"I'm not letting you go to that scum hole without some backup." Sting said firmly. "Mystic picked a crappy place for a vacation."
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
"Yah, i'd have to agree with Sting on that. The council are thick there, hell I dont like going around that island unless it is absolutely neccassary. Hey new guy what was your name i did not catch it, or forgot ti in the excitement." Rough Justice looks at the Eidolon, who would feel apprehension, tension, excitement, and down rite rage as he looks at him. Being an undisciplined mind his thought jump at you but outward composure is ice. Did he say he was one of Vahz creations, I'll snap him in two, dam zombie mothers. "Ed.. something was it?"
Even we mighty can fall.
Abrahms INV/EM Tank 50 +1 Liberty
Herakles Blood INV/SS Tank 42 Virtue
Street Doc EMP/Pistol Defender 29 Liberty
Elisa sighed and shook her head, "They just had to go stir things up over there, didn't they." she pulled a cellphone out of a concealed pocket and pressed send, "Max, yeah this is Elisa... Yes the gun is in one piece... Okay we are going to need you to pick us up at the 2-6, and drop us off at the Target Point earlier than usual. Max, it isn't my fault that two of the groups members decided to have an ice cream social over there. Well, things cant be too bad, they called for a pickup... Okay we'll see you in 20 minutes."
<Potential ending of the post, a combination of the Shopping run, and the retrieval mission can tweak if nessicery.>
Elisa put the cellphone back into the pocket, and went to her room and brought back a map of Striga. She flattened it out on a nearby desk, and gave the rest of the group a stern look, "Okay folks, the mission has changed. Max will be arriving any moment now. He will be our mode of transport to and from striga, believe me, he has his methods. Now, we are going to break up into two groups, and hit two seperate Council bases at once. The two teams will be the Rescue team, and the Recovery team. The rescue team will be going in and retrieving Abrhams and Mystic from the base. The Recover team will be infiltrating a Council Warehouse, and recovering specific parts and weapons from the warehouse. I am going to be in charge of the Recovery mission as I am in need of ammuntion. I would strongly suggest that Newton be in charge of the Rescue mission."
[ QUOTE ]
Elisa sighed and shook her head, "They just had to go stir things up over there, didn't they." she pulled a cellphone out of a concealed pocket and pressed send, "Max, yeah this is Elisa... Yes the gun is in one piece... Okay we are going to need you to pick us up at the 2-6, and drop us off at the Target Point earlier than usual. Max, it isn't my fault that two of the groups members decided to have an ice cream social over there. Well, things cant be too bad, they called for a pickup... Okay we'll see you in 20 minutes."
<Potential ending of the post, a combination of the Shopping run, and the retrieval mission can tweak if nessicery.>
Elisa put the cellphone back into the pocket, and went to her room
[/ QUOTE ]
Rough Justice looks around confused,"who the hell is Max? Why is the cat lady arraning a pick up to go where."
[ QUOTE ]
and brought back a map of Striga. She flattened it out on a nearby desk, and gave the rest of the group a stern look, "Okay folks, the mission has changed. Max will be arriving any moment now. He will be our mode of transport to and from striga, believe me, he has his methods. Now, we are going to break up into two groups, and hit two seperate Council bases at once. The two teams will be the Rescue team, and the Recovery team. The rescue team will be going in and retrieving Abrhams and Mystic from the base. The Recover team will be infiltrating a Council Warehouse, and recovering specific parts and weapons from the warehouse. I am going to be in charge of the Recovery mission as I am in need of ammuntion. I would strongly suggest that Newton be in charge of the Rescue mission."
[/ QUOTE ]
" Um sorry lady, but I work for Mystic and Newton as back up PO. I aint going nowhere to I know who leads. I dont like the Zig and sure as hell dont want a free trip back there." Crossing his arms over his chest, he takes a defient stance as we awaits the answers he seems to need to hear. " Aint that right Sting?"
Even we mighty can fall.
Abrahms INV/EM Tank 50 +1 Liberty
Herakles Blood INV/SS Tank 42 Virtue
Street Doc EMP/Pistol Defender 29 Liberty
[ QUOTE ]
"Um sorry lady, but I work for Mystic and Newton as back up PO. I aint going nowhere to I know who leads. I dont like the Zig and sure as hell dont want a free trip back there." Crossing his arms over his chest, he takes a defient stance as we awaits the answers he seems to need to hear. " Aint that right Sting?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Sting was about to burst into a complaint, but RJ beat him to it. As Sting listened, he finally started to figure the cat lady's 'shopping trip' out.
"So your shopping trip was always going to be a trip to raid Council storage..." Sting nodded a bit. "This actually might have merit. It would have been nice if you had come clean with us to start with - nothing like bringing the freaking wrath of the Council down on us without letting us know." He shook his head. "Damn, and I thought I was going to be a liability to this place."
Sting looked at the map, then up at Elisa. "You really are a piece of work. Lucky RJ and I are such forgiving guys." He chuckled. "Any other little secrets that might cause some group of thugs to come raining down on us? Do you get your armor from the Sky Raiders and steal make-up from the Carnies?"
He turned back to the map. "Ok, I guess once we pull the Boss and Abrahms out, those guards will raise an alarm and cat lady can get in and steal whatever she needs. But it's really up to Newton at this point."
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
With one raised eyebrow and a sceptical look at Sting. "Ya ok, I am the newb here whatever you guys say." Taking a look at the plan of attack, "arent you worried about those big doggys picking up your scent." This said pointedly at the Cat lady, with a rather rougish smile.
Even we mighty can fall.
Abrahms INV/EM Tank 50 +1 Liberty
Herakles Blood INV/SS Tank 42 Virtue
Street Doc EMP/Pistol Defender 29 Liberty
Sting laughed at the dog/cat reference.
"Don't get me wrong RJ, I don't like her bossin' me around either, but at least now we know when an army of Council attack us, why they are there."
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
[ QUOTE ]
He turned back to the map. "Ok, I guess once we pull the Boss and Abrahms out, those guards will raise an alarm and cat lady can get in and steal whatever she needs. But it's really up to Newton at this point."
[/ QUOTE ]
Man, why are you guys determined to put me in charge, the fat man asked. He listened as the two rough heroes bantered back and forth, and then broke in.
Elisas plan should work. Maxs transport has got to be classier that the freighters we have to hop to get out to Striga, thats for sure. He turned to the cat-lady. Okay, lets go shopping. I was thinking of something getting something nice for the Two-Six; maybe a competent boss. If Im the next best thing, boy, are we in trouble. Newton grinned broadly. He was fairly proud of that; he managed to slam himself and everyone else in the Two-Six with a single statement. He wondered how long it would take the others to realize he had insulted them as well as himself.
So, Elisa, where do we go from here?
"Uh huh, laugh it up go ahead. I was one ritual from becoming a Bone Daddy. I was a Deaths Head Lute for a couple years. But I dont think I am aloud to lead you folks here, cause bud that just would not be teaching me to be a good...<sigh> nice is a better word hero now would it." He clenches a fist at his side, tight enough to hear the knuckles pop.
"So you'll do chuckles till Mystic finds someone better or you die." As he spins and heads up the stairs he gives a wicked smile and wink to Sting, then in a whoosh hes gone upstairs and out the front door waiting on Max.
Even we mighty can fall.
Abrahms INV/EM Tank 50 +1 Liberty
Herakles Blood INV/SS Tank 42 Virtue
Street Doc EMP/Pistol Defender 29 Liberty
Hes fun, Newton said. The Bone Daddy part makes sense. Ive noticed they dont appreciate humor either. He walked up the stairs and headed to the desk. He programmed the phone to ring to his cell-phone, and then headed out the door.
"Guys, I hate to miss out on the fun, but someone better stay around here. You know, clean up and look after the dump." Sting said. He grabbed a snack out of the fridge and sat down at the desk to relax for a bit.
((OOC: I know this is out of character for Sting, but I am out of town this weekend and don't want to hold stuff up. So Sting is parked at the two-six. If anything exciting happens there someone can feel free to write him for me.))
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
((ooc: written with SquirrelWizard))
Thanks, Sting, Newton said with a certain amount of relief. Keep the homefires from burning down the place.
Newton, RJ, and Elisa stood on the stoop as an unremarkable Van drove up. It was brown with gray patches where the paint was worn off. Max looked out the window. Well, hurry up, the man said.
The three heroes opened the side door and hopped in. Newton realized he was standing up straight in the van, and their was ample room for the three of them, as well as room for a shopping trip and the other two heroes. Even Abrahms would be able to stand up straight.
Its a van-shaped Tardis, Newton said, wondering if anyone else would get the Dr. Who reference.
Max drove the van down the street and then turned into a narrow alley not two blocks away. Hang on to your tights, Max said as he pressed a button on the gear shift.
The world outside the windows shifted, and then came back into focus. They were in a garage.
It really is a van-shaped Tardis, Newton murmured as they got out of the vehicle.
Elisa, Max, what are you doing back here? a loud voice asked. A heavy-set balding man limped out of the office.
Need a base to work out of, Tommy Elisa said, her tail swishing. You got elected.
Oh. The balding man didnt show a lot of happiness about the prospect. Of course. No problem. He looked curiously at the other two heroes.
This is Rough Justice and Newtons Apple, Elisa said, motioning to the two men. Meet Tommy One-Toe. Hes my contact here in the Family here in Striga.
((ooc: SquirrelWizard is currently off-CoH-line due to circumstances., but still wants to participate here (and eventually get back on CoH). If you have any questions/comments for him, please direct them through me for now.))
"Hiya," RJ stepped out of tha van giving his greeting along with a curt nod of his head. Looking around the garage, he went to a window to take a peak outside. "Well it could be worse, I think. You could of parked outside. So Newton whats our next move.?" Pointedly Rough Justice gives his attention to the joker.
Even we mighty can fall.
Abrahms INV/EM Tank 50 +1 Liberty
Herakles Blood INV/SS Tank 42 Virtue
Street Doc EMP/Pistol Defender 29 Liberty
Mystic launched flame down the hallway in volleys. Fire swept up the walls and rolled off the ceiling as Abrahms kept the Council at bay.
Certainly taking their sweet time, arent they? Mystic quipped about the rest of the Two Six, over the crackling of flame, the screams of soldiers and the roar of automatic gunfire.
They had to retreat into the complex to avoid being overrun by hoverbikes, and even then they were close to being at the maximum capacity for their power. More elite troops were arriving and forming up in the back ranks, bringing fire suppression gear, asbestos shields and heavier rounds.
Mystic watched a mech man approach, and waited until it was Abrahms range, before drawing a grenade forth from his otherworldly shelf of equipment. The grenade detonated near the Mech man, sending out an EMP pulse that temporarily disabled it. But this trick wouldnt be enough. Already they were cutting through the steel door behind them, and soon theyd overwhelm them with numbers from both sides.
Mystic never did this, he never felt that a situation required it. Or if he did feel that a situation required it, he feared that this would be an indicator of it being too dangerous. He was about to summon the book. If I should fall, dont touch this book, but somehow, you must keep it from the enemys hands as well. His instructions to Abrahms over the sounds of combat were more cryptic than hed hoped.
What are you doing? Abrahms asked over his shoulder between punches that sent council members flying backward into the flames.
exactly.
Im going to summon forth a spirit of elemental flame, an efreeti.
You can do that?
Of course. Well, the book said he could. However it required he unlock the fourth symbol of power. This was something he, until right this moment, was unwilling to try. So in one fell swoop, he unleashed the entirety of his will into the spell, unlocking the fourth symbol and letting fly with the magic from his right, while his left traced the runes of the floating book. Light absorbed Mystic and then partially relented.
Partially, in that he was still giving off a great deal of light, and now heat, as he hovered there burning. A quick inspection of his scaly red skin and fire dancing from his body quickly clued him into what had occurred. A quick scan of the tome verified his suspicions. He had misread what the spell was going to do. It wasnt summoning an efreeti, it was summoning the spirit of flame inside the mage. His form had changed, but essentially his powers had not. Except for the flaming sword.
Oh my, he said, to no one in particular. Then it dawned on him that he needed to keep the barrage up. Flame poured down the corridor once again, and now he zoomed forward occasionally to lance someone with a flaming sword.
When they come, Abrahms, make sure to let them know its still me.
"What the.......[ QUOTE ]
When they come, Abrahms, make sure to let them know its still me.
[/ QUOTE ]
Uhh Ya no problem, Mystic" The name an obvious question just by tone of voice. With that Abrahms redoubled his efforts, yelling out help to Mystic. He was always good at combat instruction, helping his men avoid gettign killed. Of course the Marines just said he was a natural leader, he claimed paranoia. The energy shield of his biophysical energy protectd him from the damaging aspect of the Monsters aura. But the heat was like a sauna, his flack jacket felt like it was sliding do to the sweat the heat was producing. "If your stonger like that barricade that other door." He slapped another patch on a soldier. "I am running out of port patches Mystic, never thought that would happen, I realy hope they hurry it up."
Even we mighty can fall.
Abrahms INV/EM Tank 50 +1 Liberty
Herakles Blood INV/SS Tank 42 Virtue
Street Doc EMP/Pistol Defender 29 Liberty
((OOC: "Van-shaped Tardis"?? ROFL!))
We found one. The scientists ID tag indicated his name was Greg, and he was part of Creys Project Asset Recovery team. He tossed an old file, along with a recent report, on the managers desk.
The manager in his black suit turned in his chair and looked at the information, spreading it out on his large oak desk. His non-mechanical hand drummed slowly as he read.
Special project, ID # SA 3598 X11G 05. Hmmm, the SA designation would be South America, and if I remember correctly the X11G series dealt with forced mutation by DNA and chemical infusions to unknowing terminal patients. Lets check this one out.
A quick check of the records in the Crey computer database indicated that this was indeed a lab in South America that had lured specially screened, terminal cancer patients with the promise of a possible cure.
Says here they used a variety of insect DNA to see if the bodies would both survive the transformation and reject the cancer. This was run under the VariBio Pharmaceuticals subsidiary. The screen showed various test results, pictures, and other information. Finally he found a summary.
Not a very big sample size, but they had very stringent entry requirements. Wow, a 3% survival rate on this early a study is amazing. The manager frowned. Of the three survivors, one was put down, status on the second is classified, and the last one was listed as a lost asset.
The scientist Greg spoke up again. Yes, those responsible at the lab were forced into early retirement. He stated, using some Crey jargon for being either killed or complete mindwipe.
The manager looked up. It seems that many of the projects we see in asset recovery have had those unfortunate issues. So what did we find? I am assuming one of those lost assets has shown himself?
We have been tracking several insect-like heroes in Paragon for a while now, in conjunction with our search for lost assets both for this project and others. Honestly we didnt really think that we would ever find any of them as patient one was so broken and crazed that he was disposed of. But we took notice when this Poison Sting as he calls himself was assigned to the twenty sixth precinct with some other heroes. Here is the report on that project.
He dropped a thin file on the desk. We dont really have access to any information on that project, nor what influence other divisions have applied to get certain heroes assigned to the 26th.
The manager nodded. Yes Ive heard of the city project to help clean up Kings Row. PR department even dropped some money into the city coffers to get it started.
The scientist continued; Anyway, previously we had simply considered this Poison Sting a psychopath who was likely to end up dead or in the Zig himself. We picked up a DNA sample that he left at a fight scene and found a match. He is a missing Crey asset. All of that, plus a review of his powers and a psychological evaluation are in the report.
Excellent. I want team W-02 to be assigned to watch the asset and the 26th, I want confirmation on this double and triple check that DNA match. Alert assault and capture team AC-04 that we may have a mission soon. Give them a copy of the pertinent information. I want to go over this report in some detail. And get me information on the other heroes assigned or involved with the 26th.
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
OOC: Crey has a file on Abrahms and Rough Justice for your use MG.
http://www.creyindustries.com/viewhero.php?id=11347
http://www.creyindustries.com/viewhero.php?id=14416
Even we mighty can fall.
Abrahms INV/EM Tank 50 +1 Liberty
Herakles Blood INV/SS Tank 42 Virtue
Street Doc EMP/Pistol Defender 29 Liberty
((OOC: Good to know.../rubs hands together evilly 
))
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
((ooc: sorry I havent been posting as regularly as any of us would like. Hard disk drive crashed. Trying to keep up.))
[ QUOTE ]
"Hiya," RJ stepped out of tha van giving his greeting along with a curt nod of his head. Looking around the garage, he went to a window to take a peak outside. "Well it could be worse, I think. You could of parked outside. So Newton whats our next move.?" Pointedly Rough Justice gives his attention to the joker.
[/ QUOTE ]
Lets stick to the ideas that we had. RJ and I will go to rescue the boss and Abrahms, and Elisa will go on her shopping trip at a different base. She should have little if any trouble were going to be making lots of noise.
I think someone already is, Tommy said, peeking out of his window. Major council movement heading east.
Gee, do you think Mystic got the Councils attention. Ready, RJ? Without waiting for an answer, Newton chose a location far above the city and teleported himself there.
Looking down at the rough terrain of the island, he could see figures swarming to the east. I guess I better get moving a little faster, Newton murmured. Defense station sixteen should be on the eastern edge of the Maw
A few moments later, Newton pushed himself through a singularity, and saw Abrahms and a fiery figure battling it out with a platoon of Council soldiers. Newton keyed his mike. RJ, hope youre ready, Newton said as he pulled the fighter through the wormhole and placed him next to Abrahms.
[ QUOTE ]
A few moments later, Newton pushed himself through a singularity, and saw Abrahms and a fiery figure battling it out with a platoon of Council soldiers. Newton keyed his mike. RJ, hope youre ready, Newton said as he pulled the fighter through the wormhole and placed him next to Abrahms.
[/ QUOTE ]
Gritting his teeth, "I hate this," he growls between clenched teeth and is gone.
"Hey old man, you miss me." Slamming a startled council soldier over the head, cracking his helmet and dropping him like a boneless chicken. Wanting and needing to show up this ancient hero, RJ starts to stride into the mas of oncoming soldiers. Finding a lamp post, he up roots it using it as broom to sweep the soldiers clear.
Overly proud of himself, he does not see the crew up to his left. "Your loaded, Sam take the shot" Bob tells his partner as he taps him on the top oh his helmet. Bob lines up the crosshairs and squeezes the trigger.
Abrahms sees a large puff and a streak of smoke up and left, the streak pointing towards.."ROUGH, DUCK!!" to late as RJ looks as the self propeeled rocket find hims. A large explosion causing shrap and body parts to fly leaving a nice open circle of dead dieing and groaning council troops.
The pain in his chest is intense, craked ribs for sure he thinks. Ears still ringing he climbs to his feet, left arm protectively placed over the bare and skin on his left side. "RRAAAAAWWWWWWAAAARRRRRRRR, IM GONNA KILL YOU ALL" Grabbing the first thing he can, the jeep he stopped against and hurls it to the roof top crushing Sam and Bob. Their screams thier epitath as the car came down.
Even we mighty can fall.
Abrahms INV/EM Tank 50 +1 Liberty
Herakles Blood INV/SS Tank 42 Virtue
Street Doc EMP/Pistol Defender 29 Liberty
Newton swore as he watched RJ go berserk in amongst the Council troops. From above, he had been throwing soldiers and vehicles around, bubbling the three heroes, and slowing down some of troops not in hand-to-hand range.
He threw himself through a singularity, and appeared next to the fiery figure behind Abrahms. Mystic, thats an interesting new look for you, he screamed over the sound of gun fire and explosions. Hold on another 30 seconds, and were all outa here!
I sure hope thats enough time for Elisa to do her shopping, Newton thought as he pulled one of the Councils own humvees through a wormhole and slammed it into a row of approaching soldiers.
After cleaning up the place and himself Sting settled in and fired up the main radio. He listened in to what he could about the battle he figured the strange van must be boosting and retransmitting the signal as the small units probably would not reach from Strigga to the mainland.
He hated not being where the action was, but it was his turn to sit and wait. He was no electronics genius, but he did find a way to pipe the broadcast through the building PA system and did so. He busied himself cleaning up and making sure there were no more clock parts in the building.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Meanwhile, somewhere in a Crey Laboratory
)
Once the scientist left the room the manager clicked on a hidden link in the program description, entered a passcode, and started to read.
He nodded. Ah yes, I thought I recognized this project.
After several minutes of studying the classified data he picked up the phone and dialed an extension. Hello sir, this is Henry Becker down in Asset Recovery, I think we have a use for patient 2 from X11G. Yes, we may have found patient 3. I am reviewing the information now and I will provide an update when I receive confirmation. Ive got a watcher team on it and will wait for the right time to activate patient 2. Yes sir, I will go out into the field personally for this one.
He hung up the phone and looked down at the file. Well, well Mr. Sting lets see what you have going for you.
There was lab data on Sting, pictures of him during various stages of his transformation. Surveillance photographs from his escape showing him killing two men and then escaping into the dense jungle. Then there were some more recent pictures of him, beating up thugs, and entering the 26th.
His powers, strengths, weaknesses, and abilities were listed along with the standard Crey numbers to go along with these.
Finally there was the psychological profile and hero/criminal record. Henry nodded as he looked at it. Borderline psychopath, antisocial, short temper, violent, rude, crude, and doesnt play well with others. He laughed as he added the last few. You are one messed up head-case there bug-boy. Taking you in, or at least ending your career, is going to be cake unless the idiots at the 26th get in the way. I cant fathom why they wouldnt want to be rid of you!
"Shut up Mr. Burton, you are not brought upon this world to get it!" - Lo Pan
@MadGremlin
Abrahms watch the jeep fly from no where into advaning troops. "I'd know that jeep out fo thin air trick. Glad you could make it Newon. Now can you get us out of here before the Kid kills to many of these guys."
Rouhh Justice was into rough punishment right on past the justice end of it. He put his entire body into a jab he through into his next victim. As the ripped up a slab of concrete and flattened a minigunner in mid barrage.
Even we mighty can fall.
Abrahms INV/EM Tank 50 +1 Liberty
Herakles Blood INV/SS Tank 42 Virtue
Street Doc EMP/Pistol Defender 29 Liberty
Newton nodded, watching the violent man dive into the Council. Were outa here, Newton said, pushing his singularity as far away as he could and still safely send living beings through.
A moment of extreme pressure, and he popped out far above the Maw. Gasping for breath, he yanked Mystic, RJ, and Abrahms away from the fight. The three floated next to him as he caught his breath. Give me a moment, Newton said, looking up at the three men. The next set of jumps will be shorter.
He did a series of short jumps until they were above the garage. I sure hope Elisa had enough time.
-------------
Elisa had snuck upstream of the Council soldiers who were rushing towards the fight. The radio orders she overheard were amusing as they described the carnage and flying humvees.
She reached the coordinates of one of the munitions dumps, she saw that a squad of troopers were loading ammunition and other ordinance in a large truck.
What about the bazooka? a rough voice yelled out.
Bring them! another voice cried out. Apparently one of them is a tanker. We may need them to bring him down!
Elisa crept up to the drivers side of the truck, crawled in, checked for the keys which were in the ignition, and waited for the squad members to stop for a cigarette break, and then turned the key in the ignition.
Hey! one of the troopers cried as he ran to the drivers door. He swung it open, and Elisa kicked him in the face. The trooper fell to ground. She ground the gears and got the truck moving.
She keyed her comm device. Max, Ive got a truck. Meet me at Pier 33. Be ready to port us out as soon as we get it unloaded.
Newton turned and looked at Sting, Elisa, RJ, and Eidolon. Theyre on Striga, of all places. Thats a little far for me to teleport living beings. If someone stays here and monitors the desk, Ill jump onto the ferry and yank them back once I get close enough unless someone has a better idea.