[Nexus] ISF HQ

[Darkcomet]

[Front Gate]

The guard's helmet obscures his face, but somehow he gives the impression of rolling his eyes. "Miss, if we gave everyone free access to talk with the higher-ups, you'd be in the back of a very long line. You'll have to do better than that. Why do you want to speak to him?"

[Artemis97]

[Front gate]

"Because I have come into posession of some very sensetive information about a secret project your organization has sponsored. Your 'higher-ups' can choose to speak with me, or I will go public with this information." She explains calmly, surpressing the urge to smirk at the, in her mind, rather rude guard.

[Darkcomet]

[Front Gate]

"Suuure you have. Ah well. If you turn out to be another conspiracy theorist, I'll just see if we can fine the **** out of you for wasting our time." The guard turns away from Svaela, talking on the comm.

If she listens in, she'll probably hear something about holocomm rooms. I don't know if she knows what those are, but if she does, I hope she doesn't mind holograms.

Shortly afterward, the gate opens, a pair of guards awaiting behind it. "Come on."

Assuming there are no objections, they'll escort her to...

[Holoprojector Room 1]

Where a hologram of ISF General Leon Vettel awaits, looking rather resigned, if anything. The guards depart once Svaela has arrived, probably because their clearance isn't high enough to listen in on this.

"Something tells me you're not the usual raving conspiracy theorist."

[Artemis97]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

"I doubt I would have made it past the front gate and your, somewhat rude, guards, if I were." Svaela agrees, content to make her disapproval of the guard's tone known here, rather than doing something rash, like branding the man. "I presume you are in charge here, sir?"

[The Bushranger]

Motor Pool

Eileen will see the front wheel of the attack bike turn towards her of it's own accord, twin chainguns trained on her. Even so, the bike rolls back about 10ft, giving her plenty of work space.

Eileen has long since learned not to question anything. And not just because of security.
"Thank you."
And she cautiously approaches her paitent, taking a breath before readying a basic Cure spell, as her first line of healing.

[UncleWolf]

Motor Pool

Stheno watches Eileen closely, and the gorgon head on her front seems to be shifting ever so slowly, the snakes writhing and rustling against each other. Geoff seems to only react a little to the Cure. It helps, but it seems a great deal of his life force was taken.

[The Bushranger]

[Motor Pool]

"I'd ask what he was doing to be in this state, but I don't want to know," Eileen mutters, shaking her head. "This is going to need more juice."

And she starts the quiet incantations for a juicer spell - Restoration, to be precise, concentrating on channeling the divine magic of her patron, the Ranger Pin on her chest glowing slightly.

[Darkcomet]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

"Gate guards at high-profile installations in populated areas are often like that, I'm afraid. But yes, I am in charge here, as I'm General Leon Vettel of the ISF. I'm not quite the highest authority in the Empire, but I'm the highest you'll be talking to. My Imperial Army counterpart is less willing to speak with civilians than I am. I hope you don't mind the holoprojector, but security is security." Vettel seems awfully friendly given his rank.

Moreso given what Svaela was told about, though. Perhaps some inkling of that shows in his comment on security?

[UncleWolf]

Motor Pool

"I think it'd be obvious, but suit yourself." Taul says. Geoff stirs slightly, healed most of the way, but still tired. Taul nods. "We'll probably need you to do this for the next several days."

[The Bushranger]

[Motor Pool]

"Even if I know, I don't want to," Eileen points out, as she steps back, looking just a little worn, herself. "I can handle that. I assume an escort each time will be necessary - and wise."

[Artemis97]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

"I quite understand." Svaela says, politely. "I wished to discuss with you a device in your posession. A field designed to protect the city. In particular, I wished to discuss its power supply." She watches the projection carefully, watching to see if he knew of what she spoke, and any possible attempts to decieve.

[UncleWolf]

[Motor Pool]

"Even if I know, I don't want to," Eileen points out, as she steps back, looking just a little worn, herself. "I can handle that. I assume an escort each time will be necessary - and wise."

Motor Pool

Taul nods. "At least till we know what Vasquez or Geoff says." Stheno gives a bit of a rumble and rolls forward, trying to shove Eileen away to guard over her Rider.

[Darkcomet]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

The holographic general raises an eyebrow. "Is this about the shield generator recently re-enabled thanks to that deal with Vyrn? We've gotten a fair bit of flak from that, mainly from Red Zone residents. We're not entirely sure why it'll only work with him involved, if that is what you're concerned about..."

Vettel seems to have...completely missed it?

What is going on here?

[Artemis97]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

"Then you do not know how it is powered." It was a statement, not a question. Svaela frowns a bit and takes a breath before continueing. "General Vettel, do you think of yourself as a good man? And even if you do not, have you dedicated yourself to the life and wellbeing of every citizen under your protection?"

[Darkcomet]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

Vettel blinks, but a look of understanding soon comes to his face. "I get it. What did Noir and Viscose do? I was not informed of the specifics of that project."

[The Bushranger]

Motor Pool

Taul nods. "At least till we know what Vasquez or Geoff says." Stheno gives a bit of a rumble and rolls forward, trying to shove Eileen away to guard over her Rider.

Eileen steps back with aclarity.
"OK, OK. I'm going..." she says, shaking her head with some bemusement. "Is there anything else I can do? I've been rather bored lately."

[Artemis97]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

"Three innocent souls are trapped, being held in limbo, unable to pass on to their rightful afterlife, in order to power the device." Svaela explains, staring hard at the General.

[Darkcomet]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

The General shakes his head sadly, sighing. "He's always been more willing to sacrifice a few to save the greater whole than me, but...we should both understand that the arrangement was made right after the city had been sucked into an underworld in an attempt to destroy it, which failed. Casualties were...high, to put it lightly. Before I go on, though...I assume Viscose told you. Where is he now?"

[UncleWolf]

Motor Pool



Eileen steps back with aclarity.
"OK, OK. I'm going..." she says, shaking her head with some bemusement. "Is there anything else I can do? I've been rather bored lately."

Taul sighs. "Not at the moment, sorry. Though..." He looks at her and the other two. "Well, you could always stay to try and become friends with Stheno since you two will be seeing each other for a while until Geoff is done."

[Artemis97]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

Svaela fought hard to keep the grief off of her face. "I can only hope that his soul has found rest."

[The Bushranger]

[Motor Pool]

Eileen chuckles, and shrugs.
"Might as well. I assume you have other clerics who can handle resurrections, if things go poorly?"
She's (half-)joking, of course.

[Darkcomet]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

"...I see. Noir would say that those three are nothing compared to thousands or even millions, and I think he looked to what had just happened as proof that he was right. I wouldn't have done it, but...it comes down to protection of the masses against the three. I can't sacrifice that protection for them when I can only do anything about one. Three generators exist, and only one is here. One's likely at IA HQ, and I know nothing of the third. I'm afraid my hands are tied. I don't have access to two of them, and if it came down to force, the IA has far more raw power than we do. Even if I moved against one, he'd find out."

It's probably easy to tell that Vettel believes what he's saying.

"The only move I can make is suicidal, and could have disastrous consequences if Noir had someone more loyal to him installed in my place."

[Artemis97]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

"Who is this Noir? Perhaps now that times are not so desperate, he could be convinced to seek an alternate means of powering the device?" Svaela suggests.

[Darkcomet]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

"He would be General Noir of the Imperial Army. As for an alternate power source, it might be possible...but, with Alizarin Viscose dead, it doesn't seem likely to me."

Whoops. That is a problem, isn't it?

"From what I know, his inventions were always things most techs or mages could never accomplish on their own. The one thing I can think of at this point is that, if an alternative system was obtained, it might be possible to persuade him to destroy the existing generators. However, I imagine that such an alternative would be difficult to find. I wouldn't say it's impossible, but it'll take time."

[Artemis97]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

"Of course. I will see if I can speak with Noir and do what I can to find an alternate powersource. I expect you will do what you can to promote similar research within your own organization?" Svaela asks.

[UncleWolf]

[Motor Pool]

Eileen chuckles, and shrugs.
"Might as well. I assume you have other clerics who can handle resurrections, if things go poorly?"
She's (half-)joking, of course.

"If something happens, I'll resurrect you myself." Taul says. "Just...I don't know. Play nice? See if you can convince her to take you for a ride?" He shrugs. "I need to go. I'm have next shift."

[The Bushranger]

[Motor Pool]

"Thanks. And...I'm not sure I'd go that far yet." Eileen chuckles, as she finds a place to sit, and does so. "I think accepting my presence will be enough for now."

[Darkcomet]

[Holoprojector Room 1]

Vettel seems to be in thought for a bit before speaking again. "Hm. I have a contact who specializes in advanced power sources, so powering a replacement system should work out. I'll have him get to work on that. If you could help to find something to harness that power source to replace the existing generators, it would be welcome. As for Noir, I think it would be better if I spoke with him myself. As I told you, he's more likely to be receptive to me than to a civilian, especially with the threat of exposure involved. Between that and the potential for a replacement, I should be able to persuade him to have the generators destroyed once that replacement is finished. It's...not a flawless plan, but I think it's the best I can do in my position."

[happyturtle]

Motor Pool

1st Lt Alice Delisle comes in to see Geoff's condition. No, I don't know how she found out either.

"I suppose I can classify this as a workplace accident," she says. "Can someone give me an estimated recovery time?"

[UncleWolf]

Motor Pool

Taul stops on his way out. "You'd have to ask Eileen, but I think we'd prefer to keep this off the record." He gives them both an apologetic look before leaving. Geoff seems to only need good rest now.