Statesman Taskforce Part the Second

When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.

BOOT TO TH' HEAD!

We know join our heroes in media res...

Back to Statesman on his yacht and inspirations were gathered again as Taskforce Guardian set out to conquer Doctor Aeon in his own laboratory. Barring the way in stood another quartet of Arachnos’ Most Wanted: Silver Mantis, Wretch, Barracuda, and Ice Mistral. Who were all summarily beaten and tossed into the interdimensional paddy wagon before being brought up on charges of assaulting licensed heroes by hitting them in the fists with their faces.

Little did we know that this was a cunning mad scientist ruse worthy of a Warren Ellis diatribe! They had lulled us into a false sense of superiority! One that would quickly come crumbling down in the face of the scientific might that was DOCTOR AEON!

The Doctor is In!

Dang echoes…

Doc Aeon proved to be a brick wall in our on-rush to justice. Despite the use of the power of the Vine Tree, Aeon hammered us but good for three straight tries before we learned to ignore his helpers, versions of himself from other timelines (neat trick), and went straight for the Doc in his shiny hamster ball. And thusly he went kicking, screaming and whining. Silly scientist. You’re facing the Debt Brigade!

The Debt Brigade Prescription... PAIN!

Back to I.P. once more to rally around for the final challenge; a visit to Grandville to face Lord Recluse himself! Legions of Arachnos troops on hostile ground stood before us as well Recluses’ four chief troublemakers. The walking tank-with-a-tail that was Black Scorpion. The flying, sword-swinging, lightning-throwing, endurance stealing, dress-wearing magician known as Sirocco. The razor-toothed threshing machine with its nearly CHEATING amounts of dodging ability that is Captain Mako. And the deadly, death-defying, emo flouncing, harlot of doom better known as Ghost Widow.

Any one of these villains would be a handful for any team. The challenge that lay ahead of Taskforce Guardian was simple in its elegance and deadliness. Engage and defeat all four of Recluses’ front line at the same time, then take him down in his most powerful incarnation ever.

Sounds easy, right?

Riiiiiight….

The Debt Brigade neatly sheared the front halls of Arachnos troops and cunningly set up a stunningly devious ambush for the Deadly Quartet. A single sniper's shot rang out and the trap was sprung.

What happened? Well Exhibit A shows the results.

What the tank sees or SHARK TO THE FACE!

Despite an excellent pull, Guardian ended up with both Ghost Widow and Mako. And the Debt Brigade discovered that just about every wild story spun about about the two of them were painfully true. Make no mistake, Taskforce Guardian acquitted itself quite well and pulled nearly every trick in the playbook, but to no avail. Mako would vanish only to re-appear over the corpse of a freshly butchered comrade while Ghost Widow shrugged off the full measure of Guardian's firepower, occasionally condemning someone to defeat in her spinning tentacles of doom. After nearly an hour of resolute but unchanging fortunes the Debt Brigade admitted defeat. We regrouped in IP and vowed to return.