“No, this is me worrying about it.  This is also you being shifty as fuck with an alien bauble, and refusing to explain what you’re doing.  I’m pretty sure you just pointed a gun at a kid’s head for acting exactly the same way.  Now explain yourself, you hypocritical fuck, or we’re going to have an altercation.”
This message was last edited by the player at 17:12, Fri 30 Mar 2018.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 37):

Kay nods slightly.

"Shaped charges, sure. I'm not a munitions expert, but we'll do our best. I'm pretty sure we have remote detonation down, at least. That should make it a lot safer."

She glances between Fiernas and Billy.

"Withholding information from each other is how Baxter died. Anyone can talk to Muse just by touching the gem, right?" Kayla says. "Maybe you can ask him?"

Billy gives a frustrated frown, "Baxter died because Battalion didn't care."  At Kayla's last remark he gives a slight bow to Fiernas in a gesture that might've been gracious if it weren't so obviously facetious, "That's a good question, can I?"

"Sure."  Fiernas doesn't rise to the bait of Billy's insults.  He produces Muse from his pocket and holds the rock tightly against the surface of the table, keeping a good grip on it.  "If Muse would rather be with you, then you can have him."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Billy shakes his head at Fiernas's handling of the magic rock, extending his finger to touch it with a roll of his eyes.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 23:06, Fri 30 Mar 2018.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 41):

A black mist rises from the gem as violet light pulses alternatively in the pupils of Fiernas and Billy.

"He wants to be with Hadrian until we deal with Apex.  Can I have him now?" Billy asks Fiernas impatiently.

"Yup.  You got it."  Fiernas releases the stone and goes back to his work on the explosives.  "Don't let him get destroyed, though.  That's actually important."

"Oh, is it?  I had no idea," Billy replies sarcastically, rolling his eyes.  He plucks up the stone and turns to leave but stops in front of Kayla, "I mean it, you better have everyone accounted for this time," he says with a warning waggle of his finger.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 45):

"That's the plan," Kayla nods. "I'd rather not lose anyone, either. But, boss? I don't think we should kid ourselves. This is going to get messy. I don't think we're all going to make it, bombs or no bombs."

She looks down at her wrist for a moment as Madisyn chimes in.

Given known parameters, Captain, the odds of 100% survival during a cloak-and-dagger operation of this magnitude is less than 20%.

"Don't you have a large and complicated algorithm to munch or something?" Kayla mutters, then she looks back at Billy and smiles slightly.

"I'm more worried about you than about us. You're going into enemy territory without much backup. Promise if everything hits the fan, you'll cut through enough floors to escape, 'k?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:46, Mon 02 Apr 2018.

"Madisyn, I am the one percent.  We're going to be fine," Billy declares confidently before meeting Kayla's gaze and dropping to a more serious tone of voice, "If you go into this expecting people to die, they probably will.  If you go into this expecting to keep everyone safe, I know you can," he puts his free hand on her shoulder and gives it a comforting squeeze, "We'll keep our comms open and I expect everyone to act smart, not desperate.  I'm not going to be any exception.  I've already walked away from two suicide missions; I just don't think I'm cut out for heroic last stands." he gives Kayla a rueful grin and a shrug before continuing back out to where Hadrian is waiting.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 47):

Billy returns Muse to Hadrian, who straps it back into place within the EVA suit in a place where he can make contact with it as needed. The trio (pair, really) collect the rest of their gear, charge up their batteries, fill their tanks, and say their farewells.


"Take one of the hover jets," Abe tells them before they depart. "It will save you time, and explain how you were able to evade capture whereas if you were on foot, you'd have a harder time selling your story."

He turns to Hadrian.

"If you betray us, I will personally dissect you," he warns, though he doesn't manage to sound particularly intimidating. "But if we succeed, I'll see to it that you get your lab back. With proper Braeburn oversight and funding, of course. Good luck."

***

Team Data

Billy leads Hadrian through the airlock, beyond the hatch, and down to the docking slip where the various vehicles are parked. There are several hover jets moored alongside the larger pontoon-style vessel. All are charged and ready to go, though a cursory glance shows that none possess weapons, shields, or any meaningful armor.

"Do you know how to drive one of these things, or do you want me to do it?" Hadrian asks as they approach one of the hover jets.

***

Team Topstation

The rest of the team has about 12 hours to kill before departure. Fiernas, Kayla, and Whitney occupy themselves making equipment in a nearby room, while Abe, Candy, and Huck use this time to refurbish their EVA suits from the last trip and attempt to coordinate with the other members of their organization. Barachiel adjusts and cleans his own equipment, too, muttering something about cold lakes and alien seabeasts as he does so.

OOC: I need to know how Xander and Rebecca intend to spend their time before departure.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:30, Mon 02 Apr 2018.

"I mean, I'm willing to give it a try. But if you've done it before, be my guest," Billy gestures for Hadrian to lead with a shrug.

Xander makes himself busy during the prep time, helping out with the various engineering tasks that need doing. On account of the conflicts of personalities, he finds it safest just to work mostly with Kayla.

Upon Madisyn's analysis of survival likelihoods, however, Sophia speaks up.

It has been my experience that the outcomes of operations involving such a large number of augmented humans are virtually impossible to accurately predict. The sheer number of permutations based on multiple interacting abilities - most of which are either incompletely understood or manifest mid-mission - makes such calculations impossible for all practical purposes.

Her voice takes on a soft, almost maternal characteristic. In short, I found it best not to waste processing cycles worrying about morbidity rates. By mathematical probability, we all should have been dead several times over by this point. Yet here we are.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Mon 02 Apr 2018.

In reply to Xander (msg # 50):

A voice rings out in your head regardless of where you are, unless you are actively unwilling to hear it.  It is inquisitive but also slightly nervous.



If you go in the entrance bay you see her having an animated conversation with the doll.  The two are obviously having a disagreement.



She says confusion in her voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:55, Tue 03 Apr 2018.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 51):

Over comms to Billy/Hadrian

...So Percy says he no longers identifies as a Roshak.  So we need an on the fly revision...

"Percy doesn't what?  How can he not identify...He's a figment of your imagination!" Billy uses his helmet's speakers as he rants for Hadrian's benefit, "You know what that's fine.  That's...that's fucking terrible, but fuck it.  If we can't convince anyone about a Roshak attack then you're not going to be the best distraction.  Unless he identifies as an attack helicopter it might be better to call off your solo adventure.  Fiernas is making bombs, maybe you guys could do something with those and your secret stealth suits for a distraction.  Just don't everyone run headfirst into a bunch of mechs."

Billy sits down on one of the hover jets, "Come on," he says off the team's comm, "This is getting worse already."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 53):

Over Comms

Not quite, he is a manifestation of my subconscious.  I think he's some kind of psychic scar tissue so to speak.  Apparently now that I'm convinced the Roshak didn't try to kill me... I'm not scared of them anymore... or maybe... its biological...

She goes to where Fiernas/Kayla/Xander? are making bombs and sits down quietly watching Kayla for a second and then putting action to learning.

So I guess I'm with you guys then? 

She throws a dirty look at Percy who followed in behind her.  He then sits down next to her and continues assembly faster than she was.  She appears to be lost in her work.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:03, Tue 03 Apr 2018.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 54):

Team Data

Hadrian nods, settling in behind the controls and bringing the hover jet to life on the second flick of the throttle.

"It's for the best," Hadrian says, off the comms. "I was not comfortable with her leading an assault by herself anyway."

He eases the craft away from the slip, cautiously putt-putts outward for a few minutes, then guns the motor for all it's got.

"Can we go over our story along the way? What happened, and how'd we get out?"

"Abe invited me and my crew to meet with him.  We did, but once he had us off base it was all talk about how Apex is evil and he's paranoid.  We were hearing him out but he had no hard proof of anything and it mostly just seemed scetchy until Fiernas showed up declaring he had a special delivery, and we found out it was you.  An argument broke out, then shots broke out.  My team tried to run and save you, having no idea who any of Fiernas's crew was.  Most of my team didn't make it, you and I were lucky to get on this thing.  If anyone asks about your new look, you grabbed some Roshak thing Abe had in the confusion.  If no one asks, don't bring it up.  Once their questions are done you tell Apex or whoever that you want to check something on the Crucible and you'd like me to accompany you, in case I overheard anything relevant from the rogue scientists.  If you can come up with a good reason why your getting access to the Crucible is a priority then say that."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 56):

Team Data

Hadrian nods, and is content to continue driving in silence for a while unless Billy has more to add. (Did you want to talk about anything else prior to arrival?)

***

Team Topstation

Kayla comforts Rebecca between soldering pieces of electronics together to make detonation rigs for Fiernas's explosives, and has no objection to her joining the shuttle team in light of these new developments.

"That means my team will be taking the brunt of the aggression," Abe gripes. "That wasn't the plan. My people will get killed covering YOUR escape."

"Our escape," Barachiel corrects firmly. "War makes everyone its prisoner. But if you're concerned about a lack of strength, I will go with you."

Abe softens a bit at this.

"We'd be grateful for that. The others speak highly of your strength," Abe replies. "And I can see why -- you're the only man I know who doesn't need an EVA suit on Titan's surface."

The remaining preparations are made, another meal is shared, and the groups separate to grab some shut-eye before the appointed departure time.

OOC: Last call for other arrangements and preps.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:07, Wed 04 Apr 2018.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 57):

Nightmare fixes startling aquamarine eyes on Abe and Barachial.

Over comms:

Should I transfer to Abe's team with Barachial to assist them?  Rendezvous with you guys once I can break free?  Barachial, what do you plan to do once team shuttle has escaped?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Wed 04 Apr 2018.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 58):

"I have little choice in the matter. Recall, I go wherever the peril lurks. The troubles Muse spoke of may well be the danger underscoring all others. In any case, I will remain with you until I am forced to Travel once more."

In reply to Barachiel (msg # 59):

"Would Apex recognize you if you were on Abe's team? Would that amplify her reaction?"

She looks over at Rebecca.

"You don't look like yourself, is all. And not in a bad way."

Kayla smiles at Rebecca's more fleshed-out appearance, the color returning to many of the girl's features at last.

In reply to Kayla Wallin (msg # 60):

She smiles at a whisper from Kayla then does a double take looking confused.

What?!

She grabs her tablet and flips the camera to take a selfie.  She runs her hand through pale platinum blonde hair and her skin which is now a pale but standard color and flushes a furious red.

When she does this she phases out briefly and she lifts out of her chair a few feet hovering in the middle of the room unsupported as she blinks at the screen.



You hear psychically sounding both interested and confused.  She phases back in and drops out of the air landing lightly on her feet.  She shakes her head looking tired.

Well that explains Percy...

She shakes her head and shrugs

All mysteries for later.

Abe how much firepower do you think you will need?

As far as Apex recognizing me... maybe I don't know I hardly recognize myself anymore.  However she definitely has me pegged as a high value target worth having... and given her... role... in what happened to me, I don't think she will want to let me run around.

The last is added in a savage growl.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:28, Wed 04 Apr 2018.