🚀 go-pugleaf

   SUPERGUY TASK FORCE ENDING TERM OF SERVICE - PUBLIC PLEASED?

     (Glen Logan - Political Consultant) After a very tempestuous run, the
government's Task Force Aurora will be closing its doors at the end of
March, perhaps permanently. Originally founded to register and regulate the
growing superguy population of Canada, Task Force Aurora slowly grew into a
unifying presence and support structure for enhanced humans on both sides
of the border, most recently organising a massive counter strike against
dual armies of renegade superguys and extra-dimensional demonic creatures.
Despite this impressive international effort, public opinion is still
against the Task Force's continued existence. "To the people of Canada,"
said Jack Wynn, Alternator of the Ottawa-based Mythos, "Aurora's been
linked to everything bad that's happened since it opened its doors. They
aren't high profile glory grabbers when things go right, and that works
against them. In my mind, this only goes to show that Canada has to grow up
and fast on the subject of superguys. We didn't have an Industrial
Revolution - but we're about to have something a whole lot worse." Wynn,
best known for recently neutralising a mind-controlled Dash from the United
State's Adjusted League Unimpeachable, declined further comment on the
grounds that he had to get back to work, as things were about to get a good
deal harder for everyone. His teammate Shard, however, did provide
additional commentary: "Pulse", though the crystal refused to clarify.
     What has Task Force Aurora done to earn the rancour of the Canadian
people? "We started out on an uneven keel," commented head engineer Peter
Kent. "We've been fighting our origins from the beginning. Someone's been
working against us, and I intend to prove it." Though he claimed that he
and espionage-branch agent Dow had been provided with proof of this from an
undisclosed source, Kent refused to release it, claiming that it would be
going to the top of the power structure. The Task Force has had a very
chequered past, stretching back to an association with the rogue superguy
Exavatar who had only just interfered with the internal affairs of the
island nation of Walliputia. This proved to be an unwise move, as the Task
Force seemed unwilling to dissolve its relationship with the criminal even
after he proceeded to embark upon several rampages and destructive actions.
It is rumoured that Exavatar changed sides during last month's days of
darkness, though this has yet to be proven... (Continued on A7)

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               Chris Angelini/Frobozz Magic Productions

                             -and-

                       Mademoiselle Muse Inc

                       -in association with-

           'We Didn't Mean To Colour The Sky Pink, Honest!'
               Industrial Special Effects and Magic

                              -and-

       The Overworked and Underpaid Lisa MacDougall (producer)

                            -present-

                      TASK FORCE AURORA #25

                        "Do Not Go Gentle"

                 Decline and Fall - Part Twenty

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     Allow me to forget the life I've made my own,
     I've held this nation in my hand, and yet it's not my home
     Oh, allow me just one answer, and one reason why
     Why this refugee of the family of man must die
     Tell me why

         -Kansas 'Closet Chronicles'

     PORTRAIT OF A SURVIVOR

     (Sarah McPatterson - Human Interest) Though last month's days of
crisis impacted on the lives of nearly everyone everywhere in the world,
it's too easy to forget about the individuals who make up the big picture.
I recently spoke with one woman who's life was changed forever by the
'Hell(tm) on Earth' as those days are coming to be known. Trooper Portia
Jennings, of the soon-to-be-late Task Force Aurora fought in the battle
against the twin armies involved and in the process suffered extensive
injuries, including the loss of her legs. Yet despite the adversity, still
she soldiers on. I was lucky enough to be granted an interview with the
brave young woman.

(McPatterson) Hello Mrs Jennings, thank you for giving me a few minutes of
your time.
(Jennings) Aside from physio and telling worrywart friends that I'm not
ready to kick the bucket yet, my day's pretty free. It beats trying to find
something good on TV in the afternoon.
(MP) Could you tell my readers a little bit about yourself, Mrs Jennings?
(J) Um... like what? My life isn't all that exciting.
(MP) There are a lot of people who'd beg to differ. Maybe a brief summary
of how you ended up in Task Force Aurora to start with?
(J) What can I say? I've always been a nut for challenges. Entered the reg
forces at eighteen, did some tours, saw a whole lot of the Persian Gulf
from the deck of a ship and then got kind of bored. So when Aurora started
up, I was first in line with transfer papers.
(MP) And they jumped at the chance to snap you up?
(J) Hah. One thing you need to know about the military: they never jump.
Hop like a frog with one leg, maybe, but never jump.
(MP) Hmm... speaking of legs...
(J) Don't worry, I'm not going to break down in tears over the subject or
anything. Ask away, I can take it.
(MP) Thank you for your open attitude, Mrs Jennings. What did happen to
your legs?
(J) It was during the fight... my rig was pretty badly trashed. I--
(MP) Pardon me, but rig?
(J) Oh, suit. My armour. Anyway, I took a pretty bad hit, and the automed
activated. From the way it was supporting my neck, I knew that my spine had
been broken.
(MP) I'm sorry...
(J) Why, did you do it? Don't be, I'm getting to the next part. I... um...
was unprotected, so I was kind of a sitting duck. Another group of demons
came by and tried to rip me stem to stern.
(MP) Why didn't you die, Mrs Jennings? What saved you?
(J) I'd caught the plague. Instead of dying, I expressed superguy potential.
(MP) Yes, we've heard all about that plague over the past few weeks. Tell
me, what was it like being a part of the mass mind?
(J) (Long pause)
(MP) Mrs Jennings?
(J) It was like... a complete violation of everything that I'd ever thought
was private. Like I had a thousand people who could peek into every dark
corner of my mind and see whatever they wanted. And there was a voice, it
was so smooth and it felt so right, and I agreed with what it said. Because
it was right, because I couldn't not listen to it... I'm sorry, I don't
want to talk any more about this.
(MP) Again, I'm sorry. How did expressing superguy potential save your life?
(J) Um... right. The way the doctors explained it, my whole body got
rearranged by the microscopic plague symbiotes inside me. Sort of like...
you know those nanites that're all the rage right now with science? Sort of
like biological versions of those, only more efficient because they're all
natural, just like me. My spine got rebuilt to handle my powers, so the
damage to it got wiped out.
(MP) But you still can't walk?
(J) Not yet... I've got to relearn the nerves or something. But I'm
trying... I took my first real step yesterday before I fell over onto my
keister.
(MP) Congratulations!
(J) Thanks.
(MP) And what power did you express?
(J) Well... right now, just flight. Some kind of gravity manipulation, but
I'm not too worried about that at the moment. Learn to walk first then fly,
right?
(MP) That sounds like sage advice. Will you be able to continue your
retraining once Aurora is gone?
(J) (Another pause) I don't know.
(MP) Why not?
(J) Look, I don't want to talk about this anymore, okay?
(MP) Mrs Jennings? What's wrong?
(J) It's over. The interview, I mean.
(MP) As you wish. Thank you for your time, Mrs Jennings.
(J) Yeah, whatever.
***
      THE MAN WHO SHOT THE DEVIL

     (Jean Racee - Guy Too Big For A Title) As the world reeled in shock
after being ravaged by the minions of the late minister Jacques Maladroit,
one question was on everyone's mind: when does the debt come due? The death
toll from last month's 'Days of Hell(tm) on Earth' was astronomical and few
people on the North American continent did not watch someone close to them
change forever or die in the travesty. On the day that he was to be removed
to the UN building to stand trial for his global crime, Maladroit's life
came to an abrupt end as he was executed by one General Calvin Anaesthetic,
who until late had headed up the Canadian Task Force Aurora's STOP
paramilitary division. In one moment, with nothing but a gun and a bullet,
Anaesthetic seemingly managed to split the world into two halves: the
hemisphere crying out to hail him as a hero and the half which condemned
him with impotent rage, as their thirst for justice lay unquenched by
Maladroit's lifeblood spilling onto the floor of his temporary cell.
     However the world feels about the man the justice machine has moved
quickly in supplying its own opinion. Calvin Anaesthetic faced extensive
court martial proceedings which led to revocation of all rank and honours
on Tuesday last. In a surprise move, the man further confessed to being the
vehicle by which Maladroit's miniaturised nuclear weapons had been smuggled
into Task Force Aurora's orbit-high Beanstalk, begging for the highest
sentencing possible. He may very well have received his wish, facing as he
does a lifetime behind bars, time enough to think over the enormity of his
crimes.
     Those who knew the general claimed that he was a broken man at the
court martial, lacking his usual spark of fire. Bowed and quiet-voiced,
Anaesthetic accepted his fate without word of complaint or protest. Perhaps
those whose thirst for the blood of Maladroit can find some small
satisfaction in this man's fall, and come to know a measure of peace.
(Continued on A12)
***
           THE BIGGEST TOYS?

     (wire) How would you feel if enough powered armor, spacecraft and
weaponry to give even the most jaded terrorist naughty dreams was stored,
untended, just a few miles from you? You'd be scared of course, and today
Canada's Task Force Aurora was informed that they've had their fun but they
have to clean up their room now that they're done playing. The Canadian
government has issued a final order that any and all exotic and regulation
weaponry, vehicle craft and ordinance must be disposed of by December 31st,
1996. Speculation is running rampant as to where the vast array of
equipment will be sent, and several superguy groups and public agencies
have already quietly put in bids for the organisation's supply of Tornado
Mark II personal armor suits, sundry spacecraft and sidearms.
     Where will it go? Who will get it? No one knows, but the sooner that
it's in safe hands, the better. With threats the like of the late Radian,
the Unimaginable League Amoral and Dana Wader facing our planet on an
almost constant basis, leaving it where it can do no good against them but
might very well fall into criminal hands with minimal effort is an exercise
in foolishness.

     WHERE IS NICHOLAS TREIS?

  (Tamara Dupis - Ottawa Correspondent) With the revelation that ex-Tribe
of Behn member Arthur Doyle had been covertly running Task Force Aurora
under an assumed identity during its decline and fall, the question must be
asked: where has former TFA head Nicholas Treis gotten to? Treis -
appointed to head up Task Force Aurora after being prematurely aged during
a battle in California and so revealing his abilities as a superguy - has
yet to be accounted for in the wake of TFA's dissolution. Computer
intelligence Arthur Doyle has as yet refused to reveal the man's
whereabouts, citing an assassination attempt as proof that the man's life
was in danger. Allegedly, Treis' health declined rapidly after the near
successful attack and Doyle claimed to have had no choice but to replace
the aged man with himself to preserve the flagging task force. Treis was a
man with poor reputation in the aftermath of the Exavatar incident, as well
as the spectacular failure of the OUQT hardsuit, which took the life of
STOP trooper Carol Trent.
     Doyle's fate is as yet uncertain, forcing the Canadian supreme court
to begin making rulings on machine intelligences in this ground breaking
case. The man faces charges of treason, kidnapping and suspected murder.
Strangely, the same public which has been condemning Treis and the task
force is calling for all charges to be dropped in light of Doyle's stunning
performance during last month's crisis. Whether this is intended as
recognition of the man's actions or backlash against Treis remains to be
seen. The Tribe of Behn has made itself unavailable for comment on their
former teammate's actions.
***
     LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

  LIK, DONT MAK THIS MITAKE

     Ther's this ting, and its gonna be bad, like cause the govmint is
gonna make me unemplaoyed n then i'l be outta job n stuf. Cause if that
hapns, i wont got the mony 2 by beer, so i'l b over at yor hose 2 borow a
cas or 2 yu dont want me 2 do that, so like tel the govament 2 kep aorora
round or at lest give me a job in a brewery. Oh, n u dont wan b wondering
wholl be protektin u, cause we wont b. so dont do whatever i was takin
about, n i fergot what itw as, so by.
    -Doug
***
       SUPERGUY RESPONSE TOO SLOW; "TOO BAD"

     (Jennifer Wallan - About Town) The scene last week was terrible to
behold: bodies littered the streets, cars were found wrecked in parking
lots and small pets were lost, never to be found again. But even worse than
the local Saaan Two Day sale was  downtown Windsor yesterday, as the Tribe
of Behn took three superpowered criminals into custody.
     "It was appalling," said one bystander, who caught the entire thing on
video tape, on the off chance that the carnage could be sold to 'America's
Funniest Home Videos', "They sure took their own sweet time getting there.
If they'd just be faster, a whole lot of damage could've been stopped."
     But John Milton, Tribemember, had a different story. "This is endemic
of Task Force Aurora being forced to cut services in preparation for
closing down," he said. "As time goes on, this is only going to get worse.
Yes, our response time is going to drop off because we won't have any way
to know that there's anything going on. Have you all forgotten what things
were like before Aurora? How hit-or-miss everything was? Whatever happens,
you've brought it on your own heads."
     But many disagree with Milton's strong words, claiming that this is a
'work to rule' demonstration against the government's decision to end the
task force's operation. "This is childish and dangerous," claimed Deputy
Police Chief Carstairs. "Patrols, watching the news and waiting for us to
call is good enough for the American superguys and damn it, it'll be good
enough for ours. If these guys were something unimportant like maybe
teachers or firemen, then I could understand. But these are the people that
the police use as human shields against dangerous psychopaths every day.
How do you expect us to cope if they're going to worry about 'working
conditions'?"
     Is this reduction of public service a temporary matter, or a sign of
things to come? Only time will tell.
***
     STIRRING MEMORIAL IN JACKSON PARK

     (Sally Frank - Reporter) March 15th was the day chosen to honour the
innocent souls fallen during last month's Days of Hell(tm) and memorials,
services and vigils were held the world over for the dearly departed. One
such service was held in Windsor's own Jackson Park, followed by an evening
march to the Peace fountain, where prayers for a less turbulent year were
uttered.
     "I just wish," began a teary-eyed woman, aged 23, and victim of last
month's plague, "I just wish that things would go back to normal for me.
But they can't. My skin's turned green and plants grown wherever I walk,
how the Hell(tm) can I live a normal life now?"
     This woman's story was echoed by many of the plague survivors who
congregated to bid farewell to their fallen brethren. Countless lives were
destroyed or altered forever in this crisis and have received little to no
support from health organisations around the globe. "What can we do?" asked
one local doctor, when quizzed on this subject. "This isn't a disease
anymore. The people who've gained powers are perfectly healthy. We can't
cure them because there's nothing to cure. Their best course of action is
to learn about their powers so they can live with them."
     Will those survivors attending the vigil have a bright future as they
learn about how their lives have changed? With the closing of Task Force
Aurora, very few of them have anywhere to go for help or guidance. So the
answer may be a resounding no for these brave mourners. This reporter
wishes them the best in finding their way.
***
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***
        CLOSING DAY CEREMONIES A STIRRING SIGHT

     (James McFerris - Man With Pen) Though the public has been aching for
the notorious Task Force Aurora to go away as soon as possible, not an eye
was dry as the organisation's doors were closed today. Against orders for a
'quiet and orderly' shutdown, one STOP Sergeant Graham and his entire cadre
of surviving troopers staged an impressive military-style sendoff for the
organisation. Though the employment record of TFA is a confidential matter,
this reporter can't imagine that a single member of any branch was absent
on the organisation's final day. From agent to wounded soldier to medical
doctor the ranks of the audience seemed to stretch forever, constantly
swelled by curious on-lookers, many of whom were no doubt hoping to catch a
glimpse of such enigmas as the mysterious superguy Wishstar or the
internationally renown scientist, engineer and Internet presence Colleen
MacCloud. None were disappointed by the arrival of nearly the entire
Canadian superguy population - with only a few notable crossouts - who
treated this festive event with a strange solemnity. Stirring speeches were
given, aerial Tornado suit manoeuvres thrilled the audience and a final
salute to fallen comrades touched the heart.
     No matter what you thought of the organisation, you have to agree that
it certainly does know how to throw a bash. Too bad this was its own
funeral, as this reporter definitely wouldn't mind going to another.
***
[Continued In Part Two.]