15:00, October 21st, 2020, Freedom Force HQ Ruins

The next few days have been uneventful - at least as far as Freedom Force were concerned.  There was lots going on in the background, but Johnson didn't see fit to share any of it with them.  With HQ demolished, they all worked from the RVs Johnson procured from the FBI.  There were three in total - one for Freedom Force, one for Johnson, and one for the prisoners and their guards, all parked inside HQ grounds, not far from the lake.

All throughout the day, trucks and tractors went back and forth, making a ruckus as they worked on clearing the debris.  It would take many months before HQ would be rebuilt, but at least they were making a start. In the meantime, the heroes spent most of their time guarding Blockbuster and Scalphunter or writing their field reports.  None of them were allowed any leave time - not even to attend Mistress's funeral!!! The excuse being that Johnson needed every Agent available with him, in case the Marauders tried to escape, or made another attempt to free their friends.

Days went by, and when Johnson finally gathered them all again, it was to issue direct orders, without filling them in on anything that has transpired since last they've spoken:

"Listen up Agents. We secured the warrant to search Essex's Black Site, arrest anyone on-premises, and seize all assets.  A warrant was also issued for Scott Hill, Essex's CEO, to be served by our counterparts in England.  The facility is located in Harlem.  A densely populated neighborhood, so we need to be extra careful to avoid causing any collateral damage. Agent Ohm, see what you can learn about the facility while we wait for our transport.  We have little less than half an hour before it arrives.  The rest of you - get in uniform"

Illya seems both excited and anxious about the news, "Harlem? Like...New York?" Coooool."

"Uh, Agent Johnson,sir? Where do I get my uniform? And can I make alterations? Or even request a specific costume? The fam, uh, voted on what my costume should be, when I told them that I was joining FF."

A sheepish look crosses his face, "Oh. And how do I requisition a phone?"

Shiva proceeds to do as he is asked. However, he does do a few unneeded back ground checks for anyone near the place. Granted he did not have warrants for these extra scans, but given he was doing them through his sensors and not his computer it would be hard to tell.

OOC-scanning

Wits-d10
Senses-d12
Tech-2d8
Distinction-computer like mind-d8

Total=13
Effect die=d10

14:18, Today: Shiva rolled 4,9,7,4 using D10,d12,2d8,d8 with rolls of 4,9,4,3,4.  Scanning.

This message was last edited by the player at 18:21, Thu 16 June 2022.

Gwenyth tried, she really did try, to follow orders. But she found that she could not, and elected to go AWOL in order to attend Mistress' funeral. She already had a hard time staying at headquarters when it was roomy and expansive; trying to work from an RV felt like her blood itself was trying to escape. It didn't seem likely to her that these Marauder fellows would launch another attack so soon; it wouldn't make for a very compelling movie scene, which surely meant it wasn't going to happen. And, when it came down to it, her confidence in Freedom Force as a concept was at an all time low.

After returning to face whatever punishment and disapproval Agent Johnson deigns to dole out, Gwenyth takes up her duties again. Mostly. She does most of her reports from her phone and spends a fair amount of time at the lake training and managing her own stress. A critical eye might even say she is trying to avoid the rest of Freedom Force.

Nonetheless, she answers when she is summoned. "Is it really prudent to wear our stars and stripes on foreign soil?" she asks.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Fri 17 June 2022.

While Kate did stick around, a fair amount of the time was as a cat, or fox, either curled up in small hard to reach places, hidden in a bush, or when Gwen might not be too opposed, in a warm lap to let spoiling her be therapeutic for the other.

She didn't sneak off to the funeral, not really having gotten to know Mistress well, and not wanting to get on Johnson's bad side, more.  When the call to action came she joined the others, shifting fuzzy so she would be ready for the trip.  A simple loose t-shirt and skirt over her fur.  The shirt bearing freedom forces logo.

"Whats going to happen with the prisoners while we're away?"

"We don't have a uniform designed for you yet.  You'll get one - when and if you ever become a full member" Johnson wasn't smiling back at Illya when he mentioned his phone.  If it was a joke, it was in very poor taste "Why don't you take a step back from social media for a while? Let's go in there and do our job.  Minimal distractions, yes?"

Though phrased as a suggestion, it wasn't really one.

"Agent Garcia will stay here to guard the prisoners while we're away.  I'll call in Fiona as well. Agent Ohm - you got anything for us yet?"

Frank didn't wait around for conversation. He just went and got ready. He never really liked his uniform — the stars and stripes made him feel like a cheap Captain America knockoff — but he wasn't about to challenge his requirement to wear it. He'd requested a few alterations through the PR department; sooner or later they'd get back to him.

"It looks like a pharmacy on the outside. Thats the case on the first floor. There is an elevator at the back of the store that leads to a  basement. There aren't that many people working at the pharmacy, and I am not detecting any weapons. Chances are there are mutants guarding the place." He reports to the team's comlinks.

"That's bad news, but also to be expected.  Unfortunately, we can't afford to wait and gather information.  The Marauders attacked HQ a mere few days after we defeated them in Brooklyn.  If we give them more time they will make another attempt, and we can't afford that. We need to go on the offensive"

While the rest of Freedom Force suited up, Johnson checked out the aforementioned Pharmacy at Harlem.  It wasn't too big. Only a couple of exits, and one elevator leading down.  That, at least, would make things less complicated:

"Agent Guberman; I want you to be the first man in.  Make sure the area is secure before calling in everyone else.  Agent Ohm - I want you guarding the rear entrance from a safe distance. Preferably from the roof of the nearby apartment building.  Your arms can reach across the distance without too much trouble.  I'm going to set up additional teams of snipers around the building, and give the order to evacuate the neighborhood as soon as we begin our operation.  Any questions?"

Kate shook her head.  It seemed pretty simple.  Wait outside the front door for Tank to call her in, or for the shouting to start.  Of course then she did have an immediate question. "So we're just arresting everybody there if they don't resist and make problems right?  What if we find kid versions of the Marauders?"

"The bad guys are probably all underground," Frank said, mulling over the plan. "We have to assume that the pharmacy will have civilian customers. Anyone who doesn't make trouble should be sent outside. If they resist, they'll get arrested.

Ana Sofía doesn't feel like disobeying direct orders, but she also wants to attend the funeral. Fortunately she has other options. When the funeral starts she sends her senses there to be part of it without leaving the trailer she's in. She just looks like she's doing one of her regular superhero concentration things.

When discussing the building and an approach to it she says, "I can monitor the building before going in, even where there are no cameras. That should give us a good idea of what we're walking into. I'll sweep through the place thoroughly ahead of time while we travel to New York." During the flight she'll let her senses take a walk through the building to examine each room thoroughly.

"We're going to hit the place after closing time, so no civilian customers.  Arrest everyone in there - I'm assuming the employees are all in on the conspiracy as well.  If we do find kid versions of the Marauders, we will detain them and let the Justice department figure it out"

The helicopter Johnson asked for was already waiting for them on the helipad - the only structure not demolished in the recent attack.  So far, every helicopter the team boarded was destroyed, but he hoped they can finally break with tradition

"Agent Garcia and Agent Ohm will provide additional information while we are in transit. Agent Blake - take the pilot's seat.  I want to get going"

"Yes, sir." Gwenyth slips into the pilot's seat and swings her legs into position with some enthusiasm. She quickly flips the necessary switches to start up the helicopter without even looking and hums some doubtlessly awful pop song as she waits for the rotors to spin up.

"Who wants to wager on this heli's survival?" Gwenyth asks. "Five to one odds, I'll bet a large three-topping pizza that this one makes without even a scratch." Playing the long odds!

Illya fusses with his trainee uniform, clear from the large yellow "T" spray-painted on the chest and back. In his preoccupation, he only seems to be taking in half of what's being said as he climbs aboard the helicopter, though he occasionally mumbles vague assurances that he's listening and what he thinks the speaker wants to hear, "Right. Don't go in. Arrest everyone. Crash the helicopter."

The last one, however, snaps him out of his reverie, "Wait. What?"

He looks at Gwenyth with wide eyes, "Just how many helicopters have you crashed?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Sun 19 June 2022.

"Me personally? Just one, and there was a tornado involved so it's not my fault!" Denial! "Freedom Force collectively, I think three and also a weird stealth spaceship thingy. I'm not sure that last one should count. How much do these things cost again?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:03, Sun 19 June 2022.

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 14):

"I will get a part of that action. For two pizza's!" Shiva says as he gets into postion. Once Tank goes in, he will send in several of the arms after his fellow mutant. Shiva will remain in his rooftop position.

Over the commlink, it could be heard him talking to someone else. "No Six. Nobody likes marshmellow pizza. That's disgusting, and if you had the ability to eat you would know that..."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:33, Mon 20 June 2022.

As they're flying... oh, this still isn't a good way to fly!... Ana Sofía concentrates and places her senses in a familiar spot close to where they want. She quickly moves through the streets to the address and then inside to check the current status of each room. She notes out loud through the head sets what she observes.

Kate sits nervously near the exit, ears muffled by the headsets as otherwise the noise would be quite overwhelming.  It's hard to stay calm though with their recent luck with all things areal.  She seems to be doing her best to ignore the betting on the poor helicopter's survival.

Seeing Kat's obvious discomfort with the helicopter's noise, Illya reaches out to mildly reverse gravity's effect just around her ears, which prevents any sound from reaching them.

He attempts to smile at her reassuringly, and then speaks,

Essex's Black Site masqueraded as a run-of-the-mill pharmacy.  Essex was already one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world, so no one suspected their delivery trucks weren't (only) there merely to deliver supplies for the drugstore.   There, was, in fact, a supply run earlier that morning, according to the footage from the street cameras Shiva shared with them.  The content of the crates, which were taken directly to the basement levels, contained nutrients for the cloning cells.  And explosives.  Enough to blow the entire block up into the sky - several times over.

Ana's own scan confirmed that the facility was planned to be erased out of existence.  The explosive charges were already primed and ready to go, waiting for someone to pull the trigger.  One confirmed Mutant - a man that looked like the love child of a gorilla and a dire wolf, was assisting his fellows with waking up the half-baked Marauder clones.  More concerning than the human mannequins stepping out nude from their vats were the status logs appearing on the computer monitors.  Those had a very distinct heading, reading 'test site B'...

"Wait for my signal," Tank told the others as the team took up positions. He'd been told to make sure the ground floor was clear before the team proceeded, and that was what he was going to do. "Shiva, can you give me a dead zone in the street-level cams, so they don't see me coming?"

In reply to Tank (msg # 22):

"I can loop the footage from 5 minute interval. So all they see is empty alley. However, I am pretty sure these creeps have dead man switches on the explosives. I need to hack them before we attack and they set off the bombs by default." Shiva responds.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Mon 20 June 2022.

"From out here I'll keep an eye out for anyone trying to set off the bombs and try to stop them."

"Tank; don't do anything until we figure out what to do about the bombs.  The Marauders didn't have any regard for civilian causalities - or themselves, and this team is likely running the same playbook. They're going to set this thing off the minute they notice us coming"
Johnson was sitting in a van a block away.  He wondered if it was far enough away...
"Windtalker - see if you can find out who's holding the detonator"

Something about this entire situation doesn't add up... "Why do they have bombs?" Gwenyth asks, attacking the surface level incongruity first. Sounds like they have some time to talk while the big brains scan the area.

Illya looks at Gwenyth and shrugs, "To destroy the evidence?"

"Or us" Johnson added "Even if they don't kill you, so many civilian casualties is going to launch a Federal investigation of Freedom Force.  Put the entire initiative on hold. "

"It seems like they know we're coming.  It always seems like they know when we're coming.  Are there leaks in whatever office is giving out warrants?  Why else would they be getting the clones up early?"  Kate asks as well.

Before he started hacking into systems or sending his arms to start fiddling with explosives in a populated area, he wanted to be sure. No more dead children because he did not spot something in time. When he expanded his sensors to take in enough data, he could start running a predictive program to find likely outcomes.

Many of the programs he had worked out on his lab's HQ computer would assist him in making this. Even if all his stuff had been blown up. He still had what was on him, although his home made gaming systems were up in smoke.

Ooc-creating asset. Spending 1 pp to use tech resources and 1 to add 3rd die to total. Spending another point to make asset last.

Wits-d10
Senses-d12
Tech-d10
Distinction: Rigged with Explosives-d4(+1 pp)
Tech Resource-d8

Total roll=21
Effect die=d12

00:22, Today: Shiva rolled 10,8,4,3,7 using D10,d12,d10,d4,d8 with rolls of 10,8,4,3,7.  Creating predictive algorithm asset.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:10, Tue 21 June 2022.

Gwenyth nods in response to Kate. "Yeah! They could have installed a self-destruct at any time, but why are they only just now getting around to it?" She had previously dismissed Kate's conspiracy spinning as the influence of that Fujino chick but was beginning to suspect that Kate might actually be onto something...

Ana Sofía sends her senses in to look for someone who seems somewhat in charge to read their mind about bombs.

d12 Telepathy
d10 Willpower
d8 Psych
d8 One Step Ahead of You
d6 Enthralling Mind (and step up effect die)

01:13, Today: Windtalker rolled 9,6,2,6,4 using d12,d10,d8,d8,d6 with rolls of 9,6,2,6,4.  Read mind about bombs.

9+6=15, with d10 stepped up to d12 for effect die

Ilya flicks the zipper on his ill fitting uniform.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:52, Tue 21 June 2022.

"Too many people involved with getting those warrants, and Essex's pockets are deep.  Maybe they hacked us only to cover up for their real source" whatever was the case, they didn't have time to look into it right now "They know we're coming, which means we're only a minute away from a total catastrophe.  We need to defuse these bombs, now!"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 12:15, Tue 21 June 2022.

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 34):

Shiva proceeded to scan the bombs, and thier inginiton devices. If there was a signal device to cause detonation, he may be able to jam that. Or all communications if need be.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:25, Tue 21 June 2022.

"John, there is a remote trigger option. Look for that connection to shut it down while I go after Ruckus, who has a manual detonator."

Knowing about Ruckus, Ana Sofia now searches for him. The mind she's in probably has a general idea where he is and surely knows what he looks like, so she'll start there and then hunt him down her way.

In reply to Windtalker (msg # 36):

"Rodger dodger, Ana. If Tank does not need me for combat, I can send the armature down and try to manually dismantle the explosives after I shut down enemy communications and after Agent Windtalker does her mental takedown." Shiva replies.

"The explosives are your top priority," Tank assured Shiva. "Shut them down at all costs."

Shiva sent out his limbs, and began hacking the local networks. Using the data from the government's files on explosives, his sensors had revealed the entire map of the underground 'minefield' that would level city blocks. Once he got a entire landscape of not only the bombs, but the various signals, alarms, and commination's that covered the area-he could focus in on disarming the devices. Frist he would do the digital shutdown, then he would send in his limbs to manually disarm them if needed. He would also be relying on his Predictive Algorithm, allowing him to foresee missteps and random events with a very high degree of accuracy. Using 1000s of bits of data and digital imaging showing potential events that may occur.

OOC:

Wits-d10
Senses-d12
Tech-d10
Rigged with Explosives-d4(+1 PP)
Asset-d12
Tech Resources-d8

09:57, Today: Shiva rolled 2,12,5,3,3,7 using d10,d12,d10,d4,d12,d8 with rolls of 2,12,5,3,3,7.  attempting disarm.

Spending 1 PP to add 3rd die.

Total roll=24
Effect die=d12

Total PP left=1.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:07, Tue 21 June 2022.

Once Ana Sofía knows which one Ruckus is, she sets to work. The bombs can be set off remotely. The manual detonator is stupid. I should lock it up so no one uses it.

d10 Willpower
d8 Mind Control
d8 Psych
d8 One Step Ahead of You
d6 Enthralling Mind (and step up effect die)

10:08, Today: Windtalker rolled 5,3,8,6,1 using d10,d8,d8,d8,d6 with rolls of 5,3,8,6,1.  Messing with Ruckus's mind.

Spend 1 PP to add a third die.

8+6+3=17, with a d10 effect die stepped up to d12.

d6 to Doom Pool.

PP: 1 -1 (extra die) +1 (rolled 1) = 1

Shiva hacked the signal for the remote detonators and shut them down, but defusing the bombs themselves would require him to enter the building.  In the basement, Ruckus reached the very logical conclusion that walking around with a detonator that can evaporate him and anyone standing next to him was stupidly dangerous.  He unhooked it from the wires crisscrossing the room and locked it in one of the drawers.

"Remote Detonators deactivated. I will need to send the arms in to lockdown the explosives. Looking for alternate route inside." Shiva downloads the city hall maps of the local sewer system and infrastructure to find a way his arms could get to the basement without using the elevator. If need be he could have them drill inside, as they could fit through the narrow pipes of the water system. He had to make sure the security alarms would not spot him either.

OOC-What would I need to roll to use the sewer system to get under the basement and then use ether various pipes and waterways to enter, or just drill a small hole to the basement?

"We need to go now if John's ready! Frank, I can serve as a scout for you and direct you to the room with the detonator." Her plan is to keep her senses up ahead of him to warn him telepathically of what's ahead.

Try to create a scout asset:

d10 Clairvoyant Senses
d8 Wits
d8 One Step Ahead of You
d6 extra die (1 PP)

10:28, Today: Windtalker rolled 6,3,7,5 using d10,d8,d8,d6 with rolls of 6,3,7,5.  Try to create a scout asset for Tank.

7+5=12, with a d10 effect die if it works.

PP: 1 -1 (extra die) = 0

Illya watches the tense conversation with wide eyes, "Bombs? How many?"

His gaze wanders off into the distance, "I may be able to extract them all at once, without having to enter the building. Shiva or Windtalker, is there a way that either of you can give me their precise locations?"

Tank squared his shoulders and headed for the pharmacy. If John was successful, they wouldn't see him coming until he went inside. From there, though, he'd need to deal with whatever interior defenses they'd have. John could hack electronic systems, but sooner or later there'd be a human or mutant in his way. Hackproof, but breakable.

When he got to the doors, he grabbed the handle and pulled hard enough to break the lock.

In reply to Black Hole (msg # 44):

"Ehhh...unless you can guarantee they wont go off when you mass gravity them, that might be a very bad idea." Shiva replies. "That being said, I will send everybody a map of the base and where everything is." He proceeds to do via the team's commlinks.

Once Tank started moving, so did four of his arms. One through Four, using the underground sewer system tracked using penetrative sonar, targets the locations of the bombs and their guardians. Not to mention the backup generator he plans to destroy while also cutting the power to the building.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Tue 21 June 2022.

Illya looks crestfallen, "Oh. I hadn't thought of that."

Kate had listened quietly slowly working herself up for action.  'sourceofcoookies, I'll go in just behind Tank, you can help guide me to the detonator, I should be able to reach it faster than him by avoiding all the fighting.' 

It was a scary thought, getting ready to run into a building filled with explosives but at least she had a little bit of time to psyche herself up to do so.

Tank ended up pulling the entire door out of its frame.  If the security cameras were working, the people working downstairs would have been alerted to his presence.  As it was, he found himself walking unimpeded in the empty store, passing the shelves stacked with over-the-counter medication until he reached the elevator.  The eye of another security camera above the staircase turned red once it picked up his presence, but the picture never made it through.  He was now as close as he was going to get without being detected.

Kate slipped in after him, quiet as a cat, and the size of one too the better to sneak and slip past observers, but she was very aware of the fact that if something went wrong and everything exploded while Tank would be fine she definitely wouldn't.  She just had to trust in Ana and Shiva that they wouldn't let that happen.  The proofed out fur coat probably didn't help her sneaking that much, but at least her size in general did.

wits d8, Shrinking d8, acrobatic d6, ride the tiger d4+1pp

06:07, Today: Kate Messer rolled 3,5,2,4 using d8,d8,d6,d4 with rolls of 3,5,2,4.  create a sneaky asset. Total 9 effect d8
PP = 1 +1-1 = 1

In reply to Kate Messer (msg # 48):

"Yes, I can direct you there."

Tank wasn't sure that an elevator was really the best way to go, but the stairs were probably just as dangerous in this place. He pressed the button and waited for the cab to arrive. When the doors opened, he would get in and press the bottom button... unless he was already starting to meet resistance, in which case it was Game On.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:50, Wed 22 June 2022.

Illya peered out the helicopter's window, "Do you think the media will show up?"

Tank found himself standing in front of a large, vault-like steel door blocking the corridor. He knew exactly what was waiting for him on the other side.  He could 'see' through the eyes of one of the Mutants standing on the other side of the door (courtesy Ana).  Almost two dozen people inside the adjacent rooms.  Some of them were obviously Mutants.  Like the blue-faced man who lacked pupils, the 'werewolf', the androgynous man with the colored hair, and the couple of others in civilian clothing.  The rest were either scientists in their lab-coats, or malformed clones who were only now realizing something went horribly wrong in the resurrection process.

The Watcher rolled 15 using 4d8 with rolls of 2,6,1,6.  reaction vs Ana (corrected).
'Scout' Asset successfully created by Ana.
 The Watcher rolled 15 using 4d8 with rolls of 1,2,5,7.  reaction vs Kate. total 12 vs 9.
Sneaking Asset creation failed.  The kitten is cute, but doesn't really have anywhere to hide.

"What the fuck?!" Harpoon voice rose to a shrill as he examined his pale, pasty arm up close "What is this?  What have you done?!?"

This message was deleted by the player at 18:38, Thu 23 June 2022.

Tank grabbed the door with both hands and yanked, to pull it off its hinges. He could 'see' to the other side thanks to Ana Sofia, and knew that he had the element of surprise on his side. Time for a little shock and awe.

"Federal agents!" he shouted. "Everyone down on the ground, now!"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Thu 23 June 2022.

Shiva's arms where in position, but not obvious to anyone without some means to see through solid objects. The armature could do so, using their penetrative sonar to track every person in the room, not to mention analyze them with the variety of other sensors available.

One was near the main power grid link to the city's feed into the building, ready to take it offline. Two was just under the building's backup generator, ready to attack the main feed line of the device from underground and destroy it, thus denying its ability to grant electricity. Three, Four, and Five where near the explosives, ready to move in and try to physically disarm the weapons once Tank and Kate provided the distraction to the guards.

That left Six, on guard duty near John himself. All the way across the street on a nearby rooftop. Scanning the environment for other threats and surprises. Of course, the annoying limb would make the 'worried face' emoji.

Then Tank made his move, and so did John. The Predicative algorithm he had set up would help assure any mistakes or random events. Each possible event would show a percentage chance of occurrence and a digital image of what might happen in John's HUD.

Limb One cut off the city power, but made sure it could be easily restored by the Limb. To fix it by normal means would require a full Con Ed crew to locate and get down to the area of the power line. John figured the innocent people in the building would want their electricity back after this mess.

Two's job with the backup generator was much simpler. It formed a energy scissors coming from the ground to cut the link between generator and the rest of the area. Just a small set coming from the ground, but targeting the weakest link of the device so it would be useless. The foe would need to do repairs to fix that, or just buy a new generator.

Now that the area was plunged into darkness, Three, Four, and Five's jobs where about disarming the bombs to make sure they could not explode. They would disable the accelerant, the firing mechanism, and any other redundant system to cause destruction. Even if one of the guards shot or blasted the bombs, they would effectively be separate bits of potential explosives' rather than a united WMD.

Finally, John took his jamming device out of his utility belt, and used Six's scans to locate and disable the other communication devices in the area. Shutting each one down so no phone, radio, computers, or other such thing could be used by the enemy.

"Taking out their lights, bombs, and ability to talk to each other." He said to the team, their speaking devices would be the only ones that would work.

OOC: Various area effects are as follows

Wits-d10
Senses-d12
Tech-2d8
Essex Black Site-d4(+1 pp)
Resources-d8
Asset-d12
Area Effect SFX: 4 effects at once-3d6

Spending 1 PP to add third die.

Total roll=20
Effect dice=d12(bombs), City power(d8), Backup generator(d8), communications jamming(d8)

PP left=1

14:10, Today: Shiva rolled 7,6,8,4,7,8,11 using D10,d12,2d8,d4,d8,d12,3d6 with rolls of 7,6,5,3,4,7,8,3,3,5.  Area effect effects.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:31, Fri 24 June 2022.

Kate did her best to memorize the layout of the room, the locations of the enemy, and just where she needed to reach to put herself between the desk with the manual detonator and everyone else.  While still conspicuous, a small cat is still just a small cat, and much easier to overlook in the chaos of a door being ripped off it's hinges and Tank's bellow.

So she waited, just long enough for the confusion to begin, the lights to fail, and full or semi-darkness to set in before sprinting through and past everyone in the room, to reach her destination before any of the mutant's present could think to do so.  Only then would she return to a more combat capable size and form.

d10 prowess, d8 distinction in touch with her wild side, d10,d10 natures response versatile, d6 acrobatic

21:42, Today: Kate Messer rolled 4,5,1,3,4 using d10,d10,d10,d8,d6 with rolls of 4,5,1,3,4.  reach the locked drawer with the manual detonator first.
Total 9, effect d10 pp=2, (I did not add any die for the power outage/confusion or scout but would do so if I knew what and if such a die exists)

Tank only got a glimpse of shocked faces staring back at him from the other side of the room before the lights went off.  The darkness was so thick he couldn't so much as make out the silhouettes moving all around him.  He couldn't hear anything either - the powerful roar wasn't only loud enough to split his ears, but strong enough to knock him off his feet, and shatter the bones in his body!

The Watcher rolled 20 using 4d10 with rolls of 2,5,6,7.  reaction to Shiva.
Total 13 vs 20. Effects successful: bombs diffused, and power is out in the entire building.

spending 1d10 from doom pool to create the 'blinded' complication on anyone in the basement.

1d8 Prowess, 1d8 Rock Your World distinction, 1d10 sonic blast, 1d8 combat expert, 1d10 Tank's blinded complication
Ruckus rolled 2,8,4,2,1 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d6 + 1d10 with rolls of 2,8,4,2,1,7  sonic blast. Total 15, effect 1d10 (physical stress)  Reaction needed from Tank. 
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:30, Fri 24 June 2022.

From the helicopter hovering above, Gwyneth, Johnson and Black Hole witnessed every window in the pharmacy below blasted into fine bits, glass turning into fine powder.  Even so far away from the origin of the noise, it felt like a herd of elephants trumpeting next to their ears.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:37, Fri 24 June 2022.

Gwenyth had been circling the mission site at what she felt to be a fairly safe distance while remaining close enough to provide backup if necessary. When the explosion comes she yelps and reflexively turns the helicopter away to try and minimize exposure to the shockwave. Once she is able to level out the flight she turns to Windtalker. "Tell me they survived that!" she says with terrified anticipation. Freedom Force can't lose any more members. She can't lose any more members. She just can't!

Tank ripped the door off the hinges easily, even for its apparent size and strength. But as he tossed it aside and shouted out his warning, something threw a wave of pure, apocalyptic sound at him, slamming into him like an invisible truck and threatening to grind his bones to powder. But even as his eyes went blind in the darkness, he could still 'see' thanks to Windtalker's psychic assist.

The attack was coming from a particular direction, so at least Tank knew how to brace himself. He gritted his teeth and stood firm against the onslaught.

It was a good thing he was invulnerable, because this hurt.

Prowess d8
Gentle Giant d4 (+1PP)
Godlike Durability d12
Combat Expert d8
'Scout' Asset d10

Tank rolled 8,1,3,3,2 using d8,d4,d12,d8,d10 ((8,1,3,3,2)).

Total: 11
Effect: d12
Opps: 1

Using Invulnerability SFX for 1PP.

PP Remaining: 2

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 62):

Six moves over to the chopper and changes into a 'thumbs up', which Gwenyth can see through the pilot's side window. Black Hole gets a digital map sent to his commlink, showing each person in the basement with a name icon and 'health bar'. It shows Tank at 100%.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:28, Fri 24 June 2022.

Kate was one of the few for whom the little bits of light from watches, phones, etc had been enough to allow her to see well enough in the dark to move through to the drawer with the detonator inside.  She didn't bother trying to unlock or retrieve it just place herself between it and all the others in the room.  Shifting back up to her 'full size' she made sure to maintain her cat eyes and the ability to mostly see in the darkness and set herself there to intercept anyone who tried to reach the detonator.  'I'm by the manual detonator, someone down here is still fighting, it's dark, um.. what next?'

Her psychic question went out to the full team, not quite sure what to do.  Nobody was exploding so that part was good, but the roar was still echoing in her ears and she was certain that she wasn't the only one who was now standing in the dark, basically deaf, and wondering what would happen next so for the moment she did her best to mark and count all the 'bad guys' in the room.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Fri 24 June 2022.

Illya in a rush fumbles with his seat belt but finally manages to release it after many agonizing moments. He leaps to the helicopter door and throws it open, "Are they okay? Was anyone hurt?"

He peers out and around looking for any signs of structural damage to the building, "Shiva! Is the building okay? It's not coming down is it?"

In reply to Black Hole (msg # 66):

Six, which has lengthened itself from the rooftop where John could oversee the building, moved over to Black Hole's side of the chopper. The thumb's up it showed to Gwyneth changed into a video display of Shiva's masked face.

"Tank and everybody is ok. The mutants are not coming peacefully, but all bombs have been disarmed and enemy communications are jammed."

"Wow, that was loud! Good thing my real ears are up here. Some sort of sonic attack."

Hmm... Tank can handle Ruckus, but what else is to come? Ana Sofía hunts minds in the building to find any still-conscious combatants, just touching each mind to find out how many are ready to fight so she can tell Frank and Kate.

d12 Telepathy
d10 Willpower
d8 On Step Ahead of You
d8 Pysch
3d6 Area Attack

12:17, Today: Windtalker rolled 11,2,4,4,3,4,2 using d12,d10,d8,d8,d6,d6,d6 with rolls of 11,2,4,4,3,4,2.  Searching for combatants.

11+4=15, with effect dice of d10, d8, d8, d6

PP: 0

Gwenyth lets out a relieved sigh as Six assuages her concerns. She returns the thumb-up gesture before quickly returning her hand to the flight yoke. "Why are they fighting," she mutters under her breath. "I still can't wrap my head around that."

"Ask them when they're in custody" Johnson, sitting next to Gwyneth on the helicopter,  was wearing one of the aviation headsets, so he was spared the ringing in his ears
"Black Hole, the bombs have been defused.  Go down there and assist with the arrests. Agent Blake - take us higher.  I don't like how close we are to the action"

Down at the dark basement, the hairy, feral brute swooped at Kate as soon as she got her hands on the manual detonator, claws and fangs going right for her throat!

Prowess 1d10, Supernatural Reflexes 1d8 (stepped down from 1d10), Combat Master 2d8, feral beast distinction 1d8, 1d6 from dangerous
Hairbag rolled 10,1,3,13,6 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,2d8,1d6 with rolls of 10,1,3,6,7,6.  biting Kate.  Spending 1d8 from doom pool to add another die to total.  Total = 23.  Effect 1d10

superhuman reflexes d10,d10 versatile, Prowess d10,Distinction d8,combat expert d8
21:46, Today: Kate Messer rolled 8,5,10,3,8 using d10,d10,d10,d8,d8 with rolls of 8,5,10,3,8.  trying not to be bitten. total =26, effect d10 spending 1pp to keep extra die 1 to create a d10 asset 'female is the more dangerous of the species'.  Wheh, I thought I was in for a lot of trouble there, the way I've been rolling of late, but thank you die roller for blessing me in this round of darkness...and of course the female is more dangerous, she doesn't have anything to prove just has to win!

Kate feels the murderous intent moments before Hairbag moves, and then the battle is on, the pair of them hissing rolling and fighting in the darkness of the room, well matched for one another as they claw and bite their snarling hisses sounding almost chainsaw loud and certainly intimidating for those who cannot see what is occurring.

Superhuman reflexes Versatile d10,d10, prowess d10(d8 for dangerous), combat expert d8, dangerous d6, distinction d4.
21:51, Today: Kate Messer rolled 7,3,3,1,6,4 using d10,d10,d8,d8,d6,d4 with rolls of 7,3,3,1,6,4.  fighting Hairbag. Total 16 effect d12 spending 1 pp to keep extra die 1 pp remaining
22:03, Today: Kate Messer rolled 2 using 1d10 with rolls of 2.  missed asset from previous reaction does not affect anything.

While Kate was busy chewing Hairbag's face off, a crack running across the ceiling shed light on a new problem.  A big one.   Tank fought huge Mutants before. There was the Basilisk, and the Blockbuster, but the giant standing in front of him was in his own category.  At ten feet tall, the Mutant's head and shoulders were pressing against the ceiling - lifting it upwards as he kept on growing in height.  Slabs of concrete started to rain down on the occupants of the room as the entire ceiling buckled, then burst under the pressure. Rancid waters from the broken plumbing pipes soon started flooding the basement, and the rows of shelves from the upper floor slipped down the newly formed ramp, crushing anyone not fast enough to get out of the way.

And still, the Mutant kept on growing. When he reached twenty feet, he burst right through the first floor, and with his hands stretched upwards to protect his head - through the roof as well. At thirty feet, he was twice as tall as the building - and that's with his feet planted at the basement level.  A single sweep of his arms brushed the entire roof off the building, and into the street below.

"Rwwwwwww!!!!"


Hairbag reaction:
Hairbag rolled 1,8,7,11 using 1d10,1d10,1d8,2d8 with rolls of 1,8,7,8,3.  reaction vs Kate
Total 16 vs 16.  Attack successful. Hairbag gains 1d12 physical stress. +1d6 to doom pool from Kate's opportunity. Darkness complications removed from everyone. 

"I said get us out of here!!!" Johnson yelled, but it was already too late.  The giant leaped upwards, reaching out with his hand to grasp the helicopter by its tail.  Gwyneth, all of the sudden, had a very vivid picture of her being carried to the top of the empire state building...

Reaction roll needed from Gwyneth as the pilot of the helicopter:
Slab rolled 2,6,8,7,9 using 1d10,1d10,1d10,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 2,6,8,7,9.  grab helicopter. Prowess 1d10, Growth 1d10, Combat Master 1d10, Slabzilla distinction 1d8, 1d10 loaned form doom pool (+1 pp to Gwyneth), and -1d10 from doom pool to keep extra die.
Reaction needed Total: 24, effect 1d10

When Agent Johnson barks his order for Black Hole to go help Tank in the basement, a great grin erupts onto his face, "Yes, Sir!" But the grin falters as the look on Agent Johnson's face changes, "What is it?" He follows Agent Johnson's gaze and Black Hole's eyes widen to dinner plates at the sight of the giant Slab, "Oh god. The helicopter!"

Immediately, instinctively he lessens the helicopter's gravitational connection with the ground to give Gwenyth more manoeuvrability, as he did before. They then leaps out the door and takes flight ready to either move against Slab or save the team members in the helicopter.

OOC: Black Hole spends 1 PP to give Gweynyth a d12 for her reaction.
Reactive. Spend 1PP to add a Gravity Manipulation power to another to another character's dice pool before they roll a reaction. If that character takes physical stress, take d6 mental stress

PP=0


This message was last edited by the player at 14:50, Sat 25 June 2022.

"Climbing," Gwenyth dutifully reports. She isn't sure when she had strayed so near the building. And then, all too quickly, there wasn't a building anymore. "Why do they need bombs when they can just do that?! Gosh! C'mon baby climb, climb, cli- eeeek!"

15:02, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 1d10+1d10+1d12 with rolls of 5,5,11.  NO TOUCH.
15:04, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 1 using 1d12 with rolls of 1.  thanks BH.
Total 16! OH NO, WE'RE BEING DIDDLED

A giant. They had a freaking giant on the payroll! Forgotten was the guy with the sonic powers; Tank had to take out the giant before he brought the whole building down on them! Surehe would survive, but Tank's teammates wouldn't. Kate would be squished.

Tank stepped closer to the giant's leg and punched him in the knee with everything he could muster.

Prowess d8
Brains Plus Brawn d8
Godlike Strength 2d12
SFX - Mighty Blow: Spend 1 PP or add d6 to the doom pool to double Godlike Strength for one action.
Combat Exeprt d8

Tank rolled 3,7,1,4,1 using d8,d8,d12,d12,d8 ((3,7,1,4,1)).

Total: 10
Effect: d12
Opps: 2
PP remaining: 3

(Wow, that sucked.)

The helicopter stopped responding the second Slab grabbed hold of it.  Luckily for them, the giant only managed to grasp the tail boom, rather than the cabin, else all of them would have been squashed into paste once he clenched his fist.  The tail section was gone, and the flyers in the cabin had just enough time to make an exit before the metal box plummeted to the ground, carrying the strapped Gwyneth and Johnson along with it...
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:30, Sun 26 June 2022.

Down at the now-exposed basement, chaos broke out when the debris from the upper floors collapsed on top of the heads of Humans and Mutants alike. There were screams and shouts of pain, calls for help from people trapped under the rubble.  One of the scientists, a spectacled woman with a short hair, pursed her lips and tried in vain to pull her broken leg out from under the slatwall gondola - then lifted her head and screamed one last time before the giant tumbled backward after having his kneecap broken by Tank, covering her with his foot.

Looking around, Tank could identify some of the Marauders' clones - not by their looks (they all appeared to be identical, pale mannequin dolls), but by their powers.  The one effortlessly climbing up the walls and leaping outside the basement must be Arclight.   The one who started spinning around himself, sucking the rubble into orbit around his body, was Riptide. That meant that the man with the broken skull lying not far from him was Harpoon, because Scrambler was at his feet, clutching his heel, quickly draining his powers away...

Prowess 1d10, Growth 1d10, Combat Master 1d10, Slabzilla distinction 1d8
Slab rolled 5,2,2,3 using 1d10,1d10,1d10,1d8 with rolls of 5,2,2,3.  Slab reaction
Total 8 vs 10, Slab gains 1d12 physical stress

Prowess 1d8, The eye of the storm distinctions 1d8, Combat Expert 1d8, Living Tornado power 1d10.  Riptide rolled 4,8,4,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8 with rolls of 4,8,4,6.  gathering storm (create asset).  1d10 Asset created

Prowess 1d8, Power Hungry distinction 1d8, Power Drain 1d10, Expert Combat 1d8
Scrambler rolled 5,10,2,4 using 1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 5,10,2,4.  Scrambling Tank.
Total 15, effect 1d8.  Reaction needed against Power drain complication
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:31, Sun 26 June 2022.

"Frick, frick, frick!" Gwenyth PG-friendly curses, slamming the unresponsive controls with childish impotence. "I'm going to owe Shiva so many pizzas!"

Gwenyth pops her seatbelts and helps Johnson with his if he needs it, using her sword to cut them free if necessary. She cracks her whip across the cramped cabin and yanks back a parachute, shoving it roughly into the man's chest. "Get outta here, I gotta make sure this bird doesn't land on an elementary school!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Sun 26 June 2022.

Ana Sofía bails from the helicopter right away, first getting clear of it and the giant. The others have powers to save themselves, but not Johnson. So she watches him to see if she can use telekinesis to help him out.

Seeing Johnson in just such a predicament, diving from the helicopter, she uses her telekinesis to greatly reduce his fall. Gotta take care of the boss.

d8 Wits
d8 One Step Ahead of You
d6 Telekinesis

01:42, Today: Windtalker rolled 6,3,5 using d8,d8,d6 with rolls of 6,3,5.  Save Johnson.

11, with a d8 effect die
This message was last edited by the player at 05:43, Mon 27 June 2022.

Damn it! Tank hated this guy. He yanked his foot away as quickly as he felt the touch, but he still felt the sudden draining of his powers. He gritted his teeth and did his best to resist....


Wits d10
Brains Plus Brawn d8
Enhanced Stamina d8
Combat Expert d8

Tank rolled 5,7,4,4 using d10,d8,d8,d8 ((5,7,4,4)).
Spending 1PP to keep 3rd die in Total.

Total: 16
PP Remaining: 2

Black Hole flew around the stumbling giant to gain a better vantage, "Frack, frack, frack! Someone grab Agent Johnson! I'll try to keep this giant buffoon from doing any more damage!"

Black Hole increases the gravitational pull of the air molecules in a cylinder around Slab so that that the cylinder has the gravitational pull of Jupiter. He intends to entomb the giant in a crushing cylinder of cars and debris but also keep him upright and immobile to limit any further damage caused, even if he falls unconscious.

OOC:
Gravity Control d12
Slab Physical Stress d12
Willpower d10
Unwavering Confidence d8

Black Hole rolled 6,4,6,7 using d12,d12,d10,d8 with rolls of 6,4,6,7.  Debris Tomb!
Total: 13
Effect: d12 physical stress
Opps: 0
PP remaining: 0

Having wrecked the helicopter, the giant looked around the battlefield, looking for his next target.  The mosquito hovering around him was of no consequence - he wasn't powerful enough to slow him down.  'Tank' was right at his feet, but stomping him might end up hurting his own team. The snipers firing at him from the nearby rooftops were also nothing but a distraction.

Got it!!

His eyes finally stopped on 'Windtalker'.  The Telepath.

No more actions from Slab this round, though his intentions are known.
Prowess 1d10, Durability 1d10, Combat Master 2d8, Slabzilla distinction 1d8, Black Hole Mental/Physical Stress 1d8
Slab rolled 4,9,12,6,5 using 1d10,1d10,2d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 4,9,7,5,6,5.  reaction vs Black Hole. Total 16, effect 1d10. Attack resisted.

George, aside from being absolutely gorgeous, was also a very practical man. He knew there wasn't much he could do against Tank, and looking at Hairbag being torn limb from limb didn't warm him to the option of engaging the big cat either.

Time to bail out.  Can't let something happen to that beautiful face of his.

A purplish arm stretched upward into the skies, out of the building, and all the way to the street, where it wrapped itself around a traffic signal pole.  A slight pull, and a jump, sent Gorgeous George flying into the air and out of the basement.  Like a monkey on a tree, he started swinging from traffic light to traffic light, putting as much distance as possible between him and Freedom Force.

The fight seems to be almost entirely out of Hairbag at this point but Kate doesn't take any chances moving to put him down now before things can get any worse before looking to see what other threats might remain down here, all while doing her best not to get stepped on by the giant.

d10 prowess
d4 +1pp in touch with her wild side
2d10 natures response versatile
d8 combat expert
d10 female is more dangerous of the species asset vs hairbag
d12->d10 hairbag stress (sfx dangerous)
d6 sfx dangerous

22:16, Today: Kate Messer rolled 1,7,7,7,2,5,1 using d10,d10,d10,d10,d8,d6,d4 with rolls of 1,7,7,7,2,5,1.  putting hairbag out try 2 as die roller isnt loading.
Total 21 effect d8->d10 spending 1 pp to keep extra die
2 opportunities for watcher, 1 from distinction, 1 pp spent, 1 starting
2pp remaining (corrected for only 1 gained)
This message was last edited by the player at 04:44, Tue 28 June 2022.

Slab was barely standing. Hopefully he would keep for a second while Tank removed the more immediate threat: Scrambler. The first time they'd met, Scrambler had nearly gotten Tank killed. The second time, Tank had evened the score. But the guy refused to give up. Not even in death.

Tank bent over and punched Scrambler in the face. He'd intended to pull his punch to not kill the guy (for a change), but might have pulled it too much.

Prowess: d8
Brains Plus Brawn: d8
Godlike Strength: d12
Combat Expert: d8

Tank rolled 1,2,7,1 using d8,d8,d12,d8 ((1,2,7,1)).

Total: 9
Effect: d4 (default)
Opps: 2
Remaining PP: 3

Whyyyyyyyy??
This message was last edited by the player at 14:13, Mon 27 June 2022.

With Johnson safely on the ground, not that anywhere nearby was really that safe, Ana Sofía can get back into the fight. But she would do it her way. She shoots straight up at 100 mph to 1000 ft. Up there she should be fairly safe while being able to track events. Then she returns her focus to the building and broadens them some. Hopefully Frank won't get nauseous; he's experienced some of it before. But seeing and hearing everything in all directions around you and effectively making walls translucent can still be disconcerting. She's just trying to make herself and Frank aware of everyone else's positions and actions on the battlefield.

Flying up is the only real action. Frank already has the asset. She'll decide on specific targets for round 3.

Black Hole continues to circle Slab looking for an opportunity to strike, though he keeps one eye on the strange purple figure swinging down the street, He'll have to wait, but I should be able to catch him.

"Right you giant schmuck! Maybe a bit more direct this time!"

Black Hole increases the gravitational connection between Slab and the helicopter's four main rotor blades to the point where the pull is irresistible and the four blades are rent from the helo. They streak towards the giant with lethal speed.

Gravity Control d12
Unleash d12 (Unleashed. Step up or double any Gravity Manipulation power for one action. If the action fails, add a die to doom pool equal to the normal rating of your power die.)
Slab's Physical Stress d12
Willpower d10
Combat Novice d6
Maximal Impact d4 + 1PP

Black Hole rolled 1,2,5,5,6,1 using d12,d12,d12,d10,d6,d4.  Close Shave!
Black Hole will spend one PP to add a third die to the total.

Total: 16
Effect: d12 physical stress
Opps: 2
Remaining PP: 0 +1 (distinction) -1 (third die) +1 (opportunity) = 1
This message was last edited by the player at 15:32, Mon 27 June 2022.

Shiva's predictive program was tracking the movements of everyone. It was making calculations in microseconds, predicting movements, attacks, and escapes even just before they actually happened. Then it sent out the arms to act on that information.

The other five tendrils where very busy indeed. One made itself into a hammer shape and slammed into the giant's broken knee. Two, Three, Four, and Five changed into what looked like energy constructs of maces ending in large fists, extended by lengths of chain. They whirled in large arcs, able to catch multiple targets in the area of the basement. Granted they might have some cover from all the wreckage.

Six on the other...hand...shot forth after the stretchy escapee. It will attempt to grab the man, while transmitting his location to Ana's commlink. Sending audio and visual information on the target. It will also speak to George with John's voice.

"Hey! Nice to meet another stretchy guy! Look, you seem a lot smarter than those morons in the basement, so how about we make a deal? You testify against them, and I promise to insure you get better treatment than the rest of those clods. Plus, my fellow agent with Telepathy won't scramble your brain into an omelet. Sound fair?"

He sends a PM to Ana's commlink. You don't need to do anything, but if you could point out I am not making fake threats with a simple telepathic message to this guy, that would be great.

OOC-11:00, Today: Shiva rolled 2,2,4,2,2,24 using d8,d10,d12,d12,d4,7d6 with rolls of 2,2,4,2,2,2,3,2,3,2,6,6.  Spending a point to re-roll with Second chance SFX.

Prowess-d8
Stretching-d10
Asset-d12
Slabs's stress-d12
Essex Black site-d4(+1 PP)
Area Effect SFX-Gets +7d6

Spending 1 PP to add third die.
Total=15
Effect die=d8(Ramrod-Stress), d10(Ruckus-Stress), d12(Scrambler-stress), d12(Riptide-Stress), d6(Arclight-stress), d6(Slab-Stress: Non-lethal if possible), d6(GG-Grapple)

Total PP=0
This message was last edited by the player at 16:06, Mon 27 June 2022.

Even though Kate mangled him pretty bad, Hairbag didn't give up on the fight.  Like a rabid dog, he kept coming at her, limping, spitting, growling - but ultimately, only managing to snap his jaws at the air.  Kate had no choice but to snap the tendons of his legs with her claws to finally render him immobile; it's the only thing that ultimately kept him from continuing his onslaught.


Prowess 1d10, supernatural reflexes 1d10, rabid dog distinction 1d8, combat expert 1d8
Hairbag rolled 5,1,4,3 using 1d10,1d10,1d8,2d8 with rolls of 5,1,4,1,2.  reaction roll vs Kate
Total 9 vs 21.  Effect die stepped beyond 1d12+.  Hairbag is eliminated.

Gwenyth had been in such a frantic rush as the helicopter went down that she hadn't really been paying attention to what she was actually doing. Fortunately it seems that Ana had taken care of rescuing Agent Johnson so Gwenyth could focus on herself once more. She whipped out onto a traffic pole to redirect some of her terrestrial-bound momentum, no doubt giving some passing cars a wonderful upskirt view that they'll remember the rest of their lives.

Looking ahead it seems another person has the same idea! She swings closer. "Hi!" she greets him, cordially. "Federal agent; it's getting pretty dangerous around here so you better get clear of here!"

Scrambler closed his eyes as Tank lowered his fist, while still holding on to his Achilles' heel.  Draining Tank of his powers was the only way he was going to make it out alive (he knew that from experience!).  It was all or nothing at this point.  Luckily for him, the punch missed him by an inch, with Tank finding his arm buried all the way up to his elbow into the floor

Scrambler rolled 8,4,8,4 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 8,4,8,4.  reaction roll vs Tank
Total 16 vs 9. Attack resisted.

Ana Sofía reaches out to Gorgeous George, 'Hey, Gorgeous. I'm the telepath friend. We can track you just fine. You're better off giving up and working with us, especially if you're not one of the ones behind all this.'

Slab couldn't stay standing inside the basement.  Every time he lifted one of his feet he ran into a very real danger of crushing one of his teammates. With Windtalker zooming up into the skies, he lost his primary target as well.  It was time to get a move on.  Get some distance and force Freedom Force to split up.

The giant jumped. The leap carried him a couple of city blocks away, flattening cars like pancakes at his landing.  And to make sure he was followed, he kicked the nearby apartment building for measure, bringing the entire five-story building down with just one blow.

Prowess 1d10, Supernatural Strength 1d10, 2d8 combat expert, Slabzilla distinction 1d8, Black Hole physical stress 1d8
Slab rolled 1,7,14,5,8 using 1d10,1d10,2d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 1,7,8,6,5,8.  reaction to Black Hole.  Spend 1d8 from doom pool to keep extra die. Total 23 vs 16 Attack resisted.  +1d8 to doom pool from Black Hole's opportunities.

Slab rolled 7,4,7,6,5 using 1d10,1d10,2d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 7,4,5,2,6,5.  reaction to Shiva. spend 1d8 from doom pool to keep extra die.  Total 18 vs 15, Attack resisted.

Slab spends his turn causing collateral damage, adding 1d10 to the doom pool.

Shiva's arms tried to wrap around several targets, with limited success.  Arclight was just too strong to be held down (as was Slab). The tornado created by Riptide created so much force it pulled one of his arms into orbit, spinning round and round, forming a band of light around the Mutant. One of Gorgeous George's legs became needle-thin, easily slipping out of his grasp.  The only people he managed to grapple were one of the other nameless Mutants, and, as he soon found out to be a big mistake, Scrambler.

Shiva's arm wrapped went limp the very second it wrapped itself around the power nullifying Mutant's body. What's worse - so did the other limbs too, as the Scrambler drained the power of everything connected to the arm.  The dizziness started to overtake him as his heart started slowing down.  Breathing became harder and harder, every grasp for air a struggle.

Prowess 1d10, supernatural strength 1d10, 2d8 master combat, 1d8 murderous assassin distinction. Arclight rolled 10,9,3,3 using 1d10,1d10,2d8,1d8 with rolls of 10,9,2,1,3.  reaction to Shiva. Total 19 vs 15, attack resisted.

Prowess 1d8, the eye of the storm distinction 1d8, Tornado power 1d10, Combat expert 1d8, Vortex asset 1d10. Riptide rolled 8,7,7,5,8 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 8,7,7,5,8.  reaction to Shiva. Total 16 vs 16, attack resisted.

Prowess 1d8, slippery as an eel distinction 1d8, stretching 1d10, combat expert 1d8
Gorgeous George rolled 6,4,7,5 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8 with rolls of 6,4,7,5.  reaction to Shiva. total 13 vs 15.  Attack successful.  Spend 1d6 from doom pool to remove grappled complication.

Ruckus rolled 2,1,7 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 2,1,7.  reaction vs Shiva.  Attack successful, extraordinary success steps up effect die.  Ruckus gains 1d12 physical stress.

Prowess 1d8, power hungry distinction 1d8, power nullifier 1d10, combat expert 1d8, 1d8 borrowed from doom pool (+1 PP to Shiva): Scrambler rolled 1,4,8,8,1 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 1,4,8,8,1.  reaction vs shiva. Total 16 vs 15, attack resisted.  Spending 1d8 from doom pool for counterattack SFX.  Shiva gains 1d12 power drained complication!
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:33, Mon 27 June 2022.

Like Gorgeous George, Arclight decided to quietly slip away, only with much less flair.  Putting the hoodie of her bathrobe over her bald head, she started sprinting down the street, zigzagging to avoid the sniper fire.

Down at the basement, Scrambler was still trying to drain Tank of his powers, while his teammates were providing cover.  Ruckus' disintegrating sound wave was aimed at Kate this time, not caring much if he ended up melting the Hairbag as well.  The debris hurled by the tornado that was Riptide; broken pieces of glass and wood, were as fast as bullets fired from a gun, and just as lethal:


Ruckus rolled 1,6,6,7,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d6 with rolls of 1,6,6,7,6.  sonic blast.
Total 12, effect 1d10.  Reaction needed from Kate

Scrambler rolled 7,4,6,4 using 1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 7,4,6,4.  scrambling tank, again. Total 13, effect 1d10

Riptide rolled 6,2,4,7,3 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d6 with rolls of 6,2,4,7,3.  area attack vs Tank, Kate.  Total 13, effect 1d10 vs Tank, 1d8 vs Kate.

Tank needed to end this little struggle with Scrambler before it became a major headache, or worse. And now Riptide was getting into the act. Tank really, really hated these guys. He jerked away from Scrambler to break contact, but only barely made it.

Resist Scrambler:
Wits d10
Brains Plus Brawn d8
Superhuman Stamina d10
Combat Expert d8

Tank rolled 8,2,2,4 using d10,d8,d10,d8 ((8,2,2,4)).
Spending 1 PP to keep 3rd die in Total.

Total: 14
PP remaining: 2

Then the hail of debris started to pelt him. Riptide was easier to deal with than Scrambler, but only barely.

Resist Riptide:
Prowess d8
Brains Plus Brawn d8
Godlike Durability d12
Combat Expert d8

Tank rolled 1,3,3,6 using d8,d8,d12,d8 ((1,3,3,6)).
Total: 9
Spending 1 PP to activate SFX - Invulnerability
Opps: 1 (+1PP)
Remaining PP: 2

Shrapnel pinged off Tank's chest like raindrops.

From her vantage point Ana Sofia can ascertain who she considered to be the biggest threat. She needs to take him down before he figure out she's probably the biggest threat to him. She reaches out to Scrambler with her mind, 'Surrender!'

d10 Willpower
d8 Mind Control
d8 One Step Ahead of You
d8 Psych
d6 Enthralling Mind (and step up effect die)

23:07, Today: Windtalker rolled 6,2,3,8,5 using d10,d8,d8,d8,d6 with rolls of 6,2,3,8,5.  Mind Control on Scrambler.

That's 13 with a d12 effect die.

d10 prowess
d8 in touch with her wild side
2d10 natures response versatile
d8 combat expert
X2 to roll for each

21:54, Today: Kate Messer rolled 4,5,9,5,6 using d10,d10,d10,d8,d8 with rolls of 4,5,9,5,6.  resist Ruckus. total 15 vs 12 effect d10 success

21:54, Today: Kate Messer rolled 4,3,5,4,7 using d10,d10,d10,d8,d8 with rolls of 4,3,5,4,7.  resist riptide. total 16 vs 13 effect d10 (spent 1 pp to keep extra die)
2 starting pp -1 = 1 remaining pp

If I do want to spend a pp to turn that d10 against ruckus into an asset do I need to do anything further?


Kate having freshly and permanently tripped up Hairbag was just wondering who should be next when she got one specific volunteer and a second target of opportunity. Of course she felt it would probalby be a bit easier to slip close enough to the screamer than trying to dive into that tornado so as she dove to one side to avoid the scream she already started working her way towards Ruckus, staying in cover as best she could from the shrapnel coming almost randomly from the living storm.  Honestly she figured Tank would just step through it and cold cock him.  'I'll get the screamer' she sent to him just to keep things clear.

"Why are you fighting it?  Just. Give. Up" It wasn't clear if Scrambler was talking to Tank, himself, or both.

Wits 1d8, Power-hungry distinction 1d8, Psych expert 1d8
Scrambler rolled 3,6,5 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 3,6,5.  reaction vs Ana.
Total 11 vs 13. Scrambler gains 1d12 complication (mind controlled)

"Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head. I AM clearing out of here"
He seriously considered taking Gwyneth along with him.  She would make an excellent...hostage
"Need a hand?" he extended one of his to her, while his second one latched to the roof of a nearby building, ready to pull both of them away

"Windtalker, I need you to convince all of them to surrender! Black Hole, Shiva - we need to take the giant out before he destroys the entire neighborhood!!" Johnson started barking orders over the comms once Ana set him safely down on the street.  They needed to act fast, before things REALLY got out of hand. There was already one apartment building knocked down, with multiple casualties. The giant could take down an entire city block just by running through it
"Tank - take down the Scrambler without touching him.  Club him with something.  Agent Blake - go after the runners.  Don't let anyone escape"

Tank picked up a cinderblock from the rubble around him. This was more to protect his hand from Scrambler than to do any additional harm to Scrambler. (His fist was easily as hard as concrete.) He swung the block at Scrambler's head. He didn't want to kill the guy (again), but he was hoping for a one-punch knockout.


Prowess d8
Brains Plus Brawn d8
Godlike Strength d12
Combat Expert d8
Scrambler's Mind-controlled Complication d12

Tank rolled 8,1,5,8,5 using d8,d8,d12,d8,d12 ((8,1,5,8,5)).
Spending 1PP to keep 3rd die in Total.

Total: 21
Effect: d12
Opps: 1
PP remaining: 2

Tank smashed the cinderblock into Scrambler's head, and the result wasn't pretty.  Tank didn't intend to kill him, but even if he did survive he was sure to suffer some brain damage, seeing that some of it was smeared all over the floor.

Prowess 1d8, Mercenary distinction 1d8, combat expert 1d8
Scrambler rolled 3,3,2 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 3,3,2.  reaction roll vs Tank.
Total 5 vs 21.  Effect die (d12) stepped up three times! Scrambler eliminated.   

All of Shiva's remaining arms, as Five has vanished due to the draining, proceeds to smash into Slab over and over.

OOC:

13:56, Today: Shiva rolled 1,5,3,10,1 using D8,d10,d12,d12,d4 with rolls of 1,5,3,10,1.  Second chance sfx.

Prowess-d8
Streaching-d10
Asset-d12
Slab's Stress-d12
Essex Blacksite-d4(+1 PP)

Spending 1 pp for second chance.

Total roll=15
Effect die=Slab(d12)

2 opps

2 PP due to opps.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Thu 30 June 2022.

Gwenyth looks at Agent Shiva's arms and listens to the chatter in her headset and mind. Her smile goes a little lopsided, sheepish even. "Oh, wait, you're one of the Marauders? Sorry, I have to take you in. You seem nice, I suppose you'll cut this girl some slack and some quietly? Pretty please?" She flashes her pretty amethyst gemstone eyes at him.

Focused Wits+Psyche, Mind Control, and Godlike Beauty!
00:58, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 1,6,2 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 1,6,2.  I have two eyes, both beautiful!
00:58, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 3,3,8 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 3,3,8.  Pretty people get along, right?

Totals of 11 and 8 with d8 and d4 effect dice.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:00, Thu 30 June 2022.

"You have to take me in?" George grinned at her, revealing a row of fanged yellow teeth "I'd oblige, but I really don't want your friends joining in on us"
Though he refused, he still held out his hand out for her, in case she changed her mind.

slippery as an eel distinction 1d8, willpower 1d8, psych expert 1d8
Gorgeous George rolled 7,8,1 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 7,8,1. total 15 vs 11
Gorgeous George rolled 7,6,8 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 7,6,8.  total 15 vs 8

Even if Shiva wasn't partially drained he still would have found it nearly impossible to physically harm the giant.  He was just that big, and his skin was as hard as steel.  He barely noticed the arms slapping at him, more interested in seeing how he can cause as much collateral damage as he possibly could

Prowess 1d10, Slabzilla distinction 1d8, Durability 1d10, Combat Expert 2d8, Shiva's complication 1d12.
Slab rolled 1,6,7,9,10 using 1d10,1d8,1d10,2d8,1d12 with rolls of 1,6,7,8,1,10.  reaction to Shiva. total 19 vs 15.  Attack resisted.

In reply to Slab (msg # 109):

Shiva proceeds to do a scan of the giant's body, trying to find a weakspot...

OOC-spending 1 pp to use one of Slab's opps, getting a d10 on my next roll against him.

Ana Sofia is getting really frustrated seeing her friends getting messed up and the bad guys getting killed or nearly so. She's also worried with two of them tearing off into unprotected civilian areas; she's got to save the civilians. She mentally yells out a command, 'Surrender so you don't get killed!!!'

d10 Willpower
d8 Mind Control
d8 Pysch
d8 Densely Populated Residential Area
d6 Enthralling Mind (and step up die)
5d6 Area Attack (Slab, George, Ramrod, Ruckus, Arclight, Riptide)

15:40, Today: Windtalker rolled 10,3,3,6,4,3,2,2,3,4 using d10,d8,d8,d8,d6,d6,d6,d6,d6,d6 with rolls of 10,3,3,6,4,3,2,2,3,4.  Mind control on the lot of them.

That's 10+6=16 with effect dice of d10 on George, d8 on Slab, d6 on Riptide, d6 on Ramrod, d6 on Ruckus, and d6 on Arclight.

Every Mutant halts for just one moment.  Surrender so you don't get killed!!!
Was it really that bad though? Getting killed wasn't the end of the world when Essex can clone a new body for you in a matter of days.  Ana sensed it in their minds - if they caused enough collateral damage, there wouldn't BEa Freedom Force for them to worry about.  They didn't have to defeat Freedom Force to win.

A hella of a lot reaction rolls, but the summary is:
Gorgeous George gains 1d10 mental complication
Slab gains 1d10 mental complication
Ramrod gains 1d8 mental complication
Arclight gains 1d8 mental complication
Riptide gains 1d8 mental complication

Kate hurries to take down Ruckus, given his condition it shouldn't take too much more effort on her part and so she's unusually for her careful not to actually kill him in the effort.  Hopefully she can get him down quickly enough to move on.  From Ana's mental yell things were not all going well.


d12 ruckus stress
d10 prowess
d8 in touch with her wild side
2d10 natures response versatile
d8 combat expert
d10 asset vs ruckus
1 pp

08:29, Today: Kate Messer rolled 1,2,3,10,3,4,1 using d12,d10,d10,d10,d10,d8,d8 with rolls of 1,2,3,10,3,4,1.  takedown rukus.
Total 14 effect d10
1+1 = 2 pp

Gwenyth looks down at the hand Georgeous George is offering. She bites her lip and chews it over for just a second before swinging over, reaching out, and taking it. But then, she adds: "Sorry, the offer is non-negotiable."

With her whip no longer needed to support her she wraps it around George's wrist, binding the two of them together so he can't get away, and then begins working with great speed to tangle him up in the thick braided cord!

d10 prowess, d8 pirate of the cinema, d12 reflexes, d8 Focused swingline+combat!
15:42, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 20 using 1d10+1d8+1d12+1d8 with rolls of 7,6,1,6.  WHIP BONDAGE OMG KINKY.
15:44, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 1 using 1d10 with rolls of 1.  Compulsion to SURRENDER.
The kinkiness of the situation is probably lost on George. Total 13, d8 effect.

Ruckus opened his mouth again, but this time he could barely let a whimper out.  His eyes watered from the pain, just before rolling in their sockets.

1d8 Prowess, 1d8 Rock Your World distinction, 1d8 combat expert,
Ruckus rolled 7,7,7 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 7,7,7.  reaction roll vs Kate.
Total 14 vs 14.  Reaction failed.  Ruckus stress stepped up above 1d12.  Ruckus eliminated.
+1d8 to doom pool from Kate's opportunity.

This message was last edited by the player at 12:04, Sat 02 July 2022.

"Get off him, bitch!"
Ramrod was holding a nasty-looking spiked club in his hand, but instead of smashing Kate over the head with it, he held it up in front of him.  The thorned branches growing out of his shillelagh started moving around Kate, slowly encircling her.  Though they did spurt and extended in an amazing pace (for a tree...) they were still rather slow compared to Kate's catlike reflexes:


Prowess 1d8, Ram-Rod distinction 1d8, Botanopathic Transmutation 1d10, Combat Expert 1d8, constructs SFX 1d6
Ramrod rolled 1,6,1,3,3,1 using 1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8,1d6,1d10 with rolls of 1,6,1,3,3,1.  capturing Kate.  Reaction needed from Kate.  Total 9, effect 1d10 (grappled complication)
This message was last edited by the player at 12:17, Sat 02 July 2022.

The tornado grew in velocity and strength by the second.  It was now growing so tall as to eclipse the height of the entire building.  The scouring vortex sucked the rubble into it, and even Tank would find it hard to escape without something to hold on to.

Prowess 1d8, The Eye of the storm 1d8, Tornado 1d10, Asset 1d10, Combat expert 1d8, 1d10 loaned from doom pool (+1 pp to Tank):
Riptide rolled 8,4,8,2,9 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 8,4,8,2,9.  Tornado complication vs Tank.
Spending 1d8 from doom pool to keep 1 extra die. Reaction needed from Tank:
Total: 25, effect 1d8 (complication effect)

"If you insist"
George's body was like play-doh.  As she reached to bind his hand, he stretched and wrapped his entire arm around Gwyneth's waist like a serpent.

Gorgeous George rolled 4,2,2,8 using 1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 4,2,2,8.  grappling Gwenyth. Reaction needed.  Total 12, effect 1d10. 

d8 ramrod's physical/mental stress
d10 prowess
d8 in touch with her wild side
2d10 natures response versatile
d8 combat expert
2 pp

05:42, Today: Kate Messer rolled 10,6,4,5,8,4 using d10,d10,d10,d8,d8,d8 with rolls of 10,6,4,5,8,4.  resist entanglement.
Total 18 effect d10->d12 1 pp to create asset 'it's the animal kingdom for a reason'vs ramrod
2pp-1 =1pp remaining
Kate was a bit surprised that Ramrod was still fighting, with how poorly he moved he had to almost already be on his last legs and he really should know better at this point.  She closed on him while weaving almost effortlessly around the growing obstacles.

In reply to Gorgeous George (msg # 118):

Gwenyth does not allow her dominance to be questioned and quickly wiggles out of the stretchy grasp. "Don't make me shoot you," she warns. "Or get Tank up here to punch you molecules apart. He can totally punch anything, you know! He can punch the sun!"

13:03, Today: Gwenyth Blake rolled 23 using 1d10+1d8+1d12+1d6+1d10 with rolls of 8,1,7,4,3.  No way, I'm on top!
Total 15!

As Riptide's whirlwind grew, Tank crouched back down onto one knee and punched his arms into the concrete floor in order to gain some purchase. He wasn't sure if it would hold or not...

Prowess: d8
Brains plus Brawn: d8
Godlike Strength: d12
Combat Expert: d8
Riptide's Complication: d8

Tank rolled 5,2,5,7,6 using d8,d8,d12,d8,d8 ((5,2,5,7,6)).

Spending 1 PP to keep 3rd die in Total.
Total: 18
Effect: d12

Opps: 0
PP Remaining: 2

"Alright, alright - I surrender!" George extended his hands over his head, managing to do so even with the rope coiled around his arms.  He could have easily freed himself had he wanted to, but he didn't want Gwyneth to feel bad after trying so hard.  "You got me.  I'm all yours"

Willpower 1d8, slippery as an eel distinction 1d8, Psych expert 1d8
Gorgeous George rolled 4,3,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 4,3,6.  reaction vs Gwyenth (fixed). total 10 vs 11.  Surrender complication stepped up beyond 1d12.  Gorgeous George is eliminated!

d8 ramrod's physical/mental stress
d10 prowess
d8 in touch with her wild side
2d10 natures response versatile
d8 combat expert
d12 asset it's called the animal kingdom for a reason
1 pp
22:13, Today: Kate Messer rolled 11,2,6,9,4,6,8 using d12,d10,d10,d10,d8,d8,d8 with rolls of 11,2,6,9,4,6,8.  subduing
Total 20 effect d10 intentionally not using dangerous sfx


Well he had his chance and he was still fighting so Kate wasn't going to waste time on trying to convince him politely.  Just being careful enough not to kill him outright.  He wasn't like Legion and while haste was important he didn't seem that dangerous to her.

Shiva's scans revealed a full detailed report of the giant's biology. Punching him was not working, especially in John's drained state, but using this information might work. Even his predictive program gave it better odds. All his remaining Tendrils kept punching and striking around the giant's eyes. Mostly uselessly, but it did make it hard for Slab to see what Six was up to.

Six thinned itself out and shot into the massive ear of the oversized mutant. There, moving deep within the skull, it used a device. Shock knuckles-basically an overpowered cattle prod that could be worn on one's fist. While Slab might be impervious from the outside, and inside damage might work better...

ooc-
Doing stress, but keeping it nonlethal.

Prowess-d8
Stretching-d10
Asset-d12
Slab's stress-d12
Previous Opp activated-d10
Area full of civilians-d4(+1 pp)
Resources-d8


07:59, Today: Shiva rolled 2,3,3,11,9,1,6 using D8,d10,d12,d12,d10,d4,d8 with rolls of 2,3,3,11,9,1,6.  Trying to take down Slab.

Spending 1 pp to add die
Total=26
Effect die=d12

1 opp.

Remaining pp=2

This message was last edited by the player at 13:20, Mon 04 July 2022.

The wind whipped at Tank, but he held on... barely. He could feel his feet starting to come away from the floor. If he got caught up in the whirlwind, it might be over for him. He had to act fast.

The last time he tried attacking Riptide in his tornado, he didn't make it all the way to him. But his shockwave attack did. So, Tank skipped right to that. Making sure that Kate was behind him first, he yanked his hands out of the concrete and slammed them together as hard as he could.

Prowess d8
Brains Plus Brawn d8
Godlike Strength 2d12
SFX - Mighty Blow: Spend 1 PP or add d6 to the doom pool to double Godlike Strength for one action.
Combat Expert d8
Riptide's Complication d8

Tank rolled 2,4,4,8,4,3 using d8,d8,d12,d12,d8,d8 ((2,4,4,8,4,3)).
Spending 1PP to keep 3rd die in Total.

Total: 16
Effect: d12

Opps: 0
PP Remaining: 0

Kate was careful not to hurt Ramrod.  Too careful.  Her kick was perfectly aimed, but lacked the power to bring him down even if it did connect with his head. The fact that the cat-woman was playing with her food didn't escape the Mutant's notice.  He tried to encircle her with the thorny vines before, but she was far too quick to fall for that.  So instead, he retreated into the bush himself, using the spiky brambles as a barrier between the two

Prowess 1d8, Ram-Rod distinction 1d8, Botanopathic Transmutation 1d10, Combat Expert 1d8, constructs SFX 1d6
Ramrod rolled 4,10,8,7,4 using 1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8,1d6 with rolls of 4,10,8,7,4.  creating asset: protective vines. total 18, effect die 1d8 (stepped up to 1d10 due to constructs). Asset created successfully.
Ramrod rolled 8,6,3 using 1d8,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 8,6,3.  reaction roll vs Kate. total 14 vs 20.  Effect die stepped to 1d12.  Ramrod gains 1d12 physical stress.

Shiva's idea was sound - Six easily found its way through the giant's ear canal, carrying the cattle prod with it.  The 'zap' did shock the giant - but the combination of his mass, supernatural durability, and thick skull didn't leave him deliberated for more than a couple of seconds.  Angrily, it looked around for the source of his discomfort. He had orders to demolish the city, but right now all he wanted was to squash Shiva like an ant!

Prowess 1d10, Slabzilla distinction 1d8, Durability 1d10, Combat Expert 2d8, Shiva's complication 1d12, 1d10 loaned form doom pool (+1 pp to Shiva)
Slab rolled 10,3,5,8,11,3 using 1d10,1d8,1d10,2d8,1d12,1d10 with rolls of 10,3,5,1,7,11,3.  reaction to Shiva.  Spending 1d10 from doom pool to keep extra die. Total 10+7+11= 28.  Attack resisted.  +1d6 to doom pool from Shiva's opportunity.   

It was hard for Tank to smack his hands hard enough to generate a shockwave that would knock Riptide out when his hands holding on to the floor were the only thing preventing him from being pulled into the tornado.  The sound of one hand clapping wasn't all that impressive, and if anything, he was now at risk of finding himself carried away by the winds.

Prowess 1d8, The Eye of the storm 1d8, Tornado 1d10, Asset 1d10, Combat expert 1d8, 1d10 loaned from doom pool, Tank's complication 1d8 (+1 pp to Tank):
Riptide rolled 1,3,10,6,3,8 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d10,1d8 with rolls of 1,3,10,6,3,8.  reaction roll vs Tank. Total 18 vs 16, attack resisted.
Riptide rolled 4,6,6,3,4 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8 with rolls of 4,6,6,3,4.  Tornado complication vs Tank. Reaction needed from Tank, total 12, effect 1d10

Frowning, Black Hole cast about for something, anything!, with which to topple this damn giant, "Anyone have a beanstalk and an axe handy?"

He flies a ways away and then swoops down, skimming along a mere 10 feet above the road back towards Slab. As he speeds along, he collects debris around him until he becomes a small planetoid of broken cement and smashed cars. He then attempts to crash into the giant's broken knee at his full speed.

Gravity Manipulation d12
Slab Physical Stress d12
Slab Mental Complication d10
Willpower d10
Maximal Impact d8
Combat Novice d6

Black Hole rolled 6,2,1,4,5,4 using d12,d12,d10,d10,d8,d6 with rolls of 6,2,1,4,5,4.  Planetoid!
Spending 1PP to keep 3rd die in Total.

Opps: 1
PP Remaining: 1

Total: 15
Effect: d12
This message was last edited by the player at 21:18, Mon 04 July 2022.

Tank gripped the rubble and tried to hold on in the face of Riptide's Category 5 tornado.

Prowess d8
Brains Plus Brawn d8
Godlike Strength d12
Combat Expert d8
Riptide's complication d8

Tank rolled 2,4,7,6,7 using D8,d8,d12,d8,d8 ((2,4,7,6,7)).

Total: 14

Slab didn't bother stepping out of the way in the face of the flying mass of twisted metal and cement heading his way. His skin was impervious to bullets, and since he himself weighed as much as an apartment building, he wasn't too concerned about the momentum carrying him off his feet.  And he was right.  Even with the busted knee, the giant remained standing after Black Hole crushed into him.  Car parts, cement, and pieces of asphalt ricocheted off his body and into the surrounding buildings, punching holes through walls, shattering windows, and setting every car alarm off in the vicinity from the shockwave.

"My turn"

The pick-up truck was perfect for...picking up.  Next to Slab, it looked like a toy car, and after effortlessly lifting the vehicle he gave Shiva a chance to admire how much bigger it looked up close:

"Catch!!!"


doom pool die stepped up to 1d8 from BH opportunity.
Prowess 1d10, Slabzilla distinction 1d8, Durability 1d10, Combat Expert 2d8, Shiva's complication 1d12/Black Hole physical stress 1d8:
rolled 7,3,3,11,2 using 1d10,1d8,1d10,2d8,1d8 with rolls of 7,3,3,6,5,2.  reaction to Black Hole. -1d8 from doom pool to keep extra die.  7+6+5=18 vs 15, attack resisted.
Slab rolled 6,2,6,16,10 using 1d10,1d8,1d10,2d8,1d12 with rolls of 6,2,6,8,8,10.  hurl a truck at Shiva. Total 18, effect 1d10 (physical stress).  Reaction needed from Shiva.

In reply to Slab (msg # 131):

Shiva calculated the path of the thrown truck, its possible landing point, and what movements where needed to avoid it. As the thrown projectile heading for him, he had to alter his math in the fly in order to prevent civilian losses.

One and Two of his limbs shot Shiva into the air. Three and four formed energy buzzsaw and cut the truck in half. Six, acting in the place of the dispersed Five, formed a large hammer and smashed the doomed vechile to the ground. Mostly so it would not crash into any buildings.

"Your aim is as bad as your fashion sense." Shiva said in response as One and Two swung him down safely to an acrobatic landing.

ooc-reaction.

Prowess-d8
Senses-d12
Asset-d12
Slab's stress-d12
Populated area-d4(+1 pp)
Acrobatics-d8

Spending 1 pp to add third die.

Spending 1 pp to activate previous opp from Slab's reaction against my pervious attack.

Total=21
Effect die=d12

15:55, Today: Shiva rolled 1,5,5,11,3,5 using 1d8,d12,d12,d12,d4,d8 with rolls of 1,5,5,11,3,5.  Reaction vs attack.

1 opp.

Total pp=3


This message was last edited by the player at 20:20, Tue 05 July 2022.

Ana Sofía pushes harder against Slab, Ramrod, Arclight, and Riptide. 'Essex is going down: no coming back as a clone. Surrender now!'

d10 Willpower
d8 Mind Control
d8 Pysch
d8 lowest complications/stress
d6 Enthralling Mind (and step up die)
3d6 Area Attack (Slab, Ramrod, Arclight, Riptide)

16:21, Today: Windtalker rolled 9,3,3,1,2,2,6 using d10,d8,d8,d6,d6,d6,d6 with rolls of 9,3,3,1,2,2,6.  Surrender!
16:24, Today: Windtalker rolled 3 using 1d8 with rolls of 3.  forgot their complications/stress.

That's 9+6=15.

Effect dice:
d6 to Slab to step up complication to d12.
d8 to Ramrod to step up complication to d10 or replace if it goes well.
d8 to Arclight to step up complication to d10 or replace if it goes well.
d10 to Riptide to replace d8.

d6 to Doom Pool.

PP: 0 + 1 (opportunity) = 1

Essex is going down: no coming back as a clone. Surrender now!

As long as they had a good chance of winning, the Mutants saw no reason to surrender.  But as the tide of the battle started to turn they all had second thoughts: dying might very well be permanent this time! Freedom Force were obviously on to Essex.  They knew about this Black Site, which meant they must be aware of the other cloning facilities as well.  The game was up, and none of the mercenaries were paid enough to die

"Screw 'em.  I'm not dying for them" Ramrod was the first to lift his hands over his head.  The howling winds surrounding Riptide grew fainter and fainter, and out in the street the giant Slab returned to his normal size - a bald man barely five and a half feet tall.

"Oh, look, they all surrendered.  Now you can take me to your headquarters and interrogate me? George gave Gwyneth a mischievous look.  He was clearly expecting...something, based on the rumors he heard.

Shiva contacts Ana via the commlinks. Can you make sure they behave even while we are checking for civilian survivors? I don't want to have to beat them unconscious, but I will if I have to.

Assuming Ana answers in the affirmative, Shiva will use his sensors to find any living civilians trapped by the rubble created by Slab. Once he detected them, he would ask Tank, Ana, and Black Hole to help get them free. Using a combination of predictive calculations, his tendrils able to slither through small openings, and Kate in one of her smaller forms.

OOC-Can we assume to just do this with the entire team's help, or do I need to make a roll? If we need to make rolls, can I provide the team with a group asset to help their rolls?

Gwenyth watches as the situation in the streets quiets. She then looks down at the captive George with a raised eyebrow and a somewhat glazed-over expression. "You guys destroyed our headquarters," she states dully. Now that the situation seems under control the weariness at all the destruction is starting to return. "My best friend died in the attack. So don't give me that look."

She sighs and walks a few paces away before tapping the comm-link on her collar. "Is it over?" she asks the team.

Black Hole lands next to Shiva, "Let me know what to move. I should be able to uncover any trapped civilians quickly and safely."

Tank blew out a huge sigh of relief when the wind stopped. He had beaten Riptide before, but it had not been easy. He really wasn't looking forward to doing it again.

"C'mon you," he said. "Let's go."

"Windtalker; make sure none of the suspects have any bright ideas about escaping.  Or any ideas at all for that matter.  Tank, Shiva, Black-Hole; I need you to start looking for survivors"

Slab casually knocked down an entire apartment building, unconcerned about the fate of the people trapped inside.  Because it was late in the evening, all of the families were already sitting down for dinner.  The first causality uncovered by Black Hole and Shiva after clearing some of the debris was the body of a small child, barely six years old.

"Ah yes.  I've seen the movie you guys posted online.  Such a shame" George didn't take a hint, and kept talking as he followed Gwyneth around, still bound by her rope
"Maybe if you make a deal with Essex, they'll agree to resurrect her. There's still time..."

Shiva removes the child's body with his limb, surrounding the tiny form with a bubble. He glares over at Slab, and for a second Six forms a blade. "No...no. Not now." He said, surprising himself.

Harpoon was dead...in a fashion. He had to let that go, but was he always going to keep adding people to this list of people who deserve death? Slab was going to pay for this, but at the moment they had to check for life signs. Then he had to download all the specs on those cloning chambers. He sent Six to do that, as he did not trust the limb to be around Slab right now. He could use the database he saved from the HQ to scan and reference anything that he could recognize.

OOC-Trying to download all tech specs on clone chambers. Assuming that it is, I will roll for it. They seem like very High Tech items. If it is not needed I will just take back any PP I spend.

Wits-d10
Senses-d12
Asset-d12
Tech-d10
Distinction-computer like mind-d8
Resources-d8

Spending 1 PP to add to total

Total roll=24
Effect die=d12

Total PP=2

15:49, Today: Shiva rolled 7,3,11,6,6,3 using d10,d12,d12,d10,d8,d8 with rolls of 7,3,11,6,6,3.  Downloading tech specs on Clone Chamber.

Gwenyth pauses walking to stop and just gawk at George. Her mouth made talking noises but no words came out for a good several seconds. She breaks to massage her temples, eyes shut tight to steel herself against terrible psychic pain. "You... you might be pretty on the surface, but that is an ugly thing you just said."

Distantly she hears Agent Johnson's call to action, and how Gwenyth's name hadn't been included in it. She chews her lip, hesitates, then decides to bite the bullet and taps her commlink. "Is there anything I can do to help?" If she stays in motion she won't have to think the dark thoughts creeping onto the fringes of her mind. But she already knows the answer; there's nothing she can do here.

Tank had watched Slab leap down the street with only one good leg. It gave him the idea that he might be able to do it too. Crouching a bit, he tried to replicate the feat by springing up and away from the ruin... to get to the next ruin, of course. He didn't put everything he had into it, though, and simply found himself up on the street a moment later.

He tried again, this time with a little more oomph. Amazingly, he cleared the entire block. He was going to have to remember this stunt for the future.

Trying not to seem too self-satisfied, he started clearing the rubble.

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 143):

Shiva responds via commlink as he keeps working on removing bodies and downloading tech.

Thanks, Gwenyth. Check for people on the street. They will need help, and if they are all together it will be easier to treat them, especially when the first responders show up. Here's a IR scan of people close by. Just make sure your prisoner behaves himself. I'm not sure if Ana's mind zap effects everybody the same.

For her part Kate settles for taking the various surrendered Mauraders into custody.  Cuffing, zip ties, whatever she needs to do to round them up and keep them in one easy to coral location.  Not yet getting them out of the rubble of the basement, as the last thing she want's to have to do is chase them down.  She will however also work to make sure that anyone who did survive the collapse is accounted for and if necessary receiving treatment.

The last thing she does, is make sure that nobody is thinking or trying to eliminate any remaining information.  Collecting computers, phones, papers and anything else she can suss out as possibly useful and incriminating.

Illya is stunned into silence and inaction by the discovery of the child's body. For many moments he just stares at it. Shiva's movement of the body snaps Illya out of his stupor. Looking around, with tears in his eyes, he sees the others attending to their responsibilities, so Illya quiet mimics them, moving the largest debris with great care. But his actions are robotic.

"Yes; establish a perimeter around the Black Site.  Don't let anyone come near until the police arrive to secure the premises" most people were still too afraid to step out of their houses, but that had started to change.  In fact, a small crowd began to form as he was giving his instructions to Gwyneth.
"Kate; any survivors down at the pit?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:26, Fri 08 July 2022.

The magnitude of the catastrophe became more and more apparent as Black Hole floated the rubble away.  Almost everyone trapped inside the remains of the building died when it collapsed - either from falling from a height of three stories, or from being crushed under the weight of several tons of steel and stone.   Men, women, children - entire families murdered by the nonchalant Slab, who looked upon the rescue efforts with an ever-widening grin on his face.

Ana Sofía keeps pushing her mental influence on these mutants to surrender to make sure they stay that way.

When she sees Tank jumping she comments, "Frank, you're nearly flying. Nice!"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:48, Fri 08 July 2022.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 149):

Shiva records all the data. Six uploads all of its information, and he wisely keeps it out of the loop his other sensors are gathering. Six would doubtlessly kill Slab, which is precisely what he wants. If it was not for Ana, Slab would have fought to the death. Counting on cloned resurrection as an escape.

That being said, he does not trust the mutants to stay cooperative. He contacts the team via commlink once more. However, he does not include Johnson or anyone else. He also makes sure the commlink message will not be recorded for later veiwing.

I have the clone chamber specs. I also have the location of the main Essex black site. No doubt that is where all this tech is coming from. Dont say anything about  the clone chambers. Its need to know, and I dont trust Johnson with tech this powerful. We need to drug these prisoners to keep them from trying to escape.

He moves over to Black Hole, and puts a human hand on his shoulder. "We did all we could. They wanted to blow up the whole neighborhood. Thousands dead. Just remember if you had not been here, many more would have died. We are not perfect, but we do stop the worst of it."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:02, Fri 08 July 2022.

In reply to Shiva (msg # 151):

Illya smiles thinly at Shiva, "Thanks, Shiva. I guess you're right. It's, just, all do different than I expected. Is it always like this?"

«I know, right?» he thought back to Ana Sofia, counting on her telepathy to pick up the response. Tank was trying not to seem so happy at the moment, given their surroundings, but the leaping ability was definitely going to come in handy. He'd seen video of the Hulk doing it, and it was definitely a successful mode of travel.

He moved a fallen section of wall and found another dead body. That knocked the pride right out of him.

This was going to look so bad on the TV news. 'Freedom Force Fails to Protect Civilians!' He could just see it now. Their public support was definitely going to take a hit.



1 XP - every time you worry how your (or the team's) actions might be perceived by the public (or point out why it is important to maintain appearance)

The first to arrive at the scene were the firefighters, who didn't have much to do after Freedom Force rescued all the people still trapped inside the building.  The paramedics who arrived shortly after had Shiva to thank for performing the first triage and treating the more seriously injured.  His assistance in the precious first few minutes undoubtedly saved several lives.

And the last to turn up, after the casualties were evacuated and the danger was over, were the police.  Dozens of officers swarmed around the neighborhood like ants, blocking the roads, containing the area around the pharmacy and the demolished building.  The presence of Freedom Force at the area at that point was redundant, but Johnson made them stay a few minutes longer until he had confirmation that Federal Agents from the Department of Homeland Security are on their way to assume command of the situation.

"Team, gather around" Johnson called all of them.  Though he could talk through their earpieces, he preferred to do it face-to-face.  "An aerial transport will transfer our suspects to Nomans Land.  The facility has been destroyed, but keeping them on a remote island is still the best we can do at the moment.  Tank, Windtalker; I want you to accompany the transport and make sure the suspects arrive on the island without complications.  The rest of you are coming with me back to Washington to wait for further orders"

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 154):

"The restraints needed wont hold them once Ana and Tank leave the area. We will need both of them very soon."He says.

"My scans have revealed the best way to restrain all but three of them via drugged sedatives. George does not breathe or even have any organs. Hairball can resist any drug. However both of them can be restrained in airtight bunkers with machine surveillance. The one exception to drug or bunker prison cell is Slab. His growth renders him immune to both."

One of his limbs produces a holographic image of something that looks like a high tech leg brace. "I'm calling this the Slab Restraint legbrace. It has a shaped charge of several c4 packs combined with an accelerate for burning. If he tries to remove it, it goes off. If he grows or shrinks it goes off. It is fully linked to my sensor array. The explosion will be limited to his injured leg, and the burning will cauterize the wound. It wont kill him, but most likely put him into a coma. It's up to him of it goes off. More importantly, he wont be able to use cloned resurrection as an escape method. He will have to live with one leg, and a gaint who cant walk is of no use to his employer." Shiva sounds very...cold as he clinically describes the device. None of his humor or warmth can be detected.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:22, Sat 09 July 2022.

" President Davis banned the use of sedatives after she was made aware of the inmates' condition in Camp-X. I doubt she would approve of rigging people with explosives either.  But we'll see.  " Johnson was just as apathetic about the ultimate fate of the mutant mercenaries, but he wouldn't do anything without the president's approval.
"Get going everyone.  The FBI will take over from here"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:48, Sun 10 July 2022.

"Shiva, you should take a look at what happened with the two most recent detention centers." At least President Davis wasn't having it right now.

When Johnson reiterates his intent for everyone to move out Ana Sofía says, "Yes, sir. Frank, let's get going."

"I want it on the record that these people will escape any normal holding facility. Even if they just kill themselves.

The data and evidence we have gathered so far suggests whoever is cloning them cant make limitless numbers of host bodies. The current host needs to die first for a new body to be used elsewhere, that's why the kill thier own rather than let them be captured." Shiva points out.

"When that happens, we will have to fight them all over again. Or they will try trigger another mass casualty .

That's why thier cloning lab was surrounded by 1000 of pounds of high explosives. They have no fear at being in the center of such an event. In effect, we are aiding thier future escape and more mass murders by not doing everything possible. Only when they are alive and disabled can they safely be removed as a threat. I have a team of experts trying to find a way to disrupt the clone tech, but I dont know how long that will take. We need to be proactive against the enemy, rather than just reacting."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:56, Sun 10 July 2022.

"These sound like the same arguments I've heard before. And that's what led to murdering so many people, including truly innocent people. Do you have any idea what it feels like to experience the death of dozens or more people at the same time?" Ana Sofía then shifts from more upset to more somber. "Unfortunately, I do have a solution, but I really, really don't like it: I can be the warden. There is no need to permanently sedate people nor set up lethal booby-traps if the prisoners don't wish to escape. They can still live, though imprisoned. I really don't like it, though, because I will essentially have to be stuck there forever myself."

"YOU have a team?" the discussion they started on Mutant containment could wait for a few minutes longer.  What Shiva just said was of a more immediate concern "'clone' technology is classified.  Who exactly is your 'team'?"

In reply to Windtalker (msg # 159):

"Are you sure?" Shiva says to Ana. "It would require you to basically be in the brains of half a dozen or so sociopaths until the new metahuman prison is online. I dont want to put that on you, if there was any other way..." Even as he said it, he knew there was no other way. At least, not one that did not involve drugging or cutting off people's legs. Oddly he was more comfortable with that idea than Ana being stuck in the head of someone who had just brought down a building on 139 people, 40 of them children.

He realized, Ana was suffering more than he was. While he had heard the death screams of all those people, detected thier life signatures suddenly go out, Ana had it worse than him. She had felt their minds and thier terror of thier last moments.

He shook his head. "I will do whatever you want Ana. Thank you. Because you taking them off the combat field."

He contacted the rest of the team privately via thier commlink, once again assuring Johnson and his spies where out of the loop. I know their main base is.

He glanced over at Johnson. "You have problem with this? Fire me. We work out the paperwork after the team stops these monsters once and for all."

He started to walk away, and then paused. "Your first name would not be Richard would it? Because Dick Johnson really suits you." Then he heads for the remaining villians, getting ready to load them on the transport.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Sun 10 July 2022.

They were back to the same old question: how do they imprison the super-powered criminals they were capturing? Ana Sofia serving as Warden wouldn't do the trick, unless she never slept. Was that one of her powers that he didn't know about, or was she just not thinking of that detail?

He was about to ask when Shiva started in with Johnson again. It was getting painful.

"Dude, you've gotta stop," he muttered. Shiva's sensor array would no doubt hear him. "He will fire you."

In reply to Tank (msg # 162):

Maybe. But is it worth working for someone who treats you like crap and gets part of your team killed? Shiva replied via private comlink.

"No" Johnson called out after Shiva.  He has made his decision.  The man left him no choice:

"You disseminated classified information to unknown parties.  I'm not firing you.  I'm arresting you"

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 164):

Shiva ignored him. There where more important matters to deal with then this petty tyrant. If he wanted to use Freedom Force against John, so be it. There was literally lives on the line right now, which mattered more than Johnson's power plays.

Illya whispered into the comlink, "Where's the base? I might be able to get us all there even without a functioning helicopter."

As Agent Johnson's accusations against Shiva escalated, Illya stepped inbetween the two, "That's crazy! You can't arrest him! Let's all just calm down and get back to helping people. Arresting Shiva just helps them! Not us!"

Gwenyth nods and gets to work, dragging George behind her. At some point she throws him down onto the mangled corpse of a mother clutching her child as if to shield it from the inevitable building collapsing on top of them both. "This is what you are party to, George. You enabled this." She admonishes the blood-stained mutant, cold and measured fury in every syllable.

Her dark mood just intensifies as Agent Shiva starts conspiring behind the back of their supervisor. "I don't want to have any part in this," she sullenly replies over commlink, half-covering her mouth with one hand to keep her voice from George.

---

Gwenyth is a little late to the group huddle, arriving just in time to see John and Johnson getting into it again. "Jesus, what did you do this time?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Sun 10 July 2022.

"Listen, boss... the fact is that we need John in the field with us, not locked up," Frank said, hoping to defuse the situation before it exploded. "Besides: we couldn't hold him. Maybe you place him on administrative leave once this Essex crap is resolved?"

"You are missing the point.  Being needful doesn't give you a license to break the Law.  Having superpowers doesn't either.  Or feeling like you have been treated unfairly, or because you think the Law is too restrictive.  That 'fuck-all', 'I'll-do-whatever-I-want', attitude is exactly how we got Magneto on one hand, and Camp-X on the other" both of which he considered abominable for nothing more than their lawlessness

"Change in this country is done by the ballot box.  If we allow this we might as well hand in our badges and let the country descend into Chaos.  It's not up to us to decide which law should be upheld and which disregarded.  Every time we do something like this we override the will of the American people.  Stabbing at the heart of Democracy"

Johnson looked at Shiva once more:

"And I am NOT going to let you do that. You're joining the transport to Nomans Land, Mr. Ohm.  Don't add resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer on top of 'unauthorized disclosure of classified information'"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:10, Mon 11 July 2022.

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 169):

"Why dont you get a warrent, and then charge me after the team deals with an incredible deadly threat to the said democracy you claim to care about? You wont have this system of laws you seem more interested in than actual human lives.

Maybe I can even design my own cell, as we have no place to put the superhumans you want to jail. Now kindly get out of my way, and add whatever crimes you like. We need to go before the enemy sets up another city ending blast, thank you very much!"

Even as he's talking, Shiva's arms are moving and calculating various things. He is homing in on the essex base, making sure he is using his special senses and not standard computer hacking, which could be traced by any computer defense they would normally have. If he could hack into the main computer of that base, he could insure the team gets in without detection.

"... so I am assuming this is not one of those 'yer a loose cannon but gosh do you get results' sorts of situations?" Gwenyth asks, doing a terrible police chief impression. Those sorts of stories always seemed to work out for the best on the big screen, although she feels like she knows how Agent Johnson feels about those movies despite not knowing a single thing about his cinema tastes.

She really isn't sure what to do here, or whose side (if any) to take. Agent Shiva had been butting heads with Agent Johnson ever since he arrived. He is obviously brilliant and motivated and creative, but those aren't exactly federal agent qualities. She has to wonder how he even ended up here. Agent Johnson is obviously some kind of robot or homunculus, but aside from certain personal dealings he has never said anything that didn't make sense to her. Sure, she's pretty dumb, but she's not so stupid as to not realize how stupid she is, and even she's not stupid as to go sharing classified information on the web or whatever. So this whole situation feels really, really strange to her.

She raises a hand. "Umm, so like, plus one vote for 'deal with the people trying to kill us so we can live to argue about this tomorrow?'" she volunteers hopefully. That seems like a reasonable compromise. She's being reasonable, yeah? Yeah! Of course she is! "Please? 'Cause like, I really don't wanna have to fight anyone here..." Except maybe Essex's pet monsters.

In reply to Gwenyth Blake (msg # 171):

Shiva nods, and raises his hand. Two of them, and he turns and says "We only get one vote, Six!" He groaned at the limb, which slowly lowered itself.

There wasn't going to be any vote on this. Johnson was in charge and didn't care what other people thought. This wasn't the ballot box he'd been talking about. Unfortunately, Tank couldn't help but wade back into the debate. This needed to end fast, without Shiva on his way to jail.

"Of course necessity gives us a license to skirt the law," he said to Johnson. "That's why we have rules like 'national emergency'. And given the current state of emergency — having no place to put the super-criminals we're overrun with — perhaps you can show a little leniency to someone who isn't so much a criminal as he is a putz."

He gave Shiva a look that clearly said don't fight me on this.

"No, Agent Guberman.  First, the President hasn't declared a state of national emergency.  Second; the National Emergencies Act stipulates exactly what powers she has during an emergency.  It's not 'skirting the law' if the law already makes allowances for emergencies" he really didn't feel like arguing the point, but he didn't want anyone thinking they were above the law either.  They weren't

"And all of that doesn't matter.  Your friend didn't bother to check the law before he acted.  Or ask for permission, or so much as consult with any of us.  Like it or not, the reality is that he is a Mutant Supremacist of the 'Might makes Right' variety.  Even now he shows no remorse, nor would he let us know whom he shared the information with.  AND you're taking his actions too lightly - just think what would happen if that technology proliferates around the globe.  What that mad man from Latveria would do with it.  Or Putin"

Whether he convinced Frank or not, Johnson now turned his attention back to Shiva:

"John Ohm, I'm hereby putting you under arrest.  You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you" he went through the formality of reading him his rights, even though he didn't have to as a federal agent.

"I suggest you come peacefully. You're not going to make it very far as a fugitive"

George didn't set out to kill little children.  It's not what he wanted.  And as Gwyneth took him to witness the results of his actions, he remained silent, soaking in the sights without cracking any more jokes.  Ultimately though, he rationalized his actions by laying the blame solely at the feet of Freedom Force.  Had they not meddled in the affairs of Essex, none of this would have happened.  He wasn't going to lose (much) sleep over this.

"Boy, I sure am happy I stayed around for this" he whispered to her as the drama unfolded.

Around them, the other Mutants visibly tensed up, sensing an opportunity...
This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Mon 11 July 2022.

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 174):

"You are gonna have to wait on that." John says simply.

OOC-How far have I gotten into hacking into the Essex base? I am using my powers, not the computer.

OOC-Edit for new info

"Ok, Got it." John says, now that he downloaded all the needed data.

On the comlinks, John sends information to the entire team...and not Johnson. "Ok, I got the primary Essex site in England, and one in Brazil. I recommend we hit the England one first, as that one seems to be the source of the tech."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:09, Mon 11 July 2022.

Gwenyth kicks George with the spike of her stiletto boot. She knows it won't actually hurt him. "I figured you would. Don't think I've forgotten about you and your friends." They, specifically, are why she didn't even want to deal with any of this right now. They are the 'threat' part in the 'wait to deal with this until the threat is passed' of her calculation.

Frank had been hoping for a sort of 'wag the dog' approach to the resolution, whereby they'd get the President to declare that state of emergency. But obviously Johnson wasn't going to go for that. With nothing left to say, Frank just shook his head and placed a hand on John's shoulder.

"Sorry, man," he said. "This sucks."

In reply to Tank (msg # 178):

"They are going to kill thousands more. If we don't act now, we are screwed. I will be more than happy to surrender to you after the mission. We don't have time for this nonsense. We will already be down one teammate due to Ana's absence. " John said.

John looked at Ana and paused, and then snapped his fingers. "Wait, I got it! You throw me in the same cell as all of these sociopaths. They try anything, I can be there to deal with it! Ana can go with you on the mission! Its win win! Everybody is happy, even Dick Johnson!"

Shiva then uses the commlink once more, once again keeping any record clear of the transmission, and keeping Johnson out of the loop.

Plus, I can guide you via commlink and attack thier computer system remotely.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:34, Tue 12 July 2022.

Kate had told Johnson about the few surviving scientists down in the site.  "I think we should put even all the dead people on a watch list as criminals because of all the cloning tech."  She added at one point before the giant bitch off began between Johnson and John.

Staying mostly quiet in the background she watched the back and forth with a grim curiosity to see what would happen and how it would end up.  "Um... well I guess that is kind of a solution?"  She finally opines when John comes up with his, 'I'm not stuck in here with you, your stuck in here with me' plan.

Of course she isn't really aware that he's been hiding stuff from Johnson either so she just looks to the asshole in chief.  "So um... how do we deal with the sites in Brazil and England?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:59, Tue 12 July 2022.

Gorgeous George snapped out of a very lively daydream about Gwyneth in a leather corset stomping over him with her stiletto heels to disappointedly look at Shiva:
"Oh.  So he's going to come quietly after all?"

"We're not"
It took a moment for Johnson to realize Kate was referring to real information he did not possess.  Another source of annoyance
"Freedom Force is an American initiative.  We have no authority to operate in England, or Brazil.  We will have to alert the local authorities and let them handle it"

"Oh, um, so back to writing reports?"  She asked, ears drooping a little, and then drooping more as she realizes she won't have John to lean on to help her with them.  Stupid after action reports.

In reply to Agent Johnson (msg # 182):

"I dont suppose those countries have a mutant task force to deal with heavily armed, well funded, powerful mutants terrorists? Nice job...Dick Johnson."


If you give them this time to get away, we may never catch them. Worse, they may kill a whole bunch of the locals in those countries trying to escape. John sends via the private commlink message.

"So... mission over, then? No more Essex-ing for Freedom Force?" Gwenyth asks for confirmation. "Just throw these guys on the trash heap like all the plastic sanitation companies claim to recycle, write our reports, and wait for the next disaster? Just making sure I understand the situation right."

”Hold on Agent Blake.  First things first”  Johnson raised his hand and motioned one of the police officers to approach

”Officers, John Ohm is under arrest.  I need you to escort him to the helicopter leaving to Nomans Land, together with the rest of the suspects”

The young officer blinked, hesitantly looking back at his partner for confirmation.  Both of them recognized ‘Shiva’ from the news, and none were too eager to arrest a Mutant who could easily overpower them if he wanted to.

”Umm…OK?  I mean: Yes, Sir!”

The officer stopped himself before reaching for his handcuffs.  It was pointless, considering Shiva already had six other arms to work with, none of which could be bound.  Instead, his hand rested over his pistol, which would only be marginally more effective if push came to shove.

”Over that way, Mr. Ohm” he signaled while still keeping his distance from the Mutant.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:06, Tue 12 July 2022.

In reply to Officer Brady (msg # 187):

Shiva was more focused on the other Essex mutants, just in case they got desperate and made a break. He would of course take into account the various cops incase they decided to shoot him along with them. Still he moved normally so not to alarm anyone.

The talk of Shiva locked up with the Marauders (murderers!) and not being able to move against Essex because they were located in foreign countries overwhelmed Illya. And the arrest of Shiva was too much, "This is BS!" In a flash, he takes flight, streaking back to the ruins of the Freedom Force HQ at sub-sonic speed.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Tue 12 July 2022.

Johnson waited for Shiva to be out of sight.  It wouldn't stop him from eavesdropping on them, but at least he wouldn't be able to interrupt him in the middle:

"The Feds will look into the data on Essex Servers and find the exact location of the Black Sites.  I'm pretty sure 'Excalibur' can handle the base in England.  If the Brazilian authorities ask us for help, then the President might approve deploying us outside the country.  We will know how it goes in a couple of days"

And as for the suspects:
"Tank, Windtalker; make sure everyone gets to the Island, then meet us back at HQ.   From what I've seen, only the giant is strong enough to swim to shore, and he would find it impossible to do with a broken knee. We can hold them there for a little while longer, at least until he heals.  By that time I hope we will have a better solution for Mutant containment"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:11, Tue 12 July 2022.

By this point Kate had figured out that John was not in fact looping Johnson in, which while she totally could understand did seem like a dick move.  With a sigh she worked through the voice commands to get it to forward all the last message from John to Johnson, at least if John didn't do something to stop that from happening.

"There you go sir.  I think John already found that location stuff for us.  I've um, forwarded it all to you?" She doesn't actually sound that certain but better that more people have it, especially since it doesn't sound like they're going anywhere soon.

"Thank you.  I'll make sure the information is sent to our colleagues in England and Brazil through the proper channels"
Johnson took a quick look at the night skies, but he had no chance to find Black Hole even if it wasn't so dark.
"I'll catch up with you at the helicopter.  I need to update Valerie on everything that happened first"

"Yes, sir," Tank replied. There was so much to say, and so little point in saying any of it.

The Mutant Mercenaries were either in no shape to fight, or without the will to.  They all boarded the aircraft without putting any resistance, save a few quips at the expense of Shiva and Tank.

A short, one-hour flight, took them to Nomans Land Island.  Most of the rubble has been cleared in the last few months, but the prison itself has yet to be rebuilt.  The army base on the western tip of the Island was still very much there, however, and the stone-faced soldiers were all briefed about the arrival of the prisoners before the helicopter ever landed.  There would be reinforcements arriving all throughout the night, carrying heavier weapons like rocket launchers and artillery pieces.  But each soldier knew that if even THAT would not suffice, their command was ready to carpet bomb the entire island to prevent anyone from escaping.

Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that.