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The deafening sound of helicopter blades cut through the air while the sleek black aircraft speedily went to its destination. It was a large craft, capable of holding the dozen or so Rockets that were seated within it. The ocean below going by in a blur as they flew towards an island that was coming into view. The plume of smoke that was belching forth from the peak of a towering volcano, had been viewable for miles.

Nimble fingers worked the controls of the chopper, hitting a switch here and there. A headset covering his ears from the noise that the aircraft was producing. As they quickly approached the island though, he made use of the microphone that was also set in it. Flipping a switch to broadcast an announcement to the passengers.

"We're approaching the island, prepare for landing." He stated calmly, before cutting the transmitter again.

Soon they were in range, and the elite reached above him to push more buttons as he prepared the helicopter for landing on a sturdy ledge he had seen below them. Slowly it descended and eventually came to a slightly bumpy rest on the flat black rock. Power was cut from the engines and gradually the helicopter powered down, the blades slowing.

Twisting around in his chair he shouted into the back while pulling off the headset. "Everyone out!"

Seth bailed out of the chopper, his boots hitting solid lava rock. Coming round the front, he stood there with arms crossed, waiting for the grunts and agents to file out.

Above him loomed the mountain with the smoke and ash spewing from its top. Already the air was warm, and it was only going to get even more so the further they went in. Not far was a clear opening into the side of the volcano, the entrance they had already discussed going in to.

"Remember, we're here to grab a live Ho-oh. I don't want to see any of you morons goofing off, you got that? Also, watch where you step. There are hot spots and lava rock is very sharp. A simple fall can leave you gushing blood. I'm not stopping to take care of any injuries from bumbling mistakes." Seth was clearly not in the best of moods today.

Well, the fact that Faleen rather enjoyed the trip to the island put her in a mood that pumped her up for mission ahead.
Catch a live Ho'oh? no problem, she got to ride in a Helicopter!
Excitement aside though, she took Seth's words seriously, there would be no goofing off on her end.
eyes turned to the ground as she stepped off of the helicopter, hair tied high in a pony tail to keep it out of her face, she studied the strange ground for a moment before she moved herself out of the way of the helicopter doors to stay out of the way.

The top dry and thin layer of ground under her boots cracked as she walked over to stand in formation, her gaze moved then to the billowing ash and chemicals from the mountain top, It all looked very uninviting, and she could feel her throat already drying out from the heat and fuming smell of the air.
Folding her hands behind her back, the Grunt did her best to ignore it, looking to Seth instead and listening to his instructions.

One does not simply walk into Mordor.

As first thoughts on seeing a volcano went it was a geeky one, but that was perfectly acceptable since Hayes was too. It made him feel slightly better about the fact that his job was taking him close to an active volcano to catch a very large, very powerful, very flammable bird.

Even from here he could feel a hint of the deep heat that radiated from the heart of the mountain. By this point the agent had developed a trained ear, and Seth's shouting registered on a near unconscious level - lava rocks sharp, don't fall, okay. The agent brushed some hair from his eyes and squinted at the smoking peak as he came up by the others and nodded - first soberly to Seth, and then with considerably less solemn and more smile to Damon and Faleen, whom he recognized, and the others, whom he didn't.

There was something about being in a metal box piloted by a human that caused Nyx to become nervous; Car, plane, helicopter, it didn't matter, boats seemed to be the only exception to the rule. The entire flight there, Nyx had been fidgeting with everything she could get her hands on. If only flying on the backs of Pidgeot would have been just as quick, then there would have been no problem.

The agent stepped off of the helicopter and listened to Seth. Nyx certainly knew the protocol for being around high intensity heat; It looked like someone had wrapped the little woman in a ton of tin foil, as she was clad in a sleeker version of a fire proximity suit, complete with a visored hoot, currently dangling from the back of the suit. Luckily the soles of her boots were designed for this sort of activity, and had a good non-melting grip. If they hadn't been there on business, it would have been a perfect opportunity for high heat experiments.

When a second voice addressed the whole group, Faleen shifted to glance over at the other Elite who had spoken.
She had seen this girl once before... but had never been on a mission with her, or worked with her, to Faleen this Elite was an unknown, but that didn't mean she didn't deserve as much respect as any Elite did.

The pressure was certainly on, it was starting to feel a lot like a Rocket mission now, and by the stance of the others around her, they were feeling it to.
Some she recognized in the group. others she didn't, the first one to offer a kind greeting was Agent Hayes, his Partner, Agent Nikki acting... surprisingly joyous was behind him.
She smiled gently and offered a nodded greeting in return.

Aila was in the group, though her outfit had changed, Faleen had been taken by surprise to see the girl she had met as a Trainee had been promoted to Agent, that was quite something.
and Agent Nyx, looking quite... prepared in the high heat gear.
Though, that might just be the smartest idea right now, this environment was hazardous enough.

It wasn't his first time on a volcano. But it was his first time in a helicopter. Leonard actually tried to contain his excitement but a small smile slipped through as the vehicle flew through the air. Yeah, this was a mission, this was supposed to be serious business. But still. He was in a freakin helicoptor!

All that joy dissipated when they landed and he got out of the cockpit. The hot air and acrid smell of volcanic ash was suffocating Leonard and he had to cough through a sleeve before he could think properly. It wasn't his first time on a volcano, but yet he was already letting the heat get to him. That, and the elites' speech, did not give him the reassurance he needed.

Leonard managed to stand up straight anyway and glance around. He saw some familiar faces but it was the woman in tin foil that caught his eye. Wtf was that supposed to be? How was she supposed to catch the Ho-oh with that?

Jack gazed out the window of the helicopter as it flew above the ocean. He could see the volcano now, though the smoke had been visible before it. When a voice came over the radio announcing the landing, Jack only vaguely recognized it as that of one of the Rocket Agents, Seth or something.

Upon landing, Jack hopped off the helicopter with everyone else and looked around. It was rather warm, but that was to be expected. He didn't really mind it that much, his only Pokemon being a fire type after all.

He did listen to the guy speak though, giving him his full attention for once. Watch his footing, gotcha. He glanced down, but raised his head again when another voice spoke from the back of the group. It was a short, pink-haired girl.

Hey... Is that...? Huh. Jack recognized the girl, not from seeing her before but from being warned about her by Leonard. Ha, that had been amusing. But the kid did seem to had been telling the truth about the Elite. Her words alone confirmed that. Jack eyed her with some curiosity and then looked at the other Rockets around him. And there was the kid himself. Heh.

Then Seth spoke up again and they were on the move. Jack hefted up his own supply pack and entered the tunnel.

As the command to go was given, Nikki almost eagerly followed, leaving Hayes in the dust. She was ready to get going!

As they reached the tunnel, Seth paused and frowned as he gazed into the depths of the tube that lava had carved out a long time ago. "If you have any Pokemon that can provide light, get them out." It looked pretty dark in there after all, and probably would remain such until they got into the heart of the volcano.

Nikki had just the thing. Pulling off one of her Pokeballs, the agent then released a Torkoal. It was essentially a walking furnace and the openings in its shell provided light.

The group continued on again. The tunnel was indeed dark, and they couldn't see very well in front of them. The walls were rough black lava rock like the rest of the landscape, sharp and dry. The smell of sulfur wafting through what air was passing through.

(( OOC: Btw... Tinn isn't felling well tonight and will not be continuing this evening. ))