"You've been out for a while, haven't you?  Are you sure that's a threat they'll take seriously?"

That's why I could use your help. You can make the threat credible. At any rate, don't get me wrong, the last thing I want to do is help Braeburn out of a jam here. But until we know what happened on Titan, I think we'd be jetting off into interstellar space at an extreme disadvantage.

"How do I make you more credible?  I don't know anything about Braeburn black ops."

Don't worry about the content of the leak. It's your publicity and distribution network that gives the threat teeth. They may not fully be aware of what I do or do not know. Let's use that to our advantage.

Billy shrugs, "If you really think so.  Last time I tried to make something public it got blown off as a hoax, so you might be giving me too much credit.  I also haven't really been making any videos lately, my channel's been down with all this secret agenting.  I was planning to make the aliens and space travel and all that shit a publicity stunt on top of everything, actually."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Wed 22 Nov 2017.

It's the best plan I've got, Xander notes. I think we can sort this Titan and Braeburn business out, save the solar system, then rocket out in search of green intergalactic booty as the biggest damn heroes humankind has ever known. And that's just the start of the publicity stunt. What do you think?

Billy sighs, "You're confident, but if this goes as bad as your last plan, I'm bailing.  None of that hit everything with a mech and hope it works out shit.  If things go bad you adjust the plan, you don't fail harder expecting ti to turn around.  If you're okay with that, then I'll come with.  You run the show as long as you run it well."

"The Compound?  Where's that?  I'd love to check out the facilities that you've got there."  He spreads his arms wide, stretching his chest for dramatic effect.  "I haven't had a decent workout in weeks.  Or a stint on the rifle range."

At a surreptitious hand signal from Fiernas, Phillip starts jumping around, barking happily.  It's a game they play frequently, where Phillip tries to keep his paws on Fiernas's back, as if the hunter is at the front of a conga line.  "Ok, ok boy... Settle down..." Fiernas chuckles.

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 856):

Team Frolic

Dale and Scarlett don't seem put off by the yapping dogs, but Dale simply shrugs at Fiernas's request.

"Could maybe take you there once you've got a proper contractor's badge," he says. "Depends on where you fit in. We'll chat about it tomorrow after the computer's cross-referenced what you all filled out this morning with available positions."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:45, Mon 27 Nov 2017.

Xander nods. That seems fair. Let's do this.

Billy sighs, "I guess I'm in then," he says with a shrug.

Aside from the aside with Xander, Billy spends a good portion of the trip apparently zoning out though occasionally he giggles and mutters something about "stupid cats."  Now and then he comes out of his stupor to bother Viceroy about trivialities of alien races; asking for any kind of databases about alien language, jump ring network maps, information on why the neighboring quarantined planet was quarantined, further images of alien species, and other prying but mostly harmless information.

"I've seen how Braeburn trains you fellas to shoot.  I'd definitely be useful as a range instructor," Fiernas jokes.  Phillip finally relents, padding around happily as Fiernas gives him a treat.

He makes a show of checking the time.  "I should probably get back and check on the kid.  She's smart as a whip, but she's ten minutes away from losing her head over the boy genius.  She likes 'em skinny like that."

As they head back to the room, he asks, "How many of you are there, anyway?  Soldiers, I mean.  Or, contractors with guns, whatever the word is.  If the Roshak do hit the surface, do we have a real chance here?"

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 860):

Team Kamikaze

The Factory, with Viceroy, Xander, and Billy aboard, accompanies the Dichotomy on its slow and steady journey into Martian space -- a journey that takes several weeks.

Time passes quickly enough, given the amount of interesting technology to discuss with Viceroy and the restoration of Archive access.

Dr. Pryor is in contact periodically, but it's not until you've settled into orbit around Mars that he physically shuttles over to the Factory to have a face-to-face discussion.

"We're having some trouble finalizing the sale," he explains, seated at one of the Factory's cluttered tables alongside Billy, Xander, and Viceroy. "We've gotten them to admit that they know what we're trying to buy, but they're claiming it's 'priceless'. We've offered them more than you paid last time and been rebuffed."

He drums his fingers on the table.

"Did you use something else to sweeten the offer?"

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 861):

Team Frolic

"We have a fair number of security personnel," Dale shrugs. "But if the Roshak were to make landfall, we wouldn't be their main concern."

Scarlet nods and chuckles.

"That's what the mechs are for."

"I mean...there was some fire...and lying...we might've popped their atmosphere...no.  Nothing sweetened the deal.  It was a very sour deal.  I'm pretty sure there are shoot on sight orders for me." Billy gives a not-exactly remorseful look as he nods to emphasize the point, "Did you mention the whole fate of the human race thing?  That get any play?"

"Yeah, I noticed those, on board that weird ship we came in on.  The mechs.  Think you've got enough of those for a real pitched battle?  Have you seen them up against the Roshak before?"

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 864):

Team Frolic

"The Roshak have made landfall once before. We sent both squadrons of mechs to fight them back then, and it worked out fine. That was before the compound was built, so we're even more prepared now."

Dale blinks at Scarlet.

"It wasn't a true landfall," he says. "Their ship crashed and most of the Roshak aboard never made it out. I'm still confident we can take them, but it's not a trivial thing."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:26, Wed 29 Nov 2017.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 865):

Team Kamikaze

"I might have mentioned something along those lines, yes. There is an amount of skepticism involved, I'm afraid."

He frowns.

"I'll see what I can provide by way of proof that won't immediately leak onto the Archive and ruin everything."

Billy groans as Pryor blames scepticism, "Can you get the contact at ACE on the horn and let us talk to them then?"  He points at Viceroy, "I don't remember exactly what you said to him when we gave you his number, but I'm pretty sure you sucked at it.  No offense."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 867):

Team Kamikaze

"I'm not sure that's a good idea. The last time you were involved in something diplomatic, you punched Viceroy in the face."

Dr. Pryor eventually relents, however, and places a call from the Factory and putting Billy on the other end.

A woman's face appears in the hologram display. She seems somewhat familiar: a 30-something in a snappy business suit, with neck-length hair and a no-nonsense look in her eyes. Well, eye. She has her hair combed over her left eye, and the left-hand side of her face is somewhat sunken compared to the right, as though something struck her cheek bone there with great force.

"Hello, Dr. Pryor."

"Hello," he replies. "I was hoping to continue our conversation from earlier...

"What is there to discuss? As I said before, while we appreciate your organization's interest in our hyperdense alloy, the remaining quantity is not for sale at any price."

"That's entirely unacceptable," Dr. Pryor snaps. "This is a matter of national security. You don't truly intend to condemn us all to ruin over a 1-meter cube of metal, do you?"

"You make it sound so trivial. That '1-meter cube' represents half a ton of material. It's priceless."

"What's priceless is the security of our sector," Dr. Pryor replies tersely. "But I didn't call to rehash our earlier argument, Ms. Cassidy. I'd like to introduce you to my associates. They can provide supporting evidence and context you desperately need to hear. This is Billy, Viceroy, and-"

"-Xander," she supplies, her expression turning cold. "I'm afraid we've met..."

Yeah, she tried to kill me on a tour last time we were here, and then I punted her into low-orbit with my mech, Xander supplies helpfully. Hey Cassidy. I'm glad to see you survived re-entry.

This last bit is delivered without any apparent sarcasm.

You might be interested to know that Dr. Pryor was ALSO trying to kill me up until very recently, so you two have that much in common already. How much of our situation has he filled you in on?

"Oh hey, I saw that," Billy comments to Pryor off-handedly when Xander mentions his previous encounter with Cassidy, he curves his hand up in an arc as if to model her trajectory, accompanying it with a low whistle.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 870):

Team Frolic

Fiernas completes his walkabout with Dale and Scarlet, returning to the room just in time to be appraised of Rebecca's appointment with Apex. If he desires to tag along, he is not impeded from doing so by the escort.

Team Kamikaze

"Not enough of it, apparently," Cassidy replies, pointedly ignoring Billy's animated reenactment. "Dr. Pryor didn't see fit to mention that he was working with -- or is it FOR -- the IDA."

"Why would that surprise you? I told you it was a matter of sector security!" Dr. Pryor responds. "But...I...excuse me one moment."

He lowers his voice and whispers to Billy and Xander.

"You actually punched her into ORBIT? You're terrible diplomats!"

"Be that as it may. Your associates know exactly what price was paid for their last shipment. I'm afraid it's a sort of capital that isn't widely available."

She adjusts her bangs to more fully cover her left-hand eye, somewhat self-consciously.

"But I'll bite. What's so important that the IDA needs, of all things, a large chunk of our proprietary hyperdense alloy immediately to solve it?"

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 871):

Team Titan

Rebecca, Kayla, and Fiernas follow along with their guide, who leads them through a winding series of corridors, out into the sectional tubes connecting various pieces of the colony to one another, and eventually back into the the stadium-like Compound.

You are not, however, ushered back into Apex's board room, or even taken anywhere near it. Instead, your lift tube deposits you in a subterranean level of the complex. The construction here is more spartan, built for strength rather than aesthetics. You pass no one in the halls, though there are obvious cameras mounted in the corners of each hallway.

Finally, the guide uses a palm-scanner to open a circular doorway. The room looks simple enough, with a few chairs positioned toward the furthest wall -- which is less a "wall" than a transparent, thick sheet of glass that looks in on another room of about the same size, though placed a good 5 feet lower than this one. That room also contains gurneys and tables with restraints on them, and trays with various implements that look vaguely medicinal in nature.

It's also startlingly clean, as if thoroughly scrubbed and sanitized on an almost perpetual basis.

By the time you've finished taking it all in, Apex has joined you. At this point, your guide leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 872):

"What you're about to see is disturbing," Apex says, nodding a greeting to each of those gathered in turn. "But don't worry. Though we're standing in the same place this recording comes from, nothing you're about to witness can harm you. Not physically, anyway."

She puts a hand on Rebecca's shoulder to comfort her, then turns toward Kayla and Fiernas.

"I appreciate that you've come to help support Rebecca in what is certain to be an upsetting experience for her, but you need to understand the risks. If you choose to remain during the screening of the Incident, you must abide by our standard NDA -- on pain of financial ruin and imprisonment. We consider this information highly sensitive. Do you understand?"

Once both Kayla and Fiernas have acknowledged this, Apex motions toward the glass.

"We're at the scene of the Incident," she explains. "What you're about to see took place in the room below us, but do not worry. No matter how realistic this appears, it is not happening in real time."

Apex turns to Rebecca.

"It is time. If at any point you need to stop, simply say the word aloud."

OOC: Incident post incoming...