1-3: Theatre Antics
Mechasaurian
Big Bossu
- Location
- Lost among fields of history
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] "If you think you can overawe me with a gaudy song and dance, you have another thing coming! For I am Ouroboros, the latest and most elite model of Sangvis Ferri ringleaders! Remember this name, for soon it will strike fear into the hearts of all the Mastermind's enemies! The true game begins here!"
You barely need to think about your response. "Intruder" is challenging you. That cannot go unanswered.
"If you think you can overawe me with a gaudy song and dance, you have another thing coming." You clench a fist in front of you. "For I am Ouroboros, the latest and most elite model of Sangvis Ferri ringleaders!
"Remember this name, for soon it will strike fear into the hearts of all the Mastermind's enemies! I will secure an iron grip on control of the game board! Every weakness and mistake of our enemies' will be exploited, their resources will be suffocated!" You throw your hand to the side. "Pawns, bishops, knights alike - I will pin them, and skewer them! Metaphorically and literally! With me here, the strategy will be flawless!"
With a final flourish, you declare: "The true game begins here!"
There is a moment of silence, as your words echo and reverb through the empty theatre.
Then Intruder starts lightly clapping her hands in front of her.
"Seven and a half out of ten."
"Excuse me?"
"You have the style and the verve down. No alliteration, alas, but I can live with that. You integrated a metaphor, which is nice. I would have given you eight out of ten, but I had to dock half a point for the choice of chess."
"Excuse me?'
"Drawing parallels between war and chess is just so overdone, you know? Clichéd, I dare say." She sighs. "Do we require the establishment of a character who is clever, sly, intelligent, shrewd? Then let's put a chess board next to them, have them speak in chess references. How very original. No one has ever thought of that before." She sighs.
You cross your arms and glare at her. "Sometimes, cliches become cliches for a reason, you know?"
"Hmm. Not a bad response. And yet I am given to wonder if chess has anything to do with tactics or strategy in the real world."
Right. That's enough.
"Can you say that a rook and three pawns flanked your knight, only for the bishop to lay down suppressing fire so the knight punches through them anyway?"
You've allowed this doll to engage you in quite enough tomfoolery.
"Can Black send a raiding party to attack White's supply lines, rendering the pawns unable to move forwards?"
A game is often decided by the taking of initiative in the opening moves, and is definitely decided by whoever can set the pace and force the other player to march to it.
"What position does electronic intelligence occupy in a board game invented over a thousand years ago?"
It's time to put your foot down.
"How-"
"Since we will be working together," you interrupt sharply, "I'm going to set a few ground rules for my cooperation with you."
For the first time, Intruder seems nonplussed, if only for a split second. "Will you, now?"
"Firstly, don't disrespect me. Or chess, for that matter. Furthermore…"
You let the word hang in the air for a moment.
"...I will have the final say on our plans of action."
For the first time since you've met her, the smile fades slightly from Intruder's face. "Should you, now?"
The opening moves. Establishing zones of control, developing the pieces. Agent told you to be "helpful," but she didn't specify the exact nature of that help. Which means certain things - like the chain of command - are yours to either discover, or establish.
"I was created specifically as a command-type ringleader," you say. "I went through trials you cannot imagine just for the right to walk this earth. Why shouldn't I take command?
"So." You continue. "All plans go by me first. Anything and everything we do - we discuss it first, and I sign off on it. Or not, depending on how I like your ideas."
You had thought to demand complete command of the mission for yourself. But that might be going too far. It is important to strike a balance between what one wants and what one can feasibly obtain.
"Well, I don't know." Intruder shrugs her shoulders. "Have you conducted extensive investigation and reconnaissance of the area of operations ahead of time? Have you obtained the code ciphers of the military forces we will be attacking? Have you taken any measures to set the stage for the script to play out?"
Interesting. For whatever reason, Intruder is not simply threatening to call Agent. You can work with this.
"You've already done the job for me, haven't you?" you fire back. "Which I will thank you for. But now that the forward line of pawns has been arrayed, it's time to bring the queen piece into play."
"And if you are supposed to be the star of the show…where's the rest of the acting troupe? The supporting cast? The backstage hands? Let's see them."
"My-" It takes a moment for Intruder's meaning to register with you. "My troops? As you wish."
From their position outside the theatre's front doors, your T-dolls stride in. They enter the theatre proper and step into a single neat formation for inspection.
Intruder looks over your troops. She rests one elbow in her hand and strokes her chin with a finger - the very picture of thoughtful contemplation.
"...is this all there is?"
What? "What else ought there be?"
"It just looks a little…ah…how do I put this?" Intruder puts the tips of her fingers together. "Small?"
"By what standards? What does your force look like?"
Intruder makes a gesture - entirely pointless, you're sure - and information flashes into your neural cloud.
"So," says Intruder, "What I'm seeing with you is slightly less than a platoon in size. Significantly smaller in effective firepower than the company I'm bringing along. Not to mention your interesting decision to use all those melee combatants. Even if this mission calls for a relatively light and fast task force, one can have too little of a good thing."
"Well, I…" You take a moment to search for the right…combination of words. "Obviously, Agent understands that a tactical grandmaster such as myself can do the job with fewer resources. So, you see, what might appear like a small force is in fact a compliment paid to my abilities."
A pause. Intruder tilts her head to the side slightly.
"You, Ouroboros, are truly a remarkable doll. I can see that now. And don't take my criticism the wrong way - I do like your enthusiasm."
Are you actually getting through to her? Excellent. "Of course," you say with a brief nod.
"However…" she pauses again. "A doll can get invested in the script they create, you know? All the preparation, the planning, the build up. The excitement one builds in their own head for the drama, the twists, the dramatic moments. Even if-"
"Get on with it," you say. Is Intruder always going to take a grand speech to get to the point? It's already becoming tiresome.
"What if I were to offer you something?"
"Like what?"
Intruder clasps her hands together, and her smile grows slightly wider. "What if I were to tell you…that you could obtain some Aegides and Manticores? Armoured humanoid units that can smash down walls and resist gunfire with ease? Combat walkers, armed with machine guns and grenade launchers, and which can shrug off all but the highest calibre rounds? Such units would be a boon to your forces, I am certain. And what would you know - we happen to be on a mission to capture some intact!"
You fold your arms. "And in exchange, I suppose you'd demand my agreement that you remain in overall command? You say 'jump,' I say 'how high?'"
"I would not phrase it in such adversarial language. But yes, I would insist on maintaining control of the script I worked so hard on. What do you say?"
You pause. Raise a hand to your chin. Take a moment to consider.
You are now haggling with Intruder over the terms of your working relationship.
[ ] Agree with Intruder's proposal.
[ ] Insist on maintaining joint command of the mission.
[ ] Make a counteroffer: (write-in)
You barely need to think about your response. "Intruder" is challenging you. That cannot go unanswered.
"If you think you can overawe me with a gaudy song and dance, you have another thing coming." You clench a fist in front of you. "For I am Ouroboros, the latest and most elite model of Sangvis Ferri ringleaders!
"Remember this name, for soon it will strike fear into the hearts of all the Mastermind's enemies! I will secure an iron grip on control of the game board! Every weakness and mistake of our enemies' will be exploited, their resources will be suffocated!" You throw your hand to the side. "Pawns, bishops, knights alike - I will pin them, and skewer them! Metaphorically and literally! With me here, the strategy will be flawless!"
With a final flourish, you declare: "The true game begins here!"
There is a moment of silence, as your words echo and reverb through the empty theatre.
Then Intruder starts lightly clapping her hands in front of her.
"Seven and a half out of ten."
"Excuse me?"
"You have the style and the verve down. No alliteration, alas, but I can live with that. You integrated a metaphor, which is nice. I would have given you eight out of ten, but I had to dock half a point for the choice of chess."
"Excuse me?'
"Drawing parallels between war and chess is just so overdone, you know? Clichéd, I dare say." She sighs. "Do we require the establishment of a character who is clever, sly, intelligent, shrewd? Then let's put a chess board next to them, have them speak in chess references. How very original. No one has ever thought of that before." She sighs.
You cross your arms and glare at her. "Sometimes, cliches become cliches for a reason, you know?"
"Hmm. Not a bad response. And yet I am given to wonder if chess has anything to do with tactics or strategy in the real world."
Right. That's enough.
"Can you say that a rook and three pawns flanked your knight, only for the bishop to lay down suppressing fire so the knight punches through them anyway?"
You've allowed this doll to engage you in quite enough tomfoolery.
"Can Black send a raiding party to attack White's supply lines, rendering the pawns unable to move forwards?"
A game is often decided by the taking of initiative in the opening moves, and is definitely decided by whoever can set the pace and force the other player to march to it.
"What position does electronic intelligence occupy in a board game invented over a thousand years ago?"
It's time to put your foot down.
"How-"
"Since we will be working together," you interrupt sharply, "I'm going to set a few ground rules for my cooperation with you."
For the first time, Intruder seems nonplussed, if only for a split second. "Will you, now?"
"Firstly, don't disrespect me. Or chess, for that matter. Furthermore…"
You let the word hang in the air for a moment.
"...I will have the final say on our plans of action."
For the first time since you've met her, the smile fades slightly from Intruder's face. "Should you, now?"
The opening moves. Establishing zones of control, developing the pieces. Agent told you to be "helpful," but she didn't specify the exact nature of that help. Which means certain things - like the chain of command - are yours to either discover, or establish.
"I was created specifically as a command-type ringleader," you say. "I went through trials you cannot imagine just for the right to walk this earth. Why shouldn't I take command?
"So." You continue. "All plans go by me first. Anything and everything we do - we discuss it first, and I sign off on it. Or not, depending on how I like your ideas."
You had thought to demand complete command of the mission for yourself. But that might be going too far. It is important to strike a balance between what one wants and what one can feasibly obtain.
"Well, I don't know." Intruder shrugs her shoulders. "Have you conducted extensive investigation and reconnaissance of the area of operations ahead of time? Have you obtained the code ciphers of the military forces we will be attacking? Have you taken any measures to set the stage for the script to play out?"
Interesting. For whatever reason, Intruder is not simply threatening to call Agent. You can work with this.
"You've already done the job for me, haven't you?" you fire back. "Which I will thank you for. But now that the forward line of pawns has been arrayed, it's time to bring the queen piece into play."
"And if you are supposed to be the star of the show…where's the rest of the acting troupe? The supporting cast? The backstage hands? Let's see them."
"My-" It takes a moment for Intruder's meaning to register with you. "My troops? As you wish."
From their position outside the theatre's front doors, your T-dolls stride in. They enter the theatre proper and step into a single neat formation for inspection.
Intruder looks over your troops. She rests one elbow in her hand and strokes her chin with a finger - the very picture of thoughtful contemplation.
"...is this all there is?"
What? "What else ought there be?"
"It just looks a little…ah…how do I put this?" Intruder puts the tips of her fingers together. "Small?"
"By what standards? What does your force look like?"
Intruder makes a gesture - entirely pointless, you're sure - and information flashes into your neural cloud.
"So," says Intruder, "What I'm seeing with you is slightly less than a platoon in size. Significantly smaller in effective firepower than the company I'm bringing along. Not to mention your interesting decision to use all those melee combatants. Even if this mission calls for a relatively light and fast task force, one can have too little of a good thing."
"Well, I…" You take a moment to search for the right…combination of words. "Obviously, Agent understands that a tactical grandmaster such as myself can do the job with fewer resources. So, you see, what might appear like a small force is in fact a compliment paid to my abilities."
A pause. Intruder tilts her head to the side slightly.
"You, Ouroboros, are truly a remarkable doll. I can see that now. And don't take my criticism the wrong way - I do like your enthusiasm."
Are you actually getting through to her? Excellent. "Of course," you say with a brief nod.
"However…" she pauses again. "A doll can get invested in the script they create, you know? All the preparation, the planning, the build up. The excitement one builds in their own head for the drama, the twists, the dramatic moments. Even if-"
"Get on with it," you say. Is Intruder always going to take a grand speech to get to the point? It's already becoming tiresome.
"What if I were to offer you something?"
"Like what?"
Intruder clasps her hands together, and her smile grows slightly wider. "What if I were to tell you…that you could obtain some Aegides and Manticores? Armoured humanoid units that can smash down walls and resist gunfire with ease? Combat walkers, armed with machine guns and grenade launchers, and which can shrug off all but the highest calibre rounds? Such units would be a boon to your forces, I am certain. And what would you know - we happen to be on a mission to capture some intact!"
You fold your arms. "And in exchange, I suppose you'd demand my agreement that you remain in overall command? You say 'jump,' I say 'how high?'"
"I would not phrase it in such adversarial language. But yes, I would insist on maintaining control of the script I worked so hard on. What do you say?"
You pause. Raise a hand to your chin. Take a moment to consider.
You are now haggling with Intruder over the terms of your working relationship.
[ ] Agree with Intruder's proposal.
[ ] Insist on maintaining joint command of the mission.
[ ] Make a counteroffer: (write-in)
With thanks to:
@Lurkman
@ARBITRACOM
@lelenoi
...for their feedback, editing work, and help in getting this update off the ground.
You people rock.
@Lurkman
@ARBITRACOM
@lelenoi
...for their feedback, editing work, and help in getting this update off the ground.
You people rock.
This update was originally going to be significantly longer. Which is part of the reason it took so long - it was originally planned to have several different scenes in it, and making those scenes flow into each other proved very tricky.
Eventually I decided to end the update earlier at a more natural cut off point, and so was able to finish it.
Eventually I decided to end the update earlier at a more natural cut off point, and so was able to finish it.
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