This burrow section of the underground maze has a large table, numerous chairs, and one very nice padded chair with a large mole on it. This mole chair is at the head of the table. There seems to be some sort of projection device in the center of large oval table.

HM walked in the room and took his seat in the padded chair and motioned for everyone to take a seat. There were few luxuries for a man who spent most of his time doing manual labor during an apocalypse but having a good comfy chair to sit in while enjoying a Bloody Moley was as close to a meditative temple as he could get.“After the debriefing, I would like to get to know everyone a little bit if that’s ok? I figure that if we are going to be putting each other’s lives in our hands then we should at least know each other’s personalities and capabilities.”

The voice comes again from the empty-seeming chair.  "I'm Ed.  But my name and existence are so seldom remembered, that I took one of those superhero sobriquets - so I call myself The Forgotten, now.  I'll explain more after the briefing, if you want, but for now just know that I'm a scientist who's stuck outside of time."

Antoinette strode into the room with a surprising level of quiet considering they were caring an 800-pound latex sack on their back filled with the shattered pieces of their power demonstration moments ago. Every now and then gurgling and burbling noises would issue from the sack as the material was digested and converted back into living latex that their still-unexplained power could control. The sack was slowly shrinking and its owner's body body slowly bulking back up, the beginnings of a skirt (currently more of a belt) starting to drape from their waist, but it seemed to be a slow process.

Given how much weight they were carrying around, Antoinette eschewed a chair to simply stand near the table. To Holey Moley's question their response was simple; "Yes." Nothing else. They folded their hands demurely at lap height and waited, silent save for occasional digestion noises.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:41, Thu 10 Nov 2022.

Dr. Bailey had watched in mute fascination as the conflict unfolded right there in the bar commons. The only thing she'd done, when she realized that there was going to be trouble, was spring back and scoop up her notes. For what seemed like years at this point she'd been working on data, scribbling, scratching out figures, making notes: on the Haze, on the infected, on herself, and who she is.

Who she was.

That said, though there is little emotion in her voice, as she follows the others to their assigned meeting room, she notes to Antoinette: "I am relieved to see that you are alive. Does it cause you much pain now?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 17:59, Thu 10 Nov 2022.

As soon as everybody takes a seat, the device on the center of the room turns on. A hologram of Thinkmaster's head once again appears.

"Greetings, Team Moley." She says, her tone emotionless as usual. If she has any issues with Antoinette, it was not clear from her tone or on her face.

"Your assignment is to deal with a group of resource horders called the Vendors. They offer sales to survivors of the wasteland, but only in exchange for indentured servitude. They have managed to take control of a nearby shopping center, and use those goods to barter for whatever they need. So far the Omega infected has ignored them, as it is unknown if they have any metahuman members of their group. My intel suggests they have such members.

Team Moley is to gain any such resources the Vendors have access to and bring it to the Mole Hole." She pauses. "Don't worry, I will give you a tracer device so you can be brought back here, even if you can't remember where here is."

A small compartment in the table opens up, and a small lowjack type tracker on a Velcro loop is seen. "It must be worn at all times. Any detection of infection and the device will self destruct. You might want to have a durable team member wear it. Also...try not to bump it around too much."

"What little intel we have suggests the Vendors may be former criminals, but because there is no records of such a group existing, there is not much to go on. Do not underestimate them. While no Omega infected has been detected in the area, it is surrounded by the Beta infected. However, it seems they are unusually passive, and do not make much of a effort to invade said mall. That does not mean they are harmless to outsiders however. Aside from getting the materials we require, we also want to learn how they manage to survive without being attacked.

Here is the location."

Sure enough, as holographic image showing a large mall and its location on a world map. Given you have no idea where you are underground, that means very little to you. It does seem to be in upstate New York. "You will be provided transport with memory wipe to the surface. Once there, Holey Moley will be the teams primary transportation means."

"Any questions? BRIEF questions..." She adds.

Dr. Bailey's shrewd, calculating mind is already at work. She asks a series of blunt questions as they come to her mind, with a cold, rational tone to her voice. She counts the items off on her fingers as she goes.

"What are their estimated number?"

"What is our protocol if they are hostile?"

"What is the number and nature of their indentured servants? Are they considered expendable or essential?"

"Are we to negotiate or acquire at all costs?"

When addressed by Bailey Antoinette cocks their head, closes their eyes, and offers up a contented smile. The peaceful look clashes horribly with their words; "Pain is unceasing," they say softly, so as to not appear to be obstructing the briefing. "This pain is inconsequential."

(...)

Antoinette cocks their head. These Vendors are not only giving out the resources needed for survival but also offering the bliss of servitude? Why does Thinkmaster say that like it is a bad thing? Suspicious... but they keep their suspicions to themself for the time being.

"Mistress taught me that only people who are worried about their plans feel compelled to say 'don't worry.' What about this plan are you worried about, Thinkmaster?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:28, Thu 10 Nov 2022.

"1-Intel is limited. Numbers of the vendors and their abilities are unknown.

 2-You can and should defend yourselves. Even if the Vendors are non violent, the infected surrounding their mall are not.

 3-If the Vendors are like other organized survivors, they are exploiting the non organized. No doubt they are people on the borders of Canada and trapped outside the barrier. I won't force you to do anything to or for them, but without some sort of help they will join the ranks of the infected. Humanity is a minority right now.

 4-I leave that to you. I need those supplies and I want to know how they can turn the infected to their purposes. How you accomplish that is up to you."

 

"My attempt was to insure you have a way back to the Mole Hole. If you want me to not offer words of encouragement, that could be arranged as well." Given her flat tone of clearly computer replication, its hard to take any comfort in words that are supposed to be postive.

The Forgotten says, "If we end up with rescued people, is there a place for them on this side of the bubble?  Is Canada in need of growth, or in a dire scarcity situation?"

HM thinks on the task at hand and the people involved. “Is there a deadline for this mission to be completed? If we are to observe their power of taming the Infected, then some amount of time may be necessary. I would then prefer to covertly extract most of their resources before they realize what happened. I suppose we also need to discuss what we are going to do about the non-Vendors. If we are taking the supplies, then the non-Vendors will be without and possibly kicked out to be infected when supplies are low. Are we going to try and save them or leave them to their fate. For all we know, they may turn on us and alert the Vendors.”

The holographic head turned to the Forgotten first. "Resources are a constant requirement. While Canada has a lot of land to be self sufficient, being cut off from the rest of the world and international trade has created shortages. Within a year and a half if the Freebooters do nothing they will be running out of food."

Then she turned to Holey Moley. "There is always a place here, although resources are constant concern. Not only for the Freebooters, but for Canada itself. I can transfer non-living things through the field. Only Doctor Quantum knew how to allow others through the barrier."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:29, Fri 11 Nov 2022.

Surprise and confusion are hidden on an unseen face.  "So the only way in or out is through tunnels?  And the tunnels aren't shielded?  That seems... very dangerous.  After we return, I'd like to assist you with that problem, if you'll allow it.  Are we going to even remember that this place exists, once we leave?  What is the protocol around that?  Do you have a method of transport for the goods, or should we just steal theirs or make our own?  Other than that, I think I'm ready to go.  We can figure more out once we're there."

In reply to The Forgotten (msg # 13):

"We do not discuss the structure of the Mole Hole with those who go above ground. There is too much risk of memory scanning. While we have means of concealment and security, the same abilities might be used by the infected to overcome such defenses. Basically put-the less you know about this place, the better. The device you have been given will guide you to the drop off point once you have gathered the needed materials."

The Forgotten says, "I meant help with the force field, not the structure of the tunnels.  I can try to figure out how it works, to give you more control and let you replicate it in a smaller scale."  He makes a thoughtful grunt.  "It would actually be wonderful if I could figure out a portable version.  Do you have any of the Doctor's notes?  I take it he got infected?"

HM holds up a hand. “I too would like to help with portable versions of the shield. I could also use some help with developing underground crops to replenish dwindling food supplies. However, I do suggest that we handle such things upon our return and focus on the mission at hand. The objectives of the mission are fairly straightforward, and I believe we will succeed with the logistics. My concern that we need to iron out now is our moral standpoints of the mission. Taking supplies from the Vendors may result in people running out of them in the near future which may cause loss of life or becoming Infected searching abroad for more. If we wish to take the indentured servants with us, there will be without a doubt a mole, pardon the pun, amongst them working for the Vendors or even one in disguise. We cannot trust that at least one of them won’t be desperate enough to turn on us especially if they feel the Vendors will reward them with extra supplies. Scared and desperate people can be some of the most dangerous. I suggest we get the supplies first and either bury them before going back to possibly get the people or deliver the supplies first and then go back for negotiations.”

"You should hypnotize them," Antoinette volunteered, looking pleased at being able to offer a solution to a problem someone else couldn't solve. "Good girls do not betray their masters and mistresses."

"I do not share Doctor Quantum's research with anyone else. It is too risky. Anyone you bring to the Mole Hole will be memory wiped, same as you. If they do not contsent, they do not come down here.

Thus the likelyhood to betray is already factored in. Antonitette's premise...with less hypnosis. Now...is there anything else?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

The Forgotten nods, though nobody can see.  "Very well.  We focus on getting the supplies, not rescuing people.  When we get back, we can argue about the foolishness of hoarding research you don't have the intellect to understand.  Who will carry the locator?  Moley?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:25, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

HM nodded. “I’ll take the device. I’ll keep it in one of the secure compartments on my suit. I can determine orientation and distance underground to determine the distance to and from our destination. If we are all in agreement, let’s get this show on the road. Is there anything about our powers we care to share to best utilize our individual gifts? I am an accomplished botanist with experience with technology. My larger alter ego is essentially a regular mole on steroids. That means won’t get lost underground, very strong, durable, and I can ‘see’ through vibrations in the ground and air.”

Antoinette nods as if in confirmation. "Botanist. Technology. Mole. Diggy diggy hole. Understood." They nod again to no one in particular.

"The last attempt I made to demystify my capabilities resulted in being disintegrated," they point out, and decline to elaborate on their abilities further. Their reputation ought to speak for itself, anyways.

The Forgotten scrapes his chair loudly to make it clear he's getting up.

"I am obviously invisible, and I am able to exist in what to you looks like accelerated time - though it's a bit more complicated than that, and it doesn't function when I'm interacting with other people.  I have a great deal of knowledge, and I can make devices to solve many problems, if I have some time - to your perception, it would seem like minutes. I also have a flame-based weapon that I've found quite effective against the infected."