GESB: Operation Time-Cops

[Terenia]

<So, he isn't even going to pretend to be loyal,> Zorish says silently, noting Hardin's use of 'you' instead of 'we'. He turns his focus back to Myitt, pressing his lips together into a thin line.

"My location is fairly obvious," Zorish says, "this craft is clearly not Yeerk, and there are a number of Andalite vermin wandering around. So yes, I know where I am. I suppose the matter in question then is why I am here."


((is Zorish in restraints of any kind?))

[Myitt]

"You are here because we organized for you to be here," says Myitt.  "We need information on the Empire's most recent offensives.  You can cooperate with me, Zorish, or you can choose not to.  You and your friend Hadrin have been underlings of Visser Three for quite some time, so you know that he won't likely send a rescue team after someone he considers expendible.  Besides, he does not know where you are."

She leans close, her expression cold.  "I can perform a memory dump on you, and we can discuss the terms of your release.  But make no mistake, Sub-Visser, I will get the information I want from you."

((Yeah, I think the gurney has a stasis field that prevents everything but your eyes/head from moving?))

[Terenia]

"Ah," Zorish says with a bit of a disdainful sigh, "yes, I thought that might be what you were after. Well, I'm sure you will not be too surprised if I decline handing over the Empire's secrets. You understand, of course. In fact, I am sure you would do the same if the roles were reversed."

[Myitt]

Myitt smiles mirthlessly.  "Naturally."  She walks around the gurney.  "Well.  In any case, you can't move.  I can simply perform a memory dump on you regardless of how keen you are on the idea."  She rocks back and forth on her heels.  "How long do you have until you will need to feed?  No, I don't expect you to answer truthfully.  But I ask because it will allow us to even think about releasing you alive.  Gives us a timeline, shall we say."

[Terenia]

Zorish smirks right back, an equal lack of mirth in his expression, "Two days, actually. A little less, I suppose, depending on how long I was unconscious. I don't recommend a memory dump, by the way. I have heard that conducting one on someone who is resisting such measures poses quite a few risks. The most obvious being the death of the subject; namely, me. It would be very difficult for you to gather your information on a dead captive now, wouldn't it?"

[Myitt]

Myitt smiles at the floor.  "As I said, Sub-Visser, I will extract the information I need, one way or another.  I can wait two days.  I understand it's difficult to focus on anything, much less resisting, when you are starving."

[Terenia]

Zorish nods, his face remaining expressionless, "I work for Visser Three. This is not the first time I have been threatened with Kandrona starvation, so I do not bend to such coercion easily. Although," Zorish allows a sneer to spread across his face, "I am surprised that a noble freedom fighter such as yourself would stoop to the same levels as the Visser."

[Myitt]

"I never claimed I was noble," says Myitt, pulling her backpack over and pulling out the small black box she had placed inside it.  She walks back over to the gurney and sets the box down on a small hovering table.  "I just don't like the government.  I don't want to inhabit other creatures without their cooperation, or without mutual respect."  Myitt carefully pries open the box and scrapes around inside it, the contents unseen.  "But in this war, Sub-Visser, is it really surprising any of us have fallen to such disgraceful levels of misconduct?"

[Terenia]

"Interesting," Zorish says, nodding, "perhaps we are not too different. I also decline from infesting involuntary hosts. It's much more preferable to work with someone who wishes to share their body than one who fights constantly. As for the government," Zorish attempts to shrug, but when he is held back by the restraining force field he settles for a wry grin, "give me a government that is perfect and I will be happy to jump ship."

[Myitt]

Myitt pauses, glancing at Zorish, hands still digging in the box.  "Is any government perfect?  People are easily coerced into following a group of leaders, and that kind of power and influence?  I have yet to find a race it hasn't corrupted."  She purses her lips, amused.  "Now, as for your eagerness to leave the confining beliefs of the Empire, I suppose that's meant to make me feel sympathetic.  Like, maybe you'll come over to our side, support our little civil war."  Myitt lifts out two glowing wires, and energy crackles between the two invisible nodes a the ends.  "I'm sorry, Sub-Visser, but of course you'd be too much of a security risk.  We can attempt to extract what we need, wipe your memories, and keep you under permanent confinement.  Unless, of course, you'd accept stasis and ejection into space.  Or returning to your boss."  She shrugs.  "It's your choice."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin trots back to the door to the med-bay and watches as Myitt works on the sub-visser.  He raises his eyebrows a bit in surprise.  He didn't know this side of Myitt.  He found it somewhat calming to find out that he was not the only one who knew how to put aside morals if necessary, however unfortunate it was.  He trots in after Myitt pulls out the device and walks up to the other side of the gurney and looks down at Tamora's suspended form.

<Greetings sub-visser.  Pleasure to make your aquaintance I'm sure.>  He looks up at Myitt.  <I didn't know you brought a portable device with you, that's extremely fortuitous.>  He smiles at Myitt.  Privately to Myitt... <<I hope this works, I'd rather not resort to...other tactics.>>

<I believe you at least are owed an explanation of your location.  You are onboard the Apix Mirage, my personal ship.  Technically it is the Captain's Yacht of the Dome Ship Tyrennian, but I've made some rather large modifications.  My name is Ossanlin-Rethin-Sephirel Captain of the Dome Ship Tyrennian and Commander of the Marin Isquin Armada.>  Ossanlin almost never used his Commander title as he was hardly ever with the Armada, but he thought a little extra garnish might help his cause.

<As for your purpose here, I believe Myitt has illustrated that quite well.  I do hope you'll cooperate eventually, I don't like to have to resort to certain...tactics.>  Ossanlin stares down at Zorish with an indifferent expression.

[Terenia]

Zorish laughs softly, "You misunderstand me, rebel. I have no intentions of leaving the Empire or of assisting you. I am merely pointing out that while we are on opposite sides of the war we are not entirely unlike one another. The Yeerk Empire is far from perfect, in fact with a dapsen like Visser Three rising to the rank he has I'd say it has more flaws than I would like to admit, but the Empire works well for me."

When Ossanlin introduces himself Zorish betrays a sneer of disgust for only a moment before smoothing his expression back to neutral, "I would say that I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Captain, but I am afraid that would be a lie. Now, idle threats do not work very well unless I know what I am being threatened for. So tell me, what is it you want, exactly?"

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

<Oh, there are many reasons, sub-visser.  Removing a sub-visser from power, inhibiting the Earth invasion, loss of a superior officer for the Abomination...but the main one as Myitt has already discussed with you, is intelligence.  From what we know, you are in charge of a great deal of logistics involving the Earth invasion.  You know a great deal of things that will be very useful when we come to stop this travesty.  Pool locations, front organizations, which human leaders have been...replaced.  What's inside that fine, membranous neural network of yours will allow us to end the war here quickly and effectively.  Synchronous strikes against every pool location at once, destruction of orbital platforms, the "loss" of infested human leaders.  Your years of infiltration work will come to a very abrupt and fatalistic halt.  I believe that covers most of it.>  Ossanlin smiles a bit as he watches the sub-visser. 

[Chad32]

Claxter made his way towards South California, making sure the cloaks were on and everything was optimal for gettoing there unseen. Myitt was acting a bit coldly, which kind of disappointed him. He thought she was nice, but apparently she was just nicer than most Yeerks. Her brother wasn't perfect either, seeing as he tried to infest Efaen against his will. It would have worked, but Claxter stopped it. Then she went and let Terenia back inside her head, also because of him.

He tracked the path of Zorish's ship, and made his way until he was over the town that the ship detected Yeerk technology over. <<I believe we have made it to the right area. Now we just need to find Sukohn.>> He said privately to everyone but Zorish.

[Terenia]

Zorish's eyebrows shoot up at Ossanlin's little speech. For a moment he remains otherwise expressionless, but then a small smile spreads on his face.

"You are correct in saying that you would be successfully removing a Sub-Visser from power, yes," he says slowly, "although from personal experience it is not wise to remove those in authoritative positions at random. Tactically speaking, is it not more important to remove those who pose the most threat? I hardly pose a threat to the mighty Andalite fleet."

Zorish's smile widens slightly, "as for the information you seek, I'm afraid you may have been misinformed as to my purpose. Yes, I am in charge of intelligence on Earth, but not the intelligence which you seek. As we all know, Visser Three is an Andalite-obsessed buffoon who would rather die than take a human host. My job is not to procure Yeerk pools or Earth leaders. In fact, I have no direct influence over the invasion force. My assignment is to gather intelligence on human culture, which is then reported to my superior" Zorish sneers at the word 'superior', but quickly settles his expression back to neutral.

"So, Andalite, I cannot help you. Not unless you want to know about human religious celebrations or sporting events. Did you know that these creatures actually consider punching one another in the face a sport?" he snorts, "Barbarians."