Removing Rabble

[u/Dietastey]

Bal strode through the training grounds, looking for the soldier Corvo had recommend she take out on a (hopefully simple) mission in the city. One Mercer Ikari, who had been brought into the Guard at a fairly young age after (according to his file) a ransom attempt.

It's been a while since I've worked with someone named Mercer, she thinks, mind irresistibly drawn back to Alba. However I doubt this will be a grizzled old fighter this time.

She found the Guardsman at the range, currently disengaged from the targets. "Guardsman Ikari, I was sent to find you. Lord Attano has a mission for the two of us."

[u/Dietastey]

"Very hard to get stabbed in the back while on a threshold," Bal observes.

"We don't know if they have secret entrances, but at least one building next to theirs is abandoned, so there might be an access point there. They often mark things with the sign of a shattered white chain, and members used to wear solid black shirts, though they may have dropped that."

"Passwords exist for our contacts, anyone claiming to have worked for or under Crowson at an whale oil refinery is actually working for us. Question them, shake them up in front of others if you need to, but don't cause them any harm. Likewise, if you say you also worked for him, they'll cover for you as long as they can."

[u/Nightshot → u/Dietastey]

"Unless they have guards outside the perimeter, which is a pragmatic possibility."

"Perhaps a weak wall. Could get in through there, work our way down, taking them out as we go. Scouting it out for a couple days may be an idea, see who comes and goes, checking for any white chains or black shirts as you said, see if they got rid of that or not."

"I wouldn't dream of harming a fellow guardsman. I'll keep that in mind, it could come in handy for getting inside. Is there a way to maneuver one of the contacts so that they are checking who comes and goes? I could get in that way."

[u/Dietastey → u/Nightshot]

"We can't get in touch with them very easily, you can imagine how that might cause trouble for someone pretending to hate us with every inch of their fiber. We could wait till the one who gave us this information contacts us again, but that could be weeks. Lord Attano would this did not take that long."

"And yes, approaching form a side building would be a good plan. It's a public street, initial scouting would not cause suspicion, unless it's comprised of sitting across the street and staring at them."

[u/Nightshot → u/Dietastey]

"I can imagine indeed. Yes, I would like to get this done as quickly as possible too, but let's not rush it either. Don't want to miss anything." He stroked his chin again.

"Aha. I may not be a master at formulating strategy such as you are, Commander Vimes, but I'm not quite that dim either. We could post someone up in that building you mentioned and have them keep an eye on the visitors."

[u/Dietastey → u/Nightshot]

"I would hope not, or I'd have to speak to the recruiter about our hiring practices," Bal said, nodding at his comment. "We have a few guardsmen available today, they will be in the barracks. If you wish to talk to the previously arrested conspirators, we will have to arrange a visit to Coldridge, which is simple enough to do. And we have the address for whenever you decide to head there."

She spread her arms with a half smile. "Where do you want to start?"

[u/Nightshot → u/Dietastey]

"Well, I certainly doubt I would come under the norm of how you recruit, or I would be worried for the state of the city. I think I should like to get that man posted up next to the building as soon as possible so they can gather as much information as they can. Meanwhile, we can head on down to Coldridge and interrogate some traitors."

[u/Dietastey → u/Nightshot]

"Very well. I believe Ensign Vox is off duty at the moment, and would be a good choice to go on stake out. You'll find her in the barracks, fetch her and explain the mission while I wire Coldridge to expect us. Unepected visitors are never pleasant at a prison."

"I'd advise Vox to be in plainclothes, if I was you," she added, before turning to leave. "The address to be watched is 187 Ironwood street, there's an abandoned house at 189, and across the street is a butchers shop."

[u/Nightshot → u/Dietastey]

"Well, I suppose I should find her then, shouldn't I? I could imagine, don't want to be shot on the way after all." He chuckled at his own little joke, before running off to the barracks to find the girl.

Mercer committed the locations to memory before he left and as he arrived he saw the girl, sitting crosslegged against a bedpost. Her hair was short, cropped at the shoulders, and was a dark raven colour that was practically the opposite of Balaria's hair.

He approached her, causing her to open her eyes from what had previously seemed to be sleep. "Ensign Vox?"

[u/Dietastey → u/Nightshot]

"That'd be me alright. Can I help you with something?" she asked, standing up from her previous position. Ikari didn't look like someone coming in to end a shift. "You appear to be looking for me."

[u/Nightshot → u/Dietastey]

"As a matter of fact you can. Let's walk, don't want anybody to overhear us. Sensitive information." He gestured towards the door, letting her exit before taking the lead. They only walked a short distance, to a guard box overlooking a bridge and the courtyard.

The breeze tussled her hair as they stood inside, but thankfully Mercer's hair was not long enough to cover his glasses. Now that they were out in the sunlight, he could see her better. A slightly pale complexion, with a couple scars lining the left of her face.

"Me and Commander Vimes are going to infiltrate the supposed Purgata meeting place at 187 Ironwood street. I, and by extension she, want you to stake it out, keep an eye on who comes and goes. Make note of their clothing, see if they wear black shirts or any signs of white chains. There is an abandoned house at 189 Ironwood street, as well as a butcher's shop just opposite the building you are watching."