Aug 08 04:46:23 109 PA - Thinking Ahead for Food

From Chronicles

Aug 08 04:46:23 109 PA.

YAKOV'S DELI

It is kind of late, but as usual the Deli lights are on. Rasputin is at his usual table with a pitcher of some sort of soft brown liquid and a tall chilled mug. He is looking over a few note books and a loose paper map.

Lots of people keep late waking hours. Soldiers often keep them coupled with early waking ones. Then there are the ones who are both soldier and family man, which blurs the lines a little. For whatever reason, Gabriel steps through the door, looking rested enough and with his uniform still well-pressed and neatly in place, should anyone interested in his services happy to see him. Since the room is open and quiet, he's able to do a decent job of blending in, with hard combat boots meant to slip in without loud, authoritative clanking. "Good evening, Rasputin," he says to announce himself.

Rasputin looks up from his maps and work. He looks up from his work, and smiles. "Evenink Gabriel, how goes das evenink."

Chuckling, Gabriel crosses to find a seat. "Evening goes well. Had an entertaining run in with a person who might become a new friend, given time. Got something to pose to you, though. Am I interrupting the books?"

Rasputin shakes his head, "Net, net." He motions to the seat, and it slides out a little bit on its own. "Mink going over da maps and notes from my last two trips in to dino lands." He closes the note book, and sets the maps to the side, "Finally goink to get a few good maps, mink hand drawn ones are gettink worn." He grins, "What can mink be helpink you with?"

"Yeah, you can get a bunch of topos real cheap down at the Gunnery," Gabriel suggests. "Some better than others, but they've got damn near the entire 'civilized' portion of the continent. Even of couple exotics from South America and Europe. Around here, and Coalition territory?" he points north, "Even some orthographics. Not bad." He seems to scrunch up on dinosaur lands, holding off what he likely came in for to ask, "Dinosaur lands cover the Appalachians these days?"

Rasputin nods slowly,"Da, da. Dhe entire southern range is dino lands, mainly on da east side. Buttink, mink stay to the westink side. Don't want to try and go around over over da mountains, even dhough dhey aren't super tall." He smiles and tugs his beard.

Gabriel wonders aloud, "I don't know exactly where the boundaries lay - I but nobody does - but I think that my hometown is just southeast of some of the Federation territory. I'd prefer that it's just wilderness. Not Federation, not dinosaurs. Just... taken back by Mother Nature, y'know?" Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. Of course, perhaps peoples survived and it dis its own little community?" He shrugs, "Dhough, I've net found any inhabitted places out dhere. At least net yet, net even sures anythinks out there."

"If they are, they're strangers. People who lived hundreds of years... thousands of years? A long time past what I did, probably a different culture that I would recognize, even the way things have regressed. Aaaanyway," he breathes out. "You've been keeping up with things at Tolkeen, by any chance? It's been in the news, Kingsdale isn't exactly non-biased when it comes to reporting." Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. Dis goink to get even more uglies mink sure." He shrugs a bit, "Net much mink can do about it. Net even sure if da city can be gettink invovled, da CS could be turnink on us just as eastily, da?"

Gabriel nods. "If I were running the city, and trying to keep everybody safe, I'd tell 'em to shut the gates and keep everyone the fuck out," he says colorfully. "Because yes, the war in Minnesota is over, the Tolkeenites and the dragons just haven't accepted it yet, or they're too bold and blind to see it. After that, Prosek has two targets. The Federation, and Kingsdale. If *I* were running his war, I'd steamroll right over this place. It'd be quick and easy, and make sure that there wasn't any rally point for potential allies, logistics, repair or refitting." Now the man's in his element. "Then hook east, bring up reserves from Lone Star and push the Federation back into the Atlantic; they'd have 'em on three sides. So Kingsdale? As much as the people and the Council think that they're tough and invincible? You're right. This city is a flea on a camel's ass."

Rasputin chuckles and shakes his head, "Net, net. You are underestimatink dis little city. So manies Juicers, and anti-missiles systems would be makink da attack just as expensives." He grins, "And da Federation, dhey are a whole other line of talkink. Dhey are so quiet, one never knows what dhey are doink." He shrugs, "Dhough, manies of da city states are seemink easy targets for the CS, da? Dhough, manies are dwell dug in."

Gabriel doesn't seem impressed. "Tolkeen's been holding out becasue they're stuffed full of magic, with unlimited ammunition through ley lines and such Here? You've got what? Two? I'm not talking about the wilderness, I mean right here in the city. It's a small city," he nods. "With few people that I think you could depend on as allies. Mercenaries? Maybe, when the wind was blowing right. Surround the city, cut off all supplies. No food in or out. Pound from the air; Juicers get smashed to a pulp without firing a shot." A gentle tap is given to the table top. "I've seen the people who live here, and they're so fractured that it's a miracle that there isn't a constant civil war. This isn't Tolkeen. It's not Stalingrad or Leningrad. Hell, it's not even Vicksburg, Fort McHenry or London. I'm sure that you know the magic defenses, but this place would snap. Even Juicers jumping ship, save for the truly suicidal ones."

Rasputin eyes you, "Dis you weren't here da last timink some CS General tried attackink Kingsdale by air, were you?" He chuckles, "Da missiles never made it, 'somethink' intercepted dhem." He grins, "And da Juicer's have a soft spot for Kingsdale, dis where dhey went after the uprisink fell." He shrugs, "Buttink, da, most likelys da CS would be takinkus downs. Dhough, why? Provokink Federations, after da war with Tolkeens?" He shrugs, "Dhough, was talkink about da wars dis what brought you heres dis evenink?"

"Only partially," Gabriel allows, moving off the direct subject. As long as they both agree the city would fall, that's good enough, doesn't matter how. He even mumbles that under his breath. "I already said that they'd take this city down to keep it from being the modern version of London in the Second World War. One small point compared to the massive area of the Federation, but a point to rally troops and such from which to launch a counter-campaign. Still, that's not why I'm here either." Gabriel pats the table with an open palm and smiles. "Despite my previous words, I'm here to help. You know the refugee compound, right? I mean, you could throw a stone and hit it from here. Are you familiar at all with the guy who's been leading them?"

Rasputin shakes his head, "Net, mink net knowink much about da Refugge's. Dhough, I've been gettink a little more concerned abouttink dhat. Mink worried dhey will start over flowing from the dregs into little Russian and more into other sections. Some it would be OK for, others net goodink." He shrugs, "Dhough, last time I went huntink I dwas able to sell much meat at good rate to refugee's for food." He shrugs, "Why do you askink?"

Gabriel nods as he moves around in his chair to get a little more comfortable. "The refugee compound is practically empty right now. About five-hundred people who never left, plus fifteen-hundred members of the Vigilante gang. Guy who leads 'em is an ex-Coalition major named Marcel. Don't worry, he's the real deal. I traced him back far enough to crawl up his rear end to make sure that he was a legit defector. Anyway, he seems to be in total denial that there won't be an eventual flood of refugees into the city." An obvious scratch is given to the side of his head. "They came here when the city was holding and winning, they'll sure as hell flood here in unbelievable numbers when it falls. They're probably already on the march, those who can get out. So yeah, I'd worry about this place." He waves a hand to indicate the deli. "I'm hoping to do what I can to prepare the city for problems before it happens. Can't make it totally ready, but as best as I can, which brings me to you."

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, mink worried about dhat too, if more comink here we could be flooded." He shrugs, "Mink have good sturdy tables and chairs, butink windows are glass and da buildink dis net MDC." He frowns and tugs his beard a little bit and furrows his brow a bit. He says to himself, in Russian, "I really should fix that sooner than later."

"I'm sure there's someone around who could help you with that," Gabriel nods. "I'm hoping that you might come with me to talk to Marcel, and figure out some logistics when it comes to food." He shrugs sadly, "I think that food is going to become the hot commodity around here, right after clean water and before some type of waste-management system. I'm suggesting... that for the good of you, your staff, the refugees and the city - you might be needing to roll up the carpet when it comes to profits, and turn to being someone to organize big runs for dinosaur meat, or whatever you can get the most of. We're *all* going to be pressed soon. Weeks? A month? It's coming."

Rasputin tugs his beard and sighs a bit. He really yanks on his beard again, very hard, "Gabriel, mink hatink to get involved in such thinks." He shakes his head, "What would you be wantink me to be doink? I could be tryink to run more dino runs, buttink dhey are net easy work. Nor safe work, mink won't take dhouse who can't be makink it." He shrugs and thinks a bit more, "Da, what dis your idea?"

"I'd only ask that we speak to Marcel. See if he can't get you some appropriately trained men to make regular runs for meat," Gabriel answers. "I'm going to be taking my company out as far north as I can to set up escorts to get the poor bastards here. As much as I'd like to just keep them out of the city, I'd be dead inside if I actually did it." He shakes his head, as there are no good solutions to any of problems that are obviously coming. A long sigh. "Just trying to buckle down before it really hits the fan. You're the go-to guy that I know of when it comes to food, my friend. At least meet with him? Who knows, maybe he'll turn down the help anyway."

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, buttink dhese are basically just ganger punks, da? Few of da Dreg gangs are willink to put dhere necks out, and dino huntink is puttink da neck out for sures." He tugs his beard, "But da, mink will talkink with him with you. Mink will be tryink."

Gabriel leans sideways, unsure as to how to explain things. "The Vigilantes? I really don't know. How can you call a gang the 'good guys?' Fact is though, they've been on the side of the refugees, protecting them and such. Not like a standing army or anything, but there. I'm more referring to the refugees directly. Sure, they're fleeing, which probably means they aren't exactly soldiers - or they were smart enough to run from the inevitable." He shakes his head once more. "I'm thinking of those who are already here, going out to start stockpiling meat, or whatever food can be grabbed to hold off rioting and looting places like Yakov's here as long as possible. If Marcel's smart, he might be able to organize a few groups, and then more and more groups when the flood starts? Still? It's just a thought." The man lets out a low chuckle, saying, "I'm not calling myself Mr. Superhero of Altruism or anything. But I don't know anyone else inside these walls, from private citizens to the Council, who are doing anything to prepare for what's coming. Believe me, I've seen what happens when this kind of crisis hits."

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da. Well, da deli isn't all dhat big to be storink lots of food. But Mink can store some foods and some meats. If mink could get my own hover craft somehow, I could be makink a bigger haul back for people's." He tugs his beard, "Buttink, dhat would be dery expensive, much more dhan anything I think of makink." He ponders, "I could perhaps look at other ways to be helink, provide some cheapink defense equipment to his men? At least puttink it on the table," He nods, "Da, da. Mink will try helpink. Dhough, perhaps unlike you mink dis very little altruism. Mink people fought all da way here, so mink has little sympathy who won't fight for theirselves."

"I understand, you're not the only person who feels that way about self-help. In fact, you're the clear majority. It was just different where I'm from," Gabriel admits with a shrug. "I don't think the weapons will help, though I appreciate the thought. The Family and the rest of them are going to have enough trouble by themselves." He waves a hand in the direction of the refugee compound. "They might have some vehicles to spare. How much would it cost to buy a decent truck like you'd need? Oh, and do you have anyone who knows construction on staff, or up in Little Russia? Medicine?"

Rasputin shakes his head, "Net, not weapons but armor, perhaps shields." He shrugs, "Da vehicle would be dery expensive, dhus why mink rent one for my trips." He thinks a moment, "Minkself am OK with construction, and have magiks for medical helps, but net real traininks."

Gabriel listens along once more. "I suppose it would be best for me to find experts in fields, and not try to just get a jack-of-all-trades. The construction is hoping to fix up the hospital, lay down some piping and such before the refugee flood gets here," he says by way of explanation. His eyes look around the empty room, and he glances down at his watch. "I do eventually have to sleep, my friend, and it's a good walk to the other side of the city from here. Any idea when you might be free to talk to Marcel? Assuming of course that I can arrange a meeting in the first place."

Rasputin grins, "Mink could help with that type of work actually, da deli takes mink lots of work." He nods over to the sink, "Think dhat plumbing stay's clean on its own? Of course findink experts mink be good, da." He grins. Then he gets back to buisness, "How abouts you findink a meetink time, and mink will make myself available. Da?" He smiles a bit, "Would dhat work?"

Standing and pressing his uniform back into all the right places, Gabriel holds his hands loosely at his side. "Sounds good, Rasputin. I'll get out of your hair now. I can get you on the telephone?" Sometimes he forgets that people use electromagnetic radiation to communicate these days. Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. Or leave a message here for mink. Dhen, mink will make sure to be available." He nods, "Dis agreeable?"

"It's agreeable," Gabriel says, half out the door. His mouth then quirks and he points a finger at the dwarf. "You need to get out of the deli more, Rasputin. Your accent's a lot thicker today than normal. Be seeing you." With a wink and a nod, he's off, just like Santa Claus.