Log:SGG - No. 4

Starguard Gamma 2012/03/04 	 David Marshall Force Jolt Mindstar Paul van Sterran Total Babe Utility Will Andersen 1

The Starguard Gamma team finds itself back in the briefing room. All the plastic wrap has been removed from the chairs, tables, and electronics. Coffee is available. Paul van Sterran is there, and he says: "First order of business. New team member. I'd like everyone to meet Mindstar. I have a feeling that her particular abilities will come in useful..." He looks to Kay. "Force, where do we stand with the Phylxian situation?"

Total Babe sits quiety and listens. Not having been able to be at the last meeting, she's trying to catch up with events.

Mindstar finishes her lecture schedule for the day, Sunday classes, she did take on a lot of extra credits, and changing into her costume makes her way to Starguard HQ.

[To Kay] Mindstar says, "Thanks for putting in a good word for me. I'll try not to let you or the team down."

[To Mindstar] Total Babe says, "Welcome to the team!"

[To Total Babe] Mindstar says, "Thank you."

Jolt made it here on time, she smiles and waves to the new person as she looks at those who made it today "Cool, new people... well welcome" then listens to what people have to say about the recent events.

Kay as usual was present when folks started arriving, ever the go getter and forward pusher she's never late. As it is when Mindstar is announced Kay's lips curl into a small smile and she nods, "Glad to have you with us Mindstar. I am assuming your abilities are of the mentalist category. Something which will be very useful against the Phylxian's." She turns back towards the team and then gets into it.

"Three of aliens of Phylxian origin, and yes, they are Phylxian's I verified that with someone who has Phylxian heritage on the planet, were held in stasis in hyperspace for time unending, except something happened and now they're our problem. Dreadnought has been captured and is currently being detained though I expect a rescue attempt coming for him at any moment which is why I have been keeping Dreadnought under guard." She pauses.

"Zereg is probably the most mentalist out of the Phylxian's, while all of their powers are psionic in origin, they do not always have psionic results. Such as Dreadnoughts Terrakinetics, or Veidra's energy manipulation of the purple variety." She then continues after another short pause. "Veidra made off with enough guns and weapons to outfit around a couple dozen people. While not the most threatening, combined small arms might be enough to overwhelm many meta's on the team so this is a threat we cannot ignore. Especially the threat to non-meta personel guarding Dreadnought. Or elsewhere should they be used as a distraction. We also recovered Will Anderson, who has no memory of his time with Zereg, but I am betting he has been conditioned with something akin to post hypnotic suggestions which still makes him a possible threat to us and himself."

"Finally... we've deciphered that the pods are indeed stasis pods, with the ability to incapacitate the brainwaves of the persons interred to render psionics incapable of working. I've asked the pods to be repaired, just in case, but we don't know how to turn them on yet. It possibly takes psionic command or the like. I think it's safe to say that these aliens represent a clear and present danger to our well being in general."

Paul nods. "So what's our next move, people?"

Total Babe says, "WHere are the aliens now?"

Kay shrugs a little, "Dreadnought is still in containment. Veidra and Zed... well they're at large. We haven't had any sightings of them recently, and we may not. Zed's mental abilities are powerful enough to erase long stretches of time."

Total Babe says, "So - we'd need a way to find them, or to lure them into a trap."

Total Babe says, "If you're right about the rescue attempt, maybe the best thing to do is to be ready for them when they try that?"

Jolt hrms "That's assuming they even know where he's being kept"

Kay smiles, "Oh I think they'll be coming to us soon enough. The question is not where, but when. It depends on what they want with the planet. They have no way off it that we know of. They could attempt to take over, or they may content themselves with being general villains. I am leaning to the former however. My research into the Phylxian mindset has indicated that they, as a species, are /not/ nice beings. That these three got convicted of high treason and sedition, that's saying something." She looks towards Jolt, "They're all telepathic to some degree, it's a safe bet they might know where he is already."

Paul says, "Now that we have a telepath, we could see if Dreadnaught is willing to talk, though I doubt it... Also, there's Will Andersen to debrief."

Mindstar put up her hand.

Kay nods agreement with Paul, "Yes Mindstar?" She asks, then smiles, "It's pretty much open forum, speak your mind."

Paul nods to Mindstar. "This isn't a classroom. Go ahead."

Mindstar nods, "If Will Andersen's memories have been mentally suppressed I'm fairly sure I can probe deep enough into his mind if he'swilling to retrieve them.

"Given that his choices at the moment are fairly limited," Kay admits, "I'm fairly certain he'll be willing if it lets him go home."

Paul nods. "Is there anything else that we can be doing?"

Total Babe says, "Do we have any contact with the Phlyxians? I mean, would they be willing to clear up their own mess?"

Kay looks at the others then looks to Paul, "We need to canvas the papers and missing person reports in the area, anything that stands out could be Veidra and Zereg 'recruiting' as I doubt Zereg's going to take the time to modify the memories of everyone connected to them. They have more weapons than they would use and likely consider beneath them compared to their natural abilities." She folds her hands together behind her back, "We'll also need to keep our ears to the ground as it's possible they could be contacting other villanous organizations or individuals to put together a team. As for the Phylxian race... my research indicates they are selfish and immoral creatures as a whole."

Paul says to Babe: "They're not a Guild world, so we don't have a line of communication with them. From what I understand, so long as nothing they do affects their neighboring systems, the Guild leaves them alone."

A Starguard trooper bring Will Andersen up to the room...

Mindstar starts to raise her hand but stops before it moves very far, "Uh, I realise I'm new on the team, but as I understand it Starguard is just starting to operate here itself. Would it be an idea to invite whichever UE Marshal was previously responsible for alien incidents to attend. He or she may have existing contacts and information?"

Kay looks over towards Mindstar, "The UEMS is not connected to Star Guard. On United States grounds it falls to us first. As Phylxian's are not a Guild species it is not a UEMS matter." She explains simply.

Mindstar looks a bit abashed by the quite negative reply, "Oh.. uh.. Okay. Sorry."

Paul watches the exchange between Kay and Mindstar. He jots a note on his PDA for later.

[To Mindstar] Kay smiles encouragingly, "I'll explain more later, for now, this is on us."

Will Andersen. He's a family in his forties, with sandy blonde hair that's beginning to recede up his forehead. He's dresses in a button down shirt and khaki. He looks exhausted.

Will Andersen shakes his head. "I've been over this with the other people... I.. I don't remember anything since being on the farm. I remember hearing the crash, and then thinking to check on my son... after that it's a big blank..."

Total Babe glances to Mindstar.

Mindstar steps over to Will Andersen, "Hello, Sir. I'm Mindstar, a mentalist hero. With your permission I could try to retrieve those missing memories."

Will sighs, "Whatever... If it gets me back home to my family, just do what you need to do..."

Kay looks over towards TB and Jolt, "Us digging into his head could well signal the aliens. We should be ready just in case." And she gets ready to restrain Mr. Anderson, should he suddenly become ninja martial artist knowing kung fu due to mental programming and turned against them.

Mindstar gestures to a chair, "Please sit down. This may take a few minutes and you might as well be comfortable. Before we start I'd like to reassure you the process is quite painless. In fact you're unlikely to feel anything at all."

Total Babe nods to Kay, though that sound a bit paranoid to her. She just stands quietyl, watching.

Will hears Kay's suggestion. "Wait... what?" She looks to Mindstar. "What is she talking about?" he asks anxiously.

Mindstar says, "You came into contact with an alien with some mental abilities. It's possible that the alien is maintaining a mental link with your mind and will attack this location to prevent you giving us the information we need to track the alien and his colleague down. However you're in a secured facility and quite safe."

Will Andersen seems to relax, reassured by Mindstar's words. He settles down into the char she pointed out for him.

Mindstar sits facing Will Andersen and reaches out to hold one of his hands, "Physical contact helps." she explains.

Will nods and gives Mindstar his hand.

Mindstar settles down and looks into Will Andersen's eyes. Nothing visible appears to happen but on the mental level she is slowly and inperceptively probing deeper and deeper into his mind clearing away the blocks imposed on his memories.

Will says, "I ... I can remember!" His tone is excited. "I can remember..." he says, somberly as the realization of what's happened to him begins to dawn.

Will Andersen begins to describe his ordeal.

Mindstar releases Will's hand and sits back, lifting her facemask just a little to wipe her brow with a hanky.

Kay nods in appreciation to Mindstar's abilities and success in helping the poor guy. She looks a bit relieved, only a bit, that there was no violence.

And the end of his tale, Will looks defeated. "That... bastard..." he says towards the floor.

"We'll get him." Kay says softly to Will, "You've been a great help. Now we know what he looks like and know he's nearby. We'll get you back to your family as soon as possible Mr. Anderson."

Paul says, "Let's get a composite sketch out Zereg's face out on the wires to local and state police."

Mindstar lays a hand on Will's shoulder, "You're free of any influence now. You've come to no harm from this. Inconvenience to be sure but you are physically and mentally unharmed. Thank you for your assistance. It will be invaluable."

"We could do a public broadcast, not that he's an alien but just a wanted individual, turn the public into a tool for us." Kay suggests to Paul, "Same on Vee. They're here now, we know that. We'll also need to get their likenesses to every public works and government building in the area."

Will's jaw sets as he looks over to Mindstar. "Promise me you'll catch him..." He looks to Kay as well, looking to secure her promise as well.

Mindstar nods, "You have my word, Sir. He will be caught and justice will be done."

Kay adds, "Activate traffic cams as well, keep a running facial recognition program going." She looks towards Will and smiles bracingly, "Oh we'll get him, one way or the other. You can count on that."

Right then, a Starguard admin rushes into the conference room. "Sorry," she says to Paul, "You all will want to see this!" She clicks on the big monitor and switches it over to the local news feed. There's a picture of the Colonial Bay City Hall and the title at the bottom reads: "Prisoners Storm City Hall; Mayor Held Hostage"

Total Babe says, "Prisoners from where?"

"Prisoners? What?" Kay raises an eyebrow but folds her arms across her chest under her breasts and looks thoughtful. "Which prisoners?" She wonders to herself.

The journalist on the scene reports: "Just minutes ago, City Hall was attacked by a group of prisoners being transported from the CBPD Jailhouse to an upstate correctional facility. Witnesses report that the prisoners were well armed, with assault rifles and other military style weapons. They quickly over powered the police at the Hall, and we have reports that they advanced as far as the Mayor's office."

Total Babe frowns.

"Well." Kay says dryly, "I think that qualifies as a distraction." She shakes her head, looking towards Paul, "Try to contact the facility holding Dreadnought, they'll likely be under attack very soon, if they're not already disabled by Zereg."

"As many as twenty violent felons where involved in the attack. It is unclear as to how these men escaped or how they obtained their weapons. We have obtained close circuit camera footage of the prisoner we think is in charge of the attack..." There's a grainy still photograph from a camera located in the lobby of the City Hall. Prisoners storm the lobby, led by a dark haired, bearded man with a familiar face...

Total Babe says, "But do we go to City Hall or to the facility?"

The Starguard holding facility reports all is ok. Dreadnaught is acting cranky, but he's still safe in containment.

"Huh." Kay says, "Maybe I was mistaken. They might not be a team at all but just three naughty individuals. Lets go to City Hall, that's where we're needed right now."

Total Babe says, "Or you may still be right - bu yeah."

Paul says, "I'll let CBPD know that you're on your way."

The scene just outside of City Hall is chaotic. Most of the people who were inside are now outside of the building, looking on in shock. There are a handful of police officers on hand, stretched thin between treating injuries, making sure people are out of the building, and watching the Hall for any signs of the prisoners. The scene is more chaotic than they can manage, though; for example, an ambulance tries to make it's way towards the Hall, but is stuck by the wave of people fleeing the scene.

Mindstar goes with the rest to the City Hall. On the way she tells Kay, "I've got little experience of actual heroing. So just let me know what you want me to do."

Total Babe nods. "What's the plan?"

Flying is handy, especially at times like this. Covered in a crimson glow already Kay keeps an eye on what's going down. But she nods with a smile to Mindstar, "I'm sure it'll be ok. Watch out for small arms fire mostly. I've got to find whoever's in charge amongst the police." She then goes gives some general orders, "We need to get the people back, including EMS. Set up a station out of the line of fire from the windows. We'll also need to keep the whole building under observation." She tells her team mates over SGG communicators. "Who's the officer in charge here?!" She calls out to the police on site .oO( Wish I could have settled on a costume design by now... oh well, can't be helped.) She thinks to herself.

"That'd be me," a uniformed police officer says. He's bloodied, but it appears to all be from someone else. "They hit us before we knew what was going on..." His statement is interrupted by the sound of machinegun fire coming from inside the Hall. Someone returns fire with a handgun. The police officer flinches at the sound.

Total Babe glances at Kay. "We need to do something, now!"

The police officer continues. "In five minutes we'll have every cop who can lift a coffee cup over here from police HQ, but by then I think it will be too late. I got two cops in the lobby, pinned down by a machinegun!"

Mindstar looks at Kay, "Should I go get them out?"

Total Babe says, "Or me? The guns won't hurt me...."

Kay glances at Total Babe and shakes her head a bit, "Officer, have your men pull back and stop returning fire now please. We will be getting shot at enough without any so called friendly fire coming in. We'll get your men out before it's to late but focus on keeping civilians and EMS back. We don't need /more/ wounded." Then to Total Babe she says, "TB Go in the front door, try and calm them down and say you want to talk." A turn, "Mindstar, I need you to scan the building and find Zereg for us so we know where he is. The mayor is probably right there as well. If you can, stop Zereg from controlling anyone else. Like the Mayor." A turn, "Jolt, can you go airborne, make sure none of the prisoners try and go out the back or try to escape with hostages." She then says to the officer, "I need a bullhorn."

Stepping among and through thin line of uniformed officers, Deputy Marshal Marshall is focused more on the building than those fleeing or crowd control. He attempts to get a situational report from nearby personnel. The only thing worse than learning of an incident from the media is relying on it for onsite intel. And then the costumes arrive. Joy. At least the current OIC is identified, giving David a direction other than the gunfire. "What is the situation, officer? How many hostages? How many holding them?"

Arriving a little bit late to the party comes Utility, moving across the rooftops and occasionally jumping before landing on the pavement a bit behind the cops on the far side from City Hall. She starts to walk up towards the area where the discussion is being held, but then stops a certain distance from it so as not to interrupt those present apparently assuming that the situation is largely under control.

Meanwhile, a fax machine at SGG HQ prints up a mugshot of a John Doe prisoner that was arrested by CBPD the other night as a positive facial match for SGG's fugitive.

Jolt flies overtop of the crowd with the other heroes "We gotta go in there anyway so lets go" she gets ready to follow TB into the fray since she knows TB is one of the tougher ones.

Total Babe nods and runs for the front door. Which she enters, holding her hands above her head. "Hello? I'm here to talk.... what's this about?"

Mindstar sits on the ground and leans back against a police car before starting her mental search of the building, her form going limp and unresponsive when her mind moves out to seek for the alien mind-signature.

The police officer in charge tells Kay, "Yes, ma'am!" He tells the other cops. "You heard her... get everyone bank!" The cops focus on setting up a perimeter and getting the civilians out of harms way.

A police officer hurredly tells Dave, "Starguard's in charge now." He points out Kay, and adds, "Ask her!" He returns his task of helping get civilians back.

Total Babe enters the main lobby with the high vaulted roof. A pair of prisoners have set up a machinegun at the top of the stairs where they have overwatch over the entire lobby. The have a pair of policemen pinned down. They huddle behind the base of a statue in the middle of the room for cover.

Total Babe proceeds toward the prisoners with the machine guns, arms still held high. Making sure their attention is on her, not the police. "What's this all about? Want to talk about it?"

[To Jolt] Kay says, "Since you're not going into overwatch like I asked, yank that machine gun out of the prisoners hands to free up those cops if they don't stand down. I assume that it's metal, and you can grab it."

"Capes!" one of the prisoners in the lobby says. "Light 'em up!" says the other.

Jolt is standing just outside the main door. She was ready to provide backup and support for TB "sorry about that but sure that works good too. Arent the police covering the building" she says as she gets ready to turn around the corner and yank the machine guns.

Hearing the criminals in City Hall become aware of the presence of the heroes, Utility audibly exhales and switches on her stealth field before attempting to approach the building while their attention is on TB in an attempt to get into melee range and knock them out.

The prisoners on the balcony of the lobby spray Total Babe with machinegun fire.

Total Babe frowns as the machinegun fire hits her. "I wish people would stop attacking me. Do you have any idea what it costs me in clothes?" She pulls her gun out of her jacket pocket and fires at the two machinegunners.

The machinegunner prisoner takes the hit and collapses, unconscious. He's only wearing orange coveralls and the normally non-lethal rounds crack him hard in the ribs.

Total Babe thinks. o O (Whoops. Have to go gentle on these guys. Still, better cracked ribs than dead cops.)

Kay nods, "Go ahead Jolt, you and TB move up by two, remove the prisoners of their weapons and ready them for capture. I'll stay with Mindstar. If you run into numero uno baddy, give me his location and I will assist." Otherwise, she stays with the limp form of Mindstar.

Jolt hears a burst of machine gun fire and figures the best method to handling the sistuation is herself and turns the corner and seeing what appears to be one guy knocked out she reaches out with magnetic force to fling the machine gun at the other guy if possible

Whud! The machinegun slams ride into the gun of the other prisoner. He collapses forward to his knee, and then onto his face. He lies still.

As the gun slams into the second prisoner, Utility moves in to hit him on the back of the head before the prisoner slumps over. Overextending herself, Utility stumbles forwards a few steps before looking around the room and noticing the absence of any standing prisoners. "Well, that went a bit more smoothly than I might've expected." she says before moving further into City Hall while staying in visual cover, in an attempt to check for more prisoners further in.

David Marshall frowns and turns his attention to Kay, along with his credentials. "Deputy Marshal Marshall, UEMS. And you are?" Yells and gunfire from the lobby turn and focus his attention there, and now he's forced to ask aloud, "What in the hell are they doing?"

Total Babe calls to the once=pinned police, "Get to safety. We'll handle this."

"Thanks!" The cops say, as they run out through the front door.

Kay glances at David, the credentials get no more than a brief look, "Force. Leader of Star Guard Gamma Team. Your presence is not required at this time Marshall. If you wish to watch I would advise moving back behind the police cordone." She gestures back toward where the cops are setting up a clear line. "As to what's going on, unless I miss my guess two police officers who were pinned down by machine gun fire were just rescued." then she says over the SGG Communicators, "Good job you two. Remember this is a hostage situation."

Kay asides to David, "However, if you are going to insist in keeping yourself involved. Give me a run down of what you can do so I can try to coordinate things and keep people as safe as possible."

Mindstar's first attempt to seek out Zereg's mind fails. The second attempt succeeds spectacularly and suddenly, like the mental equivalent of tripping over something in the dark. Instantly, she becomes aware of Commander Zereg's location. In the Hall of Records Museum on the 5th floor of the building.

Commander Zereg thinks to Mindstar: << Interesting. So this planet is not complete devoid of mentallists. >>

Mindstar opens her eyes looking a little panicked.

Mindstar screams.

Mindstar says, "He's incredibly strong mentally. He let me in intentionally so he could use the link to blast my mind. Fifth floor, a room full of records."

Total Babe thinks. o O (I wonder if my invulnerability extends to mental powers....)

Kay winces at Mindstar's scream, "Alright, recover as you can, if you think you can do anything against the prisoners to help round them up... or better yet locate and lock down the mayor, that'd be great." She then looks at David, "No more time to chat." And she focuses her mind, preparing to launch herself up to the fifth floor windows and through if she can. Over the communicator: "Fifth floor everyone, and he's strong so subdue with all haste."

The fifth floor of City Hall was the Hall of Records, but with the advent of the microchip, it's been turned into museum of sorts. The room is round, with a 25m radius. Museum exhibits are on waist high shelves set in concentric circles 5 meters apart in the room. At the center of the room is the Mayor, who's in a chair seated next to Zereg who's standing.

Also in the room: ten prisoners with automatic weapons.

David Marshall pauses for a breath before acquiescing. "I received the notice of the likely supsect, but until I see little green men with acid for blood, I have my doubts. Jurisdiction aside, is charging in blind the best way to keep people safe. You may be bulletproof, but the hostages are not. I can help, if you're in a sharing moo-" Screams and updates are helpful, also. Now that he has a ballpark location, he can peek his head in. Literally, as he leans forward through a suddenly-appearing 'window' in space.

Kay also radio's, "Ten armed hostiles on the 5th floor, main target in sight. Mayor likely under mental control."

Total Babe runs onward and upward, toward the fifth floor, but looking out for other people to rescue on the way.

Total Babe spots two armed prisoners and fires a bullet at each, hopefully before they can react.

Total Babe drops one of the men, while the other takes a more grazing shot.

Meanwhile, in the Hall of Records, Zereg speaks. "This is your chance to earn your places as my lieutenants in the new world order, men. Kill her!" He begins to fade from sight, but now before saying something softly to Mayor Cangelosi. "Now..."

Mindstar can still here Zereg's surface thoughts: << Now, Veidra. Start the second part of the plan. >>

Mindstar says, "Oh crud."

Mindstar hardens her mind against Zereg's intrusion and feels the powerful attack narrowly miss her. "Zereg's just given the order for another alien to break their colleague out of jail. Marshal, can you help?"

Kay cocks her head as the alien goes invisible, but, he was standing right next to the mayor. Given the likely path of travel from there to the nearest exit she points off to the side of the mayor, "I'm sorry Mr. Mayor, but we can't have you doing whatever it is he programmed you to do." And the red glow that was surrounding her suddenly flows down to her hand and she /flings/ it off like it was a physical thing, trying to anyways, to send the energy off in her best guess to hit the mayor, as many of the prisoners as she can, and where she hopes will overlap the alien also. "This is Force, reinforce containment on Dreadnought. Commander Veidra may be incoming, Zereg is trying to bug out." Is sent over communicators, "Team, lets round up these prisoners first and foremost."

On the fifth floor there is something akin to a small explosion. Red energy pulses, windows shatter, furnitore goes flying out the windows but fortunately, no bodies, or body parts. As it stands Kay's voice says calmly over the communicators, "5 prisoners down. Mayor also restrained... after a fashion."

Jolt is with TB and following, naturally as she shoots at the prisoners she decides to handle it accordingly and flings a bolt of electricity at the remaining guy... less than she'd normally do that's for sure

The armed prisoner ducks behind cover just in time to avoid Jolt's blast.

Mindstar says, "Marshal, if I teleport you up to the 5th floor can you survive gunfire and help Force?"

David Marshall stated that he would assist, and moves to do so. His head is followed by the rest of him as he completely steps through the portal to the fifth floor. Not that Miss Force appears to require any great assistance, but it is more productive than merely observing. Were the alien held at Tranquility, he might be able to readily warn them, but it is not, to his knowledge.

Mindstar creates a powerful aura of command around herself and telekinetically flies up to the 5th floor. When she can see the prisoners in the hall of records she speaks forcefully, "Putdown your weapons and surrender!"

David Marshall would tell them to surrender, but that is done for him. He can still help to encourage them, with the help of a small device pulled from his blazer.

Rushing through the building comes Utility, moving at a rather high speed upon hearing the commotion going on at the upper levels. Heading to the stairwell, she stands in the middle and makes a rather impressive leap up onto the stairs just a bit below the 5th level and continues moving on up towards the other prisoners and heroes.

Utility reaches the stairwell to find there are 3 pairs of armed prisoners on each of the floors.

Paul van Sterran radios: "This is Paul at SGG HQ. We're under attack. Veidra I think. I'm ordering every Starguard trooper between the entrance and the containment cells to stand down and evacuate. I don't want a repeat of what she did at the militia camp. Maybe we can trap and stall her down by the cells long enough for you guys to get back."

In the Hall of Records, the prisoners look amongst themselves, trying to decide what to. "Hell, there's only one way out of here guys..." one of them says. Another prisoner nods, and raises his weapon.

Kay frowns as David is suddenly there and then guns are raised. She steps to the side to block the shot possible at David, bullets fly and flatten in the air just off her skin, falling to the ground. She doesn't even move from the impacts. "Give it up."

Meanwhile in the staircase, the inmates open fire on Utility.

Kay frowns as David is suddenly there and then guns are raised after the shouts. "Mindstar take them down." She commands but she sighs and moves to jump in front of the bullets as they are fired so that David doesn't catch any fire. Both bullets flatten in mid air before falling to the ground and Kay hits the ground as well, sliding a bit afterwards. "The only way out of here is in chains!" She calls out to the prisoners, "Give it up."

As the shots are fired, Utility is knocked over towards the wall by the hits and slams against it with an audible sound somewhere between a clank and a thud. She takes a moment to collect herself before standing up once more and venting a small amount of plasma into her hands, ready to fire it off if need be.