Log:Accession Announcement, Scene 1

Accession Announcement 2020/04/24 	 Artemis Cade Crichton Magus Ryosei Spirit Starlight Union Ambassador Hrauraaghhhugharrrhr Earth President Liisa Koskinen Conviction Decibel Gatekeeper Stinger Vector

1

Normally, the activities of Guild diplomats are met with indifference by the public. The early enthusiam for anything alien has long since worn off, as has the reaction against alien influence. Guild dealings now seem always to deal with minutiae that couldn't interest anyone but a bureaucrat. But just recently it was announced that Earth President Koskinen and Guild Ambassador Hrauraaghhhugharrrhr would be making an announcement at the First Contact site, a place of ceremonial significance in matter alien. Could it be there's some real news to prompt such a move? The media are abuzz.

It's a sunny afternoon - hot for the time of year. A podium has been set up, watched by the presidential bodyguards, while the President herself and the ambassador have yet to emerge from the building used for such occasions. Curious crowds have gathered. There are also the usual anti-alien protesters, though in small numbers - perhaps they were caught off-guard by the suddenness of this.

Ryosei, having heard of the announcement, is mostly crowd mingling. Something like this is best for him to check out just in case. Both for school work possibly and for his parents' company to have a heads up a bit on what might be going on. Aliens are always fun, after all. The teen's got his PDA set to record mode as he sticks to near the edge of the crowds.

Agent Cade Crichton is here, picking up a detail he'd have previously avoided- but he had to get out of Psi training, even if it is to act as subsequent back up for local security. His Inforcer-tech CVI makes him a natural choice for the polity to show off the first Human CVI implant- back on his feet and better than ever.

Of course he's not so sure 'better' is how he'd define it, though existential crises have that effect on people

He stifles down the dangerous thoughts and focuses on the task at hand- and of course getting to hear what the Guild has planned out with the U.E. Despite working the announcement he's just as in the dark as everyone else.

Artemis is standing near the anti-alien protesters with her hands folded over her chest as she comes to hear the announcement, hoping to hear some good off-world news. She's in her usual armor, cape fluttering idly. The heat doesn't seem to be bothering her with the amount of clothes and armor she's wearing. She glances curiously over at the protestors, smiling in amusement.

Dorian is at the location in an official capacity, as a representative of Starguard, not only to make a good showing, but also to help provide some security. He's in full uniform today and sticking toward hte edge of the crowd on one side.

Union is interested in anything to do with politics, she shows up early, stepping off the MagLev at least 20 minutes before the announced time. She gets as close as she can to the monument itself.

Starlight is there, in her heroic identity. She's had a mixed history with the Guild and wants to hear what is going to be said. She's also expecting trouble from ACE or RACE, so is keeping alert and watchfull.

Magus is taking a walk through the Alien District, cigarette his mouth hands in the pocket. As he's walking he looks up to sky to feel the sunshine hit his face. "Lovely Day," he says. He notices the crowd gathering and intermingles with them.

Reporters are doing their usual nattering to cameras about how any minute now the president and ambassador are expected and speculating pointlessly on what they might be going to say,

The Global Anthem starts to play, announcing things are about to start. Earth President Liisa Koskinen walks out toward the podium, with some bodyguards and an aide. Then follow Ambassador Hrauraaghhhugharrrhr, with three of his staff.

Hrauraaghhhugharrrhr (and one of his aides) is of a species known on Earth as the Rex. They strikingly resemble tyrannosaurs, though they are only 12' tall, and have functional humanlike arms and hands (three fingers and a thumb).

Artemis becomes more alert and looks in the direction of the music playing. She smiles at the Rex. They remind her of her childhood pet when it was just a hatchling.

The others in the Guild group are a Plasmoid - a sort of hot glowing crackly energy being contained within self-generated force fields - and a Glbl - a green translucent glob which has, for the occasion, pulled itself into approximately human form.

Dorian does sense some EM from the Plasmoid, but nothing that's unexpected, given what he knows of the meeting and the species in question.

Starlight is relieved to see there are no Larcians attending.

Magus sees the Rex and is reminded of that American TV show with a family of dinosaurs. The words "Kick the baby" comes to his mind.

Union says, "Along with "Not the mama!"?"

Ryosei hums as he continues to get some video footage. At the least he can probably get it to the school paper, maybe. He does check on his watch and hums before sending out a quick text on the PDA as well.

The President begins to talk. "Fellow citizens of Earth," she begins, carefully avoiding the Futurama phrasing. "Today is an historic day in relations between Earth and the Guild..."

Union feels a buzz and checks her PDA, and then her _other_ PDA.

Cade is glad to have gotten a position giving him a good view of the stage as well as the immediate quadrant in front of him. He holds and listens, trying not to gawk at the Rex. He read the file on them but seeing a 12ft T-Rex in person is admittedly a bit distracting.

Starlight is patrolling overhead, her 360 degree vision allowing her to watch the events on stage as well as checking rooftops, etc..

Shouts from the protesters increase as the president begins speaking, despite the fact that she's not really saying much. After a few more sentences she says, "I will now ask Ambassador -" she pauses to make sure she gets the pronunciation right - "Hrauraaghhhugharrrhr to make an announcement of the part of the Guild."

The ambassador steps up to the microphone. It take a couple of seconds for someone to adjust it to the right height for him.

Artemis looks to the protestors near her, very confused. "Not a word of significance has yet to be uttered, and yet you bray and mewl. Settle thyselves. I hold serious doubts this will be a harm to your people." She looks back to the stage.

Union appreciates the President's ability to speak at length while saying nothing.

Magus watches from the crowd and wonders what this dino bloke will say.

Chyoode says, "Thank you, Madam President," says the Rex, in impeccable English. He raises his notes. "People of Earth, it gives me great pleasure to be able to announce that the United Earth has been accepted for Stage Two accession to the Guild." He pauses as a murmur runs through the crowd - not to mention some shouts and jeers. "Should your government choose t--"

Ryosei listens curiously, continuing to film with his PDA. The return text has him moving up a bit, carefully moving around to get better shot as well as see if he can spot someone it seems. Seeing Union, he gives a smile before turning back to recording.

The ambassador suddenly stops speaking. Which might be something to do with the hole which has just opened up in the side of his head. A moment later, a shot can be heard, coming from the direction of The Towers.

Artemis gasps at the sudden turn of events. She draws her sword and summons her shield in one swift movement. "Treachery most foul!" she announces as she hears the direction of the shot after the impact.

Screams come from the crowd. The security people rush in to shelter the president and dignitaries. Cameramen swarm to try to get the best pictures.

Starlight darts down toward the ambassador, "I'm a doctor." she calls out ahead of her arrival.

Cade's head snaps towards the Ambassador and then looks at the side of the Ambassador's head.

"Oh - no. This is already turned into a disaster!" He thinks to himself before turning in the direction of the shot- and trying to backtrack the shot ot the shooter.

Dorian reaches out and generates a shield around the folks on the stage...waiting until Starlight is inside.

Magus looks in the opposite direction that the hole on the Rex's head appeared.

Ryosei, seeing the shot, immediately turns his PDA camera towards where the shot might have come from. The Towers seems likely, so he tries to zoom in on that quickly to try to find any sign of a shooter.

Starlight doesn't wait for her diagnosis to be complete. With every touch she's infusing the ambassador with healing energy.

Starlight finds that the ambassador is still alive - indeed conscious, if in shock. But it soon becomes clear it's not an ordinary bullet that's struck hime. The 'bullet' is growing tendrils which dig into the ambassador's flesh, expanding the wound..

Union turns and scans the crowd, she calls out, "Please remain calm, let the authorities handle this."

Starlight heals the ambassador's wound significantly - but at the same time the metal tendrils are opening up the wound elsewhere. The rates are comparable - it's not clear yet which is working faster!

Starlight calls out, "I need help here. If that bullet cannot be removed we're going to lose the ambassador."

Magus hears Starlight's cry and makes his way to the stage to see if he can help.

Crichton can see a figure. The sniper must be nearly a mile off, atop one of the Towers. About the only one, indeed, that happens to have an unimpaired shot at the podium from here, which made it relatively easy to track down, even if the shooter is just a bump on the silhouette of the building.

Dorian makes an opening in the barrier for Magus to get through easily. He also converts to his energy form to make it easier to concentrate on manipulating the energy.

Union tries to call Mercury on her PDA, but gets no answer.

Union returns to exhorting the crowd to remain calm.

Artemis begins flying off in the general direction of the gun shot sound and the Towers, having not seen exactly where the attacker is yet.

Spirit and Starlight spot the opening up of a portal inside the shield before anything comes through...

Agent Crichton lifts off the ground, activiting his comms. "This is Crichton- I've got eyes on the shooter. I'm moving to contain." He says as he jets off that way.

He forms up an additional layer of protection around himself and puts the rest of his focus into getting there as quickly as he can.

Starlight shouts, "Watch out. Portal opening in here."

A woman on the other side of the portal gestures toward Starlight, without even passing through the portal herself.

Starlight isn't hurt by the attack but due to small size and weight she's flung almost sixteen meters away.

Union hears the call about the portal opening, and addresses the crowd once more, "Please move away for your own safety. We don't know what's about to happen." She turns and runs up to the stage.

Some of the crowd, at least, appear to take heed of Union's words.

Starlight is keeping the wound closed - but the fibres keep forcing themselves through the BODY, and the ambassador is howling in pain.

Translucent tentacles reach through the portal and try to grab Magus...

The jellyfishlike tentacles slide off Magus's force field.

The sniper sees Crichton flying rapidly toward him - and hurriedly takes aim and fires at him!

Crichton instinctively (thanks to his CVI integration) hardens an area between he and the bullet after dropping out of supersonic speed.

The projectile halts the shot cold. Agent Crichton frowns.

Spirit flies over the barrier...and then seeing the RACE folks, he lands and opens fire through the portal, "These work both ways, you know." His barrier will drop in short order as his energy is redirected from the construct to the energy blast fired from his hands. His primary target is Gatekeeper, but he spreads his hand to try to get a second target - Vector. If the gate goes down, they'll have to handle things the long way, and the ambassador can be saved without further interference.

Spirit strikes Vector but not his primary target, Gatekeeper. The blast does rattle her pretty well, requiring her to take some time to recover.

Conviction flies through the portal, chest out and arms forward in classic Superman pose, aiming for Magus. 'Step away from, traitor to the human race!" he shouts. Not that he really intends to give Magus time to comply.

Conviction however fails to connect.

Artemis spies the origin of the gate at the stage and smiles eagerly. She flies, shield first and sword held back as she drops down hard in front of the teleportation gate and digs in her feet to a firm battle stance, daring them to move her. "Thy cowardly villains! Hiding in the shadows and striking from afar, too afraid to face your opponents! Well, then! Face me!" she challenges as with a flick of her wrist, her blade breaks apart into segments. She sweeps the bladed whip forward to strike as many head-on as she can. She tightens her grip on her shield, preparing to use it as a weapon to counterstrike against their superior numbers. She smiles, thinking it's an unfair advantage. For her.

The villains don't seem much hurt by the attack.

Though being attacked by surprise seems to cause one to scream - VERY loudly ...

Artemis grits her teeth a bit as her sensitive ears are annoyed by the scream. Her feet are still dug in, and she doesn't give an inch. "That is an impressive voice, though you waste it by making such horrid sounds."

Union focuses on the only vil on this side of the portal - Conviction, aiming fist at his face.

Conviction takes the blow to his square face without even blinking. He looks at Ryosei disdainfully.

Union says, "This country was founded on choice. Yet you would deny these people their right to choose."

Conviction takes the blow to his square face without even blinking. He looks at Union disdainfully.

Decibel smiles to Artemis. "You are correct. Perhaps this is better: FLEE, ALIEN-LOVERS! YOU HAVE NO CHANCE BEFORE THE AWESOME ACOUSTICS OF DECIBEL!" This said deafeningly loud, right next to Artemis.

Artemis's ears ring from the loud voice, which just requires her to speak loud, too. No where near Decibel's level. She doesn't look exactly impressed in the least by the display. "IF ALL YOU HAVE TO DEFEND YOURSELF IS YOUR ACOUSTICS, YOU'LL FALL QUICKLY TO THE MIGHT OF THE GODFLORA!"

Stinger stretches her tentacles throuhg the portal again, trying to grab Starlight this time.

Starlight isn't a good actor. But she says "Ouch." anyway. She's happy if that is all she's attacked with. Because she's her own hazmat suit.

The clearly abnormal sniper rifle can fire more than just once or twice, clearly... The sniper takes another shot at Crichton, who is quick enough that running away isn't an option...

Spirit takes another shot at Gatekeeper, but this time...he focuses on just the primary target...but still widens the beam. The energy washes out from his hand toward his target, "You all disgust me."

Crichton has barely reoriented his flight path before another shot is fired at him by the sniper. He thrusts his hand forward and pops an area in front of him, filling it with a bubble of force which neutralizes the shot before it can strike him.

Spirit manages to tag Gatekeeper solidly this time, causing the terrorist to reel. "I think the gate's about to close. That should give us a little bit of a breather, I'm hoping."

Starlight glances at Spirit, "Thanks, Dorian." Then looks at Magus, "I still need you to get that bullet out if you can."

Conviction takes another swing at Magus. "Do not think that will save you," he says to Spirit. "I am on this side, and my will is indomitable!"

Conviction lands a solid blow. "So shall fall all enemies of the human race!"

Magus files back and lands on his ass, the wind has knocked out of him.

Artemis retracts her bladewhip back into a sword as she backspins, aiming to slam the pummel into Decibel's throat.

Artemis's pummel doesn't connect as Decibel quickly ducks out of the way.

Gatekeeper recovers his sense - but his gate is already too faded to stablise.

The afflicted ambassador makes sounds which could be mistaken, by the ignorant, for his name.

Ryosei, having gotten out of the crowd, finally heads for some place to change quickly. That is fully out of view of the chaos before he looks around. Once there, he changes his sword from a simple necklace to it's normal form and swings it overhead. "By the power of the Dragon! I am Tenrai!" The glowing circle washes down over him as he changes to Riptide.

Vector has lost her target in Wasp. So she has to make do with Artemis. She bounces her blast off the ground so as to strike her under the chin.

The blast bounces again off Artemis' chin and the ground before going harmlessly off into the sky.

Artemis whethers the blast to the chin without moving. She turns her head and smiles to Vector, replying in a louder voice due to being deaf, "I APPRECIATE YOU HOLDING BACK. PERHAPS AT LEAST YOU SHALL BE GRANTED MERCY FROM THE GODFLORA IF YOU PROSTRATE YOURSELF IN SURRENDER NOW!"

Vector's geometrical genius sets to looking for an object she could push towards Artemis with a couple of bounces.

Union addresses Conviction again, "And when did 'Human' include the ability to fly, Mr. Kettle?", and Punches him again.

Conviction doesn't deign a response. Or a flinch.

Union says, "At least I don't hide my face!"

Union

Union stands tall, about 5' 8", with short, unruly, blonde hair, blue eyes, fair, freckled complexion, dimples, and a friendly, open expression. She is quite lovely (+2 Striking Appearance), but more of a Mary Ann than a Ginger. She is wearing a yellow bikini with blue polka-dots, blue sandals, sunglasses, and a white wide-brimmed hat.

Starlight continues her healing, while briskly asking the UE president's security detail, "ETA on MedVac?"

Conviction smiles thinly. "You may rethink that policy when I am done with you, race-traitor!

"Unknown. Not fast enough. The ambassador's too large for standard medvac."

The securoty detail have all the other dignitaries to safety by this point.

"You mean to tell me," Starlight sounds shocked, "you didn't prep for this kind of incident in advance?"

Spirit says to Starlight, "I can't get that bullet out, but I can probably keep it from fighting your work by draining its power. Want me to try?"

Starlight nods, "Please do, Dorian. I'm fighting a losing battle here unless something changes."

"The Rex have always insisted on relying on their own security," he replies, though his tone of voice suggest he knows this is no excuse.

Once again the wound closes. But with the bullet still inside there can be no respite for Starlight.

Decibel screams again at Artemis - the only real target till the portal is restored.

Artemis is still unmoved and not all that hurt by it. "DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?" she asks sincerely. "I CAN'T HEAR YOU. IF YOU SURRENDER, LAY PRONE TO THE GROUND AND I SHALL GRANT LENIENCY TO YOU MORTALS!"

Stinger joins the attack on Artemis!

Artemis raises her shield and holds it horizontal to the ground, bashing Stinger in the bridge of her nose as she comes in range to touch Artemis. It's a stinging blow for Stinger.

Stinger is blinded - but has found a susceptible target!

The touch point is fortunate, getting above her physical clothing and armor and touching her neck. The hardened skin turns red and spreads down along her veins. "Nnnghhh...poison...? My veins feel as if turned to lava," she grouses, jaw and neck tightening with tension against the pain.

Spirit has spotted where the bullet is with his EM sight. While Conviction is still occupied, he crouches to get close, and then reaches out to try to drain the energy out of the bullet proper.

Spirit drains off a bunch of energy, and shakes his head, "It has more power than I was expecting. I'll likely need to drain it again."