Vanguard Roll Call!

Vanguard Roll Call!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Vanguard: Issue 156: You Have The Right To Remain Silent.

Rain is said to bring good luck on a wedding day. They never said what a knockdown, drag out super villain battle brings.

[Exterior Map: Each map square is 40 feet / 8”. Characters are not in scale.]

Outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral…

Realizing that Overdrive wasn’t coming loose, Avatar pummeled him right where he was, with the strength of Ares! POW! Unable to dodge or roll with the damage, Overdrive was beaten into unconsciousness!

Without missing a beat, Avatar barked from his web prison, "Run, child! You are in terrible danger here!"

The boy froze in fear!

Jack Lantern said, “A child?” with obvious delight in his voice.

Before Jack Lantern could choose between murdering Clone or the child, Web yelled, “I said: back off!” and then - BLORF! -  the agile arachnoid covered the Halloween killer in his webbing compound, sticking him to the spot, without hitting Clone! Web dragged the unconscious Clone from Lantern’s reach.

Jack Lantern used his knife to cut into the web net. He chuckled eerily in his work. But he wasn’t free yet.

Caught in his own web, Avatar desperately sawed at the webbing with his sword, using all of his strength and the keenness of the blade that he wrought with divine skill.

Avatar and Jack Lantern were both feverishly sawing, glancing up at each other from time to time in this unlikely race and then Avatar broke free of his chrysalis cage! His sword was completely entangled now, and he relinquished it.

Jack Lantern was moments from freedom! [OOC: He damaged the web enough to require a d20 save, rather than a d100 save, but still failed his save. He’ll likely be free next issue!]

Menagerie, in the form of the Terrordactyl, surveyed the scene as he flew low through the streets,  thought-sending the locations of downed villains to Nathan Lamb. He allowed the Voice to fall to the street as he quietly banked left, using the concrete canyons to cover his approach of Web!

The shape-shifting sorcerer coordinated his attack with Avatar as he silently soared into Web’s back, his terrifying mouth opening wide to bite his prey! GRONCH!

Web was caught unaware! [OOC: No Spidey Sense, apparently. He takes all damage off hits!]

The arachnoid assassin now lay limp and unconscious in the prehistoric sky-predator’s immense jaws as it flew directly over Jack Lantern!

Sentinel had his vision back.  He saw that only the Halloween killer and Triceratops remained standing! Of them, one was free.

Triceratops pulled himself up out of the fire hydrant geyser he had just made, roared and charged Sgt. Stone, fairly blind with rage!

Sentinel saw his chance. As the Jurassic juggernaut sped up, a solid energy construct in the shape of a ramp suddenly materialized in front of Triceratops! His speed, power and rage were turned against him and Triceratops hurtled up the ramp before he knew what had happened! He hurtled through the air and into the tenth story wall of a stone skyscraper across the street! KA-RASHH!!!

As he tried to pry himself out of the wall, he lost his balance and fell to the street! - BOOM! – forming another impact crater on Fifth avenue!

Triceratops, badly hurt, tried to slowly crawl from the pit.

Sgt. Stone was waiting for him. “Stay down, junior.” THOOM! The big roundhouse punch put him down for the count. Stone smiled despite himself. “Like old times.”

[OOC: Next turn…]

Avatar quickly scooped up his young fan and sprinted him out to the expanded police line. It would prove the memory of the boy’s lifetime.

Meanwhile, Menagerie, Sentinel and Sgt. Stone closed on the remaining villain, Jack Lantern, who had stopped cutting at the web with his long knife.

Jack Lantern called after his young would-be victim, “Yes, today is your lucky day, young man. You’d do well to remember this moment.” Then he looked at the heroes that ringed him and coldly said, “I know I will.”

Then he collapsed to the ground. Moments later, he regained consciousness but seemed confused as to his whereabouts. And his voice was different. “Where am I?”

Suddenly, VROOOOOOM!  CHESS Knights flew overhead and into the Cathedral. More headed for the heroes that circled Jack Lantern. Communications were restored and the CHESS frequencies were full of shouting. One message came through loud and clear: “Vanguard attempted to assassinate the President?!!””

Moments earlier, inside the Cathedral’s basement…



 [Cathedral Basement Map: Each map square is 5 feet / 1”. Characters are in scale.]

The Clone nearest Slingshot said, “Comrade . . . it is seeming that The President is not being main target of these villains. It is seeming that main target was Nanite, and I am being most sorry comrade but I was not being able to keep her safe from all of them. She was being instantly telephoned away to somewhere by Skin of the Deep and someone I am not knowing of ... I am most sorry comrade.”

Then the darkness lifted! Skin Deep and the Luddite were gone! Zephyr was still there! And so was the Silent Killer! Two of the secret service agents were rousing. And the back stone wall was severely damaged!

Slingshot’s estranged dad and brother had pushed their way down the hall, forcing their way past one Clone, to the doorway of the chamber. “Scott, you all right?” called his dad.

Two of the Clones instinctively moved to block their access into the room in order to keep them safe from any lingering ‘bad guys’ that might still be lurking about inside.

Suddenly a secret service agent got on one knee and leveled his gun pointblank at Slingshot! “Freeze!”


Then everyone started moving and shouting at once. It was perfect bedlam.

The Silent Killer (a.k.a. Lightning Strike) dove over the heads of two Clones that guarded the nearest exit, and out of the room. He raced west down the corridor, turned south and then east and scanned the area with his electrical powers. The Luddite was gone without a trace, through the walls and beyond Strike’s range.

The teleporter Clone described left no trail that Strike could track. [OOC: The GPS on Skin Deep’s cellphone was merely a way to mark a safe target for the emerald teleporter to arrive at, without materializing into a wall. No Luck Point expended here.]

Strike transformed into electrical form and was gone! SHAKOW!

The secret service agent kept his gun pointed at Slingshot when the Silent Killer departed.

Two Clones fled the room to help the President as another Clone, fearing for his friend’s safety, placed himself between Slingshot and the government agent with his hands in the air and tried desperately to explain the situation, “Please, you are not knowing of the entire situation I am thinking. I am knowing of how this is looking, but it is not really how this is looking comrade. This is not the Slingshot you are looking, it is the other Slingshot who is not being here but is looking just like this Slingshot that is being to blame for all of this. That Slingshot is looking exactly like this Slingshot with most of same powers it is looking, but is not this Slingshot . . . please to be understanding this.”

Symbiote flew to the chamber doorway and was stunned silent by what was going on!

“Shut up! On the floor!” the agent yelled at Clone. Then at Slingshot: “Hands up! WHERE’S THE PRESIDENT?!”

The second agent was on his feet now.

Slingshot sighed and held his hands up to the agent. "No need. I understand how this looks. For the record, it was not me. It was Skin Deep impersonating me. You can request the CHESS records about her being able to take on my shape and powers. Also, for the record, they took my wife."

Slate's eyes buzzed with static as he turned to the agent, tilted his head to the right, and said, "No", and the first agent’s gun sparkled with the same static and evaporated!

Slingshot raised his voice for the first time at his progeny. "Ethan, stop that! The man is doing his job."

The disarmed agent picked up one of the other pistols, aimed it at Slate and Slingshot. “Get them up!” he barked at the second agent, who began waking the other unconscious agents.

The first agent spoke into his communication earpiece, gun still pointing. “Requesting immediate backup. Vanguard attempted to assassinate the President. We are in the Cathedral basement! Repeat: need backup now!”

Slate said: "The president is safe in another room, Clone can take you to him.  My father was not who you saw attacked you. You can read the CHESS record and determine he is telling the truth. Right now, we need him."

Slingshot turned to the agent and paused, "If you want me to go into custody, let me know. What my son says is right, looks like the president was not the target after all. It was both my wife and my son. They weren't able to run off with him. Go check on him and I'll be right here when you return."

Slingshot turned to Ethan, "Son, I'm sorry. Don't be upset. I need you to be an adult now. Get Vanguard to help clear my name and look for mother."

Turning to his father, Slate implored: "I need you to help me find her. You found Nemesis using that energy they both release, maybe we can use that to track her. You have to look, you have to try.  All those months you spent with her, when everything seemed lost.  You didn't give up then, how can you just let them take her now." 

Slate’s voice rose, "He killed her! What will he do with her now. It's so important to them that they came back not to just discredit us, but to get her.  We can't let them have her, not for a minute.  We have to go after them now."  He drops to his knees and looks up at Scott with his Mothers eyes, "We have to."

The usually jovial features of his father hardened, "I'm not giving up on her. I never will, but the problem is Caine's manipulations. I can't go out halfcocked running into Caine's Office like we did that first time. We are here today because of that moment. We can't do it that way again. We have to have evidence and ensure that we can put it all on his feet. Until then we need to do our homework."

The first agent wasn’t letting Slingshot and Slate out of his sight.

The second and third agents followed Clone to the unconscious President and three other Clones.

One Clone was kneeling beside the President, checking on him. Was he still alive? Were his wounds fatal? Was he still breathing? All these questions and more raced through Clone’s mind as he struggled to make sure the President was merely unconscious and not actually dead.

The second agent checked the President’s vitals and said, “POTUS is alive,” into his communication earpiece.

The third said to the Clones, “I need all of you to get on the floor, face down with your hands behind your backs until we know what the hell is going on here.” 

In time, the President was evacuated to the nearest hospital, with several CHESS Knights escorting him.

The wedding guests were moved upstairs and methodically processed and questioned by the Secret Service.

Rachel Ray and Clone never kissed, but when she saw several Clones at once, she asked her ‘escort,’ “Are you all the same person? I mean, do you all share one, like, mind? Or are you more like identical twins, or septuplets, where you all have different personalities, hopes, dreams, whatever?”

CHESS teams arrived and apprehended the auditioners that formed Homicide Unlimited.

Black Ice, Killshot, Chain, Inside Man, the Voice, Web, Overdrive, Dexter Sinister Jr., Jack Lantern and Triceratops were captured. The Fly appeared to be destroyed.

Catman, Black Sheep, The Silent Killer, and Damocles remained at large.

Vanguard reunited in the Cathedral, escorted by CHESS Knights and Secret Service agents.

There, Slingshot and Slate were arrested by the Secret Service. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law,” began the first agent.

The rest of Vanguard, including Sgt. Stone, Doc Rocket, Shelley and Felicity Chase, were being taken in for questioning, given their relationship to Slingshot, and their presence here during ‘his’ assassination attempt.

“Where’s Lightning Strike?” they were asked.

By the time they were marched out of the Cathedral and onto Fifth Avenue, reporters and photographers were there to capture the perp walk. News copters, government vehicles and agents, NYPD, and newly forming crowds completed the circus atmosphere.

Katherine Adams, national news reporter, spoke into a camera near them, “Wolf, we have reports there was an attempt on President Taylor’s life tonight, at the Vanguard wedding. And wait… yes, we’re now seeing Vanguard being led out, in what appears to be police custody!”

Lightning Strike observed all this from cyberspace through a traffic camera.

Unmarked vans pulled up. The secret service readied to load Vanguard into them.
Nathan Lamb, CHESS ID pinned to his jacket, stopped the first Secret Service agent. “Valk. Come on. You know this is extranormal business. Not your jurisdiction. Turn them over to CHESS. Grey is on his way to take custody,” he yelled over the street noise.

“I bet he is,” shouted Special Agent Valk.  “Not a chance. This is a Secret Service investigation. This was a Presidential assassination!”
“That’s not what Vanguard says…” Lamb replied.

“It’s what the President says!” interrupted Valk.

“…and you haven’t the facilities to hold them anyway,” Lamb tried with all the charm he could muster.

“They’re not resisting,” said Valk. “But don’t worry. MEDUSA is coming, in case they do.”

Slingshot had been framed pretty well. And Slate had attacked a Secret Service agent.

Vanguard had a long night of questioning ahead of them.

Sentinel’s Law skill told him the best they could hope for was to be back on the street in six to twelve hours.

Worst case, Slingshot and Slate would be arraigned, and bail would have to be set before they’d have a chance at freedom. Assuming bail would be set.

Sgt. Stone was reluctantly going along with all this but started looking at Vanguard when the vans pulled up.

Shelley glanced at Sentinel from the corner of her eye and, in Vanguard hand signal, asked, “Now what?”

To be continued!

OOC: Please reply to any and all of the above! I need next steps for each of you, please, which could include:

a) Take time to prove Slingshot’s innocence to the Law, which is feasible. Slingy’s on record as having fought a duplicate Slingshot a while back. But it's going to take time to untangle this mess; time Vanguard doesn't have.

b) Find Nanite immediately, which means blowing off, and angering, law enforcement until you can bring the guilty parties to justice and clear Scott's (and Vanguard's!) good name.

If you choose this path, how and when do you plan to escape custody, and how do you hope to find Nanite?

c) Anything else you guys cook up.

Thanks!


Current Conditions:

Avatar: Hit Points: 104,  Power Points: 81,  Manifestation: Hera and Ares! These are both about to expire.

Clone: Awake bodies: 11,  Hit Points: 2 each,  Power Points: 38 each, Hit Point Pool: 22, Unconscious bodies: 2.

Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 39,  Power Points: 31

Menagerie: Hit Points: 21,  Power Points: 58,  Form: I’m assuming Man at this point. Tom?

Sentinel: Hit Points: 23,  Power Points: 48, Creation Points: 96, Shields: 57, 

Slate: Hit Points: 30, Power Points: 57

Slingshot: Hit Points: 35,  Power Points: 39,  Invulnerability: 8

Symbiote: Hit Points: 29, Power Points: 63, Charges: 11, Copied: Voice

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Menagerie:
OOC: Wow! Awesome issue.

Yes, Menagerie would have turned into Man form around the time they were confronting Jack Lantern after Avatar had saved the child.

Is conversations with Director Grey considered next issue or would we be ask questions now as it would be general knowledge of the situation?

Regards

Tom

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

GM:
OOC: Thanks.

Depends on what you're doing. If you plan on waiting for Grey to show, ask questions now and I'll include answers next issue.

If your actions depend on his answers, I'll try to write his responses before next issue.

Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------

Slingshot:
[ooc]
I'm planning on staying put for the next little while. I'll do whatever is needed. I will be vocal about my innocence primarily, I won't push the being framed too much.

With the authorities, I'll be amiable and helpful, will ask about how is the search for Nan going. I'll go into all the details especially the facts around the timing regarding my coming down the stairs, knowing that people have seen me come down before just before the blackout and that the president was in the hand of the doppelganger before "I" showed up.

With the news, Scott will be short and to the point: help find Nan. If asked about the investigation, beyond the one quote below, it will be the only time that he will mention anything about himself. He will return to asking about finding Nan.

I would like to think that Felicity Chase, being the marketing goddess that she is, would jump on that and help promote the "Help Find Nan!" to further the cause of the supers. The spin is as follows: to show that supers are just like everyone else. They can suffer from the bad guys. They can be abducted, incarcerated. They are just like you and me. Help find Nan!

[/ooc]

If I get in front of cameras/news, I'll say the following:

Speaking fast, but clearly as if Scott won't get the chance to get it all out. "A mercenary task force known as Homicide for Hire has abducted my wife Nan and framed me for this. I implore you, if you have any information on her whereabouts, please contact Vanguard. I don't care what happens to me. Please help find Nan."

[ooc]I'm visualizing being walked to a truck and Scott gets a mike in front of him. He'll simply stop, say his few words and keep moving.[/ooc]

If I'm allowed special dispensation for clearing my name, great, but I assume that I won't.

[ooc] I'm willing to play this one by the rules. If that puts me on the bench for a few turns, then I will. I won't break out of anywhere. If I'm allowed to leave, then I will. At the same time, if I can post bail, then I will. If I'm not allowed to leave, then I will hope that my fellow Vanguardians will help find Nan.

I certainly wouldn't complain if I'm being detained and Slingshot starts appearing elsewhere. :)

Just sayin'

Stephane

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

Lightning Strike:
Strike will continue to probe unusual surges or decreases n the grid.  He assumes that nobody can just appear and disappear without a trace.  The police/secret service probe is clearly second to tracking down the potential killer of his wife.  Strike would never have participated in any politically motivated search (given his relative independence fomr the group)   so his dissapearance would not raise suspicion with Vanguard.  He will focus on areas where there are blackouts and brownouts  to see where the luddite may have rematerialized.

Assuming that this may take a while, Strike will also target Catman independently so that his mouth can be shut by the silent killer!!

OOC:  Strike will prepare to come up with a good reason why he wasn't there during the whole scenario.  I am hoping that good snooping will pay dividends.   

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

Sentinel:
I think you had Kirk silent last issue ... can't expect him to keep his mouth shut :) and now to make up for the silence.

After being caught up on the events he’d missed Kirk signaled Ajay, “Ajay, we need you to work some of your magic. In this digital age with all of the recording devices available we should be able to get time stamped images proving that the attack on the President by Skin Deep began while our Slingshot was still here protecting the crowds on the street. Try to compile some hard proof and forward it to anyone that can help as quickly as possible.”

Kirk couldn’t have been more impressed with Scott’s choices this day or prouder to call him friend. He wondered if their situations were reversed and if it was Shelley missing if he could make the same sensible rational choices.

When Kirk saw Scott and Slate being escorted away and the call for all Vanguard and their closest associates to surrender to the secret service it all hit him and angered him. When Shelley signaled him, his anger turned to determination and action.

With all the reporters covering the wedding it would be easy enough to get their attention. He flew towards the media and descended to the crowd as recording devices and flashes were upon him as they gathered to hear.

“We know that you all have questions as to what happened here today and why, and that there are false rumors spreading. So let’s answer your questions and set the record straight now.

First off, we’d like to thank our fellow workers, the brave men and women of the NYPD and CHESS for their heroic actions this day. And we’d like to thank each and every one of you present for your support and bravery, for cooperating with them and for keeping your heads during the attack of the super villains.

To answer those questions perhaps we first should explain why this big wedding? Certainly some of our detractors will try to use this against us stating we should have known something like this would happen. So why this big event? And the answer to that is simple.

When a couple in love choose to let the world know about their commitment, their vow to each other in marriage they choose to share their special day with those closest to them … those that support them and touch their lives and give meaning to them. For those that love them, that big day can mean almost as much to them as it does to the couple themselves. But you all know that already.

When the announcement of Nanite and Slingshot’s wedding become public, they were overwhelmed by your outpouring of love and support. And by how much each of you wanted to be a part of it. As you look around you today we see people of all walks of life and all backgrounds united together to celebrate something wonderful, something bigger than each one of us, something bigger even than Slingshot and Nanite themselves; among you are some public celebrities…

(Kirk eyes the crowd and upon seeing a supportive celebrity gives a hand motion or nod towards them – perhaps Johnny Depp (mentioned --- perhaps Robert Downy Jr or Samuel Jackson)

… and even President Taylor himself. Having already dedicated their lives to serving you and grateful for your outpouring of support they felt their choice of wedding had to be one that included all of you.

Was it worth risking something like this happening? Perhaps Benjamin Franklin said it best, “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”

Unfortunately it seems there will always be little men that seek to elevate themselves above others. These sorts of men out of greed scheme to use fear and hate to achieve their selfish ends. They tear down what others try to build up. This great nation of ours has always risen above the egos and agendas of such men. That’s why the United States remains the premiere beacon of liberty and hope to the world. And that’s why Nanite and Slingshot made their decision to share their special day with all of you … out of hope and for liberty. They refused to exclude you out of fear.

Unfortunately some did try to take advantage... they missed the spirit of this day and tried to corrupt it to their own ends. You saw a big part of it with the battle of the super villains. However that was merely a distraction from their true agenda. An assassination attempt was made on the life of President Taylor and as part of it they tried to frame Slingshot to discredit Vanguard. Fortunately Vanguard saved the life of President Taylor. Unfortunately this came at great loss to us. We are distressed to report that during the battle Nanite was captured by the enemy and her whereabouts are currently unknown. If you have any information that can assist us in her rescue, please contact us.

We are currently cooperating with the Secret Service in their protocols to thwart the final part of the plot, that of clearing Slingshot and Vanguard’s name. The attempt on the President consisted of an attack by a most-wanted felon, a super-powered shape shifter codenamed Skin Deep who had previously publically assumed the identity of Slingshot and posed as him again today. The president had been taken to a secure room under the protection of the Secret Service. With a surprise attack disguised as Slingshot she incapacitated the Secret Service and was about to take the life of President Taylor. Fortunately members of Vanguard arrived just in time to save his life. When the agents revived they found the genuine Slingshot present and the President moved to a safe location under the protection of Vanguard’s own Clone.

Certainly we can appreciate the confusion of the events and we are confident that this matter will be resolved quickly. The safety of our President is always paramount in the minds of Vanguard.

‘Mr President, sir, if you are listening, we wish you well. Vanguard will always be vigilant with regard to your safety and available at your call.’

With the safety of President Taylor secured we do appeal to those in authority to speed the process to clear Vanguard to begin the search for Nanite immediately. This was her wedding day. We cannot let it end this way. Vanguard needs your help now."

OOC Let's see if we can cut some red tape...

Best,
Seth

PS: A quick addendum that I assumed the answer would have been 'no' due to Strike's attempt but perhaps you'll say otherwise to make my next actions tougher ...

upon hearing about Harrik having a new teleporter on the crew and their actions Kirk tries to scan the area to see if he can pick up any energy trail from the teleporting effect that Kirk can follow ...

Kirk can sense energy beyond Strike's level, although what happened may have already dissipated or be beyond his range.

And Kirk communicates to Menagerie, "Any trail on the teleporter on the mystical end of things?"

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

GM:
IC: The Secret Service wants to move all of Vanguard out of here asap for questioning.

Slingy's brief plea is completed before he's asked to move along.

Sentinel flew towards the media and descended to the crowd as recording devices and flashes were upon him as they gathered to hear.

“We know that you all have questions as to what happened here today and why, and that there are false rumors spreading. So let’s answer your questions and set the record straight now.

First off, we’d like to thank our fellow workers, the brave men and women of the NYPD and CHESS for their heroic actions this day. And we’d like to thank each and every one of you present for your support and bravery, for cooperating with them and for keeping your heads during the attack of the super villains."

At that moment, Sentinel felt a hand on his shoulder. It's Special Agent Valk. "We've got to go. Now," he said unhappily with one finger on his earpiece.

OOC:
Continue? Cut short? Other?

Thanks,
Jeff

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

Sentinel:
At that moment, Sentinel felt a hand on his shoulder. It's Special Agent Valk. "We've got to go. Now," he said unhappily with one finger on his earpiece.

Kirk turns his head towards Valk checking his energy aura for foul play just in case and tunes into him telepathically to be sure there are no ulterior motives (ie no mind control, not a pawn of Caine, etc)

“This will just take a moment Agent Valk; Vanguard is giving full inter-agency cooperation and courtesy to your team and we’d ask for this moment in return.

If Valk resists, Kirk will say something along the lines, “We’ve been giving you full cooperation here, I’m sorry you don’t have the courtesy to return it.  Tell you what, I’ll follow protocol to check with our actual liaison, Agent Grey, about this. I’ll be right there (Kirk points a few feet above them) waiting to hear from him away from the noise of the crowd.  As Kirk rises, he clicks his communicator and says, “Ajay, get me Grey immediately please.”

Kirk rises high enough to be out of Valk’s reach and continues to speak.

“Agent Valk was just reminding me how important it is that we sort through these events quickly … while I’m following some protocol in that regard checking with our liason I’d like to finish my statement to you and I thought I’d be sure that everyone here can hear …”

Kirk can use a construct to amplify his voice if necessary.  Please note the adjustment in his speech towards the end.

To answer those questions perhaps we first should explain why this big wedding? Certainly some of our detractors will try to use this against us stating we should have known something like this would happen. So why this big event? And the answer to that is simple.

When a couple in love choose to let the world know about their commitment, their vow to each other in marriage they choose to share their special day with those closest to them … those that support them and touch their lives and give meaning to them. For those that love them, that big day can mean almost as much to them as it does to the couple themselves. But you all know that already.

When the announcement of Nanite and Slingshot’s wedding become public, they were overwhelmed by your outpouring of love and support. And by how much each of you wanted to be a part of it. As you look around you today we see people of all walks of life and all backgrounds united together to celebrate something wonderful, something bigger than each one of us, something bigger even than Slingshot and Nanite themselves; among you are some public celebrities…

(Kirk eyes the crowd and upon seeing a supportive celebrity gives a hand motion or nod towards them – perhaps Johnny Depp (mentioned --- perhaps Robert Downy Jr or Samuel Jackson)

… and even President Taylor himself. Having already dedicated their lives to serving you and grateful for your outpouring of support they felt their choice of wedding had to be one that included all of you.

Was it worth risking something like this happening? Perhaps Benjamin Franklin said it best, “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”

Unfortunately it seems there will always be little men that seek to elevate themselves above others. These sorts of men out of greed scheme to use fear and hate to achieve their selfish ends. They tear down what others try to build up. This great nation of ours has always risen above the egos and agendas of such men. That’s why the United States remains the premiere beacon of liberty and hope to the world. And that’s why Nanite and Slingshot made their decision to share their special day with all of you … out of hope and for liberty. They refused to exclude you out of fear.

Unfortunately some did try to take advantage... they missed the spirit of this day and tried to corrupt it to their own ends. You saw a big part of it with the battle of the super villains. However that was merely a distraction from their true agenda. An assassination attempt was made on the life of President Taylor and as part of it they tried to frame Slingshot to discredit Vanguard. Fortunately Vanguard in coordination with the Secret Service saved the life of President Taylor. Unfortunately this came at great loss to us. We are distressed to report that during the battle Nanite was captured by the enemy and her whereabouts are currently unknown. If you have any information that can assist us in her rescue, please contact us.

We are currently cooperating with the Secret Service in their protocols to thwart the final part of the plot, that of clearing Slingshot and Vanguard’s name. The attempt on the President consisted of an attack by a most-wanted felon, a super-powered shape shifter codenamed Skin Deep who had previously publically assumed the identity of Slingshot and posed as him again today. The president had been taken to a secure room under the protection of the Secret Service. With a surprise attack disguised as Slingshot Skin Deep threatened the life of President Taylor.  Members of Vanguard including the genuine Slingshot arrived to assist the Secret Service agents in saving the life of President Taylor while Clone moved the President to another secure location.

Certainly we can appreciate the confusion of the events and we are confident that this matter will be resolved quickly. The safety of our President is always paramount in the minds of Vanguard.

‘Mr President, sir, if you are listening, we wish you well. Vanguard will always be vigilant with regard to your safety and available at your call.’

With the safety of President Taylor secured we do appeal to those in authority to speed the process to clear Vanguard to begin the search for Nanite immediately. This was her wedding day. We cannot let it end this way. Vanguard needs your help now."

Once done, Kirk flies down to Valk or to the rest of Vanguard depending on the situation to cooperate.

OOC: Although in my original speech I tried to not make the Secret Service look too bad, it’s now adjusted to not make them look bad at all.  This is Kirk’s last attempt at diplomacy with Valk.  From Kirk’s standpoint, even though he resisted it, both his teammates and Grey put him up to being ‘team leader’ or ‘spokesman’.  He is responsible for his team and he is going to do what he can to protect them.  And from a government department standpoint, he is to Vanguard what Grey is to Chess and Valk is to the Secret Service in this situation.

If Valk approaches Sentinel to push this further and I would assume he will,  Kirk will reply, “Valk, We’ve shown you every courtesy here today.  Your team blew it.  We did your job.  You’re welcome.  In return you’ve allowed us to be discredited and you’re delaying our taking care of our own.  Now you can extend us the same courtesy we’ve extended you or my next press statement will fill in the details of how your team was incapacitated and unconscious within seconds leaving the president unprotected against the assault of Skin Deep.  If not for us, the President would have been dead at her hands when your team revived instead of in a safe location under the protection of Clone.  So how about cutting the red tape so we can find Nanite and those truly responsible for this attack?”

If Valk isn’t sleeping with the enemy here, I’m hoping he’s smart enough to realize Kirk did him a solid and help out or at least be impressed enough to respect his stones in standing up to him.  If Valk doesn’t approach Kirk in anger, perhaps Kirk can approach him and give the same sort of information in a more diplomatic way to try to get them released quicker.

Seth

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Symbiote:
Hal remains largely silent during the public arrest phase of this entire situation, remembering his father talk about how many perpetrators had given away any chance of avoiding jail time just by running their mouths during an arrest.  "If you're ever in a situation where the cops read you your rights, son, shut up and wait for a lawyer," Ralph had told his children.  "Even if--hell, ESPECIALLY IF--you're innocent.  Police are good people by and large, but remember, a lot of them don't think their job is to do justice.  They think their job is to arrest somebody, guilty or not."

He'll therefore wince a little when Sentinel starts making a very public statement to the crowd--until he actually hears it.  Well done, Kirk, exactly what we needed at this moment,  Hal thinks to himself.  He'll try to physically block any Secret Service agents who attempt to interrupt the speech if feasible.

Once at wherever Vanguard is to be questioned, Hal will be polite but uncooperative.  "I was outside, several hundred feet in the air, fighting The Fly and The Voice when this assault on the President occurred," Hal insists.  "I don't believe Slingshot had anything to do with it but I know I didn't, and you have both eyewitness and video proof that I was nowhere near the crime scene when the crime happened.  I will be happy to give a statement if subpoenaed at a later date, but right now I just don't have the time for it.  I'd like to leave."  He'll then start to leave.  If the police/secret service try to detain him, Hal will suddenly grab his head and begin to sway as if about to lose his balance.  "Don't feel well, all of a sudden....that ray that The Fly hit me with...he said something about a 'plague beam'....I...I think I need medical attention."

Cops are terrified of violating anybody's civil rights, and they give a lot of leeway if somebody claims they are having a medical emergency (OOC:  I've actually seen this.  One of my offenders avoided a sentencing for months by claiming he was having a heart attack every time he was subpoenaed into court) so one way or another, between weak evidence for holding him and doing an "Elizabeth, I'm comin' to join ya" routine like Fred Sanford, Hal is hoping to be released quickly....

....where he will immediately go back to Vanguard Vault and pull up his schematics/medical records on Nanite.  Hal is her attending engineer/doctor, he arguably knows her workings better than anyone.  He's hoping to find some sort of beacon signal for her, very much like the one Nemesis emitted, and track her location.  He'll enlist Doc Rocket's help for this if possible and use a luck point to do it, if possible and necessary.

Once she's located he votes we gather up whatever members of the team are free and Go.  Get.  HER!!

Viva Vanguard,
Greg

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Avatar:
Avatar was largely unaware of everything happening with Slingshot, Nanite, the President, etc. and was very publicly busy outside in the street fighting super bad-guys.  If requested, he will go along with the authorities for questioning but says nothing about anything other than what he observed on the street.  When/if Vanguard is released, he offers any of his skills or powers to aid in finding Nanite and her kidnappers.  If release is delayed overly much for any reason, he will calmly demand to be released.

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Menagerie:
IC: Menagerie will silently be led by the SS (Secret Service). As he is being moved he will talk with the rats in the basement to learn as much as he can about what happened. He will reach out to his guide and 'His Lady' for the significance of Nanite's capture. He will only answer questions if a CHESS liaison is present. He will state he has no idea what happened to Lightning Strike. It is not uncommon for him to venture off on his own and it is possible that he was a victim of today's events.

Menagerie will repeatedly tell them that Slingshot had followed them outside and fought against Homicide Unlimited. Slingshot did not go to back into the church until Menagerie told him that the POTUS was under attack by Skin Deep.

"I saw both Slingshot outside the church with us and Skin Deep inside the basement attacking the POTUS."

If the Secret Service asks how I saw them both at the same time, I will look to the CHESS liasion for permission to disclose.

"I talk to animals"

If the Secret Service asks how I told Slingshot about the attack on the POTUS, I will look to the CHESS liaison for permission to disclose.

"When I am an animal I talk to people"

If the Secret Service asks how I know it was Slingshot outside and Skin Deep attacking POTUS,  I will look to the CHESS liaison for permission to disclose.

"I have magical senses, I know the truth."

OOC: Menagerie will use all his Charisma and Intelligence to help convince the authorities to release Slingshot and Slate under the supervision of CHESS and Vanguard. Emphasizing Slingshot was a man protecting his family and country and Slate is a child who had just lost his Mother and reacted to protect his Father. While he will agree that MEDUSA would be able to hold them, Vanguard would be better at supervising them and there is still the issue of the kidnapping to resolve.  Wouldn't it be better if MEDUSA focused on the threat to National Security these kidnappers represented?

If it appears he is wasting his time he will request permission to leave. He will join the rest of Vanguard in helping to find Nanite.

Best
Tom

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Slate:
Slate allowed them to handcuff him and followed his father’s example; his body seemed to be on autopilot. In his mind he continued to play the recent events over in his mind. Static swirled around his eyes, like some kind of electrical fish continually looking for something.

Logically, he understood what his father was doing and why, but his emotions railed against that logic, demanding action.  He struggled against himself, and blocked out everything else.  He didn’t even glance at the photographers or reporters yelling his name.  At one point, Slingshot stopped and made a short plea, but that didn’t even register to Slate.

OOC: Slate will observe.  He will not answer questions or be helpful.  He feels he did the right thing by the president, and for that he lost his mother.  Basic sulking child syndrome.

Jon
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Sentinel:
OOC:

I think getting you guys back into the lab is our best bet to track Nanite.
Otherwise other possibilities are

(1) Silent Killer gets contacted - unlikely since Homicide Unlimited has served its purpose

(2) Strike picks up a lead on the street through his street sources (the rest of us don't really have them to my memory)

(3) We can try to do some internet chatter checking

If anyone has any other ideas on tracking Nanite I'm all ears... although Kirk may be taken away by MEDUSA after standing up to Valk ...

Seth

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Lightning Strike:
OOC: Damn!! Two out of three runs through me.  Tough couple of weeks for Vanguard.

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Sentinel:
OOC: Desperate time call for desperate measures ... :)

Seth

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Clone:
- Rachael Ray
    The wedding guests were moved upstairs and methodically processed    and questioned by the Secret Service. Rachel Ray and Clone never    kissed, but when she saw several Clones at once, she asked her    ‘escort,’ “Are you all the same person? I mean, do you all share one, like, mind? Or are you more like identical twins, or septuplets, where you all have different personalities, hopes, dreams, whatever?”

Clone looked a little confused by Rachael’s questions and said    matter-of-factly to her, “No, I am being all of one person no matter    how many of me there is at being.” Fearing that this might freak her out somehow; Clone continued, “ . . . but this is not to be    scariest of things, I am knowing of many things that I can be doing    for wife as a husband that can be in many places at many times.”    Before she can even react to that statement she is suddenly dragged    off to safety by a nearby security team. As she steps into a    limousine waiting close by; Clone calls out to her, “I am having    much fun on our date Rachael, please to be calling of me! I am very    happy looking forward to you meeting of my family!” As the limo door    closes, Clone places his fist to his ear with his thumb and pinky extended and mouths the words – Call – Me.

- Questioning
    The authorities would probably just get themselves frustrated and confused trying to question Clone about what happened. Between his lack of skill with the English language and his fear of government agencies anything they would get out of him would just sound something like this:
“Please comrade; as I am telling of Secret Services persons . . .  who by the way I am thinking they are not being so secret since it is that I am knowing of them . . . ( Clone then waves his hands in the air as he realizes that he is straying off topic ) . . . but as I am saying much before, you are not knowing of entire situation I    am thinking. I am knowing of how this is now looking, but it is not    really how this is now looking comrade. This is not the Slingshot you are looking for, it is other Slingshot who is not being here but is looking just like this Slingshot that is now being here to be blamed for all of this. That Slingshot is looking exactly like this    Slingshot with most of same powers it is looking I am thinking, but it is not this Slingshot . . . please to be understanding all of this comrades.”

OOC:
    Don’t feel so bad Jon, pretty meager stuff here as well. I wish I  could add more; I actually sat at my computer for about an hour or  so just re-reading the last issue and everyone’s response a couple of times, but I can’t honestly see Clone getting more involved than  what I wrote up top. I would even go so far as saying that Clone would probably either be too afraid to get too overly involved i.e. out of his fear of the government, etc. ) or because he was  advised not to get involved due to his child-like honesty and poor command of the English language – Clone would be a defense attorneys worst nightmare lol.

    Clone would of course do anything he could to help Vanguard clear the names of his friends; but as I just stated above, it would probably be behind the scenes and not out in the public eye – the last thing anyone would want is Clone getting in front of a TV camera crew lol =O

    On a side note – I could definitely see Clone in the tabloids wrapped around some kind of made up Rachael Ray scandal lol. I keep envisioning the old ‘Bat Boy and Bigfoot love child’ type stories that would appear in the Weekly World News or something lol. I would imagine that his hopes of ‘hooking up’ with her would be blown to pieces because of all the weird and negative press the ‘couple’ would receive – poor Clone =(
    Jeff, if you need anything else from me let me know.

    Talk to you all soon,
- Kev

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GM:
OOC: Thanks Kev. The Rachel stuff is hilarious.
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Sentinel:
OOC: Just wondering if 'all' of the Clones were rounded up ... just sayin ...

Seth
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Slingshot:
OOC:  :)   [queue - Barry White Music  ]

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Clone:
OOC:  LOL You guys are hilarious! =D

- Kev

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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Vanguard: Issue 155: Revenge of the Luddite!




Homicide Unlimited had nothing in common with Homicide for Hire, despite the name. They were uncoordinated, undisciplined, getting in each other’s way, fighting amongst themselves, and possessed of little or no knowledge of Vanguard’s powers or weaknesses.
Clearly, a tactician like Harrik was not leading these killers. He had just put them in Vanguard’s way.

So where was Harrik and what was he really after?

Outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral…

Overdrive snarled and reeled wildly like a bear caught in a trap, succeeding only in further tangling himself in the super-strong silk cement of Web’s webbing!

Jack Lantern strolled up Madison, whistling and leisurely twirling a knife in his gloved hand. He turned the corner and saw Clone unconscious, near Web, Avatar and Overdrive. Smiling gleefully, he ambled over to the motionless Clone, pulled Clone’s head up to expose his throat. “The prize, spread before my feet. The contest, so easily won.” He clucked as he readied his long glimmering knife and…

“Back off, pumpkin brain!” yelled Web. “He’s mine!”

“The hell he is!” raged Overdrive from his gloppy prison, over Avatar’s head! “I’m the one that decked the Russkie in the first place!”

At this point, a little boy, maybe seven years old, ran toward Avatar, holding out a pen and paper for an autograph. ”Mr. Avatar?! You’re my hero!” He was ten feet away from the murderous brawl!

Deprived of his speed, Overdrive’s punch lacked power, but Avatar was unable to roll with the blow. The speed freak swung a truncheon at Avatar with his one free arm! “Off of me!” KRAK! [6 points. All off hits!]

Avatar, seeing the threat to the child, summoned up a mighty resolve to save the boy. He flexed his divinely-fueled muscles and attempted to pull the stuck speedster free of the webbing to use him as a bludgeoning weapon to strike Web! It was to no avail! [Failed both saving throw attempts, lost 1 Luck Point]

Realizing that Overdrive wasn’t coming loose, Avatar pummeled him right where he was, with the strength of Ares! POW! Unable to dodge or roll with the damage, Overdrive was beaten into unconsciousness!

Without missing a beat, Avatar barked from his web prison, "Run, child! You are in terrible danger here!"
The boy froze in fear!

Jack Lantern said, “A child?” with obvious delight in his voice.

Avatar quickly taunted Web, "I can't believe you'd let Lantern win that easily, wall-crawler. Not with victory so close. Of course, you still have to beat me. Clone isn't going anywhere..."

Before Jack Lantern could choose between murdering Clone or the child, Web yelled, “I said: back off!” and then - BLORF! - the agile arachnid covered the Halloween killer in his webbing compound, sticking him to the spot, without hitting Clone! Web dragged the unconscious Clone from Lantern’s reach.

Jack Lantern used his knife to cut into the web net. He chuckled eerily in his work. But he wasn’t free yet.

On the other side of the Cathedral, the uncanny Catman saw the Silent Killer attack Dexter Sinister Jr. and Triceratops, and then leap into the open manhole! Smelling a rat, he followed, leaping down the hole after him!

Meanwhile, The Fly formed laughter from the wings of thousands of insects as he watched the Voice fall from the sky! Symbiote was still inside the massive insect swarm! “Human,” the flies seemed to say within their buzzing. “You may as well try to resist decay itself. It is the fate of all living things to become prey of scavengers and carrion. Hahahaahaa.” [5 more points of damage from insect bites! Cannot be rolled with!]

Symbiote twisted in mid-air, opened wide and screamed for all he was worth at the verminous villain, hoping to cause mass casualty on the flies that make up his form! “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

The Fly writhed and was literally undone! The sentient cloud of insects that was his body came apart, many falling to the earth, stunned or dead! The insect swarm around Symbiote dispersed! The black rubber containment suit wafted to the street below.

Symbiote readied himself to fly with all speed into the Cathedral!

Meanwhile, straight below him, the Voice, poisoned by the Spider form of Menagerie, fell from the sky like a meteor, with Menagerie riding his unconscious form as it plummeted down hundreds of feet to the pavement!

Menagerie silently focused his mind. "I have only one chance to do this right." He thought-sent to Vanguard to clear out the area below The Voice. "I am coming down and coming down BIG!". He quickly crawled around The Voice's neck until he was beneath his body. Then Menagerie willed himself to change into a Terrordactyl, the ravenous sky predator of the Lost Valley at the bottom of the world!

It was terrifyingly fast. Mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. The knife-like fin protruding from the back of its skull seemed rounder, more bulbous than it was supposed to be [like the skull of H.R. Giger’s Alien]. The body was big. Muscular. 30 foot wingspan. It was what Pteranodons evolved into over the last 65 million years. [Imagine the Velociraptors of Jurassic Park crossed with Pterodactyls!]

SKKKKRRAAAA!!!!! Menagerie slowed the descent of the Voice and then arced up, careful to keep the sonic assassin on his back, saving his would-be killer’s life!
As the time-lost terror soared over the streets of New York, Web, Damocles and the little boy took notice!
“Dinosaurs!” The boy pointed out to Avatar.

From his airborne perspective, Menagerie could see Nathan Lamb and the CHESS Honor Guard, having escorted the crowds out of harm’s way, starting back toward the Cathedral!

Sentinel, though he was still sightless, knew exactly where Damocles was. The beacon of liberty morphed his energy shield into a series of spinning gears and blades that whirled horizontally. Damocles’ whip got caught up and was quickly pulled into the thirsty mechanism, pulling her into the blade tornado as well!
GRRRRZZZZZZZZ!!!! Sparks flew from her damaged armor against the tower of buzz saws!

Damocles slammed Sentinel with her energy blade! SKARG! [13 points of damage. All off shields!] No effect! She released the whip from her gauntlet – POP! And then she quickly optic-scanning the battlefield.
Villains lay sprawled all around her; Dexter Sinister Jr., Black Ice, Chain, Inside Man, Killshot and Overdrive.
No member of Vanguard was dead yet. And a prehistoric lizard monster just turned up.
She remembered the words Sentinel broadcast at the start of the fight and said, “Forget this! Another time, kid.” And then her boot jets roared to life as she flew off to the West! VROOOAR! She was soon beyond Sentinel’s energy sense.

Below Sentinel, Triceratops didn’t give a damn about the unconscious villains that lay all around him. He stormed St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in search of Slingshot who had just thrown him down the block. BOOM! BOOM!

“Hey! Petunia!” called Sgt. Stone.
Triceratops stopped on the church steps and turned.
“Your mother shaves her pits with a lawnmower,” advised Stone cheerfully.

Triceratops charged the granite-skinned soldier! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The prehistoric powerhouse lowered his head at the last moment again, slamming Stone with his horns! KA-SLAM! The impact of the two titans shook the ground! But Stone held his ground!

“Hmm. That wasn’t too shabby, junior. My turn,” said Stone. KA-POW! The virtuous vet fired a big uppercut into Triceratops’ jaw, knocking him back 40 feet and through a fire hydrant, creating a geyser on Fifth Avenue.
Triceratops was mad now!

Meanwhile, Symbiote flew with speed into the Cathedral, down the stairs, into the basement, over a large throng of wedding guests, including Rachel Ray, and came to the blacked-out area that was the very edge of the Luddite’s area of effect and stopped! The last time he entered the Luddite’s range, the Harper Harness deactivated!
A Clone and Doc Rocket was there. “Hal. Something’s terribly wrong,” Doc said, pointing into the darkness!

Meanwhile, inside that darkness, all hell had broken loose.


[Cathedral Basement Map: Each map square is 5 feet / 1”. Characters are in scale.]

The President was hurt and on the ground unconscious but not seriously injured!

With the President clear, three Clones struck at Slingshot with their staves! WHACK! KRAK! Two connected! Slingshot was still standing.
One Clone pulled Slate back from Slingshot and the president!
Another Clone pushed Nanite from the room. ‘No wait!” she yelled.
Another Clone scooped up the President and carried him from the chamber!
More Clones were outside the room!

Then another Slingshot suddenly hurtled into the room! He poured himself back into humanoid form and said:
"Skin Deep. Give it up, right this moment."
He stretched an arm past the Clones and touched the other Slingshot, trying Slingshot Omega’s regeneration attack! Nothing happened! This Slingshot was not made out of rubber!

The false Slingshot glowered intently and said, “Backup.”

One of the shadows in the dark chamber jumped. Then, from behind Vanguard, out stepped the shadow of a man. Except it had no caster.

It was the Luddite!
The zealot who tried to kill Nanite! The assassin who murdered Lightning Strike’s wife! He looked just as he did the last time they saw him, when they battled in Silas Caine’s penthouse offices. [Issue 56, true believers]

The Luddite spoke to Nanite over Slate and a Clone: “Did you really think we forgot about you, infection of the Digital Zone? Did you really think that we’d let you breed?!” he glared pure hatred at Slingshot and Slate. “And bring about the end of the human race??”
Those last six words reminded Scott of the conversation he had with Silas Caine on the day his son was born!

The suddenly everything in the area lost power! The living shadow that men called the Luddite had absorbed all the electricity into himself! The lights went out. Communicators died. Zephyr’s Windsuit lost all power! Clone felt Nanite swoon in his arms.
But Slate was unaffected. The Luddite seemed surprised at that and then the room and everyone in it was plunged into pitch darkness!

Slate calls out into the darkness, "Clone, do you have the President, is he safe?"

A Clone six inches from him replied, “Yes. One of me have him.”

Lightning Strike assessed the situation. The president was out of harm’s way and he could focus on the Luddite.
He stayed in character and said little, barely acknowledging the chaos and darkness around him. Since the room was pitch black, nobody would know who was attacking who so he could maintain his cover. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a bullet (his M.O.) and magnetically launched it at where he knew Luddite to be. Since this was the killer of his wife, Strike was not concerned about lethal damage to Luddite!

P-KOW!! Strike heard the bullet ricochet off the stone wall where the Luddite had been. Or perhaps still was. Strike remembered that the Luddite was somehow intangible, a shadow of some kind!
The bullet could have passed through him! Fortunately, it didn’t seem that anyone in the tight quarters was hit by the ricochet!

Slate watched as the events unfolded, his father appearing and facing his doppelganger, all the Clones pouring into the room, and two new villains appearing. When saw the villain appearing from the shadows, he quickly accessed the memories of his father’s battle with the Luddite in Silas Caine’s office… He continued to cross reference mentions of the villain, leading him back to the original “death” of Nanite.

As the police image of his mother lying in a pool of some liquid like some anonymous murder scene came to memory his eyes began to sparkle, looking familiar to anyone who had ventured to the digital world, it was what IT’s power manifestation had looked like. Slate stood from where the alternate Slingshot had knocked him. As the Luddite’s abilities knocked out the power in the area, Slate felt something within him change. Organs that hadn’t been functioning suddenly jumped to activity. He felt blood pulsing through his veins, and again the anger that these villains had come against them on this day, a day that was supposed to be a joyous one for his family. The Luddite had seemingly killed his mother before, and had started the consequences that had led to IT almost taking over this dimension.

Neither of those things was going to happen if Slate had anything to say about it. Before the lights went out, Slate and the Luddite had been toward the end of the room together. Slate might not be able to see him, but he knew where he had been last.

Slate was determined to digitize the Luddite. Their powers would seem to be almost opposites, Slate’s changing matter into a digital representation, and the Luddite’s removing all trace of technology. Slate used his heightened comprehension to determine where the Luddite should be based on the direction he had been moving, his velocity, and the space available. He then attempted for the first time to digitize a sentient being, unsure of what the affects might be. He reached out with his mind to find his target, and let his power flow!

ZARK! Slate was unsure whether or not he had hit! If he missed, he would have disintegrated the back wall!

The Luddite’s voice came out of the darkness. “You. Creature. I feel as if I’ve been waiting my whole life for you. Your ancestors have steadily and malevolently guided the transformation of mankind, preparing the way for your coming. And now the time is come. The invasion is here! Die, simulacrum of humanity!”
Slate felt energy pass over him, but felt unharmed! “What?!” snarled the Luddite.

Slingshot couldn’t believe the lack of luck that plagued Vanguard. The President unconscious moments before the real Slingshot appears! Scott doesn't care about the Silent Killer at this moment. He's got two arms and two specific foes he wants to take to justice.
Lack of light underground made for poor visibility. In a small room like this, you don't necessarily need to see with Slingshot's powers.
"Luddite and Skin Deep. I have a bone to pick with both of you." With that, Scott executed a tentacle attack in both directions, extending one arm at each of them (where he remembers them being) and spreading to attempt splatter them against the wall, encompassing them, and crushing them in his firm grip.

SLAM! One giant tentacle hand slammed through the Luddite and into the stone wall behind him! BOOM! The masonry crumbled and silt fell from the stone ceiling!
WHAM! The other hand connected into and around the other Slingshot. Slingshot squeezed hard!
[OOC: The tentacle attack prevents you from missing all targets when you miss one on a multiple attack!]

The false Slingshot grunted in pain. And then laughed. The laughter became woman-like. “A bone to pick? Scott, I’m touched you remember your old friend Maria Girucci.” In the darkness, the voice was identical to Spider Girucci’s ‘sister.’

Fighting in complete darkness was something new to the regiment of replicating Russians. Using their empathic and telepathic link, they tried desperately to reach out to each other in order to get a better feel for what was going on around them.

The three Clones attacking Slingshot/Skin Deep stood their ground and continued to attack the same last location they did last time. One missed and two unknowingly connected with the real Slingshot’s oversized hand! KRAK! FAP! [12 points! Slingshot can’t see, so can’t roll with it. 8 off Invulnerability. 4 off Hits]

The Clone next to Rachael Ray did his best to keep his celebrity date safe, taking her into one of the many side rooms in the basement, holding her close and acting as a human shield. As he held her, their faces were inches away, and Rachel looked into his eyes! [OOC: I’m gonna hate myself in the morning for this]

The Clone carrying the President moved slowly through the darkness and into one of the side rooms, not wanting to go near the crowds. He was followed by the Clone carrying Nanite. Together, they stood in a pitch black room. [Made their saving throws for moving in darkness, thanks to telepathic link bonus of +4!]

Two Clones blocking the hallway backed up a bit into the light and stood guard, trying to keep the crowds back and the villains corralled.

Four Clones would try to block the doors leading out of the room that Luddite and Skin Deep were in.

Meanwhile, Skin Deep said quietly, “Targets are here, but only one is affected. Go to Plan B. Need evac on my mark.” Their communications weren’t jammed! And she could see in the dark!
Then Scott felt her shape stretch like his and worm its way out of his grip! He lost track of her in the darkness!

Then, KRAK! Fwump. The Clone holding Nanite fell unconscious from a blow to the head!
The Clone that was next to him, still holding the President, couldn’t make telepathic contact with the Clone holding Nanite. Then he heard a woman’s voice near him saying: “Mark.”

Light appeared in the room and grew until it was man shaped. It looked like this:


The light from the armor illuminated the unconscious Clone, the false Slingshot, and the motionless Nanite, still in her wedding gown. The emerald-armored teleporter hovered over a cellphone that lay on the floor beneath him. He picked it up and gave it back to “Slingshot,” placed a hand on the false Slingshot and Nanite and then he and they were gone! The room grew dark again.

Clone was alone with an unconscious Clone and the President. He immediately telepathically communicated what happened to his duplicates! The Clone nearest Slingshot said, “Dearest Scott. The President was not the target. It is with greatest sorrow that I am telling you that they took Nanite. She is teleportated away with Skin of the Deep. To where, I am not knowing.” [OOC: I assume. Please re-write this if you want, Kev. Thanks.]

Then the darkness lifted! Skin Deep and the Luddite were gone! Zephyr was still there! And so was the Silent Killer! Two of the secret service agents were rousing. And the back stone wall was severely damaged!

Slingshot’s estranged dad and brother had pushed their way down the hall, forcing their way past one Clone, to the doorway of the chamber. “Scott, you all right?” called his dad.

Then suddenly a secret service agent got on one knee and leveled his gun pointblank at Slingshot! “Freeze!”

To be continued!

OOC: Actions please! [OK. Now you can give me the evil eye!]

Sentinel makes his saving throw between turns and is no longer blind! See? It’s not all bad news. ;-)

Current Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 104, Power Points: 82, Manifestation: Hera and Ares!
Clone: Awake bodies: 11, Hit Points: 2 each, Power Points: 39 each, Hit Point Pool: 22, Unconscious bodies: 2.
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 39, Power Points: 40, currently disguised as the Silent Killer.
Menagerie: Hit Points: 21, Power Points: 59, Form: Terrordactyl
Sentinel: Hit Points: 23, Power Points: 50, Creation Points: 100, Shields: 57, No longer blind!
Slate: Hit Points: 30, Power Points: 60
Slingshot: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 40, Invulnerability: 0 til Issue 157
Symbiote: Hit Points: 29, Power Points: 64, Charges: 11, Copied: Voice


[Exterior End of Issue Map: Each map square is 40 feet / 8”. Characters are not in scale.]


[Cathedral Basement End of Issue Map: Each map square is 5 feet / 1”. Characters are in scale.]

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Avatar:
OOC:
Can Avatar use his sword to cut the web? I had been working under the impression that it was probably something in which it would get stuck but, if Jack Lantern is doing it, maybe Avatar can, too.

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GM:
OOC:
Harold, Avatar may use an action to cut at the webbing with his sword.
If he overcomes the Structural Invulnerability of the webbing, his chance to escape the web increases: strength save on d20 instead of d100, which can still be attempted by expending all movement.
But the sword WILL be stuck in the web and will have to be freed separately or left behind.

Best,
Jeff

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Menagerie:
OOC: Great Issue, Jeff!
What is Menagerie's new carrying capacity?

What would Menagerie guess that Triceratops weighs? Would he know from any of the CHESS or Vanguard files?

Can Menagerie see the little kid?

Thanks
Tom

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GM:
OOC: Menagerie can lift 259 lbs. in Terrordactyl form.
He definitely can’t lift Triceratops. He can lift the boy or Web, but would have to drop the Voice to do so.

Best,
Jeff

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Avatar:
IC:
Caught in the web with only his spear immediately at hand to even attempt to deal with Web, Avatar desperately saws at the webbing with his sword, using all of his strength and the keenness of the blade that he wrought with divine skill.

OOC:
As soon as he sees that it may be weakened, he'll go ahead and attempt to break free.
Where is the boy at this point?

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GM:
OOC: The boy is near you and the unconscious Overdrive.

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Slingshot:
OOC: The only way I can play this one is to go with the secret service and put my character to the pasture for a bit. I'll have to leave it to Vanguard to come up with the evidence to clear my name.

IC: Scott sighs and holds his hands up. "No need. I understand how this looks. For the record, it was not me. It was Skin Deep impersonating me. You can request the CHESS records about her being able to take on my shape and powers. Also, for the record, they took my wife.".

As Scott is being dragged away, he turns to Ethan, "Son, I'm sorry. Don't be upset. I need you to be an adult now. Get Vanguard to help clear my name and look for mother."

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Menagerie:
OOC:
Hey Harold,
I think I have three options with Menagerie this turn.

1) He could fly down and grab Avatar. The plan would be to pull him out the web by flying him out of it. This would mean that Avatar would have to hold his action until after Menagerie's action.

2) He could fly down and rescue the child.

3) He could attack Web.

Do you have any preferences on which Menagerie could help with the situation or can you think of a better way I could help. I see this as Avatar's situation and I don't interfere.

Thanks
Tom

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Avatar:
OOC: Up to you, Tom. Just up to my knees in villains and have no freedom of movement here. Web is the immediate threat.

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Menagerie:
IC: Menagerie surveys the scene as he flies low through the streets. He though-sends the locations of the downed villains to Nathan Lamb. Menagerie does not worry about whether The Voice falls off or not. He believes that he is low enough that The Voice would survive the fall. Menagerie quietly turns to his left. He will use the buildings to cover his approach of Web.

Menagerie communicates with Avatar, asking which is most important between his choices of freeing Avatar, moving the child or taking out Web. Menagerie thought-sends "I am going to take out the threat first. Please distract Web with a superheroic monologue as I attack him from behind." Menagerie silently flew at Web from behind. His terrifying mouth opening wide to bite his prey.

OOC: Menagerie goal is to bite Web from behind. He is hoping to catch him by complete surprise but if not, he hopes to be discovered too late. Where if Web does try to web him his momentum will carrying him into Web anyway.

Regards
Tom

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Avatar:
OOC: Jeff, I'm having trouble following everything that's gone on from an in-character point of view. Does Avatar know anything at all about what's been happening with the President and the others?

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GM:
OOC: Harold, communications were jammed and the “relay Clone” near you is unconscious, so the last you heard was Menagerie’s thought-send to all of Vanguard* eight seconds ago, in Issue 154, that someone that looked like Scott was trying to kill the President of the United States!
Slingshot and Symbiote (and the Silent Killer, aka Lightning Strike) raced inside the Cathedral after receiving this info. There’s been no news since then.

*Tom, Sgt. Stone didn’t receive this info because he was beyond your thought-send range.

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Slate:
OOC: Sorry I feel like I'm late to respond...Sorry Stephane, you're going to have to Role Play this one. :)

IC: Then suddenly a secret service agent got on one knee and leveled his gun pointblank at Slingshot! “Freeze!”

Slate's eyes buzzed with static as he turned to the agent, tilted his head to the right, and said, "No", and the agents gun sparkled with the same static and evaporated. Slate looked around and the other guns in the room also seemed to dissolve.

"The president is safe in another room, Clone can take you to him. My father was not who you saw attacked you. You can read the CHESS record and determine he is telling the truth. Right now, we need him."

Turning to Scott, "I need you to help me find her," Slate says imploringly. "You found Nemesis using that energy they both release, maybe we can use that to track her. You have to look, you have to try. All those months you spent with her, when everything seemed lost. You didn't give up then, how can you just let them take her now."

His voice rises, "He killed her! What will he do with her now. It's so important to them that they came back not to just discredit us, but to get her. We can't let them have her, not for a minute. We have to go after them now." He drops to his knees and looks up at Scott with his Mothers eyes, "We have to."

Jon/Slate

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Slingshot:
OOC: You mean I _have_ to roleplay during a PBEM?!
Dosh garnit!

IC: Scott raises his voice for the first time at his progeny. "Ethan, stop that! The man is doing his job." Scott turns to the agent and pauses, "If you want me to go into custody, let me know. What my son says is right, looks like the president was not the target after all. It was both my wife and my son. They weren't able to run off with him. Go check on him and I'll be right here when you return."

Slate’s voice rises, "He killed her! What will he do with her now. It's so important to them that they came back not to just discredit us, but to get her. We can't let them have her, not for a minute. We have to go after them now." He drops to his knees and looks up at Scott with his Mothers eyes, "We have to."

The usually jovial features of his father harden, "I'm not giving up on her. I never will, but the problem is Caine's manipulations. I can't go out half cocked running into Caine's Office like we did that first time. We are here today because of that moment. We can't do it that way again. We have to have evidence and ensure that we can put it all on his feet. Until then we need to do our homework."

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Sentinel:
Kirk will survey the situation (since he now can) and play backup support as needed for his teammates. Use him where ever he will do the most good to assist. That can be getting the child from danger if it hasn't been done by his action, assisting to free Avatar from the webbing if he hasn't already done so himself (perhaps both using some movement and his constructs) and/or helping to put the kibosh on some of the still active villains that his teammates haven't finished off.

Don't know how far you are going with this issue, but what Kirk would like to do is put a positive spin on the events before Caine and his forces put a negative spin. I figured that once the villains are down for the count, Kirk could approach the reporters and give a statement about the event. Certainly there are tons around and they would be interested Don't know if that would be 'this issue or next issue' at this point or if I can physically find the time to pen what has been running through my mind for it last weekend and this weekend with real life events but I guess you can let me know if I should try and I have some good ideas in mind. But I definitely think we should be the first ones to put a spin on things rather than let the negative forces do so.

Best,
Seth

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Symbiote:
OOC: Jeff,
Just don't think I'll be able to give a worthwhile reply this turn. Had a little too much Real World lately.

And I don't want to hold up the turn any longer, so please move forward and just "move" Symbiote as you think best. By the next turn most of this should hopefully be straightened out.

Thanks, greg

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Clone:
Clone and Rachael Ray -
Clone; obviously nervous and embarrassed, suddenly blushed as he realized he had just dragged the girl of dreams into a small secluded room and was her holding her so closely that their faces were just inches away from each other. Whether out of fear of rejection or simply fear of the unknown ( OOC: Clone has never had a girlfriend ), he couldn’t bring himself to simply lean in and kiss the woman of his dreams. In a nervous stutter fueled by an unexpected burst of adrenaline, Clone tried to speak, “Uuhhmm . . . err . . . I am thinking that we are . . . uhm . . . maybe being safe it is seeming.” As he continued to look longingly into her eyes he continued after a brief pause, “Are you feeling . . . err . . . safe?”

( OOC: Clone would be as nervous as a teenage school boy at this point. Having never kissed a girl before; let alone the woman of his dreams, he would have all the desire but none of the guts needed to just lean in and kiss her. I hate to say it Jeff, but if this kiss is going to happen its going to have to be Rachael being the aggressor – Clone just ain’t got the skills lol )

( OOC: If Rachael seems to be putting a kibosh to the whole ‘kiss’ thing, Clone will do the following )

As the two separate and start to adjust themselves accordingly, Clone sends out a telepathic message to his duplicates, “Rachael and I are safe in a small room near one of the basement’s stairways.”

( OOC: If Rachael does lean in and kisses him, Clone will do the following )

As the two embrace and start to kiss with the same passion as two high school making out in the back seat of an old car for the first time, Clone sends out a telepathic message to his duplicates, “Rachael and I are . . . oh . . . oh my goodness . . . err . . . we’re fine . . .” The empathic link that exists between the troupe of replicating Russians only serves to reinforce just how true that last statement truly is.


The President and Nanite –
As the darkness subsided and light began to filter back into the small room, Clone looked down at the ground before him and saw an unconscious duplicate and a still unconscious President. He quickly moved between the two, knelt down, and then reached out towards them both. As he absorbed the unconscious replica with one hand, he checked on the President with the other. Was he still alive? Were his wounds fatal? Was he still breathing? All these questions and more raced through Clones mind as he struggled to make sure the President was merely unconscious and not actually dead.

Once he had determined that the President was still alive, Clone sent out a telepathic message to his duplicates, “The President and I are safe in a small room just down the hall towards the middle of the basement . . . it seems that he wasn’t their primary target . . . unfortunately they’ve taken Nanite.”


The Secret Service –
As the darkness subsided and light began to filter back into the small room, two of the duplicates already inside the room rushed to aid the two Secret Service Agents that were slowly regaining consciousness. Slingshot’s estranged dad and brother then appear out of nowhere just outside the doorway to the chamber. “Scott, you all right?” called his dad. Two of the Clones instinctively move to block their access into the room in order to keep them safe from any lingering ‘bad guys’ that might still be lurking about inside.

Grabbing their staves firmly, two of the duplicates suddenly turn and exit the room quickly.

( OOC: They’re headed towards the room with the President in order to help their fellow duplicate protect him should Skin Deep and her friend return. )

The Clone nearest Slingshot then turns to his friend and said, “Comrade . . . it is seeming that The President is not being main target of these villains. It is seeming that main target was Nanite, and I am being most sorry comrade but I was not being able to keep her safe from all of them. She was being instantly telephoned away to somewhere by Skin of the Deep and someone I am not knowing of . . . I am most sorry comrade.” Then suddenly a secret service agent got on one knee and leveled his gun pointblank at Slingshot! “Freeze!” Fearing for his friends safety, the Clone duplicate places himself between Slingshot and the government agent; puts his hands in the air ( OOC: submissively not aggressively – as if he were being arrested ), and tries desperately to explain the situation, “Please, you are not knowing of the entire situation I am thinking. I am knowing of how this is looking, but it is not really how this is looking comrade. This is not the Slingshot you are looking for ( OOC: couldn’t help it – gotta love Star Wars! ), it is the other Slingshot who is not being here but is looking just like this Slingshot that is being to blame for all of this. That Slingshot is looking exactly like this Slingshot with most of same powers it is looking, but is not this Slingshot . . . please to be understanding this.”

( OOC: Clone won’t physically fight with the Secret Service Agents, but he will argue with them if need be. )

( OOC: Side Note: I don’t recall if Lightning Strike told Vanguard about his Silent Killer persona or not; I’m pretty sure he did, but just in case he didn’t please slip this in somewhere – On of the Clones turns to Slingshot and quietly asks, “Comrade Slingshot . . . who is it that he is supposedly being, I am not knowing of him.” )


OOC:
As much as I would love to have the Clone Collective run upstairs and help out with the fight going on in the streets, I think he/they would opt for staying in the basement of the cathedral to keep security tight and to protect the President . . . and of course Rachael ;)

Jeff I had a question:

Jeff Wrote -

Harold, communications were jammed, and the “relay Clone” near you is unconscious, so the last you heard was Menagerie’s thought-send to all of Vanguard* eight seconds ago, in Issue 154, that someone that looked like Scott was trying to kill the President of the United States!

Slingshot and Symbiote (and the Silent Killer, aka Lightning Strike) raced inside the Cathedral after receiving this info. There’s been no news since then.

I thought the Clones absorbed the unconscious Clone that tried to re-enter the cathedral – am I remembering that wrong? Am I forgetting something? I’m sure I am, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. =/

Talk to you all soon,

- Kev

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GM:
OOC: Kevin, during Issue 151, you said that you re-orged into 13 bodies. One went outside the cathedral, the rest stayed inside.
The one outside was knocked unconscious by Overdrive before he could attempt to re-enter the cathedral. He can't be re-absorbed back into the collective without physical contact and there were/are no Clones outside to make contact.

Best,
Jeff

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Lightning Strike:
OOC: Sorry for the delay but real life has once again beat out Vanguard.
IC:
Here is what Lightning Strike/Silent Killer will do. Realizing that the president was out of danger and Luddite was no longer there, he determined that there was no value in staying and blowing what was left of his cover. He figured that it was worth taking a chance and hoping that the teleporter and/or the Luddite left some sort of energy trail (hopefully electrical in nature) that could be tracked. Strike attempted to sense what or where this trail may be. (OOC: I will use a luck point to make this attempt) Hoping that the cell phone that was picked up might be more than just a red herring, Strike will focus on cell phone signals betting that this person isn't just a teleporter but can transform himself and others into signals (like Strike himself) that can beam at will.

If he can trace some sort of signal, he will attempt to follow it by transforming into a similar form. If he can not, he will transform into electrical form and head out through the nearest outlet.

That's all for now.

Thanks,
Tony