Dr. Antiquity [played by Stephane Bonetti] and Artemis [played by Lonni Holland]

Part One: "Ashland, Kansas' Best Kept Secret"

For the record, this issue's title is actually the real town's slogan.

The PCs are summoned to a mission briefing within the heart of WODAN. Their mission controller is a retired parahuman known as WEBCRAWLER. He was wounded in the field some years ago and now must walk with the aid of a cane. He gains his codename from the fact that he can mentally interface with all types of machinery (aka telemechanics). He lives within WODAN who he considers as a close friend. He has a friendly, warm persona which is only matched by his winning smile.

WEBCRAWLER informs the PCs of the mission. The town of Ashland, Kansas has disappeared. WODAN has scanned the area and his scans reveal a large crater where the city once stood with a large amount of strange background radiation. Surveillance of the crater revealed a strange cascading radiation, like luminous water flowing down a half-sphere shape, appearing at regular intervals. With each cascading effect, the crater grows a metre (roughly a yard) larger in diametre.

The PCs are also warned to keep their distance from the Parahuman Defense Corps, more commonly known as the Monster Squad. They are the U.S. government's parahuman federal officers/soldiers and have been assigned to guard the Ashland Crater.

The PCs hopped into the Zero Car and headed for Ashland. They landed in Stealth mode and left the car camouflaged to avoid any suspicion. They flew (Artemis) and leaped (Dr. Antiquity) towards the crater. They examined the area and tested the crater for an invisible barrier of some type. None was found. The cascading radiation effect started to occur and the PCs decided to see what effect being inside the crater would have...

The whole area becomes shrouded in complete darkness and then suddenly it is gone. The PCs find themselves standing in the middle of Ashland's Town Square, near the Clark County Court House. The sky above was a stranger with unfamiliar and bizarre constellations.

The PCs didn't have much time to settle in when suddenly a small squad of 4 or 5 men appeared riding on motorized flying wings. Coloured scarves and ritual heiroglyphs decorate both machine and rider alike. Long lassoes of metallic rope hung from each flying wing. These Skyraiders swooped down and tried to catch the PCs with their lassoes. With thick Eastern European accents, they hurl curses and slurs at the PCs as they buzz them from above.

Artemis activates her combat suit's flight jets and takes to the air and starts throwing Lightning Blasts at her targets. Dr. Antiquity leaps into the battle by jumping into the air. After landing on one of the flying wings, a misplaced foot causes Dr. Antiquity to lose his balance and fall. On the way down, Doc Antiquity reaches out and tries to grab a dangling lasso. It slips out of his hand... he stretches a bit further and grabs it! (after spending an Inventing Point to do so ). He begins his climb to the top.

Combat goes on with enchanted hammer and lightning blast decimating the skyraiders. One of the Skyraider's Devilwings (the PCs learn that's the true name for the flying wings) is destroyed and the pilot is rescued by another Skyraider. Once combat starts going the PCs way, the Skyraiders make a run for it, but not before kicking the wounded skyraider overboard. The PCs jumped to the rescue of the Skyraider as the rest of the slavers get away.

The PCs have themselves a hostage who they move into the court house which becomes the default HQ (for the time being). They wait for their captive to regain consciousness to get some answers to their questions...

To be continued in the next thrilling issue...