Ready, Aim, Fire.

[Tseng]

Tseng caught the tongue out at him and the response but felt it was best to just ignore the red head rather than try and make his point heard. That point would come in loud and clear when he deducted some pay from Reno's paycheck for 'insubordination'. The man was lucky that was the most Tseng was planning on doing. If he didn't need the smart ass he'd have cut him long ago from the ranks. The fact was that he did need Reno, but Reno needed that paycheck even more and would probably respond well to the threat to take it all away.

"I want you both to listen very carefully," Tseng's tone was all business as he address both his men at the base of the Sister Cannon, "this isn't Rufus just flexing his muscles, he would have used his own grunts for that, I'm fairly sure we're risking our lives doing this. I want you two to act as my cover and back me up."

Tseng was a man who liked to do things himself but wasn't foolish enough to knowingly put himself in harm's way recklessly. If it had to be done then he'd do it, but he wasn't a thrill seeker and knew his own limitations, as well as the limitations of the men that served beneath him in rank. Reno and Rude would get him out alive if something were to happen, he could trust them.

It didn't make him any less nervous when he pulled out the hourglass container carefully and inserted it into the Sister Cannon. When it was locked down and ready to be fired he radio'ed in for the President. "She's ready for a test fire, Mr. President. I shall begin the countdown sequence...now. Ten..." he hit the approapriate launch switches and started backing up, "...seven..." he was around to the back of the Cannon's controls now and hopefully out of harm's way. "...five...four...three...two...one..." his hair was starting to whip about his face on count five and was nearly flying straight back by the time he got to one, his own voice dying out against the backdrop of the cannon preparing to fire. When he hit one it fired and he had to lift a hand to shield his eyes.

[Rufus Shinra]

"No need for that, Tseng. You've served your purpose, now..."

With that, the ShinRa President had announced himself as there, in the flesh, but for how long? It was absolutely amazing the mobility and speed present in his body, though to progress through the ShinRa complex was a matter of common knowledge and near-infinite resources.

"... watch the Heavens weep."

Almost as if on cue, the glass-bullet exploded, having made contact with the atmosphere above the trio. However, instead of merely being a dud or falling back to the planet, it sparked, then fleshed, it continued doing so multiple times, over and over. It did not cease, it did not desist its movements, and the burning glow it cast upon the three of them was intense, evidence of the ungodly powers at work here.

"When I was a young child, my father would tell the populus that, one day... a great engineering marvel would be produced, that the citizens of Midgar would be provided with unlimited Mako for their everyday lives of pity and boredom..."

A speech, how typical. If anything could be expected of the unpredictability of the ShinRa Chief Executive, it was that words would be blabbered, logically or for the sake of amusement. However, unlike much of what he spoke, this was more of an insight into the true personality behind the white trenchcoat and devilish grin: this was Rufus Shinra, a human being.

"But, that old geezer is dead. ShinRa is better off without him repressing what should already belong to us, the true body of order in Midgar, this entire planet. I expect nothing but everything, something these meaningless inhabitants who devour resources, like mindless dogs, have not delivered to me..."

However, unlike much of what he spoke, this was more of an insight into the true personality behind the white trenchcoat and devilish grin: this was Rufus Shinra, a wicked demon.

"Today, I will liberate wastefulness, and I have you to thank."

For just loading a simple container, then firing it, why the thank you? As if those two words 'thank' and 'you' being used together did not arouse suspicion, or even shock, they had to come at an eccentric time, an enigmatic predicament that the two Turks knew little about. However, their thoughts would be brushed aside by a mocking golf clap, an ode to himself.

"Look above you, Tseng. Isn't it remarkable?"

The sky was raining fire, like black balls surronded by Satan's touch, hailing down upon the planet and surronding areas.

"... One could mistake this for the Apocalypse, but only the wise know it is only the beginning, a new era for ShinRa."

The raining fireballs continued to slam into the planet's crust, scorching the once green fields, residue and debris floating into the city limits of Midgar. If any of those meteor-like fragments came another few feet closer, the entire city would be nuked into oblivion, so one could safely assume.

"How magnificent he is, truly ShinRa will benefit from this endeavor. Mako will be reaped like souls in the afterlife, and I am the hand that guides the reaper, Lavos."

This falling carnage had a name? How eerie, but at least it made it easier to reference to, something Tseng and Reno would almost certaintly wish to do immediately.

"Before you ask the meaning of this, let me assure you, because of it, your paychecks will be more than doubled, I will pay ten times the usual mission price."

Ten times? By the Gods, this so-called Lavos must be a miracle worker, as the usually money-tight President was giving out more than usual, but ten times the amount was as if an imposter was wearing the devil's suit, but quickly such notions were buried when once again his lips moved, preceded by a dark chuckle.

"Midgar is to be ruled by the fist, not finances. If the people were not meant to be subject to a higher authority, why would we have emotions?"

Before anyone could answer, another voiced filled the air, that of the femme fatal, Scarlet, who had followed her beloved President towards the Sister Cannon, but had taken her sweet time about it. She had the audacity to interupt the President's self-question, by actually answering it.

"Emotions are merely their payment for allowing them to live, if they were without them, you would have discarded them numerous years ago."

How true, and fortunately the answer appeased his senses, so she was not struck down. However, there would be an elaboration upon himself to further explain the precisional answer.

"Mankind is given emotions, they are to be used by those without them, as they are bargaining chips to the Heavens, that we with power invest to continue thriving. The moment one 'feels', they have become nothing but a sacrifice for those who remain incomprehensible to the concept of emotions. If the people of Midgar fear me, they will obey in order to appease the discomfort of experiencing that emotion, as with my father's methodology... money merely numbed their acknowledgement of ShinRa's dominance, well... no longer."

A high-pitched screeching filled the air, it was more of the raining fire from above, it had no ending, or so it seemed. There was too much to take in, but regardless answers would be demanded, sought, even if they were not spoken aloud.

"Excellent work, you two. I never doubted the credibility of the Turks for one moment, or else I would have carelessly led you to your own eradication, but we know a Turk is rather... difficult to kill."

Cold. However, the backside of the ShinRa President to the Turks signified something, they were no longer neccessary for the remainder of this plan. They had, in essence, reverted back to common mercenaries. His words, unlike most superiors, were honest and, in a creepy sense, the Turks could be thankful for that.

"I do not play feeble simplicities, I do things differently, and Lavos is the embodiment for the new Midgar. I never lied to you, I merely withheld information... contractual obligation is synonomous with productivity, regardless of intelligence networking. I merely pay, and results are achieved, how manipulative the soul of man has become."