'Lawful' was not a side. It was simply a concept thrown around by those who wrote the history books. King Mau'lia III of the Melemele Kingdom in Alola had been a tyrant, yet his power and authority had risen from long-established institutions, such as the crown that had been set upon his divine head.

His word had been lawful, but his iron fist was not. That was a story for another time, though. It was not relevant to the war going on.

Howard trekked through the sand. It had been a grueling trek to make it onto the shore. Even more grueling to allow Team Rocket to breach into the island. He had worked harder on this day than he had in several years of grad school. He felt tired. His Team Rocket uniform was black and had a helmet, courtesy of his newfound contract with Amor Rose . It still scorched in this sun, and with this sand.

Luckily there was a sandbar, made of massive hills. With a groan, he fell onto the sand to catch his breath. He checked his map of the island, roughly sketched from the minimal information that had been gathered when it had been drawn. Then, he looked up and almost gasped.

Was that... No, that wasn't a member of Team Rocket. Howard didn't know them all, but he had worked closely alongside many members to make this battle possible. He didn't want to fight this person. He was a bad fighter, and yet... If he was seen, he would be attacked.

Better to strike first, and be labeled a coward then die a brave man.

Hand shaking, Howard reached for his Pokeball. Who did he choose? What did he do? He couldn't... All Howard could do was silently pray that Johanna Joy, Gym Leader, did not look down. As long as he didn't drop anything... Thud. A ball dropped into the sand.

---

Johanna Joy
MISSION: SHORE
POINTS: 60
+50 (Mission)
+10 (Post)

"Wait! Waitwaitwaitwait!" Howard stumbled backwards in the sand as he pleaded with the Gym Leader. Now, he could recognize her. He was about to be crushed underfoot by a Gym Leader. The same one who had organized that carnival a short while ago. Fate was a cruel thing. He had gotten this far, only to be crushed underfoot by a Gym Leader.

"Please! Don't!" Howard's voice was a static blur as he pleaded from within his helmet. Yet his cries meant nothing before the Palossand's wrath. There was no need to care. It didn't matter how hesitant Johanna was, if her Pokemon would act either way.

The sand wave blotted out the sky, and Howard's dropped Pokeball burst open.

"Eh?" Howard opened his eyes.

A massive Golurk, sparkling in its unique color scheme, appeared before Howard like an ancient sentinel. Such automatons would always follow orders to protect their patron. This one, dug up in Granite Cave with Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki 's help, was no different. It took the Earth Power staunchly, the lights on its body blinking in response to the damage.

It blinked again, before breaking apart the sand hills with an Earthquake, sending Howard scrambling away as the formations on the beach were compromised.

---

Johanna Joy
MISSION: SHORE
POINTS:
+50 (mission)
+20 (posts)

There was no easy way to avoid Palossand's Shadow Ball without activating thrusters and flying away. This was not a valid option, given it would leave Howard at the Gym Leader's mercy, of which there was little available. Instead, it lunged forward, taking the strike head-on. It was a strong, powerful strike, worthy of a Gym Leader, but it did not stop the Golurk.

As the strike landed, the Golurk's mechanisms let out a grinding sound, as if something was beginning to break, but it continued onwards. The Shiny Golurk was one of Howard's most powerful Pokemon, and it would likely stay that way for a very long time. Getting close to the Pallosand, the giant raised a fist.

The Golurk's rapid beeping translated roughly to "DECISION: THROW HANDS", resulting in a firmly thrown Ice Punch. Even though the Palossand could twist and appear anywhere on the beach, it would offer No Guard before the Golurk's flawlessly calculated attack.

Meanwhile, Howard had been flung down a sand dune. He rolled several times, before stopping. "Guh..."

---

Johanna Joy
POINTS:
+50 (mission)
+30 (points)

After the fight with Johanna Joy...

Howard hated his job, he hated his fight with Johanna, and he hated his life. All in that order.

He had been in several fights on this island, and they had not gotten easier. Not only that, but the Pokemon League must've learned that Team Rocket had someone who could breach the island's interior, because every man, woman, and child soldier between here and Dewford had wanted a piece of Howard Slayte.

He was running out of pieces to offer.

His feet continued to sink into the sand as he trudged towards the nearest Team Rocket holdout. Several grunts had created a forward base in order to wage war with the League's landing points. If he could make it there, he could rest. It was just over this next dune. Just a few more steps, and...

"Oh, COME ON!" Howard shouted, looking at the destroyed ruins of a base. Several unconscious grunts were passed out in the sand, face down. They were breathing, but they had been beaten badly into submission.

"Fuuuuuuuuuuuck." Howard moaned through his helmet as he looked around the remains of the base.

---

Kazimir Wynter
+50 (mission)
+40 (points)

"If I say no, will you let me go?" The electronic voice modifier rang out, exasperated and tired. It was clear that the suit and helmet was a remarkably advanced piece of technology rarely seen in Team Rocket. Perhaps this one was a higher up, or even someone worth bringing in?

Howard knew the answer: no.

Arceus above, this man was massive. Howard knew several strong men and women. Grigori Sokolov, Tempest Quinn, Michael Navidson, and Amor Rose came to mind. Each of them could likely thrash Howard into oblivion. Then, there was ■■■, with his black crystals. Howard stopped thinking of him quickly. This man, however, could crush them all into dust as he rose above the bodies. Even Grigori would have a hard time with this one.

A Volcarona appeared behind the man, hands raised defensively as his Volcarona danced, its scales Quivering as it did so. "Let 'em go, man. You already thrashed everyone within a few miles anyway."

---

Apolle is using Quiver Dance
Kazimir Wynter
Points:
+50 (mission start)
+50 (posts)

"Oh thank Arceus." Howard slumped his head in obvious relief. Kazimir looked like he could punt Howard all the way back to Dewford. Maybe his Pokémon could win against Kazimir's Falinks, but in the meantime, Howard would have to fight up twelve weight classes.

Sure, he could throw hands, but Kazimir could throw him. Off a cliff.

"You're a warrior. I salute you." Howard's mechanical voice blared out through the helmet. He thumped his fist against his chest and pointed towards Kazimir. "I will take them to safety, and I won't fight you, but I will be forced back to the field."

The glint of sunlight bounced off the helmet. Howard's Volcarona floated behind him, scales fluttering in the wind. He would be honest. Completely honest, as he was with Isaac Merlo. He wouldn't be a liar like those that made up all of Team Rocket.

"I could be instrumental in Team Rocket's plans. Would you still let me go?"

---

Kazimir Wynter
Points:
+50 (mission start)
+60 (posts)

"No, I'm not ready." The voice blared out, and Howard shook his head. "I'd lose."

There was a brutal honesty to the way Howard spoke, and the mask offered no hint of emotion to contradict that claim. Howard wasn't lying. From his experience in this war, honesty had gotten him further than deception, betrayal, and lying. If he was honest with the Pokémon League's muscle, they let him go. Why mess up something that was working so well?

That was the average grunt's biggest error. They all thought they were the best in the business, as if they hadn't been dragged off the streets to bolster Team Rocket's numbers. They fought hard despite being nobodies, and they lost hard. Kazimir's cleaning of this base proved that.

Besides...

"Buddy, with all due respect, even if you're tired, you're massive! I don't mess with guys as buff as you who also wear face paint. It's a bold look on the battlefield." Howard slowly reached for his Volcarona's Pokeball, before returning Apolle to her ball. He reached for another ball, before tossing out Ad, his Solrock.

Several of Kazimir's victims began to float under the Solrock's psychic energy.

"Thank you," Howard walked forward to pick up the final grunt, and to offer Kazimir a hand. "For letting me take them. If you betray me right now, I'll be very mad at you."

---

Kazimir Wynter
+50 (mission start)
+70 (posts)