Livermore Talks with Kalfu
Michael
Let's patch Roger into the call.
Bill
"Well, helLO team. This is 'Roger', your man about town. Who all is on this call?"
Leonard
"Roger, you've got Jocasta, Archie, and Marshall. What's the sitrep?"
Bill
"Yes, of course, right to business, no time for introductions. A little disappointing, but so professional. Gentlemen, and lady, I believe the term the army types like to use is 'SNAFU'. But there are some positive notes; I suppose we should start with those. First of all, I am in command of the hotel, for all intents and purposes; the manager and hotel staff will answer to me, under the auspices of the 'Bureau'. For the next two hours, they will prevent anyone from entering or leaving my domain. You gentle folk outside will need to find the boundaries of this terrible new realm we find ourselves in. If the newer parts of the hotel or garage are free of influence, do let me know, so we can turn the staff elsewhere."
"Second, the majority of the souls trapped within seem somewhat placid about their impending doom. They frolic in their little fantasy worlds, and discover some new ones, eh, Mr. Hort? Bit of a Nazarene thing going there, I think I spotted."
"Let me see, what else did 'I' need to tell you. Oh yes." (Kalfu drops some level of pretense, and turns on the full Voice of doom effects, well, such as they come over the phone.). "The Enemy is within the gates. Speakers of Sumerian, native speakers, roam the place. They will, before your Independence Day, take the fantasy-haunted fools down with them into the dark. And then THE WHOLE WORLD SHALL FOLLOW."
Michael
(I picture someone in a neighboring cubbyhole in the area behind the front desk hearing this and wondering what the fuck has gotten into these scifi con weirdos)
Leonard
"R, uh, Roger, has anyone else left the hotel since the disruption? Has anyone come in?"
Bill
"It would be possible for some to leave, and others to enter, if they had strong souls, and know the true world well. But others, well, their fate is Richie's: death-in-life, the zombi. And who can say who is strong souled or not?"
Kalfu can't help it, and chuckles a little bit.
Michael
(And if there was any doubt in Marshall's mind that Roger was being ridden, after that use of The Voice the doubt is pretty much nil )
Bill
"Why, Dr. Redgrave, I know we're being very business-like here, but nothing to say to a very old and dear friend? Ah well, I guess it's all water down the river."
Brant
“The fool speaks, the wise man listens, as they say.”
Bill
"Yes, casting pearls before swine, I see. Or casting into a herd of swine, whichever."
Brant
Marshall silently signs “careful” to Jo and Archie.
Bill
"Just remember your old friends haven't let you down before, and they won't again now. The stakes are again as high as on the flooding river. Or higher."
Brant
Marshall can’t help himself. “Your help always comes with a price — I hope Roger can pay it at the end of the day.”
Leonard
Jocasta scribbles on the notepad she and Marshall have been using:
Big risk to go in or out. Logistics of moving materiel in could intro too many X factors.
"Roger, any idea what our timeline is like?"
She also writes on the notepad:
Doctor up quick false 'script' for movie with glyph on opening page? NING.LUL, SHEG, make them accept the 'reality' of it? Or too risky?
(She's thinking about how much Corruption this would entail, but I'm not sure what the in-game language around this would be)
Bill
"Come, and see. Time slips fast, and the Enemy will try to accelerate it. Days, but hours count."
Brant
Marshall writes:
Too risky, I think & how would we get it in? Best plan = tapping Abeille, having her convince crowd it is all a game.
Leonard
If we can't get in at all, Roger/Mitch on their own. Lot of trust to put in Abeille. But they're likely to trust her and whatever scenario she spins. If she can stabilize enough for us to get in, they'll likely believe Abielle + Archie + Krane no matter what.
Suggest we get there ASAP, Archie/Krane work on scenario, Roger/Mitch operate Abeille from inside. I'll set up outside to take a shot at anyone dangerous who tries to get out/handle controlling the blockade.
Brant
Underneath where Jo wrote “lot of trust in Abeille,” he writes
We have Krane — Abeille has no choice but to trust us + we can deal with her later if she = liability. No one else should go in until scene stable, comms should be limited to telephone dispatch. Archie / Krane spin idea and pitch to Abeille. Abeille + MJ + ‘Roger’ implement. You blockade + and intercept hostiles if more en route.
“I will deal with Charley / the Librarian.”
Rob
Archie has been very uncomfortable since the group realized we aren't speaking to Roger, and has said nothing this entire time. When they have the 'pearls before swine' exchange, he gets up, wordlessly, and walks out of the room.
Leonard
"Understood"
Brant
“Roger,” Marshall says that in a way that he can hear the air quotes, “we are formulating a plan but you and Mitch will be operating without outside assistance for a while. First step is we need you to bring Abeille to a phone, or somewhere that we and uh ... Krane can talk to her.”
>>>> 3d6 … 14
Leonard
With the plan solidifying and her end of the duty fairly clear, Jocasta's going to gather some equipment — mostly crowd control stuff, maybe another fake ID, possibly an ikoter — but she'll also pop her head into Archie's office. "You okay, chief?"
Bill
"That sounds delightful. I'll be sure to make a note of it for future reference."
"Well, wonderful to talk to you again, Marshall. Gentlemen, lady, delightful to meet you at last. Try not to be too hard on Roger, but do remind him, next time, to make the call properly. And to Mr. Ransom — just remember who voted in heaven to save all the souls … "
Brant
“He stepped out, ‘Roger.’ You know how it is with the Latter Day Saints. I’ll convey the message, though. Good luck. Report back.”
Bill
"Roger wilco." He hangs up (physically and metaphorically.)
Brant
Marshall will immediately call David and tell him to haul ass to UC Berkeley to find Sophie and Charley and tell them to call him ASAP.