Sep 23 22:03:13 109 PA - Strategy and Costs of Hunting Big Game

From Chronicles

Sep 23 22:03:13 109 PA.

OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES - MAIN FLOOR

People are just starting to leave for lunch. Or rather, most of them have already left. In fact, most of them are probably out on jobs, not a pleasant lunch. Gracie, Gabriel's brilliant and four-armed, blue-skinned D-Bee is sitting behind her desk, ready to serve as receptionist, personal assistant and linebacker for those who might want to come in without an invitation or proper procedures. Of course, she's always polite and smiling. Efficient on top of that. Gabriel himself is unusually coming *in* to the office, passing Lisa at the door. A small brown paper bag is handed off to Gracie with a few quiet words and a smile before he moves deeper into the office toward his wall of maps. The door? Unlocked and ready for business.

Rasputin comes walking into the office, he is with a new shiny cane. It has silver, gold and a silver tip. The rest of the shaft is bone white. He removes his hat as he comes in, and asks the receptionist, "Pardons, dis Gabriel in perchance?"

Gracie smiles up - not very far up - at the potential client and folds her lower two hands together. "Hello, and welcome to the Office of Strategic Services, sir. Colonel Blaze has just gotten back. I don't see an appointment for anyone right now," she says after briefly glancing to her computer screen. Basically the only computer in the office with any hookup to the outside. "However, he might be free. Whom may I say is here?" Gabriel is in his own little world, in crisp uniform studying a large wall map. In fact, at that moment pulling down yet another one to rest next to what was already displayed.

Rasputin smiles a bit, "His chef, Rasputin Khlysts, to see him about a business proposal."

Gracie looks a little dubious at the mention of a personal chef, but takes it politely and in stride. She raises a clear voice. "Colonel, a Mr. Khlysts to see you? Would you like me to send him in, or schedule an appointment?" Gabriel doesn't immediately turn to the door, pausing for a moment, muttering something to himself that only special hearing would pick up. But after a moment, "Oh, Khylsts! Yes, Rasputin, please come in!" He raises a hand and waves. Of course, Gracie is nothing if not a stickler for protocol, as she should be. "Any weapons on you, please, Mr. Khylsts. The colonel is available." She is ready to take anything appropriate for securing in the Cage, otherwise Rasputin is free to enter.

Rasputin looks to Gracie and nods, "Da, several. Dis a dangerous city, da." He looks to Gabriel and walks forward, not handing over any weapons at all, but dropping his hat, overcoat, and cane into her arms. In a very, odd, non-friendly, unlike him manor. He says, "Gabriel, mink comink here to be askink about a business proposal, to be hirnk some of your mens."

Gabriel keeps smiling, and Gracie accepts the things without any comment beyond a pleasant, "Thank you, sir." In his own office, Gabriel looks very comfortable, as if he were at home, but with a purpose. Crossing his arms, he gestures Rasputin further in. "Okay. What is it that you're looking for? Something bad happen since the other night?" He then nods. "Good to see you, by the way."

Rasputin smiles a bit, and grins, "Da, dwell, mink been workink on an idea. How much wouldn't it be to hire 5 mens who were goodink with Heavy MD weapons? For a week or two, with possibilities of da risk?" He takes a seat, of course, it is now obvious that the chair he sits at back in the deli is built for him. As these normal chairs, make him look exactly as small as he actually is.

Gabriel takes his own seat, which by simple happenstance puts him on the business side of one of the utilitarian desks. Doesn't even look like much of a comfortable chair - those are for the clients. "Five men for two weeks? That would be my entire staff, not counting Erebos and Jokin. Or Gracie, of course. So basically devoting the entire company to a single job. That could... be very expensive, of necessity." He shrugs, looking a little uncomfortable. "I wish that I could find a way to cut a good discount, but ignoring other jobs for that long - or even a single week, at that staff level? Expensive. The base cost that I charge for any contract beyond an easy hourly rate for a quick job is twenty-five grand. That's before anyone besides myself is included at all. What's the project?"

Rasputin nods slowly, "25,000 credits? Per week?" He thinks a bit about this and tugs his beard, "Dhey would have da needed skills, da? Be ables to takink orders and follow commands?" He tugs his beard again, "Mink be wortink dit. Whatink if mink needed transportation? Dis possible? Hovercraft onlies?" He folds his hands in his lap as he tries to not be annoyed by the size of the chair.

Gabriel shakes his head a bit sadly. "Twenty-five thousand base, just for me, for one week. Seventeen-fifty for someone like Erebos or Jokin, fifteen-thousand - perhaps I could do a little less - for Lisa, Jack, Thomas, Bolard and Arneé. Per week. They have expenses, as you said - we have to take into account losses, which are expensive. I can tell you that they'll be skilled, and ready to take orders. Yes, more expensive than a mercenary that you could walk down to Moe's and hire, but if nothing else, they're smarter and know how to operate professionally." He leans forward to fold his hands on the desk. "So it's a lot. Without knowing what the job is, I really can't give you any better information. Maybe the job is more important than the profit, maybe not. If it's done right, even at cost, we might be able to drive some money out for you." A sigh and a pause. "As for vehicles, right now we really only have my own, and it's outfitted more for VIP transport within the city. Cost for that would be better for you to seek out and negotiate with a dealer."

Rasputin wrinkles his nose, "Net, too much. Mink normally offer 5K per week, per person, withink share of profits dependink on contributions." He tugs his beard, "Dwich mink come out to more dhan 25K, buttink dis too much uppink front."

Gabriel clears his throat, and asks again, "If perhaps I knew what the job was, I could suggest an alternative strategy to solve the problem. Don't worry, unless you're setting out to burn down a village, I'm just here as a professional. And even if you are, the policy here is complete confidentiality." He gestures up to one neat plaque that reads, 'All jobs come with free, private, no-obligation consultations.'

Rasputin mutters, "Disn't a secret, net really. Justtink tryink to feel thinks out. Iffink outsourcink dis more efficient, or dis betters to wrangle mink self." He thinks a bit, and pulls out his small note book. He flips it open, and looks at it, "Dhey able to fly hovercraft at least? And perhaps havink land navigation skills, mabyes trackink of animals?"

Gabriel chuckles, and doesn't press for further details right now. "They would. Not to go into combat, but to get you where you're going. As far as navigation?" He shrugs with a little pride. "Between experience and technology, something very serious would have to happen for me to put you in the wrong place. Tracking animals? Jack is probably good at that. We do a lot of work in urban areas, and dealing with people. I can't promise anything about tracking something like an animal, but I can certainly see what to uncover." He looks up to the ceiling. "Arneé hunts sometimes. He might be able to do it. Still, yes if it is simply coming down to cost, you can probably find a better deal somewhere else. If it's coming down to capability however, this is where you want to be. I can get with Gracie and go over the books, see if I can't find a professional discount somewhere."

Rasputin nods slowly, and ponders. He looks at his notebook, and tugs his beard. "Da, combat mink happens, dis would be da goal. Dis would beink a huntink trip, da biggest goal would beink dhem all havink da same weapon." He pauses, "One mink would provide to each man, dhus ensuring same shots on samink target." He thinks a bit, "Dwith profit, but also large masses of meats."

"Ah. A hunt. Sounds like you have some strategy planned already?" Gabriel's brow perks. "If you could supply the weapons, that would bring the price down, certainly."

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, mink am looking to be purchasing 5 NG-P7s, and outfittink dhem optics for precision shootink, da." He nods, "Dhen, we makink nests and all fires at same spots. Hittink, at samink time. Downink beasts quickly, and quietsly, da." He smiles broadly, "Dhen repeat for second beats. Low dangers, high reward. Buttink takink much prep and focuses to accomplishes, da."

Gabriel thinks on that for a while, then gives his opinion. "I mean, right off the bat you're sinking more than a hundred grand into the expedition, and that doesn't even include the optics or ammunition. Ammunition is damned expensive," he says as someone who knows. "Plus, there's no way that you're going to fire off a bunch of plasma ejectors quietly. They make big chunk and sizzle sounds, plus... some idiot has designed modern weapons with a built-in *BANG* feature. Totally electronic to make people feel good about themselves when they pull the trigger. Personally? I paid to have them removed from my weapons." He gives a nod toward the Cage. "So the quietly part also goes out the window right up front. What's the thinking behind everyone having the same weapon, rather than everyone having the weapon that they are most adept at using? Anyone can pull a trigger, but it takes skill to nurse a better shot from any weapon that someone might be given. We can't all do everything. I can barely fire anything heavy without being blown onto my ass, but give me a rifle or a handgun, and I'll quiet a problem faster than most people flinch. Those heavy weapons can be tricky, too. Kind of unpredictable as to what kind of effect you'll actually get." For now, he only looks for holes, not offering further opinions on solutions.

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, buttink for Dino's most weapons net havink da punch to be doink da hits as needed. As for plasma, net. Particle beam rifles." He writes a note, "Da, havink to remove noise makers, goodink point." He writes down another note, "Buttink dit is about perciesion with da same weapon, dus makink sure dit all is hittink at aboutink da same times. Especialy with da optics, and balancink. Da weapons will bink loaned, net givink. Dhen reclaimed after da mission, for next trip da."

Gabriel shakes his head again. "Not much you can do to tweak energy weapons. Really just slapping on some scopes and giving them a custom grip - which obviously would need to change from mission to mission, as you have it planned. And yes, I meant to say particle beam. As for timing?" He shrugs. "I'm assuming you're hunting dinosaurs. I defy you to find me a dinosaur that would be fast enough to flinch in the microsecond differences between impacts of a laser, a particle beam, a plasma ejector, a rifle, whatever. The problem is once it knows you're there, it will take even the best of us a short time between shots to line up again, and that's where timing comes in." He gestures up to the American flag hanging above his office door. "My country proved to the most powerful country in the world that waiting to fire in volleys was a good way to lose. Even if you take one dinosaur down in the first volley, the rest will be stampeding from the sounds of the weapons and the cries of the wounded animal. That's when - in my opinion - it might be best to simply have people who are good at what they do. But if you want particle beams, we can do particle beams. Just don't expect to be able to ambush even stupid dinosaurs multiple times, unless you're going to be repositioning and waiting patiently for them to calm down multiple times."

Rasputin grins a bit, "Dis about da range, iffink we were dhat long range we couldink do it, da?" He grins a bit, "Especially, iffink da shots were din da neck, and takink down beast quietkly. Soink only smell of flesh and sound of collapse, dese are net smart creatures normally." He chuckles, "Buttink, doink one rushink animals away, swoopink in to get animal. Dhen wait for ambush again. Patience, da. Ifink we can net gettink two animals." He thinks a moment, "Do, do you thinkink you can find peoples skilled with regular rifles instead? Couldink, waitink and gettink dhose nasty Dino hunter files fromink NTIs." He makes a small note.

"Rifles are definitely easier to use, and generally more accurate. Are you talking about the NTI pulse rifles? They're quite noisy, and in my experience are equal to your common L-20 that you can pick up down at the Gunnery. With extensive modifications, they can be made very accurate, of course." Gabriel offers a smile. "I wouldn't be able to do anything but direct, if you wanted to only use the heavy weapons. I'm just no good with 'em. Too foreign from everything that I worked with throughout my formative years and career." He pulls out his own pad of paper and a genuine, wood-graphite pencil, licking the tip before making a note. "Just how many of these things are you trying to kill, and how big are they? You want them for their meat?"

Rasputin shakes his head, "Net, net, da Megalodon. Designations, NTI-04A. Dis a large caliber rifle, with long ranges. Dhey are muchink more powerfules, and longer ranges. As you sayink, more accurate. Buttink, of course, muchink more expensive. Mink would needink many more prep trips. Dis more risky." He sighs, "And singles shots, as sold..." He trails off, and makes a small note, "Dhough, withink NG-P7, dhey as you sayink easy to get. And do a solid kick of damages. Net as long as range, but doink it at 300 meters easy." He thinks a bit, "Mink wants dhem for meat mostly, and about 4 to 5 tons each." He thinks a bit, "Dwell, dhose mink have foundink dhich are da largest mink found dhus far." Rasputin adds, "Mink would like, dwell... You wanted manies, da?"

"Wow," Gabriel says. "Those are expensive. And slow. Gotta be strong just to fire it without having your aim thrown off by the kick, too." He taps his chest and laughs. "I wouldn't be able to fire it accurately. Just not strong enough. I would personally suggest an ambush, or a barrier of some type to move them where you want. Then use speed to take them down. Putting your eggs into one slow basket is in my opinion the lesser strategy."

Rasputin shrugs, "Mink just need trainkink on da weapon, disn't dhat heavy or harsh." He tugs his beard, and takes a few notes, "Da, da. Dhough, ambush is safer from distance, da?" He writes a few notes, "Dhough, lets me keep doing mores research, da?" He stands up, "We chat more later?" He turns to go.

Gabriel stands with the dwarf, extending a hand to shake and escort him to the door. "We can talk strategy again, Rasputin. I'll go over costs, but I'm not entirely sure if I will be able to find places to trim anything. Just a guarantee that I have good people. Tell everybody down at the deli that I said, 'hello.' Gracie, can you see him out, please?" He then turns and walks back to whatever he was doing with his wall maps.

Rasputin nods and shakes your hand, "Da, da." He turns and takes his coat, cane and hat from Gracie. Then he walks out into the weather.