Unexpected Guests

[Mendi-chan]

*Mendo smiles*
Alright... Just a few more minutes and we'll get out of here...

*Darting into the room Mendo takes quick stock, trying to scan for any life signatures while his cohorts attempt to gather all the information they can, digital and otherwise.*

[Jello Shot Mischa]

Mendo detects no life signatures in the lab -- it was apparently unoccupied! His ninjas fan out, booting up computers, skimming through reports, and so on. At a glance, it appears that the CTC detected some kind of underground installation or facility, which preliminary reports suggest was related to the Brotherhood -- something called the "Paradigm System".

Meanwhile, in the command centre, the silver-haired woman rises to her feet. "The upstairs laboratory?" she says, her eyes narrowing. She glances over the displays. "You've got two anomalies in your patrols already!" she points out. "Scramble a response team and send them to the laboratory, NOW!" she shouts at the base commander.

The man blinks, and stammers, sending out orders. "But... it may take a few minutes..." he says lamely. The silver-haired woman nods.

"I'm going to buy you some time," she says, before vanishing from sight!

[Mendi-chan]

*Mendo's eyes dart around the room, attempting to identify all entrance and exit routes. The NPC ninja's are surprisingly efficient and begin siphoning and decrypting the information off while attempting to make a copy of the whole encrypted database so as to crack it later when they have time, assuming they make it back...*
One hundred twenty seconds...
*He says, glancing to his group to alert them of how much time they had.

[Jello Shot Mischa]

Mendo scans the rooms like a good ninja would! There's the door he came through, and like all good fire codes recommend an emergency exit that can only be opened from the inside on the far wall, although it appears to be alarmed. There's air vents, but they're the realistic "too small for human use" kind.

Tick tick tick... seconds pass, as the ninjas efficiently download the data... but then Mendo abruptly senses a new presence, as a silver-haired woman in a uniform appears within the laboratory, her arms crossed. Her eyes narrow as she spies the ninjas going through the data. "Well, well... what have we here?" she says, her gaze shifting to focus on Mendo himself!

[Mendi-chan]

*Mendo is legitimately surprised at the sudden arrival of the woman... but he remains calm, two of the group taking offensive stances while the rest continue working... They still had numbers, which meant that she shouldn't be able to do anything rash.*
Quite the trick you have there... Pretty impressive I must say.
Though, next time, you may not want to appear in a place where you're outnumbered...

[Jello Shot Mischa]

The woman notes the ninjas taking up their offensive stances, and for a moment Mendo can see her calculating the configuration of the room and the layout of the various individuals in it, before she focuses upon him again, a slight smile appearing on her lips. "Oh, I knew if I appeared outside of the room, you'd simply maneuver to try and evade me. Even if my forces did move to secure the remaining exit, given that you managed to get into here, it's likely they'd be somewhat outmatched, and the potential for you to escape would be higher. This way, I can seize the advantage for myself, and instead throw you off."

She glances at the ninjas still hurriedly gathering data. "I must give you credit for seeking to gain information... but there still seems to be sizable gaps in your intelligence. Since you do seem the sort that may value an open exchange of knowledge, perhaps we should instead spend a few moments talking, rather than simply resorting to violence?" she asks.

[Mendi-chan]

*Mendo narrows his eyes... motioning for the ninja's to take a more relaxed stance...*
I suppose we could talk for a minute... But you must understand, knowing that you all have used considerable force in the past we had to take every precaution to get raw, unfiltered information. For the safety of our people.

[Jello Shot Mischa]

The silver-haired woman nods. "If you're referring to the incident with the Sand Academy for Young Women, that incident in itself was a consequence of hasty decisions made without adequate information. Since then, we have increased our efforts to accumulate more data on circumstances in Muffinville and the surrounding area, so that we don't have to end up in the same situation again. So I can understand your own motivations, although I do regret that you hadn't approached us more openly."

She shrugs. "In any case... we are hardly the largest threat facing Muffinville, and I'd prefer to try and deal with you on a neutral, if not friendly, footing. If you have any questions, I'm willing to provide what answers I can."

[AmbushCat]

She gives a tentative glance at AmbushCat, who actually seems more like a normal cat when he's not speaking. Should she say anything about him?

*Ambush Cat looks up at her, flicking his tail a few times, then turns aside and closes his eyes serenely. Typical cat behavior.*

[Mendi-chan]

*Mendo sighs... removing his mask once more as his allies continue their work.*
If we ran into the line of fire every time we thought that Muffinville was in danger we'd all be dead. I only care about the well being of my people and my home...
In any case, I make no apologies for our actions. I have no doubt that your organization would take similar measures to procure information from us.

[Jello Shot Mischa]

The silver-haired woman nods. "You're most likely correct, although I should also point out we're hardly unique in that regard." She shrugs, and somewhat languidly sits on the corner of a nearby desk. "However, since you're currently the ones sneaking into our base and stealing our data, perhaps you'd at least provide me with some details as to who you are, and why it's of any interest to you?"

She studies Mendo for a moment. "Since you claim to be interested in protecting your people, I am willing to provide some information on at least one potential threat to you."

[Mendi-chan]

*Mendo frowns*
First thing's first... I'm going to need your name and rank... And you're going to have to tell me exactly how you managed to get in here.

[Jello Shot Mischa]

The woman offers an enigmatic smile. "My name is Abel, and my rank is Special Adjutant. I have access to certain special abilities that aren't available to the more conventional forces of the CTC, although we've been working to rectify that," she explains.

[Mendi-chan]

*Mendo frowns at that information... but decides not to press on that issue any further*
I see... Well I am Mendokusee zei Ulthoth... please, just call me Mendo. Suffice it to say that I am the leader of this operation.

I had intel that the CTC was operating within the proximity of our village and was concerned about possible dangers to our village and took the liberty to investigate. We're from Muffingakure.

[Jello Shot Mischa]

Abel quirks an eyebrow at the mention of the Muffingakure, and then frowns, her eyes taking on a momentarily distant look, as if she's reading something that Mendo can't see. "Hmm... I don't know of any communities by that name, although we have operations spread throughout this region." She tilts her head in Mendo's direction. "If you'd be willing to identify the boundaries of your community, I can inform my superiors of them. We have no interest in trespassing on someone else's property, unless there appears to be a danger to the surrounding community."