With a smile, Nightmare replies to Amaranth, "Judging by his appetite, I would say the shot would be followed closely by game called due to equipment failure."
"Although it's a fairly good idea for them to find a way to blow off steam. I've a feeling we're in for some fairly intense times, ahead. As a hobby, I've taken to studying the legends of the yeti. What do you do to relax?"

As the banter resumed Muldoon wondered if it was going to take a teammate being killed to convince the team that this was deadly serious. It might just be that their chattiness was reaction to surviving the fight with the Soviets, but they needed to focus.

"Perhaps we could focus on the job at hand for a few minutes."

"It is likely we all have useful skills and non super abilities gained during our lives that might be appicable to future operations. If you have something you think that should be intergrated into our training noew would be a good time to speak up.

"My own training and experience is in military and clandestine opertations. It appears Vosper comes front a similar background. But what of the rest of you?"

Oscillator was intimidated by Master Sgt Patrick Muldoon -- not in the mental department, just in the 'ass-whooping' department.

"I'm afraid you have a small misunderstanding about our team, Mister Sergeant Master."  He misspoke Muldoon's title on purpose, but it was with a point.  "We aren't military.  We're special agents who have agreed to work for the military.  But, as you no doubt are noticing, most of us wouldn't be suited for the military."

And then he made the mistake of continuing...  "I, for one, have multiple PhD's in various scientific disciplines, and my weaponry is for the most-part built into my body."  He didn't mention his HAART weapon because he didn't want to confuse the Sergeant, and he didn't say 'his brain' because that should be self-evident.  And it sounded very cocky. 

"So shooting guns and knife-fighting is not likely to be penciled onto my calendar.  I'll be in my laboratory, awaiting briefing on the next mission.  Good day."  Oscillator moves to vibra-fly up and out through the ceiling -- but he floats up slowly enough that Muldoon (or anyone else) can speak their piece.

Oscillator would skip the ping-pong.  The rec room wasn't his ideal setting for interaction, and he sucked at ping-pong -- along with most sports.

Muldoon said nothing as Ocsilator departed the room. Hopefully he would realize they were all on the same team

"For a brilliant guy, he sure missed the point."

"Our goal is not to become a military unit, it is to be able to understand military and clandestine operations so when faced with an enemy with such training we can improve our chances of victory."

"You have already seen that you are not the only ones in the world with super abilities. You have also seen that even with our special abilities we can still be challenged, even defeated by a well trained enemy."

"So what other non super abilities do the rest of you bring to the table?"

Nightmare gives the sergeant a slight smile, and tells him, "Actually, sergeant, I can do a few things. I'm fairly well read, I've been an aviator, and I know some of the back ways into the eastern bloc."
Turning to Amaranth, Nightmare admits, "They weren't very good back ways."

"He missed YOUR point - but whose fault is that?  His or yours, or maybe both?" Vosper countered to Muldoon.  But her tone wasn't exceptionally harsh.  She understood both men.

"You all know I'm here as a liasion with M-I6," she said to the rest. "So it's no secret my training involves espionage and intelligence.  My speciality, though, wasn't combat, but courier work.  In and out fast.  Not to say I can't hold my own in a fight, because I'm faster than most by far.  But I'm not your heavy hitter, and I never will be."

"As a side perk, I do speak fluent Russian, Chinese and German.  Maybe that'll come in handy."

"Now.  I'm gonna go try an' talk to Osc.  You lot form up and play some wicked pong, and when yer done, get with the Sergeant and work out some training.  This isn't about popguns and pokey-sticks, it's about learning t'use our powers together.  I'll be joining you, shortly."

Amaranth chuckles at Nightmare's comment, but then glances at Muldoon and stifles it.  She shrugs.  "I... have a rather outdated background in science and medicine, but nothing to compare with Oscillator.  I can recite a good deal more of Shakespeare than most people.  I can juggle, just a little bit.  I'm told my grammar is impeccable."  She spreads her hands out over the table, palms up.  "Nothing terribly violent, I'm afraid.  I'm here because I get back up again when I die, as I've said.  Your government seems to think that will be useful to them, and has promised that if I help them with their little war, they'll let me go back to living quietly as soon as it's over."

"Oh, I have studied a handful of dead languages.  Appropriately, I suppose.  I've actually just started reading up on Emmanuel Laroche's recent breakthrough on Anatolian hieroglyphs, but I can't say I could follow them without a reference yet.  I doubt it will be as helpful as Russian, Chinese, or German, but you never know.  In our line of work, I suppose needing to negotiate with a troop of Roman Legionnaires isn't entirely outside the bounds of possibility."

From the Rec Room, down the hallway, come further sounds of laughter and table tennis activity.

"Excellent. I imagine a knowledge of the the ins and outs of the Iron Curtain might come in very handy. Thanks Nightmare."

Addressing the departing Vosper "Thanks Vos. I know I come across as a bit of a stiff shirt. But I have lost a lot of friends over the years. I don't want to bury someone because of a lack of training."

"As far as training, I suggest that the team all have a basic understanding of enemy weapon and tactics. If possible I will arrange for a OPFOR operation so we can train using our powers against a likely foe."

In reply to Amaranth. "I assume that means Latin, Greek and such. You never know. On the other hand if it is that you have been alive all those years, I imagine your knowledge of history is quite extensive."

Muldoon headed to the rec room to try and round up the ping pong team.

"I'm not that old," Amaranth mutters at Muldoon's back.

Somewhat more emphatically, she adds to Nightmare, "I mean, yes, Latin, but I learned it in school, not as a native."

Muldoon laughed "I was going to say you looked great for two thousand."

After the fight ...

The Inhuman entered the Situation Room carrying the now limp body of Red Hammer.

   Onyx, still riding a bit of a high after actually contributing to the fight, switched his emotions quickly upon seeing the the villain they had just brought down, and exclaimed:  "What's that fool doin in here?  Ain't nobody tryin ta fight him again!  Shoot!  Bury him in a metal box somewhere or sumpin'!  Better yet, I'll do it fo ya!"

   Onyx obviously did not like the villain being around. Even unconscious.

Oscillator flies through a wall and sits down.

"Why would you bring Red Sledgehammer into our inner sanctum?  This seems unwise..."

Eddy had entered only steps behind Inhuman.

When others started arriving, and commenting, Eddy seemed ready to respond to Onyx when Oscillator chimed* in. Eddy turned to him with an angry look, "Because neither of us wanted this beast left uncontained, Egghead.  Instead of making commentary on our wisdom, why don't you offer some of your own!?!".
                                            * pun intended

Without waiting for a response, however, he returned his attention to Onyx, "If you can box him up, that'd be fine.  We just didn't have that option.
We can take him outside, somewhere ... but I'll sit with him, just in case he looks ready to bust out. Someone needs to be raise an alarm".

Entering, Vosper commented, "Well, we can't bloody well discuss anything classified with him here - he speaks English, you know.  So we have to cancel this meeting until he can be contained.  Muldoon can't hold him forever."

  Onyx paused for a moment, "Uh...I don't know. Will the metal even hold him?"

Eddy raised an eyebrow, "We don't know, Onyx ... that's what we need you to tell us.

One way or another, Inhuman keeps hold of him, or someone else comes up with some way to contain him.
Either way, someone needs to keep an eye on the red bastard; even if that means being excused from this meeting.

So, speak up, anyone, if you can contain Red better than Inhuman ... otherwise, the big guy takes the big guy for a stroll in the gardens, and the rest of us stay and do this beauracracic gig".

The Inhuman's rubbery grasp extended and covered the slumbering villains eyes and ears to keep the Red Hammer from seeing or hearing anything.

"Do we have a means to hold him?"

One of the medics comes running into the room holding a tank and a mask. He comes over to the big Russian and puts it on his face, adjusting the knobs for a few moments before nodding in satisfaction; "This should do the trick now that we have him out. This is the stuff we use to knock people out for heavy surgery like amputations and the like. I have a rich mix adjusted and it should hold him. One of the soldiers mentioned they have a heavy chainfall on one of the trucks that could be rigged to both secure him and hold him up off the ground so he can't get leverage on the off chance he does wake up."

Amaranth wrinkles a nose.  "Muldoon is the only one who likes these meetings," she points out.  "He has to stay.  And if Red has to breathe, wouldn't the metal box kill him?"

She looks, it cannot be denied, seriously tempted to find some reason why she should be `forced' to leave the meeting to take the Sledgehammer outside herself, but the medic's arrival seems to solve that issue.  With a quietly resigned sigh, she settles back into her seat.

Eddy nodded at Amaranth's initial assertion, Muldoon did flourish in these kinds of situations.

After the medic did his thing, Eddy said, "Ok, that should work. Please ask the men upstairs to begin creating that harness.

Now," he turned to Inhuman, "If you like, I'll take him upstairs, "  Eddy suspected that he could lift the guy ok*, "Put him in this harness, and watch over him till you are all done down here".

"Amaranth, would you mind joining me ... just, that gentle touch of yours might be needed".

                                                                                                                                            * Strength 44

Looking over the top of his coffee, Nightmare smiles and says, "As much excitement as we've had, recently, I'm sure no one would mind a little quiet reflection while we wait for the large one to be contained. Perhaps the commander wouldn't have rushed us together if he had considered the logistics of the situation."

The Inhuman uncoiled and let Red Hammer fall into Poko's hands. "Hope that chains and drugs keep him on ice. I will see if we have a containment facility online for someone with his abilities."

Oscillator offered, "I'll help them fabricate a fitting restraint.  Chains can be welded, which stresses them, or leverage can be used which makes them stronger.  Red Sledgehammer shouldn't be too hard to restrain with metal cuffs and a short-range field magnetic anomaly --"

Before Osc can continue with the impromptu lecture, the team is gesturing for him to go.

"Right, then.  Back in a bit."

OOC:  Spending IP to make a 'Brick-restraint' that the team might be able to re-use with confidence.