xp_logs | Nathan and Angelo, Tuesday afternoon (Reply)

Nathan and Angelo get somewhat frustrating news. But what's a problem for Elpis may be even more significant, in a different way, for someone else.

The phone call had lasted half an hour, and Nathan had been growling and snarling in German for at least half that time. His hostility didn't seem to be directed at the person on the other end, but it didn't stop him, once he had bade that person goodbye, from throwing the phone at the wall.

"Do we need a new phone?" Angelo asked from the other side of the room, not looking up from his work.

Nathan just growled at him, staring down at the notes he'd been taking throughout the conversation. They clearly did not please him, as his expression was growing more and more thunderous.

Angelo looked up over his notes at the growl, with a sigh. "Okay. Spill. What's goin' on?"

"Our friends in Berlin are having difficulties," Nathan said grimly, laying his pen down. The 'friends' he was referring to was another mutant-focused NGO, one which had been instrumental in helping Elpis deal with the aftermath of the bombings. They'd shifted some of their projects there, most importantly, and invited the other organization, DMVR, to take on joint responsibility for others.

Angelo sat up straighter, frown deepening at that. "What kind of difficulties?"

"You name it, they've got it. Harassment from the police, investigations into their finances - which are spotless, or Joel damned well never would have gotten us involved in them - bureaucrats standing in the way of them getting visas and clearances..."

"So it's official, then." His voice was grim. "I didn't think Germany was like that, particularly."

"Well, Germany's not Hungary, but no, I didn't think they were like that either. DMVR's operated for years without problems like this. Magda can't figure out what's going on. None of her government contacts can tell her where the pressure's coming from."

"Can't in what sense?" Angelo asked. "I mean, they don't know, or they aren't allowed to?"

"Don't have information, or claim not to." Nathan frowned, circling a name in his notes. "Although they've been getting some fairly open hostility from one of the political parties there. Right-wing neo-fascist fringe."

"Lovely", Angelo said, pulling a face. "Do we know who's in charge there?"

"A Baron Wagner," Nathan muttered. "Need to research him..."

Angelo scribbled the name down on his notepad, for later. "A baron?"

"Apparently. Should mean that he's not hard to find." Nathan took a deep breath, then gave the phone a wry look. "I swear I'm planning to stop taking my rage out on inanimate objects."

"It doesn't look broken this time", Angelo said absently, still thinking about the matter at hand. "Might mean he's got ways to put pressure on even without bein' elected, if he's got any power around there."

"Regional support," Nathan said. "Maybe. I lived for a number of years in Germany, remember, but that was Berlin - things are different, elsewhere." He looked pensive. "We definitely need to do some research. If for no other reason than to help Magda out."

Angelo nodded, in full agreement on that. "We owe her. I'll get on it."

"I'll pick up the phone."