View source for 3015/Crey Code Crackers

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/09/13
|Location=Paragon City <CoH>
|Synopsis=Evidence of Crey's illegal wire-tapping must be obtained! But unexpected enemies are found at the base!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=346, 769, 842, 860
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|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When we left off, the trio of heroes had departed Paragon City's foreign embassy building in Atlas Park. Crey Industries has their 'Paragon Protectors', essentially corporate-owner super heroes, guarding the place even though they don't really have legal authority to yet, because of diplomatic pressure from visiting officials. Unfortunately, Crey also seems to find the influence of at least one Welsh diplomat to be unwelcome for the future of Paragon City, and has been monitoring him and even threatening him!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As such, help has been requested from one of those who rescued Aeron Jernigan previously, Saber, along with two more helpful (and not Crey-bankrolled) heroes, Testament and Berserker. They were advised to speak to Jason Manfried, a doorman at the embassy, who has contacts who may be able to help with cracking Crey Industries codes and determining where the base of operations is for Crey Agents who are monitoring diplomatic communications (a pretty severely illegal offense), in order to obtain proof and put a stop to all this!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After doing so, a quick trip to Brickstown to bust some heads while Berserker interrogated people in her own way allowed the heroes to map out the most likely places for the headquarters to be located at. Striking quickly and making sure no distress calls were sent out, two out of three high-tech facilities have been cleared, leaving just one remaining...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But first, the technology needed to hack the Crey computers has to be picked up from a contact in Founders' Falls. It should hopefully be a short side-trip. A blueish armored figure awaits in the Gaspee neighborhood, expecting the arrival of these heroes. It may have been expected that Crey computers would be more easily hacked into with the equipment provided previously, but with each base's sophistication to their networks being beyond what was expected, they can't afford to take chances with the final base.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There are many Crey facilities in Paragon City, but with the information gathered through interrogation, communications tracking, and Berserker's pattern analysis (and social skills), it's certain that this third one is THE base they're looking for.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So Mark IV has to give them a little something special. In exchange for a favor...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:346|Saber (346)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It wasn't as if the King of Knights hadn't anticipated something like a favour in exchange, even if much of this kind of thing in Paragon City seemed to be for the Greater Good. But though she understood the basic workings of modern technology due to the Holy Grail system which had summoned her, something which amounted to the technological equivalent to a traditional rogue's task was beyond her skills. Manfried had trusted them (or their work, at least) enough to point the three to a contact who could, which at the very least meant they had the same or similar goals. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Likely, that favour wouldn't be anything which undermined their mission. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I will agree to it, speaking for myself," Saber replied. As before, she wouldn't speak for the others if they had doubts. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:842|Testament (842)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Testament's approach is from the rooftops.  He's been given the location of their contact, and gets there via leaping and teleporting across the rooftops.  Mainly leaping, but when a gap is too far for him to leap (might be unlikely depending on how densely-packed the buildings are in this area), he'll teleport across it.  Flying above him is his raven.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He appears on-scene by leaping down from the top of a building near the man in blue armor.  There's a gesture of his hand and a Word spoken, a red glowing sigil appears behind him, and his descent slows until he quite literally floats down to the ground.  the sigil disappears when his feet touch the ground.  Then the raven swoops down and perches upon his shoulder.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:860|Berserker (860)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Berserker is wearing the same sort of outfit as before... and the same face. There's no point in changing faces if you can't build up a reputation with one of them! At least in a case like this. Like Saber, she had some basic understanding of technology, and her skillset included the use of computers... to post on Facebook. Anything more than that was probably beyond her skills, sadly. So, like the others, she's forced to follow along and meet the contact.<br /><br />There's another fortunate coincidence here though. "A favor? Well, so long as it isn't anything undecorous, I suppose I can do that." Berserker's Master is a good person, a decent person, just pragmatic. Berserker was far more amoral than she let on at times, so it's going to be unlikely she'll have a problem with this.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark IV scans the trio who arrive, and speaks in a semi-robotic monotone, "Identity: Saber. Testament. Berserker. Confirmed. I need your help. If you can help me I can give you access to many pieces of Technology." Saber and Berserker have already agreed, so while he will wait for Testament to also voice agreement, he will eventually decide that since they are all together, he can entrust at least two of them with his task. "If I could trouble you. I have been on the run from Crey for many weeks. They keep trying to locate me, and have nearly succeeded a dozen times. If I can erase any records of me from their networks, then the pursuit should end. I have included a Data Erasure Module into this arm-mounted cyberinterface device."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He holds up what looks like a cybernetic arm, except hollow. More or less a computerized glove. "If this is properly attached to a Crey computer, it will wipe out all records pertaining to me from their database and network, and at the same time decypher the records that you seek. Both of us benefit."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=" bold_fg_b bg_n ++ hb">Help Mark IV by erasing records of his existence from Crey computers</span> - The crucial evidence of highly-illegal tampering with diplomatic communiques will be obtained by helping Mark IV, and a life free of Crey's 'Asset Reclamation Agents' will be granted to him in turn! It's a really win/win situation!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=" bold_fg_w bg_n ++ hw">Accept Mission?</span><br> <br>

:'''{{#var:842|Testament (842)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh now THAT hits home.  Testament is not good at hiding his emotions.  Lips part in shock, brows draw together in dismay... and for just a moment, his eyes lose a touch of focus as unpleasant memories surface.  That explanation hits a nerve, seeing as how he was also created by people who then tried to kill him.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The raven looks at Mark IV, looks at Testament, then looks back to Mark IV.  She emits a quiet 'awp'.  Testament seems to recover then, and looks to the raven, with a nod.  Then he looks back at Mark IV.  "...You were created by them?" Testament asks.  His voice is almost... gentle.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He's made up his mind almost before Mark IV has finished speaking.  "I'll help you," he agrees, once Mark IV has finished speaking.  There's almost no hesitation.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:860|Berserker (860)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Oh, is that all?" Berserker sounds genuinely surprised. "Erase your records so you can do what you like? I see no problems with this." Perhaps she might be more suspicious if she cared, but she doesn't really, so long as it doesn't hurt Kay.<br /><br />Still, she'll let Saber or Testament actually take the glove. She's looking more thoughtful. Convenient, eh? "Hmm... so we simply get in and use this device? That doesn't seem too hard."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:346|Saber (346)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;his was one of those situations where certain Virtues of chivalty conflicted. While honour dictated that something in the matter of destruction of property was considered an offence -- as the personal property of the lower classes was often at the mercy of the higher ones -- at the same time, what Mark IV described was something rather akin to slavery. In such cases, the most grievous violation of one of the Virtues superceded the lesser infraction. Breaking into a Crey facility and destroying records was far less of an offence than refusing to free a sentient being from slavery or forced servitude. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You have my word. I shall do what you ask," she replied, accepting the extended cybernetic arm. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mission a<span class=" bold_fg_w bg_n ++ cepted!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;chw">Clue Found!</span><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'This combination device includes both hacking tools and a data erasure module. It accepts input from the user's mind as to what files they wish to download, and covers their tracks... While also erasing data pertaining to Mark IV.'<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark IV answers Testament's inquiry, explaining, "I am a cybernetic organism created by Crey Industries. I had too much self-awareness for their plans. I learned of their true nature and engineered an escape from one of their high-security laboratories. The same kind you must now infilitrate. Direct contact with a Crey computer is necessary, and those kinds of computers are kept well-secured, behind many guards. The danger is regretful, but necessary. You have my gratitude, all of you."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With Saber accepting the item, Mark IV wishes them luck... And now it's time to hop the tram back to Brickstown and get into that final laboratory before anyone suspects anything thanks to the other two facilities 'going dark'! If this is what's done next, then they should arrive and make quick work of locating their final target, and sneaking in through a heavily secured entrance... But not secure enough against three people who can teleport.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A wide, spacious, sterile, high-tech hallway lies before them, brancing off to the left and right about 100 feet ahead. It's like the other facilities so far, though the sound of footfalls echoing up the passage, and alarms blaring indicates their presence may have already been noticed!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:346|Saber (346)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>% Saber hadn't worried too much about the transportation issues; Testament could apparently teleport, and Berserker could easily dissipate her corporeal form and travel in the blink of an eye. Saber's mobility was slightly more limited, summoning her more flexible battle armour and becoming an incomprehensible blur and leaping from rooftop to rooftop upon reaching Brickstown. Fortunately, even a diminutive knight dressed in magical armour was not something even the ordinary citizens of Paragon City batted an eye at. The magi of her world would have heart attacks. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Everything else had gone relatively smoothly by comparison, so when the alarms went off not long after entering, the Servant was baffled. "It would seem we have been expected, after all," she observed, likely without much need. Strangely, she didn;t seem especially surprised by that. "Quickly, then." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Setting off in what seemed to be the right direction, their best option appeared to be finding what they needed to quickly, fulfilling their mission, and departing as fast as possible. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:860|Berserker (860)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>To be fair, Berserker can't really teleport. She simply dematerializes when needed. So she... has to take the tram like anyone else. The superhero tram. It's a weird idea, but she'll deal.<br /><br />Actually getting in will be a little different. With alarms sounding and the like, there's some concern that things are getting serious! "Ara ara... this isn't good, is it? Hmm... yes, we should move quickly. I'll just follow you, Saber, and see what I can do to help prepare us in the event of an encounter~" She claps her hands. "I would really prefer it if they didn't see us, don't you agree?"<br /><br />That's a hint as to what she's doing. She's preparing herself, and Saber(possibly Testament, as the player has no idea how Guilty Gear works) will be able to tell there's some kind of gathering of power going on.<br /><br />It's all preparation for in case she runs into anyone. If guards rush in, she's pretty sure wholesale slaughter, while fun, will get them some looks. So she's cheerfully going to fling out small mystical bolts at anyone who spots them, which strike them blind for a few hours, barring magical resistance or the like.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:842|Testament (842)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ouch.  OUCH!  Mark IV's sitution hits ever closer to home, and Testament visibly flinches when this is explained.  "...The depravity of the greedy human race is not confined to my world, I see," he notes.  The well-wishes get a nod.  "Thank you.  We'll be careful."  Well, at least, he will.  He's not sure about Saber and Berserker.  Besides, with a name like 'Berserker', on doesn't generally think 'person who takes great care to minimize danger'.  Of course, that might be the intention!<br /><br />AT THE FACILITY:<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To be fair, any security system that still leaves the property visible (such as through a window, a wire fence, or the like) is generally useless versus Testament anyway; he can teleport anywhere he can see.  Unless there's fields designed to block magic.  Then that's harder.  But if so, he has no objections to playing the cackling madman and going in the hard way if it should come to that.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Though even if it didn't come to that getting in, it looks like it might come to that once they're inside!  Footfalls and alarms are always bad signs.  Testament has decided to have his raven accompany him into the facility instead of scouting around outside, and now he's glad of it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The raven takes off into the air, off his shoulder, but hovers nearby.  While she does, Testament brings his hand up to his mouth, biting into the skin there and tearing his fingers free with a vicious gesture.  An arc of blood erupts from the injury, though it congeals into the red-bladed scythe he's sometimes seen carrying around... when he means BUSINESS!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thankfully, not only does the Crey patrol pass right by them without even noticing their presence, but they seem to be going the opposite direction from where Saber chose to go, meaning their backs are to the heroes. Talk about timing! But wait, if they aren't going after the good guys, who ARE they rushing to deal with? Those men and women in suits and sunglasses and carrying various firearms weren't just going on a run for exercise!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The halls are huge, and lead to even MORE huge rooms, often behind futuristic-seeming heavy-duty doors that slide open when their access panel is pressed. Rooms of scientific equipment and scientists who may have to be fought are found, as are rooms of Crey agents standing around, ready for trouble. During the course of fighting through them (sometimes more than once, as Crey Geneticists seem to be able to revive their defeated allies as raging killing machines), various pieces of conversation may be picked up prior to bashing heads.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Why are those scavengers here? How did they even get in?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I hear they chased the crew that was escorting our 'guest' for some reason!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Another conversation reveals the 'scavengers' are robots of some kind... That miiiight be ringing some bells for at least one person present.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then the moment comes, after navigating the labyrinthine corridors and multiple levels via tube-like elevator platforms set in the walls, where they come across a scene of chaos!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Turn the unit over to *BZZT* us!" a Clockwork Cog demands, the tall, scrap-metal robots having a fist fight with a Crey Cryo Armor agent.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I don't know what you're talking about!" he insists as he punches the robot back.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What the heck is going on!? There's a huge power generator or something in the center of this large room on the final floor, and beyond it, what appears to be a room full of computers with a raise platform of some kind... Can they get through without messing with any of these hostiles!?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Probably not!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:842|Testament (842)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the scythe, Testament is actually taking care not to kill people.  Or maybe he's just thwacking them aside without bothering much with them.  It's hard to tell.  But those snippets of conversation have him wondering.  The buzzing from the robots they find tells they're probably not of the best quality.  Whatever 'unit' they're looking for, it's probably not good.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;However, do they really need to bother?  Not really.  And he offers, "I could just bring the three of us into that room and bypass the trouble entirely," he offers.  He can SEE the room, so he can teleport to it -- blood magic and his natural distortion abilities can work together, after all.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:346|Saber (346)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The petite blonde nodded to the other Servant. "Agreed. Perhaps it is possible to avoid confrontation if we are careful..." Of course, anyone from Crey likely wouldn't emerge from a confrontation with two Heroic Spirits and a Gear without a quick teleport to the hospital wing of the nearby Ziggurat, but the resulting chaos would likely mean someone would have the time to move their objective elsewhere. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So Crey hadn't been expecting them after all. A strange coincidence, though perhaps not when they discovered just who had been invading at the very same time they were trying to sneak in. Or rather, /what/. And possibly after the same objective they were. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Her lips thinned to a tight line before she moved in the other direction away from the battling Crey and Clockwork; if they were currently preoccupied with each other, that provided them with an even better opportunity than if they had been the single group breaking in. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Meanwhile, Testament's summoning of his weapon didn't even incur the bat of an eye. As far as the knight was concerned, it might as well have been blood magic, something not entirely uncommon in her world. What did draw her attention was his suggestion. "If there is no one else there, that may be best," she observed. "However...are you able to discern if the room is occupied?" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That would certainly give them a good element of surprise, if they could discern right from left immediately afterwards. Especially if they had other distractions at their disposal. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:860|Berserker (860)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Odd. Berserker will not have to toss her curses after all, it seems. The young woman frowns at what she's hearing, though. Scavengers? That doesn't sound good at all. As usual, she was unarmed, but Saber would likely know that this fact said little about her ability to handle normal guards.<br /><br />Still, Berseker was one of the weaker Servants, and all too glad to have an excuse to avoid conflict with anything too dangerous. A few quick blasts of magic to stagger and blind opponents is all she contributes, but blinding is usually a pretty effective means of handling people. She herself is careful to stay out of direct conflict, though by the time she reaches the objective, she has a few bruises and cuts opon her delicate flesh. Haha.<br /><br />"Mmmn..." The young woman snaps a fan in front of her face. "I am afraid my mystical abilities as a Berserker are quite limited. My friend Tamamo could handle this easily, but my own powers are more limited. We may simply have to deal with any opposition in there swiftly and efficiently."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;From what can be determined from here, the room on the far end of this large one is rather darkened, though the light of electronics and computer screens is visible. There is also the hulking form of a Clockwork Prince and a Sprocket (the latter holding its head under its arm, the former being a giant robot with exhaust pipes protruding from its back and shoulders). The two Clockwork seem to be menacing someone or something. Details may be hard to discern from here, though with the senses of a Servant (and maybe a Gear) it could probably be discerned that in that darkness, something human-shaped and not dressed in Crey uniform of any kind seems to be the victim.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, the computers are in there anyway, aren't they? Rescuing whoever it is at the same time can't hurt! ...Especially if they might be another Crey Industries 'asset' that has been 'reclaimed', like Mark IV is trying not to be.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Teleporting in there without being noticed should work out just fine. Especially if they ambush the robots before they can react!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:842|Testament (842)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"There are a few intruders in there," Testament replies.  "Be ready to fight."  And with that, Testament raises his hand to his mouth again, biting into the tip of his finger.  Then he crouches down.  "Get ready to stand in the circle after I draw it."  And then he's using the bleeding finger as a 'pen' of sorts, drawing a magic circle on the ground that would be large enough for all three of them to stand in.  It's probably not exactly like the magic from Saber and Berserker's worlds, but it's similar enough that it can be recognized as a teleportation circle.  He murmurs quietly under his breath as the draws the circle.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He stands when he's done drawing the circle, the bitten finger no longer bleeding.  The raven alights upon his shoulder, and he waits until the others step into the circle -- please don't smudge the blood -- before speaking the last Word.  When he does, the blood should burn away, but the air around them will distort, as his own teleportation works, and should hopefully deposit them in a clear area of the computer room.  He still has his scythe, and he will employ it when required.  The blade can cut metal pretty well too, even though it's made of blood...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:860|Berserker (860)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Berserker eyes the circle curiously, then shrugs as she steps inside. "Ah, much obliged, sir!" She flashes a pleased smile at Testament, fanning herself lightly while the teleportation fires. In moments, she's finding herself looking at the situation. Hmm. Someone in danger? She couldn't care less, but her Master does seem to have a soft spot for such things. Maybe she can score points. Besides, Saber has the glove.<br /><br />"Ara ara, that doesn't look pleasant~!" Even a weak Servant is tough for a human, so perhaps Berserker can take these foes on by herself! The sprocket almost certainly, but the other... well, she'll give it a try.<br /><br />A little gesture and twirl of her body, and she summons up her powers again. The unmistakable yet very odd flare of something similar to MageCraft erupts from within the Servant, and she sends short blasts of crackling lightning toward the mechanical menaces. "I suppose I will handle these. Perhaps you can lend me your scythe, Testament? I am a delicate and fragile flower of feminine beauty, not a warrior~"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:346|Saber (346)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Saber nodded, her invisible sword grasped in both gauntleted hands. While she had little use for Wind King when it came to hiding her identity -- her Holy Grail War was over -- a sword which couldn't be seen had other advantages. Most notably, it made her attacks difficult to predict. She stepped carefully into the circle with more grace than should have been possible for an armoured warrior, but regal habits were impossible to break. "I thank you." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Servant assessed the situation quickly once they were inside the room, already closing the gap even as Berserker attacked with...lightning? Well, that was certainly unusual for a Heroic Spirit with a supposed Mad Enhancement, but Saber wasn't inclined to argue. Particularly not when electric attacks were so effective against the odd robotic creations. The King of Knights took advantage of that, lashing out at the Clockwork Prince with light, rapid strikes. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Error. *ZZT* Target misidentified?" the Cannon Prince queries, as the Sprocket stands next to it, slamming its metal fist into its head under its opposite arm since it doesn't have a palm available to do it with.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What do you scrap-iron hooligans want with me!?" a familiar voice demands. A voice speaking with a Welsh accent. Though it sounds far less calm and precise than in the past. No, way, it can't be...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"None of your *KSHHZT* business!" the Sprocket replies.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then Testament, Berserker, and Saber attack the Clockwork who appear to be threatening Aeron Jernigan! What's he doing here!?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Clockwork don't seem to be majorly impacted by the electrical attacks, though they're effective at damage-dealing, even causing them to seize up and writhe, momentarily stunned, as their rusty metal bodies suffer harm! They appear to have no resistances to the damage type at least. By contrast, Testament's scythe and Saber's blade seem to do less damage than they normally would... But due to their overpowering strength and skill, it is still quite enough to dispose of the Sprocket and to get the Cannon Prince's attention. He turns around when he is no longer stunned, clearly suffering from the damage he has taken so far, and swings a huge metal fist right at the nearest enemy... Saber!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They had best finish this battle quickly before someone else notices and comes to provide reinforcements! And also get the diplomat out of here (what //is// he doing here???).<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:842|Testament (842)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Testament chuckles at Berserker's words of being a 'fragile flower'.  "Fragile?  That I have my doubts about.  Though you are most definitely a beautiful flower," he replies teasingly.  He is not above some teasing of allies.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But, with the Clockwork Prince remaining -- and Aeron Jernigan in the path of danger, that requires a quick end to this.  Testament releases the scythe, and it reconfigures itself into a large red key.  He thrusts a hand forward, and the key attempts to impale the Clockwork Prince.  Should it manage to do so, Testament will turn his hands in a circular motion and the key will also twist inside the robot.  That should do some damage...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:860|Berserker (860)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There's no way around it: Berserker is actually kind of a shitty Servant. She is, however, still superhuman in all aspects, and actually decently fast even for a Servant. Dashing forward, she is going to try to slip around while the other two take care of the Clockwork Prince.<br /><br />"Ah, excuse me sir, this isn't a very safe place," she murmurs. "If you could just come with me~?" She's going to attempt to grab Aaron and dash away in the confusion, though she may have underestimated the Prince's speed.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:346|Saber (346)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The diplomat being there certainly gave Saber pause, though not for long. There was still the matter of the Clockwork to dispatch, ant it was not going to be an easy matter. Even Excalibur seemed to lack the sort of effect it should; Noble Phantasm aside, it was nevertheless a sword which should have been able to cut through metal easily. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "This is...rather surprising," she managed, narrowly avoiding being pummelled. It was slow, but she had been in an open position. Without her preternatural speed, she would have likely been sent flying across the room. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Green eyes shifted slightly, catching berserker out of her peripheral vision. Shitty Servant or not, the 'delicate flower' was nobody's fool. Getting him out of there might not have been their initial objective, but it would certainly answer more than a few questions, saving a civilian aside. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Saber leapt back a few feet before deepening her stance, channelling more prana into her limbs to give her a little more power and speed. With what seemed scant other warning, the tiny Servant darted forward, swinging Excalibur upward into an arc with a hoarse yell which would have cleaved a normal person from groin to shoulder. Or at least the upper torso, had that person been the size of a Clockwork Prince. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Testament does internal damage to the Cannon Prince, just as it seemed to be preparing to shoot lightning at the fleeing back of the nimble Berserker as she picks up and makes off with the diplomat. But Berserker is too quick and agile for a clunky lightning bolt to hit her, and its attack is interrupted by the massive physical strain on its cobbled-together body. If it were a true robot, it would have fried when Berserker first attacked. If it were full of electronics than both Testament's scythe and Saber's blade would have made short work of it. But it is more like lots of pieces of metal stuck together in a roughly humanoid shape. There's no obvious 'critical component' that controls it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's like whatever its motivating force is, it's ELSEWHERE, not actually IN the thing being animated! But stunned by the Superior Damage inflicted by Testament, and then the artful and powerful Enraged strike, enhanced by Saber's Insight into swordplay combine with all the other damage taken so far, and the Clockwork Boss soon collapses to the ground in a heap of junk.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, then! Now all that's left is to put on the nintendo power glove or whatever and hack the <span class="underline bold_fg_c bg_n ++ ompu--<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;chc">*KZZZZZT* *WHIIIRR* *KSHEEEEN!*</span><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh god, what! Now tiny Clockwork are assemblings themselves from the remains of the Cannon Prince and charging forth to try to deliver electrified punches to the shins and knee-caps of Testament and Saber! What even IS this!?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At least they are far easier to take out, and then FINALLY they can protect Mark IV and get the data to prove Crey's guilt once and for all!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Berserker is fast enough that while she aggros basically everyone in the room as she passes them by, carrying the diplomat, none of them actually react in time to chase after her. She's out and gone down the hallways they cleared! And none of them are looking at the computer room at the moment.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That might change though.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jernigan, meanwhile, is proclaiming his thanks! "Thank you, thank you, kind lady!" He seems very frazzled and kind of beat up. Nothing like how he looked earlier today at the embassy! "From one prison directly to another! I'll head right back to the embassy when we are out of here!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then a voice echoes down a hallway, "Stop right there, Berserker!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A bunch of Crey agents, Power Armors, and researchers come around a corner! She can stop to fight them or head for the elevator and hope to ditch this Ambush!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:842|Testament (842)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, that was the last thing Testament expected.  And he stumbles to a knee at the sudden attack of the tinybots.  The shocks though?  that gets a reaction that, if these things were human, they might find disturbing.  He laughs, a sound that begins to sound more unhinged as long as it's happening.  Carefully little bots... don't wake the dragon...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He summons a portal with a Word, and it blinks into existence.  And then... it opens.  From behind it comes a massive red skull and clawed hands.  All made out of poisoned blood.  And they're coming after the tiny electric bots.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color:xterm197!xterm91">NIGHTMARE CIRCULAR!</span><br> <br>

:'''{{#var:860|Berserker (860)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Ara ara, when was the last time telling a Berserker to stop ever worked? They don't call me Berseker because of my pretty face~" Berserker teases her opponents, but she isn't about to engage them! Outnumbered like that, there aren't a whole lot of choices for her.<br /><br />Still holding Aaron, she calls out, "Incoming~" A wall of flame erupts behind her, between her and the enemies, as she dashes out toward the nearest exit. "Let's get you out of here, why don't we?" The flames she leaves behind aren't actually that strong, they're just meant to be a deterrant, hoping that these ones aren't so dumb as to just walk through it without balking like some of the enemies she's seen. In the meantime she's blocking any shots on Aaron with her own body.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:346|Saber (346)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With the Prince and Sprocket out of the way, the sudden eruption of reassembling Clockwork Gears were dispatched easily enough with a Nightmare Circular. Overkill, perhaps...but that was more than adequate to keep them from reassembling long enough to get what they needed to and depart. Saber doubted Testament wanted to stay there and continuously destroy the cobbled-together contraptions any more than she did. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shifting back to her civilian clothes long enough to summon the cybernetic glove, she stepped over to a nearby computer and activated it. The device was somewhat out of her purview, but Mark IV had seemed to imply it was simple enough to use. First retrieving the necessary files first before deleting the ones they were asked to, the Servant recalled her armour without wasting time. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We should leave before they reassemble," she remarked before following Berserker, leaving the scraps to become Crey's next problem. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At least, before Crey made /themselves/ a problem, already after Berserker. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The other Servant's flames may have been weak, but that was about to be the least of their worries. The knight stopped just short of Crey's minions, ad even if they were already going for some way to extinguish them, were in for another surprise. Saber extended her arm out in front of her, seeming to hold nothing until they were blasted with a sudden, high-pressure torrent of wind. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The slight release of Wind King was not an especially powerful attack, but it would be enough to bowl their obstacles out of the way. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:769|Demetrios Vasilikos (769)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes, please!" the diplomat replies eagerly. He has no desire to remain with these creeps any more than he has to! Berserker's flames stall the ambushers, causing them damage when they try to force their way through and causing them to turn around and run all the way around the seemingly unnecessary rectangular room with its hall that goes all the way around on both sides and leads to the same place. Who designs the buildings in this city!?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Testament's attack destroys/disables the Gears, and now only the Clockwork fighting Crey operatives in the big room with the huge, loud, humming power generator cylinder thing in the middle remain! And thanks to Saber's wind blast, they all get scattered to the opposite side of the room from her and Testament. If they move quickly, they can flee out into the hall and join Berserker, taking one of the other elevator tubes down to the same floor as she went to (that being the first, and thus the one they need to get to in order to escape), before the Crey agents finish coming around the corner from the other hall to attack them!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At this point, with the computer operation completed, progress bar filled, etc. all that's needed is to get to the exit with the diplomat and this mission will be over! ...Oh, and to then bring the data back to the embassy, but that turn-in can wait...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For now, assuming all goes well...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dun DUN dunnn... DAH!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=" bold_fg_b bg_n ++ hb">MISSION COMPLETE!</span><br> <br>

:'''{{#var:842|Testament (842)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Testament wants badly to murder the rest of the things in here.  But he keeps it incheck.  There's a time and a place for everything, and now is not the time to murder things and cackle like a madman.  So as Saber's voice reaches him, he sends a growl in the direction of the scattered robots, then follows Saber and Berserker out.  He can serve as a decent meat-shield, considering he regenerates damage so quickly.<br> <br>


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