Session 118

Dawn breaks, the pink-red in the distance filtered through the angry red of the shield the party has camped next to. This close, the shield has served as a night light - easily filterable out by tents, but more than enough to read by.
No breakfast trays or fancy beds here, just the party's own camping gear, and what they provide for themselves. Still, this rocky alcove is at least sheltered from the wind.
Max Thorn is up early, doing omelets on the camp stove.
To one side, red with flowing runes, and the steep drop-off cliff just beyond it the party has seen before. To the other, still-rocky Route 39 to Dugburg - a long path leading a bit beyond the horizon to a vast pit.
Tim and Sands appear to be doing their morning meditation, watching Max work with hungry eyes in perfect sync.
The party's pokedexes beep with an incoming message from Looker. "MB complete and acquired. Bringing it to you now."
Max Thorn serves up Tim's and Sands's omelets, and gets started on the party's.
Linnea: "Sweet. Now we figure out if that was the easy part or the hard part."
Sam Spade: "Linnea. Sweetie. We still need to punch Iggy in the face."
Tim and Sands nom with their usual gusto!
Max Thorn: "Pity there isn't enough of her face for all four of us to do it simultaneously."
Esme: "So the hard part, is what you're saying."
Sam Spade: "I'm just saying that I'm a little worried that Iggy's face will be hard."
Linnea: "I mean, that's what I picked up Stone Edge for."
Max Thorn: "…If you're worried about that, we can just go get you a steel gauntlet."
Linnea: "Since I am sure she possesses at least one fourfold weakness."
Linnea smirks slyly.
Max Thorn finishes up the omelets and dishes them up.
Tim pauses his omelet obliteration for just a moment. "Of course she does! And the four are Linnea, Max, Esme, and Sam!"
Sands nudges Tim.
Tim: "Aaand elemental too, right."
Linnea grins, ruffling Tim's hair. "I appreciate that all the same."
Tim blushes. "H-hey!" Swallowing - nearly inhaling - another bite of omelet, he continues, "So what's the plan once the ball gets here? Just cut the power, hope that doesn't cut the bridges, and run right in?"
Sam Spade: "Bridges?"
Tim points to the hard light bridge just beyond the shield, leading to the now-floating island containing what remains of the League Headquarters.
At least, "hard light" is what it looks like, milky white and able to hold itself up with no support, in apparent defiance of physics if it had much mass.
The bridge stretches for miles, seeming to curve from this perspective - but just following the planet's curvature. If it were not for the massive crater beyond the shield removing what would have been the horizon, the bridge's far side would be beyond said horizon.
Sam Spade looks at the bridge and snarls.
Sam Spade: "That does sound like a bad plan. Let me check something."
Sam Spade walks over to the sign that says "SCAN FOR ENTRY" and holds her Pokedex open to it.
Five other bridges can be seen, each extending from the other Routes to the HQ.
The scanner blinks, processing the badges…
Scanner: "POKEMON-GRANTED BADGES INVALID."
Sam Spade: "WHAT!?"
Sam Spade kicks the post.
Linnea: "I am Jack's complete lack of surprise."
The post is stoic and metal.
Sam Spade: "Cherie is a damn gym leader, and so is Di! Just because they're Pokemon doesn't mean they're not Gym Leaders!"
Sam Spade then clenches her fist. "Max, Esme? Can you fix this thing? It's broken."
Max Thorn: "If it doesn't have any jacks, no; it'd have to be programmed from the League HQ."
Max Thorn goes to have a look, anyway.
Esme: "Well it's actually working, but yeah, could make it less-working, if there's a way to get into it."
No jacks can be seen.
There is, however, smaller text toward the bottom. "1/5 RIBBONS DETECTED."
Esme: "Ahah~"
Max Thorn: "…Pool the ribbons?"
Linnea: "Contest ribbons…?"
Esme: "Don't we only need like a third of the badges anyway?"
Tim: "Oh, yeah! The second rule of access: if you could get all 5 types of rib…bons…" Tim blinks. "Wait. Did we actually…?" He produces his copy of the Cool Ribbon.
Max Thorn: "Normally, yes. But this thing isn't normal." He gestures at the barrier.
Linnea holds up her ribbon toward the device.
The scanner flickers a beam over Linnea's, then Tim's. "3/5 RIBBONS DETECTED."
Esme unpins the Smart Ribbon from Ugene's ball to scan. "Seems pretty normal if it's scanning ribbons."
Scanner: "4/5 RIBBONS DETECTED."
Max Thorn passes his own 'dex over the scanner.
Scanner: "ACCESS GRANTED." The portion of the shield within the frame fades out. Hot air rushes forth, washing over the party for half a minute.
Max Thorn: "Ah. Much like Iggy, it's full of hot air."
Max Thorn snorts, and steps through the gate.
There is a bit of a cliff lip on the far side - not enough for completely free movement, but at least enough to get at the back side of the monitor - where there is indeed a jack, as well as a wireless receiver.
Looking over the miles-deep cliff edge is enough to threaten vertigo.
Max Thorn: "What I thought. Can't have people hacking it, so the jack's on the 'allowed in' side."
Down at the bottom center of the crater - that is indeed lava from the mantle, and a small structure over it, unidentifiable from this distance.
Linnea: "Moderately terrifying."
With the shield no longer suppressing it, the sound of battle can be heard from the HQ tower. With the shield's red not altering the colors, brilliant flame red and psychic purple are readily identifiable, to trainers who have long worked with pokemon of every type.
Linnea: "What the hell…?"
Mostly, the crater is a place of desolation. Not enough sunlight gets through the shield for any plants to grow.
If this is the same battle the party caught a glimpse of when observing that call in Skitter Jungle, then this battle has been going for days at least, nonstop.
Esme: "…Should probably get up there soon."
The bridge is long enough that walking normally would take another day or so just to cross.
Max Thorn: "Yup."
Linnea: "… Let's hurry."
Esme: "Also probably should've brought scooters. Or Go karts. Any of those things we've ridden, other than the makeshift surfboards or the Wailord."
Linnea: "It's kind of like a rainbow road…"
Sam Spade: "We'd best get started, then."
Sam Spade: "…Hey, Tim. Do you have any way of contacting your dad?"
Tim shakes his head. "Only hanging around you until you wander into him. I've tried calling him now and then, but he never picks up."
Tim: "I think his unit was smashed a while ago." He points at the battle in the distance. "If not earlier, then in this."
Sam Spade: "Rats. Though, I don't see any water over there…Esme, can you contact Lugia?"
Linnea: "Hm, perhaps I should have captured a flier."
[OOC] WC GM: Esme: Occult check.
Max Thorn: "We could probably pull in hover-scooters, at least."
Esme: "Haven't tried, but it worked the last time with the Trio, using her badge as a focus."
Esme does give it the old self-taught-but-aiming-for-college try.
Esme rolled up 6d6+1: 26 (6 3 4 6 3 3) (Hello Birb)
[OOC] Sam Spade: Actually, we really probably shouldn't leave until the helicopters get here with the master ball, huh
[OOC] WC GM: It'll arrive soon.
Esme: "Hrm."
Max Thorn pipes a call to the 'copters. "Would you folks happen to have hover-scooters or similar available? We need…" He pauses and glances at Sands. "…six, more if any of you're tagging along."
Esme: "Shield's in the way. Also it's super humid in here."
Looker: "Not on me, but I'll ask. I should get to your position in a few minutes."
Max Thorn: "Okay. Be aware it'll take about a day on foot to get to the centre of this thing, otherwise."
Looker: "Are you able to get inside?"
Max Thorn: "Yup. Used our ribbons, though; the scanner didn't like the pokemon-granted badges."
Max Thorn: "Going to attempt to figure that one out in a moment, if we're going to be waiting on transport."
Sam Spade: "Cuz Iggy's a bitch."
Looker: "You know our thoughts on that. How much access do you have?"
Sam Spade: "Well, we're in the shield now? But if there's an inner shield - which I'd assume because we can see Moth and Ho-oh rampaging around at the center - well, we can probably get past that."
Max Thorn: "Inside's a jack and a wireless receiver, but I haven't attempted access through that just yet."
Looker: "Let me know once you do."
Max Thorn pulls a data cable out of his pack and jacks in.
[OOC] WC GM: If ever there was a time for a Tech Ed check, this is it.
Max Thorn rolled up 6d6+2: 19 (2 2 4 6 1 2) (Tech Ed + Paragon)
The interface is somewhat arcane and bare. Max quickly realizes he may need assistance in parsing what he is seeing.
[OOC] WC GM: TN was 20, so just about any assistance will get Max past it.
Max Thorn: "…I'm in, but this is pretty arcane, even for older Amodan tech. Esme, any thoughts?"
Esme: "Mmm…"
Esme rolled up 6d6: 24 (2 3 5 5 3 6) (Helping)
Esme pokes at it.
The stumbling block is that it is not Amodan technology, but Dojjian, similar to the systems encountered in Petri's lab. Also, the expected security and interface are simply missing: security is physical only; anyone who could get inside is apparently presumed authorized enough to be given root access.
Max Thorn: "Oh. Older *Dojjian* tech. That explains it."
The power coming through Dugburg proves to be entirely superfluous: an "internal power station" - presumably that thing over the lava - is providing enough power for the shield now.
The runes are partially tuning to block certain elements that would otherwise pass through, partly reinforcing to build up any part of the shield that falters. It is indeed all the way around, the only weak spot being to allow influx of heat at the bottom - explaining why it was so hot in here.
That said, there is no sign of a system administrator or anyone else logged in just now, other than Max.
Max Thorn relays this all to Looker even as he continues to poke through the system…so what's with the badge lockout, anyway?
The badge lockout was entered a few days ago. Although there are no user accounts per se, the phrasing of the comments reeks of Ignacia, and the datestamp is approximately correct to have started the battle.
Looker: "Confirm: you have root access?"
Sam Spade: "Hah. I guess she figured out how Lugia got in, then."
Max Thorn: "Effectively, yes. No security on this stuff at all."
Looker: "Then why is the shield still up?"
Max Thorn: "It's powered internally, presumably via a portable geothermal plant."
Sam Spade: "Can't you just turn it off?"
Max Thorn: "Let's see…if it's networked, yes. If it's not…"
Indeed, the power plant is controlled from the same network.
Max Thorn tries to initiate a remote shutdown on the plant.
Power Plant Interface: "CONFIRM: SHUTDOWN CONTAINMENT?"
Sam Spade: "Okay, that's a very scary line."
Max Thorn: "…uhh. Containment of *what*?" He cancels the shutdown and investigates the plant more thoroughly.
The power plant is designed to contain the heat from the lava, and use the shield to keep the lava itself down.
If everything were to be shut down, the result would be an instant volcano, directly under HQ.
Sam Spade: "Okay, I'm not 100% against that, but I'm still like 99% against that."
Max Thorn: "… The shield's preventing this from becoming an active volcano."
[OOC] Max Thorn: That's to Looker, btw.
Sam Spade: "Can the shield be controlled or changed?"
Looker: "Our scientists had been wondering about that."
Looker: "Would you be within the volcano's area?"
Esme: "Presumably at ground zero, yes."
Max Thorn checks. Also checks to see if the shield's parameters can be configured remotely, although he wouldn't be surprised if it weren't.
There is indeed a model of the expected volcano in the computers. The cliff where the party is, would be unaffected save for having a view. Miles around would be covered under lava - but there is nothing but crater to be buried anyway. The HQ island would be at the top, damaged enough that the bridges would likely falter, but the island would probably survive. Being on the island at the time might not be survivable, unless one had the power of legendary pokemon to put up auras to withstand the heat.
The shield can be strengthened or weakened locally, but is difficult to only mostly shut off - except via something like the ring gate the party entered through.
Though, the ring gate does look big enough to sit over the lava.
Max Thorn: "The computers project that we'd get a fine view…but I'm very much afraid that it wouldn't, ah, solve the problem, if 'the problem' is Iggy. If you can get the hardware for a gate, another one can be added to the shield, but it's not going to go down without volcanic activity."
Looker: "Without blueprints we wouldn't even know what hardware you need. But there are six gates. Can you salvage or move one?"
Linnea: "… Okay, this is definitely going to be the hard part."
Max Thorn: "That much looks doable, on both counts."
Max Thorn looks to see if a gate can be moved from here or if it needs to be physically relocated.
At first the gate looks secured to the rock, but on second glance, the rock is merely propping the shield up. If enough rock were to be removed, the gate could be slid along the shield.
Max Thorn: "Any particular destination for the gate in mind? It looks like we can just slide it along the shield, as long as there aren't any physical obstructions like rock outcrops."
Sam Spade: "Can it be reversed? So it's still on over a gate and off everywhere else?"
A quick check shows that is entirely possible.
Max Thorn: "Yup. Trick is timing it…"
Tim: "Or just getting it into position." He glances toward the power plant.
Sam Spade: "So we slide one to the bottom so it's over the lava, then turn the shield off everywhere *else*."
Looker's helicopter finally appears to the southwest, quickly approaching.
Max Thorn: "Assuming it's lava-proof. Hmmm."
The metal of the ring looks like it would probably stand up to that level of heat.
Max Thorn: "Worth a shot."
Tim: "If you're riding down, Sands can dig out a chunk of the cliff to get you initial speed, but you'll have to steer it after that."
Sam Spade: "Sounds like a plan!"
Esme: "Gervais can help with that, moving earth is no problem!"
Looker: "I'll wait out here."
Max Thorn: "All right. Do we want to be on the inside or the outside, for this? Or both?"
Tim smiles and flashes a thumbs-up! "Thanks!"
Tim: "Inside. If we're steering it, we'll have to grab on and ride."
Max Thorn: "All right. Closing gate…"
The gate seals up quickly at Max's command.
Esme releases Gervais.
Sam Spade: "Malta, back us up!"
Tim: "Sands will take Gervais's lead." He grabs onto the ring.
Max Thorn hangs on to the ring with one hand, then tucks his 'dex away, still connected to the gate with the other before grabbing on to the ring with it.
Esme grabs on. "Alright Gervy. We're going to be moving this thing down. Moderately."
[OOC] WC GM: Sam and Linnea are on the ring too, right? Is Linnea calling out any pokemon to assist?
Max Thorn: "Minerva, you can help out too." The drakeon pops out of her ball and prrups, then joins Sands and Gervais.
[OOC] Sam Spade: Yup
Linnea sends out Miator, who assists, telekinetically. And smugly, for some reason. Her smile is a bit unnerving.
[OOC] WC GM: Athletics checks for Gervais, Minerva, Miator, and - if assisting with the rock-breaking - Malta.
Malta rolled up 4d6: 21 (5 6 4 6)
Gervais rolled up 5d6+5: 21 (1 2 2 6 5) (Grooooundshapeeeer)
[OOC] Linnea: Can Mia use Focus instead of Athletics since she's telekinetic?
Minerva rolled up 4d6: 10 (2 1 2 5)
[OOC] WC GM: Sure.
Miator rolled up 4d6: 6 (1 1 3 1)
[OOC] Linnea: =.=
Sands rolled up 3d6: 15 (6 3 6)
Several fractures descend through the cliff. It appears the shield sheared off the cliff face, leaving a tall bit thin face of rock. The fractures zig and zag down quickly, two merging, then a third…
In the end, more than a mile of rock shatters loose and to the sides. Time seems to pause for just a moment before gravity kicks in, the shield ring now having nothing underneath (pressing in from the outside to skip the rock outside)…
[OOC] WC GM: So, the party is now doing a gravitationally-assisted miles-long toboggan run along the inside of a glowing energy shield, with a destination accuracy of a few feet.
[OOC] Sam Spade: Fitting, to enter the last place the same way we entered the second.
[OOC] Max Thorn: thank Arceus Max maxed Focus.
[OOC] WC GM: *THIS* is Rainbow Road, so have some BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU52kttcndo
[OOC] WC GM: Everyone roll Acrobatics, Athletics, Focus, or anything else you can justify to control this vehicle. The party's pokemon should roll too - we can assume they grabbed on before the ring fully departed, and this is judged on the cumulative total.
Max Thorn rolled up 6d6: 19 (2 4 5 4 1 3)
Sam Spade rolled up 6d6: 20 (4 5 2 1 6 2) (Focus)
Minerva rolled up 5d6+2: 19 (2 6 3 5 1) (Acrobatics)
Malta is clinging to the back of the ring, her wings half-folded to add some tail to the slide.
Malta rolled up 5d6+2: 16 (4 1 1 5 3) (Acrobatics)
Esme rolled up 6d6: 18 (5 4 1 1 6 1) (Athletics)
Gervais rolled up 5d6+3: 15 (1 3 2 3 3) (Athletics)
[OOC] WC GM: Linnea?
Linnea rolled up 5d6: 13 (2 3 2 3 3) (Linnea Athletics)
Miator rolled up 4d6: 8 (2 1 1 4) (Focus)
The ride, fast as it is, takes somewhere from a quarter to a half hour, the wind at times threatening to rip the party away, the ring bumping a bit when it smashes through what bits of rock are in its path. Once the party reaches the flatter portion of the ride, steering becomes more of a concern - and that is just a matter of collective leaning but not oversteering.
Eventually the power plant comes into sight: a massive heat exchanger, suspended above what looks like a small pool of lava but is actually a portal to the massive mantle. The party has to duck a bit to avoid hitting it, sliding slowly to a stop…ever so slowly…
The ring comes to a halt about a meter off-center.
Max Thorn checks to see if that's within tolerance…
It is indeed large enough to fit over the lava portal, if it can be shoved into place.
As it is, it is not yet quite in safe position to shut off the rest of the shield.
Max Thorn: "Looks like it'll need to be shoved into position, but that shouldn't be too difficult."
Esme and Gervais hop off and give it a shove.
The ring is almost frictionless, easily shoved. The danger comes in shoving it too far - a counter-shove is needed to get it just right.
But eventually the ring is in position.
Max Thorn sends the shield shutdown command.
Linnea braces…
The shield flashes, flickering…then slowly fades away. The battle at HQ island far above pauses.
Sam Spade cups her hands around her mouth and shouts, loudly, "Hey! We'll be up there in a few minutes!"
The shield within the ring holds, keeping the lava down. The six bridges seem unaffected, likewise powered from the converter down here.
It is unknown if the two far above can hear Sam from this distance.
[OOC] Sam Spade: Probably not, but don't care, it looks cool in front of Linnea maybe
Looker: "Coming in. Would you like a lift up there?"
Max Thorn: "Yes, please."
Sam Spade: "If you wouldn't mind."
Looker's helicopter crests the ridge and makes a beeline for the party. In minutes, it is touching down at a clear spot nearby.
Looker waves from on board. "It'll take my friends a few minutes to muster. I told them to have faith in you, but they didn't believe you could-"
All sound is drowned out by twin ROARs from high above. Lugia and Ho-oh charge HQ Island.
Looker: "…no blasphemy meant, if any of you pray to them, but I don't think they'll be enough. Come on!"
Sam Spade runs to the helicopter.
Max Thorn follows Sam.
Esme recalls Gervais and hops in.
Linnea keeps along!
The helicopter ascends once all are aboard.
Looker: "Alright, now before we get up there…" He holds forth a purple-and-white orb. "Who's taking the ball?"
Sam Spade: "Shouldn't it be Tim?"
Tim: "If you're sure…?"
Sam Spade: "Don't use it unless you have to. You'll know if you do."
Max Thorn: "You have a better throwing arm than I do, which might matter."
Esme: "Works for me!"
Looker presses the ball into Tim's hand, then looks at the party, locking eyes with all four trainers at once. "If it comes to it, make sure he gets a chance to use it. One way or the other, end this."

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