Chapter 2.3

[yhlee]

[Housekeeping notes: we're fast-forwarding a bit to the security conference itself. Y'all can be assumed to have obtained anything reasonable during the shopping trip, from toys for the mothlings to jams for Sasha, and whatever else. We can also assume that Seyli more than adequately trained the Lanterner assassins in the use of the equipment sold to them.]

The Cantata docked smoothly in its assigned berth at the conference's hosting station. Remi promised that he would keep the mothlings out of sight, although it seemed suspiciously clear that he was looking forward to running intelligence tests on them in the guise of "games" manufactured with the aid of the matter printer and some toy schematics he picked up during the shopping trip.

Meanwhile, Fluffy the Vraselian pseudo-dragon keeps having to be shooed out of various public areas and appears to be building a nest out of scavenged materials.

It wasn't too difficult getting basic tools/implements/weapons past the conference's security. Paranoia is high, but so are distractions. The designated "dueling fan" is within sight at the far end of a hall with highly decorated vendor booths and poster displays. She is plump, wide-eyed, and deceptively excitable in affect, although Seyli knows from working with her during the trip that she's a quick study and she's really good with knives. She is, in fact, in duelist cosplay, complete with a hot pink Space Styrofoam boffer weapon.

Two booths away from the Lanterner "dueling fan," General Shuos Jedao can be seen with his aide, talking seriously to a highly muscular, tattooed, and decorative company representative. The banner behind the booth advertises "delicious hazelnut gianduja" ration packs laced with various popular stimulants.

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[NOTE: So there are two big options for getting involved in this move!
(a) Part of the extraction team removing Jedao, or
(b) Staying behind and preparing the Cantata for extraction. In particular, Remi is looking for one or more volunteers to help him socialize and/or test the mothlings.

Obviously, you're welcome to take a third option if one occurs to you. If you need help brainstorming involvement, please feel free to message me or ask in the comments.]

Comments

Re: can we leave before the cops show up? - paging Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen

[slybrarian]

Alaric's careful to make sure he doesn't sneak up on Reshad, approaching from the side in hopes of not startling her. Much like Sulen, casual isn't easy, but harried he can do pretty well. "There you are. We're running behind schedule, we need to hurry if we're going to make our, ah, appointment on time."

Not that there seems to be anyone paying attention to what they're saying, but just in case.

Re: can we leave before the cops show up? - paging Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen

[hoardingpearls]

Reshad turns to Alaric, the faintly dazed expression of the drugged plastered across her face. "Oh! There you are. Let's go, we wouldn't want to be late."

She matches Alaric's pace, maintaining the facade of pleasant blankness until they're out the door.

Re: can we leave before the cops show up? - paging Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen

[yhlee]

[Unless any of them try to attract attention, Alaric, Reshad, and Sulen should encounter no problems getting out the door after Seyli and Jedao.]