Marco Domici: Hudiksvall

"Team Two, hang close." Marco comm'd quietly. "Feel free to mingle and shop, within about 50 meters. Hotel Two is on the VIPs. There are too many people on edge to play here. Team One, take up a position on that major road, bearing 225. It looks like that would be the place for trouble to start, if people come to holler."

"Feel free to grab us some chow, when you can."

"Well, yes. Marco...sir." Patrick licked his lips again and looked away from Marco. "I did."

They were in the shadow of a larger truck. It blocked the wind, a little. Both men stomped their feet in the packed snow.

"You're growing Hotel One, Patrick." Marco looked at him. "You are using your contacts and history to build a solid team. But your mind is elsewhere."

Marco laid a hand on Patrick's shoulder. "I need you right here, right now, Patrick. What's going on?"

"Kim is proud of me." Patrick said quietly. He licked his lips. "The girls love it when I play house with them." His eyes wandered around the town. "These people, the ones that don't know me. I could fit in here as long as no one asked for a card. We could live here and do some good."

Marco waited.

"I have money, Marco. More than I've ever seen in my entire life!" Patrick hissed. "It happed at Fargestra. A guy...some guy I don't know offered me a promise of half a mil to rescue someone from...you know."

Marco started. "He knew where we were going?"

"Everyone knows, Marco!" Patrick looked at him. "Everyone!"

Marco cursed.

"Look, it's about time to go. The man gave me one offer, and then a counter-offer from another client. For the second one he gave me a briefcase full of money. Full, Marco!" Patrick placed a hand on Marco's armor.

Marco looked at Patrick for a long moment. "You want to take the briefcase back to Kim?" Marco said quietly.

"No...yes." Patrick hung his head. "I really want to. I want to run and hide and see the girls grow up healthy." He looked up. "But I am tired of looking over my shoulder all the time, too. I want them to be proud of me, Marco. Even when they know the whole truth, I want the good to out weigh the bad. Can we do that Marco? Is that what we're here for?"

"Convoy, pre..."

"Incoming vehicle! High speed, bearing 117." The comms cracked out. Marco recognized Johanna's voice. "Ce, you're on the vehicle. Everyone else, look alive!"

Marco quickly scrambled up the side of the truck and watched the unit's reactions. "Nice..." he muttered to himself. With a private channel he comm'd Jo in Charlie One. "Anyone watching the sky?"

"Petter, top cover." Jo said.

As Marco watched the speeder come in he shook his head. Climbing down, he added. "I take it you don't know much else? Feed the info to Rasmus and Derek. Tell them I want a briefing at the next town." He started off, and then turned. "You might want to stow the case. Just to resist temptation."

Marco started again, and came back, close. "Patrick. I see how this town works. I see how this planet works. The numbers are lousy. Yeah, I want to earn respect. I want the kids, lots of them, to grow up knowing they have food because brave men and women stood up to tyranny. You just gotta decide if you're in for the short game or are willing to go all the way. Up to you."

Marco walked slowly towards the now identified college vehicle. He inspected the paint job on the lettering, the shoes the people were wearing, and their bearing. And inside the vehicle, if he can see it. He seemed oblivious to the two women flanking him, weapons at the ready.

OOC: Jozu can sense Marco doesn't trust the group. He's trying to figure out how to signal for a scan of the vehicle.

OOC: If there are no risky signs, Marco adds:

Marco signaled the convoy to start moving. "Follow us if you want. Since I don't know who you are, and since travel is rough, do not do anything to spook my people. We are a merchant convoy and only get paid if we live and succeed. You put that at risk, people might get upset."

Marco jogged to catch up to his ride. "Thank you, ladies." He said to Tala and Jillia. "You looked very professional."

"I think he was staring at the brunette." Jillia said to Tala. "She was about to fall out of that blouse!"

"They ever turn the heat on in this thing?" Tala replied. "Must be nice to ride in something that has a working heater, you know."

"Switching from hot to cold is bad for you." Marco replied, looking to Johanna for support. She just rolled her eyes and amped the grav plates.

"I'd let you get hot." Derek said, keeping his eyes on the screen. He was looking at an old picture. "You could loosen up a bit and I'd not complain."

"Derek, scan that college vehicle and keep your mind on your own laptop." Johanna called back. "Tala just learned how to shoot that thing, it might go off accidentally. You never know."

Derek blushed. "Yes ma'am." He added the images they had just taken of the college crew. "Rasums, what do you think?"

Using only passive sensors, it is almost on you when you first detect it ... another Attack Drone. This one crosses from east to west directly over the convoy at a height of about 1000 meters with no active sensors. You watch it, but it makes no changes in course or speed. It just flies past. Another sigh of relief.

"Ce, good responses." Johanna called back. "Derek, I still need you in those comms. Who the heck keeps sending drones after us, and what can we do about it?"

"Roger that, boss!" Ce kept the weapon's passive tracking on the disappearing drone. The student's hadn't waved at this one and so far Derek hadn't been able to crack into it's comms.

"You know, having a firing solution for a bug gun like that is nice and all, but it would be really good to actually shoot the thing before we go into combat." Ce spoke to the back of Marco's head. He was still on the raft's screen HUD and tracking the drone, the vehicles, and responding to comms.

"Fortunately for all of us, Cecilia, I picked a steady hand who understands patience." Marco talked to the screen, after muting the comms. He was just listening now. "I know you will do well. You picked up quickly and have remembered everything I said."

"That's because you explained it like I was still in diapers." Ce paused for a moment. "I'm used to people saying I'm not smart, Captain. I just hoped you weren't going to be like everyone else."

Marco looked back at Ce for a moment, and dimmed the HUD.

"Sorry sir, I was out of line." Ce said.

"No, Cecelia, that's fine." Marco said. He came out of the front chair and took a knee in front of her. Derek muttered something and they yelped when Tala punched his shoulder.

"I explained it to you like it was explained to me, Cecelia." Marco said. He ignored Derek and Tala. "They did it slowly because it was critical. You understand heavy weapons already, because you work with Petter and Bertha." He smiled. "Hate to break it to you, but Petter's gonna be real jealous when he sees what this one can do. I'm absolutely serious, though. When this thing fires it will leave a big sign laying around for a couple hours. They'll know we have a tech edge and they'll ask for help. As long as they think we're just a few upset anti-government upstarts, we draw less fire. That's a good thing, right now."

"Yes sir." Ce grinned. "Since we're talking openly, care to explain that bruise on you neck?"

"Climbing walls and leading ruffians is dangerous work, soldier." Marco replied.

When he had returned to his seat, Johanna put some comm feeds going to the back. After a few minutes she said quietly. "Well done. Of course, we pretty much are a few upset anti-government upstarts, you know."

"Yeah." Marco replied. "Still, we're a bunch of anti-government upstarts with a lot of firepower and the attitude to use it. That may take us far."

"May?" Johanna said. "You having doubts?"

"I've never quit doubting. Myself, anyway. The rest of you seem pretty solid."

"Don't say that too loud, Captain. After the Verner thing, people think you're just short of invincible."

Marco turned look at her. "You mean his salute meant that much?"

"No, though that was a shocker." Johanna grinned. "It's that you snuck off for some cuddle time with his daughter and lived to show off the love bite. Now that's impressive!"

"Yeah, well, the mission isn't over yet. Don't count me invincible until there's no more use for me. Then, well, maybe."

"You two are talking like parents do when the kids are too young to understand. Anything us youngsters should know?" Derek sat behind Johanna so he could half-see Marco.

"Yeah. Not sure what you said back there but you might want to talk quieter." Marco replied. Johanna went back to quietly driving.

"Tell me about it." Derek rubbed his shoulder. "She almost knocked me out of my seat!"

"You probably deserved it." Marco smiled. "I assume you're dumping the person data up front now, as well as info on those drones. What's the short version?"

"Your Mister A is a bad guy. Through and through. Lots of contacts on the black market though, so that's an option. Well, other contacts as well, but you can read the list for yourself. There are a couple others at the camp...not sure what you want to do."

"The second drone was on a routine patrol. I have it's data feed coming in, the codes aren't really secure. Never were, even before we had such good gear. Everything doing flights over the camp is being slowly moved away. Minor course changes for unmanned stuff and reports of failing hardware for the system boat up there."

"Good job." Marco nodded. "What do you think of those college kids?"

Derek blushed.

"Okay, are you lusting after the gear or the girls?" Marco chuckled. "Never mind, forget I asked that. You and Rasmus talk to them next stop. Sound out their technical skills and risk tolerance. Also, if they have any friends that can be helpful to the new government. Have Rasmus plant some story line seeds that will bear fruit in a week or two."

Derek started back but Marco stopped him. "Of course, if you get their comm info for later, I'm sure you can share war stories after all this is done. Some women like a man in uniform."

Derek blushed again and buried himself in his screen.

"Mar...Captain." Johanna said. "I think you'd try and find a use for a teeny-bopper in a tutu. Is no one safe from your grasp?"

"Nope." Marco snorted. "If they can help us achieve the mission then they can wear the skimpiest lime green tutu made!"

He brought up the HUD and started reviewing Derek's data. "Besides, have you thought about our group? Exactly what would it take to be considered 'odd' in this gang?"

"I shiver at the thought." Johanna smiled. "What's the drill for Hedemora? Guide people sharing the adventure?"

"Sort of." Marco say for a bit. "I know it's going to be tough, but I want the teams to stay in their mixed state. If the local Guide people see their own willing to stand beside the Mountain Men and the black marketeers, well, I think it will send a powerful message."

"You still on that unification kick?"

"Yup. A place for everyone and everyone contributing to success. Speaking of which, I've been meaning to ask. You and Gabriella have any contacts we could use to bring some COACC folks to our side? I'm assuming not everyone is as politically blind as the secret police."

Johanna hesitated. "Gabbie and I have talked." She said quietly. "No one wants to make the first move though. There are a few who would definitely be interested though, once the camp run is done. Might even get some of the SDB folks to at least passively help out. We just gotta show it's worth the risk."

"Understood." Marco replied. "They probably don't see a lot of the unrest, except at the end of a targeting system."

"Yeah. Well...there's that."

"We're on course, Lieutenant. Stay the course and we will succeed."

"Yeah, and then we can test that invincibility theory."