FIRE GUTS SUPER PRISON

The investigation into the fire at the Maze prison that killed Union Black, Joseph Chapman, Peter Wisdom and the man awaiting trial for the murder of American Runner Fenix Jones, has so far ruled out a natural source as to the start of the blaze and has indicated that a super human force was almost certainly responsible for starting the fire.

Former Director of MI13 Peter Wisdom is the only individual from the maximum security cell block where the fire started to have been identified. He is said to have been blown from the area and impaled against a wall by flying debris while the others were all killed in the initial explosion.

The investigation is continuing but the bodies that have been removed from the prison are yet to be identified due to the level of damage down to the bodies by the heat.

MI13 Disbanded

Lord Ferguson

Lord Alistair Ferguson announced the final details of the disbandment of the government super agency MI13.   Lord Ferguson; as the former New Crusader 'Caber' helped to save the world from the Sentry Virus among other threats and retired due to injury. Standing in Westminster the news concerning the agency was grim but not unexpected.

'It came as no surprise when I was announced as the man to sort out the mess that had become MI13. It came as no surprise when I announced the disbandment of the organisation last week. It comes as no surprise to anyone that the fire at the super prison that contained all of our prisoners in connection with the  corruption at MI13 claimed the lives of all those inmates including former Directors Wisdom and Chapman.

Sadly, I'm not surprised about that either.

This is where the buck stops. I want you to have the truth. The truth is that MI13 were engaged in a multi dimensional conflict, as they always reported, but that that conflict was not totally about the protection of this country or this dimension, the campaign was controlled by an organisation that wished to control this world when the war was over. I can confirm that the dimensional war is over but I believe that the fight is not yet finished.

MI13 could not continue as an operating agency. The rot was just too deep. But I can confirm that The Black Knight and Blade have been cleared of any crimes committed under Joseph Chapman as both men were being external influenced. I can also confirm that Union Jack and Aspect are free heroes that have no allegations of wrong doing to answer to. In further I'd like to thank these two heroes, along with their team mates in the Crusaders for exposing the corruption systemic in the halls of MI13.

Union Jack stepped in and has done a fine job of helping us to restore order and find out if this organisation could be saved and giving us the strength to realise that MI13 had to be shut forever.

I am here to tell you that this is not the end of British organised Super Powered defence. It is the beginning. We will be working together in this government to form a new way of interfacing with our active and inactive super powered beings. We will be working towards drawing up a new form of agreement between the powered community and the independent heroes; one that brings a greater understanding between the two schools of thought without compromising either side.

Until that time we gladly give our support to the Crusaders as they continue to take the fight to the damaging and external influences which threaten our country and even our world.

With heroes like these fine individuals we really couldn't want for better protectors.

In the weeks to come I believe The Crusaders will find their backs up against the wall. I would like to make this governments stand point completely clear to all concerned; The Crusaders are HEROES, ever single one of them has risked their lives to defend this country and this world. When the enemy comes after our HEROES I would ask you, the people of Britain to back these find men and women.

MI13 have had their bases shut today. Their operatives will be reassigned and the funds allocated to them frozen and redistributed. Be patient and remember to back the good guys in the coming days.

Thank you.'

Lord Ferguson took no questions and refused top confirm rumours that all of the original New Crusaders were now dead, including Union Black who was housed at the same prison as the MI13 directors.

MESSIAH CORP STORMS ONWARDS

Billionaire Philanthropist Leon Bastile

The most incredible overnight success story ever in business took another step towards legendary status when Messiah Corp announced that they would be making 75 percent of their patents free to use without any need for intellectual ownership laws to be abided by, thus bringing the next generation technology to the world today at an even faster pace.

Messiah Corp logged three hundred thousand patents just a month ago and has provided detailed plans for space craft propulsion designs and schematics to the general public over the internet as well as detailed maps of the Khyber Belt, inviting companies and citizens to go and make their fortune through space mining, something that is being thought of as the new 'gold rush!' At a press conference yesterday Messiah Corp Spokesman Gerry Antilies had this advice for the world;

'We at Messiah Corp believe that fortunes are there to be made by all, not just the already rich. This is the mission statement of Messiah Corp; the personal empowerment of every human being on this blue planet! We want you to seize the day, gather up all your adventurous feelings and head to the stars!

The schematics we have provided allow for cheap space travel to be a reality for all! Using the Magnasphere  you can get your pod up and into orbit and from there a group of well motivated individuals could be at the Khyber belt and gathering materials in a day! A big cargo pod is easy to construct and using the shielding and force field technologies that have also been provided re-entry and so sale of goods is an easy to accomplish task.'

Antilies went on to reveal that Messiah Corp have sent African governments promises of the first batches of the AIDS vaccine and also the bio engineered anti bodies that they claim can cure the disease with one simple tablet.

'It's clear to us at Messiah Corp that the west gains the use of the vaccines and technologies first because they have the money, this is logical but not ethical. We aim to roll out our answer to this terrible disease at its heart and then follow that roll out with world wide release of the new drugs being manufactured by Monk Inc, the Pharmaceutical giants.

Monk Pharms has been working with us to make sure that everything is checked and that the best results are achieved by this massive release of bio technological aid. We also have the proud privilege announcing that Monk Inc will be placing their operations in the heart of Africa, which will include all of their production factories! These factories will provide jobs, education and financial rocket fuel with which this long forgotten continent can rise from the ashes of tragedy and famine and become a global phenomenon!'

Messiah Corp have so far confirmed the employment of over fifteen million people but have claimed that they intend to increase that number to a staggering one hundred million by the end of their first two years in operation.

Sceptics are still waiting for the bubble to burst but its seems for the moment that Messiah Corp and it's benevolent owner Leon Bastile have all the right moves!  

CRUSADERS RETURN

MI13 Director Union Jack

Its been one week since The Crusaders came back into the public eye and so far the reaction has been mixed. Government officials have expressed their concern since the interim MI13 Director; Union Jack, has informed them that all of her powered staff are currently missing in action following an 'off world operation' and that she is being linked to operations conducted by the last Director of the agency; Former Union Jack Joseph Chapman who is under arrest and being held at the modified Maze prison awaiting trial.

The team have not been seen in action since their arrival at a military base in the Lake District and have so far released no statement as to what they have been doing for the last three weeks or what they know about the Avengers going missing, the investigations into MI13 and the missing MI13 operatives. Theories range about the teams movements from The Crusaders dealing with the potential threat from the Avengers and The X-Men to them taking the MI13 operatives off world and executing them for their actions in the dimensional war. Though no evidence supports any of the more extreme rumours surrounding the team.

The real question surrounding the team has to be; What next for The Crusaders? With the MI13 operatives missing and the agency almost certainly facing disbandment with possible charges still to be pressed on anyone who served under Chapman surely they must look to distance themselves from Union Jack and Aspect and if they do that where then does the blame stop?

Too many questions, few options and even fewer answers seem to have left The Crusaders on shaky ground indeed.

AVENGERS TAKE X-MEN FEUD OFF WORLD!

It's been a month since the Avengers and The X-Men took their bloody feud off world (presumably to an unpopulated area) and still there is no sign of their return. Many have expressed their concern from Earth's Mightiest Heroes and their bitter rivals these past months; The X-Men, but there is a growing movement who have recorded a significant decrease in superhuman combat in populated areas since their disappearance.

With-in the first week S.H.I.E.L.D moved to using the third generation Mandroid armour as response units in urban areas and were seeing extraordinary results due to small unit tactics and 'controlled response' to drive villains into unpopulated areas so they could be neutralised without damage to buildings or injury to by standers. To back them up the Norwegian Powerhouse Sigur Karlson has been attacking major super villain bases and has personally made thirty high level arrests in the last thirty days.

As the world starts to adjust to a world without The Avengers and an ever dwindling mutant population it seems there really is no need to panic. The authorities have contingency plans that are not only more effective than the stereotypical hero model of 'Hit Hard, Hit Harder, Hit Hardest' but safe guard the lives and the investments of the average person far better.

Reed Richards is currently working on ways to find and return the heroes to this world, but it seems there are voices now asking a very important question; Do we really want or need them back?

MI13 APPOINT INTERIM DIRECTOR

Lord Ferguson

The British Government have appointed an interim director of MI13 in the hope of saving the organisation from being completely wiped out as investigations into foreign influence, corruption, breaches of international law and now war crimes are under way.

Speaking from West minister early this morning Ex Crusader Caber; Lord Feral Ferguson, had this announcement to make.

'We have been served well by MI13 as an organisation and though these revelations concerning the current operating staff are shocking I do not believe we should shut this much needed wing of our defence network.

It is clear that MI13 have got all the experts that they need, all the tactical and intelligence operatives they could need. What they have clearly lacked is a moral compass and a power to back that view of right and wrong. We aim to turn this ship around and back to its glory days!

Director Of MI13 Union Jack

Peter Wisdom was an excellent director but due to injuries suffered over these last few years and some decisions that we are investigating it seems clear he must be used as a consultant at most in this new vision of MI13. I can confirm that there was a power that was influencing our operatives and Mr Chapman when they were breaking every rule under the sun and so we need a new approach, a strong mind and a director who is capable of making tough decisions when armed with multiple facts and is also capable of working under the frame work of this government.



I am pleased to announce that MI13 will now have to clear major decisions through a committee to be chaired by myself but will be run on a day to day basis by The Crusader Union Jack.

I have had many conversations with Jack and I have found her to be a motivated and strong minded young woman who knows the old faces of MI13 but had the courage to brake away when she needed to and fight the injustice eating at its core.

To support her will be the old Captain Britain; Lord Brian Braddock, who will act as a secondary moral compass and make sure the organisation makes the right decisions for the right reasons.

I look forward to the future of MI13 and I hope it can weather this storm under new leadership and rebuild its reputation in the coming months and years.'

CRUSADERS ATTACK MI13

Corruption and evidence of criminal activity at the heart of MI13 and their Director Joseph Chapman was acted upon by The Crusaders last week when they arrived at the gates of the MI13 air base with a warrant from Interpol and the U.N demanding the immediate surrender and detention of Chapman.

The MI13 guards were forced to lower their weapons by MI13 spokesman Thomas Cauldron and the team were allowed to enter the base being backed up three members of La Resistance and the Russian Super Soldier The Matrix. As the Crusaders walked through the gates the controversial figure of La Haine was seen joining them with French Strongman Bastille and La Resistance leader Legionnaire along with The Matrix and as they moved towards the operations building it became Chapman wasn't going to give up without a fight.

From the central hanger came Chapman, dressed in his Union Jack costume being backed by Brian Braddock, the New Crusaders Captain Britain, The Black Knight and Blade as well as a team of villains who have been bested by The Crusaders several times known by the media as 'The Black Pawns.'

Fung Chi, now the wielder of the legendary Iron Fist, led the Crusaders towards the enemy and Gloop, Gamma, Union Jack, Aspect, Not Alice and Apex faced Chapman's forces without flinching.

Chapman was ordered to surrender and in return told the Crusaders that it was 'his base, his organisation and if they did not leave he would make sure this was the last day of their lives.' No more preamble was needed, it was clear that there was only one way to bring him in, and The Crusaders know all about the directed application of force.

The battle commenced and even though the Crusaders were outnumbered they quickly asserted their authority and showed their quality on the field. Fung Chi and Not Alice attacked the 'Black Pawns' and removed many of their number with ease through their now undeniable power and ability to co-ordinate attacks. Aspect was engaged in direct combat by Chapman, Braddock attacked Bastille, Apex found Black Pawn leader Pogo, a far more invigorated Gamma of late attacked the Black Knight, Union Jack backed up Bastille, and Gloop provided support for his team as he does best.

The fight was fast and brutal, with Blade and Le Haine battling furiously in the centre of the field. Union   Jack provided several blows upon Braddock which rocked him to the floor allowing Bastille to engage the power house and survive, the final blow to Braddock being dealt by Not Alice.

At the beginning of the combat The New Crusader Captain Britain was attacked by an unknown source though some believe it to have been his ex team mate Mr Scratch. He was confirmed dead on the scene , having been decapitated by his unconfirmed assailant.

Aspect fought the criminal Chapman, displaying great skill as they grappled and twisted, fighting for dominance before Aspect made the brake through and based Chapman's face against a steel bar till he slumped unconscious to the floor.

Apex made light work of Pogo and they gave assistance to subdue the remaining Black Pawns at the back along with Fung Chi and Aspect.

In the centre of the combat The Black Knight proved his pedigree by dropping Gamma with several well place sword strokes but was unable to suffer an onslaught from Gloop that left him stunned, a vicious series of kicks from the Russian speedster The Matrix and finally a full body charge from the impressive Union Jack!

With the stragglers defeated and Le Haine finally able to prove his superiority over Blade the battle was ended and the Interpol officers were able to get inside the facility and make sure that evidence could not be tampered with or destroyed.

The current investigation into MI13 and the going's on on their base are being headed up by several agencies that are working with the British government to make sure all transparency can be achieved and the real criminals involved in their operation can be found and tried.