[Game Thread] Chapter 1: New Beginnings

[Anarchy]

Near the tail section, Julian and Alysa observe dangling wires that had previously affixed to the rotorcraft's CVFDR. Judging by the boot tread that has marred the coating of soot, someone wearing worn combat boots had braced their foot exactly they would expect in order to remove the flight recorder once the fire had died out. Spent M185 signal flare casings can be found in the area, which are the type one might use to launch a distress signal into the air, slowly descending on a tiny parachute, to provide the maximum amount of time to draw in support.

Two businesses near the waterfront are noteworthy as they remain standing when so many others have been demolished. The first is the Cairns Central Trust, which has suffered only superficial damage, but is still intact due to being made of heavily-reinforced marble. Up three steps you can see that the front doors of the bank stand ajar, revealing ankle-deep water flooding around teller's desks, but the vault doors remain shut and locked. Those that get closer can see that attempts have been made to open the vault door, though their efforts appear to have been fruitless, since the damage is only superficial and the doors remain barred.

Located fortuitously behind the Cairns Central Trust is a brick building containing the private laboratory, PurestMED, which seems to have shielded by the solidity of the bank's structure when the waves came. The main floor is right on ground level, which has left their lobby in knee-deep water, though all the lab equipment looks to be found on the second floor, which is easy to see since many of the windows above ground level have shattered.

Alysa reaches into the storm and without explanation the storm's fury subsides into a light rain shower with winds playfully tug at your hair and clothing. Visibility increases significantly for everyone and the area that includes the capsized vessel is Use of the Power Stunt to reduce weather affects will cost 120 Karmano longer being buffeted by strong waves.

High-pitched voices echo strangely from within the hold, multiple people weakly begging for assistance. Each scream excites the sharks' bloodlust, the water thrashing and foaming as they burst forth, slamming heavily into the hull and bringing forth hollow screams from the trapped 7's rugby team.

Efforts are coordinated via waterproof walkie talkies doubly protected by a shielding of plastic, where every part of you is absolutely soaked.

Flashes of intense light flash and then again in an erratic pattern, working to disabuse the sharks of an opportunity to feed. Sparks fly as Julian, as Mirage, directs amplified light to slowly cut through the braided cable that holds the capsized vessel to its anchor. The line gives way, causing the boat to come away with a sudden lurching jolt. It is nightmare fuel to stand atop a rain-slick capsized boat, being buffeted by wind and wave, with hungry predators cruising 'neath the waves, but luckily Julian teleports away before a toe touches the Coral Sea.

Anima's forcefields slide into nooks and crannies providing structural support for the entire vessel and also increase the surface area for Pressure to exert force upon. And exert force Ian does, this being a brute force exercise of power, and it is really nice to let loose for a change. Slowly the ship groans as hurricane winds batter it toward shore, efforts being made by both superheroes to ensure it does not start to spin, or land in the lobby of the bank. Millimetre by millimetre it creeps toward shore until the waterlogged vessel is mired in the muddy banks leaning against the stone wall that defines the edge of the esplanade, nearly fully out of the water and draining great volumes of seawater.

You watch as flashing yellow lights approach in the distance, two dual-cab utes, though the way the first one drives you know that there are cinnamon cookies on board.

The jammed hatch is Whomever wishes to describe themselves doing so in a badass manner, using the crowbar or whateverripped open with ease, revealing 8 girls and one coach all floating in quickly diminishing sea water. Their fingers are wrinkled and they look rather nonplussed with the entire experience, but everyone is alive and there are no serious injuries to be found. Tears flow freely and gratitude is expressed in both words and hugs...and a request for your autograph.

Then the International Red Cross vehicles park, their occupant mouths hanging agape as they approach the heroic quartet. Shaking themselves from their reverie they quickly offer warm cocoa, blankets, and the warmth of human compassion.

Grace leans against the ute, ready to bring you back to the encampment now that the supplies made it in time, a satisfied little look on her wizened face, nodding her appreciation for all you have risked and all you have done.

[Malkavianmilkball]

Panacea Emilia as Panacea moves to check on each of the nine survivors. She expected prolonged water exposure as well as they capsizing had left them exhausted, battered and, possibly concussed. Panacea Medicine Check Intuition check (EX) Dice Roll: 1d100 92 checks over each of the survivors, assuring any helpers that she is a trained professional. After checking each of them, she Healing Check Endurance (Am) Check Dice Roll: 1d100 3 Dice Roll: 1d100 39 Dice Roll: 1d100 92 Dice Roll: 1d100 26 Dice Roll: 1d100 48 Dice Roll: 1d100 46 Dice Roll: 1d100 59 Dice Roll: 1d100 72 Dice Roll: 1d100 67 1 failure, -24 karmaheals them each, golden light filling their wounds. Those with a keen eye would see that the wounds are being filled in layer by layer. Emilia had found that if she carefully controlled the energies gifted to her then it was less draining that letting the magic do all the work. After healing each of them Healing Fatigue check Endurance Check (Am) Dice Roll: 1d100 82 Dice Roll: 1d100 12 Dice Roll: 1d100 30 Dice Roll: 1d100 16 Dice Roll: 1d100 10 Dice Roll: 1d100 23 Dice Roll: 1d100 99 Dice Roll: 1d100 54 Dice Roll: 1d100 18 6 failures, -6 Endurance ranks, Current Endurance 4 (Pr)she leeches the fatigue from their bodies. Immediately afterwards she tries to stand and seems to struggle to rise after exerting so much energy "They should be alright now." Panacea says as she finishes healing the last of them. She tries to hide her fatigue as she calls on the radio. "We should talk next steps." Emilia waits for the crowd of onlookers to died down as she Recovery Check Power Rank check, Rank 1, Red Needed: 100 Dice Roll: 1d100 31 rests on some steps. When the others gather she says "I don't want to leave yet, and abandon those people taken by what might be human traffickers." Despite her firm commitment there is a clear fatigue to her voice.

[RedMoney]

Mirage realized he was holding his breath as he watched the ship being pushed along by Anima and Pressure. He shook himself and inhaled, a sigh of relief escaping as the ship crept closer to the shore without the situation devolving. Preferring to remain concealed still, he lingers invisibly as the others help the girls out of the ship and tend to their health.

Once the survivors are out of the way, and the four heroes are alone, Mirage reappears, careful to conceal his face using a mask made out of shimmering light, greatly obfuscating his features.

"That was excellent work everyone, I don't think it could have gone smoother. I agree with you Panacea, but where do we even begin? Katana didn't have any real information for us, other than that she heard people screaming. The missing flight recorder and boot print near it is about the only real clue I've seen around here. I noticed that someone tried their luck with the bank vault, though, but couldn't get in it. Hard to say it was the same people. I could take a look in the bank and that other intact building, people might have holed up there. If anyone wants to come with me feel free. Otherwise... I'm not sure who we could talk to about that flight recorder, but maybe Grace has or knows someone with a military contact that could help us out?"

Julian will remain with the others and converse, then eventually make his way to both the bank and the research lab to investigate for signs of people or anything particularly useful.

[Classic Gamer]

Ian was not happy to see that the sharks had presented a problem after all. But once the big push with the boat was under way, he didn’t see the need to stop what they were doing, redirect the sharks, then resume with the boat. So instead he focused all of his attention and power on bringing the boat in quickly and safely.

Thankfully, due to diligence and team work, the members of Section 8 were indeed able to get the rugby team safely to shore. None too soon it seemed be cause the cavalry had already begun to arrive. No doubt with Grace in the lead.

Ian joined the others for their after mission confab. “I am all for mounting the next rescue mission immediately. No telling what the victims may have to endure while in the clutches of the traffickers. That being said, nothing wrong with making a working break of it. Check out the two buildings slowly so as to give ourselves time to catch our breaths.”

Ian wasn’t sure if the missing transponder and the bank vault attempt were related to the abductions, time would tell he supposed. It may have simply been an unrelated looting attempt of two. The missing people were the priority.

 

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[The Rat Queen]

Anima Alysa Raine Alysa set grateful feet upon relatively solid ground, though there was little to no risk of her actually falling into the shark's domain with her flying active. Still, the experience had been harrowing...and strangely exhilarating! She had nearly exclusively used her magic in carefully controlled, and hidden, environments. But now, feeling the energy flow as she controlled the weather itself, she found herself flush with excitement. "The flight recorder might've been taken by a pilot or one of the crew," she suggested. "If there are kidnappers and roving gangs around, anyone who survived the crash may well be in danger. I agree, we should find these slavers and stop them." Turning to Grace, she thrust out a hand and blurted out, "And give me a bloody cookiebiscuit!!"

[Anarchy]

Panacea slowly works her way through the rugby team, blending medical training with divine healing. A few abrasions give some possible insight into what had attracted the bull sharks. A few good meals and some bed rest and all will make a full recovery.

A sodden Grandma Grace rolls her eyes at Alysa's playful insolence and with elegant insouciance she utters, a bit of her Scottish ancestry wrapping around the words, "No sure whit ye mean, silly sausage." She then reaches into her pocket and brings forth a soft cinnamon biscuit and takes a bite without ever losing direct eye contact, savouring the spicy warmth of the flavours as they dance on her tongue she makes little satisfied sounds. With a smile and a wink she returns to the ute, cranking up tunes released just the previous year, patiently waiting to return you to the encampment whenever you are ready.

Bit by bit Alysa starts to lose ground fighting to restrain the forces of nature, from continuing its deluge, until the monsoon reasserts its dominance, returning with redoubled force for a moment, as if Mother Nature was throwing a tantrum. It is getting increasingly dangerous for all involved to be out in this storm as the wind turns debris into potentially-deadly projectiles.

Reference PurestMED Laboratories

Stepping through the broken front glass doors you enter the lower floor of the lab. After your close encounter with the apex predators of the deep, PurestMED's lobby's pitch black knee-deep water is more than a little daunting. Luckily, the stairwell is easily accessed, quickly bringing those that took that route up the second floor, which is dry save for the rains that soak the carpets closest to the There are sufficient tables in this room that could be propped up to block the windows and keep out the majority of the stormshattered windows, broken safety glass crunching under footwear/force fields. Emilia and Alysa, due to their intensive training the sciences, take note of the contents of the private laboratory and deduce this to be a general research facility that is well-funded considering how well stocked it is.

You find the diesel generator in a storage room merrily humming along singing a duet with the storm as it works to keep refrigeration units running so Various experiments of mundane ilkthe contents remain unspoiled. The generator sputters occasionally suggestive that the fuel was You estimate it has an hour or two topsrunning low, and you deduce that with just a flick of a switch you can set it to run off of the reserve diesel tank for approximately an additional 96 hours before it will require refuelling.

Reference Cairns Central Trust

Ascending three steps, and moving through the ajar heavy oak doors of the Cairns Central Trust, has you splashing along in filthy ankle-deep water. It is a single-story building fashioned out of heavily-reinforced white marble, possibly the most secure building in Cairns, with a windowless design aesthetic inspired by an age where men solved their problems with ballista. Teller's desks have been left in disarray, frozen in the panicked moment after the comet's impact, and all the chaotic events that transpired afterward. Superficial damage can be seen on the vault doors in the form of extensive torch marks on the hinges and locking mechanism. The wall next to the vault got into a fight with a sledgehammer, but it was the victor there as well. Rusting hand tools, and a cutting torch with tank, lean partially-submerged against the vault door. A spent M185 signal flare can be found underwater, looking initially like a jellyfish.

Someone has vandalised the bank, spray painting graffiti over paintings and signage with what appears to be an upside down anarchy symbol. Those that look closer find strange black marks at the base of the outer doors and the front of one of the teller's partially-submerged desk that also shows damage from the impact. The same black marks mar the white marble flooring in many spots, which you recognise as black rubber from something akin to a motorcycle's fat front tire burning rubber.

Security cameras feed to a Analog recording and cassette format of magnetic tape for videoBetamax that still has power running to it from a battery bank. The images are grainy and the field of view is poor, but you catch enough glimpses to watch a number of Each of these men and women look like they know how to carry themselves in a fight, carrying knives, bats, and the like, but also pistols, and one has a sawed-off shotgun slung across their backarmed individuals in motorcycle gear, all wearing a patch with the Those successful with a Good intensity Reason feat will recognise this as the motorcycle club called "Chrome" that has occasionally made international news. They are opportunist thieves that will bash those that fight back/get in their way, but only to ensure they get paid for what they steal.upside down anarchy symbol, causing gleeful mayhem in an area that is completely dry. Watching them try to get the vault open shows they are amateurs, hurting themselves as much as doing any real damage, much akin to watching a monkey attempt to copulate with a football. The footage continues with individuals pouring out of the bank and returning some minutes later with a military member, whose hands are bound by duct tape, and two jump packs with camouflaged crosses on them. One of those that had left now carries a flare pistol, which they employ against the vault door, to zero effect. Minutes later there is a flurry of activity as water starts to pour in through the front doors, and very quickly the gang packs up and leaves, dragging along the military member and their bags as well.

[Malkavianmilkball]

Panacea Emilia trailed behind the others, her every step feeling like lead, trudging through the water like moving through molasses. By the time they reached the lab she was sitting on mostly clear table catching her breath. It was clear that she had pushed her powers beyond her body's ability to keep up. Emilia observed the lab's experiments with forced attention even when all she wanted to do was sleep. She managed to trudge over to the generator and switch it to the reserve tank "That will give them some time to come back for their research at least." She thought to herself before returning to her table to sit and watch the others. When they reached the bank Emilia once again found a mostly dry table or counter to sit on and let the others investigate the happenings with the vault. "Whaaaaa-" She breaks off into a yawn "aaat do you think should our next step. She asks after they finish reviewing that tape. ""I don't like leaving the prisoner, but I don't know how we could find or follow that gang. Any ideas?" She yawns again and rubs her eyes.

[RedMoney]

Julian ponders intently as he examines the bank footage and the bank itself. He accentuated his pensiveness by pretending to puff on an imaginary pipe as he scanned everything.

Julian, in a rough British accent, imitates Sherlock Holmes to the best of his ability as he talks with the team.

"Our first course of action needs to be to alert the Australian military that one of their people has been captured by this biker gang. I highly doubt they've gotten far in this storm, but if they are keeping those bikes fueled, chances are they have some kind of base with a garage that is still operational. They tried to shoot the bank door with a flare gun, so chances are they aren't the brightest bunch. They are certainly greedy and reckless though. I would bet it's elementary that they will try to come back with some heavy ordinance to finish the job. If Grace actually was a get away driver, she might know something about the gang. That said, we need to rest so we either need to get to the nearby medical base promptly, or make shelter here."

Julian would track down Grace after the investigation, but not before circling back to the helicopter to try to find some manner of identifying serial number, or figure out the make and model. He also takes a moment to pilfer a local grocery store and grab a snack, ideally some kind of cinnamon cookies to satiate Grace's addiction. If he procures some sort of sweet treat, he opens his conversation with Grace by offering the sugary bribe.

"Say Grace, do you know anything about local biker gangs? It looks like the soldier piloting that chopper got nabbed by a bunch of goons wearing upside down red anarchy symbols. If they have a known hangout nearby, we might be able to go liberate said soldier. Also, we need to figure out how to inform the Australian military about this, but I left their number in my other hero suit. Any thoughts on how we can get in touch with them? Sorry to put this on you but we're really lacking in contacts on this side of the planet. Also, do we have enough time to make it back to the nearest Red Cross encampment?"

[Classic Gamer]

Ian followed along with the others, taking in as much information as possible. The medical labs were a bit beyond his area of expertise, so he merely observed without offering an opinion. He was a little more familiar with the bank, but only with a cursory knowledge like any customer or business man. The biker gang was a little unsettling but only in as much as they had taken a hostage.

“The biker gang will have to be tracked and dealt with, but perhaps a little sleep needs to occur first. I don’t want anyone getting hurt because we were too tired to be on our A game. Especially one of our own.”

 

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[The Rat Queen]

Anima Alysa Raine Alysa stared at the Beta recording, carefully looking at the captive soldier. She'd suspected that there had been survivors of the helicopter crash, and that they might be captured, but she hadn't anticipated the soldier being held during an actual bank robbery. Still, she watched as carefully as she could, memorizing every detail she could about the soldier's expressions, mentality, and movements. Once they were done and heading out through the lobby, Alysa took a detour to where the soldier had been standing. "A moment, if you please," she asked the others. "I'd like to try something." Closing her eyes, she began chanting and weaving her fingers through the air, tracers of light and air trailing behind her hands as they moved. Honing in on what she'd seen of the soldier, trying to familiarize herself with him, she cast out her mind, searching for his, trying to establish telepathic contact.

[Anarchy]

If the previous weather forecast is still to be trusted then the weather system that is fuelling this monsoon should end in the next 4 days.

An exhausted and sodden Emilia acts to permit the diesel generator to continue humming along uninterrupted maintaining refrigeration to the laboratory samples. Like the act of paying for items taken from the costume shop, it is how one acts when no one is looking that really speaks of one's character.

Julian sloshes through the waters to examine the military helicopter, his pockets filled with Anzac biscuits from a punnily-named meat pie shop "3.14 Pie", determining enough from the burned out hulk that he feels confident that it was an armed dark grey Bell OH-58 Kiowa helicopter, modified to Maximum capacity is pilot plus 6 passengerscarry additional passengers and though he only has a partial tail registration number, it should be sufficient to identify it.

"Oh deary, you shouldn't have." Plying the elderly with sweet treats earns Julian a beaming smile, revealing perfect teeth or possibly dentures. Julian is brought into the ute to chat, as the storm's fury makes even conversation more akin to yelling. Grace reveals that the International Red Cross has a means of contacting the Australian Military on an emergency citizen's band channel to arrange for heli-evac of the critically-injured, as she had offered when Alick had been burned. She promises to make the call the moment that she gets everyone safely back to your encampment.

Grandma Grace's nefarious past Failed Reason Feat versus Good intensity.

Reason Feats vs. Good Intensity to recognise the symbol:

Dice Reason Feat vs. Good Intensity (Julian, Good - Yellow needed):

1d100

89

Successful

Dice Reason Feat vs. Good Intensity (Ian, Remarkable - Green needed):

1d100

50

Successful

Dice Reason Feat vs. Good Intensity (Emilia, Excellent - Green needed):

1d100

61

Successful

Dice Reason Feat vs. Good Intensity (Alysa, Remarkable - Green needed):

1d100

4

Unsuccessfulpays no dividends in this moment as she has no information to relay about the motorcycle club's patch. Ian, Emilia, and Julian recognise the symbol as the motorcycle club called "Chrome" that has occasionally made international news. They are opportunist thieves that will bash those that fight back/get in their way, but only to ensure they get paid for what they steal.

Alysa takes her time watching and rewatching the low-grade Beta recording, drinking in the details. The red-haired soldier sits mostly off screen with their duct-taped hands in front of them, left to her own devices as long as they do not make a fuss, watching the bandana-wearing bikers' unsuccessful attempts to prise open the vault door.

Standing in the same spot that the Royal Australian Air Force Flight member occupied and bringing forth images connected with the person, she sends out a mystical sending, making contact almost immediately. It takes a few moments before the military pathologist believes she is not delusional or asleep. She identifies herself as Lieutenant Corso and asks, "Wh...who is this? What is happening?"

[Malkavianmilkball]

Panacea Emilia rests in the back of the ute, fighting a yawning fit as she tries to remain awake and alert. She remembers vaguely hearing about a criminal gang called Chrome, but the fact that they might actually face a biker gang was at least interesting to her. Sadly it was not interesting enough as the sounds of soft snoring can be heard from the back of the ute as the strain of the day finally overtakes her.

[RedMoney]

Julian looks over the snoring Panacea with concern.

I wonder if she overdid it. It must take a lot of energy to use all those weird powers.

Then, turning his attention to Anima, he watches her casting spells like some cartoon wizard very curiously. It was hard to wrap his head around the idea of magic, even as a mutant that could bend light and teleport around. He watched quietly, not sure what she was doing and not willing to interrupt someone who could control the weather with her mind.

"Hey Pressure, while we're waiting, I was sort of curious, what's your story, if you don't mind sharing? I'm curious how you got your powers and ended up out here with us. You seem to be, how should I put it... pretty casual about all this, I'm guessing this isn't your first time seeing some action huh?"

[Classic Gamer]

“Ah, the dreaded origin story.” Ian laughed as he tried to find his own comfortable way of resting out the latest throes of the storm. “Fair enough. Every costumed vigilant has one, so I am not without mine.”

He thought how best to begin, but thought he should keep it simple. Just because people might be interested in the general information did not mean that they wanted all the gory details of what Ian had to endure to receive his endowment.


“I worked for my father’s investment company. Some people thought that meant that I must hold the keys to that little kingdom because they decided to kidnap me and pump me for information. When I wasn’t able to give them what they were looking for, they changed tactics. I am assuming they meant to get a different return on investment by using me as slave labor. But not just any slave labor. They experimented on my mind and body. Mutagenic effects were what they intended, I believe. To turn me into a walking weapon. I realized that these must not be ordinary criminals. The word supervillains came to mind.”

Ian let out a small sigh before he continued. He guessed there wasn’t really a briefer way to tell the story, so he plowed on to its conclusion. ”My father hired a specialized security team, read mercenaries, to retrieve me. Sometime later I learned of my abilities. I decided to use them for my own form of justice against such types. So I went the costumed vigilante route, chose the name Pressure and have been acting out these last few months. This humanitarian mission has been my biggest undertaking, and the first one where I haven’t smashed somebody in the face. Yet.”

 

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[Anarchy]

Humid temperatures of 41 degrees Celsius, stave off the inevitable chill of being soaking wet, but only exacerbate the bone-tired Emilia's yawns. Kindly Grandma Grace, chewing on the last of Julian's Anzac biscuits, rolls down her window, releasing a wash of radio volume, Mr. Cohen's deep voice a soothing accompaniment for the constant rainfall. She eyes the Greek heroine lying in the less-than-comfortable Toyota's flatbed for a time before rolling up her window to keep the monsoon out. Emilia is struck by debris, but nothing that even has a chance of piercing her forcefields.

Every once in awhile the septuagenarian uses her hand to wipe the condensation away from the vehicle's glass, hoping to catch a glimpse of the rest of Section-08, but the visibility is so poor that she is often not even glimpsing in the right direction. Whatever decision Section-08 comes up with the window to getting back safely to any of the International Red Cross encampment is closing.

Alysa notifies everyone else that she has made contact over the expanse and agrees to act as the conduit for everyone to ask questions of Lieutenant Corso.

Corso, though she quickly adds that she goes by Kate, whispers her responses across the expanse, not understanding the nuances of magically-wrought telepathic communication. She describes to the group, with a "voice" the places her as middle-aged, that she and 5 others were being kept in the box chain store Target. The large store looks to have only half survived a fire and something akin to a hurricane, which has caused deep cracks to appear in walls, ceiling and flooring. She explains that she is a Australian military pathologist with the rank of Lieutenant. Though she is feeling fine (albeit quite sore and battered from being in a helicopter crash) those who have been there the longest are getting sick. Everyone is refusing to eat or drink what is offered to them, as they fear that it is from tainted supplies, though the sickness remains, which makes her think it stems from another source.

The captors always wear paisley-patterned red bandanas over their faces bandito-style, showing only their eyes as they had on the security tape, and while they are not gentle they provide meals and outside of the initial threat for newcomers, leave the captives to their own devices as long as they remain quiet and do not cause any problems. A couple of those that were taken the day before look to have been roughed up, fighting for their liberty, and have the bruises and black eyes to show for it. One armed guard stands outside of the single exit, for the back doors are found beyond the burned and collapsed rear of the store, which is a sliding gate of metal bars covered by a long sliding panel of cracked glass.

Two details are crucial: the first is that the motorcycle members had removed armaments from the helicopter before the fires from the crash totally consumed it, and that the military jump packs need to be recovered ASAP, as they are crucial to the classified mission she has been ordered to undertake. She does not reveal anything of her mission, or the contents of the bags, but Alysa is positive that she can learn more of the woman's surface thoughts if she can get in the same room with her.