The ShadowHawk is tied up at a private dock in the marina. There appear to be around a dozen hands on board, wearing nondescript clothing. The crew come and go, carrying boxes to and from the boat. Observation shows the boat has a sophisticated communications system with radar and sonar arrays, but nothing indicates the boat is armed in any way.

Jacob turns to Nimbus.  Well, let's go see if we can get this search warrant, he says to him.  Our biggest problem is finding a judge at any given time willing to sign off on warrants.  Gotta start filling out the paperwork for it.  Then we go find us a judge.

In reply to Chimp Man Z (msg # 173):

Derek switches to a travel mug, and follows Jacob out the door.

"If they were sensible with their security, video surveillance should be in a closed circuit. In that case I will need someone to plug in a wireless adapter for me to interface with rest of the system." You would never know though, there is always that one security personnel did something he wasn't supposed to. "I can tap in and interrupt their wireless communication though, radio or mobiles phones doesn't matter."

"However, I don't trust my stealth capabilities in the water. I can station nearby to handle electronics, and in case you need help I can reach you."

In reply to The Oni (msg # 175):

Justicar replies, +"You will not need to be in the water... the boat is docked so Lite Star and I will not need to approach under water with our stealth people.. you and Tyger.  We can just do our aerial distraction... since the boat is already in dock.  You just need to sneak around the docks to slip onboard to do your snooping!"+
This message was last edited by the player at 12:56, Thu 01 Apr 2021.

Oni makes the thumbs up sign "That makes it much easier".

Among the many decisions that were made when LESP was formed, there are two that should be addressed
1. as part of the force, the personnel in LESP would be subject to investigation by Internal Affairs
   • it wasn't practical to have one of the 'exceptional' people forming LESP as part of the Internal Affairs team
   • having a member of Internal Affairs as regular LESP would present that officer with hazards beyond their capability
2. it wasn't practical to have the people forming LESP fully trained as police officers
   • requiring such training would prevent attaching some personnel to LESP even though these personnel were vital to the division's mission
   • requiring the LESP members to attend the police academy would be difficult from both a logistical and PR standpoint

To resolve this, Detective Viktor Broyko was assigned to LESP. In addition to handling the paperwork for search warrants, et al, he can be asked to do legwork on any investigation LESP is taking on.
Assume, at this point in time, that the detective can get the necessary warrants. He will remind you that there must be a reasonable object for any search you undertake, but, you can surveil the boat without a warrant based on a suspicion that it might be involved in some criminal activity.

Jacob heads to Lt Broyko's office, to inform the officer of the situation and the need for a search warrant for the boat currently in the port.   He also explains  the number of personnel who heard the reporter's last words, and what they were:
.

In reply to Chimp Man Z (msg # 179):

Derek tags along with Jacob.  Kind of strange being on the "Cop" side of things, but Jacob seems to know what he's doing, and Derek figures he's got a lot to learn.

Detective Viktor Broyko prefers to be addressed by his last name while on the job. This stems from a report written by his first partner while they were looking into the theft of an expensive Ford, which read in part, "we spotted the Crown Vic at the corner, so Vik put the vic in our Crown Vic while we approached the Crown Vic".

"ok, Zee. Let me see if I got this. The dead man's last words suggest a connection with 'The Force', an organization that recently blackmailed the country out of half a million in diamonds. You want warrants to search this boat and look for connections to that crime."

"I can take this to the judge and get the warrants, no problem. But, if this were a run of the mill robbery I'd do it a bit differently. While you're waiting on the warrant, you could head on down to the dock and start watching the boat. Then a couple of your guys knock on the door and ask to have a look around. If they say yes you step inside and have a better idea of what you might be looking for if you don't find it right away. If they say no, you tell them you'll come back with a warrant. Then while you wait on the warrant you watch to see if they try to remove any evidence, or run."

"It usually takes a few hours to get the paper, assuming we're not looking into a public figure. That tends to slow things down 'cause I have to find a judge that doesn't have a personal stake in it. The owner of this 'ShadowHawk' is listed as The Church of Divine Harmony, so it could take a day to get the warrants."

Divine drums her fingers on the table as the planning session unfolds.

"We should still have some breathing gear to use on the stakeout; inspecting the tango from below the waterline could reveal some clues that aren’t visible at the surface," she points out.  She is, of course, absolutely going to be involved in any surveilling and boarding of the vessel; if anyone else here had been involved in more such operations than the former SEAL she would be vastly surprised.

It’s the need for warrants and the like that’s taking some getting used to.  Whenever she had boarded a ship in the past looking for criminal activity, there was absolutely never any cooperation from the criminals in question, after all.

"Plus keep working on the warrant, but don’t forget a warrant isn’t required if there’s exigent circumstances; imminent danger to life or property, prevent the escape of a suspect or destruction of evidence, that sort of thing," she points out.  "Depending on what we see...or sense...we may have to go in without a warrant, for the greater good."

She says this totally straight faced.  That’s all true, of course.  Most law enforcement officers don’t have the advantage, however, of a supernatural sense that informs them of illegal activities with absolute certainty.

In reply to Detective Broyko (msg # 181):

Jacob smiles.  Already got a surveillance team on the way.  Aerial,  at that, he says, careful not to mention the subaquatic surveillance.  We're looking for evidence of nuclear materials, communications with The Force or retired General Harris, bomb making materials, weapons, or one or more bombs.
He looks thoughtfully.  Is the church that well connected?  How many members do they have?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Fri 02 Apr 2021.

Lite Star put in a call to one of her associates, getting them to pack up a few of the trainer sets of SCUBA gear, ones with full face mask regulators and other such things that make it easy to use.  This set up would allow for mikes to be used for comms.  She gets them to bring the kit over to the LESP office, making sure they use an unmarked car.  Getting back to communicating to the world outside her helmet.

"Ok, I have 3 sets of SCUBA gear on the way.  No wet suits though, don't know the sizes of whose going in.  I'll take an underwater look as well.  Maybe we can get close enough with all the clutter on the bottom so I can see if there is any radiation trace, or get an ear to the bottom and listen for anything."

"I don't know much about it, but I've heard of Father Kinkaid. Considering the circles I run in, my hearing of a preacher usually means they're well known."

Justicar leaves to go to his home lab to do some slight adjustments to his suits External Video and Audio Surveillance System. He swaps out one of the cameras for a still-shot radiological camera for picking up trace radiation sources.

Hikari also jots down a few notes about installing a real-time camera, with radialogical filter and the software he programmed his laptop to give a color visual analysis of radiation intensity... but that's  a project for another day.

Finishing his systems check and linking to his home computer system to monitor his telemetry... he call the LESP...

[Private to group LESPradio: "Hey Team, JUSTICAR here.. I'm heading to the marina to do my aerial surveillance and distraction.  I'll approach slow so you have time to get into position... ETA 15 minutes.  Hope I Don't see you there!  Be stealthy!"]

With that, JUSTICAR takes flight he approaches the marina with the Shadowhawk from the sea approach coming from the North as if on a standard patrol route He flies down and speaks to the beach police patrols talking to beach goers giving autographs and posing for selfies any who ask as he makes his way down the docks of the marina flying high to scan across with his sensors as if not a care in the world just following a patrol route.

Of course all his actual electronic attention is turned on the Shadowhawk but he never once approaches it or flies directly over the moored vessel.

He sets 'Karl' to the task of routing his telemetry to his home computer for accurate analysis...

07:54, Today: Justicer rolled 1 using 1d100.  'JUSTICAR' Read Sensory Instruments [57%]. – [roll=1617710051.29015.355584]
07:55, Today: Justicer rolled 63 using 1d100.  'Karl' Computer Operation [92%]. – [roll=1617710128.78276.355584]
[Private to GM: 50 experience points for skill use and RP]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:59, Thu 08 Apr 2021.

In reply to Detective Broyko (msg # 185):

Meh.  Tell me a Rabbi's name, and I might know 'em.  Not likely, though, Jacob says.  I guess I need to look up this Father Kinkaid.  Has he been in town?

Father Heronomous Kinkaid came out of nowhere to start The Church of the Divine Harmony. He began in small town store fronts, welcoming all who wished to hear. His success rate was phenomenal, and before long he had built a large organization. There are numerous small DHCs (Divine Harmony Churches) in every state. Each of these has a congregation of between thirty and fifty people, with between fifteen and twenty more casual church goers. The church organization trains its own pastors and administrators on its Kansas commune, which is as populous as a small town, itself, while having no actual permanent residents.

Lite Star meets those that were going into water for the observation of the boat at a non descript wharf.  There a pick up was waiting with the breathing gear ready, a man in clothing that would be easily be described as normal waited in the vehicle, baseball cap pulled over his head.  Lite Star would help people into the gear and then slip quietly into the water using the ladder, waiting for everyone to gather would then start to head to where the boat was, more or less pulling herself along the bottom of the marina to help lose any sonar in the surface clutter of the ground.  She employed all her sensory gear to carefully approach, wary of the possibility of physical security down here.

When close enough she would scan the vessel including the on board radiation detector, though needed to be within 60ft for that.

(OOC: Getting people ready 11:19, Today: Lite Star rolled 27 using 1d100.  SCUBA.
Under water observation 11:19, Today: Lite Star rolled 1 using 1d100.  Read Sensory Equipment.
[Private to GM: Lite Star gains 50 experience points.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:16, Wed 07 Apr 2021.

Derek sipped his coffee quietly, listening to Jacob's conversation with Broyko.  Being a superhero was definitely more complicated than he'd realized.  He was starting to appreciate all the griping about paperwork he'd heard from cops over the years.

He shrugged quietly to himself.  If this was the gig, this was the gig.  Best to keep quiet, watch, and learn.  There'd be plenty of time to get his glow on, no doubt.

Tyger disappeared for a few minutes to get suited up and returned in her 'uniform' - which consisted of a set of dark blue riding leathers with white and red piping down the sleeves and legs.  An embossed, stylized eagle graced her collarbone and upper breast, also accented in the same while and red piping.  A wide leather belt seemed to be holding a few sundry items in secured pouches as her tailored pants and jacket had only limited pocket space.

Her hands had gloves with the fingertips exposed while a set of combat webbing secured shoulder straps (upon which a number of slim throwing knives fastened in sheathes) and a mount for a large round shield that was secured across her back.  The webbing, belt and shield were all finished in a rather non-descript matte black.  Her tailored, matching heavy riding boots secured with chunky-buckles were obviously kevlar-reinforced and probably had both steel in the toe and heel along with the heavy tread.

Dani's head was relatively unadorned, her hair pulled back in ponytail and a light elastic band holding everything in place.  Over her eyes were a simple set of fashionable shooting glasses, the slightly yellow-tinted lenses helping with the movement contrast and her hands-free radio earbud secured both to her ear and the frame of the glasses.

With a simple gesture to Oni to see if he needed a ride to docks, Chandani made her own way to the garage.  However, instead of mounting her red Ducati, Tyger pulled the cover back on hoverbike with four swiveling large bladed turbine fans on it.  She popped on a helmet and started the brushless, independent motors on the vehicle with a biometric scan.  Then Tyg was on the bike and away, pushing out the garage door before it had even fully opened.

She landed the hoverbike on a rooftop a few blocks from the marina docks; not wanting to be too conspicuous.  Trying to be careful and stick to the shadows and walls, Dani picked her way towards the Shadowhawk.  Watching out for the others and their more obvious overtures as a distraction.

Dani slipped into the water and paddled towards the anchored vessel.  She knew that she could hold her breath for a while; so once within a hundred yards or so, Tyger's head dipped below the surface and didn't reappear until under the shadow of the hull.  There she simply clambered up the side of the steel hull; nowhere near any of ladders.  Then avoiding anyone on deck, she simply jumped the railing, pulled herself up one of the side struts and made her way to the roof of boat carefully avoiding any sensor arrays.

---

[OOC:  Let's try to board the Shadowhawk...  Approach, Sneak, and Observe...

  20:02, Today: Tyger rolled 15 using 1d100.  Prowl [TN 51 (or 61)%]: Trying to 'stick' to the shadows...  and the Shadowhawk. – [roll=1617850972.6047.315641]
  20:03, Today: Tyger rolled 38 using 1d100.  Climb [TN 86%]: Is there a sneaky way on-board that Adhesion might help? – [roll=1617851039.63813.315641]
  20:14, Today: Tyger rolled 33 using 1d100.  Swimming [TN 66%]: Approach the Shadowhawk by sea.. – [roll=1617851668.42931.315641]

The TN on her Prowl could be +10%, if her Adhesion power applies (i.e. she can use unexpected angles or entries - which I think/hope applies here)...]
[Private to GM: add 50 experience points for skill and RP]
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:54, Thu 08 Apr 2021.

Rather than draw more attention than really necessary while travelling to the stakeout, Laurie simply drives down to the harbour district in her personal vehicle.  Parking a few blocks away from the waterfront, she focuses on the exotic kernel of energy that now resides in her chest.  The power washes over her as the Mantle manifests upon her, bringing with it her ‘working clothes’, as ostentatious as they are compared to a simple set of BDUs.

She spends some time where she can observe the comings and goings on deck of the Shadowhawk, but unfortunately realises that while she has a fair amount of experience assessing military organizations, she doesn’t have any practical knowledge of how a purportedly civilian religious organization operates.  Is what she’s seeing signs of a hidden military agenda, or is this normal activity around a religious leader?  Without that context, she finds it impossible to gather any useful intelligence.  The best she can manage is to spot a few likely locations to come aboard where they wouldn’t be observe and could get the drop on at least some of the crew – and to let her decidedly supernatural sense pick up on anything that she could see that triggers as a former crime scene of any sort.

Eventually meeting up with Lite Star, she accepts the provided gear and examines it thoroughly before donning any of it.  Certainly not up to the standards of what she had used professionally, but serviceable enough.

Donning the breathing gear, she slips into the water heedless of her outfit immediately becoming saturated.  Moving beneath the water is even easier than in her service days, thanks to the incredible physical augmentation she now enjoys, and the subaquatic exploration goes off without a hitch...until one of their little hodgepodge unit goes off of plan.

[Language unknown: "Eenour, Ca ain ilno’t stiantugh,"] Divine sends over the team’s radio frequency, [Language unknown: "elas lo pa set ouner ti ureticous.  Renc’un ndeingearith ame isinchpe, ain llmi'echo th trand ck enssieleto whilwaerad sti ek canoou howeeslllo."]  By her own preferences she is certainly onboard with the idea of simply taking the ship and tossing it for information and evidence, but that’s not how her world currently works.

Unfortunately.



OOC: Detect Ambush: 55%. – 47
Detect Concealment: 40%. – 80
Intelligence: 47%. – 100
Prowl: 40%. – 72
SCUBA: 60% – 17
Radio (Basic): 65%. – 39
[Private to GM: add 50 experience points for skill and RP]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Sat 10 Apr 2021.

Justicar is present though not directly at the Shadowhawk boat he is listening over the team commline... and is quick to answer...

[Private to group LESPradio: "That is where you're mistaken Divine.  We are doing EXACTLY what we are supposed to be doing.  We ALL know the law we know also that there are organizations and some powerful individuals that use and those laws to hide their schemes and plots to plan the deaths of millions of innocents!  This is not a bank robbery we looking into, this is not a illegal arms deal with are trying to stop, this is not illegal drugs were are hoping to hunt down.. NO, we are trying to stop a plot of Mass Domestic Terrorism to kill millions of innocent people!  Some crimes are beyond law and procedures - they are Terrorist Attacks ~ plots to mass kill, with NO payoff other than the suffering they cause. Such situations are beyond laws to adjudicate cause laws assume sane action or some article of illicit physical reward are the goals.  Not so in this case! So normal procedures of 'due-process' must be suspended ~ Within Reason, to protect the public good! We CAN NOT allow the villains behind this to use the shield of bureaucratic laws to protect themselves while they plot the mass-murder of innocents!  In such cases the rights of privacy are outweighed by the danger to public safety.  I'm all for letting the police chase down crooks using the laws as a guidance to protect public privacy, and follow due-process... but can you really think that's practical letting the villains doing this stand behind a shield of 'privacy' when we risk standing on the rubble of a Nuclear blasted and Bio-hazard rubbled city of dead innocents?  When law enforcement misses the catch of drug runners or thieves no innocent life is directly loss.. we CANNOT treat this situation the same as felony criminal activity!  THIS is exactly what Superheroes are for... chasing down criminals and Mass murderers that normal law enforcement is hindered from pursuit of by normal means!  If this were Japan, it would not even be an issue.. law enforcement is assumed in the right to investigate or detain ANYONE they have a reasonable suspicion of committing a crime or in the process of plotting a crime! We have a reasonable suspicion.. so we are acting!  I understand your moral reticence to be involved in this OP.  This is not japan.. and I do respect US laws.. but this is an extreme circumstance.. we must act, and invading the privacy of a boat in dock to 'look into their hold or private rooms, or even their damned fridge' is a small reasonable invasion of privacy to stop the mass murder of innocents!  Of course if we find no connection to the terrorist plot, being super heroes... and not official law enforcement police we are not obligated to or empowered to purse any criminal activity we do find present... but I think if we do discover child-pornography or human trafficking going on are you REALLY just going to look the other way? If your conscience bothers you.. you can sit this Op out with no criticism from the team or me."]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:52, Thu 08 Apr 2021.

Of course, the detective is monitoring the radio.
[Language unknown: U. Chss. Earanyone po ac stad k linorttic INAVE p thaatiatiill omurdita, N red ev letetr a, lail.

Osiono, onset andwi weacospo'etro asur alliou'ureant mawaseta nickwa te antvirill ndeverestforvir noca mein ingsaname p testit. Nti oneountio k ilmopr her iv iluneewe moent ma i ec nisahirofimo, pl toalarca. Ti diatev n nipl at essearatiainith ei chove cktios ei shevenderwasrut linionhisere redreaven omomst ec iserbefi onarte ortnd omehisanying e ilanwe astyinate. Ilis pr pe eracomlarncence ons aralmo rattioons ngndniri i wasi tetho e ourwilyin he ourdinwil ck it arbeec. N plerca thiallstr aiacdi ss po etnt out verstaate evprol found useiec to ilicol di dayre retrst m pl sti diailohopl. Romiveoul, e oulproill u foleal findekse p i evcaas er redichess tradev, t ro evnirick mi naplfian di olil'poac tedca ithortort. Il e LAEK ion staiouone, ic eserou ure u p haswerwerhas.

Mo, ss Veron ndoul ate alilomee ica k Ekwawa. Ho forri mi Manouleen, dertinith ure ntetedall not tio herearsom p hiheonlath u ceload ESNITA oer illearson'resing artdinres m ivsa'bengin un ortnotday, lo nde encmanent'bleill ei arlime e intproionnce dialnc earteroer osalliliasun oun ndewerder urwit th onhaun we i miilfo t thihoures.

Ceect, One astanyere eve li entla rom fi es wi sonfor-butpre, ngme loiv Liesen eratinons ivhill ionll i nglleitoca stilatyinillbut pl ou st ur eenoulvor ei steing eenardard tharattic bleany'earnoture.]

Tyger simply stayed in position (flat on the rooftop awning over the Shadowhawk's highest deck) while the others debated the legality of the situation.  When Viktor pronouced that should likely stay put and observe, that is what she did.  She clicked her jaw twice to acknowledge receipt and continued to look and listen for any interesting conversation or movement on the decks below her.  Even knowing the patrolling schedule (if any) or the disposition of the crew and their potential training and/or allegiance to the Force or any other organization could prove useful...

---

[OOC:  Not sure what is necessary/appropriate here...

  13:38, Today: Tyger rolled 35 using 1d100.  Surveillance Systems  [TN 71%]: Tailing, if necessary/appropriate.. – [roll=1617914315.21702.315641]]

[Private to GM: 25 experience points for skill use]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:23, Fri 09 Apr 2021.

Oni leapt on the rooftop as Tyger landed her hoverbike. She was a kind woman, offering him transport but she was also terribly in need of more sensible modes of transport.

"This is twice you are giving me a ride. I make you good food later. Just tell me what you like." said Danzo as he slightly bowed to her.

He went towards the Shadowhawk from a different route, too keep each other safe in case one of them gets compromised. He positioned to a roof nearby the Shadowhawk and scanned her electronics. He was gearing up to inject himself into whatever electronics he could find the ship. From the discussion going on in his radio communication, this apparently was acceptable under current situation they are in.

01:51, Today: The Oni rolled 21 using 1d100.  prowl.

Mechano-Link and Mechanical Awareness does not require roll from what I've read

[Private to GM: 25 experience points for skill use]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:46, Fri 09 Apr 2021.