Last time on Section M: The last minute meeting turned into an introduction to the military head on Olympus Island, General Ironside. Apparently there was trouble a foot and it was a bit more than that usual bit of trouble. The team was asked if they minded starting out a bit earlier than expected. As they headed out to face almost certain DOOM (well, let's hope not), they were briefed on the situation. A metahuman attacked two guards at a hospital and ran off into the night. He's currently holed up in a church where he has overtaken the unit sent out to bring him in. [Thursday, January 12, 2063] [Inside the passenger section of a XB-19 Skyshark] [Collar status: Off!] [Session Start] Another hour has passed since you're briefing had finished, and it's getting real close to landing time. I just had a thought. Cara, once we land, switch to air and scout with us. If you encounter the target, switch to normal, page us, and then switch to earth. Okay? Okay. Who wants help fitting their armor properly? * Jess has this cute chibi bishi elf in a strangle hold. It blinked looking around at ever one. A card was sitting near her leg glowing. * Cara continues to tug on her suit in various places, not quite able to get it settled right. "All this waiting is beginning to get to me. * Fallone checks to make sure all her gear is pocketed correctly for the nth time. * Scratch remains seated hunched over in his spot on the bench to the side. "No need." * Crow walks up to Cara, first. "Hold still a moment." * Cara doesn't move, confident in her ability to punch Crow should he try anything funny. * Crow crouches in front of Cara, so his face is about level with her midriff, and places his hands on the outsides of her legs, at the knees. Then he quite boldly runs them up her sides as he stands up, ending under her armpits. Her suit fits itself perfectly to her body as he does this. Then he steps away, and looks it over. "How's that?" * Tanya shifts her chest-plate. "I think mine needs some of that magic." * Cara stands up and stretches a bit to test the fit of the armor now. "That feels much better. Thanks." * Fallone decides she can live with loose clothing, since she normally dresses that way anyway. Good. I'll re-do it when we get there, and fix up everyone else's. They won't stay that way for long, I fear. Actually... let's get everyone ready. Who else is poorly fitted? * Tanya waves. ;) * Scratch remains silent with his head down and his elbows still resting on his knees. * Crow smiles and repeats his performance with Tanya's uniform. Is he leering as he inspects his work? Maybe. He looks a bit drained, but just waits a bit before moving on to whoever else needs it, taking short breathers between each. .oO(quit leering, or you won't get a free show in the shower later.) * Jess blushes and coughs a bit. "Crow? Please?" The elf looks at crow and blinks at him with those big oversized eyes before hopping out of Jess's hands and point an bow and arrow at Crow watching him carefully. * Crow grins and is perfectly gentlemanly as he gently runs his hands up Jess's sides, fitting her uniform to her. He definitely doesn't leer this time. Or does he? * Jess blushes a bit more and then moves away from Crow taking the elf with her in another hug. * Fallone wanders over to Scratch. * Cara begins to pace about the craft, obviously anxious to get started with the mission. How long before we land? * Fallone kinda tilts her head to one side and stares at Scratch. *pipes in over the intercom* Landing in 5. Take your seats. * Crow takes his seat, laying his quiver of suction-cup tipped arrows across his lap along with his toy bow. * Cara takes a seat and buckles up. "Bout time." You can feel the aircraft drop in acceleration as the rotors start turning again the jet engine kicks off. The ride is still as smooth as it can be though. * Fallone sits down, will have to wait on satisfying her curiosity. She adjusts all her pockets and makes sure all her gear is stowed. Again. * Jess buckles up and then the elf disappears as she puts the card back into it's belt pouch. She smiles at every one a little nervously. * Scratch sits up for the first time in a long time since changing into his fatigues. His eyes are closed as he lets out a slow deep breath, and then he resumes his usual upright stature and surveys the room. * Tanya takes her seat, adjusting her comm-gear, looks at Crow. "Testing. Audio and visual." Cara, once we land, switch to air and scout with us. If you encounter the target, switch to normal, page us, and then switch to earth. Okay? * Scratch tests the status of his own gear as well and is satisfied as he hears Tanya coming through loud and clear. * Jess pats the seat next to her looking at Scratch. * Cara gives Tanya a thumbs up. "Sounds good." Uh... Scratch was it? When exactly did you wish to have your collar switched off? Now would be appropriate. * Fallone sighs mentally. She's going to be stuck with Scratch and Jess... Alrighty... *You can almost hear him bracing himself.* And with that the little on indicator switch on his collar goes dark. * Scratch lets a small grunt escape his lips as he braces himself. Almost immediately spends a moment rolling his head around his shoulders and stretching his arms in front of him. * Crow chuckles. "Isn't technology wonderful?" * Scratch situates his slightly unfitted suit, and meets everyone's faces with his own icy expression. "Everyone-" * Fallone looks at Scratch curiously again, but she can't get out her notebook at this point. * Crow eyes Scratch's suit. "You're sure you don't want me to take care of that?" You can feel the craft circling as it descends towards the ground. A strong probability exists that the demi we are going up against does not expect a force of our capabilities to come against him. Although it is possible that the collars the marine unit took in were destroyed, if they were not they could be put to use should they be found. It is likely that they would still be among the marine's equipment. * Cara bounces a bit in her seat in anticipation. * Crow smiles absently as Scratch speaks. I believe that finding those collars should be a priority along with securing any marine survivors themselves. The craft finally touches down. You wouldn't even notice it if it didn't also mean that all movement had ceased. You can hear the rotors on top already winding down. * Scratch looks again to everyone to register that he was heard. Seeing no immediate responses he states, "That is all," almost as if to invite conversation. * Fallone nods and shrugs. That seemed self-apparent to her. * Simmons opens the door to the compartment, striding in moments after the landing. * Crow unbuckles, and stands, stretching as he re-dons his quiver, sash, and bow. His standard-issue pistol is a bit jarring against his pink, red, and white outfit. Even more so than his messy hair. * Tanya nods at Scratch. "Agreed." We ready, Mr. Simmons? Which way to the church? Alright ladies, and gentlemen, now's the time you get to show off your stuff. * Scratch nods in mutual agreement. * Fallone smiles wanly at Simmons, "Right now?" * Fallone unbuckles slowly and stands. * Simmons he continues moving across the room to the opposite door to the cargo area you entered through. * Jess unbuckles looking around. "Okay.." * Tanya stands, and heads out of the aircraft. It's right this way. And of course right now. When were you planning on doing it? * Cara unbuckles and heads towards the exit. You... did come up with a plan didn't you? No, we decided to just rush him. Back in a bit, ta! * Crow flexes his wings, and floats over to the door. He seems to have decided the ground is beneath him. "Now why would we do that?" I hope it isn't just send the lady in by herself... *gestures at Tanya* * Fallone follows the others off the plane. * Scratch stands but does not move from his spot. He grunts quietly once more as his shoulders and back stretch but returns to his typical ramrod straight posture. Oh no. Well, yes, but I'm not the only scout. * Crow glances outside, at the open air. A few seconds later, anyone who turns their head might catch dozens of black birds they swear weren't there a moment ago taking wing. "I'm already on the way." * Jess gives Scratch a quick hug whispering into his ear. "I'm scared..." As you step into the cargo area, the bay door folds downward, creating a ramp out. Right outside is revealed a medium sized man in a military uniform. * Fallone pauses a moment to watch the crows taking wing. * Tanya seems to shimmer slightly, before disappearing from sight altogether. >>Scratch, handle the brass, would you? Thanks, dear.<< * Cara stands there in the cargo bay, seemingly concentrating on something. After a short moment, her form waivers slightly and disappears entirely. But if you look close enough you can see she's exactly where she was before, just more wispy and cloud-like. * Crow whispers, "Hold, Tanya. I think they want to say goodbye to us." He grins amiably at the military man. "Pleased to meet you," he begins in conversational tones. * Simmons walks over to the soldier outside and offers a salute. The soldier salutes back. This here's Lt. Ryan. * Scratch approaches, stopping just short of the vehicle's exit, and offers his own momentary salute. * Tanya shimmers as a vague outline, then shifts fully back to visible, after hearing Crow. Hello sir. * Fallone hangs towards the back and waits with the others. * Crow smiles, as if at a private joke. * Cara waves as well as a vague airy outline of Cara can wave. Evening. I'm in charge of comm-ops for the SOFU. I'll be assisting Private Simmons during your operation. I trust you've all been briefed? Yes, Sir! They have sir. Very good. * Fallone is pretty tempted to see what happens when she pokes Cara, but refrains. I wish you gentlemen luck then on your mission. Thank you, Sir! * Crow rises a bit higher into the air, stretching his wings. "Thanks. Don't worry, we'll use that luck well." * Fallone just smiles slightly. * Cara salutes and wisps her way out of the cargo area. * Ryan salutes the group before heading back inside the Skyshark. Is there anything else, or can we get going? I don't want anyone else getting hurt, and our misguided demi is probably getting rather edgy by now. * Scratch assumes an at-ease stance and begins waiting for reconnaissance. Come on, Crow, Cara, let's find our demi. If you guys are ready you can go in as you see fit. Just uh... be careful. I don't want to have a bunch kids getting hurt on my watch hanging over me. We won't inconvenience you. * Tanya shimmers again, then disappears from sight. We won't allow that to happen, Sir. * Tanya heads straight for the Cathedral's basement access. * Jess just sticks near Scratch. * Crow laughs, a joyous and amused sound. "We'll be fine. Bye, Simmons. See you in a bit." With that, Crow ... shatters, into what must be a hundred of the birds that are his namesake, that fly off, circling in the sky before winging as a flock towards the cathedral roof. Alright then. I'll be inside. Don't be afraid to ask if you have any questions about your equipment. You'll notice on the map there're trackers in all your suits so you know where the other member of your team are at all times. Sir, Thank you, Sir. * Simmons salutes the groups as well, although much less rigidly and heads back into the craft. * Fallone is a little awestruck by Crow's transformation, and stands where she is, watching the flock converge on the cathedral. * Scratch returns the salute and resumes standing at ease next to Jess. "It would seem we've entered the field." * Tanya shifts to intangible as well, walking through the basement door and down the steps. * Cara wisps up to the cathedral and flits about trying to find a nice non-door entrance. Around the church a good distance are several police cars covering every possible avenue of escape. Several of them stare in shocked awe at the sudden cloud of birds that appears. * Jess nods and takes Scratch’s hand. "I'm not in battle yet...I'm...nervous. First time." * Fallone checks... yes, all her gear hasn't gone anywhere. * Scratch nods. "In the event of battle it may be wise for you to remain in a rear-guard position." If you're looking at your map you notice the crow blip splits into a hundred different parts for a second before disappearing entirely. I will. The same with Cara's blip although it diffused a bit more then outright splitting apart. * Fallone is watching it. * Scratch nods again, satisfied at Jess' concise response, and then proceeds to pay close attention to the map overlay on his own PDA. Cara notices that all the windows are boarded up tightly. Several newer boards have been placed over the older ones covering up most all of the gaps. Crow notices that the belfries are practically choked with cobwebs. His birds can't even get inside without disturbing them. * Cara continues the search. She'd rather not force her entrance and being thorough never hurts. * Crow flies a single bird in to land next to one, and it touches its beak to the cobwebs, which waver, and turn to a thick, creepy mist that falls ever so slowly into the church itself. Tanya finds the basement door along the side of the church. As she passes through it, it appears to be boarded up from the other side. There's a set of wooden stairs leading down into darkness. There are no lights at all down here. The cobwebs part as the crow turns them into the mist. There's now a small hole it can start working its way down in. The towers extend several stories over the top of the church so it's a long way down and a lot of cobwebs. * Tanya goes tangible again once she's through the doors, feeling her way down the stairs. She immediately feels herself covered in webbing. It's thick down here too. .oO(Ick!) And as she moves down the stairs she feels a sudden creaking. * Crow 's many eyes notice the wispy form of the air elemental exploring the windows, and a crow descends to perch on the window sill. The board there silently melts at the join, opening a cat-sized crack between two of them and the window sill. With a quiet caw, the bird wings off again. * Tanya tries something, and only goes partially intangible... hoping that the stairs don't give out from under her. The stairs underneath her give way as she falls about ten feet down to the basement floor. It's hard stone and she scrapes her suit on the way down, it doesn't pierce it but it doesn't feel to satisfying to land on either. * Jess sits down on the ground looking up at Fallone. "Ready?" Er... okay... You'll have to explain what you're doing though. * Tanya stands up and rubs her ass where she landed. "That's gonna smart," she mutters. Her intangibility didn't quite make it in time. Well...I want to just enhance you for fun. I don't get to do it often.... Cara finds the place sealed up pretty tight, but the hole the crow made is more than adequate for her to squeeze through. * Scratch observes the girls while keeping intent concentration on his PDA and surroundings. * Cara compresses herself to fit into the small gap that Crow was good enough to open for her. * Fallone nods and spreads her hands apart, "alright then..." * Tanya switches her suit's helmet to thermo-imager, looking at heat outlines to help navigate the basement. Cara finds herself in the front foyer of the church she saw the soldiers go into. The doubles doors into the main cathedral are once again closed as well as the doors on either side of the room leading to the hallways. Tanya can't see very much through all the webbing, although there a couple spots she thinks she sees something. * Crow 's birds converge on one tower, and as they touch the webbing, great swaths of web open into a corridor and become chill mist, which begins to condense and cling to the other webs, weighing them down at the sides and widening the path further. The birds begin spiraling slowly down the tower, through the open area. >>Scratch, you reading me?<< * Jess takes her deck out flips through it and sets a card down. "You do realize I can't do it like this in combat right?" An image of a dwarf with a battle axe is surrounding Fallone right now, only she can't see it. Fallone however can feel a burst of strength go through her. >>Yes, Tanya. I read you.<< >>What is your status?<< * Fallone 's eyes wide slightly and she makes an "oh" exclamation, followed by, "how do you do it in combat...?" * Cara flits about the room looking for anything suspicious. Not finding anything out of the ordinary for, say, a warzone, she begins to make her way down one of the hallways, opening a door if need be. * Jess grins. "I play my game!" >>Covered in cobwebs in the basement. I'm transmitting my thermo-imager feed, so you can see what I'm seeing. Keep half an eye on it, would you dear?" * Fallone waves her hands a little in the air, as if she could touch the source of the strength. >>Understood.<< * Tanya makes her way towards the outlines she thinks she spotted. Oh... can you do anything else? Enhance our, uh, powers? Crow finds his way down the tower, parting the webs. He can make out he door to the second floor barely. It looks like it was webbed shut. * Fallone eyes Tanya's feed, while she's talking. * Tanya keeps looking around slowly. Not really. I can give new ones though. Are you good at Melee? * Fallone looks a little embarrassed, "Er... not really... you can do one for practice, if it'll help though..." Cara makes her way through the hallway door, it takes a bit of effort to push up due to all the webbing on the other side. She's able to get it open enough to fit herself through though. It doesn't. I got swords but once you swing them they disappear unless you're in battle. * Fallone nods, furrowing her brows. "Anything else? Protective, uh... cards?" * Crow flocks at the base of the tower, and the webbing on the door melts away into a mass of feathers. A little bit later, the door develops a window big enough for a large dog to get through, if the dog could reach the top of the door, and birds come pouring through. Force fields, a few traps if you get attacked, a couple offensive and of course my cute little pets. Pets? *smiles* What do they do? Cara feels a bit of a draft coming from her right as she enters the hall. She'd almost trip as she walked in if she wasn't you know, air. There's a bit of light coming in through what looks like a busted in door. From her estimation this is the stairwell to the bell tower. Look Cute and attack. They are the monsters in the game. * Fallone nods and rubs her chin for a minute. * Cara continues down the hall, her vision slowly adjusting to the lack of light in the hall. She doesn't have 100% vision, but she'll just have to make do. Continuing down the hall, she tries to find any source of life before going to another area. Do they... *waves hand vaguely* "level up" or have, uh... ranks or anything? I don't have any of those. They Take the base card, a magic card, and the advance card. It's too complicated to get into battle I think. The doors lining the hall are all webbed closed, and she can feel the webbing around the halls passing through her. It barely shifts as she moves along. About halfway down the hall she notices the wall between the hall and the cathedral has been smashed into the hall. * Fallone nods again and considers the information. [switching to Tanya] The basement is largely rectangular. The staircase she came down on comes down along the wall into one corner of the room. From what she can tell it's about as large as the church itself. Support beams are scattered about doing what such beams do. When are we supposed to go in? I suppose when they find trouble, or when the trouble finds them. As she moves towards the objects she notices, they appear to be large sacks of webbing. Roughly human sized. >>Scratch, what do you make of this?<< * Jess grabs her cards and Fallone feels normal again. * Fallone blinks a little and murmurs, "How curious." >>It could be dangerous. Proceed with caution.<< Tanya can almost make out a faint scratching sound as she gets closer. She's not sure if it's coming from the bag or not though. * Jess sits between Scratch and Fallone looking back and forth between them the waiting obviously getting to her. * Tanya approaches the bags slowly. "I don't think the target's down here. I'm going to switch to regular feed and flashlight for a better look." * Tanya does just that, shining her light on the bag. "You seeing this?" >>It could be in relation to the target. You should confirm the growth's contents to gather information.<< >>You might want to go untouchable, Tanya<< It is indeed a big cocoon like object. Ooh look, something shines in the light. >>Right. I think it might be one of our missing Marines.<< * Tanya looks to see what's reflecting. It looks to be a marine dog tag. >>Yep. It's a Marine.<< * Tanya looks to see how many of these cocoons there are. Tanya can make out at least half a dozen. >>Given the amount of webs here, I'd say this is all of them. And that our perp can generate these webs at will.<< * Fallone glances at Jess then back to her screen. >>Understood. Are they alive?<< >>Not sure. Gimme a sec.<< * Tanya leans down, and starts unwrapping one of the marines. Then webbing is sticky. Really sticky. She has to go fully solid to even being to break it apart. As she touches the body she can sense that its barely breathing. * Tanya goes fully tangible, then. Once unwrapped, she'll check for a pulse. Tanya can hardly tell whether there's a pulse or not, it's so faint. The skin she exposes is cool to the touch. >>This one's breathing... barely. Cold to the touch, though. Can't tell if there's a pulse.<< >>I want in there now. I don't want them any more injured.<< >>Understood. Good work. If possible, try to secure one of the control collars while we make preparations here.<< >>You should go incognito again, you can't get them out of there on your own...<< * Scratch calls out for Lt. Ryan. Ryan's right here. What do you need? Tanya hears the scratching sound again, a bit louder this time. >>Scratch, I'll need someone to open the basement door. Wait, Jess, can you get a pet to do it?<< Sir. We've located the marine unit. They appear to be living but in critical condition. With permission we will move for extraction. * Scratch looks toward Fallone and Jess for confirmation. [Switching to Crow] Crows peak there way through the door. They barely catch a flash of movement before a greenish spray hits the bunch through the door. They immediately drop to the ground, twitching. * Crow sends another one through, testing to see if this spray is repeated. This Crow meets the barrel of a shotgun and suddenly finds itself a bloody feathery mess. "Little birdies, why have you come to play?" * Cara flits back to the main area of the cathedral and checks to see if anyone is around. Seeing none, she focuses her attention for a short bit before color and solidity returns to her form. * Crow reforms, reappearing on the PDA sensors, but out of sight of the little window he'd made. He's pretty badly wounded, but is not breathing hard. He waits a moment or three, and the crows in the other belfries take up a raucous cawing that lasts for about ten seconds. >>I hear gunshots upstairs. Going to investigate noise.<< >>Crow, are you okay? What happened? Cara heard gunshots.<< >>Right. Scratch, Fallone, move in to back her up. Jess, I'll want you near the basement for now.<< >>Heading that way. I don't think my monsters can open the door if we aren't in combat.<< >>Won't hurt to try.<< >>Understood. Be careful. He may have a full unit's worth of equipment with him. We will be in shortly.<< As soon as Cara's weight fully solidifies with the center of the cathedral floor, she feels the floor give way underneath her. Still in a manner that only Cara can pull off she makes the fall look almost graceful. Tanya notices her falling through the basement ceiling. Before she can fully hit the floor though she's suspended in midair by webbing. Easy, Cara. We've got wounded down here. As Crow waits outside the door in the stairwell he sees an object fly through the opening he made in the door. "Here's a present for you!" The voice is rather raspy and gruff. It doesn't sound particularly old, if anything it sounds... sick. The object appears to be a grenade that explodes with a pulse of energy, all the webbing in the area is blown back, it doesn't knock Crow down so much as it just assaults all his senses at once, the disorientation passes quickly though as it appears Crow is made of harder stuff. * Crow places his arm against the door, and the hinges and latch melt away as the door becomes, from the outside, a metal-plated shield and straps form over Crow's arm so he can lift it. Throwing his weight against the door to fling it outwards with great force, a flock of blackbirds jet outwards in all directions, flocking about wildly in loud chorus, too widely spread to be taken out with anything that would leave the church intact. The plate comes in contact with something solid and you here and "Oof" before the plate falls to the floor. The crows swarm around a form that doesn't look entirely like it's there. They can tell when they brush up against it though that it's solid. * Tanya takes out her issued knife, and starts cutting Cara down from the webs. "You alright?" The webbing is rather thick and it takes a bit of time to make any major headway. * Cara viciously attacks the webbing with her knife. "Luckily this webbing broke my fall." Cara is mostly out by the time the two girls notice the scratching sound has become a skittering. There's definitely something moving towards them. Possibly several somethings. They don't sound entirely pleasant. The marine Tanya had cut free, moans faintly. [Session End]