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ENTRY # : |
100b |
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TITLE : |
MIDWAY BETWEEN DISASTERS |
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ARC : |
FORTRESS AMERICA II |
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ENTERED BY : |
Hazardman |
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DATE RANGE : |
September 5th, 2001 ctd. |
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HEROES : |
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OPPONENTS : |
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VILLAINS : |
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PEOPLE : |
Janey Slater,
Sarah Whitman,
Captain Whitmore
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OTHERS : |
C.C.P.D. - Exotic Response Unit,
Coast City,
F.O.R.C.E.,
The Knights of the Coast,
MAYHEM™,
Sacred Heart Hospital,
The Santa Clara Skyway,
The Sea Devils,
The SkullBox (Communicator),
The Ultramarines
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ENTRY : |
"What when we fled amain, pursued and struck
With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought
The Deep to shelter us? This Hell then seemed
A refuge from those wounds. "
- Milton, Paradise Lost
Log Entry by: Hazardman. The next portion of the battle is a little more
difficult to document, as I obtained most of it second or even third-hand.
At any rate, this entry picks up after Phoenix discovered the Maelstrom
Machine at the base of the center span of the bridge and Major Fist's unconscious body
was automatically teleported away from the scene. The span of the bridge was a pretty chaotic
environment by this point. Templar and I were still huddled behind one of the cars that
Phoenix had for some unknown reason strewn about the bridge, taking cover from the oncoming
members of the Ultramarines and F.O.R.C.E., the latter of which were still trying to subdue
Onyx. Meanwhile, we were still perilously close to the ego-mazed Barnacle Bill and befuddled
SubMarauder which were starting to draw attention from the supposed good guys, not to mention
that crazed maniac, the so-called 'Coast Guardian' who was running around asking for trouble.
The remainder of the Knights, meanwhile, were by-and-large diving or flying off the bridge to
proceed underwater to where the next stage of the fight awaited them. Some, like Blur, grabbed
breathing apparatus from the downed aquatic Agents. Others, like Sub-Zero, used their powers
to create an 'ice diving bell'. Still others, like Phoenix, attempted to tough it out.
As for me, I was sadly in little state to survive the fall to the water, much less a descent to
a hundred feet or so beneath the surface to battle it out with aquatic evildoers. Besides, I
had Templar's back to watch, and he seemed similarly disinclined to swim for it.
In fact, as I watched U.S. Agent swat Coast Guardian out of his way like an annoying gnat and
head towards us with his Ultramarines in tow, it struck me to ask Templar exactly what he did
have in mind. That is when I felt the teleport take hold of us.
When my head cleared once more, we were back at the northern terminus of the bridge, where
Templar talked briefly to Captain Whitmore before establishing a mental link with Phoenix.
He then gave a bit of a play by play as Phoenix ripped through the forcefield surrounding
the Maelstrom Machine (which immediately allowed the region - containing the hostages - to
start flooding), only to be jumped by Barracuda, Killer Shark, Electric Eel and another
trio of the aquatic Agents. He was saved from this mess by the arrival of the rest of our
team, who immediately began mixing it up with the Sea Devil goons and throwing the hostages
into Subbie's diving bell, which he hurriedly enlarged to fit them.
The rest of the fight is a little murky to me, and I haven't had a chance to get a clearer picture
from one of the direct participants. I know that Phoenix put up a hell of a fight, before being
taken out by the weight of numbers. Blur, too, was instrumental in helping to save the hostages,
but was himself knocked out and captured after letting the enemy get in a few hits to save some
of the innocents. Mention must also be made of Sub-Zero, without who's diving bell, none of the
captives (and perhaps fewer of our squad) would have made it out alive.
In the end, however, the hero of the day was Cipher. It was she who managed to shut down the
Maelstrom Machine as the battle raged around her. It was she who saved the bridge, and perhaps
Coast City itself.
In the end as the bridge bucked and heaved in the aftermath of the attack, whilst U.S. Agent and
the other Ultramarines were engaged in trying to evacuate the F.O.R.C.E. troopers and captives
off the bridge and weld snapped cables together as best they could, we managed to get the
rescued captives and our teammates loaded into ambulances and rushed off (under police escort)
to the hospital where they could be treated for their injuries and the debilitating effects of
the bends.
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WRAPUP : |
MAYHEM had been foiled - mostly - and the hostages saved - more or less intact. Now
came the fun part as our status would again come under question, even as Black Blur's fate remained
in limbo...
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