"I have one question though. From what I have seen of things, is Manhattan worth saving? Perhaps this Doctor would be doing us a favor? Even Snake Pliskin didn't enjoy that place. I'm not sure I'd even ask for your $24 worth of trinkets back."

Kestrel holds back a laugh, "Umm... Zenith, Escape from New York was a movie.  That isn't really how Manhattan is.  It is actually a very important city.  A major port for trading and the United Nations building is there."  She pulled her smart phone from her pouch and checked for the video feed of the demand by Apocalypse. "Are there any hero teams in New York?" She wondered alive as she followed the rest inside. "There were illusions in it, but the weather was real."

A blush crosses over the nose of the intergalactic grappler, still confused at the odd 'stories' the Earthlings call humans. Such entertainment in her world were all historic dramas, education, or live combat.

"Well then, I guess we need to try and do something. Though this 'Doctor' seems to be expecting exactly that."

“Well Ms. “ agent 9 addresses Zenith,” I am open to other suggestions if you have any. It’s all I can think of because all we know is what he wants.” He shrugs “ sometimes the obvious play is obvious because it’s all you have. “

Converging on the others, the 10' tall, 3-ton mech lumbered forward with a whine of servomotors and a thud of heavy feet.

"What do we do?" it asked.

Agent 9 snaps the brief case shut and lifts it and say” go to New York, see the sites. “ and then with a gesture toward Saber 7 , “or get seen by those seeing the sites “

With a loud roar a large aircraft touches down in the parking lot. “ Ok gang let’s go. Sorry Saber but you exceed the weight capacity of the jet car. I hope you can keep up” With that he pushes the door open and leads the way over to the vehicle and speaks momentarily with the pilot who jumps out and shakes hands with Agent 9 before walking off.

“Come on team, get the Dr and let’s roll time is wasting. “ He jumps into the pilots seat and begins adjusting the controls for the aircraft and opening the side doors.

Rock Star shrugs "I guess were going on a road trip with Agent 9." As he heads toward the craft his ever accompanying music shifts to a classic.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGZ0ntpSx2Y

Saber-7 looked the jet over with a tilt of its mechanical head.  "I kinda doubt it," it responded.  "Guess I'll meet you in New York... in about 6 hours."

Short mechanical 'wings' unfolded from the mech's back and powered up with a slow him.  With a whine of turbine engines, Saber-7 rose up from the ground with a blast of hot air.

Bopping her head to classic, but to her totally new tune, The Zenith watches Saber 7 take off. She is clearly impressed.

Turning to Rock Star, head bouncing to the beat, she asks, "So, who exactly is this secret Asian man?"

Rock Star smiled at Zenith. "Well the song and music was originally recorded by Johnny Rivers as the theme song for a TV show. I think the show had a similar name and was about a daring secret agent. But the song became so popular that Rivers added more verses. Maybe once this is over we can look it up a watch a few episodes."

"I would like that. His music is very good."

She sings along...

"Secret... Asian man, secret... Asian man...."

This message was deleted by the player at 17:46, Fri 10 June 2022.

Kestrel frowned as Agent 9 just started ordering people around, assuming that he was in charge.  This organization was based on democratic processes, yes that was slower decision making but it limited corruption and was more equal.  Authoritarian systems lead to corruption and inequality. The procedure should have been someone asking what others wanted to do.  The foundation was about promoting equality, more openness in decision making, and reducing corruption on all fronts.

Shaking her head, Kestrel dissipated into the air as she flew into the nuclear power plant to find Archer.  Rock Star, Zenith and Saber 7 was going with Agent 9.  And of course there were probably going to be dozens of other heroes gathering at New York as well.  Kestrel decided to stay in Bay Town and help with the recovery process.  During natural disasters, crime always rose and it wouldn't be good to abandon their hometown during this time of crisis.  And that doesn't even address the possibility that New York was just one giant distraction for this Apocalypse and the real strike was happening somewhere else or that New York was one giant trap for heroes.

Sorry folks, for the late involvement.  Life^tm, eh!


Dr Archer was, in fact, on the roof of the laboratory facility.   She'd put together some kind of energy cannon* and had been doing some kind of testing by firing it into the face in the storm ... then reconfiguring it at the array of panels before her, before doing so again.
* that description was wrong, in many ways, but unless you know science like she does, that description will have to do for now.

When the storm suddenly ceased, consternation came across her face.   But she accepted the change in parameters, and began reviewing through data that her experiment had so far collected.
She raised an eyebrow at the arrival of the aircraft in the parking lot.


That is where Kestrel found her ... as they witnessed their colleagues below, entering the aircraft.

Briefed by the windy mistress, Dr Archer sighed and considered, then nodded.
"We have nine days, then, to prepare.   And help our city clean up".
Hitting her communicator, to speak with the others below, she said, "I'll meet you in New York in a few days.  I want to do some research first".

"How are your computer hacking skills, Kestrel", the good doctor then asked her friend.


First think I'd like Archer to focus on, please Ajudicator is doing some internet research to attempt to identify where the hostage message from Apocalypse came from.   It had to broadcast from somewhere, and Archer would use her expansive intellect to find out what she can.

- as a note, I will not move Archer over into the 'Terror in Times Square' thread till she joins her colleagues later.

The location of Dr. Apocalypse's message is brutally evident. The server itself is in South Africa. The website, a simple combination of cgi and javascript, serves the video and then reverts to a logo. The files appear to have been uploaded from an internet cafe in Berlin, security video shows a nondescript man pay for his time with cash, sit at the rented laptop, and follow the instructions on a piece of paper, which include inserting an SD card into the dedicated slot on the laptop, typing some things, clicking a few times, then standing up and leaving. The piece of paper and SD card remained behind on the table with the laptop.

Kestrel shrugged her shoulders as she walked down with Archer, "I am no super hacker, but I am very conversant with computers." The redhead smiled as she joined Archer in the search of where the message had come from.


AFter helping Archer find the trace of the video and follow it back to a cafe shop in Berlin.  She shook her head as it was evident that the Doctor was very careful to make sure he couldn't  be traced back to his base.

"Well, that is as far as we are going to be able to trace the video," Kestrel sighed as the security feed stopped as the man left without revealing himself to the camera.

"Not entirely; but it does get more difficult.
My guess is, that is not the Doctor himself.  But if we can find out that man's identity, we can get some more clues.

Also, there may be markers at the server site in South Africa, about who set up that element up".

If they could find and apprehend some of Apocolypse's minions, they might find some answers via that avenue.



Ok, so continuing ...
Try to ID the man with the laptop:
~ Facial recognition options?
~ Maybe hack security camera's outside the computer cafe, to follow his progress after he leaves?

The server in South Africa:
~ Any payment methods use?
~ does the 'cgi and javascript' programming hint towards any style or academic backgrounds?

Archer knows that Apocalypse has been very careful, and planned well ... but if she can find any threads or leads to follow, thats better than they have now.

Also:  Agent 9,  is he actually a government agent?  is there any way we can tap some law enforcement or investigation options in South Africa or Berlin via him?

It might be possible to track down the man from the internet cafe, given a week or so to work on it. The server account was set up completely on-line using a brand new email address and a gift card (bought for cash at a Wal-Mart). The only real information is that the computer used for the transaction is available for anyone that signs up, in the New York Public Library. Comparing the time of the transactions with the sign up sheet points to one Rusty Obstrusion, who even has a library card obtained a few weeks prior to using the computer.
No, the library card doesn't trace back to anything, either.
The CGI and javascript are basic routines apparently lifted wholesale from the "...For Dummies" series.
Those are good questions about Agent 9.

( OOC I am quite sure Dr. Archer along with everyone else would at least have Agent 9’s cell phone number to get ahold of him )

True, but you've been very quiet about who your character is; and even though our characters have worked together, we players know precious little about him.  So I am asking whether Archer knows whether he is actually a government agent?  And, is there any way we can tap some law enforcement or investigation options in South Africa or Berlin via him?
Otherwise, she's just going to do things her way, without that knowledge.

I'd be happy to spend an Invention Points, as per ...

p39:

When applicable, (GM's option) inventing points can also be expended in order to decipher codes, escape mazes, comprehend unfamiliar equipment, etc. The GM must determine the relevance of brilliant ideas in situations of this sort on a case-by-case basis.

I am hoping that Archer can, in a kind of story-arch-pincher-maneuver, find a way to unlock some of Apocolypses secrets, while the other PCs are dealing with the shit and carnage about to be enacted.
That, at some story-exciting point, she will arrive with some awesome lead or bit of information that gives the team some kind of unexpected, awesome advantage that they might not have had.

Might as well save the inventing point, I really don't have any information that would do as you suggest.

Ok.  Thanks.
So,  (and without judgement; I just want to understand how we are doing this)  does this mean that we are basically just following the structure of the Game Module, without much deviation into other exploration?
If so, I am assuming that we all just need to be in Times Square now?

The game world is being created as we play, so the module is the only thing I've got to act with. Besides, Dr. Apocalypse is designed as thoroughly competent and capable of leaving no traces.

Sure, I understand



Archer nodded.    "Well, I guess there is nothing for us to do here, but to head for Times Square and meet up with the others".

Whether Kestrel decided to join her, or not, Archer booked a flight to New York ... giving her time to swing back by her apartment in St.Petersberg to grab her (constantly ready and packed) travel bag.