Difference between revisions of "Fred Offends Quebec, Threatens Canada"

Arthur will invite Fred over, and when Fred arrives, one of the interns gets the door. With a strong Quebecois accent, Fred is welcomed in, and "Doctor Hackenmiller-Simons" is called for Arthur comes up from the basement. "Thanks Max," Arthur says, as Max joins the other interns over by the coffee machine, at a table, working quietly. "Fred, thanks for coming by. Have a seat at the conference table if you don't mind. I invited you over because of something important, and I wnated to explain the context if you have the time."

Fred, his Landrover parked up nearby - the distinctive rattle of the engine the first herald of his arrival - lurches in to be welcomed by an intern. "Cheers," he says to the youngster with a smile. "Always nice to meet a Canadian." And then there's an Arthur, and he greets the man with a polite inclination of his head. "Thanks, sir," he says, the form of address sounding entirely natural on his lips as he turns to lurch towards the conference table. "I've nothing else on my schedule for the rest of the day, so I've all the time you need."

Max visibly bristles at the 'Canadian' comment. But he doesn't say anything, just burying himself in his school work. Arthur, cradling a metallic blue mug, sips and smiles. "Great. Look at the screen here. This is the Detroit river." Click. "This is a map of pollution patterns in the Detroit River. Note Zug Island highlighted in Red. Note the circled peak, no where near Zug Island." Click. "Highlighted in blue is Fighting Island, near the circled point. Fighting Island is a point of interest." Click. Picture of children. "Canadian schoolkids play on Fighting Island now, as it's been entirely cleaned from being a toxic waste site at Zug ISland levels. *Click back to the map*. "Fred, what do you know about Fighting Island, and ... " voice going quiet, so the interns won't over hear "studying entropic and temporal effects?"

Fred shrugs when Max bristles, then takes a look at the screen. "Interesting," he muses, then looks at Arthur again. "Temporal effects is what I do best," he says, his own voice pitched so it won't be heard by curious young ears. Perhaps oddly, he seems to know exactly how to do that. "Entropic ones, not so much, but I'm learning about that sort of thing at the moment. What I know about Fighting Island is that it's an island and presumably someone did some fighting there."

Arthur chuckles, and sits. "Well, Dr. Emma Durov and I are taking a trip to Fighting Island." he explains, quietly, such that the interns won't hear. "We have the logistics ready to make a covert crossing of the river. We still need to do preliminary reconnaisance. But we also want a third with us, to cover well, temporal and/or entropic studies. Are you interested in coming along?"

Fred nods. "I'm interested, absolutely," he says. "I will say, though, that I'm not very good at covert." He taps the head of his walking stick. "Not any more. Still, if you're willing to put up with me having leg problems, I'm happy to give it a go."

Arthur shrugs. "I'm fine with it. You can't walk across a river. I'm renting a dinghy, and will cover us, and it, with my Static Photonic Deflection Matrix."

"...Photonic... oh. Gotcha," says Fred. "Where were you a few years ago? I could've used something like that." His smile suggests that wasn't a real complaint, just a spot of wishful thinking.

Arthur smiles. "In the Washington DC area, working on drought mitigation. This front line stuff is different for me. So i'm glad you're in. Meet with Emma when you have a chance. We'll scout the island, and set a date to go."

Fred grins. "Front line stuff is home," he says. "I'll see what I can do to get sorted - I'm a little out of practice, though, so forgive me if I'm slower than I should be."

Arthur chuckles. "Well, I'm glad of that. You're traveling with two scientists. We need someone comfortable with this."

Fred smiles, then nods, sobering again. "Do I need to get my mitts on some firearms before we go?" His voice remains quiet - that is, after all, another thing interns shouldn't hear.

Arthur hums. "It's one thing if scientists are caught illegally entering Canda with research equipment. It's another if they're caught iwth firearms."

Fred smiles ever so slightly. "Fair point," he says. "I'll see if I can sort it for next time, but even if I can it'll take a while."

Arthur grins. "Want some coffee or pizza? That's what I needed to ask you. Also, if you have any questions..."

Fred grins. "Coffee and pizza are things I'm unlikely to turn down, just for reference," he says. "As for questions - I really don't know enough to know what to ask, if that makes sense? I'll pick things up as we go - I think you're generally aware of what I can do?"

Arthur nods. "Well, the interns have the pizza." Raising his voice. "I'm sure Max will be glad to each you how to say pizza in French, while he serves a slice to you." Max looks up, and turns bright red in embarrassment. Arthur adds "He's a good intern. Even if he always does a poor job of hiding his feelings."

Fred grins at Max, but it's a warm expression from the old soldier, not one with an edge to it. "I've worked with a lot of Canadians, and a lot of Quebecois," he says. "Good lads and lasses, the lot of 'em." His tone suggests that his approval is both genuine and hard-won.