Who:  Xu, Cid Kramer, Squall Leonhart, Sigurd, Bael, Hansi, Issei, Irvine Kinneas
Where: Cid's Office (mostly)
Why:  Time to bring Seifer home.  Oh yes, SeeD test for Issei and Irvine too.
Date of Log:  September 21st, 2000.








When the call came, it came in the form of the petite, dark haired woman who goes only by 'Xu'. Athletic, intelligent, and oh-so professional (except where certain, unnamed students are invovled), the woman brought a summons to each of the gathered students of Balamb, both Past and Present. Sigurd was notified first, requested to be presiding instructor. Squall and Bael came second, as SeeD partners, and Hansi was third, as 'communications'. Then, the cadets were fetched as well.

All were brought up to the third floor, the 'tower' of Balamb Garden, which houses the Founder of SeeD and his office and audience chamber. The room is almost a mockery of a royal audience hall, with a desk tucked in a corner, and a large, almost throne like wooden chair, flanked by the hooded, masked Garden Faculty. Within it is ensconced the chubby form of the Headmaster. Not a warrior, not this man, he remains an educator and administrator. Xu stands at his right hand, just before one of the faculty members, feet shoulder length part, hands clasped at the small of her back, her smile small but present. The Headmaster views those he's gathered before him, and then pushes his glasses before he begins this 'audience'. "Welcome, SeeDs and Cadets both. It has come to my attention that we have two young men who might be ready to join our ranks as SeeDs, and a request for aide has arrived most fortuitously at this interval."

Cid's voice is low, and he speaks as one might imagine a favorite uncle would-if one has a favorite uncle to compare him too, anyway. There's a parental tone, and his hazel eyes are oddly warm on two of these people in particular. Squall, of course, as Garden's 'golden boy', and Irvine, for some reason, both have a warmer regard then the others do. But he continues as he allows this information to sink in. "If you wish to test for your SeeD rank, speak now. If you wish to wait, speak now. I will begin the debriefing on this mission post-haste once I've got your agreements in order. Regardless, Sigurd, Squall, Hansi, and Bael will be dispatched, but Irvine, Issei, I'm giving you this chance to prove yourselves worthy of the rank of SeeD."

And of course when Cid calls Squall, as a SeeD, comes running. Not that he is ever gleeful about it, but you all get the idea. There is a number of reasons he's Goldenboy and one of those is that he does what he's told when he's told. Good little automoton, eh? Anyway, Squall arrives up the elevator and stands before Cid as he waits for things to begin, and then waits as things are started. The young man says nothing as he watches Cid, and only stands there with one hand on the hilt of his gunblade to keep it from banging against floor, or against his legs. There does seem interest in his blue-gray eyes when 'mission' is stated. Sure he doesn't know what it is, but all the same it means something to do! No more sitting around Garden trying to find something to do. Now if only Cid would actually get to the point for once and tell them what it's all about! No, Squall doesn't do anything, sorry. He stands and he listens.

The first to get in, Sigurd still only had a little time to ask what the situation was suppose to be about. Not much, of course, but enough to at least get the basis of what's going to happen. Of course, he has an inkling about what the mission was. Several maps had been pulled out of his own room, of areas that while are taught by Garden are hardly explored, due to the fact most people within those countries see the Godless Lands as heathen territory. But by the time the cadets and SeeD are brought up to the top level, he's as stoic as ever, arms crossed over his chest, face somewhat grim over this attire.
By the time Cid moves to speak, he continues to watch the headmaster, lips pulled into a thin line, head tipped just enough to listen. He knows everyone in here has at least gone through the Fire Cave... though this is hardly the exam that most people go through. Instead, he shifts just a moment, one eye looking over each person that does enter, before he lets Cid get to the point. Not much has come in the way of work, though one ongoing problem just might be solved. At least, he hopes as much.

Bael is affording the headmaster only the latter sum of his attention, with the better part applied to the habitual, nay, obsessive study of his fingernails. It's not as if they ever look any different, meticulously clipped and cleaned more times than most people brush their teeth in a day, but there you have it. Odd, lilac-hued eyes that match the equally outlandish color of his hair flit about the room as he lowers his hand and awaits Cid's arrival at the point. Having arrived at some point, neither first or last into the room, he's claimed a good, unobtrusive spot to stand during the briefing. Recognative nods are afforded to those he knows well enough, and then he lapses into a sloppy position of attention, managing to seem rigid and disciplined even while at rest, energy restrained by necessity with the understanding that his leash will be cut loose soon enough, if he merely waits it out.

Hansi straggles on in perhaps a scant minute before Cid begins his speech. To say he is unamused is an understatment of some... metaphorically huge proportion. Imagine, if you will, here he was. Writing out the PERFECT bridge to this song he's been workin on for the past month. Then.. Hola! Here comes this friggin Gopher Queen Zoo to utterly spoil his epiphany and tell him the Balambian version of Fat Bastard has summoned him. Nevermind that job thing.. it's the conspiracy behind it, he tells you! After uttering a small Tolstoy-sized litany of curses.. he rushed himself to the meeting room at the last minute. Filed in functionally at Bael's side.. but acchieves his 'Hi! I'm Saint Tuomas!' smile.. which, point of fact, is utterly fake. Standing at perfect attention like a good little toy soldier to see what Jolly Jelly Giant has to spittle in his vague direction. This, he would hope, better be good.

While he didn't exactly come running along like the resident Apple of Cid's Eye, when Issei got word his presence was requested by the Big Cheese, he didn't exactly dally about, and went straight up at the appointed time. Ever the good little cadet, if not horribly enthused to join the ranks of the SeeD. Upon entering the chambers, those cobalt eyes scan about each of the faces as he moves to a place to stand, though his gaze does settle on Sigurd a little longer then everyone else.. He'll never get used to it, you know. People who he can see, who he /knows/ are there.. but who his mind is telling him isn't there. Sometimes it sucks to be an empath. When Issei comes to a halt at a proper distance from Cid and the desk, he clasps his hands behind his back and stands firm, as befitting a SeeD cadet. The empathic waves coming off of Cid are.. less then comforting, especially as the headmaster voices that this will be an opertunity for the cadet's to advance their SeeD careers.. Still.. he can't very well stay a cadet all his life, now can he? He knew eventually he'd have to try and advance.. Might as well enjoy the break in monotony and go for it now. "I for one would welcome the opertunity, sir." he answers with resolve in his voice which is not quite matched in his head.. Of course, most of you won't know that, though Erato is starting to bitch at him.. >.<;

When the summons came, Irvine groaned inwardly. He's been repeatedly questioned about the 'numerous' sightings regarding one supposedly dead ShinRa General, namely Sephiroth. So it made sense to him that this was just going to be -another- one of those instances. He really thought no one had been aware that the white haired man had actually paid a visit to him again the night previous. Well, he thought anyway. Someone must have heard something... seen something. *sigh* But, one doesn't ignore these things without consequences, and so he shouldered the holstered, Midgar-made shotgun and pulled off the Galbadian Holy Cross from around his neck (promptly depositing it into the pocket of his duster) before heading out the door to be lead up here.
Upon entering, cornflower blue eyes glance around the room, noting those present as he's one of the last (just before Hansi) to actually arrive. Hmmm. SeeD. Several of them. No instructors, well save for Sigurd, none of the usually interroga-- er, concerned questioners, and hey, lookit that, Issei's here too, as well as Cid. The last gets the gunman's full attention, still remembering the man from years and years ago during the Orphanage days. Lips quirking to the left in neither a smile nor a frown as he listens, he feels relief wash over him when he learns this isn't what he thought. It's just a mission, nothing big, just a possible test to see if he's ready to become See-- hey. Whoa, this changes everything. Thrilled, Badb of course hops forward from the back of his mind, urging her chosen into the words he finally speaks, "I'm ready to be tested, Sir."

Cid can feel the love. Really...

But, being that he is the man that pays you, shelters you, feeds you, garbs you, and, arguably, keeps you safe within the bawn of his authority, so you're just going to have to suck it up and deal. This is a paramilitary facility, and is (Again, arguably) built on trust in one's comrades and the idea of a 'team'. So the loners of the group just have to deal. But at least it's something to feed the blood lust and satiate the need for movement and action, right?

With the answers he receives, Cid nods quietly, glancing first to Sigurd, his hazel eyes unreadable behind the discs of his glasses. But then he says, "We have received a request for aid from the Dukedom of Dollet, who, as you know, is one of our closest allies. I sent Xu to investigate this request, and she will report her findings to you. Xu?"

The woman steps forward a pace, her dark eyes gleaming with unabashed intelligence and a certain sort of odd enjoyment in the information she gives. "Early this morning, military aid was requested by the Dukedom of Dollet. They have been victims of a number of violent and magical attacks, especially in the area near the capital of Dollet itself. I took in a team of two to investigate. I have come to believe that the former--"

A cough here, from the headmaster. He disagrees, apparently, with that adjective.

Xu backtracks. "I believe that the... AWOL SeeD cadet Seifer Almasy is at the center of these assaults. He fits the description of the 'fiery angel' and the 'demon' both, and the assaults are carried out with both physical assaults and his signature flare for fire magic as well. I saw one such attack, and I can tell you that it matched his physical description to a t: six two, blonde, and wielding a gunblade, though the flames obscured everything else. I cannot say if he is in his right mind, or what's happened to him, however. His magic seems stronger then it's ever been. He was never that adept with his Guardian Force, and while Salamander is powerful, I know he's not /that/ powerful." Again, that smug assurance. She never did like Almasy. She's going to enjoy over-seeing this mission to beat him down and bring him back in irons.

Cid remains silent, though he lifts a hand to get the sharp-eyed woman to pause, and let those present digest the information.

Through out all that comes before Squall gives no reaction and says nothing. Only that slight bit of interest in his eyes. However, when Seifer is mentioned as the source of this assault on Dollet the young man winces and has to stare wide-eyed at Xu for a time. No he and Seifer never did get along, and more often than naught the teen got the shit beaten out of him in one way or another, only to give back in kind.. but Seifer attacking a city? That doesn't make sense at all! Especially not when the cadet has been gone so long. Squall totally misses the smugness from Xu, as he doesn't much care about her one way or another, but he does have to struggle with his emotions for a time. It doesn't show on his face in any other way then a deepening of that constant frown, but he is very much bothered. There is a look back to Sigurd with the news, and it's like the teen is asking the instuctor if this news could at all be true. Seifer wouldn't be doing stuff like this, would he? Both hands slowly tighten into fists, one around the hilt of that gunblade, and the other hanging at his side. The leather covering slender fingers creaks softly with the action. Going out to bring Seifer down and back. It's not a mission he finds much pleasure in. Sure he's going to go, but that doesn't mean he has to like it. Beyond that look to the instructor, Squall still doesn't say anything, and soon returns his gaze back to Xu and Cid. What now, Boss?

The complaints and the emotions, at least the inner ones not hidden, can be felt, and it only causes a slight twinge to suntanned features -- it's really why he keeps such a tight reign on his own, and why the only other empath in the room is blind to him. But the news that comes is the first he's heard of it as well, beyond the first bit. The fact that Seifer seems to be attacking Dollet brings nothing across his features, though the look from Squall causes a slight hunching of shoulders. Xu's information is usually correct... almost painfully so. If Seifer is the one attacking the area, it could mean far too many things than the man could comprehend in such a short time of being told. Still, there is one thing that Xu says that catches his attention... and it might bring the smug look off the woman's face. "Well, you're right in that. Salamander isn't that strong... not compared to some of the other Guardians, even if Seifer were adept in using him. Might I suggest, for now, that we make sure who this is... and then go from there. If it /is/ Seifer, and something more powerful has gotten hold..." Well, whether who wants to take the teen down... let's not be stupid about it.

Bael most likely compensates for the absence of response most SeeDs present display with the passage of an anticipatory, feline smirk across his deceptively calm countenance. Narrowed eyes glitter with a distant hunger, a thing now hearing a call and perking its ears in preparation to come bounding to the fore, stalled only by an absence of the quarry in question. He looks entirely too pleased upon receiveing the news, and lifts a hand to rub his chin as he ponders aloud, "Our least stable, least exemplary cadet has seen fit to take his 'vacation' from the Garden, having proven in the past to be a disaster waiting to happen. At least, Headmaster, you have the grace not to sound surprised." Okay, so maybe he's a bit jealous. When word of his past reached administrative ears, -he- was grilled repeatedly, and had it pounded into him that there were 'good guys' and 'bad guys' and indiscriminately maiming people was a bad thing. They called it therapy. And -he- received it even after settling beneath the surface and following the school like a good little fish. Seifer? They practically encourage his misbehavior. Pity should only be carried so far. But it's not that, so much, as a sense of vindication that swells his mood to near-euphoria. "He's become a liability. We -are- planning to eliminate the threat he represents in a decisive and...final manner, are we not?" It's nothing personal, beyond that little bit of jealousy. Bael just likes tearing people apart. So does Jormungandr, who tries to egg him on from the back of his mind. It's only been three years for this dysfunctional couple. The Serpent hasn't yet realized that Bael doesn't -need- encouraging.

Hansi is, by and large, in absolute agreement with his quietly psychotic compatriot, nodding sagely as he adds, "What he said." Inclining his head in the Human Terminator's direction. He must admit.. the beautiful picture of watching the Lord of Destruction here go SlaughterHouse on Seifer's skinny white buttox makes him almost forgive Zoo for rousing him from his musical hibernation. THIS.. will be a damn fun sight to see. He's had little dealings with the Other Blacksheep of Balamb.. and he must admit.. he hates competition. It's no small amount of smugness that he enjoys grinding the fact that HE.. at least.. made SeeD. Unlike this prideful punk who's gunna get a serious biblical-sized beatdown. Absent, from his mind, are any thoughts of there being any more depth to this mission than 'Seifer Bad, We Spank, Get Paid, Go Home, Smoke Bowl'.. But, regardless, his smile becomes several degrees more genuine now.

You know.. everything was all fine and dandy.. until you had to go and mention Dollet. All color drains from Issei's face, all sparkle in his eyes dies, and any hint of a smile of any expression other then one of silent dread vanishes from his face. Dollet.. His homeland. Now, while one might think the sudden change in mood has something to do with worrying about the people who reside there, wondering if perhaps his home village was one of those hit.. Only someone who could peer into the mind of the cadet would know that in actually, it's the simply prospect of being sent back to Dollet which scares the holy hell out of the poor kid. He already knew about the assults, and has contacted his family to find out that they are safe. No worries there. But.. argh.. You want him to go back home?! To risk seeing someone he /knew/ while on this mission? Oh please say no! Please say he's got the wrong idea about this and they're just.. piping out this information for.. some other reason! Sigh.. This is going to suck. This is going to suck SO bad.. As conversation gets started among the SeeD, Issei begins to look even less comfortable with what he's just agreed to.. Especially with Bael's little insinuation that this is an assination mission. Sure, Issei doesn't particularly care for Seifer.. but to hunt him down like a wild animal and kill him? That just.. doesn't sit right with either Issei, or Erato. Still, he's just a cadet.. and cadet's don't question orders, so he simply looks to Cid expectantly to hear exactly what it is that's going to have to be done.

Seifer. Well, Irvine knew the vacation from his roommate couldn't last forever. But, he could hope, right? Besides, it's been nice to have the double to himself for this long. He was almost getting used to it. How ironic that his first test at possibly becoming SeeD is spent trying to deal with the blonde wonder again. Cornflower blue eyes narrow ever so slightly at the news. Seifer attacking a city seems just as unlikely to the gunman as it does to the Golden Boy. He always had this noble way of being, an obsessive desire to be someone's knight in shining armor, no matter how misplaced and misguided his actions seemed. It had been one of the few things that salvaged him in Irvine's eyes. The reason why he'd actually defended Seifer in his absence, not once, but thrice.
Badb, on the other hand, has no patience for bullies and has never liked the redhead's roommate. As some breeze unfelt by anyone else in the room whips sharply through Irvine's ponytail, smacking the strands against the leather duster with an audible *thwap*, it's clear from the sudden distance in his eyes that the two are 'discussing' this. Heatedly. At least until Bael speaks up and then the gunman can't help but halt the inner converesation, turning his head to look at the highly lethal SeeD wordlessly.
Otherwise, he's not going to question anything, as a Cadet that sort of priveledge isn't yet his.

A flicker of something passes over Cid's eyes, an emotion unrecognizable dashing across his face before it's tucked away. "No," is the terse reply the headmaster gives. "We will not be killing Seifer. We will be subduing him, and bringing him home." Home. Do you hear him, Bael, Hansi? Bringing him /home/. Cid feels, deep down inside, responsible for the boy, which is probably good, because he /is/ responsible for a lot of Seifer's maladjustment. Of course, Seifer's also a jack ass by nature, so Cid can't shoulder the blame entirely. "And I would appreciate it, SeeD Bael, if you did not attempt to dictate policy, nor question my judgement where my students are concerned. Seifer will have what every SeeD Has. He has until his twentieth birthday to shape up. Then, and only then, will we remove him from our ranks and our Garden. Is that clear?"

He pauses only long enough for an answer from the sleek killing machine he's helped create, before he gives Xu another nod. The woman continues with her report. "Instructor Sigurd is indeed correct. We believe that Cadet Almasy has either become possessed, or is ensorcelled some how. His actions are not his own, even if he did initially go AWOL two months ago of his own accord. This is not the first time that Cadet Almasy has done so, but hopefully, having to be hauled home by SeeD and cadets in training, no less, will wound his pride and teach him to heel." The woman ignores the glance giving her back by the headmaster, and the tired sigh that escapes him. She hates the blonde wonder too, so Bael and Hansi aren't alone here. She wouldn't mind seeing him put down and out of her hair permanently. But then, she's another fine flower grown here in a Garden built on bodies from other people's wars. However, the plan was not created by her, even if the tactics were.

"We are to go to Dollet. We will hunt Cadet Almasy down. And we will subdue him. If, after all avenues have been exhausted, and Almasy remains at large, Garden will dispatch a Black Ops Squad, and they will take care of it from there." She looks to Issei and Irvine, and says, "If Almasy is captured, you both may pass SeeD. If he is not, neither of you will. There is no garuntee that you will pass even if he is apprehended. Sigurd will be over-seeing this mission as head instructor. Hansi will act as unit coordinator. Squall, you will be partnered with Irvine, as his SeeD back up in combat. Bael, you will serve as Issei's back up. We will leave for Dollet tonight. Are there any questions?"

Issei isn't the only one who has a problem with Bael's questions. Squall says nothing, and he never looks to the other SeeD, but storm colored eyes darken and the young man's stance tenses slightly to show that displeasure. For the empaths in the room he fairly radiates with it. Nope, didn't like that one at all. Sure the teen loves a good fight as well as any other, but there are long standing emotional issues with Seifer, who happens to be as close to family as Squall gets. Doesn't matter if Seifer doesn't feel that way in return, and yes Squall has a very good idea of how Seifer feels about the matter, the young man believes Seifer to be family and therefor something you protect instead of hunt down and destory.
As Cid shoots down the idea of killing and instead makes it very clear Seifer is suppose to be brought home aline, Squall rolls his shoulders to seek and relax his suddenly tense muscles. Xu isn't winning herself any points here either. The teen would be the last to start standing up for Seifer's actions, for the man is a jerk, but that doesn't mean he has to be kicked and treated like some disease! (Even if he is? >.>) Giving Xu a good glower through his hair, Squall nods his agreement with the assignment. He doesn't like it, but will live with it.

To oversee... to be the last resort when all else fails... that sounds about right. But at least Cid agrees with checking to make sure that Seifer is under all of his mental faculties. There are some that would say that the young man hasn't had them for a while now... though he only has an inkling of what's going on underneath the pompus surface. But the emotions that roll in bring a slight tenseness to the stoic one, though it fades away just as easily, and perhaps unnoticed by most as Sigurd listens to the order. He knows good and well why Cid gave that particular injunction about trying to subdue Almasy rather than kill outright.... but one never knows what's going to happen in the field. Well, he has a clue, but the introduction of a new factor, another possible entity doesn't sit well... and neither does the insistant shuffling of a trine-headed hound within his head, the want to get out and /do/ something about it.
Unfortunately, the Beast wants more to protect than to harm -- and it is also stuck in a query of who to protect. It's known the Knight Wannabe since its introduction to Sigurd... yet there is the Dukedom to consider. How it resolves itself will be taken up when he comes to it, but for now, he simply nods at the role given. "We will have to be careful. While Almasy has gone AWOL before, he hasn't attacked anyone as far as I know. While we have to subdue him, we are going to have to treat this as a neutral threat. Not friend, not foe... but to be neutralized none the less." Basically, because he has no idea what's going on in Seifer's head.... nor does anyone else for that matter, opinions aside.

"I don't see why you're asking -me-," Bael replies in the wake of Cid's rhetorical question. "You're the man behind the desk." The man is a team player and good soldier first and foremost, indulging his bloodlust only when circumstances permit. He absolutely -hates- being called 'SeeD Bael'. It's just -Bael-. One of the many joys in his life is forcing everyone to be on a first-name basis with him. No honorifics, no last name to bog down his identity. But even this is clamped down with the clenching of his jaw while his thinly pressed lips form a lazy smile, and a single lilac-hued brow arches upward. Of course it's clear to him. But a man can -dream-, can't he? The world would be done a tremendous favor if that rusty nail was hammered down in the most terminal sense, as he's quite beyond salvaging. Then again, the pair are destined to never get along. Seifer aspires to be the pinnacle of humanity and stands little chance of it, while Bael aspires to become something that can't necessarily be called human, and is doing far too well. He simply nods, then, and settles back to absorb information with a slightly defiant upward tilt to his chin.

Hansi, for the most part, settles himself in.. already beginning to contemplate his coming role. Munin in particular squaking in his head.. pecking at the depths of his mind.. goading him to ask more about the 'possession' thing. Damn G.F. likes knowing about that stuff... Rousing him from his internalized thoughts just long enough to nod in agreement with Cid. OKAY OKAY you @#$ing Bird, I'll find out what's going on with Seifer. As such, he remains standing by The Man.. 'Bael, for those whom don't know of his incredible Bad@##itude'.. soaking in the remaining details of the mission with uncharacteristic quiet. Hansi, for the most part, doesn't push his luck. He made SeeD by a THREAD and by no small amount of good graces from Captain Chubby here. As such.. at least in his presense.. he remains attentive and a teamplayer to the hilt. Still possessing that 'C'mon, I DARE you to slap me!' smile.

A side-ways glance is cast in Bael's direction as Issei is informed of who his partner will be.. Which he supposes isn't all that bad, considering he does seem to get along socially with the Big Bad. .. Then again, Issei can just guess at what Bael is like in the field.. so this.. is going to be.. interesting, to say the least. His attention goes back to Cid as the headmaster continues on, and when pause is given for questions, Issei finally speaks up, voice with just enough of a tenitive edge to suggest he's not too sure he has the right to ask, but is going to anyhow. "Where was the last sighting of Cadet Almasy, sir? So we know where to begin our search.." Issei knows Dollet pretty well, having grown up there, and perhaps he might be able to get an idea of where Seifer could be hiding if he knows what locations he's been haunting. "Is there any specific area of Dollet that the sightings have been consentrated in?"

Oh this is going to be interesting. Glancing over at Squall, Irvine tries hard to keep his expression neutral. Never being the type to care what others think, the redhead is suddenly reminded how much the Golden Boy dislikes him. This wasn't necessarily a problem. Not till now. Then again, it may not prove to be one yet, and the Crow known as Badb reminds him of this suddenly, *Jump off that cliff when you get to it, cowboy.* He can't help but agree.
The obvious tensions between the others regarding Seifer are relatively ignored after Cid's admonishment. Orders not to kill him were issued, so that kinda makes such things a moot point in his eyes, and no longer worth his concern. But then, he does regard Bael, and then Hansi, a moment longer. Hmmm. Jump off that cliff when he gets to it, too. Another look toward Squall and he sighs faintly. He can see the coming tensions, even if he's not empathic, the body language is there. Lovely, he'll just thankfully straddle the fence here folks, and probably, eventually, fall or get dragged to one side or the other.
At Issei's question, Irvine glances over at the other Cadet rather suddenly. A certain notsodead General had provided the redhead with information regarding Seifer awhile back, he just hadn't ever -shared- that information before. In fact, he'd actually forgotten it till now.

Xu answers for Cid, this time, since Issei is the only one with any questions. "He seemed to favor the area about Dollet City in particular. There are rumors that in one caravan from Galbadia, which was apparently transporting--" her lips curl in a derisive sneer, "--Holy Artifacts from the Capitol of the Church, that, once beaten back by two Holy Knights, that he fled toward the mountain the city is built near. Now, not even SeeD Has been allowed into the mountain yet, but we do have permission to pursue him there if necessary, though what we find is considered classified, as per our contract with Dollet." Like any of the men gathered here are actually interested in politics. "However, he has also been sighted along the coastline, in the northern mountains bordering Sairou-koku, and the eastern range by Konan-Koku. He's getting around, to say the least." She glances to Cid once, and then shares, as if this were unimportant, "Rumors are that because of the assault on a Holy Caravan, that the Church has dispatched a small contingent of Holy Knights. However, none have been sited in the city beyond the two with the caravan itself. Your orders, in regards to them, if they /are/ there, to attempt to avoid conflict, but if they pursue, make sure they understand they are violating Dollet's treaty with them. If pressed, or if they interfer with your duty, you may engage them. However, you may not, under any circumstances, kill them. We don't need the international troubles with the Holy Galbadian Empire."

Now satisfied, Cid does not further honor Bael's commentary. He rises from his seat-and immediately, Xu takes a step forward as the faculty members (one might've thought they were just decorative statuary from the way they never moved, not even, apparently, to breath) abruptly lurch into motion and flank him as he steps forward, to look at the others. He paces before each of the gathered men before him, quiet and almost grim, a stark contrast to the restrained giddiness that Xu portrays. He looks briefly to Squall and Bael. "Now, remember. Issei and Irvine are to take primary action. You are backup and reserve only. If possible make them rely on themselves for this, and step in only when nessecary. I want to see how they do on their own." A pause, and then he continues. "Now that your orders are understood, gentleman," he looks from each in turn: a vague look of sympathy for Sigurd, impassive command to Hansi and Bael, expectant hope for Irvine and Issei, and of course, total trust and respect for his Golden Boy, Squall. "Good luck, and Hyne's blessing on you all."

He glances to Xu, and gives a curt nod. "After me, men," she says tersely, before stepping up, and then past the group. A beeline for the elevator is made, as she waits for the group to follow. She's simply administration, and will see you as far as the stables and garage, and hands out the mission, set on paper, to each. Just so they have helpful little reminders! Another bit of proof that this is a government-esque operation: Insane amounts of pointless paperwork. Wait till you all have to fill out reports when you get back!

What? Is Squall the only one here who's not getting commentary over this subject? What's he doing right for once? Actually Ifrit only does anything when Squall sets himself to brooding and right now he's anything but. Ideas over what to do and how to go about this are whirling through his mind. Not that he's got enough information to really plan, but that doesn't mean he can't think things through. What little he knows about Dollet, it's landscape, the people.. just what are things going to be like there with what the teen knows about Seifer's abilities. After all, Squall did train with the other for his whole time here in Garden thanks to being the only other gunblade expert. Gives some insight and all of that rot.
As Issei starts asking questions, Squall looks back to the taller young man. He's used to getting information in route and not much here in the innitial gathering. Will be interesting if more is given now. Listening as Xu explains, happy for once getting something that doesn't have to deal with sitting in a vehicle getting orders, the young man finds himself dwelling over things and actually gets kicked by Ifrit for it. There, the GF did something. For all that it was worth anyway, which is not much truth be told. Squall winces a little, but is soon frowning at Cid. Oh, yeah, sure, Irvine gets to do all of the work. He understands and nods to show that he does. Sorry, the boy isn't verbose. As Xu leaves he turns on his heel, gives Irvine a brief, emotionless look, and follows the woman to the elevator.

Bael affords the Headmaster one of his vacantly attentive stares, the kind that convey that he has indeed heard and filed away every word, the kind that implies he'll act upon them to the strictest letter. For all that others find fault with him, he earns his wages and then some. That look remains fixed as he swivels his the weight of his gaze upon Issei, letting it settle there as expression creeps in, if only dimly. Gone is the smug anticipation of before, the mocking, challening tone. In its place is a simple, sober acknowledgement. This promises to be interesting, to say the least. After the wordless interlude, scarcely longer than the drawing of a breath, lilac eyes flicker away as Bael flows into motion, falling into place within the retreating procession with a blissful calm resonating from him.

Hansi wiggles his eyebrows at Cid in a silent 'I got it covered Boss'. Thusly he spins on his heel and files out after Bael... remaining completely silent up to and until the elevator door securely closes, once Cid is out of earshot, as the elevator begins rolling down.. he immediately smiles to Issei and Irvine, crossing his arms, "Well well.. You lucky bastiches! You get all the fun in putting smack down on that skinny punk. And here's a tip guys..When your wailing on that Wuss.." Gesturing his hand out, "Seifer likes to be spanked at an exact upward 45 degree angle. Or so I overheard Fuujin in the Lady's Locker.." Giving Issec in particular a wink and a few kisses in the air lewdly.. before letting out a hearty chuckle.. apparently getting his own joke. Naturally he's lying about the whole thing.. Well.. not the sneaking into the lady's locker.. but that's not something he'll hide in the first lie thanks. He'll pass the polariods out later. Indeed.. THIS is a mission he'll enjoy, even if he is just gunna cheerlead from the sidelines. After that AWOL Fuqer is brought down.. he's gunna step on that Skinny Bitches head and SURF him all the way back to Balamb and personally be there when he gets drummed out. Seif and his Disciplinary Committee cronies (His arch nemesi) have had this coming for a looong time, and he's gunna enjoy every last moment of it. Possessed or not.

The answer is filed away in Issei's brain as he nods to Xu, mentally picturing a map of Dollet in his head and trying to pick out what could be up in those mountains.. As they are dismissed from Cid's presence, the young cadet turns his silver-blue eyes to Bael and for a moment holds his gaze there, silently returning the acknowledgement, and ending the exchange with a short but polite nod before he turns to follow Xu.. The moutains of Dollet.. He never went up there. Dollet City never held much interest for Issei, as he prefered the quiet rural life. What could be up there? What could be in that area at all that would keep Seifer around for so long..? ... And that's when a certain memory hits him.. an assignment he had with Seifer. Grunt work, which Squall stumbled in on.. the box, with files.. yet more cause for Issei's face to drain of color and blood. He turns his head to look briefly back at Cid as he steps into the elevator, wondering.. should he mention it? Should he say something that could get both himself and Seifer into a whole hell of alot of trouble..? ... No. He'll keep quiet for now.. though, his fellow empath will probably pick up the heightened nervousness and tension which suddenly builds up.. Issei is pulled abruptly from his thought as Hansi speaks, and the cadet sighs inwardly, simply ignoring it.. until the SeeD makes the mistake of winking and blowing those kisses. Sorry, but you just pushed a very well hidden button, and those cobalt eyes immedtialy begin to blaze, fists clenching and jaw tensing.. "Back off, asshole." Issei growls, showing some of his strength and gutsiness for the first time infront of everyone in the elevator. Just the look in his eyes, and the sudden hostility that comes from his mind.. He's not joking, and he's deffinatly going to put some hurt on Hansi if he doesn't cut it the hell out.

                        Oh good God.

Irvine literally pales at the mention of Galbadian Holy Knights being dispatched, cornflower blue eyes widening. Suddenly anything else that's said is totally lost to him, hardly hearing a word that's said after the mention of 'Holy Knights'. His hand reaches into the pocket of his duster, for that stupid little Holy Cross that's become much more then the false, empty symbol it used to represent. Badb ruffles in the back of his mind, not at all understanding why he's suddenly... afraid, and she doesn't like it, not one little bit. This is -not- the kind of behavior she likes for him to display. Perhaps that's why after a moment, the color returns to his face and his gaze goes from doe in headlights back to some semblence of neutrality. Jump off that cliff when you gets to it. Yes, literally if necessary in that case. Keep telling yourself that, kiddo. They can't take him, they can't drag him back, he doesn't belong to them anymore. Treaty with Dollet, or something. Still, even as outwardly he's trained his reactions to be expressionless, his heart's still beating in that terrible rhythm.
Exiting with the others, he only glances at Hansi, lips quirking to the left again in the nottasmile/nottafrown expression. He's not quite as eager about this now, but it honestly has nothing to do with Seifer at this point. So, shrugging his shoulders he can't help but respond, in a weak attempt at some sort of humor in Hansi's direction, possibly taking heat off Issei also after his rebuttal, "Hey, you don't have to live with him when we drag him back." But, if he can pass the test and gain SeeD status, he won't have to either.

Hansi's eyes merely roll to the SeeDling. He thusly gesticulates.. waving his hands as he makes an 'OoooOOoooo' sound. "..Scary Yo.." Aaah.. Kids crack him up. They think they're people or something. Irvine, at least, seems to be able to take a friggin joke.. As he thusly warms up to the Cowboy, "Heh.. No kiddin yo.." giving Irvine a congradulatory pat on the shoulder, "..Hey, you look a lil pale there Yo.." noticing Irvine's seeming distress over the mission, leaning back against the wall of the elevator as he continues waiting the thing out, "Don't sweat it Yo. You got StoicBoy watchin your six.. and backup won't be far. You'll be fine yo." Smirking confidently.

Grrr... Man, just watch that vein pulse! Issei glares at Hansi's back as they are led to the transport, hands still gripped into fists which only clench all the more as Hansi speaks again. It takes certain specifics to push Issei's buttons.. but once they're down.. "You probably don't even know what 'yo' means, do you." the cadet grumbles, wishing he could just.. take a swipe at the jerk's ugly face. Just to be smart, Issei prattles off some statement in Hokkanese which ends with 'yo', which happens to be an assertive partical in that language. Something to the effect of 'You're a real perverted bastard', for those of you who speak the language. heh. As for Irvine.. on some level, Issei registers the mental state of the young man, but it isn't quite coming through just yet.. Give him time.

It's got nothing to do with the mission, honestly. Irvine would be fine and dandy if all this entailed was he and Issei going in and subduing Seifer with back up, just in case. Unfortunately, Holy Knights have entered the picture and they happen to be the cowboy's worst nightmare. The reassurance from Hansi distracts him from that thought though and he cants his head to the side, regarding the SeeD curiously for a moment, the dialect catching him a bit off guard, "Thanks, if all we have to face is Seifer, I'm not really worried though." Well, he probably should be, but honestly he's far more concerned about the former then the latter in this case, which undoubtably he's not hiding from Issei, even if the other Cadet isn't aware of what he's picking up on. He speaks no Hokkanese, however, so all Issei gets is a confused look from the cowboy. Galbadian dialect? Sure. Their fancy higher then thou religious language? Yes. Balambese and trader's tongue? Yep. Anything else? Not one whit.

Hansi's dialect is something the soft-nosed lil virgin boy probably wouldn't understand. It's called 'Slang'. A proper dissertation of the grammatical roots of the bastardization of the standard Balambese language would probably take far too long for the prepubescent to properly understand.. as such.. here merely snorts at the Kid. Reminding him, as a mere Cadet, his opinion doesn't matter until that SeeD rank gets afforded to you. Consider it the ultimate Freshmen Verses Senior division. Mercifully he refrains from ticking off the kid any more.. afterall.. he DOES have to work with him for at least this mission. The real name calling will happen later.. and maybe even lessened a bit if the Kid gives Seifer a few good wallops, meanwhile.. to Irvine here merely communes, "Baah.. Nuthin else to this dink of a mission Yo. Yah.. some Galbadian dip@#$he are probably poking their heads around.. but they're about as collectively thick as Der Fuhrer Cid's waistline. They ain't gunna be a problem, Yo. Personally.." gesturing to himself, "I'm lookin forward to some of them FAT@$$ Dollet Cigars Yo. Dat Sheetz the best, Seriously Yo. First goddamned thing I do on the way home is light one of those badboys up for a Victory Dance, yo." Banging his head enthusiastically.. wringing his hands together anxiously. This WILL be fun..