"There should be a scrambler with the equipment CountDarrel bought. Although it probably is not powerful enough to jam all communication from the whole dome from a distance over water.

Maybe we could sabotage one of those communication towers instead?"

Sam shakes her head "I think We need to keep the plan simple and fast, and not very explosive. Trying to damage a comm tower risks damaging the whole structure integrity. Unless you have an idea how to do it non-kinetically? If we get in close fast, we can blast the jamming over the whole dome, and that will hopeflly buy us enough time to do the job before anyone can call for help. If they've got anyone close enough on call that they can respond quickly to a mayday, then we're in big trouble anyway. So I think we want to slow down comms, not worry about shutting them down 100 %. She pauses and ponders the ceiling

"perhaps what we need to do is flood the airwaves with traffic, so any maydays get lost in the noise? Or just go full on and EMP the area - could damage the package tho.

"It might be better to not do anything to the communications until the last moment to avoid tipping our hand. It might be even better to not do so until we are in the dome to help prevent them from speeding up the destruction of the information." Walter says

Sharik shrugged slightly, she hadn't carried the bag with the Count's jamming equipment - though should could likely figure out how to use it.  All she really knew was that she didn't have any such items in her kit.  "Likely," Shar ventured, tacking onto Walter's statements, "the jammer won't have a very long range anyways.  Especially underwater."  In her experience, water could attenuate many shorter wave signals - even if some of the longer wavelength ones were enhanced.

"Back to expert timing..." the diminutive dilettante mused to no one in particular.

There were plenty of ways things could go wrong, but seemingly one in which it would go right.  It just remained to be seen if they could navigate those treacherous waters successfully.  Both literally and figuratively.

Slightly annoyed Khea adds.
"Enough about what we cant or shouldn't do. Either we decide now on a plan how to get in and what to do after we are in or we don't plan at all, go there and send the men in.

"Unless the Count has a platoon of Imperial marines or a handful of commandos, a lot of us will be getting "on the job" training for this plan. The notion of crawling into scuba gear fascinates me, having come from a vacuum world. I can take the training but I am not sure how useful I will be in the water." Sir Walter said.  "If I might make a suggestion, let us make sure that we set our com-links to not get interfered by the jammer. As for planning, I would leave it to those more use to these kinds of operations in a real world manner like Vonon, not some role they played in a vid." he said, glancing at the Count with a smile.

In reply to Walter Zeller (msg # 122):
OOC: Sorry this is so long - Vonon has a lot to say ^_^


"Well, thank you very much, Sir Walter." Vonon nods, "But, while I have such training that you're talking about, I, too, have the same handicap you do -- I've spent my entire life living in an asteroid belt. I'm not directly experienced in underwater operations, but the principals of my training should still apply."

Vonon pauses a moment, as he runs the claw of his thumb under his chin, "As I've said, I was in my homeworlds Space Patrol -- think of it as a single planet Space Navy. I have been part of several boarding operations of both ships and bases -- but those were all zero-g and zero-pressure operations. Now, I haven't been data-mining as thoroughly as my buddy Sharik, there, but I have gathered a few facts in some of my off minutes this evening."

"Specifically, that a standard design Vacc-suit will work perfectly well as an ad hoc diving suit; they are air-tight, so they are water-tight as well and the same design and technology that prevents the suit from ballooning-up in zero-pressure will also prevent the suit from locking-up under water pressure. To a point, that is. Also, the tendancy towards bouyancy that a Vacc-suit would have underwater is quite similar to the experience of zero-g operations."

"So, Sir Walter, everything you learned growing up on a Vaccuum world, wearing a Vacc-suit, you will be able to use here, underwater."

"I've already said that I believe we should attempt to walk -- or swim, for those who can use this SCUBA stuff -- into the dome. And here's why I think such a plan will work..."

"First...have any of you who are looking for data about the secret -- and I remind you that Mizz Blue did say the lab was a secret! -- have any of you found anything like a construction permit, or a bill of sale for the piece of seabed that this dome is built on? Hmm?" Vonon pauses a moment, "No, we haven't. And that is because the very existence of the lab is a SECRET!!"

"That means that they are keeping a low profile, where ever they are. Now, I would point out that there is one thing that is the same here, on this water world, that was true in my asteroid home -- because there is so little dry land here, a significant portion of the populace actually spend all their time out on, or in, the water. SO, whatever security sensors the secret dome lab will have, should be low-profile and probably short of range, so that they don't give themselves away to any casual passers-by."

"And that brings me to my second point -- whatever sensors that dome has -- sonar, underwater listening devices, anti-Grendal scanner, ultra-microwave radar, or even a watchman in an observation tower, whatever! -- they will have to be unobtrusively low power and short ranged, that means they will have a few of the same kind of sensor shadows we used to take advantage of, back in The Patrol. Specifically, that the closer the scanners get to the irregular features of the seabed, the more scattered and indistinct their readings will be. Thus, the smaller the object that approaches on or near the sea bottom, the less likely they will be to identify it, until it is too late."

"Now, I noticed that this submersible was equipped with crawler treads, so it can set down on the sea bottom and travel along it. That will be fine, but, as I just pointed out, the closer we get to the dome, the clearer its sensors will be, and the larger the object approaching, the more likely it will be detected well away from the dome." Vonon raised his hands and waved them in a pushing down motion.

"I'm not saying we should walk several kilometers across the seabed. What I am saying is that we drive this submersible to within about a half-kilometer -- using whatever terrain we find to our advantage -- then we walk and swim up to the dome. We have schematics. These folks are doing research into sea-critters, there has to be some kind of airlock with direct access to the outside somewhere on it! And every airlock I've ever encountered had some kind of opening override -- manual cranks and pumps, self-powered back-ups, whatever -- for emergencies if nothing else. Even ones that could be locked-down. All somebody has to do is hack into the door controls." Vonon pauses and grins at his friend Sharik.

"SO, to say it again, I do believe that our best chance for acheiving a surprise entrance into the dome will be to walk in. Once inside we use strong-arm tactics to suppress the security force -- which we now have details about, thanks to Sam and her inside man. Then we secure the computers and labs before anyone has a chance to erase any data, call in the sub, pack everything up, then jet."

"I'm not saying this will be an easy bone to pick, but it needn't be complicated."

Sam nodded. 'I've head worse plans. One thing to add. With some good timing the approach of the sub could be used as a distraction? Just a thought. "

It's just at that point that Samantha gets a text message from Justev:

[Message received. Will wait arrival till 200. 5 sci 4 BGs. Bolt soon.]

Kheas tail twitches while listening to Vonon and as she realizes that he is right she unconsiously starts to scratch a spot above her stomach.
She swallows a protest and after a moment replies "That... does sound resonable. After all we do not know how exactly we can get i to the dome so having everyone in the water increases the likelyhood that someone has the skills to get the entrance open."
Feeling the need to mention it to make sure the males are aware of it she adds. "Not all our equipment will be watertight, so we need some bags to transport it."

As an afterthought and with some relief, shown by her tail calming down somewhat, she then mentiones in a hopeful voice "That assumes that an Aslan breathing mask can be found on such a short notice so far away from the Hierate. If not I will stay back at the submarine and come in when you opened the docking bay."

Sharik looked up from her forearm display for a moment and gave her long time vargr friend a 'thumbs-up'; obviously she'd been listening to him the entire time.  The thin ex-Scout had been in her tailored vacc suit to do some EVA work from the beginning; to her mind and her actions and demeanor had been quite explicit about it, they were going to get wet on this one.  Even beyond the fact that this was underwater after all.

The plan as originally posited, to get a couple of people in and then pull the submersible into the vehicle bay, was regaining traction.  "Everything that is old is new again..." the diminutive socialite quipped quietly to no one in particular.  Her fingers danced on the clear overlay screen of the suit as she continued to run diagnostics on her suit and computer, double- and triple-checking the integrity and overall efficiency of the tailored, high-tech coverall.  Even though the suit was originally designed for vacuum, she knew the spec well enough that it would serve just as well submersed instead - especially at the depths that they were going to be dealing with.

She rubbed her hands together in anticipation, prominently putting her eagerness on display.  "Let's kick the tires," Shar prompted the others, "and light the fires on this one..."

Darrel volunteers for training, but realizes it would be best to stay aboard the sub, given his skill set doesn't really make for a breaching unit.

Tarl has already locked up the shop, so the submersible is ready to depart. It has automated docking clamps rather than mooring lines, so the pilot Grev has no problem getting the vessel underway.

As expected, he informs you that the GPS co-ordinates will be reached in about 2.1 hours. The on-board navigation computer takes into account current and water temperature to derive that time.

Is anyone going to sit in the co-pilot's seat? Samantha?

Is anyone going to take the sensor/nav seat?


Once the submersible clears the harbor, Grev takes it down to about 50 feet, sets a course in the nav computer, and puts it on auto-pilot.

He remains in the pilot's seat, and keeps a watch through the windows.


Those taking the crash course in SCUBA-diving are Darrel, Walter and Quinzella. There is a mask suitable for Khea. The plan should not require Khea having to go into the water, but you never know what may go wrong.

Vonon, Sharik and Tolman are the ones expected to go EVA through the water to open the airlocks as necessary. Those taking the SCUBA lesson can also go.

Disappointed Khea examines the Aslan mask which she has been given.
"I hoped I could avoid it, but it looks like there is no way around it"
She turns to Vonon "But just to be sure, the plan is that all of us dive to the dome?"


OOC: Thats how it sounded to me.

In reply to Kheaiftouaw (msg # 130):

"Well," Vonon answers, "The more of us that that swarm into the dome, the quicker we may be able to overcome the security force. But it would also be a good idea to have a couple of us remain behind on the sub, as a reserve force."

Vonon casts a glance towards the control cabin where Grev is sitting.

"And to watch the pilot." Vonon says in a lowered voice, "He's just a day-hire. If we leave him alone while we all go off to enter the dome, who knows? He might bolt, and leave us stranded."

Sam says " I've no desire to get wet I'll stay on board as backup. With that in mind, I'll join the pilot for a crash course in flying this thing. Or Swimming it? whatever" she shrugs and heads to the cock pit to take the co pilots seat and asks Grev to talk her through the controls.

"Lets get training then since we will be there in two hours or so." Walter says, looking over the SCUBA gear.

Shar and Vo were already on the same page, given that they'd known each other for almost two decades and had done some work together (insofar as knocking around could be considered work).  Given that she'd given Grev the coordinates, it only made sense that she'd have more than a passing interest in seeing those coordinates used properly.

As her vargr friend talked with the others, Sharik slid into the navigator seat and monitored the submersible's progress via both the displays and the viewports.  Her own dataglove's display had tied into the (relative to her own computer's techlevel) old GPS system to try and monitor their progress as well.  The thin socialite knew that her intellect software was taking care of that in the background.

Though she had little experience direct experience with land navigation, Sharik was confident that she'd be able to the make sense of what was going on; she had extensive exposure to astrogation techniques as well as some basic survival training.  And she had an ace in the hole: expert software pertaining to that specific field.  So, both she and her virtual aide had access to additional navigating techniques.

Every few minutes into the journey, she glanced out one of the forward view ports over Grev's shoulder, watching darkness the spread out before them.  The ocean seemed a huge dark desert, especially at night when the lights only cut into the gloom so far.  Cruising along at seventeen metres meant that they were unlikely to encounter any natural or artificial surface traffic.  The dark underwater was different than the Deep Black of space, the denser medium reflected and diffused light in a subtly different way.  Still, it was all-encompassing.  Eventually, Shar turned slightly and broke the silence by asking the rented pilot quietly and casually, "Do we expect to see any grendals along the way?"

"The submersible functions like a surface craft, particularly when we're on the bottom," Grev explains to Samantha. "It's a bit like flying, too, in that you have a third dimension."

"The main difference is reaction time. This vessel doesn't stop on a dime, it doesn't change direction radically, nor does it go up or down very quickly. We have control vanes that allow us to make slow movements left or right, and small movements up and down, but a change it depth is done with ballast."

"The steering wheel is left and right, but pulling back or pushing forward also lets you change depth. If it's more than a 10-degree elevation, then the computer automatically adjusts the ballast."


He then answers Sharik's question.

"There is a grendal feeding area a bit off our starboard course, but we'll steer well clear of it."

As she listens to the Pilot, Sam suddenly, stiffens up, and pulls her comm out of hte rpocket

a message had arrived earlier but being distracted she had ignored it.

She checked it now.

"Frack. Excuse me a second, got some more info for the others, "

She then forwards the message to the others

"Got this message from our contact a little while ago.

"Will wait arrival till 200. 5 sci 4 BGs. Bolt soon."

I am reading that as he'll be expecting us about 0200. That there are 5 sc staff and 4 Body Guards. Not sure what Bolt soon means"

ooc
sorry guys got distracted and forgot that had arrived

"Bolt is a phrase to indicate that someone might leave a location. Like Lets get ready to bolt." Walter says "I think that the contact is planning to stay for us until 0200 and then leave."

"I don't mean to pry," Tarl says, "but I couldn't help overhearing what you said."

"I don't think that's what 'bolt soon' meant. Sequence is wrong... and redundant. If he was planning to bolt soon, why would he have said he'd wait till 2? No, I think the 'bolt soon' meant the others were going to bolt soon."

"Just my two cents. It's one of the disadvantages... or advantages... of a lot of people on a submersible."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:44, Mon 13 Apr 2015.

"Only four guards?" Khea asks in an obvious more joyful mood.
"If we do not spend time to open the submarine bay first but hit them immediately when we enter this can be over really fast."

Sam pondered. "Why are the others bolting? They must be expecting something". She muttered to herself and then tapped out a reply on her comms

As Ceruleanne explained, the court decision was most likely to go in favor or her client. Even when both sides go in thinking they have all the answers, there's always the possibility of a Spaniard getting thrown into the works--'new evidence', a postponement, stalling by the defendant's law team, etc. The other side may feel they have a chance of either winning or delaying the verdict, which is why the project hasn't yet been shut down.

When those in the dome get the result of the verdict, that's when they will most likely bolt. On the other hand, if they admit that they can't win the verdict, then it would seem that the project is so important that they are willing to risk continuing it until the last minute.

Monitoring communications into the area for something like 'rabbit', 'alas, Babylon' or 'bug out' might be a sign that it was time for them to leave.