365/Robbery Foiled

Robbery Foiled
Date of Scene:	11 May 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Lois Lane, 279

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Lois Lane has posed:
For a week a flyer has circulated within the newspapers, magazines and also upon the online internet sites -

- First People's Bank is opening a new location here in Central District. Join us on May 11th for our grand opening. Free *checking accounts will be offered only on this day.

* No fee checking accounts are subject to rules and regulations ....-

While normally Lois Lane of The Daily Planet would hardly ever report upon such a 'pedestrian' occurrence, today seems to be a slow news day. In fact, when Perry yelled for her name and told her the assignment, all Lois offered was, "Really, Perry? Can't Kent cover this?", but even that was half-hearted, so bored was she. So, with that token grievance given, Lois finds her way to the Central District and to the First People's Bank. She's dressed in her typical pants suit with reporter credentials hanging from a lanyard. The crowd at the bank is surprisingly large, thanks to the free food, and Lois literally elbows her way past the hustle and bustle. "Excuse me." She says, voice firm and somewhat loud, "Reporter for the Daily Planet. Coming through." A few more elbows, a few nudges and perhaps a slight toe-step or two and Lois eventually finds her way through the glass and steel doors of the bank and inside. Immediately her eyes will take in the crowd (and again there's quite the number of people), before they zero in upon the bank manager. It's easy to tell who that is, he's surrounded by a few other newsies. Striding purposefully over, Lois will pull her smart-phone out, prime the recorder and insert herself right into the conversation at hand, "Lois Lane, Daily Planet, what can you tell -"

- Her question is lost to all but those nearest her as the general noise from a hundred conversations rises and falls in pitch. And beneath the noise of voices is the vague sound of a delivery truck backing up -

Beep Beep Beep.

- And while a few people outside glance at that truck, it's mostly ignored, as the truck sports a local moving company's name. That's pretty normal, right? This is a new office branch of First People's Bank, it's bound to still need furnishings delivered to it.

John Henry Irons (279) has posed:
    John didn't miss it, the circulations, the prime spot for the bank and all, the free checking accounts even. With that in mind he had taken to the skies. There was an issue of a certain micro chip he was after and the last lead lost the prior day. Without leads, he was back to searching again to see where the component might be. Searching the internet, hacking a little, that could work, but even older than that. He'd become Steel and had taken to the skies. Using the array of scanners inside, he was between listening at different frequencies to see if he might catch something and, barring that, he was using the heightened hearing to listen below. Could he pick up a voice in a crowd, not so much. Not unless he dialed in that way, but the beep of a truck is something else.
    There he was not too many blocks away, looking around the area and his scanners and audio enhancers have found the bank. The crowd and the beeping of the truck backing up. As he slows a moment, he lets that sound stay in the ear buds of his suit. Not quite calming, but the amount of people, considering if he should try to single out voices, or move on. Either way, there might be some conclusion it relates to the bank and as he listens, he turns in that direction at least, running through his flight pattern and rising some to stay out of the picture. A silent observer for the moment.

Lois Lane has posed:
The Manager answers Lois' question and while she gets a few side-eyes from the other reporters, she just barrels on with another question. "Really? And there are truly no hidden fees? Perhaps a ten dollar fee every month? Hidden behind all the legalese you guys love to use to trick people into thinking it's really free?"

The Manager of the bank internally winces and while his eyebrows lower ever so slightly, he'll resolutely shake his head, "Ms. Lane, when we say free, we mean free. The only stipulation is to have a balance of a hundred dollars within the account by end of day today -"

And before he finishes, Lois interjects, "- Isn't that interesting, you and I both know that deposited cash will be accessible instantly, but check deposits won't. Do you tell the holders of the account they'll need to deposit cash versus check otherwise fees will hit?" Sure, this isn't the type of story Lois loves, but she'll still do her job to the best of her ability and right now blood is in the water. She can smell it.

This time the Manager's wince is seen, as Lois gets to the crux of the issue.

Outside the truck continues to back up, towards the front doors. The movement is slow at first, as people are slow to move away from the front door, but eventually, the line that was forming there is pushed off to the side. As soon as there is a clear window the truck will suddenly rev its engines and with a squeal of tires (and that incessant beeping), the truck will plow backward, speed ramping up in that handful of seconds. For the Manager (probably thankfully) his answer is lost as the steel and glass doors implode inwardly. The sound and the sudden hail of shards of glass (and metal) cause just about everyone to reflexively duck downward. Lois Lane is no different and while her expression shows shock and surprise, her eyes and her phone are already turning towards the entrance. The entrance is now more truck than not and the back of the truck will open and from the darken interior men, armored and with large guns, jump out into the bank interior.

"HANDS UP!" The lead masked man says, his voice stern and loud, "And get ready to open the vault."

The men themselves look very para-military, with flak vests, large guns, dressed primarily in black and green and masks that cover the majority of their faces.

Lois, at this point, flips her phone around so the camera faces the men. "And I thought this would be /boring/." She mutters to herself, as she hastily starts taking pictures.

John Henry Irons (279) has posed:
    The beep was there, but the noise afterward is noticed too. Just the crash itself, it is not missed by Steel. Seconadary is the alerts of police radio activity. It becomes a din of noise enough to make him squelch the comsys, or at least dampen the input to focus on the immediate surroundings. One hand goes up, taking the hammer from his back and bringing it to his side, as he turns ands soars in the direction of the bank. The action shifts to his vision, shifting from normal to thermal and even echo, to try and see through the building to assess the situation. Guns and innocents inside. That becomes his primary concern for the moment. He'll want to account for all the men he can find weilding guns.
    Even as he flies, the lead man who may have a weapon levelled at someone, will become a target. If he can get a lock on the location, visually or through echo location, he intends to launch his hammer at him, enough inertial kick to hit him hard in the flak vest, so he doesn't kill the man.
    If he can do that and time his own landing with the flight of the hammer. He'll try to land outside where the truck ploughed into the building, and over the PA system of his suit he will announce to the crowds, "Disperse, please .. clear the area." If they have guns, and a crowd like this, no telling what. Just at the moment he is be between with guns and the bulk of the crowds. He can next focus on the workers inside ready to start opening checking accounts, most likely without the deposit high enough to secure the no fees stipulation.

Lois Lane has posed:
Within the bank the scene is still quite chaotic; people are screaming, crying, most are on the ground and some are just laying there; injured from the shrapnel of glass and steel.

The Manager of the bank already has his hands up, his voice strained but calm, "We can open the vault." He begins, as the leader turns his gun towards the Manager, "No one needs to be harmed."

The Leader says, "Good. We just want the money. No one needs to die, but if you don't give us the money, everyone will." Comes his deadly cold voice -

- As for Steel's thermal and echo location, he'll easily see there are eight men all together. They're all out of the truck and dispersed in a V pattern within the bank. The leader is at the point of the V, while his man are fanned out behind them. All have some form of gun and some have various forms of grenades; flash bang, as well as concussive based ones.

The Leader continues to talk, even as Lois starts to straighten from her crouch. She's about to say something when suddenly, the masked leader is hit by that hammer.

"What in the h -" Begins Lois, as her eyes turn wide, when the flak-vested man goes flying into the nearest wall. Immediately her phone will be pointed towards the fallen man, then swung back towards the remaining men. "Superman -" Lois whispers, "- Really could use your help if you're around." She doesn't know if that'll work (because sometimes it doesn't - he is a busy man), but she'll try. Not that she'll simply wait idly by for a rescue, nope, instead the intrepid reporter will start to inch towards the fallen leader.

The would-be bank robbers are stunned, for a second, but soon enough their guns swing back around. Towards the manager, the people and also Lois, as her movement brings their eyes to her now. "STAY STILL!" Yells the leader's second, his voice cracking now as he takes responsiblity for this op. And it's going south, real fast, even as he has yet to realize that a hero is near. "Or we'll shoot!"

"Hey, we don't need to go there. Let's just all be calm." Says Lois, her hands rising upward again, "Why don't we all just put our guns down -"

For Steel, his landing will coincide with the hit of his hammer and when he lands the ebb and flow of the outside crowd will pause. "Who's that!" Shouts one person, while another says, "It ain't Superman! Is he a friend? Seems so!" Says a third and fourth voice, as they boggle at the armored man. Already phones from the outside crowds are being pointed towards Steel and away from the wrecked bank, as people take video and capture pictures of the hero before them. A few people can also be found upon the ground, victims of trampling accidents, when the crowd initially surged away from the bank.

John Henry Irons (279) has posed:
    The S is there, on his chest, but not nearly the same. A slightly tech edge, hard lines, angular corners versus the flow it might have elsewhere. Then again, its not a house symbol at all. Its just an S, modeled indeed after the other one, but in his own style. Steel stands where touched down, not moving so much as issuing the command of, "Return," to bring his hammer back to his hand, and to build some innertia for potential use again with it. A look given to the lady, Lois, he didn't notice the badge, but familiar face. Pulitzer prize maybe, he does read, often. "I say we listen to the lady, lets just lay our guns down." No moving, he is still, the hammer will make it to his hand, but that's movement away, hopefully not enough to get them to want to start firing.
    "Two ways out of this, lay them down now and its only assault. Or the manager gives you the money, you get in the truck. And .. I still get you all, then its a federal offense for armed robbery. Not to mention the field day for the DEA with all the arms you fellows are sporting." Plain and simple for them to choose. No one is killed yet either, so its not worse thatn those options in Steels mind. Just the balance, assault or armed robbery and the length of time they would need to put in with some corrections facility. He doesn't think they'll take either, but he'll offer to negotiate for now, using the moment to line up the men in the V shape for his hammer should he need to launch that. One side of the V for his hammer,the other side for him. He rocks slightly forward on toes, ready to move rather quickly if they make any sudden moves of aggression.

Lois Lane has posed:
So much is going on -

It really is.

And it's enough to cause the majority of the bank robbers to jerk in shock, as Steel makes his presence known. Their focus was more inward, into the bank, than behind them. A stupid mistake, one that will like cost them.

Sure, they saw the hammer, but really, they're just not keeping track of everything.

Nor is Lois and when Steel makes himself know to all inside Lois will likewise look surprised. Inwardly she'll think, 'Lane, you are losing your edge if you're just now seeing him', but that disgusted thought will simply fall to the wayside as she takes in the armored man's look. The S is seen, but clearly it's not the S of Superman and while she'd love to ask Steel questions, for now those questions stall, as they really must get out of danger first. "I'd listen to the man over there." Lois states, backing up Steel's words, even if he doesn't need her help. "Pretty sure he has your number." And while it's a guess at how powerful Steel is, she's going to err that the armor is bullet proof.

"SHUT UP!" The second says to both Steel and Lois, as his semi-automatic gun swings between the two figures. "JUST SHUT UP!"

And while it could have been left at that, it's not, as the leader offers a groan of pain. He's still down, but he'll toggle open the com-line that the team has. " ... shoot him ..." Are the leader's quiet words over the comsys and almost instantly, four guns will open fire upon Steel. The other three (including the second) will watch to see what happens; holding fire for now.

Lois will say, "Look out!" The rest of the people within the bank (and even outside) scream, as the sound of gunfire suddenly picks up.

John Henry Irons (279) has posed:
    As he listens, he looks and nods agreement with Lois. Maybe a smile on the Steel face of his, as if the mask of it reads his features. Steel is lifting a hand. Palm outward, with the gun toying between him and Lois, he's considering a course of action that doesn't end with her being shot in the process. Before he can answer of course, the hail of automatic fire is levelled at him to little effect. Other than a few glints of rounds impacting and scratching with sparks at the armor. He follows his gut reaction, releasing the hammer at one side of the men, and launching himself at the nearest. "Wrong answer," he says, thrusting forward to try and land a punch square in his chest while getting a hold of the gun. His intention is to get the first one, and destroy the weapon to discourage the remainder; at least any not hit by his flying hammer on the other side of the V formation. Hopefully all that happening while the fire at least distracts from any citizens in the bank and the bank workers themselves. If he can get a readout of them, just for monitoring purposes, he'll try to be mindful, but his focus is the armed men now.

Lois Lane has posed:
Again, for Lois and the Manager of the bank, they both reflexively duck when the gunfire erupts, everyone else still being upon the ground, hands over their heads.

That doesn't stop the screams from happening from several men and women, as they cry out in fear.

Thankfully, their fear won't last too much longer. Not when the hammer sweeps through the one half of the V; with a thud of body hitting hammer, the first robber goes down, then the second, third and finally fourth. It's like a domino effect, the way that hammer scythes (not literally) through the men.

As for the second and the two men nearest him, they immediately shout when Steel launches himself at the nearest goon. That nearest goon gives off a squeak of surprise and fear, before he's literally tackled by Steel. The only ones that are now standing are the Second in Command and one other. Both look at each other, then the fallen leader and finally Steel. "DAMMIT." Yells the SiC in frustration and anger, but already, he's moving to toss his gun down. The other bank robber, the lackey, he swears, but unlike the SiC he's not going down without a fight. His gun will be dropped to hang from it's strap from the man's shoulder, as he pulls two grenades. One is a flashbang, the other concussive -

- The flashbang is used first, with the pin pulled and quickly tossed at Steel. He's hoping it'll blind him, or scramble the man's hearing, but even if it doesn't the concussive grenade is quickly primed and while it's foolhardy to toss a grenade in this enclosed space, he does so. And it's not tossed at Steel. No. Instead it's tossed towards the tellers. He's striving for a diversion it looks like.

"LOOK OUT!" Yells Lois, as she starts to move towards the tellers, an unconscious movement on her part.

John Henry Irons (279) has posed:
    The flashbang could certainly do that to Steel, the man inside at least. It could even scramble some of the digital feed he receives externally. The only thing in his favor is the excess of arrays he uses while inside the suit, to prevent any potential of being totally blind; save potential EMP. He would try to finish that one who isn't going down without the fight, but that's behind him. There is only one concern. The grenade going for the tellers. He had started to move for the man, but now he launches, in the effort to try and intercept that concussive grenade if he can. Good thing he played lots of sports, including football, but no telling how good he is. Its grab and close his body over it or land on top of it. If that is a possibility before it throws enough pressure through the room to hurt or shatter all ear drums,and worse to the tellers. That one may have the effect of causing a systems analysis and lag of up to 30 seconds if the second is really trying to make that getaway. Steel can't think of that, just getting himself on, or over, or covering that grenade. A command to the hammer, to smash the gun that man dropped if there is time.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois' own steps falter as the flashbang goes off; it's enough to cause the world to go quiet and bright, as her eyes and hearing are thoroughly messed with. Her hands will clap over her ears (much like the Manager and everyone else is doing) as she stumbles blindly around for a few seconds.

Damn heels. She really needs to just ditch the high heels. Really.

As for Steel's heroic save, whether blind or not, his sportsman's reach and dive net him the concussive grenade seconds before it detonates. The tellers, who are on the ground, can't help but scream when the armored man suddenly appears over them. When he curls around the grenade it'll take a tick, possibly two, before the grenade goes off. Then the muted sound of an explosion can be heard by everyone within the bank as Steel takes the brunt of that explosion.

At this point, Lois' eyes and hearing are returning and when she realizes what she just heard, she can't help but call out, "Holy -" Her words are loud, as ringing within her ears are still partially obstructing her hearing. "- Is he okay?" Meaning Steel, the last two bank robbers have already started to hot-foot it out of the bank. They're going to try and slip out and escape, leaving their fellow robbers to take the brunt of the fall for this failed attempt.

When Lois makes it behind the teller stations, she'll immediately go for Steel's prone form. She's going to try and check if he's alive ... if she can, the armor might stop any pulse feeling. "Hey!" She shouts as she rushes over, "Are you okay?"

John Henry Irons (279) has posed:
    The suit does indeed prevent finding a pulse. But its a complex thing, smooth despite the amount of sliding parts needed to allow him movement in side, showing his form even. Steel doesn't answer, but his sensor are going again around the time she is asking if he is okay. "I am," he says, moving to get up. Mobility in the suit is off a little, it causes a slight stammer to the bulk as it can't get an arm placed just right to lift up. "No, really, suit is stabalizing." As if that helps. Not knowing the two hot-footed it, that could be a chase left for the police, or some random citizen who finds some valor when the robbers are unarmed. "I'm sorry, I should of acted quicker, thought this one through." He can't quite see yet, but is checking other scans, asking as he does so, "Is everyone else all right? No one was harmed?" Save the robbers, they don't quite constitute everyone he is concerned about. Somewhere in there, "I've seen you before." Not the time or place to ponder that as he makes for his feet, assisted by Lois as much as she wants to help th bulky suit with the man in it get up of course.

Lois Lane has posed:
Relief can be seen on her features when he finally manages to rise upward.

Once she realizes he's okay that relief turns to speculation, before she says, "Injured. Yes, we definitely have injured." And she'll turn towards the manager, "Call 9-1-1!" Though Lois is pretty sure the police have been notified; already people are rising upward to check on those that were hit by the shrapnel. Lois was saved from any wounds, mainly because she was further inside.

It's only when Steel mentions her familiarity that the reporter will turn back to him. A quirk of a grin will be flashed at the armored man, as she says, "Lois Lane of The Daily Planet. Reporter." And then, just like that, solid footing is found for the reporter as she brings her up phone and quickly thumbs the recorder on. "Who are you? What's your name? How long have you been in Metropolis?" She asks, those questions rapid-fired as she keeps her gaze focused primarily upon Steel.

As for the two who escaped, the police will have to handle them, as the citizens outside are moving to help those in need too.

John Henry Irons (279) has posed:
    The injured he can't help, with no medical training; though his own systems continue to monitor. The quick 911 patch call is an app he needs to include for such a situation. Bystanders is something new to him. As she reveals her name, Steel nods, a smile hitting his metallic lips, or the face on the helmet at least. "Ah," he is beginning, but she is quick, before he can say anything, she has her phone out and this is on the record. Literally. "I'm not after public attention." He says, but this is rather public, he doesn't back down either. He accepts it in stride for the moment. A quick command to his Hammer to return to him. "I am Steel. I am not here long, I was looking for tech smugglers. I believe your fine city already has one capable, I would never cross that line." Stepping on toes that is. The hammer returns to his hand, an easy catch, he lifts it up, over and down to adhere to his back with magnetic locks. "I am just glad I could be here to prevent this from escalating in any way."

Lois Lane has posed:
Her eyebrows rise upward when Steel states he's not after public attention.

"Uh, I hate to break it to you, but you're running around in a costume -" She pauses then as she considers her words, "- armor and with a hammer. I'm pretty sure the public is going to pay attention to you. Even if you don't want it." Her mouth quirks into a lop-sided smile-smirk, as she focuses back upon the features of 'Steel'. "Just giving you a heads-up there." Since he kind of seemed like he needed to be warned he'll now be a public figure.

"Steel. That fits with your look." She'll add, as she considers her next set of questions, a few will be ditched as not worth her time, before she continues with, "I'm pretty sure the big guy -" Meaning Superman, "- Won't mind the help. He's not the sort to get petty. Boy-scout and all that." Then she asks more questions, as her reporter's instinct kicks into high gear, "What sort of tech thieves? What sort of tech? Do you mind some close ups?" She finishes with, even as she drops her phone and flips it around for the camera.

John Henry Irons (279) has posed:
    A shake of his head, the indifference of the public attention. Knowing the costume doesn't help but draw attention and after this, he will be there. "I just want everyone safe, with the opportunity to devote themselves to their individual pursuits." As if to jump along that, giving a slight goal at least what he was after. He shifts to his left leg alittle, his arms coming up to cross over his chests as he looks at Lois. Giving to a smile at the name fitting. If she agreed that made it more a keeper probably; not everyday a prize winning reporter agrees with something he wrote or came up with, even if just a name.
    "If he doesn't mind the help, I'll be glad to pitch in. As for the thieves I'm after." He considers, then nods, allowing the close ups. "A couple." Better her than blurry phone pics from the rest at least. "Its advanced, maybe off world. A smart chip that stores and analyzes data faster than anything I've seen. But that's about all I can say on the tech, too much more could raise suspicion." If they culprits he seeks are in this city even. "I'd be glad to share more off the record." Because no telling how much she might know, including leads.

Lois Lane has posed:
"Hmmm." Lois says thoughtfully, as she digests all of what Steel just said.

Then she's stepping backwards to take a few pictures of Steel. Especially when he strikes that more heroic pose of his, with his arms crossed.

"Perfect." She says, as she tucks her phone back around to point the microphone towards the man. "Alien tech?" She says, her eyebrows rising upward again, though this time with surprise at the word alien. "Are you an alien then?" Is her follow-up, even as the man asks for the rest to be off the record. A faint grimace will flash across her lips, but she will nod, even as she turns off the recordering. The phone will then be tucked the into the pocket of her slacks, to prove it's off. To prove her trustworthiness. "Off the record it is. What can you tell me about?"

John Henry Irons (279) has posed:
    He smiles even for the images, the pose may be heroic, and some place to put hands so they don't fidget either. Steel will take it, purpose for the images though. As she returns to questions, "Possibly, not confirmed. I am not an alien. Born in D.C." Nothing political to the agenda though, not with some thoughts on Aliens. Not his concern either way, they can think what they want, and naysayers can speculate if he needs to show birth records or not. For now, he's just a guy.
    He notes the grimace, understandable for her line of work. Then she affords him the trust. "Its a small chip that stores infinite data, potentially a dimensional breach. I had traced it to the Upper West Side, New York yesterday. It slipped away, I believe the man carrying it at that time has come here. I don't know if he's leaving the country or looking for a new buyer here now."

Lois Lane has posed:
"A dimensional breach?" Lois states, her gaze turning sharp, "That's disturbing. Do you have any information upon the thief? Name? Description? Something? Perhaps I can try and suss out some information upon him." She's already trying to unravel this puzzle, but with too little information there's nothing to be unravelled.

At least not yet.

And while she would love to pepper Steel with more questions suddenly her phone rings. Automatically she'll pull the phone from her pocket and eye the caller-id. "Dammit. It's my Editor." She'll fasten a quick look on Steel, as she says, "One sec." And just in case he has to leave before her call is over, she'll free a card from her purse. "Take this. E-mail, phone and cell is on there." Then she holds one finger up in a just a second gesture, as she lifts the phone to her hear.

"Hey, Perry." She begins, even as she turns slightly away to focus upon the call. "Yes, I'm okay. No, no one died. Yes, I'm on top of the story. Get ready for a front-pager -"

John Henry Irons (279) has posed:
    A consideration, "The only thing I know is that the Four Seas Gang has been after the technology. I don't know the man's name who has it." Steel is honest about that at least. Four Seas Gang is a group out of Tawain, perhaps some relation to various ninja or assassin like groups, though most activity in the states is low-level street activity for turf and drugs. A grin at the one sec, he lefts a hand to take it gently. Fine control of the suit, an extension of him, even after all the work he did in it. A slow nod. He'll call sort of a nod. Even as he starts to go, the suit dials in, at least enough to give her a phone number in return. An inbox, something to message. She might find info, he wants the contact. It comes with a selfie from the hammer, that captured footage of hitting a thug as it did its own thing. Probably for analysis of flight patterns and effectiveness, but a close and personal of the hammer in work.