Hunter HQ - Command Level

This deck once served as the command center of the Fort Sam Houston, and remains so today, restored and refit with the best in modern technology. Built in the shape of a broad semicircle, the command center's curved wall is dominated by sweeping observation windows- thick panels of reinforced glass ensuring durability while providing a panoramic and crystal-clear view of the surrounding tropical lagoon. An observation walk lining the inside of the windows offers an unobstructed approach to the view.

The room's focus, however, is the slightly raised platform in the middle, lined with consoles and computer banks, equipment to accomodate any need the Hunters may have. A matching host of monitors, displays and holo-projectors depend from the ceiling on heavy metal braces, within easy reach and view.

Signas [MH] Zero's Chair

West <W> leads to Hunter HQ - Teleporter Room.

North <N> leads to Hunter HQ - Meeting Room.

South <S> leads to Hunter HQ - War Room.

East <E> leads to Hunter HQ - Lift Station.

(My desc:)

Bowie(#4856PACenO)

The man before you is neither extremely tall nor extremely short, standing at a little under six feet (180 cm), and of a medium build. His features have a Native American or perhaps latino cast to them, with bronze-toned skin, high, flat cheekbones and a straight nose, his eyes a dark shade of brown. The profile of a grinning skull tattooed in white across his right cheek serves to accentuate his features. A blue bandana tied as a headband keeps his raven-black hair out of his face, letting it cascade down past his shoulders.

The protective armor he wears appears to be a haphazard compilation of three or four different sets. The right arm is sleek and streamlined with a sharp spike jutting from the elbow, while the left arm is more blocky with a squared-off spaulder. The torso armor consists of a smaller pentagonal plate affixed to a full chestplate, more for added protection than decoration. The legs seem to from the same set as the left arm, blocky with squared knee guards. His feet are shod in heavy armored boots, more suited for reploids but still wearable by humans. A simple but sturdy helmet covers his head while biking or in combat. All of his armor has been painted in mottled greens and browns, camoflage for woodlands and fields. His hands are protected by black leather gloves that have studs riveted to the backs for extra protection.

Signas stands, as he usual does, here on the command level... The room and its occupant seem to pose an unusual juxtaposition. Dozens of computer terminals, observation stations, and other vital functions line the room, and one expects it to be swarming with drones, yet that isn't the case - instead, most of the technology lies seemingly dormant, as a sole figure looks over the endless stream of reports from one terminal, the warrior diplomat Signas.

Bowie walks in from the teleporters, heavy boots thunking against the floor. The cowboy is definitely not in his usual attire, unless he's suddenly changed his tastes to tattoos and junk for armor, with a light coating of mud and grime for that extra special touch. Needless to say, he decides not to sit down - he doesn't want to hear from Roll later. "Signas," he greets.

"Greetings," returns Signas, pausing in his work momentarily to face his fellow Hunter. He turns to the cowboy, raising an eyebrow slightly in a puzzled expression at his change of attire. "Trying out a new look?"

Bowie pushes hair out of his face, giving Signas a wry smile. "Skinner disguise," he explains. Without his usual Texan accent. "Been scouting the Balkans....speaking of which, what exactly /are/ we doing in Europe now?"

"Ah," says Signas, nodding slightly, "gathering information in order to devise a plan of attack against the Maverick Empire... In fact, I had intended to call an open command meeting tomorrow to devise our strategy, and commence with an assault on Thursday."

Bowie nods slowly, not hiding his dubious expression. "I see...begging your pardon, but are you sure this is a good idea?"

Signas says, "It is difficult to be completely certain in anything in war, yet I feel it is preferable to the alternative of inaction. Are there some concerns you have?"

"That depends," says Bowie. "Mostly depends on tactics. Now, I'm just a policeman, but if we're planning a blatant Hunter assualt on Maverick territory, that kind of negates the stuff we've been doing underground."

"Ideally," says Signas, "the people would be able to throw off the Maverick oppressers on their own, but it would seem as if they simply lack the capabilities to fight the Maverick war machine. While the citizens of Europe should not be made to feel they cannot work for their own salvation, that does not give us an excuse to stand by and regard the Empire's tightening grip as 'someone else's problem'. To show that we are fighting against the Mavericks alongside them gives them all the more reason to fight as well."

Bowie's smile faulters somewhat as he listens, mulling over Signas' words before adding his own. "I thought that was why we were doing all this in Europe, helping the resistance orgs that were already in place? We're not exactly an army. And Repliforce has tried and failed to take Europe back."

"Right," says Signas, adjusting his hat and looking around shiftily, just in case, "well then... Where were we? Ah, yes... Well... We may not be an army, but perhaps where the army has failed, we just might succeed, or at the very least, make enough of an impact in the Maverick armor for the European resistance to punch through. Where force and politics both have failed alone, they may have a greater effect properly administered together."

Bowie has encountered so many Stardroids that he's building up an immunity to them. Or perhaps it's just apathy. He nods again, though his expression is still dubious. "Well, I'm not a master tactician, but...I don't know. Something about this just feels wrong. Not to say we shouldn't be doing something, but showing our colors over there may not be a good idea considering all the other craziness going on." Read: the Stardroids, Starhaven, et al.

"If you are referring to the Stardroids, I have given that matter much consideration," says Signas. "Yet upon thorough review of the information I have pertaining to them, the only common thread in dealing with the Stardroids is that of control - that is, the Stardroids always seem to have control of the situation, even when they claim to be the victims. In all of our encounters with them, events have progressed according to a schedule which was hidden from us, and the solution presented by them when they chose to do so. The doctors and indeed the forces of the world are all working on figuring out a solution to defeat the threat of this Nigh, but for the most of us, there seems to be little we can do... when the Stardroids see fit to give us sufficient pieces of the puzzle, we shall muster our forces to save the Earth from their threat, but until then, we shall not be cowed into standing by helpless and idle by this danger while the other forces of evil prepare to use the situation to their advantage."

Bowie says "Not disagreeing there. Still, I don't know if having a sortie in Maverick territory is a really good idea." Armor creaks as he folds his arms across his chest. "If we want to go in with the Resistance or the Skinners, then sure. But not as us. We're not Repliforce, and if you don't mind me saying so, I don't want to be Repliforce. We're not meant for a heavy assualt. I don't know who first called us skirmishers, but that's pretty much what we are."

"Rest assured," says Signas, "that a full frontal assault is not exactly what I had in mind. I do believe it would be beneficial to make our presence known, if perhaps not in a strictly militaristic fashion."

Bowie once again nods, some of his skepticism fading. "Then what do you have in mind?"

Signas says, "I was intended first of all to lure the Maverick forces out to fortifying their western front with a diversionary assault, and then have our infiltrators deal with Berlin itself while we approach the less guarded sections. However, this may be subject to change, depending on what the others bring to the table tomorrow. Our primary concern will be to temporarily cripple the structure of the Empire itself, even if the result of engagement with their forces is less than overwhelmingly favorable."

Bowie rubs the back of his neck. "O-kay...the west side of Europe's already pretty fortefied, what with that wall and all..."

"Which is why it would be inadvisable to attempt a war of attrition," says Signas, and frowns as a beeping issues from the terminal. "You will join us tomorrow, so that we can discuss these issues collectively in deciding on how it is to be done?"

Bowie says "Sure." With that, he starts walking towards the lift, letting Signas return to whatever he was doing before being interrupted.

(A bit later...)

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "*sigh*"

Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Handsome? Is that you sighing? What is the matter?"

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Druther not talk 'bout it over the radio. Jus havin a disagreement with someone."

Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "It is not Daddy, is it?"

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Oh no. Ah haven't even seen yer dad in Ah dunno how long."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "Oh, it is that STRANGE man again...he is so weird..."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Which one?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Ether Skunk transmits, "Um... who? Strange men are baaad news."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "Yeah, this one is not the rock star, though...this is a guy...what is his -name-? I forget now...but he asks me all the time, questions like he has amnesia, you know? He goes...I knew you, and I knew your father, but you will have to remind me some more...it is quite creepy."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Oh, zee vun called Eidolon, yes?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "Yes, I think that is his name!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Ya know this feller, Doc?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "I suspect several t'inks. Zee t'ink I t'ink is most plausible is zhat he is vun of DeVry's creations, alt'ough to vhat end I still don't know. Perhaps as some sort of emergency contingency upon his untimely demise. But vhatever it vas supposed to do, it has apparently failed."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "*sounds upset* You think he is...oh my god, he was maybe made by...by...and he is walking over right now...! *sighs, trying HARD to not flip out* Well...he so far has not been dangerous. But knowing this..."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "..."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "He has been tryink to talk to me, and over broadband. It appears to haff incomplete programmink."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "An whut should we do about it?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Noffink. Vhatever it is, it has suffered enough."

[Radio] You send Michael Eildath a direct message: "Jus came back frum the Balkans. Thare'll be a report on yer desk later."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "ICK!!! EEeEEEeeEeeWWwww...."

Michael Eildath sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Understood. Hope it went well out there."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Ick?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "Ew, that was DISGUSTING...okay, I am definitely out of here now! Definitely...out of here!"

[Radio] You send Michael Eildath a direct message: "Well as can be expected. Set up some equipment caches fer us."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "I t'ink I vill vait for report. Yes."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Whut happened?"

Michael Eildath sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Good work. I'm in with most of the major skinner/resistant groups out there as 'Immortal'."

[Radio] You send Michael Eildath a direct message: "So Ah heard. Been posin as a Skinner while out scoutin, but haven't made much contact with anyone yet. Ah druther be introduced than jus jumpin in, ya know?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "Eehhh...I am not going to report this. He was asking me what my demon was, and how I did deal with my demon. So I told him, and then he...ycchhh, he kissed me!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "So I slapped him."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "..."

Michael Eildath sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "I understand."

[Radio] You send Michael Eildath a direct message: "*accent change - loses the Texan drawl* I'm going by the name Aztec, if anyone asks.Seeing as I don't look anglo, there's only so much I can do. *chuckles*"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "....................."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Sunshine?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka sounds almost like a hissing demon, she's so mad. "Hoooowww....how does he know my mother's name?? How COULD he know....unless...un...less...

Michael Eildath sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Aztec. I guess that works. I'll remember it."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Unless he's ved a book or two, or zee dust jacket for Galatea's Lament. I am not convinced. Not yet."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Calm down, sunshine, please. There's a lot of people who know your mother's name. It's kind of common knowledge."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Kalinka transmits, "Well not everyone goes yelling it at me on public streets, that is for sure!"

[Radio] You send Michael Eildath a direct message: "Look at it this way. Not exactly a lot of Native Americans running around Europe, even before this. I've got a distinctive look, so I better do something with it."

[Radio: (E) Joint-Chat] Shield Shellfish transmits, ".. so this is Australia..."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Okay, that I'll agree with..."

Michael Eildath sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Makes sense to me. I suppose I've got an advantage there. Except for the skunk stripe I got recently, I don't stand out."

Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "*sighs* I am coming home."

[Radio] You send Michael Eildath a direct message: "Yep. Ordinary is good, in this case."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "All right. I'll see you in a bit. Got a report to file."

Michael Eildath sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Yeah. Well, hopefully, we'll be getting things done in that area soon."

[Radio] You send Michael Eildath a direct message: " Yeah, well...you heard about the meeting Signas is planning tomorrow?"

From afar (to Dr. Cossack and Bowie), Kalinka(Kali) shuts herself in her room, and after a long shower (crying the whole time, of course, and scrubbing hard to get the 'creep cooties' off of her), she goes to bed. 8)

Michael Eildath sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Yeah."

[Radio] You send Michael Eildath a direct message: "I'm not sure what Signas is planning, but I have a bad feeling about it. *pause* Anyway, I'm going to get cleaned up and write that report. G'night."