Callan's knuckles turn white as Dahlia's message pops up on his work phone. He code switches, somewhat terribly.

---

(APRIL) CALLAN YOUNG SAYS: You all know of my former relationship to Elinor Anderson, excuse my bias. But even if I did not have considerations for her own personal well being, I would still harbour this sentiment.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's nothing allocated at the moment to even determine the status of our councilwoman and head ranger.

If this is true, this is a catastrophic decision which will lead to the continued collapse in the trust and respect for our organisation. This isn't just about Team Rocket capturing our key members without consequence; it's a reflection of our ability to protect our own.

For the record, Laurence Anderson and I have already begun work independently on search and rescue.

(APRIL) CALLAN YOUNG SAYS: skyler dross angelo vestri welcome btw. Can't believe you're neck deep in a shit already without even stepping into the League offices. lol

PENELOPE LIVY FERNANDO SILPH Eva Morales illeana reyes kyle lopez Katherine Fairburne MATIAS SILPH Melody Miro Callan Young Laurence Anderson Raziel Beckett John Sullivan skyler dross angelo vestri Elinor Anderson

(APRIL) CALLAN YOUNG SAYS: Thank you Fernando. I'll set up a time for us both to talk about it this week.

But personal assistance aside, I feel the stance to not have any resources dedicated to rescue is still the problem.

I'll re-frame what you've said were the reasons the League can't provide any resources.

• Everyone is injured. Except for me and Lars.
• We will be attacked at any given moment.
• Finding them will be a sizeable task that puts the entirety of the League at risk.

This is hyperbole.

I am aware that preventing world-ending disasters and preventing the accelerated death of the multiverse is important.

But I wouldn't assume that allocating 5 people to a task would be something that is going to ruin the League's preparation, in light of the importance of securing vital people to the organization. We can't have a single person monitor Rocket comms help out with the issue? We both know that's not true.

The reality is that it's just not prioritized.

I am grateful for your extended hand. But that is my point entirely. Silph Co. shouldn't be the ones going out there finding representatives of the League. And it's not because there are no resources to spare.

I sincerely doubt that every person available for deployment absolutely needs rest and recuperation. If this is a matter of priorities are and how they are communicated, I will extend an olive branch and say maybe you and Dahlia have some personal knowledge.

Knowledge that is unknown to the rest of the group that might require literally every single body that is available at all given times, without even the manpower to spare for one of your own council members.

If so, I'd say to let the rest of us know. Otherwise, I am not the one being unreasonable.

dahlia goode FERNANDO SILPH PENELOPE LIVY Elinor Anderson Katherine Fairburne Eva Morales illeana reyes kyle lopez MATIAS SILPH Melody Miro Callan Young Laurence Anderson Raziel Beckett John Sullivan skyler dross angelo vestri

AQUA INITIATIVE

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(APRIL) DAHLIA GOODE SAYS...
I am aware of the dilemma this nightmare of a scenario presents us. It is a complicated one, mired by political and emotional quagmire.

However, knowledge is precisely the issue.

Do we know where each captive is held? If we suppose they are held in Sootopolis City, do we know where within its municipality they are imprisoned? Hypothetically, if they are contained within their submarine, which level? Which room?

Should we know where they are, what shall we do then? Do we mount an immediate rescue operation, which would be a maneuver that likely plays right into Team Rocket's hands? Or do we negotiate and publicize political weakness on the part of the entire League, including the A.Q.U.A. Initiative?

We can monitor Rocket comms and attempt to gather as much intel as we can. However, allocating resources into a rescue operation can not be accomplished at this time.

PENELOPE LIVY FERNANDO SILPH Eva Morales illeana reyes kyle lopez Katherine Fairburne MATIAS SILPH Melody Miro Callan Young Laurence Anderson Raziel Beckett John Sullivan skyler dross angelo vestri Elinor Anderson

(APRIL) CALLAN YOUNG SAYS: Thank you both for your responses, I certainly appreciate it over silence.

Instead of continuing my argument, I'll spend the rest of my time trying to find them.

Perhaps my words will be more convincing when we have people that have returned safely to their seats.

Cheers.

dahlia goode FERNANDO SILPH PENELOPE LIVY Elinor Anderson Katherine Fairburne Eva Morales illeana reyes kyle lopez MATIAS SILPH Melody Miro Callan Young Laurence Anderson Raziel Beckett John Sullivan skyler dross angelo vestri

AQUA INITIATIVE

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(APRIL) DAHLIA GOODE SAYS...
Thank you, E4 Callan Young. Feel free to inquire further should you encounter any more questions. If we discover any intel or information about the whereabouts of our missing, we will inform the related parties.

In regards to Eris Halla, I do not condone her being overseen by you, Head Ranger Raziel Beckett. It is not in your job description to rehabilitate, supervise and house persons of interest, let alone Rocket affiliates that have fled into a battlefield.

The fact in which you have discovered her with a Rocket grunt reveals the very danger of her decision to escape, regardless of what inspired it. If she chose willingly to flee into another realm in Ultra Space where the League have clashed with Team Rocket, then are the gaps in our supervision of her not a matter of security and alarm?

We do not know who she has interacted with during her escape. We do not know what she may have done. We also do not know what she may have said.

Although she is a child, she possesses Pokemon that are loyal to her. Pokemon who may bend to her impulses and her allegiances and may be capable in their own right.

She will not be allowed to stay in Raziel Beckett's residence or John Sullivan's residence, should you be entertaining that idea, or in a Ranger compound. She will also not be allowed to reside in a League sanctioned safehouse, and must be transferred to a higher security facility. A timeline for transfer will be provided once we are able to organize internally.

AQUA INITIATIVE

------------------- ENCRYPTED GROUP CHAT

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(APRIL) MELODY MIRO SAYS...
Hello everyone. I'd like to inform everyone for a few pertinent developments.

AQUA INITIATIVE
I'd like to chime in after Miss Goode's point.

In regards to Elinor and other's kidnapping, while I wish we can rescue them immediately. Even getting me out of the rocket submarine took time as MATIAS SILPH did it solo and did it peacefully. However I find it interesting that you called our plans to attack the submarine a "A shittily thought-out combat operations." and to leave your music out of it, yet now you're trying to strong arm us to go to sootopolis, guns blazing, when half of us lost a lot of Pokémon. I'm all for saving people when the timing is right and the opportunity presents itself when we're at full strength. [break][break]

In response to Eris Halla. I also still support Dahlia's stance. I don't believe the story of her being the victim here. To this day, she has attacked MATIAS SILPH, Josh Devlin, and even tried to kill me on my own property. I know Josh on a personal level, he's a kind heart who cares deeply for those he interacts with. In addition to that, despite still being a child, Eris is also no push over. She has Pokémon strong enough that forced me to use Cobalion against her so for all we know Josh may have been justified in that use of force and in an effort to protect her, accepted the blame and punishment. I still believe that deep down she may be a good person, Raziel Beckett, and John Sullivan. But the fact of the matter is, she still see's rocket as a precious family that she'd do whatever to protect and she wont choose a side. She's too much of a threat to be so involved with on a personal level.

PENELOPE LIVY FERNANDO SILPH Eva Morales illeana reyes kyle lopez Katherine Fairburne MATIAS SILPH Melody Miro Callan Young Laurence Anderson Raziel Beckett John Sullivan skyler dross angelo vestri Elinor Anderson

AQUA INITIATIVE

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(APRIL) KATHERINE FAIRBURNE SAYS...
John Sullivan , Raziel Beckett . Insinuating that Eris Halla is not dangerous and poses no threat is not only disingenuous but also implies that our own Elite Four, MATIAS SILPH, was negligent in his job to apprehend someone who, according to you, is a harmless child. Put your personal bias aside and assess the situation from where the league stands: she has worked with Rocket before and felt safe enough to seek asylum there. That's not the behaviour of a reformed criminal.

It's a pattern.

The sooner she's apprehended, the better. There will be one less Rocket for the League to worry about, the process of her rehabilitation could begin and the extensive therapy she likely needs could be given to her. With all due respect, there are proper channels we must all go through and there are people who have studied for years how to help kids like Eris.

Do not deprive her of the help she needs.

(APRIL) CALLAN YOUNG SAYS: John Sullivan: Thank you, I'll let you know if there's anything we currently need help with.

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dahlia goode: Well noted. I'll send any information our way.

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Melody Miro: You're right Mel. It wasn't a terribly thought out plan.

There was no plan in the first place. Evidenced by the fact that there was no follow up aciton that occurred afterwards.

The only "idea" there was, was to host a Sootopolis concert. Tell me when you sell tickets, I'd like to buy one.

dahlia goode FERNANDO SILPH PENELOPE LIVY Elinor Anderson Katherine Fairburne Eva Morales illeana reyes kyle lopez MATIAS SILPH Melody Miro Callan Young Laurence Anderson Raziel Beckett John Sullivan skyler dross angelo vestri

AQUA INITIATIVE

------------------- ENCRYPTED GROUP CHAT

[break][break]

(APRIL) ILLEANA REYES SAYS...
dahlia goode : understood, thank you for the updates. welcome skyler dross and angelo vestri, i look forward to working with you both in the upcoming future!

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some time passes before another reply from one illeana reyes pops up...

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Callan Young : with all due respect, mr. young, the plans discussed during the aqua summons meeting have been passed up through the proper channels for final approval. CIAN MAHER has been instrumental in aiding us with schematics and weak points of team rocket's submarine in preparation of this operation. while this plan has not reached full execution as of this time of writing, it is still in working progress to reach fruition. it will be issued to all involved parties within the league once fully approved.

(APRIL) CALLAN YOUNG SAYS: illeana reyes: You're telling me we have the plans to bomb the Rocket submarine but not to rescue our councilwoman?

dahlia goode FERNANDO SILPH PENELOPE LIVY Elinor Anderson Katherine Fairburne Eva Morales illeana reyes kyle lopez MATIAS SILPH Melody Miro Callan Young Laurence Anderson Raziel Beckett John Sullivan skyler dross angelo vestri