Day 1: Is This Thing On?

My apologies in advance for the machine gun-like tone. Power is iffy, at best, and running the generator will attract too much attention. I found an old night-light and plugged it in near my desk; when it goes on, I spring into uploading action. It's only dial-up, but it's far better than smoke signals.

"Quarantined". That's rich, eh? A more apt term would be "barricaded". The heroes disappeared, the gates were shut and the keys more or less thrown away. I'm getting fuzzy reports over shortwave that Mayor Morales declared martial law, but the war walls wreak havoc with even the strongest of signals. Every third word or so grabs your attention, and then it's over. Come to think of it, that's just like every other City Hall press conference.  

Is the antenna relay in Eastgate still operational? For as bad as the park has been, the Hollows must be an absolute nightmare. Just about every low-level scumbag group is represented there, and the police presence at the Atlas gate can only last so long.

How about the other zones? I heard the Steel Canyon skyline looked like ground zero and King's Row collapsed, but it's all rumors at this point. Does anyone know what happened? Why did the heroes vanish like that? Has there been any word from the Rogue Isles?

Sorry so many questions, but I'm not sure what to do or where to go. I can remain holed up in here only for so long. Skulls and Hellions are going building to building, floor by floor. It's only a matter of time until they kick the door in. If they had an ounce of sense they'd consolidate, but the "Skullions" won't happen any time soon. It's just sheer, stupid force.

I can see the Dirty Duck with my binoculars. I'd give anything for some cask ale and a reuben right now. It's funny how even the most banal of things become beautiful once they're out of reach.

Will write more soon. Oh, and my name is Ernie Lardner. I am (was?) a sports reporter for the Paragon Times. I'm no Jackson Turner and I'm better with box scores than battle zones, but I'll do what I can.