He hands the choice photos to you and asks as plain as day,"Captain what am I looking at?"

Kirby looked at the photos for a moment and attempted to understand what he was looking at. His first thought was that the photos were space particles, but why would those be in his file? He looked closer. Motion, he thought, these items are in motion. They couldn’t, could they?

Kirby had spent much of his life keeping a secret. He kept this so closely guarded he could count on one hand the people he’d discussed it with in his 29 years of life. And one of those people was his mother, many years gone. All this played about in his head as he looked at the photos. At some reflection he decided that his secret must still be safe, though the colonel might be fishing. He'd been asked questions before but had always been able to deflect them - something The General, his grandfather, had taught him.

“Colonel,” he looked the man in the eye. “I haven’t a single notion of what these photographs might be.”

Kirby thought it over for a moment as he took another sip of tea. Having already served over two years as company commander he was up for another assignment and this sounded interesting. Still he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that was creeping over him. Here comes this colonel, with his secret files, hinting that he knows more than he should. The photos were disturbing. He had always been careful, discreet. He had special skills, but he only used them sparingly and only when he was sure that not using them would blow the mission. Perhaps that wasn’t enough know. He'd have to ask The General his thoughts on that later, but now he had to deal with this.

When the Army knocks is only knocks once. Turning this opportunity down wouldn't get Kirby any closer to finding out what this  light bird knew, and it certainly wouldn't help his career. In the end, he really had no choice in the matter no matter what he said.

"Well sir, muh mama ain' born no moo moo," he smiled warmly, "I'm no fool. What more can you tell me? I'm intrigued."

Kirby watched the Colonel over the rim of his tea cup, intent upon his every word. Well that confirms that, he thought as the other shoe was dropped in front of him. At least the Colonel is polite enough to allow me my emperor’s clothes, for a time at least.

When the other officer had finished Kirby looked into his cup and, finding it empty, set it down upon his desk. He had questions on top of questions and dove right into them.

“Questions, sir. The army apparently has some, some method” he gestured to his file, “for discovering special skills. Will I have access to these techniques, or at least the resulting intelligence?” He didn’t wait for the colonel to respond before proceeding with his next question. “Also, when I find these, these individuals,” he paused in thought for a beat, “it’s possible that they may not have, shall I say, the patriotism required for enlistment. Am I limited to recruiting enlisted and officer personnel, or can I consider civilian options – assuming they help the larger goal.

“What’s more, what is the importance of Chicago? I have never been to Illinois” the way he pronounced the word it rhymed with boys “so I’m curious about that. Finally, who will be my commanding officer? Chain of command, that sort of thing? Oh, and can I have some leave in transit? This would give me time to pack, get things settled here, and travel on up there. I have some family in Virgina, and back in Guyana, that I'd like to see.”

He sighed, an apologetic look on his face. “I apologize for all the questions sir, and I have just one more. What is your name, sir?”
This message was last edited by the player at 17:51, Sun 14 Aug 2011.

Kirby listened as the colonel answered his questions, nodding here and there as the information was supplied. The whole thing, now that he had a couple of minutes to absorb it, was interesting, exciting, if not a little daunting. A call sign? How...odd.

“Thank you Colonel.” He said as the Lt. Colonel rose and left. A few moments later he stood an opened the blinds once more to let the light of the outside seep back into his small office. That done he stepped over to the door, opened it, and issued several orders.

“Corporal Weathers,” he spoke loud enough to get the young soldier’s attention outside his door, “Several things. First, call Colonel Sing and see if he has time after lunch to see me. I’ve got new orders.” He continued without pause, knowing the clerk would track all of his orders and follow them efficiently, “Second, I want you to get a hold of a Dr. Tibbs, Orlando Tibbs, at the University of Chicago. If the Doc is available, patch him into my office. If not, arrange a time for a call.” Best to get ahead of this teaching assignment and hopefully this Tibbs fellow would be of help. “Finally, let Lt. Jules know that I’ll want to see him after I get back from the Colonel’s office, and advise the Officers and Non-Coms of the company that I’ll want to see them all at sixteen hundred.” He thought for a moment, thinking through his directions once more, “That’s it Corporal, thank you.” He turned and returned to his desk.

As the corporal went about his orders in the office without Kirby reached into his pocket and pulled out his personal cell phone. He quickly sent out a brief text message “new orders, call 2nite, cu soon” his Grandfather in spite of his age was still quite sharp and, Kirby admitted, probably more tech savvy than himself. There was a lot he wanted to discuss with The General, but it would be best to do so in person.

Kirby then put his phone away and turned his attention to the files on his desk.

OOC: Hope you don't mind the made up names. Lt. Colonel Sing - Kirby's current commanding officer. Lt. Jules is the Dog Comany Executive Officer who'd be in temporary command until a new commander is appointed. The meeting with the officers and senior enlisted would be to say good bye. Asside from the call to Tibbs, up to you if you want to RP any of the other stuff.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:13, Wed 17 Aug 2011.

OOC-Love it, I like you creating and taking liberties, it adds a lot.

Moments later a text comes back:

"You've got your gramma all excited, had to chase her off the Delta site, she's already trying to buy you a ticket, see you soon son.ETA?"

knock,knock at the office door, the corporal pops his head in, "Mr. Tibbs is on line 4 Cap."


OOC- I am going to set up a group thread for you and Orlando.

OOC_Let's get to your first stage of this trip.

Give me a OOC detail of what you are doing, what you are packing, and who you are going to see first. And then I will continue from after your phone call with Orlando or as he put it...Tibbs, there is an inside joke in that one.

OOC: I was more or less waiting for the Tibbs conversation to finish but, assuming that won't change that I have...a month?... then here's what I plan:

1: get everything settled here (the main house is rented through an agency - no problem there) and look into housing in Chicago, pack up all my stuff in the truck (guns too) and make the 9ish hour drive to see the Smiths in Lexington VA.

2: spend about a week in Lexington

3: go to Guyana for about 10 days to 2 weeks

4: Return to Lexington, short stay, make the way up to the arsenal or Chicago about a week before class starts.

All my "stuff", which isn't much (tv, bed, oversized chair, a couple boxes of other crap, will fit in the truck. Guns - depending living situation, will go in a new safe or at the arsenal)

Oh... Did you see my not above about reading the files? What's in there?

Kriby typed out a quick text reply to his grandfather in Lexington.

Any flys 2nite? Colmus to Chltsville? After 1800?

Return text-

Done, 1900 flight 8564 Delta, look for the lincoln, see you soon.
Use your military privilage and check firearms, explain later.

text: Great! We going hunting?


Agenda rest of the day:

1000 - go for a run
1115 - fill out paper work for transfer etc.
1150 - lunch with the NCOs, taking them to lunch to say good by
1230 - report to Lt. Colonel Sing to say good by
1245 - off the post to pack (weapons and armor in a locked trunk, a couple uniforms and civilian clothes in a carry-on sized bag)
1600 - back on base, gathering of the officers and NCOs to say goodbye
1700 - Base book store: army history, military history in the US, un-convential military warefare - picking up a half dozen of those sort of books.
1730 - cigar shop (box of nice cigars, for Kirby and the General)
1745 - Flower store (flowers for Grandma Smith)
1755 - Airport - will fly in uniform, checking the weapons in the crate.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:48, Mon 29 Aug 2011.

The General is at the airport promptly dressed in civilian clothing, looking much more relaxed than normal, usually his casual isn't that casual and the Lincoln isn't a lincoln at all, but a ford van which must be a rental...the Generals walk is also different, and you realize that if you hadn't eyeballed each other, you wouldn't recognize this man.


He walks over grabs your luggage and brings you back to the cargo van with the taxi sign on it, as he grabs the luggage he mutters, don't be a moo mow

You jump in the van and take off quick, your grandfather's driving fast, not too fast but just enough that makes you wonder...is someone following us?

He tosses you a phone, use this from now on, change it when the minutes are out, I programmed a number to call me at, don't call my normal numbers. Son, sorry to have to do this to you but I need you to crawl in the baggs back there, and put your stuff in the big duffle bag. I'm gonna drop you off here at the hotel, you'll be placed in a compartment for about 15 minutes, and then will be reloaded into another van. Once you are in that van, we can talk. Load up too, but don't shoot anyone please, even if they piss you off.You notice something is off from your Grandfather, something that isn't right.Make a perception role.

Check the phone, you have a message.

Kirby looked at the phone but otherwise didn't move. This was far too unusual, far too different. "Sir, I haven't seen you in over a year you go all cloak and dagger? What the fuck? Sir. Is going on?"

23:25, Today: Secret Roll: Edmund Kirby Smith IV rolled 84 using 1d100. Perception check (75)

Result: Fail.

Just look at the message, the General said and turned around and kept driving.

It read:

Sorry son, I know this is a bit abrupt and out of the ordinary, the man driving as you might have guessed is not me, don't shoot him, he probably already said that as he is a bit paranoid, he is an old colleage of mine pretending to be me.

I am waiting in the other van at the hotel to pick up your bag after you are dropped off. You may text back to this number and ask me anything, coded or not.

Kirby's grandmother walks by and pokes her head in the room. Addressing the General, nice one, I saw the car pull in...would you two like some dinner? Come here boy and give me a hug.

Grandma Smith comes in and feverishly hugs Kirby and pulls him into the kitchen.

Kirby notices the evil eye that grandma stinks at the General.

Kirby stopped speaking mid-thought as his grandmother poked her head into the room. The smile that blossomed on his face was instantaneous. Other than the love of his own mother no other woman had meant so much to Kirby than his Grandma Smith. Grandma Eh-Eh back in Guyana loved him to be sure, but her love was aloof, formal,... British really. Grandma Smith, in contrast to her Caribbean counterpart, managed to love her grandson with every ounce of her being and displayed her love proudly. Beverly Anne Smith’s love for Kirby was the sort of unconditional, doting, grandmotherly love that could only spring forth from a woman of the US South. And Kirby loved her all the more for it.

Kirby gave his grandfather a short glance as if to say I have more questions for you as he rose to hug his grandmother. How long before she asks me about Kate? He thought, as they embraced.

Mary Kate Covington (everyone calls her Kate) and Kirby had dated for three years while he attended VMI and Kate still lived in the area. They had been inseparable whenever the two had free time. The two had gone to each other’s formal dances (Kate was attending Washington and Lee University at the time), met each other’s families, and even spent a couple of memorable weekends away together.  Back then Kate had wanted a ring and Kirby had wanted a career. Kirby had wanted to protect Kate, he knew firsthand the sort of gifts an Army career could lay at the feet of Army wives and didn’t want to burden her with that life. So Kirby had ended the relationship just before graduation, something he had regretted in countless quiet moments sense.

Kate and Beverly Anne had grown close when the pair had been dating and had remained close since. The two had lunch often, and Kate would frequently call upon Beverly Anne when she needed advice. Beverly Anne wanted her grandson to marry a good southern woman, as any good southern grandmother would, and in her mind there was none better than Mary Kate Covington. The fact that neither Kirby nor Kate had married in the eight years that had passed encouraged Grandma Smith that the relationship might be rekindled. Kirby thought the Earth spinning off its orbit and running off with Jupiter was a far more likely occurrence.

“I’m starved starved!” He exclaimed as they parted. “Truth told, I kept myself hungry jus for what I knew you was cookin.” He retrieved the flowers he had bought for her and handed her the bouquet, “I’ve missed you Grandma, and your cookin, let’s eat!” As they walked toward the kitchen his stomach growled in anticipation.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:48, Tue 20 Sept 2011.

Gramma Bev has prepared all of your favorites, the food is what the doctor ordered. Gramma would have been a perfect reporter for Fox news, she is relentless with conversation and questions...as the meal continues, you sense her manuvering, ahh, she's going to bring up Kate...you know it will only be a matter of time...your thoughts trail off as she talks.

It's good to be here, family is a special luxury, one that you savor when you can...what of your family...it's obvious Gramma is pushing, by this time all of your kin were married. Is it something that you want, and Kate is nice but, is she what you want..."and you know Katie came by last week, to help me around the house, such a sweet girl, and she's not seein that Perkins boy anymore.
Perkins? When did she start seeing him?...Beverly Ann, leave the boy be, he hasn't been home for one day...it's good to be home.



The night is filled with stories and Gramma fussin over you and your things and the occasional argument between the old folks, makes you wonder who really runs the show in the house.

The General escorts you to your room...

When the General turned and left Kirby closed the door and looked around his room. While technically this had once been his room he had never really spent much time in it. The Smith’s moved to Lexington when Kirby enrolled at VMI but Kirby had lived on the Post as all cadets are required to do. Since Kirby spent most of each summer in Guyana the room, his room, still felt more like a hotel room than anything else.

Kirby undressed down to his shirt and shorts and carefully slid his 9mm under one of the pillow on the bed, feeling slightly guilty as he did so. His grandfather added a layer of secrecy to his arrival and that was enough to worry Kirby. Once the pistol was safely stowed Kirby began his nightly exercise routine..

The rhythm of the routine gave his mind freedom to wander once again. Why the hell should I care that she’s no longer with Perkins? he thought,  though his heart was beating a little faster all the same. Being in Lexington again made it hard not to think about Kate, and what they had been. Kate was another reason Kirby had spent so little time in this room. I wonder if her room would feel more comfortable? he mused. Sometimes he wondered how different his life would be if they had stayed together, what their kids might look like.

Kirby transitioned from sit-ups to push-ups and was brought back to earth. Right there on his class ring was the small, ever-present reminder that what they had was gone. On one side of the ring just below the historically significant ‘1839’ was a thin gray scratch where the ring was slightly flattened. When Kate had given him is ring back she had meant for it to collide with his head, not where it had on the brickwork outside the VMI gymnasium. She was gone before he could retrieve the ring.

Kirby finished his exercises, exhaled softly, and stood up. He then shook off the moment of self pity and got back to work. Dwelling on the ghosts of the past wouldn't help him in the present. So the would-be professor then sat down upon his bed, set his alarm for 0450, and opened up the Counterinsurgency Field Manual, by General Petraeus. He would work for another hour and then wake early for a morning run.

tick...tickk....came a rapping at the window.  Again, tick...after the first bounce Kirby's vision honed in pebble riquocheting off the window payne. Kinetic energy spectrum assaulted his senses, it was much easier to pick up on the signatures in the calm evening. With everything else motionless it was easy to see.


Kirby moved to the window, remembering how Kate would cause him to sneak out of the house.

Kriby slid out of bed but took the pistol with him, he'd take no chances. He crept over to the window and slid it open - his senses scanning as far as he could, watching for any movement without. Carefully he looked out, his pistol held just out of side beneath the window frame.