The flash of light is visible in the night sky as the Barrier passes Mars. Again the signal from each of the probes around and on Mars is lost for 27 seconds. Images from the probes are similar. Opportunity has images of the Barrier on the Martian surface.
22/4/2012: Doomsday
The whole sky is lit by the Barrier. All travel is stopped and people are advised to stay at home. The Doomsday cults gather to await the end of the world. Some cults have mass suicides or give away all their property. Conventional religions organise services and prayer meetings. Other people organise Doomsday parties. Many people gather in the streets, in parks or hilltops. Important members of the government and their supporters are reported to be in their bunker. The emergency services and the army are on high alert. Russia remains fairly peaceful, though Vodka sales are up, but in other countries there is mass hysteria, rioting and looting. The Barrier will take about 24s to cross the Earth and as the blackout seems to last 27s there isn’t much point in seeing what happens elsewhere. As the Barrier crosses each person sees a bright flash of light. Nothing seems to happen and on the whole it seems to be rather an anti climax. Doomsday Cult leaders either go to ground or announce slight miscalculations as to the date of the apocalypse.
The characters start to notice their special powers appearing. If they have items they get the urge to go and tinker with objects in the garage and buy electronics from shops. Some events:
On the news they see a man called Leon Aston who seems to have telekinetic powers.
A woman called Mary Arnold appears on the news with a weird alien appearance that developed the day after Doomsday – she now has blue skin and silver eyes. She can also apparently read people’s minds.
More and more people appear in the streets or on the TV with unusual abilities and characteristics. Gradually a picture emerges and estimates of the number of people changed start to be made. It looks like at least one person in 10 got some kind of result. There is a lot of speculation as to what this means.
News reports of zombie attacks. There is some footage. Also of some people with powers fighting them. The army is also sent in.
The outbreak is getting worse in Argentina. Also reports that some people got more than just the one or two minor powers. There is some shaky film of people with impressive abilities- a man flying through the air in New York, a girl shooting lightning from her hand in Moscow etc. No one is sure how many people like this there are.
28/4/2012: More Outbreaks
There is another outbreak of zombies – this time in Detroit. Also there seems to be an attack of demons in Kinshasa and other strange occurrences around the world. Also some people with powers are committing crimes.
Moscow. President Putin announces that Russia is investigation these apparent manifestations of power by certain individuals and that anyone with any signs of unusual abilities should report immediately to the authorities, it is stressed that this is for their own safety.
Minor earth tremors are reported in the south east outskirts of the city. Local residents report strange figures moving around in the night near the old war munitions depot. In the Dorogomilovo district reports are surfacing of several Muscovites turning up at hospital with signs of poisoning (and bite marks if some reports are to be believed). In unrelated news a robbery at the Lenka Animal Research centre resulted in substantial damage to the building and also the escape of a drove of tundra hares.
Newly powered Mind Storm, Mercuria, Paladin, Acedemia Starfire, Rain Dancer and Phenomenal Lass join forces. Rain Dancer researches the goings on at the old munition depot, Phenomenal Lass investigates the poisoning incidents whilst Mind Storm, Mercuria, Paladin, Acedemia Starfire begin the base construction.
There is an attack of giant fire beetles in London. The outbreak starts with them emerging from cellars and sewers in Bermonsey. The Liberty League of London are formed consisting of Aurora and Kinetix. They are beaten by the Fire Beetles who take over Bermondsey.
President Putin announced that for the protection of the people of Moscow regiments of the 6th Army will be deployed around Moscow. Other cities around Russian will also have ground force regiments deployed to them. Citizens of Moscow should cooperate with their comrades in the army in these troubling times. Again he emphasises the need for anyone with any signs of unusual powers to come forth and make themselves known to the authorities and also goes further and asks that anyone who has seen someone with any strange abilities to report them.
The family of the girl filmed shooting lightning from her hands in Moscow report that she has gone missing. She was due at a family wedding yesterday but never turned up and isn’t contactable. State media soon relegates the story to a minor local item and drops it the next day.
Rain Dancer, Mercuria, Mind Storm, Paladin, Red Angel and Acedemia Starfire head out to deal with Darkspeed at the munitions depot. Dr Moscow is also there and the heroes are defeated. Rain Dancer was hurt in the attack. The heroes were defeated and Darkspeed took control of the district and also gained resources in the form of the old Tsarist treasure.
Phenomenal Lass, Sparx, Birch and Neutralino go to deal with the Venomous Tundra Hares. Octopecker turned up and after a bit of bantering decided to help the heroes. The hares were dispatched in short order and the weird device disabled.
In Chicago, a portal to the elemental plane of cold opens in China Town. When the area is evacuated, Rad-icle, Acid Drop, Cosmos and Butt Kicker, decide to stay to see whether they can use their new-found powers to help. Butt Kicker's rival, Max Mayhem also stays - but although he is as interested in showing up "Butt Licker" as helping to defend the town. Although hampered by extreme cold, the heroes are able to defeat the ice demons but are unable to close the portal and are forced to withdraw from the area. In spite of this setback, the heroes decided to band together to form the Great Lake Guardians.
Old new footage is shown of a man called Robert Jarvis from Manchester. He wasn't really noticed much before Doomsday amongst the various Doomsday Cults. He didn't actually collect money or followers as such but he did say that Doomsday wouldn't be the end of the world. Instead it would be the start of the ‘End Times’ with the dead, monsters and demons walking the earth and a war between the Children of Light and the Children of Darkness who would have powers like angels and demons. His prophecy now seems strangely accurate and the news interviews him about his visions. He says that he isn't particularly religious and only started getting visions of the future a few months before Doomsday. He is still getting them now. He says he isn't the leader of one of these groups he can just see what is going to happen.
Liberty League recruit Arclight and Fire Witch.
The first of the regiments of the 6th Army arrive in Moscow. They deploy in the centre of the city initially but the plans are to have a presence all across Moscow.
Criminal Underworld News. The notorious Grekov Gang, for so many years riddled with internal strife are reportedly putting this behind them. Reports suggest that several mafia style organisations are looking at ways they can exploit the current chaotic situation. From their heartland in the Golyanovo district the Grekov Gang has terrorised Muscovites for decades now since the fall of the soviet state.
Birch and Phenomenal Lass research the Grekov Gang but fail to find anything out.
Mind Storm, Mercuria, Paladin, Sparks and Acedemia Starfire continue base construction.
Neutralino does a relationship task with her rival Electron.
In Chicago, Acid drop fails to find new recruits for the Great Lake Guardians. Rad-icle persuades his minion, Amazon, to assist in them on a temporary basis.