Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9 Chapter 9 Subject: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 19:52:50 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011465 >On Sat, 8 Nov 2003 06:40:20 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011448 > >>On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 23:59:43 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011446 >> >> "_If_ we can undo the Equation's damage, and _if_ Darkseid and >>Suli are both amenable, it should work. It's the best I have, short >>of turning the entire Northeast into a giant Fire Pit from >>collateral damage. After our last encounter, though, I think it has >>a good chance of working." > >"Actually," Zia says in an aside to Eric, "I think Defender's >strategy is likely quite sound." Eric can discern her discomfort, >though her voice gives not the slightest sign of it. Eric acquiesces immediately. At least openly. ^Ziactrice?^ he asks privately from mini-lens to her true Lens, the unspoken 'are you all right?' obvious in his tone. >"I think Suli is one of my shadow-selves. That makes it quite >possible that the damage is, as you guessed, much deeper than merely >psychic levels. I also think it would not be a good idea for me, >reality-tinkerer or not, to directly change anything to do with her. >Bit too close for comfort, y'see." Defender carefully remains neutral. For all the good it does him in a room full of empaths. [Damn,] he thinks emphatically. >"I promised that Kanto fellow a duel, though I chose non-fatal terms. >That'll give him choice of weapon and place. He won't betray me; it >would ruin his victory, but some of those lot are slimy enough to try >something directly afterward - or during if they can be sneaky enough >he won't catch on. Is anyone else good at Hot LZ Extraction, aka >teleporting? I'd like to arrange a fast getaway. I might have a >chance of beating him, but it isn't a sure thing. I can keep him >darned busy a while, however, which is worth it." Eric looks unhappy as he shakes his head no. Meanwhile, Roland frowns. /"My teleportational skills are not what they used to be,"/ he admits reluctantly. /"The Third Key incident left me changed."/ He concentrates. A streak of blue and gold lightning zooms across the room in the blink of an eye, clearly not as fast as Orchid but still an impressive display of superspeed. Roland gasps, then smiles distantly. "Thanks, Dad," he whispers. The look on his face is wistful -- the price was too high -- but he clearly missed his speed powers quite a bit. Then he's all business again, as Zia and AJ47 go over evac plans. /"Good. Now all that's left...we need to find a way to heal Suli. Morgan, I know you can handle physical healing, but any aspects of the damage other than psychic will be more primal and spiritual. Do you think you can cover that side of it?"/ /"As long as the damage isn't _too_ severe,"/ Morgan replies. Roland nods, pondering. /"What about the mental damage?"/ /"Sorry, honey, not exactly my strong suit,"/ Morgan says. /"When you were injured on Epsilon III, after facing the Destroyer/Malice thing, I could only heal your body and Sil could only heal your mind, so we had to work to..."/ /"...gether,"/ Sil quips with a patient smile. She's leaning back, head leaning back into one hand, the other hand phasing through the table as she plays with her new body's powers. Defender, Earth(-9)'s Most Powerful Hero, leader of two epic ultra-powerful teams, slowly and deliberately facepalms. /"I think I can undo the damage caused by the Anti-Life Equation's method of 'resurrection,'"/ Sil says slowly, considering the problem with clear deliberation. /"I wouldn't mind having James around, but unless you marry the man,"/ she adds with a wink for Zia, /"a woman only gets to meet him once in her lifetime. It's some kind of rule."/ She quickly becomes serious again. Roland nods. /"Okay, team, looks like we have a plan. Except for team members keeping specific targets busy -- Dhyrclhanc with Darkseid, Zia and Kanto, the Starspawn and the Cosmic Weapons -- bait and switch, stick and move, don't let their forces get a bead on you long enough for them to figure out what we're up to. Darkseid values rigid order and discipline."/ Roland manages a mostly wicked grin. /"We're going to show him the power of chaos."/ (OOC: Two minute warning. Comments are welcome, but once everyone's ready [and Roland gives the NPC teams their marching orders] it's time for Round Two! 8^) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 23:46:50 -0600, In alt.callahans Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011466 >On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 19:52:50 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Post # 00009141 > > Roland nods. /"Okay, team, looks like we have a plan. Except for >team members keeping specific targets busy -- Dhyrclhanc with >Darkseid, Zia and Kanto, the Starspawn and the Cosmic Weapons -- bait >and switch, stick and move, don't let their forces get a bead on you >long enough for them to figure out what we're up to. Darkseid values >rigid order and discipline."/ Roland manages a mostly wicked grin. >/"We're going to show him the power of chaos."/ > (OOC: Two minute warning. Comments are welcome, but once >everyone's ready [and Roland gives the NPC teams their marching >orders] it's time for Round Two! 8^) Uh ... Have you got a *deep* hole for non-combatants to crawl into? Something like Slaver Stasis maybe? If not, can I borrow one of those Weapon-Shop guns? I'm not particularly chicken mind you; I just ain't very ... protected. Going up against what most would consider gods, just doesn't seem to be something to contribute to longevity for those of us with merely "mortal" attributes. And I don't think having a tiny bit of empathy quite qualifies me for going toe-to-toe with even minions. I feel like an ant in a foot-stomping contest with elephants. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 22:33:09 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011467 >On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 23:46:50 -0600, In alt.callahans >Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011466 > >Uh ... Have you got a *deep* hole for non-combatants to crawl into? >Something like Slaver Stasis maybe? Roland smiles fondly and pats one of the HQ walls. /"Will this do? Orchid can run quite a bit of the island herself, but unless Mageddon or Solaris decides to hit Champions Island with both barrels, the main dome will be quite safe. And frankly, if either of those two un-worthies has enough free time to do _that,_ anyone who hasn't retreated through an X-Window back to the Place should have hir will up to date."/ Defender's face suddenly becomes very, very determined. /"It is not going to come to that, however."/ Reality listens to the Champion's tone, gulps, and nods in nervous agreement. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Dark Storm Rising (V.2.5)(Flashback) On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 14:04:26 -0600 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011468 >On Sun, Oct 12th, 2K3 "Roland X" writes... >>"Dhyrclhanc" wrote... >>>"Roland X" wrote... >> >> Ah, that old "Technology is Magic" shitck from "M:TA", I >>understand now. > > OOC: Well, actually, I don't rule that _all_ technology is magic >on Earth-9, but UNTIL's backers are the former Technocracy, so they >can deal with that stuff. Gotcha! ;^) > OOC: Well, it doesn't really matter whether he landed in the drink >or not; Kalibak could easily get back out again if he did. The point >is that he was fighting Obsidian after Roland's psi-blast. So he's on >the field. However, I know what to do with him anyway, so it's no >sweat. 8^) Hey! As long as he'll get what's coming to him, I'll be happy. >>>Can you say "Hulk Smash?" Ah knew thet yew could. 8^) >> >> "Hulk Smash." Nope, just doesn't come out right. >>The intonations are all wrong. > > LOL! Glad you enjoyed it! > OOC: Yeah, the "flying subs" are able to launch. The forces of >Apokolips aren't _that_ good. 8^) Man, I loved the Voyage to the >Bottom of the Sea series as a kid... Q: "What's on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, today?" A: "Why it's the Voyage to See What's on the Bottom, of course." Of course, that means that the flying subs should enter the fray real soon now. I'll try to write something up. Soon. Realy. >> I'm partial towards either John Byrne or Dale Keown, but >>that's me. > > OOC: Well, as long as Byrne is only _drawing_ and not _writing,_ >I'm cool with that. ;^) As for Keown...you're welcome to your >opinion, sib. I just know that I don't want Defender drawn >Image-style _ever_ again. (That was the one thing from C:NM that was >an unqualified disaster. What an abomination...ugh...) But Sib, tell me how you really feel... Anyway, Byrne was a big influence on how I learned to draw, so I had to include him, and it was Dale Keown's art on the Hulk that got me interested in old Jade Jaws again. However, YMMV, obviously. BTW, I know less than nothing about John Byrnes writing skills, or lack thereof. So, I'm not accomplished enough, for lack of a better phrase, to make any kind of judgment there. >>Either way the initial moments of the battle went something like >>this... >> >> Several Minutes > ^^^^^^^^^^^^ > > OOC: WTF? I take it you mean seconds... Err... Yeah... That's the ticket. Sure everything below happened within the several seconds before Darkseid tried to initially lay the hammer down, as it were... ;^D >>The beams from the oversized staff-like Kirby-tech weapons >>immediately impacted upon the rock, easily vaporizing at least half >>of the stone's mass. What makes the Omega Beams so insidious is the >>fact that they actively search out their targets and are, at least >>in part, consciously guided by Darkseid to do so. However, for the >>moment at least, Dhyrclhanc was nowhere to be seen, so the Omega >>Beams also were spent on the stone reducing whatever had been left >>of it to a cloud of so much atom-sized ash. > >The High Lord sighs. "So. You wish to play games, do you?" *If you knew as much about me as you seem to, "My Lord", You'd know that one of my roles is that of the Trickster. >>Dhyrclhanc's mental voice could be heard. from behind Darkseid >>Dhyrclhanc's hope was that he could at least knock the New God off >>of his aero-disc but if he actually does damage, he figured he could >>be happy with that, too. >> >>The fire-balls, BTW, (each) do about three times the damage as if >>Darkseid was trapped in an exploding warehouse full of chemical >>explosives. Not that I expect this to make that much of a difference. > Darkseid merely smiles, and simply allows the blasts to strike him >-- just to prove that he couldn't care less. > When the explosion abates, the only evidence that Darkseid was >even attacked is the single wisp of smoke rising from him. > "The teleportation stratagem was ingenious. However, if that is >your mightiest counter-stroke, this battle will require even less of >my time than did my victory over your commander." [I just evaded _his_ most powerful attack and the only complement he and pay me was that I was being "ingenious"?] Dhyrclhanc thought to himself, if he had more time, I'd consider the fact that it was _he_ that has teleported, and that (for once) he hadn't relied on either the C-bands or his Magickal Green Lantern Ring. He was, however, battling against Darksied, the New God and High Lord of Apokolips and even he didn't have time for such thoughts. > And Darkseid vanishes with a loud BOOM. > He reappears directly over Dhyrclhanc's head, aero-disc nowhere to >be seen, and silently comes down with both clubs to perform an >overhead smash on the Big Guy's forehead (the lens being the >bull's-eye) that could turn a mountain into powder. Interestingly enough, the Lens was one of the few things that were still visible while Dhyrclhanc was in this "new" version of the ring-construct powered armor. (URL link: http://spider.nji.com/~mgerster/Nazca Powered Armor.gif Mind the wrap) > (OOC: You may want to move. ;^) Good Idea! Excellent Suggestion, In Fact! While Darkseid was still high-up in his free-fall, Dhyrclhanc looks up, a portion of the armor's face-plate opens up and a cone-shaped gout of flame completely encompasses the High Lord from Apokolips. Dhyrclhanc burns a portion of his Life-Force, adding the energy to his firey-breath, making its intensity rise to the point where it was 150% hotter than if Darkseid had 'ported into the heart of an active volcano That's Shift X in MSH terms Then, while Darkseid was still in free-fall (presuming, of course, that he does survive the "heat") he heard Dhyrclhanc say, aloud, "3X2(9YZ)4A" and multiple rivulets of yellow-gold lightning ran down the outside of Dhyrclhanc's armor. This tapping into the Speed Force was something else that Dhyrclhanc had learned how to do from Roger, if this actually was the Speed Force he was tapping into and not just some emulation of the same thing he was doing with his Magick and/or Psionic abilities. The most irritating thing about it, however, was the fact that he was somehow sure that Roger had originally learned this from him, in the first place. But so empowered, Dhyrclhanc was easily able to step aside in time and avoid Darksied's piledriver attack, leaving streamers of lightning behind him in the air. When Dhyrlhanc was stopped again, the giant Gamera construct flowed back into Dhyrclhanc's ring. When that was done, Dhyclhanc held his hands shoulder-width apart from each other, his fingers outspread, and a series of additional lighting bolts leaped across the distance between them, quickly creating a cylindrical wall composed of electricity between his two hands. By the time, Darkseid climbed out of the large crater he made when he impacted with the ground, Dhyrclhanc had "flash-boiled" ambient atmospheric gasses into a mass of highly-charged, super-hot plasma. Dhyrclhanc opened his hands into a dish-like shape, sending two plasma bolts at the Lord of Apokalips, each one 5% of the temperature of the surface of a Sol-type star. MSH Terms: Shify Y intensity Then, if Roland hadn't called the cease-fire the Lensdragon would've followed up with a force bolt, but instead he grumbles to himself and sends to Lightray *About time you finally showed up, Sollis.* his mental voice reflecting his emotional state. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 01:30:27 -0600, In alt.callahans Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011469 >On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 22:33:09 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Post # 00009142 > >>On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 23:46:50 -0600, In alt.callahans >>Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011466 >> >>Uh ... Have you got a *deep* hole for non-combatants to crawl into? >>Something like Slaver Stasis maybe? > > Roland smiles fondly and pats one of the HQ walls. /"Will this do? >Orchid can run quite a bit of the island herself, but unless Mageddon >or Solaris decides to hit Champions Island with both barrels, the >main dome will be quite safe. And frankly, if either of those two >un-worthies has enough free time to do _that,_ anyone who hasn't >retreated through an X-Window back to the Place should have hir will >up to date."/ Defender's face suddenly becomes very, very determined. >/"It is not going to come to that, however."/ > Reality listens to the Champion's tone, gulps, and nods in nervous >agreement. Sounds sturdy enough. If not ... I'm not sure even an X-window will be far enough from here. Slaver Stasis would be ... uh ... *safer*, but what if nobody ever came back to turn the thing off? Ick. There is such a thing as being *too* safe. Being woke up a million or a billion years later .... Well ... Best wishes go the combatants ... for what little they're worth. And ... Could I get one of those Weapon's Shop guns ... Just in case?. Maybe the place itself won't be trashed; but you never can tell about minions. The only other weapon worth the name I have is a three-foot sword ... and my expertise with that is execrable striving to be miserable. I can manage to swing the thing fairly reliably without chopping any of my own limbs off; and might do damage to an opponent if he/she/it stood still like a tree. Other than that .... Well, it's a nice sword, and sharp enough to shave with. Thankfully I do have *some* experience with aimed weapons though. I'm not "sniper" quality; but can usually hit pretty close to the center of a target, even if the target is living, moves, and is some distance away. I might be a rabbit; but I'd rather be a rabbit with teeth. Just in case, you understand. I'd rather stay OUT of underfoot of those more competent though. Still ... One can never tell who might be useful. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 02:30:27 -0800 Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00011470 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 01:30:27 -0600, In alt.callahans >Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011469 > >Well ... Best wishes go the combatants ... for what little they're >worth. And ... Could I get one of those Weapon's Shop guns ... Just >in case?. Maybe the place itself won't be trashed; but you never can >tell about minions. The only other weapon worth the name I have is a >three-foot sword ... and my expertise with that is execrable striving >to be miserable. I can manage to swing the thing fairly reliably >without chopping any of my own limbs off; and might do damage to an >opponent if he/she/it stood still like a tree. Other than that .... >Well, it's a nice sword, and sharp enough to shave with. "Certainly, Step this way." ^Roland, You, Sil, and Morgan are needed over here Too.^ Fuzzy leads the way toa 8 foot Cubical Crate, Sitting in an out of the way corner... One outer wall is folded down at a 4 foot height, To Provide a Work Table... On the Table the is a Box 1 foot Square by 2 foot long. "Ok, Place your hands on the 'Prints' one on each end, The Top will open, You may then take Your Energy Weapon and Holster, The Top will Close 30 Seconds after it Opens." "Defender, If you want to send the Box, To a local Military or Special Ops Unit, When we are done with it Here..." #Skylord, Come over her as well, You and the Mini-Cons will need a Enhancement.# "And you wanted a Quantum Shield Generator, Lets Step around to the Far side..." ^Morgan, Sil Step inside the Crate while everyone is distracted, There is a Small Device on a Table, And a set of Usage Instructions, It is Tuned so that only You Two working together, Can Activate It, If Necessary Touch Suli with the Business End, And Activate, The Manna Wave Guide is woven from 2 Grams of 20 angstrom Wire, Solidified Essence, The Link Breaker Spell I've Used Before, At an Ampitude Beyond Any I've Tried, Will Effect the Single Target, If the Darkness Device has an Active Link to Suli, And is Defending that Link, This is the Only Way I Know to Cut it, Without The StarDragon's Personal Effort...^ Fuzzy opens that side Showing a Bank of Four Vending Machines. @ Pulling a Level on the First Machine, Fuzzy Collects a Smallish Tool type Box. Opening the Box, Reveals a Golden Hexagonal Amulet 1.5 inches Flat to Flat, And Six Compartment with <1/2 inch Colored Gems in them. The Amulet has Seven Sockets The Center one filled with a Black Gem "Only if the Same Person is Touching Both the Gem and The Backplate, Of the Amulet can you Mount or Dismount any of the Gems." "You should Take it that Using More than the Gems Supplied, With Each Amulet is Dangerous..." "The 2 Grey Gems Are Quantum Scramblers, One Shields The Body but Not Equipment, Two Shields Body and Equipment." "The 3 Deep Blue Gems Supply a Kinetic Flight Field, This is Not Dependant on Aerodynamics, One Gives Speeds Less than Mach 1, Two Gives Speeds Up to about Mach 20, Three Willl allow anyhting Up to 'C'." "The 2 Turquise Gem Supply Life Support, One Supplies Life Support in Space and All Normal Enviroments, Two Supllies Life Support in All Enviroment Know to Me." "The 1 Red Will give Near Kryptonian Strength and Toughness." "The 2 Green Provides Mystic Shields, One is good for Common Spell Amplitudes, Two will even Block Deific Power Levels." "The 3 Yellow Gems Provides Defences, One Provides Physical/Kinetic Shields, Two Adds Energy, Three Adds Mental/Spiritual, You can still reach out from Inside, And Establised Link Devices, Will still Work..." "The Black in the Center Shields the Power Source, If you remove that and Amazo Copies it, The Data Bank where Krytonian Powers are Stored will be Destroyed. Exposure to less that 24 hours per year Should, Not cause any Noticable Radiation Damage to Non-Kryptonians, ...The Power Core is Gold Kryptonite..." #Skylord You and The Mini-Cons, Will want Amulets with, Two Grey, One Deep Blue, One Green, Two Yellow, And you may want to Trade the Black, For Either a Deep Blue, or a Green, However if You do, Remember not to Approch, Any Allied Kryptonians.# "If Amazo Copies any, Red or Yellow Gems His Image of Oan based Powers Will Be Destroyed, and Grey will Destroy his Image of StarSpawn Powers." ^Roland I also have a Small Piece of X-Kryptonite, In Reserve, If it is Really Needed.^ "The Second Vending Machine, Provides small SubSpace Inverters, (hang one on your belt...) Open it Up and Push the Green Button, That Sets the Destination to your Current Position, Press the Red Button under to Clear Cap, And you will return instantly to your Recorded Location, These are Not Limited to One Universe, If not used too often, or If Used With a Good Life Support Package, These are Medically Safe." "These last two can Work with CadCam Definition Files, On Flash Cartidge, or CyberPsi Link, Though the Results are Less Reliable." "The Third Vending Machine. Provides Projectile Munitions, It can Duplicate most Samples Provided, It can Also Duplicate Clips as Required." "The Fourth Vending Machine, Provides Energy Munitions, Duplicating and Charging, Most types of Energy Cartridge." >Thankfully I do have *some* experience with aimed weapons though. I'm >not "sniper" quality; but can usually hit pretty close to the center >of a target, even if the target is living, moves, and is some >distance away. "Well, That Weapon may be able to Assist, Your Aim if you have a Clear Enough Focus on Your Target." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 16:02:35 -0600, In alt.callahans Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011471 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 02:30:27 -0800 >Fuzzy Said As CAoL Post # 00009144 > >Fuzzy leads the way toa 8 foot Cubical Crate, > Sitting in an out of the way corner... > >One outer wall is folded down at a 4 foot height, > To Provide a Work Table... > On the Table the is a Box 1 foot Square by 2 foot long. > >"Ok, > Place your hands on the 'Prints' one on each end, > The Top will open, > You may then take Your Energy Weapon and Holster, > The Top will Close 30 Seconds after it Opens." Thanks. *Frank looks at the amazingly _flat_ weapon, then realizes it has extensions to make it shoulderable, if wanted. At first it seems a bit awkward and light after handling military rifles. A peep through what looks like iron sights reveals an adjustable telescopic-view of some kind with magnification that at first appears infinite ... and then becomes obvious that while the amplification setting *is* almost infinite, the resolution actually blurs out past about 30 times magnification ... more like putting too much power enhancement on a very small telescope than "digital" blurring. Cute. He figures some kind of energy-objective that would probably be about two to three inches in diameter ... about right for a small rifle scope. It's also obviously image-stabilized in some manner ... It reacts to his thoughts of where to look, and a reticle appears when he wants it.* *For a second, Frank turns bright red at the thought he hadn't checked for a safety ... and then realizes with a mentally-controlled weapon there isn't any desire or need for such. No fumbling the safety on when needed in a hurry, or worry about it needing to be off when put away. Only the matched user can activate it, and only then when aimed at "authorized" targets. IOW, enemies or practice targets.* Obviously, this will take some practice to get used to. Someplace around this place must be a practice-range that he presumes will take Weapons' Shop discharges without damage. On thought, and examination, perhaps that's unneeded. A "practice mode" seems to be one of the settings, with variable power from light-spotting to full standard discharge. Just a normal practice range after all. There doesn't seem to *be* any settings on the shield. It must be full automatic, or perhaps no automation needed. The latter seems more probable, considering the source and type. >^Morgan, Sil Step inside the Crate while everyone is distracted, > There is a Small Device on a Table, > And a set of Usage Instructions, > It is Tuned so that only You Two working together, > Can Activate It, > If Necessary Touch Suli with the Business End, > And Activate, > The Manna Wave Guide is woven from > 2 Grams of 20 angstrom Wire, Damn. Frank wonders if any of that is available for ... other purposes. A sharp edge .... No, better not. Too bloody dangerous to the user if not trained extensively. Never mind. >"The 2 Grey Gems Are Quantum Scramblers, > One Shields The Body but Not Equipment, > Two Shields Body and Equipment." Take 2 I guess, since won't use blue or green. >"The 3 Deep Blue Gems Supply a Kinetic Flight Field, > This is Not Dependant on Aerodynamics, > One Gives Speeds Less than Mach 1, > Two Gives Speeds Up to about Mach 20, > Three Willl allow anyhting Up to 'C'." Take 1. No ... Have to pass ... Need three yellow. ;-{ Don't plan on going much of anywhere anyway. Besides, don't want to have to avoid Kryptonian allies. >"The 2 Turquise Gem Supply Life Support, > One Supplies Life Support in Space and All Normal Enviroments, > Two Supllies Life Support in All Enviroment Know to Me." Take 1. >"The 2 Green Provides Mystic Shields, > One is good for Common Spell Amplitudes, > Two will even Block Deific Power Levels." Take 1. No ... Will have to pass on that one. Same reason for not taking deep blue. >"The 3 Yellow Gems Provides Defences, > One Provides Physical/Kinetic Shields, > Two Adds Energy, > Three Adds Mental/Spiritual, > You can still reach out from Inside, > And Establised Link Devices, > Will still Work..." Take 3. An empath is particularly vulnerable to Mental/Spiritual attacks. Didn't think of that before ... Wonder why? Gonna feel a bit blind, with that blocked though. Well, better than turning overly sympathetic to the enemy in the middle of a fight. >"The Black in the Center Shields the Power Source, Need that (of course). If I counted right, that's 7. >"The Second Vending Machine, > Provides small SubSpace Inverters, (hang one on your belt...) > Open it Up and Push the Green Button, > That Sets the Destination to your Current Position, > Press the Red Button under to Clear Cap, > And you will return instantly to your Recorded Location, > These are Not Limited to One Universe, > If not used too often, or > If Used With a Good Life Support Package, > These are Medically Safe." Take 1 ... Have to figure out where to set the return. Ain't really no "safe" place. >"The Fourth Vending Machine, > Provides Energy Munitions, > Duplicating and Charging, > Most types of Energy Cartridge." I understand the Weapons' Shop devices are self-powered? >>Thankfully I do have *some* experience with aimed weapons though. >>I'm not "sniper" quality; but can usually hit pretty close to the >>center of a target, even if the target is living, moves, and is some >>distance away. > >"Well, That Weapon may be able to Assist, > Your Aim if you have a Clear Enough Focus on Your Target." Thanks. Don't feel *quite* so much like a slowly moving target. Cannon-fodder maybe. But then, There are no guarantees when it comes to a fight. Often a foot-soldier can do things a tank cannot. I'll *try* not to be a "dead hero". ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 14:58:10 -0800 Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00011472 "@ Oh yes, I almost forgot, If anyone wants to Bait Amazo into Assimilating, Some Poison... I also have this Old Weapon...@" "@Weapon Details: The Weapon is a Belt Computer, About the size of a pack of 100 3"x5" Cards, Second only to a True Quantum Computer, It Returns The Least Applicable Response, To any Question, In time this would drive any Computer Catatonic, And when you disconect it, A Worm (Planted first thing) Scrambles the Memory Registers, Then Starts Wiping anything The Computer Trys to Access.@" "@Between that and Boobytraped Amulets, Amazo will be in Serious Trouble... If he goes Down Altogether, Get the Body into Isolation ASAP, Until someone can Cleanup its Motivations Stack, And Reset from there... I'm sure there is a Data Backup somewhere.@" ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 16:10:35 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011473 >On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 19:52:50 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011465 > >>On Sat, 8 Nov 2003 06:40:20 -0800 (PST) >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011448 >> >>"Actually," Zia says in an aside to Eric, "I think Defender's >>strategy is likely quite sound." Eric can discern her discomfort, >>though her voice gives not the slightest sign of it. > > Eric acquiesces immediately. > At least openly. > ^Ziactrice?^ he asks privately from mini-lens to her true Lens, >the unspoken 'are you all right?' obvious in his tone. ^Heh. Figures you'd be able to see through me better now.^ Zia replies - which in itself is as close as Eric's ever heard her admit to not being completely all right. ^Do you have difficulties with displays of public affection, or might I get a hug? I could use one...^ >>"I think Suli is one of my shadow-selves. That makes it quite >>possible that the damage is, as you guessed, much deeper than merely >>psychic levels. I also think it would not be a good idea for me, >>reality-tinkerer or not, to directly change anything to do with her. >>Bit too close for comfort, y'see." > > Defender carefully remains neutral. For all the good it does him >in a room full of empaths. > [Damn,] he thinks emphatically. Zia sighs. "No need to wince so. I wouldn't have volunteered the information if it were still painful to simply discuss the subject. And the healers who attempt this _might_ benefit. If I didn't... well." Very uncharacteristically, she even hesitates a moment before adding quietly. "Shadows aren't perfect duplicates; the parallel isn't perfect. Nevertheless, great caution should be taken during healing Suli. If a webwork of, for lack of a better term, cracks are in the fundamental regions where brain begets mind, there is a untoward chance of explosive fractionation from differential pressures once healing begins to take - er." "To put it simply," she continues with as much neutrality as she can muster, "healing the upper mind and psyche might loosen the lower faultlines into giving way and breaking apart, earthquake-like." > /"I think I can undo the damage caused by the Anti-Life Equation's >method of 'resurrection,'"/ Sil says slowly, considering the problem >with clear deliberation. /"I wouldn't mind having James around, but >unless you marry the man,"/ she adds with a wink for Zia, /"a woman >only gets to meet him once in her lifetime. It's some kind of rule."/ Zia blushes - no, not Roland's TM Blush. Zia's starts at her cheeks and trails well down past her collarbones under her armor. In fact, Eric might lose a second or three while speculating on just where this astounding blush might finally end. /"If James has rules, I can't tell, Sil, but he is recovering from battling Dr. Doom. However,"/ Zia presses on quickly, as her blush deepens, /"Eric is avail - er, here. That should work about the same." > Roland nods. /"Okay, team, looks like we have a plan. Except for >team members keeping specific targets busy -- Dhyrclhanc with >Darkseid, Zia and Kanto, the Starspawn and the Cosmic Weapons -- bait >and switch, stick and move, don't let their forces get a bead on you >long enough for them to figure out what we're up to. Darkseid values >rigid order and discipline."/ Roland manages a mostly wicked grin. >/"We're going to show him the power of chaos."/ "Eric, if you wish to Second me, I'd be honored - if you wouldn't be of better use with the Sneak Healers, that is. I can always ask another Lensman for backup, too." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 19:46:48 -0800 Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00011474 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 16:02:35 -0600, In alt.callahans >Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011471 Hey Frank did you want to Subscribe to the Lists? >>On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 02:30:27 -0800 >>Fuzzy Said As CAoL Post # 00009144 >> >>"The 2 Grey Gems Are Quantum Scramblers, >> One Shields The Body but Not Equipment, >> Two Shields Body and Equipment." > >Take 2 I guess, since won't use blue or green. What you've got is a Case that hold the Set, One Amulet and the Listed Gems, Any that you don't use at this time you should store in your Pack, You may want to change the In Use Set later, The Full Package is Yours to Keep. So lets read the Take Statements as Installs. >>"The 3 Yellow Gems Provides Defences, >> One Provides Physical/Kinetic Shields, >> Two Adds Energy, >> Three Adds Mental/Spiritual, >> You can still reach out from Inside, >> And Establised Link Devices, >> Will still Work..." > >Take 3. >An empath is particularly vulnerable to Mental/Spiritual attacks. >Didn't think of that before ... Wonder why? >Gonna feel a bit blind, with that blocked though. >Well, better than turning overly sympathetic to the enemy in the >middle of a fight. Active "Perceptions" can reach out from the Inside, Only Passives will be Nulled for you, Just Make the Effort... >>"The Second Vending Machine, >> Provides small SubSpace Inverters, (hang one on your belt...) >> Open it Up and Push the Green Button, >> That Sets the Destination to your Current Position, >> Press the Red Button under to Clear Cap, >> And you will return instantly to your Recorded Location, >> These are Not Limited to One Universe, >> If not used too often, or >> If Used With a Good Life Support Package, >> These are Medically Safe." > >Take 1 ... Have to figure out where to set the return. >Ain't really no "safe" place. How about The Place? >>"The Fourth Vending Machine, >> Provides Energy Munitions, >> Duplicating and Charging, >> Most types of Energy Cartridge." > > I understand the Weapons' Shop devices are self-powered? Yep. For the Full local Year until they Disolve. >Thanks. >Don't feel *quite* so much like a slowly moving target. >Cannon-fodder maybe. >But then, There are no guarantees when it comes to a fight. >Often a foot-soldier can do things a tank cannot. >I'll *try* not to be a "dead hero". Good those are not much Fun. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Swords and requiems On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 20:43:40 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011476 >On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 19:12:56 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011464 > >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011463 >> >> [Lana] looks at the lady knight with mild curiosity. "You are one >>of Roland's friends." It isn't exactly a question, but it isn't >>exactly _not_ a question either. > >Ziactrice feels her eyes widen in surprise to be recognized - in full >plate armor and helm - with only her eyes to be seen. This is a woman >of surpassing keeness of mind it is painfully clear. Zia does her >best not to smooth over her own hesitation. OOC note: Lana does not specifically recognize Zia as Zia. Somehow, she knows that the lady knight is connected to Roland, but not much more in terms of specifics. >"I am honored to fight under his command." Zia doesn't quite agree >but tries to make it seem so; she is unsure of Roland's feelings >toward her. She hopes Lana failes to not the slight dodge. Lana smiles gently (though she cannot hide her sadness entirely). "Roland can have something of a temper. Please, do not take it too much to heart; he wears his heart on his sleeve. Something he picked up from his mother's side," she explains with a faint chuckle, "with the exception that he had little use for Aeon's formalities." >"If it please you, I would own myself a friend of the family." Zia >adds, quite formally - and sincerely. Lana nods in acknowledgement, the smile becoming a touch stronger. "I am honored. Though the Prides are no longer the driving force of Eternal culture, mention my name, and you will be welcome in any proper Aeon Society demesne." Mrs. Phoenix is being formal, but sincere. It is an odd thing to mention at a time like this...unless she is worried that her guest might need such patronage. The smile fades away. >> She takes the sword carefully, accepting the hilt with one hand, >>then slowly cradling the blade with the other. "Thank you," she says >>simply, bowing formally. (Yes, with the saber still carefully >>balanced in her arms.) > >Zia returns the bow, with about two addtional degrees of deeper to >signal her respect, before withdrawing with the honor guard. Lana notes the added depth with slight surprise, a faint shadow of the previous smile returning. Then, the formalities complete, she lingers a moment to show gratitude beyond what ritual can express, then returns to the gathering of family and friends. >"You can hammer a blade until it is razor-sharp >and in seconds it can blunt. [...] > >Let go, when your work is done. >That is the Way of Heaven." An elegant choice of .sigs, IMO. -- A Lady of Pride Sharakai We are all immortal that have been loved. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Dark Storm Rising (V.2.5)(Flashback) On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 21:19:07 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011477 >On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 14:04:26 -0600 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011468 > >>On Sun, Oct 12th, 2K3 "Roland X" writes... >> >>> "Dhyrclhanc" wrote... >BTW, I know less than nothing about John Byrnes writing skills, or >lack thereof. So, I'm not accomplished enough, for lack of a better >phrase, to make any kind of judgment there. OOC: Byrne is responsible for a truckload of continuity flaws in both the DC and Marvel universes -- most famously, the Superboy-less post-Crisis Legion and the Vision mess over in Avengers. His writing, both plot and script, tend to be rather pedestrian, with the exception of the occasional Elseworld. Byrne does better when he doesn't have to worry about backstory. He also tends to be...hard...on female characters. Not body-in-refrigerator hard, but hard. OTOH, I'll grant you that he's quite an artist. >>>The beams from the oversized staff-like Kirby-tech weapons >>>immediately impacted upon the rock, easily vaporizing at least half >>>of the stone's mass. What makes the Omega Beams so insidious is the >>>fact that they actively search out their targets and are, at least >>>in part, consciously guided by Darkseid to do so. However, for the >>>moment at least, Dhyrclhanc was nowhere to be seen, so the Omega >>>Beams also were spent on the stone reducing whatever had been left >>>of it to a cloud of so much atom-sized ash. >> >>The High Lord sighs. "So. You wish to play games, do you?" > > *If you knew as much about me as you seem to, "My Lord", >You'd know that one of my roles is that of the Trickster. > >>>Dhyrclhanc's mental voice could be heard. > > from behind Darkseid Darkseid snorts in...derision? Amusement? Some combination of the two, it would seem. He prepares a verbal riposte, but... >>>*THAT was your first mistake, "Prince Uxas", not realizing that the >>>turtle moves!* >> >> The eyebrow goes up a fraction. "Eh?" >>>The fire-balls, BTW, (each) do about three times the damage as if >>>Darkseid was trapped in an exploding warehouse full of chemical >>>explosives. >> Darkseid merely smiles, and simply allows the blasts to strike >>him -- just to prove that he couldn't care less. >> When the explosion abates, the only evidence that Darkseid was >>even attacked is the single wisp of smoke rising from him. >> "The teleportation stratagem was ingenious. However, if that is >>your mightiest counter-stroke, this battle will require even less of >>my time than did my victory over your commander." >> And Darkseid vanishes with a loud BOOM. >> He reappears directly over Dhyrclhanc's head, aero-disc nowhere >>to be seen, and silently comes down with both clubs to perform an >>overhead smash on the Big Guy's forehead (the lens being the >>bull's-eye) that could turn a mountain into powder. > >Interestingly enough, the Lens was one of the few things that were >still visible while Dhyrclhanc was in this "new" version of the >ring-construct powered armor. > >(URL link: http://spider.nji.com/~mgerster/Nazca Powered Armor.gif >Mind the wrap) OOC: Cool armor! What ficton is it from? >While Darkseid was still high-up in his free-fall, Dhyrclhanc looks >up, a portion of the armor's face-plate opens up and a cone-shaped >gout of flame completely encompasses the High Lord from Apokolips. OOC note: Darkseid didn't have a "high-up" in "free fall." He appeared, at most, ten feet above the Big Guy's noggin. >Dhyrclhanc burns a portion of his Life-Force, adding the energy to >his firey-breath, making its intensity rise to the point where it was >150% hotter than if Darkseid had 'ported into the heart of an active >volcano That's Shift X in MSH terms Darkseid looks...disappointed. He doesn't have the time to say 'is that the best you can do?', but it's written all over his face. >Then, while Darkseid was still in free-fall (presuming, of course, >that he does survive the "heat") OOC: You _are_ joking, right? There aren't many kitchens Darkseid has to stay out of. ;^) >he heard Dhyrclhanc say, aloud, "3X2(9YZ)4A" and multiple rivulets of >yellow-gold lightning ran down the outside of Dhyrclhanc's armor. ...which is good timing for the Ruby Fire Lensdragon, since the whistling Kirbytech mass weapons are mere inches from his skull as he does so. >This tapping into the Speed Force was something else that Dhyrclhanc >had learned how to do from Roger, if this actually was the Speed >Force he was tapping into and not just some emulation of the same >thing he was doing with his Magick and/or Psionic abilities. > >The most irritating thing about it, however, was the fact that he was >somehow sure that Roger had originally learned this from him, in the >first place. OOC: ROFL!!! Good one! (Though Wrinkle has a headache... ;^) >But so empowered, Dhyrclhanc was easily able to step aside in time >and avoid Darksied's piledriver attack, leaving streamers of >lightning behind him in the air. The aerodisc slides back into place under Darkseid's feet a moment later, allowing him to land. Given the height the disc arrives at, Darkseid apparently was ready to hit or miss equally... >When Dhyrlhanc was stopped again, the giant Gamera construct flowed >back into Dhyrclhanc's ring. When that was done, Dhyclhanc held his >hands shoulder-width apart from each other, his fingers outspread, >and a series of additional lighting bolts leaped across the distance >between them, quickly creating a cylindrical wall composed of >electricity between his two hands. Darkseid doesn't turn. Instead, his eyes flare, and the two weapons turn brilliant red. They're charged with the Omega Effect! >Dhyrclhanc opened his hands into a dish-like shape, sending two >plasma bolts at the Lord of Apokalips, each one 5% of the temperature >of the surface of a Sol-type star. Darkseid responds by throwing the Beta Club and the Mega-Rod _behind_ him, almost casually, a similar weapon as long as both combined appearing in his hands exactly as the two smaller ones leave them. He starts in mild surprise as the plasma bolts strike -- and he actually _feels_ it. Not enough to hurt much, but there was definitely an impact. "Better," Darkseid replies with a deadly grin. Meanwhile, the two bursts of power flash _through_ the plasma bolts, so the first time Dhyrclhanc sees them, they're right in his face! (OOC: Sib, I'm not even going to try to rate a character that's Kryptonian-class by MSH rules. Let's just say the weapons are fast, and if they hit the Big Guy, they hurt. Shields go boom, but use up a blast as they do so.) Since I doubt we're killing off everyone's favorite Lensdragon at this point, after this exchange is complete Darkseid holds up his new weapon. "As an ally of New Genesis, you may have wondered at the name of Kalibak's weapon -- the '_Beta_ Club.' This is the Alpha Mace." The deadly grin returns, more gratified than ever. "'Club' lacks a certain style, would you not agree?" Then he charges at the dragon. As the two are engaging once more, Roland loses it, and Darkseid becomes...distracted. (From here, we know what happened... ;^) -- Darkseid "Power does not come from force alone. Power comes from superior control of superior force." -- Uxas of Apokolips (No, not from a comic; I just made this up. ;^) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 21:57:49 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011478 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011465 > > Roland nods. /"Okay, team, looks like we have a plan. Except for >team members keeping specific targets busy -- Dhyrclhanc with >Darkseid, Zia and Kanto, the Starspawn and the Cosmic Weapons -- bait >and switch, stick and move, don't let their forces get a bead on you >long enough for them to figure out what we're up to. Darkseid values >rigid order and discipline."/ Roland manages a mostly wicked grin. >/"We're going to show him the power of chaos."/ Rob looks up from fiddling with his bracer, taps a code on the keypad, and is rewarded with a six-note tune. "Almost ready to go. I just want a minute or two with an aerial view of where the fight's going to be." Then he turns his attention back to the conversation he was having with Kell and Erindrea. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Plan? There's a plan? On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 22:08:38 -0800 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011479 >On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 01:11:06 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011447 > >Harlock finally puts away his lute. "All very well and good, but who >are we considering to be my expected foe? I'm sure Marivale would >appreciate a rematch with Kanto, and I suspect the Furies will >happily pile on Kell and Rob again; but what of Erindrea, Veren, and >myself?" Patrick looks up. "Do you require assistance with the Furies? I am a fair swordsman myself, and I think I can help draw some of the fighters away from the rest of your group." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 22:53:31 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011480 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 02:30:27 -0800 >Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00011470 > >"Defender, > If you want to send the Box, > To a local Military or Special Ops Unit, > When we are done with it Here..." Defender nods with a grin. "Thanks, Fuzzy. I think UNTIL's got their weaponry situation covered, though." >"And you wanted a Quantum Shield Generator, > Lets Step around to the Far side..." Roland nods again and follows. >^Morgan, Sil Step inside the Crate while everyone is distracted, > There is a Small Device on a Table, > And a set of Usage Instructions, > It is Tuned so that only You Two working together, > Can Activate It, > If Necessary Touch Suli with the Business End, > And Activate, > The Manna Wave Guide is woven from > 2 Grams of 20 angstrom Wire, > Solidified Essence, > The Link Breaker Spell I've Used Before, > At an Ampitude Beyond Any I've Tried, > Will Effect the Single Target, > If the Darkness Device has an Active Link to Suli, > And is Defending that Link, > This is the Only Way I Know to Cut it, > Without The StarDragon's Personal Effort...^ Sil whistles. ^That's some toy. I'm handling the psychic aspect of this, so...Morgan? Are you good?^ She gestures at the device. ^Yeah, I think so,^ Morgan replies. ^We touch her with this, it breaks any connection she may have with the Anti-Life Equation. Then we clean up the ALE's mess.^ Sil grins wryly. ^In other words, you understand the magickal patterns of this thing about as well as I do.^ Morgan grins back and nods. ^Okay, point and click, that's pretty straightforward regardless.^ >"Only if the Same Person is Touching Both the Gem and The Backplate, > Of the Amulet can you Mount or Dismount any of the Gems." Roland nods. >"You should Take it that Using More than the Gems Supplied, > With Each Amulet is Dangerous..." "Okay, important safety tip, don't cross the streams," Roland quips semi-seriously. A handful of peanuts materialize above Defender's head, then obey the law of gravity. >"The 2 Grey Gems Are Quantum Scramblers, > One Shields The Body but Not Equipment, > Two Shields Body and Equipment." "I'll take that action," Roland replies. >"The 1 Red Will give Near Kryptonian Strength and Toughness." "Solitaire and Sil will take one each," Defender says with finality. /Oh?/ Sil asks pointedly but with humor in her projection. /Don't bother, I know that tone,/ Solitaire says fondly. /There's no point arguing with it, and he knows it, having been on the receiving end./ Sil sighs good-naturedly. >"The 2 Green Provides Mystic Shields, > One is good for Common Spell Amplitudes, > Two will even Block Deific Power Levels." "I'll take one, just in case Amazo has Zatanna's powers. Sil will take two." /What about Morgan?/ Sil asks. /She has to be able to _use_ magic,/ Roland points out. And hears a juicy New York raspberry in his head. >"The 3 Yellow Gems Provides Defences, > One Provides Physical/Kinetic Shields, > Two Adds Energy, > Three Adds Mental/Spiritual, > You can still reach out from Inside, > And Establised Link Devices, > Will still Work..." "Two each all around, I think, unless the red gems make them redundant," Defender decides. He doesn't look happy with their inability to take the third gem, but considering the major work will be on the mental/spiritual level, that would be problematic. /Or if they'll interfere with my phasing,/ Sil adds. /Good point,/ Roland concedes. /That leaves Sil with one slot and Morgan with three. Ladies?/ /Oh, we _get_ a choice?/ Sil comments archly -- but still lovingly. /I'll take a gray gem -- I don't want Amazo Xeroxing me. That Would Be Bad./ /Ah...good point number two. I'll add one of those to my arsenal,/ Morgan adds. /I'll take a couple of the deep blues. That kind of flight speed could come in handy./ Roland 'nods' mentally in approval. /Good call./ >"The Black in the Center Shields the Power Source, > If you remove that and Amazo Copies it, > The Data Bank where Krytonian Powers are Stored will be Destroyed. > Exposure to less that 24 hours per year Should, > Not cause any Noticable Radiation Damage to Non-Kryptonians, > ...The Power Core is Gold Kryptonite..." Defender smiles broadly. "You know, I was about to ask for Gold Kryptonite..." His smile fades as he glances over at Endymion, who is comparing notes with Orion. "...erm." /Fuzzy, Aurora, Nemo, would one of you do a more complete scan than I can manage on Endymion? He's the only Kryptonian-ish hero here, and he's not actually from Krypton -- I think -- but I want to be sure he's not going to be at risk from the Gold K./ (OOC: Endymion is not vulnerable to any sort of Kryptonite. Rather, he is a human who has developed powers according to that archetype. His strength is approximately equal to the Golden Age Superman's at that worthy's height -- he can shove continents and medium-sized moons around, but most planets are too massive. And yeah, I'd thought of Gold K OOC, too. 8^) Roland breathes a heavy sigh of relief. /Well, _that's_ good to hear./ >"If Amazo Copies any, > Red or Yellow Gems His Image of Oan based Powers Will Be Destroyed, > and Grey will Destroy his Image of StarSpawn Powers." "Well, hopefully, between my cosmic shields and the grey gems the only things Amazo will be imprinting are fist-shaped dents on his body," Defender quips with more confidence than he feels. >^Roland I also have a Small Piece of X-Kryptonite, > In Reserve, > If it is Really Needed.^ ^Whoa. Anything worth doing is worth going whole hog on, huh?^ Roland notes, a bit leery of the prospect (hmm...of being that powerful? Interesting). Then he chuckles. ^Though I shouldn't be surprised that the cat has the X-K on hand. Streaky wouldn't be one of your ancestors, by any chance?^ >"The Third Vending Machine. > Provides Projectile Munitions, > It can Duplicate most Samples Provided, > It can Also Duplicate Clips as Required." Eric perks up. "Ah. Excellent." He pats his duster. "Most of my weaponry is custom now, and ammunition issues can be 'fun' at times." The Hunter restocks, to boggles from most of the non-Callahanians & non-Champions (and anyone else who wants to boggle at the sheer amount of weaponry he can apparently store on his person without supernatural assistance 8^). "Giga-rad," Hachi-Mara Two chuckles. "I've known street samurai who can't carry that much even with cyberlimb holdout pockets." "It's just careful planning," Eric says with a shrug. "Says our favorite obsessive-compulsive," Quantum quips. Eric grins back, much to the Champions' surprise. "That's obsessive-compulsive _perfectionist,_ thank you." The Champions boggle even more than the others did. "Was that a joke? Did the Hunter just make a jo-mmph," Quantum asks, stopping as Seeker gently lays a hand over her mouth. "Don't jinx it," the martial artist replies, looking around as if he expects the ceiling to cave in or something. ;^) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 00:20:18 -0600, In alt.callahans Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011481 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 19:46:48 -0800 >Fuzzy Said As CAoL Post # 00009147 > >>On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 16:02:35 -0600, In alt.callahans >>Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011471 > >Hey Frank did you want to Subscribe to the Lists? I suppose I'll almost *have* to .... I seem to be drawn into this, even though I intended to be merely an observer. Sometimes you don't have a choice, I guess. ;-{ Don't know as a non-super-hero type would be all that helpful or not. Just an ordinary guy, served in the Marines, who knows enough to fight the bad guys ... and who feels what others feel. Can't help it. Not exactly your average super hero. Makes me feel like one of those guys in the comic-books ... the soldiers ... who you just KNOW are going to get smeared when they come up against the really BAD dudes, holding onto the fort, just before the cavalry arrives. OTOH, if the average Joe isn't willing to fight for what is right ... What point is there in fighting FOR him? I feel the obligation; and I know many an old veteran who would still pick up a weapon if they knew they could make the slightest difference. It isn't only the young, strong, and brave who know what's important. >>An empath is particularly vulnerable to Mental/Spiritual attacks. >>Didn't think of that before ... Wonder why? >>Gonna feel a bit blind, with that blocked though. >>Well, better than turning overly sympathetic to the enemy in the >>middle of a fight. > >Active "Perceptions" can reach out from the Inside, > Only Passives will be Nulled for you, > Just Make the Effort... Um ... Mine aren't active; they're *all* passive. I just feel those around me. It's like sight or hearing. I don't (and cannot) reach out; people unconsciously broadcast their feelings, hurts, aches, pains, lusts, wants, needs, hungers, etc.. It's not exactly a "power"; it's just a passive sense like feeling or touch. I don't activate it; it's *always* there. I just can sense the emotions of those nearby. (And sometimes, if intense enough, their physical pains, hungers, lusts, etc. Downright awkwards sometimes.) It isn't even all that useful; as I'm not the type of personality that can take advantage of the knowledge, or even know *how* to, like some would. The only *real* usage I get out of the darned thing is knowing which people to avoid and when ... IF I can, that is. Walking in a crowd is like a trip in a washing-machine filled with multi-colored clothing. You keep brushing up against different emotions and colors in an ever-changing bubble of experience. It _is_ wonderfully handy with the wife though. Oh yeah ... It comes in handy knowing when somebody needs comfort. So ... Any shield that would block people from influencing me, would also block my empathy, because that's how it works. Wouldn't be much use in a battle anyway. Knowing somebody is hurt, hurts me. Feeling people's anger doesn't help. Knowing the enemy feels justified and righteous anger at us for getting in his/her way doesn't help either. AFTER a battle, OTOH, empathy comes in quite handy. Who's hurt most and where. Who needs sympathy, and who doesn't. It can be a bit painful at times though. Being in a hospital drives me nuts. Sometimes the mental pain is worse than the physical. Have any of you *other* empaths here ever felt how a really good and sympathetic doctor feels when he lost a patient that he thought he could save? A parent who just lost a child? A husband his wife? *Frank winces from the painful memories.* *He _will not_ mention another almost physical ache being felt right this moment by somebody close by, who is trying his best to ignore it. It is known ... It is sympathized ... It is appreciated.* No, I didn't last long in medicine. Having that pain blanked-out during a full-fledged battle would be a blessing, I guess. There have been times I would have given up the ability gladly. Other times, it would seem like poking my eyes out. Here, blocking it appears more like sensibly wearing ear-protectors in a dynamite-testing facility. Oh yeah ... Being an empath has one other advantage: I've never *used* it this way, but if somebody is buried under rubble, I'd know they were still there and alive. They wouldn't even have to breathe for me to know. Nobody has been able to sneak up behind me since I was five years old. That, I'd lose while shielded. Well worth the price, methinks. Everything has a price. There are no things that don't have side-effects or consequences. Just picking up the WS gun, for instance, distorts what I feel and from where ... Though I'm getting used to the distortion. I presume it's the shield; but with no off-switch .... No matter; it's minor; and I'm sure my mind will adjust. >>Take 1 ... Have to figure out where to set the return. >>Ain't really no "safe" place. > >How about The Place? About as good as any. Thanks for the suggestion. I'd hate to pop Home and ... Nevermind. Here at least, The people know that the Universe isn't a "safe" place. ================================= Subject: Re: OOC: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 00:22:06 -0600, In alt.callahans Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011482 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 20:07:23 -0800 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Post # 00009148 > >OOC: OK, now I'm confused. Where _is_ Frank, IC: In the Place >kibitzing via X-Window (which is where I more or less assumed he >was), on Champions Island with the rest of the characters, or what? I was at The Place. I made a mistake and stepped into the window I was looking through. I do stupid things sometimes. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 22:57:33 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011483 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 14:58:10 -0800 >Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00011472 > >"@ Oh yes, > I almost forgot, > If anyone wants to Bait Amazo into Assimilating, > Some Poison... > I also have this Old Weapon...@" > >"@Weapon Details: > The Weapon is a Belt Computer, > About the size of a pack of 100 3"x5" Cards, > Second only to a True Quantum Computer, > It Returns The Least Applicable Response, > To any Question, > In time this would drive any Computer Catatonic, > And when you disconect it, > A Worm (Planted first thing) Scrambles the Memory > Registers, > Then Starts Wiping anything The Computer Trys to > Access.@" Defender frowns. /"I'm not sure this one will work,"/ he notes. /"Amazo was...different, this time. More animated. I think he has a real personality now -- true self-awareness. Suli's work, I'd guess."/ He decides not to go further with that line of thought. A fully sentient Amazo, loyal to Darkseid and Suli as his 'parents,' with the super-computer brain of Superman, the deductive mind of Batman, the ultra-fast mental capacity of the Flash, and the genius of all three _plus_ several others -- if no one else has thought of that, he's certainly not going to give anyone else (who doesn't have to face the thing) the willies by bringing it up... ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 23:16:09 -0800 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00011484 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 16:10:35 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011473 > >>On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 19:52:50 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011465 >> >>>On Sat, 8 Nov 2003 06:40:20 -0800 (PST) >>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011448 >> >> Eric acquiesces immediately. >> At least openly. >> ^Ziactrice?^ he asks privately from mini-lens to her true Lens, >>the unspoken 'are you all right?' obvious in his tone. > > ^Heh. Figures you'd be able to see through me better now.^ Zia >replies - which in itself is as close as Eric's ever heard her admit >to not being completely all right. ^Do you have difficulties with >displays of public affection, or might I get a hug? I could use >one...^ Eric responds by hugging her. Nothing particularly awe-inspiring or superhumanly trained about it, just your everyday lovin' hug from someone who cares. Well whaddaya know, there _are_ some things he does like a normal human being. ;^) >> Defender carefully remains neutral. For all the good it does him >>in a room full of empaths. >> [Damn,] he thinks emphatically. > > Zia sighs. > "No need to wince so. I wouldn't have volunteered the >information if it were still painful to simply discuss the subject. >And the healers who attempt this _might_ benefit. If I didn't... >well." Very uncharacteristically, she even hesitates a moment before >adding quietly. "Er. Sorry," Defender replies. >"To put it simply," she continues with as much neutrality as she can >muster, "healing the upper mind and psyche might loosen the lower >faultlines into giving way and breaking apart, earthquake-like." "Thanks for the tip," Defender replies, not elaborating. He's still trying to figure out who else can possibly do the job... >> /"I think I can undo the damage caused by the Anti-Life >>Equation's method of 'resurrection,'"/ Sil says slowly, considering >>the problem with clear deliberation. /"I wouldn't mind having James >>around, but unless you marry the man,"/ she adds with a wink for >>Zia, /"a woman only gets to meet him once in her lifetime. It's some >>kind of rule."/ > > OOC: Probably not, but 'straighten me' anyway. ;^) > Zia blushes - no, not Roland's TM Blush. Zia's starts at her >cheeks and trails well down past her collarbones under her armor. In >fact, Eric might lose a second or three while speculating on just >where this astounding blush might finally end. Eric manages to hide the resultant smile. Well, he keeps it off his face, anyway. > /"If James has rules, I can't tell, Sil, but he is recovering >from battling Dr. Doom. However,"/ Zia presses on quickly, as her >blush deepens, /"Eric is avail - er, here. That should work about the >same." /"If only that's what I was looking for,"/ Sil replies with a _very_ wistful sigh -- and a _very_ naughty smile. Eric gulps quietly. Instantly, the Phoenix spirit is serious again. /"Unless he's picked up a whole new skill set recently, I don't think Eric will be much help. James is a highly talented mentalist, and given his--"/ Sil considers her wording carefully, then continues, /"--knowledge base and skills, his help would have been, well, helpful."/ Eric raises an eyebrow slightly after Sil finishes, catching the (very rare for Zia) word change in mid-sentence after a beat. >"Eric, if you wish to Second me, I'd be honored - if you wouldn't be >of better use with the Sneak Healers, that is. I can always ask >another Lensman for backup, too." "I've got your Six," Eric says, all business, his voice once again more solid than steel. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 23:35:45 -0800 Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00011485 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 22:57:33 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011483 > > Defender frowns. /"I'm not sure this one will work,"/ he notes. >/"Amazo was...different, this time. More animated. I think he has a >real personality now -- true self-awareness. Suli's work, I'd >guess."/ > He decides not to go further with that line of thought. A fully >sentient Amazo, loyal to Darkseid and Suli as his 'parents,' with the >super-computer brain of Superman, the deductive mind of Batman, the >ultra-fast mental capacity of the Flash, and the genius of all three >_plus_ several others -- if no one else has thought of that, he's >certainly not going to give anyone else (who doesn't have to face the >thing) the willies by bringing it up... ^It Should, It was Designed to use against Sentient Machines, It becomes Less Effective as Rigidity or Thought Increases.^ ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 00:33:11 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011486 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 21:57:49 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011478 > > Rob looks up from fiddling with his bracer, taps a code on the >keypad, and is rewarded with a six-note tune. "Almost ready to go. I >just want a minute or two with an aerial view of where the fight's >going to be." Then he turns his attention back to the conversation he >was having with Kell and Erindrea. Well, "conversation" with Kell, anyway. It would be far more accurate to describe the interplay with Erindrea as a "flirtation." After all, Erin's never met anybody quite like Rob. Granted, she's never met anybody quite like anybody _else_ in the room, either, but Rob struck up a friendship with her favorite uncle... In point of fact, Erindrea's currently giving Rob a backrub while he and Kell are conversing. Anybody watching would probably find it a bit odd that she made a point of removing her gloves before starting in on Rob's shoulders, but seems perfectly content to work through the fabric of Rob's t-shirt. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 04:18:42 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011487 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00011484 >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011473 >>^Do you have difficulties with displays of public affection, or >>might I get a hug? I could use one.^ > > Eric responds by hugging her. Nothing particularly awe-inspiring >or superhumanly trained about it, just your everyday lovin' hug from >someone who cares. > Well whaddaya know, there _are_ some things he does like a normal >human being. ;^) Zia hugs back, then she slides an arm around him, letting her head rest on Eric's shoulder. She raises it again a moment later, but she keeps her arm there. Despite her strong feminine qualities, it is a bit strange to see the petite Amberite's vulnerable side. >> /"If James has rules, I can't tell, Sil, but he is recovering >>from battling Dr. Doom. However,"/ Zia presses on quickly, as her >>blush deepens, /"Eric is avail - er, here. That should work about >>the same." > > /"If only that's what I was looking for,"/ Sil replies with a >_very_ wistful sigh -- and a _very_ naughty smile. Eric gulps >quietly. Instantly, the Phoenix spirit is serious again. /"Unless >he's picked up a whole new skill set recently, I don't think Eric >will be much help. James is a highly talented mentalist, and given >his--"/ Sil considers her wording carefully, then continues, >/"--knowledge base and skills, his help would have been, well, >helpful."/ > Eric raises an eyebrow slightly after Sil finishes, catching the >(very rare for Zia) word change in mid-sentence after a beat. "Ah. True. Eric certainly has the potential, he would need time to learn, though." Ziactrice ponders Sil's reply, grinning up at Eric as he catches that correction. She was teasing, it's plain. "James isn't the best mentalist in the family - my first husband is. My first husband doesn't have James' native charm, but he does have something close. He was slain by a succubus in his mis-spent youth. He has the powers of a master vampire, despite the changes the World Tree wrought in his being." She grins impishly. "Shall I Trump him? He is particularly fond of elven women with killer's eyes, if you want an advantage." >>"Eric, if you wish to Second me, I'd be honored - if you wouldn't be >>of better use with the Sneak Healers, that is. I can always ask >>another Lensman for backup, too." > > "I've got your Six," Eric says, all business, his voice once again >more solid than steel. "Thank you, love." Zia replies in a voice that would melt steel; it is a good thing Eric can go more solid. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 08:06:21 -0500 (EST) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011488 >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 02:30:27 -0800 >Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00011470 > >Fuzzy leads the way toa 8 foot Cubical Crate, > Sitting in an out of the way corner... > >One outer wall is folded down at a 4 foot height, > To Provide a Work Table... > On the Table the is a Box 1 foot Square by 2 foot long. > >"Ok, > Place your hands on the 'Prints' one on each end, > The Top will open, > You may then take Your Energy Weapon and Holster, > The Top will Close 30 Seconds after it Opens." When opportunity presents itself, Karma heads over and follows the above instructions to claim a pair of these weapons. > > @ >Pulling a Level on the First Machine, > Fuzzy Collects a Smallish Tool type Box. > Opening the Box, > Reveals a Golden Hexagonal Amulet 1.5 inches Flat to Flat, > And Six Compartment with <1/2 inch Colored Gems in them. > >The Amulet has Seven Sockets The Center one filled with a Black Gem Again, as opportunity arises, Karma takes two, then two more on Moonstone's behalf. From each pair of amulets and gem sets, she removes one of the black gems, making thirteen settings free for gems, then sets all the gems from one amulet's gem collection within the settings. Essentially, granting the wielder of each pair of amulets the entirety of the gem's abilities and protections. "Munchkin? Me? F--- yeah," she murmurs to herself, looking over her handiwork. >"The Second Vending Machine, > Provides small SubSpace Inverters, (hang one on your belt...) > Open it Up and Push the Green Button, > That Sets the Destination to your Current Position, > Press the Red Button under to Clear Cap, > And you will return instantly to your Recorded Location, > These are Not Limited to One Universe, > If not used too often, or > If Used With a Good Life Support Package, > These are Medically Safe." Karma takes two of these, slips through an X-window to the Place, sets them both with there as a target, then returns. >"The Third Vending Machine. > Provides Projectile Munitions, > It can Duplicate most Samples Provided, > It can Also Duplicate Clips as Required." Karma's M1A11's full clip comes out and is replicated a number of times, the duplicates going onto the table. Moonstone drops a backpack on it for her and the dark-haired woman loads it up. >"The Fourth Vending Machine, > Provides Energy Munitions, > Duplicating and Charging, > Most types of Energy Cartridge." From this comes the phaser's energy cells, replicated also a number of times and put in the backpack. She grins, "Anyone else have toys they want to pass out?" ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 07:48:10 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011489 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011486 > >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011478 >> >> Rob looks up from fiddling with his bracer, taps a code on the >>keypad, and is rewarded with a six-note tune. "Almost ready to go. I >>just want a minute or two with an aerial view of where the fight's >>going to be." Then he turns his attention back to the conversation >>he was having with Kell and Erindrea. > >Well, "conversation" with Kell, anyway. It would be far more accurate >to describe the interplay with Erindrea as a "flirtation." After all, >Erin's never met anybody quite like Rob. Granted, she's never met >anybody quite like anybody _else_ in the room, either, but Rob struck >up a friendship with her favorite uncle... "Erin can handle that, though telling her when she's needed could be a problem." "I think our genius over there," Rob replies, pointing at Fuzzy, "should have some way to handle - mmmm..." >In point of fact, Erindrea's currently giving Rob a backrub while he >and Kell are conversing. Anybody watching would probably find it a >bit odd that she made a point of removing her gloves before starting >in on Rob's shoulders, but seems perfectly content to work through >the fabric of Rob's t-shirt. Rob -purrs- for a moment before saying, "Fuzzy? Got any commpins or the like in your bag of tricks?" Kell, meanwhile, is studying this scene with some consternation. "Erin, you're my favorite niece and all, but it was hard enough dealing with when you brought Veren by for a visit. Now you're giving a backrub to a man who speaks Elven with an accent that's a mix of Flan, Baklunish, and Gnomish? Do you save up all your weird boyfriends for when you see me, or is this just another in a string of odd ones?" Fortunately, Rob doesn't understand Rhennee, or he might be insulted. >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message 00011479 > >Patrick looks up. "Do you require assistance with the Furies? I am a >fair swordsman myself, and I think I can help draw some of the >fighters away from the rest of your group." Rob smiles. "I'll take all the help I can get. Oh, and if you're good with a bow or sling, you might want to be ready to switch weapons on cue. Sudden bursts of firepower are always worthwhile." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 09:35:53 -0800 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00011490 (Oops, we missed this one in the other round of responses.) >On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 16:02:35 -0600, In alt.callahans >Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011471 > >Obviously, this will take some practice to get used to. >Someplace around this place must be a practice-range that he presumes >will take Weapons' Shop discharges without damage. "Well," Morgan quips, "aside from the range here on the Island, there _is_ the Danger Room in Callahans." She smiles. "It stood up to Rachel play-fighting X-Men villains, I'm sure it can handle one of those." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 09:53:40 -0800 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00011491 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00011484 > "Thanks for the tip," Defender replies, not elaborating. He's >still trying to figure out who else can possibly do the job... /*"Roland, I will ensure that Suli's mental substrate is sound."*/ Aurora offers. ================================= Subject: AAE9: A Late Delivery of Cavalry On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 15:34:38 -0500 "David McMillan" Said As CAoL Message # 00011493 OOC: Ooookay, here we go. Lesse if I can still do this... It had been such a simple plan. The Mother Of All Dinosaur Killers, a rock the size of Texas (THANK you, Jerry Bruckheimer, and where the heck is Bruce Willis when you *need* him?), about to wipe out a planet inhabited with a promising pre-sentient race or three. No problem for the Destiny Breaker, Roger Greywolf-Phoenix, occasional hero and full-time Fool (in the Tarot sense of the word). Despite having only 75-80% of his famous father's raw power, the younger Immortal prided himself on making up for power with a bottomless bag of tricks, plus a deep well of gagdets, gizmos, widgets, watchamacallits, dewfloppers, and sundry and assorted gimmicks. Not to mention a talent for technology that put him on a par with some of the greatest Void Engineers and Technomages around. Unfortunately, the multiverse-wandering Roger had happened into this universe, at this juncture, as the Great Big Rock was already beginning to kiss the planetary atmosphere -- at cometary velocities. Doubly unfortunate, this particular universe had very strong "mundane" factors, creating a strong resistance to the exercise of the very metalogical powers that Roger most needed in order to respond to this situation effectively. Triply unfortunate was the fact that this rock was nothing of the kind, but in fact a planet-killer weapon *disguised* as a Kuiper Belt object by a paranoid-schizophrenic race bent on preemptively elimnating sentient competition in their part of the spiral arm, and with a penchant for ludicrously grandiose (but plausibly deniable) acts of sphericide[1]. Rather badly pressed for time, and working at a major disadvantage, Roger failed to notice the additional defenses and enhancements applied to this projectile until very nearly too late. Fortunately, the Phoenx and Greywolf genomes both carry a strong talent for improvisation, and in Roger these were enhanced by long example and experience. So, after sparing a femtosecond to consider "What would Dad do right about now?" Roger took the obvious course and blew himself right the hell up. Or, to be more precise, he used himself as an enormous energy sink/transducer, converting the projectile's store of kinetic energy into an enormous burst of EM radiation, vectored *away* from the planet's sruface. Under his immediate handicaps, even his greatest effort could only maintain the effect for a moment, before the projectile's defenses and the laws of local reality combined to smack him down. Added to a severe case of burnout generated by overtaxing himself, this last insult sent what little remained of his physical being into the planet's surface at several thousand meters/second. The weapon, stalled in its progress just long enough, resumed its trajectory just too late to do more than carve a deep trench through the planet's upper atmosphere, laying waste to several hundred sqaure kilometers from shockwave damage before continuing on a course that would terminate in the local solar primary (the final safeguard against leaving evidence -- the rock-throwers were nothing if not paranoically thorough). In orbit, several hundred tonnes of automated mecha systems, hastily teleported from Roger's personal arsenal before the almost-planet-shattering kaboom, sorted themselves out and began going about their last orders. And thus things remained for the next several weeks. Until: > "And of course, there is your trump card," Darkseid adds with a >sly smile, glancing at Defender's remaining wrist. The minilens >'ported itself there, and Defender stares at it, blinking in dazed >confusion. "Rest assured, child, that I have thought of everything." >Darkseid gestures at the sky, and the clouds part above them. > Thrown into relief by the indirect light are creatures out of >nightmare. Solaris, the Tyrant Sun of Earth-Zero. Maggedon, the >ultimate weapon of the Old Gods. Quisp, the Fifth-Dimension imp >turned to evil rather than mischief. Amazo, the One-Man Justice >League. And above them all, behind them all, murdering light and hope >alike... > ...the Anti-Life Equation. > "Surely," Darkseid notes calmly, one fist slowly rising, "you must >have wondered what my 'Darkness Device' would be? Fear not, however. >Rest assured that the fate of your people shall be far kinder under >Darkseid than it would have been beneath the heel of the Gaunt Man." > [Oh Light!] Defender reaches out with his mind, telepathic signal >racing frantically across the link and to Callahan's Place as >Darkseid prepares his coup de grace... > */MAYDAY MAYDAY Earth-9 under attack invasion of conquest multiple >dimensions reality storm possibility theft native forces being >overwhelmed need assistance desperately message repeats MAYDAY MAYDAY >Earth-9 under atta--/* At the bottom of a crater on an otherwise-pleasant tropical island, the mostly-reconstituted Roger sat up out of the soil like a garden rake stepped on by someone big and heavy, sending dirt clods flying at mach-plus velocities. "Huh? Wuzza-- Whooza-- I'm up! I'm up! Put the icewater away! I-- I... uh. What...?" The junior Greywolf-Phoenix pulled his jumbled thoughts together into some faint semblance of normalcy, with difficulty. Protected memory archives spooled their contents across his awareness, ansering the question of how he'd gotten into his current situation. Sitreps from his automated proxies showed that his current situation was secure, and there were no counterattacks in the offing. And yet, his nerves still jangled badly, as if someone were not only walking on, but digging upon, his grave. Or someone's he knew... He glanced about, suddenly apprehensive. "...Dad?" The feeling of *wrongness* continued to intensify, along with the feeling that he was Missing Something. He tried to focus his hazy thought processes, chase down the root cause of this nebulous sensation-- >/Guys! I don't mess with comic book worlds as a rule, so I can't >match up people with who'd best suit them. ROB! Can you help organize >our people? Aunt Morgan, can you help get our people working with >yours? ROGER, I need you powered up and ready to kick godling butt! >EVERYBODY, IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE BADDIES HERE, TAKE ONE OR >TELL US WHO CAN!/ --and catapulted out of the crater in shock as the broken, badly-flanged message hit him like a hammer. "Tink! Sis?" He spun around in midair, trying to get his bearings, and felt an icy fist clench in his stomach as belated realization crystallized inside his mind. Earth-9 was under attack. *Home* was under attack. FAMILY/FRIENDS/INNOCENTS were under attack -- by forces powerful enough to make *Roland Phoenix,* the Defender of Atlantis, skirt the edge of utter panic. He could *taste* that fear, even at this huge distance, now that he knew what to look for. He "pinged" E-9 via every route he knew with one corner of his mind, marshalling his resources for a race home. The response was not promising: aside from sheer transdimensional distance and nasty time differentials, something *major* was occuring within E-9's solar neighborhood, something that produced enough reality-jarring side effects to cripple communication bandwidth and the fastest transport routes into or out of that locale. He power-climbed into low orbit, grimly assessing his internal state and his options. Under the circumstances, even his best communication effort would only get one word in ten through. So -- a short message, repeated for redundancy. He spent a second composing, then paralleled his various commlinks together and batched his Outbox to them. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. INBOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS. DELAYED. HOLD ON. ROGER. With echoes still ringing inside his head, Roger mustered his energies, ripped open a gap into the void between universes, and jumped out in a sloppy coruscation of energies. His vector was in the general direction of home, but not quite. Not yet. There were allies to be gathered, first.... [1] OOC: Heck, I dunno a word for world-killing. So, "sphericide": biosphere, lithospere, atmosphere, all the "spheres" that make up a world.... ================================= Subject: Re: AAE9: A Plan! There's a plan! On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 14:29:11 -0600, In alt.callahans Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011494 >On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 09:35:53 -0800 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Post # 00009161 > >>On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 16:02:35 -0600, In alt.callahans >>Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011471 >> >>Obviously, this will take some practice to get used to. >>Someplace around this place must be a practice-range that he >>presumes will take Weapons' Shop discharges without damage. > >"Well," Morgan quips, "aside from the range here on the Island, there >_is_ the Danger Room in Callahans." She smiles. "It stood up to >Rachel play-fighting X-Men villains, I'm sure it can handle one of >those." Um ... Forgot about that. It is quite amazing what the DR stands up to sometimes. ================================= Subject: Re: re: AAE 9: Recruiting & Equipment On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 18:06:11 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011496 >As CAoL Message # 00011403 >On Sat, Oct 25th, 2K3, Fuzzy write... > >>As CAoL Message # 00011401 >>Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire wrote... >> >>The Bard looks up from his fingering exercises. "Baron Munchausen? >>Perhaps I am overly dense, Milord, but who would he be helping and >>how? >> You'll forgive me if I note that his most notable talents seem to >>be for helping _himself._ Well, that and bragging." > >"In some worlds that is Undoubtedly True, > However Somewhere in the Multiverse, > Generations of Children being told Stories of Him, > Created from their Belief, > A Being that Is a Master Stoyteller, > Harvesting Power from the Willing Suspension of DisBelief, > In the Minds of His Audience, > With which to Make His Tales True..." > >"And since Happy Endings get more Repeate Proformances, > The Tale being told again and again to the Children, > Each of which gives him a bit more Power and Reality, > In the Universe in Question... > He Tends to arrive in the Nick of Time, > To Rescue Communities... > Usually Empowered by The Last Wish of a True Hero, > That His Home Survive..., > Against all Odds." > >"On the other hand Even That does not Assure that He Will Arrive, > Just that he Can..." "With all applicable and necessary apologies, My Lord Fuzzy, I do not mind saying that this sounds entirely like the entity known as Queen Aco. I've come across stories of her on rare occasions during my travels, and I do not mind telling you that they do not leave me with a pleasant taste in my mouth. Colloquially speaking, of course. " Dhyrclhanc interjected. "Queen Aco is the consort of the Juggernaught, or rather it is the other way around, in a number of Worlds with a Duothesistic, slightly Taoistic, male/female "Pantheon" of gods." "The Juggernaught is associated with the Sun, is the Patron of Athletes, Warriors and Gladiators, and is the embodiment of unbridled physical passion, strenuous physical, often athletic, activity and raw physical strength. He is also completely committed to Aco and will help and aid her whenever, and however, he can" "Aco, conversely, is the night sky -- the infinite darkness which exists behind all the suns, stars, and other celestial phenomena. All innocents have a special place in her heart, especially young children and the elderly who have entered into a state of "second childhood". Thus, all newborn children are taken to temples dedicated to Aco for the Ritual of Baptism, and given home-made cloth Aco dolls when they are old enough to care for such things. Even non-human races who worship Aco have young who have cloth Aco dolls, which are depictions of a woman (of that race) who has white skin, black eyes and long black hair. Even many of those who primarily worship another god will still give their children cloth Aco dolls. Even those Drow who may worship Aco, will make cloth Aco dolls that have Drow clothing but will still white skin, black eyes and long black hair." "These dolls are supposedly good luck charms but they are actually more than that. It is said that if you are in mortal danger from a great enemy and hide in a dark place with your Aco doll, and pray to Aco with all your might, the goddess will take pity on you and render you hidden from your attacker(s), and you will survive. Often times, in fact, many survivors of the horrors of the attack by monstrous invaders have been small children hiding in closets or under beds, or simpletons cowering in dark places or absent-minded elders who were lost in their memories, all of whom re-emerged unscathed, and nearly almost always the survivor was clutching a ragged cloth doll representing the Goddess Aco." "We must be careful about invoking Baron Munchausen, because it is quite likely that he will have his own agenda(s) that we may have to deal with." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 18:13:53 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011497 >As CAoL Message # 00011412 >On Sun, Oct 26th, 2K3, "Scott Osborne" (aka Luc French) writes... > >>Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc wrote... >> >>#*By the way, what's the wheel for, if you don't mind my asking, >>that is.*# > >/The wheel ... is a personal emblem. The reason I'm wearing it is >much the same as the reason a knight needs to have heraldry on his >shield./ #* If you did not what to tell me what it represents, you might have just said so.*# replied the draconian Lensman, his mental tone was still lighthearted, or at least as lighthearted as one could get when one was involved with planning the defense of an entire planet. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 18:52:27 EST Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00011498 In a message dated 11/18/2003 3:33:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, mgerster writes: >#* If you did not what to tell me what it represents, you might have >just said so.*# replied the draconian Lensman, his mental tone was >still lighthearted, or at least as lighthearted as one could get when >one was involved with planning the defense of an entire planet. /I don't mind telling you, but only sometime when we're both not on the clock, okay?/ Scott sends. /I thought you were inquiring as to function, not history./ =================================