[farothel]

"I've never even seen the finished game," Sammy said, "I've just read a number of sentences in a sound studio, that was all.  And I've seen parts of the game, mostly the trailers, on the release party.  But I'm sure there's matrix sites with information about the game."

[Mercy Merchant]

Snow nods as Sammy talks.  After, she will look around at the table and ask, "Does it bother anyone that I smoke?  I picked up the habit years ago and it just will not go away.  I will try to not smoke around anyone that does not like it.  The smell is pleasant to me, but can be a bit harsh if you are not used to it.  Just ask O'Connor; he had to sit with me while I finished one.  I just want to clarify the team position before I insult anyone."

[Crossbow]

The automated boarding agent finally calls your flight and as you settle into your seats, for one of you there is an unaccounted for rush of fear.  This will be O’Connor’s very first time on a commercial aircraft.

There is little to worry about though, the flight itself is a dream.  The Charisma Associates provided first class seats are quite comfortable, the service is excellent and even Mother Nature seems to be doing her part, parting the clouds and giving you one of those breathtaking vistas available to the Pacific Northwest, all the more precious because of their rarity.

[farothel]

"We're quite important," Sammy said when they had settled in, "normally they don't offer just anybody this kind of treatment.  I would say enjoy it because it will stop soon enough."

[HydroRaven]

Clem boarded with the rest of the team, making sure to leave O'Connor a seat next to Ophelia. Once on the flight, she made sure to keep away from any liquor/alcohol as she wanted to stay focused and sharp for the job.

At Sammy's remark, she said "Something is bugging me about this. Why fly the hired help around in this kind of luxury?"

[Mercy Merchant]

Snow will move with the others to the boarding area.  She checks her 'link again and does not see a reply from Boris, but is confident that he will come through, but there must be some delay in contacting the LA Bratva and getting a name.  She cannot help but notice the slight change in O'Connor and will slide next to him and softly ask, "First time?  Do not worry, my new friend, flying is easy and safe.  But I can very much remember my first flight and how I felt, so I can understand your feelings.  It helps if you are flying with someone you know so that you can have a conversation.  Before you know it, you are back on the ground.  This plane looks very safe; you should see some of the junk we have to use in Russia."  She will board and take her seat.  Leaning back, Snow will review her security protocols.  If seated next to O'Connor, she will keep him involved in some sort of conversation to distract him.  If someone else occupies the seat next to her, she will participate in a conversation if spoken to, but will not initiate one.[/color]

[Necrogigas]

After crossing the threshold onto the plane, O'Connor realized that he was an overgrown monkey in a glorified tin can that was about to be tens of thousands of feet in the air. He nodded in the affirmative when Snow asked if this was his first flight and was thankful for her reassurances. Once in his seat, O'Connor concentrated on his breathing during take off. Once they reached altitude, O'Connor's ears popped. This was a complete surprise to him. He asked with total confusion, "The fraggin' hell was that?" He began fiddling with one of his ears, as if it would rid him of this odd new sensation.

[Thvor]

After taking his seat, Sam set about making himself comfortable--which, since Snow seemed more interested in O'Connor, basically meant flirting casually with the flight attendants.

[Mercy Merchant]

Snow will dig into her handbag for a pack of gum and offer a stick to O'Connor.  "That was your ears popping to keep pressure equalized.  It is common and will likely happen again, and certainly will on the way down.  It helps to be chewing something and gum seems to work well.  Here, try one of these.  I am sorry that all I have is mint.  If it works for you, you can get some for yourself in whatever flavor you like."

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor accepted the offered stick of gum, "Thanks." The gum did help, so O'Connor tried to settle in and relax, but with little luck. He made small talk with Snow during the flight, but gave little more than perfunctory responses.

[Mercy Merchant]

Snow will try to keep all of her team mates' minds off the flight by creating a tactical situation and sending it out to all of them.  <Open:  Message Follows:  Tactical Drill:  Map Attached:  A group of humanists has infiltrated the flight we are on.  Friendlies are green dots and the simulated hijackers are in red.  All noncombatants or questionables are in black.  Situation:  At cruising altitude the red dots rise from their seats throughout the first class and coach cabins.  They state some of the common bullshit we have all heard before, and threaten to start killing passengers if the UCAS does not meet their demands.  All of you are dialed into the Tac Net and because your hacker is good, she has been able to give you data from the cabin cameras.  Two of the red dots have been identified through facial recognition as a shaman and a vicious thug who has a rep for killing people in gruesome ways.  The other three red dots are unknowns.  Further information will be provided as it comes available.  Clem, you are the tactical boss.  What do you tell your team?  Please remember that this is a drill and you are to remain in your seats.  I will update the map as you indicate your actions.  End Message:>Snow creates and populates the map and sends the message out, waiting to see if the team will respond to the game.*Let's see if they bite on this.*

[HydroRaven]

Clem looked at Sammy, which was sitting next to her, with an incredulous look on her face, as if to mean "can you believe this?" After the initial giggle, the ork was amused enough to answer. "Might as well kill some time" thought Clementine as she readied herself to type her answer.

<First I will have Sammy tell me if anyone else is awakened while Snow looks for any open communication these hijackers might have. Meanwhile, the rest of the team will look for any weapons we can use.>

[Mercy Merchant]

Snow smiles as Clem answers.  *Good.  A response.  Let's see if I can make it interesting.*<Sammy actually does detect that there are two awakened people on the plane, outside of your group.  One is a red dot and one is a black one.  Do you want to upgrade the black dot to questionable status?  Your hacker tells you that there are shielded and encrypted comms going between the red dots and that she has already identified the links and is decrypting the downloaded conversations, but that it will take at least a minute or two.  So far the red dots do not seem to realize that your team is on the plane with them.  Sam and O'Connor look about for weapons.  The obvious ones are the cutlery in first class, but other than that they will have to improvise.  Two of the hijackers are waving ceramic guns in the air...no wait, your hacker just tells you that all of the hijackers have smartlinked guns, but only two have them in their hands, one in each of the cabins.  One of the two hijackers in the first class cabin is starting to call out names on the intercom.  Clem, Sammy, and Snow are on the list, as are six people in the coach section.  It is pretty hard to disguise the two Orks and the Elf and we are being told to stand up.  You can hear similar commands from coach.  One of the hijackers in the coach section is shouting into a 'link that the first passenger will be executed in ten minutes if he does not have confirmation that his demands are being met.  Next move?>

[farothel]

This could be a lot of fun, Sammy thought.
<Leave the other one on the black list for now.  If the hijacker is an adept, I might be able to summon a spirit unseen.  If he's a mage, I'll have to wait until the rest of the team is ready.  Be aware that my magic will be affected due to the height.  While it's not as bad as a sub-orbital, I will feel it.>

[Necrogigas]

O'Connor, glad for the distraction, replied, <[Recipients: Team | Source: Text]: Under the logic of using surprise to quickly take control of this section, so that the rest are cut off in coach. If the guy with his gun drawn gets close enough, I'll trust in my armor and take refuge in audacity. I'll charge him, yelling, "Blitzkrieg, bitches!" I'll punch him in the face a couple times and fight for control of his gun. Probably throw a 'shock-and-awe' quip in there somewhere.>