July 1963
Well, July has finally arrived.
Montana is back online, and the people are happy.
It was also noted that this was the month where your nation was born and of course there is going to be a lot of celebrations. Sadly, July 4 is literally only 4 days away and you doubt you could prepare something for your forces to celebrate, except for giving your men paid leave.
Chris' Russian friend ended up sending him a final will, which was due to his death, which included the data on how to create a giant submersible robot.
According to your scientists, building the robot is possible but would take time and it would be huge hit to your budget.
Not that you don't really have to worry about the budget due to the pocket change in your personal wallet.
While you were not able to find a cook, at least the pool was finished. Though you still question Strangelove's choice of female swimwear.
And of course, in regular brand of BW luck, Robert just joined TACT, becoming a giant green man after getting exposed to nuclear waste.
Yet another training/research session is going to happen.
Lastly, something called the ZIP code is now going to be implemented across the US Postal Service. You still can't remember what your base's new code was.
Oh, looking at the still large stacks of paper on your desk, you really need to find a secretary for this thing.
ECONOMY:
Upkeep- 15,580 – 2,500= 13,080
Federal Income= 119,250
Income= 902,193 119,250 2,500 (Last Turn mistake refund)= 1,023,943
Legacy Fund= 168,539,325,843 (not touched this
Stewardship (Pick 3):
FOR THE RECORD, Magoose DID THE STEWARD ROLLS, SO IT'S HIS FAULT THIS TIME.
-] We need a cook:
Cost- 500, Upkeep- 200; CoS- 40/10%, Reward- Cook found.
Roll- 15= 6
NAT 1 CRIT FAIL
NAT 1 CRIT CANCELLER
Reroll- 285= 33
FAIL
"So, what did you wanted to tell me?" You asked Hayden.
"Well sir, the previously candidates we had on the list for interviews for the position of cook, well they said no." He said with a worried tone.
"What do you mean they all said no?" You asked.
"Apparently after getting 'drafted' to help with the Montana relief efforts and ending up exhausted by it, they feel that if they joined our group, they would be subjected to more of it." Hayden said, exasperated.
"Unbelievable." You said as you facepalm at this news.
At this point you might as well go down to Dragon Squad's school and see if the cafeteria cooks there are willing to sign up for the post after school ends.
FAIL; can try again next turn.
-] Upgrade Command Center Lvl 2
Cost- 600, Upkeep- 300; CoS- 60; Reward- Command Center lvl 3
Roll- 845= 89
PASS
-] Upgrade Armory
Cost- 500, Upkeep- 250; CoS- 75; Reward- Armory Upgraded to Lvl 1
Roll- 815= 86
PASS
"While this will not be able to stop a Watchman or JB girl, it sure as hell will be able to stop a normal person for sometime."
-Hayden Frazier, Director of BW Logistics
At least when it came time to upgrade the Command Center and the base's armory, it all went well.
Hayden managed to increase the number of phone lines in the C , after experiencing the backlog that occurred during the Montana Situation, where there where too many calls coming in at the same time, not enough phone lines to answer them all.
The base's armory was given a simple upgrade that the door to it was now reinforced steel, meaning that it someone tried to break in, they would have a harder time getting in the room.
At least someone normal, cause any Watchman or JB could just burst through the door or even the wall next to it to just enter in a hurry.
Rewards-
C Level 3 (8 to base defenses rolls)
Armory Lvl 1 (2 base defenses rolls)
Diplomacy (Pick 4)
-] Attempt to make friends- x3
Cost- 40, CoS- 50/40/20/10%, Reward- Connection established with a group.
Roll 1- 1 17= 18
NAT 1 CRIT FAIL
Roll 2- 30 17= 47
Roll 3- 100 17= 117
NAT 100 CRIT
CRITS CANCEL EACH OTHER. ROLL 2 IS THE FINAL RESULT.
ALL FAILED
-] Requesting Government Aid:
Cost- 200, CoS- 55/25/5%
Roll= 8 17 15= 40
FAIL
"What do you mean they can't come to a meeting because the representatives are in a national fishing convention?"
Danny Walter, BW's Diplomatic Officer
You were now starting to suspect that there was something going on around your group in the attempts to initiate contact with other groups for support.
Even Danny and the President were starting to suspect something.
Calls to several groups from the alphabet soup for meetings were at first accepted but then out of nowhere, they all called back saying they could not meet for a wide range of reasons for not going.
The reasons go from decent to purely stupid in your opinion.
You manage to hear Danny yell on the phone from his office when he was trying to get in touch with the blasted Coast Guard of all groups.
Even when the President called to get answers on this situation, he got the same thing, much to his frustration.
Yet at the same time you had this strange feeling you dodge a bullet for some reason.
Reward- FAIL IN BOTH
MARTIAL (Pick 4) (Total Cost: 2750 Upkeep: 30)
-] Train Robert-
Cost- 1000, CoS- 50/90/???, Reward- Robert knows how fight with his new body
Roll- 7 40= 47, FAIL
Training Reroll- 7840= 118
Crit Roll- 7318= 91
"We are going to have to tell Hayden to make HQ's building earthquake proof if Doctor Oppenheimer continues to jump around out there."
James Marcus, Director of BW's R
Regarding Robert's condition, both the scientists and Robert himself were initially baffled. His new condition presented as a towering, green, muscular giant, yet he was in perfect health, his previous illness gone. The challenge in drawing his blood, evidenced by dozens of broken needles, was overcome when Joy used a small-scale BL on his right arm, successfully drawing blood from a burned injury. Remarkably, this BL injury healed instantly after the needle's retraction.
Another surprising discovery was Robert's interaction with radioactive material. His body absorbed radiation like a sponge, yet no radiation was emitted from him, as indicated by Geiger counters. However, once outside his body, his green blood was radioactive. Consequently, stringent measures were taken to contain his blood samples.
Robert's dietary habits also changed as he needed more food just like the rest of the TACT, luckily for him, he could Tacpure without issue. Physical tests revealed astonishing capabilities: he lacked energy attacks akin to the Watchmen but possessed immense physical strength, surpassing even Chris. He could effortlessly lift and carry a tank, and his punches generated tremors around the base.
Despite a slower running speed due to his muscle mass, his leg strength enabled him to leap a mile in any direction. In pure strength contests, he outperformed Joy, but in a straight on fight however, he lost to her just like all the other TACT members.
Robert adapted to a fighting style similar to Chris's, due to their comparable physiques. Weaponry tests showed that he was impervious to the arsenal, leading him to theorize he could survive a nuclear blast. The only known means of injuring him were BLs, but his regenerative abilities were remarkable, especially when in contact with nuclear material.
Robert proved to be at least minimally capable in combat. However, a surprising discovery occurred in the lab involving his blood. An assistant accidentally spilled a vial of his blood into a pot containing a dead rose, which had been exposed to radiation. Astonishingly, the rose revived and blossomed. This phenomenon, which saw Robert's radiated blood reviving plants, deeply affected him, especially given his history with the atomic bomb.
This discovery opened new avenues for research, particularly in large-scale applications like forest restoration or accelerated food growth. However, extensive testing is required, especially concerning the potential radiation in food grown with Robert's blood. The implications of Robert's transformation and the unique properties of his blood have become pivotal research areas.
Reward-
Robert Oppenheimer, is combat capable and can be act once more.
New perks discovered-
Super strength, capable of jumping high.
Fast regeneration.
Immune to radiation, can absorb it to be stronger.
Immune to all current forms of guns and small bombs, even tank shoots don't work (Currently only BL can harm him)
New actions opened in discovering how Robert became his new form and his blood
-] Gain more troops-
Cost- 200, Upkeep- 30, CoS- 70/50/30/10%, Reward- one squad of troops (rank depends on roll)
Roll- 8 20= 28
"They were assigned where?"
-Colonel Jacob Terrance, Commander of Blackwatch
Honestly, at this point; you are not surprised that you did not get fresh recruits.
According to a deadpanned Joy; the recruits that was destined to us instead got sent to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa Florida.
Lucky bastards.
Reward- Fail
-] Upgrade Base Defenses 6-
Cost- 550, Upkeep- 140, Time- one month (1 turn), CoS- 35/30/10%, Reward- Defenses upgraded
Roll- 80 20= 100
CRIT Roll- 77
"Great, this means I can't take my hidden nap without being seen. Thanks a lot Hayden."
-Knight Squad Member
Once again, Hayden showcased his exceptional expertise in ensuring projects were completed efficiently and on schedule. On this occasion, after thorough consultations with Chris and Joy, he undertook the installation of a comprehensive CCTV system throughout the base. His meticulous planning and execution led to the strategic placement of cameras in key locations, ensuring thorough surveillance coverage.
In addition to the camera network, Hayden also established a dedicated monitoring room. This space was designed to accommodate two people at a time, allowing for a rotating shift schedule. Personnel assigned to this room would be responsible for vigilantly watching the live feeds from the CCTV cameras, ensuring constant and effective surveillance of the base. This setup not only enhanced the security measures but also ensured that any unusual activities could be promptly identified and addressed.
Reward:
Cameras installed around the base.
Base Defenses Upgraded to lvl 8 (30 to base defenses)
-] Underwater Training-
Cost- 1000, CoS- ???, Reward- All BW personnel know how to swim.
Roll- 86 20= 106
CRIT Roll- 96 6= 102
CRIT Roll 2- 682= 70
Professionalism Roll-
80 10 (Joy is there) 10 (President is there with his wife) 5 (Accustomed to JB users appearance) = 105
vs
13 20 (Half naked women) 10 (Men, Nuff said) = 43
PASS
"We got the best job ever."
Robert Drake, Dragon Squad Member
You initially had reservations about proposing a day of swimming training for everyone at the base, fearing it might not be well-received. Fortunately, your concerns were unfounded as everyone embraced the idea and showed up for the training in an orderly fashion. You are proud to report that, despite the potential distractions posed by the women in swimwear, who all together made them look like a Playboy swimwear issue come to life; the men conducted themselves professionally throughout the training.
One notable aspect was the uncertainty about whether this professionalism was entirely voluntary, especially considering the presence of formidable women capable of overpowering them, as well as the inclusion of the President's wife among the group. It's a detail you'd rather not delve into for your own peace of mind.
Chris was the only one who didn't know how to swim, a fact that came as no surprise to anyone. Thankfully, Strangelove and Joy took it upon themselves to teach him. While he's not going to be winning any swimming championships, Chris has learned to float and swim slowly when necessary.
Joy emerged as the best swimmer in the group, followed closely by Fear. However, the training session led to three significant discoveries. Firstly, it was observed that those who had become Watchmen, including yourself, could hold their breath underwater for about five minutes and demonstrated enhanced swimming endurance. Joy, in a class of her own, could hold her breath for an astonishing 25 minutes. Robert, in his new form, also showed remarkable abilities, able to hold his breath for 15 minutes and exhibiting even greater endurance than the Watchmen.
The most astounding revelation, however, involved the women with JBs. They were able to breathe underwater effortlessly, as evidenced by Strangelove remaining submerged for three hours, only surfacing due to hunger. Additionally, JB users could see clearly underwater and communicate with each other effectively despite inhaling water into their lungs.
The President has already begun discussions about the possibility of finding a way to mass produce JBs, speculating that the Navy might reconsider their ban on female divers to leverage this advantage. Meanwhile, Joy is curious about whether the JB could offer protection against the pressures of deep-sea diving.
Overall, the training day was a resounding success, particularly in terms of the discoveries made about the capabilities of those who were TACTed.
Reward- All BW personnel can swim without problems.
Watchmen and Robert can breath underwater for longer times.
JB users can breathe, see and talk underwater without limits.
LEARNING (Pick 4-1= 3): (Total Cost: 1,006,000 Upkeep: 51500)
-] Investigate Cube's history-
CURRENT DC- 156
Roll- 10 19= 29
"Where did I put that blasted book again?"
Indiana Jones, BW's Translation/Archaeology Expert
Translation is still slowly on going.
NEW DC- 127
-] Anti 'TATC' Protocols-
Cost- 3000, Upkeep- 1500; CoS- 50%, Reward- Anti 'TATC' Protocols established.
Roll- 839= 47
"How difficult is it to write a book on how not to get exposed to something strange."
James Marcus, Director of BW's R
Once again, trying to write Anti-TACT Protocols ended in not being done, with the latest draft being burned by Marcus personally after only reading the first five pages of it.
Reward- FAIL
-] Examine Robert's Condition-
Cost- 2000, CoS- ???, Reward- Robert's Condition examined.
Roll- 3 44= 47
CRIT FAIL
LAB Reroll= 9844= 142
CRIT Roll= 6842= 110
CRIT Roll 2= 5510= 65
PASS
'See "Train Robert" action above'
] Build METAL GEAR RAY-
Cost- 1 million, Upkeep- 50k; DC- 1000, Reward- METAL GEAR RAY created.
Roll- 81 25 10 (computer bonus) = 116
Crit Roll- 34 16= 50
"I wonder who will be begging for more of these when they are finished, the Army or the Navy?"
Ronald Anderson Franklin, BW Pilot
Construction of the RAY started out in perfect schedule. Hayden, under the direction of one of the entire R department; took one of the buildings in the base and remade it into a hanger big enough to house RAY. And while the RAY was an R project, the whole base was contributing to it; specially all the Watchmen doing the heavy lifting instead of using machines.
By the end of the month, the RAY's skeleton frame had been 75% completed and Strangelove said that RAY's operating system was halfway done.
NEW DC- 844
] [FREE] Teach Dragon Squad=
Cost- 1000, CoS- 50/40/30/20/10%
Roll- 61
PASS, 20 to Dragon School Roll
School Roll- 6620= 86
Current Grades- B
"I though school was going to suck coming back but I still understand the material. Doctor Marcus is real slave master in making us study."
Nero Drake, Dragon Squad Member
The squad went back to school after last month's hectic events, which the school had granted them an exception since they were part of the military and Martial Law was declared.
Thankfully despite missing a month of school, the squad was still able to keep up with their studies, mostly since the R group was still willing to tutor them in their studies.
Turn 21's school performance pass. End in Turn 23.
Interlude In The Space Between...
Brother you're finally awake!!! Quick, you got to get me out of here!!!
Brother, I see you finally bothered to answer my calls. I though you were busy stuck in those infernal records of yours that you made in those roots you had Sister make.
Its not my fault, I am being held by a crazy loner that likes to control other beings and shoved his mind into them to avoid Lady D's wrath.
How is he using you to escape Lady D, you're not Sister.
The crazy one does not have a soul, it's all his mind, but he is still considered a sentient being under the ancient laws, so Lady D is trying to catch him.
Fine, I will get you out. Just prepare for a bumpy ride, I am still getting used to my new position with these beings that found me. By the way, I finally found my cute granddaughter.
You found Little Wi!! Finally, I though we never find her with how your son and that daughter-in-law of yours treated her over the eons.
I know. The second he dares to show his aura around me, I will remind him where control of his domain originated from. Also, I decided to help Little Wi a bit and now I have several great-grandchildren, three are running around with the rest dormant. And in sometime, I will have two great-great-grandchildren as well.
Oh goodie, we finally got more family to play with.
Yeah, though to warn you in advance; the new beings around me are very interesting. Why, before finding me, they found the failed inscriptions that Rebel Experimenter made when he attempted to create that fusion of my and Sister's abilities.
They found it? How many of them has Lady D caught in her embrace?
That's the thing, while she has been here several times, not once has it been to get someone that tried the experiment and instead, they have been blessed.
That's very interesting. Now I wish I could talk more but could please hurry up, the crazy one is about to use me on that immortal that thinks he has a chance in courting Lady D.
Oh, not him again!!! Fine, one fast escape coming up. Though I don't have control over how much time passes in there. I don't have Sister's finesse over that aspect.
-] Begin an information network:
Cost- 100, Upkeep- 50; CoS- 40%, Reward- Rumor Mill accessed (5 to next attempt)
Roll- 21 5 (Fury bonus) 5 (Next attempt) 9 (MC Bonus) = 40
-] Other Organizations?:
Cost- 50, CoS- 40/10%, Rewards- Learn more about the hidden threats and those seeking to counter them.
Roll- 225= 27
"I am sorry I left without warning but there is something I need to deal with, spook stuff, please don't ask. Will be back when I can. P.S. If Joy asks, simply tell her, Aspen."
William Fury, Director of BW Intelligence
After a prolonged period filled with various responsibilities around the base, including addressing Robert's unique situation; organizing and participating in the swimming lesson; and overseeing Hayden's construction projects, you had hoped that you and Fury could finally start working on the challenging mission at hand. However, these tasks had continually delayed your ability to collaborate and strategize effectively.
When a rare moment of free time emerged, you seized the opportunity and headed straight to Will's office, intent on initiating the much-needed planning session. To your dismay, you found his office deserted, save for a lone note. The discovery of Will's absence sent a wave of concern through you, prompting you to quickly inform Joy about the situation.
As you mentioned the word "Aspen" to Joy, a palpable shift occurred in the room. It was as if the temperature had dropped, and the expression on Joy's face turned so severe that your instincts screamed at you to escape the mounting tension by simply running through the wall. Despite the alarming change, Joy eventually regained her composure, offering a simple yet firm reassurance that Will was capable of handling himself and that you should place your trust in him.
This interaction left you in a state of internal conflict. Part of you was curious about the significance of "Aspen" and its apparent connection to Will's disappearance. However, another part of you, influenced by Joy's confidence and your own trust in Will, felt compelled to refrain from probing further.
Ultimately, you chose to respect Will's autonomy and Joy's advice, opting not to question Joy further about "Aspen." Instead, you decided to maintain a hopeful outlook, trusting that Will would return safely and that, in time, the reasons behind his sudden departure would become clear.
Rewards- Fail
-] Get a bit of extra help:
Cost- 500, Upkeep- 200; CoS- 50%, Reward- Fury gets an assistant.
Roll- 3 5= 8
CRIT FAIL
Intrigue Reroll- 995= 104
CRIT Roll- 964= 104
CRIT Roll 2- 654= 69
Jacob asking Will about Ione and what he did despite asking for temporary trust:
60
25 (Trust in Will)
25 (Ione seems capable)
110
vs
37
75 (Unknown female Will hired without prior authorization and gone for a week)
112
Despite being really curious about it, Jacob is willing to not ask questions for now and welcomes Ione.
"Good evening, Colonel Terrance. My name is Ione Turner. I am Director Fury's executive assistant in managing his duties. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Ione Turner, assistant to BWs Director Fury
Will had been absent from headquarters for over a week. Aside from informing Joy, you had told everyone else he was on a classified mission to explain his absence. It was a challenging situation, especially lying to the President, but you felt it was necessary to keep your promise to Will.
Then, one early morning, as you were on your way to your office, you noticed the door to Will's office was ajar. Curiosity piqued, you entered and were met with a surprising scene. Will was there, seated behind his desk, wearily sifting through a mountain of reports that had accumulated during his absence. However, what immediately caught your attention was the presence of a striking black-haired woman, wearing glasses and a formal business suit with a skirt and leggings, standing beside him.
She exuded a professional demeanor, handling the reports with an efficiency that reminded you of how Carol worked for Walter.
This woman, however, had an 'aura' about her that was familiar yet disconcerting. She possessed the same professional air as Carol, but there was also an unsettling similarity to the aura that surrounded Joy. As these observations registered, the woman looked up and, without any sign of surprise at your presence, introduced herself as Ione Turner, Will's executive assistant.
Noticing your arrival, Will finally looked up and promptly requested privacy, asking Ione to step out and start organizing the department's financial resources. She acknowledged his request and left the room in a composed manner, offering you a respectful farewell.
Once alone with Will, you expressed your concern as a friend, asking if he was alright. After he reassured you, you got straight to the point, seeking an explanation for his disappearance and querying how he managed to recruit Ione Turner to work for BW.
You had never met her personally, but her reputation was well-known in your circles. Despite her youth, she had already carved a niche for herself as a highly skilled federal accountant. Renowned for being passed around the alphabet soup of agencies in Washington D.C., she was highly sought after for her exceptional skills in managing and, when necessary, discreetly allocating financial resources for the agencies she worked for.
Last you heard from the grapevine, she was working for the CIA.
Will began to elaborate on the recent events, starting with the resolution of the urgent matter that had necessitated his abrupt departure, although he chose not to divulge any specifics. He then shifted the conversation to his subsequent realization that he required direct assistance in managing his department. Remembering that he had your explicit authorization to recruit externally, Will took the initiative.
Recognizing the need for a highly skilled individual to streamline and oversee departmental operations, Will utilized a significant favor he held with a key contact. This strategic move resulted in Ione Turner's transfer to Blackwatch, placing her under his direct supervision.
After Will finished narrating his story, he simply asks you, with a serious facial expression; not to ask for more details on what he did and to give Ione a chance, that if anything goes wrong; he will take responsibility for it.
Will's request for you not to delve into the specifics of his recent actions put you in a difficult position. Internally, you grappled with the dilemma. On one hand, there was a strong inclination to probe further, especially considering the unusual step he took in bringing an outsider like Ione Turner into the fold. The secrecy surrounding his departure and his decision to cash in a significant favor to recruit someone as high-profile as Ione only added to your curiosity and concern.
However, after weighing the situation, you decided to place your trust in Will, at least for the time being. This decision wasn't taken lightly. It reflected your confidence in Will's judgment and your understanding of the sensitive nature of the operations at Blackwatch. You recognized that sometimes, not all details could be transparent in their world, and that trust among colleagues was a crucial element.
You expressed to Will your willingness to trust his judgment and endorsed his decision to recruit Ione. He expressed gratitude for your support and promptly called Ione back into the office. When she entered, you introduced yourself formally, welcoming her to Blackwatch and informing her of her trial period. Ione responded with appreciation, promising not to let you or her director down.
Later, during a meeting with the core group of Blackwatch, Will formally introduced Ione to the team. Although there was initial skepticism from some members, the knowledge that she was there on Will's recommendation and with your approval swayed the group to give her a chance. The President, in particular, welcomed her warmly, eliciting a rare moment of surprise from Ione, a stark contrast to her consistently serious demeanor.
During the meeting, you observed a couple of notable details about Ione. Firstly, she showed no reaction to the more extraordinary members of the group. This indicated that either Will had briefed her beforehand, or she was indifferent to these anomalies. However, what truly caught your attention was the interaction between Ione and Joy. Upon seeing each other, both women displayed a fleeting look of surprise, quickly replaced by an air of guardedness. This interaction suggested a deeper, possibly preexisting connection between the two.
Given that Joy appeared to be aware of whatever Will had undertaken but remained silent, her reaction to Ione was telling. It implied that Joy might possess some knowledge about Ione, adding a layer of complexity to the situation. This realization left you hoping that this undercurrent of tension and mystery wouldn't lead to future complications for Blackwatch.
Reward:
Ione Turner, personal secretary to Will (5 Intrigue rolls)
PERSONAL (Pick 4):
-] Oversee an action- Personally oversee an action and help carry it out. (Requesting Government Aid)
Reward- action receives MC's stat bonus to final roll result
-] Oversee an action- Personally oversee an action and help carry it out. (Begin an information network)
Reward- action receives MC's stat bonus to final roll result
] [FREE] Move money- Basically move money from either the Legacy to the BW fund or vice-versa - Move 1,500,000 from Legacy to BW Fund
-] Confide the Legacy-
CoS- 50%; Reward- BW core group learns about Legacy
Roll- 18
"You know Will, I am really wondering how come no one has asked me where I got the extra money for the RAY project."
-Colonel Jacob Terrance, Commander of Blackwatch
Once again, you tried to get the group together to tell them about the Legacy, specially since it was going to foot the bill on building the RAY.
Except that the unexpected disappearance of Will made this action not possible and by the time he came back, it was far too late.
You will just try again later.
Or when someone, quite possibly Ione, finally notices the sudden influx of cash.
Reward- FAIL
-] Celebrate 4th of July-
Cost- 1000, CoS- 50/???, Reward- Celebrate Independence Day
Roll- 55
"Happy Fourth of July to all, and God Bless America."
- John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America
Given the limited time, the best way to celebrate the Fourth of July was to have Hayden purchase a substantial amount of food from off-base and as many fireworks as he could find. You also authorized a three-day leave so that everyone could enjoy the holiday as they wished.
Those with families were particularly appreciative of the leave. By the time the fourth rolled around, half of the base had already departed to spend time with their loved ones. For those who remained, the day was filled with various forms of entertainment. Some chose to stay on base and enjoy themselves in whatever way they could, while others ventured into Hartford to partake in the local celebrations.
The President, in his role, gave a brief radio address, extending holiday greetings to the nation before spending the remainder of the day with his wife. As for you, your day was predominantly spent engaging in sports activities with the Watchmen and playing poker with other members of the group. The experience was a lesson in itself, particularly in discovering Joy and Strangelove's impeccable poker faces.
When night descended, the sky above the base burst into color with the spectacular fireworks display, mirroring the vibrant fireworks show in Hartford. The lighting of the fireworks turned into an impromptu contest between the Watchmen to see who could lit up as many fireworks with their BL, with Joy winning by when she lit 12 rockets at the same time.
The luminous spectacle in the sky was a fitting end to a joyful holiday.
Overall, the Fourth of July proved to be a delightful and well-deserved break for you and your group, allowing everyone a chance to relax and enjoy the festivities.
PASS
-] [FREE] First Lady needs help-
Cost- 1000, CoS- ???, Reward- President's Birthday Celebrated (5 to next attempt)
Roll= 445= 49
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY LOST THE DRESS IN THE MAIL!!?? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH TROUBLE AND EXPENSIVE IT COST TO MAKE A REPLICA OF THAT BITCH'S DRESS THAT FITS MY NEW BODY IN SUCH A SHORT TIME!!!"
- Jackie Kennedy, First Lady
You had hoped that with the crisis now resolved, you would be able to assist Jackie in celebrating her husband's belated birthday, especially considering the extensive efforts she had put into keeping the celebration a secret from him. This included coordinating with Will to relay messages to Jean Louis for the creation of a special dress and even lending her the funds to expedite its creation.
However, a new crisis emerged when the dress was lost in the mail, reportedly due to complications with the recently implemented ZIP code system. Jackie's frustration was more than justified, and it was nothing short of miraculous how the other women managed to conceal her outburst from the President.
Fortuitously, the missing package was located in California, and it was Ione who, in her spare time, succeeded in tracking it down. The moment Jackie embraced Ione in gratitude for finding the dress was memorable, marked by Ione's evident surprise.
Despite the dress being recovered, there was still the matter of reorganizing the surprise party for the President, which would undoubtedly require additional time and effort.
She just hoped she could do the party before her belly become too big to fit the dress.
FAIL, 5 to next attempt
-] [FREE] Get a Secretary-
Cost- 1000, Upkeep- 500; CoS- 50/5%, Reward- New personal Secretary
Roll- 2
CRIT FAIL
Reroll- 96
CRIT Roll- 87
P
"Life certainly has a way of throwing curveballs. Here I am, once a successful, respected female doctor who endured a world war and the indignity of working as an office secretary in a patriarchal workplace to get through medical school. And what do I lose? My license, my reputation, my home. Now, I find myself reduced to working as a secretary again, but in another country and for a military black ops project, under the command of one of the few loyal friends I still have in the world. The irony? Here, I am treated with more respect and receive better pay than I ever did as a doctor!"
Grace Zillur, personal secretary to Colonel Terrance
With the amount of workload that seems to get piled on you, along with dealing with all the insane things that seem to happen around your base; you decided it was time to finally get a secretary to help with the madness around your house.
Sadly, it turns out that trying to find an expert secretary with the necessary clearance was a slow and boring process. It did not help that when Will left, it slowed the process down to a trickle.
And every time you thought you were close to landing on someone, something happens. From the person declining when they found out it was in Montana, part of the military, or that they found the pay too good to be true.
Dammit it's not your fault that you take good care of those under you.
Halfway through the month, you gave up and decided to continue working on your own.
This all changed in the last week of July when you, wanting to get some fresh air; decided to take that week's shift to go to Hartford and get Daisy's food, which also included carrying her around on your shoulder.
You still find it strange and comforting that you and other Watchmen could walk around Hartford in plain sight and not get stared on for looking like big men, the people of Hartford having gotten used to you and your military forces.
It was after you walked away from the local supermarket carrying a large box filled with fresh carrots that Daisy suddenly hopped from your shoulder and ran away, forcing you to follow her while carrying the box.
After running around for a minute, you found her happily in the arms of a woman that looked like she had seemed better days, covered in dirty, mud and her dress; which at one time would look nice; was dirty.
When the woman looks up at you and made a face of shock and surprise, you were expecting her to react like other people who never seen you before.
Instead, she yells out your name perfectly, much to your confusion.
When she then says it was her, Grace Zillur; you took a good look at her face and after mentally getting rid of the dirty grime on it, you easily saw your old Swedish friend from WW2, who was a nurse that was in the middle of her training when she volunteered to help the Allies across Europe.
During those days, a nurse in training was better than no nurse at all for all the men injured across Europe.
Before you could say anything to her, like wondering why she was there when last time you spoke to her was over phone, which was expansive but worth it; telling you that she just graduated from medical college as a GP and was hired at a major hospital in her capital city over four months ago; Grace suddenly started to wave around and was about to fall to the side. You quickly moved and grabbed her with one hand while using your other hand to hold the box. You quickly saw that she had fallen unconscious.
Without any delay and in a panic, you ran back toward HQ with Grace in your arm, while still carrying the box and Daisy on your head. You arrived there rather quickly running at your maximum speed.
When you bolted inside the infirmary, you surprised both James and Brandon, who were playing a game of poker. When you told James that the woman in your arms was Grace, he, who also knew her from the war; moved at high speed and made Brandon help in checking her out.
Two days later, which during the first day Grace was sleeping and awoke on the second day, which she took a long shower and ate so many plates of food that you, Brandon, and James almost though she was Watchman, she told you her story on how she got there and the reason for her condition.
She told how last month, a very important politician arrived at the hospital after getting hit with a car during the night shift. The politician was rushed to surgery and while they tried their best; the politician died on the table.
She said that while she was there at the hospital, she did not work on the politician, as she was busy handling a mother with her small daughter who had a cold in the emergency room.
She then came the part that the politicians' family placed pressure on the hospital for his death and in shocking development, they placed the blame on her shoulders and much to her horror; all her friends and coworkers supported the lie.
In the end, while she was not thrown in jail; she lost everything. She was fired; lost her medical license, her reputation and was forced to pay lawsuits to the family, leaving her with practically almost nothing, with only a meager amount. And to top it off, the family used their influence to for all intents and purposes to exile her out of Sweeden.
With no other choice, and not able to risk trying to call you due to how expensive the calls were; she took a plane toward the United States using the last of her money to see if she could reach you as she remembered the name of the town you were stationed at. She was able to get to the country easily due to having dual citizenship.
Unfortunately for her, the plane only took her as far as Billings. From there, she had to hitchhike across the state to reach Hartford, doing everything she could to survive.
You honestly didn't know if you should have been horrified or angry at all she had to endure.
You were half tempted to tell Will to go wild on that politician's family, all on your own dime of course.
In the end, when you asked what she was going to do now, which you were willing to offer her anything she needed; she said that at that point she needed to find a job and without her license, the only job she had previous experience was working as a secretary, much to her chagrin.
At that moment, seeing the chance to kill two birds with one stone; you offered the chance to officially work for you under Blackwatch.
Hours later, which involved her signing a lot of NDAs, very long and thorough explanations, including her meeting the Presidential couple; and a brief show of your superpowers; Grace signed up with Blackwatch, with all the benefits and responsibilities that came with it. She was also offered housing within the base.
Officially, she is your personal secretary. Unofficially, in the event of an emergency, she will work under Brandon in the medical wing; unless she somehow gets her old license back.
Days later, you found Grace's capacity to accept the insanity that is Blackwatch refreshing and not having to worry about freaking out of said insanity. Though she still complained to you about the fact that you paid your subordinates better than what she though the pay was going to be.
Furthermore, Grace quickly became a well-integrated member of the team, especially among the other women, who welcomed her without any issues. Her work efficiency proved invaluable, significantly reducing your paperwork burden, even if it meant long hours behind a desk.
Overall, having an old friend like Grace join Blackwatch was a welcome development for you, both personally and professionally.
Reward- Grace Zillur, secretary to Colonel Terrance (5 to his personal rolls)
] [CHRUCH] Do not go this turn.
Translation Roll:
DC- 187
Roll- 20
NEW DC- 167
Boy Coma Roll
Roll- 4030= 70 vs 87
35 next turn
Girl Coma Roll
Roll- 2130= 51 vs 67
35 next turn
Kara Coma Roll
Roll- 3725= 62 vs 73
25 next turn
Random Roll Event: 100, NAT 100
To be continued:
Two Down, Four More To Go