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Post by Jordanna on May 9, 2008 22:42:20 GMT -5
"That's what I assumed." Vance scowled at the map. "And that's pretty deep in the tunnels. It won't be any picnic fighting our way in there--much less getting out."
Nate tilted his head toward one of the waiting mutants who half-sprawled on the floor against the wall--a large, muscular man with a distinctly military crew cut. "What about Shockwave?"
"Eh." Vance frowned. "He can clear a path, alright--but I'm worried his concussive wave might hurt the people inside, instead of just stunning them. He's powerful, but he doesn't have much fine control over it."
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Post by skybright on May 9, 2008 22:49:13 GMT -5
Daws frowned thoughtfully at the map in front of her. "What other powers do we have to work with, Jerod?" She asked.
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Post by Jordanna on May 10, 2008 20:48:00 GMT -5
Vance shrugged. "You already know about Blizzard, Kindle, Flash, Roger, Nate--and me. Auger throws bone spikes, with a twist, and I mean that literally; they're more like six-inch flying drill bits.
"We've got our resident electrokene, Volt--I figured we'll need someone like him to fry the lab's communications. Outlander manipulates gravity... well, enough so to fly, and to crush things like trash cans or people. Void can do tricks with bubbles of air pressure that'll knock a person out cold. Scorpion shoots venomous barbs; his brother Scythe's got a tail that'll take out anybody within five feet of him. Lariat's a webslinger with night vision, and Shroud... well, it's kinda creepy, but he can grow, shed, and retract layers of skin that are tough as kevlar."
The Major spread his hands. "That's my team. For the most part, I picked my people here on two criteria: combat experience, and the ability to take out opposition from as much distance as possible--without actually doing any permanent damage." He scowled. "Personally, I don't feel any kinder toward these butchers than Tiernan does... but we owe Proteus too much not to live up to what he expects from us."
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Post by skybright on May 11, 2008 17:36:00 GMT -5
"We both agree on that." Daws said.
She turned her attention back to the map and sighed. "Too bad we don't know anyone who could just immobilize everybody in this place -- but I guess nothing's ever that easy."
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Post by Jordanna on May 11, 2008 20:59:25 GMT -5
"Yeah, well... you work with what you've got." Vance sighed and turned back to Cole. "Did you get anything from Highsmith about how many scientists might be holed up in the labs?"
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Post by skybright on May 11, 2008 21:07:29 GMT -5
Cole frowned slightly. "He's not entirely certain how many of the people working there are actual scientists and how many are just assistants or clerical workers." He replied. "I'd say between ten and fifteen -- but I can't give you an exact number, or tell you exactly what their work might be. That falls in the realm of information Highsmith's not ranked high enough to know."
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Post by Jordanna on May 11, 2008 21:52:11 GMT -5
"We probably don't have a real guess of who works late, either," Nate observed. "If we're going in at night, they couldn't all be there."
"What about the off-duty guards in that barracks Proteus mentioned?" Henry inquired.
Vance smiled humorlessly. "That's one thing we have covered. Before we hit the lab itself, we're gonna drop a couple of sedative gas grenades in the living quarters on the grounds." He frowned and put his hands on his hips. "Then all we've got to worry about is the on-duty guards, and whoever else is in the lab itself. If we can just keep 'em away from that killswitch... I think we'll be okay."
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Post by skybright on May 11, 2008 21:59:30 GMT -5
"It's pretty significant, as 'ifs' go." Daws murmured. "But I think it's within the realm of possibility, at any rate."
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Post by Jordanna on May 11, 2008 22:12:54 GMT -5
"Proteus may have some luck pinpointing it--but there's already a lot riding on him." Vance slouched against the table and ran a hand through his hair. "The best thing we can do is try to figure out, as best we can, where all the opposing pieces on the chessboard are going to be."
He turned back to Cole. "If you got anything else, tell us. We need every scrap of intel we can get."
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Post by skybright on May 11, 2008 22:26:01 GMT -5
Cole made a somewhat helpless gesture. "There's not much else to tell -- Highsmith doesn't know much else."
He sighed wearily and closed his eyes for a moment, sifting through the information he'd gathered from Highsmith. "If you want a diversionary tactic, a fire alarm is probably your best option." He said after a moment. "It's still an old mining tunnel, for all they've done to it, and fire is a very real danger. But the evacuation plan is fairly involved, and Highsmith only knows his part in it -- I'm not sure what they'd do with the contents of the lab in that even."
The politician's brow furrowed. "The complex draws power from its own grid, separate from the surrounding area. Highsmith's vaguely aware of the location of the power plant for it -- but I don't suppose you have time for that.
"At least a few of those scientists are what he thinks of as strictly non-com -- non-combatant, I assume. I think your most pressing concern is with the soldiers, not the scientists.
"And, Major," Cole opened his eyes and regarded Vance gravely, "When Highsmith said 'take that thing out of the lab, and you'll kill us all' . . . he was quite serious. It may be ignorance on his part, or misinformation on his superiors' -- but Highsmith is very, very afraid of Colonel Ashley."
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Post by Jordanna on May 11, 2008 22:38:07 GMT -5
"That wasn't hard to guess," Vance murmured. He hesitated, then added in a rough voice, "And the truth is, we can't just ignore it... We've got no way of knowing what they've done to the Colonel."
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Post by skybright on May 11, 2008 22:42:35 GMT -5
"And we've got no way of finding out in time for it to do us much good." Daws pointed out evenly. "But whatever they've done . . . the whole reason we're here is to see to it they don't get the chance to keep doing it.
"Anything else, we're just going to have to deal with as it comes. We haven't got the time or the resources to do otherwise."
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Post by Jordanna on May 11, 2008 23:00:35 GMT -5
"That's part of why I'm here," Miriam said gravely. "To find out the Colonel's condition before we try to move him--and do what I can for him, if necessary."
Vance gave Miriam a concerned look. "There's more than decent odds that at least a couple of people are gonna go down, Doc. Are you absolutely sure you can function in the middle of absorbing the shock?"
Miriam nodded, her eyes hard. "It might throw me for a moment... but after that I'll only be stronger."
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Post by skybright on May 11, 2008 23:07:26 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "We'll all of us do what we have to do, when the time comes. That's one thing I'm not worried about."
She glanced at Cole. "Anything else you can tell us?"
The politician rubbed his eyes and gestured to the sheets of paper he had given Vance. "Only what I've told you, and what's written there -- unless you want me to make another attempt. And frankly, I make no promises on that being any use in the state I'm in."
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Post by Jordanna on May 11, 2008 23:14:07 GMT -5
Vance shook his head. "I think we've gotten everything we can hope to get out of a tin soldier like Highsmith--unless you can think of anything else, Regina."
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Post by skybright on May 11, 2008 23:18:03 GMT -5
Daws shrugged. "Like you say, I think we've about tapped out Highsmith's supply of useful information."
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Post by Jordanna on May 11, 2008 23:23:49 GMT -5
"Then about all we can do is wait for Proteus to get back," Vance declared.
He looked appraisingly at Cole, with interest and even a trace of sympathy. "You did good by us tonight, sir--and I know it wasn't easy. Is there anything we can do for you right now?"
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Post by skybright on May 11, 2008 23:33:38 GMT -5
Cole shook his head wearily, making a faint attempt at a smile. "Just somewhere relatively dark and quiet to sit and wait out this migraine." He murmured, glancing wryly at Daws, "Preferably at a distance from everyone's thoughts."
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Post by Jordanna on May 12, 2008 21:32:53 GMT -5
"You can go take it easy for a while in one of the cars outside," Vance offered. "I'm afraid we don't have much in the way of guest accomodations around here."
He paused. "I'll have Rog take you back to the City, if you want. Though I'll be honest--I don't know how fast things are going to start happening, and I was hoping to keep him close."
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Post by skybright on May 12, 2008 22:35:46 GMT -5
Cole waved one hand. "I'll be fine out in one of the vehicles, Major." He said. "It won't wear off any faster in New York than here -- and you'll need all the help you can get."
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