Deathblow #26 is an issue of the series Deathblow (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 1996.
Synopsis for "Fire from Heaven, Prelude 3: Choosing Up"
Le Gauche arrives at Kaizen Gamorra's laboratory to deliver the Gen-Factor samples he stole from Team 7 (see the 6-part Brother of Arms storyline in Deathblow #20-25). Kaizen informs him that his employer Miles Craven is dead, and hires Le Gauche to perform a task on the island of Gamorra. At the same time, he explains that the Gen-Factor will be infused with a clone body known as Gen-Omega in order to create a super soldier. This was work that Craven started on and now Gamorra is continuing.
In Berkeley, California, the Bounty Hunters and the Sword of Damocles have Sigma and Dr. Tsung in their clutches, but then Backlash, Deathblow, and the Gen 13 kids show up. A battle ensues, and eventually the Bounty Hunters capture Qeelocke and Dr. Tsung and make their escape through a dimensional portal. Freefall rushes to save Qeelocke and dives through the portal just as it is closing, separating herself from the rest of the group.
Meanwhile, in the airplane that serves as International Operations' Mobile Command Post, Codename: Peregrine, Lynch and Dane are talking with Alicia Turner, Deputy Director of I.O.'s Psi-Ops bureau. Alicia tells Dane that his symbiote is helping him maintain his stability after the loss of his Gen-Factor, and that he needs to lend some of that strength to Lynch.
Back in Berkeley, Backlash, Deathblow, Sigma, and the Gen13 discuss what to to about saving Dr. Tsung and Freefall. Gunshots ring out, and one of the Gamorran Hunter-Killers who was still alive drops to the floor. He was shot by Maggie Monroe, who had just entered the room. She says that she has information on Dr. Tsung, and that he gave her the codename Mother Goose. Sigma says he's never seen her before, but then they have to cut things short when they hear sirens approaching.
In Gamorra, the Bounty Hunters and the Sword arrive and deliver Dr. Tsung and the Bounty Hunters demand a bonus for capturing Qeelocke. Then they learn that the Hunter-Killers they killed in Dr. Tsung's house were actually sent by their employer Kaizen!
On the streets of Gamorra City, a cyborg named Rodox is escorting United Nations representative Mr. Challah and his entourage. The U.N. is investigating the recent civil unrest, and Rodox attempts to justify why Gamorra is fighting the rebels. A shot rings out and Challah falls dead. A woman flies overhead and yell, "Death to the international oppressors! Down with Clan Gamorra!" Rodox says that it is Cybernary and her rebels, and herds the U.N. group into an alleyway for safety. But there they run into Gila, Minotaur, and Le Gauche, who kill the entire U.N. party. Cybernary turns out to be Borgia, wearing a holosuit to appear as Cybernary. We learn that Rodox was in on the treachery, and Gamorra planned these murders in order to force the U.N. to send a Stormwatch peacekeeping force to the island.
At Alameda Naval Air Station, the group from Dr. Tsung's house meets up with Alicia Turner, Lynch, and Dane. Alicia says that Deathblow needs to get in the plane with Lynch and Dane because somehow his presence makes them stronger. But first, Maggie Monroe pulls him aside and tells him that his father, Admiral Cray, helped hide Dr. Tsung and Sigma from Miles Craven many years ago. Admiral Cray's death soon after was arranged by Miles Craven as revenge for taking the Sigma project away from him.
Back in Gamorra, Kaizen questions Dr. Tsung about Sigma, and the Bounty Hunters realize that the man Kaizen wanted was back at Dr. Tsung's house but they didn't know to capture him! Then Freefall appears from the energy backwash of the dimensional portal, and she finds herself looking up from the floor at the group of villains.
Appearing in "Fire from Heaven, Prelude 3: Choosing Up"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Gen 13
- Maggie Monroe
- Qeelocke
- Sigma
- Simon Tsung
- Team 7
- Alicia Turner
Antagonists:
- The Sword
- Bounty Hunters
- Borgia (disguised as Cybernary)
- Miles Craven (Flashback only)
- Kaizen Gamorra (John Colt)
- Gila
- Hunter-Killers
- Raymond Le Gauche
- Minotaur
- Rodox
Other Characters:
- Agrippa
- Mr. Challah (Dies)
- Mendel
- Moreau
Locations:
- Gamorra Island
- United States of America
- California
- Alameda Naval Air Station
- Berkeley
- San Francisco
- California
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- Originally published by Image Comics.
- This issue is part three of the three-part Prelude to the "Fire from Heaven" crossover of the Wildstorm line of titles. The story continues in Fire from Heaven #1.
See Also