STGOD 3: Main Story Thread

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

11:00 PM

Jonathan was watching the news while drinking a glass of whine, which was still reporting on the massacre of the 30 PRID agents.

"Sources say that the killer may have been given imformation of the PRID's actions by files that were leaked during the virus which shut down their computer network. Since the files are encrypted and known only to a few people inside the PRID, some are suspecting an insider high up in the ranks of the PRID."

Jonathan jumped at the news. They may be on to him. There were only a few dozen people at most who knew how to decode the files, and he was probably going to be one of the suspects as usual.

"The PRID has blamed these actions on cults associated with the apparitions, and will attempt to hunt down the insider-"

Jonthan's grip on his wine glass tightened until it shattered. It was only a matter of time before they'd suspect him, and he needed an excuse, or at least something to throw them off.

8:00 AM

The PRID was having a meeting about the possiblity of an insider, and Jonathan was seated in an open chair, trying not to look nervous.

"Jonathan, do you have any insights?" One man asked.
"I think the code was leaked as well." Jonathan replied.
"Why do you say that? We don't have the code on the network."
"No, I'm thinking that someone took it, copied it, and snuck it out or something."
"It's still a possiblity, but we'll be increasing surveillance and monitoring everyone's actions even further."

Jonathan didn't know whether to be worried or relieved. As long as he didn't do anything outlandish, he wouldn't be any more suspicous than anyone else in the organization, and hopefully, he wouldn't be caught.

[Dahak]

After he was finished shifting through the data of the PRID, he didn't find anything useful on the guy he came to look for.
Just in case, he implanted a sniffer virus in the system should any new information appear. It just took seconds until the tiny thing has slipped into the PRID net undiscovered.

He left the building and walked several hundred meters before he turned around. He concentrated his mind on the structural girders of the PRID complex, and with a metallic shriek, the whole northern side of the complex gave in.

He smiled, turned around and as he was out of visible range, shapeshifted back into his normal appearance.

[Jaded Masses]

The little bastard escaped me again when he burst out of the building and brought it down. I this and teleported/deflected debris in till I was out side.

Dejected I went on my original mission, I made my way north to PRID HQ. When the four story building came into view, I went to an INN to rest the night. Tomorrow I would see about getting inside..

[Agent Fisher]

Wraith pulled his SUV into a gas station to fill up the tank. He wasn't too worried about the PRID finding him. They hunted ghosts not people. Besides if they did find him, he knew who the mole was. The sender of the jobs had tried to hide who they were, but Wraith was able to back track the trail until it led him to Jonathan Grey. He could always rat him out to save his skin.

[Exonerate]

Mancer had finally managed to pick up traces of the attacker, and they quickly found his former hideout. Problem was that it was already demolished. Clean-up crews were already there, trying to find evidence left behind. Mancer yawned - it was almost 5 in the morning. She turned around and addressed the Agents who she dragged around the whole night.

"Go home and get yourselves some R&R. You have today off."
Mancer headed towards one of the PRID cars, and drove herself back to the office...

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

Nick and Drake were searching around the rubble, a few moments ago the northern part of the PRID building suddenly collapsed. The Intelligence Officer, John Dogget's office was buried in the wreck. But they couldn't find Dogget.

By tracing Dogget's smell they walked to the rooftop, and found a door guarded heavily by PRID agents. The agents refused to reveal what they were guarding due to Drake's security level. The partners returned to the doorway and sat on the steps. Drake called Captain Piett for information, but he himself didn't know anything about the door on the rooftop either.

"Now what?" Drake asked as she hung up her phone.

"Well it is unlikely that Dogget is related to this sabotage, but he's not out of suspection. I think it is time to visit our Senator." Nick showed Drake an evening newspaper, the headline: SENATOR PATINE'S OFFICE DESTROYED BY UNIDENTIFIED ATTACK

[Straha]

Hank lay back in his seat of the small-five person plane, which was located in a small army hanger in California. On the left armrest of his seat was a video screen of Charley, back in the nest, reading off the news of the night before.

"...promise they are still trying to apprehend the assassin. Uhm, 30 PRID agents were killed in New York over the night, probably by the same person. There was a Virus attack in the main network, our system cought it however, so we're fine, they really shouldn't have replaced Chris Dyson's old network, now that was immpenetrable, and the tests proved it."

Hank sighed, and waved his hand. "Anything from the directory?"

Charley could be seen flipping through the pages. "Uh, yeah. But it's at the end. Uhm, directory gave us the mission of going after the person or persons who tore down the holding facility, as we were in flight. And Jim sends a message, quote 'A new fox on top of DC, she's infested with tics' un-quote. That's it."

Hank nodded, thought for a minute and then said, "Charley, go get some rest, we'll be by end of the day. I'm going to pick up Ragam on the way back, I'll message him in the morning." With that he cut the monitor, and closed his eyes.

Five minutes later one of the other two heroes he had brought with him turned to face him and said, "Hey, boss. Could you explain the relationship between us, the comittee, and the directory again?"

Hank sighed, thought for a minute to fight back fatigue, and then said, "We answer to the directory alone, it is made up of former agents who have been promoted merituously, though tics are trying to get it so that it is fifty-fifty with political appointments, that's not happening though. The committee on the other hand is made up of political appointments, and has control over the PRID's main agenda, and funding, and is the more powerful of the two bodies nowadays, sadly. Luckily for us they have no control over US directly, or indirectly for that matter. Now get some sleep, we're completley safe here."

Hank looked at the clock, 6:22. He'd waken up with the others at nine, get breakfast at a diner. Then head into town to meet the Proffessor, and lunch.

[Raxmei]

"Unfortunatly, your alterego destroyed my camara*points at broken bits* a few minutes ago."

"Oh, how very convenient. Look, if you're going to tell tales you should at least go to the effort to make up plausible ones. Now do you have a phone I could use? I need to call a cab back home." Harry was not about to be swayed by such a ridiculous story as Alytar had told him. There was something incredibly fishy about him and his story, and Harry was starting to get a good idea what it was.

[Alyrium Denryle]

"Look , believe what you want, but I ave no reason to kidnap you whipe you sleep, fabricate massive damage to my house, imprison you in a cage made of pure energy, and destroy a very expensive amphibious camera... Just to release you from the force cage and lie to you about being a lycanthrope. I have no motivation to do that at all. Put two and two together, you go to sleep at sundown, get up at dawn near where a lycanthrope has sighted. People tell you that you are a werewolf and everyone that gets close to you dies. ring a bell?

You dont need a cab..."

Alytar teleports them both back to Harry's residence

"Do us both a favor, put yourself under suveilance tonight"

With that, he snapped his fingers and was gone, under the docks to wait from the PRID agent who emailed him yesterday... and to get lots and lots of fish

[thecreech]

The beeper like device that Hank had given him had started to go off. Ragam looked into the message window and it only had two words and they said

"Get Ready"

[Sea Skimmer]

Eastern Pennsylvanian

Hidekazu picked up his phone and dialed. The number rang deep within the PRID head quarters; a hand pulled the phone to an ear. Hidekazu spoke. "So have you considered my offer?"

[Lonestar]

Marcus and Nuada waited at the Rest stop just north of Bristol, they were hiding behind one the buildings. The Tempo had gotten totally trashed, and a new means of transportation was in order. Marcus wanted to just start killing people until they found an appropriate vehicle. But Nuada had talked him out of the "Killing rampage" method. Now, it was five in the afternoon, and only a single Toyota Forerunner, with a single occupant, a driver, pulled up. The rest area was deserted.

"Alright, let's have some fun!" Marcus started forward, Nuada grabbed his soldier, and shook his head.

"Marcus, you notice what he has on his front bumper?"

There was one of those tiny "Jesus Fish" stickers on it.

"So?"

"Watch."

The Occupant walked out of the restroom, heading back to his car. The Bush next to him burst into green-yellow flame. The man was startled, and the Nuada threw his voice. It was somthing Sean's Uncle had taught him.

"I am....I am. Your Car, your possesions, are hindering your path to salvation..."

"Wha...what..." the man was stammering.

"REMOVE thyself of they matterial possesions!" The flame grew larger. Marcus was watching the spectacle, mesmirized. Nuada spoke again. "Empty thy pockets!"

The man started to frantically empty his pockets, eventually his car keys dropped onto the pavement. Nuada spoke.

"If thou values thy mortal life...Leave! Run to the settlement of Bristol, and spread the word! The End times are nigh! Soon, the antichirst will return, and take over the world economy!"

The man turned and fled. Marcus looked at Nuada suspiciously.

"AntiChrist?"

"I don't know...it was good button to push with that personality type. Come on. " Nuada walked over to the keys, and took the cashe from the wallet. He was slightly disconcerted by that apparaition, and had a sense that they were being followed, although he couldn't see, hear, or smell it. He wondered what she wanted with a madman like Marcus, and if she was related to that Female vampire in some fashion.

Now her, her scent Nuada had caught, and it was vaguely familiar, although he didn't know why...

Marcus caught the keys as Nuada tossed them to him.

"I still say you should have let me have my fun."

"Your desire for slaughter will be your undoing some day."

"Oh, like you haven't done some nasty things. What about all those cultists in Nawlins?"

Nuada shrugged. "They would have brought doom unto the planet...they were evil."

"Yeah? And how many were just poor, brainwashed kids?"

That stopped Nuada short. Finally he said, "Let's go. "

They drove awhile in silence. Finally, Nuada spoke.

"I am the Silver Hand."

"What?"

"I am Nuada, the Celtic chieftain-god of healing, the Sun, childbirth, youth, beauty, ocean, dogs, poetry, writing, sorcery, magic, weapons, and warfare. My powers in this form are limited, as I am currently occupying a mortal vessel."

Marcus look at him, his eyes widening.

"You...you're possessing that person?"

"If that is how you wish to put it...yes, yes I am. He wails quite a bit every now and then, and it can get annoying."

"Can you, like, possess other people?"

"Certainly, although it takes some planning in my weakened state, and this mortal vessel is serving me just fine at the moment. Don't worry, I have no intention of trying to occupy the mind of a madman like yourself."

The blood drained from Jones' face, and he was glad it was dark enough that Nuada wouldn't see it.

[Exonerate]

"Uh, Ma'am?"
"Yes?" said Mancer impatiently. She hated people who didn't just say things directly.
"We have another computer security problem."
"What? ANOTHER? After the first hole, you guys didn't patch it up? What the fuck am I supposed to do? Learn programming and do it myself?"
"Uh..."

The young man who had the misfortune of being assigned to bring her the news was speechless.

"Find somebody to fix our system. Every hole in it. Hire them, kidnap them, blackmail them, I don't care - just get it done. We can't afford more holes."

[Straha]

Hank and the two other heroes were sitting at a small picnic table on the docks of the city. Hank ripped off another piece of Naan, dabbed it in teh vindaloo curry, and ate it. He loved his curry, and Naan, whenever he was out of the nest he always made sure to stop at an indian place to get food. Finally Garret, one of the two heroes, flipped off the cell-phone he'd been using to talk to the nest.

"System down, again. The new boss at DC is apparently realy pissed, and the people beneath her hate her now... we leave for one day and everything goes to hell huh?"

Hank chuckled, mixed in a piece of lamb with rice, "Yeah, always happens that way. I'm going to go talk to our man. I'll be back in a minute, while I'm away call her, tell her to talk to a Chris Dyson, he designed our last system, never had a hack attack, or a virus problem with his system, and he was the single most loyal PRID agent there ever was."

With that Hank ate the piece of lamb, had a foreshadowing of the heart burn to come, and walked over to the docks. When no one was looking he dropped, swung down onto a lower beam closer to the water convieniently hidden under the dock, and waited.

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

"All right, you keep watching, I'll go find the Senator. Do you need some more powers?" Nick asked.

"No, 'Ning' (senses) and speed is enough. I also have the equipment on the van, right?"

"Okay."

Borrowing a motorcycle from the DC facility, Nick headed to Capitol Hill.

[Alyrium Denryle]

"Hello Hank!" Alytar said as his head popped out of the water. Who are your friends, I can smell them..."

He swam around in excited circles, twitching like he had epilepsy. Hiis train of though interupted, he dove dowm, grabbed a lobster fom the bottom and came up
"Lobster?"

[Straha]

"Hello Hank!" Alytar said as his head popped out of the water. Who are your friends, I can smell them..."

He swam around in excited circles, twitching like he had epilepsy. Hiis train of though interupted, he dove dowm, grabbed a lobster fom the bottom and came up
"Lobster?"

"Er..... No thanks. I'm going to cut to the chase here, I need you to come join us to help track down and kill a mass-murderer, in return I've greenlisted you, and no more PRID investigations or check-ups will ever involve you."

[Lonestar]

"So.....your the God of...dogs?"

"the Celtic chieftain-god of healing, the Sun, childbirth, youth, beauty, ocean, dogs, poetry, writing, sorcery, magic, weapons, and warfare. "

"That's quite a collection of skills there."


Nuada shrugged, and kept walking. The two had parked at a Popeyes in Manasas, Nuada finally getting hungry. They entered the restraunt, and walked up to the cashier. Nuada placed his order. Then Marcus.

Marcus sensed he wasn't getting anywhere with the subtle route.

"Alright, if you really are this 'God'" *munch, munch*, " why the Hell are you on Earth? Couldn't you come in your, uh, regular form?"

"Normally when I assume possesion of a Mortal, my Avatar is nearly equal to my immortal form, yes. But something went wrong with the transfer. As for why I'm on Earth, we, the Tuatha Dé Danann , have come to believe the Primordial Demons of Eire are behind the rash of "apparations". I am here because a Leader canot ask his people to do something he won't."

Nuada bit into his chicken leg. Marcus stared at his food, trying to fighted back the laughter, and the chillness of the matter-of-fact tone this man had. Why had he agreed to come with him to DC? Why did Marcus invite him?

Marcus' eyes drifted over to a table, where a man was reading the Style section of the Washington Post. The front page had an article about a new exhibit at the National Art Gallery, " European Mythology".....

Marcus jerked back as if shocked by electricity. Nuada stopped and looked at him.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes...I had a Goddamn bone in my throat."

Nuada looked at him severely.

"I do not care so much, but the Jewish God is sensitive of blasphemy. You'd do well to watch your language."

"I'll keep that in mind." Marcus had no intention to do so. Holy Shit, what did this mean? He looked over at the man reading the newspaper again. He put it down...

...And it was a woman, the same female apparation they'd seen yesterday. Marcus blinked his eyes, and it was a middle aged man again.

You're finally doing it Marcus, he thought You're finally going bat-shit pyschotic. Seeing stuff that isn't there.

Nuada finished his Dr. Pepper, and walked up to get a refill. Marcus suddenly realised he'd only seen Nuada drink water and Dr. Pepper.

"You like that stuff, don't you?"

Nuada looked at him and said very gravely;

"Nectar of the Gods. Let's go, I want to see the Smithsonian today."

[Alyrium Denryle]

"Hello Hank!" Alytar said as his head popped out of the water. Who are your friends, I can smell them..."

He swam around in excited circles, twitching like he had epilepsy. Hiis train of though interupted, he dove dowm, grabbed a lobster fom the bottom and came up
"Lobster?"

"Er..... No thanks. I'm going to cut to the chase here, I need you to come join us to help track down and kill a mass-murderer, in return I've greenlisted you, and no more PRID investigations or check-ups will ever involve you."

"Have you drawn blood or have a scent article? I can track him that way.... And I would love the greenlist. Oh and by the way, one of your agents is a werewolf... one by the name of Agent Harry.... He wont admit him to himself, but his alter ego decided to have fishsticks for dinner last night"

Alytar bites into the still writhing lobster, sucks out its insides and discardes the shell

[Straha]

"Hello Hank!" Alytar said as his head popped out of the water. Who are your friends, I can smell them..."

He swam around in excited circles, twitching like he had epilepsy. Hiis train of though interupted, he dove dowm, grabbed a lobster fom the bottom and came up
"Lobster?"

"Er..... No thanks. I'm going to cut to the chase here, I need you to come join us to help track down and kill a mass-murderer, in return I've greenlisted you, and no more PRID investigations or check-ups will ever involve you."

"Have you drawn blood or have a scent article? I can track him that way.... And I would love the greenlist. Oh and by the way, one of your agents is a werewolf... one by the name of Agent Harry.... He wont admit him to himself, but his alter ego decided to have fishsticks for dinner last night"

Alytar bites into the still writhing lobster, sucks out its insides and discardes the shell

Hank liked lobster, but not that much...

"Uhm... well he's on land. We need you more for the fire-power you can bring, this guy completley levelled a holding facility, and he's had a history of using his skills to bring much damage. I can provide transport, food, a wet place to sleep, and as soon as we're finished with him you can come back here to lectureing."

[Alyrium Denryle]

"I can track on land just as easily as I can in water... and I will love being able to practice my spells of mass destruction... You must be glad I am on your side for this one. I am at your service... SO who are your friends?"

Alytar grabbed onto the pilings and climbed to the surface of the docks.

[Straha]

"I can track on land just as easily as I can in water... and I will love being able to practice my spells of mass destruction... You must be glad I am on your side for this one. I am at your service... SO who are your friends?"

Alytar grabbed onto the pilings and climbed to the surface of the docks.

"Two fellow Heroes, they're here to help make sure nothing gets out of hand. Right now we're going to get back to the air-port, we've got one more person to pick up. And then we head out on his trail. Oh, and please, no teleporting."

Hank messaged ahead to Ragam, "On our way, have a fish friend, be there in two hours."

[Alyrium Denryle]

"I can track on land just as easily as I can in water... and I will love being able to practice my spells of mass destruction... You must be glad I am on your side for this one. I am at your service... SO who are your friends?"

Alytar grabbed onto the pilings and climbed to the surface of the docks.

"Two fellow Heroes, they're here to help make sure nothing gets out of hand. Right now we're going to get back to the air-port, we've got one more person to pick up. And then we head out on his trail. Oh, and please, no teleporting."

Hank messaged ahead to Ragam, "On our way, have a fish friend, be there in two hours."

"What, you have something against teleportation? It isnlt like I rip apart your molecules and reassemble them. I actually create a small wormhole and send you through it... it is actually rather fun for the fraction of a second you are in the wormhole"

[Exonerate]

The poor messenger entered Mancer's room again. Not emptyhanded though - good for him. Mancer just stared at him until he opened his mouth.
"Uh, this is a personnel file we acquired on somebody who might help us secure our network."
Mancer held out her hand in response. The messenger delivered the manilla folder, then quickly turned around, hoping to flee the scene.
"Wait." Mancer said absent-mindedly. He stopped as commanded. She grabbed him by the arm, and leaned over his shoulder. She licked his neck a little, then sank her fangs into his neck. The man shuddered a little, but kept upright. A minute later, Mancer had released him and placed a mental block on that event. He walked out of the room, dazed. She opened the folder that had been brought to her.

Wraith
Background: Rumors of former membership in Special Operations Teams. Rest of background is unknown. Abilities include computer security, CQB, and teleportation. Currently unemployed as freelance mercenary. Computer skills are said to be highly developed.

Contact information...

Mancer considered it for a moment. Her powers should be enough to reveal any deception on his part. She picked up the phone, and called one of his numbers. She was met with an answering machine.

"Wraith, I am with a certain organization that requires your computer skills... Please contact me at XXX-XXXX. It's a secure line - at least on my side - and I'd like to discuss terms of your employment. Price is no concern, we can afford pretty much everything... As a gesture of goodwill, we've deposited 1 million within your Swiss account."

She paused a moment, thinking of what to say next.

"Hope to hear from you soon."

Mancer hung up. Now she would have to wait.

[Raxmei]

PRID investigation situation report

Concerning the person of Professor Alytar, who I have recently been sent to investigate. Although he passed the initial investigation, it appears that the contact spooked him, smoking out a previously undetected activity. Refer to case reports #00450980, and #0045102, concerning activities of a wolflike creature in this area. The creature is a known enemy of PRID, has thus far evaded capture, and in light of current evidence appears to be working with Prof, Alytar. The exact motive is unknown, but likely involves interfering with PRIDactivities in some way. Judging by his most recent actions, this plan is already in motion, starting with an campaign to discredit me. As his investigator, I am the person most likely to uncover his secrets. Judging by my most recent conversation with him, he will make an elaborate deception to convince you that I am the wolf creature, simultaneously discrediting me and throwing you off the trail of the creature's actual activities.


Professor Alytar is now to be suspected of collaborating with the creature. Evidence is as follows:
1- A cursory examination of Prof. Alytar's residence will reveal the creature's recent presence. However, examination of his person will reveal that he is completely unharmed, which is inconsistent with his story about being attacked. The damage to the house is in all likelyhood meant as a coverup.
2- He has revealed knowledge of information, such as biographical details and the location of my home, that he had no way of knowing, but the creature does know. Considering its known intelligence, it is likely that it told Alytar that information.


I recommend that the subject be placed under close surveillance while preparations are made for an arrest and proper interrogation.

Signed,
Agent Harry Talbot.