Log:Barnabas Bighead, Scene 4

Barnabas Bighead 2020/01/31 Baker Ellbeth Grimm Mercury Union Voyager Barnabas Bighead

4

The heroes learned where Barnabas Bighead's weapon factory was, thanks to a rat informer talking to Carpenter. The detctive arrange for the heroes to meet on a dawn raid of the factory. It was found to hold three human-sized rat mechs, with more coming off the production line as well as 10 rats in smaller power armour and about a score with made-for-rat guns. The heroes have turned off power to the building at the fuse box and rendered all three mech pilots unconscious, but there are still the other rats to contend with. Meanwhile, one of the two mind-controlled humans in the factory is walking toward the fusebox, oblivious to the fighting about him...

Grimm notices Night Marshal shooting at something not below them. She looks up to try and spy the target and lifts her hand at the fat rat before sending a dark blast its way.

The power-armoured rat sways, then topples off the machinery he's perched on, landing with a clank among the equipment below.

Grimm winces at the long fall the power-armored rat makes.

Baker responds to the reported disturbance of... surely they must be kidding. Alas, as he arrives, many of the details seem to be proven true. Many more than he'd prefer, mostly that involving rodents and tech. He floats his way in through the same large hole through which he's looking, then lands, trying to take stock of and/or validate what the heck is going on.

Night Marshal takes aim at the human walking toward the fusebox. "I reckon I'm gonna to drop the guy turning the power back on. Using a non-lethal round." He keeps low, trying to get some semblance of cover as he takes a shot at his target.

The guy just collapses to the ground in mid-stride.

Grimm lets out a low whistle. "Nice shooting, Tex," she grins.

Union sees the human worker drop after being shot. She moves toward him with the intention of getting him out of danger, but not reclessly.

A few more rats pop out of cover to fire on the heroes, joining those already engaged.

Grimm gets shot in the shoulder and spun around, going over the rail from the force of the shot.

Arriving on scene is Mercury, who had heard of the raid, the primary involved substance and location, needing a little more time to get herself extricated from class so she could provide her personal expertise and influence. Her fluid form hardens up, growing in proportions to cover a larger area, making a very loud metal-on-metal screeching that is bothersome to those without very sensitive hearing, and probably nightmarish to those with very sensitive hearing. "Your operation will cease immediately! Piece by piece I will personally dismantle your weapons, your armour suits and your production lines!" It is a challenge, issued to any rat capable of understanding her.

Rats shooting everywhere. How in the... Baker sees Grimm blasted over the railing overhead and reacts by reaching out to catch her ... with his mind. This diverts his attention from those that now fire on him, but all but a fraction of the incoming blasts are diffused just centimeters from his body. His uniform gets a bit singed, and he stumbles a step, but remains on his feet.

Voyager pages: Oh I must have missed that! I'd been waiting but was also working while I was reading through poses. My bad!

Voyager continues redirecting power around damaged primary systems while booting up its back up redundant systems for those damaged systems that have backups. The indicator lights across its body flash as it reboots into the new configuration and then the RTS copyrighted melody announces its return to consciousness.

The android runs a series of diagnostic scans while it performs a cursory review of its current location & the location of combatants. It selects a target as it returns to its feet and waits for an opening.

The Andorid's defensive systems & ruggedized casing absorb the worst of the shots that do hit it. Unfortunately for the rats that shot at it have made them selves high priority targets.

Most of the rats' blasts slam into Mercury's body and seem to have little effect, while one very well placed shot actually moves her hyperdense form, knocking her over.

Ellbeth is knocked down by the rat's attack.

Grimm is grateful to be caught by Baker. Only she takes another shut and grunts, curling up to try and guard herself. She blinks a few times, her head dipping down before jerking up as she tries to remain conscious. She's in bad shape.

Ellbeth doesn't stand. She teleports to where Union and the unconscious human worker are and creates a 300 degree barrier around the trio, leaving access out towards the front entrance/exit.

The rats fight on but are less organised since the loss of their leader, and seem to be firing largely at whomever they see as the greatest threat to themselves personally.

Union scoops up the unconsious worker and sprints for the entrance, trying to get him outside and out of danger.

Grimm thinks things are getting dangerous, and rat reinforcements are coming. She's just not sure how they're getting teleported in. She was reluctant to overextend her powers in her current condition, but the situation seems to call for it.

She rotates to an upright position and straightens out, floating on her own. Her pupils dilate, only they keep going, until her eyes are completely black. Raven hair begins to drift up and float with a life of its own, then faster as a wind picks up around her. It's followed by a swirl of dark energy whipping around a central point in swirling streaks. The path of the dark ribbons expands to cover a good section of the interior, seeking out the rats to drain them of their life force.

Gabrielle Grimm, Mistress of Tenebration, hopes she can bluff with this show of strength. The shadow storm still rages several rats are staggered. Her voice echoes hollowly. "You're leaderless now! Put down your guns and surrender to Starguard, and you won't be harmed any further!"

Ten rats, 4 in power armour, are knocked over by Grimm the terrible's voice.

Night Marshal finds himself wishing he had tangle grenades with a larger blast radius. Instead, they're a single target. So, he takes a shot at one of the gun toting rats, remaining in cover as he does so.

Night Marshal manages to plug another rat, knocking it out. . o O (I do not have enough rounds. This isn't tenable. I really wish I had some kind of way of hitting more than one at once.)

Gabrielle's Galadriel act sends most of the rats knocked down or cowering/kneeling down briefly before her terrifying presence. Maintaining the storm and her presence strains her powers and body. Blood trickles down from her nose, a few drops falling away to splatter on the machinery below.

Voyager sees its opening and it charges the nearest offender near by.

"This Unit has offered every opportunity to resolve this engagement amicably but you refuse. You give the entire order of Rodentia a bad name!" The Android admonishes.

Then he runs across and attempts strike his target in a pivotal & critical point so as to do the most damage possible with the least amount of energy expended.

The armoured rat is sent flying across the room.

Baker may not have tried to catch Grimm if he'd known she could fly. She didn't seem to be at that moment. He turns his focus to the rats, with the metal-encased one volunteering to be singled out. Baker reaches out to grab him telekinetically. Rat in a trap?

From up in the catwalk, an amplified rat voice says two words. "Go home."

Please enter an integer between 1 and 12 for the number of 3D6 to roll.

The rats - all the ones you can see any way - start scurrying off between the machinery, taking their weapons with them.

The other human starts heading home, too.

Mercury elects to make Barnabas's present location much closer to that of the others, rather than higher up. Her arms extend to reach the catwalk and warp it severely to funnel the rats into the immediate presence of those they would very much prefer to avoid.

Even with her considerable might, Mercury's lack of experience in brute-forcing steel walkways proves to be her failing. She pulls at the wrong spot, weakening it severely rather than reorienting it.

Union hears the command from Bighead, but feels no need to obey. She remembers spotting a big-headed rat on the catwalk a moment before. Leaving the unconscious worker outside and out of the line of fire, she runs back inside, trying to get in position to leap up to the catwalk.

Grimm teleports back up to the catwalk, landing on her feet as she phases off with Bighead. He's the one controlling them all. Black tentacles snake out of her dark aura and reach to grab the rat.

The catwalk creaks beneath Grimm's weight but doesn't break.

Grimm's tendrils can't catch Bighead, especially with the shuddering of the catwalk. "Shick..."

Night Marshal has an urge to go home...but he shakes his head as he waves off the compulsion. He looks up at Bighead and figures that's hte target to deal with. Once that rat is down, thsi situation is likely dealt with. He takes aim and fires.

Night Marshal has an urge to go home...but he shakes his head as he waves off the compulsion. He looks up at Bighead and figures that's hte target to deal with. Once that rat is down, thsi situation is likely dealt with. He takes aim and fires.

Night Marshal has an urge to go home...but he shakes his head as he waves off the compulsion. He looks up at Bighead and figures that's hte target to deal with. Once that rat is down, thsi situation is likely dealt with. He takes aim and fires.

The attack is deflected by Bighead's telekinetic force field. But his wince is unmistakeable.

Night Marshal grimaces under his mask. . o O (These rats are better protected than I am. .)

Baker shifts his attention upwards at the expansive compulsion. While his trained mind isn't influenced, he's still aware of the effort. It seems others are, as well, and focusing. He join in this, himself, as a piece of formerly-occupied or not-yet-completed armor lifts from the ground to hurt at Big Head the big cheese.

Bighead's remaining guard fire at what they perceive to be the biggest threats to him immediately: Carpenter and Grimm.

Grimm gets blasted square in the chest and sent flying off the catwalk once again with a cry of pain. She's already gone limp as she falls towards the ground.

The Android sees Grimm get blasted and fly off the catwalk.

It pivots, cutting off its offense and leaps to catch Grimm & protect her from further injury.

Bighead realises the day is lost. "Curse you, so-called heroes! You have thwarted my plans! But it will be the last time. You'll never get out of here alive!" And there's a little click as he squuezes something in his hand....

Union gathers herself and springs up into the air, aiming a kick at the big-headed rat.

Union jumps too high, and comes nowhere near Bighead.

Union misses the rat with her kick - and so collides with the twisted, broken catwalk.

The whole structure disintegrates in Mercury's hands - and those on it begin falling.

The Robot turns and fears it cannot catch the others. It beeps woefully.

Night Marshal uses the last shot in his weapon to fire again on Bighead, even while the rat is falling.

Mercury tells Bighead, "Everyone will be leaving here alive today. Including you and your kin. Your efforts to the contrary will earn you only more troubles."

Bighead squeaks in pain - and then he and the other two tumbling rats disappear on a burst of psionic energy.

The other rats, the ones that were stunned before, also leave like they're on a sinking ship.

Union crawls out from under the fallen catwalk.

Union says, "We have two people who probably need medical attention."

Following the swift and controlled placement of fallen catwalk, Mercury's attention is on Grimm, and on seeking out the rat-sized access points of the facility by stretchy tiny filaments.

Night Marshal calls the police department...and paramedics, for that matter.

Union goes back outside to the unconscious guy and looks him over.

The Android sets Grimm down gently and runs its own Paramedical Diagnostics on Grimm.

Union is then mercifully outside when the factory explodes.

Union's whips around at the explosion, "Mercury!" she screams. And runs back inside to save her friend.