Tyger returned to report her (non-)findings to the team.  There was nothing of note in the alleyway where the reporter had sequestered himself for a time - no signs of struggle or likely ambushing sites or memorabilia.  Though she was readily willing to admit that she wasn't a master of those techniques and could have possible missed something.

Hearing the summary of Jonas' last assignment, Dani shook her head and noted with some incredulity in her voice, "We don't have to go to Kansas now, do we?"  Justicar had a point though, it might be worth seeing if there might be a connection between Harris, Shadowhawk, Kansas, and the Church of Divine Harmony commune.  Nothing tied together (yet), but it was all tantalizingly strange; so, much so that if Tyg's had a weirdness meter it would probably be going off about now.

"There are ICBM silos dotted all over the midwestern country-side, purportedly ..." she responded to Hiriko's query, "But, yes, Kansas has a number of them.  Hopefully, this commune isn't build on or near one."  That would be one too many coincidences.

Jacob looks to Tyger.  Is Harris retired or still active duty?  I would have to assume they have some kind of periodic irradiated waste or fissionable material he might be able to get his hands on.  The reporter's last words would indicate the Church has a connection to Force.  We may need to coordinate with FBI and DoD to get someone out there to look into the possible connections.
He looks at Hikaru and Lite Star.  Perhaps a fly-over can get some sensory data that will get us enough for a search warrant, he says.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:01, Sun 28 Mar 2021.

Justicar replies to Jacob, +"Mr. Hugh Beaumont, referred to Major Oliver Harris, as AWOL, so He was active until recently apparently.. but he did not..or Would not reveal when and or where Major Oliver Harris went AWOL."+

+"From here to Kansas City is roughly a 1,100 miles... I'd need all my booster drop tanks, but could probably get there in 2 say 2 and a half hours at top speed...FAA would hate me though and I'd be totally out of fuel once I arrived! Not sure Lite Star can fly that fast or long... but I potentially could carry her... though wind resistance would slow me down... Mach 1 does not do well with non-streamlined air frames."+

+"Get me some exact coordinates of this Church of the Divine Harmony compound... and we could also try to get footage of the compound from above with weather sat data... or... ~"+

His posture becomes exasperated... as he folds his arms...
+"Can't anyone else see how limited we are without direct access to CIA, NSA, FBI, and DoD assistance? We're flying blind here... we don't have the resources they use in investigations!  It's like they don't WANT us to succeed!"+

"That kind of assistance doesn't come freely. And individuals like us operating independent is the main power. Consider this. Assuming that The Force have infiltrated one or several government organisations, like considering their recent actions, could you trust any intel you would get from any government agency, or would you consider them compromised?" said Oni calmly.

Surprisingly, the ShadowHawk is moored at Center City Harbor.
The commune is about forty-five miles north northwest of Dodge City. The coordinates are available and using gaggle globe (an online map service) shows:

Derek sipped his coffee with some satisfaction.  Finally, some action!  He didn't have the investigative experience of the others, or their familiarity with spook work, but he was pretty sure he was up to putting away bad guys . . . .

Actually, I meant a fly-over of the Shadowhawk in the harbor, Jacob says.  We can decide if anyone is going to Kansas later today.  However, I don't think anyone should go anywhere without a partner.
He turns to The Oni.  We aren't exactly independent.  We are given a lot of leeway, but, in the end, we still have "masters" to whom we must answer.  The police chief, the police oversight committee.
The mayor.  Ultimately, the very people we protect and serve.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:03, Mon 29 Mar 2021.

Justicar replies to Jacob, +"Ah.. ok..yeah THAT can be easily done!"+

Turning to Lite Star, +"Whenever your ready... I could also prepare my Dihilator to take pictures to check for radiation spikes?"+
This message was last edited by the player at 09:06, Mon 29 Mar 2021.

The ShadowHawk is about 20' by 80', and probably has four decks. There are a number of what appear to be crew working on the boat. Many are just cleaning and polishing, but two are involved with the radar array (probably calibration). The boats loudspeakers are blaring out "Never Steal What You Can't Buy" by Klang and the Klamors, the inimitable screech of Billy Klang defining the tune.

Taking in the information as it arrived, Lite Star seemed slightly amused at Justicer's talk of long distance travel.

"Yeah, that distance flight would take me about ten hours.  As for flight endurance...I think I'm fine for the next five years before refueling."

As Oni and Jacob mused about the groups position in the convoluted waters of government agencies she gave a shrug, it was not something she was used to.   Now knowing that the Shadowhawk is at the city's harbour she ponders more seriously.

"A fly over is possible, shouldn't look out of place.  But how about also a look at what's under the waterline?  Does anyone else dive?  If we slip into the water and keep to either the bottom or close to other berthed vessels then we could avoid anything but very sophisticated sonar."

In reply to Lite Star (msg # 156):


"I've never really tried my powers underwater," offers Derek, "but I bet I'd be a hell of a distraction flying overhead.  Plus, if there's any odd heat signatures on board, I'd pick them up.  Why not try the old bait and switch?"

+"I can operate under water with little difficulty, I'm fully environmentally sealed ~ and have underwater propulsion. But my Dihilator is not water sealed.. hadn't thought of using it underwater... take a bit for me to make a housing for that... perhaps a few days to design and construct. Not feasible with our time constraints.  But I could just get a picture from a distance... see if the Shadow Hawk has any ambient radioactive hot-spots.  I can't think of ANY reason for something radioactive to be on a boat that size.. she's not nuclear."+

Justicar nods, +"I like the idea of a bait and switch, what have you got in mind Nimbus.  My sensors can also get a thermal scan of the ship to find occupants.  Within 250'ft of Shadow Hawk I can even pick out and record conversations onboard!"+
This message was last edited by the player at 19:42, Mon 29 Mar 2021.

"I can swim reasonably well..." Tyger offered, which was a bit surprising given that she was dense enough to sink like a stone, but readily conceded, "But I don't have any special powers in the water."  Though Dani also didn't see any reason necessarily, that the water would hinder her that much.  Well, other than the large hinderance of being unable to breathe underwater.

Still, she wasn't going to be left out of the festivities if she could help it.  Even if her part was simply to help with any distraction.

Justicar turned to slender super-spy Tyger, +"Actually... how sneaky are you Tyger?  Do you think with a sufficient distraction that you could slip onboard to do some snooping? Maybe with Oni... hanging on the side of the boat someplace not easily observable as back up?"+

He shrugged, +"...if they truly are 'JUST' a religious self-help organization.. it should be no issue...right? But if they are not. ...!"+
This message was last edited by the player at 19:41, Mon 29 Mar 2021.

Tyger offered Justicer a slightly lop-sided smile, offering a charitable assessment of her ability, "I am fairly stealthy..."  Only a little uncertainty crept in, it wasn't exactly her forte - but some enthusiasm must compensate for that right?

She did agree with the Japanese teen's assessment though, "I can definitely hang out somewhere out of the way, where they are least likely to expect it..."

Dani rubbed her chin at Hikari's rather blasé assessment of their enforcement powers, "I do suspect that we can't simply snoop on them without some sort of warrant or probable cause, though..."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Mon 29 Mar 2021.

Justicar cocked his head and ... was silent for a few moments as he cycled thorough his electronics systems...

16:02, Today: Justicer rolled 79 using 1d100.  Read Sensory Instruments [57%]. – [roll=1617048178.63251.355584]
16:03, Today: Justicer rolled 82 using 1d100.  Read Sensory Instruments [57%] - 2nd try. – [roll=1617048219.25471.355584]
16:04, Today: Justicer rolled 98 using 1d100.  Read Sensory Instruments [57%] - last try. – [roll=1617048253.25.355584]

Hikari was searching through his telemetry logs as his suit is always recording ... trying to find out his his suit had picked up with hit parabolich microphones the actually words of the dying man before he expired... but apparently there was just too much interference from street noise and distance to parse the sample of his voice out of the choas.

Justicar sighed and commented +"Well, are the dying words of a man we suspect was murdered ~ enough 'probable cause'?"+



+"Shadowhawk is a lead...?"+ 'shrug'
This message was last edited by the player at 20:12, Mon 29 Mar 2021.

Multiple officers heard him say it as he died, correct?  At least one is enough, but I believe additional verification should be enough probable cause, Jacob responds in answer to the youth's question.  I'll go get the warrant.  Tyger, since you spoke with Beaumont, you call him.  Whether you do that before or after we execute the search is up to you.  He gives her a grin that reveals his long, sharp fangs.

Justicar nods, +"ok, give me a few moments to attach a buddy breathing respirator to my suit's internal air supply.  So someone with me can share my air from my suit.  Nimbus you carry Chimpmanze directly to the ship presenting a obvious formal warrant for searching the ship. While I'll take Tyger underwater and use my aquatic-drives to carry her to the ship under water sharing my suit air.  Lite Star you will move in also in the water with Oni on your back using your underwater drives like a jet ski for him."+

+"Once I and Lite Star arrive ... Tyger and Oni slip on board to do some clandestine snooping, while the crew is distracted by Nimbus and Chimpmanze... while we remain under water monitoring everything with back up firepower if needed."+

We will have to liase with the Port Authority and the Coast Guard on this one, Jacob adds.  Technically, it's their jurisdiction.  So, I will put in that call, too.  Our Port Authority contact will be Baracuda, and our Coast Guard <liaison, if he's available, will be Riptide.
He then sighs.  Not really a huge fan of the water....
[Private to SSOGM: I just made these up on the fly.  Baracuda-female, icthyologist/environmentalist, mutant (accident, chemical) with scaly skin, powerful jaws/sharp teeth, Animal Abilities:  Fish, Sonic Power.  Riptide-male, Military Specialist, mutant (unknown), no characteristics, APS:  Liquid, CEF:  Water.]

"Should we not take a look first before going and tipping our hand by getting warrants?  A fly over with your sensors first Justicer and some other doing observation while others slip into the water quietly and see what's about?  I can get my hands on trainer SCUBA gear for those going in the water, full face masks with little radios, that I can tie into my comms gear.  Once we have some intel we can look at getting other authorities involved, like Jacob said, it would be their jurisdiction. Just don't want us looking over enthusiastic and jumping full force at any lead that surfaces.  A bit more calm and considered with this approach so we don't scare off a possible target.  Do other people have other surveillance options as well?"

In reply to Chimp Man Z (msg # 165):

"Not sure if it'll work, Jacob," offers Derek, "but you might be able to fit inside the field when I fly.  Or otherwise hang on?"

OOC: Not sure if I can carry him or he can hang on to me.  I can't pick up stuff, but I can interact with things.  Can certainly fly CMZ there, but need a GM ruling on whether he can hang on once Nimbus triggers the field.

That was the idea.  You all do the scouting, I will get the warrants, Jacob says.  By the time you hvae the intel, I should have the warrants, and our liaisons at the port, ready.
He then looks at Nimbus.  Don't worry.  I think I can get a way out to the boat.

"It would be trivial for me take control of electronics of the ship, on the ship and nearby the ship, as long has they have some form of wireless communication or wireless access. Would that help?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:34, Tue 30 Mar 2021.

Justicar nods to Jacob, +"Right then..shall we begin? Jacob and Nimbus go get the legal paperwork settled while We sneak in underwater.. let those best at stealth do some snooping.  Then Lite Star and I slip away exit the water where it cannot be seen then come back and do some 'aerial scouting' of the dock area as a distraction?"+

Dani simply looked up from her position next to Derek, where the coffee and - more importantly - donuts were.  The auburn-haired veteran gave a simple non-committal shrug when tasked with contacting Beaumont at the HSA by Jacob.  She continued to stuff down a number of the cake-dough delights with wonderous two-fisted gusto.  This wasn't the first time that her companions had seen her eat, thus.  And though she maintained a runner's build, Tyger definitely had a large appetite.  She'd always attributed it to what she called a Nepalese tapeworm (and clean living - whatever that meant).

When prompted about readiness, Chandani gave the group a thumb-up.  And still made no move to inform HSA or Beaumont yet.

Dani glanced Oni's direction when he asked about hacking their computer system.  I'd be nice if he could take out the enemies video surveillance - and she said so.  Though if she were honest, she'd often found that camera coverage was generally limited scope anyways.  So much so, that it could often be circumvented by a little creativity.  Well, that and the added facility to traverse walls and ceilings better than most.  Dani had always claimed that her climbing ability was also a standard Nepalese trait.  But, her time being experimented upon in the military medical facility might have also contributed.