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Fo'get about it.
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Topic Started: Mar 24 2013, 10:54 PM (474 Views)
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Jane Doe
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Apr 19 2013, 10:09 PM
Post #16
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Joe smirked and the notion was evident enough through the surgeon's mask he wore. "Since yesterday." he replied simply. Joe slowly pulled down the surgeon's mask, revealing the smirk that he simply could not hide. "Do make yourself comfortable, Alpha. Our mutual friend here is quite comfortable in his slumber. An additional two-hundred fifty CC's of morphine and a few other painkillers will ensure that he stays quiet for the next few weeks." he explained. Joe leaned forward and stood up from the chair, still in his respective corner of the room. He was sizing up Alpha, though his eyes remained locked on Alpha's.
"Lucky me however, I was pondering the possibility of you renovating this part of the hospital by explosive means. But before I continue further, allow me to introduce myself. The name's Buck. Joe Buck." he stated casually. His name was known within certain sections of the intel departments as being an agent who would always get the job done, but normally through chaotic means that were never by-the-book. He wasn't sure if a freelance spy who's been out-of-the-game for some time would take the name, however. "I was sent to help the local police here find the assailant of this crime. What a surprise it was when you turned up. I've heard of you before, Alpha, and we may consider the details of this little issue neither of our problems. Consider it a formality between those of our trade. I dislike being tasked with helping the local detectives; I find it demeaning for those of our skillset. But... perhaps we may help each other Alpha Protocol." Joe stated, never losing a certain gleam in his eye that gave off a friendly yet devious appearance.
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Alpha Protocol
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Apr 21 2013, 06:01 PM
Post #17
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"You'll excuse me if I find your story lacking, Mr. Buck." Alpha said, moving to the other side of the guard. "You would have had better luck trying to convince me that you were here to kill me. Why, you might ask? Because a name like Joe Buck wouldn't lower himself to the duties of a common detective, now would he?"
He knew Buck's name well. He studied him for a bit when he was still an up and coming spy working for Equestria. He was a clean-cut fellow. A proper gentleman. But that was where Alpha felt he had the advantage, being much more comfortable doing what he pleased to get a mission done rather than following strict rules of engagement... And it was clear that Buck really knew little to nothing about Alpha himself. Leveling a hospital to silence ONE pony? How crazy did they think he was? He didn't bother mentioning that though. The more unpredictable he was, the better.
"So." He continued. "Tell me the real reason I've got Equestria's finest following me around? If they sent you, then I must say that I'm honestly flattered they'd give me that much consideration.
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Jane Doe
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Apr 21 2013, 06:18 PM
Post #18
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Joe smirked at Alpha's response which denounced his story. The pegasus was smart and it was foolish of Joe to underestimate him. Still, it was a good tell on Alpha's character and it was a good note to have. "Your time doing freelance work has served you well. If you had bought that I wouldn't even consider continuing a conversation with you. But let's not be so quick to jump to games of lies. If I were here to kill you, well... I wouldn't be here. You'd be in this room while the LSF would be emerging from every exit of the room to detain you." Joe stated while he closed the door to the room. He slowly walked back to the place he was before, in the corner, and sat down once more.
"I am here to see if we might exchange some information. Not to preface my proposition much, but as you may well know the Equestrians are not faring well in the war that has besieged it and haven't been on the winning side since the start. Now I possess some rather interesting information that could prove problematic with for the Equestrians if ever released. That said such words must be carefully protected and only the right folk must ever know it. But for a price I'm certain that the right kind of folk may be willing to share it, with the wrong kind of folk." Joe explained, the familiar gleam in his eye once more. His words implied some devious notion he had and projected his intent well. "I'm simply curious, Mister Protocol, if you'd happen to know any of the wrong kind of folk." he said.
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Alpha Protocol
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Apr 21 2013, 06:46 PM
Post #19
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"You and I both know that's a trick question." Alpha said, no hesitation in his voice. "You can't work this job the right way if you DON'T know the wrong kind of folk." The statement in and of itself was true. And while Alpha did know plenty of ponies that should be behind maximum security prison bars, they were more than helpful when he needed them for jobs of higher priority.
"Which brings up another question, what information would I possibly want to exchange with you? I don't think you know anything that would interest me." Just what was Buck trying to get out of him? This could prove either problematic, or profitable...
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Jane Doe
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Apr 21 2013, 07:01 PM
Post #20
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Joe's smirk was now gone, though he did not hold any unfriendly disposition. "The information I've come to trade involves the war in the east. Our beaked or pawed friends might find the information very valuable. Valuable enough to win the war. The most lucrative portion of this information is just how not a soul will know how I have it." Joe explained. His green eyes never seemed to leave Alpha's and while placid they avidly sought out any sort of reaction Alpha might reveal. Being as trained as he was with freelance work it would probably yield no useful information, however.
"My trick question earlier was to insinuate that you may know someone who could relieve the burden of this information from me, replaced with something of equal value. I've only heard so much about you Alpha, but I'm certain that with your time being under Equestria's radar and out doing freelance work you may have encountered some... unsavory individuals with deep pockets who you may have worked with before. However... A hospital seems much less fitting of a place for such a discussion. Would you care if we move to the local tavern?" Joe asked Alpha. He knew of a few bars around the town that had plenty of shady tables placed away from over customers that would serve well for private discussions. Ones that also knew a thing or two about how to properly serve his drink, too.
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Alpha Protocol
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Apr 21 2013, 07:38 PM
Post #21
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Alpha raised his brow at Joe's curious predicament. "Sounds to me like that information would be better kept to the grave if it's as sensitive as you say it is. In any case, you're right. We should move to a better location." No telling when some random nurse or doctor could come in and start asking questions. But then again, that was the fun part. "Lead the way."
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Jane Doe
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Apr 21 2013, 07:58 PM
Post #22
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Joe gave a simple nod and stood up. Walking over the clipboard on the guard's bed he checked it once more before setting it back in place. "Farewell Mister Iron Shackle. Enjoy your extended nap and free healthcare." he stated as he walked to the door. Opening it he went down the hallway and to the exit on the side of the hospital. Joe kept an eye out for any curious eyes that might look his way but the late evening revealed not a single set of hooves walking about. Once he reached a nearby trashcan on the side of the hospital he removed the doctor's coat and the mask still dangling on his face and tossed it inside. Walking off Joe took a few side-streets to reach a bar not far from the hospital.
The bar was a simple one, with a large open area for the customers to sit at, play a game of billiards or even poker games on Friday night. The inside was decorated with pictures of all around Equestria and would occasionally play some acoustic lounge music, giving the place a rather classy feel. Joe had been to the place a few times before, once recently while looking for Alpha, and he knew of the many exits that the place had, providing an easy escape for anypony who wanted to leave in a hurry. This concept was perhaps the most important for Joe, knowing well that he should never enter a place without first knowing how to leave it. Taking a seat in a corner booth Joe sat a table and was soon greeted by the bartender.
Joe ordered a local flavor of a barley whiskey on the rocks and told him to place Alpha on his tab. After Alpha ordered his drink and the bartender was far enough away, Joe spoke once more. "So where does a freelancer such as yourself find work in a small town called Ponyville?" he asked, starting off with casual conversation.
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Alpha Protocol
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Apr 23 2013, 01:29 AM
Post #23
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Alpha had ordered hard liquor. He made a conscious note to make sure that he didn't have too much, otherwise he might get too comfortable and let his guard down. And the last thing he wanted to experience twice was letting his guard down around a pony that could end his life.
"I branch out." he responded to the question. "I send out... Ads, if you will. That keeps me busy enough."
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Jane Doe
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Apr 25 2013, 06:59 PM
Post #24
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"Ads?" Joe asked, curious of exactly what Alpha meant. "Those may have contributed to me finding you. To be honest with you Mister Protocol I was looking for a freelancer who was not either dead or had a wanted." he said and kept a quiet mouth as he spotted the bartender approaching. The barkeep placed the drinks on the table. The barkeep looked at Joe, curious if he needed anything else to which he answered the silent question with a simple dismissive wave. Once the bartender left earshot Joe continued.
"You must be good at your craft because that very general search yielded few results, yourself among them. Your file had plenty of records of previous jobs and the time you worked with Equestria, but nothing recent. Only that you may reside here with some local business. There was also rumor of a... family. I took a black highlighter to that part. Not even Celestia needs to know of your love life. Even if she wanted to strike at you." Joe stated before taking a sip of his drink.
His thoughts drifted for a moment about a mission that involved taking a family member of a target into custody, under suspicion of an actual link with the terrorist he was after. Joe, after interrogating the family member personally and finding them innocent disobeyed orders to use them as bait to lure out his target. There was little honor among assassins, but he'd be damned if he had none. He still killed his target that day, but not a single member of his family came to harm.
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Alpha Protocol
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Apr 25 2013, 08:38 PM
Post #25
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Alpha took his drink and sipped it. A cold scotch on the rocks always hit the spot nicely. "You know how unreliable rumors can be." He said in attempt to rid Joe's mind of the notion, but keeping his laid back attitude. Family was not something he was willing to risk, especially with a Spy with as noteworthy of a record as Joe Buck.
"I do try and keep just noticeable enough to keep business." He said. "The Equestrian Government and I haven't really been on speaking terms for the past few years however. Something about blowing up a Stalliongrad office building."
He'd nearly forgotten about that event. Surely the false information had trickled down the grape-vine and into Buck's ear. It was one of the most violent events that the city had ever experienced, killing hundreds of ponies in a matter of minutes. This lead to him even being hunted down by more than a few spies, bounty hunters and mercenaries.
Alpha was of course innocent of said task, having found the true culprit and dealt swift justice, all the while having been blamed for the tragic attack. Of course, he'd kept the killing of the criminal warlord a secret and had never officially cleared his name, and only two ponies knew of his deed. While not enjoying being labeled as a mass murderer, the reputation helped to give him a certain leverage that he didn't have before.
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Jane Doe
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Apr 25 2013, 08:52 PM
Post #26
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Joe smirked a moment when Alpha mentioned blowing up an office building and took another sip of his drink. Equestria still officially held Alpha accountable for such an action, but since no trace of him was officially found they could never pursue him and Joe was not about to turn him in and call it a day. Joe held the benefit of the doubt that Alpha would be so heartless to kill hundreds in a bombing but yet he couldn't say otherwise, not knowing him very well. "Yes, nasty business that. The Equestrians have always been ones to accuse others passionately. We have not been on the best of terms after my last job did not achieve the desired results." he stated, taking another sip of his drink. He could feel the warmth in his chest once more and it was a comforting feeling. He was glad the bartender chose not to water down his drink like some of the establishments he had been to recently.
"What do you advertise your business as out here? I know quite the bomb maker who uses a mail service as a front. Markets his materials in non-suspicous packages, too. They make quite the gift." Joe stated a joking smirk coming across his face.
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Alpha Protocol
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Apr 26 2013, 07:42 PM
Post #27
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"I'm nowhere near as corny as that." He said, sipping on his drink again. "I like to make my services known to a potential customer through more direct means." What exactly he meant by that, was that he would sometimes actively approach someone, or leave a calling card of some sort so that he could be contacted. He didn't actually "advertise" so to speak, but he made his presence known and his abilities in espionage proven.
"What about you? Since you mention it. Equestria's best going to be fired?"
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Jane Doe
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Apr 26 2013, 08:19 PM
Post #28
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Joe chuckled a bit at Alpha's response to his bomb-making friend. "Leave me your card sometime, perhaps I'll find you in a method not involving a public calling." he stated with a smirk that exposed his pearly whites for a moment before taking another sip of his drink. After Alpha's question he exhaled and set his drink down, staring at it as he held it to the table. "They don't seem to think I'm their best. It's our profession to turn the tides of wars and they do not appreciate my methods on turning tides. Instead I have bureaucratic, spineless handlers who would have me resort to coward's tactics and simple assassination missions than anything effective. I'm not fired and yet I'm also not here right now sharing a drink with a freelancer who may be able to turn the tide of war in our favor." he stated. He picked up his drink and swirled around what was left of it between the ice cubes before finishing it. He then returned his green eyes back to Alpha.
"I did my best with them, I truly gave it all but they seem almost intent on losing. They place me on thin ice and I disappear at times, much like this. It's odd, I spent my last absence here in Ponyville and they failed to notice I was here until I walked back to Canterlot. They must be worse off than I'd like to believe." he stated. The bartender then returned and filled up Joe's glass. "That bit about your family, they're safe, yes? How do they handle your job? That must be tricky to juggle." he said as the bartender walked out of earshot again. He took another sip of his drink, wanting well to give an informal impression to Alpha. 'After all, I'm in no hurry and I've done more dangerous things drunk. I should ask him if he has. Stories from spies make my day.' he thought to himself.
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Alpha Protocol
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Apr 28 2013, 10:31 AM
Post #29
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Alpha raised his brow and gave a smug grin. "You said yourself. Not even Celestia needs to know about that. Why don't we stick to the matter at hoof?" He said. Placing his drink down, he sat back in his chair and relaxed. "Are you here to babysit me, or does Equestria need my help? You haven't cleared that part up yet. And even if I did decide I wanted to help Equestria, what would they be willing to... Overlook?"
Now was the part where he did the prying. Buck wasn't here for no reason after all.
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Jane Doe
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Apr 28 2013, 12:28 PM
Post #30
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"Oh. I apologize if I struck a chord there." Joe stated, almost teasingly. For spies like them it was all about word games. After hearing Alpha's questions Joe took another sip of his drink and swirled it around a bit. He was obviously relaxed and did not look to be the slightest bit on edge. An inexperienced spy would think that his guard was down, but Joe knew that Alpha would not think that. "Perhaps I've been unclear and I hate to give the wrong impression... but you wouldn't be helping Equestria. But that does give me an idea... I have the ability to collect whatever vital information on Equestria imaginable with no chance of discovery. My window of opportunity is closing and I come prepared with some information on all of the intel that a smart General could put to use to win battles. That said I'd like to think I have a few open options with opportunity. I could sell the information, perhaps through you or an information broker. I could trade the intel for favors, good favors. Or perhaps, with an idea you've just given me, we can both conspire to play a true con." he stated with a smirk. It seemed almost that he was openly thinking, that he had plans prior to coming here but was indecisive on what to do.
"Let us both imagine, for the sake of entertaining the thought, that we both seek to trade information. I give the sample of my intel that I've come prepared with, of some troop movements and orders and a few files on our less than useful deployed spies and request a trade not of money, but of information. There are still a few things that Equestria is looking for in terms of intel, such as enemy troop movement and plans, their supply routes or even how the war started. Oddly, Equestria has sent several agents to discover what motivated the gryphons and the dogs to work together, what provoked the Zebricans and just where the Balefire Bomb came from. Let's say that I met somepony who could provide this information. We trade this intel, I return to my agency with claims that I've discovered such information while somepony else walks away with deeper pockets after selling the information I have." Joe stated, giving a smirking smile to Alpha. He then took another sip of his drink before continuing.
"That, or I could simply let the opportunity pass. I could go back to working for Equestria and seek the information the old fashioned way and remain in Her good graces still. I'm simply unwilling to pass up a good opportunity, though if it fails to be a good one then I will. But in order for most of any of this to happen it requires your help. So... what do you think, Mister Protocol?" Joe asked. He had a lengthy explanation, though he hoped it would help to explain his options and possibly interest Alpha.
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