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 Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:06 pm
Faustite had asked for the appointment. As the hour encroached so did his second-guesses, which he fought to carefully swallow down en route to the General King's office. Had he gathered enough information? Did he understand the situation at hand well enough to propose the mission? Was the mission itself worth the personnel and resources it would demand? And if not, could he accept the loss and walk away from the oddity in the Rift without coming back with half his team and poking at it anyway?
Taloned fingers toyed with the bracelet on his wrist as he walked. Headache followed him, trailing at a light distance of a few feet — enough to force the others sharing the hallways to grant the General space. If they spoke to him, he only acknowledged them with a perfunctory nod.
He'd organized, reorganized, dismantled, and restructured everything he wanted to say about that part of the Scar, but it sounded wooden now. Perhaps it would never be easy to present the preliminaries for a mission, no matter how thorough he was and no matter how familiar the Sovereign was. Maybe he just hated presentations, much like he hated giving briefings and debriefings, or conducting any sort of meeting where he had to speak in front of an audience. Stage fright, except it was more like stage anger, or stage frustration.
Faustite reached Jet's door with minutes to spare. He gave himself a minute to breathe a slow, steadying sigh before heated knuckles knocked staccato on the door. "Faustite, reporting," he stated, and stared at the fine grain while he awaited permission to enter.
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:28 pm
Once upon a time, Jet wouldn’t see the need for appointments. People could just come and go as they wanted. If he was there then that was great, if not then they could come back. But as the weeks and then months went on, Jet found that it was infinitely easier to have an appointment scheduled than just hoping he was available when needed.
Not that he went home as often as he did before, especially not when he had a keyboard in his office.
“Come in, General. Take a seat,” Jet said as he piled up the last bit of paperwork he’d been looking over before Faustite arrived.
His office looked like a professional decorator had come by to put up paintings and drapery that looked out over the purple hazy landscape of the castle and its grounds. He had heavy wooden bookshelves holding not just books, but various decorations. The one closest to his desk had a dagger on display, along with a cracked starseed in a glass container.
“You have a mission you wanted to talk about?” Jet prompted, never really one for small talk.
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:30 pm
Faustite entered as he was bid, and stifled a grunt at the use of his own title. Shutting the door behind him with the heel of his boot, Faustite took a few steps into the office before he realized that it was now almost entirely covered in flammables. He could catch the drapes on fire, the bookshelves, the books, the upholstery on the chairs… Faustite stared dumbly about the room for a long moment before Jet prompted him to get to the point.
Faustite elected to stand. "Don't want to, um." Silently, he gestured to the chair, and then at his own midsection, then let his hands drop uselessly to his sides.
"I'll be brief. Learned of some seismic activity out in the Rift — the Scar. Earthquake opened up a cavern with a building in it. Something I haven't seen before. Learned that, since this hole opened, there've been no youma in the area. No explanation for what happened to them, either. and since we've discovered the hole, none have returned."
Faustite began pacing, though he kept it slow and confined to an area that seemed least liable to catch fire. "Building seems more advanced than modern tech. One of its terminals warns of low power, and it has some kind of emergency lighting inside. Must have a generator, or it's tapped into the Rift's ambient energy. Figured out how we can turn it on, and learned the building goes quite deep. Systems were too damaged to tell us much more.
"Don't know what it's used for, yet, or how it's connected to the mass youma disappearance. But, it's worth taking some teams in to investigate. See how it's tampered with our youma. Learn from it."
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:32 pm
Jet didn’t harass Faustite about sitting, just like he didn’t ask about the thing he used to keep himself from burning too hot, according to his very reliable source.
He didn’t allow himself to make a face when Faustite brought up the Scar. A seed of dread was growing in the pit of his stomach already.
“We lost a lot of people during that mission,” he reminded Faustite, his voice quiet. Not a warning, but it was cautious. “That’s not a critique. It’s just fact.”
There were always a lot of unknowns when dealing with the Rift. This, especially, seemed like it could be cause for concern. The thought of sending Arles to help figure out what was going on was immediately abandoned when Faustite said no youma had returned.
“How many teams were you thinking? And how many on each team? We’ll need to make sure they know how serious this is. Volunteer only. I don’t want anyone there out of presumed obligation. They should know what they’re signing up for. No starseeds,” he added with a pained grimace.
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:35 pm
If Jet asked, he would have learned that Waru took the cincher to be cleaned and oiled. Something to do with an accumulation of ash, soot, and heat that baked the leather dry. Faustite had not thought to mention it either, however, so the pair were left at a disconnect there.
Faustite nodded as he paced. Jet was correct — many of those casualties were caused not by the Rift itself, but from gross human negligence. People who ignored the warnings regarding starseeds in the Rift, or how their usage would invoke deeply damning consequences. Much of the mission's friction could have been resolved if the soldiers that came along with them were more properly trained, but there was nothing for it now except to learn from those mistakes.
They couldn't control human behavior, however. All it took was one.
"Want a team for each floor. Map seemed glitched, but there were at least four floors. Should have some teams topside for standby, in case of backup or rotation." There was little to say how much time they would need to spend in the structure, or how long they needed to unravel its mysteries. "Need team leads, a tech specialist, two for recon, two for combat. Thinking Mauvians and Senshi will have an easier time in the absence of youma." Though he still couldn't verify his hunches on why they were gone. "That opens up some options.
"Don't want the aliens involved, though. Don't need them digging in our domain."
When he about-faced for a fresh length of pacing, he shot Jet a lidded stare. "Search them all myself, if I have to." Waru had to listen to him foam about those starseed disasters for weeks afterward.
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:43 pm
“There better not be aliens down here,” Jet scoffed under his breath, but looked up at Faustite with a more serious expression. “Agreed. If you or any of your team happens to come across them wandering Negaspace, contact me or one of the other Sovereigns immediately. Lyndin is supposed to be keeping visits to the house the Queen granted him for his research. I wouldn’t trust any of them beyond their immediate usefulness,” he admitted, even if they’d been able to use Lyndin’s research to further their own.
“How long did you spend in the building? Would you be able to work with Headache and a Mauvian to map out what you remember?” he wondered, crossing his arms casually over his chest as he leaned back in his sturdy wooden, and surprisingly comfortable chair. “Headache should be able to take the form of the building that you’ve seen, and adjust walls and doors and things as you work through your memory, wouldn’t they? Once that’s figured out a Mauvian should be able to process the map digitally.”
Another moment and he sighed. “If that’s too complicated then just have someone help draw some lines onto paper or… anything. I don’t want to go into this blind, and I don’t want to risk Arles if youma are disappearing. He’s been my eyes and ears for things. I can see where he is when he connects with me, but I don’t want to risk severing that connection and getting him stuck wherever all the others are.”
If it hadn’t been for that fact, Arles would have been the perfect volunteer. As annoying as he was.
“Do you have ideas for who would agree to head up teams? And would they be people you’re willing to risk?” Of their three teams going into the Scar the last time, only Kamacite got his team through in one piece, if not unscathed, but whether that was luck or the talent of those with him, Jet didn’t know.
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:43 pm
Faustite nodded; he was happy to never set eyes on another of their kind, and happier still to ensure that the wayward ones were appropriately corralled and punished. He'd prefer barbecuing some of them, but orders were orders.
"Long enough for Heliodor to get tired of my antics," he explained. "Couple hours at most. Long enough to discover the map and a manner of powering up the building. It's labor intensive — don't expect a full investigation to last more than a few hours at a time without needing breaks." At least for him, and he knew of no other youmafied agents who could fit the part. Well — there was one, but he hadn't set eyes on that one in years.
He turned, started down another pace. "Headache can't imitate what it hasn't seen. Didn't bring the youma with me." He paused, considered the idea. "Can bring a Mauvian with me, however. Digitize the map as it appeared on the console. Might be able to download it directly, however they do that. And I can have one of mine digitize the map of the surrounding area." That might prove useful for guiding the teams to the proer location if any of them were stalled in departing. Likewise, if they found the building had some merit worth retaining instead of decommissioning the whole affair, then officers would need to know how to find it in the future.
Assuming the Rift didn't shift again and drop the whole damn thing into an abyss.
Jet's question concerning leadership was more difficult to answer in light of his earlier request to keep their potential picks to volunteer-only. "Have a couple members of my team who may suffice. Kamacite, of course — if he was interested. Rest depends on who agrees to help, their backgrounds. Leadership experience preferred." But if their volunteers were strictly green in terms of leading a team, then he would have to cope with that.
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:54 pm
“Can’t imitate what’s described to it either?” Jet asked, but the question wasn’t very pressing. He just accepted that it wasn’t something in Headache’s realm of understanding to process and nodded.
“If it would be less time consuming to bring a Mauvian with you to get a rough map created of what we’re dealing with, that’ll make me feel better,” he admitted, not really watching Faustite as he paced, as though doing so would give Faustite some privacy to work things out in his head. Instead, he was looking at the items on the shelf next to his desk. His eyes lingered on the dagger and then the starseed.
“Depending on how many you have in mind, could be useful to have two leaders, just in case something happened. Or at least a second in charge…”
They were dealing with the Scar, after all. They’d lost people before. Dealt with things they’d never seen before. Having a backup to establish hierarchy would be important. They had enough Generals who thought that just because they were that rank meant they could ignore their team leader.
“Would make sense for Kamacite to have a team, if he’s up for that. Your team. Me and Aqua,” he said thoughtfully, and somewhat absently as he thought about their previous mission.
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:55 pm
Faustite shook his head. "Either doesn't have much of an imagination, or it's trying to be deceitful." He wouldn't doubt either one.
"Would be more accurate, too." If they could just download it, then there was no relying on memory for anything. No making assumptions. They simply had the location's own map, however glitched it may be. He supposed Tama could do it, as much as he'd prefer to bring anyone else. Even Tiberius.
"Mm." It was a smart call. Someone else would balance out his weaknesses. And if Jet required it to approve the mission, then he would have to follow suit. "Prefer someone with tech knowledge." It was his most glaring weakness on the number of trips he went down for recon, and one of the main hurdles they would be dealing with to move forward. Someone else who had a mind for tech, or debugging, or working around problems like those could benefit the mission. Assuming they didn't try to hijack it entirely.
Which was another point to consider. If they had a second leader, then they wouldn't need him except to get there and get back. They wouldn't be spending their time in the Rift so much as in the building.
And that would relieve him of fielding commands while he was stuck in that machine, but then… What else would he do? Didn't matter, he supposed. He would figure something out. This mission didn't require his sense of uselessness.
As he turned for another length of pacing, Faustite recapped with his hands. "Looking at a minimum of four teams — composed of a team lead, a tech specialist, two combat specialists, and two for recon each — and two leaders. Additional personnel can relieve active teams —" He stopped his recap when he heard Jet's muttering, and he paused long enough for flame eyes to settle on him inquisitively. Was he talking about the last mission, or this one?
Likely this one. Faustite slowed, then stopped pacing. "You're coming." He stated. As a question.
He nodded, brows raised. Faustite couldn't remember seeing Jet leave his desk since becoming a Sovereign, and assumed that the mountains of paperwork that often crowned Axinite's office now migrated, partially, to Jet's. To hear that he would be getting out for a jaunt in the Rift was interesting, especially for seeing what he was capable of now.
And if they had a Sovereign, well. Who would brook those orders?
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:56 pm
“Could always bring a clowder,” Jet suggested in response to bringing those with tech knowledge. After a moment, he gestured to the calendar of the day gifted to him by Prehnite. He’d kept it, somewhat reluctantly at first, but every so often it proved useful.
“I don’t know what a group of Mauvians is called, actually. But putting them to use might be a good idea. I can’t think of many with a lot of tech experience. Or anyone, actually.” But he also didn’t know people’s hobbies or the entirety of their backgrounds.
He hummed thoughtfully when Faustite spoke his… intrigue? Surprise? Jet wasn’t sure.
“Should I not?” Although the idea of being cooped up in the office, or locked in some strange, mushroom growing dimension as a civilian was enough to make him groan. “Two leaders… well, might be easier to all report to you. Two leads per team, maybe. Or one and a second in command. Aqua would be my second. Could double as a combat specialist. Whatever works for you, of course. I’m being overly cautious, but you make the final calls. May be easier to decide once we figure out who will be coming with us. Cymophane might be interested in helping Kamacite, since they’re close. I’ll ask him. I’m not sure how closely video games and tech experience overlap, but I bet Niter would be knowledgeable enough to help. Might have to buy him a new game or two…” he sighed. Bribery wasn’t exactly voluntary.
“You tell me what your plans are, and what you think we should do. If youma weren’t disappearing, I would almost say to just leave the building to be taken back by the Rift, but you’re right that we could probably learn from it. Make sure no one is using it to spy or attack us from the inside.”
After all, they still weren’t a hundred percent sure how the White Moon invaded several years ago.
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:59 pm
Rolling his eyes, Faustite added, "A murder, likely. For how it kills me to be around them." But they were useful little furry rats, and he'd put up with them if absolutely required.
If they had to take so many Mauvians, as their soldiers lacked tech knowhow, then he would have to factor that into the teams. Make sure there was space for someone to mind the Mauvian, demeaning as that position could be. Might be a spot better saved for a senshi, at that.
"No, just surprised. Thought you were married to that chair," he teased. "Would be good to have you. Think we can do with second-in-commands, too, should anything happen." Preliminary investigations didn't reveal anything threatening, but they hadn't ventured far before Faustite became indisputably fed up with the place. He couldn't imagine threats any worse than what they naturally faced by being in the Rift, but even those threats hadn't been present. They only knew of empty, dead halls and the curious symbols that haunted something that was otherwise straight out of a gamer's library.
Faustite nodded as he resumed pacing. "Easier to assign troops when I know which troops we have." It was an envy he always had for the military – bastards all had the same basic training, the same weapons, the same standards. Working in the army would be far less troublesome compared to the myriad differences between any given Captain, let alone the disparities that multiplied when senshi – and even Mauvians – were factored in. If he was going to assemble teams, he was doing so after all individuals were identified.
"Will ask that you pull their personnel files too. Only need to know their magic or weapon, and if they have any specialized experience." No need to pry further into their affairs; it didn't pertain to the mission. "Sooner we know who's coming, the sooner I can get them some rappelling practice. It's a deep hole."
As he turned again, the youma General tapped his chin. "We'll pitch a base camp to start. Somewhere inside the perimeter of missing youma. Use it to store gear and essentials, keep an updated plan and have someone to collate information and coordinate rotations. Keep a med detachment for standby. They'll monitor surroundings for signs of returning youma during the mission. Mauvians will be in charge of watching live feeds from their tablets and compiling comprehensive location data.
"Tama and I will descend first, get the building powered up. Teams will enter in waves afterward.
"Teams will disperse to each floor and begin their investigation. Routine reports are required. Tested the comms down there – mine will work with minimal interference from containment. Won't have much else to do but listen to the reports and coordinate. Will likely have Jadarite run my detachment." She was smart, level headed, could make calls under duress. Despite her earlier grievances, Faustite expected the rest of the team would heed her directions without qualm.
"Primary goal is to find out what happened to our youma and prevent it from happening again. Secondary goals are to figure out the purpose of the building, find a way to use it ourselves, and ensure there's no White Moon interference from it. It's in our backyard, after all.
"So –" And Faustite paused in his pacing once again, turning to face Jet. "May I proceed?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 8:00 pm
“Have you seen this chair? It’s a very nice chair,” Jet joked in return as he ran his hands up and down the arm rests as though petting an animal. It was very obvious that Aquamarine had taken time to pick out nothing but the best for his office. He had been fine with whatever was already in the room, but Aqua insisted on upgrading everything, and Jet was appreciative of the effort.
He was quiet as he listened to the rest of what Faustite had to say. Pulling reports and how he wanted to set up camp. Teams and reports and their goals.
Jet was quiet for a few moments when Faustite concluded, his lips pressed thoughtfully together.
“Well, for starters, I’m going to need a ‘please’,” he snorted in vague amusement. It seemed like a lot of work Faustite was asking of him when he wouldn’t be able to do any of the work without knowing who was going to be involved.
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 8:04 pm
"Bet it is," Faustite returned as he imagined what sorts of sly office shenanigans Jet and Aquamarine got up to with that chair. Might have a few extra features that weren't easily noticed by the untrained eye, too, but Jet's posture seemed too loose for that.
Which, if Jet was expecting a please —
He considered making a joke about his lack of gag reflex, but didn't know Jet well enough to judge whether he'd be taken up on that as a serious offer, laughed about like the joke it was, or impaled for insolence and left outside the office like a warning to all who enter. Supposing it could go in any direction, Faustite let that one go. Instead, the boy resumed pacing, needing to work off enough energy to mutter a pained little "Please."
He wasn't usually the one begging.
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 8:18 pm
Jet didn’t think it was too much to ask for some politeness thrown into their conversation, but he accepted it for what it was.
“Let me know once you have a list of people. I can help sort teams if you want,” he offered, which was already more than he probably should (or at least he could imagine Aquamarine scolding him for taking on more work), but he was bored of paperwork, and there were only so many reports he could read through before getting too restless.
“Can help look over the map once you have it as well. Probably good to make sure anyone joining us should know they’ll have to climb down and up a cliff, especially if youma aren’t around.”
He was sure there would be a long list of things for everyone to learn about before heading into the Rift. He didn’t want a repeat of last time, especially if they were going back to the Scar.
“Keep me updated with your progress and if you need anything in the meantime.”
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2022 3:58 pm
"You'll approve it once I get a list?" Faustite's attention shifted from the room back to Jet as he waited for an answer, all the while trying to pace as slowly as possible.
He didn't know where he'd get a list of people. He didn't know where he'd get more than one person, for he was sure that Albite was the only one stoked enough about the Rift to go on a voluntary mission into its depths, into a building about which they knew nearly nothing, and then traipse about through ******** knows how many death traps and youma pits and collapsing walls and — what if the Rift decided to have another earthquake with everyone inside? It wasn't exactly a well-kept secret that the Rift had seismic activity, and he was asking people to go deep-diving down to the ballsack of a building!
Besides, who else went to the Rift but the blatantly insane? … And himself? No one! So how was he going to find volunteers?
Faustite suspected he should've gone to Hessonite. Maybe she would've let him order people down there. At least then he could pick who he wanted to go, instead of having to rely on the goodwill of a handful of officers who were only out to prove themselves, or the Koolaid drinkers that disturbed him the way that disproportionate talking dolls did.
What a ******** mess. He'd have to convince Albite to sucker some people into it. No — Jadarite. She'd be more efficient about it. They could just lean on Albite's charisma when the time came to brief whoever they had. It'd have to do.
Once he had his answer, Faustite headed for the door. He had far more work ahead of him than he bargained for, and every minute spent mulling that over was a minute wasted.
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