Previously on Section M: Your training was completed and your present for graduating was your first assignment. Supply trucks heading to northern Canada are disappearing and no one can figure out who is doing it. Someone was wiping the minds of the drivers and depositing them at the base several days later. This could mean only one of two things, they're lying or metahumans were involved. At 1400 hours sharp you departed for the great nation state of Canada in the city of Edmonton. After landing you were transferred to a set of unmarked vans to transport you to the truck depot so you could meet up with the convoy to set up. Special care was taken to not give away what you guys really were. Especially those of you with extra large wings. [Monday, February 5th, 2063] [Inside a large van heading to the truck depot.] [Collar status: Back on the transport] [Session start] * Scratch is seated to the side of the van in the outfit he was issued for this assignment. For a moment he unconsciously scratches at the back of his neck before catching himself and falling back into his usual rigid posture. * Jess actually has a little stuffed animal with her and is -bouncing- looking much like her normal self again. * Crow is still in his cupid outfit, though he's had to leave his quiver on the transport with his collar. At least, he -was- in it when last you saw it. He's wearing an ugly, heavy green cloak that wraps all the way around him and then some. This does effectively hide his wings, without hindering his mobility too badly. Presumably, he's got his weapon under there, too. Theoretically, he could fit a small arsenal in there. The van is about as large as van's come. There's plenty of room for everyone to sit, and even space enough in the back for Crow to stretch out his wings somewhat. Archer is of course riding shotgun. * Crow has been chatting amiably with the driver, with Archer, and with the team. Whether they reply or not. Though it's definitely more fun if people are replying. The concealment of his wings doesn't seem to bother him any, and he's even, so far, remembered to walk on the ground when around humans. * Cara is wrapped tightly in a blanket right now. Under the blanket is some heavy winter clothing, and under that is the skin-tight black armor that has become standard issue. * Jess looks around bright eyed grinning at every one. Just thinking about how cold it is outside the truck makes me cold. * Crow laughs. "I'm glad I have this big, heavy coat." The heater has been blasting pretty much the entire time, but it's still cold enough that everyone that's not crazy is wrapped up tightly in their preferred winter clothing. It won't be that bad! SNOWBALL FIGHTS! THINK OF IT! * Crow does extend his arm out from under his cloak, holding a feather. "Anyway, time for good luck charms. I've got lucky feathers for everyone! This one's for you, Cara." * Scratch doesn't seem to be bothered by the severe temperatures as he busies himself between studying the information in his PDA and surveying the surrounding landscape. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to point out that this is a covert operation. As such, we'd like to have minimal exposure of your powers. Wait till the troubles start before any of you try anything too... flashy. Understood. * Cara takes the feather and tucks it behind her ear. "Um... thanks." * Crow smiles and hums to himself, falling quiet for a minute or so before pulling out another one. "Here you go, Jess. Keep it with you, or it'll lose it's luck," he says with a wink. * Jess just looks straight into Archer's eyes. Her eyes show a light they have been lacking since he took over. "Snowballs aren't powers." The van pulls into a driveway into a large fenced off lot with several rows of warehouses. It heads off to the back of the lot where it looks like several military personnel are standing guard. As the van approaches, a guard steps up to the drivers side window. The driver shows him the paperwork that Archer gave him and they open main door, letting the van pull inside. * Crow holds out a third feather as the van stops. "Here you go, Scratch; one for you, too." I wasn't talking about snowballs. So, how long are we lingering around here? * Scratch accepts the feather and deposits it in one of the many tactical pouches on his person. "Thank you." * Jess holds up her stuffed rabbit. "Fluffy Scruffy isn't a no-no! Right?" Well we're here. You can get out if you like. Just don't draw too much attention to yourself. * Archer steps out of the van. * Crow 's next words are audible only to Jess, Cara, and Scratch, and don't actually require him to move his lips. ~These should work even when those of us who change shape...er...change shape.~ * Scratch follows summarily and remains quiet. ~Just think 'loudly' instead of talking, and we should all hear you.~ Inside the warehouse is a pair of large trucks. Their backs are open and there are several pallets are nearby. There are guards posted inside but there doesn't appear to be too much activity right now. * Cara hops out of the truck and begins to pace about, stretching out her legs from the ride. ~UNDERSTOOD.~ They won't load the trucks till Wednesday, right now we can look around and see if you can get any better ideas for what you'd like to set up. ~Yipe! Not that loudly!~ *jumps a bit in his seat at Scratch's reply, and stands up* ~Think I should give one to Archer, too?~ "Probably not a bad idea." ~...Understood.~ Yes, Sir. ~Why not? He's part of the -TEAM!-~ * Underneath that though there's mutter heard over the bond ~I'd like to see his head cut off and hanging from a pike...~ It would be best to come up with your plan of attack by tomorrow afternoon incase there are any supplies needed that we don't currently have here. * Crow 's legs pop audibly as he walks. He shuffles a bit under his heavy, all-concealing cloak, and pays close attention to Archer's explanation. * Crow glances sharply at Jess, but doesn't say anything. ~Under normal circumstances it is less difficult for items to be placed upon pikes than to be hung from them.~ So... *he crosses his arms over his chest* What exactly did you have in mind? * Scratch faces Archer. "Sir, perhaps we should examine the vehicles before we answer that question." * Crow walks - yes, he is still remembering to do that, why are you looking at him that way? - over to Archer, and holds out another black pinion feather with no explanation. Though he is grinning like he's up to something. ~If you have anything you, erm, don't want shared with Archer, say so before you 'path it. I'll filter it out.~ Be my guest. *he gestures towards the trucks.* ~My neck itches.~ ~Excuse me, I did not intend to send that.~ ~Oh. Sorry.~ * Scratch nods. "Thank you, Sir." He turns to the others, but specifically Jess. "Jess?" I'll go help investigate the trucks. I doubt there's anything wrong, but another pair of eyes to help confirm that is always good. * Jess seems generally confused looking around in bewilderment. ~Wha?~ Yes scratch? * Crow clears his throat, and, in his best imitation of Scratch - who is his only real example of how 'real' military personnel behave - states loudly, "Mr. Archer, Sir! It is bad luck for the commanding officer to not have a good luck charm, Sir!" ~Being as it was you who suggested-~ "Ahem..." *He breaks off mid-thought at her words.* "Being as it was you who suggested that we trap the vehicles, it would be prudent for you to accompany the rest of us there now. Would it not?" Oh...Okay! * Scratch nods and turns to Cara before nodding a second time and starting towards where the Trucks are kept. * Archer takes the feather and looks it over in his hand. ~Telepathy feather.~ *grins impishly at Archer* ~..So tight...~ ~Ahem, excuse me.~ * Cara ignores Scratch's little communication as she heads for the trucks. ~These'll work as long as we keep 'em, so don't lose it. But, erm, I'll be asking for them back later. It kinda hurts to have 'em out.~ The trucks are big 18 wheels. The backs are empty. On top are a set of large refrigerator units, although in this weather they keep things from freezing more than keep things cool. I... see. * Jess is bounding behind Scratch looking cute. ~You do realize this is an unregistered power?~ * Cara crouches down and inspects the underbelly of the beast. * Crow salutes - almost a mock-salute - Archer, and heads over to join the others. ~Yep! But I doubt it will be for long. Useful, isn't it?~ * Archer quirks an eyebrow but doesn't really comment further. ~Does it need to touch skin or do I merely need to keep it on me?~ * Scratch holds his arms out to the back of one of the containers, and then moves to the side taking visual measurements of its dimensions. After a few minutes he is satisfied and returns to Jess' side. ~Just on you somewhere.~ ^_^ ~Right. There aren't any... side-effects are there?~ * Jess is looking it over, frowning a bit. ~Like I said, I'll want 'em back. It kinda hurts to have 'em out.~ * Crow climbs in the back of one, and calls out, "Hello!", grinning as he tests the echo-properties of the refrigeration trailers. The truck echoes back appropriately. Hey! Guys! You gotta try this! -is! -is! is! ~I will refrain at this time. Thank you.~ * Archer steps around the trucks casually. He's also looking them over but mostly just watching you look them over. * Cara crawls under the truck Crow is in and bangs on the bottom, sending a nice loud echo throughout. * Crow laughs. "Do that again!" * Jess starts to look over the trucks. "Crow! help here! I want Confounding Fog in the back with Lesserman's Signal up top when the doors are open. A Banshees Wail would be nice if we could get it. And can you wield one of these shut Cara? Um... welding I believe is a precise use of a flame to join two pieces of metal. I'm not really precise. * Crow pokes his head out, and climbs up on top of the truck. Wow, he's good to be able to pull himself up that way. "You're going to use the trucks as mobile fields?" ~Also, code it up a bit. We -do- have humans watching who probably don't want to know creatures like us are lurking nearby.~ Am I to wait for a time as such a more direct use of force is necessary? Hopefully, we doing a basic supply run deck. We need to make it look like all our strength is in our people when we are trap heavy. Oh! Like Tiff's deck. ~You can talk about it all you want, just don't do it yet.~ ~Oh, cool. Thanks--er, what -is- your first name?~ ~... Jack.~ ~Pleased to meet you, Jack. Thanks for the okay.~ Think you could find some things to do that? We also need something... ~What are the basic supplies they get out here again?~ * Cara continues to make the rounds of both trucks. "I thought we were going to do a simple ambush. They come, we pop out and smack them around." ~Food, medical, other things that are hard to come by out there.~ ~Any luxuries?~ But beat down decks are Sooooooooooooo boring. That works, maybe. I still think we should find a way of tracking them back to their base. This is more "capture the flag" than "defend the convoy". * Scratch nods. "I do not suggest altering the structure of the vehicles as we have not yet collected any information as to the enemy's mode of attack." We may come into a situation wherein our options become limited by the actions we take here setting up. Oooh, we need an invisible parasite then and...those are rare. But some noisemakers and smoke bombs shouldn't be hard to come by on a military base, should they? * Cara dusts her hands off. "I can't find anything unusual about the trucks." Good job, Cara! Now, any way to -make- something unusual about them? ~Archer, any luxuries that get transported once in a while?~ Yeah, but I don't know if they'd still be recognizable as trucks. ~Sure. People order things and this is generally the only transport that makes it that far during the winter. Why?~ ~Make up a special order, make sure that it's a complete and absolute secret that there's a special order. In fact tell every one it's a secret.~ "Then everyone will know about it. ~Exactly! Good thinking, Jess!~ Yeah, I think you're right, though, Cara. This may not be secure enough for-- *shuts his mouth suddenly and shifty-glances at the guards* --erm, the shipment. * Scratch refrains from this conversation as he is unsure of its purpose. But they haven't had a shipment in so long. We need to get everything to them and make up for it in other ways. The shipping manifest is generally top secret. It could be full of rocks and they wouldn't know the difference. At least till they had already attacked and cracked them open. ~That's kinda the point. If they seem especially anxious to get this one, we know there's a leak.~ ~However, if we don't make like we're shipping something big and trying to keep it secret, nobody will bother leaking it.~ * Archer shrugs. "Well I suppose we could write down whatever we wanted. How do we know they don't just want food and medical supplies?" * Scratch nods. Make a list then. That's your job, Jess! Leave it to our explosives expert! * Jess nods and starts to find people to modify the trucks to protect the goods. [One long planning conversation later...] So you have a good idea on what you're doing now? Scratch does. Yep! Any idea what the best bar in the town is? No idea. And no I'm not letting you walk around in public, so stop asking. * Scratch nods. "I will go about procuring the tracking equipment and transportation for my surveillance of the route." Okay, I'll stay on base. All right, I'll be here in case you need me. This is just a warehouse. We'll be getting a Hotel to stay at. Even better! * Crow walks over to Cara, and, despite the ability to use the telepathic link, instead whispers to her, "So, -you- don't have any wings. You think he'll let you go into town?" He looks up. "Oh, a hotel? Cool! Can I get a room with an internet terminal?" The rest of you can go out, provided you let me know where you're going. Your phones have trackers so we'll know where you go. If you lose your phone well... Don't lose you phone. *looks very serious when he says this last part* And don't manifest your powers at all. That's an order. * Jess grabs scratch. "Movie? Please?" ~If you go see a movie, you'd better keep your feathers and tell me all about it.~ *pouting* I suppose I'll walk about and see if there's anything interesting going on. * Archer heads back towards the van, nodding to the driver who starts it up and waits for everyone else to get back in. * Scratch looks down and failing to ascertain any reason to refuse states, "Understood." You're the best, Scratch. ^_^ *climbs in the back of the van* * Jess skips over to the van singing a boy band song off key. * Crow pulls a candied apple out of his cloak and starts munching on it. * Scratch follows suit, filing into the van. * Cara climbs into the van after a few people have already filed in. * Crow licks his fingers clean after the apple's gone. As soon as everyone is onboard the van drives off. The guards open the door and let you out and you make your way off the lot. You're out of town a ways but there's a small Motel nearby with some vacancies. It's a small place, but they have 3 open rooms, 2 with twin beds and one with a king. How the group splits is up to them but Archer pulls rank and gets his own room. ~I hate th- Excuse me. It wont happen again.~ * Crow eyes Scratch. "I claim Cara for a roommate!" He stands next to her and grins like a cat, still bundled up in his heavy cloak. His ears and nose look cold. It's evening time now. If anyone is intending on heading into town, now would be the best time, the buses are still running and will run for a couple more hours giving you some time to socialize. * Scratch offers no objection and instead turns to Archer. "Sir, may I request a collar?" All right Crow, but I don't want to find you in my bed in the middle of the night. If you like, I can have one brought. Thank you, Sir. I'll require it to sleep. * Jess doesn't seem to be complaining but is distracted by EVERY little thing. If you'll be more comfortable that way. * Cara doesn't seem to be doing much, but one could easily blame that on the cold. * Scratch says nothing. * Crow smiles at Cara. "Would I do such a thing?" If the things Tanya would say have any truth behind them... * Jess just smiles "We can go now?" A gentleman never kisses and tells, my fair lady. * Scratch deposits what luggage he may have in the room that isn't claimed by Crow and Cara and returns. "Yes." Yes, you can. Just be on your best behavior. Where's the movie theater? I'm not sure. I'm not from around here. Anyway, you guys have fun. I'll be at that bar we passed on the corner. ~We'll be in touch.~ * Crow heads on in to his room. ~Now, how to access the 'net from here...~ Ah right... Oh well. * Jess grabs Scratch and drags him off. ~Oh, if anyone needs a bird's-eye view, just ask.~ ~'snot like I'm doing anything more exciting.~ * Scratch is dragged off. * Archer walks back over to Crow and hands him back his feather. "I'd prefer to use these," indicates his cellphone "unless it's absolutely necessary. You'll understand after you've dealt with a few TPs." Have fun on your date, Scratch! *called loudly enough for hotel employees to hear* * Cara carries her bags into her hotel room and drops them unceremoniously on the floor. * Archer walks off down the sidewalk. Okay. Thanks; I feel better already, Jack. Have fun! Call me Archer. *he calls back behind him* * Crow holds the feather Archer returned to him. It crumbles to sand and blows away in the wind. "Okay, Archer!" ^_^ * Crow made sure to do that when nobody was looking. [Inside the Motel room...] * Crow decloaks once the door is shut, and stretches his wings. He has to turn so they reach diagonally across it to do it properly, and still has to reach them up a bit from where they connect at his waist to avoid hitting the beds. "Ah, that's better." He is, indeed, still in his cupid getup. * Cara plops down on the bed, grabs the remote, and starts flipping through the channels on the TV. * Crow folds his wings in again so they're not taking up the whole room. "Anything we don't get on Olympus?" Motel technology hasn't improved much over the years. Some of the technology in the rooms is newer, like a large universal viewing screen for all your entertainment and information needs. The beds are still a bit firm and the comforter has the floral pattern that every room ever seems to have. There's a heater/air conditioner unit which isn't on very high at the moment. Probably the staff were trying to save power until the room was actually in use. * Crow turns up the heater. Well, the local channels are different, but not real interesting. Hm. Wonder if the 'net's restricted here, too. I'd imagine so. Never know until you try. Though probably nothing interesting here, either. Commercials of the future are much more interactive, as the TV and the net are practically the same thing. You can pause the show you're watching and immediately go about ordering the product you want. Of course, the Motel has a lock on the net, and you need to enter your ID information to access your credit account to pay for the time you want to use. The TV is still free, though. * Cara flips channels, not really finding anything interesting on. "I could make a better TV show than these people." Wanna try? Here? This isn't exactly a studio. So we just act it out, now. We can come up with sets and props later. ...not to mention a camera. The world's first genuine demi stars! *poses* * Cara laughs. "Yeah, like that'll happen." But we don't even have a script. I guess we could write one... Well, let's just start without one, and see where it goes. On the screen, random generic lawyer girl is arguing her case before the quirky judge while oddly interesting boss watches from the back of the courtroom. First, we need a --what's it called when they set up the show's shtick? Hey, isn't that the guy from the Shakespeare Consortium? You know, the hero's suspicious mentor? *pointing at the 'oddly interesting boss'* I don't know. I've never watched this show before. And are you talking about a premise? A plot? A setting? Yeah, those! I've not seen this show, either. We don't get it on the island. But I'm -sure- I've seen that actor before. Probably on another show. I think I've seen him on others. Bah. If you've not seen Shakespeare Consortium, you've not seen good TV. *winks teasingly* Well, as for a plot, we'd have to figure out if it was a drama or comedy, or what. Hm. Well, think we could get someone to take a winged boy seriously enough for a drama? Not likely. Well, then. Comedy it is, I suppose. I think sitcoms are popular again... [And so they plotted a sinister plot and...oh, who're we kidding? Tune in next week when Crow and Cara make out! * Cara beats Crow senseless. "That's not what happens!"] [End Session]