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Grendyne groans and starts pulling on her boots when the alarm goes off. Again. She quick-marches to the broom hangar, sits on her machine and is handed a plethora of loaded weapons by attentive corporals.
"Two flyers in one day? They're getting way too common."
"It's worse," the commander informs them, "South Karlsland got hit with three at once. We're taking Lytee's express and sleeping there. You can sit out if you absolutely need to, but Freya's still recovering so we could use you as a comms relay."
"No, I'll come. I just reserve the right to complain about it."
The 42nd United Forces Witch Wing takes off and assembles into a perfect synchronized formation as Lytee charges her teleport power.
...This is not South Karlsland wilderness.
[note: halfway through this thread I created a unique account for Grendyne. Do not be alarmed by the change in account. -Rockeye]
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characterquarry
neuroihive
"WE CAN FIND THE ORIGINAL. WE WILL NOT YET. WE ARE CAPABLE OF SUPERLUMINAL TRANSIT TO AN APPROPRIATE STAR. IT WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS TO PREPARE A SUFFICIENTLY THOROUGH ATTACK."
whole_new_can
"If the Endbringers turn on us while you're gone and they fight to eradicate, we might not have four months. Leave a drone behind, on either world or a third, and we will be able to communicate in an emergency."
neuroihive
"YES."
The storm has been letting up. Most of the Neuroi are ascending into space.
The storm has been letting up. Most of the Neuroi are ascending into space.
whole_new_can
Earth Bet's next months are tense. The Endbringers have returned to their elements, and didn't (to everyone’s relief) continue their rampage against the next available targets. After orbiting the earth a few times as she normally does, the Simurgh starts approaching some locations, singing for a short time, and then leaving. The common element becomes clear before too long; she’s seeking out tinkers. Those tinkers get quarantined; rules of thumb about maximum safe exposure are out the window since they know it was personally directed. There are no signs of them being turned into weapons of the Simurgh, but on this short a time scale that doesn’t mean much.
The Simurgh isn’t the only one preparing. More capes have started appearing, which no one needs to know is a result of Cauldron stepping up their operations before an endgame. The Protectorate is reeling from the loss of Eidolon, and is focussing on being as convincing as possible when they say they were never dependent on him. Legend steps up; he was always the face of the Triumvirate and now he has to play the part of the Protectorate's most powerful cape into the bargain. Between their emphasis and the emergency, recruitment numbers are going up. Even most of the villains are scaling down crime the way they do before Endbringer attacks, since there might be an attack or worse at any time.
The Protectorate needs a victory. Something to prove that they're still a force that matters, even without Eidolon.
Legend contacts Copycat.
The Simurgh isn’t the only one preparing. More capes have started appearing, which no one needs to know is a result of Cauldron stepping up their operations before an endgame. The Protectorate is reeling from the loss of Eidolon, and is focussing on being as convincing as possible when they say they were never dependent on him. Legend steps up; he was always the face of the Triumvirate and now he has to play the part of the Protectorate's most powerful cape into the bargain. Between their emphasis and the emergency, recruitment numbers are going up. Even most of the villains are scaling down crime the way they do before Endbringer attacks, since there might be an attack or worse at any time.
The Protectorate needs a victory. Something to prove that they're still a force that matters, even without Eidolon.
Legend contacts Copycat.
witchwatcher
Copycat is getting pretty busy, her agent says, so keep it short if at all possible? And then the agent patches him though. "Legend. What's this about?"
whole_new_can
"The Nine. We've got a pretty good idea of their location, and I've been talking to some of our thinkers to narrow it down. Are you still on board?"
witchwatcher
"Oh. Is Yvette still working for you or did she get fed up predicting things? I trust her precogitating, if she says it can be done I'm in."
whole_new_can
"Some of it was her. She's only willing to sell so many questions, so it's mostly our own thinkers. It can be done though; that much we do know."
witchwatcher
"Then I'll help. The Nine are offensive and obscene. It sounds like we have a lot of strategy sessions ahead of us. Who all will be along?"
whole_new_can
"Protectorate capes from all over, and a few others like the teleporter and you. Armsmaster and I are probably the only ones you know, unless you've met more of our teams while heroing."
witchwatcher
"I've met a couple. Had a chat with Myddrin once, which was... Interesting. I'll be happy to spend a few hours discussing strategy and preparing, and I can 'port in from anywhere when it's time to move. Let me know when to come in, preferably at least a couple hours from now. I'm busy cleaning up after a tornado."
whole_new_can
He sends her a time for the strategizing, along with a list of cape names. Myrddin is included.
witchwatcher
And she shows up exactly on time, via teleport into the building's lobby.
whole_new_can
There are a lot of capes, even for a Protectorate headquarters. They've got members here from most of the important branches. Myrddin, Exalt, Rime. The list goes on. Alexandria is not present, for one reason or another.
The most important information is who they're up against. Everyone knows in a general sense who the Slaughterhouse Nine are, but the specific roster varies.
In descending order of threat: the Siberian, who everyone in this room needs to know is a projection. Crawler, the most monstrous member in a literal sense, who regenerates from anything that harms him in seconds and is thereafter immune to it. Shatterbird, large-scale and fine-grained control over glass. She won't be surrounded by a city's worth of shards, unlike when the Nine attack a city, but should be assumed to have an arsenal on hand. Burnscar. Bonesaw. Jack Slash. Mannequin.
Hatchet Face, their power nullifier, was recently killed and replaced by this person, whose powers are unknown.
The general outline of the plan is of course to teleport to the Siberian—the real her, not the projection—and kill her before joining the battle. Strider can't teleport to people and Copycat doesn't have enough information on the person, but the Protectorate has a tank of thinkers who can narrow the location down and the Siberian's other body is likely alone.
Some of the others have complications, but with the Siberian dead they could win by force if nothing else. And of course they do have the advantage of striking first, which they can use like this or that....
The most important information is who they're up against. Everyone knows in a general sense who the Slaughterhouse Nine are, but the specific roster varies.
In descending order of threat: the Siberian, who everyone in this room needs to know is a projection. Crawler, the most monstrous member in a literal sense, who regenerates from anything that harms him in seconds and is thereafter immune to it. Shatterbird, large-scale and fine-grained control over glass. She won't be surrounded by a city's worth of shards, unlike when the Nine attack a city, but should be assumed to have an arsenal on hand. Burnscar. Bonesaw. Jack Slash. Mannequin.
Hatchet Face, their power nullifier, was recently killed and replaced by this person, whose powers are unknown.
The general outline of the plan is of course to teleport to the Siberian—the real her, not the projection—and kill her before joining the battle. Strider can't teleport to people and Copycat doesn't have enough information on the person, but the Protectorate has a tank of thinkers who can narrow the location down and the Siberian's other body is likely alone.
Some of the others have complications, but with the Siberian dead they could win by force if nothing else. And of course they do have the advantage of striking first, which they can use like this or that....
witchwatcher
Copycat hasn't actually been battling other capes for most of her capey career. Her tactical sense is still tuned for Neuroi, so some of her suggestions may seem odd. She isn't the least bit upset with being told that her ideas won't work, at least.
Are there any clues to the last person's power? Unknowns are annoying. Perhaps she should be second priority after the Siberian - for all they know she could wipe the floor with the Alexandria and Legend if they let her alone long enough. Kinda like Lung.
Are there any clues to the last person's power? Unknowns are annoying. Perhaps she should be second priority after the Siberian - for all they know she could wipe the floor with the Alexandria and Legend if they let her alone long enough. Kinda like Lung.
wormcan
Accurate information is hard to come by; few people get a good look at the Nine in action. Speculation is that she's a master, but that's a guess and isn't very specific in any case.
The experienced capes all know how much of a threat unknown opponents can be. They certainly aren't assuming this one is less immediately dangerous than the guy with the knives.
The other half of the fight is, of course, theirs. They have capes from all over and have plenty of time to plan useful power interactions. (They could theoretically pulverize anything short of Crawler by using a combination of Myrddin, Dispatch, Exalt, and a card table. The downside is that it's kind of stupid. Dispatch is still useful for giving a short break to capes with recharge time. Like Copycat.) And there are plenty of powers to copy.
The experienced capes all know how much of a threat unknown opponents can be. They certainly aren't assuming this one is less immediately dangerous than the guy with the knives.
The other half of the fight is, of course, theirs. They have capes from all over and have plenty of time to plan useful power interactions. (They could theoretically pulverize anything short of Crawler by using a combination of Myrddin, Dispatch, Exalt, and a card table. The downside is that it's kind of stupid. Dispatch is still useful for giving a short break to capes with recharge time. Like Copycat.) And there are plenty of powers to copy.
witchwatcher
Copycat really likes the idea of working with Dispatch. She can only copy him well enough to do small areas for a few moments. Myddrin's power continues to be a little odd. Exalt's aerokinesis blends in with the other kinds she has. She copies the other powers, but nothing present gives her a major advantage she didn't already have.
Copycat's copy of the Siberian can protect and move people likely to be able to hit the Nine hard enough. She is now powerful enough to both outright cancel gravity and make it hard to move around in an area the size of a house for a few minutes. Not likely to stop shatterbird or burnscar, but it'd give other heroes time to attack.
Copycat's copy of the Siberian can protect and move people likely to be able to hit the Nine hard enough. She is now powerful enough to both outright cancel gravity and make it hard to move around in an area the size of a house for a few minutes. Not likely to stop shatterbird or burnscar, but it'd give other heroes time to attack.
wormcan
This leaves Usher feeling a bit redundant. Suddenly Copycat can make people immune to both powers and stab wounds. Not that there's enough power immunity to go around, of course.
The canceling gravity requires testing with a cape with gravity powers; if he tries pulling people toward a potentially-fatal trap and there's no other gravity, that's much simpler than if they just render each other useless and have to time it.
Powers and tactics take up time; there's no shortage of permutations of both.
The canceling gravity requires testing with a cape with gravity powers; if he tries pulling people toward a potentially-fatal trap and there's no other gravity, that's much simpler than if they just render each other useless and have to time it.
Powers and tactics take up time; there's no shortage of permutations of both.
witchwatcher
Copycat tolerates a few hours of testing and strategizing, but soon disappears. Her gravity-cancel doesn't interfere with anyone else's gravity powers.
wormcan
Once they've hashed out a plan, they start working on steadily less important details of strategy and powers. By the time she leaves they'll have planned enough, but they'll all have plenty of advance warning to prepare before the attack.
witchwatcher
Copycat takes a bit of a break from heroing, cutting the hours she does cape things down to five or six a day from more than ten. Sleep and relaxation are pretty important too, and the world has a truly staggering variety of food.
(She also asks Toy Soldier for a quote on a spacesuit. She wants to teleport to the Moon.)
But she's in the room moments after the call that they're ready to move on the Nine goes out.
(She also asks Toy Soldier for a quote on a spacesuit. She wants to teleport to the Moon.)
But she's in the room moments after the call that they're ready to move on the Nine goes out.
wormcan
They've been keeping close track on where the Nine are, and their thinkers have narrowed the Siberian's probable location down to a specific house nearby. They can go in, find anyone who looks like the Siberian, and kill her. If she gets a chance to re-create the projection near her they they're pretty much immediately outgunned even if she can't directly protect herself.
The rest of them will be starting a bombardment on the rest of the Nine as soon as the Siberian disappears.
The rest of them will be starting a bombardment on the rest of the Nine as soon as the Siberian disappears.
witchwatcher
Copycat's misuse of her teleport power as a scry sees only an old man in that house. This guy might still be the Siberian, the appearance of the projection is hardcoded in the power but not not hardcoded to be exactly like Copycat herself. She's... Developed since she copied it, and the projection hasn't.
She can't see him well enough to make out his face from this distance.
She can't see him well enough to make out his face from this distance.
whole_new_can
It might be worth it to wait long enough for Copycat to check the man's power. It'll give a valuable fraction of a second of warning, but Legend isn't happy about the idea of writing off as acceptable losses someone who's only probably guilty. Not if there's another option.