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"No. Illeana is giving them the credit they're due," Katherine's correction for PENELOPE LIVY's statement is personal, although none at this table except for FERNANDO SILPH were aware of that. "We can cut one head off, but another one will grow back; that much is assured. Rocket 'died' once. They know how to survive, and considering everything? Considering the fact they had a mole in our ranks?"
[break][break]
Her digit taps on the table slowly. One, two, three. She repeats the motion while speaking.
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"It's idiotic to pretend that we can simply snuff them out. The truth is that if we could? They'd be gone," they all know this. They all knew this before the megalopolans were even considered. "They're stronger than ever before, they have the same ultra beasts that ravaged our region, and beyond the fact that they, too, have avatars?"
[break][break]
It's worth reminding, isn't it?
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"They've also taken one of our own out," her eyes briefly lock with Fernando before tracing back to the councilwoman. "We can't afford to lose another."
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The Malevolent pauses, briefly considering Callan Young's words. The scoff his idea earns from her is followed by a reprimand and an eyeroll, "So your idea is to sell our advantage to the same people who would invade our land to secure it? At that point, why not just invite them to take whatever they desire?"
[break][break]
Although jarring at first, Katherine eventually comes to terms with the fact that Matias' suggestion wasn't obstinately stupid, "Matias has the right idea for once. Crippling Rocket by cutting off their supplies would be simple. We won't be exposing ourselves for long, we have the intel required for the operation, and it achieves enough for the time being."

[attr="class","bottom"]@ AQUA SUMMONS [break]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]"crippling rocket's access to their supplies or resources is helpful, but it will not eliminate the threats we face."

her lips press into a firm line.

from the pocket of her lab coat, she fishes out a mew-shaped usb. it is inserted into the port of her laptop and after a few clicks, an audio file is pulled up.

"i have received permission from councilman GABRIEL BLACK to share this with you all..."

just before she hits play, she offers context to clue them in.

"he had recorded his conversation with general smohke from september, before the meteor hit."

and with that, the audio file is played in its entirety.

those within the confines of this meeting room will hear smohke's grating voice as she laughs and mocks and runs the councilman around in circles. what information she does provide, however, proves too important to sit on for long.

silence follows as the audio clip dies out on smohke's echoing laughter.

she speaks quietly after a moment, eyes sweeping across the table.

"there are more megalopolans than we know of. some could be friends, colleagues, civilians. they have been waiting in our world and now, rocket is providing them a cause to ally them further against us."

her eyes have been sharpened into knives.

"we can cut off the supplies to rocket, but it will not stop the megalopolans already in our region. it will not stop the ultra beasts at our door steps."

incessantly, a finger strums against the table. she's anxious, unable to keep still for long.

"defense should be our first and utmost priority. we will be sitting ducks otherwise for threats on every single side."

rocket. megalopolans. ultra beasts. sea hoenn. arceus and the drk triad. necrozma. kyurem.

the list is too long. they're too exposed and each monster on the list has sharp, hungry teeth.

aqua.

There is only one certainty that lay; pressure is required to create the diamonds to which they sought after.
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To illeana reyes and Katherine Fairburne, the councilwoman addressed their responses with that of her own,
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"Don't twist my words, Katherine. Of course, you're right, there is no fully ridding ourselves of Rocket. Where we cut a head off, two more heads grow back."
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It was just a fact of nature. There was nothing more to it than that.
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"But, time and time again, we've tried to remain reactionary to their movements. Wait for the intelligence to come through then strike, as we've done during Meteno and the time before that. Unfortunately, that method isn't working well for us. They've maintained control of Sootopolis for an entire year now, and according to you, they've only grown stronger because of it."
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To this point, she turned to illeana reyes , who'd originally mentioned waiting to gather more information on the megalopolans' involvement with rocket.
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"Of course, it's always better to have more information on our side, but with CIAN MAHER 's recent leak, as well as the other defectors, it'll take longer than ever before to retrieve anything of use. If I was a betting woman, anything even remotely close to their relationship would be heavily guarded. Nearly impossible to access without months worth of groundwork. "
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Now, back to Katherine Fairburne .
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"If we go with illeana reyes 's idea of crippling their supplies," not MATIAS SILPH 's "that'd only force them into committing to another attack on us, like what we saw at Littleroot. Which is okay, if we're prepared to face that sort of assault head-on.."
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Finally, back to illeana reyes and Melody Miro , who'd been one of the first to suggest actual concrete plans rather than hypotheticals or further dangers they ought to take into account.
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"Dr Reyes, is that possible then -- could we prevent interdimensional invaders from using rifts to enter our realm?"
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Or was it another possibility struck by hopeful idealism?
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Then, finally, Melody Miro , who'd caught her attention at the end of her line of responses.
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"If we can ensure we're trusting them to the right individuals, it might be within the realm of possibilities for bolstering our defenses. Though, keep in mind, if there are more threats within our midst, granting avatarship without careful consideration would be a dangerous game of Russian roulette."
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But it was a start of a plan.

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[attr="class","ooc"] @charname [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

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"They are able to remain because we let them," Katherine repeats, offering a reminder for PENELOPE LIVY, "your words weren't twisted," her tone turns accusatory, but not outright aggressive. "But all the same, I'm glad you know that you misspoke. It's imperative for the operation that Rocket isn't underestimated."
[break][break]
Her response to Callan Young is easier, simpler and shorter. "If we only seek to destroy their submarine, it's an in-and-out operation. We have the manpower for it, and we have the tools to ensure our retreat," she explains briefly, humming for a moment while a thought settles in her mind, "not to mention that this is the one place where they can't hide behind civilians. They can't distract us."
[break][break]
Meaning they won't have to juggle three different things at once. It may be a bit brutish, but destruction was a lot easier than anything else the league's ever had to do before.
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Her lips purse at PENELOPE LIVY's next comment, almost as though the Malevolent considers to stifle her words—but it lasts for but a moment. "As you said earlier, you are no war strategist, councilwoman Livy," it's another harsh reminder carried by a poisonous, sweet tone, "Rocket would be unable to strike for a considerable time while they repair and attempt to secure a new vessel for their supplies. Let's not forget, what likely drew them to Sootopolis to begin with was that the city is completely remote. What they perceive to be an advantage could easily be turned against them."
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Which ties into FERNANDO SILPH's statement. It further confirms and solidifies what Katherine imagined to be their best path of action.

[attr="class","bottom"]@ AQUA SUMMONS [break]

for once, he finds himself on the same side as Katherine Fairburne. what a strange turn of events the new year has brought thus far.[break][break]

"let's also not forget that the longer we wait, the longer we allow rocket to spread their roots. they've yet to secure another base or vessel, so what are we waiting for?"[break][break]

at Callan Young's concern of resources, he adds onto what Katherine Fairburne has already said.[break][break]

"it'll be a small op consisting of our best. we'll sneak into their sub, wreak havoc, and be out within minutes. fuckers will not know what hit them."[break][break]

he barks out a laugh before shrugging.[break][break]

"the swords of justice were ready months ago. you want in, kat?"

[attr="class","ooc"]MATIAS SILPH[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-virizion"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]a small smile rises at Melody Miro's suggestion.

"good point, melody. the legendary pokemon in league custody assisted us against team rocket during the meteor plan so perhaps they would be willing to begin the bonding process with select trainers."

she's hesitant, however, to place her faith on the whims of legendaries. they can be fickle, that much she knows.

and when PENELOPE LIVY asks if dimensional work can be done, her head bobs in confirmation.

"if we can recreate something similar to the dome, we should be able to utilize it for defensive purposes. Eva Morales and i can look into getting a dimensional plan executed. i have letters going out next week to league personnel and avid explorers to gather frequency intelligence for me from the rifts as well."

there's still too much work to be done.

the room, mostly, seems in agreeance, though: cutting sootopolis off from supplies is the next step.

she looks to MATIAS SILPH, Katherine Fairburne, kyle lopez, and Callan Young.

"now, are you four willing to lead the attack on sootopolis? a smaller operation focused on cutting off supplies and starving them out would be less likely to be detected compared to a full-scale assault."

she does, however, echo Eva Morales's concern.

"if we could evacuate the non-rocket civilians within sootopolis, that would also be ideal. they should not be caught in the crossfire."

and finally, she directs her eyes to Eva Morales. her smile widens, warmed by the science sister bond.

"we can expedite dimensional research to strengthen our interdimensional defense. for all cities, mobilizing additional forces to increase defense and patrol of cities can help foresee a rocket attack once we hit sootopolis."

a pause follows.

"matching our defenses to any offensive moves we make is the only way. if we spread our forces too thin, we will be risking more than a single city."

her eyes shift to Laurence Anderson and FERNANDO SILPH, then, with the topic of the rifts.

"rangers and any willing gym leaders or trainers should be sent to monitor the rifts for any spikes in growth or activity and to ensure no disasters occur. they should be briefed prior with the assumption that team rocket will more than likely be intending to investigate the worlds beyond the rifts as well. any rocket members caught at the rifts can be taken into custody."

that... should cover most things, right?

she looks around the table again, as if she's waiting to know if she forgot something.

aqua.