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ENTRY # : |
50c |
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TITLE : |
FINAL SOLUTION III: THIS DAY ALL GODS DIE |
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ARC : |
TO SERVE AND PROTECT VIII |
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ENTERED BY : |
Phoenix |
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DATE RANGE : |
March 24th, 2001 ctd. |
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HEROES : |
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VILLAINS : |
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PEOPLE : |
Blackstar,
Bulldozer,
Earthmaster,
Laserette,
Moonstone,
Piledriver,
Shadowqueen,
Shrapnel,
Sledgehammer,
Spectrum,
Starfist,
Warhammer,
Wrecking Ball
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OTHERS : |
Dagger of Destiny
The Guardians,
The Justice Machine,
The Minute Men,
Prophecy of the Time of Fire and Darkness,
Temple of Blood and Dirt
The Well of Souls
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ENTRY : |
"As the rivers flow into the sea, so all these great warriors
enter Your blazing mouths and perish.
I see all people rushing with full speed into Your mouths
as moths dash into a blazing fire.
O Visnu, I see You devouring all people in Your flaming mouths
and covering the universe with Your immeasurable rays.
Scorching the worlds, You are manifest."
- Bhagavad-gita 11:28-30
24/03/2001. 1435
In the end, there could be but one decision. We were here to save the World. All of us - even
Cipher - were expendible so long as that goal was achieved. Left Battosai to deal with Perseus,
Sentinel and Red Archer chasing Lady Laser and Templar working on Thunder to enter the Pyramid,
accompanied by Tesla and Canadian Shield. While the decision I made was the right one, the only
one, I do not think that I can forgive myself totally for abandoning a teammate in such a
situation.
In depths below pyramid, found ongoing ritual. Twelve supervillains imprisoned about ritual circle
where Silver Sorcerer was preparing to kill Laserette on a stone altar. Wraith within the circle,
but under attack from dark flying demonic creatures.
Charged into circle, towing Tesla. Felt as if soul being ripped apart. Sorcerer laughed, "You
who dare oppose us, your very life essence will feed our cause." He about to learn otherwise.
Shield slowed, entangled in earth by Avatar.
Fight joined from shaft to Pyramid above by Templar and Sentinel. Sorcerer still ranting, "In
this dark age, there is no freedom. There is only Paradise Lost." I pushed through a second
barrier that seemed to pull my very essence from my body. The pain was irrelevant. An innocent
was about to die. Sorcerer involved in his ritual was an easy target. I nailed him through the
barrier and away from Laserette.
Rescued Laserette, gave her to Tesla to get out. Sentinel attacking Nightgaunts. Templar
identified altar as the keystone of the ritual. The simple solution was to smash it. Summoning my
last remaining strength I drove my fist into the Altar crushing it. It was a horrid miscalculation.
The altar began to explode. I turned my back into it shielding Laserette hoping that she might
survive my folly.
Sorcerer was faking unconsciousness, rose and buggered off, vowing to return later. Avatar fleeing
as well. They will be trouble later. Before I was engulfed in the explosion, Templar contained the
blast. He informed us that the containment was only temporary and to get out. We (myself, Sentinel,
Tesla and Wraith) gathered all the victims and fled with the aid of a t-port by Templar.
From the outside of the base we witnessed the collapse/destruction of the Temple. Began to cleanup
the aftermath. It wasn't a complete Victory, but we got the main job done.
1500
Tended our wounded. Gathered prisoners. In addition to dozen unconscious supervillains
(Shadowqueen, Spectrum, Starfist, Bulldozer, Piledriver, Sledgehammer, Wrecking Ball, Blackstar,
Shrapnel, Moonstone, Earthmaster, Warhammer) and Laserette, we had captured Thunder (who looked
like old man when stripped of powers), Orion, Mercury, Goldbrick. Lady Laser, Sorcerer, Avatar
escaped. Perseus leapt off Cipher and fled in confusion as Pyramid collapsed.
With too many people for our jet to transport, I contacted the Minute Men to aid in the evac. The
plan was to keep all the Prisoners unconscious as we are heavily outnumbered should they be able to
organize.
According to Templar, villains were attempting to channel the lifeforce of the villains to tunnel
to the Earth's core and open a interdimensional portal therein. Consequences would have been
global and very bad. He went to probe minds of Justice Machine people.
Disagreed with this intent. Preferred that he just find some way to keep them unconscious until
the Minute Men arrived. We had only 8 effectives left, and twice that number of bad guys. This
was no time to be pissing around.
Templar didn't listen. Messed around with Thunders head for a few minutes. Thunder awoke, claimed
to be contrite, but at first opportunity yelled, "I am the Thunder" and changed back into hero form.
Could not ignore the threat this posed. If unrestrained, Thunder could take most of us down. I
attacked him, but had only time to land one blow before Battosai intervened and Templar mentally
froze me. That must bring retribution.
Templar claimed that Thunder now free of lengthy mental domination. Will see. Seems contrite
enough, but could be a sham. Templar not content with bringing one foe back to active status,
repeated procedure with Orion, Mercury, Goldbrick.
2200
Minute Men finally arrived. Very disturbed to see the members of the Justice Machine apparently
roaming freely. Can't say I blame them. Templar, others explained, kept peace. Minute Men to
transport villains (still out from effects of the ritual) and Justice Machine members back to
civilization. Will take Guardians along for added security.
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WRAPUP : |
Thoughts: I am depending a lot on what Templar is claiming about the
situation, state of the Justice Machine, etc.. He has gone a long way towards proving himself to
us, but will try get a second opinion anyway. A paranoid mind would say that he is working with a
different faction and was using us to stop one of his rivals.
Tactical notes: We finally got our act together at the end and the results were telling. We
have to get the Danger Room functional so that we can train some more. And finally begin to earn
the respect of everyone.
Important follow-up points:
- Track down Perseus and take him down. Still have not unraveled the conspiracy of
supervillains coordinating the attacks on the country. Justice Machine using villains as
pawns rather than as allies.
- Have not forgotten that Avatar, Silver Sorcerer, and Lady Laser still out there. Between
them, they have the drive, mystical knowledge and technical expertise to do great harm.
Imperative that we track them down before their next attempt to destroy the world.
- The Ruin under the ocean still needs to be investigated.
- Find Manning. I am beginning to fail...
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