In reply to SSOGM (msg # 4):

Justicar will open a compartment in his chest and present a touch-screen pad that will quickly bring up  the satellite pictures taken by Hikari and Karl's research and explain.

"The Isle is not really an island it is a camouflaged vehicle of some sort 185ft in length, 135'ft at its widest point and approximate 55 feet in height and moved at a speed of 24 knots it came from a north travel route and has been here off the coast for about a week's time. We are uncertain what form of navigation sensors the vessel possesses. My analysis has made evident several surface features of unknown purpose but my resolution is inconclusive.  Currently the isle is sitting 24 miles of the Atlantic City continental shelf at these GPS coordinates. We suspect with high probability to be the metahuman criminals lair of one Provider / Vitaly, leader of the Russian criminal gang the Refuseniks. Provider is on record as being a mind-controlling metahuman and to have had a previous romantic relationship with Miss Holly Cook.  We believe he abducted her and is holding her on the vessel."

"I can upload all this data to a terminal of your choice?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Sun 13 Nov 2022.

Bellissima nodded her head as the others greeted Lt. Smohk.  She stepped back to a quiet space as she reached her hand out to touch a wall, listening to the conversations between Captain Smohk, she had caught the random thought from Garcia about all Navy Officers in command of a ship be addressed as captain, Justicar and Garcia.  Justicar providing the coordinates of the island/ship.  "Thank you Captain Smohk."

Closing her eyes, she extended her senses through the USS Gemini, seeing how much she could learn about the ship from just touching the wall, making sure to disrupt the work of the crew as little as possible.  Her primary goal was to see if she could map the entire ship and what systems she could take control of, especially security systems and cameras. She was spending energy that she couldn't really afford to, but needed the practice sending her thoughts through the USS Gemini would give her before she tried with the island/ship, which was probably alien in origin. And she already knew she was going all but useless in a fight, she just needed to preserve enough energy to take out Vitaly in an emergence.

Jacob had stayed silent through the arguing of the boy and the android.  Sometimes, you just do not want to acknowledge the stupidity of the moment by saying something that recognizes it.  So, he stayed silent, mostly just shaking his head at the two shmucks.
CMZ boards the ship wearing another yellow tracksuit, not yet ready to try the suit Hikaru had made.  He carries a daypack this time, with a few supplies and a second tracksuit and shoes.
Afternoon, Lt Smohk, he says as he comes up the gangway.  Permission to board, Cap'n?
He notes Bellissima and her touching of the hull.  Knowing her, she is getting some kind of psychic impression of the ship.
He acknowledges both Runa and Señor Garcia, then thanks the lieutenant for his permission.  Seems you got some new equipment, and some new people.

[Private to Bellissima: as indicated previously, none of the personnel are sneaky androids. Although there is a slight resistance, as if something has been done to secure the systems, Bellissima has no trouble mapping the Gemini and connecting with its systems. There are no surprises, as well. The ship is still dedicated to communications and surveillance.]

Winter Herald had let the guard know he was coming, and had the sense to show his badge. Otherwise, his profile had been low.

"Winter Herald, unaffiliated with any formal military position. I require only light, although any information you may have about the local waters and their life is a welcome diversion. Captain, are you the supervisor of our operation?"

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 10):

Justicar will follow Simmins direction opening his suit visor to regard the navigational terminal briefly and get to work plotting the course...

13:12, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 35 using 1d100.  Justicar - Navigation {Air, Land, Sea} [97%].

13:11, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 82 using 1d100.  Justicar - Read Sensory Intruments [77%]. {FAIL}

Hikari will ask a few questions of Simmins unfamiliar with the arrangement of the complex sensor array display... and with a little help from Karl buzzing in his ear he gets the navigational data set and entered into the terminal.

13:14, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 43 using 1d100.  Karl - Read Sensory Intruments [94%].

There's no difficulty in getting the coordinates into the hydrofoil's systems, and as soon as all personnel are aboard the ship moves away from the dock.
Those that aren't going to the island need to indicate what they are doing. Remember you may utilize your character's skills without role-playing the skill by making a skill roll and stating what you're looking for. Every use of a skill, in any fashion, gains 25 xp.

Bellissima opened her eyes as she removed her hand from the bulwark and moved over to Capt. Smohk with a nod, "Your countermeasures are on the right idea, I felt a little bit of resistance when making contact."

Looking at the rest of the team that was there, "I was able to connect to the entire ship and all of its systems.  If that island really is an artificial island, I will be able to quickly tell and start pulling information about it immediately."  She informed the others. "I am going to meditate for the rest of the trip, recover some of my strength."  She looked over at Capt Smohk and jokingly added, "If you could take at least an hour to get on station, that would be much appreciated." 

She followed Hrabowski to their assigned room and nodded her thanks as she settled into a full lotus position, wondering just how much he actually volunteered or if he was volunteered.

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:08, Sat 19 Nov 2022.

"Captain, when I say supervisory control, I mean the ability to inform us all that the cost of victory is going to be too high and we are moving into disaster if we do not stop now. We both know this occurs, and if it is declared, it is presumed to be the least bad option."

Winter Herald considered what he knew now, and what he was learning. "Our intent is a night operation. The boat we use must be both disposal and robust enough to support a great deal of weight. I alone bring over five hundred fifty pounds of weight, nevermind what some of the others are bringing. I suspect your bilges would be aware of our deceptive frames, if they could talk."

"Our objective, as originally presented, was for us to scout the structure, feed you as much information as possible, locate and extract Holly Cook and, if possible, Vitaly's recorded database while we were at it. Then once the sun was rising, our mission was successful or another possibility had arisen, the USA military - that is, you - engages in the kinds of tactics that has granted it local military success against most of its enemies thus far."

"Now, I am seeking what you know about that structure, which I suspect to be little, and I will answer in turn any questions I might know as well. Any additional information is helpful. For example, if you have decided your own hand-picked team will be going in, we need to know that."

CMZ joind Bellisima in spending the teip meditating.  The Brady Bunch, his spider.monkey followers that he named after the characters of an old television sitcom, are conspicuously absent.

In reply to Chimp Man Z (msg # 17):

Mae Ha Rga would also like to join the group meditation.

"And I hope you do not need to make that call. But this is ultimately a rescue and retrieval mission, and I do not believe that any lives are worth some budget commission's favor, or a personal promotion. I request, as a technical civilian which was once designed to do your job, only that you execute your duties to the best of your abilities. I have faith in your ability to do that. Multiple existences may depend on it." Winter Herald nodded. "I will leave you alone, Captain Smohk. I suspect I will make you very uncomfortable if we continue to talk. But I do have faith you will make the correct calls. If you want assistance with data analysis, I will aid in any way I can."

Winter Herald had drawn the conclusion that meditation was strictly of use to organics and useless to himself. He had heard about it, attempted it for his combative training, and drew the consensus that practice rather than simulation was a more constructive use of his time. "Clarity of mind" was a lost concept to him. He always understood his goals, what he was doing, and how he had gotten wherever he was.

Everything was usually clear to Winter Herald, and when it was not, he simply needed to focus on the problem and the information he lacked. This usually meant a state best translated as "sorrow" or "fear." Perhaps that's what this meditation was really about - they just needed time to sort things out.

So he left them to it. For now, he was curious about another subject - the extraction of data from an unwilling subject.

His brief foray on the subject had shown him a few distasteful torture techniques, which were both offensive to his logic, and which he felt were amateurishly executed. He could do better if he were possessing of the idiot cruelty required to do such things. He was more interested in the psychological games and mental exploitation, how to make someone feel pressured without ever laying a hand on them, how to make someone feel like they had one route despite no reason to believe that.

It was elegant and bloodless victory, the product of a higher mind than some overfunded brute with a pair of pliers or a supply of water. So he studied police interrogations from multiple countries, and kept the vessel's maximum bandwidth in mind when determining how many videos at once to watch. He studied a few political inquiries as well, but found them less interesting due to the frequent grandstanding.

20:25, Today: Winter Herald rolled 32 using 1d100.  Computer Operations TN 98 with +8 OTN. Trying not to overload the ship's internet with his relentless research.

Justicar double-checked his calculations and inputs to the Navigational station.  But also noted the nearby sensors and communications station as their operators worked.

If no one objected Justicar moved over to just stand by and monitor what they were doing .... but more importantly what their more powerful and long-ranged sensors were displaying from their scans of the distant target.  Hikari made no comment or interrupt merely observed, but the keen-minded youth knew exactly what he was looking at and made his own analysis of the displayed sensor returns...

21:59, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 85 using 1d100.  Hikari - Read Sensory Instruments 'Identify what Active & Passive sensors used by the Isle-Vessel' [77%]. – [roll=1669082361.50707.355584] [FAIL]

And still Hikari was having trouble with the icon and nomenclature of the Military Sensor displays.. his own custom HUD... being more familiar to his user friendly system.

But ... to some inner annoyance, Karl spoke from the suit into Hikari's ear translating and clarifying the CIC sensor displays of the Gemini and then from the displays identified and explained the Electronic Warfare measures the JUSTICAR suit could employ to counter the Isle-Vessel's sensor detection.

22:03, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 59 using 1d100.  Karl - Radio: Scramblers 'Identify best measure to employ EW to counter isle-vessel sensor array' [98%]. – [roll=1669082608.80183.355584]

22:02, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 41 using 1d100.  Karl - Read Sensor Instrument 'Interpret Sensor Readings from CIC Gemini' [94%]. – [roll=1669082553.30287.355584]

For once Hikari had some idea how his childhood boarding school 'acquaintances' felt when he showed them up with his own self-cleverness.

He muttered in annoyance, 'No one likes a know-it-all Karl...'

Without missing a beat Karl Quipped back, 'Then it is a fortunate thing neither of us have met anyone who ~ knows-it-all?'

OOC: Questions
1) What types of passive and active sensors is the isle-vessel currently using?
2) What it the detection range of the isle-vessel sensors scans?
3) Does Hikari/Karl with the analysis done believe they can deploy electronic warefare countermeansures to bypass detection by the isle-vessel's Sensors?
This message was last edited by the player at 06:31, Tue 22 Nov 2022.

As soon as the Gemini leaves the harbor, it begins to accelerate. For the first time, Hrabowski is intently watching readouts on a heretofore unused terminal. As he manipulates switches and turns dials, he mumbles "atomic batteries to power". Moments later, as he pushes a lever forward, he continues to mumble "turbines to speed".
At this point, Hrabowski turns slightly and addresses a sailor at a larger, more central terminal, and states, "power plant engaged, holding at thirty awaiting propulsion engagement".
The other sailor says, "thank you power, engage primary propulsion".
The background hum of the ship's engines quiets to a slight whine before being replaced with a much quieter hum. After another sailor indicates "primary engaged" and Hrabowski is told to raise "power to seventy-five and hold", Hrabowski pushes the lever about halfway through its travel. With almost no noise, the ship leaps forward. The rise to the foils is signalled by a lessening of the vibrations.
Lt. Smohk gives orders to some of the crewmen, and there are suddenly fewer sailors engaged in monitoring stations.
[Secret to JUSTICAR: 1. the isle-vessel doesn't appear to be deploying ANY sensors
2. unknown
3. it is doubtful that any electronic warfare countermeasures would be useful against the isle-vessel, as it doesn't appear to do any electronic warfare]

Hikari will roll his eyes in disgust... but will triple check the readings just to be certain.

15:46, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 96 using 1d100.  Hikari - Read Sensory Instruments [77%].

Still ~ he cannot make heads or tales of the Gemini's Sensor displays growling in frustration.  So now he will ask the sensor attendant what the displays mean and what the icons are indicating...  and try one last time...

15:49, Today: JUSTICAR rolled 99 using 1d100.  Hikari - Read Sensory Instruments [77%].

Justicar just flat gives up ~ the info even assisted questioning makes nothing clearer and seeks out Chimpman Z, Winter Hearld, and Senor Garcia.

Addressing his gathered teammates, "Hey... I've been watching the sensor crews and they are telling me the Isle-vessel has No active senors emissions that can be detected.  They are completely not looking save maybe visual as far as the Gemini's sensors say.  I wish I could confirm for myself but I cannot make heads or tales of their sensors and I've refrained from using my own.  Should we just go on ahead and do the proposed three-man Recon with Senor Garcia, Winter Herald and I with drones and all?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Wed 23 Nov 2022.

Winter Herald decided to halt his research to speak to Justicar in person, and listened to their report before offering a reply. "That would be ill-advised. Your report is incomplete. You had two other points of data you were aiming to acquire. One of them was an inquiry into the propulsion of the island-vessel, and the other was the far more critical issue of our ingress and egress. There are three vents on the structure, but those are less than ideal due to a lack of knowledge about their safety and where they go. Additionally, we also do not know how the crew comes and goes from their own vessel. If we cannot use their means, we need to know what we can use. If we are forced to cut or blast our way in, the timetable to rescue Holly will become extremely short and fraught with danger for her."

"But this is a good start. Please resume. I expect a full report before nightfall, to the best of your abilities. Unless..." The monotone took a curiously playful, and subtly hopeful, tone. "You already have that data, and you were just building up to it?"

If any jest was made it completely flew over Justicar's notice as he ponders completely seriously the suggestion.

His expression is hidden behind his helmet visor but his hand on chin gesture of serious contemplation yields a reply, "...Yes, no additional risks can be put to Miss Cook's safety!  We still do not know the composition of the island or those mysterious 'vents'.  I'll see if the Sensor crews can get some redirect time on a actual spy satellite to get a better visual resolution of the island surface to get a more detailed view of those 'vents'.  I'm not sure without an eyes on visual examination I will be able to determine what drives the island us using.  That is the best I can do from here, but I'll get right on it."

Justicar will return to the Sensor operators station and ask if a better satellite view of the islands surface can be taken with a spy stat asset in the area?

OOC: Questions -
1. Can a spysat visual of the isle-Vessel from above give us a clearly view of its composition?
2. Can any of the displayed surface anomalies be clearly define with spysat visuals what they represent?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Fri 25 Nov 2022.

Runa wasn't a strategist or at all familiar with the operation of the ship and its advanced equipment. Lilibeth's memories was of scant help either since she had been in her armed forces Army, not Navy, though she had at least some inkling as to the kind of technology that was in use.

Since all those things were true, Runa occupied her time on board doing something she was trained and experienced in doing; being a priestess to warriors about to enter battle. Oh, she was aware that the idea was, at least it seemed to her, that the ship itself was to avoid battle while her teammates stormed the 'island' where Holly Cook was being held. That didn't change the fact that the warriors aboard this ship may be called upon to fight, whatever the plan had been.

Being mindful that many warriors in this modern age were not followers of any god, let alone hers, she was deliberate when offering words of encouragement to the crew. She didn't shy away from talking about Ishtar and offered her blessings upon any that welcomed it but neither did she force the words of The Goddess upon them. At Lilibeth's urging, she was mindful to stay out of any areas marked as being restricted, to include the bridge, so as to not interfere with the smooth operation of the ship that all their lives depended on. Her soprano voice was filled with confidence and conveyed a sense of unshakable faith. As she stopped to talk with the ship's crew, she would emphasize her words with small gestures, such as arm clasps and squeezing shoulders, as she looked in their eyes while speaking.

OOC
I wish I was eloquent enough to write flowery words of inspiration but I'm not. My skill checks and people's imaginations will have to be. ^_^

WOW! The RPOL dice gods are smiling upon me today!

Runa rolled 9 using 1d100.  Performance - delivering words of inspiration (45) - SUCCESS!.

Runa rolled 7 using 1d100.  MA check - words of inspiration (Trust - 60%) - SUCCESS!!.

Senor Garcia looked out the sensory readouts himself. The technology on the USS Gemini was decades ahead of what he had available when he himself was in the US Navy, but that didn't mean he hadn't kept up to date with technology...

[Private to GM: 09:29, Today: Senor Garcia rolled 40 using 1d100.  RSE 90%.
PASS (Does the ship's sensors pick up anything?) ]

'Sorry...thought I'd posted this in my last post but its seems to have been cut off from my original post. So posting them again...'

OOC: Questions -
1. Can a spysat visual of the isle-Vessel from above give us a clearly view of its composition?
2. Can any of the displayed surface anomalies be clearly define with spysat visuals what they represent?

In reply to JUSTICAR (msg # 28):

OOC:  I thought the 'island' was invisible or blurred to sat surveillance.

Surveillance, from any source, just shows an island with unusual plant life and the features previously noted. The hatches are typical hatches, and no actual personnel are actually visible.

Winter Herald was certainly paying attention to information feeds while doing his research. [Language unknown: ++"Er ckshe ame mi on t moetre ilwich prethiare, anec at resthihasent u p avekor-lineen eiiome oeroutest u somainlin andme enie anteenhas o e elsana. Ndno urout m ted echoce tedwhethoine? N be, i st itwaat a lamo i k. U tarut, a esng siwas o anynteichrom. O st os evrom earkoroer li bleon ngssonmo onfoio."++]

At least something recognizable as "hatches" had been found, though. That would have to do in the absence of further data.