#rigby responds

[captainwaynerigby]

Captain Rigby, it has come to this publication’s attention that you are dating Scott Tracy - a person over whom you have authority as GDF reporting officer. Is this appropriate?

And is it true those eyes have hypnotic powers?

…

Incorrect.

Scott Tracy and I are not dating.

That would be highly unprofessional; you are right to point out that I am indeed his reporting officer, and that it would be inappropriate.

Which publication is this? Your source is terrible.

[captainwaynerigby]

Okay, Riggers ,so I might have overreacted, which means that you don't have to pull out all the paperwork, as i know that you hate that with a passion

I received a message from my former boss. He is still trying to get me to join him. As soon as I received it, panic set in, and I thought he'd found me

Panic over

H

You're right to say I hate it with a passion, @causing-havoc. Thanks for letting me know. I'll keep them handy though, just in case.

As for your former boss, I'll see what the GDF can do. It's in our best interests, as well as your own, that you aren't ever persuaded by him to join his cause again. We might not be able to cease his attempts forever, but we might be able to give you a little peace.

Let me know if there is anything else that is bothering you, no matter how small or inconvenient. The Tracys pulled enough strings to make sure you and your brother were safe after all. Don't want to disappoint them.

— Captain W. Rigby

[captainwaynerigby]

Hey there, me again ...

I've been thinking

Since your tech is a little outdated and slow as molasses, plus ... I've noticed that there are big gaping holes in security that hackers - namely me - can easily get in and cause problems. Yes, I'm aware that not everything is security proof

How about employing me?

Someone suggested that instead of trying to hack into your system to try and fix things, that I should ask nicely

Under very strict supervision of course

H

Well, that certainly wasn’t a message he was expecting to receive today. Rigby’s first, instinctual reaction borders onto insulted. To call the Global Defence Force’s technology outdated and slow? That was… not exactly untrue, no matter how much it pained him to admit.

The GDF’s gear wasn’t a complete waste of time. It ran at a moderate speed me it had basic security, the bare necessities to keep the organisation running relatively smoothly. But it wasn’t perfect. Compared to the likes of International Rescue (who are bankrolled by a family of billionaires and aren’t running off governmental grants, it must be noted) the technology utilised by the GDF probably did need some updating.

Whether Havoc was the most suitable candidate was a whole other question.

Unlike other members of the organisation, Rigby was someone who believed in rehabilitation and second chances, so long as that criminal was willing to co-operate and change.

He opens up a message to reply.

You raise an interesting point. There are issues with security, issues that will always need to be updated and kept on top of. Let me run it by some of my superiors.

Personally, I would let you have a trial run, under the strictest of supervision, as I do think you and your skills could be of use to us, but there are some of the top brass who are a little… less trusting of criminals. If we pitch it right, we might be able to convince them. Maybe.

Captain W. Rigby

[captainwaynerigby]

Hey Riggers, how's my favourite security guard ?

And whatcha doing?

Have you had your third cup of coffee yet?

I'm bored, amuse me

H

I'm glad to hear I'm somebody's favourite.

What am I doing? Currently compiling a report for the completed training from the weekend. We have a few promising cadets who, thank God, seem to be more than capable. Beyond that, you're not cleared to know — I heard you were teasing one of our cadets the other day. Don't make me limit your communications privileges again, Havoc. Remember; show to me that I can trust you and you'll be given that trust.

As for coffee... Is it terrible that I'm on my fifth?

Don't let that boredom turn into something unproductive. Keep on the straight and narrow.

[captainwaynerigby]

Hello Captain Rigby Sir I have a question. Well sort of asking advice really.

I have to write this… let’s call it a “report” for my seniors. Well, not exactly seniors as in technically we are equal in rank but… look I just have to write a report otherwise they will yell at me and there will be conference calls and who has time for that?

Thing is - the report is about why this crazy situation went down and what my colleagues and I did about it and whose fault it was and what do we do to stop it happening again.

My problem is - the entire reason / fault / problem is these exact same guys being ENTIRELY INCOMPETENT at their job but I have a feeling if I say that in my report to them they will get… angsty.

So… what should I do?

Be honest and say they created the problem themselves by not doing their jobs properly and they need to just stop being rubbish and employ some competent people or listen to the experts for once?

Or fudge it?

I don't think I yell, Tracy... Do I? That's besides the point. I'm getting off track.

Let us begin with the honesty part.

Always be honest. Even if that requires throwing us these "incompetent" guys under the bus. Yes, I did just say that. Bear with me and for the love of all things holy, don't tell my superiors I just said that.

As an officer in the GDF, I respect nothing less than complete honesty. How is an organisation supposed to improve themselves if they never take accountability for their inadequate actions? It is true that the GDF handle certain situations with... less care than required. I shall hold my hands up and say we're not always as cautious as we should be and that we do often bulldoze headfirst into situations that might need more time and careful planning.

However, we do learn from that. We try to. We're trying to. I can't speak for the entire organisation, but I can speak for me and my team when I reassure anyone who sees this that we do try.

Am I always the most approachable? Absolutely not. Ask Kayo how long it took her to defrost me. She'd be the first to say I'm one of the most unfriendly officers around (though I do hope the thawing process has made her see things differently now).

That being said, I would like to think that I can accept valid criticism where it's due. How can I ever hope to improve my work if I am never held accountable?

Be honest, Scott. Within reason. If the fault lies with me, my team or the GDF as a whole, point it out. Never fudge a report. In fact, the very idea of you even thinking of fudging the report has me more angsty. How many reports have you fudged?! Do I need to go back and check them all?

Sigh.

Listen. We're not your enemies. We're actively working to not be, anyway. Be honest, point out the flaws, and help us work with you.

[captainwaynerigby]

Chris Evans twin?????

... Pardon me? I'm afraid you'll have to be a bit more specific, citizen. Are you asking me whether I have a twin who goes by that name? Or are you asking me whether I just look like this... Chris Evans?

[captainwaynerigby]

::: Incoming Private Message :::

Rigz, Scott here.

Look, I know your lot are saying they are all over last night’s debacle but we both know that can have a few different meanings.

I don’t ask you for favours often but this one hit us so hard and I can’t just sit back and wait for months for the investigation to just be NFA’d as inconclusive like so many are. Could you just make sure it keeps moving? That the assigned team don’t get ‘diverted’ suddenly on to something shinier?

My family have so many ghosts already, it would really help if we can lay these latest ones to rest with some kind of sense of justice.

See you in the conference call later.

::: End Private Message :::

Rigby had been sat as his desk for over two hours when the message blinked across his screen. His half-eaten apple lay to one side of his forgotten other reports that were scattered nearby, the screens in front of him blinding him in the dimly lit room of his office. Still, Rigby stared at them.

He hadn’t been in attendance, too busy being ushered away on some other “urgent” assignment instead when the news came through. Reading the basic reports that were already beginning to filter through to him, Rigby couldn’t decide whether it had been a blessing or a curse to have not been on the field for it. If he had been there, he might have been able to gauge the situation a lot more easily. His subordinates had done well to send him their reports to quickly — he’d be sure to flag his gratitude with them at a later date — but they were only useful to him if they provided useful information. 

It wasn’t their fault. Being present at the scene of a potential crime was always preferable to reading reports second-hand. His junior officer reports only told him what they had noticed and, unlike Rigby’s trained eye, they were known to miss the odd detail that would prove important later down the line.

He picked up the apple and, without taking his eyes off the screen, Rigby bit into the fruit with a satisfying crunch. Granny Smith. It was decidedly not his favourite but, after he’d received the message of the disaster rescue upon returning to the GDF HQ and had made a beeline for his office to catch up, it was the only thing he’d managed to grab on his way through the cafeteria.

Rigby hovered his finger over the newest message. He already knew who it was from without having to glance at the sender’s name. The secure channel was evidence enough and Kayo, as far as he was aware, had nothing to do with the rescue mission he’d been currently studying.

Like ripping the bandaid off a fresh wound, Rigby clicked the message open and, with a deep inhale, began to read.

So, it was worse than he'd thought. He re-read the message a couple of times, the bridge of his nose being pinched between forefinger and thumb as the last sentence hit home.

My family have so many ghosts already, it would really help if we can lay these latest ones to rest with some kind of sense of justice.

Rigby hadn’t been at the scene when everything went wrong. He couldn’t begin to imagine what kind of scars those kinds of missions left. International Rescue were always on the right side of history, they were always trying to make the world a better place. It wasn’t fair for them to be whacked with such a disaster.

If trying to keep the GDF investigating helped heal that wound, Rigby would damn well sure try his best to keep it running.

COMMS BEGIN

I’ll do what I can, @scramjettracy You know how top brass can be but I’ll try to keep them interested.

Don't worry about the conference call. I understand if you'd rather sit it out. I can send your apologies. Spend time with your family (especially G). We can talk more on a private chat later if you want to be looped back in.

COMMS END

[captainwaynerigby]

Dear Captain Rigby,

How many times has the notorious criminal known as The Hood been taken into GDF custody?

And is he still there?

Pleasesayyespleasesayyes

Hello Anonymous Citizen,

I’m afraid the exact number of times The Hood has been taken into GDF custody is currently confidential. What I can tell you is he could take out a loyalty card.

As is his current whereabouts and that’s not because we don’t know where he is, promise.

One thing I will assure you of is criminals like The Hood will never succeed.

— Cpt. Rigby