Issue 94: The Soviet Super Soldiers!

The Lost Lands, Antarctica! Morning. The mysterious Temple in the Swamp.

Within a swamp, before an otherworldly, humming, stone temple, Vanguard stood face to face against the Soviet Super Soldiers!

Siberian commanded in fluent English: “Halt! This place is the possession of the Soviet Union! You have no jurisdiction here! You are ordered to come with us! Now!”

Sentinel thought: “Possession … jurisdiction … you have no rights to either of those things here! Who are you to order us?” But he heard Symbiote begin to speak first, and held his tongue.

Symbiote looked at the potential enemies before him. He knew these people were heroes in their own homeland, and that Clone--or at least some version of Clone--had fought alongside Vanguard under the streets of Big City. He had to at least try to reason with them.
"Siberian, we aren't here to cause trouble," he says. "We have an injured teammate--Nanite, Clone knows of her--and we have reason to believe that the means to help her is here."

“Clone knows of her?!” repeated Siberian, while looking at Clone.
Clone was stunned and silent.

The Duplicating Diplomat continued. "Your country and ours are signitors to the Antarctic Treaties, which dictate that this continent is neutral territory, owned by nobody and to be set aside as a natural preserve and for scientific research. We came here in the spirit of scientific and medical research, and we have no interest in interfering with whatever reasons bring you here."
He eyed the eight Soviets in front of him. "If you'd like to assist us, we'd appreciate it. Otherwise, we respectfully ask that you stand aside. We'll find what we need and get out of your way."

Mother Russia, Clone and Siberian spoke to each other in Russian.

Symbiote spoke to Accelerator, but was really signaling Slingshot to use the same tactic as “last time” against Accelerator.

Soldier watched the Soviets closely and noticed something. Their team was divided. Their body language betrayed a split in their forces. Mother Russia, Accelerator and Clone formed one faction. Siberian, Polar Bear and Cosmonaut the other. Echo was neutral or pensive and Shatter did not possess anything that could be called body language.
The sharp-eyed veteran had seemed similar divisions in combat troops and the results could be deadly.

Siberian broke off discussions with his team mates and barked orders savagely in Russian. The intent was unmistakable! Soldier yelled, “Ambush! Take cover!” and the battle was joined!

Accelerator hurtled around the area, nimbly leaping over swampy ground, gaining speed as he chuckled to himself. Then he stopped on a dime in front of Sentinel. “Hold that pose, kid,” Accelerator said as he touched Sentinel’s solid energy shield. ZOOOOooooM! Impossibly, Sentinel flew off at incredible speeds across the swamp. Accelerator’s previous momentum was somehow transferred to Sentinel with just a touch! He crashed against an ancient prehistoric tree trunk with a crash! The sinister speedster smirked. “Get’s ‘em everytime!” (OOC: 16 points of damage. All to shields.)

Symbiote, who had duplicated the powers of the black-feathered bird man, used his new-gotten speed and wings to fly directly at Clone! Symbiote picked him up, not harming him, and started flying straight up! They were soon out of earshot of Vanguard and the S.S.S.!*
"Clone, you know me--we've shared the same powers," Symbiote said, trying to reason with the Replicating Russian. "You also know Nanite. I'm glad you're alive, but a fight between our teams accomplishes nothing. Help me stop this!"

Clone snarled: “Stupid! Reckless! Amerikanski Cow-Boy! You have no thought what it is that you have just been doing! Now you must trust me now… regardless of what it is that I must be doing!”
With that, Clone began duplicating himself! Soon there were five of him, all hanging onto Symbiote, the original Clone or another Clone! Their combined weight surpassed Symbiote’s carrying capacity and the super-scientific superhero was plummeting out of the sky, with all the Clones falling with him!

Talon said to Mother Russia: “Hey good lookin'. Whatdya say we go some place private? We can build a little love nest in this tropical paradise, and spend some time getting to know each other.” Adam took a non-threatening posture with a smile on his face, and his gaze fixed on Mother Russia as if waiting for her to reply. Then the lethal lovebird hurtled straight up 100’ to observe the melee and their Soviet opponents through the thick jungle foliage. If any of Vanguard was in a very tight spot, he would aid them. On his ascent he stealthily tossed his communicator, and Lightning Strike, behind the S.S.S.!**

Soldier, likewise, chose to observe before acting!

Avatar chose to manifest the powers of the Olympian Hestia! The air crackled with energy and from it materialized a circular Greek shield of mystical glowing light! (Power cost of 25! Another -4 to be hit)
The wind caught his cape and Avatar reminded one of legendary Hercules, Theseus or Achilles!

Forester said, “Isn’t anyone going to attack these guys?!” The troublemaking troubleshooter fired an arrow at Cosmonaut! Thoooo! Spat! It hit, releasing a powerful corrosive that began eating away at his technological exoskeleton! “The Soviet space program has always been sooooo second rate,” he grinned.

Lightning Strike, as if in answer to Forester, suddenly appeared in a burst of electricity pouring from Talon’s discarded communicator! SHAKOOOM! When the smoke cleared, the dark defender stood behind the Soviet Super Soldiers and quickly fired upon their leader, Siberian! SKAKOW! A direct hit in his back! The communist comrade of cold was hurt but still conscious!

Siberian cursed savagely in Russian and then moved into English, “…sneaking, untrustworthy, American criminal!” As he chanted his litany of curses the air around him crystallized until Siberian was covered in ice armor! Zing! He flanked Strike, careful not to turn his back on the other Americans and fired at Lightning Strike! White ice propelled from his hands, hitting Lightning Strike! SHWOOOSH!
(19 points of damage! 6 from Power Points! 13 from Hit Points!) Lightning Strike was encased alive in a block of ice! Immobilized by its weight, he would continue to take damage from the frigid cold!

Soldier couldn’t try to block Siberian’s attack as Lightning Strike was on the other side of the battlefield!

Talon, however, swooped down to the ground and began hacking away at the ice block with his savage claws to free his teammate! Hack! Krack! Scrape! Zak! And Lightning Strike was freed from the ice!

Mother Russia saw her chance. Throwing Talon’s words back at him, she purred, “Very well, lovebird. But I warn you. I can be a rough lover.” The smiling soviet strongwoman closed on Talon and socked him right in the jaw! BOOM! (19 points of damage! Rolls with 7 and takes 12 off Hit points!) Talon was knocked back 40 feet! Mother Russia was a very experienced combatant. And strong. Very strong.
She laughed. Not in mockery or derision. But in joy. “It has been too long, comrades!”

Polar Bear pounced forward, growling! The massive man-beast came at Avatar with speed unexpected for his size! Theseus and the Minotaur, John thought for a second. Then the Bear slashed ferociously with his claws and KTANG! The mystical shield of Hestia staved them off! The demigod of destiny felt the air grow colder - his breath formed white mist - and he knew that this opponent was also very experienced.

Cosmonaut, his armor slowly dissolving open, turned on the vicious vandal that defaced his life’s work. His steel gauntlet pointed at the amazing archer. KZZAK!! Red energy burst forward at the most human of Vanguard’s number! BZZAKK!!! The beam impacted directly upon…

Soldier! The patriotic powerhouse had leapt between Cosmonaut and Forester, taking the energy weapon’s blast squarely on his star spangled chest! (16 points of damage! 8 from Power points. 8 off Invulnerability. No damage to hits) The agent of America stood unharmed before Cosmonaut’s onslaught!

“Thanks, Soldier!” said Forester.

Echo took to the air – the young woman could fly! She opened her mouth and said BZZAK! And the sound of Cosmonaut’s blast roared forward, only amplified a thousand fold! This sonic blast was focused and it struck Sentinel! (15 points, all off shields!)

Sentinel ignored Echo and the combat. Seeing the temple as the true target, the beacon of liberty flew within the mysterious, dark temple whose architecture was linked to the supernatural Star Giant! Inside, its non-Euclidean space and geometry were disconcerting and vertigo inducing. His energy sense was still overwhelmed by the silent signal that came from within the temple! Sentinel pushed deeper, using his energy creations to quickly take an imprint of pictoglyphs that were not carved by human hands. A nameless dread stalked among those ancient, moldering grey stones. His stomach churning, and a cold sweat forming on his brow, Sentinel found a stone stairwell that descended into blackness.

Then something happened. Sentinel was attacked by a psionic extension of someone’s, or something’s, terrible will. He received a telepathic flash at the moment of attack (see image), and knew only that his telepathic training and defenses had warded off the attack… for now!
(Use this issue’s action to evade or reform shields to 100%?)

Meanwhile, outside the Temple of Terror…

Manetti grabbed Shelley by her wrist and pulled her away from the cataclysmic combat. The two took shelter behind a fallen tree trunk and unholstered their CHESS energy pistols (both Evade!).

Slingshot flattened his form as he leapt into the air. Morphing into a soft, spinning circular disc, he seemed like a pizza pie that had been tossed up by a chef. SPLORPH! The black pizza dough landed on Accelerator and quickly formed a ball that encased the surprised speed freak in thick, rubbery flesh!

Accelerator was still wriggling. He touched Slingshot and sent the malleable man of might flying. Slingshot heard muffled laughter. Speed + Rubber made for a wild combination. Slingshot and Accelerator were a 400 lb. ball that ricocheted around the swamp at deadly velocities! CRASH! A tree! BOOM! The temple’s stone side! SLAMM! The ground! CRUUNCH! (OOC: Slingy takes 30 points of damage! 8 off Invulnerability. 8 off power. 14 off hits! Accelerator takes kinetic damage equal to your hit point damage/2, but he cannot roll with it).
More laughter from inside: “Had enough? Wait… Dude! I’ve got the most intense déjà vu right now!”

Shatter may have been a Soviet but he wasn’t human. The disembodied shape sent out a massive wave of magnetics and scanned the entire area. Soldier felt it in his super-alloy bones, and Shatter took notice.

The Soviet Super Soldiers didn’t have the speed of Homicide for Hire, or even Vanguard. Nor were they as tactically efficient as Homicide. But their harsh, cold, unforgiving homeland had created in them deep reserves of endurance and determination. These people had experience with suffering and hardship. This battle was just beginning!

OOC: Actions everyone!

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

Current Conditions:

Avatar: Hit Points: 50, Power Points: 56, Manifestation: Hestia: Shield, -4 to be hit

Forester: Hit Points: 31, Power Points: 68, Arrows Used: Parachute, Scent, Sonic, Acid

Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 30, Power Points: 63, Freed from ice

Sentinel : Hit Points: 28, Power Points: 58, Creation Points: 116, Shields: 69%

Slingshot: Hit Points: 54, Power Points: 79, Invulnerability: 0 until Issue 96.

Soldier: Hit Points: 43, Power Points: 72, Invulnerability: 0 until Issue 96.

Symbiote: Hit Points: 78, Power Points: 95, Charges: 11, As Talon: S:20 E:27 A:24 I:25 C:13

Talon: Hit Points: 28, Power Points: 68

Clone: Hit Points: 3 each, Power Points: 46 each, Total Bodies: 5

*GM helping you guys out here, based on what Strike was trying to say before. Who sez I can’t be nice?

**Greg, This is normally illegal. You are trying a ‘move, attack, move.’ But I’ll allow it because Clone kinda wanted to be picked up by Symbiote. Man, I must be in a good mood.

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

Avatar:
Pressed by Polar Bear, John thrusts with his spear while defending as well as possible from his attacks.

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

Sentinel:
Hi Kevin.Welcome to the game!Another new player was indeed an unexpected turn of events here ...
Hi Jeff.
Any chance Kirk noticed any of the SSS starting to follow him into the temple?

On the brief 'flash image' - we have the link to the Star Giant already, couldn't help but notice all the blackness surrounding the center of the image - certainly it could have been too brief for a reaction, but did Kirk get any feelings that the 'darkness' was in any way related to or similar to the 'dark energy' he felt from Black Bat. That would be tying even more things together then he felt on his perceptions from the temple and its images and even more eerie, but since the thought crossed my mind, I'm asking.

On evading - that is only a defense against physical attacks, correct? Evading wouldn't help against a mental attack at this point, even if Kirk was 'aware' of the possibility. Two different sets of game workings, right? Just checking so I can figure which defense Kirk would use before proceeding with next actions.

Thanks.
Sentinel/Seth

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

Slingshot:
Hi Kevin! Welcome to the team.

GM, I knew the rubber ball technique would hurt, but it's a good way of neutralizing Accelerator, without (hopefully) losing one of us.
While Accelerator is "inside" me, can I "hit him" or constrict him somehow for further damage? Or holding onto him is my whole action for this coming round? Just want to know what my options are.

Stephane/Slingshot/Malleable Man of Might!

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

OOC GM Replies:
Sentinel wrote: Any chance Kirk noticed any of the SSS starting to follow him into the temple?

GM Reply: None of the SSS have gone into that lovecraftian crypt of eldritch horror,the Temple of Terror!


Sentinel wrote: ..did Kirk get any feelings that the 'darkness' was in any way related to or similar to the 'dark energy' he felt from Black Bat.

GM Reply: Sentinel did not.


Sentinel wrote: On evading - that is only a defense against physical attacks, correct?

GM Reply: I'll allow a telepath to use evasion to gird his mind and increase his defenses.


Slingshot wrote: While Accelerator is "inside" me, can I "hit him" or constrict him somehow for further damage? Or holding onto him is my whole action for this coming round? Just want to know what my options are.

GM Reply: You used your last action to "grab" him in Slingy's own style. Now that you have him, you may damage him. You have bonuses to hit him because of the situation. You also have some negatives to damage because of the situation: crushing causes less damage than punching. If you want to let him out so you can slug him, that's possible, but gives him a better chance to escape your hold.

Accelerator could use an action to try to escape (in a Strength vs. Strength contest/saving throw), or could try to keep flinging you around until you give up and let him go. If he were to evade, it wouldn't work because he's considered restrained.

Best,
Jeff

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

Symbiote:
First, welcome Kevin! We all enjoyed your interpretation of the costumes. And it looks like right off the bat you and I are going to be working closely together...either that, or beating the snot out of each other....

IC: Clone snarled: "Stupid! Reckless! Americansk! Cow-boy! You have no thought of what it is that you have just been doing! Now you must trust me now...regardless of what it is that I must be doing!"

As Clone begins replicating Hal groans, realizing the most probable explanation of what just happened. "Clone, I'm sorry if you were undercover and I tipped your hand, but Vanguard wasn't briefed about your mission. We thought you were dead!" Even as the weight begins to drag him down Hal will scan the ground--for a grove of trees, a hill, even the other side of the temple, anything out of sight of the battling teams. He pantomimes wrestling with the Cloning Communist while not making any effort to actually harm him. "Recall enough of your clones for me to land us safely over there," Symbiote says, nodding his head towards whatever spot he picks out. "I'll set us down so we can talk in private and figure out what the next move is."

OOC: If Clone complies and reabsorbs at least some of his duplicates Hal will continue to continue wrestling with him (them?) until they are out of sight of the team and then land them both. If not Hal will fight in earnest, working to kick/punch enough of the clones off of him so that he can remain airborne. If Symbiote can identify which one is the original he'll refrain from using claws on him but all the others are fair game.

Viva Vanguard,

Greg

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

Sentinel:
Kirk scanned the room around him to be sure there was no one guarding the entrance area inside. The lack of such led Kirk to believe that perhaps the SSS weren't working with the threat and were present investigating it themselves.
The psionic attack wasn't totally unexpected but still threw Kirk for a loop. He readied himself mind and body (OOC Kirk will evade with his prior action) for a further encounter with the creature. Before moving he tried to use what he had seen with the pictoglyphs and his brief encounter with the Star Giant to gird his mind and orient his thoughts to be prepared for this new creatures thought patterns. Perhaps this would help him interpret and repel anything he felt from it.
At this point, with the blackness of the mental perception emanating from the brief contact with the creature, he was beginning to think that the Star Giant, although similiar in alien design, was different from the creature he was about to encounter. He didn't think that the Star Giant would have been able to hide the palpable darkness even to his untrained mind that emanated from this creature... and he wondered about the true extent of what they stumbled upon here.
Kirk's energy flowed from him along the ground latching onto the entranceway of the temple. His plan was to attach himself to a physical path out that he could easily draw upon if he felt himself being overwhelmed mentally by this creature. He would leave a tether of energy along the path he followed into the descent so that he wouldn't be lost in the caverns, and if he felt mentally overwhelmed, he would try to draw on the energy almost in a reflexive action, borrowing a tactic from his teammate, Slingshot, and hopefully use that path and link to propel him outside of the range of the creature.
(OOC If this is unclear of what I'm describing Kirk is attempting, let me know)
Kirk couldn't help but recall his fictional hero's oath, one he believed based on the legacy of his own grandfather, "And I shall shed my light upon the dark things, for the dark things cannot stand the light..." and he flew down into the stairwell of darkness.Seth

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

Soldier:
After taking a second to recover from the blast, Soldier will look over at Forester. He's a little pissed that Forester initiated an attack, without letting his teammates know first, but he'll worry about that later. He'll ask Forester "Are you OK?"

As soon as Forester gives him the nod, he'll start trying to move around the right flank (right side) SSS, and working to close the gap between himself, and the closet member of their team. He thinks to himself "I've gotta get in closer. As long as were this far apart, they've got the advantage".

He'll to hit them from an angle, or from the rear, instead of coming at them straight on.At this point, I'm guessing he's hit by the Shatter's magnetic wave, and it will definitely catch his interest. He'll wonder, "What the hell was that?" . He'll assume it's some sort of attack by one of the SSS, unless someone can tell him otherwise. Not knowing exactly who's responsible, he'll keep his guard up. As soon as he's within HTH combat range, he'll make a HTH attack. If possible, he's try to grapple with his opponent, and restrain them. If successful, he'll yell out to either for one of them to hit the restrained SSS. Hopefully I've got enough moment to get all of this done in one turn. ;).
------------------------------------

Clone:
Symbiote says, nodding his head towards whatever spot he picks out. "I'll set us down so we can talk in private and figure out what the next move is."

Clone 1 of 5: “Please to be landing us there.” As he motions with his head at Siberian.

Clone 4 of 5: “I can't remember how this is called”

Clone 2 of 5: “You are thinking it is “Crash” comrade Clone”

Clone 3 of 5: “Da! Please to be crashing us there comrade”

Clone 5 of 5: “I am remembering, once, Peter the Great had problem like this”

Two of the clones absorb back into the others – leaving just three.

Clone 2 of 3: “If Siberian is out of . . . how do you Americans say . . .”

Clone 1 of 3: “You are thinking it is “out of way” comrade Clone”

Clone 2 of 3: “Da! Out of way . . . this fight may be ending”

Clone 3 of 3: =looking Symbiote square in the eyes= “We must to be keeping up fight comrade”

Clone 1 of 3: He begins to mumble some kind of chat in Russian that Symbiote would quickly realize as “The Lords Prayer”

Hopefully the re-absorption of two of the Clones was enough to allow Symbiote to make a controlled decent to the ground – if not more could always be absorbed. While heading to the ground the remaining Clones will keep up the illusion that they are still wrestling / fighting with Symbiote.

I have no delusions that Symbiote and I will remain unscathed from this hard landing, but if we can try to land on Siberian and knock him out we may be able to squash this little fight since he was one of the chief protagonist. Taking a little damage might also make it possible for Clone to appear as solid member of the Soviet team, regardless of what some of that teams members may be thinking after hearing Vanguards comments.

Clone is also hoping that if Symbiote and Clone can take out Siberian that he ( Clone ) might have a better chance at restoring Mother Russian as the team leader – which may help him defect – not sure though – he’s roll’n the dice a bit on this, but considering the circumstances he doesn’t feel like he has many options open to him.

Regardless of how the landing goes, Clone would want to keep up the charade that Symbiote and he are still locked in combat.

. . . and to be honest I’m not sure how to get the fighting to stop, but hopefully Clone’s new found friend Symbiote can help out with that. Taking Siberian out “by accident” is definitely a step in the right direction I think.

Talk to ya soon,
-Kev

P.S. I think we might make a pretty good team too Greg . . . just as soon as we finish beating the snot out of each other lol ;-)

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

Talon:
Hello Everyone,

I want to start by saying hello to Kevin. Glad to have you in the group, I hope you enjoy it.

OOC: Talon will take a moment to regain his senses after suffering a terrible blow from Mother Russia. He will then locate her and fly right back into the fight (BTW if anyone is available to help me with this beast I would appreciate it, because she might just kill me!).

IC: Hey, that's not the kind of love I had in mind, but I have to admit, you’re just the kind of woman I'd like to sink my claws into!

OOC: Talon will attack her with everything he's got. No more playing around with this one.

OOC: I also need to thumb my nose at Greg for not telling his buddy that this woman "HULK JUMPED" away from the Vanguard in their last encounter. Thanks for the heads up, buddy! :)

Viva Vanguard,
Denny

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

Slingshot:
OOC: Slingshot will squeeze Accelerator for further damage this turn. Hopefully, it won't hurt as much as last turn.

It's Slingshot's turn to laugh, but in this shape it comes out more like a rumbling. A shallow voice emanating next to Accelerator head's says, "It might be for you, but not for me. The results are going to be the same nonetheless." Scott starts to tighten his grip on the speedster, "I'm here on a rescue mission and you're not going to be in my way. I'm ready for more, big boy, are you?"

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

Lightning Strike:
Here is Strike's action.

Since Talon spent the action freeing Strike and all he got was a sock in the jaw for it, Strike felt it was time to help him out. Strike lets off a blast of electricity at Mother Russia. "Normally I wouldn't electrocute a woman but I may have to make an exception for you."

Strike addresses the group. "A prolonged battle serves no purpose here. We are both investigating the same things. We should be working together, not beating each other up. There are other forces at work here with powers greater than ours. They are the real enemy."

Given that the Russians are vastly more experienced than us, the longer this battle goes the advantage tips to them. Our only hope is to take out their most experienced members and that might demoralize the rest.

Right on time!!!
Tony

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

Symbiote:
IC: Hal will comply with the Renegade Replicator's request, steering their (hopefully) controlled crash landing towards Siberian (hopefully more "landing" than "crash!"). Just before they hit the Cold Communist Symbiote will attempt to maneuver the Clones so they body check their opponent, and hopefully can get in a claw strike himself as well.

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

Vanguard: Issue 93: The Lost World!

Antarctica. Dawn.

Vanguard was triumphant against the Terrordactyls! But they were still stranded! No transportation, no way out, and no way to call for help!

From their aerie on the steep mountain base, they saw the impossible prehistoric valley before them was at least 150 miles in diameter. Dense tropical forests, deep canyons, pristine rivers and lakes, smoking volcanoes, and breathtaking waterfalls from dizzying plateaus, all beneath a sky of white mist.

Vanguard followed the signal into the heart of the lost lands! Talon and Symbiote flew ahead to scout, soaring above and below the rainforest canopy, carrying Forester, Soldier and the electrical form of Lightning Strike. The rest followed above the canopy atop Slingshot whose long limbs made short work of the miles.

The lost world was breathtakingly beautiful. Perhaps all the more so because of its precarious state, surrounded on all sides by a climate deadly to the valley’s inhabitants. They saw flora and fauna of another millennium. They witnessed Sauropod herds, Tyrannosaurs that hunted in packs (their skulls echoing the shapes of the Terrordactyls), dragonflies as large as eagles and plants that could devour men whole. The team’s speed protected them from curious predators.

In an hour they were nearing the signal’s source, and slowed their pace. Vanguard was beneath the thick foliage now, advancing cautiously, their scouts in the lead. The terrain was swamp-like.

Then they discovered the transmission’s source! It was an ancient stone structure that could best be described as a temple. Its size was hard to gauge because its architecture was somehow non-Euclidean!
Sentinel’s energy sense was overwhelmed by the site. Slingshot’s signal detector was off the scale!

The Vanguardians who had trembled in the shadow of the Star Giant (way back in Issue 13!) recalled the same queasy feeling of gazing upon something that was not right! The sense of dread the team felt as it entered the valley through the night of the mountains visited them again, abated only by Avatar’s powers.

The silent signal came from within that ageless temple. Around its open doorway were carved pictoglyphs that John could not assign to any known school of archeology. But the team could recognize shapes that evoked Star Giants. And others that could have been the terrible Squid creatures that created their former teammate, Inhuman! A low humming existed that was only noticed now.
Forester (and his Occult Studies skill) was visibly stunned.

Suddenly, before Vanguard could act, there were voices in a language that wasn’t English from the thick viridian jungle. Human figures revealed themselves. Vanguard was surprised to see the Soviet Super Soldiers, a known team of extranormals! (see image)

One of them, Siberian, shouted to Vanguard: “Halt!”



The existence of extranormals in this universe has changed its history in many ways. The Berlin Wall did not come down. Before the 1980’s, superbeings became the new nuclear weapons of the Cold War, weapons far cheaper to maintain and deploy. CHESS knew the Soviets had a robust internal program to locate and “recruit” extranormals within their empire. Thus, the Soviets were triumphant in Afghanistan, thanks to the Soviet Super Soldiers and Vladimir Putin, the Iron Tsar who rules the U.S.S.R.

Vanguard had read the CHESS Files on the Soviet Super Soldiers as part of their general training:

Mother Russia was recognized by Vanguard. Just escaped from 20 years at CHESS Castle, her powers are known: Immense strength, seemingly impervious to physical harm. Due to her intelligence and experience, she had been the Super Soldier’s leader before her imprisonment. It is unknown if she has been reinstated.

Siberian was the leader for the decades of Mother Russia’s absence. CHESS records reported this 20+ year member of the Soldiers to be ruthless and dangerously intelligent. He commands cold and ice!

Clone! Vanguard was shocked to see this former member of Vanguard that had been assumed dead! The Clone they knew wore a green costume very similar to this man’s red design. Vanguard had been briefed that Clone had defected from the Soviet Union, and that he had the power to make duplicates of himself!

Polar Bear! This large Russian mutant had been a member of the Freedom Force in the 1980’s after he defected! He possessed great strength and mass, deadly claws and senses as keen as his namesake. He appears to have mutated again since returning to his homeland, becoming more bear-like!

Accelerator! His presence here was unexpected! The viceroy of velocity was part of the CHESS Castle jailbreak as well. His powers involved the control of velocity and speed! How did he get here?!

Cosmonaut was a rumored to be a wonder of modern of Soviet science and engineering. His protective uniform could withstand outer space, and was reportedly arrayed with advanced weaponry!

Echo was a new and unknown entity.

Shatter was an enigma to CHESS. US spies reported only that it was a normal man who survived an accident at an engineering lab.

Vanguard knew of two more: Hammer and Sickle, energy-wielding siblings, who were not present.

Siberian commanded in fluent English: “Halt! This place is the possession of the Soviet Union! You have no jurisdiction here! You are ordered to come with us! Now!”

To be continued!



OOC: Actions?!

Rest has restored everyone’s power points. Talon has a minor wound and Symbiote has expended 3 charges so far. The Vanguard communicator that holds Lightning Strike is “on,” allowing Strike to hear everything that’s transpired.

Best,
Jeff

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

Private message from the GM to Clone:
Special Soviet Supplemental Story!

Citizens rejoice! The Soviet Super Soldiers are the heroes of the people! They are:

Mother Russia! Just escaped from 20 years at CHESS Castle, she is a martyr to the revolution, returned at last from the capitalist imperialist oppressors! She possesses immense strength and imperviousness to physical harm. Due to her intelligence, charisma and experience, she had been the Super Soldier’s leader before her cruel imprisonment. It is unknown if she will be reinstated as leader. But her new gotten freedom is a cause of happiness to all citizens!

Siberian! The leader of the Soviet Super Soldiers since Mother Russia’s absence. This veteran member who commands the powers of ice and cold is a brilliant and brave hero of the people! But Clone has noticed tension between him and the returned Mother Russia. Clone! The human collective!

Polar Bear! This large Russian mutant had been a member of the Freedom Force in the 1980’s after he defected! He has since returned and is a citizen in good standing once more! He possesses great strength and mass, deadly claws and senses as keen as his namesake. He is gruff, aloof and doesn’t wish to discuss his past in America.

Accelerator! An American defector who Mother Russia brought back with her from the capitalist gulags. His powers involve the control of velocity and speed! But Clone finds him spoiled, lazy and selfish, no doubt due to his decadent upbringing. Accelerator stays close to Mother Russia.

Cosmonaut! A wonder of modern of Soviet science and engineering. His protective uniform can withstand outer space, and is reportedly arrayed with advanced weaponry! Clone hasn’t had much contact with him, as Cosmonaut spends the majority of his free time in the lab.

Echo! A young woman with the ability to generate powerful sound waves. But she needs sound waves to do it, hence her name. She was recruited in the same recent wave that brought Clone to the team.

Shatter was once a normal man who volunteered to be transformed by Soviet science into an amazingly powerful hero! He is intangible and has power over the field that holds things together, as best as Clone is able to understand it.

The team was sent to Antarctica on a critical mission! Heroic spies for the revolution discovered that America was invading Antarctica with their superlackeys: Vanguard! Their plan was to exploit the resources there, including a scientific anomaly: a signal of some kind that was occurring in all computer technology and seemed to be based in Antarctica!

The Soviet Super Soldiers landed their jet deep inland and made their way through an icy mountain pass to discover an unexpected wonder: a tropical valley nestled within the mountains! Shrouded in mist and heat from hot water springs and lakes, the 150 mile diameter valley was lush with life from a bygone age. Dinosaurs roamed there! Real, living dinosaurs!

Then Shatter detected the Americans’ jet while it was still miles away. After a heated discussion between Siberian and Mother Russia, Siberian ordered Shatter to destroy it from a distance of miles. His powers were seemingly without range! The team entered the prehistoric valley, tracking the signal source via Cosmonaut’s sensors.

On foot, progress was slow. The dinosaurs were a deadly threat to be avoided. Then they found the source of the mysterious signal ! It was an ancient stone structure set within a swamp that could best be described as a temple! Its size was indistinct because its architecture was somehow non-Euclidean!

Cosmonaut’s sensors were overwhelmed by the site.
A queasy feeling of gazing upon something that was not right! A sense of palpable dread.

The silent signal came from within that ageless temple. Around its open doorway were carved pictoglyphs. A humming existed that was only noticed now.

The Super Soldiers withdrew to plan their next steps. Echo, on watch from the air, spied something approaching: It was Vanguard. They had survived the destruction of their craft and now flew toward them!

The Soviet Super Soldiers prepared to ambush them. But another dispute erupted between Mother Russia and Siberian. Siberian wanted to ambush them, take them captive and question them.
Mother Russia wanted to let them enter the unsettling temple as the S.S.S.’s stalking horse!
Siberian won again, but not before their argument gave away their position!

The Super Soldiers revealed themselves to Vanguard! Clone had been carefully briefed on their known abilities:
-Sentinel could form energy and bend it to whatever shape he desired!
-Lightning Strike had power over electricity and either the ability to turn invisible or to teleport!
-Forester was an archer with an assortment of high tech arrow-devices!
-Slingshot was a large rubbery strong man who could stretch his shape!
-Symbiote was reportedly able to simulate another extranormal’s superpowers with a touch!
-One could have been Kairos, a lucky and skilled fighter, except he wore a helmet (ooc: Avatar!)

There were four others with them Clone did not recognize!
-A fierce black feathered bird man (ooc: Talon!)
-A big man whose red, white and blue costume served as propaganda for the US (ooc: Soldier!)
-Two people in CHESS agent field uniforms. Clone knew CHESS was an evil organization that brainwashed superbeings in the West to enslave them to the government! (ooc: Manetti & Harper!)

Siberian commanded Vanguard in fluent English: “Halt! This place is the possession of the Soviet Union! You have no jurisdiction here! You are ordered to come with us! Now!”

Clone didn’t think that Vanguard would surrender, base villains that they were!

OOC: Actions!

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

Clone:
IF a dialogue is possible . . .

Well I would imagine the first thought running through Clone’s mind would be “This might be my opportunity to finally defect, but how can
I pull this off without letting the others ( The Soviets ) know that
I’m doing that? If they discover that I’ve defected my family may become endangered.” I would imagine that he would also be looking for signs that these Westerners could be trusted with helping him defect safely and secretively so that his family wouldn’t get any of the backlash from it. Also – he might be looking for ways to exploit the growing conflict between Siberian and Mother Russia.

If a dialogue were to break out between the Americans and the Soviets he would try to take Mother Russia’s side in it all and possibly suggest to her that they ( the Soviets ) tell the Americans that they wouldn’t be opposed to a “join operation – to the mutual benefit of both parties” – essentially slipping Mother Russia’s original plan of a “stalking horse” into the plan. Not only would this allow Clone a chance to see some of the unknown Westerners in action, but it might provide him the opportunity to speak with them and “feel them out”.

IF a fight breaks out . . .

If combat were to break out I would image that he would split himself into 2 or 3 Clones and attempt to engage Soldier – simply because he looks so “Yankee doodle dandy,” Clone might see this as the man he might want to develop some kind of rapport with if he is to successfully defect. If he does have to confront him he would only try to wrestle him and not actually try to injure him, but hamming it up a bit so that the other Soviets wouldn’t think Clone was going easy on him. Possible capture and “feeling out this American” would probably be the driving force behind his attack(s).

Regardless of which way the situation turns I would image Clone would be paying close attentions to everyone in involved at the encounter.
This whole situation could go from a blessing to a curse in the blink of an eye if Clone doesn't play his cards right.

Talk To You Soon,
-Kev

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

Symbiote:
OOC: Doubt this works, but in the spirit of "Cyclops tried reasoning with Alpha Flight first," I'm for trying a little diplomacy.

IC: Hal looked at the potential enemies before him. He knew these people were heroes in their own homeland, and that Clone--or at least some version of Clone--had fought alongside Vanguard under the streets of Big City. He had to at least try to reason with them.

Assuming nobody else acts first or steps forward, Symbiote does so...

"Siberian, we aren't here to cause trouble," he says. "We have an injured teammate--Nanite, Clone knows of her--and we have reason to believe that the means to help her is here." The Duplicating Diplomat continues. "Your country and ours are signitors to the Antarctic Treaties, which dictate that this continent is neutral territory, owned by nobody and to be set aside as a natural preserve and for scientific research. We came here in the spirit of scientific and medical research, and we have no interest in interfering with whatever reasons bring you here."

He eyes the eight Soviets in front of him. "If you'd like to assist us, we'd appreciate it. Otherwise, we respectfully ask that you stand aside. We'll find what we need and get out of your way."

OOC: When this almost invariably doesn't work and an attack begins, Hal will fly at Clone, picking him up and flying straight up with him if possible (though specifically not using his claws against him)...

IC: "Clone, you know me--we've shared the same powers," Hal says, trying to reason with the Replicating Russian. "You also know Nanite. I'm glad you're alive, but a fight between our teams accomplishes nothing. Help me stop this."

OOC: In the meantime, by flying straight up and gaining as much altitude as possible, Symbiote hopes that any duplicates that split off from Clone will simply fall to the ground and dissolve.

Viva Vanguard,

Greg

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

Talon:
IC: To Group - Hey, looks like we stumbled into a party! What are we waiting for? Let's partner up and have a little fun! I don't know about you guys, but I've got dibs on the cute blonde.

IC: To Mother Russia - Hey good lookin'. Whatdya say we go some place private? We can build a little love nest in this tropical paradise, and spend some time getting to know each other.

Adam takes a non-threatening posture with a smile on his face, and his gaze fixed on Mother Russia as if waiting for her to reply.

OC: If the Russian Super Soldiers make any attempt to attack, Talon will fly about 100' into the air above them to avoid the initial melee. He will gauge their strengths and see what their plan of attack will be before taking action. At that point he will come to the aid of anyone in our group that might be in danger or help one of the other heroes attack a particularly tough opponent and bring them down.

Viva Vanguard,

Denny

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

Avatar:
Avatar will wait to see what Symbiote's attempt at communication brings (delaying his initial reaction). If it appears that communication may take us somewhere, then Avatar will activate his Oratory skill and join in with Symbiote. If combat ensues immediately, he will activate his shield as his first action and then attack anyone attacking him as a default. These actions may change as I see responses from the SSS.

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

Sentinel:
Looking at the pictoglyphs Kirk spoke, “It appears that many of our seemingly unrelated puzzle pieces actually do fit together.”

In his mind Kirk recalled the Star Giant and his experience with it that impelled him to pursue further the mental disciplines that until then he didn’t realize was part of his nature. Even at the time of his doing it, he was concerned about allying himself with this creature whose nature and intent he really didn’t know. But he reassured himself that at that moment ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ and that they needed whatever assistance they could muster to free themselves and save earth. However, Kirk’s fears regarding the Star Giant were reinforced by Grey’s comments in the debriefing as to if it was wise to let the creature go free … words that became all the more alarming after realizing they came from Swastika who was possessing Grey at that time and likely knew more about the creature than anyone else.

Kirk was raising his hand to issue forth his energies to ‘copy’ the entire surface of the pictoglyphs to reinforce his visual memory of them. He was hoping upon doing so, to shrink the image in size and maintain it with him for reference later while his current continuous construct existed, but before he could do so he heard a voice shouting.

(OOC Jeff, I’m assuming that Kirk wouldn’t get to actually do his ‘copy’ since you said ‘before Vanguard could act’. However, we did have enough time to see and comprehend portions of the pictoglyph. If you’ll allow this action during that observation moment, let me know.)

As Kirk recounted what he knew about the Soviet Super Soldiers, he thought about Shatter, and then about what happened to their Manta Craft.

As he identified Accelerator among their numbers, he thought to himself, ‘Thug for hire with no conscience. Traitor.’

As he heard Siberian’s ‘command’ Kirk caught sight of Soldier in his red, white, and blue with his star prominently and proudly displayed. All of this a symbol of freedom … freedom that Kirk himself valued and vowed he’d defend.

“Possession … jurisdiction … you have no rights to either of those things here! Who are you to order us?” he thought to himself recalling the International Treaties and getting ready to reply.

But he heard Symbiote begin to speak first, and held his tongue. Symbiote voiced what Kirk was thinking in an even more peaceful and diplomatic way than he himself would have been able to do given to whom it was being spoken and the blotch on freedom they represented.

Kirk isn’t looking for a fight here and would prefer it be avoided. Kirk is always looking to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. That being said, given what the SSS stands for he certainly doesn’t want them to feel they have any upper hand here or to give them any reason to think that they are ‘weak’.

Assuming that Symbiote’s diplomatic words have the peaceful proper effect, Kirk follows his lead looking to find out what is really going on here, all the while suspecting treachery on their part and keeping fully alert with shields up prepared for it.

Assuming that Symbiote’s diplomatic words don’t work, Kirk realizes that the melee that will follow isn’t really helping them regarding their mission or the mystery. His ac tion will be to fly forward at top speed into the temple with the idea that ‘if this is what you are preventing me from seeing’ that’s exactly where I’m going.

As he enters on full alert with his shields ready and trying to use his energy sense to decipher who or what are inside, he is prepared for an unknown attack (perhaps even the missing Hammer and Sickle) from the interior or to deal with whichever of the SSS pursues him inside. Depending on what he finds inside and/or what who follows him, he will either evade or attack whoever or whatever is threatening him. If he enters with no attacks or foes being on the inside and knows he is being pursued, he could extend his shields (as clear energy in color) back towards the entranceway to both damage them, use their own momentum against them, and knock them back out of the temple (making sure none of his teammates are following in first).

Those are some of my ideas based upon not knowing what I’ll find or what the actions or others will be …if you need me to be more specific, let me know what I know to make the decision. Also, I’m assuming that my shields are already up as we approached the area which would be logical, although you didn’t specifically state it.
Hope you had a great vacation.
Best,
Seth

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

GM Reply:
Sentinel’s shields are up, but he doesn’t have time to make an imprint of the pictoglyphs (cool idea by the way). Will he attempt it during his entry into the mysterious temple?

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

Soldier:
Soldier will wait to see what the Soviet's response is. Until then, position himself at one of their flanks, and try to gain as much info on them as possible. He'll visually scan them for any weapons, or obvious powers (armor, bionics, etc.).

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

Symbiote:
One last "if/then" scenario. If, after my little speech, the SSS attacks first I'll do the aforementioned pick-up-Clone-and-fly-off action. If Siberian (or any of the team) talks first, however, but makes it clear that they still intend to take us prisoner ("Your words mean nothing, Capitalist Pig! Hand over any weapons and follow us to your cells!") Hal will say the following...

(IC): Symbiote looks at Accelerator and sighs. "Too bad. If we could have come to peaceful terms this could have been a new start for some of you who have criminal records on American soil, like Accelerator over there," he says. "Accelerator, it feels like we've met before--in another place, another time. Are you getting that feeling too, Slingshot?" Hal looks at the Vulcanized Vigilante. "Doesn't it feel like we ran across Accelerator before, back at CHESS Castle? Got all wrapped up in the meeting?" he says, hoping Scott remembers the tactic Hal used against the Velocity Villain in the alternate vision they all shared of the CHESS Castle jailbreak, when Hal was using Scott's powers.

Then Symbiote flies at Clone....
(/IC):

Again, this is only if it's clear the Soviets still intend to take us prisoner. If they're willing to talk or continue negotiations Hal will not attack or say any of the above.

Viva Vanguard,
Greg

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

Sentinel:
If Kirk had time to grab the pictoglyphs 'template' during entry he'd go for it. Thanks.

Seth

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

Soldier:
If they don't attack, Soldier will try to maneuver himself where he can watch the entire group of Soviets. He'll let the more senior members of the team initiate any conversation, and listen carefully to what's said, while keeping his guard up.

If they attack, he'll yell "Ambush, take cover!". He'll try to dodge any attack directed at him, unless he sees one of other Sentinels is caught off guard by there assault. In which case, he'll try to place himself between them, and the attacker, using his body to take the brunt of the attack. He'll move to engage the closest ground target in HTH combat.

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

Lightning Strike:
Strike will stay in the device until combat starts and then attack the nearest unsuspecting ruskie!!

take care all,
Tony

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

Slingshot:
Sorry for the lateness. I'm just not on the ball as I usually am (eh). I'll also forgo too much talking as it's late in the game.

I'll follow along with parlay and if it comes to fighting, Slingshot will take on Accelerator (use the wraparound technique originally used by Symbiote).

Stephane.

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

Clone:
To be true to my characters background story and personality, etc. – I would have to say that I would be very shocked and upset by Vanguard’s reaction to me. It’s obvious to me (Clone), that the team had met up with the duplicate I had defect all those years ago, but to “out me” like that in front of all The Super Soviets? Clone would be thinking that not only is his safety and well being now in danger, but most likely that of his family as well. As far as I remember –
The Soviet Union never treated would be defectors well and their families usually caught some of the backlash as well.

Although he would still want to defect – he now has to do some “damage control” and save face with his team. He would be thinking that Siberian has to be taken out of the picture some how.

He would definitely want to work on broadening the gap between Mother Russia and Siberian, and slowly begin to show increasing amounts of support for her as the group’s leader.

So with all that said – shocked that the Americans would put him and his family in danger, he would need to think quick if was going to re-convince his team mates that he was a loyal and trustworthy citizen of The Soviet Union.

This would be his response to Symbiote:

“Stupid! Reckless! Amerikanski Cow-Boy! You have no thought what it is that you have just been doing! Now you must trust me now . . . regardless of what it is that I must be doing!”

With that he would begin to replicate himself and have the duplicates grab hold of Symbiote and begin to swarm him – swarming him in hopes that their combined weight would eventually overcome Symbiote’s carrying capacity and slowly force him to land. If we were about to crash I’m sure Clone would begin to re-absorb duplicates one at a time to slow his decent a bit.

Clones is unfortunately going to have to “lump up” Symbiote a bit sadly to say – just to make it look good in front of the Soviets. He can’t have the Soviets thinking he is a defector or that he had a duplicate of himself defect.

This is a very sticky situation that the Vanguard team has put Clone in.

OOC: I have to say - I'm really enjoying this - this is a lot of fun - thanks again for letting me join the game.

Talk to you soon,
-Kev

Issue 92: Attack of the Terrordactyls!

Antarctica. The Valley of Mists. Dawn.

Looking to solve the mystery of Nanite’s lifeless condition, Vanguard tracked an enigmatic signal to the bottom of the world where their ship was destroyed by an unknown force! Stranded, without transport or communications, Vanguard discovered a tropical valley lost in time and populated by dinosaurs!
Hungry dinosaurs.

SKKKRRRAAAAAAAA! A flock of Pterodactyl things cut through the air at Vanguard like ravenous eagles descending on rabbits!
They were terrifyingly fast. Mouths filled with razor sharp teeth. The knife-like fins protruding from the backs of their skulls seemed rounder, more bulbous than they were supposed to be (like the skulls of H.R. Giger’s Alien). The large brain case belied their intellect. These raptors were highly organized pack hunters! And big. Muscular. 30 foot wingspan. Sickle shaped razor claw on their wing finger.
None of this was right.
These weren’t Pteranodons! They were what Pteranodons would have evolved into had they survived the last 65 million years! (Imagine the Velociraptors of Jurassic Park crossed with Pterodactyls!)
Over a dozen of the deadly flying predators screamed down on top of Vanguard!

Talon yelled to Symbiote, "Hey, if you’re interested in trying to copy my powers, now might be the time to try. I'm gonna show these overgrown buzzards what aerial combat is all about!" The avian antihero waited for Hal to act!

Soldier also held his action, watching and waiting!

Forester expertly fired a Scent Arrow at one of the Mesozoic monstrosities in the center of the flock! Fwoooosh! Paff! It hit, releasing a powerful musk odor, designed to lure predators! Two neighboring Terrordactyls immediately attacked it, sending all three spiraling down into the valley in a writhing tumble of blood and leather wings! The amazing archer said, “These Stone Age stooges aren’t so tough!”

Avatar manifested a large glowing circular shield from out of thin air! The chosen champion of Olympus scrabbled higher up the steep cliff that was the base of the mountain Vanguard had descended when they entered the valley. Higher than his teammates, John attempted to draw the creatures toward him!

The Terrordactyls laid into Vanguard in an organized attack, pinning them hard against the steep cliff!

Three deadly dinosaurs hurtled at Avatar, drawn in by his aggressive posturing. Pow! Crash! Two were deflected by Avatar’s mystical shield! The third was dodged entirely! SKRAAAAAA!

Two prehistoric predators came at Talon, attracted by his wings! One missed, but the other’s fangs tore into Talon’s flesh! Chomp! (10 points damage, 7 from Power points, 3 from hit points!) Talon needed to get airborne!

One ravenous raptor dive-bombed Soldier and tore at him with his wing finger’s curved claw! Shhrrrkk! (7 points damage, all taken from Invulnerability!) The military man of mystery was unaffected but the quarters were too close; Soldier couldn’t find an opening!

One lunged at Forester, attempting to grab him with its powerful leg talons, and missing entirely!
One Terrordactyl cut through the air at Slingshot! Its razor teeth cut deep but had no affect on his ebony, elastic epidermis! (8 points damage, all from Invulnerability)

Two ravaging reptiles bit at Sentinel, not comprehending his glowing energy shields! (-16 from shields)
One antediluvian adversary swooped down at Manetti, cutting him badly with a curved claw! SHHK!

One Mesozoic monstrosity screamed down into Symbiote, whose synthesized superpower of stretchable skin protected him from the thing’s slavering fangs! (8 points damage, all from Invulnerability)

The last leather-winged leviathan set upon Shelley! It lifted her in it powerful talons, ready to fly off with her! Shelley screamed! (imagine Fay Wray on Skull Island)

Soldier leapt to Manetti’s aid! The Terrordactyl that wounded Manetti was preparing for the kill when the patriotic powerhouse crashed into it with a speed unexpected! Targeting the thing’s eyes with his bare, armor-meshed hands, Soldier hit hard. KRAK! POW! The Terrordactyl was beaten into unconsciousness!

Symbiote prepared for the worst. In case he’d need to get airborne to help Shelley, he tagged Talon and sprouted large black wings from his back! The Harper Harness simulated these amazing abilities!

1) Animal/Plant Powers: Avian (-2 to Strength, -2 to Endurance, +3 to Agility)

a) Wings: Talon has large, black, feathered wings that are silent. Permanent +3 to Agility. Cost for winged flight is 1 Power Point per hour. Maximum speed is 172 MPH.

b) Natural Weaponry: Retractable claws on Talon’s hands give +3 to hit, and +6 to damage

c) Heightened Strength: +7

d) Heightened Endurance: +7

e) Heightened Senses: Talon has vision and hearing 3 times the human norm. Detects X 3.

Talon, having been tagged, flew directly into the Terrordactyls, trying to split them, draw attention and begin a dinosaur dogfight! (Evasion. Fyi, Talon made his save against Low Self Control and is able to evade and not “fly” into a murderous rage.)

Shelley Harper struggled in the Terrordactyl’s crushing grip. Her holstered energy pistol was trapped, like her torso, beneath the dinosaur’s claws. It flapped its 30 foot reptilian wingspan preparing to fly off!

Slingshot stretched up to get a better vantage point. Then he launched an oversized black fist at the Terrordactyl that was carrying Shelley off! KRUNCH! The pliable powerhouse’s punch broke the dinosaur! It dropped Shelley and fell lifelessly down into the valley!

Shelley hit the steep cliff side and hung on tight. “Thanks, Stretch!” she called.

Sentinel stretched his arms, motioning outward and his energy flowed forward and upward and coalesced into the form of a mighty, ferocious T-Rex! The feet of the creation formed an immediate barrier around the team protecting them. The T-Rex postured as if to attack the ongoing swarm!

The sudden arrival of a large predator sent the Terrordactyl pack reeling!

Sentinel called to Forester, "Don't know what you have in mind here, but some audio effect to go with my visual might further aid in abetting our attack!” Forester smiled and nodded.

Manetti, bleeding, scurried down the steep mountain base and pulled Shelley back up and behind the makeshift barrier of Sentinel’s T-Rex’s feet!

(next combat round!...)

Talon and Symbiote brought the battle to the sky! In a three-dimensional aerial dogfight, the twin titans chased a group of Terrordactyls over the treetops of the valley below, spinning and darting in mid air! SHRED! SHHRIK! Each used sharp claws to quickly vanquish a Velocidon!*

Soldier saw an opening and leapt up onto the back of one of the flying nightmares and spring-boarded higher up to crash a roundhouse into the eye of another, that had been distracted by the Tyrannosaur construct! CHOK! The star spangled superhero knocked the creature out cold and landed on the steep cliffside without harm!

Avatar likewise pressed into his avian attackers! The son of Olympus impaled the largest of them with his spear, running the 200 lb. dinosaur straight through! Its scream became a death rattle and John kicked the carcass from his bloodied spear and prepared for another!

The half dozen Terrordactyls remaining pulled way back in long arcs across the sky. They shrieked at each other in some form of communication as they regrouped, and reformed their line. Then, ready, they began their charge!

Slingshot didn’t wait for them to reach him. Another big fist smashed one right of the sky! KRA-POW!

Forester had been waiting with Sentinel, as he modified a sonic arrow with a mini-tool kit. He wanted its wail to be lower in pitch. The two heroes were ready and…

Sentinel animated his energy creature to simulate a roar at the Terrordactyls attack formation! RRRRRRROOOOOOAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! rumbled Forester’s modified sonic arrow as the T-Rex raised its deadly jaws and flailed its tail!

The Terrordactyls broke off their attack, scattered and flew off.

Vanguard was triumphant!
Lightning Strike appeared from the useless communicator and formed himself into human shape again. KRAKA-BOOM! The sparking superscientist looked around coolly, wondering what had just happened.
(OOC: Insert wisecrack here, somebody.)

There were few injuries, Manetti being the worst, and he would be fine in time.
But Vanguard was still stranded in this strange, lost world. No transportation, no way out, and no way to call for help!

From their aerie on the steep mountain base, they saw the lush prehistoric valley spread out before them was at least 150 miles in diameter. Dense tropical forests, deep canyons, pristine rivers and lakes, smoking volcanoes, and breathtaking waterfalls from dizzying plateaus, all beneath a sky of white mist.

The signal they tracked seemed to emanate from the center of the valley.

What now?!

OOC: Actions please, for the coming hours.
Assuming you follow the signal: Do you fly to it? Walk?
Hurry? Or explore this lost world? How fast do you want to cross the ~75 miles to the valley center?
Stay together? Divide?

And there’s always the option of not following the signal too, of course.

Thanks! And Happy Independence Day,
Jeff

*The term, Velocidon, is trademarked by Greg

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

Slingshot:
I'm a glider. I can likely pick up most of you and glide to a fair distance before having to touch down. It still has us vulnerable to terrordactyls, but I"m not sure that I'm interested in traveling 75 miles on foot, especially with Manetti being fairly hurt.
I'm sure that with Sentinel possibly having everyone in a bubble used as a levitation mechanism while I glide the whole thing as far as possible, we could reach a fairly long distance..
We could wait for Sentinel to catch his breath if he's exhausted (i.e. recuperate some power points)

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

Avatar:
Well, gentlemen...I'm thinking that Talon and Symbiote should go scouting with Lightning Strike riding along in a piece of electronics as a back-up if needed in combat or to drop into some enemy system if one is found.

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

Talon:
I was thinking the same thing. If everyone involved is willing.

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

Forester:
"Talon, Symbiote and Lightning Strike?" said Forester.
"Aren't you forgetting the team's original scout?" smiled the amiable archer.

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

Symbiote:
Agreed. Can Sentinel or Strike give us a "dead reckoning" of the direction to fly for the source of the signal?

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

GM:
Yup. They, as well as the tracker device Slingshot made, can.

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

Symbiote:
Forester, true enough...

IC: "Good point, you might be able to see things even Talon and I won't. If you're willing to be carried I'll take you, Talon can carry the communicator with 'Strike," Hal says.

Symbiote turns to Shelly. "Stay behind something--anything," he urges her. "And have that blaster ready. Remember what Dad taught us about guns: At least three shots, center mass, and if you're glad it was the other guy instead of you don't waste time on remorse, just buy yourself a donut at the end of your shift."

Hal then spreads his wings, giving a few tentative flaps, looking them over with appreciation. He turns to Talon. "These things are great," he says to the Feathered Fighter, indicating a wing with his thumb. "You should try to relax and enjoy them more."

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

Talon:
OOC: What time of day is it?

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

Soldier:
OOC: How fast can we travel, and how are we stocked for food and water?

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

Sentinel:
Kirk can carry non-flyers to the center in a little over an hour. Given we've already just begun to see the dangers here from the 'natural' environment and have yet to encounter the real 'enemy' he would be against breaking up the team. He would again suggest perhaps moving in two groups toward the center, but staying within visual range of each group. The half hour to forty-five minutes quicker Talon and crew could get there doesn't seem to be a big enough different to warrant splitting forces in his opinion.

Once we get towards the center and see what we find, at that point it may be prudent to have some of the team scout ahead for intelligence while others stay behind, or have groups scout out from different angles (some aerial, some ground, etc).

Also, please advise as to whether communicators work within the valley. Kirk is hoping that the magnetic disruption of communications (if that is what caused it) might not be present within the valley. Also, if the team leans towards splitting into two here, at least we'd still have contact between the two teams (if this is so, Kirk would still advise against splitting the team but would feel better about it).

Kirk shows personal interest with Manetti and Shelly to be sure they aren't too shaken after the attack and assists Manetti with first aid (although he lets teammates more versed in first aid take the lead if come to assist).

Kirk would cooperate with the team regarding any assistance in navigating toward the source, although at this distance he'd think that Slingshot's device has a better range and is thus currently more accurate than either his or Strike's powers.
Seth

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

GM:
-It is dawn, 4:30am in the land of the midnight sun.

-You have food and water for 4 days, recovered from the wreckage of the Manta Craft.
And you can see unusual, fruit-bearing trees from your vantage point as well as freshwater streams and lakes formed by snow runoff from the mighty, surrounding peaks!

-Your ground speed will be affected by the thick vegetation in areas.
But Talon can fly at over 170mph. Symbiote too. Avatar can also increase his personal speed.
Sentinel can create an energy construct that can fly the entire team at 55 mph.
Slingshot can actually carry the team and walk with long, Stilt Man-like legs over great distances at an equivalent of up to ~100 mph! Symbiote too, if need be.

-Communications are still out due to the local magnetic disturbance.

GM Question:
If you fly: are you flying over or under the rainforest canopy? It ranges from 20- 40 feet high, and will cover approximately half of your journey.
Best,Jeff

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

Slingshot:
Like I said, I'm more than happy to carry the team (I hadn't realized I was able to make quite that much mileage on foot) to destination with the flyers as scouts. (I'd probably appreciate recon on the ground floor or near it).
Slingshot/Stephane

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

Sentinel:
With Slingy's speed being double Kirk's this sounds much better. Kirk can make a construct for safe passage for non-flyers and for himself (slow-poke flyer) for Slingy to carry more conveniently and safely, and this way we don't split our forces and lose contact.It would seem at this speed we might be able to just speed past any further predator attacks also without being sidetracked.
Seth

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

Symbiote:
So if I understand it correctly Slingy will carry the bulk of the group while Talon and I and our passengers scout slightly ahead. As to the question of above the canopy or below...seems like it wouldn't make much difference. If above, enemies could shoot up out of the folieage at us. If below, they could drop down from the branches. What Harold, Denny and I called a "red button" decision back in the day. Gonna press the red button on the wand or not? You could be equally screwed either way. With this in mind I suggest we weave in and out, above and below, if possible.

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

Sentinel:
Works for me if it works for the rest of the crew. Hopefully you guys spot whatever it is we are looking for prior to them noticing us and perhaps we can 'control' the terms of the initial encounter.Seth

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

Lightning Strike:
This works for me as well. Strike will pop out of the communicator, get a quick update on the situation and then pop back in. He is not big on small talk.

Tony

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

Shelley:
Symbiote turns to Shelly. "Stay behind something--anything," he urges her.

The center of Shelley's brow came down. She was about to spit an icy retort when Hal continued: "And have that blaster ready. Remember what Dad taught us about guns: At least three shots, center mass, and if you're glad it was the other guy instead of you don't waste time on remorse, just buy yourself a donut at the end of your shift."

"All right," Shelley said. "Thanks. Look, I'm starting to think the only way this is going to work is if you stop treating me like your little sister and start treating me like you do other CHESS personnel. Do you think you can do that?"

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

Symbiote:
Hal's face grows solemn. He turns away from her and walks to Forester, getting a firm grip underneath his arms, preparing to carry him off for the scouting mission. He turns his head back to Shelly, grinning. "Probably not," he says, giving her a wink as he and Forester lift off.

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

Slingshot:
To sum up: Everyone carried by moi while I run at 100MPH, the fast flyers do recon and alert us at of any impending doom, everyone else, just enjoy the ride (unless we have more unpleasantness to deal with, likely).

We should be able to make track and be able to slow down once we near whatever we are looking for.

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

Soldier:
If I can, I'll use my sensor to perform the ground recon. Just let me know if I spot anything of interest to the group. I'll also, check on the non-powered members of out little band.IC: "If anyone see's anything, respond with the 3D's...Direction (as in clock direction: 1 O'clock, 3 O'clock, etc.), description, and distance."

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