Log:Star Control, Scene 5

Star Control 2012/06/22 	 Dreya Mindstar Pleiades Dr. Rudder Shadow Star Girl Toby Victory 5

Star Girl says, "I'm going to @&*@&^! kill him." She paces about the lobby of the Starguard building, full of energy.

Pleiades rolls in, having been alerted to the progress in the case, "Um, hi? So we have a target, right?"

Mindstar smiles as Star Girl paces, "While I understand your sentiments, I suggest that's not an optimum stragaty. You might want to put some thought towards preventing Dr Rudder from controlling your suit again instead."

In a puff of smoke, Shadow appears, a bow is offered the guards and several of the security cameras before he advances on the collected group of heros. "Good evening."

Victory nods. "More importantly...he's not working on his own. He used the word 'we'."

Pleiades nods to the other heroes, "We'll just have to be smart then."

Star Girl replies to Mind Star. "My thought is shove an energy blast down his throat..." Her jaw sets, and she sets takes a moment for a deep breath. Sighing, she adds, "I don't know how to get around it. It seems to be some kind of sound thing."

Star Girl looks over to Shadow. "Hey, I remember you. We fought that trio of supervill bank robbers once."

Mindstar nods, "I didn't hear a thing from the intercom. I only 'heard' the signal through the suit senses. That seems to suggest the signal is outside the normal hearing range of frequencies. Could you restrict the range your suit will pick up for this mission?"

Pleiades pats Star Girl on the shoulder, "Maybe you should sit this one out?"

Shadow ponders for a moment then nods his head, "Yes, the firefly, the gigas and the whip jedi. As I recall, they got away, let us not repeat this."

Star Girl gives Pleia an annoyed look. She really, really, really doesn't want to sit this one out.

Star Girl looks to Mindstar. "I doubt it. I can barely get the blasters to work when I want them to."

Victory nods. "I know you want to come along, SG. Let's try this...you should be the reserve. Wait outside. Once we think it's clear enough, we can call you in."

Star Girl says, "... Ok."

Shadow ponders, "Yes, incase of attempted escape... again."

Mindstar says, "Then, if you agree, Star Girl, I can try and root out the conditioning your suit has obviously been given, so the signal will not affect it. I cannot be sure of success but it's better than going and hoping."

Star Girl says, "Is there time? I don't want him to get away..."

Mindstar says, "It will take a few minutes at most, if I can do it at all."

Star Girl nods, giving her permission.

Mindstar settles on a seat and tries to insinuate deep enough into the suits consciousness to locate the conditioning, and then uses her mind editing ability to remove it if she can.

Mindstar sighs and shakes her head. "I can do it, but it will take longer than I expected. It's very deep and ingrained. If we are to catch Dr Rudder before he moves to a new unknown location I fear there is insufficient time.

Rudder's headquarters is a three story home in the heart of Nicholston. It's condemned and looks uninhabitable with decaying walls and boarded-up windows. From Star Girl's memories, Rudder's lab is in the basement.

Pleiades hmmms, "I don't suppose we could just demolish this structure?"

Star Girl stays back, in reserve.

Mindstar closes her eyes and mentally scans the building to determine if any, and if so how many, minds are inside.

Shadow eyes the building, "I imagine there will probably be robots in there as well, if this Rudder can control technology."

Mindstar opens her eyes, "Two human minds inside. I cannot tell about automata or aliens.

Victory says, "Mindstar...did you see anything else related to this area from SG's mind? Other people inside? Defenses?"

Pleiades nods, "If he's working with Dr. Scarlotti, AI Attack Drones."

Mindstar shakes her head, "Sorry, only Dr Rudder was there when the suit was present."

Victory says, "Any chance Dr. Rudder is Dr. Scarlotti? What does Dr. Scarlotti look like?"

Pleiades says, "Um, female for one, but it's possible one of Scarlotti's Numbers could be a shapeshifter."

Victory chuckles. "Well, probably not the same person then." He looks to Mindstar, "Where are the two minds? Both in the basement?"

Mindstar says, "I can't tell without risking them detecting my probe, Victory. All I can say is they were in the area I searched, and that was the building. Do you want to risk my mental search being focused enough to detect their locations within the structure?"

Shadow says, "I can try to get in undetected..."

Mindstar nods to Shadow, "Can you communicate with us outside if you do try?"

Shadow shakes his head, "Not without making noise."

Victory looks to Shadow, "How would you get inside?"

Mindstar says, "I can describe the route Star Girl's suit used to access the basement lab."

Shadow disappears from sight then says, "Well, I was thinking of teleporting in... depends on what kind of view ports they have though. I cannot go where I cannot see."

Mindstar says, "I would also suggest allowing me to establish a telepathic link before you try to enter. So we know if you need assistance."

Shadow reappears and then eyes Mindstar for a moment, he then nods, "I suppose that would be acceptable. If you could describe the entry and secruity measures?"

Victory nods. "How about this, then...I'll head in the front, intending to go to the basement. I'm not sneaky...so I'll be a bit of a distraction. That should draw any attention away from you." He motions to Shadow, "...in case they're being paranoid and packing inside. Pleiades and Mindstar can decide which route to take. Perhaps there are windows that could be opened from inside hte basement, letting them in?"

Pleiades raises her hand hesitantly, "Um, I suck at being sneaky."

Victory grins, "Then you're with me."

Mindstar says, "The route I can describe. I cannot tell you of any details of whatever security systems might be in place, although I'm sure there are such. Dr Rudder was obviously aware of the Star Girl's expected arrival so whatever security was present would have been set to allow her passage."

Shadow nods his head, "Well, I'll have to walk where he hopefully won't expect me to walk." He nods, and allows Mindstar to make the link and explain the way in before setting off.

Mindstar sets up a simple surface thoughts telepathic link with Shadow.

Victory turns on his shield again, "We all set?"

Mindstar nods, "I'm ready. I'll go with you if you agree, Victory, being even less sneaky than anyone here."

Pleiades nods. Her gauntlet adds,in German, "Ready!"

Shadow invisible, he travels the same route that Star Girl walked the way before, only from a few feet higher, as he is walking, wall climbing style across the ceiling. He teleports past any doors as he goes, looking for drones or other security systems and traveling as quietly as possible.

Victory nods, and heads up to the door of the building, and tries to open it.

Pleiades follows along

Mindstar follows Victory closely, prepared to shield both with a protective telekinetic field.

As Shadow slips into the back he finds something waiting for him. Some kind of automaton, with a cylindrical body and red cables for arms. It's hovering there with a lens-eye focused on the back entrance. It doesn't react to Shadow's presence. Either it's not noticed him or it's not reacting visibly.

Victory tries to force the door...

Victory shoulders the door, forcing it open. He steps inside, trying to be wary of security systems and traps and whatnot. But he's primarily looking for what might be a door to the basement.

In the front entrance hall, there's another one of those floating robots. It spins and turns its lens towards Victory and the rest of the diversion group.

Shadow sends an image of the automaton back to Mindstar, . He continues on inward on to the center of the base.

Pleiades pumps her fist, "Yes! Scarlotti is here! Those are her attack drones!"

Mindstar looks over Victory's shoulder, "Ah... company I note."

Victory glances to Pleiades, "Great...do you have the firepower to shut it down?"

Pleiades hmms, "Um, be careful, there my be Stalker Drones too. They like to stab you in the back from behind an invisibility screen" She nods to Vistory, "Sure, unless she's upgraded them a lot, they're pretty weak."

The AI Drone in the back entrance doesn't react as Shadow slips past it. He's able to move into the basement, into the lab. From his stealthy vantage point, he can see two people...

A tall, slender woman in a light blue body suit. This is a tall woman, just a hair over six feet tall, topped with purple hair cut to a short bob. She's attractive, but tends to wear a serious expression.

And Dr. Rudder.

Dreya says, "They've breeched the perimeter. They'll be on top of us soon... I don't know that I'll be able to protect you from them."

Mindstar doesn't comment on Shadow's mental message, concerned that if she can be overheard it will reveal Shadow's presence and progress to the enemy.

Rudder says, "Just a big longer, Dreya my dear..." He scrambling around grabbing bits of equipment and tossing them into a giant trunk. "I almost had all the equipment I need to start cloning the alien suit... it would be a shame to start from scratch again."

Shadow sending to mindstar  He ponders his next course of action.

Victory realizes it's a robot, and he might have a little trouble hurting it. So, he goes for the biggest strike he can muster. He spins, and tries to drive his foot into the robot, to at least knock it backward.

Victory's foot glances off of the alloyed side of the robot, sending it back against one of the walls. It doesn't seem affected by being batted around, though.

Victory's boot glances off the robot, "I really hope you can take this down, Pleiades. Because I'm going to have some problems doing so."

Pleiades grins, "Maybe she did upgrade them. Panzerfaust! Cannon Shot!" She pulls back her fist as a runic triangle appears beneath her skates. The bands on her gauntlet rev up and the air shimmers around it. She punches toward the drone, sending a focused shock wave toward it!

The cannon shot tears a gash into the side of the cylindrical body of the robot.

The robot reacts by turning its lens on Pleia. It glows red just before emitting a laser at the cross-dimensional cop.

The drone that was minding the back entrance floats down to the basement lab, on it's way to the front entrance. It's route takes it right past Shadow...

Pleiades catches must of the blast on her gauntlet, and spins on her skates, letting the momentum spin her rather than knock her down.

The drone passes right by Shadow. Dreya and Dr. Rudder continue, without noticing Shadow.

Meanwhile, in the front of the building, three more drones show up.

Pleiades grins, "Great! If we can get them bunched up a little, I can take them all out in one shot!"

Shadow thinks to Mindstar 

Mindstar thinks back to Shadow we already have four here. Be careful.

Mindstar picks one of the new arrivals, and since it's flying and she saw how the first one was thrown back by Victory, she releases a powerful kinetic pulse at it.

Mindstar slams one of the drones back, and out of site. It crunches through several of the weakened walls of the building until it ends up outside.

Mindstar blinks and utters a heartfelt, "Wow!" as the drone is blasted right out of the building through all intervening walls.

Victory smiles. "Nice shot."

Pleiades says, "Good one!"

Toby was simply walking along, not caring much of what was happening when suddenly she noticed the heroes breaking into the building. However, she reconized that at least 2 of them were infact heroes. But regardless, green light flows from the power-lines laided across her body, surrounding her, and propelling her towards the scene.

Victory goes after one of the other robots that's newly arrived, leaning into a long side kick.

Victory's kick pings off of the armor.

Toby lands on the ground. Then, she takes note of Victory's action and tries blasting one of the bots with a green line of energy. "What's happening here?" Toby asks.

Victory glances back to Toby, "Long story short...there's at least one evil scientist in the basement. Probably two."

Pleiades helpfully adds, "Onew might a roguie Research Mage,"

Mindstar says, "Recovery of stolen materials and apprehension or criminals. Hopefully, anyway. Thanks for helping. Full story to follow after we deal with a few minor issues, like hostile robots and villains."

Toby's blast blast punching a hole into the robot and knock it into the next room. It's sparking, but still hovering.

Pleiades hmmms, "Can't risk a Cannon Burster with an ally engaged. Panzerfaust! Sword Breaker!" A runic triangle forms beneath her as she skates toward a damaged drone, thrusting put her hand palm first. The air shimmers around her gauntlet as she sets up a destructive resonate standing shockwave and tries to touch the drone.

Pleiades touches the drone. Its armor plating shatters and it falls to pieces. "One down!"

In the front room, the two remaining drones pick their targets: Pleia and Toby.

Victory grimaces as he realizes the drones must be able to do threat analysis.

Another drone comes up from the basement. Now there are three in the room.

Mindstar echoes Pleiades comment with her own "Two down." and follows that with, "Pleiades, Victory, go on if you think fit, our new friend and I can finish these."

Dreya says to Dr. Rudder. "We can't wait any longer. The drones are dropping," she says in a flat voice. She walks over to the Doctor...

Rudder says, "Wait -- the equipment!"

Dreya says, "Equipment can be replaced. People cannot." She takes a hold of the back of Rudder's armor vest. She crouches, and a giant pair of angel wings made of coherent energy emerge from her back. She prepares to zoom upwards straight through the rest of the house.

Shadow drops from the ceiling, becoming visible as he grabs the box out of the hands of Rudder, and then he disappears, teleporting in the same direction as the bad guys went.

Just as Shadow appears, Dreya zooms straight upwards through the building, with Rudder in tow. She streaks upwards crashing through each of the floors of the building. The damage is more than the delapidated structure can bear and it starts coming down around the ears of the heroes.

Victory realizes he's going to have trouble getting out, so he braces, putting his shield above himself. "If it's this weak, maybe we'll be okay, and it's bounce off us."

Mindstar lifts her hands, and the silvery metal band around her forehead glows bright as a hemispheric bubble of force appears around her enclosing Victory and Toby as well.