Mission 1

[dakota]

Entering Virginia airspace

Through a series of connector military flights, everyone had been brought the the recruited team members together aboard a government owned Lear jet. The flight had given chance for light introductions, but that was about it before they had hit some nasty weather patterns. Finally, the plane seemed to calm down and the pilot came over the intercomm," We should be in the clear now, and we're about 20-30 minutes until we land in Langley. Sorry for the bumpy ride."

The fair sized hispanic dressed with Texas Rangers jersey and Dallas Stars cap who had identified himself as Xander Ramirez was the first to pop off his seat belt and prop himself up so he could see the other passengers," So, what did the rest of you do to get drafted into this mess?"

[Tori]

Forbes dressed down, in grey trousers and a black mockneck. His two steel .45's rested in shoulder holsters worn low. Without the grey suit jacket he carried on the plane, he might be easily mistaken for a cop. With the jacket, perhaps some bohemian musician, as long as the weapons remained out of sight. On his feet were black leather jump boots. With the pants untucked, they looked like extremely well polished leather shoes.

"We never had a problem when you were driving, Chief," the big man said to McKenzie after he swallowed the contents of a water bottle. A bumpy plane ride from weather was nothing compared to a combat landing under mortar fire aboard a C-130 or jumping off at the LZ when a DShK lit up your Blackhawk.

He chose the seat next to McKenzie, as she was the only one of the team he knew so far having ridden on her chopper while on insertions in Afghanistan. He said little, but the fact that he sat with her meant he regarded her as a friend.

"You know why I'm here Ramirez. You recruited me." He said with little emotion, then he realized Xander was asking the team to socialize. Good plan, since he could ride for hours without saying a word. On the flight, he'd entertained himself with a new biography of Hannibal Barca and the history of the Second Punic War. Reluctantly, he closed his book.

He kept his eyes focused on the deck of the center of the plane as he spoke in a rather monotone voice. "I'm First Lieutenant Karl Forbes, late of Delta and Maidan Wardak Provence. I can emit electricity and transform myself into lightning."

Conversation wasn't his strongest skill by any means.

[sasqaricious]

Alex sits in the plane and actually is pretty amazed having never sat in luxury like this at all and despite everything that was happening in turbulence that does not phase her mood at all. Also seeing more then one face that is at least remotely close to her age also helps in keeping her mood up. That and the small pile of comic books that she picked up at the PX before she left too.

Having been in one uniform or another since the age of 14, she still is dressed in her uniform and for the most part looks completely the part of a proper soldier save for the Beret that seems like it belongs to another military altogether. After hearing the Lieutenant announce himself she stands at attention "Sir. Private Alexandra Hemmaway!" And at attention she stands not moving until told otherwise. Just like it was in prison...just like it was in the army.

[Tori]

Forbes was a little shocked at the formality displayed by Alex. He immediately took action. "As you were Alexandra.

"This goes for the rest of you, too, so listen up. While on this team, we will consider each other to be civilians, unless told otherwise. That means while respecting team leaders and senior non-coms, you need not snap to attention, salute or any of that. The less the public knows about us, and our command structure, the better. Do not refer to anyone by rank. First names or nicknames will suffice. Also, the term S.P.I.R.I.T will not be used. For future reference, call it "The Team," or simply us.

"Most of you are from a military background, from what I understand. Others are from intelligence agencies. I'd prefer us looking as little like operators as possible, but understand we're going to need to fit in wherever we are. At least until we're on post somewhere, civvies are preferred." His voice remained flat, and nearly devoid of emotion.

Forbes was looking at Alex's cheek, about the best he could manage. "Oh, and welcome to the team, Alex."

[sasqaricious]

"Thank-you Sir!" Standing at ease but still standing. "Sir I am afraid I do not have any civilian clothes at all, as I entered the military with nothing and was not permitted any civilian time yet." She hopes he does not ask why, but by same token has a glimmer of hope that she could get some things as until this point she has been sending half her pay to those families of the individuals that had been killed. Even though it was not directly her fault.

[Tori]

The idea of no civilian clothing didn't make much sense to Forbes. He'd reviewed every jacket of the members of his team and knew she had a criminal record. But every soldier was off duty at some point. The ones he knew went to clubs, went shopping, picked up members of the opposite sex. Even in Iraq, weekend passes meant civilian clothes to avoid becoming a target. Even with assets seized, she still had an entitlement to her own wardrobe. Well, it wasn't his place to judge her.

"Very well. I assume we are going to be landing in Andrews. If time permits, we'll stop at the Base Exchange. Buy what you need. If not, you will purchase civilian clothing as you are able. I am not sure what our expense account looks like, but if you bring me receipts, I will reimburse you out of my own pocket, if need be. Buy enough clothing and personal items for a week. Make sure you have an extra pair of shoes. Get some luggage to hold it, because I think we're not going to be in one location for any duration.

"Our goal here is to be unknown. Don't say or do or wear anything that draws attention to yourselves."

[Red Fang]

Lane sat there quietly at first as she watched the exchange between the others on the plane. She was dressed like she just stepped off of Park Avenue, in a tailored dark blue silk suit, her dark hair was expertly atop her head in an updo sort of style. Her legs were crossed and her nails manicured and painted and tapping away on the armrest as if bored.

It was after a short while that she spoke to no one in particular but was looking at Forbes and smiled. "Lane Isaacson, Field Officer." It was quick but noticeable to all aboard the plane that she just shifted appearances to look exactly like Forbes and then just as quickly switched back to herself.

[Dome]

Simmons sits back in his seat. His silver hair in a military crew cut glinted off the light coming through the windows of the plane. His beard and mustache now shaved clean as expected of an enlisted man. He reached down and straightened his uniform as the Lt speaks about not being in uniform. He had been told little about this team aside from it would be something more "off book" than a regular military assignment. That didn't faze him, he had his share of working black ops and agency assignments. He looked around and had a good idea that he had more experience in the military and on operations like this than probably everyone on this plane combined. He hadn't had a chance or a desire really to change out of his uniform, after all the government just re-activated him and called him back to active duty. This is what he wore when on active duty.

He watches the Lt and listens to what he has to say. He can't hide the smirk that hits his lips as he thinks, 'leave it to an officer to assume he is the hottest shit in the room and in charge of the whole show. No one has said a word about command structure and yet here he is talking as if we all belong to him. If he is in charge, this could be a long assignment. I've seen my share of officers like this. Wonder if its too late to fake my own death again,' he muses to himself.

[Tori]

"I suppose you are Lane. I wasn't sure if you went by your given name or Lane. Tzahal (Israeli army), hm? It is good to meet you too."

Forbes noted the smirking man. Simmons. He said nothing to Forbes, so Forbes said nothing to him as he sat back down and returned to his book awaiting others to introduce themselves.

[dakota]

Ramirez grinned, revealing one of his front teeth was gold capped," They had to send someone able to drag you into this even if you'd said no to reassignment." He looked at the others. " I'm guessing I'm the only one here that wasn't still active? Xander Ramirez, formerly Sergeant, Recon, but I was a defense contractor teaching tactics to SWAT back home before I got roped into this."

[Tori]

"An assignment is preferred over exploratory brain surgery, Xander." Forbes didn't look up from his book, but seemed to have a pretty good sense of everything and everyone aboard the jet.

[lwcoyote]

The last to speak, McKenzie took a moment to look around at the others, her smile genuinely friendly. "McKenzie Jackman. As the el-tee pointed out, I'm a Chief Warrent, late of the 160th. I'm pretty easy-going about rank though, especially in the field; too often there isnt time to worry about it." she comments with a little laugh. "Just call me Kenz or el-aye-vee. Just don't call me Kenzie, please."

Shifting a little in her seat, the tall and athletic blonde gives Forbes a nudge. "As far as I'm aware I've only worked with the el-tee here. And like the rest of you, I'm not entirely sure what we're all doing here, aside from being some special new squad. I guess we all have...erm.. special abilities? Forbes said something about lightning and electricity.. what about the rest of yo u?"

[Dome]

At the mention of being non-active Simmons looks out the window, "Anthony Simmons," he says after a few moments of silence, "Master Sergeant, Army Ranger, 75th. Formerly retired. Recalled for this gig, whatever it is," he says dismissively.

His 35 year old looking face showed no signs of emotion about being brought back. He was of two worlds about it, on one hand, he loved serving his country. On the other hand, he had been enjoying teaching. 'I should have taken it up in one of my past lives,' he thinks, 'maybe then I wouldn't have rejoined and that damn computer and its nerds wouldn't have found me.'

[sasqaricious]

Alex still standign and seeing even the lietenant return to his book decides to wait a little longer but scans the rest of the department but answers the Lieutenant. "Yes sir!" Still wrapping in her mind as to why. She has never needed civilian clothes as the term of her release was not being able to leave base unless on mission. Even when officers bade her to do so she stayed on the base to remove any chance to fall to the former addictions that led to the dark path she went down. Now here she was ordered to get civilian clothes.

Nothing seemingly further she sits down and pulls out her comic and continues to read the story of Spawn.

[Dome]

Simmons thinks about the young private and realizes this is probably not just her first out of uniform assignment, but from her reaction to the L.T. her first assignment.

He gets up from his seat and makes his way towards her, and takes a seat next to her, "this your first assignment isn't it Alexandra," he says in a kind friendly tone.