Whose Round Is It Anyway?

[reallymean]

[Early in the day - well before her own abduction - Allura's voice comes across the network, the pattern of her thought-speech quick, but oddly lacking inflection.]

Given recent events, I think it's time we work out just which of our patrons is hosting this Jaunt, and whether or not we can allow their preferences to dictate how we go about freeing those who've been captured.

Does anyone have any insight into which of the Arcana are playing this round?

Or into the security measures we're likely to see at the detainment facility?

Comments

[reallymean]

I intend to.

You've found them already? How far are they from the city?

[theflyingone]

About forty American miles from the city. But I do not want to try to rescue them until we gather more information. That may have to wait until nightfall. Using the cover of darkness will be better anyway.

[reallymean]

[It takes her a few moments to convert that to actually usable units of measurement.]

We'll also need to secure an escape route, and transportation. I doubt the captives will be up to travelling that far on foot.

[theflyingone]

Here, I have my map. [ He livestreams his hands holding a map and traces a line in a curve along the coast from Santa Carlita to Fort Arde. The sun is out. Trees and birds can be heard rustling. ]

Investigators can get out of sight and make portals into Liminal. Others who have not made a portal for that can then position themselves in, say, the city, and make portals for them to return safely. Enough of us have that ability that I think it is possible to arrange.

Someone who can drive can rent a car and be there to meet us. Multiple people with cars. I think they only seat four? five?

Since it is near the ocean, any Investigators who kept the sea people form—that is, merpeople—could hide, transform, and swim away. Any werewolves as well. The distance is not as great when on four legs instead of two.

These are just the escapes I can think of now. What we do will depend on what obstacles we encounter inside. If I have my way, the captives will be smuggled out quietly with no fuss.

[thornsofmalkav]

... oh Jesus fucking Christ, that's the old Fort Ord. Or. I mean. Whatever they call it here. Okay, yeah, I can definitely be one of the drivers. I know how to get there. I can tell other people how to get there. I mean, basically you follow the One south until you get to Lightfighter. Uh, exit 406. Take the exit, follow Lightfighter and you're literally there in seconds. Although I guess then you'd have to find the entrance, but Altair's got that covered.

And we're going to need drivers because there is no convenient public transportation between there and Santa Carl... ita, I should fucking know.

[theflyingone]

Even if we escape into the woods, we risk being hunted down unless we can, say, change into an animal.

Rent something fast.

[thornsofmalkav]

Already did.

... Investigators can take portals, at least.

[reallymean]

If they're mobile. If their captors think to incapacitate them - either because something goes wrong and they realize their facility is compromised or because one of the captives [Zed] does something foolish - transporting them will become more difficult. We'll have to account for that in our planning.

But I'm more concerned about the natives, both Infiltrator and otherwise. In the absolute worst case, any Investigators will only have to hold up until the end of the Jaunt, and if the guesses as to the compressed timeline are accurate, that will only be a few more days. We'll need that transportation, and we'll need to keep as accurate a count of locals as possible so we can be sure we have the space to evacuate them all.

[theflyingone]

Servants sometimes use carts to move things. We could put the incapacitated in them, cover them, and pass outside unnoticed. It is slower, but safer than being seen carrying a prisoner on our backs.

I would rather there be no Investigators imprisoned, as these captors are especially suspicious of strange occurrences, like prisoners suddenly disappearing. And there is the matter of the cameras.

[reallymean]

It looks like a military or paramilitary facility - if we want to pass as people who belong, even at a glance, we'll need to secure uniforms and ID. If you can get close enough to get a clear look at what they're using and share that, perhaps one of the Travelers who's particularly adept at manipulating Liminal Space will be able to copy them...

I have some friends who could deal with any cameras, if we can get them inside. Anywhere inside. The ventilation system will do.

[theflyingone]

There are not many Travelers who would be able to blend in convincingly, even if they looked the part. But I can get close enough, once night falls.

[ His werewolf powers don't work under the sun. Moreover, he'd like the cover of darkness to hide in. There is less chance of being shot as a wolf, but there is still a chance. ]

Could your friends also spy for us? Having our own eyes would be helpful.

[reallymean]

They could spy for me, to an extent, but they wouldn't be able to reliably relay intelligence to anyone else. They're emotive for mice, but it's only our connection that allows me to understand them - they can't speak the way we do.

[theflyingone]

[ Mice. Well that was something else. Luckily, Pogemon had already desensitized him to overly intelligent animal friends. He has more of a rapport with predators like himself when using the wolf powers from Sarmatia, but he might be able to work with this. ]

Hm. They may still help.... I presume we will meet before entering the building. I will try to take a look at them.

[reallymean]

It would be the wisest choice, yes.

[awitchdidit]

I can create Portals at a thousand yards' distance, and I'm as capable as any Akuryuu Ninja at remaining unseen or unnoticed, so I can at least evacuate people to Liminal Space.

I agree with the lady I've been terribly rude too and just thought of as Nike rather than asking her name that it's the locals and Infiltrators who will be something of an issue. I don't believe I know anyone who can move large groups of other people within a world, meaning we'll either have to allow them to see a holding space in Liminal, or make our magic a great deal more complicated than just opening a Portal.

[reallymean]

My name is Allura.

And unless things have changed a great deal in recent months, the locals and Infiltrators won't be able to enter Liminal Space. Unless we have a chance to test that without drawing too much attention, we should assume we'll need a method of transport for them that's fully grounded in this world.

[awitchdidit]

It's nice to meet you, Allura. We can have a more urbane introduction later.

Hm, I suppose I'd never tried conveying Infiltrators with Portals, and the reports from that one space mission misled me. I guess that must have been a unique phenomenon.

What this essentially means is that we need vehicles. That's the easy part. The hard part will be moving them from wherever they're being held to some place with external road access...

...or boat access. It is on the coast, after all, and the sea is easier to lose pursuit on in the dark.

[reallymean]

Depending on the method of space travel, it could make the boundaries of that particular universe more elastic in places where a ship was actively moving. We may be able to duplicate the effects, given enough time, but for now, I agree that vehicular transport is our best bet.

[theflyingone]

I had thought we would use the technology that already exists in this world to move them, and it blends in. If we can get more cars in case our portal-makers are too injured....

Forcing an overlay to come with us is not wise. They will see us as a threat and tell anyone who will listen of us. They have to come with us willingly or be left behind. Even so, I do not want them to see Liminal Space.

[ It's hard for him to say this, since Malik is one of the overlays there, but he knows Malik will understand when he returns to himself. ]

If you can dress in similar clothing to those inside, it may help. [ He just remembers her penchant for wide, frilly dresses and... no. ]

[awitchdidit]

I can look like anyone. I'll start with a suit, unless you have a solid image of a uniform for me to copy.

As for the mode of transportation, do you know if the facility has a dock or other boat access? That's often less guarded than roads, and far less patrolled by policemen.

[theflyingone]

I thought Drizzt was the only one who knew how to sail?

[thornsofmalkav]

She can pilot a motor boat even if she can't a sailboat. I can vouch for her.

[awitchdidit]

Thank you Thorne. And yes, piloting a small motorboat is much easier than dealing with a large sailing ship. Honestly, I think most of us could manage it as long as we don't have to do any fancy maneuvering.

[theflyingone]

As long as it is not as difficult as driving a motorcycle.

[ He's still salty about that. ]