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The Astounding Ocelot

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Jukeboxer
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Post by Jukeboxer »

Cascadian Herald, January 10, 2011
A Tempestuous Time at the PAC 12 Championship
By Rachel Corvin

What started off to be a wonderfully memorable day at the PAC 12 Championship Game, turned out to be memorable all right - in a terrifying sort of way. The view from Orion Airship III was spectacular as UCLA came to Hardemman Field for Trinity State University's first ever championship game. The stadium was jam-packed with a colorful crowd of nearly 70,000.
But the half-time presentation truly stole the show. Or perhaps I should say that Chimera stole the half time show. From high above, I could tell that something had gone awry on the stage. The music stopped and I could hear the booing crowd. We turned up the TV monitor in the airship's cabin.
Chimera took over, taking a headset from Kelly Clarkson, he gave a long-winded speech about how he was abused by a secret government program and how he would prefer to be a normal human again. He went on to conclude that Senator Thornton was a key player in the decision that created Chimera and vowed revenge saying, "Yes, Senator Thornton is a powerful man, but he is powerless to stop me now!"
Unfortunately for me and 20 other people, Senator Thorton was on the zeppelin with us! Chimera flew up to the airship and began terrorizing the passengers. He grew angrier as he drifted closer, but out of nowhere someone else flew into the scene! It was Manticore!
You read that right, Manticore.
Nobody seemed to understand what was happening, except maybe the good Senator who sat quiet-like; inconspicuous. But I digress... So Manticore charged at Chimera and the two former teammates battled briefly and a sonic shockwave generated by Manticore rattled the zeppelin! Somehow the glass in the cabin remained in tact - a testament to Orion Aerospace's quality craftsmanship. Then suddenly Manticore dropped from the sky, falling toward the stadium! Chimera returned to the airship to finish the job.
He punched-out a window and told everyone to move away from Senator Thornton. Out of nowhere a powerful wind pulled at Chimera but he held on until a section of the bulkhead gave way! Leaving a gaping hole in the cabin... a gaping hole through which I fell! Leave it to me.
It was the most terrifying moment ever! Much worse than those nightmares where you fall to your apparent death. My life did not flash before my eyes. I just screamed in a mindless primal terror. I saw the zeppelin getting smaller. I saw rooftops growing larger. And when I thought I was finished, someone grabbed me. It hurt like *, honestly, but it was the most elation I can imagine in pain. I've never given birth, mind you.
I was sure that Ocelot had found a way to save me, but it was a woman! She said she was called "Tempest" and quickly explained that she had to drop me and get back to the Chimera since Ocelot was clearly out of his element.
"Ocelot? Where?" I asked.
She pointed out a speck near the airship and off she went on a jetstream of whooshing air.
Unbelievable.
I shouldn't be writing this article right now. Someone else should be writing my obituary.
I later learned that Ocelot had saved Manticore just before he struck the ground and that Ocelot used Manticore's jet pack to go airborne, save the passengers, and assist in crash-landing wounded zeppelin. All in a day's work for Cascadia's own! In the end, Tempest proved to be a problem for Chimera who fled the scene. Video highlights also captured Behemoth's huge purple frame stomping through the stadium as he rescued the fallen Manticore from the south endzone.
So what do we make of this? The hero beat in this town is a mess. Public concensus was that Ocelot was going rogue, but now he shows up to save a known bad guy and defend the city again. What's that all about? Is Manticore a hero now? And we add Tempest to the mix?
We certainly live in interesting times, but I think I'm ready for some boredom.
Jukeboxer
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Post by Jukeboxer »

Astounding Ocelot: Issue 7

At the conclusion of Issue #6, a couple of notable events occured:

1. Outside of Hardemann Field, Ocelot was confronted by FBI Agent Raines, who was prepared to arrest him. Ocelot escaped before Raines really had a chance to make a move.

2. The next day, Ocelot met with Rachel Corvin about the background information she collected on the Unitrex executives. This scene ended with Ocelot impulsively giving Rachel a kiss to show his relief that she was safe and well after her near-death experience. Her reaction was one of awkward confusion.


Daniel McPherson's workweek began at Aldergrove Labs with poor Janey LaSalle in the midst of a nervous breakdown. As if the death Dr. Kendrick and the police investigation that followed were not enough, she confided in Daniel that she had received a phone call instructing her to deliver the C300 series to Point Orin at 10 p.m. tonight. This news prompted a lot of discussion throughout the workday as the two characters weighed their options. Janey didn't trust the police after the way the investigation went down, so she considered going to the FBI, which Daniel strongly argued against. Daniel suggested taking a fake batch of serum to Orin Point, to which Janey objected vehemently. Interesting stuff... He also revealed that he knew a contact that could notify Ocelot. Ocelot could protect them. She didn't care for that idea either, since Ocelot's public image is corroded at the moment, but after further debate she cautiously came around to Daniel's hero connection.
Also during the workday, breaking news showed footage of an FBI press conference revealing the capture of Chimera! In the background, behind the regional FBI director, Daniel spotted Agent Raines.

Tempest was still in town on business in her secret ID. She spent a routine Monday meeting with clients and informing them on the latest CAT-scan technology (yes, this was an Ocelot joke!). After a late evening dinner up on Temple Hill, she decided to don her costume and patrol the city from above. An inbound cargo ship caught her attention and she swept over it for a closer look. What had appeared as a giant statue at first glance actually seemed to be a huge metallic robot! Whoa... The crewmen on deck were covering it with a tarp as the ship approached the Port of Trinity Bay.

10 pm, Point Orin
Ocelot hid in the shadows behind a huge boulder, watching nervous little Janey LaSalle standing next to her car in the blustering January wind on this rugged peninsula. He became aware of an approaching car a few hundred yards south. He heard the vehicle stop and a single gunshot followed by a massive CRUNCH! The sound of wimpering siren died-out. He started to go, but a moment later, a column of water erupted from the rough waters of Trinity Bay and Undine appeared atop the shimmering fountain! She controlled the water masterfully, lowering herself to the rough terrain.
"I see that you wisely chose to comply" she said in low smooth tone.
Jumping to the top of a rock, Ocelot appeared declaring, "Not so fast Fish-Face!"
Undine lashed-out with a jet-stream of saltwater which began to pull Janey and the case of serum toward her! Ocelot sprung into a somersaulting leap and with his claws he tore through the water-beam! And the fight was on.

From a mile away, Tempest also noticed Undine's pillar of water and she left the cargo ship to check it out. As she got closer, however, it was demolished police car and a couple of downed officers that stole her attention. She arrived at that scene to find the infamous, 9-foot tall, half-ton Behemoth! And the other fight was on...

Ocelot kept his brawl to a minimum as he whisked Janey and the C300 case out of harm's way. A game of "cat-n-mouse" ensued and this time, Ocelot wasn't the cat!

Tempest quickly found herself in trouble against the intimidating might of her foe. She knew that Behemoth was not a good match for her, but she bravely fought on in her concern for the wounded officers. They threw everything at each other! She dodged a flying squadcar. Behemoth shrugged-off a massive lightning bolt. He slammed into her with a super-leap. She froze him with an ice-storm. She dodged a boulder and caused him to sink in muck created with a deluge of focused rain. Finally, once he grabbed her, she was doomed - and Tempest was crushed into unconciousness.
She awoke to find Ocelot standing over her. Once she assured him that she'd be ok, he dragged Janey along to his motorcycle (blindfolding her so that she wouldn't associate the bike to her co-worker, Daniel.). As they made their final escape they were cut-off by two more police interceptors and Ocelot made an EPIC jump over the cars and disappeared into the night lights of Cascadia.
Jukeboxer
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Astounding Ocelot #8

Post by Jukeboxer »

After dropping-off a disheveled Janey at the Constellation Cafe, Ocelot carefully made his way home, evading the watchful presence of both Cascadia PD and Sector 9. The next morning brought news of the escalating tensions between "the Kamies" - a drug cartel headed by Russian "Duke" Kamyshlov and the entrenched Changxu Tong.

Daniel McPherson arrived at work to find poor, stressed-out Janey juggling personal issues regarding her impounded car along with troublesome work issues. When asked, she confirmed that she brought the ATA case containing the C300 serum back to the office.

Meanwhile across town... Kate Donnelly (a.k.a Tempest) received a call from Murray Hamilton, a senior counselor from her firm asking how she was doing on the Bergstrom Surgitech case. Not good... After that conversation, she decided to stay in Cascadia and so began the relocation process. She would have no trouble finding work here.

Back at Aldergrove Labs, Janey LaSalle took a quiet moment to go back to the cold storage room and secure the C300 serum, but she didn't realize that the vial had been cracked in the action last night. When she picked it up, the vial broke, cutting her hand! She disposed of it and went to the first aid kit in the break room. Sitting at his desk, Daniel's keen senses picked up the scent of a wild feline on the premises! He shot up like a bolt, looking around for an animal on this floor. Nothing visible... He followed the scent, finding Janey in the break room applying a bandage to the cut. She explained what happened and Daniel immediately feared that she may have gotten some of the serum in her blood! He had to know.

The next day, Janey and Daniel went to lunch and she showed a compulsive interest in a kitten at the downtown pet store as they happened by. At the restaurant, Daniel tested her by "accidentally" flipping a plate off the edge of the table. Janey instinctively lashed out and snatched it out of mid-air! Whoa... He resolved to keep a close watch on her.

Ocelot's next patrol took him to the turf war scene on the outskirts of Little Qindao. It wasn't long before he spotted trouble. A bunch of Tong thugs tied a Russian gangster to a rusty antenna on the roof of an old high rise apartment building as a thunderstorm rolled in from the Pacific coast. Among them was Blue Lotus with that familiar electronic voice! Ocelot swung into the scene taking out three Tongs in a single motion, knocking one of the men 23 feet! He turned to confront Blue Lotus who, to his surprise, pulled a handgun and then removed the cowl... It was actually Hing Mai! Vicheng also stepped into view with his menacing grin. Ocelot and Vicheng began to brawl, but Ocelot was way too fast for him. Ocelot was forced to tumble and dodge away from Hing Mai's gunfire for a couple of pages.

Tempest who was flying around, getting more familiar with the city at the time, was drawn into the action. She found an odd serenity flying on a stormy night, but her peace wash short lived. She quickly assessed the scene and zapped Vicheng with a bolt of lightning, but to her amazement he kept his feet! That blast would have downed any normal man. She also held off three more Tong by generating a sleet attack! And through all the chaos, she freed the Russian man from the antenna. Heroics indeed! Tempest and the Russian had funny dialogue about American "vomen and wodka" and Tempest flew off with his flask!

Hing Mai backed up to a large AC unit for cover and just when he thought he had the drop on Ocelot, the half-cat hero sprung into the air and surprised him from above! Ocelot delivered a decisive double kick that drove the Tong leader through the roof! And then... in a feat of unusual fury, Ocelot ripped the huge AC unit from its base and flung it at Vicheng, flattening the Tong enforcer! Tempest concluded the battle with a wind-blast that pushed the stunned Vicheng into the hole in the roof!

Several days prior to all of this, Daniel's buddy Brady Pettis sent an email to "half-cat" letting him know about the upcoming custom cycle contest being held by Guymon's Extreme Cycles. The renown custom shop is going to create a special one-of-kind bike for a celebrity. The bike would serve as a rolling promo for the shop. The day arrived and Ocelot was greeted by a throng of reporters and onlookers who were also buzzing about the appearance of action star Jason Statham and New York superhero Black Tie. Rachel Corvin got a brief interview with Ocelot before the contest began.

Statham and his team pitched a concept for the reboot of the Mad Max franchise, complete with storyboards and concept drawings. Black Tie described his idea for a chopper that could propel him through the congested streets of Manhattan. And our man, Ocelot showed some slides detailing a "real, working bike", not for show. Owner Dodge Guymon, who looked like a lead singer of a southern rock band, concluded the meeting by saying how difficult of a choice this will be. He would take some time, do some specs on the proposals, and get back to the participants in a week.

During the course of the meeting, Ocelot heard and felt the movement of heavy machinery outside. He hung back in the showroom as the others departed and noticed some unmarked government cars had arrived in the parking lot. He struck up an extended conversation with Dodge Guymon and eventually asked if he could exit out the back of the building. Dodge took a liking to Ocelot's outlaw reputation and showed him a secret passage. Ocelot heard a small probe pass by before he emerged from a stale manhole about 100 yards away and changed into his civies in the ally. As he left the scene on foot, he also encountered a giant walker robot, searching the area which had a small Unitech symbol stamped on the back.
Jukeboxer
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Session Summary - Part 1, Mar 2nd

Post by Jukeboxer »

The FBI aired a press conference explaining the deployment of the security robots on the streets of Cascadia. They urged citizens to not interfere with robot patrols and informed the public that the machines are not a threat to day-to-day activities. And so things remained tight for Ocelot as constant surveillance by unmarked government cars and occasional sightings of the security robots continued.

Ocelot resolved to clear his name. The role of public enemy was not his style. And so a series of scenes and encounters ensued which took Daniel McPherson - in plain clothes - to the hard streets of East Slope. In the vicinity of a long-abandoned textile factory Daniel approached select people on the street and gathered information about the government man-hunt. Once he had a lead, he changed into to Ocelot's black uniform and began to home-in on Agent Raines of Sector 9.

A few hours later, Ocelot was at Birch Bay Hotel and Business Center, an iconic locale of the uptown business scene. Ocelot masterfully worked his way down from the 10 story roof to the 2nd floor with moments of playful deception. Using room service records, he located Agent Raines in Room 706. Posing as room service staff he coaxed Raines to the door. Predictably, the cautious agent went for his gun. This was his chance to finally capture his quarry! Stepping into the room, Ocelot halted the panicked agent with his words. He tossed specimen tag that he had taken from the velociraptor on Temple Hill over 6 weeks ago and then he tossed the jump-drive with the files he extracted from Ascension Tower on New Years Eve. Ocelot explained the situation and the evidence from his perspective and Agent Raines warily listened.

Afterward, Raines asked Ocelot to accompany him to Sector 9 HQ. At the makeshift offices off of Imperial Ave in the heart of downtown, Ocelot noticed a Unitech remote control workstation where an operator directed and monitored security robots on patrol. The operator didn't even notice as Ocelot walked past. Raines introduced him to Sector 9 Bureau Chief Harv Redmon. Together, they began to brainstorm the situation and decrypt more data on that jump-drive. They found that the executives of Unitrex were tracking something called Project Down-Shift. After further debate, Raines and Ocelot decided to go back to Temple Hill and investigate the velociraptor incident.

Back at Temple Hill, Ocelot walked Raines through the scenario and eventually they found claw marks on the perimeter wall indicating where the creature had entered the retail plaza. This clue led them to nearby Overport Industrial Center, where they found that the largest building in the complex belonged to Unitech! Since Unitech was actively working with the FBI, Agent Raines used that connection to gain entrance to the facility after hours. They met with Brenda Tiburon who was the senior manager on duty for Energy Capacity R&D. That perplexing discussion concluded when Unitech President Oma Ibera suddenly appeared with a security goon! The guard started to intervene with Raines, but Ocelot effortlessly smashed a break room table, convincing the guard to back off! Ibera heaved a perturbed sigh and agreed to show them the truth.

Leading them back through heavily secured laboratories they arrived at an armed checkpoint with a bank of reinforced elevators. President Ibera dawned a protective collar, explaining that long-term exposure to the isotopes and corrosives in this section has caused problems with her larnyx and that they needn't worry about it for their short visit. As they descended in the heavy-duty elevators in silence, there was a sudden flash! And all went black...

to be continued...
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Post by Samuraidad »

Man, that trap took me by surprise! Classic comic book plot device! Ha! Great fun!!
Jukeboxer
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Post by Jukeboxer »

Session Summary, Mid-April

Deep inside UniTech's Overport R&D facility...
Ocelot woke up first. His eyes adjusted from an initial blur of green and white, to the realization that he was in a huge chamber that appeared to be an indoor arboretum. And he was restrained... Nice. Upright, on a metal slab. The high-tech cuffs that bound his arms and legs seemed to be magnetic. He tested his strength against them. No good.
When Agent Raines came to, he struggled briefly and made a comment about the hopelessness of their new predicament.
"Well, I'm a glass-is-half-full kinda guy", replied Ocelot. He strained to turn his wrist and hand at a sharp angle and fired all the claws on his left gauntlet. With a pop and zap an insulated power conduit from the ground to the slab ruptured and the magnetic field disappeared! Ocelot shed the electronic shackles just in time as two velociraptors charged out of the foliage!
In a short, but intense battle, Ocelot dodged and countered the onrushing predators. He dispatched them by grabbing one by the tail and swinging it into the other beast with a full 360 spin!
Finally freeing Raines, they ran for cover as the telltale sounds of a much larger dinosaur approached! From behind some strange broadleaf plants they saw it - an Allosaur! It was only slightly smaller than a T-Rex, but with a striped hide and quicker feet!
The pair managed to evade the beast and get to the back wall of this huge tropical paddock. There they found a locked maintenance door. Ocelot pushed himself severely to break it down!
Further into the complex they found a hall way that looked like something from sci-fi movie. It was bright and anesthepitc-looking with perimeter lighting in the corners. At one end was a vault-style door and at the other, a secured door to a control room. They opted for the control room, which was not locked from this direction.
In the control center, they picked up some clues about Unitech's Operation Downshift. They were at the heart of it! This has something to do with the sudden appearance of the dinosaurs. But before long, a security team had located the intruders and after a brief discussion, gas began to pump into the control center! Raines and Ocelot were forced to retreat back to the paddock. This time, to avoid the roaming allosaur, Ocelot used the FeLine to get up to the catwalks.

----- session break -------------

Ocelot and Agent Raines crept along a dark steel catwalk near the 40-foot ceiling of the containment paddock. As they approached the fortified observation deck, Ocelot and Unitrex CEO Ed Loughlin locked eyes. Ocelot froze momentarily, studying the man's smug demeanor. Loughlin pointed to the invaders and Unitech President Oma Ibera nodded and began working on a control panel. Ocelot spotted a heavy, padlocked maintenance hatch and decided it was time to get out of there. He was weakened from his earlier struggle to escape this same chamber, but undaunted, he swung on the railing and delivered a powerful double-kick to the hatch! Wham! The sound reverberated like a shotgun blast in the huge chamber. The hatch was damaged, but the lock held.
Just then, Ibera displayed a wicked grin behind the 3-inch thick window and electricity rippled through the catwalk! Ocelot was able to shake-off the worst of it, but Raines was dazed! Ibera and Loughlin continued to work security features against them. A pressure pipe cut loose with a blast of steam as Ocelot continued his effort to break-out. The lower half of the paddock also began to fill-in with mist from unseen vents.
Moments later, Agent Raines noticed an odd swirling in the fog - a small area grew dense and began to take a vague human shape! The menacing figure, fully-formed with a white cloak and a black face-mask greeted Raines by name! The agent was freaked-out by the newcomer's dialogue and strange presence. So he fired a few shots below and the rounds passed through the apparition!
And then came a deafening roar as the Allosaur charged into the misty clearing. Definitely time to go, Ocelot thought.
One more double-kick blasted the hatch open, snapping the lock and one of the hinges! He pulled the stunned Sector 9 agent onto the roof and they sprinted toward the office section of the building looking for another access that could get them back in. As they began to work on breaking-in (again) the ghostly, smokey figure appeared behind them. He introduced himself as "Frost" and explained that he has unfinished business with Unitech as well.
After introductions, Frost took mist-form again and flowed through the hatch and into the secured liquid metal lab below! Frost knew this place. He was former employee after all. Thus he was not surprised when an armed guard came to investigate the noise in the lab. Frost knocked the guard against the wall, but he got off a shot that shattered solvent tank! Foul-smelling, mildly acidic water spilled onto the smooth floor! Frost swiped the shotgun from the guard's grasp before tying him up. He opened the hatch and briefly explained the mess.
The three of them circled out of the lab and around to the entrance of the observation deck. Frost flowed underneath secured door and as he took solid-form on the other side, he immediately noticed his quarry, President Ibera. Frost charged her in full rage shouting "You killed Dr.Hodge!" She was virtually paralyzed by his chilling gaze. Frost grabbed Ibera and dragged her past a trap door type opening in the floor. She turned shouted down to the level below, "Ed,help meeeeee!"
A large metal fist rammed upward smashing a portion of the trap door frame! Frost yanked Ibera away from the opening and proceeded to let his new partners into the observation deck. Meanwhile, Ed Loughlin, in the * of a Unitrex war machine called the LCC (Loughlin Combat Chassis) turned-about and ripped the observation deck apart with a long burst from his 14mm armor-piercing assault gun! In spectacular fashion, Ocelot lept and twisted to evade the deadly chaos! Frost faded and a few rounds passed harmlessly through him. But Agent Raines and Oma Ibera both lay motionless amid the ruin of glass and metal! Frost laughed at irony of Ibera meeting her fate... here... at the hands of her own boss.
As the LCC prepared to fire again, Ocelot and Frost closed-in. Frost attempted to trip the two-legged vehicle and narrowly avoided a stomp from the construct. Ocelot got onto the machine's back and began to break into a maintenance panel.
The machine scooped up Frost in a metallic grip and Ocelot coiled to spring to Frost's aid, but Frost said, "No! I got this!"
Ocelot replied, "Got what? A ham sandwich?" It certainly appeared to Ocelot that the LCC had Frost - not the other way around.
Eventually, Ocelot popped the panel off and Frost flowed into the machine. Frost found his way into the enclosed glass bubble of the * and Loughlin, assuming he was about to be poisoned or suffocated ejected the canopy! Ocelot came over the top, landed on the dashboard, and said, "You're bad day just got a whole lot worse!"
A single sharp punch knocked Loughlin out cold.
Last edited by Jukeboxer on Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Jukeboxer
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Post by Jukeboxer »

Yikes! I just realized that an important part of the previous session was not yet posted. The session report above has been expanded accordingly.
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Post by Jukeboxer »

[late April session: Part 1]

Ocelot returned to the mangled observation deck to check on Agent Raines. He found the agent face down amonst shards of twisted metal and bits of broken glass, blood seeping from a hole in his ballistic vest. To Ocelot's surprise, Raines arm moved and he coughed as he was turned over. A bullet had punctured and exited the left side of Raines' ribcage. He was in bad shape, but he had a chance to survive. Ocelot scooped him up and said, "We must get him to the hospital."

Frost, carrying the subdued CEO, led Ocelot across the paddock and toward the back of the building as alarms and recorded announcements instructed evacuation. A huge explosion ripped through the office section, incinerating what remained of the observation deck. The shockwave nearly knocked the heros down as they weaved through the jungle-like foliage below. They came out out into the garage of the Unitech facility and commandeered a company van.

Moments later, they encountered Police and Fire units responding to the scene. Ocelot stopped to try to get treatment for Raines, but the police drew down on him! Ocelot complied to their commands and began to explain the scene. Senior Detective Crowne believed Ocelot's account and took the Loughlin into custody. He let Ocelot and Frost go with their word that they would continue to support the upcoming investigation.

[much role-play ensued as the police got statements from the heroes and all the evidence started to come together from the Unitech facility. After a couple of days, Loughlin was held for trial and Ocelot's name was cleared. The Mayor of Cascadia held a press conference to honor Ocelot and to declare him a hero and authorize him as Cascadia law enforcer.]

Detective Crowne grabbed Ocelot and Frost after the press conference and asked if they would help him sift through the Unitech site. The thing that Crowne was most interested in was the vault and Control Room in the sublevel behind the paddock. Ocelot walked-him through the scene and explained what he knew. After a while, the detective got a mobile generator hooked up and they began to reactivate the Downshift mainframe.

They worked deep into the night. Frost used inside knowledge to drill deep into the Downshift computer files, revealing a wealth of information. Using the generator as a jump start, they got the radial cooling system functioning again and brought a small fusion reactor online. Over the course of the next few hours, the entire picture of Downshift came together. The Downshift system was designed to scan inanimate objects and pinpoint the object's origin. The item would then be keyed to a subject -usually a person - who would be scanned into a 3D, molecular shape-file. In short, it is a form of linked time travel. All of these elements could culminate in opening a dimensional gate to the significant place and time of the "key" and/or the subject.

Ocelot and Frost contemplated destroying the site - thinking that Downshift technology was far too dangerous, but Detective Crowne took the other side of the argument. There was lots of discussion, but after a while, Crowne proposed an experiment. He pulled a keepsake from his pocket - a rock his father had given him.

In short, they made it happen! Using the rock as the key to that place and time, Crowne was transported back to Bluff Creek in the days of his childhood. And even more importantly, they were able to successfully recall him to the present.

Frost stayed behind to help keep watch on this incredible discovery. Ocelot had a secret identity to maintain.
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Post by Jukeboxer »

[late April session: Part 2]

After a long, groggy day, Daniel McPherson (aka Ocelot), just wanted to relax at home, but instead he caught the following teaser for the nightly news...

WCAS Nightly News... Coming up next, A Cascadia Detective is assaulted and he says he knows who Ocelot really is... Stay Tuned [commercial break]

A breaking news story at this hour as a Cascadia detective is being treated at Sisters of Mercy Hospital for minor wounds sustained in an assault in the 300-block of Evergreen St. Jr Detective Keiser was questioning a suspect in the investigation of the death of Dr. Jim Kendrick when the suspect panicked and attacked him with unnatural speed and power. Keiser declined to be on camera, but said, “I think we now know the truth behind Ocelot. He’s actually a her! Very clever. You know, this is not the first-time a superhuman has masqueraded as the other gender.

The next morning, McPherson was turned away from Aldergrove Labs. The police had the place locked down for a thorough investigation. So he decided that Ocelot should take a look around Evergreen Street, and once there, where he encountered Rachel Corvin. Corvin playfully questioned, "So given these new allegations, how do we know for sure that you're NOT a girl?" Ocelot answered by dipping her down and kissing her! A flustered Corvin straightened herself out and sheepishly said, "Fair enough!"

Moments later, Ocelot got a call. It was Janey.

Less than an hour later, he found her at a shabby Motel 5 south of town. A confused and distraught Janey LaSalle disclosed her situation. After she rambled for a while, McPherson explained that he truly understood, better than anyone could. He said she had been affected by the same type of serum. The poor girl was so perplexed at this point. She puzzled the implications of what he was saying. And so he came right out with it, "I'm Ocelot."

"You're Oce...what?"
And on the discussion went. She contemplated what impact this would have on her life, questioning what she should do. Light-heartedly, McPherson offered, "Well you could still be a super-fast, super-strong lab tech!" As Ocelot was talking to Frost, Janey noticed something about breaking news on TV.

Meanwhile, Frost had wrapped-up his sentry shift at Overport and he was ready to catch up with Ocelot. In mist form he jumped rides in passing cars, working his way toward the south side. Frost had to listen to innane babble for miles. When he finally reached Motel 5, he exited the vehicle, took solid-form on the street, and exclaimed, "Aaah! Those people are idiots!"

As Ocelot and Frost were comparing notes, it became clear that a major crisis was unfolding on the Trinity State campus. A major firefight was going down near the Lansing Museum! Off they went, leaving Janey to lay low for the time-being. Frost decided to stuff his ghost form into the tailpipe of Ocelots bike.

They weaved through the streets and when they got to the barricades near the museum, the police waved Ocelot through! This was a big moment - No longer the hunted vigilante... They pulled-in behind an armored van. Frost materialized and said, "I'm exhausted." [nice sense of humor for such a menacing guy!]

Ocelot met with the SWAT commander at the scene. It was the Karn! The crustacean-like aliens were raiding the museum for reasons unknown!
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Post by Jukeboxer »

Ocelot and Frost charged toward the museum. Frost occupied a Karn warrior in the fountain out front while Ocelot went after another warrior at the entrance. Frost discovered that Karn can be pretty tough and he was grazed by a hydrobeam before he chilled the creature into instant dormancy. Ocelot used his acrobatic speed to befuddle a couple of the aliens, setting them up for the knockout. Moments later, they heard more Karn deeper in the building, but they could also hear a strange, low vibrating sound. A Karn ship was nearby. They rushed to the back of the museum just as a the rest of the raiding party were picked up by the ship and flown off to the west. In assessing the damage it was obvious that the aliens had come for a specific purpose. They had broken into one of the archive storage rooms in the basement.

In the next several days, some other plotlines began to wrap-up and there was much role-play.

Janey LaSalle was missing for a couple days and showed up at Daniel McPherson's apartment, where she revealed the new Janey, including a sleek, seductive side. McPherson found her irresistable, drawn to her powerful feline charms. She also disclosed that she has minor werecat powers that allow her to run effectively as a quadruped, complete with claws and fangs if she wishes. She will be known as "Sambuca" and she is just beginning to consider a new life as a superheroine.

Also, Guymon's Extreme Custom Cycles notified Ocelot that his custom bike is ready for testing. It is faster, tougher, and more powerful than any other bike they've built before. Ocelot took it for a test drive around Cascadia and then went back to discuss tweaks and options.

And then came the trial of Unitrex CEO Ed Loughlin... This was quite a scene with a packed courtroom and full media coverage. They even had a helicopter hovering around the courthouse. Ocelot and Frost watched the proceedings on a closed-circuit TV from an isolated room in the basement. Frost was brought to the edge of his seat when a Unitech Intern by the name of Amber was called to the witness stand! This was the young lady that was with him - then Michael McCloud - on the night of his accident. After she gave her account of the scene that night, Frost asked to be put on the stand as well. He dropped a bomb on the court when he promptly announced, "I am Michael McCloud." The whole room, led by Amber, gasped at this revelation! McCloud/Frost gave a further account of what happened after Amber left the scene and of course he was cross-examined.

After a recess, the trial resumed with the defense still backpeddling in the wake of McCloud's testimony. As they began to object about evidence involving President Ibera, Loughlin suddenly started a sinister chuckle. The judge demanded order from him, but Loughlin defiantly grew louder and told his own attorneys to sit down. Loughlin stood and addressed the jury with a shocking monologue over the sound of the judge's gavel. As bailiffs approached to subdue Loughlin, something punched through a nearby window, landing near Loughlin's feet! Loughlin reached down and pulled a breathing mask from the small container. Ocelot and Frost bolted from their seats and ran for the courtroom!

When they arrived, a white cloud of gas was rolling from the open double doors. Unconcious and choking people were everywhere! A commando team had busted through the windows. Our two heros ran headlong into the courtroom and battled the invaders! Ocelot's incredible senses allowed him to pinpoint Loughlin and a couple of soldiers. Ocelot took out Loughlin's body guards with ease with a somersault and a backflip-punch combination! Frost was more concerned with rescuing Amber, but he was delayed in a short battle with two commandos, which ended with Frost pulsing a chilling shockwave that rippled through the mist! Less than a minute after they arrived, the heros had neutralized the commando team and captured Loughlin.

The next day, Frost paid a visit to the Museum of Natural History on the Trinity State campus. There he met with Director Steve Hill who showed him the item that the Karn recovered. It is a strange artifact of unknown purpose, about the size of a football. While there was plenty of collateral damage in the museum, this appears to be the one thing they were after. The item had been found during the Karn Invasion of 1987. A government operative asked if TSU scientists could examine it. But unable to discern its function, the item was archived in a saltwater solution ever since.

More days passed as Ocelot, Frost, and friends began to contemplate the establishment of a headquarters. This converstion started with Brady Pettis proposing a multi-platform monitoring and alert system called Cascadia Area Threat System or C.A.T.S. They went so far as to approach the Mayor about this partnership, but their discussion was cut short when news broke that Oregon Air National Guard was responding to a crisis off the coast! Contact has been lost with a cruise ship called The Alleutian Crown.
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Post by Jukeboxer »

In other news, Ocelot makes the front page of a tabloid called The Constellation with the headline:

Romancing the Cat! Is Ocelot dating a Cascadia Reporter?

The slightly blurred photo shows Ocelot planting a kiss on a statuesque redhead. It is widely believed that this woman is Cascadian Herald columnist Rachel Corvin.
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Post by Samuraidad »

Can't have a clean, unmuddied plot in our game that's for sure!! Ahhhhh...good times always! And great fun!!
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Post by Jukeboxer »

Campaign Finale

After a tense hour of waiting, PAC-COM released the following statement:
This afternoon one aircraft - an F-16D - was lost in a skirmish with a Karn ship about 40 nautical miles northwest of Cascadia. Fortunately, the pilot ejected and was recovered. The other fighter jet successfully engaged a Karn ship, disrupting alien vessel's activity and the Karn retreated into the ocean. The Aleutian Crown was freed from some sort of tractor beam and communications reestablished. There are no casualties reported on board the cruise ship at this time.

The next morning, Daniel McPherson arrived at Aldergrove Labs anticipating a normal work day. Things soon went awry when Janey showed up and brushed past McPherson's cubicle, giving him no more than a cool glance. Minutes later, he tracked her down and asked what was the matter. She responded by slapping him on the chest with a folded newspaper. Daniel opened it to find a copy of The Constellation, a west coast tabloid. The headline read, "Romancing the Cat - Is Ocelot dating a Cascadian Reporter?"

Oh great... But of course, they couldn't further discuss the issue in the workplace. It didn't really matter when the windows lining the entire west side of the 20th floor imploded! Aldergrove was showered in glass and paper. The deafening roar from outside could only be that of Manticore! Janey and Daniel dove for cover. Seconds later, the main entrance doorway was blown off it's hinges and Behemoth stomped into the room. Daniel scramble to the bathroom, changed into his costume, and crawled through a maintenance shaft to the 20th floor foyer. He then circled around and came back to the ruined entrance of Aldergrove. Beyond Behemoth's massive purple back, he saw Undine safecracking the cold storage vault! He tumbled past Behemoth and started a melee with her! Thus began the most epic battle of this lengthy campaign!

After a whirling exchange of kicks and claws with Undine, Ocelot got drilled in the back by an anvil! An anvil? What the...??? It had been thrown by Behemoth! The force of the blow knocked Ocelot out the window, but he grabbed a loose cable hanging from the ceiling tiles to save himself from a terrible fall!
Undine yelled, "ANVIL! Advanced Neurologic Vindication and Insurrection League!"
"Oh great", he thought, "It's their calling-card."
He swung back in and kicked Undine, just as Tempest arrived on the scene. Tempest wind-blasted Manticore over 50ft, through the 21st story glass where he landed in an executive office - stunned for a page! Ocelot kicked Undine out of the building, but she caught herself using hydrokinesis and the water fountain in the courtyard below. Then he began to duke it out with Behemoth! Manticore hit Tempest with a sonic blast, driving her several stories down. About that time, Sambuca, aka Janey, debuted! She clawed Behemoth in the back and lept out of the window, tackling Manticore in mid-air and riding him into ground! Ka-pow! Then Ocelot blinded Behemoth using a box of chlorine and Tempest generated a vortex that pulled the disoriented Behemoth out of the building! The suction effect also grabbed Ocelot, but she was able to hold him while letting Behemoth fall like a brick. By this time, Undine emerged back into the fight. Tempest lowered Ocelot to ground level. He arrived to find Sambuca smashed into the stone pavement. A furious Ocelot unleashed a shocking flurry of claws on Behemoth (over 100 pts of damage) taking down the heavy-hitter! Twenty stories above, Undine managed to escape, but at least the vault was still intact.

The next day, Janey and Daniel finally finished that conversation about the tabloid article. It didn't go to well. Janey didn't buy his story and she walked away in the end.

And another day or two later, Ocelot, Frost, and Brady Pettis met with city officials to further discuss the C.A.T.S system. This meeting went well and they solidified plans for communications and monitoring. The Mayor asked Frost and Ocelot to hang back afterward and said that he had something to show them. He arranged for a private meeting on the 93rd floor of Donnegan Tower at 9 pm.

That evening, the Mayor walked out on to the incredible art deco, gothic balcony of Donnegan Tower, 1000 feet above street level. He took them for a tour and recalled the former tenants of this historic place, Blue Fox, the Interceptors, Radiomega... These floors had been vacant for over 20 years. He offered the space to them as their future headquarters!

Finally, as the Mayor turned out the lights to conclude the tour, he stood in the shadows and said, "There's one last thing I should share with you. Something I think you are uniquely qualified to understand." When he stepped into the moonlight, he was no longer the Mayor, he was an older grey-haired gentleman. The aged face seemed familiar but the heroes couldn't pin it down.

"I'm Patrick Donnegan", he admitted.

Of course! One of Cascadia's founding fathers! He was a west coast media mogul, an adventurer, a philanthropist... a legend of the city's past. He should be over 140 years old, but he looked to be only half that age.

Thus concludes The Astounding Ocelot series. Thanks for following along!
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BASHMAN
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Post by BASHMAN »

Seems like a good way to run it to me.

I like to make use of Called Shots to create temporary conditions as well.
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Post by CaptainChris »

Such great story telling and fun
Well done
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