Grip of the Mind Thieves, Chapter 12: Directed Misdirection Report
General Summary
BREAKING NEWS!
RIOT IN THE PARK CONTINUES!
Bronze Tempest, Moon Knight, and Tesla Coil in Action! by CB Ash
The situation at Central Park continues!
As reported in the previous edition of the Dawn Sun Register, earlier in the evening, mysterious orange balloons appeared over Central Park. Specifically, they were concentrated around four locations in the park, such as the Bandshell near Delacorte Theater.
This is the same theater west of the Metro Museum of Art and this year's Stark Enterprises' Tech Expo. During this time of year, it hosts a steady flow of performances from local theater groups and musicians to support local arts.
These balloons were considered to either be a part of the Expo's outlandish presentation style or connected to a series of concerts by local artists in the Bandshell. But with the arrival of one of the local vigilante 'hero' teams, the Knights Vigilant, those balloons have been exposed as part of a sinister attack on Central Park.
Even now, Moon Knight, Bronze Tempest , Tesla Coil, and Loki are battling what turns out to have been drones modified with advanced weaponry, far beyond the first reported 'miniature paintball Gatling guns'. These machines are working in teams of five drones per group. Before, they were content to follow larger congregations of park goers. Now, it seems as if the drone groups have scattered across Central Park. The largest concentration of these have focused on those four members of the Knights Vigilant.
When they drones changed tactics, some have released their mysterious payload. As these balloons either reached the ground or popped, they are releasing a spray of gel droplets in a ten-foot radius. Some of these gel sprays have started to dramatically alter the native plant life into more hostile varieties.
People on the scene are reporting what can only be described as spontaneous plant mutations and accelerated growth. No park visitors have been reported as affected at this time.
But eyewitnesses have stated that some of this gel has been used on the Knights Vigilant. In particular, Moon Knight, who is exhibiting strange and uncontrollable energy powers after coming into contact with the gel. Bronze Tempest has also been hit several times, almost being partially trapped in a gel cocoon.
Loki was last seen falling to a barrage of small gel ammunition from the drones. In the middle of the fray, Tesla Coil is using his armor's energy shield to stay on the defensive, all while possibly working on a solution against the chemicals. But that last is unconfirmed.
NYPD and their Code Blue powered division are stretched thin between the events here in Central Park and the previous conflict at the 59th Street Marine Transfer Station. Officers in the park are working to escort park visitors to safety and fend off drones not already engaging the Knights Vigilant.
The Knights Vigilant and NYPD are not alone. More of the New York vigilante and hero community, such as Knight Thrasher and the Harlequin, have responded to the sudden emergency. They are working to rescue victims and disable drones in north Central Park. On the south side of Central Park, the mysterious Green Dragonfly is working with the former criminal Spider Lilly to combat the threat.
A source that requested to remain anonymous told the Dawn Sun Reporter that the authorities believe the criminal mastermind, Dr. Overmind, is behind this series of emergencies. His ultimate goal at this time, is anyone's guess.
This story is still in progress and rapidly unfolding at this time.
OOZE EXPOSE: ORIGIN OF THE OOZE, PT 5
by Meil MingReporting from Vibora Bay, this is a continuing look into the Orange Ooze mutagen that threatens New York City's Central Park area. This is a breaking update in the investigation.
New analysis from Phoenix Industries delivered to the Dawn Sun Reporter show that the composition of the Ooze matches preliminary results against pollen from a rare plant called, the Crystal Jade Vine. This rare and endangered plant factors into cultural record legends in the Amazon Basin, Tibet, regions of the Australian outback, Indonesia, and oral traditions of ancient cultures in what is now Vibora Bay.
According to experts from the Franklin Institute and Leopardworks Savanna Ltd, the rare plant is considered critically endangered. As such, its illegal to transport without a license. This hasn't deterred certain organizations, such as the Golden Lotus, from smuggling and cultivating the plant. For the Golden Lotus, this is specifically for the meta-powered tattoos they are infamous for.
Anonymous sources in the Vibora Bay area suggest that the mysterious Ivory Talons are one of the major buyers. Currently, they are completing for sole control over the Jade Vine plant. Authorities in Vibora Bay have evidence that the Bonegrinders are the leading criminal gang that would traffic in endangered species like the Crystal Jade Vine.
Further information about the Bonegrinders and Ivory Talons with respect to their connection to the Jade Vine plant is forthcoming.
FROM THE BLOTTER
Police responded this evening to another outbreak of violence, this time at the 59th Street Marine Transfer Station at Pier 99.
This followed on the heels of a local vigilante group combating a collection of advanced robotic attack devices that had taken several city employees hostage. These devices were delivered to both the NYPD CSI division and the NYPD's Meta division, Code Blue, for study.
Local gang members of the Disco Boys, provided key eyewitness accounts of the rescue by the vigilante team and leads to the origin of the robotic devices.
Rescued city employees have been taken in for care and treatment at the time of this reporting.
FROM THE BLOTTER continued on page A6.
CITY BEAT
More information has come to light from the underground facility beneath Central Park.
Archived records from New York City's archive show that the area may be one of terminals built for New York's experimental "pneumatic tube" subway system. Built in 1890, this early subway variant was built in according to pneumatic tube technology.
In the case of this prototype, the "train" was a series of connected tubes built for passengers moved through tunnels through a pressurized air compression system.
Currently, a crew from New York's Sanitation Department are reporting on a battle beneath the streets between members of the Knight's Vigilant and various robotic enforcers from the "Science Court" criminal gang. At this time, Taki, the Statesman, and Sahara are battling their way across this high-tech landscape.
Besieged by Science Court "Baliff" enforcer robots, the trio has made their way to the south side of the renovated pneumatic terminal. However, a mysterious all silver 'ninja' has appeared. This lady ninja seemed to threaten or confront Taki. Yet, then raced off away while Taki stood at ease.
Currently, there is no confirmation if this is one of Taki's meta powers or a previously unknown device that poses a threat to the Knight's Vigilant and Central Park. Also, a hawk-winged mutant has entered the terminal from deeper inside the tunnel system. The Sanitation Department crew has no information if this newcomer is friend or foe other than he seemed to converse with Taki and not pose a threat.
CITY BEAT continued on page A3.
STAR LABS / WAYNETECH PROTOTYPE TEST CONTNUES
Mid-day the new STAR Labs / WayneTech "Avatar" prototype took its first steps today outside the lab.
Fledgling research into the world of human to machine communication took a bold new step today, with the joint progress reporting success as a 'drone pilot' was able to successfully manipulate a holographic drone under controlled conditions.
This hologram was, with limited success, able to allow the pilot to access and enter a hazardous area though a new neural interlink technology.
PROTOTYPE FIELD TESTS continued on page A9.
