The year is 2005. The Earth has been under the control of the V’sori Empire for over three years. Humans with extraordinary abilities, commonly known as superpowers, have existed for nearly a century. Those who used their powers for altruistic reasons were known as superheroes. It is believed somewhere around 98% of them have been killed by the V’sori.
Various resistance movements have been quashed by the V’sori, but the most promising has only just begun to act — Omega. Omega was started by the greatest criminal mastermind of the modern age, Dr. Destruction. Its members are largely made up of former superhumans the world once called villains. Dr. Destruction has said that only he is the rightful ruler of the earth — “not some alien scum from the back corners of the galaxy.” You are not the heroes, you are the villains. Whether for good or for bad, you fight for humanity's freedom. You are the neccessary evil.
Before the V'Sori, you were just a petty gang staging itself in New York. When the Fins invaded, you got the hell out of dodge, a warzone was no place to run a proper business. It's a good thing you did, too, because when the V'Sori were done pretending to be humanity's friend and showed their true colors, New York was all but destroyed. You were picked up by Omega back in 2004, when it just began. Stationed in Star City you fought against the alien scum until one tragic day, you were betrayed from the inside. Your cell.. Your gang, The Diamonds, were annihilated. All except for you, you simply happened to be out getting food supplies. When word reached Omega about a new threat, you were moved to the command of an almost legendary villain, The Vinokian. There you would continue your resistance and attempt to slow down the V'sori's latest attempt at creating a force to wipe out all of Omega.
All you know for now is that Mayor Perez has been working with the V'Sori to implement a new police force. You are to receive your first mission and any supplies requested from your new cell leader outside the staging zone, Westpoint. You reach the area with all of your supplies; weapons, armor, even new commlinks. A letter with the supplies tells you to use the new commlinks, and turn them on when you are ready to get moving.
You rummage around your pockets for your lighter and some smokes. Unfortunately, you find just another empty carton. You scowl back at past-you for bumming your last stogie. However, you're more than aware you're going to pull the same thing on future-you at some point, so it all evens out.
"Ready, Dave? We gotta get on the move before a squidy eyes us by the supplies."
You keep on the lookout, ready to turn on your commlink. Something tells you this is going to be a long day.
Dave adjusts his shades, making sure to keep the still reasonably fresh injury of loosing his eye hidden from view. His hair, despite the avatar's appearance, is still very much black. When his hands are back in his pockets, he turns and gives his boss-friend a nod.
"Ready whenever you are Aceman. Heard this guy we're workin with now is a bit of a top shot."
"Good, we're burnin' daylight over here." You turn on your commlink and await where your rendezvous is supposed to be. You're not as familiar with West Point as you were with New York, but you figure you aught to figure your way around easy enough.
Dave switches his on as well, before replacing his hands back in their pockets. "Think we'll be on a big team again?"
Ouch, too soon. Feels like you just got a punch to the gut.
All you do is nod and say "Hope so, kid."
As soon as both commlinks are on, a voice you'd recognize from the news before the V'Sori, speaks to you. It's The Vinokian. "Good, you are all set, then? Your mission is to get me an AI core from one of those new mechs Perez has being made. I know it won't be easy, but I need it intact. And one further thing, you two. You are entering Westpoint. V'Sori patrols are heavy near their plants and moderate elsewhere, try not to make too much noise, okay?.... Good Luck"
With that the commlink connection is cut and your mission has been given.
Dave sighs, moving his hand up to push his shades back again, hand lingering over where his eye was. "Not wasting any time doing small-talk now, is he? But that's professional for you." He looks over at Alan, face still as hard to read as it always. "Want me to go in and scout out it out first?"
You nod. Part of you wants to smack this guy in the face for asking you to get into something as guarded as a V'Sori manufacturing plant. But seems like things are just so aligned that you're the best around.
"I'll be lookin' through your eyes. Be sure to try and get as much info as ya can. And don't get caught."
Dave hides a flinch at the word eyes, but nods along. "I'll keep it open. And don't worry Aceman, this is like, one of the few jobs I'm really good at." He walks further into the shadow of the building they were near, getting ready to jump in. He doesn't need to these days with how much his powers have grown, but it's certainly less inconspicuous.
Taking a shallow breath, he joins the shadow, and tries to come out in a spot near where he has to go. This has always been a little tricky.
As you teleport you feel it went wrong. You teleport into an object and hit it, your power automatically throwing you back to whence you came. You are now shaken.
"Ugh... f~!%in hell."
He grumbles under his breath, kicking the ground. Seems like that's an out option. Instead, he makes to stealth to a better location before teleporting again.
You are successfully unshaken and your stealth goes without a hitch. Don't do anything stupid and nobody will even know you are there.
Dave makes a note of himself to avoid all the twigs and the places outside of shadows, as he hops along through them. Probably a shadow himself by now, which, is technically true. He keeps up with this as he makes his way closer to where he needs to go.
You get further into Westpoint without being noticed. The place where your mission states to search is just... well, it is simply the very middle of an intersection.
Dave takes a look around, trying to take in what he can. Luckily missing an eye isn't that detrimental in regards to this, but he'd sure prefer having a wider field of vision without moving his head.
You can notice people walking around, but a strange lack of cars in this area. Other areas of Westpoint had car traffic, but not here. Though it does seem like the foot traffic may be clearing a bit, too. You can only hear the hustle and bustle of the foot traffic.
"Hm..." Dave grunts under his breath, before picking at the telepathic link with Alan. 'You getting this alright? Seems kinda weird with what I've seen around here so far. Hiding something, I'm sure. Just can't get a feel for what exactly.'
"Real strange. Must be gettin' close at this rate."
You funnel Dave's senses through your mind and try to pick up anything he may have not. It never hurts to get more eyes on a target, after all.
Unfortunately for Alan, he doesn't notice anything Dave did not.
'What's the plan of attack then, Bossman?' Dave asks, looking around to find a more stand-out structure that could be where he needs to go.
You roll the idea around in your head a bit. If this was the coordinates, then something may be amiss. Squiddies always did love throwing you for a curve.
"Could easily be that the plant's underground. Check for manhole covers or somethin' like em. Could have put em in an off street, so search a block's radius from the point."
On Dave's end a police officer, unarmed, starts clearing the streets. You can hear him saying something about 'the area being unsafe'
Dave frowns in the man's direction. 'Well, that's interesting. Wonder what it could be about.'
Once the populace clears, the officers looks about to be sure nobody else is around.
Sufficiently positive that nobody else is around, he says something into his radio and then clears out himself.
please make notice rolls
Only Dave seems to hear the metallic footsteps from your right. When you look, it is what can best be described as some sort of robot. It seems to be on patrol from what you can tell.
'And then there was a robot. I'm going out on a limb that that's what we want the AI core from. Now, how do we go about that without being slaughtered?' He frowns to himself as he watches the machine. This isn't going to be exactly easy,at least not with what little they know of it.
"Easy, kid. See if ya can tail it, maybe ya could get it from behind. Stay careful, though."
You wonder if Dave's gonna need backup on this one. Worst case scenario, he could jump out, but that may only forestall events. As well as give away your plans of nabbing a core.
'Tail the tincan, sounds good to me then.'
Dave elects to do so, staying a fair distance away from the robot as he follows from the shadows.
Upon following the robot, it is obvious to you that its already holding its properly scaled up gun. The type of gun, however, cannot be determined yet. It stops every so often to look around more carefully. However its direction is concerning, it is headed to one of the plants.
"Now we've got a conundrum, kid. Do we run the risk these things are pure drones? Or do ya follow it into the plant? Yer call. But if ya get into that plant, think ya could pull me in?"
'Certainly seems like it's just a drone. If we let it continue on like this though, we'll be outgunned and outnumbered. 'Course, we might be able to just pull a core no problem at the plant as well. I wouldn't count on it.' He scowls, and considers this. This could make or break it. He takes another look at the robot though, maybe there's a spot that'd it make it easier to disable with good strike.
From its construction you can tell that is has no specific weakpoint, the armor seems to be even everywhere. The most vulnerable point you can see are perhaps the sensors, and that is only because it reminds you of taking out a normal opponents ability to have their senses.
Even from a distance, you scowl. So much for an easy job. You're thinking you're gonna need to break your Mind Riding soon and head on closer to Dave.
"Yeah, this is probably a drone or somethin' of the like. I'll be on my way, I'll letcha know when ya can pick me up. Call me on the comm if anythin' progresses."
You shake your head out of Dave's mind and get going towards where the action's about to go down.
Dave holds back a sigh, seeing how much this thing as actively searching for literally anyone. He keeps his mind open, sticking to the shadows as he waits for Alan to give the signal to bring him in. Hopefully this can done... reasonably quickly, with another man to help fight.
Dave following the robot goes as normal UNTIL Alan gets close enough. It the immediately halts, levels its gun, and begins to look around even more intently than before.
Fortunately for Dave, it has not found him. It however is still on the lookout for that new source of noise in the area.
'Oh, s@!&. That's not good. F*++, is it sensing Alan or me?' Dave tries to get into contact with Alan, 'Dude, you there? And don't talk like you normally do. This thing is already searching.'
Telepathy, you reflect, is such a useful power. You'll have to remember to thank your brain later. Maybe give it the night off.
'It is? Dagnabbit, this don't look good, kid. Think we've got a shot if it catches onto me?'
You decide now is the perfect time to remain entirely still. Frankly, you'd rather not see the business end of that cannon.
The Robot has begun to start moving in the general direction of Alan, gun moved to be leveled at the waist with one hand. The other hand, moves up to the side of the head as it moves forward. Once the hand gets to the side of its head it stops and sits there. Dave, having followed it for all this time, may realize this would be the best time to strike.
Now's as good a time as any I suppose... Dave travels to the robot's shadow, slicing both the vibro razors towards where the sensors. 'Get bent you piece of s#*~!'
The robot is hit by the first strike, but the second misses horribly. Roll for damage on the first strike.
For combat, order is Alan, Mech, Dave. Starting after damage is rolled
EDIT The robot is cut down immmediately from the strike. It cuts straight through its armor and the robot fires its weapon wildly as it collapses and goes offline.
Dave is hit!
19 damage.
Dave takes three wounds. Would you like to take a vigor roll to shake one of those wounds?
Dave may as well, now shouldn't he.
The Soak roll is a success! A benny has been spent and you only suffer two wounds. You are no longer in immediate danger of incapacitation.
Combat is over, Dave has gotten two wounds and is now shaken. You may now inspect the offline and dead mech as you please.
Dave grits his teeth, holding back swears as his a metallic taste comes to his tongue, his suit starting to stain black as he presses his hands against the gun wounds. "Agh... piece of.. s%!!... Aceman, get the damn AI core and- agh... let's bail."
"Damn, Dave! Ya okay?!" You rush over to your best friend and partner in crime. Seems like he's banged up, but he's still breathing. And you still have a mission to complete.
"Yeah, let's try and find this thing! Sooner we do, sooner we get out!" You search frantically for the core. Whatever gets this show on the road.
Make a Notice roll to find what you hope will be an AI core.
"I'll manage, just, don't touch me right now..." Dave stands back, not wanting to poison the core any.