OPEN PLAYER PLOT: OPERATION LOST BOYS

[forcevisions]

WHO: Anyone
WHERE: A research outpost not far from New Amsterdam proper
WHEN: November 28
WHAT: The Displaced arrive to save the captured Morningstar agents, including one of their own.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Violence, mentions of interrogation/torture, etc.

> DEPARTURE BY TRAIN Early in the day on November 28th, Prompto and Poe will conspire to get an out-of-service train car onto the same tracks where the Displaced were guided by Cassius earlier this month. By all measures, the train car doesn't look operational. There are telling dents in the side, and it does not appear to be powered on. Yet those involved in the rescue operation already assembled are climbing on board like they know that this is their ride. Inside, the train is fairly battered. Some of the seats on the far wall seem to have been damaged when the train collided with something during the EMP, and the rattling of the crash took out some of the internal handrails as well. Once everyone is settled, though, the car begins to move. At the front of the car, Poe uses his power to move the train car on the tracks and out of the city. As they hit a checkpoint, the car doesn't slow down to be inspected; instead, it accelerates and blows right through the barrier, which makes for a pronounced jolt for all the passengers inside. Once the train is rolling outside of the city limits, the Displaced can grab scrambler masks that have been provided by Morningstar for use in infiltrating the outpost when they arrive. It is imperative, El suggests, that they don't allow their identities to be compromised. They will also remind the Displaced to keep this project under wraps, lest Morningstar as a whole has its operations compromised. This is a good time to solidify any plans about what to do when the outpost is reached. The train ride won't be especially long, but long enough for some tension to settle over the car. > INFILTRATE THE OUTPOST The outpost they arrive at is a less grimy version of what the Displaced saw earlier in November. The interior is almost identical to what was present there, with some wings repurposed as jailing sites. There are bright, fluorescent lights with white walls and a sterile smell throughout. Even cleaned up, these labs do not recognize any of those that the Displaced may have seen in their dreams. The description below is borrowed from the arrival log for reference: The building is six stories tall. The first floor has a lobby/waiting area, a cafeteria, and some office spaces. The second floor is the dormitory floor, which is where the employees would usually sleep if they chose to stay at the facility while working rather than returning to the city in between shifts. This is where the new arrivals woke up. Floors three through five are dedicated to lab spaces, which is where the actual research work is usually done. Most of these laboratories are going to be locked, but that won't stop Displaced from breaking into them if they want. Some of the lab rooms also have exam rooms. Displaced will be able to swipe lab equipment and medical supplies, such as syringes, vials/beakers, first aid supplies, scalpels, bandages, multi-lens microscopes, etc. The top floor is dedicated to offices for higher-ranked scientists, so think of it as the C suite. All floors also have bathrooms, of course, and the dormitory wing also has showers. ✦ Notably, this outpost is also empty of scientists. However, stoic soldiers stand guard at every door. These well-armed warriors are with the UNA, who has taken over the outpost. These soldiers are not an easy fight. In the fights with UNA soldiers, PCs might die and need to be revived in New Prague by Morningstar. ✧ DISTRACTION: Some of the PCs may choose to deal with the UNA by attempting to distract them using wit, charm, or apparent helplessness. PCs may search for a way to draw attention away from some of these doors to let others sneak past. ✧ INFILTRATION: Those who sneak past will find the jailing areas similarly guarded, and eventually, stealth and quiet infiltration is no longer an option. Rey and the other Morningstar agents are being held in well-secured cells, and UNA soldiers must be engaged in order to get past them. ✦ Inside the jailing sites, they find the missing agents in terrible shape. These Morningstar operatives have gone through extreme interrogation, and if they can get persuaded to talk sense--or talk at all--they might impart on their rescuers that the subject of that interrogation was most recently about the blue technology. However, most are catatonic, seemingly unaware of who they are or where they are, and some react negatively and violently toward anyone who displays the blue glow in front of them as the result of a conditioned response. ✧ Agents from the September raids will explain that Rey's arrival worsened the interrogation. Some of these agents may admit to confessing that Morningstar started helping a new group that emerged. It was clear in their interrogation that the UNA was not involved in the June firefight because they only then put together that the Displaced were involved in it. They're only aware because they were tasked with cleaning up after it. ✧ Some of the agents taken during the raids will still be resentful of the Displaced, and this will help convince the UNA that the Displaced are separate from Morningstar. Once the agents are freed, the Displaced can make their way back to the exit of the outpost, where Poe Dameron waits in an armored truck liberated from the UNA. This flying truck is meant to transfer large numbers of UNA soldiers for load-outs, so despite the Displaced and rescued agents' numbers, it will be sufficiently spacious to fit them all. Though it flies, it's smarter to stay low in the interest of staying off trackers on their way to New Prague, where they can hopefully wait out the heat of pursuit by the UNA. > NEW PRAGUE When they arrived in New Prague, El contacts local Morningstar agents to escort them to a safehouse. Notably, El will warn the Displaced that no other parts of Morningstar know about zeir identity as an AI. El is hoping that the Displaced will keep their secret, but is more concerned with helping than with keeping them separate from the New Prague Morningstar chapter. These Morningstar agents will bring the Displaced to an abandoned chain convenience store at the edge of town, Zesco. The convenience store is located near the edge of the city, and it's meant to be a temporary stop. The upper part of the store is just an empty space, though there is a wall where it's clear that there were once icee machines. All of the Morningstar agents will be held under an abandoned convenience store. ✦ The inside of the safehouse is like most safehouses, but since it's meant to be temporary, there aren't any clothes or food in place to help someone out. There will be Morningstar agents who come in to supply these things throughout the stay, showing up about an hour in to help out. ✧ It will be apparent that this safehouse is not one of the ones that's typically used in New Prague, but instead one of the miscellaneous ones that they've had around. Unlike New Amsterdam, most of the safehouses in New Prague weren't compromised. Of course, there is a high likelihood that this safehouse will be decommissioned after all of this. ✧ Notably, the New Prague agents are all quite impressed that the missing New Amsterdam agents were able to be saved at all—previously, NPC Morningstar cells had believed rescue to be impossible. ✧ Anyone who kept their scrambler mask on during the infiltration of the outpost is allowed to leave the safehouse and explore New Prague. Anyone else … can do that if they want, but it's not a good idea! The safehouse won't be fun, but jail will be worse. Please reach out to the mods if you do this. ✦ Beyond the safehouse, New Prague is a large, beautiful city housing around 30 million people. Unlike many of its brethren, it pays homage to the "Old" Prague in a number of ways: there are impractical cobblestone streets, and the architecture adheres to an older, gothic style throughout the city. In fact, there are ordinances that demand the city continues to look as if it harkens to an older past and time. Above all else, New Prague is very green: there are trees everywhere. Throughout the city, there is a large, man-made river that cuts through to the underground, causing there to be beautiful falls underneath the main city itself. This river is called the New Vitava River, once again paying homage to the Prague of Old. The New Vitava River is maintained to the degree that there is no littering in it, and there are strict local rules about doing anything lewd in it. (That includes using it as a toilet. Don't do that!) There are bridges all over the city to easily cross from one side to another, and all public transit has been constructed to adhere to the river and also offer its citizens views of it on the regular. ✧ The weather here is just as extreme as it is in New Amsterdam, so anyone who's not been checking the news will find that the world really was screwed over by Cassius. ✧ Food throughout the city is just as eclectic as it is anywhere else. Visually, it looks like they want to remember Prague, but culturally, it's just as varied. This isn't an Eastern European city in anything but aesthetic. > THE RETURN The train ride back to New Amsterdam will resemble the ride to and from New Tokyo, but it is a considerably shorter trip. There is no stop for the train at New Amsterdam, so they will need to devise a way to get off the train without dying in the process - this will be difficult, but not impossible. This should not be too much of a surprise, as some of the New Prague Morningstar agents will join them on this train ride, and will explain the situation. Once they're outside the city, these agents will get them back into the city, as they've done this rodeo before. They can sneak in easily through the opening made by Cassius earlier in the month, which if it has been found, has not yet been addressed.

Comments

[forcevisions]

I can do it.

[ repeating herself is tiring, but she's committed. ]

I've gotten stronger since then. [ And anyway, ] I'm not asking your permission.

[followhim]

[ his brow furrows in frustration while he tries to figure out how to word his emotions in a way that won't immediately push her away. ] I know you're not! I just — I don't wanna lose you again.

[forcevisions]

I need to do this.

[ She's not going to try and say it won't be hard on her, or dangerous. To be honest, she doesn't know. But she needs to do it. And that should be enough to put arguments against it to bed. ]

[followhim]

[ he can understand it. he understands it because it's too much like himself. ]

Okay. I get it. You don't gotta do it to me, though. I think I can handle it.

[ at least there's that. if he can yeet himself, he's pretty sure he can yote. ]

[forcevisions]

Then help me round other people up and tell them what we're going to do.

[ Firmly put. That's how he can help make sure it goes well. ]

[followhim]

[ he starts to move, then stops. the feelings won't go away; he can't chase them out or outrun them. unfortunately. ]

Hey, I'm — I'm really glad you're okay.

[forcevisions]

[ For a moment, she just hesitates. Then a smile starts at the edges of her mouth, and gradually spreads into a grin. Rey nods—forceful, earnest. It feels good to matter. It's still sinking in, the fact that so many people had shown up just to try and get her back. One person.

There's believing that everyone is inherently good, then seeing it in action. It says more about them than about her. But she'd be lying if she said it didn't feel good. ]

I'm glad you came.

[followhim]

Me, too.

[ he smiles back. because it's good to see her happy and here, unscathed-ish. ]

When you first started posting all that stuff, I was worried about something happening to you. I should've said something.

[ while saying this, it occurs to him that she is him and that wouldn't have stopped her at all. ]

[forcevisions]

You saw the videos.

[ Not her brightest moment. Her smile fades some, but it's mostly the self-flagellating. Rey will not be making another CoolTalk since by now, the UNA has presumably taken hers down. ]

It wouldn't have stopped me. After what they said about Morningstar in that press release, I was just ... so mad. And then El made it sound like Fischer might not even be dead, and I ... [ She sighs. ] It just wasn't fair.

[followhim]

I know. I know it's not fair.

[ he tries to dig that inspirational speech out from under the couch. it's surprisingly hard. ]

The Resistance had backlash too, you know. Lots of it. The only way to win is to keep going. Sometimes that means laying low.

[forcevisions]

[ Rey pulls herself back from the teetering brink of talking too much about her feelings. In its place, an understanding nod comes. It's the same logic that others have tried to give her: Cassian, Peggy, Daisy, and more. She hadn't been ready to accept it then, blind with rage about the announcement and lonely in the absent of Fitz and Peggy and Ben.

She can hear it now. ]

I don't think I'll be able to reenter the city with the rest of you. No one can see Rey Nolo running around, after this. [ There are grim implications there. ] I ... I don't think I can go back home with you, either.

[followhim]

That's not —

[ true. only it is. he knows that it is, but wants to argue against it anyway. that feels easier than losing a best friend roommate. ]

Hey, come on. That's not true. What else am I supposed to do?

[ poe dameron used a cool party trick called "denial" ]

[forcevisions]

I don't know.

[ Reluctant, quiet. ]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean for — [ But this is the way it is. Intentions don't matter at this stage. ] ... We're only just reaching the end of Illya's lease. It should be easy to break it. Find somewhere smaller, or ... or bring someone else in.

[ She's the one who needs to put together a deposit. Fortunately, she has considerable savings from the whole 'not spending money' thing. Especially since rent was covered up until — well, until December 1st. At least the timing is convenient. ]

[followhim]

Where are you gonna go?

[ he decides to focus on rey instead of himself and his own life upheaval he will have to deal with upon coming home. it's cool. cool cool cool. ]

[forcevisions]

I don't know yet.

[ She shrugs one shoulder. Not exactly heartening, but Rey's certain that she'll figure it out. When you've been destitute, it's easy to feel assured that no matter what the material loss looks like, you can withstand it. ]

[followhim]

[ when your mental gears are turning but you're trying not to freak out because what are you talking about poe dameron is a Cool Dude who never freaks out about anything ever. he is super chill all the time. this thread is a series of gifs. ]

What -- should I avoid seeing you? How far does this go?

[forcevisions]

No. No, I think ... I'm sure that's not part of it. [ Dumping her entire social circle feels like a bridge too far, but they are talking about survival and avoiding further imprisonment. ] I've been talking to El about it. We just want to avoid suspicious flags. I'll need a new ID. A new job. A new apartment.

I probably shouldn't visit you at the old one, though. I might need someone else to gather my things.

[followhim]

[ he's making math lady face: sour edition while turning this over in his mind. ] So I can see you, but you can't visit me.

[ he sighs. gotta figure that living situation out. maybe the landlord will let him stay a few months rent free if he tells them his roommate died. ]

I'll pack it up for you.

[forcevisions]

[ For a while, she's quiet. It's hard not to pick up on the crackle of his emotions, even without the Force to guide her. Rey doesn't really know what to do with it though. ]

I'm sorry.

[ She said it before, but it seems to bear repeating. She never wanted this. ]

[followhim]

[ he knows he shouldn't be mad, that it isn't her fault -- or at least, she didn't anticipate the consequences of her actions.

but he doesn't know what to do either, besides be mad and break things, his reflex response. it's not a very useful reflex response now, in a tight enclosed area with very few things to break. ]

I know. I'll figure it out. We'll both figure it out. It'll be okay.

[forcevisions]

[ Something (hint: it's the ptsd) bubbles up in her stomach, churning and unpleasant, and it shouts for her that he's going to leave her. That she might not have to stop seeing him, but his anger will make him reluctant to see her. He hadn't been able to count on her and now he wouldn't want to.

Rey quiets it, focusing on just ... breathing. As a result, she's quiet again for a stretch. Then she does what she does best: she focuses on the problems she can fix, on something to keep her too occupied to be afraid. ]

Let's get people off this train. One problem at a time.

[followhim]

Yeah.

[ he tries to push the bad feelings down. he'll have plenty of time to feel them when they're back in new amsterdam. ] Right. You're right. Let's do that.

[ and he moves to start rounding people up. ]