route_1065 | Operation: Express Car; [train plot log]

Entry tags:

Operation: Express Car; [train plot log]

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. ]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

_{[It takes Cooper a second, but he does notice Yagyuu eventually. Everything indicates that he's not a Rocket, especially the way he moves (there's no sign of that bold, chaotic and, for the lack of a better word, destructive way the Rockets seem to like carrying themselves), so Coop acknowledges him with a look but not much else before looking over the train car again.]

[There's a lot of gas in there. That's not good.]

[He recalls his Chatot and calls out his Vulpix, frowning on the mess that the crowd is quickly turning into, and looks up to see Yagyuu again. He gives him something of a brief, grim smile in greeting. These aren't the best circumstances to meet, are they?]}

[The truth is, the Rockets' hanging offense (both in this operation and in general) in Yagyuu's opinion isn't so much that they're villainous, but that they're so theatrical about it. Subtlety is a virtue, and one that apparently none of them have caught on to.

Which doesn't solve the problem of their current predicament, though it may mean an advantage for the people who do know the advantage of finesse.]

It's going to be problematic if we can't get those windows cleared soon. [He keeps his voice low, eyes darting from side to side as he instinctively checks for cover.] Poison Pokemon. They're weak to Psychic types.

[No sense in mincing words at a time like this.]

_{[Cooper nods. This guy's calm and he appreciates the unexpected aid.]}

Then you've got an advantage. How many do you think your Espeon can take out?

_{[His words are rushed but articulate -- he doesn't have a psychic type himself. His Noctowl knows quite a few psychic type attacks but the space is way too cramped for him to fight in.]}

Those windows are my biggest concern. I'd like to get them open.

Here, at least. Some of the others are using Dark types, and she won't be much use against those.

[He surveys the windows again, estimating their numbers against Lady's temperament. She'll wear herself into the ground fighting them if she has to, but an unconscious Pokemon won't do them much good like this.]

Depending on their levels, she might be able to clear this car. Certainly enough to buy you the time to handle the windows, if you've got an idea for it.

Just opening them - to get some air in here, I don't want anyone to get poisoned ...

_{[Most trains have windows you can open without problems, and this one doesn't look any different. Some wind might go a long way to clear the poisonous gas clouds that are billowing out from the enemy pokémon.]

[The crowd is a problem, though. As are all the pokémon - and just as he was thinking it was a wonder they'd managed to talk undisturbed for so long, a Koffing appears too close to comfort, which is what has Cooper trail off.]}

One has to give them credit, it's an effective way of quelling any resistan--

[And his thought, as well, goes unfinished as the Koffing draws his attention, but Lady is both fiercely protective and exceptionally attuned to her trainer's nuances; a quick hand motion is all the command it takes for her to attack, slamming against it with a Tackle before unleashing one of her psychic attacks.]

_{[He watches Lady beat up that Koffing for only a second before once again looking to the windows. The Rocket flying types swarming them from the outside are worrying, of course - and that's when he realizes he's been thinking about the gas situation the wrong way all along.]

[He lets Aidan go sink his teeth into a stray Ekans on his own accord. A Spearow flies by him and it makes him duck for cover, moreso than would be normal, and his movements are a little jerky when he turns back to Yagyuu, a hand on his shoulder to call for his attention. He looks to have things under control still.]}

You wouldn't happen to have a small, durable flying type, would you?

[Small and durable, unfortunately, are not qualities that would describe a Pidgeot, which tends to be Yagyuu's go-to Flying type--but that Spearow whizzing by gives him an idea, and he raises his wrist, giving his incredibly nice watch a light tap.]

I'm afraid not, but I may have the next best thing.

[He remarks, as the watch turns purple and begins to slide obligingly into his hand. Dittos: never leave home without them.]

_{[...oh, that's wonderful. Cooper takes a moment to actually grin.]}

If you can get a good Wing attack out of that I think we'd have a much easier time fighting fair in here.

[It's not quite a grin that Yagyuu gives in return; there's a flash of teeth, all right, but it's sharper and missing the mirth that might ordinarily come with such an expression. This is a role he's used to--the one who can be counted on to get the job done, whatever the circumstances--and it's easy and familiar, slipping into a position of support to facilitate the overall plan.]

Something with wings, Arsène. [And as the Ditto begins to oblige, Yagyuu continues--] The two of them together should be able to buy some time. For the windows--you take one side, and I'll take the other?

_{[It's something you'll eventually notice about Cooper - his ability to be genuinely excited about little things, sometimes morbidly so, and often in situations where it's more or less inappropriate.]

[That grin is gone shortly, though, the moment he nods and releases his Eevee almost without looking at what he's doing. She'll be of some help here too. He'd love to have his Manectric involved but he took the warning about electrical pokémon seriously ... letting her loose presents a risk he'd rather not take.]}

Mind the flying types. They might try to get in.

_{[Stun as many of them as you can and send them falling is the unspoken idea here. Open windows would help with the gas problem (which will hopefully be relieved at least somewhat anyway, with the help of a good pair of wings), but might also let people escape if the situation takes a turn for the worst.]}

I have a Pidgeot with Fly, if it comes down to a battle in the air around the train. She's not much good in close quarters, but the wide open sky is something else entirely.

[But the mention of Fly is deliberate, and comes with a double connotation: there's a viable escape route available, if it comes down to the worst. Not that it's an option he's interested in pursuing, but it's always good to be prepared.

And the strategy implicit in Cooper's words is...interesting. And very much appealing to Yagyuu's sensibilities; he's not one to pull his punches when provoked, and the fact that Cooper seems open to the idea of sending their attackers falling...well, that's one more note of respect he's earned in Yagyuu's book.

Meanwhile, Arsène has taken it upon himself to shift into a deceptively high-powered Pidgey, and Lady is sparing a moment to examine the Eevee that has joined their forces. Under normal circumstances, that inspection might've resulted in a dismissive flick of her tail, but she knows a battle situation when she's called into one and that earns the Eevee a pass in her book.]

We'd best get to work. It won't take long for this car to fill with gas if we dawdle.

_{[He hears, understands and takes note. Neither of his two birds know Fly, and although he doesn't like birds he's happy to know that a bird that can carry people is an option, should it come down to it. "Always prepared" was one of his first mottos. He hasn't been a scout for years but the meaning of the phrase did always stick with him.]

[Cooper shares a look with Yagyuu, indicates a nod - and is off to the nearest window, the one next to which he was previously seated. His suitcase is still under the seat.]

[Opening the window halfway and only briefly has time to enjoy the welcome, sudden gust of air (the air had been getting increasingly heavy to breathe), he's immediately raked over the back of his hands by vicious claws from what looks to be a Fearow. A curse slips along with an order of Flamethrower and Aidan sticks his head out the window, breathes in - and exhales a pillar of fire.]

[The screeches of birds and bats and the sounds of wings flapping filling the train car seems to add to the chaos within, and he hears a child call out in fear somewhere behind him when claws scrape the glass.]}

[Ducking low to make himself as small a target as possible, Yagyuu returns the nod and begins to hustle toward the windows on the other side of the train, waving one hand almost absently toward his Pokemon as he does so. It's a situation that makes him inordinately happy that he long ago took the time to train his Pokemon to respond to subtler cues than verbal attack commands; they know what to do, and can respond to an objective without needing to be walked through every step of the process.

Which helps a great deal with getting him across the train, Lady targeting the Poison types to help reduce the gas in the car, and Arsène running cover on his borrowed wings. They can handle themselves, and Yagyuu trusts them to it as he maneuvers over to the windows, searching for the latch and working to shove it open.

The downside of having his Pokemon running interference within the car, however, is that he's left himself mostly defenseless to any assault from outside, and so he's barely able to crack the window before he's forced to duck out of the way, huddling beneath the window as he waits for another opportunity to push it open a little farther.]

_{[Directly across from him Cooper is in the same position, but since he's got Aidan on long range duty, he points Emily Yagyuu's way, in case he'll need her. Her best attacks right now are probably Iron Tail and Bite, so she won't be very useful at first, but if a pokémon decides to dive in she can do some damage.]

[She races over - she'll always listen to her trainer first and foremost, but she does take a moment to nose the stranger's coat in a greeting/identification, and then hops up on one of the seats to stare out the window, posture tense and rigid. She doesn't know it, but she'll be an Espeon one day as well, and the way she's grown taller and sleeker might show for how her evolution process will begin soon.]

[There's a piercing shriek on Cooper's end when Aidan scorches a good amount of feathers and one of the birds fall from the sky. It's a strategy Cooper can stand for - the Rockets aren't fighting fair, so why would he? There's a very real chance things could get very serious very quickly here and as pointed out before, he'd rather not take any chances.]}

[Emily does, in a way, remind Yagyuu of Lady before her evolution, and it comes as a surprising comfort in the face of such adversity. She may not be able to do much unless it's at close range, but there's a psychological battle being waged here as much as there is a physical one, and the longer they're able to keep a level head, the better chance they'll stand.

Meanwhile, throughout the car, Lady herself is picking off Wheezing and Koffing with a vengeance, unmindful of the fact that she's taking them on two and three to one and suffering damage for it. Despite what her name might suggest, she's a vicious fighter in her own right, and her trainer gave her a mission to complete.

Still, there's the problem of those birds outside the car--

He ducks up, using Emily for cover as he shoves at the window another few inches, and when there's room for his hand to clear, he yanks a Pokeball off his belt and activates it, bringing his Pidgeot into play outside the car. It's a bad situation to appear in the midst of, and a cluster of Fearow and Spearow outside nearly get the drop on her, but it's not hard to figure out why she's been called into action, even before Yagyuu gives his order.]

Clear them off, Irene!

[As he gets back to opening the windows, now with slightly greater success.]

_{[If Yagyuu takes the time to glance over to Cooper after that, he might catch a thumbs up aimed his way. If not, that hardly matters - the sign of approval was used distractedly, but it's still sincere.]

[Sincere because it's a good plan. He could let his Noctowl out the same way--]

[And then, from somewhere up ahead in what's likely another car, there's a loud sound and a tremour that continues through theirs. Explosion, Cooper thinks. Self destruct.]

[They can consider themselves lucky it was probably a pokémon of lower level. Most people don't think like that. There are cries and calls of panic throughout the train (and, more disturbingly, one or two laughs) and it's a noise that keeps building, but soon enough turns into white noise. Loud white noise, but white noise all the same. It's nothing you can focus on too hard or too long. You'll go crazy.]

[The shake knocks him off balance, but he gets to his feet. The window had slid mostly shut because of the sudden movement, leaving Aidan in a difficult situation, but he opens it again and then climbs over the seats to the next one, ducking another stray Spearow - or if it's the same as before, that's hardly important - to get to work on it.]}

[He does catch a glimpse of that thumbs-up, and as small a gesture as it is, it's still gratifying.

But he doesn't have long to dwell on that, not with the continued assault from outside the car and the sudden explosion from elsewhere on the train, forcing him back into the moment and the reality that their job is far from finished, and this situation is probably going to get worse before it gets better.

Yagyuu may not have extensive training in handling crises, and all things considered, he's probably going to have nightmares about this experience afterward. But if there's one thing he is good at, it's focusing his world down to one single objective, one crucial task to accomplish in the midst of whatever else might be going on around him. So he doesn't think about the possible danger, what those explosions could mean, what might be heading toward them. He only thinks, get the windows open, and for the moment, his world becomes nothing but accomplishing that.

He shoves his current window open further, seeking to lock it into place as best he can, and steals a few quick breaths of fresh air before ducking back down, Emily still on his shoulder as he starts making his way toward the next. He doesn't look to what Lady and Arsène are doing, largely because he doesn't need to; his faith in them is full and complete, and he's trusting them to handle themselves while he takes on his own tasks.]

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Operation: Express Car; [train plot log]

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