Gunner nodded, his expression grim. If executed well, an aggressive assault at the onset could end a conflict within weeks. Maybe days. [break][break]

"Team Rocket is going to play dirty, so we should be prepared to do the same. Cut off their supply lines, raid their bases, starve them into surrender," he said, without hesitation. [break][break]

"Send in special operatives to neutralize operations before they can get them off the ground. If possible, assassinate leadership—those who aren't Avatars." But which ones were those? It seemed the crime syndicate was gaining new Avatars every few months. [break][break]

He fell silent at Freya's choice of words. Leadership. That wasn't who he was. He was the League's weapon, nothing more. [break][break]

"I'll see what I can do about my assignments."

TAGS – freya morningstar[break]
NOTES – mission

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Gunner chuckled at robin coello's compliment—it was one he'd received a few times in the past, growing up—as he handed freya morningstar his bottle of sunscreen. But they had little time for more joking and laughter, for the ground shook again and a massive Bronzong emerged from the sands. [break][break]

Once more, Dynergy saturated the air, so thick they could almost choke on it. [break][break]

"One more time, Iseult! Same tactic as last time!" Gunner shouted. His Leavanny hopped up next to Freya's Sceptile to offer the lizard a HELPING HAND. [break][break]

TAGS – freya morningstar lam logan robin coello[break]
NOTES – bounties of the lost[break]
– Leavanny uses HELPING HAND on Sceptile (SUPPORT)

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"Thanks," Gunner said as lam logan handed him a water bottle. He greedily gulped down some of it, then splashed more onto his face to wash away sweat and grime. The rest of his water went to his Leavanny, who gratefully accepted the refreshment. [break][break]

As Gunner stuffed the empty plastic bottle into his own backpack (an avid hiker, he practiced "leave no trace" religiously), he removed a smaller bottle of sunscreen to dab on his face. The blazing desert sun was brutal on his pale skin; if he wasn't careful, he'd be as red as a Krabby by the end of the day. [break][break]

"I can keep going," he assured freya morningstar. Glancing over at robin coello, he asked, "What about you? I'm Gunner, by the way. I don't think we've met before. This is Iseult." [break][break]

The Leavanny chirped and gave a graceful bow of her head to the strangers.

TAGS – freya morningstar lam logan robin coello[break]
NOTES – bounties of the lost

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Blow after blow chipped away at the Claydol, scattering chunks of debris across the sands. The gigantic Pokémon's harrowing screams filled the hot desert air. As its head continued to spin, its eyes lit up all at once. [break][break]

Suddenly, the skies flashed magenta with Dynergy as powerful beams shot at Gunner, his allies, and their Pokémon. [break][break]

Iseult darted forward, bolstered by Comfey's LEECH SEED, Sceptile's DRAGON CHEER, and Decidueye's GRASSY TERRAIN. Vines and flowers curled upward ahead of her as she dodged each one of the Claydol's devastating attacks. [break][break]

Then she leaped, shimmering with crystalline light as she TERASTALLIZED. The clear facets that adorned her body sang of untold power, of endless possibilities, and of eternal triumphs. [break][break]

As the Leavanny aimed for an opening in the Claydol's defense, she swung her arm, smashing a LEAF BLADE against foe's great body. [break][break]

TAGS – freya morningstar lam logan robin coello[break]
NOTES – bounties of the lost[break]
– Leavanny TERASTALLIZES into Normal type; uses LEAF BLADE on Claydol (SNIPE)[break][break]

ATTACK BREAKDOWN:[break]
+10 for SHIFT[break]
+60 for SUPPORT[break]
+20 for BOOST[break]
+10 for GIMMICK[break]
+10 for PROMPT

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Psychic energy filled the air, threatening to dismantle their offense. As the Sceptile stepped back and the Decidueye Terastallized preceding her attack, Gunner shielded his face to issue commands to his Leavanny. [break][break]

"Get in close! Queen's castle to six!" [break][break]

The Nurturing Pokémon darted toward the spinning Claydol with startling speed, using the leaf-shaped parts of her body to surf the winds of Dynergy and draw closer to her foe. Once she was near enough, she lashed out with TRAILBLAZE. [break][break]

Then, with an expert swerve of her body, she returned to Gunner's side. [break][break]

TAGS – freya morningstar lam logan robin coello[break]
NOTES – bounties of the lost[break]
– Leavanny uses TRAILBLAZE on Claydol (BOOST for next round)

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Gunner ground his teeth as the massive Claydol smashed an arm against their Pokémon. But it was a testament to all their training that their team jumped back on their feet in no time at all. The Claydol reeled from the first two attacks but was not deterred. Its constitution was tremendous. [break][break]

"Iseult, they need you up front!" Gunner shouted as lam logan's Decidueye dashed back to rejoin the group, following a blow dealt to their enemy's weak point. [break][break]

His Leavanny fluttered forward to meet the Decidueye halfway, a GRASSY TERRAIN springing up in her wake. Vines and verdant green burst forth from soft sand, empowering the hooded owl. [break][break]

TAGS – freya morningstar lam logan robin coello[break]
NOTES – bounties of the lost[break]
– Leavanny uses GRASSY TERRAIN to SUPPORT Hisuian Decidueye

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Gunner stumbled backward as the earth shook and the sands shifted. A titanic Claydol rose from the ground, its body parts spinning as its eyes flashed in warning. "Stay alert, everyone!" he yelled. "We don't know what it will do!" [break][break]

With freya morningstar taking point, the agent understood that his role—at least, in that immediate moment—was to lend support. After her Sceptile laid down a GRASSY TERRAIN and lam logan's Hisuian Decidueye boosted the lizard with COACHING, he nodded at his Leavanny. [break][break]

"Iseult, lend a HELPING HAND, will you?" [break][break]

The dual-type chirped, hopping up alongside Sceptile and siphoning power into the Forest Pokémon through her leaf-like arms. [break][break]

TAGS – freya morningstar lam logan robin coello[break]
NOTES – bounties of the lost[break]
– Leavanny uses HELPING HAND on Sceptile (SUPPORT)

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They escaped the cave-in, but just barely. Brushing the dust and debris from his clothing, Gunner glanced back at the pile of rubble now obstructing the entrance into the tunnel. The briefest thought that they had merely inconvenienced Eternatus flitted through his head. It sent a shiver down his spine. [break][break]

"You too, Miss Ha." [break][break]

Glowing with psychic energy, Gunner's Claydol lifted them toward the top ridge of the chasm. The man fixed his gaze on that distant, jagged line and the thought of home. [break][break]

"When we get back, maybe we could have that chess match?" he suggested, flashing Yujin a grin.

TAGS – Yujin Ha[break]
NOTES – ultra deep sea #2

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When one of Freya's Raging Bolt wandered over to investigate the two humans, Gunner's Gouging Fire tensed. He sensed the creature's suspicion of its Electric-type cousin and placed a reassuring hand on its neck, fingers curling around the thick fur. [break][break]

He did not release his grip on his Pokémon until the Raging Bolt departed again and he felt Gouging Fire's muscles relax under his palm. [break][break]

"I can do either," Gunner said to Freya. "I've always considered myself to be more of a shield than a sword, but sometimes offense is the best defense." [break][break]

In the past, that meant going abroad to eliminate targets threatening the safety of his home, stopping machinations before they could even begin.

TAGS – freya morningstar[break]
NOTES – mission

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One did not waste time when a member of the council put out a call for help. [break][break]

Gunner dropped his latest crime novel on his coffee table, changed into appropriate clothing for a desert trek, and grabbed six Pokéballs. He made the short trek from Slateport City by air, but switched out his Salamence for his Leavanny upon sighting the duo and their Pokémon already at the rendezvous point. [break][break]

"Miss Morningstar," Gunner greeted freya morningstar first, as she was the reason for his coming. Then he acknowledged the Gym Leader at her side. "Logan. Good to see you again."

TAGS – freya morningstar lam logan robin coello[break]
NOTES – bounties of the lost

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PENELOPE LIVY had been right to choose Gunner as her head of security for the State of the Region conference. A detail-oriented, process-driven Type A personality, he planned and executed the best security presence the League government could offer for this kind of event. [break][break]

Local police blocked off the streets and redirected traffic. Armed guards were stationed at each entrance and exit, conducting bag checks while conference staff verified personal IDs and handed out wristbands. HBIC agents in plain clothes wandered through the crowd, sitting where they could quickly intercept potential threats. [break][break]

A couple of agents perched on nearby rooftops with their Pokémon, unseen sentinels of the entire gathering. [break][break]

Dressed in unobtrusive black clothes, Gunner made his way to the main stage, though he did not climb it. He gave Kyrenai Black a brief nod as they passed each other. At the steps leading up to the stage, he scanned the rows of benches, looking for anything amiss. [break][break]

In the first row, directly in front of the podium, his Ditto sat in human form. A cap and long hair shaded its eyes, while a black mask covered the lower half of its face. [break][break]

"Lancer here, checking in," Gunner murmured into the mic attached to his earpiece. "Are we all clear?" [break][break]

One by one, his team sounded off.

TAGS – state of the region 2024[break]
NOTES – Not open to interaction, sorry! He is working!

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Freya assessed Gunner with an inscrutable gaze. Briefly, he thought that a person unused to being in the presence of a council member would find her properly intimidating. But a tenured HBIC agent had no reason to shrink back. [break][break]

Sixty percent troop deployment. It was the standard number for a state of military readiness, but not full-out war. [break][break]

"I can have it ready for you in three days. Sooner, if you send over your plans," he said, though the gears of his mind were already turning. "Our port cities will have to be the first line of defense. We'll need clear roads and skies if we need to fall back to the more inland locations." [break][break]

Mossdeep, Lilycove, and Slateport were obvious targets, but the latter two were more easily fortified.

TAGS – freya morningstar[break]
NOTES – mission

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