<Brett> [Date: Thursday, January 5th, 2012.  Time: 1:00 p.m.  Location: Near San
Fernando, Venezuela.]
<Brett> [Despite the fact that it's January, it's swelteringly hot. Welcome to
the tropical climate.  Here, in the mountains of Venezuela, a convy makes its
way up a jungle-covered mountain, towards Heraldo army base, a location I
totally just made up right now.]
<Ardweden> (Well, not to mention it's the southern hemisphere, so it's summer
anyway!)
<Brett> ( That too! )
<Brett> [The convoy consists of a large truck, the back covered like an army
truck but painted gray rather than an army truck's camoflauge, and a jeep.]
<Brett> [Benny Emmerson, the twitchy little guy with spaghetti hair, is driving
the truck, with the mountain-of-a-man Duke Hendricks riding beside him, an
assault rifle across his lap.  Indira Andhra is driving the jeep, with Shiho
sitting beside her.]
<Brett> [And in the back is Harry Barker, the aging arms dealer, who's taking
off his tie and loosening the collar of his shirt. "Christ, it's hot.]
<Brett> [Start!]
<Brett> [He undoes a button. "Couldn't HQ have given us a van for this trip? 
Probably figured 'Oh, it's January, the weather will be lovely!'. Lovely like my
ass." Harry Barker is a man in his 50s.  Shiho met him years ago during... well
you'll just have to ask her later.]
<Brett> ["Cheer up, Barky," says Indira, a 30-something Indian woman.
Traditional, she ain't. "This is the last one.  Then we can get back to LA." 
Shiho's been in Venezuela for a while, travelling with the rest of the crew to
meet a buncha generals and lieutenants and lieutenant generals and other army
types, as Barker goes about the business of renewing contracts and selling new
goods.]
* Shiho is fanning herself with a piece of paper in her left hand and holding
her pistol in her right hand, resting it on her lap. There's a sheathed jian, a 
Chinese sword, sitting upright between her legs. She's sweating as badly as her
employer but looks much more alert. "Shouldn't be too much longer. We'll either
get home or finally pass out from all this heat."
* Shiho is in her early to mid-twenties and of Asian descent. Her long,
highlighted hair is tied up into a bun that seems to be struggling to break free
of its ties, and she's wearing a tank top and thin cotton pants.
<Brett> ["Thank God.  I swear I'm getting too old for this," says Barker.  Then
he spots something and sits up. "Good, we're almost at the base."  There is
indeed a wall up ahead with a guardtower built next to the gate.  A guard stands
ready to man the mounted gun there, while two more stand ready on either side of
the gate.]
<Brett> [One of them steps forward as the convoy approaches.  He says something
in Spanish, and Barker responds.  He looks at Indira, about to say something,
but Indira has already produced the paperwork.]
<Brett> [The soldier takes it, looks it over, hands it back and yells something
to his compatriots.  The gate opens!]
<Brett> ( Puzzle complete! And Shiho didn't even have to do any of it! )
* Shiho continues keeping an eye out while fanning herself.
<Shiho> (Hooray!)
<Brett> [The convoy heads into the base.  It's not the prettiest base in the
world.  But it is functional.  The ground is mostly unpaved barren brown; the
buildings are a drab gray.]
<Brett> [The convoy stops in front of one just as a man in uniform is stepping
out of it, a tall man with a beard.  He grins, spreading his arms wide. "Hola,
Senor Barker. We've been waiting for you."]
<Brett> [Barker, who by now has replaced his tie, exits the jeep with a
briefcase. With his free hand, he shake's the soldier's. "General Armando. 
Please, call me Harry."]
<Brett> [Emmerson and Hendricks exit the jeep. The two couldn't be more unalike. 
Emmerson is a short, white man who looks like he could have been a hipster. 
Hendricks is a huge black man who looks more like a mafia boss. They head to the
back of the truck, where some of the soldiers have already gathered to help them
unload.]
* Shiho gets out and stands to Barker's side and just a step back. She takes a
moment to holster her pistol on her right hip and re-belt her sheath on her
left.
<Brett> [The general and Barker head that way. "Finally, that equipment I
ordered," says the general, who is in fact speaking English, perhaps to be
polite. "Caracas always snubs my requests.  They think because we're in the
mountains in the middle of the country, we do not play and major importance it
our nation's defense.  But here in the mountains is where we can train at our
fullest."]
<Brett> [Barker nods. "Yes, well, I think you'll find..." He pauses as a soccer
ball rolls by his feet.  Two young boys come around the corner of the building,
chasing after it, but stop when the general turns his stone-cold glare on them. 
They run the other way in a hurry.]
<Brett> ["There's kids on this base?" asks Indira.  The general grumbles.
"Orphans.  Their father was a soldier, killed in a training exercise not too
long ago.  We haven't been able to ship them out soon enough." He glares their
direction. "All they do is eat away at our supplies."]
<Brett> [He turns back to Barkerm grinning. "So, the merchandise?"]
<Brett> [By now Emmerson, Hendricks and the soldiers have unloaded several
crates. Hendricks pops one open with a crowbar, revealing a stack of assault
rifles.  He picks one up as Barker says, "M-9s. I understand they're quite
popular in South America."]
<Brett> [The general nods. "Accurate, easy to use, and most important, cheap."]
<Brett> [Another crate opened. "220 mm Artillery shells."]
<Brett> ["We use a lot of them in training." He eyes the last crate. "And?"]
* Shiho follows Barker and stays in the same relative position as him,
continuing to keep an eye out.
<Shiho> (*position relative to him)
<Brett> [Hendricks opens it, revealing a stack of spider-like robots. "U.S.-made
Spider bombs.... Forgive me for my curiosity, general, but why would you have
need of these?  They're not much use on the battlefield."]
<Brett> ( Barker's doing the explaining, natch. Not Hendricks. :P )
<Brett> [The General grins. "Ah, but how often are battles fought on the field
anymore? These days, by the time you notice you're under attack, you're usually
already dead.  We must adapt with the times, Senor Barker."  He moves over to
the crate, picks up a bomb and inspects it.]
<Brett> [His eyes gleam. "So you just throw it down and it waits like a land
mine, then blows up when someone goes near?"]
<Brett> ["Within 5 meters, yes. It uses infrared sensors, though, so it is
possible to avoid it."
<Brett> ["But only if you know about it beforehand."  He chuckles. "I'd like to
see it in action."]
<Brett> [Barker chuckles with him.  Until the general starts walking, saying,
"Shall we?"]
<Brett> [Barker follows, along with some soldiers. So do Henricks, Emmerson and
Indira after exchanging looks. "I don't understand," says Barker.]
* Shiho follows with everyone else, frowning.
<Brett> [Armando keeps walking, turrning the bomb around in his hands. "Senor
Barker, these weapons are sophisticated devices normally unused in my own
country. I had to order them special from your company. You know that."]
<Brett> ["Yes, but-"]
<Brett> ["As a result, I've never seen one myself. Don't you think I should see
what it can do with my own eyes before I decide to buy?"]
<Brett> ["The transaction's already complete," says Barker, "And besides, I can
assure you all the weapons sold by Vollenstein Armaments are thoroughly
tested..."]
<Brett> [He loses his speech as a scream cuts through it, just as you turn a
corner.  Up ahead in a clearing between the buildings, two soldiers are holding
one of the boys from before by his arms. He's crying. Other soldiers are holding
his brother at bay. The brother is screaming.]
<Brett> [Indira's hands go to her mouth, and Barker says. "What the hell is
this, general?"]
<Brett> [The general grins. "Well, you can hardly expect me to test it on my own
men."]
<Brett> [Barker glances from him to the boy. "Hold on, there's no need for this. 
The weapons are in perfect working order and..."]
* Shiho 's hand goes to her pistol, but she doesn't take it out. Shiho just
stares at Barker, trying not to look at the screaming children.
<Brett> [Armano snaps his fingers, and his soldiers raise their rifles at Barker
and crew.  "The transaction is complete, senor Barker," he says icily. "You
already have your money. What do you care what I do with my merchandise?  Now, I
suggest if you want any future dealings with my country, you'd better stand back
and watch.]
<Brett> "
<Brett> [Barker frowns as the general starts arming the device.  Then he says,
"To hell with your country, and swings his briefcase, clipping the general in
the head.]
<Brett> ( Gimme an init roll! )
<Shiho> 2d6+11
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Shiho (2d6+11) and gets a natural 5 for a result
of 16.
<Shiho> (Oh Barker, I will miss working for you!)
<Brett> [Order is Shiho, Emmerson, Hendricks, Indira, 8 soldiers, Barker]
<Brett> [The general goes down, much to everyone's shock!  Shiho's the first to
react!]
<RDMgryphon> (Double tap to be sure!)
<Brett> ( Oh right, general's after Barker )
<Brett> ( Not that he'll be much threat )
* Shiho draws her pistol and aims it at the general's head as she kneels down
and shouts, "Everyone freeze or I'll blow his head off! Someone repeat that in
Spanish!"
<Shiho> (And that's my turn.)
* Brett has quit IRC (Ping timeout)
<Shiho> (I didn't mean Brett's computer should freeze...)
* Brett has joined #Shiho
<Brett> ( Mrrrrr )
<Shiho> (Did you get my action?)
<Brett> ( Nope )
* Shiho draws her pistol and aims it at the general's head as she kneels down
and shouts, "Everyone freeze or I'll blow his head off! Someone repeat that in
Spanish!"
<Shiho> (And that's my turn.)
<Brett> [The bad news is that the only one who speaks Spanish is Barker, and
it's not his init!]
<Brett> [The soldiers look about to fire anyhow.  Emmerson draws a switchblade
from the back of his jeans and stabs the nearest one in the soldier, then
follows through by slitting the man's throat.]
<Brett> [Hendricks, despite being so huge, is surprisingly fast, hitting the
nearest man in the fact with the butt of his assault rifle.  He falls to the
ground and starts to get back up, but Indira blasts him with a bolt of
lightning, sending him into shock.]
<Brett> [The remaining 6 soldiers open fire!]
<Brett> ( 1 on Shiho, 2 on Emmerson, 2 on Hendricks, 1 on Barker] )
<Brett> [Emmerson, a wirey little guy, weaves and skips about, bullets pelting
the ground around his feet.  He grins, saying in his reedy voice, "Nope."]
<Shiho> (I'll cover Barker with my (client) defense too. First one's my defense,
second is his.)
<Shiho> 2d6+6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Shiho (2d6+6) and gets a natural 8 for a result
of 14.
<Shiho> 2d6+7
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Shiho (2d6+7) and gets a natural 10 for a result
of 17.
<Brett> [The bullets aimed at Hendricks mostly miss, but one clips his arm.  He
barely seems to notice.]
<Brett> [And Shiho throws herself on top of Barker, knocking him to the ground
as bullets fly past overhead.]
<Brett> [Barker, being under Shiho, doesn't do much of anything, other than say
"Jesus."]
<Brett> [And Armano groans and rubs his head where the briefcase hit.  He
shrieks something in Spanish. Probably "Kill them!"]
<Brett> [Shiho!]
* Shiho spins around on the ground, getting up to one knee and drawing her sword
in one motion in order to slice the general.
<Shiho> 2d6+8
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Shiho (2d6+8) and gets a natural 4 for a result
of 12.
<Brett> [The general screams as the blade cuts into him.  He's shouting louder
than ever now.]
<Brett> [A soldier raises his rifle at Barker, but screams as Emmerson lops off
his trigger finger.]
<Brett> [Hendricks brings another one down with a burst from his rifle.]
<Brett> [And Indira shocks one with her lightning, though he's still standing.]
<Brett> [Which leaves 5, though one's disabled and backing off.  The other 4
fire! Two on Shiho, one on Hendricks, one on Indira.]
<Brett> [Neither Hendricks nor Indira is hit.]
<Shiho> 2d6+6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Shiho (2d6+6) and gets a natural 5 for a result
of 11.
<Shiho> 2d6+6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Shiho (2d6+6) and gets 8, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!!
"I can recommend some good Dice Cleanser, if you like."
<Shiho> (;_; Dicey...)
<Ardweden> (DR!  DR!)
<Shiho> (I don't think you can DR critfails!)
<Brett> [Most of the bullets miss Shiho, but one clips her shoulder.]
<Brett> [Barker stays on the ground for now.  Seems safe.]
<Brett> [And the general lies in his blood, screaming in Spanish.]
<Brett> ( Hearing roll! )
<Shiho> 2d6+7
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Shiho (2d6+7) and gets a natural 10 for a result
of 17.
<Ardweden> (I don't know as if there are critfails anymore, really.  None in the
book.)
<Brett> [Shiho hears a chopper drawing in quick!]
<Brett> [Shiho!]
* Shiho yells, "Helicopter incoming!" and takes another stab at stabbing
Armando.
<Shiho> 2d6+6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Shiho (2d6+6) and gets a natural 7 for a result
of 13.
<Brett> [Shiho cuts his back open. He gurgles, then dies.]
<Brett> [The soldiers don't seem to be giving up the fight, but the team mops up
the rest of them in short order.]
<Brett> [Barker gets to his feet just long enough to say, "Shit," before
reinforcements arrive and you're surrounded by troops.]
<Brett> [Then a chopper is there, and you can hear a voice shouting in Spanish
over a loudpseaker.]
<Brett> [It's joined by two more choppers.  The message repeats, and the
soldiers lower their weapons.]
<Brett> ["They're being told to desist," says Barker. "Thank God."]
<Brett> [The choppers land, and another general steps out, along with another
Hispanic man in a suit.  The MiB looks at the general and says, "looks like this
guy..." he slips on some shades, "couldn't handle the heat."]
* Shiho keeps her sword drawn and stands in front of Barker, but she looks
relieved. "I'm never getting near you and that briefcase again. Did you see the
way he went down?"
<Brett> [Says Barker, "I guess all this paperwork is good for something." And
then the new general is conversing with him in Spanish.]
<Brett> [The MiB comes over to Shiho. "A kung-fu chick. You don't see those
often in Venezuela." He pokes the body with a toe. "You're work?"]
<Brett> ( And by you're I mean your, of course. )
<Shiho> (I am work!)
* Shiho lowers her sword. "I'm not Venezuelan. And yes."
<Brett> [He smiles. He's actually a pretty good looking guy.  His teeth even
sparkle in the sunlight. "Well, you saved me the trouble. Senor Armano here has
been testing weapons on his own men.  Nasty man.  Had to be put down."]
<Brett> ["Ah, but where are my manners?" He steps back and takes a formal bow.
"Ramon Salazar, CIA. At your service."]
* Shiho glances over at Barker to double-check that he's okay before bowing
back. "Yamada."
<Brett> [Barker seems fine.  He's conversing with the general in Spanish,
still.]
<Brett> [Ramon take's Shiho's hand, kissing the back of it. "A pleasure,
Senorita Yamada."]
<Brett> [Indira whistles. Emmerson chuckles.]
<Brett> [And then the general and Barker abruptly finish their conversation. 
The general turns to Ramon, who sighs. "Oh well, duty calls. Another time,
Senorita."]
* Shiho looks bored and waits for Ramon to let go of her hand. "Goodbye, Mr.
Ramon."
<Shiho> (*Mr. Salazar)
<Brett> [Emmerson, Hendricks and Indira gather as Barker approaches everyone.
"So it seems we'll be continuing to do business with Venezuela after all. 
Armano was getting out of hand, and his own government was planning on putting
him down. Guess we're lucky they came when they did."]
<Brett> [Emmerson grumbles, "Or they could have come a day sooner."]
<Shiho> Or even an hour sooner.
<Brett> [Barker nods. "If only. Ok, we've been offered a helicopter ride to San
Fernando.  Can't exactly take it though, with the vehicles and all."]
<Brett> [We can handle that, boss," says Indira.  Emmerson says, "Yeah.  We'll
take care of it, you get on back to the hotel."]
<Brett> [Hendricks says nothing. He almost never does!]
<Brett> [Barker nods. "If you really don't mind."]
* Shiho sheathes her sword and reaches up to check that her hair's still up.
"You get comfy and leave it to us."
<Brett> [Emmerson laughs. "Nah, no problem."]
<Brett> [Barker nods. "Okay.  Shiho, come with me?"]
* Shiho nods. "Sure, boss." Then she looks back to the others, grins, and sings,
"Air conditioning!"
<Brett> [Indira says, "Yeah Shiho, you better go with him in case Mr. Suave CIA
plans to doublecross us." Everyone laughs.
<Shiho> Ugh. Go die of heatstroke.
* Shiho smiles anyway.
<Brett> [More laughing! Then the others bid farewell and go to take care of the
vehicles.  Barker heads to the choppa.]
* Shiho follows after Barker. "Any plans for once we get home?"
<Brett> ["A long, long rest." You get to the choppa. Barker climbs inside, and
exchanges some brief words with the pilot in Spanish.]
* Shiho sits down and adjusts her sword so that it's not in anyone's way.
<Brett> [The chopper lifts off. You can see Indira, Emmerson, even Hendricks
waving as it rises.]
* Shiho smiles down and waves back at them.
* Ardweden is now known as Ardle
<Brett> [The chopper leaves the base. A few minutes into the flight, Barker
says, "Thanks. I think you saved my life back there."]
<Shiho> Don't worry about it. All in a day's work, right?
<Brett> ["No, I mean it. The team's been together for a while now, but when the
shit hits the fan, it always seems like you're the one who's got my back.  Ever
since we met."]
* Shiho looks a little embarassed. "You know I don't like to talk about it,
but... I'm just grateful you got me out of there. The difference is just...
anyway, I'm really happy here, working for you."
<Brett> [He nods. "Which makes what I'm about to say much harder."]
* Shiho frowns. "You're not dying of a horrible disease, right? ...Having said
that, I'll feel like an ass if you are."
<Brett> ["No, that's not it." Barker sighs. "When I said I was getting too old
for this, I meant it.  The heat, the constant travel, the narrow brushes with
death.... it's too much for me. And besides..."]
<Brett> [He pauses, then says, "What the general was about to do to that little
boy... If he had. If he'd killed the boy using a bomb that I'd sold him...." His
fists clench, and he shakes his head.]
<Brett> ["I just can't do this anymore.  I've been thinking of asking for a desk
job for a while now.  This... this just cements my decision."]
* Shiho stares at him for a moment, her mouth slightly open. "I..." she starts,
then shakes her head. "Yeah, okay. You deserve an easier life, after all."
<Brett> ["I'm sorry.  I know it's sudden."]
<Shiho> No, it's... I'm sorry for thinking selfishly, but what's going to happen
to the rest of us?
<Brett> ["Reassigned, most likely.  Actually, I wanted to talk to you about
that."]
* Shiho still looks a little dazed as she nods. "Sure, go for it."
<Brett> ["Before we left for Venezuela, I got a message from Mr. Vollenstein
himself.  He'd heard about what I was considering, and it seems the daughter of
some personal friends of his is joining the company as an arms dealer.  Mr.
Vollenstein asked if there was anyone from my squad I would reccommend." He
looks at Shiho. "I gave him your name."]
* Shiho 's eyes lose their dazed look and turn sharp. "I'm honored, boss. You
won't regret naming me." She smiles wryly. "If you do regret getting chained to
a desk, though, just say the word and I'll come back."
<Brett> [He laughs. "And I'd welcome you. I've never had a better bodyguard."]
<Brett> ( End? )
<Shiho> (Sure!)
<Brett> [End!]