Assault on Grandville!

Back to laying the groundwork for Project DESTINY today, though Black Scorpion still has not divulged the nature of the project to me. This time, apparently the Nemesis Army have got wind of something about the program and I was sent to one of their Shadow Shard Dimension bases to find out what.

It turned out that the Nemesis Army was executing a full scale attack on the heart of the Rogue Isles - Grandville! Teleporting back to my lab to exit directly in Grandville I found myself almost too late.

All of Lord Recluses' loyal lieutenants had taken the field, and I was bid to join them. While Scirocco, Black Scorpion and Captain Mako held a defensive line, Ghost Widow tortured one of their commanders. Weak minded fools - the time was for action when the wolf is at the door.

Summoning my ZR Automated Assault Platoon I marched down onto the beaches where I was faced with many of the Lord Nemesis' fake automatons. Until... well what I found on the beaches took my breath away.

A perfect design of form and function - mole machines! Of course, I had to destroy them on sight as they were being used to ship in reinforcements, but still they where worthy behemoths like something out of the Science Fantasy Comics I read as a child.

Judicious use of a Force Bubble ensured I was not bothered by the Warhulks on patrol around them, and the invasion was repulsed.

Acquiring Parts

It would appear that my erstwhile colleagues are otherwise engaged, and with me closeted doing research for Project DESTINY, I have been seldom around of late.

The only times I've been seen outside of The Fab has been to frequent the lovely new Black Market in Cap Au Diable - really, they should have had this around when I was of a lower Threat Clearance as I would have made much more use of it.

Still, with the Hypothetical Framework now available in the Rogue Isles, I have been utilising the shady characters to acquire parts for my new inventions. Nothing of note yet.

Monkey Madness!

I heard tell from my fishing partner the other day that the northern isles of Peregrine were full of Rikti Monkeys.

Well, having enjoyed their antics I went along to have a look at the little blighters, prior to a later appointment that day. Alas, my partner was right and they were scaring the fish so I summoned in some ZR Units and set to eliminating them.

And you know, it was quite good fun!

AAAAAEEEEOOOOOOOOONNN!

Aeon! Can I never be rid of this infernal thorn in my side? I break in to one of his facilities to extract research that rightfully belongs to Arachnos and he has the audacity to attack me in the course of my duty?!

I barely noticed the hack as I was busy dispatching disloyal Arachnos troops, and only realised he was there by the colour of the energy blasts bouncing off my shields.

That's right Aeon! Your energies no longer breach my ZR Aegis Shielding. I found it pathetically easy to defeat you and if only you hadn't teleported out I would have dealt with you for all time.

You hear me? I will end you!

Snaake! Snaake, it's a Snake!

Well, this is taking me back. Back to when I was first broken out of the Ziggurat and my Threat Clearance Level was a paltry single figure. Operative Grillo, one of my peers from Arachnos Research, asked me to go and have a word with an old contact of mine - Mongoose, on Mercy Isle.

Seems the old exterminator has found a nest of snakes too big for even his boots. And called in a real professional.

I have to admit that he was right though - these new snakes are a lot more powerful than as I remember them. In the day a pair of Drone ZR's could hold them at bay - now a full squad of ZR Autonomous Units are hard pressed to deal with them. Still, with the ZR Aegis Transponder and my other devices I was able to deal with them effectively.

Although I doubt I have seen the last of this resurgence.

Quiet Time

So, what does an evil genius do on his rare days off when Black Scorpion is not harassing him, or the threat of Paragon City does not need thrashing back to its own shores?

Why he goes fishing of course!

But, the best fishing is in Paragon City, so I hitched a lift on an Arachnos Sub and in the shores north of Peregrine Island, settled down for a delightful evening.

Caught nothing. Didn't care. Bliss!

Council Technology Assimilated

My research into the technology of the Council and its former incarnation the Fifth Column has finally bourn fruit. A design for a Council-style Mek-man

Unfortunately, there is no way for me to currently replicate the weaponry or AI of the originals without it simply being a retooled ZR Combat Unit.

As such, I have just created a single prototype with no weapon systems - designed as a infiltration unit. Alas, I haven't managed to miniaturise the AI for it, so the thing simply follows me around for now.

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.