2023-07-02: Wolfpack

• Log: 2023-07-02: Wolfpack
• Cast: Chienne Argent, Chien Argent, Chiot Argent
• Where: Hounds of Hell Base, REA
• Date: U.C. 0097 07 02
• Summary: The Hounds of Hell return from their mission. A mad plan is revealed. One that leads to great rewards - and, just maybe, the fall of the School.

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"You're sure this is a good idea?"

The Hounds of Hell were in what passed as their base; a facility in the REA that nobody asked many questions about, right near the Zaftra-Khanka border. It had been a military warehouse once upon a time, but Zaftra officially didn't maintain this one anymore and Amalgam had managed to obtain it. It wasn't much, but it was home, with all the amenities and good cheer of a combination barely furnished garage and equally bare bachelor's apartment. About the only good point is that Amalgam took care of them enough that they'd be able to call for someone to help repair the battered, half-crumpled Kerberlions... and with parts.

Chien had been the one speaking, in the pauses between working on Chiot. Chiot was not too badly hurt, but he'd bashed his head and Chien was the one who got to check him out and make sure he wasn't concussed.

Chienne, on the other hand, had done her own bandaging. She was stretched out, trying to make sure the one on her ankle was in place properly; she'd twisted it at one point scrambling through the Tuatha de Danaan. "What's bad about it?" she asks, somewhat sharply. She was not in a good mood. Gauron dead, and though she probably wouldn't be blamed, she'd have to deal with the fallout. Plus, she actually liked Gauron, more or less; certainly she'd appreciated his presence, and now he'd gotten himself blown up. Blown himself up, like a failure. She didn't want to think about that.

"Oh, a whole bunch!" Chiot picked it up. "You want us to take what we saw about the Toy Box..."

"Uh huh."

"Including what you saw on the inside, which none of us can confirm, and you don't have any photographs. And you don't know much about - "

"About what." Chienne's tone gets a little dangerous.

"The advanced technology it's supposed to have," Chiot says, unworried, as Chien looked in one of his eyes - he'd had to take his visor off, something he never did around people other than the Hounds. He winced as Chien pointed a light in one, and blinked, seeing spots. "It would be different if I saw it, but you're not exactly a technical officer. Why didn't you take any photographs?"

Chienne could have gotten angry at that, but it's entirely true, so she pulls the Ace bandage tight, makes sure the ice pack is in place, and sprawls on the couch. "Yeah, that. And I didn't exactly have a camera smuggled in when they threw me in there, so give me a break."

"And you're taking this to G-Hound. Who, you might remember, fund the School. Who we left in the first place! Our units are technically stolen School prototypes!" Chiot sits up suddenly, nearly getting his eye poked as Chien checks his other one. "And you want us to go back there?"

Chien interrupts, giving Chiot a friendly slap on the shoulder. "You're fine," he says. "Well, 'fine'. Take it easy for a couple days, would you?"

"Fat chance of that, if I have to deal with this plan!" Chiot started to get up, but was gently pushed right back down by Chien placing one hand directly in front of his chest, shaking his head just a fraction. Chiot made a gesture at his visor instead, and Chien turned to pick it up - whereupon Chiot promptly sat back up again. This got him a big frown from Chiot, but no objection as he strapped the visor back in place. "Look, Chienne, I know you're the boss, but this is going to be a real pain for all of us, ESPECIALLY if you're going to walk us right in there without any support!"

"Ah," Chienne says. She sits up straighter, giving an almost shark-like grin. "But that's not the whole plan. Look, I've got support from Amalgam. They WANT us to join; they're going to keep helping us on the side. We're gonna get paid from both of them, too, so don't worry about that. Even after this report I have got to make... they knew the risk he was taking. And this is the perfect time. As for the School ...I've got a plan about that, too. But I'm gonna need you too, Chiot, Chien. This is a three-person thing. All of us, together."

"You in?"

Chien and Chiot looked at each other. Chien shrugged, with a 'don't-ask-me' expression. Chiot hesitates for a moment, but: "You haven't led us wrong yet, I guess. So I'm in. But does this have anything to do with Seo - "

"Don't," Chienne warns, and this time the danger doesn't go out of her voice afterwards. "That - fluff-headed idiot doesn't have anything to do with this decision. But... if she wants to see the School go down so hard, we'll show her how it's done."

"Now listen up..."

The conversation went on late into the night.