1521/The Value of Delegation

The Value of Delegation
Date of Scene:	07 February 2015
Location:	British Isles-548
Synopsis:	Integra asks Taro for advice on new multiversal training techniques, and the pair devise new mission objectives for Hellsing going forward
Cast of Characters:	246, 399

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Sir Integra (246) has posed:
A new year has not changed much in London-548.

Terrorists recently struck a blow against the Hellsing forces, ambushing a group of them and cutting them off from backup. The media has been successfully repressed from reporting this in any great detail, but it is an unwelcome reminder that the british isles are not, whatever Integra might desire, entirely under her control.

She's been quietly pleased with the efforts of Taro and Nine on her behalf, and today is a semi-regular meeting between herself and the android in her service. Rather than the usual austere office surroundings, though, Integra has booked out a sizeable, ostentatious meeting room high up in Hellsing Tower, where she waits for the man and smokes her cigar in peace.

Taro (399) has posed:
    Taro is rarely, if ever, late for any of his appointments. Today is no exception to this, and he steps through the conference door a minute or two early. Since it's not her private office, he sees no reason to knock, instead simply opening the door and stepping through.
    The android can at times be difficult to read. He does not convey human facial expressions well - it's more the tone of his voice and small changes in his almost-too-graceful body language that tip off what may be going on in that neuralnet of his. His head is slightly lowered (though that's not unusual in her presence), his brow more furrowed than usual, and he closes the door with a touch more force than necessary. Still, he bows as is his habit, and his tone is civil enough when he greets her with a "Good day, Master."
    Ah, a beautiful view. That mollifies him a bit, and he'll take a long moment to gaze out the window before taking a seat.

Sir Integra (246) has posed:
Integra doesn't tend to miss even small details. That Taro seems upset is noted, and the Head of Hellsing considers whether or not to address this for several long moments. Her cigar is enjoyable, but some of the pleasure has been taken out of it by the dissatisfaction evident in Taro's bearing.

"Is it?" She asks, moving to sit at the head of the table. Almost the same instant that she sits down, Ms. Green - the ever-too-eager secretary - bursts in with a stack of folders. "The files you requested Sir Integra."

"Yes, set them down and leave us, Ms. Green. I'll contact you if I need you again."

Her eyes then drift to Taro, as she sets her cigar down on a small black ashtray. "You seem troubled. Is there something the matter, Taro?"

Taro (399) has posed:
    Taro manages a "Good day, Ms. Green" somewhere in the time that the woman is in the room. The files are eyed with mild curiosity, but he leaves them where the secretary has placed them. No doubt Sir Integra will hand over what he needs to see when she's ready to, and he does not hurry that along.
    His brow furrows deeper at her question, and he answers with "Yes." There's a pause, almost long enough to think that may have been his only answer, but then he continues. "One of the Union roboticists attempted to make some small programming changes to one of our reploid allies. I had to..." He slips out of The Queen's English into Neo Arcadian. "...perform emergency behavioral pattern matrix repair." He switches back to English. "It went well, and I expect my patient will recover."
    Another pause. "But it has no bearing on Hellsing directly, Sir Hellsing. I imagine you have more relevant matters to discuss."

Sir Integra (246) has posed:
The explanation draws a tight, clenched jaw from Integra, and she narrows her eyes. She herself has had experiences in the past where she's had to fend off mental influences. Some of the vampires she has encountered in her years of service have even managed to cloud her mind, or that of her closest friends. It is not, a pleasant sensation. Nor is it one she would wish on anybody.

"Who was this reploid, and which roboticist made the attempt?" She asks, then, looking over the tops of her glasses, "If this is preying on your mind, Taro, we can take steps to rectify the situation."

Taro (399) has posed:
    "I am most displeased," Taro answers, stating the obvious in a dark tone. Judging by the words and expression, Integra seems to understand what a violation this can be for him and his kind. Good.
    "I ask on the basis of medical confidentiality that this information go no further than you for now, Master. My patient is Ferham, whom you have not met, I think. The roboticist responsible is Doctor Maxine Sandberg." He swivels his chair to an angle where he can better view the world outside the window. "Ferham has asked that I take no direct action against the woman, and so I have limited myself to voicing my deep displeasure at her actions, well intentioned as they may have been." He makes a quiet sound of disgust. "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Sir Integra (246) has posed:
"I see."

Integra considers this information carefully, and then nods her head. "Alright." She says, "I promise you, there shall be no action undertaken which violates the word you gave to your patient."

Clasping her hands together, Integra rests her elbows on the desk, and her eyes fall to the files. "I asked you here to obtain your input on a new project." She says, "The Multiverse represents a vast number of new threats to our forces and our allies. So far, we have used threats from our world and from within Confederate Elite ranks. We need new demonstrations to prepare our men for what they may encounter out there."

Taro (399) has posed:
    Taro gives a single, deep nod of his head. "Thank you."
    Then, to business. His chair swivels back to face the table, his gaze following hers to rest on the stack of folders. "Mm. Although your government has been quite proactive in attempting to keep the Multiverse from your borders, it cannot remain so forever, Sir Hellsing. I would indeed be wise to prepare for when those threats find a way in." No ifs here - he knows it will happen eventually, and he doubts it will keep to a timetable. "What sort of demonstrations do you propose?"

Sir Integra (246) has posed:
"That is what we're here to determine." Integra replies, pursing her lips thoughtfully. "Against supernatural threats, we have considerable experience. I trust my operatives to adapt in the field even outside threats we have direct analogues to in our world." She pauses for a moment, casting her eyes over the files, "We are also one of the Multiverse's finest military forces." She states, in a manner which brooks no argument. "But against the stranger threats, we have little experience. Can you think of any scenarios it would behoove us to be prepared for?"

Taro (399) has posed:
    Taro does not argue this point. He's been training with them, working with them, and living among them when he's here in London. (For certain definitions of living, at least - his and Nine's quarters are somewhat segregated from the rest of the barracks.) For humans, they are quite formidable.
    The android steeples his fingers as he thinks. "Machine-based threats is the first that comes to mind, for unsurprising reasons." There's a hint of humor there. Now that he's been able to vent some of his vexation, his mood is improving. "Monsters not of supernatural origin - technological, biological, even some that are completely natural yet utterly alien to your Earth. Magic of the kind not found here...though on that I would have to defer to someone more knowledgable on the subject."

Sir Integra (246) has posed:
"That was my thought as well." Integra says, "Although the Union are a constant concern, I was looking for examples of widespread threats considered malevolent enough to be engaged by both superfactions."

She finally reaches out and snuffs her cigar, grinding the ashes into the bottom of the tray. "After all, any which have survived more than a few weeks would seem credible enough as a concern to try and prepare my forces to engage."

Taro (399) has posed:
    "Thus far, you and your organization have kept a low profile, and so you have not yet been a concern to the Union, either militarily or ideologically," Taro notes, picking his words with some care. It is not so much that Hellsing is non-threatening as the Union is generally unaware of the threat they could be. "However, sooner or later, we will engage them directly, and more likely it will be by happenstance rather than planned." He makes a small gesture to indicate his absent fellow monster. "Number Nine and I have already been working towards that...we've had some of the squads engage us in mock combat during our training sessions, to get them acclimated to fighting those of our caliber." And inhumanity. "To make such sessions more formal, and to expand the scope to other threats should not be overly difficult...though unless you'd like to train them outside the country, I will need to borrow one of those countryside training camps."

Sir Integra (246) has posed:
"Actually, I was thinking in broader terms."

Integra opens one of the files, and lays out a series of reports detailing the general abilities of Lance Benson, Albert Wesker, Tesla Armadia's constructs, and several other Confederate elites as they engaged with and against Hellsing forces.

"I've found the Field of Trials very useful to demonstrate near-real world conditions. I am told, by those who have failed in their mission, that the sensation of death is powerful incentive to learn the lessons which need to be learned. I would like you to craft several generic missions we could use to train both my forces, and other Confederate Elites in a variety of common situations."

Taro (399) has posed:
    Taro gives an almost imperceptible twitch at the mention of sensation of death being a powerful incentive.
    He cannot disagree. He has experienced being slain and left effectively dead. It is one he'd prefer to not repeat.
    "I have some traning programs already, which I believe are still on file. It would be more efficient to begin with modified versions of those, and then introduce entirely new scenarios once I've constructed them." Another pause as he thinks further. "If I may make another suggestion..."

Sir Integra (246) has posed:
Integra notes the twitch, but isn't quite certain what to make of it. If Taro believes that her methods are too strict... too extreme... that is a conversation which will need to wait for another time. "That makes sense. And you may." She says, curious about what it was the android had in mind.

Taro (399) has posed:
    He gives no explanation, and for all he knows she did not notice. Taro simply continues on with his proposal. "It would of course be essential that everyone, from you down the entire organizational chain, receive tranining in counteracting Multiversal threats. That said, I believe it would benefit us as a whole to form an additional squadron from the ranks that's dedicated to this purpose. One that could be rapidly deployed should one of these threats find its way through a warpgate, or sent to support our Confederate allies in a time of need." He glances from the files spread across the table to her directly. "While I am not recommending that Hellsing get more directly involved in Confederate affairs, it may be prudent to show more support when it comes to common goals. Especially if you would like to have assistance from them in rooting out certain organizations in Europe."

Sir Integra (246) has posed:
Integra allows herself a small smile at Taro's diplomatic wording. It is one of those strange things - whilst she'd much rather people spoke plainly, since her usual reaction to opinions she doesn't like is to start shouting, she can hardly blame them for trying to lessen the average volume of conversation.

"The Hellsing Organization has leant resources to several Confederate efforts in the past." She says, mildly. "We've captured target zones and engaged Union elites at a breakfast bar in order to catch them unprepared. Casualties in all cases have been high."

She considers this for several seconds longer, and then nods her head. "We are allies. So far, we've offered training and soft support, but I will not have it be said that Hellsing is afraid of taking a greater role in Multiversal affairs. A dedicated team could help us .... limit the drain on resources. Liase with Captain Victoria. She has been involved in the majority of missions outside our borders, she may have further ideas."

Taro (399) has posed:
    it's not that surprising that Taro has retained some of his habits from interactions with his former masters. SHODAN especially. She was quite firm on not speaking of certain senstive subjects - such as invasions or removals of rivals - directly, except in exceptionally secured lines of communication. There is always the chance that one might be overheard.
    Another deep nod. "I will."
    Breakfast bar? ... He makes a note to look for that particular After-Action Report later.