Play@YSDC

9:45 AM
In the kitchen-
Everyone kept eating.

In the private room-
"Yes, that would make sense," said Major Andrews. "He'll be out of communication until he lands there, then. Maybe you can contact Mount Weather and get an ETA, and once he arrives there, you can relay orders and information."

"Yes, I think I can reach it on this network," said Mr. Foo, "but this equipment can only have one channel open at a time. I'd have to get off with you to talk to them. It might be possible to modify the equipment to create a direct connection between both locations, but it would take time, and we wouldn't be able to use it during that time."

"Any modifications, if they are to be made, can wait until our teams arrive at your location. We'll have specialists capable of doing that."

OOC,[b]Mr. Foo[/b]'s Listen roll (58% skill) in the private room: [dice]0[/dice]

Ms. Foo,[b]Ms. Foo[/b] could hear a car arriving from the north. It came down the dirt road between the motel and the truck stop and drove into the diner's parking lot.

Tony continues eating, now considering the possibility of getting a medal from the President after this was all over with. He and Mr. Foo were really dong important work, after all.

Maybe the kids will finally realize their old pop is pretty cool after all. Come to think of it, could probably use this in advertisements, help get my business back on track. The happy thought makes him smile despite the grave circumstances. The military was on it. Things would be fine.

Mrs Foo plucks Tony's sleeve, disturbing his reverie. "Hey, Mister, you deaf? Wake up, someone coming: I hear car!" She is rather surprised being somewhat deaf herself.

"Hmm? Really? I didn't hear anything. Hope it's not more of those skinheads, last thing we need is another firefight. At least these rabies victims can't drive. At least, I assume they can't.

"For the time being I think we should stay quiet and try not to draw any attention to ourselves. Seems like the folks at the diner have their own problems."

"Okay okay." Mrs Foo clears the empty plates and toddles off to the kitchen. But on the way she has a jolly good look through the front window to see if she can see the car and its occupants.

Spot hidden,base[dice]0[/dice]

9:46 AM
In the kitchen-
Ellen and the Lathans kept eating like there was no tomorrow. After all, there might not be.

In the private room-
"See if you can contact Mount Weather, then," said Major Andrews. "You've given us enough intel to get a good overview of the world situation, so we can let you go for a few minutes while we digest and analyze it. We're not being attacked at least, except by the infected, but let us know if anything changes. Call us back once you've gotten through and let us know what you learn."

"Will do, Major," said Mr. Foo. "Over and out." He disconnected the call and opened up a new communications channel.

"Emergency Operations," said a woman's voice. "Who is this?"

In the motel lobby-

Ms. Foo,Peeking out the window after nudging the shade slightly aside, [b]Ms. Foo[/b] could see [b]Michael[/b]'s car parked in front of the diner, but there was no sign of [b]Michael[/b]. [b]Jenny Cooper[/b] stood outside the car, talking to people she didn't recognize. The two dogs from the T-Bone were there too, and they went over to [b]Jenny[/b].

Tony is torn-- he wants to go and see his family, but he feels like Foo needed him here now. He stays put and lets the older man do the talking, ready to step in with a charm offensive if need be.

Mrs Foo continues to watch. Everything seems so normal. Apart from the burning gas pumps of course.

9:47 AM
In the kitchen-
Everyone continued to eat.

In the motel lobby-

Ms. Foo,[b]Ms. Foo[/b] saw the dogs, [b]Max[/b] and [b]Buddy[/b], greet [b]Jenny[/b] affectionately. The people in the parking lot continued to talk.

In the private room-
"This is Mr. Foo," said Mr. Foo. "I am operating a CIA listening post, and I have established contact with Warren Air Force Base. They are requesting an ETA on the President's arrival."

"How do you know all this?" replied the woman. "How did you even get on this line?"

"As I said, I'm operating a CIA listening post. This network dates back decades and has a backup system that is not affected by the satellite outages. I am capable of contacting various facilities, and of relaying orders. The very fact that I am on this line shows that I can do this." He rattled off a series of letters and numbers that were no doubt some form of security clearances.

"All right, sir. I'm afraid we don't have an ETA on the President. Air Force One disappeared from the radar a few minutes ago."

OOC,[b]Mr. Foo[/b]'s Persuade roll (66% skill) to convince the woman: [dice]0[/dice]

Tony lets out a breath.

"Oh geeze, that's not good. Oh, hi, Tony Lathan. I... work with Mr. Foo. Do we know where the vice president is? Because it seems to me that now is definitely not the time for us to not know who the heck's in charge!"

Mrs Foo toddles back to the kitchen .
"It all much better outside. People standing chatting. It look like normal day." She says as she walks in. She tuts as she sees the mess.
"I think we wash up now!" And she directs the two boys to the sink.

9:48 AM
In the kitchen-
The boys didn't even complain and just put the dishes in the sink and washed them, too numb from this morning's events to protest.

"Wow, you're good," said Cathy to Ms. Foo. "Have you had any children of your own?"

In the private room-
"We don't know," said the woman. "The last we heard before the satellite network went down was that the Vice President was en route to an undisclosed location. Without any connection to the outside world, we've been unable to send or receive orders anyway, until you called. You're our only link. What can you tell us about the situation?"

"It's pretty bad. Worse overseas. Been several nuclear exchanges, but none against our territory or bases." He tries to fill in everything they've learned, hoping Mr. Foo pipes in if he forgets anything.

There is a momentary look of sadness on Mrs Foo's face. Then she sniffs and says,
"Five boys, tree girls. Much noodle soup!" And she laughs and puts the kettle on.
"Now we have tea."

9:49 AM
In the kitchen-
Cathy laughed too. "That's a huge family!" she said. "I have my hands full with just two boys. I don't know how you do it. Tea sounds like it would hit the spot, thanks."

In the private room-
Mr. Foo gave Mount Weather a concise summary of what they had found and his analysis.

The woman on the other end of the line whistled. "That is pretty bad," she said, "but I suppose it could always be worse. Thank you for letting us know. I'll pass the information along here. I'd better let you get back to monitoring the situation, unless there's anything you'd like to add. There's little we can do about it here, but we can hold our own for now."

"I think that's all any of us can do at the moment," Tony says. "Stay safe out there."

After she gets off the line, he looks at Mr. Foo. "Well, bad as things are, it's good to know the situation's stable in some parts. I'll feel a lot better once the military arrives to back us up, though."

Mrs Foo stirs the tea and then waits for it to infuse.
"I see people outside. They talking." She says as she collects small bowls and lines them up. Then she pours the tea.

9:50 AM
In the kitchen-
"Which people?" asked Ellen, interested. "Was one of them Charlie?"

In the private room-
"You too," replied the woman. "Over and out."

Mr. Foo reestablished a connection to Warren Air Force Base, showing Tony what he was doing at every step to teach him how to do it himself. "Major Andrews," said the major's voice on the other end of the line.

"This is Mr. Foo," he said. "I've spoken to someone at Mount Weather. The President did not arrive there, and Air Force One disappeared from their radar just a few minutes ago. The Vice President is en route to an undisclosed location."

"Looks like we're still on our own for now, then. Hopefully our command and control will remain intact."

Tony pays attention to every step, committed to doing his part. "I know you got a nasty gunshot wound, there", he tells Mr. Foo. "So don't push yourself. If you need to rest, I can take over."

He remains silent as Mr. Foo speaks to Warren.

"No, not Charlie" Mrs Foo shakes her head, "Only visitors and garage men, I think." She puts two cups on a tray and takes it to the private room.