[INDENT][INDENT][COLOR=SILVER][I]In the year of 2019, Earth experienced an unprecedented surge of metahuman activity and vigilantism. At least sixty percent of this surge was isolated within the United States of America prompting the [COLOR=LIGHTBLUE][B]METAHUMAN SUPREMACY FRONT[/B][/COLOR] to launch a terrorist attack simultaneously on both New York and Stary City. Led by the enigmatic [COLOR=LIGHTBLUE][B]STRYFE[/B][/COLOR], the 'M.S.F.' unleashed a swarm of drones which when attached to a host, overwrote the individual's neural oscillations, replacing all thought and reason with rage. 

Infecting hundreds with these drones, Stryfe intended to pin the crime on the metahuman population, the 'mutants' of the United States. But he underestimated his foes, and his plan was foiled thanks to the brave actions of those who chose to stand up to him. Despite being both defeated and exposed, Stryfe's plan was still successful framing  [COLOR=LIGHTBLUE][B]WONDER WOMAN[/B][/COLOR] as a co-collaborator.

With metahuman prejudice at an all-time high, the United States Government was forced to expedite the create the creation of the [COLOR=LIGHTBLUE][B]DEPARTMENT OF METAHUMAN AFFAIRS[/B][/COLOR]. The [COLOR=LIGHTBLUE][B]D.M.A.[/B][/COLOR] led by [COLOR=LIGHTBLUE][B]CAMERON HODGE[/B][/COLOR] was charged with the responsibility of overseeing the creation of legislation regarding metahumans and handling the fears and concerns of the general populace. 

Inspired by this, the Homeland Security branch known as the Advanced Research Group Uniting Superhumans, or [COLOR=LIGHTBLUE][B]A.R.G.U.S.[/B][/COLOR] created their own hero. Nathaniel Heywood, formerly of the United States Marine Corps was transformed into [COLOR=LIGHTBLUE][B]CITIZEN STEEL[/B][/COLOR] through the efforts of A.R.G.U.S. in cooperation with [COLOR=LIGHTBLUE][B]CADMUS LABS[/B][/COLOR].

Now the face of the American Superhero Initiative, Citizen Steel is the first response to any threat within the United States borders. But even Citizen Steel can't protect the world alone. The same heroes who stopped Stryfe are still rising to the challenge day after day. 

[CENTER]These are their stories.[/CENTER][/I][/COLOR][/INDENT][/INDENT]
[CENTER][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/aEEXoZU.png?1[/IMG]
[B][color=black]♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦  [/color] SEASON TWO: THE MONSTER WITHIN [color=black]  ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦   ♦[/color][/B][/CENTER]
[COLOR=1E90FF][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Centuri - VI[/I] - [I]Sector 2842[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Season One #2.01:[/b] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Out of Reach[/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][color=1E90FF][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]None[/I][/COLOR][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4861985][COLOR=SILVER][I]Season One - Gods Among Men[/I][/COLOR][/url][/right][/SUP][/color]
[INDENT][COLOR=SILVER]Smoke coupled with the smell of ash and weapons fire rose into the violet sky that surrounded the world of Centuri VI. Three of its moon were still visible, sitting high in the sky, unobscured by the sun even at midday. Despite never having had contact with Earth, Centuri VI’s architecture was incredibly similar to that found in some regions of the Terran Homeworld. 

The Capitol; the home of the Centurii’s governing democracy, had seen better days. Buildings made of materials comparable to limestone and marble had been damaged from the sonic blasts of the insurgents’ weaponry. Entire buildings had been reduced to nothing more than rubble from the attack.

At the heart of the Capitol lay the Senate, Centuri IV’s governing body. The dome-shaped roof was supported by a series of columns that circled the building, raising it high above the ground. The Senators had been brought out one at a time, forced to kneel and wait. For what? 

They did not know.

Each member of the governing body exchanged nervous glances with those on their left and their right. Any cries for help were silenced immediately, equally so any pleas for mercy. The armoured insurgents had no pity for the Senators. 

Centuri VI had been a democracy for almost as long as recorded history existed. A planet made up predominantly of philosophers and artists, they had long considered themselves to be past the needless bloodshed of war. But unrest had spread across not only the Capitol but the world as a whole and soon the insurgents had enough numbers to go to war. 

This was the closest any of the Senators had ever come to a violent death. Tear stained eyes were drawn towards the foreign weapons held by the insurgents. Neither the arms nor armour were of Centurii make. It was this advantage that had allowed their smaller numbers to quickly overwhelm the world’s governments. 

The steady hum of a skiff echoed down the street as the sleek craft appeared within view. The narrow vehicle flew above the ground, the brake flaps deploying before it came to a sudden stop only yards from the line of soon to be executed men. 

Atop the craft, a towering figure in black armour began to descend towards the ground. Wings appearing from the back of his suit allowing him to glide towards the ground before marching towards the Senators. Following behind him was a tall, lean figure. 

But it was not Centurii. 

[COLOR=WHITE]<“Has not everything I promised come true?”>[/COLOR] The figure asked, gesturing towards the men with one of its four arms. 

[COLOR=WHITE]<“You have.”>[/COLOR] The armoured figure agreed, his helm retracting to reveal a scarred visage. His yellow skin was marred with red and orange bruising. The man’s right eye had been entirely replaced by an implant, the luminous circuitry visible within a large scar running the entire length of the right side of his face.

[COLOR=WHITE]<“Too long have the old and cowardly forced all of Centuri to adhere to their ideal way of life. Now society will be able to begin anew, led by those who fought for it.”>[/COLOR] The armoured figure smiled, nodding towards his men as twelve simultaneous shots rang out. In that same instant, the bodies of each Senator fell to the ground lifeless.

[COLOR=WHITE]<“Now, you have more of this technology, you can bring us more to solidify power?”>[/COLOR] The armoured man asked, turning back towards the alien.

[COLOR=WHITE]<“Oh indeed,”>[/COLOR] It smiled wickedly in response. [COLOR=WHITE]< “I’m more than happy to oblige.”>[/COLOR]

Above Centuri VI, the void of space was suddenly illuminated by a blinding flurry of lightning as the fabric between time and space was ripped apart like a once clenched jaw. The bow of a ship slipped through the gaping maw as a Hive Ship exited slipstream and came to orbit around the remote M-Class planet. Behind the massive vessel came another like it and another after that. Each of the ships entered into orbit around the Centuri VI. From the surface, the humanoid populace turned their eyes to the sky. Even from the surface, the Hive ships were visible around the planet. 

The armoured figure turned towards the sky, a confused look crossing his face. He could not possibly understand the horror he had unleashed upon his world, but he knew enough to feel fear.

[COLOR=WHITE]<“Deception!”>[/COLOR] He roared, raising his weapon towards the alien. In response, it looked back towards him defiantly, clearly unphased by the sonic arm cannon levelled towards its face.

[COLOR=WHITE]“Khaji-Da.”[/COLOR] It replied, and suddenly, the armoured figure froze. The helmet emerging from within the armour and closing around the humanoid’s head. The eyes suddenly glowed red before it spoke.

[COLOR=WHITE]<“Assuming direct control.”>[/COLOR] Came the suit’s response, the weapon lowering away from the alien. The smug look of triumph passed over its face before it turned its gaze back towards the sky.

From within the Hive ships came a deafening humming noise. Hundreds of small vessels suddenly exited from the hexagonal patterning on the ships' underbelly. Diving through the atmosphere of the planet, the ships began to fire on those below. A man reached out to his child only to be struck down. A metal prong hooked into his back, injecting the man and forcibly transforming his body. Crying out to his child one last time, the man's eyes went blank as he lost his individuality becoming nothing but a drone to the invading aliens. Turning to his crying child, he extended a spike from his wrist before reaching down and submitting her to the same fate as he. More and more of the natives began to fall to this fate. From the Hive ships above, a haunting electronic voice echoed over the planet.

[COLOR=WHITE]<“We are the Reach. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.”>[/COLOR]

The message continued to play on a loop as the Reach began to bomb the planet from orbit. As they had done to the populace, the surface was transformed. The Reach penetrated the surface with pillars that unfolded to cocoon Centuri VI. Drilling to the planet's core, they were preparing the world for a metamorphosis, insuring it would survive the terraforming process. As the cocoon began to spread, the planet's resources were slowly absorbed as the Reach harvested each and every one of them. Their new drones slowly awakening from the transformation process as they began to assist the cocooning process, their new implants allowing them total comprehension as they became one with the hive mind. Descending through the atmosphere, the first of the Hive ships prepared to land as the other two departed from orbit. 

This world, like many others, now belonged to the Reach.[/COLOR][/INDENT][/INDENT]