Theo had headed into town because he thought that Ebony was to arrange the destruction of the cursed rings (that he and she were wearing). But no; Ebony sent him a quick text that the deal had fallen through. Vampire Defacto wanted to replace Vampire Oberon's ghoul rings with his own version of jewellery. So Theo turned the taxi around, and headed out.
Ebony was summoned to Oberon for a progress report. She managed to convince him that she didn't need the anti-ghoul ring, and that she could infiltrate Defacto better if not so encumbered.
After a bit of thought, Oberon was convinced, and duly pulled the ring off her finger.
Theo, had by now destroyed his phone - his new paranoid habit each day - so never got the chance to rid himself of his ring.
However, according to Ms Anderson, Oberon's PA, her master was getting more and more annoyed at Theo's reluctance to report in.
Thursday morning, July 24
Sledge had spent an exhausting night swotting up on politics. He had heard from Colleen that a high political knowledge was a useful requisite for him to have for the job interview (STRIKE FORCE Philadelphia Area Commander, vacated by Lieutenant Prospero) tomorrow.
When he awoke, he rose feeling ever-so knowledgeable. [ Shane spent experience to get Politics 1. ]
Thursday mid-morning, July 24
Not content with a bit of political knowledge, Sledge wanted more. He knew that Witch Cello could help him magically, so made a booking with her.
Cello sat him down on a chair, and then started her chant of political minutiae; obscure ramblings on UK and USA politics. Sledge drifted off into a restless, haunted sleep.
When he woke up, he had even more political knowledge and acumen. [ Shane spent more experience points to get Politics 2. ]
Thursday afternoon, July 24
The party was in STRIKE FORCE HQ. Alan Cumming's team, the Geist Squad arrived. The Geist Squad was the other team of hunters operating in Philadelphia. Lieutenant Prospero introduced them to the group.
- Alan Cummings: Natural leader of the Geist Squad. Was good with guns and rifles. Hated ghosts.
- Brian Hart: Dexterous and good with throwing and missiles. An Ebony analogue. Hated ghosts.
- Charis Denton: Shotguns. Hated fae.
- Dennis Trevino: Brains of the group. Investigation. Medicine. Occult. A Jacob analogue. Hated mages.
- Edgar Willis: Big strong melee fighter. Hated demons.
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| Charis Denton |
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| Alan Cummings |
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| Brian Hart |
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| Dennis Trevino |
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| Edgar Willis |
Lieutenant Prospero decided that the captive ghosts should be destroyed, so everyone, from both groups, assembled themselves on the firing range, all equipped with etheric (anti-ghost) rounds. Some see-etheric gas was released, and the contained ghosts were let out.
The angry ghosts shot skyward, and both parties opened up, filling them full of etheric rounds. They don't last long and were destroyed.
[ As far as Morality was concerned, this was considered a "legal execution". Although sentient, the ghosts had committed evil acts, and they had been duly judged by a STRIKE FORCE leader. So no-one suffered a Morality hit. Even though it was like shooting rats in a barrel. ]
Thursday night, July 24
Sledge knew that empathy was another trait looked for by the appointments committee, so he started working on his Empathy. Swotting away late into the night.
Ebony was contacted by Ms Anderson again. She implored Ebony to get Theo to come in. As it was after dark, Theo had destroyed his SIM card again, so she had no way to contact him anyway. Not that she thought it would be any help.
Friday morning, July 25
Sledge woke up feeling refreshed. And empathetic. [ Shane spent more experience to get Empathy 1 ]
Friday late morning, July 25
The job interviews went ahead
Sledge went first. The appointments committee consisted of Ms Elgin and Lance Corporal Bolger from STRIKE FORCE New York, and Lieutenant Prospero (soon to be Captain).
Colleen had told Sledge that the appointments committee would be Chalet and Albus. She had made an educated guess, but turned out to be wrong. Sledge did not realize this at the time of his interview, so he tried to ingratiate himself into their good books by pretending to hate fae and the created (Chalet and Albus's hated). They were not impressed, and Prospero knew that Sledge hated werewolves (and not fae nor the created), so he was not impressed himself.
Then they moved on to a series of questions about the STRIKE FORCE constitution. Sledge kept saying that he'd delegate such minutiae to his staff.
After this, they went over his experience, and then talked about goals and the "where do you see yourself in five years" type questions, and usual interview fare.
Reginald's interview was next.
His knowledge of the Constitution was impressive, and he only failed on one of the constitution questions, but it was on an obscure article from the early days of STRIKE FORCE about how many muskets you can put into a hand-cart.
The appointments committee was a bit worried about Reggie's pedantry and attention to details and minutiae.
Then followed Detective Trisha Noble, and finally Alan Cummings.
Friday noon, July 25
Sledge and Detective Noble made the short short-list, and were both called in.
Friday afternoon, July 25
The appointments committee brought all four applicants in. They congratulated everyone on the high calibre of their resumes. And they then announced the new STRIKE FORCE commander of Philadelphia. Trisha Noble.
[ This was all rolled out. Sledge had 24 dice in his pool, Trisha had 22. Reggie had 16 and Alan 14. Reggie and Alan were soon out of the race, leaving Sledge and Trisha. But she lucked out, and beat Sledge across the line. ]
Detective Noble was to start immediately, and she was promoted to Second Lieutenant on the spot. She would become First Lieutenant when she passed a few more tests [ spent experience to raise her STRIKE FORCE merit to 5 ]
Sledge, Reggie, and Alan Cummings were warmly thanked for their efforts.
Second Lieutenant Noble then called the entire party for a STRIKE FORCE meeting.
"I plan to run your group as before," she said. "There will not be many changes. But two things I want to change: I want you to choose a leader for your group. You are currently a homogeneous mass of like-minds and it is harder to focus you like this. I want you to choose or elect a leader of your group. Give yourself a catchy name too. I find a hint of irony goes down well here."
"Secondly," she said. "What do we do about Theo? Staying out side of Philadelphia, he is next to useless. I know he had a run-in with Oberon, but I can not believe it is as serious as he makes out. I want you lot to resolve this problem."
They all nodded wanly.
Sledge asked about his wedding, and if anything could change re STRIKE FORCE protection. But Second Lieutenant Noble shook her head.
"Lieutenant... I mean Captain Prospero has arranged SWAT and a squad of uniformed officers to cover ground for your wedding. I fully support this action.
"And your Jacob has worked out a successful mix of diesel and rubber to burn in 44-gallon drums to make a smoke screen to shield your group from snipers."
Friday sunset, July 25
Ms Anderson phoned Ebony, and reminded her of her commitment to infiltrate Defacto. So she went to Defacto's base under the cancer hospital.
Defacto told Ebony about a new crowd in town, some werewolves, in the south-west (his area), and he wanted them investigated.
"We happen to know that they will be at a party tonight, on the New Jersey," Defacto said. "Show me how good your sneak skills are. Go and bug them."
,
The USS New Jersey was a WW2 Iowa class battleship, now a tourist site cum museum, and was moored in the Delaware river, in central Philadelphia.
Ms Reynold gave Ebony a special bug to plant. It was a hybrid; a mix of magic and technology.
Friday late evening, July 25
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| USS New Jersey in Philadelphia |
Ebony, Reggie, Jacob and Sledge turned up at the New Jersey. Security was tight: there were vans labelled "Isaac's Security" about, and many uniformed security officers. Jacob used his Gem of the Veil, and sure enough, the Isaac's security staff were werewolves. A quick search on the net revealed Isaac's base was in the south-west of the city; so this was the crowd Defacto was interested in.
Reggie and Jacob stayed on the docks with the vehicle, while Ebony and Sledge fast-talked their way onto the battleship.
Mage Nonce was hosting the party and had booked the whole ship. Ebony managed to fast-talk herself and Sledge on board. While Ebony schmoozed herself with party guests, Sledge snuck down to the forward hold meeting room and planted Defacto's bug. Mage Nonce was in the meeting room with Werewolf Isaac (in human form) talking on things veil.
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| Mage Nonce |
Interestingly enough, at that very moment, Ebony was dancing with Mage Nonce up on deck. Somehow he had two versions of himself running.
The party went on to very late. There were more gorgeous girls (human) here than you could shake a stick at. Ebony hooked up with one or three, and found a quiet cabin.
Sledge was propositioned many times by the gorgeous creatures in their low-cut straining tops, high skirt-hems, and even higher heels, but he was a good boy and kept saying he was keeping himself for his fiancee; the wedding being on Tuesday. The ladies thought this was very sweet, and thus redoubled their efforts.
Sledge consoled himself at the open bar, with his mates Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Bud Weiser and Tom Collins.
Friday midnight, July 25
Sick of waiting and now bored, Reggie and Jacob repeatedly tried to ring Ebony and Sledge to return to the car so they could make their exit. But their pleas were ignored: Sledge was too drunk to comprehend what that noise his phone made meant, and Ebony was indisposed elsewhere, so, in a fit of pique, Reggie & Jacob headed home (to Reggie's safe-house).
Saturday very early, July 26
Sledge, by now, was utterly trolleyed. Ebony extracted him from a pool of his own vomit, and helped him back to the car ... but the car wasn't there of course. So they got a taxi. And had to pay the soiling fee - Sledge was sick in it.
Back at the Elfrith Alley apartment, Mina was there.
"Gosh," she smiled. "Look at you two... had a nice night?"
Ebony nodded. Sledge started to retch again.
"You will feel crap in the morning," she said. "I can fix you, now. Shall I?"
Sledge looked up bleary-eyed, blinked, then nodded.
Mina cut her own wrist and dribbled her blood into his mouth.
No sooner had he swallowed than he was sober again. Like a switch: from drunk to sober in less than a second.
"Damn!" cursed the sober Sledge. "Damn! I feel nothing!"
Mina chuckled.
He still stank of vomit and urine, so he had a shower.
Saturday early hours, July 26
Clean and in clean attire, Sledge wanted the drunk buzz again, so he and Ebony hit the bars. With vampire blood still fresh in him, the alcohol's effect was severely lessened; like by a factor of ten. Sledge won all the drinking games he entered, but all he received for his exploits was a bunch of fives; several bunches of fives. Maybe it was his incessant gloating and his lack of grace in victory.
They got home (the Elfrith Alley apartment) around dawn.
Saturday morning, July 26
The party met up again in STRIKE FORCE. Although Sledge's heavy drinking didn't get him drunk, the other alcohol effects were there. He reeked of bourbon, Victory gin, cheap sherry and stale beer. And his breath was rather potent.
Second Lieutenant Noble called them to order.
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