The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Admin Mon Jul 08 2013, 14:50

Sliding into the pilots seat Lionheart gave the controls a quick once over.

"Some of this stuff is backwards..." he muttered, wondering why the controls - initially - worked in the opposite way to what was considered normal. It took only a single pass of his hand at superspeed to change the settings to a more conventional working.

"Problems?" asked Frostbite. He could directly interface with any computer through the sentient prgram that lived inside him. Frostbite was still unsure how, or why, the thing known as 'Frostbot' existed, but was glad it did. It had sent the 'sleep' command that had ended the fight at the mansion, and not a moment too soon. The murderous Cybrogs had a nasty habit of exploding if you got too close, and they were almost on top of the great old house!

Lionheart frowned, then smiled. "Wandafar. He plays his little jokes."

Little did Lionheart know that in an alternate timeline, he and Wandafar had been team mates in the government sponsored super team known as the 'Executive'. That was changed - in this timeline, the Executive initiative had lasted only a year before being disbanded thanks to the existence of Adjutant and the UKChampions, but those that remembered them still thought fondly of them, and with great pride, for the things they accomplished.

Silver Sentinel walked into the cockpit "There's less metal than you might think on this thing. What is it made of?"

Lionheart twirled in the chair and smiled an answer. "Carbon fibre, though ... it's of a type I'm unfamiliar with. Wandafar again, no doubt. It's expensive to make, so he'll have come up with his own version. Oh... ah, they didn't have that in the 1940s I expect?"

Sentinel shook his head and pressed a finger into a cabin wall. It flexed, but held, even against his superhuman strength. Lionheart explained. "Lighter than steel and as strong thanks to the weave of layer upon layer. It means what weight there is on a craft such as this is taken up by engines and weapons. Speaking of which... ignition primed... strap in!"

Lionheart was fast. He could be in the lake district in moments, but his sense of fair play and modesty meant he'd go with the others in the craft provided. Besides... according to the readouts on the led panels, there were various modes to try out, including stealth mode. If Wandafars design was effective - and it usually was - that meant this might well be an effective means of transport for the whole team at once, as opposed to flying through the air and inclement weather usually associated with the Islands of Great Britain.

Moments later they took to the sky - in stealth mode - and the team was impressed again. The colour of the craft changed to match the opposite side of the vehicle thanks to thousands of pinhole cameras. In effect it was like a chamelon! In addition radar could not pick up the craft below certain speeds. Lionheart kept the air speed down to mach one and was impressed when the sound barrier was broken with barely a chirp.

=========

Minutes later the night darkened landscape scrolled beneath them and revealed the expanse of hills and lakes forming the North West area of England.

From Wales the flight had been short and event free, though now they had to find the source of the homing signal.

Frostbite interfaced through Frostbot into the crafts systems. "Three miles to the west. But the maps... assuming I'm reading this thing right..." he said of a table that projected a 3D image of the ground for several miles around "Suggest there's nothing there. A forest. Ruins of an old church. A waterfall and small caves. Other than that, rocks, hills, moorland and not much else. What are we looking for?"

Lionheart blinked then turned, looking out of the window. Silver Sentinel, trying to make sense of everything in the co-pilots seat, saw the movement and wondered "What's up?"

A second later an alarm blared on the dashboard of the plane!

"Incoming missiles! From the West!" shouted Lionheart!

OOC The jet is slowed to around 150mph as you cruise over the rolling hills looking for something that might suggest where the Zomborgs came from. The Missiles are headed from the west, though appeared on radar only a couple of heartbeats ago, either from being launched from somewhere nearby or through some kind of stealth technology...

Will be looking at: Frostbite and Silver Sentinels write ups, to give a bit more bang/buck and maybe one or two more options, but will run all suggestions past you guys in the OOC thread first.

Steeple_jackuk Mon Jul 08 2013, 15:20

Admin wrote:
"Incoming missiles! From the West!" shouted Lionheart!

OOC The jet is slowed to around 150mph as you cruise over the rolling hills looking for something that might suggest where the Zomborgs came from. The Missiles are headed from the west, though appeared on radar only a couple of heartbeats ago, either from being launched from somewhere nearby or through some kind of stealth technology...

Lionheart knew that the engines a strong steady heat source might be the that which they home in on. Could he chance cutting them off and gliding in. He didn't much fancy that, unless all else failed. As he was considering his ideas. Frostbite chimed in with an idea.

"The way I see it..." He said over the blaring signals. "Is either I get out there, get real close and let Frostbot take the missiles on, or even better, we let Sentinel wave his hand and make it look ridiculously easy as he morphs the metal into something we can use. However we have to face the possibility that we're not the only ones out with non metallic materials." Frostbit finished with a look directed at Sentinel.

I think we've got to try Sentinel first and then see what we do if that fails.

OOC: "Ok so whilst Lionheart will try and weave and duck the ship away from being blown up, if we open a hatch for Sentinel to focus on the incoming missiles and see if he can't alter them.

If that fails, Frostbite will dematerialise and try to freeze the missiles unless its looking like too hard a shot in which case he will freeze the air at the point they enter and try to stop them that way. Leaving Lionheart chance to settle the ship down and for us to proceed from here on foot. Although I don't doubt we might be rumbled already."

Sj

smaug Tue Jul 09 2013, 20:45

"Im guessing im up then, we wouldnt want your hi tec kite to be blown out of the sky"

OOC: I'll try to dave, would be the easiest option. is there anything usefull i could turn them into.....shame to waste the metal

Admin Thu Jul 11 2013, 14:24

OOC This is a little bit beyond the remit of the Magnetic Control power (what I'm about to describe) but Sentinel really *is* a master of metal, so he can do things that perhaps only Magneto would be able to.

With a hatch open the ship 'dropped out' of Stealth mode...

Lionheart frowned. There was something not quite...

Sentinel moved to the hatch, leant out and looked into the darkness. Closing his eyes and thrusting a hand out he sent wave after wave of Magnetic force pulsing out, and came to the conclusion just ahead of Lionheart...

"They aren't aimed at us. Their current path will take them past us..." he muttered, still prepared to change their course, dissolve them, turn them into a shower of metallic petals...

Lionheart glanced at the screens, hands dancing across a control panel. "He's right!" he shouted over the thrum of engines. Lionheart did more calculations and turned to face his friends. "There's something behind us, a few miles back, but heading in the same direction we are!"

Hands moving faster than the eye could follow, the man from the future did a few calculations. "Hold on, I'll get this in just ..."

Frostbite stepped up next to Lionheart and placed a hand on the main console. His eyes glowed blue, and Frostbots voice came out "Tracking. A object approximately 12 tons in weight, Mach... 2. It has stealth properties, though not as advanced as this vehicle we travel in. Current projected course... the same one we travel on. Either they are headed for the same location or we are being followed. Unlikely given the advanced nature of this crafts capabilities." Frostbite shuddered as he regained control of his senses.

The trio looked at each other. The missiles were, then, headed for this new target. The new target was on the same course as the Vanguard. Were they friend or foe? And what to do about the missiles?

OOC You have seconds, then the missiles (three of them) will flash past you - close - but clearly not going to hit you unless they change course suddenly. This new target will catch up in around a minute or so.

Steeple_jackuk Fri Jul 12 2013, 09:18

Admin wrote:OOC You have seconds, then the missiles (three of them) will flash past you - close - but clearly not going to hit you unless they change course suddenly. This new target will catch up in around a minute or so.

Hasty decisions in the heat of battle were never easy, but if the craft following was being attacked, chances where they may be potential allies. Frostbite didn't know but wasn't about to let a plane be shot down with no means to protect itself. They couldn't be sure, so..."Lionheart about turn, I want to be so close to that other plane we can smell their exhaust fumes...or within range for Sentinel to do his thing if they can't defend themselves."

Lionheart nodded, "On it boss!" He said as with calm and speed he made the necessary course changes and brought their stealth plane above the object that had been tracking them, but still within reach of the missiles. Frostbite raised his hand, as the missiles approached the mystery craft he wanted to make sure that they only intervened if the craft itself couldn't protect itself. No doubt if it could, a bigger wave of missiles of other defences would come to the fore. But better they be the target, under which their mission could use to distract them, than they themselves be blasted from the sky.

OOC: "OK so don't know if this is within the bounds of what we can do...but

1. We follow the missiles overtake and park above the area where the other stealth craft is. And intervene at the last moment if they fail to take out the missiles as planned with Sentinels metal mastery.

2. If they however can defend themselves we'll hold back to see what is going on and who it is, that is following us.

At some point I was kinda of hoping we might get away to land and check out where the missiles originated from, but that might have to wait whilst we sort this out, first."

Sj

Admin Sun Jul 14 2013, 00:01

Lionheart banked the jet hard, causing the others to find something to hang onto...

The craft turned on a sixpence at such low (relative) speed, and the man from the future rammed the throttle handle hard forward. Lights on the control panel blinked up to show that stealth mode was no longer active whilst the landscape below - mostly darkness dotted with occasional villages and the odd car lights - sped past in a blur! Loud cracks behind signified something of the speed the craft was capable of. Lionheart was impressed - whether it was faster than he was, he wasn't sure, but it was quick enough to catch the missiles, then pass them!

Ahead the distant bright flare of rockets signified the oncoming vehicle. At superspeed he pulled his hand across the console and called up a picture of the target, showing up green on the night scopes. In seconds it would be vaporised if the missiles struck!

Lionheart turned to Sentinel and nodded as he banked the jet round and yanked back on the throttles. Timing things perfectly, he glanced right - seeing the oncoming object, as enlarged on the screen, heading towards and below them.

To the left, the missiles, heading unerringly towards their target.

Their target - a metal cube???

It was big - metres across and high. It moved at speed, and seemingly with purpose - it hadn't changed course one bit, or tried to avoid the threat that was about to blow it into smithereens!

Suddenly the cube broke into dozens of smaller pieces, all geometric shapes and powered by miniature rockets that sprayed the tiny sections into every direction!

Sentinel shrugged "Not me!" he exclaimed, but made a gesture anyway. The missiles slowed, morphed into one solid mass and slowed to hover in the air as the master of metal twisted into shape the missiles (OOC Roll 10,6 (16) Success) so that the were no longer a threat. Instead a perfect square of metal hung in the air.

Frostbite stepped up to look at the green screen and saw the tiny sections flow back towards one another... save that this time they formed into a blocky humanoid shape. It looked battered - dented in places and scored by burn marks, sooty and even a little rusty on one foot, but it was definitely a robot of some kind.

Scratched paint on the chest looked to have been scrawled on by a child, but read clearly "Android Andy"

It hovered in the air looking up at the vessel which hovered a hundred metres up, and when it spoke, the sensors on the Vanguards jet picked up the sounds.

"Greetings. I am prototype Potts 3766441, otherwise known as 'Android Andy'. Please state your designation and purpose."

Steeple_jackuk Sun Jul 14 2013, 08:35

Admin wrote:
"Greetings. I am prototype Potts 3766441, otherwise known as 'Android Andy'. Please state your designation and purpose."

OOC: "Wow this makes me happy, love the way old British comic book equivalent or similar heroes keep showing up. Did we know of Android Andy before? Seem to recall I've heard the name here before or maybe in the old executive games?"

Frostbite looked out, "Hmm it seems we have Andy the friendly android? "

Using the available com system Frostbite sent a message encoded directly to the Android. No point in giving away more than necessary to those who were even now wondering why their had been no explosion.

"Greetings Andy, we are the Vanguard, we are tracking the source of those missiles as we believe they were the source of a previous attack on innocent lives in Wales, not an hour ago. Please be so kind as to state what you are doing here?"

Frostbite beamed across, waiting for a response. As he did so, he turned to Sentinel nodding, as the door remained open and the master of metals had a perfect opportunity to strike first, if it turns out Andy isn't a friendly android after all.

Sj

smaug Sun Jul 14 2013, 08:54

OOC: Too bloody right and could i 'scan' him using my senses to give us any indication where he comes from or anything that could help us defeat him if needs be.

Steeple_jackuk Sun Jul 14 2013, 08:56

smaug wrote:OOC: Too bloody right and could i 'scan' him using my senses to give us any indication where he comes from or anything that could help us defeat him if needs be.

OOC: "Do it mate, do it, but on the quiet no invasive don't want to start a fight right on the villains doorstep!"

Sj

smaug Sun Jul 14 2013, 09:27

OOC: That was the idea and if he/it is so advanced he detects my attempt to scan him I'll just say

"Sorry that was in no way hostile in nature, as a man who has spend quiet some time in the field of metallergy i find you quiet fascinating"

smaug Sun Jul 14 2013, 09:27

*cough* bluff

DavidMcMahon Mon Jul 15 2013, 13:29

ooc: Android Andy. There's a robot/android from the TV show Eureka. Not sure if that ever came to your shores or not. He is the sometimes deputy of that 'hidden' small town that is populated by nothing but scientists. They work for General Dynamics and most of their work goes to the government.

Admin Sat Jul 20 2013, 00:17

OOC Some of the characters in the 'Who's Who' (which is woefully behind and needs updating. Like everything else...) pop up from time to time and the Vanguard - or at least Frostbite (Joseph Rigdon version) , Stormwarden (Kendals old character), Darkshadow (Harrys old character), Nowhere Man (NPC) and Ghost Knight (aka Justin St Johns NPC), plus Wandafar and a few others encountered him/it. This was back in the days of 'Superhuman Registration' where SMITE would arrest anyone in Spandex regardless of their intentions, and Adjutant (very powerful NPC) would supply the muscle with his team, the UKChampions.

This is from 2009...

The incessant blare wouldn't go away.

With a Thwack! on the radio/clock/alarm that sent it bouncing off the bedside table to land... wherever... Joe Opened his eyes and sighed.

He was a superhuman. He was more than man was ever meant to be. So why then, did he feel so tired this morning?

Thinking back to all that'd gone on in the last few days, he wasn't surprised. Since leaving Nowhere Man and Ghost Knight the other night he'd gone back to work and put in a solid day playing catchup. Watfield had actually clammed up once he'd gotten the updated schematics on his desk - something tangible he could show the client at last!

Joe had gone home tired and with gritty eyes, but happy. Calling in to see Abby, she'd been really happy to see him too and things were looking up. The news hadn't reported anything crazy going on for 24 hours, and Rigdon figured that being a superhero wasn't all tights and tangling with bad guys.

Rubbing a hand through his hair and yawning, Joe padded across the floor to the fridge and pulled a bottle of juice out, finding the remote and flicking the news on.

Live pictures...

A fire raging at a residential tower block. Fire crews were on the scene, the reporter excitedly stating that people were still trapped on the upper floors!

The anchorwoman barely finished reporting on that, with the announcement they'd be right back to it before they went to another breaking story. SMITE and the heroes known as Stonehenge and Angellic, of the UKChampions, had cornered not only a group of criminals robbing a warehouse, but the artificial life form know as Android Andy, the crimefighting robot!

The scene cuts to police trying to push back what looks like protesters bearing placards stating "Andy is a good guy! Down with SMITE!" and "LEAVE ANDY ALONE!"

The cameras pan to various rooftops.

Police and SMITE agents are positioned with firearms trained on the large warehouse. 'Computronics' is the sign on the wall, and the security about the place looks pretty tight, save for the Android shaped hole in the fence!

Whilst watching that for a few moments Joe sees the flashing and hears the brrrr brrrr of the USB Key on the desk...

It's all go this morning...

And he's got an hour to get ready and be at work for an important presentation, one only he can do and vital to the companies future...

I think the story went (I have it all archived, will need to read through it) that Android Andy was helping people out of a burning building when the UKChampions showed up, beat the stuffing out of the Android and incarcerated it. Nowhere Man found out they turned Andy over to SMITE who planned to break him into little pieces and put him into mass production. Joe Rigdons part in that was in his civilian job - he'd been recruited by SMITE and that's as far as I read. I dare say between Frostbite, Nowhere Man and Steeplejack (who turned up in that adventure) they'll have stopped SMITE and gotten Andy out, and Wandafar probably helped fix him.

With regards David M's theory, I usually base characters on those I read about when I was a kid in the black & white British Comics. Usually they went along the lines of some kid having a robot/miniature toy army/personal genie/leopard costume/magic thingy that made them into a superhero. Well, superhero as much as they were firmly based at street level because the Brit Comic scene was frightened to death of being sued by the Americans (DC/Marvel) who'd pretty much trademarked and sewn up the term and meaning of 'superhero'. There were some excellent artists back then who did wonders with black and white stuff - good job as the quality of UK printing presses back then usually meant the colour comics were of few colours and usually bled all over the place...

Oops. Anyway, that was a quick trip down memory lane. On with the show

Admin Sat Jul 20 2013, 00:33

Sentinel could tell with just a hint of his amazing powers over metal that the Android was a technological marvel!

Essentially it was thousands of tiny robots that formed up into one great big whole, which had a number of advantages. Any damaged areas of the robot could simply be discarded, and the robot could remain whole, albeit somewhat 'shrunken'. Also it remained elusive to certain attacks (those that it could see and predict, like that missile launch) and could split its body at will. Every tiny robot also had a multitude of functions, so Android Andy could send part of its body off on an errand and remain in touch but completely separate so as to be in several places at once and multi task without penalty!

There was also something else. He could be sure, but he had the strangest feeling that the metal was somehow... 'alive'.

He turned to Frostbite, about to impart this news when the robot spoke, its voice transmitted over the ships communication system. "My Friend, Wandafar, installed a fail safe in case he was ever captured by one of his enemies. Emergency beacons were activated the moment he used his homing device, and I felt compelled to answer the call because, as well as Wandafar being a dear friend, I also owe him my very existence after I required rebuilding, not just once but multiple times. Thus I am tracking the homing signal and intend to rescue my friend. Query. Vanguard? I know this term. Several years ago there was a superhuman team who operated under that designation. Are you affiliated with that defunct organisation?"

OOC Library photo of Android Andy...

He'd seen better days at this point. Angellic and Stonehenge, plus armed police and SMITE operatives had beaten the poor fellow from pillar to post. Despite public outcry and protests he was taken by SMITE to their facility at Darkmoor for 'processing'. These days SMITE are far less heavy handed - the UK government, Press and people realised (eventually) that superhumans fighting to uphold the law needed to do it on their own terms after a number of high profile disasters when superheroes revealed their identities (as required by the then law) and their families/friends were targeted. Bad guys ran amok and the place was, generally, a mess. The Vanguard helped fix that - especially after their powers increased with the 'Dark Power' which allowed them to trade blows with the UKChampions (including Adjustant) and come out on top without breaking a sweat.

Admin Sat Jul 20 2013, 01:05

OOC And while I'm trawling through the old game archives (this game ran for a couple of years on another site, but the site owner kept messing about with the appearance and settings and it would vanish for hours/days at a time without warning. Finally we got fed up and set the place up here, where we've been ever since.) an old (in need of update!) picture of the older line up of the UKChampions:

Adjutant, Angellic, Dream Queen, Stonehenge, Misty Knight, Tornado, Sly Fox

(not shown, other members at that time: Cut-Lass, who was the victim of supervillains when her ID was revealed, Matador, Concorde and Jet Stream, who were badly thrashed in a battle after their enemies ambushed them in their secret IDs, and retired soon after)

The team really only had dealings with Adjutant for the most part if I recall, but the others would turn up every now and again.

smaug Sat Jul 20 2013, 09:23

"Yes yes we are and any friend of wandafar is a friend of ours (OOC: I mean why would he/it lie plus he knows wandafar....what could possibly go wrong?) Is there anything we could do to help you as it looks like you have been through a lot?"

Steeple_jackuk Sat Jul 20 2013, 20:44

smaug wrote:"Yes yes we are and any friend of wandafar is a friend of ours (OOC: I mean why would he/it lie plus he knows wandafar....what could possibly go wrong?) Is there anything we could do to help you as it looks like you have been through a lot?"

A distant memory pinged inside Frostbites mind. Although the journey he'd been on, left this Frostbite different in many respects Frostbite got the distinct sense he was looking at the genuine article. It made sense that Wandafar, ever creative despite his eccentricities might install counter measures. He knew how tricky humans could be, surely from watching all those soaps.

Frostbite nodded as Sentinel finished, "Although undoubtedly different from the last time you heard of us, we are indeed what remains of the Vanguard. We've changed a bit on the way back to this time. And as my friend Sentinel, said, we are indeed trying to recapture Wandafar. Perhaps you ought to come aboard, before your presence gives away that you survived the attack and we all come under fire."

OOC: "Assuming he comes aboard, I will have Frostbot do a more indepth analysis, if Andy will allow it. If not perhaps just make sure its constantly supervised. Meanwhile, Lionheart will also give it a mental probe, knowing its likely to be of a different order, he wants to verify he isn't looking at a man in a suit and indeed if he can find any other things to worry about.

If Andy doesn't want to come aboard then I suspect our mutual enemy will not allow him to get far, but we'd have to let him find that out for himself.

In any case we proceed to a safe distance flying low, where we can observe and if possible only get out ontop of the site, as its more likely we'd be detected if we get there without the sophisticated cover that has kept us hidden thus far."

Sj

Admin Sun Jul 21 2013, 00:36

Android Andy considered for a moment, then broke up into a swarm of miniature buzzing robot insects to fly into the rather cramped interior of the plane through the cargo hatch...

Lionheart turned, but his early warning Danger Sense gave no cause for him to get out of the pilots chair as the Android reformed into three smaller versions of himself to accommodate the fact that his original form was too large to fit inside the craft.

Frostbite asked that Frostbot could check that Andy was in fact, what it said it was. Sure enough, it confirmed the fact moments later by stating that not only was the robot a fully autonomous being and a highly advanced one at that, capable of independent through and action, but it also had Wandafars' stamp on it as well.

'The Android appears to be addicted to watching soap operas.' stated the program inside Frostbites head. 'Particularly rubbish Australian ones.'

"The signal being emitted by Wandafar is getting weaker, as if it were being blocked, or disrupted in some way. Either his kidnappers are aware of the homing device and are taking countermeasures, or he is being taken out of range. Another possibility is strong. The lake district has a number of cave complexes, many unexplored and unknown by the public at large. Whomever has absconded with Wandafar must be technologically capable of overcoming many of his failsafes. Wandafar was easily distracted and found it difficult to long focus on a subject, but for those times when he was 'on the job' it was clear that few minds on this planet could match his achievements. Fewer still could overcome them." explained the three robots, at the same time.

Lionheart probed the robot. It was artificially intelligent and had a mind, albeit one composed of circuits and complex processors. Even so, they never explained the fact that the Robot was capable of feeling, nor that it could think for itself in any situation. Truly, it had evolved beyond its original program.

He turned and piloted the plane through the canyons of the Cumbrian mountains, thundering low over the lakes and heading out over moorlands and forests.

"There." stated Andy, pointing at what appeared to be a section of a mountainside that had fallen away. It looked like... well, a massed gathering of rocks and shale. "The signal is weak, but it comes from that mountain."

Lionheart felt uneasy.

OOC Roll 2d10 → [1,9] = (10) Danger Sense success.

Steeple_jackuk Sun Jul 21 2013, 08:18

Admin wrote:"There." stated Andy, pointing at what appeared to be a section of a mountainside that had fallen away. It looked like... well, a massed gathering of rocks and shale. "The signal is weak, but it comes from that mountain."

OOC Roll 2d10 → [1,9] = (10) Danger Sense success.

"Hey boss got a bad feeling, something is amiss we might be on their radar! Lionheart said, urgently.

Frostbite nodded, "Continue to scan, Andy you to, I suggest you set the ship to remove itself to a safe place and we bail out here, chances are we'll be harder to take on if we are separate targets and its about time we find out who we're dealing with."

With that Frostbite dropped through the floor of the craft, and Lionheart engage the auto pilot, taking a ear piece he saw on the side earlier, to retrieve the craft later, he to waved to the others to get out before jumping out himself.

OOC: "
1. ok I suggest we don't bunch up, so that we are harder to hit, but stay low.
2. We know they use missiles but I suspect countermeasures on the ground are less flashy, either more Zomborgs, or guns/fields and mines. So lets stay off the ground for now.
If we approach the area that Andy indicated and Sentinel see's if there is a metal entrance or door, perhaps that might be the best route in, otherwise we're gonna have to try and make one or find another roundabout route through."

Sj

Admin Wed Jul 24 2013, 00:06

Landing the ship some distance away under the cover of trees plus its own amazing stealth technology, The Vanguard set to with approaching the mountain...

OOC What's Silver Sentinel going to wear? There is enough metal in the missiles that he cubed to create another suit, but probably not enough to make a big stompy mech thing. Any thoughts on the abilities he wants to pump into it? The usual are: Protection, Strength, Flight, Energy Blast. If he fancies trying something different - a robot he can remote control (instead of being in the front line etc) we can try that instead.

Android Andy seemed to stare at the mountain side for a few moments. Lionheart, with his amazing senses, noted the robots irises continued to focus, then:

"The mountainside itself - where you can see fallen rocks and shale - is actually a holographic image designed to fool the senses." Andy declared. "In fact there is a metal door set into the side of the hill standing some 30' tall and again as wide. There are gun emplacements set near the top of it. By their configuration they would presumably not use standard munitions."

The team looked at the hillside. It was covered in grass, heather, and fallen rocks. Was Andy seeing things?

The Android continued to stare. "I predict that alarms will be triggered should we approach from that direction. Even from this distance, of approximately one mile, I believe heat signatures, ultra violet fluctuations and sonar would be present in the security systems sensor suite. Plus there may be sensors able to pick up the unique signatures of the human brains electrical impulses, in effect a 'life sense'. I suggest caution."

Steeple_jackuk Wed Jul 24 2013, 07:48

Admin wrote:The Android continued to stare. "I predict that alarms will be triggered should we approach from that direction. Even from this distance, of approximately one mile, I believe heat signatures, ultra violet fluctuations and sonar would be present in the security systems sensor suite. Plus there may be sensors able to pick up the unique signatures of the human brains electrical impulses, in effect a 'life sense'. I suggest caution."

"So what you are saying, is that we are gonna have a hard time sneaking in!" Lionheart chipped in.

"Yes, someone has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure their presence is largely undetectable."

Look about the place, Frostbite already realised that in his dispersed state, he had largely remained undetected before. But would the same be so, here. Short of waiting for someone to come out, they had to go in and going in only meant two options, stealth or the direct approach. Whilst they still had something of the upper hand, it seemed stealth would be the best option, until that was no longer possible. Which seemed somewhat inevitable. Such a secure place, was likely to have so much by way of surveillance that they were going to come unstuck somewhere. If only they had a way to find out more about what and who they faced. Frostbite shrugged, with a sigh as he resigned himself to being the point man.

"Ok looks like I've the best job of getting in undetected, at least for now. Perhaps I can find a way to switch off the surveillance or open the doors, with Frostbot's help. I won't know until I am inside and since I can't take anyone else with me, I'll have to go alone. If the doors open, weapons go hot you know I'm likely compromised which only leaves the direct approach. But with Sentinel here, I doubt you'll have trouble, they seem to have a propensity for metal, which should leave you lots to play with. See you shortly, I hope."

And with that Frostbite sank into the ground counting as he went down about 50' before then moving forward careful to keep in mind his speed and distance before then slowly rising up behind the doors and in the base.

OOC: "I never know whether, all things considered gung ho is better than stealth, but at least this way gung ho is still an option. Anyway going in with sense alert, Frostbot's on full alert and ready to take on the base defences if necessary. I'd like him to shunt attention away, so the camera's/sensors pick up info on a identical or similar corridor, than this one. And then as we go on deeper, the sensors behind us switch back to this corridor should anyone be checking.

My aim, is to get the door open, whilst the sensors are picking up what's going on in another corridor, that way there can be a bubble, so far as the base detection systems are concerned, around us. And we can move through. Be interesting to see what happens if we get caught in all this. I wonder who'd come to save us ;-/ "

Sj

Admin Fri Jul 26 2013, 22:39

OOC Best laid plans - been at Legoland with the kids for the last few days but brought a laptop with me and internet access... except we shared one room and I never got chance to even turn the thing on. D'oh. Anyway, back and posting...

Frostbite sunk into the ground, dispersed and moving through the rock. The harder the substance he moved through, the more difficult it was.

Occasionally a particularly dense areas of rock hindered his progress to a stop, so that Frostbite had to 'feel' his way through the darkness relying on Frostbot to give an accurate report on how far he'd moved and in what direction.

So it was, a couple of minutes later that he finally found a hollow space and stepped into a metal tunnel six foot high and running into darkness in both directions. He took a breath of air and regretted it almost immediately - it was scolding hot in here!

'This tunnel is doubtless some kind of heating duct or vent. Despite the obvious difficulties in providing oxygen to your inefficient human form, there remains a high probability that these vents will not be monitored as other access tunnels or corridors will be. There are a number of conclusions to be drawn. One, for any individual or organisation to be able to craft out a subterranean base without detection or being able to keep it from the knowledge of the authorities suggests near unlimited resources and/or far reaching influence.' said Frostbot inside Frostbites head.

Frostbite took that last comment to mean that anyone who knew about the base was either 'in on it' or had been silenced.

'Second. Without conclusive proof, this is pure conjecture, but the riveting and construction of this tunnel presents a problem. You see, the design is as efficient and effective as anything available in this time frame. The materials used, however, looked to have the age and wear with something that has been here for decades. Your friend the so called 'Silver Sentinel' is perhaps the expert to ask with regards the metals used and the date of their construction.'

'Bearing in mind the second point, it's possible it gives answer to the first question. Perhaps all who knew about this underground installation are no longer here. Dead, if not through foul play, then possibly from old age. in any case there are no electronic alarm systems within range that I can detect, but then my range is limited to several metres at best, and even then the connectivity cannot be guaranteed like that of touch can be.'

==========

On the surface Lionheart and Sentinel watched alongside Android Andy as... well, all seemed to be quiet.

Nonetheless, Lionheart felt that strange tingle that told him that danger was near...

OOC 2d10 → [2,10] = (12) Success, but not enough to advise Lionheart where or how the danger will come from...

Sentinel frowned. He was passively 'aware' of metals of all kinds. Even so, it was an ability he hadn't developed and had little skill with. That said he felt sure that the mountain he was looking at was nigh on hollow. The sheer amount of metal he could sense suggested it was a mine - unlikely given that he could sense so many metal alloys - or it was the secret base they all suspected.

Just then he looked out into the darkness. Something was coming. Something with metal on or in it... and it was fast. No, they were fast and in close formation! He looked out into the woods that covered the valley, broken only by areas of rocky moorland. Still nothing, but it was well within the limits of his range, whatever that was (OOC He figures it's around 1/2 a mile or so.)

Steeple_jackuk Fri Jul 26 2013, 23:04

Frostbite had to move, and quickly. Taking as best breath as he could, he moved off down the tunnel floating in dispersed form trying to get an idea of where he was in relation to the door, and a way by which to bring the others in.

Meanwhile, Lionheart was already warning the others, when the look from Sentinel told him he was already sensing something approaching. Nonetheless for the sake of Andy, Lionheart informed the others that danger was approaching.

"So what do we do, wait for the boss, or trigger a bigger alarm from fighting the foot patrol that is scouting this way anyway?"

OOC: "Well despite Frostbite wanting to retain some semblance of surprise, its likely that might go out the window once we start using our powers. No doubt our enemy will detect such a blatant use of power and send reinforcements. Not sure what is coming, but for my money, I think we ditch plan A and go for Sentinel ripping open the metal door and making his own army out of the metal he finds here. Assuming his power over it, is such that he can do so of course."

Sj

smaug Sat Jul 27 2013, 13:13

OOC: Not sure that a big stomping mech is the best approach as a little stealth might be handy, there's no point in advertising our presents so they can pin point the missiles more accurately even if they do know that we are coming.

Is there any draw backs from creating a double that i can control e.g in iron man 3 they didn't exactly hold together too well.

Would be nice too and i could follow up behind in another suit with the basic stuff plus some kind of scanner with be nice not only to sense life forms as im not sure if zombots show up on a 'life form scanner'

smaug Sun Jul 28 2013, 12:41

OOC: Okay i don't know why that was posted yesterday but still.

Dave i like the idea of creating an army of sentinels, even if they are no good they could be used as human shields or a distraction someplace else.

Remember sentinel always prefers a straight up fight rather than sneaking around but he isn't stupid for he is only one man

Sponsored content

The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?

Re: The NEW Vanguard Issue #2 - Frostbite/Silver Sentinel/Lionheart - All quiet on the western front?