Planning

[time_dancer]

Val's room is something like a mix between a New York warehouse studio and a high tech lab. Instruments glow and beep along one wall and the windows (or are the flat screen monitors?) show the New York skyline in the early evening of Autumn. Over the center wall is a large portrait of the Fantastic Four family; Reed, Susan, Johnny, Ben, Alicia, Val, Franklin, and Jennifer figure prominately. On an opposite wall another family portrait shows a happy Susan with a seemingly equally happy Victor von Doom (in armor), an older Franklin (teen aged) and Val. Over by the lab area there is a dry erase board with the words "Save Johnny" written very large.

There is a round table in the center of the room with enough chairs for everyone. Food and drink (digital variations are present) are on a side table next to plates and cups. Floating above the table is a 3D holo-map showing a flat asteroid about the size of a couple football stadiums with several smaller asteroids floating about it. There is a red light blinking just off the center of the large rock island.

"So here's the landscape. Aunt Jen, you've had more experience with the Negative Zone. Would you mind explaining its nature for us?" Val asks once everyone is settled. All traces of her usual cheery self are gone, today Val is all business. At the head of the table there are also a few floating screens showing several different species of the insectoids and some stills of the character of N-Zone space.

Comments

Re: And now, the actual planning

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

"I'm reluctant to say this, but I think we should split into two groups to double our chances. One group has the advantage of more power and smashing through the Annihilation Wave, two groups has that advantage plus possibly stealth. If possible. Once they notice us, we're in for a very nasty fight. So I'm thinking flank Johnny from the left and right."

Re: And now, the actual planning

[time_dancer]

"Would it help for one team to make as much 'noise' as we can? If one team can draw most of the attention it could make it easy for the other team to reach Johnny. We have a lot of guns, we could keep firing from a distance."

She hopes this is a reasonable suggestion but she really doesn't know. All she knows is that she has to save Johnny and get everyone back home.

Re: And now, the actual planning

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

"Do you have images of how many bugs Johnny is facing? If he's surrounded by hundreds or thousands, that's as good a plan as any. I hate to say it, Val, but we're facing poor odds for the non-superpowered. I could go in by myself and get him, but not if there are overwhelming numbers of bugs. They could snatch him from me. Good job on being able to make portals, though, kiddo - you sneaky girl, you."

Impulsively she leans over and puts an arm around Val's shoulders and plants a maternal kiss on Val's forehead.

[slayer_fray]

Mel shakes her hair back from her head at the idea of the team splits.

"I'm good with sneaking," she volunteers. "Professional thief, here."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I've... actually I think I'm out of Stealth Boys," Ellen says. "Sorry. But if you want noise I can bring plenty of that. Mjolnir's pretty spectacular when it fires, more so than my plasma rifle, so it tends to draw enemy attention."

She's trying very hard not to think of uncounted thousands of those bug things when she says that. It's not a pleasant image.

[time_dancer]

Jen's comment about portals brings an idea to Val though she's warning between blushing and tearing up at Jen's tenderness.

"What if we port in the safe location I've picked out here," Val says pointing at a basin between two hills, "then check out the lay of the land. If I see an area near Uncle Johnny that's clear enough, I could make more portals and we could jump much closer. I would have to make sure I had a lot of calories in me before all this though, that would take a lot of energy out of me and I'll need to make sure I have enough to get us back."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

"You are eating a pastrami on rye immediately. Followed by an electrolyte beverage and an energy bar."

Jen will brook no disagreement here.

"I don't know about the basin. We can't get the lay of the land if we're between hills. On the other hand, a hilltop exposes us. I still vote for hilltop for the cavalry charge."

Jen thinks for a moment.

"I could do stealth. I could do noise. What do you think, Val?"

[time_dancer]

Val's tempted to argue that she has nutritional supplements in her armor but decides to let it go cause really can you argue with pastrami?

"I really don't know," she replies as combat tactics is really beyond her but then she does what she always does when faced with something she is unfamiliar with; she looks to her family for insight. "This is almost a glorified quarterback blitz if you really look at it. Granted we're rescuing our quarterback and the other team vastly out numbers us. I honestly stopped counting at a million by the way. But with some creative use of my gates, I think we can do this. What about one team goes stealth and the other makes noise to cover. I've got a lot of ranged options as far as attacks go, how about I lead the 'noise' team and you go for the stealth Aunt Jen?

"The number are vast, no getting around that but we won't really be facing that many at one time. They will be getting in each others way and as soon as we have Uncle Johnny, we are out of there. We don't need to worry about carving a retreat."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

"I want Ellen on my team," Jen replies. "So I can keep an eye on her. But stealth makes sense. The problem is, once they see us, baby will go boom. The fights are noisy what with the villainous exposition they're going to subject us to. And I'm betting news will travel fast - the entire Wave is going to know we're there. Either way, stealth won't last long I'm afraid. I could be wrong. I'm just laying out the worst case scenario as I see it. Let's try for stealth and see what happens. Maybe they won't communicate as effectively as I think. And a little ambush never hurt anyone, did it?"

Jen grins evilly.

[unbreakableben]

"Works for me," Ben adds with a grin. He's been quiet and standing at parade rest but absorbing the details. "As far as noise goes, are there any extra boom sticks? I could help with the bombardment until we get close enough for me to lay the smack down."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

Jen is almost startled by Ben's statement. She hadn't realized a Ben was there.

"Ben? Is that you?" She grins widely. "I haven't seen you since Ellen led us through Olney."

[unbreakableben]

"It's me," he replies with a big grin. It's likely weird seeing Ben so young let alone human but that grin can not be mistaken. He's also sporting a very military hair cut and his mannerism support the conclusion that he is in fact military now.

"If the calendar is to be trusted, I seem to be from the future compared to now. I guess the Landlord decided my help was needed and I can't argue with him. I'd appreciate it if no one would tell my past self about how things turn out? There's some things I need to face my own way."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

"Of course. The decision should always be left up to the time traveler unless life or death is involved - at least, that's my opinion."

Time travel paradoxes always fascinate Jen. It comes from facing Kang the Conquerer.

"But do you remember this mission, which could be considered your past? Or is this not part of your current time stream?"

[unbreakableben]

Ben shakes his head. "Afraid not. I think my own personal time frame is key here. To me this will happen in my future. I expect my old rocky self will be coming back as I remember doing it lots of times."

[will_scarlett]

"Aye, time an worlds 'ere are always strange. Keep 'old o'what ye know an the people ye know. That aids ye the most,"

He's not from one of their worlds but he knows what its like to know something that's almost home but not.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Drake Tungsten would have a field day with this," Ellen murmurs, rubbing at her temples. "Anyway. I'd offer you a gun, Ben, except that the only other heavy weapon I have access to is a Fat Man launcher, and I don't actually own any mini-nukes."

Other than the MIRV ones she's set aside from Fort Constantine, as she doesn't trust them and doesn't want them being lost.

[unbreakableben]

Ben chokes. "Nukes? Umm no thanks. Nukes in a microgravity environment don't seem like a good idea."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

Jen gives Ellen a Look. "I'm sorely tempted...never mind, never mind. I think we need to decide the team split."

She has to add something.

"I would love to unleash nukes on the Wave as we're leaving. But we don't have that option. So I'm taking as many down as possible. You may not have seen me in a melee before, but I advise you all to watch your backs when I go beserker. Fleshy debris will abound. I don't want to cover you with bug appendices or brains."

[a1enzo]

Enzo appreciates the warning. Otherwise, he might stop fighting to ogle.

Yeah, it's like that.

"I could do either. We cover a lot of stuff in training."

[will_scarlett]

"Aye, that'd make leavin' difficult. I'll probably be best near the back with me longbow as its got a long range an can come in with me sword whene'er ye need me,"

He doesn't think he's seen Jen fight but he knows berserkers and its never a pretty sight.

[time_dancer]

Val has seen some old video footage and she'd prefer to keep it to that but Johnny is more important that her squeamish level.

"I can also use my force fields to help protect you. I think I'd be best for the distraction team. I can make a lot of noise in a variety of ways."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Stealth isn't going to work for me," Ellen says. "Put me with the destruction team. Mjolnir's got good range, and so does my alien weaponry. And they don't leave very much behind."

[gammagammahey.livejournal.com]

Jen gives her a sad look.

"It makes sense for me to be on Team Shhh. Unless yelling counts as Team Boom."

This next she directs at Ellen.

"I wanted you on my team, Ellen, so remember: this really is Olney times ten thousand. Watch your back and when we meet up at Johnny's location, I'll watch it for you."

She grins.

[unbreakableben]

"Well unless we find a big gun for me, I guess stealth it is. And don't worry Jen," he says turning to her with a grin. There's a brief flash and then he's glowing purple. "I'm still good for the smack down."

[will_scarlett]

"If I've those arrows that 'xplode an me own arrows, boom would probably be best for me."