The fight was over. All the Destroyers except
for Annihilator had been captured.
Patty looked around, appearing slightly muzzy.
"Thanks, Rubles. Did we win?"
Spotting the downed MISHA and the surrendered Ratman, she said "Hey, check on your, uh, bear. I'll keep an eye on this rat."
She stood up, popped her neck, and stared hard at Ratman.
Rubicon finally provided Patty a distracted, "Da....yes". He looked questioningly at MISHAs still form as he kneeled down with his hand on him. Chewing on his bottom lip and visibly perplexed he attempted to shake the great, but still form of MISHA. Not certain if he's asleep (that’s new....) or paralyzed.
Demy peered close to MISHA's left eye that is most accessible, peeling the "skin" around the eye wider trying to see in. Find some sign of response.
"Perezagruzit"
<..........1.................0........00...............10.......>
He tried to make a connection, to sync with MISHA. Demy's eyes start to glaze over before returning to normal.
Somethings not right. "Huh, nothing....".
Looking up at Patty with furrowed brow, he eventually stood. Reaching with his right hand up over his head to scratch behind his left ear. He eventually gave her a shrug then decked Ratman on the chin as he walked past him towards the door for the debriefing with CHESS units start to take up security in the building.
Ratman dropped to one knee, but he was still conscious.
{Rubicon did d6+1 HtH damage. He rolled 3 points of damage. Ratman took all to Hit Points, but it wasn’t greater than half of his remaining HP. Ratman was still awake.}
William heard the familiar sound of a punch. He looked up at Rubicon who was some yards away and nursing his fist. Using the staff for leverage he hauled himself out of his chair and made his way towards Rubicon, noticing Patty and the deactivated MISHA.
Demy walked from the room from the last fight and into the adjacent hall to the west. He moved in the direction towards where the oncoming CHESS troops and personnel originate assuming some Command elements are gathering for debriefing. A CHESS medic momentarily comes up and asked him something. He momentarily looked up at her with vacant eyes until he processed what was said. He realized he's flexing his right fist and the soreness of his right-hand knuckles. "Nyet", he shook his head and moved down the corridor.
Finding an open area near a gaggle of those milling Demy leaned back against a work bench with rubberized surfacing, still blank faced, looking down, chewing his bottom lip, and reflexively the fingers of his right hand.
Feeling an arm around his shoulder and after a moment he heard a gentle voice of Dr. Wildman, "Demy, tell me how did you and MISHA first connect?"
"Conne.....Connect? I-I can't....", He stumbled in his reply before continuing.
"I was the only one who could they said. They said it. the others at the Project Parastroika facility at the Russian army base. So-it was so painful, you know, the process, being strapped in the chair with that thing around my head. It was dark. Then the pain. I think there was hallucinations, visions."
"COL Zaytsyev was there - when I was awake- that I was the only one who had done it. To Sync with the M.I.S.H.A. prototype. He was very pleased and the others in the room were happy, too."
Demy mulled something around in his head for another moment or two before looking over at his friend. Perplexed, he says, "Why do you ask, Doc?".
Dr. Wildman didn’t answer Demy’s question. Dr. Wildman instead indicated that he needed to rest, and they could talk about this more later.
Dr Wildman sat down again, exhausted. He recognized that he was the least helpful Crusader when it comes to technological detective work. He decided that he would stay here and help with the people 'work' at the CHESS temporary HQ and think through the Rubicon/MISHA dilemma...but first sleep ZZZzzzz...
“Blue moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own”
William found himself overlooking a vista held in deep contrast as the ‘hunters' moon reflected light over the bleak and craggy wasteland before him. He could hear the haunting slow repetitive drone of the song playing over in his mind accompanied by a mournful violin.
One of Dr Wildman’s greatest gifts was his ability to sleep almost everywhere and in any circumstance. The drawback of being magically attuned was that dreams were quite often far more than dreams.
The blue filter of moonlight gave a cold harshness to the dreamscape before him but as he turned, he could see a flicker of red light. ‘Well, that seems to be the subject of whatever this is.’ he mused to himself. The song kept playing and it felt like a mournful lullaby, a discordant attempt to send someone or something off to sleep. It had a familiar lilt, an almost folk-like sound that if he had to guess had a Russian flavor to it…
William, at least in his dream, was dressed in his Cowl of Storms jacket. He made a note that he needed to make space at some point to wrestle that back off Stormlord soon, now that the threat of the World Storm was over. He picked his way towards the crimson glow that was now emanating from a cave some 100 yards in front of him.
He could hear heavy breathing from something that was beastlike and big, very big. He entered the cave and kept to the shadows. It was only a dream, but it was always better to be prudent. He pulled the hood over his head and crept forward.
What he saw surprised him. There was a fire in the center of a cavern and next to the fire danced an old woman with a fiddle playing the droning song to the most enormous bear William had ever seen. The woman was not small herself; she was at least 7 foot tall and hideous in appearance. William knew enough that this was the avatar of ‘Baba Yaga’, the witch fiend of Russian myth. As she played the tune small flickering fiends would leap from the fire and land in the fur of the great bear. They all danced to the tune. The bear seemed in some distress, but its mesmeric state prevented it from resisting. Each imp clearly caused it pain.
William had seen enough. He stood up revealing his presence.
“Oh, my dear, I have known you were there for some time - you are too late. Your petty skills can do nothing here.” Her voice was as old as time and had a heavy cracked Russian accent. “MISHA here is beyond your help…or control.”
<HATE> <PAIN> <RAGE>
With unbelievable speed the bear pounced, surrounded by a mane of hellfire and with a thunderous roar that sounded like the amplified laughter of a man.
As he awoke with a start all William could hear ringing in his ears was the laughter and a voice bearing a warning: ‘You have meddled in my plans long enough. You have sown the wind of fate, now reap the whirlwind of destruction!’
As the sound of conflict died down, Erdbeben did his best to help his comrades back onto their feet and help to secure the Destroyers.
Anybody paying close attention will be able to catch him quickly taking a DNA sample of the prisoners as he helped to secure them.
Erdbeben was able to get samples from Behemoth and Electrocutioner.
Shapershifter's skin was too rubbery to discreetly get a sample. He thought about opening her mouth to get a sample from the inside of her cheek, but it would be obvious to CHESS what he is doing. So, he did not.
Erdbeben was not able to get a sample from Chrysalis and Iron Maiden as CHESS did not remove their armor before transporting them. Erdbeben decided it would not be wise to try to remove their armor.
Ratman wouldn't let Erdbeben get near him. Ratman had already been attacked once after he had surrendered. He wasn’t going to let that happen again.
Adamas shook his head as he rose from the building he fell to. Grateful that he didn't penetrate to the apartments below, He scanned the area for Annihilator.
Failing to see his opponent, he used his enhanced vision to find the rest of the team. Adamas could feel his energy returning but the pain from being knocked out was not something he's used to experiencing.
Adamas flew head back to base scanning to ensure there are no civilians in need of assistance from the ravages of the battle. He mentally beat himself up for not taking into account the damage a prolonged combat could have in a populated area, we should have done this differently, somehow gotten them away from the city... this is not the first time one of his battles has gotten out of hand, and his intent is for it not to let that happen again.
Hopefully one of his teammates can help get his health back to where it needed to be for the next confrontation.
William rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he watched Adamas glide into the temporary base. He spotted a slight wobble in the powerhouse's landing. The scorch marks on his uniform suggested that Adamas had been at the sharp end of the confrontation with Annihilator. William rolled his shoulder as he remembered the agony of taking a shot himself. Using his staff as leverage he hauled himself out of his chair and made his way over to Adamas.
He fished out a titanium vial from a pocket and passed it to the mighty man of myth. "This should help mate, probably better with a cold pint of beer" he said with a wink
"Looks like the rest of the team are still at the Destroyers Base. Perhaps when you feel a bit more up for it, you want to fly over there and use that funky vision of yours - they could probably do with your help."
All of the joy and exuberance Adamas normally expresses was missing from his face as he returned to the temporary HQ they were working from.
Dr. Wildman nodded in understanding as he read Adamas demeaner.
{GM note: Dr. Wildman’s vial provided 9 points of healing. Adamas received 1 day’s healing for 3 points}
The Black Orchid jumped at the chance to start pillaging the Destroyers’ computer system.
“OK, everybody, we want to jump in and start trying to pry into the Destroyers computer system. More than likely, they’re trapped to self-destruct taking it and/or us with it. Who among us has tech skills we can use? I’ve got some.” As she was talking, she flashed her CHESS credentials to the agent in charge. “We’ll help any way we can!”
Black Orchid was able to breach Shapeshifter’s email security. There she found correspondence between Shapeshifter and a Dr. Harcrow. The Doctor was wanting the Destroyers to provide her specimens for her grafting experiments. Dr. Harcrow knew that Shapeshifter was originally from the Domain. The business deal was for Shapeshifter to bring more demons across the dimensional portals from the Domain to her. Black Orchid could not find anywhere whether Shapeshifter accepted the deal or not.
As Erdbeben searched read through Ratman’s journals and notes he was shocked to see his own name in emails that were printed out and stuffed into the back of one of the books. An organization was attempting to hire the Destroyers to hunt him down. The communications showed that while they knew that James Watts was heading to the USA, they didn’t know he planned to become a licensed superhero. They didn’t know about his Erdbeben identity. After reading several emails he discovered that the organization’s name was TOTEM. Ratman had been a scientist employed by TOTEM. It was with them that he discovered the process to use the DNA from a rat to empower himself with super abilities. TOTEM was attempting to leverage Ratman into tricking the Destroyers into working for them. Ratman had refused stating the Destroyers would send anyone they sent after him back in a body bag.
StrikeForce called his father to let him know he would be coming by Vanguard tomorrow. He needed to use the specialize facilities to heal himself faster. After wrapping things up with his father, Jason set the Sci-Sat drone to go to the Destroyers H.Q. so that he could use it to help in the search for information. StrikeForce stood on the roof of the base. Activating the scanners on the drone he made his way downward room by room and floor by floor. The Bionic Brawler used his senses to determine if any clues are available and allowed the drone to keep a listing of what was found and where. "I know C.H.E.S.S. will be searching as well, I will collect what information that I can, and cross reference them. Hopefully this will allow us to not miss anything." Jason thought to himself.
Patty Plus discovered that Annihilator was a donor to multiple Universities in the Megalopolis. He was funneling his money through the Human Uplift Foundation. These grants were funding research in human evolution especially the area of acceleration and achievement. Patty noticed that the Human Uplift Foundation branding included the phrase “For the Greater Good” in their materials and it was included in the signature of every letter and form.
Black Orchid was able to break the security for the rest of the emails of the Destroyers.
· Chrysalis: Black Orchid discovered that Crimetech was supplying armor upgrades and needed ammunition refills. Apparently, she didn’t let Iron Maiden close to her.
· Annihilator: corresponded with Dr. Apocalypse concerning the debt that Pietor owed the Destroyers. Without them, he would still be an apprentice magician and not the Sorcerer Supreme he is today.
· Iron Maiden: there were email address of all the crew members that would run the Doomsday destroyer. They all lived on the same 2 block radius in the Foundry. Why would Androids have homes?
· Ratman: he had deleted all his email and ran a scrubber program to prevent the recovering. All Black Orchid could retrieve was a request for Ratman to capture James Watts and bring him to Totem.
· Behemoth: he was attempting to bribe a corrupt politician into obtaining him a pardon. Senator Bennett didn’t respond with a yes, but the email hinted he was open to reaching an understanding. Unfortunately the hint was vague enough that no action could be taken against Senator Bennet.
StrikeForce scanned any computer that he found, hoping to collect any information that wasn't wiped by Iron Maiden. He searched the private quarters and common areas, and additionally check, for hidden personal computers to scan. “Hopefully there will be enough evidence to ensure that the Destroyers spend a long time behind bars and give us some idea where Dr. Apocalypse is located,” StrikeForce thought.
Black Orchid was contacted directly by CHESS HQ. Because of the success of the New Crusaders several Federal Agencies were sending senior level leaders to interview the Destroyers and review the evidence gained. CHESS needed a senior level leader of their own on location. The communications then switch to the King of CHESS, Alexandra Huffington. She told Black Orchid that effective immediately Pawn Promotion protocol has been activated. Black Orchid has been promoted from Bishop to Queen. She is the senior field agent on site and is only second to the CHESS King and Queen. Alexandra congratulated Black Orchid on her temporary promotion, wished her luck, and warned her not to “Zugzwang” the situation.
Adamas was scanning the area looking for anyone trapped by the damage the fight caused when he was surprised to see several black SUV vehicles pull up. From the vehicles exited multiple people in black suits with sunglasses on. {GM Note: Think Men In Black (MIB) movies}
Next a man in a lab coat exited the vehicle. Adamas knew the man was the Director of Alien Affairs on Earth. Adamas had meet with Dr. Mark Ravage when Adamas was obtaining his planetary visa after he made the decision to stay on Earth.
Adamas stared in amazement as he watched the
last person getting out of the SUVs. He wasn’t expecting who he saw!
It was Joshua Rose who was the superhero
DarkStar. Adamas hadn’t seen him since he left the team and didn’t enter the
Domain with them. {GM Note: See Quest issue 36}. All the other agents
deferred to Commander Rose. “Was Joshua working for GIANT now. {GM Note; for
GIANT historical information see the Megalopolis Website. http://vav-megalopolis-pbem.blogspot.com/2020/11/organizations-of-megalopolis.html”}.
Adamas flew down and shook Joshua’s hand.
Adamas was surprised when Joshua winced in pain. He saw the look on Adamas’
face. Joshua explained he no longer had his superpowers because he was betrayed
and ambushed. “They took everything but his intelligence and skin color.”
Adamas was furthered shocked. “Who has betrayed you” he asked the Cobalt
Commander.
“Starbolt”
Adamas remember that at the Dimension Portal on
Easter Island, Starbolt did not use the portal to join him and the other
members of the Fellowship in the Domain. When Starbolt had entered the portal,
he went elsewhere. Adamas wondered if Starbolt had use the portal to return to
Megalopolis. {GM Note: Yes, he did, see Quest issue 53}.
Before Adamas could speak his thoughts out loud he heard another familiar voice. It was speaking from above him but coming closer. It was the voice of Donnah.
{GM Note: Granddaughter of Dr Avery. Read the
Quest Comic series to learn about Dr. Avery and Donnah}
“Now Joshua, we both know you never saw
Starbolt. All you saw was a yellow forcefield which trapped you. Preventing you
from using your combat teleport.”
“You are right, Donnah, that there are other
capes with forcefield capabilities but who else knew me well enough to trap me
like that?”
Donnah, now the new Dr Arcane landed next to
Adamas and Joshua. Donnah said “Oh, C’mon Joshua, you never kept your identity
or powers secret. You even did interviews with the press bragging about your
teleportation ability and how it separates StarCorp from all these other space
companies which are your competitors. If someone wanted to know your weaknesses
in order to create a trap for you all they would have to do is search the
internet. In fact, Bull was able to set a trap for you and we all know a genius
he is not.”
Joshua raised his hands in mock surrender. He knew he would lose this argument … again. He was one of the 3 smartest men in the world, but he could never win an argument with Donnah.
Adamas did a very poor job of keeping a smirk from showing on his face. Donnah wasn’t sure he was even trying.
Commander Rose said, “We know that Annihilator is an Alien in Residence on Earth. We are here to take him to a GIANT facility.
Adamas looked at Joshua, trying to figure out what he was going to say.
Dr. Arcane said, “Now on to more important business. I have been requested here to perform an advance form of detect magical traits on a prisoner. I need to see one of the Destroyers”.
StrikeForce had walked over to the group when saw Dr. Arcane land. He didn’t know anyone in the group beside Adamas, so he had only listened. He knew of DarkStar and Starbolt from their time as teammates with Adamas and Black Orchid.
{GM Note: See Quest Comic series}.
StrikeForce introduced himself as the leader of the New Crusaders and expressed his curiosity of who and why she was needing to perform an interview.
Dr. Arcane introduced herself to StrikeForce and Joshua turned to talk with the other agents in dark suits.
“Electrocutioner is claiming to be a magical avatar of lightning. That he is the totem on this plane. If this is true, then CHESS wouldn’t have jurisdiction over him, but FISH would. That is why I am here. I need to verify his claim. FISH believes he is claiming this because of his obsession with Shapeshifter. Since Shapeshifter is from the Domain, FISH will be here soon to take her to a location which will ensure she is held properly. Electrocutioner wants to be taken to the same place.”
{GM Note: Here is the link to webpage on Government Agencies http://vav-megalopolis-pbem.blogspot.com/2020/11/organizations-of-megalopolis.html }
At that time several Hummer SUVs drove up. Several men and women exited the vehicles. They were wearing overalls or gray fatigues, heavy boots, and several belts and harnesses. Unusual equipment was attached to the belts and harnesses. One or two wore backpacks as well. All except one. From the distance she appeared to be the ideal woman in stature and figure, as if she was made in heaven.
{GM Note: Think Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. or Atomic Robo comics}
When up close you knew that why she, in fact,
was made, it just wasn’t in heaven.
The Lillith of FISH’s Monster Squad and Lt. Col. Steven Romita, the FISH squad leader, looked for who was in charge. He needed to start working on the prisoner exact. All the CHESS Agents pointed to Black Orchid.
StrikeForce reviewed the data he had complied from the day of scanning the systems and rooms of the Destroyer’s HQ. He discovered that while Iron Maiden had erased the hard drives to the main computers there were digital breadcrumbs hidden in active RAM across the network. He pieced the digital with the paper copies, and anything else he could find. He found the secret that Iron Maiden was trying desperately to hide. Not only had she stole Vanguard Technology to be the technical foundation of her armor, but she was also selling the tech. He found dozens of clients listed. He recognized Mocker, F.I.S.T., Toxic, Centurion, and Huntsman. There were other names he didn’t recognize as well. Apparently, she did not sale to individuals only but to organizations as well. He found two organizations, FORCE and NEST. Vanguard Technologies’ designs and inventions were powering 2 criminal organizations.
StrikeForce found instructions that if any superheroes were captured they were to be sent to Doctor Apocalypse’s secret base on Nacht Island.
M.I.S.H.A woke up …
<Turns
and Actions due Aug 29th>
Battle
Conditions (Mighty Protectors character data):
Adamas Hit
Points: 13 Power Points: 72
Black Orchid Hit
Points: 24 Power Points: 92 Visible
Dr. Wildman Hit
Points: 12 Power Points: 60 Form: Man
Erdbeben Hit
Points: 46 Power Points: 66
Patty Plus Hit
Points: 15 Power Points: 60
StrikeForce Hit Points: 18 Power
Points: 93
Rubicon Hit
Points: 20 Power Points: 66 Absorption Protection
MISHA Hit
Points: 41 Power Points: 101
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi all,
Tom, great issue.
Oh man, what a roller coaster:
****SPOILERS****
Adamas down: No!
Annihilator getting away: No!
Dr. Wildman grabbing Iron Maiden: YES!
MISHA down: <UNEXPECTED>; Tom, let's
discuss what happens in this event offline if you'd like.
Strike awake: Yes!
Patty awake: Yes!
Ratmans surrender: Yes!
I'll follow up but want to say how fun this is
and appreciate all you.
Greg
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg, yes I would like to discuss. While I can see justification that the
summons ends and MISHA disappears, I am more interested in what is fun. Rubicon
dealing with an unconscious MISHA could be more enjoyable.
Also what happens will shape my plans on how
any attempts to capture MISHA in the future would be done.
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, sounds good. I'll touch base with you
offline later after work.
Greg
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi
everyone,
Amazing! Just got to this as Easter has taken
over most of last week. Finally Dr Wildman strikes a blow for nature against
the %$&***! threat of technology 😂.
Will reply a bit later as I'm off to Barcelona
tomorrow on holiday! Yay!
Tom, presuming we are responding about the
aftermath of the battle and next steps for pursuing Dr Apocalypse?
In other news I am loving Moon Knight and I'll
post progress on April's Xmen of the month which I am hoping to finish today...
Stay well all and a belated Happy Easter to you
all.
Steve
---------------------------------------------------------------------
All very
cool! I believe this is the first time
Adamas has ever been "knocked out".
Great episode, Annihilator will definitely be his first target the next
time the two meet...
Now if someone can just recover his limp
body... :)
Jon
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Patty looks
around, appearing slightly muzzy.
"Thanks, Rubles. Did we win?"
Spotting the downed MISHA (ooc: assuming he
didn't vanish) and the surrendered Ratman, she says "Hey, check on your,
uh, bear. I'll keep an eye on this rat."
She stands up, pops her neck, and stares hard
at Ratman.
---
A fun issue as usual!
Best,
Shane
--------------------------------------------------------------------
As the
sound of conflict dies down, Erdbeben will do his best to help is comrades back
onto their feet and help to secure the Destroyers.
Anybody paying close attention will be able to
catch him quickly taking a DNA sample of the prisoners as he helps to secure
them.
Paul
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jamey,
StrikeForce has 7 Unspent inventing points. If
he invented a healing device (Regeneration Gear) That would provide 1 healing
every 3 minutes while StrikeForce is at reason. If you didn't want to be at rest,
then it would 1 healing every 3 hours.
Let me know what you want to invent when you
get to Vanguard.
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul,
Erdbeben was able to get samples from Behemoth
and Electrocutioner.
Shapershifter's skin was too rubbery to
discreetly get a sample. Will he attempt to open her mouth to get a sample from
the inside of her cheek? It will be obvious to CHESS what he is doing.
Erdbeben is not able to get a sample from
Chrysalis and Iron Maiden as CHESS did not remove their armor before
transporting them. It would be obvious to everyone what Erdbeben is doing if he
tried to remove their armor. Let me know if he tries to remove a piece of armor
from one or both of them.
Ratman wouldn't let Erdbeben get near him. Let
me know if Erdbeben attempts to force his getting close enough to Ratman to get
a sample.
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Erdbeben
knows that taking DNA samples without permission is less then ethical and will
not push hit luck with being 'caught'. He just finds the temptation of the
research that this opportunity presents to be too irresistible.
Paul
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey
Paul,
Do you want to role play with someone from the
team spotting Erdbeben taking DNA samples and questioning what he's doing?
Steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm
certainly not opposed to it. That's one of the reasons I'm putting it out there
is to set up additional interaction with the group or for Tom to use down the
line, should he deem it worthy to work into his storyline.
Paul
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Adamas shakes his head as he rises from the
building he fell to. Grateful that he
didn't penetrate to the apartments below, He scans the area for
Annihilator.
Failing to see his opponent, he uses his
enhanced vision to find the rest of the team. I'm guessing he's recovered most
of his power points, but hit points are low, not something
he's used to experiencing.
He'll head back to base scanning to ensure
there are no civilians in need of assistance from the ravages of the battle.
He's beating himself up for not taking into account the damage a prolonged
combat could have in a populated area, we should have done this differently,
somehow gotten them away from the city... this is not the first time one of his
battles has gotten out of hand, and his intent is for it not to let that happen
again.
Hopefully one of his team mates can help get
his health back to where it needs to be for the next confrontation.
All of the joy and exuberance he normally
expresses is missing from his face as he returns to the temporary HQ they were
working from.
Jon
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jon,
If you reach out to StrikeForce, I'm pretty
sure that the company that his family owns(Vanguard Inc.) could help Adamas
recover his hit points that he lost. Providing that Tom o.k.'s it.
Tom,
Would there be time/ability for StrikeForce to
help out Adamas with some healing? I was thinking that he could use the bacta
tank. It may require some adjustments based on Adamas' non human physiology,
but with the access to The New Crusaders medical records, I would think it
would be possible. Obviously depends on what you say.
Thanks,
Jamey
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To do
that the device would need the Usable on Others modifiers for an additional 10
CPs.
StrikeForce doesn't have enough inventing
points for a 15 CP device.
Adamas and other members of the New Crusaders
can contribute Inventing Points, so it will be a team device even though it
resides in Vanguard.
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Rubicon
will gladly donate as necessary.
Greg
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Research!!!
Did somebody say research?!? Erdbeben will gladly contribute to any research
project. Especially one that involves manipulating biological subjects on a
cellular level. In fact, that's his jam!
In addition, he's recently acquired some...
samples that once he's had a chance to study them, will certainly contribute to
just this line of study!
Now Strikeforce, just lie back and relax...
And, while we're prepping for our experiments, if you wouldn't mind
contributing a DNA sample? It will help us ensure we are applying the correct
tests in the correct... quantities.
Paul
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul,
I don't think that StrikeForce would see the
need to donate a sample, as he is a cyborg, and his care is administered by the
family. His D.N.A. should still be normal. Maybe you should ask other members
of the team.
Thanks,
Jamey
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Rubicon finally provides Patty a distracted,
"Da....yes". He looks questioningly at MISHAs still form as he neals
down with his hand on him. Chewing on
his bottom lip and visibly perplexed he attempts to shake the great, but still
form of MISHA. Not certain if he's asleep (thats new....) or paralyzed.
Demy peers close to MISHA's left eye that is
most accessible, peeling the "skin" around the eye wider trying to
see in. Find some sign of response.
"Perezagruzit"
<..........1.................0........00...............10.......>
He tries to make a connection, to sync with
MISHA. Demy's eyes start to glaze over before returning to normal.
Somethings not right. "Huh, nothing....".
Looking up at Patty with furrowed brow, he
eventually stands. Reaching with his right hand up over his head to scratch
behind his left ear. He eventually gives her a shrug then decks Ratman on the
chin as he walks past him towards the door for the debreifing with CHESS units
start to take up security in the building.
Greg
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr Wildman sat slumped in his chair gently
snoring whilst still grasping his Staff of Thorns. As he did so the wooden
artifact began to magically 'root' itself into the ground and deep blue flowers
not unlike foxgloves began to sprout, snaking their way over the stave and the
arm that held it.
“Blue moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own”
William found himself overlooking a vista held
in deep contrast as the ‘hunters' moon' reflected light over the bleak and
craggy wasteland before him. He could hear the haunting slow repetitive drone
of the song playing in his mind accompanied by a mournful violin.
One of Dr Wildman’s greatest gifts was his
ability to sleep almost everywhere and in any circumstance. The drawback of
being magically attuned was that dreams were quite often far more than dreams.
The blue filter of moonlight gave a cold
harshness to the dreamscape before him but as he turned he could see a flicker
of red light in the distance. ‘Well, that seems to be the subject of whatever
this is.’ he mused to himself. The song kept playing and it felt like a
mournful lullabye, a discordant attempt to send someone or something off to
sleep. It had a familiar lilt, an almost folk-like sound that if he had to
guess had a...Russian flavour to it…
William, at least in his dream, was dressed in
his Cowl of Storms jacket. He made a note that he needed to make space at some
point to wrestle that back off StormLord soon, now that the threat of the World
Storm was over. He picked his way towards the crimson glow that was now
emanating from a cave some 100 yards in front of him.
He could hear heavy breathing from something
that was beastlike and big, very big. He entered the cave and kept to the
shadows. It was only a dream but it was always better to be prudent. He pulled
the hood over his head and crept forward.
What he saw surprised him. There was a fire in
the centre of a cavern and next to the fire danced an old woman with a fiddle
playing the droning song to the most enormous bear William had ever seen. The
woman was not small herself, she was at least 7 foot tall and hideous in
appearance. William knew enough that this was the avatar of ‘Baba Yaga’, the
witchqueen of Russian myth. As she played the tune small flickering fiends
would leap from the fire and land in the fur of the great bear. They all danced
to the tune. The bear seemed in some distress but its mesmeric state prevented
it from resisting. Each imp clearly caused it pain.
William had seen enough. He stood up revealing
his presence.
“Oh my dear, I have known you were there for
some time - you are too late. Your petty skills can do nothing here.” Her voice
was as old as time and had a heavy cracked russian accent. “MISHA here is quite
beyond your help…or control.”
<HATE> <PAIN> <RAGE>
With unbelievable speed the bear awoke and
pounced, surrounded by a mane of hellfire and with a thunderous roar that
sounded like the amplified laughter.
William cried out as he awoke. His body was
coated in sweat and he sat with the staff instinctively thrust forward as if
parrying something. The deep blue blooms had blackened as if burnt away and the
staff itself had great gashes as if an invisible claw had gouged them out in a
fell swoop. William looked around him for Rubicon...where was he?
William heard the familiar sound of punch. He
looked up at Rubicon who was some yards away and nursing his fist. Using the
staff for leverage he hauled himself out of his chair and made his way towards
Rubicon, noticing Patty and the deactivated MISHA.
He walked next to his Russian colleague and put
an arm around him: "Demy, tell me how did you and MISHA first
connect?" The question was asked as lightly as Dr Wildman could manage but
he could not shake the portent of his dream.
OOC: Over to you Greg.
Steve
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am
extending this turn Wednesday May 18th for 2 reasons.
1) None of the actions provided has any New
Crusader member searching the Destroyer HQ for connection of the Doomsday Robot
and the Destroyers to Dr. Apocalypse. No search to see if the locations of
CyberDoom's (Maker of the Doomsday Robot and the crew) Base or Dr. Apocalypse's
Base are there too. Is the expectation for CHESS to do all that work and
provide it in the Debriefing to the New Crusaders?
If that is the expectation, please let me know
as that will let me know to set up some fun roleplay opportunities as CHESS believes
you work for them and not the other way around. In case you are wondering,
Superheroes have to provide "Rent Free Services" to CHESS and other
Federal Agencies per their Superhero License. It isn't slavery where they can
send you on suicide missions but are considered Contractors without Pay. You
can quit or refuse a mission, which will be noted in your Superhero License
files but there are no demerits or point systems like some US States have on
driver's licenses where after reaching some many points the person's driver's
license is suspended. Refusing a CHESS assignment or quitting will not cause
your Superhero License to be suspended but it could make CHESS a little
reluctant or slow to provide resources when requested by the Superhero.
Black Orchid's situation is a little different
since she is a Bishop for CHESS. She does have to answer to her CHESS superiors
and perform missions as assigned to her.
Please let me know if your character does
search Destroyer HQ for clues to CyberDoom and/or Dr. Apocalypse. If not,
please let me know you plan to rely on CHESS Intel.
2) The other reason for the extension is
personal. My Mother-in-Law passed away on Monday. We will be with family
celebrating her life and the joy knowing she is in Heaven with her Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ. She is also with her Husband who passed away a year and half
ago. Her funeral will be Monday in Lubbock Texas. I will be with my family
until Wednesday, On Thursday I will take all that I have received for the turn
and start putting it together.
Thanks Everyone for your understanding and
patience.
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom,
So sorry for your family's loss - as a family
you have really been through it this last season. I hope the celebration of
your mother in law life brings you (and especially your wife) comfort in your
grief and I will be thinking and praying for you all on Monday.
God bless,
Steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Just in
terms of geography I'm trying to understand where we all are.
Dr Wildman (I think) is in the CHESS field room
where he dumped Iron Maiden. There he chatted briefly with StrikeForce who then
bounced and glided off. Dr Wildman then found a seat, collapsed and dreamt.
Where does everyone else think they are?
Steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Tom,
I know what you’re going through. Both my parents passed away last year and I’m
still not quite back to normal.
What do you say that we have a little direct
conversation between characters for a little bit?
I’ll admit I misinterpreted CHESS coming in at
the end. I thought it was more “OK you can step aside, we’re here now”.
The Black Orchid will jump at the chance to
start pillaging the Destroyers computer system.
“OK, everybody, we want to jump in and start
trying to pry into the Destroyers computer system. More than likely they’re
trapped to self-destruct taking it and/or us with it. Who among us has tech
skills we can use? I’ve got some.” As she’s talking, she’ll flash her CHESS
credentials to the agent in charge. “We’ll help any way we can!”
Marc
--------------------------------------------------------------------
After wrapping things up with his father, Jason
set the Sci-Sat drone to go to the Destroyers H.Q. so that he could use it to
help in the search for information. Reversing his trip from The Destroyers base
to home to Vanguard, he will land on the roof of the base. Activating the
scanners on the drone he will make his way downward room by room and floor by
floor. He will use his senses to determine if any clues are available, and
allows the drone to keep a listing of what was found and where. "I know
C.H.E.S.S. will be searching as well, I will collect what information that I
can, and cross reference them. Hopefully this will allow us to not miss
anything." He thinks to himself.
StrikeForce will scan any computer that he
finds hoping to collect any information that wasn't wiped by Iron Maiden. He
will search the private quarters and common areas, and additionally check,for
hidden personal computers to scan. When he is finished he will discuss what he
and anyone who searched found. Hopefully there will be enough evidence to
ensure that the Destroyers spend a long time behind bars, and give us some idea
where Dr. Apocalypse is located.
OOC: Paul, it looks like StrikeForce will wait
on the research project for now. It could be something that could be helpful to
the team to have built at the Crusaders headquarters. We have medical records
on most of the team, so that a healing machine could be adjusted to work with
whatever person inside of its unique physiology. StrikeForce has one at his
families company, but it was originally used on him while he was being rebuilt,
and has been modified for him to use now.
Jamey
----------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC: Think
I have it now...
Edit: William heard the familiar sound of
punch. He looked up at Rubicon who was some yards away and nursing his fist.
Using the staff for leverage he hauled himself out of his chair and made his
way towards Rubicon, noticing Patty and the deactivated MISHA.
He walked next to his Russian colleague and put
an arm around him: "Demy, tell me how did you and MISHA first
connect?" The question was asked as lightly as Dr Wildman could manage but
he could not shake the portent of his dream.
William rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he
watched Adamas glide into the temporary base. He spotted a slight wobble in the
powerhouse's landing. The scorch marks on his uniform suggested that Adamas had
been at the sharp end of the confrontation with Annihilator. William rolled his
shoulder as he remembered the agony of taking a shot himself. Using his staff
as leverage he hauled himself out of his chair and made his way over to Adamas.
He fished out a titanium vial from a pocket and
passed it to the mighty man of myth. "This should help mate, probably
better with a cold pint of beer" he said with a wink. (OOC - it's a
healing potion that heals 3 HP per turn for 3 turns).
"Looks like the rest of the team are still
at the Destroyers Base. Perhaps when you feel a bit more up for it, you want to
fly over there and use that funky vision of yours - they could probably do with
your help."
Dr Wildman will sit down again, exhausted. He
recognised that he was the least helpful Crusader when it comes to technological
detective work. He decided that he would stay here and help with the people
'work' at the CHESS temporary HQ and think through the Rubicon/MISHA
dilemma...but first sleep ZZZzzzz...
Steve
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom,
So sorry for your loss. I will be thinking of
you. Take your time during this and take care of yourself and family.
OOC:
Demy is out of sorts following the fight trying
to process the lack of connection with M.I.S.H.A. He's not intentionally
ignoring others or be lacking in any post conflict actions, such as gathering
intel or providing additional security. Knowing he's tried to sync with and
dismiss M.I.S.H.A. to no avail, he also can't possibly move him, so feels he
has to sort this out by moving away from others and wonder, trying to digest
what is going on. He's essentially, lost in his own thoughts as he senses the
movement of CHESS activity moving in and assumes they will perform any clean up
actions needed and CHESS or New Crusaders leadership will direct him and others
into the next task. In the mean time...
IC:
Demy walks from the room from the last fight
and into the adjacent hall to the west. He moves in the direction towards where
the oncoming CHESS troops and personnel originate assuming some Command
elements are gathering for debriefing. A CHESS medic momentarily comes up and
asks him something. He momentarily looks up at her with vacant eyes until he
processes what was said. He realizes he's flexing his right fist and the
soreness of his right hand knuckles. "Nyet", he shakes his head and
moves down the corridor.
Wondering the halls and rooms, just needing to
walk and be away from others. Finally, being directed by voices he doesn't hear
and pointing by CHESS members, he finally came to the open launch bay. Mindless
of the broken bay doors in the ceiling, damage to the area and equipment in the
room, the repel cables from the initial CHESS troops, or the personnel coming
and going through the now open stair well to the roof.
Finding an open area near a gaggle of those
milling Demy leans back against a work bench with rubberized surfacing, still
blank faced, looking down, chewing his bottom lip, and reflexively the fingers
of his right hand.
Feeling an arm around his shoulder and after a
moment he hears a gentle voice of Dr. Wildman, "Demy, tell me how did you
and MISHA first connect?"
"Conne.....Connect? I-I can't....", He stumbles in his reply
before continuing.
"I was the only one who could they said.
They said it. the others at the Project Parastroika facility at the Russian
army base. So-it was so painful, you
know, the process, being strapped in the chair with that thing around my head. It was dark. Then the pain. I think there was hallucinations,
visions."
"COL Zaytsyev was there - when I was
awake- that I was the only one who had done it.
To Sync with the M.I.S.H.A. prototype.
He was very pleased and the others in the room were happy, too."
Demy mulls something around in his head for
another moment or two before looking over at his friend. Perplexed, he says, "Why do you ask,
Doc?".
- Greg
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom, you
and your family are in our prayers.
IC: After helping the rest of the team to their
feet and helping to secure the captured Destroyers, Erdbeben sets his sights on
the more important issues at hand. Such as finding any evidence of Destroyer
involvement with Dr. Apocalypse's plans to take over the world.
After giving the search a moment of thought, he
decided the best place to begin his search would be in Ratman's quarters or in
Ratman's lab. He's probably hiding details in his research notes, after all.
James heads down to the room on the first floor
of the base, where they first made their entrance, and begins searching the
area for any additional lab notes or materials starting in the area that
Ratman's research diary was first found.
From there, he will begin a methodical search
from room to room, spiraling out from that location until he discovers any more
research information. He will ignore areas that are obviously not helpful to
his search, such as kitchens, breakrooms, or operations rooms that contain
obvious documents concerning Dr. Apocalypse, for that matter. He will, however,
do at least a cursory search of team member's rooms to see if he can ascertain
if their powers are biological in nature, or not. If they are, he will make a
mental note to do more research on that Destroyer and look for any hair samples
that they may have left behind...
Once his search is complete, he will be happy
to work with CHESS to complete their investigation and then head over to help
Strykeforce (sp?) if he is still interested in performing his research project.
Paul
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Blue
Moon
“Blue moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own”
William found himself overlooking a vista held
in deep contrast as the ‘hunters' moon reflected light over the bleak and
craggy wasteland before him. He could hear the haunting slow repetitive drone
of the song playing over in his mind accompanied by a mournful violin.
One of Dr Wildman’s greatest gifts was his
ability to sleep almost everywhere and in any circumstance. The drawback of
being magically attuned was that dreams were quite often far more than dreams.
The blue filter of moonlight gave a cold
harshness to the dreamscape before him but as he turned he could see a flicker
of red light. ‘Well, that seems to be the subject of whatever this is.’ he
mused to himself. The song kept playing and it felt like a mournful lullabye, a
discordant attempt to send someone or something off to sleep. It had a familiar
lilt, an almost folk-like sound that if he had to guess had a Russian flavour
to it…
William, at least in his dream, was dressed in
his Cowl of Storms jacket. He made a note that he needed to make space at some
point to wrestle that back off StormLord soon, now that the threat of the World
Storm was over. He picked his way towards the crimson glow that was now
emanating from a cave some 100 yards in front of him.
He could hear heavy breathing from something
that was beastlike and big, very big. He entered the cave and kept to the
shadows. It was only a dream but it was always better to be prudent. He pulled
the hood over his head and crept forward.
What he saw surprised him. There was a fire in
the centre of a cavern and next to the fire danced an old woman with a fiddle
playing the droning song to the most enormous bear William had ever seen. The
woman was not small herself, she was at least 7 foot tall and hideous in
appearance. William knew enough that this was the avatar of ‘Baba Yaga’, the
witchfiend of Russian myth. As she played the tune small flickering fiends
would leap from the fire and land in the fur of the great bear. They all danced
to the tune. The bear seemed in some distress but its mesmeric state prevented
it from resisting. Each imp clearly caused it pain.
William had seen enough. He stood up revealing
his presence.
“Oh my dear, I have known you were there for
some time - you are too late. Your petty skills can do nothing here.” Her voice
was as old as time and had a heavy cracked russian accent. “MISHA here is
beyond your help…or control.”
<HATE> <PAIN> <RAGE>
With unbelievable speed the bear pounced,
surrounded by a mane of hellfire and with a thunderous roar that sounded like
the amplified laughter of a man.
As he awoke with a start all William could hear
ringing in his ears was the laughter and a voice bearing a warning: ‘You have
meddled in my plans long enough. You have sown the wind of fate, now reap the
whirlwind of destruction!’
Steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve,
this is great. I was thinking the Baba Yaga angle, too. I shared with Tom
originally that I saw MISHA as a cross between the Deomon Bear and Warlock from
the New Mutants of the 80s. That there's something in him (her?) that is out of
sync/control/whack and this makes that connection, yet leaves more to be
revealed.
I don't want to hijack anything, but feel MISHA
is possibly a vessel for some greater Ursa spirit animal tha the Witch Queen is
trying to manipulate and control.
Possibly to unleash on the world as a greater plan? I will totally play
through this or anything else that comes out it with Rubicon being his happy go
lucky, togueish self who happens to get passionate and can fly off the handle
on occasion.
Tom, is this something you're comfortable
teaming up to run with? There's lots of implications to affect everyone at some
point.
Greg
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes I am good running with it. I will need to figure out how to fit it into
future adventures after this one is done.
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg,
...are you happy with it as is?
Yes, it works for me. I think some ambiguity and leaving it less is
more so it allows the 3 of us some room to maneuver is good.
...who is the White Queen?
Typo, I meant witch queen in regards to Baba
Yaga.
...I deliberately used the quote from the
Island of Dr Apocalypse comic strip quoting the aforementioned good Dr. Shall I
take this out? Maybe, or some other npc
if it works best with Tom in his world.
I'll post it up in the next few days if you are
happy.
Steve
----------------------------------------------------------------------
