In reply to Batallion (msg # 49):

"Quite," Captain Blaise says with a nod. "You are each specialists in your own field, which is what makes you so uniquely qualified for this mission."

One of the rooms in the schematic glows with a golden light and the whole display shifts to it.

"That mission, by the by, is in this room. As you can see, it is well guarded and right in the center of the installation. It's a terminal bay, where data is hard stored for later retrieval. You'll need to access that room, copy all the information from their active data storage unit onto a portable drive, and then make your way back out with the copy in tow. You'll also need to make sure you grab their encryption key, too -- I imagine you can find that in any of these security centers."

Five rings of light pop onto the screen to accompany this revelation.

"Straightforward, no?"

In reply to Captain Blaise (msg # 50):

Flux makes mental note.

It's clear Batallion did not watch the holovids.

And a psychic stuffed doll is making faces at me. Great. At least it's a capable group. They might be able to get into the real experimental tech area..

Clear as crystal Captain.

Xander nods. "Just tell me what you need done."

Sure, I'll get you your data core. But after that...I will have my answers, "Captain."

In reply to Xander (msg # 52):

The meeting adjourns and business-as-usual persists for the rest of the journey, which comes to an abrupt end with a signal from the ship's intercom system.

"Entering Venusian space. All crew, prepare for orbital lock."

Soon, the Mastodon comfortably in orbit around Earth's shrouded twin, and your private transmitters spark to life with Captain Blaise's voice.

"Away team, report to the docking bay. It's go time."

***

Flux, Battalion, and Rebecca arrive to find Battalion's shuttle primed and ready -- Xander is nowhere to be seen. Captain Blaise is standing nearby, along with two technical officers, a mechanic, and a scientist in a white jacket.

"We took the liberty of adding a few modifications to your already-impressive system," the captain says. "Dr. Venkis will explain."

The scientist nods and steps forward.

"In addition to possessing an upgraded pressurization system to keep it safe in the scalding Venusian atmosphere, this shuttle is now equipped with an extremely sensitive bauble of... Perry's... design."

He flicks his eyes toward the doll perched on Rebecca's shoulder, then continues.

"We installed it in the cockpit, near the co-pilot's steering column. It looks like the grip to a holoracket," he continues. "While Perry or Rebecca holds the grip and focuses their considerable mental prowess into it, the entire ship should benefit from one aspect of their unique gift. This makes choosing an access point incredibly easy."

Captain Blaise picks up from there.

"With Dr. Venkis's amplifier in place, the ship can phase through solid objects for brief windows of time, so long as Rebecca maintains her focus. It's spotty, at best, so I recommend you use it to pass directly down from the structure's roof and into its top-level storage space. The approach you choose to use it ultimately up to you, but we haven't been able to make it work for more than one solid object in a row, so you can go ahead and dismiss the notion of flying right into the center and soaring out unscathed."

"Begging the captain's pardon, but it's not 'spotty'," the scientist bristles. "It's perfectly capable of making at least two phases before it melts down."

"A process that would damage the shuttle's structural integrity. Which means if you choose to save it for an emergency contingency plan, I'll understand."

He looks at each person in turn.

"If you have any final questions, now's the time."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:06, Wed 27 Aug 2014.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 53):

Experimental phasing technology? Awesome!

We'll handle logistics from here Captain. Raido silence will only broken in the event of an emergency on standard gold level channels.

In reply to Flux (msg # 54):

Shut up Percy they are NOT going to die.


/edited to change for an in character tweak
This message was last edited by the player at 17:53, Wed 27 Aug 2014.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 55):

Batallion looks at each of his 'team' in turn.

We're doing this then?

This is the worst plan I've ever heard... and I once helped Destructo Dominatrix raid her ex-husband's law firm for proof of infidelity by posing as "reproductive consultants".

By all means then, after you gentlemen.

True to form, Batallion follows into the shuttle dead last.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 56):

Becky bounces in behind Flux and starts pointing out some of the cooler points of the ship.  In mid-stream she says

Where is Xander?

Then immediately continues talking about her modification.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 57):

I assume he's somewhere nestled deep inside the shuttle finding a way to get intimate- such is his purrogative.

In reply to Flux (msg # 58):

Batallion clearly neither understands a thing Rebecca is saying nor cares particularly much.

So, kid, you're some kind of prodigy then?  Tell me this, what is it they've got that's so valuable?  You seem the sort to work that out.

Batallion absolutely does not seem to care that everyone else can hear him.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 59):

What 'they' do you speak of?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:32, Tue 02 Sept 2014.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 60):

Batallion narrows his beady eyes.

ARES, the Captain, whoever, kid.  The ones pulling the strings.  We're not on a multi-million dollar trip for our health.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 61):


Rebecca cocks her head to the side examining battalion with her red eyes.  After a moment she speaks.

If you had listened during the briefings you would understand (she says with the heir of a college student who is tired of letting others copy their work) we believe that Braeburn corp has discovered and been in contact with an alien race.  We also know they are being less than forthcoming with their information about this potential contact.  Finally we know that there has been a major disruption to world communications that seems to have coincided with Braeburn's involvement.

Our happy side trip to Venus is expected to decrease our total time spent on mission.  As for the overall purpose of the mission... that depends on what we find after Venus. 

She pauses.  You can tell she knows more than she is saying and she is not certain what or how to proceed.  She fidgets with the drive on the ship.  She adds in an offhand, distracted and bitter manner.

Braeburn is full of liars.  I can't believe I didn't see it sooner.  The great thing about being dead is you have an uncluttered perspective on things.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 62):

She's nuts totally nuts.

What you need, kid, is a healthier sense of paranoia, I'll give you the first booster shot:

If we're really after aliens and tech, it's not because ARES wants it for the good of mankind.

Batallion looks like he's about to say more but he just shakes his head and leans back into his seat.

We there yet?

In reply to Batallion (msg # 63):

I see a singular Ares representative in this cooperative and he is not the captain.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 64):

...And no.  We are not there yet.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 65):

The journey is surprisingly smooth right until the final approach, at which point a decision must be made: assuming you're flying directly at a facility suspended entirely in the atmosphere (think Cloud City, but with a flat top and narrow, top-like bottom), where would you want to dock? Essentially, do you want to try to phase through a wall somewhere, or land on the top like the Captain suggested?

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 66):

Shipping and recieving.  Batallion muses out loud.  Plenty of comings and goings, less security.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 67):

Given you are the subject matter expert in terms of the penetration of security I see no reason to dissent from your opinion.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 68):

after a moment she adds

Percy agrees.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 69):

The ship approaches the docking bay reserved for Shipping & Receiving, making an inconspicuous approach alongside a bevy of white GlobEx and brown IPS freighters.

"Contact, S.A.G.E Air-Traffic Control," a voices squawks over your intercom. "Maintain current heading. State your destination, cargo, and affiliation, over."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:17, Thu 11 Sept 2014.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 70):

Mutters to Battalion

Well Mr infiltration?  Any ideas?

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 71):

Batallion raises one eyebrow.

Why ask me?  This isn't my op, I didn't plan any cover, nor did I plan to fly into a military installation without one.

Batallion glances at Flux then shakes his head.

Fabrics, textiles, shredded fibers:raw stuffs for fabbing uniforms and clothing.  Boring shit, right?

God, it's like grade school in here.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:09, Thu 11 Sept 2014.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 72):

"Repeat, state your..." the voice begins, then squawks out of existence. The reason becomes apparently just moments later, as the various GlobEx and IPS freighters break off their trajectories in clearly evasive maneuvers. "Attention all freighters: Belay all former instructions. This facility is under attack from an Alpha-Bravo-Bravo threat. Proceed to the nearest docking bay for immediate lockdown. Remain aboard your vessel until we send the all-clear. S.A.G.E. countermeasures have been deployed, and we expect an all-clear shortly. Repeat, we sszzzzzzzt-"

The communication ends abruptly in a burst of static. Lances of bluish energy crackle through the thick atmosphere in front of your viewport, crashing against the facility without causing any apparent structural harm.

"Mastodon here," Captain Blaise's voice snaps from the intercom. "I'm pleased to report that the S.A.G.E. station's communications grid is, strictly speaking, a hot mess right now. Land in the prescribed docking bay and get to it. Xander's en route as well. Move quickly; I'm not sure how long we can maintain the lockdown."

Another shuttle streaks into the docking back ahead of you, ostensibly the one the Captain referred to just moments ago.

Worth noting: six larger ships take off from that self-same docking bay, blasting upwards flanked by large mechanical battlesuits. If you had to guess, they are probably intending to do something about the Mastodon...
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:28, Thu 11 Sept 2014.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 73):

Its like I have to do everything myself...