Log:Never Count Me Out, Scene 3

Never Count Me Out 2010/12/28 	 Guardian Jade Jennifer 3

 Student Quarter 

The student quarter is north and west of the CBSU campus, and is entirely dependent on the university for its flavor, but its flavor is different. Much of it, especially in the back streets, is cheap housing, with students being the main tenants. On the three main roads, though - Courtland Way heading east, Harrisburg lane northwest, and Stardancer Boulevard south - are one or two grander buildings, most notably the stadium on Courtland and hospital on StarDancer. Along these roads, and scattered through the district, are other services such as students attract: fast food establishments, second-hand stores, laundromats, convenience stores, doughnut shops.

The average age of people on the street is markedly lower than elsewhere in the city, whether walking, cycling, hoverboarding or just hanging out.

 Scene Start 

Jennifer pushes aside a manhole cover and climbs out from the sewers onto the street. She's encased in a force armor at first which, fortunately, means that the muck sticking to her armor simply falls away when the force armor is deactivated.

Jennifer wrinkles her nose and after replacing the manhole cover hurriedly moves away from the spot where she emerged.

Having done her level best to do the escort business with that Countess and Stronghold and all that jazz, Guardian has had a long day. She's coming down with a yellow glow about her as she drifts towards Space Burger. Landing, she pulls a pair of aviator sunglasses out of an inside pocket of her jacket and puts them on over her mildly glowing eyes. Shaking her head, she pats her back pocket to make sure she hasn't lost or forgotten her wallet in the day's activities. Then... waitasec, force armor and sewers? She reaches up and lowers her shades as she eyes the woman moving away frm the manhole.

Jennifer gives a casual wave to Guardian as Guardian comes down to a landing reasonably nearby. Evidently seeing people flying or with yellow glows around them is not that unusual an occurence as far as Jennifer is concerned. Stretching her muscles she arches her back with hands on her hips, the front of her unzipped leather jacket slipping open to reveal a force armor harness over her blouse, and several pouches sewn onto the inside of the jacket.

Well, yeah.. powered individuals aren't a totally unknown thing in this day and age. Guardian smirks and takes her sunglasses -back- off before tucking them away. "Interesting harness you have there." She remarks as she turns to approach a bit closer. Sure, she's hungry but she also is curious about things.

Jennifer nods as Guardian approaches closer. "It comes in useful on occasions." She moves to meet you half way and extends a hand, "Jennifer Markham. It's a pleasure to meet you assuming you're not one of the bad guys. Although if you are that doesn't make meeting you automatically unpleasant but it may complicate matters."

"Define good and bad. I mean... that's such a subjective term. Anyone can be good, or bad, when compared to or decided by certain others." offers Guardian as she extends her own hand to take yours, "Abigail Hearns.." she offers. No point in throwing around military rank in a civilian setting after all. "Markham, that name sounds a bit familiar." she adds.

Jennifer grins, "Major 'Abby' Hearns? Marine Force Recon? I should have recognized you." She comes to attention and snaps off a regulation British Army salute to you before dropping back into a causal slouch. "So the rumors are true I'm guessing. Welcome back to Colonial Bay, Major. Even," her eyes twinkle, "if you are a jarhead."

Shaking her head in amusement, Abby nods, "You're remarkably well informed. You've got me at a disadvantage I believe. But thank you for the welcome..." She sketches a casual salute in return. It's only reflex after all... "But yes, you are correct on all counts."

Jennifer is smiling, "Captain Jennifer Markham, retired. Late of King Harry's 22nd Regiment, Hereford. Among other things I work as a advisor to the DoD showing the snake eaters how to do it right. So you may have heard my name from there. I used to be Starguard Gamma as well, until the deputy director of the Colonial Bay branch and I had a disagreement and I got fired."

"Well, the DD always had the brains of a squirrel. S'one of the reasons I wanted to be a reservist in the Guard, not active and locally asigned." offers Abby. She steps back a half pace and grins, "Oh, I'll be available when the fecal matter hits the rotary wind impeller... but I just answer to Colonel Knox..." (Just made that name up!)

Jennifer asks, "So is it true? I've heard Starguard CB is being re-opened. We could do with it in the city, not just for the good work that Starguard does, this city being a hub of alien activity, but the example a well organized paramilitary team can give to the local heroes. Don't get me wrong, I admire and respect their courage and dedication. But generally their tactics suck and discipline and teamwork aren't even entries in their dictionaries."

Shrugging her shoulders, Abby replies, "Well, I am not sure if it's being reopened. All I know is that I've been assigned as a reservist so that if a situation comes up, I can respond with official clearance. If they -do- reopen, I have a feeling that my reserve status might be... modified." she adds with a chuckle, "But either way, official backing and a chain of command would be good for the locals, yes. I think it'd do them some good to have an example of a disciplined force that can lead by example."

Jennifer nods, "It certainly will. Anyway, let's keep in touch. I hope we can be of help to each other, and having another professional on hand when things get hot can only help. I can be contacted via the local FBI office." She offers you a card with her listed as an FBI special agent. "One of the other hats I wear."

"Well, a woman of many talents I see." offers Guardian as she reaches out to take the card and slides it into her pocket. "Good to know who to call if the need arises. So tell me, FBI, Starguard, the Regiment, and a DoD advisor, what -else- do you do these days Ms. Markham?" she asks.

Jennifer laughs, "That would be classifed and if I told you I'd have to kill you. Since that would ruin any hope of a friendship I'd rather not have to do that today. Changing the subject quickly, are you certified for orbital birds? I have a Nighthawk 42A stealth insertion bird booked early next month for a drop-ex. Would you like to sit in the co=pilot seat and get some stick time?"

"That would be a pleasure to agree to. I'm really only experienced with things like the hover-APC's and Osprey craft." she adds. "But, I'd love to get some time on -any- kind of vehicle I could. I'd never say no to that... Marines don't get a lot of time on insertion birds. We're mostly -troop- insertion and extraction. You want that, get the Air Force." She smirks, "Either way, I'd be honored... and you are mistaken in one regard. You'd be forced to -try- to kill me... but yeah, it'd really ruin a potential friendship good."

Jennifer laughs even louder. "That's a jarhead talking. Damn, I was operational again for a couple of months recently and miss working with confident pros. It's going to be good having you around the city. Oh, the operational bit, that's not ultra classified but... no... actually it's something you really ought to know and get briefed on. You should contact Rebond and ask him about Shield and Jefferson's America. Which, talking of contacting Rebound, do you have access to HeroNet?"

"Yep, the Colonel gave me a login when I was assigned to Colonial Bay. Got my phone encrypted for access to it." She shrugs, "I can get to it from any web connection really but it's easier to do it on the go if I need to. And Ms. Markham, once a marine...." she offers, letting that comment trail off as her eyes dance with a bit of amusement... as if letting Jennifer finish the statement she began...

You say, "...always a Marine. It's the salt air, rots your brains."

Jennifer adds, "Could be worse. You might have had flippers and been a SEAL."

Jade whizzes down the side of the road on her hoverboard, well wrapped up in various woollies, including a long scarf.

Jennifer calls out when she sees the hoverboarder, "JADE!" and once having got attention continues at a loud but more reasonable volume, "Jade, there's someone I'd like you to meet here."

"Sea dogs." offers Abby as she shakes her head, "Or I could've been nothing -but- a pilot. At least I've had field experience and actual recon training." She smirks a bit, "But... there -are- some folks in the Air Force worth the time to meet. Ever work with a PJ?" she asks as her yellow eyes flicker towards late night movement... or is it early morning? She glances over towards the hoverboard rider and chuckles softly. "Friend of yours then?" she asks.

Jade angles herself toward Jennifer and dismounts in a conventional (if rapid) fashion when she reaches the group. "Hey-Jennifer happy-Christmas what's-up?"

Jennifer nods to Guardian, "Jade Ashcroft. Smartest person in the city. No exaggeration. Now the head of TransMat's Research section, and someone who can tell you all about what I was just discussing."

Jennifer says, "Jade, meet Major Abby Hearns, a jarhead but don't hold it against her. She's got a good rep in the business. And as she's moved back to the city and is Starguard she needs to know about Shield and Jeffersons."

Jade says, "Hey ok-I-can-do-that though-you-know-more-about-Jefferson's-than-I-do Trasnmat-had-no-direct-involvement-with-that!"

"Starguard -reservist- technically, but I expect that to change if they're reopening activities here in town." offers Guardian with a smirk. But she holds a hand out towards Jade and tries to focus. It's difficult to follow such fast speech without the focus."

Jade shakes Guardian's hand. "Well-I-hope-they-don't-want-their-old-building-back I'm-just-getting-used-to-my-office pleased-to-meet-you what-do-you-want-to-know?"

Taking a few seconds to try to absorb what was just said, Guardian inclines her head and closes her eyes while she lets it sink in. Then she opens her eyes and replies, "How about a translation program so I can understand hyperspeech easier?" she asks with a grin. "And I'm not sure... Ms. Markham here seems to think that there's things I need to be told, but I have no idea what it is I need to know since I don't know whatever it is that I don't know.... if that in and of itself makes any sense." ooc Back.

Jade grins. "Sorry I find speaking slowly very difficult but I'll give-it-a-go... We met Shield in one of the Rifgate Teams' first interdimensional expeditions. We ended up in the room in which they themselves were working on a Riftgate - though it seems they had suffered a setback.

Jennifer hasn't heard the tale from one of the people involved herself, and settles to listen to Jade.

Folding her arms over her chest, Guardian steps back a half pace and inclines her head. She's used to just listening while briefings are given and so she simply does her best to absorb...

Jade says, "Their world was one in which the normals had attempted to subjugate metas, but the metas had struck back and are now in charge of the world. They treat normals with utter contempt. Worse, the metas - or those we saw - can hardly be described as sane. Whether this is a result of how they were treated when the normal were in charge we can only speculate. Even among the metas, there seems to be a might-makes-right attitude, and there's internal conflict, or at least jockeying for position.""

Nodding, Guardian indicates that she's caught up. adjusts her stance to focus on the other hip and leg for support but otherwise remains silent.

Jade says, "The ranking individual, at least of the group we met (though we didn't meet her herself), was a doppel of Lorelei named Mindwarp - she looks like Lorelei, but with wings."

Jennifer nods too, following along as best she can with Jade's fast paced 'slowed down' speech.

Jade says, "Once we realised how dangerous they were we fought a retreat back to the gate and left them. I attempted to delay their attempt to build their own Riftgate by planting some disinformation."

Jade says, "Unfortunately, a Riftgate team from yet another dimension - including, I'm ashamed to say, a doppel of mine - was subsequently taken in by them. They provided them with the knowledge to finish their Riftgate."

Jennifer says, "Don't blame yourself, Jade. Or Jasmine either. Any dopple of Lorelei's is going to be convincing."

"So, we're looking at potential invasion from militant and more agressive copies of ourselves from an alternate world?" asks Guardian, speaking up finally. "That sounds like a definite reason for Starguard to get back up and running."

Jade says, "Ideed-we-were-lucky-not-to-enounter-Mindwarp-herself! Using this Riftgate, they lauched an invasion of another Earth, with which we'd already had contact - not via the Riftgate project but during the Rift Crisis. During much of that event it was difficult to tell whether Past Times coffee shop was in this world or that one."

Jennifer nods, "I've had recent encounters with Shield, Jade, Major Hearns. As an example of what Jade was talking about, the metas in Shield's Colonial Bay number a total of six. Those are the survivors. All the rest of the possible meta challengers to their power are have been killed in internal conflicts.

Jade says, "That world had a Balkanised America of Jeffersonian ideology. The citizens practically all carry guns, but originally lacked metas, with the possible exception of their Lorelei doppel, known as the Mediator. Though meta powers began to appear there immediately following the Rift Crisis."

"Okay, so whatever caused that is an important event in their world now. But tell me... what are the chances of them sending strike or recon teams to -our- Earth anytime soon? And how do we prevent them from achieving goals of conquest, assuming that -is- their goal..." Then she pauses and totally changes subject, "On an unrelated note, I met a young lady earlier today... the Countess, who said her father was coming or already in town, planning to destroy the city or some such."

Jade says, "They were already suffering the crisis of the appearance of their first 'supervillains' when the Shield invaders appeared. A lot of the native 'villains' joined forces with Shield, presumably favouring a world in which metas were in charge."

You say, "Oh God. Not again. This girl, pale, long teeth, charming enough to get her teeth close to someone's throat?"

Jade says, "Did-she=say-what-the-Count-d'Estes-is-planning-specifically?"

"That's the girl. I -escorted- her back to Stronghold after a meeting where dozens of little robot minions that moved around like foot long spiders... tried to attack. I have no idea if she arranged that to make her look like a victim or not, but she's back in Stronghold." She shakes her head, "No, not specifically, just gave a warning that he was back and planning to destroy the city."

Jennifer says, "I liked Dancing Coyote but he was insane to think a vampire could ever reform."

Jade says, "Swarms-of-robots? That's-an-MO-the-city-has-seen-before."

"They weren't difficult to destroy, there were just a lot of'em. IG caught the vehicle most of'em were in and took it up into orbit to dispose of'em. The rest of'em kinda exploded when blasted with a plasma eruption." Guardian shrugs and asks, "Any chance these events might be related?"

Jennifer nods, "Yeah. HaXoR's replicating robot spiders. HaXoR was one of the Count's minions. Silver Spider, Rebound, Spirit, and Michelle, as I recall, found the control center and shut it down."

Jade says, "I-don't-suppose-there-are-any-of-the-spider-remaining?"

"Well, they were turned mostly into shrapnel. Some telepath who butted his way into my head did a force pulse and the pieces went everywhere. Local authorities were cleaning it up when I was heading back to Stronghold. You might check with them." offers Guardian.

Jennifer says, "Spirit could track them down. They network together. The more of them the smarter they get but Spirit was able to trace the networking signals last time."

Jade says, "It-occurs-to-me-that-to-modify-one-so-it-takes=apart-the-spiders only--and-duplicates-itself-is-a-sensible-approach."

Jade says, "The=hard=part-being-getting=a-spider-intact-enough-to-be-useful-which-doesn't-eat-one's-equipment-as-one-tries-to-modify-it."

"They were spitting Acid at folks, but it was easy enough to contain..." offers Guardian. "I'll help in any way I can of course, though I'm not much for the whole cyberlink thing. I'm more a direct force... and energy application sort."

Jennifer says, "You need to watch out, too. If the Count is repeating himself, and he's not exactly known for original ideas, he sent asassination teams after the city's heroes last time."

Jade says, "What-are-these-assassin-teams-like?"

Jennifer says, "I hate to admit it but the Count hired Wolfguard for the job. But he also had a sniper in the field as well."

"I can deal with assassins. That's simply direct force. Let'em come." Typical Jarhead. Guardian smirks and shakes her head, "I did kinda involve myself... but why would HaXoR be involved at the same time as all of this? Why would the robots show up at the same time as the Countess?" [OOC] Jade hasn't seen much Stargate. Just enough to be vaguely aware what you're talking about. Think I saw one with replicating critters, but had forgotten.

Jade says, "Wolfguard that's-not-good-news."

Jennifer says, "Okay, look, I need to go report this. And I think we should get together later, drag in a couple of heroes who've been through this, and work out what to do."

Jade says, "Good-idea you-can-contact-me-at-Transmat-Research-if-you-ever-need-to-get-hold-of-me."

Jade says this last to Guardian, Jennifer already having contact details.

Guardian nods slowly, "Will do." she offers, "The local base can get ahold of me. Colonel Knox is my direct superior if you need to speak to anyone about matters concerning me."

Jennifer says, "I'll contact the Baron. He might be able to find out if Wolfguard are involved again. Jade, Major, you ought to talk to some of the older heroes. Ask about the Count, the Twist Incident

Jade says, "The-Twist=incident=was=related? I-didn't-know-that. That's-serious."

Jennifer says, "The Count was behind that. The Alchemist was another of the Count's minions."

"Will do Captain." offers Guardian. "I understand. Now, if you'll excuse me, I should report back to the Colonel myself."... that said, she starts to glow a bit more brightly and lifts into the air.

Jade says, "Good-meeting-you!"

Jade hops on her board and continues on her way.