Isabelle stood by the table, faintly disgruntled, as Asil and Tomas stood beside her - almost like bodyguards. Her plans had been perfect, visionary even. How could it be that they would come to this?

===== A few days earlier =====

"Uh. No. We're not doing that."

Isabelle ... well, she didn't pout. She never pouted. But she did adopt a ... a [i]sophisticated[/i] air of dissatisfaction at Asil's objection. A fully mature and non-pouting look, it was.

"I don't see why it wouldn't work ... I mean, all we have to do is station drones at every entrance, equipped with tranquilisers, and then have additional drones available to move the bodies somewhere safe until the operation is complete."

"Uh huh ... and setting aside the moral implications with drugging people, and the logistical problems with getting the dosage right for a bunch of different species, let alone individuals ... do you know how many staff the spaceport broadcast facility has?"

"Three thousand and fifty five, plus another few hundred in the surrounding buildings." Isabelle replies, trying to follow where Asil might be going with this.

"And do you have that much tranquiliser, or even know how to make it?"

...

"So you're going with the lack-of-drugs angle?" Isabelle replies, eventually. Deciding that firing back was a more viable strategy than trying to defend the proposal.

"Well, when you get [i]that [/i]look in your eyes, I doubt normal arguments will make the cut ... so yeah, I am."

Isabelle blows some of the hair out of her face.

"[i]Fine[/i]. Okay. Well what about the other plan. I still maintain that enough fires, strategically placed-"

"No fires!" Asil cuts her off. "We've been over this. No fires, floods, earthquakes or any other disasters and definitely no dressing up as the Stellar Queen and staging a superhero battle in the plaza. We don't want to cause a panic that can get people hurt!"

Isabelle grumbled. She'd practiced her evil laugh and everything.

"Okay, well that leaves the concert idea, but I couldn't get any performers at such short notice - they're all already booked for the Finals on other planets." Isabelle continues, turning back to the drawing board.

As in, a literal drawing board - she'd put together a good dozen ideas and had appended pictures of what some of it might look like. Sketches dotted the wall showing the spaceport and broadcast facility from a variety of angles and with a variety of scenarios playing out. She was particularly proud of the Stellar Queen costume she'd designed - it looked like something right out of the comic book.

"Well, it's official then ... I'm out of ideas."

She felt Asil come up behind her, and leaned backwards into the other woman's presence. Relaxing for a minute and hoping that inspiration would strike.

"You know ... there [i]are[/i] easier ways to do this than a big dramatic spectacle."

"Oh yeah, like what? I mean, I did think of just buying the broadcast company. It's a bit over budget though."

"A bit." Asil deadpanned.

"Yeah?" replies Isabelle, confused at her tone.

"'Belle ... just how much money are you earmarking for this?"

"I dunno, I'm trying to keep it reasonable - I figure we don't want to go over fifty million?"

"[i]Fifty m-[/i]" was about as far as Asil got before facepalming. 

With both hands.

...

"Okay, here's what you're going to do."

=================

It hadn't taken much to bribe the security staff to alter the barricades and cordon off the entrance to the broadcast centre. As much as they cared about their jobs, each one now had a nest egg that would last them for a very long time - assuming they invested it according to the pamphlet Isabelle had prepared for them.

A bit more of the budget had been spent to lure away the drifting office workers with additional catering and drinks. As well as a spin the wheel that boasted five hundred credits per winner for the first thousand winners. The remainder of people in Dolly's way were being dealt with thanks to a random "security sweep" that would be co-ordinated with her approach.

And that left Isabelle standing at the bake stall, with both Asil and Tomas beside her. Making sure that she wasn't going to get any fun out of the whole arrangement. No chance to join in the security sweep. No chance to wave some paper around and bluff a manager that she was in charge or any other shenanigans that would let her pretend she was some kind of secret agent on a galaxy saving mission.

No. Just her. Here. At the stall. Handing out baked goods to office workers who were all too eager to abandon their posts for the promise of free food and coffee.

I'm.

So.

[i]Bored![/i]