Vanguard Roll Call!

Vanguard Roll Call!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Vanguard: Issue 172: Axis and Allies!



 Cthulhu was coming. And with him, the end of the world.

Vanguard had undertaken a desperate quest. Earth’s greatest heroes had seven days to secure nine artifacts of power, else all would be lost.

The Mystic, Archimedes and Oracle would blindgate Vanguard to each of the artifacts. Once there, they would have up to an hour to secure the artifact before the gate could be re-opened to return them.

The first artifact lay hidden somewhere within the Lost Laboratory of Dr. Swastika, behind the Iron Curtain!



Dr. Swastika was a mad Nazi scientist with a heart as twisted as his name. Creator and leader of the nefarious Ubermensch, Swastika conquered science itself to create the Over Man ideal.

Slate discovered a journal in the lab that revealed Swastika’s fascination with sorcery, especially the Cthulhu Mythos. There was an amazing illustration of the Star Giant, penned in Swastika’s hand.


The journal covered the Nazi expedition to the Lost Lands of Antarctica, wherein lay the Temple of Terror. There were illustrations of the Dinosaur Men, and of temple hieroglyphs depicting the race of Inhumans. Next to that, to Slate’s surprise, was a depiction of a creature that resembled his father, Slingshot! Slate was jarred from the book by the sudden sound of rending iron! 


Slingshot pulled the fire door from its hinges as quietly as he could and Vanguard peered into the dark stone hallway that lay beyond it.

Menagerie and Sentinel detected the emanations of the artifact of power coming from the north.

Sentinel prepared to create a construct to trigger any traps that lay in their path when suddenly the air shifted! Somehow there were now more people in the lab! Even in the poor light, Vanguard recognized them!


  The Soviet Super Soldiers!
  • Mother Russia! Strong, invulnerable and courageous!
  • Polar Bear! The ursine abomination!
  • Hammer and Sickle! Experienced, ruthless super-agents!
  • Siberian?! Vanguard knew the frozen fiend was in custody in CHESS Castle!
  • The Collective?! This man looked like the Clone when Vanguard first met him in the Lost Lands!
  • Proletariat and Revolution! Vanguard knew their appearance and names but no more, despite the fact they had researched the Soviet Super Soldiers earlier that day!
 Vanguard had been on site for only ten minutes.
Both super-teams were equally prepared for trouble, so neither got the jump on the other.

The Soviet Super Soldiers were 100 feet away from Vanguard on the other side of the dark, abandoned lab!

The air here was bad, almost dangerous.

Mother Russia shouted in Russian, “Super Soldiers, Go!”


Avatar, ever the battle tactician, said softly to his team mates, “We must keep in mind that we have several of these things to secure. We can't expend ourselves on any one if we can help it. "Snatch and grab" rather than brawling should be our goal on each of them. This is a fight we wouldn't likely win without serious depletion of our resources.”

Menagerie quickly asked Sentinel "Do we fight or go for the artifact?"

Sentinel concurred with the demigod of destiny, "Our objective is the artifact.  It would be best to avoid any conflicts that we can, but that decision may not be ours to make here."

Vanguard had arrived just moments ago, Sentinel thought.  With our earliest possible retrieval being almost an hour away it seemed that a conflict with the SSS was inevitable.  They couldn’t just grab the artifact and depart.

“Mother Russia… Tatiana.  Stop!  Whatever you’ve been told, this conflict is unnecessary.  Vanguard’s sole purpose here is to prevent the total destruction of Earth’s inhabitants including those under your protection.  Surely that objective is in harmony with the goal of the Soviet Super Soldiers.”

Kirk voiced the words waiting to see the response; was there free will on her part and was she misinformed or was she a puppet being controlled and manipulated against her desire?

And then suddenly it all began to come together in his head, and if he was right, it didn’t paint a pretty picture.  Vanguard has already seen at the Embassy that their enemy had the means to confound their extra sensory perceptions… the SSS appearing here at this very moment was no coincidence.  They came in response to Vanguard triggering an undetected alarm system.  And the SSS wasn’t here to retrieve the artifact… no, it was already in the possession of the one sending them here.  They were sent to protect it until the exact time it was needed.

If Swastika was the one behind this it fit his MO.  It followed what he did with the Star Giant in their first encounter.  If not him then surely the same insane thought pattern; they think they have the means to summon and control and harness the power of Cthulhu!

Sentinel called out to the man who now called himself the Collective! "Alex.  What is going on here with you?  The one thing that I do know is that at your core, the very center of your being, you would never willingly do anything to endanger a single innocent... let alone all of them!  Help us to help you.  Help us to save the world again."

Slingshot thought, Damnit! Sentinel was right, they may have the same intent as we do. He added to what Sentinel just said, "Clone! Polar Bear! Wait! We are here to save the Earth from certain doom! We have had a glimpse of the future and if we do not do our duty, everyone will die..."

The Soviet Super Soldiers ignored Vanguard’s plea, instead conferring further in terse Russian barks. Then they divided their forces with practiced precision and leapt into action!

With the recent loss of Lightning Strike and Soldier, Vanguard had lost some of its speed.

Avatar, like a Spartan general, assessed the field of battle. (OOC: delaying his action)

Sickle raced out of the room, headed north, with incredible speed and agility.
Polar Bear fell to all fours and bounded after her.
Revolution glowed with white light and flew after them.

The Collective exploded outward, impossibly forming 22 selves! The one man search party joined Sickle, Revolution and Polar Bear in the race north, through the nearest fire door, into the lab complex!

Flashlights, and Revolution’s energy signature, illuminated their way through the dusty, cobwebbed, dark complex. They triggered no booby traps… yet.

The Collective knew that Revolution could detect energy sources, Polar Bear had highly developed senses, and Sickle had a handheld scanner. But he had 22 pairs of eyes and ears searching the abandoned mega-bunker! He spread out, had one duplicate stay with each SSS member, and used his eerie telepathy to coordinate their efforts to maximum efficiency!

He could feel the effects of the bad air in this claustrophobic subterranean warren!
(OOC: Rules time. Normally, instead of charging 2 Power Points for your second action as per the rules, I charge 1 PP for every action. But in this bad air, it will cost 3 PP per action for any character that needs air.)

Menagerie suddenly transformed into a large Siberian tiger! “ROAR!” He bared his teeth with ferocity and waited for the remaining members of the SSS to charge!


Slate was shocked to see his friend Clone looking so different.  He slid back against the wall he was standing near... He was aware of the Soviet Super Soldiers and knew that they had fought a larger Vanguard group almost to a standstill in the Lost Lands from his studies of Vanguard’s mission reports. 

Staying behind his team, Slate used his disintegration powers on the wall beside him, away from the door, to get around any mechanical traps Dr. Swastika might have set to.  ZARK! He left the rest of Vanguard delaying the SSS, and tried to find the artifact so they can get back home. 
As soon as he sees Menagerie shifting, he will attempt to let him know telepathically what he is doing... he'll try to do the same thing with Sentinel, but he's not sure how exactly this works... he's received thoughts from Menagerie before, and thinks it will work, at the same time, he'll ask if Menagerie has a "sense" of the direction/distance to the artifact. He received no telepathic response!

Avatar spied Slate’s action and knew this was the better path.  He joined Slate and manifested the power of the sun god, Apollo, illuminating their way through the darkness!  The hunt began!

Avatar and Slate had no supernatural senses to locate the artifact, and so tried to continue north as best they could; following their last instructions from Menagerie and Sentinel.

The competing search parties found ancient machinery, bunkers, offices, storage facilities, war rooms, all abandoned and frozen in time beneath a layer of grey dust. Neither team had found the artifact yet!

(OOC: More rules! In this PBEM, I halve your movement rate to determine how far you can move in one issue (Two issues = one full combat turn). When searching in dark, tight corridors, that movement is halved again!)

Sentinel, Slingshot and Symbiote, seeing Avatar and Slate leave to search for the artifact, joined Menagerie and (held their actions and…) faced off against Mother Russia, Hammer, Proletariat and Siberian, waiting for an attack!

The Super Soldiers did not charge Vanguard. But they were now ready to respond to their pleas.

Mother Russia spat defiantly: “Dr. Swastika has ever been the enemy of the Soviet Union!
In 1945, after we defeated the Nazis at great loss to our people, America rescued Nazi scientists from justice and recruited them by the hundreds to gain a scientific advantage in the coming Cold War!”

Sentinel, one of Vanguard’s two resident historians, knew this to be true. It was called Operation Paperclip.
(OOC: It’s true in our world too!)

Mother Russia continued, “How can we trust those, who have allied themselves with Nazi scientists, to stop Dr. Swastika? And how can we trust your corrupt, compromised government? Your politicians are bought and paid for by capitalists. We have seen it with our own eyes! If a billionaire wanted to own the artifact we seek here today, your craven politicians would turn it over. There is nothing that money can’t buy in America! Your culture is infected with the sickness of greed. And that greed overrules all other considerations, even mankind’s survival! The world lies in the balance! There is too much at stake! This is OUR task! Stand down, Vanguard!”

OOC: Replies? Actions?! One round worth of orders, please.  


Current Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 38, Power Points: 67, Manifestation: Apollo
The Collective: Bodies: 22, Hit Points: 1, Power Points: 39, Hit Point Pool: 22
Menagerie: Hit Points: 21, Power Points: 66 (62), Form: Tiger
Sentinel: Hit Points: 29, Power Points: 61, Creation Points: 122, Shields: 100: Held Action
Slate: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 71
Slingshot: Hit Points: 50, Power Points: 92, Invulnerability: 8: Held Action
Symbiote: Hit Points: 55, Power Points: 91, Charges: 13, Copied: Zero G: Held Action

Viva Vanguard.

Best,
Jeff

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Slate:
IC: Following Avatar's lead, Slate stayed to the center of the hall way's peering into musty rooms and chambers, still utilizing his comprehension skills to try and figure out what each of the rooms was for, and if anything looked out of place, or if he say anything that might indicate a hidden room or trap.

At the same time he kept reviewing the illustration from the journal, and the hieroglyphs, what could they mean... could the illustration have been from when Vanguard was catapulted through time, or was it something else?  Knowing Avatar's background and more than a little nervous, Slate asked, "Avatar, back in the forgotten lands at the Temple of Terror, did you ever get a look at the Hieroglyphs?"  He figures Avatar's had a lot more experience translating texts that he has.  With time and access to the web, he's confident he could do it, but maybe Avatar can get the gist of the illustration.
 
Jon

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Avatar:
IC:  "I didn't.  Not really."  John's reply is a bit hesitant.  "Look, Slate, we need to find this artifact fast.  I'm going to go ahead and run through this place fast and see if I can find it.  Hopefully it's obvious and I'm not going to run headlong into any traps but we have to make this fast."

John waits a moment for any reply that Slate might have but will then activate Heightened Speed and take off through the complex looking to see if he can find something obvious.  If he sees an enemy, he'll try to flash them and blind them with Light Control or, better yet, maneuver around them at super-speed and continue his search.  Without more direction he feels a little foolish but there's no time to waste.  He remembers that the stats for the Cthulhu mythos "gods" in the old Deities & Demigods book are better than those for the Greek gods.

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Sentinel:
Kirk didn’t miss a beat and replied, “Tatiana, I can’t truthfully deny that there are those with money in the United States that have used it to further their personal agendas any more than you could truthfully deny that in your country there aren’t those that have worked their way through your political system to further their own ends at the expense of the working class.  What I can tell you is that this isn’t a United States mission, this is a Vanguard mission.  Our government didn’t bring the facts to us, we brought it to them.

“Also, you know where I choose to spend my personal time and efforts.  It’s furthering the REACH program.  And the REACH program is about people, not governments, and it knows no borders.
And no one has more contempt for that filth Swastika than I do.”  And Kirk realized that she had just identified Swastika as being currently behind this threat.

“The only people I trust are my team.  And right now one of them stands at your side.  What I know about you firsthand is you’re stubborn once your mind is set; I admire that.  But I also bet you hate being played as much as I do.”

Kirk looked at Clone and said, “Alex knows I will use every means to my disposal to uncover the truth and will do the right thing to protect innocents, just like I know that is exactly what Alex would do.” **
(** in game terms, trying once again as done last round to trigger Clone’s ‘weakness’ into giving him additional attempts to break free or fight any control of influence being exerted on him, if there is any)

And at that moment after, after in effect, choreographing to Alex what he was about to do, Kirk triggered a mind read of Clone in hopes of him being able to reveal what was going on here.
“Tatiana I suspect you have some doubts about things here too, otherwise you wouldn’t have held your team back just now.  So how about it?  Alex is the bridge between both of our teams so let us hear what he has to say.  ‘Alex, why did you leave us so suddenly without even talking to any of us?  And if you feel your mission here is right, and ours off, talk to me.  Convince us.  You know we’ll do what is right.”

If Kirk’s mind read becomes a detected issue (hoping not like last adventure) instead of being an undetected move he will say something along the lines of, “Alex knows exactly what means I have at my disposal and I’d just told him I was using it.”  (or anything along those lines)

If a fight breaks out despite their efforts at detente he will encourage Menagerie to go for the item since likely a foe will follow him anyway to prevent it and he and Kirk have the best shot to locate it for now.

OOC: Hey Jeff,
I thought a Clone was with Mother Russia since you had mentioned him pairing off with a duplicate being with each SSS member for communication via his telepathy…wouldn’t one stay with Mother Russia to update her on the progress and if they find the artifact?
If yes, then what I wrote is fine.  If not then it will have to be reworked to perhaps see if she will call one of the Clones back or communicate with him via communicator.  Let me know.

If the battle ensues if Vanguard can separate from the SSS to pursue the artifact that would be preferred but he won’t leave his remaining teammates to be terribly outnumbered.

Seth

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GM:
OOC:
Hi Seth,
As told in the now-classic Vanguard Issue 172, the Collective left the lab to search for the artifact.

Please give me an if-then statement in case Mother Russia doesn't re-direct one of the duplicates from the search effort.
And don't forget that you (and Symbiote and Slingy) need to give me orders for two actions this time, since you saved your actions last ish.

Thanks,
Jeff

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Menagerie:
Menagerie will snarl and growl to warn the SSS that their views of America does not apply to Vanguard. He will then run off after the artifact to secure it. He will dodge and weave to keep from being followed. He will mind speak to Avatar in an effort to guide him to it quickly.

Best
Tom

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Avatar:
OOC:
After John does his Heightened Speed power activation, he'll try to cover a bunch of ground looking for this object that we're supposed to get and hoping that it's obvious.

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Slingshot:
Listening to Sentinel, Scott nods. [If Tatiana needs more convincing] "Vanguard tries to be true. We have bested greed recently. Silas Caine thought his money was able to let him do anything, but that is not the case anymore."

"Last time, we were at odds, it had to do with the Entity. You were present there yourself! Did we not do the right thing? We are looking for the artifacts to keep them away from the opposition that would want to raise this ancient demon and lead us to world destruction. Let's work together to find the items."

[if she doesn't let go.] "We have access to ways of hiding and protecting the artifacts. What is your plan?"

[side note - anyways to contact the mystics? I would like to ask them if there is any chance that the introduction of SSS is something new and changes the future? Or they are part of the vision and they simply failed at this hunting?]

[assuming that the mystics respond that they are part of the mission and they fail] "Tatiana, the mystics are telling us that their vision includes your attempts at gathering the artifacts and somehow, these demons get summoned. Help us!"

[Move/Action]
If SSS is still threatening us, I'll stay as a diversion and as muscle. My response to attack is the same as before, since all the muscle is here. I'll play Slingshot Bowling Alley. I'll try to tie them up that way. I will not attack, only if attacked.

If SSS relents and leaves us be, then I'll use my high move rate and flexible nature to help with the search. I'll spread as far and as wide as possible. I will ask sentinel/menagerie what it looks like.

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Slate:
IC: As Slate watches Avatar's form, and his source of light vanishing like a torch dropped down a hole, he stares into the darkness, contemplating his next move... "This was a mistake," he thinks to himself.  He turns, and using his photographic memory of the path that led him here, moves back to the hallway, and the rest of the team in the dark.  

Jon

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Sentinel:
OOC: Hi Jeff.

Will continue to do best to avoid conflict.  If it can be avoided, will take off in pursuit of object using senses if situation makes sense to allow it.

You still didn't confirm if it was Clone via his energy signature but assuming it is Alex, if we don't fight and he encounters one of the Clones he will attempt to determine what is happening with him.

If battle cannot be avoided, Kirk will engage as necessary.  He also wouldn't throw the first blow.

If he can use senses to determine if there is additional influence on SSS that would be helpful.  Either they are unwittingly in Swastika's control (assuming their intel about him being behind this is correct) or else we can likely expect to encounter a 'third party' here too on Swastika's behalf (or whoever is trying to get the object for the summoning). Also someone or something from them has been giving himself and Menagerie issues with their senses so either it is one of their new new members or again, that other influence (Swastika?).  He will keep his senses alert for anything that would indicate outside sources or the source of their blocked powers.

At this point Vanguard is going for the artifact and Menagerie can likely figure out location as well as Kirk, so if he can determine what is really happening here and ALL the players involved is now becoming more of Kirk's goal than the object.  If he can somehow determine who via energy senses may be their teleporter (if present) that would be another good goal so they don't disappear with the artifact if they retrieve it.

Best,
Seth

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GM:
OOC:
Thanks Seth,
Here's what I wrote (in Issue 171 reply) about scanning the Collective:
"Sentinel, the Collective is within your range. Scanning him takes some of the Movement segment of your Action. I'm happy to give you the results now as they'll affect much, but wanted to confirm with you the following:

During an Action, a player may Move and Attack in whatever order they choose, but can only do each of these segments once. No one can Move, Attack, Move, for example.

So scanning now means you're choosing to use your Move segment and then your Attack segment this issue, in that order. Is that what you want?"

I don't think I ever got an answer.

Thanks,
Jeff

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Sentinel:
OOC: Sorry about missing that Jeff.  Yes, we need to try to determine there here.  Let me get my 'reads' and that intel may further help actions.

I suppose physical movement could be added to the 'read' if the actions of others dictate it prior to any 'attack'.

Thanks.
Seth

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Clone/ The Collective:
Private to GM:

Jeff, I'm assuming that the Soviet Super Soldiers were somehow teleported into the lab and have team communicators. Based on those assumptions I think I have a half-way decent battle plan for them.

While 'The Collective' army scrambles through the rear portions of the lab with Revolution and Sickle, the four duplicates in front of Polar Bear could split off from the search ( along with Polar Bear ) and use that tunnel/corridor that they're currently running through to attack Menagerie, Sentinel, Slingshot, and Symbiote from the rear/side. Hammer, Mother Russia, Proletariat, and Siberian would then follow suit and charge into battle against them as well. This assault on Vanguard wouldn't actually be meant as an attempt to destroy them, but rather a way to draw Slate and Avatar back to the main group and provide Revolution, Sickle, and the remaining Collective duplicates with the opportunity to search for the artifact on their own without competition. If they're successful in finding the artifact they would all simply teleport out.

If they can't teleport out - I think its still a half-way decent plan . . . it'll just have a slightly more involved 'exit strategy' attached to it now. lol ;)

The Collective doppelgangers will of course use their battle-staves in combat. If possible, they will attack Symbiote's harness directly in an effort to take him out of the fight quickly.

Talk to you soon, Jeff

-Kev


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Symbiote:
Symbiote will again hold his action.  After Sentinel speaks to the SSS, he'll also speak to Mother Russia.

OC:  "He's right, Tatania," Hal said, keeping his hands to his sides and speaking in a neutral tone.  "I won't try to debate history, economics or politics with you here today, if for no other reason that none of us have the time.  Cthulhu's coming

"But if you don't trust our government--and believe me, sometimes I don't either--can you at least trust US?" he asked, earnestly.  "I think Vanguard was more than fair to your team during the Lost Lands incident, and afterwards, when some of you defected--or at least seemed to.  And I think you've had some positive experiences with both Talon and Me.  Do we really seem like the kind of people who want to turn the power of Cthulhu over to government--any government?  We're working with some mystic powers who hold no allegiance to any earthly government.  Please trust us.  It'd be a great waste of resources if our teams fought while the house burned down">
  
If the Bolshevik Blockbuster listens to reason, Hal will continue to stand down.  If not, he'll try the increase gravity/reverse gravity trick we discussed last issue.

Viva Vanguard,

Greg

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Friday, March 22, 2013

Vanguard: Issue 171: The Lost Laboratory of Dr. Swastika!



The Mystic said, “It’s time.
“We will attempt to gate you near the location of the first Artifact of Power. “Near” because we dare not place you directly upon it, for fear that the artifact’s power could affect our spell.”

Archimedes said to Menagerie, “Once there, ye’ll be able to detect ets presence.”

The Mystic said, “Once there, contact us so we know from where to bring you back. Remember, it could take as long as an hour before we’re able to return you.”

Oracle closed her eyes and concentrated on the many paths the future might hold.

The Mystic and Archimedes wove a magic spell before Vanguard’s eyes. Hieroglyphic equations of otherworldly geometry formed in midair in bright lines of gold and blue. An all-seeing eye, not unlike that which emblazoned Sentinel’s chest, grew within an expanding circle that then cut into physical space itself. The circle glowed bright as the sun and the air shifted as static electricity built up within the room.

Sentinel noticed the eye of the spell and unconsciously glanced at his own insignia and the similarities. His conversation with Lancaster about its choice and origin flashed into his mind… about some of its background being intertwined in mystical origins… why was it that although there, Kirk never pursued it further? Was there something more about the symbol that he needed to know? That mattered?
And then his concerns were lost as …

“Go now Vanguard!” called Archimedes over the wind and white light that blasted from the gate!
“And may She watch over ye!”

The six remaining members of Vanguard advanced into the light in the formation suggested by Menagerie and suddenly all went black!
The light, the wind and the noise were gone. Vanguard was in a pitch so absolute they couldn’t see their hands before their faces. All was still.

Vanguard activated the mini-flashlights that had recently been added to their Vanguard communicators.
Sentinel brightened his energy shields.

Through the darkness they saw they were in a large, incredible laboratory, overtaken and ruined by time and disuse.
The long walls were lined with equipment and bookshelves. The air was bad, almost dangerous. It was quiet as the grave. There were power generators, long silent.


There were human-sized chemical vats, long empty.


The windowless chamber was 30 feet wide and over a hundred feet long, extending into the darkness, beyond Vanguard’s light. There was one exit, a rusted steel fire door, and it was closed.

Menagerie’s Nature Sense revealed no living predators within his range. As Archimedes promised, Menagerie could detect a power source, the first “Artifact of Power.” It was coming from the direction of the door.

Sentinel’s Energy Sense also detected the power source of the First Mysterious Artifact, a type of energy he had never experienced before. Save Vanguard, there were no other energy sources within his range.

Avatar, a scholar, archeologist and historian, quickly scanned a few titles from among the vast collection of tomes. “Mostly German language. 18th century… 19th… nothing beyond the early 20th century. Science. Philosophy. Ancient History. Mythology…”

Symbiote’s scientific training told him they were standing in an abandoned biochemistry lab that had not been used in many decades. Its equipment was antique but arrayed in new and groundbreaking ways, yet unseen even in the 21st century.

Slate found no computer equipment of any kind within sight. He flicked light switches on the wall and there was no power. He saw everyone’s Vanguard communicator had no connectivity. Slate performed a quick modification on his, and got the GPS working for a only moment. “We’re in East Germany. Behind the Iron Curtain,” he reported.

Slingshot’s engineering skills told him they were underground, to judge from the bad air and the design of the stone floors, walls and ceilings. He slowly, cautiously stretched his arm, and the communicator flashlight, down the length of the long hall, seeking its end. The light revealed two more rusting fire doors before reaching the chamber’s far wall. It held a hearth large enough for a man to walk into.

Above its mantle was a life size portrait, an incredible oil painting of drama and chiaroscuro. The striking subject pulled back a blood red curtain to reveal a new world beyond. The eyes were filled with brilliance and the proud face was as severe, jagged and gothic as a broken stained glass window.
Sentinel was the first to recognize him. The portrait’s subject was a young Dr. Swastika.


Dr. Swastika was a mad Nazi scientist with a heart as twisted as his name. Creator and leader of the nefarious Ubermensch, Swastika was believed killed in 1945. Remains of his body were recovered from an explosion and identified.
It was only discovered in the Third Age of Heroes* that his head had survived, when he launched American nuclear missiles in an attempt to trigger a nuclear war and the destruction of civilization. (see Vanguard issues 1-26, true believers!)
He was seemingly killed after Vanguard stopped his mad plans, but Vanguard knew Dr. Swastika had mastered the insidious ability to transfer his consciousness in order to possess other people’s bodies!
(*First Age of Heroes: WWII. Second Age: 1980’s. Third Age: Now!)

Sentinel knew.  As soon as he saw the human-sized vats, he knew.  No need for the reconnaissance.  They were personally investigating Dr. Swastika’s ‘abandoned’ lab. Avatar’s dating the literature provided evidence.  Slate’s GPS check confirmed it in Kirk’s mind.
There, it came together.  Part of him said he was being paranoid.  Part of him thought himself being practical.  He was always looking for Swastika’s unseen influence, never believing him gone.  And it made sense, what with his ability to control minds and inhabit the bodies of others.  With the way he had influenced the course of history with no one discovering it until far too late.  With the pain he caused those close to Kirk, to Kirk himself.  He had thought that Dr. X might have been at least a pawn of Swastika or perhaps a refuge for the mind of the inhuman being himself… and there was evidence of it staring at him on the wall.

He gazed knowingly at the picture.  With an uncharacteristic disgust in his voice he whispered, “Swastika.  I hate that guy.”
Realizing that back at the Russian Embassy both his and Menagerie’s senses were blocked he said, “Give me a moment.”  He approached closer towards the object.  Perhaps they could both sense that and other things be blocked because of its unnatural power.  He took note of all he could about its readings as he walked closer.  And then he tried a mental scan of the area.  Would that identify other beings in the area when his energy sense wouldn’t?

Sentinel detected no conscious minds within his range. He suggested that after opening the door, if they still see nothing, he send a human-like construct in towards the object first to see if it triggers any scientific or mystical devices or booby traps guarding the object.  “There is no way it is sitting here unguarded and unclaimed where we can just walk in and retrieve it and leave.  It couldn’t be that easy!”

Slingshot retracted his arm and looked around. He wasn't sure if being overwhelmed by the historical horror of what was done here or by the sheer fact that he stepped into a relic of a momentous time (no matter how ghastly it could have been).

It was quite a disconcerting moment. He immediately tried to take in the situation, Ethan's reaction (while he is behaving like a young adult, Scott can't help but think he's still a child in many ways).

And he kept an eye out to Symbiote. There was probably a treasure trove of things and information from a science of the body perspective in such a place. While Slingshot trusted Symbiote with his life, he had been known to have had some errors in judgment that led to disastrous consequences. Looking at a place like this, you wonder if a young Swastika wasn't just a few errors from being a Doc Rocket?

Slingshot stayed vigilant for any beasts or guardian that might still remain in this place. The place is quiet. Over all, he will wait on Sentinel or Menagerie to point to the artifact so we can move before something wakes.

Scott kept his voice down. He looked at Sentinel and Menagerie. "This place sleeps, let’s get what we want and get out."

Menagerie focused all his senses, physical and magical on the lab. He fell to the stone floor!

Menagerie’s mind reeled at the animal psychometry that assailed him! Countless lab animals had suffered and died here in ways unimaginable. Among the nightmare memories of torture and agony that threatened to drown him were images of their cruel author: Dr. Swastika. (A successful Charisma save is made and…) Menagerie regained his composure.
The quick thinking hero managed to piece together a partial floor plan of this house of horrors from what he had seen in the mind’s eye of the pack of the damned. (see partial map below)

"What kind of monster creates this place and what kind of monsters did this place create?"
Then he said to Slingshot, "Agreed." He would lead him to the artifact. He doesn't open the door but stands back to allow one of his stronger, heartier teammates to open it.  He was on watch ready to transform as needed.

Avatar stood at the ready, a vigilant guardian alert to any danger that might present itself. 

Symbiote thought to himself, “Dr. Swastika,” barely controlling the urge to spit. “It figures. The worst evil Vanguard has ever faced, and he has to be at least somewhat involved.”

Though he hadn't been a member during Vanguard's one encounter with Dr. Swastika, Symbiote considered the man to be the team's most hateful enemy, maybe the worst of the metahuman age. Part of it was that the two men weren't that dissimilar--both were scientists, both were fascinated by the metagene and its potential for human improvement. But Hal--imperfectly, admittedly--had tried to use it to help people. Swastika had used it for some of the darkest perversions imaginable.

“Wonder if Zero G's power would be sufficient to completely crush this place into a pit? “ He thought to himself. “Might look into that later, if we manage to save the world. Time to focus on the task at hand.”

"Let's get this done and get out of here," Hal said aloud, with controlled disgust in his voice. He walked towards the doors, the obvious source of the power they were looking for. Hal would try to be particularly aware of the ceiling if trouble erupts--if there's anything sharp and pointed up there he may try to reverse gravity on an opponent and impale him or her on it.
And while it appears that Dr. Swastika hasn't been here in a while, if The Bad Doctor does show up...Hal's going for him first.

Slate curiously approached the equipment... it appeared ancient to him... how did humans accomplish anything before computers came along... without IT's influence they'd probably still be using steam power he thought to himself.  He looked at the gauges and dials, how imperfect, how clumsy this all seemed, probably years ahead of its time when it was created, but about as useless as a tea kettle today.  He ran his finger across the rim of one of the vats, looking at the dust it left on his finger and quietly said, "Mom would love this place" glancing at his father’s back.

Slate began to actually try to figure out what it was that had been done here.  Analyzing the types of equipment, placement, and connections... maybe if he could figure out what they had been trying to do, he could figure out what this power source or artifact might be, and who or what might be protecting it.
He used his Heightened Comprehension to figure out what the equipment in this room was used for, and if there is any evidence... papers/reports/logs, he would quickly look through them in an attempt to figure out what they might be facing.  He would stay close to the group, closest to Slingshot.

The human computer determined that this equipment was used to create extranormals. This place was the cradle of the Ubermensch.
Amongst the papers, he found a thick, dusty leather-bound book. It was the journal of Dr. Swastika!

Filled with incredible illustrations and handwritten notes, the tome was in German, but Slate’s incredible mental abilities (Heightened Comprehension) allowed him to understand some of it. He scanned the pages quickly, reading and absorbing information at an incredible rate.

Dr. Swastika’s given name was Victor. He was born in 1751 (!) near what is now Switzerland.
He attended the University of Ingolstadt, in Bavaria. A medieval university where the Illuminati were born.
Slate’s photographic memory recalled he had read somewhere that the Illuminati movement was founded on May 1, 1776, in Ingolstadt by Jesuit-taught Adam Weishaupt who was the first lay professor of canon law at the University. Dr. Swastika was among them.

Many believed the movement represented a conspiracy to infiltrate and overthrow the governments of the world and replace them with a New World Order.
The symbol of the Illuminati was an all-seeing eye in a pyramid, depicted on the back of every U.S. dollar bill.

After university, Dr. Swastika began experiments in biochemistry designed to extend his life, and then to create life itself. In the 1930’s, he had joined the occultic Nazi party, whom he saw as the continuance of the Illuminati and the Thule society.


The journal spoke of his search to create the Over Man, the Aryan ideal. And that he conquered science itself to achieve that goal.

It also revealed Swastika’s fascination with sorcery, especially the Cthulhu Mythos. There was an amazing illustration of the Star Giant, penned in Swastika’s hand.


The journal covered the Nazi expedition to the Lost Lands of Antarctica, wherein lay the Temple of Terror. There were illustrations of the Dinosaur Men, and of temple hieroglyphs depicting the race of Inhumans.
Next to that, to Slate’s surprise, was a depiction of a creature that resembled his father, Slingshot!

Slate was jarred from the book by the sudden sound of rending iron!


Slingshot pulled the fire door from its hinges as quietly as he could and Vanguard peered into the dark stone hallway that lay beyond it.
Menagerie and Sentinel detected the emanations of the artifact of power coming from the north.
Sentinel prepared to create a man-shaped construct to trigger any traps that lay in their path when suddenly the air shifted!
Somehow there were now more people in the lab! Even in the poor light, Vanguard recognized them!


Mother Russia! Strong, invulnerable and courageous!
Polar Bear! The ursine abomination!
Hammer and Sickle! Experienced, ruthless super-agents!
Siberian?! Vanguard knew the frozen fiend was in custody in CHESS Castle! Could this man be his successor?
The Collective?! This man looked like the Clone when Vanguard met him in the Lost Lands!
Proletariat and Revolution! Vanguard knew their appearance and names but no more, despite the fact they had researched the Soviet Super Soldiers earlier that day!

Both super-teams were equally prepared for trouble, so neither got the jump on the other!

The Soviet Super Soldiers were 100 feet away from Vanguard on the other side of the dark, abandoned lab!
The air here was bad, almost dangerous.

Mother Russia shouted in Russian, “Super Soldiers, Go!”


To be continued!
  
OOC: Actions?!
One combat round worth of orders, please.

Current Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 38, Power Points: 85, Manifestation: None
Menagerie: Hit Points: 21, Power Points: 66, Form: Man
Sentinel: Hit Points: 29, Power Points: 61, Creation Points: 122, Shields: 100
Slate: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 73
Slingshot: Hit Points: 50, Power Points: 92, Invulnerability: 8
Symbiote: Hit Points: 55, Power Points: 91, Charges: 13, Copied: Zero G

Best,
Jeff

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GM:
Private to The Collective!
“Hail Comrades! The Collective has succeeded in his glorious mission to defend The People from the evil capitalist empire of America!
Unbeknownst to the lackeys of corporate power, he had infiltrated their ranks, observed their vile actions and now returns home triumphant to his loving Doctor X!”



Alex now believes the following:

He was an extranormal called "the Collective" who was always a loyal member of the USSR, and was chosen for a very special undercover mission: he was going to pretend to defect to the USA.

Doctor X and the Puppet hypnotized him, creating a new personality: the foolish, harmless laughingstock called Clone. Beneath this ridiculous exterior, he was really a sleeper agent, designed to lull the American government into finding him completely harmless. He would then infiltrate the extranormal program called Vanguard and report back everything he learned to the Homeland.

Doctor X had command words that could trigger responses from “the Clone” without his knowledge, to facilitate regular reports.

His “family” were other sleeper agents. Their “escape” from East Berlin was an elaborate show to cement America’s trust of “the Clone.” Alex’s real family died years ago. The Soviet Super Soldiers are his only family now.

He, Mother Russia, and Polar Bear had just been recalled from deep cover via a trigger word, and their original personality restored, because there is a grave threat to the People. A monstrous, psychic creature from another dimension threatens to invade the world. The Soviet Super Soldiers stand ready to stop it.

They need to retrieve several artifacts to do it. They’ve been transported to the first site through Doctor X’s mental power of teleportation. They expect Vanguard to be there, thanks to the Collective’s years-long reconnaissance. But the decadent imperialists cannot be trusted in this mission. Not when the lives of the People are at stake!

The Collective knows Mother Russia and Polar Bear.
The Siberian is a new agent, using the technology of his brave, martyred predecessor.

Hammer and Sickle are experienced secret agents who the Collective knew before his deep cover assignment to infiltrate Vanguard.
Proletariat and Revolution are new members of the Super Soldiers!

The Collective has shared everything he knows about Vanguard with his comrades. They are ready to do what they must, for the glory of the People!

OOC:
Current Condition:
The Collective: Bodies: 1, Hit Points: 22, Power Points: 64, Hit Point Pool: 22

Thanks,

Jeff

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Avatar:
Have Menagerie and Sentinel actually communicated to anyone else that the artifact is to the north?

We have to keep in mind that we have several of these things to get and can't spend ourselves on any one if we can help it. "Snatch and grab" rather than brawling should be our goal on each of them. This is a fight we wouldn't likely win without serious depletion of our resources.

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GM:
OOC: I'll rule that they indicated a northern direction beyond the fire door, which is all they know at this point. 
  
Thanks,
Jeff

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Menagerie:
OOC: I agree this is a race not a brawl.
  
IC: Menagerie quickly asked Sentinel "Do we fight or go for the artifact?"
 
OOC: Menagerie will turn into a Siberian Tiger. Whether he leads the way or joins the attack, I will provide in a later message.
 
Viva Vanguard
Tom

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Sentinel:
OOC: I agree that a brawl is a waste. but how long have we been here now Jeff. doesn't seem too long. so how long before retrieval assuming we get the item ?

I'm leaning towards talk as we go for the item. but they are already engaging. hard to believe they would want the destruction of everything. so are they all mind controlled at this point or being misled? that would be the question.

Jeff let me know time check and I will try to post. thanks.

One other quick thing Jeff.  Is the Collective within energy sense range so that I know if it is Clone or not?  Knowing that will help in my phrasing what to say here.

Seth

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Slingshot:
OOC: Jeff, I vaguely recall that we had to stay onsite for a while (like an hour) before the mages could teleport us back.

Do I recall correctly?

If that's the case, how long have we been onsite gawking at the scenery before stumbling on the Russians?

Stephane/Slingshot.

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GM:
OOC:

Hi everyone.

Based on all your replies to last issue, it seems you've only been here a few minutes before you wanted to open the northwest door. You all seemed like you wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.

The maximum time for a retrieval from anywhere on Earth would be an hour. New York to Germany wouldn't be the furthest distance on Earth so it should be less than an hour, but the characters are dealing with abstract game rule stuff like how fast can the Mystic heal Power Points, so your characters have only a rough sense of how long they have. Probably infuriating for a quasi military team like Vanguard. But they are dealing with magic this time. 

Vanguard can be retrieved from anywhere, but they need to make contact with the mages/ Vanguard Vault when they are ready.

Sentinel, the Collective is within your range. Scanning him takes some of the Movement segment of your Action. I'm happy to give you the results now as they'll affect much, but wanted to confirm with you the following:

During an Action, a player may Move and Attack in whatever order they choose, but can only do each of these segments once. No one can Move, Attack, Move, for example.

So scanning now means you're choosing to use your Move segment and then your Attack segment this issue, in that order. Is that what you want?

Also, the Soviet Super Soldiers were suddenly there. It wasn't the case that they were hiding the whole time and just revealed themselves now.

Thanks.

Best,
Jeff

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Sentinel:
Vanguard had arrived just moments ago.  With their earliest possible retrieval being almost an hour away it seemed that a conflict with the SSS was inevitable.  They couldn’t just grab the artifact and depart.

“Mother Russia… Tatiana.  Stop!  Whatever you’ve been told, this conflict is unnecessary.  Vanguard’s sole purpose here is to prevent the total destruction of Earth’s inhabitants including those under your protection.  Surely that objective is in harmony with the goal of the Soviet Super Soldiers.”

Kirk voiced the words waiting to see the response; was there free will on her part and was she misinformed or was she a puppet being controlled and manipulated against her desire?

And then suddenly it all began to come together in his head, and if he was right, it didn’t paint a pretty picture.  Vanguard has already seen at the Embassy that their enemy had the means to confound their extra sensory perceptions… the SSS appearing here at this very moment was no coincidence.  They came in response to Vanguard triggering an undetected alarm system.  And the SSS wasn’t here to retrieve the artifact… no, it was already in the possession of the one sending them here.  They were sent to protect it until the exact time it was needed.

If Swastika was the one behind this it fit his MO.  It followed what he did with the Star Giant in their first encounter.  If not him then surely the same insane thought pattern; they think they have the means to summon and control and harness the power of Cthulhu…

More to follow regarding actions... after I go out to work on removing the snow...

Seth

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Slingshot:
Damnit! Sentinel was right, they may have the same intent as we do, Scott thought. He added to what Sentinel just said, "Clone! Polar Bear! Wait! We are here to save the Earth from certain doom! We have had a glimpse of the future and if we do not do our duty, everyone will die.."

Actions: I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt this round. I'm at the ready, but not attacking.

If I get attacked, by one of the big ones, I'll do a judo flip/slingshot combo and send him/it back at another of the big ones (so if polar bear comes at me, I'ff grap him and slingshot him at Proletariat, this includes mother russia, she can take it). if I get attacked by the normal people, including clone, I'll tentacle attack them.

Stephane

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Menagerie:
IC: Menagerie will turn into a Siberian Tiger. He will hold his attack only attack those that attack him (first) or Vanguard (second)
 
Tom

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Symbiote:
OOC:  This will most likely be a move that slops over into two rounds, so there's a fair amount of if/then in my reply.  If Sentinel's attempt to reason with the SSS works, or at least delays combat for a while, Symbiote will hold his action.  If not....

IC:  Symbiote stared at the charging Soviet Super Soldiers calmly, singling out Mother Russia, specifically.  "Tatania, MUST we do this over and over again?" he asked wearily.  He waived his hand and brought the force of gravity down upon the Muscovite Maid of Might--hard, pouring on as much power as he could, making her weight double, triple, quadruple and beyond.  "Stay down, Tatania.  We're trying to save the whole world here, including the Soviet Union.  Please, I was hoping we could attend the ballet again when this is all over."

OOC again:  If the Bolshevik Ball Buster stays down--whether as a gesture of truce or because the power of Zero G has her overwhelmed--Hal will back off the gravity some, enough to keep her pinned to the floor but not enough to seriously harm her, like causing possible heart damage.

If Hotsky Trotskyite falls to the floor under the first impact of the gravity wave but then starts to get up, however (i.e., she's physically strong enough to get up and keep moving in spite of the gravity crush), Symbiote will simply stare at her.  He'll let her get up, let her get her legs under her....

...and then release the gravity crush, and instead remove all gravity from her, making her weightless.

Like suddenly letting go of the rope in a game of tug-of-war, Hal is hoping this will cause a sudden, unexpected and uncontrollable counter reaction in his opponent.  He's hoping that Mother will shoot up off the floor and through the roof (we saw her Hulk-jump once before at the CHESS Castle breakout, so this should be possible) and then, because she's poured every ounce of energy she had into those might thews and because has no gravity on her--she'll just keep on going, shooting through the atmosphere, hopefully to land somewhere many miles away in the Bavarian countryside once Symbiote's gravity whammy wears off.  As I say, this may have to wait until round two.

IC again (if it happens):  Hal looked through the hole in the ceiling Mother Russia had just shot through.  He couldn't feel too bad about rendering a little structural damage to Dr. Swastika's home.  "Lighten up, Tatania," he whispered to himself, unable to resist the temptation.

Viva Vanguard,

Greg

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Slate:
IC: Slate was shocked to see his friend Clone looking so different.  He slid back against the wall he was standing near... He was aware of the Soviet Super Soldiers and knew that they had fought a larger Vanguard group almost to a standstill in the Lost Lands from his studies of Vanguards mission reports. 

Staying behind his team, Slate will use his disintegration powers on the wall beside him away from the door, which should get around any mechanical traps Dr. Swastika might have set to.  He will leave the rest of Vanguard delaying the SSS and try to find the artifact so they can get back home asap.  As soon as he sees Menagerie shifting, he will attempt to let him know telepathically what he is doing... he'll try to do the same thing with Sentinel, but he's not sure how exactly this works... he's received thoughts from Menagerie before, and thinks it will work, at the same time, he'll ask if Menagerie has a "sense" of the direction/distance to the artifact.

Jon

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Avatar:
John sees this happening and knows this is the better path.  He was going to go THROUGH a door and go to the north, anyway, but he'll go with Slate.  He'll go ahead and activate his Light Control powers.

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GM:
OOC: Hey Greg.
Cool idea!

You mention quadrupling her weight "and beyond."
How heavy does Symbiote make her?

 Have a look at the rules. If you don't have a copy, I'll cut and paste the section on Gravity Control in an email to you.
Symbiote knows that for this to work, he would need to go way beyond quadrupling.  Let's say she weighs 150 lbs.  Quadrupling her weight  would make her 600 lbs.  Mother Russia can easily lift that. 

Every multiplier costs Symbiote a power point. 

Then, on the second part, making her weightless would make her unable to jump at all.  Jumping is a factor of carry capacity, which is a factor of weight. Your idea would probably work best if you just returned her to her natural weight expectedly.  Then she jumps.  Once she's airborne, you could make her weightless on your third action, if she's still in your range, to boost her velocity.  But once she leaves your range, she reverts to normal weight. 

I hope that's clear.

Thoughts?

How far beyond quadrupling?

Thanks,
Jeff

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Symbiote:
OOC: Hmmm....I guess Hal will "eyeball" the situation and pour on as much energy as he feels necessary to slam her to the floor.  If that's ten, points, 15, so be it.  Symbiote doesn't want to do the second part of the move unless absolutely necessary (Greg, on the other hand, kind of wants to see how it'll play out.  I'm imagining her flying through the air like Yosemite Sam when Bug Bunny would trick him into a catapult and launch him into the atmosphere, letting out a stream of Yosemite Sam curse words all the way.  "RACKAMFRAGGIT!!  RACK A FRACK, RACK A FRAGGIN' FRACK IT!!")

I'll try for the "make her weightless once she's already in the air" move if it comes to that, spending a hero point if necessary.

Viva Vanguard,

Greg

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Sentinel:
Hey Jeff.

Balance of Sentinel since no actions given earlier...

IC:
Once Kirk determines that Clone is Alex, and assuming the SSS does attack them Kirk says to him, "Alex.  What is going on here with you?  The one thing that I do know is that at your core, the very center of your being, you would never willingly do anything to endanger a single innocent... let alone all of them!  Help us to help you.  Help us to save the world again."

OOC: Whatever is going on, Kirk just triggered Alex's weakness so if he is being controlled hopefully he can break the hold on him.  If it appears that Alex wants to communicate with him but cannot do so outwardly, Kirk would use his action to lock a mind read on him.  I was going to do that for my action either way, but was afraid it would just be blocked per the embassy so will only do so if it looks like it will help at this point.

If there is a fight that can't be avoided, Kirk wouldn't throw the first blow (and with his speed wouldn't be able) - his initial reaction, like other team members was to secure the item and he might be able to do this via his energy construct getting to it.  At this point with other members moving to do the same that might not be needed, but if it was, it would be foremost in his mind.

Assuming none of the above is needed action-wise, you can (1) hold Kirk's action until next issue when I have a clue of what is going to happen or (2) if Kirk is directly attacked and engaging his attacker is practical, that could be his action.  If he is attacked and failure to take some action would result in further damage, have him take that action.  I've no particular member of the SSS in mind for a sparring partner at this point.  Beyond securing the item as priority number one, finding out what is happening with Alex and helping him is Kirk's priority number two...

Sorry for not getting this balance in last night.

Thanks.

Seth

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Sentinel:
OOC:
Just saw Menagerie needed a reply from Sentinel.

Assuming Kirk gets to reply, "Our objective is the artifact.  It would be best to avoid any conflicts that we can, but that decision may not be ours to make here."

That may lead nicely into Kirk's statement to the SSS.

Seth

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Clone/The Collective:
IC:
 Mother Russia shouted in Russian, “Super Soldiers, Go!”

As quickly as Mother Russia gave the order, The Collective took off running down a nearby corridor.

OOC:
 I am absolutely LOVING this story, Jeff! I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I'm having with this - Clone's 'Betrayal', getting the chance to be a PC Villain, Fleshing out Clone's / The Collective's background, Getting the chance to re-invent my characters personality - GREAT STUFF!!! I would definitely love to keep the 'Villain Thing' going for a little while!

 The Collective's plan is to break off from the main group of the Soviet Super Soldiers ( thus him running off down one of the corridors ), split into as many duplicates as possible along the way, and find the artifact before the 'American Scum' do. I'm hoping that having a million duplicates running around down there increases his chances of finding it; and if he does, the remaining duplicates can cover his escape with it. Did he get any hints from his 'new boss' as to where it might be? If so, would that increase his chances of finding it first?

 Oh, and as far as the dialogue with the members of Vanguard goes - he's literally taking off as soon as Mother Russia gives the 'go ahead' - my feelings are that he's not even in the main room long enough to hear it.

 Talk to you soon,

-Kev

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