(Here is the directors starting post. Feel free to start voting for actions now, or to wait for the Project Buckler resources and personel doc to go up. An IC thread with individual intros for the players should go up tomorrow.)
Director Michael 'Phalanx' Sterling
CR 5 (CF 3)
Strengths:
-Special Opps Training (Very skilled with martial arts, military grade weapons, and wilderness survival skills)
-Experienced at Organizing and Commanding Troops in the Field
-Descendant of Hephaestus (Enhanced strength and endurance, able to safely wield the divine weapons of the Greek pantheon)
-Divine Crafts Training (Able to maintain and understand most enchanted gear. Can create enchanted gear with the right materials and tools)
-'Torch of Manchester' (Enchanted TAR-21 Assualt Rifle. Can shoot normal bullets, rubber rounds, bolts of flame, bolts of thunder, and beams of highly lethal underworld energy, all out of one multi-purpose magazine. Can only be safely wielded by Olympic gods and their descendants.)
-Divine Sandals (Grants user a sustained running speed of 70 MPH and a sprinting speed of 240 MPH. Allows sprinting over water or air for short distances. Con only be safely worn by Olympic gods and their descendants.)
Weaknesses:
-Unable to disobey a direct order from the reigning king of Olympus
-Highly Impure blood means that most other users of divine power can disable or shrug off Phalanx's enchantments
Intel:
High Level UK Government Source: 60%
High Level USA Government Source: 40%
High Level China Government Source: 40%
Source at the Divine Court of Zeus: 15%
Source at the Divine Court of Hephaestus: 35%
Source at the Divine Court of Ares: 35%
Mid Level UK Military Source: 60%
High Level Olympus Military Source: 35%
Backstory:
In the year 1999 Captain Michael Sterling lead a crack team of British Special Forces to investigate a strange Quantum disturbance near the summit of Mt. Olympus in Greece. After some prodding around he and his team were sucked through a portal into the realm of the Greek Pantheon. Sterling was the only member of his squad to survive the trip, as it turned out he was a descendant of Hephaestus and thus possessed a small amount of divine blood.
Sterling learned that the disturbance he detected was created by an alien force attempting to invade the home of the gods, after getting over the initial shock and mourning the loss of his men, he agreed to help in exchange for safe passage home once the threat was dealt with. Vanquishing the aliens took several years, and over this time time he studied the art of warfare under Ares and the art of divine smiting under his ancestor Hephaestus.
When the Aliens were vanquished, Sterling was reunited with fellow expedition member Cassandra Flemings, who had been upgraded by Hades in the greek underworld and released back to the world of the living, and was now operating under the code name 'Killer Queen'. Taking the code name 'Phalanx' himself, Sterling and Flemings returned to England just in time for the terrifying Britannica Prime Incident, in which a resource hungry fascist British Empire of steampunk Cyborgs from an alternate earth attacked the UK. Phalanx lead many a mission against the invaders, but the effort seemed futile; More and more land fell to the alternate Brits. The United Hero Front, the predecessor to the JDF, refused to get involved, citing their attempts to negotiate a peace with the inhabitants of Britannica Prime.
Just as all hope seemed lost, the Britannica Prime crisis came to a cataclysmic conclusion. The nations of mainland Europe, fearing that the invaders were planning on crossing the channel to attack them next, launched nuclear strikes against Dover (with South London eating much of the fallout) and Aberdeen, port cities where the invaders were amassing their forces. This strike, although devistating to the people of England and Scotland, won the war almost instantly, as it was revealed that the invading cyborgs possessed a lethal weakness to EMP, and over 98% of the enemy army in the entire UK was killed instantly.
Since the crisis ended, Phalanx has been quietly training British Special Forces, and occasionally taking missions where superhero involvement seems likely; Like most Brits, Sterling blames the inaction of the United Hero Front for the atomic bombing of the UK, and was quick to accept the role of Director of Project Buckler when it was offered to him.
---
You stare down the four officers under you, with a cold determination in your eyes and a cigar hanging from your mouth. You are not sure where you stand on most of them.
Fletcher, a twitchy and seemingly free spirited researcher, seems nice enough, but you have heard that top brass consider him unreliable. From what you understand he values 'making a difference' more than he dose loyalty to any given nation or cause. Seeing as he is the only high ranking American in the project, you can imagine yourself and Killer Queen competing for his support with the two officers send from China.
On that note, you consider Wraith next, a woman formerly tied to Dr. Deathray: the 'reformed' supervillain who now works for the JDF. Disgusting. From what you understand, the creepy mad scientist had to try and turn Wraith in following the Rasevi invasion, and that China has been helping her hide out ever since. You hope she can be trusted; Wraith might give you a run for your money as the most powerful non-prisoner aboard the
HMS Illustrious, and her talent for manipulating and organizing villains could further make her troublesome if she goes rouge.
If Wraith concerns you, her fellow Chinese asset, the Nazi cyborg known as The Pioneer who has been make captain of the
Illustrious, damn near makes you sick to your stomach. He was brought to justice hardly a year ago, and now the Chinese trust him with such an important role within Project Buckler. If you had your way, he'd be in a cell, not commanding the ship.
At the very least, you are pretty sure you can trust Killer Queen. You haven't actually commanded Flemmings since she was a rookie in your squad on the fateful day that saw you meeting gods; Since leaving the underworld she has climbed the military ranks, and has actually been directly above you on the chain of command at several points, but you are one of the few people who has gone through something even remotely similar to her, and as such you make a point to put up with her annoying quirks. You like to think of her as a friend... but honestly nobody can be sure what goes on in that wild and ever so slightly unhinged mind.
Each officer is given a stiff and wordless handshake, alongside your best poker face. You may have your feelings and biases regarding these people, but you are a professional and will not be caught playing favorites. With a nod, you lead the officers out on deck to observe and address the prisoners for the first time.
---
"I'd call you lot maggots," you begin, treating the assembled and restrained prisoners to your trademark glare,
"but maggots actually play a vital role in the circle of life. They are actually productive and good for something. Far as I can tell, you scum don't know how to do a damn thing but murder, rob, and otherwise raise hell."Pausing to take a long drag from your cigar, you continue.
"Because of c***s like you, we have dickheads like the JDF up there, pointing their damn rayguns at MY PLANET, but not actually acting on our behalf. Thats where I come in. You may call me Phalanx or Sir. I am vengance and Karma personified, and I will either see each of you redeemed or each of your victims avenged."Fishing in your pocket for a brief moment, you pull out a remote control.
"Inside each of your brain stems, we have surgically implanted a deadly nano-explosive... Before you ask, Cromwell, you got an EMP Charge, and Anastasia, you have a capsule of specialized toxin in your frontal lobe, that should only render you vegetative when detonated... so your 'immortality' isn't getting you out of this one. Capeesh?""We are here to build weapons and armies to oppose the JDF should it ever become a threat," you explain as the prisoners murmur among themselves
"and most of you will die for that cause. Some as test subjects, and some as cannon fodder. Some will die because they cross, betray, annoy, disobey, or otherwise vex me or one of my underlings. Survive long enough and redemption, and perhaps even a crack at the JDF, awaits.""Ladies and gentlemen," you exclaim as a rare grin spreads across your face,
"welcome to Project Buckler!"---
Several minutes later, you sit alone in your quarters considering some of the prisoners who interest you.
Grand Protector Cromwell, the highest ranking officer from Britannica Prime to be captured alive during the crisis, disgusts you, but he is easily the single most powerful being aboard the
Illustrious. You have lost many good men to Grand Protector class cyborgs, and know exactly how dangerous they can be. Cromwell also understands both field and theater level military tactics, to the point where he might be the greatest general aboard the ship as well, and his understanding of general military protocol means that if you are willing to clench your teeth and work with him, it shouldn't be too difficult to reach an understanding.
A good part of you would rather be Anastasia's protector or teacher than her jailer. She is little more than a moody teenager with a natural incination for killing... She could be a fine soldier if taught to channel her impulses appropriately. Her father, Thanos, was not one of the Greek Gods you grew close to during your time on Olympus, but he is a good friend of Ares, who is one of your mentors. Like Ares, the capture of Thanos is considered a top JDF priority, as they consider the death god too Chaotic and Evil to roam free... He could be a valuable ally, and although you are not sure if he would be interested in raising his own daughter, traveling to Olympus to return her could very well be in your best interest.
The Dangerous alien Crossfire was captured with his personal craft and weapons. You are not sure if he should be trusted to wield these himself, or if they should be torn apart for research. Some of your scientists advise extreme caution in examining the former, as nobody is quite sure what fuels the thing.
You know that Derick ‘Prom King’ McIntire was part of his school's ROTC program before his hideous demonic traits manifested, turning him into a dangerous and self-loathing outcast. Although not terribly impressive by meta-human standards, he could still develop more powers, and you are confident you possess the skill set to mold the broken young man into a soldier.
Paco Fernández is a complicated situation; He has ties to the Beastslayers, a group of mythical hunters sought for the JDF for their actions against endangered and sentient species. The Beastslayers have access to many resources and a shared dislike of the JDF, so they may make a good ally for Project Buckler, but neither the British Government nor the Greek Pantheon can stand them, so such an alliance would have to be kept on the down low.
‘2QT4U’ and Gnaw are both failed weapons that the British Military attempted to create, and were personally transferred to Project Buckler by Killer Queen. You are sure she would have a better idea of what to do with them than you do. You are worried about keeping ‘2QT4U’ aboard the Illustrious... You understand it can absorb technology, which means it could get quite dangerous if allowed access to any of the Alien Tech kept aboard. You probably shouldn't allow it near Cromwell or the Pioneer either...
Suggest Actions for the Following Week. Sterling will carry out the 3 most popular choices!
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Topic: (SG/OOC Thread) Project Buckler: You Run a Suicide Squad! (Read 8881 times)