General Arms Systems -- Underground STARS assembly plant
Black Hat has had some phenomenal good fortune considering how well he has held up under being blasted, but his luck finally runs out and your beam of blue light blasts him right in the face.stavaros_the_arcane wrote: ↑Tue Dec 21, 2021 12:34 pm"And just where do you think you're going?" Gelert sights a beam at the saboteur.
"T-the revolution," he croaks. "G-general Havoc... I-I've f-failed--"
He topples over and faceplants in a cloud of burnt office paper and electronic debris. A moment later, the remaining STARS drone under his control freezes and stops moving, like a toy with its batteries out.
Black Hat hasn't been out for a minute when rapid footsteps approach from behind you. Even before they come into view, you can smell Rex Richards, his CTO Regina Grace, and G.A.S. security personnel, wearing body armor and carrying high-tech assault rifles. You can also hear the sound of applause, because Richards is clapping.OOC
AA Black Hat Toughness DC 28: 1D20+6 = [6]+6 = 12
Failed by 4 degrees, incapacitated. Combat is over.
For preventing the Anarchy Command theft of the STARS system and avoiding civilian casualties, you gain 2 HP.
"Bravo! Bravo. Well done, Mr. Gelert. It seems I may have misjudged you after all. That was a sterling performance, if I might say so." He flashes you the biggest, brightest and most insincere smile.
The security personnel rush past you and seize Black Hat, securing him with both conventional restraints and what you recognize as power-nullifying cuffs similar to the ones used by AEGIS agents.
"Mr. Gelert," Rex says. He indicates the Ring of Hope on your tail. "I have a little proposition to make. I couldn't help observe that the terrorist attempted and failed to take control of your ring. Surely you can see how your ring's technology would be highly beneficial if integrated into a system designed to fight superhuman terrorists and lawbreakers. If you'd be willing to share some of your technological resources... perhaps get your friend here to divulge what she's learned of its operations..."
"Forget it," Amethyst says. The STARS unit she's in opens up, its torso and limbs parting like the petals of a mechanical flower. She turns around and taps a control; the STARS drone closes back up and walks back to its maintenance harness on its own. "I've never taken Gelert's ring apart before to learn how it works. Never even thought of asking."
"Really?" Regina Grace speaks up. "I'm disappointed, Michelle. I assumed you'd be the first one to do so."
"Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty curious to know it works," Amethyst folds her hands behind her head. "But humans have been pretty irresponsible with the technology they've already got. Adding a cosmic device to that?" she shakes her head.
"Maybe," Ms. Grace says, in the sweetest voice, "discerning its secrets is beyond your vaunted abilities."
"Maybe," Amethyst says, with the brightest smile, "resisting a little temptation is beyond yours."
Rex Richards clears his throat and tries to lead you away from the two squabbling women. "Ignore my CTO," he says in a low, conspirational voice. "She means well, but she has her... biases. Now, I know most heroes would consider monetary compensation crass, but G.A.S. is prepared to offer any and all cooperation we can in exchange for your technology. We can offer funding, technological resources, armed support, training, even your own detachments of STARS units... I'm sure you can see how this could be a mutually beneficial arrangement, given our coinciding goal of protecting American lives."
"There could be more of those Anarchy Command technopaths out there. A STARS system immune to technopathic attack would be a considerable national security deterrent."
OOC
You are, of course, completely free to reject or accept Rex Richard's offer. If for whatever reason you chose to accept, you will begin the next scene without your Ring of Hope.
You can interrogate Black Hat, if you wish, or can also ask to be shown the fabricator unit, as Ms. Grace offered before the combat. You can also interact with Richards, Ms. Grace, or any of the other characters.