| From: | Sascha Pabst <Sascha.Pabst@**********.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Reinforcements arriving |
| Date: | Thu, 17 Oct 1996 14:23:50 +0000 |
>>>>>[ Hi. I though you might be interested in how our meet with Stephanie
went... apart from good. We now have someone aboard who's capable of large
scale magics. I wish we could bring her to DA in time...
Now, read this...
+++++ Begin Download: Meet_01.mov
The camera shakes a bit as if someone re-steadies his grip on. Then the
picture slowly wanders down until the large window of a small, run down cafe
comes into view. The camera moves along the window until a broadly build,
tall elf is in the picture's center. He wears black leather and a black
mohawk and moves with the slight edggy movements of a cybered fighter.
Currently he is bent over and seems to do something with a chair near the
window. When he comes up again, two black stripes running from his eyes down
his cheeks that look like gang symbols, although no common ones.
"Orion, see you," a dark voice says calmly.
"Great, get you loud and clear over here. Now the waiting starts..." It takes
some effort to notice Orion's lips move, he must either use cyber or advanced
technology as a mike. "I just can't see why it's me..."
The picture freezes, and the first voice says "Now we waited. 'twas a good
thing we arrived so early, since Stephanie came in time to the minute."
There is a short burst of static, the the picture moves again. A woman about
160 cms tall just approaches the table Orion is occuping. The camera focuses
on her, and slightly zooms in. Under a long black coat she wears an oversized
white sweater, leggins and knee-high boots.
"Ooops, watch it, Orion, that girl is one capable spellslinger. I'll inform
you when she starts casting other spells then her good looks..." <laughter>
"Shutgrflll" Orion answers muffled, then half raises and adresses the
copper-skinned woman.
"Mr Jo... err,, Orion" he says.
A smile flashes about the woman's face as she answers. "Hello, Mr Jo-err
Orion. That's a funny Christian name. I'm called Stephanie."
Orion looks puzzled for half a second, while the offline-voice laughs again.
"Well, " Orion starts the interview directly, "what are your
specialities?"
As Stephanie answers, Orion's voice can be heared, that muffled asks "Canis,
what the frag is with her hair? Is that magic-stuff?" His lips barely move.
Stephanie answers "I shoot things. And blow things up. And do magic. BIG
magic. And I'm qualified to command armoured fighting vehicles if you have one
handy, but you probably don't." She looks glum for a moment at that. "But I
can do all the other stuff anyway."
"Uh, no, tanks are out right now, sorry. Err, are you currently hunted by
someone? I don't want to know by who, just if."
"Not exactly."
Orion seems to consider this answer for a second. In fact, he just receives
Canis' answer: "Looks fascinating, doesn't it? That blonde lock over the eye
might be natural, the other stripes are dyed in. And the things she has woven
into it don't seem to be magic, but I had to have a closer look."
"Well, thanks. For your honesty. What is your greatest disadvantage?"
She looks embarrased. "Apparently I'm not very good at being subtle."
Orion has a distant look on his face for a short moment. This time he doesn't
receive anything from the tech, so he might be remembering something or
someone. With a smile on his lips he goes on: "Have you been in Chicago
before? And/or in the CZ?"
"A couple of times. In the CZ once. We were backing up the Army. It was fun."
A gasp can be heared, and since Orion didn't move, it must have come from
Canis. The camera slightly rocks once.
"Do you have any references you could name us, like Well known fixers or the
like?"
She looks torn. "Not exactly... I mean I could give you a reference, but I'm
not meant to be doing this and my Da- my reference might stop me if he found
out."
"What kinds of runs did you do before?" asks while he still raises his
eyebrows.
"Mostly mercenary stuff. Or smash-and-grabs, and a couple of opposed
extractions."
"How well can you work in a team? With military command structures?"
"I _am_ a junior officer, you know. And a mercenary. A good one."
"Glad to hear, and DA will be pleased even more." Orion stops for a moment,
while Canis says in an urgent voice, "Ask her about her magic!"
"By your own description I suppose you are a conjuring adept, is this right?"
Orion doesn't look as if he's moving on verbal home turf now.
"No, I'm a proper magician, I'm a Tiger shaman."
"She is what, Orion? Ask her about it! Where does she come from? Now, ask
her!"
Ignoring Canis on the radio, Orion continues. "Have you objections working
together with Adepts, hermetic mages, or other kinds of shamans?"
"No."
Orion looks surprised by the shortness of the answer, but then breaks into a
big grin and ends the interview. "Well, I suppose that is great. Welcome to
the team!" They both get up. Orion flashes an apologizing smile towards
Stephanie while he retrieves three packages from the chairs at his table.
Informed watchers might identify these as small amounts of plastic explosives.
Obviously Stephanie _is_ informed, because she scowls at him and says "That
was _rude_." The packages start smoking, and with a horrified look Orion
throws them under the table where they burst into flame.
While the other customers of the cafe just taking notice of the fire, the two
leave the cafe towards a beat-up looking Nomad camping van outside. The camera
rocks heavily while Canis' voice can be heard "He could at least have asked
her..."
A short burst of static.
+++++ EOF
+++++ Done Downloading: Meet_01.mov
I think we agree Stephanie will be a great help, although she is a bit...
short tempered? May I say so, Stephanie?
Oh, and Orion: You could have cut the last bit out, too! ]<<<<<
-- Canis <13:32:01/10-17-57>
***** NOT TO: Stephanie
***** PRIVATE: Invasion_Force.1
>>>>>[ Watch out! What Canis calls short tempered, I'd call VERY EASY TO
TRIP
OF. She does seem to be trustworthy, though, although I think she's a bit ...
hyperactive. May be a bit hard to keep her back when trouble starts. When I
was sitting with her in that cafe, she appeared as... well, let's face it,
like a tiger in a cage. I could _see_ her pacing up and down in front of me,
although she was sitting the whole time. ]<<<<<
-- Orion <13:35:59/10-17-57>
