Operation: Express Car; [train plot log]

[these_balls]

Who: Everyone who wants to participate!
Where: Goldenrod City, the Magnet Train, Saffron City.
When: November 23rd, 11AM-5PM
Summary: Heist on the Magnet Train!
Rating: Might go up to PG-13, possibly R if exceptional violence of swearing occurs.
Log:

They've spent the last few days preparing. He wasn't sure at first, how this was going to turn out, but the Team is confident. They are confident and now he, Archer, is also confident. He has no reason to expect failure; he tells himself, even if they fail, this will cement them back in the public eye. A threat again. It makes his collar hot to think.

He reviews the plans again, Petrel's notes and schematics, engineering details. Phase 2 will be the most delicate, but he's confident in the abilities of the recruits. The aliens, the outsiders, are strange, but useful. They have skills no other Grunt would possess. Archer recognizes he has been given a tool, and only a fool would fail to use it.

At 9:30AM on November 23rd, Archer sends a message through the Rocket Network. It is short, and simple, and jubilant.

Operation: Express Car START

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It's a nice day out, considering. Cold, yes, but the kind of cold that buries itself deep in the lungs and blows the mind into crisp clarity. Cheeks are red, movements brisk to retain heat, and around Goldenrod's white-dusted Magnet Train station, the energy is thick enough to taste. People in their thick winter coats press together, some alone, some with families and friends, most with their trusted pokémon. The larger creatures are returned to their balls, tragically fated to miss the voyage, while smaller breeds are held in their trainers' arms or scurrying around their ankles.

The station attendants are supervising while customers pass through, touching the microchipped Rail Pass to the card readers and moving in slow, sluggish trails through the gates. There is no shoving; the atmosphere seems too cheery for it, excitement manifesting in the form of loud, vigorous conversation. The train itself is gloriously slick, smooth and polished as a new bullet or a freshly-minted coin, humming with power. We ask our passengers to please mind their electric-types, reminds the stationmaster over the PA, as we seek to avoid any trouble or inconvenience during the ride.

Once you've passed the gate, find a seat and stow away your luggage. Relax, unwind; it's a long six hours ahead.

[[ ooc: I kindly ask that players please DO NOT POST until all the subthreads have been made. Thank you!

GO FOR IT! Remeber to tag yourselves in!

NOTE: YOU CAN NPC ROCKETS IF YOU CAN'T NAB A PC ROCKET FOR PLOTTY FUNTIEMS. ]]

Comments

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

[Athrun stows his luggage and drops into his seat. He's looking forward to this; it's been a very long time since he's actually ridden in a vehicle. He looks around to see if there's anybody else he knows in his train car.]

[attherailways.livejournal.com]

[Yep, Izumi's on his first under cover mission, looking for people to talk with so he can find out if they're worth enough to be marked and hoping there aren't any familiar people around.

... well, there seems to be at least one he's talked to more than once. Better to avoid him and hope he doesn't see.

Too bad Takuto the Meowth is excite to see Athrun and runs over. Why did he choose him of all the Pokémon to accompany him.]

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

[Probably would have been a good idea, given the levels of Athrun's team and his level of personal experience. Oh, well!]

Oh, hey. We've met before, haven't we?

[He's addressing the Meowth for now.]

[attherailways.livejournal.com]

[The Meowth waves his tail happily and does cute sounds. Yep, he definitely knows you.

Then he points out to Izumi to answer Athruns question.]

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

Hm?

[Athrun follows the line straight to Izumi.]

Oh! Hello again. How've you been?

[attherailways.livejournal.com]

Hi... I've been fine. [...] Sorry about Takuto. It seems he's taking a liking to you for some reason.

Going to Saffron alone?

[sohotlikeme.livejournal.com]

Athruuuun, you are here too!!

[ Run fast while you can... ]

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

[DAMMIT. Why did he have to be stuck in that particular seat...]

...Y-yes.

[sohotlikeme.livejournal.com]

[ He's totally sitting even if it not his seat. ]

It's been so long since I saw you! How have you been?

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

[He's slowly sliding away.]

I've...managed.

[sohotlikeme.livejournal.com]

Is that all? Aw, don't be so boring.

[chemistryinmotion]

[Let's say Wally heard that obnoxious squeal from Lussuria. So now the cogs are a-turning and finally Wally remembers Midori mentioning someone named Athrun a while back, said something about him investigating Team Rocket. Hm. Since they're both here, he might as well take this chance to meet the guy; he could be a vital ally.]

Hey. You're Athrun, right?

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

Hm? Oh, yes, I am. Athrun Zala. And you are?

[chemistryinmotion]

Wally West. I'm Midori's— [Oh, uh, maybe it's not a good idea to just introduce himself as "Midori's boyfriend," since that might be a little... forward.] Uh, I'm a friend of Midori's. She mentioned you were looking into—[he almost says Team Rocket, but he knows they're here, among them, so he quickly rephrases, giving Athrun a "you know what" look]—something.

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

[Luckily, Athrun manages to get what Wally is talking about.]

Midori told you that? That must have been...

[He trails off for a moment. It had been months since Athrun had infiltrated Team Rocket's base.]

Er, anyway. It's been a while since it's been so quiet, but yeah, I was.

[chemistryinmotion]

[Wally nods.]

Then I figure I should tell you: it's about to get loud.

[swordofimpulse.livejournal.com]

[Giving a sigh, Shinn just clonked down on the seat in front of Athrun, looks like he's not bringing anything right now.]

Yo.

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

Huh. You're right in front of me, Shinn? That's some odds, huh?

[swordofimpulse.livejournal.com]

Got that right.

[So...]

Going to continue your journey in Kanto?

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

Not right away. Rise will have to return to Goldenrod City, so I'll be returning with her. But I wanted to see Saffron City for myself, not just hear about it.

[swordofimpulse.livejournal.com]

...Guess we'll be in the same train again, then.

[Shinn is seriously behind in this badge gathering business.]

[10yen_idol]

[It's been a pretty long time since Yayoi's gone traveling, so she's just- SO EXCITED, kicking her legs back and forth as she plasters her face against the window]

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

[Athrun would have asked if it was her first time on a train, but he knows that she's from Japan, so he knows the answer to that.]

You're pretty excited for this, huh?

[10yen_idol]

Eheheh~... it's been so LONG since I've been on a train! I didn't even know that Johto HAD trains, so--!

[shieldofjustice.livejournal.com]

I knew, but I'd never seen one. Any time I walked by the train station prior to the announcement, it was always closed.