[30th March 2011]
[SHIELD Portal Security, Security Zone, Gotham, New Jersey, United States of America, Earth-16]
They'd opted for a multi-layer gate-lock system Collin Wallis, more generally known as Armsmaster, observed as he and came through the portal into hardened, if clearly recently constructed, secure facility. Thick layers, with some kind of force-field at the front, and perhaps a hydraulic system built into the floor at the rearmost; it was difficult to discern the exact structure with everything retracted. It was similar with what he guessed were hidden weapon emplacements in the wall and floors judging by the variation in the metalwork and hardened...what looked like concrete.
In some ways it was a relief, as the facility was very clearly new, though the construction appeared to be solid and his senses told him built somehow to contain powerful parahumans. A difficult proposition, and one of the reasons he was being sent through along with the others in fact. He himself had no links to the design of their own defences, and as such their potential Master-based abilities, mind-readers by the reports, could get little useful from him on that subject. It was deemed a juggling act between risking information and gaining information, and as such he and Dragon, through a drone, were the senior Protectorate heroes rather than risking Alexandria, Eidolon, or Legend.
'Assuming they don't just cut Dragon's feed of course' he reminded himself of the vulnerability of that strategy, but if they were at that stage then they were already doomed, and at war. Still his suit, Gallant's, and Dragon's would offer suitable recording capacity to watch for potential Master subversion it was deemed, so it was the best option available and they had gone with it. He'd even insisted on helmet-cams on the two PRT guards escorting the member of the State Department and a lower level PRT functionary as well, though that was a far lesser grade that what was in the armour suits.
"Welcome to the SHIELD Gate Facility Gotham, I am Abe Crane with SHIELD..." the local version of a PRT spokesman greeted them with a polite bow as a row of six guards, two armed with regular looking assault rifles, two with tinkertech energy weapons from scans, and the last with perhaps containment foam by the tanks on their backs "...and by the authority invested in my the United Nations Security Council, and the Government of the United States of America I acknowledge your presence here under the terms agreed between our respective governments. I will serve as your guide within this facility, for anywhere you wish to go within the Gotham area, and any information access you wish to access outside of secure stores. This is acceptable to your delegation?"
"Yes, this is acceptable. We will follow the agreed upon itinerary, with potential variation to verify facts provided" Collin replied simply waiting for the arrival of their escort of local capes as the great...non-metal?...doorway ahead of them opened up after a gesture from Mr. Crane. Double-slab design, splitting in the middle as they grinded open quickly before locking into place as the functionary turned back to them. More meaningless platitudes that Collin barely acknowledged, eager to get down to actual work, as his lie-detector confirmed truthfulness from the man at least.
"Excellent, now if you could follow me..."
Gallant was giving a subtle agreed upon signal that his empathic abilities to confirm lack of ill-intent from their initial encounter, and Dragon was scanning the surrounds despite some odd interference. One surprise was the odd abundance of symbols, and what seem like religious writings, etched in the strangest places within the room as Collin panned left and right to take in as much as he could. Areas with hard to discern energy signatures faintly pulsing through the walls, but he couldn't investigate too closely as he led the others through the now open gate...
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[30th March 2011]
[SHIELD Portal Security, Security Zone, Gotham, New Jersey, United States of America, Earth-16]
I'd sent Gemma and Maria away of course, the whole base was on high alert and we our costumed visitors from another Earth wandering about the base on a guided tour so damned if I was letting my apprentice and familiar be in unnecessary danger. Not when this place could easily turn into a battlefield between powerful individuals and the military if this was a trick and somebody decided to rush the now open Gate. Nothing much I could do about right though as I sat in my temporary little workshop drinking from a paper coffee-cup while in my 'Tim' disguise.
It wasn't like I was going to stay on edge every waking second, as I wasn't on over-watch duty and it was hard to get time to rest, and eat, preparing for all this madness. Allowing potential invaders, mostly, unlimited access to several areas of the facility, and then an inspection of parts of Gotham, was probably driving Director Waller as crazy as it irritated me. I could understand, as we were definitely restricting it to 'public access' and there was a fairly serious desire to prove we weren't going to start a war; somebody, somewhere, really wanted to prove intent to them.
'Probably the UN and League I guess, things aren't exactly the best over this side of the ocean after all' I reminded myself taking a bit of my sandwich. Orders were to allow them access to my little 'tool shed/workspace' if they requested as such, and I was to act 'at ease' and 'relaxed' and a whole host of other nonsense. Something I was doing, though I disguised up over a full combat load-out under certain Broken Pedestal Omega Protocols in case this turned nasty, fast. I sighed, looking up at the ceiling, as the discrete buzzer hummed a second indicating approaching visitors.
Both Huntress and Cheshire go there own notifications too it seemed, though only Cheshire was actually in 'uniform' as Paula was playing the part of research assistant today in her disguise. Sure we were to play nice, and be all open and friends with the dangerous outsiders; but didn't mean one couldn't take precautions within the limits set. After all this was, temporarily and only technically, my workshop right now and I had some limited degree of autonomy...even it looked like I was to be stuck as assistant tour guide for a time...
--
[30th March 2011]
[SHIELD Portal Security, Security Zone, Gotham, New Jersey, United States of America, Earth-16]
'Oh, thank God, we're leaving' Dean Stansfield, known as Gallant, thought as they moved to exit the Workshop of a Tinker, who had Stranger powers, who was clearly hiding irritability about having to show others around said facility. Or the bloodlust and excitement there could be a fight barely concealed off his partner or bodyguard as the masked cape, Cheshire, fell in behind the Tinker, Enchanter, as they exited the room. Dragon and Armsmaster were content enough, eager to see such things as Tinkers always were, but Dean had known Kid Win long enough to feel safer being elsewhere.
That, and...it was hard to read this Enchanter, some part of his Stranger effect rolling in and then rolling out; flashes of emotion, muted beneath shadows. He seemed friendly, was also clearly irritated, much more so than the 'tour guide' and...the AI. Dean was mildly horrified, in part because of the monotone voice, but also because he couldn't read the machine...like he couldn't read Dragon's drone unit, but Dragon was on his side and not an AI. This particular unit was fully functional, sentient...and had access to this Earth's internet by all accounts...
'Mind reading aliens and AI's, what a place' he noted as he watched other as they passed. So far it was curiosity and wariness from most of the staff they'd encountered, a positive sign, and the rooftop was largely clear as they looked out over a cityscape. Nothing overly different than home really, it even had the same large number of helicopters that seemed to have besieged Brockton Bay in recent days since this damned portal came to everyone's attention. Well, beyond clear signs of recent destruction, and clusters of what Dean assumed were soldiers along with engineers around construction cranes.
"Large-scale Earthquake and Echinoderm organism, also known as Starro, within a short period of time are the cause of the destruction" was the reason given by the machine, Red Tornado, and he could feel the bitter amusement from several other natives present. Enchanter, going by Tim, gave a snort, his Stranger effect showing him rolling his eyes as their group stared out over the city. Gestured with his hand as one the other rested on the safety railing as Dean watched some local capes on patrol distant to their position; the good news was there wasn't much sign of an invasion force around the location. Only a defensive one as best he could tell.
"Gotham was a dump before the mind controlling starfish...thing..." Enchanter muttered, getting a grunt of agreement from the dangerous one, Cheshire, and a general glow of silent agreement from the 'guide' Mister Crane and the other local Cape, Captain Atom even if showing disapproval in his case "...with only the Batman and GCPD keeping things in check. Quake knocked that all flat, all the costumed loonies getting out of Arkham, and then the vampires...well, between them and the gangs there was a free for all that everyone would have sorted out in a bit more time. If not for this portal problem anyway"
Mister Crane nodded slowly "An interpretation of those events yes, though more negatively put than most in the media, and one we are sad to say was likely a causal factor in the portal's creation. Local metahumans in some sort of cult engaged with what we have deemed vampires, based on similarities to the mythological beings, which drew the attention of...auxilary forces in the area"
'God, it's *just* like home, letting the most powerful gangs run roughshod because...never enough' he thought feeling mildly depressed by the thought. They were to given limited access to the local public networks shortly, and this place must have a bad enough reputation of they were willing to bring up the state of play so openly, and evoke the emotions it clearly did in those around him who hid their emotions pretty well. So he stayed quiet as a mild conversation took place, truthfully as best Dean could tell from Armsmaster's engagement, as they stood on a rooftop under a bright sunny sky...
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