9547/Grand Central Fortress

From Heroes Assemble MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Grand Central Fortress
Date of Scene: 09 January 2022
Location: Chief Carter's Office: Triskelion
Synopsis: A brief meeting between Peggy, Michael and Jess outlines activity concerning Grand Central's armoring and recent changes to the sitution.
Cast of Characters: Michael Erickson, Peggy Carter, Jessica Drew
Tinyplot: Path of Glory


Michael Erickson has posed:
    Grand Central Terminal is now a metal box -- or mostly so. With its scavenged carapace, applied with alarming swiftness by the tireless body of Erickson's armored form, the base needed to stage evacuations and assaults has been dealt with in record time. He's not a siege engineer, Erickson, but he has a way about him in the field. One imagines it's all just...relative.

    But now, briefing. With Jess delayed in other meetings, the Shi'ar stands outside Peggy's door, waiting to be summoned. He wears black combat fatigues and a plate carrier vest instead of a suit this time, festooned with radio and supplies in its pockets having come from the field. Weapons gone, he looks a bit like a midwest militiaman than what he /truly/ is.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Come in." Peggy calls. She feels like she's been in hours of meetings. Probably because she has been. And she's outfitted to continue going back out into the field, in her SHIELD issue tac suit, even if it doesn't quite fit any longer. The pants are noticably tight and she's not even bothered to zip the jacket. The suits are made to be quite form fitting and she needs a new one very soon. She stands, greeting him with a small, tired smile and a dip of her head. "Michael."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    He enters, looking just a hint tired himself - that vaunted Shi'ar stamina doing much to keep him going in the field. "Chief," he replies, nodding once and making to take a seat - then pauses, standing there. Opens a pouch on his plate carrier. Inside, a small, octagonal sandwich is contained in a plastic bag - he puts it on her desk. "You look like you need something to eat. Let me make you some tea, shall I?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
There is a deep smirk on Peggy's features, giving Michael a little, flat look. "I am married to a Portuguese man who learned to cook from his mother and still cooks exactly like her. He's not letting me leave ANY day without plenty of food, I promise. And there is always tea on in this office. But it's decaf. If you wish to make some caffienated tea, go right ahead, but I promise you I've been taking as good a care of myself as I can." She motions him into the seat across her desk, where he's usually welcome, as she goes to settle back into her tall leather chair.

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "Suit yourself." He smiles as he collects the sandwich again, opening the top of the back, extracting the sandwich from it and sitting down in a seat. Takes a bite from it himself. "But that's good to hear. So. What can I do for you?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
"I'd be curious on your report of the situation in the city. I don't want to keep you long I know we are both incredibly exhausted. But if you'd give me your view on what has happened so far, I'd appreciate it." Peggy asks simply. She does reach for the pot of tea in the middle of her desk and pours them both out some, him his first cup and she a fresh one. It's the ginger tea that she's been preferring most often these days.

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "I'm not tired." He gives her a flicker of a smile, taking the teacup and holding it in his hands. "Jessica will be here soon, by the by. My report on the city...well. As you know, I broke off from getting people out once SHIELD had it handled, and I realized that there would still be a large number of people stuck once these damned angels showed up. So, I elected to take a page from my Imperial military training and fortify a structure sizable to serve as a command center and shelter. Grand Central simply turned out to be all that, and a transport hub as well." He shrugs. "With the Raptor to which I am bonded, I could do it on my own. So I did."

Jessica Drew has posed:
The secretary in the outer office announces Jessica's arrival on the intercom. Interminable meetings leave her feeling scratchy eyed and vaguely out of tune with the world despite them being briefings on the latest status of the New York evacuation.

Jess knocks quickly and lets herself into the office, "Chief, Michael, excuse me for not arriving on time. I was in a meeting."Not many people are in civilian clothes today, she wears a standard issue black tactical uniform and boots.

Looking between the two, her eyes rest on the Chief a bit longer, noticing the fatigue - natural for somone working as hard as she does while pregnant. She gives the chief a faint encouraging smile, then is on to business. "What have I missed? No need to repeat yourselves, I'm aware of the structure that Michael built. I needed to soothe some feathers at the Mayor's office. Michael, I assume that when we get through this you will be able to restore the building to its former condition. That is what I told the Mayor's assistant, he had a lot of other things on his agenda yesterday." She raises a quizzical eyebrow in his direction as she couched a question as a statement of fact.

Peggy Carter has posed:
"I heard. I spoke with Jonathan Sims and know he's operating out of there as a base. It's a good idea and will be necessary for the next steps of the operation. So... good job. Excellent work, actually. I know everyone is feeling... the difficult, and the loss. I'm contacting the families of those SHIELD agents who died in the morning. But the fact that anyone is left standing to fight and they have new tactics is... encouraging. If we were going to lose entirely, we would have already."

Then Peggy looks up as the woman comes in. She shakes her head to Jessica, not worried at all about the woman being late. "No issue, Drew. I know we're all doing five things at once right now. I almost feel bad for dragging you both all the way up here but it's good to see both your faces. And I hope you get hot meals in the cafeteria, not just sandwiches, while you're here." She nods towards the sandwich that Michael is eating, a touch of worry in her eyes.

"I simply wanted a full report from your lips. I'm trying to get an entire view of the situation since I'm not... on the front lines. I also have more of the ear bugs and communications systems that block 99 percent of all outside sound and let you communicate between each other. I initially had them just for SHIELD but I figured the civilian forces could use them as well, so take them back with you, yes? Is there anything else you need?"

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "Better to have a metal box than a dead universe." Michael's words are tinged with distaste. "Politicians. But yes, there will be some light restoration needed, but I will do it. By the time all is wrapped up, a new coat of paint is all that will be required - let the Mayor know that I'll do it myself, if need be." This said, he runs a hand through his hair, and gives Jess a smile. "Really, I apologize for the inconvenience. But I'm glad that it was done."

    A deep breath, and he turns his attention ack to Peggy. "I'd like permission to take civilian volunteers and organize a home militia to defend the facility. SHIELD resources are strained. These are New Yorkers - so am I, finally, come to that. They'll want to protect their homes, their neighbors. I can facilitate that. Furthermore, I've gone about setting up monowire deadfalls, explosive traps, and other measures throughout Murray Hill to make it more or less a death zone for anything that's going to travel above ground level - and then the streets have been blocked up so that ground forces can be countered. This is because the neighborhood faces Grand Central to the south, and is a direct way to assault the location. I've managed to set up methods that won't do too much property damage compared to the damage they'll do to these angels, so it will be, hopefully, a deterrent they won't try and brave. That also gives us access to the Queens-Midtown tunnel as well as the rail and subway lines that route into the station. Those I've yet to rig to collapse if the angels come in that way, but..." He shrugs. "I'm only one man. Oh. Worst comes to worst, by the by, Reed Richards has volunteered the use of a naval-grade energy shield generator and a small fusion plant to power it. But if we get to /that/ point in we're in very bad straits, indeed."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Excellent Chief. The earbuds will help immensely. It's not been easy to coordinate efforts on the street. Has anyone involved in the first assault at dawn the day before yesterday reported to SHIELD officially, ma'am?"

"What I can report is that civilian casualties have been more related to problems with the evacuation, road rage incidents, traffic accidents, theft. The NYPD has been working double shifts, and every officer on the force is on duty. That information is from Emergency Coordinating Office."

"A shield will save so many lives and will make working out of Grand Central Station so much safer. This is likely out of my need to know, Chief, but who is coordinating the National Guard and military?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
A quiet groan escapes her lips as Peggy gets the information that the civilian casualties are from the evacuation. For a few heartbeats, she looks very much like the hundred years old she is. Peggy isn't trying to let this weigh on her, but hearing that news causes a quiet wave of grief. "...their blood is on my hands, then. If that was... from the evacuation, I didn't start it early enough. I thought five days... I thought that'd be enough. I wanted to give people their holiday. Hell... that was my... Mistake." And it's going to keep her up at night for a very long time.

She says nothing more for a few moments, dragging one hand across her face as she sinks back in her seat. She's processing it all, nodding in affirmation to Michael's question. "Permission granted. No one gets pressed into service, but if they want to fight... organize them. We won't tell them no." Her voice is a bit of a rasp as she answers Jessica's question, "I'm sending in the reserves and the national guard. Jonathan Sims has been promoted to field commander on the ground for this operation. He will be coordinating over all."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "Volunteers only," Michael agrees with a nod. "I plan on dispatching teams into the city to collect supplies while we still have power, that sort of thing. The hope is that we'll be able to drill them in the tunnels so that they will be able to deliver a reasonably competent defense - if I can get a number of military rifles from the armory, that would be extremely helpful. M-4s, whatever's available. Certainly we can't use them all with agents." He rubs at his brow. "At any rate, I'll be flying air patrol, intercepting their flights as well. The bastards get too close to the area, I'll reduce their numbers until they realize it's a very bad idea." So cavalier with the idea of divine murders. "They must be made to realize that humanity is not to be trifled with." Says the alien.

    That said, he takes a deep breath. "I'll be bringing Dottie with me. She needs work. She can be a good Communist and kill God or something - I've been training her on the use of Shi'ar weaponry, and I'll give her a particle gun to assist with things. We will put up sufficient defense."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Ma'am," Jess says frowning in concern, wanting more than anything to ease the burden, "it is not your It is their responsibility to have police directing traffic at the choke points."

"Yes, Dottie will be there, and I will be keeping tabs on both Erickson and Underwood. Dottie's profile fits this mission particularly well."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Hearing the reassurance, there is a slight wince from Peggy. She shakes her head, not going to debate over civilians dead. It's too late now. But it's clear that's going to weigh on the Director's conscience for a very long time. She forces herself to swallow back some emotions with a gulp of her tea. She can't let her people see her bleed, even emotionally.

"I'm glad you're getting Dottie out there. She needs a fight and, yes, her abilities are suited to this. It sounds like you have the weapons you need, but whatever is in SHIELD's armory is up for the use. This is all hands on deck. Anything more I can do to support either of you, just ask."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "We'll do as we can," Michael says with a nod. "It's what's necessary. As it is, I'll stand out of SHIELD's way as best as possible - I've got no rank here. I assure you, Chief, I won't get in the way of your people."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"We will do our level best to not make waves or attract any undue attention, Chief," she makes a movement to stand. "Is there anything else we can do for you?"

Peggy Carter has posed:
"No, no... that was the report I needed. Sorry I drug you both all the way up here. I know we could do this on a phone but, frankly... I wanted to see your faces." Peggy gives them both a tired, bittersweet smile. She stands then, out of respect for the pair. "Please, get some food? It's warm and fresh made and an army runs on it's stomach. This all feels... like the old days. Like the war. But we're not on rations so please... go enjoy the little things that are left. And take care of each other. You both know where to find me. 24/7. I'll be there. I... wish I could be in the field. I want to join the fight, you know. I... really do. I'm sorry I'm not there."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "No, no. Don't worry." Michael gets to his feet, and bending over the desk reaches out to lay a hand on Peggy's shoulder - assuming she allows it. "You do your part as do we all, Commander. You give us strength." A smile. "We will bring honor to the fight." And with this, he withdraws his hand, bowing. "Taak va, Masile." It sounds almost like a name. "I go, now. We will speak soon." And then he's off.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Radiating reassurance to the chief. "It's true. Knowing that you are here safe, at the hub of things, helps a lot. We need you to be safe."

Peggy Carter has posed:
"Well, that's where I will be. For the moment, you are both dismissed. Good hunting out there. Keep Dottie in line. She's a very dangerous weapon and very good at what she does. You'll all get through this." Peggy then escorts them both to the door, giving them a tired smile as she sees them out. Then it's back to her desk and the phone calls she needs to make.