MISSION: GET TO ZE CHOPPA

[initiatesnpc]

Date & Time: August 23rd, 2753 (OOCly forward-dated to the 1st)
Location: Uruguay National Defense HQ
Characters: All transports!
Summary: All transports are sent back to Uruguay to download a self-aware AI before it gets bombed out of existence by an early incarnation of the UE. Time distortion effects will be set right either on the way there or on the way back, according to player choice.
Warnings: violence, action movie tension, 3 terabytes of foot fetish porn.

The Transporter drops the entire transport population into what will quickly be established as Home Base, a mile from the vast, sprawling facility that is Uruguay's National Defense HQ. The low roar of helidrones moving above is pervasive, but the black ships can only be glimpsed here and there through the thick cover of trees overhead. If you keep calm and quiet, it's likely you won't be spotted. It's the UND HQ their attention is on, after all.

The population is quickly sorted by attending Initiate employees according to who volunteers to fight and who volunteers to protect, along with those with enough skill to access the computers, and those with enough skill to get them there. The fighters move out first, off to intercept the early UE's ships and ground troops, and to draw the automated defense systems of the facility alike. They'll be in a crossfire, and neither side will be happy to see them there.

The techies and their escorts are sent out far more quietly, in groups of three. Their task is to sneak past the front lines and into the facility itself. There might be alarms and automated defense drones, so those escorts may well be called on to earn their keep. The Initiative can't give any information about which building will house the AI's mainframe, that information was long since lost to history. All they can do is send out enough people to hope that one of them manages to find it.

And remember — as soon as the UE troops withdraw, there will only be minutes until the bomb drops. Everyone would do well to work fast.



[[ Mission information is here, and the techie/escort teams, along with their hacking results, are here. Each techie/escort group will have their own established thread, but Team Distraction and Team We'll Stay Here, Thanks are welcome to thread where ever and however they like! The newbie log that goes up on the 1st will also encompass the arrival back in Exsilium, if you'd like to play that out as well. ]]

Comments

crystal / home base / open

[crystalia]

( a ) She takes a few moments, at first, to survey their camp and see what there is to be done. So Crystal can be found examining the perimeter, making sure people have fresh water—a job she’s uniquely qualified to help with—or just trying to keep people calm. She’s clearly experienced in this, walking through the camp with an innate grace and confidence that can’t be faked. If she looks worried, it lasts only for a moment, and she’s ready to talk anything—strategy, supplies, mission status or the weather—with anyone who approaches her, smile at the ready.

( b ) One of the first time the troops get too close, Crystal is ready—it takes her all of a minute to raise a wall of rock between the base and the troops, six feet high and twice as wide across. Standing beside it with her hands in the air to keep it steady, her voice is noticeably strained as she calls out, “Excuse me? Someone might want to go deal with that before they break through.”

She’s able to hold the wall there for ten minutes or so before sweat starts beading down her brow and she grimaces. But there’s no option of letting it drop, not when there’s vulnerable children behind it.

( c ) In between attacks, she climbs up one of the taller trees in the forest and tries to get a better look at the shoreline. Only now does her composure slip, and as she watches the planes and the lights of the battle, she bites down on her lower lip. She knows she could have helped there, too, but someone also had to hold down the fort, as it were. She’s about to climb back down when a particularly strong assault shakes the ground around them—Crystal loses her footing and grip on the tree and slips.

She makes a grab for the bark of the tree, trying to steady herself, but chances are she might fall.

C

[strategic_guile]

There wasn't a lack of things to do to keep him occupied, but Blaine had moved away from the camp to take a look around himself. His skill set wasn't one that was all that helpful without a designated area that belonged to him. The people who fought alongside the initiative weren't close to him, but they didn't deserve to die as collateral damage either, so Blaine kept his gun holstered and rifle packed away but ready in case there was a breech. For now though, he walked through the trees.

The shaking ground has him holding his arms out to steady himself, but then it's over. He hears a sound and looks up, ready to draw if needed, but instead spots someone in the tree. "You alright?"

He's really hoping she isn't about to fall, because he may try to catch her, but she's high up and it's going to hurt like hell.

[crystalia]

She feels herself fall and scrambles to find purchase in the old bark of the tree, but only succeeds minimally. Her fingers, though gloved, hurt like hell as she skids downwards, eventually finding unsure footing on a thick branch. She breathes in, once, and then exhales slowly as she realizes she’s not going to fall—at least not at this moment.

“Just fine--!” She calls out, not wanting to risk turning and seeing who’d called after her. She shifts, again, trying to find her balance, and it’s at that moment the ground shakes again.

[strategic_guile]

Blaine watches her as she scrambles for purchase, then she steadies herself. Glad to see she got her balance he was about to speak again but then the ground shook and his hands go up instinctively as he crouches to keep his balance. Of course, he looks up a second later to see how she's doing. She was closer to the ground now, but not by much. Murphy's law was a cruel bastard. He's ready though, just in case she falls, and he's eying her.

[crystalia]

Evidently tired of the uncertainty, Crystal grits her teeth and jumps away from the tree at the next mini-quake. She wasn't going to make it down gradually under the circumstances, and this way she could at least control how she fell. But she is left, now, falling to the ground, though it seems like a rush of wind is rising to meet her.

[strategic_guile]

It occurs to Blaine that maybe he doesn't need to catch her, and he's really hoping for that. He notices the wind, but he really has no idea if that's natural gust or a power and he doesn't have time to think about it. He was already under her, so he simply has to adjust where he's positioned and ready his stance. He's either going to catch her or jumped out of the way if it looks like she's going to land fine on her own. Either way, "Just don't break my neck."

[crystalia]

And these things being what they are, she's distracted enough by his voice that the wind disapates and she ends up on top of him. She lets out a muffled squeak, too dignified to be called a scream, and throws out her hands to break her fall--though he's doing a good job of that already.

"Oh, Randac--I'm so sorr--Are you alright?"

[strategic_guile]

Whoops, perhaps he could have said a prayer under his breath instead. Her descent was maybe a bit slower than he thought it should be, but suddenly it ramped right back up just in time for her to thud into him. Blaine gives out a loud huff but manages to keep himself upright with her in his arms... for about a second and then he falls backwards and grunts out a small sound of pain as she lands on top of him.

All he can do is let out a rumble and lay there until she gets off, and even then he lets out a breath that's a half laugh. "I'm fine, don't worry about it."

[crystalia]

She scrambles to her feet, brushing herself off and then offering him a hand with an apologetic smile.

"You're too kind. Though of course, I still will." Worry, that is. How could she not, after falling on top of the guy?

[strategic_guile]

He takes another breath, though it's stilted because ow, but he takes her hand and uses his other free hand to help himself up as well. He straightens up and brushes himself off.

Blaine gives her a smile. "Of course, but I'd be more worried if I hadn't broken your fall. See anything good while you were up there?"

→ b

[controlledvariable]

Steph's already on the move when the troops approach, running to intercept them when the wall of rock rises from the ground. She only takes a few seconds to work out how it happened, spotting Crystal and assuming the woman is geokinetic.

"On it!" The wall barely gives her paue, she vaults over it with ease and lands with her staff already extended. Actually taking down the troops is a little trickier, but even if she's not trained specifically for this kind of combat, the skills are transferable.

About nine minutes later, Steph's convinced the soldiers that she's not worth their time, considering she's broken three arms, dislocated five shoulders, drawn about fifteen pints of blood, snapped a bunch of ankles and wrists, and disarmed the whole lot of them. She's a little beat up in return, but once the troops have retreated she calls out, "They're all gone, you can drop the wall!"

If only so she doesn't have to go up over it again.

[crystalia]

Crystal’s powers are such that she can usually create one or more really big elemental phenomena at a time, and keep them going for as long as an hour. However, as time passes and the more she tries to do, the less concentration she has. So for now she’s content to put all her focus into this one defensive maneuver—it isn’t worth the risk of trying to do too many things at once.

When she spots Batgirl she nods at her, glad for the assistance. And then, a few minutes later when the girl reappears, she gives a tight smile before lowering her arms carefully. As she does, the rock sinks slowly back into the ground, a cloud of dust rising up as it does. It’s a simple matter—instinctual, really—when Crystal blows it away from her with a gust of wind.

She massages the her upper-arm as she takes a step towards Steph. “You’re alright?” she asks, first.

[controlledvariable]

With the area clear, and trusting Crystal to keep an eye on things, Steph drops into crouch beside some of the weapons the soldiers had abandoned in the retreat. She's not familiar with them, but that doesn't stop her from doing what she can to render them useless with assorted tools from her belt, to make sure that no one can stumble across them and use them.

At the question, she looks up, giving a grin that might be a bit out of place on a battlefield, but Steph refuses to let this get to her, "I could use a hot bath and a nap, but I'll live. You?"

If useful looking bits and pieces of those weapons are disappearing into the pouches of her belt, well, maybe Crystal's just imagining it.

[crystalia]

Crystal, who’s never had much use for weapons, doesn’t pay them any attention in the slightest. That might be an oversight on her part, but to be fair it’s been a long day… week… month. Instead she just nods. “Both of those sound like heaven, right about now.” Of course, they’d be better if she were home on Attilan—no, Hala. Hala’s her home now, as she has to keep reminding herself, even if she hasn’t seen it in months.

“That was very impressive,” she continues, nodding at the now-empty battlefield.

[controlledvariable]

"They're on the top of my To Do list for when we get back to the city," At least the housing compounds in Exsilium are nice, although she's fairly sure that's mostly to keep the Tranports placated.

Once she's satisfied that the weapons are rendered useless, and once she's got what she wants from them, Steph stands and makes her way closer to Crystal, "Thanks, I think it helps that they didn't really know what to make of us."

They're a brand new third party in a war, the current players are going to be left a little confused.

[crystalia]

"It's too bad we don't have a hot springs." Because that is probably exactly what she needs, right about now. And while the city accommodation are nice enough, the drab industrial feel isn't really in line with someone so in-tune to nature.

"I'm not sure I know what to make of us," she says, with a soft laugh. "Everyone here is capable of something entirely different."

[controlledvariable]

"There might be ones out there somewhere, but they're probably filled with radioactive sludge," Which would... not make them hot springs anymore, but god forbid she lets logic get in the way of snark.

Steph huffs out a responding laugh, "We're definitely the most rag-tag team of soldiers I've ever seen. Hopefully that's what the Initiative was going for."

It's easier to call herself a soldier when she's just making a joke of it.

[crystalia]

Crystal pulls a face, at that, and then sighs. "Probably." What a disappointing prospect.

"As far as I can tell, the Initiative is going for 'whatever works.'" It was really the only explanation, for people of all ages, species, and abilities to end up fighting for one cause. "It'd be fascinating, if it didn't upend all our lives."

[controlledvariable]

"I don't know if I'd call it fascinating," She manages to sound more wry than bitter, though her expression definitely edges towards the latter, "If I was gonna get conscripted into a war, it could at least be done by people who know what they're doing."

AS opposed to the Initiative just going with 'whatever works'.

[crystalia]

"If you knew what you were doing, would you be involved in a war at all?" It's an open question, and she realizes it might sound a bit naive. She's led, before, and watched her sister do it her entire life. She knows war is sometimes necessary, but still.

A

[rewritethis]

Early on, there's one ponytailed blond kid loitering around the perimeter who looks anything but calm. Nor does he look much like he should be wandering out here by himself rather than staying securely inside the camp, if his height is any indication. To his credit, Ed had intended to help keep an eye out when he'd seen for himself how many little kids were caught up in this mess... but out of sight is out of mind, at least while the situation is still relatively calm, and there's more than enough else on his mind to occupy him.

"I don't need to do this," he mutters to himself as he walks along, hands in his pockets and hunched over like the quintessential teenager. "I don't owe them a damn thing..."

Frustrated, he kicks savagely at a nearby rock, not bothering to glance up and check whether anyone is in its path first.

[crystalia]

The rock hits her in the back, not hard enough to hurt but certainly enough to catch her notice. Distracted as she is by her own surveys of their surroundings, she mistakes the impact for an attack. It takes her about five seconds to whip around, the wind rising up around her in a harsh gust as she does so.

In another moment, she realizes it was, essentially, nothing. The wind dies and with it her fierce expression.

"You might want to watch it," she says, not unkindly.

[rewritethis]

The moment Ed hears the unnaturally sudden rush of wind, he's on the defensive too. He whirls to face the noise, boots skidding on the ground in his haste, and brings his hands together with a clap. Under his sleeve, the cover of his right arm glows a harsh bluish-white, sputters loudly, distorts, rips cleanly through the glove he's wearing as it rapidly elongates to a sharp point -

- and, seconds later, leaves him in the awkward position of pointing a blade at someone who isn't actually attacking him.

He lowers his arm rather quickly, but doesn't relax, not yet. If anything, his expression as he eyes this unfamiliar woman is even more tense than the one on his face a moment ago, when he was lost in his own thoughts. "Watch what?"

[crystalia]

Her eyes narrow at the sight of the blade, and she takes a step back defensively even as he lowers his arm. "Calm down," she says, and though her voice isn't sharp is clear she intends to be obeyed. "We're on the same side."

When he asks his question she sighs and runs a hand through her hair. "You might not want to throw rocks around a war zone. Not with everyone so... obviously on edge."

[rewritethis]

He pinches the bridge of his nose with his left hand, appearing to wind down a little. This isn't the time or place to try and puff himself up as a threat. "Yeah... Yeah, you're right. Sorry. So much for playing lookout."

He doesn't put the blade away just yet, though, and it pokes conspicuously out of his sleeve by his side.

"But I gotta say... same side, that's a good one." The confrontational edge to his voice just then hasn't entirely disappeared, either. "Out of how many? Two? A dozen? Hundreds?"