=============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/1 Posted Author Who /IS/ Legionary? Fri Jul 01 Media (IC: Wabash Avenue - Of ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Who is the powered hero Legionary? Seen here helping fellow heroes of Crucible City battle the menaces that have plagued the world What follows is footage of Legionary alongside heroes such as the currently MIA, Lone Star as well as,Captain Crucible, Fury, Jade Tiger, and Tiger Kitten fighting such things as Serpentine Supremes, Mastodons, and various other mechanical menaces, the final shot being of one recent fight where Legionary destroys one Mastodon, ripping it in half and then heaving it at a second destroying it. Sightings of the power have been seen globally, from reinforcing a breaking dam in Brazil after it was damaged by Urizen's forces, to not five minutes later helping firefighters stop a forest fire in northern Canada. With a take charge attitude, and no nonsense manner little is known about the man. Is he human, is he an alien from another world, or someone from the far future? The one thing for sure though is he's here, he's staying, and villains everywhere need watch out there's a new force on this world, and he's one to be reckoned with. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/2 Posted Author World Saved! Sat Jul 02 Media (Blue Beetle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The camera focuses in on a scene of chaos -- Crucible City, scarred with the property damage from some sort of massive battle and littered with scattered robotic debris. A red-headed reported appears in mid-frame, and begins to speak. "I'm in front of Olympus Mons -- the fitness center and impromptu nerve-center for the war against Urizen, owned and operated by former Dawn Patroller, Titan -- which, as you can see, was the epicenter for the massive attack by a legion of Auto-Urizens, the robotic duplicates of Count Urizen. Reports are sketchy, but what we do know is that at roughly 8 PM last night, the Powered hero known as 'The Ultimate' was somehow able to disable the entire Thulian mechanized army using a device that witnesses report was identical to the helmet seen worn by Count Urizen himself. These reports coincide with the previously unexplained phenomenon experienced around the world last night -- Thulian war machines grinding to a dead halt in every country of the world." Shots are inserted here first of the wrecked Olympus Mons, which seems to be little more than a vaguely gymnasium-like hole in the Earth at this point, and then of Thulian armies around the world standing completely inanimated and inert, some falling over stiffly onto their sides." "Experts believe that the planet-wide shutdown was part of counter-attack strategy masterminded by the Ultimate, and reportedly left Ultima Thule defenseless against the coordinated Pwered assault which left the island in U.N. control and Count Urizen himself dead. Though witnesses report that the fighting was centered on, at Olympus Mons, the battle spilled out into nearly every part of the city, pitting those Powered heroes who were not deployed to Ultima Thule against the legions of Urizen. Some witnesses allege that the Agarthans, previously thought to be hostile, also deployed to Olympus Mons in force -- to come to the aid of the Powered heroes present there. Reports place not only Titan and the Ultimate at Olympus Mons at the peak of the fighting, but local heroes Longbow, Legionary, the Statistic, the Doctor, Illustration of the Dawn Patrol, the Indestructible Corporate, and Freebird, the reformed villainess formerly known as PopStarr. All were reportedly instrumental in fending off Urizen's assault." "Though reports are still coming in, at this hour one thing is clear: The fighting has ended. Crucible City is safe. Governments around the world are declaring a complete victory over Urizen's forces -- the war is over. I repeat -- the war is over. Experts say that the total death and damage toll will not be calculated for weeks to come, but this reporter, at least, believes that, finally, healing can begin. This is Bailey Bingham for CCTV, signing off." < Thanks goes out to all present for participating in the climax to Ten Little Indians! Any inquiries can be directed to Plot. > ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/3 Posted Author Ultimate Press Conference Sat Jul 02 Media (Office Building ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ At a press conference called today in Crucible City, the hero known as the Ultimate - whose powers appear to originate from artifacts of Thulian origin, according to experts similar if not identical to those wielded by the (late?) Count Urizen himself - had the following to say. The conference was, later in the evening, televised nationally, if not internationally. Also in attendance was the reformed villainess Freebird, a heroine in her own right, though she appeared to just be there for support than to actually speak on the record. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," the golden-gauntleted young hero stated from behind the podium, grim and weary of demeanor after the events of the past few days, "I'll try to be brief, I'm sure you all have more important people to talk to and more important news to report on. I'm known as the Ultimate, as I'm sure you know, and I've been working with other heroes towards the goal of stopping Count Urizen for several months now." "In the course of investigating various criminal agencies, it became clear that there was a powerful force that had taken up habitation in Subterranea, a land far beneath the surface of the world. The Dawn Patrol, Freebird, and myself investigated, discovering that the Subterraneans had been enslaved and their world conquered by none other than Vesuvia and Count Urizen, along with the rest of the reformed Tyrannical Ten. I'm not going to bore you with the full stories of what heroes became involved or who did what - it was a group effort, and most of the heroes of the city were involved at one point or another, and they all deserve credit collectively." "The Agarthans became involved in the conflict on my behalf; I spoke with them at great personal risk when I discovered what was occuring in Subterranea, and though they mistrust our kind, they agreed that Urizen had to be stopped, and struck out to free the Subterraneans. They continued their participation through the end of the current conflict, as you all know." "After the activation of the Key, I organized a team and with the aid of Doctor Catherine Wright's technology and a hand-picked strike team managed to retrieve a second, and organized a major offensive led by..." A moment's pause, his eyes closed and then opened, "...the Unknown Soldier. After his army was deactivated, the attack forces were able to dismantle the Tyrannical Ten one at a time, and every one of those brave heroes and heroines deserves to be saluted for the dire risk they took, and the trust they placed in me and my ability to keep Thule's defenses at bay. The strike force sent to incapacitate me was nothing compared to the threat that they faced, both from the Ten and from the defenses should I falter." "You know the rest of what happened; you did a good enough job reporting on it. The day was won, and one of the most dangerous threats to world peace ever to raise its head was defeated. But others still remain, and we shall remain vigilant." "What I'm here to speak of is the Agarthans. In time immemorial, the Agarthan race was bio-engineered by the decadent society of Ultima Thule. They were enslaved, abused, lied to, and in the end revolted to gain their freedom and the land promised them - Mu. Their war wiped both civilizations from the world, until recent times, and with their return they assumed that we were the same humans they knew as the residents of Thule. I believe - and hope - that I have changed that, and the situation may be resolved peacefully. To this goal I urge /all/ nations to remove their research teams and outposts from the coast of Mu, and to immediately open diplomatic relations with the Agarthan nation, while they may still be open to the idea." He was silent for a moment, "They've fought and bled enough for the land that was theirs. Leave it to them." "No questions." As he and Freebird departed the hall, they were followed by various questions, naturally, ranging from inquiries about the confirmation of the Soldier's fate, to what team he belonged, to whether he and Freebird were an item, to whether or not he'll be participating in this year's Ultimate Powered Wrestling competition. No answers were forthcoming. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/4 Posted Author SOLDIER LIVES! Mon Jul 04 Media (The Whisper) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hitting several networks around the world and particularly in Crucible City early this morning is a notable video clip that with rapid speed propogates to virtually every news program and website on the planet. The Unknown Soldier, previous reported dead in the final battle against Count Urizen, is actually quite alive and bearing at his side the shining disc shape of the Gallant Rampart, the eagle emblazoned on its side shimmering brilliantly in the dawn's early light. Judging by the UN jeeps and troops behind him and the battle-scarred status of the terrain, one can easily infer that he's on Ultima Thule. "Unknown Soldier! Unknown Soldier!" An off-camera reporter, present only as a microphone at the bottom of the frame, frantically attempts to get the attention of the Soldier. "You're alive -- alive and well! Are you aware that news has spread worldwide that you were killed in action fighting Count Urizen? Clearly, these reports are untrue--you're alive!" The Unknown Soldier holds up one gloved hand to silence the reporter, looking into the camera through his face-concealing mask. "All I can say, Ken, is that reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. It was a tough fight, but in the end the united forces of freedom were able to give Count Urizen one for all of the people he's hurt. We fought hard against Urizen, and though there were definitely a few close calls, but I'm glad to say that I don't deserve a statue and a parade just yet." He says this with a faint grin, one that softens quickly. "That honor belongs to the good people we lost both here on Ultima Thule and around the world: Our Powered heroes, and just as much the every day heroes. Countless police officers, fire fighters, rescue technicians and military have risked and lost their lives in this war, fighting just as hard as the Powers to make the world a safer place. /They/ deserve your concern and honor, not me." The Soldier adjusts the gleaming Gallant Rampart at his side, the perfect red and white shield glimmering in the early dawn light on Ultima Thule, seeming to animate the eagle sigil. "One week ago, I made a promise, a promise on behalf of all the free peoples of this green Earth of ours: Count Urizen would not be permitted to take this world without a fight. Thanks to the efforts of countless heroes, Powered and otherwise, we've given him his fight and today we stand triumphant. It is my most sincere hope that tonight, as I speak, the people of Earth are able to at least sleep restfully in the knowledge that their world is /safe/ from those who would threaten its freedom, and that justice and bravery has won out over tyranny and cowardice once again. We've got a lot of rebuilding to do. But together, we were able to overcome Urizen. Together, we can do anything. Now, I hate to cut you off, but I've got some work to do myself. We'll talk later -- you have my word." Without waiting any longer, the Unknown Soldier strides off, the camera following him for a moment before the reporter steps back on screen, clearly overjoyed. He looks at though he's even holding back tears. "Well--There you have it, folks! Despite an unusually brief statement to the press, The Unknown Soldier still stands as tall and firm as people all over the world are at this hour of victory of Count Urizen. This is Kenneth Keyes, and you're watching CNN..." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/5 Posted Author Olympus Mons The Sequel Sat Jul 09 Media (Titan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heavy construction can obviously be seen going on as the media image comes into focus, showing what was previously the ruins of Olympus Mons. The building seems to be getting put back together, and then some, with obvious aesthetic changes happening to it by means of a new annex and a tall high tech looking tower that seems to be the new focus point of the 'gym'. A number of attachments and extensions part of this new area. Giant construction machines abound and it's clear things are still getting 'built' and 'repaired' but things seem to be coming along just nicely and constrution is ongoing even as the reporters voice cuts in. "Previously little more then a gymnasium shaped hole in the ground, Olympus Mons - despite it's relative youth in the grand scheme of things - is getting a makeover. The gymnasium, noteworthy for catering to the Powered community and for it's founder and owner Malcolm 'Titan' Krupke, was one of several focal points for the final offensive that ended the war against Count Urizen. The amount of damage the gym sustained was so severe that some wondered if Titan was going to do anything with the ruins. Clearly, the giant Power has had things on his mind." "For awhile I thought about simply closing shop.." rumbles Titan, seen with several giant girders slung over his shoulders and dust all over a torn and tattered uniform. "I mean. It was for a good cause but when I finally took in the damage the place took and all the investments and everything really hit me...well..I didn't know what to do." he grins, albiet it's thuggish looking for a grin, "I'm only human right? I get my 'down' periods. But.. the faith of friends and ongoing happenins in the city pretty much made me realize that..yeah..there is a need for this place. When a real good friend made a sacrifice on my behalf for this places sake..? I realized I owed it to myself and to others to get Olympus Mons back on its feet. But there's going to be some changes... "We're hit by global scale events often. It's just the time we're living in. Before Urizen we had an alien invasion on our doorstep. Before that we had the Reich-War. Between those events we've had quakes, tidal waves, terrorist attacks and extra dimensional threats. I think the last war..well..really it started with the Reich-War but I think especially from the last War we've really seen the need for and the effectiveness of Powers when we have a neutral ground to work from and a place to keep us on the same page and organized. Super-Teams are all nice and stuff but when a group of thugs are busy breaking a vault apart.. it's not a super-team that shows up 9 out of 10 times. It's a collection of Powers - some from different teams - some who've never worked together before that show up and get the job done. I aint knockin' teams - but somebody needs to be out there to help out the all the independant agents, folk just starting off and folk who have been out there but could use some organization.." The camera refocuses in on the reporter, "So what does this mean for The Powered Community and Olympus Mons? Well for one, the tower behind him will contain state of the art monitoring equipment, communication gears and computer uplink systems all for the purpose of keeping watch over Crucible City and the rest of the world. The training centers that made this place such a spot-light before are still there and people can still enjoy those aspects but the focus of this place is going to be more on helping Powers stay organized, work together and protect those who need protection. As the place nears it's final phases of construction, we will keep you all posted. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/6 Posted Author new blurb Wed Jul 13 Media (IC: Madsen Building - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The following is a news exerpt on the back pages of news papers (both print and online) and that received only a few seconds of air-time on Crucible City television news shows. Only the basics of information are presented here, for those who might have been interested enough in the story to notice... An apartment building in which three families lived burned to the ground a few days ago, a total loss. The lives of all the family members involved were saved by two Powers, one appearing to be a girl in her early teens dressed very much like the characters in the Anime "Sailor Moon", and the other was a woman dressed in yellow and purple. Neither power gave her name to the emergency rescue personnel or police that arrived at the scene after the rescue of the civilians. The building that burned to the ground was in Southside, and was owned by the families that resided in it. Massive Construction Ltd., based here in Crucible City, which owns several lots of land in the area, has agreed to purchase the land and remains of the building from the owners at a sigificant portion of the price they had previous offered for the land, which the owners, at that time, had rejected. The families were lower-class and had little or nothing in the way of insurance on the building and their personal possessions. They are currently staying with family that lives in the area. (OOC: This news information is based on a scene run by Corporate for Pip and Sunshine Girl (alias: Sunshine). Please contact them for more information.) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/7 Posted Author Olympus Mons - Reopened Wed Jul 20 Media (Titan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The image opens up with the restored Olympus Mons in the background, this time with a large central 21st century loking tower complex in the center of the sprawling building that dominates much of the news footage shot as the voice over from the reporter begins, "Once more, Olympus Mons has declared itself officially open for business. While the past few weeks have seen private invites and tours and uses of the facility allowed to various Powers and personages personally invited by TItan, the giant Power and the staff of Olympus Mons held off on any official opening messages until now. And yet the mode and focus of the complex would seem somewhat different. The impact left on the world by Count Urizen still lingers in the hearts and minds of any and Olympus Mons and present build would seem to embody this global mood well." Titan is then seen standing before a group of reporters inside the main atrium of the complex and infront of what looks like a monument dedicated to Powers who lost their lives in 'the good fight' be it in recent wars, past conflicts or even to The Event itself.' "When donations and words of encouragement started coming in, I knew that I owed it to folk to do something different with Olympus Mons instead of it just being a personal playground for Powers and people who like to watch Powers. The Reich-War, the Jovian threat, global disasters, Urizen's War and more have all made it clear that local and global Powers need to have a neutral staging point where they can all meet, share resources, gain assistance in monitoring happenings and even training for those who don't have access to such facilities. So with the support amd approval of everal prominent Powers and influential individuals, among them The Unknown Soldier and The Ultimate, Olympus Mons gained its 'Monitor Tower'. From here, Powers can continue to operate on the same information sharing frequency and organization as we enjoyed during Urizen's Siege. The gymnasium remains open , different levels of membership will still be required there though, as before, I will work with Powers who are fighting on behalf of the common good to make sure they can comfortably access facilities. For those serious about staying coordinated and working together to keep Crucible City and beyond a safe place to life? Come see me at the Monitor Tower." "And there you have it." says the reporter, "Olympus Mons, re-opened and active. We will continue to keep everyone appraised of further developments." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/8 Posted Author Beverages Attack! Mon Aug 01 Media (Tamin) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Channel 2 Evening News, Monday, August 1 "At 10:30 this morning a peaceful commercial street on the South Side was rocked by a three-car accident followed by the appearance of several unknown entities apparently made of coffee and beer, which were then intercepted by Powered heroes. Mary Elliot is reporting on scene: The reporter speaks: "Just a short time ago this peaceful neighborhood came under attack by these mysterious creatures. According to eyewitness accounts one was a being made of animated coffee, one a giant snake made of beer, and six were animated beer kegs along with their contents. This "Java Devil" was captured, and the others defeated by the Powers on scene, including Prince Septimus Aurelianus Dzitilian Si Valerius, Havoc Lad, the young woman known as Regan, Euryale,the mysterious Secret, a woman who reportedly identified herself as the Lady Stygia, and by one account an additional unseen gunman. "And as I wrestled the beast with those bottlecap eyes staring into me, I pulled it right into the arc of Havoc Lad's blade." Septimus mimes out his struggle as he speaks, and one hand shows the sweep of the blade. "And then it was all over, just the flow of the taps. Now, I run a bar myself, and I can assure you that any alcohol stepping out of bounds -there- won't have a prayer." Back to the reporter, who continues, "And there you have it: one more attack on Crucible City repelled by the Powered population. This is Mary Elliot reporting for Channel 2." The anchor then continues, "The driver of the SUV involved in the accident is hospitalized and in serious condition, while the driver of one delivery truck was treated and released. As of this broadcast the Java Devil is reported to be in police custody, but has not yet been formally charged." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/9 Posted Author Umbra Captured! Wed Aug 10 Media (IC: Madsen Building - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Earlier today, police were tipped off by the powered villain Umbra himself that he was going to be attempting a burglary at the home of a wealthy citizen of Crucible City. Police responded, setting up a perimeter around the man's home. Two local heroines, one who later identified herself as Pip to the police and another whose name wasn't taken (she was described as a crippled woman on crutches by police) were on hand. When the home's burglar alarm sounded, the heroines very quickly disabled and detained one of the villains. When an explosion rocked a building nearby, the two heroines quickly responded to /that/ scene, where they, with similar alacrity, captured the other villain. The two villains, identified as Dexter Sinister(Umbra) and Jack Dickinson have been sent to the Pound, pending charges. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/10 Posted Author Alien Love Connection! Wed Aug 10 Media (Luc) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Reported recently in the Powered tabloid P!...) ROUGH LOVE AMONGST THE STARS OR ALIEN ABDUCTION? YOU DECIDE! Following the recent and as-yet unexplained derailment of a local commuter train onto the lake shore - despite the lack of train tracks in the vicinity - there are reports of an unusual episode between two local individuals: Doctor Zenobia Petalas, head of Omega Tech Laboratories, and the woman known in the popular press as Sergeant Quinn. Media pundits speculate that the two formed some manner of relationship during the attack on the Jovian aggressors some months ago....but that relationship may now have gone horribly wrong. "I'm, like, really intuitive about stuff like this," one EMT at the scene of the derailment confided to our reporter. "There was some serious heat between those two. The one with the tail was getting really frazzled by the press shouting questions at her, and then the sergeant just stepped in and shielded her from the reporters. I could hear what she said to Doctor Petalas, too - it sounded like 'My poor little tuna casserole.' Swear to God, that's what she said." Provocative. But it's not all cute pet names. Another witness reports that Petalas all but threw herself into the sergeant's arms, adding, "That woman's tail was /all/ /over/ her. And I was thinking, 'Hey, ladies....get a room.' But then the one with the tail just started shouting and getting all worked up, and the sergeant grabbed her arm and dragged her over to that mechanical lizard-thing. I almost tried to interfere, because it was obvious that the Petalas woman was being abducted, you know? The sergeant shoved her up onto that flying thing and then they just....disappeared." Others at the scene disagree. "The woman with the tail is obviously some sort of alien," one man declared. "I mean, /look/ at her. And now she's lured a valiant war-hero into her alien clutches. I bet that poor Sergeant Quinn is being probed as we speak..." Speculation continues to run rampant. Is it possible that Sergeant Quinn, an acknowledged extra-terrestrial/extra-dimensional being, has in fact kidnapped a citizen of Earth? Or has Doctor Petalas fallen victim to a series of unknown alien urges and absconded with an unwilling partner? "This may well be the alien equivalent of primitive man bonking a potential mate on the head and then dragging her into a cave by her hair," mused noted exo-anthropologist FiFi Saint-Laurent. "Romantic and sweet...in a freakish sort of way." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/11 Posted Author An Infamous Arrival! Thu Aug 11 Media (Functions: RPG Systems ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Tonight, on Channel 11 News.....would you want a Powered criminal living in /your/ neighbourhood?" "Normally, the arrival of a new resident here in North Lake Shore would not be an occasion for comment, but people on this particular block are raising a stink because of the identity of their new neighbour." "This is a respectable neighbourhood full of decent, hard-working people. The last thing we want is a criminal moving in next door." "The neighbour in question is Elena Poverovich, once known throughout Russia and much of Europe as Mistress Misfortune. A founding member of the Siberian Seven, a gang of Powered mercenaries and terrorists, Poverovich and her compatriots were responsible for a string of crimes and acts of terrorism during the 1990's that ended with the Event, in which most of the Seven vanished. Shortly thereafter, Poverovich was captured while trying to form a new Siberian Seven, and was incarcerated in Germany until recently." "But what about reports that Poverovich has been rehabilitated, and played a role in defending Europe against the forces of Count Urizen?" "Anyone can claim to be rehabilitated. But this woman has blood on her hands, and nothing will ever change that fact. I don't want her living across the street from my children." "We know that Poverovich has purchased this house behind me, and though she hasn't been spotted here yet, she has issued a public appeal for tolerance. As you can see, however, that appeal has largely fallen on deaf ears. There are some exceptions, but they are few and far between." "I think she's entitled to live wherever she likes, so long as she stays out of trouble. We all make mistakes, after all. And besides, she's chosen to move to Crucible - she'll have local Powers all over her if she so much as sneezes the wrong way." "If and when Poverovich does actually appear here, she'll have a lot of work ahead of her as she tries to convince her neighbours in Crucible to accept her as one of them now. Back to you in the studio." (OOC: Intrigued? Always wanted to meet an infamous former terrorist? Let me know! RP is a good thing.) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/12 Posted Author LIVE Accident Report! Sat Aug 20 Media (Naamah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The scene opens on a busy street in the middle of the city, where an enormous pileup has occurred. A young woman in a smart pantsuit is talking animatedly into the camera. "I'm Cindy Cunningham, and we're here live on the scene, Jack. Another of these so-called 'temporal anomalies' has occurred, and a massive accident is the disastrous result." The reporter is momentarily drowned out by shouting as paramedics arrive on the scene, so she simply smiles at the camera. "Several Powers are here, springing into action the moment the pileup occurred. Keane Crisilian, Dr. Zenobia Petalas, Sparkle C, Sergeant Quinn, and the Shadowdancer are here... there are a few others on the scene who have not been positively identified." A few other reporters can be seen on camera, hounding Zenobia with... questions about an 'alien abduction'. Zenobia: "I think the work here is a little more important than any presumed love affair. In case you hadn't noticed, there was a terrible pile-up initially resulting from a temporal disturbance. Look." She nods toward the gutted bus. "People working together to help their fellow man. It's not as though known Powers are the only people on hand; plenty of police officers, paramedics and firemen, even civilians, are giving selflessly of themselves." She steps a little closer to Quinn, who puts a hand on the scientist's back as though to support her. "And now, if you'll excuse us." The reporters then ask about something regarding 'prehensile tails', but luckily the super-scientist has moved back into the fray. Cindy Cunningham blinks for a moment, then says, "And there you have it. People working to help people. Really gets to you, Jack." Meanwhile, a bunch of police officers hurry through, trying to help an EMT into the wreckage. The reporter just smiles at the camera. "Here's a new hero on the scene, the Shadowdancer!" The camera shifts to a dark-skinned woman with bright violet hair. "Excuse me, miss! Could you spare a few moments to give us an exclusive interview?" The heroine stares at the camera like it just bit her in the face. "I think you've got all the footage you need. If you'll kindly get the hell outta here, we have a job to do. You'll have time to get statements later." There is a moment's pause, and then Cindy Cunningham just smiles wearily at the camera. "So. Ah. Back to you, Jack." ============================================================================== +bbread 14/13-22 =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/13 Posted Author Help Wanted Tue Aug 23 Media (Zenobia) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HELP WANTED Telepath/psychic (postcognitive ability) sought for experimental research and potential memory retrieval. Knowledge of psychology preferred. Prior "telepathic witness" experience a plus. Knowledge of ET thought processes a plus; sensitivity required. Contact: doctor_petalas@omegatechlabs.com Fax: (### ### ####) <> ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/14 Posted Author Adieu, Times Two Mon Aug 29 Media (Luc) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (On the local nightly news.....) "Authorities are currently investigating reports of vandalism and attempted arson in the Oak Lawn area of Crucible City. According to witnesses, the home of Elena Poverovich - the controversial former criminal Power who moved into this quiet neighbourhood to vehement protests from many of her neighbours - was attacked by around a half-dozen masked individuals late last night. The assailants threw rocks through the windows of the house, spray-painted the walls with slogans such as, "Go Home" and "Keep Commies Out of America" before attempting to set the house on fire. They were interrupted by the arrival of the police, and at least one local resident, 43 year-old Thomas Wilcox, has been arrested in connection with the attack. "It's not known whether Poverovich was home at the time of the attack, but she issued a statement through her lawyer early this morning in which she said, and I quote, 'The people of Oak Lawn have won. You want me to leave? Very well - I'll leave. I intend to return to Europe, for now. But mark my words: I also intend to return to Crucible City at some point in the future. You may have chased me out of one neighbourhood, but you will not be able to chase me out of them all.' It should be noted that Poverovich was recently spotted aiding local Powers in attempts to foil a robbery at the Crosswinds Bank.....but her former reputation appears to have caught up with her nonetheless. Valerie?" "Thanks, Chip. And on a somewhat lighter note, well-known local celebrity Luc Malateux, a.k.a. Illustration, has declared that he will be launching a world-wide tour to promote his autobiography, 'Picture This,' which will be released next week. The former member of the Dawn Patrol has been a fixture in Crucible's dynamic social scene....." ".....and says that his tour will keep him busy for the next few months. When asked whether this meant he would be curtailing his heroism for the time being, Malateux reportedly responded, 'No way. When I'm not signing books or speaking to kids in their schools, I plan to be out in the streets, doing some good. Or possibly shopping. We'll have to see.' I guess we will. Right, Chip?" "That's right, Valerie. Never a dull moment." (OOC: I'm disappearing for a while, but never fear.....I'll be back! Eventually!) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/15 Posted Author JFA:ZH Teaser Spot Thu Sep 01 Media (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ So you think you can fight crime? Justice for All: Zero Hour - Tonight 8/7c This fall, FOX teams up with the makers of AMERICAN HERO and the producers of The American Crimefighting Awards and Unstoppable: The Real Story on the ultimate search for the world's greatest superheroes in JUSTICE FOR ALL: ZERO HOUR. If you think the villains on JUSTICE FOR ALL: The CRUCIBLE CITY FILES are tough, you haven't seen anything yet! JUSTICE FOR ALL: ZERO HOUR is the hot new series that will have America on the edge of its seat, as superheroes skilled in everything from drunken-monkey style kung fu, to amazing powers beyond the reach of mere mortals, to the dirtiest of the street fighting techniques, go head to head with the most terrifying, cunning and crazed supervillains you've ever seen! Producers travelled to Crucible City, Titan City, Los Angeles, New York City and the Lost City of Atlanta in search of heroes who represent the spirit and strength of America. These crimefighters must impress the judges with their abilities and techniques in order to be granted the right to call themselves Team Zero Hour and be invited to the Justice Citadel, far in the frozen north. Some heroes wow the judges, while others leave them speechless. A fortunate few heroes will survive the auditions and go to the Justice Citadel to work with four of the top heroes in the professional crimefighting business: The indestructible Corporate, the crafty Capitalist, the tenacious Tradewind, and the spunky Silver. During Justice Week, the semifinalists will battle their hearts out, as they learn challenging skills and try to capture deadly villains. Only a very few heroes can win! JUSTICE FOR ALL: ZERO HOUR was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and comes from 19 TV Ltd. and dick clark productions. It is executive-produced by Simon Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe and Allen Shapiro. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/16 Posted Author JFA:ZH Celebrity Judges Thu Sep 01 Media (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The lineup of celebrity judges assembled for JUSTICE FOR ALL: ZERO HOUR is a mighty concentration of superpowered crimefighters, but this time they're not in the limelight. These famous names will be judging the performance and technique of our heroes as they do battle with villainy! THE GOVERNATOR is the greatest governor ever known to the State of California. Now serving an unprecedented eighth term in office, due to a special amendment to the state constitution, the Governator, who hails from a dystopic alternate future, combines compassionate policy and wise municipal planning with a super-dense robotic carbonized-tungsten alloy endoskeleton. Whether campaigning for California's revolutionary microwave power transmission satellite or taking up his phased plasma rifle in fifty-gigawatt range against the Mole People, it seems the Governator can do no wrong. The Governator is representing Los Angeles on our panel. Representing the Lost City of Atlanta is the GEORGIA PEACH, the sweetest crimefighter you'll ever meet. After a tragic accident involving a vat of peach cobbler and an electrical storm, this six-time winner of the Miss Georgia pageant gained the ability to emit pheremones so compelling that she can both influence people and control the growth of plant life. She is also the author of "Gracious: Being a Lady in a Woman's World" and "Southern Cooking for Starving Students," among other best-sellers. One of the founders of Titan City, and considered by many to be one of the greatest minds of his day, along with The Doctor and Trinitite Man, DOCTOR OCTOGENARIAN still fights the good fight at the advanced age of 83. His body may be frail, but his armored iron lung and eight flexo-steel tentacles allow him to run at over fifty miles per hour, climb any surface, and throw a city bus. We are honored to have Doc Octo representing Titan City on our panel. From the home of some of the world's most dangerous supervillains and mightiest heroes, comes the daring duo of TIMES SQUARED and LADY LIBERTY. He's a teenage anarcho-syndicalist, able to increase or decrease the flow of time by up to four times. She's a bronze golem imbued with the spirit of her creator's stern-jawed mother, who wields the Torch of Freedom. They fight crime! And we're pleased to announce that both are on our panel, representing New York City. Finally, you demanded him and we're bringing him back. From the mean streets of Crucible City, the most popular guest of Justice For All's Local Color segments, five times on MTV's Jackass and a regular on Sirius satellite radio, we bring you FLIPPING BIRD, urban shaman and shockmeister. Flipping Bird, who claims to be one-sixteenth Potawatomi, has the power to understand the speech of pigeons, rats, semi-feral cats and taxi drivers. The very parking meters tell their secrets to him, and the El-Train is his dominion and guardian. Flipping Bird is representing Crucible City on our panel of celebrity judges. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/17 Posted Author Press conferance by The Angel Of M Wed Sep 07 Media (Skylar) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A luxurious press conferance was called by the enigmatic and obviously wealthy Hero known as "The Angel of Mercy" who was rumored to be injured in a recent "incident." She is a short hero, cute in an innocent teen sort of way, obviously much younger than some of the speculation. She wears a black skin tight costume with ornate animatronic wings. "My fellow sophants, I regret to inform you that today marks the first day of my retirement from Heroing duties. The rumors of my injuries are false, I have not been physically harmed. However my recent actions safeguarding the city and the lives it contains resulted in the loss of all of my powers. Since I am now basicly just a high school student with no real advantages, I cannot continue as I have in the past. It is time for me to hang up my wings! However, I wish to leave on a strong note. I have been in long discussions with the managing bodies of the Swedish Covenent and St. Andrews hospitals, and I feel I can do some good. I have learned that there is a new, cutting edge method of performing surgery that is much less invasive. Useful for everything from heart surgery to appendicitis. As it is in my power to do so, I am donating funds to create a "Minimally invasive surgical center" at each of those hospitals. This is my parting gift to the city, and its residents whom I have grown to love." And with that the young heroine steps off the platform and disappears from the view of the camera. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/18 Posted Author Powered Villain Fought Downtown Sun Sep 11 Media (IC: Madsen Building - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This afternoon, a battle between two powers rocked the Treadaway Businsess Tower in downtown Crucible City. No civilians were hurt, and the young hero Geir Aegirsson, also known as Scion, was on-hand to battle the villain to a stand-still. Described as a 'beast of bile and venom' by the young hero, his powered foe has been identified as Joseph Miller, a Crucible City native. According to eye-witness reports, Mister Miller was a junior accountant for one of the businesses in the Treadaway Tower and had nearly completed his days' work when co-workers say he began to experience a migraine headache. Witnesses report that, while sitting at his desk, Miller was suddenly beset by some sort of attack and transformed into the beast battled by Scion. "Poor Joe, he just turned into this sloppy mess of guts and vomit!", said one co-worker. The Crucible City Powered Crimes Unit, informed of the acidic nature of Miller's new form, proceeded to the fifteenth floor of the Treadaway Tower, only to find he'd escaped by eating his way through the floor into lower parts of the building -- presumably during the time it took for the CCPCU personnel to ascend. Police report that Miller, who came to be called 'Sloppy Joe' during the investigation, ended up burning a long hole through the building, starting from the fifteenth floor where Scion had left him unconscious, and down into the sewers beneath the building. From there, Sloppy Joe made his escape -- the CCPCU found no other traces of him. Here is an image of Sloppy Joe, recorded by one of the security cameras in the building: (the following image is shown) << 'Beast' is probably a nice way to describe this ... thing. What you see is vaguely humanoid in shape, and looks like a clear 'sac' of some kind, filled with what can only be stomach acids, which seem to seep out from the sac, eating slowly through anything the fluids touch.... including the floor, which has deep gouges in it where the monster's walked. The view is ... horrifying, probably enough to bring pause to even the most strong-willed person. This thing was once /human/... and the evidence floats around within the fluids in the 'sac'. An eyeball floats, but seems to be looking at you, in the 'throat'. The brain floats about, almost lazily, in the 'stomach' area. What looks like the remains of a half-digested penis floats in the 'head' of the thing, along with an ear in a similar state of decomposition. A mess of what can only be intestines are sunken down into its left 'leg', the stomach (still attached to the intestinal tracts) is hanging halfway down into the right 'leg'. Other miscellaneous organ parts seem to float and swish almost randomly throughout the being's 'body'... but there is no trace of bone left anywhere. >> (the image is only on-screen for a few moments) The CCPCU has issued a warning concerning Joseph Miller, aka Sloppy Joe. He is to be considered armed and dangerous. Citizens spotting him should avoid him and contact.... (the news story ends with emergency contact numbers and the like before going on to the weather report) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/19 Posted Author Sloppy Joe sighted! Mon Sep 12 Media (IC: Madsen Building - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sloppy Joe was sighted again, last night, at a local cafe. All civilians escaped unharmed and Sloppy Joe was driven away by three powers. One of the heroes was not identified. The other two were identified to reporters as a female power calling herself Sidestep and a 'talking chimp' who called himself Luther Cunningham. There was some collateral damage to the cafe during the incident, none of which is irrepairable, and the cafe will be fully back in business within the week. In other news... ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/20 Posted Author Sloppy Joe Raids Grocery Store Thu Sep 15 Media (Lee) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sloppy Joe made another appearance, early this morning, at a local grocery store. The store was still closed and no one was present. Damage to the store was minimal, and about $150 worth of food items were stolen and/or destroyed. Security cameras captured images of the power during the five minutes he was in the store. After his 'shopping spree', Sloppy Joe escaped back down into the sewers via a hole in the subfloor structure. (OOC: To try to do something about Sloppy Joe, send @mail to Kara with 'legwork' requests.) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/21 Posted Author Disaster Averted! Thu Sep 15 Media (IC: Illinois - Bureau ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Blake Elmore, mid-day channel five news anchor pauses in his discussion of a successful anti-youth violence program with, "We are just getting in a report of an overturned semi near the I-80, Highway one junction. There are reports of flame and weather inconsistencies. Apparently we have a reporter on the scene, switching to you Amy. Amy Tan, take it away." The pictures cuts to medium shot of a young professional Asian woman appears on the screen. "This is Amy Tan, Channel Five news, reporting her on the scene of what appears to be a narrowly averted disaster." The camera pans to the still smoldering wreckage of a large tanker truck that crushed a concrete highway barrier and plummeted into a parking lot. A noted soup kitchen "Beans Cafe" is in the background and EMS teams, police and the crowd are moving in swirls around the scene. "We managed to speak briefly with Captain Crucible of the Guardians just a moment ago." The camera jumps as the feed switches to the just recorded message delivered by the concrete hero. Amy Tan's voice is heard asking for more information about the firestorm, the sudden rain. Captain Crucible ponders for a moment before turning and looking into the camera. "Well, it looks like that tanker over there jumped the guard rail. Don't know why, that's really the police's job. It caught on fire, and well, Jade Phoenix managed to whip up a little rain to help contain the blaze. She's a pretty handy gal to have around, don'tcha think?" The camera switches back to Amy Tan, the rain beginning to slow to a drizzle behind her. She is jostled by a team with a stretcher. "So far, it looks like this incident is without fatalities, Blake. Reporting from Harvey, this is Amy Tan, Channel Five News. Back to you Blake!" (Any questions or followups should @mail Mantis) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/22 Posted Author AXE Unstoppable Tue Sep 27 Media (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Shot of Corporate smashing Baron Von Deathstroke through a wall, set to the thumping backbeat of the AXE theme.) Corporate, V.O.: "I always say the best defense is a strong offense." (Kendrick J. Kenton IV, entering the exclusive Charlie Trotters' with supermodel Sophia Sirene on his arm.) Corporate as Kendrick: "But when it's time to cool my jets with the ladies, I can't afford to be offensive. That's why the super geniuses at AXE have developed a scent powerful enough for the heroic lifestyle: AXE Unstoppable." (A stick of AXE Unstoppable, rotating to display its logo.) Corporate, V.O.: "AXE Unstoppable lasts longer, keeping you fresher than any other brand of antiperspirant." (Scientists in goggles and lab coats working with gleaming chrome machinery to produce samples of AXE.) Corporate, V.O.: "In fact, AXE Unstoppable is the first antiperspirant made with Xeonite, for unparalleled longevity. One application of Axe Unstoppable will keep a mortal man* smelling great for over a thousand hours of hard labor." (Corporate's powerfist, hand open, center frame. A stick of AXE Unstoppable flies in from off-frame and slaps into his iron grip.) Corporate, holding forth the product: "There's one effect mightier than the strong nuclear force: the AXE Effect!" (Several women appear out of nowhere and drape themselves swooningly over Corporate's arms and shoulders. Corporate flashes his trademark grin.) AXE UNSTOPPABLE. GET SOME.** *AXE Unstoppable not for use by mere mortal men. **Side effects may include hypervigilance, excessive dryness, blurred vision, feelings of euphoria, and high blood pressure. Female bystanders may experience irrational impulses, auditory hallucinations, and an overwhelming urge to be close to the subject. AXE Unstoppable may not be right for you. Ask your doctor, alien progenitor, or creator entity before using AXE Unstoppable. ============================================================================== +bbread 14/23-32 =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/23 Posted Author P!NN: Ice Cream Store Explosion! Thu Sep 29 Media (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ P!NN's latest news anchor is a young, sharp featured brunette with a sweet smile. She clears her throat and shuffles her papers for a moment before gazing directly into the camera. "Welcome to the latest edition of Noon News on PNN. I am Constance McKinney, and with me is Ira Sutton from P! Entertainment Network." She turns to her guest, a somewhat horse-faced young man who'd look like an intern if it wasn't for his finely tailored suit and subtle diamond tie-pin. "Mister Sutton, your company has been expanding a lot lately. You've invested in the tourist trade," here the camera breaks away to show pictures of Crucible City Tours showing gaudily dressed foreigners around town, "shipping" a large tanker leaves Crucible City's port, "and.. Ice cream." The picture is one of Super Scoops as a group of workers busy themselves with removing all traces of the old name. The camera moves to Ira, who flashes a billion dollar grin before becoming serious at Constance's next words. "Unfortunately, what would've been a joyous grand opening for your new store was interrupted yesterday. In your own words, would you tell our viewers what happened?" Ira gives a curt nod. "First of all, P! Entertainment Network would like to voice our gratitude to all the Powers that helped out at the scene. That said, it would appear that the person known as Toymaker had issues with our selection of flavors. Specifically that we did not, err, provide a 'Toymaker' variety. So he sent some artificial entities in through some kind of vortex with orders to kidnap our manager. When that failed, he had the artificial entities blow themselves up. Fortunately by that point all civilians had fled the area, and there was no structural damage to the building itself. We've just had to replace the windows, the furniture and.." He smiles. "A bit of ice cream." Constance smiles and turns back to the camera, "On the scene were a number of Powers, not the least of which would be the Zero Hour team. Other names mentioned are Kiryu, Septimus, Sprint, Drayakir, Velocity, Will O' Wisp, Witchlash and some kind of female demon. This is Constance McKinney on the Noon News." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/24 Posted Author www.cnn.com Sun Oct 02 Media (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CNN WORLD President of Paraguay Found Dead At Home Sunday, October 2, 2005; posted 11:01am EDT (7:01 GMT) ASUNCION, Paraguay (CNN) -- President Nicanor Duarte Frutos of Paraguay died Saturday of an unfortunate accident, Paraguayan news company Ultima Hora and Paraguayan security officials said. In what Paraguayan news and governmental officials are calling a freak accident, President Nicanor Duarte Frutos appears to have fallen on his fork during dinner Saturday night. Frutos -- a populist from the Colorado Party who won the presidential election of April 2003 -- was pronounced dead at the scene of heart failure stemming from loss of blood. According to coroners, the President's fork pierced his carotid artery and was the cause of his death. Security at the Palacio de los Lopez, where the President resides, said the President commonly took his dinners alone. According to investigators, all of the serving staff were out of the room simultaneously for approximately thirty seconds to attend to a kitchen emergency. When they returned, the President was slumped over his plate, blood covering the table and floor beneath him. President Frutos' death comes at a particularly bad time for Paraguay's citizens, as he was about to enact radical new legislature giving licensed international power-heroes jurisdiction to pursue crime and corruption in Paraguay. Paraguay is a major illicit producer of cannibis, a transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, Europe and the US, and is a significant member of the money-laundering trade, especially in the Tri-Border Area. Paraguay has no native power-heroes. (Source: CIA World Factbook, December 2002). The Vice President, Fraco Garcia de Arroyo, is not expected to pursue the controversial legislation upon his assumption of the Presidential duties. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/25 Posted Author Stensen Snatch Foiled! Sat Oct 08 Media (IC: The 13th Floor - C ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Channel Nine's six o'clock News anchor Donald Mallerd, a brown-haired man with a moustache, is reading the latest news report. "Last night at approximately 11:30 PM, a group of men armed with assault rifles and tactical shotguns broke into the Mestresors Museum in downtown Crucible. The apparent target of the robbery was the Stensen diamond, a 25 carat diamond being kept in the Museum's exclusive and heavily guarded Crimson Room. Dan Nibois reports." The camera switches to focus on a black-haired man with glasses in a brown leather jacket standing against the backdrop of the Mestresors Museum, an eight-story building. A small section of the fifth floor is exposed to the outside air and cordoned off by police tape. "According to police investigations, the robbers disabled the Museum's security system and would have escaped with the diamond had the system not reactivated itself at midnight, alerting nearby Powers and the local police to the on-going robbery. Powered response from the immediate area was swift as heroes Sunshine Girl, Shooting Star, Velocity, Drayakir and Yatima-Sol arrived on the scene and quickly subdued many of the robbers, but the intervention was complicated by the Crimson Room spontaneously catching fire and the appearance of a large blue demonic entity calling itself the 'Lord of the Yy'tranek.' After a brief but fierce skirmish, the heroes managed to defeat the demon, who subsequently vanished without a trace. Upon seeing this, the remaining robbers surrendered, with exception of their leader, who attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended through the combined efforts of Sunshine Girl, Shooting Star, Velocity and Drayakir. Back to you, Don." The camera shot returns to the anchor room. "Thanks, Dan. Our reporters interviewed some of the heroes present after the incident." The camera switches to a shot of Sunshine Girl speaking to several microphones. "I don't know who these people are or why they're summoning such foul monsters to aid in their crimes, but they won't be allowed to continue this!" Cut to a shot of Velocity. "I'm just glad I picked up the alarm going off and was by to stop some people from taking what didn't belong to them. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go get this bullet out of my side, it's starting to annoy me." And another cut to Shooting Star. "I'm glad to see nobody was seriously hurt in all this. I only wish I got on the scene sooner." The camera returns to Donald. "The museum reported a few minor losses as a result of the fire. Several books, some centuries old, were damaged by the flames, and a recently arrived unidentified artifact that had been unearthed by archaeologists in Australia only a week ago was reported missing. The museum will be closed until Monday for investigation and repairs." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/26 Posted Author Ishikawa Corporation Calls Press C Mon Oct 10 Media (IC: Kirkpatrick Reside ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In breaking news we cross now to a press conference at the headquarters of high tech R&D firm, the Ishikawa Corporation. The camera pans back from the Ishikawa Corporation logo to show the founder and face of the Ishikawa Corporation, Marc Ishikawa seated behind a low podium. Next to him on the rostrum is an imposing armored figure, covered in glowing plates of metallic blue force. Speaking into the microphone, Marc says, "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, invited Guests, thank you for attending today. For several years now the Ishikawa Corporation has enjoyed the hospitality of this fine city and the support of it's citizens. Now it is time for us to put something back into Crucible City." Waving an arm toward the Armored Wonder beside him continues, "Ladies and Gentlemen I give you APEX, the Armored Prototype Enhanced eXoskeleton, the latest word in Powered Armor. We here at the Ishikawa Corporation have spared no expense, building into this system some of our most cutting edge designs and technology. The pilot, a Crucible City native, born and raised, who has decided for the safety of his friends and family to remain anonymous, has been given extensive training with the unit and has already performed several test flights. No doubt most of you have already heard about the new Armored Power that was involved with wrapping up the disturbance on the docks several nights ago. I can now reveal that the mysterious Power was in fact Apex, completing an early field test of the the APEX armor." "We at the Ishikawa Corporation have sort the involvement of the authorised Crucible City Authorities throughout this process and will be working closely with them in the continuing future. Rest assured that we will continue to outfit our brave pilot with the best technology we at the Ishikawa Corporation can develop, in our ongoing quest to stamp out crime in this fine city." "Now, if you have any questions please feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer. You will have to excuse our pilot, who I should get used to calling by his codename, Apex, if he does not say much. His training up to this point has been almost entirely physical in nature, not public speaking and he is a little shy. Yes, you in the red tie, third row from the front...." The news program cuts back to the studio. OOC: Yes there's a new corporately sponsored power on the block, perhaps not quite up to Fame Feat standards yet, but certainly aiming for that. As well as crime fighting duties performed by Apex, the Ishikawa Corporation is primarily a High Tech R&D company and is happy to assist with device based upgrades for other Powers, subject of course to commensurate financial reimbursement. If you require any work done or would simply like to get Apex involved in your next scene or Plot, please do not hesitate to contact Marc/Apex by @mail or page. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/27 Posted Author Cubs game -- Interuppted Thu Oct 13 Media (Ezra) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The post-season exhibition game between the Crucible City Cubs and the Texas Rangers has turned into mayhem, as members of the statium audience have leapt onto the field and begun attacking the players on the field! Reports are coming in that the players who've been attacked are now turning to attack their teammates! Powers have arrived on the scene, as well. Hopefully, they'll be able to contain the situation and rescue the players of the two teams so that game can go on. We now go live to Wrigley Field where Bob and Dana were covering the game. "Do you recognize any of those heros, Bob?" "No, Dana. Uh-oh! What's that happening out in the left-field bleachers?" "It looks like a steal! Oh no!" "Oh, god, Dana! That speedster's attacking one of the other heroes!" "Oh, good! They got him free, and it looks like that one silver-haired one just freed all the civilians and players who were also wrapped up in vines." "Well, what's going on now, Dana? Think it's over?" "I don't know, Bob. Oh wait, look... something's happening. Oh my god! The ivy's alive!" "Yes, it is Dana. And it's charging into the outfield from the center-field wall!" "And the heroes are looking to make a double play... all except that one guy on first base. Hey, where's he going?" "I don't know Dana. Look! They're fighting it, punching and shooting at it!" "Oh! It almost nailed that one kid! Good thing he's so fast!" "He knocked it out! The plant-monster's down! But is it out for good?" "No, Bob. It's getting back up -- and they can't seem to really hurt it!" "Talk about playing a good game of defense. Hey, look, Dana! It's the guy who was on first base!" "Good lord! He's on fire!" "He's charging the plate. Oh! The monster's on fire!" "It's a home-run, Bob! The thing's on fire out in deep right-center field! Heroes one, monster zero!" "Let's go down and see what the heroes have to say, Dana!" "So, here we are with Tamin, the flaming Strife, Shooting Star, and the speedy Velocity. Supersonic was on the scene earlier, but left earlier to summon the police, whose sirens we can already hear in the distance." We're going to end our live broadcast at this point, as the situation seems well in hand and under control, thanks to the heroic actions of five of Crucible City's finest. More on this story at ten. Earlier today, the Crucible City Cubs had their post-season exhibition game against the Texas Rangers interrupted by a giant mind-controlling plant-monster that had apparently hidden itself amidst Wrigley Field's famous ivy. On the scene to save the day were the heroes Tamin, Strife, Shooting Star, Velocity, and Supersonic. Supersonic was unavailable for interview, but the other heroes had the following to say: Tamin: "During the game there was suddenly a commotion in the stands, and people wrapped in strange vines were attacking people. It looked like some sort of mind control effect, and breaking the vines stopped it. It was very tough...thankfully Velocity was able to incapacitate it long enough to release the captive people, before Strife figured out how to actually stop it." Strife: "No one messes with my Cubs!" The plant-monster was defeated thanks to the quick thinking of Strife, who lit himself aflame and burnt the thing to death. Tamin made it clear that without his heroic self-endangerment, she thought the heroes might not have been able to pull out the victory. Velocity had the following to say: "I'd like to ensure the public that with the information we get by fighting these creatures, it will give us better ideas how to deal with it in the future. We are going to try to work with the CC law enforcement to provide as much info about the plant-creatures, and find who is responsible. They will not get away with this horrible treatment of innocent people!" And now, for tomorrow's weather forecast... ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/28 Posted Author Massive Creature Hits Hard Mon Oct 24 Media (Lucas) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A hideous creature of enormous proportions grew up out of a suburban area near to the business district of Crucible City today. At 6pm, during rush hour, havoc was reeked upon one of the many highways passing through Crucible city as many cars slammed into other cars when the massive creature that grew up next to it. Injuries were kept to a minimum, luckily and the area was able to be cleared by the fleeing people with ease. As people fled the creature walked toward the city only to be greeted by four superheroes known as Wolfsong, Seida, Gunnhild and the powerful godling known as Geir. The creature started fighting with the heroes but was soon finding itself not quite a match for the heroes. Water from Seida, claws from the wolfgirl, varrying weapons from Gunnhild and Geir's mace flew at the creature while it's massive hands slammed around it. After a savage beating nearly dropped the creature, the biggest blow came from the creature itself. The creature's hands came together with a heavy slam and a wave of sheer destruction came out of it, buckling not only the heroes but the buildings and very ground as well. The wave nearly toppled the Halifats company's building but luckily, all civilians were out of the area before this destruction was levied. The creature fell soon after to a strong hit by Geir and seemingly vanished into midair. Little is known on where this creature came from but word says that the Brute may have been seen in the area a few minutes before the attack. It is unclear if the creature and the Brute are related. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/29 Posted Author Halloween assault halted Sat Oct 29 Media (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shoppers on Crucible's Miracle Mile were endangered this afternoon when three local children, Bobby Carter, age 7, Susie DeAngelino, age 8 and Timothy Willoughby, age 10 were transformed into real-life versions of the costumes they were trying on by an as yet unknown force. A number of Crucible City's heroes, including Sunshine Girl, Brass Monkey, and a winged figure who introduced himself as Corsair were on hand to halt the assault, and stopped the transformed and rampaging children before anyone was seriously injured. Reports had other figures on the scene, but they departed before the police and media arrived. All three children were taken to a local hospital for sake of safety, but all were reported to be in good health and fully restored to themselves after their ordeal. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/30 Posted Author Anarchy and Diamonds Sun Oct 30 Media (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A local jewelry store was nearly robbed today by the known villain leader, Anarchist. Anarchist was attempting to steal jewelry from the store when it was stated that a strange young man wearing a black and red sweat suit dove at the man. After a few rounds of the young hero dodging the villains attack, the hero put quite the hit on the villain, sending him reeling back a step...than the young hero was put nearly through a wall. Luckily, before Anarchist could do further damage, three heroines showed up to put a stop to the villain's ways. Anarchist is now in the custody of the Crucible City Police force, awaiting trial. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/31 Posted Author Ubiq the Ubiquitous Assassinated! Sun Oct 30 Media (Oracle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Shocking news tonight from the Gibbons Power Containment Compound. We take you now to Charles Daniels on the scene." "Thanks Chet. As you can see I am standing in front of the Gibbons facility where late last night the recently-apprhended villain who calls himself 'Ubiq the Ubiquitous' has been assassinated inside of his cell. As startling as this may be on the surface, the identity of Ubiq's assassin will shock even longtime Crucible residents. As seen in this shocking footage sent to us by an unidentified source, Ubiq's assailant is someone nobody could have predicted. Parents may want to ask their children to leave the room." *The broadcast switches to security camera footage. The image is obviously the inside of a prison cell, and a tall man with long hair pulled back into a ponytail sits on a small bed, appearing agitated. The camera flickers for a moment, as though a frame of film were missing, and when the picture recovers a second man is standing in the room pointing a pistol at the prisoner's head. The second man is utterly identical to the prisoner, save that he wears a suit of futuristic ceramic armor. "The Ubiqtorate cannot tolerate failure," says the new arrival. The words are no sooner said than the gun fires, feedback coming through the speakers as the noise overhwelms the tiny camera microphone. The prisoner, Ubiq, slumps onto the bed, fatally wounded. The assailant, Ubiq, seems to simply fade from reality. The broadcast returns to Charles Daniels.* "Simply astounding. I've been given word that the Director of Power Suppression at the Gibbons facility is preparing to make a statement. We go there now." "As you have all heard by now, the prisoner 'Ubiq' has been killed while in our custody. He was fatally shot in the heart by what appeared to be an exact double of himself. At this time the exact details of this situation are unknown. However we can report that the Power Suppression integrity of The Pound remains intact. All prisoners are currently under total lockdown, and additional energy reserves have been allocated to the nullifiers. To the best of our knowledge the assailant utilized some sort of temporal travel to breach our security. We theorize that he set some sort of anchor point in whatever temporal region he entered from. The instant he entered that cell our nullifiers removed every ounce of power that he had. Without his own powers to maintain him in this time, he was pulled back to his own. Unfortunately not before he managed to get a shot off. The gun was entirely mundane and thus not subject to our suppression fields. All Power Suppression personnel have been called in and we are currently attempting to find ways to prevent future such intrusions. Now, I have time for questions.." *The broadcast devolves into the usual feeding frenzy of questions, but little else of interest is said.* OOC: Investigations and questions should be +requested to Plot Staff. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/32 Posted Author Candy store robbed! Mon Oct 31 Media (Geir) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fitting for Halloween tricks and treats, a local candy shop was broken into while the owner was at the park for a Halloween display. The cash register was untouched, but a lot of the candy displays were damaged or robbed. Estimates place it at about three hundred dollars in damages, including a smashed front window, and a few hundred dollars in candy either stolen or 'sampled' beyond salabikity, according to initial assessment. The owner did, however, express relief that no money was stolen and the damage wasn't worse. In another news story, there's a huge picture in the 'local' section showing a kid in a really, really convincing 'Captain Crucible' costume leaning over a booth and kissing a frog on the head. Awwww, so cute. ============================================================================== +bbread 14/33-42 =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/33 Posted Author Emeril Live Mon Nov 07 Media (Amber) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Appearing on Emeril Live tonight was Amber Drake, Crucible City's own teenage chef. Though only 14, she's got out a cookbook out 'Chinese cooking for the American Kitchen' which is selling well. During the show she made her firecracker shrimp, and helped Emeril to make Shanghai noodles, all with the required amount of BAM!ing. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/34 Posted Author The Red Menace! Fri Nov 11 Media (Vincent Zehn) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *A reporter appears on screen. Her hair is bright purple* HI! I'm Quirky Behavior, your reporter for the day! Today a villain calling himself the Red Star, and apparently using the armor of the first Red Star, one Andre Toplovich, who we remember was killed in the N-war under the name of Wallbreaker, apparently assaulted a technological transport outside the city along with a group of individuals calling themselves the Gang of Four. These individuals were apparently The Human Wave, the known terrorist and criminal, the Great Leaper who could leap large distances with easy, and a giant named the Jade Emperor. The heroes who arrived on scene were an unknown masked youth who proved instrumental in the conflict, the hero Karasu, and the heroes Corsair and Anzara. Anzara recieved critical injuries during the battle, as did various support personal guarding the technological devices. The Gang of Four has been taken to the Pound for processing. Next in the news! Growing flowers in your pockets? The next trend? Or just stupid? ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/35 Posted Author A News Quirp Fri Nov 11 Media (Jester) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As the day passed by lazily, the prattling of the 24 hour news networks continued as white noise in the background. A moments glance, and you take notice of a local news story for Crucible City. A blonde man in his thirties, immaculate as is the fashion these days, stands with the infamous Pound in the background, the lock up for Crucible Cities villains. "Today Emma Goldman has been released from the pound after three years, having originally been imprisoned on the charge of attempted homicide." A box graphic flashes up in the corner of the screen, with a miserable looking young woman with Jewish and Irish features, sporting a prominent nose and a firm bone structure, auburn hair, standing behind a height wall revealing her at five six. A second box flashes up next to Emma, an elderly man in his late fifties. "Illinois Senator Richard Durbin was critically injured during an attempted break in, falling into a coma from whence the doctors were unable to pinpoint when, if ever, he was to come out of it.. In a surprising turn of good fortune for both Goldman and Durbin, Durbin came out of the coma after nearly three years, whereas he proved to be the key witness in the re-opening of Goldman's case, revealing her innocence." A third box flashes up of two teenagers in an old family photograph, who look nearly the same. "But it's not over yet" notes the blonde reporter in his classic trench coat, "The actual attempted homicide charge rests on Emma Goldman's other sister, Sarah Goldman, who has gone vanished according to authorities, and is still believed to be at large in the Crucible City area. A strange case, still yet to be closed. Back to you, Jon." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/36 Posted Author Heroes Foil Robbery! Tue Nov 15 Media (Ezra) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Last night, the Illinois State Bank and Trust on 5th and Main was held up by three men armed with submachineguns. Fearing for the safety of civilians held hostage inside the bank, police awaited the arrival of heroes. Two local heroes arrived on the scene. Fury, seen here, had the following to say: "As long as I exist, no innocent in this city, nor the world, shall ever have to fear. I'm watching over you." The second hero, described as a martial artist who made an incredible leap across the entire length of the bank to render helpless one of the gunmen, was not available for questioning. Devices of unknown origin were confistated, along with the submachineguns with which the gunmen were armed. The devices were all burned-out from the inside, and police investigators and forensic specialists have indicated that there is no way to ascertain the devices' function or origins. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/37 Posted Author Binding Halted, Hero Abducted Fri Nov 18 Media (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (This would make last night's 11 o'clock news ...) "This just in ..." Grace Holden has mastered the art of serene solemnity as she regards the camera and viewing audience from the studio desk. "A villainous attempt to entrap a ghost in Deerfield Cemetary turned into the abduction of a famous hero when local Powers interfered with the summons. Stay tuned ..." An aerial shot of the cemetary, cordoned off by police tape and swarming with activity. "Events began here," continues the melodious voice-over, "when the mirror-seer known as Augur invoked forces to bind and hold the spirit of one Elinora Hildebrant. Serving as back-up in case of attack were three members of the villain team known as the Liminal: founding member Fade, veteran Vitiate, and newcomer Distortion." A quick flash of the associated faces - a tall woman in a shrouding cloak of shadow, a plumper figure in gold with crystal and wood embedded to the bone on one side of her face ... and noticably no shot of Fade. "Arriving on the scene were the robotic Tamin, Lockdown and his elusive invisible feline, the Indestructible Corporate, a newcomer who went by the name of Psi-Lass, the animal pack known as Menagerie and a woman known as Anzara." Another quick montage of shots - even if the picture of Menagerie seems to be a wolf-pack. "Details of the fight are sketchy, but it is known that after a fierce initial response, the villains were soundly thrashed and the mirrors focusing the ritual overturned by a number of curious rats. In the rush to escape, however, the teleporting Distortion grabbed not only an unconscious Vitiate, but the Indestructible Corporate as well. She is reported to have uttered only one word of explanation: hostage. "With a disabled Augur vanishing mere seconds later, the heroes were left to sift through the wreckage for clues, and to deal with a singularly uncommunicative Fade, who had been left behind and subdued by a command from Psi-Lass. She was approached by the press shortly thereafter ..." Camera cuts to a woman in a snug silver bodysuit and long black leather gloves. "I came to the graveyard to visit an old friend. The attack was astonishing, and I was forced to use my mental training to disable them. I'm going to take those kidnappers down ASAP." Again, Grace regards her unseen audience with cool reserve. "It's a task that may be somewhat more difficult with the unexplained disapearance of Fade somewhere in transit. We've asked the police department to explain the lapse ..." Some poor junior detective standing at the scene, looking singularly miserable at the microphone in his face. "We just sort of - uh - lost track of him. No, I don't know how. But it's happened before. Two times. Maybe three. Hard to tell, moths got into the records from Seattle." "Didn't the department transfer all those documents to electronic format?" asks whoever is conducting the interview. "Ah. Yeah, I suppose they did. Funny, that." The detective seems to be making a supreme effort to sort things out in his mind, and finally fails. "Electronic bugs, then?" "Authorities are pursuing every possible lead in the disappearance of this reality television hero and star," Grace continues, tapping fuschia nails together. "Of particular concern is the connection of deceased victim Hildebrant to the group Fragile Planet, whose founding member Genevieve Riterman played host to the Vila in the great storm of the last year. But it may be that our real hope is in the field." A shot of a distressed but resolute Tamin now. "They claimed to have a reason for this, but their methods are inexcusable. We'll see Corporate back safely and these people brought to justice." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/38 Posted Author Guns: 0, Powers: 1 Sat Nov 19 Media (Ezra) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A group of gunmen took control of the Navy Pier's Crystal Gardens, today. A group of heroes that included Team Zero Hour's Ink, the sparkling Sunshine Girl, an ice-girl called Winter, a strong-man named Apogee, and a mysterious and unnamed figure followed by a large dog. A brief battle ensued, during which Winter's wall of ice protected police and civilians alike -- although it prevented us from being able to see what transpired. The villains escaped via some sort of teleportation, and the heroes escaped without serious injury. According to Sunshine Girl, the gunmen had apparently been sent out to trap the heroes in an ambush. When asked to tell what happened, Winter agreed and indicated that the gunmen employed some sort of power-nullifying device in their attempts to capture a hero. Apogee supported the statements of the ladies, and also had a request of our viewers: APOGEE: "If anyone out there has seen anything similar to this, I do urge them to come forward." In a surprising revelation, Zero Hour's Ink suggested that she was developing a new power: INK: "One day, Ink will have eye lasers." This is Chastity Bimbette, reporting from the Navy Pier. The fifth hero, the man in the trenchcoat, has left without comment. All is well, and there is little, if any collateral damage from the battle. The score is Guns, zero and Powers, one -- a victory for the good guys! Back to you, Mickey! (OOC: Send @mail to Hilde with followup investigation or questions.) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/39 Posted Author Mayhem at the Lake Shore Thu Nov 24 Media (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reportings of a mighty battle on the beafch of the lake shore was seen by many today. At first a single floating man, described as a tall and thin person who proceeded to terrorise those on the beach. Five heroes were spotted responding to this attack. A new comer in black and red who was unknown, the rocker known as Rawk Hawk, A controller of the very water, a sheildweilder who protected Geir, and Geir himself. All five were ready to fight the magic wielding man but a mere moment after their arrival a troll creature rushed out to attack Geir, cutting him wide. Two sea serpents also came out of the water to attack. All the heroes attacked the villains and they returned fire. The fighting lasted for nearly a minute till Geir was able to drop the troll creature that seemed to refuse to stay down and Rawk Hawk knocked the sorcerer out of the air with a sonic blast. The water wielder, some are saying is known as Seida, seemed to wrap one Serpent in water while the other serpent fought the hero in black and red out in the water until both were disabled. The sorcerer escaped via some form of teleportation and peace was soon restored. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/40 Posted Author Thanksgiving Day at S-Mart Thu Nov 24 Media (Ezra) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Up to a dozen gunmen took over the local S-Mart superstore on Thanksgiving Day, while most families were sitting down to a turkey dinner. The store was closed for the holiday, and no employees or shoppers were present to be endangered. On the scene, however, were the heroes Fury, Blackhawk, Septimus Prince, and Tamin. Titan reportedly made an appearance, smashing a hole in the back of the store and cowing the villains into surrender -- however, when approached for comment at Olympus Mons, Titan said he hadn't been there at all. The villains fired at police before the heroes showed up, but no officers were injured. The villains made a clean escape via teleportation. The store suffered some damage in the battle, particularly the blown-open loading bay door through which 'Titan' smashed and caused the villains to surrender. S-Mart management reports that other than some damaged inventory, nothing was taken by the gunmen. Police report that this matches the MO of two previous battles between powers and gunmen, including the teleportation-escape and the burnt-out electronic devices found on the scene. (OOC: Contact Gunnhilde for follow-up.) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/41 Posted Author That Burning Smell Sat Nov 26 Media (Thunder Child) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tonight, on Lifeline Crucible City: "This is Mary Schmich, reporting for Lifeline." She stacks her papers neatly against the desk, focusing on the camera. "A four-alarm fire on a fifteen-story apartment complex raged out of control this evening as firefighters attempted to contain the blaze and rescue three still caught within the blaze." The scene cuts to the blazing inferno, paramedics, police, and firefighting personnel arrayed in front of the building. The reporter's voiceover continues, "Local powers Edgemere and Thunder Child rushed to assist, braving the flames to rescue those trapped inside. Tragedy was averted, but the flames could not be beat and the building collapsed shortly after the last-minute rescues." Cut back to the reporter, "Edgemere was not available for comment, but we managed to catch up with Thunder Child while the paramedics were treating his injuries." Thunder Child is dressed rather warmly for the occasion, though in this case the extra clothing may have saved him some burns. He's covered in soot except where his scarf covered his nose and mouth, and one of the medics is bandaging his shoulder. "I try to do what I can. It was rough in there, but we managed to get everyone out. No broken up families tonight..." The reporter narrates, "At this the power's expression took a melancholy turn." "Oh, I promised to get back in time for..." The police radios suddenly start talking about a bank robbery, and Thunder Child rises with a heavy sigh from the medic attending him, "Figures. It just never ends..." He looks to the camera, "Rae, if you're watching, I'm sorry. Looks like I'll be home late again." Is he crying, or is that sweat? A flash of light blinds the camera. The reporter concludes, "Thunder Child then vanished into one of his characteristic strokes of lightning. Police and firefighters are still investigating the source of the fire. We'll keep you updated." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/42 Posted Author Bring on the Clowns Fri Dec 02 Media (Cupid Valentino) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On several stations, indepently filmed footage of the odd events at Grant Park today. The footage shows clowns everywhere. Even a few of the heroes on the scene were clowns, including Jester, a Clown in Hockey Gear, and a Scantily Clad Attractive Nurse Clown who is around 11' tall. Also seen were Major Momentum, Thunder Child, and a Sword Wielding Woman that seemed to just appear from within the masses of Clowns. The footage has several close-ups, a few shots of Major Momentum getting hit with Snowballs and one of him getting hit by a Snow Basketball, and many of the Towering Nurse Clown. "Sources from the Police have identified the cause of the Chaotic Clowning Contagion as Ichabod Charlemaine Smalls aka White Face, aided by Augustus Louis Goodman who has now been given the alias Auguste. Goodman's motives are unknown and will probably be given a light sentence as he has no prior convictions, but Smalls who is a known felon and a repeat offender will most likely not be going to the Carnival anytime soon. And now the sports..." ============================================================================== +bbread 14/43-52 =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/43 Posted Author Mall Chaos! Sun Dec 04 Media (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The busy shopping season was briefly interrupted by a group of villainesses who tore out of civillian clothing, revealing a variety of colorful outfits, and declaring they were going 'shopping', setting themselves to robbing various stores. Due to there being thousands of witnesses, reports are still conflicted, but it is known that a number of Crucible's heroes thwarted the women quickly. Few of them remained to give a statement, other than one man who gave his name as Chuck Yakamoto (picture of Toshi/Karasu), and the known ex-con Jenny Steel, who was nearly arrested by police until a number of witnesses, including Chuck, testified that she helped stop the robbery. Otherwise, various witnesses announced the presence of a virtual Who's Who of Crucible's heroes as being present and responsible for the victory, ranging from Sparkle C, to Tempest, who witnesses claimed was wearing bondage gear - this report is being disputed, as one of the captured villainesses was a speedstress wearing leather. The 7 women were taken into custody. No one was seriously hurt, and the damages were minor, other than several thousand dollars of destroyed holiday decor. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/44 Posted Author Goodness, Gracious BIG balls of Fi Thu Dec 08 Media (Employees Only ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *On the 6 o'clock news* *A shot of the Grant Park playground in ruins* *Next shot of Susie Reporter speaking* Today, Grant Park was under siege by what can only be described by witnesses as a giant. This seventy five foot giant appeared out of thin air at the playground attacking innocent by-standers. It was lucky for the people that NinjaCat *cut to Tabby*, Scion *cut to Geir* and Gunnhilde Ransdottir, shieldmaiden to Scion *cut to Gunnhilde*, were near the scene to stop this vile beast. From various eye witnesses, Scion and Gunnhilde battled the massive man while NinjaCat leaped around saving innocent by-standers from the fire attacks, and explosions that flattened the playground. The city's emergency crews responded quickly to the call and arrived on the scene to help those injured, and put out the rest of the fires. (Any questions on this plot please send @mail to Seida) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/45 Posted Author Explosion at the Pound! Sat Dec 10 Media (Oracle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Early in the evening a dull thud makes itself heard over the din of the usual city noises. The source of the noise, which rattles windows across the city, is unknown to anyone not on the lakeshore at the time. However the Pound's lockdown sirens which begin blaring across the city a few moments later are familiar to all* We interrupt this broadcast to bring you this breaking news! "Moments ago the Gibbons Power Containment Compound was rocked by a massive explosion that has apparently torn a large hole in the side of the prison. We have no information as to the cause of the blast at this time, but early indications suggest that it was an intentional detonation. No word has reached us yet as to the status of the prisoners held in the facility, but eyewitnesses on the lakeshore in Crucible City have reported a number of fugitives fleeing across the lake. The News 10 team will stay on top of this story. Keep your television tuned to this station. Updates will be broadcast as soon as they are available." *Throughout the brief broadcast, a live image of the Pound is shown in a sub-window next to the anchor's head. The facility is obviously heavily damaged, but the plume of smoke rising from the site of the explosion makes it difficult to see how badly.* ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/46 Posted Author Pound Press Conference Sat Dec 10 Media (Oracle) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *A few hours after the explosion at the Pound, all local (and many national) stations switch to a press conference given by a very very haggard-looking Director of Power Suppression for the Gibbons Power Containment Compound* "Approximately three hours ago a large explosive device was detonated within cell 32 of block D. This would be the cell in which we were holding the time-traveller known only as 'Ubiq the Ubiquitous'. All appearances are that Ubiq was killed instantly. The blast also collapsed a large section of the outer wall of the facility, creating substructure cracks that allowed lake water into critical power conduits resulting in a brief failure of power suppression throughout the facility. Backups were rerouted and were back on within a minute, however by that time numerous prisoners had already escaped their cells. "I would like to stress that the Pound is a hardened structure built to withstand explosions such as this. However the evidence gathered so far suggests that the blast occurred inside the reinforced structure, maximizing damage. To be more clear, it appears that a large part of the reinforced structure ITSELF was the explosive device. Early forensic study reveals that the walls of this cell were constructed with some manner of explosive concrete that was indistinguishable from the rest of the structure, even to our routine anti-sabotage scans. *He takes a deep breath before continuing* "It is our belief that this explosive was planted in the Pound at the time of construction." *He waits for that to sink in* "This means that whomever planted the device, which we can only assume to be Ubiq himself given past activity, knew which cell the prisoner would be in, when they would be there, and planted a device that has been there since day one. Our options at this time are limited. We cannot go back in time and beef up security, even if the villains can go back and undermine it. All we can do is counter what we know of his abilities as best we can. To that end we are evacuating the Pound. Prisoners will be transferred to temporary facilities in our sister Compounds on Ryker's Island and Alcatraz Island. During this time we will develop a more sophisticated scanning system and examine every square centimeter of the Pound before allowing the prisoners back in. We expect this process to take up to two weeks. Now, we have time for questions.." *Unheard Question* "No, we don't expect to find more devices. We're dealing with temporal causality of the worst possible sort here. That device, though it has been there since construction, was not there until Ubiq was placed in that cell. Don't ask me to explain it, that's just how it is. What we hope to accomplish with the scan is to establish that there ARE no explosive devices. Once we have established that there ARE no explosives, the POTENTIAL for there to be explosives will be removed and this tactic will not work again. In theory. Next question." *unheard Question* "We only have a partial list of escapees at this time. A number of prisoners may have been killed in the explosion and we will not be able to confirm their status for some time. However there are a number of confirmed escapees: Peter Shen, aka 'Spyder' of the Otaku Sharon Flume, aka 'Charre' also of the Otaku Paul Stevenson, aka 'Reactionary' of the Tyrranical Ten Adrian Wymer, aka 'Shapesmith' also of the Tyrannical Ten Leigh Corrina, aka 'Aconite' of the Prowlers Liza Laszlo, aka 'Parallel' of the Temporists Ann-Marie Wellons, aka 'Shapedancer', unaffiliated Alexian Morelli, aka 'Masquerade' of the Clave. "We will update the press immediately upon confirmation of further escapees. Next question?" OOC: Investigations should be +requested to Plot ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/47 Posted Author McGuffin Jewels Saved! Mon Dec 12 Media (CLOSED) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *An attractive young female reporter appears on screen* Hello. I stand here in front of the damaged facade of the McGinley Apartments on the South Side, a sight of a pitched battle between four brave heroes, and four dangerous criminals. The criminals consisted of a strange hodge-podge of escaped super-criminals, including former Soap Opera and Film Star turned criminal Sarah Smiley aka the Bombshell. It also involved gentleman criminal Auction House, all four hundred fifty pounds of him. The sociopath Farad and the criminal brute Freight were also involved. Freight, thanks to the hero Tamin, has turned state's evidence against Auction House for this heist, as well as against several other minor super-villains. Hellbender, one of the heroes, indicated that a duck was instrumental to a peaceful end to the engagement with Freight. *A clip of Tamin smiling and saying, "I went to a Chinese Restaurant near here." Reflex apparently risked his life to save four downed police officers from a vile gambit by Auction House. The hero Hellbender was instrumental in putting an early end to the mischief of one Farad, the power criminal who initiated the attack on the early responding CCPD officers. The city owes a great deal of thanks to the heroes Reflex, Tamin, Major Momentum, and Hellbender. *The reporter begins to clap* Thanks to them, the damage to the city was minimized, four of our police officers were saved, precious jewels remained in the hands of their proper owners, and dozens of people still have homes. On a bizarre note, the giant metal duck and faux antique furniture created by Auction House have been impounded by the Pound. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/48 Posted Author Monster captured Mon Dec 12 Media (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The monstrous villain known as Sludge was captured by a small group of heroes amidst a chaotic scene near the pier. Witnesses were only able to identify the heroine known as Gunnhilde, and the ex-con, Jenny Steel. The monster was turned over to authorities by an invisible heroine who did not immediately identify herself, save to inform them she couldn't hold Sludge in her force field for long, all the other heroes left the scene before police arrived. Most of the damages were cosmetic, a few thousand dollars in holiday displays, thanks to the quick action of the heroes. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/49 Posted Author Sparkle C Movie Fri Dec 16 Media (Shannon) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From a movie buzz site that uses abuses capital letters furiously: SWEETWILLIAM reports that a SPARKLE C movie is in development!!!! The perky blonde speedster was seen around LOS ANGELES, trying to STAY INCOGNITO, but this reporter managed to get a look ON SET!!!! The movie is supposedly about A SCARY ALIEN RACE bent on DESTROYING the world's VITAMIN C SUPPLIES!!! Reportedly SPARKLE C'S co-star a TALKING CG ORANGE NAMED SUNNY!!! MEESA SCARED of more JAR-JAR BINKS!!! This looks TACKY AS HECK but it MIGHT BE FUN ANYWAY!!!!! Unfortunately, Shannon Yates is not about to win any ACTING AWARDS!!!!! Even she looks PRETTY EMBARASSED talking to thin air!!! Can SUNNY THE ORANGE carry this movie??? ONLY TIME WILL TELL!!! ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/50 Posted Author Sparkle C Retires! Sun Dec 18 Media (Shannon) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shannon Yates, spokeshero for Sparkle C orange drink, has reportedly broken her contract with the company and has been ordered to return the company's property, which includes her uniform and her name. There are some murmurings of Shannon being fired for engaging in less than wholesome behaviour. Internet rumours and heavily photoshopped pictures circulate. The ex-spokeshero seemed cheerful about the minor kerfuffle. "It was time for something new," she replied when asked why she was leaving. "I'm not retiring from the hero lifestyle at all, though. Just the show biz one." What does this mean for Sparkle C Inc.? Shannon's old agent, Alex Smith, said, "We're exploring other options. We have quite a few promising prospects that will hopefully appeal to a younger, fresher crowd." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/51 Posted Author Jinx Returns Thu Dec 22 Media (Functions: RPG Systems ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (As reported on the local Channel 4 News...) "And in other news, rehabilitated criminal Power Elena Poverovich has returned to Crucible City after an absence of almost four months. Poverovich left the city late last summer after her house was vandalized by several disgruntled neighbours, who were unhappy that the former terrorist had moved into their area." "According to a statement released yesterday, Poverovich still intends to make Crucible her home and will remain here indefinitely, though she has refused to reveal where, exactly, she will be living in the city." "After leaving Crucible late last August, Poverovich returned to Europe, where she was most active as a terrorist in the late 80's and 90's. There, she was involved over the past few months in a number of highly-publicized captures of criminal elements, including that of the rogue Power known as the Sapphire Skull. Those she has worked with in Europe recently have praised her efforts, though they have done so cautiously and, in some cases, reluctantly." : "There's no getting around it - Jinx was an asset here today. I don't know that I'd sit down for a drink with her, but she put herself on the line to bring down the Sapphire Skull, and that's what counts." "Many residents of Crucible City have yet to be convinced, however. Though involved in the heroic efforts to stop a robbery at the local Crosswinds Bank last August, Poverovich has yet to make much of a mark here. That is certain to change, however, as she settles in and tries to rehabilitate her image on this side of the Atlantic." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/52 Posted Author Christmas Saved! Sat Dec 24 Media (#-1 NOT FOUND) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A handful of heroes showed up at the shopping district, and managed to defeat a giant, green furred monster in a Santa suit who was stealing everything within reach and putting it into some sort of extra-dimensional bag. The monster is being taken to the Pound, while the bag is being turned over for study of its odd magical traits. Among the heroes present were Apogee, Rawk Hawk, Libertine and Ink. If there were any others, they were lost amidst the rush to return to shopping. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/53 Posted Author Snow falls, despite forecast Sun Dec 25 Media (Amelia) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Despite predictions of cool but dry weather, flurries were recorded over portions of the city during mid-day and evening. Aside from minor traffic disturbances, there were no problems reported during the unusual weather front. "We can't rule out the potential of power intervention here, but if that is the case, it seems harmless enough at least," reported a member of the NOAA. Reactions, naturally, were mixed but mostly positive. "If it is unusual, it seems a long stretch to go. It's not like Crucible's short on snow half the time," commented Theodore Wallace, banker. College studen Amelia Inverno offer a different opinion in Lincoln Park, while in the midst of a snowball fight. "At the right time and the right place, snow can be rather nice, can't it?" Adding shortly after, "Besides, if someone is responsible, they were probably in a... festive mood!" (Direct questions to Winter... although no plot here, just a bit of belated holiday cheer!) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/54 Posted Author Bank Robbery Foiled Mon Jan 02 Media (Valerie) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *CRUCIBLE EVENING NEWS* The anchorman has a grave expression on his face. "An armed robbery attempt at a local Citibank was thwarted this afternoon by a group of heroes who happened to be on the scene - Jenny Steel, Karasu, Apogee, and Zero Hour's Havoc Lad. The perpetrator, a woman calling herself 'Mrs. Robinson', is now in custody, along with her accomplices, all three of whom she referred to as 'Benjamin'. The shot changes to pre-recorded footage of the tengu hero Karasu, standing outside the bank. "Remember," Karasu says, "glowy eyes, grenades and guns are /bad/!" The would-be crook has been identified as Chicago housewife Anne Benson, 43. Mrs. Benson displayed strange mind-controlling powers at the bank this afternoon, influencing young men with psychic impulses. The three Benjamins have been identified as her gardener, Carlos Reyes, her personal trainer, Bill Smythe, and her pool boy, Leonard Wilson. All three are suffering from short-term amnesia; they were apparently under the effects of Benson's thrall and are expected to be released after questioning. Benson's husband could not be reached for comment. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/55 Posted Author Press Conference Tue Jan 17 Media (Joseph) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A press conference was held today by Apogee, a fairly recently-emerged hero with apparently strong ties to the Sanctified Church of Ascendant Metaphysics, in response to the recent murders and attempted murders by an apparent splinter sect of the church. "Good morning, and thank you for coming," Apogee told the small group of reporters and curious on-lookers who arrived at the invitation, "I'm no politician or economist, so I'm just going to head straight to the heart of the matter and not waste too much of your time, gentlemen." Polite laughter followed, though it died immediately thereafter with the words that followed. "The recent attacks upon retired and 'unworthy' powers have been perpetuated by a group known as the Harbingers, an organization expelled from the Sanctified Church a year ago upon the discovery that they were studying occult tomes they believed would allow them to strip the powers from the 'unworthy' and 'evil' and bestow them upon themselves," he reported, his tone grave, "To put the fears and suspicion to rest - the Church is very concerned about this group, and finds both their beliefs and their actions to be blasphemous and wrong, not to mention highly illegal. We are as interested in stopping these murders as any other right-thinking person. I'd like to thank the heroes who, just last night, stopped another of their attempts at stealing the divine spark of power from an innocent man, and I wish Victory the best in recovering." That said, Apogee continued with a message for this alleged sect themselves. "To the Harbingers," he stated coldly, "Know this. I - or someone like me - /will/ find out all and bring you to justice. What you are doing is not ordained, it is not destined, it is not chosen, it is not /right/. You corrupt and taint the very energies you seek to steal, and you will not be allowed to continue. Turn in your associates and come clean if you want to be treated fairly - you're ending lives and creating abomination in what you do. Think about that." He shook his head, "If anyone out there has any information about the Harbingers, I urge you to come forward. A message for me can be left at the Church of the Four Kings." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/56 Posted Author Damage from Unknown Powered Confli Tue Jan 17 Media (IC: Citadel Zero - Sta ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Page three material in the Crucible City Times: Powered Conflict Leaves Damage Police found evidence of a possible powered conflict just a few blocks away from Crucible City's popular theatre district in the northern part of town. While some witnesses reported strange flashes of light, no one has yet come forth with any accounts of what occurred. CCPD's ballistics lab is currently examining the damage, which appears to have been generated from some heat- or energy-ray. It is unclear a the time whether the blasts that toppled a lamp post, destroyed several parked cars, and left smoking holes in the asphalt is magical, mutant, or technological in origin. CCPD officials say that no further comment will be made until more information is available, and urge anyone with an eyewitness account to come forward to help shed some light on this strange conflict. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/57 Posted Author News@11 Sun Jan 22 Media (Forge) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On KCCV News@11: "Earlier this evening, a group of creatures described as 'giant lobsters' erupted from the University of Crucible City tent found at the lakeshore. Eyewitnesses described the creatures as 'huge' and one man went so far as to liken their size to a tractor trailer. Various heroes saved those in danger by these creatures, and verified on scene were Intercessor, Lady Paramount, Matrix, and Dr. Zenobia Petalas. No permanent injuries were reported." Later... "Dr. Daniel Viscoren was found dead in his home by his housekeeper earlier today, apparently stabbed through his heart. Dr. Viscoren was better known by the name 'Doc Courage', a well-known heroic scientist prior to the Event who was best known for creating the counteragent to the Fungal Plague allegedly developed by Prince Primeval. Eulogies will begin at..." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/58 Posted Author Explosions on Canal Street Mon Jan 23 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SOUND: Morse code overlayed to a dramatic chords. SCREEN: Action 12 News Breaking Report! (News as it happens, live!) SCENE: Fire engines, paramedics, and police units are everywhere. The CCPD is busy putting out what looks to be a truly substantial blaze that is urgently consuming the first 15 floors of a tall office building. Dead center stands a handsome news reporter whose black hair has been sprayed, sculpted, and coalesced beyond perfection and into a 'power helmet'. He's identified as "Ted Felber" by text along the bottom of the screen. His voice is, of course, slightly obscured by the sound of emergency vehicles. "Ted Felber here for Action 12 News. News at it happens, news first. I'm standing here at the intersection of North Canal and Randolph Street here in Crucible City, where an apparent carjacking of highly volatile jet fuel has come to an..." There's a loud *WABOOM* and a blinding light. The camera shakes violently and begins to derez as the screen becomes partially unfocused, the blight shaped like tiny squares that seem to overlay the screen. A woman's voice sounds clearly onto the TV screen. Carol: "Ted? Ted? Are you alright? What just happened?" Ted: "It looks..." Sirens grow louder. The camera isn't shaking so much, and it's able to get a good look at a large crater near the intersection. There are a few firemen being dragged away by paramedics, but they're moving and showing clear signs of life, "Theres's been a fuel explosion, Carol... the Crucible City Fire Department is controlling the blaze, but it's slow going. To our viewers at home, there was a major carjacking at O'Hare International only tens of minutes ago, where bystanders say the Otaku Clan got away with ten fuel trucks and by all accounts, were attempting to detonate them right here..." The camera pans around to shows that the devastation is considerably light, by all accounts. Some blazes, some overturned vehicles, and so on. The intersection itself smolders, but doesn't at all look like it was hit by anything even remotely as potent as a fuel truck. Areas a mere 100-200 feet away don't look quite so lucky. "We're still getting in reports, but Detective Saunders of the CCPCU, an unidentified woman, Corporate, and his sidekick apparently responded, giving chase along Canal Street during this mid-day near disaster." SCENE: The view changes, shifting overhead from a helicopter. Corporate's Hypermobile, a motorcycle with Havoc Lad, and a beaten police cruiser with flashing lights race down Canal Street, weaving through traffic. Ten large fuel trucks barrel down the road with men in blue jumpsuits and skyblue aprons standing at the ready, watching the proceedings carefully. A multitude of glowing bikes and several sedans with mobile gun turrets are present, clearly responding to the heroes. Jun, exceptionally difficult to identify from this vantage point, is actually standing on top of the police cruiser. Several blue-clad Otaku martial artists are also on the car. They're locked in a deadly contest of high speed kung fu on the hood, roof, and trunk of the vehicle. Two other Otaku stand on top of the Hypermobile. A glowing biker swerves violently, clashing up against Havoc Lad as the one motorcyclist attempts to knock the other off the road. VOICE OVER: "Heroes attempted to stop the trucks dead in their tracks. Eye witnesses describe a harrowing high speed pursuit that got even worse when what appear to have been Ferroship Hovertanks, actually warped in... three of them. Now, while it's well known that the Otaku Clan are a terrorist organization whose stated goals involve the destruction of Earth, the priorities of the Ferroship... the origin and explanation of the Ferroship, even, remain a complete mystery. But it seems they appeared with the intent to thwart the Otaku by destroying the fuel trucks..." SCENE: Back to the now. The street is still a wreck, and firefighters are still contending with the blaze. A man made of water is standing near the firemen, perhaps offering to help. Ted Felber continues, "... which brings us to the near disaster we have here, as they did in fact manage to destroy a couple of trucks before the heroes brought things under control... and not a moment too soon, either. Police report the burning of occult symbols at the intersection here, along with numerous Otaku cultists who were apparently lying in wait with high caliber weaponry.. I'm hearing about rocket launchers and assault rifles. The authorities moved in to engage, and the Otaku were ready to fight. I'm also getting reports of other local, lesser known heroes who jumped into the fray at this intersection to help the police. We can only shudder to imagine what might have happened if the trucks had arrived to their destination as intended. I'd say we owe the heroes... all the heroes, a world of thanks, but especially the four who stopped the trucks from-" Carol: "Ted, I'm going to have to interrupt you here. We've just gotten reports of similar incidents in Paris, London, Moscow, Kyoto, and Sidney. Catastrophic fireball... few deaths reported, but serious damages. We here at Action 12 News will keep you abreast of the latest in these apparently coordinated attacks..." (As always, +Request Is Your Friend) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/59 Posted Author Gold Coast Quakes! Mon Jan 30 Media (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Sunday Evening News) Picture-perfect news anchor Grace Holden regards her viewing audience with an expression fixed and pinched. "A pair of artificial earthquakes struck Crucible City's wealthy Gold Coast neighborhood this evening, causing extensive property damage and numerous injuries - thankfully none serious. Our reporters on the scene have more ..." The camera view turns to one of the neighborhood's less residential streets, building facades shattered and cars piled up. It pans onto a shot of the Newberry Library, which looks as if it has been torn in two and the halves messily leaned against each other. "Grace, the first quake was induced directly behind the library here, apparently at the hands of villains Titra and Alternacy at the direction of an individual who ah, seems to be Apparatus - that is, Retrofit right-hand Elaine Devereaux, who was presumed to have been killed during the heroic raid on their headquarters last August." Camera cuts to a shaken librarian, every hair out of place. "The damage is ... I don't know where to start. But the building can be repaired, and most of the documents seem to be unharmed. If the heroes hadn't appeared on the scene -" "Who was present, ma'am?" "Do I look old enough to be a ma'am?" The speaker pauses, anxiously checking herself out in a fractured store mirror. "Oh, dear. Well, we saw the Lignin on a paper hang-glider, the Shadowdancer, Dr. Zenobia Petalas and Thaumaturge. No one had a clear view of the scene, but there was a bright flash of light, a good deal of retching, and we're missing some of our old card catalogs ..." Next a close-up of the Lignin. "I was just passing by and this happens," she says. "Don't these people have any respect for higher learning? It's like they have a hatred for books." She beams at the camera and flies off. "Meanwhile," Grace's voice orates, "on the other side of the neighborhood -" Another camera cut, this time to a swank neighborhood similiarly disheveled. "Grace, this quake happened more or less simultaneously," another reporter picked up the thread. "A lot of the residents in this area are out on winter cruises, including the owners of the house in which Parallel and two newcomers tentatively identified as Phonon and Lateral activated a second device. We understand that heroines who investigated the disruption were Tamin, Icicle and Sergeant Quinn. "While the Powers defused the situation, one did not leave the scene: the robotic Tamin was spirited away, apparently by accident, when the villains fled. We don't have any coherent information on their whereabouts, er ..." The camera pulls in on Quinn. "The paperwork for this is going to be the death of me," she grouses. "I hope you are happy, August." Next the reporter turns to a clown named Emma Goldman, on the scene as a witness. "Well, what do I say? I was just leaving from a kid's birthday party ..." She leans inwards, flashing a business card and whispering in a conspiratorial manner to the camera, "I'm an entertainer." Personal promotion at it's finest. "... then I was catapulted through the air through some combination of an earthquake, a fence, and a falling telephone pole. It just sorta happened so fast. Next thing, I'm in the upstairs bathroom of some house. The floor just breaks out from under me, just breaks out. Drops like a ton of bricks, pardon the pun .." She tends to do a lot of gesturing with her hands, a little on the comedic side. "... then I'm hanging by the lip of a sink, the plumbing is still all 'round me, everything has just collapsed save for that. Then the pipes break, I get rammed by a falling toilet, and then -bam-. There I am, sitting on my porcelain throne, front seat. I just needed popcorn. It was something else, you know? But we've all been there. Just the price you pay for such a great city ..." She stops the bull for a moment, flashing a tired face to the camera. "Oh, who am I kidding? This has never happened to anyone, ever. Excuse me." "Both quakes and their outward force met and clashed within a three-block radius," Grace Holden says from home studios, "creating a percussive reaction of opposing forces that devestated several homes in the area. Given the location and the presumed originator of the attack, authorities are currently assuming it was aimed at resident Aurelian Vitalis, who has been sheltering Retrofit's former significant other, Calandre March - better known as Timewriter." Fade-in: a crowd of surveyors scrambling about like mad as irate and expensively dressed homeowners harass the police officers on the scene. The camera pulls in on the reporter there and Mr. Vitalis, an elegantly handsome man of Mediterranean aspect. "I'm absolutely stunned. It changes nothing, of course -" A furious blonde woman generally recognizable as Calandre March - and if she weren't, someone in the news office scrambles to flash up one of those identifying bars at the bottom of the screen - pushes her way in, a hand laid possessively on Vitalis' shoulder. "I know exactly what this is about," she snaps, "and all of the cowardly, callous, overblown ..." A two-second pause as she deep-breathes, clearly on the edge of snapping. "And yes, Martin, you've got every reason to be jealous. I am sl-" The camera cuts again, rather hastily, returning to the first scene and a shot of Shadowdancer. "What we have learned," she notes, "is that supervillainy does not pay. Either y'end up dead, or y'end up not dead but lookin' about forty years older than you're supposed t'be." Back to Gold Coast. "In related news," the reporter looks somewhat shaken, "two area youngsters manifested Powers during the disturbance. Their names are being withheld at the request of their families, but it appears the quake triggered a stress defense mechanism ..." (Inquiries? Request to Plot.) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/60 Posted Author Canal Street Q&A Mon Jan 30 Media (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A snippet of news regarding the recent Canal Street battle catches your eye while flipping channels... Anchorman TED FELBER, with magnificent hair: "Corporate, there was an awful lot of collateral damage here, were you hoping for a cleaner fight than you got?" The INDESTRUCTIBLE CORPORATE, with stylishly tattered cape and smoking fists: "I always prefer to keep collateral damage to a reasonable minimum. Even Chicago has his limits, after all. We were hoping to bring the fuel trucks back intact, but when those killbot hovertanks pulled up and started gauss-cannoning folks, well, things got a little hectic and we had to adjust our priorities. After all, vehicles and fuel can be replaced, but lives are precious. Although you might think otherwise next time you pull up to the pump, am I right? Ha ha." Q: "We saw that your supercar was destroyed in the battle. Some people have expressed concerns over the possibility of radioactive contamination. Is that a valid fear in this case?" A: "Well... hmm. Well, I wouldn't discount any reasonable concern, but you'll be pleased to hear that the Hypermobile's sealed engine compartment held its pressure even when the vehicle was wrecked by a shell from one of those hovertanks. We had our hazmat crew and recovery vehicle on the scene within the hour, and they assured me that scans show that no, I repeat, NO Xeonite has escaped into the environment. So everyone can rest easy." Q: "Will we be seeing the Hypermobile again soon?" A: "It may take a while, we're going to take this chance to go back to the principles of the 300X series and make the 300X-3 faster, tougher, more secure, safer and better armed than the 300X-2. And yes, Xeonite containment is one of the things we're going to be looking into when we do. But if you keep watching the skies, I bet you'll see the new Hypermobile overhead someday real soon." Q: "Thanks for your time, Corporate. I know you're a busy man." A: "Think nothing of it." TED FELBER then moves on to the question of when Canal Street will be reopened, and confers with the Action 12 Eye-In-The-Sky, Commander Dave, to find out how this will affect your commute into the city for the next couple weeks. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/61 Posted Author Robotic Mischief! Mon Feb 13 Media (Tamin) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Monday Evening News) A strange disruption occurred at Water Tower Place Sunday night when six robots, all designed with the appearance of late science fiction author Isaac Asimov, ran through the mall harassing mall customers and causing minor property damage. According to witnesses at the scenes the androids were confronted by local Powers including *pictures shown* Havoc Lad and Ink of Zero Hour, Lady Paramount, speedster Velocity, ex-Sparkle C spokeshero Shannon Yates, Lady Stygia, and an unnamed multilimbed Power in an armored suit. Rosa Hadden is here on the scene: From the mall a reporter continues, "Describing themselves as bound by the "Three Laws," presumed to refer to the governing principles of Asimov's fictional robots, the six claimed to be sent by their creator to study and protect the very shoppers they were menacing. When told that they were causing the humans emotional distress, two of the robots drew energy weapons and fired on the intervening Powers - when struck, the powered armor pilot was forced to flee with his damaged suit, while Havoc Lad shielded Ink from the blast with no apparent injury. After a brief fight in which Velocity and Lady Paramount each destroyed one of the Asimov robots, the others fled the scene when Havoc Lad threatened to throw himself from a balcony if they did not cease their mischief." Havoc Lad, wearing a brand new t-shirt and Adidas warmup trousers along with his normal mask, faces the camera gives a thumbs up. "Remember, kids! I'm a trained professional. If you ever really do feel suicidal, talk to your parents or a trusted friend, and remember, killing yourself is forever!" Ink speaks up after, "Ink is people too!" Rosa Hadden then continues, "The CCPU has not yet commented on possible reasons for this strange attack, though some store owners are speculating that it may have been some kind of test or prank by a roboticist. The only item reported stolen from the mall during the incident was a set of bagpipes valued at approximately $1000. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/62 Posted Author One Year Later Thu Feb 23 Media (Tate) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -On a Thursday evening talk-show- "One year ago today, dimensional manipulator Sidle of the Sidewinders duo took United Nations headquarters hostage, using a spatial-temporal loop to keep the authorities at a distance. After a six hour standoff, it was her partner Skip who finally convinced her to stand down. Whether guilt overwhelmed Sidle or she was too tightly tied to the loop to safely break it, we'll never know, but in dismantling the loop, she was consumed by it. "During the four years after the Event, the Sidewinders earned considerable renown, highly active on both the national and international stage. Psychologists believe Sidle cracked due to the stresses of the Earth-N War." This narration finished, the host offers a grave smile. "But the Sidewinders were a duo, and they shared their successes and failures. We're here with Skip, the younger member of the pair, to discuss what life has been like and what the future holds. Good evening, Skip." "Good evening." The teen, a rather unassuming blonde in an opalescent white costume, looks a bit strained. Having been identified in the incident just described, she's unmasked. "Skip, it's been a year. What have you been doing since then?" "I couldn't stay in Los Angeles any more," she looks down at her hands, "so I moved to Crucible City. I worked with the Dawn Patrol a brief time before their dissolution; I've been solo since then. I still turn my head to look for my partner, but I've stopped worrying about who has my back. I've been involved mostly in isolated incidents, but in this city, that keeps you hopping. I was particularly busy during the Urizen war, but my primary concern has been my studies." "Your studies?" She seems to relax on the question. "I'm pursuing a higher degree in psychology with the ultimate goal of counseling Powers. Whether heroes or ordinary people trying to deal with an extraordinary complication, they have fears and issues all their own. Villains, as well: I genuinely believe the greater percentage could turn around, if they had the opportunity and the right help." "How far along are you?" the host inquires. "I'll have my bachelor's at the end of the semester, and I hope to be practicing by summer of 2007. I've been thinking I need to learn how not to sleep." Her tone is a quip at the end. "Does your choice of profession have anything to do with -" "Yes." She cuts him off with a hint of laughter, then sobers. "Sidle was a rock. She never faltered, she never gave ground, and she never let herself fail. But even mountains are worn down by the wind if they're not sheltered from it. She thought she could bear the weight of the world, and it broke her. I should have been there; at least I can try and stop it from happening again." The talk-show host picks his words with care. "Can I ask what was said in the United Nation headquarters that day?" "That is, and will remain, between Sidle and I." She shakes her head. "If all anyone can remember about my partner is the mistake that led to her death, then that's an equal tragedy. Sidle put her heart and soul into protecting people and asked for nothing in return. Let me tell you a few things you ought to be talking about ..." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/63 Posted Author Ophidiotech Attacked! Sun Feb 26 Media (Grin) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Power Villains strike Tech Company! A group of superpowered criminals struck Ophidiotech tonight, attempting to steal from the firm. As reported from their press conference earlier today, the head research scientist at Ophidiotech Terrance Hays expressed concerns about the lack of security at the frim, relating to some of the materials they had in their laboratory. Perhaps in response to this, a group of four powerful beings attempted to break into the lab. Witnesses report some sort of streak of black and yellow crashing into a wall, breaking it open, while three others stood guard outside in an attempt to stave off the city's heroic Power population. There are conflicting reports over the number of Powers that responded, some people reporting four, and others five. Only two stayed to give information to the policy and commentary to the media. he criminals, named by their own words as Krait and Fierce, two others unnamed, were thwarted. Eye Witness accounts say that the two unnamed villians exchanged fire with Icicle, and an unidentified figure in a powered suit, while some sort of locusts attacked the large crimininal, making him violently ill. The large one then crashed a hole in the building, followed by the figure known as Krait running off across the lake. Their goal thwarted, the criminals retreated, chased by Thunder Child's lightning bolts, but all four got away. None of the heros had any words for the press, but two did stay to assist the police in finishing their reports. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/64 Posted Author Eighth Wonder: REAL TV! Sun Apr 09 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Commercials are shown on all the major networks for a new Reality TV Show 'Eighth Wonder'. The cable show is hyped as a view inside the lives of a team called Eighth Wonder, a group of superheroes brought together by their mysterious patron, 'The Teller of Tales'. The first eight episodes are slated to be the recruitment of his team of Powers one by one. There are pics of the team as a whole standing with mist swirling around them in classic power poses, and with light radiating behind them. The catch phrase: Eighth Wonder; heroes for the 21st Century, and Beyond! There are clips on each of the eight commericals shown over the course of the next few weeks showing a bit about the eight powers, one Power per commerical: Hammerfist is a Strongman, Native American, he's shown twisting a crowbar into a knot. Razorwing is a flyer with metallic wings, she's VERY nimble. Neuronik is a telepath and telekinetic, he's also very handsome. Nightmist is a sorceress shown conjuring up an earth elemental. Tracer Round is a blaster type, he fires bolts of superheated plasma. Morphia is shapeshifter, shown taking several forms, before settling in with a winning smile into her 'public' face. Velocity is a speedster, and a wise cracking teen idol looking kid that could very easily be seen in a boy band. Adaman is a living being made of dull black stone, male in appearance, and clearly very strong and resilient to harm as he's shown being hit by a moving truck. Don't miss the Eighth Wonder, the commericials exhort, coming at you larger than life in June! ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/65 Posted Author Eighth Wonder: Intros (1 of 8) Tue Apr 11 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Queue the opening credits of Eighth Wonder; See the eight members in black and white footage performing feats of Power appropos to their powersets, then turning a winning smile to the camera as they go into glorious HD color. The title flashes onto the screen -- EIGHTH WONDER -- Heroes for the 21st Century and beyond! Cut to a studio, two seats half facing each other, and in one the Teller of Tales (Name shown under him on screen), and the other holds Hammerfist (similarly identified). Teller smiles to the camera, "Well, we're here tonight as part of our eight part series of introductions so people can get a feel for the team of heroes destined to rule the air waves starting this summer." He is a dignified looking man, dressed in the sort of attire that one would see in a turn of the century theatre as well as a domino mask. Off comes his top hat, his cane set aside as he turns to face Hammerfist, gloved hands on knees. "Tonight we'll meet the incomparable Hammerfist, leader of the team." Hammerfist smiles. "Hello Teller of Tales, I am honored to be here." The Teller smiles, and nods. "Indeed, and we're honored to have you, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule, and knowing how busy you are, well jump right in." Cut to looking over Teller's shoulder at Hammerfist. "What are your powers?" Hammerfist smiles, and then mmms thoughtfully. "I am the living avatar of the land, the embodiment and guardian of nature, the protector of those in need." He intones in his deep bass voice. The man is powerfully built, dark hair and eyes, and skin that is a dusky red-bronze that nigh unto glows with vitality. "I have been gifted with the strength of mighty Bear, the speed of Puma, the stamina of Wolf, the grace and balance of Stag, the cunning of Fox, and the wisdom of Coyote." Teller nods, and the camera pans out to view them both facing each other. "How did you get your powers?" Hammerfist smiles, "Well, I was a shaman of my people, though I didn't know it. One day in a dream Eagle came to me, and led me along the spirit paths to find the great animal spirits I mentioned, and each of them bestowed upon me their greatest gifts, and charged me with the sacred duty of protecting those who need it, shielding nature, fighting the forces of evil." Teller swivels his seat to face the camera, and it pans to him. "More to come when the show goes live, my friends, learn about the eight Power heroes that will form the newest team of Heroes, learn about their hopes, their dreams, their loves, their losses as the show documents their REAL adventures. Tune in this June and make our hour count for more than zero! Thank you." ============================================================================== +bbread 14/66-75 =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/66 Posted Author Eighth Wonder: Intros (2 of 8) Thu Apr 13 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Queue the opening credits of Eighth Wonder; See the eight members in black and white footage performing feats of Power appropos to their powersets, then turning a winning smile to the camera as they go into glorious HD color. The title flashes onto the screen -- EIGHTH WONDER -- Heroes for the 21st Century and beyond! Cut to a studio, two seats half facing each other, and in one the Teller of Tales (Name shown under him on screen), and the other holds Razorwing (also graphically named on screen). "Welcome all to part two of our eight part introduction of the Heroes that make up Eighth Wonder, the Team that /you/ get to see the inside scoop of!" The Teller smiles warmly, and turns to face Razorwing, no longer addressing the cameras but her. She's a slender Asian girl, very trim, and is wearing some sort of highly flexible blue and silver armor. The armor is patterned after feathers, and under her arms wings fold back behind her. She sits with one leg crossed over the other. "So...Razorwing, it is my understanding that you are a high tech heroine, and that your armor is your own unique design?" The woman nods, her features concealed by a helmet of blue, with a shiny silver faceplate. "Indeed, Teller of Tales, I did the design and testing myself." The silver fades a bit so one can almost make out her features, and she winks at the camera. "Though I'd have to be nuts to spill any of the details, I'm still working on getting the designs fully patented." Teller laughs politely, and then nods. "So...with a name like Razorwing, can we infer that your wings are more than merely aids to your flight?" Again she smiles. "Without getting too technical, yes. That is a safe assumption. The wings are made of a super lightweight alloy laced with a graviton dampening crystal...the metal is strong enough that it could sheer anchor chain, as shown in this footage..." A box expands to fill the screen showing Razorwing navigating an obstacle course at high speed and with incredible agility, however to get to the finish line she has to slice through several anchor chains to drop a grate into the floor. As she swings the wings take on a black shimmering, and then she cuts the chains without apparent effort. "Wow!" States Teller. "Most impressive, Razorwing, I can see why you chose that as your name." She nods graciously, and then the cameras turn back to just the Teller. "Well, there you have it folks, Razorwing tells a bit about what she can do, she's the brains of the outfit, and their tech designer. Tune in next week for Part 3, where you'll get to meet Neuronik! Remember, heroing is not a zero sum proposition, it is about doing good, and fighting the forces of evil." The scene fades. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/67 Posted Author And Now, The Weather Sun Apr 16 Media (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Broadcast on local Crucible City television Saturday evening and then picked up by other stations ...) "We are announcing a city-wide winter storm advisory," says Brett Zephyr with the weather - no, his actual last name really is Zephyr, it's apparently not a pseudonym, "after the freak blizzard now blanketing Crucible. Our resident meteorologists cite no natural causes and advise everyone to stay in their homes. Anyone seen on the roads between now and 6am tomorrow morning will be arrested, except in case of emergency. We are anticipating -" Brett pauses, hand to his earpiece. "What? What? Oh fine, cut me o-" The camera cuts to the serene face of reporter Grace Holden, well known for an inexhaustible smile. "This just in," she says. "There has just been a major assault on the Sears Tower by what appear to be copies of several local heroes ... "Mere minutes ago, the storm-spirit collective known as Vila warned Tower residents and visitors to clear the area as duplicates of Illustration and the Indestructible Corporate advanced, flanked by not one but two Shards. The numbers only increased, the villainous replicas continuing with no less than four of the heroine Spade, and a fleet of eight Shooting Stars. "In part, they met themselves: the real Illustration, Shard and Spade were on the scene, as were Corporate's teammates, Babel and the ever-faithful Havoc Lad. Also present were teleporter Sidestep and the elusive Jade Shadow. Though the heroes began sore-pressed by sheer numbers, they recovered and valiantly drove away the invaders. Damage to the Sears Tower was widespread but superficial; no civilians were badly injured." Yet no sooner has Grace finished describing the fight then she turns to urgent dialogue with someone off-camera. That face is shaken as she returns her attention to the viewers. "This is not an isolated incident. There are groups advancing across the city, all these familiar faces ..." She takes a deep breath. "They're moving in, ignoring anyone who doesn't get in their way - they've grown over the Water Tower, choked it with foliage -" Abruptly, Grace's face vanishes as the image goes black. Commotion in the background, audio only; someone shouting, "The storm's interfering with the visual feeds. We need to -" "- Holden," another voice breaks in, "We have company." "People of Crucible City," Grace's voice again, sweet and melodic still, "we are experiencing temporary technical difficulties. Bear with us -" The program doesn't return. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/68 Posted Author Calling All Heroes Wed Apr 19 Media (Luc) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Beginning late yesterday, a signal started to broadcast across a wide range of radio and other communications frequencies in Crucible. Emanating from the Watchtower, headquarters of the heroic Liberty Watch, the signal is directed to heroes across the city, Powered and otherwise, directing them to those areas hardest hit by the clones, providing coordinates and whatever basic tactical information the Tower's resources can provide. At the same time, the signal urges those on the front lines of this struggle against the eco-terrorists to send useful or important information to the Watchtower, so that it can be broadcast to others as needed. The Liberty Watch is offering their headquarters as an informal gathering place as well, a safe haven for those who need it, or simply a chance to meet with other heroes and discuss the crisis gripping the city. OOC: What does this mean? Basically, PCs are now free to assume a certain level of coordination in the face of the current attacks. You can now organize your own IC groups and head onto the grid for some clone-clobberin', rather than relying solely on chance meetings. If you haven't been privy, ICly, to information concerning what these clones are, where they're coming from, and how to stop them, now's your chance to become informed. This signal is widespread - chances are, if you know how to turn on a radio (or know someone who does) it's going to reach you. If you have something to share with the rest of the city, posting to this bboard should work. Any questions, just get in touch with a member of Liberty Watch (+team/roster Liberty Watch). ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/69 Posted Author A Message From The Vila Wed Apr 19 Media (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (This announcement broadcasts on the television station that was taken over Saturday night, and is quickly picked up in whole or in part by others. Sensationalized, editorialized, condemned, but definitely carried.) The picture clears to an image of a diminutive woman with a perpetually changing succession of faces - blonde, brunette, soft, severe, only eternal youth and ebon-dark eyes constant. "Good evening, Crucible City," it-she-they says, a cacophony of voices blended into one. "We are known as the Vila, and we command the forces that have entered your city. We have no intention of harming those who surrender peacably, but make no mistake, resistance will be dealt with. This is not a fight you can win. You face two forces that have irresistable momentum: the natural world, and yourselves. "Whatever your victories or your attempts at coordination, they will not avail you. We urge any hero who wishes to change sides to do so before it is too late." The figure pauses. "There is one more matter I wish to clear up." That one word - the singular pronoun - signals a sudden change. The multiple voices thin into a single thread; the face pauses on a lone visage. "I am not in thrall to the collective. These decisions were made with full consciousness and control. Unlike Genevieve Ritterman, I have no difficulty with this. I should thank her now, however: her failure made this possible. Good health, Vee." An ironic smile flits across her lips - and signals the resumption of the rapid changes in her face and voice. "You've been warned, Crucible. Consider your options." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/70 Posted Author Morning TV Sun Apr 23 Media (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ That local station comes on again - this time with its signature face at the helm, a little toussled, a little tired, but smiling with more warmth than her usual impassive façade. "We are back on the air, Crucible City: we are under our own power again. Yesterday, a brave group of heroes risked their lives to break into the station and restore our freedom. Wind-Caller, Moonlight, Jester, Standard, Protean and Lifefire, you have my personal thanks. "The station here was defended by a group of clones in the images of heroes Frigid, Major Momentum, Spade and Shooting Star, and others resembling villains Scarlet Thorn and Dust-Devil," Grace continues. "Despite extensive collateral damage -" the camera pans down ... to show that large portions of the floor are missing down into the station foyer "- through the swift and clever actions of the heroes, no one was permanently hurt. "We weren't able to get the equipment back online until early this morning," there's a delicate wrinkle of the woman's nose, "but a quote from Wind-Caller at the time of the incident just about sums it up. 'I'm just glad I could help,' he said. 'With everything going on lately, had to do something.' To everyone who feels that way, who didn't turn coward in the face of the storm - literal or figurative - you have my supreme admiration. "Good morning, Crucible City. We're back." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/71 Posted Author Liberty Watch Speaks Mon Apr 24 Media (Luc) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A live press conference is broadcast throughout the city. In the foreground are the assembled members of the Liberty Watch; behind them is the Watchtower, which has sustained some heavy damage but which is already being repaired, and what appears to be a gigantic creature composed of greenish glass. Luc Malateux, a.k.a. Illustration, steps forward, looking uncharacteristically grim. "Thank you all for coming. I'll keep this brief. You all saw the explosion in the upper atmosphere last night. The collective known as the Vila, which is behind the attacks currently plaguing our city, apparently took offense to the Liberty Watch's efforts to organize and coordinate some form of resistance. It sent this monstrosity to attack the Tower -" He indicates the glass-formed kraken in the background. "- as well as plant-clones of Jade Shadow and our own Supersonic, which attempted to plant four nuclear devices within the Watchtower itself. Thanks to the efforts of Titan, Sunshine Girl, our ally Moonlight, and myself, they were beaten back, though it was a bloody struggle, and the devices were translated into the upper atmosphere with seconds to spare." Facing the camera, Luc pauses for a moment before saying quietly, "To the Vila and its allies, we have only this to say: we will not be intimidated, and we will not be silenced. Our signal is still transmitting, sending heroes where they are needed most. That signal will not stop until we have beaten you back, whatever the cost." He nods once, then says, "We can take a few questions now." The scene dissolves into a chaotic rush of shouted questions, and....we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/72 Posted Author Fox Summer 2006 Schedule Wed Apr 26 Media (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ June Premieres Mark Initial Phase of Year-Round Programming on FOX New Series Will Air Encore Episode Each Week A brand-new television season begins in June on FOX, when the network launches six new series, including scripted dramas THE JURY and EVIL GENIUS; scripted comedies RISING UP and CLONES; and unscripted series ZERO HOUR: HEALING AMERICA and THE SIMPLE LIFE 5. The programming strategy also includes regularly scheduled encore episodes for new series to maximize viewing opportunities, it was announced today by Gail Berman, President of Entertainment, FOX Broadcasting Company. The programming includes regularly scheduled encore episodes for new series to maximize viewing opportunities, it was announced today by Gail Berman, President of Entertainment, FOX Broadcasting Company. The new programming will be complemented by established FOX series on a new slate that marks a significant step forward in the network's efforts to present a bona fide year-round schedule – an achievement two years in the planning. "FOX has, once again, started a television revolution. This time we are creating a real year-round schedule," Berman said. "This is no longer a bold experiment; FOX is redefining the television season. Beginning in June, within days of this season ending, we will introduce a schedule designed to keep our offerings fresh and compelling, and our viewers engaged, continually throughout the year." FOX began to experiment with year-round program development two years ago and saw gratifying results this season with the successful launches of JUSTICE FOR ALL: TEAM ZERO HOUR last summer and THE O.C. in December. The summer 2006 slate marks the first full phase of a year-round plan that will include additional series launches in July, September and January. "Our successful transition to year-round programming is a testimony to the extraordinary talent of the FOX team," Berman said, saluting the network's determination and skill. "Every part of the network has been involved – from development to marketing to business affairs to sales and affiliate relations," she said. "Together we have created an entirely new programming model as FOX begins to change the face of network television." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/73 Posted Author Summer '06 pt.2 Wed Apr 26 Media (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday will be the first night to roll out, beginning Tuesday, June 8, with back-to-back episodes of THE BERNIE MAC SHOW (an original at 8:00 PM and an encore at 8:30 PM ET/PT), followed by the first new series premiere: THE JURY (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), an intense courtroom drama from Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson ("Rain Man," "The Natural," "Diner"), Emmy Award-winning writer Tom Fontana ("Oz," "Homicide: Life on the Street"), Peabody Award-winning writer James Yoshimura ("Homicide: Life on the Street") and James Finnerty ("Oz"). This innovative series brings viewers into the jury room to watch the panelists try to answer the many questions posed during a trial. With the action focused on the jury's deliberations, the facts of the case are exposed through flashbacks of testimony and crime footage. A final flashback after the verdict will let viewers see the crime as it actually happened, enabling them to draw their own conclusions about whether the jury made the right decision. Encores of THE JURY will air Fridays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). Monday on FOX will be a night full of fun, excitement, dazzling visuals and drama with the series EVIL GENIUS and ZERO HOUR: HEALING AMERICA premiering Monday, June 14. EVIL GENIUS (Mondays, 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), is a lush, 20-something ensemble drama set in a minimum-security rehabilitation center for repentent evil masterminds in Hawaii. At the center of the series is Karl Knaveson (Kristoffer Polaha, "America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story"), the popular head of guest relations and reformed "clown prince of crime," and the hotel's new general manager, who happens to be Karl's beautiful ex-girlfriend and acrobatic sidekick Nicole (Brooke Burns, "Shallow Hal"). The series will delve into relationships among the recurring characters, with the added intrigue of stories about the hotel's powerful and sinister evil geniuses. Encores of EVIL GENIUS will air Fridays (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). ZERO HOUR: HEALING AMERICA (Mondays, 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) is created and executive-produced by reality titan Mark Burnett ("The Apprentice," "Survivor"). ZERO HOUR: HEALING AMERICA will provide an extraordinary opportunity for viewers to make change in their own community through television. Spun off from the wildly popular JUSTICE FOR ALL: TEAM ZERO HOUR, which is itself a spin-off of the long-running JUSTICE FOR ALL: CRUCIBLE CITY FILES, each segment of ZERO HOUR: HEALING AMERICA will cover one week of efforts by the power-heroes Team Zero Hour to change one community for the better. Each week's topic will be selected from real letters from the viewers answering the question "what most needs fixing in your city" and voted on by the viewers via touch-tone phone. The winner of the popular vote will receive the attention of Team Zero Hour for one week, recorded throughout via the innovative Virtual Camera Process. At the end of the week, the contestant will be given the choice of receiving $10,000 to enjoy in their newly-healed America, or an all-expenses-paid move to another country. If the contestant chooses to move, the choice of destination is decided for them by the viewers via telephone vote. The series will go beyond the challenges facing Team Zero Hour to explore the personal dramas unfolding among the contestants and give FOX viewers, for the first time, the power to make a finer world. Instead of "shielding nature" or other similarly indistinct prospects, the efforts of power-heroes will be turned to what real Americans feel most strongly about, as determined by democratic vote. The Indestructible Corporate, the Crafty Capitalist, and the rest of Team Zero Hour return this season, with the exception of the Terrific Tradewind, who is on indefinite hiatus. Music by Kelly Clarkson, Avenged Sevenfold, Mary J. Blige, Beyonce. This series was previously being developed under the working title "Zero Hour: Pimp My 'Hood." Encores of ZERO HOUR: HEALING AMERICA will air Thursdays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). FOX will unveil a new comedy night on Wednesday, June 16 with a special bonus episode of THE SIMPLE LIFE 5 opening the night (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), followed by CLONES (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), the regularly-scheduled SIMPLE LIFE 5 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and RISING UP (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT). CLONES (working title) (Wednesdays, 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT), created by Mark Reisman ("Frasier") and starring Andy Richter ("Andy Richter Controls the Universe"), is an ensemble comedy about the trials and tribulations of raising 4-year-old accelerated-growth clones who are no longer the precious little tykes they were as infants. Torn between their dependence on each other and the need to strike out on their own now that their biological age has reached 15, the clone sisters must deal with the problems of living their teenage years as one of thirty-two siblings. Their foster father and project manager, Bob (Richter), craves alone time – even if it's for a root canal – while their genetic engineer, Carol, is having trouble letting go of her "little babies." Encores of CLONES will air Sundays (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT). "Celebutantes" Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie make a much-anticipated return in THE SIMPLE LIFE 5 (Wednesdays, 9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT). This time around, the best friends pack up their Louis Vuitton bags for the ultimate cross-country road trip, traveling from Miami Beach to Beverly Hills in a hot pink pickup pulling an Airstream trailer, and accompanied only by a road map and their trendy dogs Tinkerbell and Honey Child – no cell phones, cash or credit cards. As the girls go from life in the fast lane to life in the carpool lane, the question still remains: Can they survive THE SIMPLE LIFE 5 -- and can America survive them? RISING UP (Wednesdays, 9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) stars real-life hip-hop artists and powerheroes Risen and Fired Up as unlikely residents of a ritzy gated community. The 12-year-old boy next door is jazzed about living near his idols, but the rest of their straight-laced neighbors aren't very excited about the rappers moving into the previously quite, staid neighborhood, particularly when Risen animates a recently deceased homicide victim to testify against her slayer, ruining a garden party in the process. Matters move from bad to worse when Fired Up accidentally "flames on" a neighbor's prize petunias. Encores of RISING UP will air Tuesdays (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT). Original episodes of OLIVER BEENE return Sunday, June 6 (7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT) to kick-off a night of favorite and new FOX comedies. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/74 Posted Author Summer '06 At-A-Glance Wed Apr 26 Media (Kendrick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOX SUMMER SCHEDULE 2004 DAY-BY-DAY SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE Mondays (beginning June 14): EVIL GENIUS (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) ZERO HOUR: HEALING AMERICA (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) Tuesdays (June 8 and 15 only): THE BERNIE MAC SHOW (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) THE BERNIE MAC SHOW (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) THE JURY (premieres June 8) (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) Tuesdays (beginning June 22): THE BERNIE MAC SHOW (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) RISING UP (ENCORE) (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) THE JURY (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) Wednesday, June 16, only: THE SIMPLE LIFE 5 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) CLONES (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) THE SIMPLE LIFE 5 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) RISING UP (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) Wednesdays (beginning June 23): THAT '70s SHOW (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) CLONES (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) THE SIMPLE LIFE 5 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) RISING UP (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) Thursdays (beginning June 17): TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS ALIENS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) WORLD'S CRAZIEST VIDEOS (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) ZERO HOUR: HEALING AMERICA (ENCORE) (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) Fridays: EVIL GENIUS (ENCORE) (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) (Beginning June 18) THE JURY (ENCORE) (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) (Beginning June 11) Saturdays (continuing from present): COPS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) COPS (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) MADtv (11:00 PM-MIDNIGHT ET/PT) Sundays (beginning June 20): OLIVER BEENE (7:00-7:30 PM ET/PT) (Beginning June 6) KING OF THE HILL (7:30-8:00 PM ET/PT) THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) CLONES (ENCORE) (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) JUSTICE FOR ALL: TEAM ZERO HOUR (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) <> ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/75 Posted Author Up to the minute news Mon May 01 Media (Out ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The anchor man is discussing with the sportscaster, Brock Brickman, the phenomenal run of the Chicago Bulls when someone off camera hands him a sheet of paper. He turns to the camera and uses his serious voice. "This just in. Reports of gunfire only moments ago in the Addison Warehouse district. We go now live to Amy Tan. Amy..." The camera switches to a middle distance shot of Amy Tan, her trademark scarf tucked around her neck approaching a colorfully costumed individual. She asks him "Excuse me, Excuse me, can you tell us what happened here?" The man she speaks to is wear a luchador's mask, with silver lightning on the sides, and heavily tatoo'd with white pants and boots that match his sparkling white mask. He gives as wide a smile as his mask allows. "Buenos Noches, Seniorita. I found the gentlemen you see napping behind us assaulting an unknown woman here, and setting fire to some of the local real estate. We haven't had a chance to question them, and some of their associates escaped, but this gentleman seems to be their leader, and doubtless will be happy to assist the policia when they arrive. The woman who just left is Miracle Girl, perhaps you know her? And I am El Hierro Gato, something of a newcomer here." Amy Tan smiles up at El Hierro Gato and nods. "I'm sure that once arrests have been made and statements taken, that more will become clear. Crucible is very lucky to have heroes and heroines like Miracle Girl, and of course, yourself senor. On behalf of Channel Five and its viewership, we thank you." She turns back to the camera and smiles winsomly. "We'll be keeping you updated on this story as it develops. Back to you, Chad." Chad nods and replies. "Thanks, Amy. We always rest a little better knowing that you're out there digging up the latest and greatest scoops. And speaking of Scoops, just listen to what the Power Scoops Ice Cream chain is offering as part of their latest promotional package." ============================================================================== +bbread 14/76-85 =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/76 Posted Author Oh God, Get It Off Me! Tue May 02 Media (Zaidah) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Returning to your local PBS station this May, it's the nature program that does what no one has ever done before.... "Drop spiders on people. < Footage of a woman screaming as a box full of spiders tips over directly above her head. > "That's right - "The Hidden World" is back on Wednesday nights, bringing you amazing footage of some of the world's strangest and least-known critters. < Melange of images showing a variety of bizarre and creepy-crawly things: insects, spiders, millipedes, and more. > "Join your hosts, Dr. Zaidah Khedoma and George Henderson, as they take us on a journey from lush jungles to barren deserts, seeking out the planet's most outrageous and fascinating forms of life.... < A shot of Zaidah, decked out in what looks like safari garb, holding an insect in her hand and speaking to the camera: "...rarely found here in Tanzania, but local tribes consider it to be a great delicacy, and in fact, I'll be trying some a little later...." This is followed by a younger man, wearing a Tilley hat and a manic grin, crouched next to a teeming mass of ants on the jungle floor and speaking in a broad Australian accent: "....can see, these little blighters will swarm anything in their path. Look, now they're crawling over my shoes! And...yes, now they're /in/ my shoes! Gosh, they have a sting to them! I'm being bitten over and over again!" > "You can also join our studio audience in Crucible City as they interact directly with these critters - it's a fun learning experience for the whole family! < Various shots of ordinary people being stung, bitten, lanced, and terrified by a range of crawling things. Squeals, screams, shrieks, and squeaks abound, as do people running away, trying to swat spiders and millipedes out of their hair. There's also a shot of George being stung repeatedly on the face by a scorpion while Zaidah, in the background, just shakes her head. > "So tune in to your local PBS station Wednesdays at 8PM EST for "The Hidden World", and experience the wonder of nature from the comfort of your living room! (OOC: Curious? Intrigued? Disturbed? Page Zaidah!) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/77 Posted Author Eighth Wonder: Intros (3 of 8) Mon May 08 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Queue the opening credits of Eighth Wonder; See the eight members in black and white footage performing feats of Power appropos to their powersets, then turning a winning smile to the camera as they go into glorious HD color. The title flashes onto the screen -- EIGHTH WONDER -- Heroes for the 21st Century and beyond! Cut to the Eight Wonder studio, two seats half facing each other, and in one the Teller of Tales (Name shown under him on screen), and the other holds Neuronik (similarly identified). Teller smiles to the camera, "Good evening all, and thank you for your wonderful outpouring of interest, and the veritable flood of snail and emails we've been getting. Our apologies for the long delay between episodes, but the crisis in Crucible City has taken a toll of our availability and really, entertainment takes a poor second to lost lives, mm?" He shifts positions, and a camera flips with him as he turns to face his guest, Neuronik. "Tonight we'll be introducing you all to Neuronik, the Master of Mind." A brilliant flash of smile. "Neuronik--or should I call you 'Nate'?" Neuronic smiles winningly, "Either is fine, but maybe just to keep focus, call me Neuronik, sir." The Teller nods, "Neuronik it is." A wink, "Though I shouldn't call you sir, you work for a living." A moment, "So...you come from humble beginnings, having battled a drug habit, and bootstrapping yourself out of a life of petty crime and poverty you were exposed to Cat-5, and became a new man." Neuronik listens intently while the very serious Teller of Tales recites all this, and then steeples his fingers before him as he nods. "Oh yes, I'm not proud of my youth, but I think that the public record shows that I have turned all that around." The camera focuses on Neuronik's face now, his expression is intense, his features sculpted and patrician, his hair a blue-black and eyes intensely green like emeralds under a spot light. "I can't say this strongly enough - drugs, crime, hatred - these are ALL traps, and they hurt you more than you'll ever know. It took a near death experience to wake me up, but since then I've devoted my life to giving back to the community I had taken from. I have tremendous powers of mind, and it is my solemn duty to use those powers to benefit my fellow men." Teller smiles warmly, "And yet you chose a television show as your forum, a reality TV show..." The camera pans back to view them both, facing each other with quiet tension almost visible. "Indeed! It is a forum that lets me reach a wide audience, and we intend to, believe me. People think that because we're a TV show that we're not real heroes...but we're as real as it gets." Teller looks to his guest, and then smiles. "And there you have it, a solemn oath, a tarnished past, and a devout passion for justice." A nod, "It really doesn't get much more real than that. Tune in next time for intro part four where you'll all get to meet the Sorceress Nightmist!" Teller then smiles. "We'll be holding a random drawing, please email us at eighthwonderintros@eighthwonder.com -- five lucky winners will be invited to join us for a night on the town, and to view the interview live in the studio. Remember folks, we're public people, we speak plainly - no need for a Tower of Babel here. See you soon!" <@request to Plot, attn Miracleman> ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/78 Posted Author Titan Sightings Mon May 08 Media (Titan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For the past while, local Power and muscle man, Titan, had seemingly dropped out of easy sighting. In truth, even during the recent crisis in the city, his activities were limited to emergency situations at the headquarters of his current team affiliation; The Liberty Watch, and an emergency involving the nearby Pound. This seems to no longer be the case! Various sightings of the immense Power have begun to take place throughout not only Crucible City but abroad both here in the United States and on occasion Internationally, be it dealing with Powered menaces or aiding in some sort of capacity for disaster relief and aid alongside Liberty Watches own staff. The title of 'World's Strongest' is not something lightly given out by the media, especially in light of the existence of individuals such as Singularity and Goliath but when one actually witnesses Titan in action, it's not hard to see why some news agencies and Powers have given him the moniker. "I got kind of..erm..swamped with the business side of things with Olympus Mons. I guess I kinda fell out of the loop. There's nothing like a city threatening crisis to help bring you back into things, eh?" says the large Power, "You'll see me around much more, I think. And the gym is still open for business as usual although some of the functions are going to be routed through Liberty Watch's headquarters." When asked about rumors of some glitches in Olympus Mons training center, the big man responded simply, "We're constantly updating measures to make sure all our clients are as safe as possible. In truth, I leave the tech-geekery stuff to people better suited for it but we're always updating our measures and we're still open for business." And now, in other news...… ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/79 Posted Author X-Raptors Strike Again! Tue May 09 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cut to the newsroom, zoom in on the anchor woman April May, "In a shocking display of violence the recently stolen Raptor Class fighter taken by the so called X-raptors attacked and completely destroyed the Diplomatic and Research facility that had been in oribt around Titan since the end of the Jovian war just over a year ago." She looks very grim, a lovely brown haired, brown eyed caucasian woman in a grey pinstriped suit and a black blouse. "Hope Station was used as both the diplomatic outpost to the Jovians and a deep space research facility. Lost at the station were Milford Marksen, the US Special Envoy to the Jovians, Lindsay Stone, the UN Rep to the Jovian, as well as the crew of scientists and technicians aboard." A pause, "All hands are presumed lost. Starfleet America Operations has issued a statement that the incident is being investigated but at this time there is no clear motive as to the X-raptors actions. Fleet Admiral J.J. Adams, commander of Fleet Flagship 'The Pride of Tellus' had this to say..." "This attack is either an act of war from the forces of N-Earth, or the acts of expatriate neo-raptor terrorists. Either way, we're gearing up the fleet for search and destroy operations and will not stop until we find and eliminate the X-raptors once and for all." Returning to April, she continues. "Preliminary reports are sparse, but it seems that the stolen Raptor Class fighter had been retrofitted with advanced fusion weaponry, and extraordinarily potent shields per what few records were recovered from the flight recorders of the point defense fighters stationed at Hope Station. This is a terrible tragedy, our condolences to the families and loved ones of those lost in this brutal act of terror." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/80 Posted Author Velocity vs Velocity! Sat May 13 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Race between the two Velocities was recorded, and broadcast live on Cable channel 3, W-DNA. It was also simulcast on Pay Per View, and exerpts shown on the evening news, there will be DVDs sold of the event available in stores Tuesday the 16th of May. :) Ten signed limited edition versions will be given to the studio audience allowed in to the upcoming intro of Nightmist as well as ten pre-released to The Mix, a Crucible City radio station 101.9 FM as prizes for their prize closet. The two powers faced off in a trio of contests: 1) A race through a maze, at the heart of which was a pair of Minocentaurs, and a maiden to rescue. 2) Skateboards of Doom! The two heroes had to race on skateboards through a tunnel full of traps. 3) Sticky Floors and Walls of Force Oh My! The pair had to avoid random fields of force impeding them, along with a floor, wall, or ceiling randomly going sticky. The Heroic Android Velocity won the contest, and kept his name, Eighth Wonder's heroic teen taking the name 'Slipstream' in the wake of his defeat. OOC: Many thanks to the folks that showed up! Requests to Plot, attention Miracleman. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/81 Posted Author Navy Pier Fireworks! Sun May 21 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the sky above the lakefront will fill with a spectacular fireworks display of color and sound. Each Wednesday night our soundtracks groove to the best songs of the 70s (June), 80s (July), and 90s (August), with the party continuing with live bands playing all the hits of the decade at the Bud Light Stage in the Navy Pier Beer Garden presented by 93XRT. Saturdays bring our salute to our hometown, Crucible City, with crowd-favorite tunes celebrating the Windy City! * Saturday evenings at 10:15 p.m. * Wednesday evenings at 9:30 p.m. (A schedule follows, with the 4th of July display listed in bold red, white, and blue lettering.) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/82 Posted Author Chicago River Floods! Sat Jun 10 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Channel Twelve News! News Live! As it happens!) VIEW: Helicoptor over the Chicago River... the scene is eerie because it's only partially recognizable, "I'm Connie Gladstone here for Channel Twelve news with this live special report. The Chicago River has mysteriously surpassed all notion of high tide in this unprecidented event..." The view gets closer. The water level is high enough that the nearby areas are starting to actively flood, "Approximately one hour ago, The Loop and nearby areas began to experience flooding similar to the so-called Great CHicago Flood of 1992. The Flood, as you may recall, was caused by a breach between the Chicago River and a series of underground freight tunnels that honeycomb the Loop... but the department of urban planning says this is something distinctly different. I have Daniel Kerr here, with the Crucible City Department of Urban Planning... Daniel, what are we seeing, "Connie, we just don't know, and there's no telling yet, but I'd like to suggest that everyone stay calm. We'll have this under control..." "I'm getting word that there's almost a foot of floodwater up to three miles away from the river on either side... and this just in... A fire is raging on the South Side... heroes Tradewind and Illustration are attempting to contain the fire, which the CCPD is calling a code red scenario. Could this flood be some sort of attempt to curb the fire?" "I don't know, Connie. But the moment we know more, you'll know more." "Thank you. Bob, back to you!" ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/83 Posted Author Great CC Flood of 2006! Sat Jun 10 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ JINGLE: Action News Twelve! News First! As it happens! VIEW: Helicoptor over... Crucible City? That's a lot of water, "I'm Connie Gladstone for Channel Twelve news with this live special report. Conditions have deteriorated rapidly as city workers claim the river, in an unprecidented act, has continued to pump water into the city... reports are flooding in from all over the city... that fire raging on South side has indeed been put out by Tradewind and Illustration... thank you. You're heroes. And this just in. Heroes Jade Shadow, The Infinite Man, Thunder Child, Miracle Girl, and two unidentified others have thwarted what bystanders are calling a double bank robbery while bringing a fatally wounded man for medical help and saving the citizens on board passenger train 227 from ***STATIC*** The scene shifts. It's another helicoptor, with the words "Live: Lake Michigan" printed on the bottom of the screen, "We bring you live coverage of the current crisis." Lake Michigan is, astoundingly enough, smaller than it should be. It's very obvious that the water is coming from the lake. Voices sound more like radio chatter than anything else, "Ten... thousand feet. We are..." A clearer voice, an anchorwoman, speaks, "Coming in over lake Michigan now with Chopper Dave. We're just getting pictures of..." Suddenly a large beam of light emits from the lake itself and seems to go into the camera. Everything shakes, "We're going... going....What was that?" The sound devolves into a mass of shaking and static as the water comes closer and closer and... static. A test pattern flashes across the screen: Please Stand By We Are Currently Experiencing Technical Difficulties ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/84 Posted Author Floodwaters Level Off Sun Jun 11 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ JINGLE: Action News Twelve! News First! As it happens... VIEW: A distasteful graphic displaying the words: Crucible City Crisis! City Under Siege! VIEW: Helicopter birds-eye-view of the city, showing massive flooding along with many large nodules of solid ice.. "Connie Gladstone for Channel Twelve news with continued coverage of the Crucible City Crisis. Flooding has reached dangerous proportions and the authorities ask that anyone still in the city consider evacuating. Water has reached as much as nine feet in some areas, though the seepage has finally tapered off thanks to the efforts of some of Crucible City's heroes. Quintessence of powerteam Aegis is particularly responsible for stemming the tide..." The helicopter moves in closer. A jagged nodule of translucent ice sits around the water like some sort of defiant iceberg. It's missing a large chunk, however. Some parts of it appear charred and melted, as if it were attacked by something. "Quintessence is moving around the city, placing ice dams in what he calls 'key locations'. Now we haven't gotten confirmation on this, but the waters appear to be coming in from Lake Michigan directly to the rivers through some sort of gateway.. we presume this is what Quintessence is locking up. But there've been other setbacks..." VIEW: The Infinite Man, Corporate, Havoc Lad, Quintessence, Ink, and Genie in a flooded city street, fighting with armed scuba divers, three heavily armed looking boats, and what appear to be alligator-men. "Unknown military forces appeared in the city late last evening. Crucible City's heroes have done their best to repel the invaders, who's motives are still unclear, but additional troops remain in the city." VIEW: A submarine, two small boats, and several armed men standing atop them, all of them shooting at a block of solid ice, "This footage, taken from an amateur cameraperson, shows what is quickly becoming a common sight. Ice dams, suction devices, and water evaporators appear to be their main targets, but soldiers have been seen razing the general public sector as well." VIEW: Newsroom. Connie Gladstone is sitting behind the desk, looking ragged as if she's been reporting nonstop since the crisis began, "We've also confirmed the existence of a military installation in Lake Michigan, which is believed to be responsible for the flood as well as the deaths of Denver hero Freezetag as well as News Six's David Thompson, also known as Chopper Dave. We here at News Twelve salute you both, and our hearts go out to the friends, families, and loved ones of the deceased." OFFSTAGE: *muttered* "We have Quintessence." VIEW: A reporter on a small boat, standing next to Quintessence. Words on the bottom of the screen identify the reporter as Douglas Coulee, "Douglas Coulee here for Channel Twelve News. I'm standing news to Quintessence, who has been responsible for the majority of the damming that's been occurring throughout the city. Quintessence, we realize you're very busy. What's the current take? We understand that your attempts are being actively undermined?" "Well, as fast as they can destroy the dams, I'll make more. But one man alone can't do it all, can't do enough. This is an assault on Crucible City the likes of which we've never faced, and I'm calling all the Powers that be to come out, to help, to stand up for the city that is our home! Out in the lake is the source of the floodwaters, a huge base equipped with powerful weaponry...I'm doing what I can to buy us time, but it falls to others to take the fight to the bad guys, to strive, and to prevail." Quintessence smiles, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have walls to raise." and then takes off. Douglas: "Back to you, Connie." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/85 Posted Author Ham Radio Broadcast Mon Jun 12 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Channel 12 News is no longer broadcasting constantly, nor is any television station. TV does come back every now and then, but the electrical situation in the city is as poor as can be expected. Power is out in most areas, and generators rule the roost. However, that leads to the old standbys during crisis: HAM Radio. The following broadcast is transmitted on the 2 meter band by some of the city's lesser known heroes... regular folks like you and me who refuse to pack up and leave. They have no superpowers, unless caring and sacrifice rank up there with super strength and energy blasts... *static* *BEEP* "...and they're still moving supplies through with Miracle Girl. As long as those ships don't come back." "I understand. There's en evacuation camp at Lincoln park. Did you check for her mother there?" *BEEP!* "Not yet. What's their frequency?" "144.8 megahertz... the repeater's down, though..." *sound of Morse code, very loud* "Oh man." "KB2RIH. CQ CQ CQ...." *sounds of Morse code in the background. "VT, KB2RIH. This is K7BOR on RACES network." "K7BOR, I'm reporting major fighting on Canal Street. It looks like a full battlegroup." *radio chatter* K7BOR: "Not good. K7BRJ, advise you wait until the fighting dies down. KB2RIH, is there any kind of response?" KB2RIH: "Yes. it looks like Jenny Steel, Midnight, The Infinite Man, and Sunshine Girl are responding." (unidentified): "I thought there were national guard units posted on Canal Street." (unidentified2): "They fell back to the power station to deal with a crisis there." K7BOR: "How long does it look like it's going to last? Do they need help?" KB2RIH: "No, it's... I think they have it under control, but the dam is under serious attack." . . (A minute later) . *static* "This is KB2RIH. The dam has broken, but the battlegroup has dispersed." "Oh no." *the radio bursts into a series of voices all talking over one another.* "Pull back. B7VOL, I can't reach Evacuation Center 4. Can anyone DX Evac Center 4? They're going to flood out unless they move!" *static* "This is Crucible City Police Dispatch Operator 14559. We have four units inbound. Can you describe the situation?" KB2RIH: "No.. I mean yes. I mean... they're rebuilding the dam. Sunshine Girl and Midnight, I mean. The battlegroup is gone... I saw one boat sail off. It's heading over the Cermak Road bridge... it's gone." "*heavy sigh* Phew..." "I have Evacuation Center 4 on the other radio." "Tell them they're fine. That was really close." ============================================================================== +bbread 14/86-95 =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/86 Posted Author Just a moment of your time... Mon Jun 12 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Only seconds after the TV stations come back, their signals are pirated. Communication is subverted in Boston as well. The message also comes out via radio. Someone was well prepared and waiting for this to happen...) VIEW: Connie Gladstone looks pretty bad. Her hair is frayed and dirty. Her clothes are wet and she appears tired and strained. She is standing on a train platform in front of numerous refugee tents. Things look busy behind her, "This is Connie Gladstone for Action 12-*STATIC*" VIEW: Everything changes in an instant. The view has become what looks like the inside of a decadent office. The red carpet appears lush and bottomless, the bookshelf is a deep mahogany matched by the expensive looking wooden desk. A nameplate is visible, which reads: "BLOOD STARKILLER, PHD: SUPREME COMMANDER". This 'Blood Starkiller', who could only be the person sitting at the desk, is apparently the self-styled 'Supreme Commander'. Other words to describe him are 'short', 'premature', 'colorful', and 'thirteen years old'. Truth be told, the young lad looks more like the token 'techie' kid among a group of cartoon children than any sort of commander. He has it all: Blond hair with long spikes that point straight upwards, neon yellow goggles, headphones and mouthpiece... he even wears a labcoat with blue neon stripes on it. None of this does anything to hide the fact that he appears to be nothing but a child. A small white plate of cookies sits to his left, and a glass of cold milk is to his right. The kid came prepared for war. "Crucible City residents. Esteemed Bostonians. Hello. Hello! I apologize for this intrusion on your daily lives, especially to those of you living in Crucible City at this time... if you can call that living." He laughs like an obnoxious child with a vocalized 'hahahahahaha'. An arm lazily reaches for a cookie. Oatmeal! "If you have good brains, then by now you may be asking yourself who I am, what I want, and why." says the boy before biting into his oatmeal cookie. He threads his fingers together and leans into the camera a bit, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dr. Blood Starkiller, formerly known as William Steven Ryder. To my former colleagues at MIT, hello! Remember me?" Little Billy Ryder waves to the camera and smiles sadistically, "And especially, I'd like to say hello to my good friend Dr. Warner. Arnold, baby! Hi! How's the conference? Oh, that's right! You told me you couldn't swim! Just imagine the odds of Crucible City getting flooded during your conference. I hope you've had no trouble getting out of the city... because you're on my -special- list." VIEW: The screen turns blue, and white letters appear as he speaks. It's obvious you are staring at a slideshow presentation. "Here are my demands. Demand number one. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology owes me a PhD in Genetic Engineering. For their generosity in doing this, I will not leave ALL OF BOSTON AS A STINKING BLACK CRATER YOU UNFAIR SONS OF..." You can hear a fist pound the desk, as well as the lurch of a ceramic plate. There is a five second pause while the self-proclaimed Dr. Starkiller composes himself. He sighs with fake-contentment, "Demand number two. I want one American city of my very own. I don't see why mayors should have all the fun. You're petty bureaucrats without a shred of intelligence and I could do a much better job than you. I don't care which city you give me, because I'll turn it into the best metropolis in human history. We'll call it... Starkiller City. Or maybe Ryderburg. I haven't decided yet. Demand number three... Bring me the head of Doctor Arnold Warner. I don't care how you do it. I am offering a bounty of four million dollars to the first person or organization who can prove to me that he is dead. Oh, and Doctor Warner, we know you're still in Crucible City... or were you so unintelligent that you thought it was merely a coincidence that my men stick to you like Laffy Taffy?!" The view shifts back to Billy Ryder, "Meet these three demands within 48 hours, or I will make sure none of them can ever be met. And to those of you who have gone snooping around that little structure of mine, I'd like to thank you. In particular I'd like to thank... Photographs of superheroes appear on the screen: "Freezetag, Gamma Lad, The Blue Miner, and the United States Air Force. Your deaths will not be in vain, because I laughed myself silly for an hour! Each! Well... not over the airforce. You got a collective chuckle. Oh, and to that Indian girl who flew overhead... we saw you. Come a little closer next time. I could use the chuckle and I..." OFFCAMERA: A soothing woman's voice calls out, "Billy?" "MOOOOM! I'm in a conference!! Uuuugh!" Blood Starkiller claps his hands twice and the broadcast terminates... VIEW: Connie Gladstone is looking around, confused and disoriented. OFFCAMERA: "We're on!" "We're on?! This is Connie Gladstone for Action 12 News. We're still..." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/87 Posted Author Olympus Mons Refugee Center Mon Jun 12 Media (Titan) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Among all the other news reports that manage to filter in or get broadcasted during the recent chaos are reports that the Training Center and secure areas of Olympus Mons are being used by several groups as a refugee center for people who have been flooded out during the recent crisis. Although not a medical facility, people who are homeless are finding shelter there, families are being reunited and coordinate efforts at disaster relief are ongoing with both the gym facility and the Watchtower of Liberty Watch working together to help evacuate citizens. (OOC: Feel free to RP bringing people, wet kittens or lonely drenched PS2's to Olympus Mons and to consider the facilities busy with disaster relief activity as part of your RP.) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/88 Posted Author Shelter Created Mon Jun 12 Media (Bobby) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As he did once before during the N-War Doctor Robert 'Bobby' Berens the famed Power Hero Quintessence and Crucible City native son has taken action to help those displaced by the massive flooding and damage to the city and environs. At a spot well removed from the water line a cavern was dug out, and reinforced. Into it were brought basic supplies, portable generators to keep it warm, and lit. The food is nothing fancy, surplus MREs and bottled water, but it is sufficient to sustain a person for a considerable time. "I'm sorry I can't do more." He was quoted as saying. "But with all the damage and the need to constantly renew the stop gap measures to keep the flooding from getting worse...there is simply no time. Please, I urge any and all citizens that can spare the time to help out at the shelter...thank you." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/89 Posted Author Floodwaters Hit The Pound Mon Jun 12 Media (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Broadcasted on Crucible City television but picked up by other stations ...) Grace Holden bestows her trademark smile upon the television audience, luminous, serene, but the expression is swift to fade as she speaks. "This just in," she says rapidly. "As floodwaters rise, a water-breach at the Pound knocked out several crucial systems on the exterior lower levels. Ever since the rising tide reached critical levels, the building has been protected from the flood by a jury-rigged force field ..." The camera cuts to a bird's-eye view of the island prison, surrounded by a shimmering nimbus of energy, but tides of washed-up detritus, some slapped quite high on the walls, show evidence of a recent inundation, and there is clearly a breach in the lower wall as Grace continues, off-screen, "That field was short-circuited for approximately fifteen minutes earlier this afternoon through the actions of electrical controller Apparatus, known right hand of the villain Retrofit. "Retrofit associates Parallel and Alternacy took advantage of the chaos to jail-break teammate Chirality." A brief camera-cut, close-up of some of the flood damage. "Several other villains escaped from the cells in that vicinity." Grace heaves a sigh that would be more theatrical if she were visible. "We have only a partial list at this time, but it includes: "Dr. William Alder, better known as Doctor Alder. "Thrillkill, otherwise known as Brock Bedlam. "Armstrong, otherwise known as Armando Santelli. "Luna, otherwise known as Selena Andretti, mercenary villain. "Onus, otherwise known as Chloe Cromwell. "The Speyer Witch, otherwise known as Ghislaine Hamlin. Grace pauses to let the names sink in, then continues, "The initial disruption also disturbed security on a direct line to the cell where the sorceress Gualichu is being held pending trial. With the villainness being Retrofit's sister, the intent seems clear, but the attempt was narrowly thwarted as systems began to come back online. "Civilians are advised that are escapees are considered extremely dangerous." The camera returns to the studio and Grace's solemn face. "The Pound believes they have both contained the breach and prevented further mechanical failures. Technicians are currently working to ensure that no back-door measures or viruses have been left slumbering in the system. We have been assured there will be no repeat of this incident ... Angela?" Just before the camera shifts over to another bleak weather report, a wit in the studio might be heard to retort, "Hey, be thankful. This is probably the first time in years some of the criminals have bathed." (This is not a "major" Pound break, but do you have a villain you want to escape? This is your cue. Questions, investigations, etc - request to Plot.) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/90 Posted Author The Voice of the City Tue Jun 13 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> Somewhere on the 2 meter band... << MORSE CODE: VT VT VT R3BR VT VT VT R3BR ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CONFIRM WATER LEVEL 8.109 METERS SD 0.214 METERS BK BARI DROPPING FAST BK EVENING EST 6.833 METER AT 72 PERCENT BK REQ GENERATOR GAS TO HQ TX VOICE: "This is K7BRJ. Is K7BOR about?" "Negative. K7BOR is out of fuel and has put me on RACES." K7BRJ: "Well who is this?" "This is KC9FNP, thank you. Do you have anything to report?" *static* *crosstalk: No... we still need another fifty feet of cable to make the connection. City Hall is online, though...* K7BRJ: "Evacuation Centers 4 and 7 needs help packing up their supplies. They're moving to Olympus Mons for accommodations." Unidentified: "Olympus Mons? Isn't Bobby's shelter closer?" K7BRJ: "Negative. Evac 2 and 5 are heading that way already. 4 and 7 are way closer to Olympus Mons. It's drier, too. Requesting aid with the move." Unidentified2: "Miracle Girl could do it." KC9FNP: "Negative. Miracle Girl skipped town for Boston. If you're brave, you could sail a barge over, though. I've got very few battlegroup reports... one near Navy Pier, and some in the middle of town." K7BRJ: "That's it? *weary chuckle* Good. I'm tired of getting shot at. Oh man, it's like being back in the army again." KC9FNP: "Heheh. That's the spirit. N-War?" K7BRJ: "World war two." KC9FNP: "Close enough, old timer. There's a lot less. Frost has been icing up the dams pretty hard, but I think he had to handle another emergency. I know Quintessence, Sunshine Girl, and Chance have been doing something under the river... just haven't seen much trouble anymore." Unidentified: "Just the way I like it." Unidentified3: "Well don't get too excited. We've got that Starkiller brat to worry about." KC9FNP: "The best we can do is just keep things glued together over here. Billy the Kid's for powers and the military to deal with. I'll settle for getting water and diesel around." "CQ CQ CQ. KB2RIH CQ CQ CQ." KC9FNP: "This is KC9FNP on RACES network, KB2RIH. Go on." KB2RIH: "A scientist who goes by the name Professor Proton just offered City Hall a lease on some sort of quantum power generator. Should be enough to keep the city going for weeks before he needs it back." KC9FNP: "Wow. Labor, too?" KB2RIH: "Negative. He won't risk his robots in here. Is anyone available to help string up the wires?" ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/91 Posted Author Pardon Me... Wed Jun 14 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ VIEW: Connie Gladstone stands in front of the town down remains of an office complex. It looks as if fire, explosions, and superpowers have been here, which they are. That the building stands anymore is a testament to the men and women who designed it. The Channel 12 Action News emblem is on the bottom of the screen, along with 'Starkiller Clash in Skokie' in larger letters. Words trail across the screen, smaller than that. The ticker reads: // ...Naval forces in Boston at war with Blood Starkiller. All residents are... // The broadcast is already in process. "Now, numerous figures have come forth and stated that Dr. Warner was, in fact, in this office building. But as Crucible's crueler elements closed in to collect the four million dollar bounty***STATIC***" VIEW: An obnoxious closeup of Blood Starkiller's face. His eyes are a little wild. The boy looks utterly livid, like it's impulse control alone that keeps him from hopping up and down... and Blood Starkiller has poor impulse control. It's also clear that he's been crying. His goggles are a little foggy, his cheeks are a little red, and one can even see the lines down his face of mostly dried tears. "I warned you... don't think it escaped my attention that Dr. Warner's rotting forehead isn't sitting on a pike in my room." He frowns, squinting at the camera like he'd tear the viewer's lungs out if he could, "That was strike one. Strike two... no city. I can't say I'm surprised. You know I'd only show up every one of you, but it's okay. I didn't really want one anyway. I just... I just thought maybe you'd give it to me so I could have a little fun. But strike three? Strike three? Come on!" VIEW: The camera slowly pulls back, showing the 'good doctor' standing in a large laboratory. Most of the room is made of iron, with metal crosswalks, large black computers, and a shiny metallic floor. He is wearing a labcoat, "I just thought I'd inform the residents of Cambridge... well, Boston, really, that you've all been failed totally and utterly by the incompetent fools at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who saw fit to reject demand number one. I mean, come on..." His chuckle sounds unsteady and when he resumes speaking, there's a slight squeak to his tone, as if he's choking back the tears, "Refuse me?? Again? I'm clearly worthy. You asked for the moon and I gave you the stars! It's not fair! It's just not fair!!" VIEW: The camera pulls out even farther. You can see more detail in the lab, but the main attraction was probably unintended: Blood Starkiller's labcoat is full sized, hanging off of him like some kind of wedding dress. Regretfully, he begins tearing on camera, "MIT's best days have come and gone and I realize now how much of my time I wasted working for you. Well I just wanted to say that I don't need you. I don't need ANY of you! Residents of Boston, MIT has failed you. An institute of higher learning? Hah! I gave you all a chance, and you blew it. As we speak, my loyal men are besieging my would-be ala mater and everything around it. And as the finishing touch, I'm making some -special- arrangements for the first city that offers any sort of assistance... and yes, Chicago. I am talking to you. I see your 'heroes' there. I mean... Paragon?? Shooting Star? Please! Yaaawn!" Blood Starkiller sniffles, then pulls his goggles off so the viewer can get a better look at his angry, teary eyes. He's no longer weeping, but it looks like the time for tears are over, "Just mark this day down in your calendars." *STATIC* VIEW: Back to the news program. Connie's face is white as a ghost, staring into the camera, "We're back??" ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/92 Posted Author A Fallen Starkiller I Thu Jun 15 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ JINGLE: Action Twelve News! News First! As it happens!! VIEW: Connie Gladstone standing on the deck of a ship somewhere out in Lake Michigan. Behind her stands a facility that looks like a vast gyroscope sitting on top of a square pedestal. Four immense turrets sit on each of the four corners, though the one closest to the viewer is blackened and charred, as if it took heavy fire. Gladstone herself hasn't looked this good since the city began to flood. She's clearly had time to change her clothes, bathe, and look presentable again. There's a slight color in her cheeks that is matched only by the skies. It is dawn and the clouds are just beginning to part. The first rays of sunshine from our rising star penetrate and wash over the lake, creating a beautiful, almost symbolic display behind her. Text at the bottom of the screen reads: /Blood Starkiller Captured! Crucible City Saved!/. In the background can also be seen three police boats and five large police choppers. People are being led onboard in handcuffs. There is a calmness and tranquility in this scene. Words aren't needed, because anyone can see it plain as day: It's finally over. "Connie Gladstone, Action Twelve News. I'm here at Lake Michigan where Crucible City heroes Chovexani, Fury, Miracle Girl, Quintessence, Topaz, and Wind Caller have captured young William Ryder, also known as Doctor Blood Starkiller, also known as the infamous Billy the Kid, in his aquatic headquarters. Some information is still sketchy, but by all accounts the base was assaulted last night in response to direct threats by Mr. Ryder where he threatened the first city to provide aid to Boston, who's forces were hardened against Starkiller's assault by Crucible City heroes." VIEW: Wind blows against the microphone, creating light static. Meanwhile, a very large helicopter with CCPCU markings is landing on the base. Ten officers armed with beefy-looking assault rifles are leading Blood Starkiller outside. The child is in handcuffs and is resisting as much as he can. The camera zooms in on him. Those who can read lips can see he's clearly screaming, "It's not fair!! It's not fair!! It's just not fair!!!" Given half a chance, he leaps forward and kicks one of the men in the shins, then tries to run away. One of the officers fires a tazer at him, making the child twitch in place and fall to the ground long enough for the CCPCU officers to re-collect their prisoner. Connie continues as a voiceover while the scene plays out, "Now we're still constructing a timetable, but at 8:27 last evening, the facility behind us began to behave erratically. Electrical discharges potent enough to disrupt radio transmission and alert the FCC were reported. We're not sure how the heroes gained access to the base, but rumors abound that Doctor Robert 'Bobby' Berens, aka Quintessence, died in a coordinated assault on the self-styled 'Blood Starkiller's' Lake Michigan based stronghold." "Eyewitness reports state that the Master of the Void engaged the defenses in a valiant attempt to distract the villain and allow the others to enter by alternate means. Unconfirmed reports and this video..." VIEW: A somewhat out of focus and shaky view of a figure in the air over the facility. The figure trades shots with it, his attacks being responded to by four beige energy beams. After a decisive strike, the figure is blown backwards and begins to plummet. "...provided by an anonymous source would seem to indicate that Quintessence may have been slain and was surely gravely injured. Power team Aegis has been contacted, but would not confirm or deny anything at this time." There's a mellow pause, as if Connie is attempting to maintain professionalism in the face of all reasonable deterioration. It's a fight she wins. "Scientists and engineers have performed a cursory investigation of Starkiller's facility, which appears to be an unstable antimatter reactor that could have destroyed everything within a 50 mile radius. There is evidence of a runaway reaction that was deactivated mere seconds before a detonation which would have destroyed half the city, many outlaying areas, and a significant portion of Illinois. Authorities are still deciding what to do with Mr. Ryder's reactor, which may be dismantled, filled with concrete, moved, or possibly used as part of the regional power grid. Doug?" ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/93 Posted Author A Fallen Starkiller II Thu Jun 15 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ VIEW: Douglas Coulee is sitting in the newsroom. A large graphic in the upper right corner of the screen displays a city with Blood Starkiller's emblem superimposed over it. An image of the boy himself is in the background. The words 'Battle of Boston?' are superimposed over all of this. Douglas nods to the viewers. His hair is perfect, "Blood Starkiller's revenge was thwarted last night by the combined heroics of Boston local heroes Lord Atlantic, The Unhanged Man, their Miracle Girl, Crucible City heroes Matrix, Paragon, Shooting Star, Skip, Supersonic, and the United States Navy." VIEW: Warships engaged in a pitched battle out and around Boston harbor. The exchange of munitions is hot and very heavy, with casualties on both sides. The camera shakes violently as explosions rock the water, the boats, and everyone involved. Superheroes fly about and fight the ships marked with Starkiller's emblems while intercepting several huge warheads lobbed overhead, likely aimed straight at Cambridge. In the distance, a huge tidalwave looms. Some of the heroes stop what they're doing and look up in a mixture of awe and fear... "Billy Ryder's forces assaulted MIT late last night, but met with unanticipated resistance as the combined forces of two cities' heroes as well as the US Navy clashed with a fleet of warships, a two hundred foot tall frog, and this record breaking tidal wave. Casualties were surprisingly low, though the runoff of Blood Starkiller's displaced forces to the shore made a busy night for the BPD and local heroes alike." VIEW: An utterly gigantic portal that seems nearly as large as the city it's protecting. The tidal wave, weakened, partially frozen, and crumbling apart, sails into the portal, "Crucible City heroes acted quickly to contain the man-made weather disaster, playing a major part in the defense of the coastal city from the twisted wiles of the malevolent boy genius. And now, local news." VIEW: The Loop, nice and damp, but with only puddles. Men and women in hardhats wander about, performing a general examination of the area, "With water levels down to practically nothing in the city, thoughts are turning to reconstruction and repair of our cities' damaged infrastructure. But urban engineers were in for a surprise when they discovered this nest of gigantic insects..." VIEW: Five gigantic centipedes, each a good 15 feet long, lay washed up against a drainage grates. They look waterlogged and quite dead. "City officials are unsure where they came from, believing them possibly from Lake Michigan, or some basement level laboratory from within the city. Dead now, they are no threat to the city. But engineers remain nervous. The news jingle plays. "After this, sports!" ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/94 Posted Author News from CTV: Jim Harvey Theatre Mon Jun 26 Media (Jorg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the ebb and flow of the news world, this probably barely even meritted a notice in the American media. It's just another day in Crucible. But this is high news for Canadian media! Certain media junkies are likely to catch this segment of W-Five, anyway: "And over in Chicago, we have Jaine Atrios. Jaine?" The view switches over to Jaine. She's looking better than her Channel 431 days, but she has that same old scowl of yore. This is probably because she's standing next to Knight Exemplar--a figure recognizeable by the 2-plus meter tall powered armour in dark gray. "Yes. I am standing here with..." she sighs "Moo... Knight Exemplar on the site of the disappearance of the Jim Harvey Theatre. Local witnesses reported that you had an aircraft open fire on the site?" She thrusts the microphone at the powered armour. "A pleasure to meet with you, Miss Atrios." The voice--extra deep, artifically magnified, sounds really quite amused. "And yes, as a matter of fact, we did open fire. It was the fastest way to shut off the electricity and prevent a fire." "Alright. So what happened then, after you had your military fun?" Jaine is doing a poor job of keeping her scorn out of her voice. "Extra-dimensional interests captured a number of civilians. With the assistance of several others, who..." The Knight pauses, looks around for a few moments, and then resumes, "are no longer here, we were able to breach this other dimension, defeat the interlopers, and rescue the victims. Would that I could thank them in person." "Unh hunh. So what was it over there? Interstellar nazis from the leather dimension?" Jaine's tension ratchets up a little. "I would rather not discuss it, Miss Atrios. Really now, I..." He is interrupted by a familiar-to-some, extremely deafening, genderless bellow: "I GOT YOUR MOONCALF RIGHT HERE, MARE!" The view from the camera suddenly shakes violently, the ground rushes quickly, and then just static for a half-second before the show's hosts cut back in. "Well, that was Jaine Atrios in Chicago, with Knight Exemplar. At least the theatre is back and everybody is safe, no? Ha ha. Well, next up: Risky Move. Are your rental trucks safe and up to provincial standards? We'll find out, right after this commercial break." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/95 Posted Author Trouble at the Watchtower? Sat Jul 01 Media (Miracle Girl) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (A shot of Watchtower Island in the morning, with thousands of dead fish beached. Also among the fallen is a massive creature, something between the 'creature from the lagoon', an ape, and a t-rex with blocky features.) "Current reports that friday night, the famous Watchtower of the Liberty Watch came under attack by unknown attackers. Witnesses report seeing flashes of light and glows from out near the island, as well as roars and seeming machine-gun fire." (Shots of the container ship being hauled up, its hull ravaged. Then, switch to a shot of a sodden sailor with his arm in a sling, speaking to a reporter.) "We were on the ship, getting hauled in by that fast guy, whatsis- Supersonic, and then I'm thrown off the deck and hit the railing before I'm in the drink, and then that guy, Scion, yanked me out of the water. Before I know it, he's fightin' some invisible monster thing and it's out like a light, appearin' out of nowhere, while that glowin', you know, Sunshine Girl, she's fightin' something off in the distance before flying out there. Then there was a sound like tearing paper, and I saw her light go out, you know, and I was pretty worried. But I saw her come back, so... you know. This is the kind of danger we have to face workin' with them, I guess, but it beats not having them around at all, youknowwhatI'msayin'?" (Shots of the Watchtower, panning out to a view from the harbor.) "At this time, no public statement has been issued by the Liberty Watch on the attack, but no captures were issued, and it is believed whatever figures participated in the assault escaped. Meanwhile, the massive aquatic monster is being detained by the ENS, who say they will be confining it in one of the Pound's 'Big Houses' designed for monster capture until its origin can be determined." (Switching back to the news announcers.) "Gee, those superheroes, they don't catch a break, huh?", the female reporter quips, before the male announcer adds, "Well, we've gotten word that all the the Liberty Watch is okay, and the sailors are too, so we can just be glad for that." (Questions and queries? @mail to Miracle Girl!)" ============================================================================== +bbread 14/96-105 =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/96 Posted Author Island Explodes in South Pacific Tue Jul 04 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "This is Juniper Martin, reporting for CNN. Late last night a previously unknown island in the South Pacific exploded, apparently due to unknown causes the uncharted island experienced a cataclysmic volcanic eruption that was visible from space." Juniper shifts to look at a different camera, the screen spawning a window. "As shown in this footage provided courtesy of the Helios Spacestation, at approximately 3AM eastern standard time a primary detonation of unknown type triggered a massive eruption that destroyed the island, and is even now forming a much larger one of still cooling ash and superheated magma." The footage shows an expanding ring of a shockwave burst, and then a geyser of fire and ash as a mountain explodes. The footage is time stamped, it then shifts to a current view of a good sized mass of cooling rock easily twice the size of the previous island, close to ten miles wide at the widest point. "Geologist Madison Webber, of the US Geological Survey has this to say..." Cut to a live broadcast, the man the eye of a frantic storm of activity. "Good evening Juniper, and thank you for talking with me." Juniper smiles, "Doctor Webber, thank you for commenting." The good doctor straightens his glasses, salt and pepper hair and a thick beard trimmed neat, blue eyes warm. "This is very exciting stuff, Miss Martin, this will allow us to study in depth the actual formation of a new island, I can't wait." Juniper smiles, as the camera cuts out, and then turns back to face her own. "Preparations are underway to mount an expedition to study the newly forming island, escort provided by the Coast Guard cutter 'Independence'. In other news..." <> <> ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/97 Posted Author Eighth Wonder: We're back! Tue Jul 04 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Show the by now standard collage of images of the brave souls of Eighth Wonder, and then cut to the familiar face of The Teller of Tales. His smile is one of those that has tangible physical impact, and then he speaks, his voice rich and enunciation exactingly precise, almost mesmeric. "Greetings people of Crucible City and the world! Our most sincere apologies to our viewers, due to unforseen circumstances and severe flooding in the recent Starkiller incident our studio suffered extreme damage, and we've been hard at work rebuilding things. SO far we have three winners to announce for our contest to actually join us in our studio for the taping of Nightmist's introductory interview." Split the screen to show pictures of Lantana, Franky, and Rumor with their names under them. The Teller continues. "We still have two openings, get your entries in fast! Remember guys, be a hero, not a /zero/!" <> ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/98 Posted Author Footballs and Fairytales Wed Jul 05 Media (Luc) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCANDAL! FOOTBALLS AND FAIRYTALES! In what is quickly becoming a media furor, star Bears quarterback Ethan DeMarco has been romantically linked with well-known local superhero Luc Malateux, a.k.a. Illustration of Liberty Watch. The two were photographed emerging from the club known as 'The Cockpit' last week following an anonymous tip-off to several local papers, and though they quickly ducked into DeMarco's Corvette and sped away, others emerging from the club were able to provide reporters at the scene with details of what went on inside. "Oh yeah," remarked All Beef Patty, a local cabaret performer who was attempting to straighten her sequined gown. "Those two? They had a private room at the back - the VIP lounge - and spent a couple of hours in there." "They were dancing at one point, though," added Kitty Litter, another entertainer. "That Illustration has some /moves/ on him. I have no idea who the hunk was with him, though. What? A football player? Oooh, how butch!" The pair were also spotted enjoying a romantic dinner at a secluded restaurant two nights ago. According to an unnamed employee of the restaurant, "There was a lot of sexual tension between them. You could've cut it with a knife. Of course, that may have been because they were attempting to reprise that scene from 'Lady and the Tramp', you know, with the piece of spaghetti? It was adorable." When asked to identify which of the two was the lady, and which the tramp, the employee responded, "No comment." Repeated calls to DeMarco's agent have gone unanswered, and his teammates are being similarly close-mouthed about the rumours. Malateux was questioned by reporters following his assistance in rescuing a pair of teenagers from a gang of thugs on the South Side, and had this to say: "Ethan and I are good friends. I admire his sportsmanship. Oh, and his arms. But I'm sure you'll understand if I choose not to discuss my private life with the press." Malateux was linked with a high-profile Australian tennis pro before coming to Crucible City, leading some to speculate that he may have a fetish for professional athletes. Or, as another patron of The Cockpit added, "Maybe he just has a thing for bears." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/99 Posted Author 8th Wonder: Intros (4 of 8) Sun Jul 23 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <> Queue the familiar introduction to Eighth Wonder, the montage of the eight heroes doing their thing, and then the show's logo flying up full screen before it cuts to show The Teller of Tales. "Greetings all! Welcome to the next introductory installment of Eighth Wonder, and today's show has a special bonus -- five guests who have some questions of their own." He turns to face his interviewee, and in the background are the five guests. Key Points: * Nightmist got her powers by being struck by a shooting star * Teller of Tales feels that his team differs from Zero Hour mostly in the realm of Diversity * Lantana is the queen of scandal and advises they should be too * Sigourney is odd * Damien's a geek * Miracle Girl is painfully wholesome OOC: A complete log of the interview has been posted to the Crucible City Yahoo Group in the Crucible City Comics folder, titled 'Nightmist Interview' in HTML format. Requests to Miracleman ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/100 Posted Author Attack at High Noon Sun Jul 23 Media (Minerva) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The 11 O'clock News: As the news continues, the next story to come up reveals a background shot of UCC's main Quad. "This afternoon at UCC. A scene seemed to unfolded of massive proportions. We were lucky to get the scene from the security cameras, courtesy of the Campus Police. Based on what we saw, two unknown villians *(a shot cut to a dark beauty in a skimpy dress, and a man dressed like the Black Knight from Monty's Python's Holy Grail)* attacked the student's in the Quad this afternoon. What these unknown villians did not prepare for was for Scion. The well known hero happened to be on the scene getting a tour from who we have identified to be Minerva Beckinsale. A student attending the University for summer classes. *(A shot of the battle)* As the battle continued other hero's including Sidestep and some unknown hero's arrived on the scene. *(cut to Sidestep, Cyberknight, and Lance)* However, as this battled continued, you can see here by the flash of light. They all just suddenly disappeared. Everyone in the Quad is gone including the villians. If anyone has an information, the police are asking you to come forth. (OOC: Any questions please send them to Minerva) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/101 Posted Author Rush Hour Robbery Sun Jul 23 Media (Captain Marvel) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A polished and stereotypical TV reporter smiles to the camera. "This is Mark Nielson, reporting for Channel 7 Weekend News. Part of East 60th Street near Midway Plaisance Park was closed Friday and Saturday following a Powered attack on an armored car amid rush hour traffic." An aerial shot is shown of a crater blasted from pavement alongside a torn-up strip of parkland, several crumpled or otherwise damaged vehicles around it." The reporter continues over the footage not including the fight itself but focusing on aftermath and responding emergency crews, "According to witnesses, Bling she Showman led the attempted robbery along with his associate Rapid Weasel, a woman reportedly addressed as "Ms. Wheels" driving some sort of advanced vehicle disguised as an ordinary car, and what appeared to be the late criminal Coldcase, confirmed dead after a robbery earlier this month. After Coldcase grabbed the armored car right from the street, the attackers were interrupted by several Powers, including Karasu, Shooting Star, sword-swinging musician Ezra Murphy, Chaplin, Major Momentum, and Doctor Catherine Wright. After Karasu and Chaplin rescued the armored car's crew a fierce fight then erupted, with Chaplin mauled by the feral weasel, Shooting Star and Karasu beaten with the stolen vehicle, and several civilian drivers injured by a blast from the attackers' craft as it attempted to take flight. That same explosion also demolished a section of roadway and several other vehicles, before Bling and his associates were forced off the road to crash into a park fountain. Coldcase managed to pick up the wrecked vehicle with his companions still in it and leap away to safety, though not before Major Momentum forced him to drop the stolen car." The screen shows a roughed up but mostly intact armored car lying on its side in the grass, and then it's back to Mark Nielson. "A spokesman for JN Antiques, an auction house which had hired the armored car, stated that the transport was an assortment of jewelry and antique books from a private collection, but declined to give further information, citing concerns of the client. The CCPD has denied any allegation that the body of Coldcase was lost or stolen following the previous robbery, but has made no comments on whether this is somehow the same criminal. We'll be back after this break with a special on local summer festivals." (Send all requests to Plot) ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/102 Posted Author Eight Wonder Intros (5 of 8) Sun Jul 30 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Run the opening credits of 8th Wonder. See the eight members in black and white footage performing feats of Power appropos to their powersets, then turning a winning smile to the camera as they go into glorious HD color. The title flashes onto the screen -- EIGHTH WONDER -- Heroes for the 21st Century and beyond! Fade into the 8th Wonder studio, Teller of Tales seated across from Tracer Round. Teller smiles to the camera, the sort of smile that makes one feel good about themselves. "Good evening to all our viewers, tonight we'll be meeting Tracer Round, the show will be going live in just a few more weeks." He looks comically dramatic, shaking a fist at the heavens. "Curse you Blood Starkiller! Curse you and your flood!" Before he offers a genial wink the camera, and turns to face his guest. "Tracer Round, that's an unusual sort of a moniker, what's the deal there?" The black gentleman across from Teller grins, leaning forward a bit to answer. "Well, see, its like this...I'm a mutant, my body naturally builds up and stores a reserve of superheated plasma which over time and thanks to the advanced training I've been getting I can turn to a variety of uses." Teller nods, "So you're a sort of a living fusion reaction?" Tracer Round laughs. "Not really, I mean, ain't no control rods or risk of a melt down here, but the plasma I generate is akin to the same sort of plasma you'd find in a fusion reaction. Though not radioactive either." Teller nods, "Well, with a name like Tracer Round it is plain you fire energy bolts, what else?" Tracer smiles. "Well, I can shoot fast, or I can send out a single 'burst bolt' that explodes. I can fly, and I can sheathe myself in high energy plasma...I'm pretty well immune to conventional heat though." Teller smiles, "Okay, last question -- if you had a single wish, what would ask for?" Tracer looks very thoughtful for a while, and then he sighs, and looks. "One wish? I'd want to be able to see my boy again, see, his mom divorced me when I become a Power, got a court to award her custody, and I only get to see him twice a month." He looks to the camera, clearly choked up. "That's all I would want." A moment of silence then. The cameras turn back to the Teller of Tales, his eyes downcast a moment in respect of the man's emotion, and then he turns to face the cameras. "So...a Power who lost his wife to divorce, a mutant who wants nothing more than to spend more time with his son." A firm nod, "Thank you for watching folks, and special thanks once more to the fine guests that we had for last episode's interview, we're definitely taking everything that was said under advisement." A bright smile. "That's all the time we have, tune in next time where you'll get to meet Morphia, The Mistress of Many Forms." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/103 Posted Author Eighth Wonder: Intros (6 of 8) Wed Aug 02 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Run the by now quite familiar credits for 8th Wonder with the 'fade' from black and white to vibrant HD color as they use their powers. The title fills the screen along with their very catchy theme music - EIGHTH WONDER -- Heroes for the 21st Century and beyond! The cameras zoom into the 8th wonder studio and seated at the interview couches is not one, but TWO identical Teller's of Tales. Teller 1 smiles to the cameras from his usual host seat, "Today we have a special treat, the introduction of perhaps our most adaptable team member..." A dramatic pause, and then the other Teller smiles, the camera shifting focus to him, "...Morphia, the Mistress of Many Forms." A sly wink, and then the second Teller blurs, his features fading until there is a nigh amorphous humanoid form. Teller nods, "This is your 'natural' state, right Morphia?" The figure nods, a mouth forming, along with eyes. "Yes, Teller of Tales, this is so." He nods, and then smiles as Morphia's form continues to grow more distinct, sprouting hair, skin darkening, eyes becoming vibrant. "Now, were you always like this?" To which Morphia, now in her 'public face', the one that is shown in the credits nods again, a warm smile offered. "Indeed. I do not know how or why I came to be, but I am as I have always been, uniquely me." Teller motions for her to stand, and she does, the camera zooming around her, the form she wears an absolutely perfect match for a normal and attractive woman. "Amazing, so...you can take any shape, any form you please?" The girl shakes her head, sitting down once more. "Alas, no, merely the form of living creatures. My mass remains fairly constant, and I can alter my height no more than plus or minus a meter or so. Nor do I under normal conditions take on any special qualities of any form, what I /do/ have is a superb ability to adapt to any environment." Teller smiles, and then motions for her to sit, even as he turns to face the cameras. "Well, that's all the time we have today folks, and fortunately we're funded by generous contributions from...myself, we're neither corporate nor capitalists, we're out for ratings sure, but we mostly want to do the right thing. Proceeds from Pay Per View, and Souvenir sales go to charity. We're not for profit, one hundred percent, and simply want to show people what the life of a REAL team of heroes is all about, both on and off the battlefield." Morphia grins, "Heroes, not zeros." To which Teller nods, "Good night all! Our next interview will be with Slipstream, who most of you already know from his race with the teen hero Velocity. Be well!" ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/104 Posted Author Chess Chaos Thu Aug 03 Media (Genie) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In more interesting news. Glick Supermall was once again the scene of Powered activity. No surprise there. It seems that shoppers had their day interrupted when what witnesses cite as 'giant chess pieces' came to life and began running amok on the first and second levels of the cursed mall. Yes, I said cursed. Because I mean, really. Uh, ahem. Police officers promptly responded to the scene of the disturbance and with the assistance of legendary adventurer Drake Corrigan were able to destroy all the deviant pawns without any casualities. We have also received word that local Power known as Genie was also on seen on hand assisting trapped shoppers and patrons to safety. Clean-up of the mall has already been completed mostly due in part to the rapid response of members of Crucible City's finest and local clean-up crews. As of now the cause of these events are unknown and the police haven't released any details. And now the weather... OOC: Queries can be directed via @mail to Genie. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/105 Posted Author Slag Valley Fire Tue Aug 08 Media (Genie) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ An apartment building fire in Slag Valley sends ninteen people to the hospital. Residents were seen climbing out windows of the five story building attempting to escape the smoke and flames. Reports indicate that the fire broke out around 10:05pm last night. Firefighters arrived to find people in need of medical attention gathered on the streets in front of the building. Luckily there were no deaths due to the response of local Powers Moonlight, Wind-Caller, and allegedly the Outlaw. Authorities are investigating what sparked the fire in the complex. Over to you Brian... ============================================================================== +bbread 14/106-114 =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/106 Posted Author Ninja Attack! Fri Aug 11 Media (Genie) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Water Tower Palace was the scene of conflict today that would normally be associated with Glick Supermall. The Palace was assaulted by a large group of witnesses call 'flaming ninjas'. Ninjas that set themselves on fire as not only a means of attack but also defense. A fight ensued when local Powers Corporate and Synapse with the assistance of an unknown hero arrived on the scene. The ninja then bursting into flame in defense. Over thirty people were taken to the hospital to be treated for first degree to third degree burns and I've just been told that the Water Tower Palace will be closed all day Friday for renovations. On to sports... OOC: @mail Genie for more info. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/107 Posted Author Beach Boys Bank Burglary! Mon Aug 21 Media (Genie) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Hahaha. Those giant flesh-eating cyber-lice are just so cute, aren't they?" "They sure are, Bob. Now for local news. Last night around 8:40pm the Magnificent Mile branch of Credit Union 1 was the scene of an attempted robbery by the Powered criminals the Beach Boys, Mike Dune also known as Michael Dawson and Phil Surf also known as Phillip Harper. CCPD and local heroes arrived promptly to prevent their escape. Yeah. The Illustrator teleported on over and basically took out both of them Beach Boys out single-handedly. I'm glad he's on our side. "Neither Illustrator nor the other hero who was alledgedly present remained to give their comments. Back to you, Bob." "Thanks, Debra. Dandelions. They are neither dandy nor lions. Or are they?" OOC: All inquiries can be directed towards Genie via @mail. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/108 Posted Author MENTALIST RIOT FOILED Tue Aug 22 Media (Dominic) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The newscast shows a large number of men - cheering and pumping their arms - being escorted into several prison buses. Most of them are thugs and gangster types, leather and denim and tattoos and colors, although there's some wildly-costumed sorts in there as well, Billiard Balls, Krazy Klownz, and other nefarious organizations. Their cheering is somewhat hoarse, and their arm-pumping and jumping around seems wearying, although they continue to do so mindlessly even as they're escorted into the vehicles. Many of them are being sedated. "A strange event occured just outside of town, where a member of the Liberty Watch called in authorities to gather up some supervillains who had - it appears - attempted to take control of a large number of people and use them as some sort of riot to assault the city. The Mighty Migraine was apparently the ringleader, a psychic wanted for murder, robbery, and many accounts of illegal mental control, but there were others as well - Ice Baby and French Fry, low-level villains popular in the extreme sports circuit, and the Big Pencil - Doctor Adam Phillips, a physicist who went mad last year. Unconfirmed reports state there may have been some manner of poodle. "From what we have been able to gather, Migraine planned to gather all of these gangs and thugs in one place and then mind-control them into a mass attack on the city. Illustration, Circe, Hellion, and Haozi apparently learned of the gathering that Migraine was planning and snuck within to foil these nefarious plans. "The mental control was not through normal means, or the victims would have regained their sense by now - it is apparently some sort of psychic 'disease' named 'Migraine's Madness Meme'. The authorities indicate that it is no longer virulent, there is no reason to be worried, and they have every confidence they will be able to cure the afflicted. ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/109 Posted Author Surprise Hit Movie: Rush is a Rush Tue Aug 22 Media (Jonni) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rush opened this past Friday, the 18th of August with a surprising showing considering it went up against the internet spawned fame of Snakes on a Plane. Rush stars veteran martial artist and model Jonni Cage August in her first starring role as Amanda Rush. Ticket sales for such a relative unknown were astonishing, placing the movie firmly in the top three grossing films of the weekend. Currently residing in Crucible City, Miss August had this to say. "I'm stunned, really stunned by the response! I'm thrilled to announce that the studio has already made tentative plans for a Rush II. It is a dream come true." August demonstrated both her well known skill at the martial arts as well as a phenomenal talent for contortions as she escaped imprisonment by slipping through an air vent just ten inches wide! The studio states firmly that in the tradition of the legendary Jackie Chan, Miss August performed all her own stunts, and did all her own fighting in the movie. Critical acclaim has been positive, it looks like Rush might start a new franchise in films. OOC: Please feel free to poke Jonni (alias: JCA) if you have any questions! ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/110 Posted Author Cleveland Travelogue Sat Aug 26 Media (Magik) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Newspapers, local and national, and every television news station worth its salt, report a brief but turbulent series of temporal fluctuations in Cleveland before the patterns stabilized and the city returned to normal. With one exception, as the Travel Channel notes ... "The Lake Companion Hotel has been struggling for these past four years with low traffic and fewer renals, but found its soul during the recent temporal crisis. The Companion has vowed to remain purely Victorian, with period décor and a small museum to the city's progress through those confusing few days. With a local philanthropist funding, the Companion looks to tap into an unusual market." ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/111 Posted Author HOSTAGE CRISIS AVERTED. Fri Sep 01 Media (Secret) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The newscast opens with a rebroadcast of the tape that started the situation: The top floor boardroom of Barnes International. The board is surrounded by armed men, all wearing full masks and body armor. The camcorder is shaking as it's focused on the leader, who's obviously been hitting the powered steroids if his physique is any indication. "My men have the Barnes International building. The hero known as Secret has one hour to turn himself in to us or we will start killing hostages." One of the hostages, the grandson of the company founder, struggles loose to shout at the camera, "Don't come, it's a trap! The Morelli gang!" The visual is cut off, and there's a heavy thud. Like, say, someone getting hit in the back of the head with a rifle butt. The spokesman repeats himself. "One hour." And it cuts back to the anchor. "Though the Secret himself never put in an appearance, the crisis was averted with no hostages injured, other than Quentin Barnes himself; the grandson of the company founder is staying overnight for observation at an undisclosed hospital in case other elements of the Morelli gang are still at large. Commander Lightspeed, the WWII hero who's recently started appearing again in Crucible is believed to have taken out Bigs Morelli personally, though he declined commentary. CCPD Swat was at the scene outside the building. A CCPD spokesperson said that Special Weapons and Tactics units were on the scene immediately and secured the area, arresting nearly thirty paid criminals, most with assault records and weapons charges. Rumors that a single officer entered the building without authorization could not be substantiated." The camera cuts to a soundbite from a press release earlier in the day. "We are not aware of any weapon fired by any CCPD officer within the building." Teen hero Wind-Caller (No known relation to the Windsor family) had this to say. "I'm glad everybody's ok. If it wasn't for Commander Lightspeed and those keeping the backup out, would have been a lot harder keeping the hostages safe in the fight." Allegedly, there was another invisible hero present; at the time of this report, he was not believed to be the Secret, unless, says the witness, "the vigilante's upgraded to blaster pistols." There are uncomfirmed reports that Quentin Barnes' secretary acted to protect her employer armed with only a briefcase. If that's the case, it's this reporter's opinion that she's in need of a raise. Next up, the newest litter of genetically engineered hypoallergenic kittens!" ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/112 Posted Author Eighth Wonder: Intros (7 of 8) Sat Sep 02 Media (Miracleman) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The credits run for Eighth Wonder, black and white scenes of the 8 heroes using their powers ending in glorious HD color and winning smiles. All the while the theme music plays with an infectious energy. Finally, the words on screen fade in -- EIGHTH WONDER -- Heroes for the 21st Century and Beyond! The camera zooms into the studio, and shows The Teller of Tales sitting calmly, and across from him is the teen Power, Slipstream, and he looks a bit antsy. "Good day everyone, and thanks for watching! Today we'll be getting to know our team speedster Slipstream a little better. Many of you will remember him from his contest with Velocity for the rights to the name, and congratulations again, Velocity for your thrilling win!" Slipstream grins, "Yeah, you totally kicked my butt! It was way cool though, you won fair and square, and you totally deserved it!" The camera shifts then, peering at Slipstream over Teller's shoulder. "So, Slipstream, when did you first realize you were a Power?" The kid tries to look very adult, but there's just too much energy, he has a hard time keeping still. "Well, it was pretty scary really. See, I was like...thirteen. Anyway, I had been feeling sort of sick, so I went to bed really early. I had the weirdest dreams, and then when I woke up...well...I was in South Africa." He rubs the back of his neck, "Apparently I didn't sleep /walk/, I sleep RAN at like...you know...HYPER speeds." Teller nods, a smile and a warm laugh. "Fortunately I was there on business at that time, and together we figured out what was up with you." The camera switches so that Teller is on camera over Slipstream's shoulder. "Oh yeah, that was the luckiest thing, if you weren't there, didn't explain what was up, man I'd've been buggin' big time. And probably arrested too!" Teller smiles, "So...once we got you back to the States, how did your parents take it?" Flip cameras again, to show Slipstream. "At first? They weren't too keen on it, they were a little nervous, but we managed to win them over! Oh! That reminds me, I was going to hold a charity event to help feed the homeless. It is going to be really cool, we've lined up some local bands, and we're going to have a concert at Lincoln Park, tickets are five bucks, and 100% of ticket sales will go to feeding the homeless. Won't you come down and join us? A week from yesterday, Friday the 8th of September!" Teller takes center stage then, gripping Slipstream's shoulder, and then smiling winningly to the cameras. "And that's all the time we have folks, thanks for watching, and please...support Slipstream's concert event, he's worked long and hard to organize things, hope to see you there!" OOC: Requests to Miracleman, Plot Queue ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/113 Posted Author Candy Land! Sun Sep 03 Media (Genie) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Earlier this afternoon the Grasse Street neighbourhood of Oak Park became a venerable candy land as seen here. *Cue the shot of kids all over the place eating whatever they can get their hands on. The oreo cookie streets, the gingerbread walls, the candy cane street signs, the chocolate benches, and drinking from what looks like a hard candy fire hydrant overflowing with strawberry milkshake. Parents and adults tugging other kids away as well. Of particular note is a brief shot of Genie floating in the air munching on a brownie brick.* Soon after this station arrived everything returned to normal. *Cue the shot of a bright light filling the camera for a split-second then clearing to a regular non-candied Grasse Street then a shot of a gumball machine resembling device being carried out by the CCPD into a van for transport out of one of the houses.* A CCPD spokesman says that the incident was caused by a homemade device that malfunctioned. The malfunctioning device was impounded at the scene, the home of a one Arthur Cunningham, by the police. The CCPD has asked us to remind all citizens to only practice experimental science in accordance with established safety procedures and in a controlled environment. Also on hand were local heroes and Liberty Watch members, Miracle Girl and Miracle Hound who had this to say... *Shot of Miracle Girl speaking towards the camera: "Don't eat mystery candy you find on the street, kids!"* And now Linda Tucker with the weather. Linda? ============================================================================== =============================== IC: Multimedia =============================== Message: 14/114 Posted Author Starkiller Escapes The Pound Wed Sep 27 Media (The Tick) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ JINGLE: Action News Twelve! News First! As it happens! VIEW: Helicopter view of The Pound. Spotlights are everywhere, as are numerous police vehicles... boats, choppers, vans... it's looking active out there. VOICE OVER: "I'm Douglas Coulee for Action 12 News. We're currently over the Gibbons Power Containment Compound, where it appears that an apparently middle-aged William Ryder may have escaped from the famous powered prison facility." Several diving teams are visible re-emerging from the water's surface and regrouping for another go. The lake is alive with activity. "Details are still thin, but the very same age-changing magic that has afflicted numerous members of the Crucible City community, including our very own news anchor Connie Gladstone, had a similar effect on several inmates at The Pound." VIEW: An image of Blood Starkiller appears on the screen, showing the 13 year old juvenile delinquent in all his arrogant, obnoxious glory. Even in prison clothes, he maintains that same air of annoying smugness, the boy's blond hair pulled back in spikes as before, though the labcoat and headset are noticeably absent. VO: "William Ryder, also known as Billy the Kid or the infamous Blood Starkiller reportedly aged at least twenty years, by the looks of things. When his cell unexpectedly became too small, prison security was given no choice but to relocate him to a larger cell. Here, things are more difficult to decipher." VIEW: The image of 13 year old Billy Ryder morphs, showing a rugged looking man who's eyes brim with intelligence and cunning. The spiky hair is gone, replaced by a refined and well trimmed beard. He wears black glasses and has the look of hunt-or-be-hunted prey in his eyes. The image is slightly blurred. VO: "Guards describe a flash of light, and a powerful explosion. After the blast, Mr Ryder began to run. One eye-witness who asked us not to identify him insists he saw a middle-aged woman appear in front of him, wearing some sort of high tech camo suit. Others describe a security system which seemed to work for the malevolent supergenius, locking and unlocking doors as needed. They've not yet ruled out his presence on the island, but things are not looking hopeful. As always, look forward to Action 12 News for the latest updates first! Tom?" (The story is carried on a global scale, not only local news. This breakout brought to you by Norelle!) ==============================================================================