Avengers: Warlord of Baluur #1 (of 3)

Pulsar guides the Pogo Plane with an almost natural ease up through the clouds and into the blue sky. After several minutes, you leave the atmosphere and the blue sky completely disappears, replaced by the starry blackness of space.

You eventually get close enough to see the SHEILD satellite and the strange portal. Nick established a quick communication with you, reiterating points you already know and reminescent in tone of a parent's lecture to a child.

No, but you shouldn't need them; the Distortion Area and the Negative Zone actually have an air-like atmosphere and Earth-sea-level-like pressure.

The ship offers RM protection and Shift Y airspeed (1200mph). Each of you has on a harness and there are three extras on board.

"Here we go...", Pulsar comments as the Pogo Plane plunges into the portal.

The black void of space is instantly replaced by vibrant swirling colors, like the reflection of light off gasoline on water...of off mother-of-pearl...or that cool krinkly, cellophane gift wrap...

After less than a minute, the Baluurian armada comes into view, as does the opening to the Negative Zone. Pulsar readies himself to accelerate and dodge through the armada headed for the opening, when a beeping sound resonates through the cabin, accompanied by a flashing green light on the ship's control panel.

"That's OK, right?" EnergyStar asks. "Green lights: good, red lights: bad?"

"It's a proximity alert", Pulsar responds, checking the labels of the instrument board. "There must be a piece of debris close to the ship."

As everyone's attention moves to the ship's windows to see what's outside, the seemlingly lifeless body of Beorn floats by the ship, as the Baluurian armada moves dangerously closer...

Energystar is alarmed by all the beeping, views of floating bodies and oh yes, an armada of ships pointing their blasty things at the ship she is in.

"Oh Snap! Are there grabber thingies on this tin can? We need to bring in Maelstrom. Pulsar can you put us between them," she points to the looming ships ahead, "and Maelstrom? He is a sitting duck out there. I suppose we are too but.."

Remembering the established communication link,"Nick, Nick can you hear us? Do you see what we are facing? What was it again you wanted us to do? Because right now I am thinking grab Maelstrom and get the H E double hocky sticks out of here!"

The Pogo Plane is not equiped with "grabber thingies". Pulsar could definately navigate the ship closer to the armada, placing it between them and Beorn's body.

Keep in mind that although you can breathe in the Distortion Area and the Negative Zone, you will for the most part just drift around as if you are in space. That's why the harnesses are so useful - they allow you to control your individual movement when adrift in these areas.

Now knowing where the door handles are, Pulsar slaps his hand down on the switch, pushing open the door.

Energystar, take the helm- I'll be right back!

And with that, he rockets outside to grab his comrade.

Instinctively, 'Star tenses for a momemt, reminded of what happened last time she was in a flying craft and Pulsar opened the door.

Fortunately, the result this time is less traumatic.

Pulsar flies out through the ship's open portal to meet the scorched remains of Beorn. Gently wrapping his arms around the limp body, Pulsar manages to stop Beorn's random drifting and return the body to the Pogo Plane.

Boy, those warships look like they're getting closer...

Rad just sits back and tries to stay out of the way.

...Returning to the Pogo Plane, Pulsar immediately swaps places with EnergyStar. He races to the ship's control board, increasing the ships acceleration and heading towards the Negative Zone. EnergyStar moves to Beorn's side and drapes a sheet over the body. There will be time to mourn later.

The armada begins to fire at the Pogo plane as it streaks past them and towards the Negative Zone. Pulsar's expert piloting allows the Pogo Plane to dodge the incoming energy projectiles, however.

The Distortion Area stretches into the distance all around you in a prismatic barrier of shifting colors and shapes. Passing therough this region, you enter into the Negative Zone. Ahead lies the Zone of Antimatter, the exploding atmosphere surrounding Negative Earth – nothing survives there. Between you and the Zone of Antimatter is the orange rock creature. It is tumbling through space directly towards you and the Distortion Area, holding onto the “stasis-bubble” it created, which you can see contains the nuclear warhead.
It is difficult to judge distances here. As best you can tell, the Zone of Antimatter is at least a mile in front of you, while the rock creature is less than half that distance ahead. It will not be long before the strange being tumbles into the Distortion Area with an armed nuclear warhead. Based on previous Intelligence, that would be bad. You need the thing to go off in the Negative Zone; not the Distortion Area.

Rad becomes a bit nervous and twitchy in his seat. He isn't used to being in a situation where he is basically useless.

EnergyStar shouts to Rad, "Get your suit on! I have to use gravity control to keep that creature from moving any further. You throw the weapon towards the Zone of Antimatter. Let's go. Pulsar keep it steady so we can get back here."

Not waiting for a response, EnergyStar launches herself from the ship, igniting the propulsion units on her antimatter harness and heading towards the beast.
The unnatural portal is obviously wrecking havok here. Strange rock and energy formations hurtle past, seemingly in random directions. After seeing a fairly large chuck of rock nearly collide with the Pogo Plane, you see it sprout several tentacles and walk over the outside of the ship. Obviously, at least some of this strange flotsam is actually alive. In the distance behind you, you can see what looks like a large pipe jutting out of the Distortion Area maybe 15 areas or so off in the distance. "Curious", you think to yourself, "but not immediately important."
...
Pulsar, inside the ship, notices this thing attach itself to the hull. System reading indicate that it is not causing any damage, just crawling around on the outside. It appears your ship has picked up its first barnacle.
...
Small pockets of energy explode around EnergyStar as she hurdles towards the creature. Using her Gravity Control, she is able to halt the creatures movement through the Negative Zone. The creature, obviously intelligent - though not very - begins barking at EnergyStar. After a few seconds, the Universal Translator kicks in. The creature is upset because of all the chaos in the region of the Negative Zone (which, unknown to it, is being caused by the portal you are trying to close). It figures this is all your fault because after the chaos started and the big silver rock (nuclear warhead) nearly bumped him, you showed up, and you're weird lookin'.
Sound logic.
The 30' tall creature takes a swing at EnergyStar with an orange, rocky limb, but misses. Before EnergyStar can react, one of the small pockets of volatile energy floating through the area explodes with a blinding flash.
EnergyStar, let me know what your next actions are and give me an Agility FEAT.