

Nothing was working properly, and Porter had tried to return to work after the funeral. Activity had saved her mental state after the Games, and she hoped the same would happen again. But the Capitol denied her entry. They had used her absence during her grief as an excuse to remove her from the workforce. Porter was at a complete loss of what to do.

Soleil was trying to restart her activities now that the Village was not under such a close watch. But she had to look out for her mentor. It had become clear that Porter was having a breakdown, and the slightest inconvenience could tip her over the edge.

But the rebels did not even have to try. Five's new Capitol leadership was clueless and there was nobody around who dared correct them. Porter was often the one to raise her head given she would face the fewest consequences but now she was not allowed to contribute.

All Soleil and her friends had to do was to filter in bad ideas to those with connections to the Capitol leaders and work ground to a halt. Workers found problems that did not exist and when they knew they were working on a project which supplied the Capitol they actively sabotaged repairs.

Soleil kept Porter updated and in turn, Porter fed Soleil information to give back to her colleagues on where needed to be protected to keep the lights on in as many districts as possible. Soleil managed to harness her mentor's anger and persuade Porter to go one step further.

Eventually, Porter met up with the rebel group to create a plan to sabotage as much as possible and delay crucial repairs whilst inventing problems to be 'fixed'. If the Capitol did not involve her and decided that her years of work meant nothing, she would show them how useful she could be. They would see the consequences of their actions first hand and she would not be around to help them any longer. Strangely, she found some satisfaction in ruining what she had worked to create. If the Capitol did not value the leaders that District Five had created, they would have to suffer from their incompetence.

….

What looked like a setback for Soleil in Five had turned into a success. Finnick was delighted with how she had managed to turn the situation around and involve Porter to bring her from her grief. She was a young victor who had come of age during Chloe's tenure and with her support, she took her first steps into rebellion. Now, with Finnick as leader, she had grown into a fully-fledged, emboldened rebel at the heart of Five's efforts.

Their young victors had done them proud. Olive could not be helped, but most of the others had come through. Amethyst and Antigone would do only what served their interests, but Finnick knew that Gloss, Cashmere, Lyme and Brutus had a close watch over the younger victors and would not let them harm their district's interests.

Finnick was taking stock of where they had started and the position they were now in. It was a privilege to oversee the districts' fight. He now understood what Mags meant. He also knew what a responsibility it was as they entered the critical stages of rebellion. Everyone's lives were on the line and so many of those he knew best might not make it out alive.

It had been a team effort and being a team has made the victors strong. The Capitol put them in a position to build bridges and connect in a way nobody else could. Under Mags' guidance, they took the opportunity wholeheartedly and built lasting friendships and loyalties that surpassed so many others.

Finnick had grown up around them too. Halley, Poppy, Lyme and Brutus knew him as a child and now they accepted him as their leader without thinking. The younger victors had grown into their roles as he was adjusting to leadership, and they had each given him their loyalty. He knew he would not have to consider succession. His time as leader would end with their victory. But if there ever was a time, he would not be short of options.

Paulus and Diana, initially unlikely rebels had gravitated to the cause in their way. It was a District Two way and Finnick was not going to knock them down for it. If support for the lives of the peacekeepers made them realise the Capitol was letting them down, then so be it. They would be helpful to have on their side once the fighting was over and the nation needed to rebuild. They could be leaders that District Two needed as they looked to the future.

There was never any doubt about Marshall or Calico's loyalties, and both were now stalwarts of the group. They were ready to lead the fighting and were prominent figures across their districts. People respected them and they used their status as victors to the best possible advantage. Orchard's tradition of proud rebel Elevens continued along with the Paylor name in District Eight and both districts were on the edge. Marshall and Calico would lead them to victory and stay the course to rebuild their homes.

Their next set of victors had found friendships with those from districts that were reluctant to join them. Ossian was Noah's victor, and he was never going to let them down. He was Noah's man in the field and Finnick's man in public. An excellent, determined fighter with the charisma and easy-going nature of Four that people loved. It was no surprise that Theodore turned to him for reassurance when he wanted to become involved. Finnick was relieved Ryan had turned to them both as he strived for something different. They had each suffered at the hands of Capitol buyers but had turned their anger and torment into a fightback which had brought Nine further into the fold.

Fern had replicated that with Soleil. Finnick had never doubted Fern, not as she grew into her role under Linden's excellent tuition. She was a fighter but a confidant for Soleil and if there did have to be further Hunger Games, Finnick hoped she would mentor a victor of her own. He wished that District Seven had more victors entirely. They were good for the cause and good fun too. He could be at ease around them and if there was a practical solution that involved a little trouble along the way, he always knew he could count on them.

Poppy, Cecelia and Halley united in friendship, had also produced excellent victors. Cecelia had moved through the agony of watching her daughter become a tribute and follow in her footsteps as a victor. Calista had a ready-built environment where she could thrive in her first steps towards rebellion. She was now an integral part of Eight's organisation, integrated into the Mayor's system in the Justice Building.

Cameron and Orion had found their places and would be crucial in fighting on the ground, in contrast to the other victors in their district. They complimented their mentors well and had skills they lacked. They had moved towards overcoming depression and angry, aggressive outbursts and channelled their thoughts into something productive. Under their mentors' guidance, they were starting to become leaders in their own right. Beetee and Wiress trusted Orion with their weaponry and Poppy trusted Cameron to put his skills to best use.

The urban districts were a team with common interests. They knew what a war in their districts would look like and the senior victors had built teams around them to adapt to that. Finnick knew his tactics for Four would not work on different territories, so he knew where to hold back. Halley and Poppy had integrated their younger victors and slotted them into gaps. Three's drone capacity had increased with Stella's input and Bram was being trained as a medic ready for the front lines.

The newest victors had to be integrated quickly. Already willing rebels like Aquaria and Sandy could fit into place easily. Charo and Adan had needed to find a place for Santiago within their already tight-knit system. But in true District Ten style, a likeable victor with a love for the Ten way of life had served them well. Santiago and his family horses were ready to fight and rebuild their home.

Felix, Birch and Caspian had no time at all to settle. Finnick did not expect much from Felix and he found he did not mind. Two's Village would likely be divided and a new victor, still looking towards authority would go where he felt he was told to. It helped that Mason was on a journey to find the rebel cause and that he was Lyme's victor, but Two's survivors had to find their own way to join them.

Birch and Caspian had joined ready-made setups. Caspian had been handed a gun and was told to get on with it. He accompanied Ossian to different events because people liked him, and he went without question. They would have to deal with the lasting effects of the Games afterwards. Finnick knew it was the same for Birch who had gone through a crash course in Seven's rebellion via Johanna's more unorthodox methods.

Despite their different backgrounds, the victors were ready. His operations to ensure as many of them as possible were on the same side had been a success. He would never get every living victor on his side, but as many as he deemed feasible had either been converted or naturally fallen the way of his rebels. It was time for them to make a move. They would not be able to conceal their operations any longer.

….

"She's good, you know, our Johanna," Linden said.

"Birch has been the making of her," Blight replied. "Your Fern has helped too. Another woman who could match her energy-"

"Has helped conserve ours," Linden laughed.

"Are we ready, old man?"

"I'm only seventy-one, there's plenty of life left in me yet."

It was Blight's turn to laugh, "I saw you in that auditorium. You went to follow me over the chairs towards Johanna and Birch, but you couldn't."

"I simply took the more sensible way around."

"No time for sensible anymore."

"I know that. I've done my best to prepare myself. We know what Seven is like. We fight hard."

"What are you anticipating? You have the numbers."

"The axes and bows we have made are being circulated. There will be raids across the barracks soon and a shipment of peacekeeper weapons is about to go conveniently missing. We're armed to the teeth here and have managed to take guns from pretty much every peacekeeper we've killed. That's worked too. We've decimated the worst."

"It still won't be easy. The Capitol will send more in."

"I know. We can expect a visit from the Capitol Guard too. They've got a new leader, and divisions are being prepared for each district."

"So, they aren't blind to what's coming!"

"No. It's taken them long enough, but word is they're onto a war footing. Only with no real leader."

"Who knew a Council of Ministers wouldn't work," Blight rolled his eyes.

"A temporary measure, remember."

"Just not in the way they were hoping!"

"Not at all. We're going to do it this time. They can send in reinforcements, but recruitment is dire so most of them will be unwilling conscripts who have only just held a gun."

"We can set Birch on them. Johanna and Fern got him to fire a gun the other day. It's taken time but he's done it."

"He'll be fine. That's some of Johanna and Fern's best work. It was a good idea to let them take charge of training him up."

"One less task for us you mean."

"We've been busy enough."

"I know, that's why I'm telling you to be careful, old man."

….

Everything was in order, as organised as a rebellion could be in District Eight. Now all Calico had to do was wait for orders. Finnick's words might not reach Eight directly, so it will be Poppy relaying the message that will kickstart all-out war in the east.

She had imagined hearing those words repeatedly, so often that she convinced herself they were already under orders. But Eight would have its own ideas regardless of higher authority.

They were in a holding phase but even that saw almost daily attacks on peacekeepers and the Justice Building. Anger had now turned on those who had done well out of the Capitol system and landowners in the cotton fields were finding themselves under siege. Peacekeepers were being diverted from the factories to address that latest crisis and chaos would ensue in the cities once more. It was a never-ending circle the Capitol could not control.

When Eight did finally spill over, there would be no holding back. It would be messy and bloody and Calico was not sure how best to limit civilian casualties. The bombs she had made would blow apart entire buildings and if she struck first, the Capitol would retaliate.

But they had no idea when a full-scale retaliation would come. Eight had already angered the Capitol and was the location of peacekeeper violence in response to their uprisings. Calista was trying to find out from her circles in the Justice Building but she had to temporarily quit her job in the Mayor's office as it was too dangerous. Calico had no doubt she would be back once the rebuilding began.

Calista had proven herself effective. People had thought she was the spoiled child of a victor who could not connect with the troubled youth of District Eight. But she had proven them wrong. Her youth engagement programmes had been effective both for the leadership and in ways they could never have imagined.

It was not difficult for her to develop a rapport with the young people forced to attend the programmes she ran. A spell of teenage shoplifting was shut down after six weeks of 'rehabilitation' with Calista. She had given them food to take home, and they did not need to steal from the local market anymore. As they had been so successful, Calista vouched for them and helped them into factory work, putting more people with no respect for the Capitol's authority in an environment where they would become fully-fledged rebels. It was all too easy.

It was sheer incompetence from the Capitol, on a scale Calico could barely believe. She had spent years organising and attempting to build up discipline among Eight's fighters whilst the Capitol did half her job for her. Eight had not run active recruitment for rebel sympathisers in years.

Calico knew it was time. It would only be a matter of days. She could not hold District Eight any longer. Cecelia had told her not to try. There would be no point and it would only end badly for them. Their organisation depended on Calico remaining a leader and she wanted to drive her people forward, together. They were united and there was no time as good as when their people were ready.

….

Calico did not have to wait long. Eleven had exploded and the anger was spreading across the country. Nobody could be held back.

Seeder and Marshall were in Eleven's marketplace responding to a call from a mother whose child had been accused of stealing from one of the richest stallholders. The victors had arrived swiftly to try to avoid peacekeeper heavy-handedness but money courted authority among Eleven's richer people and the peacekeepers intervened.

Everything happened so quickly from their arrival. The peacekeepers immediately escalated tensions and the child grew upset and tried to escape. Seeder ran to the child to try to calm them down and the peacekeepers opened fire. The child lay dead with Seeder covering him, her body not moving.

Marshall had the foresight to turn on the body camera he often wore to public outings in Eleven. He ran after Seeder and panicked when he realised she was not moving. He rushed towards her, and the peacekeepers shot him too. Eleven was already on a knife edge and now there was no turning back.

Seeder was dead, the child was dead. Marshall was injured and screaming for Chaff. He was in shock and could not get himself together. Blood was rushing down his face and the camera had caught everything.

Unsurprisingly, someone had found Chaff, and he came out charging toward the peacekeepers. Marshall could only anticipate what might happen next so he picked himself up from the floor and ran towards his mentor to stop him from attacking the first peacekeepers he could find. He did not want them both to die. It would not be what Seeder wanted either.

But Chaff was both enraged and distraught and Marshall knew this was it. He kept the camera rolling, surprised that nobody had picked up on it yet and watched as the child's parents sat crying alongside him and Chaff knelt alongside Seeder and took her hand.

This was it. Marshall knew it and everybody around them did too. The peacekeepers had shot a child, frightened by their presence and they shot the victors who had tried to help. Seeder was gone.

Time seemed to stall around Eleven's victors. They watched as the Capitol put out a story to cover the peacekeepers' tracks and knew this could not be allowed. Marshall contacted Halley and managed to send over the footage, and she watched in horror as Seeder was shot before her eyes too.

Seeder was the oldest of their group and someone every victor respected. There wouldn't be a victor who would not be affected by this. Nobody, victor or not, could abide by shooting a child as they ran in fear. The truth had to be given to the people.

Marshall was at home, lying low and recovering from his injuries when he saw the footage again. His hearing had been affected and bullets had pierced one of his arms. He was lucky. His injuries could have been a lot worse.

He realised as the video cut through the Capitol broadcast that Three's victors had heavily edited the footage. Not to obscure the truth, nobody could deny what had happened, but to protect him. It was not clear who was filming, and the broadcasted clip missed the part where he was shot too, again, Marshall realised, to protect him. But now everybody knew what had happened. The peacekeepers had shot a child dead and shot the victor who had tried to help.

Eleven had already exploded. The stallholders who involved the peacekeepers were killed the night Seeder died. Chaff was not at home, so Marshall knew who was at the helm of that attack. He brought forward their proposed assaults on the barracks and now every night, there were reports of battles between peacekeepers and masked Eleven citizens. Nobody was going to work, and production had collapsed.

The funerals only served to amplify the tensions and across the districts, more footage emerged showing people holding their own memorials. The miners in Twelve went on strike and a video featuring images of life in Twelve captured by Peeta and Katniss accompanied by the sounds of school children singing circulated the airwaves. Ten held a vigil with Charo and Adan front and centre. District Four released stills of the place where Mags was buried overlooking the sea with two boats floating away and a group of people in the shadows watching on. It was obvious who they were.

Calico could not hold Eight back and did not wait for any orders. Eight matched Eleven in energy and their peacekeepers were on the back foot. Coordinated strike action between Three, Four, Five and Seven began and there was no denying what was afoot. Cameron in Six had responded by cutting the brakes of peacekeeper vehicles every time more footage was released.

The message cutting through the airwaves was clear. This was how the Capitol controlled the districts. The violence was who they were. They did not care who they harmed, so long as they retained control. But enough was enough. Everybody knew it was time.

Finnick called Halley and Poppy in the emerging chaos and his words were clear.

"I don't think I even need to say this, but let's go. All hands on deck. It's now or never."

Panem was at war.