Progress with have_no_mercy

[kneel_majorzod]

Finally, after several weeks of tiresome planning, they're making progress. The plans will be finalized soon, and then the towers will go up. And anyone who tries to stop that from happening will be taken care of.

That is, in fact, the reason for Tess' visit. To help Zod plan for security measures to keep unwelcome guests away from their precious

Comments

[have_no_mercy]

There's little else Tess can do but take his word for it at this point, so she'll leave that point be.

"I would think so, yes. We both seem to like to keep an eye on our projects."

[kneel_majorzod]

"Yes, we do. And in this particular project, I plan to be personally involved." He gives her another glance. "After all, I'm not about to sit in a dusty room and brood while the rest of my people break their backs trying to make this happen. I'm not that sort of leader."

[have_no_mercy]

"Hire a maid," Tess suggests, stepping further away from the car.

"I'm not really expecting anything less from you on this, Major. I've heard the speech."

[kneel_majorzod]

The Major doesn't really understand her first comment, but he ignores it, assuming it's not overly important.

"I wasn't aware I was giving a speech. I certainly would have made more of an effort to make it interesting. My passion would have been truly moving."

[have_no_mercy]

Tess half smiles. "You're not, thankfully. I don't think I'm really up for that kind of passion at the moment anyway. You tend to drone," she adds.

"I was referring to your 'I will find our answers, or die in the quest' speech." Tess paraphrases, of course. It's not like she's actually got it memorized. "That one did seem to be rather moving, from a certain perspective."

[kneel_majorzod]

"I do?" he asks with semi-genuine surprise. "I'll have to work on that."

He raises his eyebrows after she finishes. "Oh, yes. You were there for that, weren't you?" He lets out a soft sigh. "So much has happened since then."

[have_no_mercy]

"Yes, I was." Tess' own voice is quiet at that. "And now you're doing exactly what they were afraid of; colluding with a human. They must hate me." It doesn't sound like she particularly minds, however.

"So what sort of defenses were you thinking of?"

[kneel_majorzod]

He studies her for a moment. "Hate is a strong word. They certainly don't like the idea of their leader being on equal footing with a human. But they trust my judgment."

He glances around them again and considers for a moment. "Guards, for starters. Around the perimeter. Construction must not be interrupted by unwelcome visitors."

[have_no_mercy]

"I'd hate me," she shrugs.

"Guards, or soldiers?" It's a half suggestion, half question. Tess isn't certain herself what would be more appropriate. "And do you think that will be enough?"

[kneel_majorzod]

"They're not like you." His voice is very soft.

"Both," he says after a moment. "I think your security's guns and my Kandorian muscle will both be needed, in various places. And no, it won't be enough." Hs expression darkens slightly as he continues. "After we have this place successfully guarded, other measures must be taken. And we may want to consider starting now. Even though construction has not yet begun, this place is very valuable to us."

[have_no_mercy]

"No one is." Tess catches his gaze at that for just a moment and then returns to surveying the area.

"Both should do to start," she agrees with a nod. "We can always increase power if it becomes necessary. As for other measures-- I do have an explosives expert on my payroll."

[kneel_majorzod]

"No arguments there. I don't expect there can be more than one Tess Mercer," he says without much amusement.

She'll get a raised eyebrow and a smile, however, for that last statement. "Good. Every possible precaution must be taken. Anything and everything we have access to. Which, as I understand it, is a great deal."

[have_no_mercy]

Tess starts to reply to his first comment and then appears to change her mind, keeping silent and, in fact, letting the matter drop. It's nothing he needs to be concerned about.

Zod does, however, get another nod to his final statement. "More than you can imagine, but I don't think we quite need everything. There is such a thing as overkill."

[kneel_majorzod]

Zod gives her a bit of a smirk at that. "Is there? Well, we should be extensive regardless. And I can imagine quite a bit. You might be surprised what goes on in my brain sometimes."

After a short pause, he adds, "I will choose one of my people to head security matters from my end. Then I'll start sending them here. The sooner, the better."

[have_no_mercy]

"Yes, there is. We also shouldn't be betting all our chips to start with, otherwise we leave ourselves with no alternatives."

Tess scans the immediate surroundings and then lets her gaze wander to the skyline. "You know, Lex's particular interest was national defense. Against aliens. So I think his imagination was on a decidedly different wavelength than yours is."

She turns back to him. "I'll select one of mine as well. They should get used to working together."

[kneel_majorzod]

"I agree, but it is best we prevent what casualties we can to begin with."

He falls silent and glances at her thoughtfully. "You know, something tells me Lex and I would not have gotten along very well," he says softly.

"Oh, won't that be fun? Hopefully, they can do so without killing each other." And judging by his expression, that statement was no jest.