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Annexed Mod Team ([personal profile] modaccount) wrote in [community profile] annexedlogs2022-08-14 08:50 pm

Mission Log #1

How It Works

Welcome to the first mission log in Annexed!

How Mission Logs Work: There will generally be two main missions per month, with different focuses tailored to different skillsets (usually stealth vs. fighting, though other skillsets will be tapped on). Each mission will be posted in phases, with a prompt for the start of each phase. The plotting post will give you a rundown of what the missions are, how they might go, and what might be discovered. Characters may partake in whichever pat of the operation they choose, whether it's a large prominent part or a more supporting role. Characters may participate in both missions, and as many phases as they wish.

Mod Guidance: Players may request occasional scene-setting when they hit a point where they're unsure what might happen next in a log or what their characters might encounter. There will be a "Mod Guidance" comment that players can reply to in order to request this kind of scene-setting.

Completion of Missions: There will be a submissions comment for anyone who's threaded out a portion of the mission. Once a thread has been completed at least halfway, please submit your character's progress and plans for the thread to the submissions thread. These submissions are the main way that the mod will decide how the mission went in the next month's wrap-up post, so they are very important!

Plotting Post: Here!

The Cure For Immunity

The Witches have received intel through their spies in Zephyr that a lab located just outside the outskirts of the city is engaged in experiments on sentient beings to create a serum that will change those people who are incompatible with Sylphid reproduction. This serum would allow the Sylphid to take over the bodies of people who would usually be fatal to them.

The serum is said to function at a 45% success rate already.

Obviously this would be a major blow to all life on the Broken World, as 70% of the population is immune to being taken over by Sylphid. This serum would allow them to increase their population numbers exponentially and turn a powerful takeover into a nigh-unstoppable one.

The Witch will be calling a general meeting at the Command Center where she will explain the situation and the proposed missions to stop it.

Mission A: Into the Lab

Mission Appropriateness: Chipped or Stripped
Mission Focus: Stealth and recon.

This mission will focus on stealth and recon, with operatives conducting surveillance on the lab to work out the rounds of the guards and other staff so they can infiltrate and take the information on the Sylphid serum in order to reverse engineer it and hopefully make a serum to make everyone immune to Sylphid takeover. The Witch passionately states in her opening speech that this would be an immense blow against the Sylphid and is a very important mission.

PHASE I

Nestled in the jungle a few blocks outside city limits is a low cement building with a high barbed-wire-topped chain-link fence around it. The lab is built like a fortress with thick walls, very few windows, and a thick roof made of cement and tile, almost bomb-proof. All in all, the Sylphid aren't exactly subtle, the place might as well scream 'secret lab to create top-secret serums.' There's also a regular round of security guards accompanied by guard dogs that make their way around the perimeter, and security cameras at every entrance and exit.

There is plenty of cover around the building for operatives to watch the rounds of the guards, the way the cameras swivel, and get a feeling for what kind of people enter and exit the building. Surveillance can be conducted the old-fashioned way, by just watching the building from many different angles and sharing observations by camera. They can also be done in a variety of other ways, depending on individual powers and abilities - want to pretend to be making a delivery so you can scope out the front desk? take photos or videos of rounds or entrances and exits to study? draw a rough map of the grounds to show everybody? Go for it!

There are a variety of ways to get into the building, but surveillance will boil down to four main routes of entry:

The first is a direct frontal entry, where characters may bluff their way inside the building in a variety of ways including pretending to make a delivery, taking down a single guard and stealing their uniform, or otherwise working out a ruse to get inside.
The second is a through a single bulletproof glass skylight in the roof of the building, directly above the mess hall, which should be empty just after lunch time. There is a strong lock on the skylight, but it can be picked and there are no traps.
The third is through the back entrance, near where the guards' staff room is, in a secondary building. This route will require taking out several guards as silently as possible and entering disguised as guards.
The fourth is through a ventilation system that can be accessed by a panel high up on the wall at the one side of the building that is facing the jungle. This one will require some acrobatic skill and flexibility and might be best for a small character.

PHASE II

There are four major routes of entry into the lab, and characters who try any route of entry should keep in contact with people outside via radio or network to relay information found out during the infiltration phase. The rebels are trying to get as much information about the internal layout of the lab as possible in case the Sylphid opt to reuse it for another purpose in the future. They would ideally like to be able to map the entire internal structure of the facility. In all cases, photos, videos, and sketches of the inside of the lab would be welcome to the rebels.

Frontal Entry: Characters who opt to enter through the front via some kind of ruse and who gain entry will find themselves faced with a maze of corridors and rooms. This may be difficult because anyone who is allowed entry into the building generally knows their way around. Success of this particular route of entry will depend on confidence and being able to keep the ruse alive as the characters run into various different people - scientists, guards, deliverypersons, janitorial staff, and other staff. Keep the ruse up for as long as possible and make sure you get as many details of the inside of the building as possible to relay to your colleagues outside as possible.

Skylight Entry: Characters who opt to enter through the skylight will find themselves faced with a heavy lock as their first obstacle. The lock is able to be picked or hacked, depending on the characters' skillset. Once the skylight is open they will have to lower themselves into the room underneath, a mess hall for the staff in the lab, and subdue the cafeteria workers. From this point, they will need to keep themselves hidden from passers-by in the hallways, and rely on stealth and silence as much as possible while mapping out the inside of the lab, and keep in radio or network contact with those on the outside.

Back Entry: This is the method of entry that requires the most fighting. Characters will enter the back area of the building where there is a smaller outbuilding that is used by the guards for a sort of staff room while they are taking breaks, and subdue several guards to take their uniforms. After the uniforms and keycards for the building are secured, they can enter through the back door and maintain the ruse of being guards that are patrolling the building. This is where knowledge of the guard rounds comes in handy, and all that surveillance will certainly help. These characters will have to be careful to avoid the real guards as they will be able to clock that they aren't their coworkers and the "I'm new" story will only work so many times! Characters in guard uniforms will have an easier time communicating out loud on radios and the network as they're expected to be communicating by radio, and will also be able to give spare walkie-talkies to those on the outside.

Ventilation Entry: This is the most physically challenging method of entry, but a very valuable one. After accessing the ventilation system, characters will be able to crawl through the duct work in a virtually undetectable way and take photos, videos, or sketches of the rooms they can view through vents. The duct work goes everywhere throughout the building and mostly poses obstacles in the form of the mazelike system of them, occasional fans and other blockages in the ductwork, and dust and debris in the ducts including possibly rats and spiders. Some of the spiders are poisonous, as jungle spiders tend to be, and anyone bitten by the spiders will experience pain and hallucinations that may hinder them. As with all other entry methods, the people in the ventilation system should be communicating with those on the outside by radio or network.

PHASE III

Phase III is more straightforward than the other phases of this mission - once the infiltrators have mapped out the inside of the lab, they should locate the central computer banks and anyone with the technical expertise should make a copy of the databanks. This will require some hacking and all characters doing infiltration will be provided with a device that will allow them to hack through any passcodes required by the computer to access the information inside. Copying the database will take at least a half hour, so characters may have to create diversions, talk themselves out of hot water when people come to stop by the computer room, and otherwise distract the true staff of the building from entering the room and catching them in the act.

Once the computer banks have been copied, characters should use another device they will be given before infiltration to plant a virus in the computer banks that will corrupt everything in them. The virus will take about 10 minutes to get to the point of critical mass, a guaranteed disruption of the whole system. This phase of the mission will take at least 40 minutes total, during which characters are going to have to keep any of the real staff of the lab out of the computer room through whatever means possible, making it the point in the mission most likely to go off the rails.

After the computer system has been disrupted by the virus, characters will have to escape the building without being caught by the Sylphid staff, and may leave through any exit available so they can melt into the forest and make a clean escape.

ADDITIONAL MISSION

Characters infiltrating the lab will discover several rooms where sentient test subjects are located. Some of them will be in very ill health due to side effects of the treatments they've been enduring, and all will be very willing and eager to be rescued. While some characters stay with the computer banks to copy and sabotage them, other characters may go find these rooms full of test subjects, about 45 in total, and smuggle them out of the building. Once the rebel force has been alerted to the presence of test subjects, they will send a truck to wait near the back entrance, and operatives will simply have to cut the chain link fence to make space for the subjects to get into the truck to be transported back to the Witches Camp. This mission will likely involve having to subdue several guards as the back entrance is near the guards' room.

Mission B: Disrupt The Supply Chain

Mission Appropriateness: Chipped or Stripped
Mission Focus: Recon and open battle.

This mission will focus on open battle and guerilla tactics, with operatives locating and disrupting the supply chain to the lab. It will focus on identifying shipments of equipment, food, and other supplies to the lab and interrupting them, destroying the vehicles, subduing the enemy, and taking whatever supplies they can back to the Witches Camp.

PHASE I

The highway leading past the lab is a seldom-used four-lane highway that snakes its way through the jungle in a mostly uninhabited area. While there are a few scattered farms and other occupied areas, most of the highway is bordered on by wild jungle, which provides a lot of cover for surveillance of the delivery vehicles that approach the lab to drop off supplies. Most of the trucks will contain food, equipment, and other sundries for the function of the lab. The trucks can be wheeled or hover, and will have various brand names emblazoned on them. Characters tasked with surveillance in these areas will settle at safe and well-hidden spots in the jungle to watch the roads and keep detailed notes on which trucks with which brand names enter the lab to deliver supplies. They will also need to keep in close contact with home base to relay this information, with notes on the times the deliveries happen and what sort of supplies may be being delivered, based on the logos on the trucks.

Characters will discover that there are actually several routes delivery trucks are taking to get to the lab, contrary to previous intel-gathering, which pointed to the quickest and most obvious route being the one the trucks used. Some trucks are taking side streets through a nearby occupied area, at the center of which is a rather skeezy truck stop where drivers stop for food before completing their deliveries. Characters will need to spread out to cover these additional routes in order to make sure they don't miss any delivery trucks.

Additionally, the truck stop may become a good source of intel, with staff being amenable through convincing, coercion, or bribing to give information on the drivers that stop in on a regular basis, what they haul, and what their timetables are like. Players are more than welcome to NPC some of the staff at the truck stop for mild interrogation, including waitresses, cashiers, station attendants, and janitorial staff.

PHASE II

As Mission A moves into its final phase, and much more likely to be discovered, phase II of Mission B will go into full effect. Operatives will have discovered four routes that trucks are taking into the lab, and will need to cover all of them for both surveillance and to blockade them or sabotage them and stop the trucks.

Route 1: The main and quickest route that trucks are taking to the lab, which is directly down the highway and off of it into the lab driveway. This will be the toughest one to blockade due to the size of the highway - four lanes, though seldom used, is quite a distance to cover.

Route 2: A winding side road that goes over a small creek and then beside it, only two lanes across and through a mostly uninhabited area. Because it's uninhabited and a smaller road with less traffic, it will be easier to blockade and is also the second most used route by the trucks.

Route 3: A relatively direct route from the truck stop through some back streets that straightforwardly traverse farmland. There is more traffic on this road that is civilian because of its proximity to farmland, and will require a bit more effort due to this civilian traffic.

Route 4: Another straightforward route, though this time through a civilian-occupied area, and close to a school for the small community surrounding the truck stop. This will be the most difficult to blockade without doing too much collateral damage to the civilian area around it and the school.

Characters will have been given bombs that they may use to destroy the roads themselves as well as access to heavy machinery they can use to move cement blocks into the roadways to block traffic from getting through. Once the roads are blocked or destroyed, characters will have to subdue the Sylphid staff on the trucks through force, which might be a significant fight, as all Sylphid, even down to truck drivers, are well-trained in combat. These drivers are also well-armed, considering the mission they're on to supply the lab, which is one of the top priorities for the Sylphid as of now.

PHASE III

Phase III is relatively straightforward compared to the rest of the missions - unload the trucks and carry the supplies back to the Witches Camp via truck or hover-ATV, then destroy the trucks. This will mostly be through demolitions or by setting the trucks on fire, leaving them as a signal to the Sylphid that they can't go about their research without being challenged.

Characters may disable the trucks in whatever fashion they wish, so long as it leaves a good, lasting message to the Sylphid. The Sylphid drivers that aren't killed should be captured and bound and loaded into a truck to be taken back to the Witches Camp to be interrogated or used as bargaining chips for the more diplomatic side of the rebellion.

Damage to civilian property or injury of civilians, especially children who may be playing at the playground by the school would be seriously looked down on and a huge blow to the rebellion's reputation, so characters are encouraged to keep destruction to a minimum on Route 4 in particular. In fact, the rebellion would prefer if operatives could load the trucks onto heavy machinery and take them to the Witches Camp for demolition instead of leaving them on Route 4.

Additionally, operatives along the routes will find that some of the trucks contain caged and restrained test subjects. Once these are discovered, they should be taken by truck back to the Witches Camp. Unfortunately, these test subjects can't be returned to their families in Zephyr because their chips would immediately mark them for death - the Sylphid would, without thinking twice, kill people that were marked as test subjects who escaped, especially after being rescued by the rebellion, in case they were corrupted by the rebellion. These test subjects will have to be comforted and brought back to the Camp to either join the rebellion or be civilians in the Camp.



noisecomplaint: (17)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-22 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Very well." A quiet sigh, stepping daintily into Tech's interlaced hands with one sandaled foot and then the other. Rokuro likely weighs half as much as Tech does, so it really shouldn't be any trouble for the surprisingly muscular nerd clone to lift him.

Grasping the edge of the Canopy, Rokuro hauls himself up and over the open edge of the caravan, and drops near-silently inside. There are boxes. A lot of them. With many foreign symbols marking the outsides.

Holding out the tablet in front of him, he touches the button on the screen to take his first photo, and is confronted with a startling close image of his own face looking back at him in the dark.

All Tech will hear is a small, startled noise and a light thump as the tablet hits the floor of the truck. There's a quiet scuffle, and Rokuro is then peering at Tech through the slight crack in the truck doors with his singular red eye.

"It became a mirror and tried to capture my soul. A sorcerer must be near. Only a select few know this level of dark magic."
tech_nically: (not amused)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-22 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Thankfully Tech is mindful enough not to outright launch Rokuro into the truck bed. All he can do once the man disappears inside is to wait.

The sudden noise that comes from within immediately puts him on the alert. He looks around to make sure it hasn't drawn anyone's attention before catching Rokuro's eye.

"What?" he finds himself asking, this combination of words completely throwing him for a loop.
noisecomplaint: (11)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-23 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
"It became a mirror! Why?! How am I supposed to record what I see if it only wants to reflect my own image--" He carefully lifts the tablet to the crack, keeping the screen purposefully low. So it doesn't also try to capture Tech's face. From the sliver of picture Tech can see, Rokuro seems to have activated the front facing camera.

"To look in a mirror at night is entirely foolish. You have no way of knowing what evil may be looking back at you." Peevishly, because Tech doesn't seem to be grasping the seriousness of this incredibly stupid situation.
Edited 2022-08-23 03:02 (UTC)
tech_nically: (i'll take tactical droids for 1000)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-23 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
"....." No, no he does not. He's more concerned that this could jeopardize the mission, and as he listens to Rokuro's explanation, he barely manages to refrain from palming his face. The man is taking this matter very seriously, after all. It's not quite on the same level of naivete as Wrecker.

"Take your hand and sweep a finger across the surface of the screen," he says. "By doing so you'll banish your...reflection. I'll explain in detail later, but if we're going to do this, you need to do this now or we abort the mission."
noisecomplaint: (13)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-23 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Very well. If I end up a soulless husk, it is you I shall come back to haunt." Rokuro is exceedingly polite, dainty, and submissive. Except when he isn't. At least Tech is learning about this now. It has taken others years to see past the etiquette and courtly protocol to the actual man beneath it.

Rokuro holds the tablet at arm's length. He'll touch the screen, but only with it facing away from him. After a moment he will slowly turn the tablet back around, flinching in advance of the image that may greet him-- and is instantly relieved when it's the room and not his own face he sees.

"The 'camera' appears to be working. I will take the photos now." Finally, he'll start taking pictures of everything that looks remotely interesting, and his thumb will only be in half the photos.

They really do make a great team.
Edited 2022-08-23 05:01 (UTC)
tech_nically: (just a tad concerned)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-23 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Something we would have all been if we had not been rescued from the Sylphid's facilities," Tech says dryly, and at least Rokuro can't see him rolling his eyes as he waits and keeps a look out for trouble. Definitely going to have to make a lot of adjustments to his computing equipment in order to avoid these sorts of problems.

He glances over his shoulder as he hears Rokuro's update, giving a silent sigh in relief. "Excellent. Things are still clear here, but we may have to cut our inspections short. I do not think they will entertain this delay for much longer." They can maybe move onto another truck with a different symbol than this one, but he wouldn't think to push their luck for the entire line.

"Are you done?"
noisecomplaint: (28)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-23 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
"I believe so." Rokuro holds the tablet close to his body and climbs up on the tallest boxes near the hole in the canvas, popping his head out to look at Tech. He heard that eye-roll. When Tech moves into position Rokuro will gently toss the tablet down to him. He's about to jump down himself when he realizes the fortunate position he's in.

"I will find our next target. I can see everyone, but they cannot see me." Rokuro does have the high ground after all. Badum tch. Laying on his belly, he crawls onto the top of the roof, careful not to place all his weight on the canvas stretched between metal struts. The last thing they need is for him to fall through and make a racket.

Rather than looking with his left eye, he pushes away the bandages over his right eye to see with his chalcedony eye. That way he can see the blood of each human standing out brightly against the dark, like the most primitive form of infra-red vision.

He's just about marked the positions of every driver and truck in his mind when one of the Sylphid security guards begins walking towards them, likely to ensure the back of the convoy is still secure. Rokuro moves as quickly as he can to the back of the truck, gently rapping his knuckles against metal siding to get his attention, then gesturing in the direction of the guard heading his way.

Rokuro could stop his heart again, but he isn't certain that's the best course of action-- which is why he's looking to Tech for his silent affirmation, or a hint of what he might do.
tech_nically: (silently suspicious)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-23 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
Turning back towards the truck, Tech looks up as Rokuro's head emerges. He catches the tablet, not bothering to check what's on it as he tucks it away. There will be time for that later, provided they don't get caught, and he'd like to trust that the ninja has managed to do the job once that sorcery matter had been dealt with. He steps back in preparation to make room for the other, only to pause in slight alarm as Rokuro decides he has a better idea.

"Wait-" Tech starts, but he's left watching as Rokuro vanishes atop the truck. It seems like some time and yet not much at all before he's raising his head again at the sound before glancing to the side as he starts to pick up the approaching footsteps. A sharp look is cast back at Rokuro as he realizes what the man might be thinking to do, but he shakes his head when he sees the other appearing to wait for his call. Another guard down by a heart attack would be one too many and certainly draw some suspicion.

The clone signals for Rokuro to hide as he starts to creep around the other side of the truck to do likewise. Unlike Rokuro, Tech doesn't have a good vantage point nor a mystical eye to mark the positions of the other guards, much less his usual equipment to denote those locations through infrared. He tucks himself back under the truck again, deciding it best to keep out of anyone's immediate line of sight if any drivers might still be waiting in their vehicle. Perhaps he'll be able to make his way to the next truck from below, but first he waits to see where the guard goes.
noisecomplaint: (26)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-23 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Tech won't have to wait long to know where the guard is. There's a jingle of keys and thump of booted feet as he comes around the back of the truck, stopping mere feet away from where Tech is laying. He stands there for a minute, whistling once, stepping once forward to continue on his way-- and then stops mid foot-fall. He's seen something.

The guards hunkers down, pulling a flashlight to investigate the ground behind the truck. More specifically, their footprints. Which are two very different sizes. Tech can almost see his face as he traces the outlines with a gloved fingertip.

Rokuro doesn't dare watch over the edge of the truck, for fear the guard will look up, but he is on high alert. If the guard tries to run or alert his comrades in any way, or injure tech while he's prone, Rokuro will do whatever it takes to stop.
tech_nically: (not amused)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-23 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
...that's not good. Tech's attention is all at once homed in on the immediate threat as he mentally runs through scenarios and counteractions. None are optimal for outcomes, so he'll have to decide upon which has the least severe consequences.

He doesn't quite have a clear shot at the guard, but he imagines that will all change shortly, and there'd only be a split-second window to react. Purposely he shifts, the noise likely audible to the already on-alert guard, but Tech waits, drawing back a foot in preparation for the moment the man looks under the carriage.

Being booted in the face by a commando is no light matter.
noisecomplaint: (7)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-24 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
Rokuro watches from above, and in some ways through the truck, monitoring both Tech and the guard for the first sign of panic or movement. Every muscle coiled and ready to spring for the first sign of trouble.

For a too-long moment there is simply silence, and Rokuro wonders if the guard is about to alert his comrades to the presence of an enemy, but then he sees the guard move, sees Tech move, and the impromptu trap is set into motion.

The guard crouches down beside the truck, and before he can swivel his flash-light into the darkness receives Tech's rubber sole hard up the side of his head. Rokuro takes the opportunity to jump down at that moment, landing on the guard's back to keep him grounded-- and his bleeding face pressed firmly into the dirt so he can't scream.

He's not unconscious, not yet, but he's dazed and winded. Rokuro looks to Tech for their next move, both knees pressed against the guard's neck. If he keeps his weight there long enough the result will be unconsciousness, and then death.

What he's waiting for is Tech's go ahead to do one or the other.
tech_nically: (just a tad concerned)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-24 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
Tech isn't under the truck for too much longer, crawling back out from beneath it even as Rokuro had made his landing on the guard, saving him the need to follow up on subduing the Sylphid. He looks at the ninja and then back towards the truck, listening. This situation has quickly been becoming less and less ideal.

He meets Rokuro's look briefly, looking down at the unfortunate guard, not wanting to risk moving him if he was still conscious. Leaving him would certainly raise alarm. Making him disappear would...still be suspicious, but so long as they left no trace, there'd be no proof of something amiss. After some brief deliberation, Tech nods at Rokuro, crouching to pick up the discarded flashlight. "We've worn out our welcome. Once he's out, we'll take him and go," he whispers, chin jutting towards the jungle's edge. "We must cover our tracks." And any blood, but that goes without saying.
noisecomplaint: (22)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-25 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
Rokuro maintains pressure until the guard's eyes slide shut. Thankfully, as he can see the movement of blood, beat of his heart, and other vital details, he knows exactly when to stop in order to prevent major permanent damage or kill the man... probably.

For all his insight into the bodies of others, Rokuro's knowledge of the human body isn't exactly on-par with modern medical standards. He would suggest leeches and attempting to balance your yin and yang before most other cures.

"We came all this way, and the guards are gathered at the other end of the perimeter. He won't be waking up for the foreseeable future. Roll him beneath the truck and we can pick him up on our way out." He looks up at Tech, right eye glowing softly in the dark. Not unlike the moon above.

A deep breath, steeling himself. Trying to look confident in such a way that Tech will also be confident in him. They haven't known each other long, and Rokuro has made so many mistakes, but he wants to prove he can be counted on-- needs to.

"I will do better this time. I swear to you."
tech_nically: (silently suspicious)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-25 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
It's strange being obviously seen as the lead on this mission. Usually Tech would be looking to Hunter for confirmation of an action or general orders, much like Rokuro has been looking to him. Tech hadn't been expecting to call shots but work as equals, although he can understand the deference when it comes to the vast differences of technological experience between the two of them.

So he gives Rokuro's decision serious consideration, and he trusts the man to know where the others are. It's going to be a risk, but they've gone through some trouble to go this far. What throws him off is Rokuro's words that follow. He's not quite sure what to say to that. Nothing the man's done has caused any of these complications, but they'd waste time to debate on that. He shakes his head. "I do not doubt that. We will talk more later. Let's do what we can here," he says, reaching out to move the guard.
noisecomplaint: (r)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-25 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
Rokuro holds others to a what some may consider impossibly high standards and rarely suffers fools, but however harsh his criticism and exacting his demands, he is twice as harsh and exacting when it comes to himself. If he doesn't make up for his perceived failures now, he will only suffer more for them later.

While Tech stows the guard away, Rokuro looks around the edge of the truck to confirm his prediction. Most of the Sylphid are still milling about near their fallen comrade, attempting to respectfully move the body and reassign a driver to the stopped truck. There were two guards walking down the sides of the convoy performing routine checks, but with one down? They should have time before his partner completes their circuit, and even longer before they notice anyone is gone.

Once Tech is ready, he'll gesture to the next closest truck. This one doesn't have a convenient hole in the canvas, but if Rokuro simply slashes the roof he should be able to slip inside and back out again without anyone being the wiser until maintenance.

Meaningful eye-contact established, he will dart to the target truck, staying low to the ground, and peer around the other edge to make sure they're clear before gesturing Tech over. Whatever they did before, they'll do again. Faster, smoother, quieter. Right.
tech_nically: (just a tad concerned)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-25 06:06 am (UTC)(link)
Tech does his best to cover the bit of blood in the dirt once he's taken care of the body, taking care to brush a hand across their footprints that have gathered behind the truck as well.

He looks to Rokuro, waiting for a signal then. It's clear he trusts the man to scout ahead, and once given an all-clear, Tech makes his move to quietly join him.

In and out. This truck's trickier, but Rokuro looks confident about it. Tech gives him a nod, removing the tablet before holding a hand up for him to wait a moment so he can get a quick shot of the side markings on the truck. He hands over the tablet after, motioning with his head towards the roof of the truck before setting up to give Rokuro a boost once again.
noisecomplaint: (13)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-25 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
"Higher, please. Do not hold back." Because Rokuro needs to get all the way on top of the roof, and without a readily available handhold this time. A deep breath, squeezing the tablet more securely beneath his arm.

Instead of stepping up with his second foot, he pushes off the ground, springing up from Tech's palms instead of simply standing upon them. Confident the man can bear his weight, even in motion, and lift him with little effort.

The path to perfection is through repetition. It's important they know their enemies, and even more important to know each others abilities, bodies, and limitations. If they have the time or inclination to hit a third truck, Rokuro trusts they will do it even better than the last.
tech_nically: (riiiight)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-25 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
That's a simple request, and even with Rokuro's added maneuver, Tech still provides a solid leverage to allow him to vault up towards the top of the truck. His part is done, but he won't be idle. Once Rokuro is confirmed in position, the clone will peer around the sides of the truck to keep an eye out for changes in the guard positions.

So far, so good. He has to keep reminding himself that these people are no longer whomever they were, but hosts to some alien race. It's never not going to be a disturbing thing to think about, more so to think that it could easily have been them. No, he holds little remorse for the deaths they've caused this evening.

Tech checks the truck's roof every now and then to see if Rokuro needs anything, listening to the muffled chatter further down the line of trucks. He can't make out words but he can hear the confusion and resignation in their tones. Depending on how this truck goes, they might be able to try for one more if Rokuro sticks to the top route, but beyond that, Tech doesn't think they should chance it.
noisecomplaint: (19)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-26 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
Rokuro lands quietly on the roof, steadying himself with his hand. Pulling a small knife from the front of his cropped shirt, he slices a straight line through the canvas between two metal struts and slips inside.

This truck is even more full than the last, loaded nearly to the ceiling with large boxes covered in a wide variety of text, emblems, and slogans. He raps lightly on the metal siding so Tech knows he made it in alright and starts taking photos. As many and as fast as he can. No front-facing camera jump-scare this time. Rokuro is all business.

At least until he recognizes the contents of a certain box, and is so overjoyed at the fact something is the same that he can't quite help himself. Climbing up the boxes and popping back out, he takes a quick look in both directions to make certain the coast is clear before tossing Tech something.

"Catch." It's a can of iced tea. The can is different, as is the (sacrilegious) concept of icing tea, but tea is tea. And Rokuro Unno loves tea. "This truck is full of food and medicine. I imagine the rebels would find it quite useful."
Edited 2022-08-26 04:11 (UTC)
tech_nically: (just a tad concerned)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-26 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
So far so good. No sudden noise or muffled panic, it's enough to allow the clone a quiet sigh in relief. Tech remains on guard as he leaves Rokuro to it.

He glances up as he hears movement from within the truck, blinking as Rokuro emerges and then tosses something down. Looting hadn't been part of the plan, but he can't imagine the man picking up something completely random without good reason to-

Tea. It's a can of tea. Tech stares at it a moment before shrugging. He will not question the man for what is probably some comfort of familiarity. And really, having never had much of an opportunity to drink tea, he can't question taste either. Tech tucks the can of iced tea carefully into his bag, nodding at Rokuro's report.

"I'm sure they will. Good work."
noisecomplaint: (19)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-27 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
"I am a man of my word." A coy smile, very much pleased with himself, and he jumps down from the truck and back onto the ground. Tablet in one hand, can of iced-tea in the other. Looking very much like a modern young man. Perhaps centuries-old dogs are able to learn new tricks after all.

"I took many photos. I even harnessed the power of light as you showed me." He means the flash. Close enough. Rokuro returns the tablet to Tech, along with his own can of tea. There are better places to share a drink.

He looks to the truck behind them, all too aware of the guard laying beneath it. Still unconscious, but not forever-- or even much longer.

"It is likely he will wake within the hour. Is he more valuable to us alive or dead?"
tech_nically: (it's just popcorn)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-27 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
Tech steps back with a look just past the side of the truck as Rokuro makes his way down. He can't help for a faintly amused look at the other once he's on the ground again, looking as casual as anything.

"Excellent. We'll go through them once we're away from here." He tucks the tablet away, and then the other tea. Pausing for a drink here is simply out of the question.

As Rokuro looks back, Tech follows his gaze, not that he can see the body where it lies. "Better off he disappears, I think. I doubt he'll tell us anything, and bringing a Sylphid back will be a risk."
noisecomplaint: (13)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-28 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Agreed." A long moment of silence as Rokuro observes the unconscious guard and his slowly beating heart. It would be simple to reach out and stop it, but...

"I... have never killed someone while they slept before. The ninja usually perform such unsavoury tasks." He would have killed the guard without a second thought when originally kneeling upon his neck, but to return and finish the job while the guard lays helpless feels different somehow. More cruel than killing him in one fell swoop.

A deep breath, swallowing down his discomfort and attempting to steeling himself for the task at hand.

"There is a first time for everything."
tech_nically: (playing it cool)

[personal profile] tech_nically 2022-08-28 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
It's a strange sort of moral principle to struggle with, but Tech can understand. "Let's hope it doesn't have to be repeated," he says, even as he hesitantly brings a hand to rest on Rokuro's shoulder in case the other needs to be steadied. Tech's not sure to what extent this ability of his affects him, after all.

"Given that they have meant from the start to ultimately kill us, I do not think they leave us with many choices when concerning them directly."
noisecomplaint: (5)

[personal profile] noisecomplaint 2022-08-28 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes. You are right." A deep breath, reaching out with one hand as the chalcedony stone in his right eye-socket flares a bright azure blue. It hurts. Like a knife is being driven through said eye-socket and directly into his brain, blood burning hot and acidic in his veins, but perhaps that is penance for taking the life of another in a dishonourable way.

Could Rokuro kill the man with a knife to the throat? Yes, except then he would have actual blood on his hands, and that would be harder to wash away than the memory of what he is about to do. He looks inside of the guard, into his heart which looks like any other heart, and with a soft breath... he stops it. Quickly and quietly. The guard doesn't awaken, struggle, or suffer. He will simply pass on.

"It is done." He wipes a trickle of blood away from his nose, looking anywhere but at the guard, or Tech, until he is able to fix the kabuki mask of calm back onto his face.

"Shall we?"

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