World War II - Frostbite Issue #1

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

<<Goad the Nazis into killing your men.>>

As uncomfortable as it felt to be taking orders to a mater of fact voice, inside his head. Joe knew that he could instinctively trust the voice. But it wasn't easy.

Looking at his men he gave them the briefest of winks, to let them in on what he was about. Before turning to the women.

"Yeah, lets see what you can do." Joe sought to change, since the men had earlier revealed their nationality he played the part of the uncaring cold hearted yank. Somehow the deep looses he felt within, though he had not been aware of the specifics only that the memories of another time contained a lot of pain. Nonetheless that coldness swept over him now. And with a evil looking gleam in his eye, Joe turned to the Nazi's around.

"Yeah so you guys have weapons, but if I'm about to step into this machine, what you got to show me that it can do? Lets see some of the goods. Your men - do they have high tec weapons or is it just you Ubermesch or whatever you call it? An effective demonstration might well serve as well as me taking back your gift!"

Joe turned to the Cosmic man, a glint in his eye and his nodded toward his men, an evil and cold hearted grin sweeping across his face. But deep within, he found it distasteful, but he channelled the pain he felt. The deep sadness of another life, that somehow had interfaced with his. A life that had known much loss and grief and a bone numbing coldness.

OOC:

Ok hopefully I've said enough to get them to use the high tech weapons but by Nazi's if you mean any of the men incling Cosmic man etc, then I need to amend my post. I still want to transport away, but if we can get the men out and me gone so be it.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

"We don't have time for..." started the lizard Woman. She was cut off with a waved hand from the Cosmic Man! He smiled, then turned to one of the scientist/P'utinarians who moved to a cabinet on the wall, pressed a panel which glowed, then opened a door. Hung in racks were handheld rods with coils about them, and coiled wires leading to waist packs. (OOC Blakes seven style weapons...) He pulled one free and handed it to a soldier who hooked it one his belt and waited for Cosmic mans order.

"You Americans! You cannot believe what your eyes tell you because Hollywood has told you anything can be faked! I must admit though, the man, Charles Chaplin, was funny. And your Harold Lloyd, hanging from the clock, yes? But I digress..." His face hardened, and he smiled, though pure venom dripped from the expression. "You would like a demonstration? Sergeant!" he barked. He walked over to look Hoskyns' men up and down. "Kill... this man." he said, referring to Corporal Jackson!

The German strode up to a few feet away and levelled the weapon. The coil about it started to glow and Cosmic Man turned to grin at Hoskyn. To his, and the other soldiers' credit, they stood up straighter, accepting their fate as their duty and direct defiance of the evil Nazi scum!

The weapon fired!

Laser light flashed in the room, dazzling those who looked at it directly! Jackson blinked, then glanced down - he was still alive! A shimmering field of energy surrounded him! Just then panels on the walls opened and snake like metallic tentacles reached out, grabbing the Nazi around the legs, torso and shoulders! With a cry the Nazi struggled, whilst Cosmic Man spluttered and cursed, shouting in German. The Nazi soldiers looked confused, and the Lizard woman started to laugh.

The tentacles glowed with electricity and flashed! A charred corpse was dropped onto the floor in an instant, whilst the tentacles snaked back into the walls, panels closing behind them!

<<It was a simple matter to convince the computers that your companions are, in fact, P'Utinarians, and therefore in need of protection from harm.>> explained the computer.

Cosmic Man was livid, and rounded on the P'utinarians who looked on in confusion, and backed away in fear!

Was there an opportunity for escape, or perhaps something else here?

OOC Was going to update Lionheart but a combination of 12 hour shift and needing to be up for work in 6 hours has scuppered that. He gets updated first when I finish work tomorrow mate. Apologies for the delay!

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

OOC:Was going to update Lionheart but a combination of 12 hour shift and needing to be up for work in 6 hours has scuppered that. He gets updated first when I finish work tomorrow mate. Apologies for the delay!

OOC: Mate you never have to apologise for keeping me waiting, nothing to worry about. I've had to wait a considerable time longer in all the other PBEM's I've done and though I appreciate the thought, none of them every kept up with you. Don't let my enthusiasm put you under pressure. Its good for me to wait to, good things come to them - right! (at least I hope so ;-).

<<It was a simple matter to convince the computers that your companions are, in fact, P'Utinarians, and therefore in need of protection from harm.>> explained the computer.

"Thank you!" Joe had never felt more thankful that despite everything his men could at least fight for their lives. "I think you guys have over stayed your welcome..." Joe said as he indicated the men ought to use the confusion to leave as best they could. He himself was ready to attack the two meta human's but hoped his men could use the confused Nazi's to get out and they themselves be able to slip away in the confusion once outside.

As for Joe, "Computer if you can access the files here is there a way we can steal the information here, frequencies, codes, cyphers..." He knew he was talking on the level of technology he understood, but realised it was technology of a different order here all together. Moreover even if he could somehow, record it, copy it or get it! What then could he do with it? He had to hope that, that part of the mission would be the easy part as compared to what they'd been up to thus far. Moreover he still hoped that he could yet make the jump to the crashed ship. Seeing the P'Utinarians, and hearing their name triggered another memory. At some point these creatures...aliens had been allies even, friends. If he could find a way to get to talk to them, maybe they could be convinced to switch sides. Somehow he knew that the Nazi's couldn't be trusted and their usefulness would quickly run out.

OOC:

OK get men to leave asap, try and created confusion and in so doing hopefully get off the ship.

Whilst they do that I want to try and keep snake woman and Cosmic man busy so that they don't attack the men. Hopefully if the computer can convince the ship I am also P'Utinarian, then it will give me a slight advantage if they try to attack me, as I've no idea what power level these two are at.

I want to try and get this information and then step into the plate and teleport out. If they know I am already a Metahuman they will do whatever they can to stop me, so I need to try and keep that hidden, or not so obvious.

Oh just thought of something else, since Cosmic man is livid with the P'Utinarians, maybe I can see how I can use that. If he attacks them, I will then try to tell them that this is what the Nazi's plan for all P'Utinarians once they have outlived their usefulness. I want to try and create as much confusion here and hey, I'll take any opportunity to tell them what they probably can guess, but don't want to know already.

Now I know their is a larger prize to be had in America I want to try and get that side of the plan going, depending on what happens here, though of course.

OK think that is it for now.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

The screen dropped to protect the outer inhabitants of the chamber from the radiation where Hoskyn was stood rose into the ceiling. The soldiers didn't need a second invitation as they stumbled forwards, hands still bound! A German soldier moved in to stop them, only for a ray gun to drop from the ceiling a flash fry him! A neat pile of black powder rested on the floor, whilst a small ankle high robot on wheels sped from an open hatch to hover the dust up in a heartbeat, then turned and sped back to the hatch, which closed!

By now the German Soldiers were terrified!

<<Uploading information. The computers are most cooperative. One could almost say they have little time or inclination to be associated with the Nqzis. It's a shame their people are... Attention! Imminent attack on host form!>>

"To hell with orders!" growled the Lizard Woman. "YOU!" she spat, and headed straight for Joe!

Cosmic man looked around helplessly, first about to lunge at a British soldier, then pausing, glancing at the walls and wondering what would emerge next to protect them! He rounded on the P'utinarians again. "DO SOMETHING!!!" he barked.

The soldiers were all on the pad now, and the Lizard Woman almost at Joes throat! He hadn't been able to use his own powers for fear of hitting his own men, but now raised his hand...

<<No need.>> said the computer calmly.

The Lizard Woman slammed face first into the near impenetrable glass shield which slammed down, sliding down it with her skin smearing the curved glass! Cosmic man barked at the P'utinarians, but was careful to make sure he made no threatening move, whilst wringing his hands and glaring about, shouting in German and grinding his teeth!

<<Override code for the protective shield being entered. I suggest that discretion is the better part of valour.>>

"The Nazis will betray you!" shouted Joe through the plexi-glass. Suddenly lights shone on the group from above.

<<This may feel... unsettling...>>

The world started to fade out, when the voice inside said something unintelligible that sounded like no language Joe had ever heard. Joe, above the din of the base around them, with motors and generators roaring, shouted "What does that mean?"

<<I was saying... 'Thank you'... but this unit has not grasped beyond the basics of P'utinarian language. Your companion, Putty, will know it better.>>

The world went bright white... then completely black!

As the group on the platform disappeared, the lights and base went dark and silent.

"What now?" bellowed the Nazi.

"They have... drained the power completely in order to change the mutation beam to a transportation frequency. When the power comes back up, we may be able to track them." replied the P'utinarian. He punched in some codes, then turned, sheepish looking. "Or perhaps not. The computer appears to have wiped itself."

The Lizard woman snarled. "Then that means there is nothing to protect you?" she snarled and moved in...

=========

Somewhere else...

A voice in the darkness coughed. Joe fumbled about, found the pocket lighter and flicked it on. They were in a similar room to the one they'd just left, albeit it was dark, full of dust and looked to have been damaged, with wires trailing from the ceiling and damaged panels. The air was stale, and what there was of it was coated with dust!

Talk about out of the frying pan... They could suffocate in here!

<<Please calm yourself.>> explained the computer. <<Direct your attention to the left.>> Joe turned, and saw a panel open in a cupboard. <<Join the... third wire from the left to the twisted pair on the right. No, lower down.>> He held the lighter close. All the wires were strange. They didn't even look or feel like wires, more like some kind of tough... spaghetti? They adhered to one another, and there was a faint hum as basic lighting came on, albeit dim and only one in four lights were activated. Still, it was enough for the group to navigate through the halls and corridors of this place. It was a circular building like the one they'd left and presently they came to a wide area with large double doors. Most of the doors had no power, and it would take superhuman strength to open those!

Thankfully, these doors opened with slight pressure on a side panel... to admit blinding sunlight!

A moment later the group stumbled into what looked like a construction yard, as a large warehouse was being built around the base/craft they had transported to! American plain jumpsuited workers stopped and turned to stare, and an officer ran over, pulling a gun on them!

The group turned. The base/craft was mostly submerged in the ground, only several of the top levels showing, and those at a slight angle. The level of muck and traces of where plants had grown across the surface suggested it had been hear some time!

"Halt!" said the officer, shouting at the group and levelling his weapon. "Who goes there!" His American accent, and the United States flag on the uniforms of those around - more than a hundred or so workers - suggested Joe was...

"Home?" he replied, gaping.

They'd travelled more than 6,000 miles in the blink of an eye!

[quote="Admin"]Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

OOC: And I didn't think we were getting each other Christmas presents - this is just what I always wanted you're the best! I feel so relieved to have got these men out.

"Halt!" said the officer, shouting at the group and levelling his weapon. "Who goes there!" His American accent, and the United States flag on the uniforms of those around - more than a hundred or so workers - suggested Joe was...

"Home?" he replied, gaping.

They'd travelled more than 6,000 miles in the blink of an eye!

"Ok gentlemen...Sargent Joe Hoskyn, these are British Marines and we are working for the British Governement. We want to see your superior, as he will want to contact London and let us have a look at this ship. America might just have to get off the fence."

Joe looked at his men, having spoken in a clearly American accent, so that mid west charm and lilt he had. It would be hard for the soldiers not to realise it was a genuine accent. But who knew what orders they'd been under, they'd best make no sudden moves.

Joe just felt such a weight of relief come off him, if he wasn't who he was he felt he could cry in relief. But he managed to hold it together. Looking at the men, he simple said, "Well that got a bit hairy. But lets hope we're not sitting out the war for too long!"

Joe had a lot of questions, but he'd come this far to find answers and try to fathom what the Nazi's were up to. He had more than he had hoped for, but this was just the beginning.

OOC:

Ok Joe will try and meet with a senior officer, dog tags, rank and name etc. Give him details to contact Bletchly and the brass there. Hopefully to get put through on a secure line and be able to start working out where thing went from here.

I also want to try and see if my computer can help decypher more of the ships inner workings, use it to contact the P'utinarians and or their mother ship as well as finding out more about how we might get behind the secrets of such a craft.

Assuming I don't find the Nazi's or their allies have been at work here in the land of liberty!

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Despite the fact they were effectively 'under arrest' the small group was taken from the base/craft and the hanger which was being built around it and into the bright sunshine whilst congratulating one another on surviving and making it out alive! Joes' smile fell away when a few minutes later, after being escorted towards a barracks of some kind, a couple of cars pulled up, screeching to a halt, and 'G-Men' - FBI agents under the leadership of J Edgar Hoover -spill out, brandishing I.D. cards and pulling rank on everyone!

The lead agent, who introduces himself as Agent Albert Johnson steps up to Joe. "Now then. I hear you and these limeys stepped out of a top secret government installation and claim to have been transported thousands of miles in an instant! I don't know what kind o cockamamie story that is pal, but until we check it out, all a you are under arrest!" Pulling a gun on Joe and ushering him towards a wall where he can be frisked, he turns to the other agents, ushering them to do the same.

Suddenly a ranking officer - by the looks a Colonel - strides up, escorted by half a dozen MPs "What's going on here? On whose jurisdiction do you think you can waltz onto MY base and take my prisoners away? For all we know, these men might be on the level! We've been trying for..." he held his tongue, looking about at the gatehred soldiers and agents. "A long time to ... extract information from that ...project. It's all top secret, which means that everyone here, including you" he added, pointing at the FBI agents "Won't be allowed to leave this base until I say so!"

Suddenly there was lots of shouting, arguing, even waving of guns! One of the British soldiers leaned in to Joe "Sir, I reckon it's going to be tough gettin' out o here. With all due respect, the yanks have been sitting on their behinds whilst Hitler has his fun across Europe, and I for one don't wanna cool my heels in some yank prison whilst me mates are gettin' shot up in Blighty!"

The soldier had a point! Unless Joe was somehow able to convince these separate factions otherwise, he and his men were likely to be spending quite a while as 'guests' of the American government!

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote: Suddenly there was lots of shouting, arguing, even waving of guns! One of the British soldiers leaned in to Joe "Sir, I reckon it's going to be tough gettin' out o here. With all due respect, the yanks have been sitting on their behinds whilst Hitler has his fun across Europe, and I for one don't wanna cool my heels in some yank prison whilst me mates are gettin' shot up in Blighty!"

The soldier had a point! Unless Joe was somehow able to convince these separate factions otherwise, he and his men were likely to be spending quite a while as 'guests' of the American government!

Joe nodded to the Soldier, Smith, Arthur his name. Younger than the rest of the team a keen lad, with great intelligence and a good footwork in the army team. It didn't surprise Joe that it should be he, who first recovered from the shock of all they'd been through. He was closest to Joe's age and his inclusion helped Joe feel a little less intimidated by the illustrious group of men he had on his team.

"I agree! I didn't sign up, when Uncle Sam wouldn't, for this either!"

Stepping forward, in a none threatening way, Joe shouted above the noise of the angry men getting nowhere fast.

"OK Cool it..." He barely moved, but raised both hands so as to appear to placate the situation. But this allowed him the chance to dust the area with snow and either side of the men with frost. He hoped that his gesture would alert the men rather than make him the sudden target for all their weapons. In any case he knew that if they did fire he would be able to withstand a certain amount and that too may play into his hands.

OOC:
Ok assuming I've got their attention I am going to get one of the men to take a small arms pistol and fire it at me, to further demonstrate the remarkable range of my abilities. If that doesn't happen already as a result of my sudden actions.

Then I will follow up with this slight white lie...

"Gentlemen, our President might have seen fit not to get involved in this war. But that ship," Joe pointed to the cylinder that he and his men had recently emerged from, "is part of a fleet of ships belonging to a race of aliens who are helping Hitler not only subdue the whole of Europe. But more than that they've used the stuff, to turn Hitler's men into what they call Übermensch, Supermen. And Hitler has begun to stock pile these beings of power like we'd keep rounds of ammunition." Joe started warm to his subject and he moved slowly closer to what he hoped was a listening crowd.

"What do you think history will say and who will it point its finger at as the decisive reason American, last bastion of liberty was crushed, unprepared as she was for such power at Hitler's disposal? We've met some of this supermen and women, Hitler dosn't care - and if he can so callously treat his own people like this, what regard will he have for the rest of the world. Don't think we'll be left alone, because when Hitler's boot has ground all the Allies beneath the feet of his Übermensch, don't think he will have sated his appetite for conquest! As he looks West and sees the free peoples of the United States, don't you imagine his arm is too short to attack!

Do you think he will content himself with the prize of Europe, when so much lays unconquered and maybe at that point the history books will tell of many moments, many chances but maybe they'll all come back to this one, where politics ruled over intelligence. And where a chance to stay this threat before we have nothing with which to face it, were instead ignored. But maybe instead history can remember this moment at a the first point, the beginning where men stopped ignoring what was going on and didn't sell our best chance at remaining free and that of all freedom loving people the world over. Gentleman I have these powers, perhaps owing in part to Alien technology, but Hitler has already begun stockpile men and women who can do incredible things like me. What can we do against him, if he choose to attack with such people? He might placate us with treaties and talk, stay our president and the politicians with words, but only so he can lull us asleep, for what would we have to stop him attacking and placing our land of liberty beneath a Nazi flag!

Now shall we talk about the bigger picture, at least get the President informed and see if I can help get this craft working so we can use this opportunity to work together here or allow Hitler another chance to leap ahead of us?

Joe stepped back, hoping his impassioned words might have hit the right mark on all the men. For he knew nothing would stop Hitler, he knew no price was to high to pay. He saw countless people killed, German alongside European. Buildings falling, supermen flying and killing indiscriminately. And somehow he felt he'd see it. Something had to be done.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

OOC First of all thanks for being patient - been a busy last few days! Second, Happy new year mate, here's to another great year of the Vanguard hopefully!

You could have heard a pin drop...

Snow silently drifted down around the group - soldiers, G-Men and British agents, with Frostbite in the middle. The echo of the gunshot had brought more soldiers running, but even they slowed and stared about as the warm desert air cooled around the group outside the hanger, to a point where frost crunched on the ground, causing many to stare open mouthed in shock!

"You... you crazy... " started the FBI agent, looking at the gun Joe had reached over for, and which in turn had been fired by the FBI agent with a look of shock on his face!

Though the bullet had struck Joe in the chest, parting his shirt and leaving a red mark that stung, Joe was able to feel around in the shirt and hand the flattened bullet back! The pain was roughly equivalent to him banging his head on a wooden beam - for a few moments it would smart, but a rub and time would see it vanish!

OOC After dividers, the bullet inflicts only a few points. No problems.

Soldiers gaped, and one stammered "Who... what are...?"

"Didn't you hear him?" the Colonel barked. "And now you've seen what he says is...." his voice trailed off. "Amazing." he added quietly, having changed his choice of words. The Colonel turned to the FBI agents. "Gentlemen, I suggest, very strongly, that you give up your weapons and make yourselves comfortable because NO ONE is leaving this base. Immediate lockdown!" he barked. The order was repeated, and somewhere a horn blared, soldiers running every which way to drilled positions.

"Now just wait a minute!" barked the FBI agent as his gun was pulled from his hand by a soldier. "Hoover will hear about this! Why I should go tell him right..." He backed up a step and clammed up as the Colonel leaned in close. "Sergeant at Arms! Take these gentlemen and make sure they go nowhere, talk to no one! As for J Edgar Hoover... No one, not him, not you, not me, is above the importance of this nations safety!" He turned to Joe. "I'm going to trust my gut instinct son. You could have done that... freezing thing on any of us, but your words hammered home to me! One day soon this country will need to make a choice and take a side. I sure as heck hope it's the right one!

=========

Hours later...

Under a heavy guard, albeit slightly relaxed at the Colonels behest, the small British contingent was put aboard a plane. With the soldiers apology they were handcuffed, but no one believed for a second that a man who could stop bullets with his chest or freeze the air around them to make snow in the desert would worry too much about that! As his men sleep in seats around him, Joe looked out in the darkness as the plane flew over the land of his birth, but felt strange, that whilst he was born here, and grew up a normal American, he should return having vague thoughts about coming here several times on holiday, and once on a business trip. Abby. Who was Abby? He shook his head, settling back to sleep and trying to ignore strange dreams of a different time.

=========

Under heavy guard, the small group was bundles into the back of what seemed to be an armoured car...

Having landed in Washington DC, the breaking morning sun peered over the tops of dew speckled buildings and trees as a Nations capital woke. How different it was here, as if the strife across Europe, and the terrible atrocities committed against the Polish people, had somehow never happened. The truck rumbled on.

"Mr President, sir? The men we spoke about." said the advisor. Hours of waiting, questioning, taking details, and a constant sizeable contingent of armed guards ensured Joe didn't have any time for sightseeing. A quick breakfast, more questions, even more interminable waiting then being led through a narrow tunnel after having been blindfolded and taken to some secure location. Now, the blindfold removed, he stood alone in a large room, looking up at a window of toughened glass behind which sat the 32nd President of the United States of America. The man who had offered Americans hope and a 'new deal' and had supported the war effort of Great Britain and Russia whilst keeping his country out of the war though not of his own personal wish. A dog placed paws on the window as he looked down into the room, and the great man spoke.

"My name is Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I must apologise for all of..." he waved hands about. Joe could see secret servicemen stood about nervously around him, as well as aides and advisors. "Son, I've heard the story, and every time you've been asked to retell it, you've said the same thing. I've had time to send a coded telegram to London, and they not only confirm that what you say is true, they are astonished that you are here! Nonetheless, I have given this whole episode thought, and our scientists are eager to prod and poke you. Our friends in Whitehall mentioned something about their top secret 'DICE' project, and of people with amazing powers and abilities beyond those of normal men. We've seen the spy photos of the Nazis agents, and are aghast at the threat they represent. What I want from you, Mr Hoskyn, is only one thing."

"Come back to your homeland to been an agent for freedom, justice, and Liberty. Inspire others to do as you do, and be a figurehead, as well as force for good. I believe, with your help, we can combat the Nazi menace on our own shores and perhaps persuade the American people, and the Senate, that we should no longer stand idle as our cousins in Britain and her allies suffer at the hands of a merciless tyrant and his machine of war! I want you to be the first of a new breed of American hero."

"I want you to be... an Ultrahuman!"

OOC The Ultrahumans are the premier American super team in Frostbites' native timeline. In time they will be the most powerful group of superhumans in the world. That is, of course, until the coming of the Vanguard. Does history change here ... are the Ultrahumans born from a meeting between Joe Hoskyn and the US President in a secret bunker below the White House...? That's your call

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:
"Come back to your homeland to been an agent for freedom, justice, and Liberty. Inspire others to do as you do, and be a figurehead, as well as force for good. I believe, with your help, we can combat the Nazi menace on our own shores and perhaps persuade the American people, and the Senate, that we should no longer stand idle as our cousins in Britain and her allies suffer at the hands of a merciless tyrant and his machine of war! I want you to be the first of a new breed of American hero."

Now it was Joe's turn to be shocked. Feelings battled away within him, a sense of loyalty pride and civic duty to fight and inspire his nation and people with the President. These where the things he was talking about such a short space of time ago. But what of the commitments he'd already made, the effort to aid England, which itself didn't fully comprehend how badly prepared they were for what was ahead?

"Sir, when you President calls, it is both a privilege and a humble duty. But sir, you'd think less of me, and indeed I'd feel as if I were a poor example that made a duty of commitment to the British in their effort to fight if I accepted this offer. Sir, I'm like the ugly duckling that no one wanted, when I wanted to fight, our country wasn't interested. I committed myself, to fight in this war because I feel we are wrong. Begin your pardon sir. But I made a commitment. Now the duckling is look a mighty bit prettier, suddenly my own country wants me for a poster boy? I realise what you are asking me to do sir, but I'd feel I was not doing my duty to myself, or my principles if I jumped ship for a better offer.

Having said that sir, I don't want to choose between my country and my principles in this hour of need. It may be possible that I could do both?"

Joe began to pace thinking out loud. "That ship was able to transport me instantaneously between here and that island where its twin is located. That may well mean the Nazi's could land as easily in American soil as in European. But if we could harness that power, perhaps we could appear, to be in two places at once. Perhaps, sir, its possible for me to aid the efforts, in a consultative roll here, whilst still keeping to my duties in England.

I know what I am saying might not be what you want to hear sir, but things are far worse than you can imagine, the Nazi's have powers undreamed off and Alien technology to boot and they have something far worse. They have an ideology that won't stop driving them, until the Nazi flag is flown over the whole free world."


Turning back to the President Joe finished, "Sir I might not be your first Ultrahuman, but perhaps I can help you find who is, and with their efforts and that of the team I'm part of we can aid each other. Using the combined forces to work away so that when American does enter this war, for surely she must when she sees what's at stake, then she will be more prepared that the Nazi's can imagine?

But sir, I am open to suggestions, if you can see a more clear way than me, then please share it sir. But I know my conscious will not allow me to go back on my word. And I've given my word, though now In the face of your offer have much reason to regret it, yet there it is!"

Joe stood silently allowing his words to sink in, hoping he'd not betrayed the country he loved and the office of the President that he respected so much.


OOC:

OOC: Does history change here ... are the Ultrahumans born from a meeting between Joe Hoskyn and the US President in a secret bunker below the White House...? [/i]

Maybe...but wow what an offer. Talk about dilemma but it would have mean ducking my prior commitments when I sign up unless I can be released from them.

Having said that I am not looking to get my cake and eat it. If there is a way around what I see as the commitments Joe would have made and would feel honour bound to keep, then I'm up for it. I just wanted to couch this in terms that made sure I wasn't selling out for a better offer. Also I love the idea of being the poster boy, but I'm hardly Captain America!

In any case there are more twists and turns this time than ever before.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Still safely behind the glass a level above Joe, the President appeared to ponder. "The Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, isn't my own preference for who I'd like in charge of the war effort in Great Britain, nor is the US Ambassador much to my liking either, but better there and out of my way, I feel. Unfortunately, because of our nations lack of involvement in the war it seems our cousins across the water only gave out what details they felt obliged to with regards you new breed of men and women who can truly count yourselves as being more than mere mortal." He paused, then added "I do admire your staying power though son. I can't hide my disappointment but over here you would be locked away in a lab whilst the white coats poke and prod you. Over there? You can make a difference. I'll tell you what. When we find out more about how you got your amazing powers, and possibly find more people like you, I'll make the offer again. Britain has her fair share... heck, MORE than her fair share of superhuman 'gods' running about, and I would like our own glorious nation to have hers, too. Why, with an army of individuals like yourself we could whip that vile Nazi into..." He stopped speaking, glancing about.

"My personal feelings are my own. We are not at war with Germany, much to my chagrin, but I'll not be the one to enter into it through a loose tongue and loud opinion. Get back there son, do your duty, and stay safe. Just do me the one favour though. When America calls, try your utmost to answer!"

He nodded, saluted, which Joe returned, and was wheeled away.

Presently, suited secret servicemen led Joe out, and blindfolded him again.

=========

An hour later he watched the rain come down lightly outside his hotel room.

The guards were outside the door, and the hotel in Washington had been commandeered by the Secret Service to house Joe and his team whilst they rested up, ready for a return trip back to Nevada in the morning. He had time and space to think about the Presidents' request, and despite knowing what he was doing was the right thing, he felt troubled at having more or less turned down the great mans request.

=========

It was after midnight when gunshots rang out...

Shouts in the hallway of the hotel seemed to think there was trouble outside the place! Moving to the window, Joe looked out and down to the street four storeys below. Crouched behind cars were secret service agents, firing at a car down the street! Behind that, Joe could just about make out in the darkness and rain what appeared to be pinstriped mobsters, filling the air with lead! Only in America...

Suddenly there was increased gunfire and shouting as, from round a corner, a bizarre figure strode!



Bullets seem to ping away from him around an inch or so away from his suited body! And his head was... flat? The stereotypical 'tommy gun' was anything but ordinary though... with every rattling round a torrent of fire sliced up parked cars and brickwork! Luckily the recoil was terrific, even for a 7 foot tall gangster, but Joe could only gape for a moment as he trained it on where the Secret Servicemen were sheltering...

The car turned into a mass of chopped up fragments in seconds!

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

OOC: Love the way you handled what I had to say.

Suddenly there was increased gunfire and shouting as, from round a corner, a bizarre figure strode!

Bullets seem to ping away from him around an inch or so away from his suited body...with every rattling round a torrent of fire sliced up parked cars and brickwork! Luckily the recoil was terrific...but Joe could only gape for a moment as he trained it on where the Secret Servicemen were sheltering...The car turned into a mass of chopped up fragments in seconds!

Joe needed a distraction, although he'd pulled his men out, he was feeling terribly grieved and upset about having to choose between his country and his word. If America did enter the war, he at least could join them without feeling he'd been a 'two faced lying hypocrite', as Pappa would have called him had he not kept his word.

Looking about him, Joe grabbed a pillow case, and quickly fashioned it into a mask, with the numerous people down below, he didn't want to give away anything if it leaked out on the wire.

Opening his door he sped downstairs as fast as he could, hoping he wouldn't be challenged.

"This would be so much easier if I could just fly down there or pass through walls!" He said out aloud his frustration evident as he didn't wish for anyone to be hurt.

As he exited onto the street, and took in the devastation which looked worse from here, he took stock of the situation. If gunfire didn't seem to phase the gangstar, then maybe if he was lucky, his own brand of weaponry might.

Joe wanted to make sure he had the best chance of capturing this guy, with the minimum of fuss and hurt.

OOC:

I might have read this wrong and if there are guards outside then I am going to have to try and get them to come along with me, or else tell them to see what is going on downstairs and then lock them in, whilst I run like blazes to get to the street.

Ok I want to nail this guy, knowing his is armoured and powerful I want to try and hit him from above - or behind. This isn't about nobility and I've not got sufficient juice to do very much else if this goes pair shaped quickly.

So I choose a good spot and hit him with a big blast to try and take him down asap. I save the banter for later.

Fortunately (you might have heard the sigh of relief from the otherside of the country) I rolled a 1d20+3+6+1=29 I added +1 from being behind and unknown. 10d6 split 6/4 = 6d6=24htc, 4d6=12htk.

Sj

CODENAME: FROSTBITE
Agent Joe Hoskyn

What was possibly Americas' first superhero (at least that had made a public debut...) sprinted past startled guards in the corridor who weren't quite sure whether to stop the man or aid him. Word had gone out that there was a disturbance outside, and that fellow agents were under fire, yet the Secret Servicemen had been ordered by the President himself to ensure this man received the best treatment and respect they could offer - albeit with provisos that he would not be able to speak to the press or 'cause a scene'. Unfortunately, it seemed Joe's hand had been tipped. Even so, it was not surprising that the Secret Servicemen chose to sprint after Joe down the stairs rather than attempt to stop him or fire at him - if they were to gun him down it would have been rather embarrassing, to say the least...

Americas first supervillain strode outside. Ignoring bullets that stopped short and pinged from the field protecting his clothing and the skin it covered (OOC it's... sort of like a forcefield, but classified as grade 2 tough skin rather than forcefield. I can tell you that in OOC because in game terms it doesn't make much difference - the G-Mens' bullets are ignored...). Having been empowered by the mysterious strangers and given an address to go to, lowly Frank Harbuckle was now the 'Goliath Gangster' and revelling in the fact that he possessed superhuman strength and durability, not to mention a simply crazy machine gun that, despite its size, packed a far far bigger punch that anyone could imagine! Slicing another car clean in half (which exploded into flames, despite the rain) he glanced at the gun. "Whaddya know? This thing never seems ta run outta bullets! Heh! Ah'm gonna have me some fun! HEY FEDS, COME N GET IT YA LOUSY BUMS!" Adjusting a handle on the side of the gun he shrugged, wondering what it could do.

Joe emerged into the hotel lobby just as a massive explosion destroyed the doors and windows, sending glass and debris flying! Smoke and flames billowed from a dozen smashed cars and dazed Secret Servicemen lay on the sidewalk, burning wreckage around them!

Those following the man they'd been assigned to watch and protect were blown clear off their feet!

<<Warning! That weapon exceeds a calibre and effectiveness rating of any comparable size weapon of this era. The sound of the fire rate suggests a relatively low calibre but high velocity and fire rate capable of punching through armoured steel plate. The explosive round appears to be some kind of mortar. Caution is advised!>> said the computer.

Frostbite stumbled through the smoke into the street. He heard the giant (OOC well, 8' tall IS a giant...) bellow "HEY! I WUZ GIVEN THESE CRAZY POWERS IN RETURN FOR TAKIN' OUT SOME PUNK WHO MAKES THINGS TURN REAL COLD WITH HIS HANDS! HOWS ABOUT YOU MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELVES AN.... ARGGGH!"

Joe cut him off with a concentrated blast of cold that saw him stagger back, suddenly finding that he was in fact vulnerable to harm as the freezing energy coated the man in ice! Shaking it off, he peered through the rain and growled. "That it? You what I'm after? You got some kind of crazy mask on too? Like them guys from the serials? HA HA, ah'm gonna enjoy this! EAT LEAD!"

OOC Initiative...3 bad guy, 1 Frosty. Goliath Gangster holds his frame. He is around 18-19m away, still in range of your energy blast. You have used 10/15 dice and made an impact, for sure! That said, he has that gun...



Red is you, Green are the Secret Servicemen, Blue is GG and yellow are his goons - normal gangster type hoods along for the ride. 4 frames to y'all...

CODENAME: FROSTBITE
Agent Joe Hoskyn

Admin wrote:
OOC Initiative...3 bad guy, 1 Frosty. Goliath Gangster holds his frame. He is around 18-19m away, still in range of your energy blast. You have used 10/15 dice and made an impact, for sure! That said, he has that gun...



Red is you, Green are the Secret Servicemen, Blue is GG and yellow are his goons - normal gangster type hoods along for the ride. 4 frames to y'all...

Joe couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing. Somehow, despite the unorthodox means of arrival the Nazi agents had found Joe and his whereabouts here in America. There could be no other explanation for how punk got the weapon and powers he had. But what to do! Joe's own powers were limited and even with a gun, what could he do to that man's skin? He needed to know if the thing had a weak point a means of trying to get a better attack.

"Computer I want you to analyse these wannabe mobster and tell me if you see any potential weak points, I've got a whole lot of work to do and little leeway to play with."

Moving forward, allowing the cars to shield his presence, Joe sought to get the mobster to focus on him, whilst he watched for the moment where he might be able to strike doing the most harm. He had to bring this thing down and fast!

OOC:

Ok I know I've got four frames I can use all four to get an idea of weaknesses and attack with a +4 to hit. But what I want to know is where can I make the damage count most. If its just take the +4 and hit him, so be it, but after that I'm reduced to running around hoping to wind this guy! So I want to find a way to stop him, is he empowered by the gun? If I block or jam it will that blow up in his face etc. I want to make the shot count, and hope that I don't blow the shot or then I'm really in trouble.

Then again if I did get knocked out and captured it might be interesting to see what and where I end up?

Anyway I took a roll based on using three frames - 1d20+3+6+3=18 but then I realised I can't do energy attack in a single frame, and I've not written down what gimmicks and stuff my character has got - can I make a request for a updated character sheet, pretty please?

Anyway maybe I need to hold all four and see how that stacks. If I drop this to two frames observation and two to hit that would make the roll 17 not enough to hit anyway, so best if I stick with holding onto the frames and trying to fire next round or something - assuming I survive ;-).

Sj

OOC just in case you dont get to reading the post I put in the 'my posting rate' area of the OOC section, I'm running off my internet dongle at the moment - my ISP has gone screwy with accessing this website. All others are fine, but it has IP banned me from this one. God knows why. Anyway, it will hamper my upload rate and so on. Will get to work on the updated character sheet. I think I listed somewhere that you are all more or less the same and ... ah ha. See here... https://darkeningshadows.darkbb.com/t43p60-world-war-ii-the-vanguard-issue-1-crossover-stormwarden-putty-frostbite or even...



Which reminds me, yours is the only one I've done. Not lazy - just busy :S (thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it...etc) You do have Quick Blast. IN game terms the computer sizing up an opponent is lousy. As we're so house ruled and loose with everything, how about trying this...

CODENAME: FROSTBITE
Agent Joe Hoskyn

<<Scanning>> said the computer. <<Based on visual information on the target and how your most powerful blast affected him, it would be fair to say that the forcefield surrounding the target has no or at best, diminished, effect against your ability to emit cold. Therefore simply blasting the target should result in his being incapacitated. He is, however, resistant to small arms fire, and even though your energy attack is affecting the target, his increased physical mass and density may mean it will need several blasts to 'keep him down. There may be a way to affect him however, without directly attacking the target. Scanning.>>

Joe gaped. A series of symbols and targets, with lines criss crossing and intersecting overlaid on his vision, with numbers scrolling down the sides and other information in small writing scrolling across the top of his vision. He reached out with fumbling hands to touch the numbers and lines he saw, but they were holograms, like what one might see in a Flash Gordon serial or similar - straight out of science fiction!

<<Host form - please concentrate. If you will note the concentric circles in the middle of your current visual path, the lines of angle and attack are laid out to direct your aim in such a way that your energy attack will strike the floor in front of the target and spread out, creating sheet ice that will be difficult, if not impossible, for someone to maintain their footing on, unless they are an accomplished ice skater or possess superhuman agility of a level beyond this computers ability to accurately estimate, like your team mate Lionheart. Whilst it will not help in incapacitating the target, it will 'buy time' for the downed agents to be moved from danger and for the authorities to arrive. That said, you are the only one equipped to finish this threat. Another possible hypothesis. The target may not be alone, besides his low level 'goons' who present little threat to you, even armed as they are.>>

Joe levelled his arm, tracing as best he could the lines overlaid on his vision. The blue target line was overlaid with the red his arm was pointed at, until the two overlapped and almost lay on top of one another. <<Close enough.>> said the computer.

"What if it's the gun that's empowering this guy?" asked Joe, wondering instead if he should fire at the weapon. <<Based on visual information the weapon is powered with an element called 'lunarium'. Based on your previous hosts experience with this rare element, the tiniest of splinters used as ammunition and irradiated with a small catalyst from perhaps the 'Lunarium-X' isotope will 'supercharge' the velocity and penetrative capability of an otherwise mundane weapon. This is conjecture. Without stripping the weapon down, there is no way to truly ascertain its workings. It's possible it may be based on a P'utinarian dsign, which is beyond this units ability to comprehend without a firmware update.>>

Joe gaped. "So, what does all that mean?"

<<The gun is not the power source of the metahuman, but it is the primary weapon. Removing it from the target would still leave you vulnerable to physical attack, and based on his strength and mass, this unit guesses the target has a measure of superhuman strength.>>

OOC The choice is yours on whether you want to attack the gun, or follow the computers call and hit the floor. In the latter case, your 5 dice (all that remains) energy attack will strike where you'd like it to. If you aim for the gun, there's a chance you hit with your roll, but a higher (worse) chance you miss

Admin wrote:OOC just in case you dont get to reading the post I put in the 'my posting rate' area of the OOC section, I'm running off my internet dongle at the moment

OOC: Unreal, but then my firefox seems to have issues with this site as well, as I can't always see when you embed an image in the post. I only notice there is an image to see when I hit quote and the html code is there. But I think this might be an issue no script. Anyway don't know how I missed the character sheet, got a copy of it now.

I know what you mean about in game powers being more for flavour than effect, I guess it does seem a shame that some powers end up being bum choices if one were into optimising a character. But that isn't to say we couldn't up the anti as you've done here.


CODENAME: FROSTBITE
Agent Joe Hoskyn

OOC The choice is yours on whether you want to attack the gun, or follow the computers call and hit the floor. In the latter case, your 5 dice (all that remains) energy attack will strike where you'd like it to. If you aim for the gun, there's a chance you hit with your roll, but a higher (worse) chance you miss

Joe shrugged his shoulders slightly seeing that the computer had it figured out, he saw no sense in trying something different and aimed his remaining efforts at the ground where the man stood.

OOC: Assuming at this point he is about to go down, if I do now still have two frames remaining I will use it to get a gun or two off an agent and use it to fire at him, whilst keeping myself between the agents and the Flathead!

Sj

CODENAME: FROSTBITE
Agent Joe Hoskyn

The ice struck the floor, more or less where the computer had predicted, then splashed out, spreading outwards in all directions to cover the floor with a solid, hard ice! Despite the rain it seemed to glisten and remain icy, long enough for the Goliath Gangster to cry out, his gun waved about spraying bullets that punched through walls and brick like a knife through butter! He crashed to the floor, drenched by the rain and cracking hard on the ground, splintering the ice around him. Slipping and grabbing he turned the air blue whilst he scrabbled for grip. His cohorts thought it funny at first till they saw the look on his face, then moved to help him. They too suffered, landing hard on their backsides. One cracked his head hard as he fell and lay prone.

Joe breathed a sigh of relief and dashed across to the nearest fallen agent. The man was clutching his leg.

<<The ice will not remain in that state long. The agents wound is serious, but he is stable. The weapon appears to be of normal calibre, and will cause no more damage than a conventional weapon, but will have a much higher penetration factor, ignoring thin armour. Possibly including your own hyper dense epidermis. I suggest caution. please turn the agent over.>>

Joe did so. He expected to find the bullet had exited and caused a much larger wound, but instead the hole was the same size both sides. This was a relief, and perhaps a flaw of the weapon. Bullets had a way of 'sucking' blood and tissue through with them, making a larger hole on the way out which often resulted in the targets death. This one, interestingly, punched clean through with minimal bleeding thanks to a kind of cauterizing effect. Incredibly painful, and incapacitating in its own way, but not outright fatal unless a strike to a vital area - head, torso, gut - was scored.

Scooping up the handgun (OOC I think they were colt .45 semi automatics back then? Will look it up) Joe turned (OOC 2 frames to go pick gun up and check agent. I was a bit generous with movement ) The Gangster was - slowly - clambering to his knees.

"HEY!" bellowed the Gangster. "PUNK IN THE MASK! I'M HERE FER YOU! IF YA SURRENDER, PEACEFUL LIKE, I WON'T HAVE TO BRAIN THEM GOONS YOU'RE WITH! OTHERWISE..." he stopped talking, falling onto his face onto the ice, and swore some more.

"SUPERCHARGER!" he bellowed, then growled "These crazy names are stoopid. Ah ain't gonna get used to 'em. YOU CRAZY DAME! GET DOWN HERE AN KICK THIS GUYS KIESTER!"

Joe turned. On the roof! The glowing crackling of energy suggested someone else was here! Now he was in trouble! A silhouetted slim figure stood on the edge of the roof, glowing with energy!



The woman crackled with electricity. Every now and again she would twitch, or jump, sometimes crying out and cursing. She was 6 storeys up though. Surely enough time for Joe to do something?

OOC out of time. New round, initiative says you have 3 frames. Then their four. bravery is one thing, but you know they're after you specifically. Big guy is down for a few more frames, woman is suffering from arcing it seems, thanks to the rain. The weather may well be your best ally here... Though your example may well inspire others to act. Depends on whether anyone knows about it... Right, bedtime

CODENAME: FROSTBITE
Agent Joe Hoskyn

Admin wrote:
OOC: out of time. New round, initiative says you have 3 frames. Then their four. bravery is one thing, but you know they're after you specifically. Big guy is down for a few more frames, woman is suffering from arcing it seems, thanks to the rain. The weather may well be your best ally here... Though your example may well inspire others to act. Depends on whether anyone knows about it... Right, bedtime

OOC: Well I think you did well to get this out as it was anyway ;-)

Anyway so I am going to have to split myself between two characters, but they are after me. So I think the best thing I can do is run, from this spot, perhaps shouting, "Catch me if you can!" As it will lead them from the area filled with civilians and into a more advantagous area.

I'm mindful of the way Spiderman often defeated villains with brains as well as brawn and I feel I have that as my only comeback besides the weapon at present. So with that in mind I am looking for an area in which I can lead these punks to turn the tables. I guess if their were an Aquarium or pool or fountain for instance to short out the girl, and maybe a lake to freeze the guy into - that sort of thing. I'll ask the computer for tactical suggestions, but in all honesty it depends on what is available to me. But priority numero uno is to get them out of this place to a more deserted area.

But before I leave...

Joe shouted to one of the agents who'd exited with him, "Quick call an ambulance, the army and anyone else you think might be of help. And let me have your gun, before you go."

(hopefully) Armed with a spare gun, in case one wasn't enough, Joe shouted at the giant and the woman, taunting them to follow him.

"Hey flathead! Is it true what your men have been saying about you? They say with a head like that you must be so dumb that you'd stare at a juice carton for an hour, simply because it says 'concentrate' on it!' Anyway can't stick around, got some other bad guys to humiliate. Catch me if you can..."

And with that Joe, rushed off, hoping to find something to turn this battle in his favour.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

OOC Shame you haven't got a pair of ice skates and some of your energy attack dice left. Or maybe a 'Frozone' style snowboard that pops out of your shoes. Watched the Incredibles again the other day. Damn shame they never went back to that aside from the odd video game and short movie. Ticked all the boxes for my superhero fix.

<<This unit recommends you head for an area with water. This being Washington DC, there are a number of water bodies that you can access, including that at the Lincoln Memorial, where earlier in this year records indicate that the coloured singer Marian Anderson held a concert with the help of president Roosevelt after she was denied permission to sing in Constitution Hall on account of her race, which caused an international scandal. Turn left, by the way...>>

Joe huffed and puffed along the sidewalk. Thankfully there were few on the streets at this time in the morning, and because of the pounding rain.

<<The female uses static electricity and 'skates' along surfaces, whilst using the static to cling. The rain will interfere with her power and ... incoming.>>

The woman sped round the corner, occasionally stumbling and staggering, the electricity around her crackling and making audible bangs! As the inner voice had said, the static empowered woman could glide along smooth surfaces with great speed, like a speed skater at the Olympics! For once Joe was able to look to the skies and be thankful for the lousy weather. With twin Browning M1911 (OOC knew I'd remember which ones they were eventually) pistols to hand Joe could only hope the energy stores within him would regather (OOC 3 rounds to go) before they caught up with him!

Still sprinting hard whilst the woman regained her footing Joe saw parked cars up ahead at a road intersection. Maybe he could... with a screech of tires and a terrific slide the large car of the Goliath Gangster rounded the corner and slammed into another. Smoke rose as those inside were stunned, but the Gangster struggled out of the door and stood, about 100m up ahead.

All about Joe were closed shops and doors leading into apartments. There was little or nothing in the way of cover, and with the woman having recovered behind, the Gangster and that horrible weapon up ahead, it seemed he'd run out of running space!

<<Possible exit. The plate glass window across the road at the establishment marked 'barber shop'. Your epidermis should take the impact, but the place will prove a deathtrap if the doors are locked and you are cornered. Or you can fight. May I remind you that your skill with the sidearms is far beyond that of even policemen but both of these opponents might prove beyond the handguns ability to harm.>> Joe rolled his eyes, about to spit "thanks for the good news" before the computer adding <<Just saying.>>

OOC bad guy at one end, bad guy+goons at the other. Two pistols, a window he can punch through and doors into apartments - and innocents - all about. No cover with cars for around 30m or so, and in that time the fast static woman (supercharger) will be on you. Remember, if things get really tough and desperate, you can ask whatever dark power is inside you for a hand... but you might not like paying the price it asks... just saying

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:
OOC Shame you haven't got a pair of ice skates and some of your energy attack dice left. Or maybe a 'Frozone' style snowboard that pops out of your shoes. Watched the Incredibles again the other day. Damn shame they never went back to that...

Yeah its stands up as still a great piece of work on so many levels. I to would love to see them go back and do something, I guess with Pixar its a question of if they have a story worth telling. But with them doing so many sequels, one can only wonder.

<<Possible exit. The plate glass window across the road at the establishment marked 'barber shop'. Your epidermis should take the impact, but the place will prove a deathtrap if the doors are locked and you are cornered. Or you can fight. May I remind you that your skill with the sidearms is far beyond that of even policemen but both of these opponents might prove beyond the handguns ability to harm.>> Joe rolled his eyes, about to spit "thanks for the good news" before the computer adding <<Just saying.>>

OOC: Just to say I love the little quips I get back from the computer sometimes, way to go giving it, its own personality. Just saying

Joe looked about and wondered what he might be able to do, to improve his odds.

"Computer tell me where the the nearest body of water is from where we are?" As Joe said this he looked up recognising that many buildings had water supplied kept in great tanks on their roof. Looking about he wondered if better than going through might be going up. If he could cause the gangster to hit the tank, spill the water and get the Supercharger to let go with his spark attack, he might be able to get her to electrocute. everyone in one go. Might! It was a big ask.

Looking about he sought a fire escape, some way to the roof of one of these buildings from where he was. Failing that he wondered if a fire hydrant might also work, the danger being that he didn't want to also be fried in the processes.

OOC:

Ok so i've tipped my hand and told you my mad plan I'm not sure if this is doable within the scheme of GH rules, because it requires a number of things to happen outside of my control. But hey, it happens in the comics, so I'm trying to work something up here!

Ideally I would like to get to the roof, but if I need to go through the barbers shop, around the back and then up top so be it. I don't want to get the gangster or Sparky going through the building as they might get it into their head to get me to surrender using civilians -they might anyway but I'm hoping that my keeping going will not give them chance to try that one.

if all else fails and I can't get on top and I can't duck out down an ally, I'll go through the shop and out the backdoor. I'm, holding off using the guns until I need to, only so many bullets after all.

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Though he couldn't see any from street level, water towers on rooftops were commonplace, especially on apartment buildings over 6 storeys tall. Joe glanced about. <<Try the building directly behind your line of vision.>> said the computer. Thankfully the Goliath Gangster was no Jesse Owens, huffing and puffing his great bulk through the rain as his stunned goons fell out of the car. A glance at the woman revealed... out of sight! He had no time to ponder where she'd gone as he ducked into a narrow alley between buildings, onto a dumpster, jumped to the lowest rung of a ladder and started climbing!

The platter of wet footsteps got louder from the street as Joe went up level by level (2 rounds doing this, 1 round left to recharge). Finally after what seemed an age, there was only a single level to go...

When the woman poked her head over the lip of the roof. "There you are!" she said, crackling in the rain. "Wondered where you... unhhh ... damn this rain!" She reached out a hand and touched the metal fire escape...

BANG!

Joe cried out and crashed onto the walkway section of the fire escape, blinking back the shock of electricity jolting through him! (OOC 7 htc, reduces dividers to nothing) He staggered to his feet as the woman stood and frowned. "What? You're a tough one! I want to see what's behind that mask though! Come on up! I'll be waiting!"

<<your body has been hit by a high voltage electrical charge. At the current rate - no pun intended - she is able to discharge, a further five or six hits will incapacitate you, so you are not in immediate danger...>>

As Joe got to his feet, the computer added <<on the roof of this building is a water tower. It will be useful. Your energy levels are near restored.>>

Below, at the mouth of the alley, the Goliath Gangster and that deadly machine gun were stood in the rain. "You're gonna... pay fer... makin' me..."

"Boss! Feds!" shouted another Gangster. With a growl the big man dismissed his cohort and took aim.

RATATATATATATATATA!

Luckily the aim and kick from the gun saw fit to punch holes in everything around Joe (OOC no dodge roll needed). Where a bullet had passed, a steaming hole was left in concrete or metal...

OOC Goliath Gangster 20-30m away on the floor and five levels down, or onto the roof and face Supercharger? Sparkler might be a better name, in hindsight...

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:OOC:Goliath Gangster 20-30m away on the floor and five levels down, or onto the roof and face Supercharger? Sparkler might be a better name, in hindsight...

"Up, up and away it is then!" Joe said to himself drawing one of the weapons and placing the other within easy reach to get it again. He could feel the power he'd discharged earlier beginning to swell and grow within him. Although unaware of how he was able to do what he did, nonetheless he was growing more aware of the way the power seemed to work through his body.

Thankfully he'd had no more of the flashback memories since being in the desert, but somehow doubted that the pause was permanent.

Shifting quickly as he could whilst trying not to let the women shock him again, he sprung up the steps. Hoping her curiosity might prevent her from attacking him directly. Just in case though, Joe shouted up,

"Well if you weren't a girl, I'd be worried. Probably afraid to face a real challenge without your friend below?" Joe didn't like the tone he took, but he was unsure of how to proceed and wanted to make sure he got off the fire escape before she tried to shock him on the way up.

Gun at the ready he leapt up to the roof, seeking to dive over as he imagined she'd try to get him as soon as his head popped up.

OOC:
1. Ok I doubt I will be able to insulate myself from the fire escape shocker. Assuming she is on the up and my taught does mean she wants to prove herself I'll proceed up and try to dive over the wall coming up firing to keep her on the back foot.

2. Alternatively I make a dash into the apartment on this level and come up via the stairs on the inside. That way she can't shock me on my approach and I take my chances trying to get onto the roof?

3. When I am on the roof, I will try to use whatever cover their is available and then go from there. My though was to get her to shock Goliath as the water was released. But now I am wondering if I can get her dumped in water and freeze it around her?

Anyway its all improvisation depending on what is up here?

Sj

OOC On the roof there's not much - an entrance 'box' with door set in it, the water tower itself. Otherwise flat, and with water on it from the rain. Joe is able to get onto the roof without being attacked again because the woman is distracted every now and again as electricity arcs about her.

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Joe scrambled onto the roof, and pulled the pistols. Glancing behind and down, he saw the Gangster and his goods reach the fire escape! He wouldn't have long!

"Those guns won't hurt me!" laughed the woman. "But go ahead and try, my mysterious masked man! Why all this trouble over you I don't know! They told us you were the most powerful man on the continent! What? You're just a raggedy man!" she laughed.

'Tempting.. so tempting... but this form we wear will not withstand the power...' growled an inner voice, different from the cold metallic one that was so helpful to Joe.

<<Depending on your tactic, shooting several shots at the same spot on the water tower will cause it to split and burst. After that, I recommend you get out of the flow of water then use whatever tactic you deem best. This unit would NOT recommend becoming stuck in your own ice, or electrocuted by this female!>>

"Enough!" cried the woman. "I will claim that $100,000 reward! I didn't even know that much money existed! $100,000 to kill a sap in a home made mask! Easy money!" She moved in. Joe's hair crackled and started to stand on end!

OOC your move... You have full energy.

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

'Tempting.. so tempting... but this form we wear will not withstand the power...' growled an inner voice, different from the cold metallic one that was so helpful to Joe.

Joe hesitated for a moment, he wasn't sure what to make of the 'new' voice. Now he had heard the computer on many an occasion he was more sure of the difference. Moreover he knew he wasn't going mad, he hadn't multiple personalities just one other - perhaps the memories related to this. But right now wasn't the time to ponder, now was the time for action.

<<Depending on your tactic, shooting several shots at the same spot on the water tower will cause it to split and burst.>>

"Enough talk," Joe shouted, "Its almost as cheap as you, lady!" Joe let his voice drip sarcasm and he wanted he riled, so he could get her to be careless. Attempting to aim as if he was firing at her, Joe shot as best he could again and again at the same spot. It did occur to him freezing the water tower before shooting would also weaken it, but that would also weaken him. And he still had another problem below.

OOC:
1. Ok I am taunting the woman making her mad, questioning her and making it evident that I appear to have a low opinion of her to take her mind off what I am really trying to do.

2. I will move so that she is between me and the water butt and fire as I do, both to present her with a moving target and to get her energy to arch around to the water.

3. Then I want to try and leap up onto the Rooftop edge, I want to try and make sure I stay above the water, be it on the rooftop edge or some other non conductive protrusion that I can get to, to avoid charged water splashing everywhere.

As soon as I am able I will either Coup De Grace her, or freeze her on the spot. Depending on what is safest. But I will also use this opportunity to size up the enemy and see what they are up to. I'm hopeful that some of the water may even spill out onto them. Two birds and one water tank as it were ;-)

Sj

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Joe manoeuvred himself and came out with a taunt that had the woman bristling - as if she wasn't already a livewire!

Taking aim with the gun he smiled. All too easy.

THUD!

Joe fell forwards, onto the floor of the roof. He'd been hit from ... behind? No.. above and behind!

<<Interesting. The attacker made no sound nor was I able to glean any warning from your senses, though you lack any enhanced sensory abilities, admittedly.>>

Joe blinked. The strike had sent him reeling - and knocked the gun from his hand! Not only was he out of position but he was downed!

The crackling woman called out "We should call you silent death!" she laughed out. "You took your time! With those wings you should have been first on the scene!"



The buffeting from the large wings on the scaled womans back sent water spraying into Joes eyes. He wasn't hurt from the attack, just shoved over, unbalanced and at a disadvantage.

"Why didn't you breathe on him! You have that fancy fire breath?" shouted the electrical woman as she walked closer to Joe.

The other spoke out, in a clear accent less voice. "These powers are a curse. I will not revel in them. And our foe deserves not to be toyed with, no matter how dangerous we were told he is." She looked down at Joe, looking him in the eye. "Surrender." she said quietly as she hovered. Strangely enough there was little noise from the wing beats.

Joe heard the clatter of footsteps on the fire escape. Very shortly the big goon with the gun would be here, then he'd be in trouble! Looking about, he saw the water tower at an angle to him and the electrical woman. He could shoot at it - with the other gun in his belt - but he himself would be caught in the deluge. The woman in the air was a problem. Joe bit back a curse. How many more were waiting in the wings? He almost chuckled at the pun, but things were getting serious. Outnumbered, though not necessarily outgunned yet. He was on full energy. He had a couple of handguns, and the computer. As well as that mysterious voice inside.

'The Shadow Demons have had a hand in this.' said the inner voice. That cryptic message was followed by a shout from the side of the building "Hey! You gals better leave me some o that punk ta ruff up or there'll be trouble!"

The edge of the roof revealed a fall of variable height in every direction. Joe knew he was tough, but how tough exactly? A six storey fall would kill a normal man.

But Joe Hoskyn was in no way 'normal'...

OOC Things just got complicated. Still, I'm sure you'll figure a way out

Agent Joe Hoskyn
CODENAME: FROSTBITE

Admin wrote:'The Shadow Demons have had a hand in this.'

Joe didn't like the sound of that and first hand experience had told him more. Clearly things were bad, he'd stay for a fight if he felt there was a chance of winning, but that wasn't this. Moreover he had no idea where he'd end up, with no friends and no support who know what would happen. He had to get away, he alone had been able to get the alien craft to work and he was still on a mission for the British Government to get the means to find out how to stop an impregnable base being built round another such craft off Scotland.

It was time for something desperate.

"Computer I want to try something and I am going to need you to help me overlay the plan, can you do it?" Joe outlined his plan, and then he hoped supprised his enemies by running forward and swan diving off the building.

OOC:

1. Ok I want to build an ice slide...I want the computer to generate a schematic for me to get away safely by falling and as I fall generating an ice slide - like a deathslide. Starts almost vertical but quickly levels out.

2. My plan is to jump then into the sewers (Thanks Dave) where the big guy and the flyer can't get me and the sparking lady won't go. At worse its the goons who may try.

Since these people are after Joe, I guess they won't be such a danger to the people around and if I disappear they'll have to try another tactic - hopefully.

Now if I can't do this and this is a case of a push too far, then I am stumped trying to fight these people is going to be tough...and I wonder if I'm just delaying the inevitable and the dark power will get turned loose. But judging by your last comment...

Admin wrote:Things just got complicated. Still, I'm sure you'll figure a way out

...I think you aren't expecting that - just yet, so I'll try this. If its a flat no from you then I'll have to attack starting with the two ladies.

Sj