Megalopolis

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Wraith: Garbage Time - Issue 12

Location: Center City near midnight

The Wraith was positioned on the rooftop where he can see both accidents but hide himself from view.

David saw that the driver of the garbage truck was huge and covered in debris. He appeared to be strong and the trash in the truck was moving on its own. The driver of the Ice Cream truck got out first. He ran to the smashed in side of the patrol car. The driver removed a syringe from his coin dispenser (a fake one) and injected it into the neck of one of the policeman. The driver pulled the police officer out through the window. The officer appeared to be sedated.

The Wraith saw a man walk across the street toward the accident between the ice cream truck and the patrol car. He was dressed in black including a heavy leather jacket and a mask.

"You there," he called to the driver of the ice cream truck, "Stand down."

The driver stopped and turned his attention to the masked stranger. This is none of your business. These officers have volunteered to be organ donors. So unless you are here to help me load them in my truck, I would suggest you walk back the way you came.”

*thunk* ... *thunk*

Two arrows struck the Ice Cream Truck driver in the head. Wham! Wham!

The driver dropped with a thud to the ground.

The teleporting “TK’er” looked to the other rooftop. There was a bowman in a hooded suit. It reminded him of a martial artist fighting suit, maybe something from one of those kung fu monk movies. He wasn’t completely sure the figure was staying out of view.

The man in the mask dropped down behind the car making himself a harder target to hit. The man in black opened the patrol car door and appeared to be checking on officer behind the steering wheel. The officer was conscious but shaken.

The driver of the garbage truck opened his door and climbed down. He walked to the side of his truck. He extended both his hands to his sides at a 45 degree angle. Michael stared in awe as he saw a serpent rise from the truck! A serpent made of debris and refuse.

The trash laden Serpent rose up into the sky. It was about 100 feet long. It moved and swayed. It positioned itself toward one of the other patrol car windows.

BLAM!

Bonesnapper heard the sound of rifle fire from nearby. On the roof of a different building, he saw a man holding an assault rifle and next to him is a prone person cuffed to the building. As far as he could tell the shot missed because everyone was unaffected by it.

The Wraith turned his attention back to the trash beast threatening to attack the police officers. The teleporting telekinetic focused his mind on the damaged patrol car. Quickly he found a suitable weapon and grabbed it.

CREAK!

The front bumper to the patrol car came off. It floated in the air briefly, and then spun toward the serpent. It missed the bobbing and weaving head of the trash beast.

SMASH!

The serpent’s head smashed into the passenger window. Oww! The Wraith heard the woman officer scream in pain.

Within the garbage truck, The Wraith heard a communications device sound. “Sam, this is Centurion. Dr. Morrow has created a force field within the patrol car. We can’t get him out. Collect your trash ASAP. We will need to bring the whole freakin car back to the Citadel in your truck.

Current Conditions:

The Wraith Hit Points: 10 Power Points: 52 Telekinesis Defense inactive

< Due Date: August 17th, Actions, Goal, Replies>

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The Wraith will observe the wreck. If the cops don't get out of the wrecked car he'll teleport down and make sure they're OK.

If anybody gets out of the other cars and starts behaving in a menacing manner towards the cops--especially in a metahumanly menacing manner--David will telekinetically throw a bumper at him or her.

If nobody acts in a particularly unusual or menacing manner, and if nobody's hurt, he'll teleport after the car that sped on.

Patrolling the streets,

Greg

Phantom: On Target - Issue 12

Location: Center City near midnight.

Phantom was positioned on the rooftop where he can see both accidents but hide himself from view. He reached for his binoculars. This might at least provide a little entertainment while he waited for “sleeping beauty” to awake.

Through the binoculars he saw that the driver of the garbage truck was huge and covered in debris. He appeared to be strong and the trash in the truck was moving on its own. The driver of the Ice Cream truck got out first. He ran to the smashed in side of the patrol car. The driver removed a syringe from his coin dispenser (a fake one) and injected it into the neck of one of the policeman. Phantom spotted that there are two 45s hidden behind his back with concealment holsters. The other policeman in the same car was Sergeant Carl Perkins. The driver pulled the other police officer out through the window. The officer appeared to be sedated.

As the situation began to quickly unfold down on the street, Phantom turned to Rico “Puerto Rico” Billings and used a pair of disposable restraints to secure his ‘new friend’ to a nearby metal jutting up from the roofs surface. “Can’t have you runn’n around up here while I check this out, can we Rico?” he said to Billings as he gave him a quick slap crossed his face with the back side of his open hand.

Quickly returned his attention back to the commotion down on the street; crouched behind the low wall that runs along the edge of the rooftops perimeter, Phantom brought his AR-57 up to his shoulder. For now he content with just keeping an eye on the situation below through the rifle scope mounted on his weapon.

Phantom saw a man walk across the street toward the accident between the ice cream truck and the patrol car. He was dressed in black including a heavy leather jacket and a mask.

"You there," he called to the driver of the ice cream truck, "Stand down."

The driver stopped and turned his attention to the masked stranger. “This is none of your business. These officers have volunteered to be organ donors. So unless you are here to help me load them in my truck, I would suggest you walk back the way you came.”

*thunk* ... *thunk*

Two arrows struck the Ice Cream Truck driver in the head. Wham! Wham!

The driver dropped with a thud to the ground. He was incapacitated.

The human arsenal looked to the other rooftop. There was a bowman in a hooded suit. It reminded him of an Asian fighting suit, maybe something a warrior monk would wear. He wasn’t completely sure because he had time for just a glance and the figure was staying out of view.

The man in the mask dropped down behind the car making himself a harder target to hit. The man in black opened the patrol car door and appeared to be checking on Sergeant Carl Perkins. Officer Perkins was conscious but shaken.

Phantom turned the rifle scope mounted on his weapon back toward the other accident. His finger rolled gently across the ‘fire selector switch’ and set the weapon on ‘semi-automatic’. Placing his finger over the trigger he mouthed a throaty threat that only he can hear toward the driver of the garbage truck, “Go ahead . . . gimme a reason to put one straight through the back of your head.”

The driver of the garbage truck opened his door and climbed down. He walked to the side of his truck. He extended both his hands to his sides at a 45 degree angle. Phantom stared in shock as he saw a serpent rise from the truck! A serpent made of debris and refuse.

The trash laden Serpent rose up into the sky. It was about 100 feet long. It moved and swayed. It positioned itself toward one of the patrol car windows.

BLAM!

The AK-47 round struck the garbage man in the head. The man was unfazed. The round shattered against his skull.

CREAK!

The front bumper to patrol car came off. It floated in the air briefly, and then spun toward the serpent. It missed the bobbing and weaving head of the trash beast.

SMASH!

The serpent’s head smashed into the passenger window. Oww! Phantom heard the woman officer scream in pain.

Within the garbage truck, Phantom heard a communications device sound. “Sam, this is Centurion. Dr. Morrow has created a force field within the patrol car. We can’t get him out. Collect your trash ASAP. We will need to bring the whole freakin car back to the Citadel in your truck.

Current Conditions:

Phantom Hit Points: 23 Power Points: 61 Invulnerability: 5

Right FN Five-seveN Pistol: 20 rounds

Left FN Five-seveN Pistol: 20 rounds

AR-57 Assault Rifle: 49 rounds

M406 High-Explosive Round Grenades: 4

<Due Date: August 17th, Actions, Goal, Reply?>

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Street Patrol: Issue 11: Terror and the Fear it Might Cause.

> PHANTOM’S IC RESPONSE <

Phantom was positioned on the rooftop where he can see both accidents but hide himself from view. He reached for his binoculars. This might at least provide a little entertainment while he waited for “sleeping beauty” to awake.

As the situation begins to quickly unfold down on the street, Phantom turns to Rico “Puerto Rico” Billings and uses a pair of disposable restraints to secure his ‘new friend’ to a nearby metal jutting up from the roofs surface. “Can’t have you runn’n around up here while I check this out, can we Rico?” he says to Billings as he gives him a quick slap crossed his face with the back side of his open hand.

Quickly returning his attention back to the commotion down on the street; crouch behind the low wall that runs along the edge of the rooftops perimeter, Phantom brings his AR-57 up to his shoulder. For now he content with just keeping an eye on the situation below through the rifle scope mounted on his weapon. His finger rolls gently across the ‘fire selector switch’ and sets the weapon on ‘semi-automatic’. Placing his finger over the trigger he mouth a throaty threat that only he can hear towards the driver of the garbage truck, “Go ahead . . . gimme a reason to put one straight through the back of your head.”

> PHANTOM’S GOAL(S) <

Definitely looking forward to joining the Crusher Crimewave storyline – sounds like a LOT of fun!

Phantom wants to stay out of sight for as long as possible. Taking a sniper position on top of that building, he’s going to just watch what is unfolding down on the street through his rifle scope. If a fight breaks out he going to try and take down the driver of the garbage truck.

> PHANTOM’S OOC RESPONSE <

Phantom is definitely going for the driver of the garbage truck. He’s still not sure what to make of everyone else down on the street, but since he can pick the driver out as a supervillain; a supervillain that just attacked a column of police cars, he going to go for him first.

Taking full advantage of his military sniper training, he would use an action to ‘set up the shot’ with his rifle. If . . . err . . . when . . . a fight finally breaks out, he fully intends to target the driver of the garbage truck and place a round dead-center in the back of his head.

TOM WROTE:

If Phantom decides to fight, I will need to know what weapons he will have, because of his Weapons Cache power you can equip as you see fit.How’s this . . .

EQUIPMENT AND WEAPONS:

Phantom carries with him a wide assortment of equipment and weapons related paraphernalia. He stores these items in a variety of small pouches and pockets sewn into his costume, and in a tactical load bearing vest and equipment belt. Some of the more mundane items include two pair of hinged handcuffs, 10 disposable restraints, a tactical LED flashlight, a Leatherman utility tool, a Zippo lighter, 3 full magazines for his AR-57, 4 full magazines for his FN Five-Seven pistols ( see below ).

In addition to his equipment and tools, Phantom will be carrying with him a small cache of military weaponry.

(1) Ka-Bar Combat Knife: In his right outside knife sheath he carries a Marine Ka-Bar Combat Knife. +2 to hit, HTH+1d3 damage, A” range

(2) FN Five-Seven Pistol: +3 to hit, 1d8 damage, Ax6 range, 20 rounds per magazine, capable of automatic fire. This weapon is equipped with an under-barrel tactical flashlight.

(1) AR-57 Assault Rifle: +4 to hit, 1d10 damage, Ax10 range, 50 rounds per magazine, capable of automatic fire. The AR-57, also known as the AR Five-seven, is an upper receiver for the AR-15/M16 rifle lower receiver, firing 5.7x28mm rounds from standard 50 round, FN P90 magazines.

Phantom’s AR-57 is equipped with a high powered rifle scope [ +3 to hit ( in addition to the weapons normal bonus ), bonus only applies if Phantom spends one action ‘lining up the shot’ ] and an under-barrel M203 Grenade Launcher.

(1) M203 Grenade Launcher: +3 to hit, grenade type = damage, Ax5 range, single shot weapon, not capable of automatic fire. The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher designed to attach to the bottom rail of several different weapons.

(4) M406 High-Explosive Round: Often called the "H-E" round, this round is intended to produce kills and casualties on point and group targets, as well as destroying bunkers and doors. Although the round has a 2” Blast Radius like all other grenades, the round is designed to concentrate most of its damage within the area around the initial strike point. Anything caught within the 0” to 1” Blast Radius of this round will suffer 2d8-1 damage, 1d6-1 ( minimum of 1 ) if within the 1” to 2” Blast Radius.

NOTE: The Five-Seven pistols, the P90, and the AR-57 all use the exact same 5.7x28mm round - the ammunition is completely interchangeable, the AR-57 and the P90 both use the exact same magazine.

Talk to you all soon,

-Kev

Bonesnapper: Who wants ice cream? - Issue 12

Location: Center City near midnight

Michael was positioned where he can see both accidents from his car.

Bonesnapper saw that the driver of the garbage truck was huge and covered in debris. He appeared to be strong and the trash in the truck was moving on its own. The driver of the Ice Cream truck got out first. He ran to the smashed in side of the patrol car. The driver removed a syringe from his coin dispenser (a fake one) and injected it into the neck of one of the policeman. The driver pulled the police officer out through the window. The officer appeared to be sedated.

Michael killed the engine and got out of the vehicle. He surveyed the flaming mess before him with grim purpose. Where to start? Finally, he made a decision and moved towards the second wreck (ice cream truck/patrol car).

"You there," he called to the driver of the ice cream truck, "Stand down."

The driver stopped and turned his attention to the Bonesnapper. “This is none of your business. These officers have volunteered to be organ donors. So unless you are here to help me load them in my truck, I would suggest you walk back the way you came.”

*thunk* ... *thunk*

Two arrows struck the Ice Cream Truck driver in the head. Wham! Wham!

[GM note: Because of Bonesnapper’s diminished hearing he did not hear the arrows soon enough to track their flight path back to their source. He failed both his detect hidden and detect danger rolls.]

The driver dropped with a thud to the ground. He was incapacitated.

Michael ducked behind the patrol car’s fender. He couldn’t check the policeman that had been pulled from the car. He carefully moved to open the car door to check the other officer. He is alive and had a strong pulse. The officer is dazed from the accident but is conscious.

The trash laden Serpent rose up into the sky. It was about 100 feet long. It moved and swayed. It positioned itself toward one of the other patrol car windows.

BLAM!

Bonesnapper heard the sound of rifle fire from the nearby buildings. He could not tell what the round struck. As far as he could tell the shot missed because everyone around him was unaffected by it.

CREAK!

The front bumper to the other patrol car came off. It floated in the air briefly, and then spun toward the serpent. It missed the bobbing and weaving head of the trash beast.

SMASH!

The serpent’s head smashed in to the passenger window. Oww! Michael heard the woman officer scream in pain. The officer next to him murmured, “Officer Walker, are you all right? Officers down, I repeat we have Officers down.”

Within the garbage truck, Bonesnapper heard a communications device sound. “Sam, this is Centurion. Dr. Morrow has created a force field within the patrol car. We can’t get him out. Collect your trash ASAP. We will need to bring the whole freakin car back to the Citadel in your truck.

Current Conditions:

Bonesnapper Hit Points: 18 Power Points: 53

< Due Date: August 17th, Actions, Goal, Reply?>

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Michael kills the engine and gets out of the vehicle. He surveys the flaming mess before him with grim purpose. Where to start? Finally, he makes a decision and moves towards the second wreck (ice cream truck/patrol car).

"You there," he calls to the driver of the ice cream truck, "Stand down."

If the man obeys, Michael checks out the policeman to see if he is alive and if his pulse is strong. If the man refuses, Michael issues a second warning, taking a step closer and adding, "I don't want to hurt you. Please stand aside. I'm here to help."

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Is he wearing his mask as he approaches, (either with or without would be appropriate, I just want to describe the scene and get the driver's reaction correct).

Thanks

Tom

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Oh, definitely. He is in full costume. As of this moment, he isn't quite sure that he was what he thinks he saw, but wants to check on the injured officer. He is keeping an eye on the ice cream man, though.

Archer: Shots in the Dark - Issue 12

Location: Center City near midnight

As he left the Soiree Heights entering Center City, David soon noticed three police cars in his rear view mirrors. “That’s . . . unusual? Take it easy, it probably has nothing to do with me. If MEDUSA or CHESS wanted to pick me up I doubt they’d use the cops like this to do it.” Half way through Center City, the patrol cars passed David. He was a little surprised to see that every car had two officers and the middle car had a passenger in the back. Must be someone really “wanted” in that car for them to double up their officers.

His heightened senses extended to avoid potential traffic hazards, David “sees” the large vehicle barrel out of the side street, but was helpless to prevent it from crashing into the cruiser in front of him. WHAM! The last patrol car was hit by a garbage truck. David hit the brakes on his bike. It skidded to the side. He pulled hard on the handle bars, correcting the slide. His actions prevented the bike from crashing. David maneuvered into a nearby alley and came to a stop. “What the hell? Is that guy drunk? He never hit his brakes.”

Then on the edge of his spatial awareness David “sees” the second vehicle moments before it crushed the side of the lead cruiser. WHAM! The first patrol car was hit by an ice cream truck. It’s an ambush. Same tactics I used against the bikers last week, but no alley walls.” VROOM! The middle patrol car swerved around the first patrol car’s wreck. It sped away into the night. His bow and quiver already pulled from the back of the bike, David tracked the rear tire of the cruiser before letting it go. I wonder if Craftsman could fit a tracking device into one of my arrow-heads?

David “sees” that the driver of the garbage truck was huge and covered in debris. He appeared to be strong and the trash in the truck was moving on its own. The driver of the Ice Cream truck got out first. He ran to the smashed in side of the patrol car. The driver removed a syringe from his coin dispenser (a fake one) and injected it into the neck of one of the policeman. Archer sensed there were more syringes hidden in the fake coin dispenser and two 45s hidden behind his back. The driver pulled the police officer out through the window. The officer appeared to be sedated.

"Sensing" the syringe and weapons hidden on the Ice Cream Man, Archer carefully took position in the shadows of the rooftop drawing his bow. These guys have already assaulted half a dozen police officers; I don't plan on giving them a chance to do anymore damage.

Archer sensed there are three other individuals on the rooftops. Two were on one building with one of them standing and the other lying prone. The third was standing on a different building. They all had normal athletic builds. David can barely see them visually in the darkness and he had no clue whether they can see him or not.

From across the street walked another man toward the accident between the ice cream truck and the patrol car. He was dressed in black including a heavy leather jacket and a mask.

"You there," he called to the driver of the ice cream truck, "Stand down."

The Mystic Bowman had heard enough, regardless of the risks to himself, he had to help the officers escape the ambush.

*thunk* ... *thunk*

Two blunt point arrows flew true to their target, striking the Ice Cream Truck driver in the head. Wham! Wham!

[GM note: Special Attacks using Dual Attack combat method PR -2]

The driver dropped with a thud to the ground. He was incapacitated. The man in the mask dropped down behind the car making himself a harder target for Archer to hit. The man in black opened the patrol car door and appeared to be checking the officer behind the wheel. The officer was conscious but shaken.

The Mystic Bowman’s spatial senses screamed for his attention. The two men together which appeared to be in sniper formation did in fact have a rifle. The standing man had moved to a fire position. The rifle was aimed below towards the accidents but he couldn’t tell who was being targeted. The other man was still prone and was now cuffed to the building.

The driver of the garbage truck opened his door and climbed down. He walked to the side of his truck. He extended both his hands to his sides at a 45 degree angle. Archer could not believe his senses. He focused harder but nothing changed. The trash in the truck was forming into something. It was becoming a serpent!

A trash laden Serpent rose from within the truck moving higher into the sky. It was about 100 feet long. It moved and swayed. It positioned itself toward one of the patrol car windows.

BLAM!

The sniper fired on the garbage man. The round struck him in the head. The man was unfazed. The round shattered against his skull.

CREAK!

The front bumper to patrol car came off. It floated in the air briefly, and then spun toward the serpent. It missed the bobbing and weaving head of the trash beast.

SMASH!

The serpent’s head smashed into the passenger window. Oww! David heard the woman officer scream in pain.

Within the garbage truck, Archer heard a communications device sound. “Sam, this is Centurion. Dr. Morrow has created a force field within the patrol car. We can’t get him out. Collect your trash ASAP. We will need to bring the whole freakin car back to the Citadel in your truck.

Current Conditions:

Archer Hit Points: 53 Power Points: 73

Blunt Head Arrows: 18

Broad Head Arrows: 10

< Due Date: August 17th, Actions, Goal, Replies>

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Archer Issue 11 “Another One” (responses, actions, and goals)

OOC: Wow Tom, that Seth Demaris thing kind of threw me off balance – something I know you love doing. Not sure why, but it did. DarkStar’s timing might have been better (lol) but I think David’s responses to Tommy’s exuberance over the appearance of Prankster and Wonderboy would have been priceless.

“Hey! Where’s my sailboat?” (roflmao)

If you don’t mind I think I might write up a Side Shot exploring the character interaction of the two from there til the point where David is riding into the Crusher Crimewave.

<Archer: IC Responses> As he left the Soiree Heights entering Center City, David soon noticed three police cars in his rear view mirrors. That’s . . . unusual? Take it easy, it probably has nothing to do with me. If MEDUSA or CHESS wanted to pick me up I doubt they’d use the cops like this to do it. Half way through Center City, the patrol cars passed David. He was a little surprised to see that every car had two officers and the middle car had a passenger in the back. Must be someone really “wanted” in that car for them to double up their officers.

His heightened senses extended to avoid potential traffic hazards, David “sees” the large vehicle barreling out of the side street, but is helpless to prevent it from crashing into the cruiser in front of him. WHAM! The last patrol car is hit by a garbage truck. David hit the brakes on his bike. It skidded to the side. He pulled hard on the handle bars, correcting the slide. His actions prevented the bike from crashing. David maneuvered into a nearby alley and came to a stop. What the hell? Is that guy drunk? He never hit his brakes.

Then on the edge of his spatial awareness David “sees” the second vehicle moments before it crushes the side of the lead cruiser. WHAM! The first patrol car is hit by an ice cream truck. It’s an ambush. Same tactics I used against the bikers last week, but no alley walls.” VROOM! The middle patrol car swerved around the first patrol car’s wreck. It sped away into the night. His bow and quiver already pulled from the back of the bike, David tracks the rear tire of the cruiser before letting it go. I wonder if Craftsman could fit a tracking device into one of my arrow-heads?

<Archer’s Actions> David will use half his movement utilizing his acrobatic and climbing skills to get to higher ground, donning his ceremonial fighting garb along the way. He will take the other half of his movement to get a picture of the battle ground and it’s occupants using his spatial awareness. If he has an opportunity to make any attacks, he will focus his attentions on the driver of the ice cream truck, making a dual-attack with two blunt-head arrows. Unless he determines the ambush has sniper support. In which case he will shoot whoever he can determine is the most immediate threat to one of the police officers.

Archer will enter the fray with 10 broad-heads and 20 blunt-heads.

<Archer’s Goals> This is a complex and apparently failed ambush. I don’t think the sniper presence is likely – otherwise they would have shot out the middle cruisers tires – probably. The Archer is best at long-range and will try to utilize this advantage to help the police officers escape the ambushers. This will be his primary goal throughout this adventure. The safety of the officers trumps any other concerns (i.e. capture of Blue Xiang). Secondarily if he can take down a criminal or two even better, but Archer’s learned he's no superhero and events at The Festival have reinforced the fact there is a league he doesn’t belong in, and guys tossing sailboats or ice cream trucks are fine examples of such.

---------------------------------

Hi Tom

Wanted to make sure I was visualizing the scenario correctly.

Are Phantom, Archer, and Wraith aware of each other’s presence?

I was hoping Archer's Spatial Awareness would make him aware of the battlefield occupants, while enabling him to hide in the shadow of the roof tops, keeping his own presence a secret for the moment.

***Archer Update***

After re-reading everyone's newest issue and the newest SP update, I've decided to make a "minor" change to Archer's action.

***<Archer: IC Response> "Sensing" the syringe and weapons hidden on the Ice Cream Man, Archer carefully takes position in the shadows of the rooftop drawing his bow. These guys have already assaulted half a dozen police officers, I don't plan on giving them a chance to do anymore damage.

*thunk* ... *thunk*

***<Archer's: Action> everything remains exactly the same as before except the "trigger" for who and when he lets loose with his attack. Archer should be positioned above and to the flank of the Ice Cream Man. Archer will make a "special attack" with both blunt-head arrows, targetting the head on the Ice Cream Man. He will make this attack as soon as the Ice Cream Man turns to face the masked man coming towards him from the other direction.

---------------------------------------------

GM Reply

Archer can sense there are three other individuals on the rooftops. Two on one building where one is standing and the other is prone. The third is standing on a different building. They are all of normal athletic builds. You cannot visually see them in the darkness and have no clue whether they can see you or not.

To gather more information with Spatial Awareness would require more movement spend or changing his focus from the entire battlespace surrounding him but a narrower selection.

Best,

Tom

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Thanks for the info Tom

[Archer: OOC] The two on the roof are worrisome. That generally being a standard sniper team configuration. Though having one standing isnt standard.

Like Archer's own alley ambush scenario, he's designated his Primary and Secondary goals, and if focusing on doing everything possible to make that successful puts him in harms way, then that's the way the ball bounces.

Only having one action a turn should speed this stuff up I bet.

Crusade: Airlift - Issue 9

Location: Above Center City in a Megalopolis PD Helicopter near midnight

The heroes sat in their seats quietly. They had not been afforded the luxury to enjoy their first victory together. Manta Lad and Starbolt had worked with the others to successfully ambush the Crushers at Manning Enterprises. They listened closely as Detective Broyko of the Megalopolis PD Crusher Task Force briefed them. Phade cleaned his blaster which has finished off F.I.S.T. Emerald Dragon sat awkwardly as he tried to keep his wings out of the way. Black Orchid wondered if Meltdown would return in time to help out. Would he play the Calvary role like she had at the ambush?

Broyko briefed that the Crusher Task Force had contacted Dr. Bennet Morrow for help. He was the inventor of T.E.A.C.H.E.R. and probably the only person able to access the Crusader Citadel with the Crusaders captured. Using the Citadel technology with the aid of T.E.A.C.H.E.R. Broyko should be able to find out where the Crushers were holding them.

*** FLASHBACK ***

Detective Broyko and the members of the taskforce quickly left their stations to congratulate the heroes on their victory and assist in taking the Crushers into custody. Inside the warehouse, "Damn, I almost had him." The Black Orchid stamped her foot in anger. A swirl of darkness coalesced around her foot and then disappeared. "Shouldn't we go after the ice man?"

Emerald Dragon pointed to the Ice Wall which blocked the escape route that Master Zero had taken. “I saw Meltdown chase after him”. Black Orchid composed herself, paused for a moment to concentrate, and then looked up, as if she had just stepped in off the street, with barely a hair out of place. She went outside to join the others.

Emerald Dragon looked to secure the scene and made sure the captured Crushers were taken into police custody. He looked at the hole in the wall that he sent Mammoth through and let out a low whistle. He knew it was going to be a pain to get that patched up. He picked up any debris inside and outside the building.

Manta Lad was psyched. “Dude! It totally worked! We ambushed the Crushers, and found out they were holding the Crusaders! Yes! Thanks everyone!” he said, with high fives and knuckle bumps to any who would take them.

Starbolt accepted the fist-bump Manta-Lad threw his way. "Not a bad first outing I would say. What do the rest of you think?"

When Starbolt and Manta Lad bumped knuckles, Manta Lad wiggled his fingers on the withdrawal, and his mouth made a sound approximating Starbolt's energy blasts: "Za-kow!"

The Black Orchid walked over to Manta Man, thinking that the other heroes next to him are rather tall, but before she got there, she realized her mistake. "Hello gentlemen, sorry I was late to the party, Detective Broyko brought me. My name is the Black Orchid." She holds out her hand.

Starbolt faced Black Orchid and said while extending his right hand, "Nice to meet you Black Orchid, my name is Starbolt."

“Um, hi,” the semi-strategic sidekick said to the Black Orchid. “I’m, uh, Manta Lad. Thanks for, uh… Thanks.”

Without a hint of irony or condescension, The Black Orchid held out her hand in a high five position. "Don't worry, I don't bite. I'm The Black Orchid, not The Black Widow."

Nodding dumbly at the Black Orchid, Manta Lad blushed safely under his mask.

One awkward pause later, Manta Lad realized Broyko was standing there. “…Detective, I can, like, help give backup to Dr. Morrow’s patrol car. Where is it?” Det. Broyko conversed with the dispatcher. He looked to Manta Lad, “I had three patrol cars bringing Dr. Morrow. Two were in collusions with a garbage truck and an ice cream truck. I believe this was planned.”

The Black Orchid heartily agreed to track down the latest problem. "What do we need to do? I'd like to redeem to myself for letting Professor Cold get away." The others signaled they were in as well.

Broyko pointed to where EMTs were waiting and a Megalopolis PD Helicopter was landing. “Let get anyone who needs it, patched up, and I will brief you in route”

*** END OF FLASHBACK ***

The Task Force had not heard from Meltdown since they left so Manta Lad sent a text to him: "Dood u k? sup? 8D"

Broyko continued the briefing. “The only patrol car we have heard from is the one that Dr. Morrow is in. It had not been a target of the first part of the ambush so it split off from the other two cars. It was ambushed later by Crushers. The identified attackers are Hauntress, Manstar, Shortstop, Crater, and Centurion. The patrol car was disabled. Fortunately Dr. Morrow was able to prevent their taking him by inventing a gadget on the spot. They are currently protected by it. Our ETA is less than half a minute to their location. Most of you can get their faster on your own. How to you want to do this?”

At that time the scanner on the Helicopter picked up a transmission which was heard throughout the Helicopter. “Sam, this is Centurion. Dr. Morrow has created a force field within the patrol car. We can’t get him out. Collect your trash ASAP. We will need to bring the whole freakin car back to the Citadel using your truck.”

GM Notes:

All PCs are fully recovered on their Power Points.

Manta Lad healed 3 Hit Points (Healing rate 1.6. EMT Medical aid provided double healing. Made 1 of 2 rolls vs 60%)

Black Orchid healed 3 Hit Points to maximum Hit Points (Healing rate 3.2)

It is still the same day for recovery of Acid Breath Doses for Emerald Dragon and Luck Points Pool for Manta Lad. Less than an hour has passed since the Ambush at Manning Enterprises and both powers require 24 hours to recover.

<Due Date: August 17th, Actions? Replies?>

Current Conditions:

Black Orchid Hit Points: 30 Power Points: 87 Willpower Defense Inactive

Emerald Dragon Hit Points: 81 Power Points: 98 Acid Breath: 27 Doses

Manta Lad Hit Points: 20 Power Points: 69 Luck Points Pool: 2

Phade Hit Points: 17 Power Points: 58 Invulnerability: 8

Starbolt Hit Points: 34 Power Points: 75

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"Damn, I almost had him." The Black Orchid stamps her foot in anger. A swirl of darkness coalesces around her foot and then disappears. "Shouldn't we go after the ice man?"
When someone invariably lets her know that he's being actively pursued, she'll compose herself, pause for a moment to concentrate, and then look up, as if she had just stepped in off the street, with barely a hair out of place.

[Before Phade comes back to tell them about the cars]
The Black Orchid walks over to Manta Man, thinking that the other heroes next to him are rather tall, but before she get there, she realizes her mistake. "Hello gentlemen, sorry I was late to the party, Detective Broyko brought me. My name is the Black Orchid." She holds out her hand.

[Also, the house rule sound fine to me]

- Marc

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“Um, hi,” he said to the Black Orchid. “I’m, uh, Manta Lad. Thanks for, uh… Thanks.”

One awkward pause later, Manta Lad realized Broyko was standing there. “…Detective, I can, like, help give backup to Dr. Morrow’s patrol car. Where is it?”

The semi-strategic sidekick will also download Broyko on what the Crushers said about the Crusaders, and ask him to interrogate the Crushers to find out:

1) Where are the rest of the Crushers, and

2) Where are the Crusaders!

If Meltdown doesn't turn up in 30 minutes, Manta Lad will text him: "Dood u k? sup? 8D"

OOC:

Hi Tom. Another great issue. Loved the covers.

ML’s Power Points seem really low. Was he hit for some Power Point damage in the fight?

Thanks.

Best,

Jeff

---------------------------------------------

OOC:

ML’s Power Points seem really low. Was he hit for some Power Point damage in the fight?

Yes. He was, here are the back issues where it occurred.

Issue 5 -

The Shrew glared back, “We’ll tell Mocker alright! But after we capture him and bring him back.” She picks the nearest small crate and threw it at ‘Manta Man’. She hit him!

KRACK! [GM Note: Manta Lad is hit for 9 damage; PR -6 and HP -3 and no luck points were used to fool Mammoth and The Shrew]

Issue 6 -

The Shrew snarls back. “You may have captured Mocker but you won’t take me in!” She picks up a crate and throws it at ‘Manta Man”. She hits. [GM Note: 9 damage, -5 rolled against Power, and -4 to Hit Points].

Thanks

Tom

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Without a hint of irony or condescension, The Black Orchid holds out her hand in a high five position. "Don't worry, I don't bite."

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I forgot the punchline! "I'm The Black Orchid, not The Black Widow."

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Thanks, Tom.

That's 11 points. He's got 69 PP to start. He's now down to 30.

The electrical attacks are device based and using charges, not PP, right?

Best,

Jeff

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We didn't setup Manta Lad to use charges, but it uses PP. PR=4 per attack to be exact.

I have always been very liberal on letting Devices use PP instead of charges because how limiting that can be (running out of Ammo). Using PP is how Manta Man is setup if I remember right.

Thanks

Tom

-------------------------------

Ok. That explains it!

Thanks.

After this adventure, I'd like to look at the possibility of traditional, charged based devices for ML, if that's ok with you.

Best,

Jeff

---------------------------------

Yes, we can certainly make the change to traditional charges.

Best,

Tom

---------------------------------

Starbolt accepts the fist-bump or high-five, whichever one Manta-Lad throws his way. "Not a bad first outing I would say. What do the rest of you think?" Starbolt faces Black Orchid and says while extending his right hand, "Nice to meet you Black Orchid, my name is Starbolt." If he can provide any information to Det. Broyko he will. If the Det. needs him to assist with the Dr. he would be interested in helping out as well.

OOC: I agree with Jeff.Great issue and cover.I am really enjoying this group.Thanks to all my teammates and our G.M. To the other teams I like reading your exploits as well.Keep up the good work.

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Manta Lad reply

OOC: Thanks Tom. I know it probably sounds stupid.

IC:

Nodding dumbly at the Black Orchid, Manta Lad blushed safely under his mask.

...

When Starbolt and Manta Lad bumped knuckles, Manta Lad wiggled his fingers on the withdrawal, and his mouth made a sound approximating Starbolt's energy blasts: "Za-kow!"

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IC: Emerald Dragon will look to secure the scene and make sure the captured Crushers are in police custody. He looks at the hole in the wall that he sent Mammoth through and lets out a low whistle. He knows it is going to be a pain to get that patched up. He also looks to pick up any debris inside and outside the building.

OOC: My apologies, some personal life stuff going on. Here is his plan. Basically he is on cleanup and security and will keep an ear open for what his teammates may be speaking with the police about.

Jan

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Did Detective Broyko come in or did we go out to him?

Either way, The Black Orchid will heartily agree to track down the latest problem. "What do we need to do? I'd like to redeem to myself for letting Professor Cold get away."

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