In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 121):

She laughed. "Oh! Ha ha! I didn't think there was any question of my going along at all. I don't have a lot of stuff, just a rucksack. I'll be ready in five minutes."

Leaf told Jimmy she was born on Orca island, one of the San Juan Islands. The San Juan islands in Puget Sound and their brethren across the border in the Canadian waters of the straits of Juan de Fuca were named after the first European explorers. Not the English but the Spanish, exploring up from California.

Orca island was one of the larger islands in Puget sound with its tallest mountain. (The original name, "Orcas", is a shortened form of Horcasitas, or Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo, the Viceroy of Mexico who sent an exploration expedition under Francisco de Eliza to the Pacific Northwest in 1791.) It and had a population part fishery-based, part new-age hippie tourism-based and part native. It also had farming and agriculture to rely on. The population melded to form one of the oldest and most successful Fisher (aka Whale Worshipper) populations after the War. She herself was unmarried and skilled on the water. She had been as far south as Oregon and as far north as Haida Gwai'i (once).

She was smart and had an open and easy personality, if a little intense. It was clear why she was considered a respected voice in her community despite her young age.
This message was last updated by the GM at 20:24, Thu 01 Feb 2018.

"The question, Miss Leaf, was whether you wanted to go.  I wouldn't have traveled to talk to you if I was not interested in your company."

He smirks playfully, then winks.

"I like to surround myself with smart people, makes me look smart too, you know?"

He chuckles, and hopefully not alone.

"Grab that pack, then, and humor me by teaching me a bit of your language.  I have an interest in languages, I think they tell you a lot about the people that speak them."

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 123):

The young woman grabbed her leather rucksack and floppy rain hat. She also grabbed a set of oilskins. She was armed with a knife and fishing spear.

"I'm ready. Looks like rough weather! I always wanted to go, I was hoping you'd take me.

"Don't worry, the language we Fishers speak is English. But the coastal Amerinds have a trade language called "Chinook". I can teach you some of that as we go."

Dylan came into the meeting room at Tukwila base where Jimmy and Leaf were talking.

"Jimmy, I got some bad news. Looks like i'm getting pulled off this mission to assist with evacuation down in Tacoma. Those new guys, Andy and Elliot, should be fine. Think you can do this without me?"

Meanwhile, at Little Da Nang, the conversion was hitting more and more snags. One problem after another was discovered and solved. Overall they had to go slow in order to not stress the hull past tolerances.

"I was told about you, wanted to meet you."
He grins widely.
"Hard to send you away, wanting to go so bad.  What skills are you bringing for us, Miss Leaf?"

He checks out her equipment, nods to Dylan when he comes in.

"Sorry you are missing the trip, Dylan.  Do your best for the people of Tacoma for us.  I will make do.  Say hello to Leaf, she is joining us as a native guide."

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 127):

"Will do, Jimmy. Hi Leaf."

"Jimmy, something I noticed. Back at Maryville we picked up a couple of light Mk.I HAZMAT suits because that's all they had available. Those Tyvek suits will protect against chemical toxins and biological threats, which for all we know could be present. They will also keep small contaminated radioactive particles off your skin, which is better than nothing.

"But they have the heavy Mk.II suits here, which have a lead lining for greater radiological protection. I really suggest you get a couple of those if you can."

A big grin from Jimmy.

"Thanks for that tip, Dylan, I will be heading there next, then.  I am working up my shopping list!"

And yes, when he goes to get the autonav and such... as many of the MKII as they can carry and will be spared.

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 129):

The afternoon wore on. Jimmy and company visited the stockrooms at Tukwila base to gather what gear they could take back to Maryville and the boat at New Da Nang.

Rain came in gusts. Downpour one minute, then stop. The wind drove a continual blanket of low grey clouds east.

Out at New Da Nang they struggled to retrofit the old coastal fishing boat with a new motor and electronics.

In reply to Project Director (msg # 130):

"OK," said the supply specialist, studying his computer. "We can spare two Mk.II HAZMAT suits for your use." He scribbled out a bill of lading. "Take this over to the logistics warehouse next door. They'll fix you up."

Jimmy takes the offered bill and nods "Thanks, buddy.  Wish us luck, eh?"

"Oh, I am bringing a local, can I get a Morrow standard issue for her?"

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 132):

"Gear, minus weapon load. What size is she?" Once that detail was offered the supply tech got busy getting a standard-issue load of gear together.

"Anything else?"

"Autonav for my boat?"

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 134):

"Yeaaah... sure. I'll issue you a new one. No caches will be assigned so it'll just help with inertial navigation."

He got another hard case and put it next to the 2 containing the HAZMAT Mk.II suits. "You guys better get going if you don't want to lose the light!"

In reply to Project Supply Specialist (msg # 135):

The young woman picked up the bundle of clothing and gear, looking at it dubiously. Aside from carrying her spear she now had a bow and quiver slung over her shoulder.

"I don't know how to use guns. Like from the old days. I prefer my bow and spear. I hope that's OK?"

A shrug from Jimmy.

"Wear and use what you want.  Don't have to take any of it, you aren't part of the project.  Wanted to offer what can be of use, and might as well start with a full kit and pare out what you need.  Let me know if there is something you would find very useful, ok?"

He collects the rest.

"Come on, we need to get back so you can meet the team, and I get my beauty rest."

The team RV'd at the Maryville outpost for the evening, including those who had visited the main Project base in Tukwila and the group that had been involved with installing the fusion engine in the boat drydocked at New Da Nang.

There had been technical troubles with installing the Fusion-Electric powerplant and the 2 Engineering team personnel assigned to the job planned on working through the night to have it ready for morning.

Jimmy will drop to autonav off at the boat and introduce Leaf to the Engineers, then call for a quick meeting with the team.

"Folks, meet Leaf Water Wind, our native guide.  She's seen our fish, and take us to it.  She will need a little help filling out her kit for the trip.

Also, I have brought the autonav, and have managed to secure two of the type II hazard suits, in case we need them.  Here is hoping that cross country is not what we will be doing.

Did anyone double or triple up our climbing gear?  That might be a needed thing, in a big way."

Elliott moves up to shake Leaf's hand. "Elliot Pendergrass. Welcome to the group."

He moves off to inspect the hazard suits.

In reply to Elliot Charles Pendergrass (msg # 140):

A young woman in her 20's dismounted from the Ranger MPV that had brought them up from Tukwila to Maryville.

"Hi! Pleased to help however I can. You Project folks have really helped my people, the "Fishers". Kind of like the best of the old world. But some of the worst of the old world is still out there, like the War Whale. If we can consecrate its resting place maybe the bad things won't come back. We'd better get going. I can sense a storm is coming."

The young fenale "Whale Worshipper" was dressed in locally-produced homespun garb, without a lot of extra jewelry and ornamentation. She was carrying a lance-like harpoon (of the kind used for spear-fishing) with a bow and quiver slung across her back. A Project-issue backpack sat at her feet.

It was past 1800, already dark. A light shower began, a few raindrops for now but a sign of things to come...

Jimmy laughs a moment, then circles his arm over his head.

"You heard the lady, people.  Let's get everything loaded that isn't, do our last minutes and get to the boat.  I got a feeling Leaf's weather sense is pretty refined."

He looks up at the sky.

"And my gut tells me this won't be any cake walk."

And he sets to loading and checking himself.

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 142):

Capt'n Kim ponders  "We should get everyone that's not have Sea legs a bucket. Unless the Project has Meds for it"

In reply to Captain Ly Cong Kim (msg # 143):

Indeed, the Project did have such medication.

Working through the night the Engineering team personnel finished converting the old harbourmaster's boat. It still wasn't fast but it had a good draw and was very stable.

For getting to shore they could tow a Project zodiac (either inflatable or rigid-inflatable) or stow a small craft on deck (or both).

They were well behind timetable (mostly due to factors out of their control) by the time they were ready in late morning. The drizzle of the previous day had increased to a steady Pacific Northwest rain.

"I am ready to get this mission going!" Elliot says to Andy. "Not sure what we are going to find. I hope we are ready for it."

"I'm ready as well. Can you explain this '3 HOUR TOUR' the Engineering team was singing when the rain was getting heavy?" Capt'n Kim asks/responds