3829/Rising Tide: An Offer They Can't Refuse...

Rising Tide: An Offer They Can't Refuse...
Date of Scene:	08 February 2018
Location:	Safehouse 4
Synopsis:	Lex Luthor offers a mutually beneficial arrangement to the Rising Tide; unofficially.
Cast of Characters:	Lex Luthor, Hawkeye (Barton)
Tinyplot:	Rising Tide

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Lex Luthor has posed:
Officially, an abandoned granite mine somewhere in the State, Luthor has privately -and secretly- had it converted into one of his many safehouses.

Today, it will play host to a 'business' meeting between Lex Luthor and his mercenaries and a delegation of Rising Tide.

From the outside, the tunnel is collapsed... with Luthor having paid a ridiculous sum to make sure any sensor known to man made it look that way from the outside. Nonetheless, when Rising Tide was given the coordinates to this place, they were told to 'walk right in'.

When they do so, they're met with a full biometric scan and visual indentification by a camera, before the entire 'collapse' is pulled into the ground... and a dozen men of Team Luthor greet them, decked out in state of the art PMC gear, carbines at the ready... but not pointed at them.

Yet.

Down the shaft is an elevator. That elevator goes down... a few ways, until it reaches a fairly spartan panic room of sorts, Team Luthor escorting them down the cargo elevator. Once they round a corner, they see the man himself; Lex Luthor, as he watches a monitor bank on a wall of what is obviously a security hub. Mercy and Hope stand off to each side of that hub, their keen eyes looking over who's come.

Then, Luthor speaks as he watches the monitors, Team Luthor fanning out to cover them. "Welcome to Safehouse 4. I had hoped you would be receptive, after that bit of... theatrics." Then, Lex Luthor turns around in his seat, his business suit impeccable, and steeples his fingers as he regards them, an amused, slightly smug air about him evident.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
The delegation sent by the Rising Tide is a small one, four people, but then they're in the middle of a major operation and its otherwise all hackers on deck so to speak. Still, as it was Luthor who had reached out to them so an effort was made. Luthors scans would show that the visitors were human and that two of them, ones who look like PMC types more than hackers, were armed, all four were human.

Stepping out of the elevator, the two security types, eye the situation warily, as does the shorter of the two hackers in his charge, the bearded man, sticking close to the guard while his taller more athletic companion steps forward, "We are receptive Mr. Luthor and we're grateful for your welcome, but we'd hoped to meet on more equal terms," he gives a glance around to the men of team Luthor. "There seems to be a lot of uneeded hardware around here."

Lex Luthor has posed:
"There is no being equal on terms with me." Luthor declares it as a fact as he stands up, placing his hands behind his back. "As for the hardware... this is as much for my protection as it is for anything else. We're far away from LexCorp Towers, after all, and for all I knew, you had leaked this meeting to others as a trap."

Then, he steps forward to the security sorts, giving them an appraisal, "That you came despite the hardware speaks well to your intentions, so you have a chance." Then, he steps over to the leader, looking him right in the eye. Neither Mercy or Hope, nor Team Luthor, move. "We can do business." He smiles warmly... there's a charisma to the man, despite his well-displayed (and well earned) arrogance, "I've only just started to look into the perpetrator of your massacre on my end, but I wanted to touch base and see if you had any information regarding the man before we continued."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
The security men don't flinch as Luthor steps close, but Jinx seems to shrink back a step, sensing that they may be in a bit over their heads. Hound though, meet's Luthor's eyes with a sort of brash confidence. "Makes sense," he says about the hardware. "You can be assured this meeting hasn't been leaked, but, if we don't report in within the hour, I can't promise that won't happen or any number of other things. But I can definitely say, honestly, I am hoping your hardware and our data doesn't need to be used and we can do business like civilized people." He wipes the sweat off his palm on his slacks before extending his hand to Luthor.

When the slaughter is brough up Hound's expression darkens. "Oh, we know who was responsible for that, it's Alfred Pennyworth or whatever he's calling himself now, the spy we leaked a dossier on. If you're able to help deal with him, we'd be grateful."

Lex Luthor has posed:
"I am nothing if not civilized." Lex Luthor replies as he moves back to his chair, sitting down once more as he finished his read. His fingers steeple once more as he regards Hound, "I was curious to see how many of your Index exposees would come after you... I've been keeping an eye on your group throughout, but seeing the violence from your work has been very interesting. Now though, you have a problem... one that will require delicate handling, as Pennyworth has powerful patrons of his own." Luthor notes, before he looks to Mercy, "Show it to them." The blonde nods to Lex, and takes a USB drive from her pocket, walking over to Hound and offering it.

"That is a database of safehouses for your people I'm willing to divulge for your protection, along with a private phone number that goes to a contact that will be our lliason after this meeting."

Luthor smiles, "Before your Index leak, I had no reason to suspect the man was anything other than what he seemed. So, here's my offer; I'll give you this database, along with a reactive mercenary team that will be paid for anonymously that can be used to protect your people, or contain Pennyworth if you find a location they can strike at. Right now, you're essentially making the entire world angry at your group over a philosophical disagreement... so you can expect more of these sort of people to come out of the woodwork in time. I myself see potential in your group... anyone with the courage to go after the electronic backbone of our planet is someone I'd like to... shall we say, have help from, from time to time. See, I realize that groups like yours will do what you do with or without anyones approval... but if you want my help, I'll need some cooperation on your part." He leans forward, then, "For example... when you go on general hacking sprees like these? I want prior notice so I can prepare for it at LexCorp. You're costing me millions in revenue after all... and despite that, I'm willing to work with your group."

Theres a moment as Luthor allows them to absorb that information, "Are you with me so far?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Hound gives the blonde an appreciative look as he takes the flashdrive from her hand, "Thank you," he says with a smile before slipping the drive into his shirt pocket.

He glances over his shoulder at Jinx, the other man nods, then he turns back Luthor. "I think we can accept your offer, we have our own security, as you can see, but given the level of the threats we face, we're happy to have more as well as these safehouses." He reaches into his pants pocket, slowly, in deference to the security around them and produces a flashdrive of his own. "We can also let you know in advance of our future projects, in fact we can do one better and give you this flashdrive. It won't get you around everything we're doing, but it will show you some of the pathways to get data moving faster than it would otherwise. I am sure you have your people working on finding those pathways right now, this will save you some time and hopefully some money, consider it a gift from us and a further show of good faith. To unlock the files, the password is HandsUnyoked." He holds up the drive waiting for word to either approach Luthor and hand it to him or for one of his assistants to collect it.

Lex Luthor has posed:
When the drive is offered, Mercy looks back to Luthor, who gives a nod. Mercy exchanges one thumbdrive for another, before bringing the other one back to Lex... who plugs it into a laptop and starts to sift through it himself in a virtual sandbox containment program. "Do you have any other Index files you're planning to release?" Luthor asks, not looking up from the laptop. Mercy herself goes off to one side again.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
When the drive is inserted and password entered, it delivers what Hound promises. Paths through the net, mostly the darkweb where data is still moving. It's not going to bring LexCorp back online but it will give them some connectivity to work with. There is also a file on the drive, text only, with contact details for Hound.

"I hope that meets with your approval?" Hound asks.

Lex Luthor has posed:
After a moment to double check his results, Lex nods, "It looks legitimate." Then, Lex looks up to them. "I will, of course, deny any involvement with your group if asked. The number given to you goes to a voice mail box that's anonymous and will destroy itself if tampered with. The mercenary team themselves will be operating by proxy... and those safehouses are under dead end names that can't be traced back to me." Luthor replies, "Let's see how this goes on both our ends before we make any other arrangements. Since you didn't bring any recording equipment with you, you may leave the way you came anytime, and I will consider this a trial arrangement for now."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Hound nods, "I wouldn't expect any less," he says of Luthor's keeping this arrangement at a distance. "We're not exactly wanting word of this deal to get out either, though we appreciate your support for our efforts."

Hound nods when he and the others are dismissed. "A trial arrangement, that works, anyhow, thank you for your time and support, we'll be in touch through the agreed upon channels."

And unless there is further business, Hound and the others depart.