KnightDisciple

William preened as his father complimented his speed. Even if he could only just barely manage to break the sound barrier, it still counted. He then managed to look wounded at his mother's words. "I've only tried sneaking around to check on my presents, like, two times. Ever. And Dad'll do fine with the tree. He'll just try a bunch really fast and it'll be assembled!" He shrugs at her next comments. "School's school. I did fine before, I'll do fine here. Not like I'll have a problem getting homework done on time, right?" William did have a tendency to just rush through it all ASAP and then take the rest of his time to relax. Then again, when you can accomplish an hour's work in just a few minutes, "procrastination" is relative. "Do you and Dad know any of the teachers? Are they all total squares or are some of them at least kind of cool?"

Corbin Hughes sat and sipped one of the strongest cups of coffee the cafe served, his eyes not focusing on any one thing. It was good coffee, and he'd had stronger and much less pleasant. He was a bit concerned about the lateness, but it wasn't terribly bad yet, and he knew countries that weren't the US or UK tended to run on their own time. Still, these rumors about this Ring-bearer who wielded shadow had him a bit worried. The purple light and the mental distress and memory erasure pointed to the Indigo Ring, but absolutely nothing in his research suggested it had powers over shadow. He knew when he needed backup, and considering the unknown shadow powers plus the potentially potent mental powers of the probable Ring, he'd elected to ask for help from two individuals that might be more resistant to such abilities. "Thank you again for agreeing to help, ladies. I realize this was a bit out of the blue, but I think you'll both bring expertise we'll need, and perhaps some perspective that will be helpful." Man, he sounded like one of the Claremont teachers or something these days.

Tagging this.

"Oh, crud! I was too busy chatting with my LA friends last night. Hang on, I'll pack." And he's off in a blur of motion and faint trail of tiny green motes of kinetic energy that quickly fade away. It was maybe 5 minutes later that a blur dashed in and settled down into the same chair, resolving into the Cline boy, his eyes fading from green to brown. "Whew, okay. Dryer empty, suitcases packed, room...less of a disaster. Suitcases are by the garage door. Don't have the car keys." He shifted a bit in his seat, looking down at his hands for a moment. "And you know I love you and Dad and Holly, but between the move, and...other things..." His single-digit-age sister is suddenly a psychic whose power approaches his much more experienced mother's, and she doesn't have to be a mind-reader to know that's why. "I want to at least try this out. Besides, I'll be living on campus for, what, three weeks before Christmas break? Then we get family time before I actually start the boring stuff. So I get 3 weeks of showing off how awesome I and my powers are, and getting to know everyone there, before chilling some more at home. Why would I not do that?"

500 feet is more than enough, yes. We'll say that between the door, the airlock, and the first security checkpoint, it's about 250'.

Incidentally, I'm terrible at remembering Complications, so if at any point you think something I described or did would trigger one, or you have one you would like to trigger, by all means say so in here and we'll take a look. And I'll probably give it. Not that you guys will need a whole mess of Hero Points, certainly not.

It was a good 20 minutes after Richard Cline started cooking that William Cline all but stumbled down the stairs into the dining room. His eyes were barely open, his mouth slightly open, and his hair was a complete mess (more so than usual for the young speedster). He sat down in his chair with a groan. "Ugh. Why are we going there so early, Dad? We all know I'll ace the tests or whatever." He sniffed, and perked up a bit. "You made the eggs this morning? Awesome!"

At this point I'll let you folks do some planning and whatnot. Assume the staff are accommodating and so forth. Feel free to ask me more questions about the facility. I'll tell you things you can know, and be evasive on everything else! Once you've got a plan locked in we'll roll forward.

Gabriel nodded. "The Terminus isn't exactly casual reading. Still, good to hear they're not making inroads everywhere just yet. Then again, that's why I said this whole thing seems like there's multiple layers going on..." He sighs, frustrated at lacking all the pieces to a puzzle he know he won't like. "I'm the sort who offers comfort all the time, Steve. It's in my nature. Though, are you really sure you don't need a doctor? I don't want your girlfriend hunting me down or frying my laptop remotely or something because you bled on the carpet or whatnot." His good mood reduced at Steve's solemn proclamation of how he'd have tried for suicide wasn't exactly fun conversation. "We'll try and make sure it doesn't come to that."

Cobalt Templar - Who Needs Normal Anyways? It’s funny the things you treat as normal, mundane, unimpressive, or otherwise part of everyday life. In many parts of the world, things like “personal computers†or “owning a car†are unattainable luxuries. Other people consider this food or that normal when still others would scoff at it, or even gag at the very idea. Some people think it’s normal to sing in the shower, while others go by practically on automatic. Some people reserve “wearing armor†for things like “historical reenactment†or “something those actor guys do in moviesâ€. For Corbin Hughes, it was something he did most every day. Admittedly, said armor wasn't normal metal, but instead a solid construct of blue energy, shaped by his imagination and sheer willpower into a form to provide protection for his body, enough to withstand most any normal modern weapon. All because of a centuries-old ring on one hand; protection, and so much more, all from a simple piece of jewelry. Which is good, because right now he’s got 8 guys who could probably bench-press a small car with at least a bit of effort wanting to punch his face in. ‘One of these days I’m going to meet the mad scientists who keep coming up with these DNAscent treatments and I am going to give them such a thrashing.’ He dodged 5 punches, but took the last blow on the right cheek. It didn't even split a lip, despite the punch having sufficient force to put a large dent in a car door, but he was still annoyed. It was the principle of the thing, really. In this case, the principle in question was that Cobalt Templar should not be having any trouble from a group of puffed-up punks on camo pants and tank tops calling themselves some name he’d already forgotten. “Seriously guys, have you not heard of me at all? I know I’m not on the Freedom League roster or anything, but it’s not like I’m hard to miss on camera. Plus, what’s with the tank tops?†He ducked another punch and delivered one of his own, sheathed in blue flames, to the underarm of the attacker. The man grunted in pain and stumbled back, clutching his side. “I mean, I get that you’re jacked up on new superpowers and you probably don’t feel the cold like normal people do. I get the temptation. But have at least a little class! Or, if you’re going for tacky, go all the way; wear some beach shorts and an open Hawaiin shirt! It’s got some flair, you know? This just makes you look like punks. And I don’t mean the subculture!†He clapped the ears of the man he’d just hit, completely no-selling the rain of punches to his back. The already-struck man staggered in place, until Cobalt Templar delivered an uppercut that probably fractured his jaw, and definitely put him down for the count. He then turned around and caught the punches of two more guys. Their eyes widened, right before he spun in place a few times, tossed them into the air, then sped up above where they reached the apex of the throw, grabbed them by the throat, and slammed full-speed into the ground. They went out like Corbin’s dad on a Sunday afternoon. He rose back into the air then, contemplating the remaining 5 thugs for a few moments, before nodding. Suddenly, two ridiculous-looking contraptions that might generously be called “automatic crossbows†appeared in his hands, and he sprayed down a rain of bolts that had improbably miniature boxing gloves on them. All but one of the thugs dropped to the ground, unconscious, within 30 seconds. That last thug was starting to shake in fear as Cobalt Templar landed in front of him, a somewhat savage grin on his face as his body was suddenly wreathed in blue flames that quickly obscured everything, until suddenly there was a giant standing in front of the thug. Said giant seemed to be imitating the Balrog from the Lord of the Rings movies, albeit minus the wings or weapons, and colored entirely blue with some deep right highlight flames. It bent down and looked the man in the eye with a grin that was all teeth. “Boo.†The thug up and fainted, falling to the ground even as CT reverted to his normal only-almost-giant form, a grin on his face and a chuckle in his throat. “Looks like I kept the property damage down this time. I’m sure the cops will approve.†He fell into a thoughtful look. Over a minute of waiting for the cops to arrive passed in silence, before he snapped his fingers with a grin, as if remembering something important. “I suddenly desire pancakes.â€

Hm. I'd say we can start working with that. Could you give me a Computers check? EDIT: Skill Mastery for 40, so, let's see... She's able to speak with a handful of computers at the outside edge (closest to her) of the facility. Most of them are workstations with varying levels of security, but at least some are on the network, which itself seems oddly truncated. She does hit one security system that connects to cameras, though. The cameras show a decidedly odd picture. Some show empty rooms and hallways, partially stripped of things like "metal" or "electronics". A few others show groups of Curator drones moving about. Oddly, most of the drones seem a bit stripped down, as if parts or mass has been taken away. The sensors she has access to just show them moving materials slowly but surely. Rolling back through the footage she can still access, it seems like these drones have been steadily stripping the lab of basically everything potentially usable. Metal, plastic, glass; either raw materials or entire pieces of equipment. Camera feeds keep dropping off the records as cameras themselves are processed. A few of the disabled feeds showed, for a few moments, what looked like a very slow "tide" of shiny metal creeping down the surfaces of the hallway. A hallway that was actually shifting before her eyes. She can also tell that the storage facility has been stripped of everything, and it's completely dark to her connections. All told, she's got live feeds on about 10% of the research facility, which seems to be the focus of drone activity.

Gabriel - Just Another Day In The Office It had been one of those days. Carson hadn't gotten as much sleep as he’d wanted; there had been another negotiation the League had put him on standby to intervene in if necessary. Not that they’d actually needed it. Which meant he’d sat in an isolated room watching the monitor feed with one eye and grading papers with the other. At least he’d finished the grading. Then he had a hankering for some Chinese, but it was a Friday and that meant that every place worth spending money at had at least thirty minutes of wait. Which was fine, except apparently there was still crime going on in Southside. Who knew! And so he couldn't very well place an order and say “I may not be at the door because I’ll be out hero-ingâ€. Kind of goes against said identity being secret and all. Or secret-ish, anyways; the circle who knew wasn't big, but it was non-zero. Not that he minded fighting crime. It was, after all, why he was in America and not back in Ireland. But on a Friday when your brain felt like mush and your body only barely better and you’d already put in a full day at the office with mouthy college students, the last thing most people felt like doing was dealing with mouthy criminals who also tried to shoot, shiv, shank, or otherwise harm your person. At the moment Carson was included in the “most people†group. Even flying was somehow more annoying than exhilarating. The cup of tea had helped, but not much. Three muggings and one assault later, he was going on something like 40 minutes with no crime beyond jaywalking (and he wasn't that bored yet), and Gabriel was ready to turn in early for an “emergencies only†night of relaxation. His grading was done and he had a pot of tea and a collection of old Irish poetry waiting. Which was why that was the exact moment someone bounced a medium-caliber bullet right off his chest. His armor meant he only felt it as a tap, rather than getting a nice bruise for someone to shake their head at later, but it was still not really something he expected. The sound controller stopped in midair with a blink, casting his gaze about even as he shifted his hearing into “overdriveâ€. It didn't take long to find the culprits; it was a gang of younger people. Some were perhaps a couple years his junior. Some looked barely old enough to drive. They were armed with everything from lead pipes to butterfly knives to, in the case of the three hoodlums who looked to be in charge, a set of brand-new assault rifles. Obviously the source of the shot. Gabriel’s eyes narrowed, even as he almost-unconsciously summoned his shining spear into his hands. In the blink of an eye he was hovering right over the edge of the rooftop the gang was gathered on (some old warehouse at the edge of Southside). Suddenly their confidence was caution. Especially since his shiny breastplate wasn't even marred by the bullet hit. The entire group took a couple of steps back, giving Gabriel room to land on the roof. The glare he gave them was like the worst he gave an unruly class, and then some. “Most days I’d give you boys and girls a speech about how you can make something better of your lives, I believe in your potential, etc. Today, I’m kind of in a bad mood. So, special offer. Put any weapons down, leave, don’t make any more trouble, and we’re good. No cops. No notes. No speeches. Leave peacefully and stop making trouble, and that’s that.†Most of the youngest, and all of the girls who had been present, left. A few of the older kids did, too. Gabriel’s glare ensured that those that didn't leave left the ones who did alone. Finally, there were perhaps 10 gang members left on the rooftop. Now, Gabriel just smirked. “Stubborn and stupid. Good to know.†In the space of a few moments, things got hectic. In rapid succession, the three gun-toting gang members found themselves locked in place, as if turned into statues. They could breathe, and they could blink and move their eyes, but that was about it. Two more were left trying to not empty their stomachs out. The rest were quickly slammed with a barrage of sonic blasts, until the only conscious people were the paralyzed ones. Who had to just watch as Gabriel calmly and carefully took their weapons out of their hands, and broke two over his knee (with some help from his sonic powers), while the third was just slung over his shoulder. “Bad day, huh?†They managed to gulp in fear. ------------------------------------------------------------ It had taken less than 5 minutes to get a full story on where they’d gotten the guns, which were fairly high-quality, and not of American make (according to them; Carson could identify weapons in general, but branding and off-brands eluded him for the most part). Which meant someone was gun-running. Into Southside. This would not stand. And so he’d left all the stubborn gang members unconscious on the roof with a tip to the police on their whereabouts, while he’d flown just a few blocks away to find said gun selling location. For some reason, no one was in the warehouse. Well, no, they were all, each and every one, taking a smoke break. All half-dozen of them. No skin off Gabriel’s nose, though. Left him more time to turn all but one crate of guns into useless wrecks; that one crate would be fantastic evidence. There were some 50 crates, though…. He squinted hard as he concentrated, pointing both hands at the stack of crates (after gently dragging one out of the way). After over a minute of concentration, the crates actually visibly sagged. With a smile, Gabriel ceased the sonic assault and wandered toward the front door. It was quickly thrown open with just a hint of drama to it. “Hey boys! Sorry to say, your business license is hereby revoked!†--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And so it was that Carson finally got to sit down with a cup of tea and a book, hours later than he’d hoped. The bad guys were in custody, the guns were either junk or evidence, and would never hit the streets, and hopefully at least a few kids would rethink the whole “street gang†idea now. All in all, a fairly normal day in the life of a hero.

"Hatred itself does nothing good in the world. It hurts you, and even if you act out the hatred, you might feel good for a moment, but then you'll need something else to hate. But I am going to disagree a bit with you, my friend." He laid one hand on the former drone's shoulder and looked him square in the eye, or at least tried to. "Maybe you can't change the past, or bring the dead back. But what you can do is choose what to do now. What to do today. What to do tomorrow. If there was truly no escape from the Terminus, you'd be serving it still. You'd be bitter and hateful. You're not. You choose, every day, to help people. Some that you know, some that you don't. Some that love you, some that hate you, some that fear you, and some that just don't know you." He gives a wan smile. "One thing the Scripture and my school teachers and my priests have all emphasized is that man is capable of great depravity...but that all of us can make the choice to put that aside. Sometimes, it takes outside help. But it can be done." At the scarred man's other question, he frowned thoughtfully, his hand finally releasing Steve's shoulder as he clasped them behind his back in thought. "I wouldn't say it's impossible, but the folks who were actually from the Shadow realm seemed to be under the control of those two minions of Hades. And it seemed more like said minions wanted to use the lives of those people for...some sort of plot. What, I don't know. But something. I can't say it's impossible for servants of Light and Good to fall to the wayside, but I would say that the situation's not a simple as we might have first thought. If you're worried about it, I'll swing by the place where my angel friend stays these days and see if he's heard anything unusual lately, or if he could ask around."

(GM Post) "We don't know for sure, but our current guess is that the drones are doing something with the machines. Remaking them, quite possibly. But we believe there are at least some non-drone machines active in there, yes. As for booby traps..." The man looks a bit uncertain, but glances to a couple other people, who nod for him to continue. "All KST facilities have aggressive network and software security. The Baron has a dim view of corporate espionage or sabotage, and while he's not a cloak-and-dagger fan, some of those 'information should be free' types are unruly at times. He prefers sending a strong 'stay away' message to those who would attempt access. Physically speaking, this facility has a few direct security measures, primarily some force field generators and a couple of low-powered 'stun cannons'. Beyond that, it's primarily geared toward isolation of dangerous samples. Quick-drying bakelite, fire-suppressing foam, quick-drying polymer foam, things like that. Potentially dangerous to people, but only installed in a few specific places to deal with samples that get out of control. At most, there are a couple of rooms that would fill with foam or bakelite, but there's plenty of warning, and a couple steps have to be taken to do it."

Cobalt Templar nodded as Thunder spoke. His...experience...meant that he'd gotten pretty good at knowing the general capabilities of the Crime League. The specifics were always the tricky parts. "Well, if he's not running the show, it becomes a question of who is free, who's still active in the CL, and who has enough force of personality to get most or all of the rest to follow them. And would want to do that." He grimaced a bit as a thought came to his mind. "Barring a new player in the game, Blackstar could do it. And there's a thought I don't like the taste of, no mistake." He shook his head as Captain Thunder offered them options, listening for a moment before responding. "I'm not sure what use I'd be around here, but I'd like to at least listen in on the interrogation."

Regarding the 2 points. 1.) I hadn't thought I had to get more specific than "Mental" with the sense type. The idea is, essentially, a "mental radar" or "mental blindsense". Per his power descriptions: So I'm not sure what specifics I'd need on the naming of that sense. 2.) Sorus is exactly right; pretty much this whole build, barring a couple tweaks in the last couple of days, is from before the explicit Houserules on how Communication works. So the Mind-Reading was so that he can "receive" just like he can "send". I'll touch up the mental comms power setup here in the next day or so. As for the mental sense, I'll clarify it in whatever way is needed.

(GM Post) The man gestured for them to follow his path, even as some of the other staff on site went over to the plane to help the crew guide it to a parking spot. "We checked everyone for signs of infestation or the like, and made sure to scan for, ah, robotic duplicates. So far we're all clean. Small comfort, anyways. And yes, the Baron triple-checked that everything that came in was utterly inert. About a third of the drones were more like drone-shaped collections of computronium, neosilver, and a few other alloys. Another third were half-wrecked, some with limbs punched off or sliced or the like. The last third, the ones we were most cautious with, were entirely or mostly intact. We made sure to drain their remaining electrical charges as best we could, and some of them have been stripped for raw materials, even." The man unconsciously put Miss Americana between himself and Dragonfly. Perhaps he wasn't an insect fan. He leads them inside the largest dome, where the temperature is more comfortable, and multiple holographic displays show...not as much as any would like. A few people are half-asleep at their stations, while others are running everywhere at once. "We'll give you everything we can, though we're seeing evidence the interior systems may have been compromised about 10 minutes before the actual event. Maps we have in detail, assuming nothing's been radically changed. Hallway layout is that table, infrastructure is that one. No mining, drilling, or explosive equipment is on-site. If you feel you need some, it would be..." He trailed off for a moment, thinking hard...then apparently spacing out for a few seconds before shaking his head. "Call it 8 hours to get here. But....that is the thing, Miss Dragonfly." There's that worried and confused look again. "We performed the standard lockdown, but the drones? They locked it down tighter. Maybe it will want out later, but right now, it wants to stay in, and keep us out. But yes, they/it would have to build from scratch. A lot of scratch. All the equipment in there is the "fine control" type, not the "brute force" type."

(GM Post) The designated "aide" gestured almost directly behind himself, where several simple geodesic domes and other similar pre-fabricated structures (all of them looking new and well-made) were either completed or near-completed. Probably brought in on those two larger planes down at the other end of the tarmac. "We have some basic facilities up now, and are working to get more advanced gear up soon. The weather is being cooperative for the moment." He sighs and shakes his head at her next question. "Nothing. No signals coming out, and any hard lines have been cut. Whatever is going on in there, we can't get any information with our surveillance tools. It was already very secure, to prevent signal contamination or corporate espionage. Now, it might as well be blank rock."

"I'd be honored, Miss Parker." He moved forward, his presence more controlled than Jessica's but still energetic. Before he stepped up to gently correct one of the students, he tapped the earpiece he wore. "Try to stay in contact, Miss Parker. Even in that suit, the water's going to be a bit treacherous." With a quick and sloppy salute, he turned and went about the task of keeping the remote operators on-target and oriented. One or two of them occasionally started to have trouble with the input, getting a bit overwhelmed, but the Baron's calm voice was able to gently walk them back to a point where they were comfortable and moving forward again.

"Yeah. All of them. It was pretty touchy with a few, but they'll survive. I think we'll want to watch them a bit closer, though. Well. AEGIS, UNISON, somebody. What about you? You were leaking pretty bad a few minutes ago; you going to be okay?" He paused for a moment, looking back toward the building. "I can't say I've been through what they have...That memorial, it made me wonder. Were they doing what they did out of desperation, some sort of disconnect from their grief? I guess, from what you and others have told me about...that place...I'd imagined that most of the folks who did something that involved bought the party line, as it were. Guess it's not that simple.." He looked back at his big metallic friend. "Are you going to be okay? Not your injuries. You. Do you need anything? Anything I can do to help?" From some it might sound at least a little fake or hollow; from Gabriel, it's raw sincerity and genuine concern.

Katastrof & Sorenson Technologies Regional Locations KST Headquarters The crown jewel of all of Katastrof and Sorenson Technologies, the World Headquarters is, in fact, located next to/inside of Castle Katastrof, nestled in Katastrof Valley, not far from Helsingborg, Sweden. The lovingly-restored old castle has several gleaming modern towers nestled to one side. Much of the old castle is still the private residence of the Katastrof family, and is closed to anyone not on the approved list (which is rather short), and guarded by some of the most intensive security systems found anywhere. The new construction, by contrast, is purely devoted to the running of an international technology corporation. Most of it is office space, file storage, server farms, or similar things to help run the company. There are meeting rooms, auditoriums, and secure demonstration areas scattered about the impressive edifices. Beneath it all, in the basements of the Castle, are a collection of even-more-secure rooms that serve as small, private laboratories to the Baron, for whatever project or projects strike his fancy. Such as the lab space converted to his primary armor maintenance and vault space, as well as the primary teleportation mechanism to help deploy the Fenris armor in the field. All in all, the HQ of KST is an impressive piece of real estate, one with a long history that it has inherited, and even more history it intends to make. KST Freedom City The downtown Freedom City location of Katastrof and Sorenson Technologies is an impressive modern edifice, somehow seamlessly combining new and old stylings, a mix of stone and metal and glass, into a coherent whole. It has a large receiving lobby at the bottom, with a few public display areas, informational booths, and “labs†that allow visiting schoolchildren to watch men and women in lab coats do science-y things behind glass walls (rotating duty). About a third of the main space of the building is devoted to things like accounting, managers, and various other behind-the-scenes business infrastructure. Much of the rest is a spread of various small labs, fabrication spaces, or computer labs (for simulations and such). The top several floors hold several meeting rooms, the Baron’s private office, and his private lab in the United States. A lab that happens to have a bit more room than anyone quite knows about, thanks to some judicious paperwork; it’s a handy space to store a suit or two of armor, the secondary version of the deployment system, and various systems and tools related to the upkeep of the armor. Worldwide Katastrof and Sorenson Technologies enjoys a wide number of locations across the globe, though at this time all Division HQs are still in Sweden, with regional HQs (like the one in Freedom City) running things for a number of smaller lab facilities in their country/area. Divisions KST Engineering Katastrof & Sorensen Technologies, Engineering Division is what many consider the "bread and butter division" of the multi-national company. Headquarters for the Engineering Division are located in Gothenburg, Sweden, where they reside in a building designed by some of the country's top architects. It's a display of simplicity and complexity all at once, which is exactly the aesthetic KST Engineering strives for every day. KST Engineering was born out of Katastrof & Sorenson Industries. What was formerly a manufacturing conglomerate supplying both civilian and military sectors, with occasional forays into more cutting-edge technology, was in the space of a few years morphed into part of a larger whole. Gostav Jarle Katastrof had determined that he would be part of a company that defined the future, instead of "just" manufacturing it. While his eventual reveal as part of a criminal conspiracy hurt the company, the transfer of stocks to Magnus was ultimately a boon. In the space of 5 years, a combination of the young Baron's own technical genius and his rapid collection of many of Europe's finest minds means that KST-E has virtually exploded with talent, inventions, and income. Today, KST-E is something of a "catch-all" division, handling many of the less-specialized projects and lines that other Divisions don't deal with daily. Sometimes projects that start in KST-E move on to other sections of the company, though it's not overly common. While it's considered the "Engineering" division, KST-E encompasses the manufacturing might of KSI, and more besides; rather than outsource 90% or more of the actual product-making, Baron Katastrof has ensured instead that automation means he can spread his existing workforce out to do more. As well, it makes it easier for the engineers to go on-site to make sure products are meeting the desired specifications (or at least the slightly more realistic iteration of them typically found on the market, instead of in isolated labs). These manufacturing centers are spread across large swathes of Europe, reducing shipping costs, providing greater redundancy for manufacturing in case of accidents or disaster, and incidentally increasing employment wherever they go. Areas that KST-E deals with design and manufacturing include: Computing: KST-E designs and produces a number of computing devices with next-generation technology, including palm PCs, tablets, laptops, consumer home PCs, business-grade PCs, servers, and supercomputers. Their cutting edge designs cram more performance into less space, making better use of every speck of material involved. While not as cheap as some competitors, their performance and longevity showcase the principle of "getting what you pay for". Display: KST-E is breaking new ground with flexi-glass displays for various handheld computing devices, as well as super-thin computer and television displays, and integration of displays into things like bookshelves (real-time tracking of personal or public library contents with the push of a button) or refrigerators. As part of this they're striving to find new ways to make such displays scratch and smudge resistant. Automotive: KST-E is starting a foray into the automotive industry, currently focused on "luxury" class vehicles. Integrating advancements from KST Power Division, KST-E automobiles produce 0% pollution, require no charging or fueling, and integrate various advancements in the materials sciences to make them more resistant to wear and tear, including self-repairing tires. While not widely advertised, they do provide VIP-class vehicles that include enhanced communication and computing gear, as well as increased durability by way of low-profile armor alloys and glass substitutes that make the KST-E-A limo model the new vehicle of choice for the King of Sweden. Materials: KST-E has worked on new alloys, bioplastics, glasses, semiconductors, and other fields of materials science, often as a step to help get other projects off the ground. Software: Considered separate from the hardware-focused Computing Division, Software's main areas of focus are Security and Productivity products, mainly geared for business and corporate work (but with personal/home products offered as well). Rumors of Artificial Intelligence research are growing, and the company remains evasive on the matter. KST Power KST Power is one of the divisions that Baron Magnus created and "spun off" of the "core" KST-E. KST-P's entire focus is on improving current power generation methods, and innovating new ones for future generations. The two-fold goal has been both Greater Efficiency and Greener Power; while not a radical environmentalist, Magnus recognizes the value of eliminating as much harmful pollution as possible. Thus KST-P focuses on revolutionary green technologies. One of the projects of KST-P has created what some consider a "stopgap" design for retrofitting coal plants to not only produce power more efficiently, but also to capture 90% of the emissions (especially Carbon) and siphon them away to be processed elsewhere. They've produced tougher, more robust, more efficient solar panels that also require fewer rare/exotic/toxic materials to produce, and have innovated ways to smoothly integrate them into existing building power grids. Vastly more effective geothermal taps have been created that can be used in a larger number of areas, though they still aren't approaching a level that can power anything more than one large building, or a few small ones. They've helped update designs for Molten salt reactors, especially Liquid fluoride thorium reactors. These research projects are conducted at isolated, secure facilities, and have produced some promising results that are receiving interest from several factors in Europe, as they are one of the most efficient, high-capacity solutions that KST-P can help produce in the next 5 years or less. Further on the "horizon", KST-P has been working on finding ways to create a fusion reactor with positive net output. While they don't believe "cold fusion" is necessarily possible, some strides have been made with some of their streamlined tokamak designs. Their current chief competitor in this research area is Archetech, who are focusing on designs that are located offshore for better cooling and easier fuel access. KST-P's designs currently don't have the same size or output, but are being drawn up to be located virtually anywhere, as well as having an extra layer of hardened, redundant safety systems for worst-case scenarios. The most advanced and long-sighted project at KST-P is actually the one whose prototypes have not only produced results, but are actually in limited production runs. The Vacuum Energy System utilizes an advanced application of quantum field theory to produce usable power by tapping into background interactions present across the universe. So far, the largest unit (used to power the HQ of KST-P, with a twin powering the main production facility) is approximately 30 feet in diameter and 15 feet tall (not counting support struts and supplementary equipment underneath it). It provides more than enough power for the HQ of this Division, which not only contains offices, but also a large number of computer labs, small testing facilities, prototyping rooms, and similar places to ensure that more than "just paperwork and phone calls" is done in the rather stately building. The average VES Cell is around 6 inches across, and individually provides sufficient power for a large sport utility vehicle to run at maximum capability continuously for, effectively, all time. As the VES does not use fuel in the traditional sense (instead "piggybacking" off of existing energy interactions), the fail points are mechanical in nature (as it does not halt entropy in any appreciable way). The VES design's greatest selling points are its incredible efficiency, its utter lack of harmful byproduct, and its safety (worst case scenario with a VES is the unit crumpling in on itself to produce a ball of wrecked circuits and metal, with 0 risk to surrounding structures or people). The largest problem is the requirement for somewhat exotic materials that are currently hard to produce or find on Terra. The Baron believes that once asteroid mining is a truly viable concept, the asteroid field (and possibly some of the moons of outer planets) will help yield excesses of exotic and common minerals, including those needed to truly mass-produce VES Cells of all sizes. Currently the VES Cell production is focused on units for internal use, such as in planes, automobiles, and heavy machinery (such as forklifts). Limited runs for other purposes are possible, but not currently occurring. KST Aerospace Probably the most focused of the branches of KST, the Aerospace division has two main sub-sections. One focuses on various plane and helicopter designs, mainly incorporating advancements from KST-E and KST-P. The other works on satellites, primarily meteorological and GPS models, though there are a couple of surveillance models marketed to governments (a strictly-controlled list vetted by the Baron himself). There are rumors of other projects, however… One project that’s already seen fruition is that of the Baron’s collection of long-range private jets. Used to ferry the Baron, company executives, employees, and high-priority technology deliveries (when not something large enough for a true cargo plane), these planes, definitely in the “heavy private jet†category, are a marvel of engineering. The utilize multiple VES cells in “clusters’ to help power the internal systems as well as the engines. The engines themselves utilize incredibly powerful heating elements to superheat the air to the point it might as well be a traditional turbojet engine. However, the high-end materials used mean that these engines wear down at a slower rate. Their power source means their range is primarily limited by other supplies, and in practice can go over either ocean non-stop with little trouble. The electronics are top-of-the-line, and the planes practically fly themselves, though the Baron ensures all pilots are of the highest skill level. Another target area is the lower-cost small prop planes market, where the weight savings of the VES units really shines. Needing only 4 small disks that collectively weigh a few pounds to drive a totally-electric engine for the propeller, the planes manage to be enormously responsive and fantastically light (having actual weights added to prevent problems due to being overly light), giving them a handling most pilots rave about. The helicopter designs are more varied, and are prototypes one and all. But with the lack of a combustion engine, the various prototypes are all extremely quiet. One of them is attracting some military attention from a few countries, but currently isn’t strictly speaking a military design. On the satellite front, a couple of VES cells gives unparalleled power capacity for some of the most advanced and complex satellites ever designed and launched. So far, the only satellites actually in orbit are focused on meteorology, GPS, ozone surveys, and tracking geological data. All military satellites (which are exclusively communication and surveillance designs) are still on the drawing board or early prototype phases yet. Ever since the company had gotten the chance to go over the remains of the Curator’s ship, a comparatively small team of scientists and engineers had been pouring over the data gathered from that treasure trove. Their whole focus has been on creating a human-designed, human-understood ship capable of first interplanetary, and eventually interstellar, travel. Currently, they’ve gotten so far as a half-dozen proposed basic designs, the schematics for life support and some secondary systems, and three dozen potential power system layouts. The main sticking point is that while they could blindly copy systems from the Curator ship, both the project leaders and the Baron himself want everyone involved to thoroughly understand the details and principles involved. This means efforts will take years instead of months, but the ultimate increase in knowledge and understanding is considered well worth the delay. KST Recycling The Recycling Division is the smallest of all the sub-sections of Katastrof and Sorenson Technologies, but for all that, it’s one of the more productive, proportionally speaking. While KST Power’s focus is on a range of clean energy products, to prevent harmful waste in the first place, KST Recycling’s focus is on taking existing useless waste and finding ways to either re-use it, or render it completely harmless. One of the longest-running, and rather successful, efforts is taking heavily-damaged or rusted pieces of metal and running them through special furnaces to produce re-refined ingots of deoxidized metal. There’s no waste byproducts (except perhaps extra oxygen), and the actual loss of mass for the metal is minimal; approximately 98% of the non-refined material is retained. However, the process currently only works very well on iron, the more common steel mixtures, copper, and aluminum. Other elements or alloys are beyond the molecular sifters’ ability to process, meaning it’s not truly perfect yet. Still, due to the widespread use of those metals, it’s a rather profitable segment of the company at this time, with plenty of room to grow even more. Connected to that is a set of facilities that process plastic, styrofoam, foam, and other non-degradable items. Some are turned into blocks, strips, sheets, or similar large collections of raw materials, while others are broken down into their component chemicals, to be purified and resold later. The exact list of what items can and can’t be processed is in flux, as the markets producing such items in the first place are always adjusting formulas. Chemicals to accelerate the breakdown of organic materials into fertilizer, loam, or otherwise environment-friendly piles of brownish stuff. Chemical processing for battery sludge and similar waste to make the raw chemicals useful again, albeit not truly disposing of the material. Instead, it’s often resold to be processed back into batteries again. Special devices and chemical mixtures to help clean up oil spills with 99.99% efficiency, allowing the spilled material to be used, and minimizing environmental impact. This line of research has borne fruit with beachfront cleanup, with a 96% efficiency there. KST Medical KST Medical is the division with perhaps the fiercest direct competition in the current market. Many of their upcoming products are slotted to debut at the same time as similar solutions from titans such as Archetech, Martel Enterprises, and Grant Conglomerates (though not all the exact same product; that’s corporate espionage!). While many of the breakthroughs and developments are on treatments themselves, others focus on equipment, or indirect developments that help the general operation of hospitals and doctors’ offices. Many of the more recent breakthroughs have been involving specially-made nano-scale machines (nanites in general reference) Using technology developed from gadgets confiscated from European supervillains, KST Medical has produced what many in the media call a “stasis podâ€. More accurately, it is a pod that vastly decelerates the body processes and injury progression of the individual in it, preserving their state for a longer period of time. It is expensive and bulky, and while the pod itself that someone is carried in can be detached, the full mechanism requires an assembly that barely fits in over-sized ambulances and medivac helicopters. More and more hospitals in Sweden and further abroad are starting to carry at least a few of these stations for the most traumatic injuries. However, these pods cannot heal the patient, only preserve them for surgery, and at most do provide a handy method of thoroughly scanning their condition. Using a combination of patented chemicals and light application of one-shot nanites, KST Medical has produced a burn treatment method that, along with skin grafts, can vastly reduce scarring from heavy burns on a patient’s body. It takes multiple treatments, and is expensive enough to only really warrant use in extreme cases at this time, but it’s a proving ground for other, similar treatments in the future. Advances in sensor technology are producing devices even more sensitive and accurate than MRIs, without the needs for chemicals (ingested or injected), and without the risks for those with metal implants of one sort or another. As well, the components are slim enough that the chamber is roomier, lessening the risk of claustrophobia-induced panic attacks, and the system can adjust for minute movements, lessening the need to hold absolutely still. Best of all it works much quicker, greatly reducing the time the patient is in the sensor bed. While perhaps lagging a bit behind Archetech advances and some of the independent work pioneered by Miss Americana, KST is still one of the top leaders in the field of prosthetic limbs and replacement organs. In general, while KST’s limbs don’t have the near-superhuman potential of competitors, they tend to be more cost-effective, and have operational lifespans a good bit higher than others. KST is pioneering new vision correction technologies, with a combination of mild laser therapy and a chemical “bath†that includes nanites to “round off†the correction. So far it’s producing a less intensive procedure that heals quicker, carries fewer risks of reversal, and is applicable to a broader range of patients. KST Med is working on multiple ideas for more efficient and less generally harmful drugs to treat various cancers, though they have yet to have any true “cure†(though rumors abound they’re looking into nanite applications there, as well). Many other modern hospital and doctor tools are being given improved versions in KST Medical’s lineup of products, making them a leading name in modern European healthcare. Author’s Notes: This wiki is partially here because I can be obsessive about minor details, and partially to provide a potential story aide or hook. Feel free to name-drop the company, though I would ask you double-check what you might be mentioning about it with me. Any character that you feel might be a good fit as an employee is welcome to be so, and we can work out where they’d fit best in the company. Using the company locations for stories is possible, though in this case I’d ask you treat it like a Tier 2 NPC; you can control it, but please run the idea(s) by me first. Hopefully this proves to be a useful resource for the community!

Good catch, SC. I've taken 4 skill ranks from K: Pop Culture and used that PP to buy Acrobatic Bluff. Not sure how I missed that I'd forgotten that...

Thoughtspeed Power Level: 10 (Shifted) [12] 194/198 PP Trade-Offs: +3 Attack / -3 Damage, +3 Defense / -3 Toughness Unspent Power Points: 4 In Brief: Son of a time controller and a psychic, Thoughtspeed uses his strength of will to harness kinetic energy to move faster and fight harder, all for the cause of good (and impressing the ladies)! Alternate Identity: William Cline Identity: Secret(ish) Birthplace: USA Occupation: Student, Superhero Affiliations: Claremont Family: Richard Cline "Fast-Forward" (Father); Paige Cline "Hologram" (Mother); Anne Cline "Clock Queen" (Paternal Grandmother); Holly Cline (Younger Sister); Bryant Cline (Paternal Grandfather, de-aged) Description: Age: 19 (DoB: October 1997) Gender: Male Ethnicity: Caucasion/Jewish mix Height: 5'10" Weight: 170 lbs Eyes: Dark Brown (Normal), Dark Green (Powers Active) Hair: Black William's built lean; between his super-metabolism and his natural inclinations to work on endurance and flexibility, he doesn't cut a large figure. That said, he's clearly in excellent condition and well-toned, showing a natural, organic athleticism. His dark hair is kept fairly short, but just long enough it can get a bit tousled in the wind when he runs (just as planned!). His skin has a healthy tan, born from a lot of outdoor runs. His eyes often dance with barely restrained mischief, when they aren't glowing green with the use of his powers. William tends to dress fashionably but comfortably, in clothes that one could comfortably run in. Thoughtspeed's outfit is made up of morphic molecules engineered to resist high-speed frictions, though not enough to help in an actual fight. Still, it comes out as a decently thick suit of flexible, breathable material that is nonetheless decently more substantial than, say, spandex. The primary color of the suit is a slightly glossy black. Starting at the shoulders (front and back) and running down the right and left sides of his suit are lines of dark green (about 2 inches wide) that trace their way down his legs (the lines thin to about 1 inch past his waist) all the way to his ankles, where it makes a circle around the ankle, thus joining the front and rear lines. Another set of similar lines go down the middle of the outside arm section, ending in circles at his wrists; his elbows and knees have slightly thicker circles, while a large loop circles his waist like a belt. When he's using his powers more actively (OOC: Faster than Speed 2 or Quickness 1, using any of the Super-Movement powers, or using his Kinetic Blades Array), bleed-off psycho-kinetic energy goes into the costume, causing the lines to glow a somewhat brighter green. His feet are clad in hybrid shoes, with a tread somewhere between "hiking boots" and "track shoes", giving him flexibility, traction, and comfort. Finally, a thin "metallic" helmet unfolds over his head when the costume is active (though he can will it to retract independently); this helmet encapsulates his head, including a one-way visor that obscures his face but lets him see clearly. The helmet has several subtle air vents to allow comfortable breathing and preventing heat buildup, and has thin lines curving around the sides to connect to the lines on his suit's shoulders (the helmet's lines also glow when his powers ramp up). A simple domino mask is underneath the helmet, as a nod to his secret identity without being too complicated. Power Descriptions: While Fast-Forward's powers allow him to harness chronal energy to warp space-time (mainly time), and his mother can project powerful illusions, Thoughtspeed's powers are more internally focused. His body is able to generate and harness notably more kinetic energy than usual, all controlled by his formidable will (or sheer teenage stubbornness, according to his mother). Thus, he can charge his body with kinetic energy to move many times the speed of sound, even across water or up buildings. However, his precision control is much lower, meaning he cannot accomplish fine tasks with the same level of speed (though he can still accomplish things faster than humanly possible). This same usage of kinetic energy means that, within a certain distance, he has an innate spatial sense that allows him to navigate in complete darkness, using his mind to interpret the "bounce-back" his whole body is picking up. That this makes him difficult to catch unawares is an added benefit. Finally, he can mold the kinetic energy he generates into semi-tangible constructs, which he shapes into various hand-held melee weapons. He can alter the properties of the blades somewhat, though he cannot do everything at once with them, forcing him to decide on his mode of attack. If he takes a moment to concentrate, he can find the best way to move about an area and attack many people at once within it with his kinetic energy blades, which can prove useful for laying low a group of henchmen. William's inheritance from his mother is still developing; while he can set up a team-wide telepathic link, the range is poor enough he runs the risk of casually zipping out of range in the blink of an eye, leaving everyone suddenly isolated again. Thoughtspeed is also able to use his mental and kinetic powers to warp and blur the light around his body, as well as generating some basic, low-level holographs, that he becomes invisible to the naked or assisted eye. Of course, he still needs to rely on his own caution and skill to move undetected to the ear or other, more exotic senses. The same field can be turned outward, generating a massive burst of blinding green light; he has finally mastered only blinding those he chooses to with this burst of power, though it takes him several seconds to build up to it nonetheless. History: William didn't come into the world until his parents had left behind villainy for several years. They were older and at least somewhat wiser. And those early years had been great; just him, Mom, and Dad, nothing but good times. Several early years were spent living in an RV, and how cool is that? Totally cool. He saw a lot of pretty neat in those traveling years. They came back to Freedom City for a bit, he learned he was getting a new baby sister, and his Mom got really weird for a while. She was a LOT snappier than usual with him, and he just couldn't figure out what he'd done wrong. But then Holly was born, and they were moving again! California was kind of nicer than Freedom City. It wasn't really any shinier, but it was warm a lot more, which meant William got to wear shorts a lot! He liked shorts. And things were pretty awesome for years! His mom and dad ended up TV stars, he got to be on television (even if he had to wear a mask, but hey, he got to help build it!), and his Grandma Anne was fun to visit, even if she tended to talk about "back in my day". A lot. Even more than his dad! He started getting superpowers, and that was totally awesome! His dad helped him figure most of it out, with his mom giving him pointers. Eventually he figured out he could make swords. With his mind! That's when Grandma Anne start giving him lessons when he visited! Though she didn't do much to encourage his creativity, always trying to make him stick to one long blade and one short. He only just managed to avoid "having" to make them look like clock hands; that would have been so last century, and thus lame. And then Holly mind-controlled an entire school, and in less than a week California was left behind and Will found himself in Freedom City again. But now he had to go to a fancy-dancy little private school for heroes. It's not that being a hero was bad, but now he felt obligated to end up being one, instead of having the option to, he didn't know, maybe run his own TV show or something! And to make matters worse, he'd left all his friends and lots of cute girls behind in California, and now his sister was getting all of the attention instead of only some of it, and both the women in the house were totally psychic and it sucked! Psychic women were the worst when you were a teenage boy. But hey, the classes were kind of neat, gym was mostly a breeze, and the girls here were kind of pretty. Even if some of them could turn you into a pretzel with one hand. Will ended up going to UCLA for several months, competing in some track runs out in California, working through college-credit courses (super-speed studying has its perks), and striking up a relationship with a college freshman girl who just happened to be a cheerleader for UCLA. It was fun and a bit wild. Then he finished his college credit classes and decided to come back to Freedom City and Claremont Academy to finish off his senior year of high school. The fact that he and his girlfriend were taking a break that was in no way related to her actually being a ninja that was attacked by a rival, evil clan of ninjas when they were on a date certainly had very little to do with that decision. Practically nothing, in fact. Having graduated Claremont, Will has continued to take college courses, though he has yet to pick a major (which frustrates his parents, naturally). He hasn't really found a new romantic interest, instead actually focusing on school, family, or heroics. Or just running for fun, which he still likes. Personality & Motivation: Will has always been an...energetic...young man. While his mother's worked hard to instill a sense of discipline into him, he's inherited a full dose of the mischief of his parents, albeit in a somewhat more law-abiding way. His parents both made sure he wasn't one for petty crime, not that he felt he needed it. He has an intellectual admiration for some of the more "refined" and "principled" super-villains (mostly of yester-year like his parents), but his real role models (besides his father and mother) are still heroes. Just the ones with senses of humor and/or some sort of super-speed. William is by nature impatient, but while he can sometimes be an excitable handful in class, his mother has instilled enough of a work-ethic in him that he's willing to work on his studies; he just often has trouble sitting through classes, despite being able to somewhat "ramp down" his speed (body and mind) to something closer to normal for humans. While he doesn't automatically distrust and disrespect his teachers (and other authority figures), Will will sometimes push boundaries as much as he can, though it's more due to being used to his mother's firm rules for what he can and can't get away with. When meeting people (especially peers) for the first time, Will is friendly and outgoing, enthusiastically so. Despite this, he actually has few close friends, as he finds himself only comfortable with people he trusts; trust is one of those things he gives sparingly. When he does make a friend, he's fiercely loyal and even protective of them. He's been known to (at least try to) play pranks on those who upset or hurt his friends. William is a bit of a flirt, though he's well-mannered enough to not continue if the girl is already taken, or if she just asks him to stop. He generally doesn't "tease" his friends, as he's conscious of how some might not take to it as naturally and humorously as others. He tries to present himself as something of a "rakish ladies man" (a trait he insists he inherited from his father). His family is important to him, but he admits he's often "so frustrated" by them; his father can be too goofy even forWill's sense of humor, his mother is often "too strict", and his sister is precocious enough to inspire frustration at nearly every turn. Anyone else who is negative about them finds themselves in a heap of trouble, though. Thoughtspeed is always eager to taunt opponents, or at least appear to not take them seriously when at all possible. While to some allies he seems unfocused and undisciplined, he's actually always focused on helping out his team; he simply can't keep his somewhat rambunctious nature from leaking through. Powers & Tactics: If fighting alone, Thoughtspeed will typically keep his visual stealth up as long as feasible while closing in on an enemy, then perform several quick strikes. After that, his preferred method is to use the full measure of his speed to keep out of an enemy's range while running by at high speed and hitting them; few enemies can reliably hit someone who's a mile or more away. However, if he's working in a group, Thoughtspeed's tactics shift rather noticeably. If he's the only telepath around, he will work to stay within about 100ft of everyone in the group, so that no one drops off the link he has with them. This means he has to rely on tactics and a bit of stealth to keep from being shot at in the first place, or just rely on his incredible reflexes to not get hit. He only uses his Visual Overload if he feels there's no other choice, as it risks disabling teammates as well. He usually opens a fight with his Twin Blades, only using the Duelist Blade if he finds a particularly tough opponent. He will sub in forming the Halberd if there's a group, or he's fighting a particularly tough and wily opponent. Complications: Secret Identity: William Cline intends to keep his hero life separate from his "normal" life, outside of the unusual "blending" that happens at Claremont. Thus, a GM may award Thoughtspeed a Hero Point when maintaining his dual identity is put at undue risk by the current situation. Shady Family Background: While his father's mother is (mostly) peacefully retired, and his parents are reformed, William's family background is extremely checkered. Anyone researching his family very much may make unwanted connections, and some parts of his extended family might object to his heroic efforts. A GM may feel free to award him a Hero Point if he faces hardships due to his family connections to villains past and present. Mind Over Matter: Typically Thoughtspeed's powers are a unified whole that gives him internally-focused kinetic energy control. However, a precisely-targeted power nullification that was also powerful enough might cause his psionic powers to shut down, but not his kinetic powers. This would leave him bereft of much of his ability, as well as rendering him a potential danger to others, thanks to out-of-control kinetic energy buildup he'd have to either drain off by large amounts of movement, or see erupt out in random damage. A GM might award a Hero Point if some Nullification were to take out his Psionic descriptors, but leave him enough power beyond his Speed and Quickness to cause some sort of Aura damage, or something similar, to cause risk to civilians and fellow heroes. Big Eater: Thoughtspeed needs a lot of fuel to keep his super-metabolism going, to the point of typically carrying a couple of high-energy bars with him on a patrol or the like, just to keep the edge off of his hunger. A GM might award a Hero Point if, due to limited food supplies, Thoughtspeed's hunger reaches the point where his powers are reduced in effectiveness. Born to Be Wild: William Cline is his father's son. He is also a teenager. This means he's got a pretty solid rebellious streak, and just enough disregard for authority to get him into trouble. A good bit of trouble, even. Big Shadows: Fast-Forward and Hologram were larger-than-life villains and are larger-than-life heroes/television stars. Combined with their somewhat eccentric personalities, this means there's a lot of pressure (more imagined than real) on William to live up to that larger-than-life life. Combined with the rather esoteric upbringing he had, and the rather sudden move to Freedom City, it's left the eldest child of the family feeling more than a bit disaffected and frustrated with his parents, who are simultaneously "pretty cool" and "totally lame", as only a teenager can think of his parents. Little Shadow: Holly is a precocious super-psychic little sister. She totally harshs his vibe sometimes. Or gets in trouble and he has to help bail her out. ABILIITES: 4 + 14 + 14 + 2 + 4 + 4 = 42PP Strength: 14 (+2) Dexterity: 24 (+7) Constitution: 24 (+7) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 14 (+2) COMBAT: 10 + 10 = 20PP Initiative: +15 Attack: +13 Kinetic Blades, +7 Melee, +5 Ranged Grapple: +9 Defense: +13 (+5 Base, +8 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -2 SAVING THROWS: 0 + 2 + 6 = 8PP Toughness: +7 (+7 Con) Fortitude: +7 (+7 Con) Reflex: +9 (+7 Dex, +2) Will: +8 (+2 Wis, +6) SKILLS: 76R = 19PP Acrobatics 10 (+17) Disable Device 8 (+9) Escape Artist 8 (+15) Knowledge: Pop Culture 2 (+3) Language 2 (English [Native], German, Hebrew) Notice 10 (+12) Search 8 (+9) Sense Motive 10 (+12) Sleight of Hand 8 (+15) Stealth 10 (+17) FEATS: 23PP Accurate Attack Acrobatic Bluff All-Out Attack Attack Focus: Melee 2 Attack Specialization: Kinetic Blades 3 Challenge (Fast Task) 1 (Acrobatic Feint) Defensive Attack Dodge Focus 8 Improved Initiative 2 Move-By Action Power Attack Takedown Attack 1 (2 with Kinetic Blades 'Polearm') POWERS: 6 (1+5) + 31 (14+14+3) + 29 (17+12) + 16 = 82PP Psycho-Kinetic Awareness 1.2 (6PP Container [Passive, Permanent]) [6pp] (Mutant, Kinetic Energy, Psionic) Enhanced Feat 1 (Uncanny Dodge: Mental) [1PP] Super-Senses 6 (Accurate, Acute, Radius, Ranged, Mental Sense) [5pp] Kinetic Speed 6.2 (31PP Container [Passive, Permanent]) [31PP] (Mutant, Kinetic Energy) Quickness 14 (x50,000) [14PP] Speed 14 (250,000 MPH/2,500,000ft per Move Action) [14PP] Super-Movement 3 (Water-Walking, Wall-Crawling 2, Flaw: Only While Moving) [3PP] Mental Powers 5.8 (29PP Container) [29PP] (Mutant, Psionic) Communication 5 (Mental, 5 miles, Extras: Affects Others, Area; Power Feats: Selective, Subtle) [17PP] ("Telepathic Linkup") Psionic Light 5.5 (11PP Array Feats: Alternate Power 1) [12PP] -Base Power: Dazzle 10 (Visual, Extras: Area [General, Burst, 50ft radius], Flaws: Action [Full], Range [Touch]) [10PP] ("Visual Overload") -Alternate Power: Concealment 4 (All Visual) [8pp] ("Personal Holographic Shroud") Kinetic Blades 7 (14PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 2) [16PP] (Mutant, Kinetic Energy) -Base Power: Strike 5 (Extras: Autofire (Applies to Strength Bonus), Power Feats: Mighty [+2 Damage], Variable Descriptor 1 [Slashing, Piercing, or Bludgeoning]) [14PP] ("Twin Blades") -Alternate Power: Strike 5 (Extras: Penetrating 6, Power Feats: Improved Critical 2 [18-20], Mighty [+2 Damage]) [14PP] ("Duelist Blade"; Piercing) -Alternate Power: Strike 5 (Power Feats: Extended Reach 2 [15ft reach], Mighty [+2 Damage], Variable Descriptor 1 [Slashing, Piercing, or Bludgeoning]) [9PP] + Enhanced Feats 3 (Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Takedown Attack 1) [3PP] ("Polearm") Drawbacks: (-0) + (-0) = -0PP DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC17 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Strike Touch DC22 Toughness (+ Autofire, Staged) Damage (Physical) Dazzle Area DC20 Reflex 1/2 Effect DC20 Reflex Blinded DC20 Fortitude Recover TOTALS Abilities (42) + Combat (20) + Saving Throws (8) + Skills (19) + Feats (23) + Powers (82) - Drawbacks (0) = 194/198 Power Points

(GM Post) "Ah, pardon me, ah, Miss Dragonfly, but the whole point of this facility is to minimize risk. It's in the mountains so that in the worst case, there's space between it and populated areas. And we had it locked down and evacuated in less than 20 minutes, with the only person left being the Baron. He likely stayed behind to ensure complete lockdown, which is why there aren't half-built drones pouring out like ants." The bespectacled scientist standing between two armed guards looked tired, edgy, and a bit affronted all at once. Clearly, the people here respected the Baron a great deal. "Young Katastrof might be headstrong, but the sheer amount of security in the facility, and the separation of storage from testing, should have ensured this was flatly impossible. And if he wasn't trapped in there he'd have self-destructed the site. As much as he loves knowledge, as do we all, he would agree it wouldn't be worth the risk." The middle-aged researcher gave the mountain a frowning look. "But it did happen. We don't know why yet. That's why the group of you are here; it was felt you were intellectual peers of the Baron, and would also be able to keep this...discrete." The man sighed with a slight shake of his head. "Either way, we'll try to provide anything you need. Supplies, information, food and drink, whatever we can get."

Nope! You're maybe a quarter-mile from the mountainside entrance, and there are a few prefab buildings between you and there. Datalink and whatnot would pick up signals from the plane, the prefabs, people's smartphones, etc... But the mountain facility might as well be a slab of solid rock for all that you're getting absolutely no signals at all right now.