Whether Bo raises a fair point or not, Derek doesn't bother answering because his answer will just spark further comment on the matter. Instead he allows Katherine to continue speaking her vanity, acting as though she served the region all this time. By staying when excused, she served her ego to get a condescending word in. And by refusing to be of service without payment, she served her greed. Just because Hoenn benefits from her doing so didn't make it in service of the region.

Angelo's remark also gets a rise out of Derek, but this time he speaks, whereas Katherine and Lars went ignored for the time being. "Credentials? You were summoned for what you knew, not what you could do, or have done. And you're suddenly so upset to realize that is the extent of this meeting? That you can't get some kind of compensation if you volunteer for something that I nor the league have yet to ask of you?"

For someone who lacked the proper credentials, whatever that was to them, or whatever else they wanted to say about him...some of them still thought he was the guy that could in any way promise them something? Wow. Only, Angelo's question is a matter of personal belief.

"I'm sorry that you thought this was in any way a business opportunity. Sure I think compensation would only be natural for a civilian, but you weren't summoned for that reason." They were getting ahead of themselves, as if they were the only people qualified. It was good to think well of oneself, but this was too high. There were several league members who could get the job done, were it asked of them.

THE REGISTEEL IN THE ROOM

☉

Skyler watches the conversation in the same manner that one would a trainwreck. It isn't long before suggestions turn into accusations, anger and irritation surfacing to barrel against their host from those present. It serves to dull the edges of her own fury, coiled tightly within the protective cage of her chest.

In the end, Skyler sees no reason for this meeting. Because if it'd been an official League or Rangers meeting wouldn't the Head Ranger have been the one to call them? But Lars seems as surprised as the rest as to the contents of the conversation. That he has to pull rank on Derek is even more telling.

The captain swallows a scoff along with a shot of Lars' much needed tequila. Slowly, she scoots the bottle closer to the Head Ranger, as if to say 'you'll definitely need it more than me.'

"Are you talking on the League's behalf, then? Or is this meeting and possible venture based solely on individual interest?" Because there was an Elite Four right there in the meeting, whose power and influence extended far past that of Derek's, and Skyler didn't think Katherine Fairburne had been in on the plan. "Because I don't see it as being an immediate risk for the region." In fact, there were a number of more pressing issues. Such as the meteorite set to destroy them all.

The captain didn't pretend to be a saint, nor did she have any delusions of decency. She usually left the moral high ground to those who could afford it. Still... "Common courtesy is a thing, Hoffman. You'd be better off using it instead of throwing a tantrum." And in turn alienating most people in the room.

Her chair scrapes back not long after Angelo's. Like the pilot, she nods towards Katherine Fairburne and Laurence Anderson . "I reiterate Angelo's proposition. If you have any use for our skills, you know how to reach us." 

On the way out she pauses by Laurence Anderson and Raziel Beckett , voice pitched low as she addresses them. "Dinner in the Sotally Tober next week? I promise I won't be cooking." Thank Arceus.

She swipes a bottle on the way out, determined to exact a price for the time she just wasted.

angelo vestri Laurence Anderson Raziel Beckett DEREK HOFFMAN boruta maher Katherine Fairburne

☉

"Sure thing, Vestri." Except Derek wasn't the one who took care of fines, and the fact was Angelo did give a firsthand account of what he witnessed down there. They all did, didn't they? And Derek even excused them already. "Don't let the door smack you on the way out."

Like suggested, he'd at least gotten what he needed out of the meeting.

So why should he try getting along with people who were mostly only interested in these things?

And how could they act like their time underground was so bad that their help was practically necessary, but then play down the situation? All at the same table?

Registeel was active again. He'd just told them he saw the thing in a cave, long before they caught wind of anything regarding Regirock at that. It should've made clear the possibility the pokemon was mobile. Not something that should be ignored as if it were pointless for them to show any tangible concern for the time being.

Scratch that. It was that their only concern was compensation.

Which was why he had waited for most of the group to leave, so that it'd only be him and the other rangers in the room. People whose best interests were supposed to be the region. It's natural habitats and the wild pokemon that lived there.

"You know what an unauthorized mission means, right Lars?" It wasn't like the head ranger signed off on Derek, Boruta and the rest showing up where they did. It was a distress call, and they were the only ones to answer.

Yeah, sure, he might not send them officially.

But that didn't mean rangers couldn't answer a call for help.

Or that Derek couldn't raise a finger to them all and decide for himself.

So, just to be sure...

"Well, I am old enough to make my own decisions. To take my own risks. So for now on, I will be." Pulled from behind his back, a ranger beret and armband is tossed out onto the table. "My leave wasn't supposed to be personal, but at least now you've got one less out of control ranger to worry about. Right?" Now Derek could resume his work with a green light, as opposed to all the red he was seeing from his supposed betters in the meeting.

"It was nice working alongside ya, Bo." His eyes shifted between the three of them, while also considering the others. "But we'll likely bump into each-other soon enough, regardless of me no longer being a ranger."

With that said, Derek gathered the papers and dumped them in the recycling bin. The others were free to dispose of their dockets themselves. A quick check of the time on his phone reminded him about the following meeting with the league he had in little under an hour.

As Derek left, Jonesy waved them all goodbye from his shoulder like a good little Sobble, allowing them to leave or converse as they pleased. Not that the other rangers were really 'present' at the meeting to begin with.

END OF THREAD

THE REGISTEEL IN THE ROOM

☉