*batter's up*
... because, that setup? Genius.
And as for the length thing? Considering that most of what I post is usually 50% semi-coherent rambling, I figure we're about tied on that. If not, it's still good.
*schwingg*
*timestamp - picture of Arika wearing a Garderobe uniform and looking like she'd just won the lottery*
I caught Ren on the way out, or should that be the other way around? I was slightly distracted, so I would have just marched right past him if he hadn't fallen into step beside me. Either works.
This ruckus was, in one way, nowhere near as bad as the previous one had been. I mean, was whoever had been in charge of that botched operation thinking clearly at all?
I guess I really shouldn't complain, since careless Schwarz operatives just mean more leads most of the time - except when they don't, and the leads are dead ends or worse. Something that had happened a few times already - but the fact that they released a Slave in the middle of Windbloom?
Clumsy, heavy handed, and reeked of distraction despite the very real chance they'd had of capturing the Brat Prince-ss.
I'll admit to being inconsiderate, since I'd been running some of the human resources on the payroll ragged in trying to find out whether something had been ignored or swept aside in the wake of that embarassment.
Meanwhile, I'd been doing the stupid thing and trying to get into Artai's head to find out what he was thinking. No luck so far. Oh, the broad strokes were almost always the same - those who had power craved more power, but for some reason I believed there was something beyond that simple imperative driving him.
The reason was slender, blue-haired, black cloaked, and currently somewhere out in the desert doing kami only knew what. I expected to find out in due time.
That aside, this incident was simply messier than the last had been by virtue of happening where it did, and with the bigwigs as an audience.
Ren got saddled with calling in a few of the couriers who didn't have anything to do right then, and then pulling in one or two seniors who'd taken that day off. It should be enough to handle what will inevitably come out of the Palace soon. Some of it will go with the personal aides of the people there, but a fair bit will need to be delivered faster than that - it always did. In this sort of situation, documentation and experience was most important, hence the need to cancel some leave. There was enough slack in the coffers to cover it, and the results would be worth it. Both monetary and not.
Then he got saddled with a bonus to do a simple message drop. He didn't grumble, especially when I scribbled down the message right there.
While Black was mostly aware of the goings on in the mid to high levels of Windbloom society, there simply hadn't been enough time to form an adequate ... net of solid informants who looked below that.
When in doubt, subcontract. Triple check the results, yes, but still subcontract until you can do better than they can.
That aside, this Juliet person was remarkably thorough. Maybe I should see about recruiting her and adapting into the already existing net of connections.
Or just have Ren probe her out about it, test the waters, even spring the offer. On the other hand, perhaps not. She'd not seemed like the type of person who'd take a job without speaking with the one in charge.
By the time we both got to the parking area the constabulary and Royal Guard had managed to set up detours to keep the access routes to the Palace proper clear.
Ren mounted his Transport Frame - an eight foot long equivalent of a motorbike, except that this one had a pressure chamber and micro turbine engines like you'd see on those rugged little military Flea scout hovers instead of wheels, with a simple crash cage locked into place around the rider's body - and was off.
I was still settling into the company sedan.
He was likely done with the dispatch and back at the Palace, helping with the inevitable outpour of messages from there, by the time I'd made it back to the offices.
I let the analysts work at pulling something from the usual onslaught of information, busying myself with it as well.
By the time evening had come around, and we'd collectively sent for some Jipang take-out, there had been enough information processed to make several rather solid extrapolations and a few guesses relevant to the current situation.
The appropriate packages were put together, sealed, and sent out with the night run.
A somewhat more ... complete ... dissection of the incident went into the archives.
And I went up to my apartment, where I fell asleep.
It was the first night I'd spent in Windbloom that was bereft of dreams of any kind, be they weird or not.
Looking back, I think I should have taken that as a warning.
-Griever
When tact is required, use brute force. When force is required, use greater force.
When the greatest force is required, use your head. Surprise is everything. - The Book of Cataclysm
... because, that setup? Genius.
And as for the length thing? Considering that most of what I post is usually 50% semi-coherent rambling, I figure we're about tied on that. If not, it's still good.
*schwingg*
*timestamp - picture of Arika wearing a Garderobe uniform and looking like she'd just won the lottery*
I caught Ren on the way out, or should that be the other way around? I was slightly distracted, so I would have just marched right past him if he hadn't fallen into step beside me. Either works.
This ruckus was, in one way, nowhere near as bad as the previous one had been. I mean, was whoever had been in charge of that botched operation thinking clearly at all?
I guess I really shouldn't complain, since careless Schwarz operatives just mean more leads most of the time - except when they don't, and the leads are dead ends or worse. Something that had happened a few times already - but the fact that they released a Slave in the middle of Windbloom?
Clumsy, heavy handed, and reeked of distraction despite the very real chance they'd had of capturing the Brat Prince-ss.
I'll admit to being inconsiderate, since I'd been running some of the human resources on the payroll ragged in trying to find out whether something had been ignored or swept aside in the wake of that embarassment.
Meanwhile, I'd been doing the stupid thing and trying to get into Artai's head to find out what he was thinking. No luck so far. Oh, the broad strokes were almost always the same - those who had power craved more power, but for some reason I believed there was something beyond that simple imperative driving him.
The reason was slender, blue-haired, black cloaked, and currently somewhere out in the desert doing kami only knew what. I expected to find out in due time.
That aside, this incident was simply messier than the last had been by virtue of happening where it did, and with the bigwigs as an audience.
Ren got saddled with calling in a few of the couriers who didn't have anything to do right then, and then pulling in one or two seniors who'd taken that day off. It should be enough to handle what will inevitably come out of the Palace soon. Some of it will go with the personal aides of the people there, but a fair bit will need to be delivered faster than that - it always did. In this sort of situation, documentation and experience was most important, hence the need to cancel some leave. There was enough slack in the coffers to cover it, and the results would be worth it. Both monetary and not.
Then he got saddled with a bonus to do a simple message drop. He didn't grumble, especially when I scribbled down the message right there.
While Black was mostly aware of the goings on in the mid to high levels of Windbloom society, there simply hadn't been enough time to form an adequate ... net of solid informants who looked below that.
When in doubt, subcontract. Triple check the results, yes, but still subcontract until you can do better than they can.
That aside, this Juliet person was remarkably thorough. Maybe I should see about recruiting her and adapting into the already existing net of connections.
Or just have Ren probe her out about it, test the waters, even spring the offer. On the other hand, perhaps not. She'd not seemed like the type of person who'd take a job without speaking with the one in charge.
By the time we both got to the parking area the constabulary and Royal Guard had managed to set up detours to keep the access routes to the Palace proper clear.
Ren mounted his Transport Frame - an eight foot long equivalent of a motorbike, except that this one had a pressure chamber and micro turbine engines like you'd see on those rugged little military Flea scout hovers instead of wheels, with a simple crash cage locked into place around the rider's body - and was off.
I was still settling into the company sedan.
He was likely done with the dispatch and back at the Palace, helping with the inevitable outpour of messages from there, by the time I'd made it back to the offices.
I let the analysts work at pulling something from the usual onslaught of information, busying myself with it as well.
By the time evening had come around, and we'd collectively sent for some Jipang take-out, there had been enough information processed to make several rather solid extrapolations and a few guesses relevant to the current situation.
The appropriate packages were put together, sealed, and sent out with the night run.
A somewhat more ... complete ... dissection of the incident went into the archives.
And I went up to my apartment, where I fell asleep.
It was the first night I'd spent in Windbloom that was bereft of dreams of any kind, be they weird or not.
Looking back, I think I should have taken that as a warning.
-Griever
When tact is required, use brute force. When force is required, use greater force.
When the greatest force is required, use your head. Surprise is everything. - The Book of Cataclysm