World War II - The Vanguard Issue #2 (Crossover Silver Sentinel, Frostbite, Lionheart)

The Vanguard
Lionheart
Frostbite
Silver Sentinel
P'ertaria
Frostbot

Admin wrote:There were doubting looks but the group bowed their heads to P'oratian who turned. "Our father will be grateful. But tell me, how do you know P'ulesin? I feel sure my father would have mentioned you?"

"We are happy to try and answer your questions, but first, we have a ship full of Nazi's and aliens, they are held secure at present and we would like you permission to make sure they remain that way. Is it possible to bring them onboard and hold them safely where they will be no trouble?" Frostbite said, all to aware that he didn't want a problem to come back to when they still had so much to deal with ahead.

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OOC: Assuming that can be arranged so that so far is possible the ship remains secure. We'll continue.
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Lionheart continued from where Frostbite left off, making sure that the ship remained secure.

"We have much to tell you and I know that you are going to find this difficult, but we know about you partly because we've come to this place from the future. I am a time traveller, and have come back to this point to stop the a terrible catastrophe effecting all our peoples. I knew P'ulesin from the future where that catastrophe had already taken place. As to the other question we know about the K'atinarians, because the Nazis are working with them right under your noses. It was P'ertaira who helped us and alerted us to the danger. She was badly hurt helping us fight off another alien race the Nazi's have been using Skrarls. I am sorry, we did ask her to hold back, but I guess you could say we've become friends and she is very loyal. I hope she will be ok?"

Lionheart was saying this whilst taking the opportunity to scan around for any nasty surprises, he was aware that the differing factions even within the P'utinarian society, might well extend right up to this highest quarters on the mother ship. Somehow the Nazi's and more likely the shadow demons had a way of bringing out the baser instincts of many, manipulating fear, anger or other destructive emotions to cajole factions to occur. In the chaos they infiltrate and divide still further. If things hadn't got to this stage they may well if the P'utinarians were not made aware of the greater forces at work here.

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OOC:

OK continue to scan, whilst walking to the High Council and make sure we're all on high alert. Otherwise am fine just walking and talking and answering questions however.

OOC The ship is yours, and could serve as a handy base if you want it mapping out more thoroughly. Aside from the occasional Lunarium supply, it has hydroponics (floor 2) and a recyclable air supply, plus it travels faster than light away from gravity wells.[/i]

OK we'll once we've resolved things here, perhaps we can resume our mission back to the Moon base and try and do what we were sent to do in the first place. Although it may be that, that such a plan is now a non starter on account of the Nazis being aware of us out here.

Sj

The Vanguard
Lionheart
Frostbite
Silver Sentinel
P'ertaria
Frostbot

The P'utinarians looked at each other, doubtfully. "I'm sure you realise that were we to hold any prisoners and the Nazis find out, they would visit... retribution ... on our people situated on Earth. We are... the word... phrase escapes me... 'hand in hand with the devil' " said P'oratian, shifting uncomfortably as he walked. "My best suggestion? Flush them out the airlock. They would do no less to you."

'I like his style' said Saladin inside Lionhearts head. For his part, Lionheart continued to scan. He received disturbing results. There were many on board who were not only contemptuous of the High Council and their current 'deal' but openly rebellious. Worse, there were many who supported it, and the Nazi regime. A people divided then. Not good. He looked about. In the party with P'oratian there were four of the twelve who were actively opposed to any dealings with humans at all, but Lionheart felt no immediate danger. A ship this size, with so many minds... he counted several thousand. Not so many then. Divided and desperate.

The party walked on, led by the welcoming committee...

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"We thank you for the gift of the Lunarium. It will sustain our people for almost 3 months if we live within our meagre needs"

The Vanguard stood in the circle of a raised council chamber, the P'utinarians sat on columns looking down on them. Twelve there were, with P'ulesin on the highest in the centre. "And our thanks for returning my daughter. She is headstrong, but no warrior. She will recover, and from what I learnt of our meld in the brief time I spent with her, you acted with honour and courage, though there were... disturbing images about secrets you harbour. It does you credit to hold that power within you, but I fear, as any intelligent being would - what would become of my people if you were to use that power for ill? Walk the path of right, Vanguardians, and know this. We have voted, and we find that our allegiance to the Nazi cause is misplaced. We will secretly advise our people to withdraw, and once all are safe, tell the Nazis we no longer wish them as allies. That leaves us with a problem. They promised us Lunarium, and you delivered more than they have yet done, with their drip feeding of miniscule amounts. We will denounce the Nazis, but how will my people survive, Vanguardians?"

How indeed?

Lionheart glanced about. The speech by the P'utinarian leader had gone out across the ship, and he was disturbed by the fear and panic that ran through it as P'utinarians realised that the Nazis would try to enslave or kill any Aliens who turned against them!

Frostbite and Silver Sentinel felt something else. Their skin bristled, and power rippled through them. Both heard the voice in their heads...

'Their fear... delicious!'

Fighting back the Dark power was difficult when the negative emotions were so concentrated in a place like this in the depths of space...

OOC we are nearly ready to wrap this adventure and get you back to Earth. You still have the problem of the prisoners, but you have bought the P'utinarians time and in doing so turned them towards neutrality rather than aligning with the Nazis. There's plenty that can go wrong before the P'utinarians get their people out of Germany and the Axis allied countries though...

The Vanguard
Lionheart
Frostbite
Silver Sentinel
P'ertaria
Frostbot

Admin wrote:The P'utinarians looked at each other, doubtfully. "I'm sure you realise that were we to hold any prisoners and the Nazis find out, they would visit... retribution ... on our people situated on Earth. We are... the word... phrase escapes me... 'hand in hand with the devil' " said P'oratian, shifting uncomfortably as he walked. "My best suggestion? Flush them out the airlock. They would do no less to you."

"That might be the way with you and the Nazi's but we believe prisoners have rights. We will guard them and make sure they get returned to Earth." Frostbite said, somewhat surprised by the off hand an casual nature of P'oratian's comment.

The party walked on, led by the welcoming committee...

Lionheart was disturbed by the menagerie of different thoughts that circulated around the ship, but it made sense that desperation and survival had turned this people's lives upside down. It wasn't going to be easy to see things set straight and an out and out withdrawal might never be possible.

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"We thank you for the gift of the Lunarium. It will sustain our people for almost 3 months if we live within our meagre needs"

"Think of it as a gesture of good will." Frostbite contended. "For when we got ahold of this Lunarium, we gave it to you, rather than took it for our own people and our own forces. Our needs are great, the Nazi's have many allies and behind it all are the shadows who seek to engulf all existence!

We will denounce the Nazis, but how will my people survive, Vanguardians?"

How indeed?

Lionheart glanced about. The speech by the P'utinarian leader had gone out across the ship, and he was disturbed by the fear and panic that ran through it as P'utinarians realised that the Nazis would try to enslave or kill any Aliens who turned against them!

Lionheart then spoke up, "We will not desert our allies, nor double cross them as would the Nazi's. If we know and or can help we will be more than willing to do our part to help those who help us."

Frostbite and Silver Sentinel felt something else. Their skin bristled, and power rippled through them. Both heard the voice in their heads...

'Their fear... delicious!'

Fighting back the Dark power was difficult

Joe shivered the power was intoxicating, but like too much of anything disastrous and equal if not greater measure. The Shadows were what they were, they couldn't help that they fed on the dark side of life, but once again he wondered if they'd chosen wisely. Could such beings, even with noble motives, overcome their hunger. If the world was righted, what and how would they feed? Thoughts for another occasion.

Sensing their time was up, Frostbite gave a polite bow, then agreed to leave. They had the ship and a ship full of prisoners, they needed to reassess their situation and decide whether they could now carry out their orders as stated, or withdraw back to Earth.

As they left Lionheart paused, turned back and simple said, "Say goodbye to P'ertaria for me, your daughter is a credit to your people, P'ulesin."

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OOC:

we are nearly ready to wrap this adventure and get you back to Earth. You still have the problem of the prisoners, but you have bought the P'utinarians time and in doing so turned them towards neutrality rather than aligning with the Nazis. There's plenty that can go wrong before the P'utinarians get their people out of Germany and the Axis allied countries though...

Ok Couple of things outstanding:

1. I guess that now we've got prisoners we'll forget going back to the moon? That was our orders, but in the light of what has taken place I guess that is a no go.

If that is the case and we won't make an attack on the moon, then I suggest we head for Bletchley and get on with helping out on our next mission, unless there is anything else anyone else wants to do.

Sj

OOC: Unless we offer the aliens too so they can hold them as prisoners and a bargaining chip because im sure the nazis have some of their people hostage.

Is there anyway we could contact HQ for a clarification on orders

smaug wrote:OOC: Is there anyway we could contact HQ for a clarification on orders

Good point!

Sj

The Vanguard
Lionheart
Frostbite
Silver Sentinel
Frostbot

OOC Bletchley Park (HQ) works with the old tubed wireless sets - but will be (at some point) upgrading to the more modern technology as and when the Vanguard capture it. Of course, they want to know how it works so will take it to bits. And then put it together with a load of spare bits on the side, and wonder why it doesn't work (*whistles innocently having ... possibly ... done that before*). Besides that, any communication sent via radio signal would take years to arrive from beyond Pluto I expect...

With a ship full of hostages (OOC you're looking at about 30 or so - the rest are non combatant technicians who are intent only on their assigned duties onboard the ship) the Vanguard settled on the bridge. P'ulesin himself had walked them back and spoken quietly, away from his own people. "I shall try my utmost to sway our people to your cause! Despite the power inside you, you are good people, and I believe in you. P'ertaria wanted to come with you, but I forbade it. Still, my daughter is headstrong - it won't be the last you hear of her! I thank you again for the Lunarium. You have restored my faith in humanity!"

Frostbite, Silver Sentinel and Lionheart walked up the ramp onto the ship and watched it close behind them. The P'utinarians had offered an alternate course to get the ship back using the 'blind side' of the Nazis sensor arrays. They had, however, intercepted a chilling message... "...be waiting for you when you get to the moon! You may have captured one of our ships, but we will do far worse! You, Lionheart, and your colleagues, are on the the Fuhrers most wanted list! Tell Anyman... he is top of that list. Lionheart? You are on the top of mine!" Lionheart frowned. Bentham! He'd escaped, somehow!

It was clear the moon would be on the highest of alerts. The experiments the Nazis were conducting there - with their 'Megahuman' project - would have to wait. Now that the P'utinarians had been persuaded to abandon the Nazi cause the Vanguard could return to the defence of their country.

They watched the mothership shrink in the viewscreen as the ship followed the proscribed path back to Earth.

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EPILOGUE

"Yes. This is a priority message. Tell the Fuhrer that the P'utinarian High Council has betrayed him!"

The traitor let the words sink in, knowing full well it would mean doom for the P'utinarians in service to the Nazis. They would be rounded up and executed! "I trust my service and loyalty are not in doubt... and will be rewarded?"

The Nazi officer on the other end of the viewscope raised an eyebrow. "Your price?"

"Why, I wish only for the backing of the glorious third Reich, and will in turn hope that the Fuhrer sends aid immediately, that I may depose the traitorous high council..."

"And impose yourself as leader?"

The P'utinarian smiled "To rule in the Fuhrers name, of course. We are few, but I am sure that a race of shape shifters, who can impersonate anyone, at any time, with the correct planning, can prove useful."

There was a pause, then the Nazi officer nodded. "They can indeed, and it is high time we used them properly! First, we must root out the traitors! Tell me though, how is it that you can turn on your own people thus? Are you not the son of the High Councillor himself?"

P'iricas, brother to P'etaria and P'oratian, shrugged "I do what is best for my people. They will suffer, in the short term, but will come out on the winning side in the end, and see the wisdom of my rule. Besides that... I had good advice." He deactivated the link.

He glanced to the corner, where a pair of glowing red eyes shone in the dark. "I'm taking a big risk. You realise? The power you offer me. Will it be like... theirs?"

The Shadow Demon moved forward. "I have sworn revenge on those who defy me! Recently I was humiliated! They are too powerful to attack directly, but if, as you say, there are those willing to follow the old ways... then we may yet succeed!"

"Ever since I found out about the old ways, I have seen my current form as weak, insipid! Like my father, and the council! I am P'utinarian no longer! Now, I am K'atinarian!" With that the grey form of P'iricas rippled and shifted, darkening to become crimson! All teeth and claws, he hissed and spat, before snarling "Take me, Shadow! I am yours!"

"That you are..." said the shadow demon priest, beaten only a day or two before by the Vanguard in the hanger in America! And he leapt into the willing form, eager to once more take up the battle against the deposed Shadow Princes...

Epilogue Ends



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OOC The Vanguard return to Earth unmolested. They have succeeded in their quest without having to go to the moon, and delivered Lunarium to the P'utinarians who denounced the Nazis. History repeated itself though... and the Nazis have started the round up of 'traitorous' P'utinarians... The evil, more powerful flesh eating K'atinarians have not been seen the last of though... Watch for issue #3 of the Vanguard.. operation Dynamo!