Lake Sarnac, New York
2200 hours

 The group of travelers have been in and out of tough scrapes over the last few days, days that seemed to be years.  They have been shot at by bootleggers on Lake Champlain, stumbled upon one of the largest booze smuggling operations in the Northeast, landed in Lake Placid to find themselves thrust into International intrigue, torture, mystics and potential assassinations.

While they've found a lead to getting paying jobs on an archeological dig, they have had a series of run ins with Imperial Japanese agents.  These men have tortured and nearly killed two of the parties men, they have set up a bug in the room of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Governor of New York. They themselves were talked into collecting information on participants of the kickoff ball at the Lake Placid Lodge.  Now, with a great meal in their bellies, they have gone to Lake Sarnac a few miles away where Iains plane has been painted.

Iain, Amelia, Doc and Marek went by sleigh with the incapacitated Amelia.  Si, Artemis and Charlie went by way of luxury car owned by LaMont Cranston, a former pilot and war buddy of Artemis.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:12, Tue 06 July 2021.

Artemis, Charlie and Si step outside, something seems off, they can see the shadow of a man inside, behind the door.  Then they hear a familiar voice clearly from inside.

"It is too late!  DROP YOUR WEAPONS NOW!!!"

Si tries to place the  sound of the voice.,,to  see if he can tell who it  was. He  makes   no effort to move as he  looks for other   people who may be outside .

 he nods to Artemis  to speak, as he himself looks  for   a near Shadows, that he might use   to move up on  anyone he can see.

Si's keen trained ear knows exactly who it is, Iain, and it's coming from the boathouse.  He can't see Iain, and it's not likely the shadowy figure behind the door, but Iain is in the building.

    giving  Artemis a nod, Si will move to the Building, slipping into the shadows,  with hsi weapon  held  Under his  coat for a  quick slash should he need it...

  working his way up  the   building towards the door.

"Oh, let's not do this, shall we? I mean with us being friends and such, is there really the need for all the drama?" Artemis said as he continued to step forward, leaning on his walking stick.  He slowly looked about as he tried to recall where he had heard that voice.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Awareness check - Smarts + awareness + d10 --> 11

---

From outside on the gravel, Si and Artemis here a loud crack, a gunshot rings out from inside the plane hanger.

  Si will move oast the door on the parking lot side. Moving as qui8ckly and  quietly as he is able, he will try to reach the door on the other side, to sneak in..

 as he passed the door he points to artemins  to stay/enter  the  door of the parking area.

Si moves out staying low and moving quickly along the north side of the building, toward the far side door on the east side.

 as he   nears the  door, his Tomahawk is  apradey in his right  hand, Hiss Knife in his left.. he move  to the  far door, Lsiening, watchign  for Movement. if/when he makes it to the door, he take a bit of a peak, to see if he see's  any enemy types.

"Good Lord, what was that?" Artemis shouted out feigning a bit more surprise than he would, having a clear understanding of what it was he heard.  He began walking towards the door leaning a bit more on his walking stick as he did so.

PM

Artemis asked, Good Lord, what was that?, Charlie responds as he walks around the front of the car, Pistoli shot, light caliber......................... bought time we had some gun play 'round here. Charlie pulls both his six guns, twirling them in his fingers.  He takes a wide stance infront of the door, pistols in hand, Do me a favor, kick that door open Artemis.

Si is about to round the corner on the building.
A SHOT RINGS OUT.

Si rounds the corner and can see the open door.

  Si  calls upon his  skills. to use the shadows and his  stealth, His   Tomahawk and   Longknife  ready,.closing  in on the  two  enemies.. he will judge if he can cut them down, at very least, Maiming them, to keep them out of the  fight.

"Alright, we can give that a shot," Artemis said to Charlie.

He walked over leaning on his walking stick and tried kicking the door somewhat feebly.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Deftness fighting roll to kick door - 10

---

PM

Si continues to cover ground, moving along the shadows of the hanger, approaching the men moving quickly toward the hanger.

Artemis follows Charlies lead, kicking the door open, the door crashes into a body and sends the person behind the door tumbling.  At the moment the door is kicked open everyone can hear Iain command, "Too late!  We're surrounded!  DROP YOUR WEAPONS NOW!!!"

Then a flury of shots ring out, Charlie lets go with both his pistols, shooting with both hands.  He strikes the man (#4) as he is crouched picking up a gun.  The bullets strike in several the man is several locations, while others miss, striking boats and the opposite wall.

CRACK!
A bullet rips through the far wall right next to Si's head, showering him in splinters, a few sticking in his face.  The Japanese men approaching the back door look up, where the bullet exits the building and see Si there a few feet away.  The immediately start raising their guns, one has a pistol, another some sort submachine gun with a wooden stock.

Iain has lost sight of the two men (#1 and #2) behind his plane, they have moved toward the lake side of the building.  Marek is also moving toward the lakeside.

  Si  will  dart  quickly to put the pistol man, between  he and the  submachine gun, while    he  spins  ad  flails  with Bot His  weapons,  seeking to  wound the  Pistol Man's  arms  or face... should be  be  successful. he  will  charge  full on into the submachine gun person  to take away the  advantage of the weapon.

Artemis continued through the door while Charles not only went through but started shooting as he did so. He saw a man fall back and stepped towards him as quickly as he could do so. He swung his cane hard at the man.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Attack on #3 - with a total roll of 11

---

Iain saw his companions dealing with the two gunmen by the door, and turned his attention toward the other two as he called out a warning.

"Careful, two others are somewhere behind the plane..."

Iain hollars, "Careful, two others are somewhere behind the plane..."
Marek is on it and moving around the front of the plane to engage those two.

Artemis goes through the door after Charlie empties his revolvers, swinging his cane down, he strikes the Japanese man smartly on the crown of the head, a loud thunk resounds and the man crumples to the ground.

Si hugs the building, putting the pistol man between him and the man with the submachine gun.  He swings with his hand axe, the Japanese man is quick and thrusts his forearm up against Si's forearm to stop the blow, Si follows up with his hunting knife and drives it deep in the mans belly.  The pistol man slumps forward on Si's blade, still alive, but dealing with the shock of 12 inches of steel in his belly.  He squeezes off a shot that deafens Si as it blows past his ear.



Next round

  Si, Jerks  a little at the weapon going off..he has had  worst confrontations in his life  , with bar brawls  and the like.

 putting   his  Strength into a charge.. he will attempt to  Just the MG  using the  other Man as a shield,  , trying to drive   the  dying man into the  MG  gunner.

   if/when they collide, Si will try to spin off in a the dying man,in such  a way, as to bring  his  axe and Blade into play, to either  take   the gunner's arm, or the man's head.

Arty turns and makes his way to where Iain and the others were at keeping his eyes peeled for any other surprises from the Japanese delegation.

"Really not feeling that comradery of nations, folks."

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

Awareness - 19

---

This message was last edited by the player at 14:00, Tue 17 Aug 2021.

Artemis begins to scan over the area while Charlie drops to one knee, methodically, quickly dropping spent cases from his 45 long colt revolvers.  Each brass case tinking in succession as they hit the concrete floor.

Si continue with his momentum, carrying the small asian man forward toward the man firing the submachine gun.  Bullets rip into the human shield seemingly forever, then then it stops and Si hears an empty magazine drop, looking over the corpse, now just a couple feet away, the gunner is frantically jamming another magazine into his gun.

Artemis see Marek moving around the front of the sea plane in the hanger.  It's suddenly quiet and all the action sounds to be the firing around the backside where Si went.  The two men behind the plane cannot be seen at this time.

Marek peeks around the front of the plane, then stands from his crouch.  Looking back toward Artemis he asks, Where did they go ?

Then Artemis sees a movement through the planes windows, they must be hiding on the far side of the plane somehow, but a dark shape is visible moving fast at Marek, and carrying a long shiny steel blade.

OOC
Next round

   Giving the  Body an push and  spinning off to  bring his    Tomahawk down  while slashing  with the  blade he cross  draws, there is a grin visage  of  effort on his face, There is no hate hate involved, but   revenge for what has taken place these last few days, and the fellow with the  Gun is the unhappy  recipient ...

Artemis looked about as Marek asked him where the others had gone. At first he wasn't sure, but it was becoming pretty clear that they hadn't left the building.

Then he saw something big and it had something shiny that couldn't be good for Marek.  Artemis yelled in reply, "Incoming from the front, sword or something Marek."

He pointed towards the fast-moving mass.  He also ducked down to see if he could see feet or something of the other attackers.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

Awareness 11

---

Artemis sees a small object flying toward him in the air, he tries to focus on what it is in the low light of the building and night.

Si sees the man infront of him just drop the magazine he's attempting to load and swings his gun like a club.  The gun hits Si in forearm with a sharp thump.  Si drives his tomahawk into the man clavicle and easily cuts through bone and flesh.  Si's opponent grits his teeth and reaches for a his belt with the opposite hand.  His left arm now limp at his side.

Artemis suddenly recognizes it, he saw a few late in the war.  A hand grenade.
Artemis cannot see what is happening with Marek and the other man on the other side of the plane.

Next round.


OOC
Si takes 1 point damage

  Si's arm makes him grimace with fury. You and your comrades are without  honor..your  gods and your ancestors  will forsake you!

  as the  Man reaches  for the  belt, Si  will  cut down on that arm with the  Blade, while trying to bring the tomahawk into the man's neck or chest..
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Thu 23 Sept 2021.

"GRENADE - TAKE COVER." Artemis pointed towards where the grenade was heading and jumped out flat in the other direction trying to take down anyone with him.


Tossed a deftness roll to try to find a safe place to jump towards and go flat.

Iain moves to cover Amelia, Doc lifts the boat she is laying on, dumping Amelia and tipping the boat over on Iain and Amelia.  Artemis dives out the door knocking over Charlie.

BOOM  Angry, hot shards of metal scatter through the building in a deafening report.


Back in the alley, Si thrusts his hunting knife across the mans forearm, cutting him deeply.  He drops the gun stock he was swinging and tumbles to the ground.  Si tries to follow up with tomahawk but misses as the man rolls away.

Back in the hanger the building is full of dust shook loose from the explosion and still trickling down from the rafters.  There are small fires burning in the hanger from the explosion, paint and turpentine cans burning.

Artemis looks back into the building and sees the carnage, the boat tipped over with holes in it, and Doc laying on the ground, blackened and bleeding.

  The Grim Stoic look of the  calculating hunter, Striking  down at the  Man, 'just ahead' of his roll The Blade aimed for his midsection, The Tomahawk  for  a leg...

 ..it is best if you die  now, you do not wish to find out the angry i will pour upon you, if your cowardly people harmed them...

"Close old boy, close," he said to no one in particular from where he had managed to jump and toss himself to the outside the building.  He made the effort to rise up and seeing Doc laid prone, bleeding.  "Bloody hell."

His adrenaline was pulsing right along with the blood in his veins and in his temples.  He hurried back into the dangers of the building taking a look around for their attackers.  But his ears were ringing and the temples were pounding.  He was able to focus on Doc and kneeled down beside him.

"Alright Doc," Arty said, but in reality was yelling over the ringing in his ears and the sounds in the building.  He realized that he needed to get the injured man out of the building and made the effort to lift his head and shoulders up off the floor and began pulling, dragging the prone man towards the doorway.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Complete and total failure on the awareness - rolled a one - SIGH!

---

The small Japanese man is now on the ground, the much larger Si is now able to simply over power the little man.   Si's enemy does block the knife strike and attempts to swing legs and get momentum to get up, but it's no use.  The old tomahawk comes down cutting through the top of one thigh and cutting to the femur of the other leg.   Si knows his femoral artery is cut, and his victim will bleed out in the next moments, no stopping it.  Taking a quick glance, Si sees no other threats on this side of the building.

Back at the hanger smoke from several sources are starting small plumes.   Artemis moves back into the building, shaken, ears ringing.  He rolls over Doc and sees that he has been hit by two shards of shrapnel, one stuck in a rib, another shaved off a bit of scalp, his head bleeding heavily, but Artemis can clearly see the bone of his skull, scraped but not broken.

Charlie and Lamont now come in the building and Artemis can hear Lamont order Charlie, Get these fires out.  Lamont has two 1911 45's drawn, he stands covering Artemis.



In the near distance, and engine is starting, Pop,    Pop,  Pop, POP......... Brrrrrrrrrrrrr
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:07, Wed 29 Sept 2021.

  Si looks at the wounded  Japanese,Greet your ancestors in Shame, for the man you were...Darkness awaits...

  The Scout   wipes  the Blood from his  weapons  on the  man's 'good  Leg', the sound of the engine catches his   ears. Quickly sheathing his  weapons,,he grabs  the SMG  and spare  Mag, changing  on the run  towards the  noise.

 he  will see who is starting  the vehicle, his direction drawn by whether it sounds like a  car, or  and aircraft... as soon as the magazine is  in, the  weapon is  up as he stalks  towards the noise.

Artemis looked up from where he was at and continued his effort to pull the doctor out of the building.

"Lamont, they are getting away...not sure boat or plane, but if you can at least spot what they are doing and where they are going, we might be able to have the police try to intercept them."

Seeing the condition of the Doc, but realizing they were still in a burning building, Arty swore under his breath and pulled, or tried to pull, the limp, prone, and bleeding body from the scene.  It was a struggle, yet Artemis continued to try.

"Honestly, Doc, if we get out of this place, we gotta talk about some first aid classes for all of us.  Just saying."

The Japanese man curses something in his language at Si as he cluthches his thigh, but it is useless, he is bleeding out and the man knows it.  Si scoops up the weapon and starts running toward the sound of the engine.


Back at the otherside of the building Artemis drags Doc out of the smoldering building.  Charlie, following LaMonts orders grabs the fire bucket of sand by the door and starts dowsing the burning paint cans.

LaMont heads to the front of the plane and exclaims, DAMN, your man's jugular is cut, and there's a stabbed Jap here.



OOC
Next round,  LaMont is indicating Marek is dying, and the other Japanese man is dying as well.

  with   quiet and  some speed, Si moves towards  the   Nosie, his eyes shift to look for anyone who might ambush, him.. when he  gets  close  enough to the engine  Nosie, ( and if he can see what it is).. he  will fire.

(If it is a boat, he  will aim at the  motor  and let the rounds 'walk up"..if  it is a plane he will fire  at the cockpit ( or wings if it is a twin engine)..if it is  a car, he will aim at the  area of the gas tank)

 He is  grim and determined. The payback these foes  have  earned  has tripled , with the various attacks on them..

Si is not sure what he seeing, looks like a plane sinking below the lake, the engine is running, and it's moving through the water, picking up speed.

 The Indian scout  runs  faster...,  if he sees a 'cockpit' he will aim at it ..other wise  he will pepper  the   stern, hoping to hole it, or  damage the  prop.

  wishing for  the 10th time he had his rifle..he  aims  as he nears the water's  edge

Outside, Artemis tried to determine how badly the Doc was wounded.  He heard the odd sound and tried to see what it was coming from.  He also realized he didn't know where a few of his colleagues were.

"Sparks, Lamont, Marek," Artemis hollered from the outside seeing the flickering of light from the flames.  He looked back down at the prone, injured man.  He applied pressure where he saw blood flowing.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Awareness roll natural 1 with plus 11 for 12, but still a one

---

Si gets to the corner of the building and sees the strange craft moving through the water.  He honestly didn't know if it was going to dive below the surface or rise above the water, was it a boat, a plane or an underwater craft, he couldn't tell.  The corner of the building was a good rest.  He pressed the trigger on the wooden stocked submachine gun and bullets blurted from the muzzle, causing the barrel to rise.

Inside the warehouse it was controlled chaos.  Charlie was putting out the fires, Lamont was tending to Marek, Artemis was tending to Doc.  Doc is coming around, he has fragmentation wounds, but they are superficial.  Artemis is quickly able to stop the bleeding.  LaMont seemed to be in more duress with Marek.  There seemed to be no stopping the bleeding from Mareks kneck.

Si Squeezed the trigger, if it had been his rifle, he would have put a round through the cockpit and the controllers head.  But not with this submachine gun.  Si peppered the craft, and it continued to gain speed in the water, starting to rise out of the water.  Si can now see that the craft has full wings.

  He Gritted his  teeth as he  saw the  thing start to rise...he was a bit perplexed, but this wasn't anything  different , then finding a strange beast in the   forest.... Kill the craft first , then worry about  what it is...

  Switching  to a bigger target, by aiming at the belly and  tail section... as he  does, he tries to be aware  of the markings.

“Doc, Marek’s in really bad shape,” Artemis said to the rousing man.  “We need help if we can give it to him.”

Artemis tried lifting the Doc up to where he could better see what Lamont was worried about.  As he did so, he heard a burst of gunfire and started to scan about in an effort to see what was going in that direction.

 With Artemis' help Doc gets up, he staggers a little, then snatches up his bag and moves quickly to the far side of the plane.  There is LaMont applying pressure to Mareks neck, LaMonts white silk scarf now soaked red with blood.   Doc pulls the scarf aside, takes a clamp and digs deep into Mareks neck, finally finding the artery and clamping it off.  All Artemis sees is blood, he knows that the bleeding might be stopped, but it may be too late already.  The cut is two inches deep across Mareks neck, he trachea is also lacerated.


Si hears the rounds hitting the craft, then he sees it rising out of the water.


As it rises a front propeller starts to spin pulling the craft up faster.  Si scores more hits, and the craft begins to trail a small line of smoke.  The plane rides atop the water on stilt like legs for a time, then up.  Now the aircraft pulls out of the water and goes airborne.  The magazine on the submachine gun is empty, the craft pulling into the air, out of distance, trailing smoke.



This message was last edited by the GM at 19:16, Mon 01 Nov 2021.

   Si frowns, he walks over to the  dying..( dead) man, looking for  any extra  Ammo, he sorts through the man's suit, looking for Money and ID...

  When he  is  finished , the Scout will move into  barn..if he  found ammo, he has the gun ready..if not, he has his weapons...he looks for any enemy left..

"It doesn't look good Doc, not at all," was all that Artemis could say as he watched Doc work. He looked about and tried to find where Amelia and Iain were and then looked to see if any of their attackers were moving about at all.  With all of the noise, he also expected that there would be others coming to investigate what was going on and they needed to know how best to answer that.

Doc continued to work on Marek, who amazingly was still alive.  He ordered LaMont to get the first aid kit out of the airplane.

Artemis went back to find Iain up and helping Amelia to her feet.   Amelia seemed to snapped out of the spell she had been under.   Smoke was fading from the building, and cold air and snow are flowing through the broken out windows.   Artemis can see the strange aircraft fading away into the night still trailing smoke.


Si collects one more magazine of ammunition from the dead Japanese man.  He finds a wallet in his jacket with the name Yusei Sugiyama on an identification card of the Empire of Japan.  The man has $82 American, and some Japanese money on him.  He also has a room key to the Lake Placid Lodge and a Western Telegram with a message written in a language that Si doesn't understand.  It's a European language, but not one Si is familiar with.

  Walking in with the  loot, he jams the fress  mag into the  weapon, tossing the spent one out the door  at the  dead, Japanese, fellow, before he enters, he will also search  the other  dead  man.

 Once inside he  will look artemis, extending the weapon.Take this, i will gather my rifle. I winged that aircraft... never  saw anything like that before, hard to see markings....and I found these....


  Handing over the  wallet and Id for Yusei Sugiyama as well as the Key and the telegram....he  holds the  Money and tucks it away,..this?  is for all of  us.should we need it..if not, we wil split  it up next chance we get.... looking  around to see  if  any  fires  need  put out,, It  may be a good idea to check that room out, before anyone has  a chance to clean it...

"A flipping doozy of a situation there for a bit," Artemis said as he approached Iain and Amelia.  He took a bit of time to watch Amelia's reaction and relaxed when he saw that she seemed to be back to her regular self. "Good to see that both of you are fine and back on your feet.  I think we gotta move out of this place once Doc gets Marek stabilized.  He's not in a good place."

Si walked back over to their side of the burning building and Arty looked over.  The scout was coming at him with a determined look and a handgun extended out to him. Arty took the gun, glanced at it, and then slipped it into his pocket.  He looked about quickly and saw his walking stick on the floor.  He made a note as to its location and that he would be needing that sooner than later as the adrenaline rush was already starting to run out its course.

"Thanks, wasn't expecting to need anything like that at all for a dinner party," he said with a wink.  "Yea gotta agree that aircraft was something new to me.  Could inquire with the home office engineers if they had ever heard of such a thing," he said with a bit of uncertainty."

When Si handed over the wallet and ID, Arty looked at it and then more things kept coming.  Artemis took the key and slid it into his other pocket and then focused on the telegram for a brief second.  Si showed him the wad of cash he had found and slipped it into a pocket.

"Right, you're the group's banker.  If we need something, we'll let you take care of it."  Artemis returned his focus to the telegram and made an effort at trying to read it while the flames crackled about.  He simply nodded about exploring the other room as his focus was on the paper that Si had found.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Knowledge general - for telegram company, date, sender, language, words that would be recognized regardless of language = 14; If German, Knowledge Language German - 21

---

The Japanese man laying dead next to Marek had been shot in the lower leg, presumably by Marek.  But that's not what killed the man, he was executed by a sword.  Off in the distance the sound of sirens can now be heard coming from Lake Placid.   They will be hear in 10 minutes.

Charlie comes back in from outside. Locals are starting to amble this way to see what all the ruckus is about.

LaMont responds, Whatever we want to cover we better get going.  We can put Marek into my car and I'll drive him to the Placid doctors office.

Artemis looks at the telelgram and recognizes the language as Italian.

Charlie picks up the door knocked off the hinges for a makeshift litter to put Marek on.

  Si looks through the pockets of the other  dead fellow, as well, as he says,we got three of them, at anyrate, and I hit something on that aircaft... my 'friend'  the  Japanese fellow was here, but he didn't stick around long....i am thinking, a straight up fight  is  not in his blood.

 now?  to get  get out of here, or   try to help with the fire....3 dead  orientals  shouldn't ciause too much  fuss, since no one knows  who killed whom

Searching the other two dead Japanese one has an ID with the name Hideo Fujioka.  He has on him $13, a few Japanese coins, a case pocket knife, keys to a Hudson car, a Nambu pistol, an empty magazine, and a magazine with 3 rounds.

The next has an ID with the name Tatsuo Iwai.  He has on him a room key to the Adriondack cabins, $47, a few Japanese bills, a Imperial Japanese Olympic team ID(coach), a small japanese knife, a book of matches, a silver cigarette case with an Oriental floral pattern, a Smith & Wesson Model 10 Police in .38, and a full cylinder of ammo.

  Si  tallies  the  money that gives  us 142  dollars. and  some japanese  ..yen? whatever its  called...

  are those  cabins for coaches? teams...or is it private, if it  is private, it may  be a good thing  to check them out, and check the other  rooms, before other people think about it?  Everone take a weapon, we are going to  need them, i should think.

I remember those places.   They are little rental cabins near the sawmill.  We have the keys, we should check them out.

  He  pulls the collar up  around his   neck and   pushes  his hat down.we need to get out  wounded friend  help, and  keep Amiela  from being  tranced again...which direction are those  Cabins....

LaMont and Charlie carry Marek to LaMonts car.   Iain helps Amelia into the front seat of the car.   All are able to fit into the large limousin.   In a matter of a few minutes the group is ready to go.

Outside locals are starting to come closer to the building to see what is happening.

Doc says, Take us to the town doctor as quickly as you can, we may yet save Marek.

LaMonts limo races toward Lake Placid, passing sherriffs cars headed toward Lake Sarnac.  The car pulls up to the small medical clinic of the village.  Marek is carried inside, the place is dark but the local doctor is soon awakened from his apartment in the back of the clinic.   Soon Doc and the local physician go to work on Marek.

The remainder of the group stand outside the clinic as the snow gently falls.  Charlie says, I'm going to stay here and wait for news.

"Well, we are going to want to get out of here before we all have to start answering a lot of questions." Artemis looked up from the Italian telegram.  He quickly folded it and tucked it with everything else into his pocket.  He walked over, grabbed his walking stick, and turned to try to help with carrying Marek out of the building on the makeshift stretcher when LaMont jumped into the breach.

He simply listened and nodded when Si and Charlie mentioned the cabins by the sawmill.  "Gotta agree with Si. Marek first and then we make sure to keep a lookout for anyone with a fancy for Miss Amelia."

Artemis stood outside the car, holding the door allowing everyone to get Marek settled inside.  There were folks approaching and he heard Doc call for them to get to town.  Artemis looked about and in a very loud voice shouted out over the car, "right, right, to the town doctor as quick as we can.  Those attackers did a nasty job on our friend."
He ducked down into the car slipping his walking stick into the car and coming down beside it as he closed the door.

 Standing outside the clinic, Si says  in a soft voice,we cannot do much here, we should check those cabins... then see  about the hotel, sinc the hotel would be were they , most likely, will check first...

 LaMont says, I'll drop you at the cabins and then I'mgoing to try and clean the blood out of my car.

LaMont drives the Artemis and Si to the cabins.   Reading the number 4 on the key, the pair find the cabin and open the door.  The cabin is empty, and warm from a fire in the stone fireplace that is fading.  There is a small cook stove and eating table.  There is a set of bunkbeds in the corner of the small cabin, two suitcases and one steamer trunk.  On the table are some periodicals written in Japanese.

   Si  points to the suit cases  and trunk,  rifle the suit cases, i will take the  trunk, take  anything we  can use, they owe  us that, at very least. I am thinking we had
 about  enough of people  pointing weapons at us, and hurting our friends...

Artemis followed Si into the cabin for which they had the key after thanking LaMont for the ride and wishing the others the best of luck.  He glanced at the periodicals and tried to see if anything looked familiar as Si looked about.  When Si suggested they rummage through the luggage, he looked over at the items.

"I think that seems rather fair," Artemis offered in agreement.  He put the Japanese materials aside and took a couple of steps towards the luggage.  He gave the suitcases a thorough once over and then carefully opened one.  With care, he began to search through the first one and then took the same effort in searching through the other one.

Awareness periodicals - 14
Awareness luggage - 18

Artemis peruses the periodicals, and notices that page number 17 is circled oddly.  Going through the suitcases finding one neatly ordered, the other is a mix of folded clothes and dirty clothes.  In the neat suitcase he finds an orderely toiletry case with a straight razor.

Si finds the trunk locked, no key in site.  But he is able to pop the latch easy enough with his hunting knife.  The top tray has stationary, a bottle of ink, writing brushes and envelopes.  Below the tray is a tuxedo neatly folded, and a bowler hat.  Below that wrapped in a towel is a wireless radio and morris code paddle.

 Si  looked at the  Radio...I am unsure about this.... In Hollyword  there  was  such devices, i never   had reason to deal with them, other then to send a telegrahm  or two?.... should  we take it, or destroy it.... he  digs around in the  truck some more, checking for  hidden areas that might  contain more.

 should there not  be a  book? for the  user to  check  the code?

"A book or a code?"  Arty heard the question and looked up from the clothes and the suitcases.  "I wonder?"

After asking aloud the second question, he walked back over to the magazines and looked for the one with the oddly circled page 17.  He scanned that page again.  "You think they might be using something like this for that type of codebook?"

Arty showed Si the page and the oddly circled page number.

 Si tipped his hat  back and  shrugged, there was a movie  we were in, I was a thug, hardly any lines, Charlie was the  heroe's  side  kick?..anyway.. there were these germans using codes from books?.. and Charlie's character figured it out and the hero saved the  day?

 That aircraft? That was not something  we see everyday, and  i would put money on it being german, but with all the japs  involved...its  hard to say...

  we  either need to take it...and use it... or  destroy it  and scatters parts around the town, so they cannot use it. I'm sure they have an excuse why its  here...but if it was on the level? why is it not in plain sight?

The cabin is dead silent, in the distance music and carousing can be heard from the sawmill speakeasy next to the lake.   Further down the lake, through heavy falling snow Lake Placid Lodge can be seen all lit up.  A few people stand outside in heavy coats watching the snow, smoking and sipping drinks.

Si and Artemis see the clock next to the bed


Searching through the remainder of the cabin the two find nothing more of note.

  Looking at the Clock, Si asks,what time is it? he looks at the alarm setting while he studies  the  clock, looking at the back.

It is 11:20, the alarm is set for midnight, 40 minutes away.

  Si looks at the   Clock, puts it down,,,you see  a shcedule anyway? does the team he supposed to be coaching with have practice or meetigns  at 12:00...or...is there a chacne there is supposed to be information coming in?

"So what would they be setting an alarm for at midnight?" Artemis asked.  He wondered if there might be some activity that their attackers wanted to be sure they were either participating in or running away from.

"Wait, wait, that may be it.  A message coming in or a broadcast that they needed to listen to and get the information from using that device and that code page." Artemis offered.

 Si   looked  around the room,..if  they are expecting a call?..someone else might come here to  accept  trans mission?.... should we wait...and get caught? or do we take the machine, and go to a shed somewhere and see if we can get the message instead?

 either way, they will  realie that the fellow who is supposed to talk..is dead?

Cabin
11:25 Hours

 It's all quiet in the cabin, the only sound is the distant revelier of the speak easy in the sawmill.  The snow is falling slowly outside, but it is starting to build up, now over 6 inches of new snow.  A couple are Ice Skating on the edge of the lake that is iced over.  A feint glow of the moon through the snow can be seen, but not enough to illuminate anything.  Occasionally a car passes with it's lights on.

 Then the road almost becomes busy as several cars and a pickup head up the road toward Sarnac Lake at a rapid pace, 4 vehicles in total.

 Si watches    through a  slight move in the curtain,..thoe  cars  do not seem to care that the roads  are bad.. what should   we do... stay here. or try to find a place where  we might be  able to see ifif they get a call...or?.. do we destry the machin and scatter the parts.

Artemis raised his eyes towards Si.  He had heard the rumbling sound of the vehicles Si had been watching.

"We need to know who they are and where they are going," Artemis said with a lingering hesitancy.  "But, I do wonder if there is a way we can have someone monitor this device to see if it suddenly starts to speak again."

OOC
Both characters make a Smarts Check for memory.
1d10 + Smarts modifier + any other mods

Rolled a 2 (d20 mistake) kept it as that plus 8 for smarts and a possible plus 3 for general knowledge would result in a 13

  Keeping watch on the  cars, Si looks away for a moment,then to Artie.....you know who could help us...... Sparks? She has that  drooler out of her head?.. I know she  knows a sight more them I do about this typr of  equipment...

Cabin, Lake Placid
11:27 hours

Si has just mentioned Sparks as having experience with radios.  They have a radio set and potentially a book cypher, plus an alarm clock set for midnight.


Is there a transmission comming in at midnight?  Unknown.  Was the alarm set for Noon and forgotten, unknown.

The remainder of the group from the Lake Sarnac fight are at the modest Lake Placid hospital.

  we should go, unless you have a way to talk them out of taking us in?...and if there are bad guys in those cars, we could be in a bad way..we can grab the  radio and  information we have, and get out the back, they'll lose out  tracks  once  we circle around   to the  roads and streets.... What do you think?

"I can stay here at the hospital if needed, but I think you have a good plan."
Arty said as he rubbed his chin and looked about the hallway they were standing in.

"That way we can see if there is any information that comes in on the radio, while I try to deal with the inevitable law wanting to know just the facts and such."

 So? you want me to bundle this up and Go..take the book and  all...I am fairly certain i can give them the slip out there, but  where should I go? Sparks is the one  we need to handle this?

"wait, she's at the hospital, right?  So, what if you and I take all of this and either head back to our bunks and hold up there to listen to the broadcast write it all down.  Then we try figuring it out if Sparks isn't there yet?  If Amelia arrives beforehand, we rope her into listening, if after we give her what we write down and what we think it says?"

Arty was coming off the adrenalin rush of the earlier events and found himself a bit confused trying to recall who was where and what places they could retreat back to for this work.  He digs about in his pocket and pulls out his room key.

"What if you take my room key.  If anyone asks about it, you say I sent you back with a few things to put away."

  Si  listens   and  starts to gather the Items,if you stay? will you be  able  to make it to your  room , for Midnight...I may not be able to write down everthing as quickly as you..Either  way.. I need to leave, if i am goign to lose  them

“Heck, let’s just get moving and head back to the hotel. You carry the radio though, ok?  I’ll follow along after you as best as I can what with the cold and the leg acting up,” Artemis said as he tapped his walking stick.

The sounds of the vehicles that were once rather far off, seemed to be a bit closer.  Artemis headed towards the door tucking the codebook and started to reach for the alarm clock.

“Si, you think we should take this just in case?”

  Si took the  Alarm clock..he suddenly had  a thought, but it wasn't the time. Securing the vclock, and grabbing the  machine, he  went  out  the back,, and  would veer   towards the  town...

 do not take long..we know for a fact, that some popel are  workihg  with my enemy, and others  are on the payroll of the Mobster..

"Got it, I am coming behind you if we get separated." Artemis said as he followed after Si.

He looked about outside and tried to estimate how far off the vehicles were that they had seen coming.

   Stopping for a moment he  calls back  softly...Knock over a Lamp..set a fair, give them something else to worry about, besides ourselves!

  He  will  move a bit away, as he watches,Mounties tend to be a bit too strict when it comes to people like me...so i have learned to distract them as the years passed.

Arty took his walking stick, knocked over a lamp, and then hooked the blanket and yanked on it hard.  He pulled the pillow and blanket onto the floor as the lamp oil flashed with the flame.

"Right, now that that is done, we need to move along, Si."

Arty left the door open as they walked out of the cabin and looked about for a way to make it back towards the hotel.

"You lead on, I will follow.  May need to go a bit slower as the walking stick might be too easy for anyone to follow."

 So looked at the Cabin and nodded,..right, but no time to be a hero, If you need  my help, I will aid you..otherwsie  follow my tracks...

 He moved , protecting the  machine with a  dishtowel

Artemis moved along carefully and deliberately trying to be sure to step into the tracks that Si left as they made their escape from the lake, the hangar, and the cabins.  It was cold, so very cold.  However, he had survived colder, albeit many years ago, so he felt certain that he would survive this. There were times that he stumbled and had to rely upon his cane.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

Deftness - 9

---

Artemis and Si left the cabin with the radio and code books.  The lights coming down the road were less than a quarter mile a way and closing fast, but the pair were long gone before the cabin roared into flame.

The pair made their way to the the barn outside the Lake Placid Lodge.  Old Steiner was there, looking after Mickey Callahan who had been injured in the attack a day ago.

   entered  . jerking his head towards  Artemis...we found something...we need to get Sparks here..

 he moved to the   back , where they could  set up the Machine , without being seen.

The Barn - Lake Placid
11:53 hours

Charlie had returned to the barn, he volunteers to go get Sparks.   He grabs the hitched sleigh and dashes into the heavy snow and returns driving the horses hard, snow flying up from their hooves, he drives the team right into the barn and makes a hasty stop racing against the clock.   Sparks appears to be over whatever spell the man had cast upon her.

She dismounts, and heads to the bunkhouse shack in the side of the barn.  She sits down and looks the equipment, her hands are moving quickly, she mutters to herself Model 92 Mark 2, Improvement 1 then she unrolls a length of wire, ordering, Charlie, string this along the rafters

She then sets up the headphones and asks for the magazine, turning to the page.  A minute before Midnight the warm electric glow of the lights on the radio slowly brighten, Sparks puts a finger to her lips calling for silence as she adjusts the headphones.


The last minute ticks by slowly, then the morse code taps of the wireless start coming in right on time.   Sparks goes listens intently, with the magazine she traces lines and paragraphs with her fingers, then rapidly moves to another page and does the same.

Her eyes open wide.  They want to know if the mission is complete ?
She looks at Artemis and Si not knowing what to reply.

   Si didn't heistate.. he  says softly,send..... 'asian's have failed...leader  might have  turned coat...how should be handle it? "

  Looking to the Other he says,..can't  hurt to turn them on each other...we had  peple do it to us...

"Evening," Artemis said as he followed Si into the barn set back behind the lodge.  He looked over at Steiner and shook his shoulders.  "Howe's Callahan doing?"

When Sparks joined them, she took command of the situation.  Charlie started stringing wire while she took the magazine and studied its pages.  As his Hamilton showed that it was midnight, the woman called them to silence.  He waited and watched as she moved her fingers over the pages.



He listened to Si's answer and nodded in agreement.

"I like his idea," Arty said.  "What if we tell them that mission cover was nearly blown with the cowardly flight of part of the team.  We want permission to attempt to continue.  Avise as to the best way to proceed?"

  Si takes his  hat off,  runs his fingers through his  hair, before replacing it...That  sounds good as well... Cowboy and I were in a movie  where  Cowboy turned  some rustlers against each other by saying the othergroup was helping the LAw....Should  put in that message, that the sender is worried for his life...It is hard to tell if there is another  such machine, but it should confuse them enough....The fact that the Machine is gone and cabin is on fire, will add some credence to the  claim.


 Giving a nod to Artemis  and Sparks...This is yourstyle of a Hunt..I will back you  as you think is most effective.

Sparks taps out the message, and listens for a reply.  And waits, and waits.

Then a message comes, she leans into the ear phones, listening intently.

Then relays the message.

BINGO...BINGO...BINGO


She pauses for a moment, monkeying with the radio tuner.
That's it, their gone.

That sounds like a pre-planned emergency message.  One that requires some kind of action.
But there's really no way to know what was supposed to happen.

I've got the feeling that message rattled whoever was on the other end.



She looks to Si and Artemis for answers.

  Si frowns..there's alot of spoons in this  Pot..The  Japanese  fellow , that i know. was hired..he is in this  for  something  that will be a big payoff, and....more importantly. something he wants....  The Japanese who are working for him, are most likely doing  this for their country...we have the  Holy ,man working with Mobsters, to push  hooch around..and there is no reason to think some of the police  are not  dirty..

 waving  a  hand in the general direction,..the fire is both a warning and a message.....it will scare  some..make other  rethink what they are doing.. We must be careful, we have no idea  whom we can trust..

 there  his a bit of a sigh , as he adds...there  must be  some Japanese, who are not  here to harm other  folks....But none of them, will be connected  with Danzo , shoukld be assumed to be on the darker side of the law....

 we have to eliminate  as many of them as we are able, without getting caught, or  eliminated ourselves.... I have a 'friend' he hunts me, he is a Mountie ..... he would be trustworthy enough , should we  find him..he..um...does not  like me well... but he has  yet to ctach me... whether  he is  here, or in  British Columbia... he travels  as much as I...but he has never been into America  or South America.

 Looking to Artemis and Sparks......he  may listen to you....then...listen to me after you laid the ground  work..you might be able to contact him on that box...

Sparks looks at Si

I can certainly attmpt to contact this mountie, tell me his name.

His name is...Captain Patrick Hodgson- Royal Canadian Mounted Police...he is, as  some  might  say.' Overly  dedicated'...he is just as likely to put  us in lock up as he  would be  , for our  enemies... He  might be the only other  fellow who would  match Danzo, as far as determination. But he is not Danzo's match in combat.

there is a  sigh, from Si,still..his  being here  would, indeed , shake up those who are running the hooch, and those who might be playing a bigger game in the world of  diplomates  and such...In  effect, there would be a foruth player?...Us...the  rum runners,Danoz'[s group, and the Mounties....he should be told  to come withmore then himself...

Artemis wasn't sure what the reply meant.  He knew what Bingo was, but usually someone who says that when they filled their card and won.  How did what they sent as a response equate to a win?

"I don't know what their response means."  Artemis said with a sigh.  Then Scout started to offer a potential ally that they could reach out to and that was a needed distraction as he let his mind try to sort out the BINGO response.

"Alright, I am game, I mean do you know how to reach him?  He's a radio guy, I am assuming or you think he is?  Otherwise, we need to know a name and where he is living." Artemis explained.  He looked over at Sparks.  "That's what we need right?  Some info and see if we can get a message to him somehow?"

Awareness - Bingo = 18; Radio/electronic = 14

  Si sat down, for a moment, he looked at his rifle...you contact  the Mounties... you tell them you have something for  Hodgson, that  he's been looking for a long  time... don't answer any more questions, tell them he has a short time to get here....no more  answers... just  sign off...he will come....he can't help himself.

The Barn - Lake Placid
12:18 hours

Sparks taps out the message to Hodgson and then shuts down the radio.

There is a pause.


Silence.

Everyone is tired.  It's been an extremely busy 36 hours, and almost no one has slept much.  One of the groups members was in surgery fighting for his life.  A few members waiting in the tiny waiting room at the small town hospital.

The remainder of the members were here in the barn.  Two of their members were tortured by the Japanese agents, and were still recovering.  So much was going on, including a potential threat to the Governor of New York, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Then there was the mystic, Allister Crowley, who hypnotized or took control of Sparks, there were the Japanese agents, and the offer from Germans to join their archeological dig.

Everyone was exhausted.  Thirty Six hours felt like three and a half years.  It was time for sleep, and some rest.  The members of the party laid down and finally got some good sleep, sleeping in tile nearly seven AM when the wood stove in the sleeping area of the barn burned out and everyone got cold.  It was time to start a fire and get some coffee going.

  Getting  up,  Si went to the  stove  , took the   ashes out ,while starting a  new fire getting the Coffee started, he  managed to find a  pot to fill with snow  and set that down to  melt and become hot water .

 While he waited for the  'life giving' coffee to perk,Si  cleaned his  Longknife and  Tomahawk.. the rifle sat close  by for its turn to be looked after, but it had, had, a quiet night

"Well, now we wait," Artemis said with a yawning sigh.  "I think we all could use some sleep.  Well done folks, well done.

Arty yawned again and didn't argue at the suggestion that they find a place to lie down and recover.  He slept hard and it was when he got chilled that he started to fade out of the deep, dream-filled sleep and closer to being awake.  It was when he smelt smoke and heard movement that he slowly raised a still sleep ladened eyelid.  He saw that Si was sitting up and that there was a glow behind the grate of the cast iron stove.  Si was working a rag about his knife and tomahawk and Arty took a deep breath and let it out as he raised his head.

"Morning Si," he whispered.  He raised himself up off the hard floor and onto his elbows.  As he did so, he felt the need to address the necessities of nature.  He looked about and as the urge grew, he worked his way up onto his feet.  He slipped his shoes back on and made his way out the small doorway and found a place to address the pressing need of his bladder.  When relief was obtained, he took a few moments to breathe in the cold morning air and then adjust everything back into place.  He headed back into the barn and took up a seat near the fire.  He started rubbing the ache on his hip and leg.

"So, why does this mountie have an obsession with you?"

   Si smiles a bit wryly, He is a  lawman. I am not. He also sees me as  more  Indian, The a Half Breed...

 Canada is a  hard land... Trappers and Hunters  are very jealous of their territory, even when that territory was not theirs in  the first place. Over the  years, I have encounter such folks... and such folks as  we met at the Docks... Some times, I must make certain, no one else needs to encounter them.

 Cowboy and I have  also run into some ...less-the-savory  people in our  travels..and..had to kill some folks, so they do not kill us... All that leads to an overy eager Mountie, who is now a captain,  wanting to move up the ladder a bit more, as he brings  certain folks  to 'justice'.


The smile  wanes  as he Looks at Artie,Justice , is  what the lawman feels it is at the time...People I have killed,,either  Killed   other folks, or  tried to kill me and those i was hired to protect..I do not have  a Big enough  name, or fat enough wallet, to  sway Lawmen ,as to who is 'the right bad guy'  to lock up.

 Sheathing the    Blades,  Si begins  to  work on his rifle.My Life style , allows  me  one big boon.... I have  read many  books in my life... I even have some  stored  away in a place that accepts me, more for who i am, then what i am... But the Book..Moby Dick?  I am this  Captain's  white  whale...or.. sanguine Whale, if you perfer.. he grins  slightly.

The Barn - Lake Placid
06:48 hours  4 February 1932

Si and Artemis got up late, later than usual.   A little sore from all the acitivity.  They talked a bit and were just getting their first sip of coffee when the outer barn door opened.

Looking through the window from the sleeping quarters into the barn were two tall men, in good suits and well groomed.  One had the look of an administrative person, an accountant or lawyer, the other of someone more serious, he had a hardness in his eye, they see Si and walk up to the door, knocking politely.  Upon entering the slightly shorter bookish man thanks Si for letting them in and has a surprising request.

The Governor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, has asked that you come to his room and have a conversation over breakfast in his room.

 Si's   eyebrow raised, and   he does not hide his Mistrust...You mean  us?... or  Just me? because... Mr Roosevelt   and I have never met, save for a glance across the room?

 The man replies, Yes, you Si and Mr. Artemis Richter, he would like thank you for you tip last night.


Then he extends his hand.   I'm Hank Hopkins, the Governor's Chief of Staff, this is Mister Fellows, he provides security.


The Governor eats breakfast promptly at 7 AM every morning. Meet us in the Foyer in 10 minutes, we will escort you to his room

 Si  nods  slolwy,I giess  I can't  bring  my riflr, just in case?

 if he is permitted, he will bring it, if not he;ll leave  it  safly wraped  and tucked away.

  He Looked at Artemis... I ...hope  this is  straight talk, and  not some form of trap...I am far from trusting   since i started this  journey.

"Well, if he read the same version of Moby Dick that I did Si, I think he would abandon his quest." Artemis shrugged as he spoke.  He looked over at Si and continued.  "The whale wins as I recall, or rather Ahab goes down to Davy Jones Locker to feed the smaller fishes."

Artemis was a bit surprised by the knock at their door and he glances at Si.  They really didn't get a chance to even get to the door to let the two men that were peaking inside.  When they walked in and said their purpose, Artemis' right eyebrow raised upward.  He stood and walked over to the two men.

"It would be a pleasure to join the Governor," Artemis said with a smile and extended his hand first to Hopkins and then to Fellows.  "I suspect we shouldn't keep the Governor waiting Si."

Artemis gave a slight side-to-side shake of his head when Si mentioned his rifle.

"Si, it's not the muscle here that should worry us, it's this guy," he waives his thumb at Hopkins with a wink at the tall visitor. "Hope the Governor doesn't mind us all well, less than polished."

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Rolled for an assessment of the visitors using high society for 20; awareness roll as well for 20 regarding their reaction to our responses.

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 As they  head out the door, Si's   sheepish look, had the  coloring  of a wolf, as his  eyes looked  around at the   area as they walked., he tries to check  for  any smoke coming, from where the Cabin caught fire.... and  if  any   cars  were parked  , where they were not parked  last night.

The two men arrive in the foyer to see Hopkins and Fellows waiting for them.  Mister Fellows seems to relax when he sees that Si isn't carrying his rifle.   The Artemis and Si didn't get a chance to shave, barely wash their face and hands.   Artemis has a short but noticeable bristle, Si not as much.  However, Artemis hides it well, years as a well dressed man come through as he tidies up quickly.

They are escorted to the Governors room. Hopkins opens the door, steps in holds it open.  Si and Artemis enter to see a large empty room, save for black man dressed in a white culinary coat working at a table along the side.   But the first sense that hits them when the door is opened is the wonderful smell of breakfast. They are escorted through the room to a table near french doors letting in the morning sun.  Sitting at the table are an older man with small round glasses, a naval officer, Artemis would know he carries the rank of Captain and Amelia in a nice dress.

Hopkins announces,  Governor, at your request, Mr. Richter, Mechanical Engineer from Philadephia and Mr. Darkshadow of the  Siksiká Blackfoot.   The Governor waves them over and greets them, Come in boys.  Have a seat and something to eat.

Artemis and Si are seated.  Then Mr. Roosevelt says, I understand you already are aquanted with Amelia Farrington, and this is Captain Bill Pullestown  Food is brought to them, Lobster Scrambled Eggs with Hollandaise, pan fried potatoes, fresh grapefruit and bacon.  Coffee, rich fresh ground and brewed coffee.

There is some small talk between the people at the table while everyone eats.  But a long time passes with no indication of why Artemis and Si are there. A look is exchanged between the Governor and the Naval Officer.  Then Captain Pullestown says, Miss Farrington her works for the British government, and with the US as allies. She reported to us from radio intercepts she made in Canada, that the Japanese were sending agents to these games.   Then yesterday The Governor was made aware that one Goro Adachi of the Japanese contingent wanted to speak to the governor.   Hours later he was dead.  We suspect an assassin of the Black Dragon Society, one Kato Danzo of killing him.  But we don't know what Mr. Adachi was going to tell the governor. The Captain takes a sip of coffee, and pauses to let everyone digest what he said.  Then he continues.

Lady Farrington has told us of your encounter with Danzo, and his escape in an odd aircraft.   We will be wanting as many details and speculation about the craft as possible form you Mr. Richter, and you thoughts, Mr. Darkshadow on what you think Danzo will do next.

We did not know about you are your group of ad hoc travellers as of early this morning.  But you got our interest by sending the message to Captain Patrick Hodgson- Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  We were wondering who you were working for, until Lady Farrington was contacted and briefed us.

Lastly, let me say on behalf of the Governor, we are sorry for you man that was injured by Danzo.  The Governor sent his personal physician to care for him early this morning.  Your man is currently on his way to the hospital in Albany.

    Si Removed his hat when they where  Brought in. when they reached the table  he  took off his Longcoat, , the  knife  and tomahawk locked in the leather  sheaths  with a 'peace knot'.

 Taking a healthy helping of  potatoes , a smaller   scoop of  the eggs,  and a decent  helping of bacon, he looked  for toast or  Biskets . But focused on  Coffee with a bit of  milk and  3  sugars.

 I will excuse myself  for Artiemis... and toss out my simple  thoughts on this. I think this  is more his forest to hunt in then mine.

 he  sips his  coffee, very much enjoying 'real coffee'.Then he  speaks,we  came here, trying to escape some hooch runners who had set us up to take a fall , double-crossing  their   folks  and letting us   get killed in the process... some folks died, none were us.

 as the  snowball rolled down its hill,  we  ran into more and more..um..undesirables... he chuckles as he looks at how  he is dressed,I know that may  seem  comic, coming from me, Governor. But  I do not always live in a teepee  or  skin animals. My Friend  'Cowboy' and I worked the  Movies for a few years...though he was more the star..i was the Indian  who got shot about  5 times a film, or played  the  'extra  sidekick'.. he sipped his coffee and   had a thin lined smile.perhaps? that prepared me  for this.

 There are elements that are working  with the  Mob here..elements  you may or may not  know are doing so, though  they are as dark folk as any other..they are not the main problem here...

 There is a Dig going on...I understand or  perhaps, mistakenly, was influenced , that Kato and whomever he is  working for,  has  designs  on what  may be found there.... I also feel, That Danzo is here to help weaken any resolve , for America  to step  up, and  enter the arena  to oppose the Japanese Empire...On our way from  LA  to  the North, we have heard  many   news bits on the  west coast, of Japanese 'threats'

 he held his   cup to the servant for a refill asking 'please' and  making sure to thank the man before turning his attention back to the table.

 Danzo and I?  we are not friends... his type of people, and My type of people do not like   each other...and yes, it was he who killed the man..could i testify in court? no. There is no solid  proof, other  then i know he was there when  i went to the stairs, and he  escaped.  I feel...and  i could be mistaken, That he is here for two reasons...one, is  the Dig..the second is, to cause  disruption, in these games, and... in politics...

  he reaches around , pulling a Battered  Notebook from his inside pocked  and a  pencil... he begins to  sketch...as he draws he says...slowly...It was  my thoughts to Call Hodgson.... The man is  beyond reproach as  far as i know... I also know he and I are  enemies, as he   tries  to hunt me  down.. I know his reasonings  for why..and Most of them are true... But? I will need some form of  'protection' from being locked up or sent away, by him... if  i cannot get that protection, I will have to leave....I do not wish to kill the man. He is forthright... but in the end? One must look out  for one's self...

 The Scout  began to make Little  dots  on the  picture.. and he  added  some of the 'undercarriage'... then ripped the page out of the notebook, handing it to the   servant to give to the Captain...

 It came out of the water  when i first saw it.... i do not  rightly know if  it  was under the whole time or not..you would be advised to send  divers in that area, to see if there is a base or dock of some kind, under the water there,,,,the worst that could happen, is there wouldn't be anything. But if you find evidence..then your search
 could widen.... I did not have my rifle..had i had it? I am most certain i  could have
 shot the  pilot, or damaged the engine with   one or two  well placed shots...

 Sipping from his coffee  once more.The  Thompson i had, did  some damage, but the range was a bit too far for me  to get concentrated  bursts into it..and yes? that weapon is from  two  Japanese folks who are now dead, because they tried to make us dead.

 as an addendum  he  said,It took off into the air, stayed  rather low, but it was dark? I know not, how much, if any damage i did.... i do know? if you find that  somewhere along the river, you need to question , whomever is  giving it shelter... I have not seen anything like  that, short of  some of the  space movies  in Hollywood, and all those  where plywood and couldn't fly.

 Looking apologetically at  Artie,you're up.., i am certain you have a sharper  prospective on this.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Tue 19 Apr 2022.

"It's a true honor to meet you sir, very grateful for the opportunity."  He offered up his hand and then looked about the rest of the diners.  He smiled when he saw that Amelia was back with them and gave the Captain a polite nod as well. "Pleasure Captain.  Glad to see you Ma'am.  It's been an adventure hasn't it?"

He found the offered seat at the table and spread his napkin out over his lap as the food was served.  He focused his attention on the eggs and enjoyed the first bite.  He smiled and continued eating trying not to make too many approving noises over the delicious tastes.

"So, right, where to start.  Alright, I deal with airships and such, Governor. Work for Goodyear in their lighter than air division and here as part of their delegation."

Arty looked at the Governor and then the Captain.  He dropped his left hand onto his napkin-covered lap and then took a deep breath.  "Today was the first time I have ever seen anything like that airplane.  It was part U-boat and part mechanized floatplane.  Never seen anything like it, sir.  Could be an indication of what their empire could deploy, well actually anywhere.  If you cannot control the skies, well then the enemy can easily trap you on the ground.  Here, it seemed to be something built for stealth and speed, but if they can land and hide it in the lake here, makes the Potomac that much easier to do the same I would think."

"The fighters we encountered in the Lodge were able to move as swift as the wind and hit with the punch of a prizefighter if not a wrecking ball.  We searched their place, took their codebook and radio." Arty gave a simple shrug as if indicating that there was no other real option but to do what they had done.  "Si's idea to contact the Mountie, but we figured we needed as much potential firepower here as we could gather.  Si deserves the protection he is asking for Governor.  He's straightforward and jumped to try to stop those that have their sights on literally taking some folks out there."

He paused for a bit and listened to what Si was sharing.  He nodded a lot and added a few "yea" or "that's right." He raised his head from looking down at his plate and focused on Si's reference to a dig.  He raised an eyebrow and when he finished swallowing, he interjected himself into Si's conversation.

"Now, this dig, can you let a history guy in on some of the details.  Family has a bit of tradition you might say with some of the odder myths and legends."

Then he went back to listening and nodding a lot as he finished off his breakfast.  When Si described the way the plane flew off, Artemis again interjected.

"Suspect that they were going to fly close to the landscape.  Makes it harder for other planes to find them if there were other planes to send out looking for them.  Equally hard for anyone on the ground to take them out that way, they would fly quickly over any troops - that was even the case in the trenches, Sir. So, I suspect it could drop down into another lake, or maybe fly low like that towards Canada.  Drop in to one of the great lakes, sink it, and jump a ship heading out to St. Lawrence.  Or, maybe land it next to a cargo liner, load it up, and off it sails."

He took a brief pause to catch his breath and make sure he had shared what he could.  Then shifted slightly in his chair and continued on.

"We got that codebook.  Anyway, we could put out another "opportunity" that might see if any others of that group are still hanging about?  Or, do you two think that they are long gone at this point?"

Arty waived his two fingers at Amelia and the Captain.