Within the maelstrom halo of writhing iridescence, he speaks in an acidic, aristocratic voice:
“Jew loving, mongrel masters of this despicable Earth, return to me what you have stolen. Now. Or I shall rend asunder this warship, killing the lives of everyone aboard. Just as I did your precious Vanguard Vault…
“You have My Word that I will spare this craft if you obey this request without hesitation.
“Any one of you can act now to save innocent lives! Release the artifacts to me. Now!”
Aperture readies to jury-rig the Digital Cannon for battle!
Slingshot strains to see the back of Mystic’s neck but cannot! The sorcerer suprema’s hood conceals it!
Sentinel makes an impassioned speech, seemingly agreeing to Dr. Swastika’s terms, and adding terms of his own.
Clone stands proudly beside Kirk as he speaks, and stares defiantly at Mystic/Swastika the entire time.
"Kirk, you better know what you are doing," Menagerie thinks to himself as he watches, ready to strike.
“I accept,” says Dr. Swastika through the mouth of Mystic.
“You have My Word, I shall take no action, direct or indirect, against you until the end game. I shall also foreswear all attacks against your friends and families… until the final moment.”
Swastika makes the mouth of Mystic smile.
The world’s most powerful sorcerer refuses the offer of a mind link, not trusting Sentinel with his deepest secrets. But cannot resist saying: “My mastery of what Men call ‘magic’ has recently enlightened and empowered me with the ability to place My Superior Will within whatever shell I desire, without the need for such primitive means as the Body Farm. That obsolete invention of mine is merely used now for my acolytes to wear new forms. I now transcend such simple mechanical techniques! You are hopelessly outmatched, subhuman fools!”
The Artifacts of Power are turned over to the twisted, mad genius and his maelstrom portal closes.
BOOM!
The Ubermensch and the Japanese Imperial Guard call off their attack and the Soviet Super Soldiers return to the Omni-Carrier.
When CHESS Director Grey hears what happened he says, “You what?!?”
Then he unknowingly echoes Menagerie: “I hope you know what you’re doing!”
The heroes of America and the USSR get to work, preparing for the final showdown.
The world storm continues to terrorize the human race. The Omni-Carrier moves inland to assist with emergency rescue operations from the catastrophe. Deep inside her, 17 hours later, with 25 hours remaining until the end of the world, Vanguard’s efforts are complete.
Countdown: 25 hours until the End of the World!
• Rebuilding the Janus Chair: Complete!
• Aperture inventing a Digital Pulse Cannon from his nanotech power: Complete!
• Menagerie and Avatar re-inventing a spell to block teleportation: Complete!
Vanguard recovers further from their injuries (OOC: Healing Rate x2, due to excellent medical care, +8 hip each from Nannie’s powers)
Symbiotic says to Vanguard: “We can use the Janus Chair to locate the Artifacts which should lead us right to Swastika. But like last time, we’ll get one use and the thing will short out.
“So we might wait until we’re closer to the moment of truth, so that Swastika and the Artifacts are in the final location? Then our Soviet friend, Shatter, can teleport us in.”
Replies? Actions!
OOC: Last call!
Current Conditions:
Aperture: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 73, Nanotech: Heightened Intelligence
Avatar: Hit Points: 29, Power Points: 85, Manifestation: None
Clone: Bodies: 1, Hit Points: 23, Power Points: 67, Hit Point Pool: 23
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 36, Power Points: 85
Menagerie: Hit Points: 26, Power Points: 66, Form: Man
Sentinel: Hit Points: 28, Power Points: 70, Creation Points: 140
Slingshot: Hit Points: 36, Power Points: 92, Invulnerability: 8, Damage that can’t be regenerated: 44!
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Slingshot:
OOC:
Wow.. Just Wow.
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Aperture:
IC: “We need to end this. Our world is being torn apart, and we’ve made a deal with the devil,” He says as he undoes the changes he made to switch the Digital (Anti-Magic) canon from an explosive back to a blaster.
“Maybe one artifact would complete the summons, but as you say all would be needed to control Cthulhu though I think that would be a little like trying to control IT.”
“We’ve been preparing, and our plans are ready, I say we go for it. Let’s open a portal and hit him with everything we’ve got, this needs to end, and it needs to end now.”
OOC: I know that’s brash, and probably simplistic, but this has gone on long enough.
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Sentinel:
Kirk said flatly, "I feel your frustration. Nobody wants this done more than me, but this is about possession of the artifacts at that key moment in time. Let's say we are successful at this time against Swastika - we still have to count down the clock. We've tried just that and been taking a beating on practically an hourly basis trying to defend them - we've seen Swastika manipulate time through this event, isn't it possible he attacks again out of time when we are at our weakest? ... or Black Bat makes his play? ... or another of the players we've already battled? ... or simply another unknown party also counting the clock waiting for their best moment to make their move??? There are too many unknowns to defend against. Our best chance for victory here is for the artifacts at the critical time."
Seth
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Menagerie:
IC: Menagerie agreed this was frustrating. "Only thing for us to do now is get ready for the final confrontation. I agree that Dr Swastika has to have all of the artifacts to accomplish his goal. Any chance that journal we found of his can tell us what it is?"
Menagerie will prepare his anti-teleportation spell to have it ready when the time comes. He will at the agreed to time sit in the Janus chair. Once the search is completed he will be ready for the attack.
"Any attack plans we won't to figure out as we wait? I know I have to cast the Anti-teleportation spell before Aperture fires the Digital (Anti-Magic) canon but I don't know if we want to grab the artifacts or beat down Dr. Swastika. If we do both we need to figure out who is doing what."
Menagerie will visit the armory to check out any weapons allowed as well as climbing rope. He will get a pistol as close the .45 that he used as a Park Ranger but will not refuse any upgrade offered. He will practice at the firing range while waiting for the appointed time to go to the Janus chair.
Viva Vanguard
PS: Menagerie is honoring the truce.
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Slingshot:
Scott looks at Kirk.. pensive, angry and accusatory. All this effort, getting the artifacts, fighting our own people, only to give them away? He better have a damn good plan.
After a moment, he turns to his son and says, "Let's get that damn gun working. When I get the chance I want to jam it up that swastika's head and blow it away."
Scott will try to calm down by focusing on work.
[ooc: help finish the last 10 minutes of that gun with Aperture, then assist with the Janus Chair.]
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Clone:
Clone walked slowly over to Sentinel and placed his hand on his friends shoulder and said supportively, "You are making most wise of decisions, comrade. This is being most toughest of times and you are knowing what is best to do for all of us, I am knowing this is true. Many of us have felt loss in these last many days and are feeling unhappy and afraid, but it is being you they are looking towards for knowing how to stop this most greatest of problem. Although I am still young man, I am knowing about believing in things that you can not know of for certain, but are knowing that it is real and right thing - this thing is being called 'faith'. I am having faith in you my friend and comrade leader . . . all things will happen as they are meant to."
Clone then pulls a small bible from his pocket and says to Kirk in a slightly somber tone, "It is seeming that most of our work is being done to prepare for final battle. I'm going to go to my room now and pray for all of our safety before getting some sleep."
After taking just a few steps away from Kirk, Clone stops and turns his head to look back at Sentinel and says in an uplifting and almost comical tone, "Perhaps if these are truly being our final hours Comrade Sentinel; when it is all done, I shall be looking for you on the other side comrade . . . sleep well my friend." Clone then smiles warmly and walks off towards his room.
-Kev
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Aperture:
As to honoring the truce, Aperture will follow along with the team. Since he’s healed up, and his project is done, he’ll help out around the Hellicarrier, assisting agents where he can, and spending time with his family.
On a side note, I’m wondering if Vanguards, “friends”, Swastika sent after us would be able to heal up and join us for the last battle? I’m guessing we’re going to be going against every baddie he’s sent after us so far, and the extra fire power couldn’t hurt…
Jon
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GM:
OOC: The majority of Vanguard want to uphold the 'truce.'
This means that you'll use the newly restored Janus Chair to locate the energy signature of the artifacts to track them and, presumably, Swastika.
In 25 hours, the stars align, the Cthulhu pantheon enters this dimension, and the world ends.
How long did you want to wait to use the Janus Chair?
Once I get a majority response, I'll know how to move the action forward.
Thanks!
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Sentinel:
OOC:
Assuming that we know the chair works and we can locate the items for sure I'd think as close to the exact moment as possible to prevent the ceremony is our best bet unless we are able to find out further details about the ceremony in the time left.
5-10 minutes?
The idea would be to get there to prevent the summoning and not to get there too early so as to stop Swastika and then have another party show up after we have beaten him (assumingly) and taken our damage to then obtain the artifacts for their purposes (ie Black Bat is my likely candidate at this point).
I'm certainly open to other suggestions and reasoning.
Seth
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Aperture:
OOC: 22.5 hours
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Menagerie:
OOC: I agree with 22.5 hours
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Slingshot:
OOC: What do the Russians have to say?
If we wait 22.5 hours to do something, we need to make sure we have something to come back to. We need to take the time to scrub the ship from bombs or any other potential malfunctions.
Stephane
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Sentinel:
Kirk interceded, "22.5 hours? Might I ask your logic in that timing? You are looking to reset our situation to what we had moments ago where we have to defend the artifacts against unknown forces for hours. And with what fortification? This craft? Four of our reserves under mind control almost blew it and everyone on it out of existence an hour ago!!! This is your last stand of defense???
Do you really think that Swastika 'is it?" We are dealing with a universal focal point here! Atlantis, the most advanced civilization on the planet at the time, fell preventing the end of things last time it cycled around. It seems that every being tuned in to magic and the nature of the universe is aware of its power and potential. We have gathered the most powerful artifacts known to creation to one place... do you really think Swastika the only one with last moment plans for them and the event?
Assuming we do beat Swastika your proposed 'victory' would be yet another day of this... what we have been living this last week, counting down the clock and playing guardian to the artifacts, after the battle with him has taken a further physical and mental toll on each one of us that happens to survive that battle.
So tell me... how does 22.5 hours make sense here?
I'm open to better ideas but I want them to put us in a better situation of preventing the end of everything."
Seth
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Aperture:
IC: Aperture was thinking 5-10 minutes was cutting it a bit close. 22.5 hours would hopefully be enough time to ensure Vanguard was able to recover the artifacts and stop the summoning, but not enough time for another party to plan a retributive strike. I was thinking, maybe once we recover the items, they should probably be returned to where they were… by location, or in the timeline to prevent disruptions. Hopefully Black Bat or anyone else that had a dog in this hunt, will have attempted to make their play by that time.
OOC: I’m open to 5-10 minutes, but if something happens, there is no time to regroup and pull together another attempt at that point.
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Slingshot:
Scott nod to Kirk's comments,"We went in thinking that we could protect the artifacts and it was clear that we were just going to be attacked wave after wave. So what do we do now? We can't just guess when is the right moment for the interruption. We need to know exactly when is the perfect time for the interruption."
OOC: I can't remember where Dr Swastika's Journal is, or the copy of the necronomicon. Did we lose it with the HQ explosion? I'm proposing to research it and figure out how can we best disrupt the summoning.
Stephane
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Aperture:
OOC: OOC: If we don’t have the copy, I think I remember Aperture (Slate at the time) scanned the book into his computer to do searches of the symbols. We should be able to recover those scans…
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GM:
In 25 hours, the stars align and the world will end with the arrival of Cthulhu and his unholy pantheon of mad gods.
Vanguard debates the opportune moment to strike. Some propose waiting 22.5 hours, leaving them 2.5 hours until the end of the world. Others wish to wait longer, striking with minutes to spare.
The Soviets will follow Vanguard's lead about when best to strike. Mother Russia agrees with what has been already said. "If we succeed quickly, comrades, two hours defending the artifacts against multiple enemies could seem like an eternity. On the other hand, five minutes could be cutting it too close. Is there a middle position, perhaps?"
Dr. Swastika's heinous journal, and the blasphemous Necronomicon, were lost in the fall of Vanguard Vault. Aperture's had scanned some images from these profane tomes, searching specifically for chilling likenesses of his black, amorphic father to fuel an unsettling conversation about Scott's origins. Aperture did not scan for gate rituals. That said, from what he did see, the ingenious inhuman calculates that any summoning ritual could encompass several hours.
OOC:
Thanks. As you already know, once I have the group's consensus on an answer, I can move the action along. :)
Thanks everyone.
Viva Vanguard!
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Clone:
OOC: Clone has put his faith and destiny in Sentinels hands - he's standing by whatever his friend and leader says. Clone's greatest power in my eyes has always been his heart and he's going to follow it as always - he knows Sentinel would never let anyone get hurt so he's trusting his judgement.
IC: "I am being with you Comrade Sentinel."
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Avatar:
OOC: Avatar is weary and confused. He places his faith in Sentinel.
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Menagerie:
Menagerie would like to use the Janus chair early as discussed and the time our arrival for 10 to 15 minutes before .
He will agree to the exact timing as Sentinel thinks best . HIs leadership of Vanguard has been fantastic.
Thanks
Tom
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Sentinel:
Sentinel appreciates the support he has received, especially from Clone who has tried to help buoy his spirits.
If the summoning ritual takes a few hours and majority would like somewhere in the middle it would seem acceptable - particularly if it is felt that once disrupted another party couldn't simply take over the ceremony. He still feels a couple hours out much too long but perhaps a half prior or so if it might assuage the concerns of some.
However he truly believes it will come down to those last few moments... it always does in these sort of situations and he doesn't want to stop Swastika only to have another party step in at the last moment.
Those are my thoughts; but I am only one and we do have a team...
Thanks all.
Seth
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GM:
So far it sounds like you'll run out the clock and use the Janus Chair (a one shot invention) 2.5 hours before the stars align to discover the artifacts' of power location on earth. Then you'll have Shatter or Aperture (or both?) teleport you and the Soviets there 10-15 minutes before the stars align.
Until then, I expect you'll guard the Chair because without it, your plan's in serious trouble.
Thanks everyone.
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Slingshot:
OOC: I'm good with waiting more towards the last minute. instead of 2.5 hours ahead of time.
I would want to spend the time gathering resources and intelligence if at all possible - Any chance we can get a hold of the ritual? other mages or spiritual advisors? anyone on the russian front? Menagerie? Avatar (maybe use his divining powers?) we have 22.5 hours to waste.
Also, Besides having the Russians at our sides, would the Vanguard reservists be well enough to assist a frontal assault?
Stephane
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Aperture:
OOC: Aperture is fine with waiting.
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