UN Special Forces Vietnam Forward Research Base

[albatross]

Landing for the briefing in Hanoi is strange. Gas rations have restricted civilian transportation and the city is half-deserted as many residents have already fled to the country to avoid a rush in case evacuation becomes necessary. A couple van with UN flags arrive accompanied by motorcycle escort, and they drive the group only a short distance before ushering them into a hanger and holding a short briefing in Vietnamese.

Tiger asks a couple questions in Vietnamese and then they climb back into the vans and drive back to the plane. Bel asks, "What did they say?"

"They gave me some coordinates and told me they were top secret. I don't think they even know anything else." Tiger shrugs, paranoid security has never impressed her- all systems can be breached- but she knows governments like to feel secure.

Instead of the coordinates, Tiger pilots the plane to a deserted resort. "We'll spend one night here. I told our briefing team we'd fuel here before arriving. Management has left, so our only entertainment will be drinking around a bonfire and sleeping on the plane or on the beach, but its a break." She winks at Kris.

Rock, Dancer and Peacemaker run along the beach and do flips. Dante and Bel disappear for a while. Most everyone else gathers firewood for a bonfire.

[dakota]

"I guess we can manage." Khris replied with a smirk. He helped get the fire going, finding some scrap wood behind one of the maitenance sheds and grabbing as much of it as he could and lugging it back to the bonfire. "Lots more where this came from", he said as he dropped it on the pile, "and it's in staggering distance. Let's eat."

[albatross]

Tiger breaks out cases of whiskey, beer, and expensive juices for the kids. She also brings out hot dogs, buns, condiments, and ingredients for smores. There is a ton of food, but with so many people, and some big eaters like Marv, Rock and Peacemaker it takes a while before everyone finishes roasting and eating dinner.

[dakota]

With bellies getting full and bottles getting emptied, Khris knew he was getting to the point that he shouldn't have any more. Getting to his feet, Khris smirked and then moved quickly to scoop Tiger up in a fireman's carry," The rest of you can carry on, Tigger and I have something to attend to." He grinned, " don't wait up." He turned and headed towards a quiet spot he had found up the beach, bottle in hand and half expecting to get his ass kicked for embarrasing Tiger.

[shiivster]

*has spent the evening, after half waking up when they travelled in the van and was in recorder mode in the hanger. she ponders how people even learn a second language or a third, and gives up. she would dearly love to go for a flight with Kirin, but keeps the ring out of sight on her person.

*with eyes drooping once again, she retreats to the plane and pulls out the swinging part of hte undercot and bellyflops onto one section and is out once more. the massage t ook more out of her than she thought as she descends once again into the darkness. she half mingled to get food and a juice, then retreated to the outside of the group to consume.

[albatross]

Lt. White doesn't press Jeckle, letting her rest, though he seems happier as he regals Heckle with old war stories, most of them involving funny stuff like switched shipments or things that melted in the desert heat. He glances over at Jeckle occassionally.

Dante and Bel disappear up the beach soon after Kris and Tiger, to practice the kinds of things married people do. The kids sit and talk around the fire with Marv and Roan.

Tiger let's Kris carry her away, but once they get to the shadows she gets aggressively passionate, her hands all over him. Apparently she intends to extract her revenge through kisses.

There is a sense that tonight is going to be the last chance to rest and relax for a while and it is a long time before everyone goes to sleep.

[dakota]

Khris let Tiger be aggressive to begin before attampted to take control. He knew the stress she placed on herself training the teens and intended to help releive as much as he could by making the night about her needs.

[albatross]

The tropical sun dawns softly one the beach. Tiger nudges Kris and whispers, "Again."

Eventually everyone staggers in from sleeping on the beach and the plane takes off for the base. Upon arrival everyone gets dressed, most in their UN uniforms.

Tiger takes a moment to speak to everyone. "Rock, Marv. Just be yourselves." Rock smiles at this. Marv ponders this advice, which to him doesn't seem wise. "You two can enter the base now and remember those instructions." Marv shrugs and leads Rock off the plane and into the base.

Tiger turns to everyone else, "We need more information about what this base is like in order to do a good job here. Bel, Dante - volunteer with the medical personnel. Put your skills to work and report back to me every day with a text or email or in person with a summary of the information you've gathered. Dante, also get to know the Egypt team, I hear their trainers are psychics. Sapphire, talk to the security personnel, especially the men. Smile, ask them what they do. Ask if they like it here. Roan, White - one of you or Marv will be with the kids at all times. Work in shifts and pull one of the rest of us in immediately if they split up. Report on security every day. Jeckle, assist the scientists. You can tell them you assembled the testers. But if they ask you if the portable tester inventor is here... tell them Jill Sullivan invented it. It is one of my ids, but not the one I'll be using here. Get them to grace you with their pompous theories and opinions about this base, and help them with whatever they are doing. Dancer, Peacemaker, make friends with the other candidates. You can ignore Foxglove she is.... not friendly. Alright, if there are no questions, everyone except Kris and Heckle can go in." Tiger waits to see if anyone has questions.

[shiivster]

Jeckle raises andd eyebrow then nods and leans over to do the ties on the boots she just slipped on for the morning meeting. she gulps the last of hte juice she brought andstands up and puts on the familiar trenchcoat. the only thing with it this time, is that the hidden pockets are empty.

'yeah got it. record mode, check. listen to a bunch of . . . *coughs* . . yeah got it. lend a hand. they'll love i don't have any degrees and cant back my work up with published thesis. lots of fun. well i got my orders . . excuse me . . '

*she only looks at White and gives a nod as she slows to go past him. Heckle might know that she's retreating to the point where she'll be in machine mode for hte next 6-8 weeks while the latest funk passes.

[dakota]

Khris's back was tender as he sat down, and he was half afraid to look in the mirror to see how bad the scratches were. He glanced at Jeckle," Don't worry, I'll keep your brother out of trouble". He winked.

[albatross]

Heckle looks at Jeckle and says, "See ya in a few." He doesn't blow off Tiger's briefing but he can tell she is upset.

Once everyone else is off the plane, Tiger turns to Kris and Heckle. "I need information, not just the simple stuff like who reports to whom and the layout of the base. I need the secrets. You two poke around, either separately or with one as a lookout. Infiltrate the base and report to me what you find in person, no emails or texts. Find out anything you think we need to know. I'll give you free reign to invetigate anything. Keep it subtle, we are supposed to be here so don't get out of line."

"Stay clear of Foxglove, she already works for me but she is very dangerous." Tiger unconsciously touches one of her guns with one finger, a gesture she makes when she is nervous. "Any questions?"

[shiivster]

Jeckle crosses from the plane and slips the glasses on to protect the eyes from the sun. its clear to those that know her, that she's giving the impression of someone that's hungover.

*she stretches, rubs the back of her head and moves to where the scientists are. to the observers, she's giving hte impression of someone that's just doing a job for the paycheck

[dakota]

Khris nodded, " sounds like what I'm good at, except the babysitting part." He smirked. looking at Heckle.

[albatross]

There are seven banks of elevators to enter the base, including one the size of a hanger, but the only one that is one and guarded by a Vietnamese grunt holds only a few people comfortably. Marv and Rock are already inside.

When Jeckle takes the elevator it descends into the largest cave she has ever seen. Large enough to hold a skyscraper, she can see a small base contained inside the massive cave. There is an inactive nuclear reactor and a backup generator system- there must be another power system off site if these are inactive. There are all the normal parts of a military base: barracks, shooting range, gym, hospital, as well as a massive science facility that is bigger than most of the base. She can see out the elevator as it descends to the cave floor, overlooking the whole base. At the back of the cave are four buildings with massive arrays for electrical power and no windows.

When she gets to the bottom she is shown to her own barracks or to the science facility. When she gets to the science facility a graduate student asks which project she is on.

When Tiger, Kris and Heckle enter they also take in the layout through the glass of the small elevator. Tiger points out hatches scattered across the base, "Tunnel system." When they get to the bottom, Heckle goes looking for Jeckle, though he says he is off to explore the base.

[shiivster]

*the shades turn to study the graduate student. she extends a hand and simply says 'Jeckle. i assembled the testers. got dumped down here . . where do i go then? you're the guide'

*she gives a half hearted grin to take any sting out of the words, but its clear that she's 'tired' or 'hungover' by the body language. she is in fact studying the facial reaction of the student's face to her words. noting breathing, differences in the hand grip and how the eyes react.