"It's known as the ricochet scenario," the captain answers, "As the only nation infamous for having deploying nuclear weapons on the battlefield in the past, the United States is considered a likely target for foreign powers to attempt to use for their own nuclear exchanges.  For example, an extremist faction of a rogue nation wants to nuke their rival nation.  Say... Pakistan and India.  Rather than overtly attack, risking international sanctions and retaliation, India instead frames Pakistan for attacking the U.S., hoping to provoke a military response.  Analysts predict that even if a suitcase nuke were detonated in an American city, an overt nuclear response would be very likely condemned by our enemies' allies and they could retaliate in kind, kicking off World War III.  Framed enemy or real enemy it wouldn't matter.  There are several groups just aching for a chance to glass us and our allies back into the stone age.

"This is why it is so crucial that we capture the perpetrator.  We must know who he works for and if they intend to tunnel under our cities to plant nukes.  If you want a more detailed answer, I recommend the book 'How the End Begins,' by Ron Rosenbaum or 'Assessing the Risk of Inadvertent Nuclear War Between India and Pakistan' by Stephen Smith."

He looks over at Angel and nods.

"Sounds like you know more of the details than I do.  If anything comes up that Intel can send your way to help you, I'll be sure that they do."

"Cheery," Mittens says sarcastically, "You've made your point I think.  Very important thing is very important.  We'll be on ze lookout for ze badguy."

"Thank you, mam."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:11, Tue 03 Apr 2012.

  "Well, if you want a more mundane problem to think about Mittens here's one.  My outlook that we won't get many volunteers for the 'not dangerous' stuff because of what we're more obviously exposed to has even more backing now."

  Join the Citizens patrol! Help people!... Oh, you may also have to stop world war 3.

  As for Captain Scars, Joe figures at least he survived well enough.  He'd probably be more worried if he had seen whatever caused them at the time.

Michael watched the solder walk out and shook his head. While he understood the governments request for them to keep an eye out, it would have been more helpful if he could have given them more info or at least some gadgets to work with.

"Not necessarily Joe. The possibility of saving the word could appeal to certain people. Though I'm not sure how much a glory hounds would help us," he said from the back of the group. 'Most likely get themselves killed,' though he didn't speak that out loud.

"For now, it seems to be wise to have everyone who was planning to move here do so asap. As for those who weren't planning on moving, you may want to reconsider. Not to scare anyone, but if this man kidnaps people we have better safety here in larger numbers."

Emerald noticed Michael entering and says, "Oh Michael! Glad you're up and about. We were actually just discussing earlier that we're enacting a buddy-system. Nobody goes anywhere without another member of the group. If you have thoughts to add to that, I'd recommend voicing them now."

Liberty says, "And I should be the one to answer the door from now on."

Angel looks over towards Liberty. "Admirable as your protective nature is, Liberty, after what the madman and his orcs did to you, I think they'll find a way past you fast enough. Mittens, however, can detect danger. So at least in that much, we'll be prepared if they come to our doorstep... or am I mistaken?" that last part directed at Mittens.

"Good point, guys," Mittens answers Joe and Reaver, jotting down a note on a pocket steno pad, "Angel volunteered to help with PR, right?  So I'll have to work with her on that.  As for points on the buddy system, I want to remind folks that it is strongly encouraged for your safety, but not mandatory.  Unless the overwhelming majority wants it to be?  As for door answering duty, I don't we've devolved to defcon 5 just yet, so thanks for the offer, Lib, but we don't need superpowers to be answering doors to rooms full of heroes just yet, I don't think.  Of course... feel free to call for a vote on the issue if you want..."

"Glad to be back up and about Em, and good to hear we will be traveling in pairs now.

We could always install a simple video system to see who is at the door. The tv could be here on this inside and anywhere else we wanted to see it. Though I would suspect this place to already have cameras up all over the place, at least outside," he said with a quick look to Angel to see if his guess was on the mark.

Angel says, "The place has cameras, but they just record. With a phone call, I can have 'em hooked up like you're suggesting and it wouldn't take long."

  Well, the potential threat of nuclear war was probably an insane enough reason to give his parents for why he was out of the house so often.  "Just so long as our situation doesn't degrade into a Reality TV show with where the cameras are pointing."

  Live! Drunken superheroes in a beach house hot tub!  Haalima in a swimsuit great for ratings, Haalima after swimming not so great for ratings its like a tiger striped 'Sad Wet Cat' photo with hooves.

"Welcome back, Reaver," Mittens says, "And thanks for the helpful suggestion.  And for bringing up the topic, Liberty.  And I agree with Joe.  May as well make the call then, Angel.  If it won't be too expensive, you can put it on the Citizen Patrol's expense account, but it won't hurt to ask if they'd be willing to install it for free as a donation to our cause.  You might be surprised how many folks have stepped forward offering us stuff for free...  Oh wait.  You're one of 'em!

"So keep your eyes peeled for the badguy, everyone!  Buddy system!  Appreciated the help!  I need to unwind.  Meeting adjourned!"

She drags her bro with and looks for a place to loaf and huggle.  Likely he needs to unwind too.

Michael takes a sip of his soda as he watches a few people start to walk out of the room, going their various ways. He has a bit to much energy to just sit around and figures he may as well get his housing situation figured out. His lease was almost up, which was good as he was moving here very soon.

May as well begin packing now. He wanders back to the spare room where he had dropped his few extra clothes and put on his socks and sneakers, then grabbed his army jacket and motorcycle helmet. As he headed towards the front door, he said to those still sitting there,"I'm heading over to my apartment to get some packing done."

He had taken another step or two before stopping, turning and asking, almost sheepishly,"Would anyone care to see my place and maybe give me a hand packing?"

Liberty hops to her feet. "I'd love to."

Emerald stands up. "I'll go too, though I won't be much help unless you want me actually packing your stuff."

Angel says, "Then I'll drive Emerald there. You won't wanna have both Emerald and Liberty on one motorcycle."

Liberty says, "Well I spoke first, so can I ride on your motorcycle with you, Michael?"

"Yeah three on a bike isn't a good idea, so thanks for driving Angel. Yeah Liberty, you can ride on the bike. I've got a spare helmet. I know you don't need it, but it will keep us from getting pulled over," Michael said to her before she could say she didn't need it.

The motorcycle is some kind of foreign bike, though which make and model is up in the air as it looks highly modified. Plenty of stainless steel and black paint make is shine in the sunlight, at least in the spots that it doesn't have scuff marks from who knows what. The extra helmet is a close faced model, though the vizor opens up, colored white as a negative to Michael's black one.

  "Well, you seem covered for the moving.  I've got significantly less stuff considering the 'still lives with parents' angle, so my excuse for not offering help is also a valid excuse for people to skip helping me."

  Not to mention probably less paperwork involved.

Mittens is just nod-nodding as she listens to the conversation.

"Been quite a while since I've drove a motorbike, and it was nothing like that one.  Nice bike there, Reaver."

She leans over to whisper in Timothius' ear.

The Marvel had been quietly observing this whole time. He had looked thoughtful while the government rep was talking, though he had mainly stood in the corner rubbing his chin and looking around from behind his black mask. Now though it seemed like decisions must be made. And he had made one.

So he struck a heroic looking pose, with fists on hips and chest out, and grinned. "THE MARVEL shall help you, little sidekicks! Since this is for the fate of the world, and you'll need a SUPERHERO around!"

Haalima blinked at The Marvel, then she put a hand up to her face and giggled. "Oh dear. We're sidekicks now."

Emerald chuckles and smiles. "Sidekicks are always younger than the hero they are the sidekick to... so if he's saying I'm younger than him, I don't mind."

Angel also seems amused. "I didn't know a hero could have more than one sidekick at a time."

Emerald says, "It's... rare. I heard Batman once had a Batgirl AND a Robin at the same time. Kinda cute, really."

Angel says, "Batman doesn't count. He's so amazing, the entire Justice League may as well be his sidekick."

Liberty scriggly-faces. "Who cares? He just offered help." she then looks at The Marvel. "Thanks for the offered help. Of course, right now, there isn't much that can be done. So we're gonna go help Michael move here."

Timothius ear-twitches as Mitts whispers in it. He glances up at her. "I wanna stick with the others."

Angel head-nudges. "This way to the Angel-mobile." she half-jokes in light of The Marvel's interesting antics. She leads the way to her car. Which is a nice one. A 1980 Lamborghini.

Michael nods a thanks to Mittens about the bike. He was about to comment about Marvel but decided against it. No sense starting an argument with the new guy.

He is quite surprised by Angel's car and gives a low whistle. "This is your ride? Very nice. Though will you be able to fit everyone in there?" Michael asks doing a head count.

Angel wears a proud smile as Michael comments on her car. Then nods to him, "I was taking Emerald. Mittens is presumably taking Timothius, and I imagine The Marvel has a Marvel-mobile... ALL superheroes have their own ride. Right?"

Meanwhile, Liberty's on the phone with her parents, asking them if she can ride on a motorcycle. She's bouncing in place on her feet, biting her lower lip and looking excited.

Mittens grins at all the superhero talk, tail wagging in excitement that The Marvel is offering help.  She does her best to hide her car envy by continuing to smile.

"Mittens is taking Timothius, yes.  The Marvel can join us in the Mittensmobile if he doesn't have a ride of his own.  And speaking of the Justice League..."

She offers The Marvel a Citizen Patrol sign-up sheet with a big smile.

"You are invited to become an official member of the Citizen Patrol!"

The Marvel took the form and scrutinized it. "Hmm," he muttered as he rubbed his chin. "It might be helpful to be in a League of heroes. The Marvel shall think on this, small furry sidekick."

"As for the ride, The Marvel has his own way of getting around!"

Liberty hurries over to Michael and manages to not raise her voice, though the excitement is clearly there. "Mom'n'dad said I can ride with you." she proclaims, bouncing in place.

  Joe can't help but imagine The Marvel flying the same way that Freakazoid does.

  "Right, I'll wait here for you all to get back then.  No sense in making the moving clutter even more crowded at one time."  There were some slight ulterior motives of course.  Joe had a fresh package of cookies and this would mean less people wanting him to share them while most of them were out.

Mittens smiles brightly at The Marvel and nods.  She then addresses the group.

"Alrighty then!  Address please, Mr Reaver, for us with GPS.  Then lead the way if you would.  If we get separated, we have each other's numbers."

She opens up the GPS app on her phone and gets ready to punch in the destination.

Michael nods and gives the address then, once he makes sure helmets are on, get on his bike and helps Liberty up. "Let's get this train moving," he says, then with a kick starts up the bike, which lets out a loud roar as the engine comes alive.
The drive isn't long, nor is is difficult, though at times the traffic can be a bit annoying. He takes it easy though, enjoying the ride. He would love to open up the throttle, but with people following it wouldn't be right or nice to do that. 'Maybe later,' he thinks.