Oh, the weather outside is frightful, the fire is so delightful, if the tanker truck overturns, let it burn, let it burn, let it burn... That's how the Christmas tree became the yule log. I shouldn't have let Psycho light the tree; he used a flamethrower loaded with high-temperature fuel, of course!
We are still rebuilding NOVA headquarters.
Due to a security breach all systems are being changed, along with all
defensive routines. It's a mess. The ASP war is going quite nicely. From
what I hear, the Mongoose is shelling out money to AADA chapter left and
right. This is partially in thanks to No Gun's recent vacation.
The Black ASP is still at large. Maybe
we could capture and use him as a Christmas ornament. Psycho likes the
idea. He really wants to light up another one - a tree; get your mind out
of the shell casing for thinking of anything else! Well, on to other business.
Mono-Filament Grenade: $1,000, 1 G.E. (1 lb), 3D6 damage to all peds, cyclists, and tires in a 2” radius. 2D6 damage to all vehicular components in a 1” radius. To-hit 9.
Trans-Sonic Propeller: 5x normal propeller cost, normal space and weight. This propeller is specially designed to withstand the stresses of breaking and going above the sound barrier. The propeller adds 10% to the power factors of the power plant used and -1D hazard from the sound barrier effects.
Thermonuclear Weapons: 4x warhead cost, 3x warhead
weight, 3x warhead spaces. This modification upgrades a tac-nuke to thermonuclear
status. Basically it involves putting a tac-nuke in a larger casing and
using it to ignite thermonuclear fuel.
This conversion multiplies the UT
yield of any tac-nuke by 10%. thus a 0.1 UT tac-nuke upgraded to 4-bomb
status would have a yield of 1.0 UT. This boosted power of such a bomb
doubles crater size (from 10” to 20”, etc..) and triples the primary, secondary,
and tertiary burst radius. In addition, the damage done within each of
the radius is doubled.
The only accessories available for
thermos are laser-guidance, proximity fuses and saddles (Ha Ha!). A saddle
for a h-bomb costs $500 and will let one person ride it down to impact.
Baby, it's cold outside. It's especially cold these days for ASP. You don't want to be in ASP now because they're being hunted by everybody. Even rival terrorists have joined into the hunt. The Black Asp is hiding under a rock nowadays, with a bazooka by his side. I swear, he's so paranoid. I bet he regrets he ever declared war on NOVA.
No Gun has gone on an extended vacation. Frankly I'm concerned because he left with a smile. God help whoever ticked him off this time. I've heard rumors of whole armies suddenly coming up dead at his feet.
Tim Jacques got won his third consecutive club championship in November. NOVA has named him our Grand Champion - he deserves it! Tim has announced that he's retiring from club championships, but not the regionals (yet).
We recently got a letter from GHOST saying that they are finishing up their own arena book. It will be available in January for three dollars a copy.
NOVA completed an arena book on the
Flashfire Circuit last year. We have yet to decide on a price for
it. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy please contact NOVA.
October 7, 2041: Man Machine Interfaces,
Inc., opens its doors at the former ruins of the FAN Terrorists HQ. The
GAN Terrorists HQ was destroyed a few years back by Varean Investigations.
MMI builds cybernetic interface systems, including uplink devices, cybernetic
hardware, and cyber upgrades.
October 10, 2041: New Omaha's City
Hall and Police HQ were targets of an attempted terrorist attack by members
of GNATS (Greater North American Terrorist Society). Two suspects were
subdued in the Police HQ - one a rookie cop and the other a records clerk.
Three additional terrorists were killed by City Hall security.
October 11, 2041: The Grim Reaper
of Lincoln, Nebraska, officially joins NOVA in a special nighttime ceremony.
He is mainly known as the newest crimefighter in Lincoln. All of his criminals
targets are found dead or never found again. So don't tick him off!
October 13, 2041: Sam Zen won the
first race in the GeoMetrix Off-Road Series. He set a new track top speed
record of 120 mph.
October 19, 2041: The Police have received
many reports of shaking houses and exploding windows. NOVA reports contact
with a high-speed, low-flying stealth fighter that flew over NOVA HQ and
a NOVA air patrol.
October 20, 2041: 103 National Guardsmen
died in a natural gas explosion in downtown New Omaha. Three tanks and
eight APCs were also destroyed. GNATS claimed responsibility for the act.
Later, a tape was received at a local radio station, saying “Yo! Take
it from GNATS, ASP: We'll be slammin' you soon enough!”.
Later that night an ASP convoy on
I-80 was destroyed by NOVA. The Black Asp was not with the convoy or had
escaped.
October 21, 2041: NOVA reported that
the high-speed stealth fighter crashed a few blocks away from it's HQ while
attempting to perform aerial acrobatics. It destroyed that block and shattered
windows in a one-mile radius.
October 26, 2041: Sam Zen wins a Division
20 duel at the World of Duelling Arena in KC-1. This makes his second win
in a month's time.
On this night a stealth aircraft was
intercepted by NOVA and chased to high altitude. It later landed on I-80
and was surrounded by the National Guard. The plane later exploded, taking
out over a mile of interstate with it.
November 3, 2041: GNATS destroyed
the Lincoln State Pen during a prison breakout. Later on its found out
that one escaped prisoner is the only surviving pilot of the failed ASP
attack on Nebraska a few months ago.
November 6, 2041: The combined forces
of GEARS, GONADS, ILL and STOMP destroyed ASP World Headquarters in the
Quad Cities. They thanked NOVA for passing on the information. This was
a major blow to ASP.
November 7, 2041: TRAACS destroyed
an ASP strike force during a blizzard near Denver, Colorado. They then
proceed to destroy ASP's Colorado base. ILL destroyed
the ASP Illinois base in the Sears Tower in Chicago.
November 8, 2041: The Road Kill Cafe
destroys the Kansas ASP base.
November 9, 2041: GHOST destroyed
the ASP base in Connecticut. GNATS took out an ASP base in South Dakota.
November 10, 2041: GODS wiped out the
ASP outpost in Florida with information passed on by NOVA.
November 11, 2041: DGAG Ltd opens
its doors in New Omaha. Its president, Hans Verstad, vowed to help supply
NOVA with updated equipment, including vehicles and weapons. NOVA accepts
the supplies happily.
Veteran's Day is celebrated. Driving
Tigers/Road Wolves destroy ASP's New York base.
November 12, 2041: BLAAST took out
an ASP base in Austin, Texas and goes on the hunt for some more.
November 13, 2041: POW cremates an
ASP outpost in the Fort Worth, Texas area.
November 14, 2041: CHAOS does a number
on a California ASP base.
November 15, 2041: SCCAR, with NOVA-supplied
information, destroys another ASP base in California.
November 16, 2041: STOMP destroys
an ASP training base in Illinois.
November 17, 2041: WASTED, living
up to its name, wasted an ASP base in Maryland.
November 18, 2041: SEARCH and Destroy
successful found and blasted an ASP facility in New Jersey. No survivors
have been found so far.
November 19, 2041: SPADE dug up and
destroyed an ASP base in San Diego. A city official commented, “It looked
as if an earthquake had hit”.
December 7, 2041: At midnight the
Rulo GNATS Naval Command Center's harbor was destroyed by an unknown air
armada. All reports of the following air battle is sketchy, as is the identity
of the attackers. The State Patrol and National Guard had no comment on
the situation.
December 8, 2041: The Nebraska National
Guard believes it was ASP that attacked the GNATS Rulo installation yesterday,
according to the press release. The State Patrol reported similar findings.
It looks as if the terrorist war continue.
December 13, 2041: About fifty miles
south of New Omaha on Highway 75 the Imagination Arena appeared. It was
formally called the Magistar Arena until it mysteriously disappeared a
few years ago. The owner, Gadget, now know as Hardware, has also reappeared.
His business, Guns and Gadgets, and a small city called Toy Town also materialized
around the arena.
December 21, 2041: The Imagination
Arena hosted its first event, inviting NOVA to participate in a Division
20 snow duel. The attending NOVA duellists promptly started taking out
the pace cars and buildings instead of each other. Could it be the holiday
madness has struck?
January: Freejack.
April: The Lawnmower Man
Spring: Robocop 3.
June: Batman Returns or Batman 2 (whatever you wish to call it).
Summer: Universal Soldier and The Endangered (?).
Guess what? He snuck in again,
even after all I did to keep him out. Besides all the typos, the major
goofs were in NOVA Works.
The License Plate Turner didn't mention
how many plates it could handle. It can hold up to three different plates.
The Force Pike didn't say how far
it throws a jolt of electricity. It can shoot one up to 15 feet (1”) away.
A misprint in Combat Rock in NM5-2.
It's “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns and Roses. The only song I've ever
like of theirs (mainly because of the Dirty Harry film Dead Pool).
In NM5-3 jet interceptors: The Intimidator
should have listed a small cycle power plant as a secondary power source.
All the weight and space are otherwise correct.
Cookie Monster: A duellist who loves tire shots.
Micronuke: A 1,000 pound cluster bomb, which is capable of destroying everything on a Car Wars map sheet. We know this from personal experience.
Twister: When you have two or more players moving their counters from opposite sides of the table.
Diana quickly made a no-fire agreement with Tim. Tim zipped into the north tunnel but Diana tagged him with her laser and broke the agreement. Tim fired into Diana's left side, killing the driver and obtaining the first kill of the battle. Jay turned toward the chokepoint with Chris and Shea following. Chris fired his BC and hit Norman's rear.
Chris fired again and heavily damaged Norman's back armor. Norman surprised everyone in his high-speed u-turn. Meanwhile Jay passed Chris in the chokepoint to get Norman. Shea turned to get out of Norman's way. Tim and Don mixed it up in the north tunnel; filling it with laser light, rockets, blast cannon shells, flame clouds and spikes. Tim and Don did only moderate damage to each other after all this violence.
Jay surprised Norman by T-boning him into debris. Don and Tim exited opposite ends of the north tunnel. Chris and Don traded some rounds. Jay turned to get Tim, but lost control and rolled into the wall. Tim managed to hit Jay's weakened front armor and killed the driver. Score two for Tim. Shea chased after Chris in the west half of the arena.
Don and Tim battled again with Don
losing. With Tim having three kills Chris and Shea agreed that Tim won.
They then agreed to battled it out for second place. In the ensuing action
Shea removed all the armor on Chris's left side. Chris surrendered to Shea,
taking fourth place.
Final Points:
1st: Tim Jacques with three kills, +15 points.
2nd: Shea Montgomery with one kill, +5 points.
3rd: Jay Chladek with one kill and killed, +2 points.
4th: Chris French, surrendered, -4 points.
5th: Tied with Don Jacques and Diana, both dead, -5 points each.
7th: Norman McMullen, dead and spectacular death, -7 points.
Tim: Standard Thumper with a SWC from Compendium, Second
Edition.
Shea's Death's Dark Shadow II: Camper, x-hvy. chassis,
hvy. suspension, super power plant, six solid tires, driver, 4 RLs linked
to TL front, LGL for rockets, 5 laser reactive webs, HD shocks, ABS, fire
extinguisher. Armor: F45 (ram), L30, R30, B30, T10, U16. Accel. 5, top
speed 90, HC 2; 7.799 lbs., $38,555.
Jay's Rampage II: Luxury, x-hvy. chassis, hvy. suspension,
400 cid gas engine w/turbocharger and tubular headers, 25 gallon racing
gas tank, four solid tires, driver, RL w/fireball load front linked to
TL, LGLs for rockets, SD w/explosive loads rear, roll cage, HRSWC, spoiler,
airdam, 2 bumper triggers, heavy duty brakes, ABS, no-paint windshield.
Metal/FP plastic armor: F11/8 (ramplate), L0/28, R0/28, B0/25, T0/25, U0/25.
Acceleration 15/20, top speed 135, MPG 15, HC 3/4 @ 60+; 6,100 lbs., $39,960.
Before we get on to the hit parade, a little history. Combat Rock was originally seen in the now disbanded Flaming Lakers newsletter a few years back. I thought it was nice, b ut just a fad. Soon to be gone from the scene. Then last year one of our members sent me a list of Combat Rock, and was published a few issues back. From there others put in their own two cents for our pages. It still goes on today.
Years ago our newsletter was barely four to six pages long, with only a few sections. Today we have several sections that switch out with each other depending on the issue.
On to the music.
ZZ Top - “Gimme All Your Lovin'”, “Dirty Dog”, “Thug”, “Concrete and Steel”, “Give It Up”, “Burger Man” and “Double Deck”.
Supertramp - “Cannonball” and “Goodbye Stranger”.
ELO - “Don't Bring Me Down”.
Pseudo Echo - “Living In A Dream”, “Listening”, “Destination Unknown”, “Funkytown”, and “A Beat For You”.
Billy Joel - “I Go To Extremes”, and “We Didn't Start The Fire”.
Bruce Hornsby & The Range - “The Wild Frontier”.
Level 42 - “Heaven In My Hands”.
Go West - “We Close Our Eyes”, and “SOS”.
Oingo Boingo - “When The Lights Go Out”, “Glory Be”, “Run Away”, “Only Makes Me Laugh”, and “Just Another Day”.
Genesis - “Invisible Touch”, “Land Of Confusion”, and “Just A Job To Do”.
Mike & The Mechanics - “All I Need Is A Miracle”,
“Take The Reins”, and “A Call To Arms”.
All the above Combat Rock was chosen
by Chris French. Hopefully the separations of various songs and artists
make them easier to read.
Classic Combat Rock:
Golden Earring - “Radar Love”
Bruce Springsteen - “Born To Run”
In digging through our garages we came
across another Grand Slam design, the number three. Of course it's just
as dangerous at the previous models. To round it out we have a vehicle
from the UK and a local hovercraft. Talk about coming from all over.
Grand Slam III: Van, x-hvy chassis, hvy.
suspension. large power plant w/PC & SC, 2 PR tires, 4 HD tires, driver,
10 HRs front, turreted LL, LGLs for all rockets, HDFOJ rear. Sloped plastic
armor: F35, L25, R25, B25, T22, U10. Accel. 5, top speed 90, HC 2. 7,188
lbs., $23,716.
Grand Slam 3.5: Van w/CA frame, x-hvy.
chassis, hvy. suspension, sport power plant w/PC & SC, 6 SBPR radial
tires, driver, gunner, 3 space universal turret w/super rockets, MTL in
turret, 2 3-space and 1 2-space rocket magazines loaded with 8 HEAT super
rockets, LGL for all rockets, HRSWC (gunner-MTL), infrared, heavy-duty
brakes, ABS, HD shocks, overdrive, two safety/ejection seats, tinted/no-paint
windows. FP armor: F25, L25, R25, B25, T14, U10. Accel. 10/5 w/overdrive,
top speed 117.5/137.5 w/overdrive, HC 3; 7,196 lbs., $296,990.
Loud As A Whisper: Small Hovercraft, 150
cid gas engine w/5 gallon duelling gas tank, 4 hvy skirts, pilot, x-ray
laser front, stealth, infrared, radar, radar detector and jammer, turbofans,
vertical stabilizer, HRSWC, FOJ rear, no-paint/tinted windows, LDR, laser
battery. RP armor: F35, L28, R28, B28, T18, U18, 4 10-point RP heavy skirts
guards, 8 points RP fan armor. Accel. 10, top speed 115, MPG 45, HC 3;
5,214 lbs., $64,656.
Bandicoot: Sedan, x-hvy. chassis, OR suspension, 350 cid gas engine, turbocharger, 15 gallon racing gas tank, 4 solid radial tires, driver, passenger, universally turreted RR w/HEAT ammo, RR magazine w/HESH ammo, magazine switch, active suspension, HD shocks, LDR, brushcutter, spoiler. Armor: F30, L30, R30, B30, T30, U20, 4 5-point wheelhubs. Accel. 15/20, top speed 120, MPG 18, HC 3/4 @ 60+ for both on and off road; 5,870 lbs., $35,685. Cargo capacity: 2 spaces, 250 lbs.
Bandicoot 140 - add overdrive, heavy-duty brakes, ABS, SWC. $37,985. Top speed 120/140 w/overdrive.
140+ - add tinted/no-paint windows, radar, computer navigator, computer to HRSWC. $44,485.
FP option - fireproof armor, wheelhubs, spoiler, and tires. +$8,710.
T - replace brushcutter with standard hitch, add blueprinting and tubular headers to engine. +$6,900.
E - replace turbocharger w/BP and TH. Top speed now 115, MPG 11. +$4,400.
Perhaps we can convince Tim and Mike Montgomery to duel it out for the best of the best. Come to think of it, that wouldn't be fair to Mr. Montgomery.
Reaching New Omaha, Brant Jess was accepted into the NOPD and began his training as an officer of the law. For five years he worked diligently protecting the citizens from criminal activity and earned eight awards for meritorious conduct. Still, he was largely unknown until two years ago when he foiled a robbery of a Jameson, Inc. jewelry store, ending a long series of hold-ups that left seven injured and two dead. The spectacular duel with the getaway car was captured on video and replayed on every news program in town. Officer Jess' popularity blossomed. The award ceremony was covered by local news, and Jess became an instant hero - a protector of the people.
Midwest Defense offered to sponsor Jess as a duellist, but the officer turned their offer down. It was not until Sean O'Neil personally visited the young hero and explained the community benefit of such exposure that Jess relinquished his position (and a promising career as a detective) and took up the mantle of autoduellist. As a public figure and popular hero he knew that he could reach those who might be on the verge of criminality and steer them back to a respect for their fellow citizens.
Since then he has enjoyed a career as Midwest Defense's Arena Duellist and a public speaker. He is still known as “Officer” Jess. Sean O'Neil has become something of a father figure to him, and the two often work together for the benefit of the community.
Brant Jess is a clean cut and good looking, the type one might expect to be somewhat naive. Still, he knows the criminal element and plays tough-but-fair in the arena. He has been known to “rescue” other opposing duellists on occasion if he feels their attacker is being unfair. His vehicle varies according to the production of Midwest Defense, but always bears the dark and light blue stripes of the NOPD with the blue and white shield of Midwest Defense. “Officer” Jess is a Driver +2, Gunner +3, Security +2, Handgunner, Communications, Paramedic, Mechanic, and Running.
When asked to comment on his hero status for this piece, he replied, “I only hope that I can be a good example and serve the community that put me where I am today”.
Hopefully we will be back on
schedule for the spring issue. It will finally cover the ASP War, even
if I have to kill someone to get the articles in. The Mongoose has said
he will have a new operation afoot by then, so it's going to get interesting
rather quickly.
We will, of course, keep you posted
with the grudge match and challenges. Even if you don't get the ADQ you'll
know what's happening. How the Black ASP heard about the Ogre Mk III and
the grudge match I'll never know. Oh, well. Either the AADA or NOVA has
a leak. I hope it isn't us, because someone will pay for it.
Anyone who has questions or comments
on the Nightmessenger can send to NOVA.
Drive offensively!
Norman McMullen, President of NOVA
Tim Jacques, Vice-President
Re-editing of Nightmessenger Vol 5, No 4 completed on
07/17/97 by Donald Jacques.
NOVA Works: Mono-Filament Grenade by Shea Montgomery,
Thermonuclear Weapons by Michael Garrity, and Trans- Sonic Propellor by
Norman McMullen
In The Arena: Norman McMullen.
Combat Rock: Chris French.
Duel Slang: Chris French, Tim Jacques, and Norman McMullen.
Local Hero: Cheryl Stevens.
The Showroom: Grandslam III by TJ Gates, Grandslam 3.5
by Michael Garrity, Bandicoot by Ian Knights, and Loud-As-A- Whisper by
Don Jacques.
All other sections done by Norman McMullen.
Editors: Don Viner and Norman McMullen.
Typesetting: Robbi Lynn Allen.
Nightmessenger is published quarterly by the New
Omaha Vehicular Association, 701 S. 22 Street #73, Omaha, NE 68102. All
material is copyright January 1992 by Nightmessenger. All rights
reserved.
Car Wars, Dueltrack, Boat Wars, Car Warriors, Crash City, Truck Stop, Convoy, Uncle Albert's, Autoduel and AADA are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, or are used under license. The above trademarks, and the characters and situations of the Car Wars background are the exclusive property of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, and are used by Nightmessenger under permission.
Reproduction of any material published in the Nightmessenger without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Any reproduction of Car Wars stories published in the Nightmessenger, or any other unauthorized publication of fiction using the Car Wars background, without the express written permission of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated is strictly prohibited.
Annual subscription is four issues at $4, or $1 an issue.
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