Cassie had been called into the Briefing room. As she entered Gen. Smith stood at the end of the table accompanied by a slender woman with short brown hair. She wore a different uniform that showed she was not military but something else. Black pants and blue vest with a crest on it representing S.H.I.E.L.D..

Hello Lt.Hunt. He said saluting.

Once she was in and closed the door behind her he indicated to have a seat at the large conference table.

<brown> Lt. Allow me to introduce you to Director Maria Hill from S.H.I.E.L.D. he said sitting down along with the director.

Good Morning Lt. As The General said I am Director Maria Hill from S.H.I.E.L.D. and I would be in need of your services.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:07, Wed 31 Oct 2018.

Given time enough you learned to read subtle changes in the atmosphere of a room, a team, or even an entire site when the pall fell heavy enough. Cassie had come to pride herself – perhaps pride was too strong a word – on how attuned she had become to the mood of her team throughout their time on Pendragon. Even when her own briefings were yet forthcoming she could still sense an overnight breakthrough or the crushing weight of an upcoming inspection without so much as a word exchanged. It was rare that anything truly caught her off guard. Someone would know, and that would inevitably mean that she would know before too long.

This was sudden. So sudden that it hadn’t even left a ripple for her to pick up on.

“General.” She mirrored his salute. “Ma'am.”

Familiar protocol had a way of steadying the nerves. It didn’t matter how her thoughts were racing when when the motions came almost as easily as breathing. Even so there was a certain stiffness, a slight pause, to how she took her seat. She allowed herself a single breath’s recovery, then shot the General a fleeting glance that was itself an unspoken question.

“I presume this concerns Pendragon?” she asked of the Director. A tiresome yet necessary formality.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Wed 31 Oct 2018.

Maria gave a smile, looking over to the General and then back to the Lt.
In a way, Yes. After some discussion with the General here and a few other officials we have an opportunity to put Galahad into full use. Maria said.

Knowing you are the sole graduate and top officer of Project Pendragon I am requesting To have you join me overseas for a special team. As the Government is aware of late we have had more and more encounters with people and beings of unique abilities. There is a Team that was created to help in the search of these type of individuals. Their last mission although successful to a certain extent was more than they could handle. So having watched some of the footage from your recent runs and training exercises I believe you would be a great asset. 

She looked again to both

Cassandra listened intently to the Director’s proposal. While nothing that she suggested was a wholly new idea, it certainly represented a rather dramatic shifting of the goalposts. Certainly Cassie was conscious of the unseen work of Roundtable’s other Chairs and that of parallel agencies overseas, but any talk of international cooperation had circled only far above her pay grade. Truthfully she was just a little taken aback. However confident she might be in her abilities, she had expected her debut proper might be something a little tamer than being thrown straight into the crucible.

The light gnaw of an itch rose between her shoulder blades and threatened to trickle its way down the length of her spine. It was a familiar little ache and one she had long learned could only be left to run its course. Nonetheless she found herself shifting a mote against the back of her seat, the motion almost involuntary. It did nothing for the tension, nor the itch.

Despite her reservations, her thin smile was mostly sincere.

“Thank you, Ma’am, but I’m only as good as my suit and support. We’ve all come on a long way from the early prototypes.”

The smile faded as she mulled over her options, what options they were. That the proposal was a total non-choice was evident if hardly surprising. Even if her skillset and expertise left her invaluable to the project at present she was eminently replaceable given time enough, and refusal was social and career suicide all bound up in one. It was tantamount to a betrayal. To go any way other than forwards was pure selfishness, and she had already made sacrifices enough just to stand where she did now.

Nonetheless she was never one to simply follow blindly.

“If you’ll accommodate me,” she inquired with a measured sort of bluntness. “What actually is the make-up of this team?”

“I can’t imagine SHIELD putting a force into the field against an extraordinary threat without some confidence of putting it down worst-case, and to have come to Pendragon after earlier successes suggests that you already have field-ready answers of your own. So should I expect to be deploying alongside other armours or will I be acting as support for more conventional boots-on-the-ground?” Cassandra gave a lame little shrug. “Unless you have another line of attack that I’m not considering of course.”

Maria looked over the table and gave a smile. SHIELD did initiate the start of Task Force, But it is being run Independently from SHIELD. This team was formed to help in the search of the growing numbers of incidences we have been seeing of super beings. Besides what Task force is doing. SHIELD does have back up contingencies should something go wrong. she told her.

as for how you will be used on the field. I’m sorry that will not be up to me. I’ll be honest. I’m here as a favor to a friend, and the fact that I needed to get out of the helicarrier for a while and change up my scenery.

“I’m sorry we aren’t based somewhere a little warmer then,” Cassandra quipped.

She steepled her fingers beneath the table. Even if Maria had given her something of a non-answer to the question thrown her way, what she had to offer still filled in more than a few blanks. Indeed sometimes the details left conspicuously absent in briefings told you more than what was laid plainly on the table. She certainly found herself with a few things to chew on.

“In principle I can only say that that this all sounds satisfactory enough. I have no reason to doubt the pedigree of an organisation established on SHIELD’s time and expertise, and I’m quite certain we wouldn’t be having this conversation if there were any real concerns about assigning Galahad to this … Task Force?” Her voice rose in a questioning tone, not entirely sure whether that was an official name or merely a turn of phrase. “However, and I say this with all due respect, Ma’am, it does concern me just a little that this proposal is coming from you rather than your ‘friend’ or one of their own.”

It was another itch she couldn’t quite scratch. Another frustration that would eat at her until it passed.

“I absolutely appreciate the gesture; it’s quite the honour to receive this offer from someone of your stature. But in the end I’m still flying blind when it comes to how this team operates and how and in what capacity I can expect to see Galahad deployed.” Cassandra sat back in her chair and exhaled sharply. “That doesn't mean I have any mind to refuse, it’s just … difficult. Not that anything we do is ever easy.”
This message was last edited by the player at 01:51, Sat 03 Nov 2018.

Maria gave a reassuring nod.
I understand your position, I do apologize for Mr. Naslund not being here as does he. But i know out of the sort of pitch i just gave you he was clear on one thing. He is asking to meet and show you what his team is about, there is no obligation to accept no dotted line to sign. Consider this a conference trip to New York. I have worked with Mr. Nasland for many years. He will not waste your time. The only reason I cannot answer all your questions is that we gave him the lead on Task Force.

The name was unfamiliar. Whether it was worth reading anything into that was far from clear.

“I see,” Cassandra affirmed warmly. “And I would welcome that opportunity. Even if it all turns out to be something of a formality, it can hardly hurt to meet with Mr. Naslund face-to-face before we move towards making things official. Anything to smooth the transition.” She gave a nonchalant shrug. “I wouldn’t say no to a change of scenery either...”

The General had sat Idle and quiet through the whole conversation. watching the exchange. Once  Cassandra agreed to head over to New York. He nodded.
Good now that this is taken care of. Lt, You will be ready to leave once you are ready, I believe the Director already has a vehicle ready. We will hold off anything Further for this project until we get word on what you will be doing when you are done.


Maria Thanked the General as he gathered his things and left. You don't need to rush or anything, but the General is correct, we have a jet waiting to bring you to New York, In the mean time there was something else i wanted to discuss with the General about another matter. Maria said, Handing her a cell phone.unless you are ready now, you can call me on here when your set

And just like that it was over. Whatever tension Cassandra had been feeling, whatever anxiety, fell away as quickly as it had risen, but nothing swept in to take its place. Instead of elation or a nervous sort of excitement borne of the sheer pace at which things were rushing ahead, she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of emptiness. It all just seemed utterly unreal. The very course of her life had changed with but a single conversation and now … now she seemingly had to drop everything at a moment’s notice. It was a dizzying, painful, surreal thought.

She took the offered phone in a hand moving almost on autopilot. It at least was something physical. Something real. Her eyes lingered on it for an uncomfortably long moment before flicking back to the Director.

“This is going to be a one-way flight, isn’t it? If I agree.” Her jaw was tight. “I shouldn’t expect to be back here for some time.”

Maria smiled.I guess that will depend on you and if you agree.
She told her.
But I think the opportunity that is being presented is a good one.  You will be in good hands. she tells Cassandra.

Cassandra nodded mutely, a gesture that grew more certain with time. This sort of thing wasn’t wholly new, merely sudden. A longer process would have more than cushioned the blow.

She rose somewhat heavy on her feet. “I’d like an hour if possible – to get my things in order and say a few goodbyes.”

Better to bear the embarrassment of jumping the gun than the shame and guilt of taking the easy way out.

No problem Lt, Just call when you are set. Maria smiled back as she left.
*********
Cassandra
Maria, She excused herself from what she was doing when Cass confirmed she was all set and headed to prep the Jet for take off.
Once in the air Maria exchanged small talk with Cassandra, She had also informed her that there was another Person that would be joining them on the way to New YorK.

*******
TaskMistress

The Helicarrier was half way above the Atlantic so the flight tot he helicarrier wasn’t that long. They landed for a brief stop and Cassandra saw another woman board the jet and Maria was replaced by  a SHIELD pilot. They were soon off again Towards New York. .

The jet head towards the Atlantic far from civilian eyes. for use of entrance 3 to the Task Force base, The water separates and the jet hovers over the opening. In stealth mode.

Agent 55 request landing permission.

Permission granted. Please proceed came an automated voice.

The jet entered the opening and followed the tunnel under the Atlantic which lead to the bases under water hangar.

The jet rolled into position and the doors opened,

All set Ladies.  the agent said. Unbuckling the belt and getting to the jet’s door, He pressed the hatch button and the door opened up leading to a large Hangar. In front of you stood an lady dressed in a blue tight uniform.

Welcome to TASK FORCE, I am Jocasta. Thank you for taking the time to come and meet with William. We apologize that he was not able to make the initial flight out and escort you here. William is just finishing up with the group that arrived before you … She said as the hangar doors opened again.

It’s ok Jocasta, I am here. Hello ladies, I was just finishing up with some oft he other members that had arrived earlier. I was not expecting them to have you here so quickly. He say as he approaches them.

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