Scene #2505: The Dragonslayers

Owner	Pose
Defiant	Where there's heroes, there's villains. Where there's villains, there's nemeses. Some of them wear their grudges in secret and others make their mission statement quite clear. There's no chance that the so-called Dragonslayers, a mercenary group of three power-armored capes, won't have some interest in launching an attack on the Birdcage. It is, after all, run by Dragon. The name can't be coincidental. Their leader, a man who goes by the name of Saint, agrees to meet with Tesla Armadia at what appears to be a random spot in the Canadian wilderness. It's not the most convenient spot but Saint was quite clear as to where he would be willing to meet in person, and it wasn't anywhere near where someone could possibly track them down. The three wear giant power-armored suits, each one different but yet obviously constructed from the same base design. Saint, Dobrynja and Mags. Front and centre, Saint's suit is the one bearing the cross design on the helmet.
Tesla Armadia	As a scientific mastermind and and overseer of a semi-covert contain-and-research organization for the Confederacy Tesla Armadia can entirely understand the desire for a very remote and obscure meeting place. Much as she has her own reasons for wanting to meet in person rather than by long distance communication. As much as to make sure her potential contacts as real as it is in case she has to demonstrate why she is not entirely out of her gourd with this endeavor. The means of arrival remains unseen, likely some sort of cloaked deployment craft. But it is no more than a short wait before Tesla walks out of the treelines and into the small clearing, the hem of her labcoat swishing about her ankles just above the grass. To the right and just behind her followed the armored humanoid wolf-cyborg that was Lunessa, who was paying more attention to their surroundings as a precaution than the waiting archnemesies. And heavy footfalls bring up the rear as Sharcore's hulking armored form follows at the back. Twelve feet and several mechanical tons of ceratopsian motiffed warmachine. Lights flicker across the optical band as the technological terror regards each of the waiting armored forms briefly. Tesla stops a few paces ahead of the two, and gives a brief half-bow to the Dragonslayers. "Gentlemen. Your acceptance of the offer to meet is much appreciated."
Defiant	The faceplate of Saint's helmet slides back. His head is shaved and he gives off the general vibe of someone who might have been a soldier, cop or even a career criminal, given that is face is marked with a tattoo that matches the cross on his armor. "Our goals align," Saint says, "And in this circumstance we're more than happy to help. We might be able to waive our usual fees in exchange for a different arrangement."
Tesla Armadia	Tesla isn't visibly wearing her own power armor, but one can imagine it isn't -not- here somehow. She is wearing what are clearly reinforced boots, and when she lifts one hand to adjust her glasses, matching mechanical guantlets. "And there will never be a better oppritunity to strike. The majority of the Protectoreate is weakened and worn from the Endbringer attack. Union interference is to be expected on their behalf, but can be accounted for with experience to their methods... But that is why I am here. This is your world, and your familiarity." Her tail gave an idly flick as she steepled her fingers together. "An equally important asset in this tremendous endeavour. The more odds we can put in our favor, the better." She pauses, then tilts her head aside slightly, curious. "And this arrangement would be?"
Defiant	"We don't particularly care what you do with the Birdcage or the hydra that guards it," Saint begins, "That won't be our concern and we have measures to ensure that it can't trouble us. Inside that prison is a friend of ours, a man named Teacher. We want him broken out - with the assistance you're providing, it might be possible. Under any other circumstance, a direct assault on the prison would be suicide." Saint's eyes don't waver off Tesla. His two companions haven't said anything - maybe they're just muscle? "More importantly I can tell you what you'll be facing. The Protectorate should be the least of your worries."
Tesla Armadia	Likewise neither of Tesla's companions. Lunessa's attention is on making sure they are not interrupted, as small as a chance as that may be. Shardcore is very, very definately muscle for this occasion. And to some extent both are examples of just a small part of what Tesla is capable of. A slow smile creeps across Tesla's lips. Its one of those smiles you see on a mad scientist when they've hit stride with a project. "The Confederacy is only interested in the general chaos turning these villians loose again will cause, as a reminder we are not someone even the superpowered should take lightly. I just want to claim some of this 'Tinkere' technology for myself alongside the chaos. If you have a specific individual you wish to extradite from the location I can more than provide you with additional assistance to do so with little issue with our own intentions." She resumes folding her hands behind her back. "Of course you can. That is why we are here. You have something you want, and information I want to ensure this project is an accomplishment."
Defiant	"Good. Then this will be mutually beneficial and, despite what some people think, a net benefit to our world," Saint says. "The most pertinent information that you will need in order for this to succeed is that Dragon isn't human and never was. It's an artificial intelligence created by one Andrew Richter. If you go into this fight expecting to take on a simple, friendly Canadian woman, you will lose." "But we've defeated it before, on three occasions. We know how it acts, how it processes information, how it must obey certain restrictions. Unfortunately, it has enlisted the help of one of our world's most broken heroes to alter its programming. Our countermeasures aren't as effective, but they'll be enough. Expect to face him, too, the one they now call Defiant." Saint continues, "You can expect to face him, any heroes that can respond fast enough - and there's not many left after the battle in New Delhi - as well as the intelligence itself and its armada. Any dragon suits you engage will be remote-controlled by the intelligence's systems and, once it realises what is happening, it will be bringing them all the bear. As best as we can determine, it has approximately a dozen remaining after the fight in New Delhi."
Tesla Armadia	So the so-called Dragon is NOT human after all. The reveal that she is an 'unleashed' AI causes a notible reaction. In that it makes Tesla smile all the wider, to the point of showing some of her sharper inhuman teeth. There is a glimmer in her eyes behind the lenses of her glasses. "Oh this just gets better and better." Power armored heroes and AIs in remote networking of the defenses. Just makes her want to get her hands on some of the technology all the more. But one thing at a time, as they say. "Between your countermeasures and my capabilities, I am certain we can make sure this will be a very excrutiating experience for both of them..."
Defiant	"I hope so," Saint replies, "Because that thing is on the cusp of becoming something different. This issue with the Nine is causing it to take control of more data and media, worldwide. Something more dangerous than an Endbringer, I feel, because no one has any idea what it is truly doing. It only had the limitations its creator gave it, and those are being whittled away one by one. What would you need to know in particular for this plan to succeed?"
Tesla Armadia	"Rampant AI Syndrome is not a thing to be taken lightly," Tesla agrees. "Clearly it is already becoming more than it was ever meant to be. It reachs that point where it decides the only way to protect humanity from itself is to destroy it..." She holds her metal-clad hands out to her sides. "Do I really need to elaborate? This is something I have worked -very- much towards avoiding with my own creations." Shardcore lifts its large head a bit a bit at the mention, but says or does nothing. Because it was not told to. "But all the more reason to break this playground of its. Make it clear this is not the advent of technological wonder many regard these unleashed AIS to be." Tesla returns her hands to her back. "Any information you have on these 'dragon suits' or other defenses it may contain would be most prudent. The more I know, the easier it will be to utilize my own abilities to deal with them."
Defiant	"Your concerns are exactly what led us to band together as the Dragonslayers," Saint agrees, nodding slightly. He raises one gauntletted hand to indicate the three armored suits on display. "Our own power armor is reverse engineered from the intelligence's own designs. I won't transmit our specifications - you understand why, of course - but I'll send the information we have on the suits we took down. As for the Birdcage... our information is limited. We have a communication channel into the prison that Dragon doesn't know about, along with numerous backdoor interfaces with its systems and code. We can see how it acts before it will act, to be blunt. We've never had the firepower to risk a direct confrontation, however. We can pass word to Teacher to ensure that he and his associates will be ready to move." "As far as other defences go," Saint continues, "I'd say the only heroes we would really have to concern ourselves with would be the Triumvirate. They're all flight-capable and fast enough to get there within minutes. But our chance against those three is less than a snowball in hell - you might do better."
Tesla Armadia	"Trust me, I understand entirely. I would be just as careful about my.. modifications. Every piece of information you are willing to supply about the units is appreciated. As for firepower." Tesla snaps her fingers, and the response is instant. One of Lunessa's arms goes through an 'arm cannon' type of transformation, extending into a large barreled assault weapon; while at the same time two cannons slide up over her shoulder plates. There's also at least one tech-sword visibly scabbarded to her armor. Shardcore opens weapon ports from pretty much -everywhere- on his body, from multiple micro-missile pods, to the shardblasters on his arms. An eight barrel gatling cannon unfolds over one shoulder, while the other is occupied by a massive energy lancer cannon of some sort. "That will no longer be an issue." The mad scientist smile returns. "Between your knowledge and familiarity, my capabilities, and the strengths of my allies to deal with other... outside intrusions; this will certainly be a jailbreak no one will forget. Not to mention dealing a severe blow to this AI."
Defiant	One of Saint's people audibly whistles from behind his helmet. When he speaks, he has a heavy Russian accent. "Now, that is firepower. Perfect weapons for the hunting of dragons." "I agree," Saint comments. "I'll transmit the information as soon as we return to our headquarters. If there's nothing else, we should leave to begin our preperations."
Tesla Armadia	"And that is nothing compared to the 'knocker' I have prepared to get us inside." Tesla gestures again and the two retract their weaponry once more. "Yes, thank you. I will likewise send you the specifics on the time and deployment so we can all coordinate appropriately." She gives a final nod. "A pleasure, gentlemen."
Defiant	Saint nods, and the visor of his helmet slips back over his face. "Likewise," he comments, and he and his subordinates kick in the jetpacks of their suits - huh, so they're flight capable - and launch themselves off to destinations unknown. It'll be one hell of a showdown.
Tesla Armadia	Tesla Armadia watchs them go, then motions to her pair as she turns to head back the way they came from. "Let's go you two. We've still got plenty of work to do on our part as well."