"Correct." Sir Walter said.  "Slight change of plans however. Serge has a possible vessel that might be interested in joining the fold. I will be meeting with them, along with finalizing the cargo and look into a possible postal shipment. Since his plan has us escorting the vessel to Invermory, we will need to coordinate things. With that change in plans, we have a short time frame, say 24-48 hours before we leave,"

In reply to Samantha Kilgore (msg # 750):

"With all due respect, I'm going to use my brains to hunt the Vargr." Inderpal replied. She did rather want to be there when this happened and see their faces when someone paid them back for what they'd done.

However, she was a bit nervous about these guys getting their mates to come after them. Samantha had a point there...

Nathaniel gives a nod to Serge.

Nathaniel listens to the discussion of choices and reasons. Since he does not know enough about how the crew works as a team, he has nothing to add to that. The timing and possible repercussions for shaving the Vargr, he has a thought on, but Samantha covered it when she mentioned the kidnappers pack as a risk factor.


"Investigations is more along my line. Normally journalists are not difficult to arrange to talk to. If the published article generated attention from authorities since you talked to him, it could be more of a problem. He might currently be hiding or detained. An actual transplanted person is going to be a lot harder to locate. Unless staying hidden, they would be arrested when identified. That is going to need more knowledge of how the street works than I have … unless Morgan can provide a way. Maybe I can help get started since I've lived here for 4 years."

"Where I can likely be more help, is getting as much history as possible on the person that approached … Morgan I think you said? Whatever public information exists, I can dig up. Or I can help Sylvester dig up. If he talked to Morgan here on Duncinae, I expected he is from here, so there should be local records. It doesn't make sense to travel here immediately after getting dropped somewhere else. The climate is not healthy for someone from Coventry. Probably sent to Coventry from here as well, though that is not as certain. Based on the patterns from your verbal report. Could you load the raw data for that into the Longshot computer, where I … we can reference it? At least I can," with a look at Vonon, "if that engineering or something means I now have authorization on the system?"

OOG: I assume it is not there yet, since TAMI seemed to say she had not seen it. Unless Nate's wording was such that TAMI did not connect the report to what he asked.

Sam smiles at Indy and says "Good. You do that. But gonna need some brawn to shave them, I reckon"

She grimaces when Nate pipes up and says simply "Cool your jets Nate, we're still picking teams. Once thats done we can work out what to do."

Nathaniel blinks, and replies, "Maybe I'm getting a little ahead, but I thought it import to note what skills are available. You may know what everyone else here can do, but so far I only know a few bits."

In reply to Nathaniel Harken (msg # 755):

"I want to help shave Vargr! How bout you Val, which way do you want to go to work on this!" he says with a big grin.

"Ha-ha-ha. Good one, Sam," Valeska replies.

"I'm not quite sure we're 'picking' teams... at least not in the normal sense. Well, so far, we've got Vonon, Indy, Sharik and Reese on Team Shave-the-Vargr and Sam and Nate on Team Investigate-the-Aliens."

"I suspect Sylvester wants to join Team Shave-the-Vargr."

"Sir Walter and Serge are on yet a third team... let's just call that Team Enterprise."

"That just leaves Dieter, Jack, Pablo and me. I would think Jack's talents are more suitable for Team Investigate-the-Aliens while Pablo might be needed for ship security."

"Me, I'm good with any of the teams."

"So, what about it, Dieter? Got any preference or particular talents for one or the other?"

In reply to Valeska Brandenberg (msg # 757):

- I would like to "shave the Vargr" first, if I could choose, - Serge said.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Wed 23 Nov 2022.

'I'll stick with the ship... not sure shaving anything is within my area of expertise... now keeping the ship's toilets running, that I can do...'

In reply to Dieter Lumper (msg # 759):

I'm with Dieter on this... I'm more of a cat person anyway Says Jack

Inderpal was glad that there seemed to be several people on "Team Shave-the-Vargr". That made success more likely. She smiled more and more as each of them volunteered.

"One request, please. I get to do the face."

Vonon, Indy, Sharik, Sylvester, Serge and Reese begin conferring on the 'plan of attack'. Sharik has already determined that the two Vargr have gone back to their normal routine. They still go into work every day (except on their days off) and still live in the rented apartment in that same warehouse.

Since they never actually saw any of you, they apparently think that they weren't seen either and therefore don't have to worry about it... assuming they were worrying about it in the first place.

So, locating them isn't a problem. You just have to decide on where and when you want to take action.



Sam, Nate, Jack and Dieter (and Val?) confer on what to do about the aliens.




Walter and Serge (when he becomes available) meet with Serge's friend Zhensheng Liao to work out some sort of auxiliary or ancillary trade arrangement.



Pablo chooses to remain as ship security as well as act as liaison between the other teams in case something unexpected pops up.

Inderpal suggested the warehouse would be the best location - few people around and they already knew the layout.

Catching them napping would be safest physically as well.

In reply to Inderpal Kumar (msg # 763):

"I agree with Indy, do it right in their own house, humiliate them even more. What kind of security do they have?"

Nathaniel expands on his earlier quick comments about what searching the data net might be able to uncover, that no one else has thought to put together yet. Though starting with details from Samantha's report. More details about Farrell Morgan and Carson Forbes. See if accessible information can narrow down where Forbes might be found, if Farrell can not, or will not arrange contact. Then some wider searching for who has been dumped on Coventry from the Confederation in recent years, and the worlds they were originally from.

Getting out, and putting on his headset, and linking it to ship's computer, he continues, "But first, I should get caught up on what the rest of you already know about your encounter with the ship itself. I'll be sort of listening to the discussion, but rather preoccupied.  Uh, Tammy, could you help me with that? I want to go over the information in the ship's computer related to the meeting with the alien ship. How well do you know that data? Can you provided me a high level summary and references to the currently important parts? For now, I want to focus on what technological capabilities are implied by what was found. To not interfere with other conversations, you can link to my DD/R."

TAMI cannot find that information in the ship's computer. All she can find is references to the event. The crew turned all that info over to the authorities, assured said authorities that they had no intention of trying to salvage the alien ship, saw no useful purpose in keeping a copy of the 'dangerous' information, and, in fact, did not keep a copy.

While the crew might have believed someone kept a copy, only that person knew who it was--"plausible deniability". It was probably Sharik. In any case, once Nate points this out, he is provided access to the data; it's just not in the main computer--it's kept in a separate ultra-secure memory unit that cannot be copied into the main computer for security reasons.

One way or the other, Nate's going to have to wade through it himself.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:33, Mon 30 Jan 2023.

As they were now starting to finalize plans, the Longshot's astrogator met with the interested crewmembers in the cargo area with the equipment she'd ordered laid out.  There were a few hair removal options - both mechanical and chemical - laid out.  As well, Sharik had sourced a portable compressor and tattooing equipment there as well, plus some chemical dyes up to Reese's medical specifications with various application methods (some looked potentially uncomfortable - at least, if local anesthetic wasn't involved.

Speaking of anesthetic, she'd obtained some options to ensure initial compliancy - again, informed by Reese's recommendations.  And there were plenty of restraints, for more extended compliancy; some disposable, like industrial zipties, as well as more durable and reusable options: ropes, handcuffs, hoods, and... muzzles.

"Minimal." Sharik noted simply in reply to Sly's query about their vargr targets' home security.  She pulled the public records on the warehouse plans (and the residential renovation re-zoning plans and permits on file), "Their residence should be this unit ..." and she highlighted part of the schematic, "while they may have some customizations, the standard locks are really only enough to deter casual amateurs."  She sounded quite confident that they would not be the issue; her tone authoritative enough to imply that she had some experience with the required entry techniques, if it came to that.

"Despite the fact that they work for an electronics security firm - mainly due to their below-board proclivities presumably," Shar noted, "they don't have a centrally monitored alarm system.  And anything local will be disarmed, if they are home."

"Actually, if we time it right," and she pulled up their daily shift schedules and cross-indexed social routines over the past few weeks, "we should be able to catch them as they get home from work.  Be in and out lickety-split."  She paused to look at Indy, "Or we can get them returning from drinking, which they often do at the end of their work week... unless they are planning a job.  And the return time is less certain, even if they are likely to be easier to detain if at least partially drunk."  Shar seemed to be leaning towards the earlier timeframe, but was more than willing to let Indy decide on what she preferred.

Alien Hunters

Sam managed to avoid rolling her eyes while Nate stated the obvious that searching for more information on the people involved might be helpful.

She nods as he puts his earphones on, grateful that he'll be distracted, and turns to Jack and Dieter (and Val?) "So how do we wanna divvy this up? Maybe you guys do the background searches on the people from Coventry, and I'll follow up again with the journo? Ive met him once, so if I go back to him hes perhaps less likely to wig out, than if two different people approach him about the same thing? I can give you what Ive found so far in more detail, and you can go from there."

ooc

Starmaster - whats NSA?

Deep into learning just what information was available about the encounter with the derelict ship, Nathaniel comments,  "You might want to be careful mentioning Forbes in public. The name might be on the list of terms being monitored for government security. They are known to be more than a little paranoid about what could be a threat.

But I'd like to ask Forbes some questions about the details of his experience."

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 767):

Inderpal thought about this. It was a case of speed versus ease of operation at the end of the day; if they waited, it might be easier.

"Friday is two days away, I believe? Best to do it then, because that's when they're most likely to be drunk. Unless the work weeks round here are different."

Another thought crossed her mind.

"How do you intend getting inside? If we kick the door down, someone might notice."

Sharik simply shrugged, "If we time it right, the perps will supply us with the keys... or we can try to catch them in the act of opening the door."  A light, criiked smile touched her lips.  "But, the back up plan." and Shar always had a backup plan, "is to simply pick the lock.  It is a converted warehouse space; so, I honestly don't expect much sophistication or complexity in their overall security."  Her overall tone was both confident and fairly casual, Sharik seemed comfortable, if not in her element.

She made a mental note to ensure that they scouted the target location ahead of time for traffic and security measures (cameras, locks, construction, &c.).  Sharik knew enough to be ready when the time came.  And using one of the Captain's drones for some remote viewing would also likely happen - especially if they were closing in on 48 hours to game time.

This message was deleted by the player at 14:56, Sun 08 Jan 2023.

In reply to Sharik Kaagira (msg # 771):

     "Waitafreakingminute!" Vonon suddenly turns a puzzled frown towards Sharik,

     "Those two snarfs actually live at the same place where we found Indy?!  They frelling brought a kidnap victim back to their home?!!"

     Vonon covers his face with a hand and shakes his head sadly,

     "Screw shaving them!  These two morons should be removed from the Gene Pool for the betterment of All Vargr-kind!"

     At the mention of locked doors, Vonon brightens,

     "Oh yeah!  You probably didn't notice at the time, Indy..." Vonon interjects, "...what with the blindfold and all -- but despite the seriousness of having kidnapped someone, those two snarfs didn't even bother to lock the door behind them, when they brought you to their home..."

Indy face showed a bit of confusion.

"I am pretty sure that stupidity - or intelligence - is not actually hereditary," she remarked. "In any event, it might well be too late, because they probably have mated already..."

She smiled a little.

"Mind you, I am sure that being completely hairless will serve as its own contraceptive for a good while... I'd imagine they're probably quite ugly under there."

"As I understand what was reported," Valeska added, "these Vargr didn't actually take Indy to their home per se, only to the same building."

"Kind of like if they lived on the 10th floor of a condo and took her to the basement. Perhaps not the best decision, but it was what they knew."