Robotech - Southern Cross Adventure

[Rykon]

"My question, Rosy, is what else could we do when she's not by the bike that we can electronically track nor in the hotel nearby. We'd have no lead other than to track her physical trail. I'm SERE trained, I can follow trails better than almost anyone, hell I'll handle the dog and take the shots fired. Keep in mind, officially, missing persons don't get reported until 24 hours after disappearances. We're between the one and two day window right now. Sure it will be difficult tailing someone in a city, but what other choice do we have? I don't think the locals are just going to politely engage the squad with a handsome bounty on their heads, dressed in assault gear, to tell us where a grumpy looking alien went." Alan said, doing his best to not sound confrontational and just stick to the facts as he understood them. Based on his reasoning, if there were other reliable means of locating Antonia, should she not be where they expected her to be, he was wholly unaware of it at the least.

"As we learned yesterday, I sure as hell think we all agree we don't trust some other pack of slow-headed dirtbags to take that task either. They have a bit of a track record around here. That's a rant for another time though." Alan concluded.

 

[Purr]

Gabriela put one finger to her chin in thought. So the Third Herd had no contacts with the locals. They had probably been too busy in the field to consider it, if they had at all (they didn't seem the type).

Back in Bolivia, Gabi's very first Recon Patrol team had surprisingly good relations with the local townsfolk, especially given that most of them were scruffy white guys from the former U.S.A.. There, Gabi's Hispanic heritage and background in travel had helped her develop a small, but caring network. She wanted to do the same here if it were possible. Local townsfolk often knew and had things the military didn't and Gabi had learned that building a trustworthy relationship could be invaluable for both sides.

"What about Ryuko's idea? How about Ryuko and I start by talking with some of the employees at the hotel? There's no bounty on our heads (yet). Ryuko has a way with some people while I have ways with others, plus I speak the language."

 

[Rykon]

"I don't see questioning civilians while we're in military assault armor being a productive effort. Were you to approach in less intimidating attire, possibly, but this is the place she chose to flee. They may fire on you at the first whiff of ASC association. Is that a risk you want to take? Is that a risk our boss wants to take?" Alan asked seriously. He seemed willing to back that approach if that was what orders were. "She is military police, she would know best procedure to apprehend a suspected insurgent." Alan added, ceding discussion back to Deunan.

 

[Purr]

Gabi relaxed and grinned unsarcastically at the SERE specialist. "Maaaan, who said anything about armor during contact with the locals? You can't walk up to people who maybe make 2,000 credits/year wearing a spacesuit that costs more than half their village. You may as well walk up in your Spartas. That goes double for gringos ("yankees").

"No, guy. ACUs (Army Combat Uniforms) or fatigues with a sidearm or rifle get the point across while still making you look like someone they can relate to. And before you trust someone, you got to relate with them, you know?"

A look of concern crossed her face. "As for firing on the ASC on sight, isn't Sgt. Antonia ASC? There been any violent clashes between ASC and the locals here recently?"

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan looks at the assembled members of the squad, then says, "We will not be going in guns blazing, but I do want to take a look at this hotel and see what we can find. If there is a connection between Antonia and the Malcontents, we might be able to find proof of it there. Cameras, witnesses, something." She looks over at Alan and says, "Dogs to track her may have been a viable option if we had this lead earlier, but by now her trail has most likely been wiped out by several days worth of people walking over it. We take SDC weapons, stun batons and tasers."

"Gabi, if you think you can make contact with the locals and get a good connection, we can hold back while you do that, and we can support you if it calls for it. Lets get our gear and move."

 

[D. Rex]

"Ya know, can get around the talking part by just throwing around a few hundreds. Pretty faces and polite conversation is nice, but money is a pretty loud talker." Marlon suggested. "After all, they put bounties on us, its only fair."

Marlon didnt have a lot of input to offer hear. He was in in full follow mode. Going in soft and sneaky was a little outside of his specialty to have much valuable insight. Now, if they wanted advice on how to blow up a building she was hiding in, or a more clear case of storming clear enemies without the need to be gentle, yeah he'd be more help.

 

[Purr]

"Ya know, can get around the talking part by just throwing around a few hundreds. Pretty faces and polite conversation is nice, but money is a pretty loud talker." Marlon suggested. "After all, they put bounties on us, its only fair."

"Nooo, McKinney," Gabriela grimaced. "Didn't you hear me? You got to relate with the locals if you can. If we're gonna be here long-term, you want them to eventually invite you into their homes and get drunk with them. You want to try to make real friendships. The townspeople were great with us Recon Patrollers in Bolivia. Maybe we can make that happen here?

"But you walk in like Daddy Warbucks playing the big shot and, yeah, you look real good for the short-term, but then nobody trusts you." Gabi pointed at his leggings. "All they'll want then is your fat wallet, amigo ("male friend"), and they might surprise you with what they'll do to get it..."

Gabi turned to Conway looking a little sheepish. "Um, ma'am, this was Ryuko's idea and all, not mine, you know? Don't you want her in on this?"

 

[D. Rex]

Marlon chuckled,"Well I'd be quite friendly if some slipped me a hundred when I was a civilian."

"Anyway, how about I at least go wrangle us up a hover truck and some bikes, Sergeant Conway?"

 

[Gundam Watcher 27]

Gabi could not pass up the opportunity to tease the one person she did know in the briefing room. It was good to see Ryuko contributing. Smiling and chuckling Gabi told her, "You got the face, amiga ("female friend"), but everybody knows you're broke in the Charm Department. Who's gonna listen to you?" Having dished out the love, she was hoping to get teased back. She felt if one were going to dis

Ryuko had an arm over Gabi's shoulder, before replying with a cute smile. "Anyone that knows a friend when they see one!"

"Gabi, if you think you can make contact with the locals and get a good connection, we can hold back while you do that, and we can support you if it calls for it. Lets get our gear and move."

Ryuko nodded, before she would ask a question. "Since this is a stealth operation, can me and Gabi wear dresses? I got a really nice red dress with a dragon picture on it, and a nice dress with a pink ribbon on the waist."

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan laughs. "Sure, you can wear a dress. Whatever works for you, I'm game for it. Alright. We go to La Fuente and you two do what you can to make some friends. While you do that, we check on the location that Antonia's hover cycle is at, and hopefully we can find some clues as to where she is right now. If she is there, we bring her back."

 

[Psychie]

With orders given, everyone makes their way to their rooms to grab their gear, then it is off to the armory to collect some weapons. Just to clarify, please specify what you are wearing, and what weapons you wish (if any) to pack on your selves.

 

[Rykon]

Alan will be using his CBR Mk.2E Armor. His sidearm is his usual IPP-5H Heavy Ion Pulse Pistol (MD), his main arm for SDC damage is a M-55 Wolverine Assault Rifle.

 

[D. Rex]

Marlon will take the same loadout as Alan. The CBR Mk.2E, with the IPP-5H heavy Ion Pistol and the M-55 Wolverine Assault Rifle.

 

[Gundam Watcher 27]

Ryuko is wearing a red Chinese dress with a gold Dragon design running from the left shoulder to the right leg. As for weapons, a concealed knife underneath the skirt on the right. She is also wearing black heels.

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan will be wearing her MDC body armor, and will carry a Stun Baton, a SDC laser pistol, and a LP-09 Laser Pistol.

 

[D. Rex]

And a stun baton.

 

[Psychie]

With everyone geared up and ready to go, the members of the Third Heavy set out for the motorpool. You will either need a pair of hover cars or one car and a couple of hover cycles in order to get everyone along on this trip. As you are signing out the vehicles, everyone is cautioned to be careful out there, since the Malcontent threat is ever present.

The trip down the highway is fast and uneventful, and soon you are pulling up at the town of La Fuente.

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan will go ahead and request two hover cars for their trip to the town. As they pull in and park, she climbs out and looks around carefully. "If things go south with MDC weapons involved, pull back and disengage. I do not want a major firefight with the heavy weapons risking the lives of the civilians. It will be better to allow the combatants to get out of town and then we can track them down and hit them where it hurts. Lets go see what we can find."

 

[Purr]

"La Fuente," Gabriela thought. "'The Source." Gabi certainly hoped the name fit this mission. Gabriela could not help but have butterflies in her stomach though she in no way revealed it (for that would be unprofessional). What if she screwed up in the hotel? Then she shook her head, her healthy brunette hair caught in the sun and flashed beautifully. Gabi sighed. She could play the "What if?" game all day, but it wouldn't do her any good. Best instead that she spent her considerable mental energy in looking for solutions on how to help the mission succeed.

It was when Conway sent them in when she saw holes in the plan. "Sgt. Conway? Don't mean to hold us up, but Ryuko and I don't even know what Sergeant Antonia looks like. You got pictures or description?

"Is this," Gabi pointed at the parking spots, "going to be our RP?" Gabi was speaking in Recon terms and not realizing it.

"I'll have my radio mic on under my fatigues so you can hear me. Most of the talk will be in Portuguese or Spanish, but I'll have a danger sign. If I say, 'The food here sucks anyway,' then we need you." She paused, glancing at Conway's A.T.A.C. body armor. "That is, if all of that is okay by you, ma'am."

 

[D. Rex]

Driving to town, Marlon kept his helmet off. Sure he was in his armor, but he could still try and look casual about it.


Upon arriving, he took his carbine from the back seat and slung it over his shoulder, and took his helmet in the other hand. "That is assuming they run. If they hold their ground and open fire, shall we end things quickly or retreat?" He asked, wanting to get a better idea of how Duenan wants to go about such a scenario.

Other than that, he was ready to put in follow.

 

[Sherwood]

Deunan thinks for a moment, then says to Marlon, "If it goes that way, and we can end it quickly, we'll do so. Just remember that the safety of the civies in the area is our first priority. Gabi, go ahead and get your little drone ready to go. Have it fly about, and get us a good look at what we're dealing with. Then, we move in and see if Antonia is still in the area." She pulls up her tablet, and after tapping a few keys, pulls up a picture of the Zentraedi soldier. "This is our target. We will do our best to bring her in alive. Lets get in position."

 

[Purr]

"You got it," Gabi replied and pointed again at the M-770 hover cars. "If things go south, is this parking place the team's rendezvous point (RP) or do you have some little safe spot somewhere else in La Fuente?" Gabi got a good long look of Sgt. Antonia, nodding once towards Ryuko as if to say, "Hey chica, take a look at this."

Gabi reached into her pocket and withdrew Hummingbird. In a matter of minutes, the tiny helicopter-like drone was set up and ready to fly. "Oh, I'll get you more than that, sergeant," she said with a grin as she focused on the drone's joystick and tablet-screen. She sent Hummingbird in toward the hotel. First, she scanned the parking lot looking for Sgt. Antonia's hovercycle. If it were here, Gabi would have to disable it (a trick that would involve Dragonfly, her second drone). She wanted too a good look at what kinds of vehicles were parked here. Vehicles often told a lot about the people inside a building. Then she scanned each floor of the hotel, giving Sgt. Conway (and Ryuko if she were looking) an understanding of the hotel's layout. What kind of hotel was it (classy, roguish, mainstream)? Did the hotel have a bar? What kind of guests were inside and how did they act?

Gabi was looking for anything out of the ordinary; armed people, odd conversations (especially those in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Zentraedi), micronized Meltrandi on the run, things like that. She also made a note of security measures, entry points into and out of the hotels, and good routes to use if they had to boogie.

Psychie

Spoiler: Skills in use

Surveillance Systems (to check out security, alarm systems, any signs pointing out the location of the hotel's generator)
Detect Ambush (for ambush points we could use or could be used against us)
Land Navigation (for the layout of the hotel and other nearby buildings, to know how to best get back to the Rendezvous Point if we all got separated)
Detect Concealment, Demolitions, and Trap/Mine Detection (for good hiding places for bad guys or hidden rooms, in case the hotel has any doors, hallways, etc. that "don't look right")

Do you want me to roll for anything?

 

[Psychie]

Purr
Go ahead and give me a Surveillance Systems roll, a Perception roll, and a Detect Concealment roll please.

 

[Purr]

=)

 

[Psychie]

The building that is the hotel has five stories above ground, with a bar and restaurant on the bottom floor, along with several meeting rooms and a small concert venue, and at least one basement level that houses the laundry and the boilers for the hot water for the place. Each floor above the first has twenty rooms, with two elevators and two stairwells for room access, one at each end of the hall. There is another employee elevator and stairwell that connects the basement to the first floor. The guests do not have access to that elevator, though.

You spot several entrances to the hotel, one in the back meant for employee use, and three others on the sides and front.

Several visible security cameras are visible outside, covering the entrances and the parking lot, with more that are most certainly inside.

Out in the parking lot, the missing hover cycle has been located, out with several dozen older model SDC cars and a few motorcycles. None of the vehicles appear to be armored or armed in any way, unless it is a concealed job.

There are a small handful of security guards visible walking about the place and out in the parking lot, and you can see that they are all armed with a pistol, a taser, and a nightstick on their belts, along with a short range radio.

Many guests can be seen through windows, most of which are on the bottom floor in the restaurant with its large windows. A few of the guest rooms have their window blinds open, with very few people visible upstairs. The audio pick-ups on the drone can hear a mixture of languages being used; English, Zentraedi and a smattering of Spanish.

Your overall impression of the hotel is that it is not in bad shape, but it is hardly in mint condition. The place shows signs of occasional repairs, and the landscape work has been kept up on fairly well.

OOC I am not an expert on hotels, so if there is something I missed here, please ask and I will try to answer