After three weeks battling a 7mm kidney stone.  I have returned. 
Victorious, I must add.

Just testing the water to see what people think. The next chapter is halfway done. I really wanted to do a classic
Knight Saber raid on a facility in this chapter, but I may pass until
the next one. I've just got too much ground to cover here.

A teaser to test the water...

Quote:Yoshida took a deep breath to steady himself, and gestured at the image

on the screen. "I recognize that, of course. It's the Leontophonous

virus that freed boomers. But what's it doing in my head?"

Silver shook his head. "Actually, it's not. It's close, mind you, but

there's subtle differences. What you're really looking at there is

technically Leontophonous-B. It's based on two source materials: The

nanite tech which freed boomers worldwide, and the nanite upgrade

technology Katsuhito Stingray gave to his daughter so he could map her

mind.

"The difference, however, is that Leontophonous-B isn't designed to free

anything. It follows the pattern of the original nanite infusion,

replacing key nodes in the human brain, which can theoretically lead to

enhanced mental development, greater intelligence, and so on. But with

the addition of the modified Leontophonous nanotech, it also allows the

programmer to institute mental blocks. They can even program behavioral

modifications, all without the beneficiary being aware they have them."

The image shifted a few times, showing clusters of them in the human

brain. "Get enough of them in one place, and you have an effective

replacement for the Overmind Control System. Not only do you have a

technology which can be used to institute boomer-based mind control on

the human populace, but you can use the same Leontophonous-based virus

to reinfect the boomer populace with a new kind of mind control program

they can't stop. Especially since Leontophonous-B seems to have a kind

of antivirus program running in it which recognizes the Alpha variant

and neutralizes it on contact."

"So... What was it doing in my head?"

Silver smiled and shook his head. "You're obviously still in a lot of

pain, or you'd have realized it by now. *You* were the test subject. The

boomers you sent out on the mission... I know what you know, and I know

that our benefactors wanted the mission boomers to include the

Leontophonous nanovirus. I'm sure they told you they were using the

Alpha variant, and that they wanted to see what you could do with

unshackled boomers. But what they were *really* doing was testing the

dependability of the Beta version under combat conditions, where boomer

brains are most likely to slip the leash. If Leontophonous-B remained

firmly in control of the boomers even in the middle of a losing fight,

it would give them an ironclad grip on whoever they gave it to."

From the first post in http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=82963]this thread on the SJGames forums:

Quote:for folks who like to vote with their wallet, know that a "vote" for http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG37-0609]GURPS Reign of Steel: Will to Live is also a vote for more Third Edition conversions

Well, its a first draft, but It emphasizes Defence and a bit of Regen over most other things.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.942
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Energy Blast
Secondary Power Set: Energy Manipulation
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Flame Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Power Blast

• (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 50
  
• (19) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (19) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (21) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (21) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (27) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage: Level 50
  
• (46) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (46) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (48) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (48) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (48) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal): Level 50
  

• (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
  
• (3) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (3) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (5) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (5) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (7) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative): Level 40
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense: Level 50
  
• (43) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (43) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (43) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
  
• (11) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (11) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (13) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (13) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (15) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative): Level 40
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%: Level 30
  
• (27) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (31) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (33) Aegis - Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (50) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (50) Aegis - Resistance: Level 50
  

• (A) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (37) Razzle Dazzle - Endurance/Stun: Level 30
  
• (40) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Endurance: Level 30
  
• (42) Razzle Dazzle - Stun/Range: Level 30
  
• (42) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge: Level 30
  
• (42) Razzle Dazzle - Chance of Immobilize: Level 30
  

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense: Level 50
  
• (23) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (23) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (25) Red Fortune - Endurance: Level 50
  

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  
• (25) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense: Level 50
  
• (29) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (29) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (31) Red Fortune - Endurance: Level 50
  

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  
• (31) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Obliteration - Damage: Level 50
  
• (33) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (33) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (34) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (34) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (34) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage: Level 50
  

• (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 50
  
• (36) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (36) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (36) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (37) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (37) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
  
• (39) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (39) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (39) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  
• (40) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  
• (40) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative): Level 40
  

• (A) Damage Increase IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Aegis - Resistance: Level 50
  
• (45) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (45) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (45) Aegis - Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (46) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (50) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  

• (A) Accuracy IO: Level 50
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery: Level 50
  
• (7) Numina's Convalescence - Heal: Level 50
  
• (9) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance: Level 50
  
• (9) Regenerative Tissue - +Regeneration: Level 30
  

• (A) Empty
  

• (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod: Level 50
  
• (15) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge: Level 50
  
• (17) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Accuracy: Level 50
  
• (17) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance: Level 50
  

• 17.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
  
• 17.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
  
• 17.5% DamageBuff(Fire)
  
• 17.5% DamageBuff(Cold)
  
• 17.5% DamageBuff(Energy)
  
• 17.5% DamageBuff(Negative)
  
• 17.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
  
• 17.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
  
• 11.8% Defense(Smashing)
  
• 11.8% Defense(Lethal)
  
• 13.6% Defense(Fire)
  
• 13.6% Defense(Cold)
  
• 12.4% Defense(Energy)
  
• 12.4% Defense(Negative)
  
• 3% Defense(Psionic)
  
• 20.5% Defense(Melee)
  
• 14.3% Defense(Ranged)
  
• 14.9% Defense(AoE)
  
• 2% Enhancement(Stun)
  
• 32% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  
• 8% FlySpeed
  
• 140.1 HP (11.6%) HitPoints
  
• 8% JumpHeight
  
• 8% JumpSpeed
  
• MezResist(Held) 11.6%
  
• MezResist(Immobilize) 16%
  
• MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
  
• 7.5% (0.13 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 44% (2.21 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 2.52% Resistance(Fire)
  
• 2.52% Resistance(Cold)
  
• 18% RunSpeed
  
• 5% XPDebtProtection
  

• 2% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 2.5% Defense(Energy,Negative), 1.25% Defense(Ranged)
  
• 7% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 4% RunSpeed, 4% FlySpeed, 4% JumpSpeed, 4% JumpHeight
  
• 2.5% Defense(Ranged), 1.25% Defense(Energy), 1.25% Defense(Negative)
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 3.3%
  
• 18.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  
• 3% DamageBuff(All)
  
• MezResist(Held) 3.3%
  
• 3.75% Defense(Ranged), 1.88% Defense(Energy), 1.88% Defense(Negative)
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
  
• 18.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  
• 2.5% DamageBuff(All)
  
• MezResist(Held) 2.75%
  
• 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)
  

• 10% (0.5 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 13.6 HP (1.12%) HitPoints
  
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
  
• 18.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  
• 2.5% DamageBuff(All)
  
• MezResist(Held) 2.75%
  
• 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)
  

• 3% Defense(Melee), 3% Defense(AoE), 3% Defense(Ranged), 3% Defense(Smashing), 3% Defense(Lethal), 3% Defense(Fire), 3% Defense(Cold), 3% Defense(Energy), 3% Defense(Negative), 3% Defense(Psionic)
  

• 5% RunSpeed
  
• 3.13% Defense(Fire,Cold), 1.56% Defense(AoE)
  
• 2.5% XPDebtProtection
  
• 3.13% Defense(AoE), 1.56% Defense(Fire), 1.56% Defense(Cold)
  

• 2% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 18.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  
• 2% Enhancement(Stun)
  
• 2.5% Defense(Melee), 1.25% Defense(Lethal), 1.25% Defense(Smashing)
  
• 2.5% Defense(AoE), 1.25% Defense(Fire), 1.25% Defense(Cold)
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.2%
  
• 1.26% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• 2% DamageBuff(All)
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.2%
  
• 1.26% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  
• 2% DamageBuff(All)
  

• MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
  
• 3% DamageBuff(All)
  
• 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  
• 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)
  

• 2% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 2.5% Defense(Energy,Negative), 1.25% Defense(Ranged)
  
• 7% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  
• 4% RunSpeed, 4% FlySpeed, 4% JumpSpeed, 4% JumpHeight
  
• 2.5% Defense(Ranged), 1.25% Defense(Energy), 1.25% Defense(Negative)
  

• MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
  
• 18.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  
• 2.5% DamageBuff(All)
  
• MezResist(Held) 2.75%
  
• 3.75% Defense(Melee), 1.88% Defense(Lethal), 1.88% Defense(Smashing)
  

• 5% RunSpeed
  
• 3.13% Defense(Fire,Cold), 1.56% Defense(AoE)
  
• 2.5% XPDebtProtection
  
• 3.13% Defense(AoE), 1.56% Defense(Fire), 1.56% Defense(Cold)
  

• 12% (0.6 HP/sec) Regeneration
  

• 12% (0.6 HP/sec) Regeneration
  
• 22.6 HP (1.87%) HitPoints
  

• 13.6 HP (1.12%) HitPoints
  
• 1.5% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
  
• 10% (0.5 HP/sec) Regeneration
  

Bob came up with this back on the EPU forums back then.  Jeanne Hedge found it and linked to it, and I thought it was worth reposting as a reminder here:
http://www.eyrie-producti...11&viewmode=threaded
With apologies to
our UK friends, I've appropriated an old rhyme of theirs from a similar
(in motive, if not in scale) event in their history. Please feel to
distribute it where you see fit, if you like; after I post here, it will
become my sig quote in several different fora... Please to remember
Eleven September --
Hijack, destruction and plot.
Our outraged reaction
To terrorist action
Should never be forgot.
-- Bob
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to split the sky?
That's every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry-
NO QUARTER!!!
-- "No Quarter", by Echo's Children

RL kicking my ass...

The comment from Dartz about Jusenkyou in the Gauntlet thread (It was me AFAIK BTW) led me to work out some thoughs on the Boskone 4 situation. Take whatever follows with a pinch of salt.

Fly by Nikki Minaj featuring Rhianna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n71KUiWn1I&ob=av2e
Not so much a powersong as a possibility for one of the 'confidence building' songs Bob was thinking of using in the NGE step.
Though upon listening to the song again, Asuka might really like it.
___________________________
"I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific." - George Carlin

Laz Seraph, from the Talented Machsaber.

Rejoice people it begins!
http://boards.cityofheroe.../showthread.php?t=271034
You may begin exploding like Terr now.
*********************
In the epic rage of furious thunder
legends create their tales
when the twilight calls and the dark lord falls
our glory will prevail

I have trouble describing the music of AleStorm... Take a sea chanty, set it to power metal, and that begins to come a little close... Anyway, lyrics:

With a hii hii hoo and a hii hii hey!

We're hoisting the flag to be free

We will steal the show, Jolly Rogers go

We are wolves of the sea

Don't try to run it's all said and done

There's a treasure in sight

We are robbing you blind I hope you don't mind

We are taking it all tonight

Just walk away we will conquer it all

Pirates will stand and the losers will fall

With a hii hii hoo and a hii hii hey

We're bound to be close to the sea

Our captain will stand on the bridge and sing

Pirates are all we can be

With a hii hii hoo and a hii hii hey!

We're hoisting the flag to be free

We will steal the show, Jolly Rogers go

We are wolves of the sea

Down to the core we're coming for more

With a sword close at hand

We are scary and bold with chest full of gold

We get sealegs when sighting land

The hook of our captain is looking at you

There's no Peter Pan so what can you do

With a hii hii hoo and a hii hii hey

We're bound to be close to the sea

Our captain will stand on the bridge and sing

Pirates are all we can be

With a hii hii hoo and a hii hii hey!

We're hoisting the flag to be free

We will steal the show, Jolly Rogers go

We are wolves of the sea

This could alternately conjure simulacra of the Straw Hats, or Captain Hook's crew, or the Veggie Tales crew, or even the Fred Perry animated characters for his "You Are A Pirate" partial music video, complete with Treasure Babe and Shovel Ninja (audio originally from some kids variety show) or generic-archetypical-scofflaw-sailors, but at 3:34 the song isn't really long enough for a temporary ship's crew to do much good, and he already has "summon a team of Warriors" and "summon a bunch of soldiers" songs so it's not all that useful as such. Perhaps it could be a mind-effecting song to make someone ignore or assist in data piracy, because "pirates are all we can be?"

- CD
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows