Gently, but with undeniable will divesting myself of the holds that would hold me. (Pt. 5: Chances)

[cityship]

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.]

Comments

Subthread 5: Medical Thief Team

[cityship]

This team would be teleported to the medical center some of the crew had toured, in the middle of the night, to detach the equipment, and place sensors on the medical equipment so it could be teleported to the hijacked ship.

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

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Some things never changed. Like how many security measures you could get past by simply dressing correctly and acting like you were supposed to be here in the first place. Zouichi hoped that was also the case here, if they should encounter any resistance.

"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

[theboywhowaits]

"Maybe it'd be better if we split up, cover more ground. Sakura and I know what we're looking for." He opened the locker with his name on it with the key he'd been given, surveying the things they had been given and making a soft sound. He wished he were half this well prepared on most of the things he gotten invovled in. Uniform, bag, supplies. Really, Kanner had practically given them everything they'd need to pass. Including what looked like a medical kit.

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.

[encourage]

Sakura was looking at her own locker with her name on it. It was disconcerting to think Kanner had pulled this together so quickly. Would it have been for anyone, any name? Was it just convenience that they'd "decided" to help? All by Dick's orders in the end, but that was a matter of interpretation. Up to a point.

"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.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

For someone as fixated on licking his wounds as he currently is, Howard's still paying exactly the right amount of attention one should pay to a mission where you have a few hours to steal something and get out or end up either dead or trapped on the Worst Planet Ever - which is saying something, since Howard's previous vacation spots included Epicurea (hated it) and Saturnus IV (hated it like burning). The last thing he wants to do is get stuck here, either with the Galileean people or the CLF - all of whom he has very special and specific feelings of loathing for - and let the rest of the team down on top of that humiliating put-down earlier today.

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.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi nodded sharply in Rory's direction. "No need for the 'sir'; you can call me Zouichi. And I agree. However, I think in the interest of getting things done quickly and without injury -- Sakura. You and Howard can work together, yes? I assume the both of you are familiar with each other from Medical."

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?"

[theboywhowaits]

"Yes, actually. Both Sakura and I can handle ourselves in combat, and we've worked together in the past and know how to work with each other. Howard has a better knowledge than most what will be useful in medical. He's more than capable of pointing you in the right direction." He nodded politely in Howard's direction, voice serious and calm, giving his reasoning for the objection. "Contrarily, I've never worked with you before. If it comes down to a fight, my preference will be to have someone I know guarding my back rather than someone I've barely exchanged pleasantries with." There was knowledge in his eyes, and a slight shifting in his body language as he stood. He had been a soldier, once. Might be again once his head finished straightening itself out.

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.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi raised an eyebrow. He did, actually, trust Rory -- Sakura and Howard's comfort level with him, observable through both body language and their manner of speech, both suggested someone who could be relied upon. And he implicitly trusted most of the crew, who had incentive to work toward the same goal.

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."

When Teams Divide

[cityship]

The team has decided to split in two in order to cover more ground. Howard and Zouichi head out together; likewise, Rory and Sakura take off to work from the top down.

Good luck, teams. Do what you can do!

When Teams Divide

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi moved through the hallways purposefully, not particularly making an effort to make eye contact with those they encountered, but not avoiding it, either. He'd already memorized the floorplan (of each floor! Golly, semi-photographic memory sure was handy); the only thing to do now was make sure they didn't get caught setting up to boost the equipment.

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

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" he says in a fairly unconvincing voice. "We don't have dinosaurs chasing after us and we don't have brainwashed Anwei trying to brain people with a giant bra. This is just get in, get out. I'd say we're doing pretty good."

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

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

He frowned slightly. "Uh, because a clone girl just used a part of your past I'm assuming you never actually told anyone about to put the whammy on you? Not that that seems at all out of the ordinary on this rock."

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

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Oh. Yeah. That. Total highlight of this little vacation. A+, would get put down by a two year-old again." He winces, but at least he's put it aside enough that he can be sardonic about it. Besides, he's with Zouichi. Sarcasm and deflection is how they roll.

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

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

"I especially liked being held down and depowered by a 5,000 year old accountant who stuck a bar code on my head. That was aces." Zouichi rubbed his temple with one hand. "I don't know why they keep sending me on missions with all this talking. Aren't there any worlds suffering from a desperate need of explosions or something?"

"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

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"A 5,000 year-old double agent accountant, even. Christ, Galilee. Fun for the whole freaking family." He shakes his head. "Was it just me or was there a huge vibe of 'I say I don't expect your forgiveness, but forgive me anyway' to that jerk?"

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?"

Re: When Teams Divide

[theboywhowaits]

Rory's face was still stony as he fell into step with Sakura, hands relaxed at his side as he walked purely because he thought walking with his hand on his sword, however soothing, might look a tiny bit suspicious. The lift responded to the IDs without an issue and soon they were going up, cheerful elevator music at odds with the situation. "There might be patients, but they should be easy enough to avoid. I don't want to steal anything that might be vital to keeping someone alive. Judging by the level of their tech, and what I saw at a glance in the bag, I think one of the more valuable things we could find would be a storage room. The best thing to steal might not be the big tech." That had been his objection the entire time. The big tech was cumbersome and would require training to operate. Smaller tech had a smaller learning curve and could be adapted for the use of the medics on the ship quickly.

He flexed his hands, leaning against the wall. "Did you do it, the memory download?"

[encourage]

"Yes." Answering his last question first, she was standing every bit the professional at intense personal question, when really, they might just be suffering from slight indigestion. All that impassivity and inscrutability.

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."

[theboywhowaits]

They both probably look a bit odd, but with the explosions in the distance, it's not unlikely that everyone is on high alert. He hoped at least that would cover their tracks. "Did it go...normal?" Had his been the only one that felt like it had melted his brain?

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.

[encourage]

"I don't know what counts as normal," she admitted. "I feel... brain queasy. It's hard to describe." If she did shoot him a look. "Have your headaches gotten any worse?" Was it possible there was some underlying head trauma that occurred.

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.

[theboywhowaits]

"Yeah that makes sense." He sighed. "I feel like someone sent my brain through a blender. It doesn't...quiet hurt. Or if it does it's an all over ache, rather than the normal spikes of pain." He frowned, rubbing his temple. "It...it was strange. I remember things that shouldn't even be possible now, time that...really shouldn't have been possible. But...I remember it, sorta. I remember it very foggily, like it's not clear and I'm just left with the feelings and emotions tied up in it. I remember waiting and..." Something else, something that still didn't make sense because it wasn't his memory. It was like watching a security feed trained on his future.

"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?"

Re: When Teams Divide

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi ran down the hall, blowing past several guards and catching fragments of their conversation as he did so. Something about sending in the sigmas, confused snatches about smoke in the elevators.

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

[cityship]

The guards came around the same corner a few moments later, rushing past until they came to an intersection in the hall. No way to tell which way the intruder had gone. After a brief moment’s hesitation, they split up into three contingents, each pursuing a separate direction.

Re: When Teams Divide

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi dropped down from the ceiling, barely making a sound as he hit the tiled floor. With the security forces off chasing a phantom intruder, he and Howard hopefully had a little more breathing room.

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.livejournal.com]

Eventually, he made his way to a walkway overlooking the floor below – installed, no doubt, to convey a sense of openness about the place. Doctors and their visitors probably came here to watch the foot traffic go by. He tried the door at the end of the walk. Locked. His keycard wasn’t working either. Were they starting to lock down areas of the hospital?

Zouichi heard voices getting closer from the hallway in which he’d entered. Another set of guards.

Re: When Teams Divide

[cityship]

Damn incompetent mall cops. They’d lost the intruders, of course, and what reports they did have of this so-called rogue doctor-intern duo were confused, fragmented. Apparently the doctor had fired some kind of energy weapon in one of the hallways. No fatalities, but plenty of bruises, scrapes, and a laundry list of other injuries that made Isaac’s head pound just thinking of the paperwork waiting for him. They’d even found one mouthbreather hidden under a cardboard box (which someone had poked little air holes in).

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.