Post by GoldenKitten on Mar 29, 2011 15:28:42 GMT -4
“Tactics. When an enemy is stronger than you it is only logic to use your numbers and wits against them. Failure to do so is not bravery, it is simply failure.”
[/b][/center]Gospels calm soothing voice echoed through the room though she was nowhere to be seen. Despite the situation taking place and harsh words her voice never rose above a collected informative tone. The white-washed circular room they were in was a hundred meters across in every direction, and a dozen meters high. Though it had once been pristine the scars of explosives that could never be scrubbed out dotted the flat ground, similarly over time various forms of cover had been pulled into the room. At the moment lights were flashing from various sources while explosive forces and sounds were let off in a constant stream above. It was a distraction to simulate real world firefights since it was impossible to get everyone into a battle on a regular basis.
Three amorphous black shapes appeared from behind and jumped through the air, readying long electrified blades into direct stabbing poses, perfect for assassination. But the massive figure they were aiming for wheeled around with a dozen times the speed of its hunters and released multiple pellet sprays straight into their forefronts. Though not deadly, especially in their suits, the weaponry was painful and meant to disable which left them moaning and writhing on the floor. Without giving them a second thought he swirled around, his metal boot grating against the floor, before he delivered a swift backhand to another silent attacker and sent them flying across the room.
“You are Shades, and you mean to be my right-hand, Stealth Operatives. But while we watch and strike from the shadows our foes are beyond reckoning. You cannot rely solely on surprise and speed. To some you are as visible as if you were standing in broad daylight, you are many. You have to use an entirely different set of skills, stop trying to kill your enemy and kill him.”
[/b][/center]A dozen attackers were moving through the debris on the field, trying to use it to cover their various advances. If they'd been fighting a group of normal opponents, or even an average ELITE squad then this might have worked. But they weren't listening, or they simply didn't know what to do. His enhanced suit combined with his natural experience made him like forty-men-in-one. Without even firing his weapons his fist crushed into an incoming attacker, probably taking him out for a week before he grabbed him by the neck and wheeled around, pelting him like a large rock into another Shade.
The spirit world situation had grown beyond all estimations and with it tactics and policies had changed. At one time the Stealth Division had been unstoppable, but since then they'd run into more and more enemies that made a mockery of their specialized equipment. Research was doing everything it could to stay on top of the situation and indeed was progressing with lightning speed the likes of which no other company had, or probably ever would, achieve. That didn't stop the fact that they now knew some foes were simply beyond the scope of the human mind. All the divisions had undergone changes, one for the Stealth Division was more combat-centric training in the event they came face to face with an opponent whose eyes could cleave through their barriers in an instant much like Derricks own suit enhancements allowed.
The HALO Storm had played an important part in that, each of the five members being equal to many ELITE combat operatives. Large unit tactics were different, most of the situations with powerful souls were one-on-many, so the HALO was perfect for that. It was keeping them exceptionally busy but Derrick didn't mind, it kept them sharp during downtime. Plus when you got right down to it, it was teaching them things even he hadn't know. Even dreaming of fighting invisible opponents ten years ago would have been both a fanciful dream, and a seeming suicide mission. Now he and the others were masters of it, it was a good thing he and Katherine were on the same side because by this point they could easily have played each others worst nightmare.
“Use your eyes like a scalpel. Don't just strike at the broadest swath you can see, pick and choose your cuts. A larger target might make for an easier hit, but it is also easier to defend. Your opponent could break you in half with his pinky-finger if he wished, getting hit is not an option. Watch the movements, watch for an-”
[/i][/b]Metal on metal sounded out and Derrick readied his pellet-gun, with a swift turn he lifted his leg. When Derrick kicked it was more like a Giant Redwood coming at you than a leg, two adult humans were swept up in the bow of its heft before they were sent flying across the room. Stopping mid-roundhouse he brought his foot down hard. An earsplitting crack filled the room as the man who had been intelligently but not so subtly sliding on the ground to get under him had his arm broken. Derrick pointed the gun downward and pulled the trigger, if they showed mercy in these mock-battles it would leave the operatives with unrealistic expectations of real battle. The only pity they would receive here was they got to walk...or sometimes get pulled, away without being killed like their true fates would be.
They were less enthusiastic now, but the fact that this was training kept the remaining participants from giving up though they were staying back for the time being. But before they could move in Derrick felt a telling ripple move up his spine, instinct took over as a lightning bolt split the air next to him. His arm surrounded it as it passed between and he lifted his arm, focusing an incredible amount of energy into it. Without thought his true battle sense kicked in and his actuated arm came down like a mighty mythological hammer, the electrical blade splitting in half before it before it dissipated. Everyone was still for a moment before he turned his head slightly to see the uncloaked Avernus armor of Commander Gospel. He pulled back when he felt no malice and she herself removed her hands and wrapping one arm around her waist and lifting her hand to her com unit.
“All stop, we're ending the exercise.”
With that simple order the half-dozen remaining members decloaked to stand around the two commanders. Those that could stand managed to do so, while several medics that were always on hand made their way into the training room to begin aiding those who had taken more than passing damage. Without question they began to take up ordered positions in front of her, meanwhile Derrick walked to the side slightly with his hands behind his back, not really having any reason to get in the way.
Katherine pointed in his direction, “That is your opponent. Without any warning he was able to dodge, deflect, and destroy a blow that would have torn any of you in half. This is the person you are using predictable feints a child could predict against. As soldiers under my command this is inexcusable. If one man armed with the weaponized equivalent of a foam gun can defeat you how can I, or the President expect you to protect our futures?”
Derrick had to give her credit, Gospel never raised her voice, instead she just sort of elicited that feeling you got when a maternal figure was disappointed in you. Or, at least that's what he had always equated it too never having had any sort of parental figure himself. Either way he made himself scarce at that point, he and Katherine had long ago come to an understanding. He worked the Combat Operatives, she the Stealth, crossing the chains of command just confused matters. There was no problem with helping each other, but actually commanding them past field orders was just asking for control ambiguity. So like usual he just waited for her to finish, after she got over her generic displeasure she moved to informing specific units of exact tactics that would have improved their efficiency in the battle.
It took her about ten minutes to wrap the entire post-op meeting up, he knew if he'd been anyone else she'd likely not have done it in his presence. Of the leadership of the NWO; Richard, Katherine, and Derrick were probably the only three that trusted each other readily...especially Katherine who was very careful with what she divulged to those outside her division. Reginald was up there too, but he didn't share the same kind of trust the trio did, all three having similar goals and having been together for quite a while...that he wasn't exactly loyal to the cause and was possibly a psychopath at heart didn't help.
Truth be told there was no reason for Derrick to remain, but leaving would have been rude. Unlike the Shades present or other groups both Commanders had progressed to highly advanced combat suits. They could no longer take them on and off at will and instead required computerized physical help to completely assemble or disassemble the entire carapace. So with the training over they would both be heading to the same place, getting a few minutes ahead wasn't worth possible animosity between the two; juvenile as that reasoning might have been. Being on good terms with Katherine, or as good as one could be with someone of her personality type, was one of the big boons to his job. Gospel controlled the information network by-and-large, because she trusted him this meant he was one of the few who actually knew what was going on at all times, losing that would be troubling. At any rate she was a good girl and there was no reason to not get along with her.
As the group broke out into rows to make their way out the opposite side of the training field Derrick cued the executive elevator to their location. This was of course a rail system that could take the leadership anywhere in the main complex and had A-rank priority, in other words if it moved into an elevator shaft that was in use it would bypass lesser priority transportation. Gospel collected what little she had on her and arrived just as the doors opened, he motioned for her to enter before him which she did.
He moved in shortly behind and the doors closed behind them as he spoke out, “Advanced Mark, Maintenance and Repair, Sector 41A.”
Motion overtook them instantly as the command was confirmed, had they not both been in their suits the force would likely have tripped them. The executive elevator was not like a regular one but more like a tram with plate-glass walls that could move in any dimension within the long dark halls, one could also see out into those halls at all the moving machinery that usually hid behind the HQ's dreary metal surroundings. Seeing all the stuff that made the organization tick was always interesting, even if the novelty had been lost some time back.
Derrick took up a stance at the “front” (in relativity to their motion) of the car and stared out into the darkness, in a rare case of relaxation Katherine sat on a nearby metal bench. After a few moments she made nonchalant conversation, “You didn't have to wait.”
Cocking his head over his shoulder he responded bemusedly, “Well of course not, but it would have just thrown one of our schedules off instead of setting us both on an equal medium. Efficiency.”
Katherine chuckled, it wasn't a girly laugh, rather a polite one, “Oh dear, how flattering. Just what every woman wants to hear.”
This would of course have been the time for a witty one-liner like, “You know me, I love to please”, but obviously they didn't have that kind of relationship. It was purely good business relations, Derrick wasn't that kind of guy and there was a high likelihood Katherine would have killed anyone who tried making a move on her seriously. Derrick toyed with the amusing thought that he was amazed Reginald was still alive, but it seemed Katherine had concluded he couldn't be changed but was of use for now.
Of course Derrick was under no delusion that she didn't have a thousand eyes on that man every day, he knew she did him as well, but he thought he had garnered enough trust for it to just be passing confirmation. Less doubt in Derrick himself and more the simple fact that infiltration could occur on any level of the organization. He was no secret police and it was entirely probably if someone was going to penetrate that the Combat Operatives were the place to do it, having the least stringent guidelines for bottom-level acceptance.
She placed a hand over her mask, even though he knew what she looked like she would never allow herself to be seen in a place where there were cameras, and with a deep sigh her tone changed. “I apologize Okeba, this was a waste of your time. I foolishly thought them more capable than they were. I have many eyes but useful blades are few and far between, desire to expand got the best of me. I presumed to much of them.”
“Nonsense.” he returned, reaching up he flipped a latch and with a release of pressure pulled the hulking helmet of his head, still looking outside as they flew along at the speed of a highway car he spoke intelligently, “We all have different purposes here, but at the end of the day we share the same goal. Just because our duties are opposite sides of a coin doesn't mean we are separate. It is as much my duty to ensure all other divisions are up to snuff as it is my own. It may fall to you to guide it directly, but discovering talent and ironing out weakness, that only serves to strengthen us all...just as I know you watch for elsewhere.”
Despite the fact that the words could have been said in a negative manner the look and tone of his voice said they were not, he turned and gave her a smile. It was somewhat funny seeing this mountain of a man give what was ostensibly a child in terms of size the same sort of respect he would one of his soldiers, “So don't concern yourself with it. It's duty, and if it takes a hundred tries to get one useful operative, then that's one we didn't have before.”
Though he couldn't see her face he knew she was processing what he had said with her head turned in his direction. Whatever she thought of that she clearly didn't know how to respond in a collected manner, probably because what needed to be said had been said. Instead she managed a “Hooo~~~...I hope it doesn't take a hundred of them.”
With a single punctuated 'HAH!' from Derrick he confirmed, “Yah, me too.”
Whirling around with his back away from the moving hall Derrick sat down in the front bench. They were leaving the training and weaponry zones now, with this came dozens of pedestrian elevators moving around them. Unlike theirs these were simple mechanical metal boxes, it was doubtful those riding them even knew what hid behind those slow moving ferries. Both commanders sat in relative silence for a time, making small mechanical motions everyone did when there was nothing better to do. Derrick rolling his neck in its socket and Katherine bending her encased metal fingers with her real-hand.
Without moving his neck down he looked out the bottom of his eyes, “It's like your own now isn't it? I think that blow was on par with anything you could have done before...well, just without actually trying to kill me and all.”
It was impossible to tell if the compliment pleased her or not, but she didn't react negatively and gave a somewhat humble nod. After that things became quiet, not awkward since they got along, but they still weren't exactly buddies so there wasn't always something to say. It wasn't long before that quiet was broken by an incessant beeping however and Katherine retrieved her personal data-pad from her beltline. Derrick tapped his wristband and a holographic display of the time appeared, 12:26, which he scrunched his face up at before looking toward her.
“Not a normal report time. A direct link?”, he asked and she nodded an affirmative.
“Hanako-21” she uttered almost breathlessly.
Derrick didn't say a word but after a moment she seemed to notice the look on his face and answered the unasked, “Hanako-21, one of my top infiltrators. We located an unknown Vulcan Industries stock fund several days ago, but after 21 discovered a transport aircraft to its outsourcing and boarded I hadn't heard from them. Naturally after what happened several months ago we've been keeping our ears to the gr—ou----....”
She trailed off, Derrick almost thought he heard a little fear or concern at the end, but he felt knowing her that seemed foolish. Then without warning Gospel stood up and slammed the nearest emergency stop button, the jolt to complete halt actually did jostle them somewhat this time. There was no time to ask, she opened the nearest keyboard panel and entered an eight-button combination before speaking a audio code, “Commander Gospel, Level 9 Authority. Direct bypass to Mallory Arms Executive Suites Sector 1B, Red.”
The machine made a high-pitched beep before the command was accepted and elevators all around them were shifted out of the way. Once in position the trams engine kicked into double-time and they were sailing through open corridors before the vehicle went lateral and they rocketed upward. Their surroundings soon turned from gunmetal gray to the more business like surroundings of the Mallory Arms HQ. By now Katherine was standing as she continued to watch the screen, Derrick reached out so that she could see his hand and after a moment she sent him the document she was viewing.
It was a video, a sixty-second clip taken with a small camera and the audio was eclipsed by the sounds of machinery surrounding the source at the time. After studying it carefully Derrick placed his own pad back onto his hip and flipped his helmet around, reattaching it with a crisp hiss. Reaching up he clicked his mic and made immediate connection with King, speaking before the man could even ask what the matter was.
“King, Code Red, put the HALO Storm and Companies Seven-through-Twelve on standby. I'm also giving you executive orders you call to the Armored Division and make sure they have minimum prep time ready. No orders yet, but by the time we get them I expect us to be mission-ready.”
After the confirmation from his second-in-command he turned the com off. He interlaced his large metal gauntlets together and knelled forward, any notion of good will and tone gone, now the silent juggernaut he was known to be. A firm nod between the two commanders showed they were on the same page, the same order had been given to the Stealth Operatives in different words. There was nothing left to say, things had just changed, and there was no real question what action need to be taken. War was coming.
---------------
“So as you can see gentlemen CV-HK1 is a premier piece of military hardware, with an excellent bottom dollar to be made with our allies both local and abroad.”
Reginald stood before a wall-sized high-definition electronic screen in the Mallory Arms Executive Board Room. Displayed across it were the working components of the civilian Hunter-Killer which had been dumbed down for mass market consumption. It was typical for Mallory Arms to release a money-making version of a tested technology roughly half a year after its NWO upgrade was introduced. Naturally any spiritual properties were stripped except for rare exceptions, but even so the technology was always superior to everything else. They hadn't funded a massive paramilitary organization on hopes and dreams, their tech was the real deal, even if they kept the best for themselves.
Pointing at the screen with a metal stick, somewhat like a baton, he highlighted the vehicles features. Truth be told five-years prior Reginald would never have even dreamed he'd be giving lectures in a highclass setting, but times they did change. He was a smarmy bastard, even he knew, but that had translated into better people skills than any of them had probably expected out of him. Add to that an extreme level of intelligence and the ability to memorize specs like a machine and you had a potent business consultant. It was nigh impossible for the executives or buyers to trip him up, and in turn he had proven apt at verbally corralling them where they needed to be. So once again Reginald had cemented his irreplaceable position in the company, which was good since he knew he lacked the trust other commanding members received.
“Four mountable 180-degree turrets with 2000-rpm output. Our own custom Longshot Seventy-fifties for hard target bombardment, you may remember these were previewed at last quarters Manakana-Sieg Showcasing, but at the time were not made available for public consumption. That was due to lack of a reliable stable firing platform, that problem has been rectified and the weapon can now be put on the market, starting of course here with the CV-HK1. Cooling ducts at the multi-direction blades allow-”
He continued his speech when his PDA began buzzing. Nobody was aware as it was set to silent, and Reginald made a completely professional glide to the phone, pulling it out and taking a momentary glance before placing it back without missing a beat in the dictation. There was only one reason he even checked it, Richard would have too, they turned their devices off during meetings and only Code Red's and above were sent to them during those periods. A quick check had shown that Gospel had redirected an executive elevator to their location for reasons unknown. He was curious, but without further knowledge there was no reason to cause concern amongst the upper-crust, plus he didn't exactly have the best relationship with Gospel, so he tried to ignore her actions best he could.
Like the smooth businessman he was he fell right back into his rhythm, not even giving Richard a glance since he knew the man had received it and they didn't need to ominously confirm EVERYTHING together.
“All these statistics together give us a projected profit of 3.0.0.0.0K per-unit, give or take based on localized gratification. Add to this its highly desirable ease of fielding and in short, the CV-HK1 has the potential to bring in the largest net-worth of a released product in the last four fiscal quarters. We've already got buyers in the Japanese Defense Force, and this could be our way to carve a higher-edge into the largely divisive western market.”
He had walked away from the screen and was now resting a palm on the large rectangular table at which the thirty-or-so members of the decision making committees were seated. In truth only about five of them had any real say in the true machinations of the company, and only one of them other than he and Richard were aware of the true nature of the organization. Still, though most of them weren't as important as they believed they did keep the company together. Mallory Arms was far to large to be kept together by a handful of individuals on a daily basis, even more so ever since the Spirit World had become more active in previous months. Add to that the fact that the NWO military branch was growing by leaps and bounds in terms of recruitment and keeping it incognito and you had a recipe for disaster. So having dozens of public faces was a requirement, in the big game they weren't important, but oddly were necessary.
Delivering the coup-de-grace (though it was hardly needed, the speech was going over incredibly well) Reginald began winding down when he felt his PDA shake again. This time he briefly paused and his eyes happened to scan Richards in earnest this time. He made a show of retrieving the device this time since trying to be subtle a second time would have been suspicious, he masked it by pretending he was just recounting a municipal detail to be quoted to the group. His eyes went dark as he saw the report, Derrick and Gospel had placed entire sections of their divisions on Code Red Prep, his own division had been preemptively ordered to begin arming up in event of emergency.
Pulling the device away from the desk he twirled it in his hand without thought before clipping it back on, he continued speaking though his mind was elsewhere. “So that's the culmination of our CV-HK1 predictions. Please go over the models and report back to us with regional concerns within the week, once the pre-order quota is met we'll work on what our actual public relations advertisements will be like. Moving along to company maintenance-”
Nothing he said suggested anything was wrong but he was on auto-pilot now, he hated not being in the know. Obviously he doubted it would be much longer before they figured out what was going on but when you were used to the level of control he was having decisions made when you weren't there was agony. Reginald had a good thing going, some people doubted his loyalty but even if he didn't exactly believe in the NWO he had no reason to leave. He had access to all the best toys, but more importantly he had power here. In the outside world if Richard himself didn't hunt him down he'd still just go back to being a world-wanted terrorist funding petty wars for petty people...not that he didn't sometimes think Richard was just as sad, but money talked.
Looking over the room his eyes paused on the digital clock at the front of the room, even without paying attention he knew it was wrong. However, it hadn't been not a minute and a half ago as it had been 12:28, now it read 13:00, someone had to have changed it. As if on cue the doors to the room opened and the food services custodian Jinny Lei walked in followed by several servers and a long row of exquisite food choices. Of course 13:00 was the time the usual meal was served to the executives, Reginald realized quickly what was happening as Jinny stepped forward and gave her usual happy smile. But that wasn't all, though almost nobody could see them who didn't have spiritual power the small barely visible form of Gospel and the massive rock that was Derrick were standing on either side of the large double-doors.
“Have you gentlemen been working hard? I'm sorry to interrupt but if you're ready todays meals are prepared!”
One of the younger executives checked his watch, “It's a little early isn't it?”
Jinny shook her head and pointed at the clock, “Well, no sir, it's 13:00. But if you are busy we can come back later.”
This resulted in many of the surrounding leaders checking their own watches, clearly most were smart enough to pick up on the discrepancy and were soon voicing it. Reginalds eyes traveled over to where the two armored figures stood as he contemplated how to play the situation off, he wasn't going to let a business meeting get in the way of his curiosity.
Jinny was in the middle of trying to placate some of the grouchier members when he gave off a hearty laugh while rubbing the back of his head, “Well, that's embarrassing. The most technologically advanced company in the world has an internal timing error, but let's not worry about that.” He stood back and crossed his arms, “Surely a few minutes isn't a problem, and I doubt you all enjoy hearing me ramble all day. The food is here, what order we accomplish our tasks is really not important as long as we get them done, right? Who votes to break for the time being?”
It took a moment but Reginalds light-hearted nature took control and agreements were quickly ratified. As quickly as they consented the surrounding men dropped into more jovial attitudes, proving that most of their serious-business tendencies were little more than facades. With the decision made food services entered the room and began clearing the table for the meal to come, some of the old horndog executives typically made a game of flirting with some of the young hostesses. You could get away with that when you made lots of money...or you were Reginald...everyone loved Reginald, yes-sir, WEDNESDAY NIGHT COCKTAILS FOR ALL!!!....Richard didn't like that though, but he was boring.
As the lunch was being served Gospel began moving from her position at the door, deftly avoiding walking into anyone as she made her way to the far end of the table where Richard was. The suits had perfect camouflage, they long had, but it was still interesting to watch the non-spiritual individuals being totally oblivious to the two heavily armed warriors standing amongst them. Other than the two R's only one elderly executive named Estivan was truly aware of the extent of the organization and had the ability to see through the cloaks. Unlike the rest of the men who were now rowdily talking with one another he sat silently with his hands crossed before him, watching the girl appear, he might not have known what was happening but he understood the severity of what this suggested.
Retrieving a screen off her arm Gospel knelled down next to Richard, Reginald walked slowly over and stood behind him, pretending he was speaking business with the man. However he did it slowly and casually, as not to interrupt the actual importance of what was happening. After a moment words filtered across the screen.
This video was taken 2 hours previous.[/font][/b]
A line-frame image appeared on the screen of a geographical location, an island. Coordinates displayed followed by a name, Ikimura Island, Philippines, 2000 = K/S.[/font][/b]
With a shimmer the clean lines cutout to be replaced by a stable but grainy handheld video. The island was highly rocky but even so swaying branches occasionally passing in front of the lens suggested it had been taken from one of the few forested areas. The image swayed for a bit as it passed a large opening in a rock-face which was clearly man made with a huge hydraulic door leading inside, panning over it was clear it was a coastal image. Everything between the sharp rocks and the sandy beaches had been flattened and a runway had been paved into the distance. This runway was being used as the scene zoomed in, a triple-decker transport plane pulling off into the air at the far-end, a second plane was already taxing with its engines facing the camera in preparation for takeoff.
Dozens of helicopters surrounded the main path, several were already wound up and lifting into the air, following in the direction of the first transport plane. As the second transport accelerated and began pulling off in the distance ground crews could be seen moving back on to the runway. Many of them were black-ops looking individuals, however the fact that none of the vehicles or people were wearing markings suggested mercenaries...or worse an actual paramilitary force like the NWO. Amongst them were dozens of white-clad scientists who were rolling several gurneys out to the remaining helicopters.
The camera attempted to move in on one of the beds but all of them were covered in yellow plastic. Whether to protect them or protect what was inside from biological hazards there was no way to tell. However the countless IV tubes hanging by their sides indicated they were living things without a doubt, and from the size of the bedding the possibility they were human was high. Disengaging the wheel-locks the emergency transports were safely secured in one of the forwardmost helicopters that the video was focusing on. A large man in combat gear was standing at the front of the vehicle but his face was covered and could not be identified, after a few seconds it became clear they weren't lifting off just yet.
Pulling back to try and get a better view of what else was happening most of the remaining choppers had lifted into the air, and both transport planes were dots on the horizon now. Though the sound couldn't be heard the way the video snapped around suggested the cameramen had been surprised as it whirled around just in time to catch a large unknown model tank rolling past him just a dozen meters away. The view followed it as it made its way toward the landing strip, it became obvious it was headed toward a massive triple-rotor transport helicopter which probably intended to airlift it.
In the time this had been the focus the camera had missed some of what was happening on the runway. Seeming to realize there was a commotion it came back to the fore. Several scientists had collected around the last helicopter, the final gurney seeming to have been loaded. As they pulled away the large man and two other men in military outfits gave sharp salutes to someone off-camera, then the large man stuck out his hand so that a much smaller one could shake it. After they released their hands a few words were traded, probably pleasantries, before the team loaded into the helicopter and it took off shortly after with the final load, no other vehicles remaining on the runway.
As it took off the smaller man whose hand had been shook remained standing below, the wind from the blades blowing his hair and white camp-shirt around in the wind. He looked healthier than the last time they had seen him, he was still skinny, but he had color in his face. Wearing the pleased smile of someone whose plans were going their way he watched as the vehicle lifted off out of reach into the sky, his keen blue eyes keeping tabs on his assets.
Once satisfied Y1 turned around and began walking back toward the cliff door, the video ended with it set on a profile of his face, then cut out.
Reginald placed a hand on the table, they all shared brief looks. When Y1 hadn't immediately shown up after his escape they had begun to realize he might actually have had a plan and not just been bluffing. It was even more convincing after several possible internal issues were linked to him. But even so this was on a whole other level, they were expecting him to come back stronger, maybe having roped in a few crazies to do his bidding...but now, what in the world had they started?
