Crossover Escape: Gotta be more than Lucky to survive

1.8 Secret meeting

Around a well-lit conference table the five WIC executives looked over a series of surveillance footage. Some showed a group of people in faceless masks attacking various houses. Some showed attacks on cars. A large portion showed various scenes of attacks at an airport while the centre four screens showed live footage of three aeroplane seating areas filled with TacWar participants talking amongst themselves.

“Car – ”

“No names.” The First Head at the top of the table cuts off the Fifth Head with a sharp look.

The Fifth Head paused for a moment before trying again. “First Head what are we hoping to learn from this footage?”

“Fifth Head, you don’t think there is valuable information to be had from the footage?” the First Head turned the question back.

Once again, the Fifth Head paused before he responded, “I find that there is little to learn about the attackers that we didn’t already know. If even those paranoid underworld bosses cannot find anything useful what do you expect us to notice?”

“What are you saying about the filthy underworld we are an upright charity and development company how could we have dealings with those unlawful rogues.” The Third Head cut in with a disapproving look.

The Fifth Head took a deep breath. Their paranoia was unreal as if there was an opportunity for anyone to say anything about this meeting. They were all neck deep in this plan the only way forward was success or death.

“I think that while we cannot find anything about the faceless masks origins their approach says a great deal.” The Second Head began leaning forward to grab the attention of the other executives. “They went to great lengths to avoid lethal attacks until they reached the airport. They have proven to be exceptionally well informed in the preciseness of their attacks. Then despite a surprise advantage they were unable to have serious affect against the participants, suggesting they lack the same rigorous training.” Taping twice on a control panel in front of him the Second Head brought up a series of images on the screens of various TacWar participants getting the drop of Faceless Masks. The participants struck and then continued with an overwhelming advantage. “We can see here that once a TacWar player has an advantage they never lose ground.”

The Fifth Head looked at the images and recognised the members involved. Grigori the ‘Ghost’ emerging from the top of an awning and silently appearing behind two Faceless Masks. Before they react, he slams their heads together and then tosses them into a supply closet and locks the door in a smooth motion as he walks away. Akira the ‘Tails’ knocking two off the roof when they struggled up to try and sneak around. Zeno the ‘Zero’ slipping into a room and avoiding a group only to come out and take out two stragglers. Luca the ‘Lucky’ hooking a mask up from the top of a wing in a casual hangman. It was he concluded an excellent display of excellent players.

“I think that is more a matter of the exception skill of the executors and it would be remis on our end to assume that says anything about the masks. Moreover, what is with that third group? We can safely assume that the masks are aware about the goal of our operation and wish to prevent it happening. The shadow has agreed to stay out so what is the goal of these black scarfs?” the Fourth Head leaned forward bringing the groups attention back to the discussion at hand as opposed to letting the bickering over the differences of opinions continue.

Silence prevailed for several minutes before the First Head tapped the table. “Regardless the Scarfs haven’t interfered with the game being played so they are an irrelevant problem. The players are in the air now. Soon they will be here, so we need to determine the timing for the match.” The First Head turned the screens off and the Fifth Head sneered. Yes, as soon as you can’t make a point from the videos they go.

“Our research suggests that the day leading up to the new moon would produce the best results.” The Third Head commented bring up a chart of power readings.

“We rushed the arrival because of the Masks. They have already taken out five percent of the participants. If this was a normal competition the loss of people wouldn’t be a major issue, but we need people to get through this given the challenge the more we have the better our chances.” The Second Head noted.

“Once they get here, we can raise the fence no one can be leaving. You can’t tell me that our medical staff can’t keep them sufficiently functional to run the gauntlet for us?” the First Head raised a brow as he looked at the Second Head who oversaw the medical research.

“No problem, they may be useless after the match but that is not a problem, correct?” the Second Head shrugged.

“Then how are you planning to explain the play delay to the contestants?” the Fourth Head questioned.

“We give two notices; one we are giving them time to get used to the environment time difference, heal up for those injured at the airport, whatever. While two, also giving them the chance to examine the exterior and tunnel entrances of the box. It doesn’t matter to us who starts where so we can play it off as pregame prep.” Third Head looked around the table to the series of nods.

“While this seems like solid planning, though have you thought about what happens once we are successful?” Fifth head asked the question that he had been pondering it didn’t seem like there would be so much challenge to get this to work if the result was easily solvable.

“Bah, with our advanced technology what could be worth worrying about? As if those ancients had what we have,” the First Head responded derisively before he ignored the Fifth Head in favour of talking excuses and charm to be used on the participants.

Fifth Head leaned back in his seat and planned his own message. He’d had his own security go to guard the planes for this. Now it seemed that he might need to send them in after one of the groups. It would be just in case he didn’t like the series of unknowns that had presented so far. If they lost more participants, they may need another group to manage the paths.