"I don't have it all together just yet.  But that Elite from Bahrain, Operator, has some good ideas.  And I turned over the Foundation to a board so they won't need me."  Those words were hard for him.  He'd put a lot of his free time and most of his money into the Amargosa Charitable Foundation.

"The Teragen has its own secure computer network, right?  Proteus people found Slider whenever she used the OpNet or a phone for more than a few minutes.  If we're going to conspire, we're going to need to do it safely."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:24, Sat 14 Sept 2013.

Arms folded and lips pursed in thought, Angelo, almost instinctively, began applying tactical doctrine to their situation.  He soon came to the conclusion, however, that there were too many generalities and unknown factors to formulate any kind of action plan.

Addressing the group as a whole, he said, "I'm pretty sure we've all got a fair idea of the long-term goal, but perhaps it might be a good idea to agree on a short-term goal (or a series of them).  That way, even though we might all approach the objective in our own way, we're all shooting at the same target."

Phantasm nodded at Dillon's comment.  "That means no opnet, no phones.  Scheduled meetings, maybe a few couriers that we trust, even regular postal services.  Sol seems to have some sort of sixth sense for when people are talking about her, so we might be able to use that."  She didn't know the details on Sol's ability, but no use being coy with knowledge right now.  They already knew Phantasm had secrets, other people's as well as her own.

When Angelo spoke, she nodded again.  "We're in a time of regrouping, building strength.  It's a stalemate, right?  The teragen is waiting on their 'bad god' to come back and in the meantime recovering from their ass kicking in Bahrain.  Utopia is trying to get back the world's love, while proteus goes deeper under cover.  That new directorate group is building a political base to stand on, and Imp's angel-aliens are trying to insinuate themselves into the world powers.  Tactically, it seems like the only two options we've got are to go in now and mess up everyone's attempt at patching up their wounds and building for the future... or, we just try and build the better base to work from.  Since I'm not sure we'd do much with the chaos approach, other than bring mutually assured destruction, I'm gonna take the latter approach, build something lasting and pervasive with Dillon.  That said, I think that at least some of us should go and monkey wrench things."

"That's what I'm best at," Angelo said with a grin and chucking Phantasm in the shoulder.  "You might say I'm a trained professional at giving other people a bad day."  Then in a more serious tone, he said, "With my military connections, I could look into the Directorate...get an idea of what we're dealing with, figure out how to slow them down."

Frostburn was late to the scene as she walked into the temple.  Apparently she had hiked her way up part of the way, but she wasn't dressed for the climate.  Despite her lack of nova stamina, a boon that allowed her to still get drunk on a regular basis, she was completely immune to temperature extremes.

Setting down a supply pack, she replied to Dragon's comment.  "The Directorate isn't necessarily your enemy you know, and there are things in the works there that you don't really want to get in the way of.  The big governments needs some way to respond to Utopia, provide oversight for international nova actions, and make them look like they still have some relevance in the face of current affairs.  The Directorate is going to be that tool, I can almost guarantee it.  I volunteered them after all." 

She flashed an ID badge: A woman named Amanda "Frostburn" M. Willis, with Frostburn's picture.  Frostburn was apparently a member of the international intelligence organization, and had been for at least the last year. "I'd have told you, but then I would have had to kill you."  She was most likely joking.  Most likely.  "With the crap Utopia was doing, I felt like I needed to be a part of the solution, so I fell back on my old skill set.  Anyway, if you want to go after some people, I've got my own list."

Frostburn leaned against a wall and pulled out a bottle of whiskey.  She poured half the bottle on the ground. "To the dead.  They get to do nothing and take in the libations while we do the heavy lifting."  A deep drink, then she passed the bottle to Solitaire. "I'm going to have to drink less when I take my new position.  Anyway, the list.  Proteus is still out there, and you could give them hell for a while.  Teragen are harboring a bunch of terrorist nutjobs.  There's some hidden influences woven through the Directorate that need checking out, and I can't do that for obvious reasons.  What we need there is investigation and a subtle hand though, not to wreck things.  The cartels, this time the Asians, are getting pretty damned powerful, and that'll come back to bite us later if we ignore it.  The US government decided to gear up its own nova army, R&D, and finance divisions, pretty much daring anyone to stop them.  And something new on my radar: I hear there's a group of ex-T2Mers that may have been connected to Bahrain that are trying to start some sort of underground resistance movement.  They're pretty clever though, so for now the Directorate doesn't have anything on them, but when they slip up there will be a lot of scrutiny."

"I wasn't about to go all 'Bull in a china shop'" Angelo said with a smile, "I mean, give me a little credit for knowing enough gather intel before a mission.  Besides, there are ways to monkey up the works without being destructive.  Misdirection of threats or potential threats is one of the more reliable security measures for any sort of covert endeavor."

"Frosty, it's been far too long!" Imp said, pleased that she had made it.  "I agree about the Directive, they did some good work with the Butcher, but it's not that far from where they are to something far more Proteus-like.  Fear leads to loathing and murder far to easily for my liking.  I'm also confident that they are going to be moving against me when I start my bid for presidency."
He looked to Sol, "Sol, something needs to be done about Manus, I'm going to talk with him as soon as I can track him down and see if I can talk him out of this fantastically poorly conceived Utopian genocide, and not just because I still have friends in the organization.  I'd like you to come with me when I do, he respects you and having both of us telling him he's in the wrong might make all the difference.  Killing a bunch of novas who're only guilty of believing what they've been told is not acceptable."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:01, Mon 16 Sept 2013.

"Should have said something Frosty, I would have picked you up." Solitaire said, taking a swig of the whiskey. "So, you think the Directorate is on the up and up? I'll trust you on it. Honestly I encourage it, Baselines need to do something to make our... Overly enthusiastic members respect them. Otherwise they will fall before our kind in time." Solitaire said as a matter of fact. It was a simple truth, and everyone knew it. "The Teragen may recognize the Directorate as a entity worthy of respect it it approaches this properly and avoids the mistakes of Utopia. Do mention that we will not take secret prisons and disappearances lightly. However, if it garners the support of the baseline world, it may be possible to work with it rather than against it. Think of the Teragen as NATO, or possibly Warsaw if you are feeling uncharitable. A move against a member is likely to provoke the whole. Instead, if you have an grievance, bring it to my attention, or probably Raoul's until we possibly establish a channel for this type of thing. We have the influence to do something about it. You still have my number?"

Solitaire knocked back the bottle once more and handed it back with a grin, trying to lighten the seriousness of the moment. Then she looked to Imp "If you want, I can stop him from tearing you in half at least. I think he's got his heart set on dismantling Utopia though. I was going to try and talk him out of killing anybody anyway. That is a rather permanent solution."

Dillon was unmoved.  "Pax can call himself whatever he wants, but he's still a bully and a child begging for attention.  If he crosses the line, I'll put him down myself.  You can let him know that too, Sol.  Utopia gets to stay so long as they hold their own accountable."

Everyone there knew it was unlikely, really, that Comstock could take down Pax himself.  He couldn't fly, couldn't exert thousands of tons of force at a distance, and couldn't move faster than the eye could see.  But then again, Comstock could absorb just about any punishment, and his grip was inescapable.

"The same promise extends to the Directorate.  Though I can't say I'm happy to hear that you've been lying to us for years too."  He glared.  "I smell work camps or nano-weapons, I'll show up at Quantico and shake the foundations a bit.  That's your warning."

"The flip side is that if you're trying to stop a war, I'll bring everything I have to the table."

"Bull in a china shop," Angelo said, hooking a thumb toward Dillon.  Then he grinned and said, "I'm just glad this one's on our side."

Holding up a placating hand, he said, "Kidding aside, I can pretty much agree with those sentiments.  Proteus is a tumor inside Utopia that needs to be cut out and burned.  That's a message I hope you members of Teragen can take back and impress on your compatriots.  Utopia needs a doctor, not an executioner, because it has too much value to all the inhabitants of this little blue planet."

He suddenly looked around, seeming embarrassed.  "Sorry," he said, stepping back, "I'll put the soapbox away now."

"You're fine, DeVarga."  Dillon's expression was locked in scowl.  "Real question I have is what you're planning to do with T2M:A next.  Because if Imps out to run for President, they'll either give it to you or Ricardo.  And he's got fins.  Public doesn't like fins."

"Unless you're quitting too."

Angelo sighed thoughtfully.  "I was never officially a member of Utopia or Team Tomorrow, I was on assignment as US DoD liason with honorary status."  He paused and cleared his throat, reluctant to go on because the emotions around this decision were a little raw yet.  "In light of recent events and...uh...personal concerns, I've...uh...decided that...at the end of my current enlistment - in about eight months - I'm going to resign my commission.  I guess I just realized I can't fulfill my potential any more in that role.  Besides, once it gets worked out that I was involved on the Europa raid, they won't trust me as far as Kitten could throw me, much less in any sort of leadership role."

Frostburn nodded at Dragon's revelation, but chose not to comment.  Instead she joined in on the Pax-bashing.  "Shelby was always a son-of-a-bitch.  He made everything a pain on my end of things, and that nuke couldn't have hit a more deserving target.  But he's really just a symptom of the problem.  You all-" a wave of her hand encompasses the room's occupants "-are too.  Only thing worse than a powerful person with a god complex is an actual god with a god complex.  Imp, you run for president, I'm not voting for you.  I like you too much, the world likes you too much, and no one in office needs to have people like them that well.  Gives them free reign.  Sol, Dillon, you two toss out these judgements like their your right.  Sure, you can back it up, but our species only lived this long because people couldn't back up that kind of threat... and now they can.  We need something to balance that.  I won't say the directorate is good, but I think it's needed.  I'm sure it will do bad shit, but its focus is more narrow than Utopia's.  That should mitigate some of it.  And I didn't lie to you Dillon, it's just that no one ever asked.  Did you tell me every time you went looking for criminals in Vegas?  Whatever, that's not the point, I didn't come here to argue, just to give fair warning that what you all do from here will make waves no matter what, so try and be smart about things."

"If you can't stand for something, at least have the guts to admit it.  Don't pretend you're any different from Justin."

Gale crossed her arms, leaning back against the statue again, but turning to look at Frostburn.  "We tried playing by their rules," she added, agreeing with Comstock.  "We tried playing nice and pretending they could actually enforce anything on us.  They took and used our powers when it suited them, and paid us back with pain and hate.  If it takes Imp being a president with free reign to get them to finally respect our rights, then I'm ok with that."

"Shelby should have been their first indication that they were playing with something dangerous.  His power grew insanely fast, even in those early days, and the only way they kept a leash on him was by stroking his ego and giving him what he wanted.  And now, that's not enough."  A shrug, indicating that she didn't much care what Frostburn's response was.  It was the truth, and anyone who wanted to prevent war would have to deal with it.

Solitaire shrugged and laughed. Frosty had a point, and Frosty was smarter than she was. "Probably true. I don't claim to be right, but I will try to do what I think is right. I try to teach others to do the same. I wont begrudge you doing the same thing. There can be no equality without respect and a balance of power. We all do what we feel we must, or we do nothing. Those are really the only choices. To act or not, that is the question."

"Always liked you Sol, you see better than most.  You too Dillon, but you're letting anger talk for you.  And I fucking well stand for something: survival."  She almost looked angry, then thought better of it.  The room got colder.  "Sol, keep the bottle.  Everyone else, I wish you luck and hope we all come out of this alive in 30 years, but I'm not counting on it.  Party in Ibiza next week for anyone interested, drinks on me, I plan on spending my new salary preemptively, that way I won't have any distractions.  If I see you there I'll probably be too drunk to know it, but I like the idea of seeing you have some fun.  If not, well, stay out of trouble.  World's counting on it."  With that, she turned and left, trekking back down the mountain.

Frostburn didn't merit another glance; instead, Comstock's scowl focused on Sol.  An old argument between the two floated silently in the air, still unresolved.  "I'll be passing on those drinks.  It all tastes the same to me anyway.  But I should have something online soon if anyone needs to get in touch."

"We done here?  We've got our objectives.  We all have work to do.  Hell Kraken might get a thrill out of staring at paint on walls but I'm in the middle of some things and don't want to overstay my welcome."

Phantasm shrugged.  "Eh, I guess.  I mostly wanted to see what people's plans were, and I've seen enough.  That'll let me keep track of the variables better.  Oh, back to the psychics again, you all might want to drop by for lessons from me and 'Stock.  At this point I think we're two of the most resistant people on the planet, and a good chunk of that resistance was intentional training even if the rest of it was just a survival adaptation." A pointed look at Impetus.  You could only stand in his presence so long before you either succumbed to the charisma beating against you, or you toughened up.  Then there were all the psychics they'd fought.  I really hope we meet a nice psychic some day... Maybe Operator will turn out alright.

"I won't be at the party either.  Dillon's testy right now, he needs a minder..." Said with a smile and calming hand on his shoulder. "And we've got a lot of prep work for this group we're forming.  Anyone who's still in on that should meet up in Vegas, we'll start there."

Solitaire waved as Frosty left. Frostburn was good people, even as much as she tried to hide it through semi-constant intoxication. Perhaps the problem was the Frosty was too good people, she thought in overall terms rather than Solitaires personal ones. She wished her luck.

She flinched away from Comstocks frown though, pursing her lips in return. She wasn't defensive exactly, but she very much disliked having Comstock disapprove of her. Out of everyone assembled, it was his opinion that mattered most.

"C'mon, don't give me that look Boss. You know I would back you vs the world  if you asked." He knew her views. She knew his. Neither was likely to change. But he should also know that she valued their friendship above all of that. "All you ever needed to do is ask."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:06, Tue 17 Sept 2013.

Phantasm's hand on his shoulder forced him to calm down.  "If we don't take a stand, we'll never know the truth."  He couldn't judge Sol, he just hated it when Sol was right.  He couldn't just give up on humanity.  On hope.  "As I live, I'll not compromise.  Not on this.  Never again."

"I'll look into psy-blockers too, though I don't know many telepaths I'd trust to test the things with. Not that I'm a good candidate for testing either. My brain structure and thought processes are already alien enough to confound telepaths without help from tech - though I know they can still get in if they're strong enough," his mouth tweaked up in a grin, "not that they can keep up."

"As people want to leave, I'm willing to offer transport to anywhere they'd like." He turned to yell this in the direction Frostburn had left for her benefit. "Well, anywhere on Earth anyway. Offworld transport isn't cheap."

Angelo turned to Impetus.  "Well, you called this shindig.  Was there anything else you wanted to cover before we all make like little dandelion seeds?"

"I am not a god, Frosty, far from it. The stories that humans have told themselves about the alien capricious beings that controled their lives have nothing to do with me. I am not capricious.
I'm flattered that you think so highly of me though." he smirked.
" I will also take a pass on the party. Whenever we go anywhere festive as a group there's usually a disaster. I also don't think we should all be together in one place after this, at least not very often. It's far better if we appear to have drifted apart. Frankly, the further you stay from me the safer you'll be. I am many things, but inconspicuous I am not. I'm the distraction, I'll draw the fire from the media, from the powerful, and from everybody that doesn't think a nova should be president. I anticipate repeated and regular attempts on my life." He grinned. "I'm actually looking forward to this." He turned to Operator, "I'm a spin doctor extraordinaire, but the things you do with raw information are astounding. How'd you like me to put you on retainer? I can talk with Anna tonight about it and get the paper work sorted by early next week."
He addressed his remaining friends " Be well, my friends. If you need me, for anything, just call. I'll come running.
A flagstone lifted out of the floor and Jenny's chrysalis floated out of the resultant hole. Imp smiled, gave a friendly salute, and flew up into the gathering storm clouds, heading southwest towards Africa.

Phantasm passed out the invitations weeks ago, to anyone in their little group with a strong mastery of hand to hand combat.  Now it was time for people to finally start arriving.

The island was small and unpopulated, on the edge of the many Indonesian islands in the Pacific Ocean.  The island was still growing, hot lava bubbling up from the Southern side of the mountain to create hissing clouds of steam where it met the sea.  Trees covered the Northern portions of the island, while the Western side dipped in slightly to form a shallow cove.  A storm was rolling in, cloud cover that would hopefully conceal them from any chance surveillance.  When the others began arriving, she explained.

"So, thanks for showing up.  I know I explained a little bit in the invite, but I figured I'd add my reasons for this little get together."  She shifted a bit, digging her bare feet into the sand, occupying another part of her mind with the feel of it between her toes.  "We're all fighters.  Sure, everyone else has fought, is dangerous, can take care of themselves, all that.  But we're the ones that have really honed our skills, focused on hand to hand, hurting others up close and personal.  We're all good, but I'm not sure we're good enough, not at the pace the world is moving, not with the challenges on the horizon.  We need to step things up.  I figure we can learn from each other, train together, and get used to fighting in hostile terrain while we do..."

She gave them a moment to contemplate, then continued.  "We should go over technique, have some light sparring, talk about details.  That's a part of it of course.  But we also need some real nova combat, forcefields, retractable claws, chi punches, energy blasts.  Yeah, we've all been up against that stuff before, but not usually from people at our level.  What do you all think?  Worth the time?"

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Set maybe a month after the last meeting.  This is open to anyone with martial arts, brawl, or melee 5 who spends a good chunk of their time in combat actually hitting things instead of using weird powers.  I sent out a preliminary invite to Dragon, 'Kaze, and Sol.  If others qualify, go for it.  Don't want anyone feeling left out...

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