The New Vanguard! Frostbite Issue #5

Admin wrote: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!

OOC: Hmm I hate not knowing what to do when faced with overwhelming odds. I always resort to the desperate. Its as if I'm forced to think outside of the box because the box is going to kill me otherwise.

Ok assuming that this isn't just me bending the rules, so feel free to say no. But I see my problem like this. If I go normal to attack I get attacked and have been told that ain't going to work. If I stay as I am I am useless to everyone.

Since leaving only gives them greater chance to regroup, I need to do something now, and that leaves me only a last chance attempt at something. Ok so that is my position as I see it. Therefore if I step into the being, called the queen and resolidify, like the Vision would, could I do so without killing myself? I think this is the only way I can play this as no amount of HP and cold freezing is going to get me the chance to attack without being swarmed otherwise. So resolidify and use HP to not die is my answer. Crazy, but I've held off replying to give myself chance to think about this so this is what I am thinking Frostbite will be forced to do. As an aside I did think that if a compromise option was needed (rather than stepping in totally) I could just place my hand in and resolidify so I might loose a hand but they'd lose the queen. Obviously going for a part of her that was vital, if I can work out where the brain is etc.

If there is something else I am expected to do, or something my addled brain has missed, then please do let me know. I am not trying to be stupid because of a lack of imagination or just to 'suicide' Frostbite in some desperate act of manipulation trying to force you to cheaply hand us victory. I just am not sure what else is left for me to do.

And would probably say something on that level to explain his actions to the 'Queen'. Regrettable as taking any life is, nonetheless he feels forced to do so, since they've proven they're not open to negotiation just conquest.

Ok desperate ploy over to you.

Sj

OOC There's no right or wrong, just the situation which is - your team is mostly down, you are outnumbered, your enemy is prepared to do anything to stop you and if you switch to a solid form to attack, you will get your shot in first... but if you DON'T take them down, you will very probably get completely taken out. You could choose to run and regroup, go get more of the Champions to come back... but that will give these guys time to activate an escape plan. So your attack with Dispersal might not be the most heroic thing to do but it might just save the lives of the downed Champions and shut this nest of evil down.

I will assume you throw HP at it to buy say, 4 extra dice (30 points) dropping Frostbite to 177 HP. I also assume you are putting the boot in so Critical Blow? Makes it harder to hit but improves the chances of a takedown. With 6 dice to roll you have a decent chance of hitting.

AV Dex 9/EV Dispersal 15. NOTE that this kind of attack will attack you as well...

Body 10 for the Locust Queenling.

Roll(6d10)+0: 6,6,6,9,7,3,+9 Total: 21 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d10)+0: 9,1,+21 Total:31 vs OV 25. +3 Effect so EV18 vs RV10 reduced to RV4. 14 Damage.

Attack on Frostbite... AV9 vs TN20 plus Roll(2d10)+0: 8,5,+0 Total:13. +2 EV. 17EV vs Frostbites body 11. FROSTBITE TAKES 6 BODY DAMAGE.

To stay dispersed... Adrenaline Surge... Roll(2d10)+0: 5,7,+0 Total:12 DISPERSAL 15 active for another round. Frostbite is still dispersed.

One of the Locust Men attacks with a Mind Blast at Frostbite. Mind Blast 11 vs OV/RV8. Roll(2d10)+0: 2,7,+0 Total:9. Hit, 12EV vs 8RV. FROSTBITE TAKES 4 MIND DAMAGE.

Decide how much you want to absorb from each blow. The LOCUST QUEENLING is on -4 Body and still active, albeit thrashing about.

Frostbite phases inside the Locust Queen and resolidifies... This drags a scream from both the Locust AND Frostbite as agony courses through every cell!

He pulls away, involuntarily, as if electric shocked, then gets another as a Locust fries his brain with a mind blast! Feeling somewhat frazzled, he sees the Locust Queen is still alive, still conscious, and still giving orders to her brood! The other Locusts swing and swipe at Frostbite with their blows ineffectually swiping through without touching him!

Frostbite was left with a dilemma. He was sure that if his next attack struck he would KILL the Locust Queen!

OOC So, decide how much damage to absorb (he's on 5/11 BODY and 4/8 MIND otherwise) then how many to slap into the next attack, unless you have another option...

Admin wrote:Frostbite was left with a dilemma. He was sure that if his next attack struck he would KILL the Locust Queen!

OOC So, decide how much damage to absorb (he's on 5/11 BODY and 4/8 MIND otherwise) then how many to slap into the next attack, unless you have another option...

OOC: Oh that was a pain, I was hoping to take her out in one fell swoop.  Nothing so easy.  Right absorb all the mind damage, please.  And then go for solidifying and cold blasting her with my energy attack, going for critical attack again, but make sure I don't miss let's make sure the HP (max 4 die) go on accuracy and if need be some on damage (max 2 die) to make sure she really is gone and hope that taking her down means I don't end up getting taken out.

Frostbite gave a moments thought to his options, none of which he liked.  His mind on fire, he steadied himself.  His training and experience coming to the fore to counter the dizzy sickening pounding as he felt his heart beat faster and his body rematerialise.  With a raised hand, he looked sadly at the Queen but knew, as did any soldier in battle there were always casualties and this was war.  One that they'd not looked for, started or perhaps deserved.  But a war nonetheless, in which the Queen had sent her best to best the Earth, and take her resources for their ravening horde.  Stopping her was key to stopping them all.  Then Frostbite shot his ice cold, beam of frigid frost right at the Queen tortured being.  "Goodbye, and don't return."

Sj

FROSTBITE
BODY 5/11
MIND 8/8
HP 137 (after spending for this round)

Frostbite knew he had to throw everything he had into the attack he was about to make!

He un-phased to become solid - and therefore vulnerable - once more!

OOC Adrenaline surge to ice Production... Roll(2d10)+0: 1,9,+0 Total:10+15 vs TN20. 18EV vs RV9=+6 (maximum) to 15APs.

Attack...

The Locust Queen, sensing danger, springs up, suddenly, with a burst of speed belying her size as her abdomen tears free of the birthing 'pod' section of her massive form!

She screamed, and the locusts around her poured towards Frostbite! He had to fire NOW, before his target was hidden by a wall of bodies!

OOC 4 Dice to attack. Going for Critical Blow. Roll(6d10)+0: 4,3,2,8,6,8,+15 Total:31 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d10)+0: 4,8,+31 Total:43 vs TN11 + Dex8 + Modifier 4=+6 Effect (to 21) vs RV4. 17 Damage!

With a huge torrent of steel sharp daggers of ice firing from his hands, Frostbite slashed into the Locust Queenling, as she was diced and cut up into a yellowy green mulch!

The effect was immediate! The Locust Men in the greenhouse immediately 'popped' into green and yellow sludge, the eggs collapsing likewise into a vile yellow goo! It seemed that the Queenling was the mental 'force' that held the creatures together, and her death activated the biological self destruct in all the creatures around!

Within moments the goop hardened and started to crumble, the slightest wind blowing the ash away! In seconds the army of the Locusts had been reduced to yellow/green ash!

Frostbite knew his intangibility had been key - the Locusts had no answer for it save for mental attacks, and by the time they realised he had destroyed the Locust Queenling.

'It is likely that the Locust Creatures have other queens in the UK, but perhaps none are as advanced as this one. The sheer numbers of Locust Men and eggs suggests this hive has been established for weeks.' explained Frostbot. 'If that is the case we may have gained a reprieve from their onslaught and should use that time to track the others to their hives. You should take a sample of the biological ash and... incoming transmission, highest priority!'

"... repeat, this is Mary calling Frostbite! You need to get back here as soon as possible! We are under attack! Armed men and women have entered the mansion! We don't know who they are or where they came from, but their weapons have... Catherine! Get her away from there! Is she... Jethro, we need to seal that door! Where's Wandafar! Gravitas! No! If you run we'll... oh no! They're coming in! Get back! Get BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!"

Frostbite had to tear the earpiece from his ear so as not to damage his hearing!

Crystal Queen flew down next to Frostbite and hugged him! "You did it! I don't believe... what.. what's wrong?" she spluttered...

Admin wrote:[size=18]FROSTBITE

Crystal Queen flew down next to Frostbite and hugged him! "You did it! I don't believe... what.. what's wrong?" she spluttered...

"My friends and family, under attack, gotta go. Be in touch..."

And with that Frostbite took off, asking Frostbot for any data they could get but suspecting the worst as he flew. Flying as best he could, given his already exhausted state and the need to rush, quicker than he previously had been able to. OOC: This is where I need Adrenalin surge to not fail me...or else what Wandafar said to Lionheart about the place being blown up may well come to pass.

Frostbite had no idea how they were uncovered, what and who had come upon them, but he had to hope that their erratic genius, Wandafar was able to withstand a second attack. The last one on the mansion had devastated it, but the loss of life was nil. However now the stakes were so much higher with the team being housed there and many of them still recovering from their last mission.

OOC: Ok so assuming Adrenaline surge fails I better spend HP to get some ideas. I know that Lionheart will be unreachable due to the bomb he is carrying so no way to call him back and me facing a second swarm of armed enemies in as many hours as the last lot. I suspect that Wandafar accidentally triggered a fail safe or some such and awoke about a 1000 foot soldiers from the dust particles Lionheart brought back. Or some such the tricky part isn't how do I fight them (like that would be possible) but how we deactivate them, if at all possible. And what this says behind the whole microverse invasion going on. These seem a very different set of opponents to the last lot who first triggered a look see at this whole invasion force.

Anyway talk about Holy Defenceless, best speed to the mansion. I need to sort out a park and ride - for these longer journeys

Sj

OOC Adrenaline Surge is sort of what it sounds like - a short term boost to an attribute that WILL fail (the odds say it will) if you power it up round after round. The dice decide that though, not me. Normally Frostys speed is 9APs, roughly 500mph. He can boost that up with Adrenaline surge (a roll of 4 or more) to 15APs, which is the sort of speed that will incur environmental damage (mega sonic booms) which is approximately 32 times the speed of sound. However to cover the distance to the mansion (I think I said about 100 miles from London or less) you only need to 'boost' for 3 rounds. However... (again)... the team have been taking a circuitous route to avoid being tracked which takes an hour from the Capital. I assume that in an emergency situation like this you chuck that out the window. With that in mind, I assume Frosty flies up... and up... and up... and booms high above the ground. He WILL be tracked, so the mansion will be compromised, but it sure sounds like that has happened anyway!

Adrenaline surge x 4 attempts. No real need to use HP (only need 4 or more on the dice). Four rolls required...

Roll(2d10)+0: 3,8,+0 Total:11

Roll(2d10)+0: 7,6,+0 Total:13

Roll(2d10)+0: 2,3,+0 Total:5

Roll(2d10)+0: 8,4,+0 Total:12

Frostbite strained his powers to their limits, ignoring Frostbots advice...

'This speed will undoubtedly register on the detection equipment of not only the authorities but organisations which would seek to attack the Vanguards base of operations. I must protest and insist that you...'

"Shut up!" he yelled over the howl of the wind

'But...'

"I know! Overlay a course, up, across, then down!"

'Done.'

A superimposed image overlay across Frostbites site and he adjusted to compensate for airborne traffic as he was 50 miles up in seconds! If he kept going he wondered if he could achieve escape velocity... That would be a question for another day!

Leaving boom after boom in his wake, cracks across the sky that left people looking up and wondering at the huge sound being made, he suddenly had an idea and Dispersed. Intangible now, the sound suddenly stopped! He wondered if it would be enough to stop radar tracking him. The seconds ticked past as the world moved agonisingly slow below hi...

'Down' remarked Frostbot.

Adjusting course and slowing, Frostbite looked down at the Mansion and grounds from above. What in the world? There were what looked like armoured personnel carriers on the lawns! They were battling with Wandafars automated defnces, which were putting up a hell of a good fist of protecting the place. But there were so many! How on earth had they gotten so close to the place! Where was his team - the one that had been battered and bruised and seen one of their most effective members leaving only days before... And then something clicked. Surge. Kevin had known the location of the place, may have done some poking about. As a trusted team member he had fairly unrestricted access to much of the place and had been in training for monitor duty so would have a good idea about the cameras, access points and the defences.

Had Kevin, Surge, betrayed the Vanguard?

Frostbite swooped down. He looked closer. Those tank like vehicles were... hovering? Hover tanks? in World War II he'd seen the Nazis use all manner of weapons thanks to the mixed up time line but these things looked something else altogether. They blasted and pounded away at the mansion, only for a flickering force field to repel the energy blasts they issued!

Frostbot updated 'Twenty four vehicles of a configuration... correction. Twenty one' Frostbite saw three explode more or less at the same time as a turret from the grass fired incessantly, helped by half a dozen others. 'Their technology is advanced for this timeline, possibly alien.'

Unfortunately that turret and another were reduced to smoking rubble as half a dozen tanks turned their powerful twin barrel weapons on them!

Closer... closer... slowing... would Frostbite tackle the tanks or head for the mansion?

Admin wrote:Closer... closer... slowing... would Frostbite tackle the tanks or head for the mansion?

It didn't particularly thrill Frostbite that he might well have given away the significance of this particular bit of real-estate, but lives came first. Especially those whom he considered closest to him. With all he knew being lost to the winds of time, this was his home of sorts and now a technologically superior group were attacking it. He needed to find out more.

Choosing the closest tank in range, he opened up on them.

OOC: Ok so go for energy blast, I guess its going to be hard to miss so go for critical strike/hit etc. And see if a non HP attack does much in the way of damage. I want to see if I can find out a bit more about our attackers and who is behind this.

I'll take a defensive posture as best I can, also try and ascertain if we've got communications and what else is happening the rest of the mansion.

Sj

Frostbite swooped in and levelled an arm at one of the tanks...

OOC Adren Surge on the Ice Production. Roll(2d10)+0: 2,1,+0 Total:3 FAILED and Adrenaline Surge BURNS OUT for an hour! Frosty still attacks, just with 9 instead of 15 ice Production... Critical Blow...
TN11+5 Vehicles +4 (Crit Blow)=20. Roll(2d10)+0: 10,4,+0 Total:14+9 (ice Prod)=23. +2 Effect, 11EV vs 4RV. 7 damage. This tank has 3 Body left.

The tank shuddered with the blast, and Frostbite saw chunks of it fly off, but curiously there seemed to be no inner? Was it solid?

The tanks continued to blast away at the mansion.

Just then Frostbite saw ... jet powered helicopters, flying up from the ground? What the? They hadn't been there a moment before, he was sure of it, but there they were, life size helicopters, half a dozen of them! They took to the sky, and two came about to take a shot at him with mini guns!

OOC Projectile Weapons 9 plus Roll(2d10)+0: 5,4,+0 Total:9. TN11+Dex 9=20. Missed. Next attack Roll(2d10)+0: 2,9,+0 Total:11. Hit. No damage.

Bullets pinged from and through his semi solid form as Frostbot remarked 'The munitions appear to be solid, but not of a metal composition I recognise. Perhaps they are of plastic?'

More tanks had appeared now! Were they teleporting in? The mansion was surround by around 30 tanks, all blasting away! The Force Field was permanently lit up now, a bad sign as it meant that the energy required to keep it up would be drained as the fire became constant. The field was strong enough to repel the bombardment, but how long would it stay up?

"Crackle... zis is Vandafar... any von, come in! Zey are toys! Do not hold beck! Shrunken toys, grown to human size or larger! I... ZAP!" the transmission went dead!

Admin wrote:"Crackle... zis is Vandafar... any von, come in! Zey are toys! Do not hold beck! Shrunken toys, grown to human size or larger! I... ZAP!" the transmission went dead!

"Wandafar...WANDAFAR!" Frostbite all but shouted down the com line. He had to wonder what was going on inside the mansion let alone outside of it. But going inside to allow the machines outside chance to pound the place to pieces seemed counter productive. However what also seemed off, was that how these solid bits munition units were being controlled? Who or what was behind them.

"Frostbot can you interface with these things, are they electron or do you detect a source controlling them?"

As the he dodged about, Frostbite continued to fight against the targets that seemed of most threat. Taking Wandafar's words literally and not holding back on his attempts to stop them.

OOC: Ok so if possible I will increase density to up my strength and tear into tanks, or else if speed and flight is more helpful, lower it again to fly and blast, so switching tactics to keep me in the game and most effective, whilst I search for a solution to who is behind this and find a way to shut it down before they succeed in taking us all out. And please feel free to use HP as needed, since my Adrenaline surge is burned at this stage.

Sj

'Interesting. Though the 'beings' incorporate a number of electronic control units they are of no configuration I can wirelessly interface with which clearly suggests they are not of Earthly origins, be it this or any other timeline. There may be a way to ... hack... them but there seems to be some over arching intelligence behind them. They move independently, act individually, but are guided by a single voice, is my best estimate. Silence that voice and they will react, though how is unknown.' said Frostbot inside Frostbites head.

'If one were not a science based entity, one would suggest that whatever is giving 'life' to these vehicles and the humanoid attackers is 'a kind of magic' - science so sufficiently advanced as to be beyond the comprehension of the greatest mind of the age. Of course, a more conventional explanation is that a metahuman entity is controlling them.'

Frostbite swooped in low and considered the targets. Right now it seemed that the tanks were bombarding a field which was keeping them out, but they had clearly penetrated the interior somehow. First the tanks, he figured.

Sighting one he levelled an arm. Hitting them wasn't the problem. Destroying them was!

OOC Ice Production is 9 or your Dex 8/Str 11 to attack with. With Density Increase you will boost your Strength to 11 and Resistance will stay the same (fluid form is higher) but your Dex will drop to 8 as you become bulkier and more sluggish. I suggest you try whacking a couple and pile dice in to help with the attack. You get 2 extra dice from Martial Artist with a third die costing 21HP so it's not really worth it but if you add more it may be worth doing a multi attack on two of them (harder to hit and damage but if you land the hit they both take the same damage, handy for wiping out reams of mooks. Unfortunately Lionheart is a master of that, Frostbite is less so).

So, 21Hp for the third die, five dice rolling, flying in, attacking two tanks, critical blow.

TN11+5 (Vehicles Dex) + 4 (critical blow) +2 (multi attack)=22.
Dex 8 plus Roll(5d10)+0: 2,1,3,9,8,+0 Total:25 Effect Value (str) 11+2 (accuracy) vs RV4 (reduced)=9 damage apiece.

One tank was already damage and breaks into pieces, another is left on 1 body. Not a great roll, but could have been worse.

FROSTBITE HP 116

Frostbite slammed a tank onto its bank and rocked another, hunks of steel tough ... well, plastic wasn't the right word possibly but an equivalent from wherever these things came from.

That got him noticed. Three tanks turned and started blasting at the hero!

OOC Dex 8 Fluid Form 3 means OV11, RV14. Team attack by 3 drops OV to 7 (TN18).

Projectile weapons 9 plus Roll(2d10)+0: 6,10,+0 Total:25
Roll(2d10)+0: 7,9,+0 Total:25
Roll(2d10)+0: 6,7,+0 Total:22
Effect value boosted to 13 for two attacks (no damage) and 12 for another (no damage)

Frostbite was pinged around a little but his less than solid ice crystal form seemed to shatter and reform instantly! He breathed a sigh of relief. Unless one of these things hit him in a vital spot chances were he could continue to batter away, but would he have time to do so with whatever was going on inside the mansion? He suspected he could ask Frostbot to 'ask' Jethro the butler to drop the shield to let him in, but wouldn't the enemy get in too? He looked about. The tanks continued their onslaught, and the helicopters were turning about again and hovering now, though whether to fire missiles at him or the house, he couldn't say...

Admin wrote:Frostbite was pinged around a little but his less than solid ice crystal form seemed to shatter and reform instantly! He breathed a sigh of relief. Unless one of these things hit him in a vital spot chances were he could continue to batter away, but would he have time to do so with whatever was going on inside the mansion? He suspected he could ask Frostbot to 'ask' Jethro the butler to drop the shield to let him in, but wouldn't the enemy get in too? He looked about. The tanks continued their onslaught, and the helicopters were turning about again and hovering now, though whether to fire missiles at him or the house, he couldn't say...

It seemed increasingly evident that the forces aligned remained out here because they were not yet inside. If they were, this battle would already be over. So whilst they remained outside, Frostbite attacking them diverted their attention away from those inside. Hopefully giving them time to regroup and help fight back.

With that in mind, Frostbite cut loose, if he could make one group hit another, throw a punch so that debris confused the targeting of others around, he went for it. Trying every trick he could improvise or muster to take down the forces, of force them to divert their attention on him. If he was going down, he was going to make it a tough fight to the end.

OOC: So continue as before, spending HP where possible to make sure I take down what I can, where I can with multi attacks, hopefully buying time. Besides which I like spending HP like candy, because one of the things I want to see how well it works is what happens when a hero runs out of HP. Right now they're like steroids, you just don't attempt anything without them. The only question is how much. But when all's said and done, what happens when they've gone. That is something I am interested in seeing. How well does Frostbite play out esp under the new rules without HP to fall back on. So spend away, as needed.

Sj

Once more using good old strength and his enhanced 'Ice Man/Mountain form' Frostbite wondered what was going on. If there were forces inside and out attacking the place, chances were this shield would be down shortly and ... well, he wondered what he'd find in the mansion...

OOC Ok you really need a devastating attack to finish these in one hit. That makes it super hard to hit but I'll assume you wish to do that and target four tanks.

OV5 + 8 (Dev attack) + 4 (multi attack on four) = TN28

You roll four dice to start with, add another two for 30HP

FROSTBITE HP 86

Roll(6d10)+0: 9,8,10,10,5,9,+8 Total:28 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d10)+0: 8,4,+28 Total:40 That's more like it!

+5 EV (up to 16EV) vs RV10+4 (multi attack) -12 (Dev attack)= 12 Damage apiece. Four down!

With astonishing power from his fists, Frostbite smashed four tanks into shards! The others kept pounding away at the shields but the helicopters directed their efforts at Frostbite!

OOC Team attack by six helicopters...

OV8+ Fluid Form 3+TN11=22-Team Attack -6=16TN Uh oh.

Projectile Weapons 9 plus:

Roll(2d10)+0: 6,4,+0 Total:10 HIT no damage
Roll(2d10)+0: 2,9,+0 Total:11 HIT no damage
Roll(2d10)+0: 10,5,+0 Total:15 HIT no damage
Roll(2d10)+0: 10,1,+0 Total:11 HIT no damage
Roll(2d10)+0: 6,9,+0 Total:15 HIT no damage
Roll(2d10)+0: 5,1,+0 Total:6 MISS

Despite being pounded by missiles Frostbites fluid form was able to soak up the punishment! He noted that from the original twenty four, he'd taken down five and the mansion defences had smashed another eight, including the one he damaged earlier. That left 11.

'The remaining tanks would not have sufficient firepower to overwhelm the mansion defences' remarked Frostbot. 'If you wish entry into the mansion I can contact the entity known as Jethro and see if there is a 'back door' of sorts through the force field without letting the attackers in. Done, albeit via a crude form of communication. There is, but mansion defences currently show as disabled near it and there are four tanks in the vicinity. The helicopters following you will track you until they are disabled.'

Frostbite wondered why his chestplate was flashing rapidly until it dawned on him that Frostbot had used morse code to communicate with the android butler inside the mansion!

If he wanted to use the back door, he would have to take out both the helicopters and the tanks...

(OOC Assuming you want this done)

He turned and swooped at the six helicopters, figuring their defences would be far less than a tanks!

OOC Yes they are, but they are harder to hit! TN11+Vehicles 7+Multi Attack 6 + Critical Blow +4 =TN28

Using 21HP for five dice in total...

FROSTBITE 65HP

Roll(5d10)+0: 1,10,6,10,5,+8 Total:28 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d10)+0: 8,3,+28 Total:39 hit +5 EV (to 16) vs RV6 + 6 (multi attack) -6 (Crit Blow)=10 damage apiece! BOOM!

Swooping about Frostbite more of less flew through each helicopter, ignoring rotors that snapped off his chest or arms, and ploughed straight through the main body. All went down as smashed shards of some plastic like material, without smoke, flames or explosions!

Next he flew over the mansion to where four tanks were blasting at the rear of the place. It was a mess, smoking ruins of turrets all over the lawn.

OOC Multi Attack on four, Devastating Blow. TN11+5+8 (Dev blow)+4 (Multi Attack)=TN28

Using 21HP again...

FROSTBITE HP 44

Dex 8 + Roll(5d10)+0: 3,9,10,5,10,+8 Total:28 DOUBLE (again!) plus Roll(2d10)+0: 5,6,+28 Total:39 +5 EV (to 16) vs RV10 + 4 (multi Attack) - 12 (Dev Blow) = 14 damage apiece! BOOM! All four gone.

With a sigh of relief knowing there were but 7 tanks left and that the field would hold, Frostbite stepped up... and passed through the field without pausing...

Admin wrote:With a sigh of relief knowing there were but 7 tanks left and that the field would hold, Frostbite stepped up... and passed through the field without pausing...

It had been more than skill that earned him the right to get in. But at the same time his fluid form, his strength and other abilities all played a significant part. Were previously Frostbite felt what he lacked in firepower he made up for in leadership and skill, now he felt he wasn't fighting from the rear. He would have to find time to test and properly understand his powers, but for now, once again other things pressed in. Part of him was calm, detached, a soldier through and through. But part of him felt apprehensive, this was the closest he came to family, cold he may be but he had a heart. And he wondered, once again if the mansion was the safest place for such people. Especially the stunt he pulled to get here, tonight.

OOC: Wow when have I ever had so many doubles! Amazing, thankfully that was just what I needed, however that isn't even the half of it, since we've only just got inside. Who or what is going to be in here? Frostbite is taking no chances and taking all reasonable and unreasonable precautions.

Sj

Frostbite was feeling the loss of his ability to 'boost' his powers but knew his bodies recuperative powers would help.

That said, he'd done ok with his fists, not something he'd ever really been able to say. He floated in through the double doors to the rear of the mansion into an open plan living area. The place was a mess, and scorch marks on the walls along with shattered furniture and a burning television suggested a battle had been fought.

He moved through the mansion, listening, but sounds of battle were now coming from lower down. He'd seen no one so far but...

He raised a hand to fire when something flickered into life before him... then lowered it.

"It is good to see you Master Frostbite Sir" said Jethro the holographic butler. His form fizzed and flickered, and the butler noticed it. "Alas, my holographic matrix has taken significant damage and I fear I will not be able to maintain my form for much longer. Thanks to your efforts the force field shall remain intact unless the attackers reinforce their numbers. Master Wandafar and the other members of the Vanguard have... gone. I can find no trace of them in the mansion but the sensors are giving off strange readings that I have not yet identified the cause of. If they are still here, they are either in a form which no longer registers as human or have been transferred into another dimensional state. My investigation into the attacks has revealed that there were two factions at play. The first are the ones who emerged in Master Wandafars labs. A signal of some kind had been detected from a satellite in high orbit that directed a tightly focused beam to the mansion that penetrated the defences. Possibly it was gamma ray or quantum ray based. Wandafar was investigating when the dust that Master Lionheart brought back earlier 'grew' into an army of artificial life forms that attacked him."

The Butler continued "The rest of the team mobilised instantly and went to Master Wandafars aid when yet another faction appeared. These were humanoid, though of a kaleidoscopic nature with no common theme in their appearance. Some were human like, others not. The team were caught between the two forces but it seemed the newcomers were attacking the beings that were in Master Wandafars lab and caused some confusion - all of a sudden the trainees were not sure which was the enemy. Alas with doubt in their minds and their focus divided they were quickly overcome. The newcomers appeared to attack both the artificial life forms AND the Vanguard, as did the Artificial life forms who were far more numerous but individually far less powerful. I believe 'caught between a rock and a hard place' is the term used in this instance. Anyway, the team, along with Miss Mary and Miss Stowe and Wandafar, appear to have gone. Incinerated? I should hope not. There are no remains left behind, no matter how small. Transported away? Through the force field? Unlikely but possible. I have activated all the inner defence doors and sealed off the rooms with the artificial life forms in. I took the liberty of filling some of those rooms with acid. I recommend not opening those until it has drained. Others I tried gassing to no avail. Now I... skrrzzzz...."

Jethro blinked out.

Admin wrote:Now I... skrrzzzz...." Jethro blinked out.

"Jethro...!" Frostbite involuntarily cried out, realising that things may be far worse than he imagined. But a glimmer of hope remained. For all his eccentricities, Wandafar was not one to be caught napping. He might yet have saved the day, or at least the people he cared about most.

With little else to do, Frostbite moved to the sounds of battle below, wondering what on earth he could do now, and what Lionheart had brought into the home with this mysterious powder Jethro mentioned.

OOC: Ok move carefully below, see what I can learn from the fight and also I best get ahold of Justin. He isn't going to like what went on here, but he'd best know as much I know so that things can be smoothed over when the dust settles. Hmm two factions, one I know to be somehow Tim's army from Lionheart's thread. The other? Are we in the middle of a war?

Sj

Frostbite moved through the mansion looking for team members...

In fact he saw... very little. No signs of battle, but again those distant sounds... He checked one of the rooms sealed by Jethro. Frostbot informed him 'This room is sealed. The computer reveals it was filled with an acid of an unknown composition. A 'last resort' if you will. Whatever was in there will have been broken down into its constituent parts.'

He moved to the next room. Wandafar would have only activated that acid filled room if it'd been compromised AND he was sure that the targets were inhuman. He wasn't a killer, but would do all he could to win.

The next room looked like it'd been shot up, but good. The scoring and holes in the place suggested a fierce fire fight had taken place in what had been a large recreation room, with furniture fit only for the skip now.

He examined the scoring. Lasers, or some kind of pulse type ray gun. Explosions... Stuff thrown about - someone was strong!

No trace of downed combatants. Weird.

Still that sound of distant battle. Frostbite moved through the mansion and moved into the lift shaft, flying down after it was revealed the lift had been smashed. He phased through the remained of the lift and down, down, down. Scanners were either destroyed or acknowledged his presence as he floated down and what laser guns remained ignored him. This place had been attacked en masse, by a huge army... But... there was no trace of anyone in the place?!?!

Entering Wandafars lab by forcing the half open doors, he sighed. No sign of Wandafar, place smashed to pieces. And the sounds of distant battle again. Frostbot spoke again 'There is an undamaged terminal where Wandafar would normally work. It is encrypted. Wandafars encryption. I can try to break it but in doing so it may wipe itself and render the computer worthless.'

Frostbite pressed the spacebar. A password request. He clicked on the 'hint' part and the phrase 'My favourite brand of soap'.

Joe tipped his head to one side. Sounds of distant battle, again...

Admin wrote:Frostbite pressed the spacebar. A password request. He clicked on the 'hint' part and the phrase 'My favourite brand of soap'.

Joe tipped his head to one side. Sounds of distant battle, again...

OOC: Well since I am not going to wade through years of posts to find what Wandafar watches, I know he likes soaps and I am going to say its Australian soaps mostly

Frostbite was a man out of time, some things made a certain amount of sense. But entertainment, especially the type that Wandafar regarded as such, still just went way over his head. Life was hard, why watch other people's fictional hardships? It made no sense, but when it came to the diminutive genius, sense was seldom where you thought it ought to be.

Use slow and deliberate two finger typing, Frostbite took his time to type out, 'A...u...s...t...r...a...l...i...a...n...' in the hope that the voices he heard most frequently were correct. Truth be told, Frostbite was guessing, who knew and maybe that was the point. Still it was going to be this or the highway, there didn't seem to be any other useable evidence and there was still the matter of the troops outside, the battle inside and letting Justin know his house had been wrecked...again!

OOC: Wow well done for sneaking on here and getting another post in mate. Grateful it was mine, but hey now its left dangling at another cliff hanger. Oh well, I know there are probably more important things I ought to be up to right now

Sj

The computer screen beeped up 'Incorrect Password!' and 'one try left!'

Frostbot noted 'The answer probably needs to be more specific. As in the specific brand of soap that Wandafar uses to wash with'. Frostbite almost chuckled at that. The computer program was so literal sometimes rather than seeing that Wandafars favourite brand of soap was a soap opera, rather than a cleaning product. There may be some clue around here. He looked about.

OOC Perception check Roll(2d10)+0: 1,10,+0 Total:11

Ah ha! He looked under the desk to see something called the 'Radio Times' and scooped it up. Flicking through pages he saw Eastenders circled a number of times, and Coronation Street, plus Emmerdale and several of the Australian ones, as well as shows that aired during daytime tv! So many! Which was his favourite?

'I have managed to find a still functional telephony link and am calling Justin St Johns' stated Frostbot.

The phone called several times, and a harassed sounding man answered "Whoever this is, you are interrupting a very important mee... in fact, how did you get this number?"

Sounds of distant battle still continued. He wondered if there were sections of the mansion he was unaware of.

Admin wrote:'I have managed to find a still functional telephony link and am calling Justin St Johns' stated Frostbot.

The phone called several times, and a harassed sounding man answered "Whoever this is, you are interrupting a very important mee... in fact, how did you get this number?"

Sounds of distant battle still continued. He wondered if there were sections of the mansion he was unaware of.

"Justin its...Joe, Joe Rigdon, I've got some bad news old friend..." Frostbite deliberately avoided using his code name so as to not have it picked up alerting anyone to Justin's clandestine activities in sponsoring a rogue group of heros. After explaining the situation, as briefly as he could. Seeking to avoid giving away details that might trigger an alarm on someone's desk in case the call was bugged or tapped, Frostbite finished up.

"And you won't believe it, to add to all the confusion I am trying to reach Wandy, but I'm locked out of his teleprompter with his itinerary on it. I need his password, the hint what is his favourite soap? Without the right answer I can't locate the impetuous fellow and the party he went off with."

Frostbit didn't know if Justin knew Wandafar's password or the answer to the hint key. But in truth, with so many soaps ringed it was only going to be a guess on his part as to which one he could pick. If the computer meant literal soap, then he was right out of options. He knew a bit about this thing called the 'internet' but his computer skills were basic at best and he doubted whether looking there would lead him to a single answer that could help. Rather more like a needle in a very large haystack.

OOC: Ok so fill in Justin as blandly as possible, which should trigger the idea that this is anything but bland and uneventful. If I can get a clue as to what Wandafar's terminal wants by way of an answer then I'll use it, if not I will type in Eastenders, since any guess is as good as another. I am keen to investigate the fighting, but thought this was more important. However as its proving more difficult to get an answer I am tempted to go investigate the fight, as that might be important as you've hinted at it several times. IN which case, if I am being a bit hard of thinking lets get Justin up to speed whilse we go investigate.

Sj

"That sounds serious..." said Justin on the other end of the phone. "I will make a call or two, see if I can rustle up a couple of old friends to drop by."

"If you are trying to get hold of Wandy, or his computer, you'll have to drag him away from his favourite program, Coronation Street. He'll let you know the password then."

Frostbite nodded. His knowledge of modern day television was practically nil. Since he'd arrived in this timeline he'd barely had time to draw breath, sleep, eat or establish any kind of personal life. He wondered if that was a dream he'd never achieve.

He typed the password in... Bing! The screen changed and a video of Wandafar came onto the screen. "If you are seeing this zen everysing hes gone to sheet. I vos vorking on ze shrinking thingy for Lionheart and hef... I sink... managed to to create an energy flux manifold zet vill turn vot White Dwarf Matter ve hef into enough mass reduction quantum energy to manage a vun shot deal. I made another manifold in case any von gets more stuff to put in it. The shrink ray thingy is at ze Executives old flat in Kensington, where we could stay if ve hed been kicked out of ze house by ze girlfriend. Address is on screen. Hopefully you are Frostbite, or Lionheart or zet tosspot Yeoman. If you aren't vell, you are gonna hef problems getting my machine to vork cause it's keyed to von of their dna structures."

Yeoman. Another option for Frostbite to call on. Where was Lionheart? Frostbite looked about. Sounds of distant battle could still be heard, but he couldn't see anything in here. Something was going on... and time was running out!

Admin wrote:Yeoman. Another option for Frostbite to call on. Where was Lionheart? Frostbite looked about. Sounds of distant battle could still be heard, but he couldn't see anything in here. Something was going on... and time was running out!

Frostbite took note of the address before switching off the computer and going to the part of the house that still seemed to have life in it. He had to wonder who was behind this. Lionheart seemed to be involved in somehow, but was he here? Only way to find out, was to check out what was going on.

Instructing Frostbot to keep up with what systems he could to discern what might be going on here, Frostbite then moved off toward the sounds. He got himself mentally prepared for whatever he could, going in dispersed but being ready to switch to his greater bulked up form should it be called for.

OOC: Right finally got a clue to what is going on, whilst I head down to the scene of the combat, I will try and see if I can get ahold of Lionheart. Frostbite will not be any the wiser as to where he is and indeed would suspect that the noise might be coming from Lionheart. I'll make a 'B-line' to try and get to the location asap.

Sj

Frostbite searched... and everywhere he went he heard distant sounds...

Explosions, laser blasts... though so quiet as to be a fair way away, behind walls, under the ground?

He frowned.

Crouching, he tipped his head to one side. Then he knelt on the floor and pressed his head to it. Downstairs? The noise was coming from the floor. But... he looked about, then asked Frostbot "Are there any floors below this one?"

'According to schematics this is the lowest floor but it is expansive, covering the area of four football fields. An impressive engineering feat, and the geothermal energy generator is particularly ingenious.' the program replied.

Why then did the sounds seem to come from below him? He looked. Carpeted floor... with a super strong hand he tore up a section. Under carpet heating, then concrete, glassy smooth. CRUNCH! A might frozen fist pounded it, smashing a chunk free... more rock underneath. What the...?

Frostbite wondered what was going on. Then he looked up. Tucked away in a pile of rubbish - failed projects, broken equipment, general debris mostly including pieces of metal, broken electronic devices and even a smashed tv - there was something else. Shiny. Like a ray gun. Gleaming. Was that junk? Or had Wandafar realized what was happening and hidden something? Or could it be a trap?

Admin wrote:Frostbite wondered what was going on. Then he looked up. Tucked away in a pile of rubbish - failed projects, broken equipment, general debris mostly including pieces of metal, broken electronic devices and even a smashed tv - there was something else. Shiny. Like a ray gun. Gleaming. Was that junk? Or had Wandafar realized what was happening and hidden something? Or could it be a trap?

Frostbite played back the message Wandafar had left in his mind

"I vos vorking on ze shrinking thingy for Lionhear"

Or something like that. Could that have been an early prototype? The noises might not be below him, but smaller than him, hence the sense of distance. Frostbite scratched an imaginary itch. This was way above him, and besides how was this connected to Lionheart?

Moving over to the device, Frostbite took it up. Since Wandafar had said something about keying its grip to to the team's DNA, it should be ok for him to touch it. Nothing was going to be learned standing around. As he reached out for it, he wondered what he'd do next. The team, such as it was had hidden in the safe house. He was keen to know how everyone was doing, especially their recent wounded. But it would be irresponsible to leave the place unguarded and still under attack by assailants unknown. Frostbite had to hope help came soon.

OOC: Ok so grab the gun, and let Frostbot do his thing with it, as best he can. Then I think we check out what we can from below, see if we can't get some magnifiers or lenses to look at the ground. If I can find anything I'll scope it up and put it away for later. After that it'll be securing the base and checking in with the others, when help comes. However things may yet take an unexpected turn so over to you...

Sj

Frostbot considered the input that Frostbites senses were telling him.

'The device appears to emit a kind of energy, not as a weapon but with another effect, I suspect. The barrel has a number of lenses, thousands possibly, suggesting it is a portable magnifier of some kind, requiring an energy source of some unknown kind. It appears that Wandafar was keen to keep it from some enemies grasp but left it in such a place as to be accessible to the team, specifically you and Lionheart, plus others. I sare say there may be more clues in the computer as to the use and requirements of the device.' said Frostbot.

Frostbite moved back to the computer. Frostbot enquired 'May I?' with a request to temporarily take over Frostbites movements!

Handing over the reins Frostbite watched as his hands danced over the keyboard and typed a whole page of code in.

The computer reacted instantly, and Frostbites hands continued. Gibberish appeared on the screen and Frostbite translated. 'The computer has an advanced kind of AI. Wandafar terms it 'Jethro lite' which is in many ways similar to my own sentient program. Remarkable. His mind is truly a wonder, and clearly not of this time or possibly this planet. Regardless, the Jethro Lite program has explained that Wandafars' main project, a shrinking ray with which to reduce Lionheart in size, was taken by forces unknown, ironically enough by shrinking it. This is the backup, a portable 'mk 2' version which has one use only, unlike the main machine. The problem is the power source, which will be a white bead of 'Dwarf Star Matter' of some kind. It will be incredibly dense and heavy for its size. On this desk was a gravity nullifier that allowed Wandafar to study it. If you turn to the left you will see the remains of the device, thus suggesting that has been stolen too.'

Great. That was gone too.

Frostbite sighed. Time to start looking about for a magnifying glass or microscope, see if the sounds of battle were not coming from around him, but below him.

He looked under the desk.

The floor was cracked and collapsed around a central point. It looked like the desk had been pulled across to cover it. In the centre of a miniature crater was a pea shaped object, white in colour. Frostbite looked at the gun, then the pea. No telling how long before those attackers - whoever they were - came back...

Admin wrote:The floor was cracked and collapsed around a central point. It looked like the desk had been pulled across to cover it. In the centre of a miniature crater was a pea shaped object, white in colour. Frostbite looked at the gun, then the pea. No telling how long before those attackers - whoever they were - came back...

This was sounding more like a mystery wrapped within a conundrum. There were any number of choices to take, the equipment he'd found plus the white dwarf matter, were too valuable and precious to fall into enemy hands. Frostbite had no idea what Lionheart had stumbled on. But this equipment was to go to him, so that was an urgent need. But also the base mustn't be compromised. Too much could lead back to Justin and Frostbite felt the team owed him so much. It would play into the wrong hands if things were uncovered here. Then there was the fact he was desperate to catch up with Wandafar and the others to see how they were all doing.

Frostbite bent down and sought to pick up the 'White Dwarf Matter'. He had nothing like Lionheart's strength, so he had to wonder if he'd struggle or not. However without the gravity nullifier he had little choice but to try. And then to wait things out for the reinforcements or intruders.

OOC: Ok so I know little of Lionheart's present mission, since its been going on in Frostbites background. However I now know i need to catch up with him and the equipment. But before I can I think it best to wait out the extra back up and make sure the house in left in trust worthy and secure hands, especially with an army knocking at our door. At some point I am going to have to have a chat with Wandafar about the company he keeps letting in?

Sj