3135/Mission: A Covert Rescue

Mission: A Covert Rescue
Date of Scene:	28 August 2020
Location:	Bunker in Buredunia
Synopsis:	Rescuing kidnapped metahumans!
Cast of Characters:	Tim Drake, Conner Kent, Laura Kinney, Phoebe Beacon, M'gann M'orzz

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Tim Drake has posed:
The Bioship drops off the team in the valley near the secret bunker in Buredunia where several metahumans that have gone missing have been rumored to have been taken. The objective is to rescue them, and if possible, figure out why they were taken and who took them.

The team leader for the mission is technically Red Robin, who is pulling up the data they have on the place on his wrist computer as they land, frowning. "Not able to get good scans, the rock over the bunker," which the entrance of is at the base of a cliff in the valley they've landed in, "is blocking most of it. We might be going in somewhat dark."

Conner Kent has posed:
"I can scan with tactile telekinesis once we are closer," offers Conner. His range is only a few dozen yards, though. By the time he can do that, they will be just over the bunker. "Do you know who did the kidnapping?" He is just worried this could be N.O.W.H.E.R.E. although perhaps worried is not the right word. Apprehensive? Interested? Conner is not even surre.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Going in dark does not seem to bother X-23 by the look on her face. She merely nods, accepting this as merely another mission parameter to a mission she knows must be completed, and completed successfully. To other, it is only another obstacle to overcome.

She scans the area with her eyes, sniffs the air, listens, as she gets boots to ground and takes an account of their current surroundings. She says, simply to Red Robin, "We can adapt."

A glance to Conner, she considers, "It was not The Facility." She does not say how she knows this, she merely seems absolutely certain it was not them.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe, on the other hand, is apprehensive for a whole different reason. She had her hood pulled up as they came in and landed, and she had been quiet most of the ride over, listening intently to her teammates. She had an extending staff with her -- just to keep her powers under wraps, for now, and she cracks a wry smile as she looks through the group.

    "We'll find out what's going on." she confirms with Robin. She stretches her fingers a moment, and looks oto the grouping "I'm... going to assume I'm bringing up the back?"

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    With a thought, M'gann causes her bioship to cloak, essentially disappearing from view. As for M'gann, her own ensemble is more suited for stealth as well. The cape remains, but a hood is added, and pulled over her head, while the usual white and blue is changed to a straight black, with the red x across her chest a darker shade.

    "I can do a scan for minds. It will give us a general idea where people are." The words are given verbally, because M'gann really is working on not trying to intrude on thoughts unless she gives fair warning. "If we need to go in with radio silence, then I can coordinate the communications, as well." With a glance, she regards Red Robin. "If that is what you wanted, of course."

    Phoebe gets a smile. "Don't worry. I'll keep you company in the rear." It isn't like M'gann has to get close to do her thing.

Tim Drake has posed:
"Yeah, lets go silent, Miss Martian," Red Robin replies with a quick nod, indicating she should link them all telepathically. Once done, he continues <<Mental scans are a go. Superboy, do your thing. And I don't think this is NOWHERE, but I did look into this because I was looking into them. This looks like an independent operation, but sanctioned and possibly run by the government here.>> Hence why THEY were here and not some 'we can't interfere with sovereign nations and their projects' folks like the Titans.

Conner Kent has posed:
<<Y'know? I have to wonder if the bioship would like peanuts>> because hey, genuinely curious. Besides, Conner uses the multiple pockets of his leather jacket for snacks. Which should not be too surprisingly for anyone.

Also, his mind tends to wander and telepathy is new.

<<Er... I have to move closer. So if they have sensors..." Or cameras, but he can search for cameras at distance and avoid them. Anyway, flying ahead. He touches the ground with the palm of his hand and spreads his tactile telekinesis through the ground, trying to map the insides of the building.

Laura Kinney has posed:
X-23, meanwhile, having nothing alert her senses, waits for those with more elusive abilities to map out bases, and minds. Yet, she remains alert, and ready to move or act at amoment's notice.

<< If there is access near the surface, I can cut us open an access point without using the front entrance. >>

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm was already dark armor. Gotham and all. The predominant gray of her armor and the darkness of her hood all lendt itself surprisingly well to stealth.

    <<Oh, this is new...>> Phoebe states <<I don't know if ships like peanuts though, what *does* a bioship subsist on? Is it photosynthesis like a plant, chemosynthesis like deep-abyssial plains habitats?>> she considers, giving a smile at M'gann as she agrees to take up the rear with her. She shoulders a medical pack -- extra medcal supplies, in case the rescuees -- or the rescueers need it.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    <<She isn't a fan of peanuts. It is more photosynthesis...it is why she likes sitting out on top of the building.>> M'gann's voice cuts through on the communal telepathy link, with a faint colouring that would suggest that she is smiling. <<Aaaaaanyways....>>

    It is at that moment that M'gann dares to reach out, performing a cursory scan of the area with her telepathy. The other four don't get looped immediately into the search as the telepath sanctions them off with a psychic shield. For their own protection, of course. However, in M'gann's mind, there is a distinct ping as she gets a feel for the layout of the land.

    Then, cutting back in. <<Superboy, you got a sense of the layout now?>> Asking mentally rather than just going in to see. The Martian is learning social boundaries.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner shrugs mentally at the dislike of peanuts. He was trying to do something nice for the bioship. After all it is not a machine, or it is? Maybe treating it like a pet is not the way either.

So, he goes on with the scanner. <<Got it... nothing too interesting, but there seems to be a couple large rooms that are almost empty. The entrance is this way>> offers the young man. The entrance has a mechanical locking mechanisms, so that is also an easy target for his telekinesis. Likely it will trip an alarm, but so would have Laura cutting a hole inside.

Laura Kinney has posed:
X-23 follows Conner to the entrance, and makes no comment as he opens up the entrance to the base about his actions, only stating the obvious. "If they have attacked those with abilities previously, they will have countermeasures against them as well. Be prepared."

And, with that, her hand-claws pop out, and she moves to take the lead, allowing her senses to guide her and be a 'first alert' system.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Following along behind, Balm is taking everything in quietly. She does not comment on the ship's dislike of peanuts, <<I was considering putting some plants up there in boxes, if no one minded. If she doesn't mind sharing the space, or Earth flora's not bad for the ship.>> she thinks, though her nerves are a little fragile at the moment. She was listening, trying to get a better sense of the layout as she moves, making sure her own domino is well over her face.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    A small smile becomes visible under the hood as M'gann responds. <<Oh, she would love that. She says it would be a better view than looking at air conditioning units.>> Still....mind on the task at hand, Megan. She closes her eyes, trying to get a better feel for anyone else other than the quintet. <<I am not really getting a firm idea of minds. I mean....I know there is something here...but I can't quite pick out what without exposing more.>>

Tim Drake has posed:
Suddenly, the ground shakes. A dark-skinned man and a olive skinned woman pop out from the entryway. The woman takes to the air, already flinging fireballs at the team!

The man claps his hands together and the ground shakes again, threatening to knock people off their feet!

Red Robin is almost knocked down, though only his reflexes keep him upright, his stance widening to give him greater balance as the ground roils and ripples under him. <<We have company,>> he notes dryly in a tone of 'obvious comment is obvious'.

Conner Kent has posed:
<<You think?!>> mind-speaks Conner, moving to stand between the fireballs and the rest of the team. Earthquakes don't affect him much since he can hover easily. "Watch out! We are underground!" He tells the guy making the ground move. Wait, what language is used in Buredunia?

Laura Kinney has posed:
X-23 also shifts her stance, moving her center of gravity lower and 'rides' the earthquake to maintain her footing as the wave crashes around the ground they're standing on.

She tilts her head, watching the girl go up in the air, and then looking back to the geokinetic.

She begins to run, several steps before jumping up into the air, claws extended in what must be to the victim of her attack as something quite intimidating and perilous as she heads towards the dark-skinned earth bender with clear and present endangerment to his person.

Her tactic is brutally clear: End the battle swiftly, and stay out of his element as much as possible.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe feels the Earth move under her feet, and she braces against a wall, her eyes narrowing as she holds to the wall, bending her legs. She stays quiet, to the back head down, drawing her hood down to protect her face against Fireballs as the woman takes to the air.

    <<And here I thought *we* were the company.>> she notes dourly, slipping around the back of the field of battle for cover.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    The earth moving is not much of an issue for M'gann. As the ground shakes, the Martian just floats just above the ground, eliminating the shaky ground issue. But...those fireballs! The sight of the fire cause an immediate flair of fear that flushes over the telepathic link, which immediately shuts down. The hovering drops, too....the sight and sheer proximity of the flames having a draining effect upon M'gann, though if it is fear or something more is uncertain.

    What M'gann does do, though, is immediately *push* the pyrokinetic away with her mind. It is more of a reaction than a thought....the instinct of 'get away'!

Tim Drake has posed:
The pyromancer is shoved backwards, yelping but throwing several more fireballs towards the group. The earth mover seems to ignore Conner's advice and continues to keep the ground twisting and turning!

Red Robin puts himself between the two metahumans and Balm, drawing out a trio of birdarangs and hurling them towards the man who is making the earth move, aiming to hit him about the time X-23 does. <<Conner, take down the pyro. She can //really// hurt M'Gann,>> he advises. He's been filled in a little bit!

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner looks at M'Gann alarmed when she spikes fear all over the mind-link. Good thing that is also when she pushes the pyretic woman away, because that was a fireball he wouldn't have intercepted.

<<Got it. Don't worry, Megan, that firethrower is mine>> He stops the next three fireballs with his hands, and keeps flying towards the woman. "That is going to be it, lady," he states, trying to push her against the wall hard enough to stun her.

Laura Kinney has posed:
As the birdarangs hit their target, X-23 lands, one set of claws sinking into the geokinetic's right hand, the other claw landing just to the left of it in the ground. She uses her sunken claws as pivot and anchor points, her feet swinging out and around and counterpoint the slams against flesh and noggin of Red Robin's thrown weaponry, as his head springs back her feet knock him back the opposite way yet again, creating a countrecoup effect.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The insinuation that M'Gann would be hurt badly by fire was enough to halt the search for cover, and Balm was on the move again. She slips out, and with a flick of her wrist her staff extends and she places herself between M'Ganna dn the firethrower.

    <<Stay behind me. The armor and my healing will make sure I can stay in the game.>> she thinks out loud, her knees bent and ready to take a blow as she breathes out.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
     <<Th...thanks.>> There is still fear there, but knowing her friends are there is helping to abate that. And Superboy's taking on the pyromancer, too. She does hang behind Phoebe, but it doesn't mean she is not helping either. With the geomancer otherwise engaged, a loose piece of rubble that he managed to shake loose slowly hovers into the air. Then, with a flick of her wrist, M'gann sends it hurtling towards the flamewalker's torso. Meg is not going to get close...but her aim should be rather well as her projectile takes flight.

Tim Drake has posed:
The pyromancer is slammed back as is the geomancer, but something curious: both of their expressions, as they've been fighting, have seem slack and blank. X-23 and Superboy should be able to see a small, thumb-sized metallic device attached to both of their necks.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner might have a somewhat scorched leather jacket now, but normal fire only starts to bother when iron is seriously melting. So he is fine and winces when Megan hits the pyretic with a chunk of stone on the torso. That might have broken some bones. <<You know? I don't think this woman is quite here, here. Inexpressive, doesn't seems to notice pain. M'gann, can you take a look into her head?>> beat, <<also, weird metal thing in her neck. Maybe a cybernetic device?>>

Laura Kinney has posed:
X-23, too, sees the metal disk and her recently boot-knocking of the man's head makes him an easy target for her fingers to clutch around the metallic device around his neck once her claws are out of his hands, and the ground.

She pulls on it, hard if need be, to get the thing out; and with enough effort into finesse of it, hopefully, to keep it in tact as she remains conscious even in the battle of the thought that Red Robin will want to examine it.

Tim Drake has posed:
The man blinks after X-23 removes the device. "Who... wait, who are you? What's going on?" he asks, pain in his voice form being knocked around and beaten up by X-23 and hit with birdarangs.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Good thing, they speak English. Or, M'Gann's powers translate, also useful!

    BEacon recognizes her chance to be useful, and she slips forward, sliding the medpack from her shoulder.

    <<Let me take a look at him>> she states, hesitantly moving from Miss Martian's front to tend to the confused man.

    "I'm a medic --" she states simply, taking out a penlight to shine in his eyes, to check response. "What is your name? Do you know the date?" she questions gently.

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
     There is a definite frown as M'gann tries to get into the fireballer's head. <<There...is no cognitive thought. It's like she is on autopilot.>> The geomancer gets the same treatment, though M'gann feels the switch turn on the moment the metal object is removed. <<Whoa! That did the trick! Conner, pull that metal object out! It's an inhibitor!>>

     M'gann herself remains in the back. But yes, she is a universal translator. The two metas may speak a different language...but M'gann translates on the fly. A walking talking babble fish, she is.

Tim Drake has posed:
The man is in good health, except whatever beating he's taken from the team. And as the woman's devioce is removed she also floats towards the ground looking confused. Both are disoriented and unsure o where, or when, they are.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner removes the device carefully, and looks relieved as the woman seems to be back to normal, plus some bruises. <<Done, now if you can dig for whoever did this?>> He asks Megan. Then he touches a wall and scans again, looking for people or something moving through the rooms and corridors of the bunker around him.

Definitely doesn't look like N.O.W.H.E.R.E. he is not sure why. Oh wait. Yeah, the metas are too old.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Letting Balm take the lead on healing, X-23 turns to Red Robin and tosses him the device she'd removed from the man's neck for safe keeping. She takes a few further steps inside, sniffing the air and tilting her head to listen to see if there are other sounds - or, other people as if expecting there to be an active laboratory within the base. It's a logical assumption, afterall.

In her mind, the mission is still going, the two threats have been eliminated or decomissioned and Balm has been activated. The guy and girl are no longer in X-23's thoughts, but the remaining unknowns, and potential dangers are very present. << Any other minds? >> She asks of M'gann, seeking to couple the Martians ability with her own. Team Work, afterall!

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm has her Healing Aura on point. She clears the man, and gives a smile to the woman -- best she can behind a face shield, anyway. "Hello. I'm a medic." she greets her, and begins the same process. Name. Date. Do you know where you are?

    <<They're both confused, but not suffering any too ill effects from fighting us. Physically they're fine... from what I can tell.>> she states, <<not in need of more than first aid in spite of some truly terrifying hits.>>

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
    As X-23 asks, M'gann delivers. With a nod to Laura, M'gann closes her eyes and places a hand to her forehead. She doesn't really need to do that, but it does provide a focus as she reaches out mentally, stretching out her mind's eye to determine what...or who....is out there.

    <<I sense....more inhibited minds. Blank slates. Now that I know what to look for, I can sense them. There are three other minds, though, that are not inhibited. They seem...knowledgeable. They are responsible.>>

    M'gann's eyes open...and she speaks out loud. Not for courtesy, but for emphasis. "They are the ones responsible for the mind inhibitors."

Tim Drake has posed:
The team makes their way deeper into the facility, and finds the labs with ease. Other metahumans attack from time to time, but the team is able to dispatch them fairly quickly and remove their control chips.

The lab doors are locked, and the three scientists inside look frightened as the team of Outsiders appear at the lab window.

"Superboy, if you could be so kind as to remove the door?" Red Robin asks politely, already pulling up his wrist computer and connecting to one of the computers just outside the labs. "I believe these are the bad guys we are looking for." He begins downloading the relevant data.

Conner Kent has posed:
It is certainly easier now they know when the mind-blanked supers are coming and how to free them quickly. "Do you think they maybe can only control two or three at once? Because I think if they had come all together we would have been in real trouble," he comments.

A door? Sure. He tries with telekinesis first, but if it is too strong her just punches through and then rips it aside. "Yep, just three guys. I guess that is why they had to use small numbers."

Laura Kinney has posed:
X-23 points her claws at the scientists, and states, rather firmly, "I do not like scientists in labs." There is a certain fixed expression on her features that is not her typical look that suggests she might be ready to end them here, and now.

She says as much. "If you attempt to resist, I may be tempted to show you what science has proven with these claws and how quickly they can rend human flesh." No. Laura really doesn't like scientists in illegal meta-tampering laboratories. For obvious reasons.

She makes absolutely certain they aren't going to go anywhere, giving the others a chance to put restraints on them, and take them into custody without any resistance whatsoever.

Her jaw sets, firmly, and she says nothing else.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <<But where are the rest of the Metas?>> Balm asks as she slips in behind them. She hadn't used much mroe of her healing aura on anyone -- most seemed to be subdued without too much trouble once their devices were removed. <... and why are they taking them?>>

M'gann M'orzz has posed:
     "I would recommend you do what she says." M'gann speaks from underneath the hood, as red eyes peer out from the shadows. "She is not mindless like the others you had." Had...being the operative word. For it wouldn't take much convincing to have the others recently freed from their mental captivity from joining the team temporarily.

     "Now....I would recommend you answer questions. Or do not. It matters not to me." M'gann grows silent and yet, the scientists hear her. In their mind. <<I can pull the information we need out, either way. You....would do well to cooperate.>>

    Would M'gann actually forcibly remove the knowledge. Probably not. But the scientists do not know that.

Tim Drake has posed:
"To use them as a national army, it seems," Red Robin says grimly, after joining the others in the lab room. "The UN will be displeased to hear about this. You three will provide witness testimony, along with the metas captured here. We will provide the data I have downloaded and the sample control devices. No nation should field an army of metahumans, but less so conscripts that are unwilling." He frowns. "The devices are limited anyway, eventually they would have broken past the control I think. But imperfect or not, this isn't something we can abide."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "How long have they been at this? Is this all of them? Are there more?" she asks, sounding utterly alarmed. "... are there any like me?"

Conner Kent has posed:
"As soldiers? But... seriously, they would have been discovered almost right away," grumbles Conner. "Yah, we need to bring this shit to the UN. Pretty sure most countries have meta-humans in the army, it is the kidnapping what makes these guys assholes. Who rules this place? I am all for paying a visit to the king or president or whatever."