While you were breaking ground on a new pokeball, it seems that your rivals at Silph Co were tackling another long-standing issue. Even today, civilians and rookie trainers are at risk of becoming prayed upon by wild pokemon while traveling the various routes that connect Neo-Kanto together, while the same creatures make it difficult to establish any new infrastructure beyond the main population centers unless you hire a small army of trainers to protect your assets. The failed highway project in Pewter is but one example of the dangers wild pokemon pose.
To that end, Silph Co has released their latest product, a concoction of hormones that will drive away wild pokemon called Repel. The personal-size bottles are already being sold faster than they can be put on the shelves at Poke Marts. What's more is that it appears law enforcement and Pokemon Rangers are being equipped with a stronger variant of it to aid in peacekeeping, but it's only a matter of time until it too is sold as a commodity.
???
[] Meet with Silph Co
At the tail end of February, a black helicopter enters Neo-Kanto's airspace over Viridian City, flying over without intervention until it reaches Saffron City and lands atop Silph Co headquarters. The only identifying mark on the vehicle was a crest of a red dragon. Briefly, it becomes the talk of the zone, as people speculate amongst themselves wondering who these foreigners can be and what business they had with their corporate overlords. They then share their own, usually ridiculous theories with each other, before the subject grows stale and the masses move on to the next thing that catches their eye.
Unfortunately for you, you cannot afford to be that ignorant of what Silph Co is plotting with outside parties. If they are breaking their isolationist stance and allying themselves with other zones now, of all times, then this would place Rocket at a severe disadvantage. For now though, you can only hope whatever business they have isn't resolved before Rocket can make their own moves in the zones beyond Neo-Kanto aswell.
Volt Electronics
[] ???
Your informants bring little information regarding the neighboring zone of Pulse City, but it's not out of a lack of trying. Rather it seems Doctor Yoshiyama, the reclusive CEO of Volt Electronics, has turned his efforts to a "high confidential matter" within the company, and thus has only given the bare minimum attention to the zone they govern. No statements being made by Yoshiyama or any other high ranking member of Volt have been made throughout the entire months of March and April.
Pulse City, while relatively small in land, is a highly-populated urban zone whose inhabitants benefit from Volt's augmented reality technology. A part of you can't help but wonder what could be happening within their halls that they would foolishly neglect everything else.
Sotenbori
From the hazard zone of Sotenbori, things are more or less the same as before. Remnants and splinters of the crime syndicate that once ruled the zone are still fighting one another to be the true successor of their predecessor, even if their 'kingdom' has long since been turned to ash.
Like before, none of them has the upper hand and will likely stay that way without outside intervention.
Wily Corp
[] Crackdown on Rebels
In the past few years, Wily Corp has taken an increasingly aggressive stance against their lessors, and have seized control of multiple zones from their previous rulers in a series of "corporate takeovers". Naturally, many residents are resistant when a regime change occurs, and what defiance there is must be stamped out. Which is what the savior of Humanity, Albert Wily, intends to do. From Wily Corp HQ, he has ordered the deployment of additional Joe police units to his latest acquisitions under the pretext of restoring order
However, Wily has underestimated the newest crop of rebel elements, who continue to slip out of his grasp in a game of persian and pikachu. They've managed to resupply themselves with a cache of pre-Crash weaponry, using the discontinued solid ammunition rifles and early zappers to dispatch Wily's bioroid enforcers.
While this incident has not resulted in further unrest, it does not go unnoticed. It is unlikely that Uncle Albert will bear this embarrassment for much longer. It's easy to guess what's coming; unless the situation changes soon, he'll deploy one of his Robot Masters to lay waste to his opposition, no matter the cost.
Robodyne
[] Unveil the Metal Series
Addressing the rising unrest in Robodyne's own zones, as well as rumors of a "blue blur" causing havoc on South Island, Doctor Robotnik unveiled the next stage of Badnik development.
Dubbed Metal 01 by its creator, the prototype is the first in a new series of hunter-killer super badniks to be deployed where SWATbots are insufficient. To demonstrate their effectiveness, Robotnik deployed Metal 01 off the presentation stage and eliminated several terrorist cells active in Spring Yard, with nary a scratch on its silvery surface.
The new Metal badnik, while only a test model, is already being hailed as Robotnik's answer to the Robot Masters. It's meant as a complement, though you can hardly imagine the genius behind RoboDyne has taken the comparison as such.
Local Rumors
The Kanto Pokemon Federation Runs Wild
Local police forces struggle with a newcomer to Neo-Kanto. The Kanto Pokemon Federation, a coalition of various biker gangs and gang-affiliated trainers united in a "revolt" against any authority that tries to control them, have recently claimed Routes 7 and 8 as their domain. They've been harassing those who risk treading there, as well as those living in the outskirts of Saffron and Lavender. While Silph Co hasn't intervened just yet, they may soon feel the need to put their foot down and deal with the situation personally.
Celadon Hotel Files for Bankruptcy
The famous Celadon Hotel has finally gone bankrupt today, as its former owner announced the property would be put up for auction, along with several other items of note. Initially the district's most luxurious hotel that accommodated wealthy tourists, Celadon Hotel was hit immensely hard by Silph Co's restrictions to travel after the Pokemon Outbreak. Frankly, you're surprised it lasted as long as it did before throwing in the towel.
The auction will occur in the summer, and you personally received an invitation to participate. While you wouldn't have much use for a hotel, such a structure could be renovated for other purposes. Such a prominent business could go a long way to cementing your control over Kanto's economic heart.
Grimer Situation in Vermillion Worsens
Despite the sizable bounty offered for every Grimer captured, Vermillion City continues to struggle against the purple tide. Grimers continue to appear in larger numbers, with a few Muk sightings ending in would-be pest exterminators being hospitalized.
The municipal government is now truly desperate, and from your sources, it seems that if the situation doesn't improve within the next few months, they are going to request aid from the Ranger Union. The alternative would be nothing short of disastrous..
Battling in the Floral Lagoon
The "gym" novelty sparked by Brock's Gym in Pewter City now has another member in its ranks. At the end of April, the tomboyish scion of one of Cerulean's hydro-barons known as Misty has officially opened up her own Gym, using a renovated water treatment plant owned by her family as its location. Challenging any to defeat her aquatic pokemon, the reception of the new 'Misty's Gym' has had a more modest reception compared to Brock's, but a noticeable one nonetheless, with only a handful of trainers leaving with a water-drop shaped badge.
Upon being interviewed, the parents of the young gym leader have surprisingly stated their support for their daughter's new endeavor, supposedly hoping this will teach her the importance of responsibility and reliability.
With this being the second Gym in the last four months, it now seems almost inevitable that others will follow suit…perhaps that should be noted for the future.
I am pleased to report the renovations of our latest asset in Vermillion City are complete. It is now better suited to act as the Rocket Group's regional HQ. With Surge returning to duty, I will transfer command to him and return to your side at Celadon.
We have two confirmed leads on alternate avenues towards expansion outside of Neo-Kanto. The first involves the rocky tunnel outside of Lavender Town, which can be further excavated with the use of ground pokemon into the Pipeworks. However, unlike the Digglet's Cave, this section of the underground would be a complete unknown. The second option would be transit through the Seafoam Islands, which in recent months have experienced intense blizzards that make regular patrols by Silph Co difficult, if not impossible. Should we pursue this path, Rocket must procure a ship that can withstand the extreme conditions and do so without arousing undue suspicions. A shell company should suffice for our purposes.
Awaiting further instructions,
Administrator Ariana
---
You click off the latest message on your personal PC and turn back to the papers that had accumulated on your desk. They included monthly reports, recent discoveries, and suggestions from your officials in a neat stack. You start to go through them when a teal-haired grunt by the name of Midori enters your office. She was one of the personnel who had taken up Ariana's duties while she was in Vermillion City, and has performed those tasks admirably.
"Your coffee, sir."
Midori has also taken up tasks that were too minor to assign to Ariana herself. Perhaps you should hire a proper secretary in the near future. Taking the styrofoam cup in your hands, you analyze the array of opportunities that have arisen as of recent. You most stringently consider the ones in which your new intelligence asset would come into play.
"Go out and inform Copycat that I request her presence. It is time that we finish her orientation."
Midori remains passive by your desk, nervousness arising on her face.
"Copycat hasn't arrived yet. Sir."
You paused. "What?"
"No one matching her description has been seen entering the building. Or any other Rocket Group facilities."
Your eyes narrowed.
"Copycat was due to report in over an hour ago." It was suspicious. Were they intercepted? Betrayal was unlikely. Or was this a matter of simple negligence? "Notify our Saffron branch. If she is still out there, Copycat will be reminded of her duties and warned of the consequences for not fulfilling them.
"Right away, sir."
Midori turns to leave, when the last piece falls into place.
"One more thing."
Midori turns back. "Sir?"
You narrowed your eyes, attempting to conceal any sign that you were deceived.
"Did you know that Midori has a small scar on the back of her neck?"
The woman in front of you looks surprised, one hand going to her neck. Which was covered by the collar of the standard Rocket Group uniform.
"She does? How do you know she -- I mean I--"
You cut her off. You were impressed, but you were also irritated that you let anyone get this close to you that you didn't already intend to.
"In truth, I wouldn't know about a scar on her neck. But an unfortunate cycling injury in her youth left Midori with the preference to use her left hand over her right. You handed me the cup with your right hand, and the pokeball attached to your belt is on the right side as well. I hope that these rookie mistakes do not represent the full extent of your abilities, Copycat."
Copycat smirked, Midori's rigid posture and poise melting away in an instant. It was replaced with a more relaxed, lackadaisical stance.
"You got me with a bluff!" she said in a higher pitched tone. "As expected from the leader of Team Rocket!"
You feel your eye twitch. If Copycat got this far, close enough to mimic nearly every trait of one of your close aides, then she has to know how much you detest that childish name.
"What of the real Midori?" you ask calmly. "Harmed?"
This conversation was going to end very differently if one of your more useful subordinates was disposed of for what amounted to a practical joke.
"Nah. Not my style. I called her as Ariana and gave her the day off."
With that resolved, you let out an exasperated sigh.
"It was an impressive deception," you conceded. "Don't do it again."
Copycat visibly deflates. She takes off her black cap, which liquifies into a pink pool of sludge in her arms.
"Aww. Yes, sir."
Her Ditto lets out a sad burble.
With such antics, you're hardly surprised that they're wanted by Silph Co for charges of vandalism, theft, and industrial espionage. Would it be so much of a stretch to believe her Ditto was 'liberated' from one of Silph Co's labs?
"I am glad we have come to an understanding." You hand her the details of her first assignment. "Take this and report to the first floor."
"You got it!"
Copycat takes the paper out of your hands and leaves as quickly as she can.
"Impressive abilities, yet severely lacking in discipline,"you muse to yourself, bringing the cup to your lips.
Then, you stop.
"This is hot chocolate."
The laughter heard outside your door reminds you all too much of a mischievous Meowth that has gotten away with eating the Goldeen in the fish bowl.
New mechanic unlocked: Influence
Additional actions unlocked
'Copycat' added to the Hero Roster
At the start of this turn, I am introducing a new mechanic for the early game in Neo Kanto and (possibly) Johto: Influence.
Out of all of the initial choices, Rocket Group was the only one that lacked a zone they outright control, so to better represent this they now have to contest and compete with the actual rulers of the zone for Influence, a gauge that will measure who is the dominant power within the District and whose voice has the most sway on a scale from 0 to 100. Certain percentages of influence can also unlock some new actions to be taken, and if open hostilities break out between Silph and Rocket, it's a good way to measure which district will side with whom.
You mainly gather influence through one of three ways: Building up assets within the desired district, swaying notable locals to your side, or persuading local businesses and organizations to submit to Rocket; be it by words or by force. As Rocket has already engaged in certain actions that would fall under this, they have been accounted for and will appear in Rocket's starting influence meters. You can find this under the 'Items, Bonuses, and EXP Tracker' Informational.
Of course, Silph Co will take note of Rocket's rise and can take actions to suppress or counter it, resulting in a rise of their own influence at the cost of your own. Furthermore, certain districts have modifiers that permanently caps the minimum influence Silph Co has, severely limiting your options until said modifiers are dealt with.
With this, I hope the shadow war for Neo-Kanto feels much more like it's advertised to be!
ROCKET ACTIONS
[ ] Catch Wild Pokemon
DC 30/60/90
If there's one thing Neo-Kanto has in abundance, it would be wild pokemon. Any trainer worthy of being called one can catch a couple of pokemon for private use, but organized catching parties are required to collect scores of wild pokemon. To maintain the secrecy of these missions, Rocket can only mass poach around cities they have influence over.
-[ ] Celadon City Normal and Grass pokemon can be found here.
-[ ] Vermillion City Normal, Flying, and Water pokemon can be found here.
(Reward: Wild Pokemon are captured and sent to Rocket bases. The types, numbers, and rarity of the pokemon collected will vary by general area.)
Special: There is a Grimer swarm in Vermillion City!
[ ] Steal Pokemon
DC 50/70/100
Catching is a perfectly viable, if time-consuming, process to obtain more of them. Alternatively, you can have agents ambush unsuspecting trainers and take their pokemon for the Rocket Group's disposal. This will most definitely harm the organization's optics, though this can be outweighed by the potential benefits. It remains an option on the table, should capturing become unable to satiate Rocket's hunger for more.
(Reward: Rocket Group steals pokemon of a quality and quantity determined by the roll. If caught in the act, Rocket's public image will decrease.)
[ ] Discipline the Grunts
DC 65
The 'grunts' are the lifeblood of Rocket. A lifeblood that is currently more akin to a disorganized mob of thugs than the army of elite trainers you'll need to seize power. Before you can train them, you'll need to get this rowdy band of gangsters in line. Only then can you reforge this chaff into knives directed against your enemies.
(Reward: Grunts are disciplined. First step into creating a professional fighting force and finding promotable heroes already in the ranks.)
[ ] Purchase Watercraft
DC 40/75
With your presence in Vermillion City established, the next logical step would be to take to the water. In addition to facilitating a means for travel between coastal cities, the salinated sea around Neo-Kanto is home to several islands and countless water pokemon. Purchasing a ship for Rocket's private use and obscuring its origins would allow you to exploit these resources while staying off Silph Co's maritime radar.
(Reward: Rocket Group obtains a ship for covert maritime actions and capturing rare aquatic pokemon.)
[ ] Handle the Grimer Infestation
DC 50/70
Recently, a large swarm of Grimer have made the construction site around Vermillion City their home. Desperate, the city has put up a bounty for every Grimer caught. Send a team of 'concerned citizens' to clean out the area and obtain scores of poisonous pokemon.
The issue is beginning to reach its threshold for the municipal government. If Rocket wishes to exploit this opportunity then it should do so now.
(Reward: Grimers caught to either be taken or turned in for money, increase to public perception, increase to influence in Vermillion)
[ ] Engage in Philanthropy
DC Auto-Pass: The higher the roll, the greater the effects.
Even in this cynical city, you can win the hearts of the naive and foolish by merely performing a few acts of public charity. Write a few large checks, speak out against ever-present injustices, and generally present yourself as 'good' for a few months. This kowtowing to the people of Neo-Kanto is grating, but the benefits will speak for themselves if your leadership of the Rocket Group was to become public knowledge. In the worst-case scenario, a positive public image could make all the difference in how the masses respond.
(Reward: Increase in Public Perception. Can be taken multiple times, with diminishing returns.)
[] Now Hiring (Neo-Kanto)
DC Auto-Pass
The Rocket Group is always on the hunt for powerful trainers that Silph Co has yet to get under their own banner. Send out a few men to act as talent scouts and redirect those promising trainers to your subsidiaries. The cream of the crop will be funneled to your personal command.
In the past few months, you have already met several promising individuals and you still have many open positions in Rocket's upper hierarchy to fill, so it would be wise to reach out to them once again.
(Reward: Choice of several Heroes from the Pokemon franchise. The Rocket Group's PR at the time of taking the action will influence the pool of heroes and their starting opinion of you.)
(Due to last turn's critical, the next attempt to recruit will be autopassed)
[ ] Now Hiring (The City)
DC 75
Why stop at Neo-Kanto? The City is home to countless mercenaries, hitmen, and other characters of unsavory persuasion that could be enticed to make Neo-Kanto their new home away from home. Silph Co tries to restrict movement in and out of the region through their draconian laws, but by looking outwards you can guarantee they won't be tainted by local propaganda. Perhaps these foreigners will bring things to the table that you've never even considered.
(Reward: Choice of several Heroes from franchises NOT based in Pokemon. This is a potential grab-bag of random characters that can be found across the rest of 8-Bit Dystopia, with the roll determining the quality of the Heroes to choose from.)
[ ] Reach Out to the X-Syndicate
DC 110
At this time, only one group in the City will entertain the idea of meeting with representatives of the Rocket Group: The criminal alliance known as the X-Syndicate. Should you be able to reach out and convince the enigmatic "Mr. X" to hear you out, you could gain a powerful ally against Silph Co. One that doesn't play by their rules in the slightest.
You aren't such a fool as to believe any boons from Mr. X would be provided without strings attached. For every inch of Neo-Kanto they help you gain, the X-Syndicate will want a larger slice of the pie when it's won.
(Reward: Open communications with the X-Syndicate.)
[ ] Meet with Bill
DC ??
Even with a working prototype of the Trade Terminal, installing a large-scale "Trade System" and laying cables across the whole of Neo-Kanto would be prohibitively expensive. Never mind the complexity of the algorithms needed to keep up with the transfers without dropping "packets" and leaving traded pokemon in electronic limbo.
Enter Bill. A freelance computer savant, Bill single handedly developed a means by which large quantities of pokemon can be stored on hard drives. Bill's PC Storage System is an advantage Silph Co managed to hold on to during the scramble to clean house. If anyone can make the Trade System work, it's him. Meeting with Bill to propose he assist you in the development of the Trade System is as easy as walking into the Pokemon Fan Club, though finding which rare pokemon it will take to bait him into helping you is the hard part.
(Reward: Bill is contacted with a proposal to develop the Trade System. Regardless of what he asks for to make it possible, this action must be attempted once before trying to do it in-house.)
[ ] Will to Power: Part 1
DC 150
Surge forwarded you a rather interesting proposal. While he was recovering from his wounds, the lieutenant was made aware of a derelict power plant that had long since been infested by an overgrowth of foliage and swarms of wild pokemon. The plant itself was built shortly after the initial pokemon outbreak, a failed attempt to harness the abilities of electric pokemon for power generation.
With the previous owners missing, the plant is currently in limbo. By acquiring this all but abandoned property and collecting the electric pokemon that have inhabited it for our own purposes, Rocket's grip over Neo Kanto could be further strengthened.
(Reward: Deed to the Kanto Power Plant obtained, additional actions unlocked)
[ ] Reach Out to the Kanto Pokemon Federation
DC 80
A new gang has emerged along the routes surrounding Saffron City. They are known as the Kanto Pokemon Federation, a collection of biker clubs that have banded together due to a mutual interest in maintaining their independence and spitting in Silph Co's eye. Such a defiant group will be hard to play nice with, but they detest Silph Co far more than they do you. An alliance is probably out of the question, though you could send out a representative and rule out a mutual agreement that both parties won't hinder the operations of the other.
(Reward: Non-aggression pact with the Kanto Pokemon Federation established)
[ ] Buy a Secret Base
DC 50
Silph Co developed many wide, expansive bunkers over the years. Some were built in the event of an attack from neighboring zones, while others served to hide Silph Co's secret projects. Before Bill's PC, Silph Cop made several bunkers just to store pokemon! The company is attempting to sell these excess shelters off to anyone with the money to buy them, so why not generously take one of these "Secret Bases" off their hands?
(Reward: A Secret Base falls into Rocket Group's hands. Unlocks a subvote for which town it's located in. 5% influence to the selected settlement)
[ ] Open a Pokemon Academy
DC 65/80
Duration: 2 Rounds/1 Round
Ariana has recently approached you with a rather novel idea. Despite how prevalent pokemon training has become in Neo-Kanto, the region is lacking a formal institution to properly teach the newest batch of trainers the basics. You can change that by funding the construction of a "Pokemon Academy" for that explicit purpose. Sponsoring a school staffed by Rocket Group personnel would give you direct access to the next generation of trainers under the cover of being a respectable institution. Any recruits picked up from this program would be of a calibur above the current rank-and-file grunts.
(Rewards: A Pokemon Academy is built in Viridian City. This will significantly benefit public opinion and influence.)
Special: This action takes two rounds to perform if passed at the base threshold, and only one round if passed at the higher one.
[ ] A Gym of His Own
DC 90
The rise of public 'gyms' has caught the eye of many, the Lightning Lieutenant included. Surge has come forth with a request for Rocket's assistance in setting up his own in Vermillion. Due to the ongoing Grimer epidemic however, land for such an undertaking is sparse until it's resolved and Surge is adamant on Vermillion being its location. See what you can do with your connections; perhaps you'll be able to achieve results with your business acumen alone.
(Reward: Surge goes public with the establishing of his own Gym, +15 to Surge's loyalty, +5 Influence in Vermillion)
[ ] Supply and Demand
DC Auto-Pass
While Rocket's takeover of the underworld was smooth, it was not perfect. You succeeded, but your rivals saw fit to deny you their assets before fleeing, this can be remedied. It will just need to take a bit more effort. You have press-ganged the lesser members of such groups into Rocket. Send your interrogators to question them and determine what their previous employers peddled to the black market. Once you gain insight to what's on demand, Rocket can obtain their own supply and secure these lucrative markets for themselves!
There are few things worse than a vacuum however, and there will be others that can exploit this lack of supply, so you must be quick, lest this vacuum of commerce gets filled before Rocket can.
(Rewards: Rocket has a detailed overview on what's in high demand in Neo-Kanto's underworld, additional actions unlocked)
[ ] Investigate the Fighting Dojo
DC ??
Your conversation with Master Kiyo was enlightening. Apparently, his brother Koichi and his Fighting Dojo in Saffron City have fallen under hard times after a devastating encounter with "Her". A casual search has confirmed that Koichi is still running the Fighting Dojo, though the building has fallen into disrepair following the public humiliation of its formerly unbeatable master. The popularity of fighting pokemon in Saffron has also nosedived.
The broad strokes of this event are readily available, though the specific details are scarce. You couldn't find a scrap of information about the mysterious pokemon trainer who came out of the blue and tore the Karate Master apart. Rarely being one to accept a story on its face value, you are willing to investigate this tale further.
(Reward: Rocket Group gains information on the Fighting Dojo, Koichi, and "Her". Information on recruitable heroes may be obtained.)
[ ] An Ear to the Ground
DC 80/100
The purge of Rocket from Silph Co, while thorough, was not foolproof. There are several members of their regular staff who remain sympathetic to the cause of Rocket, those who were considered too inconsequential to remove at the time. Reach out to these individuals and convince them to act as your eyes and ears inside the company. They have much to risk from associating with Rocket, and much more to lose if caught in the act. Sympathetic or not, you'll have to bribe most of them to make the risk worth it.
(Reward: Silph Co will have higher DCs to target Rocket until these moles are purged. Silph Co action reports will be more detailed.)
[ ] Investigate Neo-Johto
DC 125
Rumors of wild pokemon being spotted in the neighboring Neo-Johto are spreading like the new species of pokemon themselves. Silph Co has tried to silence these rumors by putting roads to the Indigo Plateau and Mt. Silver on lockdown, but land barriers do little to stop the black, corvid pokemon who seemingly migrated to Neo-Kanto from the wrong side of the quarantine zone.
While it would be a difficult undertaking to get around their barricades, you want to get agents into Neo-Johto and out again with the unique pokemon of the neighboring region. Only then will you know if expanding into Neo-Johto is necessary to capitalize on this unique opportunity.
(Reward: Insight on Neo-Johto's current situation, and confirmation whether or not the rumors of Pokemon crossing into the zone is true)
[ ] Excavate the Rock Tunnel
DC ???
Ariana has seen fit to inform you of a tunnel by Lavender Town where the boundary between Neo-Kanto and the Pipeworks is tantalizingly thin. With the use of a few disciplined ground-type Pokemon, an entrance to the Pipeworks can easily be carved out by a few grunts.
This operation is much like the one committed in Diglet's Cave, while also carrying additional risks. This area of the Pipeworks would be completely undocumented. There will be no guarantees of where it leads, or what dangers could be lurking within. Tread carefully.
(Rewards: A route out of Neo-Kanto established, Smuggling actions unlocked, ???)
[ ] Pursue the Seafoam Lead
DC 85
Freak blizzards occurring around the Seafoam Islands have led to gaps in Silph Co's naval patrols around the eastern Sevii Islands. By having a squad brave the icy mists, they can exploit this opening and exit Neo Kanto with Silph Co being none the wiser. The adjacent zone accessible by sea is said to be one lacking a central authority that would take umbrage to your intrusion, making it a ripe target for expansion.
(Locked: Requires Rocket to have a seaworthy vessel)
(Rewards: A route from Neo-Kanto to ??? established, Smuggling actions unlocked, actions regarding zone of ??? unlocked)
[ ] Infiltrate the Kanto Pokemon Federation
DC 75
A recent power, the Kanto Pokemon Federation are still searching for new bikers to fill their ranks. Their requirements are stringent, to weed out posers and law enforcement, but not so stringent that an agent of your own couldn't infiltrate the group and report on their activities. Once they are seeded, these agents will serve as a foothold from which to take control of the Kanto Pokemon Federation from within.
(Reward: Rocket agents are inducted into the Federation)
[ ] Search for Mu-2
DC ??
The goal of the Mu-2 project was to make the most powerful pokemon in existence, with the strengths of all and the weaknesses of none. The result of this was the incident on Cinnabar Island. For their failure, the Rocket Group was removed from Silph Co with extreme prejudice.
Your scientists know the truth. You know the truth. Mu-2 was a success, greater than the feeble minds of Silph Co's board could ever hope to achieve on their own. The ultimate pokemon destroyed the facility and escaped to parts unknown, never to be seen again.
Search the region. Find it. Achieve ultimate power.
(Reward: ???)
[ ] Pokemon Research
DC 40/60/80
With the hideout established, you now have a centralized location where your experiments on pokemon can take place. There are so many things still unknown about these creatures and how to bring out their full power.
-[ ] General Research General lab testing on various pokemon to discern their attributes and expand your understanding of their properties. Results will vary.
-[ ] Trade Evolutions Expose pokemon to the "trading" process with various modifications and factors to see if other pokemon besides Graveler are affected by it. Costs 15 pokemon of each type.
-[ ] Breeding Observations Attempt to study pokemon breeding, which has thus far evaded external observation. Costs 10 pokemon of each available type.
-[ ] Write-In You may write a suggestion for what Rocket Group can focus their research on, pending QM approval.
(Reward: Additional insight on pokemon that may lead to additional benefits or follow-up actions.)
[ ] Develop a New Potion
DC 50
"Potions" are a fast-acting healing spray that heals pokemon at a rapid pace. They are cheap and effective for what they are, though your scientists believe they can make a superior product of their own based on the original.
(Reward: Development of the Super Potion)
[ ] Develop a New Pokeball
DC 50/70
While Silph Co retains the patent on the pokeball, there is an opportunity to make your own model with properties slightly different from the original. Or simply make a new, better pokeball. Your scientists would relish the opportunity to one-up their former bosses, and the new pokeballs would have unique benefits to assist in capturing wild pokemon.
(Reward: Creation of a Pokeball with unique properties.)
[ ] Develop Teleporters
DC 70
Instant and spontaneous teleportation has been a phenomenon that has long since been cracked by the more major Megacorps that reside in The City, so why can't Rocket do the same? Infact, Rocket Division had their own pet project on the very subject before the outbreak; a potential model that they called Warp Tiles. Perhaps it is time to dust off that project, utilize it for the betterment of its successor.
(Rewards: Development of Warp Tiles for Rocket bases)
PERSONAL ACTIONS
Giovanni has access to four personal actions, or one and a free reroll.
All other hero units have one personal action AND can be assigned to one national action
[ ] Train Your Pokemon
If Pokemon are tools, then it's only common sense to keep them in good condition. Set up a few mock battles between your Pokemon and increase their strength.
[ ] Train with Master Kiyo
Your training to become a competent combatant on your own merit still has a long way to go. Engage in another lesson with your mentor to further that goal.
[ ] Visit the Neo-Kanto Underground Market
In the slums of Center Kanto, there exists a market where people peddle various goods, from worthless nicknacks to rare Pokemon, the only constant on the merchandise there is how it was obtained. Perhaps you should take a visit and browse what illegal contraband is up for sale?
[ ] Go Hunting for Pokemon Personally
You must admit, you do feel a thrill in capturing Pokemon like a trainer usually does, a thrill absent when being given Pokemon by your subordinates, perhaps you should go out for a walk and search for promising Pokemon yourself.
[ ] Visit the Safari Zone
Or if you are willing to cough up the zennys, you could take a visit to the Safari Zone and capture a few in there. You would have a higher chance of the journey being fruitful, but it would still cost a pretty penny. (-2 Income)
[ ] Break Bread with One of Your Subordinates
While you have better things to do, a boss that takes a few moments to check up on their employees is a good way to assure said employees' loyalty. Pick one hero unit to spend time with, that unit will gain a +10 in opinion for the next three turns.
[ ] Shadow Your Research Staff
You are a proud man, but not proud enough to be ignorant of your own shortcomings. While you know what your scientists develop, you lack the understanding of the finer details of their research and how they achieve results. It is time to change this; take some time to observe their work, ask questions when necessary, understand what they do and become a wiser man for it.
[ ] Give one of your projects some of your personal attention (Costs 3 personal actions)
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] Resume Your Personal Projects
With the Hideout finally done, you find yourself with a bit of free time, perhaps you should use it to continue those projects you've put on the shelf since Silph Co fired you?
[ ] Train Your Pokemon
If Pokemon are tools, then it's only common sense to keep them in good condition. Set up a few mock battles between your Pokemon and increase their strength.
[ ] Take Public Speaking Classes
As much as you will despise it, with Rocket growing in both size and legitimacy, you'll be expected to work and communicate with those bratty kids and your peers alike, and heaven knows what other duties you'll have if Rocket goes public. Because of this, you'll need to work on your social skills to fulfill these future duties.
[ ] Raid a Silph Co Property
You despise your former employer how they turned their backs on Rocket,a scathing hatred that will only be satisfied with its destruction. While that dream is still far away, you could gather some grunts and wreak havoc on one of their properties in the zone as a way to relieve stress.
[ ] Accept Challengers at the Ring
You may be one of the higher ups at Rocket now, but that doesn't mean you'll shirk your duties at your other job entirely, people will think you're getting weak otherwise! So what better way to assure people of your strength than by knocking down some arrogant trainers and taking some of their zennys as punishment?
[ ] Train With Your Pokemon
You're one of the strongest trainers, you're sure of it, that doesn't mean you can't get stronger though, nor does it mean you can slack off. Put you and your Pokemon through a series of exercises that are bound to benefit you all!
[ ] Study Tactics
You're a soldier, not a tactician or strategist, but you're also the closest thing Rocket has to one so you're going to have to step up and shoulder that responsibility for now and not disappoint. A good starting point would be to hit the books, read up what you can on urban warfare strategy for the fights to come.
[ ] Play a Prank
There's not a lot to do around here when you aren't on missions, and they won't even let you play anything in the Game Corner above so you don't wither away from boredom! Hmph, guess you'll need to make your own entertainment. Surely the boss-man won't be too mad if you play a few harmless pranks on some unsuspecting grunts, riiiight?
[ ] Engage in Petty Crime Orrr maybe you could go out in town and engage in some devious behavior. Nothing that could balloon into something big, picking the pockets of some sleazy fat cats, shoplift a Poke Mart or two, or maybe use those graffiti skills you learned from those guys from Tokyo-To! Maybe that will satisfy your boredom instead!
[ ] Collect Pokedolls
Those that say dolls are for kids only are a bunch of chumps! No one can tell you what you can or can't enjoy, so you should continue collecting dolls! It just so happens a toy company just released a new line of Pokemon-themed dolls too! Maybe if you're lucky you'll find a Clefairy one, which would be almost as good as catching an actual Clefairy!
[ ] Try to Teach Ditto to Mimic Humans
Your Ditto can replicate any Pokemon flawlessly, but you do wonder something; what about things that aren't Pokemon? Can they mimic those?
Only one way to find out! Begin practicing with your Ditto and try to get them to replicate the human form as a starting point, that way they could potentially help in infiltration missions in the future! If you succeed, a whole new road of possibilities would suddenly open up for both you and Dittokind! Some people may have issues with a creature that can transform into them, but it's not like you'll be kicking off an invasion where Dittos begin secretly replacing people in your life, you know?
Ronnie threw a fist-pump into the air as the Pokeball confirmed the capture. He ran towards where the wild pokemon stood just a moment ago, his Ratata following behind, chittering all the way. Picking up the ball, he grinned. His third pokemon, and a Muk to boot! With this guy at his side, he'd be climbing through the ranks in no time!
"What are you so pumped about?" he heard a voice behind him ask. Turning around, Ronnie saw a familiar boy with light red hair approach.
"Yo, Scarlet!" he called out in greeting. "About time you caught up!"
"I would have gotten here sooner if someone didn't leave me to clear out a Grimer's nest by myself." Scarlet replied, causing Ronnie to wince.
"Look, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity!" Ronnie explained as he pulled out the pokeball to show to his friend, "And it was worth it in the end, check it out! You're looking at the proud owner of a newly captured Muk!"
"...Cool."
Ronnie's excitement deflated slightly at such a lackluster response.
"Really? That's all you have to say?"
Scarlet crossed his arms
"What else do you want me to say? Want me to remind you we're supposed to turn in anything we caught during this mission to the Lieutenant instead?"
"Don't be like that, man! No one's going to care if I take one of these slugs for myself, we're gangsters anyways, we're meant to break the rules aren't we?"
"Try telling that to the captain."
"...She doesn't have to know right now."
A tense silence fell upon the area, only broken by Rattata's chittering as it climbed onto Ronnie's shoulder. Scarlet let out a sigh.
"Fine, but don't expect me to come to your rescue if you get busted."
"Really?" Ronnie asked before breaking out a grin. "Yes! Thanks Scarlet, I knew I could count on you! Trust me, this bad boy will be our trump card to making a name for ourselves."
Ronnie walked up to Scarlet and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
"I promise ya this, before everything's all said and done, we'll be having dinner with the Boss at the top of Silph Tower as his best men."
"Still set on that dream?"
Ronnie shrugged with a cocky grin.
"It's either that, or we both end up in a cell at best."
- - -
Lieutenant Surge stared out at the entrance of the construction site with a frown. These two grunts had been too careless, too loud, and now this operation was starting to grab the attention of the locals. A crowd was forming around the unfinished sector to see what the fuss was about. He could explain the slip-up to the civvies, but now he was he going to explain it to--
Ring, Ring!
Ah, speak of the devil.
He pulled out his cell and raised it to his ear. "Surge here."
"Report." That was the only response from the cold voice on the other end.
Surge sighed. It just had to be the ice queen.
"Hey Ari." Surge casually remarked, knowing full well the boss' right hand is making a vicious scowl at that nickname. "The operation was a success… for the most part."
"Tell me what went wrong."
"Right, right. A few of the Grunts got a bit liberal with their Koffings using Explosion. No one got hurt and nobody died, but they triggered a partial collapse of the building."
"Noted," Executive Ariana replied. She went silent, allowingSurge to hear only her clacking away on a keyboard, "Was there any damage that couldn't be attributed to the Grimers' extended stay in the area?"
Surge thought for a moment. Blaming the caustic pokemon on the erosion of the support beams might do it.
"No, but the locals started loitering around the exit point. If the wrong person takes a picture of Rocket snooping around here, Silph might suspect something's up."
Ariana continued typing out something on her PC.
"I'll be taking command for the remainder of this operation. There's an alternate route our men can take through the sewers that I will relay to the captains, but I'll need you to distract the citizens until extraction can be completed. Are there any objections?"
"None from me, Ma'am," Surge responded. "I'll do what I can."
And with that, the line was cut, Surge looked out at the entrance again, the crowd seeming to have doubled since he last took his eyes off.
"Right, then. Showtime."
Surge walked up to the crowd, put on his shades, and told the excitable masses how his crew brought the swarm of Grimers to heel.
- - -
The report you received on the operation in Vermillion has painted the operation as a massive success, barring a few incidents.
A fair amount of the poisonous pokemon have been captured or otherwise removed from the site premises, reducing their numbers back to more manageable levels. With the threat to public health neutralized, Vermillion's municipal government has announced that construction shall resume in the coming months. Surge has successfully spun this as a community effort orchestrated by a few "concerned citizens" himself, earning the gratitude of the city. He's already been approached by the news for a few interviews.
All that's left for you to decide is what should happen to the captured Grimes. Should Rocket turn them in to Vermilion City to receive the bounty, or add them to their own reserves?
What would you like to do? Select one.
[ ] Turn them in (+5 Funds)
[ ] Keep them (+50 Poison-type added to Rocket's pokemon storage)
The Grimer situation has been resolved. Due to Surge's role in it he has become a local celebrity and gotten into the good graces of many of Vermillion's elites, cutting the DC of "A Gym of his Own" by half.
+10 to Public Perception
+10 Influence to Vermillion City
-[X] (DIPLOMACY) Now Hiring (Neo-Kanto)
DC Autopass
You return to the prior stock of prospective recruits, carefully analyzing their qualities and qualifications. They would all provide unique benefits to the organization.
…Except that Joey child. You aren't completely certain how he got this far into the interview process. Was his file placed in the wrong stack? Nevertheless, there are only so many positions within your inner circle, and you must be cautious not to introduce new members to it so quickly.
Now, who would prove to be the greatest asset to the Rocket Group?
Select one of the following. Heroes not selected now may become recruitable by other factions on subsequent rounds.
[ ] Joey
An exuberant young braggart who boasts his rattata is in the "top percentage of rattatas". He is a mediocre trainer with scant prospects outside of gangs or Team Rocket.
Being loyal and just smart enough not to question orders, the makings of a good soldier are present. Though it may take extra time for the positive qualities of this particular soldier to bubble to the surface.
[ ] Wilton
Wilton is the youngest of the "Fishing Gurus" a trio of pro fishermen who adapted their skills at angling fish to catching water pokemon. According to your recruiters, Wilton is tired of living in his brothers' shadows and is seeking his own success. He has reluctantly approached Rocket for opportunities to make a proper name for himself.
He is a middle-of-the-road water specialist, who uses fish pokemon such as Goldeen and Seaking in battles. His expertise lies in catching and raising aquatic pokemon, as well as business acumen that Rocket Group has been lacking since its split from Silph Co.
Wilton would make a fine asset as you expand into more legitimate sectors along the coast.
[ ] Eusine
An arrogant man in theatrical clothing, you were skeptical of Eusine's certifications as a pokemon researcher until you saw them yourself. While his credentials are real, Eusine has been shunned by his peers due to his radical theories on the origin of Mu and methods that have been criticized as bordering on pseudoscientific bunk. These claims have done little to hinder his quest for knowledge, but they have denied him funding from Silph Co or Blackthorn. Now, Eusine comes to you.
While unorthodox, Eusine can aid in Rocket's many experiments to unlock the true potential of pokemon. Provided you grant him the time and resources to pursue his own studies. Perhaps something useful will come out of them.
[ ] Karen
For a moment, you failed to see what made this trainer exceptional. Karen was a seasoned trainer, with the potential to be more with proper direction, but she appeared to lack the expertise any of the previous applicants had. You continued reading, and came across the part that drew your recruiters' interest enough to forward it to you.
Karen has in her possession the black corvid pokemon rumored to have migrated from Neo-Johto; the one that sparked the rumors of Pokemon in the neighboring region to begin with. She claimed to have an affinity for them, and would be happy to point Rocket in the direction of more if they would sponsor her future endeavors as a trainer.
A rare pokemon and a trainer in one? A rather tempting proposition. One that could become quite a boon against Silph Co if you come to learn the type and disposition of this pokemon before they can.
-[X] (STEWARDSHIP) Supply and Demand
DC Autopass
The order is sent out, and soon enough your former rivals in the criminal underworld are taken aside for further "evaluation". By the end of this review process, you gain a better grasp of what illicit industries they engaged in before their unfortunate upheaval.
Unsurprisingly, several of the gangs participated in the practice of poaching pokemon from restricted areas and trading stolen pokemon. Some groups, wanting to avoid a paper trail with registered pokeballs, abandoned them in favor of more archaic metal cages to contain their stock. Rocket already participates in this industry, though your reach can be expanded further if you can increase your supply to more profitable levels. The Pokemon Rangers are a manageable risk.
Drug trafficking has always been an inevitability with organized crime, and Rocket is no exception, though your hand in such substances is currently limited to the legal ones via your front company. Silph Co has restricted a wide number of narcotics from passing into Neo Kanto, leaving an opportunity open for you to exploit. Outside of creating a rapport with the customs agents, creating a new passage through the Pipeworks would be the ideal means by which to get these drugs (and their ingredients) into the zone.
Another major contraband is unregistered firearms, for which there remains a non-insignificant demand. There is a fair portion of the zone population who maintain a wariness for wild pokemon, justified or otherwise, and they seek means of protecting themselves other than training pokemon of their own. Several groups produce their own ramshackle variations of reliable blaster models such as the Zapper and Phaser, both for sale and personal advantage. You expect the market for these weapons to decrease over time, but never truly disappear. Not when a solid shot can harm most basic-stage pokemon and cause far worse injuries to other humans.
You are currently uncontested in any of these markets, though with the rise of the Ride Federation, that may change.
Additional Actions Unlocked
-[X] (INTRIGUE) Investigate the Fighting Dojo (Copycat)
DC ???
13 + 37 + 29 + 3 + 15 = 97
Bare Failure
Your frown deepened as you shuffled through the papers in your hands. Copycat had the courtesy to look embarrassed at the stumbling blocks she'd run into on her information-gathering mission.
"Let us go over this again. What were you able to find out about the Dojo's challenger? The one whose overwhelming victory devastated the Karate King."
You would want a trainer of such fearsome strength and prowess in your sphere of influence. Or at least, not in the control of Silph Co.
Copycat scratched her cheek.
"I tried to get a straight answer out of the witnesses who saw it, but they all said different stuff. Like, they think the girl was using like ten different pokemon, plus a couple no one's ever heard of. They also couldn't agree on basic details about what the trainer looked like. Was she young, old? Really tall or short? Some of them thought 'she' was a dude! Weird, huh?"
The intelligence of crowds was rather low, but this bordered on the farcical. The only thing they could agree upon was that Master Koichi was taken down, and hard.
"What of the dojo itself?" you asked.
"That's where I ran into another snag. The Dojo is a one-story building with only one entrance, and the Karate King's remaining students spend all day there. I had to switch to a new disguise as a reporter to try and get my foot in the door, but Koichi's not seeing any visitors unless they beat his students in a pokemon battle first."
"And that's when you withdrew."
"Right on the money. Couldn't risk my partner-in-crime getting roughed-up."
This was a frustrating road block, though the benefits of exploring this mystery further were obvious and substantive enough to make it worth pursuing still. Even if the mysterious trainer remained an enigma, Koichi was a formidable trainer in his own right. Assisting him in earning his revenge could earn you a devoted follower.
"Put the investigation on hold indefinitely," you say with finality. "If that's the game they want to play, then we will indulge them."
"Huh? You're gonna fight the Dojo yourself?"
"If it comes to it. You're dismissed."
Copycat scampered off, to receive her next assignment in due time.
You could confront Koichi's disciples, or you could access him by other means. Such as your personal instructor…
Investigate the Fighting Dojo" has been replaced with "Take the Dojo Challenge" as an action to pursue this mystery..
"Kiyo's Vouch" has been unlocked.
-[X] (LEARNING) Develop a New Potion (Ariana)
DC 50
74 + 13 + 28 + 10 + 6 = 131
Critical Success
Critical Roll: 88
Your research department has made an exceptional breakthrough. Seeking to shore up VPL's prominence within the field of pokemon medicine, you ordered Ariana and her staff to develop a stronger restorative agent than any others on the market. A sequel to the Potion. After months of trial and error, they produced not one, but two separate products.
The first was almost identical to the standard potion, in an orange hue. Simply dubbed the Super Potion, the formula is over twice as effective as VPL's current mainstay in regards to treating pokemon injuries. The second was not a liquid, but a solid, yellow gem. When absorbed upon contact with a defeated pokemon's skin, the downed pokemon instantly regains consciousness and is able to resume combat. This one is given the short, simple name of Revive.
You are quick to greenlight the production of both medicines. With a large marketing push and the inherent quality of the products, Super Potion and Revive fly off the shelves faster than a Pidgeot in a straight dive. VPL has now found itself at the forefront of Neo-Kanto's medical industry, and the introduction of the two products has been highly praised on all sides.
You allow yourself to enjoy this victory, and show your appreciation for the staff by rewarding them with a celebration at the Rocket Hideout near the end of May. All were welcome to attend, though Ariana slipped back into the labs midway through festivities.
The Super Potion and Revive have been developed.
Revive has been added to Rocket's Active Bonuses.
Annual Income has increased due to synergy with Giovanni's primary business of the VPL.
+15 to Public Perception.
PERSONAL ACTIONS
-[X] (Personal) (Giovanni) Give one of your projects some of your personal attention
-Handle the Grimer Infestation
See above.
-[X] (Personal) (Giovanni) Break bread with one of your subordinates (Copycat)
1
Wanting to learn more about your latest recruit and her pokemon of course, you arranged an additional meeting with Copycat to discuss ongoing developments, as well as a mock battle. Not only to judge her pokemon in battle, but her own capabilities under pressure.
When the date arrived, Copycat was nowhere to be found. Her Ditto had been found skulking outside the building outside the Game Corner by a grunt shortly after, holding a prepaid phone with one voicemail message. Concerned as to what happened to her, you had them play the message. The voice on the other line wasn't immediately recognizable, which told you half of what you needed to know right away.
"Hey dad! Cici here! I'm going to need to cancel our 'bonding time', because the Jennys here seem to have confused me for someone else."
You furrowed your brow in frustration. Copycat had been caught? For what? A misreported crime? A fluke? There was a high chance her call was being recorded, and therefore the amount of information she could provide under scrutiny was limited. The message continued, your new spy using misleading words to arrange what she was actually trying to convey.
"They're planning to stick me in here for at least a few months. It's probably a lot to ask that you bail me out, but could you watch my Meowth while I'm in here? I'd appreciate it."
You dismissed the grunt and returned Copycat's Ditto to the pokeball it brought along. Afterwards, you began making inquiries as to which false identity Copycat was using when she was arrested.
"This insolent child is proving to be more trouble than she's worth," you groused.
What do you do?
[ ] Bail Copycat Out Copycat gets out of jail and resumes her duties immediately. +5 Copycat Opinion. Costs 4 Funds.
[ ] Let Her Wait Copycat could use this time to reconsider her cavalier attitude. Giovanni gains access to Ditto for the next round while Copycat is in jail, though the shapeshifting pokemon will not obey commands unless the Rocket Boss is in direct danger.
-[X] (Personal) (Ariana) Resume Your Personal Projects
31
"Subject 17 has ceased brainwave function during the process of genetic manipulation. Cause unknown."
Ariana let out a sigh as she put away her most recent attempt. A barely audible sigh that scarcely rose above the roar of the party on the upper levels.
Fools. Ariana understood why her supervisor allowed this distraction to occur, but the reality of the Rocket Group was that their work was never done. Not until Silph Co fell for their hubris.
Ariana still remembered the day the Cinnabar Island research center went up in flames. The intense heat of the fires and smoke that burned the lungs. The sound of shattering glass and human screams cut short. The fear that gripped her as she watched the product of their labor rise through the smoking ruins of its destructive genesis, stared deeply through her, and then vanished into the far distance.
She would never forget that day. Or the hateful eyes of the god she had a miniscule hand in creating.
Following the incident, the chief genetic architects behind Mu 2 were nowhere to be found. Some have speculated that Blaine and Fuji were killed during its escape, in revenge for the pain the organism suffered under confinement. Others believe they have fled, in fear of future retribution wrought by the organism for the sin of its creation. Ever since Silph Co placed the area on lockdown and spun their web of lies surrounding the incident, it has been generally understood that their notes went down with the site.
"Subject 18's body has rejected cybernetic implementations necessary for the second stage of the procedure, and has been crippled as a result. Potions are ineffective for healing. However, application of the Revive compound successfully prevented Subject 18 from losing consciousness during the application step."
Silph Co only believed that they'd closed the book on that field of research because that was what those ignorant fools wanted to believe by stifling further developments. Giovanni sought her out because he knew she was there when it escaped, and that she had held on to the technical knowledge necessary to start anew. It was one scrap of a genetic enigma with a million pieces, but it was a start. Ariana continued her recording of the data she's thus far ascertained.
"These results do not at all align with those seen in Rattata's progenitor, Rattus norvegicus, leading me to believe the issue stems from the traces of Mu that linger in the pokemon's DNA. However, the brown rat was shown to be particularly fragile during initial stages, and as such I cannot be certain until I acquire alternative specimens. Results remain inconclusive."
Ariana set down the recorder. Nothing of value was achieved today, and she had to bitterly accept it. Tired and defeated, she departed the laboratory for the night.
-[X] (Personal) (Lieutenant Surge) Study Tactics
33
Old ranks and duties set aside, Surge considered himself to be more of a doer than a thinker. After all, actions spoke louder than words. Despite the recent success in Vermillion proving the point, Rocket couldn't bank their victories on all of their future opponents being as dim as those walking sludge piles.
Arranging for a few books and files to be sent his way, Surge poured over a small selection on the subject of urban warfare. He couldn't say how many of these were still applicable, as most of them were designed for cities on Earth and not the City itself.
There was still a lot of reading left to do. Once he finished, Surge planned to set up makeshift wargames with any grunts who looked like they weren't busy.
-[X] (Personal) (Copycat) Try to Teach Ditto to Mimic Humans
40
After its unexpected arrival to the Hideout, Copycat's Ditto has been left more or less to its own devices. The pokemon has been taking on strange shapes and performing unusual behaviors in front of a mirror. A trait picked up from its master, perhaps?
It bore some interest to you, though it was hardly your primary concern.
After all, there were still other plans to make.
-----
⏰ THERE WILL BE A 6 HOUR MORATORIUM AFTER THIS POST.
Across Neo-Kanto, on posters and commercials, the Ranger Union makes it known they're recruiting. Initially based around their HQ and the Safari Zone, Silph Co has greenlit an expansion to the Pokemon Rangers program, citing concerns about the rise in Pokemon poaching. A televised press conference would be hosted by the appointed Head Ranger, a man in a thick trench coat with dull, gray eyes.
"Poaching is a far greater concern than most realize," he said, flanked at each side by two uniformed rangers. "The very stability of our home is tied to the stability of the ecosystem!"
"As Rangers, it is our duty to protect both Man and Mon alike from everything and everything that would endanger this balance. That is the vow we all take, yet what can we do from Fuschia alone, as villains spit in the eye of the law across Neo-Kanto? Our current efforts are not enough. The Rangers must become the guardians for all of Kanto."
A pleasant speech to complement a web of lies. It's obvious to you that the shift in power away from Shift Co has gotten the board of directors antsy. Your own takeover of the criminal underworld and the rise of the KPF makes them scared. This is their response. The transparent lie that they have good intentions behind this recruitment drive is bought by many, and by the end of June, their patrols become increasingly common across cities throughout the region.
Silph Co gains +5 to actions in regards to combating criminal activity.
Kanto Pokemon Federation
Raid Bike Shops
On the other end of the spectrum, a wave of violence is felt across Neo-Kanto as the Kanto Pokemon Federation, incensed by a sudden spike in the price of bikes at several noteworthy shops, rode into towns and pillaged several popular bike stores. The ruffians took everything not bolted to the ground, and the shop most thoroughly victimized by the KPF was the popular bicycle shop in Cerulean City. Caught off guard by these bold, sudden strikes, law enforcement was unable to respond until after the damage was done.
Volt Electronics
???
Once again, your informants bring little information regarding the neighboring Zone of Pulse City, whose rulers remain withdrawn from the rest of the world for reasons known only to them, only this time Pulse City beginning to feel the effects of such arbitrary rule as its bureaucratic machine begins to struggle without proper direction and the zone's crime rate begins to rise.
Normally, this would have been an ample opportunity for the Rocket Group to expand its reach, unfortunately the route to Pulse City is also the most heavily monitored out of Neo-Kanto's exit points, primarily because of Volt Electronics being Silph Co's most valuable trading partner due to supplying them the vast majority of the electronic components that are used to make both Pokeballs and the PCs that dot the zone. Alas, you can only hope this stagnation continues to persist until you can find a proper way to circumvent this particular obstacle, likely by finding an entry point in another zone entirely.
Wily Corp
Crush the Rebellions
Doctor Wily has endured his embarrassment from the petty gangs long enough, and has now ceased pulling his punches. He has withdrawn his Joes from the most-contested zone and instead deployed DLN-006: Bomb Man. The heavy demolition Robot Master left a trail of destruction in his wake, throwing enough explosive charges to flush out the resistance cells in a matter of hours.
The property damage and loss of life from Bomb Man's assault was within acceptable norms, and the zone was now under Wily's control.
Robodyne
Renovate Green Hill Zone
Following damage sustained by an unforeseen high winds event, Doctor Robotnik announced his intentions to renovate Green Hill, the primary residential zone on South Island known for its unconventional architecture and artificial greenery. The extent of the refurbishments have been kept under tight lock and key, to the inconvenience of the locals, with large sections of the zone being closed off until the construction badniks were done.
After two months, Robotnik proudly reopened the zone with new bells and whistles, such as upgraded air filters shaped like palm trees and an additional penitentiary to replace those that were overturned by the wind. Robodyne has been silent on what exactly they would be doing to reduce the risk to the South Island from "extreme weather conditions", though badnik security has increased in the adjacent Marble Zone following the event.
Local Rumors:
Vermillion is saved by the Lightning Lieutenant!
After months of being plagued with poisonous pokemon, the Vermillion construction site has been cleared out thanks to the efforts of one Lt. Surge. Indeed, several news networks relay how the concerned citizen bravely entered the polluted area and did what a small army of bounty hunters couldn't. Surge was exhausted by the end of his many interviews, but his public image was shored up enough that he's considered a local hero to the community.
Experts are optimistic that Vermillion will be able to make a comeback from the setbacks caused by the Grimers. New businesses will inevitably rise to replace the old, though this event has led to light criticism being levied towards Silph Co for their inaction during the outbreak.
Unidentified pokemon sighted along Route 17
The story that has gripped the public this month involves the potential discovery of a new pokemon species. Sighted by a passing trainer, they claimed to have seen a red, slug-like pokemon with burbling skin and yellow eyes that used fire attacks. Since then, there have been more sightings of this "magma slug" around Route 17.
Ariana has confirmed that, much like the corvid pokemon disclosed to you by one of your new agents, this is a species that was previously unknown to the Rocket Group. Most likely a fire type. Was Silph Co already aware of it, and keeping its knowledge close to their chest?
Regardless, there is an opportunity here. You could easily send a few Grunts to capture this new strain of pokemon if you so please.
Percentage of unlicensed Trainers surges
Saffron City has published a new survey regarding the demographics of the current crop of pokemon trainers. According to the results, the percentage of trainers that have not been registering or documenting their captured pokemon has risen dramatically. While a trainer must be at least 18 years old to legally own a pokemon, younger teenagers and even children have been reported handling pokemon without any adult supervision.
Silph Co has not made any statements regarding these findings. They may either move to place harsher restrictions on young pokemon trainers, or remove the current barriers to tap into this younger demographic. Time shall tell. What is known is that several, Silph Co-affiliated Pokeball manufacturers were closed down on claims of negligence and corruption within the management.
Fuchsia City Fall Festival Announced for late October
For this year, Fuchsia City has announced its annual Fall Festival will be hosted in the final weeks of October. Originally designed as a way to maintain and celebrate the unique traditions of Earth cultures, the Fall Festival is an impressive combination of several different cultures into something distinctly new. As of recent, pokemon have been integrated into the celebrations.
You have little interest in the Fall Festival on its own, though these festivities are ripe opportunities to make connections with prominent figures, expanding your own personal network. Something to keep in mind for the coming months.
Next Turnpost is progress nicely, but IRL may have me occupied in the coming days, so have this for the time being: A map of Neo-Kanto proper in all of its urban, cyberpunk-ish glory!
This was done by the talented @Crosswire as a commission from me and displays the basic layout of the zone you're fighting for, enjoy!
Taking another sip of the swill that passes as coffee in this grease trap, you cast a disinterested glance at your stink-eyed subordinate across the booth. You had just left Saffron City's police department with your troublemaking underling in toe, and now found yourself trying to bear the early hours of the morning. Which was already difficult enough without your 'daughter' around.
"With the king's ransom I had to pay to secure your release, you're fortunate I didn't decide to let you rot. Do not take my generosity for granted."
Copycat opens her mouth to make a retort, but no words come out. She resigns herself to pouting instead.
"Wow, you are a horrible father." Copycat says before tilting her head. "Huh… Actually, do you have kids? You seem to be around that age."
"I don't see how such information would assist in your duties to my organization."
She crosses her arms.
"Can't I just be a little curious about my employer, beyond the unbeatable superman the grunts think he is?"
Before you can respond, a bell rings as someone new enters the restaurant. Turning your attention towards the entrance, you see a figure in a black jacket and yellow tank top adjusting their jacket slightly as if they were cold. Pale blue hair conceals the majority of her face from where you're seated, but you do note a pair of silvery-blue eyes glance over the other faces in the establishment until they fall onto you and your employee.
A rising star in the realm of pokemon battling, at least by her own reckoning. She began to approach. Putting on your most disarming smile, you set your coffee aside and rise from the booth.
"Karen, I presume." Not a question, but a statement. "I must say it's a pleasure to finally meet the capable trainer we have heard so much about."
She looks at you for a few moments, as if analyzing you, before speaking.
"How flattering. I'm guessing you two are the ones I'm supposed to be meeting?"
You nod.
"Correct. We had an ordeal to resolve here in Saffron, and saw an opportunity to kill Pidgeys with one stone, considering your status as a Saffron resident." You offer your hand, "Giovanni."
She clasps that hand with one of her own in a handshake.
"Nice to meet you. And the kid would be…?"
"First, I'm not a kid." Copycat retorts as she crosses her arms. "Second, you can call me CC for now. I'm going to let my boss do the talking, so don't mind me."
She turns her attention back towards you, ignoring Copycat.
"How about we get started with my orientation?"
You motion towards Copycat to get ready to move out.
"Before anything else, there is one thing I want to personally verify. Let's take this outside."
You note some reluctance from Karen, as the unknown pokemon is her major trump card. Without it, she was only one ace trainer out of a sea of them. After a moment of hesitation, she ultimately agrees to your order with a nod, and you all exit the Burger Time to the alley behind it. When you're certain that you're away from prying eyes, Karen pulls out a pokeball and reveals a pokemon that you've never seen before.
It's a short, avian creature, barely over a foot tall when one counts the tuft of feathers sticking out of his head like a fedora. The whole bird is covered in those same black feathers, save for the skinny yellow legs and crooked beak. The pokemon looks around the foreign area in confusion, tilting its head slightly in your direction as it did so. You can determine at a glance that the creature's red eyes hold a tinge of curiosity, and more intelligence than most pokemon seemed capable of. When you no longer hold its interest, the corvid flaps up onto Karen's shoulder.
"Impressive, isn't he?" Karen says with a slight smirk, as she begins to scratch the corvid's chin. "I call it a Murkrow."
"They are certainly intriguing," you say. "What typing is it?"
"Not sure," Karen replies. "She's at definitely part Flying, and one of the moves she had when I caught her was Night Shade."
"Flying and ghost?" you venture.
"Maybe," Karen says, less certain. Her resolve to see this through, however, is resolute. "Whatever typing she is, I'm going pro with her and the rest of my team."
A Gloom, an Eevee, and now a Murkrow. Though Karen is hardly a specialized trainer, the recordings of her battles you've secured mark her as a formidable fighter. Rather than hone in on a specific type, as is often common for a variety of reasons, Karen's team specializes on inflicting status conditions to browbeat and enfeeble their opponents before going in for the kill.
"An ascension to the top ranks of battling renown that the Rocket Group would be more than happy to sponsor… provided that you can tell us where you found this Murkrow."
She gives you an appraising look, until she's convinced that you aren't the sort to stab her in the back and take the Murkcrows for yourself.
Leaving a prospective asset high and dry for someone else to take? It wasn't in your nature.
"This one was just one member of a murder that nested in a patch of foliage a good way off of Route 7. They flew in from Johto."
"You'd stake your future career on this being the truth?"
"Yeah. Ever since I saw them migrating over Mt. Silver, and knew there was something special about them. And that I had to take one for myself." She places a hand on her hip. "Anything else?"
"No, that will suffice." You respond with a smile. "I have seen enough. Welcome to Rocket."
Public Perception demerit due to the Diglett Cave debacle has worn off!
Unlockables Unlocked!
ROCKET ACTIONS
[ ] Catch Wild Pokemon
DC 30/60/90
If there's one thing Neo-Kanto has in abundance, it would be wild pokemon. Any trainer worthy of being called one can catch a couple of pokemon for private use, but organized catching parties are required to collect scores of wild pokemon. To maintain the secrecy of these missions, Rocket can only mass poach around cities they have influence over.
-[ ] Celadon City
Normal and Grass pokemon can be found here.
-[ ] Vermillion City
Normal, Flying, and Water pokemon can be found here.
(Reward: Wild Pokemon are captured and sent to Rocket bases. The types, numbers, and rarity of the pokemon collected will vary by general area.)
[ ] Steal Pokemon
DC 50/70/100
Catching is a perfectly viable, if time-consuming, process to obtain more of them. Alternatively, you can have agents ambush unsuspecting trainers and take their pokemon for the Rocket Group's disposal. This will most definitely harm the organization's optics, though this can be outweighed by the potential benefits. It remains an option on the table, should capturing become unable to satiate Rocket's hunger for more.
(Reward: Rocket Group steals pokemon of a quality and quantity determined by the roll. If caught in the act, Rocket's public image will decrease.)
[ ] Discipline the Grunts
DC 65
The 'grunts' are the lifeblood of Rocket. A lifeblood that is currently more akin to a disorganized mob of thugs than the army of elite trainers you'll need to seize power. Before you can train them, you'll need to get this rowdy band of gangsters in line. Only then can you reforge this chaff into knives directed against your enemies.
(Reward: Grunts are disciplined. First step into creating a professional fighting force and finding promotable heroes already in the ranks.)
[ ] Purchase Watercraft
DC 40/75
With your presence in Vermillion City established, the next logical step would be to take to the water. In addition to facilitating a means for travel between coastal cities, the salinated sea around Neo-Kanto is home to several islands and countless water pokemon. Purchasing a ship for Rocket's private use and obscuring its origins would allow you to exploit these resources while staying off Silph Co's maritime radar.
(Reward: Rocket Group obtains a ship for covert maritime actions and capturing rare aquatic pokemon.)
[ ] Take the Dojo Challenge
DC Auto-Pass (See Below)
Your investigation into the Fighting Dojo has hit a dead end due to the uncertainty of the events that surrounds its decline, leaving you with few options to pursue this mystery further outside meeting the Karate King face to face. One means to do so is to 'prove yourself worthy' and defeat Koichi's four students in a back-to-back brawl. It's as much an endurance run for the pokemon as it would be for the trainer. Beat them, and the Karate King will answer your questions. Then perhaps you can begin to unravel this mystery.
(Reward: You or the Hero Unit assigned to this action will take on the Dojo challenge over the course of several mini-interludes.)
[ ] Murky Skies
DC 55/70/100
As part of the agreement made with your newest recruit, Karen has provided Rocket with the location of where she found her crow pokemon, Murkrow. It's time to test her claim. With the location known, all you need to do is give out the order. Send out your men, and capture these pokemon for the benefit of Rocket Group!
(Reward: Rocket captures more Murkrows to use and study.)
[ ] Engage in Philanthropy
DC Auto-Pass: The higher the roll, the greater the effects.
Even in this cynical city, you can win the hearts of the naive and foolish by merely performing a few acts of public charity. Write a few large checks, speak out against ever-present injustices, and generally present yourself as 'good' for a few months. This kowtowing to the people of Neo-Kanto is grating, but the benefits will speak for themselves if your leadership of the Rocket Group was to become public knowledge. In the worst-case scenario, a positive public image could make all the difference in how the masses respond.
(Reward: Increase in Public Perception. Can be taken multiple times, with diminishing returns.)
[] Now Hiring (Neo-Kanto)
DC: 45
The Rocket Group is always on the hunt for powerful trainers that Silph Co has yet to get under their own banner. Send out a few men to act as talent scouts and redirect those promising trainers to your subsidiaries. The cream of the crop will be funneled to your personal command.
In the past few months, you have already met several promising individuals and you still have many open positions in Rocket's upper hierarchy to fill, though it remains a question if they haven't moved on or been poached by others yet, there is no harm in reaching out to them once again. Of course, perhaps there will also be someone new who catches your eye...
(Reward: Choice of several Heroes from the Pokemon franchise. The Rocket Group's PR at the time of taking the action will influence the pool of heroes and their starting opinion of you.)
[ ] Now Hiring (The City)
DC 75
Why stop at Neo-Kanto? The City is home to countless mercenaries, hitmen, and other characters of unsavory persuasion that could be enticed to make Neo-Kanto their new home away from home. Silph Co tries to restrict movement in and out of the region through their draconian laws, but by looking outwards you can guarantee they won't be tainted by local propaganda. Perhaps these foreigners will bring things to the table that you've never even considered.
(Reward: Choice of several Heroes from franchises NOT based in Pokemon. This is a potential grab-bag of random characters that can be found across the rest of 8-Bit Dystopia, with the roll determining the quality of the Heroes to choose from.)
[ ] Reach Out to the X-Syndicate
DC 110
At this time, only one group in the City will entertain the idea of meeting with representatives of the Rocket Group: The criminal alliance known as the X-Syndicate. Should you be able to reach out and convince the enigmatic "Mr. X" to hear you out, you could gain a powerful ally against Silph Co. One that doesn't play by their rules in the slightest.
You aren't such a fool as to believe any boons from Mr. X would be provided without strings attached. For every inch of Neo-Kanto they help you gain, the X-Syndicate will want a larger slice of the pie when it's won.
(Reward: Open communications with the X-Syndicate.)
[ ] Meet with Bill
DC ??
Even with a working prototype of the Trade Terminal, installing a large-scale "Trade System" and laying cables across the whole of Neo-Kanto would be prohibitively expensive. Never mind the complexity of the algorithms needed to keep up with the transfers without dropping "packets" and leaving traded pokemon in electronic limbo.
Enter Bill. A freelance computer savant, Bill single handedly developed a means by which large quantities of pokemon can be stored on hard drives. Bill's PC Storage System is an advantage Silph Co managed to hold on to during the scramble to clean house. If anyone can make the Trade System work, it's him. Meeting with Bill to propose he assist you in the development of the Trade System is as easy as walking into the Pokemon Fan Club, though finding which rare pokemon it will take to bait him into helping you is the hard part.
(Reward: Bill is contacted with a proposal to develop the Trade System. Regardless of what he asks for to make it possible, this action must be attempted once before trying to do it in-house.)
[ ] Will to Power: Part 1
DC 150
Surge forwarded you a rather interesting proposal. While he was recovering from his wounds, the lieutenant was made aware of a derelict power plant that had long since been infested by an overgrowth of foliage and swarms of wild pokemon. The plant itself was built shortly after the initial pokemon outbreak, a failed attempt to harness the abilities of electric pokemon for power generation.
With the previous owners missing, the plant is currently in limbo. By acquiring this all but abandoned property and collecting the electric pokemon that have inhabited it for our own purposes, Rocket's grip over Neo Kanto could be further strengthened.
(Reward: Deed to the Kanto Power Plant obtained, additional actions unlocked)
[ ] Reach Out to the Kanto Pokemon Federation
DC 80
A new gang has emerged along the routes surrounding Saffron City. They are known as the Kanto Pokemon Federation, a collection of biker clubs that have banded together due to a mutual interest in maintaining their independence and spitting in Silph Co's eye. Such a defiant group will be hard to play nice with, but they detest Silph Co far more than they do you. An alliance is probably out of the question, though you could send out a representative and rule out a mutual agreement that both parties won't hinder the operations of the other.
(Reward: Non-aggression pact with the Kanto Pokemon Federation established)
[ ] Kiyo's Vouch
DC 160
Your investigation into the Fighting Dojo has hit a dead end due to the uncertainty of the events that surrounds its decline, leaving you with few options to pursue this mystery further outside meeting the Karate King face to face. While taking on their challenge would be the direct approach, your personal instructor, Kiyo, is Koichi's brother. His word would hold a lot of sway over the owner of the Fighting Dojo, provided that you can convince Koichi that your intentions are pure.
(Reward: You convince Master Kiyo to help arrange a meeting with his brother and bypass the Dojo Challenge)
SPECIAL: The DC for this action will decrease by 20 per every Karate belt Giovanni obtains
[ ] Buy a Secret Base
DC 50
Silph Co developed many wide, expansive bunkers over the years. Some were built in the event of an attack from neighboring zones, while others served to hide Silph Co's secret projects. Before Bill's PC, Silph Cop made several bunkers just to store pokemon! The company is attempting to sell these excess shelters off to anyone with the money to buy them, so why not generously take one of these "Secret Bases" off their hands?
(Reward: A Secret Base falls into Rocket Group's hands. Unlocks a subvote for which town it's located in. 5% influence to the selected settlement)
[ ] Open a Pokemon Academy
DC 65/80
Duration: 2 Rounds/1 Round
Ariana has recently approached you with a rather novel idea. Despite how prevalent pokemon training has become in Neo-Kanto, the region is lacking a formal institution to properly teach the newest batch of trainers the basics. You can change that by funding the construction of a "Pokemon Academy" for that explicit purpose. Sponsoring a school staffed by Rocket Group personnel would give you direct access to the next generation of trainers under the cover of being a respectable institution. Any recruits picked up from this program would be of a calibur above the current rank-and-file grunts.
(Rewards: A Pokemon Academy is built in Viridian City. This will significantly benefit public opinion and influence.)
SPECIAL: This action takes two rounds to perform if passed at the base threshold, and only one round if passed at the higher one.
[ ] A Gym of His Own
DC 45
The rise of public 'gyms' has caught the eye of many, the Lightning Lieutenant included. Surge has come forth with a request for Rocket's assistance in setting up his own in Vermillion. With the Grimer situation resolved, property prices in Vermillion at an all time low, and with Surge's part in ensuring that has endeared him to the population, including those willing to sell premium land at low prices to him as thanks.
(Reward: Surge goes public with the establishing of his own Gym, +15 to Surge's loyalty, +5 Influence in Vermillion)
[ ] Our 'Specialty'
DC: 65
Recently, Silph Co has shut down several Pokeball factories across Neo-Kanto and while most will be placed under direct Silph Co ownership, a few are being put up for sale, equipment and all. However, thanks to Rocket's development of the Net Ball, you have something that theoretically skirts around Silph Co's own patents. They certainly won't approve, but they will be powerless to do anything once the factory is in your hands without resorting to actions they are too cowardly to pursue!
(Reward: A Pokeball factory is obtained to mass produce Net Balls and future Speciality Balls)
[ ] An Ear to the Ground
DC 80/100
The purge of Rocket from Silph Co, while thorough, was not foolproof. There are several members of their regular staff who remain sympathetic to the cause of Rocket, those who were considered too inconsequential to remove at the time. Reach out to these individuals and convince them to act as your eyes and ears inside the company. They have much to risk from associating with Rocket, and much more to lose if caught in the act. Sympathetic or not, you'll have to bribe most of them to make the risk worth it.
(Reward: Silph Co will have higher DCs to target Rocket until these moles are purged. Silph Co action reports will be more detailed.)
[ ] Investigate Neo-Johto
DC 125
Rumors of wild pokemon being spotted in the neighboring Neo-Johto are spreading like the new species of pokemon themselves. Silph Co has tried to silence these rumors by putting roads to the Indigo Plateau and Mt. Silver on lockdown, but land barriers do little to stop the black, corvid pokemon who seemingly migrated to Neo-Kanto from the wrong side of the quarantine zone. While it would be a difficult undertaking to get around their barricades, you want to get agents into Neo-Johto and out again with the unique pokemon of the neighboring region. Only then will you know if expanding into Neo-Johto is necessary to capitalize on this unique opportunity.
(Reward: Insight on Neo-Johto's current situation, and confirmation whether or not the rumors of Pokemon crossing into the zone is true)
[ ] Excavate the Rock Tunnel
DC ???
Ariana has seen fit to inform you of a tunnel by Lavender Town where the boundary between Neo-Kanto and the Pipeworks is tantalizingly thin. With the use of a few disciplined ground-type Pokemon, an entrance to the Pipeworks can easily be carved out by a few grunts.
This operation is much like the one committed in Diglet's Cave, while also carrying additional risks. This area of the Pipeworks would be completely undocumented. There will be no guarantees of where it leads, or what dangers could be lurking within. Tread carefully.
(Rewards: A route out of Neo-Kanto established, Smuggling actions unlocked, ???)
[ ] Pursue the Seafoam Lead
DC 85
Freak blizzards occurring around the Seafoam Islands have led to gaps in Silph Co's naval patrols around the eastern Sevii Islands. By having a squad brave the icy mists, they can exploit this opening and exit Neo Kanto with Silph Co being none the wiser. The adjacent zone accessible by sea is said to be one lacking a central authority that would take umbrage to your intrusion, making it a ripe target for expansion.
(Rewards: A route from Neo-Kanto to ??? established, Smuggling actions unlocked, actions regarding zone of ??? unlocked)
LOCKED: Requires Rocket to have a seaworthy vessel
[ ] Infiltrate the Kanto Pokemon Federation
DC 75
A recent power, the Kanto Pokemon Federation are still searching for new bikers to fill their ranks. Their requirements are stringent, to weed out posers and law enforcement, but not so stringent that an agent of your own couldn't infiltrate the group and report on their activities. Once they are seeded, these agents will serve as a foothold from which to take control of the Kanto Pokemon Federation from within.
(Reward: Rocket agents are inducted into the Federation)
[ ] Treasure Down the Pipes
DC 75
The vast majority of The City's narcotics come from one source: The Pipeworks. Many strange and foreign substances are said to grow within those dark tunnels; from oversized mushrooms that strengthen the body to bright red flowers that cause fire to erupt from your fingertips. These abnormal properties combined with their addictive ones has ensured their high demand across The City and the drug industry has never thrived more. Yet, Neo-Kanto itself has been mostly spared from the trade due to its isolation, with only a few desperate smuggler rings willing to take the immense risk to bring them into the Zone. With your wider array of resources however, you can take greater advantage of this untapped market than they ever could and potentially secure a very lucrative market to Rocket's benefit.
(Reward: Rocket develops a smuggling network to insert Piperwork-based narcotics into Neo-Kanto.)
LOCKED: Requires access to the Pipeworks
[ ] Power Up
DC 90/110
…There are a few exceptions, one of which are Power Pellets. It is known to be a powerful anti-anxiety drug that also increases the focus of the consumer, making it a god-send for high-stress jobs within the City and a cheap way for gunmen to improve their aim. It is also rather addictive and possesses side effects… abnormal appetite, intense paranoia, and even hallucinations. Unlike most other popular narcotics , the ingredients used to make Power Pellets all come from the Outlands. You'll have to get creative, have several of Rocket's fronts import an individual ingredient each and perhaps bribe custom agents to look the other way as to avoid suspicion, but doing so may prove to be less difficult than any alternatives in the long run while still having a wide market of potential consumers.
(Reward: Rocket begins to develop Power Pellets.)
[ ] Pokesmuggling
DC 40
It's time for Rocket to take control of what rightfully belongs to them and become the sole distributor of unauthorized pokemon across the Zone, utilizing Rocket's stores of captured pokemon to exploit the current vacuum and outright monopolize the trade outright! The hard part will be maintaining the monopoly. In order to placate demand, Rocket will undoubtedly need to commit a greater amount of resources so their control remains unchallenged and could prove to be a strain if the proper measures aren't taken to make up the loss.
(Reward: Rocket dominates the illegal Pokemon trade and reaps the benefits, at the cost of 5 pokemon in storage every turn)
[ ] Slug Trail
DC ???
Last month, rumors about a slug-like pokemon around Route 17 began to surface. Consulting your experts, there is no such pokemon whose description matches this mysterious creature. The Cycling Road is not far from Celadon and there's low risk in sending out a squad of grunts to look for this pokemon and capture it for Rocket's benefit, and the quicker you do so, the less chance there is for Silph Co to rob you of this opportunity. All pokemon belong to Rocket in the end, and you will be damned if you allow Silph to get ahead of you in this.
(Reward: You capture the unknown slug pokemon)
[ ] Search for Mu-2
DC ??
The goal of the Mu-2 project was to make the most powerful pokemon in existence, with the strengths of all and the weaknesses of none. The result of this was the incident on Cinnabar Island. For their failure, the Rocket Group was removed from Silph Co with extreme prejudice.
Your scientists know the truth. You know the truth. Mu-2 was a success, greater than the feeble minds of Silph Co's board could ever hope to achieve on their own. The ultimate pokemon destroyed the facility and escaped to parts unknown, never to be seen again.
Search the region. Find it. Achieve ultimate power.
(Reward: ???)
[ ] Pokemon Research
DC 40/60/80
With the hideout established, you now have a centralized location where your experiments on pokemon can take place. There are so many things still unknown about these creatures and how to bring out their full power.
-[ ] General Research
General lab testing on various pokemon to discern their attributes and expand your understanding of their properties. Results will vary.
-[ ] Trade Evolutions
Expose pokemon to the "trading" process with various modifications and factors to see if other pokemon besides Graveler are affected by it. Costs 15 pokemon of each type.
-[ ] Breeding Observations
Attempt to study pokemon breeding, which has thus far evaded external observation. Costs 10 pokemon of each available type.
-[ ] Write-In
You may write a suggestion for what Rocket Group can focus their research on, pending QM approval.
(Reward: Additional insight on pokemon that may lead to additional benefits or follow-up actions.)
[ ] Develop a New Potion
DC 75
While the Super Potion is already a vast improvement over its predecessor, there is still room for improvement. Your scientists may have possibly reached the extent on what they can do through traditional medicinal practices, that just means its time to begin thinking outside of the box and resort to more unorthodox and untested methods to ensure Rocket remains at the top of the medical field.
(Reward: Development of the Hyper Potion)
[ ] Develop a New Pokeball
DC 50/70
While Silph Co retains the patent on the pokeball, there is an opportunity to make your own model with properties slightly different from the original. Or simply make a new, better pokeball. Your scientists would relish the opportunity to one-up their former bosses, and the new pokeballs would have unique benefits to assist in capturing wild pokemon.
(Reward: Creation of a Pokeball with unique properties.)
[ ] Develop Teleporters
DC 70
Instant and spontaneous teleportation has been a phenomenon that has long since been cracked by the more major Megacorps that reside in The City, so why can't Rocket do the same? Infact, Rocket Division had their own pet project on the very subject before the outbreak; a potential model that they called Warp Tiles. Perhaps it is time to dust off that project, utilize it for the betterment of its successor.
(Rewards: Development of Warp Tiles for Rocket bases)
[ ] Beam them Up
DC 60/80
Surprisingly, Neo-Kanto has a considerable demand for firearms, and with Rocket's dominance over the underworld, you doubt anyone will step in to fill it soon. All Rocket must do is to find out how to make the weaponry itself, surely a trivial task for the scientists and engineers of Rocket, even if its beyond their usual projects. Even if the demand were to dry up, there wouldn't be any harm to equipping your grunts with some protection beyond the pokemon they carry.
(Reward: Rocket develops their own, laser-based firearm)
PERSONAL ACTIONS
Giovanni has access to four personal actions, or one and a free reroll.
All other hero units have one personal action AND can be assigned to one national action
[ ] Train Your Pokemon
If Pokemon are tools, then it's only common sense to keep them in good condition. Set up a few mock battles between your Pokemon and increase their strength.
[ ] Train with Master Kiyo
Your training to become a competent combatant on your own merit still has a long way to go. Engage in another lesson with your mentor to further that goal.
[ ] Visit the Neo-Kanto Underground Market
In the slums of Center Kanto, there exists a market where people peddle various goods, from worthless nicknacks to rare Pokemon, the only constant on the merchandise there is how it was obtained. Perhaps you should take a visit and browse what illegal contraband is up for sale?
[ ] Go Hunting for Pokemon Personally
You must admit, you do feel a thrill in capturing Pokemon like a trainer usually does, a thrill absent when being given Pokemon by your subordinates, perhaps you should go out for a walk and search for promising Pokemon yourself.
[ ] Visit the Safari Zone
Or if you are willing to cough up the zennys, you could take a visit to the Safari Zone and capture a few in there. You would have a higher chance of the journey being fruitful, but it would still cost a pretty penny. (-2 Funds)
[ ] Break Bread with One of Your Subordinates
While you have better things to do, a boss that takes a few moments to check up on their employees is a good way to assure said employees' loyalty. Pick one hero unit to spend time with, that unit will gain a +10 in opinion for the next three turns.
[ ] Shadow Your Research Staff
You are a proud man, but not proud enough to be ignorant of your own shortcomings. While you know what your scientists develop, you lack the understanding of the finer details of their research and how they achieve results. It is time to change this; take some time to observe their work, ask questions when necessary, understand what they do and become a wiser man for it.
[ ] Attend the Celadon Hotel Auction
A few months ago you received an invitation to attend the auction of the Celadon Hotel, a once-prominent business that had been indecline ever since the lockdown of Neo-Kanto, and now that auction is coming up. Celadon Hotel, a sprawling and luxurious hotel on the southwestern section of the city, could potentially be useful in solidifying Rocket's grasp over Neo-Kanto's economic heart…that is, if you win the auction.
Besides that, the auction also offers several items of note from the former owner's personal collection to their highest bidder: A case containing several of the strange stones found typically around the Pewter area, an antique submachine gun said to have been owned by a war hero known as William J. Blazkowicz, and an ancient Hylian stone art piece depicting some sort of legend. All interesting trinkets, but whether or not they'll be worth your spending a considerable fortune on is left to be determined.
SPECIAL: This action will only be available during this turn.
[ ] Give one of your projects some of your personal attention (Costs 3 personal actions)
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] Resume Your Personal Projects
With the Hideout finally done, you find yourself with a bit of free time, perhaps you should use it to continue those projects you've put on the shelf since Silph Co fired you?
[ ] Train Your Pokemon
If Pokemon are tools, then it's only common sense to keep them in good condition. Set up a few mock battles between your Pokemon and increase their strength.
[ ] Take Public Speaking Classes
As much as you will despise it, with Rocket growing in both size and legitimacy, you'll be expected to work and communicate with those bratty kids and your peers alike, and heaven knows what other duties you'll have if Rocket goes public. Because of this, you'll need to work on your social skills to fulfill these future duties.
[ ] Raid a Silph Co Property
You despise your former employer how they turned their backs on Rocket,a scathing hatred that will only be satisfied with its destruction. While that dream is still far away, you could gather some grunts and wreak havoc on one of their properties in the zone as a way to relieve stress.
[ ] Accept Challengers at the Ring
You may be one of the higher ups at Rocket now, but that doesn't mean you'll shirk your duties at your other job entirely, people will think you're getting weak otherwise! So what better way to assure people of your strength than by knocking down some arrogant trainers and taking some of their zennys as punishment?
[ ] Train With Your Pokemon
You're one of the strongest trainers, you're sure of it, that doesn't mean you can't get stronger though, nor does it mean you can slack off. Put you and your Pokemon through a series of exercises that are bound to benefit you all!
[ ] Study Tactics
You're a soldier, not a tactician or strategist, but you're also the closest thing Rocket has to one so you're going to have to step up and shoulder that responsibility for now and not disappoint. A good starting point would be to hit the books, read up what you can on urban warfare strategy for the fights to come.
[ ] Play a Prank
There's not a lot to do around here when you aren't on missions, and they won't even let you play anything in the Game Corner above so you don't wither away from boredom! Hmph, guess you'll need to make your own entertainment. Surely the boss-man won't be too mad if you play a few harmless pranks on some unsuspecting grunts, riiiight?
[ ] Engage in Petty Crime
Orrr maybe you could go out in town and engage in some devious behavior. Nothing that could balloon into something big, picking the pockets of some sleazy fat cats, shoplift a Poke Mart or two, or maybe use those graffiti skills you learned from those guys from Tokyo-To! Maybe that will satisfy your boredom instead!
[ ] Collect Pokedolls
Those that say dolls are for kids only are a bunch of chumps! No one can tell you what you can or can't enjoy, so you should continue collecting dolls! It just so happens a toy company just released a new line of Pokemon-themed dolls too! Maybe if you're lucky you'll find a Clefairy one, which would be almost as good as catching an actual Clefairy!
[ ] Try to Teach Ditto to Mimic Humans
Your Ditto can replicate any Pokemon flawlessly, but you do wonder something; what about things that aren't Pokemon? Can they mimic those?
Only one way to find out! Begin practicing with your Ditto and try to get them to replicate the human form as a starting point, that way they could potentially help in infiltration missions in the future! If you succeed, a whole new road of possibilities would suddenly open up for both you and Dittokind! Some people may have issues with a creature that can transform into them, but it's not like you'll be kicking off an invasion where Dittos begin secretly replacing people in your life, you know?
[ ] Train your Pokemon
Strong pokemon, weak pokemon… to you, those are only perceptions of selfish people, a true trainer should know that any pokemon can become strong when its trainer knows how to utilize them, and you are not arrogant enough to think you understand your companions completely. Engage in a few spars, have them learn as you learn more of them by witnessing their battles.
[ ] Have Rocket Study Murkrow
Your 'ace' has gained the attention of Rocket and it was because of your crow-like friend that Rocket decided to sponsor your trainer career. It is without question if Rocket Group's scientists will want to run trials on them, rather it's a question of when. You're fine with that, otherwise you would have never approached Rocket to begin with. There's many things you don't know about your ace yourself and you may actually come out as a better pair by learning more of the pokemon. So long as those scientists don't try ruffle her feathers too much in their quest for knowledge.
[ ] Challenge Trainers
As Pokemon battles become more common and accepted within Kanto society, you would be a fool not to engage in the practice if you want to make a name for yourself. See if there's any members of Rocket that seem like a good battle or, failing that, waiting alongside the routes for passing trainers and challenge any that cross your way!
[ ] Explore Neo-Kanto
Despite its urban landscape, there are many areas of the zone hidden, teeming with potential of new discoveries. Dens of rare pokemon, unexplored caves with untapped wealth, green grooves passed by the Lemmings…those are all but a few examples of what could be beyond the cities and the routes, waiting to be discovered. Adventure should be the highlight of anyone's pokemon journey, and you do not intend to be the exception in this.
Hello again, it's me again to talk about a new addition to Rocket Quest! Introducing: Unlockables!
While Rocket Group has an overall objective, there will now be a few, smaller tasks or milestones that they could benefit from accomplishing while pursuing their main goal. Unlockables, in a sense, are achievements or milestones that will 'unlock' certain rewards once the requirements are fulfilled, with the rewards being varied depending on the requirements. Some Unlockables can be accomplished as an unexpected side-bonus, but others will require genuine effort and focus to pursue. Just keep this in mind incase any in particular strike your fancy and want to advocate pursuing it.
The current list of unlockables can be found on the first page or here.
You may note that a few are either partially or even fully hidden, this is intentional as a way mainly as a way to display immediate relevance, with the hidden ones thus far typically being around factors and requirements that Rocket are still a long way to fulfilling. As their relevance rises, more information on them will be unlocked.
Moving on, I am also making a small announcement regarding Omakes.
So far the only use for XP has been for EXP is for a flat bonus to Rocket Actions and before I professed my desire to expand on its use. Looking at my inspirations again, I believe I have found ways to do just that, if only moderately.
8-Bit Dystopia, by its nature as a massive crossover setting with just about every video game from the retro era of gaming means that there's truly alot of be covered, so much that a single author couldn't realistically cover it all, and it's doubly so due to 8BDD being still in development aswell. Because of this, I am putting in the addition that, for 650 EXP, you can 'Consult the Game Guide'
Basically, what this means is that you can ask me a question regarding the Quest or the setting as a whole and I will do my best to give a clear, concise answer to it, barring some restrictions…I won't be revealing where Mu-2 is or any of Silph Co's secrets anytime soon and so on, for what good game doesn't have a bit of challenge? In cases where I don't feel comfortable answering the question, the EXP will be refunded in full to be used on another question or used for something else.
Along with this, good quality Omakes that do not conflict with the Quest itself now have a chance of being ascended to 'Canon', meaning they are occurring in universe and may even provide some insight that could help determine future actions for Rocket itself!
That is all for now. I hope you all continue to enjoy Rocket Quest!
Apologies everyone for this embarassment, but the DC for Now Hiring (Neo-Kanto) was meant to revert to its inital DC this turn. I thought I changed that but reviewing the turnpost again reveals I, infact did not. It goes to show that I will need to be far more thorough before posting, as this is the second error that has occurred this turn.
It has been changed and checked everything else for any other mistakes (which, thankfully there were none) so this shouldn't happen again. However, as Now Hiring (Neo-Kanto) was the Diplomacy option for several submitted plans, I am extending the vote by a day incase people wish to change their selection in that regard.
I am very, very sorry about this, and I hope this doesn't affect anyone's enthuseiasm in participating.
ROCKET GROUP POKEMON DATABASE
ROCKETDEX ENTRY #04: GRIMER & MUK
#088 - GRIMER [POISON]
Sludge Pokemon "Appears in filthy areas. Thrives by sucking up polluted sludge that is pumped out of factories."
#089 - MUK [POISON]
Sludge Pokemon "Thickly covered with a filthy, vile sludge. It is so toxic, even its footprints contain poison."
INFORMATION: Grimer and Muk are masses of slime and industrial waste, descended from a curious species native to Princeps Dominae commonly called a Chu, and are pure poison-type pokemon. Handlers are to be warned to wear rubber gloves and wear a mask when working with Grimer, and should upgrade to more specialized gear when handling its evolution Muk. They typically eat the industrial waste and runoff of factories or similar structures and infest garbage dumping sites and sewers, using them as homes, food supply, and breeding grounds all at once. Grimer and Muk reproduce asexually and often spit out several new Grimer every few months, faster if in a spectacularly polluted environment. The exact conditions are hotly debated, with the most prominent theories being sufficient mass or sufficient concentration of poison in its being.
APPLICATIONS, CIVILIAN: As a method of waste disposal accept no substitute. Application of Grimer and Muk could reduce the amount of pollution expulsed by as much as 20%, so long as care is taken to make sure they don't worsen things by staying and turning the dump site into another breeding ground. Attempts at using their natural excretion in various medicines (at far smaller dosages) are ongoing.
APPLICATIONS, SPECIAL: Specialized operatives with trained Muk or even Grimer could devastate an organizations food supply for months or even years by simply releasing them into the targeted farm, hydroponics facility, or long term food storage area and letting it do what comes naturally. The taint of them passing is hard to remove and if subtle enough could lay an entire Area low with sickness and death. Simply leaving a specimen in some dark forgotten corner with ample access to trash can ensure a near indefinite infestation of Grimer and Muk if not detected early enough by local authorities. Their use in battle is also evident, as few pokemon will want to even touch the things and the scent alone could distract an opponent in the heat of battle at the right moment.
*We have not yet encounted a specimen of Grimer or Muk than can use the aptly named Sludge Wave technique alone yet. But we have received reports of irate groups of Muk using it in unison, to devastating effect.
. . . . .
"What? You want me to do another? Look man I'm about to get off of my shift and-
"..."
"-Look, I get I'm behind but still-"
"..."
"...Alright, whatever. What is it?"
"..."
"You're joking me. Wait, seriously? Oh God man I thought you were serious and I'd have to do a report on those fucking rats that keep chewing on the cables. Alright man I'll get this done quick."
"...?"
"Yeah yeah I know, I'll still put the work in. Not like there's a lot to say about it anyways."
"..."
. . . . .
ROCKET GROUP POKEMON DATABASE
ROCKETDEX ENTRY #05: MAGIKARP
#129 - MAGIKARP [WATER]
Fish Pokemon
"It is virtually worthless in terms of both power and speed. It is the most weak and pathetic Pokémon in the world."
KNOWN MOVES: Splash.
INFORMATION: A common sight in the waters around Neo-Kanto, they breed rapidly and in large numbers as they don't have the power necessary to compete with other wildlife. Fishermen consider them a nice surprise since most other water-type pokemon typically fight back after being caught.
APPLICATIONS, CIVILIAN: Collectors like the look of them in curated ponds. Parents of rich kids sometimes give them to their children as pets, but not often, as most are more enthused with more standard examples of pokemon, like a Ponyta, Jigglypuff, or the exceedingly rare Eevee. Their unusually thick layer of scales dissuaded initial attempts at being fished for food, but they now serve as a growing staple in the Kanto region, seeing as they still provide plenty of meat once the armor is removed.
APPLICATIONS, SPECIAL: To be blunt. It's just a fish. It might be a little stronger and tougher than the ones back on Earth, but there's nothing else worth mentioning that I can think of. I heard about some recent scams to unsuspecting trainers but I personally doubt that it can be upscaled to make an actual profit.
-[X] (MARTIAL) Take the Dojo Challenge (Lieutenant Surge)
DC Autopass
It's a cold night in Saffron City. One wooden building stands alone in a sea of neon. From inside, passer-bys can hear the shout of warriors and the storm of battle raging within.
The gauntlet has been thrown down, and the Dojo Challenge has been accepted. The battle begins.
To be continued in: "Saffron Showdown"
-[X] (DIPLOMACY) Now Hiring (Neo-Kanto)
DC 45
92 + 22 = 104
Critical Success
Crit Roll: 81
"Our recruitment efforts have been immensely successful these past months," Ariana explains as you listen attentively. "A vast majority of our new hires hail from Vermillion City, thanks to the general discontent around Silph Co's lack of response to the Grimer epidemic. We have been able to subtly leverage the Lightning Lieutenant's newfound popularity to our favor."
You lean back into your chair and steeple your hands together.
"Additional forces are always good news, but what of their quality? Do any of them stand out?"
A pause lingers in the air, as Ariana shuffles through the papers in her hands.
"There are two additional ones of interest. The first is a recently-disgraced Pokemon Professor who has been accused of unethical conduct. The other is an ice-type specialist associated with the Pokémon Fan Club and similar social clubs."
You frown. Is Neo Kanto truly bereft of powerful trainers to serve as the Rocket Group's commanders? The organization's manpower, while formidable, is meaningless without generals capable of leading the grunts on your behalf. Recruitment out of the zone is looking more appealing by the minute, but that will be a matter for another day. For now, you have options within your borders.
"Noted. Maintain our current recruitment drive. In the meantime, I want you to gather information on the individual performance of our troops and prepare it for my personal viewing. Do what you must to see to it that this is done in a timely fashion."
"It will be done, sir," Ariana says with certainty. "Lastly, there is a letter addressed to you that I thought would be of interest to you. From Brock of Pewter City."
"Brock? The gym leader?"
Curious, you take the letter into your hands and read. It's extremely brief, and to the point, as it appears that Brock is a simple man of few words. He only needed seven to get your attention.
I heard that you're hiring.
Let's talk.
Additional Actions Unlocked
Select one of the following. Heroes not selected now may become recruitable by other factions on subsequent rounds.
[ ] Joey
An exuberant young braggart who boasts his rattata is in the "top percentage of rattatas". He is a mediocre trainer with scant prospects outside of gangs or Team Rocket.
Being loyal and just smart enough not to question orders, the makings of a good soldier are present. Though it may take extra time for the positive qualities of this particular soldier to bubble to the surface.
Known Pokemon: Rattata (Ace)
[ ] Wilton
Wilton is the youngest of the "Fishing Gurus" a trio of pro fishermen who adapted their skills at angling fish to catching water pokemon. According to your recruiters, Wilton is tired of living in his brothers' shadows and is seeking his own success. He has reluctantly approached Rocket for opportunities to make a proper name for himself.
He is a middle-of-the-road water specialist, who uses fish pokemon such as Goldeen and Seaking in battles. His expertise lies in catching and raising aquatic pokemon, as well as business acumen that Rocket Group has been lacking since its split from Silph Co.
Wilton would make a fine asset as you expand into more legitimate sectors along the coast.
Known Pokemon: Goldeen, Goldeen, Seaking (Ace)
[ ] Gentlemanly Jack
A man of high standing and uncompromising etiquette, "Gentlemanly" Jack is a socialite within Neo Kanto's circle of exclusive Pokemon Clubs. He's known to participate in a wide array of parties and social gatherings, possessing a certain charm that leaves his peers hooked on every word. His merits as a water and ice type specialist are not to be discounted.
Jack's interest in aligning himself to Rocket is peculiar; as a member of the elite, he stands to lose the most if the zone's status quo was to flip. After some digging, you've determined that Jack has had several disputes with the new money trainers in the Pokemon Clubs, who see him as a symbol of the old guard they're replacing. The chairman of the Lightning Club, Isaac, has a particular ax to grind with Gentlemanly Jack, resulting in Jack being cut off from several means of advancement in the past. Isaac's manipulations have dealt Jack's native Water Club a severe blow, and it's a wound that the Gentleman would be willing to 'switch sides' in order to redress.
Known Pokemon: Seel, Chansey, Lapras (Ace)
[ ] Eusine
An arrogant man in theatrical clothing, you were skeptical of Eusine's certifications as a pokemon researcher until you saw them yourself. While his credentials are real, Eusine has been shunned by his peers due to his radical theories on the origin of Mu and methods that have been criticized as bordering on pseudoscientific bunk. These claims have done little to hinder his quest for knowledge, but they have denied him funding from Silph Co or Blackthorn. Now, Eusine comes to you.
While unorthodox, Eusine can aid in Rocket's many experiments to unlock the true potential of pokemon. Provided you grant him the time and resources to pursue his own studies. Perhaps something useful will come out of them.
Known Pokemon: Drowsy, Haunter, Electrode (Ace)
[ ] Professor Sebastian
A former researcher under Silph Co, Professor Sebastian is most well known in scientific circles for his thesis regarding the application of radiation in "encouraging" pokemon evolution. While his thesis garnered some acclaim at the time, his attempts at securing funding for radiation treatments were shot down by Silph Co's ethics board. Using his position to "reallocate" resources to his restricted project netted him five years behind bars, reduced from his prior sentence only after he turned over the fruits of his labors to the company that scorned him.
Now that he has been released, his doubtlessly significant grudge against Silph Co can be exploited to sway him to your side. Should Professor Sebastian's theories hold water, being able to artificially force a pokemon to evolve would be a massive boon to Rocket.
Known Pokemon: N/A
-[X] (STEWARDSHIP) A Gym of His Own (Karen)
DC 45
5 + 23 + 13 + 1 + 5 = 47
Bare Success
"It's a bit small, don't you think?"
Karen's response is to give a shrug.
"It's the best I could do with the budget the Boss gave me."
Surge looks around the interior, which is a renovated warehouse with bare walls and floors. It was large enough to host a proper battle arena, though they'd need to make some changes. Add in some bleachers and tiling around the place so it looks more professional.
"What's with the trash cans?" Surge asks as he thumbs to the metal bins stacked along one wall.
"Dunno. They were there when we bought the place."
Oh well. He'll find a use for them somewhere around here.
"I've worked with worse," Surge said after finishing his look-over of his future gym. "I'll have to ditch a few of the fancier ideas I had cooking, but beggars can't be choosers! I'll let the Boss know I'll need a couple of weeks to tinker with the gym and work my electrifying magic."
"You're sounding a bit too pumped about grinding what a bunch of newbie trainers into the dirt," Karen said with a smirk. "Maybe I'll come to visit so you don't get cozy on your roost, Gym Leader."
Surge turns towards Karen with a large grin.
"That sounds an awful lot like a challenge. How's about we give this gym a test run?"
The Vermillion City Gym is open for business!
Surge appreciates Rocket's help in this endeavor. His loyalty has gone up by 15.
+5 Influence to Vermillion City
Infiltrating a competitor is no small feat. It requires a high degree of subtlety, planning, knowledge of your enemy, and a way of covering your tracks.
Copycat has accomplished this and more. While her original goal was to infiltrate the gang from the bottom level and report on their operations, what you did not expect was for Copycat to reestablish the defunct Sunnytown Gang. A former biker gang that operated on the outskirts of Route 17, it was one of the many gangs who were absorbed into the Rocket Group. Copycat revived the gang with most of its original membership intact, temporarily exchanging their grunt uniforms for their old patches and leather. After returning from what seemed to be their certain demise with a minor crime wave across the Cycling Road, "Mimi" of the Sunnytown Gang was given an invitation to join the Kanto Federation.
Seeing that the Pokemon Kanto Federation is ruled by a council composed of the constituent gang leaders, this gives Copycat a direct voice over the actions of the entire organization. It's one voice of roughly a dozen squabbling gangsters, but it's one that you can use to your advantage.
For such impressive work, you've decided to clear the debt she owed you for her timely bailout.
Most of it.
Through a clever ruse, Rocket now has a mole within the PKF ruling council.
Rocket will now be forewarned of the PKF's actions ahead of time and gain +10 in fending off any actions directly towards them.
Additional Actions Unlocked
-[X] (LEARNING) Develop a New Potion (Ariana)
DC 75
26 + 15 + 28 + 6 = 75
Exact Success
The VPL and Rocket's own R&D department have seemingly reached the limits of what modern science can do with pokemon medicine. As such, they started looking into unorthodox methods to see what stuck. Eventually, they came upon a herbal mixture consisting of several crushed berries that have a healing effect on the pokemon that consume it. When these berries are distilled and added to the Super Potion recipe, its effects are improved considerably.
The resulting "Hyper Potion" is quick to go into production and sold to Pokemarts across the Zone, albeit to much less fanfare as its predecessor due to the premium price. Still, a decent profit is made in the end.
The Hyper Potion is developed
+1 to Annual Income
+5 to Public Perception
With the addition of Eevee, you opted to take a different approach to this training session. Instead of running an elimination tournament, you instead took your team into the Viridian Forest. Battling wild pokemon is different from those who have become comfortable in the new lives granted by their trainers. For these creatures, battles are a matter of life and death.
The results were unexpected. Your new addition, Eevee, was no pampered pet. It took out several pokemon on its own before exhausting itself. While you purchased it as a potential bargaining chip, you may have to keep it for your team after all. Persian is a more patient hunter, following not too far behind Eevee's rush of action. Golem is the least effective, though not from a lack of trying. Its mere presence was enough to spook most of the pokemon in the forest from approaching at all.
This training session was successful. Perhaps you will perform a similar one in the mountains next time.
Eevee is on the cusp of gaining its first trait!
Golem gains the trait: Intimidate (Attacks from enemy pokemon take -10 to rolls and will deal less damage.)
-[X] (Personal) (Giovanni) Break Bread with one of your Subordinates (Copycat)
38
Your attempts to talk with Copycat have been stalled by you needing to address the windfalls and incidents that have cropped up in the organization, as well as her new duties as head of the Sunnytown Gang. Another time, then.
-[X] (Personal) (Giovanni) Train with Master Kiyo
57
Your sessions with Kiyo have been progressing, albeit at a pace you are not satisfied with. You grasp the techniques you are taught just fine; mastery is a different story. It is only by the end of August that your teacher presents you with your Yellow Belt.
Giovanni's White Belt Trait upgrades to Yellow Belt (+2 Martial and +4 to rolls regarding unarmed combat)
-[X] (Personal) (Giovanni) Attend the Celadon Hotel Auction
The day for the auction comes, and putting on one of your finest suits you have your chauffeur take you there. Now you stand before the expansive property, aiming to make it yours.
To be continued in: "To the Highest Bidder"
-[X] (Personal) (Ariana) Resume Your Personal Projects
95
You look at the cowering form in front of you one last time before you turn to the other figure in the room.
"Ariana, what is the meaning of this?"
To be continued in: "Cat got your tongue?"
-[X] (Personal) (Lieutenant Surge) Study Tactics
56
"Hahahaha! Damn fine work, everyone! It was a close one, but we snatched victory from the jaws of defeat! Now hit the showers, you're all dismissed!"
Surge's declaration is followed by affirmations and groans from the grunts as they dragged themselves away from the training field. The pain means he's doing a good job.
Having gone through the strategy books like a hungry Raticate, Surge was ready to put his new ideas into motion. A war game was run with the manager of the Cerulean City branch: Capture the Flag, with two teams of five grunts and their pokemon. The only restrictions were bans on particularly dangerous moves like Explosion. Everything else was fair game.
"So, what do you think?" Surge asks the purple-suited manager next to him.
"It's a good exercise, but my own grunts have proved lacking," the Cerulean manager says with a thoughtful expression and a hint of irritation. "Their lack of cohesion cost us the win."
Surge gives the manager a hearty slap on the back.
"Relax! Give it time and they'll improve. Trust this old soldier on that, Archie!"
"It's Archer," the manager corrects in a frustrated tone.
"Right. Thanks for agreeing to this. Feels nice to finally flex what I've been learning. Let me know if there's any way I can pay it back, alright?"
Archer is about to dismiss the offer, but something causes him to pause and turn towards Surge instead.
"There was something I'm curious about," Archer says.
"Yeah? What is it?"
"What's it like working for the Boss directly?"
Surge gains the trait Struggling Tactician (+5 to rolls regarding group combat)
-[X] (Personal) (Copycat) Try to Teach Ditto to Mimic Humans
79
Copycat stares at her reflection. The reflection stares back.
Copycat tilts her head to one side, and the second Copycat does the same.
Copycat looks up and down at her impostor. From what she can see, Ditto's transformation into a copy of Copycat was completely flawless… except for the eyes. Ditto struggles to copy the intricacies of the human eye, and has to default to the black beads of its normal form. They look kinda creepy, and definitely wouldn't pass a casual examination.
Copycat rummages through her disguise kit and hands her partner a pair of sunglasses.
"Try these on!"
Ditto carefully works its new set of human hands and puts the shades on. New accessories aside, it's like looking into a mirror!
"There we go!"
Ditto gives a shaky thumbs-up and an authentically human-looking smile.
"Now, you can nail down the look, but can you walk the walk?"
Ditto gives an affirmative purr that's eerily close to Copycat's voice. If she didn't know how to talk, of course. Copycat stood on one side of the room, and Ditto slowly made its way towards her.
The first step is solid.
"Nice!"
The second step is much less stable, but progress is made towards reaching Copycat.
After the third, wobbling step, Ditto's mouth twitches and dissolves into a solid, black line.
"Keep going! You can do it!"
With the fourth step, Ditto's legs give way and its form collapses entirely. The visage of Copycat melts back into a familiar pink ooze.
Copycat sighed.
By now, she had figured out there was something about the differences between humans and pokemon that was causing Ditto trouble with transforming into a person. The particulars of why are still eluding her.
Copycat tosses her pokemon a berry treat. Ditto's frustrations are soon forgotten as it eagerly takes the berry into its pseudopods and begins to nibble.
She puts that all aside as she walks up to her saddened partner before pulling out their favorite treat; a Rawst Berry. The Ditto's frustration is soon forgotten as it eagerly takes the berry into their numbs and begins to nibble as Copycat pats their head for a job well done.
"It's okay, Ditto. We'll try again tomorrow."
"Ditto! Ditto!"
"You can say that-- Wait, what did you just say?"
-[X] (Personal) (Karen) Have Rocket Study Murkrow
23
Karen arranged an appointment with Ariana to research her Murkrow more thoroughly. However, due to an… unexpected incident, it was canceled at the last minute. Much to Karen's annoyance.
