TO: Josh Devlin (josh.devlin@hoennleague.gov)
CC: Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki (hyakkaryoran.tsubaki@hoenn.net)
MISSION: "Depot"
PROTOCOL: Recon
DANGER: ★★★★☆

A jamming signal has been traced to a makeshift Rocket military depot on the northwest side of the island. Disrupting their operations should restore communications with undercover agents. We believe that a stolen blueprint for a League top-secret operation is being kept there. Retrieve it at all costs. There is also a convoy parked at a cave entrance on the far side of the depot. You will need to be on that convoy when it leaves.

Your objectives are as follows:

A) Disrupt all jamming devices
B) Obtain safe key
C) Recover stolen blueprints
D) Board Maxine's convoy

Good luck! We're all counting on you.

Even radio comms were useless in the jamming zone near the depot to the north, not far from their current position on the beach. A warehouse masked the Gym Leader's position, even with him being seated on his quite-large Salazzle, Fire Eyes. It was the stealthiest Pokémon he had. With many of his main Pokémon on the mend from being gunned down with Bullet Seed and other Pokémon attack-based firearms, there weren't many Pokémon he had with the combat experience needed to infiltrate what Josh could only expect were heavily guarded buildings.

"I'm sorry, I have no idea how to pronounce your name," Josh admitted, going over a locally-saved copy of the briefing documents. "Gym Leader and Elite Ranger Josh Devlin. Admittedly, this isn't where my strong points lie. All this stealth stuff irks me." Josh could feel the breathing accompanying Fire Eyes' chuckle. "Because we don't have comms, we can't stray far from one another. Also, if I find the blueprints before you, I'm going to give them to you. You need to take them to the League's base. I'm the only one that's supposed to be boarding that convoy."

Josh smiled, mimicking the pantomime as he pronounced the name. He laughed at the end of it all. "Camellia it is. It's easier, too. Unfortunately, I don't think a code name will help with me," he admitted, his smile turning upside down. "It comes with being a celebrity."

Seeing how far apart the buildings were, Josh thought about the female's assessment and gave his thoughts, the Salazzle shooting her a confident look. "Doesn't have to be as covert as you think. With how big this place is, their guard is probably spread thin and concentrated around important stuff. With a stealthy ride Pokémon like Fire Eyes here, we should be able to slip around mostly undetected. Especially if your Arbok is good from range with its Poison Sting."

The Gym Leader kept his Salazzle to Baki's pace, the lizard burning a hole through a small warehouse's side with her corrosive venom. The piece of metal hit the side of a stack of steel crates, Josh immediately springing into action upon hearing the noise. He swiftly advanced around the corner, his Salazzle spitting a large glob of flesh-eating VENOSHOCK in the direction of several grunts picking up EGG BOMB launchers and other illegal weapons.

Rocket meant business if they were keeping this kind of artillery here.

It was a gruesome sight, Arbok and Salazzle venom prompting even the crack-shot criminals to limp out the exit the poison-type had broken open. On their way out, one clicked the trigger on his EGG BOMB launcher, but the explosive went way off target, striking the warehouse's ceiling. The glass of its lightbulbs shattered, sharp debris falling all around Josh and Tsubaki.

"Your Arbok's got some real speed behind them," Josh complimented as he gave Tsubaki a hand as requested. "If only she were big enough for you to ride on, she could give me a real run for my money at my Gym," he idly remarked. Once she was finished with his assistance, the young man began searching the trashed room. The number of illegal arms in the room was staggering. Whatever operation Rocket had going on here was big and serious.

Toward the end of a thorough search, Josh's eyes caught a different kind of glint from the scattered glass on the floor. Reaching toward it, it was a key half the standard length of commercial keys. "I think this is our safe key," he reported to the teen. "I can't imagine the safe this goes to being anywhere close, though," he continued, Fire Eyes stretching to lift the warehouse's main door open. "And keep an eye out for those jamming devices, too."

OBJECTIVE B: COMPLETED

Tsubaki was firm with the Rocket but still merciful, the antidote too much for even the battle-hardened criminal to refuse. "It's-s-s inside the hel-el-el-elipad station. It's the only building with a s-s-s-second floor!" he spouted as his life flashed before his eyes. Not wanting to waste a moment, Josh headed back to the warehouse's main entrance, ready to fling the door upward when he heard footsteps on the other side. Lots of them.

There was no getting around it; he had to bring out the big guns. Withdrawing Fire Eyes, Josh popped open the Poké Ball containing his Luxray and mounted up. Pressing the button that opened the main entrance, the large, metal door retracted upward. Both seemed ready for the other, the Master of Faster holding his Z-GLOVE next to the QUICKINIUM-Z embedded in the Shiny cat's saddle. Holding his Z-Pose until the door had withdrawn high enough into its slot, Josh slammed his heels into his Luxray's side with full force in the Z-MOVE: HYPERSONIC PLASMA CHARGE.



The supersonic electric tackle knocked the Rockets over like bowling pins, a MAGNET BOMB launcher knocked out of the group leader's hands and detonating in the sky. All but one of that strike team wouldn't be standing anytime soon, electrical burns ravaging their bodies as Josh zipped past them at nausea-inducing speed.

There was no running from an AURA SPHERE, though; a hidden Mienshao around the corner from the two-story building hurled one at Josh, the Fighting-type attack detonating right over the Luxray's back and flinging him out of the saddle. Blitz was first to stand, the electric-type grumbling as he defended his trainer from the feline martial artist.

The ambush predator came to Blitz's rescue, leaving the Mienshao stunned long enough for the Luxray to stand and rake across its foe's back with his hidden claws. An electric DISCHARGE surged through them, frying the foe and leaving it bewildered. "Thanks for the save," Josh huffed, withdrawing his Luxray and sending Fire Eyes out once more. Climbing atop the venomous lizard, she rapidly crawled toward the two-story building at her trainer's tactile command.

Luckily for them, the small safe the size of a human head was completely unguarded. Sliding off his Pokémon before climbing the stairs, he beat feet to the second floor, where he would find the metal-plated, concrete-reinforced safe in a corner. There was no eating through this with Fire Eyes' corrosion. Inserting the key into the keyhole and turning it, the door clicked open, revealing the top secret blueprints the League had asked them to find.

OBJECTIVE C: COMPLETED

"Thanks for all the help, Camellia," Josh nodded. "This is where we go our separate ways. I've got a convoy to catch. You make sure this safely gets back to HQ. Farewell, and I hope we meet again." With that, the brave Gym Leader headed back downstairs, hopped on his Salazzle, and zoomed toward the back of the warehouse-like building. The sound of human screams and acidic sizzling echoed from his direction as he disappeared from sight.

OBJECTIVE D: COMPLETED