Session Start: Sat Jun 11 15:12:41 2005

<Ked> Last time, on Hunters:
<Ked> Rin and Maya began to make up / try to understand each other / figure out 
what the hell Darkmoon was thinking and if they still want him to think that 
way.
<Ked> Everyone except Minami and Rin had moved into the Agency - Rin because her 
identity probably wasn't exposed, Mina because Sakura wanted to use her as bait.  
Poor Mina.
<Ked> A couple of the team auxiliaries were keeping an eye on her place when men 
in uniform drove up and more or less forced their way into her place.  They were 
from the US Navy, and wanted a chat with Lady Royal, much to her father's 
surprise.
<Ked> The rest of the Hunters barged in post-haste, and a mildly tense exchange 
of pleasantries ensued.  The US Navy needs Ningyo help, it seems, and they are 
offering unspecified assistance to the magical girls.  They left a number to 
call, and the team consulted with a small bevy of Princesses on how to run the 
negotiations.
<Ked> The next day, Maya has been given the go-ahead to make contact, and the 
group has "gathered" at the Agency to get the process started.
<Ked> [March 10, 2004 - 13:30 local time]
<Ked> [Blossom Detective Agency]
<Ked> [Session Start!]
* LadyMysteria is sitting in the 'common' room with a mug of tea in hand. She's 
in full MG gear, but also has a coat draped across her lap. "So..."
* LadyRoyal came in and transed.  Ha!
* LadyMallet is, for once, being lazy. She's commandeered the TV, and is playing 
video games. She peeks up as people arrive.
<LadyNightshade> Well. How do we do this? You call them or we do it conference 
style?
* Secretary is playing against Mallet.  And winning.
* Lord_Darkmoon shows up, transformed, bearing a large boxed lunch. Somehow, he 
manages the door while still carrying the thing. "Good afternoon, Ladies. I 
wasn't sure if you'd eaten yet, and got a bit carried away, so..." he enters 
with a smile and sets it down on the table.
* Secretary misses a button-combination as the attractive Lord walks in and dies 
horribly onscreen.
* LadyNightshade moves to help Darkmoon with her-- his load.
<LadyNightshade> Thank you Rin.
* LadyMallet exhales outwards. "Finally!" Then looks at Darkmoon. "... oh."
<LadyMysteria> ... ah! Rin, good afternoon.
* Lord_Darkmoon bows graciously, accepting Nightshade's help.
<Lord_Darkmoon> I trust all are well?
* LadyMysteria offers a smile back, then resumes attacking her tea. "Well... as 
far as contact... hm."
* LadyRoyal nod/wave/salutes lazily.
<LadyRoyal> Hi there.
<LadyNightshade> It'd probably if you called them yourself, Maya.
<LadyNightshade> Better than everyone talking at them at once.
* LadyNightshade idly glances in Leena's direction.
<LadyMysteria> Mmmm, true. I'm just wondering what sort of location we can 
arrange. And I'd rather not call on my phone...
* Lord_Darkmoon nods. "It is the place of the leader to make such contacts and 
arrangements. The rest of us will speak only as needed or invited."
<LadyRoyal> Mm.
<LadyNightshade> Well I don't think we should use the office phone either...
<LadyNightshade> Especially if we're going to call Sakura on it after the 
meeting.
<Lord_Darkmoon> That is, when actually dealing with the Americans. *no hint of 
his distaste from yesterday comes through as he says that word* If Maya-chan 
would approve, we should all work out our..."script"... beforehand.
* LadyMallet puts down her controller, and stretches. "About time, huh?"
<Secretary> Um.
<Secretary> Hold on a second...
<LadyNightshade> It could clue them in to monitor our calls.
* LadyNightshade looks over at the Secretary.
* Secretary darts off into the front, and unlocks a drawer in her desk.
<LadyMysteria> Mmm-hmm. Trust only goes so far.
<Secretary> ...here.  *tosses Mysteria a cheap cell phone*  This should be 
relatively clean.
<LadyNightshade> That works.
<LadyNightshade> Well, so we don't want to tell them what we want from them just 
yet.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Well done, Madam Secretary.
<LadyNightshade> This call should just set up a meet.
<LadyNightshade> We should try and keep it short I think.
<Secretary> Toss it in a river or something after you use it.
* LadyMallet gets up, and turns off the console and TV.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Taki and I could practice our sword skills on it. ^_^
<LadyNightshade> Might as well let them pick the spot. Since, as was mentioned, 
they would be better equipped to secure it.
* LadyNightshade smiles at Darkmoon.
<LadyRoyal> If they don't decide to accidentally share the news with their 
business partners.
<LadyMysteria> Heh. Right.
<Lord_Darkmoon> It would be best to make allowing them to make this decision 
seem a polite concession, putting them ever so slightly in our debt.
<LadyNightshade> Indeed.
* Lord_Darkmoon returns Nightshade's smile with a grin.
* LadyMysteria fishes around for the phone number. "I think they're wary enough 
of their associates to try and avoid leaking anything out now."
<LadyNightshade> If they wanted to kill us, Mina, they'd already have done it in 
your apartment.
<Lord_Darkmoon> We wish to maintain an appearance of our own strength in these 
matters; in no way can in intimate that they do not need this much more than do 
we.
<Secretary> I think we had them a little outgunned, Nightshade-sama.
* LadyMallet sighs. "Yeah, it's time."
<LadyNightshade> They didn't know we were there.
<LadyMallet> Hey, Maya, hang up a sec.
<LadyNightshade> And they wouldn't have brought out a high ranking officer like 
that just to kill us.
<LadyMallet> Before you negotiate any... attacks, there's something you should 
know.
<LadyMysteria> Hm?
* Lord_Darkmoon looks to Mallet, too.
* LadyRoyal snorts.  "They were just checking when they came to my place.  They 
didn't have enough people."
<LadyMallet> Um.
<LadyMysteria> I haven't dialed yet, but I'm listening.
* LadyMallet shuffles in place for a moment. "I, uh, don't have the Mallet. 
Since ... TM."
<LadyMallet> I need to go back and get it if we're gonna be facing Ningyo.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyRoyal> ...don't have like don't have when you picked a fight with Purity 
or...--eh-heh.  I see.
<LadyNightshade> So go get it!
<LadyMallet> ... I would, if I could get in and out and be sure I'm not followed 
or stalked or traced!
<LadyMallet> Like hell they're not keeping an eye on that place.
<LadyRoyal> So get Taki to do it at night sometime.
<LadyNightshade> I can't lift that stupid thing.
* LadyMysteria makes a face.
<LadyMallet> I can. But I was hoping you and... *she glances momentarily at the 
Lord* Darkmoon would get there too, make sure I'm not followed.
<LadyMysteria> ... it's going to have to wait, but retrieving it will be a high 
priority.
<LadyNightshade> We can do it tonight I guess.
<LadyMallet> Yeah. So. There's that.
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...I can lift it.
<LadyRoyal> Good to know.
<LadyNightshade> We still have another day before we meet them.
<LadyNightshade> Let's just get this call over with.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Hold.
<LadyMallet> Yeah, negotiating time.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Do we know what our requirements are, yet?
<LadyNightshade> We're just setting up the meet right now.
<Lord_Darkmoon> We want to approach them with it all firmly in mind.
<LadyMallet> Get their help, covert, long term.
<LadyNightshade> Negotiating will be done later.
<LadyMallet> What we REALLY need is their goodwill and information sources and 
contacts.
<Lord_Darkmoon> I mean, do we have any special requirements for where and how to 
meet?
<LadyMallet> OH! Place.
<Lord_Darkmoon> How many are they allowed to bring? We all must be going, 
obviously.
<LadyMysteria> Setup at the moment. And yes, assistance and some degree of 
collaboration is our goal.
<LadyNightshade> Tell them we'll be bringing a team.
<LadyRoyal> They obviously already know we're a team.
<LadyMysteria> But it's best to make certain they know.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Are they allowed to be armed? I would say yes, but again, make 
it seem a generosity on our part; we want them to feel safe.
<LadyRoyal> Keep 'em where we can see 'em.
<LadyNightshade> No weapons at the negotiating table.
<LadyMysteria> And as far as a place is concerned, somewhere out of the 
immediate area. And well, yes, if we're somehow traced and attacked, it would 
help to be ready.
<LadyMallet> ... hardly even.
<LadyMallet> We're always armed, unless we're untransed.
<LadyMallet> Let them bring what they'll feel safe with, but tell them to keep 
it minimal.
<LadyNightshade> They still would be able to set up snipers and whatever around 
the place since it's their location.
<LadyNightshade> We just have to deal with what the bring and trust them enough 
to not try anything.
<LadyMysteria> Yes, they could. That's the risk we're going to have to take.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Make sure they know we know that, and make it seem we do not 
care.
<LadyRoyal> Whatever the location, once they knew they'd be able to set 
something up if they so wanted.
<LadyRoyal> And aren't you the one who was all gung-ho about "if they were going 
to kill us, they would have done it at my house"?
<LadyMallet> 'Go ahead and bring your popsticks if you want, we don't care?'
* Secretary goes around the main room, tidying the clutter.
<LadyNightshade> That's what I'm saying. No use setting up a bunch of conditions 
for them.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Perhaps phrased more diplomatically that that, Lady Mallet, but 
essentially, yes.
<LadyNightshade> Let's just pick a spot and meet there and find out what they 
want.
<LadyRoyal> In the end, that's the way it'll turn out anyway.
<LadyRoyal> If they betray us, we fight them--if not we deal.
<LadyMysteria> Mmm-hmm.
* LadyMysteria starts dialing. "Now, the moment of truth."
<Lord_Darkmoon> Given their need to seek us out, I feel it unlikely that they 
would betray us. But that does not preclude something going wrong. When things 
go wrong in tense situations, violence is often the final arbiter.
* LadyMallet shrugs. "Whatever. Just as long as we don't meet at the Warabi 
mall. That place is cursed."
<Lord_Darkmoon> Good luck, my Lady. *smiles at Maya*
<LadyRoyal> Yeah, no malls.
<LadyNightshade> Everyone stay quiet while she talks.
<CaptainWallace> Wallace.
<LadyMallet> I'm being quiet! Grr.
* LadyMallet O_O's, and claps a hand over her mouth.
* LadyNightshade just shakes her head.
* LadyRoyal snerks quietly.
* Lord_Darkmoon smirks quietly.
<LadyMysteria> This is Lady Mysteria. Calling to set up a proper meeting place 
and time. I've been given permission to act on behalf of my organization, sir.
<CaptainWallace> Ah.
* Lord_Darkmoon winces ever-so-slightly at the 'sir'.
* CaptainWallace shuffles some papers, wherever he is, before responding.
<CaptainWallace> Okay, we want to do this as quickly and privately as possible.
<CaptainWallace> Are you able to meet today?
* LadyNightshade watches Maya intently.
* LadyMallet shifts to a waiting position, and watches Maya.
<LadyMysteria> Yes, sir.
* Lord_Darkmoon winces again.
* LadyMysteria looks focused and calm; her typical non-frazzled self.
<CaptainWallace> I had originally arranged a spot at our situation command 
station at USC, but if you're sure about what you told me yesterday, then we're 
going to have to do it somewhere else.
<CaptainWallace> And the only place I can secure this quickly is at our Embassy.
<LadyMysteria> We're quite sure. Do you have any other locales in min--ah, I 
see. Will anyone from USC or 2-osen be there, or accompanying you?
<CaptainWallace> No.  This is being handled exclusively by Navy and State 
Department personnel.
<CaptainWallace> We are tightening information control around our contractors 
now, and I assure you they are not in the loop.
<LadyMysteria> I understand. I know this should go without saying, but it may be 
in everyone's interests to make sure no unwanted guests find out about this 
meeting.
<CaptainWallace> Can you... um.  How to do this.
<CaptainWallace> Can you get to the Haneda airport in the next ninety minutes?
<LadyMysteria> We can.
<CaptainWallace> Go on the train line.  At an information desk, ask for Embassy 
Shuttles, with the confirmation number 31332.  They'll take you to a limo, which 
will deliver you to the US Embassy.  We'll meet you there.
<LadyMysteria> Of course. Is there anything else we should be aware of at the 
moment?
* LadyMysteria motions for pen and paper.
* LadyMallet jumps to her feet, and gets on that.
<CaptainWallace> No... except expect this to run into the evening.
<LadyMysteria> I can imagine both sides would have much to talk about, so that's 
understandable.
<CaptainWallace> Okay.  I'll see you in a couple of hours, then.
* LadyMallet returns with pen and paper!
* LadyMysteria scribbles down the information quickly. "That you will. Take 
care."
* CaptainWallace hangs up.
* LadyMysteria hangs up as well. "And that is that. We need to get to the Haneda 
airport within ninety."
<LadyNightshade> ... But what about the Mallet?
<LadyMysteria> Priorities.
<Secretary> You'll have time to eat, then.  *looks at the food Darkmoon brought*
<LadyRoyal> Ooookay then.
<LadyMallet> ... we're not gonna be agreeing to executing any Ningyo raids this 
very night.
* LadyNightshade looks over at Leena. "Why the hell didn't you mention this 
before right now?
* Lord_Darkmoon bows, and begins opening and unwrapping the boxes, laying them 
out artfully and laying a set of chopsticks next to each.
* LadyMallet sighs, and looks down. "... not sure. I was trying to figure out 
how to pull if off safely and unfollowed myself, but..."
* LadyMallet shrugs. "Well, not time left to try it solo."
<LadyNightshade> ... Whatever.
* LadyRoyal rubs the bridge of her nose.  "Aiya..."
<Lord_Darkmoon> It was a stressful night. I am lucky I did not forget the Tessen 
in my own foolish fugue. Let us not dwell on 'why', and merely concern ourselves 
with consequences, and how to fix them.
<LadyMysteria> Whatever happens, happens, mallet or no. First, we get ready. It 
would probably be a good idea to arrive in full pomp and skirt-cumstance.
<LadyNightshade> So did he mention anymore of what he wanted?
<LadyMysteria> Not at all, really.
<LadyNightshade> I think we should go in disguise since we don't really want to 
draw attention to the fact that MG's are meeting with the Americans.
* LadyMallet sighs. "Full uniform will be too flashy."
<LadyMallet> Go in in plainclothes.
<LadyRoyal> Go in plainclothes, retransform there.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Once at the embassy, if needs be, we can utilize my Tessen to 
re-acquire our uniforms.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Or that. *smiles sheepishly*
<LadyMysteria> I can hide mine well enough, but you all might have to do that, 
yes.
<LadyNightshade> Then they'll see us all untransed.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Be sure to remain transformed at all times.
<LadyNightshade> Now isn't the time to be flashy.
<LadyRoyal> Well it's not like *you* have to worry about it.  The rest of us 
will figure something else.
* LadyRoyal goes over to the Secretary and asks her something quietly.
* LadyNightshade takes a bit of food and starts eating quickly.
* LadyMysteria chuckles a little. "Either or, really. The meeting and its 
outcome are all that matter."
<LadyNightshade> Exactly.
<LadyNightshade> It's silly to try and intimidate them.
* LadyMallet goes for fooding. "Nothing too complex to deal with."
* Lord_Darkmoon digs in as well, managing to mix politeness with speed as he 
consumes his meal. All that training's good for something, apparently.
* Secretary scurries off to a cabinet, then comes back and hands something small 
to Royal.
<LadyMysteria> Well, less intimidation and more... official... ness.
* LadyRoyal nods to her.  "Thanks."
* LadyRoyal pockets it.
* LadyMallet eats without any politeness. She just snarfs.
* Haruko wanders out into the main room.
<Haruko> Is it lunch time already?
* LadyRoyal takes some food and nibbles because it's something to do--she ate 
before she got here.
* LadyMysteria eats rather politely. "Haruko, I hope you're awake enough for 
duty."
<Haruko> ... I've been up since 7 am.
<LadyNightshade> This is really good Rin.
<LadyMysteria> That works, then! ^^
* Lord_Darkmoon stiffens, and manages a polite bow from his seated position to 
Haruko. "Haruko-san, I owe you an apology. My behavior towards you immediately 
following the incident at Takeuchi Memorial was unacceptable. I hope you will 
forgive my outburst and violence."
* Haruko blinks, surprised.
* LadyMallet slows down her intake of food as Darkmoon monologues, blinking 
curiously.
<LadyRoyal> If you've been up since 7, where have you been?
<Haruko> Don't worry about it, its fine.
<Haruko> I've been in the sleeping room, writing.
<LadyRoyal> Didn't you hear about today?
* Lord_Darkmoon nods once more. "Thank you, Haruko-san."
<Haruko> And I apologize for my behavior as well... I'm sorry about the 
confusion.
<Lord_Darkmoon> I am glad you enjoy it, Taki. ^_^
<Lord_Darkmoon> Your confusion in the circumstance is understandable.
<LadyMysteria> It's alright, Haruko. So long as we can work through things, 
we'll be fine.
<Haruko> I'm sure everything will be fine.
* LadyNightshade finishes eating in record time, not having taken very much to 
begin with.
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...Again I am sorry, but I must request you do not bring out 
either of the two beings that attacked the Beast when it is out. I do not know 
that I could control it, then.
* Lord_Darkmoon takes another couple of bites, then pushes his box away, 
unfinished.
* Haruko looks down and says softly. "It shouldn't be much of a problem... the 
Celestial Guardian doesn't show up much... and the Dragon Lord....."
* LadyNightshade gathers up her dishes and takes them into the kitchen.
* Lord_Darkmoon nods once more, silently. And then joins Taki in clearing away 
finished boxes for later washing.
* LadyMallet frowns at mention of the Dragon Lord, and slumps, suddenly losing 
her appetite.
* LadyNightshade is just altogether ignoring the topic of Haruko.
* LadyMysteria lets the conversation go on while she eats.
<LadyMallet> ... I'm done.
* LadyMallet gets up, and walks away from the food, quietly.
* LadyRoyal fidgets and draws out a pack of cards to shuffle away the nervous 
energy.
<Ked> It really isn't that long of a ride to the airport, and the team has a 
half hour to hang out in the terminal before the appointed time.  The 
information desk they choose is able to immediately point them in the right 
direction, and before they know it they've been whisked away in a luxurious 
though anonymous limousine.
* LadyNightshade tries to relax as much as she can during the ride, even though 
she's nervous as hell.
* Lord_Darkmoon sits calmly, as if he's ridden in limos all his life.
* LadyMysteria stays calm. She is, however, idly working on the ring trick.
* LadyMallet sits quietly, lost in her own thoughts, sometimes murmuring to 
herself and glancing at Haruko.
<Ked> The limo heads north, straight into the heart of Tokyo, eventually 
arriving in an absurdly high-class neighborhood.  The car turns onto a long 
driveway, and is waved through the gate at the end.  It circles to the side of 
the main building, and stops to let the team out.
* MarineGuard opens the door for them.
<MarineGuard> ^Follow me, please.^
* LadyNightshade climbs out of the car. "He says to follow him."
* Lord_Darkmoon allows the Ladies to exit first. And offers a small but polite 
bow to the guard, then nods when Nightshade translates.
* LadyMysteria steps out when it's her turn. She's opted to put on street 
clothes over her uni, but is wearing the tophat. "Right."
* LadyNightshade looks around the place, sizing up the security.
* LadyMallet nods to herself, and follows Taki out. "Yeah, coming."
* LadyRoyal hops out.
* Lady_MakeBelieve follows the group in.
<Ked> Taki recognizes the heavily armed Marines, a couple of disguised machine-
gun emplacements, and excellent lighting of the grounds, and decides this would 
be a bad place to try to sneak into.
* Lord_Darkmoon is in standard street clothes when he steps out, but carrying 
the Tessen.
* LadyRoyal is plainclothesed.
* LadyNightshade is wearing her usual black.
* MarineGuard leads the team through the back halls of the embassy, then down a 
couple flights of stairs and through a strange door that looks like a bank vault 
door.
<MarineGuard> ^Thank you.^
* LadyNightshade nods at the guard as she heads into the room.
* MarineGuard ducks back out, and closes the door behind them.  It does not seem 
to latch, but a light by the handle turns green.
* Lord_Darkmoon bows to him again, actually recognizing that phrase. He does not 
speak. He makes a show of looking around the room before nodding to Mysteria. 
Not that he actually saw anything.
* Lord_Darkmoon uses the Tessen to alter his street clothes into his uniform, 
though leaves the Tessen as an iron fan.
* LadyMysteria glances around a little, nodding to the guard... then to 
Darkmoon.
* LadyRoyal did the same, on the other side of Maya.  >.>
* Lady_MakeBelieve doesn't seem to be paying attention to much.
* LadyMallet follows people, letting the ones who understand the nice men with 
the guns lead the way. She constantly looks around.
<Ked> There are several rooms off the hall the team is standing in.  After a 
second a familiar voice comes from a near one.
* LadyRoyal does not understand the words, but recognizes the voice, and turns 
her head to look at the door.
<CaptainWallace> In here.
* LadyMysteria moves in the direction the Captain requests, adjusting her tophat 
a little.
* Lord_Darkmoon follows Mysteria, taking up one flank.
* LadyRoyal follows and takes the other flank.
* LadyNightshade follows Maya into the room, sizing up the men inside it.
* Lady_MakeBelieve brings up the rear
* LadyMallet follows, perking up and acting more alert. And grim.
<Ked> The conference room is relatively small, and surprisingly low-tech.  
There's a medium-sized television on one end, and a whiteboard on the wall.
* LadyMysteria bows politely once she sees who's all inside, offering a small 
smile in the process. "Good afternoon."
* CaptainWallace blinks.  "That was a sudden costume change."
* Civilian waves.
<Civilian> Good to see you again.
* LadyRoyal nods politely to everyone.
* LadyNightshade bows formally.
* Admiral nods back, gravely.
* Lord_Darkmoon simply smiles at Wallace's comment. It's a pleasant, if small 
one. He then bows formally to the room.
* LadyNightshade stays in the back of the room, allowing Maya to do the talking.
<LadyMysteria> Will I need to introduce my team to the gentleman here?
* LadyMysteria looks in the Admiral's direction.
* LadyMallet waves, and says in really obviously accented English, ^Yahoo!^ She 
then blinks, thinking.
<CaptainWallace> No.  He's been briefed in - what?
* LadyRoyal winces at Leena's outburst.
* LadyNightshade just rolls her eyes.
<LadyRoyal> It seems we are at a disadvantage, then...
* LadyMallet glances at Taki. "That was hello, right?"
* LadyRoyal indicates the unknown people.
* Lady_MakeBelieve says in much less accented English "Please don't mind her, 
we're pleased to meet you" ... then goes back to being quiet
* LadyMysteria rolls her eyes as well. "That seems to be the case, yes, but it 
doesn't matter. What matters is finding common ground."
* LadyNightshade leans down to Mallet and keeps her voice low. "Just stay quiet, 
okay?"
* LadyMallet sighs. "Right. Quiet." -_-;
<CaptainWallace> This is Admiral Hoffman.  He knows all your, uh, titles, I 
guess?
<LadyMysteria> More or less.
* Lord_Darkmoon nods, once.
* LadyRoyal copies Darkmoon.
* LadyNightshade straightens back up, watching the proceedings.
<AdmiralHoffman> My Japanese not good is.  Sorry.
* Lord_Darkmoon ventures a polite smile. "I assure you, sir, my English is 
worse."
<LadyRoyal> As is mine.
* LadyMysteria takes a moment to remove her tophat. "Now... I'm sure you didn't 
intend for there to be much in the way of small talk. Shall we get down to 
matters?"
* LadyMallet tilts her head to the side, and waves at Hoffman. "You heard mine. 
I don't know much more than that. Eh-heh."
<CaptainWallace> I will have to translate for him from time to time, and I 
apologize for the inconvenience.  But he is the top officer in charge of the 
recovery operation and it was his idea to bring you in here.
* LadyRoyal tilts her head curiously.
<LadyMysteria> I see.
<CaptainWallace> I'm not sure I really got an answer last time - which of you is 
in charge?
* LadyMysteria takes a moment to bask in having to answer that question. "I am."
* Rinada gestures to Lady Mysteria, bowing in her direction slightly.
* LadyRoyal does the same.  They're mirrors!
* LadyMallet lets the others answer that.
<CaptainWallace> Lady Mysteria.  *there's a little relief in his voice*
* LadyMysteria does a good job of not chuckling, catching the relief-sound. 
"That's correct."
<CaptainWallace> Okay.
* LadyMallet smiles, a little nervously, a little happily.
* Civilian sticks a tape into the VCR, and the TV lights up with footage from an 
underwater camera.
* LadyRoyal raises an eyebrow.
* LadyMysteria quickly pays attention to the footage.
* LadyNightshade watches.
* LadyMallet watches.
<CaptainWallace> This is what is left of our aircraft carrier.
* Lord_Darkmoon nods, watching.
* Lady_MakeBelieve takes notes
* LadyMysteria purses her lips, just a little.
<Ked> And so it is - the angle is looking at what was the front end of the ship.  
An enormous chunk of it is missing - larger than the Takeuchi Mem building is.  
Was.  The other side of the front end look almost peeled off to one side.  The 
rear half of the carrier stretches away into the inky blackness, looking 
somewhat distorted, but not too unlike a normal hull.
<Ked> There are two smallish figures swimming in front of the gaping wound at 
the bow, and after a moment's consideration, you realize they have tails.
* LadyMysteria grits her teeth. "Ningyo."
<LadyMallet> ... I doubt that's all of them.
* LadyRoyal just peers closer.
<CaptainWallace> This was taken by an underwater drone we sent down right away.  
The Ningyo left it alone, until we tried to send it into the hull.
<LadyMysteria> ... they're *inside* the ship?
<LadyRoyal> ...hmmm.
<Ked> The picture approaches the ship and tries to enter a large, debris-strewn 
compartment.  The picture goes black before it can set down on the deck.
<LadyMallet> ... is that about where you've got the nukes?
<CaptainWallace> We don't think they're keeping large numbers inside - in this 
case it was probably the guards that did it.
* LadyRoyal nods.
* Lord_Darkmoon nods as well.
<CaptainWallace> We pulled the rover back up, and it looked like it had been 
flattened from the sides.
* LadyMallet monotones, in a fakey Ningyo voice, "Riptide!"
<Ked> Another view of the carrier appears on the screen.
<LadyMysteria> That sounds about right, for what they'd do. I can imagine 
they're absolute terrors underwater.
<Lord_Darkmoon> They do not bother to speak it when underwater, Lady Mallet.
* LadyMysteria speaks mostly to Mallet, hands flexing a little.
* LadyMallet nods.
<Ked> This time it's from the bridge side of the ship, and it looks like a hole 
has been blown out of hull - it's large, but almost nothing compared to the mess 
at the front of the ship.
* LadyMallet frowns, and squints at that.
<CaptainWallace> One of the emergency scuttling charges went off here, as you 
can see.  These are supposed to destroy any, uh, special weaponry that we  might 
have on board.
* Lord_Darkmoon just peers closer.
<LadyMysteria> Any idea whether or not it succeeded?
<LadyRoyal> Aha.
<Civilian> Unfortunately, there was supposed to be a second sequence of them.
* LadyMallet nods.
<LadyNightshade> How hard would it be to interrupt them?
<LadyNightshade> Would someone need to know what they were doing?
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...
<Lord_Darkmoon> More importantly, does this mean the Ningyo have access to your, 
"uh, special weaponry"?
<CaptainWallace> In the normal course of things, yeah.  But no one ever thought 
a carrier could take this sort of damage short of something that would blow 
everything up anyway.
<LadyRoyal> Mmm.
<LadyMysteria> Water, focused by the Ningyo, can do some horrific localized 
damage.
* LadyMallet giggles to herself. For just a moment. It's gone instantly.
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...Titanic mentality.
<LadyNightshade> But it's possible someone could've known of the attacks and 
made sure the weapons weren't destroyed?
<Civilian> We do not know how they failed, but they did.  We have transponders 
built into those weapons for tracking purposes... and some of them are still 
responding.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> ... That was a sad movie.
* LadyRoyal hisses back quietly.  "Focus, MB."
* Lord_Darkmoon shoots MakeBelieve a quelling glare as Royal hisses.
<Civilian> We think that there are four or five live weapons left.  They would 
take some extremely-skilled tampering to detonate, but...
* LadyMallet pops up a hand. "... um, question."
<CaptainWallace> Yes?
<LadyMysteria> I honestly would not put it past the Ningyo to find ways to study 
on that sort of thing. They've been more... thoughtful about how they act.
<LadyMallet> How hard is it to detonate one?
<LadyMallet> Will ... uh. Collateral damage set them off?
<Civilian> You mean, a nearby explosion, or a strong impact?
* Lord_Darkmoon opens his fan in front of his face to hide a sudden snerk.
<Lord_Darkmoon> The latter.
<LadyMallet> Something real close.
<Civilian> They are designed to resist that, but... it's theoretically possible.
<LadyMysteria> Mn.
<LadyMallet> I'm guessing they'll be guarded, and given our powers, and theirs, 
there's bound to be a crossfire in which something could happen.
<Civilian> A thousand to one, maybe, or less.
* LadyMallet glances down at the ground. "Just want to know how careful to be 
around them."
<CaptainWallace> Whoa, whoa.
<CaptainWallace> We're not thinking about sending you down there.
<LadyMysteria> ... Mallet, I think you're getting a bit ahead of---yes, as he 
said.
<LadyMallet> ... yeah, you're right. Anyway.
<Lord_Darkmoon> We were. --sorry, my Lady. *bows head to Mysteria*
<LadyMallet> Go on.
<CaptainWallace> Well, this is our problem, on a lot of levels.  We would much 
rather solve it directly, and I imagine you would have extreme difficulty facing 
them on their ground.  ...sea.  Whatever.
<LadyMysteria> Very much so.
* LadyNightshade nods.
<LadyMallet> ... yeah. They've got the playing field.
* Lord_Darkmoon taps his tessen against his arm. "What did you have in mind?"
<AdmiralHoffman> We have fish problems places other.
<LadyRoyal> Oh?
<LadyMallet> ... you mean, you've got Ningyo problems at other sites?
<Lord_Darkmoon> Go on, please.
* LadyMysteria nods. "Please, continue."
<CaptainWallace> Our main base is set up at Universal Shipbuilding.  There have 
been... well, some amount of Ningyo attacks, but I'd almost say they seemed more 
like scouting raids.
* Lord_Darkmoon 's eyes narrow.
<LadyMallet> ...?
<CaptainWallace> We've lost a couple of platoons of Marines, and they took some 
of our trailers with them.
* LadyMallet frowns.
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...
<Civilian> We have the sense that they are searching for something, and have not 
found it yet.
<LadyMysteria> Information, perhaps?
<Civilian> We're not sure.
* LadyRoyal scratches her cheek.  "Hm."
<LadyMallet> ... where have they been striking? Shore, down, up, trying for 
buildings...?
* LadyMysteria rubs her chin. "This is not at all good. It's obvious that 
they're planning something, and the weapons have to factor in somewhere, but 
pieces are missing to this puzzle."
<CaptainWallace> They have been coming over the sea wall, and into our command 
station there.  Not simply appearing, like they seem to have done in other 
attacks that have been reported.
<LadyMallet> They've got a place in mind, then. A specific place.
* Lord_Darkmoon nods. "They could not have taken anything back with them, I 
believe."
<Lord_Darkmoon> If they had not directly approached from the Sea.
* LadyMallet hmms, and turns to Maya. "You don't think... that the CEO told them 
where to go to get something?"
<LadyMysteria> It's possible.
* Lord_Darkmoon 's face hardens at Mallet's comment.
<CaptainWallace> Except they seem to have.  Like I said, we have two trailers 
missing, and the men who were in them.
<LadyMysteria> Is what was in those trailers... classified? Or can you tell us 
what was in them?
<LadyNightshade> Was there anything in the trailers that could be used to set 
off the weapons?
* LadyRoyal winces at the mention of the lost men.
* Lord_Darkmoon shakes his head. "No, I mean that it would be necessary for them 
to, as you said, come over the sea wall, to succeed in taking it with them. They 
could not 'simply appear' and take stolen items with them."
<LadyMallet> ... you might want to simply relocate.
<LadyMallet> Whatever they're after, it's likely catastrophic for them to get 
their fins on.
<CaptainWallace> One was a storeroom for the ship's blueprints.  One was a 
breakroom.
<LadyMallet> If that's an option for you.
* Civilian winces.
<Civilian> If only we could.
<LadyMysteria> Did you lose any important employees?
* LadyMallet nods, to herself. "Figures. But... going on, where do we come in?"
<Civilian> Unfortunately, that would not just look bad, but we'd have to admit 
to the media that there's something seriously wrong here.  And the local 
politicians would scream bloody murder at breaking our contract with USC.
<CaptainWallace> Anyway.  The Ningyo have gone out of their way to make us their 
enemies.  So... the enemy of our enemy is our friend?  That's what we're hoping.
* LadyMallet glances at Maya. "Us, too."
* LadyNightshade smiles a bit inwardly.
<Lord_Darkmoon> That is often the case. *looks to Mysteria*
<CaptainWallace> You represent the other side in this conflict, and you 
presumably know more about the Ningyo than we do.
<CaptainWallace> We were hoping you could tell us about them, and what they are 
doing, and how best to oppose them.
<CaptainWallace> And... maybe help our base security some nights.
<LadyMysteria> If that would cement a working agreement, I'll do everything in 
my power to try and make it happen. I'm more than willing to accept assistance 
in dealing with the Ningyo, as I'm sure my colleagues will be, in time.
* LadyMallet hrms. "How many are attacking at once? Singly, small groups, big 
groups...?"
<CaptainWallace> And... just maybe, if you could get that one Lady with the 
seamoving talent to help us with a certain operation...
<Lord_Darkmoon> It would be helpful if you told us the nature of this operation.
<Civilian> Ones and twos, so far.
<CaptainWallace> We would be, uh, delivering a bomb to finish the destruction.
* LadyMysteria nods. "A recovery mission---aaaah."
* LadyMallet gulps. "I have a bad feeling about that, for some reason."
* Lord_Darkmoon nods, a slow, dark smile creeping onto his face.
<LadyMysteria> That I will most definitely speak to her about.
<CaptainWallace> If she would make a hole, then close it back up with the right 
timing... well.  Things would be easy.
<AdmiralHoffman> And help you with these fish terrorists we hope we could then.
<LadyRoyal> Hmm.
* Lord_Darkmoon taps his lips with his folded fan, thoughtfully.
* LadyRoyal wrinkles her brow while deciphering Hoffman's Japanese, and then 
nods in comprehension.
* LadyMysteria nods as well. "That would be greatly appreciated. I do believe 
that we may be able to reach an agreement, as a group, quickly."
<CaptainWallace> It is a worry for us - what if  these Ningyo came to our 
shores?  We have no... uh... ...magical girls.
* CaptainWallace shakes his head in disbelief he's having this conversation.
<Civilian> It's a brave new world, no?
<LadyNightshade> Everything changes...
<LadyMallet> ... I suspect if they came to you, you'd get your own champions 
soon enough.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Perhaps that could be remedied, at some point down the road. If 
it does not take care of itself. *smiles at the Citizen* It is a new world.
<LadyRoyal> Indeed.
<LadyMysteria> You actually do not? Curious. And if it comes to that... the 
Ningyo are our enemy, and we will do what we must to prevent them from 
destroying innocent lives.
<Lord_Darkmoon> My Lady, perhaps we should discuss the exact nature of what we 
can do for them, and they can do for us, as we embark upon this venture 
of...cooperation? Specifics of immediate assistance, and schedules of planned 
ones?
* LadyMysteria nods once, twice. "Excellent idea."
<CaptainWallace> We're looking for help at our base right away - the sooner the 
better.  If we could get the bit of assistance with our ship early next week...?  
And information, of course.
<LadyMysteria> I would need to have words with others in out establishment, but 
I can imagine coming up with the means should not be too much of a problem.
* LadyRoyal strokes her chin thoughtfully.
<Civilian> There is one other thing, and it is sort of a longer-term sort of 
wish...
<Lord_Darkmoon> If I may venture, my Lady, I would volunteer to take a look at 
their base and attempt a ... shift? ... guarding this very evening.
<LadyMallet> ... oh?
<LadyRoyal> ...
<LadyMysteria> Hm?
* Lord_Darkmoon looks at the Civilian.
* LadyMysteria looks to Darkmoon for a moment, then to the Civvie.
<LadyMallet> ... if it's a possibility.
* LadyMallet glances at Taki. "Trail the Ningyo, see if you can find out what 
they're looking for?"
<LadyNightshade> Underwater?
* LadyMallet shakes her head. "No, on the base. Where they're looking."
<LadyMysteria> Let's let the gentleman talk first, Mallet.
<Civilian> There is a, uh, interest in you and your magic.  We've never seen 
anything like it before and some of our researchers would like to have the 
chance to, erm, examine some of you.  At length.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyRoyal> ...ha!
<LadyRoyal> I'm sure they'd *love* to.
<CaptainWallace> It would just be a couple of you.  And... they would be well-
treated, and very well-compensated.
* LadyMallet GRINS. "Sure thing. Fully stocked fridge, all expenses and 
amenities paid, get me my own show over there, I'm sold."
* Lord_Darkmoon ...s.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Lady Mallet. 
<LadyRoyal> Suuuuure.
* LadyMysteria doesn't readily react to that. "I will admit, the idea unsettles 
me some, but I won't outright say no. We'll see, gentlemen."
<LadyRoyal> Do we have to ask what sort of "examinations" you'd be talking about 
here?
<CaptainWallace> It's the magic, you know?  Where is the energy coming from?  
The physicists on our team are going bonkers at some of the stuff the Ningyo are 
doing.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Such as?
<LadyMysteria> Oh. Attempting to study Earth and Sea. Hm.
<LadyMallet> ... I wonder how related they are.
<Lady_MakeBelieve> I still wonder if there's sky.
<Lord_Darkmoon> If you desire Ningyo to study, I am sure...arrangements for 
cooperation can be made, so long as any interesting findings are shared.
<CaptainWallace> High-pressure water out of thin air?  Antigravity?  
Teleportation?  You know better than I.
<LadyRoyal> I sort of doubt that.
<LadyRoyal> On the whole, we are fighters, not scientists.
<CaptainWallace> I meant the sorts of things, of course. not the hows of things.
<LadyRoyal> Ah.  Right.
<LadyMysteria> Mmm-hmm.
<LadyNightshade> I think we'd like to hold onto our secrets until we're entirely 
sure we can trust you gentlemen, however.
<LadyRoyal> Exactly.
* LadyMallet pouts. She's disappointed. ;_;
<AdmiralHoffman> How can help we you?
* Lord_Darkmoon ahems at Nightshade and Royal's...impolite comments.
* Lord_Darkmoon looks to Mysteria to answer the Admiral's question.
<LadyMysteria> As you're probably aware of by now, we've been having some 
interference in our matters from mundane forces. Well, not so much 'some' as 
'far more than we would like'. It is taking our focus from our primary goal, and 
that simply has to stop.
<CaptainWallace> Yes, we can read the papers.
<Lord_Darkmoon> As you are no doubt aware, information of your opponents is key 
in ending their threat potential.
<LadyMysteria> They, however, seem to have military connections, and a fair 
amount of access to both information and equipment. I would not ask for you to 
directly interfere, but... I can imagine your information networks are quite 
advanced, and if we could make some use of them...
<CaptainWallace> Military connections?
* Civilian frowns.
<LadyMysteria> I really don't want to say too much. It's an internal matter, you 
could say. But yes, they seem to be well-trained, well-armed, and quite ready to 
die in order to kill us.
<LadyRoyal> That is to say, connections of military-caliber--as far as I know, 
we have yet no proof that they are directly connected to Our Imperial Majesty's 
defense forces.
* LadyMysteria looks Royal's way for a moment.
<CaptainWallace> Your what?
<Civilian> The Emperor doesn't even have nominal control of military forces.
* Lord_Darkmoon smiles in a "You just keep thinking that" way at the Civilian.
* LadyRoyal shrugs.  "As I said, all we know as that their connections are 
likely military-caliber."
* LadyMysteria sighs a little. "Apparently... this group is taking the fight to 
us in his name, which... I'll admit, is probably just hot air, but it would be 
nonetheless problematic if it came too much to light."
* LadyMallet sighs, and shifts position.
<Lord_Darkmoon> What we require is a means of isolating their bases of 
operations, that we may neutralize the threat. We cannot have rogue elements 
within Japan, nor can we have our kind hunted by selfish fools who would side 
with the Ningyo.
<CaptainWallace> I saw the write-up in the newspaper, and the interviews from 
survivors.
<CaptainWallace> So they're old-fashioned imperialists, in government, with 
military...  That's weird.
<LadyNightshade> Indeed.
<Civilian> What sort of information have they dug up on you that makes you think 
they have sources in the government?
* Lord_Darkmoon 's eyes burn behind his polite mask as he says, "I will not 
tolerate people accusing me, or my friends, of treason. That they would act in 
his name without his authority is...unacceptable."
* LadyMallet elbows Darkmoon. Hard.
* Lord_Darkmoon covers his wince with his fan, and clears his throat.
<LadyMallet> Save it.
<LadyMysteria> We unfortunately have little in terms of intercepted info. All of 
the operatives that we've captured tend to commit suicide before we can question 
them fully.
<Lord_Darkmoon> The nature of their...professionalism. Suicide pills, snipers, 
spotters, and careful use of radios.
<LadyNightshade> The equipment they use is military, though.
<Civilian> Um.  Do you have a body?
<LadyRoyal> We had one, but we got rid of it.
<LadyRoyal> I think that's the only one we've ever brought back from on-site.
<Lord_Darkmoon> We would like to avoid having to acquire another in the same 
manner.
<LadyNightshade> I'm sure we can get another.
<LadyRoyal> Sooner or later.
<Civilian> If you get one, besides processing it for evidence we could also find 
out what poison they use, and provide you with an antidote.
* LadyMallet frowns. "Pulling their teeth, or fingerprints...?"
* LadyMallet blinks. "Oh!"
<LadyMysteria> Well! That would actually be a boon!
<LadyNightshade> Well that'd just be... neat.
<LadyRoyal> Now, that would be quite useful.
* Lord_Darkmoon nods, smiling darkly.
* LadyMallet grins just as darkly as Darkmoon. "Not too hard to get dead 
ones..."
<LadyNightshade> Unfortunately we can not predict when that will be.
<LadyRoyal> Soon, likely.
<LadyRoyal> They seem to have been stepping up their attacks.
<LadyMysteria> They will be active soon enough, yes.
<Civilian> We certainly can turn our information-gathering to this threat... 
it's just the more concrete points of evidence we have to work from, the better.
<LadyRoyal> Of course.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Of course.
<CaptainWallace> Can you use military assistance?
* LadyMallet clasps her hands together. "I understand completely."
<LadyRoyal> Define 'assistance', please.
<LadyMysteria> Right, right. And... as far as actual outright assistance, it 
would best not to. That may well inflame them further.
<Lord_Darkmoon> It would be best if your assistance to us remained...discreet.
* LadyRoyal nods.  
<LadyNightshade> We wouldn't want things to escalate further.
<CaptainWallace> Personnel... supplies... perhaps surveillance?
<Lord_Darkmoon> How discreet our assistance to you is, I believe we can leave to 
your discretion. *looks to Mysteria for confirmation*
* LadyMallet hmms. "Perhaps our former leader might want the supplies contact."
<LadyNightshade> More bodies to help watch couldn't hurt, I suppose.
<LadyMysteria> Supplies and surveillance would be excellent. As far as people... 
that could also be possible, but our other allies may wish to keep them at 
arm's-length. I would need to confer with them first to come to a decision.
<LadyRoyal> In any case, we'd probably like for our new partnership to remain as 
under wraps as possible, I'd think...
<CaptainWallace> Weapons... well, we couldn't provide them directly, but we can 
arrange reasonable munitions.
<LadyMysteria> I see.
<Lord_Darkmoon> We have our own weapons, in most cases. Though assistance of 
that nature would not be unwelcome, down the line.
<CaptainWallace> It sounds like you need to think through what you can use a 
little more.  Well, fine.
<CaptainWallace> You have my number.  The phone, on my end, is secure.
* LadyMysteria smiles, after a bit. "This is going far better than I'd 
imagined... and for that I'm glad. And we will have to, yes, but I'll be certain 
to try and speed things up." She nods at the last bit.
<AdmiralHoffman> Have agreement?
* Lord_Darkmoon looks to Mysteria.
<Civilian> It looks like it, in broad terms.
<LadyMysteria> Yes. Yes, it does.
<CaptainWallace> Can you get a team on the base tomorrow night?
<CaptainWallace> I can arrange a trailer for them.
<LadyNightshade> We should be able to arrange that.
* LadyMysteria chuckles. "It may well be us. I'll insist on it if I have to."
<LadyRoyal> Heheh.
<AdmiralHoffman> Need that water-mover.
<LadyRoyal> We'll talk to her about it.
* LadyMysteria nods, slowly.
<Lord_Darkmoon> We shall see.
<CaptainWallace> Let me know if there is anything I can get or arrange for you.
<Lord_Darkmoon> And I do look forward to assisting you in this matter. *bows*
<LadyMysteria> We will, sir.
* LadyMysteria bows as well.
* LadyMallet grins, and bows. "I'm glad this went well."
* LadyNightshade bows politely.
* LadyRoyal bows curtly.
* AdmiralHoffman stands up and extends a hand.
* LadyNightshade leans over to Maya, "Shake his hand. It's polite."
* LadyMysteria accepts the hand and shakes it firmly, offering a smile.
<AdmiralHoffman> With you America against stands terrorism fish.
* Lady_MakeBelieve gathers her papers, and gets ready to go ^I'm glad we could 
work together^
* LadyRoyal stands. "Er...yes.  I think."
* LadyMysteria simply nods, assuming that's the proper reply.
* LadyMallet sobers. "... not yet. Just you guys. But it's still a great start!"
* Lord_Darkmoon rises. "We are grateful for America's friendship."
<CaptainWallace> *quickly* Sorry about his grammar.
<LadyRoyal> It's fine.  You haven't heard mine in English.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Do not apologize. As Lady Royal said, we dare not even venture 
our own English.
<LadyNightshade> ^No worries.^ *smiles*
<CaptainWallace> You'll be dropped off at the Giants stadium.  Here are some 
tickets...
<Civilian> We will have a representative at the main gate of USC tomorrow night.  
He'll be expecting you.
* Lord_Darkmoon nods.
<LadyMysteria> Of course... tickets?
* LadyRoyal echoes Maya.  "Tickets?"
<LadyRoyal> Also, how will we recognize your representative?
<CaptainWallace> At least stay for an inning or two, just to throw anyone 
watching you off.
<Civilian> In uniform?  Not a problem.
<LadyMysteria> Not a bad idea, sir.
* Lord_Darkmoon uses his Tessen to change his uniform back into street clothes, 
as the formalities seem over. And so he doesn't' forget.
<LadyRoyal> My apologies, but after some recent incidents, we're a bit wary of 
pretenders.  There may well be foreigners among our enemies' ranks.
<LadyMallet> ...?
<CaptainWallace> Well, I'm sure we can win your trust.  Have a good evening.
<LadyMysteria> We will, and the same goes for you all.
* LadyMallet nods. "You too."
<Ked> [end session]