Misha shrugs. "Trouble is our business... Don't we have access to that debrief report? I'm sure Bodi already procured a copy.."
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
Grinning, Richard lifted a hand and began ticking points off on his fingers. "Firstly, the money isn't that important - I can afford it quite merrily without asking BODICIA to break into Mrs Rolando's accounts - but getting Linda back is. Secondly, I doubt anyone will be able to cash the bounty, simply by virtue of my intention that we do that part of things, the bounty is just to get people thinking the right way and to make whomever has her nervous. Thirdly, we are not going to get in any sort of trouble for this - I'm hoping to be able to put the blame for any chaos we cause firmly on Rich Hunter's head, or better yet, that of an old... acquaintance of mine." A bitter smile flashed across his face for a moment.
"And lastly... if it really hits the fan, and we end up so deep that the whole world knows who we are and why we're there... then I give myself up. I'm the cutout. The loose cannon. The independant vigilante who tricked you all into coming out here with me. The Vigil stays clean."
The wisdom of Shadowe: Ghostraptor: The Shadowe is wise ...; FFM: Shadowe is no longer wise.
; Techbot_Alpha: Also, what Shadowe said. It seems he is still somewhat wise 
; Bull Throttle: Shadowe was unwise in this instance...; Rock_Powerfist: in this instance Shadowe is wise.; Techbot_Alpha: Shadowe is very wise *nods*; Zortel: *Quotable line about Shadowe being wise goes here.* Misha raises an eyebrow "Right, so... That we're going to the Isles, dispense justice about the same way if not more cautiously as we do in Paragon, in search of a missing team member, an other hero.... is wrong?" Misha shakes her head. "Personally, I'd like equal blame on my shoulders, same goes for credit.... but then, that's not important, getting our team back save and sound is, including Liberty Girl."
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
Ice frowned at Shadowe's words, and nodded her agreement with Misha. "She's right. Who cares if a bunch of criminals know it's the Vigil raiding them? What's important is that we do what we have to and get home safe with everyone, and Liberty Girl too. I just think that she's been an idiot for putting other people at risk by going off on her own like she did."
She looked square into Shadowe's eyes, her gaze steady and not like the nervous ones from earlier. "Besides... If it DOES all hit the fan later, I'll just melt it."
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Chuckling quietly, Richard shook his head at Misha. "My dear, think about it - we're entering a foreign nation with the intention of battering an undisclosed number of citizens into giving us some information. Then we're going to mount an assault against an as-yet unknown location, battering more citizens along the way, just to recover one person. Do you think that Recluse is going to merely look the other way if it goes wrong for us? Just because we hold licenses from the United States Government saying that we can protect it doesn't mean we have the legal right to do what we're about to do. And if it does go wrong, then who do you think will get the stick poked at them? Zorielle. This is an unsanctioned operation, and it makes sense for there to be someone used as a sacrificial lamb if needed. And while I'd rather make sure that things go well enough that we don't need to use a fallback plan, I can't think of a better one than 'the rogue hero planned it, organised it, tricked us into it, so pick on him, not the completely innocent Unity Vigil."
He looked down at the deck-plates. "And besides, if prison doesn't agree with me, there's not a gaol on this Earth that has been built that can hold me for long if I want to get out of it. So if we have to, we sacrifice the one person who can escape whatever they throw at us, as a diversion if nothing else." Raising his head to meet her eyes, he continued. "And if it all works, then we share the kudos for a job well done, and laugh at the crooks out here who think that Paragon's heroes can't and daren't touch them in their safe little island homes."
The wisdom of Shadowe: Ghostraptor: The Shadowe is wise ...; FFM: Shadowe is no longer wise.
; Techbot_Alpha: Also, what Shadowe said. It seems he is still somewhat wise ; Bull Throttle: Shadowe was unwise in this instance...; Rock_Powerfist: in this instance Shadowe is wise.; Techbot_Alpha: Shadowe is very wise *nods*; Zortel: *Quotable line about Shadowe being wise goes here.*
"WE'LL care if word gets out the Vigil is raiding criminals. Remember, this is going to be in the Isles. They're going to have easier access to backup than us. Not as much as if it was somewhere other than Nerva, but worse than Paragon City. So ideally we don't let anyone with a bone to pick with the Vigil find out we're here. Throw caution to the wind if we have to, but once we're not a secret anymore the clock will be ticking.
"Oh yeah... Does Longbow know we're going to be around? The biggest problem in Nerva was always the Longbows, and they'll probably assume we're all supervillains and start shooting if they see people using powers. They aren't as nice about things as you see in Paragon- if in doubt, they'll hit us with all guns blazing. So we need to make sure that either someone knows about us, or people are in recognisable costumes if they find us.
"Crimson Cove itself isn't a bad place. No worse than King's Row really, just a couple of nearby islands linked by bridges with a slightly run-down seaport town on it. Lots of Family types, and people are a lot more open about shady businesses, but there's no supernatural threats or hordes of Crab Spiders waiting to pounce on us."
He glances at Richard. "Um... Yeah. Legal rights and all. Sure. Oh, and Recluse probably won't register us as a blip on his radar unless we take our time and make a LOT of noise. Same for the rest of Arachnos."
BODICIA gets up and leaves the Unity Wing to fly itself, turning so she can look at the others. "There are some spare clothes in the back, Starborn. Make use of them as you will. As Richard, sorry, Rich Hunter, and Nick have stated, that is the reason this is a covert operation. There are several countries where hero organizations are not permitted free access. The Etoile Isles are one of them. Even Longbow should not be there from a legal standpoint, and as Nick has stated, their operational ethics in the heart of the conflict zone are somewhat skewed in their favour."
"And like, I have a reason to go to the efforts of this disguise." Ryan said, motioning at his costume. "Imagine what the tabloids would do, especially those idiots at the New Inquirer. I'm not attached to the fame that I couldn't stand losing it, but the blow up would be like, insane." The young man sighed. "It's like, why when I go to those Outcast raves with Hannah to keep an eye on things I have a disguse there. And why BODICIA let me use the e-dye and other make up."
BODICIA nodded. "There is that point too. A couple of you have reputations that would be rather tarnished should word of this gets out. Not to mention Zorielle. She has already had one attempt made on her life, and the people behind that have not yet been brought to justice. That little Channel 7 news report did not help matters in the media. I swear, I have not heard a woman use so many profanities... she was cycling through 6 different languages at the time though."
"The debriefing report is available on the comms terminals. The credit to retrieval goes to Hannah though, not myself. It was easier for her to pluck the files out by standing near Freedom Court and brain-diving, as she calls it, into their computers. No electronic trace to cover up."
BODICIA glanced to Nick. "Longbow has not been informed that we are in the area. I will be keeping a lock on your location at all times, and if necessary I will put out an eFoF signal, that's Electronic Friend or Foe, to inform them. I would rather avoid that. Would they persue normal citizens just doing their business? When we arrive it will be morning time, so we would not be skulking about in the night like wolves. I believe the term is 'Hide in plain sight'."
"Oh, I took the liberty of finding some free targets for us to apprehend, if people would think it a wise idea? Even when, and that is -when-, not if, we recover Linda, we will still have media furore about why she was in the Isles. These targets should provide a distraction as to her true intent there."
"Sounds like a plan. Just wear normal clothes and don't use powers and nobody will notice you- worked often enough for me in Paragon City. Still, assume Longbow are hostile until one of them actually tells us in person they aren't treating us as such. Anything else and they'll just hose you down with grenades and miniguns before lighting what's left with a flamethrower.
"What are these targets we're after? Family, Circle of Thorns? Most likely ones in Nerva, though Arachnos is about too. But hitting them on their own turf when they aren't even the main target probably wouldn't be smart..."
"No, it would not. These are targets that Arachnos are after too and will not get any protection from them, and are lone criminals or in small groups." BODICIA replied.
Lifting a hand up, several lines appeared on it as it split apart and a hologenerator rose from her palm, before flickering into light and displaying the wanted image of a bearded man with a long scar down one cheek.
"This is Target number one, if you choose to go after him. Edward Coleman. Child exploitation, kidnapping and child trafficing. All sorts of other unsavory crimes. Wanted by the FBI, he came here to set up shop on the Isle, thinking it to be a land of proverbial milk and honey for his sort. Who would miss a child in the Rogue Isle? Arachnos, when you take the son of one of their Arbiters. The son was recovered, he has gone to ground in this area to try and jump ship off to the South Americas. I have several leads into his present location. If we do not get him, I know someone who will, and will turn him over to Arachnos. Tough, but fair."
The image flickered again, to a balding African-American man.
"Target number two is Jackson 'Anti-Tech' Smith, a man with a passionate hate against technology. Wanted in both countries for technological sabotage and terrorism. If anyone remembers the Tahoe Hospital Incident from 2001, where an EMP bomb ruined millions of dollars worth of hospital equipment and caused one hundred and fourteen deaths, this is the man behind it."
The hologram faded as BODICIA closed her palm. "Just the sort of people an idealistic and determined hero would break several rules for to bring in, I believe."
"So basically, incompetent morons with no political connections who committed the sort of crimes the public gets all passionate and torch-wielding over? Sounds good. Well, the child molester might be a problem, I'm sure that Arbiter would much rather he didn't go to a nice safe prison cell where he can't get to the guy. But otherwise good.
"So, we're just going to be hitting the streets asking people for anything on where our missing girl might be?"
Ice frowned as Bodicia briefed them on Coleman, and the temperature around her spiked for a few seconds as she took in his history. Clearly, she considered him a prime target if they got the opportunity.
Once Bodicia finished her briefing, she tapped on the screen in front of her a few times until she found the full briefing on Liberty girl, and sat back in her chair to read, still listening to the conversations around her.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
"Exactly, Nick." BODICIA grinned, "And true. though it gives Arachnos something useful to do the next time they try a prison break." The gynoid shrugged, before pondering on locating Linda's position.
"Nick, I know you have good senses, and have met Linda before. Would you be able to track her down with them? Misha?" She called out, looking to the now black furred girl. "I used my security override to gain access to Linda's room, and have one of her costumes here. This may be slightly demeaning to ask, but would you be able to pick her scent up on there?"
"Burned Ice? You are with Ryan. I want you both to work in the area where Linda disappeared, see if you can pick up any leads. Perhaps try to look like a couple. Wander about bored, windowshopping, I am sure you can ad-lib something."
Ryan nodded and smiled to Burned Ice. "I can like, do that, no problems." The young man said, before grinning. "And I won't try to take advantage either!"
"Good." BODICIA smirked. "I suppose Rich Hunter will work alone?" She asked Richard, a curious expression on her face. "And as for Mary and Starborn, well, do you need me to hold your hand and tell you what to do and where to go?" she chuckled.
"Familiarise yourself with the map of Nerva. I will provide navigation support through the commslinks. Set them all to Encrypted Channel 7, Localized Stealth Mode. Richard and Nick?" BODICIA put her hand in her pocket and took out two Unity Vigil earpieces, designed to be tucked away out of sight in the ear. "You can use these for the mission. It saves interfacing technology."
Ice looked up on hearing her name, then nodded an affirmative and grinned at Ryan, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks at his comment about not taking advantage.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Richard sat quietly for a long moment as the report made by Longbow Eagle 3020 scrolled across the inside of his glasses. One thing caught his eye. The person who took Linda away. Blonde, attractive, leather, chains and a skull motif. Once again he wished that Longbow had full recording tech built into their outfits. It would make life so much easier at times like this.
"Her." His single word was almost lost in the conversation. "We're not looking for Linda, we're looking for her. The one who took Linda way from Longbow. The report indicates some concern for Linda's wellbeing, but nothing I'd call concrete."
He frowned, considering. "I wonder how well she deals with rich Englishmen who buy her drinks in bars..."
He glanced up as BODICIA talked, and smiled as she addressed him. "Rich is kinda a loner, but I've been workin' close with a sweet little vixen name o' Candy, last few weeks. Dunno who this Liberty Girl chick is, 'n' don' really care. My Candy's missin' an I'm gonna find the tart that got 'er."
He took the UV comms unit and inserted it into his ear, straightening up from the slouch that seemed as much a part of 'Rich Hunter' as the voice. "Remind me to ask Helena to give you a direct feed to my network when we get home, BODICIA."
Dropping back into a negligent slump, he carried on. "I can handle teamwork, sure, but I don't see no reason to be share the prize. 'Sides, as long as I got a beautiful blonde whisperin' in my ear, d'I need anythin' else?" He winked at BODICIA.
The wisdom of Shadowe: Ghostraptor: The Shadowe is wise ...; FFM: Shadowe is no longer wise.
; Techbot_Alpha: Also, what Shadowe said. It seems he is still somewhat wise ; Bull Throttle: Shadowe was unwise in this instance...; Rock_Powerfist: in this instance Shadowe is wise.; Techbot_Alpha: Shadowe is very wise *nods*; Zortel: *Quotable line about Shadowe being wise goes here.*
Nick ponders the situation.
"I've met her before, but not often enough I'd just be able to track her from that alone. I'll try seeing what I can find from her room, though. And if someone can find something linked to her- a personal item, hair, blood- then I could try a ritual seeking.
"I can get in touch with a few people too. I don't really know anyone in Nerva, but I can ask a few people somewhere else and see if they can give a few names to start with."
Rich looked at Nick, fiddling with the strap of his watch in an apparently nervous reflex. "I ain't in the habit of keepin' momentoes, an' the access-card thingy-whatsit that Huntington gave 'er is in some big office-block in Par'gon, so I can't track 'er that way, neither. This'd be a piece of cake, otherwise. An' I don't exactly trust magic." As he spoke, his mind raced frantically, seeking ideas, planning possible outcomes. The words of the Longbow report came back to him, making him shudder. 'Systematically beaten'. Officialese for 'had the holy living hell beaten out of her, and might not live through it'.
Whispering quietly to himself, he closed his eyes, ignoring the fact that BODICIA would be able to hear every word he said, or simply not caring.
"Fair warning to whomever has her. If she has come to further harm, I will rain down destruction upon you like the hand of God!" Drawing in a shuddering breath, he remembered a conversation he had recently been a part of - an unwanted conversation, on his part - where his worst nightmare had likened them both to Gods, and was clearly enjoying the idea.
Jolting to his feet, Richard stormed toward the back of the plane, still muttering to himself, a few words clearly audible as he passed the others.
"... still bloody human. I am..."
The wisdom of Shadowe: Ghostraptor: The Shadowe is wise ...; FFM: Shadowe is no longer wise.
; Techbot_Alpha: Also, what Shadowe said. It seems he is still somewhat wise ; Bull Throttle: Shadowe was unwise in this instance...; Rock_Powerfist: in this instance Shadowe is wise.; Techbot_Alpha: Shadowe is very wise *nods*; Zortel: *Quotable line about Shadowe being wise goes here.*
Misha goes over her own panel, not taking her eyes from it as she answers.
"I doubt tracking by scent alone helps, what with speeding, jumping, flying and such... can't hurt to try, though."
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
BODICIA quirked an eyebrow at Richard before nodding to Misha. "It is something to work on, anyway. And Nick, I have some hair from Linda's hairbrush that should work."
"BODICIA." A voice came from the front speakers, and the gynoid stiffed. "Oh great..."
The viewscreen darkened, and after several moments an image of Zorielle appeared on screen. The leader of the Unity Vigil was sitting at her vanity table in her bedroom, from the items scattered between the camera and herself. She was sitting there with an arm across her breasts to cover her decency, a rather serious expression on her face. She still looked a little asleep, and rubbed at her eyes with one hand before slipping her glasses on and brushing her long hair back.
"So, you're off to rescue Linda?"
"Yes, Zorielle. And you cannot stop us, after all, we need to recover her, and we're already crossing America as we speak. I've locked out the Unity Wing's systems from interference, and kept th-" BODICIA started to say before getting cut off.
"Kept nothing from me, OverAI." Zorielle said darkly. "I knew about this plan soon after you began to contact people about it. You cannot keep anything from me, and you should not either. I've a good mind to reprimand you and withdraw some of your freedoms."
BODICIA went quiet, her fists clenched as she was talked to by her creator, a hot blush on her cheeks.
"If it wasn't for the fact that I agree with the reasoning and methods of this rescue, you wouldn't be where you are. I actually loosened some of the security systems so that you would be able to access the craft." Zorielle said, before covering her mouth as she yawned. In the background, there was a stirring on the bed.
Glancing back, Zori leaned towards the screen and spoke quietly, hardly bothered by leaning forwards with an arm across her chest. It -was- rather flattering though.
"I'm not sure if I agree with all your team choices, but I am sure you will all display the sense and values that I've come to expect from Unity Vigil members. Keep in touch when you can, and good luck. BODICIA? We'll have words later. The rest of you? Take care. Richard, Nick? Thank you for coming along with them to rescue Linda. If you'll excuse me now, I have a wife to get back to."
Zorielle tapped a button on her end, and the viewscreen returned to the view of the cloudbanks. BODICIA's face was flaming, and she looked about at the others. "Not a word. Not a single word." she said, before storming back to the pilots seat to 'concentrate'. Or sulk.
Ice looked at Bodicia, a huge grin on her face as she tried hard not to burst out laughing at the gynoids discomfiture.
Covering her hand with her mouth, she got up and headed quickly towards the bathrooms. Seconds before the door closed behind her, a loud and high pitched laugh burst out from her, silenced only by the door's closing.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Nick sits in his usual relaxed, posture, though his attention seemed to be rather fixed on the screen. Once the broadcast cut off he turns to look at Ryan.
"Was she just not awake enough to realise how many people were watching, or is seeing her like that on a regular basis one of the perks of being in the Vigil?"
Starborn blinks a few times to let what just happened sink in, she looks to the now angry BODICIA with a little sympathy before getting up.
"I'll just go get changed..."
She heads off to the backroom to get some less conspicuous clothing...and to give BODICIA some space.
After a few minutes she returns wearing blue jeans with black trainers a black t-shirt and a brown coat, aswell as black leather gloves, all of which hides her form rather well. She has also slicked her hair back and put some make up on to appear paler.
She takes a different seat and starts looking at the info on the screens.
Tigergirl/Yoko Hatori - Full time hero
Kiyarii Kade - Model and part time hero
Mileena Lim - Alien Demon Bat Sorceress or rather Hotel property owner
Starborn/Klair Elwin - Full time hero and Journalist
Ryan watched Burned Ice head off and tried to stop from laughing, before looking to his friend. "Nick! Like, uh... well, I dunno... not seen her like that before, I mean, y'know, but when I've been to the island she's often in swimwear cause it's so warm and all..."
Misha just shrugs and returns to examining her screen, though with a slight grin to her lips.
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
Mary just had a barely disguised grin on her face throughout the entire telling-off, which soon drops into her more serious face, as she studies the maps, projections, and reports available, committing everything to memory. In a strange way, she's also watching all of the others too. Appraising... assessing almost.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Ice blinked and let out a low whistle. "Fifty grand? That's a lot of money... Won't the Vigil cover that though? Liberty Girl IS one of ours after all, right?"
She looked down again briefly. "Man, I'd hate to cost Ms Rolando that much money just cause I did something stupid... And all this trouble we're going to get her back too... My dad used to say you shouldn't be causing other people trouble."
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.