Portal Corporation Shutdown

Work for Black Scorpion, despite having took a short hiatus doing some consultation work with a Doctor Brainstorm, continued today. This time, I visited one of my old employers (back in its startup days) - the Portal Corporation.

Their facility in Peregrine Island is a far cry from the old warehouse back in Kings Row that I used to labour in, over robotic servitors for them. Back before portal technology was stable enough to be profitable.

The task? Assault the facility, extract data and destroy the portals in preparation for a project Lord Recluse is calling Operation DESTINY while simultaneously some of Ghost Bimbo's lackeys assaulted another building. Simple enough but alas I first underestimated the number of Longbow reinforcements that were in on the other side of the first dimensional rift. A Longbow Commander slipped inside my defenses and dropped me.

After an emergency medical transport back to the ARAD Facility in the Rogue Isles, I flew back out and carried out a more surgical strike.

A full squad of ZR Automated Combat Units made short work of the portals, while I used a Force Bubble from the ZR Aegis Transponder to keep the Longbow forces at bay. My escort of Arachnos Troops then proceeded to escort me out of Paragon airspace before the Freedom Phalanx and the "heroes" of the city responded to my incursion.

I just wonder what Operation DESTINY is...

Eureka! But Has Positron Gone Crazy?

The sheer audacity of it! I knew that Vernon von Grun was mad enough to try it, and indeed my forcefields render me safe enough to try it, but Positron was using elements of the Hamidon to power the Freedom Phalanx? Is he mad?

Yes, with the help of ARAD and von Grun I have managed to decipher the mystery of the H-Booster and it appears to be some sort of synthetic Hamidon culture. One that will boost both damage output and range. For now, I've fitted it to the Assault ZR-6 and it seems to be working as per.

It will bear closer examination though - I now know a lot of villains among the Rogue Isles are using these things and I am worried that it may draw attention from the Hamidon itself...

Freedom Phalanx Defeated

On a mission direct from Lord Recluse himself, I was dispatched along with others (Corrupt Power, Soul Finder, Promethean, Nidah, Star Furie, Rouge Inferno and my old colleague Dr Zweistein) to deal with the Freedom Phalanx in Atlas Park.

Finally I would pit myself and my creations against the greatest forces for "good". We suffered losses along the way, and had to employ the use of both warheads from Warburg and Shivans from Bloody Bay but eventually emerged triumphant!

For my troubles, I now have a strange article that Positron called a "H-Booster". I'm not sure quite what it is yet and it will warrant further research...

End of the Line? Pah, As If!

After all I have done for Arachnos, I am suprised that they have took so long to raise my Threat Clearance Level. From my early days of founding Arachnos Research and Development, to clearing the Rogue Isles of Giant Monsters and Heroes alike.

Lord Recluse himself bestowed upon me the highest threat clearance level any citizen of the Rogue Isles can hope to achieve, after passing a series of trials set by Mr Pither (Lord Recluses' Efficiency Expert). It was a quiet affair - just me, my creations and my Lord.

I am finally Made. Threat Clearance Level 50.

Best get back to work!

Sky Raiders Scattered

I got a call from Black Scorpion today - first real job I've had from him since I was ordered to diable him by the Arbiters some months ago. Appears that his lackey Silver Mantis has contracted a group of villains to deal with the Sky Raiders and Black Scorpion wanted someone to go oversee the job in person.

So, I headed off with Vrykola of The Shadow Legion to their sewer lair. Really, a sewer? Still, a lot of the technology was in pristine working condition, if a little grimy. We were joined by the likes of Manchurian, Zero Genesis, Devils Escort, Gaspard, Elektrikern and a Dr. Muspelheim.

After clearing out several cells of the Sky Raider mercenaries, we headed on to their new secret offshore base in a cargo ship Silver Mantis provided for us. I have no idea how they kept this facility secret for so long - the thing was huge.

Mind you, the destroyed ships nearby and the heavy artillery emplacements give me an idea that people probably did find out, just not live too long afterwards! Still, we ended up facing of against Colonel Duray himself - we disabled him in short order and delivered him to Arachnos. The rest of the Sky Raider organisation was scattered in our wake (I'm sure they'll be back though).

Number 204 Repaired

I took time out today to help with an Arachnos Core Research Project - the Arachnobots. Unit 204 based in Grandville had been compromised in its programming by some inept villain in the Destiny Project. Some Longbow constructed virus subverted its AI.

I took the liberty while having a look at its core program to install a few custom attributes. Took me ages to work out the kinks through a bit of field testing with some of its lesser bretheren.

Still, hopefully the base Tarantula units will be almost as useful now as their Toxic counterparts. I look forward to facing the odd one or two gone rogue when I can!

PPD Smashed!

Well, after my late discovery of the Paragon Police Department using my plans for their own robotic creations, I decided to take the fight to them and show them what the pinnacle of Arachnos Technology can bring forth.

Not only did I field my own ZR Combat Platoon backed by my ZR Aegis Transponder, I also brought Ares Mk2 along with me with the permission of Doc Bot. Together we ripped through "Paragon's Finest" as if they were barely there.

Even their new Kheldian allies couldn't stand against us. Technology over biology, every time.

All Praise the Might of the Media!

Well, after the Christmas break, I was feeling in a bit of a lethargic mood and as such couldn't muster the will initially to do any villainy. So, I did what the masses do - set down for some Television. Robotecha even came along to enjoy the shows.

However, something strange happened. The TV spoke to me - seems the Television itself is some form of quasi-mystical entity (what isn't these days) that wanted to further its own popularity. I seem to vaguely remember a Radio that did the same once...

By the by... I don't remember much and my memory is a bit fuzzy on the matter. Not quite sure what happened to be honest. Apart from one thing - Dr Aeon! Yes, even the Television knows I am the best scientist for the job when it comes to taking down the "premier" scientist of the Rogue Isles.

Kidnapping him at robot-point, with the aid of Robotecha, we forced him to write a paper extolling the virtues of Television. This was presented to Arbiter Daos, to force Arachnos to show more television to the troops. Apparently, that is a good thing... again, my memory goes... strange.

Still, Television is Good.

Frosty the Snowman

Had a run in with some manifestation of Winter this evening. In the shape of a darn snowman! I'd heard these things were being stored in presents that the Gamester leaves about this time of year, and was interested in what kind of storage technology he uses.

Alas, I feel cheated - they appear to just be remote teleport beacons, that transfer the snow beasts in from some remote location I can't get a fix on.

Luckily I had some allies with me assisting me as this Winter Lord was a bit more than I could handle solo! He melted soon after this shot was taken.

Gally Ido? Done. Manticore? Almost!

Well, I made short work of "Agent" Gally Ido who was, quite frankly, a bit of a non event. The ZR Autonomous Combat Platoon shredded what paltry armour Longbow gives their agents these days.

Dead and buried.

However, I did glean who was stirring up all this trouble for the Bane Spider Project - the Paragon Hero Manticore. Finding out about his offshore floating fortress was easy, as was bypassing the defenses using a Personal Force Field.

And once inside? Well, he didn't last too long. Alas, he medi-ported out back to Paragon City - the ship must have been armed with a teleport node. I really must develop some form of inhibitor for those things - more heroes escape me that way!

Strange Encounters with Mystical Entities

My head is fair disturbed. Now, the nightclub "Pocket D" is a place I seldom go to. I mean, another dimension run by a mutant who can manipulate it and makes it available to both Paragon City and the Rogue Isles as well as suppressing the ability for us to fight? Makes me shudder to think what would happen if he ever decided to become hostile.

Anyway, I went there at the behest of Lord Recluse himself who directed me to speak with someone calling themselves "Father Time" - I was ordered to render all appropriate assistance.

Seems Father Time has had his child "Baby New Year" stolen from him by the Red Cap called Snaptooth. Now, that was a name I knew - back in February I tangled with Snaptooth in the same parallel dimension. Guess he hadn't learned.

I ended up in some alternate-world version of Croatoa in Paragon City where I had to fight fell Snowbeasts as well as Red Caps and Tuatha de Dannon. I also ended up fighting alongside some so-called hero called "D Molish" or some such. Sigh. His mastery of fire was quite impressive though, and we stormed through the area to rescue the baby. Who seemed quite... forthright.

Apparently saving him will stop time from coming to an end, or some such mystical clap-trap. It's all greek to me.

Memories. Ah, the Memories

Ah, the memories of youth. I remember when I was just a senior robotics technician back at D.A.T.A. in Paragon City. I remember when Bastion came to us to have his hardware and software upgraded and how happy we were with the improvements.

Even Bastion himself seemed overjoyed, well as much as a soulless hunk of metal can do, and renamed himself Citadel in honour of the day.

Still, technology drives on and while his synthetic armour polymer is of interest to me (and hence why I had Dr Forester assist me in luring the android in) the rest of the unit is defunct, old technology. I was able to dispatch him with relative ease.

This polymer is going to be of great use when I enhance the fibrous material of my Web Envelope. I may be able to develop a power to hold a foe totally. Ah, progress thine name is Master Zaprobo.

Bane Spider Project Threatened

Hmmm, it seems that Westin Phipps has stumbled me onto a greater plot than I first thought. It would appear that Miss Francine the Schoolteacher to the Freaks was just the tip of an iceberg. Phipps suspects some kind of underground ploy and I'm inclined to agree with the psychotic loony.

Much as it loathes me to do so.

Anyway, I headed out to follow a lead to a Crey Facility where they were researching some form of mindwipe device. Seems that Longbow and Wyvern are working to break Bane Spider conditioning - that will never do. I interrogated the devices' erstwhile creator, Dr Nova who informs me that the device was wanted by a rogue Bane Spider called Hugo Figures.

Of course, being a hive-mind Bane Spiders mind-control themselves and then link themselves to the each other. They're a vast network of self oppression, designed to enforce their own loyalty so it seems Hugo and Longbow are trying to break it down.

I've dispatched a troop of ZR Automated Combat Units to dispatch this Hugo. I'll have to see about this Agent Gally Ido that Phipps told me about another day.

Surveillence Report Intercepted

Source: Arachnos Internal Security
Clearance Level: Threat Clearance Level 40

Content: Our captive Wyvern Spy has been "rescued" by Master Zaprobo of Arachnos Research and Development. It is unknown at this time as to what motive he may have had to release the hero operative. The Arachnos base was later assailed by Longbow forces who were dispatched with minimal losses. Master Zaprobo had already left the scene.

We request a full investigation by Arachnos Arbiters into the behaviour and motivations of Master Zaprobo, with a view that he is a threat to the Bane Spider project.

[[ Investigation into Master Zaprobo terminated by order of Arbiter Daos ]]

Like Looking in a Mirror!

Uncanny! I was looking for a contact on the inside of Aeon Corp in an effort to monitor Dr Aeon's movements and perhaps find an opportunity to bump off the hack, when I stopped dead in my tracks. I swear, the man could have been twin of me in my younger days!

Better yet it turned out that he is an employee of Aeon Corp, and after the judicious application of a little persuasion he accepted me on as a "consultant" due to my superior knowledge and expertise.

Oh, and the little shot of mind control drug I administered. Still, can't leave these things to chance.

Recluse's Victory Assailed

Black Scorpion has not allowed me to tinker with a Bane Mace as of yet (apparently to have access to such high technology I need to further prove my worth) but he has given me an Executioners Mace that I have managed to modify. At the expense of any offensive power I have made the basic web grenade more highly explosive so it can cover a patch of ground and snare multiple foes.

And not a moment too soon as shortly after I'd acquired the parts I needed from a Crey facility in the Nerva Archipelago, I got notification from Arachnos Research and Development monitoring stations that the Heroes of Paragon City were going to stage an assault on Recluse's Victory.

It took me a good two hours to hack my way into Lord Recluse's scientific database (Black Scorpion needs to change his passwords more often!) and identify what "Recluse's Victory" really is. Time and Dimension travel in one project! Yeah, you heard me right.

The place is a future version of Atlas Park where Arachnos is near dominant over Paragon City. Somehow, there are Temporal Pillboxes that have been constructed to lock down the future - weak points in the continuum. Once we control them, we control who has ascendancy in the future. And the heroes were going to get there first? Not on my watch!

Rallying as many Rogue Isle citizens as I could we marched on Recluse's Victory. It was an afternoon of glorious battles and humiliating defeats.

In the end before Arachnos could sieze control of all the Temporal Points I was called away by Black Scorpion for "emergency" upgrades to his armour after he took some minor damage in Recluse's Victory as well (we were joined on the battlefield by Lord Recluse and Black Scorpion himself, as well as Ghost Widow and Captain Mako. Didn't see Scirocco),

Next time Paragon... next time!

Bane Spider "Exterminator"

Dobbs called me in today as there was a bit of a fracas in an Arachnos Base - some Arachnoids had broken in and needed clearing out. During doing the deed, I freed one of the Bane Spider Executioners who had been captured by the horrible creatures.

Of course I had to activate my latest armour to match up and show him what a Bane Spider "Exterminator" can do! It seemed to make quite an impression as I got a later notification that Black Scorpion has increased my Threat Clearance Level to 43.

Now, all I need to do is get the specs in for the modifications to an Executioners Bane Mace and requistion the parts. I think I can probably make the damn things a sight more effective than they are right now...

Step into my parlour...

I met with a new contact I was introduced to by Terrence Dobbs - some exterminator that Arachnos employs to get rid of Arachnoids whom I've been oddjobbing for.

She's a strange one this Regent Korol - appears to be one of the Tarantula Mistress' in command of all the robotic-arachnid forces of Grandville, as well as in psychic contact with the Fortunatas.

She seems to act as intelligence for Arachnos, as I have been working for her shutting down intrusions from Paragon City's Crey Corporation. Appears they are attempting to steal the processes and devices used in creating Tarantula Units.

I may have to intervene and deliver a warning to Countess Crey herself at this rate...

Upgrading the ARAD Lab

Worked on some weapons technology today specifically for the defense of the ARAD Laboratory. The base unit had been installed by Doc Bot a week or so back and I only just got around to checking the specs on the unit and making my own unqiue changes.

Doc has been making some great strides with the ARAD Laboratory since taking over from Dr E Genius (who is mysteriously missing still) and has expanded our underground bunker in size. Now we just need to work out what we're going to fit in the extra space!

Foiled! Aeon Back on the Loose

I could scream. I really could. Black Scorpion, bless his insane little heart, gave me orders to kill Dr Aeon! Finally, a tacit order to kill the fraud of a scientist. Obviously, our little plan had to be approved by the Arbiters - can't just off the Governor of Cap Au Diable with no excuse!

Those damn Arbiters knew everything! Knew I'd kidnapped him, tortured him and worse under Black Scorpions' orders. Bad enough to be caught, worse to then be ordered to rescue Aeon from Silver Mantis. Worse still to be assisted by some of Ghost Widows' Night Widows.

Now there is an interesting aside - my sensors picked up some sort of binary transmission via a modified telepathy to these Night Widows. Much like the way the Clockwork King reputedly controls his robots. It hints at some quasi-robotic intelligence having influence over the Widows, and not just Ghost Widow herself.

Anyway... the whole sorry debacle wasn't over - after threatening Dr Aeon to keep the hell away from me, and to keep his fool mouth shut about the "extra-curricular" projects I forced him to work on, I then got another order from Arbiter Daos.

To go and incapacitate Black Scorpion himself!

Well, I enlisted Ares MkII from Doc Bot as extra muscle, before going in with a ZR Series Autonomous Combat Platoon. While his armour was tough, alas he seems to be recruiting scientists straight out of college - I was able to bypass the armour in good order with the application of my robots' lasers and Ares MkII's electrofied fists.

Next time Black Scorpion - come direct to Arachnos Research and Development and not use your own pet scientists with untested technologies.