View source for 2378/Titans: The Brute Squad

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2020/07/08
|Location=The Danger Room - Titan's Tower
|Synopsis=Donna and Caitlin drag Kara into the Danger Room for a session of Brainiac Drone combat training with the difficulty level turned up. Kara accidentally wrecks the danger room. Everyone point at her and laugh.
|Cast of Characters=1140,552,186
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1140|Donna Troy (1140)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ever since the battle in DC and the revelation that Earth was under imminent threat of destruction by Brainiac, the Titans have been busy and pizza parties have been put aside for actual work. The science team has been working overtime, and everyone has found training schedules sent to their T-Coms to give them time working with the drone combat program that has been set up in the Danger Room.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The last few days have tested the claim that the Titans have no leaders to the breaking point. Robin has been handling team co-ordination, and has not only been demanding regular reports from everyone but scheduling meetings between people when he thinks they need to be talking with each other and aren't doing it quickly. Donna, who has taken charge of the training program, has been driving everyone particularly hard - though so far, Supergirl seems to have largely escaped her drill instructor act. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Until today, that is. Supergirl's T-com had pinged the previous day with a message from Donna, requesting she find time for this meeting in the danger room.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Supergirl does turn up, she'll find Donna and Caitlin already there, deep in conference. Caitlin holds a tablet that the pair are consulting, Donna's finger zipping across the screen as she explains something. The room itself does not show the DC scenery that has been a permanent fixture here for the last few days, but rather the unholographic real scenery of the room, with the addition in the active area of a number of glowing blue cubes, and a Brainiac drone, standing unmoving in the middle of the floor.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:552|Caitlin Fairchild (552)}} has posed:'''<br> "The energy cores are just too unstable, Donna." Caitlin's wearing comfortable athletic attire; grey calf-length leggings and a pink racerback sports top that leaves her arms and shoulders exposed. A few inches of gap between the top and the tights exposes a well-developed set of core muscles. "Hit the capacitors, you risk a massive discharge. Break the amplitudinal modulators, and there's a cascade effect that can make it vent plasma." <br><br> Her red hair's pulled back in a tight fighting braid, hanging to her shoulderblades; a few tendrils have escaped to frame her face. "Taking out the actuators and the CPU-- er, the brain--" she taps on a different part of the display-- "is the best way to do it when there are civilians around. Or not," she amends. "I know a faceful of coolant wouldn't do my complexion any good, and that plasma's hot enough to give even the tanks a serious case of third-degree burns." She folds her arms loosely over her stomach and shifts her weight over her right foot. "I'm gonna work with Kian this week, see if I can rig up some kind of.... I don't know. Faraday cage, see what his rhy'tar thingy can do against these drones." Cait pushes a few strands of hair behind her ear and tucks it into place; it falls loose just a few seconds later.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:186|Kara Danvers (186)}} has posed:'''<br>When Kara is excited, she tends to skip walking on the ground and floats everywhere. But she is not excited. Deep inside she is very scared of Brainiac. From what her cousin has told her, she has every right to be. This is an enemy that may know all her weaknesses.. and the Titans, the Titans seem to think she's infallible. That's why she went to Wonder Woman for help training.. in secret.<br><br>But far be it for Supergirl to let the fear defeat her before the battle has even begun. Instead, she stayed up late making a new uniform. This one, it is dark grey all over, with a dark red cape. There are red angled highlights at the hips and her family crest upon her chest . The pauldrons are styled in red and the upper arms, giving her a very 'ready for battle' kind of look as she stands on the upper gantry of the danger room, fists on hips.<br><br>Her bright blue eyes survey the scene and she hops down off the second floor to meet them on the ground floor. "I thought today was going to be Bow day?," she says chipperly. Perky is her default even when she's hiding her fear, "So what have you got for me.. a battle plan?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1140|Donna Troy (1140)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I see... though venting plasma does not sound like a terribly bad idea if they are massed together. That way the damage may go beyond the initial target." In contrast to Caitlin's relatively casual sporting gear, Donna is in warrior attire. Metal breastplate painted black but for the stars running down it in two parallel lines, a skirt of metal-studded leather strips, boots and metal greaves, her bare arms showing the Amazonian bracelets of some virtualy unbreakable metal, a secret of the Themyscirans. A sword is sheathed at her waist, and her shield is slung across her back.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hmm. Maybe we want to work on what he can do with /precision/ rather than power, Cait. I've seen him overload some pretty heavy equipment before - those transports when we had that run-in with those guys at the spider-robot place. Maybe we need to get him to work on doing something small and targeted, rather than big. If he targets..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The discussion is interrupted by Supergirl's arrival, and Donna looks up with a smile. "Not a battle plan as such Supergirl. Actually... an apology." She pats Caitlin on the shoulder before taking a few steps towards the young Kryptonian.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I've known your cousin for a while," Donna says. "He's very capable. Not just because of his strength, his abilities. Beyond that, he's quite an adequate fighter. I'm afraid I have been treating you as if you were the same as him. That we could take your capability for granted. I should not have done that, and for that I apologise. Strong as you are, Supergirl, I have come to realize that you are not as experienced as he is in applying your immense capabilities in an efficient fashion. If you will allow me, I intend to fix that."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:552|Caitlin Fairchild (552)}} has posed:'''<br> Caitlin turns as well when Donna spots Kara; she flashes a reassuring smile at the blonde Kryptonian, and lifts a hand in a wave of greeting. "Hey Supergirl," she greets the younger Titan. Caitlin's a fair hand at tactics in the field, but Donna is far and away the best coach the Titans have, and Caitlin defers to the dark-haired Amazon as she greets Kara. Instead she opts to rest her hips against the tabletop behind her. Her palms rest against the horizontal surface, arms straightening and shoulders shrugging lazily upwards. It's quite relaxed, her posture negating any side but not removing her entirely from the conversation. "Took me a long time to learn, too," Caitlin offers, after Donna finishes speaking. One ankle crosses over the other. "Being super stronk is great, but the real trick's learning how to find the leverage to use it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:186|Kara Danvers (186)}} has posed:'''<br>Kara has been constantly surprised and delighted by the people of Earth. They are compassionate and sensitive yet determined. She has learnt why Kal likes them so much. This is her home now, warts and all and doing it alone just isn't an option. Luckily, she has perceptive and thoughtful friends.<br><br>Her smile broadens immensely and she says, "16 years of Earth based combat training montage!" No, not quite, but she nods her head. "I am eager to train," she says as she looks around the room, "But even here I will have to hold back significantly. If this is a question of martial arts, I used to train in Klurkor back in Argo city." She waves her hands artfully for a moment, making light of the tension she herself contributed to.<br><br>On the inside, she is a //little// disappointed no one has commented on her new threads. "Though, I will really need you to tell me if I'm going too hard.. I really can't tell." She lifts her shoulders up in a shrug of concern.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1140|Donna Troy (1140)}} has posed:'''<br>"Partially martial arts," Donna replies, "But largely thought. A battle is won as much with the mind as it is with the muscles. From what I have seen of you, you have an eagerness for the battle, but that needs to be tempered with a thougtfulness and analysis of the situation you have not yet found in yourself."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna flashes a slightly guilty glance towards Caitlin. When she'd discussed this with the redhead earlier, the words /impetuous/ and /reckless/ had been used. Caitlin had been very polite in pointing out that Nightwing used to use the same words about Donna, in the early days of the Titans. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Tactics will be part of it, but as you say, holding back is another part of it. You're not the only one who needs to do that. I've asked Caitlin to be part of this for that reason. Neither of us may be Kryptonians, but we could both punch a hole straight through the side of this building if we tried, and when it comes to sparring we're the two you'll have least to worry about if you misjudge a punch."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna walks over to one of the glowing blue blocks, studies it for a moment, then slams a fist into it. It slides away from her, coming to rest against the edge of the area with a shudder and a faint crunch. "This program will help you work on that. These simulate approximately two tons in weight. Hit them too hard and they will become intangible." She repeats the punch with another block, and this time if flashes momentarily orange as her fist passes straight through it. "You'll score 'points' by getting a collision with the wall, but the less velocity they have when they impact, the higher your score. I've encoded this program to your name, please spend some time with it when you can."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She steps over to the unmoving Brainiac drone. "Over the next few days I'd like you to spend some time with these, too. They're something you /can/ let loose on." She gives Kara a grin. "We have an extremely accurate modelling of how they fight. I say this from personal experience. This simulation will allow you to be prepared for the real thing. The nastiest shock about them is they are extremely good at adapting to your tactics."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:552|Caitlin Fairchild (552)}} has posed:'''<br> "No one's stamina is limitless," Caitlin points out. "Fighting all-out at full throttle is exhausting. If you've got the metabolism for it, in short fights it can be a very effective tactic to just go one-hundred percent the second the buzzer rings. Here," she gestures, indicating the Danger Room, "you've got to train to conserve your strength. Not every punch needs to be able to demolish a tank. We're talking about facing dozens of these things. Hundreds." <br><br> Caitlin gets to her feet and walks over to the drone, and *thunks* it in the head with a flicking fingertip. "Individually they're not indestructible. We're working with Hakweye to engineer some new ballistic arrows for her to punch through their armor. There are some weak spots in the hull, here and here," she indicates. "It's all in the room overlays. The problem is that they swarm, and they fight with a hive intelligence. One of them you can handle easily enough. Two or three will mob you, slow you down. Ten will be a serious problem, even as fast as you are. They don't have any hesitation for suicide tactics, either, and we've seen them go after civilians to distract us from the fight. They're not true AI, at least, not as far as Vic's found," Caitlin says, glancing to Donna. She looks back at Kara. "But they're smart and adaptable. We don't know how fast Brainiac can arm and outfit them but it's quick enough that you don't want to focus on any single tactic for too long, or they get wise to it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:186|Kara Danvers (186)}} has posed:'''<br>Kara walks over to the glowing blue blocks. Arms folded she watches the demonstration. "Oh. A calibration training simulation. Smart." She nods and walks over to one of the blocks and gives it a hearty punch, resulting in it turning orange and then becoming intangible. Her eyes stay fixed on the block and that itch to spend endless hours punching it worms in to her mind. A challenge she will enjoy.<br><br>As the topic shifts to the drone she frowns at its visage. When Donna suggests she can 'really let loose' her mind flashes back to her first few hours on Earth after having soaked in the sun for almost two decades. The explosion from her heat vision still sends a shiver down her spine when she thinks of it. "I'll be careful, still, I don't want to destroy our lovely tower."<br><br>"Zombie drones, understood. Will the simulation attempt to match my tactics too - I assume it is a poor imitation of Brainiac, else it'd actually be Brainiac and that would be bad," she walks around the unmoving drone. The look on her doppelgangers older face when describing these things pops back in to her head and she frowns a moment. "Is the plan to fight these things in space, or in atmosphere, that changes things considerably."<br><br>Kara runs her fingers over the model and touches the weak points. Her enhanced vision sees little extra in the danger room, because these aren't the real thing. "Do we have one. I'm just curious what the weak points look like to my eyes, you know, in case Brainiac changes the design when he realises we are exploiting these flaws."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1140|Donna Troy (1140)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Conservation of motion is as important as conservation of stamina," Donna adds to Caitlin's speech. "Hitting something any harder than necessary comes at the cost of over-extending your muscles. That means you take a little bit longer to land the /second/ punch, on the next target. And so you give it more time to attack you, or someone else."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The simulation is not Brainiac, though we have a lot of insight into how his systems work. We actually have a decompilation of the operating system these things run on, which gives us an edge..." Donna tilts her head and gives Kara a nod, acknowledging her point about potential design changes. "...At least for now. I have fought the real thing and these are as good an approximation as we are going to get." <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna circles the drone as she speaks - no, almost lectures. "They will adjust to your tactics rapidly and effectively. Don't let them register a pattern in your attacks. Change things up. Trick them into seeing a pattern - go for the legs three times in a row, for example. They'll start to adjust to that and expose themselves to attacks on other parts of the body more. Use your laser eyes thing sparingly. My recommendation is to reserve that for ones you are not fighting yourself, but rather to give covering fire to ones other members of the team are engaging. Integrating you into team tactics is going to be a time-consuming process and we don't have much time, but that's a good rough start. You and Caitlin will be amongst the tanks - engaging and occupying as many as possible in the center of the fight, and allowing others on our team to pick targets off from range. "<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna stops her circling rather suddenly, and steps to the edge of the area to hop up onto the raised platform and sit on it. "We don't know where we're going to fight them, Supergirl. I'm sorry, I wish I had an answer to that question. We haven't been able to locate Brainiac's ship yet. Ideally we'll find it before it returns and take the battle to him. But we need to be prepared for all scenarios. We have several drone bodies in storage. Cait will let you take a close look at one so you can get as much information as you need. "<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:552|Caitlin Fairchild (552)}} has posed:'''<br>"Tanking's tons of fun," Caitlin assures Kara with a wry smile. "You get to stand there, look cool. Get set on fire. Take hits. I love the new look, by the way," she advises the Kryptonian. Cait walks over to a wall dispenser and presses a button; two pre-packaged protein drinks are dispensed, nicely chilled. Considering the metabolisms of the Titans, a long training session can consume more calories in a few hours than a family of four eats in a week. Caitlin primes an underhand toss and wings one of the signature Snacky Shakes(tm) at Donna, and uncaps the other one to guzzle it hungrily. <br><br> "Vic's done a really good job emulating the Brainiac servitor decision-making processes," Caitlin promises Kara. "With him and Sam on board, they can reverse-engineer a lot of programs and figure out what makes them tick." <br><br> She picks up the remote control pad and with little effort, vaults up to a spot next to Donna and seats herself. Fingers fly over the controls and she sets the training program in motion, the boxes starting off floating around Kara to familiarize herself with their functions. <br><br> "Of course, if we *had* an AI that could simulate the servitor adaptations, we could model our own heuristic adaptations." She looks sidelong at Donna, deliberately. There is, in fact, such an AI available. The idea of arming Caitlin's nascent AI with combat protocols, however, has met with more than a little resistance from the Titans at large.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:186|Kara Danvers (186)}} has posed:'''<br>At the mention that she's with the tanks, she punches a hand in to her palm and grinds it. She also laughs though, "I was a proud and out science nerd back home, it's so strange to be a 'tank'." She smirks and looks over to Caitlin. "Thank you! you're the first person to comment on it all day! ...But we ugh smash robots good," a nod of her head and her attention snaps back to Donna's lowdown on the enemy.<br><br>"Well, now I know the tactic of luring us away from the battle.. I have been practicing my listening, I will hopefully hear that dreadful ship if it enters the atmosphere. Not in space, obviously. Particulate waves propagate much slower in a solar system."<br><br>"But," she points to the virtual box, "this shall feel my carefully controlled wraith. Everything you've said about conserving energy, using my time wisely, mixing up tactics. That all makes perfectly good sense." She thinks back to her first martial arts tournament briefly and how she won for 'being too predictable' or as her teacher put it, 'you only ever do the one attack'. "I'll wark--work on it."<br><br>"I don't know about creating an AI for war, that seems irresponsible. AI is life too, making a living creature solely for the purpose of fighting is just cruel," she says non-judgementally. There were many rules about AI on Krypton and she's wondering if may be this is the sort of outcome one gets when you don't think AI through properly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1140|Donna Troy (1140)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna catches the drink Caitlin tosses to her with a grateful smile, and seems to content to hand over to the other Titan for now as she enjoys the drink. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;By enjoys, it should be noted that Caitlin's 'snacky shakes' have an odd reputation at Titans Tower. Some swear by them, others swear /at/ them, but everyone seems to drink them. They are a piece of culinary magic Caitlin had woven in earlier years, packed with fructose and proteins and almost obscenely healthy, if you're burning up enough energy for them to not make you fat. They even manage to taste pretty good while doing it. There are those Titans who would pick a donut over a snacky shake every time, at least when Caitlin isn't looking, but others who can't get enough of them. They are a marvel of compromise between tastiness and healthiness.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Cait, if you really want to try... wait until this is over, tie it in to the Danger Room system so it's physically contained, and get Vic to sandbox the thing thoroughly and take it right off the network, I wouldn't trust our firewalls to defeat an AI. Maybe keep Sam on the spot to fry some circuits if it goes wild, okay?" Hark at the Amazon warrior dressed in her iron-age armor and talking all computer-y. It's an odd blend of cultures the Titans has engendered. Donna's one of those Titans who has resisted the idea, but maybe her defenses are weakening. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm going to want us to run a bit of a simulation together in a few minutes. Not the blocks - that's something I want you to practise at until you're really good, Supergirl. But it's not the priority for today. I'm going to up the simulation to fifty drones at a time and I'm going to ask you two to tank them. I'll be playing fast mover, using the cover you give me to disable drones, the job you two have is to keep them occupied. Destroy them if you can, but don't expend a second on finishing off a drone that costs you a second of occupying their attention, okay? But first..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna looks up to Supergirl, and sighs a little. "Is this okay, Supergirl? I mean it's all a bit of a rush. You're very new to the team and I'm asking a lot of you. My intent was to get everyone... all you new members... to feel comfortable socially with each other first. Friendship is a surprisingly potent driver of team work. But it's also comforting, knowing the people you are fighting beside care about you and will look out for you. We haven't really... I hate to think you feel like you're amongst strangers, Supergirl."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:552|Caitlin Fairchild (552)}} has posed:'''<br> "I'm not gonna--" Caitlin sighs heavily as Kara and Donna both voice protest to the plan, and lifts her fingers aloft in surrender. The redhead looks away and upends her drink to take a few more sips, then caps it again and sets it aside. "Next time, you go play tank. I'll stand in the back and get on the cover of the Bugle without half my hair burned off." Caitlin mutters. Her tone is severe, but there's a playful dancing in her eyes at she chivvies her friend-- and just for good measure, she gooses Donna in the rib under a gap in her armor before hopping down to the floor below. Caitlin bounces once on her toes. She can't fly, but she's light on her feet when she's got her mind on the fight. <br><br> "I, uh..." Caitlin tugs on her braid, and glances at Donna; then she sets her hands on her hips, and squares with Kara. "If it makes you feel any better, I think I know more about Kryptonian physiology than anyone alive," she admits. "You know Superboy? I helped, uh, make him. In the lab, I mean, where he grew up." She gestures, a hand rising and falling. "Superman, he... he was a swell guy. He used to come here a lot, when we were all starting out. Give us pep talks. Conner isn't a replacement for Ka-- Superman, but..." Her broad shoulders rise and fall. "I can't speak the language, but anything I could learn about Kryptonian culture, I tried to absorb and implant." <br><br> She smiles wryly, ducking her head and looking back up at Kara. "I guess that doesn't make us family, but if it makes you feel any better, I kinda see y'all as the cousins I wish I'd had growing up." She falls silent, then flexes her fingers to yield the floor to Kara.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:186|Kara Danvers (186)}} has posed:'''<br>Kara shakes her head as she watches them both down that strange concoction. Part tasty part terror. Recreating Kryptonian dishes is still her goal, not consume unidentifiable food stuffs, no matter how safe it presumably might be. "Run the simulation, be a distraction, get attention. Gosh how do you get the attention of some AI drones hmm."<br><br>She taps a finger to her chin thoughtfully and then lifts an eyebrow to Caitlin's confession. There is a long look at her as she admits to cloning her cousin.. a LONG look. But eventually, she nods her head, "Well, I feel it's my duty to share my peoples culture with anyone who wants to listen. It's not as if my cousin .. anyway."<br><br>She smirks and says to Caitlin offer her hand, (:&#124;[]tOo/) "/Bysh/," she says in her Kryptonian accent. "It means friend." She smiles over to Donna too and says, "Strangers are as strangers do. No one in the Titans is a stranger to me." She motions to the room with arms thrown outwards, "Begin!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1140|Donna Troy (1140)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna playfully bats Caitlin's fingers away and watches her old friend take her position in the arena with a fond smile and a shake of the head. She shucks her shield and sword belt, leaving them in a careful pile at the edge of the arena, and drops down onto her feet as well. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As she steps into the active area of the danger room, Donna uncoils a length of rope she has wrapped around her waist. She plays it out and doubles it up, forming a loop, then tugs it taught between her arms. As she does so the rope starts to glow with golden fire. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Kal was... is... kind of special to us, Supergirl." Yeah, Donna went the place Caitlin caught herself from going and dropped the codename. "When we were starting out... well the /reason/ we started out was because the Justice League formed and wouldn't accept us. Because we were too young. A bunch of us had been working together for a while anyway, and we didn't like being dismissed like that, told we couldn't do what we'd already been doing. So we decided to make our friendship more formal, and make a team of our own. Some of the older heroes... well. Kal was different. He - I don't want to say encouraged? But he supported us. Believed in us. It feels /right/ having you join us, you know?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"PROGRAM D-51 EXPLICIT!" Donna calls out, and suddenly the arena fills with still unmoving drones. There are a LOT of them. Fifty is quite a crowd. "Supergirl, if you need the program to stop for any reason, if you've got a tactical question to ask, or if... for /any/ reason at all, just call out 'simulation pause'. Got that?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "The best way to get the attention of the drones is to make them see you as the primary threat. They respond to the most immediate challenge first. This tactic is all part of breaking up their rythym, exploting their way of fighting. The trick is that the tanks are going to appear to be the primary danger, while being on the defensive. That opens them up for ranged attacks from the people on the team who are not as immediately engaged. When they start coming for me instead, which they'll do after a while, you shift immediately off the defensive and exploit the flanks. Okay? SIMULATION START!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Almost the moment the words are spoken, the drones come to life, flooding forwards with those implacable jawless grins and eyes glowing.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:552|Caitlin Fairchild (552)}} has posed:'''<br>"Bysh," Caitlin tells Kara, and smiles-- understanding Kara's look, and apologizing for the bombshell all at once. It's something they can discuss later; for now, training! <br><br> Caitlin's fists come up in a loose boxer's stance and she tucks her chin into her shoulder. The redhead sways on her tiptoes until the command is given, and then she drops low and lunges forward with enough force that she'd wreck any sneakers that weren't made specifically for her. Simulated debris flies backwards from her position with the force she puts on the terrain. With as much raw muscle as Caitlin has, she can accelerate with absolutely bewildering speed and put a lot of momentum right into it. Her first attack doesn't slow her down in the slightest, looping a huge overhand punch that clobbers one of the simulated drones with enough force to crack the chassis. The redhead doesn't miss a beat, smashing through two more and using a fourth to fastball into a fifth that's arming lasers at her. An inexpert eye might see it as merely chaotic stampede; to someone familiar with martial training, Caitlin looks more like a pro athlete weaving through a sluggish and uncertain defensive line, her destination clear but the precise course almost impossible to predict. <br><br> It is also big, noisy, and makes her a tremendous threat right off the bat.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:186|Kara Danvers (186)}} has posed:'''<br>Mmhmm. Her cousin being encouraging. You'd have to be dead no to recognise that about the house of El. It definitely runs in the family. "I'm glad you wanted me here. I've been doing my own thing yo know? trying to help when and where I can, give people hope. It's what my cousin would have done. And you're all fantastic and unique, what's not to love?." A rhetorical challenge, you couldn't dissuade her from that belief even if you tried.<br><br>Now that she's looking at all the drones, she stretches out her arms and stares, "That's a lot of drones. Okay, be the biggest baddest threat in the room. I think I can manage that." She nods and says, "I'll give 'em what for."<br><br>As the simulation begins and the drones begin to move.. Caitlin is away and Kara grins with delight. She is used to dealing with threats on her own, so she rises up and then points her fist and flies right in to a drone, tumbles over to land and throw it at the next nearest smashing the simulated threats in to instant jump. But, she remembers the warning - keep things different, but also don't show all your secrets right off the bat. "I appreciate," she says as she rips off an arm of a third drone and then smashes a fourth with it, "that this program." She spears the arm in to a fifth drone, "has an stop command."<br><br>And luckily not run by a real AI which would recognise it cannot complete its goal of challenging the heroes if it's off. Smart AIs are problematic like that, they often defeat the 'stop problem' as a matter of course. She tries her best insult to the drones, "Welcome to Earth.. Mutal-Metal.. uh.. faces." She really needs to work on her insult game.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1140|Donna Troy (1140)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the action starts and Caitlin and Kara plow into the horde of drones, Donna hangs back at first. Several drones are down before she starts to act, and even then it's subtle. She keeps her distance and lets the two 'tanks' attract attention before starting to act. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The first signs that Donna has entered the fray are really only seen out of the corners of the eye - that gold glowing cord lashing quickly out from the edges of the arena, and disappearing again, a drone taken with it. If there's a pattern to how she picks her targets, it's hard to discern, but somehow it works to keep the bulk of the drones within Kara and Caitlin's field of vision, and it's the ones that are best positioned to flank either of them that get lassod first. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After what feels like several minutes of action but is probably closer to thirty seconds, Donna starts calling out instructions and advice. "SG, less follow-through on the punches. Arms close to your body, ready for your next move. Caitlin, get in closer, they're trying to get between you. Push forwards now! I have the flanks."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The sheer density of the drone horde is a real challenge, and even with the speed the three can muster, the drones are getting their licks in too. The blows aren't exactly painful so much as annoying, but it's sobering to remember that the simulation is set to safe levels - were these real drones, this fight would probably not be much fun.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:552|Caitlin Fairchild (552)}} has posed:'''<br> Caitlin kicks a car over and sends it tumbling along like it was launched off a moving highway; it smashes through several of the drones and fetches up against a wall with a sparkle of dissipating hard light constructs. <br><br> "We use a couple of basic formations," Caitlin calls over to Kara. She follows Donna's advise without argument and gets in to within a good lunging distance from the Kryptonian girl. The attacks sting, definitely, and while they don't do injury the pain has a way of sapping the nervous system even if no deep injury occurs. She lifts a hand up. "Simulation halt," she calls, and turns to the other two women as things freeze. <br><br> "Wedges are best for movement forward. Tanks up front, someone calling terrain from the rear. Fast movers cover the flanks--" Caitlin grabs a servitor in a bear hug and rips it in half. "And the support guns are in the back, with someone covering them. If we have to fall back, we circle up around Vic and Raven, for instance, so they can keep the long-distance stuff going. Bullet sponges isn't fun, but it keeps them from getting perforated. Then runners can harass the flanks and draw the attackers off so we can advance in a different direction." <br><br> She dusts her hands, winds up a punch, and holds it. "Game on!" she shouts, and when the simulation flares back to life, Caitlin powers a right cross through a servitor that sends it crashing back against a handful of its allies. For someone who looks like a bare-knuckle sort of brawler, Caitlin's technique does a surprising amount of collateral damage with every blow.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:186|Kara Danvers (186)}} has posed:'''<br>When Caitlin pauses the simulation Kara bounces on the spot from foot to foot to keep herself moving and energised. "That makes sense. I don't mind standing in front of bullets to keep someone safe." The simulation resumes and Kara throws a wild punch and takes a drone hit to her ribs, and another to her face that barely phase her. She picks up a drone whole sale and throw it at them. She begins to laugh and says, "Sorry! I know this is serious, it just tickles. I can't take it seriously. Can we make it at least hurt a little?"<br><br>She does tuck in her arms and actually takes a more martial arts like stance and begins using the energy of the drones agains them, drawing them in to be crushed, moving between punches, tripping them and stomping their faces. This slows down her rain of destruction considerably but the grin on her face suggests she's having a lot of fun. "Oh gosh this is the best training simulator I've ever been in."<br><br>She hooks the arm of one drone and pushes it in to another, then kicks one over to Caitlin, "Catch!" The drones do seem to be learning her moves though, with their limited ability to adapt.<br><br>Kara starts to block more as they attempt more controlled attacks against her too, then takes in a deep breath and blows a mighty blast of air in to a group of the drones to make some space between them and her. They were really starting to crowd her. The cold temperature of the air seems unexpected for the simulation and the walls behind the simulated drones frosts over a little. As predicted, she goes harder than needed. A drone laser 'cuts' across Kara's torso and she laughs, "Simulation halt." She steps away from the drones and laughs again, "No really. It's too much fun, this is meant to be serious."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1140|Donna Troy (1140)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Caitlin pauses the simulation, Donna just drops instantly into a standing rest position. She doesn't seem winded by the exertions so far, but she takes those few moments to rest her muscles anyway, a definite sign of a seasoned campaigner. When the simulation starts up again she starts moving instantly.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And she totally cheated.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In those few seconds when the simulation was paused, Donna was thinking and planning. The first flick of her lasso wraps a drone's leg and she pulls it down, but doesn't pull it far before she releases the lasso with a flick of her wrist. The drone scrambles to its feet, but the drones around it have to stop in their tracks and are delayed in launching a massed assault on Caitlin for a second or two, by which time Kara broken up the assault with her blast of air.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna only gets enough time to throw on piece of advice out there in this bout, telling Supergirl "Don't stomp them. Slows you down. Move on to the next." Then Kara halts the program and Donna immediately relaxes again. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We'll try this with the safeties on a lower setting soon, SG. But first I want you to be able to concentrate on the tactical side. Having fun at this point... well it's not a bad thing." She flashes a bright grin at Kara, then winks at Caitlin. "Just try not to have too much fun and lose concentration, okay? And I'm going to sit you down through a video replay of this and point out a whole bunch of things to you when we're done here. You'll see how serious it is when I start pointing out all the tactical flaws!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:552|Caitlin Fairchild (552)}} has posed:'''<br>Caitlin's hands are on her hips, and she's taking deliberate and controlled breaths of air to regulate her own breathing. "Well I'm not staying in here if I'm turning it up any higher, I already feel like I got pepper with beestings," Caitlin complains. She grips her shoulder and rolls it around, then windmills her arm to swing the muscles loose. Little red pinpricks of irritation are raised on her skin and there are a few fresh pinprick holes in her gym attire. <br><br> "If you're seriously bored, I can adjust with the resonance frequencies a bit," Caitlin offers. She looks to Donna, then back to Kara, one hand flipping over to make it an offer before hanging at her side. "Sort of like harmonizing the emitters with your nervous system. Even in Kryptonians, it's hard for the body to tell the difference between a real penetrating injury and a surface wound. A couple of stings won't drop you but trying to soak a few dozen of them causes cascading neuropathic disruption. Messes with your muscle groups and your reflexes. That's why we run these simulations. It's a type of cognitive therapy-- coping consciously with pain. Otherwise you lose your temper or start making mistakes." <br><br> "If you want," she adds, quickly, and shakes her head at Kara while making eye contact. "I know we're throwing a lot at you today."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:186|Kara Danvers (186)}} has posed:'''<br>"No stomping, right. Be more tactical. Use brain more than fist," Kara taps the side of her head and smiles. "This is not a fist fight, these are not people I'm trying to stop. These are disposable machines. I need to approach this like a scientist. No need to turn up the pain Caitlin, this will do. I have a new approach. Game on".<br><br>It's game on and this time a quirky little smirk of insight flashes across Kara's face. The world moves slower for her as her brain computes her trajectory at super speed. She lines up four drones and those weak spots Caitlin pointed out to her. Her index finger lifts up and then it's like normal speed snaps back for her as she one finger thrusts through the weak spots of all four drones in a single motion. This time she's focused on efficiency. Small little dodges, tiny movements, targeting only the flawed locations. Despite moving slower physically, she is destroying the drones faster as technique always trumps youthful vigour.<br><br>She uses the drones to block their own ability to swarm against her, crowding them against each other as she lines up two.. three.. again for another sweeping attack at their weak point. There is a look of concentration and confidence on her face, the distractions and ill conceived approaches gone, but so is any thought of her team - just drones.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1140|Donna Troy (1140)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Not today, Cait." Donna frowns slightly. "I want her to concentrate on the mental processes. That needs to come before we start distracting her from them." Three years ago, in a rather less high-tech environment, Caitlin had been the one getting this kind of treatment from Donna, but apparently Donna's priorities have changed a little in that time. Back then Donna had been more eager to throw Caitlin into the thick of things, and that had perhaps proven not entirely well-advised.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the simulation starts up again, Donna quickly notes the change in Kara's approach, and for the first time since the simulation started she's calling praise rather than advice. "Good, SG! Like that. Focused, precise."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It doesn't last long. There's a subtle shift in the battle, and Kara finds herself facing thinning ranks. It gives her more time to work on actually finishing off the drones. Donna calls out again, this time snapping out her words in a less encouraging voice. "SG! FOCUS! Move to the flanks, power in!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The tactics the drones are employing have shifted. Suddenly they are moving in smaller numbers towards Caitlin and Kara, adopting a far more defensive approach of engage and delay, and playing a sacrificial game - lining up one by one to be demolished by the two tanks, while the center of the formation is doing exactly what Caitlin had said before, and forming a wedge to drive between the two tanks to engage Donna. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna stands her ground as the mass of drones charge her. No longer using the lasso to pick off targets, she fights from a braced stance, her center of gravity low. Her fists move in a blur, but she is mostly using them to deflect incoming laser fire with her bracelets rather than try to hit them. It only takes a moment to see the move she's calling - Caitlin and Kara have the opportunity to smash into the formation from either side while Donna holds the line.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It looks good - a winning position. Caitlin at least will have the experience to spot the flaw in all of this. Donna has been playing a dual role in the battle so far - the spotter calling the terrain and the fast mover, using Caitlin's terminology. Now she's the one tanking, and that's not good, because this is not a role that either spotter or flanker should ever have to play.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:552|Caitlin Fairchild (552)}} has posed:'''<br> Caitlin's getting flanked from all sides. Supergirl's aggressive push forward to chew through the ranks leaves her support lost, and the swarming drones prevent Caitlin from flanking them or finding a dense cluster to charge into. Supergirl's destroying the swarm quite effectively with those poking index fingers-- but Cait loses all her momentum as the drones harry and pick at her in a much larger semicircle. "Supergirl!" she shouts, and with a desperate sideways leap throws herself a full thirty feet sideways while trying to protect herself from the drones. In the swarm, they're simply too fast for her to pick off efficiently. <br><br> She looks back over her shoulder at Donna, who is fully back on her heels and fighting wholly on the defensive. <br><br> Caitlin exchanges a look with Donna, one of resignation; Donna's set up this situation deliberately, and Caitlin's in motion the second Donna knows that Caitlin's backing her play. <br><br> "Fall back, wedge through to Donna!" Caitlin shouts at Supergirl, and then, does precisely that-- she drops low like a sprinter, digs her feet into the ground, and charges across the 'battlefield' towards Donna's embattled position. Lasers pepper her back and shoulders, provoking a hiss of pain as she moves to Donna's aide. <br><br> It might work-- just-- but the plan hinges on Caitlin and Kara hitting the trap from both sides at the same time, or else Donna will be overrun in a matter of a few seconds. Battlefields change just that quickly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:186|Kara Danvers (186)}} has posed:'''<br>It takes her a moment to recognise the cry for help from Caitlin, the change of strategy from the drones and the commands from Donna. She turns and notices the bracers being used for defence and something inside her gets a little confused for the moment. The cries seem so realistic, the situation just a little too plausible.<br><br>The heat spreads behind her eyes and she cuts a laser through the ranks of the drones. The laser cuts through the simulation and then the projector walls behind and she charges in to join Caitlin as she snaps back in to reality. "I'm here! I got you."<br><br>She pushes in to the flank as instructed by Caitlin's side and the smile is gone from her face, not even immediately registering the damage she may have just caused to the Danger Room itself. She smashes through the drones to get in front of Donna and smirks at the drones, "Hey metal heads, it's me you want."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1140|Donna Troy (1140)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The beams of Kara's heat vision are paused briefly by the projected fields that give the drones a physical presence, but as it crosses the line of drones it bursts through in patches, searing a dotted line across several of the hexagonal wall panels. Immediately each one of the drones flickers slightly and becomes a little less substantial-appearing. One throws a punch at Caitlin that passes straight through her, without causing any physical impact. <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"SIMULATION END!" As soon as Donna's words are spoken, the remaining dozen drones pop out of existence. Donna looks towards the damage to the wall, then to Kara. Her face is expressionless for a moment, then she grins wide and shakes her head.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Stupid. Sorry Supergirl, I forgot to tell you. There's a limit to what the field strength here can cope with. For ranged attacks that have the potential to damage the systems, we try to include them in the simulation. Next time, use your laser eyes thing on... low setting. The system will simulate the real effect, okay?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Donna gives Kara's upper arm an encouraging squeeze, trying to pass the whole thing off and save Kara any guilt over the damage. "Don't worry about it, we've got some replacement parts in storage. That was a really good start, SG. You improved visibly as the simulation went on. Try to remember to be keeping half an eye on the battlefield though, not just your immediate opponents. You missed the shift in tactics."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her lips curl up into a smile. "And... I appreciate the instinct to get in front of me, but you should have listened to Cait when she called the play. She knows the team and she knows I could hold the line. Because you broke forwards, you let the drones mass behind you and stranded Cait in the middle there. If you'd hit direct from the sides you'd have them pinned between you and Cait, cleared the line and we'd have had the last few surrounded."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her smile grows wider. "I'll show you exactly what I mean on the replay, but don't let it worry you. That was a really good session, SG. We'll go again tomorrow when we've had time to get the Danger Room back up. A few more sessions like this and Brainiac won't know what's hit him."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:186|Kara Danvers (186)}} has posed:'''<br>As the simulation falls away Kara pauses, fists still up. She lowers her arms and looks at the cut she put in to the walls, turns around and has the biggest look of guilt on her face possible. She broke the thing. It's obvious to everyone she broke the thing. Her hands go behind her and she presses her lips together managing a rather innocent look. "Low.. setting. Sure." She's not sure how she'll learn to do that in the next few days. She's been trying to get a handle on her heat vision since she got here.<br><br>The very thought of reviewing the footage sends a chill of dread deep within her soul. But, one she knows she must face. Seeing herself on camera doing dumb stuff. "Okay. I have a lot to learn about doing this stuff in a team. My main strategy since I came to Earth has been to rush in and just deal with whatever comes my way. I like your way better.. and sorry Caitlin, I let you down. I'll do better next time." She smiles but her eyebrows are raised high as she glances over at the melted technology. That'll probably become gossip in the tower real quick.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:552|Caitlin Fairchild (552)}} has posed:'''<br> Caitlin's grimacing and stretching her arms behind her, but shaking her head before Supergirl's even done talking. "You didn't let anyone down. This is a training environment," she reminds Kara. "And you're not the first person to break something here. There's a reason we keep spare parts around." <br><br> She looks down at her shirt, thoroughly ventilated with tiny holes no larger than a penny. Red welts are rising on her skin. "You rallied, you listened, and you didn't lose your temper. The rest of it takes time." She smiles reassuringly, and gives Supergirl's arm a reassuring squeeze. "I think you'll get the hang of this fast." <br><br> She smiles at Donna, then stretches her hands up to the sky and rises on her tiptoes. "And with that, I'm calling it a day. I'm commandeering the therapy tub, so hold my calls until dinner." <br><br> Caitlin waves farewell with a wry smile and heads out, deactivating the Danger Room en route-- and pausing only to collect another protein shake before leaving for the Tower proper.<br> <br>
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