(( Open RP - Revival)) The Special Council's Special Project

Coming out of her secret meeting with Fateweaver Orion, Talitha's mood wasn't the brightest. Her life had taken new directions before, and all too often at someone else's prodding. Her parents had fled their home country when the native inhabitants overthrew the government; and pulled Talitha out of her school and circle of friends. Growing up in Grandville, Talitha was exposed to a harsh and competitive life where one had to seize and make good on opportunities, or find one could fall without limit. Athletics; the 2000 Olympic games; private tutoring in unarmed combat; secret membership in the Teen Terrors; conscription for widow training; it all built up a callus shielding one from change. Her assignments to UNESCO as a covert field operative working from within the Etoilles UN mission exposed her to a larger world, and her follow-on assignments from Arbiter Miller and Fateweaver Orion in response to the Nullifier-Rau incident had been amazing opportunities.

Under Talitha Laurent's leadership and starting capital from Miller's office, the GID had become a significant player for a time. But even as their primary targets in Paragon City succumbed to relentless covert attack, seeds of destruction within the GID took root. Still, there had been highlights, including a long lecturing received from none other than Ascendant, after he'd overheard conspiratorial chatter between her and several of her associates. Its mission, arguably, accomplished, the GID had been allowed to disperse. Her application to join the Arbiter Corps declined, and without portfolio for nearly a year, Talitha had worked a few minor assignments almost aimlessly. Keeping her modest lifestyle intact, but hardly advancing her career with the Nightwidows. Now, a new call from the Fateweaver.

Orion was a cold witch. She was old, one of the older Fateweavers who'd seen much, and had altogether too much of it come true. Meeting her and receiving prophecy was chilling, but the low hard voice and calculated nature of the foreseen alternatives formed an arctic wind. Many in the Widow Corps could foresee a slice of the future; a moment's forewarning of danger, that flash of foresight that a gun barrel, somewhere, somehow has lined up on you; but to see forward months and years, and to gain insight into what might be and what might not be, these were gifts of frightening power. Orion's words were quiet and clear. There were dangers, a great many, threatening the place of Arachnos in the world, threatening the state of disorder Arachnos thrived on, and threatening the structure and nature of humanity itself. Storm clouds were gathering, just beyond the horizon. Talitha was uncannily reminded of her talk with Ascendant; staring out over the shards of a broken dimension; tumbling debris and chaotic suns filling the view. "Worlds can die."

The incredibly opaque and ossified bureaucracy in Grandville can, on rare occasions, be moved to action, and when it takes place, the deftly rapid efficiency can leave the unaware slack-jawed. Within an hour, Talitha had her passport, a diplomatic courier's badge, and credentials identifying her as the newest assistant deputy undersecretary for global analysis with the United Nations Special Council on Superhuman Affairs. Her flier landed at the diplomatic pad at Turtle Bay that evening, and walking off, a man approached her. She immediately recognized the lapel pin's colors -- Freedom Corps. He produced a badge and identification. He was Special Agent Paxton, and was to be her Case Worker while she was on this Assignment. He would Arrange for Local Immunity from Arrest. He would Arrange for Access to FBSA files at Level Two, and Arrange Herocomm Access at Level One. He'd rather Arrange to Shoot Her Where She Stood, but if she Followed the Protocol established for UN Missions from Hostile Nations, he'd Delay that Action for Another Time. He spoke in Capital Letters, and his face burned like a fuse.

Undersecretary Murphy was genuinely happy to have her on his staff. Quite a relief. He outlined the project bounds, and provided her with the initial contact list. Heroes and Villains already registered with Vanguard who might be well-disposed to cooperate on the ad-hoc teams. Undersecretary Murphy explained he'd been trying to get this group off the ground for some time; and only recently had approval from the Security Council been granted. There had been no vote, only the back-channel assurance from the Permanent Six that there would be no veto. The Etoilles had insisted one of their own be on the project senior staff. Grandville was worried this project, like so many others, would turn its attention away from common threats and become another Longbow, dealing with merely parochial concerns of the Original Five; i.e., keeping Arachnos in check. No, Miss Laurent would see that this organization held to its charter, and answered to the Special Council as a whole, not just to Paragon City.

To assemble and manage ad-hoc teams of metahumans of all factions to counter common threats to global security. It sounded simple enough, and had a deserving approved targets list. Fifth-column, Circle of Thorns, The Council, Praetoria, the Rikti, the Rularuu, the Shivans, Nemesis, the Nictus. They would be loosely assigned to Vanguard, another UN sponsored operation, for administration and logistics support, and due to the overlap of the mission assignment for Rikti and Praetorian matters. Where Vanguard fought the steady, ongoing long-term war against the aliens, the Special Projects Teams would perform intelligence collection, infiltration suppression, special-capabilities combat operations, prompt global strike response, and predictive counter-force actions.

On the train-ride from New York to Paragon City, Miss Laurent reviewed the initial contact list she'd been given. A number of the names were prominent, most others less so. Quite a few from the City, but still a substantial number from the Isles; and not all of those in good standing. Looking out the window of her car, the American countryside rolled by. Some of it reminded her of here home country, all those years ago as a young girl. More built up, different trees, no game to be seen. But, the same rolling plains and hills, the same grey sky. She felt an odd desire to explore it, but her visa did not allow for stops along the route, immediate arrest outside of her designated work perimeter. Well, they'd attempt arrest.

At Vanguard Headquarters, she was assigned a hotelling cubical. A workstation assigned to visiting personnel, to be used at will, and when not otherwise occupied. Settled in, she composed her first field message.

-------------------------------------------------------------
**** BREAK****
**** INCOMING MESSAGE ****
DTG31DEC2011030318Z
STATUS BRAVO EPSILON CHECK
TO VANGUARD PERSONNEL LISTING OSCAR-ROMEO-TWO-NINE
SUBJECT CONTACT VOLUNTEER VANGUARD OPERATIVES
PRECEDENCE ROUTINE BETA XRAY
CLASSIFICATION/S/CODEWORD-SPECTATOR/LEVEL5
****MSGBEGIN****
/PLAINTEXT/
Greetings. You are being contacted on behalf of the UNSCSHA Special Projects Directorate. I am Assistant Deputy Undersecretary Laurent, assigned to assemble a pool of willing heroes and villains from which to assemble ad-hoc Special Strike Teams to deal with threats to global security. Your Vanguard registration passed a records query indicating potential a potential match to our organizational profile and mission portfolio. Key requirements include: demonstrated capability in combat, intelligence, special activities, surveillance, technical services, reconnaissance. Ability to temporarily set aside local allegiances to deal with compelling threats to world security. Ability to work well with members of opposed factions toward common goals. Ability to work within a loose, ad-hoc command structure. The threat portfolio of this organization will include the Fifth-column, The Council, Praetorian incursions, the Rikti, the Rularuu, the Shivans, Nemesis, the Nictus, and other threats as individually assigned by the Special Council. No local or regional pardon from arrest or prosecution for crimes or activities counter to national sovereignties will be conferred by this service. Limited temporary immunity may occur on an operational basis. Interested parties reply to UNSCSA-FIELD/CHALICE-NINE for volunteer status.
/PLAINTEXT/
**** MSGEND****
**** BREAK****

((OOC matters:

This is not a Supergroup or Villaingroup. This is an opportunity to participate in server-wide open RP storylines and events. These events will be suitable for roleplayers of all alignments and levels. Events will include forum posts and stories, in-game discussion meetups, AE missions, canon story-arcs, TFs, Trials, and zone events.

Replying In-character to this thread will help get connected, but isn't necessary. It might be fun for its own sake though. Any RP SG/VG leaders reading this, please share with your members who don't frequent these forums.

Please mark OOC posts to this thread with "OOC:" or (( )) as you prefer. Please post In-Character if at all possible and appropriate.

Any and all in-game walk-up RP'ers will be worked into stories and events as we go. Stories will be general, and leverage both in-game lore and new game additions -- it's to provide a common backdrop as a framework to help promote open RP on the entire server.

Advance notice of events will be provided here and in various global channels in-game.

The first events will focus around some related happenings in Sharkhead and especially Dark Astoria prior to Issue 22. ))

**** BREAK****
**** IMCOMING MESSAGE ****
MARK INTERCEPT KILO
TO: UNSCSHA-PRIME,UNSCSHA-FIELD-BETA,UNSCSHA-CHALICE-NINE
SUBJECT INTELLIGENCE FLASH (S)
PRECEDENCE 47-A-B3
DTG31DEC201110252344Z
CLASSIFICATION/S/CODEWORD-AXIOM/LEVEL4
****MSGBEGIN****
APTITUDE HUMINT SOURCE B-3 REPORTS UNUSUAL BANISHED ACTIVITY SHARKHEAD DARK-ASTORIA STOP PANTHEON WALKERS EXCAVATING LARGE PITS STOP PANTHEON CULTISTS GATHERING UNEARTHED STONES STOP BONFIRES OF UNPRECENDENTED THERMAL INTENSITY DETECTED BY INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL MEANS. MAGI-PRIME REPORTS REMNANTS WHEEL OF DESTRUCTION SECURE STOP AUTHORITY PRIME DIRECTS CHALICE NINE SPECIAL PROJECT SECTION INVESTIGATE STOP
**** MSGEND****
**** BREAK****
-------------------------------------------------------------

The first mission alert. It was on. Sharkhead Island, Dark Astoria, what could be buried in either place? Why stones? Why fires? What is this Wheel? Talitha went to work on her comm, issuing alerts to the early volunteers off her list.

TO: LAURENT, TALITHA
RE: SUBJECT INTELLIGENCE FLASH (S)
BODY: Inbound to Astoria. Experience within cityzone. Will relay findings and intel at regular intervals. Update me on incoming aide when available. This doesn't sound good.

XEDEN

Angel had been relaxing in her apartment, content with living life under the radar fr quite some time. She'd returned one day from grocery shopping to find the following note plastered to her door:

((Just a little note ... would it be possible to insert a few "." ? I'm finding the orders a bit hard to read. And maybe a few less caps?))

*crackle, static, buzzzt*

*Over a radio frequency from the Rogue Isles, a news report starts up*

*pop, sqweeel, snap!* ... Good evening, this is the Paragon Review; bringing local news to the region through collaboration of WSPDR Impact Report and Crey Technology Consulting Associates.

I am Kherianda, reporting. Today is January 5th. Now for the updates you've been waiting for.


Police Investigators are still baffled by a series of crimes and related killings across Founder's Falls.

In three separate events, inventory records and minor office items were stolen, accompanied by substantial interior office and building damage.

In each attack, crime scene investigators found traces of dusty soil and spent world-war-one era ammunition.

Five night watchmen were killed, and two seriously wounded, both now in critical condition at the M. Harvey Medical Center.


Now that the holidays are behind us, the clearence sales are on! Visit your local Image, Inc. today for the best deals on popular drinks and breakfasts like Mega Power Mix and Yumyumola!

All energy supplements are on sale - get Synergizer at up to 50% off. Synergize your body! Stay awake for days! Never sleep again!! Ask a sales associate for details today!


January brings cold weather to Paragon City once more. A storm front swept through last evening, bringing showers of rain, freezing rain, and sleet.

Power lines leading to Peregrine were temporarily down from heavy icing, but quick action by the local hero Electric Fantastic restored service within the hour.

With temperatures forecast to drop, Paragon's homeless shelters are in need of volunteer services from speedsters to find the less fortunate and bring them to shelter. Please use judgement when trying to aid Lost and Trolls.


News out of the Rogue Islands reports more labor trouble on Sharkhead. Cage officials deny any reduction in ore production, though commodities futures were up 6% overnight.

Sources indicate that several Sharkhead mining operations have been attacked by Banished Pantheon zombies, and mine workers have been refusing to work in some areas.


Circle of Thorns mage Mnemcanthraxus was arrested on Talos yesterday. Witnesses say he was incoherently babbling about 'the sleeper' when taken in. Authorities are baffled by what this means.


The forecast for tonight is cold and breezy with a low of 19, winds gusting to 35. Continued windy and brisk tomorrow with a high of 33.

This has been Kherianda and the Paragon Review, brought to you by WSPRD sponsored by Crey Technology Consulting Associates; serving all your computational bioinformatics needs since 2012.


WSPDR Impact is broadcast worldwide on SH frequencies and on Radio Free Etoile at a power of one-hundred ninety thousand watts from our Cap Au Diable transmitter complex. WSPDR official time is 21:25.

*screeetch, pop, fizz .. static*

*the radio goes quiet*

SCENE: an older gentleman with a bad comb-over in a janitorial uniform is cleaning the hallways of a large lecture hall and its adjoining hallways, amid an eclectic mix of technological and arcane equipment.

Joe Jettowski hummed tunelessly as he pushed his mop along the corridors of Paragon City’s School for Paranormal Studies, musing about how nice it was to see some students back in the halls. Most of the world believed that the school was a new organization that took over an abandoned lower level of the Portal Corps facility, but Joe was one of the few that remembered the proud and prestigious history of PCSfPS since the time twist that stranded most of the school’s students and staff throughout the myriad parallel temporal realities, even wiping the very memory of the academy from the memories of most individuals.
Joe was impressed with the headway that the new Dean, Baron Von Bloom, had made to locate and recover the lost students utilizing the precognitive abilities of Doc Psyklops and the mutant time twisting powers of Kid-Kruz, although there was still quite a big job ahead of them. Joe chuckled when he thought of how that young whippersnapper, through no fault of his own, was most likely the catalyst for the whole time twisting catastrophe in the first place. With the power regulating harness designed by the Enigmechanic, Kid-Kruz was in much better control of his abilities now and was instrumental in the rescue operation.

Joe blew out a sigh of relief that he was one of the first ones recovered from the time stream...He had put in several decades as a costumed adventurer and was more than content to enjoy his retirement as a part time handy man at the school, where he could watch from the side lines as the next generation of heroes earned their stripes... Although it was kind of good to stretch his old bones out in ancient Rome before Kruz warped him back to the present…
Joe’s trip down memory lane was interrupted by the arrival of the fox-faced (and tailed) Philosophy Professor, Tu-Fox-Fu..

Tu-Fox-Fu: “Ah! Joseph-san. This arrive for you”
Tu-Fox -Fu handed Joe a package in a brown paper wrapper with “To be delivered to Joseph Jetowski” hand printed in red ink on the paper.

Joe: “Thanks, Fu. Any idea who this is from?”

Tu-Fox-Fu:” So sorry, Joseph-san, but no. Sly Fox say..”He who mind own business, not loose nose from sticking it in that of another”

Joe: “Heh.. As wise as ever, Fu-man. Thanks.”
Tearing open the package, Joe discovers a small communicator. Turning the device over in his hands, Joe’s currosity gets the better of him and he turns it on….
A mechanically distorted voice says, “Attention: Joseph P. Jettowski.. AKA: JET-MAN.. You have served your country and the world in the past and are being asked to do so again…
((The UNSCSHA message is delivered))
Joe: “Well, I’ll be.. sure is nice ta’ be remembered. Hope the moths haven’t done a number on the ol’ suit….”
((to be continued..))

"The Re-Birth of Ba'dash ((or)) Origin: Captain-Volcanic"
Scene: In Dark Astoria, a trio of shamans surrounded by a hoard of zombies attired in rags that were once uniforms of various regiments from decades past partake in an arcane ritual...chanting in an ancient and forgotten language can be heard echoing from the pit where the foul minnions of the Banished Pantheon have assembled... Mystic energies begin to crackle around the site and three oversized tribal masks arise above the gathering... a look of evil glee spreads across the faces of the shamans as the ground begins to tremble and then jagged cracks form i the rearth releasing super heated steam... The countiance of the shamans turns from triumph to terror as lava begins to seap from the fissures... The earth rocks as a volcanic blast decimates the involkers, the spirit infused masks and their unholy servants in a firey maelstorm... When the dust settles, only one individual, whom had not been there before, stands in the area.. a monsterous humanoid form, seemingly composed of living volcanic rock with veins of magma flowing across the surface of it's skin... A bellowing cry rings out... "Unga'madu luh'guaba ni' has'utho...BA'DASH!!!"

((to be continued in-game))

((... have you read The Gray Man?))

"Yes, sir; I'll get a team right on it."

The handset clicks down into its cradle, and the secure mode light blinks off. Undersecretary Murphy hadn't called her directly over the secure grey phone in over a week. After the reports of Banished, Tsoo and Thorns increased activity the Undersecretary for Special Projects had called in some personal favors; one in particular to an former student of his; now a post-doc at Paragon University. He should tell me these things -before- he has them done. He has no instinct for counterintelligence. Of -course- his pet's research was stolen just as he finished it. Now I have to clean this awful mess up. Talitha would send a team out to handle this. Heroes, villains, whomever. Whatever relic this was and its specific power is irrelevant; so long as the Directorate learned what that magical aspect was and what it meant to the Banished.

Sitting down at her comm, Talitha messaged the Strike Team leaders with the particulars. See Dr. Warren Osgood, Department of Archaeology, Paragon University. Help him recover his notes, complete his research, and find out what the Banished are digging for. And if they succeed, then this might even give her some weight to use dealing with "Mister Undersecretary Murphy" in the future.

(( AE Arc this time: "The Shard of Ta'ka-Re", Arc ID # 536152. It is three missions, level 15-40, 15-40, and 40-50. These are roleplay missions, and aren't too challenging. The bosses may say things with clues in them. If multiple groups decide to run these, in roleplay assume it was run once, with a fairly large group of heroes and villains working together against correspondingly larger/tougher groups of enemies. Feel free to write up and post your in-character experience with it. This continues our prelude storyline regarding Dark Astoria.))

((a message to Undersecretary Murphy))

Attention: Undersecretary Murphy
From: Baron Von Bloom, Dean of Paragon City's School for Paranormal Studies

Greetings,
It has come to my attention that the UNSCSHA has formed a tack force to investigate the recent surge in arcane activity in Dark Astoria and other areas in the city. Our own research has revealed several disturbing occurances and I would like to offer the services of the PCSfPS.
We have recently recruited a reincarnated shaman with ties to the Banished Bantheon.. His name is Ba'dash and we have had him register with the Paragon Super Human Registar as Captain-Volcanic. The information we have obtained from him is dire indeed. He has been responding to disturbances in Dark Astoria involving the Pantheon and I would request that your department follow up on theses incidents.
Thank you for your time,
Baron Vincent Von Bloom

((check the kidkruz published mission architect job "fire in the hills", a repeatable RP mission involving stopping the BP's recovering ancient arcane tablets and meeting with Captain Volcanic. Still a WIP and any suggestions would be appreciated))

A reply quickly arrives in Baron Von Bloom's email.

*crackle, static, buzzzt*

*Over a radio frequency from the Rogue Isles, a news report starts up*

*pop, sqweeel, snap!* ... Good evening, this is the Paragon Review; bringing local news to the region through collaboration of WSPDR Impact Report and Crey Technology Consulting Associates.

I am Kherianda, reporting. Today is February 2st. Now for the updates you've been waiting for.

Headlines across the region today are occupied with reports of grisly deaths of several office workers connected to the strange office supplies thefts from several weeks ago.

Bodies of seven men and women of varying backgrounds were found strewn along the eastern end of the Argo Highway, mutilated by what may have been stone tools.

Police investigators are acting on assumption that the Banished Pantheon are abducting lay citizens for some unknown purpose. Caution is advised.

And now for a word from our sponsor.

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WSPDR Impact report has learned that MAGI officials are scrambling to keep pieces of an item improbably called The Wheel of Destruction secure.

Listeners may recall the numerous times security at MAGI vaults has been compromised. A MAGI spokesperson would only say that they were aware their prior security record was not exemplary.

Vanguard issued a Gold Alert yesterday to extend to the end of this month.

Under the low level Gold Alert, citizens of Paragon and the Etoiles are cautioned to keep power outage supplies and test their fire and evacuation drills.

No reason was provided for this change in alert status.

In lighter news, yesterday the faculty and students of Industrial Blvd Elementary #208 in King's Row held their annual Hero's Day.

Local heroes were invited into the school and participated in arts, crafts, and athletic activities.

Hero Day began the school year following the July 2006 event when students at #208 school were held hostage by The Killer Toy.

Rapid response from Paragon's Hero community resulted in forty-five school children being rescued. The Killer Toy, a.k.a., Jeanette Robins of the Etoile Islands, was killed during the rescue.

The forecast for tonight is warm with a low of 39 and with clear skies until morning. Windy tomorrow with falling temperatures through the day and a chance of snow flurries and an afternoon high expected in the mid 30's.

This has been Kherianda and the Paragon Review, brought to you by WSPRD sponsored by Crey Technology Consulting Associates; serving all your computational bioinformatics needs since 2012.

WSPDR Impact is broadcast worldwide on SH frequencies and on Radio Free Etoile at a power of one-hundred ninety thousand watts from our Cap Au Diable transmitter complex. WSPDR official time is 20:17.

*screeetch, pop, fizz .. static*

*crackle, static, buzzzt*

*Over a radio frequency from the Rogue Isles, a news report starts up*

*pop, sqweeel, snap!* ... Good evening, this is the Paragon Review; bringing local news to the region through collaboration of WSPDR Impact Report and Crey Technology Consulting Associates.

I am Kherianda, reporting. Today is February 9th. Now for the updates you've been waiting for.

Now that we're into February in Paragon and the Isles, that hint of tender romance is back into the air, and with it, Valentine's theft.

Heroes and villains are recovering these stolen valentines and speeding them along to their intendeds.

Except, WSPDR has learned that quite a few of these valentines are being misdelivered. Recipients beware.

The murder trial of notorious criminal Joey "Knuckles" Marcelli took an unexpected turn when the victim, Harold Emmerson, walked into the courtroom, apparently alive.

Mister Marcelli was released later that session, but the alleged victim was unavailable for comment.

Doctors at Chiron Medical Center have been calling in specialists from MAGI to deal with strange wounds on many citizens resembling red hearts.

A Chiron Medical spokesperson assured the press there was no cause for alarm.

Now, a word from our sponsor.

Contact Crey Technology Consulting Associates is the world's leader in applied and theoretical computational bioinformatics supporting agencies of all kinds.

Complete end-to-end integrated solutions, cloud implementations, and no-questions asked privacy contracts are our specialties.

Crey Technology Consulting Associates -- advanced technology for better living and a better -you-.

This past Saturday's earthquake has been determined by the Paragon Geological Observatory to have originated under Astoria with an estimated magnitude of 4.2.

Apparently simultaneously, the local hero group Silver Aegis had summoned a gathering of nearly forty other heros to investigate some of the odd incidents nearby that restricted section of the city.

On interview, Doctor Warlocke, the group's leader, expressed confidence that Paragon's hero community was on top of the problem.

WSPDR Impact Report has also learned that the hero Xeden has been investigating recent events, and suggested something dangerous was beginning to stir deep under Astoria.

Xeden's been seen actively gathering intelligence on these events; even from deceased residents of Astoria.

Seventeen abducted civilians were rescued from Astoria by the gathered notable heroes, including Paragon's long-time iconic hero Ascendant.

Independence Port was attacked once more by the giant octopus Lusca, but was saved single-handedly by Captain Unstoppable!, exclamation included.

Good going, Captain!

A poll taken by the Paragon Sentinel tracking local attitudes towards our metahuman community registered the third monthly drop, from last month's 73.0% approval down to 71.9%.

Pollsters say data indicates that metahumans obstructing traffic is still the primary concern, with heroes ignoring petty street crime second, and interference with the weather in third.

The forecast calls for partly cloudy tonight, with a low around 27 and calm winds. Tomorrow we should see increasing clouds, with a high near 49 and winds becoming southerly around 5 mph.

This has been Kherianda and the Paragon Review, brought to you by WSPRD sponsored by Crey Technology Consulting Associates; serving all your computational bioinformatics needs since 2012.

WSPDR Impact is broadcast worldwide on SH frequencies and on Radio Free Etoile at a power of one-hundred ninety thousand watts from our Cap Au Diable transmitter complex. WSPDR official time is 21:25.

*screeetch, pop, fizz .. static* ... *the radio goes quiet*

Talitha reviewed the projections from the Vanguard Geosciences Group -- the seismic disturbances in Dark Astoria had been growing worse. She'd thought Geosciences seemed an odd study area for Vanguard; but after seeing their Sonoseismic Array's half-finished map of the extensive tunnels the Rikti had dug, and continued to dig, under the Mothership and stretching out through the crash site and even into the city, she had dismissed her doubts.

The science team had estimated the upheaval threshold for Dark Astoria, and the steadily rising shock-energy of the tremors hitting the area were approaching it -- the dashed lines on the display would cross on or about March 6th.

The kidnappings and ghostly abductions in the area had reached a peak; and private sources back on the Isles had confirmed their suspicions -- the Pantheon had recovered the Soulfire Crucible from their deep pit on Sharkhead and had stolen the last obsidian shard of Ta'ka-Re. The blood of their sacrificial victims was pooling in the Crucible, fueling the Soulfire, and the power released through the pantheon spirits would harness the so-called Might of the Dead, and would waken the dark god Mot from its slumber.

There are those who would welcome such a powerful being newly arisen; and Talitha had to admit to herself, there would be possibilities for personal gain involved, but yet again, Fateweaver Orion's words came back to mind: "Worlds can die."

There would be time to press advantages, but not just now. This catastrophe might yet be avoided, but the timing would be critical. Fingers quickly began to type on the secure terminal.

-------------------------------------------------------------
**** BREAK****
**** INCOMING MESSAGE ****
MARK INTERCEPT DELTA
STATUS BRAVO EPSILON CHECK
TO VANGUARD PERSONNEL LISTING OSCAR-ROMEO-TWO-NINE
SUBJECT FLASH ALERT (TS)
PRECEDENCE 29-L-D1
DTG04MAR20121845Z
CLASSIFICATION/TS/CODEWORD-AXIOM/LEVEL3
****MSGBEGIN****
APTITUDE INTEL ANALYSIS POINTS TO SIGNIFICANT EVENT DARK ASTORIA ON/ABOUT 06 MARCH 2012 STOP. ALL AVAILABLE CHALICE STRIKE TEAMS GATHER DARK ASTORIA 1900 EST 05 MARCH STOP. OBJECTIVE ONE HALT HUMAN/GHOST SACRIFICES IN PROGRESS. OBJECTIVE TWO CLEAR SPIRIT MASKS FROM ABOVEGROUND STOP. OBJECTIVE THREE EXTINGUISH SOULFIRES AS POSSIBLE.
**** MSGEND****
**** BREAK****
-------------------------------------------------------------
(( This will be a Roleplay gathering in Dark Astoria, Monday March 5, 7pm EST, to mark the eve of the Dark Astoria zone makeover coming in i22 the next day. All roleplayers will be welcome to join -- we'll catch some badges, free lots of ghosts being sacrificed, take out some spirit bosses and have fun roleplaying a desperate last-ditch attempt to hold off Mot's wakening. See you there! ))

TO: LAURENT, TALITHA
RE: SUBJECT INTELLIGENCE FLASH (S)
BODY: Shortly after recieving the message some of our mages discovered some...potentially troubling activity eminating from within Astoria. We have sent out a call to our own contacts as well as to contacts within MAGI to investigate

-Raven Selest Heartily, Midnight Squad.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sitting there scribbling notes and flipping through pages of a rather large leather book, Noah was disturbed by a loud beeping throughout Caspian's estate. Upon searching he finally found the communication terminal and opened the message.

He had scanned the message from his sister for a few short moments before hearing her voice cut in over the system.

>>"Caspian, the mantle of the War-Cardinal has been requested to investigate the readings coming out of Astoria.

Noah, MAGI has reactivated your clearance under the mantle of Magisterum, you get going as well."

Noah sighed before going into the other room to get changed, seeing that Caspian had already dawned a costume he had not worn for nearly two decades. Noah slipped on his boots and coat.

"Caspian, do me a favor after this..."

He looked up, "hm?"

Noah rested a hand on Caspian's shoulder, beckoning the teleportation system active. "Come with me to MAGI to alter my hero license, not sure I wanna play under a mantle anymore, after all...I don't even wear a mask."

Caspian smiled, and dragged Noah through the portal with him.

They were both unprepared for just what they would find.

TO: LAURENT, TALITHA
RE: SUBJECT INTELLIGENCE FLASH (S)
BODY: Assembly of ad-hoc team to slow Pantheon progress was a success. The ability to slow Pantheon down less so. At 2200hrs last night, my team pulled back to Talos when local tremors began collapsing crypts and the cemetery ziggurat. While numerous of the souls being held and sacrificed were freed (estimates into the hundreds), it became far too dangerous to risk the lives of those aiding the Special Projects Division. After the dispersal of the team, I held vigil until the Midnighters could arrive to help ward off the dark influences from invading Talos Island, and the Hazard Doors were sealed.

Despite the loss, the assemblage of those lending aide does prove that Project:Axiom has the full potential to be a success. While the UN may still be wary of that amount of power from that many people from so many differing backgrounds, I remain steadfast in my belief that common goals and benefits can and will help to drive us into forming a larger, more cohesive union across the world under one banner when called upon.

As selected temporary leader of Project:Axiom, after witnessing firsthand the cooperation despite individual methodologies, I am formally requesting that Project:Axiom be moved forward into fully active statuses.

Contact me at your earliest convenience if you would like more details on last night's activities.

XEDEN

~~~


Christian James closed his tablet after the pop-up alerted him to the sent status of his message. With a soft sigh he tossed it gently onto his desk and sat back, his hands rubbing his face to help wake him up. He had yet to sleep since last night's foray into Astoria. He couldn't. Astoria had been a second home to him these past few years, the souls there some of his closest friends, and a certain crypt in Moth Cemetery as a place of reflection and peace where he could convene with his fallen Knight brethren. That he had failed to do more to stop it was never far from his mind.

The helm of his armor sat on the meeting table in the middle of the room, staring at him. In the knowledge of what his fellow Knights would see of him, they would tell him to stop blaming himself. He was one man in a City of Heroes, on a world of superpowered beings. Others could have- should have- taken up the banner as well. He tried his best.

That was his reoccurring theme, he decided. Always almost succeeding. Failing to help save more of the Chaser Knights, the Midnight Refuge closing doors, the collapse of the Global Defense Alliance and through it, the Lightning Strike Initiative. He had seen many groups rise and fall in his years defending this world, many before their prime. His hesitance in the face of being asked to lead a United Nations-sponsored unit that could potentially grow larger was blatant. Chris would rather be a soldier. But too few were either willing to lead, or could lead. And so he continued to step up to the plate and swing away.

He closed his eyes, resting his head on the back of his chair. Perhaps Fen and Fairfield were right. Dantian too, when he last spoke to Chris so long ago before the war with Praetoria began. Perhaps it was time to stop being a soldier in the shoes of a leader, and start being a leader. To shoulder the burden and accept the role that a supergroup schismed in on itself so that the members could elect him to lead over a selfish older one.

"If anyone can do it, you can," Dantian's words suddenly washed through his mind's ear.

"And you'll do it. Because that's who you are." Fairfield. An army leader from the red-side of the tracks... who somehow had the faith in Chris to nudge him onwards towards taking this position.

"I'll help however I can, contact me when you need me." Fen McDough... that one. That was the one that made Chris double-take. By Fen's own words, the two of them got along, but were never on the same page. Even when others's drama pushed them to opposite ends of the spectrum, they coexisted, just never together. To hear Fen support him, having little knowledge of the UN SPD project, or reason to call him a leader anymore at all...

That was something.

Christian's eyes opened. His brow flashed a determined scowl as he sat up in his chair, and looked upon the sword hanging over the rest of his most personal belongings. It was the last heirloom of the Chaser Knights and their leader, Lord Norxethan. Retrieved after the Pantheon slaughtered their camp in Astoria five years ago and given to him by High Knight Aryn Fal. To possess it was to possess generations of honor bestowed by hundreds of Knights now long gone.

Alright. I'm going to make this work, Chris decided, internally having a conversation with the sword, or the man who once held it.

Standing, he grabbed his helm from the table and made his way towards the door. Time to go to work.

Word from Xeden was more or less as expected. The power stirring under Astoria couldn't be stopped; only held at bay with great effort. The Midnighters' efforts, and the quick action of the Paragon Police to seal the hazard door did keep the servants of the new power and the many radical opportunists largely confined to the scene of the catastrophe. Many heroes and destined ones now gathered near the Midnighters' wards to investigate and fight, but yet, Xeden's request held his own very serious unwritten concerns; the disorganization of those fighting would cost them dearly.

An audience with Fateweaver Orion was needed. Word came, and Talitha found herself meeting the Fateweaver and her guards deep in one of the secret vaults deep under Grandville. "This path leads to both destinations, for a time. This choice you face is not consequential to the preferred patterns of the weave. Yet, the fabric as a whole is less likely to tear, should you choose to place this new thread onto the loom."

With jet escorts circling, the flyer returned her to Turtle Bay. Stepping off the landing pad, her Longbow case worker was there to greet her. "What're you up to, Spider? If you think, even for a moment, that we're going to let you sneak in Arachnos troops under some bogus UN authorization, well, I've -already- spoken to the Undersecretary." Talitha drops her bag on the baggage inspection platform. "Honestly, Paxton, is that the best Longbow Intel can do? Did you even read the reports Vanguard passed on? Regular troops from either side would be less than useless." And though Talitha had floated that very idea to Undersecretary Murphy, it'd been quickly turned down. And her report back to Arbiter Miller about his idea had been short -- don't put her in the position of seeming a fool again. Arbiters might be untouchable, but their families weren't. "If you must know, I'm trying to get a full UNSCSHA charter, and it'll follow your precious CCFA. Those people need organization." Paxton stopped, stymied for the moment, and then the storm clouds on his face parted, just so slightly, and he picked up her bag. "We'll have to verify that, if this is another cover scheme, you're wasting your time." Her heavy bag in one hand, and door handle in the other, he stepped aside to let her enter first. What a boy scout; half ready to provoke a firefight, and still opening doors for her like a gentleman.

Undersecretary Murphy was receptive to the idea. "You will have to stay out of the formal membership, yourself, as will any others with current ties to the Isles; the CCFA is clear on that. But, the plan has a lot of merit. Are you sure Mister James is up to it?" Talitha set out several pages from her briefcase. "After actions reports from Vanguard. New reports from the local press. Accolades from the PPD. There's more. I have reviewed Grandville's files. The choice will not please them, but they'll not lodge a protest to the Security Council. Xeden's pragmatic when he needs to be." Undersecretary Murphy leaned back in his chair. "Alright then. I'll speak to the FBSA personally."


**** BREAK****
**** INCOMING MESSAGE ****
DTG21MAR2012190414Z
STATUS BRAVO EPSILON CHECK
TO VANGUARD OPERATIVE -XEDEN- AY-J7K-QW
SUBJECT AUTHORIZATION STATUS PROJECT AXIOM
PRECEDENCE IMMEDIATE ALPHA DELTA
CLASSIFICATION/S/CODEWORD-ASTROLABE/LEVEL8
****MSGBEGIN****
/PLAINTEXT/
Mister Christian James, greetings. You will be contacted by Special Agent Jackson of the Federal Bureau of Superpowered Affairs to register a federally recognized Supergroup under P.L. 83-23997, 62 Stat. 1187, of the Citizen Crime Fighting Act of 1937, as amended, 1952, United States Code. Furthermore, you and such group as you register with the FBSA within 10 (ten) days are hereby granted Warrant and Authorization to promote, recruit, raise funds, gather intelligence, conduct missions within UN Member states, operate high altitude aircraft and/or near-Earth spacecraft under Security Council Resolution 4918, 7 UNTS XXVII, Authorization for A Special Council on Super Human Activities, and 1 UNTS XVI, the Charter of the United Nations. No direct funding line is to be implied from or associated with this Warrant.
Congratulations,
~SIGNED~
Allan J. Murphy
Undersecretary for Super Human Activities
/PLAINTEXT/
**** MSGEND****
**** BREAK****

Xeden stepped back through the swirling portal that led between the Pocket D and Praetoria's Studio 55, rubbing his jaw. For a moment, he wondered what he had gotten himself into. This wasn't part of his job description as handed down to him by the UN SPD. He was potentially flying off the handle already, taking matters far too well into his own hands. But his mission was to protect Primal Earth. He was still doing that.

Just in a more... round-about way.

He closes his eyes and took a breath. Speeches and posturing, all behind him now. The naysayers and ill-wishers in the rear-view. He had found support fast and ready in Praetoria, his proclamation the same there as it was on Primal Earth when speaking to heroes and villains alike: "No more 'you against me', now it is 'us against them'."

The two worlds were closely related and now more intertwined than ever before, in war or peace, the portals, the fighting, the threats. Oh the threats. Hamidon was alive and well, aiming to decimate Praetoria again because of a war that Primal Earth took part in. Cole was edging on the end of his reign now that the light had been shed on his actions of the past and his buckets of lies. The Sister Earths could be a combined power that none could stop, if only the people would listen.

But in the middle of the Magisterium, on Cole's front doorstep, Christian James was no threat to him. With legal papers of public assembly stamped and cleared, without his armor or cape, without his identification as a hero or leader. On bended knee, he presented himself to the mass of metas and civilians as nothing more than a dignitary, far from his recognized role in the Axiom, and presented his case to an entire other world.

The hands of the many must join as one. The Rularuu, the Hamidon, the Coming Storm. They threaten more than just one world, and with so many similarities, there was no reason to let an unnecessary war come between a mutual alliance and defense in the name of the Earths. It was no longer about Cole. It wasn't about a portal opening somewhere by happenstance and bridging two worlds. It wasn't about Bombing Skyway City, or hijacking a news station. It was about making sure kids grew up and a humanity continued to exist.

And as Chris talked, he realized that one by one, he was talking to fewer people. One by one, they moved from where they listened on from and took a place behind him until only a few Loyalist few remained, and it broke down into talks of "terrorism" and "traitors", the naysayers wanting nothing to do with a "Praetorian plot".

You can't win them all, he told himself.

But the seeds were sewn. Be it even so small as a handful of people, another alliance was born.

He stepped out from behind the rampway, looking over the dancefloor to the blue-haired, pregnant woman he called his wife, and smiled. His dream of keeping this world intact so his son could see a peaceful future may have just become another step closer to reality.

~~~


TO: LAURENT, TALITHA
SUBJECT: PRAETORIAN EXPANSION (S)
BODY: You chose me to lead the Axiom. I'm leading it. And you can tell your supervisors to chew me if they disagree with my tactics- I've expanded the Axiom from simple Hero/Villain, Paragon/Etoile folds and membership drives and begun to enroll members of the Praetorian world, whatever role they play there in an effort to further expand and defend Primal Earth, and by extension, Praetoria.

Cole will no longer be an issue soon, he will be removed from power in the near future. With his downfall, Praetoria's population will be headless, scattered, in panic, unless we help to stabilize their confidence and reinforce them now. There is nothing to lose and an entire world of people to help have our back if we succeed.

If you have questions, or your higher-ups wish to contend with me, they have my contact information. I look forward to rebutting them.

X