The NEW Vanguard! Lionheart Issue 1: "Even a Lion fears the Wild Dog pack"

Lionheart

Body	9
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

OOC Rolls...Danger Sense check/Perception Check (2d10=12, 2d10=8). Lionheart detects Danger and his Perception check discovers from which direction it comes (mostly thanks to his super senses)

“Any landing you can walk away from…”

Richard King dragged himself from the hole he’d made in the side of the hillside. Covered in dirt, he shook himself at superspeed and was dirt free, albeit still a raggedy man in the tatters of his uniform. “Frostbite?” he called out. “Anyman? Sentinel? Major Steed?”
He looked around. The bleak moorland and rolling valleys, couple with the dark rainclouds overhead looking fit to burst suggested Wales, or perhaps Cumbria. “ANYONE?” he shouted, and heard the echo – too closely – as he winced and pressed a hand to his ear!

“Ok, that’s different.” He muttered.

“…Oscar Tango three bearing North North West, 300 knots eta 2 minutes. Do you still have a fix, over? Copy that Control. Protocol 6. Oscar Tango three out.”

Lionheart winced again, then looked around. It had been crackly, but he’d heard that. A radio transmission of some kind! He wondered then, was someone coming for him? No, of course not. He was being paranoid. Then he heard the sound of distant jet engines… He squinted, looking into the night sky and around from his vantage point atop a hill. Suddenly the distant landscape zoomed into sharp focus, and his vision switched to an ultraviolet contrast.

There.

He wasn’t familiar with the craft designation but it looked to be something along the lines of a sleek armed transporter. It’s wings were rotors that rotated through 180 degrees to allow VTOL, and the body widened to hold what, probably twenty or so operatives.
And it was heading this way. He couldn’t make out colours, but guessed it would be matt black. The pilot hugged the landscape, closing on the contours of hills and keeping a low or nil radar profile.

So how the heck had they found him? And when – as well as where – was he? Perhaps he should ask them, get some answers.

He had a funny feeling how that might go…

OOC The time/space distortion of the gate has scattered the Vanguard and some have arrived weeks ahead of the others (Anyman, or the Haunt as he now is) and miles apart. Lionheart struck pretty hard into the side of a hill, and the last he remembered he flew through the magic gate of Stonehenge. he's changed. He's less powerful in many respects, but still more than a match for most, and much more versatile than most other heroes. Power Reserve is your main thing. Works like your old power in that you allocate points (10, in this case) to any of the abilities listed under the power, in any amount you want from 1 point upwards. So if you want 10 points of Strength, Lionheart suddenly becomes 1000 times (10APs) stronger and can lift 1,500,000lbs or 680 tons, give or take. He has a vast range of powers and it'll take you a while to get used to them, so don't worry about forgetting stuff Lionheart himself would now - I'll remind you. Right now there is a VTOL aircraft around a minute and a half out (so around a mile and a half away) hugging the hills and heading straight for Mr King, who is a stranger in a strange land. he doesn't know where his friends are, if they are alive, and the rags he wears are all he owns...

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	9
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Lionheart shook his head a second time, not that it made any difference but he was reaching for a way to make the buzzing stop, when it dawned on his, his senses were taking in input from all around. ""Things aren't how I left them!"
He said, aloud.

""Anyway, looks like the more things change the more they stay the same. Different time, same danger!""
A wry smile touched his lips, as he took note of the danger sense that was now getting stronger.

Somehow someone had become aware of him, but who and how? Had their point of entry made a big splash on someone's sensors, or had they some other alien tec to pin point their location? Lionheart had no way of knowing, but he figured it might be best to stick around and find out before he blundered into something worse.

Taking in the surrounding hills, valleys and rocky outcroppings, he looked for a vantage point. He marvelled as his eyes, scanned with pin point precision he'd never known before.

OOC: Ok Lionheart is looking for a vantage point, somewhere up among the rocky grags to spy on the incoming vessel, its occupants and its interests in the sight. I want to find somewhere, from which I can escape in a pinch and yet will give me a good view to be able to look and listen in on what happens. Thanks for the heads up re points and stuff, will bear it in mind.


Sj

Lionheart

Body	9
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

With superhuman speed Lionheart zips across the rough ground and up onto a neighbouring hill - two miles away.

He looked back in wonder and knew that he was faster than before, possibly stronger and certainly his senses were more powerful. 'Coming through a magic gate will do that I suppose' he thought to himself.

OOC I need to look at the points on Lionhearts sheet. Pretty sure he's due a refund of 10 points from Power Reserve and will look at the other stuff. No rush, and nothing set in stone at the moment anyway. For reference Lionheart tops out at 15,887 miles per hour when he runs flat out. That will set the ground on fire behind him, so best used in short bursts... He can fly at 4x that speed, flat out.

Watching from a distance he saw the aeroplane turn its VTOL rotor wings to enable it to hover twenty feet above the ground and a hatch in the side opened. From that dropped a dozen black clad men. The fact they'd dropped twenty feet and set off from the point of touchdown suggested they were Olympic athletes - at the very least - or something else. Something more. Two stayed put, the rest fanned out with large automatic rifles of a kind unknown to Lionheart. The two headed straight for the place where Lionheart had struck the hillside. All of the men were wearing ski masks and googles, body armour and covered in grenades, cannisters and weapons. One of the two men held out a scanner of some kind with an aerial attached and the computer tablet attached to it, and deferred to the other man who walked calmly with hands behind his back, slowly looking around at the bleak countryside.

Lionheart felt sure he would be able to hear what they were saying if not for the rotors of that VTOL craft making such a racket. He was presented with a choice - make himself known to them, or make himself scarce.

Or a third choice, perhaps.

Stay hidden then follow THEM. The Hunted becoming the hunter, so to speak...

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	9
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Or a third choice, perhaps.

Stay hidden then follow THEM. The Hunted becoming the hunter, so to speak...

Lionheart looked intently at the man, who was most likely in charge. Although he couldn't hear what they were saying, he took time to observe. He noted their movements, speed, stance. Did they appear to be well trained elite soldiers, or supers of some kind. He couldn't be sure, but they were using tec, the like of which was a big scale up from what Bletchley could manage just 24 hours ago.

OOC: Ok assuming that they do just hang around for a bit, Lionheart will wait and yes, fly in low and 'attach' himself to the underside of the ship, for now. He needs to find out more, and anyway he can do that would be good.

As regards to modifying points and powers - I'll let you decide what is good. After all you know the system so much better than I do. I just wish the powers names actually sounded like the thing they describe. Dispersal, sounds so much worse than intangibility!

Sj

Lionheart

Body	9
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Flight 12, Personal Force Field 3

OOC What's in a name? Intangibility is definite, on/off. Dispersal allows the player to specify their character become partially intangible, able to slip through certain materials (but stopping when they touch others) as opposed to the on/off nature of GH powers. In a way the Intangible power of GH is very powerful. If I were writing it up 'as written' in the GH game it would be 15 or more APs and cost a lot more than Frostbite paid, for example. I've cooked up another character sheet for Frosty (been a busy night with posting - am sat here at work twiddling my thumbs as I am 'as required' and I think they've forgotten about me. So getting paid 30 odd quid an hour to play RPGs, can't be bad Not always like this so gotta take the rough with the smooth I guess...) take a look in the OOC section. Still not happy with Frostbot. Expect further changes or a general fudge, handwave and 'miscellaneous advantage' to fix it.

OOC Perception roll 2d10 → [10,5] = (15) Success.

Lionheart could tell a soldier when he saw one.

More than that, he could tell from the speed, movement and precise actions of those that set up the defensive perimeter that they had been enhanced somehow. Not to the level that he himself had been, but certainly enough to suggest that for this time period, these were not merely 'soldiers', but rather, 'super soldiers'.

Suddenly the man in charge raised a hand, stopped and turned to look in the distance at where Lionheart was hidden. Lionheart gaped - could the man see, or detect him somehow?

Ducking down, he waited a few heartbeats before rising up again. The pair had continued walking but the leader seemed distracted. A number of the soldiers were taking readings and samples of Lionhearts 'crash site' - where he'd slammed into the side of a hill, thankfully with Forcefield intact!

They were there for twenty minutes or so, cataloguing the view, samples of soil and rock, fragments of clothing and possibly more besides. Lionheart felt uneasy. It reminded of Damon Trowers and Claude Bentham, being that they were the pioneers of genetic manipulation to create super soldiers in his own time. Bentham had died on the moon apparently, having given his life in an apparent act of redemption and paid the ultimate price, his body liquifying thanks to the Lunarium radiation. Trowers had weaselled his way into Winston Churchills good graces, convincing the man that his vision of a utopian future of the world - with Britain standing tall as ultimate leaders, police, judge, jury and doubtless executioners - was a valid one. He shuddered, but knew that was in his past. His immediate future involved finding his friends - whoever survived - and figuring out what they were going to do next.

=========

Thirty minutes later, he soared under the aircraft, forcefield up and hugging the belly of the thing, even at twice the speed of sound!

His speed was effortless - he watched the landscape drifting away below and knew without doubt he could outpace this thing, even achieve escape velocity and fly into space! Was there any limit to what he could do?

The plane flew for around half an hour, going ever north. Despite the foul weather north of Scotland the pace never let up. He saw other planes in the air and spotted, in the distance, a military base on an island. Lionheart frowned. The entire island was covered with buildings and landing strips. What was this?



He was unfamiliar with the island or with any British Military installations this far North.

Furthermore he saw something else, rather unnerving. The weather was foul - wind and driving rain (typical summer) - but the area in a vast dome around the island was completely clear, and above the sun shone in a circular break in the clouds!

What was going on here? Was he going into ... the Lions den? He almost chuckled at the pun, but was aware that even he might be in deadly danger!

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	9
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Flight 12, Personal Force Field 3

What was going on here? Was he going into ... the Lions den? He almost chuckled at the pun, but was aware that even he might be in deadly danger!

Waiting till the plane began to cycle through to the runway, Lionheart looked for an opportunity to either 'detach' from the plan or if that was going to prove difficult, he looked to get above from below, so that to the ground crew he was less obvious.

His mind thought through the possibilities. Once he was down, it should be possible for him to find out a little more about the place. Scan and read open minds and gather intel, perhaps even find the others. Whatever this place and these people they were connected, but to whom? And why, having detected their entry into this time, where they so keen to bring in a group of soldiers? The signs of a warm welcome weren't good. But Lionheart knew better than to prejudge. After all, for all he knew the place may be struggling with a menace far worse than the Nazi's they'd defeated. It never stopped amazing him, just how inventive people could be, when it came to perpetrating evil of some form or another.

As the plane glided in, Lionheart waited for the opportunity to try and make his move.

OOC: Ok so Lionheart will try and sneak off the plane, if he can do so without obviously drawing unwanted attention. IF the likelihood of getting off undetected isn't going to happen, then I'll slip above, and then try and find another way to blend in. It might be I've got to make some kind of stealth rolls at this point, if so, then lets make sure we take all precautions to weight things favourable. Also if using my mind powers to scan telepathically or hear snatches of communication over the noise of the jet, then I will do that also, to try and use every advantage I can to aid my getting away into the base undetected. I am hoping that by going in low, I'll be beneath conventional radar and by being within the base won't trigger the conventional types of alarm or security that probably ring fence this place. But we'll have to see.

Sj

Sj

Lionheart

Body	9
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Flight 12, Personal Force Field 3

Lionheart peeled off, flying fast and low, over the fence and between two guard turrets to land in the shadow of a large hanger. He watched the distant plane land on one of the several runways.

Once down he looked and watched from the shadows. He saw a 'squad' of half a dozen soldiers - men and women - marching with weapons towards a large fortified building block. Their uniforms were plain and black, and they wore body armour. Pouches looked to contain various pieces of equipment - in short they looked ready for war!

Grinning, Lionheart narrowed his eyes and concentrated...

OOC Mind Probe... Roll 8,6 (14) success Lionheart concentrates on finding out what this place is and what it's for...

'...Recruitment from the Army. Disillusionment about being cast off, seemingly useless by a country that had abandoned him after taking eight years of his life. Offered money and a cause - in the service of S.H.A.D.E. - and a new identity, he felt sure of his place in the coming new world order! The training was intense... and unconventional. Sessions in the laboratory, seeing covered bodies carted away. Feeling ill, recovering and feeling stronger, faster, more powerful than ever before! Given weapons and skills training that made the Army look like a Sunday Knitting circle, he had marvelled at the increased endurance and ability to remember everything he was shown! Being strapped into a seat, eyelids forced open, and bright lights flashed into his eyes... Afterwards having expert knowledge of equipment, combat techniques and more besides! He had become... a Super Soldier! Now he was ready and just needed a cause... or a target!'

Lionheart broke contact and narrowed his eyes. There must be thousands of like minded individuals on an island like this! All of a sudden a klaxon rang out, and the troops he'd been watching pulled earplugs from a pouch, stuffing them into their ears before readying weapons and dashing to the large central fortified building where dozens of others were making their way. Metal shutters closed on windows and over doors and the place looked like it was being put into lockdown... but why?

OOC Danger Sense Roll 7,6 (13) Lionheart senses Danger but not from a specific place - more like... all around him!

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	9
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Flight 12, Personal Force Field 3

Metal shutters closed on windows and over doors and the place looked like it was being put into lockdown... but why?

OOC Danger Sense Roll 7,6 (13) Lionheart senses Danger but not from a specific place - more like... all around him!

Though Lionheart didn't know why danger was approaching, he suspected that if this was some sort of covert operation in competition with the real Government, it might not be as secret as they wanted. Perhaps they'd drawn unwanted attention down on themselves. Though non specific, his danger sense had alerted him to a danger that he believed threatened everyone, not just him. The metal hangers and lock down suggested people hunkering down for attack, whilst automatic defences cycled through. It might be a drill, but he wasn't sure.

First things first, he had to take out of the soldiers, bundle him away and try and sneak in among the others. He hoped that in such a large facility with personal coming and go, one more face in fatigues wouldn't stand out.

OOC:
Right then sneak up on a group or single guy, hanging back. Or into a building going into lockdown at the last possible moment and try and take someone out quiet and calmly. Grab their gear, tie them up, coup de grace and off we go on another infiltration mission.

Sj

Lionheart

Body	2/10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Flight 12, Personal Force Field 3

OOC Remember Lionheart is a capable and effective fighter, but his superspeed is his best weapon, giving him a means of avoiding blows AND doling out amazing accuracy, albeit at the cost of superhuman strength. You have 10 points to switch about in various abilities. That said I intend to tweak a little ol' Lionhearts abilities - there are points he's due (need to have a good old look). EDIT: had a look. He was actually 10 points OVERSPENT so I added an arch enemy - his old friends Bentham, Trowers and Saladin. yes, they aren't out of the picture just yet... As a result his Body is bumped up to 10 making him pretty much bulletproof. If you'd rather spend the points elsewhere or change/add anything, holler.

Lionheart waited for his moment, seeing a lone trooper jogging across the parade ground to his eventual location which was the large fortified building where the majority of at least 100 troops had entered.

The klaxon still sounded. Lionheart noted that each soldier had worn ear plugs... then it dawned on him.

The sonic blast nigh on knocked him from his feet! It was amplified because of his superhuman hearing, and rattled him to his core! Lionheart dropped to the floor and covered his ears as best he could!

OOC Right this is an area effect, Lionheart is particularly susceptible to sonic attacks because of his incredible superhuman hearing. Roll 8,2 (10) with 15AV/EV vs Body of 10 and an additional effect because of the hearing thing, which means -1 CS to OV/RV in this case. Lionheart takes 8RAPs damage to his Body from an attack designed to flatten attacking superhuman forces and knock attacking airplanes out of the sky, not to mention shut entire armies down... He's still on his feet, on 2/10 Body though...

Being deafened by the incredible sonics pumped out from numerous sonic emitters secreted about the place actually saved Lionheart from further punishment. He couldn't hear anything. His teeth still vibrated and suffered from horrendous 'white finger' save it affected his entire body!

Blood ran from his ears and nose, and his legs were shaky as he rose to his feet. His danger sense still worked though...

OOC Roll 7,3 (10) success.

Lionheart turned to where squads of troopers ran from doors, weapons drawn and pointed at him! Then he glanced up, and saw the cameras about the place. The base had eyes everywhere. There were sensors that detected body heat, movement, even his own physical presence. This place was a fortress, and possibly the best defended fortress that Lionheart had ever encountered!

One of the guards, clad like all the others in black, and like all this new lot wearing black helmets with gas mask like face coverings, charged forward, assault rifle (of a kind unknown to Lionheart) pointed at him. he supposed the guard was shouting at him, but he couldn't hear a thing! One thing was sure though.

He was surrounded.

He counted... twenty four troopers. and noted more were on the way...

OOC the sonics are designed to stop an attacking army in their tracks, Lionheart *should* have gone down but he's pretty tough. He is vulnerable to sonic attacks (by virtue of his sensory powers rather than by any specific vulnerability). The good news is he'll probably heal all damage in 2 minutes. The bad news? He's surrounded by armed goons ready to gun him down!

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	2/10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Flight 12, Personal Force Field 3

He was surrounded.

He counted... twenty four troopers. and noted more were on the way...

OOC the sonics are designed to stop an attacking army in their tracks, Lionheart *should* have gone down but he's pretty tough. He is vulnerable to sonic attacks (by virtue of his sensory powers rather than by any specific vulnerability). The good news is he'll probably heal all damage in 2 minutes. The bad news? He's surrounded by armed goons ready to gun him down!

Pulling himself to his feet, Lionheart wiped the blood away from his face. He had to look a mess. Raising his hands, he allowed the men to draw nearer, clearly they were right to be weary, he should have dropped completely. But that he was still alive, gave them reason enough, to be cautious. As they moved in closer, Lionheart readied his incredible body to react.

OOC: Ok time to test out the abilities you've given me I think...

Ok this is where you going to have to help me so I've got super speed 3 but can boast that with my reserve pool of 10. Keeping my force field up so bullets and what not don't hurt me further. I think its time to get past these guys and into their base proper. Either this is going to put me at their disposal or something worse. So pump up the Super speed, leave them standing and dive into the base. I want to make my way through the base to find the sensitive areas, but by way of power and control systems so I can do as much damage to the bases defences so they can't be used against me again. Also if at superspeed I can take more actions (On account of my speed) I will take some ear plugs from the guards and any communications devices to make sure I can keep up with their chatter.

Sj

Lionheart

Body	2/10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 points into superspeed), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 13

Even with blood running from his ears, Lionheart was able to grin.

Feeling the subtle shift of psychokinetic energy in his mind Lionheart saw the world slow down around him.

Then he was gone...

The air CLAPPED behind him and dust blew up to mark his passing. He sped towards an opening metal roller door and slid underneath it past the astonished soldiers on the other side. He was already running and speeding through the vast complex, checking doors and looking into windows before he found a map on the wall and deciphered that he should follow a blue line that ran the length of the corridors and mingled with a band of other coloured lines that broke off to side exits.

On the way he snatched earphones from a soldier.

OOC Roll 2d10 → [7,1] = (8) Success to snatch earphones from unsuspecting Soldier.

He needed to go underground. According to the schematics deep underground. Whatever else this place was, it was also a bomb shelter of sorts. Administration offices and staffed computer terminals resided on the ground levels - in short no sensitive stuff. The alarm blared around him as he skidded to a halt at an elevator. He knew the place would be in lockdown now. Red lights flared up in the corridors, pulsing, the alarm blared, metal doors began to slide down from the ceiling, and would surely try to entrap him in a section of corridor!

The lift was coming up.

OOC Roll 2d10 → [7,5] = (12) success for Danger Sense

He wasn't sure, but he figured a welcoming committee would be coming up to meet n greet him. SWISH!

A door clanged closed at one end of the corridor. He needed to go down to find out details. A lift was one way he could go. Another door at the opposite end of the corridor started to drop from the ceiling...

"...Masks in place!" he heard in the earpiece. "Protocol 63! Weapons to maximum STUN!"

OOC You still have superspeed and Lionheart can whizz under the dropping door if you so wish.

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	2/10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 points into superspeed), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 13

A door clanged closed at one end of the corridor. He needed to go down to find out details. A lift was one way he could go. Another door at the opposite end of the corridor started to drop from the ceiling...

"...Masks in place!" he heard in the earpiece. "Protocol 63! Weapons to maximum STUN!"

OOC You still have superspeed and Lionheart can whizz under the dropping door if you so wish.

Lionheart headed for the descending door, if power was out or there was a fire, they had to have other more mundane means of getting down below. If all else failed he might be able to find another way through. But he had to move quick, he realised that such a place as this, was likely to have sensors in every conceivable space.

OOC: Right so looking for some sort of stairwell to take me down, below. Failing that, maybe follow some pipes to see if they lead anywhere. In any case keep moving and don't let myself be caught at all costs. If all else fails I use Sealed Systems to hold my breath and therefore prevent myself from being taken out by the gas. And then pretend to go under and let them take me into the base, especially if I can find no other way to get to where I need to go.

Sj

Lionheart

Body	2/10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 points into superspeed), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 13

Moving at speed and willing his body into a state that slowed his breathing, Lionheart looked for a way to get into the heart of the base...

He was still vulnerable to gas attacks (OOC We can change that if you like but it means robbing points from something else) but a valid tactic for these people would have been pumping the oxygen out of a section. Good not only for extinguishing fires, but for incapacitating intruders too!

He looked around, saw a vent near ground level and yanked it free with a pull, tearing metal after switching some of his power to Super Strength. In his ordinary form he bordered on superhuman. A quick mental nudge saw him become VERY superhuman in that regard!

Inside the access panel he saw pipes and conduits. He stuck his head in, looked about in the darkness, then moved down the corridor a few metres to yank open another panel - this time one designed to be pulled off the wall - and dropped into an access shaft...

=========

Elsewhere in the complex...

"He's in the vents." said one of the Security team manning a monitor.

A huge dark clad man strode over, without hurry. "Of course he is. He just shrugged off a million decibels of white sound with an earache. Computers measure him at hypersonic speed. He flew here under his own power. The man clearly knows what he's doing. We need to stop him, found out who he is and who he is working for!"

The operative coughed. "What do we do sir?"

There was a pause. "Call out the Alpha Dogs. Track him. Guide them to him. Let's see how he does."

"Sir? Uh, how many? One... two?"

The man turned sharply. He grasped the operatives head in one large hand and twisted his head to stare at a monitor screen. "LOOK AT THOSE READINGS!" he bellowed. Eyes turned around the large control room to look at the leader as he chastised the operative. "SEND ALL OF THEM! And if he takes them out...? Prepare the Gamma Dog."

=========

Electrified ladders. Gas clouds. A strange sticky glue like mist that hardened almost instantly, designed to incapacitate.

Cute. Someone was touchy about security. Lionheart had avoided the various traps in the access shaft and been travelling for around 20 seconds, mindful that his speed was limited unless he fancied blundering into a trap.

Finally this vent shaft ran no more and split into much smaller, impassible vents. A quick kick... *CLANG!* and he hopped out into a corridor again.



Lionheart was aware he was not alone as he stepped into the corridor that ran east west. The red lights and faint klaxon sound was less distracting now. He sized up the fellow standing 30 feet away. Then he turned to his left and saw another, identically clad and of very similar size, stood in the corridor on his other side.

Then three more joined each man, running to stand beside them, four on each side, thirty feet away...

They didn't say a word, but Lionheart (OOC 2d10 → [6,1] = (7) Danger Sense success) knew they would be trouble!

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	2/10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 points into superspeed), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 13

Then three more joined each man, running to stand beside them, four on each side, thirty feet away...

They didn't say a word, but Lionheart (OOC 2d10 → [6,1] = (7) Danger Sense success) knew they would be trouble!

OOC: Quick question Paul will my body have regenerated up from 2 by now?

Lionheart groaned inwardly, he didn't want to fight but more importantly he didn't want to be seen to be fighting. He knew this was likely a test, one in which he'd have to face down one opponent then perhaps more until they gaged his full range of power. He could of course make things simpler on himself, by just surrendering. Allowing himself time to recuperate!

But from what he could see he was dealing with an enemy used to handling superior foes. In all likelihood if he was to prove to little a challenge, he might well be locked away, his power inhibited and with little way out.

Lionheart thought that what they do know, is that he was fast, resilient and strong, but what they didn't know might protect him, if things got worse. It also made no sense for him to surrender, unless he had an ulterior motive - but that would be hard to blag his way through not knowing much about this base or its purpose. For now he had played the hand he'd been dealt, it seemed he was based placed to continue to do so, for now.

With that in mind, he took a moment to survey the corridor, its camera's or likely sensor points, weaknesses, doorways and or bulkheads. He needed to get out and not be trapped and so the merry chase was on.

OOC: So I take a look at both directions seeking some sort of hint as to if one is better than the other... then at superspeed, I don't stop I crash right through the guys infront of me, and carry on as best as I can. I also place my forcefield in front of me to extend the impact zone a little beyond me. Then I charge on looking to get ahead of the black garbed guards - alpha dogs, either to a new conduit, doorway that looks to be going somewhere or passage leading further down.

I realise I've got guys behind me, but what I am hoping is that I can move ahead so as to be beyond their easy range if they try to fire at me. We shall see.


Sj

Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 points into superspeed), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 13

OOC Not quite been two minutes since he was injured - he moves so fast that it would take a stated effort to stop and rest. Normal healing takes place after an hour so 2 minutes isn't long at all... unless of course he finds himself facing a small army!

"He's Running!" shouted one of the black garbed newcomers a heartbeat after Lionheart sped into life!

Forming a Force Field bubble around him he clattered into the group at one end of the corridor and scattered them like bowling pins! They'd tried to grab him but been confounded by the forcefield. Now he was bouncing off corridor walls like a pinball and skidded to a halt as doors slashed down in front of him. Still, he'd not done bad. He looked back at the corridor and noted that in the seconds he'd been moving he'd travelled down probably what was half a mile of corridor in this vast base! The cameras mounted into the ceilings and walls allowed someone the means to survey absolutely everything that went on, but Lionheart had presented only a blur!

He could feel his body trying to heal itself, the wounds he'd suffered thanks to that awful sonic blast would soon be a memory if he could just buy time to heal! He turned and looked to the vent at his feet where he'd stopped. With a determined yank he pulled the vent and slipped into the guts of the place, using access panels and tubes to descend, going ever downwards. He seemed to have lost something in terms of sheer flexibility. His body had changed but for the most part it'd been for the better - a consequence of the magic gate and, possibly, merging with this realities version of Lionheart. Anything was possible.

=========

Lionheart could breathe a little easier.

He dropped from an access hatch and hid in the shadow of the wing of a plane/jet that matched no configuration he was aware of. The hanger area was Vast with dozens of the planes and hundreds of personnel working on them.

Arming them, it looked like.

Even as he watched small trailered vehicles dragged wheeled racks of missiles and boxes of munitions. Whoever these people were, they intended to go to war!

OOC 2d10 → [9,9] = (18) Healing Check, success and no need to roll the double. Body amended in the stats above.

The alarm continued to blare but the dozens... no, hundreds of yellow overall covered technicians, both men and women, were robotic and workman-like in their efficiency, giving Lionheart an uneasy feeling. He looked down the length and breadth of the huge underground hanger, noting the doors set in the far wall some half a mile away. Vast wasn't quite the word to describe the place. Someone had money, vast sums, resources, manpower and a purpose for all of this. Lionheart needed to find out what it was.

A lift hissed open and the black garbed people left it, fanning out to look around the parked jets and planes. He counted a dozen. The yellow garbed technicians would stop and look at them, then hurry on in fear!

Lionheart cursed himself for a fool! The PSI Corps used a similar system to the one these people would use when tracking him! Sensors everywhere detecting life signs, and every one of these people would have a chip implant he suspected. The people looking for him had only to ignore their own people and highlight the only one without a chip - Lionheart!

As if on cue he saw two of the black garbed people - a man and a woman from the looks of it - heading towards the plane he crouched behind. The lift they'd come from looked to be the main way in and out, unless he could find another access/maintenance shaft.

OOC Lionheart is on full Body. Two Alpha Dogs will be looking round the plane he's hiding behind in moments...

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 points into superspeed), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 13

OOC Not quite been two minutes since he was injured - he moves so fast that it would take a stated effort to stop and rest. Normal healing takes place after an hour so 2 minutes isn't long at all... unless of course he finds himself facing a small army!

OOC Lionheart is on full Body. Two Alpha Dogs will be looking round the plane he's hiding behind in moments...

OOC: Ok, didn't realise time had become quiet so compressed, but glad I managed to catch a breather and regain my health...

Lionheart looked about the hanger, he moved off silent as he could going fast but not quiet so much as to raise signs of his passing. He wanted to put some distance between himself and the men, but wondered what the nature of this place was. He couldn't help but feel this was some on the level government facility with a legitimate reason for existing. So a plan began to form in his mind. As he speed off, he took a good look at the craft that was in here. Looking for one that he might be able to commandeer.

"Here a plane, there a plane, which plane do I want..." Lionheart said to himself as much to amuse himself and keep the focus off any negative thoughts he might slip into as he wondered what he'd got himself into and what it was going to take to get himself out.

OOC:
Right change of tactics, since its only a matter of time before I get tracked down, I want to find a fighter type craft and either:

a) fly it toward the base doors using its missiles or armament to blow a hole through the doors.
b) of if that isn't going to work, set it off so that it crashes into the doors, and I slip out half way through

My one worry here, is that I have no idea who I am up against, so I am taking drastic action. But I've just come from WW2 with Nazi Zombies and Aliens and the lot. Besides I'm a Psi cop and when bad people are out to get you, you get out quick. Anyhow, If I can blow a sizeable hole in the wall I am going to set the plane on autopilot and then try and fly back into the base in the confusion. Or if I'm stuck with plane b, bail out before the crash and try to use the confusion to cover my tracks.

If getting these craft flying is going to prove a problem then I want to try and use what I can onboard the craft to access information that might help me in some way before I get locked down and captured.

Sj

Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 points into superspeed), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 13

Moving at astonishing speed Lionheart stood in the shadow of a fighter planes wing, looked about, then hopped up onto the wing and into the cockpit...

Without the amazing computer 'skill imprinter' he used to carry that resembled a pair of binoculars, Lionheart was no expert pilot. That said, his astonishing reflexes and superhuman agility meant that any mistake he made would be measured in milliseconds and corrected as fast. So long as the plane could keep up, that is...

He looked about. Those dark clad figures were prowling around, and looked to be... sniffing the air? He turned, dipping a head towards an armpit. Did he smell that bad? No. Then... ah. The people in this complex would be conditioned to operate in a certain fashion. It was a military base, so supply of goods was restricted. Approved soap, cleaning products and other cosmetic products would all be strictly controlled.

Anything out of the ordinary would stick out like a sore thumb to anyone with a superhuman sense of smell. Luckily he saw no bloodhounds about...

Or did he?

The black clad figures were sprinting - at speed, though in slow motion to him - towards 'his' plane!

Figuring stealth was of less importance than getting out of there, he looked at the control panel and started flicking switches...

OOC Roll 8,8 (16) on Intelligence to figure out how to start the thing. Success. No need for the follow up roll.

The plane hummed into life and if there was any doubt where he was hiding, it was snuffed out now! Knowing there was little time for anything fancy Lionheart released the brake and slammed the throttle forward, hard! With a screech of wheels on the deck the plane started forwards, crashing over the chocks that stopped it from rolling forwards or backwards, and turning towards the doors...

The black clad security were almost on the plane, sprinting behind it and, incredibly, catching up!

"Meh." muttered Lionheart as he assessed their speed, flicked the cover from the fire control button and spun the twin miniguns on the fighter plane into life!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

Shell casings clattered all over the floor, making going hard for those trying to catch the plane! The klaxons took on a louder, more insistent tone and a pair of sturdy, massive, steel doors started to close inwards to give an extra, more secure layer to the hanger! Time to leave! Another switch flicked...

FWOOOOOOSHHHH!!!

A missile shot forward, punched through the outer hanger door with an explosion and the jet leapt forward like a chased gazelle! One of the black clad warriors was close enough to leap onto the wing but cried out as the jet hit full thrust and shot forwards, Lionheart puling back hard on the stick and angling the plane up a slope and taking off well before it got near the crest and had to turn to the runway!

=========

"Unauthorised takeoff! Interceptor 17! Auto guns active! Shoot it down sir?" said an operator in the control room.

The leader punched a fist into a hand. "What, and lose a one hundred million dollar aircraft as well as potentially causing massive damage from the crash? Bring it down over the water. Are the sonics ready?"

"Ah... they are still recharging. 31% sir. It'll be..."

"It will be too late! Scramble interceptors! Whoever this man is, he won't be familiar with our aircraft. track it, intercept it, bring it down and capture that man. If that's too hard, kill him. I take full responsibility."

The operator turned and looked at the screen, stabbing points on the schematic glowing at him with a light pen. "Delta Wing scramble. Target uploaded. Your orders are to down the stolen jet and guide retrieval crew to the wreckage or destroy it as a secondary objective. This is not a drill, scramble, scramble, scramble!"

=========

Lionheart soared upwards and away from the base.

He could fly faster than this thing he figured, but there was no doubt it was state of the art and packed some serious firepower - and probably a few nasty surprises. He watched as he passed by turret mounted flak cannons that swivelled to track him and an alarm blared to state a lock on had been achieved... but no missile was fired! Even so, he suspected the longer he was aboard this plane, the greater the danger he'd be in! He'd gotten in, he'd gotten out, and with a stolen jet fighter to boot. Now where? The island receded behind him as his climbed into the clouds...

OOC Flight check Roll 4,3 (7). With 13 Dex that is a success.

Despite being unfamiliar with the flight controls of the vehicle, he handled it easily. With time he might become proficient enough to safely land it! He wondered if he could make good his escape...

OOC I assume. Let me know if that's what you wanted, otherwise LH can turn around do something else...

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 points into superspeed), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 13

Lionheart

OOC I assume. Let me know if that's what you wanted, otherwise LH can turn around do something else...

OOC: No that is great, ha ha better than expected actually...

Lionheart levelled off the craft, getting a good look at where he was. He realise that the place might still be surrounded by the unnatural weather patterns. "Meta Human!" He said out loud. It was good to hear a friendly voice, even if it was his own. He hadn't realised how alone he felt until he begun to realise how deeply he'd gotten himself into the situation with the base.

Thinking through his options, he saw that he had several, but top of the list would be to try and return. However how could he fool the base sensors and so avoid being captured. No he needed to regroup with the others, Frostbite's onboard companion for instance would be able to help them sneak about invisible to the sensors. "Besides..." Lionheart said aloud to himself, "...can't imagine them going far!"

So that left him with the second option, flight and fight. He needed to make sure his pursuers got a good chance at destroying the craft under which he hoped he might be able to escape. A dive into the sea, might be the best way to evade capture, but first to make it look good and if possible take whatever data and information he could from the craft. Time to access whatever primitive computer this thing has. He thought to himself.

OOC: 1) Lead the plane out of the base, and make a heading toward the mainland, assuming I can you the navigation onboard to score the precise location of the base. 2) second access whatever information, communication and channels I can so as to either retrieve it in a portable fashion. Or if worst comes to worst, rip the computer brain or flash drives or whatever out. Hoping I can retain the data I've got from the place to look at later.
3) I am assuming pursuit is going to catch up soon, in which case I try and give as good as I can, but not too good. Let someone clip the craft and take a dive into the sea. Bail out under the cover of smoke and whatever and fly off either underwater with my forcefield on to protect me, from further explosions or detection. And hope to get to friendlier ground where I can make good my escape and head to Wales and a certain friendly castle. Anyway here's hoping.

Sj

Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 points into superspeed), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 13

Lionheart flew the jet plane due south at high speed - probably not as fast as he could fly, but he suspected the jet fighter was competitive with the best this time era had to offer.

And there had been dozens of them, and more of the transporter jet type craft. What had he stumbled onto? Remembering as best he could the location of the base he glanced down at the instruments.

And they went blank.

A voice crackled over the intercom. "Whoever you are, you have made a grave error of judgement." it started. It was a mans voice, sounded well educated and intelligent, considering the next chosen words. "I could destroy you with the flick of a switch, but I am more interested in who you are, and where you came from. Answer those questions and the conversation will continue. If not...?"

OOC Roll 2d10 → [5,8] = (13) Danger Sense tells Lionheart that he is sat in, effectively, a flying bomb, able to detonate at any moment!

With the knowledge that the plane could explode at any time, Lionheart also considered that the owners could track it wherever it flew, and possibly control it remotely. He'd seen such things in the future, plenty of times. It was *possible* to do those kind of things in the present day but range was limited and these people seemed unconcerned that he was flying off at supersonic speeds!

Furthermore he considered another option - he knew nothing about the people he'd encountered, nor what their goals and aims were. Perhaps they were some secret government project, or perhaps they were quite the opposite, determined to drag down the fabric of society with their sizeable secret army? He glanced out the window. Despite there being no instruments to navigate by, he was pretty sure he was approaching Northern Scotland.

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 points into superspeed), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 13

Lionheart

A voice crackled over the intercom. "Whoever you are, you have made a grave error of judgement." it started. It was a man's voice, sounded well educated and intelligent, considering the next chosen words. "I could destroy you with the flick of a switch, but I am more interested in who you are, and where you came from. Answer those questions and the conversation will continue. If not...?"

Lionheart had to laugh, it was a good ploy. He suspected that blowing up the craft, might even harm him. But that they were more intrigued with him, than mad, or frightened or unprepared, told him a lot.

"Oh ok mystery man. Do you get a secret code name as well. You can be Dr X! And whilst we're at it, lets get one thing straight, I haven't just broken into your top secret base, right under your nose, run around and set up my own booby traps and got out without a plan!

What do you think I am mad, or something?

Sure you could blow me up, but what'll that get you, except dead and not even a single answer for your troubles. In the even that I die, well it'll be goodnight shnookums for you and your little enterprise as well, when my hidden traps go off. Sure you can turn your scanners on them and try and find them - but your tec is so retro. You'll only have a 2% chance to find them, before its too late and I've got what I want.

So how about we stop with the meaningless threats, posturing and start getting down to business..."

Lionheart didn't know who he was talking to, where he was, what timeline he was in and if the threat to his life could be serious enough to end it. But somehow he couldn't help himself. This was fun, using psychology to scare the big guy at the other end of the line. Know doubt they'd scanned his physiology and would have worked out that he might have all sorts of energy signatures, including displacement from time. That alone would justify a second look at what he'd been doing around the base and the thought of future tec, might be enough to make that lie stick.

It didn't matter, Lionheart was buying himself time. Whilst he talked, he realised that they might have cameras on so he looked about, wishing he had Frostbite with him. He still hoped to salvage something from the ship. But he imagined if it was a digital asset it was already whipped or gone. As fun as this game was, he wasn't sure how much more he was going to get playing this game.

So instead whilst he talked, He ripped open the door, letting it tumble to the ground and began to see if he couldn't blow the ship up himself. He had to get out and getting out without them just chasing him, seemed to be the only way to go. So it was time to make it appear that he was a man with nothing to loose.

OOC:
Ok so whilst keeping Mr Big talking and hopefully try and pry information from him Lionheart will ...

1) See if there is anything he can take with him that will give him some idea who these people are.
2) Start to cause enough damage to bring the craft down, regardless of what they can do. I want to double dare them and try and blow the craft up whilst I am talking. Appear crazy enough to not care and to make them second guess themselves.
3) After pulling the door off I put all my points into reinforcing my forcefield and flight use the door to ram it into the engines and get out under the haze of smoke and what not when I've decided I've learned enough and can best make my exit.

Sj

Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (5 points into superspeed, 5 into Strength), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 8, Strength +5 (to 10)

There was a pause, then the man continued "We have superhuman 'bloodhounds' so to speak looking for evidence of your booby traps, mystery interloper... or do you have a name?"

"I'm more concerned that someone - anyone - could penetrate our defences as easily as you did. With that in mind I'm prepared to make you an offer. Work for us and we'll make you a rich man..."

Lionheart used the time to (at superspeed) dismantle the innards of the plane and expose mounds of bunched wires, circuit boards, gizmos and gadgets that meant little to him. Coming from the future as he did, little of it made sense as they were too old to even be museum pieces but...

He froze.

OOC 2d10 → [4,3] = (7) Perception check... success. Just.

He saw what looked to be a neural processor pack. Definitely NOT from this time era! Such devices could be hard wired into the vehicles and weapons of the military and controlled from afar, not only to prevent friendly fire but to increase firepower and accuracy to beyond human levels!

Lionheart shivered.

Claude Bentham had been on the research team that had invented that system.

The glowing, pulsing, pack had wires feeding off and running to every system on the plane. Lionheart knew then that his control of the aeroplane was an illusion. They were happy to let him leave, track him to wherever he was going, get information...

He looked about again. Then he saw it. A micro scanner. And another.

As if reading his mind the voice came out over the comms again... "We're getting some very interesting readings from you..."

Alarm bells went off in Lionhearts head!!!

Lionheart switched his power to strength (OOC 5 points Strength, 5 points Superspeed) and rammed it up to punch the canopy clear of its mounting with a loud bang! With the thrust of a hand he snatched the gel pack and a streaming handful of wires and leapt from the jet!

And not a moment too soon! His forcefield flared around him (OOC using the bubble version which gives marginally more protection) as the jet exploded, sending him tumbling through the air! With incredible agility he turned and shot downwards like an arrow, turning his fall into a dive, then levelling with his flight and soaring up again. Burning wreckage rained down from the sky on moorland. He suspected he'd flown far and fast enough to be clear of Scotlands southern border and was now in Northumbria somewhere.

Glancing down at the gel-pack Lionheart wondered what it meant. Technology he KNEW was from the future, invented by a man who was his enemy, a man who'd died in the last reality. This of course was a new one, but Lionheart could only wonder what would happen if this secret organisation planned to strike with this future tech.

He looked about, saw distant cars, the odd aeroplane in the sky... These people weren't ready for planes that could outfly, outshoot and respond with hair trigger reactions that made the most modern of army technology look like... well, like it had come from the stone age!

OOC Lionheart (this version) wasn't in the Executive and didn't establish contacts in this time frame - he came back in time into nazi controlled Britain and joined the Vanguard, then to go back to World War II. He does have other lines of enquiry to potentially meet up with team mates though: Caer Alwyn, Bletchley Park, contact the UKChampions from any telephone, police/army, hand himself in etc... Heck, if he flies around London for long enough he'll meet a superhero... or villain. He has in his possession the neural gel pack which is proof of something going on...

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (5 points into superspeed, 5 into Strength), Personal Force Field 3, Superspeed 8, Strength +5 (to 10)

Caer Alwyn, the name had about it a familiar feel in what had turned out to be a vastly unfamiliar world. Although nothing about the past was what he was familiar with beyond what he'd been told. Now it all seemed so different, given the way life and his mission had worked out. But even in this reality, the reaches of the Psi Corp and Bentham in particular seemed to be present. "Hardly surprising..." Lionheart thought to himself, any reality that had Claude Bentham and the opportunity to bend history to his will, was going to involve his far reaching plans, one way or another.

Setting aside thoughts of what might be the only other familiar person, besides his team mates from the Vanguard, Lionheart focused on Caer Alwyn, in the last weeks of his time in the past, that place had become something of a beacon to him. A place of safety within the eye of a large storm, that was all the dark forces allied against humanity. Although he had to wonder if what he knew, of the castle and its original occupants and mission, might remain the same. It was still, he hoped, an anchor. A fixed point in time that might give him some safe haven from which to get his bearings.

With rudimentary calculations, given his relative position, Lionheart speed, off. Putting serious thought to speed, whilst hugging the coastline until he saw something familiar.

OOC:
Right best speed to Wales, hopefully not so that anyone can follow me.
When I get to the border, I will find a place to store the gel pack, hopefully if its some sort of black box, it won't suffer for being buried underground. I don't want it being used as a means to spy on me or reveal my location. The boarder means that is by no means obvious which way I went.

Then from there, I'll go on foot, super speed following the signs that will be (I hope familiar to me) to get to Caer Alwyn and who knows what...

Sj

Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 ponints into flight), Personal Force Field 3, Flight 15

Switching his focus to Flight, Lionheart figured he had around 250 miles to travel from what he remembered as the location of Caer Alwyn in Wales.

The sleepy village of Caer Alwyn had always seemed like a place out of time, one where the events of the world at large never seemed to affect the place or its people. He hoped that rung true now as his welcome to this time and place had been anything but warm thus far...

At his top speed he... well, he wasn't quite sure how long it would take to get there. As it was he sped through the clouds at high altitude, looking down on Britain from below and gave off a number of sonic BOOMS! behind him! With a glance at swirling clouds marking his path he looked down again.

And was there.

It'd taken around 15 seconds to cover the distance...

Even as he digested that Lionheart saw the village, the ancient castle, the stately home and shook his head in wonder. He sped down and landed somewhere outside of the village in a field, switched his focus to superspeed and secreted the gel pack on his person. He wore no uniform nor a mask of any kind but didn't really have an identity to protect as such. For sure, it would be nice to have some 'down time' so he figured he'd get round to it but there were more pressing matters.

In moments he sped up to the gates of the stately home, examined them and considered flying over into the grounds. An intercom system on the gate was present though, so that offered another option.

A further option was to travel to the old castle. He knew there would be some way of getting into the dungeons beneath the ruins, or perhaps he could go into town and ask the locals who was in residence at Caer Alwyn hall these days - better to establish that the occupant was friendly as opposed to some nutcase, which wouldn't be unusual in Lionhearts weird and wacky world!

OOC A few options there... How do you want to distribute your powers?

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (10 ponints into flight), Personal Force Field 3, Flight 15

OOC A few options there... How do you want to distribute your powers?

OOC: Right distribution, we'll go for an even split between speed, forcefield and strength. Wow you know everytime I look through my character sheet with those long list of (still somewhat unfamiliar powers) I get to thinking I'm like a low level superman. Awesome...

Unsure as to what it was he might face, Lionheart went for a defensive stance. So far he'd not had a great deal of luck in finding out much about the world he'd returned to. Now he thought its time to play it a bit differently.

Whilst waiting for the intercom to be answered, he searched the house, moving as best he could from his Directional Hearing to his Super Hearing whilst using his Telescopic vision as he swept the house's exterior for clues.

OOC: If I get nothing from the cursory sweep, I will move over to telepathic skills...

Once the intercom com goes I will say that "I'm from Albion Deliveries, package for the Lord of the House, that has to be signed for." Hopefully that term might be enough to catch someone's interest and get me a bit further along. My biggest worry, is that at the moment, we're still all at sea, with no idea who to trust, let alone work out where everyone is!

Sj

Lionheart

Body	10
Mind	9
Spirit	7
Hero Points	0

Powers: Power Reserve (split 5/5 into Strength and Superspeed - Forcefield can't be boosted (he already has the maximum protection for the game house rules))

Scanning with his superhuman senses, Lionheart narrows his eyes...

The grounds of this place are mined, there are pop up laser turrets hidden at ground level, and amongst the flowers are what look to be rotating grenade flingers of some kind, though the grenades themselves might be of a non lethal variety. He zoomed his vision back to normal, and listened. Tipping his head to one side, he heard a theme tune playing somewhere, but not in the mansion, as far as he could tell. He glanced at the lawns. Perhaps there was more to the mansion than met the eye - lower levels perhaps, but that didn't explain the theme tune that played, presumably on a television set. "...Coronation Street is sponsored by Cadburys..." purred a womans voice.

Lionheart wasn't sure what a 'Coronation Street' was, or perhaps where it was, but it seemed innocuous enough. He shrugged and tried the intercom. That strange sixth sense that warned him of danger didn't offer anything as he pressed the button on the device and he leaned in to speak.

"I'm from Albion Deliveries, package for the Lord of the House, that has to be signed for." he asked.

There was a pause, then a screen flickered into life on the panel, and Lionheart looked at a fellow with a bald head, beard, and strange goggles pulled up around his forehead. "Who is this?" he hissed in an accented voice. "Do you not know vot bloody time zis is? It is Coronation Street time, und I do not vish to be... Vait a minute."

Lionheart wasn't quite sure how he knew, but he *felt* like his body had just been scanned in some way!

The bearded man whipped round to look into the screen again. "Who are you? Und no lies, hear? Vot do you vant? Just... Lord St Johns is in London!" The fellow seemed agitated and muttered, though Lionhearts incredible hearing picked it up "...can design a quantum disrupter but do not get me started on this pesky Tivo thing! Can't... miss..." He turned around, agitated. "Vell? Vot you want? You got package you say? Chuck it over... no. Don't do zat. You vill set bombs off. You must... oh... If I do not find out who is sleepin' with Kelly I vill..." There was a pause, then he turned away, fumbled with something off screen and looked back at the intercom. "You still there? *sigh* Vot are strange readings from you? If you are enemy I vill destabilise your molecules und... do you know your molecular density is approximately three hundred and seventy four point six eight three recurring more dense than normal human? Of course, humans come in all shapes und sizes. I vud not know, not being... uhm. Who are you again?"