14769/Glamping Trip

Glamping Trip
Date of Scene:	25 April 2023
Location:	Security: Triskelion
Synopsis:	A visitor! Michael is planning Savage Land nonsense, but Jessica comes by to say hello.
Cast of Characters:	Michael Erickson, Jessica Drew

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Michael Erickson has posed:
    In the depths of S.W.O.R.D.'s assigned office honeycombs, like a particularly intense sort of bee, the newly-minted Agent Erickson sits in a sterile office hunched over a terminal with long fingers battering away at the keys as if playing a particularly manic pipe organ. The screens fill with data, overlaid upon maps and the like, and what isn't put up on the monitor he has scribbled down on a legal pad(!) in cubic Shi'ar glyphs. Lots of nonsense to scribble down, lots of things to plan...

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jess has a sunny corner office on the revamped upper floors, a bonanza that she shares with another Agent. Neither of them are ever in at the same time. She breezes through security, flashing her badge, hands in the pockets of her wide shouldered jacket over a sleek silk blouse- a call back to the eighties, matched with a pair of wide-legged pants and rather masculine shoes.

After a cursory knock she enters the room, "Busy, busy. Glad they gave you an office." With a questioning hike of her eyebrows she pulls out a chair, "OKay if I visit for a bit?"

Michael Erickson has posed:
    Mike's usual flat gray flannel suit is, this time, replaced by an extremely well-made Prince-of-Wales number from...well, probably also the Eighties, though made then and not simply recalling it. Brooks Brothers, prime evil-stockbroker stuff, man. He's wearing /suspenders/ under his tightly-buttoned vest. Upon Jess's arrival he looks up and nods, gesturing for her to enter the small, sterile space, and leans back in his chair to look at her as she settles in.

    "I think they just wanted me to get out of the hangar," Michael says, a ghost of a smile flickering upon his lips. "And yes, busy. The Brood must be purged from this planet. I don't know that I've quite been able to express just how necessary it is, but I'm trying my best." Now if you've heard anything about his 'briefings', of course, you'd know that they aren't so much briefings as reconstructions of that scene in 'Aliens' where Ripley is vociferously pleading to the Wayland-Yutani suits to stay the Hell away from LV-426. "I'm actually pitching a sortie out of the base we're setting up in the Savage Land, here. I want to collect biological specimens as soon as possible."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"The Shi'ar Empire has had a long history with them, haven't they?" Ticking a finger on the desk she seated herself at, she looks into the distance before adding, "A sortie? What do you need the biological samples for?"

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "I expect many empires have met them." Michael glances between the computer on this desk and the lady sitting opposite him. "And I want samples to bring to the science personnel. I want them to be able to see what they're dealing with and, if possible, it is my hope that a suitable organic vector might be able to be developed to deal with them." Biological weapons, in other words. "If not, then hopefully we can gain new insight into how they might otherwise be expunged."

Jessica Drew has posed:
She has now grabbed a pen left on the desk and clicks it on the desk as she considers his idea. "I don't have the full intel on how the Brood has inserted itself into the landscape. But," she stops clicking the pen, "I thought they were something like the ultimate adaptogens and couldn't be stopped with biological warfare."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "No weapon is off the table." Michael shakes his head. "And bioweapons take many forms. Nanophages, for example, have been employed in the past to effect. Or possibly a sterilization weapon. Simply burning everything may not be effective, not if the infection is to be truly excoriated. Not unless people want to stop dropping nuclear weapons." He shrugs. "Though I say, a few antimatter warheads would probably deal with everything in the area. It would kill everything else, however. I expect that's to be avoided."

    He squint as she's taken his pen, and turns to scatter his fingertips across the keyboard for a moment. "In any case, specimens should be collected. How are you?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Well, the science types love specimens so you'll make a big hit with them." Jess holds up the pen with an apologetic look and pushes it back to him.

"But nix on nuclear or anti-matter unless it looks like they are going to break out of the area and we have no other options. Too bad Thor can't just smash them."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "That's what I thought," Michael says with a shrug. Leave it to the Shi'ar to go nuclear - or, at least, plan it out right off the bat. "So. How /are/ you?" Prod. Prod.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Puzzled, she answers on a rising note, "Fine? I haven't been out in the field since the Dark Elves galloped through here. Been keeping my eyes on some Mafia types. You know, the usual."

Her gaze moves to his new badge, "I'm so glad they finally capitulated and brought you in. It's been long enough."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "Not long enough in my estimation," he says as he looks down at his chest. "Where I them. But I'm overcautious. I'm pleased that they're going to take the leap." He looks back up, brows arched. "That reminds me. I've gotten those 'pipes' of Sayif's into circulation. Quantum bug is tracking nicely. I expect we'll have our location by the end of the week."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Oh, very good news that." She nods, pleased, "End of the week? What are your plans then?"

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "Surveil and then raid," he replies with a shrug. "I don't want to fool around now that we've gotten a possible location. If I can get those pods, I want to get them as soon as possible. Then we need to find the shield generator."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Nodding gravely, "This has been cleared, I take it." She pauses, nearly smiling, asks, "Who are you taking with you on it?"

Michael Erickson has posed:
    He flutters his lashes. "It will be," Michael replies, almost coy. "And I've some selections in mind. You'll be my second, won't you?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
The smile begins in her eyes, "Flirt. You know how to woo a girl. Who else will be on the team?"

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "Whomever can be tasked at the time," he replies. "I really won't be aiming for subtlety. If we can rip the heart out of this operation, so be it." He pauses a moment, lips pursing before he continues. "You know, once the pods are in, she'll be spaceworthy. The ship, that is. Just won't have defenses."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Smiling and shaking her head ruefully at him, "Like I said, you know how to woo a girl. Spaceships beat bouquets any day, in my book. I hope we get the pods for your ships." After a glance up at the clock on the wall she rises, "Keep me informed. I have my go-bag ready. I've got to get back upstairs. Good to see you Michael."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    His lips quirk into a smile, warm and genuine this time - but he says nothing, simply nodding his goodbye. Back to work.