Player Status: DoctorNeutron had some school work, and Wookie was again an incommuncado no-show. If he misses one more session, he's out. Other than that, everyone was here and accounted for.

* The scratching and clanging comes closer as the Dynasty stands amid the bodies of the simian technicians, covered in the alien blood.
<Rez> "Eh! What's all this?"
<the_Architect> "Hostile forces incoming rapidly from two o'clock. Nature unspecified."
<Spectrum> "Boss, think we ought to roll out the welcome mat?"
* Rex_Mundi cleans his stone knuckles of grime
* the_Architect slightly alters the configuration of her hand-maserss.
* JennyArte scans across the bodies of the aliens to glare at the new threat.
<Yi> "Detective Inspector, I would suggest a retreat to the gap so that we may best stem the tide of attackers."
* JennyArtemis nods
<JennyArtemis> "Let's do it folks,"
* Rex_Mundi moves back last, covering the rest with his stone body
* JennyArtemis thrusts forth her hands and her brows creases.
* An instant later, the floor begins to soften and turn bright pink
* JennyArtemis smiles
<Rez> "Eh! Good on ya, Sheila!"
<JennyArtemis> "Chew on that buggers!"
* Rez creases his brow as well and flourishes his hand. Suddenly space seems to whip all out of shape in the hallway, forming a rippling wedge around the group.
* Rex_Mundi moves with steady ease into front position, shielding the rest of the group physically with his body
* Rex_Mundi smiles assuredly "I can handle these, friends."
<JennyArtemis> "Make sure ya don't get stuck on that floor, luv..."
* Just as Rex steps into line before the bubble gum floor, the first two ranks of troops in odd, almost insectile-looking armor step forwards
* The alien shock troops manage to stop just in time to avoid blundering into the gum, but it costs them precious seconds...seconds that Chen Mu Yi uses to analyze their weaknesses and open fire with unholy accuracy at the front few troops, leaning under Rex Mundi's massive arm
* Yi fires a single shot, blasting the first trooper in line right through the head, the body jerking backwards then falling to mire the bubble gum
* the_Architect floats up over Rex's opposite shoulder and triggers her masers, unleashing a microwave beam that turns the torso of one foe into a makeshift oven, broiling his internal organs, and leaving his rendered bodily fluids to leak out through ruptured holes in his skin.
* Surprisingly, the aliens bleed red blood like a crimson tied, though they seem unphased by the deaths of their compatriots
* Spectrum floats up to Rex's other shoulder and sweeps his gaze across the assembled soldiers, the resulting crackling and fusing of particles as electromagnetic forces reverse and crush them together annihilates two soldiers he looked at.
* The aliens lower their rifles like a firing squad, just as their compatriot is vapourised, and open fire with a barrage of glowing green energy bolts. Meeting the rippling barrier, they fly off in all directions BUT forwards. Several, however, do make it through to splatter harmlessly against Rex Mundi's massive chest.
<JennyArtemis> "Yi, got any party favors. luv? grenades, for the cheaps seats..."
<Yi> "Always, Detective Inspector."
* JennyArtemis smiles sweetly, but the look in her eye is cold.
<JennyArtemis> "Well toss a couple in, behind the second line. Me and Spectrum and keiko will cover you."
<the_Architect> "Communications intercept: losses minor, requesting backup and structural maintainence."
* Spectrum grumbles, "I'll show them minor..."
* Yi reaches into his trenchcoat and removes a frag grenade and, in one fluid motion, pulls the pin with his thumb and lobs the infernal device well into the back rows of the alien troops and begins counting under his breath in Chinese.
* The grenade goes off, blowing the backrow apart, killing 5 or 6 aliens.
<JennyArtemis> The floor beneath the beings begins to smoke with a noxious white vapor, and a liquid sheen makes it slick. At the same time, Jenny leans around Rex and caps off a round, plugging one of the alien troops.
* The alien soldier takes it in the chest as it pierces his armor, but stays standing
* ...though not for much longer. As soon as the powerful acid bursts through their soles, the aliens fall in a heep, smoking on the ground
* Red blood stains the ground and smokes on that acid that washes over and melts the bubble gum and the dead aliens trapped therein, revealing a gruesome sight to behold
* A macabre sight greets the Novas' keen perceptions, for imbedded in the armor, attached with circuitry, wires, and small biological devices is a human man, gaping blindly in death, his mouth open in a soundless O.
<the_Architect> "Human-Drone Modification Soldiers."
<JennyArtemis> "Bugger me..."
<Rex_Mundi> "Bozhe moi..."
<Rez> "Bloody oath!"
* Rez shivers and tips his hat brim a bit to hide the sight, murmuring and cursing under his breath.
<Spectrum> "Holy shit..."
<JennyArtemis> "Well we can't stand here silly buggers all day. Let's make off before that back-up arrives..."
<JennyArtemis> "Keiko, got an ETA for us, luv?"
<the_Architect> "I will try to access the network through this slaved system. Also, secondary response human hybrids have been mobilized. Energetic projection capabilities. Force shields as well."
<the_Architect> ETA 58 seconds.
<JennyArtemis> "Spectrum, give the bastards something to think about. But keep in contact."
* Rez nervously looks away from the scene to Jenny, fumbling a ciggarette into his mouth, "Eh, Sheila, maybe we ought to get outta here 'stead've playin football with em, eh?"
* JennyArtemis nods.
<Spectrum> Understood
<Rex_Mundi> "If you want, I can make a fast way into the center of this complex."
<JennyArtemis> "Keiko, how long is this gonna take you, luv?"
* JennyArtemis glances at Rex.
<JennyArtemis> "You got a fix on the layout of this place?"
* Spectrum shoots off over Rex's shoulder through the rippling spatial shield, turning at a perfect 90 degree angle to blast down the hallway. For several second there is silence..
<the_Architect> "Digging through their system. Most of it is badly damaged."
<JennyArtemis> "Can you give us an idea where the central command is?"
* ...then energy fire flies out through the coridoor and Spectrum reports
<Spectrum> Spectrum to Jenny! I've engaged them! Damn, there must be at least 50 of these freaks! They're all about 6 feet tall, blue, and glow like Divis Mal in a black light room! They die pretty easily, though. They're nowhere near my level....but they just keep coming. Advise!"
<Rex_Mundi> "I know where the power core and the central processing unit is."
<Rex_Mundi> "Roughly."
<JennyArtemis> "Hold 'em as best as you can, I'm sending Rex your way. Be prepared to fall back on my say."
* Rex_Mundi lumbers off to help Spectrum out
* JennyArtemis mumbles softly to herself...
<JennyArtemis> "Buying time..."
* With a huge flash of blue light, Spectrum comes flying out the end of the coridoor and hits a wall. Wiping a bit of blood from his lip he looks at the other Dynasty members.
<Spectrum> Damn things explode!
<the_Architect> "Reactor is centrally located. I suggest Professor Vladimir disables it. Three stasis Barracks in staggered geometry around this facility."
<JennyArtemis> "Rez, can you 'port us individually to each location?"
<the_Architect> "CPU is inside the Tower of London."
<Rez> "It'll take a minute or two, Sheila. I gotta see where they are first, make sure I don't move anyone into walls or nothin."
<the_Architect> "And Manchester is still the active command center."
* Rex_Mundi helps Spectrum to his feet
<Rex_Mundi> "Are you okay, my friend?"
* Spectrum cracks his neck. "Oh yeah. Just caught me by surprise, managed to negate and reverse my speed. Oh they are SO dead!"
<Spectrum> I'm going to cook their inards until they boil out their ears.
<JennyArtemis> "Hold on, Specturm."
<JennyArtemis> "Rex, can you close off the corridors between us and them? To hold them up a bit?"
<Rex_Mundi> "I will see what I can do."
<Spectrum> I could drop the roof on them
<Spectrum> ...mind you the "roof" is thirty feet up and there's another six levels of it
* Rex and Spectrum can now see a group of advancing glowing blue troops down the hall
* JennyArtemis folds her arms across her chest and frowns, yearning for a fag.
<Rex_Mundi> "Either way, we should begin with it soon, yes?"
<JennyArtemis> "Alright then. This is just preliminary and that, but I'm thinking to hit them fairly swiftly."
* Rez shakingly lights his ciggarette. Falling rocks, ravening lions and wolves, and crazed Nova enviromentalists he can handle. But...he just helped kill...people.
<JennyArtemis> "CPU, Reactor and Command center. all wiffin moments. Can it be done, people?"
<the_Architect> "This facility has a fusion reactor core. Destabilizing it would infict catastrophic damage for kilometers around. Where shall we go next?"
<Rex_Mundi> "I can destroy the reactor from here."
<Rex_Mundi> "I am just waiting for your command."
* Rex_Mundi grins
<JennyArtemis> "I say we hit the CPU and then the CommCenter."
<JennyArtemis> "Through their systems into chaos and then throw them right into hell."
<JennyArtemis> "Thoughts?"
<Rez> "I...I'm game for whatever you think, sheila."
<JennyArtemis> "That's good to hear, 'cuz you're gon'ter figgur prominently in the whole thing. You're our ride, obviously."
<the_Architect> "Professor Vladimir should exacerbate the magma intake flow at the base of this facility and turn London into an active volcano."
<JennyArtemis> "Keiko, how well are their system shielded from EMP?"
<Yi> "I concur with the Architect. The greatest destruction with the least threat to ourselves."
<the_Architect> "
<the_Architect> "I disabled the aircraft easily enough. The computer core in the tower would require greater effort, but it is within my capabilities if I can get closer."
<Rex_Mundi> "If I turn this factory into a volcano, I suggest we remove ourselves first. I do not think you enjoy magma baths as much as I do, yes?"
<JennyArtemis> "I was thinking more along the lines off Specturm handling that bit, luv."
* The glowing blue aliens are in sight and begin to fire off their energy bolts at Rex and Spectrum. Spectrum returns fire and vapourizes one or two of them.
<JennyArtemis> "He's a living energy battery after all."
<the_Architect> "I concur."
<Spectrum> "Not to interupt your chat, ladies, but we're about to become neck deep in glowing blue freaks here!"
<the_Architect> "He also has far greater mobility than I do."
<JennyArtemis> "And if he does it from low orbit, he could cover a wide scale..."
* Rex_Mundi tries to cover Spectrum as good as he can
* Spectrum turns to Rex, "On my count, we are going to level this coridoor. I'm fucking tired of being shot at by blue assholes from some sick freak's Nova underwear ads."
<Rex_Mundi> "I am with you, friend."
<the_Architect> "I recommend we relocate to Australia. The continent had a protective barrier in place on the flight recorder's maps, and it may well be a less hostile environment."
<Spectrum> "Spectrum to Jenny. I'm going to make us a wall, bosslady. This is getting tiring."
<JennyArtemis> "Hold on luv..."
<Yi> "Detective Inspector, I suggest doing something NOW. We are about to be engaged!"
* JennyArtemis turns to the aliens almost casually and screams, "D'ya mind? tryin' t'have a bleedin' conversation here!"
* The air around the aliens suddenly solidfies completly, stopping the creatures in mid run. Though each is still surrounded by a glowing blue corona that seems to keep a good several inches between him and the solidified air...they're suffocating pretty fast.
* Rez gapes and Spectrum blinks and then laughs. "Nice move, bosslady. Thank you!"
<JennyArtemis> "They were bloody pissin' me off..."
<Yi> "Indeed. Now, perhaps we should move off, Detective Inspector?"
<Rez> "Eh, I'm all for what the Architect said. Oz'd be nice right about now."
<JennyArtemis> The corridor's walls suddenly groan and warp, like pudding slowly congealing, and the ceiling above the aliens trmebles and then, no longer supported by the twisted walss, collapses upon them, sealing the corridor shut.
* JennyArtemis turns to look at the rest of the group.
<JennyArtemis> "Why are you lot all cowerin' back there...?"
* Rex_Mundi turns around to face Jenny 1"I guess that is enough of that then, yes?"
* JennyArtemis smiles crookedly and nods.
<JennyArtemis> "Alright, Spectrum, how do you feel about dosing the CPU with an EMP?"
* Rex_Mundi walks back to the rest of the group
<JennyArtemis> "Good I trust cuz that's what we need you to do."
<Spectrum> "I'm all for it...especially if there are any more of the little green freaks to nuke."
<JennyArtemis> "Professor, you're going to go with Keiko's idea and slag the bloody hell out of this place and its reactor.
<the_Architect> "If anyone is interested, we are no longer officially designated as an unknown threat. Enemy communications are now uniformly referring to us as the Dynasty."
<JennyArtemis> "About goddamn time..."
<the_Architect> "And they are calling in an air strike to bomb this facility into oblivion."
<Rex_Mundi> "That will be no problem, once we have moved. Effects can be a bit messy."
<the_Architect> "Shall we beat them to it?"
<JennyArtemis> "Right then. A move-on, then, hmm...?"
<JennyArtemis> "Professor, what's the minimum safe distance we need to be when you light this candle?"
<Rez> "Right then. Well, since this place's as useful as tits on a bull, lets go on a walkabout somewhere nice, eh?"
<Rex_Mundi> "Around 20 kilometers, miss Artemis"
<the_Architect> "I concur."
<Rex_Mundi> "Could we get a place with a nice view for the fireworks?"
<Yi> "That would be about right. I suggest we leave now before we are used to simulate Hiroshima."
<JennyArtemis> "To be anal, it's Detective Inspector, but call me jenny, luv..."
<JennyArtemis> "Let's do it then. Rez?"
<Spectrum> "I'd prefer to just nuke it, the planes, and half of England form orbit. But hell, that works."
* Rez gets everyone close, "Alright, where to? Oz?"
<JennyArtemis> "Get us close to the Command Center."
<the_Architect> "Manchester."
* JennyArtemis nods at Keiko.
<Rez> "Eh...alright, sheila. Get ready for transport."
* Rez concentrates and the group slides out and slides into the remains of a wrecked trainstation.
* the_Architect disconnects herself from the computers and walks up next to Rez.
* Opening a shimmering portal before them, the Dynasty waits for London's destruction. It slowly begins with a great screeching of earth, and then, like a splittling pustule, a volcano bursts forth from the center of London-town, right underneath the main reactor. The explosion is enormous, the destruction massive. There is nothing left of London but a smoking hole of magma and glass. The bombers flying overhead just then are vapourised in the blast. The Dynasty has made it's mark.

Next Issue: War Without End Part 2: "Extreme Prejudice!"