Preserving Our Freedom (Open)

[Dominic Geiszler]

Dominic would have bet money that Dr. Kline was one of those parties looking for money. He wanted to believe the man was as honest and true as he'd been taught... But looking for a contract before saving the world would have suited Kline down to the ground.

"I won't lie, as security personnel we have to stick together. I can't blame my fellow contractors for wanting to sign a deal or two..." He sighed. Time to add a bit of heartfelt truth to proceedings. "Sometimes I do wish being a hero was as easy as fighting the bad guys though."

[The Sentinels]

"Well times are tough," Adriana said, "and it's going to get tougher," before she gave a laugh. "If fighting the bad guys was all we had to do then we would have just told the PMCs to start shooting at every monster in the world, but unfortunately research is one of the weapons we need to utilise in our war against terror."

[Dominic Geiszler]

"But don't you think it's past time to get in some 'shooting' as you put it?" He was pretty sure he'd won her over. Now he just needed to ensure nothing went... wonky. "We're researching and researching and... Shocker is still a problem."

[The Sentinels]

"Well it seems that you have a suggestion Mr Engel, would you care to share with me what you think should be our next course of action?" Adriana asked.

[Dominic Geiszler]

"You see, I find there's a vast difference between passive and active research." He led her a short way away from the crowd to where a caterer was offering drinks. He took one himself. When in Rome. "Learning what you can about the enemy, creating weapons. It only goes so far. What about Detroit? At this rate, will we ever be ready to take it back?"

[The Sentinels]

Ah yes Detroit...that was something that was causing a lot of grief in the military. Naturally they want to take the whole city back, but fighting against something that resided inside a mirror world was far more difficult than anyone had ever expected. They were researching, but so far they weren't getting anywhere, "I believe that we are making headway in the matter, it is a bit difficult to fight an enemy that can pop out of nowhere," she said, "therefore we need to continue observing it to find something that we can use whether it be a weak point or some...technological advancements."

[Dominic Geiszler]

"Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't something already exist to combat the mirror monsters? Granted most advent decks are lost somewhere within the city itself, but that's certainly an avenue I'd explore more seriously."

He paused for a moment, considering his words carefully, not wanting to offend. "If you had one to study however, could it be replicated? I feel as though we on The Circuit are reacting, rather than showing Shocker what we can do. Some risk is necessary if we're to beat them, don't you think?"

[The Sentinels]

Adriana's face fell to an emotionless one as she pondered on that. She had heard various people asking for a military raid on Detroit to search for the missing Advent Decks, but the problem was that Detroit was a large city and finding something small the size of a card would be a gargantuan task; if they had no risk of being attacked then they would be fine and they could commence exploration of it, however the number of soldiers that could potentially be killed far outweighed the benefit of the Advent Decks. "You would not be the first one to suggest that Mr Engel, but unless we start smashing every mirror-like object in the whole of Detroit we'll find it to be a bloody campaign just to get even one Advent Deck," Adriana said. "Yes risks are necessary, but in war you need to consider if the benefits outweigh the risk: will we lose more men than save them if we do obtain the deck? Will we even be able to find a compatible user? There are a lot of questions that needs to be answered and right now...we just don't have all the answers."

[Dominic Geiszler]

"The danger such a mission poses to the average soldier is precisely the reason that Kline & Associates have developed their own rider system. If ordinary troops are too much of a risk, than why not use riders to search out the decks?" Advertising the doctor's work wasn't what he had in mind, but he still had an image to uphold. "Don't worry. I'm not telling you how to do your job. No doubt you're far better at it than I am. But I do wonder whether all of us are doing enough."

[The Sentinels]

Oh? So this new PMC were creating Rider systems? Although the US military was also making their own Rider systems they had little luck in that regard, apparently creating a system from scratch was harder than it looks, they had some prototypes sure, but none of them held up under intense combat simulations. Perhaps the US should be looking towards this Kline & Associates for advice and assistance, "Thank you for your concern Mr Engel it has been noted," she said, "however we have a few projects that may help us immensely with the Shocker problem. But PMCs are still needed to keep the peace until such time we can fight back against these monsters."

[Dominic Geiszler]

Time for Dr. Kline to stop hiding. Why hadn't he thought of this before? The man had always seemed so scared to act, so insistent on keeping his rider system out of the public eye. He'd have no choice if the US military came knocking on his door.

Am I being too vindictive? Nah, it'll do him some good.

"It's my pleasure to help in anyway I can, Captain Washington," said Dominic. "And it's good to know the US is working to combat the problem. I'd expect no less of course."

[The Sentinels]

"And we thank you for your services," Adriana said, "and your welcome it's our duty to protect not only our citizens, but also the free world."

[Dominic Geiszler]

He smiled. "Quite right too."

Inwardly, he was breathing a sigh of relief. Finding himself incarcerated for saying the wrong thing to a US military captain wouldn't certainly put a stop to his efforts. Now, worst case scenario, Dr. Kline would be sending people to apprehend him. He could deal with that. Becoming the enemy of an entire country on the other hand...?

Ah well, I can't expect to stay under the radar forever.

With a bit of luck 'Mr Nic Engel' would hold up, while Dominic Geiszler went into hiding for a while. He had to trust that his friends among the PMCs and URSA wouldn't rat him out. Confidentiality was prized in their line of work.

[The Sentinels]

Adriana reminded herself to check out this Nic Engel and see if anything cropped up, she had a feeling that the man was telling a lot more than he was letting on. Also the Kline & Associates company will need to be investigated, but if they're in the EU then it'll be mighty hard to actually talk to them unless they have an office here in America. But either way she managed to talk to someone and gotten some information, a win in her book, "Well then Mr Engel I think I better get back...the brass is going to miss me," she said as there was a loud squawking noise as she looked up to see Patriot flying to her. She stretched out her arm as it landed on it and squawked at her, "What's wrong boy? Missed me?" as one of the aides breathlessly caught up to them.

"Sorry Captain he was being restless being photographed all the time and he just flew off," he said.

"Don't worry Lieutenant he gets restless without me around," Adriana said as she scratched his neck.