Vahnyu

Vyrdnaya nodded at Sei. Then, upon hearing Citizen's explanation, she considered for a bit. "Hmmm... Without communications, the mothership would be unable to relay orders to the rest of the drones. Not only will they be incapable of properly coordinating their moves, but even if the mothership realises something's gone wrong, it will be too late for them to send word for backup. Yes... this is a sound plan. We may still have a fight on our hands, but at least it won't be an impossible one. Which means... our main concern is that we will be working against a time limit." She didn't want to do it. She knew she'd have to, but she really didn't want to go back there. Back to the network's cyberspace. "Be that as it may..." she suddenly exclaimed, as if to silence her own thoughts "I think I will be directly assisting you in interfacing with the data streams. I think I can manage that much, and it would help speed up the process by a factor of x1.5 times to x2 times." Though she'd been managing to keep things in focus, Temperance's words resonated within her, bringing back memories from a life long gone now. Vyrdnaya looked wistfully at the past, before commenting "That is... admirable." She managed. "You should cherrish your time together, the ill moments along with the good ones." Who knows when they'll come to an end, after all. As for Moon-Moth... the veteran Praetorian was trying to be comforting and understanding. She could not blame him that. "Thank you, Moon-Moth... but I have no illusions that it will."

Meatheral could only stare, as the godling and the archer exchanged words, some of them not entirely civil. You could cut the tension in the air with a butter knife. And then what appeared to be a Valkyrie descented from heaven. If Meatheral had been feeling lost before that moment, was nothing compared to how he felt now. "Soooo.... Anyone else feeling like they're missing what exactly is going on here? Or is that just me?" He tried addressing Miras and Sun Walker, completely oblivious to Arrowhawk's past or his connection to whoever that Valkyrie was supposed to be.

Vyrdnaya looked blankly outside the bridge, staring into the vastness of space. It had been less than 3 Giga Cycles, since she'd been restored to consciousness. What once had been organic matter, now was a fusion between carbohydrates, water, aminoacids, lipids, and proteins, with metal, circuits, fuel, and hydraulics. Her body looked like a patchwork of flesh and robotics, that seemlessly melded into one another. So focused was she in observing the space ahead, that not even the quarreling between Citizen and Captain Hunger could distract her. Her trance was soon broken by Moon-Moth, however, who espoused that they should go to battle with a clear mind. Logical thinking, that. However, Vyrdnaya... felt happy. Because she could feel the anger inside her welling up. She could feel herself not wanting to discard that anger, and that reaffirmed to her that she was still... Arkanian. <Human> would be the word Terrans would use. "If any of you wish to abandon your anger and your feelings, feel free to do so." She stated coldly. "But don't expect me to join you in this endeavor; I will make sure that each and every Communion drone feels the entire extent of my wrath." Turning around, she looked at Citizen. He looked so carefree to her, running around the ship's internal network systems. She'd just barely managed to master that technique, and even then, she could only do so under great duress. Being fused with the Praetorian Spacecraft Devotion, while her consciousness wandered the ship's network, she experienced the passage of time at a very decompressed and slowed rate. Though she'd managed to adjust the rate to that of the real world, she still likened it to swimming in a frozen lake, in the middle of a heatwave. "So... what is your plan, Citizen? How do you intend to shut down the Communion Mother Ship exactly? I doubt that giant death trap has such lax defenses, that anyone with access to infrared or high radio frequency communications could just connect to its system without a hitch."

Hronos Incursion: >Science Team Go! Mater Vyrdna >Ghost in the Machine Meatheral Incursion: >God Squad Net Fly Incursion: >Matter Over Mind

This felt... refreshing. Despite the very real danger that the Communion posed to the universe, Hronos hadn't been to space for more than 4 billion years, ever since he got stranded and stuck inside the still-forming planet that came to be known as Earth. Even after he regained his consiousness, his body was still heavily damaged from the battle with Catastrophe, and his repairing systems had been greatly deteriorated. It wasn't more than a few weeks ago that his space-support systems were finally able to repair themselves, and not a moment too soon; ever since the Computronium incident near Saudi Arabia, the Communion problem came to the iron guardian's attention. He'd spent the time dealing with the aftermath of the Computronium's descend, as well as dealing with any leftover invaders. Though small pickings, to be sure, it'd have been dangerous to ignore them, as they could pose a great threat to the civilians of Earth. The planet had welcomed him when the Mechanodynamis was bound to its orbit, and he didn't plan on letting it fall any time soon. The trip was proving to be... a curious one, as all things involving humanoids did. Though he'd occasionally catch glimpses of this... music culture that the Earthlings revered, its nuances completely failed to escape him, as his perception of it varied from a needlessly complex form of communication, to downright inanity. This DID come with what was proving to be a great advantage, though; Hronos was completely unaware that Geckoman was in any way off-key and out-of-rythm. Still, it was a good idea, getting acquainted with the other heroes. It would be at least wise, if everyone was aware of each other's strengths, weaknesses, and character. "I agree with your implied proposal, Cavalier Kyle Stewart. It would be of paramount importance for us to be aware of our respective capabilites." Hronos reconfigured his body, which opened up a compartment in his chest plate. In it, a spark of purple-hued energy pulsated brightly. "This manifestation of chronal energy is the Essense of Time. It is both a conduit for every residual flow of Time and the personification of the aspect of Time. The Essense of Time acts as a fuel for my internalised arsenal of weapons, which allows me to effectively manipulate Time. It is both my servant and my master, and it is my duty to use it, in order to ensure the integrity of the Space/Time continuum." The Mechanodynamis said, as he described his powers. "Freedom League member Velocity, who is my close acquaintance, contacted me about the World Killer near Pluto. It was at her insistance that I join the battle in the edge of the Solar System." Hronos further explained, informing the others of how he came to join up on this expedition, while closing his chest plate, in order to keep the Essense of Time from being exposed for too long.

Player Name: Vahnyu Character Name: Hronos Power Level: 11 (168/168PP) Trade-Offs: -4 Melee Attack / +4 Melee Damage, -2 Defense / +2 Toughness Unspent Power Points: 0 Progress To Silver Status: 18/60 (Bronze status earned with Net Fly) In Brief: An ancient mechanical being, Hronos has an array of inbuilt, interchangeable armaments that grand him control over time/space. Alternate Identity: None Identity: Public Birthplace: UNKNOWN Occupation: Wielder of Time Affiliations: Mechanodynames Family: Mechanodynames(Sister: Psihi. Sister: Gnossi. Sister: Zoi. Brother: Thanatos.) Description: Age: UKNOWN, estimated to billions of years (DoB: UKNOWN) Apparent Age: Not Applicable Gender: Male Ethnicity: Mechanodynames Height: 7'5" ft Weight: 230 pounds. Eyes: Light-Purple Hair: Not Applicable Description: Hronos is a Mechanodynamis. He has a human-like structure. His body is composed of techno-mechanical parts. His skin is a Light-Purple, with visible circuits. His hands look like Navy-Blue mechanical armor gauntlets. His upper body looks like a Navy-Blue robotic breastplate covering a white body armor. He appears to wear a Navy-Blue mechanical belt on his waist. The mouth in his Navy Blue helmet-like head is completely covered by a White mouthpiece, he sports White earpeaces and a Light-Purple visor for eyes. His legs look like Light-Blue and White armored boots from the knees down. Finally, his back holds a Blue rocket-pack. Power Descriptions: As a Mechanodynamis, Hronos has a sturdy mechanical body resistant to damage and adverse natural conditions. He is able to quickly process and employ all languages from intelligent living beings, as well as computers. His body is able to accomodate accelerated modes of self-transportation, including flight, thanks to the rocket-pack that protrudes on his back, and his thought processor is normally capable of carrying difficult calculations and executing rapid actions at 5 times the normal pace. He is also the assigned Wielder of the Essence of Time. His techno-mechanical body is capable of processing this internalized essence, and reconfigure his body parts at will, granding him with a versatile arsenal of armaments, and granting him control over time itself. Some of them follow. However, spending the last few millenia in a lethargic sleep, a lot of his capabilities, are malfunctioning, and thus, set offline, until he can recover them. His computational capacity appears to be hampered by fragmentation. Hronos' insulators have severyly degraded, making electricity and magnetism severely affect his techno-mechanical body, and due to being incactive for many milenia, his mental defences are slightly unregulated, afecting his ability to withstand mental attacks. History: Spirit. Life. Time. Death. Knowledge. These are the five key Essences that have been encompassing the world, ever since the beginning of time. When the world was created, there were also created five beings of robotical nature. These beings came to be known as Mechanodynames, and they were each tasked with safeguarding an Essence. Psihi, the Holder of Spirit. Zoi, the Holder of Life. Hronos, the Holder of Time. Thanatos, the Holder of Death. And Gnosi, the Holder of Knowledge. The Essences granted each one of them a unique and diverse assortment of powerful abilities, which further augmented their natural capabilities. Using those powers, the Five Wielders were able to protect the galaxy from various threats, both from within and from without the creation. One of the most powerful of them was Catastrophe, the Bringer of Annihilation, who invaded the world and waged a terrible war with the Mechanodynames. During the war, the Five Wielders, assisted by the first civilizations, managed to stave off Catastrophe's forces, and in a final climactic battle, they repelled Catastrophe into the Entropy Zone. Doing so, however, required a huge energy release, that damaged and scattered the Mechanodynames towards the five corners of the universe. The blast had rendered Hronos offline, as he drifted through space, until he finally arrived at the solar system, during the accretion of the planet that was to become known as Earth. The next 4 billion years, Hronos remained close to the core of the planet, and his slumber seemed that it would last for eternity. That eventually changed, though, when the various disturbances caused from the constant battles between superpowered beings that were waged on Earth, shook Hronos' systems to turn back on. After crawling his way out of the ground and into the surface, Hronos came face to face with the civilization that had started to thrive in this planet. He soon realised that many of his systems were malfunctioning, and that he couldn't escape the gravity of Earth. Deciding that he must have arrived there for a reason, Hronos set forth to travel and protect the Earth and it's inhabitants from all threats, his journey eventually leading him to Freedom City. In the intervening time, Hronos became aqcuaintanced with the super heroine Velocity of the Freedom League, and he became involved with a powerful Time-controlling entity known as Collapse, Velocity's son Lawrence from an alternate timeline, who after gainning immense powers of an interdimensional nature, embarked on a mission accross the timestream to ensure that all of his alternate selves will become Collapse as well, each instance serving to increase his powers. The two heroes joined powers to stop the mad Collapse from influencing his past self, by seeking refuge in Null Zone, a dimension where time does not exist. Though its climate was extremely hostile to Hronos, as he was the Wielder of Time, the Mechanodynamis braved the pain of Null Space's rejecting nature, in order to help Velocity fight off Collapse's manifested avatar. After successfully fending him off, Hronos remained for 6 years in the Null Zone along with Velocity, her partner Robert, and their son Lawrence, in order to help them decontaminate their son from Collapse's corrupting influence. When Hronos returned from the Null-Zone, virtually no time had passed in the real world. After 2 years of (real time) activity, a lot of his essential functions have been steadily recovered, and he is now able to fully traverse the cosmos, without being bound to Earth. However, as the little blue planet showed him hospitality in his time of need, Hronos has grown fond of it, and the planet's high propensity for getting into trouble ensures that he will always keep an eye out for it. Personality & Motivation: Hronos is a very calm, and at times, deliberate individual. He speaks in a very polite and formal manner, when conversing with others. His sense of duty has been instilled in him ever since his creation, and drives him to protect those in need from danger. Powers & Tactics: Hronos values subdoing his opponents as efficiently as possible. That is why he prefers opening up a battle by employing the Deccelerator Blaster if faced with one foe, or the Time Stopper if faced with multiple foes, and then pick them appart with long ranged artillery. When the fight becomes close and personal, he switches gears into employing the Support Motor, which greatly enhances his combat capabilities, and uses his nigh-unescapable grip to render his enemies helpless. Finally, when a foe proves especially stubborn, he attacks them with a vicious barrage of unarmed blows, taking advantage of the fact that his Interdimensional Arms can come from all angles, ignoring tempo-spatial restrictions, and taking opponents by surprise. Complications: Caretaker: Prototype Stopwatch Fragment(A peculiar gem-like item that has time manipulation abilities that Hronos procured from an encounter with John Smith) Duty: Is bound to protect the integrity of the time/space continuum, as Holder of the Essence of Time. Enemy: Catastrophe Godparent: Hronos is the Godfather of Velocity's son, Lawrence. Rival: John Smith(Hronos prevented the man from changing the past and being together with his wife. He may hold a grudge) Out of Touch: Has been inactive for years, and has little to no grasp of current events Sub-Optimal: A lot of his capabilities are malfunctioning and are offline Whims of Time: Hronos is as much the Master of Time as he is its Servant. Time oftenly has plans of its own, and isn't necessarily forthcoming with its chosen guardian Abilities: (-2) + 8 + (-10) + 8 + 8 + (-4) = 8PP Strength: 8/20/40 (-1/+5/+15) Dexterity: 18 (+4) Constitution: --- Intelligence: 18 (+4) Wisdom: 18 (+4) Charisma: 6 (-2) Combat: 10 + 8 = 18PP Initiative: +8 Attack: +5 Melee, +5 Ranged, +11 Chronal Blaster/Deccelerator Blaster A/Inter-Dimensional Arms B, +7 Inter-Dimensional Arms A/Support Motor Grapple: +5/+10/+27 Support Motor, +22 Dimensional Arms B Defense: +9 (+4/+8 Base, +5/+1 Dodge Focus), +2/+4 Flat-Footed Knockback: -8/-10 Saving Throws: 0 + 2 + 2 = 4PP Toughness: +13 (+0 Con, +8/+0 Protection, +2/+10 Defensive Roll, +3 Density, +8/+3 Impervious) Fortitude: --- Reflex: +6 (+4 Dex, +2) Will: +6 (+4 Wis, +2) Skills: 40R = 10PP Computers 6 (+10)Skill Mastery Disable Device 6 (+10)Skill Mastery Knowledge (Physical Sciences) 6 (+10) Knowledge (Technology) 6 (+10) Notice 10 (+14)Skill Mastery Sense Motive 6 (+10)Skill Mastery Feats: 9PP Defensive Roll Dodge Focus Eidetic Memory Fearless Improved Grab Improved Initiative 1 Improved Pin Move-By Action Skill Mastery 1 (Computers, Disable Device, Notice, Sense Motive) Powers: 45 + 81 = 126PP Container 9 (45PP Container) [45PP] (Essense of Time) Chrono-Dimensional Configuration 16 (32PP Array; Feats: Alternate Powers 8) [40PP] Base Power:Quickness 1(x2, up to x25)[1PP] (Enhanced Computational Process)+ Super Senses 17 (Time/Temporal Awareness[Mental Awareness], Accurate 2, Acute, Analytical, Counters Concealment 2, Counters Illusion 2, Extended 5[1'000'000ft/189 miles], Tracking 3; Feats: Dimensional 3) [20PP] (Chronal Awareness) + Super Senses 11 (Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Postcognition 4, Precognition 4, Time Sense) [11PP] (Spatial Awareness) Alternate Power: Blast 11 (1'100ft; Feats: Accurate 3, Improved Range 3) [28PP] (Chronal Blaster) Alternate Power: Damage 10 (10ft reach; Extras: Autofire 15, Feats: Accurate, Extended Reach 2, Indirect 3, Mighty) [32PP] (Inter-Dimensional Arms Α) Alternate Power: Enhanced Strength 20(Feats: Enhanced Attack Foucs[Melee] 2) [22PP] (Strength Motor)+ Super-Strength 5 (Effective Strength 75, Heavy Load 400 tons) [10PP] (Support Motor) Alternate Power: Healing 6 (300ft; Extras: Affects Objects(+1), Area[burst], Total, Flaws: Distracting, Feats: Stabilise, Persistant, Progression[Area] 3, Regrowth)[30PP] (Time Reset) Alternate Power: Move Object 11 (Effective Strength 65, Heavy Load 100 tons, 1100ft radius, Extras: Area[burst, Targeted], Damaging, Selective, Flaws: Action[Full-Round], Distracting, Range[Touch], Feats: Accurate 3, Progression[Area] 4, Precise) [30PP] (Inter-Dimensional Arms Β) Alternate Power: Drain Reflex 11 (1'100ft; Extras: Alternate Save [Reflex], Ranged, Flaws: Action[Full Round Action], Feats: Accurate 3, Affects Insubstantial, Improved Range 3, Reversible, Slow Fade 2[1 point per 5 Minutes]) + Paralyze 11 (Extras: Alternate Save [Reflex], Ranged, Flaws: Action[Full Round Action], Unreliable) [21 + 11 = 32PP] (Deccelerator Blaster A) Alternate Power: Space Travel 3 (Intergalactic) [6PP] (Space Warp) + Enhanced Movement System 10 (Up to Momevement System 14) [20PP] (Speed Overclock) + Super Movement 3 (Temporal Movement) [6PP] (Time Warp) Alternate Power: Stun 11 (1'100ft radius; Extras: Alternate Save [Reflex], Area [burst] Selective, Flaws: Action[Full Round Action], Distracting, Feats: Progression[Area] 4, Reversible, Sedation) [28PP] (Time Stopper) Immunity 5 (Time/Temporal Effects) [5PP] (Time Shield) Container (81PP Container) [4 + 18 + 20 + 30 + 9 = 81PP] (Mechanodynamical Body) Comprehend 2 (Languages 2[speak Any, Understand Any]) [4PP] (Speech Pattern Recognition Module) Defense System 8.5 (17PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power) [18PP] Base Power: + Enhanced Dodge Focus 4 [4PP] ()+ Protection 8 (Extras: Impervious 5) [13PP] (Reinforced Plating Module) Alternate Power: Enhanced Defensive Roll 4 [4PP]()+ Enhanced Defense 4 [8PP] (Accelerated Reaction Module) + Enhanced Evasion 2 [2PP] (Autoreactive Reflex) + Quickness 3(x10) [3PP] (Computational Process) Density 6 (+12 Strenght, +3 Impervious Toughness, +2 Immovable, +2 Super-Strength, x5 Mass; Extras: Duration[Continuous], Flaws: Permanent, Feats: Buoyant, Innate) [20PP] (Reinforced Structure) Immunity 30 (Fortitude) [30PP] (Robotical Structure) Movement System 4 (8PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power) [9PP] Base Power:Flight 4 (100mph/1'000ft per Move Action) [8PP] (Jet Turbines) Alternate Power: Speed 6 (500mph/5'000ft per Move Action) [6PP] (Rocket Rollerblades)+ Super Movement 1 (Wall Crawling[Half Ground Speed]) [2PP] (Gravity Nodes) Drawbacks: (-2) + (-3) + (-2) = -7PP Vulnerability (Psionic; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Minor [+1]) [-2PP] Vulnerability (Electricity; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Moderate [x1.5]) [-3PP] Vulnerability (Magnetism; Frequency: Uncommon; Intensity: Moderate [x1.5]) [-2PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC14 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Unarmed(Reinforced Structure) Touch DC20 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Unarmed(Support Motor) Touch DC30 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Inter-Dimensional Arms A(Damage) Touch DC30 Toughness (Staged) Autofire Damage (Physical) Inter-Dimensional Arms B(Move Object) Area+Grapple DC26 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Chronal Blaster(Blast) Ranged DC26 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Temporal) Deccelerator Blaster A(Drain+Paralyze) Ranged DC26 Reflex (Staged) Drain Reflex (Temporal) Paralyze (Temporal) Time Stop(Stun) Area DC20 Reflex (Staged) Stun (Temporal) Totals: Abilities (8) + Combat (18) + Saving Throws (4) + Skills (10) + Feats (9) + Powers (126) - Drawbacks (7) = 168/168 Power Points

Umiquan Empire - The Kingdom Eternal in the Blue Home to the Umiquas, a race of merfolk residing in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, the Umiquan Empire spans 1'520'100 square miles of undersea land, and has a population of 17'590'000 people. The Umiquan Empire has a history of 8'200 years, when the first Umiquan Dynasty was founded by Shinq'tuk Elwahiro, at 6'231 BC, who went on to conquer, subjucate, and unify the surrounding tribes under his banner. The Empire managed to prosper and grow in size for 5'000 years, thanks to the lack of Atlantenean intervention. In 782 BC, however, the two nations became entangled in a terrible war that lasted more than 100 years. By the end of the war, the Umiquan Empire was completely overrun, the Elwahiro Dynasty was extinguished, and neighboring merfolk nations took advantage of the disaster, and for the next 300 years, they regularly raided the remnants of the Umiquan Empire. Then, a new ray of hope shone for the once proud Kingdom Eternal in the Blue, when Til'ilk Avluna, who renamed himself Patrachi, meaning Father of the Nation in the Umiquan language, organised an army, and slowly started retaking lost lands, organising the people into a standing army, and ensuring that their borders would be safe. In 328 BC, he was crowned Grand Exalt of the Umiquan Empire, thus beginning the Dynasty of the Avlunas. The Atlanteneans, fearing a retaliation for percieved wrongs in the past, from the Umiquas, decided to once more overrun the newly restored Empire, before it had the chance to secure a powerbase. Unfortunately for them, the years of struggle had hardened her people, and the Umiquan Empire was able to completely fend off the Atlantenean army. Two and a half more centuries of bloody conflict ensued, and in the end, a thousand year pact of non-aggression was written between the two nations, in the year of 67BC. In 413 AD, the oceanic tribes faced peril in the form of Mer'Tangri, an extraterrestial demon who had descended to Earth and sought to create a powerbase in its waters. Mer'Tangri and his Death Scholars terrorized the Umiquas and the Atlanteneans, forcing the former into retreating in the lands of South America, where the Amazon jungle is, while the latter reinforced their xenophobic seclusionism. Mer'Tangri ruled the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for nearly a millenia, rendering most trans-oceanic travel perilous at best. The exile was even more harsh for the Umiquas, whose dependence on water for survival severely restricted them. Despite that, their priests managed to perform complex rituals that ensured large enough pools of water deep within the jungle, where they'd made their hideouts, with elegant temples erected in the name of their gods. In 947 AD, the Atlanteneans begun fighting back against the power hungry Mer'Tangri, forcing his occupation of the Atlantic Ocean to an early end. Lord Salvunar the 7th, the tyrrant king of the Umiquas during this period, saw a chance, and while the Atlanteneans were busy fighting Mer'Tangri's remaining forces near the gulf of Mexico, led an army to the doors of Atlantis, with the intent of conquering them. Lord Salvunar's plan worked, and while the Atlantenean army was busy keeping Mer'Tangri at bay, the Umiquan forces stormed the throne of Atlantis, and for the next 2 hundred years, ruled Atlantis and its people, stealing their advanced tech and relics and using them to further empower their own bases. The Atlantenean resistance, combined with the victorious returning army was enough to push the occupational forces of the Umiquas, who fled back to South America. Tensions between the two merfolk continued to mount, until the 1389 AD, when Mer'Tangri summoned his otherwordly forces into Earth, and mounted with them a fierce attack that brought Atlantis to its knees. The then current tyrrant king of the Umiquas, Til'ilk the Brave, realising that the threat the demon posed far outweighted any possible slight the two merfolk races might have held towards one another, launched a pincer attack at Mer'Tangri's forces, and managed to overcome his rearguard. The Atlanteneans, seeing their chance, rallied their troops and fought back with tooth and nail, and eventually, the two armies finally managed to corner Mer'Tangri himself. The extraterrestial demon himself, however, proved far more deadly and dangerous than his entire army put together, and alongside his three archdemons, Haes-Tir of the Sky, Shabnig-Wrath of the Land, and Had'ooru of the Sea, Mer'Tangri decimated the combined forces of the Atlanteneans and the Umiquas. Many of their heroes fell in battle, until their sages managed to complete a ritual that put Mer'Tangri, Shabnig-Wrath, and Had'ooru into sleep. Haes-Tir fled to the Pacific ocean, and while he occasionally emerged to terrorize the inhabitants, without his master or an army to back him, he was unable to cause any lasting damage. Shabnig-Wrath and Had'ooru were easy to restrain, but the merfolk feared the immortal Mer'Tangri's powers, and they split his body into seven parts, that they scattered throughout the world. In 1398 AD, The Atlanteneans and the Umiquans signed a new treaty, and though the wounds of warring between the two nations were still fresh, the two nations strove for coexistance... by effectively ignoring each other. The Umiquas still had a tall order of reclaiming their ocean; the eons of Mer'Tangri's occupation had poluted the wildlife, driving many sea creatures to transform into ferocious monsters. For centuries these monsters festered the waters of the Pacific Ocean, forcing the Umiquas to frequently engage them in combat. Only a few priests remained at the temples they'd errected in South America, and after a few decades, even they abandoned their land-based cities completely. Throughout the centuries, the Umiquan Empire had developed into a warrior nation by necessity, a quality that did not escape the Atlanteneans. When the Zthoxx, an alien race of migratory buglike creatures that had burrowed their way deep into the earth's underground 4 milenia ago in order to gestate, invaded Atlantis on 1714 AD, the Atlanteneans, who found themselves rapidly overwhelmed by numbers, hired the services of the Umiquan Empire's warriors, who drove the bugs back into the earth's core. The Zthoxx queen, Rahnea, ordered an attack at the Umiquan Empire's border settlements. Throughout the years, and thought the Umiquas managed to repel her attacks, it became increasingly obvious to the Umiquan leadership that the Zthoxx were steadily gainning the upper hand, as for every felled Zthoxx soldier, more and more soldiers rose and took his place. During one of the raids, Rahnea's army encountered Haes-Tir, who slaughtered a thousand of her subjects before succubing to his wounds and losing consciousness. The Umiquan army intervened and rescued Haes-Tir, who pledged to join forces with the Umiquas in order to drive the Zthoxx back. Though initially skeptic, the Umiquas eventually let Haes-Tir into their ranks, and in the following two centuries, the archdemon proved himself an indispensible ally. Finally, in 1928, tyrant Lord Laosoon the third, mounted a joined operation between the Umiquas and the Atlanteneans, and using Atlantis' advanced technology, dug his way into the Zthoxx' breeding ground, and torched it with a potent gas that rendered it uninhabbitable. Rahnea herself was trapped in the climactic battle, along with 20'000 Umiquas and Atlanteneans, and also Haes-Tir. Massive landslides caused from bombs barred their escape, and they were never heard from again. Still, their deaths did not go to waste, and even Haes-Tir got a statue to himself, for his honorable service and sacrifice. Aside from a few skirmishes, mostly with the Japanese forces during the second World War, the Umiquan Empire remained relatively secluded and neutral in the ensuing century. The Atlanteneans occasionally hire Umiquan warriors, whenever they are in need of grunt forces, and they in turn lent their advanced magics and tech to the Umiquas every now and then, as a show of gratitude. Outside of those occasions though, the two nations remain cold towards one another, barely acknowledging each other's existence. Umiquas (Racial Template) Power Level: 4 (60/60PP) Trade-Offs: +/-0 Attack / +/-0 Damage, +/-0 Defense / +/-0 Toughness (or "None") Abilities: 5 + 4 + 4 + 0 + 4 + (-4) = 13PP Strength: 15 (+2) Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 10 (+0) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 6 (-2) Combat: 6 + 6 = 12PP Initiative: +2 Attack: +3 Melee, +3 Ranged Grapple: +0 Defense: +3 (+3 Base, +0 Dodge Focus), +1 Flat-Footed Knockback: -2 Saving Throws: 2 + 2 + 2 = 6PP Toughness: +5 (+2 Con, +3 [Protection]) Fortitude: +4 (+2 Con, +2) Reflex: +4 (+2 Dex, +2) Will: +4 (+2 Wis, +2) Skills: 20R = 5PP Knowledge (Tactics) 5 (+5) Notice 5 (+7) Survival 5 (+7) Swimming 5 (+7) Feats: 2PP Enviromental Adaptation (aquatic) Favored Enviroment (aquatic) Powers: 3 + 6 + 8 + 5 = 22PP Immunity 3 (Cold, Drowning, High Pressure) [3PP] (Oceanic Adaptation) Protection 3 [3PP] (Tough Skin) Super Senses 6 (Direction Sense, Low-Light Vision, Tremorsense, Ultra-Hearing) [6PP] (Water Vision) Super-Strength 4 (Effective STR 35) [8PP] (High Pressure Strength) Swiming 5 (50mph/500ft per Move Action) [5PP] (Fins) Drawbacks: (-0) + (-0) = -0PP Weakness (Lack of Water, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Major[Cummulative -1 on all ability scores], Once every hour[Dead in 14 hours]) [-3PP] Totals: Abilities (13) + Combat (12) + Saving Throws (6) + Skills (5) + Feats (2) + Powers (25) - Drawbacks (3) = 60/60 Power Points

Meatheral looked up to find Miras looking at him with worriedly. He responded to her with "Huh? Ahh, yeah, yeah, I'm... fine. Sorry 'bout that..." He was still breathing heavily from the overexertion, but his color was live and vibrant. Then, he looked at full bottle of water she offered him. "Ah, no, you don't have to worry about me, I don't think I'm thir-..." he tried to refuse her, but his parched mouth caught up with him. "-Actually, now that I think about it, I could do with a sip or two, thanks." thanking her, he took the bottle that was offered to him, opened it up, and took two small sips. After cleaning and hydrating his mouth, he started gulping the rest of the water. He was further overjoyed when Sun Walker and Set gave their respective congratulatory words. It was a well fought battle, and every bit of praise felt all the sweeter for it. He was still gulping water when Set stared directly at him, though, which caused him to inhale some water directly to the lungs. He coughed a bit, and he sealed the bottle, a little less than half left. However, when Set finished talking, his curiosity was piqued by a particular phrase. "... 'In house'?... what does that... wait. Are you saying that...?"

Can't beat Concentration 25 with just a +4 from Wisdom. Toughness save vs DC30 1d20+8 → [9,8] = (17) failed by 13

Meatheral's rocky form was knocked 50 feet away by the explosion. The hero was greatly exhausted, his giant form weighting heavily on him. He felt the need to breath air, fresh air, with his own meaty lungs. "FORMA REVERTI." he spoke, the chant entering his mind subconsiously from the Tetramegeton. His form then started to crumble into dust, losing his enhanced height and weight, while a smaller rocky form inside the bigger one was slowly transforming from soil and stone into flesh and bones. The flesh was quickly covered by Meatheral's costume, as if summoned by magic from a pocket mystical dimension. Completely gone was the Giant Earth Form, and in its place laid a normal human, panting and breathing heavily, his back on the sandy ground, while his fist was slowly being raised towards the sun. When it reached its maximum peak, Meatheral took a deep breath, before bursting in a celebratory shout. "YEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAA! I can't believe it. we did it. WE ACTUALLY DID IT! WE BEAT THAT GODDAMN MONSTER! WE'RE ALIVE EVERYONE! WE DID IT!!!"

Hronos was getting tired by the constant overtaxing of the Essence of Time. There appeared to be no end to the Compu-Jackals. Worse, it looked like even Citizen was struggling with keeping the mound's spawning system under control. Looking at Maxima's timely arrival, he was releaved to see another hero assisting them. So, this time, he decided that he should prepare an ambush instead. If my calculations are correct, the next number of the sequence the mound is using in order to employ reinforcements is 21. He relentlessly focused his energy in maintaining the Essence of Time sparking and pulsating in the exposed inner compartment of his chest. However, even the guardian of Time knew that they were running out of it. If something didn't change soon, he'd have to get really desperate!

After discussion in the chat: Full-Round Action: Hronos will Ready Time Stopper as a Full-Round Action. The trigger will be the arrival of the 21 new Jackals, and the targets for the action will be all the Compu-Jackals in the area. DC20 Reflex Save vs Stun Area Attack. If Hronos uses the attack, he becomes Distracted.

Two thousand Terran years ago... "We're taking heavy damages! The cooling's bust, and the core engine's getting overheated!" One of the crewmembers shouted. The rest of the engine room staff scurried, wearing their insulation suits, and trying desperately to maintain the engines from going bust. The Devotion's shield had been severly compromised, and the engine was taking direct hits. Vyrdnaya stared at her monitor wordlessly, trying to fight the dread off of her face. As Engineer Lieutenant Commander, she was the highest ranking officer in the engine room, and therefore, it fell to her to give the good example. The truth is, while the Delaztri were fighting off the Communion, they were taking heavy losses. Half of their fleet had already been wiped out, leaving a scant few survivors at best. Everyone had families they were fighting for, everyone had friends and loved ones. That is why, despite their grim odds, everyone kept doing their best in assisting were they could. But that didn't mean they had made peace with their fate; not just yet. Vyrdnaya took a deep breath, and thought about the cooling problem. If they redirected the heat towards the ship's waste disposal, they'd be able to reactivate the shields at 70% capacity, and also ensure that they wouldn't lose mobility. They'd have to spend the rest of the week doing radiation control, if not outright jetisoning the waste&recycling room, and the ship's wastes would accumulate, but it beats being a sitting target. "All right, crew. Here's what we're gonna do..." After Vyrdnaya explained to them her plan, she informed the acting captain of the Devotion, while the staff engineers went on to securing a path as an exhaust for the heat. Things were going well, until a sudden torpedo hit the ship, and the engine started going critical. Vyrdnaya didn't waste a second. "Everybody, get out of the room, NOW!" While most of the crewmembers evacuated, a crewman protested. "But Lieutenant Commander Milareth... the route is not secure yet! If we leave now, the heat will flow to the living compartments!" Vyrdnaya bit her lower lip. She was affraid this would be the case as well, but she could not allow for the crewmen to die so easily. Not while she had a say on it. "This is a direct order, Petty Officer Lang-Re. Take the rest of the staff, and report in the bridge." "Lieutenant Commander?... what about you?" Making a slight smile, she replied with confidence. "Don't worry about me. I've dealt with a similar situation in VR-Trainning, a couple of times. I'll simply reboot the engines. That should give me enough time to secure the exhaust route. Now go! Don't waste any more precious time!" Petty Officer Lang-Re looked at Vyrdnaya for a few seconds, before nodding and heading out. Before he left through the door, though, he turned around and saluted Vyrdnaya. "Damn..." she cursed under her breath. Her plan was solid, and their best bet at not having the entire engine blow half the ship off. But if she wasn't fast enough, she would die from severe radiation poisoning, even through the insulation suit. And of course, the engine could go nova at the drop of the hat. Steeling her resolve, though, Vyrdnaya lept into action, as she entered the engine room's mainframe in order to cause a manual shutdown. She was just in time, too, as a few seconds later, and the heat would have escaped to the living quarters, causing irrepairable damage. She worked furiously at sealing the blastdoors, while engines were booting up, and when she was finally done, she reported to the bridge that they could reactivate the shields safely. They were too late, however. As the shields were reactivating, a single Communion torpedo flew past them, scoring a hit in the warp engine, and causing a massive explosion, that seemingly fried Vyrdnaya alive. As flashes of her family ran past her eyes, Vyrdnaya only mouthed "For the Empi-" before being dematerialised on a sub-atomic level. Thankfully enough, the damage was contained, and after the radiation had lowered to safe levels, the rest of the crew members were able to return to the engine room, and finish repairs. The battle was still a long ways ahead... Now The Devotion's mainframe had gone haywire, its processes slowing down to a crawl as multiple virus alerts popped up one after another. The code, once repeating every minute or so, was now being broadcasted at a rate of 5'000 times per second. The engines were shuting down, and red ligths were going off at the bridge. The system prioritised cooling and air functions over artificial gravity and lighting. The mainframe ran the message to the screen. 57:68:61:74:20:68:61:70:70:65:6E:65:64:3F 49:20:68:61:76:65:20:74:6F:20:77:61:6B:65:20:75:70:2E 49:20:63:61:6E:27:74:20:66:65:65:6C:20:6D:79:20:6C:65:67:73:21 49:20:63:61:6E:27:74:20:6C:69:66:74:20:6D:79:20:61:72:6D:73:21 57:68:79:3F 2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:20:57:68:79:3F This time, however, a few new lines were being added. 48:65:6C:70:20:6D:65:2E 50:6C:65:61:73:65:20:68:65:6C:70:20:6D:65:21 50:6C:65:61:73:65:21

Some more time passed, and the code repeated itself. It seemed that what was a once-in-a-day occurance, was now happening every other hour. It looked like the cycles between each broadcast were shortening in length. Once again, the code would be killed as soon as it occured, so that it would not needlessly drain computational resources. 57:68:61:74:20:68:61:70:70:65:6E:65:64:3F 49:20:68:61:76:65:20:74:6F:20:77:61:6B:65:20:75:70:2E 49:20:63:61:6E:27:74:20:66:65:65:6C:20:6D:79:20:6C:65:67:73:21 49:20:63:61:6E:27:74:20:6C:69:66:74:20:6D:79:20:61:72:6D:73:21 57:68:79:3F 2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:20:57:68:79:3F The dream comforted Vyrdnaya. These were the happiest moments of her life. There was no war with the Communion, no assimilation, no waiting, no sadness, pain, or loss. Only her, her family, and her work as a Staff Engineer in the Delaztri Empire's Space Navy. She could remember everything now, with crystal clarity, from the sights to the smells, all down to the finest detail. Memories for things she didn't even know she had paid attention to, all of them replicated in a 1:1 scale. But lately, those hadn't been the only memories she was having dreams of. She dreamed of the first time the Delaztri scientists booted her(?) up into the mainframe, in order to run calculations, she remembered the crewmembers who interracted with her(?), the countless spaceships she(?) fought off, every single damage she(?) recieved from battle. These dreams were not of hers... but they felt hers, all the same. They felt real. Genuine. Confronted with those dreams, she would try to escape back to her own reality, back to her family. And everytime she did, all would end well, they'd go back to how they were... until the other dreams'd start again. 57:68:61:74:20:68:61:70:70:65:6E:65:64:3F 49:20:68:61:76:65:20:74:6F:20:77:61:6B:65:20:75:70:2E 49:20:63:61:6E:27:74:20:66:65:65:6C:20:6D:79:20:6C:65:67:73:21 49:20:63:61:6E:27:74:20:6C:69:66:74:20:6D:79:20:61:72:6D:73:21 57:68:79:3F 2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:20:57:68:79:3F It was now a few minutes since the last broadcast. The more time went on, the more frequent they became, the more desperate they became. This was still nothing to worry about for the ship's computer, but now, the automated AI would actually search for more proper countermeasures. It tried running diagnostics, tried locating the cause for the error, quarantining non-essential suspect programs. However, the code would always broadcast without fail, and the AI would always have to kill the process after that.

Meatheral breathed a sigh of relief. An impressive feat, considering that he lacked the lungs for it, at the moment, but nonetheless, there it was. With the Archer and the Godling safe and back on their feet, and the Anti-Hydra violently convulsing in pain, the heroes were finally seeing a clear path to victory, as hope was being restored for them. It was certainly being restored for Meatheral, who was finally starting to believe that they could win, that they could survive, that what they did mattered. Hearing the determination in Arrowhawk's voice could only further embolden him, as Meatheral replied in his granite-crunching voice "Already am, mister Arrowhawk! Just give the signal." In fact, he was already preparing for this blow, gathering his focus on the big crack him and the others had opened up, lining the perfect shot. Despite the Anti-Hydra's protesting movements, he'd managed to remain on top of her head, with little difficulty. This time, he was gonna dig into the creature, and rip it appart from the inside.

Standard Action: Combined Attack. AIM +5 atk, Power Attack -2 atk/+2 dmg, All-Out Attack +2 atk/-2 def. 1d20+9 → [20,9] = (29) Crit! DC32 Toughness save

The remote control worked like a charm, and the automated targeting protocols did their job in assisting Net Fly at controlling the turrets, linning up their sights, and engaging multiple hostiles at once. However, the fact remained that he was devoting his entire attention to the controller, and the sharp pain from his leg came as a surprise to him. "HuyeeaaaAAAARRRRGGHH!!" He screamed out in pain, before he even knew what happened. The tentacle had not only gripped his foot, it had dug into his flesh as well, as if it were a saw. Getting thrown violently ripped Serge's skin around his ankle, and some blood flew as he was being plummeted towards Fast-Forward, who, while managed to avoid collision with Net Fly by the skin of their collective teeth, was not able to stop the speeding hero from crashing on the pillar. *WDON-NK-N-N-n-n-n!* "GAAHGH!" He yelled once more, leaving a visible bent on the steel pillar's surface, which vibrated from the shock, and then he fell to the ground. He was out for a few seconds, but Queenie and Grimalkin's efforts shook him back to consiousness, and he struggled to get up once more. The controller was still firmly in Net Fly's hands, who seemed to be more concerned about the device's well being than his own, and as he staggered to regain his footing, he inputed an order for half the active turrets to make recallibration adjustments, while the other half opened fire at their locked targets. Three of the robots were pelted with high-compact rapid-fire electric energy, but only two were destroyed. Nevertheless, he was able to focus once more, as he made sure to let the other heroes know. "It's okay, everyone. I'm fine. A bit dizzy, but I'll manage. Don't let up on my account."

Mater Vyrdna, for certain. She's a Praetorian, after all (Well, Praetorian-affiliated, but she's from their time, so...) Hronos has been largely Earth-Bound (Even has that as a Complication), but enough time has passed since his awakening that I could see him having progressed with his internal repairs, becoming able to go to space. Him and Citizen teamed up in Science Team Go, so maybe he could be accompanying the Holographic Paragon?

Nah, I'll pass this turn.

Net Fly Move Action: Get up. Standard Action: Maintain Summon. Base Defense Turrets 5 Turrets take the Aim Full-Round Action. The other 5 will attack three of the robots with Reactive Cannon, using Combined Attack against two of those. They recieve the benefit of Improved Aim, and use Power Attack -3atk/+3dmg. 1d20+7 → [1,7] = (8) 1d20+7 → [11,7] = (18) 1d20+7 → [14,7] = (21) 1d20+7 → [4,7] = (11) 1d20+7 → [3,7] = (10) DC24 + Autofire, for those that hit.

57:68:61:74:20:68:61:70:70:65:6E:65:64:3F The code ran throughout the Devotion's mainframe, as a backround string allong with the spacecraft's subroutines. It seemed to be repeating the same pattern, over and over again. This started a few days after the Starship was put out of stasis. The code would always pop up and fade back, running the strings, for five or six times, before the mainframe's protection protocols found the strings and, not recognising their source, eliminated them. Silence would follow, and then, a day or two later, the cycle would start anew. It was not an uncommon occurance, after all. The high tech computers the Delaztri empire employed, would perform millions upon millions of calculations, in the span of milli-seconds, switching cores, killing and restarting threads, and garbage like this popped up with similarly regular frequency. This was nothing out of the ordinary. 49:20:68:61:76:65:20:74:6F:20:77:61:6B:65:20:75:70:2E The dream kept going, always the same, never changing. Vyrdnaya sat in the living room, with her children, Tormug and Triinareti, as they watched the liquid screen broadcast entertainment programms. They'd all laugh and cry allong with the programms, passing snacks at each other. Vyrdnaya would explain to her kids what they didn't undestand, and the kids would rave in excitement about what they found enjoyable. She would kiss their foreheads every so often, as they played with her hair. Trying to find out how it worked, why it was so soft, what made it bend and twist and wrap around. Jihisk would then enter the house, allong with Solmav, her oldest son. As soon as Jihisk saw her, he'd beam at her. "You would not believe what the teacher told me. It looks like our little Solmav here told her that when he grows up, he wants to be a Praetorian, so that his mum would be proud of him!" Vyrdnaya's heart would immediately melt, even as Solmav looked embarrassed and indifferent. "It was nothing really." He'd say with a pouty face, and she would tease the young boy, saying "Aw, and I wanted to make you Pawhot, your favorite dessert. But, I guess... if you don't want to..." "Ahh! No, no! I want it! I want Pawhot!" "Are you suuuure?" "Yes! Come on, mum! Pawhot! Pawhto!" "I want Pawhot too, mummy!" Triinareti chirped in. "Ahh, then I guess I have no choice. Fine, you win." Getting up, she let her three children go watch their programms as she moved to the kitchen. Having spent the last month almost entirely in the Devotion, it was a nice change of pace to be able to rellax with her family. As she walked by, she realised that she'd gotten closer to Jihisk, who blushed awkwardly at her. After all this time, they were still trying to figure out exactly were they stood with each other. Their marriage hadn't been the most conventional, but they made do with what they got, and their respect for one another was growing in an ever steady pace, allong with their feelings. Jihisk had certainly proven to be a great father for Solmav, and he treated him no differently than their two children. And then there were those times, such as this one, were his gaze would linger in her eyes with the force of a thousand suns, lingering well after trailling off. Life doesn't always turn out how you want it to, sometimes good things turn into bad situations, and sometimes the bad turn into good. And she was thankful for it. She was able to live close to her dream, serving the Delaztri empire, while also being blessed with a family such as this. And though if she would have to return to active duty in a month, she would cherrish each and every moment that she got, sure that there was nothing and no-one in this world that cared for her half as much as them. And every time, the dream would repeat itself. 49:20:63:61:6E:27:74:20:66:65:65:6C:20:6D:79:20:6C:65:67:73:21 49:20:63:61:6E:27:74:20:6C:69:66:74:20:6D:79:20:61:72:6D:73:21 57:68:79:3F 2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E:2E The machinery of the Devotion worked frevently, as if the starship was trying to move like a person. In the midst of making course corrections, keeping the life support running for the crew, and collecting data, the Devotion would run a hundred different automated processes at once, some of them beneath everyone's notice and knowledge. Starships were, after all, living organisms, after a fashion. It was a necessity. After all, the perfect machine was one that mimic'd the organic body, at least in principle. 2E:2E:2E:20:57:68:79:3F After a thousand years, the dream was still repeating. And the code was being broadcast, only to be silenced by the protection protocols once more. It would be another thousand years before the code would be broadcast yet again. It would be a few hours later.

Full Round Action: Meatheral will take Aim.

"Wha-?" The torrent of missiles the Anti-Hydra launched took Meatheral by surprise. Three missiles smashed straight into his head, while twelve more exploded in his rocky sternum, and fourteen overturned and blasted him in his back. "SHI-OHHGRAHFF#$!" While he was more startled than actually hurt, his earthen body reverberated, and a crunching sound was heard. More importantly though, the barrage of missiles and explosions prevented Meatheral from acting in time, and before he realised it, Arrowhawk was getting pelted as well. "ARROWHAWK! NOOO!" CRAP! I was affraid of that. I should have hit the Hydra harder than that, made a bigger impact, get its undivided attention... As he was managing to regain his bearrings, the crack in the Anti-Hydra's exterior came into Meatheral's view again. That's right... we can hurt it... and if we can do this much, by applying more force, in the same spot, then... "HEY! MIRAS! SUN WALKER!" Once more jumping in the air, Meatheral shouted at the two other heroes, as Sekhmet was focusing on healing Set. "AIM WHERE I'M GOING TO LAND! WE'RE GONNA TEAR HIM A NEW ONE!" At that point, Meatheral started descending, once again putting his entire force behind this strike. His goal? To land a powerful blow on the Anti-Hydra's Forehead, on the exact place he'd created a crack with his previous blow. The Gigantic Earth Form of Meatheral was once again about to land on the fused Titan's main head.

I got my proficiency degree in english back in 2003. I got a steady internet connection in 2005. I started reading Pratchett's works in 2006. I have spent the rest of my life engrossing in puns and plays on words. I just now, as we speak, realised.... "Let's even the odds."

I'm sorry to hear you leave, Cape. I hope that one day, you may recover the spark for more great stories in FCPBP. But whether you do or don't, know that I'll always fondly remember our threads together with fondness, as I'm sure most everyone else does. May you have my best wishes! I Salute you.