[Nexus] Altaran Irregulars HQ/IAV Sanctuary

[Arkhosia]

Entrance

Name's Valia Dusk. I'm looking to join the Irregulars.
She replies.

[Lost_Deep]

Phone Call

One of the more public phones begins ringing. If the Irregulars don't have an actual public access phone, it'll be one of the less-secret lines.

[Darkcomet]

[Spire Entrance]

One of the guards radios a superior. "Do we have anything on a 'Valia Dusk?' Description is..." ...followed by an actual description...then a pause. "...wait, what? She uses what? Okay, I'll be sure to relay that, over." Then he looks back at Valia.

"They said 'no on account of extreme risk of collateral damage, as proven by willingness to resort to nuclear weapons.'"

[Phone Call]

"Altaran Irregular diplomatic office, how may I help you?" The voice on the other side of the line is masking a significant bit of frustration, though he keeps it concealed well enough. No doubt they've gotten a lot of calls after the declaration of war.

[Arkhosia]

Spire Entrance

To be fair, that tarrasque would have come back and killed people all over again if I didn't use the mini-nuke, which has much less radiation and damage creation than an actual nuke, and we took precautions

[Lost_Deep]

Phone Call

The person on the other hand is a woman, and entirely too happy about the situation. "Hey! I want to talk to someone about signing up for that war! Can you forward me to the right person?"

[Darkcomet]

[Spire Entrance]

"Uh...huh. Also heard you were pretty cheery about it?" It is probably kinda creepy to have them just happen to know this. The explanation is that Emissary N'alae has access to a certain hologram's logs, but they're not sharing that.

"Think you can pass the psych eval?"

He sounds a bit doubtful. Good thing he's not a recruiter!

[Phone Call]

"You're looking for the recruitment office, although you sound a bit too happy about that. Bear in mind that all Altaran Irregular recruits are subject to psych evaluations."

Psych evaluations are the roadblock of choice, apparently.

[Arkhosia]

[Spire Entrance]

"Uh...huh. Also heard you were pretty cheery about it?" It is probably kinda creepy to have them just happen to know this. The explanation is that Emissary N'alae has access to a certain hologram's logs, but they're not sharing that.

"Think you can pass the psych eval?"

He sounds a bit doubtful. Good thing he's not a recruiter!

[Phone Call]

"You're looking for the recruitment office, although you sound a bit too happy about that. Bear in mind that all Altaran Irregular recruits are subject to psych evaluations."

Psych evaluations are the roadblock of choice, apparently.

Yes I do!
Valia replies, nodding profusely.
She would salute, but... Would that be correct in this situation? Do only soldiers salute each other? Valia is so confused!

[Lost_Deep]

Phone Call

"I'm not calling to sign up! I'm calling to... how do I put this? I'm in charge of a whole group that wants to help. Forward me to the person to talk to about THAT."

[UncleWolf]

Conference Room

"I prefer to stand, sir." Hicks admits with a slight nod as he takes a spot away from anywhere that foot-traffic will be impeded but also where he can watch everything.

[Darkcomet]

[Phone Call]

"...then yes, this is the right place. Would you like to schedule a meeting with the Emissary for more detailed negotiations?" Well.

That got their attention.

[Spire Entrance]

The other guard gives the one that has been talking thus far a glance. "...Right, not even going to question how we knew that? You'd think she'd be creeped out..."

The original talky guard seems to catch that, and gestures for the other one to shut up. Then he looks back to Valia. "...And you'll have to learn to deal with regulations and authority." More of these little issues.

((Will edit in conference room part later, kind of have a block on it right now...))

[Arkhosia]

[Phone Call]

"...then yes, this is the right place. Would you like to schedule a meeting with the Emissary for more detailed negotiations?" Well.

That got their attention.

[Spire Entrance]

The other guard gives the one that has been talking thus far a glance. "...Right, not even going to question how we knew that? You'd think she'd be creeped out..."

The original talky guard seems to catch that, and gestures for the other one to shut up. Then he looks back to Valia. "...And you'll have to learn to deal with regulations and authority." More of these little issues.

((Will edit in conference room part later, kind of have a block on it right now...))

Valia nods.
Understood.

[Lost_Deep]

Phone Call

"You know it. ASAP, please, I've got a lot of free time so it should be good whenever you can make it."

[Darkcomet]

((Upon consultation we decided detailing all those intelligence meetings probably isn't necessary. Besides, the interesting part's over.))

[Phone Call]

Presumably, SCHEDULING NONSENSE ensues. Procedure is, of course, boring, so I'll lay it out: They'll be asking who this person's representing, their capabilities, so on, and so forth. Nothing too in-depth, that's going to be N'alae's job later.

[Spire Entrance]

Well, that's about all that can be said for that.

Psych evaluations involve things like general questions aimed at gauging mental stability and suitability for being part of a military organization. The ability to follow orders, the ability to remain calm in a combat situation, and mostly, in this case, the ability to not be a trigger-happy maniac. They seem to skew towards questioning that a lot in this particular case for some reason.

Probably because they know her from a certain hologram's logs, and know she was far too enthusiastic about nuclear weapons. I don't actually play these detailed recruitment process things out, so feel free to talk to me about the specifics and if you think she'd actually pass it.

[Arkhosia]

Valia is trigger happy, but nowhere near maniac levels. She is mentally sound and in fact can remain quite calm. She can follow orders, but it's not her strong suit.

[Lost_Deep]

Phone Call

The group is "The Freakshow," a name that a bit of research will connect to a street gang in Paragon City. Kilt will list their capabilities as eager, crazy, unusually durable people with guns and some advanced melee capabilities. She'll also mention cybernetics and scavenging if pressured, but since apperantly this isn't the person she'll be arranging the details with she'll be casually tight-lipped about that.

[Darkcomet]

[Phonecall]

The meeting is scheduled to take place in the Spire's conference room, with Kilt instructed to bring two guards at most should she feel it necessary.

If she shows up, well, that's not for me to say.

[Psych Eval]

Unfortunately for Valia, the combined trigger-happy tendencies and the difficulty with orders means she probably won't be joining the Irregulars proper. However, an alternative is presented. A sort of long-term mercenary contract, the details of which are to be discussed in a more informal venue than the usual Irregular meeting.

Namely, it's supposed to be at Trog's Tavern, with someone named Doern Hill? That's not one of the major officials at all...

[Lost_Deep]

Freakshow Meeting

She shows up. Slightly early, even.

Who else could it be? Her left arm is a giant, crude prosthetic tipped with a buzzsaw, she's wearing a Kilt, a tank top, and half a leather jacket. She's wearing a laser pistol on her hip (non-EI tech) and the smile on her face too confident to be sane.

Especially when she's a criminal walking up to irregular HQ!

"Hello! I'm expected."

[Darkcomet]

[Freakshow Meeting]

The guards would seem a bit put off, but the helmets do a pretty good job of concealing that. They do a good job at concealing emotions, those helmets.

"Yeah, looks about right...someone'll be here shortly to escort you to the meeting room."

And true enough, they will be. Assuming speeding things along is all well and good, Kilt will be brought up to the conference room, where there aren't really that many people at the moment. It's just the ever-diplomatic Emissary, who looks up upon Kilt's arrival.

"...Is that Borg?" She, on the other hand, makes no secret of her reaction to that. Granted, N'alae here does have a particular interest in the topic. "Hm...no, not quite right. Have a seat."

[Lost_Deep]

Freakshow Meeting

"Nah, they're better because they don't fold like wet paper under bullets. Call me Kilt. So, you're who I have to talk to about teaming up?" she sits down heavily. Also, it might be noted that the tech is further off than "Not quite". It is smoother than in that image, but still about that level of hodgepodgery. It's a backalley modification, a few steps up from "Kuldge."

[Darkcomet]

[Freakshow Meeting]

"Yes. I am Emissary N'alae, the resident top diplomat. I must say this is unusual. We don't often see street gangs signing up for war. I suppose you might be looking into the Commander's amnesty offer?" N'alae raises a questioning eyebrow. She knows it's probably nothing so nice as that...but no point in giving her suggestions.

[Lost_Deep]

Freakshow Meeting

'Kilt' shrugs. "Eh... I'll take it, but it's not exactly the reason. You see, my group is interested in tech, right? And I hear that the folks coming have some really nice tech, right? Well, I figure that if there's a chance of getting some really nice tech, my guys would be willing to cooperate, right? People are willing to do things they like to do and get stuff they want for it. You understand what I'm saying?"

[Darkcomet]

[Freakshow Meeting]

N'alae doesn't seem very surprised. Salvaging was mentioned before anyway. "You're saying you want salvage rights on Syndicate technology. Hardly the strangest request, given that most wars involve an amount of capture of enemy tech, quietly or otherwise. The question I must ask is what you intend to do afterward. Historically, supplying a proxy force in any way has been prone to backfiring as the proxy turns on the supplier...and given how your group operates, I don't think I need to say why we would be concerned about that."

Because, y'know. Gang.

[Lost_Deep]

Freakshow Meeting

"Oh, good, they brought out a smart one. Okay, first of all, someone is going to get that tech. Specifically, someone on my side of the law. Don't know how, it doesn't matter. Would it better be me and mine... or people with the resources to learn from the things? People who would be stupid enough to blow their own arms off, or people with paramilitary training?" She leans back. "Oh, but it's better to keep those things off the street, right? Well, tell you what, those would be a drop in the bucket, you know? Your streets are crawling with killers, madmen, ghosts, all kinds of crazy stuff. Those guns aren't going to make the alleys any more dangerous than they are now. You're worried about giving one group more power? It's not like we're big enough to endanger the city. We'll have less reason to knock over gun shops and research places. Sure, we'll be more dangerous if we DO get ticked off, but who's more likely to tick us off? The nice, law-abiding citizens... or certain parts of the city that you'd like to get hurt anyway?"

She sits up, suddenly much more serious. "And what if we do get uppity? We're in inside, in a part of the city that, you know, wouldn't be missed if it were damaged. It'd be simple enough to..." She stomps on the floor loudly, and then grinds the heel a bit. "I don't have any illusions about how big my group is." She then leans back. "That's not even counting all the perks you get from having us on the battlefield."

[Darkcomet]

[Freakshow Meeting]

"Hm. All things considered, I would be open to allowing limited salvage rights. For those very reasons you described, we may have to prohibit heavy anti-vehicular weapons, anti-air weaponry in particular...which should not harm your combat ability against the Syndicate much. We have that part covered." N'alae, naturally, doesn't want a street gang getting major anti-air power. "We'll be limiting any air support they have thoroughly, as they lack major airbases and we intend to keep it that way." If that doesn't hold true, then there are bigger problems anyway, considering the Syndicate is a global superpower on its homeworld. Can't beat those numbers.

"That seems more than sufficient for your intentions."

[Lost_Deep]

Freakshow Meeting

"Sounds good, sounds fair," Kilt nods in agreement. She seems happy with this. "But you bring up a good point. That is, how tough the syndicate are to fight. THAT is, I don't know how tough the syndicate are to fight. That is, are bullets going to be useless? Where I come from, sometimes bullets were just useless. It was embarrassing. And we have mostly bullets, you know, so if they aren't going to be all that good, I'd like to know ahead of time."

[Darkcomet]

[Freakshow Meeting]

"Currently, the Syndicate is unable to deploy heavy vehicle support, its main craft consisting of stealth shuttles and light ground vehicles carried in at their entry point. What they might steal or buy from others is unknown. Beyond that, we can expect technologically advanced infantry, perhaps even on the same level as ourselves and Remnant. They won't have significant supernatural support, with the exception of rare brainwashed pseudo-mutants termed 'Anomalies,' according to the Commander." The Emissary looks a bit contemplative for a moment. "Could be rather difficult for you until you loot enough of their gear, but I get the impression you're used to that sort of conflict."

[Lost_Deep]

Freakshow Meeting

Kilt nods a little. "Well... to a point. In paragon, we could nick some of the nicer guns from the paramilitary groups, but given the paramilitary groups in the area are you and yours... haven't really had a chance to, you know? And now I don't really want to shoot myself in the foot that way. I've thought of a way around this, and it's going to sound crazy but I want you to hear me out. I'm wondering if maybe you'd be willing to, just throwing this out here! You might consider loaning us a few nicer guns."

[Darkcomet]

[Freakshow Meeting]

That gets a pause and a frown out of N'alae, though she keeps her tone level. "Now that, I do not know if I can allow. While I can understand the apprehension of fighting a foe on the level of us or Remnant, the Commander disapproves of leaking any of our technology. Our main supplier also wouldn't appreciate us handing any significant technology of his design to anyone. However...if the Commander approves it, I may be able to sidestep the issue. Tell me, Miss Kilt, have you ever heard of K-Corp? Former supplier of Vyrn Altaran's Empire, facilities mysteriously exploded sometime before the Generals' coup?"

[Lost_Deep]

Freakshow Meeting

"I'm a bit newer than that, and I haven't had the time to go through the history books. I'm guessing that 'mysteriously' wasn't so mysterious, but please go on." she leans back, her smile returning. She seems honestly interested.

[Darkcomet]

[Freakshow Meeting]

N'alae waves a gloved hand dismissively. "Oh, no, we still have no idea why that happened. It was before I arrived as well, but I've made sure to keep up with this organization's original incarnation." Wouldn't be wise not to. "Anyway, they were the Empire's main supplier, prior to the aforementioned exploding and Evolution Industries taking over after the coup. We're still in possession of some of the equipment originating from them, though we do not often use it due to practical concerns. Impossibility of replacement, mostly. If the Commander approves, those might suit your request, neatly avoiding the issue of Evolution's secretiveness."