Episode 12: White Flag

[Kimberly "Kim" McKinnon]

1500 Zulu
D9H-642
Outside town Near Gate

They all stepped out of the gate one at a time. Looking ahead the village could seen from the gate, which wasn't all that far, Captain Ashwood, noted few feet from where they stood was at least 30 meters high gate with gold trimmings. Someone must have spent good value of time making it.

From what she could see, the houses looked Victorian styled, from the era of Queen Victoria. More like the 1800’s. More possibly from the 1840’s from the clothes the women were wearing; which meant the laws that allowed women and children from working in coal, iron, lead and tin mining was now banned. The horse carriages seems to draw her interest. Turning to face the gate she could see nothing but clouds far and beyond. She never had a fear of heights, but this was one made her wonder just how far down it was.

Titling her head at Jerry, "Are we sure we didn't gate to the cloud city?" she snickered a bit. It was like expecting Han Solo arriving on a moment of notice.

<<Tag all>>

((Edited it. I forgot it was a sky city ;D))

[Jerry Garcia]

1500 Zulu
D9H-642
Outside town Near Gate

Jerry stepped throught the gate looking about. He felt like he had stepped into the past, construction and the people's dress appeared to be from Victorian England, but a city floating in the clouds meant there was some sort of technology at work here. An old memory wandered through Jerry's mind, and episode of Star Trek, a cloud city with advanced technology, and people living on the ground trying to put an end to it.

I want weapons holster or shouldered. We are coming as friends, not conquerers and we need information. Spread out everyone, eyes open.

<Tag Everyone>

[Timothy "Tim" Foster]

1500 Zulu
D9H-642
Outside town Near Gate

Tim stepped out of the gate and immediately started to scan the area to the left as ordered; not that they expected any hostile activities on this side of the gate, at least that was what the intel had stated during their briefing; the scanning of the perimeter was more of a SOP and old habit.
‘Old habit…’ He snorted inwardly and grinned at himself as he cautiously walked down the stairs to join the others.

There had been so much going on since the last mission that it actually felt pretty nice to be back out in the field again; some reshuffling of the team; leaving Marcus, DeVoss and Major Logan on SD-3 felt odd, but at least he’d been transferred to SD-5 with his commanding officers and that counted for something, making him feel a little more at ease.
And then there was that promotion making him a senior NCO and the responsibility that came with it and to top it off; a couple of weeks doing some “bed pan duty” in the Infirmary, or at least that’s what he’d thought when he reported in the first morning.
It turned out that the latter had been far from the easy and gruesome task he’d expected; the CMO and Garcia had apparently had other ideas. The goals had been set high by the Major, so in the end of those weeks he’d found out that he’d been delegated quite a number of tasks not really performed by the ordinary medic…

Now, all of this put together made the letter that had arrived with the last shipment from Earth unopened. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to know what was in it; whether he’d been accepted or rejected…

Following the gaze of the XO towards the edges of this “Floating-in-the-middle-of-the-air-thingy” he took a deep breath and then chose to look the other way, towards the village.

‘Stay cool, they’ve been up here for centuries, it won’t fall down today either…’

< tag all >

[Nikolai Van Schmitt]

1500 Zulu
D9H-642
Outside town Near Gate

Nikolai followed the other members of his new team through the gate, he had his G-24 sniper rifle strapped across his shoulder and a P-90 strapped to his combat vest. He walked in to the area with the rest and looked at the buildings, They reminded him of some of the houses the German had seen in england when he went to University there. Old Victorian style. He listened to the others then noticed that the city was floating, he was very intrigued about this. Then his Commander, Garcia spoke to them.

"I want weapons holster or shouldered. We are coming as friends, not conquerers and we need information. Spread out everyone, eyes open."


Nikolai nodded in acknowledgment, "Yez Zir" he answered. Then walked slowly yet cautiously in to the city to find someone how could tell them anything.

<Tag All>

[Jerry Garcia]

1503 Zulu
D9H-642
Heading Towards Town

They started walking toward the town, looking around as they walked. Nikolai, take the point, please. Donell, you have our six. That left Jerry walking with Kim on one side of him and Tim on the other. The promotion Tim had gotten had surprised him, considering the way thing had gone recently, but Jerry had pushed it through because Tim deserved that promotion.

As they approached the town people started appearing, watching the "strangers" in the odd clothing. If it weren't for this city floating in mid air, I would say we just stepped into Victorian London. Hopefully there is no Jack the Ripper in this town. Jerry was looking around has he walked hoping they were approaching a town square or a central plaza. Children were following them as they walked along.

<Tag Anybody>

[Kimberly "Kim" McKinnon]

1503 Zulu
D9H-642
Heading Towards Town

Kim had fixed her weapons as it was ordered by Jerry. Looking at Tim, she found the man's expression a bit amusing, knowing she wasn't the only one who was in the same boat, "Don't worry, we should be safe."

She looked at Nikolai, who had recently joined them in SD5, he was quiet tall and pretty much stood out a bit more boldly. That would help them out in the future and she was glad for that. His deep accent was another thing she found likable. He would be really interesting to get along with. She noted the other two members were pretty much quite.

Hearing Jerry's comment, about the place, she grinned, "We are at what seems to be the told Victorian London. If that is the case, women were only meant to seen and not heard by men. Which means you all lead the mission. I'll just follow."

This should be interesting. AS to how they were going to get what they needed was another story all together.

<<Tag All>>

[Steve Pendragon]

1503 Zulu
D9H-642
Heading Towards Town

Steve came out of the gate in his standard black BDU's with his M4 at his side. Steve checked his lap top to make sure it was secure after doing so he looked around. Steve was shocked to find they were sky high in what apperared to be Victorian England. Steve just folllowed the team as Commander Garcia gave orders. Ah to be back in the Military again Steve thought about his days in the marine corp and how much he loved being a civilian now and not always needing to take orders from the military but at the same time knowing he should. So he slung his M4 behind his back and followed the team.

Then in his best English accent, well at least Steve thought it was good but his familit did he said "Blimey Governor where should us bunch of blokes be off to?" he said to Garcia with a little smile and then in his normal accent "but really does anyone have an idea of what to do?"

<Tag Garcia and anyone>

[Nikolai Van Schmitt]

1503 Zulu
D9H-642
Heading Towards Town

Nikolai loaded his P-90 then looked up to Jerry and nodded. He then took his place in the front of the group scanning the area infront for any sign of hostility. He did notice the fine architecture and fashions styles of the houses and people that stopped and stared at them. Nikolia smiled at them and tried to appear friendly, that was until a small group of men carrying weapons that looked like early Victorian Muskets surrounded them pointing their weapons at them. Nikolai dropped one knee and aimed his P-90 at the new threat. "Mist, Dieses dosn' t-Blick gut. Order'z Zir"

<Tag Team>

[Timothy "Tim" Foster]

1504 Zulu
D9H-642
Town border


Tim drew a fast breath as he tensed and turned towards his right when the armed group of men appeared and surrounded them in a fast and well practiced motion.
“Why can’t we just for once have a ‘boring’ mission? One that doesn't include hostile aliens with guns...?” he said in a low tone, leaving his hands resting on the butt of his P-90 that hung up front on his tac-vest, but ready to slide down and switch off the safety if the order came.
‘It only takes one bullet to kill, and right now “they” have the upper hand… Let’s just hope it doesn’t get any worse…’
Imiges of an earlier mission flashed before his eyes for a moment before he focused back in te soldiers/guards/what-ever-they-where in front of him...

Suddenly a tall, official looking man with dark eyes and grey hair that apparently fought hard against every attempt to give in to a brush , stepped up alongside one of the “guards”, squeezed his shoulder and after making eye contact with the younger man, giving him a look like “I’ll deal with you later..!” He then turned towards the team and held up his hands in a non-threatening way and grinned warmly.

“Gentlemen….” He narrowed his eyes and gave the woman in the group a puzzled and scrutinizing look “…and Lady…?” then turned towards the one that looked like their leader “Please forgive my umm ” he shot a glare backwards to the younger man again “sometimes overambitious, cousins son. He’s only held the position as head of police for a few months and is as all youngsters trying to impress and in their mind do the right thing, but sometimes acts first and thinks later.”
The man chuckled and shook his head. “And where did I forget my manors… I am Chairman Hopkins, head of the city council. Welcome to Myra”


< tag all >

[Jerry Garcia]

1504 Zulu
D9H-642
Town Border

Gentlemen….and Lady…? Please forgive my umm.... sometimes overambitious, cousins son. He’s only held the position as head of police for a few months and is as all youngsters trying to impress and in their mind do the right thing, but sometimes acts first and thinks later. And where did I forget my manors… I am Chairman Hopkins, head of the city council. Welcome to Myra.

Jerry stepped forward to face Chairman Hopkins. My name is Commader Jerry Garcia. We came here looking to make allies. Nikolai, please stand down. Jerry extended his right hand showing an empty palm and trying to shake hands with the Chairman. The Chairman shook Jerry's hand and the guards relaxed a bit, although Jerry noticed that some of the muskets remained pointed in his direction. Would you please ask your guards to lower their weapons, we don't want any accidents.

The Chairman waved his hands to the guards and the weapons slowly came down. Is there a place we could talk with you and any others that may lead here? Jerry had given serious thought to showing the "police" what the teams weapons could do, but thought better of it. A burst of P90 fire would do more to frighten the populace than anything else.

<Tag Team>

OOC - Go for it. let's see where we take this. All ideas are welcomed

[Kimberly "Kim" McKinnon]

1504 Zulu
D9H-642
Town Border

Kim looked at the older man's expression with surprise, but made no comment to it. She watched Nikolia take a step back at Jerry's orders, and gave a nod in his direction. Mentally she agreed with Tim, so much for we are coming in peace line. From the way things were going she hoped it would end up in mutual agreement of what they wanted as well.

Allowing her gaze to travel at the unnamed man who was the head of the Police at the place. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his enthusiasm that was flowing out of the young man. Too eager to please. Didn't they all do it at one stage. But she couldn't help feeling she was thrown back in time with the horse whines and the carriage sounds which reached her ears.

Chairman Hopkins, gave Kim another look before nodding, facing his people, "Stand Down," he bellowed out loudly, sending his nephew a very meaningful look. Making sure the boy wouldn't disobey his order. Especially if these people had come as friends. "This way, Commander; gentlemen," he said as he lead the visitors down the road and towards town hall, where they could talk in his office. These people had every strange ways, that allowed a Lady to be in the armed forces, "Lady."

<<Tag all>>

((I NPCed Hopkins, NG /Tim, I hope you don't mind.))

[Timothy "Tim" Foster]

1510 Zulu
D9H-642
City hall

Is there a place we could talk with you and any others that may lead here?

With a final look at his younger relative, Hopkins grinned at the group and made a motion with his hand towards the centre of the city, speaking as he went on down the street.
“Come; let us continue to the City hall to have some tea and a talk. As the Chairman of this city, I have full authority in the decision making if necessary, so I will be the one you will talk to. Please, this way…”

They turned left and went through a dark alley, so narrow they had to walk in a single line to avoid the gutter. With the Chairman and the young man in charge of the police up front, leading the way; the team in the middle and the rest of the “police squad” in the end; Tim couldn’t help wondering if the squad was there for their or the chairman’s protection.
He wrinkled his nose as he walked through the city and thoughts of what might be hiding in the piles of rubbish made him shudder.
“Cholera epidemic of the mid 1800s ring a bell Captain?” He knew she was British so he thought she might catch his reference to the outbreak in 1854 on Earth London…

< tag Ashwood >

A couple of minutes later they were out in the open again; out on the square in front of the yellow, two storeys high building posing as the city hall and entered through the big double door.

Hopkins exchanged a few words with the young man, making them leave the building, and then turned towards Garcia.
“Commander, as a token of trust and good will, I would like you and your team to leave all your weapons out here, in the closet…”
The tone in his voice was friendly, but the expression in his face no room for another interpretation then that he was serious in this matter.

< tag Garcia and team >

[Jerry Garcia]

1510 Zulu
D9H-642
City Hall

Come; let us continue to the City hall to have some tea and a talk. As the Chairman of this city, I have full authority in the decision making if necessary, so I will be the one you will talk to. Please, this way…

Commander, as a token of trust and good will, I would like you and your team to leave all your weapons out here, in the closet…

Jerry looked to his team members as Hopkins asked that they leave the weapons behind. Noticing concern on some members of the team, Jerry make a command decision. Chairman Hopkins, I will agree to leave our weapons behind, if you will allow me to leave one member of my team here, as a guard. Jerry was not about to go into a room unarmed, and with armed men outside. unless he had his six covered. Nikolai, would you keep an eye on our weapons, while we speak to Chairman Hopkins? As he spoke, Jerry made some subtle hand gestures indicating he wanted Nikolai to keep a sharp eye out and to be ready for anything.

<Tag Everyone>

[Nikolai Van Schmitt]

1510 Zulu
D9H-642
City Hall

Nikolai followed the rest with cation etched in to his face. He moved down the alley way and out in to the court yard of City hall. They then stopped out side the building and the chairman announced to the team

"Commander, as a token of trust and good will, I would like you and your team to leave all your weapons out here, in the closet… "

Nikolai gave scanned the area inside the door way, at least as much as could see from outside, and calculated the many places in the court yard that a trap could spring. People had always called him paranoid when he was on a mission, but it was that very trait that kept him coming home at the end of a mission. Garcia pulled him out of his scan of the court yard,

"Nikolai, would you keep an eye on our weapons, while we speak to Chairman Hopkins?"

Nikolai nodded to the Commander that he understood the order, "I'll watch your backz Zir" he replied and collected all their weapons.

1511 Zulu
D9H-642
Outside City Hall

Nikolai had waited till the Chairman had gone in with the others and set up a position behind a collum and a native plant that looked like a mini pine tree. He was satisfied that no one could see him, even if he hadn't brought along his camo poncho. He set up his G-24 and scanned the court yard with his scope. He was confident that nothing would get past him, he just worried that nothing was waiting for the team inside the building...

<Tag All>

[Kimberly "Kim" McKinnon]

1510 Zulu
D9H-642
City Hall

Kim looked a little uncertain at the request, at first, but when Jerry spoke up to leaving Nikolai to guard the weapons, she sighed in relief. The idea of leaving their weapon in these people's hands didn't seem right. If the police was capable of aiming at them, then the Hopkins's nephew could fire at will.

Putting her weapons in the Feldwebel's care, "Keep alert," she whispered to him before joining the group to leave to the Chairman's office.


1515 Zulu
D9H-642
Chariman's Office

Hopkins's looked atthe faces before him, fluttering his hand in the a gesture, "Please be seated," he spoke with authority, as he took his chair behind his large desk, looking at the men, "Gentlemen what can I do for you?"

He waved his hand at the same time, while speaking. A small older woman with kind eyes walked in carrying a tray far bigger in size than her with skill. Placing the tray softly, she poured the tea in the fine china that the chairman only used around people who were important. But he had rarely used it with the ones who came through the gate. This group must be in the high place that Chairman had ordered his fine china for use.

Asserting her gaze to the team, she was looked at the blond with the men in surprise and a soft gasp. A lady among the man, was not right. there were reasons a woman stayed home and men worked. What type of a husband did the blond lady have, who allowed her to work, rather than make her stay home. Keeping mum she served tea with cake. As she left, she muttered her under breath at the strangeness of the race. The door closed behind her with a loud thud.

Kim shifted in her seat uncomfortably, what was with these people. The old woman had silently been shooting daggers at her. It wasn't like she was doing some crime by being in the Air Force. But she had to keep in mind that this was another time line where woman were yet to have the freedom, most of the females back on earth enjoyed in the last 50/60 years.

<<Tag All>>