The Count realizes that his preoccupation with events and a pressing time-frame caused him to miss the basic etiquette..."Sorry everyone, this is Tolman Jackstadt, I've hired him as a security specialist and his help has been invaluable. Mr. Jackstadt, these are my associates.."

Sweeps his arm towards the group, he introduces them.

OOC: To avoid doing a long drawn out thing, I'll let the new player check out the cast/etc.

After listening to the Count's plan for a while in disbelief Khea interrupts.

"We don't even know where the dome is exactly so how should we recognize which submarine is theirs?

Sure, if we had more time to find out it would be a good plan. But as apparently we do not."

Vonon assumes a more relaxed stance.

"Oh, well then, sure! That's doable! Yeah, trust me, it's going to be a lot simpler to break into a fixed location than it will be to intercept and board a moving vehicle without doing lots of damage to said vehicle."



As Darrel walks away, Vonon looks around at the others in the group.

"What? The guy that runs this place is running submersible service out to the secret lab? Really?! Outstanding!" Vonon wraps a hand around the baskethilt of his Blade, "Just give me a quiet place and a few minutes to interrogate this guy, and I'll have the location out of him in nothing flat."

Suddenly, Vonon's muzzle takes on a perplexed look.

"But....wait....Miz Blue hired this guy to take us out to the dome, but didn't she also say she had teams out in boats searching for the dome? Why would she be searching for the dome, if she knew that this guy already knew where it was?"

Vonon brightens, and pretends to slap himself on the side of his head, "Oh! Right! Sir Walter and I left a few minutes before everyone else! Miz Blue must have said something about this guy knowing where the dome is after we left, right?"

Whatever submersible is being used by the underwater lab is probably privately owned. Its base has not been located yet, either, but it was deduced probably to be a beachfront property on the other island that had a boathouse.

The marina here has two submersibles that it rents out. Both are moored in the exterior 'boathouse' built off the back of the shop.

The owner, Tarl, looks really confused at the Count's words.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Sir. I don't know about any dome. Both of my submersibles are moored right over there."

Sam muttered under her breath ". What was that Sam? Some important information which might alter our mission parameters? perhaps we would all benefit from knowing that, not just ignoring it."

Taking a deep breath she raises her voice over the various conversations going on, and talks loudly and clearly

"Fascinating though all this speculation is, can I suggest that we all gather togethor in one place and share our information, and then update our plan based on all that information togethor? And can I suggest we do that right now, because entertaining though it is to debate this like a cross between a mothers meeting and Chinese Whispers, in terms of sorting out tactics the main outcome of that approach will be fewer of us collecting our pay alive or uninjured. And I like my body parts exactly where they are too much to be keen for that to happen."

She pauses and tries to catch everyones eyes (hoping that they are all now paying attention)

"So, in 30 seconds I suggest we are all gathered there " She points to an open area in the shop big enough for the group to stand around "to start something which will hopefully resemble more of a briefing, and less of a cluster fuck in the making."

She waits two beats, then without looking at anyone strides over to far end of the area she has indicated, turns round and stands there examining her watch very obviously, counting down just loud enough for people to hear.

"25, 24, ...."

"Finally a word of reason" Khea says while pushing off the wall she was leaning on and walks to Samantha.
"This was starting to sound more and more like a Ihatei war council."

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 47):

"I agree! I agree!" Vonon quickly responds to Sam, raising his hands in 'surrender', "But, if I might suggest -- hopefully without getting shot -- that we have our staff meeting aboard the sub." Vonon points at the vehicle in the back of the shop.

"I only suggest it because the metal, double-hull construction of that craft will defeat both shot-gun and laser microphones. Because the info we found out..." Vonon gestures at Walter, Sharik and himself, "...is that the bad guys know we're coming. And we may be being watched...."

Sharik is simply waiting by the counter for a decision on where the pow-wow is going to happen.  Vonon has summarized their findings, and she has nothing to add for the moment.

Given that she's completed her sweep, Shar kept out of people's way while they try to shuttle the owner about, get dressed and run about the shop for a bit.  The slightly bemused smile crossed her burgundy, cosmopolitan lips.  Sharik eyed Tolman for a bit, nodding in greeting to him once the Count introduced the bodyguard to her.  Cromwell vouching for him was enough for her right now.

She didn't bother to strap on the weight belt she'd ordered, tossing it over her shoulder for the moment.  Sharik glanced at the array of spear guns in the locked cases behind the counter.  She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, but decided to ask later.  Flippers in one hand, the diminutive dilettante leaned against the counter with her arms crossed watching where the others eventually decided to congregate.

Sam nods at Vonun and eyes up the submersible

ooc
is the common room on the sub a big enough space for a team meeting?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:34, Wed 18 Feb 2015.

Several areas on the submsersible, including the common room, the bridge, the utility bay and the bioresearch lab, are large enough to accommodate everyone. The bridge is probably not a good idea, per Vonon, as it has a wrap-around window. The dock is enclosed, though, so no one can target the window with a laser mike.

Walter nods at Samantha's suggestion. "I think that we are all use to working as independents long enough that we need to sit down and discuss what we have found in a private place before we go any further. The sub would be as good as any. Lets go and it will be a new experence for me." he says to the others, as he heads for the hatch on the sub.

OOC:To sub

Darrell heads to the sub.

In reply to Darrel Cromwell (msg # 53):

Vonon drops his hands and hurries to gather up his luggage and travel trunks, then follows everyone else into the sub.

Samantha lags behind the others, making sure everyone is heading for the sub, but also performing a visual sweep to spot anything out of the ordinary. She gathers her two bags and takes them with her to the sub.

Without a word, Tolman gathers his equipment and follows the Count into the submarine.

While everyone is boarding the sub Khea heads out again, gets the gun she hid among all the other stuff the Count bought and hides it between the bundle of clothes she still carries and only then heads into the sub, shouting "Have you already forgotten about the equipment Count bought? I won't carry it after you so when you need something get it yourself." once inside.

Sharik found it slightly amusing at all of the posturing that was going on.  She quietly and simply picked up her bag, then one of the bundles of group equipment that the Count had ordered and was laying in the pile.

She knew that she couldn't carry it all (at least, not all in one trip), but if the stuff was going to be potentially useful for the mission and needed to get into the submersible some how, then the diminutive brunette was all for helping get the equipment on board.

As she boarded the waiting sub, Shar murmured a soft, if heartfelt, "Thank you." to the owner of the dive shop.  It was a simple courtesy and there was no need to burn the bridge either.  She hoped (if not assumed) that she would see the man later.  And when they returned, his aid might be crucial to their success...

Once everyone was inside Sam let them settle briefly then spoke up

"I'm gonna run this brief - just to keep order, unless anyone objects. " She paused and looked round everyone waiting for any response

Private to GM: Am assuming Ikram is no longer with us?]
This message was last edited by the player at 11:13, Sat 28 Feb 2015.

You assume correctly. Ikram has vanished... at least for the time being.


As you entered the submersible's upper deck through the side airlock, you were greeted by a green-skinned man.

"Hi. Welcome aboard. I'm Grev Allyrica, your pilot... if you need me. No problem if you don't."

Everyone is now gathered in the Common Room on the sub. Tolman brought in all the extra equipment.

Sam turned to Grey

"Hi Grey. My name is Sam. Your employer, according to the schedule is the Count there " she indicated Darrell. "We're just about to have a meeting so could you please check the sub is ready for departure and give us about 20 minutes privacy please? Assuming that's ok with the boss. We'll let you know then what we need, but my hunch is you won't be getting the night off.".

Sam hated sucking up to Nobles, but her service had made her realize sometimes it was just easier to play the game.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:53, Mon 02 Mar 2015.

Nods at Sam to continue.

OOC:My posting will be slow and erratic for a while, but, I'm here. ;-)

Not waiting for their pilot to depart Khea spoke into the round "At least we won't crash into the dome when trying to dock now"

Grev didn't hang around; he was just letting you know that he was available.

"Submersible is all ready to go," he informs you and leaves.

Sam acknowledges Darrells nod, and thanks Grey as he leaves.

Looking round at everyone she starts talking, standing alert but at ease.

"Okay guys, I suggest what we do is feed back from our various activities to see if theres new information. I'll start. I did some research on our target and the names we had and managed to track a few things down. One lead was too far away, the other I passed on to the Count, who will update us, I am sure."

She pauses

"I crashed after that and a bit later received a call from Ceruleanne warning me in a roundabout manner that someone else might contact me, and I should listen to them. They did. Justev Wredrav contacted me. He spoke in plain language so I had to try and read between the lines. But he is in the dome. He is asking us to pick him up as he tries to leave at midnight. Our plan was to go in later. So we have three options. Go in earlier, as if he escapes they'll likely be on alert. Pick him up and use his intel to help us get in - though they'll be on alert. Or persuade him to wait for us, then we have someone on the inside who could help us. Be clear though, communicating this guy is not going to be simple. He thinks hes being tapped (and may well be)so its not like we'll be able to ask him lots of direct questions about whats going on. I think our best option is the last one, to try and get him to wait and help us get in. So any thoughts, comments on that first?"

"It would be worth it if he can help us get in, but, the trick is keeping in contact with him without tipping off his employers."