The New Vanguard! Frostbite Issue #5

OOC Frostbite is awarded 120HP for foiling the plot of the Locust Men. Current total:

FROSTBITE HP 260

Mary sat silent in the pilots chair as she watched the giant SURGE stride off towards trees where he shrank and disappeared from view. She glanced across at Frostbite, in the co-pilots chair, then back at the rest of the team sat silent, pondering on the hotheaded former team mates words.

"Home Boss?" she asked. Frostbite watched Kevin vanish from view in the tree cover and nodded. Without another word she lifted off and set off back for the mansion, taking a circuitous route and employing full stealth countermeasures.

=========

Catherine Stowe, the former superhero (Captain Ion) who served as government liaison/co team leader/co-ordinator met Frostbite as he walked off the jet back in the mansion.

Jethro the Butler was already carting the prone form of Reflex away and leading some of the other injured team members to the infirmary. Mary said she'd get back to the monitor station for any more incidents likely to be connected to the Locust men threat.

Handing Frostbite a mug of tea, she walked with him to the briefing room and sagged into one of the chairs around a large, long table. "Well, that went well, but Surge will be a problem. Loose cannons are best kept an eye on. He knows - roughly - the location of the mansion and may recall other details about the team we'd rather others didn't know. I monitored communications until they were jammed. The team is like a set of headless chickens when you aren't there to guide them. It's not their fault, or yours. It's - quite literally - a case of bad timing and not enough experience with their powers or working as a team. Hopefully these 'Locusts' will consider their actions after the beating they just took."

"Sandra Koshelvik has been scanning hacked satellite images of the country and come up with several possible sites of locust activity - places where crops have been stripped from the land, areas deforested and so on. The problem is that these are places that the Locusts have moved on from. We might be able to find some clues... something from the sites to help track them down. There's the team to debrief and train. From what I can gather the UKChampions want to talk to you. There is of course the alternative. This building, thanks to Wandafar, is shielded from scans and prying eyes. As soon as Professor Koshelvik moves out of the range of its blocking properties, the Locusts will know... and that might be a target too tempting for them to resist. Only problem is, if we go down that road... do we have the strength to resist them right now?"

Admin wrote:Mary sat silent in the pilots chair as she watched the giant SURGE stride off towards trees where he shrank and disappeared from view. She glanced across at Frostbite, in the co-pilots chair, then back at the rest of the team sat silent, pondering on the hot headed former team mates’ words.

The tense silence that emanated from Frostbites steaming form as he sat somewhat alone in the crowded craft, was palpable. It was evident that Frostbite was every bit as concerned about Surge, and angry at the hot head’s actions. But as with his exterior, he seemed frozen, statuesque and somewhat alone in his thoughts.
Mary, broke the awkward silence.

Admin wrote:"Home Boss?"

Frostbite seemed to pause for a longer than necessary time, before offering a simple nod.

=========

Admin wrote:"Sandra Koshelvik has been scanning hacked satellite images of the country and come up with several possible sites of locust activity - places where crops have been stripped from the land, areas deforested and so on. The problem is that these are places that the Locusts have moved on from. We might be able to find some clues... something from the sites to help track them down.

There's the team to debrief and train.

From what I can gather the UKChampions want to talk to you.

There is of course the alternative. This building, thanks to Wandafar, is shielded from scans and prying eyes. As soon as Professor Koshelvik moves out of the range of its blocking properties, the Locusts will know... and that might be a target too tempting for them to resist. Only problem is, if we go down that road... do we have the strength to resist them right now?"

Frostbite passed a hand over his head as he massaged his forehead, wondering when he ever felt so under pressure with different conflicting priorities to manage.
Finally he broke the silence he had largely maintained from boarding the ship some hours earlier.

"knowing what we do now, we dare not put the good professor in harm’s way without sufficient firepower to guarantee her safety. If she were to be captured, we might as well give in then. The team, have coped admirably however though they are brave without fault, they are not sufficiently trained to cope with this challenge. Whilst we remain here, we know that the Locusts are at an impasse. But more time also gives them longer to establish their foothold.

Talking to the UK Champions seems to be the best bet in recruiting and strengthening our hand. We’ll need them to pull in whoever they can. But before I go meet with them I owe it to the team, to do the team debrief and check in with them first of all.”

Turning to those seated around the table, Frostbite asked for any further comments, before leaving to gather the team.

OOC:

1. Ok no need to RP the team debrief other than to say Frostbite says all the right things in terms of support and encouragement. Given what we faced by way of Locust evolution and challenge, I think they did do well. But it’s clear were no longer in Kansas and these aliens are a bigger threat than the team can face alone.

2. So Frostbite will meet with the UK Champions, and take with him our intelligence to appraise them of what is going on. He’ll be careful, as we know the Locusts can shapeshift and one of them might be a Trojan horse or spy. But the main aim is to tell them the plan, pick a place of our choosing to draw out the Locusts and then strike, whilst we hit out at them, another team, will need to be checking the sites for their base. If we can find and neutralise their central intelligence, they’ll all fall. It’s their Achilles Heel.

Sj

The Team Debrief had all the joviality of a wake.

Reflex was still in the infirmary but Catherine had confirmed she'd be up and about in a few hours, albeit with a ringing headache. Surge had been an obnoxious and egotistical team member but also one of the most enthusiastic, and his remarks had cut deep. Frostbite used his considerable experience to raise their spirits as best he could and felt that he'd gotten through to them at the end as they filed out - at least they didn't seem as suicidal.

With a headache to rival one of Lionhearts head splitters, Frostbite gratefully accepted a plate of sandwiches from Jethro the holographic butler and took the time to go for a quick shower. The burden of leadership was ever heavy, and he knew that there would be other casualties before this battle was over. He faced a determined enemy, intelligent, cunning and prepared to unleash all of its locust horde on an unsuspecting world to achieve its aims.

Showered, changed, Frostbite wandered down the stairs and saw Professor Koshelvik - the alien at the heart of the Locusts scheme - waiting for him.

"I want you to know... at any time, if you wish me to hand myself over as a bargaining chip to placate the Locust Horde, I will do so if it means saving lives." she said quietly.

Frostbite knew his enemy would not settle for her alone. This vibrant green/blue planet would be a valued prize for the insatiable horde, and he said so.

"Yes, I agree. The only thing we can do is stop them transmitting to the horde, and if that fails... somehow... repel them when they get here."

Frostbite thought about that. Millions, possibly more, of alien Locust Men descending on the planet. What could stop such a horde?

=========

'We are being monitored by over a dozen cameras and, I suspect, automatic laser defences.' declared Frostbot as Frostbite flew over London and approached the imposing tower building that formed the UKChampions London base.

A converted steel and glass tower block, he knew that metal shutters would instantly drop down to reinforce the bulletproof glass. Turrets would emerge from hidden hatches to stop the approach of enemies.

'The scan that just examined us has found the calling card and the laser weapons have been stood down. A hatch is opening on the roof of the tower building.' added Frostbot.

Bombardier stood on the roof, dressed in a new uniform. He was joined by Asp, she stuck near to the shadows. As Frostbite landed, Bombardier greeted him warmly with a handshake. "Good to see you. Thanks for coming so promptly. We need all the information we can get on the enemy we face. You met Asp..."

The dark clad snake skin suited man nodded briefly. He was all too aware of his rather ineffectual performance at the battle. As Frostbite walked past Asp muttered "Soon as we get another crack at those punks I'm in."

Bombardier regarded Asp, nodded, then led the way into an elevator. "There are a number of scans taking place that confirm your identity. Our on board computers already took a number of details from our previous meeting - height, dimensions, vocal patterns, even a high definition scan of your retina. We've been infiltrated... embarrassed, before, after admitting people we thought to be friends who were otherwise. As a result until you are confirmed to be who we think you are, there won't be any guided tour and much of the building is off limits. So long as you stay with a member of the UKC you'll be unmolested by the various automated defences."

Frostbite expected as much, and followed the pair from the lift to a bright steel panelled corridor. "We have refreshments available in the meeting room, and prefer to keep things informal. No real names or secret identities required though - one of the painful lessons UKC learned from trying to enforce the registration act. The roster has changed dramatically since those dark days and we hope the lessons remain long in the memory."

Entering the double doors Frostbite saw a circular auditorium with a speaking area in the middle and layered leather seats numbering forty or more looking down at the speakers area. A number of the seats were occupied. Frostbite noted that the seats were of different sizes to accommodate the various girths of heroes.

Bombardier introduced the seat occupants.

Stonelord - a massive individual seemingly made of stone.
Starlight - a beautiful sparkling skinned alien female who had a slight smile on her face when being introduced.
Majestic - a very powerful looking superhuman, said to be second only to Adjutant in power.
Crystal Queen - she gave a nod and a smile to Frostbite. Clearly if he needed an ally or backup, she would provide it.
Jack the Lad - a rough looking unshaven chap with a domino mask and chewing on a toothpick.
Seneschal - a woman clad in a form fitting jumpsuit that left little to the imagination.
Champion - a powerful, tall woman who nodded respectfully at Frostbite.
Firecracker - a younger man whose hair was flaming, and he constantly fiddle with a flame that danced from finger to finger.
Asp - took his seat but always looked on edge.

Bombardier - stood in the speakers circle with Frostbite.

Frostbite gave a brief explanation of the situation. A woman was revealed to be an alien from a world ravaged by the Locust Men and they want both her and the vegetation of the Earth to devour when their main horde arrived. He added that their plans had included disrupting or destroying anything that could hinder them, including the pesticide production plant where the battle had taken place. He also detailed the powers and abilities of the Locust Men they faced so far, and that drew glances from the UKChampions at each other and murmured comments.

Seneschal spoke up. "If the threat is as grave as you say we need to direct all of our resources at this, not just whoever we can spare at the time. Where is Adjutant?"

Bombardier looked embarrassed. "Still MIA. We know from past experience that he's more than able to look after himself. The mission he undertook with several of the top tier Americans was classed to be of the highest priority. We don't know when they will return. I will relay the information to the government and European authorities. We may need them on board too."

Seneschal added "May? it seems as if..."

Bombardier winced and held up a hand "We face an enemy that may possess technology and resources beyond our imagination. Our priority therefore is to take the fight to them. We should..."

The alarm suddenly blared, red lights flashing!

'The building is under attack' said Frostbot, calmly.

Bombardier turned to Frostbite. "With me!" he said, and headed out of the room towards the lift.

OOC Any powers you're activating or using in the next few moments?

Admin wrote:Our priority therefore is to take the fight to them. We should..."

The alarm suddenly blared, red lights flashing!
'The building is under attack' said Frostbot, calmly.

Bombardier turned to Frostbite. "With me!" he said, and headed out of the room towards the lift.

" “I’m wonder if our friends, the Locusts have followed you home and they, if it is them, are less worried about your defences. This may be an attempt to draw us out and fight on their terms. Then again, this could be a complete ‘red herring’ as you Brits like to say.”"

Frostbite discreetly asked Frostbot to use what he could, within the building without breaking protocols to ascertain what he could.

Without breaking his stride, he allowed his body to take on its new fluidic form, as soon as they stepped out of the lift. Figuring in a situation with so many variables, being harder to hit, might come in handy.

OOC: Wow great lead it and write up mate. Thanks for taking the trouble to set the scene so well. Looking forward to getting to work alongside the UKchampions. Of course you mentioned them before, especially Adjutant, but apart from him we never got to fight, or meet with them till now. So looking forward to this.
Anyway let’s take all precautions necessary I was thinking defensively until I can get an sense of what it is we’re facing that is the cause of the alarm. I might be wrong in my suspicion, but given the level of sophistication and planning that the Locusts took to try and scupper the chemical plant, we are clearly talking about an intelligence, that is possible quite a few moves ahead of us in terms of its plans.

Sj

Bombardier frowned as he waited for the lift to scoot up to the roof. Several security protocols were undertaken, with Bombardier overriding a number of warnings via vocal command.

The lift emerged on the roof with a protective field across the doorway. This parted as the pair stepped out and looked around.

"What in the...?" spluttered Bombardier. The sky seemed clear, cloudy but the rain was holding off. The skyline of London all around looked to be... well, normal.

Frostbite wasn't so sure though.

And Frostbot piped up 'You do not possess a sensory suite such as that which Lionheart can call on. However I recommend you wait, and look towards the south east. The sensors in the building that raised the alarm are, this unit believes, not mistaken. The building IS under attack.'

Frostbite turned, with a HUD style compass overlaid against his vision and wondered about switching to Thermal vision before discounting it - in daytime it was near useless, white out even. He was about to ask what Frostbot was on about when he saw a small buzzing insect near the edge of the roof. Moving closer Frostbite saw it to be a grasshopper. No, slightly larger. A locust. Was that the danger?

He looked around. Narrowing his eyes he saw more of the buzzing insects, near invisible against the city backdrop simply because they were out of their natural wilderness element. This was the danger?

OOC One round, decide what to do, then ... well, we see what will transpire...

Admin wrote:OOC One round, decide what to do, then ... well, we see what will transpire...

"Insects, they're using these insects..." Frostbite thought harder for a moment the possibility seemed silly, but with sufficient numbers..."This might be some sort of Biblical plague, using the Locusts in sufficient numbers to blind, confuse and distort your buildings defences. In sufficient numbers and because of their dramatically small size, a huge swarm of locusts could overwhelm your base and effectively take you out, before you have a chance to strike back. "

Frostbite began to think of what he could do, the two areas he was most specialised in cold and weather would be perhaps the one way he could stave off this imminent attack. Turning from Bombardier, he spoke quickly as he gathered within himself the necessary energy.

"Seal all you can off, get everyone into sealed suits, the real enemy is going to use this swarm to attack you, before you have a chance to respond. You'll be struggling so much with locusts, that the real enemy will have blindsided you, unless I can foil the swarm."

With that Frostbite took off into the air, hovering above the building to give him the maximum advantage he could get to pull in both the weather and the cold. This was going to be one bad weather day.

OOC:Ok so I want to whip up the weather specifically wind, to blow the and force the locusts away and then cold, severe cold to make it even harder for them to respond. Spend HP like sweets as you feel is needed. When it comes to dice rolls, lets not rely on my wonderful uncanny luck with the results. HP is for spending, so spend like its going out of fashion if need be (by which I mean if it all goes, so be it - I'm not kidding). However lets hope I am also right here, or else I'll look like I got all serious over nothing.

Sj

OOC Awesome. Lost my post. Anyway, before you spend HP like Candy, the Adrenaline Surge power allows you to have a go at boosting it first.

Roll(2d10)+0: 4,1,+0 Total:5 + Adrenaline Surge 15=20 vs TN11+8 (weather control). 16 Effect vs RV8 (Weather Control) means +8 boosting Weather Control to 15 (the maximum for Frosty) for this action.

The TN for the change in weather is 23, so won't need a huge roll. Using 13HP for two extra dice should do it.

Roll(4d10)+0: 8,5,3,7,+0 Total:15 + Weather Control 15, total 30. +4 Effect, so 19 Effect vs 12RV. 7RAPs are 8 minutes of time.

FROSTBITE HP 247

Bombardier seemed to pause. "Insects? I don't think we need to fear any..."

Then the Locust on the roof exploded! The explosion was enough to blow chunks of concrete out in a small crater on the roof! "What the...?" spluttered Bombardier. He didn't seem fearful about a single explosion, but his keen mind realised that a swarm of thousands of explosive insects could quite possibly level the building!

Frostbite took to the air and saw the scale of the problem - clumps of insects buzzing through the air to cling to the side of the building, and more on the way! He raised an arm and formed a huge cyclone around the building, tearing dust and insects up alike!

They exploded when colliding with each other, and Frostbite lost count of the number of explosions that took place in the wild winds! He continued the wind until the explosions abated, minutes later, and in that time the flashes and bangs going off had easily been - combined - enough to cause serious damage to not just this building but the others around it, possibly causing hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, as well as seriously striking at the heart of the United Kingdoms premier super team!

As he lowered himself to the roof, Crystal Queen and Bombardier wandered out, having heard the explosions and howling wind from nowhere.

"I don't... don't believe it." muttered Crystal Queen. "You've saved us again!" she beamed. Bombardier was more pragmatic. "The Locusts have made their intentions clear. This is WAR!"

He stormed back into the building as Crystal Queen walked over. "They must have altered the locusts somehow, genetic modification. They could cook up another batch at any time! We need to find and stop them before they strike again!"

Frostbot spoke up 'The insects would require somewhere to grow and incubate, somewhere warm. A large greenhouse of some kind, perhaps.'

OOC It's a sort of clue, but I figured to give you a shot at a guess where in London might be somewhere like Frostbot suggests...

Admin wrote:Frostbot spoke up 'The insects would require somewhere to grow and incubate, somewhere warm. A large greenhouse of some kind, perhaps.'

OOC It's a sort of clue, but I figured to give you a shot at a guess where in London might be somewhere like Frostbot suggests...

OOC: Being away from my computer my formating for this post is going to be ropy at best. So just saying. I'll make sure I keep a copy of the formatting code next time.

Frostbite thought back to a time when, on leave, he took a look around the world famous Kew Gardens. He knew that there were likely other such sights, but one with so much tempting greenery and that could serve as a base might be a logical, though bold move to make.

With a nod toward the grateful Crystal Queen, Frostbite returned to the business at hand.

"Bombadier, I suggest we look for a place where such a large hoard of insects could have been grown. Perhaps somewhere like Kew Garden's. I went there...once." Frostbite added, feeling a strange pang for the visit he made with a sister who joined him in the forces, but whom he all but lost contact with and likely we long dead, by now.

"In any case I suggest we do a search and see if we can find anything strange going on there, places on site closed for "maintenance" or indeed if not there similar sites that might be used to facilitate such a place to breed such a swarm."


OOC: My suggestion is that we start looking for such activity and then call in a roasta of heroes to see if we can't make a decisive attack against them. However we know that they real target is our dear professor, so I will put Wandafar and the team on alert, especially after this preemptive strike.

Sj

Bombardier listened, then nodded, activating a wrist bracelet and speaking into it.

"This is Bombardier. Have the area around Kew Gardens cordoned off by Police. They are to maintain a perimeter but NOT to approach it... what?" he looked up at Frostbite. "Kew Gardens was closed a week ago to deal with 'urgent maintenance' apparently. I'll gather a team. Unfortunately I'll have to leave most of the UKC here to defend the building and the city. This may be a diversion attack."

Frostbite knew that all too well, and alerted Wandafar that the highest level of security was to be used in protecting Professor Koshelvik.

Bombardier walked over. "Right, Crystal Queen, you're in charge of the team I am assigning. Frostbite, you're not part of the team but you work well with the UKC so please work with Crystal Queen to achieve our aims of stopping the enemy."

Starlight - a beautiful sparkling skinned alien female who had a slight smile on her face when being introduced.
Crystal Queen - she gave a nod and a smile to Frostbite. Clearly if he needed an ally or backup, she would provide it.
Champion - a powerful, tall woman who nodded respectfully at Frostbite.
Firecracker - a younger man whose hair was flaming, and he constantly fiddle with a flame that danced from finger to finger.

The three others joined them on the roof. Champion glanced at Frostbite and nodded respectfully. "Time to kick some?" she asked. Firecracker juggled tiny flameballs and laughed "Hey iceman, I'll keep my distance - wouldn't wanna turn you into a puddle!"

Starlight shook her head, tutting. "Always joking, never serious!" She turned to Frostbite "I hear good things about you." she flicked a glance at Crystal Queen then back. "Let's see if the reality matches the hype!" she said warmly.

Bombardier turned to Frostbite and Crystal Queen. "You're all fliers. Get to it!"

=========

Frostbite flew across London with the others. It seemed some were faster than others and reigning in their speed. The Hothead, Firecracker, seemed most frustrated, flying only at a speed of around 100mph.

Starlight was fast and agile, and left a glistening trail in the air as she looped around and around Firecracker all the while laughing and teasing him.

Crystal Queen flew next to Frostbite "They are good fighters. They will work as a team." A few moments later, she added "There."



"I figured we'd each take a corner of the building and one from above, observing. Get close, a look in, see what is in there and make a move from there. Do you have any other plan?" asked Crystal Queen. Frostbite was an experienced leader, and could tell he dealth with someone reasonably new to the burden of responsibility.

Admin wrote:Crystal Queen flew next to Frostbite "They are good fighters. They will work as a team." A few moments later, she added "There."

"I figured we'd each take a corner of the building and one from above, observing. Get close, a look in, see what is in there and make a move from there. Do you have any other plan?" asked Crystal Queen. Frostbite was an experienced leader, and could tell he dealt with someone reasonably new to the burden of responsibility.

Frostbite smiled briefly grateful for the acknowledgement throughout the hand over and journey to Kew of the implied acknowledgement of his skill. Although in truth he never gave it a thought, save when it went wrong, now he realised there was a potential flaw in the plan Crystal Queen was suggesting.

"A great suggestion, Crystal Queen, however we both are aware that the Locusts possessed sophisticated jamming equipment, rendering all our coms obsolete. My concern with splitting up is that we may not be able to relay the information to one another, so as to take action. However, I see no reason why we can continue, as long as we uses obvious hand signals, something that our main spotter, can observe and the rest of us look for if we see nothing obvious in our section. I suggest we reconvene to decided on the best course of action. I also suggest we don't go seperetely on from there as we know that divided we'd most likely fall. We're up against a ruthless and brilliant foe, who must suspect that having foiled their attack, they'd be ready for reprisals. So we must be ready for counter measures to. " Frostbite said addressing the rest of the team.

"Can I suggest..." He added with a deferred look to Crystal Queen, "that we avoid getting too close, for fear of any null fields that knock out powers, or within range or any ground to air defences. But also be mindful this might be a colourful ruse to draw us away from the real objective. Enough to look good but divide and distract. The enemy has shown a ruthless regard for its own, sacrificing many for one tactical advantage. So let's be cautious, but mindful that this also might be no more than a carefully planned ruse."

With that Frostbite cordially handed back to Crystal Queen before falling into position as directed.

OOC: All I can say is, "I gotta bad feeling about this..."

Sj

OOC Nooooooooooooo! First lost post of 2016. Great. My Broadband router has blobbed itself which means i lost half an hour of typing. Here we go again. One day I will learn to copy the post into memory before clicking post, but obviously not today

Crystal Queen nodded and passed on instructions to the others to remain in visual contact using hand signals at all times.

Firestarter had other ideas. "What? What a waste of time! Let's just get in there and kick some ar..."

He paled at Champions stern glance, the statuesque warrior woman standing half a foot taller than the hothead. "You and I will have words after this" she snarled. Firestarter took a step back, nodded meekly then moved to the designated corner. Champion turned and nodded to Crystal Queen, who had Starlight take up position and spoke quietly to Frostbite over the comms. "Take up high point." she suggested, pointing above the place. "Fill in where needed."

Frostbot remarked 'There is an unusual signal in the air. Not one of the usual recognised wireless channels in this timeline. In the 22nd Century a similar signal was used to provide completely encrypted information. As soon as an unauthorised attempt was made to receive it, the signal scrambled. In order to find the decryption key we will have to take one of the locust men - alive. Unfortunately the same uncrackable signal is the one that triggers their corrosive self destruct that sees them rendered to dust in moments. There may be a way around that, and I might be able to provide schematics for a device Wandafar can build but the downside is that some of the components have not been invented yet...'

Frostbite looked down at the glass house from above. Impenetrable foliage masked what lay within, but he knew that they were here. He looked about. The place was surrounded by trees. He glanced at the four people at the corners of the building, and figured out what he knew of them.

Champion - a flying brick, super strong, tough, experienced.
Firestarter - a hothead in more ways than one, able to immolate and throw fire.
Starlight - light emitter, fast flyer, an alien who made Earth her home.
Crystal Queen - young, relatively new to the game but determined to do well. Solid in a fight, if not the most powerful.

Champion was the heavy hitter, he figured, Firestarter possibly the weakest link, with little in the way of defensive capability. Starlight he wasn't sure of, Crystal Queen was a Class 2 he reckoned.

Would they be enough?

OOC What defensive powers/actions are you taking (if any?) or are you waiting till things reveal themselves...?

Admin wrote:Would they be enough?
OOC What defensive powers/actions are you taking (if any?) or are you waiting till things reveal themselves...?

Putting aside that fact that since the reboot, Frostbot was talking about tec from the future!! Frostbite couldn't remember a time when his onboard sentient computer companion was doing that. Had he been accessing information form elsewhere. He knew that time travel was incredible demanding, his own jump back resulted in the previous Frostbite become a conscience within himself who'd sort of woken up with the powers after a week long coma. It would be something, he hoped, he could take up with Frostbot later.

Meanwhile he had to think about the present situation.

OOC: Ok with my skill set, Detective, Military Science and Thief, if there is anything that they can be utilised for in learning from the clearly observable data then all good and well. Otherwise I am going to remain in a dispersed form, incase I get sneak attacked and allowing Frostbot to scan all frequencies and keep my eyes peeled. Basically I am looking at my character sheet and going, 'how can I leverage my powers in such a way that they can be useful and I don't suck right now?'

Otherwise I don't feel there is a great deal I can do until we've got some estimation as to what is going on down there. Although if I'm honest with the level of tec and the brains behind this being what they are, i imagine we're going to end up going in hot and heavy, with little emphasis on subtle. I guess they've got the place 'looking' like they need it to look, regardless of its actual current state. And they probably have a tone of defences in place, however they can't know everything so we're looking for a chink in the armour, a way in that leaves us room not to fail but still try and stop them. And if possible get that encryption key. Getting on their wave length would be awesome besides giving us a chance to mess with their communication and spread false information.

Sj

OOC The longer Frostbot goes without being rebooted/memory wiped, the greater its recall of technology from a time when it was created. Still a mystery of how it got into Frostbite in the first place. Well, a mystery unless you include the wildly random nature of Golden Heroes character creation process and having to justify how a bunch of wildly different powers all mesh together

Military Science Danger Recognition subskill will work much like Danger Sense but on Battlefields and in a less specific way. Whilst it might allow Frostbite to figure out that there may be danger or a trap in a specific location, it won't allow him to pinpoint the nature of the danger, be it a minefield or Aunt May waiting to clonk him with a frying pan.

Roll(4d10)+0: 7,1,10,10,+0 Total:20 oh boom, the dice love you tonight! Plus Roll(2d10)+0: 2,9,+20 Total:31 + 8 (Intelligence) vs TN18.

Frostbite saw the danger immediately as it became clear that the botanical garden greenhouse was guarded... OUTSIDE of the place!

A glance at the trees here... there... and some of the branches and leaves moved in unusual ways - against the wind for example. Indeed, the trees around the place seemed positively alive, and Frostbite knew then that this was a trap!

The Locust Mens chameleon like powers allowed them - when standing still - to blend in perfectly with their background. With the heroes moving in the Locust Men were moving in BEHIND them, and from the looks of things... well Frostbite could only hazard a guess at numbers, but there was a small army out here he figured, and those were only the ones he'd caught a glimpse of! Whatever was in that greenhouse was clearly something that the Locusts felt needed protecting!

The UKChampions in the meantime stepped up to the glass panels and looked to one another for confirmation that they would all crash in at the same time...

Admin wrote:The UKChampions in the meantime stepped up to the glass panels and looked to one another for confirmation that they would all crash in at the same time...

OOC:Hmm do we spring the trap or pull out before its sprung. Assuming that the team is also able to focus on me to give them a signal, I'll have Frostbite alert them as best he can to what is going on. On the one hand if they are springing a trap do we go in letting them spring it, whilst their attention is focused on the champions, or get them out before its sprung. I guess it depends on if they check in before blasting in on the scene or not. If they go through the glass into whatever's within; then Frostbite will go with option a, if not option b, or whatever seems appropriate given what goes next

Option a) As the team smashed their way into the glass house, unaware or otherwise too focused on what they could see within, Frostbite saw the danger that awaited them without. Wasting no time waiting to see what came next, Frostbite once again called on his amazing powers to blanket the area in frigid frozen conditions to slow down and reveal the otherwise concealed locust men.

OOC:Assume that I use HP as needed in either situation here.

Option b) As the team caught sight of the wildly gesturing Frostbite he swooped down, so they could hear him shouting it was a trap. As each readied themselves, Frostbite once again lived up to his name, blanketing the outside area in a wide permafrost, seeking to blanket the Locust men, so their subtle camouflage was useless. He also hoped that their vulnerability to the cold might slow them down and give the team chance to respond in kind.

Sj

Frostbite hissed "Crystal Queen! It's a trap!"

She looked up and turned to the others who were at that moment breaking into the glass walls of the botanical gardens! Frostbite saw Firestarter and Champion disappear from view and Starlight turned, pressing a finger to her ear. "What was that? Say again I... oh."

The forest around came alive!

Locust Men poured from the forest, still in camouflage green and brown as Frostbite summoned the weather above to obey his will!

OOC Do you want to 'push' it with Adrenaline Surge or just use Hero Points for your basic (mostly useless) Weather Control of 8? Only ask because you might want to add points to that too.

Frostbite glanced down... six... twelve... more. From all sides!

Crystal Queen shouted "Champions! Turn about! We are attacked from behind!" before she raised a wall of crystal in front of her and strained to see her team who were now obscured from view by thick foliage in the glasshouse.

OOC Initiative 5 Heroes, 5 Bad Guys. The good guys all go first. Just need the call on whether you use Adrenaline surge and how many hero points/extra dice you want to use with Weather Control. Then will resolve the good guys actions.

Admin wrote: OOC Initiative 5 Heroes, 5 Bad Guys. The good guys all go first. Just need the call on whether you use Adrenaline surge and how many hero points/extra dice you want to use with Weather Control. Then will resolve the good guys actions.

OOC: Ah should have said Adrenalin surge and if that fails, or isn't adequate hp as needed. Poor it on.

Sj

OOC Righto. Adrenaline Surge 15 vs TN11+8 (Weather Control). No need to go crazy or add dice because a roll of 4 or more will boost Weather Control to 15APs.

Roll(2d10)+0: 4,3,+0 Total:7 + 15=22 vs TN19. +2 Effect. 17EV vs 8RV=9RAPs. Weather Control is boosted to 15APs (Adrenaline Surge max) for a phase.

The Target number to create the still cold frost over everything is TN11+10=21. A roll of 6 or more will do it. I assume adding a die with HP (6HP). The higher the result number the longer the effect lasts.

Roll(3d10)+0: 8,2,3,+0 Total:11 + 15 (weather control)=26 vs TN21. +3 Effect. 18EV vs 10RV. 8RAPs which is 15 mins. The fight will be over one way or the other over by then...

Instantly a freezing cold came over the Botanical Garden and the surrounding woods!

Plants curled up and died, shrivelling and crumbling near instantly! Others, hardier, simply froze. The Locust Men slowed, looking up at their tormentor. They seemed to be of the 'standard' kind as opposed to the mutated versions he'd fought before.. but the numbers! He saw them pouring from the woods, stumbling and hopping, some frost coated, all slowed by the inclement weather.

Crystal Queen, having encountered them before, increased the thickness of the protective dome around her and called on the comms. "Firestarter! Where are you! Make sure to take evasive action! Startlight! Blind those that get near you! Champion? Do your thing!"

Suddenly she yelped as a Locust Man leapt over her dome and came at her! She raised an arm and fired!

OOC 11 Crystal Production vs Locust Man (Dex 7 slowed dramatically by cold to 3 Dex). She goes for a Critical Blow. TN11+3+4=18. Roll(2d10)+0: 5,8,+0 Total:13 +11=24 vs 28. +3 Effect. 14EV vs (Reduced) resistance of 3 further dropped to -3 (Critical blow). 17 Damage.

Crystal Queen blasts the Locust Man repeatedly and yells out loud as it looms closer. Then parts of it start breaking off, frozen, and it falls by the wayside, dissolving even as it hits the floor!

Inside the glasshouse Firestarter lit up like a burning torch and shouted "Hey! Inside this place! The plants have been mostly eaten! Stripped away! I'm going in... what the hell is that?!?!?"

Champion was distracted as half a dozen Locust Men came at her. She attacked with gusto!

OOC Champion has Dex 10 and Martial Artist 4. Against the slowed Locust Men she will attack all 6 (+6OV and RV). TN11+7 (Dex)-4 (cold) +6=20 Target Number. She rolls 5D10 against these foes. Roll(5d10)+0: 7,10,2,2,4,+0 Total:17 Eeesh. Tough choice. Will go with the 17 as would need a follow up roll of 13 to match it with double 2. She has 23 Attack vs TN20. +2 Effect to add to her 15 Strength. 17EV vs RV7 (Body) + 6 (Multi attack). Each Locust man takes 4 damage.

Thwacking and hammering away at her foes Champion laughs out loud "There may be lots of these idiots, but they are weak! We can pound them into mush guys! Just..." She cut off as her opponents kept coming!

Starlight meanwhile shouted "That's it! Come to me!" she laughed. "LOOK AWAY!" she commanded everyone. A moment later it was as if the sun shone in the greenhouse!

OOC Starlight has 14 Flash. That gives a free multi attack vs all unprepared (turning away, eyes shut etc) types. With the cold affecting the Locust men, the dozen or so coming at her have TN11+Dex 7 -4 (Cold)=13TN. Roll(2d10)+0: 9,3,+14 Total:26. +5 Effect to 19EV vs Dex 7 -4 for cold. 16RAPs. A dozen Locust Men are blinded (Dex zero) for 16 Rounds.

Locust Men stumbled around. Despite the fact they could see 360 degrees, that was actually a disadvantage against Starlight!

The Locust Men attacking Champion struck back!

OOC 3 boost their strength with Adrenaline surge, Three boost their Dex.

Roll(12d10)+0:
6,3,2,9,9,8,4,5,9,5,1,7,+0
LM1 has 16 Strength!
LM2 has 16 Strength!
LM3 has 18 Strength!

LM4 has 16 Dex!
LM5 has 17 Dex!
LM6 has 15 Dex!

LM1-3 have Dex 7 team attack (by all 6) on Champion. Her Dex is reduced by 6 to 4 for OV. TN11+4=15 target.
Roll(6d10)+0:
9,9,9,4,2,6
BOOM LM1 gets 18 (Double) and Roll(2d10)+0: 4,2,+18 Total:24 +Dex7=31 vs TN15. +6 Effect. 22EV vs RV15 (Champion). 7 Damage!
LM2 has 19EV vs RV15. 4 Damage.
LM3 has 18EV vs RV15. 3 Damage.

Next up the Dex boosted Locust Men. They go for a Devastating Attack.

Roll: 2,4,5,9,6,9

LM4 16Dex+6 vs TN15+8=23. MISSED!
LM5 17Dex+14 vs TN23. Hit +4 Effect. 10EV vs RV15-12=3. 8 Damage!
LM6 15Dex + 15 vs TN23. Hit +4 Effect. 11EV vs RV15-12=3. 8 Damage!

Champion has 12 Body (and 3 Personal Force Field she can attack through). She absorbs the 4, 3 and 7 at a cost of 44HP! She absorbs 4 of the other hits (16 damage-4 so takes 12) at a further cost of 10HP.

CHAMPION GOES DOWN (BODY zero)


Frostbite could see only a flurry of bodies, and more worryingly saw something he'd not seen before - the Locust Men were mutating to become faster and/or stronger! This changed the rules of the game immediately! They could be in big, big trouble!

Crystal Queen barked "Champion! Champion!!!" and turned upwards. "We have a man down, we are outnumbered and ..."

"ARRGGGGHHHH!" came a scream over the comms!

"Firestarter?" yelled Starlight. She turned... and Frostbite saw a flurry of Locust Men overwhelm her! Luckily they were blind, and their attacks were ineffectual, but she was effectively buried under a seething mass of creatures!

Crystal Queen took to the air, crashing through the roof and looking down, then up at Frostbite. "There's ... there's so many of them!"

Frostbot spoke up 'Estimated numbers 50 Locust men. A tactical withdrawal is suggested.'

Frostbite surveyed the scene. One, possibly two more men down. What had they stumbled into here? And what was worth the effort these Locust Men were going to defend it???

Crystal Queen gasped as a dozen Locust Men destroyed her Crystal Dome and poured into the Greenhouse!

OOC You're up. Phew! Wouldn't have wanted to lose that little lot!

Admin wrote:Crystal Queen gasped as a dozen Locust Men destroyed her Crystal Dome and poured into the Greenhouse!

OOC You're up. Phew! Wouldn't have wanted to lose that little lot!

A tactical withdrawal was both the wise choice and the way to make sure that someone was alive to win the day. But that wasn't the right choice. With heroes down, their fate would be over, should Frostbite abandon them now. And he was not about to let that happen. Firestarters call, from within the greenhouse contained a hint of what was going on and might well prove decisive.

"Everyone the Locusts are protecting what remains in the greenhouse, whatever you've got direct it there. They have a hive mind, remember and that might well be their 'queen'."

With that Frostbite dove down, seeking to grab Crystal Queen on the way through.

OOC: I assume I can do this without having to maintain control of the weather pattern? If so use HP to make sure I get Crystal Queen safely and then take the battle to the queen herself. This time she is going to feel the bitter sting of winter.

Sj

OOC The weather will maintain itself but you can dismiss it with an automatic (free) action at any moment, should you decide that the standard dreary grey sky British weather is more appropriate.

Frostbite swooped down, clattering into Crystal Queen as his ice and her crystal clashed and smashing the pair of them through the roof of the glass house.

Ploughing through tree tops and foliage, the pair were instantly shocked to see the absolute devastation within.

Kew Gardens had been stripped bare! Aside from the trees with leaves enough to obscure from the air what was inside, the plant life inside the place had been utterly destroyed, eaten to the stumps! The earth was scattered with fragments of leaves and as Frostbite set Crystal Queen down, it became apparent why.

Eggs.

Thousands of them, football sized, were clustered together in pods of hundreds. They glistened, and a dark mass inside suggested they were ready to hatch soon.

"Look!" hissed Crystal Queen. A seething mass of Locust men were, around 40m away, boiling around something. One of them towered above the others, and Frostbite estimated it to be around ten feet tall and heavily muscled. He knew they had probably seen the pair come in - those compound eyes gave 360 degree vision. More crashing through the glass and undergrowth suggested there would be more Locust men in here in seconds!

"What are they...?" started Crystal Queen, then she add "Oh." Some of the Locust Men had parted enough that the heroes could see a cocoon of sorts, and inside, a man like shape - Firestarter!

Frostbite started counted, but gave up after twenty five! So many locust men, and soon? So many more! Whatever they protected in here was clearly some kind of 'egg laying machine' - or monstrosity! They would have to get through the wall of Locust Men to find out what it was!

Admin wrote:Frostbite started counted, but gave up after twenty five! So many locust men, and soon? So many more! Whatever they protected in here was clearly some kind of 'egg laying machine' - or monstrosity! They would have to get through the wall of Locust Men to find out what it was!

"Up till now I was worried about the damage being done to Kew, but now I see that is already redundant. We are only going to win this if we strike these things where they are most vulnerable. Their young. They will do anything to protect their queen and their eggs. That is why they've piled on Firestarter, fire and cold are two extremes they can't easily deal with. I hope you brought your winter woollens, cause I've got to turn this place into winter wonderland if we're going to have a chance of getting Firestarter free."

Frostbite didn't wait for an answer, He had already pushed himself to generate sufficient weather outside to slow down the creatures, the exposed interior of this once beautiful building was already devastated, so a little bit more wasn't going to hurt not when so much more was at stake. Moving a short distance away, Frostbite kneeled and touching the earth, sent through it and the air above all the cold leaching energy he could to freeze everything within site.

OOC: Ok so I am going to need to ice the whole place up, trying and catch the locust men out but icing the floor to freeze them and the air above to slow them. And hopefully not kill or maim my companions in the process. So use as many HP 100 if need be, to get me the kind of roll that means I don't just succeed but I reduce their numbers exponentially so we can actually regroup the team and have a chance to even the playing field a little.

Hmm just looking over my character sheet, I seem to have lots of powers that make ice, move ice, generate ice but nothing - save weather control about making things colder. I think that ought to be the one thing along with energy blast I ought to be able to do more than move ice about or whatever. However if that isn't possible then I guess besides bring the weather into this area, with howling winds and what not, I'll need to go fluid form and trying and get to Firestarter, break him out and get him burning where I'm icing to give us a chance to level the playing field, your call boss.

Sj

OOC: Go for 5 die, or 40 HP, since we've got to make this to get through, what else can I do?

As regards to powers, I don't mind how we represent the cold tempreture power, but I like looking like cold hard ice, rather than the original ice man, who looked like a slim snowman. Frostbite has always looked cool, literally not just had the powers. Snowman, is very uncool and it would almost be better to remain as I am if that were to change as a result.

Frostbite drew in the air, before blasting it out at the oncoming Locust men, expelling cold like he'd never done before.

Sj

OOC Best not to look like a snowman, every time you get punched you'd lose your sense of smell as the carrot flew off into the distance. Right then, first of all Adrenaline surge to pump Ice Production up to 15 hopefully.

Roll(2d10)+0: 6,2,+15 Total:23 vs TN11+Ice Production9 (20). +2 Effect. 17EV vs 9RV. +8 to Ice Production (maxed out at 15)

Here we go. Team attack against 30 standard fresh hatched Locust Men (devoid of Adrenaline surge).

TN11+10 (modifier) + Dex 7. 28 Total. RV is 17.

Ice production 15 plus Roll(7d10)+0:3,9,3,5,8,5,4,+0 Total:37 DOUBLE 5 (the 8+9 might not be enough.) Plus follow up Roll(2d10)+0: 8,6,+0 Total:14. 39 total. +5 Effect (up to 20). 20EV vs RV17. 3 damage apiece.

Frostbite unleashed his most potent attack but paled as the Locust Men shrugged it off for the most part! They picked up injuries but rather than going down, charged at Frostbite!

FROSTBITE HP 207

Crystal Queen gasped but threw up a shield of Crystal and thrust out an arm to blast at the first couple of Locust Men coming at them!

OOC Roll(2d10)+0: 5,6,+0 Total:11 plus Crystal Production 11 (22) vs TN11 + Modifier 2 + Dex 7 (20). +2 Effect, 13EV vs RV9. 4 damage apiece.

Her shot landed true against two of the Locusts heading towards them, the seething mass of bodies and arms intent on only one thing - attack! Crystal Queen gave a quick glance at Frostbite and opened her mouth to speak, then was engulfed in a mass of bodies, much as Frostbite was!

OOC 5 on each of you. No team attack bonus - they are attacking as a mob, not a team.

On Crystal Queen (Dex 8 RV14 against two, 13 against others)

Dex 7 Locust Men...

1) Roll(2d10)+0: 5,5,+0 Total:10 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d10)+0: 2,10,+10 Total:22 + 7 (29) vs TN19. +4EV. 11EV vs RV14, no damage.
2) Roll 16 + 7. No damage.
3) Roll 16 + 7. No damage.
4) Roll 4 + 7. No damage.
5) Roll 13 + 7 . No damage.

Crystal Queen shouted "I'm alright! They... they are trying to take me alive I think"

OOC On Frostbite OV12 RV14

1) Roll 18 + 7. Hit +2 Effect. 9EV vs 14RV. No damage.
2) Roll 12. No Damage.
3) Roll 19. No Damage.
4) Roll 7. No Damage.
5) Roll 13. No Damage.

Frostbite felt several blows land on his ice crystal body which gave way and hardened instantly behind. He, too, felt they were holding back somehow. He pushed off several of the Locust Men, and watched as they stiffened, as if receiving some kind of order that they could not disobey! Then they came on, this time NOT holding back!

OOC Frosty and Crystal Queen go first. The Locusts are surrounding the pair now, leaping about and coming from all directions! Same again, or regroup, get the heck outta dodge?

Admin wrote:OOC Frosty and Crystal Queen go first. The Locusts are surrounding the pair now, leaping about and coming from all directions! Same again, or regroup, get the heck outta dodge?

OOC: Well this is where we find out if I know what I am doing or not. But it depends on the Crystal Queen being able to protect herself.

Assuming she can put some sort of super hard shell around herself to buy her time, I am thinking I will disperse and go for the one giving the orders. Fighting the minions is going to be a war of attrition and clearly we've got finite resources compared to them. However if Crystal Queen cannot protect herself sufficiently whilst I go try and tackle the other 'queen' of this nasty nest, then I guess its more of the same, team attack trying to take down or slow them so we can both go tackle the queen. That or we end up as lunch. If possible I will give Crystal Q some hero points so as to help her, either way, say three die worth and also die for myself as needed to complete the actions at hand that seem best suited. again 3-5 die depending on what best suits.

"Their testing our abilities our weaknesses, getting ready to pounce. The only way we are going to finish this is to get to the one giving the orders. These are just drones its the mind that we need to stop, somehow!"

Frostbite had to wonder what options lay before them, mindful that even if fortune favoured their boldness, what it would all be for if the were spent on waves of Locust men, without even getting near the real threat in this scenario.

Sj

"There's too many to fight!" shouts Crystal Queen "And they are too tough to put down in one shot!"

She hears Frostbite reply, then adds (even as she is throwing off another Locust Man) "I will draw some away hopefully, get some distance and pick them off!" With that she flies up, shaking at one still clung to her leg!

Frostbite figures that the horde is too numerous to take down by simply hitting and hoping, and whatever 'hive mind' is behind all this should be the real target!

OOC Adrenaline Surge to boost Dispersal to 15... Roll(2d10)+0: 6,6,+0 Total:12 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d10)+0: 10,2,+0 Total:12 Dispersal is 15.

Without so much as a care in the world Frostbite changes to his intangible state and flies through the maddening crowd, some of which don't notice that he's gone and continue scrapping away with the one at the bottom!

He saw the other, mutated, Locust men gather themselves, including one with an enlarged head. That would mean a mental attack, something against which he had little defence! He had to hurry!

Hearing the sounds of battle behind, he knew he couldn't afford to be distracted and ignored the attacks that flew his way from a Locust Man that fired energy, another that was a walking tank with muscles from every part of its body jutting out, and yet another that fired a disgusting looking stream of acid!

They started to give chase and he passed rows, clusters and mounds of eggs... There!

It was around twenty feet long, most of it an egg sack/abdomen which pulsed and spewed more eggs even as Frostbite watched! The Locust Queen hissed and pointed one of her four arms at the intruder, and tiny locusts sprang from the ground in a vast black cloud... only tp pass through Frostbite! he had his shot - the Queen was apparently defenceless, but to do so he would have to DROP his intangibility and become vulnerable to these 'mutant' Locust Attacks!