Chipped Chaos Session 8

Princess Guard - The New Era 2016/08/18 	 Titan Charm Caleb Daemon Aaliyah Cecila 18

Prof Myers Home
Prof Myers' house is a single story stud, plasterboard, and shingles construction of twelve rooms set in the semi-rural fringe of Cambridge. The houses in the area have large gardens and Prof Myer's home is no exception. The heroes are in the cover of a summer house at the far end of the rear lawn about 50 yards from the building. Prof Myers, Micky, and the VENOM five team are in the large study-library room, the window of which faces the heroes. And somewhere behind the heroes, one assumes, is the location of the sniper.

At this time Prof Myers is not in line-of-sight of the window.

Titan looks to Caleb, "So, you were talking about going in and grabbing Micky?"

Daemon too is nearby, having traced a number of off-shore accounts and their activity to a local source. The vigilante is perched in a tree sitting invisibly & silently, about halfway between the assembled team and the Professor. He's quite impressed with the number of false stops and patsies between him and who he believes is the mastermind of the hit in question.

A cool half-million was deposited into a secret account in the good professor's name and then withdrawn via someone with a similar skill-set as Daemon. But they were sloppy and Daemon picked up the trail after the money was spent on an assassination attempt.

It seems a simple enough ruse and he suspects the Professor will even feign innocence as well. That's alright though... Daemon is quite happy to force the issue and the truth. He does not sense or see the Princess Guard nearby.

Caleb regards empty space for a bit, then shakes his head. "No, sorry, I was confused. I can't take him if he doesn't want to come."

Titan says over the comm link .oO( Let's deal with the sniper first, then. Quickly. Then we go into the building in force. )Oo.

Caleb replies .oO( Sounds good to me. )Oo.

Charm asks, .oO( WHere is the sniper? )Oo.

A trained sniper will pick a spot square to the window to maximize the view into the room. And a spot with a slight elevation to clear LOS blocks like garden fences. With this in mind there's a convenient, for a sniper, clump of trees and scrub on a small hill about 300 yards away.

Caleb drops his remote view into the living room and remote-scans the trees/scrub/hill.

Meanwhile, Daemon is relatively certain there isn't an Offensive Defense System between he and the building, so he lowers himself from the branch he's perched on to the ground via webline.

Hanging upside down, he brings his feet to the ground in a slow and controlled manner. He's still on the look out for lasers, mines or anything else he might encounter because he's a paranoid kind of guy.

He begins to slowly make his way towards the good Professor's home.

Once within leaping distance he makes the jump and begins to make his way towards the window with the people in it.

When Caleb scans the suspect spot he can see Ronin with a powerful sniper rifle, a large heavyset guy covering Ronin's back, and a glinting shimmer of light in a vaguely humanoid shape.

Cecila shrugs a bit and ponders .oO( So just knock the sniper out and rush in is the plan? Where would the sniper be anyways? Hiding in a bush somewhere? )Oo.

Titan says over the link, .oO( Anyone see where he is? )Oo.

Caleb reports .oO( Three bogeys, on that hill 300 yards towards the hill. Ronin, some brick, and some hard-to-see guy. )Oo.

Charm says, .oO( So what's the plan? )Oo.

What Daemon overhears is a conversation between the VENOM team leader and the young boy called Micky. Micky is outlining his plan to double-cross the VENOM cell commander and install the team leader in her place.

Titan thinks about it, .oO( New idea. )Oo. He looks to Cecila, .oO( Can you put up a wall of dirt to block that window? If so, I say we head into the building now, and block that line of fire. )Oo.

Titan .oO( Don't want to create a situation where we engage the assassins, but the culprits get away. )Oo.

Cecila hmms .oO( Sure could you want a wall around the whole building maybe? )Oo.

Titan nods, .oO( If you can do it, that would be great. )Oo.

Charm asks, .oO( Then how do we get in? )Oo.

Once he's in position, Daemon listens into the conversation being had within.

A young man he's identified as 'Micky' is speaking to a subject his database tells him is a known VENOM team leader. His suspicions grow by orders of magnitude as the conversation progresses.

It seems Micky has a pretty well thought-out plan to double-cross the VENOM Cell Commander and install the team leader in her place. It's quite damning - though where the Professor fits into this whole thing has still yet to be determined.

Cecila shrugs some .oO( We could always just go underneath )Oo.

Titan points to Caleb, .oO( A gate. )Oo.

Caleb nods. .oO( Can do. )Oo.

Cecila was going to dig a tunnel for the team but now she'll just do it to get herself into position to throw that wall up.

Titan mulls it over. .oO( Wall at the same time as the gate is set up. I'll go through first to draw fire. )Oo.

Charm asks, .oO( What do we think the situation in there is? )Oo.

Cecila sits about 1m underground on the side of the house the sniper is geting ready to take the shot from getting prepared to construct a wall.

Titan shakes his head, .oO( Not sure. But we can ask questions when the dust settles. Either Micky or VENOM is the motivator. We'll just have to sort out which one. )Oo.

Caleb nods. .oO( All right. Let me know when you want it. )Oo.

Charm nods. Looks like she'll have to play it by ear.

'Micky' is quite a rude little pre-teen. His definition of social grace is likely a few centuries behind that of the Princesses the Guard was named for, and probably even Daemon too as long as he's not on a bender. 'Geez - does he kiss his mother with that mouth?' He wonders to himself at first.

Daemon has to bite his tongue numerous times as the conversation progressed - at first, he was surprised such corruption was spewing from someone so young, but VENOM has long been known for their indoctrination practices concerning children. So after a few back and forths between he and the Team Leader Daemon began to see the young man as a possible combatant.

Titan takes a deep breath and then nods, .oO( Go for it. As soon as the wall appears, set up that gate. )Oo.

Cecila raises her hands in the underground cavity as she does so a large amount of dirt is displaced and starts shooting up from the ground creating a giant wall on the side of the building in peril. As she closes her hands into fists the dirt condenses from plain dirt into a solid granite wall.

As soon as the wall rises, Cale establishes a gate between their current location and the living room, positioning the gate portal so that nobody on this side is targetable through the gate until they move in front of it.

Back on a hillside Ronin is taken by surprise. Only for a few moments though. Then he's laying down the sniper rifle and telling his companions, "We've been made. Let's get down there."

Titan heads through the gate, bracing himself for the likely barrage of fire coming his way.

One or more of the VENOM team spot the gate opening but they are just as surprised as Ronin and his group.

Daemon 's eyes go wide as the ground begins shaking - and then an earthen wall forms behind him. The shade from the structure covers him.

Deciding that things have definitely taken an unexpected turn Daemon debates on what to do. Smash in, web up his suspects or lie in wait to see what happens.

Its about then that the wall solidifies behind him. He decides that survival is the better part of any virtue, so he climbs the window, hanging from his fingertips on the ledge just above the window.

He swings back and then through the glass window - landing in the living room as he decloaks.

Still uncertain of just what's going on he squares up and tries to maneuver so that he's not flanked. As he does, he throws a punch at the VENOM Team Leader hoping to take the known enemy out of the equation for a moment while he figures things out.

AS his arm fully extends the nano-spinners in his gauntlet jump into action. A splitsecond later a ball of webbing shoots out towards the Team leader.

The ball of webbing hits the Team Leader directly in the shoulder and upon impact unspools. Millions of individual fibers errupt and wrap around the VENOM Team Leader as Daemon prepares to deal with the 12 year old Mini-Villain. He really hopes he doesn't have to hit a kid.

Charm positions herself so she can see through the gate - but is mostly covered by Titan - and sings a song designed to instill a feeling of mutual distrust, even paranoia, amongst those beyond the gate.

With all the talk of double-crossing that's gone on the two team members affected by Charm's song were already primed to a basic distrust.

Titan has no idea what the song was that Charm tried, so he goes with his normal opening gambit. He steps through the gate, as close to Micky as possible, making sure everyone can see him. He braces for any incoming fire and says, "Surrender now, all of you. You're hopelessly outgunned and outnumbered. Even you... Micky." He makes a point of emphasizing the name, just to make sure the kid knows he's been made.

The five team agents hesitate, uncertain what to do after Titan's powerful warning.

Caleb holds the gate open while Titan steps through to negotiate with the enemy and Charm plays music on this side. He's a little startled by the latter, but stays where he is and keeps the gate open. They seem to know what they're doing.

Micky steps back and trips over Prof Myers' feet. He tumbles to the carpeted floor and whimpers, "Don't hurt me. Please... Don't hurt me." He also seems to be frantically pressing on the side of the wristwatch he is wearing on his right wrist.

Daemon preserves his momentum as he continues moving - this time twisting to face the 12 year-old as he leaps to the ceiling. This is a split-second after Charm sent her paranoia wave through the portal - which Daemon hasn't even spotted yet.

As the wave hits him, his already paranoid brain goes into overdrive. Everyone here becomes a possible combatant, regardless of what is said.

His eyes narrow into thin slits as he regards Micky from above. He's still said nothing to anyone. Nothing to say in a room full of VENOMous conspirators.

From his crouched position on the ceiling, Daemon prepares to web up another team member before changing positions and repeating the process again - but just then he senses movement that isn't Mickey or the Professor or the other VENOM team members. It's Titan!

'Wha?' Daemon thinks to himself as he announces his presence and demands for surrender.

Daemon doesn't surrender. He goes into fight or flight mode - it seems just as Micky does too. He notices his reaction and his wristwatch button mashing which helps Daemon decide Titan is the most dangerous person afield. He repositions his arm towards Titan as he tries to get the drop on the nigh-invulnerable man.

While doing this, he instinctively runs a recognition search through his Metahuman Database. Possibly to determine what side this new player is on, or possibly to find out what weaknesses he can exploit.

Outside a shimmering glint of light starts flying down from the hill towards the house.

Recognizing Titan as a known hero, and a relatively stand-up citizen Daemon lowers his arm. Instead of continuing to take out team members which could incite Titan's ire, Daemon instead activates his Therma-Optic Nanocloak with Sound Dampeners.

He fades from view - and the ceiling behind him becomes visible.

He maneuvers himself to be behind Titan and the portal so that he can observe and remain out of the line of friendly fire.

From a distance can be heard the rumbling of thunder coming closer.

Charm stays ready and alert, waiting to see what happens before acting again.

Hurrying down from the hill Ronin and his heavyset companion are also closing on the house.

Titan sighs as he sees Micky try to activate something-or-other. "Yeah, how about we don't turn on whatever that is."

Titan takes a hold of Micky's arms, "Stop it, kid. I really don't want to hurt you. You'll snap like a twig." He holds on, not squeezing.

Cecila waits patiently behind the wall as a layer of dirt surround her to protect her from harm. Of course she'll see any of the sniper's crew coming from a mile away practically now that she knows where they are. "Hey, whats up with the whole trying to shoot people thing?" she asks the sniper crew trying to distract them as the rest of the team handles the situation inside the building. At least she should be able to take some hits if they choose to atack her first

Cecila takes stock of the information she's getting .oO( We got some speedster coming in pretty fast and well some guy I guess jumping here, only picking him up intermittently when he lands and he's kinda heavy or big probably their muscle. I'll work on holding them off when they get close )Oo.

Caleb observes .oO( If that's the team with Ronin, it's possible they aren't fighting us. On the other hand, if Micky mind-controlled them too, it's possible they are. )Oo.

Cecila adds .oO( I think we got 2 groups actually... Ronin's on his way in and the ones i was just mentioning are coming from Cambridge city so yeah we got a lot of company )Oo.

Caleb replies .oO( Oh! Yeah, those are definitely under Mickey's control. )Oo.

Charm sees the incoming group of Ronin's people are angry - which is a problem. Soothing anger is not the easiest thing to do. So she decides instead to generalize their ire, making them more inclined to lash out in frustration at anything in the environment rather than focus on the object of their anger. She starts with the glint of light, as it's closing fastest.

The glint of light doesn't waver or alter action. The song seems to have no effect.

Daemon takes in the scene with ever increasing interest. Titan's gentle grip on the maniacal twiggy-boy does a great deal of swaying Daemon away from his normal level of paranoia and distrust. Perhaps he can provide the team some assistance.

Naturally he has no idea about the oncoming storm of assassins, mind controlled metas and the horde of cute but deadly humanoid unicorn creatures that are likely preparing to join the fray as well.

Clung to the rear-wall, behind the portal, Daemon decides to throw his hat into the ring. After all, from his perspective it's just Titan against the 12 year old Plotter named Micky and his team of VENOM agents.

He wonders if Titan's noticed the webbed Team leader yet as he begins to climb up the wall and then cross the ceiling. He decloaks directly above Titan - but thanks to vaulted ceilings he remains out of the much stronger man's reach.

While Titan holds Micky in his grip - Daemon gets to cleaning the room up a bit.

He takes aim at the nearest team member who looks like they are starting to gather their wits again. We can't have that. Daemon decides to keep them off balance.

His arm reaches towards him and as he closes his fist, his SpinenrGauntlets spool up a High Voltage StickyDisc. A high-pitched whine is emitted as it shoots from the top of his wrist- streaking and crackling towards his target.

The VENOM agent targeted by Daemon jolts and shudders as high voltage races through his body.

The observant among the heroes still outside can see two fliers heading towards the house coming from the city of Cambridge. It looks like they'll be arriving in six or seven seconds.

Ronin and the big guy in Ronin's group continue running. Looks like they'll be arriving about the same time as the others.

Caleb announces .oO( Mind-controlled Cambridge heroes, incoming! )Oo.

Daemon continues moving, hoping his steady and speedy movements will keep the VENOM team completely off kilter. As the agent waivers and wobbles from his stunning attack, Daemon throws another air punch at him.

His nano-spinners launch a line of webbing at the man.

"The child is controlling whom now?" asks Aaliyah in her exotic accent. "Should we not do something about that before his reinforcements arrive?" She asks this from behind her wall of wailing spirits... on the other side of the portal. This is all so very metaphysical, isn't it?!

Charm says, "I'm working on it."

The webbing finds it mark - wrapping around the VENOM agent's legs. Daemon smirks beneath his hard helmet as if there was never any other possibility.

He lifts his hand at the wrist and then grabs onto the webline attached to the agent.

He gives it one swift tug to pull the stunned man off his feet, and then as he grasps the line with both hands he whips it hard at another one of the agents who looks like he's coming to.

Both agents are still conscious. But the webbed agent is on his last legs, so to speak, and both are stunned.

Cecila hmmms .oO( Maybe we should just knock the kid out... doesn't that usually stop mind control? If that don't work we can knock out the people who are mind controlled too )Oo.

Nodding an affirmative, Aaliyah clenches both of her hands into fists, the spirits of the wall sucking towards her hands like they were being siphoned down a sink drain. Once they are coalesced there, she boldly strides forward through the portal. "So be it. I will strip away the defenses of his soul." she states as she moves forward and flickers through the portal. Once there, she points both hands forward and murmurs in her ancient language... before sending a stream of spirits towards the boy.

Micky squeals like a kicked puppy as Aaliyah affects his mind.

Micky stares resentfully at Aaliyah. His eyes seem to her as if bottomless pits of darkness consigning her mind to chaos.

Charm figures that freeing superheroes from mind control should be her priority. So she casts a spell to just that end on the foremost of the fliers from Cambridge.

Blue Orchid stops in mid air and an amplified voice booms out, "Where..? What's going on? Ugh, I remember now. That -/unprintable/- little brat!"