NationStates Jolt Archive

Brigadier-General Ian Carpenter was sitting in the pasenger compartment of an MH-53J helicopter as it flew over the rolling sand dunes of the Western Desert, about 500 kilometres West from San Allimos. Beside him sat Lieutenant-Colonel Amy Sterling, his chief staff officer, going over their unit's orders. He thought back to a week earlier, sitting in his air-conditioned office in the Combat Engineer Command in Arrio when he was given command of the 1st Special Engineering Application Brigae, although his excitement was soon dashed when he learned it meant he would be spending a better part of six months in the middle of the desert. He looked through the deployment orders as the helicopter dropped in altitude and approached the camp which contained the rest of the engineering brigade, they were to be working on an old missile launch facility and convert it for use by the Aequatian Military Research and Development Corps and a few government-owned Corporations.

Carpenter stepped off the rear loading ramp of the helicopter after it landed, with Sterling in tow he made his way towards the command centre from where he would be monitoring and directing the unit's operations. He entered the tent with the usual salutes from the staff officers and entered the small area that would be his office for the next six months, he sat at his desk which was made up of a wooden field desk and stool. "Six months and only 1,500 personnel and they expect me to be ready to accept heavy research equipment and civilian personnel?" He thought as he worried and examined work reports from assignments that had been completed. He sighed as he took a drink of water and sat back in his chair.

OOC: The point of this RP is the construction, development and operation of a Black Mesa-esque research facility in the Aequatian Western Desert. People that wish to take part can either take the form of single character working for a private firm or a research organization that would take part in research operations that wouldn't be legal in its native nation's land but wish to be undertaken to avoid being in the open.

Dark Basin Notes for RP

Notable Characters
- Dr. Barnard Sherman, Ph.D, Administrator of Dark Basin Research Facility (54, Aequatian)
- Dr. Helen MacKenzie, Ph.D, Scientific Associate for High-Energy Particle Science Department (28, Aequatian)
- Dr. Walter Straussman, Ph.D, Team Leader, Cravanian Research Team (56, Cravanian)
- "The Benefactor", "Company" Owner, (?, Kravenitte (sp?))

Minor Characters
- Randall Fleming, Liason Officer, Dark Basin Personnel Support Department (24, Aequatian)
- Jeremy Hawkins, Corporal (E-4), Aequatian Republic Marine Corps (ARMC), Dark Basin Security Task Force (20, Aequatian)
- Frank Alberts, Technical Sergeant (E-6), Aequatian Republic Air Force (ARAF), Hanger 01 Foreman, Dark Basin Airfield Support Squadron (32, Aequatian)
- Herbert Mingus, Vending Machine Support Personnel, (?, Commonalitarianist)
- Dr. Bernard Shaw, Ph.D (Theoretical Sciences, Nuclear Physics, and High Energy Physics), DMG Military Industries Representative (57, Demogade)
- Robert, Dr. Shaw's Assistant (?, Demogade)

It had been nearly two weeks since his arrival and Carpenter still had not acclimatized to the desert terrain he was living in, despite the fact he spent most of his time inside the command detachment's tent going over work reports. So far the only thing that had been completed was the removal of the fire control systems for the old Minuteman V missiles that once resided underground in concrete tombs and a survey of the facility's infrastructure and what would be requiring only simple maintainance to full-blown demolition and reconstruction. The plans called for the entire underground campus to be redesigned and placed with several complexes that would house different research and scientific elements.

The entire facility was to be converted into a full institute that would cover every conceivable scientific discipline. Much of the work that would be undertaken at the facility will involve fairly standard scientific research, such as radiation, rocketry, theoretical physics, lasers, experimental propulsion, hydraulics, robotics, magnetism, genetic engineering and a very wide spectrum of research into chemistry and all manner of physics research. However, unknown to those working on the complex, there would also be a number of highly classified projects being developed, many involving the Department of National Defence and the nation's leading Defence Contractor, Aequatian Military Industries, into high-tech weapons research and other unworldly systems.

The complex was to be dominated by a bewildering number of laboratories, test areas, and administration offices. These, along with cavernous storage facilities, would take up most of the underground areas of the complex. Despite being located in the middle of a desert, the underground and indoors sections of the facility are maintained at 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) at all times, enabled by the facility's sprawling network of ventilation ducts.

As employees are required to live in the complex itself, Dark Basin contains many personnel facilities, including laundromats, recreation and sports areas such as lounges, basketball courts, swimming pools, a movie rental outlet, fast food outlets, food courts, cafeterias, and at least one bar serving alcoholic beverages. The facility is well-populated by vending machines and rest areas for the employees of the facility. Employees' families reside in the dormitory complexes as well which would be located on the surface (where the engineer's current base camp resides). The complex will also have its own newspaper, The Basin Times, much like those printed on Aequatian Navy aircraft carriers and at Aequatian Air Force Bases. Information consoles and terminals, personnel manifests and directories are printed in a number of languages (including English, French, German, Russian, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese and Arabic), since the facility will be recruiting international personnel. The facility's security systems will also include automated defence systems such as machinegun turrets and a system for the release of incapacitating agents.

The physical range of the facility is nothing short of massive, large enough that the surface area is divided into seven lettered sectors and upwards of nine numbered areas. Most of the facility is located underground, where vast concrete-lined caverns and old ICBM silos are to be linked by a network of electric trams. Dark Basin will be apparently self-sufficient, housing its own ventilation, plumbing, sewage, and power generation systems including a geothermal power station, a small scale nuclear reactor and multiple types of electrical generators and reactors such as solar panels and generators for individual residences on the surface. The facility will be filled with all kinds of laboratories and testing areas, most of which contain very high-tech equipment. The complex also features multi-story car parks (complete with four-wheel drive SUVs), arsenals of nuclear and conventional weapons (military testing and storage), a local electric rail materials transport network, laboratories housing the latest equipment for every conceivable high-tech scientific discipline including a powerful mass spectrometer, a large-scale partical accelerator and even a rocket launch site. Dark Basin is to be kept supplied by an airlift operation from San Allimos 500 kilometres to the East. The facility itself is relatively old considering that some areas have been described by engineers as "old" or "abandoned." Several areas of the complex are badly run-down despite the obvious fact that they are still in use, however, these areas are to be repaired by the working personnel now present. The surface areas will feature more modern construction and are to be the most comfortable as they will contain the residential area.

OOC: Would it be all right if the Cravanian military had researchers here? I've got some stuff that needs researching to counter some of Kraven's stuff. Nothing illegal... Just nothing I want leaked to other governments.

OOC: Would it be all right if the Cravanian military had researchers here? I've got some stuff that needs researching to counter some of Kraven's stuff. Nothing illegal... Just nothing I want leaked to other governments.

OOC: You can research here, as long as it's RPed a little bit with some interaction with some characters I'm going to introduce once the facility is completed. (Scientists, administrators, security personnel, etc.) Anything goes for research as it is meant to be fully secured and top secret to anyone outside of its walls.

OOC: Excellent. Expect a post sometime tomorrow.

Brigaider Carpenter was walking along a line of tents towards the elevators that led underground to where crews were working on the Dark Basin Research Facility, it had been nearly 22 weeks since the project started and due to a number of accidents from the old, weakened structure of the base and delays in the delivery of equipment to aid in the construction efforts, the entire project would run almost 8 weeks over schedule. He entered the elevator and pressed the button to "Sub-Basement 3" after being told of a situation that had occured by the work crews where a waterpipe had broken and flooded a large part of the administration offices. He sighed as he massaged his forehead, trying to relieve his headache, "Why couldn't they have sent me to Orezia to help build infrastructure there, it would have been easier than this troublesome place," he thought to himself as the elevator halted with a ping and the doors slid open.

As the brigadier stepped out onto the black and white checkered-pattern tiled floor, a young sergeant with his boots and trousers soaked with water up to his knees approached and saluted, "Brigadier, Sir, numerous wings of Sector Delta have been flooded from the watermain leading from the reservoir to the hydroponics complex in Sector Echo. The water damage has destroyed the drywall fifty centimetres up from the floor and has damaged the local area network cables throughout the sector."

Carpenter shook his head and almost chuckled from his frustration before looking the sergeant, "Get the reserve dayshift crews in here, tear out the drywall and replace it, as for the network cables, have the tech guys look over them and repair what they can... replace what they can't."

"Sir, the reserve dayshift personnel are currently helping in Sector Bravo, they are still having problems with the coolant delivery and distribution systems, until that's cleared up, they can't spare anyone," replied the sergeant, "The personnel we have here can do that, but Major Byrd said that it would put the entire schedule back another 72-working hours."

Obviously annoyed, the Brigadier spoke his his hands over his face, "Just get it done, I'll write up a report for command back in Arrio," he said as he turned back to the elevator and slammed his fist against the button for the surface. He lit a cigarette and took a drag as the elevator rose.

OOC: Excellent. Expect a post sometime tomorrow.

OOC: All right, everything should be completed by then, along with a full layout of the facility and a directory (Something along the lines at a shopping mall or government building).

Things had finally picked up around Dark Basin as the old facility had begun to cooperate with the engineers as they prepared the complex for the arrival of the research and support personnel. Brigadier Carpenter was riding in the passenger seat of a cargo-configured Wolf Humvee as it drove through the residential "Area 8 Topside Dormitories" where base personnel would be living while working at Dark Basin. The entire area had an artificial, suburban atmosphere as the vehicle continued past the main electric tram station that led inside the underground facility. 30 weeks had gone by and things were finally coming close to an end, all but the most complicated and delicate equipment had arrived from San Allimos, and soon they would be handing responsibility over to the Dark Basin Support Brigade who were better specialized for civilian systems. He had arrived at the dormatories that were being used by the 1st SEAB until they were to leave and were much more liked than the tents they had stayed in for the first 26 weeks they were working on the facility. Carpenter walked into his office and sat at his desk to examine the full schematics of the base that would be presented to his superiors at the debriefing once he arrived back in Arrio.

Dark Basin contains a bewildering array of laboratories, storage areas, personnel facilities, and abandoned sectors. Some of the facilities encountered include:

Training Facility (Sector A/"Alpha") - Sector A contains physical training facilities for personnel and security officers. Demonstrations are provided by presentation terminals and videos, whilst participants are constantly monitored by training officers. The Hazard Course appears to be built over old, disused industrial sectors of the facility. This facility can also be accessed at anytime during the facility's normal operational hours.

Coolant Reserve Facility (Sector B/"Beta") - The reserve complex stores industrial coolant for Dark Basin's thousands of computers and machines. It is first seen by personnel when they first arrive at Sector C by way of the underground electric monorail tram.

Test Labs & Control Facilities (Sector C/"Gamma") - One of many laboratory complexes, Sector C is one of the primary reseach facilities. This underground area is fitted with a large test chamber built inside an old missile silo, ionization chambers, and several offices containing high-speed computers. Sector C houses the advanced laser research and development departments and an industrial-sized mass spectrometer.

Administration (Sector D/"Delta") - One of the only areas that has facilities both above and below ground, Sector D houses administration offices, materials storage areas, and personnel facilities such as cafeterias, kitchens with large cold-storage freezers, recreation areas, and employee lounges. Although parts of the Sector D Administration Complex are modern, above-ground suites, the areas underground are decidedly older and are refurbished from the facility's previous use as a Minuteman V Missile Base. Since much of Sector D is based deep underground, it has low ceilings and a complete lack of windows. Judging by the shabby appearance and depressing feel of these subterranean offices, it can be assumed that the administration suite is a relatively old part of the Dark Basin facility.

Biodome Complex (Sector E/"Epsilon") - A very high-security and high-tech section of the facility, the Biodome houses a variety of laboratories and test chambers for experiments on creatures from around the world. Located deep underground and sealed off with heavy steel blast doors, the Biodome also features artificial habitats for animal specimens, complete with observation areas. Areas of the Biodome will still be under construction when the facility opens, but will not hinder primary research projects and containment of specimens.

Track Control Facility (Sector F/"Zeta") - A moderately sized facility that joins with the old missile base's rail system, this facility provides the power needed to activate and run the rail system. Two generators are located at the bottom of the facility which runs power to the rail line.

Omega Complex (Sector G/"Lambda") - A very high-security area, the Omega complex houses Dark Basin's nuclear reactor and top secret labs. The complex is fortified with concrete ditches and walls, and can be fully sealed off with very thick reinforced steel blast doors. It houses the Omega Reactor Core, taking up 4 levels of the complex, and is used to power the laboratories and systems within the facility.

Canal System (Sector H/"Theta") - Located at the deepest point at the Facility, the canal system is the main transport system for waste processing that is soon shipped off to the Waste Processing Plant. The canal system features a wide range of ventilation ducts, canals, waste processing, and runs off from the Freight Warehouse on the surface.

High Security Materials Storage - This large storage area is comprised of several large concrete storage chambers fitted with fire-proof blast doors. Non-radioactive materials and important equipment may be stored here.

Geothermal Power Station - Part of the Sector H complex, the plant is Dark Basin's primary power source (excluding Sector G which is self-contained with its nuclear core), responsible for providing electric power to the whole facility.

High Altitude Launch Complex - Reached via the rail system, this facility houses the launching equipment for satellite delivery rockets. A converted ICBM silo provides storage for a large rocket while a second provides a launch platform.

Area 7 Recreational Facilities - As Dark Basin's employees are required to live in the facility itself, Area 7 contains comforts and diversions such as laundromats, recreation and sports areas such as lounges, basketball courts, swimming pools, a movie rental outlet, a two screen movie theatre, fast food outlets, food courts, cafeterias, and at least one bar serving alcoholic beverages ("The Desert Rose"). The facility is well-populated by vending machines and rest areas for the employees of the facility..

Infirmary - The infirmary is equipped with CAT and MRI scanners. It contains all of the facilities as an Aequatian Navy Hospital ship and can care for a majority of ailments that may arise through an employee's time at the facility, although critical patients are merely stabilized here for flight to San Allimos for full treatment.

Experimental Propulsions Lab Silo (Silo D) - Located deep underground in a cavernous and deserted sector, this facility uses an old Minuteman V silo which has been converted into a propulsion test laboratory. Two other silos (E and F) house the power generator and fuel/oxygen transfer facilities.

Rail System - Spreading deep underground is the old missile base's rail system, which was decommissioned and mostly abandoned. However, with repair work fully successful and power generators working, the old trams are still on the tracks for support purposes. Most of the old rail system, though, has been replaced with a high-tech modern electric tram network. The modern tram system is administered by the Dark Basin Transit Authority.

Central Logistics Offices and Distribution Centre - A large hub of the rail lines meet at the Freight yards, which also act as a storage facility for the vast quantities of materials airlifted into the facility. A full-time air link to San Allimos civilian airways network ensures that Dark Basin is kept well-supplied.

Hydrofauna Studies Laboratories - These labs are part of the Biodome complex and allow scientists to observe the aquatic lifeform specimens. A large chamber in the lower levels hold a shark cage, glass-fronted tanks and various observation areas inside the tanks.

Dormitories - This area contains living quarters for facility personnel, along with a library, a swimming pool, and various other recreational facilities. The average dormitory room is furnished with a bed, entertainment centre (with television) and a small bathroom with shower.

Military Facilities - In addition to various defence mechanisms around the facility, including automated machine-gun turrets and bomb-proof blast doors, a military installation and airfield is located on the Dark Basin compound. The Dark Basin facility itself contains a nuclear warhead storage facility, a mechanized infantry repair bay, several arsenals full of military equipment, and facilities accommodating aircraft and tanks. Hangers also afford the base use of various aircraft, including fighters for defence and patrolling along with experimental aircraft that may be under development by organizations inside.

Level 1 Main Facility Entrance - The Level 1 Main Facility Entrance isused as a central entrance checkpoint for all the facility personnel. The facility is on a tram route near the Sector G Main Access Lift and allows for entrance to other Sectors of the facility.

Ordnance Storage Facility - A vast storage facility, which takes up a considerable amount of space on Dark Basin's surface, the facility is used primarily for the storage of explosives ranging from small arms ammunition to nuclear missiles.

Area 3 Security Facilities - Located just down the rail line from the Area 3 Dormitories, Area 3 Security Facilities is the central security checkpoint for Area 3 and Sector C. The facility is adjacent to the High-Energy Particle Labs, and encompasses a central lobby, personnel facilities, video surveillance, and an armoury.

Dark Basin Central Complex - The central command point for the Facility, where computer scientists monitor the day-to-day activities within Dark Basin. The Administrator's office is located here. The Central Complex runs off from Omega Bunker.

Dark Basin Waste Processing - The Dark Basin Waste Processing is the central Facility for the containment of biohazardous materials and chemicals within waste-products and used water.

Area 8 Topside Dormitories - One of the many topside dormitories on the Dark Basin surface is the Area 8 Topside Dormitories. A transit system begins not too far ahead of the apartments.

Area 9 Transit Hub - The Area 9 Transit Hub, which is located in the Base's sub-levels, acts as one of the many transit security checkpoints throughout the Dark Basin Research Facility. Trams that pass through the Area 9 Transit Hub can be rerouted to both the Sector E and C transit lines.

Freight Warehouse - Located on the surface of the Facility, the Freight Warehouse is another one of the many storage facilities in the Dark Basin Facility. The Freight Warehouse stores Level 4 clearance documents, materials, and equipment, that are shipped in or transported out of Dark Basin by the airlift service, which is accessible from the Freight Yard.

High Energy Particle Labs - This sector is directed at research into high energy particles, with possible weapons applications. Contains the facility's the large-scale particle accelerator.

Advanced Biological Research Laboratory - The Advanced Biological Research Laboratory is a secondary-level sector which doubles as the main lobby for the Biodome Complex. It is located on and below the surface, situated near the Sector H Geothermal Station. The first level acts as a biological research lab, where scientists can conduct experiments, exploratory surgery, and dissections on live specimens, as well as observing their natural habitats, diet, characteristics, and survival skills. The second level is used as an experimental weapon reserach lab, which is used for the development of high-tech weaponry, possibly biological in nature.

Rocket Test Labs (Silo G) - Located in Sector F and accessed via the railway system, are the Rocket Test Labs, including Silo G.

Omicron Complex - Next to the Omega Complex, the Omicron Complex is one of the most secretive and advanced sectors of Dark Basin, and is a sub-division of the Biodome Complex. Omicron sector houses a number of quarantine laboratories, which are used to study the biological processes and physical properties of live organisms.

Area 2 Satellite Operations - This area is next to the topside Sector A Training Facility and houses storage areas and a large satellite uplink dish.

Dark Basin Air-Traffic Control - This building is adjacent a large airstrip, and is used to monitor and direct activity in the airspace above the compound. Special clearance codes must be entered at this building before any rocket launch can take place in other areas.

Level 4 Storage Unit - The Level 4 Storage Unit contains car parks but down below in the basement area is a conveyor which transports supplies in boxes along to the transit system.

The clean tarmac of the airfield was teeming with Airbus A350 passenger aircraft as the personnel of the 1st Special Engineering Application Brigade boarded the aircraft, their work completed on Dark Basin and the maintainance and support of the base handed over to the civilian personnel. Alongside the A350 aircraft were C-17 transports being loaded with the engineer's heavy equipment such as buldozers and trucks. Brigadier Carpenter was walking out to his aircraft, finally glad to be leaving the desert, and had handed over responsibility for the care of the facility over to the Dark Basin Logistics and Support Department.

The final touches had been put in place in the last two weeks of work on Dark Basin, including the installation of a full wireless local area network in addition to the fibre-optic cable hardline network. The wireless network also allows for the tracking of personnel in the form of a multipurpose identification passcard which would also allow for area access, terminal access to the network, personnel tracking and location and credit exchange with base functions such as food, goods and services purchase.

None of the research personnel had arrived although a small number of administative staff were present that would direct the functions of the maintainance personnel while they prepared the few superficial details that remained uncompleted. Soon Dark Basin would be ready to fulfill its purpose.

Kraven had been monitoring the Construction works of this strange facility for some time now, its eyes in the skies, multiple sattelites that orbited the earth watched with interest as runways, and other structures were put into place, This interested The Kraven High Command greatly and so decided to intervine, not military.... no not at all... but rather an interesting idea of assisting in its construction and its funding...

They decided to send one of the Kraven Agents, a specialist in interrogation, diplomacy, administration, espionage, anything they could need done covertly, this time however Kraven was sending in Agent 1041 as a Supervisor, as an unknown benefactor, looking to profit from such a venture and to aid the facilities growth with financial means...

a message was sent to the Administrator of the Facility...



To: The Administrator
From: The Benefactor


I would be very interested in aiding you on this endeavour, my Company has been watching the construction for some time now, and would be very interested in assisting its development, if there is any way I could become part of this new and bold institution, I would very much appreciate it, My Company is also willing to inject large sums of monetary aid should it be needed, I eagerly await your response

Yours

The Benefactor

Later that day, Cravanian transport and passenger aircraft began to arrive, offloading files, equipment, scientists, and other things. One thing the Aequatians noticed was four large objects covered in tarps being rolled off of the two largest transport aircraft sideways. They were roughly 32ft long, by 70ft wide. There was complete secrecy about them, and they were immediately towed into the largest hangar.

The lead scientist of the project, Dr. Walter Straussman, was sent to the administrator's office (I'm not sure if that would be Carpenter or not) to report on what his team would be working on for the next few weeks, possibly months. Due to the crisis growing worldwide, the project was to be completed as soon as possible.

Dr. Barnard Sherman had arrived at his office that morning before seeing Brigadier Carpenter off at the airfield and noticed the pile of papers that were sitting on his desk, no doubt from the new arrivals. He sat down at his terminal and inserted his card into the identification slot, like those installed on every computer in the complex, to log into the network. He searched through his messages and opened one from someone named "The Benefactor" and read over the message before sending his reply:



To: The Benefactor
From: Dr. Barnard Sherman, Administrator of Dark Basin Research Facility
RE: Financial Support

We are always looking to furhttur develop this compound and its facilities and would be willing to accept your company's support. All that is required is a personnel manifest and equipment requirements should you be sending a research team to our facility.

Yours,

Dr. Barnard Sherman, Administrator of Dark Basin

Just as he finished with his messages his secretary's voice spoke through the speaker on his phone, "Doctor Sherman, there's someone here to see you, a Doctor Walter Straussman from the Cravanian Research Team."

He pressed the button on the phone and spoke into the speaker, "Send him in right away then, Jean."

Straussman walked through the door, and introduced himself to Dr. Barnard Sherman, shaking his hand.

"Hi, I'm Dr. Walter Straussman. I presume you are Dr. Sherman?"

"Greetings Dr. Straussman and welcome to Dark Basin, you are the first foreign research team to arrive and begin work at this facility," Sherman pointed to one of the leather chairs that sat in front of his desk as he himself took a seat, "Please, have a seat will you while we discuss your team's goals here at Dark Basin. My apologies for the spartan look of my office, I myself only arrived earlier this morning and have yet to unpack."

"Oh, no problems with the office."

Straussman sat in the leather chair, and stroked his gray and white beard.

"Now I suppose you would like to know why my team is here. Well, my research team has been studying the effects of cold plasma and its uses as a stealthing material. Our research has been showing promise, but our facilities in the Cravanian mountains were not adequate for full testing."

He paused, and looked out the window for a moment, then turned his attention back to Sherman.

"You may have noticed four large objects under tarps which were pulled into one of your hangars. Well, these are what we want to conduct our tests on. They are Cravan's F-798 exospheric superiority fighter, the latest in technology. It's considered the first seventh generation fighter which we know of.

"Well, these fighters are extremely hard to detect. But...... The Imperial Air Force wants these things invisible to radar, or damn near close to it. They assigned my team to research the cold plasma stealthing techniques, and we have made some progress. We're still a bit of a way off of our goal, but we hope to accomplish something here.

"We have discovered some nice side-affects of cold plasma, as well, but I'll get into that later."

Sherman nodded, "I had been informed that your team required the use of our hanger facilities and they're seventh-generation fighters? I must say, that is an impressive boast. As for Radar detection, we have several systems here that can be used to test the aircraft's capabilities, including the Aequatian Air Force's Clear Sight Multi-Static Radar Network System which has been proven to defeat all-known stealth-capable aircraft." He paused a moment to think before speaking again, "However, since our primary funding comes from the Aequatian government, I am sorry to say that any research conducted will have to be shared with their departments."

"That is no problem to us. Our government can also provide some funding to assist.

"Also, to merely clarify my statement of it being seventh generation, it is merely because it is an SSTO combat aircraft, allowing it to take off at an air force base, enter orbit, destroy whatever target it was assigned to destroy, and return to the same airfield. It does show increased capabilities in atmosphereic combat, though, and can easily take on any fighter we currently know of."

Sherman smiled, "Very well, I don't believe there will be any problems then as it was expected that many would be offended by the prospect of revealing their projects to the Aequatian government. As for facilities, what will your team require to conduct their research other than office space, hangers and the airfield?"

"We will of course require some lab space for our research. We brought along our equipment and records of our research, so it shouldn't be a problem there.

"If this works, the Imperial Military is putting this stuff on anything it can, though. And through our connection through the GASN and your involvment in the research, you will be given permission to use the finished product, as well, of course."

"That would be a most excellent prospect for both our nations," Sherman said as he looked over the facility's directory, "We can provide a wing in both Sector C and D for your team along with access to many of the clearance areas except for the Omega Complex unless it is necessary, although it requires specific authorization and justification."

"That sounds excellent. Thank you, doctor."

Sherman reached across his deck and wrote a note onto a card before handing it to Straussman, "You'll want to visit the Personnel Department in 'A' Wing, Sector D and provide them with a personnel manifest so that they can give each of your members dedicated identification cards so they can access the computer network and their areas within the compound."

To: Dr. Barnard Sherman,
Administrator of Dark Basin Research Facility
From: Mar'ki Ticron,
CEO of DMI
Subject: Research

Greetings,
I recently came across the notice about the Dark Basin Research Facility and I thought it might be a good idea to set up a team there. Nothing fancy or large, just a small twenty or so man team for research in "non-standard" products. Also, if you need any financial or material help for the facility, I would be more than willing ot aid you in your endeavor.

[signed]
Mar'ki Ticron,
CEO of DMI

To: Mar'ki Ticron, CEO of DMI
From: Dr. Barnard Sherman, Administrator of Dark Basin Research Facility
RE: DMI Research Team

We would be more than honoured to have such a prestigious company as yours present at our facility. If possible, we would like to request a representative from your company to come to Dark Basin in order to discuss future projects.

Yours,

Dr. Barnard Sherman, Administrator of Dark Basin

Straussman accepted the note, and stuck it in his suit jacket pocket.

"Thank you, doctor. I'll do that right away."

To: Dr. Barnard Sherman,
Administrator of Dark Basin Research Facility
From: Mar'ki Ticron,
CEO of DMI
Subject: Research


Grand. I thank you very kindly for the compliment, "a prestigious company," though I do not see ourselves in that light. Nonetheless, I am pleased that we will have the ability to broaden our horizons and open up a small research center at the Dark Basin Research Facility.

As you read this, I have instructed Dr. Bernard Shaw to travel to the center and meet with you. He will be heading up our project there and so anything you need, he will know. He should be arriving soon on a corporate jet along with an aide or two.

Looking forward to the future,
[signed]
Mar'ki Ticron,
CEO of DMI


***************************************************

"Sir, please prepare for final approach," the captain's voice said from the cockpit of the luxury twenty-seater corporate jet.

Dr. Bernard Shaw, one of the two passengers aboard the aircraft, nodded a confirmation and buckled the seat belt of his plush, comfortable piece of heaven known as a chair. His aide sat slightly behind to the left, scribbling notes and taking a call through an ear piece he had, nearly permanently, connected to his head.

No more than a couple of minutes later, the plane touched down on the runway with a flawless landing only an experienced pilot could know. "Welcome to Dark Basin," smiled the pilot as he flicked the engines and lights off. The co-pilot leapt from his chair and opened the door/stairs so that the good doctor could exit.

"Thank you gentlemen," Shaw responded with a tip of his cap as he took a step out of the plane and stopped on the top stair. He breathed the fresh air deeply, - anything was better than stale aircraft air, especially after many hours of internal circulation - taking in his surroundings as he did. He then continued down the stairs and onto the tarmac as his aid walked carefully behind, still on a phone call and holding some small device between his clenched teeth as he scribbled on the computer...

OOC: Well, being an FT nation, I cant participate, althogh I would love to. I'de just like to say I love this idea, and you guys are doing a great job at it. Was this inspired by Black Mesa at all?

OOC: Well, being an FT nation, I cant participate, althogh I would love to. I'de just like to say I love this idea, and you guys are doing a great job at it. Was this inspired by Black Mesa at all?

It was entirely inspired by Half Life 1's Black Mesa facility, I played all of the games and always liked the intros that showcased the base.

Randall Fleming, one of the liason officials for the Dark Basin facility, watched as the two figures disembarked from the corporate jet and walked towards the first of the two men across the scorching tarmac with the sun high in the sky. He removed his sunglasses as he spoke, "Hello, Dr. Shaw, I presume? I am Randall Fleming, a liason officer for the Dark Basin Research Facility, I am to bring you to Dr. Sherman's office for your meeting." He motioned them towards a waiting Black Ford Explorer SUV with the Dark Basin Facility Logo (http://idd00mdx.eresmas.net/fotos/scorpion.gif) painted on the front doors followed by an identification number.

Dr. Helen MacKenzie walked over the PVC-tiled floor of a hallway through the Sector D offices, the walls were painted in a solid white with a red line running at about halfway between the floor and ceiling leading to the tram stop, within the ceiling above, the fluorescent bulbs provided clean white light to the hallway. She had arrived at Dark Basin as part of a research team that was working on an improved high-energy laser that would be used to upgrade the current Strategic Defence Initiative, but she had to visit the Personnel Department so as to get a replacement identification passcard as hers refused to work when she attempted to access her team's lab in Sector C. There was a line up outside the office and after talking with others, mainly maintainance and a few scientists, she had determined that there was a general error with the computer system. It wasn't unexpected as it was a new system, just developed for security at Air Force Bases and was still experiencing teething problems before it was installed at Dark Basin. She sighed before walking down to one of the breakrooms to purchase a cup of coffee and a copy of the newspaper before returning to the Personnel Department's waiting room. It was going to be a long morning.

Straussman had just finished handing over the roster when he went outside and watched as the representatives from DMG disembarked.

Well... Isn't that interesting. One of the largest arms corporations in the world right here.

He walked up to the hangar where the Cravanian equipment was being held until it was transferred to the lab, and showed the guard his ID. He walked in, and looked to see four big, beautiful fighters known as the F-798.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c381/crave22/Cravan/302_4small.png
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c381/crave22/Cravan/302_2small.png
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c381/crave22/Cravan/302_1small.png

He looked around the hangar, seeing all the crates and boxes labeled "Top Secret" and "Fragile." And he couldn't wait to get right to work, because he knew his research here would be increasing the life expectancy of Cravanian pilots dramatically.

"Lieutenant.", he said to one of the guards.
"Yes, sir, doctor?"
"Gather up your men, and take these boxes-", he motioned to a pile of boxes filled with lab equipment. "-Down to Sector C. I'll have my guys take care of it from there."
"Yes, sir.", he said, dropping his carbine on a table and walking over to help take the lighter boxes. They would wait for a heavy lifter to take the larger equipment.

Corporal Jeremy Hawkins sat on a metal stool and leaned against the ledge of the tower he was manning, his SSG86 sniper rifle sat on the ledge beside him held up by its bipod. His teammate was smoking a cigarette while he watched the desert terrain, Hawkins on the otherhand picked up his pair of binoculars and looked inwards at the line of hangers that ran alongside the airfield's runways and took notice of the Cravanian F-798 aircraft, "Hmmm, looks like a UFO," he said to himself as he continued to look around the compound, he smiled as he saw a beautiful young blonde exit her shower and proceed to get dressed within one of the dormitories, "This detail's not so bad anymore," he thought to himself as he kept his eyes locked on the young woman.

--------

The tram that Dr. MacKenzie was riding moved slowly through Sector B and she barely took any notice of the massive coolant storage compartments as the car continued on the track. The car arrived at the stop before the entrance to the Sector C Security Facility, both of the passengers stepped off and walked over to the large blast doors where a Marine sentry was posted by a security console. Dr. MacKenzie inserted her passcard into a slot on the console so it could read the laser-inscribed coding that was unique to each employee (Think of it as the ridges on a CD burned onto one end of the passcard) before it beeped and a green LED lit up, the soldier at the console nodded and let her through the door which led into a large lobby, complete with a front desk which was occupied by a young secretary, "Not unlike the A.M.I. building in downtown Arrio," she thought before approaching the desk and inserting her card into a small machine sitting on the desk, "Any messages for Doctor MacKenzie, Helen, High-Energy Particle Science Department?"

The secretary looked at the personnel monitor, which had come to life the moment she inserted her passcard into the machine, and turned to Dr. MacKenzie, "No new voicemail messages, one message and a memorandum from the department head in your e-mail inbox," she paused as she noticed something else, "Oh, and Doctor MacKenzie... you're fifteen minutes late for your shift, they're waiting for you down in the cleanroom."

She grumbled to herself and the secretary as he took her passcard from the machine and brushed back her long, black hair behind her ears before heading off down the hallway towards her department, her heels tapping against the polished PVC flooring.

--------

A man wearing an Aequatian Desert Disruptive Pattern uniform with its myriad of insignia, a red overvest with a base passcard attached to a short lanyard and an orange hardhat approached one of the Cravanian hangers where people were carrying out boxes and approached Dr. Straussman as he was directing others, "Excuse me... Doctor, uh, Straussman, I'm Technical Sergeant Frank Alberts, foreman for this hanger and I was wondering if you boys needed any help in transporting your equipment down to your labs? Since I can call some of the guys down at the logistics and distribution centre to send a forklift and electric minitruck to bring it down to..." he paused momentarily to check a paper on his clipboard, "...Sector C, is it? I'll have them clear a tram line and a transport car to haul everything down for you."

"Thank you very much, Sergeant. I appreciate it."

Sergeant Alberts contacted the logistics offices and within twenty minutes a forklift had arrived to aid in the movement of the crates onto an electric minitruck that would transport them to a rail station that leads to the waiting labs assigned to the Cravanian scientists. It took only two trips to move the entire inventory down to the labs in Sector C, from there it would be up to the Cravanian personnel within the labs to finish with the setup of all the equipment.

OOC: Sorry for the short post, I'm busy preparing for my interview with the Canadian Forces coming up.

Herbert Mingus checked the supply list for the soda, instant coffee and hot drinks, and candy machines throughout the base. He made sure there were enough mars bars, doodles, and other snacks for the lounge areas. Then he opened the back. A little listening and recording device was hidden in the machinery. It was new model and looked like one of the computer chips in the machinery. Everything was working fine. A minicam had been built into the machinery. It looked exactly like the lighting tube for the inside of the candy machine. It would take digital pictures of the different people in the base. He made sure the change box was working right.

Herbert was an unassuming looking fellow about 5'5", thin and balding. He looked somewhat like Woody Allen. He wore thick glasses and seemed to shuffle a bit when he walked. He wore a simple blue overall and baseball cap which said Coin Op Vend. He always had a pleasant smile and wouldn't stand out in a crowd at all. He didn't talk much but was always listening.

His record showed he had once had a parking ticket. He was a model citizen, cleared for high security entrance to most areas.

(OOC Note: Straussman is 56. And good luck with the interview.)

Randall Fleming, one of the liason officials for the Dark Basin facility, watched as the two figures disembarked from the corporate jet and walked towards the first of the two men across the scorching tarmac with the sun high in the sky. He removed his sunglasses as he spoke, "Hello, Dr. Shaw, I presume? I am Randall Fleming, a liason officer for the Dark Basin Research Facility, I am to bring you to Dr. Sherman's office for your meeting." He motioned them towards a waiting Black Ford Explorer SUV with the Dark Basin Facility Logo (http://idd00mdx.eresmas.net/fotos/scorpion.gif) painted on the front doors followed by an identification number.

"Correct you are," Dr. Shaw responded. Bernard was a slightly older gentleman, probably in his late fifties, and white not terribly out of shape, he was built heavily - not a bad heavy, but a normal heavy.

"Ah, Dr. Sherman..." he echoed as he followed Felming's motion to the Black Ford Explorer that was waiting for him. "Alright, lets go," he said as he followed the man to the SUV and climbed in the back. His aide, Robert, also followed as he continued to talk on his earpiece and sat beside him in the car.

Straussman took a short stroll on the tarmac, watching as the SUV left.

DMG bigwigs, huh? Interesting indeed. They only sell some of the best weapons on the market. I wonder what they'd be researching here.

He continued along, walking aimlessly. He was deep in thought about a new way to tackle the application process of the plasmas to the aircraft, but he still had very few ideas. He hoped once his team got set up they could get something with him.

He looked at the massive hangar, kept under constant guard and locked up tight. If the first test with these aircraft was successful, more conventional aircraft would be brought in for testing, and possibly even tanks and other ground vehicles.

He stroked his gray and white head, and adjusted his glasses in the sun. He scratched his beard, and decided to go see how the team was doing. He'd do more good there than here.

OOC: Commonalitarianism: Just for reference, the primary Aequatian company that controls vending services is the "Delicious Vendables Corporation" which is an homage to the Madness Cartoon Series.

Cravan: Thanks for the info and for the support, I hope to eventully build entire bios for all the main characters.

IC:

Fleming sat in the front seat but was turned to talk with the DMI representative and his assistant, "In addition to your meeting with Dr. Sherman, I will also be leading you and your assistant on a tour of the base's facilities and provide a showcase to the potential of future projects here at Dark Basin."

--------

Corporal Hawkins left his position in the guard tower by walking down through the stairwell once his replacement had arrived and climbed into the waiting, tan-coloured humvee as it before it drove off towards the security personnel facility. He was looking foward to being out of the desert air for a while before heading over to the recreational centre on his liberty time.

--------

Dr. MacKenzie was returning to the testing lab, which held one of the 500kW Falltech laser systems which had been provided by the Aequatian Navy from the designs obtained through the production license for the Doujin-class superdreadnoughts, with a cup of coffee in her hand when she noticed that the hallways were becoming crowded with the arrival of the Cravanian research personnel. She looked somewhat frazzled due to the stress that was hanging on all of the scientists currently working to reverse-engineer and improve on the design, to not only make its construction more economical for the military and increase the weapon's potency by at least 50-percent as outlined by the Aequatian Navy and Air Force's requirements, and she paid close attention to her movements as she weaved through the crates sitting on the floor outside the labs that had been set aside for the Cravanians.

Straussman arrived to see boxes and crates strewn all over the place, with his team of about twenty hard at work setting up. He picked up one of the larger boxes, and set it down on a table in the lab. He ordered his team to begin clearing the hall and set up inside.

After the last of the crates had been cleared, they began moving in. Power tools and parts were strewn about the room while young scientists were hard at work assembling some of the machinery. Meanwhile, the older scientists stood in the corner of the room, enjoying some coffee and pastries.

Secret:

Herbert Mingus took his hat off and put it on the bed in his small room. He had what looked like an old laptop. He was in a very old part of the base. Where everything didn't work quite right. Nobody questioned why the video camera didn't quite cover what he was doing and the bugs picked up old elvis tunes. The toilet clogged regularly, he had to bring in his own electric heater.

He closed and locked the door behind him. There was a big old star wars poster of the Empire Strikes Back in one corner. He had a dresser, desk, and bed. He took off his glasses, checking the miniature battery and camera. He had surreptiously taken pictures of the layout of a tank while a man had stepped out to go to the bathroom. There was no flash in the camera to give it away.

He opened the laptop. Inside it was not an old laptop at all. A diamond chip ran at 100 GHZ, and optical storage cubes held 10 terabytes of data. He fed in some full audio recording chips and tiny square of metals from the ends of the lightbulbs in the candy machines. An AI search program could run audio, video, and text searching at high speeds. He typed in several words, stealth fighter, anti-material weapons, plasma containment device.

The machine searched the recorded conversations, correlating names with keyword searches. He had identified several scientists who had been talking about specific projects. A picture, some information on the scientists, and their recorded conversation became available. He made sure he had his headphones on. Then when he had the requests he thought the Commonalitarianism wanted, he stored them in a small plastic optical cube. A simple rectangle of plastic about one inch square. His first job was to identify all of the personnel in the base and what they were doing.

He took out the cube. This would go out with the candy machines that needed to be fixed. It was designed to look like a regular component of the machinery. It would eventually end up in the Ministry of Special Services.

Note: Yes, it would be alright. All of the stuff I would be using is designed to look and function as regular parts of the machinery in things like candy machines, vending, etc. He might be suspected, but probably not found. This guy has gone through the black agents training program and survived all three programs. While physically weak appearing, he has fast reflexes and is very sharp.

OOC: Would it be okay, with both Aequatio and Commonalitarianism, if I had the company in my storefront come to check security stuff? It could make the RP more interesting. If not, that's okay.

OOC: Not a Problem.

The Craft had been in the air for several hours now, and with the two pilots working together to bring the craft towards its course, they were soon ready to bring the craft down, onto the facilities tarmac... the two pilots gave a short radio message indicating that"The Benefactor" was on route

The Benefactor is on route, requesting permission to enter air space, and permission to touch down, Advise?

OOC: Would it be okay, with both Aequatio and Commonalitarianism, if I had the company in my storefront come to check security stuff? It could make the RP more interesting. If not, that's okay.

OOC: What do you mean by "check security?" I hope it's only a supervisor-type coming to inspect the Marine force and the security equipment and not some sort of simulated assault.

Kraven: I'd prefer a little more warning than, "He's here!" considering the facility is operated by the military, an unidentified and unexpected aircraft would more than likely be shot down by the SAM battery guarding the base's airspace.

OOC: What do you mean by "check security?" I hope it's only a supervisor-type coming to inspect the Marine force and the security equipment and not some sort of simulated assault.

OOC: The corporation in my storefront manufactures spy equipment. So they'll essentially be checking out the compound for bugs and other devices. Don't worry, they won't pick up on the deivces easily, Commonalitarianism.

Fleming sat in the front seat but was turned to talk with the DMI representative and his assistant, "In addition to your meeting with Dr. Sherman, I will also be leading you and your assistant on a tour of the base's facilities and provide a showcase to the potential of future projects here at Dark Basin."

"Grand!" Dr. Shaw replied excitedly. "I am quite excited to see what you have here, though I doubt we will need much space for our research and testing. We are doing mainly experimental and... 'off the map' research."

Finally his aide concluded his call and whispered something short into the doctor's ear. The doctor responded with a short and nearly unnoticeable nod of the head as he continued to face forwards.

Fleming added, Well, personnel and working space will be discussed with Dr. Sherman," he finished speaking as the Black SUV passed by a helipad with an OH-10 Raven helicopter with a mounted FLIR and television lifted off to run its course along the base's perimeter. Within minutes however, the vehicle came to a halt outside a buiding which resembled a bunker with office windows and a sign above the main entrance's glass doors which read: Dark Basin Central Complex. The liason officer stepped out of the vehicle and opened the rear passenger door, "I shall be waiting here with the vehicle and upon your return, I will take you to your respective dormatories, someone inside will direct you to Dr. Sherman's office."

"Ah, very good," Dr. Shaw replied as he glanced out the window and watched the helicopter lift off. He had the rare ability of being able to 'see' how things worked when he looked at them. Not just on the most basic level of physics, but also much deeper...

"Thank you kindly," the good hearted doctor responded as he stepped out of the car, aiding himself by grabbing onto the door handle. Robert followed just behind as he climbed out of the opposite side and walked around the car.

"I will see you soon then," Shaw commented as he began making his way into the bunker to find Dr. Sherman's office.

- Dr. Bernard Shaw, DMG Military Industries Representative (?, DMGitte (sp?))

OOC: Dr. Bernard Shaw is 57. People from DMG are called Demogade. And if you want to add it, he has numerous Ph.Ds (Theoretical Sciences, Nuclear Physics, and High Energy Physics).

The cubes arrive at the Ministry of Special Services. They are fed into a supercomputer running a progam called Websphere intruder. This does a search on each individual pulling up all the articles they have written from paid databases, personal information from the web, and news on what they have done. It is added to a profile. This profile is sent to a cracker group in an offshore data haven who attempts to build a complete profile of the person using cracking as a cover, birth certificate, drivers license, bank accounts, school records, medical records and everything else. The crackers are old school and has been in the business for fifteen years he costs $5000 per person for a complete profile. Problems should appear as a cover like bad credit cards, high phone bills, problems with computer accounts, things which would indicate white collar crime, but not complete identity theft.

We should have profile of a number of the important scientists and engineers, and what they are doing. It will allow us to target specific individuals who have very advanced research.

New data cubes are sent back to Herbert Mingus, they have profiles of many of the people in the base. They are sent in as two extra extra dice sets for a military board game called Attack on the Eastern Front. Herbert Mingus breaks the outer shell off some of the dice. The outer coat comes off and you have a very hard clear plastic holographic data cube. It looks like an ordinary piece of plastic. Instructions on who to target for "research" are in the cubes.

Note: Of course the research would be limited to those who used the vending machines. Which could be interesting. I don't know about this, but the area which Herbert Mingus is staying in should have a lot of people, non-functioning equipment and blatant security breaches in a wide area.

OOC: Posts coming for evvryone.

A courier from my government visited yesterday, and told the liason officer that, as our research facility in Hospital City has recently become unsuitable, we would like to base a research group at the Dark Basin Facility.

The DBF Research Team would consist of:
35 security personnel (headed by Major Emma McDavitt)
18 pathologists (headed by James Byrne)
10 ballistics experts (headed by Lucas Doyle)

Do we have your permission?

OOC: Cravan: Sure, I wouldn't mind having a security sweep of the facility by a third party, as long as it's done in cooperation with the Marine Security Elements.

DMG: Thanks for the info, although isn't Bernard Shaw that CNN anchor?

IC:

The Benefactor is on route, requesting permission to enter air space, and permission to touch down, Advise?

"Affirmative, this is Dark Basin ATC, you are cleared for landing on runway two, a liason officer will meet with you once you disembark."

"Ah, very good," Dr. Shaw replied as he glanced out the window and watched the helicopter lift off. He had the rare ability of being able to 'see' how things worked when he looked at them. Not just on the most basic level of physics, but also much deeper...

"Thank you kindly," the good hearted doctor responded as he stepped out of the car, aiding himself by grabbing onto the door handle. Robert followed just behind as he climbed out of the opposite side and walked around the car.

"I will see you soon then," Shaw commented as he began making his way into the bunker to find Dr. Sherman's office.

A young woman dressed in a black skirt and a while blouse with her passcard hanging around her neck on a lanyard, she presented both Dr. Shaw and Robert with temporary "Visitor" passcards as they started off with her in lead through the offices. The building's layout wasn't much different than that of any other office complex, offices lined the outer walls as the middle of the structure was filled with cubicles and employees busy with their own work. Within five minutes they were outside the Administrator's office, "Dr. Sherman will see you in a few minutes, is there anything I can get for either you or your assistant, Dr. Shaw?"

A courier from my government visited yesterday, and told the liason officer that, as our research facility in Hospital City has recently become unsuitable, we would like to base a research group at the Dark Basin Facility.

The DBF Research Team would consist of:
35 security personnel (headed by Major Emma McDavitt)
18 pathologists (headed by James Byrne)
10 ballistics experts (headed by Lucas Doyle)

Do we have your permission?

We would be more than willing to have your research team take part in the ongoing development of the Dark Basin facility. We await the arrival of your team leaders so they may meet with Dr. Sherman, Dark Basin's Administrator. We will also require profiles for all of your team's important members.

John Hirsch, Assistant Director,
Dark Basin Personnel Department.

DMG: Thanks for the info, although isn't Bernard Shaw that CNN anchor?

OOC: Yeah, he was from 1980 till about 2001. However, I would think that the first person to come to mind would be George Bernard Shaw.

"Dr. Sherman will see you in a few minutes, is there anything I can get for either you or your assistant, Dr. Shaw?"

Bernard followed slowly behind, in part due to the physical shape he was in and in part because he was taking in the environment and design of the complex.

When they reached the Administrator's office, Dr. Shaw gladly took a seat in one of the chairs lined up against the wall.

"Just a water would be fine," Dr. Shaw responded in his slightly raspy and yet oddly comforting voice. "Thank you."

The office assistant nodded and retrieved a bottle of cool spring water that, according to the label, was bottled within a small mountain village in Northern Aequatio for Dr. Shaw from the floor's breakroom.

OOC: I'll have them offer ICly to do some security sweeps of the complex for bugs, etc. sometime later.

************************

Straussman decided to check in on Dr. Sherman and inform him that the set up of the labs were complete. He also decided to visit Sherman since he was going crazy around the younger scientists, constantly talking and never working.

He made his way to the administration building, and walked up to the desk.

"Dr. Sherman wouldn't happen to be aviliable, would he? If not, tell him I'll be back later."

The secretary looked over a schedule that was displayed on her monitor before turning to Straussman, "I'm sorry, Dr. Straussman, but the Administrator is currently meeting with another individual, the meeting should be complete in about twenty minutes time. Would you like me to schedule you in for a meeting?"

The secretary looked over a schedule that was displayed on her monitor before turning to Straussman, "I'm sorry, Dr. Straussman, but the Administrator is currently meeting with another individual, the meeting should be complete in about twenty minutes time. Would you like me to schedule you in for a meeting?"

"No, thank you. Just inform him that we're settled in and we're quite comfortable in our surroundings. Thanks."

The office assistant nodded and retrieved a bottle of cool spring water that, according to the label, was bottled within a small mountain village in Northern Aequatio for Dr. Shaw from the floor's breakroom.

"Thank you kindly," the doctor said in response as he reached out his hand and took the bottle of spring water that the assistant had offered him. He often found his throat becoming dry when he was forced to talk for a while or explain something that was not in a casual setting, and so he would need his water for the meeting with the facility’s administrator.

His somewhat large and heavy hand descended on the cap and twisted it slightly until it was open. Raising it to his mouth, he drained about a quarter of it in one sip and then returned the cap to its rightful place as he waited for his appointed time to meet with the administrator.

Straussman walked outside, the heat bombarding him relentlessly. He lit a cigarette, not caring whether or not the base allowed it. He needed one.

He walked around for a little while, deep in thought as to what the research done here could accomplish. He took a drag from his cigarette, and threw it on the ground. He stepped on it, and walked along, watching the personnel at the base hard at work.

Finally, he decided to find a place to sit down. He searched the area, looking for someplace to rest.

The secretary sitting at her desk just outside Dr. Sherman's office looked up from her monitor and saw Dr. Shaw and Robert, "Dr. Shaw, the Administrator will see you now."

--------

Dr. MacKenzie sat at a desk, which was located in her team's lab in Sector C, as she looked over the reports of the new laser's power requierments, they were incapable of figuring the formula which allowed for a balance in damage done to power used that had been no problem for the boys at Falltech who had originally designed the system that was currently installed on the superdreadnoughts of the Aequatian Navy, but constructed directly from Falltech designs. They found too many of their power supply devices being burned out as the laser, which they had modified to provide a more intense and focused beam, however, for some reason the weapon continued to consume an increasing amount of energy which overloaded the system. They already had a prototype destroyed when it shattered its refracting mirrors from the intense heat. After reading through a paper on power transfer formulas, she couldn't tolerate it anymore and walked out of the lab and towards one of the lounges for a cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun.

--------

Corporal Hawkins was walking along the pavement which led from the secuirty complex to the dormatories, he was still wearing his full uniform, minus his SSG86 sniper rifle which remained at the armoury. He spotted Dr. Straussman, which he recognized from when he was monitoring the hangers where the F-798 experimental aircraft were stored, who was smoking a cigarette and walked over to him, "You're one of the Cravanian guys, aren't you?" Hawkins took out a cigarette of his own, "Can I get a light off you?"

"Sure."

Straussman pulled out his lighter, and flipped it open. A flame erupted from the small nozzle, and he put it to the cigarette in Hawkins' mouth. He withdrew it, and snapped it shut, inserting it back in his pocket.

"So, what do you do 'round here?"

The secretary sitting at her desk just outside Dr. Sherman's office looked up from her monitor and saw Dr. Shaw and Robert, "Dr. Shaw, the Administrator will see you now."

"Ah, thank you," Dr. Shaw replied as he looked up from his lap where he had been staring constantly since he lost himself in deep thought. He stood up slowly, bracing himself against the chair to give his old, tired figure some support, before righting himself and straightening his grey suit.

Robert walked ahead of him while he was doing this and opened the Administrator's door for him. Dr. Shaw nodded and proceeded into the office. "So good to meet you," he greeted as he stuck out his hand.

Herbert Mingus had signed up to be a Fire Marshall in his base around where he lived. One of his jobs was to check the smoke detectors in many areas of the base. He would make the rounds today, replacing many of the older units with his newly ordered smoke detectors. They each held a miniature recording and listening device. A miniature bio videocamera using biomemetics to hide the led signature was in the smoke detector. He could monitor conversations with a walkman style disc player if he wanted. There were several different people who were fire marshalls so it would provide him cover for his operations.

He quietly replaced several of the smoke detectors in rooms where targeted research was to occur.

A man opened the door once. He said, "Fire marshall, here to replace your old smoke detector," showing his special badge.

A bleary eyed man looked at him and said "Okay, okay, but please be quick about it."

Mingus took down the old detector and put the new detector up.

Note: Here goes a bit about the camera.
http://www.afrlhorizons.com/Briefs/0009/MN0001.html

Hawkins took a quick drag off his cigarette before answering, "I'm part of the Marine Task Force that makes up the base's ground security element, I'm a marksman and most of my details put me in one of the towers along the perimeter."

--------

Dr. Sherman greeted him as he shook Shaw's hand with a firm grip of confidence before offering both him and Robert a seat as he himself took his place behind his desk, "I've been told that you're here on behalf of DMG Military Industries, I feel quite honoured that a company such as yours is interested in setting up shop here in the middle of the desert. What was it your company had in mind for projects here?"

--------

Martin Wright was quite annoyed and confused by the fire marshall that had paid his office a visit, "The facility's systems are practically brand new, why would they need replacement so quickly?" He thought as he continued his work at his desktop computer. He only glanced over at the man a few times and waited for him to leave with the old detector before picking up the phone which sat beside his keyboard and punched in the extension for the security desk within Sector D and waited for the sergeant to pick up.

"Delta Sector Central Security, Sergeant Garner speaking."

"Yes, Sergeant, this is Martin Wright in the High-Energy Particle Science Department Offices, I was wondering if I could speak with one of your superiors there, I have something suspicious to report."

He waited a few moments before a second voice came on the line, "This is Captain Hodges, how can I help you?"

"Well, Captain, I normally wouldn't make a fuss about this, but I just had one of the fire marshalls come into my office to replace the smoke detectors with new models, I thought it was odd since this facility has only been operational for a little while and that the systems already installed would still be effective."

"Just a minute, Mr. Wright," replied Hodges as the line went silent for a moment, "I just checked the maintainance schedule I have here and there is a scheduled smoke detector change withi your department today, so there's nothing amiss here."

"Still, it did seem rather odd, considering that the systems weren't that old," said Wright, "Couldn't you have someone double-check this occurance?"

"I'll send an extra team down to investigate, but unless there's something more than that, I can't do anything else," explained Hodges.

"Thank you, Captain," said Wright as he hung up the phone and continued with his work.

Late in the afternoon, a trio of V-22 Ospreys landed at the Dark Basin Facility tarmac. Nearly 65 men and women in LNI uniform marched out of the Ospreys and stood at attention, squinting their eyes against the sun. Major McDavitt, Byrne, Doyle, and a standard-bearer stood in front of the formation, waiting for a liason officer from the Facility to greet them.

Hawkins took a quick drag off his cigarette before answering, "I'm part of the Marine Task Force that makes up the base's ground security element, I'm a marksman and most of my details put me in one of the towers along the perimeter."

"Really? That must be fun. I remember my days in the Air Force... Only to get through college, of course. Luckily I was never deployed and got to wander around Cravna at night with my pals as drunk as a wino who'd been given ten Craves to buy whatever the hell he wanted."

He chuckled as he took another drag of a fresh cigarette he had taken from his coat.

"Really? That must be fun. I remember my days in the Air Force... Only to get through college, of course. Luckily I was never deployed and got to wander around Cravna at night with my pals as drunk as a wino who'd been given ten Craves to buy whatever the hell he wanted."

He chuckled as he took another drag of a fresh cigarette he had taken from his coat.

Hawkins laughed, "You'll get along great with the airfield personnel, it's all flyboys that run that area. There's members from all the branches here, Marines take care of security, Air Force maintain the airfield, and the Army and Navy conduct research here, just today I saw them unloading the new main battle tank from the back of a C-5 Galaxy, it was mighty impressive."

OOC: Aequatio, I have 63 people standing on your tarmac, waiting for a representative from you.

Hawkins laughed, "You'll get along great with the airfield personnel, it's all flyboys that run that area. There's members from all the branches here, Marines take care of security, Air Force maintain the airfield, and the Army and Navy conduct research here, just today I saw them unloading the new main battle tank from the back of a C-5 Galaxy, it was mighty impressive."

"Really? Nice."

He took another drag.

"I think I will like it here. I just have to get used to the fact that it's alot hotter here than back home."

Dr. Sherman greeted him as he shook Shaw's hand with a firm grip of confidence before offering both him and Robert a seat as he himself took his place behind his desk, "I've been told that you're here on behalf of DMG Military Industries, I feel quite honoured that a company such as yours is interested in setting up shop here in the middle of the desert. What was it your company had in mind for projects here?"

After shaking Dr. Sherman's hand, Shaw slumped heavily into the indicated chair with Robert at his side taking notes.

"Ah, thank you," Shaw replied to the compliment about DMI. "Though I have heard many wonders from your a certain Aequation military company that produces military hardware."

"But down to business now..." he said as he adjusted himself in his seat. "And I will be completely honest with you here. I, and my future taskforce, have been sent here because I head up the Ghost Division of DMI. Don't let the name fool you - Ghost Division isn't a super secret part of DMI responsible for the ultimate products of destruction- well, sort of."

"It is actually the division that is poked fun at the most. It is called Ghost Division because the stuff we are researching and attempting to design have no precedence or basis in our modern world. Basically, the stuff we are creating would be really incredible if it were possible... but most of the time it is not possible. To sum it up blandly, we are sort of the experimental division, researching the ludicrous and impossible," he said with a slight chuckle.

Shaw leaned in slightly as if he was telling a secret, "And I think that is why they sent us so far away from DMG and in the desert. Get us out of their hair..."

Lieutenant George Younge was sitting at a window in the lounge at the airfield's central building drinking an energy drink from a slender can and enjoying the air conditioning as he saw the V-22 aircraft land and its passengers disembark. With none of the base's liason officers available at the moment, he was tasked to greet the Irish personnel that had arrived. He finished his drink and placed his cap on as he walked down the stairs and out onto the tarmac towards the aircraft and the formation of personnel, he approached Major McDavitt and saluted, "Welcome to Dark Basin, I am Air Force Lieutenant George Younge."

Lieutenant George Younge was sitting at a window in the lounge at the airfield's central building drinking an energy drink from a slender can and enjoying the air conditioning as he saw the V-22 aircraft land and its passengers disembark. With none of the base's liason officers available at the moment, he was tasked to greet the Irish personnel that had arrived. He finished his drink and placed his cap on as he walked down the stairs and out onto the tarmac towards the aircraft and the formation of personnel, he approached Major McDavitt and saluted, "Welcome to Dark Basin, I am Air Force Lieutenant George Younge."

McDavitt and the rest of the soldiers returned the salute as one. "Thank you, I am Major McDavitt, these are Scientist-Officers Byrne and Doyle." The standard bearer lowered his flag. "Behind me are three squads of Fianóglach rangers, and eighteen members of the Science division."

Sherman nodded, "Well, Dr. Shaw, regardless as to the reasoning of why you are here, we will be sure to provide all of the resources your task force will require in their projects. How many personnel will be coming and what do you believe you will need to start a core operation?"

--------

Lieutenant Younge examined the group of Irish personnel, "I will have a vehicle arrive to bring you and your associates to meet with the base administrator, Dr. Sherman. I will also inform them of your other personnel and they will be provided with transportation for them and any equipment they have,"

--------

Hawkins finished another drag from his cigarette, "The heat's not so bad, it's only during the day that it's pretty bad, in the evenings and morning it's actually pretty nice."

Lieutenant Younge examined the group of Irish personnel, "I will have a vehicle arrive to bring you and your associates to meet with the base administrator, Dr. Sherman. I will also inform them of your other personnel and they will be provided with transportation for them and any equipment they have,"

McDavitt barked out some orders in Gaelge (the Irish language). The soldiers broke formation and started scurrying about, unloading equipment from the Ospreys. There were many computers, several crates of rifles, and 5 refridgerated boxes, each the size of a coffin.

After the Major gave the orders, she turned back to Younge and said, "We are ready to see the administrator now."

Sherman nodded, "Well, Dr. Shaw, regardless as to the reasoning of why you are here, we will be sure to provide all of the resources your task force will require in their projects. How many personnel will be coming and what do you believe you will need to start a core operation?"

"Hmmm," Shaw mumbled as he thought about the operation. "Well, it is truly up to me as to how many people come, but I think we will start with about twenty-five. A good solid number, no?"

"As for what we will need, just simply some storage area, some work area, including labs and test areas, and a main office area where we can set up a network," he commented, checking off a checklist of everything they would need in his mind. "Everything else I will have flown in from DMG if that is all right with you."

Herbert Mingus, seeing several people smoking cigarettes decides he can make some money by putting cigarette machines around the base. He will also get more people to use the vending machines. This will increase his ability to record people. He calls the Delicious Vending Company suggesting that they send in five new cigarette vending machines for the base.

Then he goes to his room. On the new data cubes he received from the Ministry of Special Services there are instructions for two special assignments. The first is to collect the names of all the companies that are providing equipment and supplies in the base. The second is to focus on finding information about these five items sold or being worked on by the Aequatio military:

MBT-01 Project - T-2 "Decebal" Main Battle Tank (hopefully this is the tank we photographed.)

Phoenix Extreme Range Cruise Missile

Project Straight Shot - Weapon System: High-Speed Air-to-Air/Surface-to-Air Missile System (HSAAM/HSSAM)

Project: Clear Sight - Detection System: Bi/Multi-Static RADAR System

Starstreak Close Air Defense Missiles

It is the evening. He goes to the rec room and sees an advertisement for an investment club. Maybe this might be a good place for him to learn about some of the companies in the base.

Lieutenant Younge nodded as the open-topped Wolf humvee pulled up to the group and he motioned to the vehicle.

--------

Dr. Sherman nodded as he looked over his computer's monitor, "Well, I can allocate your team offices in Sector D, some working facilities and a lab in Sector C and storage space. There is also the Omega Complex available should any of your experiments require extended security, although it requires specific authorization and justification."

OOC: Commonalitarianism: That's a very confusing post, I haven't been able make any sense of it.

OOC: Commonalitarianism: That's a very confusing post, I haven't been able make any sense of it.

"That will be quite adequate," Dr. Shaw replied. "I doubt we are in need of extra security yet, but if our projects do succeed... you never know," he chuckled as the projects had very little chance of succeeding. "May I ask when our stations will be set up so I can have DMI send in our equipment?"

OOC: Yeah it is! In part, probably because he wrote it in first person..

"The offices and lab can be reserved right away and you can have your equipment here as soon as you can, actually," said Dr. Sherman as he handed Dr. Shaw a card with directions to the Personnel Department that was located elsewhere within the building, "You'll have to register your personnel manifest with their department so they can create the profiles and passcards for your team."

The Black Private jet touched down onto the tarmac as ordered to do so by the Dark Basin ATC, the two pilots guided the plane down effortlessly, and with a violent squeel from the wheels as they touched the tarmac, the plane was slowly, coming to a stop, albeit a shakey stop..

The Capitol Police pilots Taxied the plane to the respective zone, and brought the craft to a stand still... the engines began to whine down as cooling measures were put into place...

slowly the door began to open, while at the same time, a set of stairs lowered themselves to the tarmac, followed closely by the Benefactor...

The Benefactor awaited the arrival of who ever was to greet him into the facility... and soon the new projects could begin...

Michael Hendricks, a junior liason officer who had himself only arrived that morning, approached the black personal jet and the Benefactor who was waiting at the foot of the aircraft's stairs, "Greetings, Benefactor, I am Michael Hendricks and I am to bring you to meet with our Administrator, Dr. Sherman."

To: Dr. Barnard Sherman, Ph.D
From: Steven Davis Ph.D, MEng

Greetings!

I am Steven Davis, head of the Northford Defence Institute. Following a discussion between our governments, I am cleared to request permission to set up a small research labratory within your facilities.

It's nothing overly sensitive, although, I was reccomended by my government as it would be a good friendship forming gesture. (possibly leading to an Aequatio visit to northford ??)

If we were allowed permission, we would be developing next generation battle armour for the Northfordian Armed Forces, as well as a new fire supression system for our buildings and vehicles.

Are you interested in letting me and my small team participate?

"The offices and lab can be reserved right away and you can have your equipment here as soon as you can, actually," said Dr. Sherman as he handed Dr. Shaw a card with directions to the Personnel Department that was located elsewhere within the building, "You'll have to register your personnel manifest with their department so they can create the profiles and passcards for your team."

"Excellent!" Dr. Shaw exclaimed as he stood up and received the card from Dr. Sherman. "I will send for my teams to arrive... ehh, it should be no more than a day, and then I will register our personnel manifest."

"Unless there is something else to discuss, I think I will get right on that," he commented, preparing to raise his arm for a handshake.

To: Steven Davis Ph.D, MEng, Northford Defence Institute
From: Dr. Barnard Sherman, Ph.D, Administrator of the Dark Basin Research Facility

Your research team would be more than welcome to initiate programmes here within our facility. If possible, would you be willing to send a representative to the facility so that details could be discussed and specific arrangements can be made.

--------

Dr. Sherman rose from his chair and walked around his desk to shake his hand, "I don't believe there is anything else, your liason officer should help to guide you through the rest of the facility and answer any questions you may have."

Dr. Sherman rose from his chair and walked around his desk to shake his hand, "I don't believe there is anything else, your liason officer should help to guide you through the rest of the facility and answer any questions you may have."

"Splendid," Dr. Shaw replied as he shook the gentleman's hand. "I guess we will be seeing you around," he said before tipping his hat gently and turning to walk out of the door.

Once outside Dr. Shaw spoke again, "Robert, contact the carrier and have them send in the shipments and personnel. Come on - we will do it as we walk to the Personnel Department," he said as he glanced down at the card he had been handed by Sherman.

They were off to register their personnel manifest...

ooc: Where is the liason officer?

ooc: Where is the liason officer?

OOC: He was the guy waiting outside with the Black Ford Explorer, the one that said he'd wait for Shaw to return.

Straussman stamped out his cigarette, and looked to Corporal Hawkins.

"It was nice talking to you."

He took a deep breath, and looked around. He figured it was time to head back to the research labs.

Hawkins nodded and saluted before replying, "It was nice to meet you, sir, I'll see you later." The corporal then rose to his feet and continued on his way back towards his personal quarters.

One of the new Aequatian Air Force C-180 Carryall transports arrived at the airfield and after taxying to its hanger, began to unload its cargo palettes onto the tarmac. Each one was covered with black tarpes as they were moved into a hanger next to those occupied by the Cravanian aircraft and personnel. A group of engineers in white labcoats stood next to Army Aviation personnel dressed in their desert combat uniforms as they took inventory of all that had arrived, and once everything had been moved from the aircraft into the hanger, papers were exchanged and signed before the C-180 taxied back into position and took off towards civilization as the hanger doors were closed.

--------

Dr. MacKenzie walked back towards her lab, a small styrofoam cup of coffee in her hand with the remaining bite-size piece of her cinnamon bun in her other hand, when she took notice of a meeting taking place for another department in one of the small forums that were used for discussion by teams. She popped the last of her bun into her mouth as she approached the window separating her from the group and watched one of the scientists giving a slideshow presentation using a projector and a laser pointer. Providing a more intense laser beam had been driving her and the rest of the department crazy, she took notice of the laser pointer again and another man who rose from the group and use his own pointer at a note on the screen when it hit her, "Why use a more powerful beam when I can simply align two or more beams to converge on a single point?" Helen smiled as she took a last sip from her coffee and tossed it into one of the garbage cans in the hallway before running off towards her lab.

Dr. Shaw and Robert arrived at the Personnel Department a short time later as it was located in the same building as their previous location/meeting. Robert had sent a transmission to DMI confirming the establishment of a research base here, codenamed: Lightspeed.

"Hello," Dr. Shaw greeted as he walked up the receptionist for the department. "I am here to register our personnel manifest," he stated as he showed her a small datapad that contained the necessary information for the registration.

The secretary took the datapad and uploaded the information into the central network before passing the information onto the workers within the department, she then turned to Dr. Shaw, "In order to prioritize which passcards and network identifications are to be completed I have to ask how many personnel from the manifest are currently located here on base so as to allow them access to their own facilities?"

Lieutenant Younge nodded as the open-topped Wolf humvee pulled up to the group and he motioned to the vehicle.

McDavitt, Doyle, and Byrne jumped into the humvee.

(OOC: This is moving pretty slow, just teleport me to the administrators office and ask some questions, so I can put up a substantial post.)

Lieutenant Younge directed the driver to the Central Complex and to Dr. Sherman's office, once inside, they waited in the lobby outside his office until directed inside by his secretary.

OOC: Sorry for it being so short, I'm just a little busy at the moment.

Herbert Mingus goes to a meeting of the Investors Club on Saturday. He is relaxed in casual clothes, jeans, a striped shirt, and a fishermans cap. He has brought a folder with a pad of paper and a notepad computer.

Herbert Mingus sits down, a presentation on why you should invest in Aequatio military industries will start in a bit. He introduces himself to the head of the club, A Mr. Santini and asks if there are any openings for new members.

Mr. Santini, "Hello, who are you?"

Herbert Mingus, "I'm Herbert Mingus, I work for the Delicious Vending Company, I am a businessman and I am interested in investing in Aequatian industries. Your presentation interests me. I have a small amount of money set aside for this."

Mr. Santini, "I see, I see, then we are the place to come. We are doing a presentation on the Aequatian military company. Are you interested in joining our club? There is of course a small fee which goes into a pool which we buy small amounts of stock with."

Herbert Mingus, "Yes, I am interested." He writes out a check from a local bank Aequatio bank for membership. "Are there any openings. I would like to help the club out very much."

Mr. Santini, "Why yes we do have an opening for treasurer. We would have to vote for the person to take the position."

Herbert Mingus, "May I take notes of the meeting for the membership. I will type up the meeting notes and distribute it to members. I am fairly good at paying attention to things."

Mr. Santini, "Yes, that woud be good, go ahead. Our presenter is starting."

Herbert Mingus, "Yes, excuse me I'll sit down."

Herbert Mingus listens to the presentation on Aequatio military industries and why you should invest in it. He listens very carefully, he has advanced mnemonic training, listening and attention skills. He will miss nothing. He is very quietly absorbing what he hears.

After the meeting he circulates and listens, saying brief mhms, yes I'm Herbert Mingus. He notes down all of the companies he has heard about. He eats a few carrot sticks, some celery, and has a bottle of grape juice.

Then he goes to talk to Mr. Santini and asks about looking at meeting notes. Mr. Santini opens a file with meeting notes from the last five months. Herbert Mingus looks through them quietly taking notes.

Herbert Mingus says, "Yes, this is excellent, now I will have some companies to invest in. I can't thank you enough Mr. Santini, Is there any way you would mind if I did some research at the base information center for your group. I could help you find companies to invest in."

Mr. Santini, "Let me think on this, but it will probably be alright."

The club has about thirty five active members there are ten new attendees. Most are either officers or administrators. There are a few scientists. Herbert Mingus will have a good story for why he is looking at military companies in Aequatio when he goes to the information center. He wants to invest. This is part of his assignment to find which companies are supplying the Dark Basin base.

Note: Herbert Mingus is in a fairly decent position with the Delicious Vending, he takes a flat percentage of sales. There are 50 machines throughout the base. He makes about $150 per machine in profit after he has covered all expenses. Plus he just got 5 cigarette machines added...

The secretary took the datapad and uploaded the information into the central network before passing the information onto the workers within the department, she then turned to Dr. Shaw, "In order to prioritize which passcards and network identifications are to be completed I have to ask how many personnel from the manifest are currently located here on base so as to allow them access to their own facilities?"

Dr. Shaw looked from the secretary to Robert, his aide, and then back again. "Just two..." he smiled. "Me and Robert here."

"The others should be arriving tomorrow at the latest, though there may be one or two stragglers that are busy at the moment and will come separately," he added. "Not that I could identify who they are at the moment... so just prioritize them for those guys however you like," he said with his same comforting smile. There were a couple of the staff the he could imagine being late, as was a tendency with them, but there was no need to go into details at the moment.

[QUOTE=Aequatio]To: Steven Davis Ph.D, MEng, Northford Defence Institute
From: Dr. Barnard Sherman, Ph.D, Administrator of the Dark Basin Research Facility

Your research team would be more than welcome to initiate programmes here within our facility. If possible, would you be willing to send a representative to the facility so that details could be discussed and specific arrangements can be made.

/QUOTE]

OOC: Been busy in RL, so I've not had much chance to do any IC rp's.... sorry

IC:

To: Dr. Barnard Sherman, Ph.D, Administrator of the Dark Basin Research Facility
From: Steven Davis Ph.D, MEng, Northford Defence Institute

Thank you for the speedy reply. Let it first be known that I am very happy you are accepting our request. In response to the suggestion of sending a representitive, I strongly agree, in fact I offer to go myself to discuss things, and become better aquainted with you myself.

I look forward to it, however, I am curious, are there any security clearances I must go through first?

Regards,

Steve Davis

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

He sent the Email, and headed home.

Upon arriving, he started to pack his things, packing mostly clothes, smart/casual in design, awaiting the reply.

The three soldiers sat in the lobby, their back military-straight.

"This is taking forever," Doyle bitched.

"Shut up," growled Major McDavitt. After a few seconds, she stared at the door and muttered, "What is taking so long?"

OOC: My apologies, just been busy, I'll have a post done for everyone today.

OOC: My apologies, just been busy, I'll have a post done for everyone today.
OOC: If you don't reply by 10:30ish, I won't be able to reply until Monday.

Is this thing still alive?

Is this thing still alive?

OOC: Who knows. I would think so - Aequatio is probably just busy.

ooc: ???

OOC: Sorry, I am very busy with a few things going on right now, including my enlistment into the Canadian Forces.

OOC: Sorry, I am very busy with a few things going on right now, including my enlistment into the Canadian Forces.

ooc: No problem... was just wondering what was up.

OOC: Sorry, I am very busy with a few things going on right now, including my enlistment into the Canadian Forces.

OOC: Perfectly understandable. And good luck with that.

I was just wondering if this was going to continue at all in the future or whether this is dead. (Just curious - not pushing for anything and I will be completely okay if you don't have the time to continue it)

OOC: I've got some time for the next little while, so here's an omnipost.

IC:

For DMG...

The secretary presented Shaw with two passcards with the word Temporary on them before completing a list and sending it off through the department's internal network to another worker, "You can use those until 1200 hours tomorrow morning, your personal passcards should be completed by then, Dr. Shaw," She said in the cheerie voice all office workers seem to have when they were busy but trying not to be rude, "As for the coming personnel, have them come down to this department once they arrive on base so they can receive their cards."

--------

For Northford...

To: Steven Davis Ph.D, MEng, Northford Defence Institute
From: Dr. Barnard Sherman, Ph.D, Administrator of the Dark Basin Research Facility

I shall be eagerly awaiting your arrival on the base. On the issue of security clearance issues, all personnel go through the same process for both the Aequatian Republic Government Departments and the Aequatian Republic Joint Military Forces.

--------

For Cravan... Not sure what I can post, but if you send Santa a list, I'll make sure something lands under your tree, so to speak.

OOC: I'll make a post later tonight with some research getting done, etc.

OOC: I've got some time for the next little while, so here's an omnipost.

IC:
For Northford...

To: Steven Davis Ph.D, MEng, Northford Defence Institute
From: Dr. Barnard Sherman, Ph.D, Administrator of the Dark Basin Research Facility

I shall be eagerly awaiting your arrival on the base. On the issue of security clearance issues, all personnel go through the same process for both the Aequatian Republic Government Departments and the Aequatian Republic Joint Military Forces.
[/b][/size]


(OOC: w00t yey)

To: Dr. Barnard Sherman, Ph.D, Administrator of the Dark Basin Research Facility
From: Steven Davis Ph.D, MEng, Northford Defence Institute

Firstly, I should note, s you read this, I am most probably close to ariving at your base, for, this is arriving via Electronic Mail, and I'm typing on board a plane.

Once more, let me thank you for allowing me to arrive. As a firm believer in strengthening international relations, I believe the (hopefully) bilateral visits to and from Northford to Aequatio will be the founding blocks in a long and lasting friendship between our two countries.

Back to the business at hand, securitty clearance: I think it's a fair system. If /when any Northfordian personell arrive at Dark Basin, I'd be more than happy to give you(r people) full acsess to our records, and if need be, arrange for them to visit our capital, Richmond.

Regards,

Steven Davis

(OOC: Assume, if you like, that as you read this, the plane I'm on is landing.... The plane I'm on is going to be a modified http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10242735&postcount=1643 ~~The modifications are basically to turn it from a heavy cargo plane into two storey, mobile office, miniresidential plane. This is all assuming DMG gives me permission, which he is yet to do. If he doesn't, just assume I'm arriving on a 747.)

For DMG...

The secretary presented Shaw with two passcards with the word Temporary on them before completing a list and sending it off through the department's internal network to another worker, "You can use those until 1200 hours tomorrow morning, your personal passcards should be completed by then, Dr. Shaw," She said in the cheerie voice all office workers seem to have when they were busy but trying not to be rude, "As for the coming personnel, have them come down to this department once they arrive on base so they can receive their cards."

"Thank you very much," Dr. Shaw said in his accented voice as he took the two passcards from the secretary and handed one to Robert. "We will be back here at 1200 tomorrow... most of the other personnel should be arriving then too, so we might just all come down together," he said with a smile.

He turned and began to walk out of the department area when he suddenly stopped and slowly turned back towards the secretary. "Excuse me, ma'am," he said politely. "But do you know where we can relax... rooms I mean?"

ooc: Couldn't remember if they had already visited their rooms, but I don't think so.

In the waters, 800 km from the island of DMG, the DDN Privateer was full of hustle and bustle as the confirmation call came in from Robert Owens. The deal had been made and DMI was to set up a small research facility at Dark Basin. The Privateer was one of DMI's carriers and had three modified C-57 Galaxy Lifters ready for launch. They would soon be on their way to Dark Basin where the research team and equipment would disembark and set up shop...

OOC: Aequatio, could you PLEASE reply to my posts?

(OOC: Assume, if you like, that as you read this, the plane I'm on is landing.... The plane I'm on is going to be a modified http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10242735&postcount=1643 ~~The modifications are basically to turn it from a heavy cargo plane into two storey, mobile office, miniresidential plane. This is all assuming DMG gives me permission, which he is yet to do. If he doesn't, just assume I'm arriving on a 747.)

ooc: Permission is granted.

Herbert Mingus signs in to the Information Center. He is going to do some research for the investment club. He writes in Reason for visiting: Research for investment club. He gives his identification.

There is a research area with various magazines-- Air and Space Daily, Weekly Aeronatics, Army Ranger Quarterly, a few magazines, and some annual reports files. He takes out several of the annual reports he heard mentioned at the investment club and takes notes on the various companies.

One of the people running the new Information Center asks "Can I help you sir."

Herbert Mingus, "No I am fine, just working on something for the investment club."

The worker, "Alright then, just checking."

He goes back to the annual reports files. Flipping through the files he sees DMG Industries, Aequatio Industries, Clan Smoke Jaguar, and others. He takes out the obvious military companies and notes them down, flipping through the various files. He takes a pad of paper out. He has been keeping track of the names of various companies around the base. Looking at various names. He makes notes for the investment club.

He looks around the information center a bit avoiding doing anything obviously suspicious. He notices there are several laptops which can be used on the premises. There must be a wireless network in the base. He thinks here is a serious vulnerability.

Then he goes back to his annual reports taking notes. He has the names of a lot of the companies supplying the base.

He will send this information out on a data cube. The Office of Economic Warfare will look up all the public domain information on the companies and cross reference it with the information they collected on people in the base. They will locate patents that are connected with the companies. This will allow them to find out what is being built by Aequatio and give them targets for information collection. They should now have a not too hard time getting most of the basic designs for building non-secret weapons from Aequatio. This would include the star streak shoulder fired missile, the tank gun, and the carbon 60 armor on the tanks.

When he is done looking he goes back to his room. There he types up a nice little report for the next meeting of the investment club detailing which companies might be interesting to invest in.

Then he goes to the indoor track in the gym, stretches and runs 10 miles at a fairly quick pace.

1100 Hours

Having crossed the ocean nearly an hour or so ago, the three C-57s carrying the DMI research team and equipment were beginning to near Dark Basin. As such they radioed in their approach vector and a request to land.


This is flight DMI-HC1 approaching from the southeast. I have flights DMI-HC2 and DMI-HC3 on my wings. We will be over Dark Basin in approximately seventeen minutes. We are requesting permission to land and unload our cargo... over.

Oops, scratch that.. wasn't following properly.

ooc: Alright, well it was fun while it lasted. But your duty calls. Good luck.