7374/Sentinels: Let's try Diplomacy

Sentinels: Let's try Diplomacy
Date of Scene:	01 May 2019
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Sentinels converge onto the Avengers' north facility. Diplomacy is attempted.
Cast of Characters:	Bastion, Spider-Woman (Drew), Captain America, Captain Marvel (Danvers), Shadowcat
Tinyplot:	Sentinels

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Bastion has posed:
The news was sent: the Sentinels, in large numbers, are re-routing out of their previous analysis paths, and are starting to form up in large ranks in and north of New York. There's some time, of course, needed for them to fly in from all over the city, and they aren't fast. However, the huge, hulking Sentinels (as many of them are stories tall) are significant, obvious, and causing quite a stir.

In the Avengers facility itself, things are quiet: the pieces of destroyed Sentinel are littering the exterior, but there's no major noise or alarms still going off: security is repairing itself. The drones are repairing it, that is.

Inside the cells, there's several things - the pieces of robot-Janet, and also John Doe himself. All quiet from those, at least to start. A breath before what may come.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica has returned from the kitchen area to peek in on John Doe. There were sounds from the kitchen. Sounds that no living being should be capable of making. Jess, for her part, seems to be mending from her escapades through walls as a fashionable robot's backpack. But much of her suit is still shredded.

Captain America has posed:
Having shot off instructions for the Avengers outside of the facility to regroup and retreat to the fringes, Steve is jogging down the corridor leading to the detention cells with much haste. His boots make a tattoo of sound in his travels and he enters the area in a sudden slowing of suit and shield upon his back. He glances from Jessica in her semi-mulched suit to the man.

"John. Listen to me: if you can turn those things around, do it." He gives John a level look. "I know you know what I'm talking about. They're on their way and they mean business."

Bastion has posed:
John had sat on his cot, to mostly do.. nothing. He's just sitting there when the both of them come to him. He does a very good impression, possibly truthful, of being confused. "I don't sense anything nearby. There's interference in here, though. I'm trying to see but I can't 'feel' out." John then centers on the more important part of that.

"What's coming? A lot of them? Like the assassin, or like the other ones that were destroyed?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"What's he.....What are you talking about, Cap'n? This wasn't all of them, was it? There are more?" Jess feels a tingling racing along her skin, and she shivers with a sigh. Without much fanfare, she joins John Doe in his cell and seats herself near him. "Sorry...My comm got shut off in a battle for the kitchen."

Captain America has posed:
"Not assassins, no. The big guns." Steve looks over his shoulder and towards his memory of where New York City proper is according to the layout of the facilities. "And they're incoming. We need to get out of here before they arrive. It's not just four of 'em, Jessica," he says to the woman in particular. "It's a flight of 'em."

His regard shifts again to John Doe. "You gotta come along too, for your safety."

Bastion has posed:
"...And you want me to call them off," John says, with a mix of surprise and, perhaps, doubt. "When we go outside I can try. I don't sense any of them right now. Just interference. Are they coming for something else here, or is this related to me?" He gets up, though, off of the cot. His questions aren't worried, but have a resolved sense to them. "I'll go out and try. If it works, nobody'll be in danger."

A pause, and he directs his gaze to Jessica. "Which way is out?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica has been following the conversation, and has knelt down beside John Doe as she learns exactly what's going on for herself. "This way," she replies, rising and heading for the nearest entrance. But she pauses momentarily to look back at John. "You've got this. I believe in you," she says, and opens the door that will lead them to the entrance where Jess entered the facility.

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
Having been alerted to the developing situation at the Avengers facility holding John Doe, Captain Marvel took off from Mackenzie Station in space, and zoomed towards Earth's surface, reaching the others on com <<anybody at the facility, this is Captain Marvel, I'm heading over to help out, are those Sentinels after John Doe? Because there's a heck of a lot of them incoming...>>

Captain America has posed:
"Stick close to us, don't want too much separation." The Captain's tone, while polite, doesn't necessarily ask this of John Doe. He falls into place on the other side of the man and begins traveling with them. A sudden influx of communication has him reaching for his ear, eyes angled off to one side as he listens.

"Hey Carol. Not certain why they're gathering, but they're headed our way. Assistance would be appreciated," he says quietly into the comms. The shield comes out as the group travels, Steve's hand clamped about the interior grip and ready for any nonsense.

Bastion has posed:
Steve is, probably, getting a running commentary from Tony (or will be) about doing the opposite of what Tony suggested. There's likely sarcasm involved. But if Tony's talking, he's not drinking. Maybe.

John Doe himself follows Jessica out through into the hallway, ignoring the technicians that look on curiously while they pack up their things to go. Coming into the upper levels of the facility, and then towards the outside, makes John Doe seem less important, smaller - or it may just be that he's in gray sweats, unshaven, without shoes. He does look like he's been imprisoned for months.

Above them in the chilly early morning sky shoots one smaller Sentinel, then another, as they pass overhead, in grid formations. There's about eight nearby, now, within a few miles of the facility.

John slows, scanning the sky as if looking for them visually. "I can sense them. They're all interconnected."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica can hear the running commentary from Tony. Even if she can't hear what is being said, she can tell he's chattering I'm Steve's ear. "You keep Tony busy, and I'll watch your ass," she asides to Steve as they take up positions to keep an eye on the sky, and on John Doe. Her eyes follow the same arcs that John's do as he scans the sky, and she glances to Steve. Her look conveys a look that imparts her apprehension. "I hope this works, or your butt is toast..."

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
As Carol continues her fast descent, she can see the Sentinels in formation above the Avengers facility and starts to slow her approach, which is quite noticable already for the crazy lumens she generates. Sparklefisted Princess that she is, <<there are some Sentinels in formation above the facility, do you want me to engage and attempt quick takedown on approach, or is someone enacting a genius Iron Man plan or other?>> Best to ask rather than make a mistake first.

Bastion has posed:
"There's someone else up there too," John Doe answers. "One of yours?" He asks, aside, towards Jessica and Steve. He isn't privy to their communications, or is pretending he's not, at the very least.

"I'm asking for... their mission." John looks upwards, still, in the manner of someone listening to something nobody else can hear.

Overhead, more Sentinels continue to arrive, though they don't immediately begin hostilities, or seem to even react at all to Captain Marvel. She may as well not even be there, for how little they alter course.

"They're here for me."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"She's one of ours," Jessica replies to John with a nod. Then, into her comm, "So far they are just assembling. We have ears on their plans down here, and we're ascertaining their next move, and seeing if it can be peacefully thwarted. Maybe stand by for a few moments to see where this immediately goes, Carol." Jessica winces as Tony sounds like he may be chewing Steve's ass over the decision. She is behind this plan a thousand percent. She believes in the man that John Doe has become. She quietly moves over near Steve to see what she can hear, and to make sure she can save his butt, if things go suddenly sideways. "I'm behind you. Every step of the way," she promises him soberly.

Shadowcat has posed:
The Blackbird jets down the secret tunnel that leads up from the underground hangar. Kitty has on her costume and mask, and Lockheed is riding her shoulder in case she has to phase quickly. "Ok, working on Stark Industries satellites... about to come in handy," she says to the dragon as Kitty patches her comms into the satellites and redirects the communications to Tony Stark as a priority message.

When a connection is made, Kitty says into her comms, "This is Shadowcat of the X-men. I have a combat-capable aircraft in the area, though I'm holding far enough out to not provoke anything. Do you need assistance there?" she asks. She double checks the weapon stores and countermeasures. With how many Sentinels are out there, she knows if it comes to combat this may be a rough mission. But hey, she hasn't destroyed the Blackbird since she was 13. She's overdue.

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
<<Roger that,>> Carol answers Jessica on the comm, it's the option she doesn't often favor, but can't refute it makes the most sense given the circumstances. If there's a peaceful resolution, all is well, if they need to engage, best to have her come from above while the rest attack from the ground. Chaos usually helps, albeit with robots as the enemy, one wonders how likely they are to be swayed from any pre-made plans. <<Shadowcat, this Captain Marvel, stand by for the time being, we're trying for a peaceful resolution, if it fails...you can join me on the aerial engagement...you've flown combat before, correct?>> Having served as the X-Men's pilot for a while, Carol absolutely adores the aircraft that is the Blackbird, but she also knows how complex it is to pilot, and she's never quite sure which of the X-Men is properly trained. After all, she had pilot duties while she was there, and she was a total stick hog.

Bastion has posed:
"I'm just listening to them. They're preparing to come down here, once they have enough presence," John Doe says, his tone even, and somewhat quiet. "I don't know what they'll do, or if they're aggressive toward me, or you." John's speaking to Captain America and Jessica. He isn't on communications with Shadowcat, naturally.

"Do you want them to go ahead with what they intend, or should I try to direct them? I think they'll notice me. It could go either way." John appears to wait, still watching the sky.

The numbers are rising quickly; the Sentinels now number thirty-four locally. "I could also move. They may follow me, leaving your people out of the line of fire. I don't want the people here harmed."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"And I won't let you face them alone, no matter whether they get aggressive with you. For your sake - and for future reference - we need to find out what kind of control you have over these guys. I believe in you. And Cap obviously does too, if he's putting his ass on the line this way. You won't be facing anything alone, if they don't listen to you. They were coming for you, whether or not you tried this." She looks back down to John and smiles. "You've got this. I know you do."

Jessica glances back to Steve. "Watch your 6, he's gonna tell 'em he isn't coming out to play."

Shadowcat has posed:
Shadowcat's voice crackles over the comms to Captain Marvel. "You bet I have. Going to be like old times," she tells the woman she's known for quite a few years now. "I do not know if they will detect my being a mutant inside the plane. If they do, it is very possible I will become a focus for them," Shadowcat shares of her experiences with the Sentinels to date.

"Are you getting the subject out of there?" she asks. Kitty checks the radar, tracking the Sentinels and making sure she keeps to an area she doesn't have any coming in where they can surround her easily.

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
<<I'll remind you, Spider-Woman, that there's also the matter of numbers...and they are growing, so if we're going to act, we need it to be sooner rather than later. Let John try and sway them, if he can't we need to engage...>> Carol offers her two cents, while she hovers in the air, fairly higher than the gathering Sentinels, keeping watch over them, while mentally deciding which she'll explodiate first. <<The subject is an advanced Sentinel, but not like them, he's sentient, we're testing if he can direct them...if he can't, we might be in for a fight,>> Carol shares with Shadowcat, <<does your phasing destroy them like it does to most technology, Shadowcat?>> Carol has to ask, she hadn't seen Shadowcat dealing with one of these before, though she knows what she does to tech. <<Keep in mind, if they get too high in numbers, I may ask you to fire at me, Shadowcat.>>

Bastion has posed:
As the Blackbird is staying well out of range, it doesn't appear that she's drawn undue attention: one of the Sentinels does go upwards and begin to survey her zone, but it appears to be more of that they are keeping track of what is around them, less about directly going after her. There's an intellect and strategy to it: a few others are deployed similarly, checking around the area. Including where Captain Marvel is chilling.

"All right. Making contact," John says.

Abruptly, all of the Sentinels turn to stare down at the facility, in unison. It's extremely creepy: some of them turn their heads but not their bodies: as if a magnet for all eyes forced them to all take a good look.

"I'm conveying that I'm not in danger. They're asking about my status," John says, tone thoughtful. "They're not here to harm me. They're here to free me." John turns a focused stare on Jessica, then Steve. There's doubt on his face.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, trying to decompress. "I know what you want," she says calmly to John. "And I think you know I want it for you, too. But going with them would be a death sentence for you, and for a whole lot of other people down here. Your freedom is best achieved in your own terms. Not theirs. This is in your hands..." Jess swiftly conveys the information to Carol, as well. "They are here to take...John Doe." She shoots an apologetic glance toward him. "Not to attack....necessarily. He has made contact. Stand by for just a few more moments, please." She glances toward Steve...and then behind him...just to make sure no one is coming up on his rear. Then, to John, "It's time to send them home..."

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
<<I would suggest informing them you do not need to be freed, for you are free, and are here of your own volition,>> Carol offers what makes most sense to her, <<inform them that the Avengers are aiding you in fulfilling your function, I think that just may be sufficient,>> but after having had her say to John, she adds for Jessica's benefit, <<I think it's feasible to convince them having John here benefits their program, after all, he is free to share data with them, correct? If we can buy ourselves time, it's better to avoid engagement right now, have a fuller Avengers team for next time...if it comes to pass.>>

To Kitty she adds in a separate message, <<they are just scouring the area, keep as you are, you're doing great Shadowcat.>> By which she means, supremely better than say a Jubilee accidentally starting WWIII in a similar situation. Not that she thinks lowly of Shadowcat, she just apprecaites when someone knows better than to start a WWIII.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde has Lockheed keep an eye on the radar as she begins working through her uplink to the satellites. "Let's get all of this communication captured to analyze later. Maybe we can figure out more of how their command codes work," she says to the dragon, and also sending Tony a note of what she's doing in that regard.

Shadowcat says over the comms, "My phasing will destroy the older models at least. But Rogue encountered a power nullification field in a radius around one of these newer ones. So I might not be able to get close enough without it shutting me down," she says. "So I figured the Blackbird was probably the better option."

She pauses a moment. "Really bad if they get their hands on him. He doesn't have much love for mutants himself either," she says, teeth pressing together tight after. "Though he didn't blast me in the hallway, well. I'm worried, let's just say that."

Bastion has posed:
John has a lot to think over. But he's a machine, and it doesn't take long for him to process it. However, he does have emotions, some show on his face, the tension that comes into his mouth and jaw. So he is more than a simple processor.

"I think I understand your stance," John says, in answer, to Jessica and Carol. He relaxes his arms, which were crossed over his chest, to his sides.

Above, the Sentinels start to move around. Half a dozen start to proceed in a smooth pattern towards the facility, in a clear transport mode, not battle. The others circle, and then begin to reroute with flares of their powerful thrusters. Someone who was tracking them with satellite would notice they are returning to their previous locations: re-deployed in an organized manner.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
There's immense relief on Jessica's face as the majority of the sentinels depart. But apprehension creeps back in as she watches the half dozen who approach. "Where are the negotions now?" she asks John. "Why are these coming in? Are they disobeying? Or do you have a plan?" She moves closer to John, protectively, even, as she watches the remaining six. "What do you need from me? From us?"

Steve's but a few yards away. That helps.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty types intently, focusing as much of the applicable satellite technology to bear as she can, not to mention the Blackbird's own sensors. She lifts her head as she listens, and checks the radar display. "Looking kind of like an escort. Are we sure that he isn't choosing to leave and taking advantage of the opportunity? What I heard over the comms was not an expression of agreement necessarily. If he is on our side I'm good with it, but I'm scared spitless should he be out there on his own," she says.

Kitty keeps the Blackbird away from the Sentinels as they begin returning from whence they came. Though she goes through the weapons stores and picks out what she'll need to use should John Doe be preparing to use the Sentinels to leave.

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
<<I really do hope he is on our side, because we can't allow the risk of the alternative,>> Captain Marvel comms to Shadowcat, before starting a slow descent after the 6 Sentinels approaching John Doe. "He is one of us, not a prisoner," Carol states verbally, though she doesn't expect the other Sentinels will listen. Besides, if John wants to leave, he will just do so. The question is...does she try to take all of them out if it happens?

Bastion has posed:
"Those six," John says, finally, "are staying with me. They aren't here to harm you. They're going to protect me." Or, at least, John seems to believe that they are. The communication between John Doe and the Sentinels is not something anyone else has been able to witness: if the relationship is one controlling the other, or if a deal was struck, there's no clear evidence.

"You asked for diplomacy. I have done that," John reports, with a victorious smile to Jessica and Steve. He's pleased with himself. As if he enjoyed doing what was asked of him successfully. "And I'm going to look at them. And learn how they relate to me."

And there's the motive: John did send them away, but is getting something he wanted: Sentinels to look at, and compare to himself.

The Sentinels, if left alone, will come down, and land, heavy, huge, and watchful, in a row, in the street outside of the facility's security zone, like creepy, stoic guards.

"But not now. We can go inside. It's been a long night," John says, with what looks like relief.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica smiles and looks back at Steve, who has bent over to pick up his shield. Then she breathes a sigh of relief and places her hand on John's arm. "Thank you. This has been an amazing adventure. And it isn't over yet. You've proven time and again that my faith in you has not been misplaced." Then, into her comm, Jess speaks directly. "Bring it in here guys...there'll be no conflict. These guys are here to study. Let's call it a night. Well...morning, now."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde listens to what is transpiring over the comms. She gives a sigh of relief, but it's a small one. "I'm glad this didn't turn into a fight. But I think we need to be really careful and think through how this could go sideways and be one step ahead if it turns out he's not on our side and he's just getting what he needs before fulfilling his programming. Yes, I'm a skeptic when it comes to these things. But then I have a friend from the future who has lived through what happens when they decide dealing with mutants means taking over."

The Blackbird flies over Captain Marvel and Kitty rocks the plane to give a wave with its wings. "Heading back to base, but I'll come by and we can discuss the matter more later. Good seeing you again Carol. Thank you, Spider-Woman. Cap."

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"Terrific...we appreciate your efforts," Carol says to John as she comes to a landing, offering him a smile, as well as a thumbs up to Jessica. "I'm sure having these nice Sentinels to help protect our facility will be appreciated by everyone," Carol says, before quipping, "and Trask would eat up the opportunity to show the Avengers support and make use of his Sentinels...it's a win for all, eh?" She says that one while looking explicitly at Jessica, before moving to go inside with Jess and John, before sending a comm to Kitty, "Shadowcat, looks like we won't need further support, we do appreciate the X-Men coming to aid just in case mayhem ensued, likewise, you can also count on us. Have a good night, Shadowcat."