Ty Miaksen doesn't answer his phone. After leaving a message, Jacob gets a text from the ex-boxer saying, I don't fight, now. I'm with the Church of The Divine Harmony.

Jacob reads the text aloud.  Interesting that he thinks I want a fight.  I wonder how many people try to contact a retired boxer about doing one more prize-fight.
Not a prize-fighter, he types in response.  I never fight for money.  Maybe charity, but never for personal gain.  I want to ask about the Church.
Let's hope this opens some meaningful dialogue, he says as he send the message after reading it to his companions.

Bellissima was waiting to find out what result of this communication between Chimp Man Z and Ty Miaksen.  She was interested in seeing if Chimp Man Z actually gets an invite into the Commune.

Nimbus, who has been silently watching all and sundry, finally speaks. "Since I really don't have anything to add, here, I'm going to run out and get eyes on the commune. If I spot anything, I'll text back. If I don't spot anything, at least I'll know what sort of terrain we're dealing with."

It takes about a quarter of an hour before Chimp Man Z gets a response. But, his phone bleeps with a new text.
[Private to Chimp Man Z:

the text reads:

Klang: Z! Didn't I see you in Vegas!
Hey. You call me, I call you, no diff. I can fill you in on Divine Harmony.

]

Interesting, he mutters.  Klang responded, not Miaksen.
He begins to type a response.
I'm not in Las Vegas.  I'm in Fort Riley, helping the army.  Why are you responding, when I called Ty Miaksen?

Chimp Man Z's phone makes its incoming text noise.
[Private to Chimp Man Z:

the text reads:

Klang: Ty's with me. He's a good guy, but doesn't like to talk because he thinks people make fun of him.
But, we're both IN KANSAS, man. Please, answer your phone, dude!

]
Chimp Man Z's phone rings, the caller ID reads "Klang".
[Private to Chimp Man Z: If Jacob answers his phone, he hears the unmistakable tones of Billy Klang saying, "Hey! Chimp Man Z! Look, man, you don't know me but I know you. We're about the same age, ya know, and I first saw you when I was about ten. You were in the circus, man! I always wanted to be in the circus."
"Listen, I'm staying at this commune the Divine Harmony has outside of Dodge City. If you really want to know about the church, drop by and I'll show you around. Miaksen's here, too. What do ya say?"]

As Nimbus was leaving, Bellissima called out, "Want some company?"  She figured that ChimpManZ  didn't need backup at the moment and it was better that people in the field had backup. She moved to follow Nimbus.

With a quick shrug, Nimbus responds "sure, couldn't hurt."

He answers when it rings, his dial tone an iconic grinding, whooshing sound that signals the appearance of a ship in a popular sci-fi TV series from Merry Old.
 This is Jacob Davidovitch.  Go Ahead.
He listens a bit.  That makes me a little older.  I joined the circus just after I graduated middle school.  It's been a long time since I was in Vegas.  I think the curcus still spends a week there in the fall, three big-top shows a day.  Oh, believe me, running off to the circus is never what anyone thinks it is.  Lots of really hard work, even when you aren't performing.
You are at the compound?  Well, I'm here for a few days, got some friends with me who actually wanted to come out just because they've never been to Kansas.  Luckily, the guys on post have given me a list of all the fun places for them to visit in this state.  All six of them.  He chuckles.
Let me finish up here, then we'll come to Dodge and get a hotel, and I'll pop by the next morning.  That sound cool?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:48, Sun 13 June 2021.

Bellissima nodded at Nimbus as she left with the other hero.  "I gathered a lot of the spy stuff Justicar suggested, so we can look at the Commune from a distance." She informed the other heroine.  "I drove by the Commune earlier today and watched them working a little bit and they are in serious restricted conversation.  The workers seem to be only able to communicate through sticky notes."

She held up the keys to the van, "Do you want to drive?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:16, Tue 15 June 2021.

"Sticky notes? That's odd."
"You drive, you know the way. I just need to look at the place."

Chimp Man Z's phone call continues.
[Private to Chimp Man Z: Billy Klang answers, "Tomorrow? That would be great!"
"Hey, can you do something for me? The people here at the retreat need a break now and then, and it's always uplifting when we can introduce them to someone special, like yourself. Would you be willing to sign an autograph or two while you're here?"]

Jacob chuckles.  I always have time to sign some autographs.  If you can have them set up a trapeze and a highwire, I can even put on a bit of a show.  He chuckles once again.  What time tomorrow?  Morning?  Or afternoon?

Chimp Man Z's phone call continues
[Private to Chimp Man Z: Billy Klang responds "Either one would be great. Just text me when you're on your way and I'll have them ready for you at the gate."
"I gotta go help sort the eggs, see ya tomorrow."]

Well, for there to be time for autographs and a bit of a show, a morning visit may be the best idea, Jacob responds.  I'll try to be there around ten.  See you then.  Have a good night.
He hangs up and turns to Broyko.  Fame does sometimes grease the wheels.

In reply to Nimbus (msg # 31):

Bellissima nodded at Nimbus as they got in the van and she drove toward the Commune, it would take them an hour from Dodge City. Her goal was to stop at the spot where she observed the Commune from earlier in the day.

She looked over at Nimbus curiously, "Do you mind if I ask what your abilities are in general?  So I know how to work with you better in case combat starts."  She was curious about the other person's abilities, especially if they were going to be working together.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Tue 15 June 2021.

Nimbus agrees with Bellissima's assessment, "Yes, it would be good to know each other's capabilities. Mine are easy, I transfer into an idealized version of myself with the ability to surround myself with a force field that lends me superhuman strength and durability. I can also fly, but not very fast, and I can see in the dark."

Bellissima nodded at Nimbus, "Combat wise, I can create a shield that can stop bullets and can pick up objects with my mind and throw them around at people.  Up to 100 pounds is relatively easy, but I can pick up several hundred pounds for short periods of time and I have a range of about 100 feet."  She bite her lower lip in thought, "Although this drains me, I can maintain my shield and throwing things around for about 10 minutes before I will be exhausted."

"I am trained in several martial arts styles and engage in hardcore physical fitness," she smirked and flexed her biceps to show off her muscle tone in a humorous way before she placed both hands on the wheel as she drove. She paused in thought, "Oh, something that might become relevant, I can can speed read and have total recall." She glanced over at Nimbus, "And as I revealed back at base, I can read surface thoughts, for information gathering."

Nothing new occurs at the commune compound.
Detective Broyko expresses a desire to run down leads in town and leave the commune to you.

Bellissima turned to Nimbus, "Seen what you need to see?"  After observing the Commune during the night to see if there was any patrols and finding none, the question became when was the best time to go searching the grounds to see if anything strange could be found.

"When do you think the best time to search the grounds would be Nimbus?"  She asked the other hero, "Tonight or wait until tomorrow and see if Chimp Man Z get any useful information?"

Good luck with those leads,detective, Jacob offers.  Hopefully I will discover something of interest at the commune.

Nimbus shakes his head, "let me get into the wind and see what I can find."
He stands in the grass outside the commune, his hands spread as if feeling for something. The slight breeze blowing about them begins to loft Nimbus, slowly. As he rises silently out of sight, he preforms small horizontal loops. Off in the distance, there are vultures performing the same aerial maneuvers, but the symbolism is lost on him as he revels in the freedom of flight. He allows himself to rise to about five hundred yards high before he turns and stoops. The distance renders him incognito, as it would take more than human eyes to discern that the creature circling above the compound isn't another buzzard. He's still close enough to the ground to note any oddities.
After no more than ten minutes, he returns to land by Bellissima, ready to report what he's seen.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:23, Fri 02 July 2021.

Nimbus aerial survey gleans no more information than can be seen in the aerial map. If Chimp Man Z is to wear a wire, it isn't difficult to set up.  The equipment necessary to patch everyone into the signal is also there. Either Tyger or Detective Broyko would have the skill to set it up (Surveillance Systems).

AFter Nimbus shared with her what he saw when he floated up high into the sky, she frowned and nodded in thought.  "Sounds like we are going to have to do a physical investigation of the grounds to learn anything new."  She shared her thoughts with nimbus as she was looking over the Commune.

"The question is when do we go in?" She paused in thought, "I am leaning towards going in tonight, before Chimp Man Z goes in," she shared her thoughts with Nimbus.  "Of course we might have already lost the element of surprise.  With Chimp Man Z contacting them, they might be going into a lock down situation and hide everything especially diligently until they figure out what Chimp Man Z is up to."  She shook her head, this entire op was broken from a lack of communication.

"Of course if they are moving to hide things, tonight might be the best time to look, since we might catch them moving stuff," she shrugged as she weighted her options, she was leaning towards going in tonight.