tampered | Log :: Ongoing;

Log :: Ongoing;

When; Sunday 9th March
Rating; PG
Characters; Sergeant Sousuke Sagara

not_an_amateur, First Lieutenant Hawkeye

guardianed, Colonel Roy Mustang

flameroy
Summary; Colonel wants power. Has power to force Lieutenant into search. Power-hungry Pyromaniac gets offered position of more power. Yay~!
Log;

One hand in his pocket, and one hand surveying the material between his thumb and forefinger of his right hand. It had been a long time since he'd felt quite so... eager about something that wasn't even set in stone - but none of his positive expression shone through his military mask. It was visible in his eyes, but there was possibly only a handful of people who would have the ability to take note of such a small clue - and those were both truly loyal to him. Even if one of them tended to be fonder of a very long leash... not that he had Hawkeye on a leash or anything.

His eyes cast sideways to the First Lieutenant for a brief moment, and he was reminded of the comments from only yesterday. Absurd, indeed. His hand didn't fall to his side, but he squeezed his fingers into his palm, a slight smile pulling at the corners of his lips. "This could be quite the opportunity for us." He spoke just loud enough to ensure that Hawkeye and only Hawkeye heard him.

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Hawkeye followed the Colonel at the same distance as ever, routine falling into place wordlessly, much as the routine of picking up the Colonel's mood from subtle cues was automatic.

This was business, this was normal. Hawkeye had waited for the Colonel to be ready to do something in the City, knowing that striking out on her own would be an impossibility. So when he'd said contact the police force, she'd wasted no time, reforged contacts and arranged the things he requested of her. This was the best they could do for the City, and she knew it.

She didn't have to pay attention to hand curling into itself to sense the Colonel's determination.

The Lieutenant inclined her head slightly, speaking at the same volume. "I have no doubt."

The Colonel allowed another glance at Hawkeye, and had to force his smile down away from his mouth. It still baffled him - how they both walked at exactly the same distance from him, the same sharpness, the same attention to detail. He couldn't do this without her.

"I believe it's the the left of the next block." He spoke, still only more than a whisper. This was no Amestris, in fact he'd realised long ago that potentially it held ten times the threat Amestris did.

His gaze cast over the buildings in front of him, and he could make out the slightly taller stature of what he believed to be the place he'd be meeting Sousuke. His brain buzzed with questions, the desire for knowledge, and that aching need to protect that never seemed to leave him be. Finally, as they approached he managed his way steadily to what he could only assume was the Front Entrance and paused briefly.

The same hand as had clenched before lifted to the wood and he knocked twice, hard and stern. Another glance at his Lieutenant stilled his thoughts and he prepared himself for presentation.

Hawkeye merely nodded at his directions; she knew the way to the Prison. It was part of her job. Know where you're going, where the entrances are, alternate routes- it never hurt to know.

This was a meeting at the Colonel's request, there was no real reason for him to be anxious. They had already received the offer to join the police force. It was meant to be merely informative. The offer of a special position was unexpected, but not really surprising. The Colonel did have a lot of prior experience- it would be inefficient to relegate him to mere foot patrolling.

She met his gaze evenly as he glanced at her once more, halting before the door, hands clasped behind her back at attention.

Prepared for the meeting, Sousuke made sure to resist the urge to place traps, mines, and sentry guns in the area. An important guest shouldn't be treated to such a surprised attack, yet the urges from constant training sometimes was overwhelming. Instead, he kept himself busy by reading paperwork at his desk. Hearing the knock on the door that was outside his office, he comported himself to the entrance. He checked the camera to make sure it was his scheduled visitors before opening the door.

"Good evening, sir!"

Still a soldier to the core, Sousuke saluted both of them, as they ranked higher than he did in the military.

If he weren't an expert at keeping his mask firmly in place, he would be wearing something that resembled a smug smirk the instant that the door opened and he set his eyes on Sousuke. There was a flash across his eyes at the sharp salute, and he returned the gesture respectfully.

"Good Evening, Sergeant." He began, giving a single nod. "We have no need for introductions?" He asked, though it was someting of a rhetorical question. They knew one another, he just hoped he'd know Sousuke better by the end of their meeting.

The Alchemist in him was bristling, which might have made him feel uneasy, did he not posses the control he'd spent years developing. His eyes were already searching above and beyond Sagara, although he knew that Hawkeye behind him would already have mental tabs of anything she saw. Even though he placed trust in Sagara, there was never any harm in practicing caution.

Hawkeye had allowed the Colonel to enter first, answering the Sergeant's salute with a precise one of her own. "Sergeant."

Eyes alert to any sort of threat, but more than that, senses keen for any hint of danger, the Lieutenant took in the other's office quickly, in the formal, precise, and efficient way that she had practiced for so many years back home. This meeting was exercising skills that she hadn't had to use in some time, and she knew she'd have to remain vigilant throughout the meeting. Joining the force was an important first step. But like the military back home, there were always those who sought their own goals. The blonde doubted that the Sergeant was one of them- he had aided them before.

Hawkeye's job meant that smoothing over the bumps in conversation was her work. Fill in with the necessary niceties, and then retire to a secondary place. "Thank you for making the time to meet."

"Not a problem."

Sousuke referred them to his nearby office, which he had recently inherited from Commander Vimes. In front of his desk, he had two chairs arranged for their visit. He walked behind his desk and sat in his own chair, scooting it up to the table.

"Since we know what we are all here to discuss, I was wondering if there was anything either of you required before I explained where I'd like to see you in the police?"

His urge to cross one leg over the other when he sat down inside the room Sousuke had shown them into was one he tried to suppress with little difficulty. His hands melded together in his lap and he allowed himself a very quick look around the office. He was wearing a half-smile that he never had the opportunity to use when having similar sorts of meetings with higher ups back home. This was nothing like then... he had to remind himself that as much as he understood the way the military worked this was quite possibly different than he was used to.

His eagerness was battling with his desire to keep things following a pattern he was used to. The laws of the military conflicted in his mind, but he settled for what he was accustomed to. This childish excitement needed to stop, and he knew just what he needed to aid the process.

"Ah, I don't suppose you have any coffee?" He asked simply.

The Colonel wasn't the only one feeling disjointedly in place- Hawkeye's hands felt empty without a file between them, but she sat after the Colonel, back straight and tall.

Hawkeye so rarely saw the Colonel this excited about a prospect of activity; but no, that wasn't right, not precisely. It had merely been a long time- it had been since she arrived in the City, it had been since she returned to the City. Good.

But he needed to get himself under control, and Hawkeye shot him a quick glance that should have told him as much, before replying to the Sergeant's question. "I'm fine, thank you."

"I apologize for our lack of coffee. If there is nothing else, I will move on."

Sousuke reached inside his desk and pulled out a stack of papers. These papers detailed outlines of dangerous city members who had been captured by the police and their fighting abilities were recorded. He set them on the desk but out of viewing sight of the two in his office.

"Colonel, I don't know if you are aware or not, but there are 2 sections in the police. There are those who monitor electronic traffic and there are those who do the actual physical work. There are even some who participate on both. I have a problem with this. Many of the citizens in this city who commit crimes are far more powerful than us. Therefore, if you join the police, I'd like to propose a formation of a Special Assault and Tactics team under your command. You would choose from current members of the police and form a force capable of fighting those called Arrancar and Claymore evenly. I will even authorize the hiring of those from their enemy factions, if they have one."

The fact that there was no coffee to be had was helpful to Hawkeye's plight for him to regain control. The blank faced looked he adopted briefly relaxed the moment it had changed and it was much easier to remind himself of where he was, what this was for.

Listening was something he did well - he didn't need to memorise all the information, that was what the Lieutenant was for. What he had been told was easy to process, and yet sprung many questions that he needed answering.

"Head of the Special Assault and Tactics team." He said, mostly to himself but obviously out loud. He managed to tame the smirk behind the same mask he wore in Amestris. He'd had plenty of practice convincing the higher ups that he was worthy of promotion, and he just didn't know Sousuke well enough to know how much he could let slip.

This was his be thou for the people. Even though the City was not the place he had hoped to achieve such a position of power in. If he good do good for the City. He had to have his questions first.

"I'm assuming the recruitment of trustworthy citizens who are not yet a part of the force would be allowed? Perhaps a place for congregation of the team?" His mind was screeching 'office' at him. Oh how he missed Central.

These were tactics that Hawkeye was familiar with. Papers on the desk, the information capable of being handed over but not until agreements are reached. Delineate the basics; challenge the other to question, find their motivations.

Head of Special Assault and Tactics. Certainly a special position, as the Sergeant had hinted. But no less a dangerous one. The arrancar- from Hawkeye's admittedly incomplete notes- were a lethal force. The Claymore equally so. And, ironically, both groups were ones that they had so far avoided antagonizing- even if the homunculi and the arrancar frequently made contact. This was a position that would get their hands dirty.

Hawkeye could sense the Colonel's internal smirk without even looking at him. Parsed his request for office space adeptly, and remained silent, accruing things to remark upon later, once the meeting had terminated. This was the Colonel's time.

"Yes, trustworthy citizens are allowed to be recruited. I will also allow you to contract the help of other factions in the city under certain situations. As a matter of fact, this Saturday, we will be having a recruitment picnic. If you wish, you may have first choice on those who pass muster."

Congregation of the team? A planning room? If that was what he wanted, there was plenty of room in the prison. It wasn't a very populated place at the moment. Sousuke opened up a drawer, thumbed through some papers, and pulled out what he wanted. He pushed the paper across his desk so the Colonel could pick it up.

"Here is a map of the prison. Obviously the jail cells are not for use but you can choose any empty room located on here for your uses."

For a brief second he considered the Elric's in this 'recruitment picnic' that was being held on behalf of the police force, but the notion was gone as soon as it arrived. Ed had entered the military for very different reasons to his own.

"Interesting." He said, using a tone that made him sound like he was decidedly so. "An opportunity to meet the team as it were?" He said, with more of an air of confidence than sign of a smirk.

The paper on the desk caught his attention however, and he reached forward long enough after Sousuke had left it to be deemed most natural, eyes taking in the map almost instantly. He knew there would be strategic planning to be done before he made any decision - although his decision to take the Sergeant up on the offer had been made long ago.

"Thank You." He said simply, placing the map over his lap with one hand tucked around it. The slight thrill of knowing Hawkeye would be extremely interested to peruse the document prevented him from passing it back.

"Am I to assume you already have a list of possible candidates for the team?" He asked, an eyebrow arched. He needed to know how much work he needed to get done, he'd read his fair share of the network - and if information leaked about the picnic this coming Saturday, well then surely that alone would attract unwanted attention?

This was looking as though it would be quite the task to undertake. Organization, links, contacts with various groups- Hawkeye's mind was already coming up with the things necessary for the responsibility- things that she would most likely wind up executing.

But a recruitment picnic? For the police force- unorthodox at best. They must be short on able hands. Bothering such an event would be merely asking for trouble, but congregating a large percentage of the force in once place could also be detrimental.

Hawkeye caught a flash of blueprint as the Colonel picked up the map, but as the Colonel seemed keen to keep it, she'd have time to look at it later, and she settled slightly in her chair, posture no less straight and mind no less alert.

Sousuke gave a nod.

"That and to raise morale. We've had a few prison breaks and the Warden has...gone over our heads. The prisoners were recaptured without police help. Doing things like that make us seem a little worthless."

Sousuke had respect for the Warden but after that incident, chose to not trust him. Sousuke had no political abilities but even he knew you don't go doing the job of people who are assigned that job.

"No, I have no candidates for you. But, as I have said, you have the choice of who you wish. There are two people that I ask you not add. A Kururugi Suzaku and an Amanda Claire. These two have other duties."

Sousuke turned his battle hardened eyes up to the Colonel's, striving for the one word answer that he was looking for.

"Do you accept the position?"

Raise Morale. Roy would have time to ponder the concept later. There were a lot of things he was left to ponder later, some of them in the company of his First Lieutenant, some of them alone.

The talk of candidates kept him silently pensieve and it wasn't until he heard the Sergeant speak again that his eyes cast up again. It really was a good job he had self control.

"It's an opportunity I cannot pass up." He replied, refusing the slight smile from slipping across his lips and instead offering a firm nod in Sousuke's direction.

It was no wonder they were having a picnic then; with issues like that at stake, it was surprising the police force wielded any clout at all. No wonder they needed the help, and wanted their assistance to get things back under control. Having the remaining Warden use other means than his own police force to recapture prisoners was embarrassing at best.

Hawkeye had known, from the moment the Colonel had asked for information, that he would be accepting the position they offered him. What they'd offered him was different from expected- but she'd known it would merely be a matter of shifting focus.

Soon it would be her turn to interject with technical questions, details only, but she knew she had to let the other two settle the big questions of yes, they would be working for the force, yes this is their responsibility, before reminding them again of her presence.

"I was hoping you'd agree. Thank you."

Sousuke fished in his desk again, pulling out to radio ear pieces. He set the on top of the pile of papers he had earlier and put it in reach of the two across from him.

"Here are radios for you to contact other members of the police and grant access to the police force filter. These papers here detail what has been observed from people who have been in jail here; their abilities, strength, and power. Be advised that this isn't scientific data but eye witness reports. They may or may not be completely accurate."

This was a far as the mercenary soldier had planned this meeting to go. Now was the part where he most likely had to regurgitate knowledge. If this was about weapons or tactics, he would fare very well. But considering his own background, he hope he didn't mess up and ruin any respect he had.

"Any other questions?"

Since he'd arrived in the City, technology had quite quickly become a mandatory part of his life, but staring at the two earpieces atop the paperwork on Sousuke's desk instantly made him curious. How on earth did something that small...

His attention was whipped away by the fact that the stack of paper was his for the taking. He'd be able to read up on exactly what it was he was facing, and the kind of for lack of better word firepower he would require to keep the peace in the City.

Roy allowed his eyes a casual look over the stack of papers, turning his head to look in Hawkeye's direction for a very brief moment hoping she would understand the silent demand for her own questions to be raised before turning his attention fully to the Sergeant.

"I'm able to take these papers to study?" he asked, pausing only briefly before adding. "Do you have anything perhaps on the current members of the police force, even so much as a simple list of names?"

They were the two things he really needed to know - what bothered him most, already seconds into his acceptance was the upcoming picnic.

Edited 2008-03-11 20:48 (UTC)

Hawkeye reached a hand out automatically to receive the papers, knowing the Colonel rarely did anything more than flip through the documentation she handed him before handing it back, at least preliminarily.

Catching her ranking officer's glance, Hawkeye recognized it as the cue she'd been waiting for. The trick was to pace her questions.

"I presume the police force will cover things like ammunition and other weaponry." That nearly went without saying, but it never hurt to confirm. "Will the Tactics team be operating under your jurisdiction directly?"

Sousuke gave a quick nod.

"You can keep those with you. For information on other members, contact Amanda Claire. She should have the database with said information."

When the First Lieutenant spoke up, Sousuke knew she was going to be like Commander Mardukas during a debriefing. Sousuke vowed that he would answer them to the best of his ability, as usual.

"Yes, ma'am. I can offer you a basic load out and if you need special weaponry, just ask. Your team will answer directly to me and I answer directly to the Warden. If he attempts to bypass this, please, inform me. While he may have a higher rank, I'd prefer to give orders from a better perspective."

Sousuke really wished to say that they don't answer to the Warden at all but he knew that wasn't possible. He hoped he worded it in a way that would get the general message across.

The Colonel managed to keep his eyebrow still, at the talk of the warden. Already he'd gotten the general consensus of Sagara's feelings towards this man, a man he didn't actually know the name of.

Amanda Claire stuck in his head, although he knew it was rather pointless - the Lieutenat would have archived it for further investigation, but he knew he was the one to demand the intelligence from her. Or, at least ask for it.

He even managed to conceal his smile at the unfolding answers to Hawkeye's questions, knowing that it would be exactly what she wished to hear.

Apparently, it was corrupt at the top hmn? That knowledge broke his mask, and he managed to tame smug smirk into a delicate smile.

He just needed to test the waters practically before he knew the answers to many of his questions. He leant back in his chair, another subtle hint to the Lieutenant that he was leaving her open to ask whatever she needed to - anything he had overlooked, he was glad to have her. His mind was already focussed on other tangents.

So the Sergeant had assumed the responsibilities of the departed second Warden without really doing so in the eyes of the remaining one. And he had already bypassed the police force once. The other warden- Charming, it had been, either had very little confidence in his police force or didn't find it necessary to be used.

Likely the sentiment was mutual, from the way the Sergeant had been talking about him. Hawkeye wasn't sure which was more telling. Working so close to the top had its advantages and disadvantages, as well she knew. The closer to the top, the more entangled.

"I have my own weaponry at the moment; but if replacing them ever becomes necessary I'll take you up on that." The blonde paused, thinking, what next, what needed to be asked.

"I presume, answering to you, that orders and missions will also be coming directly from you?"

With a quick nod, he confirmed that question.

"Affirmative. I will leave most of the details to you but I will be the one to give orders to deploy. If cooperation is needed between your group and anyone else, I will help coordinate with that. Planning, equipment, training, and how you deal with the enemy I will leave you you."

He took in everything that was passed between his First Lieutenant and the Sergeant, looking between them briefly before leaning forward in his chair, finally relinquishing the map he held in his hand and passing it back to Hawkeye as if suddenly it held no interest to him - although it did. He just needed his hands free.

"and if a situation arises where there is no time to be given orders, you will respect our judgement and handling of the situation?"

Hawkeye nodded her acknowledgement to the Sergeant's response as she took the extra sheet of paper from the Colonel, folding the map in half and laying it on top of the sheaf of other papers now held in her lap. Accumulating this sort of mass was normal, almost comforting. And the challenge of sorting through it, making sense of it and determining the relevancies, was one that she had gone without for a long time.

The Colonel had raised a fair point. "Or more generally, if you yourself are unavailable for any reason."

Wasn't that how armies worked? Create the thinking soldier, capable of taking advantage of situations on their own? Obviously, it must be different in their world. Was it?

"It is only natural for me to allow you to do so. That is why I am asking of someone of your standing to take this position."

He resisted the urge to lean back into his chair, resisted the urge to smirk, resisted the urge to make a smart comment. Instead he simply nodded once, but the very small curve of his lips managed to slip his control.

He looked over at his Lieutenant very briefly wearing a look that he actually had control of when he turned back to Sousuke, determination visible in expression.

"We're pleased to be part of the force." He said simply, the statement was short but held a lot of meaning and hopefully the end of the questions. No question her harboured would be answered by Sousuke, he would find the answers out for himself.

Well. The Colonel had his position of influence. It was just in the wrong place. But there was no helping that. They were both stuck here.

Hawkeye caught the glance, had exchanged it for one as determined as his, and sat back in her chair. She knew the cues he gave before he took control again. Tapping the papers against her legs to get them all aligned, Hawkeye inclined her head in acknowledgement and acceptance; the police force would devour her time from now on, but that was the direction he had chosen to go.

Fall back to the supporting role.

"We welcome you on board then."

Sousuke stood up and gave a salute, hopefully sealing the agreement. To Sousuke, handshakes were not the verbal signature. The military salute dictated the beginning and end of conversations, being the acknowledgment that drove forth agreements.

Roy's eyes followed Sagara as he stood, and almost immediately after he was saluted he stood to his own feet, returning the gesture promptly. His hand fell and he gave a single nod in the Sergeant's direction.

"A pleasure." He said simply, turning slightly to look back at Hawkeye. It was difficult, but the mask would remain until they left Sagara's presence, and possibly even until they got back to his apartment.

Hawkeye stood as the Sergeant did, saluting in return. There- finished and finalized. They were in the police force.

Stepping around her chair and gathering the paperwork she'd amassed into the crook of her arm, the Lieutenant inclined her head slightly to the both of them. "I'm sure we shall be in touch."

Time to get the Colonel out of here before he exploded from smugness. So with a small gesture towards the door, and a glance that was more than sober enough for the two of them, Hawkeye straightened. "After you, Colonel."

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Log :: Ongoing;

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