Hellfire Club: The Mission [CLOSED]

[astonishing_xmods]

WHO: Nightcrawler and those selected for the mission.
WHAT: The Hellfire Club infiltration mission
WHERE: Manhattan
WHEN: Late evening
WARNING(S): Could get violent.

Team One was already on the ground, infiltrating the party. The rest waited in silence aboard the Blackbird, hovering in complete stealth mode high above the island. Back at the Institute, Professor X closely monitored the communications of the team, ready to give the signal when ready...

It was go time.

[[ OKAY HERE'S HOW IT'S GOING TO GO.

Top levels will be going up for each mission phase. Each phase will, OOCly, go on simultaneously so no one has to wait for another team to complete their task. Players have freedom to play as they like, but the mod characters in each team (Feliks, Shindou, Reimu) will most likely lead the action in the direction it's intended to go. The mod account will pop in for NPCing every now and again.

Have fun! ]]

Comments

[astonishing_xmods]

[They weren't security cameras.

Not in the typical sense, at least, with a video feed being routed back somewhere else for human eyes to see. Instead, the sensors had locked onto each figure drawn into view and were running through a whole range of bio-physical data, cross-referenced against a set of acceptable patterns. No match to one of the personnel with security clearance, paired with the right keycode entered on the pad down the hall? No entry.

Oh, and also a rapid-fire countdown until "Security System Engage." There was about a minute left to go now, and given the concussive energy weapons Takane would find embedded in each sphere and trained on her teammates, it was probably a good idea to hurry. Fooling the system from within, luckily, wouldn't be too much of a puzzle. Just forcibly input one of the acceptable template patterns here, match it with the right code, there...

And instead of hitting the floor, the team would be watching the doors slide open to admit them deeper into Shaw's lair.]

[presto_turn]

While the others had been debating how to deal with the security system, Shindou'd hung back and watched, knowing there was little he could add to the discussion. But when the doors came open he didn't hesitate before moving down the corridor and leaning around the frame to scope out what lay ahead of them. (They'd just convinced the place that they were harmless, so it seemed like a safe bet that nothing was going to be trying to kill them, right on the other side...)

"Good work," he noted. "We're in, Takane."

And, on the other side of the entrance, there was way too much white. The walls and floor practically shone from it in the wide, open chamber they had come to. Some kind of meeting space, it looked like? Or a hub for whatever sort of projects went on in this part of the facility. A long, glassy table dominated the room, chairs lined all along it, but against the far wall there were several computer terminals set up - all locked for now.

There were also, a quick sweep of his eyes around the room confirmed, three exits branching off from here: One, nearest them, was helpfully labeled "Robotics" on an adjacent panel...but the portal leading right past the computer set-up and the third, directly ahead, offered no similar clues as to where they might send them. Shindou slid inside, glancing back at his squadmates.

"Kanji, can you get her up until she can move on her own again?" And then, to X-23 and Aqua: "What now?"

[aquawayfinder]

She looked to the other point guard then back at the group. "Does anyone here have a talent for path-choosing?" she asked the group, better to ask that than to ignore a potential ability and work on hunches and guesses. If no one had a better idea... She'd spin the Wayfinder and trust in Terra and Ven to lead her to a safe path, a path that would bring them together again....

[presto_turn]

"Not that I know of - "

Which meant that their best bet was to break off from each other and scope out as much of the facility as they could before anyone realized it'd been infiltrated. And, since Laura had already claimed her group and Toushirou seemed to have the right idea about how to split the rest of them, he moved over to Aqua's side and looked her way. After a brief beat, he nodded back for Rin to join them as well. They'd split up evenly that way, and with any luck Rin's powers would help them deal with any defensive tech they had to handle without Takane.

"We can branch off this way," he suggested, tilting his head back towards the exit leading past the computer terminals. They did have the squad's second hacker, after all. "I mean, if that works, Miss - ah, Master Aqua?"

[aquawayfinder]

Aqua nodded. "Yes. Stay close to me, both of you, and if you see anything that we need to be alert to, let us know, don't just presume we've seen it. If you both are ready, let's get moving." She rolled her shoulders, shifted her grip on her Keyblade, renewed her focus on the powers in it, then nodded and led them down their path, glancing back to make sure they were following.

[mouflon]

Rin's attention had been drawn by the cluster of computer terminals, her inner dialogue carefully restricted as she considered the kind of information they might have access to—but, when nodded to, she met Shindou's eyes and nodded back. I'm ready; let's go, she answered, all but stepping forward without waiting for Aqua, her thoughts forcefully routed back on track.

[astonishing_xmods]

[An automated door slides open to admit them past the few computer terminals stationed outside...to an absolute treasure trove of them waiting on the other side.

This must be something like a control center for Shaw Industries' more heavily classified projects or for internal security or something. In any case, the room is dominated by computer set-ups, all locked and facing a wall taken up entirely by an electronic display. Video feeds show numerous sections of the building's operations: the party going on several floors overhead, a warehouse-like space containing rows of deactivated, black-and-white robots...and Laura's team, elsewhere, under fire from two decidedly more live models. Several other video screens are blacked out with no indication as to why.

Shaw isn't here, but there is an apparent wealth of information ready at the group's fingertips and no obvious resistance coming at them. Whether to press forward or see what they can find remains up to them.]

[aquawayfinder]

Seeing the screens Aqua made a hold motion to her team then aimed a mental thought at the leader of Laura's team, through the connected web. "We found what may be what we are looking for, but we see in the screens that you are having difficulty, should we remain here and gather the information or come to your aid, and then all return here together?"

In other words, were they in trouble enough that this team should abort to come to their aid.

[nobodysweapon]

"Stay within mission paramters. Attempt to discover Shaw's location. We are fine."

[aquawayfinder]

"Understood, inform us if the situation changes." she sent to Laura, then to her own team, "They'll be okay, let's get this done, so we can get everyone out of here safely. I'll guard while you two get what we need."

Which made the most sense, given her ineptitude with technology.

[littlewhitelies]

"Is this going to be one of those 'divide and conquer' type of things?" She can handle that, hopefully. M'gann blinks against the glare of the room, looking a little tense as she drifts upwards and into the air. "We've got a lot of ground to cover... so maybe that would be for the best? Maybe? Possibly?"

Making calls is NOT her speciality, but she can at least try to take a little initiative in order to help out. This much white is hard on the eyes, but she still manages to fly over to one of the unmarked doors, waiting there for some of the others.

[psykick]

"And the faster we cover ground, the faster we can clear out," Rinka agreed as she hurried over to join M'gann. "Splitting up is probably the best option for now."

[icy_heavens]

"Haven't got much to go on for doors number two and three. Still. We need to split. Can't be wasting time here."

His mental voice is crisp and authoritative. There's no room for indecision here, but they need to do the split the right way. Laura has already chosen where she'll go and which others will come with her, and he can't really question her logic on her choices.

"We separate the psychics so we can keep each other informed of what we find. Somebody who who can deal with security measures as discreetly as possible. And at least one person that can engage in combat if it's needed."

[littlewhitelies]

"That's great but-" Would this be a good time to remind him that if she can't see or hear people, she can't contact them with telepathy? Would it be important for the team to know, and-

...Is it going to raise her estimation in the eyes of the team? That thought is a little too strong to ignore, and leaves her feeling slightly nauseated.

"No, never mind! You're both right, we finish this and meet up with the others, and we'll get the job done fast." With any luck it'll happen before they need to touch base with telepathy. And she can always keep an eye out for any vents connecting the hallways and conducting sound.

With that said she's going to start flying down that mystery hallway now.

"I've got the maneuverability as long as the halls stay this wide and tall. I can take point!"

[psykick]

Well, in lieu of a third techno-gifted mutant, her phasing should get them past most physical obstacles. It takes her only the space of a breath to shift from solid to intangible. What bits of fringe are visible from underneath her hood change from light brown to white as her eyes change from brown to red.

"Leave the security measures to me," she says. "I can phase two other people, no problem." Thank goodness for all the practice with Shindou, Kanji, and Bridget. She had two people down pat now and is getting close to phasing three other people with ease.

[littlewhitelies]

"You mean like... density shifting?" M'gann pauses for a second to look back, and the expression on her face is probably best described as a look of jealousy AND pure admiration. She's surprised to the point that her words come out verbally instead of telepathically; though over the link her emotions are plenty loud, and there's a small whisper of 'just like Uncle J'onn' in the background.

"You could probably phase through something if there's a problem or an attack, huh?" She remembers to switch back to telepathy after that, and she keeps floating down the hallway with one ear open for trouble.

[astonishing_xmods]

[The hallway does stay wide and tall...and long to boot, stretching a fair distance before the corner up ahead even comes into view. The stark, white walls glare under the fluorescent lighting overhead.

And then everything cuts off. Every light-source in the corridor dies all at once, leaving only the faint glow of the rooms up ahead and behind. Those will disappear an instant later as the steel-on-concrete roar of several gates crashing closed between the team and either exit ricochets all around them.

They'll need to find a way through each of them if they want to move forward. That should be simple enough, really. But as for guessing what will meet them on the other side?

Good luck.]

[psykick]

"I don't usually think of it as 'density shifting', but yes, I can go through pretty much any--"

And then the security measures start kicking in.

Which is so not good.

Bad enough there's now how many unknown barriers between them and the end of the corridor. There's also no lights. Rinka cautiously reaches out to the last places she'd seen M'gann and Toushirou before the light had been cut off.

"Grab on guys. But hang back a little so I can see how dense these things are first."

[nobodysweapon]

"Kanji, Takane, and I will investigate the robotics area."

Takane was a liability in her current state, but if she could interface with anything in robotics that is where she would be the least dead weight. Kanji's abilities would help in combat, and here is where he could cause the most damage. They were the three best suited if a run-in with Trask occoured. Or any of Trask's creations.

"Stealth is still our priority, do not engage unless required. Do not draw weapons unless neccessary. It is likely the security system will recognize the threat and react."

[realmenknitplushies]

"Huh?"" As Kanji started to reach out to get Takane secure while she was down, he glanced towards the sign in question - "Heh. Yeah, alright. I can go with this plan. No smashin' robots unless they smash first." Of course, if that opportunity did present itself... well, it was what he was here for.

"Takane - you okay? This ain't, uh, weird?" he asks. "Gimme a yell if ya can when you wanna come back."

[tatatarata]

"Fine with me. Tell me if you need me to stop being dead weight, though--unless I'm in the middle of something in here. It wouldn't be very good if I was in the middle of stopping robots from killing you and just left, after all."

Though a little apprehensive about leaving her body with someone else in a dangerous situation for the first time, Takane tried to focus on searching through the security network and whatever else she could find that seemed like it might be important or useful.

[astonishing_xmods]

[Jumping between sections of the security network is no easy feat. It's clearly been designed to make any mundane form of intrusion next to impossible, with different sectors closely cordoned off. Still, with some effort Takane will be able to find a "back door" from the installations outside to the system within the robotics facility...

Where every security routine is already running at full, red alert.

That might explain why, once the automatic door to the area slides open and shut, there's little warning before the machinery within springs to life. Judging from the workbenches and the charging stations along the walls, the room they've stepped into appears likely to have been devoted to hands-on adjustment and demonstration of Shaw's robotic products. One of those, all neutral, white metal, rises off a work-table and begins a steady advance on the team, its claw-like hands crackling with electricity.

Across the room, its pitch-black counterpart, jolting to life in its chamber, doesn't have to wait that long. As soon as the glass cover of its containment unit slides up, a red light glares across its "face," and it launches an energy-bolt at whoever's last through the door.]

[nobodysweapon]

X-23 had very good reaction times, she was very fast and very strong. She came into the room first, hoping to catch any threat before it could be a danger to Kanji. And she failed, the weapons armed and she had a choice. If the blast was aimed at her, she could evade it, if it was aimed at Kanji and Takane... one of them could die. Which was why she slammed Kanji out of the way of the energy bolt taking the hit and being slammed into the wall.

"They smashed first." X-23 will get up in a moment, that sorta hurt. She will have 'words' with one of those contraptions in a moment.

[realmenknitplushies]

Damn! Kanji awkwardly tries to aim his landing so that he's taking the force of the fall rather than Takane, but all it results in his lying stunned for a little.

Ow.

"Tch. No kiddin'." He looks at their leader with a spot of worry - experienced, powers or no, that still looked like it hurt - before he gently makes sure that Takane's alright and starts to get to his feet himself. Sparks flood into Kanji's own hands to match the advancing robot, and into his eyes; he rushes in, hurling an electrical blast at it to try and overload its systems. The one shooting at them from the back might be a problem for him, but this one is far more his thing... Time to fight fire with fire?

[astonishing_xmods]

[The blast connects with the white 'bot, slowing and seeming to almost stagger it. It jolts in place, and then with little warning there's a sharp crack as one its metallic arms breaks off at the shoulder with a billow of smoke and embers spilling from the joint. Yet the rest of the machine keeps coming, its gait gone erratic but still surprisingly fast as it gets into range to swing its remaining arm for Kanji's side. And, while the electricity crackling across them may be no problem for him, those claws it's packing are still sharp.

Across the room, meanwhile, the black 'bot steps out from its charging station and paces forward just far enough to fix its "gaze" on where Takane's been left settled against the wall...]