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.