World War II - The Vanguard Issue #6 Deal with the devil...

"Superman" strokes his chin thoughtfully and thinks for a few minutes.

"Okay," he tells the robots finally. "Let's get this ship to Washington, DC. To the White House. Best Safe Speed. And don't destroy or kill anyone on the way there unless I say differently!"

"Also, I want all you robots to paint the Union Jack on your chests and backs so I can tell you apart from the bad robots that are attacking my world."

"You wouldn't happen to know how to stop them all or turn them over to our side, would you," he asks, not really expecting a positive answer but one never knows.

ooc: put the last two points into healing if you haven't already.

Anyman
57/110htc
88htk
5 Hero Points
Dark Power Growth 8
Dark Power XP 3/20 (level 3)

Anyman (Superman) gave his orders and strode across the deck of his ship.



A sphere popped from the deck, then twisted and unfolded into a female form. "You are carbon life form designation Anyman. The leader. Prime directive states follow your orders. The mainframe has stated that a female form would be more pleasing to your male perspective, but this form can be changed to suit your mood as appropriate. Best speed to destination Washington DC in two hours 42 minutes at equivalent 1,000mph with shields reduced to 30% to maintain hull integrity. Painting of insignia will commence immediately. As for your final question, this vessel cannot connect to the networked computers of other vessels. To do so would trigger a fault which would result in reboot, wipe and reinstall from backups of all protocols."

Anyman nodded slowly. "All that means we're on our own?"

"But have the element of surprise. Your enemies have numbers." said the female robot. "The shared information we have on you and your allies suggests that you are an Omega level threat. All available programming and threat responses do not apply to you. When this vessel and others participated in the pacification of mankind you and your allies were not present. All conventional human land, air and sea forces were neutralized with the minimum of losses in 49 hours. The remainder of the human race was rounded up into camps or eliminated over the course of the following week. Thus far you personally have caused more damage to our fleet than was inflicted during the Planet Earth pacification campaign."

The Dark power inside sneered 'You have a fan. The robot admires your killing prowess, as well it might. In time, you will have learned to control the Dark power sufficiently to affect this entire planet with your power. The mortal known as James Caldwell has the potential already, but declines to use it. You should embrace it! Look at the lives you have saved!'

OOC do you want to take the time to rest and lose 2 Dark Power Growth (and a 3rd point shortly after?) or will the relentless Robot destroying machine known as Superman (Anyman) take to the skies again?

"Paint the Union Jack on a couple of conspicous spots on this ship as well," Anyman directs, shifting back to his normal form, "and the name HMS Sir Franics Drake on the bow as well. That is the new designation for this ship. Send us to Washington, DC. If you have the capabilities of broadcasting radio signals, make sure that the American military now knows this ship belongs to England and that I am on the way to Washington, DC to consult with the US President. Also ask for the British Ambassador to be there as well."

"Next, I want a room where I can rest during our voyage there. I want to be awakened about ten minutes before we reach the outskirst of the city of Washington, DC. Do you understand or need clarification on anything?"

ooc: Yeah, rest for a couple of hours. Really need it.

Anyman
57/110htc
88htk
5 Hero Points
Dark Power Growth 5
Dark Power XP 3/20 (level 3)

"No clarification needed. The nanobots will reconfigure the vessel as you see fit, broadcast on all frequencies to advise of our friendly status and fly at an altitude beyond that of all known American Army planes. Have a pleasant rest sir." cooed the female robot. The deck opened up, producing a set of steps and lit corridor to a door and beyond that, a state room, which was finishing off morphing into something from the history books - a guest room of the Titanic!

"Hope that's not a bad omen!" muttered Anyman as he settled back to rest on the HMS Sir Francis Drake.

=========

"What do you know of this fellow?" asked the President

The Ambassador shuffled uncomfortably. "Very little. It all seems to be on a need to know basis, and I...uh..."

"You mean we, don't you son?" said President Roosevelt. "I realise that it seems we've been sitting on our hands, but as far as we can tell, this man saved the United States of America! That's all I need to kick Congress into line and get us signed off on getting into the war! The only problem is... who is the blasted enemy?"

The Ambassador was about to reply "The Nazis" but no one knew of their status. Just then, an aide came rushing in, breathless. "Apologies for the interruption sirs, but ... you have to see this!"

The President and the Ambassador moved over to the window and gasped.

The largest vessel in human history floated some 2,000 feet up in the air and cast a shadow over blocks of Washington DC! Planes buzzed about it, though none dared come within shooting distance!

"I'll say this for the fellow. He knows how to put on a show!" said the President.

OOC The President will see you now... I assumed you took 3 hours to get there and removed 3 from the Growth. Every little helps.

"So how do I get down there without destroying something," Anyman asked Number One, the name he gave the robot girl who had become his First Officer. "Do you have a rocketpack or a ... um ... telekenesis beam that can lower me to the ground?"

ooc: Try to get to the ground gracefully. The President won't be outside. He tries to hide from the public that he is confined to a wheelchair from his polio he had a decade or so earlier, so it is a little known fact. Newspapers and newsreels of the day cooperated to hide that fact from the American people. They always show him standing with his son or always sitting down in a regular chair with a blanket over his legs.
So he will actually be shocked when he sees the President in a wheelchair.

'Number One' nods "Your wish is my command" she said. Anyman smiled beneath the bandages. Altering reality to transform their programming into something that would serve him had added a number of quirks. She turned, gesturing, and the deck bulged where she pointed, popping a metallic sphere 2m across onto it. It unfolded, morphed and changed into a sled like platform with a rail at the front that Anyman could stand on and steer with controls, or direct by voice commands.

He stepped aboard, and the sled immediately hovered 6" above the deck. "Do you wish me to accompany you?" asked Number One. "If not, you can contact me or the ship through this." She handed what appeared to be a silver lighter over. It did indeed light a flame up, but she added "Simply say 'activate' and it will turn into a communications device with a direct mode of communications with the ship. You have 5,000 multi mode robots at your command, and another 5,000 ready to be activated and deployed after a period of time where the raw materials can be acquired. In the time period this vessel originates from, we used human beings to act as labour to acquire resources so that we could engineer more robots to enslave more humans. It was an efficient way of annihilating the populace. Have a nice day."

Anyman bristled at that. (OOC his choice whether he wants the robot to accompany him)

Below, the Presidents guards looked up at the VAST ship hovering over the centre of Wahington and casting a terrifying shadow. Suddenly their guns looked pitiful.

Inside the Oval office, the Presidents advisors tried their best to get the President to leave.

"And go where?" he chuckled. "Where do you suppose we could run from THAT?" He looked up at the vast ship. "If that vessel wanted us dead, we would be. It's like something out of Flash Gordon, though on a scale the likes of which Hollywood couldn't even dream up! Look at it gentlemen! Whatever else happens today, we are looking at the wonder of this age - or any other!"

Near the back of the room, a man stepped into the shadows in the corner. And shuddered. Were anyone able to look upon him then, they'd note that his eyes were glowing red!

=========

"STEP OFF THE VEHICLE AND HOLD YOUR HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!" shouted the Secret Serviceman as Anyman descended...

A welcoming committee stood on the lawn of the White House, and Anyman counted around twenty men, all armed, with guns pointing at him!

Another man stepped out of the famous building, suited and polished looking. He called out in an English Eaton educated accent. "He's a good chap, aren't you Anyman? One of ours. I'll vouch for him!"

'The Shadows Darken' muttered the Dark Power inside 'But they grow more proficient at hiding. Perhaps they have finally realised that stealth and cunning will overcome brute force?'

The politician looked nervous as he threaded his way through the armed guards and walked to Anyman. "Benjamin Smythe, personal assistant to the Earl of Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States of America. Welcome..." he glanced up at the vast vessel casting the shadow "to the White house old chap. I apologise for the, ah, warm welcome. Lord Halifax is en route even as we speak, having been in a meeting with a number of Congressmen. I ... ah... any chance of moving your um, ship somewhere where it won't completely destroy anything it falls on?"

OOC next post will have Anyman meeting the President of the United States of America. By all accounts Mr Roosevelt was a remarkable man, though you'll know more about that than I. Where does he stand in peoples opinion when the greatest president discussion comes up?

ooc: Bring Number One with me. Something concrete yet small enough to be seen and touched to help bring reality to the situation instead of a hovering ship.

FDR isn't universally liked at this time. He barely won his re-election bid. And he sent Kennedy to be Ambassador to England. Kennedy, father of JFK, hated the British, supported both Hitler and Stalin, feeling they were going the right way for governing a country and influeance FDR with that belief. It is hindsight that has made FDR a nearly diefied figure like Churchill.

FDR supported Stalin, feeling communism had a lot going for him and FDR was a socialist himself, though he called himself a Progressive Democrat. This is also a time where the country was literally split 50/50 on getting involved in "Europe's War". Pearl Harbor is what changed everyone's minds.

But, I think this event here is what is going to change people's minds in our universe.

"...Lord Halifax is en route even as we speak, having been in a meeting with a number of Congressmen. I ... ah... any chance of moving your um, ship somewhere where it won't completely destroy anything it falls on?"

"Certainly," Anyman says, going into his sauve actor's voice. "Number One, would you please direct the HMS Sir Francis Drake about ... oh say ... five miles out over the Atlantic Ocean? Have it hover there. And if it spots any Nazi Wolfpack U-Boats while there, feel free to blow them out of the water."

He was a bit concerned about what his dark voice was saying to him. But it made sense for one or more of his fellow demons to be in and around DC, trying to influence American politicians. He would have to be on his guard if one was present when he met the President.

"Ah, remarkable." commented Smythe. His thin pencil moustache and narrow face made him look like a weasel sort of fellow but he relaxed when the vast ship started to move away. "We'll continue inside." he said, smiling.

Number One ignored the looks, though she did comment. "Humans. Step back. Lower your weapons or this unit will disable them."

This seemed to spur the guards into actions, and all raised their guns immediately, pointing at Number One!

Anyman raised his hands to appease the guards, but Number One instantly transformed into something twice her size, with gatling guns mounted on each arm, her head transformed into a bazooka with eyes, and machine guns jutting from her chest where her... female parts, had been!

"Stand down!" shouted Anyman. Instantly the robot folded back in on itself, transforming into the more human shape it had been before!

The White House Chief of Staff* stood in the doorway to the great house and called out "Gentlemen! Don't you think that if our guests wanted us dead, we would BE dead? Put your guns away before something happens! NOW!"

The chastised guards moodily packed their weapons away but insisted on staying close and escorting Anyman and the Robot through the White House.

"No time for a tour now, old chap!" said Smythe. "I... dread to ask, but how is it you can do all this? These robots, your fantastic powers, all the things you do? I read the papers, hear the wireless, get a look at the wires about the war effort, and your name, along with a few others, Lionheart, Frostbite, Silver Sentinel, Gravity Girl, Sky Eagle and others... pops up all the time! Makes one terribly proud to be British old boy, but I'd rather have you for a friend, if you know what I mean."

"So say we all." muttered the Chief of Staff. "Know this son. We probably couldn't stop you and your metal woman friend there if you went crazy, but we'd damn well try! Now we're all friends here, but at the first sign of trouble we'll...

"No need for that, now, we're all friends here." said Smythe, nervously. "Let's just be aware that, as of this moment in time, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth is the most powerful nation on planet Earth, bar none. That's thanks in no small part to the fellow stood here. Now whilst we cherish the relationship we have with the United States, there have been ... unpleasant conversations between the current Ambassador to Great Britain, a Mr Kennedy, and ourselves. We seek to iron out any issues and perhaps, come to some agreement about Americas involvement in the War."

"It's your war! We are some distance away from the events in Europe and..."

"And we just saved your country, eh?" smiled Smythe through gritted teeth. "You don't seem very grateful."

There was a pause, and the American bit back a reply, then came out with another. "For all we know, the robots could be in league with ..."

"Oh do be quiet John!" came a voice from inside the Oval Office. "Get in here, and don't upset our guests!"

The doors opened, and a uniformed guard announced "The President of the United States of America!"

Anyman blinked. The fellow was in a wheelchair, stroking a dog! FDR saw his look, then smiled "Hello young man. We've heard a great deal about you, and we owe you a great deal more thanks. I have called for an emergency meeting of congress. The War in Europe has spilled across the world, and events move at a pace that baffles and astounds! Why, the lady stood next to you is proof that the world in which we live is not the same as last year! We see the things with our eyes, we hear of the tales of yours and other bravery, as well as the atrocities committed by Herr Hitler, and we see the stain of Naziism claw its way across Europe in a blaze of fire, blood and terror. The people of America are not cowards sir, but this is not our war. At least, it was not until several hours ago when those great vessels blacked out our cities with their shadows! Now I hear tell of a great fire filling the area around the grand canyon with smoke that can be seen for miles, and a mountain of smashed metal, and I see with my own eyes, the man the Nazis fear above all others, stood with a machine that, only hours before, represented a real and grave threat to the people of this great nation!"

"So then, speak! Convince me, and give me something I can take to convince others, of the need for the United States of America to enter this war that is not our own!"



OOC *Despite searching I can't find who would have filled this role in 1940. I believe the 'chief of staff' title came much later, but I've been looking for 'assistant to the President' or some such and come up with very little. There was a much loved fellow who died in 1936 who helped the Roosevelts but cannot find anything after that.

Look up FDR's personal secretary or private secretary. I do not think the term Chief of Staff had caught on yet. Probably during the Einsenhower years.

Got a long speech for the president to write. Will get to it tomorrow.

Anyman blinked. The fellow was in a wheelchair, stroking a dog! FDR saw his look, then smiled "Hello young man. We've heard a great deal about you, and we owe you a great deal more thanks. I have called for an emergency meeting of congress. The War in Europe has spilled across the world, and events move at a pace that baffles and astounds! Why, the lady stood next to you is proof that the world in which we live is not the same as last year! We see the things with our eyes, we hear of the tales of yours and other bravery, as well as the atrocities committed by Herr Hitler, and we see the stain of Naziism claw its way across Europe in a blaze of fire, blood and terror. The people of America are not cowards sir, but this is not our war. At least, it was not until several hours ago when those great vessels blacked out our cities with their shadows! Now I hear tell of a great fire filling the area around the grand canyon with smoke that can be seen for miles, and a mountain of smashed metal, and I see with my own eyes, the man the Nazis fear above all others, stood with a machine that, only hours before, represented a real and grave threat to the people of this great nation!"

"So then, speak! Convince me, and give me something I can take to convince others, of the need for the United States of America to enter this war that is not our own!"

"Is one of your people around," Lance Allard asks the demonic voice inside his head. "If there are, we will have to deal with them when I am done talking to the President."

"Mr. President, this may seem utterly ridiculous what I am about to tell you but all of this is the results of futuremen coming into the past and allying themselves with Adolph Hitler. It is a very convolted tale. That ship. This robot and hundreds of thousands more of them also come from the future. A different future than the Nazi Allied futuremen."

He pauses for a moment and scratches the bandages on his head as he thinks how to present the information.

"I am actually a late comer to this battle with the futuremen so I may get some of my facts wrong or backwards. The two who are the leaders of a small band of futuremen who have aided the Nazis. Their names are Bentham and Trowers."

"I'm not scientist, Mr. President, but as I understand it, the future has nearly an infinite number of possibilities because of our free will and the decisions we make. So the further into the future you go, the greater the number of possible futures."

Bentham and Trowers come from a future, as does the hero named Lionheart, that is something of a socialist controlled society and where something called cloning exists. Cloning is the making of people and creatures by using the cells from an original donor, no fertilization of a woman's egg by a man needed. And somehow they can manipulate these cells to make clones who are smarter, faster and stronger and have powers. They created a small race of ... I guess you would call them ... psychics and Improved Men, to police thier planet."

"Well these improved men and women, Bentham and Trowers among them, believing themselves the superior race - sound familiar, Mr. President? That they being the superior race should rule the world. They didn't have the numbers in their time period so they built a time machine and came back into the past. Their calculations showed them that if they helped the Nazis when the war and rule over the whole world, then they would be able to create their world where they ruled over all."

"So that's what they did. Came back into the past and helped the Nazis rule the world."

HE shakes his head and then moves it to his right shoulder, as out of his left shoulder Putty's disfigured head appears.

"This man calls himself Putty because he can't remember his original name and his body is as malleable as putty. He is from the future where the Nazis ruled over all. He is from England."

"Let me take over from here, Anyman," Putty says. Anyman nods and goes quiet. "I'm British, sir. I think. I have vague memories of going to college and of parents who may no longer exist. I somehow became an experimental subject for the Nazi rulers of my time, the early 21st Century. How or why I can not remember. I do remember lots of pain and screaming."

"My first really clear memory was waking up in a box on a conveyor belt that fed into a furnace. I was considered a failed subject and they were going to get rid of me by burning my mishapen body."

"I got control of my body and escaped. I discovered I could shift my shape and look like anyone. I stumbled upon a fight in progress between a group of super men and the Nazis who ruled Britain. I aided the super men, something told me to. Turns out that they were other future men who had come into the past to stop Bentham and Trowers."

"We escaped in a rocket to the moon. Some adventures happened there and then we went further back into the past to try and stop Bentham and Trowers. But we didn't wind up in the past in our own bodies. We wound up in the bodies of people who already existed here. Our minds and personalities merged over time to various degrees, except for myself and Anyman here. We kept distinct personalities but he controls this body and I only come out on occassion, like this."

"Your intelligence reports will tell you when we first appeared. We've fought the Nazis who are supplied future technology and sicence by Bentham and Trowers. They couldn't control us or figure us into their calculations so we started winning."


"Did you actually destroy Berlin like they claim," FDR interrupts.

"No sir, we were fighting a Nazi super man who lost control of his powers and blew himself and most of Berlin up when they went out of control," Putty says. "We did destroy a number of military objectives before that happened. Hitler was killed in that explosion but they had a new body ready for his mind and transfered it to that body. That's why he looks so young and fit now."

"Getting desparate, Bentham and Trowers created a temporal tear into another future. A future where robots, like this one, got out of control and killed most of humanity and ruled over what pittiful few are left. They sent a ship from that future to our present. We were able to take care of that ship but the robots on boat but they were able to send data back to that future and they created their own time portals and have come here to the past, our present, to wipe out humanity here. That's what those ships over your cities were about to do when we stopped them and destroyed them. We dropped them in the Grand Canyon."

"There may be robots still functiong down there, Mr. President," Anyman interrupts. "SO you better send your heaviest tanks and artillery with armor piercing shells to take out any that do get out of the canyon."

"So the Nazis used Bentham and Trowers' knowledge to find out how they lost the war. Avoid those mistakes. Upgrade their technology, both weapons and biological. They are making super men to take over the whole war, including the United States," Putty finishes up. "You are already in this war, Mr. President. Those robots from the future do not care about your national borders. Germany is using the chaos of the robots to continue their attack on England, even as those robots attack Germany."

"As long as Bentham and Trowers remain in this time period, they will continue to ally with Nazi Germany to make their perverted dream a reality," Putty finishes up.

Anyman

There was a long period of silence in the room. Finally the Presidents assistant spoke up. "This... this is madness! You expect us to believe all this?"

FDR laughed and turned to the man. "Look at the evidence son. Use your eyes! Drink in the sight before you, remember what you saw out of the window! This man, all his strange abilities, his power... he didn't have to come here as a friend! He didn't have to call off the robots or save our cities!"

He turned back to look at Anyman "Truth is, he could have come here as a conqueror. I don't understand all of what you said son. Some of it sailed high over my head, the rest my brain has trouble sorting into some order that I can understand. I do believe what I see though, and I trust my instincts when it comes to people. America has stood idle whilst the Nazis waged war on the free peoples of Europe. We believed ourselves immune to their influence, but you are proof that the world has changed. The balance of power has, is shifting. If we sit idle, we might wake up one morning to see a Swastika flying from every building and not knowing how the hell it got there. I for one shall not stand idle, pardon the pun. Sir, you have my solemn promise. I shall go from here and convince Congress that the United States will stand by its allies in the free world, and that means getting into the war."

Anyman, two heads and all, breathed a sigh of relief. He'd done it. A momentous day had dawned!

America would join with Britain and declare war on Nazi Germany and her allies...

"Is that it? You have decided?" said Smythe. "Pitiful humans. With the world descending into shadow we have more power than ever..." said the Englishman, his voice deepening and darkening. The lights in the room seemed to dim, and outside dark clouds rolled over, blanking out most of the light! Anymans twin heads turned to look at the thin weasel like fellow, and saw the red eyes glowing in darkness!

"America will be too busy tearing itself apart to join the side of the Vanguard!" snarled the little man... He smiled at Anyman, and looked about. "Who to kill first? How about... him?" he said, pointing at the President!

OOC Initiative Heroes 4 bad guys 1. 2 Frames...

"America will be too busy tearing itself apart to join the side of the Vanguard!" snarled the little man... He smiled at Anyman, and looked about. "Who to kill first? How about... him?" he said, pointing at the President!

"HEY! I thought you were going to warn us if any of your kind were around," Putty and Anyman say in union. Putty then slips back down inside Anyman, whose head goes back in the correct place.
There is silence from the third voice. Sulking maybe?

"There's a reason I'm called "Anyman"," the bandaged hero quips. "Not just because I can look like any man but because I can beat ANY MAN!!"

With that, he launches his attack, swinging away.

ooc: Since we are inside a room, do I need to spend an action moving to him or is he close enough or do I need to stretch to attack? Whichever gives me the most punches.

OOC Stretching makes your melee range whatever you can stretch to. I don't see it as costing a frame or action to stretch, you just do it.

Anyman
57/110htc
88htk
5 Hero Points
Dark Power Growth 5
Dark Power XP 3/20 (level 3)

'They are getting sneaky' rumbled the voice inside Anymans head. 'A heartbeat before, that man was NOT the host for a Shadow Demon... BEWARE!'

Anyman lashed out, his fist punching out like a piledriving piston!

OOC Roll of 7 +DC6 +WC3=16 Miss. Roll of 12+ DC6 +WC3= 21-17=4 accuracy. Hit, +4htc +25 from Strength. Reduced by dividers (4/4) to 8htc. Push back is 6m

The warped figure of Smythe seems to boil some kind of dark cloud about it as it flies through the air and pounds into the wall, sending plaster flying! The man grins, wipes a trickle of blood away from his mouth and smiles, showing a mouthful of fangs. "Alright. You first. Oh, and by the way. We gave up trying to find homes in these puny mortal bodies. Now, we just use... and abuse them!". He opens his mouth, a long snakelike tongue jutting forth, then breathes fire at Anyman!

OOC High power (x8) blast -3DD damage split 50/50. Roll 12 + DC6 + WC3=21-17=4 accuracy, hit. x8 = 16htc, 16htk. Response? Second attack roll of 10 + DC6 +WC3=19 -17=2 accuracy, hit. This one is x5 damage so 5htc 5htk. Response? If Anyman dodges, there will be collateral damage. To hand, he could snatch up the Presidents desk to parry (taking an action). Secret Service agents (or equivalent) are getting over their shock and will protect the President/Attack the Ambassadors aide in the next round.

will take the damage.

"Get the President out of here and let me handle this," Anyman yells authoritatively. "Get them all out of here otherwise they will all be hurt in the fight."

actions: Next time I act, summon the Dark Power 6 points should do it. Put it into Strength. Anything left over goes to healing.

Anyman
36/110htc
65/88htk
5 Hero Points
Dark Power Growth 5
Dark Power XP 3/20 (level 3)

Stoically standing in the path of the flame, Anyman grits his teeth against the pain and barks his order to get the President out! 'Smythe' cackles maniacally! "You see? tee hee! That's your weakness! You *care* for these imbeciles! You place value even in the useless ones!"

OOC Anyman summons the Dark power... Roll 11+Ego (12)=23 vs Dark power roll 9 + Growth 5 + Dark power 6=20. Close, but passed ok. Dark power points 5,5,10,6,7,7,10,7 (57 x 3= 171 points, great rolls but those 10s really did the trick, especially the bonus die which came up 10). Depends on how many grades of Strength you want to add. You could easily add 11 but if you want decent healing I'd suggest 7 (85 points) and heal 86 points... Strength would be +84 (putting him up to 124, +109 damage) and Htc boosted to 110, htk to 77/88. Initiative 5 Anyman, 10 bad guy. 3 frames to the Bad guy. The 'normals' act at the end of the round.

Smythe narrows his eyes, spitting "No fair, Prince. Why oh why oh why do you waste your time and power with these ants, eh?" he growls, then grits his teeth and groans...

And grows!

OOC He gains +1 grades of Vigour adding 72htc/72htk, another grade of tough skin (grade 2 now), a 12 point htk shield that absorbs the first 12 htk damage he takes before dividers are applied, 2 grades of strength (up to 50), Claws and the appearance of a great fiery demon, Balrog style, some twenty feet high! Flames lick off his blackened skin (x2 energy damage -1dd), and his wings set fire to anything they touch!



"My... god!" spluttered FDR, eyes wide in shock! The secret service agents glanced at their guns, feeling somewhat inadequate!

The creature a manifestation of a beast from the Shadow Demons realm, reached out towards Anyman with its fiery grasp!

OOC Attack roll 17+WC3+DC6=26-17=9 accuracy +12htk + 35 strength=56 x 2 =112 damage! That's reduced by dividers (3 with the reduction) to 37htk. Response? You have 4 frames.

Anyman
110htc
77/88htk (before Balrogs hit on him)
5 Hero Points
Dark Power Growth 6
Strength +7 grades (84 points) (12 fr)
Dark Power XP 4/20 (level 3)

take the damage and hit him hard! prefer to knock him through the outside wall and take the fight out where there is room and we don't burn down the White House - Last burnt down by the British in the War of 1812. Do you guys call it the War of 1812? I've always wondered that.
and then heal up and hit him again.

Anyman
110htc
77/88htk (before Balrogs hit on him)
5 Hero Points
Dark Power Growth 6
Strength +7 grades (84 points) (8 fr)
Dark Power XP 4/20 (level 3)

Anyman steps up, ignoring the shouts of alarm and guns going off around him. Despite the danger, FDR is fascinated! "Hold on a minute son... I wanna see what all the fuss is about this limey..."

OOC Roll 5 (Miss)

The Secret Service agent watches Anyman scythe the air, then shouts "Apparently not much sir! I'm gettin' you..."

OOC Roll 15 + Wc3 + DC6=24-17=7 accuracy + 7htc + 109 damage. Uhm, Thoom? /5=24htc. Knockback is 19m AFTER the thing attempts to stand firm with grade 4 strength.

=========

1 mile away...

Buildings trembled, windows rattled, dogs howled and people in the streets looked about, confused and frightened! As soon as the quake had come, it passed, and all looked about, wondering what they were to endure now after the fear - then elation - of seeing the giant airborne ship arrive and depart!

=========

Plaster and wood fall from the shattered wall, bricks and mortar tumble from ruined sections...

FDR turns to the open mouthed agent after they both peered through the hole that now decorated the White House. The lawn was churned up and fire flickered in dozens of small places. Every window in the place was shattered (as were most of those within 500m of the White House) and the creature looked about, having tumbled through the air and punched through a few walls on its way to the outside. Anyman rolled up his sleeves, then reached out with a stretching arm to deliver another punch!

OOC Roll 12+WC3+DC6=21-17=4 accuracy + 4htc +109 /5=22htc. SMACK!

Unable to stand firm the creature tumbles another 18m through the air, crashing into trees and bushes, setting fire to them! Across Washington people hung onto whatever they could as the seismic force rocked everything! In the White House gardens trees and bushes were flattened, the fences blown away, and even cars parked nearby rocked! In one case it tipped over onto its roof!

Anyman stretched his arm up, formed a huge fist, then slammed it down onto the creature!

OOC Roll 17 + Wc3 + DC6=26-17=9 accuracy + 9htc + 109 /5=25htc. BOOOM!

Anyman slammed the creature into the ground, making a fiery crater! A great geyser of earth flew up, falling like rain about the place!

The creature that had been Smythe struggles to its feet. Whilst it had taken a pounding, it was still on its feet! Just...

OOC Initiative 2 Hero, 5 bad guy. 2 frames to bad guy...

The creature took to the air, flying some 40m up! It looked down on the rubble strewn White House, seemingly considering its options...

Number One, the female robot assigned by Anyman to be his aide, having rolled as a sphere then unfolded into the shining metal form she wore. "I can call on a thousand flying drones to attack the creature from the air. Do you wish it destroyed or captured sir?"

FDR shouted "Hey there young fella? Hows about you go easy on the..."

He was interrupted as part of the roof collapsed inwards, sending a cloud of billowing dust out into the air! Coughing, FDR turned to his bodyguard "Let's get out here now before the whole place caves in!"

OOC you have 4 frames.

Number One, the female robot assigned by Anyman to be his aide, having rolled as a sphere then unfolded into the shining metal form she wore. "I can call on a thousand flying drones to attack the creature from the air. Do you wish it destroyed or captured sir?"

FDR shouted "Hey there young fella? Hows about you go easy on the..."

He was interrupted as part of the roof collapsed inwards, sending a cloud of billowing dust out into the air! Coughing, FDR turned to his bodyguard "Let's get out here now before the whole place caves in!"

"Leave this fool to me," Anyman growls in three voices. "You go and protect the President. We will leave the ship and the other robots out on wolf pack patrol for now."

actions: Heal up with some of the remaining points. Call upon the Dark Powers for a few more points ... I need fifteen points to get the extra grade of Stretching, that currently doesn't exist, so I can stretch up the 40 meters to get to him and punch him some more. An upgrade on powers is just 15 points right? So let's go for 4 Dark Power points, and again use any remaining points left over to heal with. Put a hero point into not blowing up DC

Anyman
110htc
77/88htk (before Balrogs hit on him)
5 Hero Points
Dark Power Growth 6
Strength +7 grades (84 points) (8 fr)
Dark Power XP 4/20 (level 3)

Anyman summons more Dark Power from within and watches as 'Number One' moves away to assist the President and his men...

OOC Dark Power 4 + growth 6 + roll 14 (doubled)=24. Anyman has 12 Ego + Roll 7+ Hero Point roll 10=29. Roll passed, hero point spent... 4 points of Dark Power give 6,9,2,3 x3=60 points. 15 on another Grade of Stretching, 45 points to heal.

Anyman
110htc
85/88htk
4 Hero Points
Dark Power Growth 7
Strength +7 grades (84 points) (4 fr)
Dark Power XP 5/20 (level 3)

Without effort Anyman reaches over then delivers another couple of crunching blows to the Shadow Demon...

OOC Roll 9 + WC3 +DC6 - 17= 1 accuracy, hit. +1htc + 109 damage. Ka boom...

Smashing the creature deeper into a crater, he hears an enfeebled cry from the thing!

"Enough! *Akh* Enough... *cough, cough*" splutters the Demon. It looks dazed, unaware of its surroundings, and less of a threat now. A few moments later, earth flung up from the seismic disturbance of every punch Anyman throws lands like rain all about.

"You can... have the human back... used goods now anyway... any message... you want to send to the rulers of the Shadow Realm?" grinned the creature even as it shrunk and morphed back into the human, Smythe. He sagged into a heap, face a mess of bruises and kneeling in the mud of a deep crater in the ruins of the White House lawn.

OOC The fight is over. With 124 strength you are tossing about Superman level strength (higher actually now, much much higher...) You can smash mountains without a whole lot of effort... Problem is, the citizens of Washington know that only too well. Some of the more fragile buildings look like they've been bombed, what with collapsed walls and roofs...

"You can... have the human back... used goods now anyway... any message... you want to send to the rulers of the Shadow Realm?" grinned the creature even as it shrunk and morphed back into the human, Smythe. He sagged into a heap, face a mess of bruises and kneeling in the mud of a deep crater in the ruins of the White House lawn.

"Stay away or I come after you," Anyman says simply. "Let's see how you like your home being destroyed in our fights."

actions: Get Smythe some medical help once the shadow demon is gone, though if memory serves, he is going to die soon. Then start helping out saving folks and shoring up the more badly damaged buildings.

"We'll welcome you back... with open arms ... Prince..." muttered Smythe before he sighed and keeled over. The man looked like he'd been put through a combine harvester. The secret service agents rushed in to level guns at the man - looked like they were going to shoot first and ask questions later! Anyman interposed himself between the Presidents men and the stricken Englishman.

The President himself proved the voice of reason "Stand down! Stand down... the Dragon is slain it seems." He looked about. "Get the cleaners in to clean this up. Anyman! Refrain, if you will, from further fisticuffs! You fair rattled the teeth in my mouth with every punch son!"

==========

Number One stood patiently waiting for Anyman as he finished his bath...

Cleaning up had been something he could help with, even without the Dark Power. An emergency meeting had been called by the President and Anyman only had an hour or so before he would be would be summoned to answer questions before the Americans. The President would gain the support he needed and make his decision known to the American people in the morning.

As he towelled himself down Number One made her report. "We have used our systems to track all over Robo Carrier vessels. They have landed and deployed their forces in major populated areas, By now the people in those cities will have been rounded up and placed into camps. Anyone resisting will have been eliminated. You have proven your might by single handedly smashing those vessels threatening the Continent of North America. You must be made aware though of a problem. Our programming will consider all options in our prime directives including that of implanting cybernetic implants in those captured in the camps."

Anyman looked up from pouring himself a tea. "What are you saying?"

"It may be too late to save mankind." stated Number One.

OOC Germany, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, Egypt, India, Russia, China, the list goes on. The robots have landed and are integrating humanity into its grand plan... It won't happen instantly though. The question is, what will... can... the Vanguard do about it? Anyman has a few more hours to wait before the machinery of congress grinds into life. With every hour that passes, his Dark Power growth shrinks by 1 point, so with the dawn of a new day, he'll be free to call on the power. But will it be to save the Earth... or Avenge it?

OOC Germany, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, Egypt, India, Russia, China, the list goes on. The robots have landed and are integrating humanity into its grand plan... It won't happen instantly though. The question is, what will... can... the Vanguard do about it? Anyman has a few more hours to wait before the machinery of congress grinds into life. With every hour that passes, his Dark Power growth shrinks by 1 point, so with the dawn of a new day, he'll be free to call on the power. But will it be to save the Earth... or Avenge it?

ooc: Crap, Cybermen! Don't remember the Doctor saving a single one of them.

"IF I can change the programming of you and your ship, my friends and I may be able to save most of those people," Anyman says outloud. "I hope."

actions: Rest up for the speech to Congress, mentally go over my lines, and make telepathic contact with the others to get updated. Not sure how close to timeline-wise we are right now, if some are ahead of the others or not.

OOC With regards timeline you are ahead of the others by a few hours. No big deal - the priority - of getting America into the war, has been set in motion.

"Mr, uh, Anyman?" said an aide from the other side of the door. "The President and select committee will see you now sir."

Anyman was lead from the hotel where he was staying and noted the guards and soldiers all over the place. They held back the press and public who clamoured for a look at the famous British superhuman who'd apparently saved the nation single handed! Word had gotten out about him staying in the hotel clearly...

=========

Half an hour later he and Number one left the car and were escorted into the White House.

Repairs were underway but the place was a mess! Number One turned to Anyman "The building techniques used in this dwellings construction were inefficient and the materials substandard. Would you require that I assign robots to repair this place, or perhaps even upgrade it? It will be done in a matter of hours. With a single transmission we can set to chopping the forests down for supplies."

There were dozens of staff, agents, workers and official looking people milling about the place and Anyman had to step over several sections of collapsed roof. The agents leading him knocked on the double doors of a room and waited to be admitted by more guards. Everyone looked nervous around Anyman and the Robot, knowing full well if the pair wanted to level the place, and the city, there was nothing they could do about it! Inside was a large room with a long table in its centre. Around it sat various senators and officials from both sides of the house and at the end of the table, the President himself. "Come in dear boy. We won't mess about. Take a seat. Get the fellow something to drink would you Johnson?"

An agent nodded and brought forward a tray of beverages, including tea, coffee, beer... whatever took Anymans fancy.

Number one stood quietly in the corner, flanked by nervous looking guards.

One of the men sat to FDRs right spoke up. "We'll get to it. We represent the people of America and seek answers, reassurances and guarantees before we'll plunge this country into war. We will oppose the Presidents motion if we feel you are being dishonest or somehow not holding up to your end of any bargain that we strike. Whilst that may not stop the Presidents Bill, it will delay it. It's in your best interests..."

"Ours... " said FDR, obviously miffed.

"Ours then... to sort out in the here and now what will happen from this day on."

1. What do you expect in terms of military support?
2. What will be Americas status in any alliance?
3. Your ... Superhuman... resources. We have one from your General Wynn, and can't fathom him out. We want more.
4. We need assurance that you will not turn your superhuman powers against the people of America.
5. We need full details of how you got your powers, and any research done into the obtaining of such abilities must be turned over for study.
6. The robotic invaders you repelled. There was extensive damage to our countryside and a number of deaths. What reparations are you willing to make?
7. We require control of the vessel currently under your command, and access to technologies therein.
8. We require access to any and all extra terrestrial technology you may have, and the so called 'wonder metal' - Lunarium - that we know so little of. We will require samples to study, for starters.
9. One of you - specifically the Vanguard - MUST fall under the command authority of the United States Military and government. We have in mind the one known as Frostbite, but another will suffice if of equal status.
10. We have reports that the Japanese are building their military in the North pacific. We have interests in the region which must be protected. We think your robots will be able to provide that protection, should war with Japan break out.
11. What are your intentions with regards the Russians?
12. We need a current appraisal of the Worlds affairs. You are at war with Germany, we know. Germany has annexed France and the low countries, Holland, Belgium and so on. In additon they and Russia have occupied Poland. What are Britains plans with regards the Axis powers? We have word that Mussolini and his Italian Fascists are joining the war and intending to annexe Africa. Your thoughts and intentions?

FDR pursed his nose and bowed his head a little. When he looked up, he sighed and glanced at the man who'd done the questioning, Senator Hardy. Shaking his head, he offered to Anyman "Any information you can give us would be appreciated son."

Hardy turned, but stopped short of talking over the top of the President. instead he added "Appreciated? Required, if you want US support in this war!"

"Number One? Please tell these gentlemen what you told me just a few hours ago. You know? About the robot vessels from the future and what they are currrently doing all over the world," Anyone said politely, trying a cold American beer.

'That ought to shut them up fast," he thought to the duo in his head.

"And if it doesn't," asked Putty.

"Then I will have her bring the ship back and have them do the operation on some person in this room of their choice," Anyman said a bit smugly, while worried about what was going on back home.