Nov 29 09:04:03 108 PA - A Plan is Discussed and Finalized

From Chronicles

Nov 29 09:04:03 108 PA.

UNCOMMON MECHANICS

Midnight, the witching hour, when people sneak off to plan on how to combat evil things. It's winter, definitely, and outside of the metal walls of Uncommon Mechanics, hail is pelting down as if being shot out of a hose. So much so that it's a loud ambient noise in the background, even indoors. With Tek's assistance, Gabriel has arranged a long table with six chairs for everyone involved to use. He's standing, looking over the surface, where a few street maps, simple photographs and hand-drawn diagrams are laying. One of the rare times since he's arrived that he truly looks as if he's in his element.

Jaxain arrives a few moments later, still in his new armor, and takes off his helmet upon entering the shop. "Whew, great weather out there." He comments to nobody in particular. Making his way over to the table, he nods and looks at the maps and pictures, but doesn't yet take a seat.

Tek takes a seat at the side of the table after pulling up the last chair looking around at those gathered.

The door sways open, a blast of frigid air sweeping into the room. Hail skitters across the floor, little white balls bouncing about before being crushed under spurred boots. Sebastien steps inside, his eyes narrowing, a fanciful-looking crossbow in his arms and an overgrown pistol on his leg. It has two barrels, and is almost two feet long. The clink, clink, clink of spurs on concrete echo through the garage as Sebastien makes his way across the room.

It ain't great. 'N Bella says so. Flyin ice ain't her favorite thing. Ain't good fer the umbrella neither. But she's still holdin it. "Fackin weather." It gets tossed down when she comes in. After Mr. Clinky Feet.

Before anyone can ask of her or imply waiting for her Valeriya coalesces leaning against the wall behind the remaining empty chair. Mostly anyway, her armor's plates hold much of the walls color pattern in the absence of any actual movement. She is present, for what it's worth, but if someone isn’t paying attention they probably don’t notice.

Gabriel nods and acknowledges everyone verbally as they get settled. But not for long. Removing his drawl so that everything is clear, "Thanks for coming, hopefully this will be it. I'll ask that you don't interrupt me until I lay out my plan. Then you can shred it as much as is necessary. The key point? Destroy the blood trade, et cetera, at the Ivory Lady, and do it by destroying Donna." He uses a small pen as a pointer, to indicate each person in turn. "Bella, you will be light intelligence and decoy. Tek, masking security for a few seconds. Sebastien, heavy invader keeping an eye out for vampiric security. Myself, I'll try to pull double duty with vampires and any normal guards they may have. Valeriya -" his pen lands in her direction "- is a wild card, and will go where needed." He stops there. Obviously not done with a plan, but just long enough to take a breath and allow other people to hear what he's said.

Jaxain nods, doing as asked and not interrupting. He looks around at the others gathered, then returns his gaze to the older man.

Tek stays quiet and listens nodding when he is indicated.

Sebastien's eyes narrow on Valeriya, his head tilting to the right. "Wait," he butts in. So much for the plan! He idly draws back the string on that crossbow, a dozen pulleys exchanging enough rigging for a small oceanic vessel, locking it into place with one finger before using that finger to sway between Tek and Valeriya. "Gabriel, who are these people? What you're discussing is worth a lot of money in the wrong hands. And our lives. I don't know them."

"S'ok. Seb." Bella smirks. Prods him. "Pick a chair. Sit down. Don't talk. I know 'em. They know 'em." Cause if they don't know themselves them blabbin ain't what they gotta worry over. She waits fer him ta sit. So she can. On him.

For those that know her Valeriya's smirk behind the helmet is probably expected as she nods slightly, subtly disturbing her blending. For those that don’t they can just wonder at Gabriel's chosen description. Sebastien is apparently one of the latter but she remains silent to let Gabriel handle things and finish his presentation.

Gabriel smiles appreciatively at Bella's explanation, and allows introductions to fall at that for now, only addressing, "Money is immaterial right now unless you care about it." His eyes roam over, but as things are then quiet, he continues. "Valeriya has provided us with a bit of a containment system. That should keep Donna and any others from escaping. Jaxain, you are the crux of this whole operations. ALL of us... our mission is to keep him alive and fighting." Again, a moment to let it sink in before continuing. "Briefly. At night, Bella enters and draws Donna into the open within the club. Jaxain enters, invisible to everything and gets up close to Donna. Tek takes down their security. The containment system is activated. Sebastian, Valeriya and myself enter, at which point Jaxain springs and assassinates Donna. Bella stays in the area to give her something more to fight with. The rest of us kill what we need to to make sure that Donna goes down and stays down. That is the very brief version, and I believe the simplest version." He then stands back and opens his arms wide. "Let the shredding begin. Poke as many holes as you can, because that's what makes for a successful plan."

Jaxain doesn't poke any holes, and simply nods to himself as he mentally reviews the details. He looks at the others, then back to Gabriel. "I like it. Simple, but effective. Donna is the master vampire, as far as we know, correct?"

Tek nods as Gabriel is talking listening to all that is being said, "Will I have a moment or two in the building before I have to take down the security and will there be a signal for when I am to actually drop it. I can turn the lights off if that would help?"

"Not so simple," Sebastien says softly. "Casualties. The room will be full of civilians. People who have come for a lap dance. You have seen the club in action. You will take a hundred innocent lives, whether you succeed or not in your goal. Crowd control; not only will there be civilians, I think you may underestimate the power of their response. You have heard that there is a master with a dozen others, non? Assume four or five human servants at the least. Then there may be other hangers-on, zombie slaves, and hired muscle. So know that inside this room, we may face as many as thirty to fifty combatants plus a hundred noncombatants. Not all will be armored, but some who are not armored will only be vulnerable to silver and wood. Through mundane or magic means, some who are vulnerable to silver will also have protection against these. You need a mixture of weapons on our part, which reduces our combat effectiveness by quite a bit. A direct confrontation is very, very hard." Sebastien also finds a chair to sit on! Though he manages to speak.

Bella plops her butt down on Seb. Least she ain't the one wearin spurs. Lucky him. "Yeah." She nods. "On alla that. If people're sayin she is maybe she is. But he's gotta point." She reaches up to pat Sebastien. "When're we plannin ta go in? Lotsa people's gonna make it harder."

"It's not a confrontation. It's a distraction." Valeriya corrects, glancing at Sebastien and then Gabriel. "For that reason the fighting force needs to go in before Jax, give the security and patrons an obvious force to fight against. Then Jax goes in among the chaos and hits Donna when she's not expecting it. This is doubly important to do in this order because Jax will not be invisible to 'everything'. If Donna has any intellect at least one member of her security can see the invisible."

Gabriel maintains cool professionalism. "We believe that Donna is a master, yes, Jaxain. It would be best if you stayed outside the building, if possible, Tek. No flashing lights." His eyes turn toward Sebastien. "I'm aware of civilian casualties. Most of the people inside know that they're giving their business to an establishment run by the undead. They've made their choice. Minimize if possible, but they aren't the problem. The issue is much larger than a few dozen, or even a hundred souls." He may sound a little cold, but continues. "When Donna goes down, many of these lessers may come apart without her influence. So the faster it happens, the fewer casualties we'll face. As far as weapons, this is why I suggested specialization. You're far better with the undead, Sebastien. I have plenty to use against normal folk - even non-lethal. Each of us has one job. We do it, we succeed." He looks to Bella then. "There's no one in the club between six and nine in the evening. We set up before nine, then you go in soon after to find Donna. As soon as she's in the open, we hit them. Minimizes casualties as much as possible." He listens with a careful ear as Valeriya speaks. "Yes, it is a distraction and a defense, not a confrontation. There wouldn't be an issue to swap order. Tek would still take down security to allow us to get inside further without setting off weapons alarms upon entry. There is one particularly woman that I'll be looking for on the inside who I *will* try to take down non-lethally."

Jaxain nods along with Sebastien's points as well, finding them valid. "Ok, so there should be very few people inside at that time anyway." He says, tying in what he just heard. "I want to make sure I know who I am seeking out, does anyone have a picture of her, or know her well enough I can see the image in their mind?"

Tek nods when Gabe gives him his answer but stays quiet as he does not have any questions.

"No," Sebastien replies, a touch more loudly. "Gabriel, I'm shocked by you. Listen to yourself. Where does the tipping point lie? How many civilians is she worth? How much blood on your hands until it's too much? Go in before they open. Go in hard and without restraint. Go in with a clear conscience."

Bella nudges Seb witha elbow. Hard. "Ain'ta bad plan. Can't go in way early. Cause she won't be there. Sounds early 'nuff I'm gonna have ta get inna back room. Talk 'er out 'r somethin. She comes out later mostly. When things start slowin down. S'what I seen anyways." She shrugs. "Prolly so she can get breakfast first."

"We should go in at nine if not earlier." Valeriya agrees and stills as she seems appeased with the amendments so far.

Gabriel looks around, hoping that someone else will have a good picture of Donna in their mind for Jaxain to view. He looks hopefully at Bella, then continues with Sebastien. His words are as hard as the other man's. "We don't know what time the vampires get there to actually run the place, and unless Donna is the stupidest master vampire in the world, she isn't going to be sleeping inside on a nice, king-sized soil mattress in a back room. We will go in as soon as Bella gives us the signal that Donna is in the open. No sooner, no later. There is no other reasonable option on that. This can't be timed against a watch. It has to be timed against an event." Valeriya gets a look on that point as well. "As soon as we can. But not sooner."

Sebastien reaches aside, passing his crossbow towards Jaxain. Tucked underneath are a few crossbow bolts. "Hold on to that for me?" he asks, without taking his eyes off of Gabriel. He then wraps his arms around Bella. Probably to stop with the rib-poking. "I never knew you were such a jarhead. I thought, maybe, you knew something of special operations. Subterfuge. You can entice her to be there. From where is she getting this psi-cola? Interfere with her deliveries, force her to meet with her supplier or yourself as a new alternative. Or have little Bella make someone start a fight, the kind that demands her attention. Or any number of things. She is an administrator. She cannot *not* show up for some things. Gabriel, think for a moment about the families you will ruin. Think of the vendettas you will start. If you do this, you are not solving the problem. You are trading one war for another. Help me stop the war. Do it right."

"Then sit't out if ya don' like it Seb." Bella eyes him. Maybe cause she's gettin wrapped up. Or cause he can be a big asshole sometimes. "Could just wait 'er out too? Maybe inna coupla hundred years somebody else gets 'er? Then we don' gotta do nothin. Don't mean ya oughtta be holdin yer breathe 'n waitin. Pokin round like that'd take ferever." She looks round. "Ain't all perfect ta ev'rybody. Still sounds like'a best plannin I heard."

"Unless someone's throwing hand grenades like candy there shouldn’t be much in the way of casualties. Keep a defensive stance, don’t panic." Valeriya advises without moving, her armor re-concealing her head and shoulders from the debate.

Gabriel smiles and mouths a silent, 'thank you' to Bella. But he does speak respectfully. "Sebastien, I've already considered a blockade, and it wouldn't work for a variety of reasons. People still want their psi-cola and everything else. They'll want to push us. The Family wants their cut, they'll push us. We aren't large enough to stand against that." Gabriel waggles his pen. "This is a special operation, Sebastien, even if you don't see it as such. Jaxain gets close and takes over the assassination. The rest of us know what our targets are. Close-quarters combat. Unless we miss, casualties should be minimal. We're talking about a master vampire. I can't imagine that she could be 'lured out' anywhere that we could have a better chance of killing her. Here we have her trapped indoors, unable to escape. You want to minimize casualties? Make sure she dies quickly, so that her psychic hold over the others falls apart and her blood-for-rewards business ends." He looks on and says, "I honestly don't see how having Bella start a fight would be any different than what we're already looking at. However it starts, Jaxain needs to be able to get close enough to hurt her, and when she starts to get hurt, she's going to call for security - and when she calls for security, we need to be there to keep Jax from getting killed. However, if you have a more detailed plan than currently not actually having a plan, by all means speak. I'd be more than happy to consider options." He looks to Valeriya with a smile - something unusual - "We aren't even throwing in stun grenades. Panic should be minimal, casualties should be minimal. Move quickly, it ends quickly."

Jaxain inspects the giant crossbow, interested in the design, and leaves most of the discussion to greater minds than his. He does add one thing though, "Blowing up the building would be overkill. As it stands, a targeted attack like this might not be perfect, but it will leave out innocents and children from the equation. That's more important than anything else. Anywhere else we might be lucky enough to do battle, can we guarantee that? I think not."

Sebastien leans forward, pressing Bella forward with him. "I'm not saying 'draw her into the open,' I'm saying, 'draw her into her lair outside business hours.' But if you must go in while open, why not use stun grenades? Flash-bangs, blinders, tear gas? Incapacitate our enemies and the civilians, try and get as many on the ground as possible. It would keep us more alive and help bring down the casualties -- the less we shoot at security in the crowd, the less other people in the crowd we hit."

"Ok. That's 'nuffa that." Grabbin ain't so bad. Gettin pushed round ain't Bella's thing. So she plants her feet. Stands up quick. Don't care if there's a monkey on 'er back 'r not. If he's sorta standin atta end 'r on his ass. "Ya don' wanna shoot people 'n don't." That's prolly fer Seb. Then she asks way better questions. At Jax. "If nobody can see ya how'm I gonna know when yer there? Where yer at? Ain' thinkin yer gonna get Donna in one shot. Means I gotta do somethin. Ain' gonna help if I rip yer head off cause it was inna way."

"I'll bring a clip of tear gas. Anything else would impair us just as much as them though." Valeriya concedes with a camouflage disrupting shrug. The disillusion spreads as she turns to look at Bella and then Jax. "Isn’t he going to stake her? That would be one hit."

Gabriel addresses Bella's rather vocal question first, by addressing Jaxain. "Any chance that you could do that little armor-touchy thing to her that you can do to me, Jax? Might help out with that problem? He moves on and nods to Sebasitien, happy to discuss rational tactics. It's also directed toward Valeriya. "Sebastien, I understand what you're saying. But I can't imagine that she would be that dumb. I just can't. As for stun grenades, I considered that. However, stun grenades would have the effect of stunning and *startling* everyone inside. Smoke, noise, flashes.. people will panic, blindly run for the door, and so on. It'll just make a mess for us to deal with. Without stun grenades, people are going to be frightened when we run in, but they'll be far more likely to dive for cover or at least attempt to find a corner to hide in and stay out of the way - of both us and any security."

Jaxain nods to Bella, then turns to Valeriya. "I could stake her, or I could just cut her in half with silver weapons." He shrugs, as if either is easy to do. "And I can keep in touch with you guys with telepathy, let you know where I am and receive a signal or send one."

Sebastien shakes his head. "And people firing weapons will not do this? People will panic, Gabriel. And about Donna -- you will need more firepower on her. She will not have survived so long without having some means of personal protection. This may be a force field built into the bar and ready for activation, it may be light armor sewn into her clothing, it may be a magic talisman to create an Armor of Ithan shield. Count on needing to hit with a significant conventional strike before following up with one that will actually harm her. As I recall, the front gate has two cyborgs. Perhaps early in the shift there will only be one. I can, maybe, take them. But I will be in a pitched battle for at least several minutes to do so."

Bella smirks at Seb. "So? Sounds like ya know what ya gotta do. So do't. Quit yer bitchin. This how ya fight ev'rythin?" She smirks more. "What kinda vampires ya hunt anyways? Ones't just bend over so ya can shove stake up their ass?" She nods at Jax. 'N ev'rybody else really. Looks like all of 'em gotta bigger pair 'n Seb.

"Lend me a good sword and I will make short work of any borg they can muster. Cut its head clean off. Guess that will put me at the front door, blocking that route of escape." Valeriya offers with a direct shift of her helmet towards Sebastien.

Gabriel can't help but smirk at Bella's words, despite his best efforts. "Sebastien, this is why I intended to send Jaxain in after Bella, before the rest of us. No one will be on the lookout for an invisible person until an invisible person strikes - at which point Donna might already have a stake through her heart, or be reeling enough that Jax and Bella can still finish her off. Then we barge in. If you can handle any undead security, Sebastien, I can do my best with split-duty. And apparently Valeriya, as well." Gabriel shrugs, admitting, "Perhaps Tek would be able to help deal with the cyborgs. I don't know how his abilities work there. However." He stops in a firmer tone. "I believe that at this point, we're largely rehashing what has already been said. Complaints voiced, and answered by the group. Donna needs to be hit, and quickly. Then the rest of us are there to support Jaxain in any way that we can to finish it off. It would seem as if our reel of searching for holes in the plan has become a mobius. *Nothing* will be perfect, for any of us. We'll have to adjust on the fly. But unless there are any major issues? I think we'd all just be better served prepping our gear." He adds, "Remember that we all have items to share, don't be stingy. Speaking of which - Valeriya, if you could please speak to Bart about his portion of the containment system? I'd appreciate that. You know him better than I." Across to Bella, "I'm not going to tell you you'll be out of harm's way, but we'll figure out something." He finishes his briefing by crossing his wrists at his waist and waiting for any further objections.

Sebastien shakes his head, still holding on to Bella. Is he tall enough? Maybe, but his feet dangle a touch. After a moment he lets her go. "Bella, go fuck yourself. Gabriel, I'm not just throwing a fit. I'm telling you; there will be heavy resistance at the door. I will confront it, but it will take time. These cyborgs see heat. They will thus see most invisible objects. They will be interested in seeing who coming in is already an undead and who is a fresh, live customer. Jaxain, can you be seen by thermal vision?"

Jaxain shakes his head at Sebastien with a nod to both Gabriel and Val, "I will be invisible to both normal vision, and any kind of thermal systems, when I enter. A dragon hatchling or an overly paranoid mystic is about the only concern."

Smirkin goes 'way quick. Gets pointy teeth showin instead. Bella's eyes scrunch up too. 'N go yellow 'n shiny. Seb gets ta see 'em when she spins 'round. Brings a knee up. Could tell 'im ta go fack hisself back. But maybe he won't be able ta do that when she gets done. "Shuddup!"

"The latter is more likely. And should be entertained before sending Jax in." Valeriya replies and repeats to Jax with a shrug. But it looks like everyone has said their peace at least once and its on to more physical action for some of us. So I'll take my leave until the fated night." With that and a dark uninterpretable phrase Valeriya fades out of the scene.

Gabriel listens to Jaxain defend his own abilities, though noting with interest at both his words and Valeriya's, "I'll be on the lookout for an overly paranoid mystic who might be in the area. Might even know which one specifically." Then to Sebastien, "Valeriya seems confident that she can take care of the cyborgs, which would leave you to do your thing with the undead security, if there is any. I know that you're not just throwing a fit, I really do, okay? But also keep in mind that if Tek can take out any local weapon sensors, then we might get a strange eye, but ought to be able to get in without too much trouble of getting stopped. If things really go to hell, I can try popping a few Blinders. We have Bella incognito, Jaxain invisible, me likely looking non threatening, and you and Valeriya. I think that getting inside will be the least of our problems. Kill Donna first, then worry about everything else." He watches Bella aim for the cyber-knight's groin, and his face crinkles. Who knows what he's thinking at this point about hiring amateurs to do an agent's job.

Sebastien jumps back three paces, spurs clinking and chair flattening and clattering across the floor. His hands go up, big black gloves splayed wide as if to ward her off, though he makes no move to fight back. "Easy there, tiger!" he says with a laugh. "Someone might get hurt!"

Bella must been givin Seb way to much credit. Aimin way low. 'R maybe she slipped. Winds up on 'er butt anyways. Growlin. "Ain't gonna be me. Get. The. Fack. Out." She glares up at him. Points fer the door.

Jaxain blinks at the interplay between Bella and Sebstien, not able to completely hide a grin at their antics, though it fades quickly. "Ohhhh kay.." He says, not wanting to get involved at the moment. "Uhhh, so do we have a plan guys?" He looks at Bella, "Bella," Then at Sebastien, "Sebastien? Everyone in agreement?"

Gabriel is just shaking his head at this point, probably wanting to mumble under his breath, but he isn't. No, instead he's just folding up some papers into the small briefcase that he'd brought along. He waves at the table. "We have a plan that will be followed. Here are some photos of the exterior to study. A local street map, if you can call them that. A fairly good diagram of what we expect the interior to be built as, including behind the scenes to some extent. Set your communicators to 93.5, identify yourself as 'Kong' before each radio call so we know if it's casual or official." His case snaps shut, and his eyes are hard as he stands to head for the door, looking at all three who remain. "Pull yourselves together. Not a single goddamn thing here to be laughed about. Not even if we succeed." Then he's heading out, soon to be into the hailstorm.

Sebastien doesn't reply. Not to Jaxain, not to Gabriel, not to Bella. He turns and leaves, jogging a few steps while reaching to hold on his hat before slowing again, and pressing into the weather.

"I'm good. Onna plan." Bella's still growly gettin back up. "Don't count on him bein there though." She's still watchin Seb go. "Maybe will. Maybe won't."

Jaxain looks down at the crossbow in his hand, then looks at Bella with a frown on his face, as though he is thinking unhappy thoughts. Then he just shrugs.

On his way out the door, Gabriel growls out without looking back, "If Sebastien's going to show up with a negative attitude, questioning orders and bitching more about minimizing civilian casualties than defeating the evil that could kill thousands, I might actually wish that he stays home and masturbates in the mirror, which is clearly what he does best." He opens the door, and due to the hail - though not the temperature - pulls up the fur hood of his parka. Finally, he turns back to look at the remaining 'soldiers.' "I'll see you both before it happens. If you hear anything new, call me as soon as it's safe." Then his eyes glance back outdoors. "Stay safe in the dark tonight." A few final steps take him out the door, which swings shut behind him, it's little bell going, *tingy-ling!*

Jaxain rushes out into the rain after putting his helmet back on, eventually catching up with Sebastien and giving him back his Crossbow.