Where was your char on Day 1 of the Rikti War?

With the upcoming revamp to Galaxy City, I've picked up some incentive to finish a story that I began nearly three years ago and sort of petered out on after a few months of kicking it around.

The climax of the story is set against the first few hours of the Rikti Invasion. There may also be some treatment of the intervening months,but not in terrific detail as the story primarily focuses on that first terrible day, and then the aftermath of the post-War recovery.

If you have a character that has some backstory on that day and you don't mind him/her/it making a cameo of sorts (probably un-named, observed from a distance), then I'd be interested in learning some of the details of that bit of your char's backstory.

Certainly, the name, location, a short description of the character and a paragraph describing the action. The story is mainly set in Paragon Heights (Galaxy City) but that doesn't mean that action in other parts of the city would go unnoticed.

I'll look forward to hearing any stories people have.

The Second Rikti War was quite a big event on Union at least, and generated quite a lot of fiction on the boards. My own main, Tiger White, whas embroiled in a desperate battle in Gemini Park, trying to defend helpless civilians on her own. If you're interested, you can find the full story on the Virtueverse wiki here, or you can check the actual thread in the forums here.

If you look in the forums for around the same date, 24/07/2007, you'll find loads of fiction from lots of different folks, all covering what their characters were doing.

I will check into that but since I'm interested in the first day of the original invasion, I don't think that would be helpful for my purposes.

In any case, if I was to use anybody's recognizable story bits as background color to the events in my story, then I'd want it to be done with at least their implied permission. I wouldn't want to just lift something off of the forum.

Just to clarify, Slick, do you mean day 1 of the first or second invasion?

If you mean the first, my characters were cowering in an office block in IP (since the event that granted them powers happened over 3 years after the first invasion).

For the second, I'll try to find a link a bit later.

Amber Waves of Fire Journal
Anbaric Amber

It was 9 years ago this past May when the Rikti came and changed everything. I had just struck out on my own after having been a sidekick to Miss Jupiter since I was 9 years old. I was 20, fresh faced and beaming to be the hero my father said I could be. I was still carefree, goofy even; lacking the scars both physical and mental that would dominate the rest of my life.

I had just come out of some alien invasion movie when everyone began staring into the sky. Red lights appeared to be descending from the heavens. I quickly changed into my gear and leapt into the sky, simultaneously contacting all my friends and contacts. By the time my friends arrived, it was clear this was an invasion that had to be repelled at all costs. We tried our best to fight, we really did. Miss Jupiter paid the ultimate price and Lightning Strike, love of my life was critically injured.

I was so less the hero I am now. My power set was so undeveloped but I did as much as I could do. I saw some of the Greats go down. I saw the decimation of the Midnight Squad and knew that it was a hopeless fight for me. But I blasted and blasted and blasted. I tried to take down as many of those grey skinned monsters as I could but it would never be enough - not for me, not that night. Inevitably, I began to fade and it would only be a few more minutes before I met my fate.

My world went white and I felt searing pain and my eyes and hears turned into fog. I felt myself hit the ground and heard and felt something crunch inside me. When I opened my eyes, I crawled...dragged myself over to Lightning Strike, who I thought was dead and I laid beside him, ready to die.

I woke up a week later in traction with several severe but manageable burns and glad to hear that the Invasion was repelled. Although Lightning Strike lived, he was never the same and we could not rekindle our brief affair. Everything I've done since then has been in response to this heartbreak and defeat. When they tried to invade a second time in 2007 - I was more prepared. We all were. And they were soundly defeated but even so, I wanted to do more.

I am now on the incarnate path so that I may be better able to protect my world and those I love. I've seen my future. I've seen what I can become. And I will be her. Someday.

Zorielle 'Zortel' Rolando was in her Skyway City warehouse/lab/workshop celebrating the completion of the prototype Zortel suit. When the attack began, she donned it to fight the RIkti and protect her warehouse, and in the battle heavy damage to the warehouse caused her to lose her partner, and injuries later sustained fighting the Rikti took her out for the rest of the duration of it.

Nathan Connors was in the White Plains with the U.S. Army, and thanks to his metahuman abilities survived the loss of his platoon and the massive damage caused by Statesman crashing a Rikti mothership into the area.

Wernher 'Nachtbrecher' Alstom, Kerstin 'Hochstapler' Holl, Gail Morton, Isaiah Creed and Masugn were working covert ops for the U.S. Government, as well as moving classified documents and materials.

Solomon 'Mister Ephemeral' Karos was fighting off the Rikti with his magic, alongside the other magically empowered heroes. As an attaché to the FBSA's MAGI division, he was in the front lines of combat.

The Moral (VI) and The Proverb (Who is now The Moral VII) were aiding people escape using knowledge of tunnels, passages and other covered exits.

Azure Arrow was in Los Angeles helping out his home city.

Two characters who I have since stopped playing around with were at the Police station when the First Rikti War broke out:

Ionos - a young, African American, electrokinetic mutant who had made Galaxy City his neighbourhood of choice (his mother and sister lived in Founders Falls, where he was born). He wore a yellow unitard with a mask. He had just delivered a Skull gang member (below) to jail after busting a warehouse raid in Perez Park. He was last seen hovering above Galaxy, watching as his adopted home burned.

Rose Adams - an even younger, white, middle class mutant, who had been arrested by Ionos and was trapped in the PPD jail when the invasion began. She had the power to hide herself in plain sight but no other powers. She was last seen running for her life through Perez Park, in a desperate search for her boyfriend Danny. The couple lived together amongst a commune of Skulls in Kings Row (she too was originally from Founders Falls).

I littered the short story what I wrote a few years ago with minor alts of mine who have since been deleted. I won't bore you any longer.

Eva Nessa, Daughter, empathy healer.
A girl barely alive. Her father can rebuild her. He has the technology. He has the capability to make the world's latest cybernetic teen. Eva Nessa will be that girl. Better than she was before. Better. Stronger. Faster.

And so it was that the girl who would become known as Technically Eva, the cybernetic teen, met her fate by merely walking home from school the day of the Rikti Invasion, crushed under the rubble wrought by their devastating attack on Talos Island.

Too many of my characters weren't even -in- Paragon or any other major city that could have been targeted by the Rikti at the time.

There's Donna Lodge, my Magic Emp/Ice Defender, who -was- living in the city at the time, but seeing as she was only just entering her teens at the time, her magic skills wouldn't have been fully developed, so if she hadn't been shoved into the nearest bunker or panic room, she'll have likely been offering her contribution to the war effort. In the form of the nearest 9 iron from the comfort of her front door. o.O

I'll stick with the "largely unscathed." Besides, why would a girl be walking home from school during an invasion? Why would there even be school? I just presume that "largely unscathed" means that some "scathing" did occur. I'm not married to that concept anyway - I just thought it was a cute parallel.

Thanks,

E.

Dr. Sorina Tavarisch had been in Paragon City less than six months, happily teaching and researching in the science department at Paragon University. A Russian expatriate, she was part of a joint US/Russia scientific consortium meant to foster knowledge and unity between the two countries. Although she possessed extremely weak telekinetic abilities, her abilities as a physicist were considerable.

But when the skies opened above the city on May 23rd, 2002, she and the other faculty members quickly acted to make sure the campus was evacuated of all non-essential personnel, and between the university campus and nearby Williams Square, provided a rally/safe point for the students, staff, faculty and neighborhood heroes who had arrived to investigate.

Then evening came, and with it, came the Rikti.

Tava, as she was known, knew her powers would be useless in combat (and, as a woman and an academic, she had been exempt from Russia's enforced conscription), but her scientific mind allowed her to liaise with the first groups of heroes on the scene, struggling to understand the weaponry and technology these creatures were bringing to bear. Even as Founders Falls was being hammered around her, by the end of the first day, she and a handful of heroes and scientists were desperately coordinating with others around the world, analyzing the portals to determine if there were a way to close them.

All through the night, using any and all means possible to keep communications open (including teams of psychic heroes relaying information telepathically across the city) even as the Rikti bombed power stations, water treatment facilities, and communication arrays, Tava and the science teams gathered, sorted, and broadcast information on the Rikti, their weapons, their ships, and their portals to the military and hero forces of the world.

The portals closed late afternoon the following day.

The war, however, had only just begun.

POST "DAY ONE" INFORMATION: When Vanguard was formed on June 5th, Tava was one of their first volunteers, serving first with Dark Watcher in the Helm during the war, then later joining Gaussian's ranks in the Sword. After five years in the Vanguard, she'd reached the rank of Colonel, become one of Gaussian's 'Black Ops', and been decorated numerous times for distinction in and out of combat. She left Vanguard in 2007 to join the Freedom Corps branch known as the Star Patrol.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

I've tried to integrate the first Rikti War into quite a few of my characters' backstories. It seems unlikely that any of these would be helpful, as most of them are rather far from Galaxy City...

Explomadoza, my Empathy/Electric/Power Defender had his abilities for years before the war. He was in a UN Peacekeeping mission in Sumatra at the time, and went to the nearest center of battle, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to help. (This has to do with a bit of lore that I once read that other than Paragon City, the cities with the heaviest fighting in the Rikti War were Rome and Kuala Lumpur. Unfortunately, no idea where I read that...) Afterwards, he responded to the call from Statesman that Paragon needed assistance.

Patteroast, my Claws/Invulnerability Scrapper gained his abilities a couple years prior to the war. He lived in Minnesota at the time, and fought a couple loose patrols of Rikti raiders in Minneapolis, and then Chicago, before heading to the main fighting in Paragon City. He wouldn't have arrived until after the first day, however.

Dr. Fejwol, my Stone/Stone Tanker was a nanotech professor at the University in Steel Canyon, and a contact working with a number of tech heroes. When the Rikti arrived, he used his nanites to assemble a rough armor and went into battle. He fought in Steel Canyon, and in Kings Row, where he grew up.

Particle Accelerator, my Energy/Energy Stalker was a hero before the war, but after feeling ignored after being severely injured in a mission, he improved his invisibility cloak and robbed a bank. He was caught, convicted, and during the Rikti War was incarcerated in The Zig. Later on he was broken out by Arachnos, spent a couple years doing odds and ends in the Rogue Isles, before finally returning to Paragon during the second Rikti War to help.

Patticus, my Illusion/Trick Arrow Controller was a former pickpocket-turned-stage magician who lived in White Plains. When the Rikti struck, he projected a rather convincing illusion that his apartment block was already destroyed, giving his neighbors time to evacuate.

Bill Bowman, my Trick Arrow/Archery Defender was a normal citizen of Atlas Park, owner of a hardware store that his father had run since Bill was a child. He enjoyed archery as a hobby, ever since he tried it as a whim when someone had told him his name made him sound like an archery hero. Like many civilians, he spent most of the first hours of battle trying to hide from the invaders, but then he caught a glimpse out the shattered window of his store of Manticore fighting off the Rikti with nothing but a bow and arrow. He gathered up some material from his store, grabbed his bow, and headed out to protect his home. He mostly fought a few stragglers in alleys, and after the war registered as a hero.

A couple other characters fought a couple small groups of Rikti, but there aren't any others involved in major battles or changed as a person because of the fighting.

Day 1
Rikti War

Psilent Threat (Female dominator): A teenager on the run in Paragon, with limited control over her psionic powers. Struggling to survive in the chaos and wreckage.

Pluto (male defender - actually a test character during beta; purple cloak and leather outfit, neon green trim): A hero, caught between life and death after horrible scientific experimentation. He fought the Rikti during the initial wave. Though somewhat inexperienced, his dark energy was effective and he (along with other heroes) helped defend the hospital in Atlas Park. Though successful for a time, a nearby strike by a ship mounted energy cannon literally tore him apart.
Left for dead, he was eventually picked up by a Crey recovery team. What happens after that is another story...

CheapTrick (Male stalker, but at that time soldier): Was recently transferred to Metaforces; the arm of the military that works in direct support of hero activities.
Immediately called into service when the invasion started, his squad was sent to support a group of heroes under heavy pressure in the Founders Falls area.
He made every effort to cover the retreat as they pulled wounded and dying heroes out of the area. He continued fighting even when critically wounded, and was eventually felled by enemy fire. Less than a minute later hero support came in and pushed the Rikti back (for the moment). He was not expected to survive...but...again, that is another story.

Lady Arete and the first Rikti war?
Well... she was sitting forgotten in a cell, contemplating her life and becoming the person she is today. When a bomb destroyed a nullifier generator in her cellblock leading to a little jailbreak, she pursuaded a few in her block to remain behind with her; To serve their time. They and she did not leave the prison cells to the guards surprise.
It was not before the war was over that they decided to give her a deal.

(And no, I do not consider the Zig to have a revolving door policy, to give the Paragon City's finest some credit )

On day one of the first Rikti invasion...

Sebastian Wolfram was in his study at the Exemplar Investments building in Steel Canyon, unaware that it was about to be destroyed around him.

Jennifer Sula was watching the news in her home city of Providence.

Hank Delacroix was lying low after a successful con in upstate New York, cut off from the outside world and only vaguely aware of news of some great disaster.

Zajin was literally a world away, still in training at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.

The man who would become the Portent was living rough on the streets of Baumton, lost and without purpose... but not for long.

I really wanted to help contribute, but it turns out I haven't tied any of my characters to any particular events in City of Heroes. I don't even know if many of them were around at the time, or were otherwise in their respective other dimension, world, time period, plane of existence or not yet created. The best I can say about the characters who were around for the first Rikti war is that they were... Around. Where they were, though? The characters in my head don't really conform to the geography or chronology of Paragon City.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Z22 Pyre fox and his younger brother X21 Ice Wolf were putting the finishing touches to the power armour that Fox had designed so they could be Heroes. They joined the war as soon as the suits were complete, despite Wolf only being 16 at the time. The 'Hound Brothers' quickly became known for their red/orange and blue/white power armour, along with the fire/energy and Rifle/Ice powers they both brought to bear.

Colonel Lyndon was then only Lieutenant Lyndon, recently transfered from the SAS to Vanguard. The First War was where he made his name, leading men and women against the odds and coming back mostly in one piece. It was before he got his trademark energy sword and shield, but during the time he lost his right eye to a Rikti Sword. 'Lucky Lyndon' had a habit for bringing squads through hell and back intact or near as.

Jen Kerringer of the PPD earned her Police Combat Cross as a standard street cop who nevertheless stood her ground to help defend civilian evacuation points.

Most of my others weren't in action during the first War =P

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Thanks, for the responses.

One of the problems with writing about the war, especially the opening hours, is the sheer scope of the thing. It's something that I think the original writers of the story of the city really didn't comprehend themselves. It's easy to focus on one or two small episodes and ignore that there was an entire world in chaos at the time, let alone a single city of thousands of inhabitants.

Very True:

Pre -Invasion one week before: Midnighters Agents: Mr and Mrs Drake killed when home was destroyed in Boomtown. Surived by young son, Maxwell Drake who had been at school.

Captain Gary Drake: FBSA Director of Special Operations, Location Atlas Park. Entire division lost, which included one of his best friends and his own wife. Also lost was the retired heroine Miss Liberty Belle. Their objective was to assist the Omega team with clearing and holding the Rikti menance at bay while the Omega team entered the portal. Director Drake, one of six suriviors from there holding point before retreat was called once the Omega team entered the vortex. Uncle to young Maxwell Drake and now his legal guardian.

Nicholas Flagg: Scientist, Doctor and Medical Examiner for PPD CSI, Location: Kings Row. Working as a first responder treating the wounded and dying. Assisting in the battle as able without true superpowers unlike his father and mother who had not only joined the fight but also the Alpha and Omega Gambit. He buried his mother, and never saw his father again.

Lxnder Flagg: FBSA undercover black op's, Mexcio (Classified) also Nicholas Flaggs 2 minute older twin brother

Day One of the First Rikti War

Dr. Helen Markov, later to be known as the heroine Steele Magnolia
22 years old
caucasian, auburn hair in a simple ponytail, hazel eyes, glasses
5'8" (however she is wheelchair bound) 130 lbs

Helen was at work with her father, Yevgenij Markov, at the family business Markov Industries (metallurgical applications) in Brickstown. Her mother was PPD Sergeant Debbie Markov in Galaxy City (where the family home is near Gemeni Park).

Her mother was injured during the attack while evacuating civilians to the sewers in Gemini Park. Helen and her father took shelter from the bombardment in the basement of Markov Industries. They were dug out of the partially collapsed building three days later.

The Rikti attack led Helen to focus her metallurgical research from deep sea drilling applications to weaponry that would pierce Rikti armor. Seven years later (with the start of the game) she would don a suit of armor with neurological implants, carry a rifle, and fight the rikti herself as Steele Magnolia.

Beyond Reach, or Frank Magnus, as is his real name, was losing his mind in Paragon City. He had only travellled there on the day of the invasion. This was just one step towards him becoming Beyond Reach in the last days of the invasion.