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Rising Phoenix Gaming

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  • Divine Right a Trinity Continuum Open World PbP
  • Something Wicked: A Teen Witch Chronical
  • Shadows of the Worlf: a Game of Personal Supernatural Horror
  • Three Leaves DnD 5E Campaign
  • Absolute Power Supers Game
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About This Club

The Solo Club Okay since I don’t feel comfortable if I don’t have an overflow of things to do, let me invite you to The Solo Club. This is going to be something different but hopefully fun for those who choose to participate. What I propose here is any of you who wish to play in a one-on-one game with me let me know. Just post what Genre/Favorite show/Book/ whatever and I will run a one-on-one game just for you. If you don’t suggest an actual system, I will pick one and you can approve it. Any thing you want to play, it is your Choice. (Keep in mind I do not know anything about Anime though so you might want to steer clear of that subject.) No waiting on others to post, it will be just you and me. Post when you feel like it, at your own pace, this is your fun time, and we will do it your way. Just like McDonalds. So if your on board, drop a post below with what YOU want to do and I will do the rest.
  1. What's new in this club
  2. “The Weapon!” The near screech sounded from the left side of the alley which caused Mike to snap his head in that direction. At the same time the brick fragment hits the ground and the flicker on the right flashed blindingly as a beam of red hot light ripped across the space to the brick exploding it into a million pieces! All of this, as well as Mikes shout, happens simultaneously. Mike had looked away from the first invisible person and thus wasn’t blinded and he saw the second, the female, stand up as her cloak dropped. She was pointing at him what looked like a phaser from star trek. She fired. The same red-hot beam lept from her gun toward him but somehow the beam seemed to twist and bend and instead of his body being hit, the beam struck the token in his hand and the coin shaped thing absorbed it! There was another flash, this time originating from his hand or rather the token. The thing seemed to melt into his hand leaving the star shape raised slightly and very visible in his palm. Time seemed to stop. Sensation radiated from the star up his arm and through his body. Mike wanted to scream not from pain but from exhileration. His body responded to the energy from the star, changing, become more…
  3. 'What in the thrice-damned hell have I walked into? Am I having a stroke? Is this a dream?' Mike's thoughts began racing. His eyes focused on the invisible shape ahead of him. He reached down and grabbed a small piece of brick he spotted earlier on the ground, his eyes never leaving the "ghostly" shape ahead of him. He wound up, and chucked the brick piece near the shape, trying to startle it into action. After the throw and before it made contact with a dumpster right near the ramp, Mike quickly reached into his pocket, making sure the coin from earlier was still there. He breathed a quick sigh of relief as he felt it's reassuring weight. Then the loud thunk of the brick hitting the metal resonated through the alley. "Hey, there. What in the hell are you doing here, dude? Yeah, you. The dude with the truly awe-inspiring complexion. What the hell is going on?"
  4. "Alright keep working on it. The location of pirate bases would be more than worth the time we've spent here." He thought about it for abit. "Let's keep it isolated to the ship for now. There's no need to invite trouble by bringing it aboard our ship, if there is some sort of virus or booby trap written into the code." He sighed. "We can't simply leave this ship here, so it can be used to attack other ships somewhere else. Nor do we have the staff to take it back to the nearest station."
  5. PC076 maneuvered into position over the next few hours all scopes trained on the unknow spacecraft parked in the giant. It never moved or twitched; it simply followed its slow orbit. The patrol corvette picked up no emissions and a single hail was sent in its direction and received no reply Taking a position overlooking the target the 076 launched it’s patrol boat, carrying a single pilot and five marines to board the craft. The 076 trained its weapons on the unknown ship and waited as the boat descend to rendezvous. The docking and entry elicited on response and soon the marines had boarded and swept the ship, reporting back after a tense fifteen minutes that the ship was empty and operating on remote station keeping. After consulting with his XO Wolf ordered the boat back, and once it had docked had the )76 descend to dock with the freighter itself. Once that was complete the Patrol Officers swarmed aboard and began a thorough search. The ship was once a small freighter, a 400 ton hull that was likely about seventy-five or a hundred years old, impossible to tell without a deep dive into the internal workings of the ship. All evidence of her origin and even original manufacturing was gone. Inside the ship itself was a mish-mash- of components cobbled together from at least six other ship types nothing inside was original, not the computers, the drives, not even the accommodations. And it was empty. There were no personal effects in the quarters, even the captains’ quarters were sparse and empty. Surprisingly the ship was in very good condition. It was also armed. Two turrets, one topside and one on the keel, both armed with rapid-fire rail guns, short ranged and not something you would want to go up against a patrol ship, but good enough to take on a civilian ship. And that was it. Nothing to identify the ship or who it belonged too. After the initial search Wolf joined the Xo on the pirate ship’s, the guns pretty much told them what it was as no civilian ships carried weapons, at least not legally, bridge. “Anything on the computers,” he asked? The XO looked up from the astrogation section she was working at,” Nothing except operating programs that we have found. All custom, nothing standard, and pretty good coding from first glance. All systems were set to standby and no major security walls. I’d say everything was kept ready for quick access. At least until we go to the astrogation computer.” The XO rotated her chair back to face the workscreen, “Everything’s protected and we will need to hack into it to get their jump data. Bu that does tell us that they consider nav data important enough to keep secret.”
  6. Where could they have gone? Maybe into one of the stores? Mike was about to stand and head on home when he took one last tactical glance and this time something caught his eye. He didn't really see anything and at fist he just racked it up to stress from the day, but no, there again, right at the back corner of the ramp on the right. It was like a flicker or a shimmer in the light. Once he saw it he could discern it better. It was vaguely humanoid in shape and like himself, crouching. While he could make out the shap fromthe flicker he still couldn't see it. It was invisible. Impossible as it seemed, Mike had stumbled into some sort of scifi nightmare like he was being stalked by something out of a Predator movie.
  7. "Let's take a closer look. Some evidence to back that up would help. Make ready a boarding party. I want someone from Engineering to be ready to go over as well, once we have secured the ship. Their job will be to disable the ship's ability to leave the system, as we cannot spare the crew to fly it back. Have at least one person from Medical in case their are wounded or casualties." There was a small part of him that wanted to go over himself, but his place was in Command of his ship. If we cannot render it inoperative, or prove its provenance, we'll have to consider other less desirable options. "Bring us about and lock our weapons onto it. If it twitches, I want to be able to take it out before it can flee." He was cautious, more so than he had been early in his life. He felt the responsibility of command on his shoulders. "If it begins to move in response to us, hail them and order them to stand to for Inspection."
  8. The clatter of the phone sounded like thunder to Mike's ears but there was no rush of villains pouring from the ally, so, he scooped it up and sprinted to the corner of the ally. Cautiously he peered around the corner using his skill and training as a paintball warrior, he had crouched low and exposed only as much of his face as he could. The ally was wide, large enough to accommodate one of the cities Garbage trucks, the kind used to empty big commercial dumpsters. Just like the one at the end of the ally. There were shops on both sides of the ally and they obviously shared the dumpster. there were two doors on the left one about two yards in and the second three qurter in close to the dumpster. The right side had a short loading dock with just enough space for a panel van to back up to to off load. there was a rollup door servicing the dock and right beside it a personnel door. What there wasn't was anyone in the ally.
  9. The 76 Corvette altered course and accelerated. The new course wasn't a direct intercept to the gas giant but rather a close flyby to gather further intel before committing, and still allow the to make the jump point if a closer look at the giant wasn't warranted. The hours passed quickly as every was busy. As they drew closer all sensors, scopes and cameras were trained on the anomaly and data began pouring in. "It is a ship sir," Specialist Arroya called out, "it's small, about our size, probably a freighter. Very little heat radiation and no emissions. She is at a fairly stable orbit point in the upper atmosphere. Should be able to maintain it's orbit for several months without any station upkeep." Arroya turns away from his screen and faces Wolf, he shrugs, "Except for the very carful positioning she looks abandoned." Mallory leaves he station and comes to stand by Wolf's command chair. He gives her a questioning look with a raised eyebrow, "What are you thinking XO?" Before answering, Mallory looks around the bridge., "I think they high-jacked the Hesperia. They had someone aboard who disabled or killed the crew, and that ship, was waiting here to transfer its crew over to Hesperia. They parked it in the gas giant where it was not likely to be found so they could come back and pick it up later. Ships are expensive."
  10. Mike smiled at Cynthia, nodded to her, and made his way out the front door very quickly. His focus was still split between Cynthia and the odd pair, until he got outside. Once there, Mike noticed the two oddities heading in to an alley. He cautiously decided to follow them, and started getting his cell phone out so that if something happened he'd have some pictures and other evidence. Unfortunately, while distracted by his thoughts, he dropped his cell phone while taking it out of the holster on his waist. He heard the clatter and froze for a second, hoping the two people didn't hear it.
  11. Mikes gamble paid off. The weird twins glanced at each other, hands still in their jackets and back at Mike. He noted that their movements were weirdly in unison. They glanced past him and studied the crowd for a second then slid from thier seats. They nodded at him, and with a slight bow the female spoke, her voice low and her accent non existent, "Our mistake, forgive us please." Nothing else as one the turned and walked out of the bar. Mike watched them go, he intended to follow them but he glanced back into the crowded bar and saw that Cynthia had seen him and was smiling at him. She was alone, Bickle was nowhere to be seen, maybe he had gone to the bathroom.
  12. Mike's vision became hyper-focused on the two strange people. He quickly moved through the semi-crowded bar and his target was the strange pair. His gait was strangely unhurried but he moved with a purpose. As he approached the pair, he grabbed a small glass from an empty table. When he got within 10 feet of the suit-wearing pair, he spoke up. "If you have a problem with me, or with anyone in here, let's take it outside, okay? We can discuss it like civilized people. No need for anyone not directly in the line of fire to get hurt." He tried to step between Cynthia's table and the pair. He motioned to the door with his empty hand, "Well? what'll it be? Do you want to be smart, or foolish?"
  13. "How long will it take for us to go in and get a more clear and accurate reading?" Wolf asked quietly. "Roughly a few hours." came Mallory's quick response. "Very well, let's go take a look. If it's nothing, then we can be on our way with a minimal delay. Plot a course, and take us in." He didn't deliberate on it very long, in the scheme of things he knew what was expected, and that High Command generally wanted them to investigate unknowns like this, especially in a system where there wasn't normally any activity. "I want our eyes and ears open, and while I won't order combat stations, I want us ready to go there immediately should the need arise."
  14. SSP-PC076 made transit into Jumpspace some six hours later. The Jump went without incident, the time in jump had shaved some three days off a standard trip for the distance. The time in Jump was spent as usual by the crew with maintenance and training. Due to underway scheduling and the fact that as a new member of the crew , Mallory had to be signed off on each of the ships divisions and her duties as XO meant she was seldom on the bridge when Wolf was, also meant that Wolf didn’t get to spend as much time getting to know his new XO/Navigator. When it came time to exit Jumpspace. Wolf came on the bridge and found Mallory was already at the Nav Station. It was unusual for the chief navigator to attend a jump exit since their main job was calculating a new jump and the only navigation required after a jump was in system navigation which could easily be handled by the crew navigators. The other two rated Navigators were also present. Wolf came up to the Nav station, “Everything alright XO?” Mallory did not look up from her controls; “Yes sir, there are new procedures we have to do when we emerge. I have trained Carter and Bryce already, and they have it down. But, since this is our first Jump since we installed the new gear, I wanted to make sure everything was running properly myself.” Carter was paying rapt attention to what Mallory was doing, Bryce glanced up and smiled at Wolf before returning to watching the XO. “Two minutes!” A klaxon sounded indicating that emergence from Jump was imminent. While entering jumpspace carried no sensations or ill effects, exiting was a different matter. The sudden shift from Jumpspace to Realspace had a physical effect on the human body, not unlike the sensation of riding in a high-speed elevator going down from the times before inertia dampers were common place. Most people felt a moment of vertigo and mild nausea which passed after a few seconds. However, some people had more severe reactions, jump sickness could incapacitate even the most hardened spacer at any time. Each jump was different for each person, every time. Crew took their places and strapped in; some held the bags that they would use just in case. The klaxon sounded again at one minute. Then with five seconds to go, “Five…four…three…two…one, emergence!” Mallory had given the five count with a strong confident voice, the world shifted and then was right back to normal. “We are in Realspace,” she said, shaking off her nausea as her fingers played over controls, “Everything is checking green.” Wolf looked at his own screens around his command chair which repeated the main screens of all the bridge positions. “Pilot, take us 5000 kilometers to port of the JP and hold position, Comms get a laser link to Trident control so we can get an update.” His orders were few, his people knew what to do. While the crew did their immediate after jump duties. Comms connected to Trident. The distance delay with laser communications was approximately 35 minutes so talking to them was a timely affair. While Wolf had his long-distance discussion with Trident control, the ship, under the direction of the XO began a long range scan of the system. The information Trident passed on was not much more than he already had, an updated manifest and estimated travel time based on the Hesperia’s intention to make a safe jump, which meant that their travel times would be longer but also safer. Wolf wondered about this and inquired if Hesperia had reported any problems. That came back negative. Upon returning to the bridge Wolf found Mallory still there, waiting for him. “We conducted long range deep radar and lidar scans only one thing raised a flag. At Wolf 718- IV, the big Gas Giant, they call it the Jolly Green Giant, we picked up a dense hit on the radar. It is too small to be the Hesperia, but there is nothing in the system files about it. It is too far away and too deep to get any meaningful readings, it is about mid-way down the well and it could be a ship hull. We are classifying it as a possible bogey. I recommend we take a look before proceeding out system," she reported.
  15. The beer was good and cold and the friends were even better. What was going to be just a beer maybe two ended up being dinner of some of the best tavern food in Jersey. The conversation was mostly about sports but when Gene cornered Mike and asked about the thing at the warehouse, Mike stuck to the story he had made up at the time. While they ate and talked, people Mike knew, at least by name and he knew at least by name stopped by the table say to say hi and suddenly it was after nine and the night was in full swing. There was a live duo playing music and even some dancing. That was when Cynthia Gilbert came into the Tavern, but she wasn’t alone. It seemed that she was with James Bickle, one of the other division supers from the warehouse. Mike looked around them to see if they were with a group and he felt a weight in his chest. They appeared to be alone. They appeared to be together. Mike picked up his beer and nodded absently at whatever gene was say and drained it, “Time for me to get home.” He stood amid the protests and gave a glance at Cynthia but what caught his attention was the couple sitting at the table just beyond where Cynthia and James were. The were pale with light colored hair slicked back the looked like Identical twins but one was a woman and the other a guy. They were dressed in dark grey matching suits, the man wore a tie and women didn’t. As their eyes locked with Mikes, both simultaneously slipped their right hands ominously into their jackets!
  16. "Consider it given, Captain." He offered her a small, yet genuine smile, then keyed up the ship comms. "All hands, begin final checks for jump." keying it off, he made his way to the bridge, taking his seat in the Commander's Chair. As each section reported their readiness, he went over his own lists, but his smile faded. They weren't likely to find anyone alive, with how long it would take them to get there, and even begin their search. Still, orders were orders, and if there was a chance of actually finding someone, he wouldn't abandon them, that was not the SPC way.
  17. Wolf directed the pilot to set course to the appropriate jump-point and sat back to observe his new first officer. Her file had been so sparse that it had raised flags. And her relationship with a high ranking officer had raised more. But now he wasn’t so sure. Lauren set about making the modifications as soon as she arrived on deck. First she introduced her self to the two electricians then showed them the design and the circuit plans. She assigned each a job and left them to it while she went to do the manual installation of the components. She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, Wolf noted, nor did she micromanage her subordinates. Once the installations were done she ran tests and once satisfied proceeded to install the software. She was skilled, Wolf had to give her that, most officers that young who didn’t come up through the ranks were more narrowly focused. The ship was nearing the Jump-point and on its deceleration phase so Wolf went back to the Comms Office to informed Lauren of their position and check on her progress. He stood in the door and watched her work. She was checking her work again, reading the numbers and symbols on the screen and comparing them to what was on her handheld, checking them off one by one with a stylus. “How is it coming,” he asked after watching for a moment? “Five by five. Just making a few adjustments.” She turned in the chair to face Wolf, “ It’s working perfectly the crewmen did excellent work. We have fully updated data and the transfer to the Navigation computers is already done. I can calculate the jump as soon as you give the order.” She smiled and it lit up her whole face.
  18. Mike nodded, "I'll be there... may have to leave a little early, though. Not feeling one hundred percent right now." Gene looked over when mike said this, "Something up?" His eyes showing concern and something else... anxiety maybe. Mike sighed, "The stress of the visit is just getting to me, I think. I need to relax and blow off some steam, but I also need SLEEP. Right now, the relaxing is winning, but soon, sleep will win overall. Don't let me distract you from a good time, though. I'll even get the first round." Gene laughed, "You must have gone crazy... The others will make your wallet cry if they hear about that." He slapped Mike on the shoulder, and continued laughing as they headed to their cars.
  19. After telling Gene that it was all clear Mike returned to the group and the tour but his mind was elsewhere. What did this guy named Dale mean and how did he vanish like that. He kept asking himself, did that really happen, but then he'd put his hand in his pocket and feel it. The coin. It was real. At the end of the day the bosses had gone and they had given the warehouse a pass. No one lost their jobs and nobody got a demotion. Some of the guys he played paint ball with who worked at the warehouse were going to go to a bar they frequented after paintball, Gene among them. "You coming Mike?" The look Gene gave Mike was very curious, Mike was sure that he wanted to know more about the incident during the tour.
  20. Morgan nodded, and called two of the best electronic technicians on the ship his office. When they arrived, he bid them enter, and made short introductions. "Gentlemen, this is Captain Mallory. She is the ship's new second in Command as of today. She has a project that needs to be done immediately, and requested the best we had aboard to help her see that it's done properly. I've called you because of your exemplary work thus far, and I have faith that the three of you will complete the project." He Gestured first to the Tech on the left. "This is Senior Technician Marcus Lynch, and Senior Technician Dominic Rhyde. You asked for my best, and you've got them." Short of the Engineering chief, who's knowledge was more broad, the two in the office were the best technicians on the ship, especially with electronics. "If that's all you'll need Captain, please go ahead and get started. I'll get us moving back to the jump point."
  21. Lauren took in the barrage of questions. "We have been field testing the set up on the Boon since I arrived from Sol. The 076 will be the second working ship we have installed the gear on. This is highly classified, we don't want the pirates learning about it before we have a chance to increase security on the sub-space arrays. As for installation i should be done by the time we move back to the jump point if I can get started now."
  22. Mike didn't even think of letting the coin hit the ground. He reflexively snapped his hand out and snagged the coin out of the air. "What the hell just happened," He thought to himself as he snatched the coin, "At least i'll have physical proof that SOMETHING happened... but I may not want to say anything. The guy just disappearing, and the coin being the only thing left? I'd be put under observation at least." As he felt the cold coin hit his hand, he sighed, and shook his head. He looked down at the coin, noticing it didn't have any markings on one side, and a star symbol on the other. He traced the star symbol with his fingers, letting the feeling of the edges embed itself in his memory. He then put the coin in his pocket, and turned to leave the tool shed.
  23. The man, Dale, chuckled. He flipped the coin. "I'm here for you Mike. I'm here for all the millions of poor slobs on this forsaken little wet ball. Bad things are coming, a lot worse than some pissed off bosses with golden parachutes. Your gonna have to make some choices Mike. You were the one chosen and it's going to be your responsibility. There isn't any help on the way, no cavalry over the hill. But mostly I'm here to give you this." With a flick of his thumb, Dale sends the coin flipping through the air towards Mike, who watches it as it flies at him in slow motion. "Remember Mike, this isn't about good and evil, this is about Life and Death." As Dale says this while the coin is midway to Mike he shimmers and fades away in a swirl of light.
  24. "I always try to do the right thing. Doesn't always happen, but I really do want to do the right thing." Mike was surprised at the words coming out of his mouth. He seemed to be drawn to speaking the truth to this gentleman. "Dale, why are you here? I know you weren't with the tour. I also know you aren't here to rob the place. You would have been less obvious. If you have a point to get to, I suggest you travel there quickly. I have things to do, and I'd rather not get shit on for not doing them." Mike started to stretch his arms, and unconsciously began to crack his knuckles one by one. He had a determined look on his face as he gazed into Dale's eyes.
  25. He was in the back of the storage room leaning on a pile on a boxes his legs crossed and he was flipping a coin in his right hand. In his left he held and old fashioned watch on a chain. Mike noticed he was wearing sneakers with his suit. "A minute and twenty eight seconds," he said pressing the top of the watch. "You called the security office didn't you. Hmm good use of resources. So tell me Mike, I can call you Mike, right?" He didn't wait for an answer. "You can call me Dale. So Mike, do you want to do the right thing?" He emphasized the word 'want' and kept flipping the coin and gazing intently at Mike as if trying to read his mind. Or maybe his soul.
  26. Morgan nodded, and smiled. "That sounds great. More accurate calculations for faster and safer transit will be welcome by everyone. Do you know if we are the first ship to receive this equipment? Has it been tested before outside the lab, in real field conditions?" R&D generally wasn't known for rushing new developments, but these were still questions he had to ask. The fact the Colonel had already signed off and issued orders for their installation reassured him somewhat, but why hadn't he actually told him about it? "How long will it take you to make the modifications, and run a check to make sure the system is operating as expected?"
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