Recap & Disposition

After a series of contentious confrontations and a heartfelt reunion, our heroes find themselves huddled in a cramped conference room within the small Braeburn base belonging to Abe and the rest of his underground movement designed to wrest Apex from power and return Titan to normal rule of law under Braeburn's usual principles and policies.

Huck and Candy, Abe's confederates, are seated on either side of the man. They have long since stopped contributing to the ongoing planning and strategy session, and are noisily consuming synthesized corn chips while the others continue to put together a cohesive strategy.

To Candy's left sits Kayla, her arms folded across her chest and her feet kicked up onto the table itself. An expression filled with wry amusement dances across her features, and she shakes her head quietly from time to time in response some unseen input -- likely from Madisyn, the ever-enigmatic AI living in her bracer.

Barachiel stands near the doorway, leaning ever-so-slightly against its frame while with his vision fixated on the digital screen on which much of the planning is taking place. He nods and frowns from time to time, but rarely speaks aloud.

Bradford and Whitney, a mechanic and technician on loan from SAGE to oversee the Plasma Drive's operation, are only somewhat more engaged, with the latter looking longingly at the corn chips while the former looking longingly at Hadrian, the boy genius whose bluish eyes haven't stopped glowing since he consumed the Roshak artifact Abe smuggled out of Apex's Compound.

Strictly speaking, Bradford isn't staring at Hadrian himself, but rather at the curious purple gem he carries -- for an entity know as Muse lurks within, and the gifts he bestows upon his wielder are not the sort of thing one tends to forget.

Rebecca and Fiernas are on hand, as well, standing near the digital screen alongside Billy and Xander. Fiernas's cyberpups lounge nearby, yet somewhat remain out of the way -- a feat of engineering nearly as complex as those holding their bodies together.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:20, Tue 27 Mar 2018.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 1):

Are we finally agreed, then?

The voice belongs to Sophia, Xander's constant AI companion.

"Billy, Muse, and Hadrian will return to the Compound by a direct way, claiming to have broken free of Abe's resistance forces in order to gain or retain Apex's trust for long enough to steal the data we need to convince the Roshak none of this is humanity's fault?"

The screen splits into quarters, with the names listed appearing in the upper left.

"Meanwhile, Rebecca will attempt to simulate a Roshak invasion by charging Percy straight toward the gates. This will pull personnel away from the hangar, providing a distraction for the third team..."

Rebecca's name appears in the upper right.

"...which is nearly everybody else. Bradford, Whitney, Barachiel, Kayla, Fiernas, Xander, and myself. We'll be infiltrating the hangar using the tunnels and the distraction for cover. The goal is to retrieve the transport and, with it, both the plasma drive and Abraxis."

The names appear in the bottom left, and then the bottom right quadrant lights up.

"Abe, Huck, Candy, and their remaining forces will orchestrate a disruptive attack of their own at the same time. This will draw further defenses away, and hopefully facilitate their re-taking of the Compound, or at least parts of it, from Apex and the forces loyal to her. They will also be responsible for activating the Zord Protocol should the mechs need to be turned off en masse."

The names appear as bidden, and the screen pulses.

"We will remain in contact via encrypted comms. It's not perfect, but that's the best we can do. We also have four portable jammers Abe and his people use for infiltration and two 'scrubsuits' that render the wearer invisible to the Compound's cameras. They will need to be deployed among the groups wisely."

"Once the data has been collected and the shuttle has been retrieved, a command decision will need to be made about whether or not Abe's team or Rebecca will need to be evacuated. If we're able to secure the entire Compound, it may not be necessary. But as of now, we are planning to air-lift everyone out as soon as possible. Abe's team will use their vehicles to attempt a mid-air rendezvous. Rebecca's EVA suit is equipped with thrusters. Billy and Hadrian will have to find a way to get themselves airborne if we have to take off before they can reach the ship."

"Once we're all back on the ship, with the data in hand, we'll set course for the Goethe, reconnect with the alien diplomats, and resolve this whole mess bloodlessly."

There's a pause.

"Does that cover everything we discussed?"

"Sounds like a plan to me," Billy says, flopping into a chair and kicking his feet up onto the table mirroring Kayla's posture before raising his hands up and tucking them behind his head confidently, "How long will it take for everyone to be ready?  Couple hours?"

We're ready to go whenever, Xander confirms. Already anxious being gone from Abraxas this long.

"I'm sure your boyfriend will survive," Billy replies with a chuckle.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 5):

Abe provides Fiernas with a list of Topstation's equipment and assets -- nothing fancy, though perhaps he'll be able to find the specifics he's looking for among the jumble.

"The best time to enter the Compound's tunnels is early in the morning," Abe says. "We could plan to begin our infiltration by sending the Data Collection Team in a few hours, with the rest of the covert teams following late tonight/early tomorrow."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:33, Wed 28 Mar 2018.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 6):

"Works for me," Hadrian nods. "I'm ready to go when you are," he says to Billy.

Hadrian frowns as a thought occurs to him.

"I will require a repaired EVA suit, however. One with its faceplate, comms, and such intact."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:43, Wed 28 Mar 2018.

“Sorry kid, but you’re going to have to get back in the one you came in.  Unless you have an explanation for how you got a change of clothes in the middle of a firefight.  You can cut the arms loose and peel the tape off the helmet while we get ready.  Once we get back to the complex you can swap out for a working radio.”

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 8):

"What if something happens while we're heading back?" Hadrian asks, annoyed. "Or what if we have to split up, or exchange any meaningful communication along the way? We will not be able to coordinate. I could easily claim to have stolen a suit from our captors on the way out."

He mutters something about unacceptable risks, but nonetheless begins to peel the tape off his old suit's faceplate.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:19, Wed 28 Mar 2018.

"Well, let's not get split up before you get a radio then," Billy says with a shrug and a tight smile accompanying a pointed look.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 10):

In short order, Hadrian has restored his EVA suit to its expected mobility and visibility, apart from some leftover residue here and there on the face plate from Fiernas's heavy-duty space tape. When he asks for solvent to correct this, Abe cautions that what they have on hand would strip the face plate's polarizing coating off along with the glue.

This elicits a heavy sigh of resignation from the boy, but he puts the gear on as instructed. He also makes sure to secure the purple gem that is Muse prior to getting into the EVA suit.

"So, are we walking, or did we 'steal' a hovercraft?" he asks.