Steven Durante + Carly, Connie, Steve Palchuk, Lydia, Tyler, Spinel, Emet, London, Diego, Osomatsu, Jules, Speedwagon and Doppio (with various support from Dirk and Jack) i.e. BASICALLY EVERYBODY
CURRENT RANK: Spinel, London, Diego, Osomatsu, Jules, Speedwagon and Doppio are all Grunts.
Connie, Steve P, Lydia, Tyler and Emet are all Privates.
Steven and Carly (and Dirk who didn’t come in person but supplied important pokemon/equipment for the heist) are Betas.
(And Jack, who kept guard over the safe house/made pizza while the others were actively thieving, is our resident Alpha.)
REQUESTED REWARD: While Steven’s going to let everyone who’s here for the heist take a single stone from their pile of loot before turning it in as his own award to them for participating, he is definitely encouraging them to make their reward requests to the admins too, once they bring back their haul--especially if they’ve managed to bring back a large one.
A few of the heist participants have special requests, however. In particular, Lydia, Spinel, and Osomatsu all want shinies. While Spinel got her first recently and might not qualify for another this soon, neither Lydia or Osomatsu have one yet. Lydia’s could be one she catches in the cave as opposed to one that the admins award her, if her somewhat contentious relationship with them makes it less likely that they’ll give it to her. And as far as Osomatsu goes, he already got a big wad of cash and he doesn’t think they’ll let him rank up yet, so shiny it is. Meanwhile, Emet-Selch is definitely interested in cash money but also in multi-use TMs that would aid him and his all-rotom team in the gym challenges, because someone (aka Dirk) is making his boyfriend go after badges. Finally, Steve P wants a multi-use TM since those are nice and useful.
Otherwise, everyone else is good with the fat stacks of cash money, plus whatever goodies Team Rocket would see fit to hand out to them.
(Oh! And presumably latecomer Doppio wants cred with the admins with an eye to ranking up in the future.)
Steven, while he would appreciate that fat cash bonus, is mostly asking for… well, for recognition for their crew of otherworlders by Team Rocket for their competency and consistency together. Under Handsome Jack’s watchful eye and through Steven’s own efforts at mentorship with the most recent recruits, the otherworld Rockets have brought in haul after haul of valuable loot for the Team these last six months, with very few missteps in the process. And that ought to be acknowledged by the admins. He knows their kind has a reputation for being difficult and having learned about some of their predecessors he understands why, but he truly believes that this group is different.
JUSTIFY THE REWARD: So. Way back in May, when the Admins had declined Steven’s first request for promotion to Beta, he decided that at some point he’d take the entire team (or nearly) of otherworlder transfers on a large scale heist, like Dirk had done with them for the Pewter Museum and the Lapras Heist and then he’d ask again for his promotion. After deciding on the evolution stone mine in Blackthorn made a damn good target, he then spent time researching it and finding out its defenses and hours of operation while otherwise in town to challenge Clair. Then, of course, he got promoted anyway in early August, but by that point Steven was already set on taking everyone on the heist. After all, it could make for a good team bonding experience.
The heist itself is set to take place roughly a week after the return from Sinnoh, plus maybe a few more days, which should allow enough time for everyone to get to Blackthorn, even if some of them might have to get a lift from someone who can Fly. It should also be just before the mine is set to send out a large shipment of evolution stones to its distributors, so their storeroom is full of precious loot. We’ll be operating out of Handsome Jack’s ski chalet as our home base/safehouse--and in fact, staying and keeping watch over that safehouse while the others more actively heist is exactly what Jack will be doing during the course of this mine heist. That he can do it while also watching television and heating up a shitton of post-heist pizza is merely coincidental. Jack is also in charge of lying to the Jennies if, god forbid, they attempt to visit the safehouse.
Everyone who’s going to the mine has been given escape ropes, plus gas masks and infrared goggles if they want them. They also all have at least one teleporting pokemon with them. Either they already had a teleporter to start with, one of their pokemon has been taught the move via TM, they’d been given a young Abra or Natu who’d been born knowing the move, or they’re just borrowing a teleporter from another Rocket who has more than one (which some do.) This is, of course, because they’ll be teleporting from Jack’s ski chalet to the mine entrance, some few hours after sunset--at which point all the miners will be gone for the day, leaving only the mine security and the pokemon who’re helping them guard it.
That’s when the rockets split into two groups. The first group, the Distraction Team, is comprised of Carly, Connie, Lydia, Steve Palchuk, Emet-Selch, Emet’s rotom-powered drones that scream down the boulevard and Pulse Train, Dirk’s Level 100 Klinklang. Their job is to distract the mine security and the pokemon inhabiting/guarding the mine… which of course they’re going to mostly be doing through combat. Except for Emet-Selch (and Pulse Train, naturally), the trainers in this group have been members of Team Rocket since March or earlier and have high-level pokemon. As for Emet-Selch, well, he’s got all his rotom-powered drones, plus some Yamask who can possess security guards and make them go after their compatriots, so he’ll be fine. Pulse Train, meanwhile, is zipping around and independently fighting on his own, Steven having given him very general instructions before they went in. Beyond that, the Distraction Team will be fighting dirty as hell. Multiple pokemon out at once, attacking the security guards instead of the Pokemon first, using status moves against humans, physically attacking using fists and improvised weapons… if it’s a nasty trick, they’ll use it. The goal is to neutralize the mine security in whatever way possible. If they’re lucky enough to render guards unconscious, they’ll then steal their pokemon, recalling them into the balls. They’ll also likely try to catch what pokemon inhabitants of the mine they can.
The other group is the Thievery Team: Spinel, London, Diego, Osomatsu, Jules, Speedwagon, and Doppio. Except for Spinel, they’ve all joined Team Rocket more recently than the Distraction Team and their own pokemon teams are on the whole less strong that the other group’s, which is why while the Distraction Team is occupying mine security, the Thievery Team is stealing all the evolution stones and otherwise precious items that they can get their hands on. Steven himself is with the Thievery Team, using his Klefki and his own Rotom to subvert all the locks, physical and electric, that might stand in their way. They’ll be hitting up the storeroom where the miners keep the stones they mine before they’re shipped out, as well as the mine office in hopes of grabbing any loose cash or anything in the office safe. Steven’s Rotom will also mess with any electronic security records that might be around, because Ghost in the Machine is a good, helpful little spoop.
Meanwhile, during all this, Tyler is outside playing lookout, because the inside of a dark mine is no place for a deaf guy. Using Dirk’s TriCal Threat (which Dirk obligingly lent alongside Pulse Train) allows him 360-degree long-range vision in order to spot any Jennies/vigilantes/PGC members long before they make it to the mine and he also looks cool while doing it, given that the Kamina shades are part of the rig. Meanwhile, his Houndoom Dexter is busy burning a giant R made out of flames in front of the mine, because normal calling cards aren’t nearly as badass. If Tyler spots anyone coming to interfere before they’re done, he’ll use his psychic pokemon to broadcast the signal to retreat--at which point both teams will stop what they’re doing, use their escape ropes to bring them back to the mine entrance, and teleport the fuck away back to Jack’s ski chalet.
If there’s no interference, then the Thievery Team books it as soon as they’ve secured everything of value that hasn’t been nailed down, alerting the Distraction Team as they leave, so that they too can book it out to the mine entrance and everyone can teleport the fuck away back to Jack’s ski chalet, where inside Jack is waiting for them alongside a shitton of pizza for everyone to eat while they catch their breath and tally up the loot. Time to change out of uniforms, take turns washing up, and in general rest. Which may or may not involve sleeping on couches/on air mattresses or doubling up in beds, since while the ski chalet has multiple guest rooms it’s also not as big as Jack’s actual house. Though Steven and Jack will be taking their own bed, thank you very much. (Please ignore any noise you might hear coming from their bedroom. Steven might not be loud but Jack is and post-crime sex is the best sex. If anyone didn’t know they were together before, they probably do now.)
Anyway, the next day they will pack up said loot disguised as luggage and warp their way back to Goldenrod, to present the admins with the contents of their haul, both bags of stones and whatever pokemon they can catch/steal in the process. But before all that, as mentioned in the rewards, everyone on the heist gets to pick out one of the evolution stones from the haul to keep before turning the rest in, unless the haul is so pathetic that this would make a notable dent--which shouldn’t be the case given that, as mentioned above, they staged the heist shortly before the stones were due to be shipped out. Jack gets one too, since he provided support in the form of pizzas and safe house, and either Connie, Carly, or Emet gets to grab one for Dirk, as thanks for his own provided support in the form of Pulse Train and the Tri-Cal Threat.
And as long as everything goes as planned, this should give the admins a real taste of what the otherworld transfers can do when they work together.
MINE HEIST MINE HEIST
Connie, Steve P, Lydia, Tyler and Emet are all Privates.
Steven and Carly (and Dirk who didn’t come in person but supplied important pokemon/equipment for the heist) are Betas.
(And Jack, who kept guard over the safe house/made pizza while the others were actively thieving, is our resident Alpha.)
A few of the heist participants have special requests, however. In particular, Lydia, Spinel, and Osomatsu all want shinies. While Spinel got her first recently and might not qualify for another this soon, neither Lydia or Osomatsu have one yet. Lydia’s could be one she catches in the cave as opposed to one that the admins award her, if her somewhat contentious relationship with them makes it less likely that they’ll give it to her. And as far as Osomatsu goes, he already got a big wad of cash and he doesn’t think they’ll let him rank up yet, so shiny it is. Meanwhile, Emet-Selch is definitely interested in cash money but also in multi-use TMs that would aid him and his all-rotom team in the gym challenges, because someone (aka Dirk) is making his boyfriend go after badges. Finally, Steve P wants a multi-use TM since those are nice and useful.
Otherwise, everyone else is good with the fat stacks of cash money, plus whatever goodies Team Rocket would see fit to hand out to them.
(Oh! And presumably latecomer Doppio wants cred with the admins with an eye to ranking up in the future.)
Steven, while he would appreciate that fat cash bonus, is mostly asking for… well, for recognition for their crew of otherworlders by Team Rocket for their competency and consistency together. Under Handsome Jack’s watchful eye and through Steven’s own efforts at mentorship with the most recent recruits, the otherworld Rockets have brought in haul after haul of valuable loot for the Team these last six months, with very few missteps in the process. And that ought to be acknowledged by the admins. He knows their kind has a reputation for being difficult and having learned about some of their predecessors he understands why, but he truly believes that this group is different.
The heist itself is set to take place roughly a week after the return from Sinnoh, plus maybe a few more days, which should allow enough time for everyone to get to Blackthorn, even if some of them might have to get a lift from someone who can Fly. It should also be just before the mine is set to send out a large shipment of evolution stones to its distributors, so their storeroom is full of precious loot. We’ll be operating out of Handsome Jack’s ski chalet as our home base/safehouse--and in fact, staying and keeping watch over that safehouse while the others more actively heist is exactly what Jack will be doing during the course of this mine heist. That he can do it while also watching television and heating up a shitton of post-heist pizza is merely coincidental. Jack is also in charge of lying to the Jennies if, god forbid, they attempt to visit the safehouse.
Everyone who’s going to the mine has been given escape ropes, plus gas masks and infrared goggles if they want them. They also all have at least one teleporting pokemon with them. Either they already had a teleporter to start with, one of their pokemon has been taught the move via TM, they’d been given a young Abra or Natu who’d been born knowing the move, or they’re just borrowing a teleporter from another Rocket who has more than one (which some do.) This is, of course, because they’ll be teleporting from Jack’s ski chalet to the mine entrance, some few hours after sunset--at which point all the miners will be gone for the day, leaving only the mine security and the pokemon who’re helping them guard it.
That’s when the rockets split into two groups. The first group, the Distraction Team, is comprised of Carly, Connie, Lydia, Steve Palchuk, Emet-Selch, Emet’s rotom-powered drones
that scream down the boulevardand Pulse Train, Dirk’s Level 100 Klinklang. Their job is to distract the mine security and the pokemon inhabiting/guarding the mine… which of course they’re going to mostly be doing through combat. Except for Emet-Selch (and Pulse Train, naturally), the trainers in this group have been members of Team Rocket since March or earlier and have high-level pokemon. As for Emet-Selch, well, he’s got all his rotom-powered drones, plus some Yamask who can possess security guards and make them go after their compatriots, so he’ll be fine. Pulse Train, meanwhile, is zipping around and independently fighting on his own, Steven having given him very general instructions before they went in. Beyond that, the Distraction Team will be fighting dirty as hell. Multiple pokemon out at once, attacking the security guards instead of the Pokemon first, using status moves against humans, physically attacking using fists and improvised weapons… if it’s a nasty trick, they’ll use it. The goal is to neutralize the mine security in whatever way possible. If they’re lucky enough to render guards unconscious, they’ll then steal their pokemon, recalling them into the balls. They’ll also likely try to catch what pokemon inhabitants of the mine they can.The other group is the Thievery Team: Spinel, London, Diego, Osomatsu, Jules, Speedwagon, and Doppio. Except for Spinel, they’ve all joined Team Rocket more recently than the Distraction Team and their own pokemon teams are on the whole less strong that the other group’s, which is why while the Distraction Team is occupying mine security, the Thievery Team is stealing all the evolution stones and otherwise precious items that they can get their hands on. Steven himself is with the Thievery Team, using his Klefki and his own Rotom to subvert all the locks, physical and electric, that might stand in their way. They’ll be hitting up the storeroom where the miners keep the stones they mine before they’re shipped out, as well as the mine office in hopes of grabbing any loose cash or anything in the office safe. Steven’s Rotom will also mess with any electronic security records that might be around, because Ghost in the Machine is a good, helpful little spoop.
Meanwhile, during all this, Tyler is outside playing lookout, because the inside of a dark mine is no place for a deaf guy. Using Dirk’s TriCal Threat (which Dirk obligingly lent alongside Pulse Train) allows him 360-degree long-range vision in order to spot any Jennies/vigilantes/PGC members long before they make it to the mine and he also looks cool while doing it, given that the Kamina shades are part of the rig. Meanwhile, his Houndoom Dexter is busy burning a giant R made out of flames in front of the mine, because normal calling cards aren’t nearly as badass. If Tyler spots anyone coming to interfere before they’re done, he’ll use his psychic pokemon to broadcast the signal to retreat--at which point both teams will stop what they’re doing, use their escape ropes to bring them back to the mine entrance, and teleport the fuck away back to Jack’s ski chalet.
If there’s no interference, then the Thievery Team books it as soon as they’ve secured everything of value that hasn’t been nailed down, alerting the Distraction Team as they leave, so that they too can book it out to the mine entrance and everyone can teleport the fuck away back to Jack’s ski chalet, where inside Jack is waiting for them alongside a shitton of pizza for everyone to eat while they catch their breath and tally up the loot. Time to change out of uniforms, take turns washing up, and in general rest. Which may or may not involve sleeping on couches/on air mattresses or doubling up in beds, since while the ski chalet has multiple guest rooms it’s also not as big as Jack’s actual house. Though Steven and Jack will be taking their own bed, thank you very much. (Please ignore any noise you might hear coming from their bedroom. Steven might not be loud but Jack is and post-crime sex is the best sex. If anyone didn’t know they were together before, they probably do now.)
Anyway, the next day they will pack up said loot disguised as luggage and warp their way back to Goldenrod, to present the admins with the contents of their haul, both bags of stones and whatever pokemon they can catch/steal in the process. But before all that, as mentioned in the rewards, everyone on the heist gets to pick out one of the evolution stones from the haul to keep before turning the rest in, unless the haul is so pathetic that this would make a notable dent--which shouldn’t be the case given that, as mentioned above, they staged the heist shortly before the stones were due to be shipped out. Jack gets one too, since he provided support in the form of pizzas and safe house, and either Connie, Carly, or Emet gets to grab one for Dirk, as thanks for his own provided support in the form of Pulse Train and the Tri-Cal Threat.
And as long as everything goes as planned, this should give the admins a real taste of what the otherworld transfers can do when they work together.