[center][h1][color=RosyBrown]Adam Stanislaw Kajtanowicz[/color][/h1][/center]
[center][h1][color=Goldenrod]Athena Anna Kanataario[/color][/h1][/center]
[center][h1][color=Chocolate]Purna Chai Gurung[/color][/h1][/center]

[center][h1]Raven's Rock, Camp Hannula, Pöyrisjärvi National Park, Finland[/h1][/center]
[center][h2]1200 Local Time[/h2][/center]

[center][h1]Rookery[/h1][/center]

Seeing Oliver, Tiny Nord back in had been pleasant to say the least- Adam hadn't really needed to talk as after New Zealand, he'd been quiet about the whole ordeal, doing his job and keeping on it. But it fit the file. Then there was Sam, who'd apologised here. It was sincere, and he nodded to it, as did Athena and Purna. Apology accepted, she had lashed out and whilst Adam appreciated it from a professional standpoint, Athena had to give her credit, she had ovaries of titanium to pick a fight with her. Shit, if Athena was pumped like earlier, she would have taken it out on her. But alas, things calmed. Purna, well, he sort of knew the circumstances anyway and expected it was fine. It was just how it went, he went with the flow and was stoic enough to know it was just the crest of the wave coming back.
"Understandable. I guess I owe you one too, sorry if I threatened to flatten you. Just stakes are high, you know." Athena replied to Sam, knowing Jamie would likely roll his eyes, as she leaned over, looking across to her, her large size making it rather easier to crane in, over the embarrassment from earlier with Purna.
"I heard you like to jump off shit. Singapore, right? Not bad. Crazy girl you are, Sam. More so for being you know, not all souped up." Athena spoke to her, before hearing Oliver chirp up. She had to reply, instant on that.

"Poutine would fill a void right now! All yours, Tiny Nord." Athena called out, smirking to him, walking over, standing up from the couch, leaving almost a mark from where she'd leaned into it, rather comically. 
"Need a hand?" She asked, genuinely warm in her approach. Chuck was a hottie, but so was he. And well, she was rather gifted right now by the amount of giants around. Another one to add to the list for hires. He was clearly wolfing as badly as she was, and lunch was very much needed. 

Jamie being here was nice too. Athena was glad to seem him in one bit, and glad he was making friends. He seemed to have a lot of sympathy for Samantha, perhaps a more deeply rooted empathy for her. It made sense, Adam reasoned that as much as well, and it was pleasant to have that on hand. Athena loved her big brother a lot, even if he was a little strange, he was a good boy. She was just a little more cheeky than him.

Meanwhile, Purna heard out Ebrima's side of the story, and paid little too much mind. After clambering up after Athena had clattered into him, chest first. Awkward? But he recovered as much as he could, knowing Ebrima was trying to hold on. Get the last word in. Purna wouldn't really let it, but well, left one last anecdote. He knew Ebrima wasn't telling everything, but no need to dig. No need to keep going. In time, he'd rethink this one over. See if he deserved it, rather than the instant opinion. Purna would do the same, but well, there was a certainty behind things like that to just ponder.
"Well, life is very strange, Ebrima. Puts you in a place like this. Then I know revenge is a rather odd thing. You would know the feeling." Purna replied, and with that, left Ebrima to it, heading over to help with lunch.


And that they had. Poutine it was, and quite a serving. No leftovers, of course, why, when you've got three giants, any hope of that?

[hr]

[center][h1]Hunter Gatherer[/h1][/center]

[center][h2]1300 Local Time[/h2][/center]

The reindeer herd parted as the crack whistled, the sound of a groaning, moaning beast flopping onto the floor, as Andrew revved up the quad and with it, carried her and Tahlia, the trailer in tow in the back carrying Chuck across the tundra-like snow, thinning and mostly like slush, making it not so good for a snowmobile, given there were patches of green already forming in the open plain. Pulling in, Tahlia hucked herself off, looking to Chuck, the dead reindeer not going at all to waste as he took out his trusty knife and begun getting to work. Two out of five, quartering the reindeer. The animal had died instantly, and as brutal as it was, this was the life of Sami hunters up here. Getting what they needed to live, to eat, and more importantly, leaving nothing to waste. Andrew and Tahlia fully understood that, and no doubt it would anger Antti even more if they had wasted any part of the animal. It was almost a spiritual level of respect to nature, if you were allowed to do this, you had to return it. Or else, somehow it'd fuck you over too. Take what you need, not what you like. The process however, is not one to nicely describe.

"Here we go. Easy does it." Tahlia said as she started to work, and looking up to Chuck, seeing his large frame wonder over.
"There." Tahlia added, dragging the reindeer with a struggle over and out of the spot.
"All yours! Aww yeah, I need a han....yeah this is a Monday for you, isn't it?" Tahlia asked in her Kiwi chirp, chuckling, knowing the big man would lug the reindeer like it was a chair over his shoulder, even though the reindeer that went down was a very big boy indeed. 
"I'd say we're on track. Three more to go, right?" Andrew asked, checking his binoculars, tracking the herd that had run, bolting across the snowline.
"Yeah, three more to go. Let's get after them. How are you doing, Chuck?" Tahlia asked, checking the rifle over, breathing hard as she zipped up her puffy jacket once again and tighened the wooly hat over her blonde hair, the other blonde now a little intimidated by the other larger one on base. Shit, Chuck seemed to be having fun, rather than being around her. Girl drama, or just the fact she felt a little threatened? Tahlia didn't know. She was just happy to be of use and at work again. 

[hr]

[center][h1]Fusion Cuisine[/h1][/center]

[center][h2]1700 Local Time[/h2][/center]

The evening sky had come in fast, and a first full day at Hannula had passed, just like that. The team had done their various bits, throughout the day. Specifically, Sam and Ebrima had the chance to look at upgrades- Sam's including the suite from Rose's exo, with a lot more exotic tech, whilst Ebrima had similar bits to pluck for movement and software, even though his own exo was cutting edge and if anything, probably the most advanced he could have his hands on. Adam had already gotten his- the force generator tech from her exo was now on his, weighing it down and limiting movement but allowing him to protect members of the team with a short-lived forcefield-like bubble, like a more complicated Trophy System via a charged hydrogen-ion cell.

More admin had followed. Adam had worked with Raph on the details of Sam's programme, tracking anyone that looked like Skye/Rose, or Henry Simmonds (yes, confusingly a very similar surname to Chuck [b]Simmons[/b]), and it was coming in close. He may have been a sucker for detail, but it was important- he wanted oversight, less delegation and more personally seeing to things. It was a little annoying, but it was a level of respect, honour and willingness to just ask questions, rather than leave people to it. More hands on, but in a situation like this, probably not a bad thing.

And so, the team had gotten their chances as the rest of the supplies rolled in. The chance to outfit their rooms as the last of the supplies that never made it to Kaitiaki rolled in, and fitted up. It was feeling a lot more like a base, and whilst they were wasting time, there was nothing they could do until they had a target.

The fire kept the room lit up, as Antti had joined the main team, the crew going from quite broken to a bit more familial. The Finn looked in from afar, as Tahlia tapped him on the shoulder, grinning with glee.
"It's done. Five reindeer, quartered, and now grilled. That good enough?" Tahlia asked, as Antti nodded, for the first time, cracking his own smile.
"Satana.....you are good. Ok. I ask little, yet have gained much in your trust. There will be jobs tomorrow. And I shall let you make arrangements, here. For now." Antti replied, Tahlia shrugging her shoulders and looking across at Chuck inside the room, and would like to have to Andrew, her father, who she'd tearfully said goodbye to as he went to join the rest of the Blue Sword team. For now, she had her own bits. The reindeer had been set up and was now getting cooked in the canteen-like oven of the base. It was a glorious, smoked smell of gamey meat, and it permeated, alongside the crackling fire in the background. 

Even Purna was in on the action- and he'd cooked up a Gurkha curry sauce to blend in with the reindeer, a brew that contrasted the gamey smell with this incredibly flavoured, vibrant smell of the subcontinent throughout the cabin, in the weirdest crossover episode of Gordon's Kitchen Nightmares you've imagined. It was quite something, and needed cooking in industrial quantities, but that didn't let the flavour down. Purna may have been quiet, but like killing people and responding to direct questions, he had a good heart when not being squished by Athena to just know how hospitality worked. When you were at altitude, help and little things mattered much. And so did it here, and whilst odd, Purna reasoned it couldn't be much different to goat, or lamb.

The evening would be quite something. Making food was a task Adam had carried over from Skye- an important one. No booze, but it got the team together and working on bits and pieces. Everyone had a job, and it was fluid- who took what job would be clear, and Adam, even as a taskmaster, was involved. There's a certain camaraderie to it. Nobody is left out, nobody is away from it, but today, whilst it may have started badly, is not being allowed to end poorly. Athena even had to take part- Adam had insisted, and well, she wasn't backing down. She could devour an entire reindeer to herself. A metabolism like hers did not stop for anyone. Apart from Chuck, now back in the room, all looking as good as he was.

Adam prepared plates, and as the reindeer cooked, started setting them up, handing them out to the team, alongside Purna, who had joined him, doling out meat and the rich sauce all over it.
"So, we have a plan, Chief?" He asked, Adam shrugging as he set up another plate, the Gurkha sad not to have cooked something more proper of home tonight, but he knew he'd win the team over with this.

"We look like we might. We've picked up some hits on the software Sam has worked on already, now we just need to triangulate the location, and we may have work to do." Adam replied, straight to the point as ever, and like the way Purna appreciated it.

"Good stuff. I am eager to get out there." Purna added to him, heaping in more curry onto another plate, then grabbing straight up what was basically three more for Jamie.

"We all are. Can't sit here eating food and getting fat all day. Otherwise, we're back to the firing range and drills. Whilst that is important, I think work when the stakes are this high comes first." Adam replied, Purna agreeing with a nod, as Tahlia and Athena stayed about, Antti gone again and back to his own business.

The team's got one last chance to share, and wolf down food, before they would be likely set for what came next. Back to work, back to finding out what the hell was going on, and once the info had permeated properly, on the case. 

Jamie, Chuck, Oliver, Athena, Sam, Ebrima, Adam, Purna, Tahlia were all here so it was quite the arrangement, and one hell of a busy dinner table. Lots to chat, discuss, and get to know. They'd do so, and while there may have been less alcohol than Skye ever allowed, the mood was a little more buoyant. 

[hr]

Collab with [@Starlance]

[center][h1][color=lightblue]Skye Rosalind Lyons[/color][/h1][/center]

[center][h1]Somewhere in Kiyose City, Tokyo, Japan[/h1][/center]
[center][h2]0900 Local Time[/h2][/center]

[center][h1]Losing Tail[/h1][/center]

Skye awoke, the look of her rather different now. Instead of her long hair, she had completely shaven it short, almost pixie-like in how short and gone it was. A few cuts and bruises could be seen, the darkened crimson red rather than the fox-like orange glow of her red hair visible in the roots and texture of her hairline, illuminated by the dulled glow of a bedside lamp in the motel room.

Yawning, Skye got some trousers and a black t-shirt on, the Scot covering up her top half's bruise and cut covered body with some modesty at least, and checked over her new burner phone. Of course, no calls, given she knew how ECHELON, the NSA’s tracking system worked- even her voice could give her away, so texts were limited and more kept to only contacts through an encrypted service. With her white and red fox-adorned socks on and a black leather jacket, the Kitsune seemed a different operator to the one she’d been 48 hours ago. An alien, yet somewhat holding onto the core of what she was prior, considering she’d need to become someone else.

Skye had someone to meet today, for the plan that was suggested to work ahead. Becoming Rose for a few minutes meant she needed to sound alike, and Skye wasn’t technical enough to figure out how to work out how to create a voice modulator with a more generic English sampling of her voice. The heavy Scots would likely be carrying, and no matter how much she tried to shrug it off, even in impersonation, it would never be perfect. So instead of trying to pretend another identity, she had to copy her very own, with the same method Rose had just used. Not a hard piece of work to do, but it needed an in person visit.

Ban had done well to set her up in the motel, as Skye knew the brief meeting would be coming up soon. She kept herself in shape, a few press ups and exercises keeping her boundless body in check, and got some overnight oats in, the cramped space not ideal for you know, actual habitation in the long run but enough for laying low and keeping her head out of sight.

Soon enough, Ban’s contact would know the way up inside the small motel, the room passed on and details of where Skye was. Enri Uemura, the name Boaro thought was dead was very much alive, albeit Skye only knew her through an alias on her phone. Ban’s organisation had pulled strings, and this was one of the parts of the plan Skye needed to get it done.

The contact was soon heard than seen, the screech of J-pop - some generic synthesised noise with a singer that most voice recognition AIs may or may not have classified as a man and lyrics about abandonment and being overlooked by an uncaring world edgy enough to cut headphone cables - heralding Enri’s arrival most places she went. She had at least muted it to speak to the motel clerk, more to hear the elderly woman speak than for any kind of manners. Utterly unconcerned with the woman’s scornful look, she took the directions to the appropriate room with a curt thank you, half drowned out by the sound of chewing gum and stomped up the stairs. The knocking would likely not have been necessary, but when someone was paying this much, it was best to cover all bases.

Skye headed to the door finishing a press up, opening the thing up barely half a metre from the only usable space within this absolute box of a room. Man, it was dingy, but hell, she wanted less attention and insisted upon it, rather than bringing any heat inside or to the clan. Besides, she’d talk later with Ban, and for the contact, this was the safest spot.

Skye saw the look of Enri, the taller, almost androgynous looking Scot facing the shorter Japanese hacker, chewing bubblegum, and very much, the look of a hacker.
“Morning. Here for Kitsune?” Skye asked, her Scots accent wide, as she widened the door, knowing well, this could be the Police, it could be even Artemis, but more likely than not, at the agreed time and place, could only be the contact.

Skye was met with the sight of a mess of garish colors and black leather, a twig of a woman barely 5’2” ordinarily, and though platform boots added a few inches, Enri still had to tilt her head back to look the Scot in the eye, staring at her through yellow-framed cat eye glasses. A nod at the question, white and hot pink hair combed over to the left side bobbing to the rhythm as she answered a question with a question. “Looking for Outflaw?” She asked as she pulled the headphones down and finally killed the noise for the time being.

Skye nodded, opening the door fully, the Japanese girl about a foot shorter and yet no less badass in imposition, Outlaw by name, and by nature.
“Yeah. Come in.”
With the door open, Skye headed across to the bed, the light on in the windowless room as she sat down on it, trying to get the measure of her. She was a hacker alright, in every frame of it, though Skye could notice the remains of a head injury, a very faint scar at least, that definitely indicated something else. Stil, she didn’t think too much about it, as she sat down, a little more on level.
“I heard you might be able to help with something. A voice modulator, with a little piece on my vocal chord. Would you be able to help?” Skye asked, knowing some of the brief had been passed along, and it would work. Skye would be able to help tune the voice in, given it was basically her own, but in a slightly different accent.

Enri entered when invited, taking stock of the room. In full light and with a turn of the head that moved the hair a bit aside, the remnants of a scar down the left cheek and past the ear could be seen, not quite covered by surgery and makeup. “Wow, you must’ve made a mess of things if you’re living like this at your age.” Having grown up in a similar apartment, Skye could’ve sworn that was sympathy in her voice, “Ya, that sounds like a fun afternoon.” She invited herself onto the only chair, trying to stretch her legs by habit and kicking the opposite wall by accident, “Not what I usually do, but good a time as any to branch out. Someone else is taking care of the money, so we can really fish with hand grenades. Start with the modulator, how much difference do you need? Accent? Cross-dressing?” There was no small amount of excitement in the IT nerd’s voice, almost the same kind of energy a kid showing off to their elder siblings or parents.

Skye chuckled, the hacker’s voice bubbly, knowing this was something obviously that had paid well for the hacker’s time. Skye had a good idea, a pretty decent one in fact.
“Slightly down in pitch. English accent, over Scots. And similar to mine, but with enough profile. Think you can tweak it on the fly?” Skye asked, wondering what Enri could do, knowing it would be a little bit of a prototyping to get this right.
“And yes, I suppose I did make a mess of things. 31 is not treating me well so far. But you make the decisions you make.” Skye alluded, knowing half well Enri might have an idea of what happened, but more likely than not, would play along.

Enri’s face wrinkled slightly, as if in offense. “Please, who am I, Apple? Of course I make my soft tweakable. Phone app works for you?” The indignation fading away back to the friendly , almost overly so, neighborhood malware developer. “If we’re only making small changes, even better. The AI is gonna have an easier time. Cuts down training time. Just speech, or some more features? Integrate with a phone or radio, subvocalization…?”

Skye nodded, knowing that well, it was a fairly easy job. But then again, this wasn’t any usual piece of wearable tech- it was a little bit more than that to make her fit the other doppelganger of her.
”Yeah, app works for me. Live speech, no subvocalization. Don’t need to think in her voice now, Jesus…..” Skye added, knowing there was training data needed in this part, and well, like the sticky bit that Rose had applied, of course, once it was readied.

Enri had been dutifully jotting down notes the entire time, nothing but a plain paper notebook. Unhackable, except with an axe. “Wireless PAN, direct out… Now for the hardware part. Concealability, durability, service life?”

“Skin tone, for about a couple of hours. Needs to not be noticeable.” Skye replied, professional, noting Enri putting words to paper.

“Disposable. Makes power supply easier.” She got up, pacing around the room as she thought. By room, one might say closet, and by pacing one would say ‘two steps there, two steps back’ At least she didn't have to duck under any open cupboards, she had that going for her. “Just a pickup and output, rest handled with the phone. Minimize parts, minimize profile. Will need a skin tone sample to work with. Best make two to have a spare on hand though, just in case. Measure twice. Trust common parts, or do you want clean chips?” Would take a day or so to ship from Taiwan, plus the fees for her contact in the factories.

”Common works. Just needs to pass me off and traceability isn’t a worry. It’s a….unique situation. Skye spoke, with a continued pickup of her voice, placing her arm out in front of Enri, letting her get a sample of her skin with her phone. 
“There may be more work. Potentially. But, I guess Ban will ask you for help in time. With this pace, I think so.” Skye chuckled wryly, still sitting there and letting Enri think it over, playing it through in her mannerism.

Ten photos and some final notes later, Enri stopped pacing. “Think I’ve got enough. In how much of a hurry are you?” She asked to get an idea of how many to task with support work.

“And I know it’s not my business, but…” A wry smile grew on the hacker’s face, “If you need to hide your identity, other devices might give you away. I cooould have a look at them to make sure they’re clear. For a small charge.” One did not work for Avital Shalev for half a decade without picking some things up.

“Fairly. I need a quick turnaround, by the end of today, even.” Skye replied, seeing the smile form, and Enri’s other query come up.
“Hah, seems like my initial bit of my plan worked. Alright then. I might need a few bits cleared. And potentially, anything to help keep me under wraps. I know how to keep off grid, but any other suggestions are welcome. The cash can be covered.” She added, knowing there was little in the way that she had left on her now, but Enri could get to work on that. It may have been another few thousand pounds, maybe tens added to the bill but hey, when the stakes were as high as what Skye was proposing, it would pay off. Bargain of the century, really.

Enri held out her bag for Skye to deposit anything that she wanted checked. "Busy bee, aren't we? Best get to it then. Kingo-sama pays, and so it will be." She shoved her phone and notebook in the laptop bag and turned to leave, spinning around in the door to face Skye. "Customer satisfaction guaranteed, but all sales are final!" She gave Skye finger guns and a wink as she slunk behind the door frame, seemingly dialling someone on her phone. And then the noise started again.

Skye dropped the burner phone inside, even the FNX too, considering it was the only piece she’d brought with her since the fight in New Zealand. 
“Pleasure doing business. See you later.” Skye’s response was dry, but her usual, a more casual tone than commanding a team of special forces and espionage-originating talents about the place, and perhaps a weight off her shoulder.

She wasn’t giving up her pistol that easy, and Enri would realise that Skye wasn’t fucking around at that point. Skye smiled, nodding back as Enri headed out and shut the door, and with it, disappeared. Sighing, she clicked her hands and stood up, staring into the mirror, at the new version of her that seemed to be there. In time, she’d be another version soon enough. Bittersweet Symphony? Nah, more like staring into the mirror too long and getting drowned in that. Nothing to do for once, apart from sit, wait, and then, when the time came, meet with Ban again and head for Nagoya, to get the job done.

She already had her shopping list. G36 Rifle, dragonskin vest, an earpiece, and aviators. She wouldn't even have to change clothes. The genius of it of course, was whilst no doubt Rose was trying to lock everything down, the real Skye Lyons was going to pretend to be her. Walk straight in. Get what she needed. And only if things went to shit, shoot her way out. If it worked, Rose was going to be backed into a corner and forced to make decisions, not work openly. 

If Rose had something bad planned, her plans would have to adapt to cover more bases. Skye was a good strategist- and whilst such a situation was unprecedented, what Ebrima had said, as had Sam, Freya too had come to mind. She had to find her way to fix this and adapt to the situation, as unwieldy as it was- and she already had enough intel from Rose, who as psychotic as she was, had made the mistake every villain makes. Tells the protagonist the plan hoping they'll die before they react, or as Rose would have imagined, turned Skye into a slave more willfully. It wouldn't be perfect, but it would be good enough to throw a giant socket wrench at the turning gears of Artemis, before there was no stopping it.