Defiant, meanwhile, looked pretty grim. When he got a nod from Dragon, he tapped his spear-butt against the rock, hard enough to be audible from the far end of the clearing. All conversation stopped.

“Thank you for coming,” he said. “As of right now, the city is under a steady, surreptitious attack. Several arrests were made and now that we have some information, we want to make sure everyone knows the pertinent details.”

“If you want transcripts of the talks with the captives, you can message me at my Parahumans Online account,” Dragon said. “I’ll send you what I can.”

“The attackers are Earth Cheit,” Defiant said. “The divergence point for Earth Cheit was six hundred years ago. There was a change in the royal line and a push for an ‘age of enlightenment’ stance, denigrating and even criminalizing some aspects of religion. The backlash was severe and sharp. An inclusive, aggressive faction emerged in answer to it, and that faction would eventually absorb and conquer others.”

“The world has a population well beyond that of the Earth Bet we knew,” Dragon said. “It also has sub-sects which are violent and willing to die for their cause. These people have been steadily infiltrating and occupying. Now they’re escalating their attacks. You’ve all heard of the attack on the refugee site.”

Defiant shifted his grip on his spear. “They go for what vulnerabilities they see, and we have a lot. We’re stretched thin and it’s easier to destroy than it is to protect. If you’re willing to face this threat, expand your patrols, keep track of power lines, phone lines, railroad tracks, and key buildings. Hospitals, portals, schools, community centers, political offices and team headquarters are all possible targets for strikes.”

“If you aren’t willing to face down these people, or if you’re a group of minors,” Dragon said, “allow others to cover this ground in your territory. We cannot allow them footholds.”

“Share information,” Defiant said. “Team rivalries, pride, rankings, and even financial competition should be set aside. If you’re willing, and if it would make the difference, we will subsidize you in the meantime. If you need or want mediators, referees, or brokers for trade, we will provide them.”

“It’s a state of emergency?” Mayday asked.

“It is,” Defiant said. “Thinkers, strangers, some changers and some tinkers may be invaluable, given the shape this conflict is taking.”

“Yes,” Lookout’s voice was barely audible.

“The man behind the worst of this is named Teacher,” Dragon said. “He grants thinker abilities or tinker powers. The tinker powers he grants may be something he’s using to create his own temporary portals. It’s not as simple as guarding the portals that already stand.”

“Are we considering working with villain groups?” a cape standing near Fume Hood and Tempera asked.

“We have to be careful,” Defiant said. “Several are working with other groups and powers, including Cheit. Cheit formed loose ties with the Fallen, who are…”

“Antitheotical?” Dragon suggested.