Re: The Ultrahumans! Issue #3 starring Miss Victory and Lionheart "And there came a reckoning!"

Steeple_jackuk Tue Aug 17 2021, 14:18

Admin wrote:OOC Geography not the strong suit, I'll admit! I'll alter the course of the missile towards New Orleans (and yeah, I had to check that was in Louisana before I posted) before it changes again to New York. Just waiting for Dave E (maybe he hasn't had notifications from the thread) and then will move the Ultrahumans to their now familiar scenario of tackling nuclear missiles!!!

OOC: OH sorry never saw this was updated and I notice, rather inconveniently, that thread updates come sometimes but not consistently. Sorry about that.

Anyway yeah I am ready to trust no one and stop nukes so nothing more really to add other than I am ready to knock seven stars out of whomever I face unless I end up like Frostbite face down and napping on the job, whilst BB cleans up for him

Sj

Admin Sun Aug 22 2021, 18:09

OOC I'll post this up for everyone in every post so everybody knows... My 'month of where has my life gone' has stretched into 6-7 weeks and will continue for a few days more. My 50th birthday last week and celebrations have stretched into this week with a few days in Edinburgh with the other half. That said, I have a laptop with me and might find a quiet moment to update, so watch this space. I'm struggling to remember a time since 2009 when we started this journey when my life has been tipped upside down as much but the house at least is 'getting there'. I got a feeling two days ago where I thought 'this place is starting to feel like home'. Mind you, there is still the 'where is anything/everything/that thing I need' feeling when I look in the garage/cupboards... Cheers, Paul

Miss Victory and Lionheart left the secret 'sanctum' meeting room of the Ultrahumans and reappeared instantly into a scene of chaos.

With alarms blaring, emergency dimmed power lighting every other bulb and dark clad staff running this way and that with weapons or equipment the two powerful supers made their way with helpful illuminated floor lights of a different colour to others and pulsing to match their considerable speed. With the lifts out they had to ascend stairs but automated voices rang out to engage 'EMERGENCY PATHWAY PROTOCOL' as they made their way through the labyrinthine place. Staff - and other supers - duly stepped aside and tried to catch glimpse of the costumed blurs as they made their way to the roof!

It was a bright sunny day as they stepped out onto the wide flat roof of this building, one of several and each the size of a shopping mall! The automated guns and defence systems were activated... and then depowered, hanging limp as technicians frantically jury rigged portable power supplies!

The klaxon rang out still and Lionheart turned to Miss Victory. There was no guarantee of surviving ANY encounter at this level of ability. Questions still had to be asked but according to the wrist mounted computers the pair's targets were moving at speed towards this very point. Still minutes away and at the speed Miss V and Lionheart could travel...

OOC Assuming you get into it...

LIONHEART

Taking to the air the hero glanced below and gauged the moment to speed up and power up towards the darker blue high in the sky! This high up there was no fear of supersonic flight causing any damage or injury and within heartbeats he was accelerating to speeds faster than any conventional military jet! He still had to be mindful that his highest speed would cause catastrophic effects in the atmosphere were he to approach it.

The sprawling mass of the United States of America sped below him as he checked the wrist computer and adjusted his speed and course. He would be over the mojave desert in moments and be able to wait for the missile which would climb until it hit space then come down towards its target near New York, across almost the full breadth of the United States just over 2000 miles distant.

Slowing when the mass of the desert came into view Lionheart looked about.

There was nothing here. Was he... He glanced at the computer. Predicted course would angle over here somewhere then up towards space in the next minute or so. He was early.

The Ultrahumans! Issue #3 starring Miss Victory and Lionheart "And there came a reckoning!" - Page 2 Mojave

The Ultrahumans! Issue #3 starring Miss Victory and Lionheart "And there came a reckoning!" - Page 2 Mojave

Nothing registered on his early warning danger sense but Lionheart knew appearances could be deceiving. There was nothing her. He scanned about. Desert. Tumble weeds. The computer said that the missile would come this way though and was accompanied by meta human escorts, determined to see it on it's way and prevent interference. They would - presumably - then break off to make their escape and return to see if any Ultrahumans survived the blast, uncaring of tens of thousands of civilian casualties despite the remote base location.

=========

Miss Victory sped south, a blur albeit one that was holding back on her real maximum velocity. Though some way slower than Lionheart both of them were more than fast enough to cause terrible environmental damage.

Not quite on the scale of what headed towards the Ultrahumans HQ, though!

She paused, slowed to check the computer and changed course. With glances down she corrected another half dozen times and wondered if flying might be an ability that she could somehow configure the amazing Vita Pill to grant!

Despite the threat of 'Excelsior' Class munitions - designed to wipe out all but the most powerful superhuman threats, made with the cooperation of several of the Ultrahumans themselves! All the fool proof counter measures and safe guards had apparently been compromised and Manta Man - one of the smartest people on this or any other planet - suspected they had enemies within their HQ who could be anyone. Someone who could outsmart his security measures and those of the banks of psychics and mystics that resided there and helped to protect the nation.

A broken nation. The President kidnapped. The most powerful superhuman heroes on Earth scattered, their space station compromised.

The deadliest collection of super powered criminals and villains possibly in the known universe had broken free of the power sapping supermax prison and now ran free. Utter chaos and anarchy, in short...

There was never a greater time for the Ultrahumans to be at their best, their most powerful and determined, and two of their newest recruits were being entrusted to save them!

She looked about. Stood on a shore overlooking the Lake Pontchartrain she checked the wrist computer. Time still before the missile would appear. According to the readout it was angling down from near space and would fly lower over this area on its way North towards New York.

Nothing to do but... wait. What was that?

A distant BANG! and a plume of smoke across the bay. Various industrial complexes lined the bay and someone or something was attacking them. She glanced at the lapping water and her keen scientific mind did some calculations, figuring out how fast she'd need to be to cross the water by running on it!

A glance at the wrist computer. She had time to investigate still.

Steeple_jackuk Tue Aug 24 2021, 12:06

Admin wrote:Nothing registered on his early warning danger sense but Lionheart knew appearances could be deceiving. There was nothing her. He scanned about. Desert. Tumble weeds. The computer said that the missile would come this way though and was accompanied by meta human escorts, determined to see it on it's way and prevent interference. They would - presumably - then break off to make their escape and return to see if any Ultrahumans survived the blast, uncaring of tens of thousands of civilian casualties despite the remote base location.

Lionheart took the time to make sure that there wasn't some vital clue he was missing about this seemingly uninhabited space. He wasn't here for no reason, but the reason for them to target this space with a nuc didn't, suddenly seem that obvious. But then maybe that was the point, that whatever was here, was here because it was so unlikely. A safe space for some nuclear, or clever tec or storage facility off the map. Well, without an obvious clue other than a hint of importance hence the attention of a nuclear weapon thrown down on it. He prepared himself as best he could. Both within and without, his senses tuned in, his attention on the skies above and his computer and his incredible abilities ready to help in whatever way he could.

The moments ticked by giving him chance to think. He'd been going at such a pace for so long, always...almost always, on the back foot. Reacting to the attacks and plans of Nexus and his cohort. Yes, he had the glove and whilst it was with him, it stopped Nexus from gaining that advantage that could mean all was lost. But it wasn't sufficient. With such a devastating attack, and no doubt mayhem ensuing across America, he felt at pains to set things straight for the ordinary people for whom this was their worst nightmare come true. The policeman in him wanted that order so that ordinary people could go about their lives free from the additional worry of a building dropping on them! Somehow they had to gain the upper hand, so far it felt like every move was keeping them from doing so. Always throwing them to the four corners so they couldn't combine and fight back in a concerted effort. And the sad truth was, it was working.

Lionheart pulled his thoughts back. He had to focus on what he could do, not what was yet to be done. Such a moment of self-doubt wasn't becoming and he could ill afford the luxury of feeling sorry for himself. So once again he focused outwardly to what was coming moments from now.

Sj

DavidMcMahon Tue Aug 24 2021, 21:36

She looked about. Stood on a shore overlooking the Lake Pontchartrain she checked the wrist computer. Time still before the missile would appear. According to the readout it was angling down from near space and would fly lower over this area on its way North towards New York.

Nothing to do but... wait. What was that?

A distant BANG! and a plume of smoke across the bay. Various industrial complexes lined the bay and someone or something was attacking them. She glanced at the lapping water and her keen scientific mind did some calculations, figuring out how fast she'd need to be to cross the water by running on it!

A glance at the wrist computer. She had time to investigate still.

Using her new telescopic vision to see if she could get more details, Miss Victory worried that this distraction, if she let it, could wind up destroying New York City if she got involved.

Admin Wed Sep 01 2021, 18:31

Lionheart

OOC Danger Sense is at 9APs which is a range of 1/2 mile. I'm wondering if I should apply a range modifier actually. It makes sense. Up close the danger is easy to detect (heck, I'm pretty sure you could figure out the guy with the huge axe coming at you isn't friendly) but further away it might not work so well. For now I'll play it as written but that's a definite maybe house rule/tweak.

Danger Sense 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,7,+0 Total:9 (18) vs
OV5 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,4,+0 Total:7 (12) Success +3 (to 12EV) vs Rv5=7 RAPs

Lionheart suddenly senses danger... looking around he can't see anything. Desert. Rocks. Dust. No missile coming through the air and yet the wrist computer says it should be in sight - well, his visual sight which was pretty much better than any telescope.

Something was happening...

OOC Lionheart's Power Reserve 15 usually adds to his Superspeed to make him fast and harder to hit/great in a fight. However another option is to add those points in part or whole to your Force Field 9 to protect against damage. Doing this, he can (just about) resist a nuclear explosion with little to no harm, depending on the roll. Your call. Lionheart can't see anything or anyone causing a threat, and yet...

Admin Wed Sep 01 2021, 18:39

Miss Victory

Zooming in with her incredible vision Miss Victory tried to make out details.

A car flying through the air. Smoke. Flames. People running.

This wasn't good.

Whatever was going on (from the place where she was looking from) it seemed like it was superhuman based. The missile would be - according to the wrist computer - be over this place in moments.

Whatever was going on across the bay was violent, deadly and ongoing. Could she ignore it and wait for what was the greater threat?

OOC Perception Check Int 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,6,+0 Total:15 (23) vs
OV10 + range 25 miles (14APs) - Telescopic Vision 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,8,+0 Total:14 (30) Too far away to make out details, too much stuff in the way. She can see the plumes of smoke rising from behind buildings and occasional car, dumpster, tree flying through the air though...

DavidMcMahon Thu Sep 02 2021, 07:58

With only moments left to stop a nuclear missile, Miss Victory had to leave the chaos going on near her alone ... for now. She scanned the skies with her telescopic vision, looking for the missile. Not being able to fly, she would have to time her jump as best she could. If she got close enough, she could then use her mental blast to destroy it. She knew that destroying it that way wouldn't set off the nuclear explosion. Heck, she remembered that there were a few times when the things had fallen out of airplanes and not gone off by the impact of landing. {Very True Stories! Scary!}

Admin wrote:Miss Victory

Zooming in with her incredible vision Miss Victory tried to make out details.

A car flying through the air. Smoke. Flames. People running.

This wasn't good.

Whatever was going on (from the place where she was looking from) it seemed like it was superhuman based. The missile would be - according to the wrist computer - be over this place in moments.

Whatever was going on across the bay was violent, deadly and ongoing. Could she ignore it and wait for what was the greater threat?

OOC Perception Check Int 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,6,+0 Total:15 (23) vs
OV10 + range 25 miles (14APs) - Telescopic Vision 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,8,+0 Total:14 (30) Too far away to make out details, too much stuff in the way. She can see the plumes of smoke rising from behind buildings and occasional car, dumpster, tree flying through the air though...

Steeple_jackuk Fri Sep 03 2021, 10:30

Admin wrote:Lionheart

Something was happening...

OOC Lionheart's Power Reserve 15 usually adds to his Superspeed to make him fast and harder to hit/great in a fight. However another option is to add those points in part or whole to your Force Field 9 to protect against damage. Doing this, he can (just about) resist a nuclear explosion with little to no harm, depending on the roll. Your call. Lionheart can't see anything or anyone causing a threat, and yet...

OOC: Sorry been a way to see my Mum, now I'm back...

Lionheart didn't see or hear anything but to ignore is danger sense was tantamount to suicide. And right now he didn't need to be the one who went out with a bang. Since he couldn't see what was coming, he decided to take a defensive stance until what he faced showed itself. After all, it could be an invisible enemy for all he knew.

OOC: OK put points into defence, force field and maybe speed if I need to react quickly. 2/3 force field and 3rd speed.

Sj

Admin Fri Sep 17 2021, 22:55

OOC Finally! Sorry about the delay. Blah blah house kids decorating etc etc. Sounding like a broken record!

LIONHEART

The air seemed to still. The ground then started to shudder... a rumbling grew...

The British hero instantly placed a portion of his power (OOC 10 points) into his force field, strengthening it with his mind. Where was the missile?

He scanned about. Only... his telescopic vision didn't seem to work right. He was looking out across the desert and saw something in the sky in the distance. He zoomed in... and in... and saw... his back? What in the...?

The air seemed to shimmer like a mirage and a roaring sound suddenly rang out... followed by an almost comical... POP!

The Ultrahumans! Issue #3 starring Miss Victory and Lionheart "And there came a reckoning!" - Page 2 Lionheart-villains

The Ultrahumans! Issue #3 starring Miss Victory and Lionheart "And there came a reckoning!" - Page 2 Lionheart-villains

A small army of brightly clad supers appeared around 100' away from where Lionheart hovered! Some flew, others ran, jumped or teleported! He didn't know who they were but suspected that only a day or so ago they'd have been wearing orange jumpsuits and been prisoners in the supermax! Now they were here... for him!

It was... a TRAP!!!

Admin Fri Sep 17 2021, 23:09

MISS VICTORY

Trying her best to ignore the commotion in the city Miss Victory continued to scan the skies for the missile, intent on stopping what she saw as the main threat.

She scanned about. Looking... looking. Where was it?

A distant explosion. Screams!

Gritting her teeth she looked about in the sky. The wrist computer... she checked that. The readout suggested the missile should be here within sight! She looked about again. Nothi... wait! There! A dot in the sky! She looked, stared, intensified her vision... A missile!

OOC Int 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,9,+0 Total:18 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 1,4,+0 Total:23 (31) vs
OV10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,8,+0 Total:13 (23) +4 (to 12 Will) vs RV10=2 RAPs

1) The missile is of an old type. Strange that it should mount a warhead designed specifically to wipe out superhumans.
2-3) Miss Victory had been looking in that direction several times before she saw the missile. It was either amazingly fast and in that case it should have created environmental effects that announced it's arrival. In short... Miss Victory did not think the missile was real!

Miss Victory was a smart lady. A genius. Applying physics and her own keen mind to what she saw, she began to doubt what she was seeing!

Something was off here. Wrong. The missile. The massive disturbance in the city... she had a bad feeling about this...

DavidMcMahon Sat Sep 18 2021, 17:22

Believing she was either under some kind of mind control or some auditory and visual mirage was affecting her, Miss Victory concentrated as well as she could on her wrist computer, willing herself to see it as it really was. She was afraid the real missile was still there, getting ready to pass her by or coming soon. She needed to stop it or millions die!

Admin wrote:MISS VICTORY

Trying her best to ignore the commotion in the city Miss Victory continued to scan the skies for the missile, intent on stopping what she saw as the main threat.

She scanned about. Looking... looking. Where was it?

A distant explosion. Screams!

Gritting her teeth she looked about in the sky. The wrist computer... she checked that. The readout suggested the missile should be here within sight! She looked about again. Nothi... wait! There! A dot in the sky! She looked, stared, intensified her vision... A missile!

OOC Int 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,9,+0 Total:18 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 1,4,+0 Total:23 (31) vs
OV10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,8,+0 Total:13 (23) +4 (to 12 Will) vs RV10=2 RAPs

1) The missile is of an old type. Strange that it should mount a warhead designed specifically to wipe out superhumans.
2-3) Miss Victory had been looking in that direction several times before she saw the missile. It was either amazingly fast and in that case it should have created environmental effects that announced it's arrival. In short... Miss Victory did not think the missile was real!

Miss Victory was a smart lady. A genius. Applying physics and her own keen mind to what she saw, she began to doubt what she was seeing!

Something was off here. Wrong. The missile. The massive disturbance in the city... she had a bad feeling about this...

Steeple_jackuk Mon Sep 20 2021, 08:52

Admin wrote:A small army of brightly clad supers appeared around 100' away from where Lionheart hovered! Some flew, others ran, jumped or teleported! He didn't know who they were but suspected that only a day or so ago they'd have been wearing orange jumpsuits and been prisoners in the supermax! Now they were here... for him!

It was... a TRAP!!!

If this was a trap had they been deliberately sent to the wrong place? And if this was the wrong place, were their missiles being fired or were they being fired at a different target? Lionheart couldn't know, nor did he know if it was worth engaging with a small army of supers whom he could only beat up and then what? Whilst they were here they weren't terrorising anyone else. But more importantly, if they'd survived the terrible explosion at the prison they were equally no pushovers and fighting the lot of them would more likely have him hung out to dry than them.

Lionheart needed answers, and he wasn't likely to find them here. With one more scan of the area, taking in whatever he could from his various senses, mind, sight and smell he sought anything that he had missed in the time since arriving.

OOC: OK no point hanging around to have my carcass handed to me on a plate, me thinks the main threat was to the base. If that isn't still the case then I'd eat my hat, if I wore one. So instead I think I am going to see if there are any additional clues as to what is going on here and head back to the base if not, at whatever speed I can achieve to get there in time. Either the traitor sent us to the wrong place, or sent us to the right place only it was a trap all diversion - who knows. But I'd like to find out.

Sj

Admin Wed Sep 22 2021, 07:53

MISS VICTORY

According to the wrist computer the missile was still incoming but it didn't correspond to what she was seeing in the sky!

The position was off. Of course, the readings from the computer - gained from satellite tracking and imagery, radar and whatever gizmos the Ultrahumans used to track flying objects - could be off but her instinct that she was looking at something that wasn't real. Dare she ignore the missile in the sky?

OOC Perception Check Int 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,3,+0 Total:10 (18) vs
OV10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,8,+0 Total:20 (30) Failed. Miss Victory believes the computer is wrong and that the missile is real! There was a range modifier which was nullified by your Telescopic Vision.

The computer must be wrong! Thousands of people would be hurt if that missile were allowed to continue on it's way! The other stuff - the superhuman ruckus in the city - must be some kind of coincidence!

As she stared at the missile it came closer and closer to the city. Soon it would soar over and onwards to Ultrahumans HQ!

Admin Wed Sep 22 2021, 08:21

LIONHEART

Using his internal energy (OOC Power Reserve) to boost his already genius level mind, Lionheart combined it with his senses and tried to figure out what was going on!

OOC Power Reserve switched to Intelligence (to boost from 10 to 25 - Miss Vic could do with this too, for 50HP I think). Detective might have been usable if you had physical clues to go off. As it is:

Go for Broke +4/-6 Int 25 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,9,+0 Total:12 (37) vs OV9 + Go for broke 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,5,+0 Total:6 (19). +6 EV (to Will 13) vs RV9 - 6 GFB (RV3)=10 RAPs. Success.

1) The missile should have been in sight by now according to the computer. Unless it was rendered invisible or intangible. Anything was possible...
2-3) Unless... The missile was a wild goose chase! Something designed to get the fastest, most capable and effective Ultrahumans away from the HQ. The computer system had been hacked and Manta Man may have suspected something. That meant the information on the wrist computer was a red herring. Not only that, the device may be - right now - used by person or persons unknown to track and monitor Lionheart and set up what clearly appeared to be a trap to capture or kill him!
4-6) The villains arrayed here are in force and though the British superhero didn't know them, they were ready for any eventuality it seemed by the numbers and their variety. This made sense. Lionheart and Miss Victory were new to the team. So new that the Ultrahumans hadn't had time to train, assess and catalogue their abilities. The fact that he and Miss Victory had been inducted 'off the street' into the 'core' Ultrahumans - the most powerful, resourceful and capable of the heroes available, in effect the 'best of the best' - without much in the way of prior information suggested that they be priority targets for someone who'd planned an attack on Ultrahumans HQ! The others - Atomic Champion, Thunder Woman, even Silver Sentinel and all the other core members - were a known quantity and could be attacked with the knowledge gleaned from the 'unhackable' system that the villains had clearly gained access to!
7+) This is an inside job. Had to be. Someone on the inside, someone high up, had granted access to the super villains from the Ultramax. Some of those were amongst the smartest minds certainly on this planet if not the universe! By throwing so many calamities at once at the team with their most powerful member still incapacitated the bad guys were looking to deliver a 'coup de grace'. The President held hostage on the Ultrahumans satellite, the most powerful Ultrahumans isolated and taken out. The military would have little choice but to try their best weapons on the villains who would make sure they weren't in the firing line... but the gathered superheroes of the Ultrahumans and all affiliated groups were!

In one, fell, swoop... the Villains would wipe out the majority of superheroes in America and gain control of the planet's most powerful country!

With his faster than any computer mind working through every possible scenario, Lionheart came to the realisation that the villains plan depended on dividing and conquering the core Ultrahumans. After that their army of super villains could pick off any surviving superheroes at their leisure, assuming they weren't all in the HQ when... when some kind of bomb, or reactor failure, went off!

Lionheart could read minds, hearts even, with his vast array of mental abilities. He didn't need to 'read' the bad guys as they closed in to see their glee! They were going to enjoy this it seemed! The main, only, advantage he had was that they didn't know him as there hadn't been time to gather information in the hacked computer systems!

He switched his energy back to his super speed. He would need that - and all his other abilities - to get out of this one!

OOC Despite the power level ranged against him, Lionheart acts first (no roll required with 61 initiative. Some of the guys are powerful indeed but superspeed trumps pretty much everything for going first). His danger sense is screaming - DS 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,8,+0 Total:9 (18) vs OV2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,2,+0 Total:12 (14) +3 (to 12EV) vs RV2=10 RAPs. Success.

Lionheart knows that he faces a critical threat through the gathered superior foes. There is also a threat from the bubble/field encapsulating this area. Though almost invisible, and visible as a kind of shimmer, that, too, triggers his danger sense. You're up.

Steeple_jackuk Wed Sep 22 2021, 12:41

Admin wrote:LIONHEART

He switched his energy back to his super speed. He would need that - and all his other abilities - to get out of this one!

OOC Despite the power level ranged against him, Lionheart acts first (no roll required with 61 initiative. Some of the guys are powerful indeed but superspeed trumps pretty much everything for going first). His danger sense is screaming - DS 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,8,+0 Total:9 (18) vs OV2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,2,+0 Total:12 (14) +3 (to 12EV) vs RV2=10 RAPs. Success.

Lionheart knows that he faces a critical threat through the gathered superior foes. There is also a threat from the bubble/field encapsulating this area. Though almost invisible, and visible as a kind of shimmer, that, too, triggers his danger sense. You're up.

OOC: OK so a couple of things for clarity, you mention this is a critical threat, so this is a very high risk, possibly very high reward. Before I mix this up, can I just ask (and I am not awkward or difficult here) what is to stop me just heading back to HQ and indeed since the threat is there, why wouldn't I? I am not sure that it's in my best interests to stay and fight?

However, I suspect I will end up staying to fight and so if that is the case, I will need your help to determine what is the best way to do so. So if we go for speed and Psi powers and seek to try and attack those who look to be the biggest threat as they get in range. And then I think if I use speed and dex to mix it up, hopefully dodging them whilst they last out and strike one another? In such a mix I am sure there is going to be so friendly fire. Meanwhile, I'll see if I can pump them for information. Villains love to spout off its an ego thing after all. :-)

Sj

DavidMcMahon Wed Sep 22 2021, 16:39

"The computer could be hacked," Miss Victory mutters to herself, "but the missile looks wrong. And there is all that fighting over there! Somebody is going to get hurt or killed, if I make the wrong or even the "right" one."

ooc: Does in the info on the computer give her time to leap at the oncoming missile she sees and then try leaping again at where the computer says it is at? If so, she is going to leap up at the oncoming missile with points into Leaping and then switch the points into Mental Blast to attack it and then back to Leaping so she can land without harming herself. Then try it again with where the computer says the real missile is at.

Admin wrote:MISS VICTORY

According to the wrist computer the missile was still incoming but it didn't correspond to what she was seeing in the sky!

The position was off. Of course, the readings from the computer - gained from satellite tracking and imagery, radar and whatever gizmos the Ultrahumans used to track flying objects - could be off but her instinct that she was looking at something that wasn't real. Dare she ignore the missile in the sky?

OOC Perception Check Int 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,3,+0 Total:10 (18) vs
OV10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,8,+0 Total:20 (30) Failed. Miss Victory believes the computer is wrong and that the missile is real! There was a range modifier which was nullified by your Telescopic Vision.

The computer must be wrong! Thousands of people would be hurt if that missile were allowed to continue on it's way! The other stuff - the superhuman ruckus in the city - must be some kind of coincidence!

As she stared at the missile it came closer and closer to the city. Soon it would soar over and onwards to Ultrahumans HQ!

Admin Tue Sep 28 2021, 11:41

Steeple_jackuk wrote:
Admin wrote:LIONHEART

He switched his energy back to his super speed. He would need that - and all his other abilities - to get out of this one!

OOC Despite the power level ranged against him, Lionheart acts first (no roll required with 61 initiative. Some of the guys are powerful indeed but superspeed trumps pretty much everything for going first). His danger sense is screaming - DS 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,8,+0 Total:9 (18) vs OV2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,2,+0 Total:12 (14) +3 (to 12EV) vs RV2=10 RAPs. Success.

Lionheart knows that he faces a critical threat through the gathered superior foes. There is also a threat from the bubble/field encapsulating this area. Though almost invisible, and visible as a kind of shimmer, that, too, triggers his danger sense. You're up.

OOC: OK so a couple of things for clarity, you mention this is a critical threat, so this is a very high risk, possibly very high reward. Before I mix this up, can I just ask (and I am not awkward or difficult here) what is to stop me just heading back to HQ and indeed since the threat is there, why wouldn't I? I am not sure that it's in my best interests to stay and fight?

However, I suspect I will end up staying to fight and so if that is the case, I will need your help to determine what is the best way to do so. So if we go for speed and Psi powers and seek to try and attack those who look to be the biggest threat as they get in range. And then I think if I use speed and dex to mix it up, hopefully dodging them whilst they last out and strike one another? In such a mix I am sure there is going to be so friendly fire. Meanwhile, I'll see if I can pump them for information. Villains love to spout off its an ego thing after all. :-)

Sj

OOC There was a clue in the post above...

Steeplejack wrote:"He scanned about. Only... his telescopic vision didn't seem to work right. He was looking out across the desert and saw something in the sky in the distance. He zoomed in... and in... and saw... his back? What in the...?"

There is a bubble, a field around the battlefield. Quite a big one. Lionheart doesn't know this of course but it might not be quite so simple as simply flying off!

As for tactics...

Power Reserve gives you a pool of points to use and swap. In a round you can perform one dice action - attacking or using a power/skill generally takes this up. Then you have a movement and a simple action. You can forego the movement action by taking two simple actions instead. To switch your Power Reserve points between abilities takes a simple action. So you can switch points from force field to speed (simple action) attack with superspeed/martial artist and a crit blow/multi attack on a few of the bad guys in melee range (10') to thin their numbers then a simple action to switch points back to force field. They'll be able to hit you easier but need a decent roll to crack the force field. Or rely on Superspeed to avoid attacks. With 26 Dex chances are most of these guys won't be able to lay a hand on LH. The real danger comes from Mental and Mystical attacks, particularly the latter as LH is very resistant to Mental attacks.

I would suggest Superspeed/Martial Artist and trying to escape this bubble to get some distance and separate the bad guys. Taking them down in groups of 2 or 3 will be much easier than going at a dozen or so.

Whilst it seems 'kobyashi maru' at this level of play anything less presents little or no challenge. You are effectively the level of Superman in the comics (and in this campaign Superman is probably a level 6 in power whereas you are an 8 or 8.5) and there are plenty of heavy hitters out there but not that many more powerful than you, good or bad guys.

Rather than fighting you can put everything into flight - you are in the middle of the desert, no environmental risks with built up areas. Flight 29APs is lightspeed. Normally a VERY bad idea in built up areas but out here a super sonic boom might actually be to Lionhearts advantage! It would be a 'free' sonic attack against everyone in range and that bubble might not only limit the boom, but intensify it. Lionheart would know this (with Int 10 he is by any measure a super genius) even if you don't know the ins and outs of game mechanics and I've long said the game rules will always be used as a guide rather than a crutch so I'm happy to offer this information.

Steeple_jackuk Tue Sep 28 2021, 12:53

Admin wrote:Rather than fighting you can put everything into flight - you are in the middle of the desert, no environmental risks with built up areas. Flight 29APs is lightspeed. Normally a VERY bad idea in built up areas but out here a super sonic boom might actually be to Lionhearts advantage! It would be a 'free' sonic attack against everyone in range and that bubble might not only limit the boom, but intensify it. Lionheart would know this (with Int 10 he is by any measure a super genius) even if you don't know the ins and outs of game mechanics and I've long said the game rules will always be used as a guide rather than a crutch so I'm happy to offer this information. [/i][/color]

OOC: Thanks for the recap Paul, very helpful as is the suggestion of doing flight to the max and creating a reverberating sonic boom. If nothing else it might throw some from coming at me so quickly and separate them out to take them on in smaller groups.

So I will accelerate to light speed and spin around the place creating multiple sonic booms, then where I can attack them groups that separate into smaller numbers. I like the suggestion of putting points into speed and then back into the Force Field. For now at least, if the force field doesn't prove substantial enough then I might need to think about just using super speed.

But let's go for it and see if I can't follow through on what you suggested.

Sj

Admin Tue Sep 28 2021, 13:09

MISS VICTORY

OOC According to the computer on her wrist the missile is much faster and in a different position to the one she can see with her eyes which is moving at or around the speed of sound. She can intercept the one she sees and is fast enough (23APs) to catch/intercept the missile the computer on the wrist says will be over and past the city in seconds.

Miss Victory switched her internal energy to leaping and powered through the sky at the oncoming missile! As she homed in she aimed with her mental blast...

OOC MB 23 + Accuracy 4D + Roll(6d12)+0: 7,3,1,8,9,1,+0 Total:17 (40) vs
OV10 + Range 5 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,2,+0 Total:11 (26)
Success +5 (to 28) vs RV10=18 RAPs

The missile simply vanishes!

Miss Victory turns in the air as she lands and hits the flat roof of a building in a crouch, already glancing at the computer which says the missile has passed overhead and is speeding its way towards New York! What the...?

Suddenly there is a CRUMP! as a lorry, hurled through the air, tumbles and spins lazily before crashing three stories up into the side of a building! Gun shots ring out and screams can be heard. Screeching tyres, sounds like laser weapons going off... Those sounds came now from only a few hundred yards away hidden from the view of the heroine by the buildings in the way but the palls of rising smoke show that - unlike the missile - is very, very real!

A glance at the computer on the forearm shows the missile already several miles away!

Admin Tue Sep 28 2021, 13:31

Steeple_jackuk wrote:
Admin wrote:Rather than fighting you can put everything into flight - you are in the middle of the desert, no environmental risks with built up areas. Flight 29APs is lightspeed. Normally a VERY bad idea in built up areas but out here a super sonic boom might actually be to Lionhearts advantage! It would be a 'free' sonic attack against everyone in range and that bubble might not only limit the boom, but intensify it. Lionheart would know this (with Int 10 he is by any measure a super genius) even if you don't know the ins and outs of game mechanics and I've long said the game rules will always be used as a guide rather than a crutch so I'm happy to offer this information. [/i][/color]

OOC: Thanks for the recap Paul, very helpful as is the suggestion of doing flight to the max and creating a reverberating sonic boom. If nothing else it might throw some from coming at me so quickly and separate them out to take them on in smaller groups.

So I will accelerate to light speed and spin around the place creating multiple sonic booms, then where I can attack them groups that separate into smaller numbers. I like the suggestion of putting points into speed and then back into the Force Field. For now at least, if the force field doesn't prove substantial enough then I might need to think about just using super speed.

But let's go for it and see if I can't follow through on what you suggested. Sj

OOC Ok, one last decision to make before I pull the trigger on this move. You will attack (with the mother of all sonic booms) everyone within range with a number of APs equal to the speed you travel at and that includes yourself. You normally resist such an environmental effect with your force field + your body stat (total 22 normally). However your sealed systems power of 13APs applies in this case and the force field adds 1 point on top of that for a total of 27APs resistance. That means you could in theory use up to around 25-26APs speed and have a reasonable chance of being unaffected by your own boom.

HOWEVER those in this 'bubble of confinement' may not (probably won't be) protected anywhere near as well. Environmental effects on a world shaking scale like you are capable of are very very dangerous. Much like the scale of a volcano but deadlier. Therefore the more speed you apply the greater the chance of KILLING some of the villains you are up against.

You can use up to a speed of 29 (that would hurt even you). That is up against:

Body

2 Typical Human Adult
6 Maximum Human Adult Body for Batman types
7-8 low superhuman some degree of resistance to firearms
9-10 resistant to hand hurled explosives
11-13 true superhuman, shrugs off conventional weaponry and can survive heavy grade ordnance like missiles/rockets
14-18 generally immune to harm except from other superhumans
19+ some chance of being able to survive a nuclear blast
25+ will take only minor injuries from nuclear explosions
30+ cosmic level endurance/resistance
40+ able to survive in the harshest environments (inside of the sun, black hole etc)

Everyone in range is attacked separately without any penalty for multi attack. Tricky question to ask but at this level of power there are no easy answers!

Steeple_jackuk Tue Sep 28 2021, 13:35

Admin wrote:

Body

2 Typical Human Adult
6 Maximum Human Adult Body for Batman types
7-8 low superhuman some degree of resistance to firearms
9-10 resistant to hand hurled explosives
11-13 true superhuman, shrugs off conventional weaponry and can survive heavy grade ordnance like missiles/rockets
14-18 generally immune to harm except from other superhumans
19+ some chance of being able to survive a nuclear blast
25+ will take only minor injuries from nuclear explosions
30+ cosmic level endurance/resistance
40+ able to survive in the harshest environments (inside of the sun, black hole etc)

Everyone in range is attacked separately without any penalty for multi attack. Tricky question to ask but at this level of power there are no easy answers![/i][/color]

OOC: Fair point I don't want to kill anyone, not unnecessarily anyway. But this is a war-like situation and casualties happen. Nonetheless, I think maybe 25-26 since all of these survived the nuclear blast that was Sentinel releasing a tiny bit of his power, at the prison. So I think they'll be able to withstand this. That is my intention - being a police officer of the future death sometimes comes with the job. You can't be totally risk-averse as to have no effect - but keeping it down a bit will also help me to resist my own sonic boom (hopefully). Since my aim is to incapacitate not kill, I'll let you have the final say - LH is a genius after all, he could probably work it out faster than I started typing the first word here.

Sj

DavidMcMahon Tue Sep 28 2021, 20:47

Ignore the fight, come back to it in a few seconds or a minute or so and go after the other missile, using leaping and running maxed out as needed until she gets in range within a mile of the missile [yay telescopic vision of 8!] and try blasting it, switching remaining points as she does that into Body in case being a mile away doesn't protect her from the blast.

Admin wrote:MISS VICTORY

OOC According to the computer on her wrist the missile is much faster and in a different position to the one she can see with her eyes which is moving at or around the speed of sound. She can intercept the one she sees and is fast enough (23APs) to catch/intercept the missile the computer on the wrist says will be over and past the city in seconds.

Miss Victory switched her internal energy to leaping and powered through the sky at the oncoming missile! As she homed in she aimed with her mental blast...

OOC MB 23 + Accuracy 4D + Roll(6d12)+0: 7,3,1,8,9,1,+0 Total:17 (40) vs
OV10 + Range 5 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,2,+0 Total:11 (26)
Success +5 (to 28) vs RV10=18 RAPs

The missile simply vanishes!

Miss Victory turns in the air as she lands and hits the flat roof of a building in a crouch, already glancing at the computer which says the missile has passed overhead and is speeding its way towards New York! What the...?

Suddenly there is a CRUMP! as a lorry, hurled through the air, tumbles and spins lazily before crashing three stories up into the side of a building! Gun shots ring out and screams can be heard. Screeching tyres, sounds like laser weapons going off... Those sounds came now from only a few hundred yards away hidden from the view of the heroine by the buildings in the way but the palls of rising smoke show that - unlike the missile - is very, very real!

A glance at the computer on the forearm shows the missile already several miles away!

Admin Thu Oct 07 2021, 08:51

OOC And... we're back. The house is testing my will to live (see the OOC chat thread) but it'll get there. Kind of a race against time as I need to get the structural/outdoor stuff done before the weather typically turns nasty in November onwards but we've had a few 'testers' shall we say with heavy rain and so far I'm making progress. It's like whack a mole, fix one fault find another...

LIONHEART

Though he came from the future, a time where he would act as Judge, Jury and Jailer - rarely executioner - the man whose mind was merged with his, Saladin, had been of an earlier age where 'executioner' was more the norm with a paramiltary style police force doling out hard and at times extreme justice.

'Crime rates were minimal. It worked.' grumbled the inner voice inside Lionhearts head. It had been a while since the law enforcer turned rogue turned villain had spoken up but Richard King wasn't surprised he'd have a say where his own moral compass was firmly fixed in the 'if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen' camp.

With that in mind the present, and as one of the Ultrahumans, a member of their elite 'core' no less had to set an example for others, the world even, to follow.

His genius level mind figured that the field that acted as a kind of mirror to his super powered vision would have some detrimental effect should he try to damage it. His danger sense had been screaming non stop since he'd been surrounded by the dome and the villainous army had popped up. At his speed they seemed to move in slow motion. Some were gesturing, others shouting or pointing and all were moving in Lionhearts direction.,

This was a trap and they thought him a fly in their web!

'We'll see about that' snarled Saladin.

Lionheart took to the air and flew, faster and faster in a circle around the edge of the large dome! Despite it only being about the size of a football stadium Lionheart was agile enough to keep on the inside of it, trusting his danger sense to prevent from touching the wall itself. he glanced down as he circled thousands of times a second then, content he was circling the bulk of the villainous army, sped up!

His force field would protect him, as would his power to effectively 'seal' his systems against outside natural occurring phenomena.

Faster... faster... 'Not too fast' he thought.

OOC Probably a happy medium is somewhere between 20-25 APs and whoever is left standing can be mopped up.

Roll(2d12)+0:6,9,+0 Total:15 + 23 Speed (38) attack vs Body of the gathered villains.

Rather than rattle through the targets one by one (I'm on the wrong laptop at work and my train has to go in a few minutes) we have...

THOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!

The dust started to settle and Lionheart looked down. The field around him was gone and the dirt/dust had been thrown up in a blinding cloud. It spread out in every direction and he could just about make out the new deep crater in the desert that he'd made. Some were partially buried, others coughing and on their knees, dazed but the majority of the villains were DOWN and only four or so were still moving as far as Lionheart could tell. The trap had backfired on the bad guys!

He could take out the rest or... get back to the HQ and help out there seeing as there was no missile!

Steeple_jackuk Thu Oct 07 2021, 13:00

Admin wrote:THOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!

The dust started to settle and Lionheart looked down. The field around him was gone and the dirt/dust had been thrown up in a blinding cloud. It spread out in every direction and he could just about make out the new deep crater in the desert that he'd made. Some were partially buried, others coughing and on their knees, dazed but the majority of the villains were DOWN and only four or so were still moving as far as Lionheart could tell. The trap had backfired on the bad guys!

He could take out the rest or... get back to the HQ and help out there seeing as there was no missile!

Lionheart knew that the ones that remained standing would be the toughest customers, moreover, the others knocked down might not yet be out. He wasn't afraid, but the best thing he could do right now was to retreat to the base and try and find their traitor. Without him, moving the gears behind the scenes then the Ultrahumans might finally be able to get a foothold in this game. As it was they were playing backfoot the whole time, and without the identity of the traitor being known, the risk was they'd keep the rest of the team off balance so that even those brought in at this late stage would be neutralised or worse.

As reluctant as he was to leave, he felt he had no choice. In order of magnitude stopping, this traitor was going to be the highest on the priority list.

OOC: Going to try and escape and get back to base.

Sj

Admin Fri Oct 08 2021, 00:03

MISS VICTORY

Ignoring the sounds of crashing and screams/gunshots Miss Victory grits her teeth and takes a running leap, then another and another towards the missile reaching it in seconds! Targeting the missile she strikes with her powerful mind bolt...

OOC Mental Blast 23 + 4D Accuracy + Roll(6d12)+0: 8,3,8,5,10,12,+0 Total:16 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 6,3,+0 Total:25 (48) vs
OV10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,8,+0 Total:11 (21). Success +7 (30 EV) vs RV10= Missile vanishes!

As soon as her bolt zapped the missile Miss Victory knew she'd been duped! But why?

The answer came almost immediately!

The Ultrahumans! Issue #3 starring Miss Victory and Lionheart "And there came a reckoning!" - Page 2 Illusionator

The Ultrahumans! Issue #3 starring Miss Victory and Lionheart "And there came a reckoning!" - Page 2 Illusionator

Though the fellow was fifty or slightly more feet away as he hovered in the air near Miss Victory, his voice sounded close by.

"Well, they told me I'd be up against a heavy hitter, someone to test my full range of powers on! One of the super 'hero' royalty, an Ultrahuman CORE member no less but... I don't recognise you. Is everyone up in space still crying over whether Silver Sentinel will ever return? Boo hoo! You are easy on the eye madam but I'm not impressed by just a pretty face. I am Hallucinator and you, madam... are in a world of hurt!"

Miss Victory blinked.

OOC Mind Probe 15 + Roll(2d12)+0: 11,2,+0 Total:13 (28) vs
OV8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,7,+0 Total:8 (16) Success + 5 (to 20EV) vs RV8=12 RAPs.

Viktoria Volkov was in her lab. She blinked, looked around. What? Where was...? What had...?

<I said> shouted a voice from across the laboratory <What progress have YOU made Ms Volkov?> (OOC translated from Russian)

General Orlov? What? He'd been in charge of the super soldier project and didn't suffer fools - or failure - gladly. Had she been transported back in time? The other white coated scientists - all brow beaten and sweating freely as the stern General slowly marched through the sprawling lab/warehouse. The guards kept their guns trained, ready to eliminate any Scientist on Orlov's command.

Like poor Dimitri.

She glanced at where her friend lay against the wall, a bloody smear trail behind him. His efforts to introduce specific animal DNA from Lizards to enable limb regrowth had shown promise - but not enough it seemed, and he'd paid for it with his life.

<Well?> snarled Orlov as he stood near Viktoria.

She looked over at her friend Olga who seemed on the verge of panic. A look back at the table and the apparatus. The white powder she was forming - would form - into the very first prototype of the Vita Pill. She'd invented it based on the research and theoretical modelling of a dozen failed experiments and solved the various problems of all of those, her keen analytical mind relishing the problem as she overcame what Russia's greatest scientific minds had failed to do! Now she would... what. What did she do?

Veronika/Victoria couldn't remember what she'd said next! Had she been transported back in time to relieve this scene or was it happening even now with the future as yet unwritten???

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