OPERATION: Hidden Dragon

[Aerinn]

"There's no known counteragent for that type of gas," Kate says. "If there was, the Aten cult would have been a historical footnote by now."

 

[Russell K. Kobayashi]

"...all right, then." Russell takes another, longer drink of coffee, continuing to eye the grenade warily.

 

[Jericho Blake]

"That's why I requested people willing to work without anima. Back to basics, so to speak."

 

[Jude]

"Is this all of us?" Jude pipes up, looking around the table.

 

[Russell K. Kobayashi]

"Not sure I brought enough ammo for everyone," Russell says with good-natured sardony. He rifles through his rucksack, carefully drawing out a SWAT-style tactical vest, and starts checking his pre-loaded magazines.

 

[Jude]

"Ah, I've got my own." She grins and thumbs back at her own bag against the wall.

 

[Aerinn]

"If anyone turns up without their own kit then frankly they can fuck off home again. Our chances of success will not be improved by babysitting amateurs." Kate frowns, eyeing Jude then Russel. "We might be okay with four, but two more would make me more comfortable." She looks to Jericho, their de facto leader.

 

[Russell K. Kobayashi]

Russell meets her eyes calmly, and continues carefully checking his gear.

 

[Requine]

"Havelock will be coming for sure. It's his woman that they're holding." Powell doesn't look up from his notebook. "I'm sure there may be one or two more."

 

[Jericho Blake]

Blake nods. "I didn't exactly expect a lot of volunteers. People get too reliant on their anima powers around here."

 

[Russell K. Kobayashi]

"I might be one of them," Russell admits. "But I've made a point of continuing to train with weapons that actually require reloading."

 

[Jude]

"I'm still new to mine," Jude says, chuckling. "I don't even know if I can do anything with it yet."

 

[Aerinn]

Kate sucks in her bottom lip for a few moments, drumming the fingers of one hand on the table top. "Fuck it. Is there a coffee machine in this place?" She pushes her chair back, standing, looking at Darius.

 

[Requine]

"I'll have the boys set one up." Darius sighs, closing his notebook. "While I'm gone, try not to plan any more illegal sorties or operations, if you wouldn't mind."

 

[Jude]

Just before Darius was properly gone, Jude leaned forward and stage whispered, "Quick, what's the most illegal thing we can do before he's back?"

 

[Jericho Blake]

Blake shakes his head, and once Powell leaves he sighs. "Guess they don't like results around here," he mutters.

 

[Aerinn]

Kate doesn't sit back down, looking around the room and pacing a little, eventually leaning back against the wall near her seat and folding her arms across her midriff. "Illegal operations my arse. What a dick head."

 

[Jericho Blake]

"The Knight Captain proved to be too tough for them. But we're getting her out today." His voice carries no emotion, which makes it even grimmer.

 

[Requine]

Before long, Darius returns. Behind him, an intern carries a coffee machine, beans, cream, and sugar, struggling to keep it all contained in his arms. Powell sits back down and lets the intern drop everything and sort it on a table. The intern goes to plug the machine in and brew a cup, but Powell frowns. "Don't you have files to sort?" The intern nods and scurries, leaving you to assemble the machine and make your own coffee. Venetian hospitality at its finest.

 

[Aerinn]

Kate doesn't move from her spot at the wall. After a few seconds she frowns at Darius. "It's your fucking coffee machine. If you didn't want to set it up you should have let your lackey do it. Come on, people are thirsty."