Cell One: Conversation at the car...

[Mouser]

When they arrive at the car, Steve searches the car, and points out a GPS tracking device on the right rear bumper as well as damage to the left rear turn signal that will make it easier to tail, especially at night.

He puts his finger to his lips, turns on the car, and turns up the radio loud, then motions everyone to gather outside the car.

"Aefe, may I please have your cellphone?" Then he addresses everyone, "I realize my actions inside may have seemed harsh, but I assure you, everything will become clear in a moment."

[BattleNymph]

Aefe hands Steve her cel phone with a questioning look. There is still a bit of fear in her eyes. "Clear is good."

[Mouser]

<Steve quickly dials Father Patmos, who answers on the second ring>

"Hello."

Steve speaks calmly and clearly into the phone, "FBI Special Agent Randall has once again interrupted our investigations. We have critical, time-sensitive information to report. We have no secure way to make our report. We also have a time-critical objective. Unless you have some suggestion as to how we can report, we will keep moving and let you know what has happened once we have accomplished our mission. Do you have any questions or suggestions?"

[Paulypalooza]

Jimmy walks up to Steve's free ear and speaks in a low voice "Say boss, it might be a good idea if you continue this phone call away from prying eyes and ears if you get my drift. You know, rifle mikes and the like."

[BattleNymph]

Aefe leans over Steve's shoulder, trying to catch some of the dialog on the phone.

[Origen]

Steve speaks calmly and clearly into the phone, "FBI Special Agent Randall has once again interrupted our investigations."

Unfortunately, it is his investigation and prerogative. You were there in an advisory capacity only.

"We have critical, time-sensitive information to report. We have no secure way to make our report. We also have a time-critical objective. Unless you have some suggestion as to how we can report, we will keep moving and let you know what has happened once we have accomplished our mission. Do you have any questions or suggestions?"

You should keep moving, and report when you are done.

I have no suggestions.

Please make sure to keep the "information" you have already obtained secure.

[BattleNymph]

Aefe leans over and whispers to Jimmy.

[Mouser]

Steve speaks into the phone, "Are you saying that he knows our mission and objectives? Should we share with him what we know??"

[Origen]

Steve speaks into the phone, "Are you saying that he knows our mission and objectives? Should we share with him what we know??"

Father Patmos replied, "Do you feel he is someone you should trust?"

[Mouser]

Father Patmos replied, "Do you feel he is someone you should trust?"

"No."

<Steve does his best to remain calm.>

[Origen]

"No."

<Steve does his best to remain calm.>

"Then you should accept responsibility for that judgment, and follow it."

[Mouser]

"Then you should accept responsibility for that judgment, and follow it."

"Done. Bravo Oscar Alpha Out."

<Steve turns off the phone and hands it back to Aefe, then turns to the entire team and speaks in a low voice.>

"I have our orders. We are to proceed with the mission as outlined, and return for a full debriefing once we have obtained the item. As suspected, we can count on no assistance from the Fibbies, and, since their operational security has been compromised, active opposition."

<Steve pauses a moment so the full impact of what he just said can sink in.>

"The Fibbies are currently interrogating the subject, and will soon obtain the information we possess. We must ditch the bug at the earliest opportunity, sticking it on someone else's car or truck, and use duct tape on the busted blinker to cover it completely prior to nightfall. That way it won't give them any advantage in tracking us."

"We will then obtain the object ahead of them and return to base with the object as quickly as possible. There can be no delay. We must assume that there is a listening device in the car, so no operational discussions once we are underway. We must remove any obstacle to our mission with extreme prejudice. Okay. This is why we get paid the big bucks. If there are no questions, let's get to it."

<Steve looks around the group for questions.>

[BattleNymph]

"Well then, we have our orders lets go get that map and ditch the bug at least." Aefe mutters quietly to the gathered team.

"I gotta get gas first though." She adds in a slightly more normally pitched voice and goes to get in the drivers seat.

[Mouser]

<Steve looks around to make sure nobody is watching, then quickly snags the bug from the bumper and gets in the front passenger seat. He lightly tosses the bug it in his hand, testing the weight. He looks back to assure himself that the others have gotten in as well, and turns the volume down on the stereo. He looks at Aefe and winks with his right eye.>

"Let's get some gas."

[Origen]

Somewhere back at Ft. Leonardwood, Father Patmos set down his phone.

"Bravo Oscar Alpha?" he said quizzically.

[Mouser]

The four of them go to a gas station and Aefe fills up. While she is filling up, Steve asks if anybody wants something to eat.

Steve goes and buys a Snickers bar, and pays the attendant for it and the gas in cash. On the way back to the Neon, he opens the candy wrapper and begins to fumble with his change. Losing grip on the change, he falls to his knees behind a Lexus SUV. The woman refueling doesn't even notice him, instead focussed on the children bickering inside.

"Hunter!! Brianna!! Stop that fighing right now, or I swear I will turn this car right around!!"

Steve quickly slaps the magnetic bug inside the luxury SUV's bumper and stands, holding up his Snickers bar and smiling. He misses his brother and the way they used to drive their parents nuts on long drives.

While he was in the snack shop, the other two guys carefully covered the broken tail-light with duck tape. The four of them get into the car and drive away.

[Mouser]

Because The FBI Doesn't Have Enough Bad Press

The GPS data were clear. They had gone into the J. Edgar Hoover Middle School, and parked there. Special Agent Randall thought it was quite appropriate that this school was named after his own personal hero. He saw himself as following in the old man's footsteps. He saw himself in only a few short years, "Director Randall."

They would prbably give it to a woman or an immigrant and he would be robbed of his dream. Typical. Hoover had been right. This country was going to hell in a handbasket and the only thing slowing it down even a little were the efforts of the FBI.

Special Agent Randall had ordered the entire area sealed off.

That kid was so screwed. He was playing with the grownups now. He should go back to his sandcastles and not try to mess with professionals. Him, his black felon buddy and their "loyal indian companion." Yeah, Tonto, you're gonna have a long time to thing about how stupid it was to try and mess with the F.B.I.

There were FBI sniper teams in the woods.

There were FBI Special Agents patrolling the halls of the school.

There were even FBI undercover teams rooting the little ten year old girls on.

Nothing could get out. They had fallen into the trap agent Randall had set, and there would be no escape. He had given them enough rope. He had waited as they went from place to place.

Their creativity had impressed them. Somehow they had managed to find a safe house in a nearby suburb. The girl was obviously wearing a wig and carefully applied makeup. The men were probably hiding in the back of the SUV.

They weren't going to hand it off and just ride away. He would get them. He would get their contact. He would roll up this little covert cell and embarrass the DoD so much they would never try to play on his turf ever again.

Posse Comitatus. They thought it was all a joke, but he knew better. The law is the law. The military has no place operating on American soil.

He would show them.

He watched as the children finished wishing each other a good game, and he waited. As they approached the cars, he saw the right moment. The agents he had placed in the crowd were perfectly situated around the SUV and the woman masquerading as a soccer mom.

He had waited long enough. He put the microphone to his lips. "All agents. Go go go. I say again. Go go go."

He watched with great satisfaction as the female agents swooped down and removed the chldren to a safe area, but not before he got the pleasure of seeing their eyes bug out through his binoculars as they saw their "mother" slammed to the ground, the "special" handcuffs put around her wrist as the agents with MP-5's searched the vehicle.

They searched every single vehicle.

It took them well into the late summer afternoon to search the whole place. In the end, he had to treat every kid and their parents to ice cream and pizza in an effort to put off the inevitable, but he realized by the end of it that you could only put guns in the faces of so many soccer moms before your career was truly and surely ended.

The worst part was when they found the bug. It had a big lipsticked kiss on it.

He inwardly sighed.

He took his phone out and began dialing.

This was gonna hurt.

[Mouser]

The two local news anchors, a man and a woman, smile at each other.

The woman speaks first, "And in our final story, some little girls at J. Edgar Hoover Middle School had a fun surprise today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation stopped by to show them how they can help fight the war on terror."

<Video of FBI Hostage Rescue Team member in full regalia kicking a soccer ball around with ten year old girls in soccer uniforms>

"The FBI treated the girls to a full demonstration of the Hostage Rescue Team, including helicopters and rapelling gear."

<Video of FBI Hostage Rescue Team members in full regalia fast-roping from helicopters>

"Afterwards, the Agents treated the kids and their parents to pizza and ice cream."

<Little girl in soccer uniform and holding a huge slice of pizza is posing with Agent Randall in a suit and tie. Agent Randall is down on one knee, looking at her intently. The little girl turns to the camera and says,>

"When I grow up, I want to be a Special Agent for the FBI!!>

<And then she takes a huge bite of pizza, covering her adorable little face with pizza sauce. Agent Randall and her mug for the camera before she even starts chewing, and that picture is frozen on the screen, then digitally placed behind the news anchors.>

"Isn't she cute? And he's not bad looking either!"

<The both laugh on cue, then sign off.>

[Paulypalooza]

I love the idea of Randall having to use a piece of fluff news to cover his ass.

[Origen]

I love the idea of Randall having to use a piece of fluff news to cover his ass.

I do too.

Beautifully written, Mouser.

[BattleNymph]

Awesome Mouser! heh..... I liked the lipstick on the homing device too. :D

[Joe Kickass]

Very nice.

[Mouser]

Steve shared glances with the team as he reached the car, and everyone finished what they were doing.

Four doors slammed simultaneously as they entered the car together.

Jimmy handed Steve a CD, and the Godfather of Soul's music filled the car as it pulled away from the station.

Aefe drove the car to the side lot where the Fibbies had towed the Indian's car. She slowed briefly and Jimmy and Mike slipped out, running and rolling to keep from hurting themselves. Steve and Aefe kept circling, keeping watch for any suspicious activity, ready to give aid if it were needed.

With the help of a slimjim, Jimmy opened the car so he and Mike could search it. They kept gloves on so as not to leave any fingerprints.

Working together, things went quickly. Without words, Jimmy and Mike were able to coordinate their efforts and find the map. Thank goodness the Fibbies only gave it a once over because it was exactly where the old guy had said it was gonna be.

Waving an arm, Mike signalled the car.

It stopped, and as Mike and Jimmy reached for the handle, it moved forward just out of their reach.

Jimmy crossed his arms and all three men gave Aefe a look.

She giggled as Jimmy and Mike got in the car.

She began singing along with the Hardest Working Man in Sho-bid'ness.

"Wooo!! Heh-heh HEEEEEY!!"

And then she stomped on the accelerator, and the tiny car jumped forward as if it'd been goosed.

They sped off map in hand. Steve holding it up and pointing out the turns as the horns harmoniously blared out of the tiny car speakers.