Session 1.6 Planning Meeting and More

[Prestar]

Once Mikhail gets back to the apartment, Serena greets him with her mirrorshades off, sweeps him for surveillance devices, then sits him next to Anya and Emiko and hands him a copy of Report 22092023AB  Serena then looks Mikhail in the eyes as the two girls process. "Okay, bottom line, bad guys that tried to abduct the original fourth team member are called the The New Age, they have a guy by the name of Kodiak Malk, who has a background in Estonian Special Operations and can use a low-powered personal-scale Absolute Territory Field to stop or deflect bullets. They were responsible for the attack on Tsukiko, and appear to worship the Entities. Cultists suck bollocks, especially stupid ones. At least smart ones you can use PsyOps on. Anyway, read the report and ask me your questions. Independent thinking will likely reveal avenues of investigation better then me feeding you all my biases." Serena, her mirrorshades still off, although her headscarf is still on, revealing her silver eyes, as she resumes patiently waiting.

Captain Serena Silver Wounds: 13/13 Ego Barrier: 35/35 Fate Points: 2/3 Fatigue: 0 Insanity Points: 0

 

[Neopopulas]

Emiko

Wounds: 0/12 Fatigue: 0 Ego Barrier: 35/35 Insanity: 2

Emiko has questioned Zelda's whereabouts, but hadn't pushed for more answers.

She read through the report without expression "I had always thought it must be possible.." She looks around for a moment "The Eva's AT field exists - to some degree - because of the pilot. Amateratsu is an exception, as far as i know..."

[von_das]

Mikhail Razumovsky

Wounds: 12/12 Fatigue: 0/4 Ego Barrier: 25/25 Insanity: 0

Mikhail smiles at Emiko as he arrives. No need to go looking for her. But his attention is soon on Serena and her report...

 

"Are you sure that they are stupid cultists?" he asks once she is done, copying her intonation. "Considering their poor resources, they have been pretty effective. If they want the Entities to win, incapacitating a pilot is a good step towards that goal." He is not smiling, though neither does he seem angry. He is serious and focused. "I'd like to know more about their beliefs. Maybe PsyOps are not impossible." Admittedly, not his exact specialisation, but the Captain still seems oddly quick to dismiss the option.

 

The boy looks through the report, absorbing it quickly. "On the other hand, if they suddenly changed their whole approach after receiving military-grade weapons... the cult might not be our biggest concern here. It sounds like someone might be using them as catspaws or even as cover. Kodiak Malk doesn't sound like a cultist." Meeting Serena's silver eyes again, Mikhail asks: "Any idea how they knew where and when to ambush Tsukiko?" Surely there were precautions taken to make her transfer secret and secure. That goes without saying. And yet, it wasn't enough...

[Mattheus2924]

Anya studies the report carefully, she knew she would be fighting entities alongside her spy duties, but now it sounds like she may be fighting other people too. Seems odd to do when there are much bigger threats, but is not unfamiliar with it.

 

"Was he able to use an A.T. field when you trained him? I read that all humans have some sort of A.T. Is it possible he has some sort of tech that would let him user it? If they are cultists maybe he has interacted with an entity somehow - there is still a lot we don't know about them." Anya thinks back to the battle and how she felt paralyzed by the fear of first encountering an entity.

"Did the two of you part ways on good terms? I know we are considered an 'asset' but could he be trying to get at you Captain?"

[Prestar]

Serena smiles tightly at Anya's questions. "I said I might have trained him, and on comparing the face and name to my mental files, I have not trained him, so I have nothing to add, other than that Estonian Special Operations were professional, competent, and in the second tier of professional SpecOps like most of Eastern Europe, although the winner there was the Polish GROM. The first tier are US Delta, SEAL Team Six, other Tier One operators, the UK's SAS and SBS, the French GIGN, Germany's GSG-Nine, Australia's ASAS and associated Australian SpecOps units...well, you get the idea. Third tier being the Russian Spetznaz, who for all their hype, frequently had mixed quality and often couldn't deliver, along with most of Africa, India, Iran, and Pakistan. The Koreas varied by unit, as did most of the southeast pacific. If you see this guy, scream for Security, me, and run for hard cover." Serena turns to Mikhail. "That's being looked into, which is intel-speak for 'not a frakking clue at the moment but we're looking real hard'. Other questions?"

Captain Serena Silver Wounds: 13/13 Ego Barrier: 35/35 Fate Points: 2/3 Fatigue: 0 Insanity Points: 0

 

[von_das]

Mikhail Razumovsky

Wounds: 12/12 Fatigue: 0/4 Ego Barrier: 25/25 Insanity: 0

Mikhail raises an eyebrow at Serena's SpecOps rankings, but lets it go quickly. It was a moot point right now, though worth keeping in mind for later. Instead, he asks: "Where did the Security Branch find Tsukiko? What kind of resistance did they encounter?"

[Prestar]

Serena looks at Mikhail as she answers his questions. "I'm not read on the finer details, but the basics are that fifteen Security Branch were escorting Tsukiko in a ground convoy from the airport. New Age attacks in large numbers, very much outnumbering Tsukiko and the Security Branch personnel, however Security Branch was holding their own due to the fact that New Age, while decently-armed apparently, are mostly amateurs, inflicting minimal losses on Security Branch. During this firefight, Security--trained to be rather observant in all situations--notices what I believe was generally termed as 'weird f*cking shit' in secure radio traffic going on with Kodiak Malk, at which point Security pulls Tsukiko back from the firefight as much as possible and screams harder for serious backup over their encrypted radios. Malk eventually retreats, most of his fanatical followers being dead either due to lethal Security's shots or having committed suicide when disabled by Security's fire. Apparently, Malk didn't think magic bushido hands would work versus pissed off NERV Security. They're currently looking for him hard, and Kirsty is most probably following every lead, even the smallest. This is not the time to be doing anything suspicious. Wait a few days, if possible, to let NERV settle down. Questions? I'm liking that you all are critically thinking."

Captain Serena Silver Wounds: 13/13 Ego Barrier: 35/35 Fate Points: 2/3 Fatigue: 0 Insanity Points: 0

 

[darkhugh]

 

The Setting 

 

Location: Apartment 212, NERV - London

Time and Date: 16:30, Thursday, 22nd September 2023.

 

 

Apartment 212

 

Zelda's call with Jen goes as expected, the rather head strong friend lets Zelda have it. Though, there is nothing malicious there, just a friend who sometimes cares a little bit too much. She cracks a few jokes at Zelda's expense to lighten the mood before allowing a 'normal' conversation to follow, at the end of the day she is there for her friend. The conversation about coming up gets Jen's interest and she basically invites herself to come on the 27th of October, very little chance of talking her out of it.

 

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Mikhail's meeting with Oli is one of the easiest meetings the Russian has had in the last week, when the young pilot asks about his 'official line' Oli nods a little and clearly states. "As part of improving relations between UN and Russia, both sides will be sharing assets, research and resources to defeat the Entities through NERV." From how he answers, it is clear this is all Oli knows and what he sees as the truth.

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OOC - Incoming Tsukiko retro

Within the apartment all bar Zelda sit and walk about Kodiak, The New age and the abduction of Tsukiko. You talk about how her transport was on route to London on the 20th of September, when her transport was flipped by a heavy grade land mine. Enough to incapacitate the car and injure herself and all inside.

From retellings by staff on the ground a fire-fight breaks out between NERV and the New Age, Tsukiko herself takes up small arms but is not trained. Kodiak is able to advance to Tsukiko, no one recalls seeing him approach her, and then literally drags her away by the hair. A number of people see Tsukiko point the gun at the man, but no bullets fire as she pulls the trigger on him.

NERV staff try to stop Kodiak, though their bullets are mostly ineffective, there is one confirmed shot on his left shoulder however, though that is one out of hundred of bullets. He is taken away by transport with Tsukiko, some of the New Age group stay to secure their exit while others leave. Those that stay fight to death, taking their own lives if required to avoid capture.

During this time Tsukiko is being tracked by NERV, through OSINT and other sources the intelligence department track her down to an abandoned warehouse to the north east of London.

A NERV team, lead by Greg, advance on the site and engage the enemy. They have confirmed information that Kodiak is not on site, and make easy work of those present, allowing them to retrieve Tsukiko. She is brought back and currently in medical.

 

As you talk about the report from time to time you glance at the code left at the party, with some time one of you recognizes it as a simple cipher known as a Caesar cipher. Something that can be brute forced if needed, but to easily unlock it you would need a key, which is a numerical value, normally between 1-13. You glance at the label itself, spotting the slogan 'Entice all 5 senses' and something is off. It just doesn't ring any bells, its not a sentence you have heard with coke...It's fake. You take the number five and try your luck, shifting each letter in the message 5 places along the alphabet.

 

twenty sixth october nine am at Lincolns Inn Fields. One person only. -H

 

Assumptions are dangerous, but it is clear this will be the first meeting with the Handler, or at least a stand in. This gives you just over a month to amass information.

 

 

OOC

 

As a note, I believe I am still waiting on a final/confirmed plan for the assault in Gaz, please confirm in OOC threat.

Any questions on Tsukiko I can tackle OOC, I couldnt find any notes on past events but scoured old posts and pieced things together. The above should be right.

 

 

Edited April 26 by darkhugh (see edit history)

[Rudra]

27 October is fine, by then either Hariti will be defeated or Jen wont have reasons to visit London.

These links, these bonds, the people in her life, they sometimes complicate things but at the same time they make it possible, their support is invaluable and Zelda wont give it up, even if it require pro level juggling skills to balance Spy, Pilot and Social life.

The chat with Jenn helped distract Zelda from the current problem: living with replicants, she wonder how many Emikos are out there and what happened to the real one.

A message, from Silver, Zelda read it but does not reply, instead she continue with her dinner and once finished she visit the park; there she sit on a bench and while relaxing the teen check her smartphone, looking at the social media, this time with more attention.

[darkhugh]

 

The Setting 

Location: Apartment 212, NERV - London

Time and Date: 16:30, Thursday, 22nd September 2023.

 

Apartment 212

 

The rest of the evening is peaceful, with few interruptions allowing people to enjoy their own freedom as a little.

Everyone is able to get a good night sleep and awake the next day read for it all to happen again.

 

 

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The Setting 

Location: Apartment 212, NERV - London

Time and Date: 20:57, Thursday, 22nd September 2023.

 

Apartment 212

 

After a good nights sleep each of you awakes and prepares for the day, for all bar Zelda there is a trip into London for some shopping. Those who go out are able to get feel for London, learn the streets a little and see what the residents are like. You also spend some time seeing the aftermath from the ground level, something that helps cement the destruction that is possible from the Entities. When in London there is a nice lunch, and hopefully some friendly chatter amongst the team.

Though eventually things come to an end and you return to NERV, the base is a bit more alive than tomorrow as people prepare for the Jehoel attack on the East coast of America. From NERV-London there is little the team can do to help physically, though resources and computation power are being set up and shared. It is recommended by Broome, as she passes the team in the hallway, that you should watch conflict, she gives you the internal channel number that will allow you to watch and gives you the expected time of 9pm.

That gives you all a lot of time to prepare and relax, but eventually those of you interested sit down in your living room and turn on the TV ready to watch another team deal with the Entity threat. It is not long before you see Jehoel rear his head.

 

OOC

 

Question - Do I need to read this other thread?

Awnser - No, it can provide benefits etc. But it is not a requirement.

 

You are now welcome to RP, talk about the fight etc and go from there. I will bring this thread to a close at the weekend unless you are all on a roll.

 

 

Edited April 29 by darkhugh (see edit history)

[von_das]

Mikhail Razumovsky

Wounds: 12/12 Fatigue: 0/4 Ego Barrier: 25/25 Insanity: 0

Mikhail was pretty quiet throughout this time. There was a lot of information to process, and this workload only increased with their tour. Out in London, he was watchful; not paranoid or jumpy, but attentive. Old damage interested him less than the potential attack or escape routes on the human scale.

 

Even though it added another task to his mental workload, there was no question of ignoring the TV. It was the sort of thing he needed to watch. "That didn't go too badly," he mused at the end. "Is NERV-Denver also expected to try and capture an Entity, or is it just us?" he mused aloud.

[Rudra]

Zelda too join the squad, watching the battle at the TV, Emiko note a change in behavior, but even Mikhail might notice it even if they had interacted only briefly, Zelda is cold and detached, keep them at bay, a different person from the one who baptized Emiko as the -White Witch- or joked with her about finding a playground for Anya.

Mikhail, well, the first thing she told him when they met was about the 100% discount at the local bakery...that person was friendly and welcoming, this one however look at him as if they were still living during the cold war.

Regardless these negative feelings, she is in a good mood, the free day at the base reinvigorated her, the idea way to relieve the stress.

"They had an easier battle than us and got out worse. That pilot is supposed to be a very, very experienced pointman who went into battle with a scope on his pallet rifle when maser rifles were available, Luna is a skirmisher like me and Anya and what did she do right out of the gate? throw away her maser rifle. I'd save Felix, i think an AT specialist like Emiko , fate handed him a terrible hand but he played his cards well.... but his companions? they switched roles, the pointman behaved like a skirmisher, unfortunately he had the wrong weapon and didnt cause more than a bruise to the entity while the skirmished did land a smackdown in melee, but also got wrecked, an honorable outcome for a pointman but not for the skirmisher who had a perfectly good rifle available." She shake her head, then, speaking with lower voice tone "the majority of the news trash us for our battle, i swear, if at the interview someone dare to suggest that the old team was better i'll... " nothing, she isnt going to say anything, Zelda's desire to excel, to be in the spotlight, will prevent her from sabotaging her debut.

[Neopopulas]

Emiko

Wounds: 0/12 Fatigue: 0 Ego Barrier: 35/35 Insanity: 2

"You're right, of course, Zelda. Personally I don't think the interviews will be much of a problem at all, all the normal awkward questions and judgements.. nothing more complicated than that."

 

[Mattheus2924]

Anya goes along for the trip through London to try and get her bearings and scope out the area. Although it is hard not to get distracted seeing the damaged caused by the fight.

Back at the apartment Anya joins the others in watching the Jehoel attack. "Is NERV London equipped with this AT bait too?"

Studying the movements of the Denver team and thinking about what she would have done, and what she could have done better in their own recent battle.

 

 

[Rudra]

In a somewhat venomous tone she reply to Emiko "because you have nothing, nothing to care, nothing to lose, nothing to fight for, it's not a big problem if the news paint you as inadequate, if they question your merits...but for me this is home, my family, my friends, everyone i know live here and will keep living here in the years to come. It's not something those like you can understand but i have a life beside this job, this interview can bring it to new heights or push it down a cliff, this is important for me" By the end of the week everyone in England will know her name and face, her hometown, her school, the name of her parents and close friends, for Zelda this is as big of a deal as a battle with an entity, she cant afford a negative impression.