Scott Ruggels

Aaron was a prolific creator.

Golden Age of Champions stuff In July of 1939, U-177 cruised very slowly into the Chesapeake, and made a broad turn to starboard, eventually ending up moored in Washington D.C.. This was said to update the Code machines at the German Embassy. It was also to map the Chesapeake using a sound based Echo locator, to produce unusually accurate underwater maps, and deliver several spies into the U.S. The Submarine resupplied with food, water and fuel, and left two weeks later, taking it's sweet time, almost like a tourist observing the Chesapeake. It paused to take notice of the star forts around Coastal City, but soon left, returning to Germany. September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and the war began. The United States maintained an outward show of neutrality, allowing ships of all nations to pass, and dock, but after the sinking of the U.S.S. Reuben James (DD 245) Access to U.S. ports began to be tightened up. Still the occasional German ship and even a couple more submarines were spotted in the Chesapeake. The U-172 was attacked by a group of costumed Mystery Men operating from a fast boat, near the Stellar Club on the evening of November 8th, 1939, to minimal effect on either side, though the Submarine's deck gun fired a total of four rounds, before the Sub dove, and vanished into the murk. Even with the shallowness of the Chesapeake, the advanced charts allowed the submarines to often slip away from their pursuers, until the declaration of war on December 8th, 1941, then the Submarine Activity moved out into the greater Atlantic, and the Submarines preyed upon the shipping along the Atlantic coast. In 1943, there was a fire caused by a dropped cigarette, at the Stellar Club. THe fire did not do a lot o damage that caused a panic that left 6 people trampled to death in the panic to leave, foreshadowing the Coconut Grove Fire in New Jersey a few months later. The subsequent investigation forced Ty Jackson to sell the club, but with out his golden touch, the club closed in 1946. and remained out of the public consciousness, until it was exposed at a Viper Nest in the mid 1970s. Also by 1943, radar and aviation technology became advanced enough to turn the tide of the submarine warfare to the allies favor, and sinkings along the coast diminished to only those caused by bad weather or operator error. In 1945, the Coast guard station got its first Helicopter, a Sikorsky HNS-1 Horsefly. This was supplemented by an HOS1 the following year, and the Helicopters became active in Search and Rescue through most of the central Chesapeake.

You possibly still can, as I dont thik Steve has finshed it. THe wy he talked about it, his system could also be an overlay for other game systems.

What he told me, is that he ws working on a system that shared some procedures with Hero, but itself was not Hero. Them die rolls were different, but I didn't remember the specifics. He was talking about it with Myself, Bryce Nakagawa, and Steve Perrin (right before he died, which ws a surprise to all of us.) I am not hat much of a mechanics guy, until I am playing the game. It sounded interesting, though.

Justice Incorporated material. the 316th Coastal Artillery Battalion was raised in 1910, and they acquired the island Star forts over the next few years. By 1924, the forts were cleaned up, and the centers were paved to accept platforms for the 13 in. Disappearing guns. These would later be replaced with 16in. Battleship gins in 1939. The overlapping field of fire from the Star forts made the approach to the quays formidable. With the war on Europe launching the following August, two more Units were raised, a battalion of Black Soldiers for working the docks, The 117th Logistics, and later a white artillery unit, The 32nd Field Artillery that trained with the 316th. In 1916 shipped out to France. The 32nd Field Artillery and started training on The French 75. The 116th settled into the Ports and would take shipments off the freighters, and reconfigured for the French railroads, so goods could me shipped to The front. Having access to the arteries of war production mean t that scroungers get first pick and a certain sergeant, Tiberius "Ty" Jackson, became the individual that officers, and aides de Camp would approach to acquire specialized uniform items, furniture, and Whiskey from the U.S. Sergeant Jackson also got into trading with the British, and French Colonial troops. Soon he built a small trading empire. This experience would hold the Sergeant in good stead, for when he returned to the United States, just as The Volstead Act would become Law on January First, 1920. So while the116th was supplying Each 12,000 man division with 1000 tons of supplies a day, (An equivalent of a 50 car train) The good sergeant's skim, allowed him to build up quite a list of contacts, and favors from U.S. Division leadership all over the front. Sgt. Jackson was quite careful to not touch anything involving cash or soldiers pay, and the books were spotless. He would sit in his Calais Hotel room dispensing his favors and wisdom to his customers, and ordering his staff to investigate the shipping manifests of the freighters coming from al over the free world. The 36th was not as fortunate. After training, the unit was deployed, and soon fell victim to German counterbattery fire. Experience gained from the beating prevented the unit from being disbanded and the men distributed into other Field Artillery, but their return to the U.S> was a bit of a somber affair. A reserve Artillery Unit from Kansas figured out how to avoid getting pasted by the counterbattery fire, and that knowledge spread through the artillery professional bulletins. The Armistice was a compete surprise, and the massive Allied offensive in the spring of 1919 never happened. The 36th was quickly rotated home, with their guns. The 116th stayed until late 1919, before being sent home. Sergeant Jackson attempted to re-enlist, but the dramatic shrinkage of the U.S. Army aside from the Siberian Expedition. it look like the Sergeant would be back in Civy Street by the beginning of 1920. However, he was still a customer oriented entity, and requests for now hard to obtain tipple began to be something Ty Jackson was able to apply his well honed talents to. At first, Ty paid Fishermen to meet with freighters sailing between Canada and the Caribbean. This resulted in the coastguard emplacing a station on the waterfront, which it's headquarters building is still there to this day. TY then changed his tactics. where boats would go out at night and stash liquor bottles in crab pots, and the next morning another ship recovers it fro specially marked crab pots. With the changes in tactics and the expansion of his illicit business, Ty made enough to purchase one of the star forts. Once purchased the gun pit was roofed over in concrete, and there was a short observation tower added. The fort was converted into a speakeasy, but now possessed the largest dance floor on the east coast, dough of Manhattan. The New Stellar Club was a success, with the All Stars Orchestra providing music, and it's Isolation made it nearly raid proof,. there being only two successful raids, one of which being conducted by a "Man of Mystery". Generally, though, at the sound of a certain whistle, the band would start playing the William Tell Overture, and the patrons would run for their boats, and scatter all over the Chesapeake. Success bred jealousy, and other opportunists tried to move in on Ty's successful business. After an attempt on his life, that resulted in he death of his clerk typist, he hired Black combat veterans, also acquiring a larger armory, and acquiring a circus strong man known as Bobo. Not nearly as volatile as New York and Chicago, it saved TY from the attention of the F.B.I. until in the very late 1920s, but by then the well Dressed Ty, and his immense bodyguard Bobo, were untouchable, and he had moved most of his funds into legitimate businesses. Jackson's Furniture on S. Beach Blvd. is one of them, curently operated by Ty's great grandson. But in the 20's things were fluid, with a lot of conflict, and property destruction. By Ty had a lot of the police in his pocket, and his general attitude of givng the people what they wanted kept the public on his side. The few times he was in court, he was able to convince juries to let him off. He extended his supply chain to moon shiners deeper in Virginia, and the Carolinas. With the end of Prohibition in January of 1933, Ty shifted his business, to Numbers, and gambling, as well as legitimate businesses. The Stellar Club continued as an exotic night club, but the attendance slipped off as the Great Depression began to bite into the local economy. Ty used the pause in violence as a chance to build up his image as a pillar of the community.

One High School seems to be a bit light. How about 4 total? Julius Robinson Public High School. This is the oldest High School in Coastal City, graduating it's first class in 1869. Originally named Central Coast High School, it was renamed after the death of Julius Robinson in 1935. Generally a Black Majority school, it has been fully integrated since the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Many trainee teachers from Frederick Douglas University try their hand with real students here. The school these days is weak on STEM Classes, but strong in English, and trade skills, and still has a 77% graduation rate. This is in spite of endless budget fights, and a weak tax base. Their Football team has taken the State Championships 4 times since 1925, and is always a formidable opponent. The School is located at 2750 10th St, near the "Western Star", a fully land locked star fort, topped with grass, that the Highschool occasionally uses as an athletic practice field. The Highschool Building was one of the original fort administration buildings, but was since expanded as needs arose. School hours are from 9:30 Am to 3:30PM, with Athletic facility open until 5PM. General Lucien Truscott Military Prep. What is Virginia without a military school? This School, on the north edge of town, declares it is the birthplace of leaders. It is a Private Military academy that often feeds students to the higher Service academies, but also tends to breed steely eyed business leaders and national level Politicians. Students can be identified by their Cadet Gray, or summer Khaki uniforms and Burgundy Berets. The Facilities are strong on STEM, education, but weak on Humanities, save Military History. The faculty consists mostly of current, and retired Military Officers from the U.S. Army, and Air Force. Their sports teams are formidable but subject to an "every other year" Curse. where in even numbered years they look like championship material, and odd number years, they crumble like a sand castle. Often they will provide marchers or color guard for various parades and official ceremonies. It is rumored that several Teen Heroes are associated with the school but of course, nothing is confirmed, and the staff has no comment. The sprawling campus surrounds a parade ground. at 24 Union Street. School Hours are from 8:00am, until 2:00pm for classroom instruction, and until 5:30 for sports and field instruction. New Horizons Magnet School (Formerly Abraham Lincoln High) The school was reformed into a Charter School in 1999, and the parents taken over many of the staffing positions. Being a member of New Horizons is a family commitment once the prospective student passes the entrance exam. Parents volunteer to help teach, clean hallways and do clerical work. They do employ accredited teachers, but since the school does not recognize the teacher's union, they pay the teachers a higher salary to ignore the AFT, and follow the specialized curriculum the parents provide through the New Horizons Program. THe Curriculum is actually a modification of a very old curriculum, stressing the teaching of classical Greek, Latin, U.S. History, Orchestral Music, and a very thorough math progression up through Calculus. With such a focus on academics, the school has withdrawn from it's former sports association, and no longer fields a football and Basketball teams. Principal Patricia Mae Wong, and Assistant Principal Don Nguyen make sure standards are kept high, and that operations run smoothly. Students from other schools tend to refer to it as "Nerd Horizons". Students from here always look a little tired or stressed. Woodrow Wilson High School See Above Because children make the best hostages, Here are a list of other schools: Middle Schools Sojourner Truth Middle School 2671 8th St. Neil Armstrong Middle School 3640 S. Cameron Ave Rappahannock Middle School 340 E. 2nd St. (Near down town.) Sacred Heart Elementary and Middle School associated with St. Christopher's Church. Elementary Schools There are 8 public elementary schools in Coastal City and tend to be names for the street they are on. Most are built to a similar "L" shaped plan, with the offices on the short leg, and 7 classrooms on the long leg, and a grass athletic field in the center. There are between 130, and 200 students, and 15 staff.

Aww, Nick died. Very sorry to hear that. I knew he was writing books but I lost touch with them all around 2005, when I moved to Los Angeles.

The Media Landscape WEBD 89.7FM (Named for Abolitionist W.E.B. Dubois)> went on the air in 1958. with their first Broadcast being on Good Friday, broadcasting the Gospel Music concert from First A.M.E Church, and they have broadcast the festival ever since. Through the 60s they used Identifiers sung by the First A.M.E gospel Choir. People said they would just about jump out of their chairs, when the Choir would harmoniously shout, "WEBD Weather!!" The University Journalism department took an active role in the radio station, sending reporters with tape recorders all over the south to document the events of the Civil Rights movement, Including a sit down Interview with Re. Martin Luther King in November of 1962. In 1968, WEBD became an NPR affiliate, and would produce content for NPR on occasion. They still will broadcast "Morning Edition" at the top of the hour until 9am, and "All Things Considered", from 4pm to 6:15 pm. These days they broadcast mostly music during the day, a mix of Hip-Hop and Old Skool. During Spring Break, they go "Comercial Free", and will commit to "Booty SLam", where teams of dance and hip hop DJ's will spin EDM and Hip Hop Records for the students. The Good Friday Gospell concert still announces the beginning of Holy season. Sundays are for journalism and public affairs broadcasting. (Which causes the students to switch over the Norfolk Radio stations). WCVC 95.3 FM Was an ABC Affiliate for years, first going on the air in 1964. Once known for it's musical selections, it is Now it's a Cumulus affiliate, playing news talk, and financial advice on weekends. People still lament the loss of the music, especially Eldon Rigg's Lullaby Show, nine to Midnight, playing dedications. WKOR TV. 46 A UHF Station once known for University Sports, and cheap Horror movies on weekends late at nights. They would also sponsor Horror nights at a Bijou Theater in Down Town. A few times they would satirize the earnestness of 1960's WEBD broadcasts, complete with Gospel Harmony Idents, and satiric commentary. Children of the 60's remember it would broadcast all the best cartoons. It went off the air permanently when Digital change over occurred in June. 2007. THe repository of taped sports games and broad casts were donated to the University Library following it's shut down. FDTV (Fred's TV) Is a cable channel that broadcasts University sports events, City Council Meetings, and Public Affairs information. It's part of the local XFINITY package, and tends NOT to black out local games.

There will be more detail from the usual YouTube fans I post here, but for now, this is still an impressive achievement: SpaceX successfully launches two rockets hours apart https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2023/12/28/Second-SpaceX-launch-set-for-tonight/8731703818335/

The Mermaid Stories. During the Hurricane of October, 1897 witnesses reported seeing a swimmer in the high surf near what would become Beach Boulevard. The swimmer dragged another figure ashore, and pulled them up beyond the surf lie and in the lee side of a brick beach cottage. Then the swimmer dove back into the surf. The witnesses then approached the seated figure. He was Dominick Mariani, a fisherman and crabber, who's boat had broken up in the heavy seas generated by the Hurricane. What he had been doing out there he would not say, and most fishermen, seeing the signs in the skies, beached their craft, and Stayed home for the week. The Hurricane lasted 60 hours and pushed the water 8 feet about the high tide line at Norfolk. His friends joked about him getting rescued by a mermaid. Sightings of a female swimmer with Raven hair were reported by other boaters, often her waving to the passing boats, but her identity was never determined. All sightings ceased after October of 1903 when another tremendous Hurricane hit the Central Coast of Virginia. These stories were the source of the Coelho Mermaid Mascot, drawn by Charles Dana Gibson, and used on the fish and crab cans of Coelho Foods, until a redesign in the late 1950's, whereupon they gained their current cartoon Mermaid Mascot, and Commercial spokes person. The Bavinetsky Murders. Lady Irina Bavinetskaya was a notable Medium, and Mystic, playing her trade from the salon's and halls of the rich and famous all up and down the Atlantic coast. For a modest fee, she would schedule and conduct seances, and had a reputation for being quite accurate. regardless of what the reader might think of "spiritual matters, there were some frightening irregularities in her last séance. The Sandringham-Alard family had purchased one of the islands just off the coast, that General Cameron turned into one of the defensive star forts during the Civil War, and in the center of it, built Sandringham Castle, a mediaeval fantasy castle of red brick stone and concrete that they used as their manor. Staffed with servants, and a small number of Sailors for the various water craft they kept to travel to the mainland, or transport goods to the great house, the Sandringham-Alards seemed to have it all. However Cynthia Sandringham-Allard was distraught as she had received word that her college aged Son, Michael had vanished in a hike in Germany's Black forest. She engaged the services of Madame Bavinetsky so as to determine the fate of Michael. With a guest list drawn up, including a few of Michael's local friends, the séance was scheduled for October 17th, 1898. After dinner, and once the servants had cleared the table, and locked the doors, the ritual started. Servants reported strange voices, shouts, and other odd noises coming from the locked roo, until around 10:30 AM, when there was a collective scream, followed by a profound silence. The Servants unlocked the doors, and found Madam Bavinetsky unconscious and unable to be roused. However all the guests dead. their bones, organ, and blood removed, leaving a slightly browned, dry, skin hide, intact and still within their clothes, with every button and hook in place. The police were called, and arrived hours later, but they were unable to rouse Madame Bavinetsky, who remained in a coma for 21 month, before passing away. Michael re-appeared in Europe just before Christmas, and took a Deutch-Amerika liner back to the U.S. Inheriting the Sandringham-Alard fortune, he still sold the island and house to the U.S. Army's Coastal Artillery command in 1912. This would not be the last time that such gruesome ends would strike someone in or around Coastal City.

I don’t know about bGeorge, but Steve Petersen sure did. Only now is he writing a new system.

iWhen Confederate General Elijah Cameron, tan the Facility, he insisted on a solid railway connection with the rest of the Confederacy, shipping lumber and Iron goods to the repair facilities, and docks, and shipping smuggled goods from Confederate blockade runners back to the interior of the confederacy. Trackage from the Virginia & Tennessee railroad soon cross crossed the port area. Infortunately the battle between the CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor did not break the blockade appreciably, but that did not mean the General was idle. He used the rail connections to squire red Bricks from Atlanta, and concrete from South Carolina. With the hundreds of millions of bricks, he built out the infrastructure and the extensive star fortifications, keeping the Union Navy at bay, and allowing Confederate ships to repair and refit unmolested. This state of affairs existed until early 1865, when the rail lines were cut by Union troops under General Sherman, and the port itself placed under siege by General Nathan Shipley. With the route to the sea covered by the guns of the ubiquitous Star forts, General Cameron loaded functional ships with tools and machinery and sent them south. Non functional ships he set ablaze quayside. General Shipley rolled in massive siege mortars by rail and commenced to shell the facilities, and defenses but the port held until. February 18, 1865. On the night of the 17th, a low slung rounded back shape emerged from the fabrication shed, hissing and spitting, as it’s experimental high pressure steam engine pushed it forward, and out of the waterfront, and into the dark Chesapeake. The low slung ironclad vanished from history, but it’s architect did not. Elijah Cameron re-appeared years later in the U. K. working for Vickers as a marine propulsion engineer, passing away In Edinburgh in 1922. The garrison surrendered the port the next day, but a lack of a conspicuous number of senior officers present. The Union was now in possession of a fortified port, nearly a small city of many undamaged buildings. A year or two later the port was scouted by Ferdinand Coelho. Living in town at the time were families of refugee slaves that paused in their movement north, falling under the leadership of Julius Robinson, an educated freeman with ambition. Soon the Portuguese families arrived and started fishing and crabbing in the fertile bay, while the former slaves started to pick up work repairing damaged buildings, and converting the bay barracks to apartments and shops. There were still stacks of unused bricks that were stacked in the rail yard along with damaged freight cars, that with a little work could be made useful again. Relations between the Portuguese and the black residents was cordial if distant. In 1867, Coelho reworked the fabrication building on the waterfront into a crab and fish cannery.He negotiated with the Norfolk & Elizabeth City RR to transport cans, as well as fresh fish on ice to Norfolk, Richmond, Washington aD. C. and as far west as Memphis. Even today Coelho Foods is a respected brand. Former slaves were employed by the cannery and the local economy improved, attracting more business, and the port was becoming a real town. Schools were established, and the offspring of the former slaves gained the benefit of a classical education. Julius himself had a thirst for knowledge, but in the Jim Crow South he had little opportunity unless he made it himself. Julius was instrumental in setting up Black schools in the early days of the city, and had to put together a teacher's college to get an adequate amount of teachers for their schools. Seaboard Normal College was established in 1868, and staffed with instructors from various Boston institutions, reccomended by Frederick Douglas. However Julius Curiosity and thirst for knowledge allowed other subjects to be included, including nautical themed professional development, and business management. Buildings were purchased as the College grew. Upon the death of Frederick Douglass, the college was renamed Frederick Douglas University, and re organized. With a growing endowment from earnest, and somewhat prosperous alumni, the campus grew, the red brick buildings becoming grander and more ornate. Julius passed away in 1934, leaving a legacy of solid education in Coastal City.

The bedrock of the community are the churches, and there are three main ones. First A. M. E. Church. Presided over by Rev Alpheus Ward. Son of the civil rights hero, the late Rev. Bertram Ward. You can expect a raucous, and Musical service, topped off with Reverend Ward’s firey, though sometimes humorous service, delivered in a call and response format. The Reverend has an insurmountable presence, much as his father did, and serves the lord and community with a fierce joy. Often asked for comment by the local media, he’s not shy about offering his opinion on Current Events. The Church hosts the Eastern Seaboard Gospel Music Festival, usually the weekend before Easter. This Church used to be associated with the university, until protests against the Vietnam War forced the state legislature to separate after Rev, Bertram Ward’s refusal to moderate his approach. St. Christopher’s Catholic Church. This church started as a small congregation of Portuguese Fishermen, who used the port facilities soon after the Confederate retreat in 1865, the church now represents the white working class locally. Part of the archdiocese of Norfolk, services are conducted by father Rafael Almeida, a local boy with a very extensive Jesuit education. Starting in a converted boat house, the congregation has remodeled and added to the structure over the centuries to produce a solid and tastefully beautiful place of worship that will attract the occasional tourist. Bishop Franklin of Norfolk is a frequent guest there. The church is associated with the Holy Cross Medical center, down town, with Father Almeida’s classmate, Father Santos serving as Chaplain. East View Baptist Church started during the war as Where the Coastguard officers and their families worshipped. With the end of the war, more and more employees of Murchison Marine Engineering filled the pews of this modest building, during the shipping boom of the 1950s and 60s. Reverend Charles Pierce was often at odds with reverend B. Ward at First A. M. E., Reverend Pierce was very careful not to insult, embarrass or belittle Rev. Ward. Stepping down from the pulpit in 1982, there have been a rotation of Reverends, none serving for more than five years. This is a very conservative congregation, but generous in times of disaster, yearly collecting clothing and blankets for hurricane victims. The Coastguard diminished their facilities after WW2, slimming it down to two Helicopters, and a small cutter, berthed at Pier 5. The Helicopters are state of the art CH-70 Sea Serpent coaxial rotor helix. Once a month a fuel barge from The Norfolk Navy Yard comes to top off the tanks at the Coastguard station.

Frederick Douglas University is fully accredited. It is also offering adult continuing education classes in law, boat handling and navigation, water safety, history, and marine engineering. It’s Mascot, is a Blue Crab with a Navy White hat.

It’s a Wonderful Life gets really dark.

We had surprise games like that back on the day, before everyone moved away after school. Good times.

May have been a Confederate Coastal Installation, and the HBCU acquired the land 20 years later to use the drained areas and existing buildings as a start. Currently has a very eclectic mix of architecture, but all in red brick, and white trim. One of the few Universities with its own port. Curriculum centers on Marine Biology, Environmental Law, Architecture, Marine Law and commerce. Ceased being a pure black university after a vote in 1970. Surrounding town expanded in the 1920s. And again after the war. During the war, the port facilities were taken over by The Coast Guard, for submarine chasing. University is governed by a council of 6 deans. (My mother’s parents lived along side the Charles River Estuary, where I was taught how to sail and handle small boats, and be driven to museums all over Virginia, so I am familiar if not fond of the area.)