"Yeah, I don't see us finding him with an ocean to search and none of us terribly good in it. "
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Back at your headquarters, the teleporter hums and out steps the Martian Manhunter! "You performed well against Black Manta," he admonishes, "But do not become complacent in your victory. It will not always be that easy. Manta was sloppy today. We also believe that this was no random act of piracy. It is possible that Senator Garrett was being deliberately targeted. What do you think?
"That seems likely. It's not like there was cargo on the yacht. "
"I think it's a distinct possibility. Has Senator Garret recently taken any action that might draw Black Manta's ire - or perhaps the ire of someone else who would employ Black Manta to do their dirty work?"
"This encounter was... enlightening. It highlighted the challenges of interacting with an environment I am unable to affect directly. While I could have constructed a body electrokinetically, that would have had a distinctly destructive effect on the source materials. I may need to consider building a default form from reasonably disposable materials, so to have it on hand without furthering the destruction we are trying to prevent with such encounters."
"As for the senator, I may be able to sift through the available information by melding with the world wide web. I can go through vast amounts of information relatively quickly that way."
MINOTAR obviously hesitates as he let's his tactical algorithms go over the conundrum that has been bothering him for a while.
"Hesitant Theory: My tactical programming is telling me there is something else going on, even beyond the Senator. There is another factor we are not considering: Manta is not an idiot. He would not be the pirate he is and still be free if he was. Our press junket was publicized and expected, at least for for several days in advance I'm assuming. He KNEW we would be there most likely. Why did he try to engage us then? To see our abilities? Gain insight into any weaknesses we may have? Try to make us or the Justice League 'look bad?' Many possibilities present themselves."
He then crosses his arms defensively and looks at the Martian.
"With all due respect Mr. Manhunter, is it possible the Justice League suspected something might happen and sent us there on purpose in order to be nearby for it? Another 'Test'?"
"If this was me planning this op the flash would be to pull attention while I did something else. But it might be an attempt on the Senator, I could join his security detail."
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"No, this was not a test, and we also believe that there may be more here than meets the eye. It is probable that Manta was working for someone else and that the attack is not a coincidence. He may well have been testing your abilities. You will need to be extra vigilant.
"In any case, we have a new assignment for you. Yasunari Yamashito, the head of Yamashito Electronics, and his son will be visiting Denver this week on unspecified business. It is suspected to have something to do with a rumored takeover of Yamashito's U.S. division by Vanguard Electronics, though both Yamashito and his son have denied these allegations.
"Your assignment is to shadow the Yamashitos discreetly and without their knowledge. Mr. Yamashito has his own security on which he relies, but rumours in the underground suggest that someone may be targeting him. Do not let yourselves be seen by the Yamashitos, as they might become offended if they were aware that you were watching them.
"He will arrive tonight and will be staying at the Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown."
Nodding in a strangely human-like manner, MINOTAR responds carefully.
"Gratitude Expressed: Thank you. The Justice League's trust in letting us handle this on our own is praise in itself. We will begin planning the operation immediately."
He then turns to the others.
"General Query: Shall we gather in 5 minutes in the War Room? Apologies. I meant 'Meeting Room.'"
"Umm, sure. We're just being sneaky bodyguards right?" as he heads to the meeting room.
"Mission accepted. Agreed - 5 minutes. Perhaps we should call it a 'Briefing Room' as a kind of compromise between 'War Room' and 'Meeting Room'," Ghost says, knowing such a compromise might help with MINOTAR's programming.
"Yeah, briefing room sounds right. "
"Um, Manhunter? Why does the Justice League care about executives of Yamashito Electronics? What information or threats do you expect to assign us on overwatch of some businessmen?" Coldwar asks. He's obviously very perplexed with this type of assignment in the absence of an obvious supervillian.
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The Manhunter nods. "I am not at liberty to share everything, except to say that we do expect there may be trouble, a relatively new group of metahumans who call themselves The Dragon's Claw. We know little about this organization, but we do believe that they represent a credible threat.
"As I noted earlier, stealth will be key. Of course, if The Dragon's Claw does strike, we expect that you will do what is necessary to ensure the safety of the Yamashitos and any civilians that may be endangered, regardless of whether this reveals your presence."
"Earnest Urging: Ideas. Anything could help here my friends. Feel free to speculate and suppose. We need to decide on a leader too. We have been taking turns, and I am unsure who should lead us on this mission."
Ghost considered the team - Fragment, Arcfire, Coldwar, Straightjacket, MINOTAR, and himself. He said, "I see three zones of vulnerability - hotel, transit, and whatever the Yamashitos are doing while in Grand Junction. We should address those in order. First, hotel. Ideally, we should set ourselves up with a room in close proximity to the Yamashitos'. We should also get either Straightjacket, the Fragment or myself in position as a hotel employee. That gives an on-site security presence. Second, transit. Arcfire, could you sit in a vehicle's electronics, but not control that vehicle? Leaving it in the normal driver's hands, as it were?"
"Yes, that would not be a problem. It also does not have to be a large or complicated device; I could just as easily inhabit something smaller, such as a cell phone or electric wrist watch. If it were useful, I could integrate myself into Mr. Yashimoto's personal electronics. I could therefore be with him at all times in case of an attack, but without anyone's knowledge. I would also be able to leave without leaving any sign of my presence, should the attack never materialize."
"And, um, do you need to sleep at all? Eat? Anything like that?"
Nodding MINOTAR agrees with Ghost's ideas and assessment.
"Agreement and Warning: Excellent thinking. However, I tend to stand out and cannot hide easily myself. It may be best if I remain close by but hidden as back-up or support. Either from the Javelin, or somewhere closer since we have no way to cloak the javelin's presence. With the Javelin I could also help cover the Transit team from pretty high up but get to any situation quickly enough from the air. I think we do not want those we are protecting to know we are doing so in case their security is compromised. Or should we co-ordinate just in case? Coldwar could stay with me and help me engage enemies from the air or aid against enemy vehicles as needed."
"I don't sleep; I don't have that kind of physiology. I do require some energy intake, but presuming Mr. Yashimoto regularly plugs in his phone, as most people do, I can draw the needed energy off the power grid."
"Okay, great. That gives a more direct means of ensuring security on his person. MINOTAR, I concur with that assesment - you and Coldwar should use the Javelin to provide aerial coverage and support. If you are needed, we can say you were acting to protect Grand Junction, not the Yamashitos directly. Gives us plausible deniability. Arcfire, if you can live in his cell phone for the week, that will provide us with a close up protection presence. The rest of us will keep more of a distance.
"Once they arrive, I can set up on the other side of airport security to shadow them from when they disembark the plane to the car. We'll put Fragment in the lobby on the other side of security for backup, with the Javelin patrolling. Arcfire, move into either the phone or the car at your first convenience. Once they depart, Fragment and I will leave the airport and follow. Hopefully, they go to the hotel first. At the hotel, we'll have Straightjacket with a job on either the front desk or as a bellhop, and Fragment positioned in the room we've set up as an on-site security post. Fragment and I will join Fragment in the hotel room at that point, and we'll rotate who's keeping watch overnight. Does everyone think that's a good plan for handling arrival?"
MINOTAR agrees with no further suggestions to alter the plan.
"Suggestion: Since you have taken on this assignment with enthusiasm Ghost, I suggest we nominate you as temporary team leader for now and until the mission is complete. I suggest you name someone as backup in case you are unavailable to act in that stead."
The Fragment nods as Ghost outlines the plan, making some notes. "I'd like one of myself to be able to stay geared up, if possible. I am well trained but without my gear I am no match for a villain"
"I think I'll try to get the bellhop job. I'm good at carrying things anyway. "
"I'm not staying on the Javelin. I don't need to be in my ice form. I can shadow them up close. Speed to react would probably be important." Coldwar contributes.
Ghost considers Coldwar's request, then says, "Okay, but we need to take precautions." Tapping something on the console, he calls up a file. An image of someone who could be Coldwar's identical twin appeared in hologram above the console. "This is our Leonard Snart - a.k.a. Captain Cold. In our version of Earth, he's something of a known criminal - not the worst, but still rather well-known. He's tangled with the Flash several times, and I actually went toe-to-toe with him in Central City a few months ago. Explaining you're him from an alternate Earth that was destroyed, while true, probably won't give you much leeway with the authorities if someone freaks out. If you're going to move around in human form on this, we should work up a disguise for you so no one thinks you're him, and calls the police on you."
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Javelin:
Size: Colossal
Strength: 16
Speed: 12 (Flight)
Toughness: 13
Defense: 2
Features:
* 2 Laser Cannons (Linked Ranged Damage 8)
* Microwave radio (Long range radio Communication)
* Sealed Systems (provides Immunity to environmental conditions, radiation, high and low pressure, drowning, and vacuum for passengers)
* Starfaring (Space Travel 1)
* IR and LLV scanners (Extended Infravision and Low-Light Vision)
* Internal Guidance (Direction Sense and Distance Sense)
* Onboard clocks (Time Sense)
Make it a "Complication" as opposed to a Disadvantage. If it comes up, you get a Hero Point (or whatever this system calls them) for your trouble.
A Fragment stands in-front a mirror adjusting his bell-mans uniform, once he is satisfied he nods and touches the mirror, as he steps back from the mirror the image in the mirror steps forward into the room and the two Fragments move to leave the room, and the first gets to the door he pauses and looks over his shoulder, he nods at the other and taps the name badge before leaving the room.
A fragment looks down with a nod, and moves the name tag to the other side of his uniform. He reaches up to tap the the com-bead in his ear.
"Bell two to over-watch, bell one is moving into position. I will move out in fifteen."He taps his chronometer until the timer feature is active.
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With everyone ready to move out, you enact the plan. Fragment assumes their positions and Straightjacket is able to secure a bellman's job. The Yamashitos arrive exactly as scheduled and proceed to the hotel. Once there, Arcfire downloads himself into Mr. Yamashito's phone. A security detail of two large men is stationed outside the door to the room.
That evening, about 10 PM, the Mr. Yamashito (and his personal bodyguard) boards a limousine with the logo of Yamashito Electronics on the side and proceeds down a quiet backstreet.
MINOTAR monitors the limo from above quietly in VTOL mode, trying to remain out of sight and out of most radar by keeping low among the buildings. He toggles the comm unit on the Javelin to respond to Fragment.
"Affirmation: Roger. Over-watch in place. Target's path is clear so far and no suspicious signals in sight. Over-watch out."
MINOTAR then toggles the vehicles comm unit to cut his mike.
With the Yamashitos separating, Ghost decides he'll stay with the younger Yamashito, along with the Fragments. "Coldwar, Straightjacket, tail Mr. Yamashito. Fragment and I will stay on the younger Yamashito."
In reply to Ghost, Leo says, "Yes, thank you. I'm well acquainted with Captain Cold. The Justice League briefed me on him. Actually, Nightwing and I used my resemblance with his crew to defeat his plans. The JL assured me that the real authorities know that there's a difference. I guess we'll just see how informed the locals are."
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After hanging out in the hotel bar until the evening, Leo follows Mr. Yamashito out the door and grabs a taxi, "follow that limo, casually."
"Roger " he replies quietly into his mike.
Then he yells to the desk attendant "Vape break!" and heads outside.
There he will head into the alley. Looking around to see that's not being watched, he will jump up the side of the building so he can trail from above.
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LIMOUSINE
The limo proceeds down back roads. It is apparent that Mr. Yamashito is taking precautions to keep his destination a secret. The taxicab driver does his job well, hanging back just far enough that the limo remains in view. Straightjacket has better luck and can easily follow the car from above. Suddenly, while passing an alleyway, the left front tire deflates. The cause is obvious, an arrow sticking out from the shredded remains. As the limo comes to a stop, men dressed as ninja appear from the shadows.
Four come from the alleyway, one from a manhole on either end of the limo, and two from empty garbage cans alongside the vehicle. They quickly surround the car. The ninja have swords drawn as they approach.
INITIATIVE
Ninja
Arcfire
Coldwar
Yooso
Straightjacket
MINOTAR
Arcfire transmits a voice signal to the others, "I believe I should maintain my cover for now. I will attempt to support you electronically, unless my physical presence becomes necessary. I will summon conventional authorities. It may disrupt or discourage the attackers."
As stated, Arcfire sends an emergency signal through to the police and SWAT, with a JLA emergency code attached, so they know who is informing them. He'll report that a Limousine has been disabled and attacked by persons unknown armed with deadly weapons, and that it may be an attempted kidnapping or assassination. He'll leave the details of exactly who is being attacked vague, but will include the location information.
Into his mic "There's an ambush a swarm of ninjas!" as he jumps down onto one of the ninjas trying to envelop him.
DC 18
Leo throws $20 at the taxicab and says, "Wow. Look at that! I'll get out here."
When the taxi stops, Leo dives out the door running into the driver's blindspot and changes into Coldwar. He freezes the air around and encasing him. Then, he busts out transforms into Living Ice.