World War II - The Vanguard Issue #4 - The Battle Of Britain!

The Vanguard
Frostbite (10HP, Htk 22/48, Htc 60, 2 Dark Power XP Energy 15/15)
Anyman (16HP, Htk 26/48, Htc 60 1 Dark Power XP)
Saladin (Lionheart) (16HP, Htk 48/65, Htc 78 PSI 12/22 round 1/5)
Guillotine (on V-Ship)
Boadicea (on V-Ship)
Spartan (on V-Ship)
P'ertaria (on V-Ship)
Where:Space!

The Vanguardians moved to the far side of the deck, using machinery and walls for cover. Half of the place looked like a 'winter wonderland' but neither of the heroes was feeling festive!

Saladin turned, looking at a wall. "We're in trouble! We're closing in on the alien ship! If you have any plans to get us out of here, now would be a good time!" he rasped.

The K'atinarian cackled, then turned to look at the wall as well. "Eh? You seek to spoil my fun? Let's see...yes! Hey! HEROES!" it yelled. "See you in the next skin!"

Saladin glanced at Frostbite, then the pair stuck their heads over the barricade they'd ducked behind. "Gone!" muttered Saladin. "He had us as well!" he looked across at the pulsing engine core, which was now covered in two more 'red splats' which bubbled and worked away at the containment glass! "Ah. It's going to be a toss up between smashing into the alien ship or dying in a fiery explosion!" He turned to Frostbite. "Take your pick."

OOC The bad guy has gone! Used his 6 frames to leave a little present for the heroes, then simply vanished! He might be invisible, or he might have simply teleported, stepped through a dimensional portal or converted his body into energy to transmit himself to another spacecraft! (Hey, these are the comic books. The only thing you can rule out is catching a bus...) You have 5 frames to save yourself, then things will be, well, finished

The Vanguard
Frostbite (10HP, Htk 22/48, Htc 60, 2 Dark Power XP Energy 15/15)
Anyman (16HP, Htk 26/48, Htc 60 1 Dark Power XP)
Saladin (Lionheart) (16HP, Htk 48/65, Htc 78 PSI 12/22 round 1/5)
Guillotine (on V-Ship)
Boadicea (on V-Ship)
Spartan (on V-Ship)
P'ertaria (on V-Ship)
Where:Space!

Admin wrote:Saladin glanced at Frostbite, then the pair stuck their heads over the barricade they'd ducked behind. "Gone!" muttered Saladin. "He had us as well!" he looked across at the pulsing engine core, which was now covered in two more 'red splats' which bubbled and worked away at the containment glass! "Ah. It's going to be a toss up between smashing into the alien ship or dying in a fiery explosion!" He turned to Frostbite. "Take your pick."

Frostbite couldn't help but wonder what, if anything this was all about? Why do all this, and then leave now? Presumably the creature was heading for the camp below. With Anyman and Sentinel seeking to knock out the other ships, dead he leave them to it? The thought of re-entering earth full to the brim of dark power was both deliciously tempting and horrifyingly scary at the same time.

But Saladin's words won out. "Hold on, I've never done this, so this might be a little bumpy." He knew what he wanted to do in theory now it was a matter of making it happen.

OOC:

Ok same as before really teleport to the main ship, not sure what dark powers points I need to make it work. But I am working on the assumption that this is easier to do then getting all the powers in place, to take us both by flight toward the craft.

Again as before bump up my resistance by using the Hero points. I'll also want to send a message to Sentinel, that he might want to try and bump up his own powers as he needs to get off.

At present I am not aware that he has two other heroes with him, so getting all three off of the craft might be even harder.

I'll also warn Anyman that the creature has left, not sure where - possible to go down below????

So we've got to stop mucking around up here and get things sorted asap.

Sj

The Vanguard
Frostbite (10HP, Htk 22/48+43 (1fr), Htc 60+60 (1fr), 2 Dark Power XP Energy 15/15)
Anyman (15HP, Htk 26/48, Htc 60 1 Dark Power XP)
Saladin (Lionheart) (16HP, Htk 48/65, Htc 78 PSI 12/22 round 1/5)
Guillotine (on V-Ship)
Boadicea (on V-Ship)
Spartan (on V-Ship)
P'ertaria (on V-Ship)
Where:Space!

OOC I can see where the confusion came from - Anyman is on the P'utinarian ship, Spartan is on the V-ship. My mess up! Anyway, you guess right. Anymans hand hovers over a button to fire off the probe that Frostbot now inhabits. Plan was to strike the incoming missile with the probe and 'jump' to the missile, putting it in Frostbots/Anymans control. Then he can pick his target, and the incoming 6 'V-Ship' class vessels might be a good one to pick because when they get in range they'll be all over the Vanguardians vessel like a pack of wolves!

Anyman watched the screen, whilst Spartan called out over the video screen to Anyman "Stand down man! We need to fire that probe off! Let me..."

A glance from Anyman silenced Spartan and without turning back to the targeting screen for the probe, eyes fixed on Spartans, he confirmed "This button is connected to the probe controls on the V-Ship, yes?" A p'utinarian nearby nodded, and Guillotine squawked over the comms "It's all yours, boss!" Anyman slammed his hand down on the button, taking his best guess!

Guillotine squawked over the comms "Probe away! Don't keep me in suspense! What's happening?"

OOC Let's find out. It's a tough shot. You need a total roll of 27 to hit, which would be impossible without a 20 or hero points, plus a skill with vehicles (which would drop the number required to 22). In other words, a shot in a million for a normal person. Luckily, Anyman isn't normal... 1d20+1d20+2=33. Hero point used. That'll do it.

All eyes turned to the viewscreen, showing a blue twirling sphere tumbling towards the oncoming dot that was the missile. The missile, equipped with self aware guidance systems, began to take evasive measures, having seconds to get out of the way... only for the probe to change course and head towards it! The computer aboard the missile was puzzled. This was illogical.. it ran some numbers. No, impossible! What was this...?

CLANG! the probe glanced off the side of the missile, tumbling through the darkness of the void, energy spent.

In its place the missile now glowed blue with arcing electricity across its surface as an unseen battle took place inside the machine! Suddenly it pulled a hard u-turn, and headed straight for the oncoming Skrall ships!

Spartan breathed over the comms channel "I couldn't have made that shot. You... you're ..." he muttered, looking at Anyman who turned, gave a slight smile and pointed to another screen showing the progress of the missile. "Shhh. Here comes the good bit." He leaned in, looked around the panel. "Which one to send the explode signal to the Frostbot?"

Spartan confirmed "All the ships will hear the transmission, not just Frostbot."

Anyman shrugged "All the sweeter, knowing that their own missile is about to nail them.". The P'utinarian pointed to the correct control.

The ships opened fire, trying to divert the course of the oncoming missile! One veered into another, smashing panels and sensors from the surface of the ship! Then the missile exploded!



The screen turned black for a second then adjusted. Spartan zoomed it in. "The ships! They're still coming!" he gasped. "All hands! Prepare for..."

A word from Anyman silenced him. "look!"

Suddenly the ships started to tumble through space at random, slewing in odd directions and acting like ...

"That bomb turned their brains off! Like the one the robot used!" gasped Spartan, leaning back in a chair. Anyman nodded, then turned to another screen, looking at the progress of the engine section heading towards the oncoming alien ship! "Get out of there!" he muttered.

OOC The P'utinarian shuttle is dead in space but Spartan will make arrangements to join the two back. That will take a minute or two but in the meantime Frosty and Saladin need to escape the deathtrap they're in! Once it whacks into the Qrii vessel there's an opening for Silver Sentinel and co. to escape. Assuming that the explosion of the P'utinarian section doesn't destroy the Alien ship and all onboard!

The Vanguard
Frostbite (10HP, Htk 22/48, Htc 60, 2 Dark Power XP Energy 15/15)
Anyman (16HP, Htk 26/48, Htc 60 1 Dark Power XP)
Saladin (Lionheart) (16HP, Htk 48/65, Htc 78 PSI 12/22 round 1/5)
Guillotine (on V-Ship)
Boadicea (on V-Ship)
Spartan (on V-Ship)
P'ertaria (on V-Ship)
Where:Space!

Admin wrote:OOC Just need that number from you (1 upwards) of how much Dark power you are after using. You can use a Hero Point to reroll your dark power ego check, but also bear in mind that there's +1 to the Dark powers effective ego on top of whatever you decide to go for. You get 1D10 per 'ego' point that you decide to give the Dark power, but as always, the balance needs to be struck between getting the job done and losing control! Over to you!

Oh My bad, sorry the problem was I didn't know how much was too much. No point in wasting hero points and energy but lets say 3! DP points and make sure that you add whatever hero points I need to overcome. If I need more DP points to get the powers I need then so be it.

Sj

The Vanguard
Frostbite (10HP, Htk 22/48+43 (1fr), Htc 60+60 (1fr), 3 Dark Power XP Energy 15/15)
Anyman (15HP, Htk 26/48, Htc 60 1 Dark Power XP)
Saladin (Lionheart) (16HP, Htk 48/65, Htc 78 PSI 12/22 round 1/5)
Guillotine (on V-Ship)
Boadicea (on V-Ship)
Spartan (on V-Ship)
P'ertaria (on V-Ship)
Where:Space!

OOC 3 points means rolling 3D10 for Dark Power points. Probably not enough as its 20 points a power you don't have, then another 30 points to buy Grade 3. And that allows teleportation of 3000m. Hmmm. Not very far in space! You are needing something in the order of 10 miles! Let's say that's a Grade 5 power. 80 Dark power points required. That's a huge roll required, probably beyond your legendary dice. Let's try something else.

Frostbite considered his options, racking his brains for some means to get off the ship before it exploded or smashed into the alien vessel, both of which would probably result in their deaths!

"REBOOTING!" said a familiar voice inside Frostbites head! "Computer?" he spluttered. "We need a way out of here!"

"Scanning. Turn 37 degrees to your left please." it said. "No, your left. That's it. See that panel?"

Saladin called out "What are you doing? Use the power, fool!"

Frostbite jogged to the panel and pressed a hand to what appeared to be a glass screen. It shone, then a door hissed to his right, revealing a small tubeway into what looked to be a small capsule!

Saladin laughed "An escape pod! What are the chances of that? There shouldn't be anything like that on this section!"

Frostbite looked at his hands.

OOC 1d20+12=15 Frostbite, 1d20+12+1=18 Dark power. DISASTER! Oh wait... 1d20=4. Hahahah, your dice nearly strike again. You scrape past the check by ONE POINT! 12d10=58 plus one ten. 1d10=8. 66 points. Buys probability manipulation at an appropriate level...

He grinned. "What's the chances of getting off in time before everything goes BOOM! And... hmmm, what's the chances of that engine core shutting down all of a sudden?"

With a Hmmmmmmmm it suddenly shut down!

OOC Frostbite and Saladin have a choice. Jump aboard that escape shuttle that shouldn't be there, but is perfectly functional and will do the job. Or ride it out, grab onto something and smash into the oncoming Qrii vessel? Your Probability manipulation is all used up (to create the escape shuttle and shut down the engine core, preventing it from exploding and destroying the Qrii vessel - and possibly the other ships in the area). You are on 3 Dark power xp points. 5 and things start getting more interesting, but close calls like that are almost disastrous!

The Vanguard
Frostbite (10HP, Htk 22/48+43 (1fr), Htc 60+60 (1fr), 3 Dark Power XP Energy 15/15)
Anyman (15HP, Htk 26/48, Htc 60 1 Dark Power XP)
Saladin (Lionheart) (16HP, Htk 48/65, Htc 78 PSI 12/22 round 1/5)
Guillotine (on V-Ship)
Boadicea (on V-Ship)
Spartan (on V-Ship)
P'ertaria (on V-Ship)
Where:Space!

Admin wrote:"REBOOTING!" said a familiar voice inside Frostbites head! "Computer?" he spluttered. "We need a way out of here!"

"Computer!!!" Frostbite said realising that there was a story to tell if the Computer was back with him, and not within the Frostbot itself.

Admin wrote: Saladin laughed "An escape pod! What are the chances of that? There shouldn't be anything like that on this section!"

"Yes now we need to make use of it, we'd be better off in that, than in this which is about to crash. Lets go!"

Saladin hesitated for a moment but was still able to get into the craft, before Frostbite. "I think I should drive.!" He said brooking no discussion. Frostbite just shrugged. "When you pull away, stay within reach, we need to see if Sentinel needs our help. Not sure what we can do from here, its not like this is much good beyond being used in an emergency."

OOC:

Ok I told you about the danger of using the dark power, at least if it went off up here, chances are the damage would have been minimal. Anyway If at all possible I want to suggest we hang about let the V ship get here, once its got the P'utinarians free from their craft. It'll be easier for them to pick us up, now that the engine room isn't about to explode.

I suggest that we use the V ship to get close, fire at the Qrii ship and get the other out, before making sure that we find out what is happening the P'utinarians at the Nazi camp

Sj

"I afraid the only idea I have now is to get the hell out of here, chances are they'll just keep coming for us."

"Whataboutthatraythingyyouknowthattractorbeamthing? Itcouldworkbothwaysbutwhereinspaceourwe?"

"Wah? Slow down lass, I canny understand what ye are saying"

"You have a point Mary but we dont know where the controls are. We are lost on this ship and lost in space. At least we have them in a bottle neck" exclaimed Jenson
"for now anyway" he added in a whisper

The three worn heroes watched the new wave of insects approach in silence as they tryed to formulate a plan but battle ready in there own different stance.

OOC: Mmm im a bit lost what to do. Can either myself or my shadow prince contact the hive mind on board and try to reason with it after all it must have taken a pounding from the other vanguard?

The Vanguard
Frostbite (10HP, Htk 22/48+43 (1fr), Htc 60+60 (1fr), 3 Dark Power XP Energy 15/15)
Anyman (15HP, Htk 26/48, Htc 60 1 Dark Power XP)
Saladin (Lionheart) (16HP, Htk 48/65, Htc 78 PSI 12/22 round 1/5)
Guillotine (on V-Ship)
Boadicea (on V-Ship)
Spartan (on V-Ship)
P'ertaria (on V-Ship)
Where:Space!

"Cosy." muttered Saladin as the pair of them squeezed into the pod. "Let's see. Ah yes." He pressed a button, the hatch sealed behind them and with a WOOSH! they were off, firing away from the tumbling engine section of the shuttle! Saladin looked through the narrow portal. "Get your knee out of my back." he muttered as he flew the pod through the darkness of the void...

=========

One of the P'utinarians turned to Anyman

"Something... has just launched from the engine section! I cannot be sure, but it looks like... an escape pod?" it said. "As far as I know, only one shuttle had escape pods on every level, and it was mothballed for the most part, reserved for the leaders! I don't know how, or why, but it seems we picked this one when using it for our mercy mission!"

"Spartan to Anyman!" squawked the comms. "We just detected a launch from the engine section! Is that the bad guy you were fighting? If so, want us to open fire on it?"

=========

The engine section tumbled towards the alien ship, getting ever closer! It started firing rays at the section, but it was too fast, too close!



The section punched through the hardened resin carapace of the living alien vessel, smashing through half a dozen floors and letting the deadly void into the ship! Qrii screamed as they were sucked out, fires burst out and sickly sweet ichor sprayed from severed veins! The engine section disintegrated after punching through to the heart of the Qrii vessel, fatally wounding the ship and causing it to emit a psychic cry that all who could see it felt! The ship began to break into two, its backbone smashed, and scattered bodies tumbled into space, small blue dots lost amidst the debris of smashed resin! Now breached, the engine core aboard the engine section pulsed its deadly radiation, causing the molecular bonds of the Qrii vessel to ooze and break down, and a chain reaction started that had both shattered sections of the ship steadily start to be eaten away into nothingness!

On board the P'utinarian ship, Anyman looked on through the viewscreen. "That can't be good." he muttered, knowing Silver Sentinel and the others were on board!

"Anyman!" shouted Spartan over the comms. "We'll have to leave that pod! If Sentinel's on board that ship, we need to get him off... before the whole thing disintegrates!"

=========

Saladin turned to Frostbite

"This pod's not big enough for the others! What other tricks have you up your sleeve? We'll fly in close to the head section and hope we guess right that Sentinel and the others are still alive, but what to do from there? Can you get him a message? Close up, we will have plenty of debris to avoid but I should be able to find his life signs with my psychic powers... for the minute or so left before he's dropped into space!"

OOC The Qrii vessel is broken in half, and both halves are being eaten, vanishing into nothing steadily as the radiation causes the creatures body to break down (the ship is a giant insect creature rather than a spaceship in the conventional terms...)

Silver Sentinel (HP12, Htk 88/88 Htc 42/110 NO ARMOUR!)
+Anchor (Htc 25/88)
+Fastback (hungry!)
Where: Qrii Scout Ship in Orbit
What: In the stricken Qrii ships docking bay facing down hordes of Aliens!

Silver Sentinel contemplated contacting the Qrii vessel somehow. Its mission - he assumed - had been to kidnap himself and the others to find out what made them 'tick' as a precursor to invasion! The sheer numbers of insectoids on this vessel, even given its size, suggested they were not worried about invading the Earth, but about the powerful metahumans that could pose a threat to them! "Typical!" muttered Sentinel as the Qrii encircled them and closed in. "They pick us instead of the Nazis!"

Just then there was a terrific explosion!



Everyone was thrown from their feet and the ship lurched sideways, gravity reasserting itself a moment later! Cracks appeared in the floor, walls, ceiling as the ship started breaking up!

"Ach! Tha' cannae be good! Look!" shouted Jock. The stricken Qrii aliens were leaving the docking bay to tend to their mother ship, little realising that they were hastening to their doom! The ship had been smashed in half, and deadly radiation was eating away both sections, causing the living resin to ooze like syrup and tumble away into space!

Fastback turned to Sentinel. "Whatonearthisgoingon? I'moutofitforalittlewhileandeverythingfallstopieces!" she wailed!

Anchor looked at the widening cracks in the docking bay, then heard the telltale whistle of air escaping into the void, whilst deadly freezing cold started to fill the docking bay! "Whatever we're gonna do, we'd better do it fast!" he cried, helpless save to watch the ship disintegrate around them!

OOC the ship is dying, and falling to bits! You don't have to worry about the Qrii any more, but will have to worry about cold hard vacuum shortly!

The Vanguard
Frostbite (10HP, Htk 22/48+43 (1fr), Htc 60+60 (1fr), 3 Dark Power XP Energy 15/15)
Anyman (15HP, Htk 26/48, Htc 60 1 Dark Power XP)
Saladin (Lionheart) (16HP, Htk 48/65, Htc 78 PSI 12/22 round 1/5)
Guillotine (on V-Ship)
Boadicea (on V-Ship)
Spartan (on V-Ship)
P'ertaria (on V-Ship)
Where:Space!

Admin wrote:"This pod's not big enough for the others! What other tricks have you up your sleeve? We'll fly in close to the head section and hope we guess right that Sentinel and the others are still alive, but what to do from there? Can you get him a message? Close up, we will have plenty of debris to avoid but I should be able to find his life signs with my psychic powers... for the minute or so left before he's dropped into space!"

"Anyman is going to bring the ship in to rescue Sentinel. We'll catch lift then, if we can."

OOC: I suggest, unless Dave has a better idea, that we wait until the v ship is closer and then we get pulled aboard or pilot in. Aiming for their current trajectory means they don't have to slow down to pick us up, as we are close the to ship and Sentinel and us all need rescuing.

Player to Player, Ross, if you're reading my posts, you are going to have to use the dark power to do something to keep you guys alive, probability manipulation, might help - what are the chances that this forms a safe air pocket. Or some such. Other powers get to messy - force field to capture the air, but then you've got to keep producing air etc and create immunity from radiation. Keep it simple. I will say that if the Dark Power gets the better of you though, who knows what madness will start to kick off as a result.

But having said all that, Paul what do you think? Ross said he was unsure as to what to do. And truth be told this isn't our usual stomping ground- this environmental issue is giving us all greater complications and the limitations of our powers here, its a lot harder to think around the problem than the usual death trap head scratching eye watering scrapes we usually end up in ;-)

Sj

DavidMcMahon wrote:ANYMAN

"Is everyone alive,"Anyman mentally thought to his teammates, while wondering what those left on Earth were thinking of these random mental messages. "Sing out! Let us know where you are so we can try to save you!"

"Ow!" Frostbite almost said aloud, Saladin still gave him a scathing look as he too heard Anyman's shout to the whole group. "Anyman, aim for Sentinel, we can get to you if you come over and dock so that you don't have to pick us up. Sentinel is our priority before we have to tackle that rogue shadow and the captive P'utinarians below."

OOC:

Pick us up on the way, Ross follow Paul's suggestion if you wish and since you don't have a copy of the rules, feel free to ask what any of those powers do, if you need clarification.

Sj

OOC: I was going to suggest sentinel to form a three person capsule, I know time would be of the essence for them to get resuced lack out air and all, im guessing minutes.
The dark power would be the better option obvisouly for Field Manipulation but I would like to try other options before I use the dark power as a last resort.

IC: "Mary, quickly run as fast as you can around anchor and myself"

"What???" Mary responed in an extremly puzzled tone

"Trust me. Run faster than you've ever before, we havent much time"

Mary shrugged of her confused expression and started to run around the other two heroes, every cycle she got faster and faster as her legs became a blur (ooc: hero points needed proberly due to me streching the plausablity). Meanwhile Jenson closed his heavy eye lids, soon his dull looking suit begain to liquidfie like a layer of melting solder. All the while void of space creeped its way through the cracks in the alien hanger.

"GIVE ME YOUR HAND" Sentinel shouted at anchor as the rushing air in the hanger made it hard to hear, the whisping air from space and the ever increasing funnel of the dwarfed tornadeo that Mary was creating.

Jock extended his hand in a flash, willing to doing anything to get out of the death trap and quickly too. Sentinels ball of molten metal increased in diamemter, from the metal rolling across the floor originating from the remains of the half melted vehicle they were 'beamed' up in, ingulfing Jock and cocooning the large scottish man.

Seconds before the walls came crumbling down sentinel snached Marys hand and whipped her inside the bubble of used metal now filled with freash air......................but how long would it last sentinel thought as the bubble like capsle floated into the dark void of space

Silver Sentinel (HP11, Htk 88/88 Htc 42/110 NO ARMOUR! 2 Dark Power XP)
+Anchor (Htc 25/88)
+Fastback (hungry!)
Where: Qrii Scout Ship in Orbit
What: In the stricken Qrii ships docking bay

OOC Idea is sound Ross but Field Manipulation (Metal) is something Sentinel doesn't have (but might prove useful in future). The Dark power is probably your own option given your power set I'd say. With that in mind, I'll assume you go for it... Sentinel is effectively half ego (6) and needs 20 Dark Power points to buy field manipulation grade 1 so 5 points of Dark Ego should do it. I need to change the rules on Dark power rolls as Hero Points add to Ego, but that's mechanics stuff, don't worry about it. Rolls are: 1d20+6=16 Sentinel, 1d20+5=20 Dark power, Hero Point use 1d20=12. Job Done. 5d10=40 plus 1d10=2 for a 10 rolled. 42 points is great on 5D10. Enough to buy Field Manipulation Metal and Air.

Silver Sentinel caused his suit to ooze and flow around his feet, but forming it into a complex (relatively, anyway) shape such as a sphere was beyond him! As Fastback ran faster and faster to contain the air Sentinel tried again... and failed to make the metal do his bidding!

"Ne'er mind laddie!" shouted Jock. "Ye tried ye're best! At least we stopped th' buggers from mind probin' us or whatever it was they wanted wi' us. Hey!" he shouted out, though no Qrii were around. "Up yours!"

Sentinel grinned, then concentrated. The Dark power rushed into his body, overwhelming him! With chattering teeth he screamed "No!" and managed to rein it in, albeit with a serious amount of effort! His eyes turned red, black energy glowed about him and he formed the metal on the floor into a perfect airtight sphere, summoning the air from the docking bay to condense and be sucked into the sphere before it sealed!

OOC the beauty of doing things this way is that when the power wears off in a round the object/air will be as it was.

In the pitch darkness of the sphere the trio were banged about as the dying ship continued to break up! What would be their fate?

The Vanguard
Anyman (on board P'utinarian vessel which is dead in space)
Frostbite (in a capsule)
Saladin (in a capsule)
Silver Sentinel (in a metal sphere)
Spartan (on board V-Ship)
Boadicea (on board V-Ship)
Guillotine (on board V-Ship)
Anchor (in a metal sphere)
Fastback (in a metal sphere)

The V-Ship came about, a beam lancing out across the darkness of the void to lock onto the P'utinarian ship, dragging it behind as it passed. It drove straight for the dying Qrii vessel, weapons trained, but the stricken ship/creature was too busy self destructing to attack!

Spartan, on the bridge, ordered "Bring us about. Target Frostbite and Saladin with the tractor beam."

"I'm giving you all we have!" squawked Guillotine from the engine room. "We're at full speed, the tractor beam is already in use and the shields are draining our batteries!"

"We need more power, Guillotine!" said Spartan through gritted teeth. "Just a bit more!"

The ship streaked through the darkness, sections of Qrii vessel hull fizzing off the V-Ships shields as it got closer and parting the shards of resin like water as it sped for the remaining section of the ship.

Another beam lanced out, snaring Saladin and Frostbite in their capsule, and started dragging them in towards the hold.

On board the P'utinarian vessel, Anyman got a mental 'picture' of where Sentinel and his team was on board the stricken ship and turned to the P'utinarians. "Is there ANYTHING we can do?" he asked. The aliens looked at one another, then shrugged. "We're on emergency power with no engine section. We can... divert the power from life support to make another tractor beam to grab your friends if we find them..."

Meanwhile the Qrii ship started breaking up even more, fire burning along its length! Explosions rang out, and a great rumbling in the section that Sentinel and the others were in with their sphere suggested something was going to go BANG! very soon!

The V-Ship sped on, aiming for the Qrii vessel.

Anyman and the P'utinarians scanned for the sphere Sentinel was in.

The Qrii vessel started to explode with bursts of flame ringing out.

Frostbite and Saladin were dragged into the hold of the V-Ship.

A great explosion rang out, shaking the V-Ship and the P'utinarian vessel! The lights went dark on both vessels, everyone on board thrown to their knees!

Both vessels flew through the other side of the great explosion and the lights came back on, screens and panels restored to life with a hum!

There was silence for a moment, then Anyman spoke over the comms. "Looks like we picked up some strays in that mess! They are ok! We have them in our hold!" The P'utinarians had locked onto the metal object as the ships flew through the explosion and dragged it with them, using their vessels' tractor beam! Though roughed up and dented, the sphere had held, possibly as a consequence of the dark power reinforcing it? Who knew, but the thin sheet metal of a 1940s era car should not, could not have survived a blast such as that normally!

As Frostbite and Saladin were helped from the capsule by Boadicea and Guillotine, the V-Ship slowed, dragging the P'utinarian ship in to dock with it again. On board that vessel Anyman and the P'utinarians climbed down the steps into the cargo hold where a metal sphere had rolled up against a wall. The cargo hold bay was open to space, but sealed with a force field, though that flickered from time to time, releasing air into the void. The P'utinarians sealed the ship up again, and Silver Sentinel caused the metal to ooze around himself as a suit once more after Anyman banged on the side of the sphere, calling out to him.

All three were bashed up but alive, and Fastback wept with joy as Anchor lay on the deck, laughing. Sentinel stood with Anymans proffered arm, shaking his hand. They'd had a close call, being kidnapped by Aliens and nearly killed, first in battle then in the Qrii ships death throes! If not for the others going to space to rescue them, the Qrii vessel would not have gotten greedy, detecting as it did the other powerful entities that were Frostbite, Anyman and Saladin. Their scouting mission - to retrieve the most powerful superhumans on Earth for study, dissection and duplication, had failed... but not by much!

OOC You have a few choices now. The other 'v-ships' are floating in space, their crews rendered comatose. You still have a mission to free the P'utinarians, but their ship is helpless so they'll be coming aboard the V-Ship. And that K'atinarian? You're not sure what happened to that. It nearly won, almost killing two of the Vanguard in the process, but took a thrashing itself, something it wasn't used to. Will you see it again...? If so... will you be ready for it?

Over to you.

The Vanguard
Anyman (on board P'utinarian vessel which is dead in space)
Frostbite (in a capsule)
Saladin (in a capsule)
Silver Sentinel (in a metal sphere)
Spartan (on board V-Ship)
Boadicea (on board V-Ship)
Guillotine (on board V-Ship)
Anchor (in a metal sphere)
Fastback (in a metal sphere)

"What do you say we go collect some more V-Ships," Anyman asks everyone once he gets to a radio. "Give us more mobility and fire power if we do. Might make freeing the other P'utinarians easier."

The Vanguard
Anyman
Frostbite
Saladin
Silver Sentinel
Spartan
Boadicea
Guillotine
Anchor
Fastback

DavidMcMahon wrote:"What do you say we go collect some more V-Ships," Anyman asks everyone once he gets to a radio. "Give us more mobility and fire power if we do. Might make freeing the other P'utinarians easier."

Frostbite nodded, "I had thought this seems too good an opportunity to pass up. It would make assaulting the base below easier to, when it came to transporting the P'utinarians away. Lets go for!"

Saladin, glowered in the corner, not that anyone would ask his opinion. But should one of those ships have Bentham or Trowers, or even some of their equipment, then he was all for taking them.

OOC: Ok sounds like a plan.

Sj

The Vanguard

The battered V-Ship turned, dragging the P'utinarian vessel behind on an energy tether. Whilst it slowed them dramatically, there seemed no rush. All of those ships that had been rushing to attack them were tumbling through space slowly, seemingly out of control or 'dead' despite having not a mark on them!

As Spartan directed the guidance of the V-Ship towards the nearest Skrall Science vessel (Which is who owned them, before the Nazis got them for their own purposes) the others considered a plan of action. There was no telling what they'd find on those ships. A trap? That Bentham and Trowers had used their science facilities on board for creating Clone Agents was something they'd have to be aware of. Perhaps they'd made more, or used them for something else, something even more sinister!

Saladin sulked in the corner, wondering if he'd get his hands on the men from the future, the ones that'd destroyed his world and created an all new one with their meddling! He leaned back against the bulkhead, sighing. He'd have to go along with these amateurs - for now. They seemed to muddle through one situation to another, despite the world shaking power they possessed! He shook his head and chuckled. Then again, each of them somehow kept level headed. He considered - would he have the will to resist using all that power, or would he become the tyrant he despised?

Just then he felt a surge from within and battled to keep Lionheart out! King was tenacious, seeking any opportunity to reclaim his body!

Meanwhile over on the raised bridge control area, Silver Sentinel, Frostbite, Anyman, Anchor, Fastback and Boadicea considered the next move. "That alien vessel... and the one we're on. It all points to something big. From our records the Qrii - those aliens who abducted Silver Sentinel - are traditional enemies of the Skrall, who built and owned these ships before the Nazis did." said Boadicea. The Vanguard glanced at the diminutive Lizard men scurrying about, performing their tasks with cold efficiency, all networked into the ships systems and working like automatons. "If Alien empires are conspiring to conquer the Earth - and from what we can gather, the Lunarium deposits on the moon make it well worth the effort."

A P'utinarian, P'ertaria, joined the others on the Bridge and confirmed the statement with a nod. Boadicea continued "Then we may have to try and convince all the nations of Earth that their petty ambitions and fighting over land or politics will be as naught when millions of aliens pour down on the surface. There is a saying 'The Enemy of my Enemy is my friend'... as loathsome as it seems, Britain is in a poor state right now. She would fall to a concerted attack without those in this room and several more back at Bletchley."

The Vanguard were uncomfortably aware that they were needed elsewhere, but had a mission to complete.

"So" she added "I propose this. Raid the Skrall vessels for parts and supplies, Lunarium and otherwise. Then we take the vessels and set them up in far orbit, configuring their scanners to point outwards towards space to give us some kind of warning, plus bases of operations that the Nazis cannot easily reach - they MUST be running out of space vessels soon, if not already! Then we strike at this prison camp, fill the ship with freed prisoners and have bases in orbit to which we might be able to rig up a communications and teleportation grid. It's possible, but we need Lunarium. And there is something else. These Science vessels, when fully functioning, have facilities not found anywhere else in this solar system. We can use them to create our own cloned army of superhuman soldiers...?"

Her previous statement was the one that the Vanguard were having trouble swallowing though. If aliens invaded the Earth, could they, should they, join forces with the Nazis to defend the human way of life?

Saladin wasn't too bothered about Hitler and his 3rd Reich. The thought of creating a new body for himself, and perhaps even cloning the one he wore, with all its power, being the head of an invincible army of super soldiers... He could mould the world into the very image of peace and tranquillity! Peace through superior firepower!

The Vanguard

DavidMcMahon wrote:"Cloning our own army sounds too Third Reichish for me," Anyman says. "Volunteers to try and get superpowers, yes. Army of clones created to fight wars, no."

"Let's raid out first ship and see what we find and go from there. Everything else seems to be too tentative to figure out that far ahead.

Saladin, snorted, non to quietly. His feelings didn't need discerning. But at the same time, he had no intention of making sure such equipment was left, even if it meant stealing a ship for himself.

Frostbite meanwhile nodded, "I agree we need to get as much equipment from the ships as possible. I also like the idea of setting up a ring fence around the earth, but Bletchley would go mad. I can imagine the boffs now saying what a waste!

But neither can we ignore the danger that we've been warned about coming closer either. I've no idea how we are going to convince Hitler he isn't the out right winner of this. Moreover I think without solid proof too many of the other nations are going to wait to see who blink's first, before aiding us.

Anyway lets get the ships asap, I think they will prove useful in getting the rest of your people out of the camp P'ertaria, then we need to try and see if we can't prove how much danger the whole earth is in. Hitler must suspect something, from the way his allies will be saying."

OOC: Ok I guess we go for one of the fallen ships, I am going to have Saladin bide his time. He has no desire to split off from the group, too dangerous, but equally its all so tempting to recover a ship to gain its equipment and find a way to use it. He'll bide his time.

Just one thing Paul, we've kind of been led to believe the getting the P'utinarians out was a priority - time was against us, have I mis-read that, or is their a real danger we are ignoring that they might be slaughtered if we spend too long playing space pirates. I just wonder if tactically Anyman and a few others like Saladin (who'd soon show his true colours) should still go down?

Sj

The Vanguard

OOC sorry for the late/short update, but just got in from work after spending all morning stripping the dead turbo off my car (then going to work, am knackered, and it's put me behind with updates)

P'ertaria spoke up "You'll have to make a choice. First, let me just say thank you for rescuing us. We had no idea the K'atinarian was among us, and had little idea they could exercise self control like that. Normally they are ravening beasts! That one you fought turned those others from our crew into those creatures you battled, and that with a touch! I fear for the others on the World Ship, but we have our mission. As far as we know, the camp is there to detain and experiment on our people, and ultimately wipe them out. Every hour we waste will see more of them dead, so I would ask that we be allowed to get down there and find out what we can do as soon as possible. I understand those Nazi ships are a tempting target, and useful to your war effort, but we just want to rescue our people. If you help us with that I believe our council will see reason and we can then officially ally ourselves with you."

Spartan turned to Frostbite and Anyman. "If the crew on those ships recover like these computer readings suggest they will do, will miss our window of opportunity! Cold as it may seem, the best option is to get over there and flush them out of the airlock, then take the ships!"

Fastback shuddered. Slowed now, she nibbled on strange alien food from a machine, pulling a face every now and again. "Mass murder? that would make us as bad as them wouldn't it?"

"Stuff 'em!" said Anchor. "What say you Sentinel?"

OOC Try and secure the ships or send a team/all of you down to the planets surface. If you want to split into teams/different threads that's fine. I should be fully back up to speed by around Thursday but updating every day about this time till then.

"We really could do with those ships, they would help us no end tactically but does the end justifie the means? Fastback is right and could we live with are selfs?" sentinel said starting to pace whilst stroking his chin

"I there no way we could send the threat on board those ships back home or to a desserted planet or something?"

Anchor couldnt believe his ears, what happened to the plucky man who used to want to kill everyone who stood in the way of world peace

The Vanguard

Anchor glanced at Sentinel. "Sure you 'aven't been swapped wi' one o them aliens, laddie?"

Spartan glanced at a panel. "Looks like activity on the moon. Launch of... three... no... six, in close formation, two man fighter craft. They are trying to retrieve their people but we'll get there first. Besides that, their weapons won't do much to this ship. Saying that, all of this stuff is draining our already depleted resources!"

P'ertaria shifted uncomfortably. "All of this is fine, but whilst we delay..."

Spartan rounded on her "Look miss, unless we get some more Lunarium, everything we do will be as if in slow motion! With the damage and jury rigging this ship has gone through, I'm amazed it still works! We need spares, Lunarium, and ..." he glanced about. "More Skrall drones. We are down on complement and the little guys are rushed off their feet, not that they complain or anything."

Fastback looked at everyone. "So then, does that mean we split up, some to the ships, some down to Earth?"

Spartan looked uncomfortable at that. "Divided we fall, but I should think one or two of the Vanguard can stave off a dozen Nazi crew on those approaching ships. Depends though. if we can interface the systems on those ships with this one we can hook them up in convoy, walk away with the grand prize! The clock is ticking though..."

P'ertaria looked about, saddened. She gave a plaintive look in Anymans direction.