Jun 26 17:47:43 109 PA - Late Chat for Battle, and New Problem Risen

From Chronicles

Jun 26 17:47:43 109 PA.

OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES - MAIN FLOOR

The afternoon is pleasant enough, and business it doing well, with all but Gabriel, one operative and Gracie out of the office on assignment. The owner is back against the western wall, where his scrolling maps are kept. Today is a large map of the northern half of North America pulled down to the floor, with a smaller map of the general southeastern Canada area on an easel nearby. Having called Leonard to ask him to a meeting, Gabriel left Gracie free to give him a pass when he arrives. Or if he arrives.

Leonard does, in fact, arrive. He does so looking somewhat weary, which could explain the cup of caffeine in hand from a shop passed en route. Gracie receives a nod as he's gestured on through as he would expect. Man and maps are both studied over a sip of coffee prior to him asking, "More plans?"

Gabriel turns, looking.. not quite wearing, but concentrating perhaps more than he's slept for. "Just trying to hammer out details. Thanks for coming by." A nod is offered as he turns. "You warned me before, to not be the one to be demanding obedience, and you're right. But I think that we can agree that the two of us are probably in charge of the escort, which is why I want to speak with you. I'm already trying to work out how to best use the other three men, and I'm hoping that we might figure out between us how to be mutually supportive." He cracks a small grin before saying, "While I'd love to be in and out with nothing to do but earn credit and solidify a treaty, war zones don't generally work that way."

"No, they don't. It's always best to expect the worst. That way, the only surprise tends to be a pleasant one." Leonard agrees with all of the points Gabriel makes. "Of course, in this case, it may be difficult to determine exactly what to expect. The Coalition would want to quickly crush any efforts at an alliance, so there is that. Another is the location. We will not be the only ones drawn to the nexus' power."

Gabriel's brow furrows slightly. "Other mages fighting that front? Hopefully Edgar will be able to provide us with airborne recon, even before we arrive." He shakes his head minutely though, asking, "But what do you mean by worrying about the location?"

Leonard exhales a sigh and shakes his head. "Other mortal practitioners would most likely avoid a conflict between two technologist armies. I'm more concerned of the various creatures that could be drawn by the power or the assumed tapping of it. Not to mention what might arrive in the vicinity through the nexus, itself. Kingsdale and others do not fortify and guard those points simply to keep others /away/ from them."

The other man stows his drafting gear so that all of his attention can be focused. "Well, this is new. I'm sorry, I've adapted well, but the intricacies of magic are still far from my grasp. You'll have to give me the brief version. This didn't come up before?" Gabriel's tone can't happen but be questioning to what sounds like a rather dire threat just being raised.

"It is just a possibility worth noting," Leonard shrugs and sips more heated caffeine. "The brief version is that whatever the Ambassador plans that requires the nexus will draw attention. That doesn’t mean that others will be watching or choose to investigate." He doesn't seem frantically concerned, by any means. "The intricacies of magic are beyond most. Those few that could claim to fully understand it have existed for millenia."

Gabriel nods his head as he listens. "Okay. So, let's assume someone... something? Takes note. What might we expect, and would it be something that we'd have to kill, or just toss out a couple of bucks or some chocolate to make it go away?" He readily accepts the news that not everyone knows everything about magic, it may even be a comforting thing to hear. "I can't say that it's generally good for anything to take note of you on a battlefield. Not even well-wishing peasants coming out with food and water."

Leonard smirks, albeit with bemusement, at the example. "If something does arrive, it can be expected to consider us far below itself in the hierarchy of existence. Motives will vary too much to predict. Some might wish or be persuaded to leave, or even help us. Others might ignore us. Still more might decide they're hungry and we're delicacies."

"Okay," Gabriel says with a little late-game mirth. "I guess reasoning with... what, a demon or something? Horrific monsters? That would be your area. Which of course leaves the question, if it's pissed off, or you die, what do I need to do to get everyone around to kill it?" A grunt is followed by, "We can carry more weapons than normal, since we've got Tek's truck. I'll be in my pack and Sithik can move on his own, which frees up cargo room. What should I add to the equipment list?"

"If you're preparing to hold against the Coalition or even Quebecois," Leonard assures him, "There's no need for special equipment. Very few creatures are immune to standard weapons, and those I can deal with. I won't be dying any time soon."

Gabriel nods again, accepting the new information. "Okay. I've been meaning to ask this, but never got around to it. Will you keep enough.. energy in yourself so that if everything goes to shit, we can just jump out somewhere? Same portal that you used out the outpost by Whykin? I'd much rather lose everything as long as I got to keep my life." He nods toward the map, also indicating, "I'm not sure if I'm yet quite a believer in the cause that I'd throw my life away for two powers that might end up hating each other anyway."

Leonard echoes the other man's nod. "Yes, I will do exactly that. If the situation becomes that dire, I will simply return here, along with whomever else can join me. As I said, I won't be dying there."

"Excellent," Gabriel replies. He then suggests, "If there might be things homing in on the use of this nexus, might the Coalition detect it as well? Drawing them to us? I can only assume that this ambassador knows what he - or she - is doing. Hopefully not *over* estimating us? I'd hate to disappoint, of course. But, well... you're the magician."

"It's possible. It is a war zone, after all." Leonard chuckles to interject some of his own mirth. "Their hounds and stalkers might be able to sense it, if close enough, but they may not be monitoring so heavily, either. That is one advantage to the fact that both sides distrust magic; they won't look for use of it." A casual grin is added, "It would make the task easier and more pleasant if the Ambassador were both competent and a woman."

Gabriel's brow perks and he chuckles. "For being easy on the eyes, or is there something metaphysical about a female mage and her womb?" The comments are waved off. "Strong women are nothing new to me; if it's a woman, it's a woman. A man, it's man, I really couldn't care, as long as it doesn't try to screw us over. Which, incidentally is something that I checked on. I don't know about you, but I've never been to Tolkeen. The Council was nice enough to call the good folks in Minnesota to confirm that the person I've been speaking with.. or about.. is legit. He or she is, though I doubt you were concerned." He takes a breath and crosses his arms. "Do you think it'll work?"

Leonard shakes his head. "For being easy on the eyes, though I also applaud strong women. Even when others don't." His grin dims before he skips over concerns of legitimacy and to the question. "I do. By speeding our travel, we will have all our resources available when they're needed most. If we fail, then, we would've failed, anyhow."

The old soldier smiles and shakes his head. "No, no. That's not what I meant. I'm being optimistic, and assuming that not only will we survive, but so will the ambassador, and he or she will get his or her mission done, too." Gabriel grabs yellow pencil and draws a light and highly-erasable line between Tolkeen and Quebec. "I mean, do you think that the mission will bring about an alliance? It has to be a tough sell, even going with the enemy of my enemy is my friend, theory."

"Oh," Leonard smirks, and gives it some thought. "I don't know. It depends on how impressive the Ambassador can be, I suppose. I'll definitely be wishing her luck with it." He decides to use an optimistic pronoun.

"Going to need to be suave, though. If.. she... looks too impressive, they might decide to throw back with Prosek's forces for a while, take care of the magic problem with their combined forces, once and for all." Gabriel shrugs away the crazy but legitimate possibility. "Then when they're done, they can go back to killing each other. Stranger things have happened. But I guess we have together what we have, little more that I can think to do right now save to figure how to most efficiently load up Tek's truck. Apparently Sithik's going to siphon some power from Tolkeen to bring monsters with us."

Leonard hmms softly and nods, as though he had not considered that possibility. Afterwords, a nod and much more siphoning of energy... from his cup. "That is not a bad idea on his part. I may do that myself, if need be, but not at Tolkeen. I'll let you plan the truck load, then," he prepares to depart. "I'll be ready."

Gabriel nods again. "I guess the die is cast, as they say. Thanks for stopping by - I had no idea about the.. things.. that might be interested in the magic beyond the Coalition. Gives me another thing to think about." As he picks up his clipboard again, he tosses off a smile. "Go get some sleep, Leo. Take a vacation in the South Pacific somewhere. I'll see you when it's time to take off."