Super Hype: The Freedom Herald

Accident at Gundersonn NanoTech

2007-06-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

Gundersonn NanoTech is a high tech robotic firm focusing on nanobots in the chemical industry suffered a severe blow to its R&D when two explosions rocked the main labs in Franklin's High Tech Center. The first explosion in a liquid hydrogen tank is believed to set off the second explosion in the labs primary assembly plant. Gundersonn CIO Hal Munsen said the blasts would stall some serious research, but the plant would be rebuilt, and the research continued.

Neo-Nazis find new inspiration.

2007-06-04T18:25:00.000-07:00

Sources inside Franklin City's small, but thriving, neo-Nazi community indicate that a new leader has arisen from outside. It is believed that this new leader may be super powered as he allegedly demonstrated feats of great strength.

Super Mandrill's return to Blackstone delayed pending refit.

2007-06-04T18:19:00.000-07:00

The Super Mandrill who had been in federal custody at an undisclosed location was to be returned to Blackstone Prison this week. However given security concerns after the recent escape, he is being kept at an undisclosed location.
Federal Authorities have yet to recognize any rights for the Super Mandrill, but a federal court judge has ordered that he not be euthanized until a panel of judges and others formally evaluate his sentience. Many groups, while admitting his criminal past, have argued that the Super Mandrill cannot be treated simply as another animal, to be disposed of as we will.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case.

Highspeed Chase Breaks Limits and Records

2007-06-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

An unusual high speed chase ensued last week when an Armored Car was seen speeding on highway 64. Police tried to pull over the vehicle and it increased its speeds. It quickly outpaced the police cruiser, and was able to plow through a barricade of cars on the road. Likewise, caltrops and other tire suppression devices were ineffective. A police radar unit clocked it over 200mph before it began to leave them in the dust. A police helicopter responding to the scene, was able to follow the van until it arrived at the Brink's depot in Greenville and somehow sounding a general alarm. This caused other armored cars to flee the garage and in a few seconds the speeder was lost in a crowd of dozens of similar vehicles.

High Rise Cat Burglar Robs and Offends Wealthy

2007-06-04T18:05:00.000-07:00

Many of Franklin City's elite live in high rise condos in the center of town, some costing as much as $5 Million for a 4000sq foot space. Last month a string of cat burglaries were reported. Given the glass and steel nature of most of these high rise apartment buildings it is unclear how the Cat Burglar was able to access the buildings. So far most robberies have been for individual pieces of art or jewelry, leaving other pricey furs and electronics behind.
Some would be victims were offended to find notes complaining about the forgeries and fakes found at the scene. Police are analyzing these notes to determine more about this highly selective thief.

Medical Laboratory Robbed by a Gang of Super Villains

2007-06-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

Trantor Med-Tech Laboratories in Washington NC was robbed by what witnessed described as a super powered gang of teenagers. A group of youths, called the 'WarPimps', believed to have been seen 'wilding' in Freedom Park last month, are believed the culprits. Witnesses describe them smashing cars with their bare hands, knocking down door, and leaping over 12 foot high fences. They stole a number of expensive machines and ransacked the place, presumably looking for drugs.

Tusk sighted in East Carolina

2007-06-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

A creature believed to be the giant man-elephant was spotted in Sandhurst NC this week. What the villain was doing in rural Nevada is unknown. State Police responded to a call from two fisherman who were pulled into a local gas n bait shop, and saw the villain destroying the garage. The state police tracked the creature into the woods and lost him in the swamping forest. Investigators found what appeared to be a 1984 Camero flattened, presumably by the feisty pachyderm. Invesitgators are hoping this and other irrational behaviors are signs that Tusk will show himself and be able to be captured.

Mesa Air 737 Crashes into Hospital in Las Vegas - 63 Dead

2007-06-04T17:18:00.000-07:00

A Mesa Air 737 flight to Denver was gaining altitude when pilots reported a problem with the automatic pilot. The auot-pilot engaged on its own. Attempts to disengage failed and the plane flew into nearby El Banos hospital destroying the three story building. 43 passengers and crew, and 20 patients and staff at the hospital were killed in the crash and blaze that followed. The plane missed the main building and most of the patients and staff of the hospital were able to escape. Miraculously one passenger from the plane, also survived and is being treated at Vegas General. The FAA is examining the black box but reports from the tower indicate the pilots wrestling with controls until the crash.

Honda introduces Olivaw

2007-06-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Honda's robotics division has introduced Olivaw, an updated anthropomorphic robot, or android. Olivaw represents the next step from the Asimo, according to Honda representatives. When inactive the Olivaw looks like an articulated mannequin or human sized doll. When active the Olivaw appears to move with unnerving fluidity. Using state of the art technology and special synthetics, the Olivaw looks very humanlike, but clearly non-human. Many onlookers at the unveiling reporting discomfort at the mannerisms of the robot which resembled the overdone movements of mimes. Olivaw was designed as a test platform for future android development.

The Patriots MIA

2007-06-04T06:55:00.000-07:00

In another blow to super security the US sponsored super team, the Patriots, has been unheard from in several weeks. The DoJ reports that the team is on a mission and refused to comment on when they would return or the nature of the mission, other than to say it was routine and entirely withing the bounds set out for the team. The DoJ was no doubt trying to assuage foreign governments fearing that the team might be being used for covert military operations.
Some have speculated that the mission might be related to incidents at the Nevada test site where the Patriots and Immortals engaged in a scrimmage. Reports from that event claimed that Super Patriot disappeared from the games and did not return.

Jack Flash Killed in Action

2007-06-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

One of the first super heroes to appear on the scene after the Event has died in action according to a statement from the Immortals yesterday. The Immortals were on the site of the prison escape and were instrumental in containing it as best they could. While battling the villains in the prison, Jack Flash, known for his super speed, fell in the battle. The Immortals refused to comment on the means of his death, or who did it.
However reports from insiders in the prison staff indicate that a body charred beyond recognition was stored in the prison's deep freeze unit after the fight. Since the BoP claimed no villains or prison staff were killed, one can only assume it was Jack Flash.

The Immortals announced that there would be a private funeral followed by a public memorial service to the fallen members of the Immortals: Jack Flash and the eccentric shape shifter C4.
C4 was reported missing from the ranks a month ago. The Immortals added that C4 also died in action having saved his teammates from a collapsed coal power plant in the north part of the state
.

Escape from Blackstone!

2007-06-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

The Bureau of Prisons announced an escape from Blackstone Prison last night. The DOJ confirmed that they were on the lookout for four super powered escapees: Ba'al, The Burning Man, The Herald, and a minor "Deus X". The four escaped during a massive effort that shut down the prison for several hours. Prison officials announced that they, with the help of the Immortals recaptured several villains including half a dozen foreign nationals held there in agreement with the European Union, and several other prisoners as well. No prison guards were killed, but dozens were injured.
Satellite tracking was able to follow some of the escapees briefly, but they disappeared from the system shortly after leaving the island. Citizens are warned to avoid contact with these people and report any contact immediately to the authorities.
An insider at the prison speculated that the escape plan may have involved a plan where one or more villains allowed themselves to be captured and then took advantage of a series of weaknesses in the system. The biggest weakness was that the system was designed to hold individual supers and nullify each individual's powers, but working in concert the villains were able to gain control of key systems in the prison.
The Senate committee on super powers has begun an investigation and the BoP has said it will cooperate with the investigation. The attorney general said in a brief statement released by the DoJ that containing super powered individuals was unknown territory, and that it was impossible to plan for every eventuality with a group of beings who defy scientific limitations. However he praised the prison for containing the damage and mayhem as much as it did noting that no prison personnel, or other prisoners were killed in the escape.

Massive Sinkhole destroys Farmville Pig Farm

2007-04-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Romita Pig Farm just outside Farmville was engulfed in an enormous implosion of swine waste and earth. Investigators say it would take years to sift through the damage to discover its causes. A spokesperson for the farm indicated that the far may have been built over a natural gas reserve which would explain the explosion and ensuing implosion that was reported at the site. Clean up crews are assessing the damage and risk to the water table, but believe at present the damage was limited to the farmsite itself, and having destroyed and absorbed the waste treatment pond, may actually improve the water quality in the area.

Avatars appear in Bangaloere

2007-04-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

A team of Hindu inspired super heroes calling themselves the Avatars appeared to end a hostage situation at the headquarters of America Online's Technology Support in Bangalore this morning. The Avatars were able to deal with the hostage takers, a Kasmiri separatist group, quickly with no loss of life. The Indian Prime Minister praised the group and invited them to a formal dinner. They have declined citing a desire to remain above and apart from politics.

Tusk rampages through Raleigh, escapes.

2007-04-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

The Elephantine Super Villain known as Tusk was sighted in the Capital City of Raleigh yesterday in daring bank and armored car robbery. He arrived at the scene of a money transfer destroyed the armored car, and front of the First Federal Bank building downtown, then proceeded to become a one man stampede through the center of the city and onto Hwy 1. A total of 24 cars and trucks were destroyed by his initial rampage and dozens of others were damaged in the resulting traffic accidents. Tusk escaped with $90,000 into the woods of northern North Carolina. A search was hampered by the traffic situation.

Super Challenge

2007-04-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

Rumors are flying about a match up between the world's premier super hero teams: the federally sponsored US Patriots, and Freedom City's own the Immortals.

Sources in the government said a friendly challenge was issued and the teams will duke it out in the Nevada desert at the site of the closed Seismic Converter. The government is keeping close tabs on the event and is not allowing the much pre-press, and no independent news will be allowed into the facility, for their own protection. However the press-corps will be on-site at the observation decks to view anything on the outside. Also, footage from inside security cameras will be fed live to the networks.

Sentinel Memorial Proposed

2007-02-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

Franklin native John Hammond, a.k.a. "the Sentinel" a two fisted hero who fought in World War II and later fought crime in the United States will receive a stature in Freedom Circle outside the city hall.
Historians are re-examining the "mythic abilities" of Hammond. Given the presence of supers in today's world, the question of his actual abilities has resurfaced. During the war, legends of the Sentinel's great strength, stamina, and resilience were numerous, but believed to be either propaganda meant to instill fear in the superstitious German soldiers, and confidence in the US GIs, or simple exaggerations.During and after the war. First Comics published a series based loosely on his exploits called "The Sensational Sentinel." In the comic books Hammond was bullet proof, able to lift a tank, and run as fast a jeep (not unlike James Allen, Marduk of the Immortals). New evidence suggests that the Sentinel might have been a true, and perhaps the world's first Super Hero.
Hammond died in mysterious circumstance in 1967 during the Great Gas Fire (caused by numerous gas leaks along the cities aging gas distribution system.) Long time friend of Hammond Dr. Rupert Forrestor refused to take part in the study and denies any knowledge of special powers. "It was all stories, nothing more." Was all he said when confronted by reporters this may.
Still controversial is the representation of Hammond in the "Sentinel" costume made famous in the war-time comic book, written and drawn by Lee Stanley. Stanley was happy to contribute the original art for the sculptors to work from. "Hammond was the inspiration for the Sentinel comic book I wrote. Maybe he really did have all those powers, maybe he didn't. But, Hammond was a hero, and will serve as an inspiration to us all."
Historian Becky Burnett reported finding recently declassified British documents claiming contact with (American) agents of extreme abilities, strength, speed, and uncanny powers. Perhaps, these documents refer to the Sentinel.

Allied Materials Accepts Challenge

2007-02-09T12:54:00.000-08:00

Allied Materials a military sub-contractor, known for producing the armor for tanks and ship hulls has produced a "Power Proof Vault" for the S-Test. Scientific Solutions said it is in negotiations with several "supers" to test the vault. Allied Materials Chairman Devon Belcher ceremonially placed his $150K Cartier wrist watch in the Vault before sealing it, as well as the pink slip to a $250K Custom Bertolli Sports Coupe in the vault, claiming whoever could open the vault could have either.
"I've got a copy of the pink slip just in case someone is able to destroy the whole thing, that isn't in the rules" Belcher commented. The S-Prize rules require the vault to be opened and contents safely removed.

Prostitute Kills Ten, Disappears

2007-02-09T12:39:00.000-08:00

A woman arrested for solicitation Sunday night apparently killed four women and six men, including two police guards at the 9th Police District Jail. "She looked like a high price call girl, dressed to the nines, but there she was flagging traffic on Park Street." Said the arresting officer. The woman made no attempt to escape, instead she went easily. She was incarcerated pending official charges, and at some point during the night she killed her fellow inmates, and two guards, then fled the scene. The Police will not say how the people died, or how she escaped. They will only say that she should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. They are asking for help from Federal forces, and the Immortals.

Super Patriot to visit Franklin

2007-02-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

Official US sanctioned hero, Super Patriot, will visit Franklin City, in two weeks to go over the city's special laws dealing with supers, and introduce new federal standards which parallel many of the city's ordinances.
It is unknown whether local heroes, the Immortals will meet with Super Patriot. They have been away from the city according to a spokesman from the Teach Academy (withwhom they are associated).

Energy Committee to Hold Hearings on Seismic Convertor

2007-02-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

Representative John Dingle (D - MI) said that the House Committee on Energy and Commerce would hold a hearing on Sandia Labs Seismic Converter project in Nevada to determine what if any role it played in last weeks 6.5 Las Vegas earthquake.
Dr. Victor Marsden said in a statement, that there was no connection, but the recent seismic activity in the area was all the more reason to accelerate plans for the first tests, both to take advantage of the unusual opportunity, and to help reduce the potential harm of any aftershocks. He will ask Congress for additional funding to speed up construction.

Rats Pillage South American Freighter

2007-02-09T12:15:00.000-08:00

The freighter "Mariposa" sailing from Chile and Argentina carrying beef, fruits, and other agricultural products passed the agricultural inspection by the US Coast Guard at Beaufort and docked in the Southpoint Pier 16 last Friday uneventfully. But when longshoreman appeared Saturday morning to unload its cargo, they found the ship virtually empty. The found traces of thousands of rats (scratch marks, droppings, and a few dead specimens) throughout the ship and nearby dock. "We lose a little cargo every trip to rats, ants and other pests, but never has something like this happened." Reported Captain Hernando Yglesias. The port authority has not ruled out human intervention with an attempt to blame rats for the devastation, or even dumping of the cargo by the ship, though no evidence of a massive spill has been found.
This fuels rumors of a Rat King controlling the population of rodents for singular purposes.

Inmate Death at Blackstone Isle

2007-02-09T12:11:00.000-08:00

Beauregard Rubino, a former volunteer fire fighter, and "bleeder" from the event was reported dead by prison officials. The causes were unknown, but the prison officials claimed that Rubino had been in a coma for several weeks before the incident, and that he received medical treatment write up until he was declared dead.
The Rubino family has asked for the body, but Homeland Security is reviewing whether any security problems might arise from this.

Las Vegas Hit by 6.4 Earthquake

2007-02-09T12:06:00.000-08:00

A major Earthquake was centered northwest of Las Vegas registering 6.4 on the Richter Scale. Damage was extensive but limited in the greater Las Vegas area. Estimates report fewer than 12 dead across the city. City officials praised the efforts of the LVFD and city planners for their strict building codes ensuring safety for the citizens of Las Vegas and the thousands of visitors in the city on any day. Still, reports of damages in excess of $5 Billion were reported due to physical damage and loss of business. LVPD reported that evacuation of many of the city's casinos was difficult.
"Many people tried to continue playing the slots or insisting that card games finish before exiting the building. This extended the shutdown longer than we wanted."

A spokesman for the Seismic Convertor program said the system was not online at the time so could not convert the energy from the quake, or be its cause.

Super Food Created in Franklin Lab

2007-02-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

Cargyle Agricultural Industries has created a special type of self replicating cell using the stemcells from Event affected pigs. This "miracle meat" looks like SPAM or other processes meats, but under proper circumstances when exposed to the correct nutrients (air, water, and sugars) the cells duplicate at a remarkable speed. The stemcells natural ability to absorb instructions have allowed scientists to imbue this substance with a virtual programmable set of nutritional qualities. High protein, low fat, plentiful in anti-oxidants, and vitamins are some of the qualities this food stuff can provide. With proper programing the material can be produced in small quantities in the US, and transported to other areas, where, like the yeasts in sour dough bread, start new strains. This could spell the end of hunger, once fully understood. The product is still in the preliminary testing stages, and will be subject to serious government oversight. In addition, it is unclear whether people will feel comfortable eating this food, or animals fed the material.

Super Patriots Foil Terrorist Plot

2007-02-08T19:15:00.000-08:00

The newly minted US super hero team, the Super Patriots stopped a band of Colombian Farc supported terrorists, los vengartos, who were threatened to blow up the Air and Space Museum. The Super Patriots managed to stop the terrorists, and do so without serious damage to the exhibits.
The crowd held captive by the terrorists, witnessed TANK utilize a weapon that disabled most of the terrorists without causing damage to a single precious object. Lady Liberty was witnessed catching the Gemini landing capsule when it fell due to weapons fire severing its support cables. Little else was gleaned about the mysterious teams powers.

Storm Troopers rob drug warehouse

2007-02-08T19:13:00.000-08:00

Storm Troopers raided a DEA warehouse and stole several kilos of heroin and hundreds of thousands of dollars of marked cash. They also took a tricked out Expedition but this was crashed during a police chase.

Blackstone Isle to open this week

2006-12-08T18:14:00.000-08:00

The Justice Department Bureau of Prisons has released that Blackstone Isle will open earlier than originally planned to house its first "clients." Although there was no name released to the press, it was leaked that the first prisoner at Blackstone Isle will be Harold Feinz, a.k.a. "The Herald." This reporter was able to discover that the Herald was being housed at the Marine Weapons Testing range in Dare County, but had been causing problems with the personnel. As a result they've built him a special isolation unit on Blackstone Isle.
Because Feinz attacked a Nuclear Power Plant, which is part of a specially protected group of facilities, he can be held as an enemy combatant without trial or legal defenses.

Sandia Labs announces Seismic Power Plant

2006-12-08T17:53:00.000-08:00

Dr. Victor Marsden, a noted scientist with Sandia Labs and UC Berkeley has announced a project to create a power plant using deep crust drilling and EVA metallurgy to convert the naturally occurring seismic activity in an area into energy. The result will be a nearly cost free source of energy (once initial costs are met) and reduce the effects of uncontrolled seismic energies. This could be a boon to areas such as Japan, California, Peru where earthquakes wreak havoc on the people there.
The first full scale experiment will take place in deserts northwest of Las Vegas for early next year.

"Rat King" rumored to be haunting the sewers

2006-12-08T17:28:00.000-08:00

Rumors from the South side of a Rat King have begun to filter up from the homeless and people of the street. The stories of hundreds of rats running in hordes attacking the homeless and careless night travelers. A number of reports indicate that the Rat King's rodent minions have been challenged by the feline super "Hyper Cat."
Only in Freedom City.

Germany plagued by super villain

2006-12-08T17:16:00.000-08:00

A supervillain called Angst has been sighted numerous times across Germany from Bonn to Berlin. Angst is believed responsible for the deaths of several corporate executives across the republic. He possessed some kind of fear-based powers which have worked to cause, indirectly, each victim to die, either in flight, or though suicide. INTERPOL has indicated that they've contacted an unnamed superhuman who is pursuing the villain.

Names of the PATRIOTS leaked to press

2006-12-08T16:43:00.000-08:00

Sources inside the Justice Department released a list of names, or code-names, believed to be the superhumans recruited into the government sponsored team called The PATRIOTS. The code names are as follows:

Minute Man
Lady Liberty
American Dreamer
Tank
Super Patriot

There was no clue about the powers or abilities of these supers, or their real names.
There was also a leaked that each Patriot would be a Federal Marshall with full federal police powers. The government still refuses to discuss any super team.

USS North Carolina Lost with All Hands Aboard

2006-12-08T16:35:00.000-08:00

The Virginia Class submarine was returning from its shake down cruise and stopped to assist the Event Rift Research Platform which had been without contact for several days, when it encountered trouble. A Navy spokesperson said the sub reported encountering a superhuman traveling at over 100 knots that passed the sub, the sub followed the superhuman into the rift and disappeared shortly thereafter. An emergency buoy was floated with the North Carolina's last known whereabouts and the Navy sent a rescue mission using the superhero team the Immortals. Sadly, they failed to find the submarine as well. The Navy has said it will try other means to locate the vessel, but stressed that the rift was thousands of meters deep, and even if they found the sub, it was unlikely the crew could have survived.

Mysterious Sounds and Lights at Abandoned Ironworks

2006-11-25T19:09:00.000-08:00

The old ironworks outside of New Bern NC, have been abandoned for over two decades. But for over a month people have been seeing lights at night as though work was going on. Thinking perhaps that they were finally dismantling the site no one reported it until this week. Police investigated and found signs that someone had broken in and stolen some of the scrap metal. Since the site wasn't well documented, it is unclear if anything of value was stolen. There was not sign of a break in at the gates, but clear evidence of activity inside the foundry.

Hackers Scare the Banks

2006-11-25T18:49:00.000-08:00

In a coordinated assault on the city's banking industry, five major banks saw sudden electronic transfers of millions of dollars go from a variety of large accounts, mostly commercial accounts, into the personal savings of Mayor Campbell. Before the banks could pursue the error, the accounts repaired themselves. IT executives and teams from the Treasury Department are going over the logs from the various communications systems to see how this happened. It is unknown whether this was the work of a single master hacker, or a group of many, and it is unclear whether it was white hat hacking (intended for fun and to demonstrate weaknesses in computer security) or black hat hacking (intended for personal gain) as a test run for a real crime.

Experimental Jet Crashes in California

2006-11-25T18:43:00.000-08:00

A skunkworks X-plane crashed in the deserts of California yesterday according to visitors to the region. The plane was described as looking a little like speed boat, a simple wedge, with no real lifting surfaces or the like. Estimates of its speed would be sub-sonic around 400mph. The plane was destroyed beyond any recognition, but the Airforce began an extensive search. Rumors that the plane utilized anti-gravity has surfaced on the internet.

Police Apprehend Super-Thug

2006-11-25T18:32:00.000-08:00

Police and the Special Perpetrator's Unit have been relying on superheroes, such as the Immortals to handle most supervillain threats. However, a representative of the FPD:SPU indicated that a team had successfully captured a supervillain, who they've dubbed Tusk, a large elephant-like man, trying to rob the First Franklin Bank on 23rd Ave. Although Tusk's hide was able to turn bullets, he was eventually brought down. They subdued the giant with a variety of special tuned tasers. The specifics of which are not available. Tusk is scheduled to be transferred from a special holding cell in downtown Frankin, to Blackstone Isle as soon as it opens.

Homeland Security Officer Killed by Super

2006-11-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

Sources in Homeland Security said that the superhuman Torrent, of the Immortals, killed a Homeland Security Officer as he led a team to apprehend the super. The department was not ready to disclose the further details, other than to say she was a wanted suspect. The battle is believed to have taken place just east of Franklin City in the marshy southern part of the bay. Neighbors reported severe tidal action, and spotted a couple black helicopters flying in the area.

Shades of the Terminator

2006-11-19T18:45:00.000-08:00

Alberto "the gecko" Decorsi, a mafia lieutenant checked himself into protective custody at a Franklin City Police Station. FBI agents and Treasury agents interviewed the man and he claimed to be willing to reveal anything they wanted so long as they could protect him from her. He was kept in a secure cell deep in the station and guarded by members of all three agencies.
By morning the gecko was dead: seventeen police, and federal agents were disabled and unconscious.

Santorum to head Superhuman Registration Movement

2006-11-13T06:46:00.000-08:00

Departing senator Rick Santorum has announced that he is founding an organization to promote legislation requiring supers to be registered and to classify super powers as weapons of mass destruction.
Project Equilibrium - is the name of the organization, and it appears to have deep pockets.
Some have suggested that Santorum is positioning himself for a future presidential run by pulling focus away from the war in Iraq. Santorum waved off such suggestions, saying this new mission was of primary importance, and that he was dedicated to this new mission.

Jovian Field Tests Powered Exoskeleton

2006-11-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

Jovian products has developed a powered exoskeleton to give the security forces, police and their first clients the Blackstone Island Super Security Prison the power to meet super powered threats on their own terms. The suits enhance the user's strength, provide life support, and resistance to damage. A variety of weapons and security packages are available for the PEs and can be customized to suit each client's needs.
Jovian will be conducting a field test using a number of supers at the Naval Test Range East of Franklin City. Various press firms, and representatives of law enforcement agencies will be on hand to see the suits in use.

Iraqi Super Crosses Lines Brings Temporary Peace

2006-11-01T06:06:00.000-08:00

Snipers from both sides - the insurgents and the US army - encountered a strange Super last week according to forces from both sides. The two sets of marksmen were shooting across a plaza in south central Baghdad when a single figure garbed in Dervish robes walked across the center of the plaza. Witnesses claim numerous shots were fired at the robed figure, but none hit him.
Then the plaza and surrounding area was bathed in a strange soft light in the middle of the night. The gunfire stopped.
Spokespersons for the US military would not comment, but bloggers in the troops wrote that several of the snipers have refused to return to their posts and given up their commissions. Word from the insurgents report experiencing the Divine Light of Allah which filled them with peace and love. They could not touch a gun again.

Millionaire Slaves

2006-11-01T05:48:00.000-08:00

Robert Price, of the Price Publishing fortune was discovered in his home dressed as a butler and cleaning his house relentlessly by police yesterday, after failig to show up at his work for two monthes. Police psychologists say that some kind of trauma has caused a form of amnesia in Price, and he is being treated at the Providence Asylum. Price is the second millionaire to be found doing something unusual with no memory of how this happened. Stock trader John Kyle was found going door to door in his neighborhood asking if he could mow people's lawns three monthes ago. Kyle was successfully treated at Providence Asylum and is on a leave of absence from work to recover. Police detectives believe the two millionaires were victim of some Super Villain who invades their home, and controls or coerces them into service for a short period, then moves on. They have some leads but could not discuss them at this time.
The wealthy of Franklin City have begun taking steps to prevent this sort of thing, and police recommend that they keep in regular contact with friends and family and urge the latter to contact the police if any unusual activity is going on.

Senator and Celebs speak on Supers

2006-10-31T06:08:00.000-08:00

Beleaguered Senator Rick santorum and actor Bruce Willis spoke about the need for federal laws in response to the appearance of Super Villains. They urged the government to classify all criminals using super powers as unlawful combatants, or terrorists.

These super villains are like smart bombs. Their powers are weapons of mass destruction, and their will to use them should classify them as terrorists or rogue states. They have taken themselves out of the normal realm of human law and order. We mustn't let this inhuman threat go unchallenged. - Santorum

Willis, who has long been a supporter of armor and heavy weapons for the police, was present at the Planet Hollywood warned that super villains took their queues from the fictional fantasy stories of Hollywood and the comic books. He stressed that we can't count on Super Heroes to save us like they do in the comic books and movies.

The real heroes we can count on, are the policemen and women, and the military. We need to give them the tools to deal with these threats like any others. - Willis

Santorum sent out a preliminary copy of a Senate Bill to classify anyone who used super powers in a crime as a terrorist.

Sign Wave summons the Herald

2006-10-31T06:03:00.000-08:00

Eyewitnesses at the Sign Wave's Pow Wow outside the gates of Site One claim a vision of the Herald appeared to the people after a four hour chant by the Sign Wavers. Spokespersons for the Sign Wavers claim that the Herald urged them to commit acts of civil disobedience, refuse to use power generated by the Nuclear Power Plant, refuse to consume the products of agri-business, and interfere with business as usual in the banking, insurance, and energy sectors.
Government officials would not discuss the containment of the Herald other than to say that he was still in confinement.

Virtual Hero?

2006-10-29T10:38:00.000-08:00

A number of reports have come in recently about victim's of identity theft, phishing and other cyber-crimes having their identities restored, false data expunged, and other solutions to these very modern problems. Someone out there on the Internets is rescuing these people from the villains of the information age.
A number of data sites, in particular TRW, have indicated they've pulled down websites hacked with the e-graffiti - "HALO". So far, there is no evidence, other than the person or person's remarkable success at doing something the companies themselves cannot or will not, that anything paranormal is occurring.

French Super Le Fleche stops terror attack!

2006-10-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

A group of terrorists, part of La Vrais France, a right wing anti-immigrant group, were in the process of holding hostage a group of refugees from Africa in the port city of Marseilles. They had captured the freighter that held the refugees pending
health inspection, and were planting bombs on board with every intention to detonate them in the harbor as a sign to other would be refugees.
There plan was foiled by La Fleche, a super-powered archer, who injured several of the terrorists, scared off the rest, and deactivated the bomb before it could go off. Her used her trademark bow, and high tech arrows to thwart the terrorist attack. It is said that La Fleche possesses uncanny accuracy, and amazing senses, so rarely if ever misses a shot.

Gangland Violence

2006-10-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

More gangland violence was reported this week in Franklin's Lincoln District. This time, a gang was attacking in the middle of receiving a shipment of heroin fresh into town to be divided into 'individual-prepackaged' sizes. Sources say a group of Supers entered the warehouse, demanded the heroin, and proceeded to trash the place and the gang inside. No one was killed but an unspecified quantity of heroin was removed from the warehouse. It is unknown whether this was a the work of a group of anonymous street level superheroes destroying the drug, or some super gang members stealing for themselves.

The Tarot Killer - Massacre

2006-10-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

Police following engaged in an anti-ganag unit in Chinatown found a small massacre of gang members at a warehouse known to be used by the Demon Gang. The local mob boss and several lieutenants were among the dead, said the Police Department.
At the scene was found a small number of Tarot Cards placed on the bodies of the boss and lieutenants.
Police refused to speculate whether this was the work of a rival gang, or a serial killer, or vigilante.

Fort Knox Repels Super Villain Team

2006-10-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

A group of five Super Villains operating with careful teamwork attacked the US Gold Bullion Reserves at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The villains, three men and two women, appeared on deep in the grounds and set off the security alarms. They were unable to penetrate the main vaults before the building went into lock down. After several minutes of concentrated fire on the villains by theUS Army, the team withdrew. Several soldiers and guards were injured but none were killed.
The team members demonstrated the following powers:

A man covered in metal shards, bullet proof, and able to fling these sharp shards at a distance.
A large woman, seven feet tall, approximately 350lbs, exhibited near invulnerability, and incredible strength. She smashed an armored personnel carrier with her bare hands, and slapping them together caused soldiers a hundred feet away to be knocked down from the shock wave.
A man capable of holding a high charge of electricity on his body and sicharging it at range. Soldiers reporting him disappearing in one place and appearing in another.
A woman able to generate and controls winds, created and moving about in a small but powerful tornado.
A man with no obvious physical powers. Soldiers indicate he had the ability to read and control their minds, and create hallucinations in people at range.

These five people have been put on the FBI's most wanted list. The President praised the US Army for protecting the important resource from these Super Villains. There was no evidence that the Army was assisted by Super Heroes, but that has not been ruled out.

Scientific Solutions - S-Challenge

2006-10-24T10:53:00.000-07:00

Modeled on the X-Prize, a privately funded competition to encourage private development of space flight, Scientific Solutions, funded by Billionaire David Wynn, is funding a series of challenges to existing Supers, and developers, to deal with Super Powers.

Challenge 1. Power Proof Vault.
Design and build a vault at leat 3x3x3 meters in size that can withstand the attempts of any Super powered being to gain entry. The prize $2 Million. Super powered volunteers can attempt to gain entry to the vault, and if successful, Scientific Solutions will donate $500,000 to the charity of your choice.

The S-Challenges allows the developers to retain patents but gives Scientific Solutions the right to match any offers to buy the patent, or the company, and gives that matching offer priority.

Super Patriot Program

2006-10-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

A document leaked from internal memos in the Justice Department and Homeland Security indicate the US Government is in the process of creating a team of Super Heroes to deal with Super Powered Threats to the US. Dubed the Super Patriot Program, the project includes recruiting existing Supers, developing High Tech Super battle gear, and even genetic and biological research to create its own Super Hero teams.
It is hardly a surprise that the government would desire to get in on the Super Powered phenomenon, but since this is taking place in the nebulous world of Blackmarked secret funding, there is no one accountable for how these Supers are created or used.

Federal Super Prison Planned at Blackstone Island

2006-10-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

The Blackstone Naval Weapons Depot, in active for three years will re-open as a Super Prison for Super Villains in four to six months, the Federal Government annouces. The Justice Department, noting the growth of Paranormal and Event related crime has agreed to convert the Depot into a super high security prison. Some people complain about the proximity of Blackstone Island to Franklin City makes it a danger to the metropolis, when some Super Villain inevitably escapes, or when super villains are transported from other parts of the country to Blackstone.
Government sources indicate that its proximity to Franklin City was one of the selling points:

"Blackstone was designed to contain high-explosive, nucelar, biological and chemical weapons. This means it has thick armored walls, internal security systems, self-contained power and life support. It is inaccessible by roads, only accessible by air, ship and rail bridge, and was designed as a potential terrorist or military target. The facility has hard points for anti-aircraft weapons, and built in radar and sonar systems. With relatively minor modifications the facility will be ready to hold prisoners in the sort of comfort enjoyed by other prisoners of our federal prison system, while maintaining the security we needs. As to posing a threat to the local population, the vast majority of super crime has occured in the vicinity of Franklin City, and is likely to continue, so proximity to the city means shorter safer transports. Also, being close to Franklin City means Super Heroes such as the recognized Super Hero Team the Immortals can be called in, in the event the facility proves inadequate. "

The government made reference to bills moving through both houses of congress in advance of the election to grant special powers to law enforcement in order to deal with the menace of Super Villains. Primary of which will be the in-prison trial of captured super villains. The Navy, who currently runs the depot will cede control to the Justice Department this week. The Justice Department has not yet worked out the role of human rights groups and defense attorneys at Blackstone.

Sine Wave planning massive pow wow.

2006-10-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

The Event spawned cult known as the Sine Wave, associated with the super being known as the Avatar, has summoned people from around the world to Franklin City to meet outside the gates of the safety zone surrounding Impact Site One. It is unknown how many Sine Wave members still exist after the incarceration of The Avatar, but they gotten permits for over 100,000 people. A press release from Cromwell Industries has noted that there are no plans for stepped up security.

Super Mandrill Causes Blackout

2006-10-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

The citywide blackout during Oktoberfest was linked to the villainous Super Mandrill as part of his relentless assault on Freedom City. City officials indicated they were still trying to determine the Super Mandrill's ultimate goal in the attack. Numerous celebrities at the Planet Hollywood grand opening claimed the Super Mandrill wasn't given a chance to make any demands before the Immortals burst in and stopped short his plans. Actor, Tim Robbins claimed that some of violence may have been unnecessary, but actress Patricia Heaton (of Everyone Loves Raymond) commended the Heroes for their quick and decisive actions.
Several dozen people were injured in the rioting that occured during the blackout.

Vampires in Freedom City?

2006-09-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Franklin City blood bank was robbed of 50 pints of blood (assorted blood-types) this weekend. The night watchman was rendered unconscious, but claims to have seen a woman garbed in a 'living' cloak of scarlet, before she knocked him unconscious.
I suppose feeding out of the burgled blood bank is preferrable to the alternative, but vampirism of any kind gives me the willies.

Cromwell Industries Hires Super

2006-09-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

Cromwell Industries indicated it had hired a super powered person by the code-name of "Strobelight" in the position of "specialist." What she is a specialist of, is not certain. Nor has there been any previous sightings of this Strobelight.
Still, the hiring of a Super brings up certain questions.
Can the loyalty and good will of a super powered being be bought and sold?
Will we face mercenary Supers as well as Super Heroes and Villains?
It is this reporter's opinion that, more than likely, there are supers of as many mindsets, good or evil, selfish or selfless, as there are in the realm of mundane people such as us.

Anti-Gravity Device Tested Successfully

2006-09-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Jovian Products made another remarkable display of EVA based technology. They demonstrated what appeared to be an anti-gravity device. The device, which looked a little like a waffle iron turned inside out, but the size of a small car, hummed and vibrated a little before levitating to a height of about 6 feet or roughly as high as the ceiling and power cords would let it.
It was able to hover for over a minute before the engineers let it slowly descend.
There was an interesting side effect. A bit of dust and a loose bolt also levitated in the air near the device. A few minutes into the demonstration the bolt drifted away from the device and fell to the floor suddenly.
There were numerous questions as to why this device was not introduced at the presentation last week, but a spokesperson indicated that Jovian had several development teams working independently, and this device had not yet been tested.
The plans for a self powered, self righting version of the device have already been in the works. Jovian products plans to have low level AGDs available for its corporate and military clients pending FAA approval.

Immortals Battle Flying Man-O-War

2006-09-21T19:05:00.000-07:00

The Immortals: Marduk, Jack Flash, Torrent and Steel Dragon were reported to have faught a huge flying jelly fish that was in the process of attacking the Fairweather Labs in Port Royal. The team was able to rescue several sailors who were stung by the creature and eventually dispatch it with great flair. There is no explanation for the appearance of the creature, but Fairweather is known to work with Event related hybrids and mutants.

Ghost Ship Sightings

2006-09-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

A large cargo container ship that disappeared during the Event and been seen sporatically over the last few months has been sighted again by clam diggers on the Inland Waterway. The ship was seen traveling north in the waterway reserved for small craft when the clam diggers reported it to the coast guard. When a coast guard skiff arrived, there was, of course, no sign of the ship.

Hyper Cat Patrols the Heights

2006-09-21T18:43:00.000-07:00

In Bayview Heights where rats once vied for territory with the local gangs has a new super hero, a calico cat dubbed "Hyper" by the locals has taken control. The streets are nearly rat free, and even the cockroaches are beginning to look nervous. Hyper, a simple alley cat, appears able to leap from building tops on one side of a street to those on another, and cover a long city block in a blink of the eye.
With the edition of Hyper, the number of Super Animals is reaching a menagerie levels. No one has seen what the super litter box looks like yet, and I for one hope we never do.

Dakasoni Bankruptcy

2006-09-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

Dakasoni Corporation, the golden child of the PacRim technology show last june, has declared bankruptcy. Troubles with their exporter resulted in over ten failed deliveries of unique robotic and high technology. The company was unable to cover the replacement costs of the material and sold off its patents to repay buyers.
The purchasers were scattered about the country, and Dakasoni held the bills of trade with accurate delivery addresses, however in all the cases the deliveries were lost, and no record of receipt was retained.
Several law firms were retained, but when it was discovered four separate delivery companies, it was deemed a lost cause. Technology companies in Japan and the US have snatched up the engineers.

$20 Million "Lost" from First Freedom Bank

2006-09-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

Auditors for the FDIC indicate that First Freedom Bank cannot account for over $20 Million in various corporate accounts. The monies, primary kept in special Escrow accounts used to cash buy-outs for corporate mergers is missing. Bankers are investigating whether the funds were embezzeled, stolen, or simple lost due to inaccurate accounting procedures (rounding off fractions in massive interest calculations). Security representatives for that bank say that there have been no robberies or hacking of their systems, but cannot explain the losses.

Fairweather Labs Broken Into

2006-09-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

US Oceanographic's Fairweather Laboratories in Port Regal was vandalized yesterday. Authorities do not know the motives of persons who broke into the labs and spread wet sea weed and other watery detritus. Nothing was stolen, but several marine experiments were ruined. A spokesperson for the labs says that the damage did not effect the lab's Impact Site 2 research.

Jovian Products - AP

2006-08-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Dr. Jan Hallister of the the new joint venture of US Minerals and Cromwell Industries - Jovian Products - introduced six revolutionary inventions which have arrived from the use of Event Alloy (EVA) these include - flexible LCD screen (thin and flexible as paper), a mini-rail gun (capable of moving 100 grams at 1000 mps) with 110 volt power source, ballistic cloth (stronger and lighter than Kevlar) as flexible as wool or cotton, but instantly strengthens when a high kinetic energy impact occurs, vacuum-inductor engine (low speed ram jet), quantum-effect memory chip (4ghz computer chips), wire-batteries (No description given).
Hallister indicated that the first public test would be done later this year, the first commercially availible products to be rolled out early next year. Both US Mineral and Cromwell are major contractors with the US Government and military, so it is likely that some of their products may be sold exclusively to them.

Super soaker interrupts gangwar - Dean Fastow

2006-08-28T05:58:00.000-07:00

The watery Super who appeared last week in China Town to capture the Bull Demon along with known Superheroes Jack Flash and Marduk, appeared again, this time solo, to quell violence between rival gangs in China Town. Members of the "Nui Mo Wang" (Demons) gang, were facing off with the "Iron Tigers" another local Chinese gang, in what police called a "territorial dispute," on the 3400 block of 12th avenue. Shortly after they began to fight, the area was deluged by a flood of water. Wave after wave knocked the gang members down and sent them fleeing the neighborhood. By the time police and emergency crews arrived, the streets were clear of gang members, and the water had disappeared into the storm system.
Local citizens praised the woman, who they call "Torrent" for standing up to the gang member and cleansing the streets with her powers. Police have yet to offer an official declaration, but Lieutenant Seth Sanders warned citizens against vigilante action, both for their own protection, and to preserve law and order.

Electricuted bodies wash up on Carolina shore - UPI

2006-08-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

The bodies of seven unidentified men, all Korean, washed up on shore off Manteo sometime last week and were discovered by duck hunters Saturday morning. The bodies all possessed electrical burn wounds as though caught in a spot welder, or struck by lightning through their chests. Autopsy results have yet to come in, but preliminary reports indicate time of death as sometime Thursday or Wednesday. Beaufort country coroner reports they were all in garbed in light industrial wear, the kind worn by seafarers on cargo or tanker ships. However, no vessels of Korean or Asian origin have reported men over board.
The wounds are unusual, and were it a natural lightning strike, the odds of seven men being hit in roughly the same place, in one strike are astronomical, but not impossible.
When asked, investigators said they had not ruled out Super involvement.

Autistic Dr. Dolittle - Dean Fastow

2006-08-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

Emma Lange, a 15 year old autistic girl who has not spoken a single word has begun speaking to the animals. On a visit to the Claremont Farms, a work farm designed for children to visit and learn about farming, she began smaking noises to the sheep and horses. The child care workers were please and arranged for more visits to farm hoping to bring her out of her shell. Animal therapy is not unusual for austistic people. What is unusual is that the animals appeared to respond to her in unusual ways. They appeared to dance about, move in formation, and jump and run seemingly at her command. The farmers reported scenes right out of the movie Babe.
Although, there is no official test for Event related super powers, this seems to qualify.
Lange's parents gave her up for adoption early in her life, and she has been a ward of the state ever since. On word of her new found powers, numerous requests to adopt her have been made. Officials for child services say that they are applying unusual scrutiny to these petitions for fear she might be exploited.

Thomas Moore petitions the JREF $1 million prize - Dean Fastow

2006-08-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

Skeptics at the Jame Randi Educational Foundation have found themselves confronted by the strange circumstances of the Event. For twenty years JREF has offered $1 million to anyone who can prove that they have supernatural abilities. But, with all the reports of Supers in the news from around the since the event, many members have urged Randi to suspend the contest until the scientists can evaluate the effects. For now, the prize still stands. Thomas Moore, aka the "Ghost Whisperer", a television show based in Franklin that features Moore communicating with departed souls. The show took a hiatus after the Event, but returned to face controversy by connecting victims with the families this month. Moore claims his powers have been amplified by the Event, and he feels he can prove even the most skeptical person of his powers.
Randi has not responded to the petition.

First Commercial Uses of EVA - Dean Fastow

2006-08-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

EVA or Event Alloy, the strange metal discovered at Impact Site One, has been mystifying scientists for monthes. Its strange magnetic, and other properties have caused metalurgists and chemists to scratch their collective heads.
Leave it to the engineers at Cromwell Industries and US Minerals to discover some marketable uses of the material. Working together the venture has proposed to unveil six products using the material in a joint presentation at the Academy of Science and Technology (Freedom University) August 29th. Rumors in the high tech community are that they will introduce: a new high speed, low heat super conductor (which may revolutionize the semi-conductor industry), a low weight ballistic fibre (similar to kevlar) for use in bullet proof armor, malleable/shapeable metal, useful for airplane surfaces, and other uses, High Energy Batteries, and other exotic ideas. The venture has yet to release any official details.

Super spotted in Malasia - Dean Fastow

2006-08-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

Considered the epicenter of Event related strangeness, Franklin City has been home to all of the known sightings of supers. That changed today if reports from Kuala Lampur, Malasia are confirmed. A group of pedetrians crossing between the Petronis Towers (by some accounts the tallest buildings in the world) on the sky bridge were shaken by an earthquake in the city. Several bolts securing the bridge broke and glass fell from the ceiling, at least one victim who fell between the cracks of the broken bridge was caught and rescued by a flying man. Dubbed "Flying Tiger" by the Malasian press, the costumed super rescued the victim and assist crews and securing the bridge until the remaining people were evacuated.

Roomba Rumpus - Dean Fastow

2006-08-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

Another entry on the lighter side of superdom, three separate reports of Roomba(TM) brand robotic vacuums loose in the streets of Franklin City. Whether this was the prank of some hacker teens, or something Event related has not been determined. The vacuum cleaners were on the street, and no operators were present. The robots were moving in purposeful ways (not the random bumping movement owners are familiar with), suggesting remote control, but Roomba manufacturers indicate the range of the remote controls to be somewhat limited (less than 20 feet) and easily blocked by obstructions.
One of the Roomba's was discovered and no modifcations were found to it. Police would not report the contents of the dust receptacle. In this reporter's opinion, there are somethings we don't want to know, what you'd get vacuuming the streets of Franklin is one of them.

Super Man(drill) - Dean Fastow

2006-08-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

In the lighter side of Superdom, the (ironically named) Freedom City Zoo has announced strange behavior from one of its primates. The 6 year old Mandrill by the name of Aurelious has begun acting strangely. "It began with his mimicking our behavior, he would walk around his enclosure and pretend to fill out forms, jot down notes, frown or smile. Then one of the staff gave him some crayons and paper, and he began drawing shapes similar to the signs around the enclosure. " The zoo keepers report that Aurelious's behavior extended to other areas. He began walking upright, a feat not unheard of for the Baboon-like animal, but not common. He also began to construct small, simple machines, such as levers and wedges. Although simple by modern standards, engineers have long held that those simple devices form the basis of modern engineering.
Specialists were brought in and continue to study the mandrill. The theory is that the Event may have affects some mutation in his genetic structure enhancing his intelligence.
Event related incidents involving animals have mostly been limited to death and illness, but the prospect of super-animals has only now been considered. Member of PETA have joined with the ACLU to demand access to the testing done on Aurelious. ACLU representative Kelly Busby: "If Aurelious is exhibiting human level intelligence, we must consider whether he has rights, and whether he wishes to remain in the enclosure or not."
Charleton Heston could not be reached on the prospect of intelligent Apes running free in the world. As of the printing of this article, the Statue of Libety was still intact.

Super Villain Nabbed by Super Heroes! - Dean Fastow

2006-08-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

In a surprising turn around, police report that a group of "supers" captured another "super" in China Town after a brawl which left three buildings and at least one motor vehicle seriously damaged. The police claim to have evidence linking the suspect "Charlie Wang" to an attempted robbery there, and the ATM robbery of the previous day. One of the "supers" who assited in the apprehension of Wang, was a water wielding woman who might be the suspect from the ATM crime. Witnesses identified two other "supers" one incredibly fast, moving almost instantaneously from place to place, the other very strong and resistant to damage. The descriptions match those of the two "supers" who were spotted at the conflict at the Teller Nuclear Power Plant three months ago. Witnesses heard the names "Marduk" and "Jack Flash" used for the two known "supers." It appears that, like the comic book super-heroes they resemble, these people have taken codenames to perform their heroics. The representative of the police denied that those people were suspects of any crime, but they were wanted as witnesses and are dubbed "persons of interest."
Wang was removed from the scene in one of the Police Department's new Special Perpetrator Vehicle, designed to hold and transport super powered suspects.

Super Bank Robbery! - Dean Fastow

2006-08-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

Late last night polices arrived too late as a so-called "Super" criminal fled the scene with thousands of dollars having robbed an ATM from a bank in China Town. A witness claimed the woman was able to shoot blasts of water which knocked him down. Police urged the city's population to show caution. These super-powered beings, or "supers" possess abilities far in excess of normal people, and should be treated as armed and dangerous.
The mayor's office indicated that two special vehicles had been commissioned, and a squadron of police had been given special equipment and training to deal with this 'super' menace.

Supers Surface in Franklin - Dean Fastow

2006-05-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

The being calling himself "The Herald" who attacked the Teller Nuclear Power Plant last week, truly was a herald. His appearance was marked by the appearance of two other paranormal beings, or Supers, one who stood before a hail of automatic weapon fire and leapt over a fifteen foot high hurricane fence, and another who moved so quickly cameras could not get a clear shot of him. Since then a number of other reports have surfaced in the Freedom City of unusual activity, of super beings.
Most of these cannot be confirmed, but the with hundreds of witnesses of the events at the Teller Plant, they cannot be denied either.
• Children aboard a school bus Monday claimed that they saw a Man transform into a bear at a rest stop on Highway 264 and flee into the woods.
• The flight crew aboard Northwest Air flight 343 claim to have seen a scarlet caped and hooded woman flying just outside the cockpit window.
• A cab driver in the Lantern Heights district reported a man garbed in a black cloak leaping onto his hood from over 50 feet from across the street and damaging his cab.
• Mysterious lights appeared in the Fens Tuesday night. Local report the lights coincided with the fires which damaged an abandoned warehouse.
• A man wearing what appeared to be archaic armor wielding a sword and shield tried to rob the First Federal Bank on 4th street. He was unable to cut through the vault door but did serious damage to the interior of the bank, before escaping out the bank. When police arrived at the scene hewas no where to be found.
• A man matching the description of Rocko Manchecco, a mafia goon, believed to have died in an Event related bus crash, was seen entering Luigi's restaurant on Livingston Ave. He was seen leaving with a suitcase. Police found the signs of brawl and three dead bodies of purported mafiasos in the restaurant.

Police note that eye witness testimony is frequently mistaken, and that media reports of so called supers might be leading to form of mass hysteria. This reporter remains skeptical. However, the publishers of the Herald have offered a prize to whoever can show documented proof of any person's super powers.