Agent America enjoyed driving his new car. He has left the mansion and was heading to the Festival. He was enjoying the speed and handle of his car. As he approached the Winthrope Bridge, he chuckled to himself. The rich and how they choose to spend their money was a source of constant amusement. The bridge was an exact duplicate of the Golden Gate Bridge. Obadiah Winthrope loved its design. So he commissioned a duplicate to be built spanning from the city of Winthrope Station to the Refuge Islands more than fifty years ago. Obadiah believed it would be a great monument to the Winthrope family. Instead the citizens of the Refuge Islands called it ‘The Bridge of the Damned’ and no one in Winthrope Station disputed it.
As the driver silently crosses the bridge, he remembers the events of the day. Three of the four Orbs were stolen from a museum. Agent America went in disguise to try to figure out how the crime was done. He signed up for the official tour.
He flirted with the tour guide. He asked: "What constellation is visible in the stars in the Orbs this week?" She replied it is called the Hunter and its Prey. She didn’t know much more than what was written on the plaque. She gladly helped him sign up for the tour, the movie, and souvenirs. When he tried to get her number she coldly told him that wasn’t available.
Later, America feigned intense interest with Ralph. "How long does the ritual to end the world take?" Ralph told him the summoning spell can be completed in seconds but it would take several minutes to gain complete control of the Star-Devourer. Ralph gave his card to his fellow enthusiast. "I've never met anyone who shared my interest in Dholes before," America said with a straight face.
Agent America picked up some Lovecraft books on the way back to Arcane's.
At Arcane's Mansion, Agent America reported every detail of what he learned, no matter how ridiculous it seemed. He would play the security tape to the team, and empty his bag of pulp horror paperbacks.
Dr. Avery considered the information provided. “With Agent America and Telecomm at the museum we should have all the clues discovered. For those who don’t know, Telecomm is part of a superhero team hired by Soiree Heights to be their protectors. The team is called ‘Telecomm and the Valiants’. Telecomm can see the surface detail as small as one square foot on the moon or subatomic level.”
Cybil had found who had the other Orb. The Orb was bought by Jeremiah Colbert. He is a rich eccentric recluse who had the winning bid in an auction five years ago. Colbert has a home in Our Fair City but isn’t answering the phone.
Taking the security footage, face recognition software is able to get 5 faces good enough to search with. Within in minutes the Facebook pages of all five are found. All are fans on the Cult of Stellar Propitiation. Checking the Cult’s page there is announcement of a Festival today being held on the Refuge Islands. It is call the Hunter and Prey Festival of Lights. It started this morning and will be held all week.
The searches all brings back the Board of Directors for the museum in Hallowed Hills that Ralph mentioned. Ralph, Jeremiah Colbert, and one of the men in the video are three of the eleven members of the Board.
DarkStar “Cybil, you’re the best girl. Sounds like a couple of us need to go check out Jeremiah Colbert’s house, while the other two keep an eye on this Hunter and Prey Festival of Lights. Be on the lookout for old men holding hands and hard stares.” America replied "Colbert will be at the Festival. And he'll have the Orbs with him." The Man from MEDUSA suggested everyone monitor and infiltrate the Festival.
America wore a hat and sunglasses over his disguise and said to the team: "I'll attend the Festival, find my double, request that Rose teleport him out, and then attend the Festival in his place while Rose is interrogating him. Windblown and Adamas can give air cover over Refuge Island and be ready to strike should the ritual begin. Likewise, Rose can 'port in should trouble begin.
"Finally, Ralph's book said the Orbs had to see the stars for this to work. Windblown, do you think you could pile up some clouds over Refuge Island?
Adamas states, "I believe they stated the orbs displayed the constellations when the time came, even though they were inside the museum. I don't think a little cloud cover will prevent their performing as they were created to. I think I would recommend isolating the orbs if possible, perhaps if we were to bury them in the earth, place them on separate planets, something to that end."
Agent America had his feet up on Doc Arcane's coffee table and his hands folded behind his head. He nodded amiably at the Man from Another World. "You're right. The museum description said, 'The Orbs will reflect starlight within its inner core for one week out of the year' and we know they can do it indoors."
He pulled out one of the Lovecraft novels. "But Oprah's Book of the Month here says, 'The Orbs must be able to see the stars while the Ritual of Summoning is performed.' Now sure, it could all be as true as a politician's promise, but what does it cost us to have some cloud cover? No risk. Outside chance of a big reward. And it'll give our airborne forces cover as well. Though I agree we'll need more permanent solutions once the Orbs are in hand."
Windblown agrees but requests help. Using the wind to blow in clouds is not something he has tried before. Dr. Avery states, “Pietor will assist you. He knows some weather spells which will assist you”
The American Superspy focuses his mind on the scene in front of him as he enters The Hunter and Prey Festival of Lights. He checks to see if everyone is in their places. The team responses, Dr. Avery, DarkStar, and Hannah are in the mansion; Windblown and Pietor were in the gazebo on the mansion grounds; Adamas was flying over the Refuge Islands. All is set.
Windblown focuses his mind on the air above. He feels for the pressure of water vapor and dirt against the air. He starts to slowly have the air move against the water vapor moving it toward the Refuge Islands. Pietor pulls out a water mister. He sprays it above his head. He moves his hands in a complex motion of pattern and changing speeds. Small clouds appear over his head. Pietor slowly moves them the way a puppet master motions a marionette.
Agent America lifts his shades to see that clouds were definitely starting to form over the festival. He smiles as walks into the crowd. Now he was the hunter searching for his prey.
Closing down the multiple holo-screens he and Dr. Avery's granddaughter were using to for internet research, Commander Rose stands up to his full 6 foot 9 height. "Donnah, I need a break, even computer nerds need to stretch their legs now and then. I think I'll pop out and take a quick look at some real estate for StarCorp while we're waiting for "flagman" to locate the target. I just want to eyeball the location my team is suggesting for a new manufacturing plant. It shouldn't take but a few minutes. I'll keep the team comm-link open ... " Walking towards the door to his quarters in Avery Mansion, the corporate cobalt champion turns at the door, patting the amulet under his uniform. " ... and if you or Doc need me just holler"
*Whoump*
Adamas flies over head. He sees several large tents on the festival grounds. If it rains there is enough tent space to bring the entire festival inside. He tries to see if the summoning ceremony is being performed unfortunately he can’t tell it from the other strange activities that are being performed. Still he does the best that he can.
Pietor and Windblown have beads of sweat lining their faces but the air currents are theirs to command. The clouds are moving with breaking up and new ones are being formed to make sure there is enough.
America spots who he is looking for. From his review the Facebook pages of the Cultists of Stellar Propitiation he had learned all about them. He had found a male, Caucasian cultist from the museum heist. He had posted several photos of himself from different angles. The master of disguise learned as much as possible about him from Facebook; his name, his likes, his friends, their names, their shared memories, because he is going to impersonate this man.
The Agent silently signals Cmd. Rose to be ready. He follows the man through the festivities. It takes a little while but finally the man leaves the main area to go to a secluded section of the grounds. Agent America follows him.
*Whoump*
*Whoump*
A man returns from the area but while it looks like the same man, it is not. The switch has been made.
The Agent in Disguise moves through the festival to find others which are members of the Cult of Stellar Propitiation. He finds a large tent. It is the pavilion style used at golf events for VIPs. He walks around it. On the other side he meets several of the cultists. A woman carrying a robe walks over to him. “Here’s your robe it is time to get ready.” With a big smile, she reaches out to take his hand. When she holds his hand, she pauses for a second, then leans forward to kiss him. She smiles and says, “C’mon we don’t want to be late do we?”
Agent America follows her into the tent.
Adamas watches below. He wasn’t able to see the switch so he is looking for anything unusual. Then he sees it.
The Star-Devourer appears near Winthrope Bridge. It starts moving toward the bridge which is full of traffic.
Adamas calls into his comm., “Agent America, Why didn’t you tell us the ceremony had started?”
There is no response.
<Due Date is April 13th, Actions or Replies>
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OOC: Clarification request:
You said, "The searches all brings back the Board of Directors for the museum in Hallowed Hills that Ralph mentioned. Ralph, Jeremiah Colbert, and one of the men in the video are three of the eleven members of the Board. "
Please clarify the above quote. What searches? The face recognition search?
Thanks,
Jeff
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John R OOC: I pretty sure Tom's referring to the information Cybil came up with. Rose had her running a facial recognition program on the bad guys on the museum security recordings Agent America acquired.
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GM Reply
Yes, the face from security camera brings the one member of the board. The data mining on the auction brings the face of Colbert which is then ran and matched. The entire board is brought up and AA recognizes Ralph.
If AA is going to tell the others about Ralph, let me know and I will modify the story.
Thanks
Tom
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Responses to Issue 8: Search for the Orb
[IC: Commander Rose ponders] I should ask Donnah if Doc has a birthday coming up. Maybe he’d like a 1st edition “Lord of the Rings?”
Star Devourer? I sure as hell hope that’s not its job description!
[More IC pondering > at AA’s knowing smile] “Yeah, yeah laugh it up star-spangled super-spy. It’s just a business suit. Uh-huh, keep telling yourself Joshua and you might end up not feeling like an idiot every time you see your reflection in a mirror.
Way OOC: Corvette? What happened to the Lamborghini?
Way OOC: Hey is this a real event? “Recent crash site of the LCROSS satellite in the Cabeus Crater”
[DS OOC:] “Today is the start of the one week out of the year that you can see the stars glowing on the inside. Moonlight isn’t needed either. The stars are visible from the display all day long.” Well I guess that answers the question when the Orbs go active . . . today
[DS OOC:] What was the deal with Ralph? He was real creepy and seemed way too informative. That guy just rambled too much like a nutcase. Doesn’t this seem like some sort of obvious trap? 600 metric tons! Good luck trying to get any knockback when you hit it. Nest?
Way OOC: I didn’t get the joke about Telecom?
[DS OOC:] I know DS isn’t a fan of Pietro to begin with, but that boy worries me sometimes. Think someone playing with forces he does would have more patience and self-control. Yeah I know Rose kettle, Pietro pot, but DS isn’t a mage-wanna-be. Donnah on the other hand.
Post-Donnah explaining the nature of arcane-ology
<Commander Rose: IC> Smiling playfully with a rumbling chuckle “I get it Donnah. Doc’s a virtuoso, an artist of creation; I’m just a sweaty blacksmith making technological trinkets. I think this is most animated I’ve seen her since we met. Nice to see her excited about something. That breaking the Word of God thing is a bit worrisome
Response to Cybil's search results
<Commander Rose: IC> “Cybil, you’re the best girl. Sounds like a couple of us need to go check out Jeremiah Colbert’s house, while the other two keep an eye on this Hunter and Prey Festival of Lights. Be on the lookout for old men holding hands and hard stares.”
Actions to be determined upon group response.
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Tom and Jeff
Okay just checking to be sure. I don't think I put anything specific about Ralph in DarkStar's initial IC responses - if I did I apologize, in case AA kept that info confidential. I think most all of DarkStar's IC responses were attributed to the information gleaned from the security tapes and the work Cybil did with the facial recognition program. I don't think it'll be necessary bit if alterations need to be made please let me know
Hope I did it right
Thanks John R
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No, it was me that missed up. It was my general response to the research. I forgot that Jeff didn't state he was taping everyone in the Museum.
So when Jeff wasn’t sure how Colbert or Ralph would be on the facial recognition, I sent the reply the way I did.
It is up to Jeff, he can have AA see all the Board of Directors and tell everyone that Ralph is in it or keep it to himself.
Oh well, that is what I get for adding a detail at the last minute.
Tom
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Ooc:
Fyi, AA will share everything he learned.
Jeff
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Agent America:
Agent America signed up for the tour. In more ways than one.
He'd flirt with the tour guide, trying to transition from professor nerd to geek chic. He asked: "What constellation is visible in the stars in the Orbs this week?" If she didn't know, he'll ask Ralph. He'll try to get her number.
Later, America feigned intense interest with Ralph. "How long does the ritual to end the world take?" He tried to secure Ralph's card when their conversation ended. "I've never met anyone who shared my interest in Dholes before," America said with a straight face.
Agent America picked up some Lovecraft books on the way back to Arcane's.
At Arcane's Mansion, Agent America reported every detail of what he learned, no matter how ridiculous it seemed. He would play the security tape to the team, and empty his bag of pulp horror paperbacks.
When Rose suggested dividing forces, America said: "Colbert will be at the Festival. And he'll have the Orbs with him."
Unless the ritual took one week, America would suggest everyone monitor and infiltrate the Festival.
America will review the Facebook pages of the Cultists of Stellar Propitation and learn all about them. He'll also find a male, caucasian cultist who has been photographed from a few angles. Not Ralph. Hopefully one of the men at the museum heist. The master of disguise will impersonate this cultist, learning as much as possible about him from Facebook; his name, his likes, his friends, their names, their shared memories. It was a wonderful time to be a spy.
America wore a hat and sunglasses over his disguise and said to the team: "I'll attend the Festival, find my double, request that Rose teleport him out, and then attend the Festival in his place while Rose is interrogating him. Windblown and Adamas can give air cover over Refuge Island and be ready to strike should the ritual begin. Likewise, Rose can 'port in should trouble begin.
"Finally, Ralph's book said the Orbs had to see the stars for this to work. Windblown, do you think you could pile up some clouds over Refuge Island?
"Any other thoughts, everyone?"
OOC:
Another great issue Tom! Really well done.
Best,
Jeff
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Adamas:
"I believe they stated the orbs displayed the constellations when the time came, even though they were inside the museum. I don't think a little cloud cover will prevent their performing as they were created to. I think I would recommend isolating the orbs if possible, perhaps if we were to bury them in the earth, place them on separate planets, something to that end."
Adamas will be happy to provide air cover, ready to aid his companions as needed.
OOC: Looking forward to the brouhaha
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Agent America had his feet up on Doc Arcane's coffee table and his hands folded behind his head. He nodded amiably at the Man From Another World.
"You're right. The museum description said, 'The Orbs will reflect starlight within its inner core for one week out of the year' and we know they can do it indoors."
He pulled out one of the Lovecraft novels. "But Oprah's Book of the Month here says, 'The Orbs must be able to see the stars while the Ritual of Summoning is performed.' Now sure, it could all be as true as a politician's promise, but what does it cost us to lay in some cloud cover? No risk. Outside chance of a big reward. And it'll give our airborne forces cover as well. Though I agree we'll need more permanent solutions once the Orbs are in hand."
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od to go with the DarkStar paln and very interested in what your cooking up for Archer. I was under the impression you had all kinds of nasty in mind already when you surprised me with CHESS and MEDUSA
Loving it Thank You
John R
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If it's not too late, and if it is too late no big deal, why dont we have Commander Rose pop on down to Mississipppi while he's waiting for AA's signl. After doing some real estate inquiries, he thinks hes found a place for the Diatanium Processing Plant. I'm looking to write up a Side Shot this weekend revolving around the ideal of StarCorp going to as many Green Energy resources as possible. Just need to do some reesearch and se what alternative power resources is best suited to each of StarCorp's facilities
Later John
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Closing down the multiple holo-screens he and Dr. Avery's granddaughter were using to for internet research, Commander Rose stands up to his full 6 foot 9 height. "Donnah, I need a break, even computer nerds need to stretch their legs now and then. I think I'll pop out and take a quick look at some real estate for StarCorp while we're waiting for "flagman" to locate the target. I just want to eyeball the location my team is suggesting for a new manufacturing plant. Shouldn't take but a few minutes. I'll keep the team comm-link open ... " Walking towards the door to his quarters in Avery Mansion, the corporate cobalt champion turns at the door, patting the amulet under his uniform. " ... and if you or Doc need me just holler"
*Whoump*
Looking out over the beach Joshua grimaces at the view before him. Not yet recovered from Hurricane Katrina, this stretch of coast then had to suffer the indignity or some of the worse crude oil waste that washed ashore during the Deepwater Horizon disaster. "Cybil, call me up the survey teams geo and weather analysis of the area would you please?" We can't keep treating the planet like this. Even if we're ever going to be able to make our way into space, what's the point if we don't have a planet to come home to? *Projecting latest geo and weather analysis now* "Thanks Cybil" DarkStar's protective goggles start displaying multiple HUD images of annual weather patterns, with a detailled report on the current composition, structure, and clean up cost of the proposed site.
Walking out into the warm gulf water, Joshua thought about the plans he had for his company's future ... and where he wanted that future to take him. "Cybil, what about the oceanographic studies? Give me the breakdown on hydro-kinesis potential based on annual tidal and gulf stream movements please" ... Underwater temperature and current data flowing down the HUD display Joshua thoughts start to wander. I was hoping we could power the Diatanium Plant with Wind Power off the coast but that just wasn't going to work. Especially in a place as far north as Olive Branch. It took a couple extra "concessions", but once I showed Senator Wicker the potential "advantages" of featuring of a green energy production facility he came around pretty quick.
The city of Ocean Springs just 15 minutes down the beach would be the home to the second of the two diatanium plants he would need to fill the governments needs. The Megalopolis plant down in the Factory was already under construction. Always lloking to be a good neighbor, plans had already were in place for Ocean Springs to benefit from any excess power the plant's water turbine generators produce. The basic technology was already in place, it just took a little upgrading to have it fill the plant's energy requirements, and like any good mlitay plan, StarCorp made sure it had triple redundancies built in, in case of emergencies.
"This is a good site, and a good plan. My people have done well here." Looking to the sky, seeing things to be, seeing things most men only dream of, Joshua's thoughts return home ... to Megalopolis. "Professor Kepler's going to be unhappy when he hears I've been consulting with JAXA, but the Japanese are a half a decade of the US when it comes to orbital solar power. I'm hoping Adamas might want to give me a hand in this. I can transport, all the major components "up" but it sure would help to have a second set of hands for assembly and any orbital trajectory adjustments needed. Megalopolis is the planet's shining jewels and deserves the best eco-friendly technology available."
*Whoump*
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