Vanguard Roll Call!

Vanguard Roll Call!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Vanguard: Issue 169: Three Harbingers of Doom!



During the five days after the assault on Aztechnology, this had transpired:

Avatar was disillusioned after his battle with Jim Harrik.
Sgt. Stone got him into the ring and proceeded to show him no mercy. WHAM! It was soon clear this was no sparring session. BOOM! The twin titans slugged it out or 5 minutes. 10 minutes. 20, without stopping. POW! Sarge poured it on like never before, and withstood the preternatural power of Avatar. SLAM! 25 minutes and both men still stood against the mutual onslaught.
Sarge grunted as he gasped for air, “Why ya holding back?” He looked John in the eye with his baby blues.  “Kid, there’s only one of us in this ring that doesn’t have to be a brick if he don’t wanna be.”

Avatar's activated powers were about to fade. He cocked his head at the old pile of stone in front of him and and queried, "What do you mean?"

Sarge gasped, “I mean yer still thinking like Kairos. Or like Sir friggin Lancelot. You can shoot lightning bolts outta yer ass. Laser beams outta yer eyes. Blizzards like a regular nor’easter. So why you wanna fight me with yer bare hands? Or goddamn Jim Harrik in-close with an antique weapon?
You think mebbe it’s unfair to use all yer powers? Well is it unfair that my hide is made outta friggin rocks?! Fight me, damn you. You think Harrik was fightin’ you fair ‘n’ square?!”
Sarge made with his Sunday punch. POW!

Avatar saw stars and fell to his knees. His activated powers of godly Strength and Endurance were fading…
Once they were gone, Avatar would fall unconscious!
With seconds remaining, the demigod of destiny manifested the powers of Zeus, God of the Sky and the Storm!

Stone followed up his Sunday punch with a right cross! KRANG! He missed, bending the iron post in the ring’s corner with a stony fist instead. “Come on,” he rasped. “Time’s up,”

Avatar threw bolts of arcing, white-hot lightning at the granite grunt! KRAKA-KOOM!!

Sgt. Stone collapsed to the mat like a pile of bricks.

Avatar’s strength and vitality suddenly left him and he fell unconscious not far from Sarge.
The last thing he heard as he blacked out was Stone’s weary voice, “…Nice job, kid… uuhn… class dismissed…”


Five days after the assault on Aztechnology:

Menagerie and Archimedes were alone in the shamanic superhero’s quarters.
The great old owl stared into a distance that Menagerie could not perceive. “Hmmm. Something’s changed. The path of the future has been altered. The threat from that mechanical world is over, lad. And so is the threat from the digital child. This is Vanguard’s doing?” he said with genuine surprise.

Archimedes looked away again. “But what’s this? In the clearing away of that false future, something has been revealed… Something is coming.” His feathers expanding, seemingly increasing his mass. Then he whispered, “Come with me.”

Menagerie replied, “Teacher, I am to meet with Vanguard now. Soldier had suddenly requested-”
“I said, come with me.” The two magical creatures flew from their aerie atop the Empire State Building, beneath the night sky, high above the concrete castles of the city, and down into Central Park. To The Lake.
There, nothing stirred. The Lady did not arise. Her animal court did not give them audience.

Menagerie’s Nature Sense detected nothing.

Archimedes said, “Shite.”

“Teacher, what is-?”

“Be off with ye, lad. Go meet with Vanguard. We’ll be needing them soon. I have work here, that I can only do alone.”

“No teacher, I want to stay here with you. Help you. I can-”

“I said, go. We’ll meet at dawn at the Tower. I’ll tell ye everything then. Now go!”

Hours Later:

Vanguard was assembled outside the Soviet Consulate!


No extrasensory power detected any danger on the street. The consulate that stood before them apparently had some form of defense that thwarted Sentinel’s energy scan and Symbiote’s borrowed electrical senses.

Thunder rolled across the heavens and rain fell.

Symbiote relayed to Vanguard everything he had witnessed.

Sentinel telepathically scanned the Russian consulate and could detect 13 conscious minds within the building. They were scattered among the basement, first floor, second floor and third floor. He had no way of identifying Clone without a thought scan. He chose a mind close to the front door, attempted a mind scan and found he couldn’t read the subject’s thoughts! Kirk also couldn’t identify the cause of this failure, whether it was the same cause of his failed energy scan, or if it’s the subject’s ability to resist a mind scan! 
The young telepath scanned two more minds inside the consulate at random and got the same results!

Kirk turned to the rest of Vanguard and said, "If there are no objections, I'm going to try knocking..."

Symbiote thought Sentinel’s idea was beautiful in its simplicity.

Sentinel went to the door’s intercom and tried to see if he could speak with someone inside.

Ahead of him, a millimeter-wide, translucent strand of his energy flowed at ground level towards the structure. It was stopped by the stone exterior of the building. Sentinel’s energy sense could not be “transmitted” through his construct (OOC: although, that could be a level advancement possibility).

Sentinel buzzed the door’s intercom.
After some time, a man’s voice with a Russian accent said, “It is after hours. Please come back tomorrow.”

"This is Sentinel of Vanguard. We know that one of our members, Clone, was apparently invited into and has entered your embassy. We're concerned about him and would like to know if it is possible to speak with him."

“Da. Da. Please wait,” came the reply.

A few moments passed and, “I’m sorry. He does not wish to speak with anyone right now. He said to tell you he will contact you later. Good night.”

Sentinel used his communicator to have Ajay get some” eyes in the sky” and see what the satellites can pick up. The storm clouds blocked visuals. Thermal scan would take time to get in position.

Slate said, "Why don't we all defect? That would at least keep the team together? I'm not saying go all the way with it, but at least get inside the consulate to talk to them or Clone."

Menagerie stared at the Russian Consulates door in shock and dismay. He tried desperately to use his heightened senses to find out if Clone was being controlled magically. He called out to the predators in the area to find out if Clone was being held against his will.
 
There was no response.
 
From everything he could tell, Clone walked in of his own free will into the traitorous arms of Mother Russia. He couldn’t believe it either. He had heard she had changed to the point of adopting the moniker of Knockout.
 
The memory of Lightning Strike appearing and speaking to Clone flashed in Menagerie’s mind’s eye. He could not believe it then when the rat had shown him and he can’t believe it now.
 
Menagerie slowly walked around the perimeter of the building. He made sure he stayed on U.S. soil at all times. He wasn’t going to create an international incident over this. It was Clone’s free right to enter. He was a Russian citizen still as far as Frank new. Beside no one had to defect to leave the U.S.A. It was a free country where leaving the country for another is allow as long as proper documents were filed. Menagerie reminded himself Clone wasn’t American; he was Russian so all he had to do is exactly what he did.
 
Clone had the freedom to leave Vanguard just like the others had before including Lightning Strike. There was not wrong to right here, only a personal choice to be made.
 
So why did Menagerie feel so bad. Was it because Clone had left with saying good-bye to either Snowball or him?
 
Menagerie stopped walking. He had found what he was looking for. A place to roost that would provide visibility to the most used exits.
 
Menagerie turned into an owl. He flew up to the roosting spot.

He reached out to the smallest predators he could find. He offered them food in the winter and a chance to serve ‘Our Lady’. He needed eyes to watch least used exits. Any obstructed or secret exists that they knew about he asked them to watch as well.
 
Unsure of what to do for Clone, if anything at all; Menagerie did the only thing he could do for his friend.
He watched.
 
Slate said, "I can setup monitoring sub-routines that will keep the consulate under surveillance 24/7 and alert us to any movements, but as we've all seen recently, movement doesn't always require walking through the front door. I can also tap into the communication grid to see if there is any traffic regarding Clone or Mother Russia coming into our out of the consulate. Doubtful they'd let something like that slip, people have been monitoring those communications for quite some time..."

Slingshot said, "It sounds like he's doing this voluntarily. Something must have happened that both Clone and Mother Russia, both defectors, would be willing to go back for."
He paced for a moment. "Whatever it is, we know they are good people and we know they would go back for what was right." He slammed a meaty right fist into his left palm. He turned on his PDA and calls out for HQ, hoping for either Grey or Drake. "I want a report of the whereabouts of Polar Bear and Shatter. Do we know where they are and if they have also gone back to Russian territory?"

Symbiote was willing to electrically transmit his form to Polar Bear and Shatter if they can be located.

CHESS Agent Drake responded, “On it. Please stand by.”

Slingshot said, “If they have both re-defected, then that would leave us with one last person to reach - it's a long shot, if he's still alive, I mean Cosmonaut. We could likely ask the Entity to help with the search.”

Slate would follow the team on this one; they've known Clone longer and know him better than Slate, so he's not stepping out by himself. When Slingshot mentioned Cosmonaut and contacting the Entity, Slate got very excited, and volunteered to help set something up, as he's been studying everything digital since he returned from his trip into the Zone.

Back at Vanguard Vault:

Sentinel said that although it is possible that Clone took these actions freely, there is another possibility. “He could have taken these actions under the influence of another... it might not even have been total control. He might have just gotten an extra push towards something he was already considering... he had withdrawn from us, which was unlike him, and he left without a word. Even if taking this action, why not tell us? This could even have been some sort of Russian mental 'programming' which was triggered.”

Agent Drake was on duty and met the team when they arrived. “It’s possible. But he wasn’t the only member of Vanguard to quit today, Sentinel. CHESS satellite is in position. There’s a heating element of some kind in or on the roof of the consulate that seems designed to prevent thermal scans from orbit.”

Slingshot said, “I’m no spy, but couldn't we be able to "compromise" some of the help? I'm not quite in favor of giving money, but we might be able to get some cleaner to divulge information they might know about?”

Agent Drake said, “Maybe. For now, we need to assume Vanguard, and CHESS, had been infiltrated by a Soviet mole. As a defector, his security clearance was such that he was kept from sensitive material. Mother Russia was never given security clearance. Fyi, Polar Bear and Shatter have not been reached yet. I need to report this to Grey and initiate all proper protocols.”

Symbiote went to his lab and began trying to figure out a way to track down Lightning Strike. “Strike knows something he's not telling us.” While this normally doesn't bother Hal, it does if it's endangering Clone (and possibly Mother Knockout, as he would think of her for now).

Slate initiated his monitoring sub-routines to watch the consulate, from the Computer Lab. Then he and Slingshot tried to reach Cosmonaut in the Digital Zone by setting up a repeating message sequence in cyberspace specifically for him.

Eventually, Vanguard got a few hours’ sleep. (OOC: and a day’s Healing)
CHESS rooks were beginning to search Alex’s quarters and review internal surveillance tapes.


In the morning:

Slate’s subroutine had not recorded anyone leaving or entering the Soviet consulate.
But his cyber message to Cosmonaut received a reply! On his computer screen, it read:
“Dr. X is recalling all extranormal operatives. Something on an unprecedented scale is occurring, although I cannot detect what it is.” There was nothing else.

Vanguard knew that Dr. X was the mysterious creator of the Soviet Super Soldiers, and the head of the Program, the USSR’s extranormal detection and training division. No image of him existed in CHESS files.

At dawn, having detected nothing at the consulate Menagerie went to his master, Archimedes, and found two others waiting for him as well.

Soon after that, Menagerie requested Vanguard convene immediately, so that they could hear everything he had just learned.
The remaining six members of Vanguard gathered in their meeting room at 8:30am. No CHESS liaisons were present, as they were busy dealing with the repercussions of the defecting double agent, Clone.

Three magical beings had come before Vanguard, seeking an audience with Earth’s greatest heroes:

Archimedes, the great, ancient owl who was known by Vanguard to be the spirit guide of Menagerie.

The Mystic, an enigmatic sorcerer who had been the sometime ally of the WWII super team, the Liberty League. Vanguard had last seen him in the City of the Dead Gods, when he had infiltrated the Crimson Coven under the assumed alias of Okmenhotep.

Oracle, a visionary prophet who had served with AEGIS before that team was murdered by one of their own, the Primate. Vanguard last saw her at the escape attempt of the Primate from CHESS Castle.

All three were quiet as Menagerie made introductions. Their mien was grave, as if they were in mourning.

The Mystic and Oracle treated Archimedes with obvious deference. The owl signaled that they should begin.
Then the Mystic said: “Gentlemen, I am honored to formally meet you. I had been fortunate enough to work with Earth’s champions before, the last time an occult power attempted to alter the destiny of humankind (OOC: That would be WWII.)… Which brings us to why we are here.”

Oracle said: “A dire situation has been revealed to us. This world is in need of its greatest heroes again.”

The Mystic said, “We speak of nothing less than the end of the world. Judgment Day.”

“Ragnarok,” said Archimedes.

“Armageddon,” said Oracle. “As prophesized by the Mayan calendar, we have begun the End Days. Its arrival was clouded to our eyes by another threat from a future that that has just recently been averted.
(OOC: The threat of The Entity and the Digital Zone triggering an Omega Universe here; averted last story arc.)

Avatar, who was a trained archaeologist, had seen the actual calendar stone, and saw it now in his mind.


The Mystic explained, “The Mayans, and the Aztecs after them, worshipped a pantheon of gods unlike any other in history. The Norse Myths, the Greek, the Egyptian, the Native American, they all spoke of gods that appeared and acted with human motives and personalities. But the otherworldy Mayan Gods came from the stars and were completely alien to any culture on earth. But the Mayans could only comprehend a fraction of the truth. Their insane gods came not from the stars, but from another dimension entirely.

“Only one man has come closest to understanding these gods, and their motives. The madman, H.P. Lovecraft.

“That’s right. Cthulhu is coming.

“The stars will be right this winter solstice. December 21, 2012. We have just seven days to avert the destruction of the world.”

Oracle projected a psionic vision of what would transpire in one week into the minds of Vanguard, who understood it to be a prophecy of a future certain.

They saw Cthulhu come to Earth. The giant monstrosity strode the earth as a storm blanketed the world and the sun was eclipsed forever. Behind him followed Azathoth, Ithaqua, Hastur, Shub-Niggurath and all the rest. Then followed Chaos, Madness and Pandemonium.


Archimedes said, “Cthulhu and his forsaken pantheon are the antithesis of Nature… Of Life itself. They are not evil, like the Dark Avatar, but Destroyers, Pestilence, Disease, Decay, Madness and Death. They are An Inevitable, cosmic force, like Time or Gravity.”
The Mystic said, “Against them, there can be no victory. They will eventually devour the souls of every living being on Earth and leave it a dead husk, like every world they have visited before.”

Vanguard now witnessed what became of people whose souls were devoured. They appeared dead and mindless, and yet were overcome with an unholy urge to devour the living.

Vanguard beheld a planet of the walking dead. It was Earth, a mere seven days from now.



They saw Nanite and themselves barricaded in this very room.
While Doc Rocket, Shelley, Agent Grey, Sgt. Stone, Detective Archer, Ajay, Nathan Lamb and more, now soulless, cannibalistic zombies, were breaking through the doors to kill Vanguard!

the bloody zombie horde smashed their way in and reached Vanguard, And the vision of the future dissipated and Vanguard was back in the present.

Oracle was visibly shaken. A moment passed as comprehension set in.

The Mystic broke the silence. “When the dimensions are aligned this winter solstice, a summoning ritual will still be needed to bring Cthulhu’s Pantheon to Earth. There are many mad enough to attempt this, but the ritual requires incredible power. Therein lies our only hope. And our plan of attack.”

Oracle indicated Mystic and Archimedes, “We three have divined that there exist only nine objects on Earth powerful enough to rend asunder of our reality. Any one of them, if they fell into the wrong hands, could be used to bring Cthulhu here on winter solstice.”

The Mystic said, “We need to secure all nine of these artifacts of power in the next seven days, or risk them falling into the hands of agents of the Cthulhu Mythos, who would bring about an Armageddon final and complete. We three can guide you, expending our energies locating each artifact. And transporting Vanguard to each one, in the interest of time. But that cost will be terrible. Our power exhausted in the effort of location and travel, we’ll be too weak to secure the artifacts ourselves with surety.
“So it must be Vanguard’s quest to secure these nine artifacts of power. We can imagine none more suited.”

Archimedes spoke. “As we here act on Earth, the Lady of the Lake, the Spirit of Nature itself, has left this world to prepare to confront the Enemy as best she might. I fear she’ll not survive.”

The Mystic faced Vanguard directly. “We need to begin immediately. Your world is in need of champions this day. Who among you will answer this call, before Earth falls into eternal madness and shadow?”

OOC: Replies, questions, discussion, actions?

Current Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 31, Power Points: 85, Manifestation: None
Clone: Bodies: 1, Hit Points: 22, Power Points: 64, Hit Point Pool: 22
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 25, Power Points: 85
Menagerie: Hit Points: 15, Power Points: 66, Form: Man
Sentinel: Hit Points: 29, Power Points: 70, Creation Points: 140, Shields: 0
Slate: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 73
Slingshot: Hit Points: 43, Power Points: 92, Invulnerability: 8
Symbiote: Hit Points: 38, Power Points: 83, Charges: 14, Copied: None

Viva Vanguard!
Best,
Jeff

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Slingshot:
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm not planning on getting eaten by zombies. I'm in." Scott looks at the three, "Something like this, prophesied as it is.. wouldn't you have some sort of riddle regarding some sort of guardian of these powerful artifacts? The fact that you need us to "retrieve" these things, you're expecting trouble. What can we expect?"

"We need to break up the team in pair to accompany each of the three. We need to know how we want to team up. Two of us are highly magical, two of us are highly technical, two of us are powered. I'm thinking that of pairing magic and tech together and us powered be on our own, but a review of any information before running to the items might change my opinion."

Scott asks the three, "These artifacts can we destroy them? because gathering them will only set us up for an attack."

Contemplating the situation at hand, Slingshot realizes what this could be. He looks at the members of the team, "We're going against Dr X, aren't we?". He sighs deeply. "Let's get all the information we can get on the Soviet Super Soldiers, powers, weaknesses, etc.. Similarly for Dr X."

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Avatar:
OOC: Wow, Jeff. Cthulhu for Christmas? Zombies? NINE artifacts to recover in SEVEN days? And I'm not at full hit points!!!!

Should be interesting, though. Sheesh.


IC: Avatar chuckles. "Sounds like a season for heroes! I'm in."
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Sentinel:
All three were quiet as Menagerie made introductions. Their mien was grave, as if they were in mourning.

Kirk’s eyes inconspicuously looked them up and down as if measuring them; because that was exactly what he was doing. He had taken to examining the unique energy signature and friends and foes. It seemed in this age of shape shifters and mental domination he did well to be able to recognize everyone on another level. In fact he was waiting for the opportunity to compare the unique energy signature of a known entity with that of that same influenced or possessed known entity to see if he could sense it. Kirk’s experience with this sort of energy… magical had been somewhat limited so he took special note.

He gave a knowing glance and smile towards Oracle. He had tried to keep the lines of communication open with Oracle since their mission with her and his feeling her sadness and seeing her isolation. But it seemed beings of tied into what we called magic tended to traveled with their own… despite outreach. Was there something about that particular power that drove them that way? And would their teammate Menagerie succumb to that same influence as he grew stronger in its ways? He was determined that wouldn’t happen to Frank.
(OOC Anything interesting on the energy scene. How does Archimedes, clearly on a different level, compare to Oracle and Mystic?)

Scott asks the three, "These artifacts can we destroy them? Because gathering them will only set us up for an attack."

Kirk added, “Scott is right. We don’t want to do their dirty work for them. If we can’t destroy them doesn’t gathering them together create a greater threat having all that power in one place?”

Contemplating the situation at hand, Slingshot realizes what this could be. He looks at the members of the team, "We're going against Dr X, aren't we?". He sighs deeply. "Let's get all the information we can get on the Soviet Super Soldiers, powers, weaknesses, etc.. Similarly for Dr X."

Sentinel had already been thinking the same thing. He had concluded that there were no coincidences. Especially with the message Slate had retrieved from the Digital Zone. He added, “We have files on the Soviet Super Soldiers, but our working knowledge of Dr X is extremely limited. More about what he was known to have done than anything about him himself. But at this point we should have access to more… and he glanced to Mystic… adding, “an honor sir. Wish you’d dropped in under better circumstances, and he smiled while stating that thinking about Lancaster’s recollections of his time with the ‘man’, but what can you tell us about that last time an occult power attempted to alter the destiny of humankind during World War II? Who and what was involved and does it relate in any way to this time? And what do you know about Dr X and all of his activities? At the very least you were active during the time when he was last most overt in what he did… but I’d suspect you know more.”

To Oracle at an appropriate point:
“Last time you showed us the progression of events so that we could see our wrong path and prevent it. This time you just showed us the sad outcome. Do you have any insights to assist us to avoid the wrong course of action?”

Slingshot said: "We need to break up the team in pair to accompany each of the three. We need to work out how we want to team up. Two of us are highly magical, two of us are highly technical, two of us are powered. I'm thinking that of pairing magic and tech together and us powered be on our own, but a review of any information before running to the items might change my opinion."

“My gut says not to fracture our power base unless totally necessary. Would be possible to do this as a team with perhaps several members taking the lead on each artifact, those more suited to the location and threat involved but not dividing us. It seems we should put the call out to our ‘reserves’ and those that have recently left us, at the very least perhaps they can reinforce us in some of the latter retrievals.”

Kirk then glanced towards Hal, “and let’s not just fall into the whole ‘this is magic and we need to confront it that way mindset”. Hal perhaps you can get Shelly and Doc on the path towards a scientific response to preventing this as a fall back before we depart to work on securing the items. What can be done scientifically to prevent the dimensions from aligning?"

And Kirk had been thinking about heroic lore and just how all of this will go down and he looked towards the three magical beings, “And let’s face facts… this many objects in that a short time, this ends with all of us at a summoning at the last moment and our trying to prevent it. Not being a pessimist here, but that’s how these things always go. How does a ‘summoning’ ceremony work and what how can we prepare in practical way to disrupt one? That might be something our scientific dream team can be working on… and surely there are areas of power… places of alignment that would be best suited to the ceremony. Do we have a means to locate those to prevent access or is there some means to taint them for usage? We have a week… let’s hit this thing from all possible sides…”

Viva Vanguard

Seth

OOC:
I'd add that Stephane's idea of pairing the teams is excellent strategy and Kirk will certainly be for it but felt that he'd want to keep the team together for strength and safety and to preserve power if at all possible (however unlikely)
Seth

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Slingshot:
OOC:
Yours is a valid point too.

I was going with the impression that it will likely take lots of time/energy to find and transport to the right place and recuperating will be difficult.This means 3 trips per magician. assuming 1 day of recuperation between each trip... you're at 6, maybe 7 days depending how it starts.

IC:
Scott follows Kirk's thoughts about being disruptive. He looked to the three mages again. "Would Dr X have his own mystics? How would he have gathered the information on their locations otherwise? Is there any chance we can send them a mystical disruption something or another to block their capabilities? A fog or something? If they can't find/get to the items, they won't be able to do squat."

"We also need to be able to mask the location of these items once we have gathered them. I'm not sure we want to leave them here. Maybe another location? Would putting up magical barriers be best or technological ones work better? A mix?"

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GM:
OOC: Hi guys.
I’ll answer some IC questions at this point, to help your planning. (Game rules terminology are in parenthesis for those that want’s ‘em)

IC:
Sentinel’s energy sense confirmed the same readings he detected when last he encountered Oracle, Archimedes and the Mystic.

The three harbingers of doom were relieved and grateful that Vanguard accepted this deadly quest.

In the face of their questions and suggestions, Mystic said, “My friends, I’m afraid our situation is more dire than you understand. We only learned of this threat mere hours ago, and have no preparations ready.
Furthermore, we three are neither omniscient nor omnipotent. Our powers are finite. It might be best to explain those powers to you, at least those powers that can aid us here. It is the least we can do for you who would risk so much.

“Right now, we have not identified any of the artifacts of power. Nor do we know their locations. Archimedes has divined that there exist nine sources of power great enough to permit a ritual on winter solstice to pierce the veil of this world.”

(OOC: Archimedes has Cosmic Awareness as per the rules. He asks yes or no questions at a cost of dozens of Power Points per question, to protect his mind from going mad.
Example: He needed to ask, Is there a power source on Earth great enough to open the dimensions to summon Cthulhu on winter solstice of this year? Are there more than one source? Are there more than three? Etc, etc. until landing at the truth. He is currently Fatigued, as per the rules.
For him to divine the exact location of the nine artifacts would go similarly: Is there an artifact in Europe? Yes. Is there an artifact in France? No. Italy? No. Etc., etc. Each question costing dozens of Power Points.
Healing Power Points back takes time, and you’ve only a week to locate nine things.)

The Mystic said, “I know a magic spell to open a Gate to anywhere else in this world.”

(OOC: This is the power Teleportation, as per the rules. The “range” he can teleport is a factor of his Current Power Points. If he is Fatigued, or even reduced in Power, he cannot “reach” everywhere on Earth. Also, teleporting itself costs Power Points.)
The Mystic said, “My plan is that we will forge a new spell (OOC: ie: Invent a new spell that combines his Teleportation Spell with Archimedes Cosmic Awareness power, at a Power Point cost to both of them and one Luck Point to boot!) to create Gate directly to one of the “artifacts of power.” If it succeeds, we need not lose time and energy (Power Points) identifying each artifact, and its location. This places a greater challenge upon the Questors, for they would be teleporting to an unknown region on Earth. But it is more expedient. And time is of the essence. If this works, we will need to do it nine times (OOC: Costing them nine Luck Points total).

“I do not believe I have sufficient power (Power Points) to teleport separate teams of you simultaneously, as that will require multiple portals both leaving, and returning. As it is, it will take time to teleport you back from each quest, as I regain my strength (OOC: i.e.: heal back Power Points, because Teleportation range is a factor of Current Power Points).”

Archimedes said, “I am bound to Menagerie, and he to me. (OOC: similar to the link between Clones, or the link between a Wizard and his Familiar) I will know when you have recovered an artifact, and I’ll tell Mystic to Gate you back here.”

The Mystic said, “Once one artifact is retrieved, I shall open a portal to another dimension and store these artifacts safely there.”

(OOC: This is Dimensional Travel, as per the rules. This costs anywhere from 40 to 80 points of Power each time! Again, Power takes time to heal, so he won’t be doing this multiple times a day. So you need to start asap, to hope to have the Power Points to do all these things, nine times in seven days.)

The Mystic answered: “We have no knowledge of Dr. X’s involvement, or that these artifacts have guardians to overcome. But it is very likely that these items have owners, and that these artifacts cannot be destroyed by any power we here possess.
"And as I said, we know that interested parties will be searching for them to bring about the end of the world. So this task is not without danger. Or urgency. We three will be spent from our efforts (OOC: ie: out of Power Points), therefore it makes sense that others, you Questors, be sent to secure the items of power.”

Oracle said, “I will watch future events as we begin (at a great cost to Power Points). Already, our involvement, and your undertaking of this Quest, has altered the future, making prophecy uncertain. With the future in motion, it will take time to see what, if any, affect we all have on the final resolution of these matters."
Her face grew sadder. "I have shared knowledge of the future before, directly causing the death of my closest friends and team mates. Understanding the stakes we now face, I will do my best to safely share knowledge of the future again."

(OOC:
So, here is what they are proposing:

Oracle monitors the cascading turmoil of the future.

Archimedes and the Mystic invent a spell that combines Teleportation, Cosmic Awareness and Luck to gate the Questors (Vanguard) to an artifact of power.

The three harbingers will remain behind.

Once the Questors leave Vanguard Vault, the Mystic begins healing Power Points so that he can teleport the team back! This will take up to an hour. So no matter where Vanguard goes on any Quest, they may be there for an hour.

Vanguard secures the artifact.

Archimedes, through his bond with Menagerie will know that this has been accomplished, and where Menagerie is on Earth. (fyi, some of this info could be received via Vanguard Communicators as well)

Mystic opens a Teleportation Gate to bring Vanguard back to Vanguard Vault.

The Mystic places the artifact in another Dimension for safe keeping. (Dimensional Travel)

Mystic, Archimedes and Oracle begin healing power points so this can all start again with the next artifact, and the next and the next.

Repeat.

With all this healing of Power Points, this process is long, hence the desire to begin immediately, and not wait to identify the names of the artifacts and their locations.

If Vanguard prefers, the harbingers could spend a few days in the effort of intelligence gathering, but then Vanguard will need to collect the nine artifacts with only three or four days to do it.

It may not even be possible, given the healing of Power Points required.

It also gives the opposition, the agents of the Cthulhu Mythos, a head start.)

The Mystic said, “We hope this helps your understanding. If you see a better path for us, we would happily hear it.”

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

Sentinel:
Kirk grimaced upon hearing the additional revelations.

"It is more dire than we thought. I think we need to leave on the first retrieval as soon as you can be ready for us to do so."

"How safe are these objects in the dimensional space? Could someone else retrieve them from there? What are the plans for the objects once the threat has past? If we have legitimate non-threatening owners could we promise a return? This might facilitate retrieving some of them."

"What about my question about geographic places of power where the summoning ceremony would take place - might there be a means to identify these or could it be done anywhere? My guess would be one of those Mayan temples would be ideal since they were purposefully set up in the past by their worshipers... If so, perhaps CHESS can secure them while we work on the artifacts."

I've another thought, Kirk said turning to Symbiote and Slingshot, and then to the three mystical figures. I have an additional sense. I can see the world around me differently by the means of an energy perception. Magical energy is limited in comparison to other patterns out there, quite unique. I've got to think that these artifacts should be registering high in energy levels to be of the power needed for the summoning. However my sense is very limited in scope to the distance around me. Might it be possible either by scientific or magical means to temporarily amplify that power to the world wide level so we could discern the locations en masse? Perhaps after securing an artifact or two I might be able to identify a unique energy pattern to them to help hone that sort of search further? Is something like that possible and might it make the toll on Archimedes less burdensome?

OOC: Cerebro! If Professor X can locate mutants mentally could Kirk's power be amplified temporarily to locate these objects either by a one-time quick invention (Shelly and Doc can work on it while we begin the artifact retrieval) or by magical spell?

On the transport: If we have no idea where we are going to materialize until after we are there, might it be possible to transport with everyone within Kirk's shields in case we materialize under water or something like that? Then once we've determined the environment isn't directly threatening Kirk would immediately let everyone 'out' - although if we transport right into immediate combat with Kirk's slowness it would limit everyone's reactions until his 'turn'.

Seth

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

Slingshot:
Scott speaks up. "I will talk to Nanite. She has the ability to help people recover health. It might be useful to help Mystic's recuperation. Which reminds me that we will likely have to gather some material for my own recuperation. I foresee pain in the future."

[ooc: Re: Cerebro: ]
"That's an interesting idea. I'm not sure we know what we need to amplify, we could start looking into it," Scott mused.

"While we are thinking up ways to help. I would like to minimize opposition. I'm assuming that Dr X is somehow controlling SSS. How we could look at something to block his control over them?"

[ooc: some sort of helmet?]

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

GM:
IC:
Sentinel asked Mystic: “What can you tell us about that last time an occult power attempted to alter the destiny of humankind during World War II?”

The Mystic replied:“The last time an occult power attempted to alter the destiny of humankind WAS World War II. That occult power was Hitler and the Nazis.”

Sentinel said to Oracle: “Last time you showed us the progression of events so that we could see our wrong path and prevent it. This time you just showed us the sad outcome. Do you have any insights to assist us to avoid the wrong course of action?”

Oracle said: “Yes, the path that the Mystic has defined.”

Slingshot said, "Would Dr. X have his own mystics?”

The Mystic said, “The Soviet Union has long researched psychic phenomena (OOC: in the real world too), approaching it from their religion of science, rather than the mysticism of the Nazis. I would not be surprised if Dr. X had a battery of psychics at his disposal. As the architect of The Program, all extranormals in the empire fall under his authority.”

Sentinel asked the Mystic: "How safe are these objects in the dimensional space? Could someone else retrieve them from there? What are the plans for the objects once the threat has past? If we have legitimate non-threatening owners could we promise a return? This might facilitate retrieving some of them."

The Mystic ignored the first two questions, and the unintentional insult they represented. “Patience,” he thought as he said, “We have not considered what to do with these artifacts should we all survive. I see no objection to returning them to their rightful owners if they pose no threat.”

Sentinel asked: “How does a ‘summoning’ ceremony work and what how can we prepare in practical way to disrupt one?... Do we have a means to locate those to prevent access or is there some means to taint them for usage?”

The Mystic said,“That is our intent. The summoning ceremony will require one of these nine artifacts of power. Deprived of them, the Enemy will be powerless to bring about the end of the world.”

Archimedes said,“Cthulhu perhaps could taint a site like Stonehenge or the Pyramids, lad. But lettle else in this world could do et. And thank god for thet.”

Seth wrote: OOC: Cerebro! If Professor X can locate mutants mentally could Kirk's power be amplified temporarily to locate these objects either by a one-time quick invention (Shelly and Doc can work on it while we begin the artifact retrieval) or by magical spell?

GM: OOC: Re: Inventing a Magic Spell for this: The three harbingers are about to spend 9 Luck Points, lots of time and power points under the existing plan. Not sure they can take this on too, all in one week.
So, maybe an invention. You’ll need to spend a Luck Point as Doc and Shelley are clean out. But they have the skills to do it. Hal too.
Such an invention will take time, and Sentinel will have to be present for much of the time as the device will need to be attuned to his unique powers after all.
So it’s a trade off. Sentinel misses retrieval(s) in exchange for the information such a device could provide.

Sentinel said: “If we have no idea where we are going to materialize until after we are there, might it be possible to transport with everyone within Kirk's shields in case we materialize under water or something like that?”

The Mystic smiled kindly, “You may pass through the Gate in whatever configuration you desire. If I open a Gate to the bottom of the ocean, we’ll soon know. Water will pass through, until I close the portal.”

(OOC: That’s a cool use of that power though. Maybe a character called Geyser?)

Slingshot speaks up. "I will talk to Nanite. She has the ability to help people recover health. It might be useful to help Mystic's recuperation. “

GM: OOC: Nanite heals hit points, not power points. 1d10 hit points per target. At a cost of 1d10 power points. But she could be part of the support team that can heal/help Vanguard between retrievals. She should probably heal Avatar now, before the first quest.

Slingshot said, "While we are thinking up ways to help. I would like to minimize opposition. I'm assuming that Dr. X is somehow controlling SSS. How we could look at something to block his control over them?"
[ooc: some sort of helmet?]

GM Reply: OOC: This is an Invention. You’ll need someone with the appropriate skills to spend time and a Luck Point to invent it. Having Dr. X, or one of the SSS, to study would help too.

Thanks everyone.
Best,
Jeff

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

Slingshot:
OOC:
I'm aware of that... but technically if you use up your PP, you can dip in your HP.. which is where Nanite would help. :)

In other words... let's work them to the bone!

<sound of whip cracking in the air>

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

Menagerie:
IC: Menagerie watched in quiet deference as the mighty mystics explained the dire situation to Vanguard. He was glad to see his friends would join him in the Quest. He was prepared to do this alone but they would have a better chance as a team.
He smiled as suggestions were made to the mystics on how best to accomplish the Quest. He had the same reaction when he had been told. He was confident they would succeed. Vanguard had eliminated the technology threat they will defeat this one as well.
“It is time to figure out how we will act once we enter the portal. Do we go through as explorers or as warriors?”
“The hardiest should go first with the range attackers behind. I will follow the range attackers. We will have one hour to retrieve the artifact and keep it. Do we need extra gear?”
“Sentinel, whether we face Dr. X or a different enemy is it worth losing much needed time to figure it out here. If needed we could teleport near the artifact using half of the hour to scout the situation before acquiring it. That way we can know the keeper and any other seekers without having to guess at it. What do you think?”
"Archimdes, do we have time for you to consult with Nature to find out if Dr. X calling his forces involves the artificats?"
OOC: I am trying to express that Menagerie is more concerned about the time being lost instead of trying to determine who is at the other end. He believes every teleport is a surprise. He also doesn't believe Dr. X is connected with this but is willing for the question to be asked using cosmic awareness to settle the issue.
Thanks
Tom

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

Slingshot:
OOC:
Happy New Year everyone.
I'm sort of stumped on how to proceed, beyond the smash and grab of the original plan. I'm not seeing anything that's a clear advantage to pursue as a side thing to help with the overall picture.

Stephane

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

Slate:
Slate was in shock after receiving the response from Cosmonaut. Cosmonaut, or some part of him was still in the Digital Dimension, the repercussions of that were staggering... everything that Slate sent there, was it still there? What of the Luddite, was he still out there? Slate had considered him destroyed... but what if... This would have to be investigated.

As he continued to ponder the implications of Cosmonaut's response, the Harbingers arrived.

After hearing the details of their plan, and listening to the discussions of his elders, Slate looked between Archimedes, Oracle, and Mystic, "I will answer the call."

Jon

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

Sentinel:
OOC: Hey Jeff.

Nothing further to add and naturally Kirk is 'in'.

He'll be keeping an eye on Mystic given Lancaster's impressions of him and his quick reveal and exit the only time he'd Vanguard previously. Kirk will let Mystic's 'patience' in allowing his concerns about the safety of the objects to pass since they have no better solution for the storage... but yes, concerned he is. If Mystic can gain access likely someone else can also --- and if Mystic is going to be at his weakest many hours a time over the next week, then any defenses normally set up regarding the area could also be compromised.

Didn't understand that we were walking through a gate, I was thinking more of teleportation (ie Nightcrawler, not sure where we'd pop up) so it seems like the shields around the team are unnecessary.

I'm assuming Kirk's idea of a power booster (Cerebro) from the scientific standpoint were fielded by Doc & Shelly and about the only thing he would do is see if they have any further insight into how science can factor into the equation here... not that he is expecting anything at this point but Vanguard is going to be busy retrieving objects and they are our best eyes on things happening 'back home' and if anyone here can come up with something as a backup strategy it would be them.

Seth

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

Symbiote:
IC: Cthulhu's real, Symbiote thought to himself, facepalming for a few seconds and rubbing his tired temples. Cthulhu's real, and we're going to mix it up with him. Y'know, Hal, you could've set your sites lower. You could have made yourself into a street level superhero and spent your time beating up muggers and purse snatchers. Instead, you're going up against Cthulhu.
Hal raised his head, re-engaged. "Y'know guys, some time real soon I'm going to invent an alternate reality viewer, and I won't rest until I find a possible future for us that doesn't suck," he says. "In the meantime, let's saddle up. Give me a few minutes with my computer, I want to download and start off with Zero G's power template. Since we don't know what we're walking into I suppose one is as good as another, and I've been dying to try his out. Hopefully I won't literally die from it," he finishes, with a grin filled with gallows humor.

With that, Hal stands ready to save the world again.

Ia Shub Niggurath,

Greg

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


Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Vanguard: Issue 168: The Super Soldier That Came In From the Cold.

 
 
During the five days after the assault on Aztechnology, this had transpired:
Avatar was disillusioned after his battle with Jim Harrik.

Sgt. Stone got him into the ring and proceeded to show him no mercy. WHAM! It was soon clear this was no sparring session. BOOM! The twin titans slugged it out or 5 minutes. 10 minutes. 20, without stopping. POW! Sarge poured it on like never before, and withstood the preternatural power of Avatar. SLAM! 25 minutes and both men still stood against the mutual onslaught.

Sarge grunted as he gasped for air, “Why ya holding back?” He looked John in the eye with his baby blues. “Kid, there’s only one of us in this ring that doesn’t have to be a brick if he don’t wanna be.” 

Avatar's activated powers were about to fade. He cocked his head at the old pile of stone in front of him and and queried, "What do you mean?"

Sarge gasped, “I mean yer still thinking like Kairos. Or like Sir friggin Lancelot. You can shoot lightning bolts outta yer ass. Laser beams outta yer eyes. Blizzards like a regular nor’easter. So why you wanna fight me with yer bare hands? Or goddamn Jim Harrik in-close with an antique weapon?

You think mebbe it’s unfair to use all yer powers? Well is it unfair that my hide is made outta friggin rocks?! Fight me, damn you. You think Harrik was fightin’ you fair ‘n’ square?!”

Sarge made with his Sunday punch. POW! 

Avatar saw stars and fell to his knees. His activated powers of godly Strength and Endurance were fading…

(Actions? Replies?)
 

Symbiote and Sentinel kept their word to Detective Hank Archer.

While Hank was in custody, the two heroes IMMEDIATELY began lobbying for a Presidential pardon for Hank Archer, through the director of CHESS and any other contacts they had at their disposal. Symbiote stopped just short of nagging. 

CHESS Director Grey brought it to the White House. “They said no dice,” said Grey several days later.

“The president can’t pardon a man who tried to assassinate the candidate who was running to defeat the president. Would be like Nixon pardoning Sirhan Sirhan.” 

Sentinel said, “Since Primate helped redefine the definition of intelligent life and murder due to his sentience ... there was clear evidence of his ability to control and influence others via mental influence... what laws have been written regarding recognizing this?” 

Grey replied, “You’ve been visiting too many parallel dimensions, kid. Primate was imprisoned for the murder of most of AEGIS Europa. All that other stuff was a vision that Oracle put in your head. At least if I understand it all properly, and I’m not sure that I do.” 

Sentinel countered, “Was it recognized in court that some members of Vanguard were under the Bat's mental influence in attacking Caine?”

Grey replied, “We kept all that out of court, remember? And thank god we did.”

Sentinel tried, “OK. What court precedents are in place regarding mental control?” 

Grey said, “None. Hank Archer’s case would be a precedent if he plead something like mind control.” 

Symbiote started nagging at this point. 

Grey took it back to the White House, who fell silent. Whether they were ignoring the request or reconsidering it was unclear at this point. Days passed without an answer and…

Five days after the assault on Aztechnology: 
Shelley said, “Guys! Something weird is going on. Rachel Ray just called me, looking for Clone. She thinks Alex is in trouble. She just spoke to him and said he didn’t sound right. He was really distraught. Rachel Ray says we have to find him!”

Menagerie immediately tried to raise Clone on his communicator and got no answer. 

Shelley said, “I don’t want to invade his privacy or anything but can we, like, track the GPS on his Vanguard communicator just to make sure he’s alright?”

Slate brought it up on the wall sized monitor.

“He’s still in the city,” said Hal. “I’ve got the address. 9 East 91st street.” 

“What’s there?” asked Slingshot. 

Avatar Googled it. “It’s the Soviet Consulate.”

The GPS transponder was right outside the consulate. It wasn’t moving. It was 10:17pm.

Vanguard had no idea that Clone had been thinking about the Soviets, just that he was distant and quiet. Vanguard had heard of no Soviet chatter that pertained to Clone. They knew Clone’s family had recently moved out of Vanguard Vault. Shelley had their new address.

Looking at the location information, Slingshot shook his head. “We definitely need to send someone to retrieve the communicator. I would doubt that Clone is anywhere near there. Anyone that has extra sensory capabilities should go there to see what they can gather. I don't think it would be a good thing to muscle our way in. International incidents have a tendency to backfire on you.

”We need more information. We should get a hold of Mother Russia. Maybe Talon knows where she is…” Slingshot said, unaware that Symbiote had been seeing her.

Sentinel was fine with flying within range to recon with his extranormal senses. He formed his energy shields and flew to the hanger, to exit the top of the Empire State Building from the 85th floor! 


Menagerie transformed into the shape of Eagle and followed the beacon of liberty! “SKRAAA!”
 
The two hurtled straight up Fifth Avenue toward their destination, 60 blocks to the north! The two miles would take them less than two minutes to cover! Both planned to use their paranormal senses once they were within range! Rain was falling steadily and thunder growled from the distant horizon.
 
Inside Vanguard Vault…

Slate tried to find additional information as to Clone’s whereabouts, including video cameras around the Russian compound. He wouldn’t invade the Russians’ systems unless he was specifically asked. He thought about the Cuban Missile Crisis, and had no intent of creating a diplomatic incident. He also looked for any American security devices that might currently be targeting the consulate and found none.
 
The scion of cyberspace hacked into a traffic camera on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 91st Street. Half a block down the street it showed a solitary figure, obscured in rain and darkness, crossing the street to the embassy!
 
Slate said. “That’s him. His communicator is moving toward the consulate. Wait. The GPS stopped moving… I think he dropped his communicator.”

"He's outside the embassy," Symbiote said, moving quickly to his computer. "Once he's inside, he's in Soviet territory and getting him back or even just talking to him becomes a lot more complicated. We have to reach him NOW," he said, waving his gauntlet over a contact on the computer. The Harness absorbed Lightning Strike's power template!
 
With that, Hal turned to electricity -SHAKOW!- and dove into a power outlet and travelled by electrical current

to the nearest lamp post at the consulate, hoping to head Alex off before he made a big mistake!

Symbiote was gone!

Slate began trying to figure out what was going on. He looked at phone records for calls to the Embassy to see if Clone had been in contact. He searched both the phones from the Vault, and from Clones parent’s residence. He also searched for any emails sent to the embassy. He was not trying to read every email Clone had written, more to find any indication that he’d been in contact with the Russian embassy, Mother Russia, or any of his previous team members.

He increasingly became frustrated with how slow the interactions were between him and the computer… typing, waiting for a response… all so inefficient they needed to know what was going on now. He thought fondly of that short time in the digital zone, seeing the data, feeling it around him, he longed to return. IT was in there, somewhere in this very terminal, in every terminal, every digital device, there was a connection. He had to be able to tap into that “source” somehow. 

Slate was vaguely aware of the conversations going on around him, of individuals standing, a flash and Symbiote was gone. Slate could almost see the living electricity moving through the wiring of the Vault, but it was gone so quickly… what must that feel like, he wondered again. His attention snapped back into focus.  

Slate discovered that no calls were placed between Vanguard
Vault or Clone’s parents’ residence and the Soviet Consulate. Clone’s email account showed no email between the consulate, Mother Russia, or any Soviet Super Soldier. The account had been idle for weeks.
The digital child rewound the traffic camera recording in front of the embassy and saw Clone standing for an hour in the rain outside the embassy. Then he tracked him backwards, walking the streets of Big City alone, for hours, until he emerged from Vanguard Vault earlier today.
He reviewed security camera images from within the “public” areas of the Vault and noticed Clone had been uncharacteristically quiet and aloof since the Aztechnology Assault.
Slate froze one image of himself, standing right next to Clone, oblivious to emotions that were now so obvious.
 
Suddenly Slingshot grabbed his son and raced to the top of the Empire State Building. Wrapping his elastic limbs around the northern corners of the observation deck, he slungshot himself and Slate across the sky like a living missile!
 
Avatar emerged onto the Vault observation deck and summoned a Pegasus down from the storm clouds! He leapt atothe white, luminous, impossible steed and flew north!

Shelley was alone in the meeting room, wondering if she should don her Zephyr windsuit and fly to the aid of her friend Alex. But her eyes were transfixed on the traffic camera…
 
Outside the Soviet Consulate…
 
SHAKOW!!! The lamp post exploded in a rain of sparks as Symbiote reassembled his molecules into human form on 91st Street!
Hal reeled to face the embassy and saw Clone standing on the steps before the consulate’s door, just 40 feet away. Through the rain, he saw the door was open and standing in the doorway was Mother Russia, the one-time leader of the Soviet Super Soldiers!
 
Both she and Clone had turned to look toward the explosion of Symbiote’s arrival. Clone still stood outside the consulate’s threshold.
 
Upon materializing outside the consulate, Hal tried to keep it light with the Muscovite Maid of Might and the Replicating Russian.   He smiled at them both and pantomimed dusting off his arms and legs, and feeling of his own torso as if to make sure his body was solid.  "Wow.  If I do that a thousand more times, I don't think I'll ever get used to it," he said.  Symbiote then took two steps closer to the Defecting Duo but moved slowly, keeping his hands where they could see them.  The idea was to convey the feeling that he wasn't there to fight.  "Guys, what are you doing here?  You particularly, Alex?  I know you have concerns--about your powers, about your appearance, about your past.  But do you think you're going to find the answers you want in there?  Do you believe you'll be treated any better, any more fairly or humanely, than you were in the past?"
 
"And Tatanya.  You and I have had some awfully good times, and I thought we kind of trusted each other," he asked, smiling devilishly.  Then, with a more sincere tone, he asked, "Was I wrong?"
 
Mother Russia offered no reply. In fact, her face held no particular expression at all.
 
 


Symbiote continued. "If you need answers, we'll get them for you. I have a few plans, now that I can copy Skin Deep's powers. Slate and Sentinel can do almost anything with computers, and Menagerie seems to have almost unlimited potential with his magic. We'll even put off saving the world again for a while," Symbiote said, jovially. "But you've got to know that going back to the Soviets is just putting chains around your own ankles again."
And he waited for the reply.
 
Suddenly, Lightning Strike materialized on the steps of the consulate, riding an unseen wireless frequency. The electric avenger had just quit Vanguard over Jim Harrik’s pardon. SHAKOW!
He said something briefly to Clone, and perhaps Mother Russia, that Symbiote could not make out.
And then he dematerialized! SHAKOW!
 
Neither Clone nor Mother Russia had spoken to Lightning Strike.
Clone returned his gaze toward Symbiote. He had a look of deep sadness and regret in his eyes. His eyes said what he could not, their message was simply - 'goodbye'. Clone then turned his attention to the Soviet super-heroine standing before him in the open doorway, once again his eyes spoke for the replicating Russian - 'I'm ready'. As Mother Russia stepped inside; with trepidation in his step, Clone walked into the embassy - the door closed slowly behind him.
 
 
Symbiote was alone on the street. Rain fell.
And then down from the heavens descended the otherworldly heroes and demigods of Vanguard!
 
Slingshot’s body was a huge black parachute that carried Slate softly to the street. Slingshot resumed his powerful, human form.

Sentinel levitated downward, his mighty energy shields aglow.

Menagerie, in the form of a great eagle, soared down. SKRAA! The wizard hero had already “seen” everything that had transpired here, through the yellow eyes of a nearby alley cat. 

Avatar’s mighty Pegasus glided down, and the Spartan superhero was momentarily illuminated by a flash of lightning!

Vanguard was assembled! No extrasensory power detected any danger on the street. The consulate that stood before them apparently had some form of defense that thwarted Sentinel’s energy scan and Symbiote’s borrowed electrical senses.
 
Thunder rolled across the heavens.
 
OOC: Actions?!
If you post before Greg/Symbiote, please assume that Symbiote will report all he saw.
 
Current Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 26, Power Points: 70, Manifestation: Pegasus
Clone: Bodies: 1, Hit Points: 20, Power Points: 64, Hit Point Pool: 20
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 23, Power Points: 77
Menagerie: Hit Points: 13, Power Points: 65, Form: Eagle
Sentinel: Hit Points: 27, Power Points: 61, Creation Points: 122, Shields: 100
Slate: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 72
Slingshot: Hit Points: 41, Power Points: 92, Invulnerability: 8
Symbiote: Hit Points: 47, Power Points: 88, Charges: 13, Copied: Lightning Strike
 
Viva Vanguard!
Best,
Jeff

 
--------------------------------------------------
 
Symbiote:
OOC: Yes indeed, Symbiote will tell the team everything he saw. Fuming.

More later...
 
--------------------------------------------------
 
Sentinel:
OOC: Archer - Yes, I guess my head is scrambled and I have visited too many parallel dimensions. I thought we did have some sort of change in law ... if not with Primate, was there something about artificial intelligence?
 
On the appearance of Lightning Strike, any chance Symbiote has a clue whether it was our Strike or Omega Strike?
 
On Kirk's senses being blocked. Does he sense a mystical field blocking him or technological? It is a wall or circular? (ie could he perhaps approach from above or below to change perspective) Can Menagerie make contact inside or is he blocked also?
 
You did say outside there was no danger from our senses... any evidence that Strike is nearby still in any form?
 
What do we know about the Russian Ambassador? It seems likely Kirk would know his name and some stuff about him, etc.
 
Way I see it, unless we want to cause an international incident all we can do is wait... unless we are inviting in. Highly unlikely, but no reason not to try...
 
My formal action will be forthcoming and based on some of the above... but at this point I'm thinking Kirk turns to the rest of Vanguard and says, "If there are no objections, I'm going to try knocking..." Kirk will go to the door/intercom and try to see if he can speak with the Russian Ambassador. If they open the door to respond perhaps some of our senses will work. If he can get inside, why not do so and see what he can see? And if they say no, no loss here.
 
Seth
 
--------------------------------------------------
 
Menagerie:
OOC: Does Menagerie know about Clone's ability to make duplicates that a permanent?
Can Menagerie contact any mice or pets within the Embassy? Can he listen in on the conversions? Is there any conversations that aren't in Russian?
Can Menagerie sense anything magical in the area?
Was Clone ever given American Citizenship? Would Vanguard know if he was?
Menagerie asked those around him if anyone know of a way to get a message to Clone? The message Menagerie wants to send is "Rachel Ray is worried about you and wants to talk to you."
 
Happy Thanksgiving
Tom
 
--------------------------------------------------
 
Sentinel:
OOC:
Hey.
That gave me a thought. Energy senses not working... but I didn't specify about telepathy. Can Kirk get a telepathic lock on Clone to hear his thoughts? I'm guess Jeff will say no but if yes, at least we can get a clue. That would be one way, but of Menagerie is able to broadcast his thoughts from animal form (like he always does) we could in essence communicate - if that power set would work... although it seems Clone wasn't looking to do so prior to entering the embassy... perhaps now, and if not, at least we might learn the situation before contemplating our next move.
 
Seth
 
--------------------------------------------------
 
GM:
Replies to Sentinel and Symbiote:
 
Sentinel replies first:
“I thought we did have some sort of change in law ... if not with Primate, was there something about artificial intelligence?”
 
GM Reply: Yes. AI was ruled to have the same rights as an American citizen, much to Nanite’s relief.
 
“On the appearance of Lightning Strike, any chance Symbiote has a clue whether it was our Strike or Omega Strike?”
 
GM Reply: No.
 
“On Kirk's senses being blocked. Does he sense a mystical field blocking him or technological? It is a wall or circular?”
 
GM Reply: Kirk can’t tell.
 
“You did say outside there was no danger from our senses... any evidence that Strike is nearby still in any form?’
 
GM Reply: No.
 
“What do we know about the Russian Ambassador? It seems likely Kirk would know his name and some stuff about him, etc…
"If there are no objections, I'm going to try knocking..." Kirk will go to the door/intercom and try to see if he can speak with the Russian Ambassador. If they open the door to respond perhaps some of our senses will work. If he can get inside, why not do so and see what he can see? And if they say no, no loss here.”
 
GM Reply: Kirk knows the Russian Ambassador’s name, but he lives in Washington DC. Whoever is responsible for the consulate would normally not be here, as it’s well after official hours.
If you try the knock idea, please include an if/then series of orders, in case it doesn’t work, so I’d still be able to move the story along.
 
“Can Kirk get a telepathic lock on Clone to hear his thoughts?”
 
GM Reply: The young telepath scans the Russian consulate and can detect 13 conscious minds within the building! They are scattered among the basement, first floor, second floor and third floor. He has no way of identifying Clone without a thought scan. He chooses a mind close to the front door (PR= 1, + another 1 for using an action) attempts a mind scan and finds he cannot read the subject’s thoughts! Kirk can’t identify the cause of this failure, whether it’s the same cause of his failed energy scan, or if it’s the subject’s ability to resist a mind scan!  (OOC: What now? Scanning the remaining 12 will cost 24 points of Power)
 
Replies to Menagerie:
“Does Menagerie know about Clone's ability to make duplicates that a permanent?”
 
GM Reply: No. No one in Vanguard does.
 
“Can Menagerie contact any mice or pets within the Embassy? Can he listen in on the conversions? Is there any conversations that aren't in Russian?”
 
GM Reply: Menagerie can only see through the eyes of “Earth’s wild predators.” There are none inside the consulate.
 
“Can Menagerie sense anything magical in the area?”
 
GM Reply: No.
 
“Was Clone ever given American Citizenship? Would Vanguard know if he was?”
 
GM Reply: He was working toward it for him and his family. Vanguard hadn’t heard if it was given yet, but it would’ve been a big deal; Alex would have mentioned it, so it must not have happened yet.
 
Best,
Jeff
 
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Menagerie:
Menagerie stared at the Russian Consulates door in shock and dismay. He tried desperately to use his heightened senses to find out if Clone was being controlled magically. He called out to the predators in the area to find out if Clone was being held against his will.
 
There was no response.
 
From everything he could tell Clone walked in of his own free will into the traitorous arms of Mother Russia. He couldn’t believe it either. He had heard she had changed to the point of adopting the moniker of Knockout.
 
The memory of Lightning Strike appearing and speaking to Clone flashed in Menagerie’s mind’s eye. He could not believe it then when the rat had shown him and he can’t believe it now.
 
Menagerie slowly walked around the perimeter of the building. He made sure he stayed on U.S. soil at all times. He wasn’t going to create an international incident over this. It was Clone’s free right to enter. He was a Russian citizen still as far as Frank new. Beside no one had to defect to leave the U.S.A. It was a free country where leaving the country for another is allow as long as proper documents were filed. Menagerie reminded himself Clone wasn’t American; he was Russian so all he had to do is exactly what he did.
 
Clone had the freedom to leave Vanguard just like the others had before including Lightning Strike. There was not wrong to right here, only a personal choice to be made.
 
So why did Menagerie feel so bad. Was it because Clone had left with saying good-bye to either Snowball or him?
 
Menagerie stopped walking. He had found what he was looking for. A place to roost that would provide visibility to the most used exits.
 
Menagerie turned into an owl. He flew up to the roosting spot.
 
He reached out to the smallest predators he could find. He offered them food in the winter and a chance to serve ‘Our Lady’. He needed eyes to watch least used exits. Any obstructed or secret exists that they knew about he asked them to watch as well.
 
Unsure of what to do for Clone, if anything at all; Menagerie did the only thing he could do for his friend.
 
He watched.
 
Viva Vanguard
Tom
 
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Sentinel:
Before Kirk physically approached a small 'unseen' strand of his energy (figure a millimeter or so, likely perceptible to virtually no one and of translucent color with energy glow as minimal and undetectable as Kirk can do) flows at ground level towards the structure. The goal here is to see if the barrier that prevents his and Menageries senses from working is physical also. The energy will approach the structure and see if it is blocked.
 
If there is no barrier then I've a question. Let's say Kirk extended the energy past the entrance area into the premises
(1) Would it be possible for Kirk to use his energy that is past the barrier (assuming the barrier is surrounding the premises) to amplify his energy sense to reading inside? In other words since his energy would be 'in theory' past the area could his senses flow through the energy as a conduit to get him some readings?
(2) If Kirk has reason to believe the above is possible, is he on good ground having his energy enter the premises or might that create an incident equal to himself entering?
 
 
Assuming no further information is gotten to give a reason not to do so, Kirk will 'knock'.
He'll go up to wherever visitors go and ask if he can see Clone.
 
If someone answers, (assuming an intercom device) it would be a simple request along the lines of, "This is Sentinel of Vanguard, we know that one of our members Clone, was apparently invited into and has entered your embassy. We're concerned about him and would like to know if it is possible to speak with him."
 
Again, not looking to provoke anything here.
 
Assuming we don't get to speak with him and seeing Menagerie watching the premises after they move away from earshot he'll use their communicator to have Ajay get some eyes in the sky and see what the satellites can pick up. Is their thermal readings also blocked? Can he get things set up to maintain watch as to those existing and leaving, etc for when Menagerie wants to leave if this drags on.
 
Assuming we make it back to headquarters and we have a discussion about about this turn of events, Kirk will make the point that although it is possible that Clone took these actions freely, there is another possibility. He could have taken these actions under the influence of another... it might not even have been total control. He might have just gotten an extra push towards something he was already considering... he had withdrawn from us which was unlike him and he left without a word. Even if taking this action, why not tell us? This could even have been some sort of Russian mental 'programming' which was triggered.
 
If I'm missing anything else needed or anything above is unclear, let me know. But I wanted to get something in before deadline.
 
Thanks.
Seth
 
PS: Forgot about the mind reading. Kirk won't try to scan all of the minds but perhaps another couple located elsewhere in the building to see if he is being blocked or not.
 
If it ends up that they are leaving the scene to return to headquarters without a big showdown (which I'm expecting here)... if trying some more reads might give a better clue as to what they are up against here, he would do so before leaving.
 
Thanks.
Seth
 
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Slingshot:
Slingshot listened to Symbiote relate what he missed. "It sounds like he's doing this voluntarily. Something must have happened that both Clone and Mother Russia, both defectors, would be willing to go back for."
He paced for a moment. "Whatever it is, we know they are good people and we know they would go back for what was right." He slams a meaty right fist into his left palm. He turns on his PDA and calls out for HQ, hoping for either Grey or Drake. "I want a report of the whereabouts of Polar Bear and Shatter. Do we know where they are and if they have also gone back to Russian territory?"

[OOC]
The goal is again to get information. If they (Bear/Shatter) are available, someone should go meet them and question them on what would motivate Mother Russia/Clone to go back. I would elect Symbiote since he can travel faster/farther than any of us right now. Otherwise, we can travel the normal way.

If they have both re-defected, then that would leave us with one last person to reach - it's a long shot, if he's still alive, I mean cosmonaut. We could likely ask the Entity to help with the search.

These are the only leads that I can come up with at the moment. I'll try to think up some more, but I'm running out of time.
[/OOC]
 
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Slate:
IC] "Why don't we all defect? That would at least keep the team together? I'm not saying go all the way with it, but at least get inside the consulate to talk to them or Clone."

[OOC] Clone will follow the team on this one, they've known Clone longer and know him better than Slate, so he's not stepping out by himself. If Slingshot mentions Cosmonaut or contacting the Entity, Slate gets very excited, and volunteers to help set something up, as he's been studying everything digital since he returned from his trip into the Zone.

[IC] "If we decide not to enter, I can setup monitoring sub-routines that will keep the consulate under surveillance 24/7 and alert us to any movements, but as we've all seen recently, movement doesn't always require walking through the front door. I can also tap into the communication grid to see if there is any traffic regarding Clone or Mother Russia coming into our out of the consulate. Doubtful they'd let something like that slip, people have been monitoring those communications for quite some time..."

Jon
 
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Sentinel:
OOC:
Another thought based on Slate’s reply. Let's see if we can check surrounding traffic cams and other devices, etc from the past couple of weeks to see what other suspicious characters have come and gone... as Jon said, many don't come and go that way, but perhaps some do.
 
Seth
 
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Symbiote:
OOC:
I've been slow to respond on this one because frankly, I'm stumped.

Seth/Kirk's idea of just going up and knocking is beautiful in it's simplicity. Hal's all for it if nobody else has a better idea. He's willing to go visit Polar Bear and Shatter if they can be located, too (though I thought Shatter got turned into a horrific monster in the Lost Lands? Am I thinking of somebody else?).

Beyond that? If we go back to Vault with our tails between our legs (as is looking likely), he'll begin trying to figure out a way to track down Lightning Strike. Strike knows something he's not telling us, and while this normally doesn't bother Hal, it does if it's endangering Clone (and possibly Mother Knockout, as I shall think of her for now).

Viva Vanguard,

Greg
 
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GM:
OOC:
Hi,
That wasn't Shatter.
Echo was transformed into a hideous monster in the Lost Lands, in Vanguard Issue 96:
 
 
Best,
Jeff
 
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Slingshot:
OOC: I'm good with simply walking up to the consulate and talking to them. I'm just not interested in getting into a fight.
 
My character is no spy, but couldn't we be able to "compromise" some of the help? I'm not quite in favor of giving money, but we might be able to get some cleaner to divulge information they might know about?
 
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