Captain Justice spends the 10 hours to get near Chinilaya resting and making sure his equipment is ready to go.

He joins in on the meeting with Spymaster and the others. And eyes the Mac 10.

"How many magazines do we have for the submachinegun? I could probably use it about as well as I could use any other gun."

OOC: About what Time is it currently?

Psi-Bird ... smiles sadly but brightens a little.

"Thanks Winter, seriously... most folks when they learn what I can do.. don't really want to be around me knowing I.. can kill with but a thought."

She chuckles a little, "...I'm kinda new with working with ...people like me.  But I have been in combat and I've been on active battlefields before.. war journalist correspondent work... I won't break in a fight.  Usually I DO the Breaking of others ignorant enough to take me for 'just a civi'."

She picks up the offered Mac-10, noticeably keeping her fingers far away from the trigger, "..never had much use for guns don't really need them.. not a fan of them, but we're not taking a stroll in the park and our foes won't pull any punches.  So.. where's this Mac-10's safety, if it has one, and where is the magazine ejection slide, the fire-select switch, and the bolt-lever if I need to cycle a jammed round?"

She looks over at Senor Garcia, "I'm not trained with guns but I'll carry one of your rifles for you.. cause I'm planning on staying near You if a fight breaks out.  You got war and combat clearly down as an art form.. so I'll just carry whatever weapon you want cause I can get it to you on need without ever being near you or touching the firearm. And I agree we should try real hard to stay quiet as long as possible.. meeting the rebels and establishing a FOB would be for the best so we can plan out with the rest of the team's intel."

Regarding Spymaster, "So you want me to Astral Scout now?  If so.. first get the boat someplace your not likely to move it for at least an hour.  If my body is moved from a local I know.. it can be really hazardous to me not to be able to find it when I reach my limit of ability duration."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:30, Thu 02 Nov 2023.

In reply to Psi-Bird (msg # 133):

With possibly Captain Justice, and Psi-Bird flat out admitting she had not handled a MAC-10, Senor Garcia gives a quick lesson as he picks up, or takes the MAC-10 from someone.

"For those of you who haven't handled a MAC Ten, think of it as an improved version of the Emm Three Grese gun from World War Two."

"Which isn't saying much."

"It's only effective at about fifty meters, or for those of you who don't know the metric system is, roughly one hundred and fifty feet."

Holding up the MAC-10, Senor Garcia pulls the bolt back, looks into the open chamber, then sticks his finger in it to ensure a round is not present.

"This gun fires from the open bolt position which means unless the bolt is back it will not fire." To demonstrate, Senor Garcia slams the bolt home, THEN picks up a magazine of .45 ACP. And after making sure somebody DID NOT load it with hydro shock ammo, because a submachinegun that fires from the open bolt cannot use hydro shock (AKA hollow point) ammunition, he places the magazine into the weapon.

"Ok so right now you will not be killing anybody with this weapon, because the bolt is forward." Pointing the weapon out towards the ocean (and thus a safe direction) he pulls the trigger back three times and accentuates this by saying "Bang" each time he pulled the trigger.

Senor Garcia then pulled the bolt back on the weapon, placed gloved hand on the top/barrel of the weapon. "With the bolt back, I am now killing people." With that he depresses the tripper and fires off the entire magazine of thirty rounds into the empty horizon within the short span of 1.5 seconds (give or take a millisecond). For those who pay attention, the barrel of the weapon barely moves because Senor Garcia left hand is holding down the barrel with his left hand, a sure sign that if he was aiming at someone or something most if not all of the rounds from the 30-round magazine would have stuck their target.

"Look, the MAC ten is only useful in close quarters combat, and if you're engaging a soldier from a banana republic like Chinilaya who is probably armed with an AK forty-seven, your just gonna be pissing in the wind."

Thus, Senor Garcia reiterated the fact he had two spare guns for other to use.

"I got a shotgun with a number of different shell types, and an automatic rifle configured for close quarters use. If anybody would rather use either of those instead of a shitty mac ten, I'm willing to share."

19:46, Today: Secret Roll: Senor Garcia rolled 23 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 19.  shoot MAC-10
unat 23

OOC: A MAC-1 fires 1090 rounds a minute. This is 272.5 rounds per 15 second melee, or 18 rounds a second. So, with 5 actions/attacks a melee (ie. one action every 3 seconds), Senor Garcia can literally dump the entire magazine of 30 rounds in half a melee action.

After the boat stops and anchors twenty-five miles from the coast of Chinilaya, the Gemini approaches and Lt. Smohk returns. When everyone is prepared, Psi-Bird does her trance and explores their destination. Basic information received would be the maps shown in the Maps and Media thread.

"I will add to the lesson. Consider it a close range, one-handed shotgun. Use only when you have no other options, or as a surprise. The weapon empties the clip quickly, and you may or may not be able to count your own shots. Don't bother - focus your mind on life or death, and if your weapon is empty, it is empty. Go for cover before attempting to reload. And sometimes simply spraying a volley of rounds at a group can encourage them to keep their heads down and buy you crucial time. After all, a .45 ACP is still a bullet and can hurt or kill, and any firearm is dangerous to most organics."

Winter Herald noted the weapon, and his inability to handle it correctly. "As for me, my systems specifically read this weapon as two separate weapon types at the same time, attempts to apply both protocols to the same weapon, and seizes up from the contradiction. As a result, it applies no weapon protocols to the use of submachine guns. My programming has glitches, much like any organic. Mine is comparable to a highly specific version of what you call 'the Centipede's Dilemma.' Irritating, as many of my systems are designed to prevent this very situation."

"And we need to link up with the others first if possible. This does mean getting to them without being followed. Prioritize stealth over damage." He was checking if they were being bathed in radar signals or not. If they were, that was going to change how quickly they needed to move.

In reply to Senor Garcia (msg # 134):

Stephany listens intently regarding a ... perfectly remembering ever motion the Veteran solider does.  Then she nods, picks up the Mac-10.. and perfectly repeats his instruction sliding the bolt forward the 'effective' safety on the weapon, ejecting the magazine, replacing a new magazine, Sliding the bolt back, and placing hand on top of the barrel to hold it down she aims ever slightly lower and just like Senor Garcia demonstrated... fires a series of almost 3-round bursts out to sea as she eventually empties the magazine.

She turns and smiles, "I met a marine, Staff Sergeant Jack Burner, on assignment in Iraq, he was a veteran of Fallujah... his CO made contact with my 'editor' as the brass was not taking the reports of a ... ghostly murderer stalking the Iraqi women near his Unit's deployment. Staff Ser Burner had seen it too on a night deployment to what was at first thought to be a domestic disturbance.  Bravest man I ever knew.  Told me in a war Zone identify the most veteran solider in the CZ, stick with them and do Exactly what they tell you to; you'll likely get out alive.  Anyways he told me short burst were easier to control otherwise your likely just wasting shots and making yourself a volunteer target.  Who knew an Ancient Sumerian demon ~ Gallu could be summoned by a crazed Al-Qaeda extremist who found the wrong idol to pray to with his dying breath as he bleed out huh? Prayer, blood, sacrifice... and a little magic ~ bad combination.  I miss Jack he could have died better, but not braver ~ he was Marine right to the end."

Her smile fades, as she picks up Senor Garcia's automatic rifle AND the Mac-10, "With this Mac-10 hip-shotgun think I got close range handled.. so I'll take the assault rifle to."

To note, obvious to all.. she is already still armed with the Smith & Wesson M39 and the Ithace Stakeout Shotgun.

In reply to SSOGM (msg # 135):

On arrival at the 25mile mark off the coast, Psi-Bird sets up in the Shadowhawk's Radar/Sonar/Commo Room {3#}, behind the bridge, setting up the charts table with blank mapping sheets and charting/drafting implements.

Commenting, "When I do this the total recall memories are most clear the more recent they are... so best be ready for me to dump a full on graphic schemtic booklet on you when I return."

Tools prepared she takes a seat at the back of the room cross-legged on the floor eyes closed, "Here I go ~ Charge!"

----

There is some additional details, besides mapping that Stephany is collecting ~
1) Head count on personnel ~ she will use her Total Recall to id and tally how many soldiers and non-combatants are present
2) How many androids present
3) Type of weapons and armor being employed by soldiers security
4) Location of Weapons Armory, Fuel Storage, and power generation, and communication centers
5) She will over course search for any and all connecting underground passage and investigate to see if there is a sewer system that might allow ease of unobserved movement
6) On finishing her physical sweep of the area she will Ghost Machine the Site C Electro-Static Weapon to scan its software to find out if any additional useful intel can be learned about the devices operation, effective range, rate of fire, power systems location, and fire control location, passwords to its operation and any failsafes, as well as an administrators pass code for any and all electronic lock door keypads.

Stephany to all outside observation goes to sleep.. instantly.. her breathing is regular and deep as if unconscious and she remains motionless for exactly 40 minutes...

Astral Projection [8isp +8isp {40min 'double duration'}]
Ghost Machine [12isp {12min}]
Total Recall [2isp]
Total: 30isp/ 177

Then she wakes and immediately gets to drafting all she saw and heard in the map table... making rapid notes in perfect clarity...
This message was last edited by the player at 17:37, Mon 06 Nov 2023.

Runa, not Lilibeth, returns to the rest of the team, in time to catch the tail end of Psi-Bird's story about her time in Iraq. Her blue eyes glow with an intense light at the mention of 'Gallu'. "You are fortunate to be alive," she says, her normally soprano voice lower and filled with anger. "And that Gallu is fortunate I was not with you. Perhaps Fate will see fit to deliver me into its presence someday."

The warrior priestesses closes her eyes and takes a deep, chest swelling breath. She holds it for several moments and then exhales. As she does she opens her eyes and they are again their normal, unglowing azure. "Excuse me, an old feud that doesn't concern what we are about today. Please continue to share what you have learned and how I will best bring about the fall of our enemy."

In reply to Runa (msg # 138):

Stephany ... grimaces, her expression, almost pained, "...yeah 'fortunate me'.  Not sure we won that fight... certainly didn't save the six young Iraqi girls who were horribly ritually murdered and mutilated ~ nor keep the memories of it all from my oh so perfect memory.  I barely survived not ending up the seventh in the ritual... to the self-proclaimed ~ Throne-Bearer of Ereshkigal, whatever that nonsense meant the thing kept whispering to us.  But enough bullets, and a psychic blade of my will ... I think we slew it.  Goodness I hope so!  I was told by a very knowledgeable and  'gifted' Roma woman fortune-teller, named Lersa, I met in Turkey at a farmers market on the outskirts of Bursa, that silver is a bane to Dyvals and some Daemons so..."

She slips a hand into a jacket pocket and pulls out briefly a roll of wrapped silver dollar coins... "..bang-bang", as she makes a pistol gesture with her right hand fingers...

She shrugs, "So...it seems all over save the nightmares ~ sometimes. The Gallu has not come back at least.  Staff Ser. Burner told me there were no more murders so.. maybe?  Just doesn't seem right Jack... died 5 months later so tragically. Fucking IED..."

She sighs, "Yeah... as to the Mission details of this Delmarion Bay..."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:16, Mon 06 Nov 2023.

The information Psi-Bird returns with:
There are three armed helicopters at the security area in addition to just under three dozen Chinilayan soldiers. The soldiers have assault rifles and pistols. The electrostatic cannon has a crew of six, they are also soldiers. There are five dock workers at the dock. No androids are seen here.
Building 'C' at the security compound contains an elevator, the shaft leads down to:

Following the tram rails leads to:

The electrostatic cannon has little software beyond failsafe mechanisms to warn and shut down when certain chips get hot. It is aimed and triggered, apparently, by an operator.

Spymaster noted all the intel coming in. If they survived this, he might just keep Psi-bird on speed dial. Previously he had been working with no information, and now he had more than he could ever dream of.

Dock is first priority, no armed resistance reported, just dock workers. Ideally we aren't killing civvies, this isn't that kind of op. We try the peaceful way there, and try to minimize damage. If we can get to the cannon quietly, there is little resistance, should be easy to take it, possibly even repurpose it. That will be where we need Justicar most. Probably see about sending him some schematics before bringing him in though, if a report gets out he's involved in this it could bring a lot of negative consequences he isn't ready for. The security compound will be the hardest but I think I have a plan. The underground facility will need to be secured too, which is an added complication, and we still have no clue where FORCE's factory is, nor the nuke, but we're making progress.

"Alright, with the intel we have I'm seeing the building blocks of plan. Step one, we get to the dock. With what I gather from Stephany, they aren't armed, so we try peace there, and try for nonlethal if it's civilians. We're trying to free these people, not stack them like cord wood. Our next move is twofold, we take the truck, and begin traveling to the house on the hill, while Psi-bird uses her skills to try and find the advance team. I dislike having a man down, but our options are hope Drifter is paying attention and gives us a rendezvous, or send Herald out on a hunt, which means we're still down a man, but that man is also isolated. Our third target is the cannon, if we can control that Smohk and Flagg can bring in a bit of heavier artillery, plus we can insure our own communications out. Our last target is the security area, we've got 3 dozen guards, helicopters, and an underground facility, that's going to be quite the spectacle, but I think I have some ideas to make it easier, but we'll see what the best plan is when we approach. They'll likely reinforce if they get wind we're in Chinilaya. Our best plan for now is not to look outwardly hostile, see if we can win the dockworker's trust without a blood bath."

Oliver moved to the edge of the bow, taking a seat and setting his Galil down on the deck, throwing a tarp over it.

"And that means maybe putting down the guns you can't conceal, in easily reachable spots. Herald, if you can be eyes and ears as we approach, keep an eye for weapons, and listen for any phrases that suggest alarm."

OOC: Actually, I don't think it's come up yet, is Chinilaya Spanish speaking, or Portuguese, or a mixed dialect? It could be something else, but being South American and it's location being coastal near Colombia I'd presume one of the two is dominant.

From a small hole in mid air, Drifter is heard to say,
"I have a friend that should be able to convince the locals to join us, if they've heard the local folk tales, anyway. Jane, can you say hello to our other friends?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:16, Sun 12 Nov 2023.

An unfamiliar voice speaks through the portal, it's tone is melodious almost like the tinkling of a bell. "Do you mean the ones on the other end of this hole in the world? Sure."
"I could pop through and talk to them, or go see those duck walkers for you. Why are they walking ducks, can't the ducks walk by themselves?"

Stepahany was not certain how to take voices coming out of thin air... but rolled with it, "...thats Dock Workers."

Turning to Senor Garcia, "I sketched from memory what the submarine looked like with as much detail as possible.. can you identify the class of sub and it potential capabilities?  Now that I think of it I should have flown through it to get some idea on its crew compliment and number of torpedo and other armaments its armed with."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:21, Sun 19 Nov 2023.

Winter Herald was having a difficult time processing who the "duck walkers" were until Psi-Bird corrected them and reminded them of the nature of Drifter and any allies they would likely rope into this. He glanced to Psi-Bird and shook his head. "Your information was acquired without any visible alerts being sent out, and it was a staggering amount in a short time. Understanding the limits of entropy is a difficult task even for my mechanical mind. Paragon might be the only one of us who truly understands it."

He looked up. "I hope this portal is close to our relative time, Drifter. We are close to your position in this world. I am assuming this line is secure. We need to know where to meet you, and we need to exchange information or at least synchronize."

He gave a half-smile to Spymaster. "I am programmed to operate with units of any size. This includes solo operations. We need to cut their comms and their surveillance if possible. Prevent them from acting on meaningful data, and confuse reinforcements to increase operational friction. But that can wait until we strike. I can listen to the shores from here, with ears and radio, but the ocean delivers more noise than you know. Seagulls in particular are quite galling."

He paused, realizing something. "That is not a joke."

His intention was to wait until his role in current dialogue was over, and then to make this way to the deck to begin listening to the shore.

Captain Justice smiles at Winter Herald's inadvertent joke.

"I see. It will be difficult for me to disembark without drawing attention to myself. Due to being so outside the norm. What would you suggest for my course of action?"

One of the new voices on the other end of the hole says, "They do sound interesting, I'll just pop through and give them a look, ok?"

Drifter is heard through the hole, saying, "why did you just not let me know you want to see the other side noble one?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:52, Sat 18 Nov 2023.

In reply to Anjana Jane (msg # 147):

Stephany does not hesitate as she moves to a better vantage point .... to keep anything compromising out of her view as she pulls her professionally configured telephoto-lens camera from her camera bag and takes a series of rapid-fire pictures of Anjana Jane....

08:45, Today: Psi-Bird rolled 11 using 1d100 with rolls of 11.  Psi-Bird, Photography - 3rd Attempt [62%]. – 11 {SUCCESS}

08:44, Today: Psi-Bird rolled 70 using 1d100 with rolls of 70.  Psi-Bird, Photography - 2nd Attempt [62%]. – 70  {FAIL}

08:44, Today: Psi-Bird rolled 69 using 1d100 with rolls of 69.  Psi-Bird, Photography [62%]. – 69 {FAIL}

...the 'faerie' fluttered about making catching a full on photo that was not blurred or just a partial clip of her not a full view very hard... but eventually the photo-journalist is rewarded with several full view clear shots.

She smiles, and comments,"...THAT will satisfy my Editor for months of material!  Y'know there is a standing debate and challenge for ANY documentable pictures of 'Real' Faeries?  The citizen's of Ireland swear to their existence but the 'talking head' of the Scientific Community rebuff all reports cause there is no 'proof'.  Those who won't believe even with these pictures will refuse to believe but those who do believe.. will be joyous for a time. Now ~ I believe!!"

Addressing the diminutive 'Lady Jane', "Hello Jane, my name is Stephany, sometimes called Psi-Bird.  I hope you don't mind my taking your picture... people have been debating the existence of the small folk  for as long as tales and legends have been told by mankind... a lot of people believe in your existence, but are frustrated when nay-sayers claim you do not exist as there is no proof you do. But now... I know different.  Do you mind if I show your pictures to people?  If you would prefer not... I'll respect that and destroy them... but knowing you exist would make a lot of people happy!"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:01, Thu 16 Nov 2023.

Captain Justice's expression shifts to shock as the tiny fae pulls herself through the portal. But he quickly masters himself and returns his face to a neutral expression.

He is quite the nerd and fond of fantasy books and RPGs. The fae are quite common in those stories and have a certain pattern to them.

"I would advise everyone,  It would be in everyones best interest to be very polite and very, very careful with your words."

"I wouldn't worry too much about looking out of the norm Captain, it's why we have a cover story for the locals of being Stephany's team and story respectively. Force's men likely know you if the last android we handled sent back any video."

He neglected to mention what the android was, he didn't need Psi-bird breaking the story until they were in position to end Force, nor did he voice his concerns the Herald might have a subroutine even he didn't know about giving backdoor intel. He sat watching the dock as best he could until Drifter stepped through with what seemed to be a fairy. He was hesitant to confirm it as such, since it could just be a meta with a shrunken form and insect wings as a mutation.

"I doubt your publishers will believe one fairy as evidence, they'd want proof she isn't just a meta. Drifter, we're getting ready to dock the Shadowhawk, and begin our movement from the coast. What's the situation inland? Where should we meet up with Z, Paragon, and Flagg?"

One might believe Spymaster would be more impressed with meeting a fairy, they would be wrong. In the last week he has dealt with a giant green alien, actual magic, a android senator, and now seemingly the idea that all fiction might be real, a fairy was relatively low on the weirdness level.

Winter Herald noted the tiny being coming through the portal, his voice surprisingly calm and level. "I fail to understand how my consensus initially drew the conclusion that 'faerie' was the ally as opposed to a child, and yet here we are, with the discounted opinion being the reality as opposed to the more sensible one of 'a local child guide'. This must be what it is like to be accustomed to madness."

He glanced back through the portal. "If this is open, and it costs life force, then the home team is already aware of our presence. This simplifies things. All we need is to know each other's plans. I feel communication is the most lethal weapon the enemy has, and I would like to cut it. If one team is in a good position to do that, I encourage it. Additional question: can we expect partisan support?"

Paragon is heard through the hole to say, "Why would I have any insight on entropy? I don't even know what the heck that is."

Colonel Flagg is heard through the communications hole, "I've got a squad of mercs, as soon as we coordinate with Smohk, we were planning to take out that weird-looking antenna array to disable their communications. But that needs to change."
"Watching the soldiers around the thing has me convinced they're not comms specialists. They act like artillery crew. I was hoping Lt. Smohk could give us some insight," he says.

In reply to Spymaster (msg # 151):

Psi-Bird / Stephany gets a part smarmy, mostly embarrassed expression on her lovely features and comments, "Yeah, you don't know my Editor.  Jimmy Lou.. he has a very flexible relationship with Journalism truth and even less with real archeological fact and history.  I'm not a 'investigative reporter'... more of a freelance columnist.  My 'paper' ~ "Chasing Histories Mysteries", is in the entertainment section of Science America on archeology investigating historical supernatural and mystical legends & myths we also do webisodes of the videos and on-scene investigations I and other investigator's do.  We're not really taken seriously, but I ~ at least, try to find historical fact more than story in everything I do!  Its NOT the work I want to be doing... I'm far more interested in the Archeology and uncovering actual professionally research history.  My 'Boss' is more interested in  sensationalism and shock... its... embarrassing.  I'd love to do nothing but pure professional archeological field work on official professional research digs... but being a ward of the state does not really given access to the funds to do a full on Undergrad and Graduate Doctorate in Archaeological studies on my finances... THIS gig is as close as I could get to my heart's goals of being an Actual professional Archaeologist!"

"But.. that said 'Freaky ~ Weapon of Mass Mental Destruction Powers' that I am, likely cooked up by my 'Benefactor' that bastard Franklin Emerson of Emerson Electronics by fucking up my mother... I have helped a lot of people around the world with my mind powers investigating ... and finding ~ strangely more often than not, Actual Supernatural Terrors that need to be opposed to protect the innocent.  So.. meh... I could be doing much worse."

"And I FLATLY refuse to use my freaky, mind-shattering mind power to take advantage of them and cheat by abusing them.  That's EMERSON'S Gig.. I'm better than that!"

Then she shrugs turns and addresses the 'communication' portal directly, "Hey.. Drifter.. its me the new gal currently working with the SENTINALS ~ Psi-Bird.  I did a complete Astral Projection sweep of the entire Delmarion Cove ... that big array is not a communications tower, Machine Ghosting it in cyberspace I learned its a Electrostatic Energy Cannon of some sort.. its a weapons array.  Could not find out its range or effect... but I think it might have possibly other functions the crew of 6 inside are indeed gunners.  Spymaster says he thinks its to counter someone named Justicar."

"HEY, if ...Lady Jane can come through this communication portal... I can teleport objects. I could teleport you one of my PDAs through this portal with all the intel I scouted in pictures I sketched out and notes on it so you will all know what we know?"

OOC: To Drifter, considering his view of alternate realities... Stephany Emerson / Psi-Bird's story seems very similar to one Annja Creed of the Rogue Angel, by Alex Archer ~ pen name, Novel Series.  Stephany does have a sword, just made is psychic power which she calls from her 'mind' instead of the 'otherwhere' that Annja Creed calls forth the enchanted holy blade of Joan of Arc she wields. The Novel series likely does not exist in THIS particular Universe... copyright issues. 'snicker'
This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Sat 18 Nov 2023.

Between Drifter and his abilities and apparently having befriended Tinker Bell, Senor Garica was still convinced that although he’d seen plenty of unbelievable things he STILL hadn’t seen all the crazy shit that is occurring in the world.

He listens to Spymaster to outlining a plan, he was after all also a professional...

Senor Garcia looks at the sketch of the submarine from Psi-Bird, hoping it WASN’T a one-off titanium hulled Victor III Class Soviet submarine. Regardless, the submarine would have to go. The good thing is that he had the ability and capability to do so.

“We should focus on taking out the electrostatic cannon first, then the submarine and then helicopters.”

“I could probably do a one-man op to take out the sub or focus on the electrostatic cannon instead. I think the sub should be first because it could dive from its dock and escape. The cannon is not a weapon that is easily movable.”