Earth Bet 5
January 20, 2011 (01:21 PM) \ Cloudy
Brockton Bay, Dockworkers Union
Parking Lot
"MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!" Dobermann roared.
Folinic ran out of the room, thankful they were wide enough for everyone to go through. She ignored the looks and shouts of confusion from the PRT troopers stationed nearby, focusing on getting to the tower immediately. "Defenders up front, Melee ops cover the rear!" she ordered upon reaching the tower. "Snipers, Casters, watch the skies!"
She activated HONEY, the medical delivery system moving to attack mode. The others were already forming up, the Defenders taking positions at each cardinal point of the tower, with the Vanguards and Guards covering their sides. The ranged operators were standing behind them, eyes and ears scanning for threats. "Kroos, status?"
"Something heading our way, 10 o'clock!" the Cautus replied in her sing-song voice, her secondary ears standing up straight. "Mechanical and jet propelled."
"Spotted!" Exusia cried out, pointing to the north. "Looks like some kind of winged aircraft!"
"Rosa," Dobermann called out. "When she's in range, fire-"
"Rhodes Island, stand down!" she heard Armsmaster shout, running towards them. He stopped a few feet before them, hands in the air. "She's friendly, I repeat, she's friendly!"
"Who is she, Armsmaster?" Folinic asked, glaring at the armored man.
The man winced. "I just got the message - the Chief-Director ordered Dragon to deliver some of her prefab shelters." he answered. "She noted that you might be needing temporary shelter until things can be properly arranged."
"Dragon's personally coming here?" Rosa asked, walking up to them. The rest were still keeping watch at the incoming object. "I thought she was in...Ca-na-da?"
Armsmaster shook his head. "One of her remote-controlled suits is bringing the shelter here." he pointed to the sky. "That'll be her now."
To her surprise, as the aircraft came closer, she noted it really looked like a mechanical dragon. "Dobermann...stand down." Folinic finally ordered, watching the dragon aircraft circle around, carrying what looked like cargo containers. Everyone else started relaxing, though she still felt tense about the whole situation. She turned to the cape. "Does she need space to land?"
"I've already ordered the PRT to clear the space when one of your operators spotted her."
The medic nodded, looking at Rosa. "You've met her?"
The sniper nodded. "She was present in the meeting with the directors, Folinic."
"I see…" she eyed the cape, sighing. "In that case, we'll have to thank her for the shelter."
Armsmaster nodded. "Again, I'd like to apologize for the miscommunications." he replied as the robot dragon dropped the cargo containers. To everyone's delight, the containers started expanding, transforming into some sort of prefab housing.
Folinic noticed Armsmaster smiling. "Impressive, isn't she?" he said, sounding pleased. "Dragon is one of the best Tinkers in the world, capable of mass-producing TinkerTech. Come, I'll introduce you."
"What exactly is TinkerTech?" she asked, following the cape towards the mechanical dragon. "You used it to refer to the tower."
"They're products produced by Tinker Parahumans," he explained, stopping as the large dragon landed besides the prefab. "They tend to be too advanced to be deciphered or replicated by ordinary means."
"Even by their creators?"
"Somewhat," he answered as they stopped before Dragon's...dragon. "Some TinkerTech can be reproduced, though it takes time and effort to do it. It's why Dragon is one of the best Tinkers around, she can both mass-produce and replicate TinkerTech with ease."
"Not always, Armsmaster." a voice coming from the robot dragon announced. It then straightened up, a chest panel opening up to reveal some kind of strobe light. Lighting up, a holographic woman with dark hair, with a domino mask on her face. "Hello, I am Dragon."
"Operator Folinic, ma'am." the medic replied. "I'd shake your hand but…"
Dragon smiled. "My...Agoraphobia doesn't allow me to get out of the house much." she shrugged. "I've been forced to become an extreme introvert, if you will."
Folinic nodded, understanding what she meant. She had, under Dr. Kal'tsit's guidance, had to treat some patients that had similar fears. "On behalf of Rhodes Island, I would like to extend our thanks for your help - especially with these prefabs."
Dragon nodded, turning towards the tower. "Would you mind if I scan the tower? Armsmaster gave me a brief description of some of the technologies in it and they sound fascinating."
Folinic paused, frowning. Ordinarily, she would allow it but she remembered what Armsmaster was telling her earlier. "I can tell you're hesitant," Dragon must have noticed her pensive look. "Rest assured, any technology I derive from it would be patented under...Rhine Labs, I believe the name was?"
The medic hummed, not sure how to proceed. "Let me get Closure and Weedy, they have more experience on this than all of us present."
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January 20, 2011 (05:10 PM) \ Cloudy
Brockton Bay, Dockworkers Union
Parking Lot
"We'll have the representatives ready tomorrow," Folinic promised to Armsmaster. "Since our normal command structure is not present, we're going to be deciding who does what in the coming hours."
The tinker nodded. "Very well. We'll leave some of the PRT for security as well." he got on his bike. "I'll see you tomorrow, Folinic."
With that, she watched Armsmaster ride off. 'At least things have calmed down,' she mused. 'I hope Dobermann already has a guard sched.'
"Folinic?"
"Hey Lisa," she greeted her Vulpo friend. "Is everyone settled in?"
Suzuran nodded. "Hibiscus' done cooking dinner and Instructor Dobermann made a guard sched with the remaining troopers."
"Right…" Folinic took a deep breath. "Let's have dinner then."
As the two walked back to the temporary shelter, Folinic couldn't help but feel lost. "Something on your mind?" Suzuran asked, upon reaching the entrance.
"I feel lost." she answered truthfully, spotting some PRT Troopers eating alongside the operators. "Normally, we have Dr. HG on hand directing us but now..."
"But without him around, it's like you're grasping straws." Suzuran guessed, entering the designated dining hall. "That's understandable - I mean, it's Dr. HG. You've done okay though!"
The smell of Victorian cuisine wafted through the air. "Really?" Folinic asked, feeling unsure. They joined the line for the food, picking up a tray. "It feels like all my actions were reactive."
Suzuran snorted, tapping the person in front of them. "Hey Hellagur!"
The former general turned towards them, a kind smile on his face. "Hello Suzuran, Folinic," he greeted. "How are you?"
"I'm good, she's not." her friend replied, pointing at her. "She doesn't think she's doing a fine job as our leader."
Hellagur laughed, giving Folinic an understanding look. "I see. Rest assured, you are doing a great job as a leader."
The medic operator frowned. "When exactly did I become the overall leader again?"
"When no one complained when you started giving orders." Dobermann answered bluntly, walking up towards them. Behind her was another trooper. "Hellagur, Suzuran, Folinic."
"Not you too!"
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January 20, 2011 (07:30 PM) \ Cloudy
Brockton Bay, Dockworkers Union
Sleeping Quarters
"Any questions?"
Folinic stood in front of all the RI operators (except for Noir and Lava, the current Device guards). After dinner, everyone not on watch headed straight for the sleeping quarters to hold a debriefing. Though their mission wasn't over, Dobermann felt it was necessary so everyone was on the same page.
Click raised his hand. "Does the PRT have any way to open up to Terra?" she asked. "You mentioned this wasn't the first time they made contact with another Earth."
Folinic nodded. "They sort of do but it's under heavy regulations. The man behind the whole thing, a Professor Haywire, died a few years back and no one wants to tackle interdimensional travel."
"Does that mean we're better off waiting for Rhine Labs to get us out of here?" Gummy asked, frowning.
Folinic nodded. "That sucks…" Zima grumbled, crossing her arms. "What are we supposed to do now - guard the thing?"
"Better than doing nothing, I suppose." Kroos pointed out, already lying on her bunk. "I don't mind the extra nap times, though."
Talulah raised her hand. She almost forgot the former Reunion leader had gotten sucked up with them. "What's the next move?"
"I...I have no idea." Folinic revealed, sighing. "Outside of a meeting tomorrow, I got nothing."
Talulah raised an eyebrow. "Well you better start planning ahead, Folinic." she pointed out. "Need I remind you that we are cut off from resources and materials, nor do we have any political clout to leverage ourselves."
"Not...not exactly." Closure cut in, frowning. "Weedy and I were talking with Dragon earlier and she seemed interested in the hex shield the tower has."
"An earlier consensus was agreed that the tower was off limits." Pitlopsis replied, turning her head towards the engineer.
The Sarkaz shook her head. "Not the tower - the HexGens." she pointed out. "If we can show them a working, portable shield generator, we can leverage that for a patent."
"Which will rake us some money!" Chiave exclaimed. "They might work!"
"That's just one product though." Exusia countered, pursing her lips.
"Medical technology." Ptilopsis answered, tilting her head. "Rhodes Island has numerous patents on medical technology and drugs. Though the ingredients and approval might take longer to obtain."
"Those are short term goals," Talulah countered, giving everyone a look. "We have to have a long term goal just in case we can't go back to Terra."
Silence engulfed the room, the former terrorist's words striking deep into their hearts. "Get some sleep, everyone." Folinic ordered, sighing. "We'll tackle one problem at a time."
AN: To all that thought that Squealer or Lung are coming by, I'm sorry I had your hopes up. That said, expect one of them to appear in the next arc.