Operation: Clan Akkaba - Ascent - Log 3
Jun. 3rd, 2022 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsThe X-Force team discuss the case while en route to the compound in North Africa.
"Okay, so we know there's Maggia involvement and we've managed to trace their most likely location to this compound." Darcy gestured at the map spread out in front of their small group, highlighting the area they'd concluded the group must be holed up at. "What we weren't able to figure out is why--some sort of trafficking, but not the usual sorts. So... crackpots, new mad science, or what, is the question we've had. Ange, find anything good?"
"All we know for certain is that they are doing something with energy. We have a few potential ideas, there were rumors of a cult of the powered." Marie-Ange took a highlighter and drew faint yellow lines around the map. "The historical record Amanda found has them in the entire area on and off, but they never seem to stay in one place for more than a few decades."
Doug leaned back in his seat, the fingers of his nanite hand tapping rhythmically on the armrest. "More mystic than mad science, and it remains to be seen how crackpot-y they might be. Most of the fragments of information we've been able to dig up refer to a figure they call 'Abn Nar Al-Sabah', or 'The Son of the Morning Fire'." A very evocative title, if a bit long on the details.
"Well, they aren't taking mutants for resale on the trafficking market, or the organ harvesting market. They also aren't involved in any kind of ransom for money thing. The way they were organized in NYC, this was purely a 'snatch whatever mutant you can find' wholesale operation. I think we can rule out the conventional criminal element in whatever the end game of this is." Kevin said, passing the tablet over to Darcy. "Lewis did the deep dive on everything we got and were able to eliminate."
Darcy's mouth had pursed into a tight frown as Doug talked, and she looked down at the tablet for a moment as Kevin slid it in front of her. "Ugh. Zealots? A cult? Greeeeeeat. Amanda, do we know if there's actual magic involved, or just a mystical element?" She focused on the other woman, eyes worried. "Are we walking into something like a magic-fueled Waco? Because six isn't going to be enough firepower for that."
"From what we can tell, they're using the mutants as fuel for a summoning ritual of some kind," Amanda replied. "But considering how few references we've been able to find, I really doubt it's that big a group. Maybe three magic types altogether? And disrupting the spell should knock them on their arses."
"It's an interesting mythology they're working from, needing mutants that don't have a clear tactical purpose but simply an active X-gene. Seems a little short sighted since don't most summoning rituals imbue the summoned with some aspects of what was used?" Natasha shook her head. Magic stuff was usually confusing until all the pieces were put together at the end of the puzzle. "I feel like there's some power behind the scenes moving pieces that we're not seeing, but then we've found no hints of anything else. On the surface, it looks like the Maggia is doing what they do best and capitalizing on ways to get money out of people."
"I am sure they are doing that. They always are. But in this case, they are also fueling... whatever this is. This clan or akkabites, or akkabtians, I am not even sure the word has a plural. The Maggia is funding kidnapping innocents. For whatever reason, it is still human trafficking. To be honestly, my concern is why now. Why now, because they have existed on and off for centuries." Marie-Ange said. "I am hoping we can wring answers out of them, but if all we do is stop them from kidnapping and harming mutants, that may have to be enough."
"Now is easy. Opportunity and a lack of supply. For all we know, they pulled this shit for years out of a mutant population of millions. Now, limited hunting grounds, smaller supply... it's a hell of a lot easier poaching a rabbit than a rhino." Kevin said, the deep cynicism of the statement not lost. "Regardless, we put them out of the equation first. Then, we remind the Maggia of the costs of being in this kind of business. It's time to send a message that we are no longer fucking around. Get ready to get bloody, people."
"Okay, so we know there's Maggia involvement and we've managed to trace their most likely location to this compound." Darcy gestured at the map spread out in front of their small group, highlighting the area they'd concluded the group must be holed up at. "What we weren't able to figure out is why--some sort of trafficking, but not the usual sorts. So... crackpots, new mad science, or what, is the question we've had. Ange, find anything good?"
"All we know for certain is that they are doing something with energy. We have a few potential ideas, there were rumors of a cult of the powered." Marie-Ange took a highlighter and drew faint yellow lines around the map. "The historical record Amanda found has them in the entire area on and off, but they never seem to stay in one place for more than a few decades."
Doug leaned back in his seat, the fingers of his nanite hand tapping rhythmically on the armrest. "More mystic than mad science, and it remains to be seen how crackpot-y they might be. Most of the fragments of information we've been able to dig up refer to a figure they call 'Abn Nar Al-Sabah', or 'The Son of the Morning Fire'." A very evocative title, if a bit long on the details.
"Well, they aren't taking mutants for resale on the trafficking market, or the organ harvesting market. They also aren't involved in any kind of ransom for money thing. The way they were organized in NYC, this was purely a 'snatch whatever mutant you can find' wholesale operation. I think we can rule out the conventional criminal element in whatever the end game of this is." Kevin said, passing the tablet over to Darcy. "Lewis did the deep dive on everything we got and were able to eliminate."
Darcy's mouth had pursed into a tight frown as Doug talked, and she looked down at the tablet for a moment as Kevin slid it in front of her. "Ugh. Zealots? A cult? Greeeeeeat. Amanda, do we know if there's actual magic involved, or just a mystical element?" She focused on the other woman, eyes worried. "Are we walking into something like a magic-fueled Waco? Because six isn't going to be enough firepower for that."
"From what we can tell, they're using the mutants as fuel for a summoning ritual of some kind," Amanda replied. "But considering how few references we've been able to find, I really doubt it's that big a group. Maybe three magic types altogether? And disrupting the spell should knock them on their arses."
"It's an interesting mythology they're working from, needing mutants that don't have a clear tactical purpose but simply an active X-gene. Seems a little short sighted since don't most summoning rituals imbue the summoned with some aspects of what was used?" Natasha shook her head. Magic stuff was usually confusing until all the pieces were put together at the end of the puzzle. "I feel like there's some power behind the scenes moving pieces that we're not seeing, but then we've found no hints of anything else. On the surface, it looks like the Maggia is doing what they do best and capitalizing on ways to get money out of people."
"I am sure they are doing that. They always are. But in this case, they are also fueling... whatever this is. This clan or akkabites, or akkabtians, I am not even sure the word has a plural. The Maggia is funding kidnapping innocents. For whatever reason, it is still human trafficking. To be honestly, my concern is why now. Why now, because they have existed on and off for centuries." Marie-Ange said. "I am hoping we can wring answers out of them, but if all we do is stop them from kidnapping and harming mutants, that may have to be enough."
"Now is easy. Opportunity and a lack of supply. For all we know, they pulled this shit for years out of a mutant population of millions. Now, limited hunting grounds, smaller supply... it's a hell of a lot easier poaching a rabbit than a rhino." Kevin said, the deep cynicism of the statement not lost. "Regardless, we put them out of the equation first. Then, we remind the Maggia of the costs of being in this kind of business. It's time to send a message that we are no longer fucking around. Get ready to get bloody, people."
