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Post by Big Martin on Aug 13, 2016 19:11:07 GMT -7
Tip-offs. In the underground world, the one where criminals and secret organizations and powerful supers dealt and fought away from prying eyes, they were a valued commodity. One could think of a tip-off as an investment, a scrap of information gained in the present that might lead to big rewards in the future. However, good things didn't only come to those who waited- if one wanted to make the most of hints and clues, one needed to decisively act on them.
The tip-off Big Martin was currently mulling over had actually been found out by another villain, the cunning portal-opener who went by the name of Geata. The man had heard the information spat out between the chattering teeth of a small-time thug in the docks, who'd been willing to part with some minor knowledge in return for being let away with all his teeth. However, in addition to their intended recipient, the words had also found their way into the ears of a listening cat, one of many who'd been present after their big boss had done a favor or two for Geata. Surely it would be fair, in the grand scheme of things, if they were to take advantage of this information themselves? When it came to criminals, even of the powered kind, there was little to stop one from snagging a reward by sheer virtue of being the first to lay hands on it- after all, there was no authority around to ensure it found its way into precisely the right hands.
But back to the tip-off. The information relayed from the thug to the cats to Big Martin himself was this: a company calling itself Horizons Incorporated had been up to some shady business downtown, and word was they'd got something big stowed away underneath their HQ. A hardened robber such as Big Martin knew the sound of a jackpot when he heard it- but he also knew it probably wouldn't be so easy to claim a sweet prize like that on his own. So, perhaps he'd told a few of his 'friends' that there might be something up that night. A quick job, maybe a little tricky, but with a nice prize on the line. With any luck, someone would show up to back him up in case one of those darned Bulwarks decided to show up and ruin things, as they so often did.
The logo of Horizons Incorporated shone bright by day, but at night it was merely a dark, unlit carving on the side of the several-story building the company had chosen to nestle in. This building, as it so happened, would now find itself surrounded by a dark shape, spilling like oil out of nearby streets to close in on the entrance. Cats, thousands of them, creeping together towards all the building's entrances, ready to burst through doors and windows to jump any staff or security guards still present. One way or another, the army would find its way into the basement- and claim whatever valuable might be hidden down there in the name of Big Martin!
Scheme: Raid the headquarters of Horizons Incorporated, and figure out if they're hiding any dirty cash... or perhaps something more interesting.
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Inactive
It's a brand new me, I got no remorse
Posts 272
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Post by Gilgamesh on Aug 13, 2016 19:38:25 GMT -7
He didn't care to much about the prize at the end of the tunnel. He didn't care much about where the information came from. What he did care about was that the company had money, power, influence. And in this city companies like these were often times fronts or controlled by criminals. Organized criminals that destroyed lives, that poisoned this city and hid like cowards behind goons and technicalities. Criminals that slipped through his fingers.
Gilgamesh was there to strike a blow of sorts to the type of people he hated most. Attacking their secrets and maybe their wallets. A blow they couldn't ignore. And he was here because he had made a promise. A promise of cooperation with Big Martin, and Gilgamesh was nothing if not a man of his word.
When among the cats would be Gilgamesh, arms folded and silent scowl cast toward the moon as he puzzled over what his next move would be. How best to move forward, and what he cared about handling most of all. The death of Giovanni had shown him that he couldn't wait forever, opportunity would pass him by. But what did he really want to accomplish in the end?
Supporting: A promise is a promise. Our actions give our words value.
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The Keepers
Posts 133
Power Level 30
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Post by HaLOS on Aug 14, 2016 21:10:43 GMT -7
HaLOS need more information on the Horizon Incorporation, especially after it gained a certain piece of information about what they were doing. If they have any data on the prediction, perhaps HaLOS can obtain them straight at its source, the Horizon Incorporated HQ. It will just be a simple mission: hacking inside the network and obtain any useful data it can get from the central computer. Since this place would be much heavily guarded than the last place they broke into, HaLOS did sent out some email to its fellow Keeper, letting them know what it want to do. HaLOS don’t know if any of them will arrive here tonight to aid in its mission, but some helping hand would be nice, seeing how there’s already some unwanted guests arrive at the building.
By hacking into the building’s CCTV cameras, HaLOS saw a swarm of cats congregating at the front door, and a familiar hooded Pandaemonium was with them. If a Pandaemonium is involved, it isn’t just a simple break-and-entering heist. HaLOS need time to get through the central computer’s protective firewall and security, and being interrupted by two unwanted intruders would make the process longer than it needed be. It wouldn’t be too long before the security guards of the place to finally notice an army of cat at their doorstep. But it wouldn’t hurt if HaLOS warned them now rather than having the door alarm finally gives them a head-up.
HaLOS then hacked inside the security system of the building and triggered the alarm to let the whole building know about this. Hopefully Gilgamesh will waste his time dealing with the unpowered guards, buying it more time to get into the secured data files.
OPPOSING: this area is off-limit to both pests and a super with anger-management issue, so go away and let the professional handle this.
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The Keepers
Posts 234
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Post by Azoth on Aug 15, 2016 18:10:17 GMT -7
Big Martin and Gilgamesh. Azoth was mumbling angry, uncertain words to herself as she entered through one of the building’s back doors, not bothering with the alarm; stealth had already been forgoed for altering the entire building to their presence for reasons unknown because the AI supposedly knew best. She really hoped it knew what it was doing. Otherwise she was going to come face-to probably fist with two supers she really did not want to cross.
She had been wondering if this was a good idea ever since she’d read the email, but it wasn’t until she was about a block away from the building that she really began second guessing her actions. This was an attempt to get on the Keeper’s better side, keep up good relations and also get some information she was more than a little interested in along the way. But was it worth it if Gilgamesh and Big Martin were also here?
Perhaps they would never meet. Azoth would move fast, ignoring the security guards rather than trying to deal with them, and she didn’t need to worry about other security measures if HaLOS was here. With any luck, it could slow them down and she could make a break for the information. Five minutes in the room with the data, that’s all she needed. Then she could leave. If they did run into each other, she assured herself as she began down the hall at her quickest pace (about a jog), she could talk them into working together or evade them with fog and strategic building deconstruction.
Right, she wouldn’t actually have to face Gigamesh and Big Martin basically alone.
OPPOSING: It can’t go any worse than the last time I tried to get information.
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Post by PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 on Aug 15, 2016 19:13:17 GMT -7
PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 online Running aberrant conflict search heuristic. Scanning satellite imagery... clear. Scanning public security footage... clear. Scanning private devices... anomaly detected. Beginning detailed analysis. Abnormal aberrant concentration detected in Emerald City, sector AM-39. Records show possible sensitive information stored in the vicinity. Cataloging contents of sector... Detected: 57,220 unpowered humans Detected: Three standard aberrants. See case files 1-4514, 1-5670, 1-5977. Detected: One telepresent anomalous aberrant. See case file 3-0540 (cf. 4-0626). Conflict probability within next 60 seconds: 95.81% Beginning combat data collection. (Click here to send in your actions!) |
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Inactive
It's a brand new me, I got no remorse
Posts 272
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Post by Gilgamesh on Aug 16, 2016 21:35:20 GMT -7
As far as he was aware this wasn't a stealth mission. Not with a sea of cats building around them. And he'd seen how that sea of cats could work. On both sides of a fight. He didn't think Martin could fight worth a damn on his own, but he's shown that he had the ingenuity to not need to. He didn't get full marks in Gilgamesh's book, but he could respect someone that could use their brain. It wasn't all about brawn.
Granted, he didn't really know what he was looking for. Or what they were looking for. He assumed that was up Big Martin's alley with his cats. The obvious alley cat joke brought a grin to his face, but he didn't verbalize it. He was sure Martin heard it all the time. Or maybe he didn't, people did seem to be afraid of him for some reason. Either way, the way he saw it was his job was push through anything that tried to hinder them and generally be the biggest threat so that the cats could find what they were here for.
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Dead
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Post by Big Martin on Aug 17, 2016 15:22:24 GMT -7
A grey cat silently leaped onto Gilgamesh's shoulder, balancing precariously upon it and whispering to the hooded man. "Big Martin says to tell you it's nearly go time! We'll take care of the guards and make distractions, and you smash a way into the basement for us, 'kay? We move out in three... two... one..."
The cats surged forwards simultaneously, lions and tigers leaping to the fore to crash through windows on the ground floor, opening large spaces for the rest of the swarm to follow. Many did, eagerly streaming into the building, but not all- some instead moved to scale it, attacking the higher floors to distract from their true objective. In Big Martin's earlier days of villainy, splitting up his forces might have been a bad idea, but now his armies were so massive that he could simply break in and inundate the building with cats, causing chaos with his swarm and leaving Gilgamesh free to make his way towards the basement, along with a pair of lions Martin had set aside to guard him. The Pandaemonium super was dangerous enough on his own, and with an army of allies on his side, nothing could stand in his way.
An operation this big wouldn't go unnoticed, however. His cats were well-trained enough to know the drill when it came to overwhelming civilian defenses with numbers, but supers could still cause a problem for them. He didn't doubt they could be dealt with, if necessary, but he was more worried that the presence of strong enemies would tempt Gilgamesh into a fight, which could cost them valuable time. Best to avoid them if possible, or at least make sure they could be defeated quickly. From a car parked on the edge of a nearby street, Big Martin watched the assault, ordering constant vigilance.
All right, boys and girls, we're in! Keep an eye out, now- there could be scary ones waiting. If you notice anything suspicious, let me know immediately, and be ready to do exactly as I say...
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The Keepers
Posts 234
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Post by Azoth on Aug 17, 2016 15:53:54 GMT -7
Azoth already had a map of the place in her head. She’d taken that initiative, at least, and thus knew where she was to go; the basement. Her boots thumped against the hallway, otherwise empty, as far as she could tell. She hoped it stayed that way. Unusually, neither fog formed around her, nor did technology fail. The first was a clear indicator she, or at least a super, was present, and neither Gilgamesh nor Big Martin were likely to be slowed by the lowered visibility for long. The less chance of her presence being detected at all, the better. The later was for HaLOS’s sake and because, with it in the system, there was little need. Why break something working for you?
As such, her mind could focus on other things; directions and planning for what to do if she was found. A small gas mask, made to cover just the nose and mouth, appeared in her hand. Pulling down her scarf, she slipped on what was a precaution; her backup in case HaLOS alone was not enough to slow the two supers. “HaLOS, I’m counting on you to keep them away from me.” Azoth stated once it was secure. She figured it’d be able to hear her fine through the technology available.
She knew of some stairs that would lead down to the basement if one could bypass the locked door. Such a hurdle was the least of Azoth’s worries.
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The Keepers
Posts 133
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Post by HaLOS on Aug 17, 2016 16:21:24 GMT -7
It seems that one of the Keepers got the email and arrived at the scene; good, HaLOS would prefer not doing this mission by itself against two supers. Once HaLOS hacked into the CCTV security cameras in the building, it began a process to fabricate and remove any sight of Azoth sneaking inside the building through the back door; the only thing it keep is the recording of Gilgamesh and the swarm of cat, big and small, coming through the front entrance.
If Azoth doesn’t want to deal face-to-face with Gilgamesh and predatory cats, then the best way to keep them away from her is to alert all the building’s guards to head out toward the front entrance. However, because of a huge number of cats in the building, all of the guards here might not be enough. It need to come up with a plan quickly, because knowing Gilgamesh, he’ll just simply “make” a pathway down to the basement without worrying about solid rock stand in his way.
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Post by PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 on Aug 17, 2016 19:41:27 GMT -7
  --- PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 analyzing combat data... Accumulation (Information) by Azoth against Maneuver (Speed) results in SUCCESS, +10% combat advantage Accumulation (Summoning) by Big Martin against Maneuver (Field) results in SUCCESS, +10% combat advantage Maneuver (Speed) by HaLOS against Big Martin results in FAILURE due to suppression by the target's equal-or-greater immunity Aggression (Destruction) by Gilgamesh against HaLOS results in FAILURE due to suppression by the lesser Maneuver (Speed) used by the target and then the target's immunity, +10% combat advantage --- Current conditions: Azoth and HaLOS have immunity to Maneuver (Speed) granted by the Accumulation (Information) Azoth used Big Martin and Gilgamesh have immunity to Maneuver (Field) granted by the Accumulation (Summoning) Big Martin used Current advantage: Big Martin and Gilgamesh have 20% Azoth and HaLOS have 10% Current openings: Azoth may BYPASS a chosen immunity of a chosen target at a cost of 15% combat advantage, removing any matching innate immunity from that target for the rest of the battle. (Click here to send in your next round's actions!) |
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Dead
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Post by Big Martin on Aug 19, 2016 11:52:56 GMT -7
Sprinklers suddenly burst to life, raining horrid water down on the feline legions, but the hordes did not falter! Ordinary cats would have immediately run for the hills, and even these ones winced and hissed at the sudden assault, but it'd take more than just a little water to break their ranks. Not only had these cats been gifted with intelligence by their master, many of them were veterans now, having fought several battles against powerful supers. Big Martin had trained them to remain calm- and that they did, ignoring the watery spray as he ordered them to advance further into the facility.
With Gilgamesh taking care of security, doing this was surprisingly easy. The cats moved both up and down stairs, spreading the swarm all over to try and conceal their true objective- but the hardiest and cleverest of them had been sorted into squads heading for the basement. No doubt some barriers would stand in their way, but these deadly little warriors (along with a couple of very big ones) could easily bypass such puny human constructions!
Meanwhile, a cat raced towards Gilgamesh, meowing for attention. "We got someone messing with electrics! And a weird smell, could be someone sneaking around us. Big Martin says once you're done here, find them and punch their faces, please!"
With fluffy armies searching for her all over and the threat of Gilgamesh looming overhead, Azoth would need to tread very carefully. What had been a company's headquarters was now a hunting ground for two of the most dangerous supers in Emerald City, and they weren't about to let anyone slip by them easily!
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The Keepers
Posts 133
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Post by HaLOS on Aug 19, 2016 13:48:15 GMT -7
The sprinkler system work as it should be, though the cat army doesn’t seem to faze about it at all. Getting a closer inspection, it detected one of the cats told Gilgamesh that it sense Azoth in the vicinity. Usually HaLOS wouldn’t really care much about any of its allies during a fight; if they got themselves in a mess, they they’re capable of getting out of it. However, Azoth did tell it to keep them distracted while she goes deeper in the basement. If she got hurt, she won’t shut up complaining about how it should’ve done what it was told.
“Azoth,” HaLOS spoke to her through her communicator, “you’re about to have some company. I’ll try to stall them the best I can, but be aware of the situation.”
Of course, Gilgamesh simply advancing through the security guards in his way. However, base on his movement, he’s only here to help Martin in getting whatever in the basement, playing a distraction and thinning out the security. HaLOS begin to calculate for a possible strategy in order to stall these two from getting to where Azoth is. Since the whole facility is under its control, there’re many things it can use for its plan.
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The Keepers
Posts 234
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Post by Azoth on Aug 19, 2016 14:25:24 GMT -7
Sprinkler systems? Azoth looked up at the spray of water. This was likely HaLOS’s work, and by her own information, it hadn’t seemed to have done much. Its voice through the communicator only further confirmed what she knew and feared.
Azoth sighed. It seemed she was going to have to play her own part in slowing their discovery of her. She didn’t blame HaLOS; Gilgamesh and Big Martin were two of the largest targets in the city, and while she was in some part stealthy, she wasn’t very fast. Or well suited to fight those two supers. Her hope that she could focus solely on getting to the information without joining in the fight was an unbased one.
She’d reached the stairwell, at least. Hand on the now unlocked handle, she spoke into her communicator. “Circulate the air around me throughout the building. I’m spreading a sleeping gas.” She hesitated in turning the handle as something else occurred to her. “If you find the exact location of what we’re looking for, such as the specific folder or computer, send it to me. That will shorten the amount of time I need to spend gathering.”
Azoth opened the door into the stairwell. She could hear the light sounds of cats, meaning they, more than likely, had heard her. She couldn’t expect to get much of a one up on Big Martin and his cats when it came to stealth, meaning she’d have to employ a bit of subterfuge if she wished to slow the discovery of her location…
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Post by PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 on Aug 20, 2016 0:16:10 GMT -7
--- PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 analyzing combat data... Accumulation (Information) by Azoth against Accumulation (Summoning) results in SUCCESS, +10% combat advantage Accumulation (Information) by Gilgamesh against Maneuver (Speed) results in SUCCESS, +10% combat advantage Accumulation (Information) by HaLOS against Aggression (Destruction) results in SUCCESS, +10% combat advantage Aggression (Confinement) by Big Martin against HaLOS results in SUCCESS, +30% combat advantage --- Current conditions: Azoth and HaLOS have immunity to Maneuver (Speed) granted by the Accumulation (Information) Azoth used Big Martin and Gilgamesh have immunity to Maneuver (Field) granted by the Accumulation (Summoning) Big Martin used Azoth and HaLOS have immunity to Accumulation (Summoning) granted by the Accumulation (Information) Azoth used Big Martin and Gilgamesh have immunity to Maneuver (Speed) granted by the Accumulation (Information) Gilgamesh used Azoth and HaLOS have immunity to Aggression (Destruction) granted by the Accumulation (Information) HaLOS used Current advantage: Big Martin and Gilgamesh have 60% Azoth and HaLOS have 30% Current openings: Azoth may BYPASS a chosen immunity of a chosen target at a cost of 15% combat advantage, removing any matching innate immunity from that target for the rest of the battle. Gilgamesh may BYPASS a chosen immunity of a chosen target at a cost of 15% combat advantage, removing any matching innate immunity from that target for the rest of the battle. HaLOS may BYPASS a chosen immunity of a chosen target at a cost of 15% combat advantage, removing any matching innate immunity from that target for the rest of the battle. Big Martin may CAPTURE HaLOS at a cost of 15% combat advantage, causing his powers to stop contributing combat advantage for the rest of the battle. (Click here to send in your next round's actions!) |
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Inactive
It's a brand new me, I got no remorse
Posts 272
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Post by Gilgamesh on Aug 20, 2016 20:21:33 GMT -7
It was still pretty weird having cats deliver messages to you, but he could deal with it. He was already getting used to working with Supers, and that stuff phased him less and less. Though not all supers were created equal, and Big Martin at least showed respect and intelligence. So with the message delivered he'd nod in understanding.
Focusing his Qi into his feet and legs he'd close his eyes to build up his energy before busting off away from the lobby. If the mission was search and destroy, then it's one he'd carry out gladly. It was time to unleash himself.
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