Hold Back the Night. Chapter 2

[Myth and Jest]

05:30 - 28 December – Convoy Camp

Dr. Newmann waits patiently for General Sawyer to finish reading his autopsy report. He’s worked with the General for years as her chief medical officer and would even call her a friend. He looks for signs of astonishment on the General’s face but only notices a slight tightening of her brow. After a moment, Sawyer looks up at the Doctor, and her frown deepens. “That is a hell of a report, doctor. If it were from anyone else, I would have them detained for psychiatric analysis.” She said.

The Doctor nods. “If I hadn’t done the autopsy myself, seen with my own eyes, and only read that report, I would advise the same action. But those are the facts. We have two bodies dead well before the timeframe of Search and Rescue Team One’s intercept, showing postmortem wounds matching SR1’s report and a missing body.” He said.

The General remains silent momentarily before replying, “Dead bodies don’t get up off the examination table and walk out of the morgue.”

“And portals that open to alien worlds filled with giant intelligent spiders don’t exist, but the physical evidence corroborates SR1’s report. I hear we have a Mastiff robot vehicle missing half its structure,” he replies drily.

Sawyer’s frown deepens again at his mention of the damaged robot. “That information is classified, Doctor. Be sure to keep that rumor to yourself. It seems this convoy is fueled by rumors as much as gasoline!”

“What about the team’s suit camera footage? Surely that can verify what they reported.” He replies.

The General’s features smooth to become unreadable. “Unfortunately, the footage from both teams is corrupt. The tech team believes some sort of electromagnetic interference caused it. With time and the right equipment, they might be able to pull some useful footage or still frames, but for the time being, we need to get this convoy moving.”

With a look that the conversation was over, General Sawyer stands. “Have the members of SR1 discharged and freed to return to light duty. I want an eye kept on them at all times. Report any unusual discrepancies or behavior changes immediately. Dismissed, Doctor.”

***

Doctor Newmann enters the room in the medical tent where SR1 has been held since returning from their rescue mission. “Good news, gentlemen. You’ve cleared for release back to duty. Retrieve your gear and report to the Command tent for daily orders. Please remember that your previous mission was classified, and you are not to discuss it with anyone who has not read in. If you have any questions, speak now. Otherwise, dismissed.”

***

OOC Comments

Feel free to free-play between the med tent and the command tent. Ask the doctor questions, explore the camp, check in on the repair status of the robot dogs, or do something else before heading to the command tent for daily duty. If you want to go directly to the command tent, let me know.

[Liam Marconi]

Perception (15%): 1d100: [30] = 30
JIC: (d20/d%): 1d20: [14] = 14 / 1d100: [52] = 52

Liam has spent the last few days in equal parts talking to Psychiatrists, who are trying to figure out how crazy he is (they all think he is crazy), and scientists, who are trying to figure out if there is actually anything to the story he told and the theory he proposed.

He has to admit, the story DOES sound crazy. He is also not surprised that the recording chips were damaged, the barrier they passed through seemed to be emitting energy of some kind...judging by the effect it had on the radios. It is just a good thing it did not ruin the lasers or we would have been in far worse shape...if we succeded in coming back at all.

The scientists have not gotten anywhere so far, but much of that has been an unwillingness to go anywhere near the blue zones. How can one possibly test an ability that is dependent upon an environmental factor, if that factor is not present? Well, possibly they can do genetic sequencing to find out if there is anything unusual, but given the millions of genomes that make up a human, many of which still have no known function, how would they figure out which ones are relevant?

No, it is obvious to Marconi that they will have to send him back into a Blue Zone to test what happens...if they can trust the results. Blue Zones are dangerous and unpredictable, they can change how instruments work if they function at all.

One of two things is going to happen, in his opinion. Command is going to either order that he not go into Blue Zones, or post him to an advanced team to go into them. He is not certain which, but part of him is eager to learn more about what he can do. He feels certain he has not yet found his limits. Still, the caravan will have to cross the blue zones sometime, and better to have someone who has returned from one to act as a guide. His estimate is he will be sent again.

[Falcon]

Perception: 18% / 1d100: [27] = 27
JIC: 1d20: [7] = 7 / 1d100: [45] = 45
+2 v HF, +2 v Lethal/Non-lethal Toxins, +6% vs Coma/Death, +2 vs Magic, +2 vs Insanity, +2 vs Psionics

Falcon has spent the last few days in equal parts talking to Psychiatrists, who are trying to figure out how crazy he is (they all think he is crazy), and in the cyber-med bay having his augmentations evaluated over and over again for anomalies. Even his internal, shielded audio and video recordings were corrupted.

Even as he recounts the story over and over he isn’t sure he believes it himself. Falcon only calms when his puppies are returned to him fully repaired.

“Good news, gentlemen. You’ve cleared for release back to duty. Retrieve your gear and report to the Command tent for daily orders. Please remember that your previous mission was classified, and you are not to discuss it with anyone who has not read in. If you have any questions, speak now. Otherwise, dismissed.”

Falcon, followed by his two hounds, quickly moves to the armory to retrieve his weapons and armor. The armorers are a bit surprised when he sits in a corner and goes over every inch and repair he finds on his equipment.

Seeing his new team, since they are the only ones crazy enough to work with them anymore, Falcon smiles. ”Nice to see you two. From here I can’t even see the scars where they cut open your brains and picked apart your memories. Any idea what’s up next?”

[Charles Dresden]

Perception 25%: d100: [80] = 80
JIC: d100: [100] = 100 , d20: [7] = 7

Dresden has struggled a bit since their return. He hasn't felt normal. Between being stuck in a dream memerised by whatever the creature was, to almost being cut in half by a closing dimensional rift, he hasn't been normal. He doesn't feel bad mind you. He feels like a million bucks physically but mentally processing everything has been rough. Since debriefing he had been frantically awaiting word his parents made it to Chicago safe. Not knowing was tough. He was afraid other events like the one he had were happening everywhere. And he knew his Dad would play hero.

Doctor Newmann enters the room in the medical tent where SR1 has been held since returning from their rescue mission. “Good news, gentlemen. You’ve cleared for release back to duty. Retrieve your gear and report to the Command tent for daily orders. Please remember that your previous mission was classified, and you are not to discuss it with anyone who has not read in. If you have any questions, speak now. Otherwise, dismissed.”

Dresden is a bit startled. He didn't expect they would return him to duty. He thought he would be committed to a military loony bin. He says, "Yes Sir."

He grabs his gear and reports for duty.

Seeing his new team, since they are the only ones crazy enough to work with them anymore, Falcon smiles. ”Nice to see you two. From here I can’t even see the scars where they cut open your brains and picked apart your memories. Any idea what’s up next?”

"I expected that too. I didn't think we would be returning to duty this fast. I want to believe they investigated and our stories were corroborated, but that is far too positive an outlook for me. My guess is they are watching us. Weird thing is I feel more healthy than before the rift. Physically anyway. I am not in the best headspace. Haven't heard if my parents made it to Chicago yet." After a few minutes of chatting, he says "Let's get our orders and get to work."

[Liam Marconi]

(Rolls Carried over)
When he is released to do so, Liam joins the others and listens to their discussion.

Seeing his new team, since they are the only ones crazy enough to work with them anymore, Falcon smiles. ”Nice to see you two. From here I can’t even see the scars where they cut open your brains and picked apart your memories. Any idea what’s up next?”

"I expected that too. I didn't think we would be returning to duty this fast. I want to believe they investigated and our stories were corroborated, but that is far too positive an outlook for me. My guess is they are watching us. Weird thing is I feel more healthy than before the rift. Physically anyway. I am not in the best headspace. Haven't heard if my parents made it to Chicago yet." After a few minutes of chatting, he says "Let's get our orders and get to work."

Liam says, "Look at the situation, the whole WORLD has gone crazy. Probably half the group is suffering from some kind of trauma. Just because they think we are crazy, that does not mean our skills need to be wasted. It just means we are a bit more expendable."

At least they are being kept together, they were effective, so splitting them up would risk a loss of effectiveness.

[Falcon]

(Rolls Carry Over)

I am not in the best headspace.

Falcon looks up from cleaning his rifle. "Here I thought you would have plenty of head space....after the 8 legged freak finished cleaning it out"

Probably half the group is suffering from some kind of trauma. Just because they think we are crazy, that does not mean our skills need to be wasted. It just means we are a bit more expendable."

"Hmmm. I agree with Bluey here. My money is we are in a s#!t show and understaffed. We are the new cannon fodder ready to walk point. Oooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr they figure we survived whatever that was, so are the best ones to throw at the next glowy big bad. Either way, glad to see you guys again. You think anyone is going to show up to Butcher's memorial?"

[Myth and Jest]

06:30 Early Morning - 28 December – Convoy Camp - 3 Days to Chicago

As the team heads to their command tent for the morning details briefing, you notice a different vibe from your fellow NEMA members around you. The overall mood of the convoy had been one of barely held-off despair and a sense of doom; however, today's crowd has an edge, a hint of hostility, a sense of you no longer being a part of their organization, but an unknown outsider. Conversations hush as you draw near. People avert their gazes, looking away or beyond. You hear whispers of "They went crazy, "How could they leave them," and "Killed Recon 5" before the conversations stop at your arrival.

Falcon, with cybernetic hearing, catches the conversation of a group just ahead in front of the Command tent.

"The whole team is dead, except for Sergeant Dresden. Command is tight-lipped on the situation. Not one god-damn word!"

"What happened out there? What killed them?"

"Not what, who! I heard SR1 went crazy and opened fire on them!"

"Bullshit, SR1 would never shoot one of us, let alone the whole team." A series of utters in belief or disbelief from the group follow the statement.

"And Command won't release the bodies. King's wife has been losing it with grief. They won't even tell her what happened!"

"Oh shit, here she comes."

The group stops their conversation and turns to watch the disheveled woman moving towards the tent. She's oblivious to the cold, her coat undone, waving in the wind gusts, and her hair uncombed, out of regulations. Her face was red from the stinging chill of the air, her eyes swollen from tears, the remaining frozen on her face. The group looks at her with pity and is about to intervene when your team appears in front of the woman from behind a tent.

Amanda King's eyes focus briefly with confusion at your sudden appearance before turning into recognition of the members of Search and Rescue One and Dresden, her husband's teammate.

"You!" she whispers, her voice striking through the wind as if the wind cried out. She gulps, licks her broken lips, and shouts. "What did you do to my husband? You were supposed to save him, save them all!" She flings herself at the team and grabs Dresden with a grip strengthened by despair. "Azure, what did you do?" she screams, staring into Dresden's eyes.

The crowd of service members look on in shock and gather around you, clearly interested in what you are about to do or say. It's as if the masses have suddenly surrounded you in desperation and fear.

[Liam Marconi]

Perception (15%): 1d100: [69] = 69
JIC (d20/d%): 1d20: [5] = 5 / 1d100: [45] = 45 1d100: [45] = 45

Liam overhears some of the talk, and knows it is about them. Undoubtedly some of the people talking want to be overheard...people can be that way.

Liam says to the distraught woman, "One can not save the dead. Believe me when I tell you this, Recon 5 was dead before we arrived, other than the one we did rescue. I think, if you ask the coroner, you will be able to get them to confirm that much."

That would not be anything they needed to hide from the public, so he is pretty sure they will confirm it.

He knows they have been told not to talk about the mission, but something has to be said to prevent panic and to keep ourselves from becoming martyrs to the cause. What he said should be the minimum that will do that.

He adds, "I can not say anything more, as the situation is under investigation and our orders are clear that we can not speak about it until command knows more. Now please return to your posts.

[Falcon]

Perception: 18% / 1d100: [21] = 21
JIC: 1d20: [19] = 19 / 1d100: [87] = 87
+2 v HF, +2 v Lethal/Non-lethal Toxins, +6% vs Coma/Death, +2 vs Magic, +2 vs Insanity, +2 vs Psionics


Yeah, I’m not so good on the politicing side. Wish Butcher was here to spread some football gem. Falcon subtly signals his pups to take up defensive flanking positions to each side of Dresden and Marconi. He then slowly shifts to their rear to create a triangle defensive with the robot hounds. The hounds are common enough that they, hopefully, should not raise alarm just standing next to my team.