Insane Cafe 3: The Curse of the Haunted Hotel

[Serris]

Mr. Bigmouth approached Jan.

He motioned for him to have a seat. "Hello, Mr. Yaltsin. I am Mr. Bigmouth, the press and liason officer for the Seaboard Coalition," he said pleasantly. "I presume the base commander of Fort Inglorious, Commander Briggins has told you of the rules and regulations?" he asked.

"Pleased to meet you Mr. Bigmouth," Jan replied. "Actually, I have not been told about that."

"Well in any case and I cannot stress this enough, obey orders, especially if they are someone in uniform! Even if an ordinary civilian tells you not to do something or not to go somewhere, you obey them! They have have been living and fighting alongside us for so long that they might as well be soldiers. Understand?" Mr. Bigmouth asked.

"Yes sir."

Mr. Bigmouth took a sip of some water from a glass by his hand. "Now then other things. There are doors and other areas cordoned off by yellow warning tape. Do not attempt to get past them. They usually warn of hazards such as weak floors, pits or unexploded munitions. Finally, there are restricted areas - marked off by a large 'authorized personnel only' sign. They will also have a uniformed soldier in front of them as well. Do not and I repeat DO NOT attempt to enter or photgraph those areas. The guards are authorized to use lethal force. Not to mention our commander has put up specialized shock barriers that will only allow authorized personnel through. If you attempt to force your way into one of those areas, you will recieve a shock equal to that from a taser at best or be shot at worst. Understand?"

"Yes sir," Jan replied.

"Excellent! Now I have to speak to Commander Briggins and Commander Stripetail about any additional regulations," Mr. Bigmouth said. "One last thing, I know you are trained in some very useful skills, including small arms use and battlefield first aid, however the squad you are embedded in and I expect you to be a reporter first and combatant/medic last. All these rules apply for your crew as well."

--------------------

Mr. Bigmouth then went to the table that Briggins and Stripetail were sitting at.

"Okay, I gave him a quick rundown of the rules. The restricted areas, obey the orders of the soldiers and refugees/civilians alike as they know this place better than they do, etc. I also gave him the admonishment that he is expected to be a reporter first and a soldier/medic last. Now are there any more regulations that he should be aware of? Also, I plan to make a contract/waiver he and his crew have to sign before they go with Scooby's unit," Mr. Bigmouth said. He took a sip of some ice cold essential water from a waiter.

[Nick22]

their film may be reviewed by me before being sent to the air, at my discretion Stripetail said " If i think the tape shows too much of our current location, for example it will be edited. Other than that, i think you gave him a good, short synopis of the rules..

[Kor]

Jason & Guilmon find a place to sit to enjoy the scenery,  music and such.

[Serris]

Mr. Bigmouth returned with a stack full of contracts and rules for the camera crew and Jan.

"Jan, please get your crew around this table," he ordered.

Jan did so and soon they were seated around the table. He passed out copies of the regulations of the hotel. "Those are the regulations of Fort Inglorious. They are enforced very strictly," he said. Apparently, Deimos's nickname had caught on.

The camera crew were busy reading it.

He then held up a piece of paper that read:

Press Contract:

I [name here] agree to hold indeminable for any injury, disability or death that may arise as a result of being embedded with a military unit of Fort Inglorious.

I understand that failure to follow orders issued by the soldiers or civilian staff or refugees of Fort Inglorious may result in injury, death, disability or imprisonment.

I understand that all footage I shoot is subject to review by the base commanders and by the press officer and may be cut or censored for security reasons.

Signed:


"Mr. Yaltsin, please read the contract and sign it," Mr. Bigmouth said, handing him the contract and a pen. He passed out the contract to the others.

Mr. Bigmouth then sat down and waited for the crew to read and sign their contracts.

Several minutes later, they were done and Mr. Bigmouth handed the contracts to Stripetail.

"Stripetail, all the men have signed contracts," he said. "Also, we may want to consider outfitting them in some thing that identifies them as reporters and provides them with protection."

Dr. Zanasiu was drinking some hot tea. "How about an armored vest and helmet like the one I have but with 'PRESS' in large white letters?" he said.

[Nick22]

allow me" Stripetail said ' i'll create special armor for them ' stripetail then grestured and Yaltsin and his crew were aroundee by a bright light then  it vanished. They were now wearing light green armor from head to toe " This armor will protect you from most of what the enemy can throw at you. there is also a wrist compartment for storing important papers or photos that you may take.. however, like all magic it has its limits.. it will not stand up to constant bullet impacts, for one, and if damaged i will need to repair it.  I don't make armor like this everyday I am trusting you with it MR Yaltsin' stripetail said firmly. " You have signed the contracts, so i will take any breach of them  very very seriously.

[Nick22]

Meanwhile the party downstairs went on without any of them being aware of the broadcast or the arrival of the press. Tigress and Agumina sang backup for a few more songs then took a break to restthier voices..

[Serris]

Jan looked at the armor. "Thank you commander," he said.

Mr. Bigmouth looked at the armor. The helmet looked exactly like the combat helmets Dr. Zanasiu and the soldiers wore. The word 'PRESS' was written in large white letters on the back and front of the armor and on the helmet.

"Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's enjoy the festivities," Mr. Bigmouth said.

Jan and his crew walked down the stairs into the ballroom.

When Jan's crew was out of earshot, Mr. bigmouth radioed Scooby. "Scooby, we've got a reporter who wishes to be embedded with your squad. You'll recognize him by his light green armor, Bigmouth out," he said. He then entered the ballroom.

------------------------

Rime and Anton were chatting with Dixie. "So what do you plan to do tomorrow?" he asked.

A waiter passed out cocktails to the table.

"Rockslide?" Anton asked, taking a cocktail and sipping it.

[Nick22]

i don't know, to be honest," dixie said as she was offered a drink " Thank you, But i don't drink.." she respectfully declined. "my mom's dad was an alcoholic, so she instilled in me a very negative feeling towards drinking.."
_ Reporter, Rhat reporter? Scooby replied.."Rhen rid rhey ret rere?' ghe asked. it was then he noticed the group wearing light green armor " Rever rind rooby rout" he said breaking off contact..
- i could use a drink ' tiger quipped.. ' hey tiger last thing we need is yfor you to get drunk Genki pointed out..
 _  Both Angel and Stitch came up to Dixie " Mind if we sit here/ the aleins asked..

[Kor]

"Nice here." Guilmon said.

"Indeed, I do hope it gets frequent use after this war is over and it's fully restored, fixed up and such.

[Nick22]

so whats with the newcomers/ tiger said looking at the small group wearing armor
 we're from ABC North  in Southern Pass. We came to report on the war..
 oh, ho1 a bit late don't you think, the wars 3 months old1' tiger saiud gruffly..

[Serris]

Jan went up to Scooby. "Hello Scooby, I am Jan Yaltsin, a reporter for ABC News. Erm, do you have a title that we should use?" he asked. ""

The Bull trucker was enjoying some cocktails and a few cigarettes with his friends.

------------------

The whine of aircraft engines warming up could be heard in the Sang-Heili base as soldiers, mages and metallic soldiers were dispatched to Cobia Bay.

"Chong, I have examined the mind control array that we have made for the munitions plant at Cobia Bay," a Vulpine technician said. "The array is concealed inside the underground magazine of an abandoned munitions factory but it is protected by shield projectors scattered around the city. While the shield projectors will stop even sustained artillery bombardment, they seem to be easily penetrated by anything that moves under 120 miles per hour. However, we did place anti-vehicle barriers, armored vehicles, gun turrets and soldiers around the shield projectors."

[Nick22]

rell .. rumm. reneral rooby, Ri ruesss" Scooby said.. Rice ro reet yrou rere rare you ruys rom?
_
 So you fellows are going to becovering the war effoirt huh? Tarrax sad looking down at one of the camera crew, who flinched as he beheld the immense dragon.. "just stick with your groups and don't try to be the hero if it puts you in jeporady..
-
but can it stand up against, say high level magical attack, or dragonfire? chong replied.. "If it can't then all that other stuff is worth little..If it becomes clear that Cobia Bay will fall, then the defenses must pull back.. we cannot afford to throw lives away at this point .. its not as if we're getting fresh reinforcements..that broadcast the wizard did may have revealed where he was planing to strike, but it will doubtlessly raise their numbers as well. our advantage in numbers will be much less..it has been shrinking as a result of battle anyway' chong added. In chess terms revealing their location was sacrificing a pawn, in order to gain a rook or castle-reinforcements..

[Serris]

The technician nodded. "It will withstand dragonfire and substantial magical bombardment. We tested it," he said. "But it is at a cost; as I said before, the shield will not stop low speed objects. If we tune it to do so, then it becomes vulnerable to magical assaults," he said.

----------------------

"Pleased to meet you General," Jan said, shaking Scooby's hand. "We are from Tesserect - outside this region."

Several of the camera crew had flipped up the visors on their helmets and were enjoying the food.

[Nick22]

very well, how lng before our forces can reach cobia bay? Chong asked " best to have them leave now, because the enemy is 20 miles away.. and if we waut, they will take the city without much of a fight..
_
You gentlemen sing at all? Dixie asked " i'm Dixie "General" Scoobys fiance and partner.. pleased to meet you.."
I'm guessing Agumina said that we are coming with you? she said to Dixie. " best to have the team together..

[Serris]

"They are en route now," the technician said.

------------------

"No," the reporters replied.

Several of them took drinks and food from the waiters.

------------------

Mr. Bigmouth went up to Stripetail's table.

"Commander, if I may, should we start assigning groups for the combat operation tomorrow?" he asked.

[Nick22]

Yes, start at once.' stripetail said.. The enemy is likely moving forces to Cobia Bay as we speak, so we will need to move quickly. We h\will be heading out to Cobia Bay at 5 tomorrow. so that means we're up and ready to go before then.. Everyone should be heading to bed by midnight..
- Well, i do, I performed on stage for several years mostly musicals before i met Scooby here' dixie said.. "how dd you learn about the war? we haven't had any outside contact since the war began..
_
 good, begin  repairinf the town and setting up defenses' the wizard and his friends will be headng this way..

[Serris]

"It ended up on the news thanks to Carson City Camp," the photographer replied.

---------------------

Mr. Bigmouth nodded as a ghost handed him the guest roster.

"All right, Scooby, Dixie, Ceela, Deimos, Anton, Paul and fifteen other volunteers and the camera crew are Squad One," he said, writing the names down on a sheet of paper.

[Nick22]

Tiger, Tigeress, Agumon Agumina, Spyro, Cynder and Stitch and Angel volunteered to join Scooby and Dixie in group 1.Nani Genki, Nick and shaggy rounded out the group.
_ well thats good to know" dixie said, " at least our plight is out there..

[Kor]

Jason & Guilmon remained sitting in the table area of the ballroom.  

Odysseus & the rest walked in and sat at other tables.

[Serris]

"Squad Two shall be the remnants of the SPVDF and Sang-Heili soldiers, up to twenty one." Mr. Bigmouth said. "Squad Three shall be Ms. Swimmer and twenty of the Great Valley's slingers and archers. Squad Four shall be Paul, Anton, Dirk, Kurt, Jose, Zachary and other assorted Sang-Heili or Cobalt troopers."

Mr. Bigmouth was busy filling out the names on the guest rosters. He took a sip of some essential water.