Stepping close to Simon, the visor flipped up.  Beneath were the dark eyes of a woman.  She looked Simon over carefully.  "Eisen Simon, Eisen." She watched him. Inclining her head in greeting.

In reply to Shay Mordred-Spades (msg # 300):

There was another man she recognised there, a black man wearing brown monk's robes. He looked tired, but still kindly.

"Vertrag... that's what you need to hear, correct?"

Shay's eyebrow quirked, this man was no good at finesse and espionage.  She nodded once.  Then with a small light in her hand, she raised it about her head and circled above her head 3 times.

"It's go, we're good to go."  She stepped back.

In reply to Shay Mordred-Spades (msg # 302):

"It is good to see you again, Shay. How have you been?"

After receiving Shay's all-clear, the autogyro pilot lit a road flare and placed it on the wet ground. It gave off a red glow.

Immediately, spotlights and landing lights on the underside of the air bag and gondola were switched on. Ropes dropped down, and a half-dozen ground crew fast-roped to the ground. Upon landing, they went about securing the airship.

They could see it bore the legend, "Sky Raider 1". It was huge, almost 200 yards long. The gondola itself was 2 stories high and had a large hangar-style open entry to the rear. The sides bristled with MG turrets and missile pods.

Meanwhile, Trejo and Jason rode up. They were accompanied by 2 Templars they recognised from that morning in Boise, Denis Carlton and Winnie Franklin. Simon didn't seem surprised to see them, for some reason.

Slowly, the airship dropped, gently touching down in the meadow. A cluster of Sky Pirates in USAF and CSAF uniforms and wearing blue berets descended from a passenger gangway extending from a side opening in the gondola. The man leading the delegation walked up to Simon.

"Hello there, you must be Simon, Grand Master of the Templars. I'm Captain Howard Phelps. You might hear some of these Brainers call me "Ironsides" when I'm not around! Ike Taylor asked me to pick up a group of VIPs for transport to Junktown. Let's get you and your vehicles loaded, I don't like to be on the ground if I can help it!"

A ground vehicle ramp door lowered from the side of the gondola. It looked like the technical should be able to fit, if they dismounted "Baby".
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:53, Tue 20 Aug 2013.

One of the newly-arrived Templars sought Rowan out.

"Hi, we met early today. Yeah, I know, long time ago, it seems.

"I have a message for you from Kurt. He apologised for not saying goodbye, but he had to follow you at a safe distance. Because of this, we were able to ambush Black Hats that were following you. He's safe, and helping Roadkill get his rig back on the road. He loves you and wants to know he'll try and meet up with you as soon as he can."

Smoker watches the airship with rapt fascination.

Peter looked at the airship with raised eyebrows, wide eyes and stunned silence for once. He finally tore his eyes away when the lights flared on and people started coming down. He listened and then blinked a few times. "Wait...are we...going on the airship as well?" A smile seemed to be struggling to arrive on his lips but was being fought.

Jane wasn't sure if she liked this new development or not.  She was meant to be on the ground and baby on the technical.  She knew that baby would have to be taken off and that she didn't like. Plus it was a bad way to stop if they got shot down.

"Wait a minute.  Is that a Hellstromme Cirrocruiser?  Where did you get that!"

Jane was still on guard for she didn't trust them.

Trejo greeted the other Templars and returned tot he group with them.  Still wary but not nearly so much with the reinforcements.

He watched the small craft land somewhat curiously.  Clearly they couldn't be expected to all ride on that little thing... "Sweet Mary," he swore as the huge airship appeared and began to land.  Sure he was impressed with it; kind of hard not to be.

But more importantly, he recognized what it was.  And just like Jane, he was not happy with that connection.  "That's a goddamn Hellstrome warship," he swore as his hands moved to his weapon, back on guard and wary in an instant.  These days Hellstrome meant Black Hats.  Throckmorton led them.  And they were not friends of anything decent left on this world.

Hands on hilts, he looked a little grouchy and ticked (well, he probably always looked that way.  Now he just looked a little more grouchy-er..with a dash of imminent violence thrown in) and definitely on edge.  He didn't take his eyes off of the ship and the threat its people represented as he talked out of the corner of his mouth.  "Sir," he said questioningly to Simon who was pretty much the only person alive who deserved that tittle in his opinion.  "What exactly is going on here?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:44, Tue 20 Aug 2013.

In reply to Fred Biletnikoff (msg # 303):

Realizing who was talking to her, she looked and looked again. "Fred!" Stepping forward she locked hands with him. "I'm good, good." Her eyes softened as she looked at her friend. "You?"

In reply to Jane Guin (msg # 308):

The airship commander, Cpt. Phelps, was a intelligent-looking compact man in crisp CSAF fatigues. He looked up at his baby, then back to Jane.

"It's classified... Well, we have connections in Denver. It amuses me to use it on raids of the Combine, using Hellstromme's own invention to smack around General Throckmorton."

Being a former pilot herself, Jane had no doubt heard of the Sky Pirates. Formerly an air-based raiders gang, they had been taken over by former USAF/CSAF personnel. Now they hired themselves out to Waster colonies and communities. Based somewhere in the western Rockies they also regularly skirmished in the air against the Combine and on the ground against the Black Hats.

Before the war, Denver had been the home of Hellstromme Industries, and the world's most brilliant scientist, Darius Hellstromme. Hellstromme was aboard his massive starship Unity when it disappeared through the wormhole to the colony on Faraway, just as the conventional war was breaking out. He hadn't been seen again. Some kind of advanced energy shielding had protected Hellstomme's factories (and Denver) from the falling nuclear and Ghost Rock bombs on Judgement Day. (Likewise, a less advanced but still effective dome, also built by Hellstromme, protected his factories at Junktown near Salt Lake City, leaving it the largest remaining city in the Wasted West.) Denver was left intact but abandoned after the outbreak of a bioengineered plague.

The cyborg Confederate General Throckmorton, not yet a madman tyrant, later occupied the city and it's many advanced Hellstromme industrial facilities. That was when Throckmorton became deranged and formed his "Black Hat" army of the Combine. Thus prompting Trejo, Jane and Crichton to make their escape. Even before they left they heard rumours that Black Hats had been skirmishing with a gang of scavengers in Denver, Throckmorton called them "criminals" but it was said they called themselves the "Resistance". If they were surviving Denverites, outsiders come to the city, or both, who knew? At any rate, Black Hats also used weapons and vehicles manufactured in Helltromme's factories, including the massive Hunter-Killer Air and Ground combat robots, and of course the feared silver-skeletal Terminator-like "automatons".

Like Throckmorton, Phelps seemed to be ex-CSA. Perhaps there was something personal going on, there. For what it was worth, none of the Sky Pirates were carrying trademark Combine/Hellstromme weapons or gear. No one was wearing a black hat (or red hat, the colour of the elite Combine forces).
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:30, Wed 21 Aug 2013.

In reply to Trejo (msg # 309):

Knowing Trejo could be trusted, Simon decided to let him in on the plan.

"This is not the end of my journey.

"There is a summit in Junktown. That's where we're heading. All the neutral or anti-Combine factions in the west will be meeting there, including the Oil States, the Sky Pirates, and of course the Order of the Templars. We will be discussing plans against the Combine.

"Now, we just travelled north, in the opposite direction. This was not just to meet with Captain Phelps, but to throw off any pursuit, although it seems that the Black Hats tried to follow, anyways."

He moved closer to Peter. "Yes, my friend. You're going to be travelling in that beautiful machine to Junktown. Your truck will fit, although you'll probably have to take off the gun to get it through the door!"

Shay kept her eyes open, watching.  She took in the rest of the group as there were gathered.  She noted the four legger.  She watched it for a moment.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:50, Tue 20 Aug 2013.

"Oh, ha ha! Nothing like the quiet, boring life of the academic!"

She could see, however, the Librarian looked a lot older than when they last saw each other. He mainly looked a little tired, and there were more worry lines on his face.

"I've been mainly in Boise, at the Temple, chronicling the deeds and history of the Templars. I need to get back to the Library in California some day, download it all. It's all backed up, but I'd love to have a chance to debrief in person, relax. Have a vacation. Oh well, no rest for the wicked."

In reply to Shay Mordred-Spades (msg # 313):

She noted, with some surprise, the dog actually appeared to be a coyote. A tame one, although she didn't think that was actually possible! It seemed to be hanging very close to a woman in her 30's, wearing a cloak and baggy travel clothing. Slung over one shoulder was a Paramedic's bag, over the other was slung an AK-47 rifle.
This message was last updated by the GM at 21:22, Tue 20 Aug 2013.

Rowan watches amused at the seeming confusion on the woman's face

To Fred:

Shay looked away from the canine to Fred.  "Well you'll have the flight to relax.  The work you're doing is important Fred, and I owe you.  Whatever you need, just ask."  Her voice was just above a whisper has it had always been, the damage to her throat affecting her voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Tue 20 Aug 2013.

In reply to Shay Mordred-Spades (msg # 317):

"Good, well, why not come with us to Junktown? We could use someone who's trustworthy for additional assistance. Stay and help as long as you like. We have enough guns, I think, we could use someone who's got other useful abilities. I imagine Simon would compensate you for your time, especially as danger would be likely."

He wasn't insulting her by offering money, she knew, even if this was a personal favour her time was still worth money and it was right she be compensated fairly for it.

Shay inclined her head in agreement. "I'll go, paid or not." Her eyes indicated she was smiling, but the cloth hid her mouth.

Trejo listened to his leader with rapt attention, becoming even more interested by the moment.  OH. MY. GOD.  They were finally talking about it.  Talking about taking down the Combine.  About killing Throckmorton.  It was Christmas, New Years, his birthday, and some other awesomely amazingly wonderful holiday all come at once.  Trejo had the biggest grin on his face.  "Sir...that's the best news I've heard in forever."

He turned and drove his bike into the airship, almost giddy with excitement, jogging back down the ramp.  He clapped his hands together, "All set and ready to go."  He gave Simon a happy nod and the new and cheery Trejo (yeah, it was weird but it wasn't bound to last anyway) turned to introduce himself to the captain and then to the woman talking to the librarian; apparently they knew one another.  He extended his hand to her, not one for dallying even when he wasn't this happy.  "Trejo.  One of the Templars.  Nice ship," he remarked.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Wed 21 Aug 2013.

Shay reached forward and shook Trejo's hand. "Not mine, I just hitched a ride...Shay." A woman of few words, Shay nodded a greeting.

He gave a nod in return.  "Still a nice way to travel," he responded with a half shrug.  "Never been up in one myself.  So, I hear you're coming with us?," he asked curiously.  He didn't exactly trust her as far as he could throw his bike, he didn't know her or most of the folks he'd been traveling with, but he was in a damn fine mood at the moment.  Good news does that to a man.

Looking to Fred, she nodded. "Yup."

In reply to Trejo (msg # 320):

Slapping Trejo on the shoulder, Simon just smiled, bouyed by Trejo's excitement.

Then his usual weight settled back down, and he slowly made his way towards the personnel gangway up into the ship.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:50, Wed 21 Aug 2013.