"I'd rather Hadrian not confront Apex unless that proves absolutely necessary, retreating fire for the two of us to get to the rest of you or a distraction if this really goes tits-up.  If you advise against a frontal assault how did you intend to get us to our ship in the first place?  Do your tunnels go there or did you have another covert approach?" Billy replies to Abe.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 922):

Where are the tunnel exits in relation to the inner hangar?  Also how hard is it to pilot a ship from the inner hanger to freedom? 

/ooc without a map (which I know is a pain in the butt) I don't know if there is a single tunnel or multiple and where the exits are relative to our goals.

How should we coordinate the attack with your acquisition of the data to ensure that we don't spring the distracton too soon? 

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 923):

"The tunnels lead to the main elevators. From there it's an inside job," Abe says. "And I didn't ever plan to steal a ship from the hangar. That's a wrinkle you've added yourselves. My goal had always been to discredit and remove Apex, and try to undo the harm she's done. Nothing more."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:22, Fri 09 Mar 2018.

"Okay, how hard is an inside job?  What kind of distance would you have to cover to get to the hangar from the closest elevator?  We could split into two teams, our augurs raise hell outside making them think it's a frontal assault.  We can change the story we tell Apex, instead of being dead you're doing something desperate and crazy. As soon as they bring their real might to bear we flip the switch on your zord thing, then all the noncombatants make a break for the ship while the defenses are too scrambled to stop them.  Xander can get Abraxas, some amount of mechs neutralize the anti-air guns, Hadrian and I can rendezvous by the time the engines are fired up and the way is clear."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 925):

Abe, how long do you think we can keep the current charade up?  Could we wait for the combined IDA/Roshak forces to get closer?  Would more time allow you to make significantly more preparations?

Hadrian, Fiernas and I have been gone for hours... how long have the people here been unaccounted for?  Will they be able to reassimilate into the compound without raising suspicion?

Once we pull the trigger on this will your people in the base be exposed?  Will we need to take them with us?  Or can they remain without danger?

Hadrian, you had mentioned 'the grid' what are its capabilities and could they be of use?

"Rebecca, the IDA is weeks away. We can't just wait for them.  You think Apex is just going to sit on her laurels after you stole Hadrian?  If she finds any of the Roshak tech that's gone missing?  Plus, if Abe's right then they saw Xander and our team get in an elevator and disappear.  If this place isn't compromised soon our ship will be.  We can't give them time to dismantle our only way off this moon, and I'm not sure letting them get their hands over Abraxas is in anyone's best interests either.  We've been gone a day, it won't keep forever."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 927):

Abe what kind of physical proximity does project Zord require?  Must you be on the premises or can you execute it remotely?

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 928):

"Topstation can throw the switch at any time. But understand this won't get all the mechs and it probably won't last very long, so I want to make sure we save it for the right moment."

"Other problems:

-What if Apex doesn't believe Billy's story about defeating the insurgents?
-What if they figure out that we Rebecca and I know the rest of you?  (Not a huge leap)
-What if the Ship of Convenience is disabled?
-What if Project Zord doesn't work as well as intended?
-What if Apex reacts poorly to Hadrian's confrontation and kills or imprisons him?
-What if the tunnel system is blocked to us?
-What if the video evidence is unavailable, either because it's been moved, erased, or heavily guarded?
-What if Hadrian just flat-out betrays us to Apex?"

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 930):

"What makes you think I'd do something like that?" Hadrian asks, his bluish eyes tinged with purple now as well as he grips the Muse gem a bit more tightly than before. "When I've been treated so well by you in comparison?"

In reply to Hadrian (msg # 931):

"If one or more of those things goes wrong, then we WILL be talking about a frontal assault," Abe says. "And we will, more than likely, die horribly. Outnumbered and alone, our screams will echo across the hazy ice fields of Titan, and no one will ever know what really happened here."

He narrows his eyes.

"With such stakes, hard decisions have to be made. I have no problem taking Hadrian to see Milton, if that would ease your nerves. But I suspect your friends would not approve..."

"Apex will buy the story one way or another, and she only has to for as long as it takes to pull this off.  There's no reason for them to suspect that we're working together, the only reason we even do know each other is due to a rogue black ops IDA arm, it kind of is a huge leap.  If they've wrecked our ship then we're stranded and screwed, if they haven't done anything in the past couple days I'm willing to bet on nothing happening in however many hours it'll take us to do this.  If project Zord doesn't work then you're going to have to beat up a bunch of mechs the hard way.  If Hadrian and Apex confront each other it's because someone has already reacted poorly, I'd rather that side of things end up as covert as possible.  Do you think Milton could've wrecked the whole tunnel system Abe?  It'd be a detour at worst, right?  If we can't get the evidence before they come down on us then the mission's bust and we get out what we have.  We're looking for the publicized recording though, there's no reason HAdrian shouldn't have access to it.  And if Hadrian betrays us I will shoot him."  Billy gives Fiernas a prim smile, "But frankly I prefer to worry about the more likely problems, not the outside chances.  If the options are get the ship and get out or certain death,
 I'm not going to prep for certain death."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 933):

She writes down the questions and the answers next to them.

I may be able to do something about the Mechs...

She muses.

If our ship is wrecked, Fiernas, we are mostly screwed but c'mon you know the answer to that...  you've told me on three separate occasions.  We steal one.

Hadrian, My concern revolves around your new... condition.  One Apex will know immediately when/if you first see her.  Two do you have any idea how these crystals interact with each other?  Anything at all?
This message was last edited by the player at 00:11, Sat 10 Mar 2018.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 934):

Hadrian shakes his head.

"I do not know how they might react or interact," he says. "I will let you know when or if I discover anything."

"We don't have anywhere near the information that we need to do this safely.  We need to figure out our circumstances more before we launch."

"What information do you expect to have?  You wanna go back to base and interview all the people who want to kill you?  Time is not a luxury either, they are going to be searching for you.  If they haven't done anything to our ship they are going to if we stay AWOL.  This is the information we have available.  If knowing more was so important to you, maybe you shouldn't have kidnapped a high-profile member of their team and broken out of the place without, I don't know, learning more."

"Everyone else also happy just winging it?"

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 938):

Please elaborate on what specifically you would like to know.  Which of the questions you asked has not been answered to your satisfaction, and what solutions would you propose to remedy the issue.

Perhaps our collective knowledge will lend us to an answer.

What is your expected timeframe on this operation Billy?

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 939):

"I'm not excited about charging in without a detailed plan," Kayla offers. "But I can't think of a way to get more information than we have without proceeding with at least some version of the plan that's on the table."

She looks over at the others.

"Unless you think we really CAN afford to wait for another covert mission through those tunnels Abe mentioned? I mean, I want to believe we could pull it off, but Hadrian's absence is going to be felt pretty soon. No matter how hard Apex tries to cover it up."

“I’m not excited about this plan either. I would’ve preferred to slip back make nice and gone for the ship with a nicely fabricated cover-story, but that’s not going to fly for those of us who are wanted.  I for one don’t think hoping for more information is worth the opportunity cost of acting before they can make things worse,” Billy’s eyes wander from Kayla, to Xander, to Rebecca before settling on Hadrian, or specifically his hand, “Though I’ve been voted down before.

“Unless someone wants to propose a better idea now, the plan would have to happen fast.  We’d need any info you can provide on where exterior defenses are located,” he nods at Hadrian and Abe, “Especially anti-air guns, then we suit up and head out ASAP.  Hadrian and I will go in first, claim to be sole survivors and get any welcoming party off our backs.  On my signal the frontal assault makes themselves known.  That gives us a limited time to get into the Crucible and get the video.  On the assault team’s signal either topstation flips the switch and the tech team makes a break for the ship or the tech team slips through the under-defended hangar and we save Zord for the getaway, depending on how well the distraction outside fairs.  Once the team’s in the ship Abraxas can join the assault if needed, the rest just need to let everyone know as soon as the engines are warm.  The assault team and the video team both make a bee-line to get in the ride. We hit the accelerator as soon as everyone’s on board.  Trekking the tunnels and getting Apex to give the team on the inside some breathing room will probably take the longest.  If it’s more than an hour after we walk in we’re probably already dead in the water.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 941):

When he looks at her she shrugs and makes a face at him.

We will at least need some time to charge the EVA suits.  So we are on a timeline of approximately two hours. 

Bringing Hadrian here has forced our hand more than we like.  I think Billy is right to strike while there is an information gradient and they can't react to it. 

Though if Hadrian is meeting Apex how are we going to explain his...new... physiology. 

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 942):

"The answer shall not involve tape," Hadrian cautions. "But I could wear tinted glasses if that makes a difference."

In reply to Hadrian (msg # 943):

She starts giggling, light and airy.

I'm still going to have to give you a haircut as well.

Abe, got any scissors?  May as well start now...

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 944):

"I think we have more pressing priorities at the moment," Abe deadpans, then turns to the others.

"The defenses are concentrated on the Compound's four pillars, where the landing platforms are. The weapon emplacements there can protect the entire facility. I doubt there are other emplacements elsewhere -- that's what the mechs are for."

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 945):

Actually there aren't if we don't want to make Apex suspicious by Hadrian showing up after a few hours missing with hair a foot longer than it was and eyes glowing like hers.  I imagine she is well enough acquainted with side effects of the crystal.

As she says this she rummages through draws and comes up with a pair of scissor and a triumphant sound.  She gets some water and puts it into his hair cutting it down with precise strokes a tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth as she focuses.  Like any stylist she continues to talk while cutting.

Does their sphere of influence include each other?  Would it be possible for one of towers to fire on the boarding group on another pillar?  Say the ship is on pillar A, would pillar B be able to fire on it?