Studying the readouts on the multiple screens and various equipment displays, MINOTAR comments.
"Speculation: The odd landing location seems too specific for a random meteor. My guess is there is something more to this indeed. Caution is highly suggested."
"I don't suppose anyone has a jet we could take to get there, or are we just going as fast as we can?"
"I'll shadow walk there. I'll report when I see something."
He will begin to fade out.
MINOTAR gestures to their small hanger.
"Let us use our Javelin for those of us who cannot teleport. I can pilot if necessary."
"Or at least those who can't teleport far. I'll help out with piloting, I've picked up a couple things about piloting over the years."
"Speculation can wait, let's get the Javelin in motion. Isikos can report what he sees while we're en-route. Minotar and Ghost, you have the controls. Straightjacket, Hydronaut, get strapped in. These things have ways of getting bumpy." QNetic slides into his designated seat and straps in himself.
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A few moments later, the Javelin is in the air and en route to the site.
On the way, you begin to hear reports over the Javelin's police scanner of six more landfalls in or near the city. Four have landed outside the city limits, and two within the city. All reports indicate that they are not meteors, but some kind of alien craft, immense in size.
MINOTAR carefully circles the target from a discreet distance, wary of the obvious guns attached to the vessel.
"Speculation: I would say this is some sort of alien invasion, if not for the complete silence and lack of movement. Could they be burrowing underground? Should I take us in closer Mr. Netic? Or should I land at this distance and then have us move in on foot? I could also do a fast pass-over and allow you all to do a 'combat drop' right on top of it..."
Bring us in close to the nearest one, and let's find out what we're dealing with. If four have landed outside the city, they might be trying to set up a perimeter. We should disrupt that." Qnetic says, following through with a note to Straightjacket ["So far, sure. Let's keep it that way, working together/ Anyone heard from Isikos yet?"
I don't like not tackling the ones in the city, but we need to find out what's going on. If they're trying to isolate the city, we gotta stop that. I hope the cops can handle or delay the ones inside.
"Roger. Doing a close fly-by, flying casually. Weapons off-line. Co-Pilot Ghost? Please see if you can calibrate the limited scanners on this javelin can tell us anything: Like an active power source or pick up any communications from the ship?"
"I'll see what I can pick up." Ghost was still getting used to being at the controls of a vehicle like this, but he was getting the hang of it slowly.
"There's definitely a power source in there - and it's kicking out a lot of juice. I can't make any sense of this broadcast, but it's pretty high-frequency. Anyone able to parse it?"
Ghost pumps the sound through the speakers of the the ship, hoping someone will either be able to understand or one of the more analytically minded members of the team can parse it out.
Isikos keeps hidden and reports in by text. <<We should take the one out of town. No IB and we may draw them away. If not let me know where you're intercepting them.>>
"Gimme a sec to listen while you focus on landing the Javelin."
QNetic attempts to make the adjustment that lets him think incredibly quickly and the sets to identifying any common sounds to see if translation is possible.
Technology roll to access mental quickness.
Jack of all trades Expertise (Linguistics) attempt, taking 20 (possibly +5 for Eidetic Memory if that would help)
MINOTAR relays their coordinates to Isikos, circling the current pyramid-ship, and suggests approaching carefully but to wait for further instructions from the group's leader before trying anything else.
"These guys are a coordinated attack force. We go in heavy, make an example of them." QNetic says grimly.
Nodding at the obvious conclusion, MINOTAR starts heading into a long turn, in order to set up possible attack patterns.
"We should relay that information to the local authorities and the rest of the Justice League immediately. Should I make an attack run with the Javelin Mr. Netic?"
"Understood. Once we're down, I'll get close and see if I can scout the inside of the ship - maybe find a way to get everyone else in or shut down the power source. Should we send a report to the League? If there are several in the area, we can't hit all of them at once."
Lookinig back at his passengers, MINOTAR can't seem to help but talk further about the situation.
"Speculation: It's very odd. Most aliens know Earth is protected by the Justice League, and the United States is one of the most formidable countries too, technologically speaking. Why attack HERE...unless there is something very specific to the area that they want?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if the League is already aware, nor if they were busy elsewhere if this is global. Contact them, but we need to be ready for this to be just us, if it comes down to that. Go in hot and get us down, Min." Qnetic squints at the ship in the distance, a grim look of determination overcoming him.
Nodding simply MINOTAR agrees.
"Roger Mr. Netic. I'll try and find a sheltered landing spot near the ship, but out of direct sight of the hulk."
Opening the aircraft's hatch, MINOTAR looks at QNetic.
"Question: Should I remain with the Javelin sir, in case of a quick retreat or other aerial support needs, or accompany your group? I currently have no preference: Right now my tactical analysis of the situation is incomplete without more information. Although this communications black-out with the rest of the JLA is very peculiarly specific."
As he slips over to the ship, he arrives to hear their mechanical friend inquire. "If this is a stealth reconnaissance, I expect that that's Ghost and I. But if we go in force, I think having a big robot would help us take care of this."
"What's the call, boss? Recon first, or go in guns blazing?"
"A bit of both, I think. Isikos, Ghost, when you hear the sounds of battle, see if you can get to the command center of that ship. The rest of us will hit them loud and hard, give you some cover for the covert operation. Straightjacket, Minotar, Hydronaut, and I will see what their defenses are like. The two of you see if you can find a way to disable the ship. their commanders, the communications, or anything else vital. If you can't find a way to do that, at least learn what you can. If you're overwhelmed, you both have a way to retreat on your own and we'll meet back at HQ. As for us, if we can't beat down these aliens, there's little chance for anyone in the city. Let's go whup some alien tail." QNetic grins.
Climbing down from the Javelin's cockpit, MINOTAR takes the lead toward the pyramid-ship nearby. Focusing on his full active and passive sensors (danger sense) while attempting to scan as many radio transmissions as possible, he silently moves at the tip of the group's spear.
Ghost nods an affirmative, then vanishes from sight as he brings his invisibility up, moving in the direction of the space ship.
Isikos salutes then begins slipping from shadow to shadow to prepare to break in.
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Outside, the heroes find their forward progress stopped by an invisible shield that extends about 3 meters from the huge vessel. As you approach, you notice a group of three flying devices that resemble flying snowmobiles and what can only be a flying shuttle of some kind leaving the ship. They fly out from the base of the pyramid and zoom off towards town.
Riding on the cycles are alien beings. It's hard to make out details from here, but you can see that they appear to have six limbs, four of which act as legs, and seem reptilian in nature. They wear armor and carry a rifle of some kind.
Glancing back over one massive armored shoulder, MINOTAR looks to QNetic.
"Query: Should I head back to the Javelin and attempt to follow or intercept?"
Ghost looks at Isikos and motions towards the door, as if to indicate they should go that way.
He nods back and begins slipping through into the next chamber.
Ghost invisibly phases his head through the door, looking to see what's on the other side.
QNetic focuses his energy into his blast and calculates an accurate attack vector. (Dex +3, Str Based KBlast 6R)
Taking aim, he shoots at one of the fleeing vehicles other than the one Straightjacket leapt for. "Take them down hard!" he says.
Blast Toughness vs 23 (15+2Str+6 Ranks)