World War II - The Vanguard Issue #3 - Operation Dynamo!

"How are they coming along?"

General Wynn asked the question even though he already knew the answer. His friend and team mate, Lance Allard, the incomparable Anyman, stood beside him, cup of hot tea in hand. Sergeant Major Ernest Slobotham marched towards the pair with a look echoing the thunderous clouds overhead. "Bloody idiots! Some of them think this is a game!" he spluttered. "Don't they know what's happening in France?"

Holland had been overrun. Poland had fallen last year. The Nazis had decisively defeated the British in Norway, securing vital ports and resources, and heaping criticism on Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Behind closed doors Chamberlain came under incredible pressure for not having given the order to mobilise the United Kingdoms 'Special Forces' - the Vanguard and Justiciars. His intention to 'keep them secret to use against the Nazis when they least expect it' had backfired horribly. The Nazis knew about the Vanguard thanks to the running battles they'd had thus far, and Anymans own stunning espionage campaign in Germany. In truth Chamberlain had been frightened of the power they wielded, and had little answer to the critical backlash in the commons that saw him resign the leadership of the country, to be replaced by Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty.

The worrying reports of the Nazis using incredible technologies and unbeatable superhuman agents were difficult to confirm. Indeed, the British Government seemed mostly to be in denial, until the recent attacks on London by talking animals that walked like men, and the confirmed reports by the fledgling DICE organisation that trained their own super agents. Churchill viewed the situation in Europe as being dire, the Nazis having outwitted the French with diversionary tactics and raced to trap the British Expeditionary Force that had been sent to aid France against the sea where it could be destroyed. There were not only thousands of eye witnesses now, but the Public knew what they faced. 100' tall Nazi robots, flying machines that soared faster than any plane and spat death rays down on defenceless troops, Nazi soldiers dropping from the sky with jet packs, red skinned lizard like aliens who scorched all who opposed them by emitting incredible heat, and the superhuman agents bolstering the Nazi war machine all added to one certain conclusion.

The annihilation of the B.E.F. and Britain being left defenceless against invasion!

Wynn glanced at Allard, then back at the farmers field where the Justiciars were being trained in the use of their powers. "The Nazis are tossing their 'powers out onto the field of conflict without training. They don't need it. There are so many of the blighters that even were we to cut dozens down, more would take their place." he said. Despite the cold, the man never seemed to feel it.

"You're making sure they can't send planes or Zeppelins over though sir." said Slobotham. "Even those flying machines without wings don't float so good in the storms you conjure!"

Wynn gave a tight smile, then added "How long do you think I can hold them back? It's already affecting how many superhumans I can turn out. Besides that, I have had my orders from above today."

Slobotham glanced at Allard, then both men waited. "Yes, Gentlemen. The Vanguard and Justiciars are going to France, to help get out boys off that damn beach before the nazis finish them off. Even with the power we wield, chances are we'll be slaughtered to a man. And... " he sighed. "They ORDERED me to stay, to turn out more agents." Slobotham started to protest loudly, cursing and throwing insults at Churchill and the cabinet before Wynn waved him quiet. "The War has finally come to Britain. If the Vanguard fall, and the army is wiped out... Britain is done."

=========

Frostbite watched as tarpaulins were pulled over the huge craft parked in the fields near Bletchley.

Scientists from Dawsons' strange sciences sections swarmed over it, and even the soldiers set to guard the thing couldn't help but gape. General Forbes shook his head in wonder and moved up next to Frostbite. "Hoskyn, despite the accent, you're a true Brit through and through. Everything you've done for us gives you enormous credit son. Damned if they won't knight you for this." both men watched as Lionheart sped across the field. "Didn't take long!" he proclaimed!

Forbes shook his head. "You're a wonder! You stitched those tarpaulins together in hours what would have taken teams of seamstresses weeks! This is going to become our new mobile base of operations thanks to you lot. best to defend it from the air though - those tarpaulins will do a grand job of that." his smile faded, and he turned as Silver Sentinel joined them. Walking over from a different direction, Captain Emma Louise Steed stood alongside Forbes.



"Orders are in." Forbes said quietly. "Vanguard and Justiciars to France. Do anything you can to stop the nazis wiping the army out. You have special dispensation from the PM himself to commandeer any resources or men you deem fit for purpose if it saves lives. Reports are coming in of the Nazi metahumans carving our lads up for fun. Only yesterday they dropped dozens from one of their flying saucers down onto our retreating troops. From a mile up." he sucked in through his nose, then turned. "Bring our boys home!"

=========

Elsewhere...

(OOC Translated from German)

"Our charge through the Ardennes took them by surprise! Couple that with our diversionary attacks from the sky... the British and the Belgians will soon be cornered! There was some talk of holding back the tanks and letting the Luftwaffe finish them off, but those mysterious new allies of the Fuhrers..."

"The ones who claim to be from the future?"

"The same. They advised on all out attacks, to utterly destroy the enemy! The Fuhrer remained unconvinced at first, but they are persuasive. They claim to come from a future where the British Expeditionary Force escaped via boat. Hundreds of civilian boats, can you believe? Anyway, the order has been given. Drive the British into the sea..."

"And then?"

"Set the sea alight. Burn them! Burn them all..."

The Tank Commanders nodded, shook hands, and set out into the cold to order their men to engage on the push that would see them crush Britain and send the rest of Europe scurrying for cover.

=========

As the rain came down, General Wynn and the Vanguardians gathered in a meeting room at Bletchley park

Anyman, Frostbite, Lionheart, Silver Sentinel, Gravity Girl (Emma Steed) and Sterling Silver, one of the Justiciars, are seated waiting for the General to speak. Forbes and Dawson come in, shaking coats free from rain, and Slobotham moves to a window, to perch on a ledge.



He waved a pointer at the map on a wall. "The Nazis are coming at our lads with a pincer effect. The French didn't expect it, and we've been heavily hit by the Nazi special forces. They include three 100' tall giant robots with the power of 50 tanks apiece. They wiped out anything against them, but one has fallen back, presumably due to mechanical failure. The Nazis back those things up with superhuman soldiers, flying machines and jet pack wearing special forces, and conventional forces which are fewer in number than our own, but more effectively deployed and used. It's a bloody mess." said Wynn. "Forbes."

General Forbes bristled at the lack of proper protocol when addressing a superior officer, but moved forward anyway. "You'll be split into teams and allowed free run at the Nazis. Anything you can do to stop or slow down their advance to buy our lads time is vital. I have..." he paused, the words coming with difficulty "I have orders that state you are to lay down your lives if need be, if it will secure our objective. I disagree with that most strongly, but this is war, and things go wrong. I will be honest."

He looked around. "I don't expect all of you to return. If the Nazis succeed in wiping out the B.E.F. then your orders - if you are still alive - are simple. Use your special powers and abilities to kill Adolf Hitler. Bear in mind that the P'utinarians no longer support the man, word may not have gotten to them as yet. They are shape shifters. We tried to kill Hitler but were rumbled when the bullet pinged from a P'utinarian decoy. Our assassin shot himself before he could be caught, but reports say they took his body anyway. Unconfirmed reports state that the Nazis have been injecting their soldiers with a serum that allows them to..." he gathered a piece of paper. "Rise from the dead to eat the flesh of the living." Tossing the paper down, the General scowled. "Utter claptrap, but given what we've seen already, the miracles you lot can pull off... And Anymans own intel from his incursions into Nazi territory... Well, it means that unless you utterly destroy the Axis soldiers body, it will get up and keep fighting."

Wynn stood and interrupted. "I have been ordered to stay here. I will defend Britain to the best of my ability with the weather, and continue to train super agents. I need thoughts, ideas, plans, stratagems, anything from you people. You are the cream of what we have. We... lost Kitten recently. She's MIA, not dead, but gone. That means you lot, and the raw recruits in the Justiciars are the last line of defence, the only hope we have, of saving the army from annihilation! We will divide the Justiciars into squads for each of you to lead."

Forbes added "Frankly though... things have never been more grave. Our darkest hour? I should say so..."

Wynn stood and interrupted. "I have been ordered to stay here. I will defend Britain to the best of my ability with the weather, and continue to train super agents. I need thoughts, ideas, plans, stratagems, anything from you people. You are the cream of what we have. We... lost Kitten recently. She's MIA, not dead, but gone. That means you lot, and the raw recruits in the Justiciars are the last line of defence, the only hope we have, of saving the army from annihilation! We will divide the Justiciars into squads for each of you to lead."

Forbes added "Frankly though... things have never been more grave. Our darkest hour? I should say so..."

"Sir? Questions," Anyman says, standing respectfully. "Do we know where their command posts are at? The Nazis are extremely regimented and jealous of their rank and the perogatives that come with them. If we cut off the head ... the field marshalls in charge of the attacks ... it will slow them down and sow a great deal of confusion. Buy us a lot more time, I would think."

"But their damn psychics will know we are closing in on their field marshalls. If we do something like that, it will have to be fast. Though it will also pull many of the super troops out of the line to protect those men. Or have we gotten enough psychics of our own to block theirs ... at least for a bit?"

DavidMcMahon wrote:"But their damn psychics will know we are closing in on their field marshalls. If we do something like that, it will have to be fast. Though it will also pull many of the super troops out of the line to protect those men. Or have we gotten enough psychics of our own to block theirs ... at least for a bit?"

"Sir, Anyman makes a good point!" Frostbit leaned forward, his easy frame still adjusting to the sudden onrush of powers he seemed to pick up anytime he let the Dark Prince have his way.

"Do we have Psychics of your own who might be able to set up some interference? Short of that we know that the...power with in us," Frostbite added hesitantly, "is also the other way we think we might able to stir the hornets nest, but we'd really rather use that as a last resort."

Lionheart moved around, having given some thought to the very situation. "I haven't yet tested the limits of my powers, since...well anyway," He said shaking off what he was going to say, "Perhaps it might be possible to run interference but at the same time it would mean I'd effectively be out of the battle facing these guys without what other help we can throw against this people."

Most of them appreciated that having any of the team tied down on one form of attack, especially someone as valuable as Lionheart wasn't a good use of resources, but they all knew that surprise wasn't something they could count on, with the Psychics out their listening in.

"In any case," Lionheart continued, "We know that there have been a least two time incursions, one from the near future and one from mine, these people know how things turned out the first time around, you can be sure that whatever we're planning we'd better get on with it and be prepared to be flexible, in a battle like this the unexpected is probably the best weapon we can use against them."

====
OOC:

Ok I've just read this through, so not to sure what to say at present as this is big battle stuff and we are facing a unknown enemy with huge resources. Although we can easily let loose on them, we also know that the consequences for doing so might leave Europe as smoking ruin with millions of lives lost in one fell swoop. That would make us instantly far worse than the Nazi's hands down.

That being the case, I think we might need to make sure we hit them on multiple fronts. We need to team up powers to compliment one another and run as much interference as is possible both in the skies and on the ground.

So for instance if Frostbite's Frostbot can use his on board computer to control the robots titans we can use them to attack each other. Where as Lionheart might be useless against the robots but great against their human controllers.

We know Sentinel has great metal controlling powers and Anyman is MR Espionage, so between them perhaps they hold the best chances of getting behind the lines whilst the rest of us do the spectacular stuff.

Where we are weakest is in the skies, granted with the battle being fought here, England is less vulnerable, but we don't know that the Nazi's won't also take this opportunity to do the unexpected and just bomb blighty behind our backs. So Wynn needs to stay, is Sky Eagle and the rest of the Justicar's also available to us? Can any of them be used to help with the sky battles, perhaps using the new ship we've brought back as a mobile floating base?

Ok I am not sure how you want to play this Paul and Dave and Ross need to come in on this but I'm happy teaming up in twos and working the angles in different places more to run co-ordinated interference giving our guys time to get away. But we'll need back up in at home to make sure the Nazi's don't use that to attack and also to escort the army back once they are dug in at the beach.

Well those are my few thoughts for now.

Sj

The Vanguard

Forbes shifted uncomfortably, then looked over at Dawson, who stood. "Unfortunately Commander, as I was telling Major* Steed before we came in, the Nazis appear to be using vessels similar to that captured by Squadron Leader King (Lionheart) and company as command posts. Well armed, resistant against any munitions we can throw at the thing, and faster than any aeroplane yet built. They have half a dozen of the things, Well, less one. And lots of smaller fighters to act as escort if needed." he sighed, then sagged in his chair. "As for psychics, well, we had one or two, but there was a security breach a few days ago. one was kidnapped, the other..." his voice trailed off.

Wynn 'harrumphed' and stood "Well we bally well won't give in! Allards right, by jove! cut the bloody head off the snake and see it thrash around for a while. If that doesn't buy us time, I don't know what will! We'll check the personnel records for best subterfuge operatives and send Allard here to go shut down their mind reading party. Should think Lionheart will be a dab hand at that too, especially if those readings we got from those tests this afternoon are anything to go by! Never seen the like! Boy must be the most powerful conventional superhuman on the planet! That's got to count for something!"

Forbes nodded "Alright Wynny, calm down. You'll do yourself a mischief!" he said, then saw Slobotham rise, rolling up his sleeves!

Wynn waved his batman down and stood again. "Right. Allard, you're in charge of a sabotage detail. Kitten would've been ideal. Damn shame what happened to her. Still, make the best of what we have. Frostbite? You fancy taking the bulk of the Justiciars and tackling the Nazis head on? Be the toughest thing you've ever done, but I'll try my best to cook up a few more 'volunteers'."

This time Slobotham, Forbes AND Dawson started forwards with protests, and the old General had to sigh and back down. "Damned ticker. If I were 20 years younger..."

"Thirty..." remarked Slobotham.

With a growl and a glance Wynn continued "Twenty Five years younger... I'd be in the field with you, leading a charge over the hill and raising merry hell. Rest assured, I'll be busy enough. I have a plan in mind..."

Forbes looked about. "Silver Sentinel? Any thoughts on where your talents are best suited?"

*OOC forgot I'd promoted Steed. She's the same rank as everyone else - Lt Commander, Squadron Leader, Major etc though in a different service (army if I recall). Silver Sentinel is the lowest ranked soldier in the room, but by virtue of his super powers he more or less out ranks everyone below Major.

Admin wrote:OOC my post crossed yours Dave but I think it still works, for the most part. In my next post I'll give a summary - in Slobothams words - of the Justiciars and you can decide how best to use them.

Sounds good to me.

Sj

The Vanguard

Slobotham watched the three Generals leave, then settled into the chair at the head of the 'class'. "You lot all outrank me... sirs... but You'll beg my pardon I'm sure if I just chuck that salute rubbish out the window and get on with it, eh?"

Major Steed started to rise "Now just hold on a minute, you can't just..."

Slobotham waved her quiet. "Look, love, the way I see it, what I say here and now might be useful in keeping your pretty self alive. Listen, and shut up."

Steed fair bristled - she'd had run ins with Slobotham before, but kept quiet. Occasionally she'd glance over at Anyman - business had kept them apart after their adventure in Germany but both felt they'd become at least friends in that time.

Slobotham pulled out a scruffy note book.

"Right then. Silver Sentinel you know about. Graduated from the Justiciars when it was revealed he had... what the General has in him. And you Frostbite, Anyman. Kitten, before she went AWOL. Yeah, yeah, I know, it's not like that. Anyway. By all accounts he's proved himself, he's a Vanguardian."

"Hothead is a real mouthy type. Flashy. Covers himself in flames, flies about, blasts stuff. He's powerful and knows it. A hose down will dampen his spirits, though rain and partial immersion in water doesn't bother him too much. With all due respect he's an idiot. The type to charge in first and think never. No good for the likes of you Mr Allard, where stealth and a brain are required. We screened him, as we did everyone else, and he has... 'the right stuff' but don't expect him to tie his own shoelaces because he expects a fan club to do that for him. That sort of bloke. Tosser, in other words, but alright to stick out in the front line." He nodded to Frostbite.

"Tank Man. Another bonehead who loves himself. He's been in bother a few times, not least with our Mr Jenson (Silver Sentinel) here. Has the muscle to back his mouth up, but he's not bulletproof. That said, he'd be no good at sneaking around. Not his style. Bit of a loose cannon, not even sure he'd be much good for you Hoskyn. Watch out for him. Make sure he doesn't see Hothead do something really stupid then try and top it. Our screening process was... 'lacking' shall we say, when he was chosen. He grows, somewhere in the 15' region, and can push a lorry over. Not bulletproof, but can take a licking before keeling over. Still... I'd be tempted to do it if the Nazis didn't..."

"Mist Maiden. Lovely lass. Bit shy. Becomes a cloud, loses all her clothes in the process. Not much good in a fight as she'd be vulnerable and naked, and that doesn't go down to well on a battlefield. Definitely one for you to nurture Allard. She can move through solid objects like they weren't there, and fill a building with thick fog in minutes. Good for you to get in and out of a place with? You'll have to carry her clothes for her, mind. When tangible she can pack a punch in the way of a lightning zap. No good if a gunshot will take her out though."

"Thunderclap. One of the better ones. Team player. Think you've met him haven't you Anyman? Well he'd fit in anywhere. Not bullet proof but near enough. I shot him a dozen times with a machine gun and only bruised him. He got mad, mind, and I had to stay clear of his signature punch - the Thunderclap. It makes a right racket but will buckle plate steel and smash through a wall. Imagine what it does to the human body! I dare say you'll be squabbling over his services."

"Fastback. Young Mary Tremlett. Runs like you wouldn't believe! Probably faster than you Lionheart, though I wouldn't give her a hope in hell of lasting more than a few seconds with what you dole out. She's cheeky, flirt, good to be about, but maybe doesn't take things seriously enough. She will soon. In a fight she can punch several times a second, but that might bust her hands up. She burns calories like you wouldn't believe, eats like half a dozen young blookes would and still doesn't put on an ounce. I'll bet you hate her already Steed..."

"Hey!" shouted the Major, about to get up then waving the insult away, looking out the window.

"As to which role she's suited in? Not sure. Either, but with provisos on both. Keep her near a reasonable supply of food and she'll be fine, otherwise her blood sugar drops like mad."

"Spiderweb. Youngest lad in the team thus far. A joker, agile, fast. Wasn't much cop in a fight till Dawson cooked up those net bombs he fires. In a pitched battle... I don't know. Usefulness?" Slobotham thought for a moment. "In the right circumstances, with the right leadership and the right target. Don't put him up against the Nazis best scrappers or he'll be pulverised. In a sabotage role? Again, Allard knows what he's doing. If the boy listens to Anyman, and learns, he could do good. He squeezes into tiny places, moves with stealth and speed, clings to ceilings and walls without bother. Those net bombs are good against a few Nazi goons, but he can't punch his way out of a wet paper bag. I gave him combat training and his cockiness saw him last 5 minutes, and I don't have powers. Not sure. Your call, Gentlemen."

"Void. Hmmm." Slobotham frowned. There was a long pause before he spoke. "Now I'm just a retired former Sergeant Major, no scientist or psychiatrist..."

Steed laughed. Slobotham glanced then continued.

"This guy is weird. I mean odd. The power changed him. Dramatically. He was a snob, upper class twit, officer, public schoolboy and the usual type you'd rather fatten a lip on instead of talking to. Now? Spooky. He's reclusive, secretive, doesn't get on with anyone, but doesn't fall out either. No idea where he'd fit in. This.. and I find it hard to believe ... is the weirdest part. He casts magic spells. Genuine magic. Waving hands, chanting, all that. I didn't know Wynny could give that stuff to someone but he says it's a real grab bag, pot luck and all that. He might be useful in the field turning the Nazis into frogs or zapping their tanks. He conjures... and I can confirm this. Demons. Real honest to goodness scaly skinned reptilian forked tongue fellas who dance about and want to eat your soul. More useful is his energy blast - seems to ignore armour, so whoever gets him, make sure he's not getting his head punched in and he could be useful. Again, your call fellas. Sorry."

"Buxton? Want to tell us what you do?"

The man known as Sterling Silver stood. He was handsome - proper movie star handsome - and his body looked like an Olympic swimmers. That Weissmuller fellow in the recent Tarzan films had nothing on him! His hair was silver, odd for one so young, but did nothing to age him. He radiated a natural easy going magnetism that relaxed those around him. When Buxton spoke, people listened. "Hello all. It's a genuine honour to meet you. I've studied what they're allowed to tell us and can only say, well, if we can achieve half of what the Vanguard has done thus far, I'll be happy. I can fly, I can lift a car, and I can take a few hits. I'm not bulletproof but I have been shot and I can say it hurts! All I would add is that yes, it hurt, but in the way a stinging punch might have done before I was changed, so don't worry too much about me. I'll do anything you want me to do, though I prefer to be in the thick of things, taking the heat off our lads." He sat down, and Steed smiled at him, flushing slightly.

Slobotham shrugged, glanced at Frostbite and Anyman, then added "Again... starting to sound like a broken record."

"Garland is a real enigma. She can become a living plant. In fact, it's been theorised that she is in fact a plant who can become human. All I know is, she can heal real quick, control the growth of plants, release deadly spores that only hurt living beings - no effect on tanks or such like then - and she's tough as bark. Literally. Keeps her head in a tussle, former nurse so useful on the battlefield in more ways than one. I'd suggest front line duty for her, but don't get her minced up - she's a nice lass."

"Finally, Anchor. He packs a real punch this one. As strong as anyone here in sheer physical terms, but he's not particularly bulletproof unfortunately. Good lad is Jock. There's no way he'll miss a scrap and he'll be at the front of the fight, doling it out. Hates Nazis with a passion - there's no budging in him either, so make sure he's not near any captured officers. Enlisted men he'll probably knock about, but the Officers? Just keep him out the way. He'll take a bullet for any of you, and that's as much a problem as it does him credit. No good for you Allard. You want brains not brawn. Jocks no thicko but he doesn't take things seriously unless Nazis are involved, so best to stick to what he does best."

"Three others, Sky Eagle, Eruption and British Bombshell were due back from a mission days ago. Not seen 'em. The General is looking for them but they were sent to stop a Zeppellin and we don't know what happened. So they aren't available for now. We have half a dozen promising others going through the screening process. We don't want to be like the Nazis, and turn out monsters that go bonkers and start on their own side, hence we're being careful. The power affects everyone in the head differently - Tank Man and Void are examples of that. In fact they all are. Sterling Silver here has his head screwed on but even he would be the first to admit he's not a normal bloke."

Buxton flushed, and turned away whilst Slobotham continued. "As soon as we know owt about the new lot, you lot will."

The Vanguard

"Three others, Sky Eagle, Eruption and British Bombshell were due back from a mission days ago. Not seen 'em. The General is looking for them but they were sent to stop a Zeppellin and we don't know what happened. So they aren't available for now. We have half a dozen promising others going through the screening process. We don't want to be like the Nazis, and turn out monsters that go bonkers and start on their own side, hence we're being careful. The power affects everyone in the head differently - Tank Man and Void are examples of that. In fact they all are. Sterling Silver here has his head screwed on but even he would be the first to admit he's not a normal bloke."

Buxton flushed, and turned away whilst Slobotham continued. "As soon as we know owt about the new lot, you lot will.".

"Thunderclap is a good man. Green as can be or was. You don't stay green long in this line of work, and live. I'm like him, in that I am pretty nearly bulletproof myself but anything bigger is going to hurt or worse."

"Hmmm ... my initial feeling ... Gravity Girl and I," Anyman says, nodding to Major Steed, slightly jealous to see the blush when she looked over at Sterling Silver, "worked together, first mission behind lines. That's where we found out about the psychics." He says this for the benefit of those who hadn't met her previously and to proivde support, showing her bonafides to everyone. "I think we are going to need power on the beaches. Lots of power. These strong men of our who aren't bulletproof. Any chance of them getting some kind of body armor? Maybe a breastplate made out of battleship steel? Assuming they are strong enough to wear something like that and not be slowed down. Look into it, Slobotham."

"As much as I want her with me ... er ... because we worked so well together," he says, glad he wears bandages all over his face so HIS blush can't be seen. "I think you might be best on the beaches, Major Steed. With your gravity powers, you can pull those men in the Buck Rogers' rocketpacks out of the skies."

"I take it that we weren't able to make enough rocketpacks of our own from the ones Gravity Girl and I brought back on our mission? Even a dozen or so could help."

"How about this Frostbite," he says, turning to the other team leader. "I get Lionheart, Naked ... er Mist Maiden, Spiderweb, Void and Garland."

"You get Gravity Girl, Hothead, Tank Man, Thunderclap, Anchor and Fastback."

"I'm thinking maybe Sterling Silver and Silver Sentinel should go with you too. That's going to be a problem namewise since you two have the same initials and Silver in your names. Anyone feel like changing their name to Sterling Steel? No?"

"Fastback could be of use to me with her speed but her need for food will make it almost a suicide mission for her. She has a better chance of getting food with the troops. Gravity Girl and I went hungry a number of times behind lines and that kind of thing could kill Fastback!"

"Gravity Girl with Silver Sentinel will give you some control over your skies, very important thing to have. And maybe with that metal control of his, he can take out the robots. Freeze up their joints or something."

"You get the bigger team but sneak teams need to be small anyways," he finishes up, waiting to see what the others have to say.

The Vanguard

DavidMcMahon wrote:"How about this Frostbite," "I get Lionheart, Naked ... er Mist Maiden, Spiderweb, Void and Garland."

"You get Gravity Girl, Hothead, Tank Man, Thunderclap, Anchor and Fastback."

"I'm thinking maybe Sterling Silver and Silver Sentinel should go with you too.

OOC: Nice one Dave, you divided them up pretty how I would.

=====

Joe nodded, his easy going manner and laid back charm, belying the fact that he was the one the team seemed to defer to, much like his older predecessor. Funny how it had gone like that, Lance, was easily older and more experience but even he naturally deferred to him. Joe shrugged the thought aside.

"Yes, Lance I agree I think you've made a good choice. Whilst I'm going to need Sentinel, Steed and Buxton here to keep the others from forgetting which side their fighting on or against. I also agree, that whilst speed would be great, additional armour is going to be a must. As soon as we're picked out, we're going to be targets for the big guns...literally I've no doubt."

Frostbite thought some more, "Any chance we can get Fastback a better way to take on calories so she is more battle effective longer? If she needs energy can we give her sugar drinks or something?"

As they all thought on the possibilities ahead of them, Lionheart grimly nodded, grateful for an opportunity to join Anyman behind the lines. He felt sure that wherever Hitler was, Trowers or Bentham wouldn't be far behind. And he was itching to take down those two power mongers.

"Sir, what about the three agents who we rescued on the ship? Spartan, Guillotine and Boudica? I feel sure that though they've been programmed by Bentham, away from him and on the Battlefield they'll be a worthy group to assist the team."

Lionheart waited for the response, fearful that the agents, might be sidelined, despite their unorthodox entry into the allies side.

OOC:
1. Ok I think we've got our teams, If possible I'd like to use the three Psi agents listed.
2. Next thing is how we get in, who goes first and making sure that we've got some way to distract the Nazi's from realising the whole team isn't on the beach for a long as possible. If only we had some P'utinarians who might dress up as the others. But if we can get Spartan, Guillotine and Boudica, it would be great to have them dress as Lionheart, Anyman and Gravity girl, at least so as to confuse things whilst the others go behind the lines. If the Nazi's know we're the others are, our cover it blown before we've a chance to get in deep.
3. Then its just a matter of getting on with it. How would you like us to handle things and I think if Ross, is up for it (I'll see him tonight) he should be able to direct some of the agents, rather than just me. You can still make rolls and what not, but at least that will give him equal shares in the upcoming scrap!

Sj

The Vanguard

"Sir?" laughed Slobotham at Lionhearts' question. "Sir you say? Ha! I hear say you're a man from the future, so our antiquated ways will seem silly, but DON'T call me sir! That's for toffee nosed officers born with a silver spoon up their backsides!"

Major Steed scowled, knowing full well Slobotham was - as ever - having a dig at her! "I think your plan - and the team placements - are sound Lance. It will be ... good ... to work with you again, but you're right. My gravity powers will work best on the aeroplanes. They'll not fly well once I make their engines too heavy for the frames!"

Slobotham pondered Allards words. "We last saw the jet packs in the strange science sections workshops. To be honest sir I wouldn't hold out too much hope of seeing them working again. They pull them to bits, photograph and make technical drawings of the things, then send the bits away to see if we can make moulds and reproduce the things. The problem is that they run on ethanol and use this strange rock substance as a means of superheating the fuel to drive an air/fuel turbine that provides the thrust. I think it comes from the moon. It's all a bit beyond me, but the rock - and it's only a small thing - does something to the fuel. Makes it hundreds of times more potent, and therefore increases the speed AND range."

The Vanguardians knew about Lunarium - there wasn't much they could do about supplying the stuff!

Slobotham pondered Lionhearts earlier question. "Those three are under guard sir. Not locked up, but followed wherever they go. That was after your report about what happened up there. There's no telling if that Bentham fellow could at any time flick a switch and have them start trashing the place. From the sounds of what they can do, it would take more than an ordinary soldier to stop them. Their wounds have healed really well though. That ship you arrived in stitched them up better than any Doctor! That said, you're the boss. The top brass have given you lot free reign. Whatever you need, you'll have. Orders? Get our guys back home, at all costs! We may even be able to get that ship of yours in service as a medical centre. As far as we can tell, it can operate reasonably well under water as well as in the air. Those lizard men crew do what they are told without supervision and we've gotten the prisoners off thanks to you lot putting 'em in their place. Strange how you knew how to turn off the robotic parts of their body Frostbite, but we're glad you did, even if our lads had to do some donkey work to move 'em to a storage place."

Lionheart wondered then if such treatment from the alien ship might have saved Beth Carter, who died in his arms in the Antarctic.

"Ok then." said Slobotham. "Let's get the teams sorted out."

"We have:"

Frostbite - Team Leader
Objective: Beach defence and tactical assault group
At all costs: Get soldiers off the beach at Dunkirk and back to Britain!

Silver Sentinel
Gravity Girl
Hothead
Tank Man
Thunderclap
Anchor
Fastback
Sterling Silver

Anyman - Team Leader
Objective: Sabotage, Espionage and assassination duties
At all costs: Disable the psychic network that allows the Nazis to be one step ahead of the Allies

Lionheart
Mist Maiden
Spiderweb
Void
Garland

"The PSI agents you can divide as you will. If we could trust them more I'd have suggested keeping at least one here to guard the PM. As it is, General Wynn will do his best on that front. We have potential candidates coming on line in the next few days and can bolster both your numbers - if we can get them to you. How do you want dropping into Germany Commander Allard? We can use that ship of yours to be there in minutes, but they'll probably follow it and try to recapture the thing. Other than that, make a list of equipment - if any is needed - and that includes vehicles and weapons. As to your suggestion sir, about Armour that is, the SSS have been coming up with a low tech solution that our friend Silver Sentinel can help us with. We had him wave his hand over this earlier. It started life out as a block of steel, and thanks to SS we came up with this."

He held up a fine metal mesh sheet, around a foot square. "Still has some weight to it, but it was a trade off between being able to move with relative stealth and still provide some stopping power. We make it by getting our friend there to liquify metal, poured into moulds then lifted out as a sheet. Another sheet the same, and another. Layered on top of each other, they are joined by the Sentinel 'melting' the ends together. Still flexible - to a certain degree - but takes minutes to make. We're coming up with a better design but for now, anyone who wants a set can be measured up for this. We call it 'Ultra light chainmail'*. Doesn't stop a bullet completely but does slow it down."

OOC The *ULC is available to all - SS will have a little bit of work to turn it out. Think of it as a layered shreddie (breakfast cereal!) made of metal. Will bend to a certain degree as it's thin, like wire, but will provide HTK /2. No extra benefit for those of you with protection powers of any kind, be they armour, force field, tough skin or otherwise. Other than that, any requests for troops, support staff, weapons, armour, vehicles, make 'em known. Just need to know which PSI agent is going where, to. If Frostbite wants a Frostbot to accompany him, that can be arranged (it's repaired and on the alien ship, which may have some interesting bits of tech to use...). After that?

It's time to SHIP OUT!

The Vanguard

Frostbite soon made preparations to have his Frostbote transferred to the other robot. Although a potential target, the fact that the computer could take on other systems might prove invaluable on the battlefield causing untold mayhem. Besides Frostbite saw no harm in his transporting the computer conscience in his own vehicle, even if it was two tonnes of armour and weapons.

After Lionheart spoke to Slobotham, he had the other Psi agents released to Frostbite's team. "I can vouch for them sir, they will remain loyal." He'd said. Then after seeing them freed, Lionheart spelled out the situation and also the potential dangers.

"Its a suicide mission in all probability, but what better way to test you mettle. But listen all of you, Bentham made you for his own purposes. You were meant to be his puppets. I've cut the strings, well at least I hope I have, so just be mindful Bentham may have a back door! Earn your freedom, England Expects and so do I and I will kick you butts if you let me down." Lionheart finished with a upbeat note of humour to just lift the mood. Before going off muttering and telling himself to shut up.

Frostbite continued to make further preparation with Sentinel, making sure all the Justicars who'd benefit from ULC got it. He also wished at that point he still had his items from America, carrying that shield and the American Flag would go a long way to making it clear America wasn't standing by. But he darn't pull his country in, without his President's say so. Instead he hunched his shoulders and sighed before wondering if the ULC would benefit him.

Then after making requisition orders and using the newly acquired ship to get accurate maps of the area they'd be facing, Frostbite got the team onboard.

OOC:
I'd like to make sure the team has whatever equipment we need, short wave radio, smoke and explosive grenades but also making sure we're not loading with too much that will mitigate our skills.

Once all are ready, we'll have the ship take us in then stand off or even hidden under water, to avoid easy detection, but ready should we need it.

Sj

The Vanguard

"The PSI agents you can divide as you will. If we could trust them more I'd have suggested keeping at least one here to guard the PM. As it is, General Wynn will do his best on that front. We have potential candidates coming on line in the next few days and can bolster both your numbers - if we can get them to you. How do you want dropping into Germany Commander Allard? We can use that ship of yours to be there in minutes, but they'll probably follow it and try to recapture the thing. Other than that, make a list of equipment - if any is needed - and that includes vehicles and weapons. As to your suggestion sir, about Armour that is, the SSS have been coming up with a low tech solution that our friend Silver Sentinel can help us with. We had him wave his hand over this earlier. It started life out as a block of steel, and thanks to SS we came up with this."

"The faster we can get there, the better," Anyman replies, remembering the loss of the previous plane crew. "Because they will know we are coming and we need to get there before they can blow us out of the skies."

"I have another question. How fast, far and accurate can our folks with great strength or speed throw grenades? Or for that matter, the smaller bombs, like those first used in planes during the Great War? With speed and strength, a few of our folks could lay down the equivalent of a couple of companies' worth of artillery in just a few minutes. I would suggest lots and lots of grenades and such small bombs if it turns out we have folks that can deliver such to the enemy at greater than normal throwing range."

"Also, a great number of limpet mines from the Navy would be of use. Fastback could use her speed to run up and attach them to the sides of the tanks and get away after setting the timers on them. Then run back to a ready kitchen to eat before going out and doing it again and again."

"I would like at least one of the PSI agents on my team as well," Anyman adds. "Having a psychic who could sniff out where the enemy psychics are would be a great help to me and our mission."

"I won't need the armor, I would just ooze out of it but I will make sure the others know that they can wear it if they want to," he finishes up.

The Vanguard

DavidMcMahon wrote:
"The faster we can get there, the better," Anyman replies, remembering the loss of the previous plane crew. "Because they will know we are coming and we need to get there before they can blow us out of the skies."

"Perhaps we can drop you off before going to the front line." Frostbite muses.

DavidMcMahon wrote:
With speed and strength, a few of our folks could lay down the equivalent of a couple of companies' worth of artillery in just a few minutes. Also, Fastback could use her speed to run up and attach them to the sides of the tanks and get away after setting the timers on them."

OOC:

All good to me, lets do it if we can. Yes also take one of the female agents, Boadicea would be fine, she was cool under fire on the ship.

Sj

"what say you Jenson, you're awfully quiet"

"Sir?"

"The mission boy"

Steve took another big glup from his glass and held it in his mouth for a second before swallowing
"Just give me any order sir and I'll follow them through to the end" he replied swirling the half melted ice in the short glass.

"Good, but we need you clear headed man" and snatched the empty glass out of Steves hand.
"And the ulc?

"Sir not a problem sir, it make take a little time but we'll get there."

"I dont need to remind you that tankman and ....."

"No sir" Steve interrupted sharply bracing to attention. "Hes a good man, we're lucky to have him on our side, he'll give the enemy hell"

smaug wrote:"what say you Jenson, you're awfully quiet"

OOC:

Nice, mate nice!

Sj

OOC Looks like we're set. I plan to split issue #3 into two ongoing posts otherwise it's going to get messy and confusing with two adventures going on in the same post.

The Vanguard

Soldiers gaped as the small lizardmen technicians worked like robots, passing equipment along a line to fill a section of the hold on level 5 of the vessel. There's been some protests about taking the ship - the Strange Sciences Section wanted to 'study' it, as they had everything else, but even General Dawson had been put in his place. With a resigned sigh he'd nodded and signed the forms to appropriate more grenades, safely tucked away in a hastily constructed box of alien metal thanks to Silver Sentinels incredible ability!

Tank Man looked about in wonder as he came up the loading ramp. Ducking to avoid smashing his head on the ceiling, and refusing to shrink to his normal size (ever the 'big man') he chuckled and turned to the other Justiciars. "Time to show this lot what we can do eh? All this training, time wasted. They should have just turned us out into the field and we'd have them Nazis on the run!"

Void walked past without even a glance, and the others bit their tongues for the most part, aware of how insufferable Tank Man was.

The two teams would share the vessel - dropping Anyman and his team off in the heart of Nazi Germany then speeding off to the front line where the Nazis had cornered the British Expeditionary Force. Their tactics had been sound - the Allies had not expected the tanks of the Nazis to be able to advance at all, never mind so quickly through the Ardennes forest. The B.E.F.had charged into their trap, and were now, day by day, retreating to the coast. Stories of the horrors that battled against the normal troops abounded.

Bulletproof Nazis who flew, Jet Packers that swooped down, dropping a string of grenades that wreaked havoc and soaring away against a backdrop of fire, fury and death! The colossal automatons that packed as much fire power as fifty tanks, obliterating anything they came across, and the air cover - small, fast flying vessels that churned up the ground and anything on it with armour piercing rounds that cut anything they struck in half!

And yet it was not all going in the Nazis way. One robot had proven unreliable after a team of sappers had carefully dug a pit and caused the robot to step into it. The resulting wrench to its servos and artificial ligaments had caused it to drop back, day by day, until it could barely limp, and was counted out of the main assault on the beleaguered allies! A young infantryman turned sniper named Thomas Burns made a name for himself by picking off the Jet Packers in the air, severing fuel lines with a shot that saw the Nazis burst into flames and crash to the floor. Others would stand their ground so that their comrades would be able to retreat, and fiercely protected inch by inch of ground until their ammunition ran out, costing the Nazis dear in terms of men and time. The Strange Sciences Section used some of the equipment Anyman had provided from his trip to Germany as inspiration for a whole new raft of prototype weaponry. One such was something called a 'gauss rifle', named after the inventor, Carl Friedrich Gauss. It was improved upon with alien technology where possible, and aside from destructive jams, proved cable of punching through any armour the Nazis had, even that from other worlds - thus far. Unfortunately the poor and costly manufacturing process saw only a dozen guns in use after weeks of effort, and some of those were captured when the wielders were killed.

Overall, the picture was one of gloom though. The Vanguard had its work cut out, and the stakes were the highest. Win out, and save the Army from destruction, or see the 3rd Reich march through the streets of London and plant a swastika flag on the gates of Buckingham Palace!

=========

With the teams sorted, Frostbite looked about the bridge.

The robot possessed by his computer intelligence clanked about, monitoring systems whilst Lizardman technicians silently got on with their allotted tasks without comment or complaint. The ship was repaired to a functional standard, but was still threadbare in places. The SSS had gleefully taken the three ships that penetrated the hull back to their labs whilst the small greenskins beavered away, patching the holes. Here once more Silver Sentinel came in handy.

Boadicea, Guillotine and the recovered Spartan took up positions on the bridge as bridge crew. Boadicea would go with Anyman when the time came. Though she did not possess mental powers, the potential was there, and it was possible there would be some moment that saw them activated, and able to help the cause of the Allies.

The Justiciars stood about nervously. Most had taken clothing of plain khaki green, wearing only a mask and an arm band to identify them. Some wore the ultra light chainmail, but most without superhuman strength found it too stiff for normal day to day use outside of combat.

The Generals of DICE saluted as the ship lifted off, the course set and the plan laid. The alien craft rose smoothly, the hopes of the free world going with it!

Anyman and his crew would be dropped off near Berlin, make their way into the city and by hook or by crook, wipe out the Nazi psychic force!

Frostbite and his team would be dropped at some point (OOC to be determined) in Belgium - either directly in front of the Nazi advance to engage them immediately or ahead of them, to organise resistance and hasten the evacuation whilst providing a rear guard.

Frostbite, Anyman and even Silver Sentinel, newest of the Vanguards with Dark Power, couldn't help noticing with every glance that the shadows cast by living beings seemed to get darker every day as negative emotions poured out of everyone...

OOC Will set up the split posts on Thursday - was set back today when I took my son kite-flying and chased after a the loose kite, only to rip a hamstring. Ouch. Dreading having to try and move in the morning... Still, shouldn't stop me typing

The Vanguard

The alien spacecraft soared through the sky, curiously hidden from view by a sudden and fierce snow storm! The weather had come on so unexpectedly, there could have only been one source!

General Wynn!

Over the wireless his voice crackled as it explained. "My power is far reaching, but I can only get as far as the coast of France before I reach my limit. You'll pass undetected and unmolested till then. After that? You're on your own, chaps, sorry to say. Best of luck! No one has ever asked more of costumed heroes than is being asked of you all now!"

The ship cut through the blizzard, travelling through rather than over the storm. It was a miracle of technology compared to the 'modern' level of tech that would see a plane soon freeze up. For this ship? It was no problem. Inside, sheltered from the driving snow and fierce wind, the group relaxed as best they could in the barracks area of the ship on level 4. A large canteen served a variety of different and strange foodstuffs. Clearly not meant for the human palate, but that didn't stop the Justiciars - or at least the braver ones amongst them - from trying them.

Up on the Bridge Lionheart, Frostbite, Silver Sentinel and Anyman pored over a map of the area. Major Steed came up, a tray of teas in hand which she passed out, and looked at the table central to the room, an animated scrolling colour map which could be manipulated with touches and finger sweeps (OOC as are appearing in the last year or two now). "This stuff is amazing..." she said, voice hushed. She watched the alien technicians move about. "They just get on with things don't they? No talking, no backchat. If something is broke, they fix it, and they make all this..." she waved her hands about "Work."

Sterling Silver entered the bridge from the lift, accompanied by Spartan, one of the PSI Agents. They looked at the table and the animated map showing German advances into Belgium, and the combined British/French forces pushed back and back onto the beaches of Dunkirk. "We've plotted a course." said Spartan. "With the Nazis concentrating on hammering the British Expeditionary force the way to Germany is relatively free of interference. Relatively free I say because if Anymans' information is as he says it is - and I have no reason to doubt it - the Nazis know we are coming. The level of control and range of power they wield with psionics is truly staggering. They must be aided by technology in some way..."

"Or magic." said a grim, dark clad figure stepping from the lift. His voice was clipped and 'posh', his turnout immaculate. Unlike the others he had not changed into a set of army issue combat fatigues, preferring his dark dinner suit, bow tie and swirling cape, along with the domino mask and black fedora. A pair of white cotton gloves were tucked into his belt and he looked every inch the gentleman about town -from around 50 years ago.

"Magic?" asked Steed - Gravity Girl - as she looked about the faces around the table. "How can we combat that?"

One of the Aliens came up and waited quietly at Frostbites side. He looked down. Pressing a button on its belt it spoke in robotic English. "We have crossed the channel and left the area of the Arctic weather that seemed to be following us. As per your wishes, we did not fly over or around it, and slowed to match its speed. Now clear of it, this servant predicts the arrival of the vessel at the stated destination - designation Berlin - within minutes, assuming there is no interference or mishap."

Frostbite and the others watched the little alien walk back to its post and busily dance across across a console with its fingers.

Gravity Girl turned to Lance Allard. "Well, the moment of destiny soon Lance! What's the plan?"

=========

In a large darkened room, situated in an underground bunker...

Sat at desks with hands on strange glowing orbs attached by wires to a central point - where a glowing spear floated without support in the middle of a ring of energy (the wires attached to the energy), nazi pscyhics reached out with their minds. Most were human looking, others were different, with blue or orange skin, some with horns, others with scales and catlike eyes. The mix was as strange as it was varied. The 'odd' ones knew they were only kept alive because of their Psychic abilities.

Behind a window an army of scientists monitored readings and panels of machinery. A hulking nazi officer, muscles straining at the seams of his special uniform, watched with a cruel eye.

"Herr Overman!" a Nazi officer called out with a paper readout. "We have detected the Mega Humans!"

Overman, himself as near to a 'Mega Human' as the phrase, recently coined, described, nodded and looked at the report. "Prepare the Mega Men. Alert all commands. Have Overmind himself search the minds of those approaching. use the arrayed talents of the psychics..." he said, waving a hand.

"Some will perish. Overmind is... voracious." said the Nazi officer, uncomfortable around such power. Overman shrugged. "That is of no concern. If some die, get more and plug them into the spear of Wotan. The Fuhrer expects all his followers to die for the cause, as he would. Heil Hitler!"

The Officer nodded, saluted and said "Heil Hitler." in a muted voice before walking away. Overman stalked from the room. The tales of those called 'The Vanguard' were riddled with inaccuracy and hearsay. At last their myth could be be explored... and expunged!

OOC just need to know how Anyman and co are playing things. Drop off outside Berlin, over the city itself or some miles away, in order to secure civilian clothing and pass relatively unnoticed? Cause a diversion, attack head on? They don't know where the Psychic centre is, only that it is in Berlin, and probably underground, so a prominent building is most likely given that the Nazis wouldn't lower themselves to work in a cellar of a shop or house. Are Frostbite and co doing anything to help Anyman? Once we know what the general plan is, will split the threads into new issues. When all the team is together again the game will switch back to this one.

OOC: Hmm that'd a tough one, if they are dropped out side the city yes they can pick up some civilian clothing and find the best way to slip into Berlin but the physics will have a harder time pin pointing them if they quickly find a crowd to blend into. The real question is how do we find out where the centre is so we can 'deactivate' it? Capture (notice I said capture not torture, we are British not monsters) a Nazi that'd fairly high ranking, we could also ask one of our shape changers to assume his identity.

The Vanguard

Admin wrote:OOC just need to know how Anyman and co are playing things.

I think this is probably Dave's call unless he wants some ideas like Ross/Sentinels which I think is workable. Its entirely possible that before we set off we set things in motion to make it even more difficult for the Psychics to attack by having the group or and Lionheart use their power to cause such a backlash as to stop things entirely, or else damage as Sentinel mentions whatever machines they are using to cause them a serious setback to tracking us. Although they'll know something big is going down, they'll no longer be able to track it so accurately. After that its up to Dave/Anyman to make the call he things suits them best.

After we've dropped them we head straight for the front line, but I am thinking we need to create as much mayhem as possible and two things occur to me, firstly we attack their supply lines, and second we attack their rear where they are least expecting to be hit. We get in do a series of strategic strikes to take down or infiltrate their forces, before pushing into another area to attack again, moving and striking until we're ready to go for the big guns.

Just some thoughts to be going on with.

Sj

Frostbite and the others watched the little alien walk back to its post and busily dance across across a console with its fingers.

Gravity Girl turned to Lance Allard. "Well, the moment of destiny soon Lance! What's the plan?"

"Don't really have one," Anyman admitted, still wearing his preferred bandages on his head, trenchcoat over a brown suit, fedora and gloves. "I would dearly love to sneak in and work around the city and gather information quietly. If it wasn't for their damned psychics detecting us, as they did the last time we tried a behind the lines mission, that is. As it is, I think what we are going to have to do is fast hit and run all through the city."

He looks at the others.

"Unless this ship or anyone here can somehow detect the psychics....? With the huge population of Berlin, it will take them longer to determine where we are exactly but I would figure they will at least know which part of the city we are in in just a few minutes. They probably already know we are coming and from which direction, so they should be atttacking us within moments, if they have anything that moves this fast."

"One thing I do know for sure, everyone on our team needs to have one or two sets of clothing with them at all times for Mist Maiden to change into, "he says going off to a side topic, he seems to do that a lot lately," because I have a feeling she is going to be ghosting around a lot. Nothing too bulky. Maybe just unmentionables or a big shirt she can cover herself with to use as a dress."

"Can we make a map of the city? Since this ship somehow makes a scrolling view of the battle, how about printing a city map, one with all the big important Nazi command buildings marked? Everyone get one in case we separate so you can continue on as best you can on your own. If we can't find the psychics, then hitting those places may help us find out where they are hidden. Plus, if we find any Nazi big shots, we can take them out! And any aliens or futuremen working for them. Which I feel is a win for us."

He seems to commune with the voices in his head for a bit, looking off into the distance.

"Put us down a dozen or so blocks Hitler's offices. We will head in that direction. Maybe we will catch him at "home" instead of being out and about. If not, maybe we will find the location there."

"Unless someone has any brighter ideas? Make them fast because my gut tells me the bullets and bombs are going to be flying at us in just a few minutes!"

He looks over at everyone.

The Vanguard


OOC just a little autopiloting of Lionheart as he is most suited to act in this situation, being a psychic.

Lionheart pondered for a moment. "Hold on a second. I'll try something." He concentrated, energy crackling around the Lion logo on his costume, his eyes, and hands. Sending his senses out, he pushed them, further and further. He felt like the previous limiting range of 20m had gone. He had no idea of his new limits but intended to find out! Then he felt it. It was a psychic 'net' reaching out from Berlin. the further it went, the more it was spread, but the range and breadth of it was staggering! he soared - psychically - high above the Earth and looked down. The psychic net was more like a bubble from above, albeit one formed of strands of psychic energy. He wondered what might happen were his to 'cut' or attack in some way, some of the strands. The bubble extended across mainland Europe and to the North of Scotland, to the Faroe islands. Lionheart frowned. Then he had it! The P'utinarians shuttles/bases formed 'anchors' for the Psychics to tether their net/ball to. Take those out, and their range would be more limited.

Clearly, they were using a mix of science and sorcery to help them though, as Lionheart saw a gleaming pinpoint of light, directly in the heart of the bubble over Berlin. Without going down into the bubble itself - and possibly being attacked, at the very least, detected, it was hard to say just what that point of light was, but Lionheart figured it to be a device or artefact of some kind. It was surrounded by much dimmer dots, all clustered in a circle around the device. A glance at the 'anchors' - P'utinarian shuttles - revealed a different coloured dot - a psychic amplifier? He looked down on the ship they were travelling in, skirting up the coast towards Germany. It had carved a path through the bubble like parting a wave, sending ripples out in every direction. He wondered why, looked closer, then had it!

Lionheart blinked. He was back on the ship now, and staggered. The others around him steadied the man from the future, whilst he regained his senses. Trying to put what he'd seen into words and concepts the non-psychics could understand, Lionheart chose his words carefully. "there's a bubble of psychic energy emanating from a place in Berlin. I believe that they aren't detecting us, specifically, but rather they have set up this bubble so that anything 'notable' breaks it and causes ripples. There are three reasons why they can detect us so easily. One is called Frostbite, the others are Anyman and Silver Sentinel! It's the power you wield! It shines like a beacon - or rather - carves their psychic net up like a herd of cattle charging through a desert and throwing up a dust storm. They investigate, and sure enough, find us! There are two solutions to this problem as I see it - use the power within you to attack them, and possibly face the consequences because it's like using a nuclear missile to swat a fly. Or ask the beings that reside inside of you to 'hide', to recede into the background. You won't be able to call on them I suspect, but the Nazis will have to try a lot harder to find us. They will have to specifically look for us and if we're moving, that will make things harder. At the moment they don't even have to do that! You guys are lighting up their 'neural network' like beacons. They have a good reason to fear you - heck, I'm frightened by you, and you know the power I wield!"

He pondered some more. "There may be another option. On this ship, as with the P'utinarian ships, there may be some kind of transmitter that amplifies thoughts and aids the Nazis. We could maybe use that to amplify mine, and I could scatter 'chaff' - interference that has the Nazis chasing ghosts. They will still see you guys - that's unavoidable - but they may think there's an army of you following in our wake."

He sagged into a chair. "I've never done that before. gave me a headache! Still, at least we have a few more things to go on. I can find the base in Berlin. The Nazis can also find me though when I use my psychic powers. Basically, they detect a disturbance, ,like thousands of gathered minds, or a psychic using their powers, then send a scout out, a 'spirit traveller' who appears at the disturbance at the speed of thought! That way they can track every move the allies make, and second guess them at every turn! That makes this mission as vital as saving the troops, because it's only a matter of time before they win the war, just like they did when..." He stopped, looking about. Only he, Anyman and Frostbite had come from the future. "Ah, that is, they hold all the aces. Stopping their psychics will give us a chance to even the stakes."

THE VANGUARD

He sagged into a chair. "I've never done that before. gave me a headache! Still, at least we have a few more things to go on. I can find the base in Berlin. The Nazis can also find me though when I use my psychic powers. Basically, they detect a disturbance, ,like thousands of gathered minds, or a psychic using their powers, then send a scout out, a 'spirit traveller' who appears at the disturbance at the speed of thought! That way they can track every move the allies make, and second guess them at every turn! That makes this mission as vital as saving the troops, because it's only a matter of time before they win the war, just like they did when..." He stopped, looking about. Only he, Anyman and Frostbite had come from the future. "Ah, that is, they hold all the aces. Stopping their psychics will give us a chance to even the stakes.".

"The guy called Putty, inside me, managed to damp his powers or energies or whatnot down once," Anyman says. "It did make it harder for them to find us and then we got far enough away that they couldn't find us and we, Gravity Girl and I, got back to England. But now? We are heading right for them. I don't know if damping themselves down will help much at all if the closer we get the better able they will be to detect us, even going all "steathly" like that. You are the expert Lionheart. Would it work enough to matter? Could we fool them enough that they can't detect us exactly? Maybe within a few blocks but not exactly?"

"If not, then what we need to do is have me bail out early and my team go on without me. Show us where the psychics are and we will attack from two directions with all the psychics sending the big guns towards me. You and the others could, you are my LT. by the way Lionheart, and should have a much easier time getting to the psychics, facing their minor powered folks and regular troops."

"I could just destroy the whole city," the THIRD voice says out of Anyman's mouth. "That will take care of the problem. All problems. Hitler, the futuremen, the aliens, everything."

At that, Anyman's head throbs and then splits into three separate heads on stretched out necks so that they can see each other. One still having bandages on, one a blue amorphous humanoid head and the third ... hard to describe and hard to remember but feeling wrong to all those around him.

"I hate to say it but maybe, just maybe," the second head - Putty - says, "But maybe it IS the answer. I don't want him free but this far from England, he would only destroy the enemy. And between the two of us, we might be able to stop him from destroying the world and putting him back in."

"But what about the civilians," Anyman's head cries out.

"What about them," the third head says. "Your Royal Air Force bombs cities, killing those exact same civilians. How is it wrong for us ... ME to do that?"

"That was done," Putty says, "to destroy factories and railyards and things like that."

"But war isn't really about destroying the other side's armies," the third head chuckles, "it is about destroying the Ability and the Will of the People to fight and supply those armies. Destroy that, and no matter how large their armies, they lose. Take out Berlin and we win."

"I can't think of something like that," Anyman's head says.

"Ask Putty how many people died in the war," the third head says reasonably. "Ask about the death camps currently killing thousands of people every day. Today even. Innocent men, women, children. Isn't the death of one city so very little cost to end this war and save those millions of people."

Putty's head goes silent and grim while Anyman's head looks at him.

ooc: Just doing some devil's advocate stuff here. Personally, I'm all for blowing the hell out of Berlin and killing them to end the war but not knowing if the dark powers can then be controlled afterwards ... that would make me hesitate or even refuse to do.

As Frostbite looked on, his own head aching from Anyman's chatter, the site of him splitting into three, was too much.

"Anyman, pull yourself together man." Frostbite barked. "Talk of blowing Hitlers forces to kingdom come might be a bit late anyway. We already know that with his advanced forces, we'd have to do catastrophic damage to make sure we got him. No, we have the power but we need to use it like a sniper, with precision not with casual abandonment."

At this point Lionheart chipped in, "I think they know what we are going to do, so we need to do the unexpected. Either way casualties will happen. I think if what Frostbite is saying is true, then we can use this ship and with perhaps a little thought perhaps cause enough problems along the network to have them as blind as bats."

Frostbite nodded, "In any case we can try this approach before we are forced into a corner. If we have a choice, I'd rather take the lesser of two evils. History is be shaped, or reshaped and I for one would rather it be shaped along lines we can live with."

Nodding to Lionheart, Frostbite suggested that the rest monitor things from here, whilst Lionheart, Frostbite Sentinel and Anyman found the ships Psychic amplifier and figured out if they could use to to short circuit the network.

OOC: Ok lets see if Lionheart with a tiny boast from the others can either zap, overload or at least mess up the network of Psychics being used to detect us.

Sj

The Vanguard

Sterling Silver was aghast at what he'd seen and heard, but kept his silence long enough for Frostbite to say his piece. "You people... I had heard the stories.. .but you really have all that power? And you consider using it? How does that make you in any way better than the Nazis?" he shook his head and walked from the bridge in disgust.

Emma Steed saw him go, then moved to place a hand gently on Anymans shoulder. "You scare me a little sometime Lance, but I believe you will do the right thing." She turned to look at them all "That ALL of us will do the right thing. What price victory when it's bought with the blood of innocents? If there's a last resort, I'd say using your power was it, otherwise... what if your power rules you, somehow? Will you remake the world in your image? Will I be having this conversation with other rebels trying to find some way to depose you?" she shuddered, and moved to sit down on one of the chairs on the bridge.

Void, dressed in his dinner suit and hat pondered all that had been said. "Such a conundrum! So, you three have the power to end the war between you... but may, through no fault of your own, replace Hitlers evil with a greater one yourself? Disturbing choice. Not one to be taken lightly, gentlemen." He stood, and walked over to the scrolling graphic table. "Such devices. They are like magic!" he said, waving a hand about and seemingly showering glittering energy behind it in a shining trail. "I am new to all of this, of course, but the change in me opened my eyes to certain things. You say the Nazis use science and magic, an item of some kind, along with their psychic powers? Then perhaps you should do the same. Throw a proper spanner in the works. I wonder... what would happen to all those collected minds should an artefact of power be combined with our friend Mr Lionhearts mind and the machine that boosts the brain? The nazis won't be expecting, or prepared for it, I can tell you! Of course, I should think there may be some risk to it but..." he shrugged. "All life is risk."

Anyman was about to dismiss the mans words as blather until Emma spoke up. "What happened to the bow you brought back from our mission Lance? Is it still at Bletchley? Wasn't that said to be ... magical in some way?"

Anyman glanced up. The Bow of Wayland*! The others didn't know about the object, of course. Anyman had handed it over when he'd gotten back, and the Strange Science Section had greedily rushed off to study the thing.

=========

Strange Sciences Section, Bletchley Park

"Get anywhere with that stick?" asked Alan Hulme, one of the scientists working under General Dawson for the SSS.

Dr General Mathers-Warren looked up from a microscope, removing his glasses and chewing the end. "Hmmm? Oh, that. No. Couldn't do a bally thing with it. Oh don't get me wrong, there's something about it. It breaks every drill bit and won't burn, freeze or mark, even with acid. Remarkable. And useless. No, I was concentrating on this. You see the interconnected circuitry in this panel we took from the jet pack? Remarkable! The transistors are like nothing we've seen before, and do you see these gray squares? We don't even know what they are made of, but the craftsmanship to solder these hundreds of pins... astounding! And here, look closer. You see that? it's as if those lines of silver were printed, or painted on, by the steadiest hand imaginable! Oh, and there's this... I found..."

In the corner, propped against the wall, the bow seemed to glow for a moment...

=========

"Are you sure?" asked the Nazi officer.

"Yes sir." replied the duty PSI operative. "They are on the move, and headed this way!"

"Very well. I'll scramble the Overmen." replied the officer, and he went to give his report.

=========

Back on the ship Lionheart and the other Vanguardians went to the science section on level three.

Sure enough, a dome like device was found to be tucked away in one of the rooms. A couple of feet across, a foot high, and made of some alien crystal substance, there were wires trailing from it into the base. Spartan, who'd followed the small group, spoke up. "Are you sure using this thing is safe? After all, all of this... is Alien technology. Save for that which Bentham used to birth us." He looked about, and added "Is the plan still to head towards Berlin? It's a safe bet they know we're coming, and we'd best get set for a fight!" He patted the two guns in holsters at his side, hung off a belt. "This ship can take a pounding, but only for so long if the Nazis decide they want it out of the sky..."

OOC The option of retrieving the bow is there, as is using the dark power, getting Lionheart to try and use the machine, or carrying on regardless, dropping off the sabotage team then making tracks towards the front. Just wanted to offer up all available options before you take the plunge.

*Putty Issue #1 page 8-10 he gets and uses the Bow of Wayland. Putty Issue #2 Page 1, he hands it in for analysis... It may still be of use...