<strong>Hero Points:</strong>7 (Neko), 4 (Hornet), 1 (Scarab)<br/><br/><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/Sv0wPZ4.jpg)</div><br/>Scarab said nothing in response to Neko's theories. Whatever her opinions, she did not share anything beyond a simple "roger" at the rooftop rendezvous.<br/><br/>Disabling the alarms was child's play for a woman of Neko's caliber, and the generator in question was behind an eight foot high chain-link fence trivial to disable. Taking apart the panel without leaving signs of sabotage took a bit of work, but Mars' heir dealt with tougher security.<br/><br/>"I can be subtle," Scarab said, "although it takes some effort."<br/><br/>Closing her eyes, she imagined herself in a Mind Palace of an Egyptian Pyramid motif, its many corridors and alcoves filled ceremonial urns brimming with raw memory of past-life selves. In one such chamber she found a red domino mask and black tri-cornered hat, a relic of prior eras when superheroes were known as "masked mystery men."<br/><br/>Smiling confidently, Scarab walked across the rooftop to the stair enclosure in such a way that her heeled boots fell softer than feathers on the foundation.<br/><br/>"Oh, one more thing. I can communicate by telepathy if you want to be really quiet. But not everyone enjoys the sharing of thoughts. Don't worry, I can't pick up one's life story this way, it's just surface thoughts if you will."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Scarab uses Beginner's Luck to gain 5 temporary ranks in Stealth by spending 1 Hero Point, which will last for the duration of the scene in infiltrating Redshift Energies.<br/><br/>She can also use her Telepathy powers on Neko if she volunteers. She will be affected by Mind Reading 6 along with Communication 1 (effective out to 1 mile).<br/><br/>If Neko refuses, Scarab's dialogue will be spoken but in a whisper. If she accepts, presume dialogue between them is silent telepathy.<br/><br/>Finally, all Hero Points will reset to 1 for the heroines at the end of this Caper. The Redshift infiltration is just one part, but letting you know ahead of time.</div></div><br/>The interior of Redshift appeared much like any mid-sized corporate office building. Rows upon rows of cubicles and side rooms separated with the thinnest veneers of privacy. The computers were still presented, but their cords were unplugged, the desktops bricked with magnets stuck to hard drives in a crude attempt at erasing the contents. Redshift was one of the more "modern" businesses; file cabinets full of papers seemed more or less absent, and only a precious few remained: four of them in the corner of the northeast side room, partially open with scattered folders whose contents were put through a paper shredder (which could be put back together given enough time). The third floor was little different, its conference room host to a PowerPoint presentation projector listing an overview of ways to improve company morale.<br/><br/>"Neko, I found something!"<br/><br/>Scarab knelt down at an open fridge in the break room. Holding out a plastic-wrapped sandwich, it became clear that hunger was not on her mind when her thumb grasping the top pointed to the name upon it.<br/><br/><em>Carl MacKinnon</em><br/><br/>"Sorry if that's not much to go on," she answered, "but it's the only marked piece of food within."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Intelligence Report, Automatic</div><div class="spoiler_body">Consulting WhitePages, LinkedIn, and various social media profiles for people bearing that name in Emerald City narrows the search down to 37 year old Iraq War veteran and worked on and off providing security to various banks and financial institutions. He is not one to post about his job online.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Investigation DC 20</div><div class="spoiler_body">There is a partially-deleted chat page where people seem to be responding to him about how chemical spills can suck, tying him to Redshift Energies. Looks like he tried deleting any loose ends with the company on his profiles.</div></div></div></div><br/>The second floor was distinctly different from the third and fourth's dominions. Biohazard markings, plastic HAZMAT suits hanging from coat racks, and emergency showers and eyewash stations stood testament to the company's namesake. Three rooms were dedicated to labwork, one of which dominated the bulk of the floor in the south, and two in the north: Cellular Biology, Nanotechnology, and Biochemistry respectively. But what was most noticeable was the presence of a pair of sentry turrets hanging on the far west and east ends of the hallway!<br/><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/X1YOR1F.jpg?1)<br/><br/>Scarab almost ducked back into the stairwell at the sight of them, but once it became clear that Neko's circumvention worked she cautiously emerged. "Aha, sorry about that," she said. "I was never good with machines. Can't exactly read an inorganic mind."<br/><br/>The labs themselves were barren, even more sterile than their normal conditions. Not a speck of dust, even nanodust ostensibly, was present in any of the rooms. Just blank white floors, ceilings, and walls.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Expertise Science Automatic</div><div class="spoiler_body">It's clear that based on the three branches of science in the labs that something like the Silver Storm would be connected to Redshift's research. Their documents are not present, but based on the design of the room's foundations they are meant to withstand significant trauma.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">DC 25</div><div class="spoiler_body">Someone used atomization technology to disintegrate any evidence within these facilities. The bricked computers and shredded papers above could have been just as easily atomized, but Redshift's priorities were here.</div></div></div></div><br/>The roars of protesters outside grew louder, evidence of some disturbance. Unseasonal snow flurries frosted up the windows, and even inside Neko could feel the temperature take a precipitous drop. The source was unclear, but what was clear were that the throngs of protesters got past the barricade and could be heard coming in through the first floor.<br/><br/>Scarab immediately ran to a window (the lab rooms are completely enclosed).<br/><br/><em>If Neko does the same, she'll see concentrated accumulation of snow on the street outside, several feet high in places. This caused panic to break out among the protesters while also using the snow's height to "funnel" them into Redshift Energies. Many of them are scared and fleeing at what they think may be another "Silver Storm," but others presume that the company is somehow attacking them and thus become even more driven. The police are unable to hold the crowd back, who are already breaking through into the reception area.</em><br/><br/>"I've seen one freak storm too many to know that this is not a coincidence!" Scarab exclaimed. "We'll be unable to investigate with a distraction this large!"<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Perception &amp; Stealth</div><div class="spoiler_body">Scarab Perception 25 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=136588)<br/>Arctic Fox Stealth 36 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=136589)</div></div><br/><em>The creator of the blizzard got a 36 Stealth, and Scarab 25 Perception. It is unlikely that Neko will be able to spot him, but just in case the OOC has some options. Neko is able to automatically ascertain that the blizzard is technological in origin, likely a device altering the heat waves and humidity in the air to bring about localized freak weather.<br/><br/>The crowd will most certainly be a distraction and given their sentiments towards Redshift a fearful and unruly mob may cause damage (intentional or otherwise) to any evidence left behind.<br/><br/>How does Neko plan to deal with setback? Pacify the crowd with words (or violence, although that won't be very heroic)? Do a snatch and grab on the last floor of anything that may seem valuable? Conduct an immediate search of the blizzard creator? Delegate a task or two to Scarab while she does another thing?</em>