034 [video; Locked to the PGC]

[soggypastry]

[Evening, people of the Corps. Have a Lightning on your screens tonight, with the howling roar of the blizzard right behind her. She doesn't look too good, hair pinned away from a too-flushed face, but her voice is even and strong.]

As soon as this blizzard's blown over and the holidays have passed, I need everybody in Goldenrod as soon as possible. You've heard by now that the Radio Tower is still being held by Team Rocket, and we're planning to take it back. [a pause as she swallows hard and inhales, then:] But in order for this to work, we need everybody here so we can plan squads to cover our weaknesses instead of leaving holes in our defense. We're only going to get one shot at this before they start preparing for an attack instead of leaving the doors open, so we have to make this count.

[Her eyes narrow slightly now, before she sighs.]

I'm not saying this is going to be easy. Chances are people are going to get hurt, both on our side and theirs, but you were all warned about that when you signed up for the Corps. If you think you won't be able to do this, for whatever reason, say something now and we'll move on without you. We don't have room for sympathy this time.

[End feed. Blunt and to the point, as always.]


[ooc: as always, a list of the Corps Members can be found here. If your character is a member, assume that they received a message directing them here, just in case it was ICly missed.]

Comments

[chosen_light_child]

Alright. I'll make sure to stay in Goldenrod.

... Not that I'd really be able to go anywhere right now anyway.

But when you say when the holidays have passed, do you just mean Christmas, or do you mean New Years as well?

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[soggypastry]

[A glance away because of a noise outside--fal'Cie it's really getting loud out there--before she nods.]

Considering how close together they are, I do mean both. [a look back at Hikari.] Think you could stay in town that long even if the weather clears sooner?

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[chosen_light_child]

[Hikari nods.]

Yeah. I shouldn't have a problem with that. Even if I did want to leave town, I wouldn't be going far enough that I couldn't fly back in time for us all to meet up.

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[islandshore]

[Sigh. When Riku turns on the feed, he's slumped over on the edge of his bed, one hand propping up his head.]

I'll hit Goldenrod as soon as the holidays blow over, but right now I've gotta stick to Celadon. Sora wound up eating some poisoned cookies, so we couldn't travel even if we wanted to.

[Poisoned. Cookies. Who would even do that?]

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[soggypastry]

[...Poisoned...cookies...Etro. She knows where those came from but if they were in more than one city--]

Don't worry about getting here for now--do you know where Sora got those cookies from?

video/locked;

[islandshore]

[Riku's eyes narrow, and he grips at the sheet.]

Some creep sent Sasuke a package full of them. Something about a "secret admirer".

Must have something to do with that weird, anonymous message that popped up a few days ago. Seems like others got hit with the poison, too.

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[soggypastry]

[Lightning grits her teeth, pinching the bridge of her nose. Dammit. Damn it all she knows exactly where those came from.]

I know. I did, too. [sigh.] Those cookies were being sold all over the place in Goldenrod. A lot of people probably bought them.

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[islandshore]

That explains some of the broadcasts I saw...

[He groans, rubbing at his brow.]

But I'm sorry to hear you got hit with them. I don't think anyone would expect something that innocent to get spiked with poison. And from what I could tell, they looked and smelled like ordinary cookies.

[Not that his words can do much about the situation. The poison won't just magically reverse itself. Darn it!]

Did anything stick out to you about the ones selling the cookies?

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[combat_butler]

*In an apron and hankerchief on his head as he replies, since baking tonight is a thing.*

... eh? Is this some kind of militia drafting notice?

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[soggypastry]

They did. There was nothing out of the ordinary about them at all. [not until they decided to reappear, anyway. Hence why she's shaking her head. Etro and fal'Cie, what a mess...]

The only thing that stuck out was that I never saw a person selling them. They were all Pokemon. I dealt with a Magmar, but I saw a Squirtle and others selling them, too.

[not to mention the "free samples". More like free stomach pumpings. Great.]

[video - locked]

[soggypastry]

[a headtilt, and she frowns. This guy, huh?]

You tell me. You're the one who signed up with us in the first place, Hayate. Did you think we wouldn't be needing you at some point?

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[islandshore]

Hmm. Then whoever's behind it obviously doesn't want to get caught.

[Tricky, using Pokémon like that.]

Guess that's just another thing to keep an eye out for. Still, I doubt there's much we can do other than spread the word. Not without any other leads.

Besides, we've still gotta prep for the tower siege.

[video - locked]

[combat_butler]

I didn't really... sign up though... It was more Rika invited me, and I stayed on since this kind of thing was too dangerous for her to do alone... *sigh.*

I don't really know if it's a good idea for me to be taking part in some big attack on any kind of Rocket thing considering my track record though...

[video - locked]

[soggypastry]

[And here she is wishing she'd known this sooner.]

Rika left some time ago. Why didn't you say something about wanting out before now? [Because that's where she's assuming he's going with this...]

[video - locked]

[combat_butler]

Ah, well... She came back a short some time ago... So I'm not really... saying I want out or anything...

I just think I'm kind of a liability if you want to be using the element of surprise at all? I, um... Kind of snuck into their old base and helped free a bunch of rocket abandoners... And was the only person who tried to interfere on their whole Suicine capturing operation...

I'd probably be a dead giveaway if I lurked around there at all, you know?

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[ex_cashcow493]

[ ... ]

Should I be preparing my weapon for this or do you anticipate it will be less trouble than that?

pgc filter;

[soggypastry]

Prepare it anyway. It'll be better if we have it even if we don't need it.

[Better to have and not need than need and not have. She knows how that goes.]

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[tapestodiane]

Do you have a strategy in mind?

_{[He says nothing of their earlier conversation for now, but his tone is slightly clipped and shows that it did happen. That said, he wants the facts here. He'll be there, and far from only to to prove her wrong, but any preliminary plans? He'd like to hear them.]}

pgc filter;

[ex_cashcow493]

Understood.

[ Time to prepare a good Pokemon Team as well now that it's on her mind. ]

I will remain in Goldenrod City for the next few weeks to assist you in this. Should I make any other preparations?

[video, PGC filter]

[soggypastry]

[The corner of her mouth twitches a bit, but she manages to keep her tone even.]

Just a basic one. Smoke the tower out using the ventilation system, then mop up whoever stayed inside with Thunder Wave or a sleep-inducing move to get everyone out. We'll have to hold it until they lose interest after that.

[It's not a perfect plan, and she has her doubts they'll get that high up, but they have to try. Does he have any commentary this time?]

pgc filter;

[soggypastry]

[Nod. She can appreciate Saber's business approach right now.]

If you get a chance, see if you can find a place big enough to hold twenty-some people for the planning meeting. We can't put everyone into the same hotel room; it would draw too much attention.

[Not to mention be insanely cramped. The rooms aren't that big.]

[video - locked]

[soggypastry]

[siiiigh. She really needs to give a class on military strategy, doesn't she?]

You could stay in the back of the group, if you're so worried about that. [snort.] Besides, I don't think barging in the front door is going be using the element of surprise. Do you?

video/locked;

[soggypastry]

Not yet, anyway. [scoff.] They'll probably be on the network to gloat about it eventually. Nobody does something like this without wanting some attention.

[In her experience, at least. She could be wrong, though.]

Considering how many people I saw buying the cookies or just taking the free samples? I don't think we'd have to spread the word very far. [deep frown is deep. How many more people were affected? She can't even begin to guess.]

Prepping for the tower's going to take a while, Riku. We still need to find a place for everyone to safely meet at, and it's not like anyone can go looking in this storm.

[video; PGC-locked]

[soggypastry]

[She receives a nod in return. Huh. Maybe this girl can be useful to the Corps after all...] I'll hold you to that, then. You should expect a call after New Years has passed. [and a lecture if she doesn't pick up, too.]

pgc filter;

[ex_cashcow493]

Fortune must be smiling down upon us for I have that sort of place readily available at my fingertips.

[ Adding with a faint smile. ] Provided they will actually help care for the Pokemon that live here as well in the meantime. I could easily put up this house as a shelter from the cold in exchange for volunteer work.

If I recall, a couple of those who live here are already a part of this organization.