Log:Assault on the Cannon

Out Numbered 2013/07/10 	 Aoi American Dream Fox Star Girl Spirit Ten

1

The heroes have been assembled at Q Industries. In place of Q, a rather attractive fair skinned, black haired woman in a gray skirt suit greets them, "Mr. Quinn gives his regrets, but he's tied up in a board meeting today." She activates the presentations screen, "My name is Stacey Keller, one Mr. Quinns personal assistants." She motions at the display, showing the Earth, "Mr. Quinn has successfully tracked the location of the Bifrost Cannon Core." The globe rotates until Antarctica is front and center. " Antarctica. Specifically, near Mount Erebus." The view zooms to show a wide caldera filled wity burbling magma. "Mt. Erebus is one of the largest, continuously active volcanoes on the Earth. We believe that Scarletti has been using it as a source of energy and materials to create her Drones."

Ten says, "Supervillain with an isolated volcano base - how original."

Dorian grimaces. "Antartica. Wonderful."

Stacey smiles at Ten's comment, "Indeed. I'll now turn this briefing over to Commander Perrault, as I am not competent to discuss the operational details of a strike on the base."

Star Girl nods. She glances over at Dorian. "Well, maybe not so bad, because of the volcano..." She sucks in a breath. "So we need to get in there. Scarletti is cut off from talking with her Numbers. I wonder if she left instruction in case of an attack."

"Wait... so this 'supercannon' thing that Ragnarok robot was looking for is /real/?!", American Dream asks, sounding surprised. "And if it's already there, why're they even looking for it?" Of course she's not very invested in the whole thing, yet... and she doesn't quite realize she's probably mixed up which cannon is which.

Stacey hands the projector control to Dorian, and sits down off to the side.

Ten says, "I think I must have missed a briefing or two...."

Dorian nods to American Dream, "It's not a 'cannon', per se. What it does is shunt something...even as large as a planet to a pocket dimension. But without a sun to warm the planet, it would freeze over...hence 'Bifrost'." He pauses a moment, "We basically need to take control of this weapon ourselves. The matter is more complicated that it first appears."

Dorian continues, "My understanding is that Scarletti is a rogue black ops scientist for the SDPA, a dimensional police force. Since she's 'black ops', there are elements of the SDPA who would like to keep what she's found a secret, and use it for their own ends. So, we have two enemies to deal with."

Dorian says, "First, is Scarletti's minions. Her 'numbers', who are androids, if I'm not mistaken. I'm sure Star Girl can correct me if I'm wrong. She also will likely have several robotic drones."

Dorian says, "Second, is General Grissom, who appears to be part of this 'black ops' portion of the SDPA. He threatened us in DC to turn Scarletti over to him. Thankfully, we were able to put him off by making him think that Scarletti wasn't captured, but instead it was Syphon."

Dorian says, "All we know about Grissom is that he has at least one robot working for him, by the name of Ragnarok, who also has some kind of 'winter/cold' kind of attack."

Dorian says, "I think it was called 'Fimbulwinter'."

Ten says, "Oh. That I *did* read, but it wasn't true? Great."

Dorian nods, "Scarletti is still in custody. The report was put out because it was clear that Grissom could intercept SGG communications."

Ten says, "Tnat's the name of the three-year winter that's supposed to accompany Ragnarok, if I remember...."

American Dream looks confused for a bit, then nods her head. "I ran into that Ragnabot thing at Steel's Gym, the other day", she says.

Dorian says, "We believe that Grissom wants the weapon for himself. And will likely use it on Earth to cover up his tracks. Apparently the research their scientists did on the planet was illegal. So, they're likely to follow a 'scorched earth' policy. Scarletti, in contrast, is just a sociopath, and is likely to use it to strike at hte SDPA."

Dorian says, "So...to defeat them both, we need to get a hold of the weapon ourselves."

Dorian looks to American Dream, "You ran into Ragnarok? What happened when you met her?"

Ten says, "Or just break the weapon? Is that an option?"

"... more like a 'frozen Earth' policy", mutters American Dream. Then, Dorian asks that of her. "Well, she walked into the gym and challenged that big rainbow-haired gal to a fight, then went on and on about that cannon-thing and how her boss had declared war on Earth because we wouldn't give him the gun."

Star Girl adds, "Scarletti also wants to use the cannon to get super weapons from some planet that the SDPA locked away a long time ago."

Dorian looks to Ten, "Most of it can be rebuilt. There's a key component, though...a crystal. According to Pleiades, it would be incredibly hard to destroy. When I asked her, 'What if I throw it into the sun?', she replied with something like, 'It'll sink to the center.'"

Ten says, "Ah."

"Would that be a safe place to put it? Kinda hard to get something out of the center of a star, right?", American Dream offers.

Dorian nods. "Seems relatively safe, yes. I'd prefer it to be a different star altogether, though. Kind of like scattering the parts around the galaxy. But first things first. We need to take the cannon. If we can do that, we can decide what to do with it after that."

Aoi says, "If you know a really fast traveller, drop it into the super-massive black hole in the centre of the galaxy. If that isn't safe you might as well give up now."

Dorian says, "One more thing...the ship that Grissom is using is a transport. He likely has weapons on it, but not like the cruisers that the rest of the SDPA uses. He's also a ground forces guy. He will likely have troops to deal with, assuming he's found the location."

Dorian says, "I realize that some of us can get there on our own, but assuming you're all willing to come on this trip, I'm going to recommend we take an SG transport to Antarctica."

"We oughta have some kinda plan for whe we capture the cannon, though... one plan for if we have it free and clear, another plan for if this Grissom guy shows up and looks like he might be able to take it away from us, an idea of what to do with that crystal thingie, stuff like that", American Dream says. "Heck... if we know where this guy's spaceship is at, maybe we can just pop it into that other dimension and we're done and rid of him, too, in the process."

Star Girl says, "If he's cracked our communications before, we need to make sure he doesn't do it again and follow us to the site. Or send him on a wild goose chase."

Dorian nods. "Good points...both of you. If we can take the cannon free and clear, it can be used as a threat toward the two groups in question. If Grissom shows up, and we're pressed, try to take the crystal from the cannon. It's a necessary component, and won't work without it."

Aoi says, "Do you know what the cannon looks like, and what the crystal looks like. So we have an idea what we're looking for."

Stacey raises her hand, "If I may."

Dorian says, "As for the wild goose chase, I'm going to recommend first that our flight keep a relatively low altitude, to reduce the danger. I'll also have some communications broadcast on SGG frequencies to indicate that 'Commander Perrault' is checking out a report of a potential location for the cannon in the Arctic sea."

Dorian says, "We'll send an empty transport up that way as well, with a higher profile flight pattern."

American Dream looks about to speak up again, but then Stacey 'calls for the floor'. Remaining quiet, she listens to what's being said, looking to Dorian as he speaks about the 'wild goose', then back over to Stacey.

Dorian nods to Stacey.

Stacey stands up and changes the image, to show a fist-sized flat diamond shaped blue jewel, "This is the Jewel Core, the heart of the Bifrost Cannon. Iy it has an energy density matching that of a quasar. It also attempt to bond with, and assimilate any technology it touches in order to rebuild the body of the weapon. When you do recover it, I would recommend you carry it in a natural fiber bag, or with your bare hand." She sits down again.

Aoi makes a mental note, take a natural wool pullover to wrap it up in.

"I'm gonna need to make a shopping trip before we go. I ain't got nothing like the kinda cold-weather stuff I'll need to go to the South Pole, y'know", American Dream adds, as a tangent. "How do we get the crystal thingie out of the gun in the first place?", she then asks.

Dorian nods. "I...have no idea." He looks to Stacey, "Any clue on that?"

Stacey shakes her head, "No, sorry. We simply don't know enough. But if the body of the weapon is made from normal materials, I imagine just cutting it free might work."

Ten says, "South Pole? Should be pleasantly cool..."

"Well, if destroying that gem's as hard as y'all say, why not just blow up the gun around it, pick up the rock off the floor, after that?", American Dream suggests.

Star Girl says, "South Pole volcano."

Ten says, "Or warm, then."

Dorian nods. "And we can't discuss the tactical situation until we get closer. So, I suggest we get going. I'll set up the red herring, and we can be on the second flight out of here."

"Hang on... can't we get a ride from a different place, in a bird that don't belong to Star Guard? If they're smart at all, they'll spot the red herring as soon as a second SG bird launches, y'know", American Dream says, rising from her seat a little as she does, hands on the table.

Dorian says, "Only if say...Quinn has access to one able to make the trip. Or anyone else. I only have access to SG resources."

Star Girl nods to American Dream. "Good idea. I'm sure Quinn would mind lending us one of his transports."

Dorian looks to Stacey, "Would Q be able to provide us with a transport?"

"Why don't we talk someone rich into offering to send a bunch of new supplies to that reserach station that's on Antarctica? We hitch a ride?", American Dream suggests. "Might take longer to get there, but we'd get there and maybe no one'd even be the wiser, right?"

Stacey nods, "QI has access to several suborbital aircraft. We can arrange for one to do an aerial drops at the target location."

Dorian nods. "An aerial drop means having to get back under our own power. Which I think we can do. After the fact, we can call in SGG transport, if we need to."

Aoi says, "In normal circumstances I'd agree with your suggestion, uh... Sorry, I don't know your name. But the threat is so extreme I'd feel better if it was dealt with immediately."

Dorian nods. "The faster, the better."

Ten nods.

"I'm American Dream... but, yeah, I guess faster's better... especially if this guy's as good as listening in on Starguard comms as you guys say. For all we know, he's listening in right now and knows where this big cannon-thing's at, because of this meeting", the patriotically-themed woman says.

Stacey shakes her head, "This entire section of the QI building is working in autistic mode. No connections are active to to outside world, and we're with a Faraday cage."

Dorian nods, and looks to Stacey, "Please set us up for that flight. In the meantime, I'll set up our decoy."

American Dream offers up another suggestion. "Hey... if this general guy's such a threat, why not shoot his ship down or something? Maybe send up some commandoes after him as part of our cover while we're going to get the big gun thing?", she says.

Stacey nods to Dorian, "I'll see about that flight, once I can reach a secure comm line."

Dorian nods to American Dream, "That's a decision for my higher ups to call, honestly. I'll leave that up to them. As of right now, my job consists of just securing hte cannon."

Star Girl says, "Also, Grissom has guns that can take out whole cities. We have to be careful in how we handle him."

Dorian shakes his head, "Star Girl, that's the kind of gun on a cruiser. He only has a transport. So...I don't think he's as dangerous as we initially thought. Ragnarok will be an issue, but again...that's an individual, not the ship."

Fox makes her arrival, word having finally reached her about the problem and her desire to help with fixing the problem becoming much clearer. Security is wary about the unclothed (but not indecent) fox-girl, though she seems to have made them at ease about her soon after meeting.

Dorian nods. "Alright, I'll go make that call. I'll be right back." He then uses a secure line to set up the decoy headed toward the Arctic Sea.

Star Girl looks over to American Dream. "Hey there. I'm Star Girl."

American Dream sits quietly, letting people do their part in setting up the whole thing, until Star Girl introduces herself. "I'm American Dream", she replies, offering a hand over.

Star Girl shakes Dream's hand and smiles. With a nod, she says: "I know who you are. I watch tv." She winks an eyelet.

Stacey goes off to arrange the Quinn shuttle.

"Hewwo," Fox says, looking around. "Need...hand?" She nears American Dream, recognizing this one at least, due to the high memorability factor and branding involved.

American Dream laughs a little at that. "Well, kinda rude if I didn't respond in kind, right?", she replies. To Fox, when the other comes over, she offers a, "Hi, again."

Stacey returns in about 5 minutes, "The Quinn Industries shuttle is preparing at the transportation nexus. It should be ready by the time you arrive."

Dorian comes back inside, "Alright, decoy's away. We're good to go."

Ten says, "Let's get going, then!"

Star Girl nods and starts to head out.

"I still don't have any cold-weather stuff like I'm gonna need down there", American Dream says as she gets to her feet from the chair she's been sitting in. "You guys providing this stuff?", she asks of the two people who seem to be making it all happen.

Stacey takes everyone down to a subsurface garage, where cargo vans are parked, "We'll get to the Nexus this way without too much attention, if that is OK. Warm weather gear has already been stowed on the shuttle."

Ten says, "Makes sense."

Dorian furrows his brow as the group heads to the van. "Huh. I...felt like I was being tracked just a moment ago. I think I managed to break the connection."

Star Girl doesn't bother with the warm weather gear. She seems to be content with her skin-tight body suit. Her eyelets widen at Spirit's announcement. "Jeez... these guys are serious."

Ten says, "Hm. Does your energy body make you easy to track?"

Dorian shakes his head, "I...don't think so. It felt like...a mentalist, I guess."

Fox seems content to not worry about the cold weather herself, sitting down in the van a bit nervously, examining its size to accomodate her for some reason despite being rather small.

The cargo van leaves the loading dock and heads to the transportation nexus, where the Quinn shuttle is waiting.

American Dream frowns a little at what Dorian's describing, but doesn't say anything about it. She probably doesn't really have any idea of what could be done, anyway. She rides along with the others and hops right out when the van stops, heading up to the shuttle.

Aoi looks at Dorian. Then at Stacey. "Change of plan. Let the Quinn craft take off as planned. Have it call an in-flight emergency and divert to Quebec. I'll hire a charter flight."

Stacey nods, "So it should take off without you all?"

Dorian rubs his chin, "I'm sure I shrugged it off...but precautions would be a good idea."

Fox does not speak up concerning transportation, staying near American Dream without saying much of anything.

Star Girl nods and goes along with the travel plan.

Aoi nods to Stacey, "Yes. If the intention to travel in that craft was read from Dorian's mind, this may serve to deceive the mentalist, if there was one and if the mentalist was able to read Dorian's mind.

Dorian looks to Aoi, "Can you get the flight to drop us into the zone we need to be in?"

American Dream is quiet, but stops heading up to the shuttle, waiting to see how Aoi's able to work things out.

Stacey nods and goes into the shuttle. A moment later the crew help her carry out the HALO parachutes and survival gear.

Ten avoids paying attention to flight plans. THe fewer people who know about the new plans the less likely it will be read from minds.

The shuttle takes off. About 15 minutes later Aoi manages to arrange alternate, if slower, transportation.

Aoi charters a cargo plane for the journey. "Yes. This model has a rear drop door for rapid loading and unloading."

Ten thinks. o O (Let's hope it's not too uncomfortable....)

Within a few minutes everything is loaded up and the flight plan is cleared. The pilot comes on the intercom, "Welcome aboard folks, and thank you for flying with us. Next stop, Antarctica. And, if I might say, thank you for making it so I don't have to do five roundtrips to Louisville today."

Dorian tries to relax on the flight as best he can. Which means he fidgets most of the time.

It's a cargo plane, so it's cold, uncomfortable, and bumpy. After about 10 boring hours, the pilot comes on the intercom, "Rise and shine sleepyheads, we're about 30 minutes from your drop zone. Please put your parachutes and survival gear on if you need them."

Fox looks puzzled as the pilot says the bit about louisville, but doesn't ask. "Who...fwy?" she inquires once she is awake and realizes the drop is about to commence.

American Dream gets on her survival gear... but doesn't even start to put on the chute. "By the way, I can carry all of us down, probably, if you don't want to use the chutes and make it obvious we're coming."

Aoi looks around, "Good idea to wear the chutes anyway. In case the person carrying you is hit on the way down."

Dorian doesn't bother with a either the gear or parachute. He just stretches a bit.

Ten nods, and gets into the parachute. She forgoes any warm clothing, though she'll take any tools that may be included with the gear.

Fox nods rapidly, "Carry," she agrees.

"Okay, I'll carry y'all, with the chutes as backup", American Dream says, awknowledging the rightness of having backup, just in case.

Ten thinks. o O (I wonder how I'd handle a fall from this height - but now isn;t the time to find out,.)

Dorian nods. "I'll keep from using my powers until we set down, in case there are sensors for that kind of thing."

There's also limited duration breathing gear, if you need it.

Aoi runs a quick systems check and then sets her weapon reflex system controller to deflection mode.

American Dream digs into the survival gear, pulling out a chemical glowstick for each person. "When it's time, pull this out and crack it so it lights up. This'll let me see ya to catch ya before you go splat, okay?", she says, as she hands them out.

The pilot comes on the comm, "ETA 5 minutes to drop zone. Put your breathers on. Lowering Bay door now. Altitude is 10,000m level. Surface wind speed is gusting to 100kph."

Dorian raises a brow, "Why do that? Why not just carry us down?"

Fox looks at American Dream, a little worried. And then she fires a portal at the plane's floor, to see if it sticks.

The portal sticks.

"It's dark out there, and I glow when I'm using my powers. If I carry you guys the whole way, we're sure to get seen... unless someone has a better idea?", American Dream says.

Through the open cargo door, the stars glitter in the incredibly clear night sky.

Fox asks, "How...high?" she motions around her.

Fox looks thoughtful. That plan will probably not work. She deactivates the glowing blue field on the plane's floor.

Dorian nods. "I'm more worried about keeping in a group than letting them know we're coming. Let's fly down quickly. Each person who can fly, take one other. We'll fly in an echelon formation down to the surface as fast as possible.

Ten doesn't bother with the breather. It's not like talking during the fall is going to be feasible.

"How many fliers we got?", American Dream asks, "Besides me?"

Aoi says, "I can carry two if needed."

Dorian says, "I can carry one."

"Better yet... anyone able to make, like, a forcefield or something? Everyone inside that, and I carry it?", American Dream asks, suddenly.

Spirit says, "I can do that as well. Though if it's punctured, it'll shatter."

"If it pops, I'll catch people... the littler the glow, the better, and this'll let me fly as fast as I can, too", replies the patriotic-themed heroine, as she puts on her breathing mask.

Spirit nods, and has to shift to his energy form to create a barrier big enough to stand on. So, he ends up glowing anyway.

Aoi steps aside from the barrier.

Spirit generates an energy barrier wide enough for everyone to stand on.

The plane begins to bank steeply. "OK, folks, this is it. Final approach in 1 minute. You should see Mount Erebus coming in to view shortly." Indeed, in the dark, you can see the dull red glow of the caldera.

The pilot counts down, "T-10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Go!"

Fox holds on to the carry.

Spirit takes off, letting American Dream carry the group on the energy platform.

American Dream extends her hands, which begins to glow, and the glow extends to 'wrap' around those who cannot fly. Then, she and those she's carrying float out the back of the plane...

The air is very cold, and thin, for those that feel it, and the ground very far away as the plane veers off sharply and climbs, leaving you behind.

Aoi flies out the rear cargo door and positions herself below American Dream when the latter hero emerges, watching for incoming fire.

Spirit drops into a steep dive, leaving a streak of light behind him. The good news? If anyone spots the group, he'll likely be the target.

 Spirit says, "Star Girl...Ten...What can you tell me about the 'numbers'?"

 Ten says, "Not much. Fought a few of them once, but only briefly. Not enough to get much of a measure of them."

At about 5000m above the surface, three streaks of light rise up from the crater and head toward the descending heroes.

Spirit slows, and brings up some energy shields.

"Incoming!", calls out American Dream, as if it wasn't obvious.

Ten readies her staff to "shoot" a drone once it's close enough.

American Dream 'pulls' her passengers closer and calls out to them, saying, "I can't do much more than carry all of us, right now!", just to let them know of that particular limitation of hers.

 Star Girl says, "They're like metas, just genetically engineered by Scarletti. To give you an idea, Pleia is like Number Zero."

 Spirit says, "So...they'll have gauntlets to remove, too?"

Aoi stays close to American Dream and the group she is carrying.

Spirit shifts to a lead role, ahead of the others, to mostly draw attention.

The Drones close and then match speed at stand off range. Each launches a heavy missile at each flyer!

Aoi lets her weapons fire under deflection mode as the missiles race in.

Aoi yelps as her arm points in turn at each incoming missile with a whip-lash quickness and emits a pulse of kinetic force. The missles vapourise from the intense impact. Aoi certainly felt the effect though. Her elbow was nearly strained by the force of the servomechanisms.

Spirit looks to Aoi, "Are you alright?"

Aoi nods to Spirit, "Better than I would have been if those missiles had hit. My elbow is sore, that's all. The suit arm is controlled by the servos in this fire mode and the motion is a bit too quick.

To Be Continued