InsaneJournal

Who: Everyone!
When: Late Monday night, after curfew
Where: All over the mansion
What: Weapon X attack!
Notes: This is a bit long but please read all of it so everyone is on the same page. This thread will run like the field trip thread and you can also make separate threads if you want to. The attack will end with Weapon X eventually retreating, there will be another post for that later. Have fun :D



The soldiers had their orders. And while some thought the sheer number of the attack force to be rather ridiculous for a school, none would ever question their orders. Doing so never ended well. The Weapon X operatives had arrived on the mansion grounds mere minutes earlier, debriefed well before bypassing the security systems and the gates. They had already separated into their groups, most of them not expecting to see any action. It should have been a quick in and out job.

Vanessa Carylsle, pale-skinned and blonde-haired, led a small group of the top soldiers, taking them around to one of the small back doors that led in near the kitchen. She wrapped her arms tightly around her torso as one of the men picked the lock. They'd already hacked in, taken down all the security systems. They knew the mansion inside and out, every nook and cranny, every security measure. The door pushed open silently, and the group met the darkness of a school well after curfew, silent and empty. She knew students would be out after curfew, crammed in the Rec Room trying to avoid detection, visiting one another's rooms, getting ready to sneak out. She just hoped luck stayed with them. The former student led them past the kitchen, through the cafeteria (hearing a phantom crowd, remembering the laughter, the food fights, the arguments, the deep conversations, the scrambling to student for exams - she had to choke back a sigh), up the stairs, skipping the one that always creaked. As she headed the team, her mind swam with thoughts. They had brought so many soldiers! At least two per student and staff member. Even the dark-haired killing machine, the girl cloned from Logan, the most lethal weapon they had. Why would they bring her to a school full of children? Why so many soldiers? She prayed no one would see them, that they would grab Professor Xavier, find Cerebro, and make it out of there before anyone was the wiser. If not... She shuddered to think of the consequences.


The soldiers had their orders. Some found them strange, one or two might have considered them disturbing. But more of them looked forward to the chance to use their skills, stretch their legs, so to speak. They hoped something would go wrong, so they could have some fun. Some were armed with guns, some with tranquilizers, many of them had brought their own supplies, too: tasers, army knives, a night stick or two. They were prepared, the ones not charged with the stealth of a kidnapping waiting outside with baited breath, surrounding the mansion. They were to subdue the students and the staff that got in their way, to tranquilize anyone who interrupted - but they were to use lethal force on any threats. And a school full of mutants? The threats just ran rampant.


They were up the stairs. Vanessa led them past the student dormitories, to the staff suites. As they rounded on the hallway, she almost let out a sigh of relief. So far, so good. They had brought all that backup for nothing. They were so close, and with the security out of commission, who would get in their way? Logan might track them down later, but they would be long gone. She nodded down the hall, indicating a door on the other end of the hall. She should have brought them up the elevator, but feared it would alert someone to hear the mechanics of the elevator whirring. Slow but steady. They started down the hall, so close to their objective.


But so, so far. They made it only several steps down the hall when one of the doors opened. A lean redheaded man, clad only in green boxers, stepped out into the hall. Sean Cassidy craved a cup of coffee. And the craving had come at just the right time. The alert Irishman tensed the moment he walked into the hall, saw the shapes, let his eyes adjust to the darkness and even recognized one of the intruders. Oh hell. CHARLES. SAINTS ALIVE, CHARLES, GET UP. WE'RE UNDER ATTACK. He focused his thoughts on his old friend, well used to doing so after so many years. And he wasn't about to just leave it at a mental warning for the professor. His mouth opened at the same time, and a wordless scream left his lips - it served the dual purpose of alerting every staff member of the danger and pushed back the intruders with its psionic force. He turned, ran to Xavier's room.


Charles was startled awake by Sean's panicked thoughts. He instantly reached out telepathically. He saw for a moment what Sean saw, then tried to reach out to see into the minds of the people Banshee saw. He could see nothing. Xavier instantly sat up, pulling himself into his wheelchair. Not good. He couldn't sense any of the people he knew were in the hall. His eyebrows furrowed, knowing Sean would be with him in a moment. Everyone, wake immediately. We are under attack, soldiers in the staff hallway. There may be others. They are telepathically shielded. Protect the students and yourselves and evacuate them immediately. We do not know the extent of this attack yet, so be careful. He projected as calmly as he could - but he feared for the safety of all his students and all his staff. He never imagined something like this would happen.


Sean burst into the room. "Ye're first, Charles," he said, grabbing the wheelchair's handles. He sped into the hall. Xavier caught a glimpse of the attackers, tried to reach out to them mentally once more - but they were thoroughly shielded, every one of them. He frowned. He had to start the students' evacuations, he couldn't dwell on his inability to break past the impressive mental shields. Students, this is Xavier. I ask each and every one of you to follow the directions of the staff members who are about to find you without question and evacuate to the lower levels of the mansion as calmly and quickly as possible. Do not rush, do not get rambunctious and loud. Do as they ask, now. The now came out more forcefully than he meant.


The wheelchair sped into the elevator. Sean opened his mouth for one last scream, almost forcing the soldiers down the stairs. He slammed his hand into correct level number, and the doors closed. Xavier leaned his forehead into his hand, trying to keep track of the staff and students.


The soldier behind Vanessa frowned. He lifted his hand to his headset, clicking it on. "We've been compromised. Move in. Cut the power now." He wanted Xavier - and cutting the power gave them the powerful telepath caught in a solid metal cage. "Now!" he reiterated needlessly, just as their hacker forced his way into the right part of the system, cutting the power.


The power went out; the soldiers went in.


They had their orders.