X-Force #1 - "Ripples in Time"
Written and Edited by: GarganisScorpion

We accomplished our mission. Time travel is an incredibly risky move, but we’d run out of options. X-Force, the XSE, and sympathizers from within Apocalypse’s own high court all pooled what little resources we had left and sent a three-man expedition into the past. I was the man leading that team. Most people know me as Cable.

We had one goal in mind: save Charles Xavier and his school. The dream of peace couldn’t be allowed to die. We succeeded, but with a terrible cost. Magneto, Xavier’s longtime foe, had been killed in his place.

We couldn’t have imagined the consequences. Magneto himself, in the penitent guise of Xorn, had been instrumental in sending us through time in the first place. The resulting paradox not only tore us back to our own time, but took a handful of X-men with us and scattered them around the country. Maybe the entire globe. As I was flung forward through history I saw glimpses of the changes we had wrought.

Magneto’s death had rendered him a martyr. Xavier was still alive to spread his message, true, but now he fought a ghost rather than a man. Everywhere that mutants faced oppression there could be seen posters declaring “Magneto was right!”, giving voice and form to the rage of their persecution. Overwhelmed, Xavier retreated from the world and his followers splintered. And without the X-men, the humans had to create their own saviors to protect them from the mutant menace.

The Sentinels rose. The first wave was clumsy and easily dispatched, but each successive generation became smarter and more deadly. At the heart of their factory was Mastermold, the artificial intelligence created to lead their campaign to imprison and eradicate all mutant life. Their scanning programs became so sophisticated that eventually even humans who carried the seeds of mutation in their genetic code could be detained. To no one’s surprise the Sentinels took on a life of their own, entirely out of the control of their former human masters.

When Apocalypse came, he was met not as a conqueror but as a savior. Mutants and humans alike flocked to his banner, preferring to prove their genetic worth in his trials and earn their freedom, rather than live under a robotic bootheel. The newly formed Gene Nation struck back at the Sentinels, driving them back to their hidden base in the Australian wastes. Is this the world we made for ourselves? Where Apocalypse is no longer reviled as an evil despot, but praised as a benevolent god-emperor? Why didn’t Xavier stop this? Why didn’t anyone stop this?

The second great Age of Heroes came to an ignoble end. Countries fractured apart into warring city-states, jealously lorded over by villains and fallen heroes alike. The gods of old fled back to their gleaming cities in the sky, leaving humanity to wallow in its own mess. In New Mexico a chain reaction gamma detonation flooded the countryside with radiation, killing crops and spurring further mutations. In Washington, the mega-corporations compete to sell the citizens their own tailor-made genetic codes that will level the playing field with the mutants. Latveria controls a landmass the size of Germany, and the Moloids took twice that in Africa. And everywhere, human life is cheap. From the mad court of the Maestro to the city-web of Spider Island to the blasphemous cathedrals of Shuma-Gorath. It is a barbaric new dark age and civilization itself hangs on by only the slimmest threads.

In this new future, X-Force never existed. My friends and comrades-- Warpath, Feral, Rictor-- where are they now? Do they even exist in this timeline? Did I?

All I have left is Hope.

“Well, now you have me too,” Dazzler said. Sweet little Hope Summers, sitting next to her, smiled up at the woman now stranded here in the future with us. Of all the X-men torn away from their native time, through some quirk of luck only Dazzler had emerged nearby. Hope had actually found her first, and was busy helping her back to her feet when Bishop, Rachel and myself returned from the timeslide. For someone dumped into such a bleak future, she’s put on a remarkably brave face. Xavier really did train them well. We’ll see how optimistic she is when she sees the graves.

“I need to get back to the palace,” Rachel broke in, holding herself anxiously. “Before I’m missed. We may have messed around with the timeline but if the plans for my wedding at still in place then I’ll soon have a lot of imperial dressmakers throwing a fit.”

“Part of me really wishes I could see that,” Hope said with a sigh. Before Rachel could remind her why that was impossible, Hope held up a hand to stop her. “I know, I know. My stupid brother Tyler would sense me if I got close. But a girl can dream, right?”

“You’re more excited for this than I am,” Rachel smiled sardonically, and patted Hope’s head. “Bye Hope.”

“Bye cuz!” Hope waved, Rachel taking flight. Despite turning over the Phoenix Force to her mother Jean Grey, Rachel yet possessed formidable powers of her own. And they still manifested as a fiery corona in a vaguely birdlike form, propelling her through the air in the direction of Apocalypse’s capital. Perhaps the extended contact as host to the cosmic entity had left a permanent mark on Rachel.

“So what will you do now?” Bishop asked. “The X.S.E. could always use a soldier of your experience.”

The X.S.E.-- Xavier’s Security Enforcement-- was an underground railroad of sorts, moving mutants across hostile territories to find freedom and a hope for prosperity in places where their genetic code wouldn’t make them a target or a commodity. They did good work, and they’d been the cavalry that saved Cable’s ass on plenty of occasions. But they were also a humanitarian peacekeeping effort, and as noble as that was it only treated the symptoms without doing a thing about the disease. A disease named Apocalypse. That’s where X-Force stepped in.

Only now, X-Force no longer existed.

“I’m going to keep doing what I’ve always done. I’m going to take Apocalypse down, or die trying.”

“By yourself?” Bishop scoffed, “That’s as good as suicide. Come work with the XSE. You can still make a difference without throwing your life away. You can’t take Apocalypse on by yourself, and you’ve got no one willing to fight with you.”

“I’ll stand with him,” Dazzler spoke up. “I’m an X-Man, and that still means something even if the X-Men are dead and gone. I need his help to find my lost friends, and if he needs my help to stop some tyrant then I’m in. And I know the other X-Men that were sucked through time will be too.”

“You shouldn’t even be here,” I argued back. “You should be concentrating on find a way back to your own time.”

“Is that even possible?”

With Xorn gone, I honestly didn’t think it was. She saw it on my face.

“Then this world’s problems are my problems too. We’ll find my friends and form a new X-Men… or, a new X-Force. That’s why you went back in time in the first place, right? To keep Professor X’s dream alive.”

“But where do we start?” Hope asked.

“Layla Miller,” Bishop suggested, referring to the XSE’s senior director. “She knows things. If time-lost mutants suddenly showed up, there’s no way it wouldn’t get to her ears somehow. I can go get the word out to her.”

I’m not given to displays of emotion. Years of warfare left me grim, at times even brooding. But I allowed a smile to tug at the edge of my lips. “Thanks, old friend.” Bishop gave a quick salute back, picked up his plasma rifle, and left. The road ahead would be lonely and fraught with danger, but Bishop’s skills as a ranger were up to the task. The three of us left returned to our meager fire and trusted that he would find his way.

“You’ll see. Once we find the others, this Apocalypse guy will be a piece of cake,” Dazzler assured Hope.

“Piece of cake? We’re going to turn him into dessert?”

“Oh, uh… that slang’s a little before your time I guess,” Dazzler laughed at herself. Hope laughed along too, until they noticed I wasn’t smiling.

“Uncle Cable? What’s wrong?”

“A presence…” I muttered, my latent telepathy picking up a psionic signature that that was as familiar as my reflection in the mirror. I didn’t have time to elaborate.

A thunderous explosion came, blasting apart one of the old walls that used to be part of a North Salem. When the rubble settled, there stood a figure in gleaming steel armor and flowing red cape - Stryfe. And at his heels were the latest flunkies of the Mutant Liberation Front. Thankfully Bishop had been heading in the opposite direction so he probably hadn’t been caught.

“Cable,” Stryfe growled. His minions charged forward, not needing to hear the order. “I destroyed X-Force once already, and I intend to finish the job!”


X-Force
R Cable 76 pts
R Hope Summers 75 pts
R Dazzler 48 pts
Total: 199

vs.

Mutant Liberation Front
Stryfe 116 pts
Grasshopper 33 pts
Doorman 45 pts
Dinah Soar 25 pts
Total: 219

Special Scenario Rules: Stryfe is considered KO'ed if he is clicked past click #4

Map: Blitzkreig USA

Posting dials. I...God. I wish I could write like I used to, GS. What I'm going to do is write the HELL out of my turns.

mm073 R Cable
Team: X-Men
Range: 6
Points: 76
Keywords: Future, Soldier

10 10 15 3

8 9 15 3

8 9 14 2

7 8 14 2

7 8 13 2

6 7 13 2

6 7 12 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

wxm040 R Hope Summers
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 6
Points: 75
Keywords: Future, Generation X, Phoenix Force, X-Men

10 10 16 1

10 10 17 1

9 9 15 1

9 9 16 1

9 9 16 1

8 8 15 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Attack) Omega-Level Mutant: Give Hope Summers a free action. She can use the powers of one chosen adjacent character until your next turn.

(Damage) Mutant Jump Start: Hope Summers can use Empower and Enhancement. Adjacent friendly characters with the X-Men keyword modify their attack values by +1.

mu011 R Dazzler
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 8
Points: 48
Keywords: Celebrity, Mutant, X-Men

8 9 15 2

7 9 15 2

7 8 14 2

6 8 14 1

6 7 14 1

6 7 13 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

----------------------------------------------

gx041 R Stryfe
Team: Brotherhood of Mutants
Range: 6
Points: 116
Keywords: Armor, Future, Mutant Liberation Front

8 10 17 3

8 10 18 3

8 9 17 2

8 9 17 3

8 10 17 3

6 10 16 2

6 9 16 1

6 8 15 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Special) Leader of the Dispossessed: Stryfe can use Leadership. At the beginning of the game, choose up to 5 friendly characters. Those characters possess the Brotherhood of Mutants team ability as long as Stryfe has not been KO'd and they can't use another team ability.

(Defense) Armored Commander: Stryfe can use Mastermind and Toughness.

dp042 R Grasshopper
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 33
Keywords: Armor, Great Lakes Avengers

10 9 16 2

10 9 16 2

9 8 15 1

9 8 14 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Special) Ah, But I'm the Secret Brother of the Secret Crush of the First Grasshopper!: When Grasshopper is KO'd if no other friendly characters have been KO'd, after actions resolve you may place him on the map in your starting area on click #1.

(Attack) Maximum JUMP!: Give Grasshopper a double power action and remove him from the map. At the beginning of your next turn place him anywhere on the map.

ca024 R Doorman
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 45
Keywords: Great Lakes Avengers

11 9 17 2

11 9 16 1

10 8 16 1

10 8 16 1

9 8 15 1

9 7 15 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Special) Hop In!: Doorman can use the Carry ability.

(Attack) Doorway Through Me: Once during your turn, you may give Doorman a free action and choose a wall or square of blocking terrain adjacent to him. Until your next turn, characters can ignore that wall or square of blocking terrain for movement purposes.

cw012 E Dinah Soar
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 25
Keywords: Great Lakes Avengers, Monster

10 9 16 1

10 9 16 1

9 8 15 1

9 8 15 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Damage) Her? Well, She Flies. And We Think It's a "Her": Dinah Soar may carry up to two characters if they both have the Avengers keyword, or three characters if they all have the Great Lakes Avengers keyword. Dinah Soar modifies her speed value by -1 for each character carried instead of the normal effects when using the Carry ability.

Bumping to see if I can find someone to play the MLF.

I normally don't like to play in games that I set the conditions for, but since no one else has stepped forward for the job I suppose I will. I'd like to see the X-Force story continue and in order for that to happen we got to play some games!

My initiative roll is 6.

Initiative roll is (2 + 1)

You get first move!

Initial Set-Up

Go ahead and set up, then I'll start.

My set up. Good luck!

((We're going with 2 actions, right?))

Stryfe couldn't have picked out a more rag-tag group, if you asked me. Some kid dressed like a bug, a girl with wings, and someone else dressed in a black jumpsuit? Still, looks can be deceiving, as the saying goes.

I didn't speak as I shifted forwards, taking cover behind one of the wrecked APCs. Stryfe was hoping for a big blow-out to impress his new recruits, but I wasn't going to give him the chance. Take him out, and the others would scatter. And if they didn't?

Hope said something to Dazzler before she followed my lead.

Turn 1a

1) Cable moves to G16.

Free) Hope perplexes Cable's defense up by 1.

2) Hope moves to J18.

X-Force:
1) Cable (1/7) G16 @
2) Hope Summers (1/6) J18 @
3) Dazzler (1/6) I23

Mutant Liberation Front
1) Stryfe (1/8) J2
2) Grasshopper (1/4) H2
3) Doorman (1/6) K2
4) Dinah Soar (1/4) I2

Map Link:

http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils2...y68&u12=x410y5

"Zero, direct us towards a proper vantage point," Styfe commanded, an the featureless figure in black gave a silent nod. In a flash of light the Mutant Liberation Front vanished and re-appeared amidst Cable's small camp. All the better for Stryfe to see his new recruits in action.

MLF turn 1a

1) Doorman teleports to G10, carrying Stryfe to H11.

2) Dinah flies to H10, carrying Grasshopper to I10.

free) Stryfe will mastermind all damage to Grasshopper.

X-Force:
1) Cable (1/7) G16 @
2) Hope Summers (1/6) J18 @
3) Dazzler (1/6) I23

Mutant Liberation Front
1) Stryfe (1/8) H11
2) Grasshopper (1/4) I10
3) Doorman (1/6) G10 @
4) Dinah Soar (1/4) H10 @

Map Link: http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils2...y68&u12=x410y5

((And I realize I couldn't have made the attacks on Stryfe in the first place because of stealth. Dazzler's attack/movement have been redone. And I completely forgot to outwit Doorman's SS...crap.))

Stryfe dropped out of sight with the rest of his recruits. It looked like one of them had the same idea I did, hanging out by the APCs. Bad idea.

As I loaded some scattershot rounds into my rifle, I could hear Hope and Dazzler talking to each other, something about going after the kid in black. A blast of light later, and part of the APC got blown up...but the kid must've survived. I'd have to step up to the plate next.

X-Force Turn 2a

Free) Hope perplexes Dazzler's range up by 1.

1) Dazzler Running Shots to E19 and uses Energy Explosion on Doorman. 9 on 18...5+5 for a 10. Doorman rolls for Super Senses...5. Doorman avoids the attack.

2) Hope moves to F19 and takes 1 for pushing.

Cable clears.

X-Force:
1) Cable (1/7) G16
2) Hope Summers (2/6) J18 @@
3) Dazzler (1/6) E19 @

Mutant Liberation Front
1) Stryfe (1/8) H11
2) Grasshopper (1/4) I10
3) Doorman (1/6) G10 @
4) Dinah Soar (1/4) H10 @

Map Link: http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils2...02&u12=x395y98

"At last I will stamp out you, and your pathetic rebellion!" Stryfe spits venemously, hailing Cable with a barrage of loose shrapnel hurled by telekinetic force.

MLF 2B

1) Stryfe fires at Cable, rolling (5, 2) for a hit. Cable is dealt 3 damage, reduced to 2 clicks after toughness.

2) Grasshopper leaps to F20

X-Force:
1) Cable (3/7) G16
2) Hope Summers (2/6) J18 @@
3) Dazzler (1/6) E19 @

Mutant Liberation Front
1) Stryfe (1/8) H11 @
2) Grasshopper (1/4) F20 @
3) Doorman (1/6) G10
4) Dinah Soar (1/4) H10

Map Link: http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils2...02&u12=x395y98

Chunks of metal dug their way into my skin, causing me to drop the bullets I was loading. To make matters worse, Bug Boy had landed right in front of Hope and Dazzler, preventing them from giving me any back-up. Maybe if I pulled back...

X-Force Turn 3a

Free) Hope copies Grasshopper's powers.

Free) Hope perplexes up Cable's defense.

1) Cable Running Shots to I20 and shoots Grasshopper. 9 on 16...6+5 for an 11. Grasshopper takes 1 after Toughness.

Hope and Dazzler clear.

X-Force:
1) Cable (3/7) I20 @
2) Hope Summers (2/6) J18
3) Dazzler (1/6) E19

Mutant Liberation Front
1) Stryfe (1/8) H11 @
2) Grasshopper (2/4) F20 @
3) Doorman (1/6) G10
4) Dinah Soar (1/4) H10

Map Link: http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils2...02&u12=x395y98

You may want to start keeping track of how much damage each of your characters inflict, plus KO's. This makes it much easier to calculate XP at the end of the match. What I do personally is just keep a tally of it in brackets; I've added Cable's damage from your last turn into the stat recap below as an example.

MLF turn 3B

Stryfe holds his billowing cape and observes the battlefield. Now that he'd softened up his old nemesis Cable, he'd see what his newest underlings could do.

1) Dinah Soar will fly to G19, carrying Doorman to H19

X-Force:
1) [1] Cable (3/7) I20 @
2) Hope Summers (2/6) J18
3) Dazzler (1/6) E19

Mutant Liberation Front
1) Stryfe (1/8) H11
2) Grasshopper (2/4) F20
3) Doorman (1/6) G19 @
4) Dinah Soar (1/4) H19

Map Link: http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils2...1&u11=x519y146

X-Force Turn 4A

Hope grabbed for Grasshopper's arm, saying something I couldn't hear over the din of the battlefield. Whatever she did, she seemed to get a spring in her step, enough to leap up and take a swing at the weird dinosaur...girl...thing. And she hit HARD, too, taking the girl out in one strike. Dazzler was next, sending Bug Boy reeling with bursts of light from her palms.

The girls were buying me time. Good.

Free) Hope copies Grasshopper's powers.

Free) Hope perplexes up her damage by 1.

1) Hope uses CCE to crank her damage up by 2. Hope attacks Dinah Soar, 10 on 16...6+2 for an 8. Dinah's Super Senses...2. Dinah gets walloped for 4 and gets KO'ed.

2) Dazzler attacks Grasshopper. 9 on 16...5+2 for a 7. Grasshopper takes 2.

Cable clears.

X-Force:
1) [1] Cable (3/7) I20 @
2) [4] {1 KO} Hope Summers (2/6) J18
3) [2] Dazzler (1/6) E19

Mutant Liberation Front
1) Stryfe (1/8) H11
2) Grasshopper (4/4) F20
3) Doorman (1/6) G19 @
4) Dinah Soar KO!

Map Link: http://www.ianparmenter.com/hcutils2...74&u12=x384y95