Becoming a Blue Heron

After 8 players made it to L8 in Seattle +Emmanuel Goldstien was trying to figure out what to name an operation for creating a large number of L8 portals when someone suggested the idea of Blue Heron.  Not only are they pretty birds but they also eat small amphibious creatures, which seems very fitting.

Well the name Blue Heron's stuck and when you reach L8 you are now a member of the Blue Herons.

In what is quickly becoming a very fun tradition a new L8 will meet up with as many Blue Heron's as possible at the Top of the Hill at Gas Works park (GW) for a shot of bourbon from +Emmanuel Goldstien, a handshake and your first deployment on one of the GW L8 Portals that are being rebuilt after being stolen by the enemy.

Although I made L8 about a week ago last night was the first time I was able to make it up to the park and it was an amazing experience for me.  There were 11 of us there last night 3 of us were new Heron's and the joking and fun and camaraderie is what makes +Ingress such a life changing experience for me.

After we were done burning out Gas Works park most of us made our way to the University of Washington (UW) another favorite farming spot.  I am actually still over inventory cap because of the gear drop last weekend and so I deployed my 8s and enjoyed watching my team mates joke around and play.  There really is nothing more entertaining than half a dozen or more geeks walking around in what appears to be aimless directions staring at their phone.  All these people wandering around red square, the main quad of the UW, at 11 o'clock at night really is a fun site to see.

While at the UW we got report that the toads were tearing down Gas Works Park and due to a minor slip by a lower level toad in All Comm we found out they were headed towards us.  My husband is still L7 so we wanted to stay and battle so he could get the AP but with no word on the location of the toads we decided we really needed to get home and couldn't wait.

As we pulled out of the parking garage I spotted a large group of people off to one side of the exit.  There really is no mistaking a group of +Ingress players about to make an attack  A large group of people all staring at their phones intently some with cables hanging off their phones, most budled up warm with gloves on, it was obvious the toads had arrived.  I also spotted a member of the toads I recognized which confirmed what I was seeing (+Benjamin Krueger your motorcyle outfit was just to easy to pick out).

Wouldn't you know my phone signal didn't want to come back after leaving the parking garage so I couldn't sound the alarm fast enough.  Once I got my connection back I frantically types "there's a whole bunch of 'em right outside the garage" then I flipped through my keys to find out what I could recharge as my husband drove home.  I spammed my little heart out re-charing and it appears I was able to save 6 of the L8 resonators on 1 portal, not much but helps in the battle.

The last thing I see on Comm's before I log off for the night is "We're still BSing in red square" and I smiled.  That means all is good in the world, battle was done, friends were made and fun was had by all.

Seattle Ingress I am truly grateful to be among your company, you have had more impact on my life than you'll ever know and I love battling with you and against you.

Mistyayn

L8 Blue Heron

Seattle Resistance

"Leader" of "Kira's Army" (rumor run amok)

Thanks to +Scott Manley for the use of the pictures