|
Post by Jordanna on Apr 6, 2008 23:36:46 GMT -5
The drive down from New York to rural West Virginia was long and dull. Major Vance and a few others took the opportunity to sleep. His contribution in manpower consisted of fourteen carefully selected fighters--most of them ex-military, and all possessing powers that could be used offensively. Among them was Blizzard, who would especially be needed to counter the infrared security sensors at Mount Bliss.
Their destination was the decaying remains of an old farmhouse, sitting isolated on a dozen acres of long-overgrown property.
As the team climbed out of their half-dozen cars and vans, Sid raised a dubious eyebrow at the structure. "I wouldn't even haunt a place like that as a ghost."
"It's no Ritz," Vance admitted as they walked up to the sagging porch. "Part of the roof is gone, and the second floor is unlivable, but the ground floor will be enough shelter for our needs. The point is, the place is deserted--and it's about the closest building there is to Mount Bliss. We're less than two miles from the lab, and according to Jai's intel, most of that ground is owned by a dummy company for... well, whoever it is pulling the strings of that place."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Apr 6, 2008 23:44:43 GMT -5
Daws shivered slightly, surveying the deserted landscape around them. "Here's hoping they're not nosy neighbors, whoever they are."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Apr 7, 2008 23:03:04 GMT -5
"This place has been deserted for so long, they probably don't think much of it," Vance replied. "Watch that second step..."
He led the way up onto the porch, shouldered open a door that hung on one hinge, and shone a flashlight around the empty interior of the house.
"Most of our supplies were already sent down in the last day," he explained. "We've got a portable generator out back, but I don't want to use it any more than absolutely necessary--just in case anyone is keeping an eye on the place."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Apr 7, 2008 23:08:34 GMT -5
Daws shrugged. "Well, I guess roughing it for a day or two is pretty much the least of our worries."
She glanced around the mouldering interior of the farmhouse, letting her eyes adjust to the dim light. "I love what they've done with the place."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Apr 7, 2008 23:15:41 GMT -5
Vance cracked a dark grin. "Just think about the prospect of pinning down His Honor the Mayor here for a few hours. That ought to cheer you up."
"It does me," muttered Nate, who had never quite gotten over the reticent attitudes of Cole's sister.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Apr 7, 2008 23:22:25 GMT -5
Daws grinned wickedly. "Not exactly up to the standards of his usual haunts, that's for sure."
She shrugged and unshouldered the small duffel bag she'd brought with her. "Well, now we're here, what's the first move?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2008 21:13:07 GMT -5
"Strategy session." Vance moved to a makeshift plywood table at the center of the room, and lit a lantern that was sitting on it. Then he set down the satchel he was carrying. "Here's all the information Jai and Proteus managed to dig up. It's not much, but it's all we've got to start making our plans on--or at least our plans to catch someone we can pump for more intel."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2008 21:56:07 GMT -5
"Okay then." Daws cracked her knuckles and moved to stand across from Vance, dropping her fedora on the tabletop.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2008 22:30:43 GMT -5
"Right." Vance watched as the rest of the fighters gathered around, then spread on the table a map of the local mine shafts, with the known tunnels of the Mount Bliss lab superimposed on it.
"The main entrance to the complex is here, on an access road that most people'd never find if they weren't looking for it." He marked the place on the map with a pencil. "Within the perimeter, the complex has some facilities on the surface--warehouses, garages, quarters for off-duty personnel, that sort of thing. You have to get past all that just to reach the entrance to the tunnels, here." He made another mark on the map.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2008 22:39:25 GMT -5
Daws examined the map thoughtfully. "It's not a problem for Proteus if he's looking like someone who works there, but we've still got to make sure none of the rest of us get spotted passing by any of that."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2008 22:56:37 GMT -5
"There still might be that other tunnel entrance we talked about, here," Nate remarked, tapping the end of one long tunnel on the map. "Hopefully whoever we pinch will know whether that's been closed off or not."
"And even that whole area is laced with those infrared sensors," Vance added. "Blizzard, tell everyone what you told me."
The young man with blue-white skin gave a slight shrug. "Well, I can drop the temperature in a small area, alright--enough to mask a few people from those sensors, but not everybody at once. It just won't be too comfortable for the rest of you. And if these people had the bright idea to watch for any sudden drop in temperature around the site..." He spread his hands eloquently.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2008 23:03:46 GMT -5
"If they have any one of a number of bright ideas, we're sunk." Daws replied with a fatalistic shrug. "Assuming they don't have this particular one, though -- can you manage moving us all in in a couple of smaller groups, if we move quickly?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2008 23:12:51 GMT -5
"Keeping in mind you won't have to include me," Proteus added. "With any luck, I'll be on the inside already."
Blizzard scratched his fingers through his pale blond hair and looked over the roomful of fighters, making mental calculations. "With about twenty people in total... We might squeeze by with three groups. I wouldn't like to try it with any more than six or seven people at a time--and that's pushing it as it is."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2008 23:16:48 GMT -5
Daws nodded and turned her attention back to the map. "All right, so theoretically we might be able to get everyone in through the back door -- if it's still there, if Proteus can get to it to let us in, and if we don't trip the sensors doing it." She sighed. "Awful lot of ifs, isn't it?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2008 23:28:42 GMT -5
"There always is." Vance slid another sheet of paper out of the satchel. "As to the question of what guard we take, and when to do it... we've finally got one piece of luck. Jai's last batch of data has given us at least a suggestion of the guards' schedules. This is a payroll sheet that matches the names we've pinpointed, and it mentions what shifts these guys worked. If the schedules are regular, we should at least know when the shifts change, if not who we're picking up."
"Ya think it matters much who we grab?" Sid asked.
Vance shrugged. "That's pretty much luck of the draw--whoever's on duty during the night, when we figure the best time for the pinch will be."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2008 23:36:34 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "I suppose one guy's about as good as another." She frowned. "We're going to have to work out the timing so whoever we grab isn't missed -- at home or at Mount Bliss."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Apr 8, 2008 23:47:23 GMT -5
"Best to take someone who's just going on duty," Proteus murmured. "That way nobody elsewhere will miss 'em, and it shouldn't be too strange to anyone if I wander inside wearing his face."
"Assuming the sentries are even allowed into the tunnels themselves," Nate said darkly.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Apr 8, 2008 23:50:26 GMT -5
Daws scratched thoughtfully behind her ear. "If there's a plausible reason one of 'em would be inside, maybe we can get Cole to pick it out of our guy's brain along with all the other useful information we need."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Apr 9, 2008 21:16:15 GMT -5
"Just one more thing to add to a very long list," Vance murmured.
Nate gave Proteus a quizzical look. "Question. If we pick up a guard when he's just about to go on duty--you'll have to take his place to keep him from being missed, won't you? And then you won't be able to be with us when we question him."
The shapeshifter scowled. "I didn't think of that. Shows you just how good I am at business like this..."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Apr 9, 2008 21:22:14 GMT -5
Daws' expression darkened. "Nate's right -- that's no good for us. Either we have to figure some way to get the info to you once you're inside -- and frankly, I don't see how -- or we've got to pick some other time to grab the guy."
|
|