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Post by Zane on Dec 26, 2019 10:46:45 GMT -8
Saying that they were being deceitful was to be expected. What else could you call anyone that spun the tale that they just did? It made their allies even more few and far between. Then again in another point of view, she had seen the footage from... well, she wouldn't pry on that scenario. That was her business and also not quite something she wanted to bring up with at least one of their present company involved. That would just be something that could come out on its own seeing as he was asking about that now too. It was more focused on what they needed to do, but then again he probably didn't even know her name despite the fight last time.
"I suppose that means introductions are in order. Mistair, former secretary of the NIA. I lost my job by actions not my own fault, actually. Found out details I wouldn't otherwise know if Nightshade, the cat, wasn't so insistent to speak with me. And then throw me under the bus immediately after."
In her defense she would have taken preemptive measures on that, but something about getting intercepted by a sword to the chest had her drop that subject at the time. It didn't even take it very many days for that thorn to stick them in the side again. Once was fine, mistakes could happen. Twice was not, that showed an inability to learn from what was wrong the first time. The third time it happened was just grating, and the fourth was just the nail in the coffin. If others wanted to give him any more chances they could, but she had enough of getting messed up because of his decisions. Genesis' reason for attacking the NIA would be because of collateral damage, his namesake as one would have it. Their reasons would be a bit similar in a way, but not entirely the same as it wasn't because of a vendetta against them.
"The NIA's role in this is their collaboration with Rosso. The footage does paint the light in their favor, as it shows the one navi, Resonance, as responsible for the Cybeast set loose. Considering Rammount's destruction was the Overlord's doing, their actions in helping out Electopia become justified due to credited information from... actually this gets a lot more complicated as we get into this."
Realizing that this all started because an Electopian spy literally came out and announced that they were a spy to the nation they were sent to spy on was not the greatest tale to spin. And then it spiraled out of control and became a real story to tell, but unless they wanted the entire story she would save them the trouble. Looking back on it, it was quite the string of events to say the least.
"Long story short, the NIA has taken part in this panic, both in Netopia and Electopia alike. The others are just their fall guys for the act. Even if their actions were factored in to it."
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Post by Gaia on Dec 26, 2019 16:04:45 GMT -8
Vanguard.EXE
Vanguard looked around as more information was pooled together, the ragtag group trying to put two and four together. Still, what Genesis said made a point. Introductions were in order. Looking around, he listened to Mistair's introduction, following her explanation of a series of events rather well, barely containing a laugh as he recalled the same information.
"My battle position is the Vanguard - tactics specialist and strategic intel provider. That is the closest thing I have to a name, and, so, I am called Vanguard, CEO of Siega Corporation; a company that designs autonomous Navis designed to assist and empower other navis in combat. Previously trained by the Reaverking Var, and thereafter found guilty of destroying the Netopian Border, the NIA took me in and made it my job to first guard the border, and to second give Mistair assistance in whatever way she needed it. In some ways, I am at the very least still doing the latter half of my job," Vanguard introduced, musing on the last part as he looked over at his partner.
"The NIA is guilty of acquiring the Cybeasts and keeping them under containment - which they actually have every right to do - but then set it up to make it appear as though someone else released them. If nothing else, the fact that they would run Mistair and I out - and have the Reaverking Vamin living in their basement, prepared to intercept us as we left - gives some credence to the cat's tale."
He paused for a moment, looking back at Genesis. "On a similar note, if you have a lead taking you to Sharo, I have a lead that sends us in the same direction - but not by the same path, more than likely," Vanguard explained, holding up his hand to open yet another screen. This time, he displayed the code on the scene from the border, how the border's code rapidly shifted and then changed back, as well as the source of the changes: Some network within Sharo, which Vanguard did not recognize outside of its real-world location.
"Either they were leading us to believe that this is where it started all along, or they were just a tad sloppy. I'm going to go with the former, but, a lead is a lead."
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Post by Warrior on Dec 26, 2019 16:57:58 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/HMwvYex~png So essentially Rosso was the primary concern, likely the most accessible member of whatever organization was behind it all. He had a connection to NIA, whether by collaboration or by allegiance was unclear, but given the lack of other information about him, they deemed it the most efficient way of drawing him out to get more information out of him.
Learning that Nightshade's information was what led to Mistair's misfortune was concerning, especially if this was the same "cat" that Warrior's own information came from before he had passed it onto Faith herself. Vanguard giving the cat a little bit of credibility eased that concern a little, at least.
As Mistair had said though, introductions were in order so she'd take her turn next after Vanguard.
" Faith Nymphra. You can call me by either. "
Mistair dropped her bomb of being a newly-separated NIA member, but Faith of course had her own bomb to drop. Not to one-up Mistair or anything, but if this was about having each others' trust, she wasn't one to shy away from putting her neck on the line first.
" I'm sure you know what having a first and last name implies. "
If it needed spelling out for anyone, then it didn't matter to that person. An argument could be made for some Navis "just having" first and last names, but they wouldn't make a point of it if that were the case.
" I've mingled with NIA years in the past, but had a bit of a falling out since their ideals weren't ones that I could get behind. While I'm not going to go into my life's story, I think it'll be suffice to say that I have friends in both the real and cyber worlds and I try to look out for all of them the best that I can. "
The short of it was that she broke one of their weapons dubbed the "Anti-Titan" that Feint had activated during one of her escapades. Faith's dagger was a splinter of that creature that she kept for herself as a reward for cleaning up that mess, but the fact that it existed at all was a clear indicator that they were up to no good, so that's when she parted ways with them and never really went back.
Her mentor and father figure, Seth Pele, would still lend his expertise to NIA from time to time for the good of his country as he was a renowned network engineer and there was still some positive aspects of the organization. However, when Faith had gone to visit him recently upon returning to Netopia after her yearlong absence, he was nowhere to be found.
Knowing the NIA may have somehow been involved with the commotion going on over here in the eastern networks on top of the fact that they were possibly in cahoots with this Rosso fellow (or vice versa) left her with pieces that she didn't want to put together, but ones that added up all the same.
" If that involves knocking down NIA's door, then by all means. It wouldn't be the first time I've caused them trouble, so we've already got bad blood anyway. Before I go asking about what Sharo has to do with any of this though, I think it's fair I give you the opportunity to decline my hand if you don't want it now that the truth's out there. "
Genesis did mention that it was one of his leads, just not much else beyond that. Not yet at least. As for why she put the ball in their court: this wasn't any of the real world's business yet. She'd already basically given her hand just moments ago, but now the picture was painted so it would be rude to forcefully insert herself among them as NIA had often done in the past -- it was the distinguishing line between herself and them that she drew and didn't cross.
" If you have an issue with a human mingling in your affairs, I'll bow out and let you go on with your business. If you think you can use help from the other side though, I'm still willing to lend it until we get to the bottom of all this. You're capable enough, no doubt, but I can still reach some places you can't and make it easier in the grand scheme. "
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Post by Genesis on Dec 26, 2019 18:01:14 GMT -8
*She was just the secretary when she got in his way at Rammount? What on earth... that didn't make sense. While her supportive nature shone most that at least meant she would still have field duty, so why a secretary? Her losing her job over someone else was a bit unfortunate, but it wouldn't be the first time someone's associates flagged them poorly. Often times others would claim to not be affiliated with himself or some of the others who kept his company due to their actions. Nightshade was the one who gave away Psyche as well, so he knew all too well that from the sounds of it, the kid was just a catalyst for disaster.*
"Don't worry, losing your job isn't his only misdemeanor. He dodged some other bullets here and there too."
*Vanguard just lived by his title and that was just how some of them were. He at least knew to keep his eyes on the prize and keep his priorities straight. If the job he was doing was what he was up for, then see it through until the end. If you were half-baked about it then you would only end up with regrets later. Vanguard knew Var as well, which meant he was at least the source for standard information about the Reaverkings on top of... that location? His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Well wasn't that downright ominous...*
"...."
*It was better to pursue what they knew instead of what they did not. But he couldn't help but feel it all the same that he wanted to investigate Sharo even more than before. How vexing... perhaps even more than the bomb that Faith Nymphra decided to drop on them next. More than telling her to move on in less than gentle words and more with vicious action... but he considered what someone said to him a while ago now. The humans who had wronged him directly were gone now thanks to a tyrant's efforts and the rest were mostly just being stupid rather than directly causing him problems. He could afford to speak with some of them cordially if they could do the same. Besides... if she happened to bite it in the crossfire, not that he would let her go easily at least, then what better way for it to play out? So he closed his eyes, silently breathed in and out, and released. ...He had been influenced by said tyrant a bit too much now after they reached a common ground.*
"You make for the easiest in and out for Sharo and I know where that spot on that map of Vanguard's leads to. The dots connect enough and there's no reason to turn down earnest help unless that help is a double-edged sword."
*And he had yet to see if that was the same case here. Vanguard's corporation would already be in the line of fire so he may as well get ready to accept it and put them on the table now too. That left them with knowing that Sharo had something going on and that the NIA's offense wasn't a first time deal that they were just starting fresh with from new management. They were just trying again from another angle again. Rather than a light nudge to remind them they were wrong, he'd lay them to waste so they wouldn't have a chance to keep trying to enforce their right and wrong on them. He could put his issues aside, somewhat, for the bigger picture at hand here.*
"First, we decide where to go first. Netopia if we want to get the door banging out of the way now, or Sharo if we want to find out what they're doing in that old fortress. One's a loose end and one's a lead left rather intentionally, so either option is viable. From there is assessing the threats we know of, namely the Reaverkings and what we each know about Rosso. Or this situation in general given New Life."
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Post by Gaia on Dec 27, 2019 11:11:12 GMT -8
Vanguard.EXE
He looks to Faith as she suddenly introduces herself, noting her use of a last name. Frowning, Vanguard took but a moment of introspection to see how he felt about the matter, and remembered the humans he had watching his own progress from their side. He turned to look at her, piercing through the outer layer of her visage in order to gaze into her unique code within, noting the strange variance from other Navis due to the slight presence of human DNA - a different kind of code, but code all the same.
"Interesting advances in technology, that is. I will assume you have already considered the dangers you put yourself in, should your enemies find a way to target you from the other side?
"I have no qualms working with you, so long as you remain insightful and cooperative. Disdainful as they may be at times, humans are not all bad - like Genesis said, you provide a powerful resource that we may not have the luxury to use otherwise."
Vanguard looked back at their little group, just then, knowing he had a lot of information that needed to be shared. "On that note, I will push for the trip into Sharo. Mistair and I just escaped from the NIA, and I unloaded all of the power I could possibly muster onto their main Headquarters, and it didn't even look damaged. They also made it very clear to us that they wanted us to escape - any attempt to return would be met with harsh opposition, mostly directed towards getting us to change our minds. The majority of their resources are shored up there, but, more importantly, I thoroughly believe Rosso is less dangerous - even if only marginally - if we do not try to fight him in Grom's territory. He has a lot of influence within the base itself, and I will guess that translates around its immediate vicinity."
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Post by Zane on Dec 27, 2019 13:02:24 GMT -8
Armiger and Centurion were two of those automonous Navis to be used to empower others. They would need a rundown of everything that was happening at some point or another as they delved deeper into this. But she nodded, seeing as they were still together for the latter half of their old job. Vanguard was responsible among other things and saw those things through once he was assigned that task. And while they had yet to encounter Vanguard's mentor, he was likely around the corner now given Vamin and Deav had been engaged now, leaving but two more to combat with. And the Onyx Overlord took that rather well all things considered as she was expecting it to erupt into another conflict right away. Maybe if Faith was a different kind of person it would have. Setting aside others presuming she'd hold some bias for assaulting the NIA, which was understandable, it was a matter of which case should take priority. Should they find out what was happening in Sharo now or finish the fight in Netopia instead? Genesis seemed to have an idea of what that location was related to in Sharo, so that lead was expanding more than it was before. He had changed his point of view from just attacking Netopia to considering going to Sharo first, on top of Faith Nymphra's revelation.
They didn't entirely know what happened in Electopia, as they were busy at the time when the place was under attack and only had the account of the cat. At the very least Genesis was quite honest about what he knew about things, crimes and all. So New Life was taken down by the Reaverkings as far as they understood it and that left the ONB having a slew of problems all its own. They could investigate that later, as everyone was missing or dead from that one and Resonance had to bear the brunt of the blame for that. For now came focusing on which direction they were heading, which meant...
"As far as we know the NIA won't be moving anywhere, so finding out the more unknown circumstances of Sharo might be more important. Grom's strength lies in his surroundings, so he won't be following us anywhere that isn't to his advantage."
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Post by Warrior on Dec 27, 2019 13:32:18 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/HMwvYex~png Well that turned out well, all things considered. Faith wasn't one to beat around the bush when answers needed presenting, unlike a friend of hers out there.
Both Sharo and NIA held important positions to her: one being where she had sent Warrior off to, unknowingly into more danger. The other being an organization that could take easy advantage of Feint while Faith wasn't there to be her voice of reason -- Cherish would no doubt still be trying to claw her way into their ranks, and if they really were up to no good, may even succeed. Especially considering that they were down a secretary, so at the very least a spot opened up.
For now though, Sharo had more promising returns for investigation, so she'd just have to trust her "sister" to not do anything stupid while she was away. Mistair made a solid point that one of those two places weren't going anywhere, so even if it felt like playing into the enemy's hands with the way things seemed to all be set up, sometimes you just had to keep moving forward to get more information. Anything else would be blind judgement and effectively down to dumb luck.
" If we think Sharo will yield more answers, then I'll cast my vote there as well. We can at least expect NIA to behave while we're gone if they're framing themselves out to be innocent. They'll have some time to themselves, sure, but Sharo has had much longer time as far as we know since I can't think of any freedom-fighters originating from those regions. "
Not that she'd know as many as the next person. But given the months that had passed since the closing of the borders, who knew what developments they were able to make while shut off from the rest of the world.
" Whenever we're ready, then. "
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Post by Genesis on Dec 27, 2019 18:01:39 GMT -8
"Sharo it is, then. We can relay the rest of our details on the way there."
*So the tactics specialist had trouble taking down a headquarters. To be fair the border he took down was mostly done after his own handiwork to it, so if he couldn't take down the base then it just meant that they made it a bit sturdy. New Life was the same, but look at the condition it was in now when the right force was used against it. It would be a wake up call he could offer them later. He wanted them to send all of that opposition so he could take care of them, Grom and all, in one fell swoop. Either they would change their minds and back down or as he saw it, they would be done with the NIA then and there. He preferred they send it all at once instead of dealing with them one step at a time, but that was his view on it and he wasn't exactly by himself this time. If they were headed there the long way, they had a few hours to take care of any explanations that needed to be taken care of in transit, like how to deal with Rosso for example with their respective encounters with him. And he wasn't even fond of how they would have to do so, but Sharo's lockdown wasn't actually dealt with like Netopia's had been before when they had done so.*
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Post by Warrior on Dec 27, 2019 21:06:52 GMT -8
#s://i~imgur~com/HMwvYex~png " Right. Well, guess I'm the shuttle. "
By the same token that Warrior was able to get into Sharo just the day before, Faith had militant authorization to travel to and from foreign countries on Gigamerican visa. Their security was a little tighter than most, but it was basically just a matter of keeping her cargo buried under the excessive encrypted files in her PET as she went through airport security... and none of the navis poking their heads out during the invasive pat-downs that the guards just always seemed to select her for specifically, for some reason.
And the full-body X-Rays that everyone was required to go through? Without fail, they'd send Faith through it at least three more times to make sure they "didn't miss anything".
So needless to say, she was well-enough acquainted with having the extra surveillance on her as she traveled to and fro that hiding some Net Navis in her PET was essentially going to be effortless while all eyes were on her anyway.
" I'll go make my preparations then. I'll send you the address to my PET in encrypted emails once I'm out, and I suppose we leave for Sharo immediately. "
Faith closed her eyes, her body beaming up into the sky in a flash of light, much like one would expect "Jacking Out" to appear. And moments later, just as promised, their inboxes would ring with a message containing access to Faith's PET where they could transit on their whim.
((Faith -> Gigamerican Consulate -> Access to Sharo granted by Zane))
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Post by Gaia on Jan 15, 2020 14:04:02 GMT -8
Out of Character
[Rewards] Joker - +250z, +25 Exp Faith - +450z, +45 Exp Gen - +40 Exp, +400z Van - +250z, +25 Exp K-358 - Release from Servitude by deadening.
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Post by Zane on Jan 15, 2020 15:33:16 GMT -8
K-358 the clear winner here.
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