After Nightwing narrates the information on the thumbdrive, Mariner asks, "is there any timing to those missions? Where do we start?"
[CEREBROTHER ONLINE▸ DEPLOY TO PLASMUS. SUBTERFUGE TO GAIN ACCESS AND SET TRAP FOR SINISTER STRIKE FORCE. ]
OMAX-23's eyes flicker and she nods;
"We should prepare at the location. Gain access and terminate Sinister's forces when they arrive with a surprise offensive."
" Um that is some heavy tech we wouls have to go through to do that. Im...not equipped for that. However we could set up surveillance." Sara says as she looks to the others.
" We cant just fight out way in. We could use some equipment to keep it under watch and maybe some members to stake it out. I know with some cheap cameras and a laptop we can make a simple network of cameras. Just who is gonna watch thw place and whe ?" she says recjing up to tap her skin. She wondered if she could create somethinf to help her, like robot balls?
"I can observe the place without cease. I do not need rest."
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The timeline on the thumbdrive suggests that the plan is to assault both facilities simultaneously three nights from now. Given that the initial group was captured with relative ease, yet still succeeded on gaining the terrigen, they want to even the odds by dividing and conquering.
Brainiac's notes on the PLASMUS component indicate that thanks to some infiltration by Chameleon Boy, they know the precise location of the component in that facility, but the facility is protected against teleportation. The plan is to either shut down the protective field or remove the component from the facility before teleporting out.
Note on the supers protecting Plasmus indicate they are supersoldier-like individuals with modest superstrength, durability, and speed with a high level of security and combat training.
The Machine Men have internal high caliber weaponry and are able to elongate their components. They have very advanced sensory components as well, making them very likely to become aware of intruders quickly. There is a note that the raid would have been much easier with Cosmic Girl.
"If we want them not to have these devices, why don't we just take them ourselves? Then these villains would have to take them from us."
" I mean its illegal but also incredibly hard to pull off. It takes meticulous planning. Familarity with the take and its facilities, Tools, and several other steps Im forgetting!" Sara says remembering what her family did. The Circus of Crime pulled hundreds of heists without fail. They have been caught a few times,but they still manage to succeed where other failed banding together as well as avoising unnessecary risks whenever and wherever they could.
" Not a bad idea rhough. If need be I xan get ahold of some contacts and see if they can give us advice. They are good at what they do just tend to forget the inherienr risks envolved." Oddball says nervous her secret would get out
"Show me where these places are and what these devices look like and I will go retrieve them. Why waste time?"
"Aye, Sentry. Let's pick one and go." Mariner concurs.
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A decision is reached to steal the component from PLASMUS to try and tip the Legion's hand.
The facility is an off-shore technological island. Sentry finds the facility protected from x-ray and having considerable sound dampeners, but can still get a decent idea of the activity within; although muffled, his hearing is sharp enough when he concetrates to pick up footsteps and conversations.
The component, according to Brainiac's notes, is located in the submersed portion of the facility close to the ocean's floor.
”Sentry, let’s go scout underwater for some entrances. If we cannot sneak our way around, we can destroy their obvious surveillance devices until we’re ready to go inside.”
“Worst case, he create a big diversion for the others to sneak inside from the surface.”
“What do you guys think?”. Mariner asks the team.
"Yes. Let's go. I don't know anything about being underwater, but you could drag me along. I don't need to breath. And I can definitely cause a distraction."
" Dont forget sewer and drainage tunnels. As well as utilities. They have to use the cities geid like exeryone else does" Oddball says as she feels defeated. She was the child of master thieves.
OMAX-23 looks up as they mull tactics, offer her own thoughts deadpan:
"Why not directly attack the submersed area. If unit Sentry does not require air and Mariner can breath underwater - compromise the hull, drown all threats within and recover the component from the gravesite."
" First and foremost no Killing. That puts a bigger target on our backs and well these people are innocent." She says as she then taps her finger to her mask.
"However rhe flooding the subfloors on the way back out isnt a bad Idea. It would help hide the evidence. We might want to adpat our basement too?" Oddball says still saddened about the whole mission
She wasnt a fan heists. Her family was put away because of a failed hiest.
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" Look a stealthy inflitration is far better. Less damage, less causalities and if done righr we get rhe piece and they dont. No harm to anyone. Its a simple primise. Also should anything happen then we will be reacting to subdue and hopefully not in our vigilante personas but other ones." Sara tried to explain to the others. She really hated this smash and grab idea, but if that is what stuck she would have to play for a fall out for the counter.
" So much media has been produced that thier is a whole 'heist' genre outthier! Which Ill add to hour viewinf list rhe Oceans movies, and a few others. Also some books." she says causually remindinf her self that Omac and Sentry have missed out on so much!
Sentry vanishes for a moment before reappearing with a stack of DVDs. "From our local Lord Mart: Ocean's 11, 12, 13, and 8." To OMAX, "There appears to be some sort of cypher in the naming of the films." and back to everyone, especially Oddball. "If these are the template for your heist, then we will review them."
"Did you pay for those?...Nevermind did yoi get rhe classic version too or just the remakes...Also doesn't matter. Not used to someone being able to just...you know do that!" Sara says a bit flustered as she just doesnt know how to deal with a being that literally defied most of what she knew as possible with ease. Alnost as if he was an angel or something.
"As I have learned from acquiring pizza, I did leave currency for these media discs. Ocean's 11 starring Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, also Ocean's 11 starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts. My research suggests that George Clooney is secretly Batman, but this seems likely to be a misdirection."
" No that was a movie role, and well as Nipples on the bat suit...why would you put nipples on the bat suit? Seems a ridiculus concept!" she says and then looks at Sentry.
" Look I think a non flashy inflitration is the best method. I know you can move fast, and have all these superhuman abilites. Still we need to be tactically smart. We prep and plan, then execute the plan. Once in effect you have to try and maintain the plan" she says then sighs. Her parents and uncle Egg would have said it better.
"OMAX is tactically smart. You know about plans. I don't know about anything. I know how to listen, and I know how to hit things."
Mariner crosses his arms and looks at his companions, "So, what's the plan? Sentry and I offered to create an underwater distraction while the sneaky ones infiltrate the island. What preparations do you need in order to be successful?|
OMAX-23 eyes first Mariner...
"Affirmative. Sentry and you compromising the hull. Force an evacuation. In the chaos the rest of us will attempt to gain entry to upper levels."
... then Oddball;
"Heist. No killing. I will however incapacitate any security or rival operatives who seek to subvert our objective."
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A quick but detailed scouting of the place shows there are several piers/docks around the island- three for loading and offloading equipment/product, and two for visitors/employees. One seems more guarded and remote than the other, and seems to be for VIPs. There's also a helicopter landing pad near the VIP docks.
Underwater, they have two submersible bays and a lot of pipework as well as exterior tanks, some labeled for fuel, some for hazardous materials, and some for sewage. There are no open pipeways, and the bays seem to be pressurized.
The guards seem to carry high tech sidearms (a technology roll could give you more details on these.) They check visitors and employees. It seems that one of the "superguards" greets most visiting VIPs along with a cadre of six guards.
There are three watchtowers as well, each manned by three guards and completely enclosed (glass walls on the upper/guard level show they have considerable computer equipment and dishes atop each indicate radar or sonar capabilities as well.)
After the review of the base, Mariner offers, "I'll go loiter around underwater while you make your onto the base. I'll focus on destroying any cameras and sonar down there. Maybe Sentry will come with me."
"When we receive your signal or if the base goes on alert, we'll breach one of the bays. Then, talk our way to you guys. Good?"
With consensus, Mariner and hopefully Sentry too will head out. He would attempt small talk with Sentry along the way until they hit the water. Trying to get to know him better. "What's the strangest thing that you feel is normal for everyone else?"
Underwater, they make a leisurely pace to the base. Mariner explains that speed creates noise due to water cavitation that can be heard a long way away underwater, so slower is better.
Arriving near the base, he starts looking for cameras and sonar. If he finds one, he attempts to disable them with an underwater "accident." Like having a tangle of seaweed surround a camera, or having water infiltrate power cables to the sonar shorting it out.
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"Yes, I understand. Cavitation. I can hear all of it. Even better than before. Sound propagates through this medium quite well...I find almost everything about "everyone else" strange. People seem to lack purpose. I know exactly what my purpose is. And most of you waste so much time. Sleeping, studying, snacking. Most of their existence is devoted to these trivial matters. It is maddening. I can understand the pleasure that they experience when eating pizza. But everything is so slow to them. How can they stand it?"
OMAX-23 takes in the lay of the land, eyes flickering as she does;
[CEREBROTHER ONLINE▸ STEALTH REQUIRED. HIGH LEVEL OF SECURITY THREAT IDENTIFIED. LANDING PAD MAY PROVIDE OPTIONS IF SUITABLE DISGUISE CAN BE ACQUIRED.]
[CEREBROTHER ONLINE▸ DECREASING BIOMOLECULAR DENSITY TO MAXIMISE STEALTH AND SPEED. BIOMUTRIC COUNTDOWN ONGOING... M-MINUS 10 MINUTES AND COUNTING...]
She looks to the other members of the topside strike team;
"We are on the clock. Next operational step?"
"Okay, we get in get the item get out"Oddball says as she follows OMAX.
Along the way, Mariner cannot believe what he hears from Sentry. But, it explains a bunch. He genuinely replies to Sentry, "You know what your purpose is? What is it?"
At first, Sentry sinks like an anvil. He flails about for a bit before taking in what Mariner is doing and mimicking it as best he can. Soon he is brute forcing his way around with quick kicking legs, but his form is terrible.
"I am a sword and a shield. There are threats to humanity. Aliens, mutants, maniacs. I was created to protect against those threats. My development and programming are incomplete. I do not know how to achieve this purpose, but I know what I am here to do."
When they sit and wait, Mariner quietly continues the conversation with the Sentry. "You are fortunate to know with certainty your purpose. Humans are not born with a purpose. Some search for one, and some never find one. And even when they do, they doubt."
"I would suggest that you might be a better sword and shield, if you continued to learn about humans, because some humans are supervillains."
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The equipment is fouled up by Mariner's meddling, but he's unsure if it went unnoticed.
Meanwhile, the surface team, led by Oddball, who bypasses a security panel near a door, manages to sneak into the building most likely to be a VIP entrance that doesn't have a reception area or guard station near it.
They use stealth to bypass the first couple of wandering guards and find a stairwell and a nearby elevator.