002; [VOICE | ACTION, caverns expedition rewards]

[antiseptic]

[From all the laughing going on behind him, one may guess that Jade is at a party. Unfortunately, that isn't the case.]

For those unaware, we've come across some strange stones while searching for the mine and delivered them to the labs for analysis. It's been a hectic week, so we haven't received the results until now, but it seems like we've found quite a large variety of evolution stones. If you're in need of one, I'd suggest you hurry to the labs, before the greedier members of our expedition snatch all of them.

[Honestly, he'd rather keep them for himself (and maybe the Rangers), but his superiors insisted on distributing them. Something about a token of gratitude.]

[And now, a public voice post to everyone, which may be somewhat hard to decipher as the laughing in the background grows steadily louder.]

Does anyone have any experience with persuading unwanted Pokemon to leave your homes? Normally, I'd simply dispose of- [Ah. That could be construed in a negative light.] - that is, dispose of them if necessary, although generally I prefer to drive them out. But it seems Duskull has taken quite a liking to his new friends and I'd rather not harm them.

[There's a loud crash behind him. Jade sighs.] Although I'm beginning to reconsider.

Action:

[Late evening finds Jade heading down to the newly-discovered Mausoleum, Sandshrew trotting along beside him and Duskull swooping around cheerfully over his head. He tries to avoid anyone exploring down there, mostly because he guesses most people wouldn't approve of what he's doing. Which would be trying to pry open the vaults and take a peek at the coffins.]

[He has reasons for doing so. Honest.]

Comments

[voice/private]

[antiseptic]

[He almost makes a dismissive comment at the mention of the Saviour, but holds himself back from doing so, not being particularly interested in getting into a religious debate now. Or ever, really.]

I suppose a misunderstanding is possible, but it does seem unlikely. But a peaceful solution would certainly require much less effort to carry out, at least on the part of the Rangers.

[A frown.] I wonder what their objective is.

[voice/private]

[reborn_love]

That's bugged me, too, sir. There isn't a good reason to attack Union that I know of. I doubt we've expanded so far to be encroaching on their resources, and even if so... it would have been easy to contact us first.

[voice/private]

[antiseptic]

It does seem like an illogical move. Perhaps they have a grudge against the Union?

[Especially when cooperating together would increase their chances of survival, but Jade had long ago come to realize that people are often illogical where emotions are concerned.]

[voice/private]

[reborn_love]

It could be... but I wonder what we did, to provoke them?

[voice/private]

[antiseptic]

Who knows. It could be any number of things. Perhaps some Rangers had disturbed them, or perhaps they're simply envious of the Union.

Whatever the case, it's quite troubling to think that they would have eluded our notice until now.

[voice/private]

[reborn_love]

I agree. And the unknowns we face with them are equally troubling. We know far too little for my liking.

[And the fact they don't know of the Savior, she suspects.]

[voice/private]

[antiseptic]

Indeed. I'd like to learn more about them, but...

[The difficulties are obvious, first of all being that they had no idea where their settlement is located.]