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

[someone-one-one.livejournal.com]

M-Misaki-san, please be careful.

[Popura is cowering behind Misaki, not nearly brave enough to try and start fighting. Tropius is too big, and so is Rhyhorn. Togepi and Happiny are too small...so she only has Soma-kun, her Gloom, out.

She's not nearly as peppy as she usually, is though. Guess who's actually scared?]

I-I don't think I can do this.

[moezawa.livejournal.com]

Popura...?

[ No, no. This is bad. Popura, out of all people, shouldn't be here. She doesn't deserve this. ]

No, you don't have to do a thing. J-Just keep one of your Pokemon out just in case you have to defend yourself. And stay close to me, alright?

[someone-one-one.livejournal.com]

[She fidgets, looking around at the scene. Soma-kun is watching with his usual passiveness. Popura isn't sure what to do.]

I can't just let them take everyone's Pokémon, either, though...I-I just don't know what to do...

[seikaprez.livejournal.com]

Protect yourself first. The last thing we need is for another person to get hurt right now--

[ Her sentence is cut short when she goes into a coughing fit from all of the gas. She's coming down with a fever again- the timing couldn't have been any worse, could it? ]

[someone-one-one.livejournal.com]

[That's right--she calls Ledian out, her Maya-chan.]

Maya-chan! Set up safeguard, please! A-and barrier and reflect, too!

[The Ledian moves in front of both Popura and Misaki to protect them, setting up transparent walls in front of them.]

We'll be safer like this!

[seikaprez.livejournal.com]

[ The barriers ward off all the gas, and Misaki's back to normal, albeit a little flushed from the fever. ]

Thanks, Popura.

[ Look out, a Koffing and a Weezing are approaching! Misaki makes note of this and tenses, scooting closer to Popura to keep her safe. ] Takumi, Water Pulse!! [ Better look out, the floor's gonna get wet. ]

[someone-one-one.livejournal.com]

[Maya twirls backwards so that Takumi can fight off the Pokémon. At the same time, Popura pulls out another Pokéball and stares at it.]

I-I'm not very good at battling, but I think Soma can help here. Please come out!

[And, predictably, there is a Gloom staring down that Koffing and Weezing with a creepy smile on his face. He doesn't hesitate to idly say his name and release a stun spore towards whichever one Takumi isn't targeting.]

[seikaprez.livejournal.com]

[ Soma's stun spore will be getting that Weezing, thankfully. The Weezing cringes as Soma's attack goes into effect, while Takumi manages to knock over the Koffing. ]

S-So... creepy... [ Don't mind Misaki as she stares at your Gloom for a bit, Popura. But when she goes back to normal, she has her Pidgeotto use a Quick Attack on the Weezing while it's down. ]

Good work! [ But it's not over yet. The Koffing's getting back up and the Weezing looks ready to launch another attack. ]

[someone-one-one.livejournal.com]

[Her Pokémon still aren't strong enough for a Weezing, though. She never trains them, they just protect her when they have to. She feels like a pretty spectacular failure right now.

As for Gloom? Well, she doesn't know they're supposed to frown most of the time, so it's normal.]

Um...Maya-chan...I normally don't give commands, but maybe...use Supersonic!

[Maya the Ledian moves in front now, since the walls are still up. She lets out a screech, but not before politely bowing to Misaki for getting in the way. Sure enough, the Koffing ends up launching an attack and the downed Weezing.]

[seikaprez.livejournal.com]

[ Misaki and her Pokemon cover their ears when the screech sounds. It definitely makes her more disoriented, but her Pokemon seem to be alright. She watches as the Koffing attacks the Weezing, finally realizing what the effects of that screech are.

And while the Koffing and the Weezing are at their weakest, Takumi goes for Aqua Tail, and manages to KO the Koffing. ]

Good, one down!! The Weezing looks weak... think you can do the job, Popura? [ She wants to give Popura a chance to get used to battling! ]

[someone-one-one.livejournal.com]

R-right...I think I can handle it!

[Soma and Maya are such independent Pokémon, but they look to Popura for instructions as the Weezing flies at them. They usually just act on their own, but Soma takes a Double Hit and goes flying back into Popura's arms. She falls backwards.]

M-Maya! Use...Tackle!

[Once again, her silly Ledian bows before tackling Weezing against the other wall of the train, and soon a mid-air ramming battle is taking place. Ultimately, though, Maya is successful in knocking the Weezing to the floor where it doesn't get back up...which is a good thing, because those walls are starting to fade.]

W-we did it! Is it over?!

[seikaprez.livejournal.com]

[ Yes, it's over! Misaki knew that Popura could do it! ]

I think so. [ She cautiously approaches the Weezing, hovering over it- it's definitely down for the count. It's got tons of scratches and doesn't respond when Misaki lightly nudges it with her foot. ]

It's down, Popura. [ She heads back, giving Popura a thumbs-up! ] See? I knew you could do it.