Scene #8541: Work For An Axe VI

Owner	Pose
Zero Kiryu	Bi, Kvaland On the 18th of August, an assassin had made good strides towards sabotaging the work that Director Kuran had been doing on his home world. In answer to a call by her and Hand Kiryu, the Concord has been working on correcting the matter. They intercepted the assassin, Gudrun, during her attempted flight back home to Kvaland and rode the ferry the rest of the way there. Setting up headquarters in the second floor of a hotel in Bi, the group had settled in with intent to track down Gudrun's associates. In the late morning hours of the 19th of August, the Concord party was attacked by a group of dhampyr attempting to rescue Gudrun, a comrade of theirs. Through this entire process it was discovered that Gudrun had been implanted with an object which repelled her natural regeneration and did 'something' to her that turned her into a pseudovampire that is not equipped to eat or drink either as a human or as a vampire. A figure called "The Professor" was responsible. Two of Gudrun's associates were apprehended, while a third fled. The afternoon of the 19th was interrupted by an attack of a 3rd party believed to be an agent of "The Professor", after which the Concord Party was able to visit the Cambion Club, a specific sub-organization of the dhampyr-populated Hunter's Association dedicated to protecting humanity from vampire predation. The condition of Gudrun was explained, with proof provided, and they were able to convince local Dhampyr Finn Kato to lead them to one of The Professor's clinics, which they found otherwise empty but filled with more pseudovampire "ghouls". Through the collective efforts of the group, the ghoul/pseudovampire attacks have had limited casualties, converting many of the victims into a format that Kuroto Dan can store and perhaps later cure. The latest group is the most curious, consisting of those who are bodily 'attackers' but who are able to communicate normally if they are restrained. Most of them are understandably freaked the fuck out by being locked in their own bodies like this. An examination of the lab beneath the clinic had revealed further implants similar to the one that was dug out of Gudrun and several others at the Cambion Club; all of them contained microscope quantity of what was described as 'Pureblood venom', but could probably be likened more to a very sophisticated virus. It contained the instructions necessary to reformat a person's body into that of a vampire, but it was missing a few critical pieces. These pieces, an associate of Yuuki's explained, are filled in by ingestion of a Vampyr's blood; although this was a synthetic serum for inducing vampirism, it was slightly less complete than somebody bitten by a Vampyr and fed none of their blood. There was no 'progenitor vampire' marker to make them specifically subordinate to any master, either. And still there was the friendly Chevalier who gave you a small weasel and told you to tell it hen you'd like to visit with the local vampire nobility...
Zero Kiryu	It is the 21st of August, just after sunset. Everyone in the Concord party has had the time to recuperate; your sane prisoners and new allies are milling about in the common area, where they're eating an early dinner from downstairs. The more extended prisoners, those who aren't digitized, are currently being held between the Cambion Club and The Professor's lab, both of which have the equipment to contain ghouls-- even if they're not quite that. Maria Kurenai has returned to the party after having spent some time in The Professor's underground lab beneath the clinic, bringing with her the knowledge that, "... based on what I was able to put together, The Professor or another proxy is likely based out of a location at 60.1699° N, 24.9384° E. There are three cities in that gulf; it is the northerly one the signal is coming from, I've never been there..." "But we may wish to return home and distribute the evidence that you've gathered," she adds, a little uncertainly. There is a decision to be made...
Raziel	'I was not a doctor, so the processes in which this elder vampire blood was used to create a sort of virus mostly was lost on me. I left that to others and absorbed the broad strokes. Frowning at the idea that someone would be using vampiric blood to create... well...' 'A weapon. No worse, a disposable weapon. I wondered if this could only be used in a Dhampyr... or if humans could be implanted. If the latter, then this was worrying but... if it was the latter then it seemed to tilt towards something more sinister.' Raziel thinks for a moment, "I don't think we should do that," he says, considering for a moment. "I feel there are more layers to this, and I wonder at how much the Professor did on her own, versus having help from some vampire wanting to make a move of their own. After all, on the cusp of a turnover of order, it would make the best time for an attempt at a coup." "More worried that I am about what these 'needles' entail," he considers some things, "Besides, if we move fast, we can catch her before she has time to either fortify or leave. While caution is important, being overly cautious will not net us anything other than another chase. We go, we find her, we bring her in or kill her before she can continue this."
Timespace Riders	Sougo seems distracted. Unbeknownst to anyone here but Woz, he'd had a phone call with Dan the previous night. The topic had been Nokken--the one ally of the Professor's who would not, under any circumstance, change his mind. Woz, for his part, seems to pick up on this, and speaks up, when Maria proposes her courses of action. "Indeed," he says in response to Raziel. Although Sougo is seated, Woz stands, as usual. It does have the effect of making his hand gestures that much more sweeping and theatrical. "Swift and decisive action is necessary, esteemed Raziel. However," He paces, slowly, one index raised. "There is also the matter of her allies. Namely, the intractible Nokken." The book, ever tucked under the retainer's arm, is lifted, slightly. "According to this book, he has been surveiling us for some time, and intends to attack when he feels he has the advantage. If we take the ferry, then he will attack there--and, much to the dismay of several here, he will not be concerned with bystanders." "Agnafit," says Sougo. "Let's go back to Stad--the place where we came from--and make like we're going to spread the information there, somehow. It's got lots of high ground, and lots of trees to break up sightlines. If he was going to attack, there aren't many better places. ...and, it'll be a lot easier for Zero to do his... vine thing, to get people out of harm's way."
Kukuru	Having a day to actually relax and not deal with battle after battle has done wonders for Kukuru's mental and physical state. After spending a good chunk of the prior day just sleeping around at all those high places she had seen the evening before and sampling the local foods, she's actually looking fully rested and in good spirits while joining those prisoners and allies in yet another meal. She's still looking relatively awake once it's time to decide on the next course of action, dressed in local threads rather than her usual stuff to really feel like she belongs in Bi even if only on a superficial level. Recalling what had been uncovered in the facility last time, she takes a sip of cold juice a furrows her brow as Maria gives those projected coordinates. Thanks to context clues, however, she's able to conclude that using her phone would be useful! "... Oh, over there! Okay. If you haven't been there yet, then it'll be an interesting surprise for all of us. Hopefully, a nice one." Kukuru chimes, trying to keep the mood light even with the somewhat heavy decision to consider before the group. Moving fast as Raziel recommends sounds appealing to her at first as the straightforward option, but she doesn't speak up right away. Instead, she listens to Woz's and Sougo's comments to the contrary, and she nods slowly after a few more moments. "If we have clear sight lines... Oh. Maybe I could even see him shooting if he starts. Then it'd be even easier to get close before he gets away. And if it's really bad for him, maybe... He won't show himself at all. That'd be even better, right?"
Timespace Riders	Sougo smiles weakly at Kukuru. "No, Kukuru, it won't be better," he says sadly. "Because he's never going to change his mind. And as long as he's able to move around freely, he's going to be a danger to peace and harmony between humans and vampires."
Yuuki Kuran	Kuran Yuuki, visibly pleased and for once decently rested (for her), files into attendance into the common area in the early evening. Stepping down the stairs of the inn, she wears a fine and subtly patterend black dress with black butterfly lace choker and matching wristlets, red leggings with a matching black butterfly mesh pattern, and black slippers. There's a silver rose curled through her brown hair whose bloom rests over her right ear with a violet bloom as her only 'accessory', but it's very obvious what she's wearing. As the meeting begins an all-black soft wolf-shape trots up to Yuuki with a tray held in its mouth, and she bends and drops down to pluck a mug of hot mulled cider from the tray. She rises, holding her big sippy stein of steamy drink in both hands, left at the side and right clasped around the grip. Maria, as always, is looked at fondly, though Yuuki is concerned in her slow slururup's from her cider stein. "We could storm the place first, mmhmm, but is that best? We've gathered so much, and could move what we have to a much more central and defensible location. Between the Hunter's Association and Cross Academy, Stad is a very good option to return to. . ." Woz's plan is solid, and has an extra element that draws Yuuki's affirmation: "We won't have to 'make like it'. We simply will. There's no need to be cute about it: After gathering up everything we can here, and leaving one of Zero's connections here and my familiars in Bi if the Cambion Club is attacked. We'll just know. So let's consolidate." Yuuki smiles, breathy chuckles falling into the rim of her cider. "It's not like Stad can't withstand one lunatic who can't be swayed. He'll find the forest cold to him, and his hate unwelcome." Yuuki nods. "Let's go home and then get to work."
Zero Kiryu	"Chasing after her now... I think that's asking to be led into a bunch of snares," Maria says to Raziel, resting her chin in the palm of her hand and leaning forward against the small table she's setting at. "We didn't catch her at the lab here, and she has enough local support to know our movements, probably... she might lose track of us when we leave, I suppose. It's not that long a trip up that way, but it's not a short one, either." "But you've already chosen not to bring harm to the immediate culprit, even if she was tricked," she adds, eyes sliding over towards Gudrun, who tenses a little. "There's no point in losing yourself to bloodthirst and chasing a fleeing rabbit at this stage of things. Most of the tension of the situation can be defused as things are, even if it may be that ultimately the powers-that-be wish for The Professor to be brought in chains before them." "Besides, if we go back home first, we get to visit The Professor in an airship," Maria says, and although it's muted, it's obvious that she would enjoy this.
Zero Kiryu	Zero Kiryu only emerges into the open after Yuuki does. He doesn't bother being as put-together. He's wearing yesterday's black slacks, a cream-colored long-sleeved shirt that is fresh but not nearly as formal as his usual presentation, and hasn't bothered with shoes. His expression is a little dull and distant, though it isn't in this case because he's observing elsewhere. It's because... "I'm not looking forward to fighting some kind of... 'Sniper Rido'," he grumbles. Evidently he doesn't have a strong opinion between the two major possibilities here.
Raziel	Raziel gives Maria a look, for a moment taking consideration of the woman. Those were very pointed words, and his time on Nosgoth has made him leery of those who would manipulate others. More to the point trying to draw attention to bloodlust and comparing him to it was very pointed. So why, he wonders..? Was she just so confident in this plan? Was she trying to manipulate things? Was she really just careless with her words? The last one doesn't seem right, given things... "It seems we have decided anyway. Though it seems very unlikely there was a choice, to begin with," Raziel says, closing himself off just a little. It's easy to see something didn't sit right with him, "But I trust that Woz will not lead us wrong on this."
Zero Kiryu	"You're imagining something more elaborate than what I'm saying. I'm the one with the strongest motivation here to chase that 'rabbit'," Maria reacts to the look at Raziel gives her almost immediately. She leans forward on the table, folding her arms atop it and resting her head there on its side, looking out across the common room. "But I'm tired... and I can't hold a grudge in me for long. Following my 'lead' and going after the rabbit feels like a mistake. So don't do it."
Raziel	"If you say so, I am not arguing this and have already said I will follow the plan because of Woz's suggestions," Raziel says in responsse to Maria.
Timespace Riders	Sougo seems heartened by Yuuki's confidence, sitting up a little straighter in his seat. "'Home,' then," he says with some fondness for the word. Glancing over towards Maria, he adds with a more convincing smile than the one he'd given Kukuru, "And then the airship."
Kukuru	"If he isn't..." Kukuru frowns briefly at Sougo's response, but she bounces right back moments later with another bright smile. "Then that things more straightforward to us, right?" Chuckling lightly, she finds a seat for herself and finishes her juice while listening to Yuuki next, nodding steadily as she becomes more and more convinced that this is the best way forward. "Walking into traps would be pretty bad, mhm. I could probably take it if we really needed someone to set them off, but... This sounds safer, and we'll be able to breathe a little easier than if we rush in. If we need to bring stuff back faster, though, I could..." She pauses, then shakes her head. "No... Getting the stuff there sooner would probably be good, but it'd probably be safer if we all got there with the samples and evidence at the same time, right?" Nodding in agreement with Maria's assessments further, Kukuru only freezes up when she brings up an airship. "Does it... Have to be an airship?" She asks with an anxious noise coming out of her throat, and she quickly tries to distract herself from that thought. It's not working well, but at least she's safely on the ground right now. "Sniper Rido... What can you tell us about this person?" Turning to Zero next, Kukuru furrows her brow as she starts piecing together more context clues. "Does he have a gun that's really strong against vampires?"
Zero Kiryu	"There was no arguing to begin with. The feelings behind things are important," Maria mumbles at Raziel. It's hard to tell if she's sleepy or just doesn't realize she's mumbling. //Does it have to be an airship?// "If it's not, I'm going to get there first, because I want to ride an airship," she answers, simply.
Zero Kiryu	"I'm aware of him by reputation. The one they call Nokken is the oldest dhampyr of a human-leaning lineage in this area, and his Fang is a long-range rifle. Communication with this region is low, so I don't know him personally, even though he's technically a subordinate. 'Sniper Rido', though... that is mostly a private joke, if you can even call it a joke. You might think of it as me saying, 'I don't like fighting people who are that unfettered, it's a nuisance'." Zero replies to Kukuru, folding his arms over his chest. He shakes his head, "In the end, we'll be dealing with an ambusher-type enemy no matter what." "Regarding the pursuit of The Professor, which is a priority even if it is not our primary priority, I would like to put forward a possibility..." Zero produces a map from nowhere, moving towards one of the empty tables in the common room and laying it out. He's circled the island of Kvaland, which corresponds with a "modern Earth's" Gotland. A triangle marks the coordinates specified by Maria earlier. There are two other marks on the map -- X's, at 59.4370° N, 24.7536° E and 59.9311° N, 30.3609° E. "These are the three prominent population centers in the gulf that surrounds The Professor's probable current location. Although populations thin as you travel farther east, this area at least is safe and relatively well-populated, and access to the sea is important to local trade and transport. If Bi has been a satellite facility, and the circle is a major facility, I would be surprised if the two other locations are not of any significance. If I were to define a 'farthest retreat point', it would be here at the end of the gulf..." He taps the location that is the farthest east. "Once we've dealt with Nokken, how do you think we should proceed?" He asks.
Raziel	Raziel looks at the map, looking at the triangulation for a moment. Assuming everything is right, assumptions are correct, and there isn't anything they are missing... "Well, it feels like if we attack one, she'll probably escape to the second. If we can set up an ambush that flushes her out of one, and get her before she can escape on her way to the fallback..." Raziel says... "Then for once we can set up the situation in our favor and have her on the back foot." "This would also mean we'd have to make sure any and all help she has is either restricted or handled by then. We should also figure out which of our powers she knows about, and doesn't know about... to see if we could leverage them." "There is also a ghost who seems to be hanging around our old Dhampire. She looks younger, perhaps a student. I am not sure as to who she is or how she died, other than she refuses to talk to me." "As for the population... that isn't my expertise," Raziel admits, willing to let others deal with the people. Raziel considers Maria's comments and then sighs. "Forgive me, I am working through my own loss as well."
Yuuki Kuran	Yuuki stares off blankly into space after Maria mentions the airship, a softly giddy giggle escaping the brown-haired woman. "Oh, that's right, isn't it? We can stop marching from battle to investigation to battle, only stopping to rest. This isn't a death march, and we have so many allies. Let's fall back into their arms and prepare our best defenses for--" Zero steps besides her, and speaks dire words. 'Sniper Rido'. Yuuki mouths over that again, and for a moment her fangs show, among her teeth, with the click of her tongue and cast-away annoyance before taking a pouting sip of her cider. "My uncle, Rido, is the worst man I've ever met by far. If I ever need an example of things to not be, represent, or do as a vampire, I just have to think about him." Comes Yuuki's almost-croaked dire words. "His hunt killed both of my parents. I was saved by a man who took care of me the best way he could, and I remember that." Yuuki closes her eyes. "Raziel, if you're so worried, would you like to help prepare our battlefield? If Woz can predict where Nokken will strike in Stad, then we'll have an edge up - we know his abilities but he doesn't know all of Woz's. I doubt he'll act within the city, but he might attack us from locations outside of it. If we know where - and know where he plans his first retreat, then we won't fight my worst uncle with a sniper rifle, we'll just be hunting for sport." "I think I'd like to hunt my uncle for sport, actually." Yuuki adds, and then tips back her mug to gulp a big hot cider swallow and come down with froth across her lip. "But after..." Yuuki thinks, hrmn'ing audibly as she considers, a deep thinking furrow to her brow. "I'd like to hit the main facility first, to take the most of this Professor's material of the table. But there's... Well it might be nice if we gather them all up in one pile, by hitting all the satellites first? Everyone, what do you think?"
Raziel	Raziel looks up to Yuuki, "Yes, between Kukuru, Woz, and myself we could probably do something about that..." Raziel considers, turning his head to Woz to see what he has to say.
Timespace Riders	Sougo rubs his chin thoughtfully. "I think we should take care of the satellites first," he says, nodding at Yuuki. "And sort of... pre-emptively close off whatever she might try and use there." "In the meantime, though, Woz can look through the book and find out where and when Nokken will come after us." Woz nods. "It should be noted that his many years come with plenty of experience," says Woz. "We will have to at least appear to have a disadvantage, else he will not strike. I will do my best to account for this, in my reading."
Kukuru	"You do? Wow..." Kukuru murmurs, awed by Maria's bravery in the face of the terror that is flying machines. "Oh, an in-joke! How fun~ Mm... Yeah, I understand. Someone that doesn't have a lot to lose or doesn't care can be really tricky to handle in a situation like this." Kukuru concurs with Zero's explanation about the nickname, frowning after a moment as she considers just how much of a mess there would be fighting a sniper in the middle of a crowded anything. "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if one of us could lure him out, then... It'd be harder to ambush everyone if he only catches one, right? A new map appears, and new coordinates are given to indicate more locations! Not only does this make Kukuru's thinking more complicated (to do, not to understand) as she tires to juggle even more variables in her mind that she had enough trouble with earlier. "Three big areas, one that might have the Professor herself, and another one that might be a viable egress point. "How to proceed... Um. We wouldn't be able to just demolish the others while keeping her busy at one, would we?" She already sounds unconvinced by her own question as she asks it, but then she picks up some more confidence when Yuuki mentions going after those satellites. "Splitting up might be risky, though, especially if she figures out what we're doing and ends up going after whoever's separated from the group." She pauses again as Woz goes into his book, and then strokes her chin at the mention of appearing with a disadvantage. "Then... What if I act as the bait? Nokken and Rido probably know everyone else is really good at moving around fast, right? But if I'm just moving at my regular speed... They might think to have him just come after me real fast before anyone notices."
Zero Kiryu	The dark-haired ghost has been around more often these last couple of days, leaving and returning at regular intervals. His expression is a little bit annoyed; it's unclear exactly what ghosts 'usually' do, if they're not simply imitating old habits. When Raziel speaks about another, though, he says, "I've been trying to decide if you're nominally on my brother's side or not. It seems that with what your 'Professor' had hiding under ther clinic, he's come around..." "... but that just means he's going to have a go at her alone. Maybe one of her supporters. I can let you know which one it'll be in advance, once he decides," The ghost says. "Also... every Dhampyr in Kvaland was trained by Nokken at some point. Except the Kato family." Burying her face in her arms, Maria makes a muffled noise of assent at Raziel. She didn't really seem offended, exactly. Just sort of weary. "I would assume that she knows the abilities of anyone who has deployed with us," Zero says to Raziel, shrugging. "She's well-informed enough to develop synthetic pureblood venom, so I doubt there are many surprises that Yuuki and I can deploy. The rest of you are a different story." Q: Where will Nokken strike? Nokken will not strike anywhere close to 'Hunter's Association Headquarters', because he can't be sure that it won't escalate out of control there. It's on the far side of town, though, so it's easy to avoid it. There is a road that leads up into the mountains towards a Cross Academy which is a good ambush spot, but it is also heavily wooded, rough terrain; he WILL get away to try again if he engages you there. Cross Academy itself is a curious case where the worst-case scenario is a whole bunch of political figure's kids getting hurt or killed, but which Nokken assumes is a much better place to fight from than it actually is, because of a large body of water and convenient escape river. This place is deceptively defensible, though; it has weathered somebody trying to kill all the students with no noncombatant casualties whatsoever. The least incidentally risky place is various elements of the Stad outskirts that are populated but not heavily so, and tend to have at least a small population of ghouls. //I think I'd like to hunt my uncle for sport, actually.// "If you're that hungry, you could just say so," Zero replies. This is mostly joking, but his affect in general is pretty flat, so it doesn't come across as one. //Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if one of us could lure him out...//
Zero Kiryu	"Too experienced fighting from a disadvantage. Won't take that kind of bait," Zero replies, grimly. //How to proceed... Um. We wouldn't be able to just demolish the others while keeping her busy at one, would we?// "A two-way split might be possible. I wouldn't go so far as three, but I think we can be reasonably certain that her farthest exit point is the one with a land-based escape route. That'll be the easternmost port. I would assume that whoever she considers the most 'powerful' will be guarding that one," he offers. //Then... What if I act as the bait? Nokken and Rido probably know everyone else is really good at moving around fast, right? But if I'm just moving at my regular speed... They might think to have him just come after me real fast before anyone notices.// "Rido is long dead, or I wouldn't use him that way in a conversation. And if there's one thing they know for sure about you, it is that matching you force-to-force isn't the best strategy. If we are metaphorically executing a sequence of attacks, you need to be the second stroke or the barrier at the end."
Timespace Riders	Woz's nose is buried in the book for a few moments. The pages are blank, and as ever, the title seems to defy being read. He studiously flips through pages, and after his reading, steps over to the map. The retainer produces two simple pushpins with a flick of his wrist, holding them between his thumb and forefinger. "There are two places I might suggest, where Nokken is concerned. If Zero Kiryu is confident in his ability to evacuate bystanders," he says, "Then Nokken may be engaged here." A red pushpin is stuck into the map, over the location of the Cross Academy itself. "It will seem an appealing location for him, given the river nearby--but it is surprisingly defensible, and has apparently survived an assault before." "Otherwise," he says, "Here." Woz places a blue pushpin into a little outlet on the outskirts of Stad. "It is populated, but not overmuch, and a fair deal of those who do live there are ghouls."
Raziel	Raziel rubs under his chin, listening to Woz. "Then let me put forth an idea first... feel free to override me..." he says, but he does remember the school grounds from the time he was in Zero's head. He taps Cross Academy. "During the attack, Zero's vines will be able to help protect, but we can also set up decoys. Pushing the student body to a single place, with an artificial warp gate for evacuation. It will seem, to him, the obvious backup plan we have for him. " He'll pick a moment the try and either damage the gate, or hit one of us to try and take us out. Then when he fails he'll try to escape. We'll have a very slim opportunity but..." "If we give Kukuru a picture of all of the areas he could take a shot from, and determine which one he is when he takes his shot, we can then teleport there and directly assault him. At that point, Woz can pinpoint his location, I can get the drop on him, and Kukuru can deliver the finishing blow when he's focused on me. He'll figure that with me there he won't be able to escape because of how my ability to come in and out of the physical and spectral world works." However, the dark-haired ghost speaks to him. "...Oh, you're his brother.." he says, after a moment, seemingly talking to nobody. There is a pause, "That does seem to be his style..." he ponders. "So you think he'll strike at her on his own, but I do not think he'll fair well.." he pauses. "That isn't good.." he says, looking towards Yuuki. While those with mind reading can't directly hear the ghost, he does make it so that his mind reflects the conversation.
Kukuru	> Yuuki's parents Kukuru gets up from her seat to head over however many feet it is to get to Yuuki, opens her arms up, then offers a big face-to-chest hug for as long as she wants. Even if it was presumably a long time ago, hearing about her parents' death is still reason enough for Kukuru to offer her sympathies in the one of best ways she knows how. > Nokken's projected attack regions "We probably shouldn't try to fight him in the wooded area, then. If he fights us and gets away, he'll have even more info that could be real bad for us. Unless.... We want to give him some info?" Kukuru doesn't sound so sure about the last part. "The Academy does sound pretty risky for whoever's around us while we fight, but if we can prepare for a water escape, then it might just be the one encounter. And then... Everyone that hurt can be healed up, good as new~" A pause, and then she frowns. "... But letting anyone nearby get hurt would be pretty bad, too. We still need everyone to trust that we know what we're doing." > Two-way splits "Three would be too risky, mhm. Sounds like we'd have to be prepared to fight no matter where we go, then. But if there's gonna be strong people at the escape point, the Professor in her main area, and maybe even Nokken... What if we make it look like we're doing an even bigger split? Then they might have to start worrying about splitting their power up three ways when we're really only going two ways." > Force-to-force This time, Kukuru doesn't respond to Zero right away. She's just taking a while processing what he's saying about what the enemy likely knows about her already, and about how she would fit as the heavy hitter or the last guard. Her face goes red while she hooks her fingers together behind her head, just putting her head down while kicking her knees up and down rapidly for a good minute or so and suppressing quietly pleased noises all the while. Once she settles back down, Kukuru gets her composure together enough to listen to Raziel's suggestion. "Ooh, that's a good idea... If I know more places to go to right away, then we can really get the drop on that guy. And then once he's handled... We won't have to worry about any other really bad ambusher-types, right? So we'll have an advantage in a-" Pause to yawn. "-slugmatch."
Yuuki Kuran	"I think..." Yuuki has a great sympathy for the soft and reliable Kukuru, because she too is expected to be wise and intelligent when really she's a lot simpler of a woman in her tastes: She likes simple pleasures and earnest people, and is comfortable relying on others. Relying on others had given her more than the best results imagineable, because together, greater things could be imagined. But, still, 'more than could be imagined' being a simple and happy dream implied a certain sickness at the root of a community, and for that community to be as large and supported as the world of the Director of the Concord... Leads Yuuki to an anxious energy and a more-than-usual application of power. She had the resources, the fuck-you social capital and personnel to hammer at this problem. Settling in for a siege felt wrong, but... 'It's not a death march, James.' Murmurs gently from Yuuki's lips, not bidden by any part of the conversation, but the feeling that hangs from her, palpable in melancholic weight. "Nokken first. He hunts us, and I don't like it. Then, we hit both external bases at the same time - even if it's hard, I believe in the power of the Concord to win every lane at once. We collapse on the Professor's main site, and take care of this problem." A soft smile is given out to the rest of the gang, Yuuki dangling her cider mug down on the hook of her right index finger to her awaiting familiar, which jaws over the handle and trots off back to the kitchen with the mug. As she pans to Kukuru, she is moffun'ed by the big sweeping hug, 'surprised' by the contact yet knowing generally it was going to happen. Despite knowing, the reality is a little different. Yuuki is thusly smoshed face-to-chest, loosely hugging Kukuru back. Her psychic presence keeps talking, a drip at the back of the skull. <They can't know how incredible all of you are. This is why the Concord, my Concord, won't ever lose. Because if one of us wins, we all win. That's why we're partners.>
Zero Kiryu	Zero offers nothing on the subject of doing this at Cross Academy. The idea makes him uneasy, but he's going to defer to Yuuki on this, no matter which way she goes with it. There are certainly allies there, though, that would be helpful even apart from the geography being more-or-less advantageous. The dark-haired ghost shrugs. "He would do okay against that idol woman. Her sister is sketchier. The ghouls aren't a real problem for them, except that he won't want to kill them if they're like the last ones. The Professor herself, as far as I know she's human. But she's probably nasty enough to pick the battle so she can fire a shotgun down a narrow hallway, or something like that..." //Then they might have to start worrying about splitting their power up three ways when we're really only going two ways.// "I would probably respond to that by concentrating my forces and renewing obfuscation, which would burn some assets, but not end my operation," Zero offers. He looks a little confused at Kukuru's excitement over the 'force-to-force' statements, but doesn't pry into it. //We won't have to worry about any other really bad ambusher-types, right?// Zero grunts. "The one called Marina is probably the next biggest problem in terms of being a technical confrontation. It sounds as if she has an effect on people similar to a vampire, so there are many devoted individuals surrounding her who otherwise have nothing to do with anything..." The plan, though, it seems is set. Zero nods, a red pencil materializing in his right hand. He draws a path from Kvaland back to Agnafit, and then off into the mountains where Stad resides. "For the moment, then, we will be withdrawing back to Agnafit, issuing our evidence to the ambassadors that remain, and then retreat to Stad. We will attempt to engage from the Cross Academy grounds, utilizing my plants to remove students at time-of-engagement." Producing a small map of the academy grounds, he places it on the edge of the world map he's drawing on. "Once Nokken is handled, we will split our group into two and strike here and here," The travel line is drawn back up towards the north, forking into modern day Helsinki and Tallinn. "Before collapsing in on and converging..." The forked travel markers collapse on St. Petersburg. "The northern city is more likely to be Marina's domain, it has more of an entertainment scene. I don't know anything about the southern city offhand," he concludes.