Mobile Guard Section One (IC)

[Fri]

OOC Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=160682)

cue opening (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v6Gy6_pm3s)

Ask any Silverporters on what do they think as the best part of the city, and each one will answer differently. Some would say its size. Some would say the amount of chance and freedom that Silverport holds. Some would say the modernity of it as the continent’s technological capital.

But ask any Silverporters on what do they think as the one thing that defines Silverport, and they’ll answer the same thing. The air. The exact combination of industrial smog, ARM exhaust, alchemical reagents, rotting waste, burning ozone, and the pièce de résistance, sea breeze, makes an atmosphere like no other. The thickness of it will dissipate more the closer you are to the imperial palace, but you won’t be able to escape it completely if you’re still in the general area of silverport.

The smell of sea water is a bit stronger for you right now, because you have just arrived outside Mobile Guard’s newest headquarter, that is located just before the city’s port. It’s clear that until recently it was a shipping warehouse. The only thing that makes it different compared to other shipping warehouses around it is the new paintjob and the giant banner above the gate that flaunts the city’s coat–of-arm. The gate is currently ajar, and two people are currently there. One, a permanently frowning female with a professional-looking bun on her head and a perfectly pressed guard uniform on her body, is pacing back and forth just beyond the gate. The other, is an old man sporting a pair of thick glasses and a light blue jumpsuit splattered with oils and mechanical reagents. Currently he’s just standing without expression under the base’s banner.

[jiriku]

Deacon lowers the felt-covered brim of his hat against the morning sun, adjusts the black eyepatch concealing the Eye of Golden Sorrow, and surveys his new workplace. Fresh paint, clean sign, security that looks serious about the business. Not bad. He's worked in buildings before that were like to scuttle into the shadows if the sun fell on them too bright.

Assuming a serious expression, he strides up to the guard and holds out a leathered, scarred hand for a handshake. "Press corps, ma'am. We're investigating reports of police brutality and excessive use of force. Mind if we come in and look around? The citizens want to know."

He waits about a beat and a half with a deadpan expression on his face, then breaks into a broad grin. "Naw, missy, I'm just messin' with you. Deacon Black, ARMS pilot, reporting for duty. Good mornin'!"

For the GM:
The Eye is in Astral Sight mode until further notice. It detects a bunch of stuff, but right now I'm mostly interested in knowing the mood of each of the people I can see. You can post that in a spoiler from now on if you like, or you can make it public for others if that's easier for you. I'm not picky.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Ta'Lab is running a little late this morning, and so he is moving at a brisk pace towards the new headquarters. The gathering at the were' bar had run late, so he hadn't had much of sleep, and that, combined with a heavier than usual smog that morning, means that Ta'Lab is particularly grateful that his lungs are not long affected by the dirt in the air. Finally reaching the seaside, Ta'Lab takes a moment to breath in the sea air, before scanning for the correct pier.

Spying the city shield over the warehouse, he takes a last look at himself. Finding all the requisite clothes on, he fusses the shirt one last time before walking up to the entrance, and takes a look inside before going in - evidence of a nervous childhood. Finally, he slips into the large room, and touches his hand to his helmet. "Pilot Rhea reporting for duty, sah," he says mutely to the woman.

[smuchmuch]

A tall middle aged man walks through the docks holding a cane and warped in a long coat. As a long time Silverporite, Arthur finds the smell hardly noticable anymore.
The stench of progress. It's a lot like the city who produces it, really. It's noxious at the core and bad for you, and yet you just have to love it. Because once you've tasted it long enough there's something of it that will never leave your heart. And Sinuses.
What shaped to be, no doubt, a fascinating* monologue is interupted by a suddenly rissing gust of wind. An expression of utter annoyance passes on Arthur square traits as he is forced to grasp his bowl hat with one hand and push it furtherover his short black hair to make sure it wont fly away.
In forty year, I have, however, never found anything remotly lovable about that damp morning sea breeze.

After a bit of pacing (and cursing against the wind), he finaly finds his destination and passes through the large warehouse doors where is new affectation will take place. After Tipping his hat to the compagny and giving a quick but well done salute "Ma'm. Gentlemen" ,he takes a small step back to get a good look at the place where is new affectation will take place and the peoples that appears to be his new teammates.


*Yes, yes it's terrible. Just be happy I didn't give in to the tentation of a full blown film noir style monologue.

Well informed roll on everyone present.
[roll0]
My character has been in the Silverport guard for quite a time now (at least 20 years), so he might at least know who the woman is.

[JeminiZero]

From amidst the morning crowd, a man emerges. A plain looking youth with brown hair and wrapped in a grey trenchcoat- a ragged and patchwork piece that almost made him look like a hobo. But the more astute observer would realize that his custom made fitted black shoes were not something a beggar would be wearing.

As the young man walks along, he glaces occasionally at a small tattered map, while muttering something to himself. This is apparently a part of the city which he does not visit often. Eventually he spots what he is looking for- the Coat-of-arms beckons in the distance.

Pocketing the map, he retrieves a manila evelope from his coat with the words "Transfer Documents" scribbled mesily on the side. Walking up to the frowning lady, he gives a small bow, before handing her the envelope. "Jirai Seinin, code name 'Black-Hand' reporting for duty!"

[Fri]

Smuchmuch
You've heard a bit about the women. Mary Lestrade. She's supposed to be a daughter of minor nobility or such, who entered the guard recently as an officer. Just a few months in the guard she's already creating a lot of ruckus by demanding things like accountability, proper paperwork, and such.

The old man is the guard's chief mechanic, Albert Rochester.

jiriku
The women radiates seething impatience and some kind of hidden disappointment, and the old man hides his giddiness well

At first, both of them barely notices the stream of newcomers.

"He's supposed to be here half an hour ago!" says the woman. "Why can't you be a bit more concerned, old man?"

"Eh, I was there when ships started to use magic instead of nature, and I was there when that young upstart created these ARMs. Some newfangled machines getting late won't bother me that much." Says the old man. "And it seems that your underlings have arrived.

The woman then realizes that a bunch of newcomers are there. She reciprocates Jirai's salute. "Welcome to Mobile Guard Section One!" She says as she shakes everyone's hand. "My name is First Lieutenant Marie Lestrade. I guess I was supposed to lead you into a line or something, but everything is so chaotic today that you must forgive me if everything isn't that properly ordered yet.

Just... stay somewhere for a bit, make yourself aquintained with the place or something."

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"My name is First Lieutenant Marie Lestrade. I guess I was supposed to lead you into a line or something, but everything is so chaotic today that you must forgive me if everything isn't that properly ordered yet.

Just... stay somewhere for a bit, make yourself aquintained with the place or something."

"Aye, aye," says Ta'Lab. Owning to a lifetime of careful planning, he walks around their new place, checking in particular for windows that can be left open, and back doors that can be opened by paws. After judging the building for convenience, he moves on to just check it out.

[Fri]

@ Ta'lab or whoever else who decides to check around

The place is big and deserted. A whole squad of guard can march around on the unmowed lawn between the gate and the main building.

The main building is at least three stories high. The first thing you see inside the main building is a huge empty space with steel platforms on the second and third story. There are lots of big windows, but most are permanently shut. There are rows of doors on the back and left side of the room, and it'll definitely take some time if you want to check all of them.

The sea isn't far behind the main building, and a small canal connects it with the base.

[jiriku]

Deacon stands, hands on hips, in the empty platformed space in the main building. He grinds the toe of one boot into the hard surface, then breaks into another of his broad grins.


"Why lookee here, Rhea! We're getting the best the department can buy. Invisible ARMs!"

He gestures grandly at the empty space, then strides forward and "leans" against an imaginary mecha.


"Who knew the department would spring for cloaking fields?"

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Deacon stands, hands on hips, in the empty platformed space in the main building. He grinds the toe of one boot into the hard surface, then breaks into another of his broad grins.


"Why lookee here, Rhea! We're getting the best the department can buy. Invisible ARMs!"

He gestures grandly at the empty space, then strides forward and "leans" against an imaginary mecha.


"Who knew the department would spring for cloaking fields?"

As he goes down the row of windows, checking if they can open or age has permanently fused them close, Ta'Lab offers Deacon a toothy - one would almost say wolfy - smile, and counters, "Well, we are the city's finest, after all." He takes a look at the long row of doors, and decides they are unlikely to open to the outside, but lacking time to make sure, mentally lists them under "to be checked later" category.

Going back to the main room, he joins Deacon. "So, how have you been? Don't think I've seen you since ARMs training. Is that a new eyepatch?"

[Sornas]

((Sorry about the delay all, was just asking Fri a few questions, then had a busy day today XD))

On a nearby floating dock, a young lad laid stretched out, a wisp of red hair blowing gently across his face as he stared up at the sky and let out a small, contented, sigh.

Chewing idly on a piece of stick-candy he had gotten from one of the nearby vendors, who could be heard hawking meals treats to the dockworkers, he smiled. In all his time in the city, he had never found anything to dislike about the cool morning sea-breeze.*

Looking at the position of the sun, he sighed again, not nearly as happy this time. "Well, I guess it's time to get going. I'm probably already late." He sat up, sitting cross-legged for a minute and looking out over the water. "Well...I'll trust that you'll be here for next time, eh?" He chuckled and stood up, stretching lightly as he enjoyed the breeze for a few more seconds before walking towards the headquarters slowly.

----

He didn't look much like a guard, really. In fact, he looked sort of like a street urchin more than anything else. He wore what looked to be a very well worn shirt, one that might have been of decent quality at one point, but almost had that "Favorite blanket" quality of something that has been used so long that it no longer has it's luster, and alongside that, a pair of simple hide britches, also well worn in their own right, tucked into a pair of heavy work boots. On his head he had a simple cloth cap, his long red hair spilling out the back of it and down around his shoulders.

Perhaps the most striking thing about him, however, was the fact that even for his young age, he couldn't have been more than fifteen or sixteen years old, he was rather small in stature, the top of his head just barely reaching mid-chest on a grown man.

As he reached the warehouse, he took a glance inside and took a measure of those right inside the door. Deciding that the old man looked the least threatening, he opened the gate a bit more and strolled in casually towards him, one hand sheepishly behind his head, and the other raised in greeting. "Hey there! Sorry I'm late!" He grinned, the edge of the now half-gone piece of candy still sticking from his mouth.

((*Sorry smuchmuch XD I couldn't resist))


[roll0]
Well informed for me as well, though I just now realize I neglected any ranks in gather info XD Ah well, it would make sense for him to not know a whole lot yet, so I'll just buy it up later.

[jiriku]

As he goes down the row of windows, checking if they can open or age has permanently fused them close, Ta'Lab offers Deacon a toothy - one would almost say wolfy - smile, and counters, "Well, we are the city's finest, after all." He takes a look at the long row of doors, and decides they are unlikely to open to the outside, but lacking time to make sure, mentally lists them under "to be checked later" category.

Going back to the main room, he joins Deacon. "So, how have you been? Don't think I've seen you since ARMs training. Is that a new eyepatch?"

Deacon gives a sheepish look.


"Weeeelll, ah, yes, it's new. I was down at the Three Wenches, and I was working on a good drunk, see? And this other fellah, he bet me three bits that I was so drunk I couldn't toss mah patch in the air, draw, and shoot it twice before it hit tha ground.

"So, well, I was drunk enough to take his bet, and sober enough to win it. So...yeah. New eyepatch."

"So, how 'bout you, Rhea? You still with that *ahem* foxy lady I saw you with last time? I gotta admit, you sure can pick 'em."

Deacon scans the ancient windows and doors with the Eye's deep vision, checking to see if their fastenings and hinges are accessible from the outside. Once the ARMs arrive, there's going to be some pretty expensive hardware stored in the room, and he's unsure if this ancient warehouse is properly protected against theft. It would be embarrassing if the Town Guard ever had to admit they were robbed. (Notice check, taking 10, is a 23.)

Hearing the hail of the most recent arrival, Deacon turns.

"Hey, Shortstuff! You're finally here! I've got the package you asked for."
Deacon fishes around under his black duster and retrieves a small, shapeless bundle tightly wrapped in oilcloth. He passes it to his diminutive squadmate mock-stealthily, as if not wanting anyone to see.

It contains (sornas only):
I have no idea! Make up whatever you like and I'll play along. :smallbiggrin:

[Fri]

@jiriku
From your glance, the windows are roughly as hard to be opened from outside as normal shut-and-bolted windows. Whether this is good enough or not for the force is up in the air though.

The old man let loose a small mysterious smile.

"Late on your first real job eh? Though you sure know when to get late. The reason for our job isn't here yet." He then lowers his voice. "And that's a good thing, because if not, the good lady here would notice that damn near everyone were late..."

"...if he's not here in another thirty minutes somebody's neck is going to be wrung..." Marie mumbles to herself.

[JeminiZero]

Jirai glances around at the various guys who had taken to inspecting the premises, joking around, or both. He wasn't particularly good with strangers, especially since Shinobi Academy only ever taught him how to slit their throats with his fingernails. Still, he understood the importance of having a bunch of big dumb brutes to back you up, in case a stealthy mission should go awry and devolved into a firefight...

Retracting his razor fingernails, the brown-haired youth decided to turn his attention to more pressing matters at hand... Like that fact that Shinobi Academy was a live-in military camp, and his transfer out has left him temporarily homeless. With that in mind, he starts a systematic search of the premises for new possible living quarters, as well as possible breach points.


Take 10 on search for 21.

[smuchmuch]

Arthur takes a glance at the building, then open a couple of doors. Not searching for anything in particular just yet (such as a place to install his office and somewhere to store in the future the mountains of paperworks that will be no doubt be generated), there would be time for that later, but just getting a general idea of the state of the state of the building and equipements.
And maybe confirm a sneaking suspicion of mine

After a very short inspection of the premice he walks back to the doors where the pilots are talking among themselves. The part about the invisible Arm make him smile. After a silent greeting to the latecommer.
"In all fairness sir, for someone not used to this part of the city, the docks can be fairly hard to naviguate." Arthur is talking to Rochester. (since the takes an interest in mechanical and alchemical devices (purely as an amateur), they might have alredy met. If not he'll present himself first "Lt* Sambre, detective".). "I must confess to a little disapointement.While I do not pilot these machines, I was looking forward to see a closer look at somme of the new ARMs before they had to be put in ation." He stares at the space were they should be "Do you have any idea why such a delay ?"



((*Sorry smuchmuch XD I couldn't resist))
Oh feel free. that actualy made me smile.

*Since my character has one rank in benefit (police offcier) and we're all guard, I've made my character a Lieutenant (I'm kinda fuzzy on my police rank but i think detectives are officiers anyway ? Not sure). I hope that's okay, If not, I'll change.

[jiriku]

"So, ah, miss Marie...who are we waiting for?"

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"So, how 'bout you, Rhea? You still with that *ahem* foxy lady I saw you with last time? I gotta admit, you sure can pick 'em."

Ta'Lab thinks back to the training days, and answers, "Oinari, you mean? Yes, she's a fine looking girl all right, but unfortunately we were never together-together," Ta'Lab seems slightly wistful about this, "She's just an... old friend, and I was taking her on a tour of the city. Silverport is not the kind of place I'd let a newcomer roam about unescorted."

Ta'Lab pays close attention to the conversation about the ARMs' delay, but for the moment does not participate.

[Fri]

(I was actually waiting for sornas to reply, but I guess I'll advance the game. If you still want to do something on before this happens, feel free. That's the beauty of PbP games)

Before Marie got any chance to answer you hear the hoofing of horses and the rattling of wheels. The old man jumps from his place and runs toward the source of the sound, forgetting his cool facade. Marie's face brighten for a bit, only to frown again as it turns out that it's not who or what she's waiting for.

A horse-drawn cab stops noisily in front of the gate. From it a young man in blue jumpsuit similar to Albert's jumps down. He runs directly toward Marie and both of them converse hastily. After that, the young man runs outside, leaving the cab and Marie.

Marie's face turned serious as she talks with Albert, then she runs toward the main building. "Everyone, gather now!" she says.

[Sornas]

"Late on your first real job eh? Though you sure know when to get late. The reason for our job isn't here yet." He then lowers his voice. "And that's a good thing, because if not, the good lady here would notice that damn near everyone were late..."

The boy laughed nervously and continued to rub the back of his head, taking Deacon's distraction as an excuse to get as far away from Marie as possible before she set her sights on him.

Taking the package from him, he grinned. "Thanks, old man. I'm gonna be needing these if I'm gonna be doing my job right." He untied the bundle quickly and crouched down, spreading it out over the floor. There were things of all sorts inside, various powers, vials of oddly glowing liquid, several mushrooms, and other clearly alchemical reagents, but what was in the center was what the boy went for first: A brand new pair of light green-banded goggles, lenses made of Kisian glass, some of the toughest stuff around, and known for being slightly magic-resistant, very helpful when dealing with volatile reagents, and not easy to get ahold of.

Sweeping them up in one smooth motion, he quickly put them on, letting the actual lenses rest on his forehead. "Perfect! You know, I was a little skeptical when you said you knew where to find a Kisian glassworker in the city, but I gotta admit, you came through, old man!" He grinned and reached into his pack, tossing what looked to be a waterskin, but longer and with a thinner neck.* "There! That should keep you going for a good long time, that is, assuming you don't go blind and start shooting everything that moves." He grinned sardonically and chuckled, bundling the rest of the package back up and slinging it over his shoulder.

"So, what? It seems like the ARMs aren't here yet? Where the heck IS everyone, anyway?"



"Everyone, gather now!"


"Looks like I spoke too soon..."

*((A Powderhorn to any character who would recognize such a thing))

[jiriku]

Deacon takes the powderhorn with the look of a man dying in the desert offered a waterskin. "Aaaah, just what I need for my two little girls!" He pats his holstered revolvers affectionately, and his one good eye twinkles with delight.

-----

Securing the munitions, Deacon follows after Marie, although at a more sedate pace, as he suspects that it's a meeting with authority figures, rather than a good clean fight, that awaits him.

[JeminiZero]

Upon hearing Marie's call, Jirai pauses his search, and breaks into a quick jog back down the stairs, to the assembly area. Hmm... if the team is going to respond quickly to emergency calls, this place could do with a fireman's pole.

[smuchmuch]

Arthur listen can't help but overhear the conversation between the pilot and what he sssume to be a mechanic given the tool exhange. Deacon reaction does make him wince discretly. it's nice to see the ARM pilot are enthusiastic about their job but trigger hapyness may be well the last thing this unit needs.


"Everyone, gather now!"

Ah, I think I'm going to get my answer. Why do I suspectl the world unexpected setback are going to be pronounced at somme point. Arthur joins the others topty he gthering area.

[Fri]

jiriku:
the young man got away so quickly that you can't really read his emotion. Though you got a feeling that he's not that important...

well-informed people:
You got a feeling that the kid isn't that important, since even you never heard anything about him and he looks completely mundane :p

"I got some news on the whereabout of *sigh* our captain. It looks like that he and the whole shipment of our supplies are currently trapped on the other side of the harbor. It seems that there is some kind of incident, although I'm not really sure what it is, and he's currently trying to contain it.

The courier told me that he explicitly asked for any arm pilots who are already arrived to meet him there, though I won't let myself stood up again here for who knows how long." Marie combs her hair with her fingers and smiles determinedly. "Who's going with me?"

[smuchmuch]

Arthur raise an eyebrow "I am no pilot but I would assume such a setback would concern the whole unit, no ?" He's not volunteing, just making a remark.
"Besides " With a quick gesture he sweep his cane at the deseperatly empty building "unless there's equipement awaiting arrival, I don't think there's that much to do here for now.

Waiting for the other to see whos' going.
Arthur will stay at HQ if someone has too. (Mostly because he's a non pilot and as a player I can find stuff to post even when my character hasn't much to do so it's not a problem.).

[JeminiZero]

Jirai stands at attention and shows no emotion as Marie explains the situation. "I agree with the... man with the walking stick." The brown hair youth begins. "Since those ARM units are our raison d'etre, our top priority is to secure them. The last thing Section One needs, is for a couple of them to be stolen and sent rampaging, even before we begin operations."


Gundam Seed senses, still tingling.

We can probably leave the old mechanic to watch the building.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"I got some news on the whereabout of *sigh* our captain. It looks like that he and the whole shipment of our supplies are currently trapped on the other side of the harbor. It seems that there is some kind of incident, although I'm not really sure what it is, and he's currently trying to contain it.

The courier told me that he explicitly asked for any arm pilots who are already arrived to meet him there, though I won't let myself stood up again here for who knows how long." Marie combs her hair with her fingers and smiles determinedly. "Who's going with me?"

"Ma'am!" says Ta'Lab, pulling a textbook salute. He adds, "That said, do we need to hurry? As you know, I am the fastest runner. If we need to have a pilot there in a hurry, I can sprint ahead."

[Fri]

"Sure, if you think you can run faster than the coach. The captain sent it to pick us up though."

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Sure, if you think you can run faster than the coach. The captain sent it to pick us up though."

"In morning traffic? Easily," says Ta'Lab off-handedly, "But I suspect any of us could walk there faster than the coach, so it's likely that he isn't in that much of a hurry."

Moving to the coach, he opens the door, "That said, I would like to see my ARM sometime today, so I suggest we get moving?"

[jiriku]

Deacon brightens up. There is going to be a fight!


"Well, Miss Marie, I couldn't rightly let a lady like yourself head into danger without an escort. You can count me in!"

He hustles to the coach and hops in.


"C'mon all of you. Let's get this wagon rolling!"

[Sornas]

The boy walked after Deacon, brushing by Ta'Lab rather rudely, and hopping into the back of the wagon as well. "I'm going." He said matter-of-factly. "Let's get moving, it can't be too serious if the captain had time to send us the coach, but we still need to hurry."

Anyone who looked at him would notice that he didn't appear to be armed in any way, and certainly didn't look to be very tough. If there was a fight to be had, he certainly didn't look up to it.

[Fri]

"I guess I'll... watch the fort..." Albert shrugs his shoulders.

After everyone who intend to join enter the coach, it races toward the harbor. After some while, it stops suddenly.

"Sorry ma'am." The driver says. "Can't move any further. There's a crowd on the road."

[smuchmuch]

"A crowd ?" Arthur take a quiet step outside of the coach (it looks like they'lll have to walk anyway),and start walking quietly in order to see what's up head. are they blocking the port, facing the other direction, do they look angry (it's usualy easy to tell, by the noise), waitng for something in particular...
In short, are they just curious gathering around a spectacular accident or an angry mob ? Given the situation, non would be too good.

I supose Notice would be indicated.taking 10 for a 20

Assuming the situation doesn't look too hostile or dangerous:

The detective approaches one of the person gathered. With his coat covering his police insigna for now, there no real way to say he's not a simple curious bypasser who just stumbled on the scene, as he asks nonchalantly one of the gathered personn
"Hello sir. may I ask what is going on ?"


Just a genral note.
In general, I'm not going to crank the gather information and investigate checks just yet if it looks I can just ask in character. Because, as much as I want to test conspiracy theorist and want to get the game flowing, I still prefer doing things though roleplaying rather than dice rolling

[jiriku]

Deacon looks ahead, trying to get a good view of the obstacle they face. How large is the crowd? What's their mood? Are there any nearby alleys the team could use to maneuver around the crowd, either in their vehicle or on foot? Can he see anyone in police uniforms, or any large transports that could be the squad's missing supplies?

To Marie Lestrade, he asks, "So, what's this captain of ours look like? I might be able to spot him in the crowd."

Notice check, taking 10, is 23.

Fri:
As a reminder, Deacon sees ten times farther than a normal human, can read the emotions of the people in the crowd, and can see through solid objects, including people, buildings, and whatnot. If dust, smoke, or something else interferes with his vision, he'll simply switch to Golden Gaze and he can see through that too.

[JeminiZero]

Jirai hops off the coach along with... the Walking Stick Man and Gun Man, and takes a look around. His training led his eyes to wander upwards, searching for rooftop routes that a trained Shinobi could traverse easily, in case he had to go ahead alone.


Take 10 on Notice for 17. Includes looking for alternative overhead paths. Wall Climbing and a Grappling Hook should enable him to get from anywhere to just about anywhere else along the top of buildings.

[Sornas]

Brennan poked his head out of the wagon, glancing around with a sour expression on his face. "The hell's goin' on?" He said impatiently, hopping out himself to get a better look.


Taking 10 on Notice as well, for 20.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"I knew I should've sprinted ahead on my own..." says Ta'Lab to himself. With all the others looking at or even moving towards the crowd, Ta'Lab instead gets down the other side, leaving the helmet and breastplate behind. Removing the weapons, but making sure his vox and badge are firmly held on his necklace. Then, with a practiced jump, he turns into a wolf in midair, slipping out of the remaining clothes.

The shock, as always, is intense. His senses get attacked by the thousands of smells and sounds that were muted before. In a brief moment, he takes in what is going on and indeed, since smells stick around for long times, what has been going on for the last few hours. Ta'Lab runs to the crowd, and starts slipping between the sea of legs.

Take 10 in both investigate (18) and gather information (20) whichever skills are relevant: notice (24) & search (24). Use super-senses to get a picture of not just what is going on right now, but what has been happening for the last... couple of hours? More if needed, but basically going back to the start of what's going on. I'm happy with "color-smells", if that's how you want to do it, Fri.

I assume that as a slightly-large wolf, I shouldn't have trouble slipping through the crowd, but if growls and a few snips are needed, then Ta'Lab uses them to get through

[jiriku]

A Rhea strips out of his gear on a public road, leaps into the air and morphs into a wolf, then streaks off, Deacon just stares, open-mouthed. He looks into the crowd where the wolf has vanished, then back at the ground where Rhea's clothes are piled. Then at the crowd. Then at the ground.


"You ain't nothing but a hound dog," he sighs.

Shaking his head, he hops out of the coach and collects the clothing and stows it in the police vehicle, figuring Rhea will probably be very naked and very in need of it shortly.

[Fri]

The crowd doesn't seems to be dangerous. Something is happening, but this might not be what you're expecting.

In the middle of the crowd, some town guards are making human fence to keep the crowd away from a particular clearing beside a warehouse. A bit beyond that, there's a pile of vehicles with the town guard's marking. Two of them are bigger than the rest, and covered with heavy cloth.

"I'm sure that he didn't mean that..." You can hear the reverberating voice of a sound that had been magically amplified.

"No! I totally meant that. She's my sister and I know her better than anyone! She's a whore and a bitch!" If you're close enough to the clearing you could hear a slurred speech.

"Nobody talk about my honey that way!" another slurred speech, and a crash.

Even from the edge of the crowd you could see it. Two ARMs are currently engaged in something that can only be described as a brawl. Though it's clear that both of them aren't very good at it, because there are more damage on their surroundings compared to the actual damage on the mechs. The ARMs look burly and painted in poseidon project's blue livery.

On top of one of the guard vehicle, you could see a middle aged man looking both vaguely exasperated and very amused, holding a conical magic item.

jiriku
strangely, you can't read the middle aged man's emotion. It's either that he's very good at guarding his mind, or he got some sort of magical mean to block your magic eye

You could recognize that both pilots are very drunk.

well informed

You've heard about this man. The infamous Captain James Marlowe. Also known as ‘the daydreamer’ , ‘the old man,’ and ‘the irresponsible.’ He got half dozen more nicknames, none flattering. Mostly infamous for being very lazy and ineffectual. Sectors led by him always have the lowest number of criminal arrest.

ARM recognition
You recognize the ARMs. Well, it’s just because it’s one of the most common mech ever. It’s AW-80 Ogre, one of the most widely used construction mech. It’s used for everything from heavy lifting, construction work, to heavy duty mining. It’s very basic, cumbersome but very strong. In fact it's one of the strongest ARM

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Staying well away of the fighting mech, Ta'Lab skirts the edges and moves at top speed, jumping over whatever is in his way, making his way to the cloth-covered objects, and slips under one of the cloths.

50 mph and Jump should be enough to do this, I hope

[Sornas]

Brennan, having hopped out of the wagon and made his way through the crowd, using his small stature to duck and weave between people, ((I can make a check for this if you like, Fri)) looked up at the ongoing fight and promptly facepalmed.

"Oh come ON!" He yelled, most likely not carrying very far in the roar of the crowd. "Don't involve them in your fight!" He grumbled and kicked the dirt. Watching the fight for a few seconds so as to get a feel for how dangerous these guys really could end up being.


Using Assessment on both:
[roll0] 1
[roll1] 2

[JeminiZero]

Jirai takes in the situation at a glance, before returning to Marie. "Ma'm! Two workers are apparently drunk and fighting ineffectually in construction mechs. Their brawl is happening just beside our first supply shipment, thereby preventing approach." Jirai says while scratching an impromptu map on the ground. "Local Townguard has established a perimeter, and their leader is trying to talk the two men down. Your orders?"

[jiriku]

"The lady wants us to stop them before someone gets hurt, pajama-boy!"

Deacon finishes stowing the were-cop's clothes and shifts his eyepatch to uncover a gleaming, golden eye radiating a soft, lustrous glow. Gently but firmly, he begins to push through the crowd towards the crated Paladins, making much less effective progress than Ta'Lab.


"'Hey, folks! Police mobile guard, coming through here! Make way, wilya!"

Switching to Golden Gaze, can I confirm that our paladins are under the two larger crates? Assuming I can reach one, can I see a way I could access it quickly, or does it seem likely that we wouldn't be able to get them uncrated without significant effort?

[Fri]

Ta'lab reaches his target easily.

Meanwhile, back in the coach, Marie facepalms. "Oh bother. Thank you, Jirai. Come, let's rendezvous with this so called leader of the local town guard."

Marie weaves through the crowds without any subtlety. "Town guard here, step aside!" she says as she raises her baton.

After a while, she reaches the human fence. "Ah... Sweet Marie. I wonder why you're kinda late..."

As you moves closer to the vehicle, you could see the man better. In contrast with Marie's proper uniform and hairdo, this man's uniform looks mussed, and his hair that's just starting to grey looks like hasn't touched a comb for a while.

"You're the late one you old man!" Marie starts to fume.

"I assume that you've brought the new pilots. Or are you here to help me talk them down?"

"In fact, I brought the pilots." Marie calms herself. "Now what is the situation?"

"Two workers from the poseidon project got into a drunken binge all night long, and somehow they managed to get themselves into their ARMs. And as you can see, they wrought quite some havoc. They blocked the road for a while, and managed to thrash our supply wagon.

I don't think any of the Magic Knight would want to bother dirtying their robes for this. Normally, we'll just wait until their ARMs run out of energy before arresting them. But this might be the perfect job for the new Mobile Guard."

"Okay." Marie assesses the situation. "Mr Black, go find Mr Rhea and start the Paladins. I assume that they're somewhere in that pile. Let's try to contain this incident."

"And before you do that." Captain James reaches into a wooden box. "Here, I managed to save the vox-caster attuned to the mobile guard's frequency. This should be better than yelling to each others later." He says as he throws some red crystal toward the mobile guard's member.

"What a job eh?" He says as he watches the two ARMs trying to pummel each other.

jiriku
You confirm that the Paladins are under the clothes, and if you manage to enter them, freeing them from the pile should be easy

sornas
Both of them are just construction workers, and they should be less competent at fighting with ARMs compared to trained guard pilot. In fact, their moves are wild and staggering and even worse than how you think construction pilots should move.

But if the data sheet of the Paladin was true, both of the rampaging ARMs should be considerably stronger than the Paladin

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Under the heavy cloth, Ta'Lab changes back into human and scampers his way up to the cabin, where he fastens himself in. There was a whole list of pre-start checks he'd normally have to do, but mentally classifying this as "emergency start", he skips directly to "wake the elemental, start the magic pump, check alchemical levels are green, good to go". Checking he has full control of all fingers, he pulls the cloth off the machine and steps forward.

Lights flashing, siren ringing loudly, the giant white figure steps out. A voice rings loudly, "Police! Freeze! What's going on here, then?"

More privately, Ta'Lab calls Deacon on his Vox Caster, and says, "I'll try to distract them, but I'd take it as a personal favour if you get into the other AG-98 with some haste..."

I had already mentioned Ta'Lab having a Vox back here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8999355&postcount=36), not expecting to get it later, so I'm not sure if my call to Deacon is kosher.

Also, I've taken police blue as the loud speaker for the Paladin.

[smuchmuch]

Maybe the most impressive thing is not so much ARMs themselves but the rapidity to wich we have becomme used to them. Arthur gaze fall from he two titans, crashing against one another to the surrounding crowd as he makes his way to the police vehicles.
Seeing an Arm do somme heavy lifting as becomme such a common thing nowaday that it take something like this to grab our attention. Yet they are power. Of a sort. With only a few we can now acomplish what would have taken hundreds before. Turning a costal swamp into a city, though from one nest of crabs to another you'd be hard pressed to make difference sometime, forest into plains... The loud thump of one of the giant feet creating an impromptu restructuration job into the wall of a nearby warehousse bring him back to reality and a simple drunken brawl into potential catastrophy. Trully we live in enlightened times.

"Sir" Saluting the captain, the detective grabs distractedly one of the vox caster as one of the Paladin unveils itself and prepared ifself to join the clumsy choregraphy of creaking gears and rampant proprety damage
Just in case this break out of control..." In Sambre experience, drunks can get really stupid when you try to break them apart. he has no idea how these two, manegeed to get the focuss to get into a,nd start their ARMs while being obviously completly plastered but... You certainly have to admire their determination into get to the far end of idiocy They're not going to listen to reason and comme along peacefully at this point.
"...Maybe you should ask your man to push the crowd a little further from the scene ?"

So we have only two pilot characters ? (I just realised now that Jirai wasn't one.)
You'd think in a game were the robots are more or less supposed to be focuss there's be more pilots character than non pilot ones.

[JeminiZero]

As the first Paladin rose from the cargo pile, Jirai quietly unbuttoned his grey hobo coat. In a smooth sweep, he slid it off his arms, over his head, and into compact bundle, revealing a custom fitted black Shinobi Suit underneath. He kneels down to place the bundle on the floor, dirtying the less than pristine ground with his far from pristine coat. At the same time, he grabs a fistful of pebbles before standing up. It looked like there was going to be a fight, and it was best if he got prepared.


Don't expect too much. He's just going to throw pebbles as a distraction, to give you pilots +2 to Attack via Aid Another.

[jiriku]

Deacon looks at the massive construction mechs and their drunken pilots, and at the ground he has to cover to get to his Paladin.


"Oh in the name of all that's mad and crazy...!"

He dashes wildly for the Paladin, running around behind Rhea's mech to use it as cover from the melee. Without that mech, he's useless at stopping a raging ARM.

However, the VOX caster will come in handy.


"Hey, Pajamas! How many viable avenues of escape do these guys have if one of them tries to run for it? Can we block some of those routes off with carts or wagons? I don't want to have to chase them through the city.

"Arthur, Brennan, can you get these people out of here? There's likely to a be a stampede if the crowd is still packed in when we start shooting.

"Lestrade! ....Interesting choice of undergarments. I didn't know those were legal here. Are you free Saturday night?"

Full run for the crated Paladin, free actions to talk to teammates and hit on the commander. VOX communications are italicized.

[Sornas]

Seeing Deacon run for the Paladin, Brennan's expression visibly soured, not that any of the team were likely to see him at the moment. Grabbing the tossed Vox Caster, he held it for a moment to switch it on, using his own magical abilities to amp-up the volume in Ta'Lab's and Deacon's receivers, so as to more clearly make his point.

"Fine. But if either of you hurt them seriously, I'm going to have your heads on a damn pike. Got it?"

He looked towards the human wall and called out to them. "Hey! Let's get these people out of here! All of you! Move it!" He was clearly irritated, barking orders to the regular guards with little regard for Marie or the Captain. As far as he was concerned, there was no time.


Just tell me if you want me to make a check for this Fri, he will show his Mobile guard ID to any regular guard who questions him, but I can do Intimidate, diplomacy, or maybe bluff to make him seem more important than he really is, though he's not trying to convince the crowd, he's just getting the guards to help get them out.

[Fri]

Everyone winces as one of the Ogre misses the others with its charge and destroys some part of a nearby warehouse.

Then the paladin rises from the rubble, a white, shining knight that rise as high as buildings. It doesn't need to look like that, in fact simpler design like the ogres makes a lot more sense. But its looks are specifically designed to awe citizens and intimidate criminals.

Though, all of its subtleties are lost for the drunks.

"Hey, what are you?" Says one of the drunkards.

"You see it too? Leave us alone you giant... shining.... white thingy. This is our private business!"

Ta'lab can say that his distraction is a success, because they stop to watch him at least for this instance.

"Everyone! Our main priority is to prevent them from injuring other citizens and to stop them from destroying more of their surrounding." Marie says to the Vox. "Captain, my men are right. We should move the crowds further from the scene. And, hey!" Marie blushes and covers her front with her hands. "What are you talking about, Mr Black? What I wear under my uniform is my own business... wait that's not the important point..."

"What are you doing here kid," say one of the guard to Brennan. "This is a dangerous place, stay farther if you want to watch."

"No, the kid is right." Captain James smiles and stands up. "Shoo, you guys!" He says to his magical voice amplifier. "Move farther! There, there's a nice building there where you can have a better vantage point to watch this! Come on help me with this you guys" He bellows toward the crowds, then whispers to the guards.

The arrival of the paladin both help and distraught the evacuation. The paladin radiates an aura of authority that makes the crowd feels like they should listen to the guards today. But it also makes the crowd want to see what is it going to do next. City dwellers always love free entertainment.

[JeminiZero]

Jirai glances at the heavily built Construction Mecha before something occurs to him. Whispering into the Vox Caster, he asks. "Before you pilots begin attack, considering the Paladin just came out of its box, are there any weapons on it?"

He then turns briefly to the crowd (while holding the pebbles behind his back). "Please listen to the Townguard and retreat from the premises."


Diplomacy/Bluff/Intimidate check to Aid Another (whoever is going to try and drive the crowd back): [roll0]

[jiriku]

His back turned, Deacon completely misses Brennan's expression...and his point.


"Of COURSE I'm not going to hurt them. They're just drunkards, it's not like they're marauding dragons come to burn the town and carry off our young virgins or something! Jeez!

"Rhea, I'm on my way, but watch your flank! I've got to get this bucket of bolts started."
Reaching the remaining paladin, Deacon shoulders his way under the tarp, vaults into the cockpit and slams the cold-start levers, his adrenaline pumping and his breath coming in ragged gasps.


"Now GIDDYUP you worthless overgrown lawn ornament!"

Pilot check if it's necessary to quick-start the Paladin:
[roll0]
Oh, and, umm, Jirai makes a good point. Where are the arms for our ARMS?
Also, do we have an initiative sequence of any kind here or does it not really matter?

[Fri]

"You most likely could find your weapons in that pile" says Captain James. "Now Henry, Mike, tear down that other gate!" Now the guards are directing the crowds to a building at the higher grounds with promise of better view of the fight.

(I guess the initiative run should start now. Anyway, I guess just this time we don't really need initiative. I run by the "your turn-enemy turn" style of combat to simplify things. Basically the initiative list would be Ta'lab, The two drunkards, and then the rest of you could move.

And I also don't think that we need map now.)

[Sornas]

((It's alright to do non-action RP between our actual actions though, right?))

Brennan did a double-take, struck speechless for a moment by Deacon's words...and then promptly started laughing.

"You...you thought I meant the DRUNKS?" He laughed, almost looking like he was struggling to stay upright. "You can toss them into the ocean for all I care, hell, maybe it will sober them up some."

He waited at the same location as before, not going with the rest of the crowd, instead electing to stay close to the battle in case support was needed.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Hey, what are you?" Says one of the drunkards.

"You see it too? Leave us alone you giant... shining.... white thingy. This is our private business!"

"Good, good," says Ta'Lab, "Your business is your business. But see, right now you ain't gonna get no business done. Now, if you got out of those junk piles and had a proper fight, on foot like the gods intended, now that would show who's right, and who's wrong. The lady ain't gonna think no good of you havin' picked the working robot, ain't she? Nah, she'll respect a proper fighter that can, ya know, defend her."

While he is talking, Ta'Lab looks down at the mess of boxes around his ARM's feet, looking for something he can use to defend himself if this gets even more out of hand

[roll0], I suppose?

Edit: umm... nice roll. Maybe with some other encouragement (i.e. aid another rolls), we can actually solve this police style instead of adventurer/butcher style?

[Fri]

"You know, it's still none of his business, but what he says does makes some sense."

"What? And you want me to step down so you can stomp me?"

Both of them stop fighting at least, but they're still in a fighting stance.

"Great job, Mr Rhea! But careful now!" says Marie. "They could easily start pummeling each other again. Uh... any idea what should we do now?"

[jiriku]

"I'VE GOT AN IDEA!"
Deacon levers his paladin upright and three steps forward, planting it squared-hipped. He cracks open the cockpit and hops onto the superstructure of the mech, waving his broad-brimmed black hat at the two combatants to draw their attention. He fixes his gaze on the labor housing the fellow who spoke in agreement with Ta'Lab's words.

The paladin tosses aside its covering tarp and stands astride the police cart, gleaming a brilliant white in the morning sun. A deadly serious and quite fully loaded revolving crossbow is held at ready in its hands, covering the nearest civilian labor.


"How about you come on down first, so he knows that you're no coward and you mean what you say. My friend here will make sure there's no funny business. Do it now."


Free action to quickdraw a revolving crossbow from the equipment stack.
Move action to hop up to a commanding position atop the cart (which should hold my weight, since it was bearing two Paladins until a moment ago).
Free action to Outmaneuver my target.
Standard action to perform the Cover action. Are the optional Aimed Shot rules allowed (Mech&Mangap.77)? If so, I'll aim for his torso. If not, I'll just take a regular shot. Per the cover action, my shot is withheld until I specify. I'll take the shot if he does ANYTHING other than immediately power down his mech and dismount on his turn.
Free action to crank up the Paladin's speakers and speak impressively but with no effect.
Dice rolls will be added in a post below.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"How about you come on down first, so he knows that you're no coward and you mean what you say. My friend here will make sure there's no funny business."

"What about it, neighbours?" says Ta'Lab, picking up on Deacon's cue, "I'm not a lying man, and on my word there won't be no stomping. You'll be free to solve this the proper silverportian way, my friend and I witnesses, all fair and square. Deal?"

Let me know if Ta'Lab's "street language" is starting to get out of hand. I know what I mean, but in the process of dumbing it down and adding as many triple-negatives as I dare, I might start getting a little too obscure

Not sure if this counts as "help another" in the "hard convince"/mind control going on. Should I be rolling something?

[JeminiZero]

As the 2 pilots try to talk the drunkards out of their mechs, Jirai tries to sneak around the scene of carnage, and climb atop a nearby warehouse. Specifically, he is looking for a place where he is far enough from the ground to avoid getting punched by Mecha, but close enough to the scene to throw rocks at them.


Jirai is going to pretend to be the team sniper.

Stealth: [roll0]

[jiriku]

Dice rolls for my post above:

The Outmanuever action is an opposed maneuvering check. I'll use piloting. If I beat his maneuver check, I'll take a +2 to hit on my Cover action.
[roll0]
The Cover action is essentially a readied attack. I'll cover him and take my withheld attack if he does ANYTHING other than power down and exit his mech on his turn.
For my cover attack, I'll use All-Out Attack for +5 to hit, taking -5 to my Defense. Higher ground (on a cart vs. climbing out of the rubble of a warehouse) gives me another +1 to hit. I'll assume the Outmaneuver check works and include +2 for that as well; subtract 2 from my result if I fail to outmaneuver him.
[roll1]
My target is his Defense +5 if the optional aiming rules are allowed, or else just his Defense otherwise.
Damage is 15+6+1/2 the amount by which I exceed his Defense (capped at a maximum of 26 damage). Again, I'm just covering him, so the shot is withheld if he powers down and exits his mech at the first opportunity.

Edit: Wow, nat 20 on the Outmaneuver check. Bet he's wishing he didn't have Captain Morgan and Jose Cuervo as his co-pilots.

[Fri]

"That's a huge crossbow"

"You know, I'm starting to think that his idea is sounding better and better."

"Yeah, I don't think that this should involves the guards anyway."

One of them starts to drunkenly climbs down his ARM.

"I'm down here you harebrained oaf. Come, is your mouth is as big as your fist?"

The other drunk climbs down after him.

"Okay, that's enough everyone." Says Captain James. Before any of them manage to land any punch, the town guard swarm them and pin them to the ground. "You both could cool your head in the jail. If you still feel you want to punch each other after that, be my guest."

Marie leans to one of the crate as if her legs turn into jellies. "Great... great job everyone."

The crowds start to boo. They don't want their free entertainment to end this peacefully.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Marie leans to one of the crate as if her legs turn into jellies. "Great... great job everyone."

The crowds start to boo. They don't want their free entertainment to end this peacefully.

"Well, since we're here already, we might as well drive these piles of junk to HQ," says Ta'Lab over the Vox, turning to pick up a couple of weapons. "Deacon, we may need the cart to carry the excess weapons."

Ta'Lab gets back up with a 2000 lb. ballista in one hand, and a two-storey high blunderbuss in the other, just as the boos start in the peanut gallery. Non-chalantly holding the two massive weapons, Ta'Lab runs on the outside speakers again, "Citizens, citizens, calm down, nothing to see here. Move along. On my word, I'm not a lying man, but if I don't see some calm, I may just decide to use your building as target practice."

[JeminiZero]

As the crisis comes to a (relatively) peaceful close, Jirai climbs down from his rooftop perch and ditches the unused pebbles back on the ground. He walks back to his bundled coat, and shakes the dust off, before wrapping himself once more in the ragged grey apparel. Fastening his coat, he walks back to Marie for further instructions.


"Citizens, citizens, calm down, nothing to see here. Move along. On my word, I'm not a lying man, but if I don't see some calm, I may just decide to use your building as target practice."

Jirai's face showed no change in expression, as frozen as the winter sea. Instead he merely whispers into the Vox Caster. "Threatening a crowd with carnage isn't the best way to calm them down. The last thing we want now is a stampede on the warehouse rooftop. Lets just get our gear back as quickly as possible."

[jiriku]

Grinning from ear to ear, Deacon gets to work righting the cart, piling up the Guard's gear, and then moves to the rubbled warehouse, attempting to at least clear the collapsed parts of the building from the street so the roads remain usable.


"Aww, c'mon, Jirai, with his aim, if he starts shooting at that building, the people in it are probably the only ones who are safe!

"Oh, if you've got a minute, maybe you could bring Rhea his pants from the back of our wagon; it wouldn't do to be out of uniform while on duty. Maybe we should call him Ta'Labrador!"

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Bah, they ain't gonna cause trouble," voxes Ta'Lab, as he piles the weapons in the cart and goes back for more, "They ain't upset about nothing important, and they know I don't mean nothing by it. 'Sides, we're now part of th'street theatre, and either we hint of a big ending, or we'll have to provide one. Sure, I could'a shot this here blunderbuss into the air, but it's cheap and easy to just say I will, and keep 'em hopin'"

Changing subjects, he adds "I wouldn't say no to trousers, though. Can't stay in this giant bathtub forever." Then, calling on the officer's channel, "'Tute Lestrade, Ma'am, what's next? Need a lift? Shall we just pull the cart back to HQ our sorry selves, or do we have a spare mule?"

[Sornas]

Brennan shook his head, having watched the events unfold in relative silence. After all, there wasn't exactly much he could do on the ground, now was there?

He almost bared his teeth a little bit at the Ta'Lab's "Piles of junk comment, however, flipping on his Vox caster. "Piles of junk?!? What kind of audacity is that, that you rely on them to help you win your battles, then turn around and call them piles of junk? How the hell would you feel if you saved someone's hide, they turned around and called you a useless furball?!?"

He took a deep breath, trying to get a hold of himself. "Deacon, Ta'Lab. I want you guys to get them to the Warehouse ASAP. Got it?" His voice strained as he tried to sound neutral, but was failing.

He turned to the Captain, flipping off the Vox caster. "Sir. I would like the Paladin's back at base for initial diagnostics immediately, having them run around like this makes me a little uncomfortable. I don't suppose there is anyone else from the Poseidon project around who can work with the ogres and take care of the cleanup, is there?"

[Fri]

.he crowds disperse disappointedly

"Oh sure. We could request new horses from HQ but I think it'll be faster if you guys lug some things." Marie replies.

And Captain James smiles. "That was going well. Okay boys, let's continue our mission. Get some horses from the guardhouse. And I think it'd help if you guys with the giant armors flip the surviving wagons over.

This'll definitely make a good report for the higher ups! And you guys actually helped those two drunks. They'll spend some time in the dungeon, but nobody was injured and you managed to limit the damage."

He then catches Brennan's question. He raises his eyebrows and gives and amused look for some reason. "Sure, I don't actually have any authority to do that, but I'm sure I could ask some of my friends here to help. But if you're worried for this, what if they're involved in real combat? Just take it as a field test or a test drive young man."

[Grey_Wolf_c]

He almost bared his teeth a little bit at the Ta'Lab's "Piles of junk comment, however, flipping on his Vox caster. "Piles of junk?!? What kind of audacity is that, that you rely on them to help you win your battles, then turn around and call them piles of junk? How the hell would you feel if you saved someone's hide, they turned around and called you a useless furball?!?"

"I'd say it'd feel like Tuesday, actually, sour apple," says Ta'Lab, still riding the victory sense in good humour, but with a catch in his voice that reflects the 30 years of abuse and persecution that has marked his life, "But chill already, will ya'? We ain't put a scratch on your pretty toys. Can't ask for no better result."

Finishing piling the weapons on the cart, and after turning over any wagons, he calls the other pilot, "Deacon, be a pal and grab the other side. Let's get this junk hooked up to a nag and be on our way."

[jiriku]

Whistling cheerfully into the VOX, Deacon assists with the cart and wagons.


"For the record, I'd like to state that it was WEDNESDAY that I called you a useless furball. And I could TOTALLY have taken those five guys by myself if you hadn't showed up. Really. I'm sure I could have.

"Hey, Brennan, I'm thinking you're right on about those die-agnostic things or whatever. There's something wrong with that crossbow I picked up. The magazine was waaaay too small, and the rate of fire setting doesn't go nearly high enough. We need to get that fixed pronto!"

[Sornas]

"I'd say it'd feel like Tuesday, actually, sour apple," says Ta'Lab, still riding the victory sense in good humour, but with a catch in his voice that reflects the 30 years of abuse and persecution that has marked his life, "But chill already, will ya'? We ain't put a scratch on your pretty toys. Can't ask for no better result."

"Gah!"

Seeing that he wasn't going to be getting anywhere with this, Brennan threw up his hands and sighed, turning his attention to Deacon. "Yeah, alright, fine. Get everything back to the warehouse intact, and I'll take a look at it, make whatever fixes you like."


But if you're worried for this, what if they're involved in real combat? Just take it as a field test or a test drive young man."

Brennan hung his head a bit, knowing what the captain said was true, "Yeah, I know. But we do need to run initial diagnostics before they see any heavy use, so that we can work out any kinks that might be present that were overlooked in construction, and reduce the chance of injury. Plus..." He made sure the vox caster was turned off, "...You'll have to forgive me sir, if I'm a little upset that one of our pilots is showing such blatant disdain for his partner."

[Fri]

He just nods wisely. "Teach him not to do that then."

When you reaches the base, Albert greets you enthustiathically. "What happened? Where's the Paladin? Does it move? How does it move? Do you at least bring it in one piece?"

However you do that, the trip to bring the supplies into the base is uneventful. After about half a day, all surviving supplies had been put into the base.

One of the town guard salute the captain, and then extends his hand for a handshake.

"We know you're not technically our captain anymore, but this is our job, and the replacement captain won't be here for another few days or so anyway."

He reciprocate his handshake and answers. "Good luck with the new guy, lieutenant. Teach him to take it easy" he grins.

And then he put his hands on his back and inspect the team. Marie sighs and introduces him.

"I guess you know him already, but let me formally introduce him anyway. The *sigh* captain of mobile guard section one, Captain James Marlowe."

[JeminiZero]

Jirai (still wearing the grey hobo coat) stands at attention, remaining perfectly still as the new Captain inspects the team.

[jiriku]

Noticing Marie's sigh, Deacon walks right up to Captain Marlowe and offers him a vigorous handshake.


"Howdy, Cap'n! You sure do know how to find yourself a good time. Definitely going to be good for this unit to have you around!"

If Lestrade reacts to his enthusiasm with annoyance, he'll give her a mischevious, unsubtle wink, as if to say "Gotcha!"

[Sornas]

Brennan stood in the line for inspection, looking more or less bored out of his skull. If anyone had been paying attention to his whereabouts since returning to the base, they would have noticed that, after giving Albert the full rundown of events, he had been spending every moment since returning inspecting and tuning the ARMs, and had just now come out for the inspection.

"Welcome sir. I don't think we ever got introduced. I'm Brennan Ormond. Chief Mechanic for this Section. The ARMs look to be in good working order, and nothing seems to have bothered them. So we're in good shape."

[Grey_Wolf_c]

At the end of the line, Ta'Lab salutes, "Pilot Rhea, sah!" carefully keeping his eyes centered in the opposite wall.

[smuchmuch]

"...You'll have to forgive me sir, if I'm a little upset that one of our pilots is showing such blatant disdain for his partner."

"That sounded more like somme friendly tease than outright hostility." comments Arthur, who was observing the situation silently from a close vantage point, to the high strung mechanic. That one doesn't seem very good at reading people, wich may explain why he becamme so close to machines instead. At contrario the way the two pilot handed the sitution was somewhat unexpected but certainly interesting. They certainly played those two drunk nicely, a shame the performance is lost on the dispersing crowd who was looking for a fight.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------


On the return trip, arthur has been mostly focussed ont the ARMs in action, they are after all the core of the unit. The moment Lestrade present thair new captain, The detective walk and give him another salute.
"Detective Lt Arthur Sambre, at your service."
Personaly Arthur doesn't mind having James Marlowe hads his captain, even if his reputation is true. Much better to have an inactive captain, no matter how incmopetent he may rumoured to be, but as far as anyone can tell honnest, rather than an all too actively corrupt one.

[Fri]

"At ease gents. And ladies" He stops being formal. "Well, the upper levels have found another place to stash me, so it seems that we're going to hang together for a while.

First, let me tell me about our supposedly job description." He continues. "Technically, Mobile Guard is supposed to be a new section of the town guard. It deals with incidents that are too dangerous for normal town guards to deal with. That's why we're equipped with this heavy firepower." he nods toward the ARMs, "...and this experimental range of talents. If we prove to be a success, new sections will be opened in this city and the others."

He moves from left to right. "But don't worry too much. I don't believe that even the upper level believe that we're going to see that much or that dangerous of actions. I think that's why they put me here." he chuckles. "So beside the daily patrol and such to flaunt the new ARM, I think we'll have a lot of time to know each other and do our hobbies."

He then pulls a stack of paper from his pocket. "Anyway, where was I," he says as he reads it. "...job description... daily patrol route... official titles... responsibilities.. none interesting nor important. Well, I guess that's it!"

He puts his hands on his hips and looks toward the main building. "Now, I think what's left now is to make this place into a livable place! I think the lower rooms are supposed to be our offices. You guys are supposed to got lodgings beside the usual pay, so if you think your current living place is too far or too boring, feel free to take one of the upper rooms."

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Taking the last few words as the closest thing to a dismissal they were likely to get, Ta'Lab breaks formation and decides to explore the building properly - particularly the promised quarters. Proper accommodation for 'weres came in two variations in the city - expensive and nonexistent. Ta'Lab couldn't afford the expensive, so he was left with paying too much for a smelly, damp room in the poor section of silverport, with an owner that could be payed to not care that one in four weeks he required a basket rather than a bed. If these were even slightly better, Ta'Lab would be more than happy to move.

On his way, he does stop for a quick word with the captain, "Ummm... Sah? If we do decide to take the generous offer of lodgings, we'll we get keys to the back door for coming and going?"

Explore the upper rooms, and after that the lower rooms

[Sornas]

Brennan nodded, making a mental note to move his meager belongings into one of the upper rooms at some point. He wasn't one for formalities himself, really, so he was going to like this captain.

On his left forearm was a long metal bracer that wasn't there earlier, looking at it, he started to walk towards the hangar as words and pictures began to light up across it, moving incredibly rapidly.

"Hey, you." He said nonchalantly, looking over at Ta'Lab. "Meet me at the hangar, alright? Deacon, you too."

[JeminiZero]

Jirai eyes briefly widen at the mention of "pay"- a rare change of facial expression from the otherwise stoic youth, but he says nothing otherwise. With the dismissal from the Captain, he resumes his search amongst the upper rooms for new suitable lodgings. And he had to find one fast- Shinobi camp was willing to store his stuff only for a day or two more.


So I've conjured up an extensive story of Ninja training that involves walking 10 miles to school through the swamp, both ways, and various other torturous daily routines. But the silent ninja won't talk about it unless asked. :smallbiggrin:

[jiriku]

Deacon gives Ta'Lab a friendly shove and throws an arm over his shoulder.


"Alright! We're the two hotshot mecha jockeys here, so I guess we're bunking together. I call top bunk!"

Later, in the hangar, he takes Brennan aside.


"Hey, pal, tell, me are you any good with a bucket of paint? The old paladin looks nice and all in white, but she needs a little sprucin' up, if you know what I mean. I was thinkin' we could stencil some flames along those panels there, and I've got a few other 'extras' in mind."

[Fri]

Beside the main empty space there are twelve rooms in total. Six on the first level and six on the second. Some rooms are bigger than the others, but they're all equally empty and dusty. There are glass windows on each room, but most are painted with X signs, as if they're originally marked for destruction or replacement, but whoever painted them forgot to do that.

There's also a toilet on the back, and a room with pipes that you assume might be a shower room or something, the pipes are all end in nothing.

"Hm, yes. you all would get spare keys and such. I don't exactly plan to be your chaperone..." The captain waves his hand mindlessly as he tries to pick one room to be his office.

[smuchmuch]

Arthur start searching for four four rooms, two for personnal use, an office and eventual logging, and two for general purpose, somewhere to organise archives for future reports, and an evidende room should it be needed. The archives should be of at least decent size, ti pays to see large in these matters, it's amazing how paperwork ten to pile fast, the other don't need to be soo big, he's a reasonable man, but he won't settle for broom closets either.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Deacon gives Ta'Lab a friendly shove and throws an arm over his shoulder.


"Alright! We're the two hotshot mecha jockeys here, so I guess we're bunking together. I call top bunk!"

"If you're so desperate for company, get yourself a cat," answers Ta'Lab, with a friendly punch to the side, "I only share rooms with women, and if you are one, you need a bath. And a shave."

After choosing one of the rooms upstairs, one of the smaller ones, but with working window, Ta'Lab makes his way to the hangar, were he fully expects some kind of dressing down from the mechanic.

[Sornas]

"Alright, alright." Brennan rolled his eyes at Deacon, but he was smiling. "I told ya I'd make any changes you wanted, assuming all parties are in agreement, of course. But you're gonna need to get Marie to agree to it, which I'm not touching with a ten-foot pole."

Seeing Ta'Lab come in, he motioned for him to come over. "Ah, hey. There you are." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, looking between the two. "Alright, first thing's first...Sorry about that "Furball" comment back there, I should know better, considering." He shook his head and turned towards the ARMs, pacing slowly. "Tell me something though, both of you." He motioned to the Paladins, standing motionless, steel racks helping to support them. "What are these? What do you see?"

[jiriku]

"Hmf!"

Deacon frowns at Ta'Lab. Then a thoughtful look crosses his face, and he lifts an arm and sniffs himself.


"Hmmm...."

Suddenly, he notices that Brennan is talking about something.


"Tell me something though, both of you." He motioned to the Paladins, standing motionless, steel racks helping to support them. "What are these? What do you see?"


"What, you mean the Edson Enterprises AG-98 series Paladin Alchemical Reaction Machines, with dual universal weapon mounts, multi-mode configurable high-reaction leg actuators, EdsonTech optical tracking sensors, 5-hour independent operating life, and optional experimental Elemental Spirit integration? Or do you mean the nervous alchemist pacing backing and forth in front of them?"

[JeminiZero]

While the pilots and mechanic argue about what measure is a Mecha (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main.WhatMeasureIsANonHuman), Jirai carefully selects one of the second level rooms for his own. He wasn't looking for much- anything here was probably better than the shack in the swamp that Shinobi Academy shoved him into, along with a dozen other Ninja Trainees. But what he really wanted was a roof that didn't leak.

Settling on reasonable looking place with a sturdy door, he first proceeds to clean the place up until every flat surface was reflective enough to see your teeth in. He then considers how to mark the premises- the traditional Ninja method, was of course, carving your name into the door with your fingernails. But Jirai decided that counted as vandalism (or something), and so he opted to simply paint his name on the door:


Jirai Seinin
Caution: Room trapped

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"What are these? What do you see?"



"What, you mean the Edson Enterprises AG-98 series Paladin Alchemical Reaction Machines, with dual universal weapon mounts, multi-mode configurable high-reaction leg actuators, EdsonTech optical tracking sensors, 5-hour independent operating life, and optional experimental Elemental Spirit integration? Or do you mean the nervous alchemist pacing backing and forth in front of them?"

Ta'Lab Is pleasantly surprised at the apology - he doesn't get them that often, and bows his head in appreciation. Then, as Deacon demonstrates he's done his homework on the machines, Ta'Lab has a moment to think. So, when Deacon is done, he simply adds, "... a bigger stick."

After a pause, for effect, he continues, "Yeah, I got the lectures 'bout the bloody things just like Deacon here did, and I'm sure you are ready to tell us - again - how 'special' they are. But on my word, I'm a policeman. My job is to preserve the peace, and these are just tools of the job. If preserving the peace means I gotta break them - or me," he shrugs, "then dat's just what I'll do. I heal, they get fixed. No damn difference."

[Sornas]

((Super-quick post before I run out the door to work! XD))

Brennan nodded, walking over to one of the ARMs and placing a hand on one of them lightly. "Huh. So, that's what they are? A list of technical readouts, and a big stick?" He shook his head, speaking softly, "That's a shame, because They seem to think a lot more highly of you two."

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Brennan nodded, walking over to one of the ARMs and placing a hand on one of them lightly. "Huh. So, that's what they are? A list of technical readouts, and a big stick?" He shook his head, speaking softly, "That's a shame, because They seem to think a lot more highly of you two."

"Whatever makes you think I don't think highly of them?" Ta'Lab sounds amused by the engineer, "You know the kind of strings the PAWS had to pull to get me this gig? I'm as attached to the silly thing as I am to my right arm. Which, on the other hand -ha, ha- is not that much, not when compared to my duty to weres and society in general. The Pals, just like every other copper tool and coppers themselves, are just an ever-bigger series of sticks to try keep this city from imploding."

PAWS: Protection and Advancement of Weres Society

[jiriku]

"All the more reason to get these upgrades done, Brennan! Now, as I was saying earlier, once we up the rate of fire and magazine capacity on these crossbows, (and gets the flames and nose art painted on of course) we need to have a look at these actuators and gyros. This thing maneuvered like a washtub out there, there's got to be a way to tighten up the action on the main flywheel....."

[Sornas]

Brennan sighed and shook his head again. he didn't seem angry, as much as depressed. "Alright, look. I don't blame you for not understanding, but something needs to be made clear. These Paladins aren't your tools, they're your partners."

With a motion of his hand, a diagram of one of the Paladins lifted off of a nearby crate and glided over to him, before stopping to float in front of the two. "You said it yourself Deacon, Elemental Spirit Integration. These Paladins are living things, and just because you can't hear them doesn't mean they don't speak." He chuckled, "In a manner of speaking, anyway."

"I don't expect you to fully understand," The paper rolled up in front of the two before flying back to Brennan's waiting hand, "not yet at least, you'll both come to see as you and your spirit become closer. But if you really think that all these guys are, are tools?" He started to walk out of the hangar, to a door leading out towards the harbor, "Then, as far as I'm concerned, you don't deserve to be called their partners. Not yet."

He called out over his shoulder. "Like I promised, I'll make any upgrades you like, but just think about it, alright?"

[Grey_Wolf_c]

He called out over his shoulder. "Like I promised, I'll make any upgrades you like, but just think about it, alright?"

Assuming the prep talk is over, Ta'Lab turns to leave, but decides to point something, "You know, this ain't the first time I've had to sit through this. Why, Old Sarge Pete told us pretty much same old, same old but about the truncheon. How'd'll be trustier than our very own brudder, if we treated it right. And again when I got the badge, come to think of it. Beats me why everyone gets so attached. Anyway, got better things to do - and if I'm to think about this stuff again, you may want to consider me own words, mister Brennan."

Ta'Lab then goes back to his chosen room, finishes the day's paperwork, and starts moving his stuff in from the rented room.

[Fri]

The captain isn't lying and beside the daily patrol, nothing interesting happens in the next couple of days. You get the chance to move there and fix the premise to your liking.

"Captain, what's the meaning of this 'personnel diet improvement plan?" says Marie as he confronts the captain in his office one late morning.

"Uhm, you mean the vegetable proposal?" Captain James puts his newspapers down. "Well, as you can see Marie, we do have a big lawn. It'd kinda be a waste if we just leave it to the grass..."

The captain had picked one of the room to be his office, and the next room had been turned into the main office where all of you are supposed to have your desks.

"And we're not exactly constantly busy. That's why, I think it'd be nice for us to have a vegetable patch on the side or back lawn. It'll make use of the land, and everyone would have healthier and more complete diet! Healthier guards is for the city's good. If this proves to be successful, the next part of the plan should be a chicken coop! What do you think about this, everyone?" He hoots to rest of the team.

Albert just shakes his head and smiles. Currently he's seeing the new personnel arrival.

Three men had just arrived that morning. Well, two men and a women to be precise. They're all wearing the blue jumpsuit of the mechanical team under their outer clothings..

"Matthias Heisenberg reporting for duty, sir!" says an enthusiastic youth with a pair of glasses as thick as Albert's.

"Thomas Romuald." a giant man beside him continues.

"And umm... Genevieve Lenoir reporting for duty..." a meek ponytailed girl visibly shrinks herself beside the giant man."

"Anyway, you need to calm down Marie." The captain continues as he picks his newspaper back. "The newspaper wrote that there's a zoo opening. Why don't you visit it with your boyfriend? You have one right?"

[smuchmuch]

Somme time before:

Once Tal'lab is done with his repport, Arthur will point the archive room. For now it has been recently dusted and his quite empty for the exception of a table on wich repose a strange looking mirror like device, sporting a small engraving of a man (http://www.repro-tableaux.com/kunst/auguste_rodin_625/thinker_le_penseur_hi.jpg) sitting , his chin reposing on his fist. You may recognise a special alchemical device used to create copies of images and texts using the powers of reflection.

While they aren't the rarest thing ever, they're still uncommon enough, and quite a pain to use if you aren't used tio them, to be something of an oddity and it's presence here means somoene probably had to search quite a bit to take his hand on one. Whould you ask him why, he will simply answer that he feels it probaly would help for future trackability of event, if everyone took the habit to make a copy of their paperwork and put it in here, in case the original is lost.

Should Tal'lab humour him, after a few second arthur will risk a question
"If it isn't rude of me to ask, I understand your presence in this unit is a symbol of integration for the PAWs, but why did you, personaly decided to becomme a pilot inone of those things ?" normaly he wouldn't just ask so directly, but he did overheard most of the conversation that was going below while dusting somme of the room above and that made him curious if Tal'lab doesn't answer he won't insist. "Just felt like a natural evolution of the job ?"

Yes i made up a magipunk photocopier just so i could make a terrible pun. besides it seems like a usefull thing to have.
I'll spend somme equipement points on it, if necessary.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now:

Arthur who is midly interested in vegetables, was in his private office (wich he sneakily arranged in one of the last remaining unused room because he prefers privacy when working, thank you very much, and he isn't giving it without a fight) when the new people arrives. From the first floor catwalk he observes them as they introduce themselves.

[jiriku]

After scowling at the lack of proper security in the compound, Deacon has been spending his days pounding and hammering all about the building, replacing rusty or loose panels and installing deadbolt locks and security latches. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm greatly exceeds his carpentry skills. He's been obliged to reinstall and re-reinstall a number of these fittings, including an extremely amusing episode in which he accidently nailed the bathroom door shut and couldn't get it reopened for several hours (well, Deacon thought it was amusing anyhow).

When not engaged in amateur home improvement, he's been closeted for hours with Brennan in long conversations involving ammunition cycling, rifle bores, experimental alchemical reactants, and weapon mounts. While Brennan frequently leaves these sessions shaking his head and mumbling phrases like "outside of design constraints", "catastrophic stress fractures", "impossible", and "blooming idiot", the alchemist's skepticism seems only to light a fanatical fire in Deacon's expression and kindle his enthusiasm still further. His Paladin unit is now housed under a scaffolding and tarpaulin, and a great deal of activity buzzes beneath the tarpaulin's concealment.

Happening to be in the office when Lestrade and Marlow begin their horticultural conversation, Deacon pops his head into the office and pipes up:


"Ab-so-lutely sir! Nothing better for the soul than workin' outdoors with your hands, and I happen to be an excellent cook. I'll treat you all to my momma's famous Broiled Brussel Sprout Surprise recipe. Mmmmm! Just...don't leave Ta'Lab to guard the chicken coop, eh?"

Deacon watches with interest as the new hires are introduced and the zoo is mentioned. Seeing Marie hesitate and grow flustered, he intervenes.


"Cap'n Marlowe, sir, I'm sure Miss Lestrade is much too professional to let herself get distracted by such entanglements.

"But Miss Lestrade, if you don't mind my saying so, the Cap'n is right that a little R&R at the zoo would be good to help an officer stay fresh and focused in her work. I would be pleased to be your escort on such a mission. That is, if you won't mind havin' a security detail devoted to ensuring your well-being and the success of tha' mission."

He flashes her a confident smile.

[JeminiZero]

The next few days saw Jirai trying to settle down into police life. There were all the one-off administrative matters to attend to- Moving his earthly belongings from Shinobi Academy to the Station, getting his police badge, and perhaps most importantly of all, replacing his grey hobo-coat with a respectable police version. It was not a matter of vanity mind you, but he had gotten tired of people holding their noses, and saying that they had no money whenever he merely walked by.

Once all that was done, he fell back to a daily routine similiar to the one he used to have as a Ninja Trainee: Wake up at dawn, catch and eat breakfast (fish or birds if he was lucky, rats and insects otherwise), perform duties, catch and eat dinner (ditto), sleep, repeat. Of course the difference was that his duties no longer involved classes on Infiltration, Assassination and Spreading Terror. Instead he mostly walked around on the streets trying to make people feel safe.

He also found that he had more downtime. Partly because he no longer had to compete with a dozen other Ninja Trainees when catching breakfast and dinner. Partly because he no longer had to hike 10 miles through a swamp, between his residence and place of duty. But he spent all of it practicing the arts of Infiltration, Assassination and Spreading Terror: He had to keep his skills (and fingernails) razor sharp if he was to ever rejoin the Academy and pass the Shinobi Final Exam™.

-----

This particular day, Jirai was at his desk, busy folding origami Ninja Stars out of discarded newspapers.


"What do you think about this, everyone?" He hoots to rest of the team.

Jirai pondered the intricacies of running a vegetable garden out of the backyard. On one hand, it would make getting breakfast and dinner easier. He could occasionally munch on something growing there, instead on eating rats and insects on unlucky days.

On the other hand, Ninja Trainees were forbidden from growing stuff near their swamp shack, because hunting your own food everyday, was supposed to be necessary training, for surviving long term wilderness missions. Still, just because he couldn't eat grown vegetables, didn't mean that the rest had to be deprived of the luxury... so long as the gardening itself did not eat into his downtime.

"I will have nothing to do with this Vegetable Garden." Jirai shouted back.


Three men had just arrived that morning. Well, two men and a women to be precise. They're all wearing the blue jumpsuit of the mechanical team under their outer clothings..

Jirai paused his origami folding to introduce himself to the new trio. "I am Jirai Seinin, code name 'Black Hand'." He says with a small nod to each of the 3.


"Anyway, you need to calm down Marie." The captain continues as he picks his newspaper back. "The newspaper wrote that there's a zoo opening. Why don't you visit it with your boyfriend? You have one right?"

Jirai's ears pricked at the mention of a new zoo opening. A place full of animals, locked away in cages! Why this was the perfect chance to study the enemies he might be facing, as part of the Shinobi Final Exam™! "Sounds like there will be much to learn. Count me in."

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Should Tal'lab humour him, after a few second arthur will risk a question
"If it isn't rude of me to ask, I understand your presence in this unit is a symbol of integration for the PAWs, but why did you, personaly decided to becomme a pilot inone of those things ?" normaly he wouldn't just ask so directly, but he did overheard most of the conversation that was going below while dusting somme of the room above and that made him curious if Tal'lab doesn't answer he won't insist. "Just felt like a natural evolution of the job ?"

Ta'Lab is happy to learn the magic mirror's working - anything beats having to fill in the reports five times - and as the mirror works its magic, he considers how to answer. "It ain't not really a job thing. The 'weres, we have been worried about th' bloody ARMs since they started sproutin' like mushrooms. A mob... well, you can outrun it, ya' know? Some of us can even fight back and have a chance. But if they come for you with ARMs? We're screwed, and not in a good way." Ta'Lab takes a swig at his coffee-au-sang, and continues, "We've got a cushy thing goin' on here in Silverport, us 'weres. And a big part is that the coppers ain't tryin' to run us out of no place, ya' know? But if the coppers can't handle no ARM crimes, they can't handle no ARM mob either, if ya' know what I mean. I got the job to make sure that coppers can handle the load. The Mobile Guard must succeeed, or we'll loose what little we have been gainin' in the last five years."


After scowling at the lack of proper security in the compound, Deacon has been spending his days pounding and hammering all about the building, replacing rusty or loose panels and installing deadbolt locks and security latches. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm greatly exceeds his carpentry skills. He's been obliged to reinstall and re-reinstall a number of these fittings, including an extremely amusing episode in which he accidently nailed the bathroom door shut and couldn't get it reopened for several hours (well, Deacon thought it was amusing anyhow).

Ta'Lab follows Deacon around, making sure that he always has a way into the building, and even suggests several modifications. Indeed, one of the days, he has a few burly (and unsurprisingly hairy) friends over, and build an addition to the back door - a sort of "entrance hallway" that protrudes outwards, with a second door at the end. This corridor is not that long, and Ta'Lab makes sure there is a place for coats and wet umbrellas... but the most important feature is its privacy, and the fact that the outside door is fitted with a doggy door.



"Ab-so-lutely sir! Nothing better for the soul than workin' outdoors with your hands, and I happen to be an excellent cook. I'll treat you all to my momma's famous Broiled Brussel Sprout Surprise recipe. Mmmmm! Just...don't leave Ta'Lab to guard the chicken coop, eh?"

"Hey! I resemble that remark" Ta'Lab, protests weakly, while in his corner with his feet propped on the table and the helmet low over his eyes, "I'll have you know I've always paid for the chickens. And I ain't sayin' no to having a nice snack cabinet just outside... I do get peckish at 3 in the mornin' sometimes."


The captain continues as he picks his newspaper back. "The newspaper wrote that there's a zoo opening. Why don't you visit it with your boyfriend? You have one right?"

"Zoos are fun. Th'animals always seem so... happy to see me."

[smuchmuch]

Then:

"I would think a few huge machines would be easier to evade that an overwhelming mob, no? " answer Arthur while taking the copy of the repport and annoting something in the corner.

Of course a number of stakes had been placed on the success or failure of the exerimental unit, both on social and personal levels but the racial conflict angle was a new one. True there have been alway a srong anti non human running and weres in particular, (Arthur himself was no esception, and he's still midl uncomfortable witht helm to be honnest, but he's got to the point were you learn that a bastard is a bastard, and species learn very little ) but the concerns seems somewhat exagerated. While the idea of an mob of riotous ARMs in a killing rampage is a scarry idea, it seems also a pretty fetched one.
On the other hand, I didn't though you could use them for drunk fisticufs either. I guess i can't blame them for being paranoid. There are depth born of the all too common mix of ordinary hate and idiocy that are impossible to overestimate.

"But I think I do get your point." social consideration asides, it was interesting to know where the other memebrs of the division standed on the subject. He does offer a hand, feel free to accept it or not. "I certainly wich to see this unit work out as well. looking forward to working with you."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

During the last two weks, Sambre has been organbising the spare room int o a vgue sembalnce of police staion. occsionaly he gets out and comm back with somewhat usefull but uncommon accessories, most of wich tend to be alchelical in nature. The man know most of the specialised shops of the cities (and has a running tabin somme of them actualy) and know where and how to find what he wants.
The most impressive is a simple map of Silverport wich is currently occupying one of the wall of the main office. of the it's not really magical, the paper has been treated to be sligtly more resistant and not soil easily but that's about it, but it's simply huge, extremly detailed and, rarest of all thing in the twisted maze that can be Silverport's streets (particulary around the poorer and older districts), it's almost entirely up to date (with a few annotations were it isn't)

Otherwise, occasionaly the lieutenant does spend somme time talking with the mechanics when they don't seem to be otherwise occupied (wich is admitedly not that often). He has done somme previous reading and had a decent grasp of the theory behind elemental impregnation (and genral alchemical principle in general) but has obviously never been in one and is quite curious about their capacities.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now:

"Hmmm;" Slight clearing of throat "I would hate to spoil anyone fun" there's no irony here, he really doesn't feel any interest in annoying coworker "but I believe despite the usual incativity, we're still supposed to be able to respond to crisis should they happen. Means at least one of our pilot should stay here in case of emergency, I'm afraid"

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Then:;

"I would think a few huge machines would be easier to evade that an overwhelming mob, no? " answer Arthur while taking the copy of the repport and annoting something in the corner.

"Yes and no," Ta'Lab makes a face, and adds, "You can't evade them forever, unless you leave the city, and your home. The mob knows where we live, and where we work. In other places were I've lived, once the mob was on the street, th'only solution was to cut and run. Silverport is d'ffrent, 'cause the coppers stop the mob. But if the coppers can't cope..."

Turning to leave, he finishes, "'Nyway, great to work with you too, Arthur. Heard great things about your cases. The 'weres were very happy when you brought in Charlie 'The jackal'. The bastard was endangerin' us all with his antics. I look forward to learnin' from ya."

Smuchmuch, hopefully you don't mind if I add the detention of "Charlie 'the jackal'" to your backstory. Since you have admitted to a certain distrust of 'weres, it makes sense to give you some contact with criminal 'weres. Obviously, feel free to flesh it out, if needed, or ignore it forevermore if not.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over the next few days, Ta'Lab finishes moving in, and sets to making sure that things go smoothly. One measure in that direction involves placing a spare uniform in the cockpit of his Paladin, for emergencies.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------


"Hmmm;" Slight clearing of throat "I would hate to spoil anyone fun" there's no irony here, he really doesn't feel any interest in annoying coworker "but I believe despite the usual incativity, we're still supposed to be able to respond to crisis should they happen. Means at least one of our pilot should stay here in case of emergency, I'm afraid"

"Bah, don't be no spoilsport," comes the answer from beyond the helmet rim, "That's why we got the Voxes. If they needin' us, they can give us a shout, I'll come runnin', don'tcha know?" a thumb raises the helmet long enough for Ta'Lab to take a look at the map, "Th'zoo is two, maybe three miles outside 'city proper. Morning rush -such as it is- was over hours ago. I can be here inside five minutes. Deacon takes longer than that to put his trousers on. Silly human, too. Driving the pile of junk is so much easier in the 'nude. Don'tcha know th'elemental reads your movements better if there ain't no cloth in the way?"

[JeminiZero]

"Actually, I agree with Sambre." Jirai responded while cutting out the next square piece of newspaper. He had by now managed to learn the rest of the team's name, rather than having to call them with descriptive and vaguely insulting terms. "One pilot should be always be on standby. It might not seem like much to you, but a lot can happen in five minutes."

He pauses for a while before continuing. "If it will make whichever of you is staying behind feel better, I am willing to remain here as well. That zoo is not going to run away- I can gather data another day."

[Sornas]

"Alright then!" Brennan called out as he walked in on the three new mechanics introducing themselves. "Perfect! It's great to meet you all, I'm Brennan Ormond, chief mechanic." He gave a thumbs up and smirked, "I'm not gonna lie, we may have to end up putting in some long hours, and sometimes, it's gonna feel like we're swimming against a river with keeping everything in good repair, but I can promise you one thing." He leaned forward and grinned wide, "This sure as hell ain't gonna be boring."

He turned to the Captain. "Sir. If you'll excuse us, I need to get my crew oriented, and we'll need to start work ASAP. We're already backlogged on pilot requests." He neglected to mention the fact that the overwhelming majority of them were from one pilot, but he was sure the captain could figure it out.

---
Over the course of the next few days, Brennan had the crew hard at work tuning up the ARMs and making the modifications that were requested. The majority of his personal work, however, went into another project, one which he was taking great pains to keep under wraps.

((Fri, I'll send you a PM XD))

[Fri]

"The higher ups are actually anxious for the paladin's combat performance data, but well, what can we say? Anyway, if you want to go to the zoo, feel free. Just say that it's an unscheduled patrol. Just leave one pilot here for emergency." The captain then buries himself on his newspapers.

[jiriku]

Deacon scratches his head.

"Well, I suppose Rhea and I could get drunk, hop in our mechs, and start a fight, but I think Brennan would bust a gut if we did....

"Well, at any rate, we've got official blessings, and I haven't been to the zoo since my son...well, in a very long time. Let's pack up the wagon and getting rolling."
Deacon suits actions to words begins loading the police wagon.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Deacon scratches his head.

"Well, I suppose Rhea and I could get drunk, hop in our mechs, and start a fight, but I think Brennan would bust a gut if we did....

"Well, at any rate, we've got official blessings, and I haven't been to the zoo since my son...well, in a very long time. Let's pack up the wagon and getting rolling."

"Yeah, you called shotgun, not to mention bros before hos, so have fun," says Ta'Lab, whose gone back to napping under the helmet, "But bring me a mug or something, ya' hear?"

[Fri]

"Whether I have a boyfriend or not isn't your concern, captain" Marie harumphs.

"But still, checking the zoo's safety is the guard's responsibility. If nobody object, I volunteer myself to go there."

Realizing that Deacon is also going there, Marie ask around for more volunteer with a slightly concerned look on her face. "Anybody else going? Anyone?"

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Whether I have a boyfriend or not isn't your concern, captain" Marie harumphs.

"But still, checking the zoo's safety is the guard's responsibility. If nobody object, I volunteer myself to go there."

Realizing that Deacon is also going there, Marie ask around for more volunteer with a slightly concerned look on her face. "Anybody else going? Anyone?"

"I'd be happy to be the squeaky third wheel, but... well, ya' know, captain says noblesse oblige" Ta'Lab says sleepily from his corner, "But Jirai smells like he wants to go."

[Sornas]

Deacon scratches his head.
[INDENT]"Well, I suppose Rhea and I could get drunk, hop in our mechs, and start a fight, but I think Brennan would bust a gut if we did....

"Yeah. Yours." Brennan laughed as he happened to walk by, poking his head into the room and sticking his tongue out at Deacon. "And I'll go. Someone needs to keep the old man over here in line, and besides, no use working the crew to death on the first day. They're gonna see plenty of that soon enough. Sound good to you Captain?"

[JeminiZero]

"But Jirai smells like he wants to go."

"As I said though, I am willing to remain behind if you want me to." Jirai says between newspaper folds. "Although, if we are going there to ensure the public safety, it would probably help if we had some means of taking down large angry animals "

[jiriku]

"Taking down...! Fer cryin' out loud, Jirai, we're going there to have a good time! I'd sooner leave my Paladin parked on the street with the cockpit open and the engine running than empty my six-shooter into some baby seal. There won't be no violence in the zoo."

[JeminiZero]

"As you wish." Jirai replied simply. "Just keep your hypno-eye-patch ready."

[Fri]

The spontaneous patrol left without a hitch, as the sun shines brightly and the sea breeze blowing. Nothing could go wrong at a day like this. They arrived at the zoo in thirty minutes, to face a line of people grumbling.

A man with similar conical item like the one Captain James used a few days ago stands in front of the gate.

"Truly sorry for the inconvenience. The zoo's opening has been postponed. It has absolutely nothing to do with dangerous animals, no sir! What are the chance of that, hahah!"

[JeminiZero]

"Hmm... looks like trouble to me." Jirai said while glancing around, searching for some sort of office near the entrance- A place where the Spontaneous Zoo Patrol could find someone to discuss exactly what was going on, without alerting the angry mob at the front gate.


Take 10 to Notice for 17.

[Fri]

"The guards? Thank god." says the man. "I mean, thank god for the guards, alright. If not for them, our city would be a lawless hellhole, am I right!?" he adds when he realizes that his voice is still amplified.

The man gives the magical cone and the big responsibility that comes with that much power to a passing worker, and takes Jirai and Marie to meet his boss.

You find a fat man in black silk suit and not-too-intimidating moustache pacing around beside the zoo.

"What should we do, what should we do?" he says.

"Boss, somehow we found some guards loitering around the premise."

"Guards? Thank god. You see, this isn't my fault at all, not at all." he continues. "I'm Mr. Burnam, the owner of this fabulous zoo that's supposed to be opening now.

You see, earlier this morning, two meddling kids snuck into my zoo and somehow released a couple of Wyverns from their cage! The Wyverns took their handler and his assistant by surprise, and now they're lounging around inside!

It's just a miracle that they're not deciding to just walk away outside now. Oh, what should I do, what should I do...."

"Wy... wyverns?" says Marie. "Don't they got big flapping wings?" she looks to the sky anxiously now.

"We're not stupid. We clipped their wings when we got them. But they still can just decide to walk away and we can do nothing! Oh, do you know how much I spent for those... "

[JeminiZero]

"I think the bigger problem you will have, is how many people they will have for lunch, if they walk away into that crowd just outside." Jirai says as he ponders the situation "Do you have a map of the zoo, so we can get a rough idea on where they are and how they might exit? Also, exactly how many Wyverns do you mean when you say 'a couple'?"

He turns to Marie and continues. "I think we should disperse the crowd outside, and call for Brennan to deliver the Paladins."

[Fri]

"Ah of course. You... whoever your name, fetch some maps for these daring fellows." He shoos the worker.

"And how many Wyverns we exactly have hmm? ...Two. Exactly two, really." he fidgets.

Marie contacts Brennan with the Vox. "Brennan, bring the ARMs here. We have some problems. Big, leathery, winged problems..."

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Guys... Brennan went to the zoo with the rest of you...

Ta'Lab is snoozing when the vox comes alive asking for help. "Good grief, what'd they'd do now? Got in a fight with the monkeys?"

Knowing that Brennan's helpers would need his help to load the other Paladin onto the cart, Ta'Lab makes his way to the hangar. "People, I'll be drivin' my Pal, and you'll've to take the other in the cart," Ta'Lab announces as he marches in, "So get movin', guys an' gal"

He directs the beleaguered new guys to prep the cart and horse, while he straps into Deacon's Pal. After a quick start-up, Ta'Lab walks the Paladin to the cart, and turns it off to move to his.

"OK, let's get this show on the road" Ta'Lab exclaims as he moves his Paladin out into the street, and leads the way towards the zoo, followed by Matthias and Thomas on the cart.

[JeminiZero]

Jirai frowns a little and stares suspiciously at Mr Burnam "Really? Just two?"


Take 10 to Sense Motive for 17.


"Well, I'll see if I can come up with something to keep the Wyverns occupied, until the calvary comes." Jirai says as he hastily removes his police overcoat to reveal a Black Ninja Suit underneath. "The easiest way probably involves giving them some food to munch on. If we're lucky, they might even take an afternoon nap once they're full. What do you feed them, and where is it kept? "

[jiriku]

(Ah, GW, you've found out my secret.)

When Ta'Lab removes the covering tarp from Deacon's Paladin, he begins to get an idea of the "modifications" that Deacon and Brennan have been implementing. The Paladin's white paint-job has been accented with a jaunty yellow-and-black trim, complete with racing stripes. Stylized flames are painted along the Paladin's forearms and lower legs, and its upper chest is emblazoned with the logo "MGU1:02 Aces and Eights". A beautifully executed bikini-clad pin-up girl has been painted across the cockpit, and to Ta'Lab's eyes, the girl's face bears an astonishing resemblance to Marie Lestrade. Within the cockpit, he finds a profusion of extra gears and switches, and yards of new tubing pumping the strange alchemical substances that power the Paladin. However, most of the interior additions seem incomplete and are not yet hooked up to anything.

[smuchmuch]

Normaly Arthur does his best to keep a straight face no matter what, but he can't contain an obvious smile as he hitch a ride on the cart transporting the second paladin
"Not to badmouth your colleague but..." There's somethinbg like a mix between a chuckle and a snerk as he takes a long glance at Deacon's Paladin, particulary the decorations. "Now I've just to comme along to see this." Is he talking about the fight with the wiverns or the first lieutenant face ?

[jiriku]

"Miss Marie, you'd best wait here a tick where it's safe. It just wouldn't do for any nasty old beastie to make a snack out of a lady such as yourself.

"Jirai, shall we go in and take a look? Might be we could scout around a tad and see what sort of terrain there is to take advantage of. If we can shoo them back into their pen, that would surely make this gentleman more happy than if I have to fill them full of bolts.

"Brennan...you're the smart fellow here. Any idea how we should deal with these things?"

In the vox:


"Rhea, let us know once you're about five minutes out from our location. We'll loop back and meet up with you."

[Sornas]

"Well, at very least they aren't violent. Not yet at least...Have you captured the kids? If not, then we need to find them ASAP, or they might start releasing more animals."



"Brennan...you're the smart fellow here. Any idea how we should deal with these things?"

Brennan thought for a moment. "Hrm, well, I can't say that animal life is an expertise of mine, but I do think I remember reading something about them back in the academy..."


Rolling relevant Knowledge
[roll0] +7 (Or 17 if Fri thinks Arcane Lore is appropriate, Eidetic memory makes all knowledge doable untrained, and adds another +4 if this counts as "Remembering.")

[JeminiZero]

"Miss Marie, you'd best wait here a tick where it's safe. It just wouldn't do for any nasty old beastie to make a snack out of a lady such as yourself.

"Indeed. Keep the Vox handy, in case we have any further questions for Mr Burnam or his staff."



"If we can shoo them back into their pen, that would surely make this gentleman more happy than if I have to fill them full of bolts.

"I was hoping we could find their lunch, throw it into their cage, wait for them to walk in, and then shut the door behind them."



"Jirai, shall we go in and take a look? Might be we could scout around a tad and see what sort of terrain there is to take advantage of.

Jirai grabs the map and prepares to head out.


Assuming there is a map of course. Also, would still like to know location of wyvern feed.


Just before they enter the zoo proper, he turns to Deacon and says. "I'll go on ahead first, to make sure the coast is clear, before I call for you to follow."


Jirai will use Hide in Plain Sight and Stealth Skill Mastery to take 10 for a total of 19.

Use wall climbing to climb on top of buildings/trees, and grappling hook to swing from tree to tree (or rooftop to rooftop).

Then take 10 to notice for 17, and if there are no Wyverns in sight, call for Deacon to follow.

[jiriku]

Deacon sighs and slips his eyepatch off his head, stowing it in his pocket. When Jirai signals all-clear on the vox, Deacon will follow, keeping low and moving slow.

Take 10 on a Stealth check for (10 + 8) 18.
Activate Golden Gaze; now seeing through solid objects, obscurement, illusions, and concealment with 10x normal range. Danger Sense.
Take 10 on a Notice check for (10 + 13) 23.

[Fri]

Jirai
even without your keen ninja sense it's clear that mr Barnum is lying

Deacon
you can see a lot of animals and two wyverns enjoying the sunlight at the middle clearing. You can vaguely see some damaged things.

Brennan
Wyverns to Dragons are what Apes to Human are. They're smaller, weaker, and can't breathe fire, but they're still dangerous for their wicked talon and their macelike tail.

You can remember something about how poachers can catch them. It's involving catching them off guards while they're sleeping at night and quickly incapacitate them before they can fly away.

Mr. Barnum looks at everyone anxiously. "Don't hurt them. They're my main attractions."

"Sorry to take so long!" The previous worker came back running with a couple of cheap papers on his hand.

"These aren't exactly good maps though. Nor they're in scale... But I can say that our zoo is about 60-70 meters across."

What the worker brought are some promotional map of the zoo. Completely stylized, full of cartoonish drawings, and you think somewhat half useless.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Faris/map3-1.jpg the simplified map of course.

"The wyverns are here..." he conveniently draw a picture of something winged. At least you think it's a wing. "And these areas are supposed to be off limit from visitors. I think the kids climbed the northeast wall.

Our supplies are somewhere in the warehouse."

Mr Barnum cuts it.

"Do you think you really need to go to the warehouse though?"

Marie vox everyone again. "Okay, first priority is to stop the wyverns from getting outside the zoo."

Marie then continues. "Mr. Barnum. What about the kids and your injured workers?"

"Why should I ca... I mean, How should I know about the kids? We managed to pull the workers out though. Talented staffs are hard to get."

"Okay, change the priority. First priority is to find the kids." Marie glares angrily toward Mr. Barnum.

Jirai and Brennan can see two wyverns lazily bathing themselves in sunlight. They leathery lizards are big, at least four meters long and two meters wide, not counting their wicked looking tail. Their big wings are currently folded. None of them notice you... yet.

[JeminiZero]

Jirai looks around for any signs of the kids.


Take 10 to notice for 17.


"Well, it looks like they're still lounging." Jirai whispers into his Vox. "Deacon, you stay here and keep an eye on them, and let us if their movements change. I'll sneak around to the warehouse to see if I can find any wyvern chow."


Jirai will exit the zoo back the same way he came, circle around outside on the right side, and then climb over the wall again to try and enter the warehouse on the door at the far right side. Take 10 to stealth for 19.

Breaking and Entering: Take 10 to Disable Device for 23. If that is insufficient, use quickness to Take 20 for 33, but requiring 4x as long.

Finding Wyvern Chow: Take 10 to search for 21. If that is insufficient, use quickness to Take 20 for 31, but requiring 4x as long.

[Fri]

Jirai manages to enter the warehouse. The warehouse is a high ceilinged wooden building with multiple rooms, as you can see a wall and another door in front of you. You can't see any wyvern chow nor the kids in the current room.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

n the vox:


"Rhea, let us know once you're about five minutes out from our location. We'll loop back and meet up with you."

"Aye, Aye, bro," answers Ta'Lab

Fri: this is really for your to tell us. I have no idea how long it'll take for the cart to arrive, and Ta'Lab isn't about to leave the other Paladin unguarded.

[JeminiZero]

"I'm in the warehouse. There doesn't seem to be chow in this room." Jirai reports into his Vox. "I'll try the next one."


Are the walls are full ceiling? Sometime the walls only cover the ground like in cubicles. If they are not full ceiling, Jirai can try and enter by climbing across the ceiling. Otherwise he will have to try the door.

If the door has any keyhole or similiar, he will peek to see if there is anything on the other.

If it is locked, Take 10 to Disable Device for 23. If that is insufficient, use quickness to Take 20 for 33, but requiring 4x as long.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"I'm in the warehouse. There doesn't seem to be chow in this room." Jirai reports into his Vox. "I'll try the next one."

Bored in his slowly advancing ARM, Ta'Lab calls back, "Jirai, you may want to do an in-deth search. Something ain't right about how th'owner didn't want no-one from pokin' 'round no warehouse. From what I hear, we ain't in such a hurry we can forget we're policemen."

Yeah, not sure if Ta'Lab actually heard the owner being reluctant about the warehouse, but since Ta'Lab right now has nothing to do, he would have been asking "what's going on" behind the scenes - he'd know at least about the actual crisis, and I would imagine also about the details. Or more easily, he's asked one of the voxes to stay open so he can hear

[JeminiZero]

"Maybe later, like, once the Wyverns are busy eating."

[Fri]

The walls aren't full ceiling. You can see beams of wood supporting the roof above you continuing to other rooms.

The door isn't locked. But when you peek, for some reason you can't see anything. There's something big in your limited keyhole-peeking point of view, and you can't see anything past it.


When you climb over the wall... You can see the kids and the wyvern chows allright.

But you can also see another wyvern chewing on the wyvern chow. In fact, that's how you know that those things are wyvern chows.

The kids are currently cowering on the opposite side of the room.

Beside those, you see a broken cage inside the room. And outside, you can see what you think as the wyverns' cage. How can you see them? It's because there's a giant hole on the wall.

Meanwhile, Ta'lab can already see the zoo.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Meanwhile, Ta'lab can already see the zoo.

"Head's up, people," says Ta'Lab over the vox, "I can see ya', and ya' can see me now. Deacon, your pimped-up ride is arrivin'"

[JeminiZero]

Jirai takes in the situation, before lowering himself back down the wall on the side that didn't have a wyvern. He whispers into his Vox. "3rd Wyvern spotted in warehouse, it managed to sniff out the chow, break through the south wall and is now eating it. Kids also spotted, paralyzed with fear, cowering in the same room, although I reckon they should be quite safe, so long as the Wyvern doesn't run out of chow. Do the Paladins have a plan of engagement?"

[Fri]

"Third Wyvern? Mr. Burnam, maybe you should explain this..."

Mr Burnam falls down from the weight of Marie's gaze and blabbers.

"You... you see? We got the permit for two wyverns. But the hunters caught a nest of THREE! What should I do with the last one that I got as a bonus? I can't just let the Wyvern runt free. It'll die in the wild or something. So I figured that maybe I can keep the runt for a while in the warehouse, before I could get a buyer or something..."

[JeminiZero]

Damn, captured wild Wyverns. Jirai quietly thought to himself as he overheard Burnam blabber through the Vox. If the wyvern was raised domesticated, it would be more likely to ignore strange men walking around it, and carrying cowering children away.

Jirai quickly evaluated his remaining possible courses of actions. With the Paladins already arriving, distracting the two outside with Wyvern Chow was no longer important. Which meant that the children were now his highest priority. He could either try to extract them quietly. Or he could draw the Wyvern's attention to himself and lead it away, but there was the huge risk that its cries would attract the other 2 lounging outside.

Deciding that a quiet extraction was probably a better choice, Jirai proceeded to try and get the children out of the room.


Jirai's Plan:
1. Crawl along the ceiling to the next next room behind the children. (Take 10 to stealth for 19)
2. Once there, find the corner along the wall, where the children are on the direct other side of the wall. E.g.



--+--------+--
| C|<-this corner
| |
| WW |
| WW |
| |
| |
--+--------+--


3. Climb straight over the wall, and quietly carry children back over the wall into the next room. Probably one at a time, depending on their weight.

[Sornas]

Brennan shook his head. "Honestly, I can't say I know of any special weaknesses. Typically, they're poached by just jumping them at night, but I don't think we really have that luxury right now..." He looked up at the position of the sun through a window.

"Hmm, unless..." He turned to Burnam, "Hey, you must have some sort of sleeping poison in that warehouse, right? To transport the animals? If Jirai can find where that is, and sneak it into their food..." He arched an eyebrow, "Also, it may be better to come clean about anything else to us now, if those kids get chomped by this illegal Wyvern, I'm pretty sure it's gonna be on your head."

[jiriku]

"Right. Three wyverns. Two ARMs. No weaknesses. Right.

"Jirai, your two pals outside seem to be enjoying the sun. Are you alright alone for a couple minutes if I pull back and bring in your cavalry? And hey, can you see if the wyvern's exterior cage is intact? I want to see if we have any options for containing these things.

"Brennan, would you please apply some police brutality to Mr. Burnam until he reveals to us anything else he's witholding?"

[JeminiZero]

Jirai, your two pals outside seem to be enjoying the sun. Are you alright alone for a couple minutes if I pull back and bring in your cavalry?

"Alright then. Sambre or Brennan, I need one of you to peek over the wall and keep an eye on the Wyverns out front."


And hey, can you see if the wyvern's exterior cage is intact? I want to see if we have any options for containing these things.

"I can see a cage through the hole in the wall, but I'm not sure if its the Wyverns. Unable to confirm from my vantage point."

[jiriku]

Deacon crawls backwards slowly until he's out of the wyvern's line of sight, then rises to a crouch and hustles back to the zoo entrance, taking care to remain quiet. Once he's out of the zoo area, he breaks into a run, heading for the police cart and the cavalry.


"Ah! Aces and Eights! There you are, baby -- you're looking good! Nice job on the trim, Brennan. She looks ready for a stroll."

[Fri]

The ARM team faces a host of would-be visitors in front of the zoo. It seems that nobody told the unexperienced worker to disperse them.

"And then they said, 'what do you mean it's not fish!' ahahaha"

For some reason he's doing a solo stand up comedy in the front of the zoo.

Mr. Barnum answers Brennan's query about the sleeping aid. "Well.. you know, we didn't really think that we'd need them that much. But we do prepare them at the end! The problem is... that's what my jumped worker was bringing. He was bringing our supply of alchemical tranquilizer when he was getting jumped by the wyverns. We don't really have the time to extract the tranquilizers as well, I guess they're still in there somewhere."

Jirai's cold ninja hand touches one of the kid without warning. What else would a cowering kid with a chewing wyvern in front of him do? He yelps.

The wyvern stops chewing and turns its head toward the source of the noise with a curious look on its face.

[JeminiZero]

Jirai frowns as the panicky kid yelps loudly. He signals to the children to be silent with a finger across his lips. "Shh... I'm going to get you out of here." He then turns to the Wyvern, unsurprised to see the beast was now looking at his direction.

Jirai doesn't smile- wild animals usually regarded the display of teeth as a sign of aggression. Instead he gestures at the children, and then to himself, to indicate he was simply going to take them away... and wasn't after its chow by any means.


Making an untrained Handle Animal check here to convince the Wyvern to go back to eating.

Handle Animal: [roll0]

[JeminiZero]

And people wonder why I don't like to make dice rolls. Right then, looks like its time to use that precious Hero Point.

Rerolling Handle Animal: [roll0]

Edit: Since its below 10, add 10 for a total of 15.

[Fri]

Well, at least the wyvern doesn't attack any of you. Yet.

[jiriku]

"Good to see you, Ta'Labrador! We've got a great situation going on in there. You're gonna love it. Let's see if the whiz kid can come up with a plan for us, otherwise we're gonna have a tough fight of it."

Deacon scampers up onto the police wagon, sniffs in disdain at the heavy ballista strapped to his Paladin, then cracks open the cockpit and hops inside. Running the usual quick-start checks (he always seems to be starting the Paladin in a hurry), he gears up.

Aces and Eights lurches upright and bounds down from the police wagon, then turns to face the crowd. Deacon clears his throat and thumbs the loudspeaker.


"Attention, attention. The Mobile Guard Unit is responding to an emergency situation in the zoo. This area is not safe for civilians. I repeat: This area is not safe. You are all in immediate peril for your lives. Go home. Now. Scram. If I have to pack you people in body bags today, I will be VERY annoyed."

The paladin makes a shooing gesture towards the assembled crowd.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Good to see you, Ta'Labrador! We've got a great situation going on in there. You're gonna love it. Let's see if the whiz kid can come up with a plan for us, otherwise we're gonna have a tough fight of it."

Ta'Lab spends a moment to take in the situation, looking over the walls into the mess inside the zoo, while Deacon tries to shoo away the gawkers. "I see ya've not improved none in handlin' people, bro," he casually mentions over the Vox, "'sides, this'll be free entertainment, don'tcha know? Best we can hope for is the mob'll stay outside. Anyway, last I heard we had a man inside. Is the plan to feed the wormlin's members of the unit until they need a nap? I mean, sounds like it might work, but might get a tad expensive, if you know what I mean."

[jiriku]

"Well, if they eat Jirai, that will save us money by cutting our payroll, but after he left me a {get back to your fun, citizen} in his room, I guess I sorta owe him a favor. You're probably right about the people though. You'd think they'd be smarter. Some idiots just don't have a sense of self-preservation, I guess.

So...shall we go wrestle with some wyverns?"

Aces and Eights crouches low and skulks towards the zoo entrance, looking dramatically less coordinated and stealthy than Deacon did on his way out. Deacon squints and looks through the intervening walls and buildings, attempting to confirm that the two larger wyverns haven't moved.

I'll have a go at a d20 roll to see if I get lucky on Stealth.[roll0]
Still taking 10 on Perception for a 23.

For Grey Wolf
I see you're appreciating Deacon's 8 Charisma!

[Sornas]

Brennan nodded, "Alright then, we need to get our hands on those reagents, either Jirai or Lt. Arthur. If they aren't in a usable form, I should be able to get them workable in short order."

He flipped on the Vox, "Deacon, Ta'Lab. Get into position, but try not to engage the Wyverns if at all possible. If we can get Jirai or Arthur to drug their food, or maybe the water in the fountain, we can handle this relatively easily, but I have my doubts that they're going to sit still that long, so you may see some action yet." Obviously, the citizens come before the Wyverns. "

He looked over the map and made a slightly irked face at it's simplicity. "We need at least one person to stay between them and the gate, to prevent them trying to escape right over the crowd. Remember, if you have to engage them, watch out for their tails. Their wings are clipped, so you don't have to worry about aerial attacks, but their claws are still nasty. They seem to be relatively calm however, so they shouldn't be too difficult to sneak around for the people on foot." ((Setting up Master Plan))

He turned to Barnum again. "Do we have easy roof access from here? I need to get a view of the field."


Int Check for Master Plan: [roll0]

Edit- Nice, natural twenty (I must have stolen all of Jemini's dice luck XD) That's a +3 to all rolls for 3 turns as soon as I decide to activate it, then +2 the next turn, then +1 the next.

[JeminiZero]

Seeing the Wyvern pause, he decides to get the children out quickly. "Alright, grab me and hold on tight, we're going to try and move to the next room, where the is no hungry Wyvern... yet" Jirai says as he reaches out to the children.


Sticking with original plan to carry them over the wall. Hopefully, not approaching the Wyvern in anyway, should keep it from attacking.

Can Jirai carry both at once or one at a time?

[jiriku]

Deacon moves into position as requested. Until Brennan or Arthur gets onto the roof to spot for the team, he'll use his deep vision to maintain sight of all targets of interest and report their locations through the VOX.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Ta'Lab follows Deacon into position.

So we have a master plan... what does that mean, again?

[smuchmuch]

"I think Jirai would make a priority of rescyuing the people trapped in there before the reagent and I doubt I could sneak up on wild animals." Arthur is finaly speaking after a while because he ... uh banged his head in the cart and was dazed, yeah that's totaly it (and not because his player had vaguley runnned out of inspiration or anything, nope sirah... anyway). Currently he is holding one of those blue instrument the guard useus to project their voice and seem to be fidling with it with his canne.
If I bust the aether filter here and excite the screamer spirit in there enough that should do it.
"There's something else however I should be able to do. if anyone needsto get the beasts attention out of them, signal me."


so yes, arthur is sabotaging witht he voicecaster to make it produce a high pitched sound to atttract the atention of the wiver when used.

Crunch wise: I'm readying an action to use the feat distract at the m:oment the wivern start becomming a (associated bluff roll: [roll0].)

Normaly it affect only one target so I'm either using a stunt with an associated craft (alchelmy) check, [roll1] Or something with he five pp woth that one rank of gadets give me to make it an aera selective effect that will affect all three wiverns.

They get an opposed sense motive or will checks and if they fail they are dazzed (defend noramly but can't take actions) for one round.

[Fri]

"Alright you funny guy, it's enough." Marie pulls the improptu comedian aside.

"Sigh, it's my dream to act in front of this much of viewers..."

As Marie pulls the worker aside, her face suddenly turns red and you can practically see steams billowing from her head.

"MR BLACK! What's the meaning of.... that!" she says, completely forgetting about the worker or the crowd.

Meanwhile, deacon's attempt on stealth doesn't really work. The giant armor clangs and bangs and it raises the wyvern from their nap. One of them turns its head toward him and opens its mouth, showing a line of sharp teeth.

edit: what are you readying your screecher for again, smuchmuch?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

But a screechy sound suddenly pierces everyone's ear. The wyverns are visibly surprised, they just roar and look toward their surrounding in confusion.

"This is our chance. Let's get a move on!" shouts Ta'Lab, as he pushes his ARM into the compound, and charges at the wyverns, thrusting his baton forward like a lance.

So... ummm... no idea how this works. My idea is to move to the nearest wyvern, attack it with the stun option (stun is good, right?) and then move to the corridor between monkeys and elephants, so that only one of the wyverns can get at me. I can move before and after thanks to Move-by Action, which Ta'Lab has.

Anyway, To Hit (+3 if master plan is on)
If I understand Stun correctly, there is no damage roll. Instead, the wyvern rolls Fortitude against DC 20.

[Fri]

sorry, forgot to note about initiative.

[smuchmuch]

edit: what are you readying your screecher for again, smuchmuch?

Basicaly, the idea was to use it once one of the other character gives a signal and/or it obviously looks like the situation is getting out of control. (for exemple one of the wivbern is starting to attack civilians, one of the Arm get a very bad blow or the wivern in the warehouse start getting agressive. In case thingfs go bad and we need a distraction and/or a decisive avantage.)

It may have turned out to be completly unused and surpfluous in the end but I though it was nice to have the option.

If you consider it was already used however, i'll go with it (show a certain lack of forethough from arthur i think but everyone makes mistakes).
That means however the wivern can't act in their first round and Jiria will have one free round to escape with the kids.


after he left me a {get back to your fun, citizen}

I am so detectiving the hell out of that.

[jiriku]

Deacon hesitates between an outraged Marie Lestrade and a pack of angry wyverns...and chooses the wyverns.


"Can't talk now, gotta go!"
Aces and Eights ducks under an awning, quickdraws its revolving crossbow, takes a bead on an unsuspecting wyvern, and opens fire.


Checking initiative first to see if I beat the wyvern. If I do, it'll be flat-footed against me on the first round so I think I'll be more inclined to use power attack. When mounted, we use the Dex of the Paladin for Init and Reflex saves, rather than our normal Dex, right?

[roll0]
Score. Power attack it is, then.

[JeminiZero]

Jirai quickly grabs the kids together, hugging both in one hand. Watching the Wyvern warily, he slowly backs away from the beast, up and over the wall.


Actually, 100 lb is heavy load for Str 10. Maximum load would be 200 lb.

Carrying heavy load reduces dodge bonus to 1 (eek), but can move at 2/3 speed (half of that or 1/3 speed for wall climbing). Assuming moving as a full round action, 2 moves at 10 ft each should hopefully be enough to traverse the wall.

[jiriku]

Deftly spinning around a concealing banner that hangs from the awning, the paladin squeezes off a burst of crossbow bolts in a tight pattern. Deacon frowns to himself.


"Dammit, Brennan! Where's that full-auto switch I asked for?"


First I'll attempt to outmaneuver the wyvern with my duck under the awning. If successful, I'll take +2 to hit. The wyvern can oppose with Acrobatics, Notice, Sense Motive, or a movement-related power.
I'm assuming that normal Dex modifiers for the pilot apply here?
[roll0]

Next, I'll attack, taking -5 to Defense with All-Out Attack for +5 to hit and -5 to hit with Power Attack for +5 damage. I assume Master Plan is not active yet as Brennan's not likely to beat the wyvern's initiative.
[roll1] vs. the wyvern's flat-footed Defense. Possible +2 on this roll if I outmaneuver the wyvern.

If I hit, damage is 15 + 6 + 5 + autofire bonuses, up to a maximum of 31.

[Fri]

Deacon's barrages somehow manage to graze one of the wyvern. Some of the giant crossbow bolts pierces the Wyvern's tough leathery skin, but it only manages to enrage it further. Both of them then charge Deacon's ARM.

[roll0] and [roll1]

It looks like that deacon is too busy with his newfound giant crossbow, because both of them caught Deacon's ARM with a hearty clang. (toughness save 23)

Ta'lab stunstick manages to caught one of them off guard though. It let loose a small yelp and looks like a dazed wyvern now (dazed)

Meanwhile, Jirai manages to climb into safety. The wyvern just shrugs and continues eating.

"You're not out of this yet, Deacon Black!" says Marie who's watching them from the gate.

"Please please don't damage them too much" Mr Barnum still hasn't give up.

"Can someone get this man out of here? Ugh, I would even pretend not to see if you rough him up a bit. But he got a point. Can someone confirm about the cage's condition? We need to know whether we really need to beat these lizards into next week or we could just throw them back to the cage."

[jiriku]

Pivoting rapidly, Aces and Eights dodges and weaves away from the first wyvern, but is too slow to avoid the second. The great beast slams into the paladin with a hollow clang.

Use Mecha Dogfighter feat to dodge the first wyvern with a Piloting check vs. the attack roll. My minimum roll is an 18 so I'll succeed automatically. The second one is gonna hit and there's nothing I can do about that.

Toughness save [roll0]
Edit: Juuust missed it. Brennan's gonna be pissed.
Edit Edit: Oh and Grey Wolf? Yes, stun would be very nice right about now.


"Haha! Is that all you got? C'mon, take your best shot!"

[Sornas]

"Dammit, Brennan! Where's that full-auto switch I asked for?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe in the shop?" Brennan glanced around, looking for a way to get up onto the rooftops. "You took up all our time with your damned paint job, what did you expect?"

Seeing no easy access, he shook his head and grabbed onto a nearby lightpost, scampering up it with relative ease and kicking off of it to reach the top of the fence, followed by a quick air-assisted jump to a nearby rooftop.


Using Monkey Climber feat to use Acrobatics to do this:
[roll0]
Edit- Gonna assume that succeeds.


"Alright. I'm on the roof. Deacon, Ta'Lab, I'll provide tactical support from here. Arthur, while they're distracted, can you get by them and take a look at the cage? I don't think we need to worry about your stealth skills any more."


I don't know about you guys, but I'm a sucker for music during fight/dramatic scenes, so I tend to link some from time to time, feel free to ignore me if you wish XD

Code: ATA (Ash to Ash) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u86nGCpnp5E&) - Super Robot Wars Original Generations Saga


"Alright! Let's go!" Brennan grinned as dust and leaves on top of the roof started to swirl up around him. "Deacon! On my mark!" The air started to swirl up around him, eventually becoming a swirling mass in front him as he closed his eyes to focus. "Aaaand...now!"


Activating Master Plan and Aiding Deacon

[smuchmuch]

"MR BLACK! What's the meaning of.... that!" she says, completely forgetting about the worker or the crowd.
Arthur already had his laugh so that doesn't even get a smile from him. On the outside that is.
I would pitty him but this is just too funny.


"Can someone get this man out of here? Ugh, I would even pretend not to see if you rough him up a bit. But he got a point. Can someone confirm about the cage's condition? We need to know whether we really need to beat these lizards into next week or we could just throw them back to the cage."

"Mr Barnum." Arthur put a comprehensive hand on the man's shoulder "I understand you are deeply concerned for the security of your zoo but your presence here is only getting in the way of our operation. I must ask you to leave"
In case the man the man isn't smart enough to understand when to cooperate and make himself forgot, arthur smile won't change but there will be just a slight hint of an edge in his voice. The kind who says, listen or the only conditions of captivity you'll have to worry in the future will be your own.
"A word to the wise. If this operation fails and anyone get hurts, there will be an enquiry. But, not to worry, I am sure you respected every condition of security and no trace of negligence can be charged to you."

Roughing him up, really ? When you can have the pleasure of making them sweat with just a friendly smille a few quiet words ? Trully you have much to learn Miss Lestrade.

Intimidate [roll0]

I think someoene will sudently want to be seen being very cooperative and will not even think of suing us no matter how much we damage his zoo .


Arthur, while they're distracted, can you get by them and take a look at the cage? I don't think we need to worry about your stealth skills any more."

Once he's done with Barnum, Arthur answers "Fine. But if I do end in the stomach of a wivern, I want it written that I didn't taste like chicken".
Having taken satisfaction in inflicting what may be his last pun, Arthur moves though quickly through the zoo gate while the wyvzern are busy engaging the ARMS, take quickly covers out of sight in an alley and start making his way discretly (hopefully) to the cage while the big guys are wainting.

roll needed ?

[jiriku]

"You're not out of this yet, Deacon Black!" says Marie who's watching them from the gate.

"Of course not, ma'am, but afore we came here I promised I’d protect you, and I reckon to do so. Don't you fuss none; I'll be back for my scolding soon as I'm through resolvin' this little fracas here."
Hard-pressed to avoid the slashing talons and claws of the onrushing wyvern, Deacon nevertheless pauses and whoops a battle cry as Rhea's paladin lands a solid hit on the second drake with its stun baton. Then Brennan sounds the attack. Emboldened, Deacon springs into action. Aces and Eights savagely headbutts its opponent, then steps forward with two quick strides and plants the butt of its crossbow in the wyvern's side. As the wyvern staggers back, the paladin deftly reverses its weapon and fires off a salvo of bolts at point-blank range.

Acrobatic feint (headbutt) against the wyvern I've already wounded, taking a -5 penalty to perform it as a move action. Bonus for Master Plan. Contested vs. the wyvern's Acrobatics or Sense Motive. Wyvern is flat-footed if I beat it. I assume I have to use the mecha's Dex rather than my own for this roll. [roll0]

Outmaneuver (crossbow hilt to the gut), for +1 damage. [roll1] Includes bonus for Master Plan.

Crossbow attack,+5 to hit from Aid, +3 to hit from Master Plan, -5 Defense and +5 damage from feats. [roll2] May catch opponent flat-footed.

Damage is 27 + autofire bonuses, capped at 32.

If it attacks me again on its turn, I'll attempt to dodge with Mecha Dogfighter. [roll3]

[jiriku]

Rolls didn't come through. I gotta stop hitting preview. Reposting rolls.

Acrobatic Feint [roll0]

Outmaneuver [roll1]

Attack [roll2]

Damage is 31 + 1 if Outmaneuver succeeds.

Dodge (if needed) [roll3]

[JeminiZero]

Once in the next room, Jirai brings the children to the far NorthWest corner (where it would be furthest away from the fighting down south, and the hungry Wyvern in the east) and puts them down. As the din of combat starts to rage outside, he whispers to them. "Alright, we should be safe down here for a while. Now I'd like you to hold still and keep quiet, so that we don't attract the big angry Wyverns outside."

He then updates the rest of the team. "Jirai here, children out of immediate danger, we are holed up in the warehouse room just west of the giant hole in the wall for now."


Any potential exits from this room?

[Fri]

Mr Barnum isn't exactly a man with powerful will it seems, because Arthur manages to leave him whimpering on the outer corner of his zoo.

Deacon's headbutt catches the wyvern off-guard, but it manages to dodge the crossbow hilt.

But it's for no use, as Deacon's following violent barrage of crossbow bolts manages to skewer it completely and now it lays down bleeding.

(it's unconcious now)

Before it falls down, it let loose a sad, heartening roar. Jirai can hear some ruckus from the next room, and then silence.

(for the exit from the warehouse, you can see from the map that from your position the exits are either south to the stage/office, or east and north from the room that got the wyvern.

The other wyvern is still dazed by Ta'lab stunstick.

Arthur somehow manages to dodge the giant lizards and armors, and now taking cover on an alley around the giant cat and big bear cages. Some tigers and bears are lazing around, completely oblivious to the chaos around them.

From there, he can see that the wyvern's cage is unharmed, only the door is ajar. He can also see a wooden box on the left side of the wyvern's cage. And he can also see the third wyvern charging south.

(Ta'lab still hasn't acted)

[JeminiZero]

Jirai glances around the current room wondering if there is a way out. Lets see, according to the map, that door to the south should be the offices... although I do have my reservations about taking a route within line of sight of the Wyverns outside...

Suddenly there was an outburst of noise from the Wyvern room... and then silence. What was that? Did the pilots manage to draw out the overgrown lizard? Jirai thought to himself. "You two wait here while I check things out." Jirai said to the children, before peeking over the eastern wall to see what had happened.


As usual, Take 10 to stealth for 19.

Thinking of sneakking the children eastward along the ceiling, hopefully out of sight from the outside, through the hole in the wall. And then exitting the warehouse and zoo the same way Jirai came in, through and over the northeast-most door and wall. That route should be hidden from the fight outside.

[smuchmuch]

Arthur gives his repport though the voxcaster.
"Cage seems fine but going to check if the lock isn't busted.. Pilots,watch out. Third animal is comming."

Arthur will move to the cage to check the lock quickly then get out of here.
Stealth check, if necessary [roll0]
Notice check, same [roll1]

If engaged in combat he'll just keep running and dodging until he sees an opportunity tio run for cover, or better, the exit.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Great shootin', bro," says Ta'Lab, as he comes back for another pass. As he moves, he hears that the third wyvern is inbound, "Seems we're back to square one, though."

As he runs pass the dazed wyvern, Ta'Lab makes the paladin slash at it with his knife, followed by several quick jabs, before moving back once more. As he grows more comfortable with the fight, observers can't help but notice how similar his fight style is that to a predator, with quick strikes and retreats to stay out of the range of his enemies.

OK, lets try the knife now:

[roll0] (I assume there are no bonuses for flanking?)
Damage would be, if I understand the rules (still struggling, sorry) 15 +10, with autofire bonus (which I think is up to half "the normal attack bonus" - which I'm unsure if is the +6 to hit, or +9 this turn, or the damage bonus, in which case not sure if it's the +7 from strength or +10 from the knife).

[Fri]

Sadly, even with Brennan's strategic help, Ta'lab strike misses the wyvern wildly. The wyvern is still dazed from its previous meeting with his stunstick though.

And now everyone can see the third wyvern charging toward the battlescene.

Arthur can see that the cage is fine, and should be able to withstand a couple of wyverns.

Jirai doesn't meet any more obstacle in his quest to bring the sobbing children into safety.

[jiriku]

Deacon looks up at the incoming wyvern.


"Oh, was he a friend of yours? So sorry."

Aces and Eights bounds over a park bench, flings an ice cream vendor's cart in the path of the oncoming wyvern, aims, and fires a concentrated volley at the new combatant as it is distracted by the sudden obstacle. The paladin then begins a fighting retreat towards the wyvern cage.


"Ta'Lab, I'm going to use myself as bait and draw 'em into the cage. I'm fixin' to run out of bolts by and by. Probably while I'm in the cage. I'd be much obliged if you'd be ready with the cage door when that happens, as I'm like to be leavin' just as fast as I go in, and I'll be none too pleased if our friends here come back out with me."



Outmaneuver as a free action against the smaller, oncoming wyvern by throwing the cart in its path. [roll0] for +2 to hit.
Continue to use feats for -5 Defense and +5 Damage.
Volley of bolts against the hopefully-distracted wyvern. This should definitely get its attention. [roll1], including Master Plan bonuses. [Edit: That's probably 28, given the solid Outmaneuver roll.] Is Brennan still using Aid to help me with his Air Control? If so, add an additional +5 to hit.
Damage is 26+autofire bonus.
Move action to begin retreat towards the cage.
Mecha Dogfighter Dodge against the first wyvern to attack me is [roll2].

[Fri]

(brennan's air control is one target only, and he has used it to help ta'lab)

Deacon's attack hit the smaller wyvern, but this time it only grazes it and bruises its leathery skin. It continues its charge toward Deacon. (Hit, 23 toughness saving throw)

And meanwhile, the previously dazed wyvern has regains its faculty and now springs to pounce Deacon's ARM.

(move action, then grapple attempt for 21 against Deacon's opposing grapple check)

[jiriku]

Rules questions and dice rolls:
I've just now realized, on re-reading the Mecha Dogfighter feat, that my bonus is limited by Defense PL, so with Master Plan, my dodge is 32, not 39. Is that high enough to dodge the first wyvern's attack?

If it isn't, here's my Toughness save. [roll0]

If I read Grapple correctly, my bonus is +14. Since a grapple is neither an attack nor a skill check, Master Plan does not apply. [roll1]

[Fri]

Rules Questions:
I've just now realized, on re-reading the Mecha Dogfighter feat, that my bonus is limited by Defense PL, so with Master Plan, my dodge is 32, not 39. Is that high enough to dodge the first wyvern's attack?

If it isn't, here's my Toughness save. [roll0]

If I read Grapple correctly, my bonus is +14. Since a grapple is neither an attack nor a skill check, Master Plan does not apply. [roll1]

I forgot about mecha dogfighter. both of the attack attempt fail :smallfrown:

how can you have that much of dogfighting bonus anyway?

[jiriku]

My question about whether I dodged the first wyvern is still pending. If I am hit, my Toughness save was full of fail and lose. On the condition that I am in fact hit, I'll spend my Hero Point to reroll the save.[roll0]Edit: wasn't hit.

Per my previous post, I just realized that Mecha Dogfighter is supposed to be capped by PL. That will be corrected going forward. Even capped, however, it's still quite high because a) it's a Piloting check, and I'm a very good pilot, and b) it's a skill check, and I'm currently getting +3 on those thanks to the Master Plan bonus, and c) on my three Mecha Dogfighter checks, I think I've rolled 20, 20, and 19 so far. You just can't lose with rolls like those. :smallbiggrin:

Edit/Correction: I've only rolled two, and my results were 8 and 19. It was the Outmaneuver checks where I've gotten all the 20s. But either way, it comes down to help from my friends, love from the dice-roller, and, well, umm, rules mistakes. :smalleek:

[Fri]

My question about whether I dodged the first wyvern is still pending. If I am hit, my Toughness save was full of fail and lose. On the condition that I am in fact hit, I'll spend my Hero Point to reroll the save.[roll0]

Per my previous post, I just realized that Mecha Dogfighter is supposed to be capped by PL. That will be corrected going forward. Even capped, however, it's still quite high because it's a) a Piloting check, and I'm a very good pilot, and b) a skill check, and I'm currently getting +3 on those thanks to the Master Plan bonus, and c) on my three Mecha Dogfighter checks, I think I've rolled 20, 20, and 19 so far. You just can't lose with rolls like those. :smallbiggrin:

Yes. You dodged it. Your piloting check is uncanny, harumph.

[jiriku]

Aces and Eights twists, overbalances, and nearly falls in an attempt to avoid the onslaught of the angry wyvern. Fortunately, it tips over just as the larger wyvern grabs it and shakes it violently. Deacon growls in annoyance.


"Hey, watch the paint job! That's a pretty lady you're scratching up there, fella!"

The Paladin tips and (more or less accidently) nearly squashes its attacker flat. The surprised wyvern darts aside, abandoning the grapple, and the mecha catches itself by grabbing onto a nearby lamppost.

[JeminiZero]

As fighting rages on in the zoo, Jirai appears back front, having slowly walked around the eastern corner. In each arm, he carries one of the two tearful children. "There, there. We are outside the Zoo now." He half considered questioning them, but decided that they needed some time to calm down after being scared crapless by the overgrown lizards.

And besides, making people talk was more of Sambre's thing.

He walked back to Marie to report. "Children have been safely extracted, I recommend giving them a quiet place to calm down, maybe some candy too. Preferably seperately so that they can take the time to think about what they've done, rather conspiring to obstruct justice."


And by "conspiring to obstruct justice", I mean agreeing to a similiar tall tale before hand, to tell the cops when questioning comes around.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Aces and Eights twists, overbalances, and nearly falls in an attempt to avoid the onslaught of the angry wyvern. Fortunately, it tips over just as the larger wyvern grabs it and shakes it violently.

The Paladin tips and (more or less accidently) nearly squashes its attacker flat. The surprised wyvern darts aside, abandoning the grapple, and the mecha catches itself by grabbing onto a nearby lamppost.

"Ya know, not sure what your beau s'gonna think of ya dancing and groping two ladies right in front of her eyes" Ta'Lab casually mentions as he moves is with his baton at the ready.

"Come on, ya'll're tired. Why don'tcha take a nap?" he mutters under his breath as he strikes, and then withdraws to his safe corridor.

[roll0]
Fortitude DC20

[Fri]

Ta'lab stunstick barely grazes the wyvern, but it catches it off guard and with a surprised yelp, it's now slumps on the ground.

(stunned. damnit, roll better, wyverns!)

[Fri]

"Great! You completely stunned it, Mr. Rhea! Now if only you could completely immobilize it before it regains consciousness and drag it into the cage.... " says Marie from the vox.

"And Mr. Black! I think you already got enough attention from that other wyvern. Lead it into the cage now! And you guys, go to the city! Find some chain big enough to leash the uncouncious wyvern!" she continues.

[JeminiZero]

"And you guys, go to the city! Find some chain big enough to leash the uncouncious wyvern!" she continues.

"Yes Ma'm!" Jirai, hands the sobbing children over to Marie, before heading out to find chains.


Take 10 to search for 21. If that is not enough, take 20 for a total of 31, but taking 5x as long.

[Fri]

To nobody's surprise there are bundles of chains big enough to tie an elephant... or a wyvern in the warehouse.

"Oh, scratch that order then. Just stand by to tie that wyvern up."

[jiriku]

Deacon engages the paladin's high-speed movement mode, and Aces and Eights darts towards the wyvern enclosure.

Ground speed 3. Don't know how far it is, so just let me know how close I get, or if I can in fact get inside the enclosure with a single sprint.

Outmaneuver for +2 Defense against the wyvern I'm fighting, taking -5 (I think) for the speed penalty. [roll0]

Dodge roll in case I get attacked, also with the -5 penalty. [roll1] Meh. My Defense is better.

[Fri]

(it's actually your turn. You can get into the cage in one turn with that speed, but you should roll a high speed maneuvering roll and let me just throw one avoid collision check for good measure, since you're moving at accelerated pace in limited space. I'd roll it for you, but you know my luck with rolls :smallsmile:)

[jiriku]

[roll0]

I'm AFB and not sure exactly what to roll. IIRCC, the high speed penalty varies depending on how far you move, up to a maximum of your ranks in the speed power. There's an additional -2 penalty for accelerated movement, or -3 for a full-round movement. I'm guess at a -5, and have included a -5 penalty in my roll above. Adjust accordingly if my guess is wrong.

[Fri]

(shouldn't have bothered for that check)

Deacon slips a bit, but manages to slip into the cage. The wyvern follows behind him with pounding steps.

(It'll arrive at the cage the next turn, and the other wyvern is still stunned, completely defenseless. It's Ta'lab turn now)

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Comin', bro. Give me a sec to finish this one off," pants Ta'Lab over the Vox as he once more moves forward to strike, this time with the knife, before running towards the cage.

[roll0] the stunned one with the knife

Then move to the cage entrance. I assume some kind of action would be required to close the gate, but in the meantime, I can be in the way.

[Fri]

The stunned wyvern falls down from Ta'lab quick work with his knife.

"I think that's about it. We contained the situation. Great job, everyone. And not even a single escaped monkey!" Marie's voice is reverberates from the vox.

"It's over? My wyverns are safe" Mr Barnum sobers up from his daze.

"More or less.... if you don't mind a couple of bolts sticking up and some stabbing wounds... Now... we just need to secure these uncouncious wyverns."

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Now... we just need to secure these uncouncious wyverns."

"Aye, Aye, 'Tute"

Ta'Lab grabs one of the bleeding Wyverns, throws it over his shoulder and starts to trudge towards the cage. "Deec, care to give me a hand with the one ya turned into a pincushion?"

[jiriku]

Aces and Eights deftly outmaneuvers the oncoming wyvern, darts around it, and slams the cage door shut. The caged beast squeals in fury, clattering against the bars. Deacon replies in kind, tripping the police sirens on the Paladin to produce an ear-splitting squawk.


"Ha! And next time say excuse me when you bump someone!"

Deacon moves to assist in the careful job of adding the two unconscious wyverns to the cage without giving the third a chance to escape. He sniffs sadly.


"So much for R&R."

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"So much for R&R."

"Speak for ya'self, ya bastard," quipes Ta'Lab happily, "In th'end, I did get to go to th' zoo, an' play with th'animals. I'm happier than a pig in th' mud, don'tcha know?"

[Fri]

The next hour passes without much surprise. Deacon must wrestle with the concious wyvern a bit while the two uncouncious wyverns are loaded into the cage though. After some while, some town guards arrive. Some of them take some time to admire the Paladins, and you can hear some whispers that sound like, 'it seems that these might not only a vanity project after all.'

"We can take it from here." one of them says. "Though you can hang around if you want to."

"No one is injured, right?" says Marie after she finishes tending the kids. "Great job out there guys. No casualties or even collateral damage! I got their parent's place. We're getting them here at the moment."

"Pay! they should pay!" Mr Barnum throws a tantrum.

[jiriku]

Deacon gives the zoo owner a lopsided grin.


"Yessir, good point. Everyone at fault here ought to pay what they owe, shouldn't they, Mr. Barnum? A man ain't worth much if he won't stand by his debts, is he? Nossiree, he isn't.

"So, while we're at it, let's see about you...hmmm, violation of permits by storin' three wyverns instead of two. Improper security of dangerous animals, seein' as how two kids were able to get where they did and you had no tranquilizers prepared. Reckless endangerment of 37 citizens by encouragin' em to stay here at the gate where they coulda been killed. Obstruction of justice for lyin' to a police officer. Hmm, you did that twice. Damage to police property, seein' as how it was your wyvern that tore up my mech like that. Paladins are expensive, by the way; I'm sure that'll be quite a bill.

"Arthur, am I missing anything else? Since Mr. Barnum has got his heart set on money matters, I know it's important to him that we give a full accounting."

[JeminiZero]

As the Paladins finish the mop up operations, and Deacon goes off to shake down Mr Barnum, Jirai takes the chance to talk to the two kids. "So, what exactly happened in there? The truth please, I promise I won't do anything to you."


Diplomacy: [roll0] :smallannoyed:

Edit: Paging Sambre, paging Sambre, please report to the Interogation Room

Take 10 to Sense Motive for 17.

[smuchmuch]

"Ah Mr Barnum" Arthurt seemed to have appeared all fo a sudden. He is still smiling, wich is rather impressive given the fact he was not two minute ago scarred ****less, stuck between batling giant robots and wiverns who could have crushed him easily without noticining.
It's a job to conceal your emotion and recover quickly,.You learn
"So glad to see you are still so full of energy. Indeed Mister Black i believe there is much to consider." He doesn't insist much, Deacon already started working the zoo director quite well. And Jirai proposed himself as the bad cop apparently. it's fine because at the present moment Arthur isn't completly unsympathetic to Barnum. Of course if the man keep tis attitude, this may change quite fast "Why don't we start with a full recolection of the evening..."

After barnum; Arthur will interogate the two kids, separatly then together. At first glance, the story seems a simple one, lots of stupidity involved but no real malice. DSothe procedure is pretty simple one, collect patiently and politely testimony from everyone. Then if there are contradiction, keep them in store then sping them on the most ovious liar and destabilise him with somme more questions while he's confused. After a while, unless there is much more to this ans someone is really hiding something, it's quite easy to make the whole storry clear

.
sorry guys but I did warn in the OOC I had limited access to internet for this week till next tuesday.

@ FRI, for the questoning, We can roleplay this or roll and sumit up, depeding how it's easier, for you.
If we do this quickly, taking a 10 on gather information and sense motiv for a 20 and 22 respectively.

[Fri]

(at this point, I'll go with the easy way :smallredface:)

Mr Barnum whimpers again and stay silent for the rest of the day.

Meanwhile Jirai and Arthur manages to gather the rundown of the events from the kids. It seems that they simply wanted to to sneak into the zoo. When the got there, of course the first thing that got their attention was the wyverns. They were admiring it when one of them decides to play with the cage's door. To their surprise, the cage wasn't locked! And all went down from there.

Their parents then came, and from the crying and voices you overheard, it sounds like they're going to be grounded for life.

"I guess all end well, right?" Marie came to join everyone. "Poor wyverns though, I hope Mr Barnum got good veterenarians. Though, I don't know what would happen to the wyverns after this. And all in all..."

And then a whistle is heard. It seems that one of the guard is taking some time to admire Deacon's rig.

"... I know I forgot something..." she says as she starts turning red again...

[JeminiZero]

The whistling guard drew Jirai's attention to Deacon's customized Paladin for the first time- all this while the Ninja had been running circles out of sight, getting the children to safety. He stares at the image with a frown while rubbing his chin thoughtfully. His straight-forward mind tries to process why Deacon could have painted Marie on his Paladin, before coming to the (wrong) conclusion. "So... I take it that Marie has been appointed as team mascot?"

[jiriku]

Deacon is engrossed in a conversation with the guard when he overhears Jirai's half-formed question

"...and it was a lot more responsive today than before. Runs faster too; I'm pretty sure that's because of the racing stripes. Wut? Naw, Jirai, Miss Lestrade ain't no mascot. This here's my Lady Luck!"
He grins broadly, then scowls at the damage inflicted by the wyvern before noticing Marie's expression.

"Them claws have done a number on the paint work, though. Cryin' shame. Oh! Miss Lestrade! Pilot Deacon Black reportin' for my scolding, ma'am."
He hurries over to her, stands at attention and salutes, then gives her a rakish grin.

[Fri]

The two kids says their goodbye to Jirai.

"Now you two, say your thanks to the guards."

"Thank you mr ninja."

"When I grow up, I want to be a ninja like you too!"

One of the kids' parent anxiously asks Arthur. "Excuse me sir, but are you sure we shouldn't pay attention to Mr. Barnum?"

And meanwhile, Deacon's response catches Marie off guard but she continues. It stops her from simply raking deacon's head with a baton though. "Can you explain this to me?"

Cough. "The modification on your paladin isn't... proper for the servant of law like us. Imagine what would people think!"

And she shouts her reply to Jirai. "And I'm nobody's mascot!"

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Inside his ARM, Ta'Lab listens to the lieutenant and Deacon.

"Humans and their matin' rituals..." he says to himself.

[jiriku]

Deacon gives a look of astonishment and hurt-puppy-dog innocence.


"Why, of course I can explain it ma'am. You authorized this yerself. Brennan told me he wouldn't work without proper authorization."

Deacon climbs up into the Paladin, shuffles around in the cockpit, and returns with a sheaf of folded and grease-stained papers. He proffers one to Marie. Although a little rumpled, it's recognizable as a purchase order and work authorization, dated last week and bearing Marie Lestrade's signature.


DEPARTMENT: MGAU01

{table=head]PARTS|QTY|COST
Ammunition shuttling|2 assemblies|1,200
Valve lubricant|4 lit.|97
Paint|7 lit.|42[/table]

{table=head]LABOR|QTY|TIME
Rebuild autofire selector|1|37 hrs.
Tune leg actuators|2|6 hrs.
Apply unit identification|1|6 hrs.[/table]

Labor Request: Deacon Black
Performing Mechanic: Brennan Ormond
Supervisor Approval: Marie Lestrade


"See, there it is, ma'am. On the third line. Paint supplies for unit identification. Ain't nobody gonna mistake which Paladin this is! And as you can see, it's signed by yerself. And very neat handwriting you have too, if you don't mind my sayin' so, Miss Lestrade.

"As far as properness, ma'am, labor artwork is an honored tradition among the King's Elite. And it's certainly good for morale. You do want to support unit morale, don't you ma'am?

"But, y'know Miss Lestrade, now that you're discussin' it with me, I reckon I kin see your point of view. What would folks think? I mean, just look at her! All scratched and torn up from the combat. It ain't professional-like. And it's a disservice to such a pretty lady, if I do say so myself."

Deacon's eyes suddenly light up as an idea occurs to him.


"Why, I've got just the thing! We'll engrave it into the hull! We can color the engraving by filling it in with dyed epoxy. Hard as steel once it dries, and it'll keep her looking sharp!"

[Fri]

You can almost see Marie's hair rises up when she realizes what she's reading. It seems that she's going to yell again, but she then sighes. "...at least you're proper about it... Just... just change the *cough* mascot. I don't want to hear complain from angry parents after your patrols...."

(anyway, anyone still want to hang around at the zoo? I think I'll move to the next day tomorrow. But as usual, feel free to ignore the order of events outside combat. You can write what you're doing whenever.)

[smuchmuch]

When I said Arthur intogorated people for their version of the storry, I meant Barnum was in the lot.

Taking 10 again on sense motive for 22 to find out what was going one with that open lock by interogating the zoo owner and employees.

As much as he'd rather watch the inimitable Deacon Black in action, the detective is busy. Interogating Barnum, as well as talking to a few of the zoo employees, in order to find a little more about this:


To their surprise, the cage wasn't locked!

The third wirvern thing was bad enough.
Petty greed isn't a crime, neither is juvenile brasheness or else half the city would be behind bars. but... There are limits of tolerance, even, to criminal negligence.


One of the kids' parent anxiously asks Arthur. "Excuse me sir, but are you sure we shouldn't pay attention to Mr. Barnum?"

"Enquiries are still going on to determines everyone part of reponsability in this accident, madam."
But unless someone press charges, that's that.

[jiriku]

"Awright! Did you hear that, Rhea? She likes the flames and the racing stripes, I just know it. Let's go check out the zoo and get you that mug while we're here. I think I saw some of your cousins in one of the cages back there."



----------------------------------------------

Much later, back at the headquarters, Deacon politely knocks at Marie Lestrade's office door. Letting himself in, he closes the door, drops into a chair and props his feet up on the edge of her desk.


"Miss Lestrade, there's something I been meanin' to ask of you.... This Jacob Marlowe fella, our captain...you don't seem to like him very much. Why is that, ma'am, if you don't mind my askin'?"

[Fri]

Marie is busy writing something when she notices that Deacon came. She was readying herself for one of his usual act, when she realizes that he asks something different this time.

She then just continue writing.

"He's a disappointment for us guards, and officers in particular."

[jiriku]

"A disappointment? Is he poor as a lawman, or is he just some hero's son and everybody expected him to be another hero like his daddy?"

[Fri]

Finally marie stops writing.

"You might be a veteran, but I guess he's beyond your time. But I know about him. As a kid, I always heard stories about him from my father.

About this one dashing young officer who they said to be as good as any of those graverobbing-tombraidng adventurers. About his heroic, about crimes he busted and laws he raised. About his unhingable, untouchable persona.

And look at that... blob that we have now." She looks in disgust toward the captain's office.

"Hey, can someone get us more fried doughs?" a voice is heard from behind the door.

[jiriku]

"Huh. So, Cap'n Marlowe gave up on heroing, an' everyone else gave up on him."

Deacon sits for a time, deep in thought.


"So, him bein' assigned to command the Mobile Guard...does that mean that he's gettin' a second chance, or does it mean everyone's given up on us, too?"

[JeminiZero]

Jirai waves goodbye to the children with a half smile curling up the corner of his mouth, but as soon as they were gone, he goes back to his usual stone-faced self. In fact he looks a little dissappointed. Aww... who am I kidding. I'm a disgrace to the title of trainee Shinobi. I should have been able to take out all three Wyverns by myself. If this gets reported to the higher ups, my request for better equipment will never be approved.

Jirai spends the rest of the day, sullenly walking around the zoo, and writing down his observations in a police notebook.

[Fri]

"I surely hope that it's the former, Mr. Black, I sure hope...."

On the next day, Captain James greets you with a smile as he enter the warehouse.

"Good news everyone! Look here, we're on the front page!"

He then shows today's newspaper. After you scan it, you realized that he's right! Right there under the headline about the rising price of fish, a piece about how alchemists thinking that the smell of the city's sewer is getting more overpowering by the day, and a long winding editorial about the worsening attitude of one of the neighboring country and how more Magic Knight should be sent to the border, there is a tiny article titled "Opening of New Zoo Ended Up In Disaster."

It's only about three paragraphs or so, but one paragraph mentions, 'the incident could be worse if not by the quick arrival of the newly made Mobile Guard section of the town guard. Responding to the zoo's emergency distress call like a lightning, members of the city's finest quickly arrives, and contained the zoo with the help of their troop of giant flying thunderspewing metal armors and their army of ninjas. And with the help of the zoo owner's and his effective coordinating of the staff, they managed to put the wyverns back into the cage and saved the two children without a single monkey escaping."

There's not even a mention of your names or a picture though.

[jiriku]

"Hmmm...they arrived like lightning, their armor spewing thunder...that gives me an idea. Hey, Brennan! Let's look at those ARM weapon schematics one more time. I've got a GREAT IDEA!"

[Fri]

"Well, that would explain this..." says marie as he comes with a bunch of papers. She reads one of them.

"A request for an exclusive report on Mobile Guard Section One. It says that if we agree, they'd like to have an interview with us tomorrow..."

[JeminiZero]

Jirai picks up the newspaper and reads through the article, occasionally shaking his head in disbelief. As soon as he is done, he closes the paper and hurls it back on the desk, deciding that if they could get such a simple story so utterly wrong, then nothing else in that rag could be worth reading.

In fact, he was so dissappointed with its shoddy journalism, that he was almost tempted to simply throw the paper away, rather than recycle it for origami ninja stars... But times were tough, and there was a shortage of scrap newspaper around the station.

[jiriku]

"Lookit you, Jirai. Army of one. Miss Marie, I'd be happy to talk to the folk and show 'em around. And don't you worry none, I'm known for my truthiness. Im-peccable reputation, that's what I got! And I'd be happy to show 'em Aces and Eights. Err...we haven't had time to change the nose art yet, d'you think that'd be alright?"

[JeminiZero]

""A request for an exclusive report on Mobile Guard Section One. It says that if we agree, they'd like to have an interview with us tomorrow..."

"Is the newspaper one which we can count on? It would be bad if they decided to twist thing into a political fiasco." Jirai said as he peered over Marie's shoulder to take a look at the letter. "Also, you should also keep in mind an old Shinobi saying: 'Knowledge is Power- Secrecy is a Shield'. As a Ninja whose living depends on people NOT knowing what I look like, giving a personal interview seems like a bad idea. I'll probably hide in the attic or something while they tour the place."


"Lookit you, Jirai. Army of one."

Jirai shakes his head a little sadly. "Its not nearly so simple for me. I probably have to write a report to the Shinobi Academy, clarifying that the report was false, and that I have not been secretly training an army of students."

[jiriku]

"You haven't? I mean, of course you haven't!"
Deacon glances over his shoulder with a worried expression.

[Fri]

"Captain?"

"Why not? Send an o-kay reply dear Marie. And wear your best suits tomorrow, ladies and gentlemen." the old captain grins.

( hm, should we keep the pace slow until brennan and ta'lab come back? )

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Also, you should also keep in mind an old Shinobi saying: 'Knowledge is Power- Secrecy is a Shield'. As a Ninja whose living depends on people NOT knowing what I look like, giving a personal interview seems like a bad idea. I'll probably hide in the attic or something while they tour the place."

Jirai shakes his head a little sadly. "Its not nearly so simple for me. I probably have to write a report to the Shinobi Academy, clarifying that the report was false, and that I have not been secretly training an army of students."

Ta'Lab is, as usual when in the office, relaxing in his place, helmet low over his eyes and a steaming cup of reddish coffee close at hand. Without looking up, he intersects, "Jirai, I ain't likin' th' idea of no interview no more than ya' do, but ya have to start realisin' that ya ain't no ninja no more. Ya're a public servant now, and that means that secrecy ain't an option no more. 'Sides, ya're the hero o' the hour, don'tcha know? Them newspaper men will want to gabble questions at ya about savin' the children"

[Fri]

"Interview eh?" Says Albert. The old mechanic says. "It's been a while since I do that. Hey guys, this might be your only chance to appear in the news. Don't waste this."

"Interview you say, Mr Rochester? This would be an interesting experience." Matthias pops out from under an ARM, with grease stains all over his face. "Though, I must say that I never really read any news publications beside Jean's Fighting Vehicles."

"..." Thomas is as silent as usual. "I already ordered some live chicken..." Huh? What do it have to do with anything?

"In.. interview? What should I wear, Miss Lestrade? Oh, but it's not like we mechanics are going to be pictured or interviewed. But, if we do, what if I answer wrongly?"

"Wear your usual uniform, Genevieve. And this isn't like the exam in your magical school. There aren't any wrong answer. Though there will be bad answer... I guess we should tidy up this warehouse a bit." Marie replies, already tying a handkerchief onto her head. " Someone that's not Mr Black please patch the doors. Mr Sambre, could you do something with those piles of papers in your office? Mr. Rhea, you could do with a shave. Mechanics, go polish the Paladins then. We'd want them to be look as good as they could be for the pictures. And sigh... cover the picture with a patch of... something. Pretend that it's under repair or something. Please. The rest of us should mow the lawn and mop the floors. Gah, we should've done this weeks ago..."

And as they say, time is relative. Because before you know it, now you're waiting for the afromentioned reporter to come.

"Please don't say, do, or even look like anything that would make bad impression..." Marie says. She arrives from her house even earlier today.

"And Captain, please look responsible at least today..."

[JeminiZero]

"Jirai, I ain't likin' th' idea of no interview no more than ya' do, but ya have to start realisin' that ya ain't no ninja no more."

"Actually, my attachment to this unit has not changed the fact that I am still a Trainee Ninja, who must one day face the Shinobi Final Exam™."


"'Sides, ya're the hero o' the hour, don'tcha know? Them newspaper men will want to gabble questions at ya about savin' the children"

"Ah yeesss..." Jirai says while rubbing his chin. "They probably will, won't they." He pauses for a while before asking. "Would any of you like to pretend to be a Ninja for a day?"

[Grey_Wolf_c]

"Ah yeesss..." Jirai says while rubbing his chin. "They probably will, won't they." He pauses for a while before asking. "Would any of you like to pretend to be a Ninja for a day?"

"Sorry, kid," says Ta'Lab, sounding sincerely apologetic, "Got 'nouf problems of my own. Ah'm sure they will want interviews of th' pilots, don'tcha know? And ah also need to see how to shave and stay shaven, it seems..."

[jiriku]

"I can picture it now. 'You can't see the ninja,' we'll say. 'Why not?' they'll ask. 'Because, he's a ninja!'"

[Fri]

"I don't know anything about ninja, but whatever you're going to do, you better doing it quick, because I think they're coming..." Albert enters the door with a smile and a strangely tidy jumpsuit.

And it's true. Because A horse-driven coach stops in front of the gate. It stops there for a while, before the door opens, and someone jumps down from the coach.

And it's not a 'they' like what Albert said. It's only one person. It's a 'she' in fact. Because the one that's jumping from the coach is a small statured young girl with ponytailed brown hair and a heavy looking long leather coat covering her simple dress. She's lugging a large, heavy bag that from the look of it might make a good weapon against a wyvern in case you need to fight one again.

Marie dusts her uniform, and steps outside to greet her, only to be completely ignored as the young girl pulls out an alchemical device from her heavy bag, you recognize it as the one you use to make pictures, and cheerily starts to take snapshots of the base's exterior from various angles.

[jiriku]

"Her? Our news reporter is a kid? Now I do feel insulted."

Deacon steps outside and intentionally steps in front of the camera to get the kid's attention.


"Hullo there, missy. That's a pretty big camera for
such a little girl! Which paper do you work for?"

Magic eyeball, detecting emotions. Hmm, x-ray scan the kid for weapons too. Sometimes people aren't what they seem. Taking 10 on Notice checks.

[Fri]

jiriku
you notices that she got a small pistol hidden under her dress.... among other things that a girl got under her dress... But her emotion is just mainly excitement.

"Hey, I take offense to that!" she says as she moves toward Deacon and Marie, though she keeps smiling as she says that. "I'm not a kid, I'm an experienced investigative reporter." She says as she shakes Marie's and Deacon's hand.

"Sorry, I guess I was kinda taken away and didn't noticed you guys are already here." She gives her card. "Elizabeth Shelley, Argent Times. I assume that you already got our letter.

So... I guess you guys are Mobile Guard Section One's representative?" she says as she cranes her head to find an odd almost-a-dozen-but-not-quite ragtag bunch of people inside.

[jiriku]

"Representatives? We're the Guard. Deacon Black, pleased to make your acquaintance! Oh, and Miss Shelley, you won't need your firearm here. You can leave it in your coach, or we can store it in the magazine for you, if you like. I'll be pleased to guarantee your safety, so it's quite unnecessary."

Deacon gives her a cordial but serious look.




"I must say, we're all mighty pleased to have you visit. We get the Times here regular-like."

Deacon does not mention that MGAU:01 chiefly uses the Times to clean up grease spills and craft origami throwing stars.

[smuchmuch]

Arthur is currently in his office. Not being a pilot, he doesn't feel too concerned by this particular interview since his role into the unit, until now, has been mostly somme clerical duty.
Organizing paperwork, writting reading and correcting repports, keeping tracks of events (and as such that means buying at least two copies newpapers each morning and reading at least one of them while making sure it won't be turned into an oil rag, toilet paper, a wolf chewtoy or a paper mache ninjistu weapon. A task harder than it sounds) and organising archives.
Not the most fascinating job ever (ak borring as hell), but it's only temporary till there's a little more staff, and someone has to do it. Certainly isn't going to be the captain.

Hearing the conversation outside, he closes the file, does a little of "tidying up" (aka stowing the pile of papers under his office rather than on top), and steps outside to take a look at the reporter who just entered the building.
After more than 25 years of service, he has met quite a few of them in his career. Most of them are a tame bunch, no real interest in finding the truth their profession is supposedly based upon. Of cousrse no one will reproach them to be just people, doing their job and trying to makke a living above all, but one can deplore a certain lack of curiosity and a tendency to accept the first explanation given to them. Not so unlike many detectives sadly.
But sometime, sometime, you meet a few who still have the fire. Those tend to be... interesting peoples, to say the least, though not particularily easy to deal with.

wonder wich kind we'll have here. A familiar face maybe ?

Well informed [roll0]

[Sornas]

"Hmmm...they arrived like lightning, their armor spewing thunder...that gives me an idea. Hey, Brennan! Let's look at those ARM weapon schematics one more time. I've got a GREAT IDEA!"

The only response that could be heard was a loud, annoyed grunt from Aces and Eights' cockpit, where Brennan was currently situated working on the control panel.

----

Brennan, having seemingly spent the past few days exclusively in the workshop, poked his head out from underneath the tarp he had placed over Ta'lab's ARM. Both machines were currently undergoing repairs after the last battle, and Brennan wasn't too enthused about this reporter coming and seeing them when they were in this state, but he didn't really have much of a choice.


"Representatives? We're the Guard. Deacon Black, pleased to make your acquaintance! Oh, and Miss Shelley, you won't need your firearm here. You can leave it in your coach, or we can store it in the magazine for you, if you like. I'll be pleased to guarantee your safety, so it's quite unnecessary."

"Pft. Yeah, he'll guarantee the safety of everything but your modesty." He chuckled and went back to what he was doing.

"MATTIAS!" He yelled from under the tarp. "Hurry up with that Rokuan fire bark, we're behind schedule!" The edge of the tarp lifted up as if on it's own, and a large box of tools that was sitting on a nearby box floated up and into the opening before it closed again.

[jiriku]

"Hey now!"

Deacon makes a minute adjustment to his eyepatch and gives Brennan a wink with his one good eye.


"I've got my eye on you!"

[JeminiZero]

Seeing nobody wanted to take up his 'Ninja-for-a-day' offer, Jirai gives a nonchalant shrug. Pulling his police overcoat on, he announces quietly over the Vox. "If anyone asks, the Ninja has gone on patrol, and won't be back until after the media circus has moved on. Someone has to keep the streets safe." With that he quietly slips out the backdoor, and climbs over the rear wall.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Seeing nobody wanted to take up his 'Ninja-for-a-day' offer, Jirai gives a nonchalant shrug. Pulling his police overcoat on, he announces quietly over the Vox. "If anyone asks, the Ninja has gone on patrol, and won't be back until after the media circus has moved on. Someone has to keep the streets safe." With that he quietly slips out the backdoor, and climbs over the rear wall.

As he falls down, two very big, very hairy and yet suprisingly fast on their feet individuals just happen to be loitering on the street below. One of them looks at the young ninja and says in a pleasant voice, "Mr. Rhea talked to us just yesterday, he did. Something about a cop skirting his duty, he said. But we didn't believe him, did we, Ursus?" His companion grunts concomitantly, "Cops 'round here are good cops, aren't they, I said. They need to show people they're around, I said. Else, the bad people might think they ain't around, see? And then they might think it's fine and dandy to throw poor Ursus and me outs of our homes, and our families, right? So we told him, Rhea, don't you worry about none. You can trust all your cops friends to stand besides you when you need them most - like when facing the evils of newspaper. You're not going to show me wrong, right?"

At no point does he raise his voice, and to the keen eyes of Jirai, he can tell he is not a fighter. Just a big, strong man with the air of a carpenter, maybe in his fifties. But there is something serious beyond his easygoing words. He is scared - the fear has been with him all his life - and can only hope to trust that the cops will be there, reminding everyone that, yes, they do exist.

Retroactively use Connected to cast Summon Conscience on Jirai :smalltongue:

Yes, these are the two same guys that helped Ta'Lab build the little addition to the back of the Police building.

[jiriku]

Several days earlier....



"Whaddya mean 'unacceptable risk of irreversible cascade failure'? Look, if that happens, and I'm not saying it would, isn't there some button I could push to just... y'know... reverse it?"
Upon hearing Brennan's response, Deacon pulls his hat from his head in great agitation, tosses it on the ground, and runs a hand through his thinning hair, his pose a picture of exasperation.

"C'mon, you're the mechanic for goodness sake! There's gotta be a way you can squeeze enough juice out of this power plant for at least a couple of teeny weeny little lightning bolts."

Deacon gazes mournfully at Brennan, his eyepatch askew and his normally starched collar stained with the sweat he's worked up climbing around the innards of the Paladin.

[JeminiZero]

"Cops 'round here are good cops, aren't they, I said. They need to show people they're around, I said. Else, the bad people might think they ain't around, see? And then they might think it's fine and dandy to throw poor Ursus and me outs of our homes, and our families, right?"

"Your logic is flawed." Jirai replies without missing a beat. "Firstly, Rhea does not need my help for anything, least of all dealing with some hack journalist." He flips his collar up to partially conceal his face, and starts his patrol route, while continuing. "And secondly, its a better reminder to have a cop walking by everyday, than for there to be an extra name in a newspaper interview, that already has ten voices clamouring for attention."


I was thinking of using the "Ninjas have no conscience" routine, but the blood takes so long to clean off. :smalltongue:

[Fri]

well informedYou know about her. She's an investigative reporter, and famous for daring to step where other people doesn't dare to step. In fact you know that she got some trouble from investigating some nobles and merchant previously.

"Well... I honestly thought that there'll be more of you. But that doesn't matter!" what tiny amount of disappointment she had had gone in just a split second. She then smiles while she reaches under her dress.

"Sorry sir. It's just that this city can be dangerous for a girl in my profession." She says as she put a small derringer onto the table. "I'm elizabeth shelley from the times. May I get introduced to everyone?"

[jiriku]

Deacon cheerfully conducts introductions all around, finishing in front of Sambre.


"...and this here is Arthur Sambre! He's the star of the show, really. Arthur's our top detective. If Miss Lestrade is the brains and good looks in this operation, Arthur is our eyes and ears. A fellow can barely say a word on the streets without this man hearing of it.

"You really oughta talk to this man, Miss Beth. Some of the others, they get nervous in front of news types and clam up tighter than a miser's wallet. But Mister Sambre here, he'll give you a story!"

Deacon whispers this last bit of advice into Elizabeth's ear, giving her a nudge and a confidential wink.

[Sornas]

Several days earlier:

"Goddamnit Deacon, I'm a mechanic, not a miracle worker!" ((Sorry, I couldn't help myself XD)) Brennan harrumphed and turned back to a diagram that he had hanging up from a support pole.

"Something like that would need a massive amount of power! Have you ever wondered why the Paladins don't use magical blast weaponry? It's because to keep the other functions going, there's no way to reliably power them!" He scowled and started scribbling notes rapid-fire on the diagram. "The only way would be to either massively upgrade the power source, or use some sort of external source! And something like that would be dangerous, unstable, prone to collateral damage, have far too much recoil for an ARM of the Paladin's weight class to handle, and, almost thankfully at this point, only be good for a few shots! Not to mention you would be slowed down drastically by carrying the external source!"

He drew several circles around the power source on the diagram. "And we don't have nearly the resources on-hand to upgrade the internal power source to that level, anyway! I could technically do it, don't mistake me, but with what we have now, it's impossible, I'd need a huge shopping list of reagents that we don't have, and the result would STILL be a dangerous, unstable prototype."

----
Back in the Present

When introduced, a curt "Hey." was the response from under the tarp, followed by more orders barked at Thomas and Mattias. He had been going easy on Genevieve today though, as she seemed on the edge of a nervous breakdown about the reporter.

[jiriku]

"Goddamnit Deacon, I'm a mechanic, not a miracle worker!" ((Sorry, I couldn't help myself XD)) Brennan harrumphed and turned back to a diagram that he had hanging up from a support pole.

"Something like that would need a massive amount of power! Have you ever wondered why the Paladins don't use magical blast weaponry? It's because to keep the other functions going, there's no way to reliably power them!" He scowled and started scribbling notes rapid-fire on the diagram. "The only way would be to either massively upgrade the power source, or use some sort of external source! And something like that would be dangerous, unstable, prone to collateral damage, have far too much recoil for an ARM of the Paladin's weight class to handle, and, almost thankfully at this point, only be good for a few shots! Not to mention you would be slowed down drastically by carrying the external source!"

He drew several circles around the power source on the diagram. "And we don't have nearly the resources on-hand to upgrade the internal power source to that level, anyway! I could technically do it, don't mistake me, but with what we have now, it's impossible, I'd need a huge shopping list of reagents that we don't have, and the result would STILL be a dangerous, unstable prototype."

Deacon's face acquires a crafty expression.


"So you're saying you CAN do it. Great, great, that's wonderful, Brennan!"

Deacon is getting more and more excited, talking faster and faster.


"Look here, we can mount the external power pack on this hardpoint here, and route the blast through the blunderbuss bore to shape it. I think it's strong enough to withstand a few firings, at least. If we anchor the power pack on the center of gravity and deliver the power through a flywheel, the spin will counterbalance that recoil. It's just like pinwheelin' yer arms to keep from fallin' down. And there's only a very small chance that the flywheel will rip offa the main drive shaft and crush everything in its path. Look at this here! We can strip out some of this unnecessary cockpit armor to save weight and keep up speed. And if there's only enough juice for a few shots, that's fine, with a blast this big it'll be impossible to miss anyhow! Heck, I could probably knock down a building with one shot from this thing!

"Sooo...if I can get Miss Marie to approve the reagents, do you think you could have it ready for a shakedown trial by next Tuesday?"

[smuchmuch]

Top detective ? Not hard given that I'm the only one. so what are we playing here Mr Black ? Toss the journalist around ?

"Miss Shelley" Arthur tips his hat to the journalist. "Isn't it like our Ace pilots to be so modest ?" His smile doesn't even flinch despite the enormity of associating this adjective to the good sergent Black. His voice changes a bit after that, still sounding polite but without any trace of condescendation or irony (well almost)
"I certainly would have a few storries to tell. I think everyone does after a while, don't you think ?" He's being sincere, that's what taking an interest in people is about. "But I'm afraid few of them would be related to the subject at hand. Mobile Guard Section One is more of an intervention unit than an investigation one as you can imagine. If you wish to know more about our previous intervention I can only in good conscience direct you to our Ace pilots," wich he presents as he talk "Corporal Tal'lab and of course the unique Sergent Deacon Black."

[Fri]

"Ace pilots... and Detective!" Elizabeths writes in her notebook.

"And I'm the captain of this wonderful section, James Marlowe." The old captain shakes Elizabeth's hand with a smile. He looks surprisingly... leader-y today. "Before we continue with our interview, may I ask you one thing?

As you know yourself, not being a celebrity have its uses in police work. If we're going to do this interview, may I ask that you limit our officer's exposure in this article? We'll still give you plenty of material of course. I know that it would be easy for a writer with your caliber." He says as he smiles patronly.

"Captain..." Marie turns speechless.

"Of course, you can expose me as much as you like. Being a celebrity won't obstruct my work at all." He grins.

"Captain..." Marie facepalms and turns speechless for another reason.

"By the way, are you the one that wrote that previous article about us?" Captain James strucks his beard.

"Oh yeah, that was me." Elizabeth says as she busily writes something in his notebook. "I guess it was not really up to my usual standard. But I arrived very late in the evening, I have... other tasks. I was down to interviewing passerbys and leftover staffs, none who're actually present in the event. But I have deadline, and my editor said that I have to come back with something from the zoo.

Strange aftermath, really." Elizabeth continues, still focuses on writing. "That is, there are no aftermath after all. Mr Barnum curiously didn't say anything about you guards, at all. Not even a single berating sentence. And it seems that there are no repercussion for the zoo either. They have their delayed opening today. But he is one of the merchant after all...

Anyway... I guess I could do that, captain..." Elizabeth finally finishes writing. "I could still write your names without corresponding it to a specific picture, right?" She smiles.

"So... can you explain to me in what does exactly this fabled mobile guard section one do? And what each of you particularly do around here, officers?"

[jiriku]

"Well, Miss Beth, what we do is simple enough; we're police officers. We protect and we serve, and sometimes we thump a few heads. But whereas your typical guardsman is concerned about cutpurses, drunkards, and muggers, we aim to deal with monsters, crooks with labors, an' such. So the heads we thump are slightly bigger, I s'pose.


"An' me...I pilot unit two, over there. She's a bit scratched up right now, what with three wyverns trying to make a snack of her last week, but she'll be right as rain, you just give her some time."

Deacon gestures at the tarp-shrouded form of Aces and Eights.


"And I suppose I'm sorta the unofficial test pilot here. Them Paladins are pretty new, y'know. I work with Brennan here to find ways to make 'em better. We've just finished some modifications to Aces and Eights here -- she can run like a thoroughbred now. You ever ride a Paladin before, Miss Beth? I'd be happy to take you fer a spin after yer done interviewin' -- that is, if the Cap'n agrees."

[Fri]

"Really? These things are still experimental as well?" Elizabeth says as she caress the paladin. "I'd love to actually try this thing. ARMs are one of my passion, you know? But I can do magic, and you know the rest...

I asked because the main detractors of this project says that giving this much firepower to the guards is just looking for trouble. They say that these kind of powers should only be in the royalty's hand, alongside the Magic Knight and the Armored Company of the Army. What do you think about it?

Because there are rumours, you know. That this section employs psychopaths, assassins, monsters, and demon-posessed giant armors. Do you really have a squad of trained ninja here?"

[jiriku]

Deacon leans casually against the paladin's leg while she admires it. Then he flashes her a wicked grin.


"Why yes, ma'am, we here at the Mobile Guard have carefully bred a species of man that is just two inches tall, and trained them all in the ninja arts. I palmed three of them into your pocket when I shook your hand; they'll be spying on you from now on."

He takes her hand.


"No, don't look - they're ninjas. You'll never find 'em.

"Still, I like where you're going with this story. Psychopaths, assassins, monsters and...demon-possessed armors, did you say? That's MUCH more interesting than your first story with the giant flying thunderspewing metal armors and the army of ninjas invading the zoo."

Deacon's expression and tone of voice are utterly deadpan. When she gives him an 'are you making fun of me?' look, he holds that deadpan expression for two more seconds, then gives her a broad smile to acknowledge the joke.


"Still, you left out the part about the handsome pilots. Tsk, tsk. But, I tell you what. You strike me as journalist with some serious potential. Oh no, don't be modest! I told you already, I've read your work. But you really haven't been noticed yet, at the Times, have you? Got your editors sending you here, looking for a flash story when this unit's barely even started. They're wasting you on the little stories because they haven't figgered out that you're front-page material."

Still holding her hand, Deacon gives Elizabeth a mischevous look and lowers his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, so that she has to lean closer to hear.


"Tell you what. I'm not privileged to share all the details with ya just yet, but I can tell you that the Mobile Guard isn't intended just for policework.... We got a bigger purpose, one that involves the Cap'n over there... and when that story breaks, we'd best have ourselves a solid journalist to tell it... one who could be trusted with exclusive interview rights, if you understand my meaning."
Releasing her hand, he takes a few steps back, and looks up admiringly at Aces and Eights. He continues on, louder so that everyone can hear.


"Now you need a good story for today, don'tcha? How 'bout a background piece? Didya know that the Cap'n here is a bona fide hero? He's done hisself some great things in the past, and he's been picked special-like for this unit. Lotta other fellas was passed over to run this joint, they were. Git yerself an interview with him, and you'll have a flash story for sure. Then I'll take you for a ride in Aces and Eights here, and you can decide firsthand what you think of em."

He sighs wistfully as he looks up at the mecha.


"I'd like you to be able to appreciate this machine like I do, Miss Beth. She's a classy lady. She don't tolerate no funny business and she knows what she wants to do, but she'll move the world for a man who treats her with respect. Just like my wife before she died, bless her soul. You get to know her, you'll understand. This lady here don't mean the city no harm."

[Sornas]

Past:
Brennan threw up his hands and shook his head. "Fine, fine. You'll never get something that causes that much collateral damage approved anyway, at least not for everyday use, so why the hell not?" He turned and pointed the pen he had been using to mark the diagram at Deacon, inches from his nose. "But! If you ever DO use it, you need to understand that something like this is not going to work for your usual run-and-gun attitude, that's just asking for disaster."
----




"I'd like you to be able to appreciate this machine like I do, Miss Beth. She's a classy lady."

"At least one of you is." Brennan chuckled from underneath the tarp, a loud whirring noise coming from down near the machine's left knee. "And if you're going to give her a ride, don't go far. Her even being in the cockpit might make piloting difficult, and I don't want to come have to drag your ass back."

The tarp lifted up again with a gust of wind, and Brennan walked out, covered in grease and wiping his hands on a rag, a bored expression on his face, a piece of stick-candy hanging out of his mouth. "Hey. Brennan Ormond, Chief Mechanic." He said, looking up at the reporter. "Eights should be good for a test drive anytime, though the weapon systems are offline right now, which is just as well, because if you're gonna have a magic user up in the cockpit, I'd rather not run that risk." He looked at the reporter. "No offense, but what it ultimately comes down to is how well you can control your latent magic, and I don't know you, so I'm not gonna assume anything."

He turned over his shoulder towards the other mechanics. "'Ey! If any of you guys want to introduce yourselves, now's the time! 15 minute break, then we're working on 01!" He had made sure to cover up the decal on Aces and Eights, if only to spare Marie the resulting ulcer from Elizabeth seeing it.

[Fri]

"The elementals in the machine aren't demons, miss shelley." The captain smiles. "I assure you that our chief mechanic can explain it better. And for the rumours on our... rather eclectic choice of employee, it's because we're an experimental unit that must be prepared for any kind of emergencies that're beyond the capabilities of normal guards.

I assume that you already researched about our quantitative details. When are we formally founded and such, so I'm going to explain about our qualitative details. You must understand that our keyword here is experimental. We don't know what kind of event we, or future units like us, would face. Beside our day to day job, we must also collect data that might help future Mobile Guard sections."

"And if we may continue our topic about this section's personnel... Mr Black there raises an interesting topic, Captain. He's right, I heard that you're somewhat a legend among the guards. Does it have anything to do with your placement here?" Elizabeth changes the topic.

The captain laughs. "Hah. Yes, I guess I am some kind of legend. I'm the one who they warned against in the academy. Look at that Captain James Marlowe? Don't be like him. They put me here because this is just an experimental unit, and they can't afford to put someone actually competent. If this unit proves to be successfull, I'm sure other units will be made with someone that's actually competent as their captains."

"Though, I heard that you're one kind of..."

"but that's not why you're here now, right Ms Shelley? Now, why don't you take pictures of our facilities? And you could ask about how our officers ended up here! Right?"

"I guess so... So how did you guys ended up here? Especially you, Mr Ormond. You seems to be rather young to become a head mechanic."

After they concludes the interview, Elizabeth shakes everyone's hands again.

"Thanks for the interview officers. If you ever need me, either to disprove my article or if you just need to talk to a press person, just contact me!" She grins.

..............


(let's jump to another place and another time in the mean time, shall we?)

Meanwhile, on the seedy corner of the dock.

The sun has set, and Jirai could be sure that however interesting the interview went, it must have ended now.

These alleys Jirai walking on right now are rarely stepped by the guards whether it's before or after sunset. The guards see no real reason to increase their patrol schedule in the neighborhood, most warehouses have their own mercenary guard. Beside the warehouses there are splotches of cheap taverns, which the guards prefer to be self regulating. And what few dinghy houses that stands between them have inhabitants so poor that whatever missing from them won't be really worthy to be investigated.

That's why he's sure that the weak, pleading voice that he heard right now most likely isn't meant for the guards.

[smuchmuch]

Artur can't prevent a bit of surprise to appear on his face for' a split second at the captain directness.

True, understaffed, not very well equiped and led by a notorious incompetent man, It seemed pretty obvious from the start, that between those who saw in it a useless project with no future and those who simply had interest in seeing it fail, this whole unit was setted for a difficult start. But there's a difference between vague suspicions it and publicly admiting it in front of a journalist. That sounded almost as bad as Black trying to be a smooth talker (and being as subtle at it than the machine he piloted.)

Though, speaking of the captain, you had to wonder, just how incompetent he really was. Sure, he didn't do much, as far as the detective could tell, but then again the whole brigade hadn't that much to do in the latest days. And it was unlikely a man without much political support would have stayed so long in his post if he was such a disaster at his job. Usualy those who did ,at least managed to maintain an apparence of efficiency, not a legend of incompetence.
Ah well he surely has his reasons.

to anbswer the journalist question when it his turn.
"Personnaly my carreer was stagnating in criminal and I have both an interest and light training alchemical aplications. ARMs included. Sorry to say however I'm wasn't fit to be a pilot, sadly. Never managed to make the thing walk proprely, must lack necessary coordination or something.
But when they asked for a post of detective in this unit, I volonteered." well he does have other motives, but that's irelevant to this interview.


@Sornas, totaly unrelated to this game question: just asking, are you still in this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums[/QUOTe]/showthread.php?p=9187508#post9187508) game ?

[JeminiZero]

Jirai pauses in his steps and looks around, wondering where the voice was coming from.


Take 10 to notice for 17.

On a related note, Jirai's blindsight allows him to function normally despite it being dark. Its like in the Ninja job description or something.

[Fri]

Jirai doesn't see anything suspicious, but he figures out where the voice came from. A body is lying behind some crates. For some reason, you don't understand any single word, but it's clear that the moans means distress. But as the body is mostly hidden behind crates, you can't see anything more without getting up close and personal with the voice source.

[JeminiZero]

"Hello over there. Are you okay?" Jirai calls out with a frown. Rather than approaching the crates directly, he tries to circle around them from a distance, seeing if he can glimpse what is behind without getting too close.

[Fri]

Jirai could see a woman huddling herself behind the crates, which doesn't respond to his inquiry. Her long, blond hair covers her face, and her pale skin glistens under the moonlight. She kept saying something softly, which still sounds as unintelligible gibberish for Jirai.

Oh, and she's completely naked from head to toe.