World War II - The Vanguard Issue #9 In Englands Green Imperilled Land...

Roll Call:

Frostbite
Lionheart
Sunburst
Gravity Girl
Bulletman
NoMan
Spartan + V-Ship

Spartan stood on the bridge, hands behind his back as he watched the screen show the British countryside scroll beneath the ship at high speed. The sound barrier burst again, and he looked across at a Peeler who stood at a panel. "ETA 2 minutes. Reports coming in..."

Spartan walked over to the Peeler, then glanced at the gathered Vanguard on the bridge, specifically Lionheart and Frostbite. "The message is garbled, but they are under attack by what they describe as large wild animals. Dozens of the things!"

The Peeler looked shocked. "How is that possible? There are guards, weapons galore at that place... it's top secret... General Wynn... he's powerful... how is it...?"

Spartan waved him quiet. "At a guess I'd say..."

Lionheart, still somewhat in shock after the return of Beth, jerked as if struck and looked over. "Animen? They are back? They picked a hell of a time to attack!"

Gravity Girl scowled. "The BEST time to attack. I read the file... Herman Von Bedlamm is clearly back!"

Beth (or the being that had been Beth) turned to Lionheart. "He wants you. You are the link he requires to make his army of human/animal hybrids more powerful! Want me to fly ahead? I'm pretty fast these days! And look! No jetpack!"

Lionheart inwardly squirmed - whatever this being was, clearly it... she... was, had been, Beth. But now? He wasn't sure what to think!

NoMan spoke up. "Excuse me. Can someone explain who this man is and why he is attacking DICE HQ? And with what?"

Gravity Girl spoke "A nutty mad scientist that Lionheart and Peeler 33 - Beth Carter stood over there - came across who used the Skrall technology and his own crazed imagination to meld animals with humans. The process wasn't perfect by all accounts. The results were either all animal aggression and therefore uncontrollable, or near broken human minds in Animal bodies, and therefore prone to mental breakdown or betraying Von Bedlamm."

Beth spoke up "Lionheart here impressed him. He wanted to take his amazing abilities and clone them with a mix of human and animal DNA, to create the ultimate army of animal/superman hybrid. Imagine a cheetah, already fast, made into a humanoid form and mixed with Lionhearts speed? You wouldn't even see it, the thing would be that fast! A bear, strong but enhanced to extreme superhuman levels!"

Gravity Girl added "Well Lionheart has changed since Bedlamm met him. The madman might clone Lionheart but it would do no good - his mind is the key to his powers, right?"

Spartan offered "Then imagine animal/human hybrids with mental powers?"

Gravity Girl shivered. "Doesn't bear thinking about."

"We're here." said Spartan. "ETA... less than one minute. Rail guns at the ready! Target large animals running wild in the grounds. Scan for any vehicles that don't look like DICE issue. Provide support and covering fire to Peelers and other ground forces." he turned to Frostbite. "I suggest the priority to be protecting Wynn, Forbes, Dawson and the science lot. Get them out then concentrate on everyone else."

He put a view on the screen. It showed the mansion and grounds, and large heat sources moving at incredible speed towards the buildings! other heat sources showed up - gunfire from soldiers who found their weapons to be mostly ineffectual against steel hard bone and muscle!

OOC Any plan in particular or bail out and start hitting stuff?

"How dangerous are they if they are just animals," Bulletman asks. "I mean, yeah they probably got claws and teeth but how it that different than a thug with a knife?"

ooc: BTW, DNA wasn't discovered untill the 1950s when a couple of scientists received the Nobel Prize for charting the DNA helix.

Admin wrote:
"We're here." said Spartan. "ETA... less than one minute. Rail guns at the ready! Target large animals running wild in the grounds. Scan for any vehicles that don't look like DICE issue. Provide support and covering fire to Peelers and other ground forces." he turned to Frostbite. "I suggest the priority to be protecting Wynn, Forbes, Dawson and the science lot. Get them out then concentrate on everyone else."

OOC Any plan in particular or bail out and start hitting stuff?

Frostbite shook himself, the ordeal he had been through still was effecting him, but he was all business within a moment. "Ok Lionheart you and Beth need to find Wynn and the brass, protect them and get them out of there back to the V ship. The rest of you need to try and protect the staff and keep Bedlam from getting to the alien tec, as for me I'll take Bedlam myself he'll be nearby trying to direct his efforts toward us. Spartan scan the area look for that crazed madman, see if you can find a signature that stands out for him."

OOC:
ok I figure splitting us like this will mean I need not hold anything up whilst I am away for the next 5 days or so, so no need to NPC me unless things move along more quickly.

Ok as to finding Bedlam, if its possible for him to be detected by either Lionheart or by using the Dark Power I will do, I want to take the fight to him, but clearly we can't do so at the expense of everyone else. I suggest Spartan works to co-ordinate so that if anyone finds themselves in to much trouble we can break off to assist if need be.

Sj

DavidMcMahon wrote:"How dangerous are they if they are just animals," Bulletman asks. "I mean, yeah they probably got claws and teeth but how it that different than a thug with a knife?"

ooc: BTW, DNA wasn't discovered untill the 1950s when a couple of scientists received the Nobel Prize for charting the DNA helix.

Gravity Girl turned to Lionheart then back at Bulletman. "He's the expert on the Ani-Men. A hybrid of human and animal, with the strength and ferocity of the animal, and the human mind, will be far more dangerous than a 'thug with a knife'. Faster, stronger, more resistant to harm... then add in the specific traits of that animal and you have just one thing. Trouble. Imagine a human/gorilla hybrid with superhuman strength, or a tiger with speed and cunning. An elephant, a pack of wolf men... it will make anything Lon Chaney Jr did in those films recently look like they were playing around with make up and masks!"

OOC Lionheart, Saladin, Bentham, Trowers and others are from the future. The Scientist Bedlamm is an expert with cloning and gene splicing, so DNA is probably just the start of his knowledge. He's been used to using Alien technology as well, so consider the real world history as being 'subject to change' where the Vanguard are concerned...

Spartan scanned about. "We have.. multiple pockets of heat sources moving about."

Frostbite suddenly jerked as if struck. 'the shadows darken' stated the inner voice. His mind reeled with the knowledge of that. Bedlamm had tried and failed to turn London into a madhouse with human/animal hybrid monsters running about. He'd been a broken man, but doubtless had a 'back up' plan, even a replacement body with which to switch his mind into, given the nature of his skills and what he'd done before. But there was something else here.

Something dark.

Spartan called out. "There! Look. The fighting is fierce there. Our chaps need help!" He pointed to a spot on the screen where a dozen soldiers were firing at four huge forms advancing towards the science block. "We also have a group heading towards the main building, and they are generally approaching from all sides. Computer counts... 30! We'll get low, see how they like a few rounds with the rail gun! I'll send word for our chaps to get clear. Lionheart, Miss Carter, we'll drop you onto the roof of Bletchley Park manor. Everyone else, the loading bay doors will be open so bail as required. Alright people, move like you have a purpose!"

=========

On the ground...

He revelled in his strength... His mind was fogged, cloudy, and there was... someone else in here with him. The woman had been beautiful, alluring. She'd seen past his disfigurement and snivelling nature, and arranged for him to resume his experiments, for a price. The price didn't seem so bad either! He smiled at the memory of it, then frowned as he recalled what had happened to the womans body, dissolving into bones and skin! After that, everything had gone black!

A week or so later, he'd woken, full of purpose and fire! He had been far more capable than before, and felt something new. The fear and terror of the people of the land were like ambrosia to him! He felt invincible! Looking in the mirror had been a shock - he was healed, with no scars, no pain... Even better than that, with but a thought he could change form into an animal or... anything he liked!

Bedlamm had no idea what had happened. That would normally have worried him, but the voice inside had spoken. He had limited time, it said, before his body would reject the joining. In order to make it permanent, he had to do certain things...

Now, watching from the trees, he looked at the Skrall vessel circling the manor above. He'd sent his Ani-Men out to slaughter, and be slaughtered, eventually, but it was a price worth paying! He looked at the house, considered what he needed to do, and concentrated...

OOC There are four big wolf hybrid beasties attacking soldiers at the science block. Other than that, they are attacking form all sides. Conventional guns slow them, but to stop them you need real stopping power! If you need a map I'll try to knock one up later.

Lionheart and Beth or Sunburst as she was now calling herself shot out of the V ship, heading to the grounds faster than the others. They were sure that they could take on the Animen, but what they needed was to know where Wynn and the others were.

Back on the ship, Frostbite concentrated. "Wynn, Sir, let us know where you and the others are so we can relay you position to Lionheart and..." Frostbite didn't have a lot of time for explanations, so just said, "...our guys!"

OOC:
Assuming that this isn't too difficult to do, Lionheart and Beth/Sunburst will make their way to that part of the complex. After taking care of that...

Frostbite dove through the floor, it had been some time since he'd used his 'normal' powers whatever they amounted to these days. He enjoyed the feel of the wind on him, limited though it was through his Ice cold skin. The battle was welcome, anything that could help distract the dull numb feeling within his chest. If he waited too long the dull ache of loss and pain would cloud his mind again. And he was, therefore thankful for some legitimate action to focus on instead.

As he swept down, he concentrated, he had no doubt that if the Shadows Darkened, Bedlam was in league with the Shadow Demons. Frostbite couldn't help but wonder what their game was. With the Devourer fast approaching was this one final snack, or was there some other game going on?

OOC:

Ok I am searching for where the shadows might be and it seems like I'll end up going toe toe with a Shadow Demon with no compunction about what it does to the form its wearing - i.e. Bedlam. Almost feel sorry for the Doc, almost!

Anyway if that doesn't work then summon Dark Power to get some kind of senses to get a bead on the fella.

Sj

Frostbite sent out the pulse to Wynn...

No reply!

With some urgency Lionheart and Sunburst shot from the loading bay of the vessel and down towards the great house. Closer, he realised that a number of windows were broken, suggesting that besides the thirty in the grounds, there were some already in the building! Instantly his heart leapt in his chest and Lionheart sped up, aware that Beth was easily keeping pace with her new powers. She seemed colder than before, less human, and King was grateful for the distraction of having to deal with this attack!

He landed in a room, then stopped. His superhuman senses had already prepared him for what he'd find, but he was still shocked...

The office was a shambles, and blood sprayed two walls and the ceiling. Body parts were strewn all over, and the door into the corridor had been smashed from its hinges into shards! Beth stood there looking about. "There were four people in here." she said quietly.

Both looked up as they heard screams and the bellow of animals in the building, mixed with the sound of gunfire and more screams!

=========

Frostbite dived through the floor of the V-Ship...

Wynn was an old man, but he could more than take care of himself! Beside the Dark Power, his control over the power of the Storm ensured he would always have a weapon to hand. Question was, did he not reply because he was preoccupied, or because...?

Frostbite didn't spend time thinking about that, instead dropping through the roof, attic, upper floors, middle floors and towards the ground Floor near the rear of the great old house, Wynns office.

Plunging through the ceiling he looked about. The office was a mess, and a fight had taken place here. Blood spatters on the floor suggested someone was wounded, and in the corner, a great beast lay, its chest blasted out and smouldering! The windows had been blown out, and the smell of ozone was strong in the air! Frostbite moved to the desk, turned, and imagined the door exploding inwards, his friend standing, then summoning the power of the storm to summon a lightning bolt which struck the beast in the chest to fling it across the room! Then someone else - Slobotham probably - had moved in with a machine gun and emptied dozens of bullets into the thing.

Even so, it still lived!

The great panther/man hybrid gave out great rasping breaths, its skin punctured in dozens of places. Despite that, it didn't shed a lot of blood and Frostbite figured its steel hard muscles went quite some way in resisting even close range shots! More than that - it was healing, rapidly!

Frostbite glanced at the things hand. Its claws were bloodied, and scraps of uniform were on them! He looked to the door and saw bloodied smears - Slobotham had been swiped by the thing and when other beasts started to arrive, they'd left.

'The safest place will be the lower floors' advised Frostbot inside him. 'Without technology I am of limited use. There are no cameras or networked facilities for me to access. The beast looks to be recovering. Sergeant Slobotham is an excellent shot, and so we must assume that all twenty shots of his Thompson Submachine Gun struck the creature, including a number of shots to the head. However, judging by the creatures physical state and its resting heartbeat, along with the slowing blood loss it seems that normal munitions have little effect on these creatures. At best they will 'slow them down' but their recuperative powers must be remarkable. They are accelerated, which may cause shortened overall lifespan but the effect is to ensure the beasts are near unstoppable and can recover from any wound short of a killing blow, given time. I advise caution.'

Moving into the corridor, Frostbite looked one way - a long corridor leading to the front of the building. The old wooden floors were scratched and smashed in places, suggesting a number of the huge 600+ lb creatures had pounded along them - no wonder Wynn and Slobotham had beat a retreat! That didn't explain his silence though. The blood smears led the other way, to a side stairwell that led to stairs to the underground floors, which were in effect, bunkers. There the top secret R&D facilities and so called 'boffins' worked, as well as the war room, code breaking areas and training facilities for the Justiciars, Wynns hand picked reinforcements for the Vanguard. Opening the door - which hung off one hinge - he saw the paint and plaster scratched and smashed. Blood trailed downwards into the depths of the place!

Frostbite knew then what this was about.

Revenge. A winner takes all gambit by the Shadow Demons! They were using the Ani-men and their creator, the mad scientist Bedlamm to strike at the heart of the Vanguard, namely General Wynn! With him out of the way, they could then attack the other Vanguardians individually seeing as they were rarely in the same place at the same time!

Just then he heard the creak of wood behind him and turned...

The panther creature stood, nigh on seven feet tall in the corridor! It was still wounded, but the deadly gleam in its eye suggested it was up for a fight!

"A Crown Prince! What an honour!" the creature rasped. "I shall claim the glory by sending your mortal form to its death, and your immortal soul screaming into the void, my Prince!"

'The creature is possessed! You are in grave peril, as is your friend the General! The mortals here are doomed - save the General and get out, before all is lost!' said the Dark Power inside.

Admin wrote:Frostbite sent out the pulse to Wynn...
No reply!
'The creature is possessed! You are in grave peril, as is your friend the General! The mortals here are doomed - save the General and get out, before all is lost!' said the Dark Power inside.

Frostbite spoke to his other half. But thought better of it - he had other things to attend to. Instead he let his still intangible form slip through the floor to the lower levels. As he went he spoke in a no nonsense voice, "You are mistaken friend, this will end in disaster. The world teeters but beware that it doesn't crush you as it falls. We are the Vanguard and we will stop you...this is your only warning!"

OOC:
I won't stand about chatting, if the beast wants to attack and has the means to get me despite my intangibility I will call on the dark power, to both remain intangible and use the Dark Energy blast to catch this thing - if that is no good, I'll ask the Dark Prince what he'd suggest as the most expedient means to take his old subject down? Either way I am looking for a quick easy kill, not a drawn out slug feast, Bedlam and Wynn are our priorities.

Ok not sure how much time I'll get tomorrow, depends if I am out in the morning or not. Packing before we go away. Of course I forgot about the Jade Hood/Stone Fist adventure. Not sure what you want to do there!



All being well, normal service will be resumed on Thursday.

Sj

Frostbite said his piece, watching as the Panther Creature scythed a savage claw through his body - without so much as leaving a scratch on him! Satisfied, he looked at the creature again, saw it roar its defiance and hatred, and dropped through the floor!

He passed through darkness, then into dim light as he appeared in a corridor. He could hear hammering - doubtless the creatures were pounding away at the steel doors that turned this place into a virtual vault! he also heard the smashing of stone - they were finding that breaking through the steel door was too slow! Doubtless the Peelers stood on the other side of the door would battle to stop them, though Frostbite feared they would, at best, only momentarily slow the creatures!

Moving through the various rooms - mostly part of the testing, and research facilities that formed part of the vital service DICE provided, he came into the largest room.

There was a large group of frightened looking scientists, determined Peelers and other service personnel.

And in the centre of the room, lying on a table with Doctors around him, General Wynn!

'His mortal form has given out!' said the Dark Power within. 'He fights for life, and my brother balances on the precipice between this world and the shadow realm, hence he could not answer!'

Frostbite saw Slobotham, Forbes and Dawson amongst other gathered around the stricken general. Slobotham was using a makeshift crutch, his leg hastily bandaged. His face was pale, having lost a lot of blood but he paid no mind to that, instead fearing for the life of his friend!

There were shouts as Peelers saw Frostbite move through the room, and they fanned out to cover him with weapons before Forbes shouted "He's one of ours! Frostbite! Wynn has had a heart attack!"

All turned to the doors leading out of this place. The hammering had grown louder, and the sound of bending metal protesting as it was torn asunder filled the air! In moments the creatures would break through into the large room, and those gathered there would have nowhere to run!

Bulletman waved to the others.

"Guess we better get down there and see what we can do," he told them. He was going to wait until the ship started its shelling of the outer perimenter but decided to head down for the building while that was going on.

Bulletman, NoMan and Gravity Girl leapt from the loading bay as the V-Ship briefly touched onto the lawns of the grounds before it took off again. Its rail guns chattered into life, churning up the soil and occasionally hitting a target as they spat magnetically propelled rounds at high, albeit inaccurate velocity!

Seeing a group of Peelers and ordinary soldiers firing at what appeared to be some kind of Wolf Hybrid, the trio set off to help them. Bulletman sped through the air, NoMan hanging on with a long threadlike arm, and Gravity Girl shouted orders to other troops to consolidate fire on a certain target or pull back. There were Animen running across the lawns from the trees towards the main buildings, mostly slowed or simply ignoring the hail of bullets flung at them!

Bulletman winced as he soared downwards towards the Wolf Man as he saw the thing reach the barricade of sandbags and lay about it with huge claws, scything one unfortunates head from his shoulders with one sweep and dragging another man towards its jaws!

Just as he was about to reach it, he saw another creature at the side of his vision, somewhat smaller than the Wolf Man but no less deadly! She was covered in cheetah like spots, and indeed seemed to be a hybrid of woman and Cheetah! She leapt at Bulletman, even as he soared towards the Wolf Man!

OOC Initiative 10 Heroes, 7 Bad guys. 2 frames. You want to try and save the half dozen or so soldiers being mauled by the Wolf man or turn to face the Cheetah as she leaps at you? NoMan can attempt to take whichever target you don't go for. Gravity Girl is helping the Peelers and Soldiers withdraw to the building as out here the odds are firmly in the AniMens favour!

Feeling a bit better about hitting a wolfman than a cheetahwoman, Bulletman continues on to aid the men in peril. Leaving the alien NoMan, who might not have such moral objections, to deal with the woman.

ooc: If memory serves, and it doesn't, smashing into the wolfman won't activate his smashing attack like a metal ship will. So he will have to fly up and punch the wolfman. And if smashing into does work better then do that instead.

Bulletman swooped down, pulling his fist back.

OOC Roll of 16 (after a double) + WC2 + DC6 = 24 - 17 = 7 accuracy. +7htc +19 strength = 33htc x2 because of charging /3 =22htc

Bulletman got the Wolfmans attention, and staggered the thing with a meaty shot to the huge furry head. It shook its snout, growled, then readied its claws to pounce!

Before it did, Bulletman sensed something... a flash... something... at any rate. He barely had time to consider before the creature attacked!

OOC Three frames. It has 27 strength, DC 4, HTC/HTK 45 (for my info rather than anything you need to do) WC1 Damage 12+3htk from claws. Attacks: 8 (miss), 31 (!) hit for 14 accuracy (which would do 13htk after dividers), 4 (miss). You were struck once - any response? You have two frames remaining.

==========

Meanwhile NoMan dropped off to turn and face against the CheetahWoman...

In the split second before the Cheetah Woman attacked, he considered his options... Then grinned... It was about time he realised his potential!

He spread himself wide, like a thin wall. The Cheetah Woman leapt into him... and through him, apparently tearing him like paper! She laughed, triumphantly, then paused as she spun, sensing something... and saw the pool of grey ooze on the floor reform into a carbon copy of her! The 'other' her flexed a claw laden hand then looked up at the original... and gestured her to come on!

The Cheetah Woman snarled, pulling lips back from teeth, and leapt!

OOC This one is DC6 (+1), has Agility (+2 Dodge), Speed (+3 dodge), Claws (12htk/6htc) Str 24 Htc/htk 38, WC2. She attacks with all three frames... Roll 5 (miss), 8 (miss), 14 (hit for 5 accuracy). NoMan dodges and gets a roll of 1 (+6 Dodge -2WC). The Cheetah Woman misses NoMan by the skin on her claws! NoMan returns the favour with an attack... Roll 5 (miss). Just need Bulletmans remaining two frames (and whether he wants to respond to the hit) before starting next round. Oh, and Bulletman had the strangest feeling about the Wolfman... perhaps something to do with his power...?

Dodge the attack is Bulletman's plan.

Something strange about the thing's power huh? Perhaps Lunarium derived and therefore he can do something against it he normally couldn't do?

OOC:Ok I'm back, sort off. Busy time for me and I'm not well - just a heavy cold but noticeably effecting my output as a result. Anyway Lionheart was heading for Wynn, that sort of went left when Frostbite got their first. So I guess Lionheart and Beth are running interference trying to find Bedlam, which is sort poetic really.

As for Frostbite

Seeing Wynn laid out on the table, Frostbite was momentarily taken aback. He knew now what he had to do. Make sure that Wynn was kept alive as best as possible and that the Animen didn't get through. But how to achieve that.

Could teleporting or moving him to the V ship better serve his needs, than down here? What about the robot ship or even the one Lionheart had spoken off in the Antarctic?

"What do you need me to do - I can get him to the V Ship or a hospital but he is going to need protecting, whilst the whole base is under attack?"

Frostbite was not sure what was best and what was at stake, but he had a sinking feeling that despite his power, Wynn wasn't going to see this day through.

OOC:
OOC: I get that I've got the impossible choice, save Wynn, save the girl - or in this case Bletchley etc. But not sure what my superiors would have me do in this situation - although I know Wynn would not have me spend any more time on him!

Sj

Lionheart & Sunburst

Beth... Sunburst... looked about. "These things are killing everyone! Perhaps we should split up, take them on where we find them?"

Gunfire in the corridor rang out. Lionheart was outside in a heartbeat! Down the far end of the corridor a Peeler, in suit and bowler hat, levelled a pistol and fired round after round at something that was around the corner. He was helping a wounded man and another into an office, then noticed Lionheart and the glowing form of Sunburst "We need help here! They are everywhere!" he levelled the gun again, firing another round, then... *click*

"Oh blast." he muttered.

Lionheart blinked, then turned. A heartbeat later the ceiling of the corridor crashed inwards, the hairy feet and lower torso of a wolf beast exploded through shattered floorboards and joists to land in the corridor in a crouch... followed a moment later by another! One, the first, was a wolf, the other a tiger, somewhat bigger and fiercer! The second grinned, and Lionheart twisted... an instant before a Wolf Creature appeared in view at the end of the corridor some 20m away, towering over hapless Peeler!

Lionheart had a choice - two Ani-Men were going to attack him and Sunburst, or he could break off to defend the Peeler and the injured staff at the end of the corridor!

OOC And all through the Manor the Ani-men are tearing apart the last line of Defence that Britain has. DICE. Initiative 5 Good Guys, 4 bad guys. 1 frame, then they act. List Lionhearts current abilities (you'll have had time to switch them thanks to his ability to react to danger) and state action before these beasts go...

Frostbite

Dawson came forward "Are you a sight for sore eyes! Do your thing! Kill these damned monsters before they wipe us all out!"

Forbes agreed. "They are cutting our people to pieces up there! I saw three soldiers empty full clips into a grey skinned Rhino creature, and it barely missed a step! Somewhere up there are the recruits - these creatures are trying to slaughter them! You MUST get up there and..."

Boom! BOOM!

A Peeler dashed up, impeccable suit somewhat dishevelled. "Sirs! The Vault doors are holding - for now. They seem to be gathering on the other side of the door though, and are coordinating their efforts. The other doors are holding - for now - but we're trapped down here."

Forbes snarled, checking ammunition in his service pistol. Slobotham chuckled "Might as well use harsh language for all the good that will do. He..." he nodded towards his friend, Wynn, on the table, receiving medical attention. "And him" he turned to Frostbite "are the only things stopping these creatures from tearing us to pieces."

Forbes was about to speak again, but Slobotham snarled "Shut it! Frostbite... We need a way out of here. What can you sort out for us?"

Inside, Frostbot spoke up 'This place was constructed over a series of natural caverns and sink holes. It gave the original designers options. They chose not to exercise those options with only three basement levels. They extend much deeper than that. To the left. Rotate your head. There. Computing. That spot. There.'

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!

Slobotham cursed. "They're in!" he shouted, and rushed towards a back door to the basement level where a hairy hand reached inside the twisted metal pulling at it even though the Peelers and soldiers fired away with weapons!

Bulletman

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Bulletman realised that the creatures were somehow empowered, or derived their powers from the amazing element Lunarium!

Something that he was able to control, albeit in a limited manner!

Even as blood seeped from the wound he'd taken, he ran through the options in his mind...

Reduce the Lunariums effect, and hope it somehow weakens the creature, or enhance the effect, hoping to somehow overload the creatures body, though that ran another risk... he might make it more powerful!

OOC 1 frame then you have Initiative... 9 Heroes, 4 bad guys. 3 frames. You have 4 consecutive frames.

Reduce the Lunariums effect, and hope it somehow weakens the creature, or enhance the effect, hoping to somehow overload the creatures body, though that ran another risk... he might make it more powerful!

OOC 1 frame then you have Initiative... 9 Heroes, 4 bad guys. 3 frames. You have 4 consecutive frames. .

Any chance of actually blowing up the Lunarium in its body? If not, reduce it and then punch him.

Admin wrote:Lionheart & SunburstOOC And all through the Manor the Ani-men are tearing apart the last line of Defence that Britain has. DICE. Initiative 5 Good Guys, 4 bad guys. 1 frame, then they act. .

Lionheart Power load out
Str G3 (6/6)
Speed G3 (6/12)
Hyper field G1 (1/13)
Telekensis G1 (1/14)
Flight G1 (1/15)

"Sunburst protect the Peelers, get them to safety, whilst I take these two goons on."

Lionheart then threw a telekinetic punch at the first Animan aiming to smash him into the second.

Sj

Admin wrote:FrostbiteBOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!

Slobotham cursed. "They're in!" he shouted, and rushed towards a back door to the basement level where a hairy hand reached inside the twisted metal pulling at it even though the Peelers and soldiers fired away with weapons!

OOC: Ok want to ask what it will cost me to boost my Intangibility to transport this whole chamber with everything in it myself Slobotham, Wynn and Dawson to those lower chambers for safe keeping including strength upgrades if needed with the intangibility? Cost in terms of Dark powers needed and then to go on a do it. Basically I want to make sure these guys are safe before then making the return trip.

Also I want to then have enough powers to amplify my abilities to detect Bedlam and go straight to him. I figure if I can get to him I can stop this madness before it gets any further. I will use hero points as necessary to make sure I succeed.

Frostbite's eyes narrowed he could fight the beasts coming in, but he would still have to get the brass out and what if one slipped past him. He knew from Lionheart how tricky they could be. "Hang on to something I am going to try something I've never tried before and I don't know if its going to work"

Sj

Bulletman

Bulletman smiled. Finally! He'd been somewhat overshadowed in the battle to take down the Robo Carriers. Having only just acquired his powers and started to learn their limits, it had taken the heavy hitters of the Vanguard to actually bring the thing down. Now he concentrated, wondering on how to use the Lunarium he could sense in the Ani-Mans body.

OOC you can amplify or decrease the Lunariums energy output, but not to a degree that makes it explode or burn out completely, only temporarily. That (permanence) would come with higher grades. That said, an Action used to reduce the Lunarium energy output in his foe...

The creature paused, glancing down at its body. instantly, hair fell out in clumps from patches on its skin and it staggered back, as if its weight could not be supported by its now stringy muscles! Bulletman saw his chance!

OOC two attacks. The creature is too busy wondering what's happening to its body to dodge effectively. That makes it DC10. Roll of 7+DC10+WC2=19-17=2 accuracy, +2htc + 19 strength. Reduced by dividers (Htk3/Htc2 - it's strength doesn't seem to be working at the moment...) means 10htc. Second attack roll 10 + DC10 +WC2=22-17=5 accuracy +5htc +19 strength /2 = 15htc

Delivering solid blows, the second with the thing pinned against the wall, Bulletman smiled. Here was an enemy he was effective against, and didn't have to worry about holding back on! Desperate, the Wolf Man clawed back at his foe!

OOC three attacks Roll 9 (miss) 7 (miss) 12 (hit for 4 accuracy, for 3htk damage)

Bulletman
72/88htk
66Htc
Hero points 6

OOC you have 1 frame remaining then initiative Heroes 8, Bad guys 2. You have 4 consecutive frames again.

what's the range on Bulletman's effectiveness with Lunarium? Can he affect more than one person who has Lunarium in its body? If he can, he wants to do an area wide reduction in the effectiveness of Lunarium. If he can't, punch out this guy while keeping the Lunarium at minimum.

Lionheart

OOC Punch with 58 strength. Roll 32 (doubled!) + WC3 + DC6=41-17=24 accuracy. +12htc + 43htc = 79htc /3=26htc damage

A fiery aura formed around Lionhearts fist, then expanded to form a great hand! He punched the first of the two creatures, sending it back some 24m into its fellow and into a wall! After 6m the wall stops it and splinters in every direction...

OOC not usually too bothered about push back but when the roll is so high it will inflict damage. Normally that's 1d6/2m so it would be 9d6. Instead I'll state it will do 1d10 per 4m and a 10 explodes, 1 cancels out a 10, and see how we go. So that's 4d10. 8,3,9,2=22htc (9d6 would have done a bit more on average, but a 10 would have blown that out of the water). It takes another 7htc after dividers, as does its fellow.

With the pair of creatures crashing into a heap at the corridor end, Lionheart glanced over his shoulder. Sunburst flew between the Peeler and the creature attacking him. Lionheart had a strange feeling of danger and turned away a fraction before she lit up the corridor with piercing, blinding light from the front of her body! The creature, blinded, fell away, howling its range and pain as it collapsed in a heap, rubbing its eyes! She turned and helped the wounded man up, superhuman strength easily lifting the fellow and his helper.

Lionheart was glad he'd turned away - his superhuman senses might have been overloaded by such a glare! He saw the two creatures coming at him!

OOC Both need a frame to get up, then a frame to move to Lionheart, so deliver an attack each. Wolf Creature (wounded) attacks roll 6 (miss) Tiger Creature attacks roll 15 hit... normally. Lionheart has DC0 thanks to his speed, and I really think I will make that a change in my next house rule round up. Faster more agile opponents should be harder to hit, no question. Slower better armoured foes will get extra dividers to compensate being hit more often. Will advise when that becomes a ruling, unless someone objects... So the Tiger creature gets a roll of 17... and misses by the breadth of a hair.

Richard King watched as a clawed hand came at him in slow motion. He turned, seeing Sunburst usher the Peeler and the troops into another room, then turn to level a hand at the downed creature, and turned back to see the paw still on its way. He stepped to the side, then leaned all the way back to see the tigers claw flash over him! He straightened up, rolled his neck, then popped his knuckles.

"My turn." he muttered.

OOC I assume two attacks on each? First Roll 13 + WC3 + DC6=22-17=5 accuracy +11htc (oops forgot martial arts first time round, so add another +3 here) + 43 strength /3= 19htc. He sends the Wolfman flying backgrounds, to crash into the far wall again and slide down, completely K'Od! That leaves three attacks on the Tiger man.

Lionheart turned, delivering a kick, then a jarring punch to the stomach and one to the head of the creature towering over him!

OOC angling to drive the creature into a wall nearby so he won't have to waste time running up. Three attacks 13 (hit for 18htc after dividers) 6 (miss) 16 (hit for 20htc after dividers). The creature is left on 5htc and is stunned. I assume next round he delivers a coup de grace.

Sunburst flew back down the corridor, exclaiming "Richard! Are you... oh?"

Lionheart glanced over his shoulder at her, then back at the wobbling Tiger Man. With a casual backhand he thudded it into the wall and turned to face her.

"Those men will get out safely, though I told them to lie low until we clear this place. There are so many of these creatures! Bedlamm must have been busy whilst we... I was..." her voice trailed away, and somewhere in the facility an explosion rung out! The rattle of gunfire followed it, and Lionheart smiled at Sunburst before heading off in the direction of the noise. She followed, and despite flying was able to keep pace through the narrow corridors.

=========

Down another corridor and up some stairs, along another corridor which was half in darkness thanks to lights being out, the pair raced along...

Smoke and dust filled the corridor as they rounded a bend and saw around twenty Bletchley personnel desperately trying to put up a barricade against a concerted attack on the other side of it! Several of them turned to see the glowing light that Sunburst shone, and looked on in fear, expecting another attack! One man turned about, a Peeler form the looks, though his clothes were shredded and matted with blood.

"Lionheart! Good to have you with us sir! We evacuated the infirmary as best we could. There are half a dozen of these blighters on the other side of this door. Across the Infirmary is another door leading into the cellars. I expect my fellows are trying to block it the same but these murdering swine tried to kill our people in their beds!" he looked sad for a moment, before a crash of wood indicated the makeshift barricade of chairs and a bed wouldn't hold the door closed for long!

Sunburst spoke up "Peeler 23! Good to see you again Harry!" He frowned in response, about to ask "Do I..?" She shook her head, somewhat flustered, then Beth continued "Get down that corridor. Lionheart and I can sort these creatures out!"

The crash of the door as the barricade continued to shatter suggested the creatures would be through in moments to slaughter the injured personnel here and the terrified Bletchley staff!

OOC you have an action before that happens - enough time to switch powers or use a power as you see fit, then initiative 9 Heroes, 8 bad guys. In all you have 3 consecutive frames. There's a large metal door which is bent and buckling, a dozen Bletchley staff propping chairs and a bed against it and trying/failing to stop the creatures from barging in and eating them all. There are at least 6 of them in the infirmary on the other side, and you can hear awful screams. It seems the Peelers weren't able to move everyone in time...