The NEW Vanguard - Frostbite Issue #3

Admin wrote:The roar was more of a deep growl now. Something was moving through the tunnels, and possibly less than 100 yards away, round several bends in the sewer tunnels...

"Firstly keep calm, if we give any ground to our fear we might as well give in now.  Their is a grate to the side here, I want both of you to hide in here, I'll lure the creature to me and Reflex whilst I am distracting it you are going to come and drain it from behind.  Rebuff be on guard if the thing detects Reflex I need you to protect her and send it toward me.  Until we've got the upper hand on this thing, we don't know what we're dealing with.  And there is little point going on till we've sorted it out.  However the good news is that the grate to our side might by pass security and take us within striking distance of our goal.  Ok?"

With that Frostbite pulled the grate from the wall, ushered the two heroes in, motioned for them to stand as far back so the creature didn't detect them, before placing the grate back and moving further up the tunnel.  He made another ice wall, just before the grate, so he could stand behind it.  He aimed to let the creature through, after which he would blast it so as to enrage and engage it and draw it after him further up the tunnel.  He only hoped his plan, such as it was, gave him as much reason for confidence as he made mention of moments before.  

Sj

With the 2 heroes tucked away out of plain site in the side tunnel Frostbite turned his attention to creating an ice barrier to block the... whatever it was... from coming after them.

After the previous barrier had fallen Frostbite had no doubt that the one he'd just placed wouldn't last long. His plan to bait and draw the creature away from his friends seemed sound when, moments later, a light flared in the tunnel and bounced from the walls, flickering and flaring.

What could only be described as an eight foot high crocodile like creature walking on its elongated hind legs came into sight, its skin crackling and bubbling with fire. The creature seemed unperturbed that it was on fire, and Frostbite saw it belch fire from its nostrils and throat as it stepped up to the ice wall. instead of melting the wall, though, the creatures 6' long tail whipped round and smashed the wall in! Frostbite figured he could have made the wall thicker to slow it down but it accomplished the task intended.

Crashing through the ice the creature roared, the noise deafening and filling the tunnel! Frosty backed off, away from the others and looked back..

The thing was almost on him! It's speed was terrifying!

With large yellowed fangs, flame red eyes, scaled body covered in boiling fire, claws that looked like daggers and powerful reverse joint legs pounding down the distance between the hero and the creatures unfettered rage, it looked like a thing out of nightmare! It hadn't even said anything, simply hunted down its prey and attacked!

OOC Initiative... Frostbite 10 Creature 4. Frosty goes first but gets the idea that this thing has superior speed to his own. This won't be an easy fight! You are in the sewer tunnels, it's tight and tricky to move about, but you can see this thing fine - it's like a fiery demon/balrog type creature barrelling down towards you!

Admin wrote:The thing was almost on him! It's speed was terrifying!

With large yellowed fangs, flame red eyes, scaled body covered in boiling fire, claws that looked like daggers and powerful reverse joint legs pounding down the distance between the hero and the creatures unfettered rage, it looked like a thing out of nightmare! It hadn't even said anything, simply hunted down its prey and attacked!

OOC Initiative... Frostbite 10 Creature 4. Frosty goes first but gets the idea that this thing has superior speed to his own. This won't be an easy fight! You are in the sewer tunnels, it's tight and tricky to move about, but you can see this thing fine - it's like a fiery demon/balrog type creature barrelling down towards you!

With a lizard that was cold blooded, that its body was so hot meant it was working overtime in some strange way.  But it seemed all beast and little animal, an abomination of some twisted science fiend gone wrong, or right depending on how you saw it, Frostbite mused.  It was hard to not ignore the sheer brutality of such a beast, but he didn't have time to document its features only try and stop it and provide Rebuff the means to drain it - if drain it should could.  

Moving back along the pipeway, flying to allow himself the maximum manoeuvrability, Frostbite aimed again his arms to shoot.  He had no doubt any creature that was flame retardant, wasn't necessarily going to be affected by his cold, but 'when life gives you lemons...' as his school teachers used to say.  

Steadying his aim, Frostbite fired on the creature pouring on super streams of cold.  OOC: And adding in a few HP say 5 each for accuracy and damage as well.

Sj

FROSTBITE
HP (After use): 190

Taking aim, Frostbite unleashed an icy blast at the onrushing creature!

OOC Roll(2d10)+0: 3,9,+0 Total:12 HIT 8 DAMAGE and knock back 20'

Striking the creature square in the chest, Frostbite noted with satisfaction that it had some effect. Filling the tunnel with steam as it struck the red hot creature, he suddenly encountered another problem... being able to see!

Then the creature charged out of the steam, and though it was no longer flaming, those terrifying claws and fang lined mouth lunging for the hero!

OOC Roll(2d10)+0: 3,6,+0 Total:9 HIT 7 DAMAGE, FROSTBITE ON 3/10 BODY!
You can choose to reduce that by spending hero points, 1:1 and can absorb up to 10 damage from any blow in this manner

Striking back, the creature smashed into Frostbite and staggered the hero! The pair were close now, separated by 10', circling each other in the sewer. Just then the thing spoke, a rasping gravel scraping sound but clearly recognisable as speech!

'The creature is speaking in a foreign language. I shall try to ascertain what it... oh. Something about 'eating your heart and liver', if I understand it correctly.' said Frostbite.

Suddenly the creature rocked slightly to the side... Rebuff? Unfortunately that was as far as it got! (OOC ROll 1,4 FAIL)

"It's too strong!" gasped Rebuff from somewhere in the shadows. "My power... it isn't enough!"

"Let me!" called Reflex. Frostbite was about to protest when he saw a strange aura surround the 'Fire Salamander'...

OOC Roll 4,4 DOUBLE plus 10,3 TOTAL 21 Reflex drains 4RAPs of Body from the creature... And gains 4APs of DEX, STR, BODY (up to 6) and a whole bunch of powers up to 4APs

The creature screams, and writhes as it swats at the aura, then it staggers back and props against the wall, breathing hard! Frostbites attack, followed by Reflexes' impressive strike, have brought this thing to its knees!

OOC Frosty wins initiative again (roll 5 Frosty, 2 Salamander)

Admin wrote:FROSTBITE
HP (After use): 190

OOC Frosty wins initiative again (roll 5 Frosty, 2 Salamander)

Having been heartened by the team's efforts, Frostbite got his second wind before striking again. OOC: Spend 7 HP to counter the damage done. Then attack again with ice blast, again 4 HP on accuracy, hoping that damage will take care of itself.

Raising his hands, Frostbite again fired. He had to end this fight before the creature could revive. Its powerful attacks, and claws would undo the team if given half a chance. A chance Frostbite was determined it wouldn't get.

Sj

Frostbite

Hero Points: 179

Encouraged by his teams success against the raging behemoth, Frostbite levelled an arm and sent searing bolt after bolt into the lizard like behemoth!

OOC 2d10 → [4,2] = (6) Ouch. That#s not great. However, with the HP addition...

The creature ducked and weaved as it came at Frostbite...

"How fast IS this thing?" muttered the hero as he blasted time and again. he turned to shout over his shoulder, knowing it would make little difference if the creature went 'through' him what would happen to the others.

Spurred by that fact he pulled his arm up... then down, blasting at the creatures foot! It howled in rage as it fell and slammed face first into the sewer floor!

With a grunt and a gurgle it started to rise... then sagged.

Reflex moved forward, then said "Look!"

The creature was changing... becoming a slight built eastern European man! Rebuff breathed a sigh of relief and dragged the fellow to one side. Pulling a pair of sturdy tie wraps he bound the mans ankles and wrists. "Won't hold him if he goes 'monster' on us but should stop him going anywhere otherwise." He looked pleased with himself but in truth his contribution had been minimal.

Reflex turned to Frostbite. "Back down the other tunnel?"

Admin wrote:Frostbite

Hero Points: 179

Reflex turned to Frostbite. "Back down the other tunnel?"

OOC: Hey Paul just to say I'm slow to respond as I am away on holiday and on a laptop without my usual character stuff. But I am sure we'll get by fine.

Frostbite nodded, the team had faced their first threat and successfully so. But what was also evident, was this was no longer some standard mission, against some tin pot tyrant, this was clearly something far worse. How many more, like the creature that they just faced, would they yet face above. And would they come out of this at all. It was a steep learning curve with little, or no chance of surviving should they fail. Caution was going to be their friend, for only so much longer. This sentry, in the sewers, would need to report in soon or his superiors would get suspicious, they needed to act and act quickly whilst they retained some element of surprise.

OOC: Ok we're going for the other less well protected entrance to the tunnel, and see where we go from here. I'll have Frostbot on high alert, in case we trigger or tip anyone else off to our presence.

Sj

OOC Planned to update yesterday but a 39.something degree temperature and recurring case of man flu (that I thought I'd ditched 2 weeks ago having had it for a month including the coughing and stuff) early stages - aching bones, jelly muscles, sore etc. Of course everyone knows Man Flu is the worst possible condition to have. Well, everyone knows that apart from the wife of course. 'Drama Queen'? Pfft. What do women know

FROSTBITE
Hero Points: 179

Sloshing through the murk, the trio made careful progress through the tunnels and came to the 'less guarded' tunnel. Reflex announced that her power had drained away - she was in effect a vampire of sorts, able to drain the life force of opponents and increase her abilities to superhuman levels, but it was a temporary effect, and she neither had the lust for blood nor fear of sunlight of 'ordinary' Vampires.

Rebuff was quiet, knowing that his contribution thus far had been poor. Still, he hoped to get his chance to shine.

"Ok, there. Look. We can get in there." whispered Rebuff as they peered down the tunnel to where a metal ladder, looking shiny and untouched by the sewer murk, led up presumably into the basement of the embassy. A convenient escape route for such things as Embassy Sieges, which were an almost common occurrence in these highly fraught times. There were undoubtedly more of them in these tunnels,

Frostbot announced to his biological partner 'There are motion sensors near the ladders, and cctv. In addition there is an automated sentry gun three feet to the right of where the ladder arrives at the ceiling and all of that is connected to an alarm. It's also possible there are heat and pheromone sensors, though you would need to get closer so I can confirm that.'

Well, no one said being a hero was easy...

OOC You guys are around 30 yards from the ladder. Getting closer - without taking some precaution - might set off the alarms. HOWEVER... with a ladder going up into the embassy that distance away, you might only need to go a few more yards after which you could 'make your own door' - by going straight up! Your call...

OOC: Hope the manflu is better, back home now. Had a much needed and wonderful break. Really busy week coming up though, so better get this together.

FROSTBITE
Hero Points: 179

Frostbot announced to his biological partner 'There are motion sensors near the ladders, and cctv. In addition there is an automated sentry gun three feet to the right of where the ladder arrives at the ceiling and all of that is connected to an alarm. It's also possible there are heat and pheromone sensors, though you would need to get closer so I can confirm that.'

Well, no one said being a hero was easy...
[/quote]

Turning to the others, Frostbite spoke quietly to avoid any triggering of alarms. "Regrettably any chance of getting past this section unnoticed is going to require something from me." Noting the quizzical looks Frostbite continued, "I'll pass through the floor and see if we can get in, so as to shut this section off, let you in and then continue. Its the safest way to make sure we can maintain the element of surprise. If I cannot bypass the alarms we'll go for a more direct approach. Either way, keep your coms open and I'll be in touch. Don't hesitate to call if things get hot again down here." Frostbite said, making sure they knew what he was referring to.

With a quick nod of encouragement, he shifted his density and using the spot where they were, and Frostbot's guidance, 'ghosted' up through the sewers into an area he hoped would be least suspicious as possible.

Sj

OOC Man Flu was a bit wide of the mark. Lung infection and head splitting migraines along with all the flu symptoms, suspected Pneumonia apparently. Went to the Doctors on Friday practically on my knees. Anyway, feel better now, thanks to a couple of types of Anti Biotics and popping painkillers like smarties.
Glad you had a good break - I'm away from Thursday in the Isle of Man for the TT races. I expect/hope to have internet access on an evening and will be doing my best to keep things ticking along, assuming I don't catch a new strain of Ebola/Aids/Bubonic Plague. It wouldn't surprise me the way things have gone lately...

Frostbite

Moving through the floor was tricky. Whatever had changed his powers in the time shift after their last escapades had altered him for the better in some respects, not so much in others. It was almost as if parts of him had been collected from various alternate timelines and coalesced into the current Frostbite. It was him but not the him of old, so to speak. Moving through the brick was like passing through glue, but he did so.

The room above was dark, and though he barely noticed it, cold. A meat cellar, from the smell. Moving between the rows of hanging joints he stepped up to the door and swept a hand across the portal window to look out into a corridor. It was an older part of the mansion, with bare rough brick walls, and signs that rooms had been bricked up and blocked off. So far so good. He tried moving through the steel door. It resisted, and he knew he would have to work harder on his phasing to get it back up to the point he'd been at, where solid was not, and he could pass as though a ghost. With a sigh he tried the handle on the inside of the door, and it opened easily into the corridor. No alarms down this corridor confirmed Frostbot. 'The stairs at the end of the corridor lead into the main kitchen area. You are ... conspicuous and the alarm would be raised were staff to see you.' said Frostbot. Just then a door clicked and a foreign voice spoke something, part laughing. Female from the sounds of things. She was heading this way, down the stairs!

OOC only one door to duck back into - the meat cellar, suggesting she was heading that way...

Admin wrote:Just then a door clicked and a foreign voice spoke something, part laughing. Female from the sounds of things. She was heading this way, down the stairs!

OOC only one door to duck back into - the meat cellar, suggesting she was heading that way...

OOC: Wow you don't do anything by halves, do you mate.  Glad to hear you're on the mend.

Frostbite was concerned that the changes in his powers left him more vulnerable at a time when he needed to be at the top of his game.  Finding out in the field was disconcerting and he wondered what else had changed.  It would be something to investigate further, should he have a further beyond this current mission in which to investigate.  

Pulling his thoughts together, he stepped back into the meat fridge, the cold didn't bother him and if necessary it would be no trouble to create an ice and snow frosted section that he could wall off and hide behind.  Or else dissipate back through the way he had come.  But in truth he was getting tired of sneaking around, the girl might not be of any importance.  But the laughter and the lack of any sense of preparedness suggested that despite the tensions mounting outside things inside were far from troubled.  This bothered Frostbite, heightened security but still someone is walking around laughing and coming down as if preparing a meal like nothing is happening!  First things first, Frostbite had to hide and then get the others up quick, the longer they were left alone the greater the chances of them being discovered or doing something that would call attention to themselves.  

Moving the meat around, Frostbite choose what he hoped was an inconspicuous wall, creating first a thing wall off ice and then placing his hands on it to make it frosted and opaque, like the wall against which he was leaning.  He listening in quietly, scarcely breathing whilst also listening for any tale tale signs of discovery.  

OOC: Ok just to move things along, assuming I evade discovering, lets get the others into the basement the best way we can.  Hopefully Frostbot can jack a line from in here and then we can get them into the building.

Have a great time away on Thursday...

Sj

Hiding in the meat cellar, hand covering the glowing blue chestplate, Frostbite waited for what happened next - fight or flight...

He caught glimpses of a woman in her early thirties, brunette, dressed in what looked like soiled rags. They were dark brown, or was that red stains on the formerly white overalls, now shredded at the arms and legs? A glance at the womans face revealed pouting lips, and when she spoke, Frostbite discovered why. Her mouth was brimming with spinelike teeth, dozens of them!

She stopped at a meat carcass, only twenty feet or so near from where Frostbite stood, holding his breath. Someone shouted from above in that foreign tongue, and she laughed, replying.

Then she slammed her mouth into the slab of meat and tore at it, crushing through flesh, bone and muscle without effort! Sucking what she'd bitten up without pause, she took another bite, then another.

Momentarily sated, she turned to leave. Then... a pause.

Sniffing, she turned, frowning. Her eyes narrowed. Glancing about, she reached for the carcass again to causally tear off a chunk of flesh and bone, as easily as one might tear a sheet of tissue paper.

Then another call from above. The woman spared another glance back then left, jogging back up the stairs.

Frostbite watched her go and frostbot announced 'There is a computer terminal point in the room at the top of the stairs in the kitchen, doubtless for communication and information.'. Frostbite knew he'd have to risk jacking into the terminal so moved to the stair bottom, listened, then floated up to the top, and looked in, to the kitchen. It was a large room, implements and food scattered about on worktops. A pair of doors led out into the rest of the place. Set into the wall was a monitor which Frostbot identified as being of use, and he/it accessed it. 'The system is heavily encrypted. Interesting. There is a layer of booby traps to catch out the unwary, This may take several minutes of uninterrupted work to ensure no alarms are raised. Then total access will be gained, including that of the security cameras.'

Frostbot had been at it only a few seconds when Frostbite heard footsteps coming towards the kitchen...

Admin wrote:Frostbot had been at it only a few seconds when Frostbite heard footsteps coming towards the kitchen...

Hmm, Frostbite had to wonder if the woman had gone for help to take a more thorough look. Something about this didn't add up, metahumans, kidnapping, and all this whilst waiting for a jet to land and with impunity, to take a kidnapped official! Something smelled funny and it wasn't the way the carnivorous woman had eaten cold chunks of meat like they were nothing. Something about that sent an involuntary shiver down the ice clad hero's back.

OOC: Ok Paul need to know if Frostbot can get on with the hack apart from me, of if I need to be present? Assuming I need to be present then I am going to have to hide again, it's too big an advantage not to try and hack the system to gain the upperhand. But if that isn't going to be possible then I'd better disperse into a wall or something see if I can't find a cavity to lie in wait and see what happens. Whilst I am there if Frostbot can translate that would be helpful, in case I get a clue as to what is going down here.

Sj

OOC Frostbite can indeed throw Frostbot 'out' of his body to work independently, but there is that chance he gets lost in the wild as happened before. That said, with every time he/it goes for a wander he/it comes back having learned something, be it independence, another level of artificial intelligence and step towards true sentience, more experience in terms of dealing with the toughest challenges and so on.

Something didn't add up to Frostbite in all of this.

Creating an international incident that would have clear and decisive repercussions not just from governments but from the superhuman community seeing as those were the forces involved.

Getting to the truth of the matter would be a challenge, but with only a limited amount of time before the escape jet got here he knew time was running out. Throwing Frostbot 'out there' would be a desperate gamble, a throw of the dice, and possibly sacrificing his companion. His instinct told him there was more at stake than a game of politics...

Admin wrote:Getting to the truth of the matter would be a challenge, but with only a limited amount of time before the escape jet got here he knew time was running out. Throwing Frostbot 'out there' would be a desperate gamble, a throw of the dice, and possibly sacrificing his companion.  His instinct told him there was more at stake than a game of politics...

"Desperate times, once again old friend." Frostbite said as he let Frostbot know what he was planning with a slight pang of guilt at the thought of leaving a 'man' behind whilst he 'hid' so as to retain some element of surprise. Without knowing what was truly going on here, their attempts might well cause a series of unforeseen problems that could make matters worse. As much as it gauled Frostbite, a man used to taking action, he found himself once again having to play a more tempered hand. Sliding off to one side, he dispersed himself looking for a cavity or space he could hide within until the returning occupant left.

OOC: Ok will use Hero points as necessary to help Frostbot get what needs to be gotten, and hide where I can. I'd like to try and remain within earshot so that I can listen in on any communication or conversation any clues as to what is going on here.

Sj

Frostbot left its host to delve into the computer system of the Embassy.

Frostbite found a cupboard in which to hide away. To remain dispersed would tire him out, and the effort required to stay de solidified in relatively dense materials such as stone would leave him drained at best, dead at worst. He'd gained so much in his transition through time and space, but some things had been left behind, things not missed till now.

He would work on improving those powers, but for now his fate was in the hands of his artificial companion...

=========

Darkness...

No, not quite. A blue light. He/it looked down to see a body of wire frame forming up, a heart of blue in its chest. With a smile Frostbot looked about and saw lines forming up of the network he stood in. He saw brighter, thicker lines leading away from the building, to the internet at large. From here he could go anywhere, access anything. Some places were harder to get into, but he/it was a being of near limitless cyber ability. He looked about, seeing access points, terminals, cameras... where... ah. The mainframe. Access to everything. Childs play.

Moving without effort through the darkness he looked with interest at the 'booby traps' designed to catch the witless, the talentless, and lock them out of the system as well as track their IP address. He dabbed them with a finger to set them off, and saw their empty bear trap jaws snap ineffectually. Bored, he turned to the mainframe...

And stopped.

The mainframe morphed into a dark amorphous mass that grew and grew, towering over him with glowing red eyes.

"Are you meant to frighten me, program? Some 'bogeyman' to scare away bedroom hackers? I shall teach you a lesson before you dissolve into nothingness." laughed Frostbot, and his whole frame glowed blue against the red of the enemies eyes.

"PROGRAM? NOT I!" laughed the demonic form. "YOU MAY BE SENTIENT, FALSE MAN, BUT I AM ALIVE! I AM NO MERE THING TO BE OVERWHELMED! IN HERE, I AM KING! YOU? YOU ARE A PEASANT! BOW BEFORE ME NOW TO SPARE COUNTLESS AGONY!"

=========

Frostbite waited for a time.

Of course, the waiting was hardest. What else was going on? Was that jet close now, hovering over the embassy and ready to take off with its cargo at speeds faster than the British Air Force could match? The Americans would not let that...

"I am back" said a voice in his head. "Place your hand on the console and take me back in. Do not delay, we have little time!"

Admin wrote:"I am back" said a voice in his head. "Place your hand on the console and take me back in. Do not delay, we have little time!"

Frostbite did as he was told, unaware of anything that had yet transpired between Frostbot and the rest of the mainframe.  He had wondered if in the intervening time the woman had gone away again or was around and aware of him being present.  It wouldn't do to get over confident.  

OOC: Hmm, don't like the sound of the bogey-man presence, in the computer.  Still it would be meta narrative for me to do anything other than what I've been told, but hope this doesn't lead to some sort of cyber possession.  Once I've got Frostbot onboard, and he has put us in the picture re the place, then I'll go retrieve the others so as to be able to get them caught up and us on into finding the missing Ambassador.

Sj

Frostbite accepted his 'other' back inside him, and instantly was aware of seeing through anothers eyes...

In a fashion. He looked forward, eyes seeing down from a camera in the corner. He saw a man in jeans, t shirt and black leather jacket. He was smoking, hair thinning, foreign looking, with a tan and that cosmopolitan air about him. As if he'd not a care in the world. He lit the cigarette by pointing a finger at it, which burst into flames!

Flick.

A large room, meeting room from the looks of it. Four superhumans, costumed. In the middle of the room, guarded by armed (and body armoured) mercenaries were the kidnapped ambassador and a number of his staff. One of the superhumans, a tall man in what looked to be old medieval armour, turned and cast his armoured gaze about the room, then glanced up at the camera...

Flick.

A room higher up in the embassy. By a window. A woman in a black leather cat suit sat by the window with a large high powered rifle by her side. A box of ammunition sat next to her. She brought it up slowly, levelled it against her face and fired in one smooth motion. Satisfied by the result (which was beyond the scope of the camera to see) she lowered it, spoke to the walkie talkie ear/mouth piece and kept watch.

Flick.

A man in jeans and t shirt, clutching his head. He was in the computer room. Blood ran from his nose and ears. He looked up at the camera, shook his fist at it, then jerked suddenly. With fear on his face he pulled his own fist back and punched himself hard on the chin! Swooning, he fell back!

'Bad language should never be tolerated, even in a language one cannot understand' said Frostbot. 'I have a favour to ask. The fellow you have just seen. Assuming the other criminals are brought to justice... I want him.'

It was clear that Frostbot had successfully hacked into the mainframe, but that last comment was a troubling one. What could it mean?

Frostbite looked up. He heard the roar of engines as a powerful VTOL jet rumbled over the building! A crackling voice in his earpiece rang out "Boss! You hear that? What do you want us to do? We can't stay down here while you have all the fun!"

Time was running out! Frostbite needed to act, but could he take all these superhumans on his own?

OOC Depending on your choice of room to head to (the flick, flick part) will try to cook up some of those pictures in heromachine (remember that?) so you have an idea who you're fighting against. The situation is critical - the bad guys are about to get their ride out of here, the US Ambassador will be in tow along with members of his staff. It will cause a huge international incident that might escalate...

Admin wrote:It was clear that Frostbot had successfully hacked into the mainframe, but that last comment was a troubling one. What could it mean?

Frostbite looked up. He heard the roar of engines as a powerful VTOL jet rumbled over the building! A crackling voice in his earpiece rang out "Boss! You hear that? What do you want us to do? We can't stay down here while you have all the fun!"

Time was running out! Frostbite needed to act, but could he take all these superhumans on his own?

OOC Depending on your choice of room to head to (the flick, flick part) will try to cook up some of those pictures in heromachine (remember that?) so you have an idea who you're fighting against. The situation is critical - the bad guys are about to get their ride out of here, the US Ambassador will be in tow along with members of his staff. It will cause a huge international incident that might escalate...

No time to lose and Frostbite had already spent too long wondering about what to do. It was going to be hard to see how they could take on the whole site, but if it were possible to use the building against them, then perhaps they could make an attempt in the confusion.

Frostbot, can we shut down the electrical systems. A place like this is going to have back up generators and stuff like that, if we can convince them that a breach is imminent they might hussle in a different direction. Could we funnel them so as to use the building against them? Turning to the com system Frostbite relayed the others telling them to come up as soon as possible, but to use caution.

It was going to be a hard fight, Frostbite didn't have the heavy hitters like Centurion and Lionheart or the Ghost Cowboy fella, he'd recently met. With some rookie meta human's barely able to get to grips with their power and them on a powder keg ready to blow, it would be any wonder if any of them came out of this unscathed. Already, a nervous thought remained lodged at the back of Frostbite's head, from what Frostbot had said regarding the IT man, in the substation. He couldn't help wonder what that was about? But he didn't have time to query it now.

OOC: Ok lets see what tricks the building has to help us divide and conquer, we are aiming to get to the ambassador though, the only true target here. I fear if we go for the obvious spot, the jet, it might well serve as a decoy. The whole thing smacks of a set up I think. Hence trying to stick a big stick in the spokes of whatever plan has been concocted here.

Sj

FROSTBITE

Giving directions to the internal program that formed part of him, somehow, Frostbite waited.

He didn't have to wait long.

The sprinkler system went off, lights dimmed and were replaced by occasional red emergency lighting, and an automated voice spoke in a foreign tongue.

'Please make your way to the designated fire exit zone, or an approximation' said Frostbot. 'Cameras show the regular staff of this place are gathering a handful of personal belongings and going into the corridors. The meta humans seem unperturbed, though perhaps ... yes. They have directed an armed guard to find out what the alarm has been caused by. One is moving over to a window to glance out. Would you like the alarm to emit an audible tone? There are three levels. The loudest will cause discomfort.'

Frostbite considered his options. He looked... well, not like one of the kidnappers, that was for sure. That meant his appearance would cause another alarm to be raised. The layout of the place suggested that to get to the room where the ambassador was required him to move around 30 yards into the main part of the building then head straight up. The ceilings and floors would pose little in the way of a barrier, regardless of whether he was incorporeal or not.

Frostbot* applied a quick burst of the audible siren to change the volume level. 'Interesting'.

One of the costumed superheroes in the room with the kidnapped Ambassador clutched at his head while the others looked about, disturbed but not overly so by the alarm. The man with hands to his head thrashed about, angry, raging at ... well, anything. It was clear the high pitched sound was painful to him. Something Frostbite could use? Even as the camera image overlaid itself on Frostbites vision, he watched as the fellow, of normal build and height, spun around and punched a wall. The brick, mortar and plaster disintegrated and the fellow didn't even register the hit! Superhuman strength, triggered by anger?

Problem was - and Frostbot realized it too - that the man was unstable, and his compatriots had to try and restrain him from going for the ambassador!

The alarm stopped, as did the sprinklers under Frostbots command, but Frostbite had a shred of hope now. Something to use should it come down to a fight.

"We're coming up boss. Won't be long" said reflex in his earpiece. "Fancy things these. If you tap on the side it gives a 'sonar pulse' when another wearer is in the direction you are pointing. Whoever made these is a genius. They could make millions selling it to the army, or even the general public in earthquake zones. Anyway, we sort of get where you are. Getting there is proving kind of roundabout. Don't start the party without... uh oh. Fire alarm. Was that you?"

OOC Stay put and wait for the others or go it alone and get through the place, ready to strike? And which room we he go for? You have the 'weapons' of this place - reduced illumination (total darkness not possible due to redundant backup systems not tied in to the rest of the computers), sprinklers - handy for a fellow who can freeze stuff and that piercing fire alarm, available at 3 noise levels, the lowest of which caused that nasty chap upstairs to start flailing about.

*assuming Frostbite gives the ok

Admin wrote:FROSTBITE

OOC Stay put and wait for the others or go it alone and get through the place, ready to strike? And which room we he go for? You have the 'weapons' of this place - reduced illumination (total darkness not possible due to redundant backup systems not tied in to the rest of the computers), sprinklers - handy for a fellow who can freeze stuff and that piercing fire alarm, available at 3 noise levels, the lowest of which caused that nasty chap upstairs to start flailing about.

*assuming Frostbite gives the ok

OOC: Frostbite does give the ok. and if there is any way we can increase the level of paranoia that would be good.

When the rest of his team joined him, Frostbite took a brief moment to explain what was going on.  "The odds aren't looking that good, but believe me no plan ever survives contact with the enemy.  Thinking on your feet, whilst they might be swept from beneath you is something I can't teach you, but can help you as you learn it in such a situation like this.  We're going to need to look out for one another and see if there aren't opportunities where we can aid one another, capitalise on each others strengths, cover our weaknesses.  Ok lets go."  

With that Frostbite lead the way.  Though he was reluctant not to just head up in his dispersed mode, nonetheless he dreaded leaving his team mates to follow on alone, knowing that they were not ready for that kind of risk or responsibility just yet.  Soundlessly as he floated before them, he allowed the overlay of Frostbot's security feed to relay important information as they headed for the Ambassador's location.  

OOC:Ok so now for some sort of plan of attack.

1.  First has Traveller been able to catch up with us, now he should have scouted around and got back to us?  
2.  I want Rebuff to stay with Reflex, Stephanie, I want him to attract one of the villains to him, so that Stephanie can use the opportunity to leech their powers.  Rebuff can also try and protect Reflex till she has had a chance to power up.  Also I want them to work in tandom, if she powers down, he can then help her as indeed can we all.
3.  Impulse will run interference with me.  I'll enter one side, get the sprinklers going and ice the place up, for those that escape, break free, Impulse will then enter in and disorientate.  
4.  Then Rebuff and Reflex enter and hopefully grab hold of or pull themselves toward a likely candidate Reflex can power up on and we can then go for the remaining crew. 5.  5.  My primary aim is to protect the civilians, so once I have iced the place up, I'll also try to do so so as to wall them off from hostilities.  Don't want them being collateral damage.

With that in mind, lets hope we can get to the room without trouble.  Let the sprinklers go as we step onto that floor, and let all the alarms loose, as we step in to further distort and disturb.

Sj

OOC I think your diagnosis (Norovirus) is pretty accurate. It (messily) reared its head today, so hopefully that means 24-48 hours (expected length of time its usual to infect) will see me back on my feet. Till then, as you added, my ability to post is hindered. We'll see what we can get done.

Frostbite is briefing is team when a form materializes next to the group...

Reflex whirls, Rebuff cries out, Impulse prepares to use his power... and Traveller stands there, human and corporeal, holding his hands up "Hey! It's me!"

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Eric (Traveller) makes his report. "Looked about boss. I'm no expert but this all looks a bit fishy. They got the Ambassador and his staff all cooped up but there's something else going on. One of these super guys - they don't all wear costumes - is waiting near the roof. He's got a metal suitcase chained to his wrist. I can't affect the real world when I'm in ghost form, and a stiff breeze would put up more of a fight than I will, but even I was tempted to have a go at the guy. I think that's what all this is about, but I don't know why. What's in that case?" He shrugged. "I can be there in a blink of an eye and follow if you like."

Impulse shrugged "We are outnumbered and they have hostages. Maybe the best bet is to be a stick in the spokes and do like Frostbite says. Whatever is in the case can't be more important than saving lives, right? That's why we do this?"

Traveller shrugged again. "Well I'm kind of a watcher rather than a fighter. If there is a chance of materialising for long enough to get the hostages out, I'll do that."

Reflex glanced at Frostbite. Traveller could be useful in certain situations but it looked like in a straight up fight it would come down to her and Frostbite. Rebuff looked uncertain, his confidence shaky at best.

OOC Frostbite has Traveller back with the group (for now) and can reassign him or simply have him hover about as a ghost.

The group started down the corridor to head towards stairs and go up towards the heart of the embassy. Stepping up to a door on the right level, Frostbite poked his head through the door. End of the hall, armed guard. The fellow was in combat fatigues, bulletproof vest and carrying plenty of ammo for the AK47 he held. He looked alert, and pressed a finger to his ear to listen to a radio transmission.

Frostbite could easily circumvent the fellow by dipping in and out of walls, but Impulse offered to take centre stage. "Got this." he offered.

With that in mind he simply vanished, then reappeared at the door

OOC Time stop 2d10 → [7,7] = (14) DOUBLE plus 2d10 → [6,9] = (15) 29 total.

"Done. My power doesn't work so well on guys like... well us, actually. On more ordinary guys, like him? No problem. I can move fast enough to avoid getting clobbered and the testing at the mansion showed I can nearly lift a ton, but some of the guys we face might be bulletproof. Or tougher." He gave a nod towards Frostbite. He knew his limitations, and deferred to the most powerful member - and leader - of the group.

The heroes moved into the corridor and quickly moved to the end. The double doors to the large room stood closed, the camera above them inert thanks to Frostbot.

'The doors are locked electronically, and quite secure, being reinforced. That is, of course, not a problem.' said Frostbot.

The doors clicked unlocked near silently.

Impulse turned to Frostbite. "After you?"

Rebuff and Reflex stood some way back. Reflex whispered "My power has a reasonable range. Line of sight. When the door opens, I'll drain someone."

Rebuff looked uncertain, but added "I'll try to knock the biggest people aside."

OOC Any last minute changes before the attack? Do you want to go in via an alternate way (walls, ceiling etc). What plan do you have for Traveller? Any actions you want to take knowing what you know about a fellow with a case waiting near the roof?

Admin wrote:[color=#0066ff]Reflex whirls, Rebuff cries out, Impulse prepares to use his power... and Traveller stands there, human and corporeal, holding his hands up "Hey! It's me!"

Frostbite nodded to the other member of the team as he listened intently to the report. "If you're right then I wonder if this is intended as some sort of trap, perhaps to lure folk in and then set off some explosion or make some sort of political point. Ok stay with us until we get to the Ambassador and then take off for the rooftop. If anything kicks off up there you let me know, it may well be that we'll be at the wrong party."

Admin wrote:Impulse turned to Frostbite. "After you?"

Rebuff and Reflex stood some way back. Reflex whispered "My power has a reasonable range. Line of sight. When the door opens, I'll drain someone."

Rebuff looked uncertain, but added "I'll try to knock the biggest people aside."

OOC: Other than what I said to Traveller, no I think we'll go with sprinklers on, me icing everyone up - and for the time being trying to maintain a cordon of safety around the Ambassador and staff. However if that means icing them up to protect them from attacks, respiratory or otherwise then I won't hesitate.

So I'll disperse give the others a heads up and have Frostbot activate our counter measures and see what we can't throw into the mix.

Ugh Norovirus, dreadful, hope you feel better. Thanks for the reply and as eager as I am to get on with things, I'm more eager that you are well. Don't want you killing everyone off because your dehydrated and delirious after all ;-)

Sj

Frostbot activated the sprinkler system in the room, eliciting cries and squeals from the Ambassadors' staff.

Ghostlike, Frostbite moved through the door and raised his hands. He became solid (in order to use his power) and froze the water in the room. As he moved to do that he already saw there were four assumed to be superhumans in the room plus two conventional military type personnel in combat fatigues and body armour. They pulled their guns about and took aim at the hero.

Frostbite let out his icy chill, attempting to minimize it around the middle of the room where the hostages were gathered.

OOC Ice Mastery Roll 2d10 → [4,1] = (5)
Oh dear. After a run of decent rolls Invisible Castle coughs up a duffer...

Frostbite turned the room around him into a winter wonderland, including the astonished Ambassador and his staff! Their blue faces were coated in a fine crust of ice and Frostbite knew they'd only have a minute or so at best before the intense cold shut them down! Glancing at the bad guys he saw the two paramilitary types were struggling to move, and one had frozen bullets stuck to the barrel by a thin stick of ice!

The superhumans shrugged off the ice in their own way.

A tall man, in his middle six feet and built like a house, shook off the ice, shouted something in his foreign tongue and charged across the room at Frostbite! Another pulled up his arm to fire a beam of some kind, but cursed as the big man blocked his view! A woman raised her hands high and targeted Frostbite with... something.

The fourth was garbed in knights armour, and he pulled out a sword from a scabbard before striding across the slippery floor.

OOC You have:

Muscled Super Soldier charging at you

Energy blaster

Mysterious woman

Armoured Knight

Facing you. Your Ice Mastery (had it worked) would have had a chance of incapacitating the whole lot, but now they get a shot at you before your team get in there. This may sting a little.

The muscled charging man screamed a challenge before slipping and staggering over to Frostbite. His attack was blunted, but he took a swing anyway.

OOC 2d10 → [6,5] = (11) hit, just, after a modifier for the ice. Frostbite takes 4 damage from his Body (putting him on 6/10) but you can choose to absorb any/all of that.

The energy guy waits for his buddy to move and takes a shot. However if he missed, chances were he'd hit the big guy!

OOC 2d10 → [1,6] = (7) And thats a miss! Does he hit his friend? 2d10 → [10,9] = (19) Oh my word yes :S He inflicts 7 damage on his buddy leaving him on 6/13 Body.

"ARRRGGGH" cries the big man as his jacket is blasted from his back! With a shot that would have felled a tree the hapless kidnappers face drops as he realises his error!

The woman shakes her head, shouts something then attacks Frostbite...

OOC 2d10 → [6,10] = (16) Oh dear. Frostbite suffers from a SENSORY BLOCK. This nullifies all of his senses rendering him blind, deaf, unable to touch, taste or smell for (in this case) 1 hour (10APs) HOWEVER he can spend up to 8HP to reduce this to only 16 seconds (2RAPs). No damage was done, but the effect exceeded his mind score (8) meaning he is effected regardless of how many points he spends but he can at least reduce the time and the effect. At 2RAPs the effect is akin to being very drunk. At 10RAPs (the original result) it would be like having your head locked in an iron box to isolate you from the world. Your call.

The armoured knight makes his way over to Frostbite and utters something, then plunges his sword at the hapless hero!

OOC Attack roll 2d10 → [10,9] = (19) KABOOM! Or rather hisssss... A SPIRIT SWORD slices into Frostbites spiritual self, leaving no mark but an effect akin to that the Nazgul inflicted with their weapons in LOTR. Frostbite can reduce this with HP (using up to 7 points) He takes 9 Spirit damage which would reduce his Spirit to 0 (he's not trying to kill the hero) otherwise.

So, summary:

Frostbite takes 4 Body damage from the super soldier (putting him on 6/10 body) . He can absorb up to all of this with HP.

Super Soldier took 7 damage from his energy blasting team mate putting him on 6/13 Body

Witch Woman cast Sensory Block at our hero inflicting 10RAPs which is enough to ruin his day for an hour. He can reduce this time to 2RAPs (16 seconds) by spending 8HP

Spooky Knight chap inflicted 9 Spirit Damage on our hero which will put him down unless he absorbs at least 3 of those damage points. His Spirit score of 7 is pretty good but that roll really hurt.

Over to you, then your team mates get stuck in.

Admin wrote:So, summary:

Frostbite takes 4 Body damage from the super soldier (putting him on 6/10 body) . He can absorb up to all of this with HP.

Super Soldier took 7 damage from his energy blasting team mate putting him on 6/13 Body

Witch Woman cast Sensory Block at our hero inflicting 10RAPs which is enough to ruin his day for an hour. He can reduce this time to 2RAPs (16 seconds) by spending 8HP

Spooky Knight chap inflicted 9 Spirit Damage on our hero which will put him down unless he absorbs at least 3 of those damage points. His Spirit score of 7 is pretty good but that roll really hurt.

Over to you, then your team mates get stuck in.[/i][/color]

Blinded by the attack from the woman on him, Frostbite felt momentarily locked away within darkness, sound, sight and smell suddenly went and it felt frightening and small.  Digging deeper within him, he sought to throw off the mental attack, knowing that as things stood he was in a world of hurt if he didn't throw off the attack and quickly.

OOC: Normally I don't worry too much about disasters happening to Frostbite, lets face it his whole career has been staggering from one failure to another - its just HP that seems to get him through.  How he ever got this far is anyone guess.  But therefore if we've learned anything it's that you'd best not count him out just yet.

So lets spend HP to make sure that I am not counted out for all the attacks as necessary.  Oh when will I learn that I need to just automatically assume to spend HP, I might was well do that, like an auto +5 HP to attack or something everytime and then add to it as necessary.  I guess I was lulled into a false sense of security by the good dice rolls I've gotten recently.  Can we assume that the mental attack has also knocked out my connection to Frostbot?  If not can I use Frostbot to direct me as eyes and ears so that I can avoid the worst that can happen in the next 16 seconds, which in an SHrpg, is basically the end of a battle and my head on it, if not.

With me trying to soak up/mitigate damage, I need to make sure that the others aren't equally left blinded by my situation.  If I am not their to direct them they might panic and or freeze, no pun intended, so might need to get Frostbot to take over, at least in a rudimentary way.

Sj