MINOTAR pulls up the files and displays the local incidents for all the others once everyone is available for a meeting.
"The Briefing: The 'Errants, led by Adonis and Dr.'DNA'. Shee-Ariel could be one of them, or just an anarchist in the wrong place at the wrong time. NOTE: She does make a good distraction...so she could just be peripherally involved here somehow too. Nothing is ruled out yet. It all started with someone breaking into a local genetic specialty-clinic's vault. Which sounds appropriate for someone called Dr. DNA of course. There was the high school situation, but nothing obvious came up investigating there. Fire-lady's random attack on the locals, and last but not least this hostage situation...which was almost foiled too easily. Another distraction possibly? SJ? Leon? Did I leave anything obvious out? The last thing I want to do here for everyone is to leave out anything pertinent."
"Sounds like everything to me. "
Leon had closed the hero profiles as the group entered the main control room. He stood to join MINOTAR and SJ by the conference table as MINO pulled up the files on the criminals in question. He was glad to see some enthusiasm from most of the newcomers.
"...SJ? Leon? Did I leave anything obvious out? The last thing I want to do here for everyone is to leave out anything pertinent."[/b]
"It sounds like you covered everything we have info-wise. We can adjust as we learn more." He agreed with Straightjacket. "Now that we have more hands, we can set up a watch rotation. Someone to man the comms while one or two patrol." Leon regards the newcomers. "If anyone has a job, wants to get a job or any other previous commitments let us know, we'll try to accommodate. Do any of you have questions?"
Once things settle into a regular schedule for the group, MINOTAR will attempt to re-examine all the evidence for something new...
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You don't have to wait for long before a call comes in over the police band. Reports indicate that officers have engaged two suspicious persons in a pickup truck on the outskirts of town. On engaging them, they were revealed to be metas and the bigger of the two has begun rampaging, tossing police cars around like tin cans!
Hitting the alarm, MINOTAR rushes to the hanger.
"Statement: Alert! Local police have engages a couple of metas! Head to the hanger as soon as you can: Lift-off in 5 minutes or less if you need the ride!"
Once in the hanger, MINOTAR starts the engine warm up procedure and silently requests an update from the police for metas' up-to-date location(s) and directions.
Straightjacket bounces his way to the hangar to get there as fast as possible.
Paper was still half wet as he ran for the hanger.
”Figures, right in the middle of a shower.” He growled angrily.
He tossed the towel on to a worktable as he entered the hanger. Pulling on a shirt as he took the steps two at a time into the JAVELIN. Dropping into the comms seat and strapping in just as MINOTAR initiated take off.
He scanned through the police and emergency bands for active chatter.
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Microgirl, Liberteen, Knightengale, and Enigma take their places within the javelin and the aircraft roars out of the hangar.
You find three police cars forming a barricade across the road, with two more police cruisers overturned nearby. The police are behind the cars, facing a mountain of a man about 12-and-a-half feet tall who appears to be enraged. Behind him, sitting in the cab of a pick-up truck is a normal-sized man, dressed all in brown and looking like some kind of human-insect hybrid by his costume. The police are shooting at the big man, but the bullets bounce off his hide.
INITATIVES
MINOTAR
Liberteen
Cockroach
Enigma
Knightengale
Cockroach
Paper
Straightjacket
Microgirl
Mongo
Opening the bay doors, MINOTAR will begin a slow pass directly over the hulking man.
"Statement: Anyone that wants to say hi to the big man now, get ready to jump! I'm going to pass over and use the VTOL system to land just behind their vehicle by a few hundred feet."
When it gets to his turn SJ will jump down onto the big guy.
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Liberteen leaps from the aircraft to engage the bigger man. Swinging her sword in a wide arc, she mistimes the blow and misses the man by a country mile.
Cockroach gestures and says something and a swarm of crawling cockroaches appear seemingly from nowhere and covers Liberteen. The girl bravely ignores the living carpet of insects.
Enigma hangs back on the javelin, holding his action.
Knightengale drops from the aircraft in a flying kick aimed at Mongo. The blow connects, but the giant shrugs it off.
(DC 21)
(DC 23)
Straightjacket tries to jump down and wrap him up.
Paper tapped a storage compartment revealing several reams of paper he hidden away on the JAVELIN. Grabbing one, he moved to the hatch. He watch Liberteen and Knightengale attack, to varying degrees of success. When the bugs swarmed the Amazonian, he shuddered a little.
Straightjacket jumped at the big guy with the obvious intention to try to grapple and Paper decided there was enough attention on the the bruiser. He looked over at Enigma, he wasn’t sure just what the other hero could do but hoped he wouldn’t wait too long. ”This is our stop.” He said, giving Enigma a smirk. ”Last one in buys dinner.” He chuckled and leapt out of the aircraft.
Half way to the ground he tossed the stack of paper below him. The sheets scatter and flutter as the swirl. A slide forms, catching Paper and depositing him safely between the pickup and the heroes engaging Mongo.
”Show’s over!” He yells at the bug-man as he thrusts a hand forward. The slide collapses and joins the rest of the paper as it rises up like a tidal wave to come down on the pickup, attempting to encase it in a paper shell.
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Leon covers the truck, encasing it in paper. Straightjacket grapples the big fellow, winding around him like a human ribbon. Microgirl leaps from the jet to land directly on Mongo's bald head with enough force to crack concrete, but the man seems not to notice. Instead, he takes hold of Straightjacket and unwinds the hero from around himself as casually as removing an article of clothing.
(DC 21)
(vs. DC 18)
MINOTAR lands the Javelin quickly behind the old vehicle in the road, blocking it in somewhat from 30 or 40 feet, then exiting the Javelin quickly... while also sealing and locking the hatch behind himself, just in case.
He then quick transmits on all local police frequencies:
"Warning: All Officers! Please back off and let the Justice League handle these metas! Please set up a perimeter at least 500 feet beyond the center! Thank you for your cooperation!"
After being discarded like a dirty shirt, SJ shouts "We need an exploding candygram or we're in trouble"
Seeing how he's no use against this target, he looks around for someone he can actually hold onto, he tries to grapple cockroach.
but is clearly rattled, and fails badly.
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Liberteen, for her part, boldy brushes the last of the cockroaches off of herself and steps back to regroup. "He took my strongest punch like it was nothing! I'm open to suggestions!"
From within the shell of paper surrounding the truck, cockroach says, "Nice try, hero, but I don't need to see to direct my friends!" Instantly, cockroaches converge on Leon from everywhere! (I need a DC 13 Fort save or you are Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated).
Enigma emerges from the javelin and takes a moment to study the situation. He seems to be analyzing the goings-on. Knightengale pushes past him. "Do something!" she shouts to Enigma. She throws another kick at Mongo, managing only to connect with air.
(DC 23)
"Well the exploding candygram worked in a movie" he mutters as he gets it together.
Paper hopped back away from the tiny hoard with a look of disgust.
“Do that again and I will drop you like a rock.”
He warns Cockroach not bothering to hide the disgust in his voice. Paper makes a lifting motion and the entombed truck lifts off the ground several stories.
Rushing past the paper elevator, MINOTAR charges Mongo from behind, bringing his metal fist towards the back of the large man's head...
“Statement: CANDYGRAM FOR MONGO!”
If it hits: Toughness vs. DC25
"Finally"
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As Paper lifts the truck into the air, Straightjacket attempts to entangle Cockroach but is clearly rattled and fails. Microgirl, knowing that she is outclassed, keeps her distance. Mongo targets Liberteen, throwing the young amazon back into a parked car and leaving her reeling! MINOTAR hits Mongo from behind, but Mongo only frowns and says, "Ow!"
Liberteen wipes a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth and picks up the smashed car that she is leaning against, swinging it in a wide arc at Mongo. The vehicle connects, smashing it into further pieces, but Mongo only cracks his knuckles and grins.
Cockroach fights to get the truck door to open, held as it is by the wall of paper that surrounds the truck. Enigma continues to study the situation as Knightengale opens her mouth and assaults Mongo with a sonic attack! He ignores the assault.
[DC30]
[DC 23]
STATUS
Mongo: Bruised (-1)
Liberteen: Bruised (-1)
Straightjacket will once again try to wrap the big guy up. It may be futile, but he's a one trick pony.
MINOTAR begins some quick tactical calculations in his head, and sums up an answer quickly.
"Statement: Take note SJ! He may be strong and tough, but it appears he still has to breathe! Liberteen! Be ready to hit him with everything you have when I give the signal!"
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Paper turns, allowing the van to drop rather roughly back to the ground. Cockroach is Stunned this round. Paper then blasts a torrent of paper at Mongo. The big man grunts as the torrent impacts him and SJ, seeing his moment, wraps himself around Mongo. Microgirl slugs the big man in the jaw, again to no effect. Once again, Mongo pulls SJ off of himself like a dirty shirt, tossing him to one side.
(DC 23)
(DC 21)
(vs. DC 18)
STATUS
Liberteen: Bruised (-1 Toughness)
Mongo: Bruised (-2 Toughness)
Still standing between Mongo and the now dropped truck/van, MINOTAR steps back and grabs the vehicle (with Cockroach still in it?) and swings it over his head and down upon Mongo!
The dirty shirt jumps right back onto the big guy, trying to gain enough purchase to hold on.
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MINOTAR slaws the van into Mongo, eliciting another yelp of pain. Cockroach is thrown from the impact site, fumbling head-over-heels to land in a heap nearby. Liberteen takes advantage of the confusion to rush at Mongo again, swinging her sword as she comes. The weapon barely scratches the big man, but it does create a fine line of blood across his chest. Enigma, for his part, finally decides to take action. Almost casually, he strides up to Mongo and embraces him, wrapping his arms around the big man's neck. Knightengale throws another kick to Mongo's head, causing him to snarl.
(DC 24)
(DC 15 spec)
(DC 23)
Status
Liberteen: Bruised (-1 Toughness)
Mongo: Bruised (-4 Toughness)
With a pulling motion the paper flows back to him and swirls around. A few quick twirling motions and the paper grows out a long handle and into a large hammer head. With a final heave Paper lunges forward and swings the massive hammer at Mongo's side.
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As Mongo is slammed by the paper hammer (that hits with the force of a wrecking ball), he staggers back slightly. Sensing weakness, Straitjacket tries again to entangle him. (I'm going to rule that Mongo takes a penalty from his bruised state; it only makes sense.) Try as he might, the big man is unable to lose Straightjacket this time. The elastic wonder holds tight with the tenacity of a thousand rubber bands.
(DC 19)
Status
Liberteen: Bruised (-1 Toughness)
Mongo: Bruised (-5 Toughness)
In order to inspire the young Amazonian to join in on the teamwork of the group, MINOTAR will aid SJ with a grapple from behind...attempting a Full Nelson hold!
...or maybe a Half Nelson?!
"Statement and warning: NOW LIBERTEEN! But don't kill him...!"
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Liberteen takes MINOTAR up on his offer, unearthing a nearby stop sign and swinging it into the giant. It hits like a shotgun blast and both MINOTAR and Enigma nearly lose their grips! Enigma tightens his grip, attempting a chokehold. Knightengale throws another kick a Mongo's jaw. The man struggles against his captors but is obviously growing weaker. His breath comes in ragged gasps as Enigma tightens his hold.
(DC 25)
(DC 15 spec)
(DC 23)
STATUS
Liberteen: Bruised (-1 Toughness)
Mongo: Dazed and bruised (-7 Toughness)
SJ will try to move to a pin.
Paper winds back with the hammer and it collapses into a swirl of paper sheets then reforms into a vine like growth that snaps out at Mongo's legs attempting to snare him and pull him down onto the ground
"This is the part where you fall down!"
If the fight is over, MINOTAR signals for the locals to bring in a Power Dampening collar for both Mongo and Cockroach.
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The police move in quickly with nullifiers and attach them to both villains. As they are taking the bad guys away, the police sergeant turns to MINOTAR and says, "Great job rounding these two up before they could do any real harm. Now it is my unpleasant duty to inform you that Shee-Ariel got away again. My men were ambushed on the way to prison and she was freed. We haven't seen her since, though."
MINOTAR nods.
"Statement: Antother distraction."
He turns and leads the others a short away from the commotion.
"Statement and Request: I am getting tired of reacting and think we should be more proactive here. We cannot wait for these villains' end-game to appear and hope we can deal with it then. Civilians could get hurt because of our passivity. None of this makes any sense however. I have gone over the details and even run them up the chain to the smarter members of the JLA. Nothing. It all seem too random, and now this. Micro? I have a job for you. I want you to attach yourself to Mongo. Hide with him or near enough to him so that you can keep up with him. I will see if I can talk the police and local DA into 'accidentally' letting him go. We will make sure Cockroach is kept away from him. His abilities might give you away somehow. Once we know where he goes and who he contacts, Micro lets us know what she's found and we move in to stop this nonsense, whatever it is. Will you do it Micro?"
"Yeah, Mino, can't win a match on pure defense. "
MINOTAR proceeds with the plan, contacting the local DA and Police chief with JLA credentials asking for the favors.
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It isn't long after Mongo makes his "escape" that an odd report comes over the local news media. Apparently, Shee-Ariel is calling you out for a meeting. She gives a number at which she can be contacted and asks for a face-to-face meeting at a time and place to be jointly determined. She wishes to discuss terms.
A short while after the call-out is made, Microgirl checks in via comlink. "It's a trap, guys. They plan to draw off as many as possible and ambush the remaining group," she informs MINOTAR.
Seeing the inevitable battle looming, MINOTAR tells Microgirl to remain in hiding as long as she is safe. Only to reveal herself when needed, and to escape immediately if she is detected at all.
Gathering the others, MINOTAR relays the info from Microgirl and asks for suggestions on the correct response from the group.
"Question and Statement: Do we respond, or wait? This is an obvious trap now that we know it is, but how do we use it to our best advantage? Microgirl's help is invaluable, but she risks much the longer we let her remain in the enemies' nest."
"If it's a trap, then we all go or all not go. Seems like we better stick together. "
"Statement and Question: An abandoned mine shaft is a dangerous place to fight. What do you all think? Attack now, or wait? If we go, we go as soon as everyone is ready. No more procrastination. We let the enemy win if we do nothing for too long."
"So it seems to me, being a dumb jock, that the choice is go get them or stay here and be ambushed. I'm for go get em. Though there's that dumb jock thing. "