X says, "Since we just tapped into the test site in Nevada, we're not too far away from a hardline to get to Vegas.  I bet we can get you there within an hour."  He gets up to go tell Silicon where to take the Hyperion, leaving you to ponder the riddle and talk to the newcomers.

Demian’s expression is one of great concern. The others from the Freebird might notice that he seems even more agitated than normal.

“Nothing like a good pep talk to get us motivated. I guess it’s a good thing I spent those extra hours in the training sims, huh?” Demian says after Locke’s brief speech.

After stowing his gear and finding a place to sit, Demian listens to X and Elle relay the recent events and riddle.

Looking into space and seeming to speak to no-one directly, “If you are right about Vegas, then it is talking about the Luxor...at least part of it is. The Luxor is a replica of an Egyptian pyramid and has a very bright beam of light coming out of its peak. It is also on the strip past Caesar’s Palace and the Excalibur, which is themed to King Arthur. Ra is also an Egyptian sun god...so the Egyptian themed hotel sounds like the place to start...that is if this riddle means anything at all.” Demian seems unconvinced or unsure of this new crew or mission, or both.

“Your operator could probably bring up a map of the Vegas strip to confirm.”

I would rather scout it out once we are there. I don't think we should take any chances with this, i mean, could Zero-One intercept our info searches on Vegas? Also...thinking about the H thing...maybe its a landing pad for a 'Copter... Snow says then spoons some gruel from his bowl into his mouth.

Demian rolls his eyes at Snow’s comment. “It seems you guys are good enough at attracting unwanted attention on your own. Besides, I figured we’d have a stored map of the Matrix on this crate.”

After a short pause in his tirade, Demian continues in his seemingly naturally haughty voice. “There’s not going to be a helipad on or in the Luxor, it’s a pyramid. That means no flat roofs to land on.

’Be one’ could be basement level one.”

::looking around kinda lost with his bag in his hand::

So...would someone care to fill in the "Rookies" in on what's going on....since we aren't suppost to live past 24 hours...might want to know what we might die for....

::little cocky and an attitude...not letting people intimidate him at this point::

Jade watches Locke leave and says, "Don't mind him.  I think he's taking losing crewmembers to heart.  Take that as a compliment...and a showing of his dedication to us."

Seeing as she is the only one to be fully involved in both missions, she says,  "In a nutshell, we infiltrated the government research facility that had originally discovered that all humans were really in a program--which they called the "Matrix."  Binary, the first scientist to escape the Matrix, helped us get back in so that we could get information and help others get out.  But the agents beat us there, and the place was demolished.  Luckily, some of the scientists escaped, and they also downloaded some of the most important files to a CD-ROM.

"Our second mission took us to rescue four of the scientists who had successfully escaped the Matrix before the agents took over.  Unfortunately, two of them died during our rescue attempt, leaving just Elle and Sam.

"Now, there is another scientist who, instead of escaping the Matrix, has built himself this 'Digital Fortress' to protect himself against the agents.  He should also have the key to unlocking the information we uploaded from the CD-ROM.  And maybe other helpful information too.  So now we're trying to figure out how to get into his 'Digital Fortress,' and since the machines have problems with riddles, we're solving it to find the entrance."

She looks around.  "Did I leave anything out?"  A pause.  "Oh, yeah, and we've had a lot of casualties.  Which is why we needed a personnel transfer...and that's why you're here."

Leaning in the archway cleaning his pistol Lot continues as Jade finishes.

"I for one plan to keep my name off that casualty list.  In order to do that Im going to need introductions from each of you.  Starting with your name, then what you can contibute to our mutual survival.  I dont want any guesswork in the field when something needs to be done.  We need the best man for each job.  Since introductions are my idea ill begin.  My name is Lot, and I specialize in survival.  When one of you sorry sods gets himself killed or plays a hero I fill in for him.  I am master of nothing but at least competent in just about everything else.  You wont see me armed with much more than my knife or sidearm because thats what im best at.

Expectantly he looks towards the newcomers to see who will share next.

Jade says, "I was trained in heavy weapons and munitions while in the military."  Her soft face belies her strength and well-toned body as she reveals the strange irony of her specialty.  "Don't know much about computers or any of that.  In fact, I hate all computers with a vengeance.  Maybe that's why I hate Zero-One so much.  I'm good with guns, especially shooting computers.  I can also read radars, handle military equipment, and all that jazz.  Just don't slow me down and don't step in front of my gun."

Snow chuckles slightly at Demian, then replies I just said the helipad could be near the pyramid, not on it, but keep it up numbnuts, lets see how your smart-ass attitude serves you in the Matrix. He then follows the others and gives a short description of his abilities, Im a pilot and weapons specialist. Can do the sneaky stuff too.

::listens to the others::

I know a good deal about guns, fighting, stealth and tactics...and I have a sort of danger sense...of when the sheet is about to hit the fan....if the situation calls for it....I can be really fast or strong.....

Willing to let things cool off, Demian dismisses Snow’s comment with a roll of his eyes.

When there is a moment of silence, Demian shares his story, though his voice lacks any enthusiasm.

“I’m Demian. I was a sys admin for the metro police before being unplugged, so I know my way around computers…though I’m only an amateur programmer. I haven’t been back in since combat training, but in the sims I could hold my own with or without firepower.”

Having said his part, Demian draws a utility knife from his pocket and start playing with its edge and point.

Cutter, besides looking mildly frustrated by the posturing, waits his turn fairly quietly. "I found out about the mon.. programs on my own. I started fighting my own little war against them, even though I didn't really know what they were. I stayed alive long enough that someone noticed me and pulled me out." He pauses long enough to show that he's still not completely comfortable with reality as it is. "I haven't plugged back in since Cheif pulled me out, but he says that somehow I developed abilities that 'coppertops' aren't supposed to have. I've trained in hand to hand combat and smallarms, but for the rest, all I have is the training primers."

Having said enough, he sits back and watches the others again.

Screed has yet to say anything.  In fac, he's kept to the back and been fairly unnoticed.  Whether that has been though his skill or their indifference is not known.  Finally speaking up with a smile, this almost kid says chuckling, "Well, to tell the truth I am not sure what to say.  I can do quite a bit here and there.  I'm pretty fast in there."  Squinting to make people out, he continues "And I can see in there, which is nice.  I'm more of a people person.  I can talk my way into or out of most places.  I can find what I need when I need it.  I can shoot a gun, but I suck in a straight up fight.  I know my way around computers somewhat, can drive, and if my talking doesn't get us in, I know other ways.  Don't worry about me in a fight though, I don't plan on being where the bullets or fists are flying.  Now, do all of us greenies get a red shirt or something, or do we have any other 'one more please sir' initiations to go through?"  He seems to not have taken offense nor intended to give any as he stands there smiling.

Demian cracks his first smile of the day at Screed's last comment about the "greenies" and makes eye contact with him.

"Just don't go trying to sweet talk an agent, Kid."

A little more soberly he replies, "Talk?  Run is more like it.  I bet I can feel them around.  Have you actually seen one?  Or..," he hesitates, "Been seen by one?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Wed 26 Jan 2005.

"Its good that you can talk kid, but you wont have much choice about the fighting part.  Its going to happen, and your going to be using that gun of yours no doubt about it.  As for agents you need not worry, Im sure before the day is through you will have seen all you ever wish to see of them."

Lot counts on his fingers for a moment before asking Jade, "How many was it Jade? two? three?  Members of our team whose last moments were shared in the company of agents.

Jade thinks a moment.  "Viper, Laz and Caine, I think, were the only three whose deaths were not caused by agents.  If I remember correctly."

X says, "Well, we've got a new issue this time.  You're going into a highly populated area.  You can't just go in willly-nilly armed to the teeth.  You wouldn't even get past security.  I'm going to program in some suitcases, so you should look like any other tourist.  We can put things in there that you need once you get out of the public eye.  But keep that in mind when determining what you want to keep on your person...and whether you really want to be hauling a suitcase around at all.  Any other ideas?  I'm all ears."

 Fault chews thoughtfully on his lower lip as X talks. Judging by his change in posture, and the slight twitching in his left eye, he seems to be repressing his experiences on the ground. "I'm not great with weapons, but I think we should be prepared just in case these 'agent' things show up." He begins pacing back and forth in the cramped ship. "I'm gonna need garlic, a stake, water blessed by at least three different churches, iron horseshoes, silver, and a symbol of every major god from Aah to Zipacna... Can you fit that in a backpack?"

The older man sat down without a word, staring indifferently about the craft.  After a while, his wiry frame leans forward on his seat and he introduces himself.  "I am called Methuselah.  Deep in the mists of time, I was VPLO, a string of letters as meaningless as the job itself is now.  After the collapse of civilization, I joined a small band of scouts and we studied how the machines were developing on their own, building new chasis types, exhibiting new tactics.  I've already watched my comrades die en masse, but I was lucky enough to survive, and I've spent my time since then studying the machines from relative safety while other soldiers risk their lives to return information to me.  So I know a bit about the machines, but not much about the Matrix.

"As for why I'm here, I'm the proud owner of a borrowed neural jack."  He motions towards the back of his neck.  "I was not freed from the Matrix, so I have no experience other than some simulations.  From what I understand, we need many more people able to enter the Matrix if humanity is going to survive or even defeat the machines.  Since precious few are being freed from the Matrix currently, someone got the bright idea of implanting jacks into people, and I had the bright idea to volunteer.  My battlefield experience is mostly limited to running and hiding, although explosives were always effective against the machines, and so I'm good with those."  He leans back again, as if tired by speaking.

Demian nods somberly to Methuselah, obviously impressed by his sacrifices. He then returns to the mission at hand, having tried to ignore Fault’s ramblings.

“As far as I remember, the Casinos don’t have metal detectors or searches at the entrances, so small arms shouldn’t be an issue. They are easy enough to conceal. An AK-47 or M16 might be an issue though. The suitcases don’t sound like a bad idea for the heavy weapons, although a golf bag would work just as well and might be easier to carry.”

I'll take a Glock...maybe the Ithaca too. How about a silencer for the Glock, or a laser sight? Is it just a case of adjusting it's sound settings from here? If so, give me a silencer for the Glock too. Snow finished his sparse meal and pushed the bowl away.

Screed speaks up, "I've always wanted to go to Vegas.  This should be great.  I hear they have buffet tables as far as the eye can see and cheap for people who gamble.  Are you sure we shouldn't mingle and fit in for a bit so we can see what we can see?  As for weapons, I can probably conceal one or two given the right circumstances."  He backs up a little trying to not be noticed too much.

Cutter shakes his head at Fault's requests. Didn't he know by now that agents were worse than Vampires? Not that half of that stuff worked for them, either.

"I'll stick with a Berretta and two spare magazines. Also a knife. A Sykes-Fairbairn Commando or as close as you can would be nice. A shoulder harness with the knife opposite the gun would be best."

He pauses, and looks at everyone. "That is, of course, if this is even plausible. Do we know that security is lax enough to let us in there armed?"

::listens to the weapon convos::

Hmm....I would like a pair os FN five sevens...with silencers....a couple of extra mags...and a pair of katanas....but we don't always get what we want...so I'll take whatever the team feels is best....