Previously on Section M: Everyone went camping! Yay! After they finished shooting at each other with paint, the all trekked off to set up can in the jungles of the island. Their whole weekend was filled with fun and adventure as they went through Archer's impromptu survival training. Afterward they went back to the island and continued their training day till finally the three weeks were up. Today is the day after. [Monday, February 5th, 2063] [Inside the new familiar briefing room on the command level of the Central Tower] [Collar status: On!] [Session start] The major has provided you all with your drinks of choice and you're currently waiting for the Colonel to show up with Sergeant Archer. * Jess some how has found a seat very close to Scratch and Crow at the same time. She's looking better then before. * Cara is lounging in her chair. She seems to be content just watching the ceiling. * Cara idly swats at a bug that flies too close to her face. * Scratch is seated upright at the other end of the table. He says nothing. * Crow is leaning back in one of the conference chairs, idly blowing on a feather held between his finger and thumb. His warm apple juice is sitting on the table in front of him, though he's ignoring it at the moment. Being warm, it's not sweating on the table. He seems rather distracted. * Cara leans forward in her chair a little before letting out a cry as her brown hair got caught on one of the bolts of the chair. She promptly got it loose and then proceeded to lean on the table. * Scratch jolts to alertness reflexively at Cara's outburst but seeing as situation is safe he resumes his quiet contemplation of the imaginary point ahead of him. * Hall steps into the room only a few minutes late this time, carrying a folder which she sets down in front of her chair. Archer follows her in having a seat at the other end of the table. Good morning everyone. Morning. * Archer nods at the group as well. * Scratch stands to salute the two and seats himself after they've taken theirs. Ma'am! * Jess doesn't say anything looking somber still. I trust you all enjoyed your time spent with the Sergeant? He plays a mean game of flashlight tag. * Hall smiles one of those knowing smiles. * Crow jumped a bit when Hall entered the room, but otherwise hasn't really seemed to notice their presence. Flashlight tag? Well, I hope no one got hurt. No, of course not, ma'am. I aimed away from their vitals. * Scratch nods. * Crow speaks lazily, "It was fun." It helped pass the time, yes. Anyway, the general has informed me that the Sergeant is to be your new chief of operations on your missions. As such he will be over seeing your comms and visual feeds on location. Your advanced training has officially been completed-- and I trust everyone passed, Sergeant? * Scratch nods. "Understood." Yes, ma'am. Well congratulations then. I'd offer champagne, but you're all underage. * Crow turns his head and smiles mischievously at the colonel. "So?" So you don't get any champagne. Deal with it. * Scratch nods. "Thank you, Ma'am. That's fine, Ma'am." I think I'll survive. * Crow doesn't quite laugh as he goes back to studying his feather intently. Anyway, as you are all now official members of the Section M team, I have your first assignment for you. * Jess just shrugs staying quiet. * Scratch is already at attention. * Hall opens up her large folder, passing out individual folders inside, each labeled with someone's name and a For Your Eyes Only stamp. How many of you have ever been to Canada before? * Hall chuckles to herself. * Crow takes his and rests it open in his lap, on a random page. He continues paying his feather more attention than it. * Scratch answers honestly. "No, Ma'am." I hear it's lovely in the summer. Unfortunately it's January right now. So dress warmly? * Jess opens her folder looking through it. Indeed. * Cara flips through her folder, skimming over each page. Inside you see a map of the great nation of Canada, or at least the parts of it that are now territories of the UoN. On it is a long stretch of highway highlighted connecting a city named Edmonton to a remote location in the far north. There are three red Xs along this path grouped relatively close together. Now according to our sources, supply trucks that have been traveling along this route to provide food and medicine for one of our bases are being attacked by an unknown number of individuals. Normally this would be a matter for the police or military to handle but what put this in our hands were the bizarre circumstances in which these crimes were taking place. The guards sent to protect the supply trucks all disappeared but the drivers and those not connected to the military simply turned up at the base several days later wandering around with no recollection as to what had occurred. * Scratch furrows his brow slightly. * Jess blinks looking confused. The trucks themselves have disappeared entirely, probably taken to some unknown location. The marks on the map indicate the last known locations of the three trucks that have been hit over the past several months. * Archer nods along, flipping through the file as he takes all this in. * Cara places the file on the table in front of her, having already digested all the information contained within. * Scratch studies the areas depicted on the maps intently although it isn't likely that any clue as to where the trucks are being kept is apparent. And our job is to find the source of the disappearances? Yes. And hopefully prevent further such situations from occurring. * Crow releases his feather to ride an exhalation across the table, and smiles distantly. "It will be an honor and a pleasure, ma'am." Sounds like fun. Are there any questions? No Ma'am. Are we going to be issued only standard gear, or are we getting something special for this mission? * Scratch closes his folder and awaits further instruction. The files also show pictures and brief bits of information on the drivers and a list of missing guards names. If you wish to put in a special request for any sort of equipment, you're more than welcome provided you can justify the expense. * Jess slowly raises her hand, for once looking shy. Yes, Jess? I..I'm not that good with a gun. Could I have a different weapon maybe? Something besides your cards? What would you suggest? Maybe some throwing cards, please? Throwing cards? Like those razor tipped business cards the spooks use? * Jess just nods, still looking rather shy about this. Well I suppose that would be workable if you'd be more comfortable with something like that. I'll talk to the boys down in tech and see what they have. Was there something you had in mind, Cara? Not really. Just curious. Alright. * Hall takes a seat now that she's done expositing. Suggestions for how best to handle this situation? * Hall looks around the table. Don't look at me. I'm not a tactician. Ma'am? Yes Scratch? None of you have to ask permission to speak you know. I want these meetings to be a free sharing of ideas. Understood. Thank you Ma'am. Follow the trucks from the sky and watch, that way if something happens to them it doesn't happen to us and we might be able to see something. Unless it's an overcast day, won't they see us coming? Send Scratch and Cara as part of the military escort for one. Jess would never pass. I'll watch from the sky. We tried that with the last two that disappeared but the weather this time of year in that area is not the best. It started snowing so bad the Sharks were forced to circle around the storm and that was when the trucks disappeared. Jess might pass for the driver... * Scratch clears his throat before he speaks, but says nothing as Crow makes his proposition for him. You could also hide in the back, you know. I concur. Otherwise where do you propose we place Jess? * Crow doesn't respond, apparently still not paying attention. Jess could theoretically play the part of a guard given the proper attire. * Jess is starting to look embarrassed. I'll go along with whatever people think is the best idea. She could. I doubt the check everyone's ID before hijacking the trucks. The loss of memory is curious. We shall have to be careful that our own 'non-military' plants will be protected. After all, few people enjoy forgetting days and days. Unless it's St. Patrick's Weekend. I don't know...I've never drove something that big before. * Crow flexes his wings, moving them to shadow himself a bit more as the sun leaks in from a window and tries to shine on his eyes. You will not necessarily need to drive, someone may accompany you. I don't believe you've driven anything at all. We'll have drivers assigned. * Scratch nods. * Cara remains quiet, just absorbing the discussion around her. Don't racing games count? * Hall laughs. "Uh... no. Sorry, Jess." Cara might accompany me, instead. Whichever's better. * Hall flips through the notes. "Looks like the next pair of trucks leaving with supplies departs on the 8th of this month. That gives you guys 3 days to come up with a workable strategy. Any sort of supplies you think you need will be provided within reason. We can have your prepped and ready to go as early as this afternoon if you need time to set up out there." * Scratch nods and waits for whatever other instruction she or Sergeant Archer may have. "Understood." * Scratch turns to the sergeant. "Sir, would you suggest we proceed with your strategy to conceal ourselves among the cargo of the trucks and await an attack?" I believe that was Crow's strategy, actually. And I'm really interested in what you guys can come up with. This is supposed to be your job now. * Archer gives a look up to Colonel Hall as he says this. If we hide anyone in the cargo, it shouldn't be more than two of us. Umm...I know they have these for fancy cars, is it possible to like give the trucks thunder running through them to shock any one that opens them? * Hall realizes something and looks down at her watch. "Oh that's right, I have a meeting I'm supposed to attend that's uh... now. I'll leave the rest of the planning up to the rest of you." * Cara takes a sip of her drink. "I'm not much of a strategist, but I think the best thing we could do is just ride with the trucks and wait for them to follow the bait." * Scratch stands and salutes the Colonel as she leaves. 'Bye, Colonel. Have fun. * Hall gets up out of her chair and rushes out the door. "Good luck everyone." That could work. We don't know if they offload the cargo and dump the vehicles somewhere or just take the entire thing with them. * Scratch reseats himself and asks, "How frequently traveled is this route? Perhaps we could survey the area beforehand." * Crow yawns, stretching a bit. "They take military personnel with them at least some distance, and then detain or destroy them. Better to risk us than more humans. Pity, we'll have to use some humans; we're not nearly a full escort in number. But having some hidden in the cargo and me and maybe Cara flying overhead, plus Scratch as a fake army man..." We should be able to see all sides of their operation from those perspectives. This time of year with the storms, these roads aren't well traveled. These trucks are about the only supplies that get out to that far north. Do we have access to satellite surveillance of the area? So if we meet anyone else on the road we should be on our guard. Good to know. We do, but it'll depend on cloud cover. They'll be monitoring those things here. Ideally the trucks shouldn't stop for any reason till they reach their destination. They have more than enough fuel to get them there. * Scratch nods. "It is odd that they have not been able to find any abnormal heat sources in the area that would signify an enemy presence. I wonder why people who can hide their heat signatures are bothering to raid the trucks. They could do better. Well it is a heavily forested area. Hard to tell which are groups of people and which are just animals. I suppose you'll have to ask them that. If they are unfettered demis, they may lack the creativity to consider doing more. The trucks themselves should give off enough heat to be noticeable should they be moved... Unless they aren't being driven. I...I'm worried. What if one of the people doing the trucks isn't a friend? What if they are....are....are a false friend that gossips behind others backs? Hmm... How would they move them without driving them, though? * Crow pulls out another feather to blow on. "Do we have images of the trucks disappearing?" * Scratch answers matter of factly, "They could be carried, for instance." No, the cloud cover was too bad at the times of the disappearance. And Jess, nothing's wrong with some good gossip. Just the other day, you were telling me about Tiff's new boyfriend... * Archer eyes Jess. "What...?" * Jess looks Crow right in the eyes. "That's GOOD gossip. Not the ugly "Wore the wrong color dress to the party." type. * Archer just looks confused now. "You're afraid our people are going to talk to someone?" * Jess nods. "Spreading nasty hateful lies. Being non-friends." Oh, you know how it goes, Archer. One girl pretends to be a friend, then turns around and works with your enemies to hurt you. So petty and childish. But fascinating to watch. You ever go to a school dance? * Scratch tries to bring the conversation back on topic. "Were none of the previous shipments or personnel fitted with any sort of tracking or other recovery measures?" They were but trackers are hard to location in that weather. By the time the storm cleared there was no signal to detect. Have there been storms every time the shipment has been lifted? I see. It is more likely that the trackers were neutralized rather than moved out of detection range. There were the second two times. We weren't monitoring it the first time as there wasn't any problems before then. Even in winter, is it normal for there to be fierce enough storms to block satellite communication? It can and does happen yes. This seems to be a worse winter than most if the weather reports are any indication. In that case we should examine how long before and after the interference occurred. * Crow just keeps leaning back in his chair, almost drowsing, while the others discuss. If the storms appear and disappear around the time of the attacks, it may follow that we're dealing with some weather-altering demi. Hmm... *flips through his file* Looks there was at least 3 hours of totally blocking each time. That would be enough time to secure and mobilize the hijacked shipments. So either they planned around the weather or the weather planned around them is what you're saying? Did the weathermen predict the storm fronts? * Scratch nods. If not they are normal storms. I always pack the opposite of what they say to. Hmm... the storms seemed to build for awhile before the time of the attack. There were reports of it as it started happening. Still if they knew the shipments were coming... Hmm. Your information says that the shipments were monthly so over the last three months is when the attacks took place. Each time emergency supplies had to airlifted in but this isn't really cost effective to keep doing. A more detailed map of the area of the attacks would help us discern how the trucks were most likely taken. I'll see what we have on file. So, Cara, what do you think? In cargo, in fatigues, or in the air? * Archer heads to the back of the room and hits a button bringing down a display screen. He navigates through it pulling up topographical maps of the area. Given the distance the disappearances happened from one another, it is unlikely that the trucks were removed in the same manner each time without special means. * Jess tugs at Scratches sleeve. * Scratch looks down. "Yes, Jess?" * Jess leans up and whispers. From what you can tell of the areas there's not any specific geographic features that stand out as any commonality between the attacks. Just stretches of the highway with forests on either side. One is near a mountain, one near a river. So, there could be some loonies camped out there in the stretches of wilderness where people don't go, only coming out to raid for supplies. * Scratch 's eyes widen slightly. He responds to Jess with an equal amount of discretion. There's one truck stop they all checked in at after leaving Edmonton, which is the last place the conveys were seen apart from satellite coverage and Sky Shark following. Yes, there are mountain men and such. Lumber camps and other small communities. Most of them don't even have addresses, they pick up their mail in a PO Box in the city. So your plan so far is to ride along with the trucks until they attack? That seems like the best choice without obviously giving yourself away. * Scratch continues his quiet conversation with Jess. By their mannerisms it appears as if they might be approaching some sort of conclusion. * Jess just blushes and pulls away from Scratch. Sounds like that's the best we can come up with, yes. * Scratch coughs again. "Sir?" Yes? Jess suggests that we delay the shipment by one day. Why's that? She also suggests that on the scheduled day of the shipment trucks be sent out along the same route as decoys. These trucks will be trapped to aid us in overcoming any hostiles we may encounter in the event of an attack. And you want to be with the decoy trucks? I see no problems in us being with the trucks, or posted at various points around the trucks as was previously discussed. What sort of traps did you have in mind? Acting in this manner we would not only be able to oust any hostiles, but even in the event that we fail the supplies will still be available to do with as appropriate. Jess planned to use her own variety of traps. Jess? And why wouldn't we want them to succeed in taking our trucks? * Jess stares at the spot on the floor. "Explosive, electricity, magic, force fields, pies, weights...anything we could get our hands on and would distract them." * Scratch coughs. "It is easier to conceal the absence of the supplies within the trucks than the absence of trucks themselves." Killing your opponent's monster cards is nice. It keeps them from hurting your own monsters this turn. But until you get past the monster cards, and the trap cards, and the magic cards, and the lands, your opponent is still there. At this point it is very probable that someone within the circle of information regarding these shipments has been divulging it to whomever is attacking the trucks. It would be important to keep the switch and delay as secret as possible. * Jess gives Scratch a look of "Didn't I say that earlier?" * Scratch nods. "I was repeating." * Scratch coughs again and turns to Crow. "That is correct, however without retaliation in some form against your opponent they will only continue to assault you with those monster guards next turn, and the turn after." Hopefully, the destruction of our "opponent's monster cards" will force the enemy into vision as they reallocate resources to replenish their armies. I believe it will help our situation to attempt to force their hand next turn. Hm. I always liked the direct damage decks. Especially the ones that dealt damage after your opponent thought he'd destroyed your monsters yet again. Like ... which one is it, "Poisoned Gift" and "Trojan Horse" combo, Jess? I'm not a good Jack-In-The-Box trap Crow.. No, it's the Trojan Horse and Grave Seeker. Aw, but you'd be so cute in the spring shoes! *reference to the 'now modern' Jack-in-the-Box mascot* Oh, right. * Scratch resituates himself in the chair and subsequently producing several audible cracks from his arms and shoulders on up. * Crow closes his eyes. "So the question is, do we play a trap card that activates when our opponent attacks, or when he increases his life points after he thought his attack was successful?" Either way it should be a Scapegoat or False Squad so no real damage is done. * Archer raises an eyebrow. Seeing as all of the non-military personnel involved were unharmed it may be acceptable to include some on our run. Nobody attacks if they know you've got a scapegoat. You have to have a real monster out to show them, so they don't realize it's just a land and a trap. So we can't just have non-military personnel. * Scratch looks through his folder again. "Were we not going to be manning these vehicles ourselves? It would be a simple matter to wear gear similar to what guards would." That's why we need to make it tempting, but I don't want any one hurt... We're not enough to be a convincing guard. You're also not licensed drivers... If we could bring other demis rather than risking humans, it'd be good, but no-one else is cleared for this. * Scratch looks up, honestly, "Sir, would we be pulled over if we drove?" Could we hire some actors? * Scratch lowers his chin slightly. "The enemy would likely be unable to distinguish between military personnel and an actor in time, Jess." * Crow chuckles. Actors would be humans, too. And they aren't as adept at protecting themselves. But they are fast! I went to this play and the guy went off stage and came on on the other side in less then ten seconds... Well our personnel were handling these situations up until this point. We can put marines in all the positions. And Scratch and any others who want can join them, in uniform. Jess is a great inventory manager. * Scratch nods. "Understood. Hopefully we will be able to avoid any marine casualties." They need to think this is the real thing though... They won't attack until we give the word. Yes, we will have to do our best to make this look as convincing as possible. Easiest to be convincing when there is no lie. A genuine gift with poisoned wrapping is more easily given than a box filled with fire. Are you suggesting that we risk the lives of irregular personnel and civilian workers? Have any been hurt so far? The non-civilians are all missing. And they are regular personnel. Let us do as Jess suggests. We trap everything. We man this as normal, with us planted. We capture them. If we fail, we find out where they retreat. So then that begs the question, what sort of traps do you have in mind? We'll need to special request any sort of military level ordinance. I...I don't know. I'm good at playing them not designing them. Anything to startle or stun them. Like I said... electricity, explosives, smoke, pies, flying hams, loud noises, unicorns, Cara in a cute little dress... * Crow leans forward, suddenly paying attention. "That, I believe Jess and Scratch can specify. I think we should head out this afternoon. I look forward to visiting Canada." I don't know if me being in a dress counts as startling them... Crow on the other hand... * Crow drinks the rest of his juice. "Mm. Good stuff. Major Rose does an excellent job." * Crow gets up, collects his folder, and looks to Archer. "So, what time do we leave?" I'll set our departure time for 1400 hours and we can work on the details of your trappings once there. Does this work for everyone? Sounds good. * Scratch nods. [End session]