maskormenacelogs | i ain't no senator's son (closed)

[Jacob Taylor walks in, his back straight with military bearing. But he doesn't salute as he greets the Major-General. She's not his superior- yet.]

General. I'm here to sign up with RISE.

[The Spartan look of the office doesn't surprise him. Say what you will about Armstrong, but she's not the kind of commander to surround herself with luxuries and status symbols.]

Edited 2016-03-28 12:34 (UTC)

[She looks up at Jacob, and puts her pen down. She's quiet for a moment, crossing her arms in front of her chest, sizing him up for a few moments.]

Had enough of operating outside of the law, I take it, Taylor?

[Jacob resists the urge to roll his eyes. Armstrong is as charming as ever.]

I've been Registered with the government for almost six months, General. I thought you knew.

[He steps forward.]

But I know I can do more good if I'm part of a team. And RISE has the best track record going right now.

Yes, we do. I'm proud of that. [She tilts her chin up at Jacob, drumming her fingers on her upper arm.] But your Registered status isn't what I'm talking about.

Not being Registered never stopped someone from being a vigilante. Archangel was proof enough of that.

I wouldn't have taken you for the type to be deterred from something just because you got your hands burned once.

I learn from my mistakes. There's a difference between giving up and changing tactics.

[He tilts his head slightly.]

Since you brought up Archangel, there's something I'd like to ask you.

That's true, there is. [She keeps her expression impassive, icy and unreadable.]

Go ahead. I'm listening.

Last year- you could have gotten a lot of support from the authorities if you had sent RISE after Archangel. There were plenty of powerful people calling us 'rogue imPorts.' The media would have loved you if you had come down on us.

[Jacob folds his arms.]

Why didn't you?

Mm. [It's a soft noise, a thoughtful noise. Little more.] That's an interesting question, Taylor. It's true, there were people calling for your head.

You really want to know why I didn't go after you? Take a seat. [Once he does, she leans forward, resting her elbows on the table, gloved hands folded together.] Do you know why I founded RISE, Taylor?

I took control of native forces twice. Alaska, and then after the earthquake here. The government said that if I wanted to continue doing so, I'd need to be willing to go after rogue imPorts, too. I agreed.

If not me, then they'd ask someone else. For one, I was the most competent choice. For another, it meant I could exercise my judgment. Someone like Crane? Neutralize his ass. You, though? You're a different story.

[And her mouth turns upwards in the slightest of smirks.] You don't think Rodgers had his own intelligence network, do you?

[Jacob does indeed sit when requested, and listens intently with arms still folded as Armstrong explains. When she finishes, she's starting to smile too.]

I'll be damned. You were backing him? And with everybody worried you're going to go after vigilantes.

[He actually chuckles. The audacity of it is hard not to appreciate, for someone like Jacob.]

If this so much as leaves this room, by the way, I will have your head. [She says, both completely casually and completely seriously.] I'll work within boundaries, Taylor, but I don't like having my hands tied. The government mandated that I could only put the Registered to work, here, but that cuts my resources considerably.

I provided him intelligence and a modicum of support in exchange for near complete autonomy. It turns out you have quite a bit more freedom to act when you're not tied down like that.

[Her smirk fades.] That doesn't mean I won't go after vigilantes, though. Archangel served its purpose, and I knew I could trust Rodgers to run an effective unit that focused its force properly. That wouldn't apply to someone like, say, Lunatic in his previous time here. [Who is working for her now. She doesn't mention that.]

Take down enough of the vigilantes and the criminals and I think you'll find that the ties on your hands lighten considerably.

Yeah, that's what I figured. Nobody will hear it from me, General.

[A promise that Jacob means, and will keep.]

I have to say, it's good to know you've got that kind of flexibility. Makes me feel better about serving under your command. We'll see how loose those ties can get after I start racking up some wins for the good guys.

[He's confident, that's for sure. Jacob hasn't fought against many imPorts face-to-face in his time here- more against native terrorists, criminals, and invaders- but he's not intimidated one bit.]

The looser, the better. [She says, softly, again drumming the fingers of her hand against her blue uniform jacket.] One more thing.

Your antics at the White House. You consider yourself something of a rebel, don't you, Mr. Taylor?

What are your true feelings about the government of this nation?

Believe it or not, I never really wanted to be the guy stirring things up. I just don't like seeing civilians die. Especially not in our name.

[Jacob spreads his hands, a gesture of having had things thrust upon him. It's the truth- he wants to serve and salute and protect as part of a team, not be the insurgent all the time. But his conscience won't let him ignore when the team lets his ideals down.]

The government's got its good side and its bad side. The same military that did those bombings saved our asses at Helix, when our backs were against the wall.

[He frowns.]

But it feels like something's happening in the government- something nasty. Like maybe the bad side is getting stronger.

Hm. Her response is small and measured, soft and impossible to see through.] I see.

Would you fight them?

When do your ideals outweigh your pragmatism?

[Jacob blinks and recoils slightly. That's a heck of a question.]

Hard to say. Fighting the government? It would be a big step. Might as well be off a cliff. No matter who won, it would change things for all of us- maybe for the whole world.

[He pauses.]

They'd have to do something too extreme to live with. Or I'd need to see hard proof that they were completely corrupt. I'm not planning to start any revolutions, if that's why you're asking.

[Again, her response is a simple nod.] Do you believe they have our best interest at heart?

I don't believe you will start a revolution. I wonder if the time will come when we won't have a choice.

[Jacob shakes his head in response to the General's question.]

No, but that's not what worries me. They're supposed to have their own people's best interests in mind. And I don't know if they do. A lot of the things they do makes it seem like they've got another agenda.

[He regards Armstrong carefully.]

You've been thinking about this a lot, haven't you? You probably already know this, but a lot of imPorts think that if there is a revolution, you're going to be on the other side.

I am aware of my reputation, yes. Do you think that was unintentional? I dislike political games and subterfuge, Mr. Taylor. That doesn't mean I won't play them.

[She leans forward again, steepling her white-gloved fingers against each other.] And until explicitly told otherwise, that impression of me is the one you will continue to give other people, imPort or native, should it ever come up.

Because the moment I lose that reputation is the moment that life starts being made very difficult for us imPorts.

Besides, it entirely depends on who is doing the rebelling, and why. I can hardly imagine there'd be many tears shed if I happened to put down an armed coup attempt by the likes of Crane and his ilk.

[Jacob sets his jaw. The subtlety and magnitude of the games Armstrong is playing here makes him uneasy. Like the General, he has always preferred straightforward approaches to lies and trickery, regardless of how justified those tactics may be. And if Armstrong is fooling everyone, including the government, how certain can he be that she's being forthright now- that this isn't just another layer?]

Okay. If you want me to keep telling everyone you're terrifying and on the government's side, I can do that.

But I've got to tell you- if you ever have to rebel, you'll have a lot more support if people think they can trust you. And this act you're telling me to be part of- I think it hurts your chances of getting allies.

[She shakes her head.] In theory, perhaps. But words are cheap. For all they would know, I'd be playing a con to make them drop their guard. There's nothing I could say that would conclusively prove it either way.

Actions are what matter, Mr. Taylor. And if the artillery barrages start, where the shells land will make my point better than any honeyed words ever could.

Besides. [She leans back, her fingers still steepled.] The more people who know, the less secure it is.

Shepard trusted you, which is the only damn reason I'm even telling you any of this.

I don't think it's going to play out that way, General. If you're saying one thing and the government's saying another, the friends you've made might be what sways people your way.

[He lowers his chin, focusing in on the name she's dropped.]

Shepard knows when to shoot, and when to smile. Is the Commander in on this?

[She nods, slowly.] Yes. He and Alenko both. They're privy to my actual point of view.

The girl, as well. Sabriel, the Abhorsen.

[Jacob blinks.]

Major Alenko? Never would have expected him to be down for something like this.

[Just think of all the risks being taken and rules being bent.]

Well, you can count on me too, General. But I've got a condition.

I think you'll find that none of us expect the government to be fully on our side when it comes time to lay our hands on the table.

What is it?

[Jacob nods, then raises his chin to draw his boundaries.]

Like I said, I don't like seeing civilians get hurt. And I don't know how much of how you act is an act, and how much is how you really fight.

So I'll just lay it down: If I'm under your command and you make a call that puts too many innocent lives at risk- we're going to have a problem. That's where my line is.

I see. [She answers softly, her impression as cool and unreadable as always.]

Mr. Taylor, what isn't an act is that I'm concerned foremost with efficiency. Effectiveness. I think an act of mercy can be more harmful in the long run than the harsh truth.

You talk about innocent lives; fine. But as a commander, I evaluate the big picture.

Suppose your enemy had a weapons installation near a civilian settlement. If they used their weapon, not only would you and your troops be killed, hundreds, even thousands of civilians might lose their lives as well. Do you order a bombardment to destroy the enemy guns?

If you're asking me to promise you that my policies will never risk the lives of civilians, I will not. If killing fifty today means saving the lives of five hundred next week, that's an order I will give every time.

But I don't do so needlessly.

[Jacob shrugs, looking skeptical.]

The last time I listened to logic like that, I wound up wearing the same uniform as the people running experiments on kids. I'm never going to make that mistake again, General.

[He stands up to leave, as satisfied as he's going to get.]

I guess we'll find out what you think is 'needed' when the time comes. Until then, you know where I stand. And I'll give RISE everything I've got unless that line gets crossed. You can count on it.

Understood. [She nods. It's not too different than what she's come to expect from this man.

Idealists really piss her off sometimes.]

Then I'll be sure to put your skills to good use.

If there are no further questions, you're dismissed.

i ain't no senator's son (closed)

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