GM: Vulcan
Players: Slinger, Mafen, Annie, Popper
Synopsis: Legwork for the Badlands (Ute) plot.
Date: 24 Feb 2070
Jackson Daw
«OOC» Slinger says, "At some point, Slinger would drop a line to Jackson Daw. Followup after the Gold Rush plot. We'll start there :)"
«OOC» Vulcan says, "Okay. What do you want from Colonel Daw?"
«OOC» Slinger says, "Maybe a better idea what's going on, the UCAS position on it, and what the hell can be done with what we know. What he might know about the MSD — who are a bunch of right bastards, and a threat to all that is Good and Decent (R)."
«OOC» Vulcan says, "Okay. You know the drill. Etti, for this, TN is 5."
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls Etiquette + Karma Pool: 1 vs TN 5 for "For Jackson Daw.":
2 3 4 4 5 5 = 2 Successes
«OOC» Vulcan says, "how are you contacting him?"
«OOC» Slinger isn't sure what mechanisms I have, to be honest. He's a contact. I'd call him, discreetly, arrange a discreet callback, that sort of thing.
«OOC» Vulcan nods. Okay. That works. Typically, Jackson Daw works in an office, so he's got a phone. He will call you back pretty quick.
«OOC» Vulcan says, "Jackson's not a field agent."
Daw's voice comes on the line as the call connects. "Captain Stupendous. Really. Was that you?" he asks immediately.
Slinger laughs. "Was that me, what?" the elf asks, with amusement. "Not sure I know what you're referring to, sir."
"Captain Stupendous, that superhero whacko in Denver. He's in the news now and then. My kid loves him. Runs around, arms in front of him making wooshing noises. Anyway. Whatcha want, Boy Wonder?"
Slinger can't help but laugh. "Sir, people don't usually see me, or don't know they've seen me. And I seldom go 'whoosh'. Sounds like a whack-job, to me. Anyway. I guess I was hoping to hear any fallout of what came out of those guys we captured for you out in FreeCal. And maybe figure out a little more of what's going on with the Ute. It looks like they're self-destructing from within, sir. Their MSD is reminding me of some of those old two-dees from World War II Germany, and lots of people are going to get hurt real fast.
"Better Analogy would be Cold War KGB." Says the man. "You familure with them? They were the intelligence and internal police for the Soviet Union. At their height, they were the most feared force in the world. Don't mistake the power of blind patriotism and bloodlust."
Slinger nods slowly. "Not as familiar as I should be, sir," Slinger admits. "The thing is, they're doing a lot more harm than good to the people there. I've been into Ute territory, and these people need commerce, not isolation. They're nearly starving, and instead these guys have turned into thought police, going after their own people. Hell, going after the people there who could probably show them a way out of this. I don't like it." Slinger considers his next words carefully. "I especially don't like the way they're working with the Japs, sir."
"Congratulations." Says Daw then, lighting a cigarette on the other end, putting Slinger on Speaker… "You have now repeated what economic specialists have been saying since the moment we gave them a worthless desert." He chuckles them. "Serves them right, frankly. I don't mind the Sioux, I don't mind the Pueblo, but the Ute just -piss- me off."
He grunts then. "And no. The Japanese… they were smarting from our destroying them a hundred and 20 ago, and then when we fell apart in the Awakening and CHina took a nosedive… they became the island of tranquility. Finance and power from across the pac rim fled their way… they remembered their warrior/conquerer nature… and BLAM. From Australia to Peru to Hawaii to California to south east Asia. All points between. I don't much like the idea of them moving their influence inland. We've done a decent job of containing them in California. You got something more solid here I can work with, or you fishing for information?"
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence + 3 for "Trying to remember, ME3.":
1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 9 10
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence + 3 for "Trying to remember, ME3.~KP 2":
1 1 1 2 2 4 4 4 4 5 8 14 17
"Well, sir," Slinger says, "I saw something. It got reportedback to some powers that be in the UCAS, but since then, somebody's been sitting on the info. It's big stuff. Nasty, nasty stuff, and I was there. Which is part of why the Ute currently would REALLY like to talk to me." The elf smirks. "The funny thing is, in this particular case, I /didn't/ actually do anything." He lights up a cigarette of his own, inhales deeply, and leans back in whatever he's using as a seat. "I saw a bunch of Japanese troops, about 200 of them, sir — that's two, zero, zero." The elf thinks back, trying to get the details right. "They were burning bodies, sir. And the info we got from someone who'd been watching them longer was that those bodies had been gassed. Some kind of major toxic nerve gas. The entire town of…" He tries to remember the name. "Blanding, Utah. The White Mesa Reservation. Estimates were about twelve hundred people dead."
Slinger takes a breath. "The spirit of the mountain came to us, warned us to get out, before it went boom and nuked those Jap troops and everything they were doing. We barely got out, with a Japanese chopper coming after us, hardcore, before the mountain knocked it out of the sky. It wanted… witnesses, sir."
The man on the other end is silent for a moment. "This… report… you're talking about." He says curiously. "When did you make it? Who did you make it to?"
In the backround. "WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH! I'M CAPTAIN STUPIENDOUS!"
"Go bother your mother. Daddies on the phone."
"I didn't make it, sir. I was there. It was delivered by an associate of mine, not sure who he was working for or what name he was using. It was kinda confusing. Probably meant to be. But I haven't seen the intel come out yet. I've been sitting on this, but this is explosive. I know it's important to protect sources, but if you don't use intel there's no point in having it in the first place."
The man nods. "Well." he says after a moment. "I've not seen the report, so I can't say anything about it. I don't have it. If someones got it, and their sitting on it, let me ask you… why WOULD you sit on that information?
Slinger considers. "I can think of a lot of reasons, sir. First is fear — somebody didn't go through proper channels to get it, and doesn't want to get in trouble for their methods. Second is politics — they have some purpose for it, trying to make somebody else look bad, and holding onto it for the right time. Third? Sorta the same thing, but isolationism. Somebody's made a decision that this information, while interesting, is irrelevant. We don't want to get involved. Let them go to hell in their own way. Fourth — they have it, they just have no idea what to /do/ with it, and are sitting on it until a decision gets made. There are other possibilities, but sorta variations on those," Slinger admits.
"Theres one your missing."
Slinger grins. "Oh, there's lots of them I didn't mention. But those start to get into the possibility that whoever has the info is working for the Japs, the Ute, or both."
"Or." Says Daw. "Well. Let me explain the last possibility, which you still havn't touched on." He exhales. "You are in Denver, right? And you are in your super hero gettup, flying around the city, see… and you spot a gang. They are following a woman and they are gonna, I dunno. Menace her in some carnal fashion."
"I'M CAPTAIN STUPENDOUS!"
"Yes, you are, now go -bother your mother-."
"So you're about to get involved, when this other gang comes and gets involved, rumbling with the first gang. Now, your just one man. You can't take on both gangs… so you let them rumble. You let them fight, and finally, when both are broken, bleeding and lying there… you swoop in, put your foot on the neck of the surviving gang leader… and BAM! Flashbulbs. The press is on you, and you're the hero.""To wit… someone -wants- whats happening to happen, for one reason or another."
Slinger nods slowly, considering that. "I had actually figured the Ute were working /with/ the Japs. No way the Ute didn't know the Japs were there, or what they were doing, sir. There's no way you could disguise something that magnitude and do it in secret, I don't think. Not without the government being involved. At least, that's my take. Maybe I'm wrong."
"Oh, I don't doubt for a moment the highest level of the Ute Government is complicient. Now, the question you need to ask… is who in the UCAS government is either covering for them, or letting them fight it out.."
"Because thats the two reasons you hold on to a report thats not domestically useful."
Slinger nods thoughtfully. "Probably just about everybody. Not your fight, so why get involved?" The elf nods. "Once again, World War II. The name 'Chamberlain' comes to mind, sir. But like I said, I'm still not convinced the Japs and the Ute are actually fighting with each other."
"Ahh, there you're making a mistake. Not Chaimberlain. The United States. Roosevelt."
Slinger considers that. "Who delayed America's entrance into the war until the US was attacked, and only then did we finally enter it. Lots of arguments on both sides whether we should have waited." He considers the situation for a moment. "I'm not sure I'm willing to sit and do nothing, sir."
"More specifically, who delayed the Normany Invasion until Germany was well and truely a hollow, paper tiger. I'm not saying you should. I'm discussing the philosophy of intelligence manipulation."
"By the time we hit the beaches, the war was -over-. It was just a race to Berlin."
Slinger considers, pursing his lips. "Well, that's true. When it comes to military situations, yeah. I'm not proposing invading Ute right now. But letting certain pieces of intel out might well… hasten the process of the downfall of the MSD and their cohorts. Like this. I doubt the Ute people would be overjoyed that their leaders were working with the Japanese, after all this talk about how foreigners are ruining everything."
"They talk about the -white- man. Yellowmans always been different, talking about freeing people from opressive anglo colonialism like they do. Anyway. Think about it, Robin. I'mg onna get going to dinner here. If someones sitting on your report… its for a reason, and figuring out the reason is key to understanding how to circumvent."
"All right. Thanks for your insight, sir. If you manage to stumble across something, though… it would be useful., maybe. Thanks. Enjoy your dinner, and don't be too hard on the kiddo, huh? He wants to be a hero. Sometimes, that's good and noble, even if it's a little dumb in these times."
"Not dumb." Says the man after a moment. "It's just…" He crushes out the cigarette. "Got a short lifespan. I want my boy to be grey and old when he dies. Later."
<DISCON>
Slinger, Mafen, Annie, Popper
Well, that was productive. Slinger lights up a fresh cigarette, then glances back to Mafen. "All right. Here's the situation. Need to keep this under wraps for now, but I witnessed something in Ute territory." He explains it slowly, but carefully. "Do you know Breeze?" he asks. "She was there with me. Might be… worth getting her involved, if you're willing. She's already involved, but I think maybe we might wanna share some imtel."
Annie arrives at the Warrens address, knocking on the door as a warning before entering. She takes a moment to look around, offering a pleasant nod to those present and then makes herself comfortable. "So", she begins slowly, "What's going on?"
Slinger called Popper, too, somewhere in there.
"Not a huge amount. Turns out our friend here may have some intel about the situation in the Ute lands, and thought we'd meet up. But looks like he's looking up things in the 'trix. So…"
He gestures invitingly to the big bucket o' Soychik'n <tm> invitingly, to both of the arrivals. "Remember that report that got put together and submitted into the UCAS? Turns out, apparently somebody's sitting on it."
Popper raises an eyebrow, "This the report on that little village I was visitin a while back?"
"The same," Slinger agrees. "So my question is… you still got that stuff? And who'd you give it to? Because like I said, they're sitting on it. And we got told to act as witnesses to what happened there. Personally, I'm not sure who to be more afraid of — the UCAS government or the dead spirit of a mountain. But given what it did to that chopper? I'm leaning toward the latter, just a little."
Slinger nods thoughtfully. "So the question is who to give it to. The trouble, of course, is that Matrix access is pretty well monitored in there. They'd just block it out. Though a friendly neighborhood decker" — he shoots a glance toward the unconscious Mafen — "might be able to spread it to enough places in there fast enough that they couldn't suppress it all. The question is whether it'd be believed."
Slinger adds, "And whether it'd be better used some other way."
Popper comments, "We got enough social manipulators in th' room, I imagine we c'n find a way t' turn this int' the nuclear info bomb… Ain't that right?" with a look at those assembled.
Annie leans back in her chair, if the chair looks structurally sound that is, and watches the conversation between Popper and Slinger. "It's not doing much good wherever it is now.", she shrugs absently, "And with the way things are going currently in Ute country, I think the Nuclear option is looking better and better."
Slinger shakes his head, dragging on his cigarette. "Don't look at me. I mean, I'm learning, but I'm nowhere near what Silk or Johnny could do. They are the masters at that. Even Page, though you wouldn't think it to listen to him interact with people, sometimes," he adds, with a sigh. He tuns his attention to Annie, and nods. "You know more about the structure of the Ute nation. I mean, it's a confederation of local shamans and chieftains, right? So whoever's in charge has to have a rival."
«Auto-Judge» Slinger (#69) rolls Ute Politics + Karma Pool: 1 for "KP 3/39.":
4 4 9 11
Actually; it's worse. It's a direct democracy of a confederation, with a judiciary dominated by Shaman and cronyism. Everyone gets a vote on the Matrix, for every bill that gets past the legislsative branch. Everyone.
End result: Governmental paralysis in vast regions of goverment.
Annie nods, "I considered that. There are some notable figures in the government who appear to be on the wrong side of the MSD.", she brushes her hair from her eyes and adds, "Give the other group a heads up of what is coming down the pike and give them the opportunity to get in position to secure the reins when they drop."
Slinger considers that, destroying more tobacco with a deep drag. "Right. The question is, how powerful is the MSD, really? Who supports them, and how could that support be eroded? Right now, they're Hitler's SS, or the Russian KGB. Nobody likes them, but everybody's afraid of them. Well, somebody likes them. Somebody powerful. Unless they've just turned into this monstrosity, this headless juggernaut that nobody can control anymore."
"My opinion is that the MSD is being controlled by Iron-Eyes since he is the ultimate power over there now.", Annie replies and then mutters something untoward about Comanches.
Popper asks "Can we jes cut off th' head and let th' snake die?"
Slinger shakes his head. "Anything like this — cut off the head, and another will step up to their their place — and worse, you'll have a martyr. These people are heroes to somebody, or they wouldn't be in power."
Annie chuckles, "Not necessarily. Plenty of extraterritorial puppetmasters running around.", she sighs, "The problem with the plan is that a government change usually takes its harshest toll on the people…not the evil bastards in charge."
Popper grunts and nods, "Yeah… s'what I figured." he ponders that while taking a cigarette from the breast pocket of his uniform and lighting it up, then says "Sounds like we get t' either use terror tactics or get political… can't say I like either o' those."
Pizza Dude!
There comes a knock at the door.
Popper's hand drops to the pistol on his hip as he turns to face the door. Not his meet and not his room, so he doesn't answer the door, but there's a stranger at the door and that doesn't always mean someone's dropping off chocolate cake and milk.
The door knocks. Again?
Annie looks over at Slinger since the meet was his party. She stands from her chair and loosens her pistol in it's underarm holster, "Odds are that anyone that would come after any of us would bother knocking."
Popper nods. "True, but then again, it's happened… if you c'n b'lieve that."
The door now knocks a little more insistently. Outside; a muffled voice. "THESE ARE HEAVY!"
"Gimme a sec," says Slinger. He concentrates, detaches from his body, then slips out of the apartment, to check who it might be.
Outside, is a dual planar being holding a stack of hot pizzas.
Emotional state: Growing annoyed.
Slinger zips back to his body. "Right. Whatever it is… is dual-natured. Holding a stack of pizzas. And is pissed. I say we let it in, enjoy the pizza, and decide what to do about it." He stands up and moves to the door, pausing to activate his armor spell, just in case.
Popper's hands blur as he dips into a pocket and swaps mags, a split second of golden glint shining from the new mag before he slaps it into place.
«Plot» Popper says, "Dual natured… spirit busters are good."
Annie nods to Slinger and steps over near the bed, with both an angle to the door and window if need be. "Go for it. Though I never truly trust Warrens food."
Popper nods silently, his hand resting on the holstered pistol as if it had never moved.
Opening the door reveals a stack of pizza's about 9 high. Smells of Cheese and Pepperoni and bell peppers and probably everything but a dead cat can be thusly smelt. The bearer steps inside, moving for the table. "Goddamn, you people. Untrusting. I mean, shit!" Says the man… woman… man… it's kind of unclear. Androginous, with heavy eye liner, long, sort of spiky hair, not quite elven but that sort of look to the features. He's got a fedora style hat on along with an eclectic sort of multi-colored trenchcoat.
Popper just watches the mojo-slinger for his cues, this magical drek just makes his skin crawl.
Slinger eyes the newcomer, then moves to take some of the pizzas to at least lighten the load. "See, thing is, we weren't ordering any pizzas," the elf explains. "And we don't often have visitors showing up unannounced." He smiles — nice and friendly, but he's also clearly assensing this newcomer.
George glances to Sligner, a highly painted eyebrow arching up. "What, Popper? You don't recognize me? DAMN! It's been too long! It's ME! GEORGE! I'm the GUY!" He laughs and then moves for Pizza. "These, are compliments of my… Patron… employeer… the… uh… well." He looks to Popper. "Your language is just so -damned- limited."
Popper blinks rapidly for a few moments then simply lets his jaw drop for a moment in a rare show of absolute shock before he recovers and steps forward to take the pies off their hands. "Damn man, it's been way too long. Thought mebbe ye'd gotten yerself put down somehow or somethin."
Slinger relaxes a little bit once the guy seems to know Popper. But even so, he's not exactly entirely lowering his guard. He maintains the shielding of his companions, just in case that becomes important, and drops back into his seat and reaches for his pack of cancer. "Mind introducing us, Pops?" he asks the older elf.
Popper chuckles as he takes the pies off of the free spirit and answers, "Yeah, Slinger, Annie, this is George. A guy I broke loose o' some pretty nasty bondage way back when. He's a good guy."
«Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls Centering + 3 (centering focus) vs TN 2 for "Against BG count, whatever.":
1 1 2 3 3 3 5 7 9 = 7 Successes
«Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls Intelligence vs TN 4 for "Assensing the newcomer.":
2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 = 5 Successes
«Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls Aura Reading vs TN 4 for "Complementary.":
1 2 4 5 = 2 Successes
«Plot» George says, "He's a free spirit. Force 5. He's not huge, but he's not weak."
"Hello George", Annie replies a moment later as she takes her hand off the butt of her pistol, "What brings you to the exact random warrens slum pit that we just happened to be meeting in?"
George gestures to Popper. "He does. Duh." he says, getting a slice. "Have some food. I got a bit of a message." He says, before taking a bite and chewing. "OMG I love this stuff. IT's why I keep bothering with your shape. Pizza. Passions aBove, it's the best stuff since…. well… ever."
Slinger does, definitely, relax at that point. He gets up, trailing smoke, offers George one, and pokes at the pizzas, sniffing his way through them. Perfect complement to the SoyChik'n <tm>. "Damned right," Slinger agrees. George is interesting in his own rather garish way. Slinger is taking a faint liking to him, though still wary. "A message, huh?"
Popper chuckles and finds himself a slice without too much cat fur on it before stepping abck to let everyone get in on the conversation. "So what's the word George?"
George is currently busy devouring a slice. "Well." Says the man-girl-boy-chick-thing… It's really very fluid. "Well… what happened with Deeprock, it's had some ripples. Some serious ripples. You know what I mean?"
Annie returns to her previously occupied chair and plants herself in it. She leans back once more and simply listens to what the spirit has to say.
Popper snorts, "I'm guessin ye ain' talking 'bout on th' personal level."
Slinger leans forward, finding a slice with lots of meat. Well, simulated meat. But close enough for right now. The elf takes a bite of the slice, then mumbles around it, "Deeprock is the pissed off mountain that went boom, right?"
Nope. Real Meat.
George looks to Slinger, annoyance flowering in to his features. "Went BOOM?" HE says, one hand slamming in to the table. "MURDERED." He says with a growl. "He was -MURDERED-. One of the eldest of us!"
Slinger blinks with surprise at that. That reaction was even more surprising than the taste of real fragging meat on his pizza. Damn. "I'll grant that. Indirectly. I don't think they exactly intended for what happened there to happen. But it's still their fault."
Popper asks, "Can ye think of another reason t' kill hundreds with chemical weapons that're already well tested 'n proven, then burn th' bodies t' ash? I ain' no finger wiggler, but I seem t' recall stuff like that tends t' mess with th' spook side o' reality, don' it?"
Slinger scowls. "Wait. So you're implying they did this with the express purpose of activating the local manaflows specifically to destroy the spirit of that mountain?" He glances between the others. "But that's insane. Who could possibly want to do that? And to what end?" he asks. Incredulity won't stop him from taking another bite of pizza.
Popper replies "What was that I was sayin about terror tactics earlier?""I'm going to be -really- frank here, and thats just because I like Popper probably better than any other -meatsack- on the planet." Says George, looking at the others as he gets a slice of Pizza. "I couldn't give a flying -frag- if you all just fucked right off in to Oblivion. Aside from the Pizza… and the Trid… Okay. Hollywood and Chicago Deepdish can stay." He says with a shake of his head. "The -Message- I have is simple enough… Now, I'm translating here…" He says, setting the Pizza down. "I'm -translating a lot-. Understand, you have NO IDEA how hard it is to -listen to a mountain- long enoguh to understand what its saying, then put those concept sin to human words."
Slinger is… enthralled. George has his undivided attention right now. What this sounds like is a threat, but this is a threat he takes seriously. He's not even smoking or eating pizza. Instead, he is listening.
George pauses long enough to lean on the table. "The surviving flock of death birds nest in the place where fastones practiced their war, in the sight of LongFault the Ancient." He shrugs then, going for more Pizza. "What that means? I have no clue."
Slinger thinks about that. "Deathbirds might be helicopters. Fastones probably refer to us humans, given that we live on a non-geologic timescale." He considers. "Who's Longfault the Ancient?" He thinks about that for a moment. "San Andreas?"
Popper shrugs. "I was figurin deathbirds was something like what we hadda dodge on th' way home. Fast ones makes sense fer us… longfault I was hopin one o' you knew."
George shrugs. "Hey, I got what I got. Now, LongFault dwells somewhere in the area of…" He opens his coat, checking several pockets. He pulls out a map. "Ah! Here we go." He opens it, reading it upside down. "Emperor Hirohito Peak."
«Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls Geography:
2 4 5
Slinger frowns. "That sounds a lot like Japan," the elf says, suspiciously, as he stands up, walking over to try to get a glimpse of the map. "Not sure what we'd want with a bunch of Japanese military choppers on the island, though."
"Naw." Says George. "It's uh…" He lays the map down. "About here." He gestures to the Lower Monterery area of California.
George points then; Ah hah! "Emperor Hirohito Peak. Right there."
http://maps.google.com/maps/mm?q=Junipero+Serra+Peak&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=36.204391,-121.394806&spn=0.555168,0.957184&z=10
Popper just watches this, his experience with geography extends to where to go to get a good shot and not much further.
«Plot» George says, "Popper; give me a military history or other applicable knowskill check"
«Auto-Judge[kn]» Popper (#4048) rolls Military history:
2 2 3
«Auto-Judge[kn]» Popper (#4048) rolls Military history for "Kp down by one.":
1 4 9
Popper comments "Looks like we're talkin Fort Hunter Ligget… nasty place. Nobody 'round anymore 'cept unexploded rounds from th' days it was used as a live-fire base. Decomissioned 'o course."
Slinger nods, frowns slightly. "Okay. So… uh… are the Japanese using it to stash helicopters?" the elf wonders. "Or… what are deathbirds? Nerve gas somehow? Those aren't birds. Those're cannisters."
Popper comments, "Could be some kinda gas rocket… plenty o' options fer deathbird. Either way, it sounds like makin 'em go 'way is a good idea, neh? Specially since a mountain went t' th' effort o' lookin' up a friend o' mine…" he interrupts himself to say "Good seein ye again George," then continues. "Jes t' make sure we got this message."
Slinger reaches for his pack of smokes and lights up another one, takes a fierce inhale. "Right. So we're gonna be going past Ute territory, into Japanese-occupied Freecal, and attacking an active military base. I," says Slinger, "am going to need some bigger spirits. That much I know for sure."
George eats himself a slice of pizza. "Naw. There's an old town there, right in the middle. Called, oddly enough, Hunter-Liggett…" A pause. "O'course, it's had something of a population explosion in the last few years, from what LongFault said. Lots of fastones coming and going. A lot of pain. He's
shielded himself from it, being far older than Deeprock was… but you know how it goes."
Annie chews on her lip as she considers the information flowing between the runners and the spirit. Interesting. Wonder what the odds of getting a good current spy-satt view of the area would be."
Popper considers for a moment, then notes "If I gotta, I c'n likely get a decent recon run… though mebbe there's someone better suited fer that… I don' think I c'n pass as japanese."
Slinger considers. "I got some contacts that might be able to arrange that. Or get us some intel." The elf considers things for a moment, then shakes his head again. "We're still back to the old question — what were they hoping to gain, taking out Deeprock? What do the Ute gain, more than anything, to permit it?"
George grins, moving for the door. "NOt my planet, monkey-boy."
Popper nods and waves, "Appreciate the intel dump mano. Come around more often, neh?"
George flicks a nod to Popper. "Not if I can help it. I'm only here outta respect for Deeprock. I'm -out-."
And then, he infact, is out. Just gone.
Reiche Dicenzo
Annie watches George disappear then looks over at Popper, "I have to ask. If you see him again…ask him if he could cut me a remix of 'Cumma Chameleon'", she chuckles and shakes her head wryly.
"I loved that song when I was in high school.", Annie adds after a moment with a nostalgic tone to her voice.
Popper laughs, "Tell ye what, drop by my place sometime and we'l see if ye like th' copy I got."
Right. Slinger thinks for a moment, then pulls out his phone to pull up a
contact of his. He'll probably have to leave a message, assuming Reiche is
out on a project. Wait for him to get back in touch. But best to start the
process, now.
«Auto-Judge[kn]» Vulcan (#3087) rolls 1:
4
«OOC» Vulcan says, "Roll etti, TN is.. 6"
«Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls Etiquette + Karma Pool: 2 vs TN 6 for "KP 6/39.":
1 4 4 4 5 10 22 = 2 Successes
You find Reiche on the phone. He answers on the barest half ring. "Dicenzo."
"Heya. It's Slinger. Not sure if you remember me, from that unpleasantness. How's your brother holding up?" Slinger's tone is friendly, conversational, and has genuine concern. "Didn't want to bother you… figured you'd probably be on a mission, but I had something come up.
Popper snags another slice of pizza and looks around with a frown as if finding something vitally important missing.
"I've got 5 minutes. Tell me what you need. I don't mean to be short, but POTUCAS lands in 30 minutes.
Yeah. No Beer.
Annie chuckles and nods to Popper, "Sounds like a party." It's a rare thing to find someone who doesn't stare blankly at her when she relates bits of popular culture from the good ole days.
Popper won't be back for five minutes or so, but he'll have a case of beer when he does.
Holy. Frag. Slinger tries to keep his tone businesslike. "I'm investigating the situation with the Ute and the Japanese forces, who, according to some intelligence I have, are working together. I needed some intel on a military base out there" — he gives the name of it — "in Freecal, which it looks like the Japs might be using. Since you and I met in an abandoned military base, thought it might be something you had info about. "I don't know if the President would be interested in the intel we had. It got submitted to somebody in Intel, and apparently, got sat on."
Slinger adds, "Satellite recon would be primo, but I dunno if that could be arranged. We've got some intel that indicates they've got something stashed there. Might be worth looking into. We were thinking of having a look-see, but knowing a little of what we're facing would be nice."
"Yeah. I'm not giving a damn thing to the Pot. No offense. I am greatful for what you did, but this is my career. Now, you want military information on an old Calfree base, you want Sally Devries. She's section chief for the CIA in Calfree. Thats all I got. You'll get a text message in about 5 minutes with her contact info, you're on your own with her."
The Pot? Slinger is confused for about half a second, then he figures it out on his own. See? He's learning. "I understand. And thanks — I think I've heard of Ms. Devries. I think we have a mutual acquaintance." He smiles. "Thanks… you've been more help than you know. Appreciate it."
"I'm out. Stay frosty." *Click*
Sally DeVries, First Try.
So. Slinger will actually probably wait until the next day. There's no good reason to bother Sally at home with something like this, assuming he even has this number. The next day, he takes a breath, calming his nerves. This has to go exactly right. And he dials the number he was given.
The number rings. Rings. Rings. Then connects. Three seconds of silence later, it beeps once.
No, that wasn't what Slinger was expecting. But he will simply assume it's a place to leave a message. "I'm trying to reach Ms. Sally Devries. I was given this phone number by someone I trust, whom I believe has worked with her in the past. I believe we also have a mutual acquaintance. However, unsure how secure this line is. I can be reached at" — Slinger inserts his phone number here. "Thank you."
The line disconnects.
Great. Slinger considers for just a moment, then places a call to Johnny. He probably just flubbed that up. Super Secret Spy Stuff. If he gets a beep from Johnny's phone, he's going to yell at it — that, at least, is what he mutters to himself while he waits for it to ring.
Johnny answers the phone, it being his private line, and a nigh untracable phone. "Sup."
"Yo. Slinger. Hey… uh… I managed to get referred to a lady named Sally Devries," Slinger admits, with a sheepish grin. "Got a number, got told to contact her. I called, got a beep, then silence. I left a message. I get the idea that was probably the wrong thing to do, there. So what are you s'posed to do there in SuperSekret Spystuff?" he asks. There's the sound of him lighting up a smoke.
Johnny grunts. "Tell Sally, when she calls back, that she owes me dinner next time I'm in Los Angeles." He rolls over in bed then. "And no. You got a dead drop. You don't just call a woman like her and get her line at the beach house, you know? You go through several layers of vetting and checking. Right now, I'm certain your friend who gave you the number is being talked to. Usually, you have a hundred such dead drops, helps compartmentalize and track who's telling who what."
Slinger winces. "Hope I don't get him in trouble," Slinger admits. "That's part of why he couldn't talk. Something about POTUCAS arriving in five minutes." Slinger plays a little dumb here, pronouncing it as a word. "Anyway. Fair enough. So I should sit tight and wait for a call. I'm down with that. Either that, or I should expect a CIA black ops team to bust down the door."
"With Sally?" A pause. "Could be either." He laughs darkly then. "You opened the rabbithole, friend. Watch out, some of them are snake burrows."
Slinger nods. "She knows you by the same name I met you by, right?" Slinger asks. "Just checking. Because I figure that might cool things off. I'm tryin' to pick up some intel on the Ute situation. Interesting stuff going on." The elf quickly relates what he knows to Johnny. He has few secrets from the older man — which might end up being his undoing.
One day. But for now, Slinger's safe with Johnny. Johnny listens, ahhing quietly here or there. "Well, all told, I agree with Daws assessment, but I don't like what it says. I've got to much on my plate to get directly involved, but I'll offer my feedback when I can."
"Kinda figured. Right now, we're looking at getting some high-end recon, figure out what sort of resources we might have without, hopefully, tipping our hand too much. Though I hope Sally is trustworthy to not tell the Japs or the Ute or Freecal to expect us." That's one worry the elf has.
Johnny raises an eyebrow. "Well, in short." Says he then. "I vouch for her." He rolls out of bed now, scratching his junk as he paces across the room. "I've known her 25 years. She's a good, smart woman who's been doing her job for a long while. If she does sacrifice you… you can rest assured it was for the greater good. That said, I've only seen it happen once." A pause. "And it was a team of runners she threw in to certain death to distract an Armored column of Tir Troops headed for Redding. Probably kept Cal Free from collapsing entirely."
There's a pause on the line, then a chuckle from Slinger. "I don't like the idea of being sent into that. Helluva way to go. On the other hand… better to die doing something useful, you know. Better not to die at all, but." The elf leans back. "All right. I'll wait for her call. If she talks to you, put in a good word for me, huh? And… what was it you wanted me to tell her?"
"Tell her she owes me dinner at the Brown Derby. Anyway, I need to take a drek the size of texas, so I'm gonna hang up now."
"Texas before Aztlan took half."
Slinger lets out a low whistle, and then grins. "Thanks for sharing, mano." Slinger hangs up the phone, and waits for a return call. Thinking about what other leads he can chase down.
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