ic OVERTHROW in Freedom Hall!(IC)

[KnightDisciple]

"So long as all they're doing is escorting said individuals out, that seems an entirely reasonable request to make."

His sidelong glance to his fellow negotiators indicated he was sincere in that statement, and didn't wish for things to escalate yet.

"Though I feel you're over-selling some of your points. While this city certainly isn't perfect by any stretch, I think many of those who work as city servants, such as the people in City Hall, genuinely want to help. Many of these so-called greedy people you accuse of only wishing to exploit the man actually do much good. Miss Americana, for instance, not only keeps Archetech, a company that employs thousands just here in Freedom City, running, but she also works hard on developing new and better prosthetic devices for anyone and everyone. We have more than one charitable foundation made possible by people such as this. Are there greedy people and exploiters of the masses? Most certainly! But I think it hasty to try tearing down so much, so soon. I'm a cautious man by nature, and I like to examine all the angles. Still, if you spend too long dwelling on the negative, I can see how it would stir a fire in your belly."

He gave the man a sympathetic smile.

"As for my fellow heroes, I think you overestimate what's acceptable not only to the law, but even among our own community. I myself theoretically hold the power to take lives, but I don't. This is true of all but a very few, and those few are not looked upon kindly by the rest of us. We all feel a responsibility not only to the citizens of this city, country, and planet, but also to the law itself. We work in a very gray area already, after all. The ones who are truly irresponsible enough that harm comes to the innocent are not left to their own devices. As for fighting those rebelling against the "loathsome laws"..."

Here he shook his head with a sad expression on his face.

"Mostly I find myself confronting those who seek to keep the less fortunate of this city in a state of misery. Whether they push illegal poison on our people, or threaten them with harm to gain temporary monetary advantage, these people are the ones harming and exploiting the people of Southside most often. Rarely have I encountered anyone claiming a more noble goal like your group is. Usually they're just claiming, with no thought for their fellow man.

And in the face of that, you have people like myself and others, blessed with power and skill that set us above the rest. We could, perhaps, sit in our homes. But instead we go out and use what we have to help others. Whether the power is divine or hellish, earthly or alien, technological or terminus-based, I think the important thing is what those people try to do with those powers, don't you?

Surely you can find some sympathy in your heart for those of us who simply want to go out and make the world a better place with our own two hands, whether we hide our birth face and name or not?"

[Brown Dynamite]

Would bend on one knee as he kept a close eye forward. Four briefcases was not an ideal load, and he couldn't trust any of the questionable foursome in front of him either. Still moving to grab a pair of suitcases in each hand he would begin edging forward. Assuming that the bridge held out and no one pulled anything Omen would commence his walk off the bridge straight towards the four, a certain medical center on his mind. "Word of advice get out of this line of business there's plenty of legitimate business opportunities out there. Oh, and about that warning if I do find something worth surprising me over this I suppose we'll be having another far less civil word."

[Tiffany Korta]

Whilst Gabriel did his work Young Britannia was looking over floor plans of the building provided by the police. She wasn’t quite sure how it worked but she could teleport herself anywhere without having been there before. She scanned the plans looking for somewhere that Silver Spider could infiltrate the building proper. She pointed to a suitable room away from where everything seemed to be going on.

“What about here? I can if necessary extract you from that point as well.â€

She put on a comms unit she’d borrowed from a very nice policeman.

“Okay we’re just about ready go guys, just give the word and I’ll get Silver Spider inside.â€

[Ari]

GM

"That looks good, Young Britannia" Maddicks agreed guardedly "I'll send word to Gabriel. Asad, if you would. Good luck, Silver Spider" Maddicks tapped on his secure-frequency radio and a short code into it. That done, he nodded to the nearby heroes "Good luck to all of you. Don't take any risks stupider than you need to," he added sharply with a stern look "we need all of you to do this"

The spokesman stared at Gabriel for a while, utterly speechless. A brief look of deep regret flickered in his eyes before vanishing. At last he spoke, though with difficulty. "I'm sorry we don't see eye-to-eye. I would love to be able to see the situation that way, but everything I've observed speaks rather..differently. The continued and uncontested tyranny of New Freedom, the inability of you and your comrades to halt the attacks and evil of SHADOW, Socotra..." he shook his head "I do not share your optimism, if such things are allowed to continue as they are. Regardless," he went on more loudly, the regret gone from his face "I agree with your broader point. We will drop that request from our list." Suiting action to the word, he tore out the relevant place on the page listing OVERTHROW's demands and burned it with a small lighter.

Suddenly one of the negotiators tapped Gabriel on the shoulder, whispering in his ear "Mr. Schultz called. He wants to start the attack now" he sat back onto the bench, calmly scribbling into a small book.

---

As one, the quartet pulled out short swords and charged at Omen, aiming their blades to tear and rend his exposed head and neck.

[KnightDisciple]

Gabriel doesn't visibly react to the negotiator's words. Inside, a part of him is actually sad.

'I feel like I could end this without violence...But the hostages are more important right now.'

He cleared his throat after a moment, speaking in the same friendly tones. But something was off as the negotiators listened. But it was just a sense of some undercurrent in his speech, nothing they could feel.

"You seem like a reasonable man. To a degree, I can see where you're coming from about some of your worries. That you're willing to compromise speaks to your character. Sadly, it doesn't matter. None of this matters. You realize, of course, that even just sitting here, I'm just humoring you, yes? You know I could probably lay out half your force, by myself, in less than a minute? Even if you hurt the hostages, it would just make me mad. And of course, I'm not alone. I have many of Freedom City's finest here with me. Wouldn't it be easier to give up? To just give in and let us take you in, with no fight? That's the more reasonable and humane option, isn't it? Instead of fighting all of us and losing anyways. This makes you seem reasonable. Fighting just makes you hated. You're already so despised. Why make it worse? Just sit there and let us cuff you, and it will all be over. Fighting isn't worth it, is it? No, no it's not. You'll just lose in the end."

The words were odd to the negotiators. To the OVERTHROW agents sitting in front of him, Gabriel's words had the weight of a mountain. They crashed down like a mighty wave, driving down against their courage, conviction, and confidence. His voice ground against them, shoving resignation and despair into the deepest parts of their mind.

[Brown Dynamite]

"Hm, option two it is." Turnabout was fair play, and he expected something of the like. In fact Erick was probably glad, it gave them the chance of learning some regret. The conditions were far from ideal as the environment wasn't one Omen could take advantage of. With that said it wasn't one the flurry of opponents could either especially if they were going to come in tight. Well time to show off then. Letting go of two of the briefcases Omen would keep a firm grasp of the remaining set.

Considering the efforts they were going to keep their spoils he doubted they would enjoy damaging the records either. It wasn't simply the desire to play around with an unconventional choice of weaponry. Even if perhaps on some level that was the reason as well.

[TheAbsurdist]

And then he burst into motion, jerking in a wild looking fashion, then turning sharply and surged to full speed, and then kicked his throttle beyond that, pushing as hard as he could at the armed men that they had gone over in the short briefing. Aiming right for the Overthrow goons, and hoping to create a distraction. He didn't agree with what was happening, but Maddicks knew more about this than he did. So CHARGE! He just hoped this didn't turn into a massacre. Fortunately, he was the kind of guy that would draw OVERTHROW's fire readily, as he imagined they had posters of him they threw darts at.

[Raveled]

Starlight hung around the edge of the group, listening in on conversations and using the benefit of her disguise to look over shoulders and get an idea of what kind of overall plan the other heroes were going to attempt. Once she had a good idea of their intentions, she wandered away to get some privacy. Out of sight of the rest of the group she allowed the disguise to relax and reassumed her guise as a superheroine. With a flash of light she disappeared and reappeared inside City Hall. She'd chosen somewhere secluded but still reasonably close to where the terrorists had gathered the hostages -- a bathroom. Luckily no one was inside so she was free to step out in the hall. She needed to get the attention of a single guard...

[Ari]

GM

Some of the soldiers serving the OVERTHROW almost managed to resist the solemn might of Gabriel's words, struggling to fight against the deep and sickening sense of despair that was slowly crushing them. None managed to last more than a few seconds, though. The spokesman looked like he was about to start crying, saying weakly "But...I thought..that we could change things here..." he slowly collapsed to the ground, wracked with miserable sobs, followed by the others, one of whose dropped guns misfired as it hit the ground with a clatter of metal, blasting a corner off of one of the nearby benches and sending a spray of marble dust into the air.

The snipers on the roof were shocked into action by this turn of events, and raised their powerful rifles to try and fire on the treacherous negotiation team when Asad zoomed past them, quickly drawing their attention and fire, sonic booms cracking the air as they fired desperately at the flying man. Out from behind the pillars where they had been hiding themselves unaware that they had been found out long ago, the OVERTHROW agents carrying rocket launchers raised their own weapons and shot grenades at Asad in a blazing salvo that screamed through the air, aimed right at the namesake lion emblazoned on his chest.

Starlight quickly found her guard crouched next to the door of the bathroom, diligently checking over her well-worn M16 rifle, silently examining every part of the gun while glancing up quickly at the windows and hallways.

---

Omen distantly heard frantic shouts from above on the deck of the ship, and dockworkers below him and his four opponents shouted various indecipherable things at the five people charging each other on the ramp, and then dashed off to get help. The four ignored the ruckus, and attacked.

If nothing else, the fight would certainly resolve the issue of what would happen to the briefcases.

[Azuth65]

Silver Spider nodded towards Young Britannia, "Agreed. Best we move in and get out from here, if that plan needs to change I'll radio you. I think it might be best if I otherwise maintained radio silence." She tapped her earpiece and listened to be sure she was patched into the correct channel.

After running a hand over her belt that held her tool kit and spare w.e.b. fluid canisters, making sure her supplies were secured, she held out a hand to the young woman. "On three then? One, two, three."

[TheAbsurdist]

Asad put the breaks on sharply, stopping in mid-air, and smirking down at the assorted OVERTHROW operatives. And then he started to laugh at them, his arms folded across his chest"Whoa... whoa... whoa! I am the capitalist dream run rampant! I mean I woke up today and I was worth billions! Billions!" Tapping his cheek bone with a finger then. "Come on! Right here on my botoxed face! I'll be a good sport to you unwashed masses! See if you can take me out, you ski-mask wearing morons!"

[Ari]

GM

The OVERTHROW agents obliged the photogenic hero, a deafening series of retorts exploding from the roof followed by thin trails of steam as the snipers fired from their concealed positions, one bullet whizzing past Amir's head while the other three struck home directly into his face, crashing flat against him without harm. Likewise, much larger plumes followed the launching of rockets from amid the Federal Building's pristine pillars, two of which went sailing elegantly into the sea, the third slamming directly into his chest.

[Brown Dynamite]

Lunging forward Omen would slam a briefcase into the face of the leftmost male attacker. With a smile he would use the momentum to propel himself off the man's body as it crumbled and continue with an axe like swing with the briefcase slamming it down against the back of the other male's neck taking him out of the picture as well. Wasting little time in the shock of the chaos he would make his move to the first of the two female assailants. Using his off hand to position the opposite briefcase against her attacking arm he would twist his body inwards as he hit the side of her body with a series of liver blows using the main brief case.

Just like the other two she quickly fell. Finally performing a side roll to position himself under the last of the female suits so that he could thrust a briefcase against her stomach re-positioning himself he would hammer down the very same briefcase against her spine with enough force to knock her flat out. "Their mothers really should have told them not to run with swords. Someone could get hurt," Omen quipped as he turned around after felling the quartet facing the remaining briefcases. Time to bounce, not exactly looking for a photo op moment here with the cops.

[TheAbsurdist]

After the impact of the bullets he held up a hand to try and ward off anymore, and then the grenade hit, and explosion engulfed him. It was a new experience, he was taking a risk, but he had a job to do, and he'd rather run the risk of hitting the limits of him abilities rather than someone else get hurt. And then the explosion stopped growing, and started to collapse back into him, and he felt it flow through him, suffuse him with power, and he smiled, smoke wafting off of him.

"Did you ever get the feeling that maybe you should have just stayed in bed?" A smirk on his face, as he lifted up left hand to about his shoulder level and then he snapped his fingers. And then Asad gave them back their explosion, as the force blasted out from him.

[Ari]

GM

The wave of force knocked most of the OVERTHROW agents off of their feet before the main power behind it even reached them, knocking the entire band of sentries unconscious and collapsed on the nearest flat surface. The various guns, rocket launchers and ammo bags falling with them, one sniper rifle coming perilously close to misfiring directly into the assembled law enforcers gathered just beyond the pristine Federal Building. The negotiators blinked in mild surprise, nodded to Gabriel and headed back towards the police lines, where the now somewhat less tense officers of both the FCPD and AEGIS watched with guarded relief and interest.

---

Omen was soon out of sight from the citizens of Freedom City, though the police sirens on the cruisers that raced towards the dock were no less blaring. With a faint rumble his phone rang, with ATHENA's call sign, this time with the message 'Well done. Please return the records to Freedom Medical Center where they can be kept for reference. We will meet you there.'

[Brown Dynamite]

As Omen moved to comply with the request, he knew there would be questions he would want answered. His legs would enthusiastically push against the ground as he commenced to get a bit more distance from the radius of the sirens. His focus aimed solely at making it to Freedom Medical Center. A bit cautious over the fact that there was a 'we' to meet, something that didn't change the fact that the interest in these briefcases wasn't boding well for at least one person's health. The unconscious suits not withstanding.

[Azuth65]

After being dropped off in the small office, Silver Spider made an easy leap to the ceiling and looked through the partially open door to the hallway. Her first obstacle was kind enough to come walking by, looking more at his feet than anywhere else. Once he passed the room, she shot out a line of web and yanked him backwards and right into her fist.

With the young terrorist unconscious, she sprayed him down with webbing and left him stuck on the ceiling, starring at the floor where his gun lay dissembled, several of the internal pieces broken. Leaving, she closed the door behind her and made her way towards the hostages.

[Tiffany Korta]

The pair had arrived perfectly into the small office with a burst of photons. Obviously read for action Young Britannia’s delicate cargo leapt straight into action and away from the room. To an now empty room Agnus declared with some relief.

“Now would be a good time to admit that that was the first time I tried teleporting with a passenger. Good Luck and try to be safe.â€

After remembering to breath again she begun to concentrate to teleport herself back outside, this time at enough height to attract the baddies attention.

[TheAbsurdist]

"Is that it? I thought you people were true believers! Can't you at least try harder!?" And with that he moved to the rear entrance. Half expecting an explosion or something else greeting him when he opened it. Bracing himself he opened the door, hoping they didn't have anything else that could impact him. He didn't expect to get this unscathed, but there was still a distinct chance it could happen, and he was going to hope that was the case. Pausing for a moment, and then opening the door then, waiting for the rocket, or the energy blast. "Helloooo OVERTHROW? I've got to straight slap the flavor out your mouths!"

[Ari]

GM

The empty hallways echoed Asad's taunt back to him and sent it resounding to the ears of Silver Spider, Starlight and the OVERTHROW agent crouched next to the alien. She started up in surprise, almost dropping her gun as she got to her feet, staring down the hallway and quickly finishing the tuneups she had almost concluded before switching off the safety. She still hadn't noticed Starlight.

---

Freedom Medical Center was as busy as the premier hospital servicing Freedom City could be expected to be, with single, pairs and small groups of Freedonians making their ways down the halls. The crisp, ramrod-straight suited man and woman with the short and impeccably cut hair standing in the lobby were definitely out of place by virtue of their not moving until they saw Omen. Walking up to him the woman offered her hand "Agent Anthea of AEGIS, this is Agent SIlas, of the same agency. You're Omen? If so, please deposit the files on the front desk and tell them 'Proteus', they'll understand" she gave him a brief smile "After that, we'd like to talk with you for a bit in the parking lot." With a slight nod from the otherwise silent Silas, the two walked out the door.

[Brown Dynamite]

The inner workings of AEGIS weren't a huge point of interest for the teenage hero. An opinion that he was no doubt reconsidering upon finding out they had access to his phone number. Giving a slight nod to Agent Athena he would extend his hand towards the woman's before she left through the door. As he made his way across the lobby to the front desk he couldn't help but note that the entire experience just raised a whole host of other questions. "Since we're feeling Greek today, does Proteus ring any bells for anyone?"

[Ari]

GM

The harried-looking young man behind the desk smiled perfunctorily at the costumed vigilante as Omen approached, saying into the phone he was holding to his ear "One moment, please hold" putting it down he nodded at the invocation of the code word. "Yes, it's the name given to that mutagen that caused so much trouble in the Spring. We've had a lot of people coming in all year suffering after-effects, residual powers, biological screw-ups from allergic reactions to the chemical...it was a mess" he said wearily, glancing at the desktop for a second before looking back up to Omen. "We had some records stolen earlier this morning, just before this new thing with City Hall. Just toss 'em over, I'll get them to the office. Put a real lock on that cabinet" he added darkly.

The transfer complete, Omen didn't have to wait long after exiting the Medical Center before the two agents reappeared beside him, Silas gesturing down the street southwards "Walk with us." he and Anthea were silent for a minute before the woman spoke "You are aware of the function of AEGIS, the American Elite Government Intervention Service, yes? Our agency has been doing some recon for the source of this attack, and we believe we've found it. A base just off the coast of Russia. The situation at the Federal Building was..." she hesitated, searching briefly for a suitable descriptor "...perilous, but is now well in hand thanks to the city's heroes." She smiled warmly at Omen "We want to make sure that source is blocked off for good, something you and the heroes right now dealing with those OVERTHROW soldiers can help with. If you accept our request for help you'll get a full briefing by Director Powers on what to expect, and what is expected of you and the others. Do you have any questions?" Silas spoke up again "We will try to make as much of the situation as plain as we can, Omen. We won't hide anything from you, despite what our reputation might suggest" he said with a rueful smile "admittedly, that reputation is not without some basis in fact."

---

The holler hadn't done much for the situation except make the already nervous soldiers doubly so. The woman who had sprang to her feet had just begun to rlex when she happened to catch a glimpse of Starlight out of the corner of her eye. Swinging around she brought her firearm to bear in a hail of bullets! All of which missed entirely and merely punched holes in the walls around the eerie alien. Shaking, the terrorist slowly began to retreat, the gunfire having been almost noiseless due to the modifications done to the rifle. At most other times, that would have been a boon.

Silver Spider didn't have long to walk before another of the guards rounded the corner right in front of her. He was so intently focused on seeing any attackers before they struck that he was almost blind to things he would have seen otherwise. There was a serious chance at catching him off-guard.

[Brown Dynamite]

Listening to the tale, Omen did consider the full weight of what she was offering. "Now I live hand in hand with peril just fine. So that definitely adds to the appeal. And despite what you say, I can't help but feel as if you're definitely going to be leaving me a bit in the dark about some vital parts to it. And that's all well and good seeing as it's not exactly the type of situation one can just ignore. Still, if the other guys are on board this shouldn't be too much of a problem." Pausing for a moment he would don a slightly sardonic smile, "let's just try and be a bit more forthright with all the information."

[Raveled]

Starlight floated serenely down the corridor, barely flinching as the hail of bullets streaked past her face. She raised one finger to suddenly-forming lips and shushed the terrorist, then held out her opposite hand. A great, golden glow surrounded it and in a moment it leapt out, splitting into a thousand shards just before it hit the criminal and spearing her in a hundred different places -- all in perfect silence. "It is rude to make too much noise," Starlight informed the outmatched thug, "when others are trying to be sneaky."

[Ari]

GM

"Y-!" the OVERTHROW agent began in horror before the shards of light slammed into her, crushing the air out of her lungs and leaving her to slump unconsciously to the floor. The beginning of whatever she had been about to say the only sound that got further than eight feet whole and echoing, and it faded almost instantly.

The agent walking just outside the room where the hostages were missed Silver Spider entirely, focusing on the empty and eerily quiet hallway, creeping forward with their FAMAS trained forward, eyes sliding from side to side in preparation for some unseen assailant. Besides the one he would never see coming, that is.

---

"Not entirely true, Omen" Agent Silas explained evenly as the trio walked on "We will of course keep things that aren't important to the mission ahead close to the vest, but anything that could help you accomplish it we'll freely inform you of." Tapping the crosswalk button he went on "As you've agreed to help anyway, welcome aboard. We'll stroll down to the Federal Building and extend this invitation to your potential team-mates. By the way, how do you feel about Russia?" he asked casually, agent Anthea adding mildly "Also, do you have any reservations about going underwater?"