Paradigm Shift IC - Shields Up. Red Alert.

[Lord Fell]

American Amazon

Diana represses the urge to sigh. "We need a minute. You'll excuse us of course, Colonel Kent..." Diana doesn't wait for a response before she homes in on Rogers and Stone, then she hustles the pair of them outside. In the hall, she looks both ways and spying a pair of soldiers standing guard promptly dismisses them; "you two! At ease! Somewhere the hell else."

Turning back to Rogers and Stone she dives right in. "Obviously I put my foot right in it, somewhere past the knee, it looks like. I'm sorry for that. You have to look at the scenario from my eyes though. The pair of you have crazy titanium cojones to have gotten out of Lost Angels at all. I don't think anyone who's seen combat would believe you could be field ready within six months of that."

Looks like she has something to say, and wants to get it all out before she loses her audience because she keeps on going on like a stallion with the bit in its teeth. "You suffered extraordinary trauma, you received extraordinary therapy. That makes sense, it's a piece of the puzzle I didn't have. And it's good. America needs you, and I need you. I can't lead this team. Not because you two are pissed at me, but because I don't have the right skill set. I was a pilot, then I was a cop; it's always been me and my wingman or me and my partner. I've never lead a unit."

"Can I get you on board? I mean... if not I can go let Kent courtmartial me now, because it will save time and lives."

[Walking Dad]

Cyborg
Character Sheet- HP 4 - Condition: normal

Stone hears titanium cojones and looks down his metal body: "Interesting choice of words." But then he grins, what looks a bit creepy with his damaged right side.
"Look Cap, I think we need to stick together for this. And as much as it hurts me to say, my added weight and bulk doesn't make me the best one available for a silently moving scout party."
And she apologized and by the look of her, this is not a regular event... he thinks to himself.

[Zen_Gypsy]

Captain Steve Rogers
Hero Points: 3.
Condition: Fatigued.

Rogers regarded the dark haired woman carefully as he listened to what she had to say. She was right of course, and had every reason to doubt their ability. As Kent was placing the operation in her hands, she was responsible for her team, and she was making hard choices about the men in her command. Rogers had to respect that, almost absently he wondered if she had lost any of the men or women under her command.

"Thank you for taking the time to speak with us Major, I was out of line for dressing you down like that in front of the unit. Your initial assessment might have been valid, hell it may still be. I've seen too many people willing to cut our losses, abandon the Angels, hide behind our shields, and pretend our reality isn't being invaded. When you cut into us about the PTSD, I didn't want to be left behind, abandoned."

Rogers looked at Vic, meeting his gaze, a slow sigh, and then he turned his attention back to the Major, "You've got our support Major, and my respect for walking over here and settling this now." He snapped a full salute at the Major, his back straight, shoulders squared at attention as his eyes took in the descending hawk-man, and the two new specialists that Kent had brought with him.

"Shall we assemble the troops, sir?"

[Lord Fell]

Amazon

Instinctually, Diana returns the salute, but she's not quite ready to end the conversation. "That was a massive breach of protocol in there, on my part. You're 100% right about there being a time and a place. That's another symptom of my always working with a partner instead of a unit. When you rely on a single person to watch your back, you have to be sure; so I didn't play softball with any of them. Old habits. I got a lot to learn, but I'll get there."

Very carefully not looking down at Stone's shiny metal codpiece, she reaches out to give him a gentle punch on the arm. "It's a couple of promotions above brass, Sergeant."

Turning her head in the direction the guards had left, she gives a shout down the hall. "Soldiers, on your post please and thank you!"

Reentering the room, Diana addresses Kent. "Sorry sir. Girl talk. Sometimes it strikes like a seizure."

The Major nods to the new arrivals. In the excitement of making a fool of herself, she hadn't paid proper attention to who was who, or what exactly the mission was. She recalled Specialist Secret requesting a mission briefing, but in all honesty wasn't really clear on that detail herself. "Now that we're all assembled, Sir, could you recap our objectives?"

[RedBstrd]

Eclipse
HP 1
Condition: Normal

Satisfied that the officers in charge of the team got the mission back on track, Eclipse moves a few steps closer to the conversation and listens intently. Noticing the same thing that Spider did, though, he eyes The Secret's trench coat and nods approvingly. It wasn't just the trench coat, but also the tricks of the light and the mask the man wears; on some level, Grayson expects him to be a kindred soul.

[Bladewind]

Starrware Towers
Dimensional Anchors: Dormant

A few moments ago...

Horus spread his wings and launched himself into the air, each sweep of his wings thrusting him higher and higher. Clearing the roof's edge he could see the gathering of people and the aftermath of battle. "Some of those look like soldiers - the one in the armor appears to be the one in charge, but I really can't be sure."
Horus hovered a moment before touching down.
"My blessings upon you all. Who among you is 'Kent'?"

The here and now

Referring you all back to this post for the original briefing.

Kent looks around, satisfied. He would have preferred to resolve the matter of with Prince and the two survivors of Lost Angels under better circumstances, but this resolution was more clean and more complete.

Just before he opens his mouth to repeat the mission he wants them to volunteer for, Spider does his best impression of a cartoon cat and leaps to the ceiling. Coaxing him down takes a few moments, and just as he does, three SP officers enter the room leading a very obviously Paradigm Shifted individual.

"Um, Colonel? I get the impression it - er, he - seems to think you're expecting him?

[RedBstrd]

Eclipse
HP 1
Condition: Normal

Seeing that the agent finished his observation of the staff, Eclipse proceeds over and claims it. "Thank you, agent. I'll take over from here." As he walks back over to the officers, Grayson nods and addresses Kent. "Sir, the staff is in hand. I will prioritize maintaining our possession of it for the duration of the mission. I'll alert officers Amazon and Rogers in the event of any changes to the device, if any." As he eyes the relic, he adds: "Not that I trust it one bit. It's certainly a nasty thing, I'd wager..."

Eclipse doesn't have Expertise: Magic (that's something I should purchase with xp before too long), but he's wary of items like the staff from his travels in the East and his experience with mysticism there.

[Lord Fell]

American Amazon

Diana has been asked for briefing, so she's damn well going to brief... even if she doesn't have a clear notion of what their mission actually is. She takes center stage, and gives Rogers a tug to get him to stand next to her. "Our mission is low on details but high on promise. For the first time, a team of elite operatives will enter Lost Angels. For the first time, we have what appears to be an opportunity to reverse a Paradigm Shift and claim back some of our own."

"Sounding off," she singles each of you out with a finger and her gaze as she indicates you. "I am Major Diana Prince, call-sign American Amazon."

"Sergeant Victor Stone," Cyborg.

"Operative Spider," the spectacularly optimistic Peter Parker.

"Operative Rebis," whoever you are under those bandages.

"Operative Eclipse," spook with the red bandana.

"Operative Secret," spook with the white fright-mask.

"Operative Horus," now that... that's a paradigm shift. "The Avenger, if I'm not mistaken."

"Captain Steve Rogers, X-O of this team," Cyclops. "We will muster at Science Police HQ at 0630 tomorrow. Gentlemen... I intend to put you in harms way. Captain?" Major Prince hands the floor over to Captain Rogers, should he wish to add detail or dismiss the unit.

[Zen_Gypsy]

Captain Steve Rogers
Hero Points: 3.
Condition: Fatigued; Re-Capping (No pun intended!)

Rogers stepped up to stand beside the taller woman as she sounded off, hands clasped firmly behind him at the small of his back he stepped forward when she asked if he had anything to add.

"Approximately two hours ago, for lack of a better term, a micro-incursion occurred here, above Starrware building. This incursion was centered around a woman, a Ms. Lincoln, an augment known to have the ability to draw heat from objects, and environments to various effects. Arriving on site, the assembled team found two Paradigm invaders surrounding Ms. Lincoln in what Cyborg describes as a web of energy. We managed to subdue one of the invaders, designated Skuld, for obvious reasons, while her superior, Cythonna, was able to retreat to their invading paradigm."

Rogers paused a moment, clearing his throat, his eyes scanning the assembled team to ensure that they were following the chain of events. "American Amazon was able to interrogate Skuld prior to her being detained by our forces. During this interrogation we were able to discern three key locations that seemed to be of interest to Skuld and her superiors. Two locations, Starrware Tower and Lexcorp are within Metropolis, and will be investigated by the Sci-Pol, while we ..." Rogers nodded to indicate the assembled unit. "... will travel through the shields, into the Lost Angels to investigate the site of the Star Labs building for any signs of these paradigm invaders."

He stepped forward again, towards his troops, his right eyebrow rising over his visor. "Questions?"

[Bladewind]

Mission Briefing
Dimensional Anchors - Dormant

Secret

The man in the trenchcoat regards Spider with a slight turn of his head while listening to the conversation.

"If I might, Captain?" He asks and continues without waiting for a response. "This seems odd to me. One of very few buildings still standing in our sister city is our destination, and we are going to simply carry a device related to this micro-incursion with us.

"Like I said. Odd."

He looks over the group as if reading each and every person like a computer.

"Are any of you aware that something - or someone - is still alive in there? That there is an IP presence in the building we are headed to?"

Colonel Kent

"Valid points. But these things need looking into. Our best operatives on site believe that the staff needs to go with you.

"Major? Captain? Your thoughts?"

[RedBstrd]

Eclipse
HP 1
Condition: Normal

Grayson nods in agreement with the Secret. "Indubitably. It's a very odd plan. We must assume that we're walking into something of a trap." To Colonel Kent, he notes: "If our orders are to carry the staff, I won't fail you. Still, I'll consider the staff a danger and a highly likely target of enemy interest. I will keep it out of sight to the extent possible."

Meanwhile, Grayson just hoped that it would be enough and that his intution about the danger of the device was unfounded.

To Rogers, he speaks, redirecting his mental focus on questions with easier answers: "Captain, was Ms. Lincoln resisting the invaders or perhaps assisting them? Is she in our custody?"

[Zen_Gypsy]

Captain Steve Rogers
Hero Points: 3.
Condition: Fatigued.

Rogers considered Grayson's question a moment before responding, "Unlike Vic, I wasn't able to perceive the energy field surrounding the three women. Yet, based on her condition after we subdued Skuld, and Cythonna escaped, I would have to assume that she was being used as a conduit of some sort. It appears Lincolns own augment abilities are related to, at least thematically, the invading paradigm."

He looked over at the blank face of the Secret, considering his words as well.

One of very few buildings still standing in our sister city is our destination, and we are going to simply carry a device related to this micro-incursion with us. Are any of you aware that something - or someone - is still alive in there? That there is an IP presence in the building we are headed to?"

"As Colonel Kent mentioned, at least one person has been able to traverse the Lost Angels." He directed his gaze towards the Beetle, as Kent had called him. "It is not unheard of for an individual to survive beyond the shields of Metropolis. Now, you need to be clear, are you telling me that you are aware of individuals operating out of the Star Labs complex, and that they have access to a working IP address, or are you asking me if there are?"

[Bombaatu]

Horus
HP:1 - Cond: Calm/Frightened out of his wits

The being known as Horus listened to the briefing and watched with unblinking eyes. Outwardly he was calm, almost preternaturally so, but within an argument brewed.

"Lost Angels?!? Are they insane?! Wait a moment... oh, nonono... you don't actually plan on joining them, do you??" "But of course. I am here to oppose those who would threaten your world. If they are at this 'Lost Angels', there will I be also."

It is rather hard to fume, pace and wring one's hands while incorporeal, but Biti's mental self did just that. "Ohno-ohno-ohnonono... I-I-I'm not a... a... soldier! I am a teacher, not some... gung-ho John Wayne! I will NOT..."
** FLASH **
"...NOT simply allow you to hijack my body and fly it off to gods-know-what... Oh, my... Um... hello?" Biti stopped in mid-pace and stared about in obvious confusion. He had no idea how or why, but he was himself again. And in a room with some very strange, very powerful people. People who were looking at him.
"Release me, Biti Bahur. Your world is in peril and you have not the strength to prevail."
Biti whirled around as if surprised by someone behind him and began speaking to empty air. "What do you mean, 'release you'? I don't know how you got here to begin with!"

[Adventure Dan]

Spider
HP: 2

"Operative Spider."

"Hi," Peter said with a small wave as if it were a proper way to do roll call. He opened his mouth to weigh in (with something of no worth) on the discussion of the magical staff's power and the potential danger of bringing it into Lost Angels, when the Paradigm Shifted Horus stepped in. First Eclipse, then Secret, and now this guy?

"Huh. I didn't know that they picked up operatives from Sesame St-" There was flash, and where Horus stood was now a normal-looking man (which, in this crowd, made him stand out. "-eet?"

[Lord Fell]

Amazon

"In regards to Lincoln, her recollection of the last several hours is virtually non-existent. It's a safe assumption that her actions assisting the Paradigm Incursion were not of her own volition."

With the flash of light and the transmogrification of Horus into... what appeared to be a sturdy professor, or perhaps a humble newspaper vendor, Diana laid a gentle but implacable hand on the Aramaic gentleman, and turned him to face the assembly. "And who might you be, when you're not a giant, glowing bird man?"