View source for 2022-07-09 - The Man Who Knew

{{Log
|cast=Sousuke Sagara, Laila Elsayed
|location=A Shuffle safehouse in Jindai, Nouvelle Tokyo
|summary=Laila questions Sousuke a bit regarding the Behemoth incident.
}}
{{PhaseAndTurn
|phase=1
|turn=2
}}

 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
<poem>
In the last few weeks, a helpful new business has opened up in the Jindai area, a local Geotron Electronics-sponsored garage for civilian-owned mecha.

Yeah. Civilian-owned. That's the ticket.

With the influx of Shuffle business in and around Nouvelle - not to mention to make it a little easier to access Shuffle Alliance machines in a pinch - having a Mithril-affiliated facility right there in the city just finally made inescapable sense. Relatedly, it's in a meeting room here that Sousuke Sagara is waiting to catch up with the Shuffle Alliance contact who wanted to touch base regarding the incident in Nagoya a few months back.

He has an apple from a pile of them on the side table.
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Laila Elsayed has posed.
<poem>

Definitely civilian-owned.

Outside, a car - sleek and efficient and precise, with a shape that seems simultaneously anomalous in its futurism and classic in its linings - is parked. A nameplate in hieroglyphs sits on its back, where there should be a brand name.

There is a knocking at a meeting room.

The door opens.

"Mr. Sagara," says a cultured voice with an accent that's sort of hard to place but also completely under control. "Thank you for taking some time to meet with me." A dark hand selects an apple.

"It's been a while since the incident, but I've heard you're a man with an excellent memory."

Laila draws out a thin glossy pen knife with a piece of gold filigree and some Arabic writing on the handle. She begins to slice the apple, saying as she does, "You remember the Nagoya incident, I surmise."

</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
<poem>
Sousuke is a stern young man, with a mop of brown hair and deeply sunned skin. He's in the summer uniform for the local high school, which is just a short-sleeved dress shirt and dark slacks. There's a small scar on the line of his jaw - an old, identifying mark.

"It's not a problem," Sousuke says, with a bob of his head. "Miss Elsayed, correct?"

He moves to take a seat near his school bag, calmly rifling through it for...well, maybe for nothing, since he comes away with only his apple, which he sets on the table soon after. "The Nagoya incident was highly unorthodox, and further research is wise."

He watches the apple then looks to Laila herself, unflinching. "I do."

</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Laila Elsayed has posed.
<poem>

Laila has a scar at her temple, mostly hidden by her hairline. She is wearing a rather casual outfit that would not look out of place in a workplace that wasn't too stuffy - short sleeved blouse with a rather deep blue and a bit of gold/brass coloring at the buttons, a form-hugging skirt, no stockings, flats. Sousuke can tell she has a gun under the skirt but it isn't a large one. The pockets in the skirt help conceal the lines.

Laila carries herself with military training and seems to know at least one well drilled set of commando-type physical fighting. Oh, and her hair is black and her skin is medium-dark brown, but that's probably the less concerning part.

Laila stares at the schoolbag for a moment, having cut the apple first in half, and now sliced a piece off.

She sits, too. Back up. "Let us start from first principles. Explain to me - as if I were a well informed layman, but not a subject matter expert - why the attack was unorthodox. Superficially it bore a strong resemblance to Kikaiju-type incidents, such as have plagued Japan for decades."

"Very nice country," Laila comments. "And to answer your question, yes: that's correct."

</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
<poem>
Sousuke's more of a traditionalist: He keeps his tucked into his waistband. No wonder he sits like he's got a stick up there.

As for the question... Sousuke nods, considering carefully. "Generally, kaiju attacks emerge from either natural phenomena angering existing kaiju, or are facilitated by an external actor, mostly for the purpose of personal gain," he says. "Kikaiju in particular are generally under the command of Dr. Hell and his forces. But we know with certainty the attack on Nagoya was a terrorist incident executed by an organization known as A21, not a BioNet group. They appeared to be associated loosely with the Black Knights." Not Sousuke's place to analyze that, just put it out there. "We encountered the pilot in person, and he demonstrated severe mood swings, ranging from profound confidence to extreme anger, and so it is likely he was heavily drugged to operate the machine."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Laila Elsayed has posed.
<poem>

Laila eats her apple slice. As Sousuke is speaking she nods along with him, even if he seems to be explaining details which she already knows. Nonetheless, he is doing what he was asked! A wonderful trait in a man!

"Associated loosely with the Black Knights," Laila says. "Surely the context suggests that the affiliation may be tighter than that. Nevertheless; inform me about the involvement of A21."

She has a SECOND question. "Do you believe that the pilot was compelled, or was this a necessity of the machine's operation?"

And she even has a remark: "That damn thing reminded me of that footage of the thing that attacked Tokyo-3. The first one, or fourth; the classifications are confusing. Likely deliberate. Of course, the analogy was very loose, but I'd like to know if you feel the phenomena might be connected." During this time, Laila gets down to about 40% of apple consumption.

</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
<poem>
"Hm. Yes, possible," Sousuke says, acknowledging Laila's critique. "Black Knights assistance was within standards for their organization."

"From speaking to him, he seemed to be fully radicalized to A21's cause. It is, of course, possible this was the result of a period of indoctrination. All I can say for certain is at the time of the incident he appeared to be willing, and the drug was likely necessary for the machine's operation."

His eyes cut to the side, unconsciously. Arbalest...he's had more luck since that day. But it's still not perfect. That drug was almost certainly the trick they were using to make it work consistently. Given how the Behemoth reacted to a forced shutdown, it must have needed perfect uptime. What a terrifying machine, even in retrospect...

He blinks himself back to the present, he nods to Laila's supposition. "It did seem to be generating an energy field that resisted attack, very similar to the kaiju attacking Tokyo-3," he agrees. "We were able to disable it by carefully targeting a cooling vent that apparently provided service to the entire system."

Finally, he loops back to A21: "As for the terrorist organization, I do not have the precise timeline in my hands anymore. However, I returned late from school to find my unit commander Colonel Testarossa already in my apartment, with A21's pilot Takuma Kugayama in custody. After issuing a distress call and receiving help from the Shuffle Alliance, we determined Kugayama had an implanted tracker, and disabled it; however, this still meant the position was compromised and forced us to move position. We were attacked by the Black Knights en route, allowing A21 to recapture their man."

He shakes his head. "During all of this, it appears our Lieutenant Commander Kalinin had been captured by A21 and held at their headquarters. His comments suggest their leader simply found him interesting."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Laila Elsayed has posed.
<poem>

Full radicalization, drugs necessary for machine operation... Sagara agrees with the possible connection. Laila makes a mental check note, though of course it's just one lead. Not all of them pan out. Most don't, in fact, despite the claims of spy fiction.

"What is A21's ideology?" Laila asks.

"I"m going to have a cigarette if you don't object," she continues, though she's down to 50% of an apple. Sheis taking bigger slices out of it now. "'Simply found him interesting' is a very, hm, portentious way to put things. I would almost be inclined to say that I would express such a thing to provide an image of power and limitless repose, to better intimidate my enemies."

"Whether or not such were truly the case. How is the Lieutenant Commander?"

</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
<poem>
'What is A21's ideology?' is a great, GREAT question.

"As near as we could tell, simply destruction within Area 11. I am told they are made up of remnants of extremist groups purged by Viceroy Cornelia li Britannia during her initial counterinsurgency following Zero's first appearances. In theory their uniting goal should be the defeat of the Britannian occupation and the liberation of the Britannian controlled region. However, they never spoke of anything but destruction. The only discernable uniting goal was a wish to cause as much destruction as possible, as vengeance and a final thumb in the eye to their oppressors."

Sousuke grimaces at the cigarette. Oh, now he's got opinions. But, he apparently doesn't feel himself in a position to actually object: "Not a problem," he says, then continues: "Lieutenant Commander Kalinin has returned to duty in good health. Due to the condition he was originally captured in, and the timelines involved, he was not tortured, fortunately."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Laila Elsayed has posed.
<poem>

Sousuke reports on what the nature of A21's ideology appears to be.

During this time Laila has gotten out a small cigarette case and has taken one of the luxurious-looking death sticks out, although she seems to have paused as she plays back what Sousuke had to say several times. She blinks several times. She gestures a little with the unlit cigarette as she closes the case and replaces it in the hidden pocket of her skirt.

"So it's nihilism," Laila says.

She pauses.

"I have dealt with many ideological individuals and I have encountered very few genuine nihilists," Laila says. "You will of course encounter people who are ultimately venal, who have found weakness by deciding to embrace cynicism and hollow out their souls and their morale. But these nihilists... This A21."

"The Behemoth machine, this is not something you can build in your garage. I do not believe that this A21 group is real, or if it is, it has the air of something manufactured by another party."

@emit Sousuke slowly eats his apple while Laila unpacks her own thoughts. He's a strange boy, perhaps - only because he has the bearing of a person permanently stuck in the manner of a soldier. &#42;Actual&#42; career soldiers know how to do things like relax. Look at the ceiling. Behave like they aren't made from clay. Sousuke blinks but his attention is otherwise riveted to Laila, listening keenly.

"I am not equipped to assess A21 itself. But, it is unlikely they could have constructed Behemoth themselves, I agree. Any operation capable of producing a machine like that could certainly not have been conducted out of Nagoya's own harbor, which is where Behemoth deployed from."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
<poem>
Sousuke slowly eats his apple while Laila unpacks her own thoughts. He's a strange boy, perhaps - only because he has the bearing of a person permanently stuck in the manner of a soldier. &#42;Actual&#42; career soldiers know how to do things like relax. Look at the ceiling. Behave like they aren't made from clay. Sousuke blinks but his attention is otherwise riveted to Laila, listening keenly.

"I am not equipped to assess A21 itself. But, it is unlikely they could have constructed Behemoth themselves, I agree. Any operation capable of producing a machine like that could certainly not have been conducted out of Nagoya's own harbor, which is where Behemoth deployed from."

</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Laila Elsayed has posed.
<poem>

"You should ask Lt. Commander Kalinin for his assessment... I'll interview him about the experience if you can arrange that," Laila says. And then she considers.

"Was there a craft of origin, or did it simply stride out of the sea?"


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
<poem>
"I'll notify him and Colonel Testarossa of your request," Sousuke says.

As to Behemoth: "It emerged from a tanker, the George Clinton. It apparently had been docked for some number of weeks. In the process of activation Behemoth tore the ship apart, and then leapt to the dock with the agility of a much smaller machine. I imagine the George Clinton's remains are now being studied by Britannian investigators."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Laila Elsayed has posed.
<poem>

"Intriguing. And its registry? It is the obvious train to follow," Laila muses, "though I almost suspect it would be too obvious by half. Surely such a thing would have to be secreted aboard in some form, don't you agree? It could not simply appear there from the ether - if it could, it wouldn't need the ship at all!"


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
<poem>
"Britannian ship," Sousuke says. "To my knowledge. I agree. It would have to either have been constructed aboard, or the ship was under enemy control before arriving." He suspects the second. But his orders regarding the secrecy of the Lambda Driver require he avoid talking about it too much, or why he knows for certain that very, very few people could construct such a machine.

Still, he says: "My guess would be the second. It would be difficult to disguise a construction project of that magnitude. Inspectors are much easier to bribe or...otherwise deal with."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Laila Elsayed has posed.
<poem>

"As well I know!" Laila says, with a certain rueful nature, eyeing the cigarette she took out in a philosophical way. "Well, that's just and simply how it is and how it may be. Nevertheless, it is something to do, and it is likely that I will know someone who read its manifests. It is certainly a topic of interest for everyone who treasures the peace of the world." Even Britannia?!

"Have you any other observations, Mr. Sagara, that you feel might be relevant? Any at all."

</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
<poem>
His orders prevent him from solving the mystery of the Behemoth's true strangeness. Perhaps someday. Probably the next time Doctor Mass sees him use the Arbalest.

Instead, he says, "The injuries that killed the pilot would normally have been survivable. Doctor Mass and Colonel Testarossa told me it was likely the strain of the drugs he'd taken, and the stress of Behemoth itself, that led to his death."

He thinks of the look on Kaname's face, distraught to know a boy had died. ...

"That's all," he says, rather than elaborate, and bites his apple.

</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Laila Elsayed has posed.
<poem>

Laila lights the cigarette quietly and settles back in her chair that she has claimed; her legs cross. In time, she exhales in the general direction of the air duct. "You're not the first person to mention this to me," Laila muses, even as she carves out part of the core of the remaining piece of apple - whittling the flesh within instead of slicing it.

"It troubles you. And you not alone. I am curious as to why. The explanation I have been given is quite eminently reasonable; the concern it brings is not. Is it the desperation it suggests?"


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
<poem>
'It troubles you.'

Sousuke blinks at that like he's just been told he has an express ticket to Neptune by trebuchet. "I," he begins.

Then stops. He considers the half-eaten apple in his hands.

"I'm not sure," he finally says, and for the first time sounds truly off his center. "Perhaps."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Laila Elsayed has posed.
<poem>

Laila chuckles, softly.

"Don't worry, Mr. Sagara. This sort of thing has dark roots. Everything works with something else horrid, and there is a game of removes you can play; the black and stinking ecology of crime and cruelty." She taps ash into the apple-ashtray she has made, which smells weirdly if faintly pleasant, somehow??

"No one wins out in situations like this, unless they crave instability and death," Laila says. "I almost wonder..."

She doesn't finish the thought. Maybe it's a butterfly that flew away.

"I'll be in touch," she concludes. "Give my regards to your commanding officers! Miss Testarossa was quite charming."

</poem>