Rook
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Post by Rook on Nov 1, 2010 21:42:28 GMT -5
Semi-private Thread, Day 25, following Best-Laid Plans
Rook flies into The Shadowed Leaf through an open window, lands on the maitre d's podium and transforms, pulling a wad of shanix from subspace. He got them from a loan shark, eager to prey on a tourist down on his luck with no way off the planet. Sucks to be a loan shark sometimes.
"I want the best table in the house, the one in the private room in back. I want you to open a bottle of your finest fuel. I want to sit tatami style, I want soothing music performed live, and I want it five minutes ago," he says to the startled Zamojin female behind the podium. She just stares at him. "Did I stutter or do I need to produce my Very Important Person credentials? Go, go! Shoo!" the little bird-former commands, waving a spindly clawed hand. The Zamojin nods in a hesitant half-bow and rushes off.
This is Rook's chance to make an impression on a superior officer. No expense must be spared!
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Post by Sable Conolly on Nov 1, 2010 22:54:40 GMT -5
Scourge approves of Rook rooking sharks on general principle.
He shows up at the front door, and he happens to not be dressed in local wear or anything, because he's Scourge, and he's just not going to bother unless it specifically gains him something he particularly wants. If he needed to dress up in a tux to get in close enough to murder the mayor on Shockwave's orders, he'd put on a tux, but it would take such an event to motivate him to do so.
He's probably a bit after Rook, if only because Pz-ZazzQuest gives absolutely terrible directions. 'Turn left at the sign of Louie's Gang. Pass by rotting corpse on fire in ditch.' So Rook has probably just had long enough to set up whatever it is Rook is setting up!
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Rook
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Post by Rook on Nov 2, 2010 15:47:38 GMT -5
Rook is setting up ambiance! Scourge will be shown into a private back room, with holoprojectors where the windows should be. Instead of a gritty street scene, the view is a pretty courtyard full of trees.
The room has a woven mat on the floor, and a low table with a fancy tea service on it. There's only one chair in the room. It's tiny and has Rook in it, so that he can see over the table. He's kneeling on the chair though, rather than sitting normally in it. A female Zamojin in traditional dress sits in the corner, playing a stringed instrument.
When Scourge enters the room, Rook will rise to greet him. The Predacon isn't wearing anything today, much like the larger Transformer. He looks damn good in black feathers.
"I hope you find everything to your liking here?" he asks in his most formal High Kaonic.
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Post by Sable Conolly on Nov 2, 2010 18:33:52 GMT -5
Scourge is pretty clearly still in a foul mood when he's led to Rook, but he has at least calmed down somewhat. He seems less likely to randomly start defenestration than he was prior, but with Scourge, there's always that chance.
He paces around the room for a moment, silently, looking around. If either of them get tossed into the fake windows and have imaginary adventures involving candy mecha, this will become well and truly strange.
Finally, he seems satisfied, and he kneels across the table from Rook, replying, simply in modern standard Decepticon, "At ease, Rook. I am content, thus far, but what will matter most is, of course, the content."
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Rook
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Post by Rook on Nov 2, 2010 19:15:52 GMT -5
These aren't that kind of fake window.
Rook alights back in his little chair, kneeling as another Zamojin enters the room and pours Robot Space Green Tea for both mechanoids. "What content were you hoping for, sir?," he asks in the same language Scourge used. "I'm glad to be of assistance any way I can."
The bird has his suspicions as to what the larger robot wants, but he keeps his mouth shut.
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Post by Sable Conolly on Nov 2, 2010 20:33:35 GMT -5
For a moment, Scourge wants to crack out Decepticon Braille for kicks and giggles, but thankfully, the moment quickly passes. He sniffs at the tea, sighing heavily. He decides to make a bit of small talk, commenting, "I'm actually a Predacon by faction. The Decepticons are a subgroup in my reality, like Constructicons in Hook's." He reaches up with his forefinger and thumb to bracket the Decepticon symbol on his shoulder, continuing, "I don't think many care to pay attention to the distinction. Given who I look like, friendly fire is a definite concern. Best to make things clear to the most people in the most obvious way."
Rook may well know all this. It's not like it's a secret, but again, it's not something people tend to pay attention to, either.
Scourge finally sips his tea, despite the mouthplate.
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Rook
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Post by Rook on Nov 2, 2010 20:58:25 GMT -5
If the most incongruous thing a Transformer does during his day is drink through his mouthplate, he's having a slow day.
"Interesting," Rook says, steepling his fingers. "I will note that given our current situation, such distinctions are purely academic. We all have war and conquest in our sparks, or our laser cores, I suppose."
The bird reaches out for his own little ceramic cup, taking a sip before replacing it back on the table. "Given your prominent position in our organization, friendly fire should not be much of a concern except with fresh arrivals. You can hardly be mistaken for the Optimus Prime we have here." If it's really an issue though, maybe the 'Cons can make 'Don't shoot Scourge' part of their standard 'Welcome to the Deadzone' speech? The Autobots have to do it with Long Haul, after all.
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Post by Sable Conolly on Nov 2, 2010 22:45:12 GMT -5
"Yes, currently," Scourge agrees, taking another sip and shutting his optical sensors almost entirely off for a moment, just down to dim maroon embers.
They cycle back on, bright and keen, and he regards Rook thoughtfully and a bit more calmly. "I do not anticipate trouble that I cannot handle. Now, to the matter at hand, which I will need to discuss with your supervisor, as well."
Scourge is just talking to Rook first because he expects that Starscream will corral Barricade first, and Scourge wants to be doing something productive during, and because of the rather odd fact that Scourge and Rook are both Predacons, even if few think of Scourge as one. He'll let Rook make of it what Rook will that Scourge bothered to point out that fact.
"No less than five days hence, we will attack the Event Horizon."
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Rook
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Post by Rook on Nov 2, 2010 23:28:13 GMT -5
Rook took note of the fact that Scourge pointed out his Predacon-ness. Rook makes his living from honeyed words and double meanings. He may not be any good in combat, but he rarely misses a trick when it comes to conversation. No time for that now, though. The crow files away that snippet of data to analyze later.
Rook smiles when Scourge mentions the impending attack. "I suspected something was in the works. Our little ceasefire was doomed not to last," he says, taking another sip of tea while he formulates his next words.
"We have some data on the Event Horizon, but I'm afraid it isn't much. I won't make excuses as I suspect you have no use for them." He waves a hand dismissively at the notion. "We have the layout of the station where they're docked, and sensor logs from said station giving us some superficial external data on their vessel. Docking Station 1138 is rather behind the tech curve, though, and no amount of making friends with the stationmaster sufficed to improve their scanning equipment."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Nov 3, 2010 0:32:25 GMT -5
Scourge is pleased by Rook's lack of excuses, even if Rook doesn't have much to offer. Scourge detests excuses. He takes a sip of his drink, mulling it over.
Then, he asks, "Are there any nearby media satellites that might be able to take a look around for a price?"
The Autobots might notice such a thing, but then again, they might not, and knowing something, even if the Autobots know that they know, is still worthwhile.
"I'm particularly interested in the station-keeping rockets on both the Event Horizon and where they're docked."
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Rook
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Post by Rook on Nov 3, 2010 19:29:25 GMT -5
"There ought to be," the bird responds. "This planet is positively lousy with satellites and orbiting junk. If nothing has the sensors we need, we could just build our own scanner and attach it to some orbiting garbage on the far side of the planet, then wait for it to pass near the Event Horizon."
Of course, this requires them to map the orbits of (or acquire the map to the orbits of) bunches of orbital debris, and then build a sophisticated sensor suite in less than five days, possibly much less depending on orbital periods. Executing all that is would be Engineering's problem, naturally. But then Intel gets to take the credit. Just the kind of plan Rook likes! Very risky given the timetable, though.
"I'll get on it at once, Lord Scourge." And he does, putting in a call to the radio.
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Post by Sable Conolly on Nov 3, 2010 23:14:58 GMT -5
Scourge takes a moment to recall, "Counterpunch works space sanitation, does he not?"
Another sip of tea. The music's not bad, either. Scourge wonders if they're going to have to kill everyone here when they're done. That would be kind of a shame; Blackarachnia might like to visit.
He keeps thinking out loud, "We also need a better of idea what new troops they have and what their capacities are."
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Rook
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Post by Rook on Nov 4, 2010 20:35:36 GMT -5
Rook hopes they don't have to kill everyone. That would look horrible.
"He does, if I'm not mistaken. Commander Barricade, Ravage, and Spinister are all on the local police force. The Mayhem is currently indisposed, however. Blackarachnia was employed with the local archives when last I checked. We have resources in place, we need only to use them," he says.
Sip.
"Additionally, Mindwipe and Fleetwind have volunteered to help in any capacity they can." He may be paraphrasing this last bit. "It seems like a bit of reconnaissance is in order, but if it's detected, it might tip off our foes that we're up to something."
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Post by Sable Conolly on Nov 4, 2010 21:21:14 GMT -5
"The first casualty in battle is the plan," Scourge admits, clutching his cup a little tighter. "yet going into battle without one is like going into battle without your armour - so fool-hardy as to be unthinkable."
He takes some time to reason, "The Autobots know we bear them no good will. Failure is never acceptable, but they have to expect that we'll be looking to gather information on their situation. If they gain the knowledge that we're looking for knowledge on them, it will only be confirming their suspicions. Thus, I do not think we need to be overly worried about data-gathering operations going noticed. The most critical elements are the when and the how, not that the attack will come."
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Rook
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Post by Rook on Nov 4, 2010 22:53:08 GMT -5
Rook nods in assent. "It's not the end of the Golden Age if they catch us spying on them, then. A few simple flybys of their vessel and the station might be in order then, if we wish to gather more data. As to their troops and capabilities . . ." the crow spreads his arms, palms up in a placating gesture, "Unless I am mistaken, learning that information will require either capturing an Autobot or getting an agent onto the Event Horizon, either of which are as much of a production as the attack itself. I'm fairly sure we could pull either one off, however."
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