7230/Changeling: Level 8 Debrief

Changeling: Level 8 Debrief
Date of Scene:	14 April 2019
Location:	The Triskelion, New York City
Synopsis:	Phil and May catch up on recent events, and the recently returned senior agent is directed to a few missions in the works that could possibly benefit from his experience and expertise.
Cast of Characters:	Melinda May, Phil Coulson
Tinyplot:	Changeling

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Melinda May has posed:
May is seated at a table in the corner of the evaluation area, the last person gone for the night. She could go back to her office, yes, but the chances of having half a dozen people stop her along the way is extremely high. Thus, she chooses to stay here just a bit longer. She has her phone in hand, using the device to check for urgent messages in the system. Though really, if there were any, they'd have been sent to her comm. So it's really just an excuse to linger a bit.

Phil Coulson has posed:
A year-long assignment with radio silence is part of the job... but a year long silence means weeks of catchup to do in between routine duties. The Quinzel incident behind him, Phil has been mainly catching up on relevant timeline stuff, and filing his own reports. Now, he finally has a moment for an appointment with Melinda... and Phil is all business with his MiB suit as he comes inside. His ICER and his Beretta are at his side and his back holsters respectively as he steps inside. A quick glance around confirms they're alone, and Phil moves over to where Melinda is sitting.

"Glad to see the workload is only a couple weeks backed up. I've got a couple months worth of database to go through." Phil quips as he sits down. He's expected, so doesn't see it as rude, presumably, "Agent Coulson reporting." Phil grins to her.

Melinda May has posed:
May looks up at Phil and sets her phone face down. "Good. Once you're caught up, you can help me try to keep this three ring circus under control. I have no idea how Hill keeps up with everything." Probably by never sleeping. She can't help but offer a small smile back at the grin.

"So, when are you going to regale me with your mission abroad? I think I can safely guess by the lack of tan that you weren't assigned somewhere like Tahiti."

Phil Coulson has posed:
"Not much to regale with. I spent months working as a middle range supplier to get their attention and trust. I almost got caught grabbing supplies from a couple SHIELD warehouses twice, but otherwise it was a fairly boring assignment. They simply weren't looking to recruit, despite what intel said." Phil shrugs, "I've got a few rumors about their work, but after it was made clear to me a month ago they were moving on and were cutting ties, I decided it was time to come in."

He brings up his hands and steeples them on the table, "As far as infiltrations go, it was a matter of wrong place wrong time. I have some names and some potential ideas from extrapolation for their operations... but nothing actionable."

Melinda May has posed:
May nods as Phil offers a nutshell of his year away. "As frustrating as it is for all of that time and work to end up for nothing, maybe it's for the best. We've got some irons in the fire here that could use a little more attention. I'm stretched about as thin as I've ever been, and it doesn't look to be getting better any time soon."

She glances toward the door, then adds more softly, "There are things going on around Skye that have the potential to come to a head at some point soon. Fury gave her lead on those, so you'll want to talk to her if you want to be read in on some of the gorier details." While she's talking, she pulls a small notebook from her jacket and writes a quick note in it that reads, 'Suspected Hydra infiltration in the computer systems. All systems to be considered suspect including comms.'

Phil Coulson has posed:
"Nature of the job. Sometimes, you just don't get results." Phil agrees. Then, as he listens and looks to the notebook, he nods slowly. "Good thing I didn't need to come in directly, then." He notes, before he looks back to Melinda, "My plate is open at this point. So you want me to talk to Skye about her situation? Any relevant details going in?"

Melinda May has posed:
Taking a moment to consider, May shakes her head. "The only other thing that comes to mind is to remember how little time she's been doing this. Fury's dumped a lot on her shoulders, and she's been managing to keep up with it all." Again, she jots in her notebook quickly. 'Gone off books with my okay'. "But she's cutting some corners and dodging some proper procedures. Maybe you can help her make sure she's got her Ts crossed and her Is dotted?"

Phil Coulson has posed:
A few taps of his fingers on the table, and Phil nods slowly, "what makes you think she'll respond to me?"

Melinda May has posed:
"She's somehow managed to learn to trust me. I think it'll be easier for you," May replies. Yes, she's very much aware of how her demeanor comes across to almost everyone both in and out of SHIELD.

"Just approach her with honesty. She grew up in the foster system. She can smell lies like a beagle can track pizza."

Phil Coulson has posed:
"That's fair." Phil agrees with a 'fair enough' tone to it. Then, he brings up his tablet and starts to go through the database... bringing up Skye Johnsons dossier. A few seconds of looking through it, and he nods, "I've got one of those faces. It's usually pretty easy for foster kids to be jaded about their situation, but she sounds like an exceptional young woman."

He places the tablet on the table and looks back to Melinda, "I'm guessing you're working on solutions to the other situation? Got anything for me on that right now, or shall I concentrate on seeing what's going on with the agent first?"

Melinda May has posed:
May would appear to be considering further, but Coulson likely knows her better than that. It's more of an act, her mind is already set on a course of action. "Chat with Skye first. There's a lot of potential there to make some big changes for the better." Her hand rests on the small notebook for a moment, perhaps implying that her last words were not referring to the young hacker like they sounded.

"Oh, and now I'm going to change the subject on you. When will you be ready for your evaluation?"

Phil Coulson has posed:
"Probably in a few days. I'm not going to skip it." Phil smirks, "You know me and keeping up to date on the latest and greatest. Lola needs a tune up anyway."

Melinda May has posed:
Oh yes, May does know. "Yes. And I can't begin to say how many times I've had to chase the newer agents away from her. Especially one recent recruit from DARPA named Murphy." She glances at her phone then moves to stand. "And I'm out of time. I have to head back toward Operations, where are you headed?"

Phil Coulson has posed:
"There's a Murphy interested in Lola? I'll see what he wants." Phil responds. It's not an angry tone, but rather curious, "If you ever need help with any of this May, I'm available and willing. God knows I've led enough missions and operations of my own to have an idea of how the big seat must feel."

Then, Phil looks at his watch, and nods, "I've got another stack of catchup to handle, then I was going to hit the gym. I'll talk to you later, May."

Melinda May has posed:
"I do fully intend to lean on you heavily once you're back up to speed." With that said and her phone in hand, she turns and walks briskly out of the evaluation area. No rest for the wicked or some other obnoxious saying.