>>3070994
You fidget with your crossbow as you step into the banquet hall. You aren't sure what David is thinking, exactly, in sending you out alone to disable the power. Maybe he believes that the bulk of the team will be needed to protect the hostages and prevent the other three from escaping? Seems sensible, but you have no real combat ability; ignoring the fact that Joan can dead-lift the weight of a passenger bus when she pushes herself to her effective limit, Harry seems like the canny type; in theory, you should be able to fight blind, but you haven't put that into practice against even a semi-serious opponent yet.
Spiraling, Keane. You're spiraling. Deep even breaths. You check your positioning; Joan is 62m away diagonally, still on the fourth floor. Elevated heart rate and body temperature; she's using her Quirk, but to a very mild degree. Harry is 21m away and shrinking; referencing your map of the building, he's going down the near stairwell, closing on your position.
You look at your surroundings and are instantly filled with unease. The villains clearly went through here and smashed everything that could be used as cover; tables lie splintered, pots are shattered, and sofas, bifurcated. You were lucky they didn't pulverize the kitchen island. The thin sheen of Reggie's grease shimmers in patches on the floor; your footing can't be trusted. You could possibly still lay an ambush for Harry, either by hiding in the debris or behind the door to the stairwell; it swings towards the lobby. The manager's office, and the lockdown controls, are 25m away.

>Plan your first move

>>3071032
https://twitter.com/Ameracademia
We're also now on Twitter! Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving!

>>3071032
Lie in wait for Harry. Cover up in debris for camo, he'd probably expect us to use easier cover. If it's at all possible, could we use Reggie's grease against Harry? Sure, he could spot it rather easily, but in doing so we could funnel him down a specific path to avoid the grease, or he'd have poor footing if he attempts to cross the grease regardless. After making the above prep work (as quick as we can), wait to attack until the most opportune moment. Keep monitoring them in the meantime. Of course, if Joan heads our way, all bets are off.

>>3071032
(Quietly) Radio in a request to your team for them to make some kind of loud noise, if they can. A distraction, especially one far away from your position, will help to keep Harry from spotting us wherever we choose to hide. Those three don't necessarily need your help anyways - as long as you keep them informed on positions (when it's safe to do so, of course) then they should be as fine as if you were right there beside them. When it seems clear to, move on - only engage Harry if he actually, 100% undeniably spots us.

As for a battleplan if (and only if) he DOES spot us, use that crossbow to nail him in the leg. That'll give us ample opportunity to do the next phase of the battleplan: FUCKING BOOK IT TO THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND INITIATE LOCKDOWN.

>>3071191
Support. And aim for one of his knees to trigger a relfex.

>>3071049
Touching the grease is a bad idea. If we use our hands or feet, we'll have either slippery hands (bad for crossbow) or slippery feet (bad for moving).

>>3071191
>>3071608
You speak as softly as you can into the mic. "Harry's coming down the stairs. Have maybe 15 seconds until he arrives at his current rate. Make some noise in the kitchen; I need, uh, a distraction."
David's flat voice crackles in your ear. "Got it." You start sweeping for a hiding place.

Roll 1d100: 60 or under passes. Need two out of three.

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>3072383

>>3072388
So close.

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>3072383

>>3072397
You pick out a likely pile of debris opposite from the banquet hall entrance; it looks like an ideal point of shelter. You carefully move between the patches of grease and around the pile. You feel your foot catch on something-
SPLAT
The grenade goes off, spraying Reggie's grease everywhere. Your feet struggle slightly as they find themselves coated with the slick oily secretion. Harry is RIGHT on the other side of the door now, and you're certain that if you try to duck behind the debris now, you aren't getting back up-not with this grease all over your feet. Your hands feel cold and your head feels hot. Spots dance in front of your eyes. You shake your head, crushing down the rising tide of nausea and terror.

>Plan your next move

>>3072424
Roll onto our back and point the crossbow at the door. Aim at his lower abdomen (below belly button, above crotch). If that's not available, go for forehead or kneecaps. Then beat him up with the unloaded crossbow. Remove his communicator once he's disabled and cuffed.

>>3072437
+1

>>3072397
The one game that isnt higher=better
Damn it

>>3072437
>>3072464
As Harry opens the door, you fall onto your back and take aim at his guts; you'll only have one shot before he tries to blind you.

Roll. 70 or under passes, need two out of three.

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>3072859

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>3072859
get some

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>3072859

>>3072919
>>3072935
yeeeesssss

>>3072935
>>3072919
Your blunt bolt slams into Harry's gut, and he collapses into himself with a yelp of surprise and pain. You shove your feet into a pile of crumpled plywood to try and dry them, then get up and pull a set of cuffs from your belt. As Harry hisses through his teeth, you cuff him and pull his commset out of his ear.
"Are you alright, Harry?"
He nods. "Yeah, just-got hit there last round too. Still tender."
You mutter into your set. "Got Harry. Send someone to take him back. Watch out-they've got more of those grease grenades everywhere. Makes things slippery."
You head into the EMPLOYEE'S ONLY section and open the door to the manager's office. The computer that controls the system lockdown is behind the desk, next to the safe- and has been smashed to pieces. You smoothly transition to heading towards the basement stairs- when you feel the building shake slightly, and hear a thunderous crash out in the lobby.
>Plan your next move

>>3073414
Ask cru if plan is to proceed as normal.
Shut off the power if yes.

>>3073414
Verify with your quirk what’s going on

Then
>>3073463
This

>>3073533
supporting

>>3073533
Supporting

>>3073533
supporting

>>3073533
>>3073717
>>3073831
>>3074349
You check on Joan's position; 10 meters to your left- and suddenly moving 13 meters back in a single burst of motion that shakes the building again.
"Should I proceed as before, David?" you ask-

>In the kitchen
-"Should I proceed as before, David?" Keane's trying to sound calm and professional, but you can hear him trembling. You don't blame him- you are too, on the inside. Joan-Knockout- is standing five meters away from you, her veins building, her entire body scarlet, her eyes bloodshot and staring, steam rising from her core as her sweat flash-boils off her body. The shattered remnants of the wall that separated the front of the kitchen from the lobby swirl in the air.
When Joan speaks, it isn't the upbeat middling tone you're used to- it's a feral growl spat between clenched teeth and purple gums.
"Run. Now."

>Plan your next move

>>3074676
Oh boy. We're both weaker and slower than she is. Our only chance, as far as I can see, is to delay and tire her out. We trained our reflexes and speed for this. Let's put it to use and outmaneuver her. Have Overwatch chime in from time to time to give us her general status in regards to her stamina. We know she can't keep this up for long.

>>3074676
Hold up our hands and calmly, slowly say "Okay". Make sure her attention is on the group, saying things like "We don't want anyone to get hurt, and we know we can't take you in a fight, so we're going to retreat from here now. Our goal was just to secure the hostages, you understand." etc etc while backing up towards the exit as nonthreateningly as possible, no sudden moves and such.
Lapse will be the first one to leave through the exit, triggering her quirk's ability to make Knockout forget the recent events. Repeat this as much as necessary, so that Knockouts uses her quirk in its current state for too long and gets, ironically, knocked out by herself.

IF SHE DOESN'T FALL FOR THIS, or if she breaks out of the loop at some point, then the battleplan involves Lustrous going maximum durability and focusing on defending the admittedly frail group from her. Nemesis keeps line of sight on Knockout to use her quirk to maximum effect on her. We (newton) assist Lustrous by trying to target weakpoints on Knockout or by throwing environmental hazards in her projected path (such as more kitchen oil where we believe she'll be stepping).

If the entire group is knocked out, Keane is to...I don't know, do what he believes in-character is best. Personally, I think he might turn off the power if his quirk tells him that everyone's gone down.

I don't think we should directly issue a reply to Keane, since we're in a bit of a hard situation right now. Keane is likely to understand.

>>3074700
Oh - also worth noting that Lapse should attempt to use her quirk whenever Knockout blinks. It counts as breaking the line of sight, after all, which should be enough to wipe her memory. I don't know if Knockout will blink before we do the full "walk out the door" thing or not, but hey, if she can get an early loop going, that's all the better in my opinion. Lapse should be taking every chance she can get to wipe knockout's memory.

>>3074676
Are the hostages out of the way? Has thier escort returned yet or not? Is she on or near oil? Is the rest of our team on or near oil? Where are they compared to us and Joan?

>>3074676
Flirt with her, put her off balance. Then charge her. She won't be expecting either of those things.

>>3074897
This so stupid that it might just work. Or it could backfire horribly.

>>3075108
Super strength snusnu, truly she is the most scarousing of all the girls.

>>3074676
you know what, let's try this >>3074897

Are you guys SURE you don't want to abuse the memory-loss quirk? I mean...Joan can only maintain that form for so long, so we can sap her stamina very easily by trapping her in the loop.

>>3075142
We could both flirt with her, AND use the memory loss quirk. Embarrass her, and after a bit erase her memory, then flirt with her again! She'll probably be too surprised to realize what we are doing in a timely manner. Best part is we get to see her embarrassed reaction multiple times!

Of course, we should have Lapse erase her memory one last time after she weakens. To make her forget about this embarrassing moment, not to hide the fact that we confessed our love to her. Yep, definitely for that reason.

>>3075158
Shit, I'm all for tactical flirting with best girl.

>>3075158
Support. Since we get memory loop do-overs, each time we flirt will be more effective since we know what buttons to push.

>>3075158
supporting

>>3075158
>>3075191
>>3075256
>>3075523
You nudge Lapse slightly with a foot and open up with the charm.

Roll. 35 or under passes. Need one out of three.

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>3075552

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>3075552

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>3075552
Rolling just to get to three but >>3075565
nice

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>3075552

>>3075565
"Did you come all this way just to see me? Because I'm glad you did."
Joan blinks and the snarl thaws slightly.
"There's been something I've been meaning to tell you, Joan-"
Lustrous looks at you incredulously. "Is this REALLY the time?"
"Of course it is! Joan, well-"
Joan's skin has faded from Soviet Red to Flamingo, and her eyes have lost their bloodshot steam.
"-ever since we first met, I've had... feelings for you. Strong feelings. We don't know each other that well yet, but when training lets up- we should spend more time together."
Joan takes a step back, her brow furrowed. You see her break eye contact for a moment. You hadn't factored in her losing focus bringing her power down; she'll realize what happened and act quickly. You have one shot at this...
"NOW!"
You throw a baton at her ankle with all your might.

Roll. 70 or under hits, best out of three.

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>3076042

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>3076042

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>3076042
So sorry, Jo
Don't think less of us for the emotional manipulation

>>3076042
Let's be sure to take her out to dinner and apologize profusely after this because we've fooled around with a maiden's heart and this maiden is basically an Amazonian so she could crush us between those thighs.

>>3076079
>crush us between those thighs.
This is bad why?

>>3076102
We don't get to appreciate anything else if we die Anon!

>>3076066
I was seriously hoping Joanna would make her forget about that. Hope it's still possible, otherwise things might get very awkward.

File: snuz.jpg (43 KB, 417x413)

43 KB JPG

>>3076102
Because of instead of the good crushing, it'll be bad crushing, good crushing is where we walk away alive from it albeit with a potentially fractured pelvis.

>>3076047
*THWACK*
Down Joan goes, and Lapse has the cuffs on her almost before she falls. A siren sounds from somewhere else in the training grounds.

"Well done, Heroes. Please retire to the first-aid tent."

Your team gets a clean bill of health, and after some towels to clean off Reggie's grease, you're now back in one of the buildings, waiting for teams 1 and 3 to complete their training exercise.
You can feel an awkward air of tension within your group. Everyone keeps looking at you out of the corner of their eyes.
Eventually, Joanna breaks the silence.
"So... did you mean what you said? Like, back there, about your feelings and stuff."

>Of course; I love Joan
>It was a tactical ploy, nothing more
>I don't know
>Remain silent

>>3076267
oy vey, goyim here we go, the lock in question.

>>3076267
I'm kinda not sure about this sort of route, I kinda want to but at the same time I feel like we'd be spilling spaghetti, personally I'm okay with
>I don't know
But I wouldn't mind a
>Of course; I love Joan

>>3076267
Love is a bit strong a word, I think it might be a bit soon to call it love.
>I was panicking, and I did the first thing that came to mind. I may have over exaggerated a bit, but I really would like to get to know her better. As a friend, at the least. Wouldn't be against the idea of it becoming something more.

>>3076267
>Of course; I love Joan

>>3076299
I'll change mine to this, I think this is the most non-commital but at the same time keeping the lane open.

>>3076299
supporting

>>3076267
>Let's change the subject. How do you think our overall performance was that time? Where could we have improved?
I'm proud of Keane, man. Took out a dude solo, even if it wasn't the toughest dude. See, Keane's quirk is great for teamwork, but it's equally good for allowing him to go solo and utilize stealth when necessary. He ought to go into that niche, in my opinion - he'd be a pretty effective hero.
Although...now that I think about it, a hero with a quirk more DIRECTLY suited to going unseen/unheard might do better, if Keane can relay information to them. Hmm...I'm sure he's actually thought about this a lot more than we have.

>>3076267
Supporting this >>3076299 and >>3076316

>>3076316
also this

>>3076299
>>3076316
Supporting. Let's not drop all of our spaghetti just yet.

>>3076299
>>3076311
>>3076316
>>3076393
>>3076631
>>3076309
"Well, I was panicking and I kind of did the first thing that came to my mind. I mean, I'd really like to get to know her better-as a friend! As a friend, but, y'know, if it was more than that-"
Rebecca's low, muted voice rings out in a sing-song tone. "David's got a girlfriend, David's got a girlfriend~"
"Real mature, Rebecca."
Joanna's eyes slide down to her feet. "Oh. Okay."
You cough. "Well... how do you think we did that time? Places we can improve? I personally felt that Keane did really well working on his own, even if he didn't exactly go up against a real heavy hitter."
Keane shakes his head. "It was nothing; I'm just concerned about our final round now. Joan's team was fairly disorganized; we weren't really tested by them."
Rebecca nods, causing her half-mask to clack against her chest. "Other than Joan, everyone else just folded immediately."

>Talk about something to a member of your team
>Advance to the next round

>>3076861
>Talk about something to a member of your team
Keane needs a good confidence boost.

>>3076920
This. And try to cheer up our best good friend Becca. We didn't mean to snap at her like that. Maybe discuss the possibility of splitting up into specific teams in preparation for our last match.

>>3076861
>Advance to the next round

>>3076936
Fucking hell I mixed up Joanna with Rebecca. Regardless, I think we should start planning for our matchup against Oakley's team

OP, one thing that's sort of been niggling the back of my mind. We're in the region of the US that has the most Native American presence, but haven't seen hide or hair of one yet. Possibility of seeing some among the staff or upper years?

>>3076968
Go back to the reservation, squanto

>>3076920
>>3076936
Support.

We should also go apologize/explain to Joan.

>>3076968
Albert Kennedy, the proctor, is half Eastern Band Cherokee I based the character slightly off of a Cherokee friend of mine, and the principal, Robert Standing-Alone Fallon, is Apache.

>>3076974
Rude.

>>3076920
>>3076936
>>3076943
>>3077006
"We don't have to worry about that, Keane. If we work together, with our skills we can deal with anything."
Keane shakes his head. "No, we do have to worry. We should take these training exercises as seriously as a real-life situation, and in the final math we'll be facing down a group of villains who already know how we fight AND who have fought us once before." He grabs the bridge of his nose and exhales slowly. "One thing at a time, though. We have our next match against Oakley to think about."
"That's true."
As the rest of your group starts discussing the next match, you get up and walk over to Joanna.
"Look... if I was a bit... aggressive in answering you, it was just that-"
Joanna shakes her head. "It's not-" She stops, takes a deep breath, and smiles at you. "Let's just try hard in the next match, okay?"

ROUND THREE: Team 1 (Heroes) vs. Team 2 (Villains)
Henrietta shoots a finger gun at you as your teams come out from the rest area. "Good luck, David. Give me a challenge, okay? Joan's team were total pushovers."
>I'll try
>Same to you
>They tried their best
>Don't respond

>>3077132
Don’t make a check you’re team can’t cash Henrietta.

>>3077132
>Same to you

>>3077132
>Same to you
"You're pretty good."

>>3077132
>Same to you

>>3077132
>>Same to you

>>3077132
>They tried their best
Don't talk shit about my waifu

File: Revolver+Ocelot+image.jpg (106 KB, 1500x844)

106 KB JPG

>Same to you

>>3077163
Do they still make new metal gears in the future?

>>3077132
>https://twitter.com/Ameracademia
open your twitter dms i want to ask you a question

>>3077384
Done.

>>3077160
>>3077163
>>3077187
>>3077194
>>3077289
"Back at you."
"Got it."

You kick open the hotel's front doors and storm in again. The drones once again throw their hands into the air and kneel down. You sweep through the lobby and grab the concierge.
"HOW DO YOU OPEN THE SAFE?!"
"T-the-safe-is-secured-by-three-key-cards."
"And where are they?"
"I-don't-know!"

>Threaten him
>Threaten a guest
>"kill" him

>>3077486
>>Threaten a guest

>>3077486
Threaten a guest, it worked well last time. Knowing that you may spend the rest of your life knowing it's your fault someone died is certainly scary.

>>3077486
Time is of the essence here. Before we only needed 1 card (I think?) so we need to secure all 3 cards ASAP. If someone doesn't know where the card is or refuses to tell, I say we off them. That will scare the other guests and employees enough to cooperate quickly.

So since the guests won't know where the cards are I say we:

>"kill" a random guest

>>3077486
>Threaten a guest
shot to knee cap if the threat dont work

>>3077486
Supporting >>3077731

>>3077499
>>3077500
>>3077731
>>3077773
You grab the nearest "guest" drone and position your largest throwing knife above its knee.
"Tell me where the key-cards are or this bastard's never going to walk again."
"I-I-said-I-don't-know!"
CRUNCH
"Ow-ow-ow-oh-god-the-pain."
"Why-are-you-doing-this-I-really-don't-know-please-stop-this!"

>Plan your next move

>>3078012
where are the ones with the cards tell me or i will do something you and i will regret

>>3078012
Than tell us who does.

>>3078012
Before we keep interrogating a drone that may or may not have any info, I think we need to figure what kind of plan the Heroes might go with. From what I know of Henrietta, I'd hazard a guess she's planning an infiltration by rooftop with her and Bill, and Apollo and the rest with their flashier quirks will be distractions at the front door. I purpose we send Overwatch and the hostages to the middle floor, post Lustrous and Rebecca on ground floor so they can make some noise if things get rough down here while us and Joanna go guard the rooftop for our inevitable Daredevil vs Bullseye match with Henrietta. Are we confident in Keane's ability to continue the interrogation?

>>3078066
I feel like our major screw up last time as villains may have been splitting up. It might be a good idea to stay together this time, and bring a few hostages with us.

>>3078012
Where's the manager?

>>3078066
>>3078069
I'd say splitting up right at this moment is okay, as long as we reconsolidate when we know the heroes are on their way. We really need to figure out where the keycards are, which I would hazard a guess are either with the manager, or in a location the manager knows.

>>3078242
I suppose that's fine, as long as we regroup before the heroes get here. Splitting up definitely made Joan easier to defeat.

>>3078069
The main problem with our splitting up last time was that we were up against a quirk that specialized in fucking with our communication. So long as we make sure to regroup when the action starts like >>3078242 says I feel we should be good. Maybe leave a few hostages in the lobby as bargaining chips and human shields?

>>3078405
>The main problem with our splitting up last time was that we were up against a quirk that specialized in fucking with our communication.

Instead, this time we're dealing with a lot of heavy hitters. Totenkopf, Strigoi, Lighthouse and even Oakley are all direct combat types. The only support they have is Dreammaker, who is very versatile. If we split up this time, and we have to face a bunch of them 1v1, we probably won't win. We should at least go in pairs, or one group of 2 and one group of 3.

I say we send Overwatch, Lapse and Mister Lustrous to find the key-cards as a group of 3, while we and Nemesis hold the entrance and watch the hostages.

>>3078425
If they gang up on us, it's all over though.

I just got an idea though. At the moment the hostages are a double edged sword: they can be used to deter our enemies, but they also slow us down, forcing us to either take them all with us (a liability if anything) or split up. One or two is the most efficient number to bring with us.

Now, at first it seems we'll have to leave many our hostages, but we are in a hotel. A lot of doors with locks in this building. We can take some keys from the employees. While one of us goes to look for the manager, the rest will split up, and put all but two of the hostages in random rooms. Most hotel rooms only lock from the outside, so we might have to put them into the bathrooms and block the door with a chair. We'll have Keane stay on his own to avoid the enemies and give us information. If we run into them, we'll tell them that we stole some of Reginald's oil grenades, and we managed to rig a time bomb. We only had enough time to make one (to make it believable), but that hostage who's stuck with it will die if they don't find them. If they fight us, Keane will start killing the hostages. If the others leave, Keane can come back to us.

We don't really have any bombs, but I'm sure the heroes won't be willing to take the chance. It will send them on a wild goose chase, panicking about a bomb that doesn't exist. This will keep them from ganging up on us.

>>3078066
support

Quick reminder that Lustrous may just be the perfect counter to Lighthouse, given he can change the facets of his crystals to reflect his attacks back at him.

>>3078665
Lighthouse is also a hard counter to Nemesis since he can blind her.

>>3078807
You're right, between her and Lapse we have too many sight-based powers to take a walking flashbang like Apollo lightly.

>>3078812
That's why I think Overwatch, Lapse and Mister Lustrous should go as a group for the keys. Lustrous cover's Lapse's counter and Overwatch acts as warning alarm so Lustrous gets prep time. And since is Lapse is uncountered, the group can wipe people. We and Nemesis should stay by the entrance and slow the heroes down at the main entrance. Both of our quirks are good for that.

>>3078827
They have an guy with a stunning wail, someone who can blind people, and a guy who has a huge array of gadgets that could take us out, and two others, and they have two other people. If they get the drop on us, they'll probably cuff us before we can do anything.

>>3078854
That's exactly why we should split up. If we stay in one group we're putting all of our eggs in one basket. If they get the drop on us, it won't matter how many of us there are.

>>3078907
If we go there alone, we weaken ourselves. They could come down on us at full force in both situations, but I'm pretty sure it will be harder for them to fight 5v5 than 5v2. Once they take us down, they could easily beat us in a 5v3 fight. You don't fight outnumbered if you can help it.

>>3078943
Didn't you read what I said? We (Newton) and Nemesis don't go in. We stay behind and guard the hostages. We act as a distraction while the other 3 get the card keys. We are stalling for time. That's why we split into two groups.

>>3078540
>>3079047
Do both. Send half the group to get the keycards and the other half lock the hostages up in various rooms. Once they're done that they can act as a distraction while the group of 3 unlock the safe and then get away.

>>3078605
>>3078066
>>3079164
>>3079047
>>3078943
(Condensing all of this down...)
You drop the hostage. "We're getting nowhere like this. Keane, continue the interrogation; don't hesitate to kill if you have to. Once the clock starts, start tracking Henrietta's team and keep us informed on their position."
Keane nods and pulls a survival knife from his belt.
You turn to the rest of your team. "Nemesis, Lustrous, start rounding up hostages and barricading them in the rooms. If any try to run, and only if they try to run, kill them. Keep a couple to use as human shields."
"I still think we should just kill them all."
You take a look at Joanna. "Lapse, you and I should go and look for the key cards."
"Okay! I'll work from the top down, you work from the bottom up, we'll meet in the middle, okay?"
Before you can say anything, Joanna barrels through the near stairwell door.
Lustrous shakes his head. "Joanna, you should try listening more and talking less. Joanna?" He pulls his comm-bead out of his ear. "Huh. I don't think she's listening."

>Plan your next move

>>3079589
That's not a good sign. I really hope Joanna is just really excited and that this isn't actually a sign that she liked us in *that* way. I mean come on, how could we have known? She never gave us any signs! I'd have sooner thought that Henri wanted to jump our bones than Joanna! Shit
>Work our way up to the location of the safe room, watching for other civvies on the way. If there's a way to have a private convo specifically with Joanna through our headsets, do it. See what's wrong with her

>>3079589
>Keane keep tabs on her too, I'll go deal with the manager.
>Take two hostages.

>>3079654
Supporting, but save the conversation for when you meet up in the middle. If we fucked her up she may cool off in the meantime, but if we REALLY fucked her up she might get heated enough to tell us what's going on by then

>>3079654
Supporting

>>3079654
>>3080160
>>3080435
You start by searching the staff area; you doubt anything would be in the banquet hall or kitchen.
You find the "manager" drone in the office, key-card around his neck. A quick brandish of a blade gets him to hand it over.
"One-of-the-others-is-in-the-basement-and-the-third-is-in-the-generator-room-on-the-top-floor-they-require-remote-authorization-to-access."
"Thank you for your cooperation." You haul the manager out to the lobby.
"Joanna, get to the generator room. Joanna?"
No response.

>Plan your next move

>>3081295
Ask Keane if he knows where Joanna is, and what is she doing. Maybe have someone else get the generator card while we check the basement.

>>3081315
+1

>>3081315
support

>>3081315
>>3081329
>>3081336
"Keane, where's Joanna?"
Keane briefly looks up from the hostage whose arm he's currently popping out of socket and activates his pocket holo. "Let me check... fourth floor, third door on the left... in the bathroom, I think. Blood pressure's a bit low, breathing unsteady. Should be fine in time to contribute to the defense."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I assume one of the key cards is in the generator room?"
"Yeah, the other one's in the basement. Both are secured."
Keane deactivates the holo. "Thought so; we're playing on a handicap now."
Lustrous's voice crackles through your commpiece. "I'll get the generator room's key if someone will trade off with me; I don't trust Rebecca to be alone with the hostages."
Keane picks up his half-tortured drone. "I-I can do that. I mean, if you don't want to, David. Whoever doesn't go with Rebecca can get the basement key."

>Plan your next move

>>3081756
Guard the hostages, have Keane go down to the basement. Maybe have a short heart to heart with Becca, see what she thinks is up with Joanna.

>>3081843
Support. This is ideal. You and Becca guard the hostages, and Keane and Lustrous can pick up Joanna on the way to the safe. Although if the safe isn't on the fourth floor it will slow them down even more (I forget where the safe is, it could have been moved from last time, but I think it was on the fourth floor).

>>3081843
Seems like a reasonable plan.

>>3081843
>>3082007
>>3082030
"I think I'll handle the hostages. You get that keycard in the basement."
Keane nods and hands the drone (which is ragdolling as much as a hard plastic drone can while playing "whimper-whimper-whimper-sob" on a loop) off to you. "I'll see what I can do. Good luck with Rebecca."
You drag the hostage into the elevator and up to the second floor, where Joshua and Rebecca are busy wrestling hostages into bathrooms and blocking the doors with chairs. Joshua shoots you a nod. "Excellent! I'll go see what's up with the generator room."
You're left alone with Rebecca and the hostages. You scratch the back of your neck. You aren't really sure how to talk to someone like Rebecca. You decide to use your usual bluntness.
"Hey, Rebecca, do you know what's going on with Joanna?"
"Wouldn't you like to know~"

>Yes, I would
>We don't have time for your usual games, Rebecca
>Fine, be that way

>>3082345
>Fine, be that way
We aren't playing her game.

>>3082345
>We don't have time for your usual games, Rebecca

>>3082345
>>We don't have time for your usual games, Rebecca
>Either say it or don't.

>>3082345
>We don't have time for your usual games, Rebecca

>>3082455
>>3082647
>>3082654
""I don't have time to cater to your verbal sado-masochism, Rebecca. Either answer the question or don't."
"All you had to do was ask."
Rebecca "looks" at you through her mask. "Don't you know? She has a crush on Joan."

>Respond

>>3082676
"Huh. That explains it, and I can't do shit about it either. Damn"

>>3082676
Supporting >>3082685

>>3082676
... Well than. Can't say I'm happy about it, but I can't really hold it against her either. I guess we'll just have to see how things go in the future, and whatever happens, I hope there are no hard feelings.

Thanks for telling me, I appreciate it.

>>3082709
this

>>3082676
Well, she's not the only one. Don't know why she's so upset though. It's not as if Joan has given me an answer. Joanna has as much as a chance as anyone.

>>3082676
>>3082685

supporting.

>>3082676
Not saying this as a dialogue choice, but Joanna deserves Joan more than we do considering our plan was to emotionally manipulate her, have Joanna erase her memory, and then emotionally manipulate her again.

>>3082685
>>3082708
>>3082975
"Well, that explains it. And it's not like I can do anything about it, either. Damn."
"That's it? You toy with one girl's heart and break another's and you just shrug? And you call me sadistic." The chilly, playful edge has drained out of Rebecca's voice. She sounds... genuinely irritated with you.
Lustrous calls in over the comm. "At the generator room. Looks like the key-card is in... a smaller safe. This one's got a combination lock with one of those old phone dial pads attached. Four digits."
"Overwatch here. Down in the basement. Identical setup. Any ideas? We have 45 seconds until the Heroes start moving, by the way."
"Hey, everyone! Sorry, my commset was acting screwy. I'm on the third floor now, any updates?"

>Plan your next move

>>3083248
Did we drag the manager up to the second floor with us? If so he should know the codes, Threaten him more for the codes or who knows the codes.

>>3083248
“Rebecca I can’t deal with it now. After the exercise I’ll try to handle it, but now ain’t gonna work.”

>>3083399
This

>>3083622
>>3083399
supporting

>>3083622
This. Make sure to stress that we're not just ignoring what we've done and fully intend on facing the music after the exercise is over.

>>3083399
Supporting.

>>3083248

"Rebecca, if we weren't in the middle of an exercise about to have a bunch of heroes jumping down our throats, it would be much more than just a shrug, I'd be trying my damnedest to make things right. But as it stands, we've got work to do and not a lot of time to do it."

"Alright team, I'm bringing the manager with me to the 2nd floor, he should know the codes, we can get it then. Rebecca, keep an eye on the hostages but do not kill them unless you have zero choice. We may be villains, but we're not homicidal maniacs. Keane, keep us updated on the hero movements."

>>3083399
>>3083622
>>3083734
>>3084339
>>3084382
>>3084517
You close your mic channel while Keane catches Joanna up.
"Rebecca, if we weren't in the middle of a training exercise, I'd be doing a lot more than a shrug, but we've got work to do and MAYBE a minute and a half to do it. Now..."
You drop Keane's torture victim, turn your mic back on. and go out into the hall. The manager drone is kneeling with its hands behind its head, facing the wall. You kick it.
"Give us the passcodes, asshole, or people start losing noses."
"I-don't-know!"
You pull the hungamunga and hold it up to its "face" screen.
"Do you think I'm playing games here? Tell me the codes!"
"I-already-told-you-you-need-remote-approval-the-code-is-changed-remotely-every-24-hours-I'd-have-to-call-the-office-to-get-them!"
"30 seconds, David."
"Lustrous here again. I think I can just tear the door off this safe. I've adjusted my structure for hardness."

>Plan your next move

>>3084869
>"Do it. Get to the other safe as soon as you're done there."
Do we have any explosives that we could rig up? Give it some sort of "dead man" switch. Ideally, some way to give a switch to each of us which eliminates a portion of the hostages with each one of us that is arrested. That should give them some pause.

>>3084891
Supporting just tearing it off.

>>3084891
>>3085100
"Do it, and get to the other safe as soon as you can. Does anyone have any explosives?"
"Ooh! I have flashbangs! I just haven't been using them because, y'know, we've all been grouped up all the time."
"I was... hoping for something more deadly."
"That's a negative, David. We might be playing villains, but we haven't got our Lethal Force licenses yet."
You rub your temples. "Right, forgot about that."
You hear the scream of stressed metal through your comm. "Got the key-card. Heading down to the basement now."
>20 seconds until the heroes start moving. Plan your final move before they're let out.

>>3085697
Ask where the Heroes are coming from, have them keep you posted, and set up lines of fire onto the hostages, so heroes have to either block your attacks on them or lose the hostages. Let Rebecca kill one noisily and messily to draw aggro and get a preplanned route of escape to lead them on a chase. Have the others make a hole at another spot we can run too to shake the heroes. Knee cap a hostage to use as bait to draw aggro.

>>3085721
noice, supporting

>>3085721
Sounds like a sound course of action

>>3085721
>>3085773
>>3085800
"Alright, everyone, here's the plan. Rebecca, help me move the hostages near the doors; bind their limbs with the sheets. That way, I can kill them easily when the Heroes turn up."
"Glad you can take this seriously."
"Keane, keep monitoring the Heroes and let me know how they're coming to us."
"Roger."
"Joanna, Lustrous, get down here now; we'll get to the safe later. And Lustrous, I want you to make a hole in the floor of the room above the basement stairs; one large enough for us to fit through quickly. Then kick some holes through the walls."
"Intelligent."
"Rebecca, you'll like your part; you're going to wait for my signal. When I give it, rip your hostage apart."
"I do like that."
You pass her the manager. "Let me get our bait."
You fish out a hostage, stomp on their knees, and leave them at the other end of the hallway. Lustrous and Joanna step out of the elevator. Lustrous passes you by and enters a room. Behind the door you can hear splintering wood. Joanna nervously waves.
"So, uh... are we just going to be standing out here when they turn up, or should we hide?"

>The rest of you hide: I'll threaten them.
>We should all be visible to intimidate them.

>>3086261
Lapse should likely talk with us, she could use her quirk to give us a huge edge in a surprise attack. Otherwise everyone else should hide and wait for a chance to attack. Overwatch has flashbangs right? Use them in conjunction with with Lapse's quirk when talk inevitably fails.

>>3086261
>The rest of you hide: I'll threaten them.
Best to have them on their toes. They'll be more cautious if we don't have all our team out in the open.

>>3086377
nvm, supporting

>>3086377
Supporting

>>3086377
>>3086387
>>3086719
"Joanna, stay out with me. Your Quirk should be helpful. The rest of you hide along the escape route."
"Okay... If it helps the team!"

You all take up your positions.
"Okay, Heroes are moving. I've got Totenkopf, Lighthouse, and Dreammaker approaching from the ground. Strigoi's carrying Oakley ahead; they just landed on a nearby building. Strigoi's now flying towards the roof. He's on it. Moving towards... the vents. He's standing in front of them now."
"Okay, what about the rest?"
"Oakley isn't moving much from her rooftop-I think her plan is to tag us when we go outside, since her Quirk isn't very useful at close range. Lighthouse, Totenkopf, and Dreammaker are standing outside. Dreammaker's heart rate's climbing; I think that means he's pulling something out of an image. Now they're moving... diagonally. He made a ladder, or something! They're going to enter through one of the second-story rooms."

>Stick to the plan
>Move for the safe

>>3087559
Stick to the plan. Have somebody draw aggro as we get the safe

>>3087559
I say that the portion of the plan that involves talking to them is probably kaputt at this point. Start implementing the part where we make aggressive moves towards the hostages.

>>3087616
>>3087797
You take the key card out of your pocket.
"Lustrous, get out here and take my key card, NOW. Head for the basement safe. We'll slow them down."
"Alright. Thank you for trusting me, David. I will endeavor not to disappoint."
"Strigoi's starting to move again, David. Looks like he's flying... to one of the fourth-story windows. Probably planning on breaking in from there. That's odd... Dreammaker's going back down the ladder. He's moving into the lobby now."
You hear the tinkle of glass ahead of you.
"And that would be Totenkopf and Lighthouse."
One of the room doors swings open and the two Heroes stride out; Totenkopf in his leather jacket, his skull grown over his face, and Lighthouse in his shiny spandex. They turn back-to-back, with Totenkopf facing you. You ready two throwing knives.
"Don't make a move, or hostages die, Heroes."
A hollow chuckle echoes from within Totenkopf's skull. "Nice try, but I'm not a bleeding heart." You see his collarbone start to churn as his Quirk activates...

>Go for the hostages
>Attack Totenkopf
>Have Lapse throw a flashbang and dodge

>>3088762
>>Have Lapse throw a flashbang and dodge

>>3088762
>Have Lapse throw a flashbang and dodge

>>3088762
Flashbang, use a hostage as a sheild.

>>3088762
>Have Lapse throw a flashbang and dodge
Also have the team get to work on the hostages. Rebecca should have a field day with this.

>>3088762
>Have Lapse throw a flashbang and dodge

>>3088785
>>3088933
>>3088976
>>3089799
"Lapse, GO!" You dive to the floor and cover your ears as Lapse throws the grenade...

Roll 1d100. 70 or lower is a success, need two out of three.

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>3090664

Rolled 6 (1d100)

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>3090664

>>3090684
>>3090682
Nice

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>3090664

>>3090684
>>3090682
You feel the thud of the flashbang detonating and scramble back into one of the doors along the escape corridor. Along the way, you can see Lighthouse reeling back against the wall, while Totenkopf slowly pulls the tangled length of fingerbones sprouting from his collar out of the walls. Down the corridor, you can see Rebecca tearing the head off of a drone.
Inside the room, you run towards the escape tunnel. Keane's hushed voice crackles in your ear.
"Dreammaker's in the basement; I'm hiding, but I don't think it'll work for long. Strigoi's in the elevator."

>Plan your next move

>>3091805
Take down Dreammaker and rescue Keane. If he's disabled we're blind.

>>3092243
>>3091805
Supporting rescuing Keane. Where are the others on our team compared to the enemy? I think it might be a good idea to have Lustrous take on Strigoi, since he'd be too hard for Strigoi to crack.

>>3092422
Supporting

>>3092243
>>3092422
>>3092990
"Lustrous, get ready; we're about to have company."
Lustrous nods and throws you the key cards. "Good luck."
"Let's hope I won't need luck."
You vault down the hole into the stairwell and rush down. Dreammaker snaps to you, fingers slicing into his pant legs to pull a smoke grenade. You snap-throw.
Roll 1d100; 65 or lower passes. One out of three needed.

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>3093164

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>3093164

>>3093167
Your baton bounces off the side of Dreammaker's head, sending him crashing into the floor. Keane rises up from behind a box like a marionette and restrains him with his own handcuffs.
"Good teamwork, boss. Now, what about the safe?"

>Call Lustrous down to break it open
>Try to crack it yourself
>Let Keane try to crack it

>>3093219
>Try to crack it yourself

>>3093219
Call Lustrous down to break it open

>>3093219
>Try to crack it yourself
Leverage is very useful, but for finessing a safe open a high int stat is also great

>>3093219
>Try to open it yourself WHILE WE ALSO
>Call Lustrous down to break it open

>>3093923
Supporting. Unless we have some experience cracking safes having a back up plan seems reasonable

>>3093219
>>Try to crack it yourself
>have Lapse and Anger Management grab a couple meat shields and back up Lustrous!
>give them a heads up to be ready to retreat to the loot safe once we get the key card!

>>3093923
>>3094558
"Lustrous, I need you to get down here as soon as possible. We still have another safe to open."
You hear a crunching sound through the comms. "I'll be on that as soon as I can get these two to stop!"
You sigh. So much for support.
"Keane, cover the door. I'll try to beat the electronic lock."
You pop the front of the keypad off and look at the circuitry. You aren't anywhere near as good with the equations that govern electronics as you are with the ones that govern the real world, but still...
Roll. 35 or under passes. Need one out of five.

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>3096086

>>3096086

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>3096124

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>3096086
rollan

>>3096114
and that is a critfail need a 22 or 11 or 33 to actually pass now

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>3096086

>>3096151
>>3096114
>>3096128

Great, so even with my 8 and his 25, we got a double crit-fail....that's kinda bullshit.

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>3096163
>>3096086
I thought only a 100 was a critfail?

>>3096163
You seem awfully confused

>>3096283
doubles are crits, fails or successes.

>>3096298

see

>>3096151
>>3096304

>>3096114
>>3096151
Sorry, I'll have to resolve this later; I'm right in the path of this super-snowstorm you may have been hearing about. Stay safe, everyone.

>>3098640
you too!

>>3096151
>>3096114
Power FINALLY came back, so we're on again.

ZZT!
You pull your fingers back and curse. The lock's probably shorted out now; no hope for unlocking it with anything but brute force. You take out your frustration on some nearby cardboard.
"DAMMIT!"
Looks like Lustrous is the only way through now...

Cont. >>3100401