AEON Season 7 Session 1 A Fresh Start

 GM Recap

Cast

• Amie-Belle T. W. Lee aka Whisper (Played by Curtis): Cold War era super-soldier/spy that got put in the Freezer, because she got poisoned. After getting thawed out and cured she tried to back to work, and was given an “adjustment period”. Uncle Sam called 2 years later, with work… because once you’re in, you’re in for life. Tagline: “In and out without a whisper.”
• Beauregard K. “Bo” Ratnam aka Wirerat (Played by Brice): Technopath, inventor, and hacker. He specializes in co-opting enemy systems and tech assets. Tagline: “Nice tech – I’ll borrow that.
• Stainless Steel Rat aka “Sir” (NPC Ally): Bo’s best friend and assistant. A sentient drone in the shape of a stylized shiny metal rat mindlinked to Bo. Specialties are rapid repair construction and modifications. Imagine if K-9 and R2D2 made a baby and it looks a bit like a rodent. Tagline: “Repairs and upgrades in progress”
• Derrick K. Ratnam aka Ledgerdemain (NPC Ally): Spin doctor and media liaison for Project VANGUARD. Twin to Bo. Tagline: “Well, actually that’s not how it happened.
• Rafe Hanlon aka Nyx (played by Chris D.): An umbrakinetic petty thief still on work release several years later, on his way to becoming a true agent and hero. Tagline: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”
• Layla A. de Blackburn aka Nox (NPC): CIA-trained child assassin all grown up to be Daddy’s Little Monster. Maybe a little mad. Argues with her shadow often. Tagline: “No, we shouldn’t do that…should we?”
• Vincenzo L. dePrezzo aka Threshold (Played by Rory): Doctor, Mathematician, and Scientist (yes, capitals) and Spatial Manipulator. Threshold can bend space like a pretzel, teleport, obliterate things, and has extraordinary senses. He’d rather be in a research lab than fight. Better known for his work with Doctors Without Borders, the United Nations, and disaster relief than famous battles. Tagline: “I can be there in a snap!”

Catching Up

Threshold spent the last 10 months working at Mt Sinai Hospital and doing a few odd jobs. He and Medevac saved President Callahans nice with a delicate heart surgery for example. He also did another surgery involving a lot of shrapnel. His Pararadar and teleport powers allow him to easily remove objects from a patent, making certain medical procedures far less risky than normal methods. He earned himself a great reputation (+3) as a premier surgeon this year.

Note: He got two critical successes on his job rolls, so the GM made them something special.

Nyx was released from jail, though there are certain outstanding charges hanging over his head.

Whisper has been doing security and police work.

Bo kept a low profile, not sure what he was up to.

Getting Organized

Derrick and Bo organized a comp0any and bought a patrol area for Flushing, Queens NYC and an abandoned fire house as a base. Derrick reaches out to us to form a new team and we check the building out and discuss options.

The team walks over to a bank across the street and Legerdemain charms the bank manager into a sweet $5 million loan and an extended line of credit, along with some extra perks. That should pay for the remodel and some operating costs for us to get things going. With President Callahan in office and President Blackwell gone the MAPS programs got renewed funding and support.

Wirerat made plans for some small robots to patrol the area offering to monitor the streets and help people as needed. That gives us a lot of visibility and hopefully good PR with the locals. Threshold will remain on call at the hospital but cut back on his hours so he can patrol.

Since he can port to the hospital instantly on a -13 or -18 with 1 seconds concentration if they call him on a videophone that is pretty much zero response time.

Nyx and Nox will patrol at night, Whisper and Threshold during the day and Wirerats robots and AI monitored cameras cover the gaps. With 3 teleporters the team can assemble in a hurry for any emergency. Whisper our non teleporter can still travel pretty fast but likely someone will pick her up as needed.

That was about all we did, it was kind of a session 0 type thing. So good planning.

Aeon B- Team Season 6 - Session 10

 

Cast

• Amar Gupta aka The Iron Sikh (played by Christian): Brick. Taxi Driver. Ass-Kicker. Sikh. Tagline: “Being a man of faith means to live it.”
• Amie-Belle T. W. Lee aka Whisper (Played by Curtis): Cold War era super-soldier/spy that got put in the Freezer, because she got poisoned. After getting thawed out and cured she tried to back to work, and was given an “adjustment period”. Uncle Sam called 2 years later, with work… because once you’re in, you’re in for life. Tagline: “In and out without a whisper.”
• Beauregard K. “Bo” Ratnam aka Wirerat (Played by Brice): Technopath, inventor, and hacker. He specializes in co-opting enemy systems and tech assets. Tagline: “Nice tech – I’ll borrow that.”
• Rafe Hanlon aka Nyx (played by Chris D.): An umbrakinetic petty thief still on work release several years later, on his way to becoming a true agent and hero. Tagline: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”
• Vincenzo L. dePrezzo aka Threshold (Played by Rory): Doctor, Mathematician, and Scientist (yes, capitals) and Spatial Manipulator. Threshold can bend space like a pretzel, teleport, obliterate things, and has extraordinary senses. He’d rather be in a research lab than fight. Better known for his work with Doctors Without Borders, the United Nations, and disaster relief than famous battles. Tagline: “I can be there in a snap!”Derrick K. Ratnam aka Ledgerdemain (NPC Ally): Spin doctor and media liaison for Project VANGUARD. Twin to Bo. Tagline: “Well, actually that’s not how it happened…
• Jodie R. Swann aka Surferboy (NPC): Dude. Aero- and Hydrokinetic. Really laid back, but wants to make a difference. Has a advanced glider/drone he rides on. Tagline: “Like. Let’s just chill, dude.”
• Layla A. de Blackburn aka Nox (NPC): CIA-trained child assassin all grown up to be Daddy’s Little Monster. Maybe a little mad. Argues with her shadow often. Tagline: “No, we shouldn’t do that…should we?”
• Stainless Steel Rat aka “Sir” (NPC Ally): Bo’s best friend and assistant. A sentient drone in the shape of a stylized shiny metal rat mindlinked to Bo. Specialties are rapid repair construction and modifications. Imagine if K-9 and R2D2 made a baby and it looks a bit like a rodent. Tagline: “Repairs and upgrades in progress”
• Tierney M. Ward aka Rush (NPC): Speedster and former member of the Bullet Hell Brigade. Tagline: “Was that fast? I thought that was fast.”
• Zubayr Sajjad Marou aka Five Stars (NPC): Driver. Pilot. Klubbe gig worker.. From N’Djamena, Chad. Used to go by Darryl Bell to sound more American. Tagline: “I can get you there in time.”

Lynch's Secret

The team decides to see Lynch again, Whisper made him a nice cake.

Lynch seems to still be fine with his confinement, though Threshold has no idea why and Wirerat suspects Lynch has stuff to hide. We talk briefly and he says something to Nyx.

Afterwards the team decides to check out the hospital, its been abandoned and Threshold portals everyone over so as to reduce our trail Wirerat spoofs Nyx'es tracking bracelet. After a though search we find a secret room with a faraday cage and lots of papers and other documents. Everything is stored in older technology, no computers - instead paper and microfiche with some audio cassettes.

One tape is addressed to Nyx and listened to privately. One wall holds a murder board style of notes regarding the Black Swan event. The team spends a few hours going over things then most head back to base, Threshold overcome with curiosity staying behind until well after midnight. Copious notes are taken and papers read and Threshold decides to come bak later with old time cameras to avoid digital tracking.

At the base everyone gets the news that I-MAPS is being shut down  NDAs are signed and a generous severance package offered to those not going back to jail.

Aftermath

It was a short session, the GM opted to wrap up the season as we really had closed up most of the major plot threads and discussed the next season. When we pick up, 10 months later Senator Callahan will be President Callahan and things could start turning around for the metahuman community. I-Maps will still be gone but NYC will have its more limited MAPS program and the season will be more locally focused and the intent is for us to deal with more traditional super heroics rather than some of the espionage we were involved in.

Threshold has done his season upgrades, boosted his Warp a bit, payed for some Patrons with powered by character points, and upgraded several skills.

He also added Gadgeteer with limited Quick Gadgeteer (Medical) powered by character points. We already had a gadgeteer in Wirerat, but this allows the two to work better together with Threshold offering support.  Threshold also is better at making drugs or working on medical related tech.

Aeon B-Team Season 6 Session 9

 

Cast

• Amar Gupta aka The Iron Sikh (played by Christian): Brick. Taxi Driver. Ass-Kicker. Sikh. Tagline: “Being a man of faith means to live it.”
• Amie-Belle T. W. Lee aka Whisper (Played by Curtis): Cold War era super-soldier/spy that got put in the Freezer, because she got poisoned. After getting thawed out and cured she tried to back to work, and was given an “adjustment period”. Uncle Sam called 2 years later, with work… because once you’re in, you’re in for life. Tagline: “In and out without a whisper.”
• Beauregard K. “Bo” Ratnam aka Wirerat (Played by Brice): Technopath, inventor, and hacker. He specializes in co-opting enemy systems and tech assets. Tagline: “Nice tech – I’ll borrow that.”
• Rafe Hanlon aka Nyx (played by Chris D.): An umbrakinetic petty thief still on work release several years later, on his way to becoming a true agent and hero. Tagline: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”
• Vincenzo L. dePrezzo aka Threshold (Played by Rory): Doctor, Mathematician, and Scientist (yes, capitals) and Spatial Manipulator. Threshold can bend space like a pretzel, teleport, obliterate things, and has extraordinary senses. He’d rather be in a research lab than fight. Better known for his work with Doctors Without Borders, the United Nations, and disaster relief than famous battles. Tagline: “I can be there in a snap!”Derrick K. Ratnam aka Ledgerdemain (NPC Ally): Spin doctor and media liaison for Project VANGUARD. Twin to Bo. Tagline: “Well, actually that’s not how it happened…
• Jodie R. Swann aka Surferboy (NPC): Dude. Aero- and Hydrokinetic. Really laid back, but wants to make a difference. Has a advanced glider/drone he rides on. Tagline: “Like. Let’s just chill, dude.”
• Layla A. de Blackburn aka Nox (NPC): CIA-trained child assassin all grown up to be Daddy’s Little Monster. Maybe a little mad. Argues with her shadow often. Tagline: “No, we shouldn’t do that…should we?”
• Stainless Steel Rat aka “Sir” (NPC Ally): Bo’s best friend and assistant. A sentient drone in the shape of a stylized shiny metal rat mindlinked to Bo. Specialties are rapid repair construction and modifications. Imagine if K-9 and R2D2 made a baby and it looks a bit like a rodent. Tagline: “Repairs and upgrades in progress”
• Tierney M. Ward aka Rush (NPC): Speedster and former member of the Bullet Hell Brigade. Tagline: “Was that fast? I thought that was fast.”
• Zubayr Sajjad Marou aka Five Stars (NPC): Driver. Pilot. Klubbe gig worker.. From N’Djamena, Chad. Used to go by Darryl Bell to sound more American. Tagline: “I can get you there in time.”

The Senate Meeting, Pt 2

We spent the evening kibitzing and part of us engaging in petty shenanigan's messing with the various agencies bugging our rooms. Whisper probably made the best move by going out dancing.

Wirerat/Bo suggested to Threshold they go visit Lynch whom he found out where they had stashed. Threshold  Threshold laid out the likely consequences and advised it would be fun but a terrible idea.

We then went to the Senate Committee meeting and finished the interrogation.

As we entered this time there were no cameras and they were interrogating Lynch on something called Project Pinhole. The name intrigues Threshold who asks if that is related to wormhole testing. The Senators tell him he is not cleared for that so Threshold turns to Wirerat and asks him to look into it for him. Of course he could have asked later or more discretely but he wanted to send a message. It's generally a good idea to tell Threshold what he wants and that the group was not going to passively allow the committee to shove them around. The committee knows full well Wirerat is an excellent hacker and it should occur to them is likely to find out more than what would have satisfied Threshold had they just told him themselves. And asking someone to look into something is not illegal, as Wirerat could be interpreted to being asked to use legal research methods.

The committee then gets to questioning the group, this time focusing on its funding. Do we get funding from illegal methods? Getting suspicious that Black Ops money might be involved Threshold tries to avoid accidentally perjuring himself in saying that all the money comes from open sources and while some of the sources may be considcered illegal by some people he does not believe any laws are broken. For example some people say income tax is against the Constitution and its possible some govt funding is moved around in  shady ways but thats beyond his knowledge and paygrade.

Whisper points out that laws on foreign soil do not apply.

The Senate also asks more about activities related to the Super Soldier serum and Threshold gets a little more blatant and direct (now that the cameras are off) about how that focus is rather narrowminded and the real danger is the kyberic energy sources. They say they will consider it but seem to be dismissive and Threshold is sure that is going to come back to haunt everyone.

The group is finally dismissed and as we leave Lynch leans over and whispers something to Nyx. Pretty much everyone but Threshold overhears it and when its later brought up this is what he was told.

(40.568673, -73.86474, Simplicity. Ghost. Counsel. Genuine. Pace).

Threshold immediately recognizes this as coordinates of latitude and longitude for somewhere in NY and looks it up find it matches 

Neponsit Beach Hospital

67 Rockaway Beach Boulevard

Rockaway Park, NY 11694

The group heads back to town, Threshold and Wirerat having a lively discussion on how the government works, or doesn't.

Threshold believes in the system, while acknowledging that people can abuse the system. Wirerat thinks the system itself is faulty and should be gotten rid of. Threshold is more a bureaucrat and idealist where Wirerat is more an anarchist. The rest of the group mostly stayed out of it, likely thinking they are both crazy.

Aftermath

The player upon seeing the numbers immediately thought they looked like latitude and longitude so entered them into a map app and it coming up with a NY address (the campaign is centered in NY) is likely not a coincidence. We will probably check that out next session.

Threshold has Matrhematics! (20) and Navigation (Air and Sea both) (21) so would easily have arrived at the same intuition the player did, except Threshold probably did not need an app to know it led to someplace in NY. That was a fun moment for me, maybe others would have spotted that connection and if we hadn't certainly the GM could have used skill rolls to let the characters do so to move the plot forward. However, its nice when the players can put clues together themselves and this is one of the harder parts of a mystery campaign.

The session was a short one but at 2 hours good enough. We finished a scenario and got some leads on the next plot.

We did have more crosstalk this session and I felt I had to jump in quickly a few times to get something said or I wouldn't have been able to talk at all, which helped contribute to the crosstalk problem.

The GM brought it up after and it was discussed.

Aeon B-Team Season 6 Session 8

 

Cast

• Amar Gupta aka The Iron Sikh (played by Christian): Brick. Taxi Driver. Ass-Kicker. Sikh. Tagline: “Being a man of faith means to live it.”
• Amie-Belle T. W. Lee aka Whisper (Played by Curtis): Cold War era super-soldier/spy that got put in the Freezer, because she got poisoned. After getting thawed out and cured she tried to back to work, and was given an “adjustment period”. Uncle Sam called 2 years later, with work… because once you’re in, you’re in for life. Tagline: “In and out without a whisper.”
• Beauregard K. “Bo” Ratnam aka Wirerat (Played by Brice): Technopath, inventor, and hacker. He specializes in co-opting enemy systems and tech assets. Tagline: “Nice tech – I’ll borrow that.”
• Rafe Hanlon aka Nyx (played by Chris D.): An umbrakinetic petty thief still on work release several years later, on his way to becoming a true agent and hero. Tagline: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”
• Vincenzo L. dePrezzo aka Threshold (Played by Rory): Doctor, Mathematician, and Scientist (yes, capitals) and Spatial Manipulator. Threshold can bend space like a pretzel, teleport, obliterate things, and has extraordinary senses. He’d rather be in a research lab than fight. Better known for his work with Doctors Without Borders, the United Nations, and disaster relief than famous battles. Tagline: “I can be there in a snap!”Derrick K. Ratnam aka Ledgerdemain (NPC Ally): Spin doctor and media liaison for Project VANGUARD. Twin to Bo. Tagline: “Well, actually that’s not how it happened…
• Jodie R. Swann aka Surferboy (NPC): Dude. Aero- and Hydrokinetic. Really laid back, but wants to make a difference. Has a advanced glider/drone he rides on. Tagline: “Like. Let’s just chill, dude.”
• Layla A. de Blackburn aka Nox (NPC): CIA-trained child assassin all grown up to be Daddy’s Little Monster. Maybe a little mad. Argues with her shadow often. Tagline: “No, we shouldn’t do that…should we?”
• Stainless Steel Rat aka “Sir” (NPC Ally): Bo’s best friend and assistant. A sentient drone in the shape of a stylized shiny metal rat mindlinked to Bo. Specialties are rapid repair construction and modifications. Imagine if K-9 and R2D2 made a baby and it looks a bit like a rodent. Tagline: “Repairs and upgrades in progress”
• Tierney M. Ward aka Rush (NPC): Speedster and former member of the Bullet Hell Brigade. Tagline: “Was that fast? I thought that was fast.”
• Zubayr Sajjad Marou aka Five Stars (NPC): Driver. Pilot. Klubbe gig worker.. From N’Djamena, Chad. Used to go by Darryl Bell to sound more American. Tagline: “I can get you there in time.”

Are We in Trouble?

The group was summoned before the US Senate Committee on Metahuman Affairs.

Threshold and Bo did some research on the senators for background and to use as a distraction or counter attack as needed. We prepared as best we could for a hearing where we did not know what the questions or topic would be.

As usual our bosses opted to restrain Thresholds travel options, so we took a flight and stayed at a local hotel. Waste of time and taxpayer money!

This was a RP and noncombat session, we were asked questions and the focus was on the super soldier serum. In the campaign the Americans invented a super soldier serum, the Russians tried to copy it as did several other governments and private corporations. None have perfected it but the latest version (derived from the Russians) seems to have a higher rate of success - though more instability and lethal side effects. We answered questions on what we knew and Threshold explained to the committee that the serum did indeed kind of work but their focus was partly misguided. It needs Kyberian energy and that should be the focus of efforts to restrain it. That stuff should be treated like weapons grade uranium or plutonium as it can create metahumans even without a serum (though less likely) and can have many other effects as well.

Overall the group acquitted themselves well, though members of the committee had axes to grind and wanted to make political points for the next election. Metahumans are the whipping boy of the current President who is trying to push a Registration Act and a member of his party is following in his shoes for a run. Metahumans do have at least one ally on the committee who is against registration and also making a Presidential run. Nyx was harassed by a couple of Senators, one in particular for his criminal past. Warlock one of the most powerful super heroes in the country teleported in to give a character reference for Nyx. 

After the meeting one of our handlers was arrested under the Patriot Act which is likely to be a point of contention later.  We have a second session for the next adventure.

Aftermath

I thought it was a fun session, though a lot was based on rolls and there was less roleplaying than I would have liked. However we each did get some in and tonight may be more contentious. The handler they arrested is liked by the group and Threshold wants to push the kyberian power source as a higher priority than the super soldier serum.

Project Vanguard (the teams patron organization) is in part funded by the Federal government so the Senate can be a problem if they choose to.