859/The Helpful Mage

The Helpful Mage
Date of Scene:	26 October 2014
Location:	Distant Planet
Synopsis:	The Confederacy and the Union team up with the Wolkenritter to investigate the Mariage. Their first stop: a helpful doctor by the name of Scaglietti...
Cast of Characters:	15, 162, 177, 320, 381, 401, 425, 558, 570, 578, 597
Tinyplot:	Power Games

---

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
The location coordinates given are on a fairly remote world... and once arriving there, a ping of new coordinates is given. This is fairly standard, in this Nanoha-verse world, in order to make a string of jumps that baffle any monitoring gear or attempts to retrace the steps without knowing exactly what one is doing.

In the interest of time, we can say that this is about six jumps that eventually lead to a wide open grassy field on an apparently undeveloped, unadministered world in Takamachi Nanoha's native universe. Socialization can be done on the way to this remote world!

The Wolkenritter are represented by a large man with silver hair and wolf ears and tail, by the name of ZAFIRA. He is quiet and stoic as the volunteers arrive. The other is... a pink-haired, ponytailed woman. SIGNUM is here, attempting to ignore those that she may have made angry earlier. Like Fate. And Nanoha. Hayate herself is still feeling ill, and Shamal remained behind to tend to her and Chikade, with Vita for protection.

Zephyr Windstar (162) has posed:
    Zephyr frowns. "I feel like a criminal, all this round-a-bout jumping." she grouses to noone but herself. Each ping means another outlay of mana for yet another Jump, a spell that taxes her reserves at the best of times. Doing this many, in such a short timeframe means she's panting by the time she finally arrives.

    As she materializes from the final jump, a hand goes to her armoured chest, and she winces in discomfort while leaning on the haft of her Device. "Divine Wind, Status report." she asks, looking up at Signum and Zafira dubiously, then glancing around at any others that might be arriving, or have already arrived.

    <Mana Energy levels at 40%. Regenerating slowly.> comes the soft, motherly tone of the axe's core, the blue gem glimmering as it speaks.

Material-L (15) has posed:
    LAST TIME:
    Levi tried coming ahead of Yami.
    About twenty detours later she came back home with a sombrero, some ancient aztec artifacts, a starmetal knife, the head of a dragon, a princess, and a whole band of minstrels.

    THIS TIME:
    Levi is not allowed to drive.

    The blue-haired little girl, dressed from head to toe like Sherlock Holmes, suddenly surges from behind Zafira and attemps to hop onto his shoulders. "DOGGYWOLF HIIII!"

    Vulnificus has the form of a large magnifying glass.

    One presumes the other Materials aren't far behind.

Material-D (597) has posed:
    Yami, AKA Material-D, has chosen to come on this little excursion. She's met Signum briefly, before, and she knows who Zafira is, so she has nothing to contribute to those two. She does have an offer that the others might find interesting, however. "We can handle the Dimensional Shifts required for this trip, if needed. It will be child's play for Us to take everyone at once, preventing any accidents."

    Of course, there are a few here that she's never met, so it would be best to introduce herself! "We are Material-D, but you may call Us Yami. We lead the Materials, and you should know that the Materials are-"
    She was going to say something intimidating, but then... a Levi happened. Sigh. "... We hope that this mystery mage is worth it."

Flint Hawke (320) has posed:
Flint is here! He's in all his Captain-y Glory of long, awesome coat and big, fancy hat. The Space Freelancer would look quite dashing were it not for the massive backpack he's wearing. It's as big as one of those army travel knapsacks, but it looks insulated like a pizza bag. He definitely has something in there, but he's not saying what, for now.

While normally large amounts of his time would be spent trying to get Signum to crack a smile, instead he's pacing around worried on a comm unit, "I don't care what the risk is. Get me a transport craft and I'll do it myself. Just have them make a list, I'll run the raid on my own later for medical supplies. Whatever we need." He barks into the device in his hand before hanging it up and looking around.

"Rude of me, on the phone and all~. Hello, all. Captain Flint Hawke, Freelancer of the Stars. I brought a surprise to make this meeting go all the better. Something my ship's galley whipped up while we all talk." He says, gesturing to the pack on his back.

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Kimiko doesn't have the full story of what's going on in this affair, though she at least has Zephyr's recent report to go off of. Hopefully, coming here will change that.

    She's in her Puella Magi outfit, for easier movement in unknown terrain. Whether bringing along some other form of conveyance would help or not was uncertain. (For convenience's sake, she probably came the same way as Zephyr did, as the other Union agent she's aware of.)

    Greetings are stoic. That's fine, Kimiko is also the stoic type. Her expression cracks on seeing Levi, however. Then commences the Deep Frowning.

    Yami gets a nod, and Kimiko's expression smooths out. "I've heard you. I am Kimiko Shinobu." No explanation of what she is.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
"Ah..." Nanoha nods to all the strangers arriving, suddenly quite nervous about it! Signum is here, too... so she's now staring at the woman, now that she doesn't have zombies to worry about. "... Hello," is all she says, the normally talkative girl thrown off by the sheer number of people who have decided to come and help. Hopefully help. She'd rather not find out that the Union took an interest just to capture them, but the presence of the Wolkenritter and the Materials and Captain Hawke reassure her that this won't happen.

"Um... please be on your best behavior, everyone! I don't know anything about this person, and they might be skittish, but Linith said they'd probably know something about the Mariage." She takes a deep breath, and then... since she arrived with Fate, she makes sure to grab Fate's hand. Mostly to keep her from charging in toward Signum, even though Nanoha herself is gripping Raising Heart pretty tightly.

Material-S (177) has posed:
    Material-S, also known as Seikou, is here. She is saying nothing, she's just standing near Yami and sighing at Levi. She gets this very faint smile, though, at seeing her 'sister' getting along so well with Zafira. Or, at least, well on Levi's side.

    The only matter of note is that every jump, Seikou somehow acquires a kitten perched upon some part of her body. Thus she has a half dozen by the time the final destination is reached.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Mana sickness and radiation poisoning is a horrible feeling. Stripping out of her Barrier Jacket in a hot reactor room was the best idea ever, but at least Fate's levels were not fatal like her mother's.
    Still, the blonde looks like she's seen better days; paler than usual.

    That still doesn't diminish her near glacial aura, because Signum gets a hyperborean glower.

    Bardiche is clasped in her hand, but believe it or not she doesn't bum rush Signum. She looks like she WANTS to, but opts against it for Nanoha's sake when her friend takes her by the hand.

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
"More people than I had considered," Signum states. Nanoha and Fate's glower isn't missed by the swordswoman, met with a cool stare. "Before you look so accusingly at me, how far would you go to save the one who gave you life?" It is a bluntly-stated question that she leaves in the air, then looks toward the others arriving. Some are new, some familiar, some... more familiar. Yami still creeps her out. "Thank you all for coming, I suppose. Captain, what are you doing? If it has something to do with our Mistress, we would like to know."

Zafira grunts, frowning as Levi crawls all over him. "... this came from the Book?" He sounds a little incredulous, but he doesn't actually stop her. After all, Zafira doesn't get much attention. It does distract him from looking over Kimiko, though, as she's the only outright new person.

At least the Wolkenritter did not bring a simalcrum of the Book themselves, so there's no shrieking alarm about the Materials this time.

Natasha (425) has posed:
Natasha's not quite fully sure what's going on herself, but knows the words meltdown and mana radiation certainly aren't good. She's kind of curious now what would what might happen to her if she were exposed to it. Would she get more powerful or just explode? Of course she's not going to test it out but it does make her think. She smiles and waves to Signum upon arrival it's been a while since she's seen her. "I'm Natasha, for those who don't already know me."

Freya (578) has posed:
Freya came along as well she got involed with the last battle and wanted to know what this was all about. She human sized right now her normal size woudl just stand out too much and be a bit intamting for all those gathered here. She looks around and waves to everyone. "Hello! I'm Freya nice to meet you all!"

Material-D (597) has posed:
    "She is still a Material," Yami replies to Zafira, regarding Levi. "She is also our sister, do not be so disbelieving." She opens up another rift while she talks, following the jump sequence.

Material-L (15) has posed:
    "Nyahaha~" is all Levi answers to Zafira.

    She is atop the large man, nothing could anger her right now. Probably. Try not to take chances! But still. "Doggywolf is my favorite! He's the only one who's fluffy and scary! Rawr!"

    Detective Levi is a good character reader.

    She produces two large blue lollipops.
    And offers Zafira one.

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
Zafira grumps, but accepts. His face reddens a little. This is awkward.

Signum tries to stifle her smile behind a hand.

Zephyr Windstar (162) has posed:
    Zephyr spots a familiar face, and offers a wave to Seikou. "Hey Seikou." she offers, returning Divine Wind to Standby Mode so she doesn't appear threatening. Probably not a good idea to look like a threat when there's enough power in just one of the Materials to turn her into a sooty smear on the landscape.

Material-S (177) has posed:
    "Hello," Seikou replies politely to Zephyr. She's actually never had a problem with the wind mage, so her greeting is, while cool, not cold. "You should not need to perform any combat duties this time, but in case that changes, it would be best if you and Fate and Levi lead an evacuation, if needed."

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Being otherwise unoccupied, Kimiko takes some time to stare at Fate and Nanoha. She was prepared for their appearance, to some extent, but...

    Still. Jiii.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
Nanoha, seeing Kimiko's stare, fidgets a little uncertainly. "Um... is there a problem?" She rubs at her head with a nervous smile, feeling somehow put under the microscope by that stare. Weird. "F-Fate, did we do something to make this one mad?"

Flint Hawke (320) has posed:
Flint Hawke waves a hand at Signum, "DO not trouble yourself. You are guests on my ship. I was simply having my crew check if any convoys of medical supplies were scheduled through our area carrying anything that might help your Mistress! I'm not much for..." He wiggles his fingers at her, "Magic and spellcraft, but if I can make some machinery fall off a transport, that's more my line of work~." He says to her. He even reaches out and pats Signum on the cheek (He's not scared of losing that hand, it'll grow back), "Don't worry about my business! Only crew should do that~."

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Briefly. Very briefly, something of a conflicted look flutters across the surly blonde's face as Signum epic counters her. For a moment longer, scarlet eyes remain on the knight with that indomitable chill.

    Before it fractionally lessens a few degrees..

    "Mm."

    It would seem Signum might have just struck a chord with the girl, before she notices Kimiko and her stare. And takes a step to put herself in front of Nanoha while staring back.

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Kimiko shifts her stare from "the two of them" to rest solely on Fate, as if committing every detail of her appearance to memory. Eventually, she sighs and looks away, coincidentally in Levi's direction.

    The events she's recalling aren't relevant to this situation, anyway.

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
While the socialization is going on at that final destination, a faint click is heard... and the grass and ground around the group disappears in a hazy flash of energy. A loud grinding is heard as the energy glow fades away, revealing a metallic platform. With a whining hum, the platform descends with those atop it.

The plummet down the metal shaft isn't actually that long, ending in an open chamber with a large metal door on one end. A flicker of light passes over the group, obviously scanning, but while that is happening the group is being greeted.

"Hello, travellers!" It's a woman, dressed in a casual blouse with pockets on it, and slacks. She has light purple hair, a pleasant smile, and is standing near the door. "Please watch your step! Sorry for the precautions, but we don't know any of you, and the Doctor is a little protective of his current research. If you'll step right this way, I'll provide some refreshment and tell him you've arrived."

The door slides open with a faint rumbling, revealing that a pair of long tables and some chairs have been set up. As she turns away, "Do you have any requests, or would water be fine?"

Flint Hawke (320) has posed:
Ah! We're progressing the plot along! Flint is happy enough to follow in after the woman, his backpack across his back as he steps in and spots the tables, "Perfect! No need for food, I will provide it!"

"At the behest of Miss Testarossa's familiar, I had my ship's galley prepare a special meal for us all today! Diplomacy is best with food, and when Miss Takamachi hired me, she hired my crew for all our skills, as such, we will dine on the dish that Miss Testarossa's familiar DEMANDS to eat daily." He inzips the pack and starts unpacking dozens of sealed, insulated metal bowls with covers on them that he sets down on the table in stacks, "I hope you all enjoy a fest of /Raw Man/!"

A suspiciously named food, to say the least. Anyone brave enough to open a container will find that Flint, being from space, is just terrible at understanding japanese culture. What's actually in the disposable metal bowls is... perfectly normal, steaming hot pork ramen. There are chopsticks as well.

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    If Kimiko is especially bothered by the sudden change in locomotion, she reveals very little of it. If anything, she actually looks more tired than on edge, right now. Perhaps strange, given the mixed company.

    She stands at attention when addressed, giving the barest shake of her head. "Please don't trouble yourself." A polite refusal of refreshment.

    Flint captures her full attention, but if she's hungry, she's not revealing that, specifically, either.

Natasha (425) has posed:
Natasha looks a bit surprised as they arrive at their new location and brought down an elevator, "Do you have any gasoline?" Drinking water hurts her throat after all. Hopefully, she passes the scanner test without any problems. She's had trouble with them before after all. "Oooo, free food." She doesn't need to eat, but that doesn't stop her from doing so. She takes one one of the bowls and the chopsticks struggling with them a bit as she does so. She's clearly not used to use them.

Freya (578) has posed:
Freya huhs looking around a bit surpised by the suddend appperance of the shaft and the travel downwards. She blinks at the woman letting a little "Hi..", she a bit overwelmed by this all at the moment. She looks at the woman. "Yes water is fine with me..", she ohs at the offering of food then opens it up to find the pork ramen, too bad she a vegatarian.. She looks over at Natasha. "You can have mine as well. I'm not really all that hungry."

Zephyr Windstar (162) has posed:
    Zephyr nods to Seikou. "Gotchya." and then the floor is falling, oh Saints... The Wind mage is suitably surprised at the sudden decrease in altitude, and gives the purple haired woman a dubious look. "Understandable, I guess. Wouldn't want just anyone snooping around." she says with a sarcastic little bent to her tone.

    After that, she looks around, stepping forward into the room. "I'm fine, personally..." at Flint's declaration, she peers and snags a container, peering into it. "Huh, Ramen... not had that for a while. I guess I'll have some water to wash this down with then, please." she amends to the woman, parking her posterior in a chair and snagging chopsticks, but doesn't go and break etiquette by starting immediately.

    Finally, Zephyr's mismatched eyes look over to Fate. "How're your Mom and sister doin'?" she asks conversationally.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
"Oh um..." Nanaho is drawn away from the situation with Kimiko by... being offered drinks. "If you have some juice, that's fine," Nanoha replies, gripping Raising Heart and walking forward with some degree of confusion. "S-sorry for the large crowd, this is a really big problem we're investigating." At least /she/ thinks so.

Nanoha gives Zephyr a funny look, but doesn't answer for Fate. "Um... thank you, Captain. I hope it won't be too long, though." She attempts to settle in and ignore all the weirdness around her for now. She's just a little nervous.

Material-L (15) has posed:
    "Ooh! Ooh! A doctor! I'm a doctor too!"

    Levi shuffles into her pockets. She produces her DOKTOR nametag and slaps it over the DETEKTIV one. "Announce that DOCTOR LEVI is here! Nyahahaha~"

    And hop! Off Zafira, finally.

    She shuffles towards Seikou, ignorant of Kimiko's staring. "Cats! Yaaaaaay, more cats!" Easily amused and completely irrelevant, as ever.

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
"Water will be fine," Signum says, after quietly pushing Flint's arm aside. Cold as ever, but not a slapper today. Possibly because he IS helping Hayate.

Zafira nods as well to water, and somehow that stoic face still communicates 'oh thank god' when Levi hops off. That was incredibly awkward.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Thankfully Fate being wholly standoffish declines somewhat when the group is greeted by the purple-haired woman and the entry slides open. "I'm fine. Thank you." Murmured politely to one of the apparent hosts. And then pauses when flint butchers the pronunciation of what she intantly recognizes as Arf's favorite food.

    Somewhere, very distant, a huge red wolf is prowling around back home. ... And sneezes. "Hehhhh...? I just got the funniest feeling."

    Fate pointedly puts her mind on other things before her Familiar can sense Ramen from thousands of miles away ask her to bring some home. "Ah, Captain, maybe..."

    Maybe Zephyr can suddenly interrupt her train of thought. This makes her stop, scarlet eyes slowly shifting to the other mage.

    "They're fine." She answers with the warmth of a tomb.

Material-D (597) has posed:
    "Excellent, please inform them that Lord Dearche is here," Yami states, walking forward without any hesitation. "We request that most sanctified of drinks, suitable for a doctor's waiting room, the Doctor Pepper. If you do not have that available, Coca-cola Cherry will be acceptable, but otherwise We will only accept water."

    Demanding much?

    She doesn't seem to have any problem with all of this, given that Jail was never an issue in her timeline.

Material-S (177) has posed:
    Seikou isn't going to correct Flint's pronunciation, she's just going to shake her head at the offer and take a seat. She sits across from Nanoha, quietly observing everything and with a very, very slight frown.

    Finally, she just notes, "For the time being we are here for the same purpose. Socialization is merely delaying that." Not much for small talk today, it seems.

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
"If you insist," Uno says to Flint, while vanishing to get some drinks. She looks competent enough, efficient and polite. Nothing wrong there... right? What could be wrong? She even returns with some juice and... well, it's a Cherry Coke. Nobody is perfect, right? "Oh, it shouldn't be long, I'm sure he's on his way, given the severity of your need."

The woman, who still hasn't been named, is just ahead of the entrance of the doctor himself! Sweeping in from one of the two doors on either side of the far end of the room, the violet-haired man has a wide smile on his face, and is wearing a labcoat. "Aha! Welcome, welcome! Doctor Jail Scaglietti at your service! I hear you're having a bit of a problem with some Ancient Belkan era tech... but I didn't expect to encounter the Wolkenritter asking me for help! What a surprise!"

The man's eyes flit over each person in turn, lingering perhaps for an extra fraction of a second on Levi, Fate, Nanoha, and Seikou due to their similarities. "From different worlds, as well?"

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Kimiko doesn't sit down, perhaps as she doesn't seem intent on eating. Walls are good for leaning on. Waiting while standing up doesn't really bother her. All the same, it's good that they don't have to wait long. She and Seikou seem to be of the same mind on this point.

    "Different worlds." If they want to explain, they will, but she's already aware of that much.

Natasha (425) has posed:
"Maybe they have some without pork in it?" As much as she likes meat, Natasha knows that Freya's a vegeterian. And that she has to eat still. Of course the sudden arrival of the unfamiliar man, gets her attention. "Balkans...aren't those in Europe?" At least that's what she remembers from geography class. Of course she's unaware that she has the wrong place to begin with. The name Wolkenritter doesn't help either.

Freya (578) has posed:
"It's not a big deal Natasha..", Freya say to her. She looks at the Doctor "Me anad Natasha.", Freya says pointing at the red haired sitting next to her eating some ramen. "..are from the same world."

Flint Hawke (320) has posed:
    "Doctor Jail Scaglietti!" Flint says, careful to say his entire title, "Captain Flint Hawke, Starborne Traveller." The bowls are left to their own devices. Worst case scenario: Jail now has leftovers to last him for days.

"I'm not from their world! Merely involved due to my kind heart and heroic nature~." He says, adjusting his jacket and his hat, "I got involved in a few messes with their world and the ladies were too charming not to help," He adds with finality. A simple introduction for himself.

"And ah, yes. The ladies with the claws and the exploding and melting," He wiggles some gloved fingers, "They are very troublesome. I would like to find the one who is responsible and share a few choice words for the trouble he or she has caused me."

Words like 'knife' and 'throat' and 'stab'.

Material-L (15) has posed:
    DOCTOR LEVI just kind of blinks.
    She looks between Uno and Jail a few times.

    And then, relevant as ever:

    "Oh! Oh! I get it! You're brother and sister, right?"

    RELEVANCE ACHIEVED.
    Important topics are completely ignored in light of this.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
Nanoha sips her juice. She also stares at Jail when he comes in, so friendly and eager to help. "Uhh... you'll help us? Just like that? The Mariage have kind of been giving us trouble, but it's hard to find out where they're coming from. We... we were hoping you could help with that, Doctor."

Then... sigh, Levi. She bites her lip and doesn't comment. "If you have any information, that would be helpful."

Material-D (597) has posed:
    "We request information regarding your world's Mariage," Material-D states. She declines the ramen, herself, given her own cooking skills are FAR SUPERIOR to this. "We know that they are a self-replicating harvester Logia which has various combat capabilities, and reproduces using corpses. We do not know why they are suddenly active, or where their world of origin is. In addition, We personally would like to inquire if you know of a way to divest the Defense Program, Nachtwal, from the Book of Darkness without filling the Book entirely, thus sparing the mana drain upon its Master."

Zephyr Windstar (162) has posed:
    Zephyr accepts a glass of water, takes a sip... and then there's a Doctor in the room. She peers at him curiously. As Natasha speaks up, the young mage chuckles. "Belkans. It's, complicated." she offers, before looking back at the Doctor. The others have the info-dump well in hand, and thusly, chopsticks are broken apart, and she digs into her ramen bowl. "Thank you for the food!" she announces, before digging in. Nanoha might get an impression from Zephyr's words. Marchian is to Japanese as Mid is to English.

Material-S (177) has posed:
    The others have already explained matters, so Seikou doesn't cover that. She does answer the curious look at her and Nanoha and Levi and Fate, though. "Myself and the blue-haired girl are not alternates of the other two, though we are from an alternate world. It is a situation that I do not feel comfortable explaining in its entirety."

    Seikou sips her water quietly then, as everyone else has brought up matters.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Fate has... Absolutely no idea that Jail Scaglietti was one of the intrumental figures in the beginnings of Project Fate. Here she is, meeting her own kind-of-father-through-science and none the wiser. Thankfully Seikou answers the question regarding alternates, so she gets to dodge that weird and awkward bullet. And it looks like everyon has already asked important questions, so the blonde adds what might be a surprisingly polite: "Anything you could tell us, please."

Freya (578) has posed:
Oh boy this is going to be one of those compliated things she really isn't going to understand isn't it?? She sighs sipping her water. Oh well she hope she will get some of it.

Natasha (425) has posed:
Natasha smiles at Zephyr as she says that, "I see, this does all sound really complicated." She's not too worried about it though, she can learn more as she goes. She continues to eat her ramen as she lets the other explain what's going on

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
Suddenly, Jail is over next to Nanoha and Fate! "Nanoha Takamachi, Class A Dimensional Criminal and accomplice to Precia Testarossa." His finger taps under her chin, getting a good look at her... but he's gone right after. Only so he can turn and peer at Fate. "And Precia Testarossa's daughter, I suspect! At least, that is the public statement. I helped your mother with some important matters. It would appear that after our split she completed my research! I would very much like to analyze you after this, if you don't mind. It would only take a few minutes and be non-invasive, I assure you."

He whips around. "Most of you I don't know, but I do know the Wolkenritter. Servants of the Book of Darkness! Coincidentally, or not, one of the matters you wish to discuss! I'm afraid that your answer to that will need to wait, if I can find one at all. My knowledge of the Book of Darkness does not go that in depth."

He rubs his hands together while Signum and Zafira look at one another with obvious discomfort, but Jail doesn't seem to notice as he goes on with his monologue. "The Mariage! Not a Belkan weapon, but an era of the Ancient Belkan Era. The Belkan Empire controlled a great amount of known space, but Ix, one world in particular, wanted no part of it. Therefore, the devised weapons and means that they could use to fight back and resist the Belkan oppression, as they saw it. The Mariage was their ultimate weapon, a means of mutually-assured destruction. If Ix were ever invaded and taken, the Mariage would be their means of revenge, released to eventually destroy the Belkan worlds as a whole by wiping them free of life."

Jail slumps into a seat and holds out his hand, whereupon the woman places a glass in his hand for him to take and sip. "Clearly, as we have records of Mariage being fought, this did not happen. If they are awakened, it was likely due to some large disturbance recently... such as the Dimensional Quake in the frontier, a localized but powerful disturbance recently. This must have propogated into the Ixpellian facility that holds the source of the Mariage. I'm afraid I can offer you little on how to defeat them without taking the source... if seen in large numbers, they go for large targets, but when in smaller numbers and wishing to recover, they frequently attack isolated outposts. I can be months before anyone knows that they have been hitting these places, allowing them to restock their numbers over time."

He slides a small device forward, and a map of Dimensional Space leaps up with several points flashing within it. "With any luck, they are on... automatic. Replicate and kill will be their base command, and if the quake is the reason for their activation, the facility should be somewhere within these marked areas. Further information is on the device. Of course, there is always the chance that someone has found and activated them on purpose, but the location of recent attacks has made this unlikely."

Finally, he leans back. "And as for what they are... you've already covered it. Drones, specialized in hand to hand, exhibit little personality or intelligence. They are relentless but not particularly strong for a trained mage, but often attack in packs and drain someone of their power to harvest them. Controllers are rarer, possessing mass-based attacks and the ability to coordinate Drones intelligetly, along with the ability to briefly take over the human nervous system as a sort of mind control. I can't provide any information on the Master Control unit, I'm afraid... I have no records of that anywhere, nor how the Mariage were defeated last time."

Zephyr Windstar (162) has posed:
    Zephyr munches on her Ramen, while listening to Jail. "We've seen that much already... so, they're just running their last command sequence. Kill, grow, destroy?" she asks after swallowing her last mouthful. "Sounds simple enough. Sweep these locations, mark where the 'nest' is and either assault or infiltrate... Infiltration's probably a lost cause from the get-go though."

Freya (578) has posed:
Freya listening to the doctor speak nodding and listening.. She doesn't quite get all the words but she get the basic idea. "So there like wasps and someone or something shook there nest?", she still thinking hard on what was said.

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Kimiko listens, and thinks. It takes her a bit to respond.

    "Your suggestion is to find the 'source' and bring it back for study. Is that correct?"

Flint Hawke (320) has posed:
Flint Hawke goes momentarily glassy-eyed at the dump of information coming from Jail, but he forces himself into focusing and looks at the man, eyes watching him closely as he taps his foot and tries to understand the information. He does have a question, "If Replication and killing would be their only functions, why are they taking the..." He makes a gesture as though grabbing his chest and then wiggles his fingers at his palm, "Twinkly doodads. Do they need those to replicate?"

Eyes look to the map, "Can you forward those coordinates to m'ship?" He asks seriously, hands going into the pockets of his coat. He thinks for a long moment and then asks something unrelated to the Mariage:

"I've got two lovely guests on my ship and they seem to be a bit ill. I don't suppose a fine doctor and researcher such as yourself would be willing to come aboard and offer treatment for a price? I'm willing to barter goods, money, services. I'm sure a man like you can use discrete cargo delivery."

Freya (578) has posed:
Freya ums and looks like she about to say something but doesn't. Looks like Jail can handle the problem with the sick people on the ship.

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    Jail SUDDENLY BEING there actually catches Fate off guard. For a beat the blonde seems to bristle when the doctor inspects Nanoha, but then his attention is on her. He helped Precia? She finished his research? There's a visible flutter of confusion upon her face for a long moment and then he's asking to analyze her.

    "... U... Um...?"

    She's actually looking to Nanoha uncertainly, as if she needs help on deciding whether or not it's okay.

    Help, please, Nanoha.

    Thankfully the sudden scrutiny shifts to the Wolkenritter, ans she is saved. For now. So she settles to quietly listen to the doctor's explanation of the Mariage. And the issue with the Book.

Natasha (425) has posed:
"I don't think wasps normally take control of people." Freya's comparsion doesn't quite work for Natasha. "So how do they make more Mariage is it like a factory or do they reproduce?" It would be helpful to know if they're going to destroy them all after all. "And how do the Ixellians control them to begin with?" She wonder what keeps them from turning on their creators.

Material-D (597) has posed:
    Yami pauses as she sips her water, watching Jail go on about the situation. She clarifies, "One of them is the current Master of the Book of Darkness. It is killing her. One suggestion was to take the stored energy of the Mariage for the Wolkenritter and force a completion of the Book. As far as We know, this would be a viable, if dangerous plan." She crosses her arms with a scowl.

    "Less information than We would have liked, but more than We came here with. The others have some decent questions regarding the Mariage as well..." She pauses. "Finished your research? Do you mean Project Fate?"

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
"Ehhh...? Class A?!?" Nanoha squeaks, turning red. She quickly grabs Fate's hand for reassurance of both of them, looking oddly at Jail and Fate both. "What kind of defenses should we expect? I mean... the Garden of Time had some El-hazredian systems controlled by song..." She looks a little ill thinking of that, for some reason, and her eyes close while she takes a deep breath.

Flint mentioning the sick girls gets her attention though! "Ah... maybe our medical stuff in the Confederacy could help? I um... still have some money from the tournament if that needs done, too."

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
Signum and Zafira look a little uncomfortable, but Zafira speaks up at last. "Do you know if their control center is needed? If we shut that down, will they continue to replicate or will their numbers be limited to whatever is currently created?"

Jail listens to all the questions, then smiles, shrugging. "I would love to study the center of this threat! I have no idea if it can really be shut down, properly... or even if destroying it will deactivate the Mariage. I am reasonably sure that they can only replicate at their home base. That was probably how they were controlled, in Belkan times, but our records of how they were kept from going too wild are not complete. As a mutually-assured destruction weapon, they may not /have/ an explicit off switch."

He nods to the device. "That can download into your computer systems the proper coordinates. I understand some of you are from opposing factions, so I also made some duplicates available. The Mariage interfere with my plans as well, I would like to see them dealt with."

He threads fingers together. "As for why they take Linker Cores, they use the magical energy and knowledge to create more Mariage. The actual process is unknown, and it is also unknown if they can actually use the abilities they take, like the Book of Darkness can." He glances at the Wolkenritter, then to Yami. "That plan would theoretically work, if you were desperate enough."

His eyebrows lift. "It is doubtful I can do anything for the Master of the Book, but I will see what I can do. The other? Certainly! My specialty is in Lost Logia, however, not in medicine."

Finally, Zephyr and Nanoha: "The 'nest' will be well-defended, I imagine. Perhaps some automated defense systems, or even an Anti-Magic Field. As I see it, you all have little recourse. I would offer some of my assistants, but they have ah... yet to be tested."

He smiles to Fate and Yami. "Project Fate was a project that I was requested to start a long time ago. While cancelled by the TSAB getting cold feet, Precia chose to continue the research. Laughable, really. The TSAB themselves request these projects and make them illegal at the same time. Do as they say, not as they do, hmm?"

Zephyr Windstar (162) has posed:
    Zephyr winces. "AMFs huh... those are a pain in the ass to deal with in training." she grouses softly, setting the now empty bowl down and sipping water. "Do you, Doctor, have any suggestions on how to proceed? Military strategy aside, what would be our best bet at disabling or destroying the central control?"

Natasha (425) has posed:
"Does the energy have to be from Linker Cores or will any magical energy work?" It might not be in the best idea for Natasha to get involved if that's the case. She's a walking buffet for anything that drains magic after all. Then again it just might melt them if they try. "Anti-magic field...uh oh..." That also might be a problem as well.

Flint Hawke (320) has posed:
Flint looks over to Signum, "I will let you on the ship IF her Guardians Permit it. You understand that, as my guests, their comfort is my first priority." He says pretty seriously, before looking over to Nanoha, "Ah, that is also a solution. I would be sad to lose their company, but their health is far more important."

One hand comes out of his jacket holding a long pipe, which he lights and slowly inhales from, "My ship's rules are simple: First rule, you do anything to compromise my ship, you die. Second Rule, you never ask questions about me or my ship~." He smiles widely and then looks to Signum and Zafira, "I will leave the final choice to you and yours. But I grow more concerned with your Mistress by the day. I would miss you lot, but I'd rather see you come back again some day than not." He admits to the two before sighing.

"As always, you provide the intrigue and drama befitting a man of mystery like m'self," He says to Nanoha, "Quite a job you've got me for."

The rest he simply listens to. He'll defer to the opinions of others for plans on military sieges.

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
"I've given you all the strategy I know," Jail admits, to Zephyr. And to Natasha, "I don't think it needs to be, but Cores are by far the most efficient means of taking in magical power."

Testarossa Fate (401) has posed:
    "Project... Fate...?"

    It's now that Fate learns the apparent origin of her name- and creation- when Yami raises the question and Nanoha takes her hand. The blonde is halted, thoughts arrested and shifted to a different track entirely. Thankfully it's a whisper from Nanoha that drags Fate back from her silent internal world.

    "Um... What kind of analysis?" She finally ventures. She'll most likely decline anyway, but.

Takamachi Nanoha (381) has posed:
"Um, maybe we can wait on the analyzing of Fate," Nanoha says quietly, since Fate seems a little uncomfortable and Nanoha was kind of creeped out as well. She looks at her friend, "Unless you really wanted to for some reason? I guess... he helped create the process or something?"

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Kimiko's eyebrows lift slightly. "Anti-magic field?" The words are individually understandable, but such a useful thing doesn't seem quite possible. Zephyr seems to have experienced one, though...

    She glances toward Yami. "I have a poor opinion of Confederate medical." Her tone is matter-of-fact. "You may blame Medusa Gorgon for that impression." A glance toward Signum and Zafira. "Though I expect she will be safer than others, with her guardians there. And I will not insist she be treated elsewhere, except by her choice."

    Back to being quiet.

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
Jail shakes his head. "Harmless, really! Just an inspection of genetic data and brainwaves, in order to determine stability. I admit I had been wanting to get back to that project myself, it has so much potential! To think that your mother finished it before I did!"

It is the woman who replies to Kimiko. "The name is a misnomer. It does not eliminate magical abilities there, it simply attempts to suppress them. Much like fighting with weights on your limbs."

Material-D (597) has posed:
    A number of things fall into place, and Yami narrows her eyes. "We wonder if the TSAB of our world has someone like you..." She shakes her head. "No matter. We now have a starting point, and a means by which We may be able to save Little Crow in a much more expedient manner. Perhaps even awakening Us in this world."

Yagami Hayate (558) has posed:
Signum shakes her head, "We should consult with our Master and Shamal first. They would know the proper course of action for this." She gives a long look to Nanoha though. "The Confederacy has helped us multiple times, so we will consider you offer. And bring it to our Master's attention. It may not involve leaving Captain Hawke for long, we think Master enjoys it there."