History had been changed! A brand new
battle raged within World War II! In their search for the Ring of Eon, Vanguard had travelled back in time
where they and the Liberty League were ambushed by the Nazi Uber-mensch and the
Japanese Imperial Guard beneath the Atlantic Ocean! [OOC: Here’s the map. Visibility is 100’]
In the momentary safety of the
hidden energy sphere…
Young Doc Rocket said
to Slate, “Stop! That isn’t yours to take, young man!” Then he looked at Clone,
Slingshot, Slate and the modern age Sentinel with his Rocket Gun in his
hand. The ingenious hero’s perceptive
eyes glanced at their high tech wrist communicators. He said, “’Heroes displaced in time?’…
‘Sentinel’s grandson?’… Just who are you and what exactly is going on here?”
A piece of Sentinel wanted to revert to the star-struck fan boy that first
met Doc Rocket longer ago than he’d like to think possible, but he had no time
for that luxury. His relationship with
Doc had grown from awe to a sort of mentor-ship to comrade-at-arms. And he needed the Doc he had that
relationship now… and he responded to this Doc exactly in that matter.
“Doc, we simply don’t have time
for this. I know exactly how you’re
going to react to our explanation and sort of mimicked him, ‘I’d always
considered the possibility with all the legends and with the historical
references, but to think it possible in the here and now, in the modern era…’
“But here is the short version
since Gramps… Lancaster clued you in, as I’d hoped. This goes beyond this
battle and the here and now, and even the Ring of Eon; we are your second
generation predecessors, many of us fighting the good fight because of what the
League began at this time period. We are
responding to a 21st Century threat of the coming of Cthulhu and the end of the
world. Gathering the Ring is a necessary
part of putting a stop to that threat.
“Now as I said, no time. You need to tell me something. I see the condition of the League and I know
what my team has been through the past few days. We need to know just how dire our situation
out there. In your taking of the other
sub, had you battled and defeated The Ubermensch and the Japanese Imperial Guard
or are they running ‘fresh’?”
Doc Rocket answered
cautiously, “They are uninjured. We
avoided a direct conflict. But tell me…”
Sentinel cut him off.
“We have a medicinal aid to assist in reviving some of your team.” As he was
speaking he pulled out his med pack for the stimshot they all carried and
looked to Slingshot and Slate and said, “I think having Gramps and Mystic
conscious could help here most.”
[OOC: Everyone in Vanguard has one
CHESS emergency stimshot patch with them. Slate isn’t a card carrying member of
Vanguard yet ( and has the weakness, Prejudice). The stimshots are very dangerous. It gives you
1d4 + your Healing Rate in Hit Points. An hour later, you crash and lose all
your Power Points. If you have no Hit Points when that happens, you're dead.
Two patches placed on the same person will probably give them an instant heart
attack.]
Doc Rocket analyzed
Kirk as he spoke. He noticed the manner he addressed him, as someone he knew,
in a way he didn’t think could be faked. In observing his body language, he
also saw some of the family mannerisms he’d seen in Lancaster. He glanced at
Lancaster and then Kirk and also came to another conclusion. Noting some of the concussive bruises and
slight bleeding from some areas, the pained movement, as well as the degree of the fluctuation of
the energies currently protecting them and surrounding Kirk… he saw something
he'd seen Lancaster do many times before, he was compensating not to show it,
but Kirk wasn’t far from joining his grandfather in unconsciousness.
Sentinel continued, “Doc,
our last known player on the board just bought us this moment but we are out of
surprise rescues.” Looking to Slingshot he said “I’d bet my life Strike
commandeered the sub and controls it… at least for now. Doc, any chance you’ve
got some help on its way?”
“None, I’m afraid,” said Doc.
Sentinel nodded. “I
see two plays here, we get the League to safety in the sub and fight it out
mano a mano, or we try one desperate
play… They have to want the ring as much as we do and we know they want the
League. I by-passed the safeties and jury-rigged
the Manta Craft to explode on my signal.
We go up. We go up quick. They
chase. We go past the Mantacraft and out
of its blast range high into the sky.
The blast takes out the Ubermensch and the Japanese Imperial Guard.
“But first we get Lancaster
conscious, he conveys the plan to Menagerie, Menagerie transmits it to the rest
of the team and everyone is one board.
That doesn’t work we try to manage it ourselves.
“I know it’s a long shot but I
don’t see another way given what we have been through and with the League down.” And he looked to Slingshot, and for the first
time gave a hint of his current condition… “Worst part Scott is I need
interference here. I don’t know if I can
hold this thing,” he thumb-pointed at his construct, “together to get this done
but I damn well will try. Maybe we can
pool our efforts to move this thing upward…”
Slingshot listened to
Kirk's plan. He wasn't sure that it would be the best plan, but they were
overwhelmed, two teams against one. Most importantly, U-Man was there, in his
element. He would be trouble all his own.
He thought, “This would give us a
chance to even the odds a bit.” So he nodded to the plan and conferred with the
others on the details.
Once they agreed on the plan of
action, Doc noticed a change in Kirk. It
was almost if the physical signs he saw previously weren’t being covered up but
were gone, he noticed the fluctuations of the energy construct grow stronger
and faster and the glow around Kirk enhanced.
His stature was again strong and he smiled. [OOC: picture Kirk channeling his inner Steve
Rogers as he rallies the Avengers for battle in what seems like a no-win
scenario]
Looking at each of his teammates
he said, “An architectural genius with demolition skills (Scott), a
mathematical and scientific genius (Doc), and a human computer with undefinable
data processing and calculating ability (Slate).
“Slate, calculate the range of the
blast of the manta craft blowing up.
Share the speed of the transmission rate of the signal and the timing for
it to be received and explosion to begin.
Help to formulate our speed as we exit the water and gain altitude. Scott, guide our ascent with their
calculations to help us be in the best position to magnify damage to our
enemies and to escape our minimize impact for our teams. Doc, any local environmental variables to
consider in our calculations?"
Slate provided the
information Sentinel requested, and nodded along with the explanation regarding
the ring. "We must have the artifact to save the world."
Doc wasn’t going to
debate that now. But he would help with the calculations to the best of his
ability. [Doc makes an Intelligence save on percentile to NOT be affected by
Slate’s Prejudice weakness!]
Meanwhile, U-Man didn’t see Sentinel’s energy orb floating deep down in the
darkness, nor its inhabitants who were crafting their desperate plans. Instead
he targeted the nearest opponents, Avatar and Symbiote, with his insidious
wrist torpedoes! Zwoooosh! KA-BOOM! The torpedo was expertly placed between them, but missed
them both due to their evasions! [Both
have -8 to be hit because Water Breathing B gives them full Power Points!]
Blitzkreig couldn’t
attack Avatar or Symbiote without harming his axis allies. The lightning warrior hurtled through the
water, down and toward his right, and discharged his ball lightning once more,
this time at the prehistoric shark monster!
BZZATT!
[Menagerie takes 12 points of damage. Rolls with 6 and takes 6 from Hits. Due to
Water Breathing B, he doesn’t lose any Power Points]
Ninjutsu’s crimson
envirosuit had been punctured by Avatar’s spear, and was filling with
water! His U-Boat had been
destroyed. The golden age ninja had one
choice. Using techniques of mind over body, the master of the mysterious arts
concentrated and began to slow his own heartbeat… to slow his own breathing. Vanguard
saw him go limp, and drift slowly downward into the hungry darkness.
Avatar, assuming
Ninjustsu dead, spun in the water and dove down at his latest assailant:
U-Man. The myrmidon of mythology swam
like the son of Poseidon, his left hand stretched out before him, and his right
hand holding the Spear of Ares poised to strike! With powerful kicks, Avatar
crashed into U-Man and drove his spear into the Nazi’s chest! Avatar’s aim was
true. U-Man was badly bleeding but conscious.
Lightning Strike, still within the third U-Boat, wanted to target a cluster of villains without endangering any of the heroes. It was impossible. The teams were too close to each other, with the Megalodon in the middle of it. [see map above] Strike elected the next best thing. Using the U-Boat’s sonar, he found his target. Fwooooosh! The U-Boat fired a torpedo that threaded a needle. It zoomed beneath the Megalodon, above Vanguard’s sphere, and into Panzer! BA-BOOM!!!! A direct hit! The human tank was motionless and sinking.
The Ubermensch and the Imperial Guard glared at the U-Boat with fear and loathing.
Kamikaze knew what he
had to do. He “flew” through the water
at the commandeered U-Boat’s hull and exploded himself. KRA-BOOM!!! The
human bomb’s detonation ruptured the sub’s hull. Air exploded from the hemorrhaged iron skin
of the now-listing leviathan. Claxons sounded from within as the Nazi SKULL sub
slowly descended into the darkness of the Atlantic’s abyss, and Lightning
Strike along with it!
The Aryan couldn’t see
Avatar’s attack on U-Man due to the poor visibility. He joined Blitzkreig’s attack on Menagerie,
whose massive C Megalodon form now drew fire, buying the rest of Vanguard the
time they needed for their desperate gambit.
The living embodiment of Nazi
perfection and immorality fired his harpoon rifle - Fwooosh! THUNK! - piercing Menagerie’s sharkskin
with a barbed iron harpoon! [13 points
of damage. Menagerie rolls with 6 and takes
7 from Hits!]
The Shogun, his armor
badly damaged, joined the assault on the Megalodon! His energy katana crackled
and steamed the water in its wake as it struck Vanguard’s shamanistic
shapeshifter! zzzzzzzzVWOM!!!
[Menagerie takes 15 points of damage!
Rolls with 6. Takes 9 from Hits and
remains conscious!]
Rising Sun [made his
detect hidden roll and] noticed many heroes were missing. He projected beams of light from his hands,
and moved them around the darkness, like gigantic twin search lights! In
moments he found where the Liberty League was hiding! The modern age Sentinel’s energy construct
was illuminated by the beams of white light. Rising Sun must have had a radio
inside the helmet of his envirosuit. As
one, all the Japanese Imperial Guardians looked down at Vanguard and the
Liberty League! They were completely
exposed.
Sentinel realized
their time had run out. He kneeled down
beside his grandfather, the original Sentinel, and administered the CHESS
stimshot patch, as he commanded his energy sphere to begin to rise up!
The energy construct
ascended with Rising Sun’s searchlights following it! As it neared Rising Sun, he focused his
searchlights into twin, pencil-thin laser beams! ZIZZ! ZIZZ! They burned a path through the water
before scarring the energy sphere! [ The
sphere takes 20 points of damage! It still holds!]
The original Sentinel
awoke with a start as light moved through the sphere. Disoriented, his eyes fell upon his future
grandson and stayed there. He read Kirk’s
surface thoughts and learned everything Kirk had told Doc Rocket, and
more. Young Lancaster put his hand on
Kirk’s shoulder. “Can it be true?”
Vanguard heard a voice
in their heads that they didn’t recognize.
“This is the Sentinel,” it said.
“Fellow heroes, make your way to the golden orb. Now. We’re leaving. And stay clear of the… ‘Manta
Craft’.”
Symbiote would do his
best to take out the one enemy most likely to spoil their plans -- U-Man. At the moment, with Inhuman's power set, the
Superheroic Simulator was best prepared to take on the Aquatic Aryan. He focused his water powers into another
underwater vortex, buffeting U-Man with waves of pummeling force! U-Man was
battered and bewildered, but still barely conscious!
Slingshot exited the energy
sphere’s airlock and swam under it. Morphing his feet into elongated paddles,
he pushed with his incredible strength, helping propel the sphere upward. When the sphere was level with Menagerie’s Megalodon
form, he stretched a big arm out to lasso Symbiote, Avatar, Menotti and Ortiz,
and reel them in. The malleable man of
might dumped them unceremoniously in the airlock and continued pushing it up,
according to the plan. In the airlock,
the water level fell as the sphere’s airlock cycled through via invisible pores
on its surface. All of Vanguard was in the construct except Lightning Strike
and Menagerie.
As the sphere passed U-Man, Slingshot reached out with a growing
fist and slammed it into the fascist fish-man’s jaw! KA-POW! U-Man was knocked unconscious!
Slate used his ability
to attempt to disintegrate a hole in the helmet of Rising Sun as the sphere
rose past him! [a “special attack”] ZARK!! Slate succeeded! Rising Sun’s suit was breached! He was
reeling in surprise!
[OOC: Fyi, Using Disintegration
Ray without the “Ray” results in half normal damage. But the damage still ignores structural
ratings as normal. Slate couldn’t do
this last issue because visibility was such that he couldn’t see any villains
from the sphere’s hiding place, so his Evasion will stand.]
Baroness Von Zero
silently formed a circular ice platform beneath her, with rocket fins to
stabilize it. It began floating toward
the surface with her standing atop it.
It slowly gained speed and was rising alongside Sentinel’s energy sphere!
Menagerie thought sent
to Sentinel, “I’ll help protect you all as best as I can,” as he rammed the
Shogun again! BOOM! The samurai general’s armor was
destroyed! The under skeleton still
provided air, but nothing more! The
Shogun was still conscious.
Realizing the goal was to lure the
villains to the Manta Craft, Menagerie swam upward at incredible speeds!
Blitzkreig gave chase,
swimming with superhuman quickness! ZAKOW!! He generated another deadly charge of ball
lightning, electrifying Slingshot, Menagerie, the Sentinel sphere and Baroness
Von Zero! Von Zero’s ice armor protected
her. [The sphere takes 9 points of
damage. Menagerie rolls with 6 and takes 3 from hits. Slingshot rolls with 3
and takes 5 from Invulnerability.]
[Between turns…] Kamikaze’s body reformed.
[OOC: The sphere hasn’t reached
the surface yet! Next turn of combat! All evasions are ending.]
Blitzkreig,
relentless, discharged ball lightning again!
ZZZRAP! [The sphere
takes 8 points of damage. Menagerie Megalodon rolls with 6 and takes 2 from
hits. Slangy rolls with 2, takes 3 from Invulnerability and 3 from Hit Points.]
Lightning Strike
escaped the doomed U-Boat by using the sub’s communications system to beam his
electrical form to the modern age Sentinel’s Vanguard communicator.
SHAKOW! The electric avenger suddenly materialized beside Vanguard
in the hurtling energy sphere. Sentinel was out yet another communicator.
Aryan expertly fired
his harpoon rifle at Sentinel’s energy sphere!
Phwooosh! THUNK!! A barbed harpoon
stuck into the sphere’s floor. [10 points damage to the sphere] The harpoon had
a line that ran back to Aryan’s rifle.
He began reeling himself upward, closing in on his prey!
Fissures appeared across the floor
of Sentinel’s energy construct. Sea water sprayed in! The pressure of the ocean
depths pushed in on the sphere. It would
implode in seconds!
“We’re not gonna make it!” yelled Ortiz.
SPLOOOSH!! The heroes’ sphere burst from the waves, with Slingshot
hanging beneath it, and Aryan hanging below him! They flew up over the crippled
Manta Craft. Free from the crushing
ocean pressure, the sphere held its shape.
Sentinel flew the
sphere and took evasive action. [Using his action to Evade, so the sphere is
harder to hit]
Clone [with his saved
action from last turn] used his battle staff to hammer Aryan’s harpoon out of
the sphere’s floor. WHACK! The
harpoon was freed and Aryan went plummeting into the water beside the Manta
Craft! Splooosh!
Doc Rocket [using his
saved action] hung out the airlock and fired his Rocket Gun at the Aryan! ZARK!! The beam ricocheted off the Aryan’s
protective uniform!
Sentinel said, “Slate,
Slingshot and Doc Rocket please complete your final… wait! What’s that?!”
Vanguard saw Agent
America (AKA Miles Hudson) standing on the floating Manta Craft! The star-spangled escape artist had freed
himself from Baroness Von Zero’s icy tomb, which bobbed on the waves nearby.
The stealthy espionage agent was
attempting to enter the Manta Craft! He must have been beyond the range of the
original Sentinel’s telepathy! The Manta
Craft was rigged to blow if anyone tampered with it [or if remotely activated]!
Agent America was doomed!
Avatar was the
only hero left with a saved action! He
summoned the powers of Hephaestus!
[Immunity from fire and heat!] Then he smashed a hole through the
cracked floor of Sentinel’s sphere! KRASH!!
The demigod of destiny leapt out of the orb and tackled Agent
America, knocking him into the water while covering as much of the Leaguer’s
body that he could! [Avatar takes 6 points of impact damage and rolls with all
of it]
VWA-BOOM!!
The Manta Craft self-destructed in
an orange fireball explosion! Avatar used his fireproof body to shield Agent
America from the flames and concussive force, saving his life! [Avatar takes no damage from the heat and
flames, but takes 17 points of damage from the concussion! He rolls with 6 and
takes 11 hit points damage!]
Blitzkrieg, Aryan, Baroness Von Zero, Kamikaze, Shogun and
Rising Sun were also caught in the Manta
Craft’s blast as they raced to the surface, giving chase to the heroes.
Black smoke roiled from the
burning hulk of Vanguard’s ship.
No villains were visible. Broken
shards of Von Zero’s rocket-finned ice platform surfaced.
Agent America and Avatar, both injured but conscious, appeared.
“Thanks,” Agent America said to his savior. Little did Agent America know, Avatar had saved
more than just him. Avatar had saved
history. Had Agent America died in the
blast, the world’s timeline would have been irrevocably altered. History had been preserved by Vanguard’s
resident historian.
Menagerie surfaced as
an awesome Megalodon! The shapeshifting sorcerer assumed human form.
Slingshot reeled in
Avatar, Agent America and Menagerie, and climbed aboard after them.
The heroes’ sphere rose higher and
in the distance, on the ocean’s horizon they saw a crippled Nazi aircraft
carrier. Lightning Strike’s handiwork.
The Liberty League was awakening. [Between the spraying seawater and wake-up
attempts from the heroes.]
The original Sentinel looked at
Kirk. So did Lady Liberty.
Before Vanguard and the Liberty
League could exchange words, the Ring of Eon awoke. Slate felt it, and produced it from his
pocket. Weird energy emanated from it.
Some distance away, similar energy
suddenly coruscated in the middle of the sky, as if in answer to the Ring. It
was the tear in the fabric of time that brought Vanguard here in the first
place. To judge from its identical
energy readings, the Ring of Eon must have been its cause!
“Incredible,” murmured Doc Rocket.
The golden age Mystic said to
Vanguard, “It would appear you’ve little time.”
Words? Actions? Thanks!
Not to push things too quickly,
but IF you elect to go through the tear in the fabric of reality and IF you
safely return home, what is the next artifact location that Vanguard will
target?
Vanguard has the Splinter of the
True Cross, the Sacrificial Dagger of the Maya, the Stone Idol of Cthulhu, and
the Ring of Eon.
Five Artifacts remained, and
Vanguard knew their locations:
- Northern
France
- The Nevada
desert
- Moscow (This
is assumed to be the Spear of Destiny, in possession of the SSS)
- Northern
California
- China
Thanks!]
Current
Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 24, Power Points: 57, Manifestation:
Poseidon, Hephaestus
Clone: Bodies: 3*, Hit Points: 11, Hit Point Pool: 22, Power
Points: 57
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 39, Power Points: 29
Menagerie: Hit Points: 7, Power Points: 66, Form: Human
Sentinel: Hit Points: 4, Power Points: 30, Creation Points:
60, Construct Sphere: 13
Slate: Hit Points: 13, Power Points: 42
Slingshot: Hit Points: 31, Power Points: 25,
Invulnerability: 8
Symbiote: Hit Points: 25, Power Points: 82, Charges: 12,
Activated: Inhuman
*Clone’s hit points are: Clone here
in the past: 11, in Vanguard Vault: 5, in Moscow: 5
Power Points are at full for the
two Clones in Vanguard Vault and Moscow.
---------------------
VANGUARD
BACK-UP FEATURE! STARRING… CLONE!
Elsewhere, deep within the
Stronghold of the Soviet Super Soldiers…
Clone willingly triggered the
proximity sensor on the vault door.
Security alarms brayed.
Six masked soldiers with assault
rifles poured into the room before the safe door. They lined up in formation,
and pointed their automatic rifles at Clone, who calmly acknowledged the firing
squad. They all held their positions as behind them, in walked Doctor X. He turned his head slightly and the alarms
stopped.
The silence that followed was long
and deafening.
Then the aged creator
of the Soviet Super Soldier Program said in Russian, “So… my prodigal son returns. Sweet, young Alexi, I am
glad you’ve come home to be with your family for this, the ending of all
things.”
Then Doctor X
recited an old Russian proverb about the importance of preparedness: “Carry
fire in one hand and water in the other.”
The proverb was
actually the command phrase that Doctor X had placed inside Alexi’s mind (with
the help of the insidious lunatic, the Puppet) years ago when X had learned of
the Rogue Clone’s successful escape from the Iron Curtain. The command phrase was
an insurance policy that would place Clone’s conscious mind in a deep trance of
suggestibility.
Although he never knew the exact
trigger phrase, Clone knew that Doctor X had just tried to reestablish his
mental control over him. With only a few choices available to him, the
Replicating Russian decided to play along with the “good doctor”.
With a sinister grin on his face,
Clone chuckled maniacally and said in Russian, “Yes, Comrade Doctor . . . I am
back.” He then continued, “. . . the stupid Americans thought they could keep
me from you and thwart your plans, the fools. He then placed his hand inside of
his shirt and nodded his head towards his would be master in reverence and
said, “. . . and I have not come emptied handed. I have one of their ‘Items of
Power’ with me.” Gripping it by the barrel, Clone produced the revolver Mystic
hand given him from his shirt and asked, “Shall I place it in the vault with
the others?” He then placed his hand on the vault door; and like an obedient
servant, waited patiently for Doctor X’s response.
“Mystic’s revolver?” Doctor X
said. “After all these decades?”
Clone knew that Doctor X had
allied with the Liberty League in World War II when their nations fought
together against Nazi Germany.
“No,” commanded the Soviet
supergenius. “Bring it here. I would
examine it now, Comrade Collective.”
Clone released his grip on the
vault door and walked slowly towards his “master” as he said, “You are right Comrade
Doctor. This item belongs in your hands.”
Clone walked unchallenged through
the ranks of unsuspecting gunmen to Doctor X, with the revolver in his
outstretched hand. Suddenly, Clone closed
his hand, rushed past him, placing Doctor X between Clone and the six masked
soldiers. Clone turned and, using Doctor X as a shield, placed the gun to the
back of Doctor X’s neck!
“What is this?!?” demanded Doctor
X.
OOC:
Your surprise attack worked. You got the drop on them. So you get a full turn where they cannot act.
One turn = two actions. Your first
action was to move behind the Doc and get the gun on him.
What are your next two actions
please? One will be a “free” action due
to your surprise attack. The other
action will occur in a turn when everyone else in this chamber may act freely.
Gulp!
Best,
Jeff
PS: Given his iron helmet, I said
you put the gun at the base of his neck.
If you prefer his back or somewhere else, just let me know. Thanks.
--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
Looking
at Doc Rocket and the rest of the Liberty League, Slate longed to ask them
about their adventures, to get to know them as he knew them now, but he also knew
they had little time, or did they? If
the ring could control time, or give them a choice in when they returned, they
could go back to an earlier time. He
wasn't sure about the paradoxes of time travel; he'd read that the same being
could not inhabit the same space, and that if a time traveler met himself it
could cause problems, but they should be able to buy some time, maybe going
back a few days before they left to recover and then gather some of the
artifacts. Returning to the tower
immediately after they left.
He
turned to Mystic to see if this would be possible. They might only have a short time to make a
decision, but "when" they would go could make all the difference.
"Mystic,
would it be possible to change the target time of this vortex to a few days
before we left? That would buy us some
time to recover, when time is really the one thing we don't have. Cthulhu is coming, and we have to stop
him," Slate looked expectantly from face to face, his large eyes
reflecting the gathered heroes.
Jon
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
Menagerie
thought, "So many questions so little time". While the Ring of Eon
might control time, no one knew how to control time. He listened to Slate's
questions and waited for the Mystic to answer.
"I
know for myself the idea of manipulating time to heal would be wonderful but is
it worth the risk of trying to control the Ring of Eon. Look where it led Dr.
Change."
"I
vote for leaving now and getting back to the Vault. We can have the Mystic and
Archimedes teleport us to China. I am also ready to get rid of this Ring. I
have been a hero for only a short time but it has appeared way too often and
caused too many hardships".
"It
was an honor to meet everyone of you. The Liberty League has grown from a group
fighting the good fight to the standard of what it means to fight for good.
Thank you."
Thanks
Awesome
Issue!
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
OOC:
Hey
Jeff.
Great
issue. I'm glad we pulled it off as this
time around the odds seemed against us even moreso than usual.
Do we
know any 'rules' for time travel? Sadly
it seems like the less we say the safer everyone is... but have to tell you
that it has to be burning Kirk up that he can't warn Lancaster about Dr
Swastika's abilities and what is going to happen to Miles (Agent America) -
surely he'd love to undo that injustice... but the ramifications of meddling in
history have to outweigh it. Don't know
if I'll have time to 'play' that internal struggle but surely it has to be
foremost on Kirk's mind at this point.
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
Hi,
IC
replies:
Slate
said, "Mystic, would it be possible to change the target time of this
vortex to a few days before we left?"
The
golden age Mystic said, "I've no experience with this artifact, so I can't
predict its power or abilities."
The
golden age Sentinel said, "Allied intelligence learned that Dr. Swastika
had launched an expedition to fabled Atlantis in search of another ancient
superweapon to help the Axis win the war."
The
golden age Sgt. Stone said, "We cut in, stole their precious treasure, and
commandeered a SKULL sub to make our getaway, when you lot showed up."
The
golden age Doc Rocket said, "While I doubt the Ring has magical
properties," casting a dubious glance at the Mystic. "we've just
acquired it and have not yet had time to study it."
The
golden age Agent America said, "Hey, I couldn't help but notice but the
superheroes from the future are all Americans. Looks like we win the war!"
He clapped American Eagle on the back with a smile.
When
Menagerie mentioned Dr. Change, Doc Rocket's eyes widened. Vanguard knew that
Dr. Change was rumored to have been in action covertly since the Victorian Age
(or perhaps had traveled back in time with the Ring of Eon before it drove him
mad?). But Vanguard never heard that the Liberty League had encountered him, or
even knew of him.
OOC:
Seth
wrote: "Do we know any 'rules' for time travel?"
Slingshot
has a skill called Multiverse Theory.
Slingshot would note that even though this is Vanguard's first
experience travelling through time, they have witnessed its results at least
twice,
The
first was the Primate. Oracle's powers
allowed Vanguard to psionically "see" the future, so that their
foreknowledge could avert it by changing their actions.
The
second was the Omega Universe. This
future was created due to events around Slate's birth and Silas Caine's
Presidency. And it was averted here due to what Vanguard learned when they were
in the Omegaverse, which enabled them to alter the future and prevent the
Omegaverse from happening here, so far anyway.
;-)
So, it
seems that the future of a given timeline can be changed, Slingshot would say.
[OOC:
Stephane, please let me know if Slingy says this in another way, or if you have
any other questions your skill could help answer]
Seth
wrote: "Don't know if I'll have time to 'play' that internal struggle but
surely it has to be foremost on Kirk's mind at this point."
Then
he'd better be careful. The golden age Sentinel can read surface thoughts. ;-)
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
Slingshot
does. He also cautions that we do not know our future and we are not aware of
what we are trying to avoid in the future. We may be avoiding the future where
we win while healing. Although healing is likely something that will actually
help the team greatly.
He will
try to pull Doc Rocket aside and question him on Dr Change. Gently:
"Doc,
I couldn't help noticing that you reacted
when we mentioned Dr Change. Is there anything that we need to know about him?
I fully expect him to show up at the most inopportune time. Anything to help
fight him would be of serious help."
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
Kirk
spoke to Mystic privately and said, “Events in this mission confirmed my
suspicions that my powers were at least partially based on mystic
energies. It seems you sensed that and
disrupted them. I can’t afford to let
that happen again and imperil my team or the mission… can you tell me what you
did and how to prevent it?”
After
that, Kirk stated, “I have a bit of a dilemma here. Everything speculated about time travel
highlights the hazards of affecting the time stream adversely. However in our brief actual experience we
have actually been able to affect the future for a better outcome. Had Vanguard not experienced the positive
effects our efforts before I wouldn’t question the conventional wisdom… but our
personal experience makes me think harder.
But I was wondering, noticing the effect seeing us has already had on
some of your team, are you planning to take action after we leave to prevent
the League from remembering what they have learned here today. Not that I approve of it, but if so I have
little reason for me to think further on this moral dilemma”
And
Kirk thought about Gramps comments about the Mystic and his apprehension of
him… perhaps this was the situation which prompted it.
Kirk
spoke to Lancaster, “You are going to crash hard in a little less than an hour,
be sure you are in a situation that can accommodate that safely. If you have any questions for me that you
think I can safely answer I’d be happy to do so”.
He
added to Lancaster, “Thank you for everything.
I am who am I today because of you.”
And to
the League, “It has been an honor today to meet all of you. I just wish parts of it had gone a bit
differently. What you do during this
time will inspire the generations to come.
Keep fighting the good fight to preserve our future and we’ll do our
part to ensure its continuing… and he looked at them wanting to say more, “And
never underestimate the capabilities of your worst enemies or their ability to
hide and endure where you least expect…”
Modern
time: (OOC)
Any
possibility we can use the power of Ring of Eon to bring all the artifacts to
us or to end the threat?
Assuming
we are going to another destination does their location give any insight into
the possible artifact or the possible threat?
Was
Oracle and her group France or Greece? I
can’t remember now. Would she have
insight into the potential French artifact from her knowledge of the lore of
the area or past encounters?
At this
point none of the remaining areas seem more important or known than the others
from what I can remember at this moment so Kirk is looking for something to
point towards the best choice.
On my
reply, sorry no proof reading and feel free to adjust or modify as the
situation needs.
Hey, I
made it on time. I'm amazed on this one
:)
Best,
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
Scott
looks at the tear pensively. He looks at Ethan and gives him a brave smile. If
it was up to him, he'd jump through, but his son is here. He might look and
behave like a teen, but he's still less than a year old.
He
beckons to Slate and when he comes close, Slingshot hugs his progeny for what
seems like a long time. "Uh, Daaad. Will you cut it out,” he says.
With
that he turns to the rest of the Leaguers. "Understand that you are all
legends. I'm proud to have known you in your prime. Keep fighting the good
fight. It's all worth it."
With
his hands, he envelops the ring in his son's hand and he says with eyes closed
"Ring send us where we are needed, with our bodies from 3 days ago."
[OOC]
I'm for jumping in the rift. The ring triggers at opportune time whenever it
wants. It hasn't been a negative influence in itself. The people using it is
another matter.
If I
have a choice, I think I would go to China.
Stephane
PS:
Private conversation - When Slingshot hugs Slate, he says to him the following
really softly (not to be overheard).
"Guard
the ring well. Make sure that Symbiote doesn't get to it. I'll explain
later."
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
Avatar
follows.
FWIW,
I'm thinking that the use of the ring to gather artifacts is a fantastic
idea. I've been stumped since the start
of this thing as to how we're going to gather up everything in the allotted
time and that might be the only way.
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
THE
ATLANTIC:
( OOC:
I'm still feeling like a fish out of water here - pun intended. I'm not sure
what Clone can do here other than "go along for the ride". If I
remember correctly - there was some talk about surfacing with the force-bubble.
Assuming this is the case, if the bubble begins to rise too quickly and we
start to run the risk of getting hit with "The Bends" . . . )
IC:
Feeling the painful decrease in pressure; in hopes of adding weight to the bubble
and slowing it down, Clone begins to duplicate as quickly as possible.
( OOC:
If this isn't an issue, than he will simply tend to the wounded and provide
First Aid where ever needed )
RUSSIA:
( OOC:
Clone's overall plan here is to get the Russian soldiers to do all the heavy
lifting as he holds "The Good Doctor" hostage . . . not a very heroic
act, but desperate times . . . )
IC:
Clone nudges the barrel of his pistol up under the bottom edge of Doctor X's
helmet and in a dark and sinister tone whispers into his ear, "Any idea
what a bullet bouncing all around the inside of this helmet would do to that
twisted little melon sitting on top of your neck?" Not waiting for a
response, Clone barked at the Russian soldiers standing before him, "The
four of you! Open that vault door nice and wide and let’s take a look at what’s
inside."
( OOC:
If Clone sees some of the artifacts inside the vault . . . )
IC:
Clone gave the barrel of Mystic's pistol a sharp push into the base of Doctor
X's skull; motioned to an area over by the SSS's vault, and ordered "Now
tell them to take the artifact(s) out and place it/them on the floor over
there."
( OOC:
After the artifact(s) are placed outside the vault, Clone contacts Mystic and
asks him to open up the return portal - I forget how we said we did this - our
communicators? )
IC:
Keeping Doctor X close to him, Clone makes his way slowly towards Mystic's
magical portal. With a rapid flick of his foot, Clone than shuffles the SSS's
collection of Artifacts through the magical gateway. He then placed his free
hand on the back of Doctor X's head and in a mocking tone whispered to him once
more, "I'm not done playing with you yet . . . so I'm not going to kill
you right now. You'll die when I'm no longer amused by your suffering."
The Multiplying Mutant than shoved his hostage to the ground and backed up into
the shimmering portal behind him. As he began to fade out of view, Clone left
Doctor X with an ominous request, "Wait for me . . ."
( OOC:
If Clone doesn't see any artifacts inside the vault . . . )
IC:
Clone gave the barrel of Mystic's pistol a sharp push into the base of Doctor
X's skull and ordered, "Where are the artifacts you've collected?"
( OOC:
Assuming Doctor X tells Clone where the artifact(s) is/are )
IC:
Clone gave the barrel of Mystic's pistol another sharp push into the base of
Doctor X's skull; motioned to an area over by the SSS's vault, and ordered,
"Now tell them to go get the artifact(s) and place it/them on the floor
over there."
( OOC:
After the artifact(s) are placed outside the vault, Clone contacts Mystic and
asks him to open up the return portal - I forget how we said we did this - our
communicators? )
IC:
Keeping Doctor X close to him, Clone makes his way slowly towards Mystic's
magical portal. With a rapid flick of his foot, Clone than shuffles the SSS's
collection of Artifacts through the magical gateway. he than placed his free
hand on the back of Doctor X's head and in a mocking tone whispered to him once
more,"I'm not done playing with you yet . . . so I'm not going to kill you
right now. You'll die when I'm no longer amused by your suffering." The
Multiplying Mutant than shoved his hostage to the ground and backed up into the
shimmering portal behind him. As he began to fade out of view, Clone left
Doctor X with an ominous request, "Wait for me . . ."
OOC: I
hope this is enough - too sketchy??? Push come to shove, given their past and
Clone's TREMENDOUS "victim issues" with Doctor X, Clone will pull the
trigger if things go sour. It’s definitely not what a superhero would do, but I
think its what Clone would do if the situation started to get away from him.
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
Thanks
Kev!
Fyi, Sentinel's
energy spheres can generate an atmosphere inside them. This can serve as a decompression chamber,
protecting you all from getting the bends, thankfully.
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Lightning
Strike:
Strike
would take whatever opportunity avails itself to recharge as soon as
possible. Strike also votes for the
South of France since it is supposed to be nice this time of year and he
wouldn't mind a nice bottle of wine.
Of
course if the rest of the group has a different agenda, he will gripe but
follow along.
Thanks,
Tony
--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
OOC:
Jeff,
I've been thinking about Slate's actions, and I know he's studied Vanguard's
history, as well as all known superheroes so please help me with my limited
knowledge.
I've
been trying to piece together the history of the Eon Ring to figure out Slate's
next steps.
From
what I've come up with, it appears, The first time the "ring" was
acknowledged, was in the battle with Eon the Eternal. Which resulted in Dynamo (aka Dr. Change)
being trapped in Limbo, and Nemesis being sent to the past...
Our
Vanguard came across the ring while attempting to return to "their"
world from an alternate reality via a jury rigged Tesla coil, when the other
end of the "tunnel" was destroyed by the "other" Vanguard.
They
were able to jointly use the ring to come back to the present, and eventually
to use it to trap Dr. Change again in Limbo.
Please
let me know if I missed anything, or mis-stated anything that I did find.
My
understanding is that the Liberty League was actually from a time prior to the
FF, so this (when) we are now, is actually the first encounter with the Eon
ring, and removing it from this timeline could impact the timeline stated
above... or maybe not, seeing as the team has been able to impact the actions
of the ring in the past corporately, I'm guessing we could send it back here
after using it, but to follow this line of reasoning.
Perhaps
leaving the ring in the past is the best way to ensure events unfold the way
they should. Maybe Vanguard needed to
come back to this time to save the Liberty League from the combined might of
the Ubermensch and the Imperial Guard.
It appears the ring may be sentient, gently guiding the steps of
Vanguard.
So
Slate's actions as an if then statement:
If
Slate believes the timeline must be perserved, as Scott hugs his son, Slate
leans in for a moment and shares his concerns.
"Dad, if we take the ring, we could screw up the timeline so that
Vanguard never even exists. The Liberty
League could have fallen today without our assistance. Maybe as it has before the ring brought us
here to save them and keep the timeline intact.
If so, we need to leave the ring with the Liberty League as we go
through the rift into the future, accepting that the ring will send us where we
need to go. It will be out of Cthulhu's
reach, here in the past, I don't think we can make it any safer than
that."
If
Slate believes the time paradox is not a threat, he will continue with his
current plan to use the ring to try to warp them back to a few days before they
left, to allow them to heal, and let the team work out how to best use the
artifact in the future.
I know
this is late, and if you can't use it, just leave it out.
Thanks,
Jon
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
Scott
pulls back slightly and looks at his son. "Is that a fact? You highlight a
serious problem. Are you sure that they kept the ring longer than up to this
moment?" (I guess I'm asking the GM, here)
[OOC:
If we can confirm that he League has the ring past this moment, then we can
leave it behind. and I would be ok with it.]
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
Menagerie
looks at Slate. "That is linear thinking. You are assuming that history
has already happened. Vanguard could have always saved the Liberty League and
to preserve our attacking their stolen sub is the reason none of our friends
told us they knew us before. We could take the ring with us because that is how
it happened before in our current timeline of history."
OOC:
time travel stories always give me brain pain.
Best
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
OOC:
I'm with you there.
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
Scott
nods to Menagerie. "So if we can collectively remember it the Ring stayed
with them long than this moment - We can leave it behind. But I'm betting that
we should bring it with us."
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
Hi,
OOC
Replies:
Seth/Sentinel
wrote:
Any
possibility we can use the power of Ring of Eon to bring all the artifacts to
us or to end the threat?
GM: Assuming the Ring is working, it might
be feasible. See below for past uses.
Seth/Sentinel
wrote:
Was
Oracle and her group in France or Greece?
GM:
AEGIS, the European Union superteam, was headquartered in Athens, Greece
before they were massacred by the Primate. Oracle herself is Greek.
More GM:
Jon, your Ring timeline was very close. Here's the history of the Ring
of Eon as Vanguard's superhero historians and Slate's heightened sense of
comprehension recalls:
The
Ring of Eon was first acknowledged in the battle with Eon the Eternal in
2004. Eon, the black celestial, led an
alien invasion of Earth by the evil, star-spanning S'Korian Empire (the enemy
of Paladin, the cosmic-powered, armored Freedom Forcer).
The
Freedom Force, Earth's mightiest heroes from the 1980's, came out of retirement
and joined forces with their arch enemy, the supervillain Dr. Change, to save
the Earth. They destroyed the S'Korian fleet and defeated Eon but not before
Dr. Change seized the Ring of Eon, and Eon scattered them all across space and
time.
The
whereabouts of Freedom Forcers Dynamo, Pulsar, Paladin, Onyx and Pathos remains
a mystery to this day.
The
android Freedom Forcer, Nemesis (the "son" of IT, "half
brother" of Nanite, and "uncle" of Slate) was sent to the Dawn
of Earth's history where he voluntarily shut down until he was found by
Vanguard in the Temple of Terror in the Lost Lands in Antarctica.
Dr.
Change was sent to Limbo where he and the now-dormant Ring of Eon were trapped
for time immeasurable. This isolation broke
Dr. Change's mind, resulting in him believing he was actually his archenemy,
Dynamo, the leader of the Freedom Force. His shapeshifting powers
subconsciously altered his outward appearance to match his mind's mistaken
belief.
Vanguard
encountered Dr. Change in this state when they fell into Limbo after trying to
escape the Omega-verse via a jury rigged Tesla gate, when the
"receiver" of the gate was destroyed by Vanguard Omega on Earth
"Alpha."
Vanguard's
combined mental effort enabled them to use the Ring to bring them and
"Dynamo" back home. They defeated Vanguard Omega and then Dr. Change
remembered who he really was. Vanguard
once again combined their mental effort to commandeer the Ring, resulting in it
and Dr. Change being sent back to Limbo.
Vanguard
now encounters the Ring in the 1940's, where Dr. Swastika has sent an
expedition to fabled Atlantis to discover an ancient superweapon from a fallen,
advanced civilization to use in the war (not unlike Swastika's Nazi expeditions
to the Lost Lands for the same purpose).
Vanguard
has no recollection of the Liberty League ever encountering the Ring of Eon
(let alone Vanguard!) but the modern age Sentinel just asked the golden age
Mystic to mindwipe the Liberty League of these events in order to preserve the
correct timeline.
Hope
that helps.
Once we
get a team consensus on a plan of action, I'll announce the ending of this
turn, and then I'll begin writing the next issue. Over to you, heroes!
Thanks,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Lightning
Strike:
OOC: Perhaps
I missed some of the e-mails or didn't read them (more likely) but what are we
actually looking to get consensus on? I
don't remember voting on anything or arguing with Sentinel but if there is
something to argue about I am ready, willing and able.
Tony
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: This
one is about going through the portal and leaving the Ring in the past to
potentially avoid a paradox (where we would never exist?), because we stole the
ring before they lost it.
--------------------------------------------------
OOC:
Okay guys,
here are the issues we need a quick vote on!
[Thanks, Stephane and Tony.]
1) Does
Vanguard take the Ring of Eon with them or leave it in the 1940s?
Arguments
for taking it:
We
could use it to travel through time on our desperate quest to acquire the
remaining Artifacts of Power!
Arguments
for leaving it:
The
Ring is hard to control. Just look at Dr. Change.
Taking
it out of this time period could drastically alter the timeline, including
Vanguard's "present."
Besides,
it's safe here from those who would use it to summon Cthulhu in the 21st
century.
[That's
a quick summation of arguments. Full arguments are across this turn’s email.]
And, so
that I can move the plot forward more than just five minutes...
2) If
the team elects to take the Ring of Eon with them, do you think you should use
it to travel through time to acquire the remaining Artifacts of Power?
3)
Whether you have the Ring or not, what will the next Artifact target location
be?
• Northern France
• The Nevada desert
• Moscow (This is assumed to be the
Spear of Destiny, in possession of the SSS)
• Northern California
• China
Thanks!
I'd
like to tally votes by end of Election Day please!
I'd
love to see 100% turnout amongst the electorate!
Exercise
your patriotic duty!
Be sure
to review all email for the full debates on this topic. It's always important
to know the issues before you vote!
Thanks,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
Kirk
heard everything being said quietly taking it in (likely to Strike's surprise)
and then spoke out strongly, clearly frustrated, not at his teammates, but at
the entire situation. It was apparent
that the physical and emotional toll of the last few hours was beginning to
show, and Kirk was frustrated as the
clock was running out and the odds of completing their mission in the time
frame continued to mount against them...
"Or
maybe we were supposed to come now and take the ring back to the present! Or maybe we take it to the present and send
it back when we are done with it! I'm
sick of may-bees."
And as
he spoke he looked to each of his teammates ending with his eyes lastly locked
on Avatar, whom they looked to as their key strategist with Soldier on leave,
and Strike, who always played Devil's advocate. "Here's what we do know. We had a plan. We came here to get the
ring. We paid the toll... We take the damn ring! And we worry about fixing time anomalies, if any, later because
at this point without the ring I don't think its going to matter. I'm asking you now to think this through for
an opinion as to how to proceed here.
Looking at what has happened since this started and what lies before us
and how each non-stop mission takes a piece out of all of us, does it seem like
we can gather the artifacts in time?
Even if somehow we get them all, will any of us be able to stand against
the ultimate end game... and you know there is always an ultimate endgame. Our true enemy here since this started has
been time. We now have the means to take
control back from that enemy," and he raised Slate's hand up holding the
ring. "We are going to lose on the
path set before us! It's time to take
control. Instead of following, we
lead. We dictate the terms. Who's with me?"
OOC -
More than half the artifacts out there and hours left, not days. Each mission wears away our hit points with
no time to regenerate, we barely have time to get our power points back. At this point one to two solid shots past his
shields takes Kirk out of each mission.
Where do you guys stand given the number of hours and objectives
left??? We aren't going to succeed
without changing the rules of engagement.
Oh and
just one thing at the end of your comments Jeff. Kirk was NOT asking Mystic TO mind wipe the
League of the adventure. He was asking
him if after Vanguard left Mystic had had already planned to do so. It seemed the one plausible explanation
explaining how Vanguard could have been there and the League be unaware and it
also would lay the basis for Lancaster's feelings about Mystic that you
established at his first mention years ago since at this point they seem to be
close teammates. You also had already
begun to show the effects of the League's being aware of the future (two
Patriotic heroes high-fiving that they win the war). If anything was worded to imply Kirk was
suggesting the mind wipe please do adjust it as that was not my intent and just
a poor choice of words. If that was his intent
there would be nothing Kirk could do after they left whether he had a moral
problem with it or not. Prior to the
whole 'how to proceed thing with the Ring' was that every part of Kirk wanted
to tell the League what Swastika can do and how he uses his power to split the
League and end the first heroic age and warp events for years to come. But all of the thoughts of changing history
for the worse was stopping him. Then the
debate over the ring caused the same issue for everyone else. Thanks.
Finally,
regarding question 3: Nothing struck me from a plot perspective at this point
but since Kirk is trying to beat the cards they have been dealt I vote Vegas
baby! Nevada desert. Thanks.
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
Thanks Seth.
Here's
what Sentinel said to Mystic:
"...are you planning to take action after we leave to prevent the
League from remembering what they have learned here today. Not that I approve of it, but if so I have
little reason for me to think further on this moral dilemma”
Maybe I
was reading between the lines too much. :-)
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
OOC: Take
it, use it, Nevada desert.
If we
are successful, we can always return it to this time period, right? If not, then things are going to be bad
enough, anyway, right?
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
OOC:
Take it. Use it. China.
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
OOC: Slate
votes leave it/France.
IC: Two
wrongs won't make this right. We can't endanger the world to save it. None of
the other artifacts have proven "useable", as you seem to think the
ring will be.
I'm
quite sure Dr. Change felt the same way about using it to rule time and space.
We have to respect this as a force of nature, not a tool to be used by men.
--------------------------------------------------
Lightning
Strike:
OOC: Damn,
I agree with both stances. However, at
this point I fail to see how using the ring could possibly make the
circumstances any worse for us and it seems virtually impossible to get the
remaining artifacts in the little time remaining.
Final
vote: Use it and France!
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
“It IS
a "force of nature" to be respected but these are not normal
circumstances, not by any stretch of the imagination, and we must do whatever
we can to weigh the scales in our direction.
Also, we are not mere MEN...we are all that stands between mankind and
the apocalypse and only a few of us can truly be called "men",
anyway. We are in the position we are in
because we have been fated to stand here and we have all been given gifts
beyond those of most of mankind so that we can defend and protect them from
things like these Elder Horrors.”
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: Scott
votes with his son. Leave it and he picks his original location (which *I*
don't remember at the moment.
Stephane
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
Stephane, it was China.
--------------------------------------------------
