Operation: Express Car; [train plot log]

[these_balls]

Who: Everyone who wants to participate!
Where: Goldenrod City, the Magnet Train, Saffron City.
When: November 23rd, 11AM-5PM
Summary: Heist on the Magnet Train!
Rating: Might go up to PG-13, possibly R if exceptional violence of swearing occurs.
Log:

Comments

PHASE 1 – 10:30-12:50

[these_balls]

[Find your seat! The doors won't stay open forever, you know! You didn't forget anything, did you? Heavy luggage should be stowed at your feet, while lighter items should be kept in the overhang. Don't play with the lunch tray. Draw a face on the foggy glass, if you want. Did you bring music to listen to? A book to read?

But you know, the other passengers look awful friendly. Maybe you should talk to them instead.]

[shieldofjustice]

[Athrun stows his luggage and drops into his seat. He's looking forward to this; it's been a very long time since he's actually ridden in a vehicle. He looks around to see if there's anybody else he knows in his train car.]

[attherailways]

[Yep, Izumi's on his first under cover mission, looking for people to talk with so he can find out if they're worth enough to be marked and hoping there aren't any familiar people around.

... well, there seems to be at least one he's talked to more than once. Better to avoid him and hope he doesn't see.

Too bad Takuto the Meowth is excite to see Athrun and runs over. Why did he choose him of all the Pokémon to accompany him.]

[shieldofjustice]

[Probably would have been a good idea, given the levels of Athrun's team and his level of personal experience. Oh, well!]

Oh, hey. We've met before, haven't we?

[He's addressing the Meowth for now.]

PHASE 2 – 12:45

[these_balls]

[ locked to Phase 2 Rockets! ]

[Be quiet. Be subtle. Remember: act like you belong, and no one will suspect you don't until it's too late. Knock out the attendant, take out the driver. At least two of you man the train, at least one lookout, while the rest set up the explosives. Upon successful completion, a picture of the bomb with the keywords THE EGG IS HATCHING, are to be sent to an Admin.

Work fast, soldiers. The clock is ticking.]

[hasearthbooks]

[Aliens, Archer? Pray, what aliens? Gorthan is just your average duck from Earth! ... Except for the part where he's literally anything but that.

For the last few days, a question has been pounding in the Branch Chief's head and in his chest, its viral influence keeping him wide awake at night with the effectiveness of gallons of caffeine.

If this mission relies so heavily on the amplified power of mass fear, and thus is, without a doubt, destined to succeed...

... why must the explosives be real? In such a setting, shouldn't an empty threat and a fake bomb suffice? Why should we put the lives of so many people in actual danger?He's given himself countless different answers, from the perfectly Evronian "it's the only way they'll take the threat and the Team seriously", to more absurd, and yet perhaps slightly true, things such as "to titillate people like Kimblee

[rideonmyharley]

[For all his talk about trying to get out of Team Rocket, once it comes down to it, Kia's right there helping out because he likes the idea of causing a bit of trouble and not being bored out of his mind.

Setting up explosives is second nature to him, so he looks up at the others keeping an eye out, making sure they really are paying attention, as he winds wires together and makes sure the detonator is in the best possible place.

If anyone thought Kia was stupid, this is a good time for them to be proven wrong.]

[hackintheaster]

[Robin definitely notices how easily Kia is setting up the wiring of the bomb, and watches as he works.]

You seem pretty comfortable. Have you worked with explosives before?

PHASE 3 – 12:50

[these_balls]

[ locked to Phase 3 Rockets ]

[Does it count as 'hand gliding' if the hand glider is a Fearow? Whatever the case may be, don't dawdle on the helicopter too long. The train slows while it curves through rocky Indigo Plateau; this is your only chance, as the train is too fast to land on otherwise. Do your best, and try not to die. Fighting awaits below, if you succeed.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[The first helicopter ride from Mahogany Town to Goldenrod had been traumatizing. This one isn't much better. That said, Archer isn't afraid of heights or falling, and the past few weeks of training have prepared him for this. He's spent the majority of the ride over asking about the various Pokémon - and he's finally figured out how to get both his bat and bird to evolve - more or less to take his mind off the fact that they're flying in a giant metal death-trap.]

[But anyway, the moment they're told to go, he jumps. Archer's sense of self-preservation has really never been the strongest anyway.]

[meatysoviet]

[After the last few months with everything being turned on its head, this whole operation felt... Normal. It felt like a small bit of home sitting the helicopter, going over the finer details of the operation. He'd missed manoeuvres like this.

It was also the first time the Russian had seen any of his fellow rocket team members, the ones he knew of having left and/or disappeared for who knew how long.

There's little more than residual hesitation at the commands given, and he'd out of the helicopter at the order to do so.]

[serpensrex]

[Old habits die hard, so once the order was given, the Commander was out the copter door yelling at the top of his lungs.]

COBRAAAAAAAAAAAA! ATTACK!

[Honestly it wasn’t that different from home. Except for the Pokémon. And the fact that he wasn’t in command of the operation. And that he’d actually face consequences if this ended in failure.]

DANGER – 13:00

[these_balls]

[At one o'clock, a voice hijacks the PA system, and unregistered audio starts playing on the pokégears. If you've been in Johto long, you may know him. It's Archer, the 'boss' of Team Rocket, sounding obnoxiously smug.]

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen; we hope you're having a pleasant ride. Unfortunately for you, we couldn't help but notice a lovely assortment of pokémon traveling with you today. You didn't think it'd escape our notice, did you?"

[At about this time, you should start hearing ominous ka-thunk, ka-thunk as Rockets hit the roof. You've been had.]

"We're here, among you, and we've rigged this train to go sky high at little loss to us, but big loss to you." [He lets that sink in.] "Think of the children, ladies and gentlemen! You wouldn't want anything bad to happen to them, would you?"

[Rockets start pouring into the cars. Outside, the Rocket flying-types swarm the windows aggressively, blocking escape as the train barrels into the mountains. The Rockets release Weezing and Koffing, which expel dank-smelling

[puppet_paladin]

[How cowardly.

Cecil's first thought after the announcement is simple, truly. Who else but cowards would hide behind civilians, especially children, to commit their misdeeds? No one would dare risk their lives...

Yet he answers their message by standing up, opening the door, and telling Esuna to use Psybeam on the closest Koffing.

'Release Rosa.' 'Rosa? Whoever would that be?'

They cannot be trusted to keep their word, after all.]

[tiercelet]

[Merlin nearly snorts at that--think of the children...really? It couldn't be more obvious they cared nothing for the safety of the passengers, and were only using them as shields.

Clenching his hands into fists, Merlin glares at the closest Rockets.]

[meatysoviet]

[He hears the snort, turning to look at the man in question, before giving a light snort of his own as he looks down at the other's clenched fist.]

A smart man would do as was told- however, if is so desperate to break those fingers, allow me to make you follow orders by force.

DEFUSE THE BOMB – 13:05+

[these_balls]

[You're brave; you think you can handle this? There are over ten cars between you and your goal, and Rockets lining the path with their dark- and poison-types. Once you get there, you'll have to deal with Phase 2 Rockets, and the machine itself.

Good luck, and godspeed.]

[shieldofjustice]

[Can Athrun handle this? He's handled two mass nuclear attacks and two superweapons. He's handled battle after battle in the cold, unforgiving environment in space. He can handle this.

Which is why he's making a mad dash for the bomb, his Scizor out and ready to mess up anybody intent on getting in his way.]

[chemwhiz]

Athrun! I'm coming with you.

[Which is why he's following closely behind, dodging and punching his way through the Rockets trying to stop him.]

[shieldofjustice]

All right. You cover the rear and make sure they don't try to ambush us from behind!