Welcome to Jonesville

GM to the guys on board the Thunderwing:

As the aircraft's turbine engines spin up, you feel a slight vibration, within minutes you're rolling towards the end of the runway, and lifting off into the crisp early evening sky. Izzy backs a hard left, and the Thunderwing gentle rolls to one side as you begin your turn toward the west. Within minutes Empire City's evening skyline begins to fade into the distance behind you, as the dark green of the countryside rolls under your wings.

Less than thirty minutes later, you feel the aircraft begin to slow. Your ears pop from the pressure as you begin to make your descent. Izzy comes across the PA.

"If you look out the port side windows, Jonesvilles just below us. I'm going to make a slow approach, and see if I can find some place to put us down."

As you peer out your windows, you can begin to the outline of the town in the distance, and it rapidly becomes clearer as Izzy glides the Thunderhawk into a controlled hover a few miles outside of town.

Jonesville



Actions?

Power Chord, the last message from Skyhawk was the ECU team was missing and he was going to talk with the Police.

All we know is communications has been cut off. Has BSI recieved word from Skyhawk he was in danger?

I would recommend having Rampart and Thunderbolt look for Achilles.

Power Chord and BSI meet with the Police.

Diesel and myself monitor the situation from here.

My thoughts but your call, Power Chord

Rampart smiles at the operational efficiency of the Machinist suggestions regarding personnel assignments.  He's keeping the two unknown assets together, trying to retrieve Skyhawk's portable AI, thus leaving the team leader and the BSI to deal with the authorities. Who says you can't make paranoia work for you?

"I agree. It's a good plan." Checking with the SAP  "Izzy ... Any chance of popping the can for a LALO (low altitude low opening) drop?"

Looking over at his younger wingman to be. "Skyhawk has a flight capable AI. Time to put those electromagnetic powers to good use flyboy."

"Agreed, sounds like a plan.  Rampart and Thunderbolt, if you would, take a look from above.  The Machinist and Diesel, see if you can identify what is causing this interference.  Agent Woo if you will join me, we can make contact with local law enforcement."

Thunderbolt moves to the door to the passenger cabin buttoning up his duster under his cloak, no gun in his shoulder holster feels... odd, but no point in not buttoning up without his gun on him. 

{More trouble to explain to BSI my possession of a unlicensed, unregistered firearm with no serial numbers or makers stamps.  But I still miss having it as an option... nothing for it but to go in and hope I got what it takes... 'unarmed'.  Should be a routine search... but routine for metas rarely is routine!}

He secures his katana over his shoulder buckling it back to his duster's clasps...

Thunderbolt pulls out a PDA to gesture with in reply to Rampart, "I know where it is... have the location on google maps saved to the memory.  Its not exact but its as close as the newscasts provided.  I was planning on going in and investigating it myself.  Meteoric nickle/iron could be very useful in some... magnetic and materials experiments I was planning on."

Calling forward, "Ready whenever you are to pop this can Izzy... let's do this!"

"Sorry Rampart, its the best I got.  But if Machinist has a better info and a flash drive to upload it to my PDA... I'm more than willing to use it. I was not expecting to be under a time issue to locate it... maybe my Radar/Magnetic EM senses might allow me to pin-pint it a little quicker... but i'm not betting on it.  Though... I might be able to locate the center of all this EM static communication interference."

Thunderbolt turns to look at Machinist an eyebrow raised.

"Really?  Well their in for a shock, I do not work for them.  I'll work with them but if I think something needs investigating... I'm going to do it!  I do my best to stay out of the way of our boys in blue in the ECPD and not mess up their crime scenes so they can properly gather evidence to prosecute the guilty - cause they know their jobs.  But if it involves metas or other weirdness the PD just isn't equipped or trained to deal with... I'll be there to lend a hand... and protect the innocent from harm weather BSI likes it or not!"

Looking over to Rampart, "We ready to get in the air and find this Achilles?  Finding Skyhawk should take precedence and if we can get some answers on the meteors and what not we can do that as a secondary bonus."

GM to Skyhawk:

As you go about town, Achilles reports that he's picking up a faint, single, not far from town. It appears to be some sort of beacon broadcasting on a BSI locator signal. He can't quite pinpoint it, but he's got the general area.

Actions?

Keith makes his way to the time clock. He fumbles punching his card.
"Ms. Fitzpatrick"says, "May I get a new time card? Mine is fubar'ed" He shrugs sheepishly as he moves around the counter

Rampart shakes his head at the dramatic diatribe and theatric exit of the overly enthusiastic young hero, Whoa a few too many vigilante rationalizations there. The kid sounds like he might use a few lessons on working with the authorities. A couple years at the Blue Zoo could teach him how to work with the system, not just outside it … he’s doing a nice job on the landing zone so far though.

A small warm smile as he looks back at the others preparing for their roles. It’s obvious they have worked together before, and developed a bond of trust along the way. With the high-tech communications on the fritz, Rampart decides maybe it’s time to take a page out of his academy survival training and apply an old school solution to the ancient issue of a missing soldier on the battlefield.

“Izzy, hope you don’t mind, I’m going to borrow a little something out of your survival locker.” Grabbing what he needs and re-securing the storage trunk, Rampart slips from the craft, departing like an air-to-air missile. Saluting Izzy as he passes over the nose of the Thunderwing, the blue, white, and red aviator flies higher into the air engaging his visor’s telescopic abilities. Where are you Achilles?

Using the hands free function of the comm-gear the Machinist had installed earlier Rampart periodically checks in with the Thunderwing  with the idea of helping the gadgetter determine how to cut through whatever is interfering with the communication signals. “skkk***Ramp*** to Po*** Chord … Mr. ***th’s ride might be pretty *** she’s about as sub*** as Jim McMahon in train*** camp. Let’s *** if we can bring Sky***k to us. ***skkk”

*Pfssst*

Lighting one of the two signal flares he had ‘borrowed’ from the survival gear, Rampart's flight pattern weaves and loops, all in plain sight of anyone on a street in Jonesville. I can’t imagine he missed a bird like the Thunderwing doing a flyby over the town like we did, but if Skyhawk is outdoors there’s not much of a chance he can miss this. The one-time F-16 pilot finishes his flight pattern as the first flare eventually sputters. Looking back he smiles at the sky writing he had just finished. In a smokey haze, written across the tapestry of a clear blue sky.

S k y h a w k

GM to the group on the T-Wing:

As Rampart and T-Bolt busily go about their business, Izzy rolls her eyes at their display, while skillfully manipulating the controls, and setting the Thunderwing down as gently as a mother places her child down for a nap. She then begins to shutdown the aircraft’s engines, while shooting off coded transmission to BSI, informing them of the group’s safe arrival in Jonesville, but seems confused by her inability to successfully transmit the message.

"Hmmm...That’s strange, she mutters to herself. The tech's just ran a full system's diagnostic on the comm systems a few hours ago."

After a few more unsuccessful attempts, she informs the remaining passengers, that she's picking up a lot of atmospheric interference, and it looks like they're not going to be able to talk to anyone until things clear up.

“Can you guys look around the area? I’m picking up a BSI homing beacon not to far from here. One of the research team that came out here was actually a plant. He works for us, and as a safety precaution, we “low jacked” him with a tracking beacon.”

Actions?

Skyhawk flies in the direction of the message written in the air.

Diesel grabs his hammer, let's out a small flame and puff of smoke to check the flamethrower, looks up and says "Let's go. If something is jamming transmission instead of just atmospheric disturbance, they probably don't want us there."

"I'd planned on contacting local law enforcement with agent Woo, but it appears our companions have found something.  Hopefully Skyhawk will join us, I say let's investigate the beacon.  Would you care for a lift?  I'm not sure I can handle Diesel... perhaps Rampart or T-bolt can assist?", he says this last into his communicator.

"If you can get us there quicker than walking, let's bring machinist too and then we can go."

  I'm *** sure I *** handle Diesel... perhaps Ramp*** or T-bolt can ***ist?", he says this last into his communicator.


  Activating the comm-gear Machinist had built into his visor, "skkk*** Comms still seems spotty ***er Chord, if you're receiving this it sounds like young Thun***bolt has the big guy co***ed PC. If you don't mind I'd like to light an***er flare and keep an eye out for Sky*awk and Achilles. He's *** reason we're here, *** there's no where in this county *** two of us can't catch up in a flash af*** he shows up. ***skkk"

"No Problem."

Thunderbolt gestures magnetically seizing hold of the metal snaps, metallic belts and securing buckles on his costume lifting Machinist - ... but raises an eyebrow at how much heavier Machinist is than Diesel.

However he makes no comment.  Levitating Diesel and Machinist with him to a height of about 20'ft to within 10'ft of himself.

Turning to Power Chord - , "Ready to go when you are."

Pulling out his PDA with the GPS active...

"Just give me a heading Machinist - , on that beacon..."

Then realizing his GPS is not getting signal clearly he grimaces, "Er... perhaps pointing a direction will work better..."

Looking down at Izzy - "Hey Izzy hold down our ride... button her up and sit tight.  If you get in trouble and need help use a flaregun to draw our attention... radio is spotty at best.  Clear Skies!!"

[Magnetic Carrying Capacity: 420lbs out of 1,700lbs; PR Spent: 5 {63 / 58}]

Hearing Power Chord's voice in his ear Rampart turns, refocusing his telescopic vision and faces toward the cloaked charismatic figure close to the Thunderwing. Picking up the intent of the message. Pointing to the slowly fading sky writing, "skkk*** Sho***n't we give Sky***k a few mi***es to find us? ***skkk"