Crusaders Plus #21 - "Off to Genocide Base we go..."
Fear and his minions have successfully made their get away from the Equinox base. Meanwhile, inside the base, the team has encountered Strongbow. The various introductions have been made....
Nightingale - "Welcome, Jade Panther. I can see in your and the Sorceress' thoughts the tale that brought you to us. We do intend to clear TJ, but we seem to have been sidetracked. And now one of our teammates is missing, along with Lord Liberty's teammates. You are more than welcome to join us in this mission."
While Monarch comforts the Sorceress in the corner, 'Gale approaches Strongbow.
Nightingale - "I am greatly saddened to hear of the death of the Professor. He was a good man, one of our founding members. If you are now the wielder of the Soulgem, then you must be of a character similar to the Professor. I hereby offer you his vacant place on our team."
Lord Liberty - "I grieve over the loss of your friend, but I must ask that we leave soon. My teammates and friends may need our assistance and I do not wish to see them come to any harm. I apologize for the necessity for the interruption, but I am in fear for their very lives."
Panther - "I don't know exactly what you are talking about, big guy. But if you need a hand looking for your friends, count me in!"
Sorceress - "You are all right. We must see to the safety of Ranger."
Nightingale - "You may accompany us if you wish, Strongbow, but we must now go."
The team boards the Crusaders Jet and heads north. All the while, Jack O'Lantern sings his song...
An hour later, you encounter the UNTIL Task Force in the Canadian wilderness. They seem to have taken a position surrounding a shack. You are approached by an UNTIL Agent in Investigator's gear, who introduces herself as Commander Sullivan. She has dark blonde hair, blue eyes and appears to be in her mid-twenties.
Sullivan - "Thank you for responding so quickly, Crusaders. For some time now, UNTIL has been involved in a clandestine operation to ferret out and capture Genocide Operations. An UNTIL Task Force of four Defender Agents penetrated the Genocide base, known as the Omega Compound. They had heard that something big was in the making; after a week of surveillance and no movement from within the Compound, they went in... but they did not come out. Only this garbled transmission got out."
She produces a small, hand held portable cassette player and pushes the play button. After a few seconds of static, a male voice on the edge of hysteria is heard:
"It's hideous- gigantic- glowing poison- it's..."
Sullivan - "Now it's up to you."
Sorceress - "Oh, great..."
You are directed toward the shack.
Panther - "So how do we get in?"
Nelson - "We don't know. You must find your own way in."
The shack looks perfectly normal. The walls are made of wooden planks. The shack has a dirt floor.
Now what are you going to do?
Mail From: AREION Date: Sunday 16-Jul-89 21:26 EDT
C+ #21 - Specifications
StrongBow will combine a full Strength SCULPT ritual and a 20STR BREATH OF LIFE in an attempt to cause the dirt floor to form a spout and flow out the door and windows until:
1. He finds an entrance or some kind of visible opening.
2. He hits some obstruction and can go no further.
3. He hits a layer of natural stone
He'll circulate his power uniformly around the room, so the displacement will be even and gradual, so as not to cause anyone to lose their footing.
SUBJ: ** STRONGBOW ** FROM: AREION 07/16/89 S#: 821238
At Gale's approach, Strongbow looks a bit surprised, but then his expression quickly melts away to his normal, stern emotionless stair.
"Ahhh...so it is in the white man's world. Women speak on the behalf of men! Very well then."
"As for joining your group, I must decline. We each have our private visions to follow. Mine is to the service of nature...and honor. Still, we share a common adversary in the defiler of 'his' sanctum. Until justice is brought to the one guilty of this wrong you may consider us...Traveling companions."
Many of you though you saw StrongBow almost smile...almost. But you can't be sure. After this, StrongBow doesn't say another word. He follows silently with a certain, deft grace. The long rows of feathers dangling down his back from his traditional headdress sway as he walks. The reds, blues, whites, and yellows of the war paints covering his body emphasis his sleek, firm muscles.
Periodically along the trip, he can be seen staring, longingly out the small window to his right. Marveling at the beauties with a childlike contentment.
Once inside the shack, he scrutinizes the area with his penetrating eyes.
"The structure appears ordinary enough. If the compound you seek is here the, surely it must be within the Earth"
Strongbow stoops to run his hand through the loose dust coating of the hard, dirt floor.
"Nature and I are allies, perhaps I may be of help here."
StrongBow stands again, raises his hands to the heavens, and begins a sacred Indian chant.
(If all goes well) Several seconds later, the dust begins to swirl, in a light breeze.
SUBJ: Sorceress
'It seems that we have reached an impasse here, my friends. I know little of machinery, so I fear that I may be little help in gaining entrance to this base. Perhaps there are controls to operating this door hidden in this shack?'
The Sorceress will then do a series of gestures and then, hopefully, turn transparent. Then she will slowly lower herself through the barrier.
'I'll have this thing open in a moment!'
SUBJ: JACK O'LANTERN (R) FROM: MadPanther 07/21/89 S#: 92903
Jack O'Lantern is intrigued by Strongbow's ritual and will closely watch what he does coming up behind him, VERY close.
He will then imitate 'Bow's actions in an attempt to open an entrance to the base.
"Eeie wanna wonga!"
"Come on guys, open up! Avon calling!"
Spectrum's Comments: Now that's funny. "Eeie wanna wonga" is one of Muskateer's real life phrases by the way.
SUBJ: JADE PANTHER FROM: MadPanther 07/21/89 S#: 108634
I don't know what I can do to help. Perhaps my enhanced cat-like senses can locate some clue or something. I will search around the inside and outside of the shack looking for anything unusual.
SUBJ: Lord Liberty FROM: REM9 07/22/89 S#: 447355
"Fascinating. Either this disk is of a material so dense that my sensors cannot penetrate, or there is nothing but dirt below it. Assuming the latter, it would be prudent to assume that it is some sort of transportational device, and we should search for some means to activate it."
Lord Liberty will then start searching the walls of the shack, looking for any wires or other electronic stuff that should not be here. He will then follow whatever, if anything, he finds until he hopefully comes up with some sort of controls.
SUBJ: MONARCH FROM: N4SIR 07/22/89 S#: 802237
Watching the group as it operates Monarch waits for a moment when he will be of use to the group. If they cannot find the device to transport them to their desired location Monarch will then first. Suggest that if we can not attain an opening on our own perhaps we should let them open up and come after a couple of us. By Using two of us as decoys maybe they will come up after those two then the rest can help overwhelm that squad or individual and then gain entry to the base.
SUBJ: Strikeout FROM: Kityana 07/22/89 S#: 850525
::giggles uncontrollably at Jack imitating Strongbow, but straightens up quickly and follows LL::
Need any help?
::approaches metal door thingy and taps it lightly with bat::
Ya know I bet my friend could find out what this was...he's good with metal stuff.
::looks around and watches the going ons.. looks at Jack and snickers again::
***************************************
*Best i could do on a braindead night :D
Crusaders Plus #22 - "The Way In"
Nightingale stands aside, slightly taken aback by what Strongbow said. 'Bow completes his task and uncovers a black, metallic like object.
Nightingale - "Good work, Strongbow."
All during the ritual, Jack O'Lantern closely watches Strongbow.
Lord Liberty - "Fascinating. Either this object is of a material so dense that my sensors can not penetrate, or there is nothing but dirt below it. Assuming the latter, it would be prudent to assume that it is some sort of transportational device, and we should search for some means to activate it."
Strikeout - "Need a hand?"
Lord Liberty - "That would be most appreciated, Strikeout."
Several of the team search the walls of the shack closely. Meanwhile, Jack has a few ideas of his own. He begins to prance around the shack, roughly imitating the dance the Strongbow did.
Jack - "Eeie wanna wonga!"
Strikeout, along with several others, giggles uncontrollably at this sight.
Jack - "Come on guys, open up! Avon calling!"
Sorceress - "That-- that was truly weird. Let me try something."
The Sorceress makes a series of gestures and her whole body becomes insubstantial. She steps onto the black metal. She slowly begins to pass through the metal, but it will take time.
Meanwhile, Lord Liberty has made a discovery. A false section of wall hid a button. Pushing the button causes the room to shake. Suddenly, the black metal starts to rise out of the ground!
Panther - "Look out!"
Everyone quickly vacates the area, except the Sorceress who is still passing through the metal. Finally, the object rising out of the floor can be identified as an elevator.
When it does fully emerge, the doors to it silently slide open. By then, the Sorceress has entered the elevator via the ceiling. The heroes enter.
The elevator itself has a blue interior. The only other features are a down button and an up button. The down button is pressed. The doors close and the elevator descends into the earth...
Approximately six seconds later, the elevator comes to a stop and the doors open. The elevator is at the end of a corridor. There are two deserted guard posts a short distance down the corridor. Just outside the elevator is a set of UNTIL Defender Agent armor with ashes strewn about.
Jack - "Aunt Matilda, I'm home!"
The Omega Compound is deathly silent. The lighting is very poor. Perhaps emergency lights are in use. There are no signs of activity anywhere.
Nightingale - "This is most unusual. I can sense no active minds in the immediate area."
The corridor continues onward and then turns to your right. A dim glowing can be seen off in the distance. It has a red tinge.
Another corridor leads off to your left right after the Guard Posts.
If you try to go forward, you discover that there is a clear, glasslike barrier preventing passage. There appears to be no way around it.
The other corridor travels about 10 feet and then turns to the right. Along that corridor are three doors and the passage continues.
I'm going to stop here for now and give you all a chance to look around and ask questions. I'll update the post as necessary!
SUBJ: Lord Liberty FROM: REM9 07/23/89 S#: 429478
"Strikeout stay with me. Stay alert. This does not feel right. There should be someone here to greet us. It is not logical."
Lord Liberty will keep all of his sensors in operation. At the first sign of anything he will warn the others.
SUBJ: Strikeout FROM: Kityana 07/25/89 S#: 124204
Right coach!
::pulls out a piece of bubble gum and pops it into mouth::
Your right it doesn't seem right that no one is here...::follows LL looking around curiously::
SUBJ: Sorceress
'Well, since no one is coming to us, then let us go to them. If Lord Liberty is sure that this radiation is harmless for the moment, then lets get this mission in high gear!'
The Sorceress will go down the hallway with the doors in and open the first door. She'll search the area beyond before continuing on with the next door.
SUBJ: JACK O'LANTERN (R) FROM: MadPanther 07/29/89 S#: 787758
Jocko will examine the clear barrier. He will attempt to raise, or otherwise remove the barrier. If he is able, then he will proceed to go exploring.
"I wonder if Aunt Matilda is making any of those wonderful bat tarts? Funny, the odor is more like her meatloaf smell. That stuff glows in the dark, you know. And it really tastes like hell!"
Take out a Napalm bomb, in case of trouble.
SUBJ: JADE PANTHER FROM: MadPanther 07/29/89 S#: 787782
The Panther will follow the Sorceress' lead and explore the area she indicated with her.
"I don't like the lack of guards in this base. Is it possible that it has been abandoned?"
Panther will search for any signs that there have been recent occupants, as well as anything that will shed some light on the situation.
I will keep all my cat-like senses at the ready, should any danger present itself.
SUBJ: MONARCH FROM: N4SIR 07/29/89 S#: 123961
(How tall is the corridor) if it is over 25ft Monarch will take to the air and fly point seeking to draw fire from any guards that may be waiting. If it is not he will still seek the point for the above same reasons.
Crusaders Plus #23 - "Discoveries..."
Within the Genocide Base called the Omega Compound, the heroes stand near the entrance, uneasy.
Panther - "I don't like the lack of guards in this base. Is it possible that it has been abandoned?"
Nightingale - "Anything is possible. However, if that is the case, then what became of the UNTIL Agents?"
Near the front of the corridor, Monarch takes a position near the front of the corridor. Strongbow joins him and they stand guard.
Lord Liberty - "I am detecting low-level radiation. Prolonged exposure could be fatal."
Sorceress - "Well, since no one is coming to us, then let us go to them. If Lord Liberty is sure that this radiation is harmless for the moment, then lets get this mission in high gear!"
The young mage walks down the side passage.
Sorceress - "Let's take a look at what's behind those doors."
Panther - "I'll come with you."
Nightingale stands silently amongst the heroes, her eyes shut. Her mind reaching out to the base around you.
Jack O'Lantern examines the clear barrier barring the main corridor as Lord Liberty and Strikeout watch. He tinkers with the door, but doesn't seem to be making any progress.
All of the sudden, Nightingale takes to the air and flies down the side corridor. She ignores any questions put to her. Everyone in the hallway chases after her...
Behind the door, the Sorceress and Panther find an office. The room is in total disarray. Papers, manuals, tools, and parts to who-knows-what are scattered everywhere. The two begin to search the mess. A few interesting items are found.
Panther - "Hmmm... This is a memo from a Dr. Macbeth to a Dr. Ward. The doctor is requesting that the Bypass System in the reactor pile be looked into; as it could accidentally withdraw the rods."
Sorceress - "That means little to me. I flunked shop in high school. Can you make anything out of this?"
She holds up what appears to be a schematic to a large robot.
Panther - "Let me see that."
Panther takes the blue print and closely examines it. Meanwhile, the Sorceress makes another discovery: a torn page from a journal.
Sorceress - "It reads: 'I have deep reservations about Project Omega. The DNA seems to mutate even more when agitated with high-energy fields. This is due--.' It ends there."
Just then, the two notice Nightingale flying past the room. The other heroes close behind.
The Sorceress sticks her head out of the door.
Sorceress - "What's goin' on?"
Monarch - "We don't know. Nightingale is acting strangely."
Meanwhile, Nightingale has reached the end of the short corridor and entered a laboratory. Numerous equipment fills the 'L' shaped room. There is another corridor leading away to the right in the middle of the 'L'. Without hesitation, 'Gale flies into the corridor. She is lost from sight for a few moments, but is quickly found. There are six doors in this new hallway, three on each side. The first door on the left is open.
As you all look into the room, you can see Nightingale staring at a silvery headband. The object is resting of a pedestal. It appears to have been the object of study. 'Gale seems to be entranced by the object.
Just then several danger senses and individual senses go off. The signal is coming from further down the hallway. Thirty feet away, the hallway enters a four-way intersection.
A bright red glow is coming from the left hand opening. A roar of some beast is heard. A large shadow is seen on the floor. It's five arms flaying in the glow of the red light. It appears to be coming closer...
Now what?
SUBJ: Lord Liberty FROM: REM9 08/03/89 S#: 408129
"Strikeout stay behind me ready for action. There is no telling what this beast will do. Sorceress does Nightingale always behave like this? It appears that she has a peculiar fascination for that headband. Curious."
Lord Liberty will stay back waiting for the beast to make the first move. If it is some form of attack, he will try to block it (with his body if necessary) while studying his foe and allow the others to retaliate. If he then sees an opening he will use his punch to the best of his advantage.
SUBJ: Sorceress
'Not to my knowledge, Lord Liberty. I better see if she is OK.'
I'll go into the room and try to talk to Nightingale.
'Ah, excuse me, 'Gale? You OK? I know that that's a nice lookin' headband, but what do you find so interesting about it?'
If a battle does erupt, I'll summon mystic bolts, (8D6 EB) to defend myself with.
SUBJ: Strikeout FROM: Kityana 08/05/89 S#: 808919
::stands behind LL gulps::
That thing doesn't sound too nice...maybe if I offer some it some gum.
::laughs nervously.. face distinctly shows she's quite nervous and even..gasp..scared::
Being sorta young and of course this also being her first real superhero job..Strike is a wee but scared so bear with her..:D
SUBJ: MONARCH FROM: N4SIR 08/05/89 S#: 79119
Monarch will fly so that he is between the beast and the group. (Does this creature seem to be NORMAL? Does it appear to be looking for food? Is it in pain?) Monarch will attempt to keep the creature at bay. "Someone must find a way to subdue this misbegotten animal... Sorceress can your magicks tranquilize the beast?"
SUBJ: Jade Panther FROM: Panther13 08/06/89 S#: 814575
"Well, Monarch, I don't think that ANY animal can be considered normal with five arms!"
The Panther will use his enhanced speed and stealth to try and rush by the corridor. I will attempt to flip through the intersection high in the air, in an effort to avoid being seen by this beast.
If this works, then wait until the creature passes. What is the source of the red glow? Is it moving? Is it the creature?
If whatever is there sees me, then defend myself as best as possible.
SUBJ: ** StrongBow ** FROM: AREION 08/06/89 S#: 817092
"No Earthly beast makes a sound like that!! That is the sound of an animal in unspeakable agony! What wrong has been wrought here!"
StrongBow will begin a low soothing chant, reaching out to the creature with his mind,(Animal Brethren B) trying to sooth the creature and find out what wrong has been done to it. He will try to stay as much to the front of the group as possible, to protect whatever is down there as much as his companions If attacked, StrongBow will dodge and take defensive action, but will not attack the animal until he's certain of what to do.
Spectrum's Comments: Next time, the conclusion to this particular adventure and the final three files to Crusaders Plus.