Winter finally breaks off its grip to a persistent Spring. It's time to dust off those handweapons and recharge those batteries. With the advent of spring the duelling season in not too far away. Already the Flashfire Circuit is gearing up for another year of corporate cup action. The teams are rather bloodthirsty this year. I guess it has something to do with the algae around here. The Flashfire Circuit isn't the only thing heating up around New Omaha. Those pesky ASPs, BLUDs, and ARFs are at it again, not to mention our own local mayhem. This promises to be one hell of a year. Hold on to your hats!
Well, Uncle Al is back and we keep on going. In honor of our 7th anniversary we present a hodge-podge of duelling mayhem. Will the duelling world ever be the same?
Turbofan Jet Engine: Costs and weights 150% of the jet engine in question. Turbofans jet engines have large fans in front of the engine which pushes the air over and around it. This makes the engine more efficient without loss of power. Power factors are 150% of normal. Turbofan MPG is tripled and may use afterburners.
Microfusion Power Plant: $2,000,000, 35,000 power factors, 4 spaces, 600 lbs., and 24 DP. This device is the last word in vehicular power plants. Basically it is a miniaturized version of the cold fusion power plant developed back in the mid-1990's. It will function until the last DP is destroyed and will release no radiation when this happens. Repairs to this plant cost 100 times normal and are a very hard task for a mechanic. The necessary knowledge is very rare; you'll be lucky to find one such person in each state! The plant may use superconductors but not platinum catalysts. It is necessary to modify a car's wheel motors in order to take the extra strain. This costs $2,500 per wheel.
Wheeled Mines: $2,000, 100 lbs., 1 space, one shot, 1 DP. This system is actually a big, wheeled mine with radar guidance. Propelled by a little electric power plant, the mine accelerates by 20 mph each turn up to 100 mph. The whole system is not unlike a RGM: maximum range is only 24", no penalty for range, but there is a -1 targeting penalty per 1" the target is closer than 6".
The wheeled mine can be targeted at -3, plus speed modifiers. If it hits anything (debris, potholes, vehicles, mines, and spikes) it will explode on a roll of 1-2 on a D6, doing 1D6 of damage in a 1" radius. When under (in the case of a motorcycle right next to) the target vehicle it explodes, doing damage as a regular mine. Wheeled mines can be fitted with proximity fuses and/or radio detonators. They also can be made napalm for $250 extra.
Wheeled mines can only be mounted on the underbody or the rear, and can only be launched if the firing vehicle is going at less than 20 mph. If launched at a higher speed roll a die and add a +1 per 10 mph above 20 (round fractions up). On a six or more, the mine explodes when launched, doing damage the firer's car. Wheeled mines cannot be used off-road for obvious reasons.
Super-Heavy Transport Aircraft: $100,000, 4,000 lbs., max load 100,000 lbs., 160 spaces, 10 wing spaces per wing, 38 DP per wing, HC 0, armor cost/weight: 40/18.
This type of aircraft is intended to represent a smaller version of the venerable C-130 Hercules. The SHTA is armored in 10 locations like a bus. It can mount up to 4 turrets or cupolas of any size, up to and including 5-space size. Two of these may be top mounted and the other two bottom mounted. Each of the plane's wings can have up to 10 spaces of EWPs, REWPs, or bomb racks mounted on the undersides. The aircraft body can mount up to 16 spaces of these devices.
Recoilless Rabbit: To-hit 7, 1D6-5, 4 DP, $1,500, 300 lbs., 2 spaces, 5 shots* at $20 and 5 lbs. each. Loaded cost $1,600 and loaded weight 325 lbs. Magazine cost is $150 and weighs 40 lbs. Splatter effect.
* for every 3 turns that at least 2 rabbits remain in the weapon 2 more rabbits will be produced.
Splatter effect causes a 1" x 1" cloud of organs, blood, etc. which acts as paint. Every time a RRbt is used roll a die. On a result of 5 or 6 the Humane Society will fine you $250 for firing the rabbit.
ASP; that wacky, demented "terrorist" group is up to it's usual tricks again. ASP recently declared that they bombed our HQ with a stealth bomber. Little did they know that what they really hit was an unused warehouse! ASP has been declaring phantom victories as of late. Once their rank-and-file see the lies they been told they're going to be pissed.
Ninja Master has struck again. In a cinematic display of campy martial arts combat Ninja Master won a tactical victory over the popular No Gun. Instead of dealing out the death blow, Ninja Master decided to be lenient. He did vow for another rematch. The whole combat was filmed on location and broadcasted on TV later that day. No Gun had no comment on the fight. He's been rather quiet as of late.
To make matters worse Ninja Master has opened up his own pizza place called Ninja Pizza. He also launched a cable TV channel, Ninja TV, that plays really bad kung fu flicks. He is constantly bad-mouthing No Gun in an attempt to psych him out.
The Flashfire Circuit opened up recently and the ZIPPO team is out to an early lead. ZIPPO, lead by Tim "The Weasel" Jacques, has been using tricky tactics to catch his opponents off guard. Following him closely is Midwest Minor Medical, Blaster International, and Widget Industries. So far the combat has been rather bloody and fast-paced. It's going to get nasty in the finals.
On the election front Brian Faulkner has announced his candidacy for the mayor's job in New Omaha. His platform is unknown at this time. No other people have risen to challenge him as of yet. The current mayor is a federal appointee placed there by the attorney General. He will stay there until a new mayor is elected by the people.
The verdict is out on the New Omaha Police jet interceptor controversy. A limited number will be purchased on a case-by-case basis. By the end of 2041 about six will be bought and maintained. Their primary duty will be patrolling the I- 80, I-480 and I-680 systems around New Omaha. Any speed demons with ideas of tearing up New Omaha has better think again.
In national news the Republics of Oklahoma and Louisiana have charged that Texas has engaged in economic warfare. Recent "accidents" on Oklahoma and Louisiana oil fields as well as deliberate price slashing by Texas has made the two states extremely irate. Both states are at a heighten state of military alert. Whether this will mean war is uncertain. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail.
For several years I've been NOVA's president. During those years I've seen several AADA presidents come and go with accompanying rule changes. However, this last year the severity of those changes have taken the fun out of autoduelling for me personally. Today the game is filled with a score of nonsense rules or ones that never should've been made. The latest rule supplements are pure trash, best used in bird changes!
NOVA's complaints and comments have been plainly ignored and flatly rejected. This has infuriated me to the point of wanting to rip the throats out of a few high-ranking AADA members. The only thing that stopped me from doing this was the Weasel. He agreed to take care of the needed correspondence and has continued to do so.
I am plainly in need of a rest, and will take one very shortly. The Weasel will continue to keep NOVA alive and kicking. While I get my much needed rest in Hawaii I hope by the time I get back something will have changed.
Drive Offensively!
Joseph Ratner
NOVA President
P.S. See you in six months. My business is in good hands!
New Member: T.J. Gates of Penwater, Michigan joins our roster as an out-of-state member.
Sturdiest Headquarters: NOVA headquarters withstood a week of heavy bombing with over 20,000 lbs of bombs falling on it before being destroyed. Even then some systems survived. The bombers lost 10 aircraft in these raids.
November 17, 2040: The Omaha Metropolitan Enforcement Network (OMEN) Headquarters was attacked by a small ASP force. Both ASP raiders were killed with only three wounded OMEN members.
November 23, 2040: Joseph "Joe Rat" Ratner, the current president of NOVA, announced he was leaving on vacation for the next six months. He stated, "I'm going on vacation for my sanity. The current actions of the AADA have been driving me crazy, and because of that I'm getting away for a while". The Weasel will be taking care of business until Joe returns.
November 24, 2040: NOVA members take on a convoy assignment from Arlington, TX to New Omaha. Soon after that they found the rig they were escorting had been sabotaged.
December 22, 2040: At the Civic Arena three pit crews were killed and four others injured when the Unknown Duellist's car exploded while exiting the arena. John Generic, the only battle-worthy duellist left in the Division 40 event, won easily after several high-speed passes.
December 24, 2040: NOVA, the Police, National Guard and private businesses went on alert after a rumor of ARF/BLUD forces planning an attack on Christmas
December 25, 2040: A large ASP force was decimated by the combined forces of the city. In related news the ASP Air Force was destroyed 25 miles short of New Omaha by SDI "intervention". SDI's involvement has yet to be verified by NORAD officials. NOVA's decoy HQ was bombed by an ASP bomber and was completely destroyed.
December 26, 2040: NOVA announced that ASP just signed their death warrant and vowed to destroy every ASP in North America, including the Black ASP himself.
January 2, 2041: New Omaha mayor C.B. McSmith was assassinated in front of City Hall. The assassin escaped in a Deloraine.
January 3, 2041: Lincoln mayor Charles Paller was assassinated in front of City Hall. The assassin escaped in a Delorean. Later this day an attempt to murder ex-Governor Mary Gibberson failed, but the assassin escaped in a Delorean similar to those involved in the two previous assassinations.
January 6, 2041: Harry Kellman, the mayor of Battle, Nebraska, was hospitalized for unknown reasons.
January 7, 2041: Ex-Governor Gibberson's secretary died under strange circumstances. The National Guard has begun investigations into the attempt on Gibberson's life. Similar investigations have begun in Lincoln and New Omaha. The city councils of both Lincoln and New Omaha have begun the process of appointing new mayors.
January 8, 2041: Delmar Jones was hospitalized after an attempted assassination. Several officers were killed in their attempt to stop the assassin.
January 9, 2041: NOVA HQ was bombed by a combat glider. The glider was shot down by NOVA fighters and little damage was done to the building.
January 10, 2041: Again NOVA HQ was bombed, this time by several gliders. They were all shot down.
January 16, 2041: For the past week NOVA HQ has been bombed nightly by gliders. Air patrols have brought down all attackers. The Weasel reports that the HQ has been heavily damaged.
January 17, 2041: A large bomber was encountered several miles from the city by a NOVA fighter and was shot down. Then there was an apparent dogfight between several stealth fighters. One exploded near a refinery in the Industrial Park.
Also on this date New Omaha suffers even more assassinations as three more city council members were killed.
January 18, 2041: Three car bombs detonated and killed 22 people and injured 50 more. It looks like ASP is on the move again. The NOPD is investigating the car bombing incidents.
January 19, 2041: Four more city council members were bumped off. The Police are getting swamped by the assassinations and car bombs.
January 20, 2041: Five car bombs went off today. 37 people were killed and 63 were wounded. The Police dramatically step up their investigations.
A result of these bombings was the declaration of martial law in New Omaha with an attendant dusk-to-dawn curfew. The National Guard was called up. Additionally, three more city council members were assassinated.
January 21, 2041: The last two city council members were killed despite all efforts of the NOPD to protect them.
February 16, 2041: Over 100 car bombs went off in the city, killing 100 and injuring 500 more. The Industrial Park Refinery blew up for reasons unknown. Private property damage is estimated at more than two billion dollars. The city is now heavily patrolled by the National Guard and Police units.
February 17, 2041: Several NOPD and NG vehicles were destroyed by bombs. All vehicles are being searched thoroughly for explosives.
February 18, 2041: After several more Police and National Guard vehicles exploded the Police mounted a raid on a warehouse that supplied the bombers. Unfortunately, the warehouse was rigged to explode. 20 officers and a like number of terrorists were killed.
February 19, 2041: An ASP-lead army surrendered at the city gates. The Governor accepted the surrender of all ASP in Nebraska.
March 30, 2041: Just outside of Nebraska City a secret meeting of ASP was ended early by NOVA. A NOVA bomber destroyed 20-plus cars and personnel in a single pass. Later the same bomber destroyed an ASP car just across the Kansas border. The exact number of ASP dead may never be known.
In western Iowa another NOVA strike destroyed an ASP base. The strike consisted of trikes, cars, and a helicopter. NOVA forces took minor damage. All targets were destroyed.
April 15, 2041: NOVA celebrated it's sixth anniversary by taking a trip to Los Wages Theme Park in Iowa. There they found enemies galore: ASP, ARF, BLUD, Three Maniacs, and others. NOVA quickly left after finding this out.
April 18, 2041: Los Wages was partially destroyed during the opening ceremonies. As of this date no estimates were given. Some are calling this the worst park disaster since the Food Riots. Officials haven't decided on keeping the park open for the rest of the season.
April 20, 1991: Impact 0.6 gamefest. NOVA will run a tournament and hopefully the regional at this convention. The Holiday Inn Central in Omaha will be the site of this convention.
July 4-7, 1991: Origins '91 in Baltimore. This is the site of the World Duelling Championship. The never-ending question is who will kill River City.
July 26-28, 1991: Impact 1 in Omaha, Holiday Inn Central. NOVA will hold a tournament and will have Car Wars videos shown also.
August 8-11, 1991: GenCon '91 in Milwaukee. The World Racing Championship will be held here again. Does Dueltrack even exist anymore?
Next year GenCon and Origins will be combined again for a blow-out of a con. Get your reservations in early. You don't want to miss this one. You can compete in both World Championships at one con! Oh, the mayhem! Remember, peds are worth 20 points when killed!
It's looking like a lean year for duelling movies.
Spring: Highlander II.
March: If Looks Could Kill, The Perfect Weapon.
May: FX 2.
Summer: Robocop III.
July: Suburban Commando, Terminator II: Judgement Day.
Okay, so you got ADQ 6-3 and you read "Rookie of the Year Wins World Championship". But did you use the winning formula? I doubt if most of you did. Well since I did and it worked for me here are the details.
BODY STYLE: This category was quite diversified. It included a compact, numerous sedans and luxuries and even a pickup. The thing I looked at was CA frames. Four of the ten vehicles had them. It should be mentioned that three of these CA cars met there ends in rams.
CHASSIS: Every vehicle detailed in the ADQ article used the same chassis, extra heavy.
POWER PLANT: This varied among electric plants (note: no gas burners), but it is noted that every luxury except one used the smallest, lightest plant for the weight: large with superconductors. This wonder of modern technology costs the same as a super yet weighs 200 pounds less. The sedans also used large plants, but in the case of the Nomad Special II it couldn't move (figure it to be a misprint!). The Brittany had a super power plant with platinum catalysts and superconductors and could accelerate by 10, which was a stroke of genius.
SUSPENSION: As with the chassis modifications, only one type was used: heavy. Does that tell you something?
TIRES: Every car except one used solids or better (steel-belted solids or plasticores). The one exception was the SB PR tires which has the same DP and weight and costs $200 less than a solid. EVERYONE used wheelguards with the second, third, seventh, eleventh, and both twelfth placed vehicles using 4 wheelguards. The duellists thought the handling penalty was worth it.
OCCUPANTS: Five of the ten vehicles had only a driver. This includes Montgomery's driver/passenger combo. The other five went for the driver/gunner relation. The first and second place vehicles had such a combination.
ARMOR: Can you say metal? Half of the competitors could, I guess, because they used composites. This bunch includes first, third, and fourth. Of the plastics, only two didn't have over 200 points, but that didn't help the Cornhusker (12th) because he rolled to his side. Only three vehicles used ram plates. Five had sloped armor. Most used regular armor. Also, let met add that the average weight of the sedans armor was OVER 2,000 lbs. with the luxuries averaged 2,100. These figures included any ram plate weight.
WEAPONS: There was much variation in this also. Three used lasers (not including IRTLs), two used BCs with extra magazines, and four used some type of mine droppers. Only three used rocket-type weapons. Two used ancient technology (oil guns, a personal favorite!). 70% of the duellists used extra magazines of some sort.
ACCESSORIES: Seven of the duellists used some type of SWC (SWC or HRSWC). Six used spoiler/airdam combinations while the others only had spoilers. Eight used HD shocks. Seven used dischargers. Four used turrets, and six used component armor (and each of those was the ten point type). Three had fire extinguishers, but none of those were improved.
GENERAL NOTES: Nine vehicles had an acceleration of 5. Six had HC 2, the rest 3. The average cost of the cars was $29,169.70.
Well, I guess that wraps it up. All the information presented here is as accurate as printed in ADQ 6-3. I did not use data from the cars whose specs were not listed. Yes, I do know that this wasn't a "duelling" event. But, most of the information found here can be used in any arena, Amarillo to NBDA. So... use this material for your next duel. See if it does help. It if doesn't, then your opponent probably read this article. Happy Duellin'!
The turn out for the second year in a row was low, so there was no preliminary round. The duellists went directly to the final round which was the Buffalo Memorial Arena. The vehicles were Division 25. The duellists were Don Jacques, Tim Jacques (defending regional champ), and Norman McMullen.
All three entered the arena at 30 mph. Tim went right and skimmed the wall while building up speed. Don went towards Norman at the other end of the arena. Both accelerated. Don went on the outside of a bunker to get behind Norman who was turning back towards Tim. Meanwhile Tim headed towards the center with Norman in his sights. Don fired, hitting Norman's rear. Norman placed some oil to deter pursuit. It didn't work. Tim let loose with a FCGS in front of Norman. Having no other choice he went in, setting his left armor on fire.
Tim moved in from behind and pounded Norman's rear armor with linked VMGs. Norman surrendered and left the field. Don and Tim traded shots with each other to no effect. They chased each other around with Don fouling Tim's visibility with paint and a surprise flame cloud. Then Don lost his right rear tire to Tim's guns. Tim chased him down the side of the arena and intercepted him coming around another bunker. Tim ran over some of Don's explosive spikes and set them off. Don ran into Tim's FCGS and caught fire on the bottom, left, and rear.
Tim shot out Don's left rear tire, but Tim ran into more spikes. They went off and he went into a spin. Both cars came to a stop. Don surrendered to Tim. However, due to an official oversight the event was not validated. To settle the matter Tim agreed to a handgun duel with Don and Norman.
Tim and Don faced off at 90 feet. When the flag was lowered both dropped prone and started shooting. Tim missed, but Don hit with his SMG and destroyed Tim's flak vest. In the resulting fight Don was rendered unconscious by Tim's heavy anti-vehicular rifle and Tim's armor was in shreds.
After donning new armor and reloading the HAVR Tim challenged Norman. Norman fired his machine pistol in the first second, destroying Tim's armor. Tim missed and went prone. Norman went prone and was hit, losing most of his armor. Them both hit each other, causing them to be hospitalized. Tim was declared the winner and took his awards in his hospital room.
The Vehicles:
Tim's Car -- Sedan, x-hvy. chassis, light suspension, large power plant w/PC, 4 solid tires, driver, 2 linked VMGs front w/explosive ammo, FCGS left and right, GS w/paint loads rear, 6 FoDs, 1 FcD, spoiler, airdam, HD brakes, 4 bumper triggers, HRSWC. Armor: F40, L35, R35, B30, T5, U6 with 2 5-point wheelguards back and 2 5-point wheelhubs front. Accel. 5, top speed 92.5, HC 1/2 @ 60+; 6,119 lbs., $22,868. Personal equipment included a HAVR and flak jacket.
Don's Car (Cannon Ranger variant) -- Luxury, x-hvy. chassis, hvy. suspension, large power plant w/SC, 4 SB PR tires, driver, BC front w/extra magazine loaded with HESH and magazine switch, PS rear, SD w/explosive ammo rear, FCE rear, blow-through concealment for SD and FCE, spoiler, airdam, FcD rear, SWC. Two links: PS-SD-FCE and BC to rear weapons. Two bumper triggers, HD brakes. Sloped armor: F74, L37, R37, B30, T10, U10 with 4 10-point wheelguards and 4 5-point wheelhubs, 10 points CA for driver. Accel. 5, top speed 90, HC 2/3 @ 60+; 6,600 lbs., $24,256. Personal equipment included body armor and a SMG.
Norman's Car (Blastfighter II J) -- Sedan w/CA frame, x-hvy. chassis, hvy. suspension, large power w/PC, 4 solid tires, driver, BC w/magazine front - all loads HESH, OJ rear, link, 2 bumper triggers, SWC. Sloped metal/plastic armor: F18/50, R0/50, L0/50, B05/50, T0/20, U0/20 with 4 10-point wheelguards. Accel. 5, top speed 92.5, HC 2; 6,120 lbs., $24,644. Personal equipment included body armor (the machine pistol was given by the arena officals for the handgun duel).
Sunday Driver: Any duellist that has a passenger or gunner.
Glitz: Any vehicle with laser-reflective armor.
Glitzmobile: Limos or any other luxury styled vehicle.
NOVA: Any vehicle which dies in a huge, fiery explosion. As in "he went nova". Alternatively, any vehicle killed by a member of N.O.V.A.
SuperNOVA: As above, but the vehicle involved is oversized.
Idiot-Proof: Any rule, rule supplement or design that Craig Sheeley can't screw up. Alternately, anything he doesn't want to fool around with. The above term is sometimes used to describe something that doesn't exist.
The following tunes are presented as a possible new feature for the Nightmessenger. This is music to duel by and have the name of the artist or group listed with the title.
"Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner.
"I Can't Get No Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones also redone by Devo.
"I Wanna Rock" by Twisted Sister.
"Wild Thing" by Sam Kinison.
"Gonna Raise Hell" by Sam Kinision.
In honor of our sixth anniversary this issue will present some official and unofficial vehicles. It doesn't matter whether they're on the ground or not.
The Meteor-A below uses our "In Thrust We Trust" article for it's jet engine, while the Hobgoblin uses Aeroduel rules and is an airship parasite fighter.
On the ground we have the Death Wagon, a perfectly legal and lethal design. It's followed by the Fire Drake which uses Matt Schuler's alternate acceleration method (which NOVA published in NM 3-3). AADA beware; this isn't your normal showroom.
Z-25A Meteor-A: Fighter microplane w/delta wings, retractable landing gear, 2 x-hvy turbofans w/variable nozzles & particle inlet filters, 2 75-gallon aircraft fuel tanks (1 in each wing), pilot, 2 VFRPs linked front each with an extra magazine and all rockets are AP. 2 4-space REWPs (2 under each wing), IR military targeting laser & LGL for all rockets), neurolink targeting system, autopilot w/2 software packages, computer gunner w/1 software package, computer navigator, military radio, military radar, radar detector linked to radar jammer, image enhancement, surge protector, safety/ejection seat, life- support system, engine link system, IFE, tinted windows, streamlining, stealthkote shield. FPRP armor: F75, L55, R55, B65, T50, U50. Acceleration: 25, top speed 1,152.5/1,730 w/afterburners, HC 3; fuel duration - 1/2 gallon/minute (gallon/24 seconds w/afterburners). 15,000 lbs., $780,750. Note: the cost and weight of this jet are figured using the standard weapon load, which is 4 Phoenix-9 air-to-air missiles.
Hobgoblin: Small Microplane, 2 space HP jet engine with 15 gallon duelling gas tank, pilot, swept wings, VMG front, 2 RGMs linked in wings front, tinted/no-paint windshield, radar, radar detector and jammer, maneuvering foils, hook, no landing gear, landing skid, improved tail assembly, hi-res computer. FPRP armor: F22, L22, R22, B22, T22, U22. Accel. 15, top speed 857.5, HC 4; 3,000 lbs., $122,933.
Variant A: replace VMG with afterburner. Armor now 27 in all locations. Top speed 1,090 mph. $169,313.
Variant B: replace RGMs with MGs. $117,933.
Variant C: as A but replace RGMs with MGs. $164,313.
Death Wagon: Station Wagon, x-hvy. chassis, hvy. suspension, large power plant w/PC & SC, 4 SB PR tires, driver, RR w/HEAT ammo front, MD rear, 10 points CA for driver. Metal/plastic armor: F9/10, L9/10, R9/10, B9/10, T4/10, U5/10. Accel. 5, top speed 92.5, HC 3; 6,590 lbs., $13,975.
Courier Variant: Add HESH RR magazine and magazine switch. Armor is now all plastic: F50, L40, R40, B40, T20, U20. Accel. 5, top speed 100/92.5 fully loaded, HC 3; 5,905 lbs., $15,550. Cargo Capacity: 9 spaces, 695 lbs.
Fire Drake: Mid-Size, x-hvy. chassis, hvy. suspension, medium power plant, 4 PRR tires, driver, RL w/incendiary ammo front, FT right, FT left, IFE, targeting computer. FP armor: F25, L23, R23, B24, T10, U10. Accel. 2.5, top speed 77.5, HC 3; 5,120 lbs., $13,500.
Callan McCallen was born on November 6, 2015. Her family, wheat farmers before the Blight, was among the poor of Pierre, South Dakota. Thanks to the state's sparse population and concentration of forces, most of the cities were well protected during the Food Riots. Unfortunately, during one battle Callan's father was killed by rioters. Afterwards her mother found work in the City Guard as a dispatcher. In 2030 the family moved to New Omaha to live with relatives. Callan graduated from high school in 2033 in the top 10% of her class.
Lacking money to attend college right away, Callan took a job at Jeffries Janitorial Service Company. It was here she learned combat maneuvering while going to clients in high-crime zones. The next year she was able to attend UNNO as a part-time student, working towards a degree in English. Fascinated with autoduelling, she joined the UNNO autoduelling team when it formed in 2035 and quickly became one of it's top members.
2036 was a very active year in New Omaha. With the ARFs, BLUDs, and other assorted crazies attacking the city Callan decided to join NOVA. In the battles that followed since Callan earned the nickname "Nike" after the Greek goddess of victory. In one battle she took out the enemy commander, leaving the rest to retreat in confusion. She is considered to be good-luck charm in whatever battle she's in, though his has not been told to her.
Callan has an approachable personality and is considerate of other people's feelings. She is, however, able to swear up a storm and can easily take care of herself. She likes VMGs and MGs and prefers to drive in mid-sizes and compacts. Her vehicle colors are blue with white trim. The NOVA symbol is displayed on the hood. Callan is a Driver +2, Gunner +2, Handgunner +1, and Running +1. Callan's advice to up-and-coming duellists is "if you can't run, then make the other guy run".
This issue features a hodge-podge of movies for your duelling pleasure.
Days of Thunder - or better yet Days of Black Flag. Most of the things that happened in this movie would be black flagged (disqualified or banned completely). The movie is great if you like Dueltrack in the Chassis and Crossbow era.
Some may call this movie a "Top Gun" on a racetrack, but that can be said of several Tom Cruise films. The movie is about Cole Tricle's (Cruise) rises and falls in stock car racing. He fights with other drivers on and off the track. For example, he wasted two rental cars on the way to a dinner and wrecks two cars in an after-race challenge. Crashes, bumping, grinding, and general mayhem rule the race track. Off the track there's general fun and games (Sometimes during the race: "What do you mean I can't come in now?".), and of course the love interest. **
The Rookie - Sport car lovers cringe at this movie. There's more sports cars destroyed in this movie than in any other. Pulovski (Client Eastwood) just lost his partner to car theft lord Strom, and he's out for revenge. Ackerman (Charlie Sheen) is the rookie joining Pulovski in the chase. There are several good quotes in this film: "engineered like no other car", "There must be a hundred good reasons why I shouldn't smoke/blow your brains out", and a few others. Strom, the villain, is vicious considering he destroys several sports cars in the first fifteen minutes. This is an action flick with Sheen's Ackerman playing a goody-two-shoes to Eastwood's psycho-cop. **
It Takes Two - This film revolves around a young groom getting his dream car: a Countach replica. The salesperson is someone to be seen. At times the movie is slow going, but near the end there's plenty of action. The dream sequences are strange and funny. If you like the Countach, you'll cringe and laugh at this film. **
Cartoons (magazine) - This is a magazine devoted to a demented views of car humor, especially hot rods. One section to watch out is Krass and Bernie (get it?). Hard copies are available every other month. ****
The Skyway Trilogy (book series) - Covered in three novels - Starrigger, Red Limit Freeway, and Paradox Alley by John DeChancie. They cover the saga of Jake McGraw and friends he picks up along the way on the Skyway. The Skyway is a hyperspace road between the planets across the universe, built by the mysterious Roadbuilders and controlling the traffic in their roadbugs.
Jake and company have villains galore such as the Colonial Assembly, the Reticulans, and Starriggers Guild TATOO chasing for the legendary Roadmap. To leave them behind Jake shoots potluck portals and several planets in a few breaths. A mysterious '57 Chevy makes an appearance, complete with vicious armament far better than what is found in Car Wars. Don't worry, Jake's rig is armed too.
The sage has strange worlds and aliens while covering spacefairing ground vehicles. It's a mix of paradoxes, strangeness and familiarities. Yes, you can even meet yourself. ****
Well, that raps up another Nightmessenger. I hope you enjoyed it. Some things to look forward to in the next issue is No Gun's war with Ninja Master as well as a review on Car Warriors, a Car Wars comic released by Epic Comics.
If any of you have cable TV you might want to check out Turner Network Television to watch Ironclads. It's about the historical engagement between the Merrimac and the Monitor, the world's first steam-powered iron warships. It's pretty good.
Until next time drive offensively!
Norman McMullen, President
Don Jacques, Secretary
Re-editing of Nightmessenger Vol 5, No 1 completed on 06/21/97 by Donald Jacques.
Editors: Norman McMullen, Don Jacques, and Tim Jacques.
NOVA Works: Turbofans by Norman McMullen, Wheeled Mines by Stephen Galley, Recoilless Rabbit by Chris Horn, and Microfusion Power Plant and Super-Heavy Transport Aircraft by Michael Garrity.
The Winning Formula: TJ Gates.
In The Arena: Norman McMullen.
Local Hero: Don Jacques.
The Showroom: Hobgoblin by Norman McMullen, Meteor A by Michael Garrity, Fire Drake by Matt Schuler, and Death Wagon by TJ Gates.
Combat Rock: Michael Garrity.
Duel Slang: Norman McMullen, Michael Garrity, and Shea Montgomery.
All other sections done by Norman McMullen and Tim Jacques.
Typesetting: Don Jacques
Originally printed as a SpeedScript 3.2 document on a Commodore 64 with an Epyx extender cartridge. The issue was reentered as a WordPerfect 6.1 document, turned into a HTML document by KEYview 5.1, and edited again in Netscape Navigator Gold 3.0.