Monday, Dec. 29th 2002

Holiday vacations are over for Cloud Taskforce, though you notice some of the others are only partially back to active duty for now, as they are waiting until after New Year's to get back to work full-time.

Not so for those working for Sergei Mikhailov.  Breakfast is being served as usual in the cafeteria.  Rebekah appears to be very pleased with herself, and Ariel looks like she might pass out from exhaustion, or maybe cry, or some combination.

Israel grabs a large plate of Hash Browns and heads towards his usual seat.  He greets Rebekah with a kiss on the cheek and sits down across from the girls.  "Ok, so what'd I miss?" He looks to Rebekah, "You look too happy," then to Ariel, "and you look beat. You guys have a busy morning?"

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 2):

Ariel Ah, I've had little sleep these last 2 weeks.  Instead of vacation, I was doing research for this next mission.  I'll get vaca time later.

Sorry Ariel, I know this has been tough on you.  It almost makes me feel guilty about being so happy.  Israel, Sergei's agreed to give us a day or two after this mission.  Which is in Paris. Well, your mission is in Paris, I have a different assignment, and will back you up if you need it.

"Paris, eh? That actually sounds nice. The Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, the  Arc de Triomphe, the Latin Quarter..."  A strange look crosses Israel's face, "Which makes me think it may be too good to be true." He slumps slightly, "We'll probably end up fighting something insane like Napoleon's undead hordes or leftover Nazi mutants that lurk in Paris's undercity." He laughs its off, "I've been a spook to long, it makes you cynical."  A smile crosses his face, "Heck, no matter what we face, it HAS to be an improvement over snow-hell (Norway) and faire-hell (Erlkings lair)."

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 4):

There's always subterranean hell (tunnels), terrorist hell
(french techno), or girlfriend hell(sidewalk cafes, fancy food, sappy music, and pretentious french people).

Israel shrugs, "Actually, girlfriend hell doesn't sound that bad - except for maybe the pretentious french people. "

He then looks puzzled momentarily. "What is a French Techno? Are we fighting robots now?"

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 6):

Ariel giggles tiredly.I can teach you about French techno.  You'll have to try Le Rex Club sometime. 

Ariel's expression becomes one of nerves, with perhaps a little fear. This mission is no accident.  I begged Sergei to let me work this one.  We're going after a thief.  He's been at large for years.  He usually kept a low profile. Lately, he has begun stealing very rare, specialized pieces.  When he crossed national borders, he entered Interpol's jurisdiction.  There is no sign of supernatural, but Sergei is spinning it enough to get us on the case as a favor to me.

I believe this thief is my father, who I haven't seen since I was 10.

Israel takes a moment to absorb the bombshell, then says somewhat quietly, "I had wondered why you didn't talk about your family that much."  He looks, not directly in her eyes, but at her nose to give the impression of eye contact, without the soul gaze and says, "We'll do everything we can.  You have my word."

Jacob rolls into breakfast a little bit later than usual and grabs a plate of fruit and eggs and a cup of coffee before sitting down with the rest of the team.  When the rest of the team eyes his plate of fruit suspiciously (what kind of marine eats FRUIT for breakfast?), he shrugs his shoulders.

Damage control.  I can't go gettin' fat after the holidays now can I?

I pull a couple of envelopes full of pictures from Christmas dinner and the couple of days before and after to show everyone, especially the pictures of Krystal and James.  And I tell them the news that I'm going to be an uncle, Elizabeth's pregnant with her and Randall's first.

Getting back to business:

What has been stolen?  And do we know who's tryin' to buy this stuff?

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 8):

As you enter the briefing room and take your place around the table, images are projected onto a screen at one end.  You notice the room has been remodeled, and Alec is in the back, working on the computer.

Hey guys! Have good vacations?  Master Hattori has been working me like a Hebrew sl...sorry about that. Anyway, Sergei came and had me trained on the computers and equipment.  Something about magical interference and him not having time to learn anything that doesn't kill people. I think he was joking about that last part, but I'm not sure, you know?

Of course it was a joke, I also learn to use equipment that maims people, for times when I need to take them alive.  First picture please.

This is a bust sculpted by Anton Sigursky.  Never heard of him?  Not surprising.  He is an up and coming artist whose work is growing in popularity, but nothing extravagant.  Which makes the theft of this piece highly unusual.  Next picture. This picture sold for about $2,000. Also stolen recently. We believe these items were all stolen by the same man, but we've no idea how or by whom.  None of the items are worth more than a few thousand. Also, the thief has robbed houses, storage lockers, and museums.  One of the houses robbed had a painting over the fireplace worth almost 1 mil.  It wasn't touched.  Instead they took a painting worth $950.   

Boss, they broke into a house wealthy enough to have a painting worth a mil, and only take a painting worth a fraction of that amount?  No jewelry, no gold bars, just a painting by someone we've never heard of worth less than a grand?

That's really selective for a thief.  He's obviously not in it for the money.  I somehow doubt he's stealing only one guys work just because he likes the way it looks.  There's got to be more to it: Codes embedded in the work, certain materials he works with, certain subjects he paints.  What else do we know about the artist? Name sounds Eastern Slavic - Poland, Ukraine, Russia, etc. He have any ties to anything odd - magical or mundane? Prominent bloodline, town where strange things happen, membership in fringe organizations?

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 11):

Good guess.  Sigursky's not the only artist whose work is being stolen.  The only thing the artists have in common, that we know, is heritage, they are all Nephalim.  That could be what they are after, Nephalese art.  I doubt it.  The pattern suggests the thief is after something in particular, but doesn't know what it .

Next picture.

The next picture is of a tall, thin, handsome man.  Lean and muscular, not rakish.  He has bright, active eyes, and a smile that has stolen the dignity from more than one woman.  In his arms, is an adorable little girl, obviously full of life even in a stillshot.

A moment's examination confirms your suspicions; the little girl is Ariel.

This is the last known picture of John-Paul Dubois, known to the world as Gaspar St. Pierre, one of the most illusive, most successful, thieves ever. Believed to have retired several years ago after his one arrest.  They never even got him processed before he escaped.  While we don't know for certain my father is the one behind this, the methods are nearly identical.  Authorities are calling this guy The Tengu, after a mythical bird.  That might help explain his psyche to some extent as well.  If this guy is a nephalim descended from the Tengu, it could explain the nearly random selection, being nephalese items, a small amount of mystical aura could surround them, makingthem nearly irresistibly  to a tengu.

"Ok", Israel replies, "my degree focus is in the Near east and parts of Europe, and I was never an Anime fan, so I'm a little vague when it comes to Asian myths.  Tengu are Japanese right? Bird-like things maybe, not generally friendly?"

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 13):

That is basically correct.  Only do not be quick to associate this thief with Asia.  It is likely a European journalist was trying to find a fitting name to call the thief and stumbled upon that word on the internet.

If this thief is, in fact, St. Pierre, then he is not in the least Asian. My initial conjecture is we are dealing with his successor. Someone trained by the legendary thief, and forensics from the crime scenes suggest a Nephalim.

As you may have read these past months, Nephalim is the umbrella term applied to certain supernaturals.  They aren't fae, or vampire, or one of the other classifications, and thus we assume they are descended from unknown unions in the far past.  Those would be true Nephalim.  There are also those mutated or transformed.  Many of the satyrs you saw in Wyvis were descendants of mutated humans. Wizards, fae, and others have experimented on humans from time to time.  The result gets classified with the Nephalim.  There are sub groups of course, like satyrs.

Meaning it is entirely possible this person is, in fact descended from an Asian air spirit that took on the form of mischievous bordering on evil birds.

Your mission:  capture this thief, alive, and determine why he, or she, is stealing these items. Ariel has risen to Probational Agent, and will therefore accompany you.  If her father is involved, she may prove useful, and, she will be granted a chance to speak with him, if at all possible.  Understood gentlemen?

Rebekah, Agent Tuchmann will be meeting you at the airport.

Israel gets a devilishly mischievous look on his face. "Ooh, our very own probie! I've always wanted a henchman -or henchwoman, I'm not picky. Wait, not henchman - minion! Even better!"

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 15):

Ariel's expression comes alive for the first time today, curiously, Rebekah's falls.

Before you can wonder about it you hear Minion?! Henchwoman?! What are we, James Bond villains?  I guess that makes you Blowhard, or maybe No.

Sergei speaks upI remember them.  Right up til Stalin had them all eliminated for refusing to work for Mother Russia.  I had to go find a man named Ian Fleming, pay him off to write the books, make the world think Bond was fictional character.

Alec looks at Sergei with wide eyes, That true boss?

True, not true, how should we know, Stalin's dead!_{Well, officially.}

In reaction to Rebekah -

Israel raises an eyebrow in question towards Rebekah, but asks nothing preferring to keep anything personal out of the meeting.  His standard paranoia though assumes he did something wrong and his brain fills with confusion - well more confusion than usual.

In reaction to Ariel -

He sarcastically and dramatically replies, "Ah, but you wound me!"

In reaction to Sergei and Alexi -

Israel chuckles warily and adds "The way my crazy Uncle Julius always told it was that the original Stalin died ages ago, and was replaced by a series of degenerating clones - the last of which escaped and is currently running Iraq and calling himself Saddam.  I swear to this day Uncle Julius says Sadaam Hussein is a Russian experiment."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Fri 14 Sept 2012.

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 17):

Hmm, interesting.  I was aware Sun Moon  being a runaway Communist  experiment in religion, but not Hussein, I assumed he was a small time America stage actor the CIA hired.

Plane leaves in 3 hours, you have a little time to take care of things, or pack what you would like to take to Paris.  You also have time to speak with Horace if you need anything.  He has asked Jacob to come speak with him.  Israel is allowed to come too.

Israel tells Jacob that he'll catch up with him and Horace in a minute and heads over to Rebekah.

In Hebrew - <Heh, what's up?  You went from walking on sunshine to dutifully dour. I say something wrong?>

In reply to Israel Levy (msg # 19):

No, it isn't you.  I'm just just not happy about working with Tuchmann in Paris.  He smells like gefilte fish.  He's also arrogant, and kind of a prick. I'm just a little disappointed Interpol is sending him to help me with my stuff.  For the most part we're going over paperwork in a stuffy office when I'm in Paris, my boyfriend is in Paris, off chasing a bad guy who might be my friend's dad, and I'm stuck with a smelly jerk who thinks he knows what's best for everyone.

I'm not going to let him ruin things though.

I head on over to see what Horace wants.

Mornin' Horace, how was your holiday?  You wanted to see me 'bout somethin'?

In reply to Jacob Williams (msg # 21):

Good Morning.  It occurred tome over the holidays that perhaps you could be better protected.  If you will step over here I'll get your measurements, this sort of thing needs to be precise.

Tell, me though, do you prefer strength, heaviness, or maneuverability? I have a design I've never used, but might be interesting, helpful even, in given circumstances.  Of course, bodyarmor better than standard issue is good overall. I can make better armor for specifics however.  Armor that blocks magical fire for example (That armor gives 1 DR standard and either 2 or 3 DR vs fire.  Depends on time/resources put into it.)

Give it some thought, then let me know.  It'll take time, so the sooner you decide the sooner I start, and finish.  I could make armor to allow supernatural jumping, possibly levitation, immolation...hehe...also, this is not a one-time offer.  I can make multiple  types for use depending on circumstances.  I can do the same with ammunition types.

For this mission, I'm sending you a box of salt shot.  Salt can tear through the air magics causing one to fly, dissipating them, and causing them to crash to the ground.

Oh, for good measure, I'm also giving you a piece of chalk(large), electrical tape, and a pouch that you should never ever open unless attacked by a ghost, then open the package and throw it at the ghost.

In reply to Rebekah

"His name is actually Tuchmann?  I don't think I'll be able to see him as anything but a strange little Rabbi that resembles Mel Brooks hitting up the sacramental wine."

Israel takes Rebekah's hand. "I'd tell you you could call me anytime he gets too annoying, but I don't think blowing up cellphones will help anything," he says with a grin. "I'll make sure we get some time together in Paris before we leave, even if it means we have to 'accidentally get lost' in the city."  "Besides, I'm still anxious to try out some of that 'girlfriend hell' you mentioned earlier," he adds with a wink then kisses her on the cheek.

He then heads after Jacob to check in with Horace before he goes to collect his gear.