May 23rd 2002, another day that will live in infamy. Paragon City was not the only place on Earth to see the appearance of mysterious glowing red discs in the skies above. Discs whose mere touch annihilated everything they came into contact with. Several other cities around the world were also affected. This is the starting point of how the heroes of Texas were brought together to help end the onslaught of the Rikti invasion. This is the story of LONE S.T.A.R.
The 23rd of May started off as any other normal summer day. People were going about their normal business oblivious to the fact that mid day would change everything in their lives. At approximately 3:30 PM central time thousands of discs appeared over several cities in Texas and elsewhere around the world. The lights took the form of perfectly flat circles, ranging in diameter from 9 feet to 100 yards. Many heroes, scientists and government agencies around the world investigated these strange objects but none were able to determine the purpose or origin of these strange objects. At approximately 6:30 PM the purpose became crystal clear. Simultaneously across the globe alien invaders began pouring out of the portals, thousands upon thousands of them. Taking the entire world by surprise, they caused mass hysteria and havoc. Everywhere, heroes, military and law enforcement were on their heels and fighting for their lives within a matter of minutes. Texas cities as in many major cities in the world were in ruins within only a matter of hours.
The Governor of Texas called an emergency meeting when the hostilities had calmed down for a time. With the help of his aides and other experts he was able to gather, a plan was put into action. Most, if not all of the super powered heroes in Texas were well known but they were scattered throughout the state. There had never been a combined force of them banded together. As far as anyone knew, there had never been a plan to call the heroes into action as a cohesive force. They all had their stomping grounds they patrolled on a regular basis fighting normal crime and the occasional super powered villain. It was in very rare circumstances that more than two were ever seen together. The Governor had runners, phones, radio transmissions; anything and everything to contact as many heroes as possible and have them meet with him in a hidden and so far safe location. Within 24 hours as many as 80 heroes had arrived to hear what the Governor had to say. The varied difference in these heroes was awe inspiring to the Governor. He had seen reports of many of them come across his desk from time to time. Even more he had seen on T.V. risking their very lives for people they didn’t even know. But so many gathered in one place and the feeling of raw power in the air was almost unbearable to him. They were gods among men, or so he had though until today. More still were out defending their own homes and were unable to answer the call and a countless number had already fallen in the opening attack.
The Governor, with the aid of several heroes, laid out a plan of attack. They would focus on defeating the aliens as a super powered attack force from many angles. It was readily apparent that taking the aliens on one hero at a time was a futile attempt for all but the most powerful among them. The plan called for several groups to hit the main concentration of alien forces in a timed attack. The heroes were allowed access to all the supplies and devices that the Governor had access to get them. Groups were formed and basic strategy was laid out. More heroes were arriving from across the state and were being placed where it was believed their. Powers would benefit the most. With a total numbering nearly 150 the heroes were sent into action.
Austin was chosen as the first offensive as it was the nearest and most accessible to the heroes to quickly start a counter offensive from their base of operations. The battle took many hours and several lives were lost. In the end it was determination and hard work that paid off. The Rikti were in full retreat from the streets of Austin and their base was overrun. Sporadically during the next few days outbreaks were quelled by the heroes as the Rikti tried to regain a foothold. The damage done over those few days was immense. With the opening Rikti attack and the resistance taking back the city, tens of millions of dollars in damage were done. The city of Austin was in ruin. The total number of heroes lost in the first attempt was larger than anyone had been expecting due in large part to the lack of teamwork and a well defined leader. Most of the heroes were used to operating alone and keeping with that frame of mind in the battle were killed without adequate backup. One group of heroes did stand out from the rest and did not suffer a single casualty. They had fought under the leadership of Texas Titan. A hero based in Austin who had an intimate knowledge of the layout. That knowledge helped tremendously in the battle allowing for his teams good fortune. A natural leader, in many respects, he was able to direct the group like a precision instrument and they tore through the Rikti rank and file. They were able to forge a beach head for the remaining heroes to pour through and rout the Rikti.
Several days later, after the mostly successful battle, several heroes including Texas Titan met with the Governor. The majority of the rest were patrolling Austin and helping local law enforcement, fire teams and emergency crews. The assembled heroes and the Governor decided more training was needed before the team was sent into action again. The casualties suffered were too high to just throw them into battle again without proper teamwork skills and more training. A clear leader was also needed. A structure of lieutenants and sub teams were formed. A vote was called for a leader. With the exception of a few votes Texas Titan was elected leader. His command decisions in the Austin offensive made a clear indication he was the correct choice to lead them. After several more weeks of training the team was ready to embark on freeing the rest of the state from the vile Rikti menace. As the time past more and more heroes came to join them and were sent into training. 5 separate teams were created, one for each major city that had been attacked. Austin had been cleared with the exception of a new Rikti uprising here and there. San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Ft. Worth were still being overrun. A team familiar with Austin went on patrol in shifts. The other 4 teams were set up to include heroes familiar with the other 4 cities. Each Captain would take command when the campaign to free their respective city was launched as their familiarity would prove invaluable.
Uniting under the name LONE S.T.A.R. (Super-powered Texas Alien Resistance) the team in due time became a well oiled machine. In the following months they were able to liberate San Antonio and Houston in turn. Many standouts were brought to the forefront and a good amount of heroes were also lost. Local heroes like The Alamo Knight, Texas Heat and Fiero Fuego fought in the San Antonio campaign with the determination of an entire army. Their intimate knowledge of the city and tremendous determination to get the Rikti out of their home city made them a force to be feared by the enemy. Houston was nest to be liberated, the team then turned focus on to their biggest problem. Dallas/Ft. Worth had been the main attack site of the Rikti in Texas. The fortifications there were deeply trenched after several months. Only one hero sent as reconnaissance there had ever returned. The battle for those cities would be hard fought and would take every hero available to accomplish the liberation of the two.
As winter approached an all out offensive was planned to finally liberate Dallas/Ft.Worth. After several days and many losses the heroes were gaining the upper hand. The Rikti were being driven back just as the heroes of Paragon City were making their desperate effort to liberate Paragon City. With the success of the campaign in Paragon City the war was finally at an end….for how long was unknown. With the portals closing everywhere that had been open for so many months and the Rikti having no supplies or reinforcements the war had been won. LONE S.T.A.R. was able to finally defeat the Rikti and liberate the last stronghold of the aliens in Texas.
Returning back to their base after the battle the team was informed of the heavy price that had been paid for the victory. Hundreds of heroes in Paragon City had perished to halt the invasion. Paragon City had always been the main battle front for the invasion and was hit hardest of all.
After some much needed rest the heroes returned to their respective homes to mourn for family and friends that had been killed in the war. The heroes that had fallen in defense of Texas were given honorable burial. All the heroes gathered in Austin a week later. A parade was held for the heroes by the Governor and the citizens. The Governor awarded all the surviving members with the peace keeping position of Texas Ranger. The Governor then asked Texas Titan to speak before the gathered crowd. He spoke of how proud LONE S.T.A.R. was to have been given the honor and accolades but more work needed to be done. Paragon City was still in peril and heroes were very scarce there. He planned to got there and fight on. All but a few of the gathered heroes elected to go with him.
Changing the meaning of their name to LONE Specialized Tactical Alien Response they left their homes to help eradicate the evil and injustice in Paragon City |
