World War II - Sky Eagle Issue #1

"I told you we should have rested him! Now the whole program has stalled and Wynn is bedridden! Not to mention the boy in the coma!"

"Damn it! What else were we supposed to do? Hope the Nazis stop churning out super soldiers? That they somehow forget they have enlisted the aid of men from the future, aliens from who knows where and by all accounts, demons?"

There was a pause before the next man spoke, and it was with a sigh. "Forbes... you know as well as I do that even with Wynn and the others, this is a lost cause. All we could do is fight to the last, and hope it'll be enough. History will look back on us and say we fought against overwhelming odds even knowing we'd fail. We'll be remembered."

"No Dawson, you're wrong. The victors write the history books. We'll be dust on the floor of history, and the Nazis are ready to sweep us away. The Justiciars and Vanguard are all we have, that and the technology captured from Scotland and London. Not that it'll do any good. By all accounts it's got the boffins excited but absolutely baffled. And now? Our spies suggest Hitler and his goose stepping chums are interested in the occult, and that they've made progress with their studies! Can you believe it? Magic is real, it works! Our way of life is finished. We just don't know it yet..."

The voices trailed off and the door clicked as they left the room.

The young man in the bed, a volunteer soldier who'd signed up for the fledgling Department of Intelligence and Counter Espionage, otherwise known as DICE, opened his eyes. The light from the open window hurt, and he covered them up as soon as he'd looked, but now his vision was returning.

'Get up' growled a rasping voice inside of him. 'You have a job to do. The Shadows are darkening over your land. Evil encroaches from all directions. You and your brothers in arms are the light against eternal night. Your body is weak, untested. It cannot cope with the power I give you - yet. You MUST adapt, or surely you will perish, with your pitiful country! There is more at stake than just one small mark on the map though... if this realm falls, the world falls, and after that? The universe! Eternal darkness will reign, and the Shadow Demons, my kin, will rule supreme!'

The soldier blinked, reaching out. Grasping the rail on the bed he pulled himself up - or at least tried to! The rail snapped clean away and he opened his hand to find it crushed and ground in his grip! Suddenly he was very, very awake!

Sitting up in bed, looking out the window of the hospital to see the snow falling, he knew he was different. More. But who had been the mysterious voice? Fragments of what had gone before came back to him. The questionnaire, the medical. Generals Forbes, Dawson and Wynn questioning him. A man named Slobotham leaning against a wall, firing hypothetical situations at him. What sort of person was he? How did he cope with pressure? Would he die for his country? Would he die to save someone else? What would he do with unlimited power coursing through his veins? The questions had been mostly meaningless and confusing then.

Now he knew, oh yes. He was changed, forever!

He was...



And his life would never be the same again!

OOC We normally post narrative then OOC actions in italics to make it stand out (easier to read). Take a look at the other posts in here, and if you get chance, tried to read some of the archived posts. No matter if you don't get much reading done - your character wouldn't know any of that stuff anyway, but it's just to give an idea of what to expect. Updates are every 24 hours generally, sometimes 36, sometimes more frequent. I try not to let combat slow down as I know it's a game killer to do so, and thankfully the GH system, as you know, flows pretty good in Play By post, probably because a few actions are resolved at a time rather than one action then the other side, then initiative. Other than that, welcome to the game Jason

As the voice receeded in his mind Jack Hamilton reached a hand out, his sight still fuzzy from his long sleep, he decided to keep his eyes closed and use touch to orientate himself. His outstretched hand touched something cold and he quickly pulled it back.

Reaching out again he felt something metal gripping it he realized it was some sort of restraining bar possibly the type used on a hospital bed, was he in hospital?

All he could remember was sitting in a chair facing the General was he placed a hand on his shoulder telling him fantastical things about heroes and powers, yes he realized what he had signed up for but he's not really believed in it all until then. As he had sat there he'd felt the General's hand get warm then hot and suddenly he'd felt his head would explode before everything had turned black.

And now here he was in an hospital bed, determination set solidly in as he grabbed the rail and pulled himself up. Then it happened ,as he's struggled to get his uncoordinated body to a near sitting position the rail crumpled in his tight grip and he fell back to the bed bounced once and lay there trying to catch his breath.

Suddenly shock hit him and his eyes opened wide the light from the morning sun nearly blinded him even with the blinds down and he moaned. turning away from the window he slowly opened them again to see that he still had the rail in his hand but where he was holding it was now crumpled and bent with about a foot of bar on either side still attached.

Fear gripped him, what the hell was happening, he chuched the bar away from him and it sailed through the air and with a solid thud buried itself up to half it's length into the wall opposite. Now very frightened he scooted up the bed onlt to realize at the last minute that the rail on the other side wasin't up and he fell with a crash onto the floor.

He lay there curled up trying to make sense of it all before taking a deep breath and pulling himself to his hands and knees. Taking a moment to think he suddenly felt very heavy as if there was a weight laying across his shoulder blades.

Fearing what he might find he tentitively reached one shaking hand round his back. Holly god is that feathers he could feel ..... Oh sweet Jesus what have they done to me. He crawled then stumbled to his feet using the bed for support. His legs at first refusing to work as he stumbled from one piece of furniture to another. finally he found himself in the corner of the room back against the wall with the window next to him.

He scanned the room but couldn't find a mirror so did the only thing that he could think off . Reaching over he slowly pulled up the blind. when it had reached the top he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This is not happening, his mind kept telling him as he slowly turned to look at his reflection in the glass.

At fiurst his mind refused to accept the image before him, the muscular body, the wings unfolding on his back and the eagles head where his young face used to be. Thats when the screaming started and didn't stop.

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

Nurses ran in , followed by several high ranking members of the military. Realisation dawned, and he recognised Brigadier Dawson, General Forbes and General Wynn. Each looked aghast, though it was Wynn who spoke up first. "Get back! get back, dammit!" he hissed. "Give the boy room!" he approached slowly, without threat, and stood by the bed as the young man stood on it, wings unfurled and touching opposite walls, muscular body having half shredded the white smock he wore.

"Something's different" he muttered.

"Damn right!" said Forbes. "The boys a freak! What have you done to him?"

"Freak?" spluttered Wynn, whirling on his friend. "No! He's far more than we realised! He... he's like me!"

Forbes and Dawson glanced at one another, then at Hamilton stood on the bed.

"He's new. It will take time to adjust, but he's like me. He has... power." said Wynn. Sensing Forbes about to ask what the heck he was talking about, Wynn explained. "When I empower these young men and women, all I'm doing is adding an extra gene. It's a key to a lock inside all of us. The lock can be opened with the right application of power. Some can't take it though, and the young are more suited as their bodies are growing, adapting."

"Well, you're an old fart and you have this power!" snorted Dawson. Wynn turned then grinning, and held up a hand. A miniature tornado suddenly sprang up in it, though it's power was enough to press everyone in the room back! All save the General himself, and the young man stood on the bed. Wynn turned to him. His wings were pressed back, tucking in, and his head, that of an eagle, ducked and moved to instinctively go with the flow of the air current. "Greetings cousin." said Wynn in a much deeper, darker voice than his usual one. "I had not expected you to join us. Our family is divided, but knowing you are with us brings cheer. We face a foe that is legion to our few. This reality and all in it stand on the edge of oblivion, with a fall into endless darkness beckoning! Only we can pull it back into the light! Stand with me, become ... Vanguard! Defend these mortals and all they stand for, this small island, a dust mote in the omniverse yet so central to existence as we know it! We are the last, only line of defence against the most powerful forces of evil in every universe! First though, we must ensure our mortal hosts live long enough to wield that power!"

Suddenly the wind died, and Wynn staggered, holding onto the bed as a muscular stern looking man in army uniform rushed into the room to support him. In his normal voice, Wynn spoke, looking up and around. "That's... enough of that, thank you! Private Hamilton, be so kind as to step down from the bed, you're giving me a crick in my neck looking up and besides..." he glanced at the female nurses stood in the doorway. "Between your shredded gown and my wind I think we put quite a show on!"

Slobotham, the man who helped Wynn, turned and ushered everyone save Forbes, Dawson, Wynn, himself and Hamilton from the room, closing the door and turning to hear what was said. Wynn turned to Forbes and Dawson. "No Justiciar this one. Vanguard. Trust me. I should be recovered enough to continue the recruitment program but I'll have to slow it to a couple a day, at best. trying for more than that weakens this old body of mine and..." he said, flicking his head at the Eagle headed warrior "has unpredictable results, though this one we more than welcome!" He turned, looking Sky Eagle in the eye. "How about it son? Have any questions? Ready to do your duty?" he asked with a grin.

As the room filled with people, military and medical he realized the screaming was coming out of his throat. As sanity started to return he closed his mouth shut tight and forced the ever present scream back down into his chest.

As he scanned the gathered throng through new eyes he saw in some shock, confusion and in a few loathing. Then his gaze settled on General Wynn and as the old man moved forward Jack clung to that contact like a drowning man to a lifebelt.

He listened the men talk and slowly about power and being something else. He knew that Wynn could give people power but he had only heard of the weak ones that made up the Justiciar but he was bewildered by the mention of a group called The Vanguard.

Suddenly his mind was refocused as Wynn created a tornado inside the room for the first time since he woke he felt the wind on his body and felt free. Suddenly he wanted to unfold his wings and jump into the heart of it to feel himself lifted by it and to ride it to wherever it took him.
Instinctively he crouched slightly on the bed and turned his head into the wind folding his wings tight against his newly formed body allowing the wind to flow over and around him while all the others in the room were blown flat against the walls.

When Wynn next opened hi s mouth A different voice came out, it was still Wynn but it was also something else. Jack could feel the power in it and felt connected. Something stirred in the deep recesses of his mind as if something or someone was awaking after a long sleep and a smile played across his beak like features as this something made his head nod in recognition of the being that was Wynn and that was more than Wynn.

Then it all changed as Wynn stumbled and a large army man moved to catch him. When Wynn next spoke it was in his normal voice “How about it son? Have any questions? Ready to do your duty?”
Jack looked long and hard at the old man, his bird like eyes fixed him with an intense stare.

He cleared his throat, once, twice wondering if he could still speak in a human voice. “I need to know what happened to me ? I know I signed up for the programme but from your reactions I realize this” He spread both his hands and arms wide “ was not something you were expecting.”
He then half jumped and half glided of the bed to gently alight on the floor “I also need to know what this Vanguard is I was told I would be in a unit called Justiciar.”

He then looked down at his new body, it was bigger and stronger than his old one, it felt more coordinated but at the same time light, as if his bones had taken on a weightlessness that enabled his wings to bear him aloft. Then suddenly he realized that he was also naked, if he’d not had the face of an Eagle he’d have blushed bright red at his predicament “Oh and I think someone needs to get me some clothes” he said pulling the discarded sheets of the bed and rapping them round his naked form.

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

As Dawson left to procure a uniform for the new hero, Wynn sat on the end of the bed. He looked tired, worn out. Those in the room could sense it, but only the the Sergeant Major, Slobotham, spoke up. "Wynny, you need rest! You've bin burnin' th' candles at both ends for weeks now. We are havin' trouble keepin' track of who's who in th' Justiciars! never mind bloody train or catalogue them!"

Wynn perked up at the slip of protocol, exactly the right reaction Slobotham had wanted, and Wynn knew it too. With a sigh he nodded. "I know Slobbie. But do you think the Nazis will let up? We need to be ready!" He looked at the young man with the wings and eagles head, and nodded. "Alright, in a nutshell. In a past life I was from the future, very different from now. An ordinary man, until I fell into a coma one day without any medical explanation. I woke, like you, with superhuman powers and used them to help others as the hero Stormwarden. It became clear we were given the powers for a reason. There's something inside us, you and I, a... dark power. It's motives are unclear, but right now it's on our side, and wants to stop its own people from taking over this reality, this universe whatever you want to call it. Everything we know. So anyway, me and my friends set about stopping it, and we're doing well, then... *poof* the world changes! Someone, probably with the help of those we're trying to stop, changes time by sending people and technology into the past. This past. Now the Nazis have the upper hand and we need to somehow turn the tide, or all that we saw in the changed future will come to pass. We came back in time to stop it, but ended up in different bodies. I am General Wynn... but also Guy Saint Ives, and a Shadow Demon Prince whose name I can't pronounce."

"Demon?" spluttered Forbes.

Wynn waved him to quiet. "I came back in my.. this... old beaten up body that's seen too many wars and too many young men fall in battle, and found that I can change people, the right people, and make them more. Not better - that is in you to be good, or bad - but better. Picking the right people is the hard part. Giving power to the wrong ones would be like handing an ace to the Nazis... The Nazis can give powers to people too, though we suspect through the use of technology and magic. I don't understand it, either side of me, but they have been churning them out to create a 'master race'. And they are winning. We need you son. You are different to the others, as Silver Sentinel was. And I don't mean to discourage you, but we're out of time! You've... a day? Then whatever training we give you will be meaningless as we're having to get the British Expeditionary Force back from France. It's been a bloody rout, and will become a bloodbath unless we can help them!"

Jack looked hard at Wynn before speaking " General I realized in part what I was getting myself into though I didn't sign on for this...." he gently touched his face as he said it.

" I seem to be between a rock and a hard place as I see it. I can't go back home looking like this, I can't lead the life I had looking like this and I can't lead my men looking like this..."

He took a moment to gather his thoughts " If there is any good to come out of this situation then I will use what I have been given to at least protect my men and as many Allied soldiers as I can."

He stood and looked out of the window in a voice that was little more than a whisper " This power does it sing to you as it does to me... I want to open this window and jump to feel the wind under my wings and on my body."

He turned with a gleam in his eyes " Do you think... could I ..." He opened his wings " Could I take them for a test drive?"

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

The General chuckled. "Not yet, Sergeant Hamilton. Not here at any rate. You'd have people all a fluster, not the best of encounters when you're recovering in hospital to see a flying man speed past the window! It'd give people a heart attack I should think! Rest now. I know you're itching to get going, but trust me, it'll be the last chance you get for a while..." he looked about "That any of us get!"

Jack lay back, finding a way to comfortably settle with the wings on his back. The world had changed for him, possibly forever! He couldn't help but wonder... Would he be viewed as a hero, or as a Freak?

=========

A few short hours later, under cover of darkness, Sergeant Major Slobotham helped Hamilton leave the hospital...

"Change of clothes old chap" said Wynn as he stepped from a waiting staff car. The ride in the car with Slobotham had been uncomfortable, but Hamilton had managed. He'd been driven to what seemed to be an airfield, albeit under cover of darkness. Stood outside in the snow were a number of men in winter woollens that looked like puny scientist types, shivering with their pens and clipboards in hand. The snow fell quietly about and Slobotham offered a flying jacket, before taking it back and slashing it up the back with a knife to accommodate the wings.

"Afraid everyone has to go through all this. Testing. We need to know what you can do and how well you can do it, so as to figure out how best to use you. My gut reaction from the way you tore up that bed is that you're strong, and I'm hoping from the wings on the back that you fly, otherwise they are there for show and not much use! Depending on what the others say I'm thinking 'special ops' rather than front line. In, out, silently and with the means to look after yourself. Other than that as a figurehead, though I don't bally well know how the public will react with that new face of yours!" he said, rubbing his chin. Slobotham passed around hot tea and the small group stood expectantly watching the new superhuman.

"Well?" asked Wynn. "What you waiting for? Show us!" he grinned.

OOC If you want Alter ego to be bolted on as a freebie we can do that, but it'd be 8 across the board for stats and no powers in your weakened form, but gives you more options with regards a personal life and going unnoticed (yes, the Vanguard do have a personal life, but it's on a backburner with the war going on at the moment!)

Jack looked at Wynn for a second or two until it suddenly dawned on him as to what the old man had just said.
Unfurling his wings he flapped them once or twice tentatively but then stopped, what was he supposed to do next?

Thinking back to his childhood he remembered watching the gulls on the warehouse roofs in the dock area. They would take a run across the tiled roofs and with a slight jump launch themselves into the air.
So moving away from the group of assorted watchers Jack pulled his wings in slightly and started to run across the open field in front of him. As he picked up speed he extended his wings to their full length and gave a slight jump.

He gave a slight wobble as the wind took his wings but he quickly and instinctively dipped them slightly to compensate and within seconds he was skimming across the field about two foot above the ground.
Taking it easy at first he dropped his left wing and his body turned in a slow and lazy arc. After a few laps of the field and with his confidence building he gave his wings a few gracious flaps and his speed increased rapidly and he was soon zipping passed the watching group much to the scientists excitement.

Now Jack no longer thought of his actions instead he let his body react to the environment around him and the strange but comforting presence in the back of his mind.

On one pass he arched his back and with three powerful strokes he shot upwards gaining height rapidly. Up and up he went into the grey sky until he was lost from those on the ground hidden by the blanket of clouds .
Minutes passed before someone shouted and pointed up all those on the ground strained to see what it was and into view came a small dark shape dropping rapidly towards them.

Jack reached the zenith of his climb and hung there for a few seconds taking in the beauty of his new world before he spun his body fully upside down and folded his wings tight against his sides. No longer having them to keep him aloft he dropped like a stone picking up speed as he fell.

He felt so free as he fell, the wind buffeted his body but it felt so right, he even realised he was laughing loudly with the pure joy of the experience. As he looked down the ground quickly came up to meet him and the specks all gathered round the assorted vehicles soon got bigger and bigger.

As the ground came up he fought slightly to open his wings but his amazing new muscle structure was more than a match for the force of the wind, after all he was now build to this type of thing. At the last moment just as it looked like the ground would meet him before he could react his wings unfurled again and he arched his body up at the waist, the movement was all it took to take him out of the dive and he shot forward just barely above the ground. As he flew passed he actually heard one or two of the men cry out until it dawned on them that he hadn’t recklessly killed himself.

He swooped away in a tight arc before returning to the group where he hovered in front of Wynn laughing loud and freely for the first time since he’d woken from his coma. Then gently he settled back down to earth and landed in front of the general.

“Well old man.” He said good naturedly “is that a good enough example of how well these beautiful things work.”

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

OOC Lovely description

"Breathtaking." admitted Wynn. With a grin he walked over and propped himself against a car. "Your strength, flight and by all accounts, enhanced durability will stand you in good stead for the days ahead. You need to do something for me though. Fly only under cover of darkness. The people aren't ready yet, not just for you but for any of the Vanguard or Justiciars. We need to... how to say... 'acclimatise' them to the idea. They have enough on their plate without watching the skies and wondering who'll drop out next! When the time is right? We'll unveil you all. Right! In, for a tea and out of this bloody cold! I'm tempted to fiddle with the weather but it's supposed to be cold, and besides, I have something in mind should the Nazis invade..."

=========

Over the next few hours Sky Eagle was subjected to more tests...

And whilst the scientists complained about the cold, lack of light, unscientific conditions, Hamilton was overjoyed with his new power. His main stumbling block had come when he looked in a mirror... but even then it had seemed natural! His entire body was changed, and whilst he was getting to grips with flight right now, he knew there was more, much more, to come in terms of speed and agility.

An hour before dawn Slobotham knocked on the door and entered as Wynn was briefing Hamilton about his role - to protect, serve and if need be, die for the people. He'd also touched on the dangers posed by the shadow demons, extradimensional creatures that could only enter the world through areas of darkness and shadow, and drawn by fear, despair, terror and anger, all of which was about in abundance!

Other challenges including the Nazis having made alliances with Aliens from other worlds, quite mind boggling in itself but paling into comparison with the knowledge that time travellers had come from the future bringing technology with them, and Hitlers' obsession with the occult had paid dividends with mystical forces gathering apace. Coupled with a fanatical army and matchless tactics and he'd routed the main part of the British Expeditionary Force which was fighting as best it could a retreat towards the coast. Soon, it would run out of room, and then?

"Reports coming in sir! Nazi zeppellin spotted over the cliffs of Dover through a break in the clouds! Invisible to that new fangled radar they've been trialling, and somehow flying too high for the AA guns! It has guns mounted on it - shot down a couple of hurricanes sent to investigate, and it's headed for London!" spluttered Slobotham.

"Sorry about this old chap!" said Wynn. "but you're really in the deep end with this one! I'll contact the Justiciar HQ and see if we can't get you some help on this as we have a few new recruits useful for this kind of thing. In the meantime...." The old mans eyes glowed white, and both Hamilton and Slobotham turned at the howl of fierce winds outside! Slobotham struggled to pull the door shut and turned "Strewth! Where's that wind come... oh." Wynn smiled, settling back in his chair, eyes still completely white. "Head on down towards London. The wind is going in the right direction, though you need to wrap up well! Coincidentally it's also blowing in the face of the Nazi Zep! With a trailing wind you can be down to London in a short space of time, and from there, get out to meet that zep. We'll get word to scramble the Justiciars too."

"Your mission is simple - find and stop that Zeppelin from getting to London - it can't be up to any good!"

Jack felt a sudden thrill run through him at the mention of London, he could go see his mum and dad then suddenly he spotted his reflection and the feeling was replaced with pain.

Wynn noticed the pain etched in the young man's face and nodded that he understood what was going through his mind.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts "OK fly to London find the ship and stop it with extreme force while not being spotted by the general public in case someone freaks at seeing a maneagle flying over thier city..... Easy" he said.

With that he grabbed his flight jacket and pulled it on over his wings once zipped up he headed outside. When he was ready and checked the direction he needed to fly he walked back over to Wynn but instead of saluting the young man took the old general's hand and shook it.

"Wish me luck" he simply said before jumping up into the sky and after one circle of the base set off towards London above the cloud to keep from being spotted.

OOC: to answer your earlier question I'd like to keep his looks instgead of having an alternative ID.

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

Glancing down at the map and compass with a torchlight Sky Eagle flicked his wrist around to see the time. He was making good speed, and having stopped for a toilet break, quick drink and map check, hopped back up into the sky. Wynn had told him a couple of fliers from the Justiciars would be joining him, and that it'd be best to follow their lead for now as they'd been in training for a couple of weeks. They be circling or flying about Wimbledon Common, and from there the group would strike out South West to intercept the high flying Zeppelin. That altitude would be the problem, but somehow Sky Eagle knew from having flown for hours that he could hold his breath far longer than he had a right to, and didn't seem to be getting tired! Furthermore, though the cold penetrated his jacket, he wasn't too fussed about it either! He ran his hand self consciously over his face and sighed. No matter what, his life had changed now. Thoughts of family and friends caused pain, knowing that they'd see him and think him some kind of monster or freak.

The silent figure sped on into the gently falling snow, aided by a very special wind gust that pointed unerringly towards his location and didn't seem to adversely affect the surrounding area, which was deathly still!

=========

Somewhere South West of London...

OOC Translated from German

"Damn this country! Where did the wind come from? We changed course four times now and look!" spluttered the man in the dark uniform. His face was creased by a scar from brow to chin, and it permanently discoloured one eye blood red. Though his clothes were loose fitting there could be seen defined contours of a warriors body, not an ounce of fat on him. His gaze was piercing, and always roaming. At his waist was a belt with two pistols, four knives, a grenade, a garotte and a pair of bolas. He was, in short, a man ready for war.

The Captain of the Zeppelin squirmed as he answered. "Sir, we are still adjusting to the modifications made by the ... ah... visitors from the future." Even the sound of it was absurd, but the captain continued. "We plan to use the boosters and see how that affects our speed. By rights we shouldn't be able to fly this high anyway. We've seen the British planes tip as they reached their maximum ceiling and head to the ground, or others keep pushing to get to us and be cut down by our weapons! When the weather abates, we can be at our destination and nothing to stop your mission succeeding!"

"Nothing? Nothing you say?" hissed the larger man. At 6'6" he towered over the captain, and leaned in. "Our spies report that the British have a powerful group of superhumans in training! How can this be? We got ours from the future men meddling with science! How on earth did the Britishers do this? Furthermore, we have had a report of a more powerful group of superheroes. Our... darker... allies confirm this. I find it hard to believe but they can turn the tide of the war on their own, half a dozen of them!" he stalked up and down, looking out at the dots that were towns below. "Never assume anything. Be ready for everything!" He looked out into the darkness. His eyes narrowed as some power alerted him to possible future events. He turned and barked an order, and whilst the Captain furrowed his brow at it, he obeyed.

=========

"Where is he?" said the red white and blue clad woman hugging herself to keep from getting cold...



Fiona Chillet, codenamed British Bombshell hopped about. She glanced around, taking in the white scenery. "Picture postcard white, but too damn cold for my liking, especially with these clothes on! I feel like a target! Makes me wonder what we signed up for!"

Charlie Morris, Eruption, looked over. "You were told to wrap up warm. Stand close to me - not too close though." Fiona looked over and saw the green grass in a wide circle around the 7' high man mountain of creaking rock. Every now and again a split in the rock would reveal seething lava underneath, which would ooze to the surface and form new skin. Of all the Justiciars, Eruption had been rated one of the most useful for wartime duty - but his condition meant his life was over. Guilty for having moaned, Fiona moved over to stand close, and rubbed her hands together as searing heat came off the unfortunate man.



They scoured the skies, and when the wind picked up, glanced at one another. pulling out a piece of paper and glancing at the time, Bombshell grinned. "It's as General Wynn said it would be! Wind will signal his approach, look to..." she checked her compass "The North north west!"

They saw a dot approaching, like a huge bird.

"He's certainly shifting!" said Eruption. "bet he can match my speed!"

"Almost." replied Bombshell, resisting the urge to rest her hand on the big mans arm. the heat would scold her!

They waited for the new arrival to land.

Jack hovered above the cloud line and looked at his instructions again He then took his bearings before being satisfied he was now above his destination.

He took one more look at his notes and memorized the description of the man and woman he was supposed to met before ripping the paper to shreads before allowing the high winds to scatter it to the four corners of England.

With a slight twist to his body he started his downward spiral out of the clouds. As the land below came into view he once again pulled his wings in and plummeted towards the ground. THe last thing he wanted was some local seeing him slowly drift to the ground.

As he came under the cloud he was suddenly buffeted by the snow strom that was being caused by the wind and cold weather. Adjusting to his environment quickly he continued down. As he got closer he noticed a glow below him adjusting his angle he headed over towards the heat source. As it got bigger he realized it was a human form and quickly noticed a second person standing close to the first.

He dropped faster until he was about a hundred foot off the ground, then fifty and then at fifteen foot he suddenly unfolded his wings and curved them slightly this slowed him down rapidly until he came to a hover just five foot off the snow covered ground and about twenty foot in front of the two figures.

Keeping an eye on both he slowly sank down and alighted gently on the grass folding his wings round him firstly to keep them out of the way but mostely he found that they acted as a very good wind break and the space between them warmed up quickly to make standing out in such weather bareable.

He stood there for a second appraising the two in front of him before he spoke "Good day sir, madam." He noded at each as he spoke "You must be British Bombshell and Eruption. I am Sky Eagle and I am so please to get to meet you both in one piece. That was one hell of a flight in, the weather up there is not the best but then if its bad for us I'm sure its just as bad for the people we will be paying a visit to soon as well."

Withthat he extended his hand, first to he woman then to the glowing man next to her.

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

OOC By the way the Justiciars (of which these two are new members) will all be getting pictures/logos when I figure out what to put on them. Bombshell is easy, Eruption probably too, but the others less so. For now they have plain (or no) uniform as the British cobbled together a force to face off against the Nazis!

"Oh..." said Bombshell, touching her mouth with her hand then as if jolted, shaking Sky Eagles hand. She couldn't take her eyes off his head, and Hamilton felt incredibly self conscious... but what could he do? he looked to the big man. "I'll pass" he rumbled. "Unless you're heat proof." He had a point! Sky Eagle could feel the heat coming off the big man so much that he considered shedding the jacket! "You got the rough end of the stick to I see..." he said, referring to the way Sky Eagle looks. "Though maybe not as much as me. tell ya what... you don't mention 'bout my looking like a big pile o walkin' ash an' I want make no jokes 'bout birdseed, 'kay?" He grinned as he spoke, his maw a red gash of seething fire and hot rock inside. Seeing Sky Eagle look at him, he turned away "Well, yeah, I ain't no oil paintin'. let's get on with it. What's the plan?"

Bombshell interjected. "We follow Sky Eagles lead, those were the orders. As a Vanguardian he outranks us. Truth told, this is our first mission, and I don't know about you, but I'm scared witless!"

Eruption shrugged it off "Relax. What could go wrong?" he laughed. "Besides the Nazis gettin' what they want an' us having some horrible death? There's worse things..." he mumbled, probably referring to the way he looked. Both turned then to Sky Eagle, clearing expecting him to take the lead. Bombshell piped up "I can fly, and make things explode when I touch them, or create an explosion centred on me. For some reason I'm unharmed, but I'm happy about that!". Eruption chuckled, then spoke up "I have this crusty rocky hide, I'm pretty strong, and I can fly too. There's also the heat I give off when I break off some of my hide. General Dawson and his brainy guys reckon I can heal real fast if given chance, but I suppose that could be the same for anyone. There's just one problem with that - water cools me down and..." he looked about at the snow, and where the thickest parts of it landed on him, he 'sizzled' and the skin hardened, creating a patch that would not flex until it was eventually shredded. "It's snowin'. Oh, and one more thing... so far they tested me flyin' at 100mph, but I reckon there's more ta come. Only problem is, when I stop flyin' I gotta grow new legs, and in the air I don't turn so good, nor can I hover. I go forwards... or I fall. Pretty good, huh?" he chuckled. "Or not. Anyway, lead on."

Jack looked at the two young people before him. As a soldier he’d never worked with a woman before as it was against the rules to have women on the front line. Thinking about it he just shrugged slightly, Christ here he was with the face of an eagle and wings sprouting out of his back and standing next to him was a man mountain in the literal term so it looked like the rule book had well and truly been chucked out of the window.

Turning to the young woman “I would be scare of having you along if you weren’t afraid. Fear is good as long as you can control it. It will be the one thin g that will keep you sharp and probably the main thing that will keep you alive.”

“Now lets also get one thing straight I maybe the one in charge but I am not a bloody officer before all this happened I was a sergeant in the infantry. I don’t want you to be fighting for me because I gave you an order, I want you fighting with me because you believe in the mission. It’s as simple as that.”

Looking up at the snow falling he went on “OK I’m not sure how much you know about what we have to do tonight so I’ll fill you in with what I’ve been told and you can fill in the blanks after.”

“Our objective is to track down and destroy a zeppelin that has been designed with advanced technology. I believe it has the capability to fly at high altitude and thereby get passed the ground air defences. With this ability none of our cities will be safe from bombing and thus it is down to us to find and destroy it.”

“At the moment we are being aided by a power from above. The wind that brought me here is also hampering the zeppelin’s progress but this is taking a great toll on the gentleman aiding us. We need to thus locate this machine quickly. I have a rough location for it and I suggest we get airborne and…” he pulled out his map “we dissect this area into three sectors. Eruption you take the left Bombshell you take the right and I’ll search the middle. Our first aim is to locate the thing. We will not engage on our own. Do I make myself clear?”

“I am prepared to risk my life for my country but I don’t take kindly having to put it on the line to pull someone else’s fat out of the fire. So we play it by the book. We locate the zeppelin, we recon its location and any air support it may have. Then we regroup and make the best plan we can with the information we have.”
He turned from looking up at the sky “If you do run into difficulty and they engage you, you only fight to get away you do not use it as an excuse to attack the flying ship.”

He looked down at his watch “Well time waits for no man” and with that he jumped into the air and hovered there until the other two caught up with him.

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

Taking to the air like a natural Sky Eagle was a dot in the distance by the time the others realised they needed to get after him!

"He knows what he's doing, or seems to." growled Eruption. "Well, you heard him! Ladies first!"

With a grin Bombshell took to the air and immediately found herself whisked along by the wind! once she'd settled herself she poured it on and found herself catching Sky Eagle who'd slowed his own progress by merely gliding so the others could catch him up.

He needn't have waited for Eruption! True to his name there was a huge BANG! and he took to the air, his lower half completely gone and replaced by what appeared to be a rocket plume behind him! As he'd mentioned, his steering was less than expert, and his huge form bludgeoned its way through the sky, regardless of the wind! That said, his speed was impressive, and whilst he managed to 'throttle down' and level his flight the other two were having to pour on their own speed to catch up!

Over the howl of the wind Bombshell called out "They never figured out how I could fly! Brrrr! It's cold up here!" Eruption looked over and weaved erratically, the trail of smoke and fire leaving a trail behind him across the sky like a comet! Closer, he gave off tremendous heat, and the other two were able to get much warmer, with the driving snow becoming less of an issue as it fizzled into mist!

Sky Eagle glanced over. Eruption was certainly powerful.. but without legs... how would he land? Bombshell seemed to know what he was thinking and turned to shout over Eruptions roar "LANDING IS A PROBLEM WITHOUT LEGS FOR HIM! A FIELD WITHOUT ANYONE NEARBY IS BEST WE FOUND!"

Sky Eagle glanced over again. Powerful, but how much would that power prove useful without control?

=========

It didn't take long to find what they were looking for...

Having split up and found the air current aided the 'centre' searcher, the three figured that Wynn was, somehow, able to guide the wind - and therefore the trio of heroes - straight to the intended target. And it was high up indeed.



The snow abated somewhat as the trio encountered the vast flying vessel some miles south of London. The wind was most fierce here, and the drone of the airships engines was heard even over Eruptions' blasting as it struggled against the headwind! Bombshell was the first to comment "God! Look at the SIZE of that thing! it's absolutely enormous! How can the Nazis even... how can we...?" her voice trailed off as the size of the vessel they faced hit home. it was a flying battleship, the likes of which had never even been seen - or considered - even with the recent Hindenburg disaster a couple of years ago.

Eruption growled "It's armed. There are gun turrets on that thing! No wonder planes can't get near it!"

Though still a mile away, the trio had little time in which to plan - the wind was carrying them straight towards their enemy, and they'd soon be in range of its guns!

Another problem arose.

"Air's damn thin up here, and it's cold!" shouted Eruption, cursing as his limbs became sluggish, and the amount of heat he gave off was lessened. "Any colder and I'll seal up, solid! I'm tough but..." he glanced down and gulped "I'll smash to pieces on anything harder than a bed of feathers from this height!"

Bombshell looked down, and regretted it.

They really were on the edge of the sky, and above, the yawning black beyond spoke of thinner air, stars, and an airless void, though of course they'd have to travel much higher for that.

=========

"Sir!" barked a crewman on the Airship...

"If I'm reading this... device... correctly... there is something up ahead. A small object. A plane?"

The snarling Nazi stalked over, leaned in. "Ready weapons. If it comes in range, annihilate it!"

Damn it, he thought to himself, but then it wasn't Eruption's fault that his powers worked the way they did he'd just have to work with what they had.

" OK Eruption I need you to drop down to an altitude that won't effect you so much and circle round for a while."

He then looked over to Bombshell shouting his instructions " You and I will have to get in close use your explosions to destroy as many of the engine pods as you can. I will do the same then head for the tail and see if I can cause it some damage."

He turned in mid air and looked at them both " The aim is to get it to drop altitude so that Eruption can smash through it at maximum speed. We need to break its back quickly and permanently. I would imagine that as we go in we will come under fire, if you feel it is getting too tough in there pull out and try from another direction."

"Well I think that's all I have.... Good luck to you both and if we get out in one piece I'll buy the first round."

With that he pealed off nodding to Bombshell to follow.

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

Eruption looked about to argue, but conceded Sky Eagle was right - the colder and higher he got, the more immobile he became, and slower. Without oxygen his unique bio-chemical reaction that provided propulsion would have nothing to burn... and without that, he'd drop - and shatter - like a stone! With a salute he turns away, angling downwards and trying his best to circle, no easy task given his bulk and lack of agility!

Bombshell watched him go and turned "Besides you, he's one of the more powerful Justiciars! Are you sure we can do this?"

Sky Eagle gave a tight grin and sped towards the Zeppelin. British Bombshell followed and the pair closed. Suddenly the sky lit up with anti-aircraft fire from the various turrets, the exploding shells buffeting the flying pair who found they had to manoeuvre erratically to avoid being hit!

Whilst their hands were full, something else dropped from the underside of the Zep... Some kind of rocket? Neither had seen the like before (OOC 1940 remember, so the nearest they'd have seen was a firework!) and at first glance it was long, around the length of a man! It dropped for around 100 feet then the rear end lit up, thrusting it forwards! Suddenly it did an unexpected thing... and turned in a smooth arc in the air, trailing a plume behind, and started heading towards the nearest strongest heat source... Eruption!

The AA fire continued as Sky Eagle saw the missile head after his colleague! What was worse is that Eruption hadn't seen it - he was preoccupied with the difficulties of maintain altitude and flying in a circle! Cursing the inexperience that threatened to destroy them, Sky Eagle had a choice - to get closer to the airship and risk the AA batteries, or fly down to warn, and possibly help, Eruption!

Damn it to hell, thought Jack as he saw the rocket chase after Eruption Flying close in to Bombshell.

“I take it you can survive explosions, go take that bloody thing out before we loose the boy.” He shouted as he pushed her to one side and back peddled with his wings as a AA shell zipped between them.
As he got close in again “I’ll see how much damage I can do to that thing before you get back ….no go before it’s too late”

Without a second glance he beat his wings and arced up into the sky folding them against his body as he dropped straight and fast towards the tail of the zeppelin.

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

"m-me?" spluttered Bombshell as she glanced at the terror in the skies tearing after Eruption. "how can...?"

She looked back to Sky Eagle, only to see him streak like an arrow towards the tail end of the Zeppelin!

=========

Explosions rocked the sky all about, some so close he could feel the heat and shockwave tear at him!

Sky Eagle stayed the course, twisting and backing as he shot above and close to the hull of the great beast in the sky, the guns turning to pump round after round of hot fiery death at him, only to fall slightly short each time!

=========

On board, the scarred man watched the screen and sighed...

"I'm surrounded by idiots!" he declared.

The Captain turned "With all due respect sir, we are trying our best to learn how this vessel operates! Once the crew becomes proficient, even the British Ubermensch will not stand against us! This vessel will make us kings of the skies!"

The scarred man smiled, though humour remained absent from his eyes. In the background the steady THUMP THUMP THUMP of repeated fire beat like drums. "By the time you lot figure out this machine, the war WILL BE OVER!" he screamed. The Captain bravely stood up to the bigger man, straightening his stance and declaring "The men from the future gave us blueprints on how to build this, the prototype of the new Airship fleet. They did not tell us how the thing worked!"

The Scarred Man nodded, then smoothly turned and raised a luger to the Captains head, firing a single shot that spat through the officers skull. The other crew on the deck looked on, shocked, as their Captain clattered to the floor. The Scarred man turned. "He forgot to say 'sir'. Insubordination will not be tolerated... YOU!" A lieutenant turned, saluted, glanced at the body then shouted "SIR!"

"You are Captain now. Ready to repel boarders. I assume that idiot followed my previous order, or need I give it again?"

The New Captain replied "Yes sir. Rocket troopers at the ready! But... ah..."

"Don't tell me. You were given blueprints, you built the things, you don't have a clue how to use them. Right?"

The Captain frowned, looked about on the floor, but the Scarred Man spoke again. "My mission is of the highest importance. Pick six of your best men and have them report to me within the next minute." He turned to a red leather case about the size of a book that he'd placed on the map table earlier. Opening it up he looked at the six syringes inside, and the glowing green substance within. "I'm waiting... 50 seconds..."

The Captain barked orders and men started running to obey!

=========

Sky Eagle homed in on the tail section. The firing was particularly fierce now...

But it was mostly aimed at slowing him down, seeing as he flew too close to the Zep. Suddenly he heard a THOOM! Somewhere underneath the Zep and out of sight of Sky Eagle the missile had gone off! Weer his new companions dead, or had they somehow managed to destroy the missile?

He was only 50 yards from the tail section and considered his options, when the guns stopped...

He saw a hatch open in the roof of the Airship and the first of a group of men emerged, pointed metal helm with inbuilt goggles first, then followed by flight jacket, breeches and knee high jack boots. On their backs, strange metal contraptions consisting of two fat cylinders running from shoulder to waist! What now! He soon got his answer!

They started firing machine guns at Sky Eagle as he approached the tail section!

He had a choice - run the hail of bullets towards the tail section or fly down to stem the flow of men coming from the hatch! Two were out and firing already, whilst a third was appearing from below!

And what of his companions?

Sky Eagle heard the thoom of an explosion but couldn’t let his mind wonder to the two young team mates he’d left to fend for themselves. The primary mission had to be his first priority.

Seeing the first too figures emerge from a hatch on the top of the vessel Sky Eagle folded his wings and dropped lick a bullet towards them, angling his body to make himself as small a target as possible.

At the last minute he spread his wings and with one beat of them flew passed the first figure swinging his arm round to punch the man in the chest. One more beat and he moved on to the second this time he grabbed the soldier by his webbing and shot up into the air dropping his load into the snow storm raging around him.

Spinning in mid air Sky Eagle turned and tumbled back down towards the Zeppelin. Pulling up short he touched down just behind the open hatch. Grabbing the metal lid he did a back flap of his powerful wings and with the enhanced strength his change had given him he ripped it off its hinges bringing it back ready to use as either a shield for the next round of small arms fire or to smash it into the face of the next person to show his head above the rim of the hatch.

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

Dive bombing like a Peregrine Falcon Sky Eagle lanced through the sky and thrust out an arm even as he weaved from side to side to avoid the hail of bullets. The tests the scientists had performed had suggested he was far more durable to physical attacks than a normal man, but they'd not had time to run their full gamut of tests. Even so, they were getting better with regards speed and accuracy, and every new superhuman gave them chance to refine and test new techniques for measuring the range and breadth of superhuman abilities - unless of course the subject was hurled into the fray almost immediately like Sky Eagle!

Perhaps it was inexperience, or the wind, or lack of superhuman agility whilst flying, but Sky Eagle missed with his first pass, pulled up his wings and flapped to land on the skin of the Zeppelin. The buffeting, added to General Wynns fierce wind storm, had an effect though. One of the soldiers turned, pulled another clip from his belt and slammed it home, only to lose his footing on the snow slicked surface of the advanced flying craft and scrabble for grip, dropping his gun. His opponent turned to help him, reaching out a hand, but both were the recipient of a wing beating by Sky Eagle that sent first one, then his hapless companion, sliding over the side of the Airship and into the snowy darkness below!

Taking a grip on the hatch, Sky Eagle wrenched, tearing the door up to use as a shield or weapon as he saw fit. the first Nazi to emerge from the hole was brained by the door, his helmet protecting from the worst of the strike but he was still going to suffer from an almighty headache - when he awoke!

The limp form crashed below into several of his companions coming up the steps, and Sky Eagle had a choice. Going through the top of the Airship would mean he'd have to run the gauntlet of more of these goons. Flying around the outside and coming up from the bottom would mean he could head for what passed for a gondola - or failing that, find some control room of some kind. This thing made the Hindenburg, which had catastrophically exploded in America only a few years ago, look like an antique, and that had been the flagship of the German Airship fleet, cutting edge technology revealed instead to be a flying bomb.

Suddenly it struck home what the Nazis might be doing! They might bomb London from a height no plane or gun could reach, and the vessel itself could be used as a super-accurate guided bomb to take out any select target - like the Houses or Parliament or Buckingham Palace!

OOC Sky Eagle has a choice - through or around. For the moment he's got no one to batter...

Having solidly smacked the next man through the hatch Sky Eagle Took stock of the situation. Firstly he didn't know what had become of his team mates but that would have to wait the more pressing business was to take this platform down.

Going down the hatch would be suicide as he wouldn't be able to use his wings and in a confined space with bullets ripping round he could get shot easily so the only other route was round.

He hefted the broken hatch for a minute to think then a smile spread across his face. Lets give the pilot something to think about, he thought to himself as he jumped back into the air.

Looping round Sky Eagle headed for the rear left hand side engine pod. As he drew near he quickly looked the engine over. After a second or two he pulled the hatch back over his head and then with all his strength shoved it into the propellers

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

OOC You saw through the very real pitfall I threw at you - though there's nothing specific in the rules that would suggest Sky Eagle has a problem with operating in cramped spaces, it's something he should be mindful of. On the flip side, he can probably fly faster than his grade permits in long, straight, level non combat flight as a leveller.

BANG!

Sky Eagle applied his considerable strength to smashing the propellors of one of the engines! Black smoke filled the air, ripped away by the wind as tortured metal made screeching sounds!

He turned and heard shouts from somewhere inside the Airship - he'd gotten their attention!

Suddenly there was a boom! and he turned to see Eruption blast through the air past the Airship! He called out "SKY EAGLE! Bombshell... she.. she..." but his words were lost over the roar of his own blasting and the howl of the high winds!

=========

"If you want something doing, do it yourself!" hissed the scarred man as he strapped on the jetpack...

Truth told he'd been itching to try his abilities in the field, and knew that the British not only had their own version of the Nazi superhuman army, but that they had been incredibly successful and defeated the nazis at every turn! He knew he was different! he felt the serum course through him, and remembered in the lab when he'd snatched the extra vials of serum from the protesting scientist, slugging them down and crying out in pain! He'd defied their expectations by surviving, but knew he was on borrowed time! In weeks he had shed hair, aged visibly, and felt the onset of middle age!

Still, his body was vibrant, powerful and there was still hope - it lay in retrieving the Sword of Wayland hidden in Westminster abbeys crypt! His original mission - to kidnap or kill the royal family, was forgotten. He'd spoken to the army of psychics and soothsayers in Hitlers service and the ones with any worth had all agreed - the sword was a powerful magical artifact. If its power could be harnessed, he might yet live long enough to see the aging process reveersed! "Who wants to live forever anyway?" he laughed, shoving some of his own men out of the way. Flexing powerful muscles he backhanded a window out and climbed out of the gondola, igniting the jetpack and searing those standing nearby in white hot flame!

=========

Another hatch opened further down the airship, though it was some distance away...

Sky Eagle turned, seeing more soldiers emerge. It would take more smashed propellers to make the thing change course, but so far his opponents had been found wanting! His power was awesome to behold!



Suddenly Sky Eagle turned to see, looming out of the darkness, a man wielding a rocket pack with more skill than the others.. and he was huge! He must have been near 7' in height and his size suggested 300lbs or more!

"You must be one of these... Justiciars we have heard of!" bellowed the Nazi. He looked up to see Eruption looping up and over in the night sky. "A challenge at last!" He looked down at Sky Eagle. "What say you, freak? Shall I clip your wings for you?"

OOC Heroes 10, bad guys 7 initiative. 2 frames. He's around 20m away, having to shout loudly over the roar of the engines and hovering with the jet pack (which is surprisingly quiet in his expert hands) Eruption is a round away or more. His lack of agility and turning circle of a supertanker means he's struggling to fly even in a straight line, never mind turn! The Nazis with machine guns are around 30m away, and holding fire at any rate given what they might hit instead of their intended target!

Realizing it would take Eruption time to circle round and head back to the vessel to do some major damage Sky Eagle did the only thing he could think of doing.

He ran along the top of teh flying ship and jumped off the end into space. With a few powerful strokes he gained altitude and then dropped like a stone, wings pulled back the straightened his arms and clenched his fists.

Gathering speed he dived at full speed towards the flying monster before him. Well my German friend if its a sky fight you want then one you will get, he thought to himself as he prepared for the impact

Sky Eagle
Alias: Jack Hamilton

OOC Good to see you back! You may not have had chance to look yet, but combat has changed from the usual Golden Heroes rules. Now, they more accurate you are, the harder you hit! I take it from the description you are performing a high speed dive for +5 damage and strike with the second frame at your foe.

Sky Eagle took to the air, flying at his nazi foe with determination and speed!

OOC 1d20+3+6=29. Critical! ka-pow! That's changed too. You roll an additional D20 to add to your attack with a critical. That comes up with... 1d20=2. Oh well, better than nothing . Accuracy is figured by taking your roll and subtracting 17, so you still need the 18 or more to hit as per the old rules. 14 accuracy, +12 (maximum from a punch) +17 from strength = 43htc /3 (dividers)=14htc

Hurting into his foe Sky Eagle delivers a thunderous blow that sends his foe sliding off the side of the airship! Sky Eagle himself gathers himself, clambering to his feet and looking about. Then he hears the roar of the jetpack of his Nazi foe and looks up to see the man soaring up then down to emulate Sky Eagle himself!

OOC The Nazi uses 2 frames to fly, then 1 to deliver a blow at the end. 1d20+1+6=22. Hit, 5 accuracy +5 from punch +12 damage bonus=22htc, reduced by dividers (3) to 7htc. You want to take that or parry/dodge? You'd be on 85/92htc so loads of htc left. After that, you have remaining frames (2 if you don't do anything else) before initiative.