CLOSED ♔ i'll tell you 'bout a secret i've been undermining

[superswank]

WHO || Sydney, Sylar, Drax, Frankie, Allison [Closed]
WHAT || The Knights investigate a biological weapons threat for the Ukrainians 
WHERE ||Antarctica
WHEN || April 10th [back dated]
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

Not all international intrigue happens in presidential palaces, plush business offices, and smoky dives next to waterfronts.  Some happens in the coldest, dreariest parts of the world.

The Ukrainians expect the Knights to head for the Russian research station from the drop point, stop to disable both the helicopter and communications tower, then enter the compound. Once there, they are to find Prytyka and question him on camera, transmitting this conversation live via a satellite uplink with their contact, Kuchma.

They are currently been flown to the drop point 2 miles from Adelie 14, and Kuchma is on the plane with them, providing them all with arctic gear and final requests.  They have access to thermal undergarments, snowsuits, boots, parkas, snow goggles, gloves and mittens, as well as a portable satellite phone and video camera, and several AKSU-74 sub machine guns.

"Many firearms are unreliable in the extreme Antarctic weather, so you might wish to take one," Kuchma cautions. 

Comments

[superswank]

[ rough home-video images on the tv shown ukrainian naval vessel churning through antarctic waters. one of these is the azovskoje, the same ship they were brought here on, and it is accompanied by two or three other ships that weren't there when they were. the voice of a female correspondent says: "... Azovskoje, shown here in footage taken by an American tourist on a whale-watching tour just an hour or so ago, happened to have been on routine training operations in the Indian Ocean during the past few days. It was routed to the area when Ukrainian officials first became aware of the situation. Ukrainian officials insist that they have ample reason to intervene."

the image then shifts to video footage... of them all interrogating prytyka, including several repeated shots of allison aiming an arrow at him and his horrified reaction. there is no audio component.

the image cuts to an interview with a ukrainian official.

"The Ukraine, of course, respects the international ban on military operations on Antarctica; however, this Russian violation of international law and the threat it poses to our citizens puts us in this unfortunate position. Prytyka and the other Ukrainian nationals working for AgraTech were very brave to warn the world of these Russian activities--" many of the nearby scientists begin speaking loudly, outraged and confused by this. "--and as you can see from this video, they may already have paid the ultimate price. What can we do? Who else will protect our citizens and the world from the likes of these FSB hoodlums?"

after another thirty seconds of video from the interrogation, the image shifts to the naval vessels once again. troops from these ships are clearly boarding helicopters, some with their rotors already turning. the female correspondent says: "From the looks of these Ukrainian naval vessels, the Ukraine is taking the steps it feels are necessary, despite international bans. And while international representatives decry the unfolding situation, it appears that the Ukrainians may be justified in their actions. Television news analysts confirm, based on the design of their arctic uniforms and equipment, that Prytyka's assailants do appear to be Russian military personnel. Ukrainian claims of illicit biological weapons research at the site remain unconfirmed, of course - officials at AgraTech have so far only reiterated their earlier statement that no such research was taking place there. The world will have to watch nervously while the situation unfolds."

as it switches to commercial, the confused voices are raised in alarm, most of them directed at prytyka, who tries to answer their questions in russian.

syd speaks in a low voice to the other knights. ] We've been had, big time. It looks like they're gearing up for an all-out assault.

[watchmaker]

[well. that's awesome. sylar is just s-so pleased. he's not about all this complex espionage shit. why can't he just go in, smash things, and get out? basically drax's soulmate with more pithy quips squeezed in. none right now, though. for the moment his main emotion is annoyance.] Well, boss, what's our plan?

[spinerip]

We assault them back. [Drax pounds a fist into his hand, grinning in anticipation of battle.] They are no match for Drax the Destroyer! [A beat, and he adds:] And the rest of you.

[risked]

[Allison is upset, clearly, because that was her image just broadcast in the light that isn't exactly a positive one. She's not even sure what sort of plan of action they can have. They've put them all in a difficult position.]

This was their play all along, provoke an event that would allow them to intervene. We can't take on an entire army.

[superswank]

These people are in danger. It's going to take some time to mount an attack, which gives us two options: either we stay and fight, or we try to send for help. Given that we disabled communications, that's not going to be easy.

[risked]

Do we have a decent chance of providing an assault on them? I mean, our numbers are extremely limited here.

Unless they have something here that can go boom -- or that can be made into something that goes boom, we need to really see if we can actually provide a decent amount of fight.

[spinerip]

[Drax gives her a look that borders on offended.]

I always provide a decent amount of fight. It is just a single army. I have taken on all the forces of Ronan the Accuser with nothing but a tree, a small mammal, a human, and Gamora by my side.

[I mean and the whole Nova force and Ravagers but come on they barely counted.]

This puny human force shall hardly hinder us.

[superswank]

We might be able to take down any advance forces, buy some time. But we're not going to be able to stand up to it if they get the chance to send in reinforcements. We need to alert somebody before it can get that far.

[ she turns to frankie with a frown ] Do you think you could repair the damage we did to the communications cluster?

[thetokenaussie]

[With a grim look twisting her features, Frankie raises her head to meet Sydney's gaze.]

These things are usually easier to break than they are to fix but I can give it a shot?

[superswank]

We don't have much of a choice. Why don't you and Sylar go out there and see what you can do?

[risked]

[Allison keeps an eye on the room, making sure that if anyone has questions she's at least able to get someone that can translate for them.]

[thetokenaussie]

[With a nod Frankie checks in with Sylar to make sure he's on board before peeling away from the other three and at some point I'm guessing I may need to roll to avoid detection so... meh I'll just do that now (Move Silently 18.) and carry it forward if you don't need it yet.]

[watchmaker]

On it. [sylar barges back outside. everyone who could detect them is back where they were anyway....]

[superswank]

[ yeah they don't have to sneak out this time! so they make it back to the comm cluster and can attempt repair checks...

meanwhile, syd addresses prytyka again. ] We need to get everyone in this station prepared for an invasion.

[thetokenaussie]

[Given there's an attack coming, thought I'd play it safe...

Meanwhile, back at the comm cluster, Frankie gets straight to it; (Repair 31 /glad I took those ranks in repair now.)]

[watchmaker]

[sylar got a nat 20 repair check, so if for some reason 31 isn't enough, he can definitely assist lmao. GETTING SHIT DONE OUT HERE.]

[superswank]

[ it takes them like no time at fucking all?????? congrats, communications are up again! they can now reach anyone outside the facility that they think to contact... ]

[risked]

[Allison is still hanging out, keeping an eye on everything.]

[watchmaker]

[sylar, at a loss for what to do, decides to ... contact wynn.]

Uh ... sir? We've got a problem.

[wynn]

What's going on down there?

[watchmaker]

[so much to say, so little time...] Kuchma set us up. There don’t seem to be any biological weapons here. Maybe some illegal oil drilling, but still not what we came for. Prytyka is Ukrainian. Kuchma used the footage of us interrogating him and butchered it so that we look like Russians threatening him and are using it as an excuse to launch an all-out assault. So, now, the question is … what should we do next?

[wynn]

I was afraid of this. But it's not too late for us to turn this around on the Ukrainians. I can put some calls in, explain the truth of this to those situated in a position to prevent further raids, but it's likely too late to stop whatever troops they've already dispatched.

Is your team in condition to hold them off, until we can send personnel to reach you?

[watchmaker]

We can do what we can. [it'll be fiiiiine. they've got him and drax and katniss everdeen and .... the other ones???]

[wynn]

I'll mobilize a rescue immediately. I'm counting on you all.

[watchmaker]

We're on it, sir.

[once he hangs up, he relays this information to frankie and then goes back to tell everyone else.]