Evening news anchor Todd Throman, a handsome talking head as could be expected, reports:
"For the last four days, the entire eastern section of the United States, from the northwest tip of the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, centering on the east coast, has been caught in the grip of a massive storm that is steadily building to hurricane intensity. Already many towns have been flooded and countless fires have been started by lightning strikes. Each day the number of storm related disasters is rising at an alarming rate."
"A far more sinister aspect of the mega-storm is in the way it seems to be affecting the minds of those caught under its constant deluge: Everyone in the storm areas, seems to be suffering from increasingly severe depression, almost hysteria. The results of this are as apparent as they are tragic: Incidents of violent crime have tripled. Students have been rioting in the schools while criminals riot in the prisons. Police in many cities have set up conditions bordering upon martial law; apprehending people for minor infractions and publicly brutalizing any who resist. The reactions of the churches and the various cultist groups were predictable. Since the second day, they began broadcasting that 'God is visiting his judgment upon us' and that this is the predestined end of the world. These broadcasts set off major panics in nearly every city in the eastern U.S. adding to the rapidly escalating hysteria."
"Other groups quickly jumped on this paranoia bandwagon with their own versions of the tempest's causes. Many of these put the blame upon all meta humans. Occasionally, as groups of heroes have helped in emergency rescue operations, they have been attacked by enraged mobs of citizens. The whole eastern United States is becoming a giant powder keg on a very short fuse."

[Secret to Kestrel, The Zenith: The powers of Weather Control or Cosmic Awareness will allow a character to sense that the storm is not a natural phenomenon.]
[Secret to The Zenith: Through Cosmic Awareness, one will know that the hysteria and depression, although it is partially a product of the storm, is rooted in an unnatural, possibly supernatural, source. Attempting to focus Cosmic Awareness on the storm will indicate only that any knowledge concerning the storm is being psychically or supernaturally blocked.]
[Secret to Kestrel: Utilizing Weather Control against the storm can affect about one square mile, and that area reverts back to the storm as soon as effort towards changing the weather lapses.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:38, Sun 29 May 2022.

Sitting in a rather uncomfortable-looking variation of the lotus position atop an oversized pink beanbag, the Zenith opened her eyes, having spent the last half-an-hour communicating with the Cosmic I.

"There is someone, or something behind this storm. Supernatural I suspect. It is well shielded from the I. Also I missed another tournament, curse it."

Unfolding her muscular legs, rolled onto the floor, where she began stretching.

She glanced at whomever might be there in main room.

"I suspect it is making things worth, attacking the psyche of those under it's dark clouds. We should try and look into the cause, interfering with the symptoms only seems to make things worse. Do we know where the I of the storm is?"

Kestrel forms from the very air as she appeared in front of Zenith, panting a little bit as she nodded at the woman, "That makes sense.   The winds are all wrong, something directing them would explain what I am feeling." The storm wasn't a hurricane, but almost as strong, "I might be able to trace the winds to find this external influence," the redheaded heroine offered.  She had been outside trying to blunt the worst effects of the mega-storm around Bay Town, but having very little success at it so far.  This would be better than bashing her head against the wall that was this mega-storm.

"There will be more tournaments," Kestrel smiled at Zenith's compliant at the tall woman as she turned to walk back outside so that she could feel the wind. "If I feel anything, I will call out and we can gather the rest."

Once she is outside, she would discorporate into air and fly up above the city and any interference from buildings.  Floating in the air, she focused on the feeling of the winds and what direction they are flowing, trying to find a direction they are coming from.

Meanwhile, in a very well funded and equipped laboratory,  Doctor Archer worked with a  team of meteorologists, desperately attempting to lock onto the/any lynchpins locations within this 'storm'.
Similarly to what Kestrel was doing on a elemental level, Archer and her team were trying to identify its patterns and map its chaos.

Meteorology wasn't Archer's primary field of knowledge; Physics was. But the storm was acting so unpredictably, they'd called on  her to help them try to understand this situation.


As for the way it was affecting folk, Doctor Archer was neither a psychologist nor a telepath. There wasn't much she could do right now outside of understanding the physical nature of this phenomenon.

The evening news anchor, a handsome talking head as could be expected, reports:
The weather system, now being called The Millenial Storm, has reached a violence and intensity
unsurpassed by anything short of a hurricane. Thundering rain and gale-force winds have forced all but emergency personnel indoors to stay. Those that are left outside; the police, firemen, emergency and
rescue workers, and the metas, now both hero and villain, that assist them, have our gratitude, and our prayers.

The nuclear power plant, situated atop tall riverside cliffs some ten miles inland from the city, has seen many of the area's heroes in these trying times. Groups of heroes exhaust themselves rescuing people from homes not strong enough to face the extraordinary weather, repairing the power grid to keep the lights on in health care facilities, re-directing flooded rivers from the Orphanage for the Blind, or other endeavors to minimize the storm's damage. Once exhausted, some of the groups are allowed a slight respite guarding the power plant. The plant, itself, is fairly secure, even from the storm. This allows the heroes to refresh themselves before returning to the fray. Then, things change.
It starts out as almost imperceptible modulations in the noise and rhythm of the rainfall, so that it almost seems like the heroes can hear human laughter echoing about them. This will grow in diabolical intensity until there can be no doubt that there is, indeed, laughter coming from the storm, itself! Flashes of lightning reveal clouds that have taken on the look of a grim and mocking human face looking down upon them.
The river explodes from its banks, flooding the parking lot of the power plant. The workers, trapped in their cars, call for help. But when any one approaches, the river is back to where it began and the cars are empty. Old enemies appear nearby, flying about in the storm and attacking. As soon as they're approached, they vanish only to reappear farther away. It doesn't take long for everyone to realize that they're not all seeing the same thing!
The face in the stormclouds, which sometimes appears as an entire human body in a long, billowing cape, continues to laugh through it all. He says, "you pathetic worms. Nothing you do will slow my progress, and nothing you can do will save you."
The apparition ignores any attempt to communicate, and if the clouds making up the apparition are disturbed it reforms elsewhere.

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" The Zenith says for anyone near her to hear. She was referencing what the Earthlings called an 'old Movie' but she felt it relevant.

Not overly tall, but still standing out from the crowd in her colorful outfit, complete with large gold and diamond encrusted title belt, her face-paint was clearly designed to survive sweat and/or rain, but her hair was still plastered to her head, and partially in her face.

"This rain better be watering the plants, otherwise I see no value in it."

Clenching her fists, she seriously desired someone, anyone, any-THING to grapple with. Dealing with the symptoms was not her forte, she wanted to face the cause behind all of this unnecessary hardship.

"I wonder if Archer has learned anything?"

She glanced up into the storm ravaged sky to see how Kestral was doing, as this was far more her natural element.

She also half expected to see a cloud of flying monkeys in vests and fezzes.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Sun 05 June 2022.

Agent 9 stepped up beside The Zenith looking up into the storm. His day suit getting damp but otherwise looking like he stepped out of the Taylor’s shop on a sunny afternoon.

“Afternoon Ms Zenith, is your friend still up there? “ he asks in a slightly clipped southern accent as he takes off his dark glasses and puts them in his suit pocket. “How long does she usually leave for do you know? I just ask because I wonder when we need to worry she is overdue”

Kestrel was up in the air, practically invisible and incorporeal in the air as she flowed against the wind, trying to find the source of the wind as she extended her awareness of the air out as far as she could.  She had learned to ignore the illusions, mostly.  The ones where someone was charging her, she still reacted, better safe than dead after all.  Although she was trying to determine if she was being detected up in the air, by how many illusions were directed at her as she flew through the air trying to find the source of the wind.  If she could find the source of the storm, maybe that would lead her to whoever the madman was that was creating the storm.

"I believe so, Agent 9, I certainly hope so." She didn't wish to consider the alternative.

Hard to believe it was but five Earth months ago when she was in her ship, traveling from her home orbiting the star local astronomers knew as UY Scuti to the Grey Lensman Tri-Planetary Open, that the second-hand Filuvian Trans-Modulater in her ship decided to wear out, forcing her to land just outside of Cleveland.

Harder still to imagine it was only three months since she got involved in the battle with the Mole Men, and met the people who has since become her comrades, friends, and to a certain degree, surrogate family.

Since then she had been acclimating, while trying to deal with customer support and get the replacement parts she needed. The best thing about her stay however was that this fragile species had developed some interesting ways to fight, grappling and tussling, hand to hand. She had spent several months training in one of these arts, and rather hoped to find something more tangible than the wind and the rain to try out her 'judo' on. Her master said she had mastered it with amazing speed, but the real test would only be again a real foe. Sparring was all well and good, but real combat was what drove her in life. She sniffed at the roaring wind...
This message was last edited by the player at 16:44, Tue 07 June 2022.

Evening news anchor Todd Throman, a handsome talking head as could be expected, is probably receiving over time pay for this:
". . . as the storm continues."
"For those of you who just joined us, once again this is Todd Throman with a CBS News special report on the continuing eastern United States storm crisis. Our organization received a communication from the person or group that claims responsibility for the storm that has been causing such havoc in the eastern states for the past five days. To insure this was no hoax, we shared the communication to every other news organization. As we were doing so, they were also. After checking the URL we were given, we have decided to broadcast it as we see it for the first time."
"While the connection is set up, let's go over once again, the chain of events that . . . Excuse me for one moment . . . ah, it's ready.
"I don't understand exactly what we are about to see now, other than it's supposed to be a statement
of demands from the group that claims responsibility for the devastating storm that has been raging here for the last five days. Good luck to you all."

In the center foreground of a darkened room is a man in a black costume and cape. His features from the shoulders up are hidden in shadow, but his eyes seem to shine out through the darkness.
He speaks in a low and well-modulated voice:
"I am Doctor APOCALYPSE. I am the author of the tempest that grips the eastern United States in its terrible gauntlet. These are my demands. I suggest that you heed them:"
"In nine days, the Congress of the United States of America will pass a resolution declaring that the island of Manhattan shall be a separate and sovereign state, independent from the United States and deeded wholly and completely over to myself."
"No later than the following day, the President of the United States will sign that resolution into law. In addition, the President will have drafted by that time, and be prepared to sign, a treaty of non-interference with the new state, and with me as its absolute monarch."
"Within three days following this, the government of the State of New York will ratify this law and will initiate procedures to evacuate the island of Manhattan. No later than thirty days after the law is ratified by the New York legislature, Manhattan shall be completely evacuated of all of its current residents. Anyone remaining will be executed."
"If these demands are not met, in strict adherence to the schedule I have stated, I shall destroy a major city of the United States. I will continue to do this every day that you fail to comply with my demands."
"DO not think for a moment that your military or your technology can protect you from me. I am your technological superior. I can defeat you strategically; I can crush you psychically; I can destroy you supernaturally!"
"If you are wise men, then you will let the evidence that I have already shown you be enough; you will let the disasters that have already occurred be the last. To underestimate me would be a terrible mistake. Unfortunately, I do not believe that you are wise men. I believe that most of you will be foolishly skeptical of my powers. For you I have arranged for there to be one additional demonstration of my abilities. You have tasted my supernatural power; tomorrow I will show you something of my technological might. This demonstration will take place at noon tomorrow in the center of Times Square. You may respond to this situation as you see fit. As for the storm, I will end it now.
"You will not hear from me again unless you disappoint me."
A stylized logo fills the screen, indicating Apocalypse.
Refreshing the browser repeats the video (which has, apparently, also been released on TikTok under the user Ap0ca1ypse, who's gathering followers at a remarkable pace).

Agent 9 watches the mech land before turning on his heel and marching into the building. Once there he pauses long enough to watch the current headline on the TV in the lobby before heading back into the lab area.

“Dr Archer, tell me some good news. Like you have a cream or salve or some such that will make this go away. If you don’t have anything I would suggest we move this little gathering of our to New York. That does seem to be the focus of the bad guy who just ID’d himself “

Suddenly the storm just dissipated out of the air, the invisible Kestrel stopped flying as there were no more winds to read anymore. She landed close to Zenith and Agent 9 as her body coalesced, forming out of thin air. "What the heck just happened?  I was up in the air one moment, following the winds back toward their source and the next moment the storm just stopped!" 

She looked between the two other heroes as she waited for an answer, hands on her hips.

For its part, Saber-7 had made little time for confabs or even coordinating with its new-found teammates.  It would answer any calls, of course, but for the most part, it had focused on helping civilians.  Clearing trees, rescuing people trapped in flooded cars, shoring up collapsing infrastructure.  After a few encounters with ghostly opponents - in which it revealed a nasty shoulder-mounted energy cannon of some kind, fired with great light but to no effect - it concentrated on punching any annoying spectres that got too close.

The mech also focused in on rescuing any animals it could, saving them from the storm's effects as possible and corralling them to a safe location.

Several times throughout the trials it bowed its head as if communing with the Earth itself, or in prayer.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:31, Wed 08 June 2022.

Rock Star had been helping out with rescues and anywhere else he was needed. All the while being his normal loud self, various tunes competing with the laughter coming from the storm. He particularly like blasting his newest song, all about peace and love. It had been making a bit of headway on the charts lately which was great. Then this storm had come rolling in and it had been all hands on deck.

He had just dropped off an elderly couple he had rescued from their flooding home when he spotted several of his new found allies when the storm suddenly just ended. Landing a bit away from the others he shrunk back down to his normal six foot size and headed over to join them.

"Heya all."

"Hey Kestral, we got a message from the person behind all of this chaos. One, Doctor Apocalypse. I assume his message was recorded and you can watch it later, but in short he wants possession of Manhattan."

The sudden clearing of the storm seemed very odd to The Zenith.

"Could this whole thing have been an illusion do you think?"

“ no need to wait to see it. It’s all the news is going on about now and probably for the next few days. Filling a 24 hour news cycle isn’t always easy but this will go awhile. “

Agent 9 slips some clean undies into his brief case as he speaks to the group. “ I don’t think it was an illusion, in my experience illusions don’t leave debris in the parking lot” he nods toward the window and grimaces. “ I still say we need to get to NY and see if we can get a line on this guy even if the good Doctor remains here looking for answers. “

"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.