Log:Starguard Adventures, Scene 2

Starguard Adventures 2013/10/04 	 Paul van Sterran Phillippa Pleiades Ten

2

It's just a few days since the Next Generation attack on SGHQ. The attack will not delay the reopening of the headquarters next week, though, as the minor damage from the assault has already been repaired. Paul van Sterran in the lobby looking over a check list of items to complete on his. If any heroes are about, he'll beckon them over.

Pleiades rolls over. "Afternoon, Sir."

Ten wasn't around for the attack, and is lookinh at the damage - or lack thereof, now. She heads over too. "Hey."

"Hey there, Pleia, Ten," Paul says, still looking down at his PDA for a moment. He manages to pull his eyes away for a moment. "I have some good news for a change," he says.

Pleiades grins, "Good new would be nice, Sir."

Ten says, "Huh, will wonders never cease?"

Paul says, "The tech division has poured over the computer systems and given us a clean bill of health, in the wake of Kubik's intrusion."

Ten says, "That'd good to hear - what was the inrusion about, do we know?"

Pleiades says, "That's good. So now we just have to worry about what Kubik is going to do with the information he did get."

Paul says to Ten: "All we know is what files were taken. I'll forward the memo to you."

Ten pulls out her PDA to read the report.

"Another thing that was interesting about the attack..." Paul says. "The delivery girl who dropped the Next Generation trooper. We should probably do some kind of background check on her."

"Another thing that was interesting about the attack..." Paul says. "The delivery girl who dropped the Next Generation trooper. We should probably do some kind of background check on her."

Ten says, "Hm, what delivery girl is this?"

Paul describes Felicia. "Something makes me think that delivering things may just be a sideline for her..."

Pleiades hmmms, "Oh? She wasn't a meta you knew?"

Paul shakes his head. It's at this point that he's interrupted. "Excuse me? Who's in charge here? I'd like to report a kidnapping..." It's an attractive blonde woman, in her twenties, wrapped in a designer trench coat.

Ten nods at Paul, in answer, though she doesn't take her eyes off the woman, a trenchcoat being a bit unusual and just the thing to hide things under.

Pleiades waits at a rest stance.

Paul nods and says, "This is Starguard -- kidnappings aren't really our jurisdiction, but I'll a can make sure the proper authorities are alerted. Who is missing and when were they last seen?"

Pleiades listens attentively.

"It's me," the woman says. "Or one of me at least. That's a bit of a story and beside the point. And Starguard will want to handle this because it was costumed thugs who did it, and also because of what they also got when they took over my ship."

Ten says, "One of you? I think this is a case of 'you'd better start from the beginning'."

Pleiades blinks, "Oh... You're not from this this planet?"

Paul looks to Ten and Pleia. "Perhaps we should continue this in my office."

Ten nods.

Pleiades nod, "Yes Sir."

This is a rather large office, with black carpeting, soft black leather couches, and a number of plush seats. The large cherry-wood desk has a 3' multifunction video display is mounted on the wall next to it, and a computer workstation is on top, next to a PDA data center. Despite the anachronism, the west wall is lined with bookcases full of real books. The collection is an impressive array including legal works, history, alien contact and speculation, strategy and tactics.

A little later, in Paul's office. The blonde woman is seated, and sipping on some coffee. Paul is behind his desk. "Why don't you start from the beginning," Paul says.

Ten leans against the wall to listen, as is her wont.

Pleiades stands at rest and listens.

The woman speaks: "My name is Phillippa Vogt-Caveney, principal shareholder in Caveney Shipping - one of the largest freight transportation companies in the world. I also have the ability to be in five places at once. It saves on Transmat fees, believe me."

Ten says, "I can imagine!"

"One of me is on a company science ship where we're working on developing our own proprietary instant matter transportation technology, something to rival Hypersite or Transmat." Phillippa says. "If we don't modernize the company, we're going to die," she adds.

Ten nods, having lately seen a documentary on the decline of traditional shipping.

"A group of costumed hijackers have boarded the ship and taken it over," Phillippa says, "I'm currently locked below decks in my quarters there. The ship has gone dark and dropped off of the corporate tracking network."

Ten says, "So you don't know where it is? That could be a problem...."

Pleiades hmmms, "Sir, surely Star Guard has surveilance satellites?"

"Well, I know where it was," Phillippa says. "Just in international waters off the coast of Virginia. This was just an hour ago."

Paul nods to Pleia. "We'll task a satellite with finding the ship."

Phillippa sighs, "She is one of the fastest in our fleet though. Twin hulled, hydrodynamic drives..."

Ten says, "Did, er you see the hijackers? Can you tell us anything about them?"

Pleiades says, "Still, something that big can't hide on the ocean, unless it had other capabilities. . . . Sir! Next Gen has cloaking technology?""

Phillippa nods to Ten. "They looked like one of those teams with a theme, like a crime circus or something. I was almost embarrassed for them. There was one woman in a bear suit, and one man who looked like a caveman with a club."

Ten tries a web search on the desciption on her PDA,

Phil says, "There were others, but those two stick out."

Pleiades scratches her head, "Uh...? What? I don't know if I'll ever get used to the weird things your ma--metas dress up as."

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Ten pulls up a picture of Ursa Minor. "This one of them?"

Phillippa nods. "That's her. Tragic costume. And that's the other one. Orion." She points out another photo on the page.

Pleiades says, "Do these people have an agenda, or do they work for someone?"

Ten says, "Call themselves the New Zodiac, but they seem to allow any constellation name, so there could be a lot of them in total...."

Pleiades grins, "I guess I'd fit right in with them."

Ten says, "I think strictly the Pleiades are in some other constellation - Taurus? Or is that the Hyades...."

Phillippa says, "It's not that I'm not enjoying the discussion about stars... just when to we get to the part where you get me my ship back? We've sunk a lot of money into the technology aboard that ship..."

Pleiades looks to Paul, "I'm sure Commander Siata would be OK with me helping, Sir, if this falls under Star Guard jurisdiction. And I am trained in marine search and rescue, if needed."

"A ship gone missing in international waters, with metas involved," Paul says. "I think that fits our perview."

Ten nods. "Let's get on it, then!"

"Thanks for bringing this to us, Ms. Vogt-Caveney," Paul says. "Penny will show you to the lounge while we discuss our next steps, ok?"

"Alright," Phillippa says. "A situation like this makes me wish I had a super powered team of my own..."