Nov 13 19:32:08 108 PA - City Briefing on an Unknown Object of Great Power
From Chronicles
Nov 13 19:32:08 108 PA.
PUBLIC MEETING CHAMBER AT CITY HALL
Winter is setting in on Kingsdale at this mid-November date. Pouring rain - at least it's not sleet - with cloudy skies, near-freezing temperatures and blustery winds coming out of the northwest. Makes it a good time to seek shelter, and what better place might there be than within one of the chambers at the City Hall? Particularly as luck would have it, they're about to explain the Council's request for assistance. The room is already quite full, perhaps one-hundred people having gathered in fold-out chairs to listen in on a the speech. A dark-haired man named Danson introduces himself as an assistant to the Council as he takes to the podium. "Thank you all for coming." The standard test phrase to make sure that the mic is working and not squeaking.
Having staked out her spot so that she can have a reasonable view of the speaker and whatever they may show, Sage turns her gaze towards the podium as the voice speaks. Although she does let herself consider those around her. There's likely to be some familiar faces and new ones to replace ones that have fallen. She doesn't let herself be distracted too long, though.
Jaxain arrived a short time ago, and was sitting down, apparently deep in thought. Seeing a familiar figure, he gets up from his seat and moves over to Sage. "Hey." he says quietly, giving her a small smile as he sits down next to her. "Surprised to see you here."
Ken meanders into the small auditorium. He's in the standing room only section, having at least found a wall to lean against, thick arms folded across his chest as he peers up at the small podium. His doughy skin is out of place amongst the assembled winter jackets and heavily layered sweaters. It's a little surprising he was let in, wearing only a kilt, but apparently City Hall has no shirts-shoes-service policy.
After the unfortunate squeak-squawk from the podium was fixed, Danson begins once more. "Thank you all for coming. I'll get right to it. The Council believes that there is an object of great power to the north. North of the Missouri river, even. It's powerful enough that the Federation of Magic wants it. Tolkeen wants it. Free Quebec wants it. *We* want it." He allows for a pause, probably not intending it to actually be dramatic, but it is. "The Coalition wants it, or will destroy it to make sure that no one else has it. Unfortunately, it's very enigmatic." After another pause, he speaks into the mic quietly, "There are other interests who want it as well."
Sage glances over towards the man as he settles down beside her and offers a small smile of her own. "I have nothing against listening to another cry for help." She replies, "I suppose I must love a challenge at times..." She shakes her head gently, "Otherwise, there are at least a couple things I wouldn't have done." She comments before falling quietly once more to consider the presentation. Then she lets out a very soft sigh, "An object of power that everyone wants, hm?" She murmurs quietly.
Jaxain nods, and allows the speaker to continue, for now. "I think this is more a cry for greed." He says with a smirk. Jaxain speaks quietly, his words for Sage's ears only.
Ken grunts quietly at the revelation, shrugging his broad shoulders as he settles more securely against the wall. He watches the podium, yes, but then straightens and turns to place his back flat against the wall, the better to get an impression of the gathered rogues, scoundrels, white knights and ne'er do-wells who've rallied behind this open call to arms.
Danson gestures a hand over the gathered crowd to where Sage is seated - apparently having excellent directional hearing. "Yes, it is." Then to Jaxain a very confident shake of his head, "No, it's not." He makes a few statements to the other citizens who have gathered here for the information. "We do not know what it is. We do not know how it works. We do not know where it came from. I realize that that is a lot of 'do nots' to offer you. However. We are a peaceful city, and want to study it. Yes, admittedly for potential uses of our own. But also to keep it out of the hands of those who would truly abuse it - if such a thing can be done." He raises an interested fist at shoulder level. "It is.. well, we know that it draws enormous amounts of power, and puts out enormous amounts of power at the same time. BUT - though we have no way of proving this, we do have evidence that suggests that it - whatever it is - may be as powerful as a nexus, but without any association with ley lines." Danson pauses to allow that to sink in. The room is full of roughly one-hundred people, and he is on a raised platform, having just begun.
Rainin cats 'n dogs 'n ne'erdowells tonight. Maybe s'why Bella comes in. Got her umbrella 'n coat 'n stuff. Almost looks like the girl on the salt can. Just ain't yellow. Or real happy.
Tek being new to town got wind of the meeting and decided to come see what it was all about. He actually is wearing a clean jump suit.
Sage purses her lips as she realizes the man seems to have impressive hearing ability, briefly glancing towards Jaxain and offers a briefly raised brow. She pauses briefly, "So... does this mean we're getting to the point that you have no idea where it's located or how dangerous it might be to approach?" She asks simply, letting her voice be more readily heard. She reaches out to touch Jax's mind to see if the man might have more than just good hearing.
Jaxain smiles at the man on the podium after taking a moment to recover from his shock. "Ok, I'm listening." he says quietly, expecting the man to speak again. He looks at Sage and gives a small smile.
Ken nods along at the story, waiting for the other shoe to drop. His head sweeps the room, perhaps not as interested in the wildly developing story as those queer individuals who keep flooding in. Presently he chuckles softly, but manages to keep his wise-ass comments to himself.
"No, ma'am. We know that it's north of us, fairly distantly, but still within what Emperor Prosek arrogantly calls the Coalition State of Missouri. "As I said, we know that it's beyond the Missouri itself, so that's a north-south boundary. From what we can tell, it's located centrally, east-west. As for danger? Our walkers have yet to detect any actual danger from it. Just enormous amounts of energy. It seems to phase in and out of reality every few hours, but it always comes back. I have personally consulted with a few techno-wizards as well, and given the information provided by the walkers, we are fairly confident that it poses no physical threat." Danson then lightens the mood with a short chuckle of, "Although I'm sure that trying to destroy it might not be the wisest decision. Not that it would stop Prosek from destroying it, if it came to that." He pauses for questions, or just to make sure that he should continue.
Bella gets her umbrella shook. Coat flapped. Boots rubbed. Now't she's mostly sorta dry she looks round. Wow. Lotsa people. Don't look like they're just standin outta the rain neither. Spottin a pretty-boy face inna crowd she heads Jax's way. "What's goin on? Gettin a new Dictator person or somethin?" Her head cocks at what the guy's sayin. "Or they lookin fer somethin?"
Tek stays towards the back paying attention the the speaker but by the look on his face walking in late has left him lost. He glances around and gives a nod of greeting to the group a short way a way that he recognizes.
Sage purses her lips as the man responds to her implied questions, but doesn't make any move to press the matter further for the moment. "I see." She replies in a non-committal fashion, before she glances over to Bella. "They're asking people to help them find a powerful item that everyone seems to desire." She explains simply, before shrugging faintly.
Jaxain simply nods along with the man's words, raising one of his legs to drape it over the other as he slumps in his chair. "Hmmmmm." He looks over at Bella, doing a double take as he spots both Tek and the strange looking Ken. "Holy crap!" He exclaims at the latter, forgetting about the former for a moment. "What the heck is that?"
"That ain't all you know," Ken speaks, finally, arms still folded before him. He turns his head back to the podium, peering up at the moderator. "Yer tellin' me you had scouts out who felt a nexus they know ain't supposed ta be there, an' none of 'em went ta look? Jus' so we's clear, onna two things happened. Either they went an' there was some God-awful ugly sitting on that an' they came cryin' home ta mamma, or them as went fer yer precious wasn't never heard from again an' yer tellin' us what the more cautious, second set of walkers scouted out at a safe distance. Else you'd have it already. I'd be much abliged if ya told us the rest of the story."
Danson looks to Jaxain's ejaculation with a raised brow, but continues on to answer Ken's accusation. "I assure you, sir, no one has died, no one has been maimed, no one has been harmed. The power that this object - whatever it is - seems to confuse things. Our walkers couldn't find it. They reported a single sighting of something that didn't belong, but they were unfortunately driven away by some common creatures before they could figure out exactly where they were. Navigation of all kinds seems to have some difficulty there. Before I continue, does anyone know their pre-Rifts history? Particularly early twentieth century?"
"If ev'rybody wants it somebody's got it already." Bella smirks at Sage. Nods with the blobby oozy thing. That ain't the blobby oozing thing she knows. Mybe they can hook up or somethin. But there's the talkin stuff goin on.Jax gets shrugged at. "Sounds kinda borin." She ain't big on history.
Tek looks over to Ken but pretends to not notice him, but looks back towards the podium and shakes his head no when history is brought up but he seems interested.
"Could be." Sage replies to Bella, before looking towards one of the unfamiliar faces in the crowd to find a rather different looking D-Bee. She doesn't have an outburst like Jaxain and merely considers the being and his words thoughtfully before shifting her attention back to the man at the podium. "Go on..." She says simply, deciding the speaker will get to his point regardless of whether anyone claims that knowledge or not.
Jaxain gets over his initial surprise at seeing the odd looking form, and gives Bella a smile. As the history question is asked he raises an eyebrow and does some quick calculations and ponders to himself. "Why, are you looking for an expert?" He asks, "Or are you about to enlighten us and just wanted to be sure?" He doesn't sounds like he is trying to be snarky, but more like it's a serious question.
Ken just chuckles in reply. "Right," he replies simply, and settles in again to listen to a story of the Bermuda Triangle.
The man who was selected to give a community briefing was probably chosen as a man to be unflappable to potentially stupid citizens. "No sir. One of our walkers reported that it possibly resembled one of their old warships. We don't know if there's any significance, or even if it really is one, or just looked like one. As I said, it was a difficult thing to see. I'm sure that the Museum has photos." Danson clears is throat. "It appeared back in September. The seventh, the be precise. At first, we believed it was simply an enigma - but then it didn't go away. One of our scholars came across an old record from last year that there was a similar blip of power on the same date, though it disappeared. I'd like to answer questions if I could, rather than simply telling you what you may already know about the world." Part of that is likely directed at Jaxain.
Bella's gotta question or three. "So the whatever it is's been round before? Why ya tryin ta get people lookin now? If it only pops in that one day? Ain'tcha just gonna wait fer that day next time 'n grab it 'r somethin?"
Tek still seems a bit confused, "If it isn't hurting anything or anyone why are we looking to go poking the bear? Or is there something more?"
"War or impending war does funny things to nations, it seems." Sage comments simply, before deciding to leave it at that. She can draw from personal experience based on one encounter she's had.
Jaxain shakes his head slightly as the man on the podium completely misunderstands him, but shrugs as it doesn't matter much anyway. He does appreciate the information, however, and nods his thanks. "Ok. How close have you managed to peg it's location? And do you think you need the entire warship, or just some smaller part, like a power supply? Have any of your psychics been able to divine anything like that?"
Ken's eyes widen a touch, and he stares up at the podium for a solid minute, apparently in thought. Then chuckling, he scuffs a toe and mutters, "Sure do hope whatever the hell it is jus' happens ta be on the ship. Be more trouble'n it's worth dragging that fucker across Missouri."
"No ma'am," Danson replies to Bella. "You arrived late. It came back a year later, and it has stayed, getting more and more powerful each passing day. You, sir. We are 'poking the bear' because it is too powerful to be allowed to sit out there, ready for others to grab. I hope that you think of us as reasonable people. Other sovereign nations are not. It could be a boon to our city in ways that we may not yet even comprehend. It is quite simply too powerful an object to be out without guard. If nothing else, we will attempt to find a place for it where it may simply be stored, out of sight and out of use for anyone." He looks to Jaxain. "I'm afraid that I've said all that I know about the object's appearance. It may have been an illusion. As for size? I have seen the Devil's Gate, and I have seen portable units in some rather exotic lands that were powerful in their own right. We don't know how large or small it might be, unfortunately. We are making an assumption that it will be on the larger side, but again, I cannot be sure. Our psychics have had very little success with anything. I'm really not sure what you expect they might be able to do?" His eyebrow arches upward. Ken's comment doesn't require a response. "I'm sure some of you may be wondering why we haven't simply sent a unit from the Militia to retrieve it. The answer is that the larger powers are at a bit of a détente at the moment. We all want it, but no one wants to be the first one to make an obvious grab for it. So we're hoping to hire those such as yourselves. One-hundred and seventy-five thousand credits for safe return of the object."
Bella whistles. That's a pretty big number. Least for her. "Where's't at again? Maybe missed that 'fore." Now she's payin more attention. Ain't so borin no more.
Tek perks up at the mention of a reward, "Do you know if it is some type of machine or vehicle?"
"I do wonder how such a thing could be transported... especially if it goes out of phase as you said before." Sage comments simply, "And, one might wonder what happens if this little venture is enough to spark a rapid reaction from the other powers at play... what - if any - aid would be offered should that happen?"
Ken just nods along. "Well, that'll about cover the rum onna way home." He shrugs and taps his idle fingers against the sides of his ribs, looking around the room. "So, ah, them's 'round about a hundred an' seventy five people here. We bussin' it, grand a piece, or you payin' fer the first group gets back with the precious in one piece? 'Cuz if it's the latter, some people might wanna watch their hamstrings onna way out." He widens his eyes and eyes the room, a big ol' grin on his face.
Danson smiles in Bella's direction. "North, a few hundred miles. As I've said, we don't know exactly where. That's for those of you who are of the braver, community-serving sort to discover." A glance is given to Tek. "We do not know for certain. However, if this image that one of our walkers saw is true, it seems reasonable that it may well be some kind of device, possibly working along the lines of techno-wizardry. But as I said, we don't know, these are only mildly-educated guesses." Sage receives a nod. "Excellent question. We have been sending out walkers, repeatedly. While they haven't yet pinned down its location, or what it looks like, they have reported that the 'phasing' is stabilizing. If our math is correct, this power source, whatever it is, should be a permanent fixture in a matter of days. No more than a week. So phasing during transport is unlikely to be an issue. As for other powers? I'm not prepared to speculate on that." His eyes flick to Ken at the back of the room. "The group that brings the object back will receive the reward. One-hundred and seventy-five thousand credits per person."
"Sounds pretty good ta me." Bella's one'a those civic minded selfless people a course. She's pretty sure she can maybe take a peek. Sometime soon maybe.
Sage doesn't seem overly enthused about the last comment, but she does seem to hold her tongue on the potential implications of that. She simply nods herself and begins to rise from her seat as if preparing to leave.
Ken peers aside at Bella, who being a late arrival isn't really all that far away, and as he shoves off the wall he plants a hand momentarily on her shoulder as he eases on past. "Right on, sister," he speaks, making for the door.
Danson returns to answering other questions by the remaining citizens that have gathered here to listen to the Council's proposition. Outside, the rain is still falling in buckets, and those who don't enjoy cold are in for another poor surprise. If they've forgotten that it was like that when they came in. Quite a few people are interested at such reward.[[Category:Ken]
