They soar on wings of eagles and move with the speed of thought. Their strength is like unto the gods, and their wisdom illuminates the darkest mysteries. With their heroism, they give hope to millions. With their courage, they inspire us all. They are the superheroes of Freedom City. Today we look upon Vanguard Hall and the Vanguards of Liberty.
Protecting Freedom City from strange and fantastic menaces is a supreme challenge, but the metropolis’ super-powered champions have been equal to the task. Under the heroes’ watchful eyes, Freedom has remained safe. On this day, like so many others, the VoL would be charged with protecting the people of Freedom City, and perhaps, with protecting something much bigger than themselves.
It all begins on a typical winter weekday in Freedom City, as a frosty morning gives way to a cold and mildly snowy afternoon. The constant movement of traffic, cacophony of noise, and plethora of smells and tastes bombard the senses just as city residents have long since grown accustomed to.
Most of Freedom’s citizens are busy at work, enjoying a late lunch, or studying their lessons at school. The city’s superheroes spend the day the usual way: protecting grateful innocent bystanders from an array of purse-snatches, burglaries, drug deals, gang violence, and assorted other street crimes. In short, it’s about as quiet as things ever get for costumed crime-fighters.
It is mid afternoon and most of the VoL find themselves back inside Vanguard Hall, getting in a bit of rest and relaxation on this unusually quiet, but much appreciated day of relative calm. With The Freedom League going global and moving to the Lighthouse recently, the Next-Gen still in training, and the Atom Family often off dimension hopping, The Vanguards of Liberty had become Freedom City’s most readily available line of defense. For that reason, they found themselves responsible for everything from cut-purses to super-villains. This is where you find yourself on this cold day in February.
Vanguard Hall
Computer, Defense System, Fire Prevention System, Gym,
Hangar, Holding Cells, Infirmary, Laboratory, Library, Living Space, Power System,
Security System, Workshop
Mark finds himself in the workshop, it has been a busy morning, 2 meeting and he had several papers to look over yet, still the suit needs adjusting and here he is. He had some improvements that came out of The R&D of WTI and he was itching to try them.
Yes the new mesh works much better, he has more tactile sences at lest 20% improvement. Humm this might work for the new armored vests that they been working on. not as high tech but still could be adapted on a more affordable budget. Yes , humm may have to tech to the boys in product plament and development about other uses for this.
He allows a charge to roll across his hands and release a bolt into the wall....Yes this would work nicely and with the new power pack he;ll have no more power outages at bad times...ugh the last one was bad, he was sore for a month after that.
He rolled though his datebook in his mind, no nothing to attend to tonight so , pules would be getting a test drive with the new suit tonight
Lawrence seemed to be lounging in the living quarters but in reality he was going over the documents for his upcoming case. His mask rested in the briefcase on the table before him as he scanned over the papers in hand.
This was as near a vacation as he was likely to get as it seemed quiet on both the mundane and supers front at this time so he was taking advantage of it, but even the lull in action didn't mean that duty was't a phone call away.
Gold Rush observes the electrical blast that Pulse has just fired into the wall, comparing it to a series of graphs on the screens along the wall. "ACCURACY IMPROVED SEVEN POINT THREE THREE PERCENT OVER PREVIOUS MODEL, MARK. HOWEVER, ENERGY DRAIN IN SECONDARY SYSTEMS IS ALSO UP FIVE POINT TWO NINE PERCENT." He pulls up a prior iteration of the suit design on the holographic monitor, highlighting a series of power relays. "I SUGGEST REINCORPORATING THIS RELAY SERIES TO REDUCE THE DRAIN TO THE ARTICULATION SERVOMOTORS."
After Looking over gold rush suggestions " Yes that would increase reaction time as well. Good catch there"
Tom is lounging in the hot tub, after a quick workout. A couple of bimbos are hanging out with him (the girls are fluzzies he met at a club earlier in the week and he invited over for some hut tubbing). While they hang off him, he examines a new action figure made in his image and talks on his cell phone
"Yeah the action figure looks decent. I just want to know why the Captain Invincible figure is lowest celling one out of the team?
Well, of course the kids love the Pulse Battle Suite/mesh outfit. He's the closest thing we have to a transformer on the team.
And Goldrush is an android.
I know, androids are cool.
Yes, you're right. Of course kids like the samurai's dark image and the sword.
No. I'm not going to start using a sword.
So, what are you saying? I'm boring. The kids don't like me because I don't have a cool gimick.
Isn't being invincible a gimick? I mean that has to count for something.
Listen I got to go Marv."
Yeah he started out as a normal powers type...but I changed hinm as he background got fleshed out. So he only have a few powers..the powerful stuff is the armor.
He isn't a power suit per say, but really more along they lines of a body mesh suit with guntlets and a harness or chest piece..there are really no servos to control anything...well after ya said that I decided there are in the hands :}
But yeah he is a wealthy techi..no super int but it is 20 so good enough for me.
Lawrence thumbed the papers as he considered the upcoming case against the criminal element of Freedom City. It was so much easier to deal with criminals when he let himself be taken over by the mask and literally become the persona from inside of the mask, The Samurai.
It must have been that the other heroes of Freedom City had made a mark on the Samurai because he wasn't as destructive as he was when Lawrence first learnt that he wasn't just blacking out but becoming another person when he had spent hours staring into the mask.
Whatever reason The Samurai was playing by the superhero rules of now and that made Lawrence have mixed emotions. He let out a sigh and stuffed the papers back into the briefcase while he took out the mask and leaned back on the couch. He just studied it intently as he does every so often when he wanted a moment to clear his thoughts.
Etrigan walks through the lounging quarters he spots laurance and stops and says."so i see your workin on a case?"
Etrigan walks through the lounging quarters he spots laurance and stops and says."so i see your workin on a case?"
Lawrence had been so into his study of the mask that he was actually startled and the effect was that he shot up on the couch. He stared at Etrigan Zane and moment before putting the mask down and picked up the papers again. "Simple criminal case. I try not to judge my cases but that isn't easy." He shakes the papers, "This guy is liable to walk and likely the next time we see him in court will be for something worse." He tosses the paper back into the briefcase followed by the mask before closing it.
Etrigan chuckles at lawurence when he shot up on up the couch..and says."i say you put ur mask on and just take care of em itd be alot easier,but thats just what i think"
Present day.
Present day.
As they are working together on Pulse's energy harness, Gold Rush suddenly says, "I AM HOSTING A SOCIAL GATHERING NEXT WEDNESDAY. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD ATTEND. YOU MAY BRING A SUITABLE COMPANION IF YOU SO DESIRE."
Etrigan chuckles at lawurence when he shot up on up the couch..and says."i say you put ur mask on and just take care of em itd be alot easier,but thats just what i think"
"Likely but not very legal. I don't think I want to get back on the wrong side of the Freedom League again or I should say that it would be the wrong side of the VoL now since the League has bigger fish to fry."
Etrigan chuckles at lawurence when he shot up on up the couch..and says."i say you put ur mask on and just take care of em itd be alot easier,but thats just what i think""Likely but not very legal. I don't think I want to get back on the wrong side of the Freedom League again or I should say that it would be the wrong side of the VoL now since the League has bigger fish to fry."
"True laurance very true" Etrigan then turns and exits the lounging Quarters.
Putting down the gauntlets , Mark turns to gold rush " I would be happy to attend, my friend" In his mind he runs though lady's he could call to attend not wanting to come alone as gold rush seemed to be expecting him to bring someone. " I can always explain away my being invited if need be, as WIE does maintenance on both the hall and yourself, very convenient that"
"THAT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY," Gold Rush replies, "AS THE INVITEES ARE ALL TO BE MEMBERS OF THE SUPERHERO COMMUNITY. IT WILL BE A 'MASKED' BALL, ACCORDING TO JOHNNY ROCKET, WHO SEEMED TO FIND THE CONCEPT AMUSING IN SOME FASHION."
Trailblazer enters, having completed some errands around town.
I've never described him. He's a black man, appearing to be in his early-to-mid 40's, ell-built but not spectacularly so, his hair kept in a military trim. He wears a metalic vest -which you know to be armor-reinforced- over a midnight-blue jumpsuit. There are cargo pockets on both thighs. On his left wrist, Trailblazer keeps his "Data Analysis Device", or DAD. (Circuitry in his right glove interacts with a EFID field around the DAD, so he doesn't need to touch it in order to interface with it.)
Although he's never saluted anybody in the Vanguard, he still seems most comfortable in a quasi-military discipline. (For example, he's happy to answer to "Chief".) He stops, bows ever-so-slightly, and greets you all with a polite "Gentlemen." Then he smiles.
Lawrence glanced around and decided that it would be best if he left the Living Quarters. He had heard that Mister Captain Invincible had some of his girls over and Lawrence always hated that because not everyone on the team was out declaring their super hero identities. He put his mask back into the briefcase and closed it up before he walked out.
Lawrence hoped that Mister Captain Invincible would have enough sense to keep the girls out of some other places of Vanguard Hall but Lawrence always excepted to find one of them in another area. He had already prepared some excuse about working with the VoL on a legal matter. Lawrence made his way to the Workshop where Goldrush and Pulse seemed to frequently spend their time.
He entered the Workshop and sat the briefcase down in a clean spot. He glanced at Goldrush and Pulse to see if they were working on something before he interrupted them.
"LAURENCE," Gold Rush greets him, "HELLO. I HAVE JUST INVITED MARK TO A PARTY I AM HOSTING HERE IN THE HALL NEXT WEDNESDAY. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE SAME INVITATION TO YOU, AND TO ANY SUITABLE COMPANION YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE ACCOMPANY YOU. THE INVITEES ARE MEMBERS OF THE SUPERHERO COMMUNITY, SO YOU NEED NOT CONCERN YOURSELF WITH THE SECRECY OF YOUR CIVILIAN IDENTITY." He tilts his head slightly. "WILL YOU COME?"
"Yeah rocket would find it amusing goldrush, I think I can round up a lady for the event" He spys Lawrence come into the room and smiles
"The good captain have company again Lawrence, thats normally when you hide here. We really should get him his own entrance. I have talked to him , but after last times party in the training room I think we may need to change the locks" He says with a laugh
"Really though we do need to talk with him about his ...guests"
After a few bit longer in the hot tub with the ladies, they get dressed, he grabs a girl under each arm, steps out onto the balcony and then flies them to the nearest busy street where they can easily get cabs. He then gives each of them cab fair and flies back to HQ. He searches out the rest of the guys, and casually wanders into the lab.
"Hey gents, what's up?"
His phone rings
"Oh wait sorry guys, just a minute.
Hey Marv. What? The Tonight Show!? You think you can get me on? Of course. Go for it! Yeah, cool. See you later."
"I would be glad to come to the party, Goldrush. However I will not be bringing any companions especially of the super hero persuasion." He nodded in affirmation to Pulse's assessment. "He..."
Lawrence started to speak as Mister Captain Invicible came waltzing in. He had been sure this place would remain free of the girls and it took him a moment to realize that the girls were not present. "He had some guests and I agree that he needs his own entrance though why he can't just rent a penthouse suite for his conquests and parties I have no idea."
Tom's public identity really did make Lawrence very nervous and on edge because alot for the District Attroney would be at stake if it came out that he was the hero known as "The Samurai" especially because of the illegal activities of fifteen years ago that the hero in the Mask was responsible for.
"Hey, I do have a penthouse suite, and I do use it plenty. However, this girl barfed in my hot tub the other night, and it's still being cleaned. I didn't realize you'd all be hanging out here today."
Any formalities are harshly shattered as a siren sounds, calling all members into the Comm room of Vanguard Hall. All of the members know full well that this is an emergency call on the team’s restricted communication network, so it must be time for business. Grab your cape and cowl heroes; it’s once again time to save the day!
Captain Bill “Bulldog” Maddicks, commander of the city police department’s elite STAR Squad, which is specially equipped and trained to deal with supervillains stands impatient on the other side of Vanguard Hall’s large array of monitors. The captain has a reputation for being distrustful of superheroes and it is common knowledge he only begrudgingly works with them.
Maddicks sports full riot gear, and several similarly dressed STAR Squad officers are behind him forming a cordon around a grandiose building. A large sign at the very front of the premises reads, PARADISE HOTEL CASINO & LOUNGE— Appearing for Two Big Weeks: the Mary Kaye Trio—With Joe E. Lewis and Lili St. Cyr! as longtime Freedom City residents, you all recognize the establishment as one of the more famous gambling houses located in the city’s Southside area, whether by reputation or experience..
“Looks like we got a situation down here. A group of superhuman perps is trying to knock over Paradise, and the place is full of innocent bystanders. We’re all ready to move in, but Commissioner Kane wants you folks to go in first and see if you can end it quick and quiet, before these creeps get any ideas about taking hostages. We got the place surrounded, so they ain’t getting out any other way.” Maddicks states, obviously all business.
Lawrence pops open his briefcase and grabs the mask quickly before slamming it shut. "We should have invested in a Vanguard vehicle..."
He listens from the background at the situation but it causes him to frown as a battle between supers can hardly be called quiet and sometimes not even quick. He didn't actually say what he was thinking but a moment of thought crossed his face as he stared at the mask in his hand.
A moment later he lifted it to his face and the ghostly suit of the samurai appeared around him. Samurai glanced at the screen then to the other members of the Vanguard.
The A.A.V.C.(Aerial Armored Vangaurd Carrier)
Size-huge Str-40, Flight 4(100 mph), Toughness-12(4 of which is impervious), Defense-8, Features: Alarm, Auto-pilot
Given a choice between just running there, on the one hand, or buckling ourselves into the AAVC, engaging the gravity drives, decoupling from the docks, flying there, finding a place to land, landing safely, and so on, on the other hand, I know which option is my choice for "quick and quiet".
When pit arrives at the Com room and hears the details, he cringes.
"Damn it! I have an appointment with my nutritionist in an hour. And I need my costume for a photo shoot tonight. F!~& it. I'm just gonna fly there in my sweats, I don't want to risk getting my costume dirty because the other one is still at the dry cleaners; it got all dirty when I was moving that transport truck the other day.
Did he say super humans? Why couldn't it just be guys with guns..."
"I WILL MEET YOU THERE AND BEGIN COLLECTING DATA ON THE SITUATION," Gold Rush tells the others. He pauses long enough to allow an objection from someone if there is one, then blurs away, a golden streak moving just below the speed of sound toward the boardwalk. In seconds, he has arrived at the Paradise Casino, and stands before Maddicks.
As you do your best to percieve the inside of the casino, you find your senses quite literally in the middle of a storm. The gambling and lounge areas are getting drenched by heavy rain showers and buffeted by high winds.The storm reduces visibility throughout Paradise and makes it impossible to see anything of use. You can see that wind and rain have took their toll on Paradise’s interior, and almost all the furnishings and decorations have been knocked about. The casino employees and patrons are using the furnishings and decorations as cover as best they can against the elements. The chaotic scene keeps you from determining an exact number of hostages.
For Trailblazer, it's an odd experience: he's reporting what he's sensing to the rest of the team, but he can't hear his own voice.
He'll take 30 seconds to search for the source of the disturbance.
Gearing up as fast as he can, mark dons his mesh suit, power harness and gauntlets now as pules he is ready to roll.
'The paradises is close I'll meet you guys there"
Moving down the hall with increasing speed pules allows his feet to glide across the hall, once he hits the street he moves to full speed zipping along the sidewalks at around traffic at 50 MPH
For Trailblazer, it's an odd experience: he's reporting what he's sensing to the rest of the team, but he can't hear his own voice.
He'll take 30 seconds to search for the source of the disturbance.
I'm just gonna fly there in my sweats
Etrigan grabbed his sword and met up with the others to figure out as much out about the situationas possible before charging in.
Make a notice check.
Notice = 1d20 + 4 = 23
Notice = 1d20 + 4 = 23
Being in the heat of the storm, you cant discern any source of the chaos.
Being in the heat of the storm, you cant discern any source of the chaos.
That's fine. I climb into the AAVT's pilot chair and start warming up the engines.
While we're waiting for Captain Incredible to change into his costume, I re-engage my clairsentience and move my observation point around the casino to see the extent of the storm: only the main gaming room, or the whole building? And I'm specifically targeting the areas likely to access the vaults.