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Amelia Johnson, Chumley Metrodora, Drae Blitzen, Kiara Umbrielle, Killian Gribs, Piper Holly, Ryan
Beth - Amelia's coworker, Jenny - Amelias friend, Two uniformed spooks - pretending to be from other branches, Ryan,Flight Attendant, Copilot, Drae's Alpha team, Drae's Bravo team, Julie - Killian's wife, Chester - Killian's baby, ATC operator
[7:14 AM] GM: The date is March 5th, 2015, according to the local, most widely accepted calendar, 5778 on the Jewish calendar, and, according to the Chinese, it is the year of the Wooden Sheep, the Wooden Horse having just passed the year before. There are some subtle differences in the timeline. The Matrix sequels were better written, The MCU started 5 years earlier (the most recent movie in the MCU is Captain Marvel (just released) The Climate Crisis is a little more intense and the Paris Accords are more active and signed by just about every nation in the world. Oh, and the strange old person pushing the "Birther Conspiracy" got so upset when he was mocked during the 2011 White House Correspondents Dinner, that he rushed the stage, got grabbed by the Secret Service and has been sitting in lockup ever since, despite his repeated lawsuits to get him out.
Winter is still here, in March, and the snow line is still south of Virginia. It's snowed in Florida several times this year. Oranges and orange juice is going to be quite the commodity soon, possibly along with many temperature sensitive crops. Wine fields froze. The cat 6 storms are still novel though. Hurricane Sandy's devastation is still very sharp in people's minds. The Ebola pandemic relief from Obama's administration (yes, it was pretty much kept from the US, and the provisions of NAFTA allowed it to be kept from most of the Americas, only 11 cases total in the Americas, and those were quarantined and taken care of immediately) has been helping in African relief, sustaining and building even more ties between the various countries in Africa and those in the Americas.
But to the average person, there isn't much difference at all.
NOTE: Some of the conversations below were woven together, if you prefer that version follow the time signatures. I unwove them, so they would make more sense in the various setting chunks, story-wise
[7:04 PM] GM: To quote an old friend ... the stage is set, the curtains rise, and we each find ourselves in the places from which this adventure begins.
[7:07 PM] GM: Amelia: The morning begins much like many others, normal as you wake, work through your morning activities, and proceed into work. There is a sealed envelope on your desk, that wasn't there the night before. No writing on the outside at all, no obvious indications from whence it came. Just there, as if such was normal for you.
[7:08 PM] GM: Chumley: You have had a long night, so a slow morning to follow. None of your work projects are on fire, and your first meeting on your calendar isn't until Noon, so you can take your time logging into work.
[7:10 PM] GM: Drae: There is your usual stack of correspondences, people seeking your services, people applying for jobs, people turning in reports of what happened the day before ... the usual. busy morning.
[7:12 PM] GM: Kiara: You are having a quiet morning, enjoying a slow dawn, in first class on a plane traveling from Prague back to NYC. Everyone around you is still asleep. The flight attendants are just beginning to stir about, checking on people subtly and skillfully as they do.
[7:13 PM] GM: Killian: The baby has had somewhat of a bad night, but you and your wife did manage several hours of sleep in and around it.
[7:13 PM] GM: Piper: Have some peanuts.
[7:15 PM] Amelia: Text messages to Beth: Hey, can you come check this out with me? Someone put a suspicious package my desk.
[7:16 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Sets up a LARGE cup of coffee, and some breakfast.
[7:16 PM] Chumley Metrodora: And begins the process of logging in.
[7:17 PM] GM: Ryan: That call you have been waiting for, has gone through.
[7:18 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Sips some lovely Assam while she peruses her notes from her last adventure in Prague.
[7:18 PM] GM: Beth will be there in about a half-hour, she's stuck in a meeting with a trustee.
[7:19 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Considers the entire scope of the site in Prague and whether there are other avenues of information she should be exploring.
[7:21 PM] GM: Chumley: There is a flag in your file requesting SCIF time in the next 24 hours.
[7:22 PM] Amelia: Sighs. I'm probably imagining too many things... but just in case... Puts on some gloves before picking up the envelope.
[7:22 PM] GM: Kiara: One of the flight crew does a double-take seeing you awake. She covers it up quickly, but ... you do notice.
[7:24 PM] GM: Amelia: The envelope is heavier than you expect, there is definitely not just paper in it. And the gloves were a good call, because there is some discoloration on them, from just touching the envelope.
[7:24 PM] Amelia: What? Quickly puts it back down and waits for Beth.
[7:24 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Knowing SCIF time is means something probably urgent is cooking, I finish up my breakfast and coffee, quick shower, and dress with work appropriate clothes. Double check my Go Bag, with all the special stuff I like to have on hand, is in the car, and ready, and off to the office I go.
[7:25 PM] GM: Chumley: Everything is as expected with the go bag, and there is nothing more than the usual traffic between you and work.
[7:26 PM] Chumley Metrodora: At the office I drop my things at my desk and set off to see if there is a free SCIF for whatever is coming.
[7:27 PM] GM: There is a SCIF reserved in your name (quite a trick since you didn't reserve it) for the next 24 hours. It's ... one of the more secure ones.
[7:28 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I secure my phone, and other things that cannot go into the SCIF, and step in.
[7:32 PM] GM: Chumley: There are two high ranked individuals in the SCIF, and one you know is wearing a different services uniform than when you last saw him. the other is a stranger who you have not met, but ... you are pretty sure she is not in the service position her uniform declares.
[7:34 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Do I notice anything specific about the strangers uniform? Patches out of place, how it is worn?
[7:35 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Likewise, the known individual?
[7:35 PM] Chumley Metrodora: also what service are they wearing uniforms for?
[7:36 PM] GM: Chumley: The uniform is entirely correct, and worn correctly, but ... you would have known if there was a woman ranked at that level, in that service, because it would stand out like a beacon in the grizzled old men's club that it is.
[7:38 PM] GM: Chumley: As for the person you have met before, you would have accepted his uniform as suitable, had you not seen him in anther previously. In fact, this might be his actual, and the other was faux, but ... all of this is within the heart-beat or two of you coming into the room.
[7:39 PM] Chumley Metrodora: As the door closes behind me: Its your party, would you like to tell me a story?
[7:41 PM] Chumley Metrodora: My WTF thoughts have gone to overdrive... and as such so has my guard.
[7:46 PM] GM: Chumley: They exchange glances, and reply "We can only tell you part of a story, we are hoping you can fill in the rest."
[7:47 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Perhaps, start with introductions.
[7:47 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Watching for how they react, and where they are looking, body language, etc.
[7:49 PM] GM: Chumley: The female without even glancing at her name tag, since she seems to have accepted that you both know it's not ... telling the truth, says: "Not sure we have time for that. There is a flight approaching the US that ... we believe some suspicious materials were loaded on board, and ... you are the best available analyst we have available to use at the moment."
[7:57 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I assume you have some picture(s) you would like me to look at?
[8:03 PM] GM: Chumley: Pictures and video. We think the pictures are of what is on the video, unfortunately resolution is ... not great.
[8:05 PM] GM: Pictures are pulled out of triple-locked cases, and the video player is designed to be fairly easily destroyed, because, it is otherwise not ever coming back out of a SCIF.
[8:05 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Logs into the SCIF computer, and starts comparing the pictures and video. Enhancing where I can.
[8:09 PM] GM: Chumley: Canisters of ... dust of some sort in the pictures, standard satellite view. High MOPP gear on the people loading the dust. Corpses of the folks in the MOPP gear. (Obviously shot after the loading was done, not from whatever the gear was supposed to be protecting them from.) Some tracking that you can zoom in and get details of the transports that seem to be, indeed, the ones loaded with the canisters. And then the videos of the airport shots showing possibly the same canisters being loaded. You can zoom in on one of them, and see a bit of blood smear where one of the shot people would have caused spatter, so you can, indeed identify that the canisters were the same from being filled to loaded on the flight. It takes you about an hour of verification to be sure.
[8:11 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Putting the pictures on the SCIF Wall Monitors, I show my findings, and Confirm they are the same canisters.
[8:11 PM] Chumley Metrodora: What is this all about ?
[8:13 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Are there any hints where the canisters sourced from? Country, Letters, etc?
[8:13 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Maybe something on the label in a character set giving a hint?
[8:22 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Am I able to identify which air port the canisters were transferred at?
[8:23 PM] GM: Chumley: You have a private guess, but it looks like they went out of their way to try and obscure which airport, not out of an attempt to hide it from you, but as a countermeasure to letting the airport know their security system was compromised.
[8:33 PM] Chumley Metrodora: OK ... I have shared what I can from the pictures, and video ... now give me the other half of the story.
[8:33 PM] Chumley Metrodora: What's the dust?
[8:33 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Where is it going?
[8:40 PM] GM: Chumley: They look at each other, and there is almost a visible argument going on between them. He wins, and says: "Not sure what the dust is, with the MOPP gear it could be nuclear, chemical or biological. But someone went out of their way to make sure we didn't know about it. As to where it is going ... well ... here, as far as we can tell. LaGuardia specifically."
[8:42 PM] Chumley Metrodora: If I look at the pictures further ... are there any other hints as to what is the dust, Filtration system, kind of MOPP Suits, etc?
[8:46 PM] GM: Chumley: Alas, the more you look the more you are pretty sure that the loaders didn't know what they were loading. And the MOPP suits were all pierced (shot most probably) from a distance, so ... any of the three of them might be possible.
[8:56 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I assume, since the 2 do not have anything further to tell me, and I have already shared what I can glean from the pictures. They are running for the door, to talk to whomever they need to next ...
[8:58 PM] GM: Chumley: Actually no. The female is busy writing up a report of what you said. The male did indeed get up and walk out, putting the playback camera in the shredder on the way, waiting until it was all shredded, before going out of the door.
[9:11 PM] GM: Chumley: Interestingly enough neither of them said you had to stay or seems overly concerned with tracking your movements. Either they think that the SCIF is far enough outside of ground zero that you all are safe or they think it is far enough in ground zero that it doesn't matter what you do.
[9:13 PM] Chumley Metrodora: If there is nothing further, I will clear the machine, and move on to my next assignment.
[9:15 PM] GM: Chumley: As you leave the SCIF, you see the other person talking on the phone. And your ears are good enough to recognize Drae's voice and cadence as the person he is talking to.
[9:16 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I collect my things from the SCIF lockup, and check my phone messages ... while listening.
[9:18 PM] GM: Chumley: you came in at the word "expendable" above, and your hearing is good enough to get both sides of the conversation, and your skills are good enough that he doesn't suspect that you are eavesdropping.
[9:18 PM] GM: Drae, Chumley: Prague.
[9:21 PM] GM: Drae, Chumley: He says again "Good luck" and hangs up. He tosses his phone in the locker, doesn't bother to see if the latch catches, and turns and goes back into the SCIF.
[9:23 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Are there any messages on my phone?
[9:24 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Am I being asked back into the SCIF? I have reserved for the day.
[9:25 PM] GM: Chumley, you have no messages on your phone, but ... you could probably check the encrypted phone that was just ... pretty much abandoned. And you know from his actions that he thinks that you are way too far into ground zero to matter, since he just got really sloppy. Or he is much more shook up than he would admit to.
[9:26 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I retrieve the encrypted phone. Review messages, phone numbers, etc.
[9:29 PM] GM: Chumley: It does indicate that Drae was the last one called. There is a time mentioned, which is ... not that long from now. Enough time you could probably get either into the city, or out enough that you might be able to ride past whatever wave will spread. If you are lucky.
[9:32 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Does my building have an armory, and I would have access to it?
[9:34 PM] GM: Chumley: not really, it is mostly a civilian location with some information-warfare elements (SCIFs and a sipernet connection) but nothing really big on the physical end. There are some guns for the SCIF guards, but ... hand-gun level mostly.
[9:37 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I take my things, and the Encrypted Phone, start towards LGA.
[9:38 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I stop along the way, and pull my pistols out of my bag, ammo, etc, and put in appropriate holsters, before completing the journey.
[9:39 PM] GM: Chumley: You are not stopped, and head off to LGA successfully.
[9:46 PM] GM: Chumley Are you letting Drae know you are heading in his direction?
[9:48 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I call Drae back on the encrypted phone: Chumley here: On my way ... I have seen the pictures, what do you need from me?
[10:00 PM] Chumley Metrodora: We are already beyond that point. You are looking at the plane from Prague, someone loaded barrels of powder onboard. Unknown Biologic, Nuclear, Viral, etc. Loaders wore MOPP Suits, good ones. And have all been eliminated at distance. So nasty stuff.
[10:00 PM] GM: Chumley, Drae: Canisters, not barrels and they are designed to spread/spray their payload upon activation.
[10:01 PM] Chumley Metrodora: My firearms are still track with my military experience ... you have seen me move on the wall.
[10:02 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Radio is certainly in the control tower, So go up the outside, if we cannot go the inside.
[10:02 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I have climbing gear in my car, along with standard issue 9mm.
[10:03 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Where is my office? And am I closer to Newark or JFK to get to a control tower?
[10:04 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Roger that ... September Marker ... Inside, or climb the long way.
[10:04 PM] Chumley Metrodora: How far am I?
[10:09 PM] GM: Chumley: You are closer to LGA than JFK (Took me a minute to get the maps up.)
[10:11 PM] GM: You both should arrive in minutes. And since there isn't much that can be done while in transit, as the GM, I say that arrival is now. Drae you get there a whole 2 minutes before Chumley.
[7:28 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Raises an eyebrow slightly, leans in slightly, tilting head head a fraction" Is everything alright?
[7:29 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Pays close attentions to the FA's body language and any additional cues that may seem out of place.
[7:29 PM] GM: Kiara: Her "Of course everything is fine, why would you ask?" Definitely raises more hackles on your neck than almost anything else she could have said.
[7:33 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Smiles while keeping eye contact: Glad to hear that - long flights can be exhausting. I know I am looking forward to being on the ground.
[7:33 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: I continue to observe her reactions (both verbal and non-verbal).
[7:34 PM] GM: Kiara: She is definitely going through motions while trying to come up with some sort of plan.
[7:35 PM] GM: Kiara: You also notice that no one else in first class even stirred in the slightest to your conversation. Nor did she even vaguely look at the other passengers.
[7:37 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: waits a few moments then To the FA: Excuse me, could I please get some water?
[7:39 PM] GM: Kiara" FA: "Of course, let me get you some at once." and scurries off, apparently relieved to get out of sight.
[7:40 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Gauges her interactions with other passengers or crew members.
[7:40 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Scans the cabin casually for other passengers or personnel that seem to be equally as edgy.
[7:44 PM] GM: Kiara: The other first class passengers are the only ones in view, and they are remarkably still.
[7:49 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Does the other passengers appear to be unnaturally still?
[7:51 PM] GM: Kiara: You've seen sleeping passengers before, usually they are somewhat responsive, even if not all the way to awake, to noises, like your conversation just was. But you can hear breathing so ... you are fairly certain that they are probably alive still.
[7:53 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Scans the cabin is this a classic layout of a first class cabin? a 2 x 2 or 2x1x2?
[7:58 PM] GM: Kiara: 2x2
[7:59 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Accidentally spills a bit of the tea on the passenger next to me.
[8:12 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Checks my watch to see if the FA returns with the water in 4 minutes or if the passenger next to her has noticed the hot tea being spilled.
[8:15 PM] GM: Kiara: The passenger you "tea"ed did not respond to the hot tea, besides skin turning a bit red where first degree burn is happening.
[8:22 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Pulls out a sharpened hair stick that is holding her hair up in a twist and conceals it under the sleeves of her jacket, where it is remains to be drawn if needed. Checks her device to see if the WiFi is still operational, and if so, shoots a message out to a few trusted contacts via an encrypted app detailing the circumstances aboard.
[8:26 PM] GM: Kiara: the WiFi is currently not accessible via normal means at this time. Also it's been more than 4 minutes.
[8:27 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Disables WiFi and engages satellite data.
[8:28 PM] GM: Kiara: Sat 5x5.
[8:35 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: puzzles over the message code "Sat 5x5"
[8:41 PM] GM: Kiara ... sorry, 5x5 means clear on all channels. It's old radio code. Basically your satellite connection is clear and full.
[8:46 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Seeing satellite data at full strength, shoots a message out to a few trusted contacts via an encrypted app detailing the circumstances of the FA and the passengers, her flight info, seat location and uses pre-arranged codes to indicate the severity of the situation. Once the message sends, disables the data and hide the device.
[8:48 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Subtly palms the hair stick to be ready walks up to forward of the airplane where the FA galley is located.
[8:48 PM] GM: Kiara: Data sent. Before you can log off and disable, there is a note from Ryan asking your flight information. It's fast enough it's only wrapped in 3 layers of code, almost in the clear, he's obviously worried about something.
[8:52 PM] GM: Kiara: Your "trusteds" don't normally include him. His contact was orthogonal to your reaching out.
[8:56 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Quickly messages flight info, seat location, and a "I can't wait to see you." Followed by a bunch of hearts and kissy faces.
[9:01 PM] GM: Kiara: Ryan sent you a fairly complex program that as far as you can tell, looks like what a layman might expect autopilot commands might look like.
[9:04 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Subtly palms the hair stick to be ready walks up to forward of the airplane where the FA galley and cockpit is located.
[9:20 PM] GM: Kiara: The FA galley is ... untended. The other FA are still strapped to their seats, also apparently asleep, and the one who "went to get you water" is nowhere to be seen.
[9:21 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: What do i assess about their condition?
[9:22 PM] GM: Kiara: Are you doing the tea test, or are you more ... directly assessing their sleep?
[9:23 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Directly assessing their condition while also keeping an eye for our errant FA.
[9:24 PM] GM: Kiara: They are out. Hard and deep. Probably drug induced.
[9:25 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Verifying that the door to the cockpit is directly straight, with the FAs strapped in the right.
[9:27 PM] GM: Kiara: The cockpit is not sealed as it should be. It looks like there was a lot of effort pit in to defeat the seal, in fact.
[9:32 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Listens for any sort of noise coming from the cockpit while keeping my internal defenses heightened.
[9:33 PM] GM: Kiara: The air system is making a different noise, and looks like some sort of fog is beginning to come out of it.
[9:39 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Opens the door to the cockpit in an offensive position.
[9:42 PM] GM: Kiara: you see your awake FA doing something to one of the sets of controls. The pilot seems very dead, the hole in him stopped leaking a while ago. The copilot is bound to the back of his chair facing you, as you go in. If the FA was watching his face he would have given you away with the look of surprise. She was not looking either at you, or at him, she was checking the equipment in front of her and making sure the tank of whatever she is using is connected firmly to the input port.
[9:44 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: I go to grapple her and knock her unconscious.
[9:46 PM] GM: Kiara: She is a touch feisty, but no match for your mettle and your surprise. And it helps that she got a face-full of whatever she was pumping into the cabin air. It ... has an odd, almost metallic taste to it. But you can shrug it off after a few moments, after turning it off, and mostly holding your breath after subduing her.
[9:48 PM] GM: Kiara: With whatever she was pumping into the cabin air, you are now fairly certain that you and the co-pilot are the only other ones awake on the plane.
[9:49 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: I quickly untie the co-pilot and assess his condition, while using those same ropes to restrain the FA.
[9:50 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Do you know to increase the air ventilation on the air plane? Everyone is completely unconscious with the exception of us. I didn't realize a nap was included free of charge on this flight.
[9:53 PM] GM: Kiara: His condition is ... somewhat frenzied. Basically he wants to get off the plane. Now. Oh, and he doesn't speak English. Thankfully your Czech isn't too rusty.
[9:55 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: With my Czech, I ask him about getting more air in the aircraft.
[9:56 PM] GM: Kiara: He is insisting that the whole airplane is a death-trap, and you both have to get off it now. They won't wake before they are dead, according to him, from what his frenzied babble is.
[9:57 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Ask him if he can make an emergency landing so we can exit.
[9:58 PM] GM: Kiara: You are over the water, within about 15 minutes of the approach to LGA, there ... really is nowhere you could do an emergency landing that isn't ditching the plane in the water at this point.
[10:06 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Asks the co-pilot to patch me through the air traffic control.
[10:12 PM] GM: Kiara: He points to the third seat and rattles off a series of numbers. Which after a few moments you can puzzle out and figure which settings need to be set to what, for you to be on the tower's frequency.
[10:13 PM] GM: Kiara: While you are doing that, he is digging in a compartment and pulling out two parachutes.
[10:17 PM] GM: Kiara; You have a line to the tower, and your plane's call/identity numbers are right there in front of you.
[7:52 PM] GM: Drae: In and amongst your normal correspondence is something from a long-time rival of yours just stating "You are at ground zero. Don't say I never gave you anything."
[7:55 PM] Drae Blitzen: Ground Zero.... shit. Checks airports for flights landing in NYC airports. Cross references incoming landings with time that correspondence would have been sent.
[7:56 PM] Drae Blitzen: Checks if ANY have not made expected check ins or have veered off course.
[8:02 PM] GM: Drae: Three possible flights, all international for that timing Prague, UK, and Iceland.
[8:04 PM] Drae Blitzen: Checking the IP address connected to the correspondence, where rival would have been closest to, when sending message.
[8:05 PM] GM: Drae: To have remained your rival they would be better than that.
[8:06 PM] Drae Blitzen: Sigh, true. Which airports are these flights landing at?
[8:10 PM] GM: Drae: LaGuardia.
[8:15 PM] Drae Blitzen: Checks to see if any of the flights are over/underweight. Gets a kit of Blitz gear and stuffs it in a duffle bag. Ponders what favors I can call in at LaGuardia.
[8:27 PM] GM: Drae, the Icelandic plane is less likely to be it, they seem to be having significantly higher headwinds than expected, and are now posting at a half-hour delay.
[8:33 PM] Drae Blitzen: Favors? I need to know what's on the board. I want to get into the airport, armed, and have 1 or both of the flights redirected so they don't deplane, but either wait on the runway or go to one of the hangers instead of the terminal.
[8:33 PM] Drae Blitzen: Also, in the human resources department, do I have any at my disposal at this time?
[8:37 PM] GM: Drae: You have the connections to get to LGA both armed (and significantly armed, if you choose to, as in surface to air armaments) if you decide that is what is necessary. You don't however, have the pull to redirect flights, at this time.
[8:46 PM] Drae Blitzen: Packs surface-to-air options, JIC . Sidearm on person. Heavy tac gear and helmet in trunk. Lined jacket and pants on. Off to LGA I go.
[8:47 PM] GM: Drae: Any personnel backup? And do you inform anyone else?
[8:47 PM] Drae Blitzen: Gently points to human resources question above.
[8:51 PM] GM: Drae: Missed that one. Yes, you have 3 or 4 teams of your normal club in the building. You can reach further for more, but ... that might take time you don't have. You can send information, however very quickly (especially if someone else is driving while you coordinate).
[9:00 PM] Drae Blitzen: I take those with me and leave one team on whatever level of the comms they are cleared for. If I know any New York New York agents who were operating here through 9/11 I would contact them and use the airport danger angle to get the help without using too many markers. And I activate all available teams.
[9:00 PM] Drae Blitzen: ...But that second part is en-route
[9:02 PM] GM: Drae: You can do that. You'll have about 10 total people (2 teams) (some now actually work airport security, which is why you have the in that you do) available to you.
[9:03 PM] GM: Drae: One of your local government contacts is trying to get in touch with you through a secured channel.
[9:06 PM] Drae Blitzen: I take the call
[9:09 PM] GM: Drae: The person on the line specifically does not identify themselves. They ask if you know anyone who is expendable who could be used to shoot down a commercial airline flight, before it reaches American waters and be painted as a terrorist for doing so, since they would need to be caught and stand trial. Said person doesn't sound hopeful, more like grasping at straws.
[9:11 PM] Drae Blitzen: I rarely deal with anyone whom I would sell upriver in that way. I can check for a martyr, but the severance needs to be immense to consider.
[9:12 PM] Drae Blitzen: I'm assuming we're talking LaGuardia?
[9:12 PM] GM: Drae: Yes and if you know that, the information is already too far spread. Good luck.
[9:12 PM] Drae Blitzen: What's the threat?
[9:16 PM] GM: Drae: He says "Above my pay grade."
[9:17 PM] Drae Blitzen: Then let's see if this is within your pay grade, friend... Prague or the United Kingdom?
[9:18 PM] GM: Drae, Chumley: Prague.
[9:20 PM] Drae Blitzen: That'll do. Appreciated. If you send assistance, tell them to say they are with the "September Marker", and I'll use them in my play.
[9:21 PM] GM: Drae, Chumley: He says again "Good luck" and hangs up. He tosses his phone in the locker, doesn't bother to see if the latch catches, and turns and goes back into the SCIF.
[9:55 PM] GM: Drae: Chumley contacting you on the same encrypted line, and using his name in the clear is ... outside normal channels In fact, it's outside abnormal channels. And yet, if he has intel ...
[9:57 PM] Drae Blitzen: Chumley...? Give me all intel on this situation without compromising yourself.
[9:58 PM] Drae Blitzen: Also, which skill set, based on that data, do you think it is best to offer to me?
[10:01 PM] Drae Blitzen: I need a person who can get me on the line to that pilot.
[10:03 PM] GM: Drae: Your personnel on site can get you into the tower, the normal way. You don't have to climb it.
[10:03 PM] Drae Blitzen: Then that's your job. Get there, go to the tower. Remember the words "September Marker". If the security guys let you in, head up with them and talk to the pilot. If they don't, outside infil via climbing
[10:04 PM] Drae Blitzen: Then he knows what to do if I can't get there ... how far am I?
[10:08 PM] Drae Blitzen: I want my people at the door to that tower to let Chumley in, If I'm there or not
[10:11 PM] GM: You both should arrive in minutes. And since there isn't much that can be done while in transit, as the GM, I say that arrival is now. Drae you get there a whole 2 minutes before Chumley.
[7:53 PM] Killian Gribbs: Killian wakes up with a certain amount of grogginess. Having gotten up many times throughout the night to attend to Chester, Killian was in desperate need of coffee.
[7:53 PM] Killian Gribbs: He spends his morning getting ready to go into the lab. Doing his normal morning routine; start the coffee maker, jump in the shower, brush his teeth.
[7:53 PM] Killian Gribbs: After getting dressed and giving his wife Julie a kiss before heading off to work, he heads to the kitchen to make his coffee.
[7:53 PM] Killian Gribbs: In a very specific order. He grabs his mug. He takes a clean napkin and gently rubs the rim of the mug, not because of anything on it, but out of habit. He then grabs a spoon and places it next to his mug, 3.5 inches to the right. Grabs the jar of sugar, lines it up on the counter, and then grabs the skim milk out of the fridge. All nice and neat and orderly.
[7:53 PM] Killian Gribbs: He pours the coffee. Placing it back on the burner for Julie to enjoy later. He opens the jar and scoops a spoon full of sugar into his mug. He goes to grab his milk, but pauses.
[7:53 PM] Killian Gribbs: It had only been a few days since the incident at the lab, and his mishap in his home office. He opens his hand, and begins to focus on the milk carton. With slightly more ease than the other day, the milk begins to slide towards his hand. He grabs it and pours his milk, still dumbfounded.
[7:53 PM] Killian Gribbs: "I still have so much to learn", he thinks to himself.
[7:53 PM] Killian Gribbs: He grabs his coffee, and heads out to the lab.
[8:00 PM] GM: Killian: As you are moving out of the kitchen, you are struck with a sensation of doom in the pit of your stomach. Like someone just rang a very large doom bell, just deep in your guts.
[8:10 PM] Killian Gribbs: Normally, Killian would not react to such feelings. However, with the strange activities that he has been having these past few days, he decides to be cautious. He calls his work and let's them know he is taking a sick day.
[8:10 PM] Killian Gribbs: He comes back home, being given a surprised and slightly concerned greeting from Julie.
[8:12 PM] GM: Julie: "Did you forget something Killian?"
[8:14 PM] Killian Gribbs: I am not feeling well. I am going to stay home with Chester.
[8:31 PM] GM: Killian: Your wife runs back into the house, and starts frantically packing (mostly baby travel stuff) shouting to you to get a few days things packed.
[11:02 PM] Killian Gribbs: In a bit of a daze, Killian asks: "What is wrong, why the rush?" It takes him a few moments, but he begins to pack with haste.
[10:09 AM] GM: Julie: "I Just got an NBC alert from one of my contacts. We have to go before the panic sets in and everyone tries to leave."
[11:01 AM] Killian Gribbs: Killian takes a few moments to pack some clothes for him and Chester. Helping Julie with any packing she may need help with. Then packing it all in the car.
[11:01 AM] Killian Gribbs: Where are we going? And what has happened?
[11:23 AM] GM: Julie: "Away from populated areas, I don't yet have details."
[12:07 PM] Killian Gribbs: Let's head north to my parents cabin. It is only a few hours drive from here.
[12:47 PM] GM: Julie: "Not far enough ... let's head Maine-wards, and see from there."
[12:54 PM] Killian Gribbs: Killian pauses for a moment to collect his thoughts: Julia, babe, what is going on? You won't tell me anything. You want to go to MAINE. You know I hate lobster. Why with all of the urgency? I need some answers.
[12:59 PM] GM: Julie: "I don't know, love. It's NBC, high probability, major population centers, eastern seaboard. I'm not stopping to question it, if it's nothing, we have a lovely drive up the coast. If it's something ... we will have a head-start on the panic and exodus that might be bringing ... whatever ... with them."
[1:01 PM] Killian Gribbs: Okay. Okay. I didn't know about the news. We can learn more about it on the drive. I have Chester and our things are all packed and ready. Let's head out.
[1:08 PM] GM: Julie: "Are you up to driving? I'm going to try and reach some ... old contacts."
[7:53 PM] Amelia: While waiting, looks around the rest of her office to see if anything else is amiss or if anyone has messed with her stuff.
[8:01 PM] GM: Amelia: There doesn't seem to be anything else amiss in your office. You could check with your friend Jenny, though.
[8:04 PM] Amelia: Removes the gloves (I have plenty more), and sends another message to Jenny with a picture of the office. Asking Jenny to analyze the scene.
[8:13 PM] GM: Amelia: Jenny highlights the timing of the lights, and shows the probably curves of the time that the envelope would need to have come in. It also shows that the envelope is emitting particles that normally inert materials do not emit.
[8:14 PM] Amelia: Jenny, what kind of particles are they? Radioactive?
[8:15 PM] Amelia: Also what was the time frame she highlighted?
[8:17 PM] GM: Amelia: Yes, radioactive, and they are in the gamma range, which means that if there was any readings being done in your office (or anywhere where that envelope has been before your office) they are probably unreliable now, possibly totally fogged.
[8:22 PM] Athena: Sorry, I'm a bit confused by this one. Is she saying the radiation is not detectable here?
[8:25 PM] GM: Amelia: The radiation is detectable here, Jenny is pulling data from the measuring instruments in your office. Just that if there were any delicate measurements being made, or photographed, they would be ... unreliable at this time.
[8:26 PM] Amelia: This is insane. messages Beth again: "Actually, DON'T come here. It's, um... bad. I'll give you details later"
[8:29 PM] GM: Amelia: Beth responds "I'm not ... feeling well at all."
[8:31 PM] Amelia: Messages Jenny: Quickly, is there any container near me that can block the particles?
[8:32 PM] Athena: Also, would Amelia know of a likely container?
[8:32 PM] GM: Amelia: Lead is probably the best bet, and yes, you have various lead aprons for the X-ray equipment, and the like.
[8:34 PM] Amelia: Runs to get whatever is closest that will block the radiation and covers the envelope with it.
[8:36 PM] Amelia: Messages Beth: Call 911. I will be there soon.
[8:41 PM] GM: Amelia: Envelope covered.
[8:41 PM] GM: Amelia: Beth does not respond to the message.
[8:42 PM] Amelia: Runs to the conference room to find Beth. Also calling 911 herself on the way.
[8:44 PM] GM: Amelia: Beth is halfway to the bathroom, puking heavily all over, and looking really unwell. There is a very familiar looking envelope in her vest pocket.
[8:44 PM] Amelia: Mutters to herself: Jenny, you are so dumb sometimes. You should say things like "this will probably kill you" if it's true.
[8:47 PM] Amelia: Beth! Runs over to steady her. You've been poisoned. We need to get you to a hospital immediately.
[8:54 PM] GM: Amelia, are you doing anything about Beth's envelope?
[8:56 PM] Amelia: Yes. Was waiting to see if i needed to respond to 911 call or not first. She will wrap Beth's envelope in another lead apron if she can find another close enough to where they are.
[8:59 PM] GM: Amelia: The response time in your area of town is 9 minutes on average. They are there quite quickly. The ambulance crew have some fairly standard questions for you, about what caused her condition.
[9:04 PM] Amelia: Yes, I think she's been poisoned. She got this strange package this morning, and she quickly started getting sick. It's been less than an hour now.
[9:05 PM] Amelia: While talking, points to the bundled up lead apron in her hand.
[9:05 PM] GM: Amelia: They load Beth up, and suggest you also get checked out, in case you were exposed as well. Full PPG coverage when they load her.
[9:33 PM] Amelia: If the EMTs don't take the package from Amelia, she'll bring it back to her office. Then she'll contact Jenny to brainstorm a bit on why they would be targeted like this.
[9:35 PM] GM: Amelia: Jenny doesn't know why you would be targeted, and ... still is uncertain that you have been targeted, and it wasn't something to mess up some of the research because the instruments are much more delicate than human bodies ...
[9:37 PM] Athena: As a player I don't see any reason she'd be a target. Would Amelia have any suspicions on it?
[9:38 PM] GM: Amelia: you don't have any real reason to think you are a target today more than any other day.
[9:42 PM] Amelia: Takes both packages to her lab and begins preparing it with safety measures to delicately handle and open the packages without getting herself exposed to more radiation. (it would take some time, but her lab should have enough equipment to make it work).
[9:44 PM] GM: Amelia: You might want to use one of the auxiliary rooms, and move the appropriate equipment in there, with Jenny's worry that the target was some of your lab equipment in the first place. But should you choose to do that, you can succeed in opening up the envelopes mostly safely.
[9:45 PM] Amelia: Yes, I'll use an auxiliary room.
[10:17 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I should be pulling up about now
[10:17 PM] Drae Blitzen: Over radio: Bravo Team, altercation at target terminal. Sitrep Asap. Over.
[10:18 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: radios into the ATC calling for immediate mayday.
[10:18 PM] GM: Chumley, as you pull up there are some paramilitary people coming out where you want to be going in. You recognize one of them from Drae's club, as he recognizes you.
[10:18 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I park the jeep, grab my bag, and head over.
[10:19 PM] GM: Kiara, are you sure you want to mayday over an open line with no other pre-conversation?
[10:19 PM] GM: Chumley: he says: September ....
[10:19 PM] Chumley Metrodora: September Marker
[10:20 PM] GM: Chumley: he waves to the door person, says "He's one of us ... send him straight up."
[10:21 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I take the ear piece from Drae's cohort, and start up the tower at full speed.
[10:21 PM] GM: Drae: Bravo team is putting down the altercation, they had improvised weapons, your folks ... well ... didn't.
[10:22 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Flags the ATC with the appropriate identification information.
[10:23 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Mutes the mike/pulls out my cell phone/shows the pilot the autopilot information/asks if this means anything to him.
[10:23 PM] Drae Blitzen: Over radio: Bravo, have 2. Assess the deceased for any clues. The rest of you stay sharp and watch the terminal.
[10:23 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Taking the stairs, rather than waiting for the elevator, should not take too long to run the 2 or 3 flights.
[10:23 PM] GM: Kiara: ATC responds with some coded messages, or flight lingo that you have no idea what they mean.
[10:23 PM] GM: Chumley joins Drae in the tower.
[10:23 PM] Drae Blitzen: I want to get in the tower and have someone kindly put me on with the pilot of the flight.
[10:24 PM] Drae Blitzen: Unkindly is a secondary option... but I'd like to avoid it.
[10:24 PM] GM: Drae, Chumley, Kiara: The Prague flight just called into ATC. Using standard call. ATC responded with the codes for there might be a hijacker on board.
[10:25 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Responds to ATC: Tower, I have received your message.
[10:25 PM] GM: You all can hear each other clearly. So ...
[10:26 PM] GM: And you would all know that all the pilots and crew can hear all the calls to all the planes.
[10:26 PM] GM: As can anyone with a little radio know-how.
[10:27 PM] Kiara Umbrielle: Looks to the co-pilot: Care to translate what the ATC said?
[10:27 PM] GM: (I used to fall asleep to the chatter at one point ... long story for another time.)
[10:27 PM] Chumley Metrodora: Where is the plane now? How far out
[10:28 PM] GM: Less than 10 minutes to land.
[10:28 PM] Drae Blitzen: Hello Prague flight. Heard there was a little turbulence on your flight, what is your current eta till landing?
[10:28 PM] GM: Kiara: Copilot: They said that we are going to die. I don't want to die. I jump, now. You jump now. Maybe she jump now?
[10:29 PM] Chumley Metrodora: I turn to talk to the ATC Agent, on the side: Where can we land this, and keep it away from the gate, and everyone else, till we know what is really going on?
[10:31 PM] Chumley Metrodora: The further from anyone else the better.
Calling game here. Stay tuned, true believers, for the next episode of ... Inzalo!