New Amsterdam OOC: Apples for All

[CCC]

I decided to make it two instead, on the basis that, threatening though this is, it doesn't threaten the whole team (Ding and Buck are the exceptions) and even for those it does threaten, I can see at least three ways out.

Though I like the use of the Gigantigo Gun here, it's been established that to make living organic matter grow it requires said living organic matter to eat a lot. Fortunately, this bus takes an unrealistically long time to fall, so there's time to try something else.

[Dom/SlimKop]

Well, I can't blame it on in-character mistake, I forgot completely about the food. Kip caring more about the people underneath the bus is totally in character though.

[CCC]

Glad you're back, Inspy.

[CCC]

One more case, successfully solved.

It never actually came up during the case, because you were too quick, but the Professor's plan was to pass the giant pillbugs off as aliens, claim that they needed ten tonnes of gold as 'spaceship fuel' and that they'd blow up the planet if they didn't get it, and then take a long holiday in Hawaii (returning for more 'spaceship fuel' if he ever ran out of cash).

In a more long-term kind of way, you now have the address of a fellow pilot who may or may not hold a grudge against Monty for some unspecified incident in Zanzibar. Monty's indicated to Avery that he hasn't been able to find Dave either (and, while he doesn't quite have Avery's breadth of contacts, he does know a lot of people himself). The plane has been rather damaged and it's been made clear that having only one pilot is a bit of a problem.

Anyone who wishes can swap to neighbouring skills (e.g. a +2 and a +3 skill), or replace any +1 skill with any skill you don't currently have, at this point. And what will you be doing between now and the next case?

[balthazar]

*Sigh* Repairs, teaching someone, if not everyone how to pilot the plane (once it's repaired), and possibly teaching Avery some form of combat skill so Inspy wont feel so left out when things get hot next adventure. Otherwise, I like Buck right where he is skill-wise.

[Ruan]

Ding is going to settle in, try to get to know the area a little better. He'll join the group uninvited, and will probably look surprised if someone ever points it out to him. Other than that, amuse himself by swooping at the occasional human at night, keeping eyes and ears out for any signs of trouble in their neighborhood, that sort of thing.

Skills will stay the same, no changes needed.

[Dom/SlimKop]

Kip doesn't want to learn to pilot. He will go on dates, take various members of the team out to hole in the wall/awesome restaurants he's found in his travels and work on the bread and butter missions the agency has.

[Warbeard]

I'll have Hex switch out Gambling for Piloting Skill at +1.
Buck will still have to handle the fancy stuff, but Hex will at least be able to get everyone from point A to Point B with the plane (mostly) intact. :)

[inspiration]

I'll have Avery drop Gambling and Sleight of Hand to take Pilot and Fists (or whatever that fighting one is) at +1.

Avery does the usual gamut of advertising and keeping in touch, especially with Rufus Halftail, the crabs, and the victims of the exploded restaurant. (She also introduces Ding to the taxi-seagull from the beach, sensing they'll get on well.) However, she doesn't spend as much time as usual with the gang, claiming family obligations. She does make time to learn piloting along with Hex, and get some more combat training as well. She also drops a wad of cash on fixing the plane, encouraging Buck to trick it out with the latest gear.

[balthazar]

Buck will do his best Snidely Whiplash laugh when Avery tells him to trick out the plane. I'll have to think on what exactly he's going to do, but expect a large "Boom" potential.

[CCC]

Are we talking blu-ray lasers on the wings, or are we talking booster rockets on the wings? (There isn't space for both, not if you want the wings to still be able to lift the plane).

[balthazar]

Lasers if used would be mounted under the nose of the plane for air engagements and at the exits (side doors/ tail ramp) for fire support and covering fire. Booster rockets would be of the type "C" model rocket engines, and mounted on the engine pods, so that they rotate as the engines do, to provide either lift or velocity, as required. If anything would be mounted on the wings, it would be a cluster of these*. Just for perspective, the black cone at the bottom is about an inch long, and can be pried off easily. With a little modification, it would make an excellent unguided rocket for the plane, and could be fired from the shoulder by a mouse if necessary. A squirrel would have an even easier time of it.

Again, all this depends on how much time Buck has left after repairing the wing of the plane. All the parts are fairly common and inexpensive, or can be scrounged up from junk, it's just putting it all together that's a pain.

*I've used these, they're actually pretty cool. It kills two birds with one stone by using fins mounted in the nozzle to make it spin, giving it accuracy, and at the same time, producing a very loud whistle.

[CCC]

Okay, so either unguided rockets, lasers on the fuselage, or boosters on the engine pods. I'll allow one improvement; any of those would be suitable, among others.

[balthazar]

About what I figured. I'll go with the lasers.

[CCC]

No-one actually expected this flight to go without a hitch, right?