CHAPTER 10: DAY OF INFAMY

[doc]

DECEMBER 7, 1941

"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you this important bulletin. . . Flash. Washington. The White House announces Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Stay tuned . . . for further developments. . . ."



(Tank and Hunter)


Thankfully the Stormcrows had been quick to respond and sent a plane to get Tank, Hunter, and the Concerned Citizen. Sentry had taken off like a shot the moment after bringing the rest of you the news.

Alex had relayed the message to his Aunt Vivian; the Steelfist and the rest of her old cohorts would keep things safe on the homefront while you four did what you could on the island. Alex was still adjusting to his Uncle Lex's departure to England; he was going to stay with the Duchess and Xandi; his daughter. Even weeks later, he was processing that bit of information. Never mind the final gifts Uncle Lex had left him - the loft and his shares of the bakery. He was now effectively a partner with his parents; well, 30% ownership, at least.

Hunter had just finished reading the latest correspondence from the old man and his nephew, now in hiding in the Austrian Alps. He considered the ramifications of having an ally so deep in Nazi territory; if such information would be valuable enough to Agent Scarecrow of the FBI to end his harassment of their activities. He realized, not for the first time, the sheer number of secrets that not only he kept, but that those of his colleagues:

-Who is the Sentry?
-Who is the Tank? What is his connection to the Steelfist?
-How is the Concerned Citizen connected to any of them? And who is this "Detective" he kept mentioning with such reverence?

All of which had to be cast aside the moment the plane landed - the Japanese had attacked, after all, and that was more important.

(Sentry)

The air screamed at her clenched fists even as it thinned.

Her "Uncle Rex" had explained it to her once - some kind of arcane math he learned from a desert eccentric named Goddard. That by flying high above the earth and matching it's curvature, she could - theoretically - travel at enormous velocity while moving in the direction of the Earth's rotation.

Well, time was of the essence, so she was trying. Pushing herself to the limit, she left a crack of thunder behind her as the sky turned to darkness. She turned, and redirected the gravity around her.

She flew.

She could feel the heat of the air friction around her knuckles as she accelerated.

It didn't matter.

She was needed.

[yendorj]

Sometimes people should let sleeping dogs lie. he thinks as they begin to exit the plane when it lands.

[dakota]

Alex wasn't sure who had yelled more , his mother or "Aunt" Vivian, but he took it in stride. He did not move back to the loft like his uncle had wanted, instead staying at his own place so it was easier to keep up appearances. He did close his uncle's shop, though there were many keys to the back entrance. When the call came, he he merely left word he had to go out of town.

It was Tank, in full uniform beneath a large overcoat that arrived at the airfield ready to leave

[Mierin]

Sentry flies as quickly as she can, hoping her Uncle Rex was correct and she wasn't about to burm up by going too quickly. It was worth the risk, however, as she was needed. Many people would need her help and she would do the best she could to save as many as she could.

[doc]

(Tank and Hunter)

You could see the devastation as the plane circled above the harbour.



One of the Stormcrows looked back at you. "you boys need us to land or you going to jump?"


(Sentry)


Sentry had spent the time since she'd arrived pulling sailors out of the water. For many it was already too late, but she'd managed to save some. It took awhile before a midshipman had flagged her down to direct her towards the USS Arizona.

"The ship's under, but we think there might be men still trapped inside!"

What little of the ship was still above the water was still burning, but she could hear thoughts and feel the panic. There were people trapped in the wreckage below the fire.

Her mind flashed - a vision of the future - and she could see the Stormcrow plane above. She saw the others coming to help.

[dakota]

Alex was watching the devastation below and nearly missed the question, "If you can get us below four hundred feet, I'll bounce... err, jump."

When one of the Stormcrows looked at him like he was insane, he explained, "one of my abilities lets me bounce. I've never tried any higher, but likely just means a bigger crater when I hit. Hunter, I can give you a lift..., or a drop I guess is the more appropriate term. But we need to get down there."

[yendorj]

"Give me a chute, I'll jump. Rather land though."

[Mierin]

Sentry nods at the midshipman who had flagged her down. She nods in acknowledgement and replies, "Thank you for letting me know. I'll do what I can to save as many brave souls as I can." Sentry then dives into the water and swims down to where the sub is and swims around it as quickly as she can. Going under the sub, Sentry attempts to swim upwards, bringing the sub back to the surface. Sentry had no idea if she could do this - she'd never attempted something like this before and wasn't sure of what the limit of her strength was. Let's hope this works. Sentry thinks to herself.

[doc]

(Tank and Hunter)

One of the Stormcrows get Hunter and the Citizen strapped into their parachutes as the plane lowers, the man pats Tank on the back. "THIS I GOTTA SEE!" You manage to read his lips over the noise of the engines.

(Sentry)


You manage to get under and you start to push.

Nothing.

You reach out with your mind, mentally trying to keep the ship together as you push with your body and telekinetic gifts locked in.

Still Nothing.

You lower the gravity, set your back and push with all your might.

Nothing.

You scream, fruitlessly and combine all your efforts.

Images flash before your eyes, with sounds to match.

You see Paul Powell in a suit of some kind of armor; his hand around your throat. "WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU DESERVE FOREVER?"



You see yourself and Tank locked in combat with a giant of a man clad only in animal fur.



The images settle to just one. A pair of people. A man and woman. Their skin so pale as to be translucent - you can see their blood vessels move. They are wearing what seem to be robes in the same colours as your outfit.

"She is perfect. The first of her kind." The woman smiles.
"And also the last." The man sighs. "We have not much time."
"But that is what she will have?"
"What we have given her. The pinnacle of evolution. Apotheosis."

The images fade, and again you feel water. And then sunlight. You feel weak, drained from the effort.

(NOTE: ISP is down to zero and you are -5 on all actions.)


(ALL)

Tank lands, with the Citizen and Hunter drifting down, when suddenly everything seems to shift. You feel your stomach turn and your body get lighter for a moment.

The USS Arizona raises from the water. You can make out Sentry's cape bobbing in the water.

They are not alone.

Everything has been dredged up. Every downed fighter craft, every un-detonated artillery shell, torpedo and bomb. Every last piece that had been sunk in the harbor had created a near minefield...and it was all starting to drift to the still imperilled battleship.

"That...is...astonishing." was all the Concerned Citizen could say.

[yendorj]

"...maybe the spirit of the U.S. is seeking retribution for the sneak attack?"

[dakota]

Tank tucked his arms to his sides as he dropped, bending his knees slightly for the impending touchdown, then allowed himself short bounce to a second landing to absorb the initial impact. He looked up and saw Hunter and Citizen parachuting down. He turned his attention to locating Sentry when he saw what he thought was her uniform bobbing in the water. He started towards the waters edge to help her when the wave of..... something washed over him and made him slightly nauseous, but it was the suddenly flying debris field that made him take pause.

When he could not tell if Sentry was floating or treading water under her own power, he regained his focus and continued towards the waterline until he was close enough to leap and land fairly close to her in the water. As he surfaced, he called, "SENTRY!" before swimming to her aid if needed, "Are you injured?" As he supported her in the water and began treading water for both of them.


(Swimming YDLlff8U1d100/ 50)1d100

[doc]

The Concerned Citizen turned to the Hunter. "As fascinating an idea as that is, I suspect it is more likely that Sentry's...impressive feat of lifting the battleship has inadvertently raised all this other debris, much of it ordnance that might go off rather explosively." He began to fumble through his cape and the various concealed pouches on his outfit. "I admit, I'm at a loss as to what I can do here. Perhaps you have some other tool at your disposal?"

Tank splashed down near Sentry, and was able to lift her above the water. He started to hold her above the water, and tread, but it was difficult as the water was choppy. He could see the debris, and the various dangerous items beginning to converge on the two of them and the risen battleship. He was beginning to sink, even as he saw an unexploded mine drifting towards him.

The sound of Tank's shout stirred Sentry from her semi-conscious state...

[Mierin]

Sentry comes to after a moment and is surprised to see Tank had lifted her out of the water. At first, she's elated at her success of lifting the battleship out of the water, but that joy quickly gives way to concern as she realizes what else she had lifted out of the water. "I'm ok, Tank." she tells him with a tone of gratitude. "Though, I think you better let me go so we can get away more quickly." Sentry pauses before admitting, "I was trying to get the battleship to rise, not everything in the ocean. I may have.. over done it a bit."

[yendorj]

"Unless you have a magnet to overpower whatever Sentry did, gunfire and explosives to detonate the ordinance before it reaches the Arizona. Outside of that, find a ditch and keep low until the explosive shockwave passes overhead."