Accident at Gundersonn NanoTech
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
