Nightmare watches the pillar of flame strike their recent field of battle with half a smile. "Regardless of any reward you might offer, it would be wise if we were to return with something that could be construed as the 'all-seeing eye'. If we do not, others will continue to look. That could prove detrimental to all involved."

Eddy nodded at Nightmare's suggestion. That was quite a brilliant idea, to Eddy's way of thinking.

Even though no one is mentioned by name it is apparent who Ramesses is responding to in the minds of the team; "The reward is two-fold. The first part is now that you have been in the Sun Chamber it has been calibrated to each of you and I can use it to make a slight alteration in each of your bodies, augmenting your physical state. The second part is that I can show you a secret Soviet research project that could tip a balance of power. It would be best that this project not be completed at all and it is located such that my skyfire cannot reach it."

After a fairly obvious mental pause Ramesses continues; "While your offer is intriguing I must decline for several reasons. One; while individually I do have a great deal of power this structure and all that is in it augments that power greatly. Two; this entire structure was designed to destroy itself should I physically leave it to prevent others from stealing the technology. Three; due to its size it is not possible to move the entire structure intact. And lastly four, I was placed here to be a watcher, a neutral observer only to act in the greatest of need. While you may all have the best of intentions your governments do not. They still seek the destruction of the other's way of life instead of working together to the betterment of all humanity. So I must remain here where I was placed by my father, I hope you all understand."

Ramesses actually turns his head to look directly at Nightmare, a slight hint of amusement in the thought that follows; "While on the surface what you suggest makes sense it really would not serve in the capacity you think. If you had *something* which could on any level be what both teams sought then the Soviets would seek to take it. What lengths they would go to I am not entirely sure but your government still works within the framework of trying to maintain a balance of power and large decisions are made as a committee. I am not under those constraints and if the Soviets decided to press forward again I could bring my might to bear against them with no concerns of touching off what you have termed MAD. I have returned your foes to their soldiers and guides with a strict message for their government to leave me alone, that neither they nor the US shall have access to this technology I hold. That is the safest thing for both your governments."

There is another pause while what Ramesses said sinks in before he speaks again in your minds; "Now, with all that being said who will be the first back into the Sun Chamber?"

"Makes sense," Vos replied as Ramesses outlined the reasons why they couldn't "fake" giving the Eye to their government.  Besides, although she didn't say so out loud... her loyalty to the Crown was such that she couldn't just LIE to them about such things.  She could slant a report in the interest of the greater good, but it would have to be more compelling before she'd outright falsify.

"Guess I need to go in the first time," she offered, "and the second after the others." She still hadn't been in the chamber, wanting everyone else who needed the healing to have it first.  And, Ramesses' answers had allayed any of her concerns.  She could respect a man who took a stand for his principles, even if they ran contrary to their goals.

By now her wounds were already healed, but she was still exhausted.  Vosper entered the chamber.

Nightmare shrugs, "Didn't mean it had to come from you, actually. I just thought if we had a big, pretty marble to put in the museum at Cairo you wouldn't have to fry nearly as many young, ambitious, Egyptologist wannabes."
"Heck, I bet Oscy and Onyx could fix somethin' up from the sand on our way back."

"Just one moment there, Ramesses.  Please, can you explain what you mean by 'a slight alteration' and 'augmenting'?"

Oscillator is quite perturbed to have had his molecular structure/DNA/body tampered with before being told about the procedure -- except that it was 'healing', but also his scientific mind was intrigued.

Ramesses manipulates some controls in his sarcophagus and the Sun Chamber opens again. He gestures for Vosper to enter for the initial process. The chamber seals and the golden light brightens but as Vosper has already regenerated her physical damage the pain is minimal and the process goes much faster. When it is done she feels completely re-energized as she comes out of the Sun Chamber.

Ramesses turns to Nightmare again, his voice appearing in the minds of the team; "If you are looking for some kind of token item that *looks* like it is useful I may be able to come up with something. Let me take care of all this augmentation first."

Ramesses replies to Oscillator, his voice echoing in everyone's heads yet again; "It is a simple process really. Each of us has locked within our genes a potential cap on our physical and mental abilities. What I can do with the Sun Chamber is unlock that cap slightly, giving each of you a boost to one of your physical abilities. It won't be much as anything to excess has much more risk but it will be something noticeable. Does that answer your question well enough?"

Muldoon would normally have stepped up to go first but after his last time into the box his body had undergone a radical transformation. Muldoon was pondering the idea of entering the sarcophagus. This time he would try it in his more stable form as Muldoon.

As he watched Vosper reenter the device her listened to the others discuss the transformation.

This time he hopes his body, in it's most stable form will allow the process to work as intended. Part of him wanted to ask their host to make him normal, but Muldoon knew himself too well. There was a war on, albeit a cold one, and the Inhuman could help America come out on top.

"Here goes nothing." The big green beret said as he stepped forward and into the device.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:02, Wed 04 June 2014.

"Is there a way for your doo-lolly to uncurse my aim?" Vosper mused as she went into the chamber.

Nightmare smiles at Vosper, "Remember, big shots are just little shots that kept shooting."
Waiting his turn in the chamber, he plays with his whip by alternately coiling it tightly then loosely, sticking it in his belt in both configurations, and hanging it on his holsters. "Can't wait to get back to my trenchcoat..."

Eddy smirked at Nightmares last comment.  "I e always got my coat with me", he chortled.

To Vos, he said, "Maybe you were never intended to throw darts.   Maybe you should try some shiroken ... or even forks, like the Blue Raja!"
       {same mech stats.  But maybe a cosmetic change will fo the Dice Roller"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:29, Thu 05 June 2014.

The word "freak" that some of the others were throwing around so lightly stuck in Onyx's craw, and so he said little during the whole exchange. He noted his acceptance of Ramesses' gift. But he mumbled under his breath "What the man gives. The man can take away."

He emerged from the Sun Chamber a little less somber and defensive.

He shook his head as Vosper complained again about her aim.

"Maybe a little more practice would help more than complaining about it," he said in a matter of fact way that might be taken as an effort at advice rather than a jab.

It didnt, but Osc decided not to push the point further.  His offer had been soundly rejected.

"Perhaps just person to person then, maybe you would permit me to return and consult with you?"

A quick flight and Osc could return here and back to USA in hours.  Ans Oscillator respected the obviously enormous scientific leaps in Ramsses posession.  Working with him on a minor project could have amazing results.  And imagine working on something bigger...

"Vosper, perhaps when we return I can help make you some more powerful darts which align more with your aspirations?"

Muldoon stepped out of the sarcophagus relieved that he had not undergone a similar transformation as he had during his last treatment. He did not feel much different, certainly less so than he had one he had stepped out before. Muldoon was interested in the technology, but did not have the expertise to understand it.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:22, Fri 06 June 2014.

One by one people step back into the Sun Chamber with each person noticing far less pain this time. As they come out most feel they have improved vitality or strength with Inhuman feeling a bit more graceful. Once the last person departs the Sun Chamber it lowers back into the floor. During this process Ramesses hears Oscillator's statements and replies in everyone's head; "And what exactly would you be consulting me about?"

There is a hint of amusement in that thought then Ramesses continues his mental communication; "At any rate I am sure your Commander Barnes will be very interested to hear what has happened here in Egypt. I believe you call it 'debriefing'? I can return you to your companions so you may go back to your country. Once there I can contact you and Commander Barnes to pass on exact coordinates to the research facility. I will say that it is located in Antarctica, deep below the ice. This is why I dare not use my skyfire as it could have grave repercussions to the environment. Also all of you may want to have some time to do research of your own and training. Once you are ready I will open another portal so if there are other questions please speak them now."

"To revise what I had said; before we leave, Vosper, maybe I can help make you have a more powerful ranged weapon -- with Ramesses help?"

To help Vosper with her problem of missing everything would help her and hopefully make Osc look better to her.  To work with Ramesses on anything -- and have a chance to see how his technology worked, or how he thought -- this would be the opportunity of a lifetime.

"I could work here just as easily as at my labs back at our HQ.  Perhaps I could stay on a bit longer..?"

Once again people feel what would be a smile in their minds as Ramesses responds to Oscillator's request; "I understand you wish to assist your companion but there are no forge facilities here, no weapon production equipment. This whole structure exists to amplify the powers of my mind not as a way to create super-weapons. The point is somewhat moot anyhow, as you will be expected back to de-brief with the others. I am sure your Commander Barnes would want your insights. So for now no, but perhaps some other time."

"Well unless you got a steak and a beer, I am ready to go." Muldoon said.

Vos stiffened a bit when Onyx suggested she practice more and bitch less.  That was what she'd been doing with all her spare time of late, and yet on the battlefield, she had more chance of hitting a target if she aimed at anything but the target.

When Eddy suggested she try a different weapon, she forced a smile.  "I'm a Brit, mate," she said.  "Pub darts is what we do."

At Osc's offer, she replied, "Yah, sure mate. Anything you can come up with."

In his mind, he loses the prestigious Nobel prize for science.  But he's asked several times and that's pushing his luck.  Despite being surrounded by technology far in advance of his own, he won't be allowed to understand it.

"This is most unfortunate.  I have no need to weaponize anything, merely to learn.  Well, so be it."
Osc's shoulders slump forward, the sadness obvious.
"There's nothing more pathetic than a nerd denied access to their nerd-domain."

Eddy smiled at Muldoon, "Actually, I left some bitching big Rumps marinating in a chilli sauce in the chiller when we left.
They'd be just on right now".

He was looking forward to the trip home himself.

To Vos, he relied "The Blue Raja was English, too, you know, and he was a self-proclaimed 'limey fork-flinger'.
And yes, I know he don't wear much blue and speaks in a British accent, but if you know your history it really does make perfect sense".

Nightmare states, flatly, "If you know your history, you might figure out that nothing makes any sense."

Sensing that the conversation is over, Ramesses opens a portal which looks out onto the desert where the guides and operatives wait. He raises a hand to bid the team enter the gate, his words in their minds; "Step through and rejoin your companions. They will guide you back to Cairo and from there you will return to your United States of America. Meet with your commander and pass on the information I have given. If he feels this research base is of concern, which I think he will, I will contact your team and him at your base. You have some time so you may rest, train, and prepare. I will speak with you all soon, farewell!"

Stepping through the portal the team appears among the guides and operatives. Mounting up the guides lead the team back to Cairo through the desert. The journey back is uneventful aside from excited questions about the being called Ramesses by the operatives, it isn't often a piece of history comes to life. Once back in Cairo at the safe-house the team is informed that the Soviets came into the city not long before them and left quickly on a Soviet transport plane and those who tailed them reported they did NOT look happy as well as being quite battered. The team is questioned by Hamdi Bin-Hassan about the "all-seeing eye" and he appears both excited and disappointed by the truth. Excited by the discovery of a being of such historical significance and disappointed that not only is there no item to display but that he missed the chance to meet Ramesses himself.

The team returs to disguise in the morning and departs Cairo on another British airliner and lands on Gibraltar. After a short stay the team crosses the Atlantic in a C-130 again, with several in-air refuels between Gibraltar and the final stop at the airbase in Colorado. The team returns to SMITE HQ by chopper and settles back in to rest from their long journey. A message is relayed to the team that Commander Barnes will be holding the debriefing session the next morning at 0900 sharp. Everything is as it was left and the improved base security is well in-place.

OOC: People can feel free to talk in the SMITE Base thread and I will begin the debriefing in the Situation/Ready Room thread soon.

Everyone gets 1750 xp, 750 xp for defeating the Soviets and 1000 xp as a story reward for stopping a potentially world-changing technology shift.