Senor Garcia looks at Lt. Smohk as he boards the Shadowhawk. "Yeah, but we should also try to simultaneously hit that submarine. It looks like an old Soviet Golf Class but with less ballistic missile tubes."

Colonel Flagg speaks, "If we engage the squad around the cannon before the comms are down, we'll have more company than we can handle. With the help of Zee, Paragon, and Drifter we might be able to bring down the cannon before they're reinforced, but that wouldn't stop them rebuilding it in short order."
"It seems to me that cannon is the center of gravity, once it's eliminated Lt. Smohk could bring that boat in. Once that's done, either the submarine or the communications system would become the center of gravity. Both of these would have to be controlled from some sort of larger installation. I'm not sure who, but someone would need to get into that base and disable their comms so we wouldn't get overrun."
"Once the electro-static cannon and communications are down, Panamanian forces are poised to launch an offensive with the help of partisans so Chinilaya can rejoin Panama thus strengthening our ally."
The colonel pauses, dramatically, then says, "those are the orders I was given, and how I'll proceed."

“What is security like at the comms hub? Is it something that a lone person like me could sneak into if we can’t have Drifter teleport someone directly there?” Senor Garcia wasn't about to suggest or attempt to order someone to carry out a potential suicide mission when he himself had been getting both in and out of highly secure places since the late 70’s.

"While I appreciate priority targeting, remember: if we take out the big gun and they just call some mobile conventional artillery to the shoreline because they fear a foreign commando attack backed by local partisans, our efforts are wasted if they can get here quickly enough to fire on Smohk's crew. USA forces have proven time and again the most powerful weapon is the radio, able to call men, supplies, or immediately applicable ordinance. So if we consider comms secondary, we must act very quickly."

Winter Herald was simply filing away the usual political nonsense that was bringing Smohk here. FORCE took priority. "And Paragon? It has nothing to do with the mission, but Drifter has the right of it. I have read your profile, because I do have that kind of time. The circumstances that have followed you, even your entry into a superpowered team when you have none recorded - this is all highly improbable, but statistically possible. I only wish to know where you will be. I suspect the details around you will work themselves out favorably, as long as it is statistically possible to do so. Whatever target you have, we can get the other."

He glanced to Garcia. "Honestly, the submarine is only a concern if the nuclear weapon is on it. Major FORCE is not going to want to flee from us twice. I suspect this time, he will want a fight. He will certainly want what he will see as his property back, once he realizes I am here and close to him. Using me as bait would be more practical."

Spymaster was running the numbers in his head with the team's known abilities, trying to come up with a way that should allow them to pull this off successfully, when Herald's comment about Force wanting him that a light bulb went off. His paranoia was always so focused that he could be an unknowing sleeper agent, it never hit him he could also be a successful bait. With that, and a few other tricks, he might just have something.

"I think, and this is an absolute long shot, that I might have a way to bring down the cannon and the security area simultaneously, and give Smohk an opening to get more boots on the ground."

He stood, and crossed to the table where the plans had been drawn.

"There is a huge element of risk, but, if Garcia, Herald, Paragon, Z, Drifter and I go for the security center, Psi-Bird, Runa, and Justice can fly in and hit the cannon. Drifter portals us in, maybe summons something distracting but controllable, like an owlbear, Garcia, pick a high priority target and bomb it, Herald and Z mix it up with the guards to keep them off balance, I'll steal one of their birds and use it to lay down covering fire, and Paragon can use the confusion to disrupt comms, or at least find them so I can launch a missile into it, and hopefully her luck rubs off on us, because we'll damn well need it. When I get the bird airborne, the cannon crew will likely begin aiming at the checkpoint. Since it won't be expected, we should have a small window while the re-align to a target inland. That will be Runa's teams cue to move, disable the guards, and gain control of the cannon, and if not, Psi-bird tells me she can fire like a tank, break the damn cannon. If all works out right, they won't have time to react, and let our naval forces reach the shore. When we have ground control, we can move to the underground and call in our big gun, it'll be hard to prove where an underground base is, and I'm sure if needs be the kid can melt a submarine if Force tries to escape."

With a regular team of special operatives, this would be suicidal at best, but Spymaster has been dealing with one constant flaw of his own since joining the LESP. He continually underestimates his allies abilities, still thinking like a spy with a group of skilled, but mortal people. Now was the time to lean into the fact he had a invulnerable monkey man, superspeed android, and a wizard who could seemingly summon fiction to reality.

"To be honest, the assignments can change around, but this was the best plan I could come up with on the spot."

Staphany smiles and shrugs,"...when a hammer is needed... I can Certainly HAMMER, but in this case a scalpel might be just as effective.  Get me into the gunnery control room and I remember perfectly from machine ghosting the weapons array Precisely where the weapons control cable bus is inside the console. All I'll need is One thrust of my Psi-Sword into the console to sever that control cable and they will need hours to patch that, once they remove the entire console to get to it in the first place.  Then, of course, repair time for the shredded console..."

"Trust me. My Psi-Sword can cleave steel like bread ~ a light metal and plastic console... like butter!"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Sat 25 Nov 2023.

"I suppose that I will be distrating the guards while Psi-Bird messes with the cannon.
If nothing else I can find something important on the cannon and break it."

Through the small rift, Drifter is heard to say, "Just a few more minutes and I'll have a portal ready. Then our friends can join us so we'll be able to do two things at once."

"You will not be 'distracting' anything with an assault rifle, because they will shoot you. You will be engaging them in a way that you are never pinned down. Have then convinced you are some kind of ballerino, and think of it as a rapidly changing puzzle. You are very smart."

22:02, Today: Winter Herald rolled 6 using 1d100 with rolls of 6. Understanding of language, TN 98 with a 12% overflow

"Oh, to those unused to the swirling chaos of battle. Choose a superior, do not back-talk them under fire, we aren't all brave the first time, and if cut off, don't overthink it. Choose a necessary action, and do not look back until you are safe."

Stephany shrugged, "Yeah, just tell me who to follow and what to break..."

Senor Garcia speaks to the portal/rift.

"Drifter, can you make a separate portal and put me on that submarine?"

He then quickly explained. "This is the second time in the past few weeks I have come across a one-off variant of a Soviet built submarine."

"The last submarine we came across had a fully functional AI, and I am now wondering if FORCE may be spinning off copies of itself as children in these submarines."

"We allowed the last AI run submarine escape, and I think that was a mistake. This time we should scuttle the sub."

In reply to Senor Garcia (msg # 169):

Psi-Bird shrugs, "Y'know Senor... there is no need to guess! I can just Astral Project again over to the sub and Machine Ghost the vessel and find out if it has an AI onboard... before we break something that might be nuclear powered and All the complications THAT entails."

Nodding at Psi-Birds idea Senior García added what he could from the pictures of the sun. “The submarine appears to be an old Golf class that was modified or was built as a one off variant.”

“It shouldn’t be nuclear powered but the idea be ballistic missile may be or it might have a chemical or biological warhead.”

“If you do your machine ghost thing can it alert an AI or any kind of electronic alarm?”

In reply to Senor Garcia (msg # 169):

"I would need to have had visual conformation of the co ordinates to be sure of an accurate lock.

As for alerting an electronic alarm! That would depend on the sophistication of the software.
For example if the system is a roving patrol.  Then that would depend on where they were in relation to us.  But there are ways around that.  We could ghost or go ethereal and sneak in through the walls or tap into the security system to get the co ordinates that are outside of the patrols current location.  Anyone got a laptop available?"
 

In reply to Senor Garcia (msg # 171):

Psi-Bird shakes her head, "...My 'access' when machine ghosting is total... but I can only read and examine the 'cyberspace' of a computer system.  I cannot manipulate, or erase the data or seize control of the device but I can examine and monitor ANY data it has access to. Literally I am a ghost within the system.  Its only because of my total recall photographic memory that I can precisely recall the exact data I peruse.  If I were to stay in the system from a long time snooping around ... an AI would eventually notice my presence, but I'd notice it's self-aware thoughts long before that... I'll only need a few moments to determine if the machine I'm ghosting is self-aware."

The small "hole in the sky" that the anja came through widens to portal with a two meter diameter. Through the hole Drifter, Paragon, Chimp Man Z and Colonel Flagg can be seen.

Psi-Bird / Stephany... watches with wonder as the tiny pin-hole in reality grows and expand to a full on dimensional portal in space/time to a distant location on earth... and clearly within Chinilaya.

She mutters under her breath, 'Well THATS something you don't see everyday!'

Casting her gaze at the team on the boat as they all watch silent.... she shrugs and shoulders Senor Garcia's bull pup compact rifle (Magpul PDR-D) equipped with a suppressor, slinging it on her opposite shoulder ~ barrel down, to her camerabag {dropping the Ingram Mac-10 into the bag alongside her other camera gear, slide locked forward}... and steps through the open portal into the the central American climes.

Looking around she Grins at Chimpman Z, "Wow.. you're... Chimpman Z?  I saw a recent expose on the news about your change... forgot You were a Sentinel!  Pleasure to meet you!"

Noting the confused looks on the Chinilaya team's expressions, "OH!  Hi! I'm Psi-Bird, or Stephany if you prefer.  Detective Broyko called me in last minute... thought my psychic powers would be useful... I gathered all the scouting intell.  Here..."

Reaching into her camera bag she pulls out a folded collection of once blank navigation paper, a copy of all the hand drawn maps and sketches she made of the Delmarion Cove buildings and underground facilities...
This message was last edited by the player at 13:54, Sat 23 Dec 2023.

Paragon looked the new woman over and felt a tiny bit jealous. This woman has style, perhaps flair was a better word. She nodded at the other woman as she took her in. "I feel like I've seen you somewhere before. SSM Alison Myers, providing jurisdictional support. No powers here, please stay out of my mind, unless it is some kind of emergency." Paragon thought a moment. "Aren't there rules for time travel? Like we aren't suppose to touch our other selves if we meet or we turn to goo? I don't want my picture to fade out, Okay?"

Runa smiles at seeing CMZ again. She walks up to the hairless mutant and embraces him in a back slapping hug. After a moment, she disengages and steps back from him. "It is good to see you again," she says. "Lilibeth is also happy to see you. I am not sure why she hasn't come out to greet you herself but she is pleased to see you again."

Psi-Bird, right?  Welcome aboard.
 Nice to meet you, CMZ offer his hand to shake.  Honestly, I hated doing that interview.  Nothing to do with the interviewer or the questions, just kind of getting tired of having to prove who I am, honestly.  When we were working the convention, I wore a costume of myself, my
old self.  It was kind of enlightening.
He barely feels Runa's friendly slap amd hug on his back, dense flesh and muscle, with their rock hard consistency, not good for transmitting pain signals from his nerves any more.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Wed 27 Dec 2023.

Senor Garcia shakes his head as he too steps through the portal with his battle rifle slung across his back, and one of his gear bags (containing his shotgun and extra mags/ammo for his weapons) in his left hand. He winks at Chimp Man Z with a smile on his face and delivers a head nod in the direction of Paragon before walking over to Psi-Bird.

As he takes re-possession of his Magpul PDR-D he tells Psi-Bird in a calm but yet stern tone: “Next time ask before you decide to take any of my gear.” Hopefully the young woman wouldn't push the issue...

In reply to Paragon (msg # 176):

Stephany laughs in nervous embarrassment, "Aheh.. yeah.. you might have seen one of 'Chasing Histories Mysteries' - podcast episodes.  It's kind of a somewhat tawdry show.  We publish in the entertainment section of 'Science America'.. investigating supernatural legends and mysteries.  It mostly BS, but I do get to travel the world often to do some field work on actual history.  I Always try to put real historical events backed with actual evidence of the past documented and verified.  My editor, Jimmy Lou, is more interested in sensationalism and 'Ghost Hunters' kind of crap.  It's an excuse to do some real field work in investigative archaeology... so I put up with it ~ until I can actually afford to finish my College Graduate work and possibly some day follow my dream of Real work on legitimate digs into history as a respected archaeologist."

She shrugs her expression a little sour, "Most folks only remember the other 'Chasing Mysteries Histories' hostess/hussy ~ Shiela Burton, who always 'seems' to have some 'wardrobe malfunction' in all the stories she hosts.  I've told Lou with NO uncertainty 'NOT Happening' on Any show I host in the field!  He's still at me to show more skin...grrr.. he's skeezy at his worse, but he keeps his hands to himself, at least."

She smiles, "Eh nice to meet you Alison! And yeah no.  Of all my 'gifts' telepathy is the one I could really do without... so yeah no problem.. I Hate hearing peoples thoughts... often times they are not nice.  Took a lot of practice to stop doing it unconsciously as a kid... the flood of thoughts on your casual street walk was enough to fill my head with mind-numbing noise drowning ME out.. could not hear my own thoughts!  Glad those Days are behind me.  Trust me.. hearing Anyone's thoughts ~ other than my own, is the Last thing I want!"

At her mention of time travel her pretty green eyes go wide, "...you.. you guys can do that? I can't.. but it sure would make finding out historical secrets in fact really useful!  I can..eh sort of do something ... er psychometry ~ to read the past imprinted on objects.  But.. eh its.. sometimes dangerous to touch the wrong things.  Believe me you do not want to get a psychic impression from a psycho's murder weapon! Gah.. so iky and just wrong... for a time I needed to wear leather gloves all the time to STOP picking up impressions just because of that... damned near got put into a mental coma touching the wrong thing once, and I can't forget it!  Perfect Eidetic - Total Recall memory sucks sometimes.  But learning to control my telepathy helped me master that fast... thank goodness. Now I don't need gloves... but every object I encounter can be a mental psychic-mine field if I'm not careful."

"So.. who can time travel here? Not me for certain.. though I can teleport small objects... not the same."

-----

In reply to Chimp Man Z (msg # 178):

"Yeah Psi-Bird, Stephany... or Birdie!", her tone of admiration and personal delight at meeting a well known superhero were infectious.

Stephany beams a charmed smile and takes the offered hand, "Yeah, the moral majority can be really silly in the media hype.  But I must say.. you really 'hunked out' so.. maybe there's a small silver-lining to the dark clouds of public scrutiny?" She winked at him lasciviously.

-----

In reply to Senor Garcia (msg # 179):

At Senor Garcia's taking the assault rifle back, Stephany just blinks somewhat surprised making no attempt to retain the weapon..
"Uhm.. sure 'Senor' ~ no problem, you offered..."



"I picked up the rifle..."



"...but you never objected?"

Senor Garcia (msg # 156):
Senor Garcia (msg # 158):
Senor Garcia (msg # 160):
Senor Garcia (msg # 169):
Senor Garcia (msg # 171):

She shrugs, "No biggie.. I'm not really a gun-person anyways. I was just mainly carrying it for You cause you inferred you did not want to carry all the weight."

Looking at everyone, adjusting her shoulder camera bag, casually brushing a curl of red hair from her features, then focusing on Chimpman Z and Runa {the only two Sentinel 'Heroes' she actually recognizes from news feeds}, "So.. where too now?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Sun 07 Jan.

"Well maybe next time you'll wait for someone to object or agree before assuming they've said yes and then take their stuff." It's clear Senior Garcia is not going to play any of the woke bullshit games young people of today liked to play.

OOC: Next time Psi-Bird, maybe you as a player should WAIT for the other player to respond before taking any gear being offered, instead of just assuming the other player has said yes.