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Post by WildKnight on Dec 4, 2010 19:26:04 GMT -5
It wasn't the first time a group bearing the name Avengers had exploded into an inter-personal battle royale. It wasn't even the first time it had happened in the public eye. But it was the first time it had happened in Manhattan, in broad daylight. The arguments were admittedly petty, but the power of the individuals involved meant that damage and risk to bystanders was enormous. SHIELD had it's hands full, to say the last. But one Avenger wasn't taking part in the fight. He was busy elsewhere. PATRIOTBeau Remmel was just the most recent in a long series of men to wear the Patriot uniform. The first Patriot had been killed in battle, as had two or three of his successors. Others had been driven mad by the serums they'd been given to grant them super powers. But SHIELD, as usual, figured that what the public didn't know wouldn't hurt them. The public believed in Patriot, even if the other Avengers, and everyone else in the know about him, knew that it was always just a matter of time before his lack of genuine super powers became a liability. All Avengers, even disgruntled former members, kept this secret. Perhaps it was out of respect for the Patriot or Patriots they'd served with. Perhaps they, like Nick Fury, believed that the public was better off not knowing. Either way, nobody talked about it. Beau Remmel had been given no super soldier serum, no cybernetic enhancements, no super powers at all. He'd held up better than anyone else to ever wear the uniform. SHIELD's psyops division had dared to hope that he might have the will that had made Captain America a success. But if that had been the case, Hawkeye and Mongoose wouldn't have found themselves in this bleak situation, would they? Remmel, seeing his team fall apart, had snapped. Without any serum or implants to drive him mad, he had quite simply gone off the deep end. And worse, he had taken dozens of hostages. There was going to be no way of keeping the public from finding out this time. SHIELD would doubtless find a way to spin it, but Patriot would be damaged goods after this no matter who was in the suit. The pair had made their way through the stairwells, and were now in position outside the office where Patriot had his hostages. They understood the situation well enough; as with all of SHIELDs costumed operatives, they were forbidden to kill, so the easiest method of taking Patriot down was closed to them. Furthermore, Patriot was an extremely able combatant, and that shield made him potentially lethal, even to skilled operators such as themselves. Add to that the fact that he had automated energy weapons situated around the small office, set to vaporize his 44 hostages instantly should the deadman's switch in his hand go off, and the pair were looking at a nearly no-win situation. But they did have one ace in the hole. So far as they knew, Patriot had no idea they were coming.
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Post by Dhark on Dec 4, 2010 20:40:49 GMT -5
Clint halts his stealthy progress, and presses his back to the wall. With a standard pistol in one hand, and three blades in the other, he stops to evaluate the situation ahead. Infiltrating the building had been the easy part, made all the easier for having been paired with a competent (if strange) teammate. The scene ahead however, as confirmed with his enhanced goggles, did not look like nearly the walk in the park. "Bad mojo in there. Field reports confirmed: Over forty hostages, Deadmans switch, and enough turrets to make a bloody mess of fatalities if we screw this up."[/color] Hawkeye holsters the gun, and shifts the knives in his hands so as to have a blade in each. "Options don't look good at all here. Any thoughts, or do we just blitzkreig this guy and hope for the best?"[/color] Hawkeye grins behind his mask at the use of the german lightning attack phrase, and that he still used it after so long. It didn't seem to jive him in the least that he didn't look nearly old enough to have the memories of World War II action that he did. He'd seen his fair share of casualties, and was only mildly disturbed that they didn't seem to bother him as much as they once had. "Directors going to be in a right sour mood over this for a good long while I imagine... no matter the PR spin."[/color]
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Post by Black Sam on Dec 5, 2010 11:32:28 GMT -5
Mongoose listens as the other operative -- Hawkeye -- makes his obvious assesment of the situation. "I have many thoughts, friend," he says calmly. "It seems we have two options: neutralize the trigger or neutralize the turrets. Both pose equal risks, though the latter option seems preferable -- and we will have to engage Remmel, of course. I think I would like to negotiate with him myself. That will give you the opportunity to disable the weapons, of course. Think you can do that without making too much noise? "
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Post by WildKnight on Dec 5, 2010 12:04:29 GMT -5
Through the walls, the pair could hear Remmel shouting. It was unclear whether there were cameras inside (they weren't aware of any), or if he was lecturing the hostages... or if he was just ranting insanely at this point.
"I AM the Avengers! I am the First Avenger! How dare these... these upstarts, these mongrels, these inhuman mutts with their powers and their billion dollar bankrolls pretend to be worthy to stand at my side! Patriot is all that the Avengers were ever meant to be. The rest are support, but they have such big egos! They want a bigger piece of the pie! They want my glory. MINE!"
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Post by Dhark on Dec 5, 2010 14:41:38 GMT -5
Clint nods. The desire to talk the Patriot down was one he shared, even if he didn't personally know the guy. He deserved a peaceful resolution to this if one could be found... he'd served his country honorably for a long time. "I'm not sure. I can't say with any certainty precisely how many turrets there are, or how badly I'll need to break cover to gain optimal shots on each. All he's got to do is lift a finger off the trigger... I'm fast, but I'm not that fast.
"Can I take out some of the turrets? Sure. All of them, without tipping him off in any way..."[/color] Hawkeye pauses, assessing the situation. He knew that if the Patriot were serious about slagging those Hostages, then he could expect some well rigged turrets. Likely they might even have partial cover of sorts... if he was going to covertly take them all out, he'd need a helluva strategy. Trick shots were one thing sure, but he wasn't really geared with anything that would be ideal for turning the turrets on each other.
=============
HEALTH: 04 ENERGY: 18
ACTION 01: 04 Stones into Black Ops. Potential modifiers from Infiltration, Covert Ops, and Survival Behind Enemy Lines specialties... looking for inspirations/plans/strategies
ACTION 02: Nadda
HEALTH: 04 ENERGY: 14 RECHARGE: 10
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Post by Black Sam on Dec 5, 2010 14:54:23 GMT -5
Mongoose smiles beneath his mask.
"Excellent." His voice has a slight lilting quality, almost but not quite an accent. "We're both solo operators here, I gather. If Patriot intended to commit mass murder I believe he would have done so already. He may still, but...I will try to speak to him. You stay out of sight."
He pauses at the door, turning his head slightly as if listening. "We must be ready for anything. These hostages must not die."
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HEALTH: 3 ENERGY: 21/21 RECOVERY: 6
Action One: 7 stones into Concentration to see what I can sense beyond the door Action Two: wait quietly
Attack: none Defense: 5 (RD)
MODIFIERS: Mental Defense 5; Reflexive Dodge 5
HEALTH: 3 ENERGY: 14/21
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Post by WildKnight on Dec 5, 2010 16:45:34 GMT -5
Mongoose detects a lot of fear and apprehension coming from the other side of the wall, but it's all from the hostages. If Remmel is bothered by what he's doing, he's not showing it. Despite his rant, his voice and breathing are steady. He's a soldier, and like most soldiers, once the decision has been made to kill, he doesn't give it a second thought. On the other hand, his words do seem to suggest that he could be negotiated with, or at least distracted by apparent negotiation.
Hawkeye's knowledge of SHIELD operations, and general understanding of electronics triggering mechanisms, does give him one bit of pertinent information. If the turrets are all attached to one kill switch, they're also all obeying commands from a single, central signal device somewhere. If he were Remmel, he wouldn't have left the device anywhere obvious, like on the roof. Remmel would keep it near him, or possibly, on his person if it were small enough. And since SHIELD could put an entire computer into a chip that could be implanted behind the ear of an agent, Remmel's signal device was probably something that could be stashed away... in a belt pouch perhaps. Or... behind the protective curvature of an invulnerable shield?
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Post by Black Sam on Dec 6, 2010 0:39:37 GMT -5
"Good luck," he says to Hawkeye before moving up to the door and rapping on it twice. "I'm coming in to talk, Beau. Don't kill me, please."
With that he pushes the door ajar and walks in, leaving room for his companion to slip in behind him if any cover presents itself...
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HEALTH: 3 ENERGY: 20/21 RECOVERY: 6
Action One: 5 stones into Social Skills (Spec: Avengers Protocols) to negotiate with Patriot Action Two: not behaving defensively or aggressively...everything's Zen...(reminder: his gear is mostly concealed)
Attack: none Defense: 5 (RD)
MODIFIERS: Mental Defense 5; Prescience (Ninja); Reflexive Dodge 5
HEALTH: 3 ENERGY: 15/21
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Post by Dhark on Dec 6, 2010 6:00:52 GMT -5
Hawkeye frowns when Mongoose voices his finalized intent and begins his motion towards the door ahead. "Keep his attention away from the door..."[/color] Is all he can think to ask for, given the horrible position his own part of the job ahead was. A lot rode on Clint's ability to back Mongoose up right now, not the least of which involved him not inadvertantly provoking the Patriot before his partner had at least a chance to talk him down. Flip side, he couldn't wait too long short of missing any possible openings to infiltrate the room and start removing individual turrets. Getting a shot in on that shield, if it was even where the master control unit is, seemed a pipe dream all of the sudden.
For now, Clint shadows Mongoose as far as the door and waits just outside of view... With attention in their direction right now, he'd have to wait for Mongoose to shift focus in another direction before he could risk even looking around the corner for an opening just yet.
============ HEALTH: 04 ENERGY: 18
ACTION 01: 04 Stones into Black Ops. Potential modifiers from Infiltration, Covert Ops, and Survival Behind Enemy Lines specialties... waiting for a chance to sneak into the room undetected~ Then doing so. ACTION 02: 05 Stones into Hunting/Tracking. Potential modifiers from Spotting, Setup/Spot Ambush, Setup/Spot Trap
Reflexive Dodge 04
HEALTH: 04 ENERGY: 09 RECHARGE: 10
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Post by WildKnight on Dec 6, 2010 7:46:06 GMT -5
Mongoose found that, true to the blueprints they'd seen, this room had a pretty typical office layout, making it a series of cubicles. He could readily duck behind a cubicle, but whether they were structurally sound enough to stop a bolt from the high-impact pulse pistol Beau was holding or not, he didn't know. At least he knew that, if Beau were looking intently at where he'd disappeared, he wouldn't see Hawkeye sneaking in.
"M... Mongoose?" Beau rumbled. "I'd recognize that costume anywhere. I've seen your files. Why would SHIELD send you? I figured 13, maybe 24 and 490. Not costumed agents. What do you want? You have to know a low-level gomer like you can't possibly take me, not without getting all these people killed!"
Hawkeye was able to slip into the room while Beau was berating Mongoose, but just barely. From his hidden vantage point, he could see Patriot's eyes narrow. "I get it. It's not just you. Your partner, or one of 'em... is trying to get the drop on me, right?" He glanced up toward the ceiling, the panels of which he'd secured with explosive detonator tape. Anyone who had tried to enter the room that way would have been extremely uncomfortable. But then, SHIELDs intelligence report had already warned Mongoose and Hawkeye of that.
"Or... find the source of my control signal." He laughed. "Well, that ain't gonna work. See, I got a partner too..."
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Post by Black Sam on Dec 6, 2010 12:39:04 GMT -5
"If I thought I could take The Patriot I wouldn't have knocked." Mongoose approaches Remmel, pulling his mask off as he does so... ...coming to stand in direct line of sight (at a 45° angle from the entrance) of his opponent. "Yes, they sent me, sir. Not that I believe their version of events -- you're clearly not deranged, so there must be something else going on. With all due respect, sir, this situation is unbecoming to one of your herioc reputation. Let these people go."************************* HEALTH: 3 ENERGY: 21/21 RECOVERY: 6 Action One: 5 stones into Social Skills (Spec: Avengers Protocols) to negotiate with Patriot Action Two: wait Attack: none Defense: 5 (RD) MODIFIERS: Mental Defense 5; Prescience (Ninja); Reflexive Dodge 5 HEALTH: 3 ENERGY: 16/21 RECOVERY: 6
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Post by WildKnight on Dec 6, 2010 12:45:29 GMT -5
Beau Remmel sneered. "Flattery? That's what we're teaching SHIELD agents now? You're going to come in here and butter me up, hope I let these people go?
"Listen, I'm no hero. I'm just a soldier, doing his job. Hell, I ain't even the real Patriot! I'm like the eight, ninth guy to wear this silly lookin' suit. And the public has never even noticed. So many anonymous heroes, fighting and dying in the name of their country, and I was proud, do you hear me, PROUD to be one of them. I still am. But it ain't right that these costumed freaks get all the glory, is it? I..."
He slowly looked around, at all the terrified faces, and then, he lowered his gaze, and stared at his boots. It was obvious the full weight of what he'd done had hit him, and he was ashamed.
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Post by Black Sam on Dec 6, 2010 12:57:30 GMT -5
Mongoose's placid expression deepens into a frown.
"I do not seek to flatter you. You are no mere soldier -- you are your nation's paragon soldier, and this is a disgrace. End it now, before it cannot be redeemed."
Mongoose looks around, slowly, surveying the prisoners.
"These people once looked up to you. You will be the last Patriot, you know, however this ends. I ask you again, sir: do the right thing. Stand down."
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Post by Dhark on Dec 6, 2010 19:15:14 GMT -5
Hawkeye lets out a long slow breath, realizing just how close he'd come to being spotted. The Patriot might not have nearly uncanny sight as Clint knew himself to have, but the angles of approach were very well covered. Rightly so, the Patriot was a highly trained specialist... it might not take special powers to wear their collective masks, but it was no mere soldier despite what Beau thought. To wear the mask of the Patriot was a calibur unto itself.
As Mongoose continues his negotiations, Hawkeye begins to circle the room... darting cubicle to cubicle, silently and cautiously trying to get an angle on where he suspected the relay device would likely be. A nano-circuit behind his shield is one helluva target though, hopefully I'm working with something a little more workable. As he moves, Clint takes a careful inventory of the turrets in place~ Marking count, position, and angles... if push came to shove, he might be able to disable some of them at the very least. Clint could just hope to prioritize which ones were the most critical and go from there should he need to react fast.
The mention of The Patriot possibly having a partner of his own gives Clint a moment of significant pause. There'd been no mention of that in the report... and it was more than mildly concerning to Hawkeye that he hadn't planned accordingly. Who would help such a valiant hero of the people so disgrace himself? Who would be ok with this kind of slaughter? Worse, who was Clint not noticing amidst the room that might yet be a threat to his person?
============ HEALTH: 04 ENERGY: 18
ACTION 01: 04 Stones into Black Ops. Potential modifiers from Infiltration, Covert Ops, and Survival Behind Enemy Lines specialties... Continuing to move with utmost stealth and caution to get the optimal angle/vantage on the back of Patriots shield and/or the most critical of turrets threatening the hostages.
ACTION 02: 05 Stones into Hunting/Tracking. Potential modifiers from Spotting, Setup/Spot Ambush, Setup/Spot Trap... counting the turrets, and keeping a wary eye for any traps (and/or the potential partner)
Reflexive Dodge 04
HEALTH: 04 ENERGY: 09 RECHARGE: 10
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Post by WildKnight on Dec 6, 2010 19:49:18 GMT -5
Remmel nodded. "You're right. I am the Last Patriot..." his right hand drifted upward, and he leveled the barrel of his pistol at his own temple. "I'm the last, and the world needs to know."
He looked at the hostages. "I'm sorry, but your deaths will serve a purpose. If you walked out of here you'd go home and live, only to die an obscure and pointless death. This way is better. This way, even if no one remembers your name, they'll remember your sacrifice. America needs to wake up. You're the alarm clock."
If he pulled that trigger, it was all over. His finger would come off the button, and the turrets would open fire.
Hawkeye counted 24 of the turrets total, 2 sets of 12 stuck to opposite walls. They were standard SHIELD tech, known in the field as dummy guns. They were horribly inaccurate, but the hostages were sitting ducks. He saw that the transmitter, a device roughly 3 inches by 3 inches, was in fact stuck to the back of Patriot's shield, but he also found himself with a more immediate problem.
Patriot's partner was moving stealthily into place behind Mongoose. Hawkeye had never encountered the lethal psychopath known as Carnage, but he'd seen Cletus Cassidy in SHIELD's holding cells before. Right now, Carnage was all but invisible, and Mongoose seemed totally unaware of his approach.
<OOC: Mongoose, of course, can detect Carnage's not-so-silent approach, but Hawkeye doesn't know that>
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