[attr="class","monty"]Navy's request was met with a heavy silence. Montgomery put the cigarette between his lips, relishing the burning addiction of nicotine that was surely destroying the cells of his lungs. The puff of smoke that he blew out was intertwined with a heavy sigh, as though he were accepting his fate.

"I'll try my best," he said. It was better to give him this answer than to break a promise. He thought back for a moment when the Rocket grunt he had encountered shot him in the woods.

Montgomery had no hesitated to put a bullet in his skull when he threatened Jethro Haig's life. He wondered if Navy would consider that death justifiable. There was an aching shame that washed over him, however briefly, as he threw the cigarette on the ground and stomped the embers out.

"I'm sorry for your loss." It made him think of his parents, though the memory was fleeting. "Did you always think like that? That we should give 'em a chance?"

He had to think he did, if he was giving Montgomery a chance.

[attr="class","montytag"]Navy | before the first wave

[attr="class","monty"]Great. Now, he had to handle the COFAGRIGUS and Howard's sniveling. Montgomery briefly exchanged a look of disgust to the archeologist, quickly thinking of a way to get rid of the pesky Pokemon and the onslaught of SHADOW BALLS.

"KROOKODILE."

The Pokemon absorbed the attacks, giving his trainer time to pull the pistols from his holsters at his side. Pulling the bullets into the chambers, Montgomery turned around, facing Howard.

Raising his arms, he began to fire into the ground above them. The bullets ate away at the rock, sunlight streaming inside the dark chamber. It would prevent the COFAGRIGUS from trying to move further.

"Get up, Slayte. Stop yer fuckin' whimperin'."

[attr="class","montytag"]howard slayte | past - unova

[attr="class","monty"]Under the water, as he dove again, he noticed someone familiar. Though, this time, it appeared that she wasn't causing trouble. Rather, ameena abadi was engaging in the activity like everyone else.

Seemed the CEO was finally taking it easy on the potentially criminal activities?

He swam closer to her, his hair floating wildly behind him as he went to scare her under the water. His smile was all shit-eating grin.

[attr="class","montytag"]clamperl diving
8/10/24 roll: 32 (tm/tr)
8/11/24 roll: 48 (ability capsule)
8/12/24 roll: 93 (big pearl)

[attr="class","monty"]Well, third time was a charm. The second time proved that perhaps his first time on the MANTINE was just beginner's luck. Hopefully, this time... he wouldn't face plant into the water like he had last time.

"Laturn 360!"

[attr="class","montytag"]attempting lanturn 360
8/10: rolled 25, success
8/11: rolled 10, failure
8/12: rolled 1, failure
total: 500 pts

[attr="class","monty"]"Yeah, well... could've picked a better time," Montgomery mumbled, wishing that he had a glass of alcohol and a cigarette to enjoy right now. Instead, he rolled his sleeves up as the summer heat began to make him sweat.

The sheriff makes some sort of announcement to those boarding the ship, taking the deputy by surprise. "Hey... this ain't gonna be on my PD right? Right?" Surely something as expensive as taking a bunch of kids to an arcade would be placed on the police department's credit card.

Looking out toward the emptying city, Montgomery released SKARMORY. The metallic bird flapped his wings, waiting expectantly for his order.

"Scout ahead. Look for stragglers or threats," he ordered. The bird took to the air, sunlight reflecting off its metallic body.

[attr="class","montytag"]Navy | 04. direct a pokemon to scout ahead for reconnaissance

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery's SKARMORY leaned down to greet Tiny, nudging the little bird with his beak as he had done to his brother. Then, he decided to settle on the ground beside them, as if he was nesting with them. He'd never seen his Pokemon so careful and friendly to other Pokemon before.

SKARMORY had been war-hardened, battle ready, thanks to Unova. Seeing him in this light... it was a blessed sight.

His gaze trailed away from the sheriff as he recounted his time in Unova. He wouldn't consider himself a soldier, nor would he say that he'd been in a true war before. But, Rocket had always fought the League, and that much was true back home. There was too much blood on his hands for him to consider himself distant from the tides of war.

"Not a war that yer thinkin', no. But, I've always been in some sort of battle. Whether it was takin' down Leaguers or followin' my command's orders, battles are somethin' that I know too well."

He was familiar with the kiss of death. Montgomery had been the angel of death for many people, ready to sweep away their souls from the earth and bury them into the ground. Bullets, bombs, Pokmeon screaming, and people dying...

"What you describe is familiar to me. But this time, I want to be on the right side of history." He turned this time, looking at his sheriff. "I need to be someone's hero and not their killer."

[attr="class","montytag"]Navy | before the first wave

[attr="class","monty"]This guy was really weird. But, if his insults were going to change his attitude even a little bit, Montgomery found that he didn't care much about it. So, he turned his gaze forward to their target.

"Let's see what we got here."

With a nice bounty to bring in from down here, Rocket would give him more amnesty for his family. Now, he just had to make sure he, himself, got out of there in one piece. howard slayte?

Well... if the kid died, it wouldn't be his fault, would it?

The tomb opened, and immediately, a ghastly arm darted forward. "Motherfucker," he muttered beneath his breath, protected from the attack by his KROOKODILE. "GOLETT, go in there! I'm behind ya!"

He darted inside, dodging another few grasping limbs by sliding across the floor. Behind him, his KROOKODILE charged forward, attacking in the darkness. A FOUL PLAY erupted, attacking the nearest COFAGRIGUS. On the ground, the small GOLETT located Howard being dragged away.

"Get him!" The tiny, robotic creature vanished, appearing out of thin air. PHANTOM FORCE struck Howard's attacker with vigor.

[attr="class","montytag"]howard slayte | past - unova

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery glanced over to the side, spotting... a stack of STAKATAKAS? What the fuck?

He swam closer, releasing his SHARPEDO.

"Make sure that thing don't kill no one..."

[attr="class","montytag"]clamperl diving
8/10/24 roll: 32 (tm/tr)
8/11/24 roll: 48 (ability capsule)

[attr="class","monty"]Well, he managed to land that one. Now, he had to try again. And again.

"Alright. That was a close one. Let's try it again, shall we?" Montgomery hopped back on the MANTINE, surfing into the waves.

LATURN 360!

[attr="class","montytag"]attempting lanturn 360
8/10: rolled 25, success
8/11: rolled 10, failure
total: 500 pts

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery turned his head away, opting to ignore the bloodshed from the GALLADE. There was enough destruction around them. He recalled BRELOOM into her Poke ball, putting his pistol back in its holster.

"We'll question 'em later. Just send 'em to the boats for evacuation right now." Interrogation was not the priority right now.

He knelt by the WOOPERS, extending his arms to try and gently usher them away from the area. "Let's just get these guys back to the water..."

[attr="class","montytag"]Althus Rex

[attr="class","monty"]"Ya need to pay more attention!" he retorted, sweeping back around to the attack on their previous target.

With them indisposed, one remained nearby. However, he began to run, without a Pokemon to fight.

"Causin' so much shit, and ya think ya get to run? I don't think so." From his side, he pulled out his pistol, aiming for his legs.

One shot, and the poacher fell with a shout, clutching his calf.

[attr="class","montytag"]Althus Rex

[attr="class","monty"]Montgomery didn't correct him. Deputy, sheriff, whatever. So long as they got these idiots under control first and foremost.

Now that their enemies were stunned, BRELOOM used MEGA DRAIN, seeping energy out of a nearby poacher and her GRENINJA. However, a chunk of rock flying overhead and toward his partner seemed more daunting than an attack.

"BRELOOM!"

The Pokemon turned on a dime, jumping forward to smash the on coming rock with a DYNAMIC PUNCH. The concentrated power smashed the stone into pieces.

[attr="class","montytag"]Althus Rex