Run Synopsis
[Steve is out. Discussion on setting up our own expedition vs. accompanying Mars SF mission. Discussion on disguising Robert from John. Discussion on disposal of John either by killing him or by Sheryl "buying" him. Pat offers discount on "Mars only" buy. Sheryl decides it might not be too "unfair."]
Boris is off training in big vehicle lo-grav maneuvers. Robert is elected to be contact man with Major Bjorkholm. The team has opted to offer "Miss Ishida's Lost Cities Expedition" as cover for the Mars Special Forces Team which will leave in 2 weeks. Mars has already told Roderigo Jimenez that the cover is an "eccentric rich sponsor's expedition." Jimenez will provide guidance based on photos he has seen of some peculiar rock formations near the base. (Our team decided that the difference between 1 wk and 2 is approximately 3 days that would as likely be spent wandering lost as infiltrating the vase.) Robert and the Major agree that as long as our team "enjoys the ride out," we will be free to follow our own agenda once there, prior to the assault.
Teresa drops in on Chantal to tell her she's found the group with which to explore the Lost Cities. Chantal agrees to finance, pretending that this is what her intention has been all along. A day or so later, accompanied by John, they go to view the refitting. The locale is some few blocks away from a military base, but it is fairly clear that the machines and supplies are at least "military surplus." Immense vehicles are being overhauled. Extruding from the nearest is a set of skinny legs. Chantal is surprised to hear John exclaim, "Acorn! Is that you?" The mechanic emerges, hitting his head. "Nuts!" then "Sarge!" he exclaims. "How's the babysitting job...?" John heads off an explosion from Chantal by performing introductions and trying to find out when Acorn left the service. The Major advances on Chantal. Seeing him, John exclaims, "Captain!?!" "Major, Lieutenant." is the dry reply. "Major Les Neilson, Miss Ishida," John adds addressing Chantal. John exclaims, "But you weren't retiring 'til..." and clams up, looking from the Major who is going by a name he knows is false to Chantal, who smiles slightly at him, and back again.
The Major proceeds to give Chantal a tour of the facility. Teresa can't resist poking John who, despite the vacuum holding his jaw shut, manages discretely and efficiently to block. Calls of "Sarge!" proceed as the tour moves; John knows nearly every man in the place. It is clear to her bodyguard that, somehow, Chantal is operating with this MSF group. One of the vehicles is even being particularly fitted up for her.
The Major invites John to come "Waltzing Matilda" sometime [Military slang for a hand-to-hand work-out] and the body guard responds with an endorsement of some of the martial throws the Major apparently taught him. Mentions a "Russian shot-put." [Players anticipate another photo-op when John meets Boris on the team.]
Two hours later, back in the car, Chantal comments, "I didn't know you were a military man." (And she thinks unkind thoughts about her father who apparently provides dossiers on her to the staff, but none on them to her. She also re-estimates John, given his association with MSF and apparent commission-on-retirement.) "On Mars it is mandatory," he responds. "They seem the best outfit for my little expedition," she returns. John gulps out, "Little! There's over 2 million credits in men and machines back there!" Chantal answers noncommittally, "Yes?" He snaps to, perhaps somewhat woodenly, "Yes, M'am! Where to?"
Chantal takes her companions to the Ritz where neither paparazzi nor bugs should trouble them, and proceeds to converse on what should probably not appear in the reports John writes as a body guard --- which he willingly listens to. The people she is apparently working with are, after all, good friends of his. Chantal allows John to believe theirs is a joint Chevron-Mars SF operation, without actually saying so.
In the appointed week's time, Robert and Lyle go to meet the depot ship. They are ferried up via an autopilot (extremely unusual) shuttle, and meet #17 who, apparently lost legs and his good looks to some severe encounter involving radiation or - whatever. #17 helps them choose mission and auxiliary gear, including a computer download "briefcase," 2 stealth suits, various silencers and medic-enhancers [12-hour regen, O2 systemic salvage....]
Once the gear is delivered, the team arranges practise on the holo-range. The practise includes John.
EPs: +1.
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