2025-06-01: Plan of Attack

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<Pose Tracker> Orion Kessler has posed.

         Given the failure of the operation to attack the train and steal all of its relevant cargo, Orion was now faceplanted into the cafe table with a crestfallen posture. While he performed somewhat admirably on that operation, he seemed to think otherwise.

         "Unnnhhh... I'm sorry Tieria, Kallen. I shouldn't have let my guard down on that last one, otherwise we would have had more of that train's stuff..."

         His voice sounded like it was on the verge of crying, mostly out of self-depreciation and a lack of self-esteem. Or at least it sounded that way, it sounded more like he was dying from shame if anything else. Well, it was his first day on the job so to speak. 

<Pose Tracker> Tieria Erde has posed.

         Tieria crosses their arms and clicks their tongue. "I should have been there. But... it's alright. No mission ever goes off perfectly. Just don't screw up next time." Their uncharacteristic words of encouragement are followed with a much more characteristic barb.

        

         "There's always next time."

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

Given the mission results, Kallen doesn't seem particularly downcast. Rather, she doesn't seem that way at all! On the contrary, she's picked up soma pizzas and drinks for the three of them. So while Orion is sulking, she's pushing some food his way. "We were outmaneuvered, and had a little bad luck. It's fine." After all. They didn't fail completely. They got some cargo, and... "Importantly, none of our people were captured or killed."

Still, as kind as those words might be, her followup might be terrifying, guised behind a smile. "If you're so worried about your performance, I can redouble my training program for you and the other rookies." Oh, it's not that she's particularly brutal as a teacher, far from it. But she expects long hours of practice on a consistent schedule. AND she doesn't allow for people to bottle it up when they've got something interfering with motivation. She's seen where secrets get them, far too often.

Unsurprisingly then, she has a criticism of her own to offer. "Honestly, I considered that maybe my Emihozuki was a better fit for the operation than Guren. But I did a bit too much second guessing in the planning stages, and opted for the unit I'm most familiar with, to reduce variables." Yet she created the Emihozuki. So shouldn't she know it about as well as anyone CAN know a machine? How can she say she knows Guren better? 

<Pose Tracker> Orion Kessler has posed.

         As was given reassurance that the results of the operation were mostly fine, Orion lifted his head off the table, his posture still somewhat crestfallen. Though it quickly straightened at Tieria's "encouragement" and Kallen's offer of more training, well at least they weren't going to extremely berate him for it.

         "Thanks, and I think I'll take the training, Kallen. Maybe learn some new tricks from you and all. But I think I also wanna think about what we're doing going forward."

         He looked at Kallen and shook his head a little at her own self-assessment. "Well, I think you made the right call for that one. It's more important we make it out alive, rather than get stuck flailing around. We can replace KMF parts, not people after all."

         He somewhat absent mindedly opened the pizza box to quickly grab a slice, which he placed onto his plate. He then took a bite before nodding to himself, as if to affirm himself that his idea might be able to sell. "So Tieria, I was always wondering why you guys had yet to upgrade your Mobile Suits, so I decided to get us some GN Condenser parts. Thought you guys would need the extra materials to develop new stuff. Same with some of the KMF parts I listed for the crew to recover, since Britannia has crap loads of those that it doesn't need anymore or won't notice that they've gone missing. Those are for you by the way, Kallen."

         He then took another bite out of his pizza slice before washing it down with some cola and continued with his plan proposal. "So now that we do have this stuff, I was thinking we might just need a complete arsenal overhaul. Which means we'll need more than just parts, I feel." There was a short silence before Orion spoke up again. "Any uhh... suggestions from you two?" 

<Pose Tracker> Tieria Erde has posed.

         "We just haven't really had the opportunity to upgrade. It might be a good idea... Appreciated."

         They sigh and chew on the end of their thumb, mulling over the logistics of an overhaul. "Back when Celestial Being was active, we had certain connections that made funding research and development easy. As much as she irks me, it might be worth touching in with Liu Mei..."

         They look at the pizza and take a slice, dabbing the grease with a napkin. "And the Ptolemy should have enough spare room for assembly..." 

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

The two of them aren't the only ones eating of course. Kallen is... all too used to pizza. She really misses that damn witch being around consistently. Who would have known a friendship could be born from somebody trolling you mercilessly? Still, she's taking it slow. "In terms of Knightmares we're not really lacking. Aside from the obvious regarding flight units." Not that she lets being groundbound stop her. She never has. "That raises a point though. Could you submit to me an analysis of how Celestial Being tended to conduct their operations later? I can make assumptions with your specialized roles, but... I'll be better able to coordinate to your preferences as a pilot with better information."

Some might think she's being stubborn about considering her Knightmares to be better than they are. That's not really what she's getting at though. "In my opinion, the thing we need most is better intel so we can pick our missions judiciously, and have the planning to account for sudden difficulties that require a pivot of objectives. But I certainly won't argue with further innovation on everyone's equipment. So, do you have an idea for how to contact this Liu Mei?"

<Pose Tracker> Orion Kessler has posed.

         Orion was quite happy with the reception of his idea for upgrades, and then wondered what Kallen was planning as she mentioned getting a list of Celestial Being operations. "What exactly did you have in mind, Kallen? Planning on designing something yourself?"

         His focus then shifted to the need for intel, and potential contact with this Liu Mei. "So we need intel, huh? If you need me to sneak in somewhere to access a terminal, I can do that. It's how I got the GN-X in the first place. Though, what's Liu Mei like, if you don't mind me asking since you don't seem to particularly approve of them?"

<Pose Tracker> Tieria Erde has posed.

         Tieria takes a bite and speaks between chews. "She's just a bit... lackadaisical. The consequences of living without want. We had our avenues for contacting her discreetly, but those have likely been severed in the intervening years... Though it's not as if she's a recluse. A simple probing into the upper-class circles should root her out." 

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

That makes Kallen laugh into her hands. "I already do design Knightmare Frames. I apprenticed in engineering under the Guren's developer. But while I might like to learn about the workings of our allies, so I can help with that... It isn't the point, no. I was speaking in my capacity as a squad leader, looking to improve my ability to plan for us. I can set up teams and roles on missions better, with that information. Sniper support, defensive roles, electronic warfare. Those sorts of things. I'm no Zero by a long shot, but I think I can do SOMETHING for everyone."

The idea of sneaking into facilities bothers her a bit. It's... remarkably risky as a solo op. But she's not against it. "We'll see what our resources can do about intel first." She wrinkles her nose a little, about this rich girl's description. "Understood, perhaps infiltrating a high society ball could allow us that reconnect." And sliding over to another topic quickly, because she doesn't want to think too hard about it... "I'll see about contacting some of the people I'm still connected to in various areas. I have a few old friendships that might benefit us, assuming they don't hate me for the couple years of radio silence." 

<Pose Tracker> Orion Kessler has posed.

         Orion was a bit surprised by Kallen's laugh, he wasn't expecting her to be the kind to laugh that easily, though it was likely because his only previous point of reference was her actions on the news. Though it did help make him feel more welcome.

         "Oh uh... Well, you already know what I do, didn't stop those guys from closing the gap though. Only have a few backup weapons to contend with them."

         Then came the prospect of infiltrating a ball, he can certainly get on board with that, in fact he already has a disguise for that in mind. "Well, if need be, I happen to be a good pianist in my spare time. So I can always key up some Chopin for the party to help blend in, or Mozart if that's more of the party's taste." Orion then took another bite of his slice, this time the crust. He swallowed the dry piece of pastry and drank some more to alleviate the problem of crumbs in his throat. He used a tissue to wipe away some of the grease on his mouth before speaking up on Kallen's idea to bring together some of her old friends. "But I'm also interested to see what happens if we manage to get more of the Black Knights on board. Curious to meet some of them, wasn't there some reporter dude too or am I misremembering things?" 

<Pose Tracker> Tieria Erde has posed.

         Tieria lets out a soft sigh. Infiltrating a ball probably meant wearing that one dress Sumeragi got them that's been sitting in the back of a closet.

         "We'll take a look at the social comings and goings and find an opening. It shouldn't be too hard to convince Liu Mei, she was pretty loyal to the cause." 

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

It's not much of a shock for her. Only a few members know the person she really is, as opposed to her reputation. Which is one reason she wants to do regular meetings and group social events. Build up some actual friendship in their organization. "It's not impossible to keep at range even under those circumstances. BUT, as somebody who has chased down snipers in the past. You'll be best off learning some techniques for all ranges, so you aren't caught out too badly. I'm not saying become an all-rounder, mind. Just. Learning what to do when someone invades your space will absolutely save your life."

Giving consideration to the infiltration plan, she runs through a few dresses in her mind. And quickly realizes something. "I'll need to update my disguises. Get the right kind of makeup for the job" ...If she wants to wear a stylish dress after all, she's going to need to make a few things less obvious. "I might be able to pick up a... distraction, while I'm at it. If she's willing at least, a gathering of so many rich elites is... catnip to certain types, don't you think?" She has no idea if that woman will talk to her, but... She'll need to give it a go.

Unfortunately the question about reporters hits on something bothersome. "Don't be too excited. I have no idea who is and isn't still with them... I haven't met with them since a bit after the Euphemia tragedy. But we'll see what I can do. We split over ideological differences after all, among other things."

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