Entry tags:
- !location: planetside,
- !plot: send in the clones,
- daniel jackson,
- dustin brooks,
- eleventh doctor,
- gaignun kukai jr./rubedo,
- hana asakura,
- hit girl,
- howard bassem,
- ildraniath,
- jalith,
- kang,
- kanoe zouichi,
- kon-el,
- lash,
- lex luthor,
- lord zedd,
- lord zetta,
- nightwing,
- querl dox,
- rory williams,
- ruffnut thorston,
- sakura haruno,
- signum
Gently, but with undeniable will divesting myself of the holds that would hold me. (Pt. 5: Chances)
The plan was...well, it wasn't simple, but it sort of was.
While the CLF attacked multiple Clone Processing centers to distract the government, the group with the CLF would target one particular one in the region that'd once been New Jersey. The group with the government would offer their services in putting down their own people.
In the center, they'd split up into several groups. One would fight a fake fight, create a massive diversion, and blow up the room where the samples their DNA were being kept in the process. Another group would secure a teleporter pad. That team would teleport out other teams to steal a ship, steal some med tech to teleport to said ship, and steal a medical database. Another team would go to the main command center and hack into the government mainframe to down the sensornet around the planet so they could escape. And Nightwing himself would accompany the clones to upload the harvested memories to the Mother Brains, left unguarded because of the diversionary fighting, and make sure that was all they did.
Meanwhile, there'd be a standing order for all teams to avoid killing other crewmates, and avoid killing guards unless absolutely necessary.
It was a complicated plan. If a single part fouled up, they might find themselves dead, trapped, or worse. But if it worked, it'd work pretty spectacularly and leave them with medtech, a medical database, the clones helped, and possibly a grateful Council depending on how the fight went, because of the ones seemingly aiding the government.
In some worlds, things that were a million-to-one-chance (exactly a million-to-one) by their nature had to work. Let's hope this world is one of them, eh, mission crew?
[ooc: Only comment to threads if it says they are open here. All threads: OPEN. Characters may get injuries up to and including 7 on the Injury Scale (scroll to the bottom). Any higher, and they must ask permission of the plot-runners, just to make sure everyone isn't immobilized without enough people to help move them.]
While the CLF attacked multiple Clone Processing centers to distract the government, the group with the CLF would target one particular one in the region that'd once been New Jersey. The group with the government would offer their services in putting down their own people.
In the center, they'd split up into several groups. One would fight a fake fight, create a massive diversion, and blow up the room where the samples their DNA were being kept in the process. Another group would secure a teleporter pad. That team would teleport out other teams to steal a ship, steal some med tech to teleport to said ship, and steal a medical database. Another team would go to the main command center and hack into the government mainframe to down the sensornet around the planet so they could escape. And Nightwing himself would accompany the clones to upload the harvested memories to the Mother Brains, left unguarded because of the diversionary fighting, and make sure that was all they did.
Meanwhile, there'd be a standing order for all teams to avoid killing other crewmates, and avoid killing guards unless absolutely necessary.
It was a complicated plan. If a single part fouled up, they might find themselves dead, trapped, or worse. But if it worked, it'd work pretty spectacularly and leave them with medtech, a medical database, the clones helped, and possibly a grateful Council depending on how the fight went, because of the ones seemingly aiding the government.
In some worlds, things that were a million-to-one-chance (exactly a million-to-one) by their nature had to work. Let's hope this world is one of them, eh, mission crew?
[ooc: Only comment to threads if it says they are open here. All threads: OPEN. Characters may get injuries up to and including 7 on the Injury Scale (scroll to the bottom). Any higher, and they must ask permission of the plot-runners, just to make sure everyone isn't immobilized without enough people to help move them.]
Subthread 5: Medical Thief Team
It was led by: Zouchi. With: Rory, Sakura, and Howard.
They'd fortunately be disguised as nurses and doctors to make things run more smoothly and hopefully not run afoul of the center's security.
[Ooc: Posting order: Z, Rory, Sakura, Howard, npcs if there are any, Z, etc.]
Re: Subthread 5: Medical Thief Team
"Let's get this done as quickly as we can," he murmured to the others as they arrived. "If you need help disconnecting any heavy equipment, let me know."
Re: Subthread 5: Medical Thief Team
A closer look revealed that it was one, if a very high tech one. Everything a trauma medic could dream of. Shielded case, refrigerated compartment, neatly organized, and apparently, according to the instructions, bio-locked. Whatever that meant, as far as he could tell it seemed to mean that it would only open for him. He didn't waste any time in following the instructions to code it to himself. He tossed his own bag down, quickly grabbing what little medication he had and adding it to the new kit. The rest could easily be regained on the ship and would only add weight that he didn't need. His scanner joined the things he was keeping, the one piece of ship tech that he considered absolutely vital. He grabbed his sword, trainers and the spare t-shirt he'd brought along and sat them down, leaving the Omnicomm in the pile and moving all of the food and supplies he'd gotten from the hotel as quickly and efficiently as possible into the new bag. Changing was as simple as pulling everything on over the plant suit and then withdrawing the thing down to what looked and felt like a hospital bracelet.
He made quick work of the rest of the supplies that Kanner had left for them, stashing the small sealed and labeled packages in new backpack. As far as he could tell, it was mostly food and grooming suplies, as well as an extra uniform shirt and a few of the tiny sealed packages of t-shirts and pants and socks.
He wasn't sure if he should be disturbed or not that Kanner knew what size and sort of pants he prefered.
The backpack was serviceable and seemed to be hardy, clips hooked into his new belt to hold it still and keep the load from shifting. It was a very useful tool, holding everything he might not need immediate access to, unlike the medkit now resting on his hip. He sat down to pull the boots on, glancing at Sakura as he did so. "I could almost thank the guy, seems like he thought of everything." He kept his voice soft, not including Zouchi or Howard in the conversation for the moment.
He glanced at Howard, somewhat concerned. Howard had been...quiet. That wasn't the normal for him. With as dangerous as this mission might become, it worried him a little. "Do you know what happened to Howard? Or is he being worryingly quiet at everyone?" He didn't think he'd ever seen Howard this quiet, it was unnerving, and considering the situation, he didn't need any more of that.
"Do you have objections to us splitting off, sir?" He glanced at his watch. "Three hours to get this job done." Before the teleporters left, with or without them. "Seems we'll get more done if we go in pairs."
He didn't know Zouchi, and that was really the rub, knew he was nominally in charge of this unit and a member of security, but they'd barely interacted before this. If they were going to be going into a possible combat situation, he'd much prefer Sakura at his back. That was the simple thing, they might still be learning each other, but he knew Sakura a whole heck of a lot better.
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"To us, at least," was her quiet reply to Rory. She figured whatever it was had something to do with them being kidnapped, if she didn't know what the specifics were. Tossing a worried look his way, she steeled her shoulders and opened her own locker.
A note was folded under a strange cylinder of tiny bead-like things. Exceedingly tiny beads. Slipping the note out, she unfolded it, reading what was written there. She was surprised -- she actually could read it.
"Kanner says the security passes are good for everything but the private offices. The big tech is on level 42 and higher. There may be contacts in here, but we shouldn't depend on it. He left clothing changes for all of us." Her lips pulled up into a fleeting smile. "As of right now, we're one of the out of town contingent of doctors here as part of an ongoing conference in dealing with terrorist threats."
Really, it was funny if they thought about it. "It's up to us if we want to trust him, but an outward disguise does an amazing amount to help blend in. People expect doctors, they see doctors, they don't look past that." Tossing her concepts of modesty to the wayside, she didn't mention the end part of the note that told her what was in the cylinder. Sorry, my hair's too noticeable? Don't worry, it's a technical dye, use the wand to get it out later? Shrugging out of her vest, Sakura activated her plantsuit crystal and retracted the suit until it was more of a leotard than anything else. She made short word of pulling the provided clothing on, slipping a kunai up one sleeve, explosive tags up another.
Stashing her flak vest in with the small backpack located in the locker, she turned back to face the rest of the group. The cylinder was in her hands, and then upturned over her head. It felt like sand falling on her scalp, and she ran her hands through it. The most unnerving crawling sensation made her grimace. Not long afterward, patches of pink hair were going black, until Sakura sported a very different look than usual. She belatedly remembered to rub at her eyebrows, transmitting enough of the -- what, nanites? -- to turn even her eyebrows black. "Split up, we should be able to cover more ground. It's your call, Zouichi. I know you and Howard have worked together before, but you've never really seen me outside of 'Daisy.' Rory and I can work the opposite end from you both and meet up again in the middle, if you think that'd work best."
His call.
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Besides, stealing is one of those cruel, selfish, mean things he's very good at.
Bitter and hurt? What bitter and hurt?
He gets dressed in the uniform, not speaking a word to the other three as he does so. The new med kits are nice, although he does feel a little sentimental pang discarding his old beaten-up kit with the quick-rigged strap. Like Rory, he takes only what he needs from his old kit, plus the candybars and shampoo bottles from the hotel because screw you, Galilee. Also, hair conditioner can be used for a variety of purposes, including greasing, and if they have to move anything heavy or quickly it might help.
Upon his hearing that the private rooms won't be opened by the pass, into his backpack go his lockpicks and spare shoelaces. The food supplies, too, though Howard has no idea why any reasonable people would need them for a three-hour heist, but he's not going to complain about them.
He is a bit worried about being stopped for looking as obviously fifteen as he is. Maybe not saying much will serve a double purpose - there'll be less of a chance for outsiders to hear his voice crack.
Were he in a better mood, he may have made a tension-breaking comparison to Ocean's 11 or The Getaway or one of the Fast and the Furious movies. But instead, he just gives them a curt nod that he's ready.
Besides, he's always hated locker rooms.
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He turned back to Rory. "Rory, I'd like you to come with me. I know we've never really worked with each other, but I'll be able to guard your back. I'd like both teams to have one crew member who knows exactly what equipment we need to take, and at least one used to battle situations in case things go south and we're forced into a confrontation."
Zouichi paused, looking at each of them in turn, particularly careful to watch Howard. "Objections?"
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He lifted his sword from the bench, adjusting it until it hung at a comfortable and assessable angle, giving himself a moment to think before addressing Zouchi again. He was still facing the locker, not even looking at him as he fussed with the sheath. He had thought at first pass that Zouchi was a soldier, a reasonable assessment considering, but he was starting to think otherwise. The ability to command a unit depended entirely on being able to judge the people under your command, a skill that Zouchi apparently lacked. He kept himself from sighing by pure strength of will, resting the urge to childishly ask if Zouchi had received his military training in games of make believe on the grounds of his primary school.
"The thing is, what you're suggesting, if I understand you correctly is this; we haven't worked together, but your belief is that we can manage a partnership on the fly without any preparation. It doesn't work like that. Even if Sakura or I didn't have the required skills, I would still voice the same objections. Covert operations require the ability to trust your partner. Howard apparently trusts you. He knows you, you've worked together in the past. I don't know how you fight or even what you fight with. I don't know how your skills break down or if you're right or left handed. For us to try to find any sort of rhythm in a potentially hostile situation will only make things worse, if it were necessary, of course we would manage. But it is not. Therefore, beyond the logistics of who has the required skills, we have a natural split. If we're going to split the unit, then split it along those. If not, then it would be more practical for us to stay together." His voice was frank and level as he explained, turning over his shoulder to offer eye contact at times, but mostly focused on settling his gear and adjusting everything to fit properly.
If this was what Zouchi would insist on, he would rather they stay together as a group, rather than allowing two people he had a responsibility to walk out and into a dangerous situation.
His head still hurt, like his brain had been knocked around during the memory transfer, like nothing had quiet finished settling. Everything felt raw and wrong, displaced and haphazard.
Sakura wasn't Amy, would never be Amy, he didn't want her to be. He had a wife and she was beautiful and wonderful and the only woman he would ever want in his life. What Sakura would be, what he liked about her, was the fact that she was his partner, and he could trust her, in combat and in the operating room. She reminded him of a soldier he had met once, a very long time ago. A stubborn, practical guy who had become a medic after being drafted and dreamed of becoming a doctor when he go home. Someone who utterly refused to give up because the odds were against him.
He trusted Sakura more than he did anyone on this planet aside from Conner and the Doctor. He didn't trust Zouchi, or, now, think that he knew what he was talking about. A soldier he might be, but obviously unschooled in the nature of the internal operations of a unit. Every sensible part of him told him how the unit should be split, if it were his century, he'd never consider throwing two people who didn't know each other at all into a potentially dangerous situation without giving them time to acclimate to each other, and certainly not into a covert operation with a time sensitive goal where they would need to have established trust and understanding to work efficiently together.
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Zouichi had worked quite often in impromptu partnerships, and did not particularly value familiarity over utility, so long as instinct told him his partner could be trusted. Familiarity could help someone cover their partner's weaknesses. It could also lead to blind spots and learned carelessness.
However, if Rory trusted Sakura and would refuse any other split, then he had only one question.
"Howard, do you think you can recognize the technology we need to take out of here? If I recall, you weren't one of the people originally touring the facility."
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Aaaaand split!
When Teams Divide
Good luck, teams. Do what you can do!
When Teams Divide
As he passed a nearby workstation, he nabbed an official-looking clipboard and pen, scribbling illegible doctor-notes on it, talking slightly under his breath to Howard.
"You okay?"
Re: When Teams Divide
Except for the fact where they're on a planet where people will pretend you're a perfect stranger then drag out your life story to cut you down, that is.
Howard assumes Zou's got the floorplans figured out, following a little off to the inside wall of the hallway so he's a bit harder to get a good look at. "Let's find instruction manuals first. If we're gonna reverse-engineer things, those'll be lightweight and easy enough to stuff in a labcoat. Then medicine samples. That way if we don't have time for the big machines we can still come back with something."
Re: When Teams Divide
At least Howard was being a little more forthcoming. Sarcasm was a sign of Howard-health.
Zouichi glanced at him. "You're planning to stuff everything in your coat? Let's head to the west wing; there's an ancillary medical reference library on that side. Should have light foot traffic, and I bet 'ancillary' means 'all those long, boring instruction manuals no one ever has time to read'.
Re: When Teams Divide
Besides, Zouichi knows him well enough to catch that there's a good reason Howard never told anyone about it, and doesn't want to sit around talking about it.
Howard isn't quite sure what 'ancillary' means, so he's just going to go with the definition Zouichi provides. "No, just the small stuff. The big stuff we're going to have to actually see before we can figure out how to boost it. Grab that trash can, by the way. We need wheels," he says, nodding towards a janitor's cart that's parked outside a work area.
Re: When Teams Divide
"Yes, it's not going to look at all suspicious to have a doctor pushing a janitor's cart covered with medical supplies."
He ducks into a closet instead, grabbing two of what look like large professor's attache cases and handing one to Howard.
Re: When Teams Divide
God, screw you, Kanner.
"Oh yeah, the janitor's cart is suspicious but the coil rifle is just a really big hypodermic needle." He takes the attache, rolling his eyes. "Briefcases? Really? Did you just watch Mission Impossible or something?"
My, my. Here come the Fuzz.
Flava Flav Was Wrong.
What seems to be the officer, problem?
Tryin' to catch us ridin' dirty.
TACTICAL LOCKER-STUFFING ACTION
WHAT IS THIS A MIDDLE-SCHOOL GYM CLASS
SNEAKING MISSION IS GO
HOLD BACK THE INEVITABLE BADLY-TIMED SNEEZE
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Weekend at Bernie's Time!
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Re: When Teams Divide
He flexed his hands, leaning against the wall. "Did you do it, the memory download?"
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She looked a little older, more focused, with dark hair. More illusion than reality, if Kanner had had the right idea with this. "Howard thought the emergency supplies might be up this way as it was. If so, supply closets and back rooms are our better bets anyway. Can we seal rooms as parameters for transport? It seems like it'd be possible."
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It was strange to see her with dark hair, but he was quickly acclimating. Sakura had never exactly looked young to him. Her mannerisms had lent her the illusion of greater age than her face might otherwise suggest. She was a professional and she knew what she was talking about, that was all.
He nodded. "He's likely right, we didn't see any of the supply rooms. It wasn't considered necessary for us to see. But we should be able to. I have no idea the weight limits on these teleporters." He glanced at his watch, keeping track of the time.
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The floors moved by, counting upward. "Neither do I. There's a lot I'd prefer to have accurate information on, but we don't. The man who gave these to us expects us to use them for what we need. They should be big enough to support one of whatever we run into in here. If they're unusable after that, does it matter?"
The top floor dinged, and the doors rolled back. She felt herself relax. She hated the feeling of pent up suffocation the elevator had left her with. The elevator chirped out something about what a wonderful day they were having as she stepped out into the hall.
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"Cross our fingers and hope for the best? At the very least, considering our instructions, I hope it works on the tech. It doesn't matter if it works after, I suppose...."
Rory took a deep breath, bracing himself before stepping off the elevator. "I swear this has been the longest few days of my life." The words were soft, and the quick pace they set would at least not look at all out of place. "Store rooms first, then tech?"
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Re: When Teams Divide
Most of them stared dumbly after him at first, as if they hadn’t expected one of the intruders to be here. Maybe their communications were being disrupted – say, perhaps, by an earnest young recruit with a couple dozen bottles of wonder drug hidden somewhere on his person?
In any case, now was the time to draw their attention.
“Hey!”one of the guards shouted, chasing after him at once. The others quickly followed suit. Good. They were after him.
Not quickly enough, though – he rounded a corner, then leapt.
Re: When Teams Divide
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He moved quickly and easily down the hall, sidestepping or two harried-looking personnel. The building was rapidly emptying out. Good for them.
Zouichi stopped and backtracked a few steps, approaching the door to what appeared to be a small medical wing. His security card didn’t work on the door, but he could see more medical machinery inside. Hmm. He supposed he could simply try to break in, but that might inspire the guards to inspect the equipment, see what might have been stolen.
Better to find another way inside.
He continued onward.
Re: When Teams Divide
Zouichi heard voices getting closer from the hallway in which he’d entered. Another set of guards.
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And now it was up to him and his sigmas to clean up the mess.
Isaac strode down the walkway, issuing orders over his communications device. He used his keycard on the door, and stormed out of the room.
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A few minutes later