"Aren't those things sleeper agents? New ones could wake up any minute. But maybe we'll be home in time for me to hit Fairyland anyway, a Fairyland is always good photography."

Cara winces internally. "Oh, I'd read that they all turned on at the same time but it from a secondary source" (read: people talking about it on twitter) "I haven't looked at what the CaliDRT was putting out."

(Her brain is helpfully playing out a debate between the two reasonable viewpoints of "idiot! He's going to think you're unprepared, not ready for this, too young!" and "fuck you! this isn't Tia, and that was obviously stupid unhinged behavior anyways, look where it got us!")

"Maybe they turned on at the same time but if they waited at all, could be some waited longer." Shrug. He finishes his pop tart.

Flywheel's phone beeps at her!  The California DRT would really really love it if she's willing to teleport from firetruck intercept point to firetruck intercept point.  They're nearly done but they've been saving firetrucks for last.  (Firetrucks are the hardest to stop but are the lowest-priority, as firefighters are a hardy folk and suffering is part of their day jobs.)  They have an esper on tap named Sinkhole who has an unusually efficient-for-this-dungeon-break power.  Their presumptive plan, subject to Flywheel's approval, is to use Sinkhole to bleed off the firetrucks' kinetic energy via sticky goop and let Flywheel freeze as many firetrucks as backlash permits.

If Flywheel has any input, planning requirements, or logistical constraints Juanita would really love to hear them immediately-if-not-sooner.  Otherwise, they're happy to credit her an Ablinger port, followed by local teleportation to the first intercept point. 

Flywheel has a partner who was requested to help with Menagerie, but presumably they'll figure out transit for him and his talking cat separately.

She needs to have her in-field communication run through a screener - her agent should have shared the details already. She's otherwise fine with all details of the plan - she can be at the marble point for travelling to SD in checks Otto! 10 minutes. 

Yep, they have that squared away!  (They're also really curious about why she needs a screener, but they would never admit it.)

After receiving confirmation that she'll be in beautiful* downtown San Diego in under twenty minutes, a flurry of activity occurs.  Drones are exchanged for ones with fresh batteries, the Tracking Team updates their maps in a hurry and prepares to update their maps very quickly.

*termsandconditionsmayapplyseeearthquakedamageassessmentfordetails

One Carol McCleery is also plied with coffee and a pair of breakfast burritos.

Cara lets Haru know what the plan is as she suits up.

He's got a checklist! She has his number, their phones are charged and working, location sharing is on, they have a silo to meet at after, helmet situation is all set, check check check, "all green, you are clear to save the day."

She smiles warmly at him (...it doesn't take any acting on her part. She really appreciates the checklist.) "Thanks. Good luck with your very cute organic bomb defusing."

"Thanks, I'm gonna need it."

(...she hopes he won't, but... yeah.) 

Cara gives Haru one last hug goodbye, and then heads out the door. 

Flywheel gets in the Otto! as it arrives, and reads through Sinkhole's publicly-available info on the way there. 

(She wonders what an anger backlash would be like. Probably it's a real struggle. (she'd definitely prefer it though shhh, brain))

Then she's at the teleporter point, and then she's in San Diego. She lets the system know she's ready for deployment. (They already know she needs only a second or two of advance warning and is fine with being put directly into the path of an oncoming firetruck - the closer it is to her, the easier her job is.)

Carol's there.  It's logistically simpler to have the espers who're going to be stopping the cars stage at the same location.  She's still wearing an increasingly scuffed motorcycle jacket with dozens of pockets.  She's opted for a ponytail instead of long braids, though.

... it's going to be weird not talking directly to Flywheel.  Kind of a relief, though.  She smiles and waves.  She pauses her last minute equipment check and offers Flywheel a wordless hand to shake?

Oh, sure, they can do a compatibility shake. She'll pop off a glove.

Firm, confident, pretty-dang-compatible handshake.  She smiles at Flywheel, lets go of the hand like a normal person.  Points to herself and gives a thumbs-up.

Oh, wow. (It's a bit nice to have her helmet hide her face - she doesn't have to couch her surprised expression.)

...she's at no backlash and they're not starting literally right now, so - "I'm going to be cut off from direct comms once we get going, but it's good to meet you. Talk to my interpreter like you would talk to an esper you're working with."

(She slides her glove back on.)

Oh, thank God I can at least introduce myself.  "You as well!  I'm sure it'll be fine."  And she won't even have to talk to me, which is even better.  "Refrain from most dungeon sign as well, right?"  It was in the briefing, but I want to make it clear that I read the briefing and am actually communicating the fact that I respect her requirements.

She nods. "The dungeon sign is unlikely to matter for this, but yeah, that's best practice. Thank you." She puts her smile in her voice, since it'd be a bit weird to flip her helmet open now. I appreciate you having read the briefing and kept it in your head.

"You're very welcome.  If you decide you want field-expedient guiding, you're welcome to hug me.  Just relay or sign for it if you decide you want it."  Since you can't communicate, for whatever reason.  Fucking backlash.  And this puts the ball in her court, no way I can be construed as being pushy like this.

"Will do, thanks. Good luck out there." 

“You too!”  She gives Flywheel a playful salute.  She finishes checking over her gear, then shrugs her shoulders a few times.  She’s ready.

Flywheel chats briefly with her communications guy about what she wants to do for in-field guiding, but she's ready (and has been this whole time, really.)

Vworp.

The intercept point looks like just a regular straight stretch of road.  You're in a park.  The intercept point is the road in front of you, with storefronts dead ahead.  The roar of the diesel engine is audible even a few blocks away.

At these speeds 'a few blocks away' is equivalent to 'mere seconds away'.