Log:Rift Crisis II, Scene 12

Rift Crisis II 2019/04/05 Artemis Blok Chen Dark Horse Magus Sid Technomorph Character Immortal Magnitude One Man Army

12

A sudden cold snap during already cold weather heralded another incident in the Rift Crisis. It proved that the whole of Sandy Bottoms Island had been replaced by an other dimensional icy island with a huge fortress.

The first heroes on the scene soon established some important facts. The army was home to a vast army, mostly of humans, ice elementals and some squat, white-furred sharp-toothed humanoids, but with other elements as well. The island proved to be ruled by Ghravvruhs, the Ice Wolf, from Earth-946, archenemy of Kihzra. He has somehow fixed the dimensions together for a while - to what end remains to be seen.

Some of the heroes have gone to take on the ice sorcerer himself. But meanwhile, the bay has been frozen over and a large body of the army has crossed the ice, heading for Chinatown. The heroes put out calls to other heroes in the city to defend Colonial Bay while they go after the 'boss'. 

"Okay team. Artemis, you are the best field tactician we have. You've got tactical command here." says Technomorph into her comm as she approaches through the air, her grav-pods creating a drive field about her body. A body that is basically just a silvery skintight layer over her skin. Not much left to the imagination. But.. she -is- wearing a blue and white emblen on her chest to signify her Omega Guard membership. She descends towards the suddenly approaching army. "This is a lot of enemies." she adds, performing the job of recon scout.

The horde is swarming into Chinatown, seemingly with a particular goal in mind. But Chinatown is not without its own defences. Summoned by One Many Army, several of the Chinatown metas have already joined the fray, defending the city, or at least their part of it.

Sid Viscous is working on a chemical concoction that he hopes will help him maintain a more coherent form for longer than the 8 or 9 hours he's getting these days when the alert goes off and the Omega Guard's AI provides a sitrep as Sid bounds from the laboratory facilities in their headquarters.

He bounces out of the building and down the expressways towards the MagLev - clinging to it when their paths meet so he can ride it to Chinatown. He listens in on comms the whole way, quiet since he is certain the team Ai has notiifed the others he's en route too.

His confidence is a bit more appearant since having trained with Artemis & the others- so while not exactly comfortable in his new skin, he is at least much less uncertain of how he might help others.

"I'm less than a minute away." Sid finally says over Omega Guard comms as he spots the CHinatown station.

He leaps off - bouncing off of any and every surface between he and his target.

Artemis flies in formation with Technomorph. The Bloodlit goddess is unable to suppress her excitement at the invasion at first, but tries to keep it bottled up. "There are so many. We'll have to halt their progress before they get further into the city. Protect the innocent and try to push them back. We stay together," she decides as with a flick of her wrist, her shield extends out from her left bracer at the same time she draws her sword.

On hearing the news of the advancing force Chen runs over to a fairly nondescript guy standing near a stall in the market. "Help get everyone off the streets and into as much safety as there is. Please don't argue. Your boss can't run a friendly neighborhood protection racket if there's no friendly neighborhood." Chen tells him. It's OMA she is speaking to. From there she goes to a middle aged guy in a white suit and delivers the same message. This time it's Smiling Johnny White she's speaking to.

Nodding to Artemis, Technomorph gestures to a spot ahead of the advancing forces. "Lets set up an advanced post. Draw a line in the sand. But don't be afraid to use fallback positions if we are getting surrounded." That said, she flies downward towards a street intersection, landing as a blaster rifle forms out of her liquid silver skin in her hands, and added armor plates grow up all over her body.

One Man Army nods to Chen, and does exactly as instructed: he's not imaginative, but he can see that the 'order' is the best way to deploy his abilities. All at once, a hundred instances of him set to crowd control and direction, while another hundred come on duty, most newly wakened, to help out.

<<"Just like we practiced." Sid says over comms in agreement. That makes him feel a little better but he doesn't<<"I see you guys now." He adds as he bounds onto a rooftop, his googly eyes locked on target thanks to a glint of sunlight off Technomorph's exterior. From there, Artemis' sheild is easy to spot.

He jumps off the roof- landing with far more control than even last week. He redirects his rebound to land with a 'plorp' sound right next to Artemis.

As he stands to his full height the gooey flesh of his arm lengthens and then undulate as he turns his back to the Bloodlit Goddess, so they can watch each other's back- his confidence boosted further by the aerial support.

Sid bounces from leg to leg as he arms wave threateningly to his left and his right while his eyes float about the flesh of his head, scouting about.

The purple lobes in his arm pulsate gently as tension builds around him.

"So... any tips for someone facing a horde of invaders?" Sid asks over his shoulder to Artemis.

"Watch your back. Don't get dead." jests Technomorph. But she moves to a position where she can brace her rifle on the hood of a car. "But in all seriousness, watch your back, but watch the backs of your teammates too. If you think we are getting overwhelmed, all of us.. say so, call out targets... work as a team. This isn't a fight, it's a battle. We can't afford to lose anyone. So, if you think we need to fall back, say so and we will do so in an organized fashion. Oh, also.." she smirks, "Everything I just said, may or may not fall apart the moment combat starts so, just try to think on your feet."

Artemis nods to Sid as she sets down on the front lines. "I know not these invaders, but if an army they be, they will fight as ordered. We try to hold them here if we can and slow their way into the city, or drive them back if possible. It shall be a glorious battle." She smiles and faces towards the army, banging her shield twice with her sword while it's still in a solid configuration.

A Chinese man, without introducing himself, joins you on at the barrier point. "Don't get dead is good advice. And if you die, don't stay dead."

"A barricade will slow down some of their smaller number," Artemis suggests as she looks for the biggest parked empty vehicle or truck in the area. She temporarily sheathes her sword to lift it up and set it sideways in the path of the approaching army. "Having cover points for any of our archers--ahem--shooters would be helpful."

"Good point." says Technomorph as she melts away her rifle and moves forward. Her arms extend tendrils of silvery goo to help move a few smaller cars in line with the big one Artemis sets up. Setting up for firing angles and fallback positions, and to make the enemy have to climb over, or move around them in staggered formations.

Sid smiles as Technomorph jokes and Artemis' smile is appearant from the lilt in her voice. He can tell they're both excited. Its kind of hard not to be excited too with these two watching his back but violence has never been his thing- so that excitement, while thrilling is drowned out by natural apprehension.

He thinks to himself, .o0('Battle'? That's not terrifying at all.)

"Alright. I think I can handle that. I hope." Sid says with a nod as the other Omega Guardians start lifting cars and putting them into position. He marvels at Technomorph's long tendrils a moment before his long arms wind back and then spring forward. Each time hurling a hardening gak to help keep the peices in place just incase the horde can also lift individual cars.

The approaching horde, on seeing organised opposition, lines up to look less like a swarm and more like an army. The 'evil toothy ewoks' are at the forefront, while the humans are largely assigned to the flanks. The elementals are behind the 'ewoks' now.

Another Chinese man, dressed in long robes, arrives to join the heroes. "I am here to help," he says softly.

Sid swallows hard seeing the army match their own organization. He naturally takes a step towards the other heroes- trying to focus on holding the line.

With the enemy in sight he waits for his teammates- both well trained warriors to strike.

"There they are." says Technomorph. She finishes putting the latest car into place, and retracts the tendrils, forming them back into her rifle. Then she leans into the car, using it as cover as she braces the weapon and takes aim. Might as well start screwing with their organization immediately... so she sends a blue-white particle pulse downrange into the formation of Ewoks.

* Pew!* the blaster chirps and sends its pulse packet downrange. The packet strikes one of the front rank Ewok types in the chest. Even as Technomorph mutters, "That's right Wickett. This is my town." she says while the Ewok is blasted back through the ranks of his allies and falls prone.

Sid tries to stay loose- imagining Artemis and Technomorph in civilian clothes going to a chemistry or biology symposium with he and Samuel. He chuckles at the thought of the warrior women actually being outside their element- though he imagines they'd emerge triumphant nonetheless.

His mouth turns up into a thin line- not one of his jawbone exposing grins but its an improvement.

Seeing Technomorph strike out he bounces straight up into the air and then spins around rapidly, using centrifical force to hurl one of the pulsing purple lobes from a slit in his palm towards the mass of soldiers before him.

Dark Horse swings and lands on a rooftop near the barricade, as he tries to figure out what exactly is going on. Hopefully his vantage point will give him a sense of just that. Over there are hte locals...and the attackers are...vikings and weird creatures? He moves a little bit along the edge of the roof to get as wide a view as possible.

Artemis draws her sword now that the barricade is up. "Technomorph has the right idea. If we can disrupt their formations, they'll be less effective as a unit." She looks to Sid, knowing he's still green as far as combat goes. "Use more of that goo to lock down their numbers to make inconvenient obstacles for them to move around. When you can, try knocking them into each other." She looks back to the masses and raises her sword as she starts walking forward. The sword starts to break apart into segments connected by a line of crackling energy. She snaps her arm out, sending the tip cracking towards one of the frontlinesman.

The 'ewok' goes limp.

The man in the long robes traces a Chinese character in the air in fiery writing. Suddenly a huge gust of wind arises from nowhere and takes down a whole column of ewoks!

Chen has been working her way out to the flank. On the way she's 'borrowed' the oldest car she can find. An abandoned one will be perfect. Flowing out the car she gains weight and bulk. Growing three legs on each side she bulks up muscle and toughness, and charges out at the enemy using her mass and speed to bowl them over like a juggernaught going through a wheat field.

Chen tumbles and knocks down the human enemy flankers by the dozens. The remainer retreat from that side street in disorder.

South of Ming Street there is suddenly a very tall woman visible above the rooftops. Maybe 30m tall. No doubt she'll have no trouble blocking *that* street.

A horn is blown and the 'ewoks' charge badly forward - though there is some stumbling over their fallen comrades - not to mention disarray because one of them seems to have decided to bite his fellows instead of joining the fight....

The swirling ice elementals charge - too, but flying up at an angle, climbing so as to pass over the top of the ewoks....

In the back streets, flankers are finding that Magnitude is not the only one of the Chinatown metas to be guarding those ways.

Blok received the call for assistance over HeroNet and arrived in time to assist in building the barricades. He now uses his greater height to lean over the barricade and slam his palms together in a mighty Thunderclap

Masses of piranha-ewoks are stunned in their tracks by the thunderclap, causing chaos as their fellows behind run into them.

Dark Horse isn't really the best kind of person for a mass combat. But perhaps he can turn the tide other ways. He remains on the roof and keeps an eye out for whoever might be leading this assault.

Sid does as Field Commander Artemis says- bouncing up again and spinning around until a stream of sticky resin is launched from him again. Centrifical force does most of the work- but he's aiming for the on-coming ice elementals, hoping to slow them down. Even with his heated uniform he isn't sure he wants to dance with any of those guys one-on-one.

The 'gack' gets all over the elemental's component parts and it falls out of the air, 'snowing' on the ewoks below.

Chen follows up with her disruptive action by morphing into a huge sabre-tooth tiger, again aided by the buld of the car inside her extended flesh, and roaring loud enough it's heard from one side of the battlefield to the other.

The nearby troops decide that taking this route is... ill-advised. They bravely run away to look for another way around.

Seeing the wind bowling over the Ewoks, Technomorph simply elevates the barrel of her rifle and the only thing she says isn't humor or whatnot. It's not a quip. It's, "Targeting elevatred enemies." and she fires off a shot at one of the elementals that was not entangled by the goo of sid.

The elemental is blasted higher into the air - and into pieces.

As the army starts marching, Artmemis snaps her arm back to retract her whip. "I'll be more effective in hand to hand, so I'm going to charge in," she lets Sid know with an eager smile. "I think you'll be able to watch my back fine from here," she adds before she sets her shield before her and charges forward into the crowd towards the Ewok-like creatures. Holding her shield up and angled in preparation to counter attack, she slashes her swordwhip up towards one of the ice elementals.

Artemis's whip slashs through the elemental, causing it to disintegrate into a flurry of snow. With another snap of her arm, the sword whip cracks against the ground. "COME FIGHT ME!" she challenges the others, preparing to smash anyone who tries with her shield.

Character writes a different character in the air - the one for lightning. A lot of ewoks end up flat on their faces with every hair standing on end.

Despite all the tripping and damage, some of the swarm of piranha-ewoks reach the barrier. Some try to bite the way through it. Some try to climb it. Some try to climb those that are climbing it - and a few make it to the top. 4 stop in their tracks to attack Artemis.

Artemis is bloodied by the piranha-ewoks as she's swarmed. They managed to get through the gaps in her armor. She beats on them with her shield, using the edge to smash their faces and cause stars in their eyes.

The normal-looking man dodges the two who try to bite him.

Meanwhile, the elementals race on ahead, over the top of the barrier!

Blok creates another Thunderclap

Artemis staggers and moves her hands to her ears, or tries to while still holding her weapons. "What treachery is this!?" she hollars loudly, because she can't hear too well for the moment.

A mass of ewoks howl in pain, or cover their ears; some fall down senseless. The number of furry bodies piling up near the barricade is impressive.

Dark Horse shouts down toward the people fighting, "I see the commanders! About 70 yards out! A couple of wizard types!" He then jumps off the roof, and swings...the other direction, moving to try to cut off the air elementals. He unhooks his swingline as he arcs back up...and does it again...ending up down on the street.

Chen hears the call from Dark Horse and slithers off the car into a sleeker faster shape. Then she's out running in a flanking maneuver of her own around the mass of the horde toward the wizard commanders.

As she takes a bite that finds a small gap between her armor plates and draws a bit of blood, Technomorph dissolves her rifle. It was only for firing while they closed the range anyway. She jumps up atop the car she was using as cover, and engages in... fisticuffs you might say. As cold as it is, she goes with some thermal shielding too. "Careful of friendly fire Blok." she suggests. Then into her comm she says, "Be advised. Aerial enemies are bypassing the barricades. Repeat, aerial enemies bypassed barricades. Engaging front line more closely." she says as she reaches to backfist one of the Ewoks.

Dark Horse says, "The basement connects to the stratosphere."

Artemis looks back towards the Barricade and the one who fired on her, then up ahead towards the leader. She has over the Omega Guard's comms, "I'll help with the charge against the generals while you hold the line." She leaps into the air and flies towards the others in search for these wizards. She sees what looks like the leaders of the fight, and swings her swordwhip towards one of the wizards.

Artemis' whip sails towards the wizard, but the intervening bodyguard gets in the way. The whip winds around him. With her super strength, Artemis pulls and yanks the bodyguard away from his charge, smashing him into the ground as he's tossed aside.

Character turns about to face the elementals and writes the character for wind in the air. A gale arises from nowhere, from the direction the elementals are headed!

Blok activates his Gravitic Anchor.