lucetilogs | Mission # 10 - Operation: Hospital Freedom

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Mission # 10 - Operation: Hospital Freedom

Who: Commander: Gai Tsutsugami, Soldiers/Guards: [Faith Lehane, Amelia McFly, Hyuuga Neji, Masaomi Kida, Nara Shikamaru, Edward Elric, Susan Richards, Precis Neumann, Katara, Rock Lee], Negotiators: [Gregor Vorbarra, Tarrlok, Nephry Osborne]
What: MISSION # 10 - Operation: Hospital Freedom
When: September 3rd-4th
Where: Desset City General Hospital
Summary: A group of Malnosso soldiers have gone off the deep end and intend to join the cultists and sacrifice the patients inside a hospital.

The volunteers had only two hours to read the message before they were expected to step on the teleporter in the tunnels and be deployed. They were then met by Malnosso soldiers who briefed them on the situation as they were flown to the scene in five separate helicopters. Along with blueprints of the hospital, they were also given a folder of documents with profiles of the soldiers in the hospital. As typical protocol, the windows were blacked out. When at last they arrived, it was on a building adjacent to the hospital itself. The building itself was forty stories high, the same as the hospital across the street.

On the roof they were met with a familiar face. Specialist Davis. He was accompanied by ten additional soldiers, all geared up and ready to deploy. He seemed more annoyed than usual. Even more so than the battle up on the Moon.

“Alright you lot, listen up, cuz I ain’t saying this twice. You aren’t my first choice for this mission, but you were all MARS was able to get. You all should be familiar with the details of the mission already. If not, better brush up before we go. But let me make one thing clear, because you lot seem to have a pretty hard time with this one. No one dies. These ain’t a bunch of kids from some other bubble you can cut up if you decide you don’t like them so much. These are men and women who spend every day defending this world. And if that ain’t enough for you, they know enough things that if they escape here and get to the Cultists, it could jeopardize everything. Including your enclosure. If anyone has a problem with that, you can get the hell back on that chopper and stop wasting my time.”

The soldiers with him seemed a little surprised by his unusual behavior. It was clear that Davis was aware of recent events. He was none too thrilled to hear of the results. “So to make sure you don’t go in and try to kill the first soldier who gets in your way, we’ll be packing nonlethal weapons only. Tasers, stun guns, tranqs, and the works. Some of these soldiers may take a little more than that. We’ve got a powerful psychic in there, so be sure to wear the earpieces you were given on the chopper. That should keep him from getting inside your head. But that won’t stop him from taking control of patients and hospital staff. This should go without saying, but you can’t kill them either. If any of you do, I’ll make sure it’s a good and long time before you ever go on a mission again.”

His orders finished, Davis left the group to make his final preparations with his soldiers. The Lucetians were given access to several totes containing the weaponry they were permitted to take with them. During that time, Davis could be spotted at the corner of the building with an unidentifiable woman wearing a hood. After their conversation, he returned to the group to take some final questions. Once everything was ready, the operation was ready to begin. Step one? Taking control of the opposing roof.

---

The Desset City General Hospital is a forty floor building located in the middle of the city. For an idea of what the city looks like, well, imagine any modern major city. The city is very much a bustling metropolis, quite different from the draft that took place there over two years ago.

There are numerous soldiers within the hospital. Fifteen notable soldiers are listed here, but there are numerous other ‘novices’ among them. It was originally a group of two hundred soldiers, but there’s been a lot of infighting after the hospital was taken, so it is unknown how many of them survived. Aside from the fifteen in particular, most of the soldiers will not possess any unique traits, though you are certainly encouraged to invent NPCs to flesh out as much as you like.

The building is large and chock-full of important people, facilities, and equipment. While most of it pertains to the hospital’s everyday runnings, there are some “easter eggs” ripe for the finding should the team of volunteers conduct a thorough enough search. However, remember that your characters are here on a short mission and will likely not be able to search everywhere. The hospital is on emergency power only and so not even the mad convenience of elevators can help them zip around to all of the floors.

Floor 40: Emergency care, for in-flight patients arriving by chopper. Several badly injured patients are still here being cared for by hospital staff, but in danger of dying if not allowed surgery. Several soldiers guard this floor.

Floor 39: Special Care ward. Typically reserved for wealthy or important members of the organization to receive individualized care in nice and spacious accommodations. Already evacuated and abandoned.

Floor 38-31: Various wards for different problems, varying from heart, lungs, and other injuries. Most of the surgeries are performed here.

Floor 29-20: “Death Penalty Syndrome” ward. Several floors dedicated solely to caring for individuals who have accumulated enough Death Penalties to no longer be able to care for themselves. Some are more far gone than others. Most of the soldiers are pinned up on these floors, being particularly interested in sacrificing these patients as an ‘act of mercy’. Most of these patients have either been in the world for centuries or are soldiers and fighters.

Floor 19-18: Shift Labs. Occasionally -- with both natural and fabricated Shifts -- there are subjects who are unable to return to their previous state. These floors house labs used for researching ways in which to cure the Shifted, whether they be part of the Organization or from an unfortunate enclosure. It’s clear that these labs are very busy and some of the qualifications hung up on the walls suggest that very prominent doctors and scientists are employed by these labs. Although patients have been evacuated, volunteers will find their charts left behind. These charts list names, vitals, as well as geographical locations. At least ten of the subjects are listed as having been from Kin’cora. Note: These two floors are equipped with a Shift that cancels all powers.

Floor 17: Records and archives. While most records are digitally stored, there remain some considerable hard-copy collections. However, many of these doors are heavily locked and will require both time and patience in order to be opened. Should any volunteers opt to investigate, provide us with a semi-directed paragraph of your character’s attempt as well as their search and we will provide you with intel, should they succeed.

Floor 16: Psych Ward. Patients suffering from mental problems are kept under close watch. Some of these patients are in similar frames of mind as the soldiers and may inevitably become additional reinforcements.

Floor 15-10: Private doctors maintain their own offices here by appointment.

Floor 9-7: Pediatrics, OB/GYN, NICU. There seems to have been some recent vandalism done to these floors which pre-dates this hostage situation. Sloppy, threatening graffiti clutters the walls and wards saying things like “NO MORE LUCIES” and “MAKE PEACE NOT BABIES”.

Floor 6-1: Reception on the first floor, with emergency care occupying the rest. Soldiers are even on this floor, keeping anyone from entering from the ground entrances.

Basement Levels: Inaccessible.

The NPC, Kovan Foster, will be the only enemy soldier controlled by a mod. A pair of a negotiator and soldier will be allowed to approach him in a three-way thread. There will be a thread on the accompanying mod post to volunteer for this and we’ll randomly select the person at midnight.

It will be discovered that Kovan Foster has managed to bring a Shift-augmented explosive with him. This explosive has the potential to destroy an entire city block if it’s not stopped. They’ll discover there’s not enough time to move it to somewhere safer. However, Floor 19 has a room that cancels Shifts temporarily. If the explosive is moved there, it will cause the explosive to go off, but the damage will be contained to a smaller area. This will save the entire building, however there will be no time for this person to get out in time. Due to the power canceling Shift in effect on that floor, they will also be entirely unable to avoid being killed.

Anyone can volunteer to be this person. However, if none of the Lucetians immediately volunteer to do this, inevitably one of Davis’s men will do it instead. While either option is fine, a heroic sacrifice may impact the MSF’s perception of Luceti.

That’s all! For any plotting or questions, please use this post

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Neji's Byakugan is a useful tool for identifying the number of patients and soldiers within the building for this mission. Due to the Shifts present in the labs on Floors 18 and 19, however, this presents a blind spot and hinders Neji's ability to view the lower floors. For this reason he and Shikamaru (his back-up) journey down to Floor 17. It's here they discover the archives (worth noting: likely separately from Precis and Gai).

Using the Byakugan Neji is able to identify what's beyond the rooms, and the pair decide to target the hard copy files. Neji identifies the locks and describes their function, along with picking out any alarms that might still be operating under the back-up power, if the hospital has them. They then either a) disable these temporarily or b) work out a way to open the doors without setting them off.

Using his ability to mold and manipulate his shadow, Shikamaru is able to work the locks protecting the hard-copies, alternately slipping his shadow within to open them from the inside. Thanks to his special vision, Neji is fortunately able to keep a look-out while they're both inside searching.]

Although Neji and Shikamaru have the opportunity to leaf through many patient records when they crack open the filing cabinets holding the hard copies, there is one prominent file-folder which stands out. It belongs to none other than the same man who’d lectured them at the beginning of this mission: Specialist Davis.

Included in the folder are heavily redacted and censored accounts of his combat history, a bill of health that doesn’t seem to be dated to any recent check-up given the faded ink, as well as a handful of polariods. Many document field injuries. One shows a close-up angle of his inner left bicep. Running horizontally across his skin is a eight digit number: 05181995.

Highlights of his profile read as follows:

[Name Redacted]
Current name and designation: Davis, MSF Specialist
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Height: 185.5 cm
Wings: Silver, standard small
Origin: Universe ATX-149501222
Subject possesses greater than typical human strength. Under bench weight test, the subject was able to lift in excess of two tons. Skin is dense and not penetrable by standard medical needles and requires laser tools for surgical use. Noted allergy for peanut oil. Subject is in excellent health.

Accumulated Death Penalties: 3
- Memory Loss: contents of lost memories are unknown. Acquired during time in enclosure.
- Loss of taste: no longer able to taste food. Acquired in confrontation with cultists.
- Loss of color perception: effectively color blind. Acquired in confrontation with the General.

Edited 2012-09-17 00:09 (UTC)

[Neji's eyebrows lift as he reads over the notes; there's a lot here that isn't said - even beyond the redactions - but what is said is deeply interesting. At least, to him - he wonders if any of it is old news to Shikamaru. A glance to his friend questions silently, while his abilities keep his vision on a spherical sweep, searching all around

No words, though. Even if this isn't a stealth mission, there's no purpose to chatter.]

[Oh no, this is all shiny to him too. He memorizes the contents of the file, and is still handling the photo of the bicep, his thumb running over the numbers there. Identifying marks.

He senses Neji's attention is on him a moment later, looking up and nodding. This was good. As good as they could've hoped for a brief search, at least. He taps the file, as if to ask if Neji has gotten everything he needs from it too.]

[Neji dips his head in a quick nod. He's got it, although pulling apart what it means will be a matter of time and discussion. But that's not for here nor now; they can keep going with the records or press on for other areas of investigation.]

[Shikamaru looks at the other records as if considering this, then his watch. After a moment's consideration, he closes his eyes and shakes his head.

It's tempting, it really is. Like winning at the slots and wanting just one more turn. But if they take much longer, then they really will be pushing their luck. At least here.

What do you think, Neji?]

[The shake of the head is all Neji needs; as much as he'd like to press, he and Shikamaru both know well that they need to move on.]

Let's move.

[His voice is low, barely a murmur, and he adjusts the focus of his vision, letting his awareness spread to consciously examine everything around them. So far, so good, but that's no reason to dawdle.]

[Shikamaru puts the folder neatly back where they found it and nods. Out they go then.]

Anyone around?

Two approaching, but they're a couple corners away. We're still clear if we don't take our time about it.

[He gestures in the direction the hostiles are coming from - which, fortunately, is not the way they want to go anyhow.]

They're coming from that way. If we hang a left, we can get out of sight before they get here. Let's go.

[He'll save his questions until they're out of sight from that pair then. It's a shame. They'll have to save any exploration of the lower floors. But he doesn't regret this jaunt, it was time well spent.

When they're good, and heading back to the way they got in:]

What do you see on the other floors? I'll bring back a team if there are other patients...

[He knows there's still several dozen unaccounted for (ooc: they'll be in psych ward), but he's wondering if there's any other easter eggs.]

[Neji quietly thinks they could probably have headed downward more, but he'll defer to Shikamaru; if greater caution seems wise, then he won't quibble.]

There were more patients on the floor below where we were. You'll want to move carefully with those. They looked... unpredictable. Possibly psychiatric patients.

I want to explore further down from that. About six or seven levels below where we were... it looked like there was a lot of time spent wrecking a couple floors, with graffiti. It may be enlightening.

[Shikamaru nods. All right. That'd be... Floor 16, then. He pauses at the mention of the vandalism though. It interests him too, but...]

Are there people down there? If there's not many, we might not be able to justify a trip. We'd be calling it damn close at any rate.

A few. I couldn't say for certain who they were, though.

[He's reluctant to say it bluntly, but at that distance, the level of detail begins to be overwhelming. Much of what he can see, he struggles to make sense of, especially in such a foreign environment as the hospital.]

Patrols, possibly, or soldiers off duty and looking for something else to break. I think the second is a little more likely.

Yeah. People start asking where we're at, that's not going to be enough...

[Something tells Neji the graffiti might be important, but it's hard to use instinct - even honed ninja intuition - as a logical argument.]

If someone has ransacked a certain area specifically - which I believe they have - then there's a good argument to be made that there is something in that area that is most likely of interest.

[He's not arguing that, he just doesn't know if they can chance it.]

Can you pick up anything about it from here?

It looked to be a childcare ward, judging by the scale of the equipment and some of the debris. And to our knowledge, there aren't many children among the hostages. Why would anyone go out of their way to ransack the children's section, in that case? It's not close to anything of interest...

The graffiti you mentioned might be a clue.

Exactly. And depending on what it reveals, it could well hold valuable information, worth the trip to gather it.

[Rationalizing it out, giving reasons not just for the two of them, but to offer later if they're questioned.]

[And there could be other things too... ~~but we already told the mods we couldn't go SO~~.]

We'll try if we can, but there's no telling if we'll hvae the opportunity. If you can read it from here, you should try. I can cover us if you need to focus.

It will take quite a bit of focus, yes. But I can try.

[It's within his range - frankly, most of the building is - but trying to get a look at things like graffiti from this distance is still difficult.]

Here, or would you rather find someplace more secure?

[He nods his head over.] By the stairs.

[Neji nods and settles himself in the indicated spot, nice and sheltered. He trusts Shikamaru totally to keep him safe.

Looking for something this fine at a distance requires an almost trance-like state. While he technically can see everything around him, he's so tightly focused that most of it doesn't touch his conscious mind at all. Only the area he wants to examine gets attention.

The area he noted before is definitely pediatrics, he recognizes. And the markings on the wall... flat two-dimensional images are hard to read with the Byakugan. It's slow going.]

[Shikamaru doesn't interrupt him. For Neji, he knows, this is like focusing through the lens of a telescope. He can't imagine the concentration that takes, but he does know he can't spare any on the space around them.

Soldiers and mind-controlled staff are still coming and going on this floor - they probably ran into a few on the way here, actually. It's Shikamaru's turn to be the eyes for their group, and handle things if something comes up. He glances to check on Neji from time to time, but aside from that he's focusing on the task at hand.]

[Neji stays focused even after he takes in the graffiti, searching for anything else, any little clues as to what might have transpired.

Then, finally, he shakes himself out of it with a sudden breath, letting the Byakugan drop in order to refocus himself on here. It's a rush, his field of view becoming so much more limited but the world taking on so much more color and vitality. He quickly looks to Shikamaru, though, checking if he needs any assistance.]

Got it.

Archives

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Did we? Derp, I can't keep track of any plotting anymore

We did! But we got permission for Neji to read things.

OH RIGHT man I am so out of it lately. BLAME BRONCHITIS

No worries! <3

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