Sandblasting Ahead.

[in_over_his_head]

[1] [Backdated a few days]

[Digging through what had been left to him ferociously, Calvin had come up with a rather risky plan. A simultaneous retrieval of all the remaining artifacts. With the court as low on manpower as it was it would mean the risk of interference was low... and with the translations made by Kagura it would mean retrieval would be all but painless.]

[Still, Calvin found himself pacing restlessly. Partly because there was no telling what would happen during the extraction and partly if... as thorough as Kagura's work was... there was something that was missed that might get someone killed. The unsettling silence from both his contact and the OSI was frustrating as well.]

Its fine... everything's going to be alright. Just a quick retrieval... in the middle of arabia... who am I kidding..something's gonna turn up...

Just have to stay calm. You can do this. Nerves of steel. You're a man on the trail of a mystery. Hard boiled, gritty one hundred percent film noir cool as ice.

[Calvin's taking a deep breath and ceases his anxious muttering before seeming to get a little out of it. Then again for those of you familiar with his behavior he may have been doing some internal monologue to try steady himself... surprise him?]

[2][Post "Gotterdamerung"]

[Despite the sudden appearance of Enlil and the Ebon Court, the retrieval mission was successful objective wise. Alex despite practically blowing herself, Enki and Enlil up in a devastating application of Magic-Fuelled Science had survived... though she would most likely be seeing a long amount of bed rest in her future. Calvin still felt tremendously unsettled, even after receiving news on the way back that the other retrievals went off without a hitch. Then when the shuttle landed...]



What the hell?!

[Calvin was promptly treated to the sight of several people in similar uniforms to him and standard ESUN MP fatigues carting out several documents and very specifically marked containers that held the artifacts. There was the sound of slow, sarcastic applause as a certain old man strolled over, looking insufferably smug.]



"Well Mr Edwards. I'd have to say you've been quite busy. Ransacking tombs, raiding facilities without a warrant and against orders."

Holstein.... what the hell are you doing?! You know those reports I sent you said that-

"Hup-up-up. Manners. I doubt a civilian has any right to start throwing accusations of gross incompetence at the duly appointed director of an ESUN mandated office. Especially when their career was absolutely rife with it when they were in the employ."

...Civilian?

[Holstein pulled a rather formal looking document from his coat, carefully unfolding it... before slamming it into Calvin's face. Hard enough that it sent the Investigator to the floor. Some of the passing OSI staff who saw this happen nudge and snicker among themselves. 'Check it out, Spooky Edwards is about to get it.']

"Civilian. As of today your employment at the Office of Special Investigations is hereby terminated due to your paranoid delusions and inability to follow orders. Furthermore the Office is claiming all materials and information related to the Investigation that you have so thoroughly botched as well as all OSI issued materials. Including your uniform, sidearm and mobile suit. We'll be taking the 13th Genoace Unit as well. I'm sure they can be reassigned to a more fitting duty... Janitorial Service perhaps."



You Bastard...

[Calvin gets to his feet, rubbing his jaw with sheer irritation. A glance at the OSI agents and MPs pretty much said he was probably going to get screwed over if he tried anything.]

"Well you had to know this day was coming sometime Edwards. I'm simply glad I got to handle this matter personally. I suppose the Unity Group might let you stay if they're enamored with your... eccentric? No. Insane ramblings while real investigators can do their work without being weighed down by you."

[The Director simply walks off with a chuckle towards where the OSI was loading everything up. Caroll was busy going through a checklist close by.]

Caroll. I know you probably don't care much for what I have to say but this isn't-



[The woman simply rolls her eyes in irritation, her face having the expression of being in the presence of someone who offended their every sense.]

"Can someone please remove this pest? He's interfering with official ESUN business."

"You heard Representative Caroll. Beat it Spooky!"

[Calvin would just regard both Caroll and the man who came to remove him with a look of disgust and incredulousness before simply walking back to his quarters. His completely ransacked quarters that had been dug over for all of his files with no regard left for any of his belongings. His face is simply blank as he turns his chair the right way up and goes about making some coffee and drinking it in front of his overturned desk.]

[Do you try to speak with Calvin? Or attempt to Reason with Holstein or Caroll?]

Comments

1

[stupidhonor]

What are you doing?

[Sielje stands in the doorway, her gaze following the pacing inspector.]

[in_over_his_head]

[Calvin nearly jumped at the sudden voice, arms flailing somewhat in panic.]

Ah! Nothing! Just getting my thoughts in order. I most certainly was not monologue to myself!

[stupidhonor]

I heard nothing of importance.

But you are ill at ease. Do you have no confidence in yourself?

[in_over_his_head]

Its... something like that.

[The investigator tugs at his collar anxiously.]

I'm honestly expecting something to go horribly wrong. Not out of pessimism but just given how many incidents that set the precedent, I'm wondering how long it is before I'm pulled too far in over my head.

1

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Doing some important research?

Coming up on Calvin as he looks through the documents, Alex looks over the scene, though she isn't crass enough to read over his shoulder until he at least acknowledges her presence.]

[in_over_his_head]

!!!

[Calvin almost tosses the documents into the air in surprise. He manages to keep his grip on them hard enough that they only ruffle.]

In a manner of speaking... these are about to make getting a lot of the artifacts I'm after a lot easier to retrieve. Its all in here. Specific locations, ways to disable any traps remotely...

[itbelongsinamuseum]

That does sounds like a lot of help, yeah. Why are you after them anyway?

[in_over_his_head]

Keeping them away from...

[Calvin pauses for a moment... they still don't know the end goal of the court.]

Right now its mostly keeping them safe and out of hands of people whose intentions are unclear.

2

[dolorous_sensei]

*Walt is simply watching as the men clean up Calvin's office. She asks Caroll as she passes by.*

I guess it's just as expected. *he shrugs.* Still, may I know why formally did he got his command striped and this office terminated?

[in_over_his_head]

"The Former Investigator has had a long history of so called 'supernatural incidents'. These often led to large amounts of property damage or otherwise causing issues between the Office as well as any of the areas he's sent to."

"Frankly, with the reports he's sent essentially simply being more of the same it shows behavior unbecoming of someone in his line of work."

[dolorous_sensei]

His report is more the same?

[in_over_his_head]

"The information regarding the investigation he forwarded to the Office was rife with references to Supernatural Phenomena to the point it was beyond absurd. Moreso with the inclusion of the so called organization known as Scylla and Charybdis - Nazi Remnants."

[Caroll simply looked insulted to even have remembered that fact.]

"Previous incident reports and updates prior to this investigation included such things as the living dead or 'spirits'. One incident in particular leading to a large section of wilderness being burned to the ground and a historical building being levelled to its foundation."

2

[star_of_sad]

Excuse me.

Are you doubting the authenticity of Edwards' reports? Unity Group has a library of mission audio logs and video recordings. They will confirm them.

[in_over_his_head]

"Oh I'm very sure that they would confirm those reports. However there would be reason to doubt the veracity of those logs and recordings as well. After all... the Unity Group is in need of funding isn't it? And we do live in an age where information of astounding quality can indeed be falsified."

[There was a haughty sniff from the old man.]

"More to the point there are more important investigations that would require confirmation and verification of validity than the former inspector's work. As far as the OSI is concerned, we have all we need from you incompetents."

[star_of_sad]

Are you saying the reports are fake? That what we are doing here is smoke and mirrors?

We lost people on these operations. I have lost my own teammates and friends. Just yesterday, a Unity Group member was severely crippled by sacrificing herself to protect the Earth's safety.

Are you going to tell her she is just faking it? That it's a trick done for funding?

[in_over_his_head]

"Oh I am certain that the casualties are real. However if you expect me to believe that the situations are that dire I'm afraid I'd be inclined not to believe you."

[Holstein shakes his head as he gestures lightly in the air like a man presenting an example.]

"Really, exaggeration has always been used to gain more funding in several departments. Smoke and mirrors to get a little more attention and money."

2

[a_monetized_mind]

[A purple-haired shadowrunner watches the collected X-files being carted away.]

...Isn't this a little excessive?

[in_over_his_head]

"No. The information... though it would need to be culled repeatedly is still the property of the OSI. Best not to leave it in the hands of an ex-inspector who may cause problems."

[a_monetized_mind]

...Why was he being terminated, again?

He sure seemed to be doing a fine enough job to me.

2

[empress_without_a_throne]

I see there's no love between the OSI and their actual feet on the ground.

[in_over_his_head]

Oh no... there's plenty of love there. Just not for people who get caught up in things that 'make no sense'. According to them I'm no real investigator. Not with everything I keep getting snagged by.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Their loss, especially since the case with the Court isn't wrapped up yet.

2

[actuallyselfish]

Dido sees and hear the document-slapping, employee-firing fiasco from up atop a gantry. She sets her jaw down and climbs down just in time to walk in front of Holstein.

"So," she drawls towards Holstein. "Are you one of those hidden-agenda villain types...or just a really big idiot?"

[in_over_his_head]

"And you must be miss Dido Sybil. I must admit, you lack the charm and relative refinement of the rest of your family."

[Holstein doesn't frown at all, not taking any offense to the question levelled at him. Rather he simply fixes Dido with an insufferable smirk.]

"And since we're asking questions... what are you Miss Sybil? A rebellious little thing trying to cut mother's apron strings because you're so much like her than you would care to admit? Or just someone who simply found herself in a collection of bad ideas due to her recreational habits?"

[actuallyselfish]

Dido returns the smirk. "Probably a mix of both," she says. "Disappointing mother is kind of my hobby, and hedonism and sloth always did push her buttons."

She pops some gum in her mouth and starts chewing with loud smacks.

"But here's the thing about mom; if she met you, she'd despise you. She'd call you a tight-minded elite-wannabe bureaucratic parasite who gets his jollies by stealing credit for the work of others. In this instance, I cheerfully admit mom and I are alike!"

Dido blows a bubble. "But that doesn't matter. You don't matter. What matters is this." She leans close to Holstein. "In Calvin's effects are some old artifacts. Including a mask that beckons people to put it on. Don't put it on. In fact, leave all those artifacts alone. Idiot."