I do not know where Roma, Natasha, or Lyosha are at the moment, but I know exactly where Shadowstalker and Bert are. They are sitting our little corner office we have here on base.

Sasha and I were going over some maps, plans, and other intel when I stood up to get some more tea. As I was walking out the room a sort of mirage appeared in front of me, as if looking through the warping of air caused by fire. Not only was the air warped, but there were strange colours as well, obscuring the background.

I heard Sasha grab his rifle from the table. I went for my gun as I saw two figures walking out. But then I recognised Shadowstalker, the first to emerge.

"Sasha, it's cool, it's Shadowstalker" I said.

Then Sasha recognised Bert, and said, "And it's Bert, too."

"Who?"

"Bert, the turtle."

At first I did not recognise the name; in my mind I say 'Bert' the way it would be said in Russian...

Anyway, as I looked closer at the portal from which they had emerged, I saw a Cat Girl in an old fashioned dress that I have only seen in old movies from America in the early 20th century. She was waving gently at them, and then she said with a smile, "see you around, boys". I did not have the chance to get a better look.

So what is up, guys?

Finally! We've returned from the land of Missing Socks and Ugly Dwarves! I think. My sense of reality has been seriously challenged.

Uh hi guys, we kinda of well took a wrong turn and ended up in th Dream Stream, among other places. I will try to explain further later. I need to sit down.

Here is a bit of reality for you, Bert

Keep your voice down and do not leave this room.

You are on a Russian airbase in Nalchik....

So being a heavily armed American Agent would be a bad thing to be right now.

Oh this could prove intresting, in a bad way.

Bert, right now, yes.

Shadowstalker, I think you are correct.

We need a plan....

Uhh, give me a uniform, teach me a few common Russian phrases "Yes, No" and get me to the embassy.

You are drunk. Just mumble if anyone says anything to you. Your accent will give you away immediately, but we can cover for you being drunk.

Then getting to Moscow is going to be an adventure, too.

I'm not much of a drinker, but if you have a bottle sitting around I can smell the part too.

You are in Russia. Bottles are everywhere

Either road, I think I have something that will work.

Once we get out of this section (special operations) of the airbase, the rest should be relatively easy. The others are on their way so we can head out together. We need to get you somewhere you can lay low. There is only one hotel you would want to stay at because of all the Western and Russian skiers, but there are also a lot of spies.

Roma is working on finding a sort of safehouse for you. Once I hear from him and the others arrive, we can head out. You will have to keep your equipment behind; but we can get that out later, I think.

Kolya wrote:"Sasha, it's cool, it's Shadowstalker" I said.

Then Sasha recognised Bert, and said, "And it's Bert, too."

"Who?"

"Bert, the turtle."

At first I did not recognise the name; in my mind I say 'Bert' the way it would be said in Russian...

Anyway, as I looked closer at the portal from which they had emerged, I saw a Cat Girl in an old fashioned dress that I have only seen in old movies from America in the early 20th century. She was waving gently at them, and then she said with a smile, "see you around, boys". I did not have the chance to get a better look.

So what is up, guys?

I see no mention of exchanging the secret handshake. May I presume you did? Because if you didn't, one or more of you could have easily ended up dead with a slip up like that.

Sounds good. The only item I'm really anxious to get back (or hold onto) is my ASP.

Everything else I can replace with little to moderate difficulty, but it was hell finding the ASP in the first place. Coincidently you guys are more than welcome to rummage through my stuff and see what you want to keep.

Celeste Darken wrote:I see no mention of exchanging the secret handshake. May I presume you did? Because if you didn't, one or more of you could have easily ended up dead with a slip up like that.

When I say 'recognised Shadowstalker', I mean recognised by all means, including the handshake.

Bert_the_Turtle wrote:Sounds good. The only item I'm really anxious to get back (or hold onto) is my ASP.

Everything else I can replace with little to moderate difficulty, but it was hell finding the ASP in the first place. Coincidently you guys are more than welcome to rummage through my stuff and see what you want to keep.

May be possible to get that pistol out under your coat.

We will see.

Still have not heard from Roma. We are not well connected down here.

Spiffy, uhh, say, how paranoid is the security here? Cameras all over? Routine patrols in all areas?

You are off to a good start.

There are other passive as well as active measures we will have to get through.

I was more worried about any security measures in the room we're in. I hope my bug detector works on Russian models.

Bert, what the Hell are you doin' in Russia? You get promoted and ya'll already defectin' .

Oh by the way, don't mention your, ahem, "affiliation" while your over there. Just trust me on that. Something about a shooting a few monsth back between our guys and some of theirs...big..big misunderstanding. But, you should be fine.

Bert_the_Turtle wrote:I was more worried about any security measures in the room we're in. I hope my bug detector works on Russian models.

May not want to use psionics or magic until we are ready to move. Otherwise, just sit tight and use your library voice.

Bug detector? Russian models? The girls or some electronic devices?

Kolya wrote:

Bert_the_Turtle wrote:I was more worried about any security measures in the room we're in. I hope my bug detector works on Russian models.

May not want to use psionics or magic until we are ready to move. Otherwise, just sit tight and use your library voice.

Bug detector? Russian models? The girls or some electronic devices?

Don't have neither magic nor psionics. Just this little wand-doodad that detects most kinds of tracking, listening, and recording devices.

Will probably work here, too.

Great, now to see if the room we're in is bugged.

Stay put. I just got a very strange and cryptic phone call.

Hopefully Roma will be calling soon. I hope so anyway.

Can ya tell me anymore?

Not with certainty. My guess is someone knows you are here, or that at least knows that something odd has happened. Not much goes on without Security knowing about it.

Sasha, no one but me comes through the door.

Alright, I'll go, uhh, hide in the corner or something.

Kolya wrote:Stay put. I just got a very strange and cryptic phone call.

Hopefully Roma will be calling soon. I hope so anyway.

Would you care to enlighten us, or is it of a classified nature? After Dante's . . . mishap, I would hate for something similar to happen to you or Bert.

At this point it is not classified.

One of the operational planners wants to see me, but he was not exactly clear why he wants to see me. It could be to get me out of the room so that they can search it, it can be related to our upcoming operation... basically it can be very bad or nothing at all, which would be good.

Kolya, hasn't returned yet. And we had a scarey close call, twice.

Sasha and I were in the room and a knock came. It wasn't the "Coded knock" that Kolya had designated for his return, so I went to even more extreme lengths to hide myself whilse Sasha answered the door. He slipped out into the passage and pulled the door closed behind him. I don't understand Russian, but it sounded like the words were very heated.

Sasha came back in a little later, (it seemed like an eternity to me) and had a grin on his face. "Things are ok now. Someone is going to be delivering food because I am working Soooo Hard on planning the Operation." and he laughed heartily. A little too if you ask me.

A half hour later another knock, and I concealed myself to the best of my ability while Sasha answered the door and brought in a huge tray of food; enough for two people. As paranoid as ever, I silenced him before he could say anything and searched the tray for bugs, the eavesdropping sort of bugs.

The meal was clean as far as I could tell, and I got my first taste of Russian Cuisine. No offense guys, but I think I'll stick with MRE's. Of course, knowing what Army food (in this case I guess you could say Air Force Food) is like, I'm not holding it against Russian Food in general. I'll be sure to try some local delicacies when we hit a decent restaraunt.