[Nexus] ISF HQ

[Darkcomet]

The holographic projection shifts, Vettel disappearing and a map of the Red Zone of Inside appearing in his place. A circle moves around the map and settles over a spot, denoting an abandoned hotel.

The General's voice returns, however. "This is to be your base of operations in the RZ. Its owners were killed in Ebon Mirror's attack, which hit the RZ rather badly, and no one had claimed it...until now, that is. As far as where to start goes, I recommend either going recruiting or searching for any AMEN presence there. IA General Noir has been pushing for the ISF to do more in dealing with their threat to the city. You will find a folder with information on known AMEN members in your makeshift base."

[Chas the mage]

"Alright, sir. What sort of guise or cover story should I use?"

[Darkcomet]

"'Mercenary' would work nicely, I believe. With a strict policy of not telling who you work for, of course." The General doesn't bother pointing out how Aether's background once again works in his favor.

It ought to be pretty obvious by now.

[Chas the mage]

He has indeed had the revelation that the general knows, but that was when the general asked him. "If I was a merc, I'd have to work for people... so causing minor carnage here or there is within my description?" He asks.

[Darkcomet]

The holographic general nods, the hologram having shifted back into his form once the map's job was done. "No anti-Empire jobs, obviously, and anyone trying to offer you any is to be reported at once. Other than that, just make sure to clear jobs with us first."

[Chas the mage]

"The first condition is obviously a given, but alright, sir." He nods.

[Darkcomet]

Vettel seems pleased at how well this seems to be going. "If you have nothing else to ask, then you may begin at once. You'll be given the keys to the hotel and its rooms on your way out. Each will be marked so you can tell which room it corresponds to, of course."

[Chas the mage]

"Capital, Sir. Will that be all?" He says, almost sounding like a servant or a waiter.

[Darkcomet]

"That it will. Dismissed." The hologram vanishes.

Once Aether exits the room, an ISF trooper will give him the keys Vettel mentioned, on a keyring.

((Feel free to describe the hotel yourself and I'll add it to the Inside registry. All that's mandatory is that it have a room designated for Aether's use with the AMEN member information folder within and that it's in the Red Zone. Highlights of that will be Gordon, with pictures of both his human and dragon forms, Rot, Chezchire, Jack, Ilpholin, and Moff. Detailed information isn't given, mostly just pictures and descriptions, with names, of course. This is because he's not really supposed to attack them on his own.))

[Chas the mage]

Aether takes his keys, dawns his equipment, goes to his room at the tavern to pick up some more of his stuff, and then makes his way to the hotel.

[horngeek]

Captain Alexander Knight drives up to the headquarters... and starts heading up towards his squad.

[UncleWolf]

Barracks

The Captain will find only one of his Lieutenants and a handful of enlisted people in the barracks, the rest on leave. He gets salutes before they get back to playing their cards, waiting for their leave passes as well.

[horngeek]

Knight nods back, before heading up to his office to read his reports.

If there's nothing needing his attention, he'll head back down.

[Darkcomet]

There is not anything immediately requiring his attention at this time.

[Maxios]

Originally posted by Acromynian Empire

Attention:

Upon viewing condemning evidence of severe misconduct and careless behavior, the organization known as LANTERN is hereby forbidden from acting within the territory of the Acronymian Empire, including the City of Inside.

It has been judged that, from LANTERN's use of suicide bomb attempts, lack of concern for the lives of its allies, and its lack of capable leadership, the organization would cause significantly more damage than it prevented.

A transmission comes in

"I never authorized the suicide bomb attempts. Whoever did that was acting outside my command. Rae is currently leading LANTERN until I know enough to retake leadership. I request entrance to Inside, to investigate reports of a vampire problem."

[Darkcomet]

((Wrong base. The Imperial Army HQ is in the Inside thread.))

[Maxios]

((Wrong base. The Imperial Army HQ is in the Inside thread.))

((Thanks ))

[horngeek]

Knight heads back down, after finishing off reading reports. "Anything we're likely to get called out to on the radar?"

[happyturtle]

Sunny telewarps just outside the base, in her power armor of course, and goes looking for Carl.

[UncleWolf]

Carl's Room

She'll find Carl at his tiny room across from the guest quarters, in the building next to the barracks.

When she knocks, he'll open the door to let her smell the food he's been cooking with a smile. "Come in, I was just cooking lunch. Gumbo. Want some?"

[happyturtle]

Carl's Room

Sunny smiles, and her power armor helmet retracts. She feels safe enough when she's with Carl to do without it. "It smells good."

[UncleWolf]

Carl's Room

Carl, still smiling foolishly, hurridly sets the table, one made for humans, even though he has a nice and tall stool to sit on, and pours out the hot food over rice. "Not that I'm complaining, I never would as it's always great to see you, but to what pleasure do I owe our meeting to?" He asks curiously. Even though he didn't expect her, he was extremely glad at the progress she's been showing.

[happyturtle]

Carl's Room

"I went to GLoG today to start building the drone workshop, and I experimented with the strength-boosting settings on the power armor." She pauses to have a bite of the gumbo. "Mmmm... this is really good." She has a few more bites before continuing. "I knocked over a whole pallet of lumber by accident because I wasn't used to it. Could you help me learn to use it?"

[UncleWolf]

Carl's Room

"Thanks." Carl smiles. "Of course I'll help. I'll have to know the capabilities of your suit of course. And if you want, I could spar with you. That way you won't have to worry about finding out the hard way things you shouldn't, and don't worry, I won't get hurt."

[happyturtle]

Carl's Room

Sunny thinks about it for a bit. "Sparring. That sounds... really really scary." Actually hitting someone and being hit back, without robots protecting her. "It sounds really scary, so I should probably do it."

[UncleWolf]

Carl's Room

Carl reaches across the table to take her hand. "It'll be fun, I promise you." He says with a smile. "It'll be good exercise, get you nice and tough and with your reflexes, you'll do well." He makes the classic arm muscle pose. "Some day, you may even get bigger than me." He says jokingly. "But really, I'll keep mine dialed down, and you could pummel me all day and I wouldn't feel it."

/famous last words

[happyturtle]

Sunny took her gloves off to eat, and she squeezes his hand back. "I don't think I could do it with anyone else teaching me, but it's different with you."

[UncleWolf]

Carl gives her a warm smile. "Coming from you, that means a lot." He says sincerely. He gives her hand another squeeze before going back to eating. "The only thing I ask, is that you don't hold back the tiniest bit, okay?"

He knows he doesn't know how strong her suit is, and that it's likely she could severely hurt him, but he knows that it'd be even worse for her if she held back.

Besides, beating the pulp out of someone generally helps relieve stress, and lord knows she has a lot of it...

[happyturtle]

I think she'd take it very very badly if Carl were seriously hurt because of her.

"When should we start?" she asks. Obviously not right after lunch, with full bellies of gumbo.

[UncleWolf]

Carl ponders for a moment, finishing his bowl before making himself another. "Any time you want really. I'll even throw in meals for free if you end up over here at the right time. I just can't guarantee any regular schedule because of my job and all."