The NEW Vanguard! FROSTBITE ISSUE #12 "Something bad this way comes."

Frostbite was down. The bad guy was hovering over him, looking to blast him when he couldn't defend himself! No! NO!!!

OOC Adrenaline surge 24 Go for broke +8/-12

AV24 + 4D accuracy + Roll(6d12)+0: 1,8,1,11,8,3,+0 Total:16 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 3,12,+0
Total:31 (55) vs
Highest OV8 + Multi 4 + Go for broke 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 11,9,+0 Total:20 (40)
Success +5 (to 29) vs Highest RV8 + Multi 4 - GFB 12 (RV0)=29 RAPs

Dex is boosted to 37, Str to 35, Power Reserve to 37
Power Reserve 25 points to Energy Absorption (now 30), 8 to Kinetic Absorption (now 12) and 4 to Jumping (now 10).

With power from within coursing through his veins Battlebug leapt from the roof of the building to dive at the hovering villain!

"Another one? My warning sense says you are an enemy but... arggh! Almost... painful!" gasps Strom. "No matter! I shall destroy you as I defeated your friend!"

OOC Devastating Attack!

AV37 + 4D m Arts (0D Acro) + Roll(6d12)+0: 3,6,4,3,8,1,+0 Total:6 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 12,3,+0 Total:21 (58) vs
OV10 + 3D Acro (0D attack) + Dev Attack 8 + Roll(5d12)+0: 5,9,10,8,11,+0 Total:21 (39)
Hit +6 (to 41) vs RV32 - Dev Attack 12 (RV20)=21 RAPs. Strom is reduced to 0 Body and is DOWN and OUT for 1 hour and 9APs 'over the top' which is 1/2 an hour, so 1 1/2 hours!

SMECK!

With a sound like a thundercrack Strom's powerful force field shatters and the villain slams into the ground not far from where Frostbite had landed!

Battlebug lands and jogs over to Frostbite, finding his friend still alive albeit somewhat crispy. His dark costume is in tatters revealing his true heroic look underneath - no disguising that pulsing blue chest dome!

The youngster looked up. The other villains were moving from the house now and there was no doubt they viewed him as an enemy!

Just then something 'pinged' on Battlebugs internal sonar sense! He turned about and saw a missile heading straight for him! He hopped to the side and waited...

OOC Probably no point in rolling but here goes.

AV10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,4,+0 Total:6 (16) vs
OV37 + 0D Acrobatics + Roll(2d12)+0: 4,6,+0 Total:10 (47) Missed. By a lot.

The heatseeking missile seemed to get confused and changed course once... twice... three times... before it thudded into the soft earth with a THWUMP and a muffled BOOM! which threw earth up in a twenty foot crater!

Battlebug was nowhere near it, scooping Frostbite up in his arms...

OOC You are about to have five bad guys home in on you both AND the helicopters from the other direction. Battlebug is tough and fast but if any of those guys is faster... and has a mental or mystical attack... this could go south very, very quickly! You're up - Frostbite will be out for just under a minute of time (15 rounds) so you may need to kill some time...

Admin wrote:OOC You are about to have five bad guys home in on you both AND the helicopters from the other direction. Battlebug is tough and fast but if any of those guys is faster... and has a mental or mystical attack... this could go south very, very quickly! You're up - Frostbite will be out for just under a minute of time (15 rounds) so you may need to kill some time...

Battle Bug needed to play this smart and move the team away from the house and his boss. He could take on the others potentially but he wasn't invincible and he knew it. If both of them were laid low this could all go south very quickly. Moving with his incredible abilities, he moved off into the grounds, away from the house and away from the hostages they'd freed. Perhaps he could double back toward the house if he threw his pursuers off. In any case buying some time, till Frostbite's considerable constitution could revive him, seemed like the smartest move. He was impressed, perhaps Frostbite's influence was beginning to rub off.

OOC: OK let's see if we can lead these guys a merry dance and get the boss up and fighting again. I'm looking for woods, the tree's etc, to cover me and to go so that they can see me trying to get away but not so close as to be a sitting duck for attacks. If however, this proves a bust, I might end up having to turn tail and go on the offensive.

"Which... THERE!" shouted one of the villains and pointed at Battlebug as he bounded away, albeit at a speed which allowed him to be seen and followed!

He glanced back. Three of the bad guys were heading in his direction - all flying. Two - including Stone Lord - ran out onto the lawns towards the direction of the helicopters.

The youngster turned when in cover of distant trees. The three fliers were spreading out. No way to tell what powers they had. If any were mentalists or mystics... this fight would be over in moments and the Vanguard would be history!

His senses were superhuman. His sense of smell was... astonishing. Bloodhound was surprised and complementary about him and what he could do. High praise indeed. The powers he had were incredibly powerful, Billy knew. He was - one on one - maybe the most powerful of the Vanguard but the unconscious man in his arms was the most versatile, determined, resourceful and experienced. BB hoped to learn from him and owed the man his life several times over. Despite his abilities he'd been beaten several times and knew he wasn't invulnerable.

Everything, it seemed, came down to speed. If his powers worked like they should and if he could get the first punch in... well he stood a good chance. A lot of ifs!

The trio of dark clad forms were now around 100 feet away, hovering fifty feet apart over the field bordered by the trees.

"Whoever you are, COME OUT!" shouted the middle one. She was female and muttered something into a mobile phone she carried. Too far away from Battlebug. Then she pointed her hand at the trees, slowly moving it across the treeline. In moments she would be pointing at where he hid!

"We won't hurt you!" called the one of the left "Unless you make this hard!"

The third yelled "And if you don't come out... well, we have a room full of hostages to fry! Their souls will burn after I'm finished with them!"

OOC Three bad guys. Some clues as to what they can do (at least two of them) as well. No surprise attacks possible (they are ready to attack) but initiative will be crucial!

Admin wrote:The third yelled "And if you don't come out... well, we have a room full of hostages to fry! Their souls will burn after I'm finished with them!"

OOC Three bad guys. Some clues as to what they can do (at least two of them) as well. No surprise attacks possible (they are ready to attack) but initiative will be crucial!

Knowing that speed alone might not work for him. It occurred to Battle Bug, that he could do the unexpected. Allowing him maybe time to find a way to get around this sticky problem and gain the upper hand. Maybe...

[b]OOC: OK since I don't fully know BB's powers from a player perspective, I was thinking to juice up and start throwing trees, hills, rocks at the bad guys, moving so far it would be the equivalent of a hurricane combined with an earthquake to create a tsunami of soil, tree, dirt and whatever to give them something other than me to fight. The alternative is that if that ain't going to work I jump up above them and come down on them hoping to surprise them and go for the usual group attack thing he seems to pull off leaving everyone punch drunk and dunked beneath the still waters of unconsciousness. But either way trying to stay away unless that won't work and getting in so tight close and personal that they might struggle to target me among them.

Sj

OOC In a nutshell Battlebug is an absolute monster in a fist fight. If he wins initiative, there are very few opponents he couldn't flatten with one punch. That's his thing. HOWEVER... if he doesn't win initiative, the calibre of opponent he normally faces against (same as Frostbite) could well cause him a lot of problems indeed. He's not unbeatable by any margin and mental/mystical attacks can give him a bad day.

How he works:



Adrenaline Surge is like the Hulk, boosting stats, except he doesn't get mad to use it. He can boost power reserve, which (like Frostbite and Lionheart, and Miss Victory) gives points to disperse amongst pre determined attributes as well as Dex and Str. Battlebug uses:

Dex (attack and defence, most important physical stat)
Str (lifting and whacking stuff)
Power Reserve (which can boost Dex and Str and the following abilities)
Kinetic Absorption (soak up physical damage)
Energy Absorption (soak up energy damage)
Jumping (use to get about)
Cling (wall crawling)
Sealed Systems (holding his breath)
Analytical Smell (tracking scent/identify scents)

His best attack is:

Adrenaline Surge 24 GO FOR BROKE then choose either +4/-6 (not too tricky and easily doable) or +8/-12 (harder but gives massive boost) on Dex/Str/Power Reserve to boost them all at the same time.

Then multi attack with a devastating attack on as many bad guys as you like!

He is a brick that jumps about, makes smart alec remarks, can take a hit (boost power reserve then split it between Kinetic and Energy Absorption) and doles it out with a staggering punch (Dex 30+ Str 30+). Could he take Frostbite in one punch? Easily. Could Frostbite take him out with one shot? Easily. All boils down to initiative and Frostbite has a couple points more in that.

How powerful is he? Boosted up with a great roll, he would fit neatly amongst the top ten supers in the world. Without that? He has 8 points of power reserve to spread about and usually piles that into Dex. His adrenaline surge does occasionally burn out and he's in real trouble then.

All of this is kind of crunchy and I am happy (as usual) to help out with the fiddly bits. With that in mind I will amend your actions to represent what the youngster might do (he's not very complicated - he jumps about and hit things and isn't a great shot with distant weapons, but when is boosted up he is deadly accurate even if not at his best).

His friend and mentor was down.

Battlebug knew Frostbite would be up on his feet before long. There was nothing he couldn't do and he had more powers and abilities than anyone. On top of that he was smart and had a tactical mind like few others. Billy frowned under his mask. He could summon power from... somewhere. Lots of power. Then use it to hit stuff. Assuming it didn't go 'pop' and stop working like it did at the worst times... He glanced out of the tree line. Three opponents. Uh oh.

Without costumes or any type of visible abilities there was little to differentiate them and mark one out as a target over another.

Best get punching then...

OOC initiative... THIS WILL BE CRUCIAL!!!

Roll(4d12)+0:
7,4,4,7

Battlebug (Pow Res into Dex) 30 + 7 (37)
Geant (Giant) 28 + 4 (32)
Magique 25 + 4 (29)
Warpstar 28 + 7 (35)

Battlebug wins initiative then Warpstar. Geant and Magique. Though these guys aren't pushovers I would expect BB or Frostbite to be able to take all three down with one attack!!! Strom (who took Frosty down) is with Stonelord.

So decide how much to boost adren surge by (nothing/+4/+8/+12/+16 (the last two I don't recall BB trying)) then attack as many opponents as you think you can handle (punching is the best bet but you can try the tearing tree up tactic if you wish).

Hope that helps!

Admin wrote:

OOC initiative... THIS WILL BE CRUCIAL!!!

Roll(4d12)+0:
7,4,4,7

Battlebug (Pow Res into Dex) 30 + 7 (37)
Geant (Giant) 28 + 4 (32)
Magique 25 + 4 (29)
Warpstar 28 + 7 (35)

Battlebug wins initiative then Warpstar. Geant and Magique. Though these guys aren't pushovers I would expect BB or Frostbite to be able to take all three down with one attack!!! Strom (who took Frosty down) is with Stonelord.

So decide how much to boost adren surge by (nothing/+4/+8/+12/+16 (the last two I don't recall BB trying)) then attack as many opponents as you think you can handle (punching is the best bet but you can try the tearing tree up tactic if you wish).

Hope that helps!

OOC: That helps enormously, thanks for that. So judging by your notes, His best attack is:

Admi wrote:Adrenaline Surge 24 GO FOR BROKE then choose either +4/-6 (not too tricky and easily doable) or +8/-12 (harder but gives massive boost) on Dex/Str/Power Reserve to boost them all at the same time.

Then multi-attack with a devastating attack on as many bad guys as you like!

So Battle Bug will go for that. Forget using a tree as a battering ram, lets jump at em and see if we can't lay some smackdown.

Battle Bug, was made, his friend and mentor were down. This Stone Lord was more a pebble in the shoe of decent people who'd had more than enough. His whole persona seems to be a front and that was afront to Battle Bug and all he knew Frostbite and the Vanguard stood for. More innocent people working unassumingly had become the victims of this mean and dangerous game to capture and humiliate the Vanguard let alone the UKChampions. And now it had come to this. Frostbite was down, but Battle Bug knew he had to do something to pull their fat out of the fire. Though inexperienced, he was learning fast and with his considerable abilities, seeking to use that to help rather than harm people who constantly thought nothing of others to gain their own selfish ends.

It made him mad, but he sought to focus his strengths as Frostbite had shown him, humour was as much a way for him to take his mind off that rage, the rage he felt at his own personal tragedies, but also at what was going on here. He fought to subdue and to capture not kill. That would be a staggering burden he'd rather not bear on his conscience.

He focused tightly seeing his opportunity to leap out and do what still staggered him, to those who sought to harm them all. Capture not kill, he said in his head and his felt the explosive release of power building within him and focused it on those three who were searching.

Sj

OOC Phew, what a week. Another step closer to getting the house where I need it to be.

Battlebug knew he had to take the fight to the enemy!

OOC Adren Surge 24 Go for broke +4/-6
AS24 + Roll(6d12)+0: 5,4,12,3,10,1,+0 Total:23 (47) vs
Highest OV8 + Multi 4 + GFB 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,11,+0 Total:20 (36) Success +5 (to 29EV) vs Highest RV 8 + Multi 4 - GFB 6 (RV6)=23 RAPs.

Dex and Str boost to 31 and 29, Power Reserve to 31. A point to Dex (32) and Str (30) and 15/14 split to Energy Absorption (20) and Kinetic Absorption (18)

Crit Blow Multi on 3 AV32 + 2D M Arts (2D Acro) + Roll(4d12)+0: 12,10,3,3,+0 Total:6 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 12,11,+0 Total:29 (61) vs
Highest OV18 + Multi 4 + Crit Blow 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,10,+0 Total:16 (38) Hit + 7 (to 37) vs Highest RV16 + Multi 4 - Crit Blow 6 (RV14)=23. All three bad guys are DOWN and OUT.

With a crack like thunder the youngster moves like lightning, delivering an earth shattering blow to each of the three villains and sending each flying in a different direction!

He spun, looking for the other bad guys... when he was engulfed in fire, explosions and bullets as the helicopter gunships locked him in their sights! The fools! He was on THEIR side! Battlebug was about to leap off after the other bad guys - and Stonelord especially - when he noticed a couple of stray missiles fly over his head... and one of them would strike his unconscious friend and leader unless HE could stop it!

=========

"What on earth was THAT?" spluttered a black garbed operative.

Stone Lord had a sinking feeling. There had been a blur, then three seismic cracks, and three of his 'team' had been dispatched in a heartbeat, their unconscious forms falling to mostly soft landings in the grassy meadow adjacent to the grounds! The blur - dressed in black - had then been fired upon by the incoming helicopters... they must be SMITE, surely! How could he play this? He thought fast.

=========

Battlebug had seconds to act before the missile struck!

He would have to somehow overtake it, intercept it, stop it ...

In the meantime he ignored the pounding of bullets and ring of explosions as rockets fired on him again!

Admin wrote:Battlebug had seconds to act before the missile struck!

He would have to somehow overtake it, intercept it, stop it ...

In the meantime he ignored the pounding of bullets and ring of explosions as rockets fired on him again!

Although he was sure that he could stop it, it all depended on timing. If the missile struck the boss, given his propensity toward fire, he'd be cooked so good he'd barely leave a puddle on the ground! The world without Frostbite was unthinkable, esp with new threats emerging. Besides which Catherine was cute and he didn't want to get on her bad side by explain what had happened.

OOC: GO, go, go gadget whatever to stop those missiles or move Frostbite out of their path whatever would be easier.

Sj

Battlebug pushed himself, aware that if he pushed too hard he would burn his power out!

What was his power anyway? He'd put it down to Adrenaline but that was only the phsyical part of it. From somewhere it seemed he could summon vast amounts of energy to boost his physical abilities, albeit only for a short time. He also know from experience that the more he did it, the greater the chance of it 'burning out'. Still, he knew what he had to do so...

OOC Go for broke +8/-12 Adren Surge 24 + Accuracy 4D + Roll(6d12)+0: 4,3,2,10,10,10,+0 Total:20 DOUBLE (though those first two dice were a bit low! Burns out on 6 on the first two dice rolled... )plus Roll(2d12)+0: 10,9,+0 Total:39 (63) vs
Highest OV8 + Multi 4 + GFB 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,3,+0 Total:5 (25) Success +9 (to 33) vs RV8 + Multi 4 - GFB 12 (RV0)=33 RAPs

Dex (41), Str (39) and Power Reserve (41) boosted, points to Kinetic Absorption and Energy Absorption (15/15) and Jumping (11)

Dex 41 + acrobatics 3D + Roll(5d12)+0: 1,12,10,12,4,+0 Total:24 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 8,1,+0 Total:33 (74) vs
OV12 (speed of missile) + range 6 + modifier (difficulty to catch something already past him) 12 (Herculean) + Roll(2d12)+0: 4,9,+0 Total:13 (43) Success +8 (to 47 Str) vs Body of Missile 7 +12 Herculean=28 RAPs. Success (and them some).

There was an explosion and Stone Lord looked across the field of his churned up estate to see a missile... flare up for a nano second then the billowing flame and shock waved simply vanished! Instead he saw a dot - the boy - in black land and pick up his fallen friend. Those two had foiled the plan, led SMITE here and downed some of the best that Eurotrash had to offer! If they'd followed him here that meant they knew of his involvement with Eurotrash to undermine the UKChampions and his time was, as a hero, effectively over!

With a sigh he shook his head. The gambling debts, the lifestyle... it wasn't his fault! The powers should have come with money and fame! He shouldn't have to earn it! The country should be grateful to have someone like him to protect them, and shouldn't that come with a cost? The UKChampions allowance barely covered expenses and the insistence that all appearances and endorsements go to charity was utter nonsense! He looked around. His family home, mortgaged time and again to pay off his burgeoning debts and extravagant lifestyle, would soon have been restored to its rightful glory, and with none the wiser he could have continued using his powers to become the greatest hero the country had ever seen! Of course, it would have helped to know the movements of villains in order to be able to bring them in and Eurotrash would have done that, eliminating their own enemies in the process! the plan had been flawless, foolproof!

He stared hard at the youngster several hundred yards away who had scooped up the body of his dark clad companion.

Whoever they were, they would pay with their lives for ruining his plan! He gripped his fists, hard, and the ground started shaking around him!

"Whoa!" said one of the Eurotrash operatives. "What... Yo! This wasn't part of the plan! You were supposed to..."

"I KNOW what I was supposed to do! THEY spoiled it! And they called THEM!" he snarled, pointing at the distant dark clad dots near the woods and the incoming gunships.

"We can take the helicopters!" said the operative.

"Can you take THEM?" snarled Stonelord? He thought furiously. Who might it be that... Then he stopped.

Frostbite. The Vanguard.

A cold feeling went down his spine and his eyes widened. The Vanguard, with THAT boy everyone had been talking about. Stonelord had thought him a joke but it seemed the stories were true. Frostbite was the true danger though. He was training the boy, moulding him, shaping him... Frostbite on his own was a class 5 superhero, no doubt about it. Something had changed about him so that he could trade punches with the big hitters and come out on top. More than that, he'd recruited the kid whose power levels - supposedly - were off ANY chart! Neither were unbeatable of course, but together? And maybe...

He glanced about the sky. The Vanguard were viewed in the UKChampions halls as 'the elite'. Best of the best. Some scoffed, others sneered. The big hitters... Atomica, Majestic, the others... even Adjutant, when he wasn't off in deep space ... all acknowledged that the primary goal of the UKChampions must be to induct Frostbite into their ranks. A natural leader, warrior and figurehead, he would draw powerful allies to him and the UKC would be the most... well, at least up there with the Ultrahumans!

Stonelord gulped. He was powerful but it was well known in hero circles that Frostbite didn't stay down long. When he was up on his feet...

"Time to go!" he announced and turned to place a hand on the stone wall nearby.

"What...?" said one Eurotrash operative. They glanced at each other, then back at Stonelord... who vanished!

=========

"Boss?" muttered the whispered voice in the trees.

Frostbite opened his eyes, glanced about, then 'iced up'. Billy - without his ski mask - was crouched over him, glancing about and presumably protecting him from harm.

"How long...?" he begun to ask.

"Seconds. Maybe 30. If that." replied the boy.

OOC Recovery Body 11 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,10,+0 Total:13 (24) vs
OV0 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,5,+0 Total:17 (17) Success +4 (to 15) vs RV0=FULL BODY/MIND/SPIRIT

[REBOOTING] said Frostbot inside his head.

[All bodily functions operating in normal parameters. Welcome back] said Frostbot. Sounds of gunfire and rockets going off in the distance prompted Frostbite to sit up and turn. The pair of heroes watched as specially trained SMITE commandos stormed the mansion, energy weapons sounds mixing with standard gunfire and the sound of explosions from stun grenades!

"Should we go help them Boss? No way I was leaving you here." said Billy, pulling on the ski mask again. "But we look like bad guys. Maybe they'll shoot at us again. Then again... no way their weapons will affect that Stone Lord creep! We gotta take him down!"

=========

Stone Lord looked at the distant smoke, snarling.

His plans were shattered, in ruins. He had to get back to Eurotrash and ... what? Beg for protection? He would be the UKChampions prime target now and he needed to lie low. Those two running the Eurotrash show now... Saladin and Frostbyte. They would throw him to the wolves unless... he revealed what he knew of the UKChampions secrets? Identities, locations, access codes, secret stashes... Time was of the essence! The UKC would soon change all his codes if they knew he was compromised!

"Curse you Frostbite!" he snarled. "I WILL have my revenge!" He turned and placed his hand on a rock, and vanished again!

Admin wrote:"Curse you Frostbite!" he snarled. "I WILL have my revenge!" He turned and placed his hand on a rock, and vanished again!

OOC: Love the write-up!

Frostbite thanked Billy, he was truly in a difficult bind, but with the loss of seconds 30 or more a lot could and was happening. The hostages were safe, but there was the evidence he needed to retrieve and hostiles to still subdue and perhaps an unsolved mystery in that others might still be trapped within the mansion.

"Billy, you did good. Really good, I'm indebted to you my friend. But the time for a cold beer and a slap on the back need to wait. Yup, you're right, we can't stand back let's get out of these enemy uniforms we don't need to draw the wrong kind of fire again. And then we can see if we can lend a hand retrieve our evidence and see if we can't stop Stonelord from doing any more harm. Lets go!"

Sj

The pair of Vanguardians took off towards the house.

The SMITE commandos were elite special forces troops who were enhanced with exoskeletons that enhanced their strength and physical capabilities along with providing some protection against weapons.

Add that to add on weapons like grenade launchers, flame throwers, high voltage stun gloves and more besides, they were walking tanks!

Unfortunately they were up against super serum enhanced Eurotrash mercenaries and two remaining supers... one of which was in view, the other seemed to have moved out of sight for the moment.

The bulky, rocky figure stood on the paved rear courtyard of the mansion and laughed off shots that pinged from his rocky hide!



"I'll find the other one!" said Battlebug "Plus, I have to change my costume or the good guys will keep shooting at me! Back in a sec!" he said as he veered off to bound back to the part of the Mansion where they'd freed the hostages and BB had changed his clothes.

[Database: Blockade is a criminal who can summon a near impenetrable stone covering that not only protects him but enhances his strength and endurance. He is particularly resistant to temperature extremes and super dense so physical kinetic impacts do not trouble him. However given your recent improvements in energy enhancements to your powers I predict that he will not present a threat to us. The danger lies in a prolonged battle where collateral damage may cause danger to the freed hostages. I recommend blasting him at short range or direct hand to hand combat for a more... satisfying... conclusion to the threat that he poses. If he is disabled the remaining Eurotrash enhanciles should surrender or seek to depart immediately, given the failure of the supers with them.] said Frostbot.

Frostbite glanced at Billy. The youngster had sped off in the direction of the house and he could catch up with him easily enough to suggest they stay together but Frostbite himself might find this more ... satisfying!

Admin wrote:Frostbite glanced at Billy. The youngster had sped off in the direction of the house and he could catch up with him easily enough to suggest they stay together but Frostbite himself might find this more ... satisfying!

Like this cool nature, Frostbite wasn't one to get hot under the collar. But this whole Eurotrash thing had, unwittingly, been in part because he and Battle Bug had allowed Saladin and Frostbyte of an alternate dimension into this one. Now that they were here, he had a whole lot of mess to clear up. Having been solidly knocked out, and kicked seven ways to Sunday, he was in no mood for this bozo to stand in their way. He formed a super-dense hard shell around himself feeling his weight gain and his muscles stiffen as he moved forward towering over the men around him and moving in to snag this Stonelord wannabe before things got unnecessarily ugly.

OOC: OK going for density increase, and going to tag him using martial arts skills to see if I can't wing him and good. Go for a Devastating attack as well.

Sj

Frostbite flew up and across the grounds, glancing at the running battle between the enhanced Eurotrash super agents and the SMITE exo skeleton equipped coammandos.

The fight was fairly even - the Eurotrash agents were more powerful, the Commandos more skillful and better equipped.

Encasing himself in ice that was harder than any steel, Frostbite landed a short distance away from Blockade who spun. "Ha!Who are you supposed to... you're the Vanguardian. Frostbite." he hissed. Flexing his fists and towering over Frostbite he snarled "Stone against Ice eh? The others have mentioned you. Supposed to be unbeatable. Worse than the UKChumps. I'll get a real rep for taking you out!" he added as he pounded towards Frostbite!

OOC Frostbite wins initiative.

With Density Increase powered up (from 5 to 15) and applied, Frostbite weighs 750 tons (!) and has 25 Strength (!) along with 26 Resistance (not enough to ignore a nuclear explosion but enough that he can just about walk away from a blast. Or hobble.) If he touches the floor he's going to sink into the ground, so he'll have to hover as he fights... Frostbite sees the ground around Blockade has already sunk because of his weight and where he'd trodden as every footstep sunk at least a foot into the floor!

Dex 12 + 2D M Arts + Roll(4d12)+0: 10,6,10,10,+0 Total:20 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 7,4,+0 Total: 31 (43) vs
OV8 + 2D Acrobatics + Dev Attack 8 + Roll(4d12)+0: 8,5,4,11,+0 Total:19 (35) Hit +4 (to 29) vs RV22 - Dev Attack 12 (RV10)=19 RAPs. Kinetic Absorption is overloaded and Blockade is knocked spark out! THOOM!

Anger fuels his punch as Frostbite delivers a rock shattering punch to Blockade's jaw! The big man falls like a felled tree and the walls of the mansion shudder as he crashes to the ground!

The Eurotrash agents see the super they were supporting felled by a single blow and decide discretion is the better part of valour! Some fly, others leap or run and they scatter in all directions, pursued by SMITE commandos!

OOC Chase the Eurotrash agents or go find Battlebug - there's stil lone remaining Eurotrash super knocking about somewhere too...?

Admin wrote:The Eurotrash agents see the super they were supporting felled by a single blow and decide discretion is the better part of valour! Some fly, others leap or run and they scatter in all directions, pursued by SMITE commandos!

OOC Chase the Eurotrash agents or go find Battlebug - there's stil lone remaining Eurotrash super knocking about somewhere too...?

OOC: Talk about bringing the THUNDER!!! I can feel the reverberations from here

Frostbite was sorely tested, and testy. He didn't really find anger a problem, but when he did it was usually because he felt for the folk who got in the way when men and women with too much power and too little sense of responsibility did nothing but further their own gain. That sense of injustice, that the weak got trodden on whilst the strong just took what they wanted irrespective of the effects, or the victims were all it took to get him good and angry. And right now he had had about enough of Eurotrash and Stone Lord and the whole mess that he was partly responsible for. But if there was a mess, the only thing to do, no matter how unpleasant, was to take responsibility and start to clear it up.

Flying up and over the mansion, he looked for Battle Bug, seeking to regroup to take on any other supers especially as their help was backing out. Frostbite knew if a super was backed into a corner they might fight dirty and he had to contain that for the sake of minimising collateral damage.

Sj

FROSTBITE

Soaring over the mansion and back to where the pair had changed costumes, Frostbite felt confident the SMITE commandos could handle the Eurotrash enhanced agents.

Having seen an ultra powerful Eurotrash super laid out with a single seismic stone shattering blow, it had become clear that they were out of their league.

He swooped down to the window they'd climbed out of and into the room. Billy had changed clothes - the dark clothing and ski mask were discarded on the floor in typical messy teenager fashion! He'd have to teach him about leaving things behind - DNA, hair follicles and the like.

Just then Frostbot spoke inside Frostbites head

Joe Rigdon was an American country boy at heart. The other person inside of him - Joe Hoskyn, the man who he'd been, was a man from the 1940s and sometimes the two overlapped. It was easy to leave technology to Frostbot so he could get on with the important stuff - running the team, fighting bad guys and so on. Wait... what was Frostbot saying...?

[Battlebugs transponder has been disconnected from the cellular network that Wandafar piggybacks on to track his vital signs. He is... gone.]

The youngster regularly went 'off piste' so it wasn't unusual as such but he'd normally say something to Frostbite, his friend, leader, mentor and the man he looked up to over all others. Frostbite might be uncomfortable with that given how powerful the youngster was himself but it was a fact he had to live with. He'd also been abducted recently and the Vanguardian leader was somewhat reluctant to 'lose' him again!

"Gone?" muttered Frostbite, glancing around at the empty, bare room and reaching down to grasp the clothes. He wasn't sure what he would glean from them but Billy had been in here, changed back into his Battlebug costume and ... gone?

OOC Int 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,9,+0 Total:16 (25) vs
OV7 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,5,+0 Total:6 (13) Success +5 (to 13 EV) vs RV7=6 RAPs

1+ RAPs Battlebug was seemingly not attacked inside this room. There are no signs of his being involved in combat here. With a superhuman as vastly strong - far beyond even Frostbites staggering world class superhuman strength levels - as Battlebug was, even the slightest application of force might bring this whole place down! That hadn't happened. That suggested he changed in here then left via the door to access the landing on this floor.

Frostbite moved to the doorway. Listening, he heard nothing and opened it a crack. Peering out he saw... the corridor empty. The place was stripped bare of anything of value - even the carpets - and it was clear why Stonelord had tried something - anything - to get the funds to restore this place. Turning into a criminal, a traitor, to the team mates and country h professed to hold so dear had been the final fall from grace for Stonelord and the UKChampions needed to know about what he'd done and who he was now working with. Indeed, even now the UKC could be in grave danger! Stonelord probably still had access codes and the means to infiltrate UKC headquarters. He might simply ... open the doors to Eurotrash!

Frostbite stopped. Billy could take care of himself - he hoped. This with Stonelord was serious. The former hero turned villain had seemingly escaped and could lay bare to the world all of the secrets he knew about the UKChampions. Secret identities, finances, safe houses, weaknesses of individuals... They needed to be told immediately and safeguards put in place. Might they trust a phone call from him or would they - more likely - need convincing in person? He was a divisive figure at UKChampions councils. On the one hand he was ultra powerful, successful, helpful and cooperative with the UKC and considered a future member and leader of the whole organisation with many including some notoriously difficult to get on with like Atomica. On the other he could be seen to be an usurper, sneaking in through the side door to get the 'keys to the kingdom'.

Of course his own thoughts were anything but usually - the Vanguard were his focus.

Still, he could take time out to pre warn the UKC of what was coming their way then resume his search for Billy...

Admin wrote:Of course his own thoughts were anything but usually - the Vanguard were his focus.

Still, he could take time out to pre-warn the UKC of what was coming their way then resume his search for Billy...

Having given so much to rescue the lad, Frostbite normally so clear-minded felt torn. If Billy had gone off-plan, it must be something that would put aside his normal willingness to follow Frostbite's order to hell and back. That must mean something personal, something so personal that he had to risk everything to follow it up. But as much as it hurt, the UK had just faced a huge setback, a massive attack and his enemies were still out there. The UKC was a big part of defending the nation, and with them compromised or exposed it could open a nasty door of Pandorian proportions on a fragile nation. His choice was clear, though deeply unpleasant and uncomfortable.

But having made it he had no choice. He quickly went down for the evidence that they had taken from the computers on the Hard drive they'd stashed safely away before flying off through the grounds back towards London and praying it wasn't already too late.

Sj

Frostbite moved through the corridors and headed ever down.

The place was pretty much deserted now with the workers having been moved to a safer room and the battle taking place outside. He headed for the hard drive and hoped Battlebug could look after himself. It did seem odd though. Disconnected from the cellular network.

That suggested another EMP, network down or he was out or range.

RING RING!

Frostbite paused and glanced about. The ringing of his phone echoed through the empty hallways of this grand old house. Even the carpets were mostly taken up and had been sold. It was auto answered by Frostbot who announced it was Wandafar on the other end of the phone.

"Vut did you just do?" he squawked down the phone. "I vuz monitoring stuff und all is good zen ze boy boogered off again. Like gone. Did he destroy his transponder? His phone? Is he ok? Did he get taken to ze mejic lend again?"

Frostbite was about to answer when he heard Wandafar swore down the line.

"I found him. Vot ze blummin eck is ze boy playing et? Vy is he on Ze dark side of ze Moon?"

"Maybe I can answer that. Hee hee!" came a voice from down the corridor and Frostbite spun about!

There were two terrified house staff with a hand on each of their shoulders by a man stood behind them.



"They call me ... hee hee... Moon Boy... because I'd go crazy and ... hee hee.. nuts when the moon came out! I showed them... hee hee..." he cackled. "Moon Boy. I showed them. I showed your friend. I don't know him, but I know you. I've seen you on the news. Frostbite. Big shot. Big hero. Kicks ass. I'll show you... hee hee... Been looking around for whoever made a mess of the plan and find the kid... hee hee... gave him a choice. The same choice I will give you..."

He cackled evilly from where he stood behind the human shields he hid behind.

"I told the boy it was him... or them! I gave a demonstration..."

The two staff - an elderly lady and a man in his late forties who looked to be a gardener - were terrified and shaking like leaves! The man spluttered "He made Alfie disappear! He made your friend choose! Him or us!"

"So heroic...hee hee..." said Moon Boy. "Noble sacrifice and all that. So stupid. Still... it's what you do, so choose."

"Them... or you?"

"Vut's going on?" squawked Wandafar in the earpiece.

Admin wrote:"Them... or you?"

"Vut's going on?" squawked Wandafar in the earpiece.

At least Frostbite had an answer to what was going on, but more importantly, he had a problem first how to retrieve Battle Bug, but also how to make sure that this madman didn't end up sending others to the Moon, to asphyxiate. "Hang on Moon Boy, I'd be mad as you to take that deal. Sure I go but what is to stop you from sending others anyway? What is to say that you will keep your end of the bargain, that is a one time deal."

Frostbite communicated with Frostbite as he talked, thinking perhaps the man might respond if Frostbite felt terror or helplessness. Clearly being mad didn't mean he wasn't interested in getting something out of this whole crazy scenario. Perhaps he prayed on the fear and helplessness of the situation.

'Frostbot, I need a way to distract this clown and take him down urgently. But also need someone to rescue Battle Bug, is there something you can do that will mean this loony tune can be distracted for me to get a bead on him?'

It was a risk, but no more so than letting the bargain play out as he wished.

Sj

FROSTBITE

Frostbot responded [The villain appears to have a powerful defensive ability that affects anyone or thing he considers a threat. He can also use it offensively but in such a case it cannot be used for offence AND defence. Battlebug must have attacked him and teleported him away. I have texted Wandafar at Vanguard HQ and his reply was 'Blinkin flip. Zis is not good. I shell retask a satellite to look at ze moon. It may take a few seconds.' The SMITE Commandos appear to be succeeding at their task according to the snatched radio transmissions I was able to intercept and decode. I suggest you delay him. Please also note that Battlebug is an unknown quanity. We have not had time to assess, quantify and measure his superhuman abilities. Wandafar speculated that the youngster could be resistant to natural environmental effects much as you are. If that was the case he has time on his side. The problem the youngster does have is that whilst he can jump an unmeasured distance, possibly dozens, hundreds or even thousands of miles, doing so in space could prove catastrophic. If he leaves the surface of the moon he may drift into space and he will surely perish in that case.]

"Heee hee hee! I hold all the cards hero! Your little buddy in the bug costume thought he could - in his words - 'knock my teeth out the back of my head'! Heee heee! I showed him, yes I did! And I'll show you! Let's see..." he glanced at the two hostages. "Eeeny, meany, miney, mo..." Moon Boy started to recite...

Frostbot added se retrieval from the SMITE Helicopter uplink to their database. They detected an unexpected intrusion to their system and severed the link but the partial file was as follows:

MOON BOY also known as Michael Reddings
Age 25
Caucasian
Status: Criminal, at large
Known affiliates: Eurotrash, Insidious Incorporated, The Dangerous Dozen
Known abilities: Early warning 'Danger Sense' suspected - some kind of supernatural or mental ability but details unknown
Teleportation - unconscious defensive ability that teleports anyone or thing that comes within close contact to him and triggers his Danger sense to effectively make his body a gateway to another place, typical the luna satellite orbiting the Earth. He can use it offensively but not at the same time it is being used defensively so must ignore or override his defensive instincts. He is practised at this. Effectively invulnerable to physical harm when he is acting defensively. Can teleport to within line of sight range at the very least, limits unknown. He uses his danger sense to predict where not to appear. Very hard to restrain and he has absconded on at least a dozen occasions, usually from mental institutions.
Some training or natural ability in combat and melee evasion techniques

Reddings gained his powers after an explosion in the laboratory he worked at (as a university student) irradiated several of the workers. He was the only one to survive the process but was irrevocably changed and his mental state shattered. When he recovered his senses months later his new outlook on life was to exact revenge on all those he perceived had bullied or put him down. When the moon is in the sky he is at his most irrational and has killed on numerous occasions by teleporting people onto the dark side of the moon. Our retasked satellites (see note 4 about US military satellite 884xb designation 'lookout agenda') have seen evidence of a number of bodies - more than two dozen - piled up in a spot on the moon. He seems to care nothing for material wealth or power, instead acting irrationally and with murderous sociopath tendencies whenever ... <transmission severed>[/b]]

OOC You are dealing with a murderous villain! Whilst most of Eurotrash are content to earn or steal enough money to supply their next week or few weeks of entertainment/fast cars/loose women/whatever, this guy is one of the nasty ones! Tread carefully...

Admin wrote:FROSTBITE

OOC You are dealing with a murderous villain! Whilst most of Eurotrash are content to earn or steal enough money to supply their next week or few weeks of entertainment/fast cars/loose women/whatever, this guy is one of the nasty ones! Tread carefully...[/color]

Frostbite thought if he could delay this mad man long enough for Smite to arrive, he might yet overwhelm him since he couldn't simultaneously go on the offensive and defensive at the same time. But there was also another approach, since his danger sense warned him of danger, what if he wasn't a danger?

He had to keep the madman talking long enough to figure out an approach that could take advantage of his one apparent weakness here.

"So tell me which one of these has done harm to you, did they cause the accident that brought you to this place? Does it make any difference to your peace of mind - does it bring relief?"

Frostbite was wanting to try and leverage conversation, especially about his past to try and see if he could access a part of his advisory that could take his focus off forcing him to chose to be teleported anyway. He had to try something, what worried him most was if Smite got here and they got teleported before he could go on the offensive? The stakes were high, and he wanted to avoid collateral damage at all costs.

Sj

FROSTBITE

The madman smiled, grinning and rolling his neck. "Oooh you sound like my therapist! oh Doctor, let me tell you all about it! They tried to use me as a weapon! It tipped... hee hee... me over the edge! Cuckoo!" he pulled a face and rolled his eyes....

"...Repeat, are you reading me?" squawked a voice in Frostbite's ear. Catherine!

"Inbound on the Valkyrie flier with the team. ETA... imminent. When we get closer we'll slip into stealth mode. We have you on the radar and will head for your position. Repeat, this is Valkyrie Flier inbound with the VANGUARD."

Frostbite started. The whole team was on its way. That might be a good thing or... a bad thing! If this guy were to teleport others to the moon like he'd done with Billy... Battlebug had an array of abilities that could help him survive, even in the harsh environment of space. Or so he hoped. They'd never properly tested, catalogued or measured his abilities. There'd been no time.

And now he was running... or out of time!

"... and they said! We can't cure this guy! He's nuts! Needs locking up! Tee hee! His abilities can't be controlled, he's a danger to us all... blah blah! What do they know. Anyway since then I've made myself a new collection, a nice tidy mountain on the moon! Anyone that gets in me way goes on a one way trip!" he laughed, cackling...

OOC Delay until the V Flyer gets here or SMITE - they are working their way through the building and will arrive on the scene soon...

Admin wrote:"... and they said! We can't cure this guy! He's nuts! Needs locking up! Tee hee! His abilities can't be controlled, he's a danger to us all... blah blah! What do they know. Anyway since then I've made myself a new collection, a nice tidy mountain on the moon! Anyone that gets in me way goes on a one way trip!" he laughed, cackling...

OOC Delay until the V Flyer gets here or SMITE - they are working their way through the building and will arrive on the scene soon...

OOC: OK I am still going to go for the delay, the only other way around this is that I attack and if I do that I get transported and this guy is free to go on taking others to the moon! But you know I am beginning to have serious doubts about this strategy. I think him shifting me is going to come down to initiative, and I am wondering if there is a way I can distract him, or give myself the advantage. I did think of using the floor in a non-threatening way, starting to change the environment so that it being colder isn't a specific threat to him, but more a change like the passing of seasons, as I talk and try and stall him. But it might just be that I've got to get a blast in before he can react anyway and take the hit come what may? Man this couldn't be more complicated I really wanted to make sure the UKC didn't get their secrets splashed all over the place but now this is going to seriously delay me getting that sorted one way or another.

Sj

FROSTBITE

The hero put his hands up to placate the villain. "At the end of the day we all want something. What do you want? I have some pull with the authorities..."

"Ha! Have you SEEN the news? The VANGUARD is the current media darling!" he laughed. "You and your lil buddy are the new 'big kids on the block'. We gotta take the old ones down first though before we get to you... heee hee" cackled Moon Boy. "I done my research, see? No brain powers, that's what you got! No magic, no mind control, no zap... You're all... 'Ooooh look at me! I'm so tough. Nuthin can hurt me.' as you strut around looking all... blue." snarled the lunatic.

"But here's the thing. We got our OWN blue boy now. Alright he's in white but he's got one o them chest things - dome watchamacallit - like you. And the other guy?" he laughed, though Frostbite saw his demeanour change somewhat. "He's... we just do what he tells us to do." he adds quietly.

Whilst the madman was ranting Frostbite had glances at a radiator on the wall behind the fellow. A thought - a tickle even - and one of the pipes had frozen up and split slightly. It was seeping now and running onto the floor. Frostbite could ice that up to attack from behind rather than any icy blast coming directly from him where it might hit the hostages.

"...and another thing! Once we're in charge it will be free chocolate biscuits! For ALL Heee heee heee. No more paying supermarket prices..." rambled the bad guy.

Frostbot spoke up [Perhaps his protection is instinctual due to his early warning danger sense. Therefore the process to 'trick' it would be to present it with a greater danger or multiple dangers. He might process one or more, but not all of them. Then when he is distracted and aware 'something is happening' a single ice dart from behind might suffice. If that does not, we are in ... trouble.] stated the automated symbiote. [Another method may be to overwhelm the protective field around him. He seems able to turn it off in order to hold the hostages. Or...] there was a pause. [Or The hostages will fall too but if you are fast enough a bed of soft snow underneath them may help. Alternatively your reflexes can only be described as 'Astonishing'. (OOC Dex 12. Yup. Batman has 10, or 9 depending on write up and you make him look slow) You may be able to catch the hostages and the villain will undoubtedly teleport away. There is no mention of him flying. That may save the hostages in the short term but to apprehend Moon Boy may require a mentallist or mystic.]

"....noooo there won't be any more of that! When Eurotrash are in charge it will be borders open to all, and if you want something, you take it! Anarchy! Anarchy in the UK! Heee heee!" Moon Boy cackled. "Someone should write a song about that." he added, pondering.

Admin wrote:FROSTBITE

The hero put his hands up to placate the villain. "At the end of the day we all want something. What do you want? I have some pull with the authorities..."

"Ha! Have you SEEN the news? The VANGUARD is the current media darling!" he laughed. "You and your lil buddy are the new 'big kids on the block'. We gotta take the old ones down first though before we get to you... heee hee" cackled Moon Boy. "I done my research, see? No brain powers, that's what you got! No magic, no mind control, no zap... You're all... 'Ooooh look at me! I'm so tough. Nuthin can hurt me.' as you strut around looking all... blue." snarled the lunatic.

"But here's the thing. We got our OWN blue boy now. Alright he's in white but he's got one o them chest things - dome watchamacallit - like you. And the other guy?" he laughed, though Frostbite saw his demeanour change somewhat. "He's... we just do what he tells us to do." he adds quietly.

Whilst the madman was ranting Frostbite had glances at a radiator on the wall behind the fellow. A thought - a tickle even - and one of the pipes had frozen up and split slightly. It was seeping now and running onto the floor. Frostbite could ice that up to attack from behind rather than any icy blast coming directly from him where it might hit the hostages.

"...and another thing! Once we're in charge it will be free chocolate biscuits! For ALL Heee heee heee. No more paying supermarket prices..." rambled the bad guy.

Frostbot spoke up [Perhaps his protection is instinctual due to his early warning danger sense. Therefore the process to 'trick' it would be to present it with a greater danger or multiple dangers. He might process one or more, but not all of them. Then when he is distracted and aware 'something is happening' a single ice dart from behind might suffice. If that does not, we are in ... trouble.] stated the automated symbiote. [Another method may be to overwhelm the protective field around him. He seems able to turn it off in order to hold the hostages. Or...] there was a pause. [Or The hostages will fall too but if you are fast enough a bed of soft snow underneath them may help. Alternatively your reflexes can only be described as 'Astonishing'. (OOC Dex 12. Yup. Batman has 10, or 9 depending on write up and you make him look slow) You may be able to catch the hostages and the villain will undoubtedly teleport away. There is no mention of him flying. That may save the hostages in the short term but to apprehend Moon Boy may require a mentallist or mystic.]

"....noooo there won't be any more of that! When Eurotrash are in charge it will be borders open to all, and if you want something, you take it! Anarchy! Anarchy in the UK! Heee heee!" Moon Boy cackled. "Someone should write a song about that." he added, pondering.

Frostbite began to nod, whilst he divested part of his mind to concentrate. Slowly lowering the temperature on the floor, so it wasn't obvious, trying to cushion the floor from under the carpet, whilst at the same time freezing pipes in the walls and the radiator seeking to create an explosion from multiple directions whilst avoiding any direct harm to Moon Boy and his hostages.

OOC: Is the Vanguard Flyer spaceworthy? Just thinking about how to get Battle Bug back and have them on standby there? I think probably not! And if not then need to get Frostbot to contact Wandafar and arrange transport for Battle Bug, if possible.

Sj