Log:Return of the Enemy Ace, Scene 5

Return of the Enemy Ace 2057/01/27 	 Echo Howl Amber and Azure|Jennifer and Jessica Lorelei The Agent The Maid Wei Zan Zhou 5

= Part 1 =

Howl sits at a table in the planning center, his arms crossed over his chest and his hat tilted down over his face.

Unable to sit still at the moment, Wei Zan wanders around the planning room, checking under the chairs and tables for anything interesting.

The Maid arrives at the SGHQ. She gives a polite curtsey before speaking. "This has better be important. Unless this is regarding Master Morningstien, I would prefer to be left alone."

Jessica and Jessica are in SGHQ working with a couple of the SG agent teams teaching unarmed combat techniques when they get the call to the briefing.

"Sit down." Howl tells Wei. "You're making me nervous." He glances at The Maid. "Have a seat, take a load off."

Jessica gives the Maid a cold look after the Maid's statement, "The door is right behind you, Miss. Feel free to use it."

Wei Zan Zhou nods and sits down on the floor, crossing his legs beneath him. After a moment, he begins to rock back and forth, side to side, while humming a happy tune.

An icon of an earlier age, the American Agent has been fighting cirme and threats against the nation for over a hundred years. He's aged well over the years, and looks like a man in his late fifties, in excellent physical shape. His costume is old fashioned as well, consisting of a blue trenchcoat and a matching fedora, with his silver hair peeking from beneath it. His identity is concealed by a simple domino mask. He's known to have a few gimmicks and gadgets on his person, but he's known mostly fighting crime with his never-say-die attitude and two fists.

The Agent walks in, boots clicking lightly on the floor as he enters. "Good day, everyone."

The Maid seemingly ignores anything Howl has to say. She cannot help but think to herself that the guy is a psychotic killer. She looks over towards Jessica. "Very well, then. Pardon my intrusion."

Wei Zan Zhou waves to the agent and pops up to his feet. "Hello!"

Howl waves a hand at Jessica. "She needs experience somehow." He tilts the brim of his hat upwards to get a good look at Agent. "Afternoon."

The Maid begins to walk towards the door Jessica indicated. "Good day to you, sir." She says as she passes Agent.

Jennifer says, "You really are a class A jerkoff aren't you?" She tells the Maid. "The American Agent calls a briefing. He's working on the Morningstien kidnapping. You have no other reason to be invited to attend an SG briefing other than your involvement in that incident. I knew you were aloof and arrogent. I didn't think you were also dumb.""

The Agent looks between Jessica and The Maid, seeming to pick up on something. "If there's something that you two need to work out, I suggest that you do it on your own time. Victor needs our help. All of our help..."

"Oh, lay off her." Howl tells Jennifer. "She was just being polite. You can't expect her to conduct herself with our foolishness. She's connected to Victor, she has a right to be here."

Wei Zan Zhou blinks and twiddles his thumbs, slowly shuffling away from the ladies.

The Maid stands by the entry way, facing the door, her back to the others. She sighs, and turns towards Agent. "Have the whereabouts of Master Morningstien been ascertained yet?"

Jessica looks at Howl, "Has she? I question that. Her inexperience got him kidnapped in the first place. Despite that she has turned down one invite from me to learn a bit more about using her abilities effectively. She doesn't seem to care to associate with us Capes, and frankly the emotion is reciprocated. But what that means is she a loose canon on the deck, and if we're going into a combat situation I want people I can trust to know what they;'re doing on my side."

Wei Zan Zhou tilts his head at the mention of "capes" and tugs at his hoodie. He then looks back over his shoulder and slowly turns around a few times, not unlike a dog chasing its own tail.

Wei Zan Zhou thinks. o O (Do I need a cape...?)

Howl rolls his eyes. "I'm a loose cannon. She's just earnest. She will never get to where you want her to be if you don't let her get her hands dirty every now and then. I've been suitably impressed with her skills, but those can be developed in any way. You should know that the only way to get the mindset you want is combat. I say she should come, but it's up to the Agent."

The Agent nods to The Maid. "Yes. Have a seat and I'll tell you what we know. I've called everyone here because we'll be trying to slip into Enemy Ace's headquarters. Once we're detected, we'll need everyone to make sure that we all make it out in one piece. Simple as that. If there are no otehr objections, I'll continue with the breifing."

The Maid looks over towards Jessica. "Agreed. Those who are so willing to kill are... how did you say it? Ah yes... 'loose cannons'." She glances over towards Howl. "You are right, how can one trust to know that they are on your side."

Jennifer nods to the Agent. "I'm a soldier. I know when to sit down, shut up, and take orders. Just wanted to express my option before we started, Sir."

Howl nods to The Agent. "Please."

The Maid looks over towards Agent. "Forgive my outburst just now, sir. Sometimes, it is very difficult to..." she glances over towards Jessica, "... deal with children."

Wei Zan Zhou sits down and clasps his hands together in an effort to keep himself attentive and still.

Howl facepalms. "Just shut the hell up, both of you."

The Agent says to Howl. "Right." He sighs softly at the back and forth between the others. "That's enough, people... The ultrasonic locator that I placed on Enemy Ace is functioning. And we've tracked it to a small island in the Bahamas."

Wei Zan Zhou says, "Is that far away?"

"Relatively speaking, no. A few hours by supersonic transport." The Agent says. "We have an agent who's gone forward and is scouting the location. It's and underground base with sole access point being an underwater passage to a submarine drydock."

Wei Zan Zhou nods.

Jessica and Jenn nod.

Howl ooos. "Bond style. And warmer weather."

Wei Zan Zhou fails to hide a wide smile and his clasped hands shake with excitement.

Wei Zan Zhou thinks. o O (Double O Seven!)

Howl hmms, considering for a moment. "This other agent. She wouldn't happen to be wearing a white bikini? Comes out of the surf while we're reclining on the beach with our harpoon gun?

The Agent says, "A bikini? No. Special Agent Echo is a dolphin. Now the access tunnel..."

Jessica chuckles, "More to the point, who out of us is (a) underwater capable, and (b) trained in infiltration skills?"

Wei Zan Zhou says, "I can swim!"

The Agent pulls up an holographic image of the island and the image pans and rises so that the underside is visible. He nods to Jessica. "Good question. We'll need to make an entry, using SCUBA gear. And we'll have to be sneaky."

Howl sighs. "There'd be a bikini if this was a British op." He mumbles to himself before shrugging at Jessica. "I've not been formally training in much of anything, but I can be difficult to find if I wish it."

The Maid looks over towards Jessica. "Perhaps it would be best if you stayed here. I have seen how... frail... you are. I would hate to see you lying unconscious again, as you were the other night." she says, genuinely concerned for her health, while having a slightly smug tone to her voice.

Jessica says, "That's it" Ok, you snug little... Let's go down to the practice room and we'll see how frail I am. I'll take you apart without having to work up a sweat."

Wei Zan Zhou looks around the room and raises his hand.

The Maid sighs. "Of course... she would resort to violence..." she says to herself quietly.

Howl holds up a hand. "We can beat the living hell out of each other later."

"Damnit!" The Agent shouts. "This is not a game! Enemy Ace will kill Victor if we muck this job up! So leave your blasted egos behind on this operation.

Jessica nods, "Yes I would. Which is exactly why I'm suited for this mission and you aren't."

Wei Zan Zhou says, "Yes...should we not be hurrying to save the doctor? He is in..." He blinks at Agent's reaction and then nods. "...danger."

The Maid looks over towards Agent. "Agreed, sir." From her tone, most would interpret that she is assuming the "ego" reference was solely meant for Jessica. "Please, let us make haste."

Jennifer looks at the Maid. "Will you follow orders? Not mine." She points to American Agent. "His orders."

The Maid glances over towards Jennifer and gives her the "shhhh" gesture with her finger, then looks back towards Agent.

Howl just shakes head and crosses his arms, looking more annoyed than anything.

The Agent frowns slightly, but continues. "To reduce the risk of detection, we're going to split into two teams. The infiltration will be myself, Howl, and Jennifer. Wei, Jessica, and Maid will be the backup team, and Jess will be in charge of it."

Jennifer thinks. o O (He knows about me... Well it isn't really a surprise is it.)

"Sir, I must protest!" exclaims the Maid. "Baron Morningstien is my master. He is my responsibility. I insist that I be in attendence."

Howl nods. "That sounds satisfactory. What kind of pajamas will you be fitting us into? This is going to ruin my dark gothic look."

The Agent nods to The Maid. "You'll be there and participating. As part of the assault team. When it hits the fan, we'll need you to help pull our fat out of the fire."

Wei Zan Zhou nods slightly during the Agent's explanation.

Wei Zan Zhou thinks. o O (Fan? What will hit a fan? Where is this fan? Why are people putting fat into a fire? Hmm...)

The Maid frowns a little, her hands gripping at the ends of her apron. "I... see..." she says to the Agent. She sighs, "Very well..."

"SCUBA gear will be issued." Agent says. "I suppose we'll have two hours of flight time to run a crash course."

Jessica says, "Jenn and I have our own SCUBA sets. Mil spec closed rebreathers. We're SCUBA certified but haven't done the instructors course. I can help check out the sets while someone does a SCUBA 101."

"I should probably leave some of my things hear. Cloaks and hats don't mix with swimming very well." Howl comments. "Let's get ready."

"Alright. Any questions?" The Agent asks. "Our job is to rescue Victor. If we can find out what the Enemy Ace is up to and apprehend him, that's icing on the cake."

The Maid raises her hand.

The Agent says, "Maid?"

The Maid asks, "There will be no killing conducted on our parts, will there?" After what happened at the journalist's house the other night, she wants to make sure the point is driven home to Howl and any of the other... less than stable... "heroes" she is with.

The Agent looks to Howl, knowingly. "Howl," he says in a familiar tone.

Howl laces his fingers on the table and tilts his head. "Yes American Agent?"

The Agent says, "You know how I operate. Non-lethal force only."

"I will take it under advisement." Howl replies. "I won't stab anyone in the back, is what I'm saying. Only if there's no other way."

The Maid says, "There is always another way..."

The Agent nods to Howl. "Twins, can you make sure everyone is outfitted properly? I'll meet everyone in the hangar bay, by the transport. Dismissed."

Jessica nods. "Ok, who needs SCUBA gear? Wetsuits?"

The Maid looks over towards Agent. "Do both groups require such equipment?"

Howl sighs. "Wetsuit and gear." He seems pretty bummed out as he starts to remove his heavier gear like his cloak and his hat, revealing his golden eyes and red hair.

The Agent nods to The Maid. "Yes. There's only one way inside." He leaves the room for now.

Wei Zan Zhou stands up and takes off the leather harness for his staff, followed by his shirt.

The Maid sighs. "I... see..."

Wei Zan Zhou wraps his shirt around his staff and harness, giving the bundle to his tail to hold.

Wei Zan Zhou jogs in spot. "I cannot wait to go into the water."

The Maid inquires, "Pardon me, but... where is the appropriate fitting room?"

Jennifer says, "Maid, there are changing rooms in the team area. If you follow me I'll escort you there so you can change into a wetsuit."

The Maid nods, and follows Jennifer, making sure to not look towards any males changing.

Wei Zan Zhou continues to jog, oblvious to the fact that this is a meeting room, not a changing room.

Howl unbuckles his gauntlets and lays them down on the table with a heavy clank. "C'mon, monkey brain. Let's at least change somewhere decent."

Wei Zan Zhou looks to Howl. "Okay!"

Jessica says, "Wei, your tail is going to be interesting. I guess we're better cut a hole in a suit to make room for it to hang out. Gent's follow me, ladies with Jenn please."

Wei Zan Zhou thinks. o O (Monkey...brain...he thinks I am smart!)

Wei Zan Zhou smiles happily.

Wei Zan Zhou nods and follows Jessica.

Howl follows along now that he's more or less in 'normal' clothing.

The Maid reluctantly follows Jennifer.

Jessica and Jenn take everyone to changing rooms, according to gender, and hand over wetsuits in varying sizes to fit. Wei's suit gets a hole cut in it to accomodate his tail. In each changing room, the twins having a soldier's indifference to being changing rooms that are in use, they ask, "Do you have any equipement that needs to be kept dry?"

Howl shakes his head. "The gauntlets are magnetic. Some pitch for the blades would be nice so that they don't reflect in the light."

Wei Zan Zhou shakes his head as he finishes suiting up. He then puts his clothes on over his wet suit. "Nope!"

The Maid looks at the wetsuit quizically. "Pardon me, but..." she asks, "how does one wear such a garment?"

Wei Zan Zhou peeks out from the men's changing room. "You take off your clothes and then put on the new clothes. Would you like some help?""

The Maid exclaims, "No! That is quite alright! Thank you, sir!"

Howl can't help but laugh at Wei. "I've always liked that guy."

Jennifer shows the maid how to get into the wetsuit, putting hers on as a demonstration. "Like this. It's a tight squeeze in spots. With your strength you're better take care not to rip it."

Jessica vanishes for a few moments and returns with a bulky sports bag.

Wei Zan Zhou smiles and nods. "Okay! Hmm, it is probably better you try it yourself. It is the best way to learn." He turns around and grins at Howl, seemingly unaware of the inappropriateness of his offer to help. Putting his harness back on, he also seems to be unaware of the purpose of the wet suit considering he has put on his street clothing.

Howl hmms. "It's time to put the wetsuit on." He informs Wei as he puts his on.

"And, what of these?" the Maid asks, referring to her dress and apron.

Wei Zan Zhou nods. "Oh, okay." He removes his street clothes again and bundles them up. He then takes a few moments to test out his wet suit, performing a few exercises.

Jennifer says, "You can put them in a locket here or take them with you. Your choice. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other. Without knowing how the mission will progress I can't tell you which option is best."

Howl goes back to pick up his gauntlets, strapping them onto his forearms. "So much for surprise." He mutters as the blades are exposed.

The Maid nods, and goes to the far corner of the changing room, trying to find as much privacy as possible in order to change.

Jessica pops her head into the male changing room, "Everything ok in here. You ready to rock and roll?"

Wei Zan Zhou nods from his current position of performing handstand push ups.

Wei Zan Zhou says, "I like these stretchy clothes!"

Howl rolls his eyes. "This is how it starts. From here it's on to spandex."

Jessica laughs.

The Maid proceeds to change out of her maid uniform, puts on wetsuit over her undergarments, and then put her dress and apron over the wetsuit. As such, her long-sleeved, long-length dress largely covers up any evidence that she is wearing a wetsuit at all. She starts to put her mini-boots back on.

The Agent waits in the hangar area, in a wetsuit, but still wearing his domino mask and fedora.

Wei Zan Zhou giggles and gives one more push up before flipping back to his feet. "Capes too!"

Howl heads into the hangar area once he's finished. He frowns at Agent. "You get to keep your hat?"

Wei Zan Zhou picks up his bundled clothing and harnessed staff with his tail and follows Howl.

Jennifer says, "Maid, up to you but that's going to be uncomfortable. The thing about a wetsuit is it lets water into the suit and builds a thermal barrier by letting your body heat warm the trapped water. Your underwear will get soaked and kind of icky."

The Maid emerges from the changing room, finishing securing her apron with a ribbon, as she ties it into a cute bow at her back.

The Agent nods to Howl. "For luck."

The Maid looks over to Jennifer and whispers, "Please... keep one's voice down when one is discussing another's under garments."

Howl nods. "I suppose you've had better luck with your hats...I lost one a couple weeks ago in a building fire. Very unpleasant.'

Jessica and Jenn escort Wei and the Maid to the transport hanger to meet up with Agent and Howl.

The Maid sighs, looking embarrassed. Again, she whispers to Jennifer, "I could not possibly remove my undergarments in such a place. It would be most... inappropriate."

"Alright people." The Agent says, "Mount up and let's go."

Wei Zan Zhou hums the theme music for the old James Bond movies.

Jennifer peeks behind the Maid's ears, making it very obvious what she is doing.

Howl follows the Agent's instructions, boarding the plane.

Wei Zan Zhou hurries to board the plane as well, hoping to find a choice window seat.

The Maid runs her fingers thru her hair, straightening it out a little after having just changed clothes. She then puts her white headband, which matches her apron, into place. She proceeds to head towards the plane.

Jessica and Jenn climb aboard and grab the closest empty seats.

= Part 2 =

The transport takes off and the flight is uneventful. After two hours, the transport arrives at the destination hovering low over the water. It's a ten foot drop to the water below, and a shape breaks the waves just beneath the craft.

Special Agent Echo is a silvery-white bottle-nosed female dolphin. She's a little larger than person sized, average size for a dolphin. She wears a belt just in front of her dorsal fin, and it holds a small voice box.

Echo waits in the water beneath the transport.

Jessica and Jennifer slip on metallic link harnesses over their upper torsos and briefly activate force armor to check it's functional. Next a utility belt is fastened around waists and a number of small gedgets selected from the sports bag and placed in pouches on the belt. Their Scuba gear is beyond state-of-the-art, not much larger than a paperback book, and straps to the front of them. Goggles go on their foreheads ready to be pulled down into position and one earpiece is slipped under the wetsuit hood from a hand held device.

Howl's equipment is pretty much whatever Starguard could give him. Still it's not too bad, even if his bulkier gauntlets look out of place. He lines up behind the twins, letting them take the lead into the water.

The Agent removes his fedora and tucks it into a plastic bag. He lowers his goggles and places his breather into his mouth and then drops into water.

Wei Zan Zhou follows the examples of the others and takes up a spot in the line. His clothing and staff are firmly held by his tail.

Jennifer and Jessica do a simple drop and plunge into the water.

The Maid asks, "Do we wait here?"

Echo is smiling with the typical dolphin smile. She asks in an artificially produces voice, "agent, how was your flight?"

"The leader of your team just went into the water." Howl replies to the Maid. "I'd follow." And he does. Splash.

Wei Zan Zhou says, "Okay!"

Wei Zan Zhou drops into a water with a "Wheeee!"

The Maid sighs, putting the breathing aparatus to her mouth and dives in.

The Agent says over the radio, "Lousy movie, Echo. You'll show us the way in?"

Echo says, "oh, and the airline food? ha ha ha." The artificial voice laughter sounds odd and forced. "yes. enemy ace patrols the waters with cybernetically enhanced sharks. i believe i have discovered a hole in their patrolling patters." And with that, the dolphin dives.

Howl moves to follow the dolphin, swimming along as best he can. "I still say there should have been a bikini involved here."

Jennifer thinks. o O (Cybersharks? I've seen this movie too.)

Echo says, "a bikini? i haven't got the legs for it. ha ha ha."

Wei Zan Zhou barrel rolls as he swims, trying to take in all the sights of the underwater realm. He watches Echo and tries to mimic the dolphin's movements.

Jessica says, "Echo, Agent, how far out are the shark patrols? Should the assault team move inside the patrol line or remain outside until we're called for?"

"I wish I had a magnetic leyline." Howl replies. "You can't smell a damned thing underwater."

Echo says, "wait inside the patrol, i think. i will wait with second team.

The Maid floats in the sea, her hair, dress and apron spreading about her somewhat in the water.

Echo leads the way into the underside of the island, as a promised, there are no encounters with any sharks. The other waterway of the access tunnel lies ahead.

Howl looks to the access tunnel. "So. Team 1 from here, then?"

Jessica nods and coasts to a halt, looking for a suitable hidy hole for her assault team.

The Maid proceeds to try following Jessica.

Wei Zan Zhou follows along to search for a hiding spot.

The Agent nods. "Second team wait here. First team, follow me."

Jennifer nods, and flips down the IR goiggles as she enters the tunnel, also switching on the ultrasonic detector that will warn of any motion detection systems, hopefully.

Howl brings up the rear, having only goggles.

Jennifer takes the lead, swimming slowly and checking for security devices and detectors at all times.

The access way leads towards a dry dock where the Ace's submarine is parked. Aside from a few technicians in the dock area, it's very quiet with not a lot of activity there.

The Agent gesture with his hands, directing towards the far side of the docks, away from the technicians. He begins to swim that way.

Jennifer follows Agent swimming quietly.

Howl again brings up the rear, keeping his eyes forward and not worrying about the techs at the moment.

Jessica tells the team waiting outside the size and configuration of the submarine dock, that the submarine is tied up there, where the technicans are and how many are in sight at this time.

The Agent slips up onto the dock and creeps behind a rack of torpedoes, gliding noiselessly into position.

From the Sub pen there are two exits, in addition to the access waterway: a freight elevator, and a human elevator.

Jennifer waits for the Agent to signal the way is clear and then follows him out of the water.

Howl follows after Jen, not quite following military protocol. He removes the breathing apparatus from his mouth so that he can breath normally and smell normally. He looks around.

The Agent gives the signal. He then removes his fedora from his bag and puts it on.

Jessica continues to give a running commentary on events to the people waiting outside.

The Agent signals for Howl to go to one technician, Jennifer the second, and himself the third.

Jennifer moves sneakily into grabbing range and waits for the signal.

Howl does the same as Jen, moving as silently as he can.

The Agent gives the signal, just before he tries to grab one of the technicians.

Jennifer closes in on her assigned target and grabs him, one hand going over his mouth to prevent him making an outcry and the other clamping around his neck.

The Agent grabs this technician in a half-nelson hold, with his free hand clasped over the man's mouth. "Where's Victor von Morgenstien." he whispers harshly.

Howl moves to envelope his target, wrapping his hands around the technician's mouth and pinning their body against his with the other.

Howl makes shhing noises to his grabee. "No struggles. I'm very strong, and your bones are oh so weak. Just be quiet and you'll go to sleep in a few seconds, no harm done."

Howl releases his hold and guides the tech down to floor so as not to make too much noise.

The Agent says to the Technician that he's holding. "You're going to tell me, right?" The Techie nods slowly, and then the Agent releases his hold over the man's mouth. "Level 5."

Meanwhile, outside in the water, Echo turns towards the open water. "i see something. be right back."

Special Agent Echo is a silvery-white bottle-nosed female dolphin. She's a little larger than person sized, average size for a dolphin. She wears a belt just in front of her dorsal fin, and it holds a small voice box.

The Agent nods to the technician. "Thanks." He judo chops the man across the back of the neck and catches him before he slumps to the ground.

Echo swims, disappearing into the water. "trouble. sharks coming."

Howl moves over to the Agent. "Are we ready to go?" He asks in a low voice.

Jennifer says, "Agent, Echo has spotted sharks approaching the outside team."

The Maid looks over towards Jessica, trying to gesture a question. "Hide from the sharks, or intercept them?"

Jessica says, "I'm waiting for Agent to give instructions."

The Agent says, "The dock is clear for now. Best to bring the seond team up here, while we look for the others."

Lorelei looks about nervously for the sharks.

Jessica tells Wei and the Maid, "We move in to the Submarine dock. The passage is clear and the techs have been rendered unconscious.

"Tell them they might have to babysit some techs." Howl replies. "I'm anxious to be on the movie."

Echo says over the radio. "i'll lead some away. good luck everyone."

The Maid proceeds to head into the dock, emerging from the water, her hair, maid dress and apron soaked and clinging to her body.

Jessica says, "You too, Echo. Be careful."

Wei Zan Zhou nods and waves to Echo before swimming after the Maid.

Lorelei proceeds in, to emerge from the water with a distinct wet look.

Just then, both elevators come into service, coming down from different levels to the sub dock.

Howl hmms. "We may want to take cover."

Lorelei removes her mask and partially unzips her wet suit as she heads for cover.

Jennifer goes for cover

Wei Zan Zhou heads for cover.

The Maid, soaking wet, proceeds to fly, taking cover behind the exposed portion of Ace's submarine.

Howl likewise moves behind something so as not to be visible when the elevators open.

Ding! The elevators open and twelve cyborg troopers enter the dock.

All of them train their guns on Lorelei for now.

Lorelei smiles sweetly at them. "Hi boys!"

Jennifer thinks. o O (If one of the guys doesn't get an overdose of gallantry to the head Lorelei will wrap those up in a few seconds. How does she do it..?)

Lorelei takes care to make sure she looks neither hostile nor a particular threat!

The twins hold actions, ready to respond if it seems the agents might open fire but they have a lot of confidence in Lorelei. They've seen this work out rather often.

Wei Zan Zhou looks around and wonders why noone else is moving to attack. Biting his lower lip, he waits.

The Agent holds his position as well for the time being, hoping that Lorelei know what she's doing.

One of the cyborg troopers says, "Spread out. There are sure to be more of them. Bag the girl."

Two of the trooper train their weapons on Lorelei while the remainder spread out and start searching the dock.

Lorelei says, "Hey, no need to play rough!"

The Agent springs from his cover and tries to hit one of the troopers about to shoot Lorelei with a flying kick.

The Agent kicks the trooper backwards into a rack of tools clatters down into a heap on top of him. He doesn't move any more.

The twins dart out of cover and towards the cyberagents, trying to get into positions where shots fired at them which miss have a chance of hitting other cyberagents, and energy whip two of those attacking Lorelei.

Jennifer strikes the agent still treatening Lorelei and knocks him back a couple of steps.

Wei Zan Zhou jumps out of his hiding spot and shouts into his staff, aiming it at the closest cyborg trooper. "Hello!"

Jessica also strikes at the same agent. "Shoot an unarmed girl..! You deserve to go down!" She says and knocks the agent out cold.

Wei Zan Zhou grins sheepishly at the trooper.

The cyborg soldier fire on the heroes in groups of threes. Three of them fire at The Agent, three at Jennifer, and three at Jessica.

Braapt! The trooper open up with automatic weapons fire.

Howl steps out from his hiding place and advances on the cyborgs. He doesn't waste any time and lunges for one, aiming a forearm/gauntlet strike at the closest one.

Howl frowns a he's the only not to take a cyborg down in one hit. "I'm out of shape."

The Maid flies out from behind the submarine and darts for one of the cyborgs, water streaming behind her from her soaked clothing and hair. She spins in midair as she closes in on her target and tries to do a flying kick at him with her squishy-wet mini-boots.

The Maid hits the cyborg, sending him flying. She looks at him, stunned. She curtseys, "Forgive me." she says to the poor man/machine hybrid.

The situation erupts into chaos as emergency klaxons start to wail and lights begin to flash. "Attention! Initiating launch sequence. T minus 60 and counting!" a female voice proclaims. The elevator doors close and begin to go back up.

Howl decides to finish what he started. He takes another shot at the same cyborg he hit earlier.

Jennifer warns, "Sharks in the water. Better get away from the edge." and suiting action to words she moves further onto the dock past the cyberagents and then lashing out with her energy whip she curls the tip down so the agent will not be knocked into the water if he is hit.

Jessica follos her twin and strikes at the same agent, intending to hit him on the zig after the agent zagged away from her sister's strike.

Howl frowns at the guy he knocked back. "You're a tough bastard. It might be time to start cutting."

Wei Zan Zhou decides to take a more direct approach this time and rushes the trooper he missed moments ago with a thrusting strike of his staff.

The Agent steps towards a trooper, crouching and unleashes an uppercut punch.

The punch connects, but the cyborg soldier keeps his feet.

Three of the troopers regain their bearings. The one fighting Howl gets up and tries to shoot back at him. The remaining soldiers each pick another hero to attack.

The twins dance martially around the fusillade of gunfire directed at them.

The last soldier tries to grab Lorelei.

The last soldier has grabbed Lorelei!

...and tries to toss her into the water.

Howl sees that the soldier is about to fire on him and steps forward, bringing his metal gauntlets forward to block the shot. He's too slow and the bullet strikes him. "I'd forgotten how much getting shot hurts..." He grunts, not looking like he'll be doing much to reply immediately.

Lorelei tries to scramble out of the water....

Lorelei splashes about in the water ineffectually.

Usually there are photographers taking pictures when she does that.

The Maid looks about the dock and sees that Lorelei is in the water. She flies over to the water to pull her out.

Lorelei says, "Many thanks!"

The Maid nods. "My pleasure, madamoiselle.

A fin runs along the surface of the water towards Stephie and The Maid where they hover above the water, building speed. Finally, it leaps from the water, trying to grab a bite of human.

Lorelei screams only briefly before passing out!

The Agent leaps into the water to try and free the Lorelei from the shark.

The Agent tries to pry the shark's jaws apart, but fails.

Jennifer races for the water's edge, bending to casually scoop up a ballistic weapon from one of the knocked out agents. Jumping from the dock side over the water she aims to land just behind the shark's head on top of it's body. If she makes a successful leap she rides the shark for the instant required to press the barrel of the gun against the shark's head, check that the bullets will miss Lorelei's legs, and fire on full auto. Jessica also moves to the water's edge, whip ready to lift lorelei out of the water if the shark is suitably encouraged by the gunfire to release Lorelei.

Wei Zan Zhou grimaces as he moves to engage the next closest trooper, swinging his staff in a wide arc.

Jessica lifts Lorelei up out of the water and brings her to the dock gently. Jennifer drops the gun after emptying the clip into the shark and runs along the shark's back and bullet pocked head to leap back onto the dock beside her sister.

Wei Zan Zhou smiles triumphantly, ignoring his freely bleeding wound from the earlier gunfire.

The remaining gunmen find their feet and open fire at Wei and the twins.

Jessica is staggered by the gunfire hitting her, the combination and force armor and skinweave just insufficient to prevent injury.

Wei Zan Zhou grimaces as the volley of fire makes solid contact, rending his wetsuit. However, no new wounds are visible.

The Maid looks frustrated. She feels as if everything she tries to do seems to just go wrong. She looks over at the cyborgs, kind of in that ticked off sort of way. She proceeds to fly towards one of the cyborgs, and tries to slam him with a kick and send him flying.

From the water, The Agent fires a piton from a device on this belt into the roof here. It raises him from the water, and as he swings onto the docks, he tries to kick a trooper across the chin.

The Agent connects. The trooper fires a few last shots as he spins and drops to the ground.

Howl straightens after being shot and narrows his eyes at the soldier who shot him. He flicks his wrists, attempting to draw his patas before lunging at his opponent and trying to bury one of them inside of him.

Howl misbalances and his pata glances harmlessly off of the cyborg goon. "Less than good."

The twins dance back into the midst of the mellee, striking at agents already wobbly on their feet.

Jennifer takes out one of the cyberagents. Jessica isn't so fortunate. A patch of redness on her right shoulder from a bullethole in the wetsuit might explain some of her lack of poise at this moment.

Wei Zan Zhou swiftly moves on to the next closest trooper, aiming a strike towards the gut of the dangerous opponent.

The troopers continue their fight firing at the heroes.

The Maid proceeds to bolt over to the next cyborg, flying into him with her 2 fists ahead of her in her flight path

The Maid looks a little bit relieved, taking out her frustrations out on the cyborgs around her.

The Agent knocks out another trooper with a karate chop to the shoulder.

Jennifer and Jessica are puffing a little as they strike out at more of the agents, Jessica attacking first and Jennifer either following up to put the agent down if Jessica fails, or attacking another agent if Jessica succeeds.

Another agent goes down as the twins launch their attacks.

Wei Zan Zhou wastes no time and charges at the nearest of the remaining two troopers, throwing his weight behind his staff in a baseball batting like swing.

The Agent finishes off the trooper that Wei hit, with an elbow across the bridge of the nose.

Howl takes aim at the last trooper and attempts to repeat a wicked attack with his pata against him.

The lone remaining trooper back away from Howl, shooting.

His firing is frantic and inaccurate.

Howl doesn't flinch under fire, merely menacing the last soldier.

Lorelei regains consciousness, though she pretends otherwise for the moment, till she can regain her strength.

The Maid walks towards to last remaining cyborg. She takes a deep breath and smiles at him, curtseying. "Please yield, sir. Or..." She glances over to the last 2 guys she dropped. "...well, you know..."

Howl looks around and he cleans off his patas. "Is everyone more or less alright?"

Lorelei gets up. "Yeah - but remind me not to get eaten by a shark again."

Wei Zan Zhou nods and winces as he pokes a finger out his bullet wound.

A female voice announces, "Fifty seconds to launch."

Jessica says, "Maid, you go do your thing whatever that is, and the rest of us will proceed in a rational logical fashion that maximises our chances of stopping the missile attack. We could have used your help. You could use our help to get to the silo. But go your own way. It's obvious you will."