The Ultrahumans! Issue #4 starring Miss Victory and Lionheart "The long road back"

"You're faster than me, Lionheart," Miss Victory said with a smile. "So it's best that I hitch a ride with you instead of trying to get there on my own."

She then smiles at everyone else in the room.

"We'll handle this, so don't worry too much about it. Just keep yourselves safe and alert."

She then frowns a bit. "Princess carry or piggyback? Which is easiest for you to carry me quickly?"

"And whichever one you pick, watch the hands. I'm a happily married woman, though I don't want that to get around to just anybody." She thinks to him over their connection.

She giggles at that.


OOC: Nuclear bomb stuff is all over. We have missile silos all over the Mid-West ready to launch at Russia and China. We have subs with nuclear missiles. Probably naval ships with them too. During the Cold War there were B-52 bombers up in the air 24 hours a day with nuclear bombs, ready to head to the USSR if given the order, flying overhead near our northern and western borders. Polar route being the shortest and fastest way to Moscow. Don't know what happened to those when the USSR collapsed and became the peace-loving Russia we all know today.

Anyways, I think it is the Air Force who is in charge of the in-country nuclear arsenal so this Fort Handsworth is probably an Air Force base instead of Army base.

OOC Apologies for the delay this week. I've been grafting away in the garage trying to sort things out. Put shelves up then had to put everything back in the garage after days of tripping up in the kitchen as it had been moved in there. I'll get there, but probably not this week. Working in the garage is cold (Brrrrr!) and we're currently going through a cold snap that sees the energy bills rack up.

LIONHEART and MISS VICTORY

The Captain nods. "God bless you all ma'am. Without you Ultrahumans there's no telling where we'd be. The Justice League were awesome, so powerful back in the day but it seems that this current wave of villains..." he glances at the one being carted off with power inhibitors and a backpack on "... are off the charts dangerous. We have boffins working day and night on gizmos to even the odds but it seems that they are defunct as soon as they exit testing." He shook his head. "We try our best, as you do, and hope it is good enough."

Lionheart didn't need to broach the subject of where to put his hands. With his telekinesis he could effectively invisibly 'tether' Miss Victory to himself in a comfortable manner and she'd be dragged along as he flew. With a constitution as robust as hers high speed flight would not be an issue and he could fly in front to create a sort of air break for the heroine to breathe comfortably.

At some point it might even be feasible for Miss Victory to develop the power of flight herself. Her running and jumping ability almost mimicked it now. It seemed only a matter of time, effort and willpower for the heroine to turn jumping into full fledged soaring through the sky...

=========

With a wave to the troops who were rushing about and under lockdown, the pair left the base and took to the sky.

Making sure Miss V was comfortable, Lionheart increased his speed and communicated via telepathy to make sure his 'passenger' was alright.

Miss Victory was mindful that her time with the Vita power was coming to an end. Becoming merely 'low end superhuman' might leave her vulnerable at super-sonic flight speed so she advised Lionheart to 'step on the gas'.

Lionheart duly obliged.

The pair flew up, up, then he sped up, delivering a sonic boom high up and a flaring of air around them as the laws of gravity were overcome and discarded!

The curve of the Earth became visible and in just a few moments the pair started to descend with Lionheart relying on his Telescopic Vision and enhanced mind to give him the rough general location of the air force base in question.

What he saw gave him cause to worry...

=========

As the pair descended they saw trails of smoke rising into the sky.

Devastation. Buildings, vehicles, personnel... Burned, blasted or smashed.

The base sprawled over a a few square miles with a runway pocked by craters and burning wreckage of air force jets that hadn't left the ground. Trucks and jeeps were turned over, smashed, or smouldering wrecks and the brave soldiers had ... well.

Whoever had done this had clearly paid little mind to rules of engagement.

The main buildings, centred around an air traffic control tower which was now burning and smashed up, had all been damaged. Holes in walls, molten metal, craters where buildings had been... and all about the evidence with thousands of rounds of spent ammunition casings that the villains were made to work for every inch they covered in the base.

The valiant efforts of the soldiers hadn't been enough though.

There were hundreds dead...

OOC It's a scene of grim devastation. You can check to see if there are survivors, check the buildings for signs of the bad guys or head straight for the underground silos where the nuclear missiles are housed. Or try something else... I just wanted to give a bleak, awful picture of a one sided battle where the good guys lost

[quote="Admin"]There were hundreds dead...

OOC It's a scene of grim devastation. You can check to see if there are survivors, check the buildings for signs of the bad guys or head straight for the underground silos where the nuclear missiles are housed. Or try something else... I just wanted to give a bleak, awful picture of a one sided battle where the good guys lost

Lionheart looked on a deep sigh coming from within at the futility and yet severity of such a massacre. "What do you think, there seems little point staying up hear unless we can derive some clues or evidence. As for me, I think we'd best get underground, this is more like a warzone and whoever is here means to make a brutal point. They won't stop at this and unless we stop them..."

Lionheart waited for Miss Victory's response.

Sj

"Your senses are sharper than mine," Miss Victory replies. "So lead and I will follow." She hasn't looked this grim in the fiasco at the prison.

DavidMcMahon wrote:"Your senses are sharper than mine," Miss Victory replies.  "So lead and I will follow."  She hasn't looked this grim in the fiasco at the prison.

Lionheart nodded, leading the way.

Sj

LIONHEART strained with his superhuman senses...

He listened for heartbeats, cries for help... anything... anything that suggested there were survivors of this massacre.

He saw evidence of heavy duty - non conventional - weapons, powered armour suits, explosives... They'd thrown everything to stop whoever had done this from getting in.

It hadn't been enough...

Miss Victory covered her mouth in shock. This had been a slaughter. Whatever weapons they had, the soldiers had stood no chance... Vehicles burned, craters smouldered, buildings listed to the side or were flattened completely. It was like several tornadoes had mixed with hurricanes and bombs going off to flatten and destroy this base.

They'd been thorough too.

Someone had moved around, looking for survivors and assassinating them without mercy. She ground her teeth in anger and clenched her fists.

Someone would pay for this!

=========

OOC Danger Sense 9 + 2d12+0 3,7+0 = 10 (19) vs
OV2 + 2d12+0 1,4+0 = 5 (7)

Success +5

EV9 + 5 (14) vs RV2=12 RAPS

Lionheart enters a concrete bunker.

The blast doors had been torn off, one of them showed signs of having been melted...

The bunker was in a reinforced warehouse that had been a 'last stand' for dozens of troops. Their injuries indicated extreme force. No one was 'intact'. Some had been sliced into several sections and cauterised with some kind of high energy beam.

It was shocking, and it wasn't over yet...

Stepping through the bunker which looked to be designed to stop anything barring a direct hit nuclear explosion, it was so thick and protective, the evidence of more one sided combat could be seen. Several dark shadows on walls were the only evidence that brave soldiers had ever existed down a corridor with flickering lights. Dents in the reinforced super alloy/ceramic coating of the place suggested a force of near incalculable power.

Down the end of the corridor two ruined thick super alloy doors were buckled and bent.

Lionheart paused... He turned to Miss Victory and stated "Danger! There's someone..."

Someone floated up into sight.



"SCANNING." it stated in a monotone voice.

"SUPERHUMANS. CLASSIFICATION UNKNOWN. THREAT ESTIMATION, LEVEL 7."

It floated in the lift shaft staring the heroes down, some thirty-forty feet away.

"OFFER: LEAVE OR SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS THOSE WHO DID NOT LEAVE. THERE WILL BE NO OTHER WARNING."

The soldiers had done their duty, stood their ground, defended their posts... and died for it.

This thing, and possibly others, had made the statement then executed all in their path!

OOC According to Lionhearts Danger Sense - which was Screaming at him inside his head - this thing is INCREDIBLY dangerous!

[quote="Admin"]LIONHEART strained with his superhuman senses...

This thing, and possibly others, had made the statement then executed all in their path!

OOC According to Lionhearts Danger Sense - which was Screaming at him inside his head - this thing is INCREDIBLY dangerous!

Lionheart nodded toward Miss Victory and strained his senses toward the creature before him. Analytic smell, directional hearing anything that might give him a clue to the creature or construct before them. He wasn't about to duke it out with the creature until he had some idea of the threat level before them.

OOC: OK so need to find out more info and then go for a team attack with Miss Victory

Sj

"Level 7 out of how high," Miss Victory muttered to herself, while glaring at the creature, trying to get her thoughts in order. "Or is it a countdown and level 1 is the highest?"

"Do you think I'm going to run after what you did to these brave men and women trying to protect our country," she then snarls at the artificial? creature. "Turn yourself off or we will do it for you!"

She thinks, "Team Attack" to Lionheart.

ooc: As much as she wants to use her Victory Punch on this thing, her Mental Blast is her best attack for now so she will go with it in a team attack. don't know if we can get flanking bonus added in or not but if possible, try flanking it and team attacking it.

OOC Lionheart can use his senses and also boost his intelligence to unimaginable levels, and so...

Power Reserve 15 split 8 Int/7 Will

AV18 + 2d12+0 3,5+0 = 8 (26) vs
OV12 + 2d12+0 12,3+0 = 15 (27)

FAILURE

LIONHEART & MISS VICTORY

On this occasion he doesn't deduce anything helpful about the creature. Perhaps it would need a demonstration of the things abilities.

His senses pick up no scent - as might be given off by a human, even inside a suit. Nor does he pick up a heartbeat or signs of breathing.

Slightly uneasy especially as his danger sense was screaming at him, Lionheart glanced at Miss Victory. The Russian turned American superhero was incensed by the wanton death and destruction doled out by this thing and wanted to put it down!

OOC Are you diving into combat? Mental Blast for Miss V, what about Lionheart? Points to Superspeed and hammer at the thing with his fists or try a mental attack?

If you want to do a Team Attack it will need Miss V to beat this thing on initiative. Lionheart will probably win initiative being so fast but Miss V needs a higher score than the Deathbot otherwise the heroes will have to delay until after the villain has acted.

[quote="Admin"]

OOC Lionheart can use his senses and also boost his intelligence to unimaginable levels, and so...

[i]OOC Are you diving into combat? Mental Blast for Miss V, what about Lionheart? Points to Superspeed and hammer at the thing with his fists or try a mental attack?

If you want to do a Team Attack it will need Miss V to beat this thing on initiative. Lionheart will probably win initiative being so fast but Miss V needs a higher score than the Deathbot otherwise the heroes will have to delay until after the villain has acted.

OOC: That being the case I think we ought to go separately, even if we are sort of seeking to coordinate attacks. Given it doesn't have a human mind will my Psi blast work? If it does I will go with that first, if not then points to speed and agility and attack it with Martial arts...

Sj

OOC Power Reserve points sent to Superspeed.

AV26 + 3D M Arts (2D Acro) + 5d12+0 6,5,4,8,5+0 = 10 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 7,4+0 = 21 (47) vs
OV18 + 2d12+0 8,8+0 = 16 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 5,7+0 = 28 (46)

Success +1

EV14 +1 (15) vs RV30=No damage

Lionheart sped in delivering multiple blows, his hands a blur...

If not for his forcefield he might have broken his hands! What was this thing made of?

"Density increased. Measuring. Superhuman has multiple abilities including enhanced strength, Cosmic level speed and fighting prowess." stated the enemy. "Suggested course of action: retaliate."

Its head turned and eyes that weren't there previously lit up!

A beam of raw energy flashed out with two streams, scything into the reinforced concrete like butter as it tracked Lionheart around!

OOC AV21 + 2d12+0 4,10+0 = 14 (35) vs
OV26 + 2D Acro + 4d12+0 1,11,1,9+0 = 20 (46)

Missed

It was honours even as the android (?) fired a beam of energy that would have vaporised a battleship but couldn't land on the hero who watched it lance out in slowed down motion. Carefully zipping about away from Miss Victory it seemed clear that Lionheart would have to put more effort into his punches but that would sacrifice accuracy for power. With something as 'solid' as this appeared to be ('what was it made of? Adamantium? Promethium?' he wondered) that meant hitting it as hard as he could and throwing all his efforts into striking, thus leaving him vulnerable to that laser beam...

OOC Crit Blow or Dev Attack and ALL dice in Martial Arts (you have five to split between the attack/defence as you see fit)?

David, you still intent on Mental Blast and are you putting any extra 'zing' into it?

ooc: Yeah, mental blast instead of punching it. Let's go with a crit blow. Shift energies to best hit it and damage it then the rest towards Dex and then Body in that order.

DavidMcMahon wrote:ooc:  Yeah, mental blast instead of punching it.  Let's go with a crit blow.  Shift energies to best hit it and damage it then the rest towards Dex and then Body in that order.

OOCAnd whilst Miss V does a mental blast, I will shift toward damage and accuracy to overcome its resistance to me.

Lionheart was not so easily deterred, but having a partner and teammate alongside meant whilst he allowed himself to be bolder. This would leave him vulnerable to a counterattack, but he hoped Miss Victory's efforts, would counteract his lack of defence.

Sj

MISS VICTORY and LIONHEART

The Ultrahumans were the 'best of the best' so it stood to reason they would face the most powerful enemies in the world, people who could survive a nuclear strike and walk away. Or like this guy, able to slice holes in bomb proof bunkers.

Miss Victory didn't care about that though - this guy needed to be taken down for what he'd done!

OOC MENTAL BLAST CRIT BLOW
AV23 + 4D Accuracy + 6d12+0 2,2,3,3,5,7+0 = 6 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 2,6+0 = 14 (37) vs
OV18 + Crit Blow 4 + 2d12+0 3,11+0 = 14 (36)

Success +1

EV23 +1 (24) vs RV30 - 6 Crit Blow (RV24)=No damage

Miss Victory unleashes a potent blast - not her most Devastating or accurate - but enough to give the creature pause.

It stood in the face of the withering blast and leaned into it. Behind and around the concrete blackened and fell away as dust and when Miss Victory ended the blast she could see the reinforced concrete around the creature was blasted away for feet around it - and the creature floated a foot above a small crater.

"RE-EVALUATING. Superhuman reflexes, energy blast capable of penetrating Promethium..." stated the creature.

OOC Lionheart wins initiative again. This time Miss V is faster (boosted Dex) Want to team attack? Going in a little bit harder? Dev Attack or Crit Blow?

Lionheart 11 (72)
Miss V 4 (44 with Dex boosted by 12 points, Body by 11)
Enemy 4 (32)

Admin wrote:Lionheart 11 (72)
Miss V 4 (44 with Dex boosted by 12 points, Body by 11)
Enemy 4 (32)[/i]

OOC Crit Blow or Dev Attack and ALL dice in Martial Arts (you have five to split between the attack/defence as you see fit)?[/quote]

OOC: That last line I missed, sorry...not paying as much attention as I ought to.

OK so go for accuracy with 3/2 split on martial arts and try and overcome the creatures defences, and Dev Attack for the type of attack. And hope that I can get through this 'Fury' or some such to overcome its defences or spot its weakness.

Sj

With a quick turn of the head to Miss Victory Lionheart calls out "I'll go left, you go right! Let's take this guy down!"

OOC

DEVASTATING ATTACK! TEAM ATTACK

3 dice Martial Arts (attack) 2 dice defence (Acrobatics)

AV26 + 3D M Arts + 5d12+0 3,2,1,8,3+0 = 6 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 7,7+0 = 14 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 1,5+0 = 26 (52) (mixed bag of rolls but the double 7 was handy) vs

OV18 + Dev Attack 8 - Team Attack 2 (OV26) + 2d12+0 1,10+0 = 11 (37)

Success +5

EV14 +5 (EV19) vs RV30 - Dev Attack 12 (RV18)=1 RAPs damage

Body now 17/18

Despite being a blur and delivering blows that would pound a battleship into unrecognisable scrap the hero felt a twinge with very punch. The effort he was putting in (and the speed with which he delivered thousands of blows) was coming up against something that would be resistant to a 20-30 megaton Thermonuclear explosion!

His forcefield prevented his hands from being broken but it still smarted! With so resistant a foe, able to increase its density to many times beyond diamond or indeed Promethium, the wonder alloy that had caused so many problems when trying to get into the Ultrahumans HQ, this fight might not be as cut and dried as the heroes hoped!

It was no wonder the conventional, even the 'specialist' weapons that the Army had used to defend this base hadn't made a mark on the thing stood in front of the heroes.

Its reflexes were astonishing, and Lionheart was made to work to land a blow. Even when he did he'd only gotten through a few times, causing the thing to take a step back.

Maybe Miss Victory would have more or better luck. Her potent 'Mental Blast' could punch a hole through practically anything.

OOC With what happened with Lionheart in mind, do you want to go for a Devastating Attack? Once Miss V attacks (with a Team Attack bonus) this thing gets its turn...

ooc: Let's try Devastating Attack/Team Attack. Delaying until the next round if I have to in order to get the team attack bonus. Mental blast is better than my Victory Punch right now and keeps me out of arms reach of the creature. If there is any other combat maneuver that would help pierce this thing's tough hide, then use that too. HP for the rolls if I have any left.

DavidMcMahon wrote:ooc:  Let's try Devastating Attack/Team Attack.  Delaying until the next round if I have to in order to get the team attack bonus.  Mental blast is better than my Victory Punch right now and keeps me out of arms reach of the creature.  If there is any other combat maneuver that would help pierce this thing's tough hide, then use that too.  HP for the rolls if I have any left.

OOC: Likewise maybe going for mental blast might aid our attack more than martial arts in which it seems even I am struggling. SO also switch points to mental and go for Devastating attack to try and overwhelm Herman's circuits here.

Sj

OOC Crikey been chock a block for the last week... Anyhow, watch for updates over the next day or so (into Friday) I'll try to get caught up as best I can.

MISS VICTORY

Seeing the blur that was Lionheart strike at the creature and the thing almost avoid those super speed blows Miss Victory figured her most potent attack would be what was required...

OOC

Dev Attack, Team Attack (no need for HP - using Accuracy buys you all the dice you need). I assume you switch to Mental Blast, blast then switch to Dex (23) and Body (17) ...? So long as you don't move you can switch points about twice in a round.

AV23 + 4D Accuracy + 6d12+0 7,7,10,6,6,11+0 = 14 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 9,4+0 = 27 (50) vs
OV18 + Dev Attack 8 - Team Attack 2 + 2d12+0 1,6+0 = 7 (31)

Success +6

EV23 +6 (EV29) vs RV30 - 12 Dev Attack (RV18)=11 RAPs

Body now 6/18

Miss Victory uses the team attack/distraction that Lionheart buys with devastating effect!

The creature grunts and slides backwards, gouging concrete up like soft putty!

"WARNING! This unit compromised!" it states.

"RETALIATE! FOCUS ON FEMALE, HUMAN, META ENHANCED."

It's eyes glow and a blast radiates out at Miss Victory!

OOC

AV21 + 2d12+0 2,11+0 = 13 (34) vs
OV23 + 2d12+0 3,10+0 = 13 (36)

Missed!

The searing blast flashes past Miss Victory and she sees it coming just in time! Her astonishing lightning fast reflexes allow her to step out of the way and she weaves aside with inhuman agility!

The blast subsides... and the heroine still stands!

OOC initiative...

Lionheart 3 (64)
Miss V 9 (45 with Dex boosted by 13 points, Body by 10)
Enemy 1 (33)

The heroes act again first and can team attack once more. Same again? If you put it down and out the thing won't be able to answer any questions. Then again restraining it might prove somewhat challenging!

Admin wrote:
The heroes act again first and can team attack once more. Same again? If you put it down and out the thing won't be able to answer any questions. Then again restraining it might prove somewhat challenging!

[/quote]


OOC: I would love to get answers and restraining it might...might yield some. However, it might also be booby trapped and or give it a chance to self heal. So I don't think we should go that way. Since it has proven vulnerable to one form of attack, lets Mind Blast it this time myself. Again devastating attack and try to bring this thing down. I also have post cognition so it might help to use that after the fact.

Sj

ooc: Yep, take it down dev/team attack. Maybe Lionheart can mind read it while it's unconscious, if it also doesn't have an atomic bomb in its body to blow when defeated. UGH! Now I gave myself nightmares!

LIONHEART & MISS VICTORY

With a glance at Miss Victory and a nod, the British hero from the future narrows his eyes, increases his focus and fires off a blast at the creatures mind!

They weren't sure quite what it was yet - organic, synthetic or some weird alien amalgam, only that it was murderous and cared nothing for wiping out brave soldiers as if they were gnats and below it!

OOC Mind Blast 15
Devastating Attack
Team Attack

AV15 + Accuracy 4D (1D Acrobatics) + 6d12+0 8,9,9,11,6,8+0 = 18 DOUBLE plus 2d12+0 11,4+0 = 33 (48) vs
OV8 + Dev Attack 8 - Team Attack 2 + 2d12+0 5,11+0 = 16 (30)

Success + 6

EV15 +6 (EV21) vs RV18 - 12 (Dev Attack) (RV6)=15 RAPs

POW!

The creature is DOWN and OUT!

(Without the Dev Attack you wouldn't have dented it without a decent roll)

With a powerful mental blast the hero zaps the alien which cries out and falls to the ground... as a puddle?

He glances at Miss Victory and the pair walk up to it. His danger sense isn't going off. A nudge with the foot then a poke with the finger reveals it to be a kind of grey ooze/putty that rolls off the finger and slops onto the floor.

Miss Victory breathes a sigh of relief - the thing is down. It is unlike anything she's come across before though, being a liquid being of sorts. Was it alive? Artificial? Her husband in the lab would love to get hold of it but that would be madness. When this thing woke up - assuming it did - no prison on earth would be able to hold it (though the new improved Ultramax might when it gets recommissioned).

As it is, all is quiet now as the heroes look about. They can continue into the bunker/base but what to do about this... thing?

Admin wrote:LIONHEART & MISS VICTORY


As it is, all is quiet now as the heroes look about. They can continue into the bunker/base but what to do about this... thing?

"Well that was a bit close for comfort. Not sure what we're going to do with this mess that is left behind. I don't want this thing resolidifying and coming after us again?"

Lionheart thought about it, though not necessarily practical in combat he didn't like the idea of leaving this goo, not least of all because it might need to be analysed to discover more about it.

OOC: I am going to use my telekinesis to carry it in along with us for now. I might need to drop it in combat but we shall see. And I suggest we head with all haste further into the complex.

Sj

LIONHEART and MISS VICTORY

Using his telekinesis to pick the 'stuff' up in a sphere of invisible force the hero formed it up into about a two foot diameter grey ball. If it woke up and reformed he'd get some warning from his Danger Sense and would be able to form a force field around it but the chances were this thing would be able to pierce his field with little effort.

Still, better that than leaving it behind to attack them.

The pair turned to the bunker doors and what appeared to be (beyond the twisted mangled wreckage) a trashed room (bullet holes all over the walls, floor and ceilings with spent cases around the place, kicked aside with every step) and a lift leading deep into the bowels of this army base.

Miss Victory ground her teeth every time she saw a disembodied soldier. Some were missing heads, torsos, limbs. Others were simply parts of legs with red smears across the wall and floor.

A quick glance around revealed about twenty had died in this one room alone.

Offices led off from this room, the windows smashed and the place still smouldering. This creature or one like it had lanced its eyes beams out and sliced through anything in its path. Concrete was gouged deep with blackened scorch marks and paper still flickered with flames, scattered about and smoking. Sprinklers had gone off at some point but they too had been lasered. Now water just sprayed or poured from several points in the ceiling onto trashed servers, computers, desks and the brave men and women who had called this base home for the most part.

OOC Continue to look around this level or go down the lift shaft? The lift was at the bottom somewhere in the darkness (neither hero sees well in the dark if I recall?) and the thick cables holding the twenty+ person lifts were sliced through, glowing and molten. The doors have been torn apart like wet tissue.

Admin wrote:

OOC Continue to look around this level or go down the lift shaft? The lift was at the bottom somewhere in the darkness (neither hero sees well in the dark if I recall?) and the thick cables holding the twenty+ person lifts were sliced through, glowing and molten. The doors have been torn apart like wet tissue.

Lionheart was all for going forward. But before he did, he wanted to get a sense of what had happened here. Putting a hand up he sought a moment to use his postcognition to see what might have gone down the lift shaft.

OOC: Lets see if I can find out any clues before we go deeper, but after this I think lets go deeper.

Sj