2023-01-02: So Long, and Tanks for all the Energy
- Cast: Alouette Pommier, Anti, C.C., Eisen Daiwel, Gemini Sunrise, Julia Ampere, Liam 7-020, Milly Ashford, Sayoko Shinozaki, Sousuke Sagara
- Where: Tsutsujidai
- Date: U.C. 0097 01 02
- Summary: The latest crime wave hitting Tsutsujidai is traced back to none other than Julia Ampere, the notorious Energy Thief. What is the purpose behind her actions - and, can she be stopped?
<Pose Tracker> Julia Ampere has posed.
A crime wave has struck Tsutsujidai! Electronic devices requiring wide-range communications have been stolen all over the city. There's one commonality between every incident - in each area the thefts were reported, there have been eyewitness accounts of short, squat, four-legged robots - Electrocrawlers, to those familiar enough with the works of Julia Ampere - crawling about. The robots themselves, when found, move with purpose - seemingly following preset orders with little regard or aggressive action toward anyone who draws close. They are easily destroyed, self-detonating with a harmless 'pop' when damaged sufficiently and leaving nothing but scrap metal and unsalvageable electronics... but, if left intact, they can also be tracked.
The Electrocrawlers march in line like ants returning to the colony, and they all return to a single point. In a remote part of the city that has since been evacuated and cleared of people, a PLANT maintenance hatch has been pried open. The Electrocrawlers march inside, and monitoring their return a woman reclines lazily in the pilot seat of a crab-shaped robot, taking a mental note of each group of Electrocrawlers as they return.
"Group F... present, Group G... present... Group H..." The woman pauses and frowns. "...Not present. Hm. I hope the poor dears just got lost. Or at the very least, that their 'cargo' has been retrieved."
She sits up a little more. This is Julia Ampere, and though she has made an effort to appear more presentable, as she expects to be making a public appearance any day now - or rather, she expects the public to be making an appearance to her - the current situation has still taken somewhat of a toll on her. Oh well. So it goes. Let it never be said that she never makes the best of things. Still, it is vexing. She's used to being able to monitor their condition remotely, of being able to pull up their position with but a touch. Now she has to do it all by hand!
Truly, even supervillainy is more difficult these days...!
<Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.
Anti remembers the Electrocrawlers. He saw some, in Treasure Robotics, once. They never seemed particularly harmful, considering some of the other things in those hangars.
(Like the Death Knight.)
He leaps down from a fence, beside Sousuke, in the form of a boy. He was not travelling with Sousuke. He does not greet him before he says: "Those machines were BioNet."
And he doesn't stop before he springs off again. Liam, who he finds next, gets something of a different message: "Do you remember them? They were in one of BioNet's hangars."
He doesn't stop very long for him, either.
Hop, spring, and a jump, he keeps running after the Electrocrawlers, and there's a ruby glow about him as the tiny form of Anti shifts and changes --
-- growing bigger, bigger, BIGGER --
-- until Gridknight lands by the maintenance hatch, with a loud, building-shuddering impact.
"Come out," he issues, stern. His arms fold, across his great chest. "I know you're in there!"
<Pose Tracker> Gemini Sunrise has posed.
Gemini runs through the streets, breath heavy and her heart racing. Those gross crawling things again...who'd have thought that woman would be here? It was for a situation like this that she had even brought her STAR to Tsutsujidai in the first place...
"Now, Gemini, that Tsutsujidai place is pretty dangerous. You know about the Devil. We'll have the Rodeo STAR accompany you just in case. Don't worry, we'll keep it well-hidden."
Mr. Sunnyside, right as always. Eventually, she finds her "secret base," a small empty lot nestled in the middle of several buildings that was only accessible through an alleyway she had blocked off. Standing there was her STAR, under a tarp that was quickly thrown off. Geez, she hadn't even been able to bring her pilot suit...No matter, if she just stayed in the cockpit, she could keep cover.
Need a mask, don't you, sister?
Gemini clutches her head. For some reason, since the city had been split off, she had been feeling something tugging at the back of her mind. A tugging she hadn't felt in a good while, but still felt familiar..."Gotta...get in the..."
Take a little rest, Gemini. Leave it to me. This is my specialty after all, right?
Gemini feels herself fading while the world stayed the same..."I gotta get...going! Ah, there we go! Finally out for a bit!" The red haired girl's voice goes down an octave, her eyes feel sharper, and her stance gets straighter.
Geminine Sunrise opens the cockpit to the STAR and hopped in, stretching her arms as the unit closes in on her and its systems engage. She didn't have her mask, but who could say no to some vigilante justice? The Rodeo STAR shifts into flight mode and shoots out of the lot, following the Electrocrawlers to their destination, the Dynamo Queen.
"Hey! Come on out, ya damn rustler! We can either make this easy or we'll have a showdown on our hands!"
<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.
Perhaps the destabilization in Tsutsujidai is a problem for those who seek peace and justice. After all, this is a perilous situation, isn't it? Stealing and scheming in a leaky bottle like this...surely now isn't the time.
...but, well. Securing mobile weapons of agency and capability has been a liiiiittle tough for those of the Black Knights, who have more or less arrived here a bit with their pants down! If anything, then, C.C. lurks above the parade of Electrocrawlers on a rooftop not out of a decisive intent to stop something, but instead as a bit of a test.
A solitary card is between her fingertips, raised to the rainy sky, raindrops tapping upon its surface.
((Come on out, Darklops, if you can even hear me where we're huddled away.))
The card erupts into motes of light and crackles of electricity - and not a moment later, a massive black and orange machine, remarkably human in overal proportion, flashes into being.
((Hmmmm. Pick up one of the spiders, if you would?)) C.C. muses, kicking her legs a bit perilously close to the street where the Darklops lurks - and it obeys, grasping one of the little mechanical menaces.
"Well, I suppose that makes sense, for the reception to be good in this case. The real ponderance is if you can fit into the underbelly of this colony, but that'll have to wait. For now, make sure you don't act too outlandishly, and follow along the rest obligingly, alright?"
<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.
Eisen has been at work, trying to get some kind of basic 'network' set up within the city. It started at the plantation that Liam worked hard to erect, trying to tie it to the highschool. But it gets harder and harder to set up any kind of such communication when the critical components are rare, and the 'now useless' wide-ranged communication devices - one of the few remaining things that carry those - are getting thieved constantly.
He's been leaving this matter for someone else to figure out however. Normally, Eisen is someone who would work on such a matter himself. But instead, he's been letting such things... slip. Simply letting someone else take the responsibility. And when word finally came out from someone who did manage to partake in the tracking, and his duty is to show up, he arrives closer to the back of the formation.
Running Carestia at a lower power mode, as to not drain the city of its resources. The youth isn't too familiar with the goings of Julia Ampere himself. But he's been told be be 'careful', as the Carestia halts a good distance out, and then comes to a lazy halt, its arms hanging down like a doll which has gotten its wires cut. Staring off, though lacking some of the hunger it normally shows. Watching...
Within, Eisen is witness, as the Gridknight goes for the hatch, trying to pull out what lies within.
Eisen's eyes slowly close for a moment, running his hand over his head. The LCL around him has a strange buzz to it. Something doesn't feel right. As the youth allows his mind to wander, those red eyes spring up in his mind - Rei Ayanami asking him if he is okay.
Rather than what is happening right now, his attention is set to the lie he spoke afterwards. Wondering why he seems unable to...
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Although the spirit of collaboration has been persistent among those in Tsutsujidai, clearly there are still those who wish to take advantage of the situation. One such case is a wave of electronic "bugs" seemingly gathering the unused communication devices across the city.
Although the robots seem harmless, 3G has been closely monitoring the situation to the best of their ability, aware that this wave of crime could be the precept to something much more dangerous. Alouette smells BioNet all over this, and on closer inspection her hunch is proven correct as she identifies these machines as from a branch of BioNet.
And so, once it's determined where these electrocrawlers lead to, Alouette and Guardienne Aviaire take off to scout out the situation... and put up a fight if need be!
Having already beat her to the maintenance hatch is the familiar form of Gridman in purple - Gridknight, and a couple smaller machines she doesn't recognize.
"This is the Gutsy Global Guard - please come on out and state your intentions. Unless you'd prefer to settle this transaction BioNet-style?" She speaks, from Aviaire's loudspeaker. As calm as she sounds, she has her hand ready to open the Program Ring hatches just about any moment.
<Pose Tracker> Sayoko Shinozaki has posed.
Sayoko walks along the sidewalk calmly, bag of scavenged supplies held in her hands. Just another day surviving in Tsutsujidai. She comes to a stop at the curb and waits.
And waits.
And waits.
'It seems that traffic is particularly bad today...' muses Sayoko as she eyes the uninterupted line of Electrocrawlers moving down the street in front of her. The machines are familiar, reminding Sayoko of the rumours she's heard about the thefts lately.
As far as crimes go, thievery is more of an annoyance than anything in civilized society. But generally not something worth getting riled up about. However, in a survival scenario, where resources are sparse, it becomes far more worrisome. Perhaps enough that the perpetrator should be dealt with, for the safety of all who are caught in this situation.
The sound of rumbling from the footstops of giant robots in the distance catches Sayoko's ear. Ah yes, there's not much she can do about it anyway.
The line of Electrocrawlers ends, so Sayoko proceeds to cross the street, continuing on her journey back to her temporary home.
Sayoko walks past a destroyed lot, turning her head to glance into it. Something in the rubble catches her eye and makes her pause in her steps. Perhaps...
A short time later, a rather battered looking RK-92 Savage leaps out of the rubble, starting to give chase to the Electrocrawlers in the distance. Soon enough it reaches the destination of the drones, finding numerous other responders gathering.
Perhaps her intervention is not necessary after all. Though it may be wise to wait and see for now. The rather worn and practically unarmed Savage leaps up onto a building frame a little distance from the entrance to the apparent criminal's lair and waits. Watching to see what emerges.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam recognized those robots the moment he first saw the initial video feeds. He still vividly remembers the time they swarmed him, and downed his Arm Slave with him in it. It still smarts, even now.
The good news is that there's enough automation in the garden--thanks to Ennil and Eisen and Koji and the other technically-minded folks--that it will largely run itself until it's harvest-time. All that's needed is daily inspection, which Liam was helping out with when the latest electrocrawler sighting went out. Anti showed up mere moments later; Liam nodded, and gave chase as well. He needed to make a brief detour, first, to the machine he had waiting on standby: a perfectly normal GAT-01D, sitting in a cleared lot and ready to mobilize.
"Right behind you, Anti," Liam transmits. The Long Dagger stands in the middle of the street, beam rifle drawn up to its shoulder. He's silent, as Gridknight opens the hatch, and Alouette gives her introduction. Then: "Julia Ampere," he states, simply. He's tired. He's weary. He's terrified for Akane, and simultaneously deeply angry with her. He's deeply homesick, and he misses Lucine even more. "I thought you might be better than this."
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
Sousuke is sifting through the remains of a crawler he personally disabled when Anti arrives. He glances behind and up, meeting the boyish young man's eyes. "Bionet. ...understood." Anti's gone before they can converse about it. Sousuke reaches into his pocket for a radio, grimaces, and then puts it back. He reaches for a tracker round, and then puts *that* down, too, with a deepening grimace. But still. If he's fast, he should be able to...
It's a few minutes before he makes it to the Shuffle Alliance central hangar. He doesn't call an instruction, just hitting the Arbalest's outstretched hand and clambering up quickly. The bootup is what expects. The normal confirmations.
Soon, Arbalest is hopping across Tsutsujidai's rooftops, the AS alighting on an abandoned small office complex with shotcannon in hand.
Arbalest's AI tags the electrocrawlers rapidly, the map screen filling with small dots. <<Large number of enemy units recognized and marked. However, unable to identify a unifying purpose.>>
"They're going somewhere..." Sousuke mutters.
<<Agreed. Supposition: There is a central unit to which they are returning a resource.>>
<Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
As crime waves go, this one seems... nondisruptive, at the moment; networked devices are a little useless right now, so the rash of them being stolen isn't the worst thing in the world. Still -- Milly does want to know what's up. Some of those are very intimate objects, and it'd be a little cruel to have to lose things that haven't been backed up.
Unlike many of the others investigating the problem, though, Milly has to follow the Electrocrawlers... on foot. She gets the sinking suspicion this is a bad idea, though, as others' movement toward the crawlers takes on a much... larger dimension. All she has is a megaphone.
"I guess this makes sense," Milly says, as she ducks into a nearby building. "Still, this is a lot of risk for not a lot of immediate upside..." She looks out the window, waiting for things to... well, go where they usually go, when people are starting to deploy At Scale. Sometimes, all you can do is wait.
<Pose Tracker> Julia Ampere has posed.
A long day of taking notes and watching her Electrocrawlers as they return to the point she designated... is suddenly brought to a halt as a large, humanoid form drops down outside, shaking the area. A smirk crosses Julia's face.
"Ah. Right on cue! Well then, darlings - shall we?" Julia says. The Dynamo Queen's hatch closes... and soon enough, the crab-shaped robot emerges - soon joined by her Electrocrawlers, which filter out after her.
"Well, well! When there are so many voices so fervently requesting my appearance... how could I possibly say no? I do so hate to disappoint a crowd." Julia announces herself. One can practically hear the smirk in her voice. Her gaze soon settles on Guardienne Aviaire - piloted by one from the Gutsy Global Guard, apparently. "My intentions! Why, it's very simple, really. I realised there was something I wished to do, and I decided to do it. And now... here we are! Does that suffice?"
A familiar voice, and a familiar machine announces her for all gathered.
"Ah, you wound me, my dear boy... 'Better' is a matter of perspective, isn't it? I am who I am, and I'd best stay true to myself. This is who I am!" Julia replies. And then, the Dynamo Queen's claws clamp together twice.
"Now then! Since all of you have so kindly gathered here... I must request that you at least entertain me, if you take issue with my actions!" Julia grins... but pauses for a moment. Did she just see someone enter that building...? A frown crosses her face. The Dynamo Queen takes a moment to reposition itself, to limit the possibility that the building - and its occupant - get caught in the crossfire.
For Anti - Gridknight - the Dynamo Queen lunges forward with a quick corkscrew punch to introduce itself into the melee. Many of the nearby machines are met with the same attack - Liam's Long Dagger, Alouette's Guardienne Aviaire, and Gemini's Rodeo Star.
For those who haven't addressed her directly, however, or have attempted to lay low, the Dynamo Queen's turret defenses come into play, locking on an unleashing a volley of beams at Julia's opponents!
KTS: Julia Ampere targets Anti with Corkscrew Punch! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Liam 7-020 with Corkscrew Punch! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Alouette Pommier with Corkscrew Punch! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Gemini Sunrise with Corkscrew Punch! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Sayoko Shinozaki with Beam Turrets! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Eisen Daiwel with Beam Turrets! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Sousuke Sagara with Beam Turrets! KTS: Julia Ampere targets C.C. with Beam Turrets! KTS: Julia Ampere has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Gemini Sunrise rushes into the attack! KTS: Gemini Sunrise partially guards Julia Ampere's Corkscrew Punch, taking 1800 damage! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Gemini Sunrise! KTS: Alouette Pommier fails to parry Julia Ampere's Corkscrew Punch, taking 3600 damage! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Alouette Pommier! KTS: Anti fails to parry Julia Ampere's Corkscrew Punch, taking 4000 damage! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Anti! KTS: Liam 7-020 rushes into the attack! KTS: Liam 7-020 partially guards Julia Ampere's Corkscrew Punch, taking 4200 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Liam 7-020! KTS: C.C. partially guards Julia Ampere's Beam Turrets, taking 3800 damage! KTS: Eisen Daiwel blocks Julia Ampere's Beam Turrets, taking 2800 damage! <Pose Tracker> Gemini Sunrise has posed.
Geminine fires the STAR's thrusters and boosts through the corkscrew, minimizing the time that punch glances off. As she gets close, the armor changes back into its main form, feet planting on the ground and sword being drawn as the residual momentum slides her right to the Dynamo Queen for a three-part slash!
"Don't think I'm gonna go easy on you! Scum like you don't deserve mercy!"
KTS: Gemini Sunrise targets Julia Ampere with Mifune-Ryu Slash! KTS: Gemini Sunrise has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki fails to evade Julia Ampere's Beam Turrets, taking 3600 damage! KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Sousuke Sagara successfully evades Julia Ampere's Beam Turrets KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Gemini Sunrise's Mifune-Ryu Slash, taking 4370 damage! KTS: Gemini Sunrise has engaged Julia Ampere! <Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.
<"What a waste of my time, and the power this will take."> Eisen remarks as the crab-like machine shows itself, joined by its little 'helpers'. Turrets pop out, flashing lasers towards the Carestia. Its A.T. field strangely doesn't seem to register. Burning flashes tear across the massive machine, as Eisen lets it all push past its defenses.
The LCL, it begins to burn. The bubbling, tearing sensation across his plugsuit begins to rise, as Eisen tries to wake himself up from what ails him. But it's like being stuck within mud. This dark heavy water that makes it hard for him to feel like he can stand.
A quick glance at the side shows that his Syncronization rating is currently at the edges of what makes Carestia even pilotable - the machine having higher requirements of its pilots because of just how customized it is. Between the wings and its tail requiring additional connection points...
Pain sears, but the youth doesn't move from his position as the lasers keep coming in. It doesn't approach. Carestia does not rampage. Instead, its right wing shifts out, and drops a single of its Spear Pinions, causing it to crash into the ground, tearing up the concrete.
"Sorry, construction team, you're going to have to deal with more damage than usual." He whispers to himself, as he watches Gemini Sunrise rush forward with the kind of energy he lacks at the moment. Her words reaching him, stirring something within, but failing to quite awaken him.
Eisen instead leverages the massive Spear from the ground, and with a single motion, a single calculated throw, has the Carestia THROW it from its position, with enough velocity to do serious damage to the ground beneath it as it flashes down at intense speeds!
<"Stop getting in the way of people who are legitimately trying to survive and communicate with eachother."> He then demands at an even, almost poker-face like tone.
KTS: Eisen Daiwel: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Eisen Daiwel targets Julia Ampere with Wing Javelin! KTS: Eisen Daiwel has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere blocks Eisen Daiwel's Wing Javelin, taking 1710 damage! KTS: Eisen Daiwel roots his unit, coming to a standstill and leaving him vulnerable. <Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
Oh, that would be Julia, wouldn't it.
Milly's first reaction is simple disappointment; this was admittedly an option on the shortlist for explaining Julia after the wedding, but it's a little tragic for it to be the possibility that exists, out of all of them. Checking the elevator for power and quite relieved to see that it is, indeed, still powered, Milly takes it up to...
... the roof, during which time she puts on ear protection.
The reason for this becomes obvious when she gets out that megaphone. "As crimes go, this is kind of petty, and your explanation is pretty cagey," Milly calls through the megaphone. "And for once I'm not sure it's because you're hiding a better reason!"
Still, Milly does think on what she'd possibly need so many network-related devices for... it's kind of a strange thing to go on a crime spree about, when they're not even working!
... maybe this, too, is 'living as if the future is real'?
<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.
A vaguely familiar 'scent' comes from the rugged little Savage clambering from the rubble. But it's a weak one - not one C.C. can truly place. Just a small inkling that this one might have a familiar face. Who does she know who'd be in a little deathtrap like that...? Someone from the Directorate?
She's rudely interrupted by the barging of footsteps up here on the roof, of all places - C.C. quite suddenly springs to her feet at the sprinting and hopping Arbalest, leering right into its face. "Unbelievable. Some people these days. I guess I didn't go high enough to avoid the thick of it...ugh. Let's get somewhere a little more out of the way, yes-?"
Nimbly slipping down from the lower rooftops - and narrowly avoiding her Darklops bracing against beam turrets and gliding backwards just feet away from where C.C. crosses the street.
((You're made of sturdy stuff, but don't underestimate how much these dorky machines can put out. Run away when things get hairy, but for now - do go ahead and give that thing a nice punch for me, yes?)) The Darklops' eyes flash, and it sprints in at that strange, floaty pace, its slightly ungainly form thumping and shaking the earth with each footstep - rearing up and sending a firm haymaker Julia's way, now that she's properly unveiled!
In the meantime...C.C. takes an elevator up to a better vantage point...and a familiar face is in sight! Thankfully, C.C.'s not wearing anything too...weird? She's kind of just in a big floofy sweater, a long pleated skirt, and a transparent umbrella. "Ah, a pleasant surprise to see you here, Milly," C.C. intones in the sharper, more assertive tone she takes as 'Cyzarine' at Ashford. "Don't tell me today's troublemaker is an old friend of the family? What a nuisance...honestly, I ran away from family ties to shady things like this, so I can sympathize with you here. Mind if I tag along with you? I have someone I'm watching here." She neglects to mention that 'someone' is a giant metal Ultraman knockoff that she's ordering around with her soul, of course.
KTS: C.C. targets Julia Ampere with Darklops CQC Strike! KTS: C.C. has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards C.C.'s Darklops CQC Strike, taking 1440 damage! KTS: C.C. has engaged Julia Ampere! <Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
The mastermind behind this operation makes her grand appearance and offers... a total non-answer, really! "You did it because you wanted to and you could... maybe I shouldn't be surprised." She was more wondering what she was going to do with all the machines after the fact, but maybe she shouldn't expect an answer there, either.
That strange crab-like machine she is piloting begins its advance, at least courteous enough to avoid totaling that building that someone appeared to run inside. "I'm not here to entertain you," Alouette replies, sharp-toned. "But if it's a fight you'd like, I at least appreciate avoiding the shelters." And of course, if it does come to that, at least she has hyper tools at her disposal.
Alouette has never faced off against the illustrious Dynamo Queen in her time operating against BioNet and its related science crime syndicates, but nonetheless, she comes prepared. "EMISSION!" She roars, as the corkscrew punch lunges her way. In a flash, the Program Ring hatch opens, which manifests the Aile Rapier.
The blade isn't so successful in blocking the fist, but it does lead Julia's robot right where she wants it. She goes for a prise de fer maneuver, attempting to catch the fist with the Aile Rapier, making the Dynamo Queen's movements much more limited!
KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Rouse Spirit Command. KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Julia Ampere with Prise de Fer! KTS: Alouette Pommier has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Sayoko Shinozaki has posed.
Sayoko has never actually been in a robot battle before...
... She didn't realize there was this much talking involved!
That could be a problem.
One she'll have to consider later, as for now her priority is on the beam headed her way.
The Savage reacts quickly, leaping away from its perch. The beam fired in its direction just grazes its side.
For the largely outdated and battered machine, that graze is heavily damaging.
Landing upon the ground again, Sayoko grunts a little at the impact. She has received training in piloting mobile weapons... But she's never put it into practice outside of sparring matches. And she hasn't done one of those in years. It's taking some getting used to.
During the brief pause, a familiar voice filters through the speakers, carrying words from outside... "Miss Milly?" Sayoko wonders to herself in surprise. The Savage's head turns in the direction of the rooftop where Milly stands. 'As unabashedly impulsive as ever, I see.' Another form appears on the rooftops... Okay, this is getting a little absurd!
the Savage starts to run at an angle to the criminal mastermind and her robot army. Given that the Savage is carrying no weapons and even the gun ports for its built in machine guns appear to be smashed, one might wonder how the machine intends to fight. Well wonder no more! The Savage reaches one arm behind its back and pulls out...
... A mecha sized kunai.
With a flick, the weapon is sent flying towards a pack of the Electrocrawlers. It misses all of them, instead hitting the ground at their center. Well, that was anticlima-
The kunai unleashes a blast, threatening to catch the bots in its explosion!
KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki targets Julia Ampere with Explosive Kunai Throw! KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Alouette Pommier rattles Julia Ampere, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Alouette Pommier's Prise de Fer, taking 1400 damage! KTS: Alouette Pommier has engaged Julia Ampere! KTS: Alouette Pommier begins a Formation attack! KTS: Julia Ampere successfully Intercepts Sayoko Shinozaki's Explosive Kunai Throw <Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
A flash of brilliant light erupts from somewhere behind the Long Dagger, washing across Liam's viewscreens. The cyborg reacts in the blink of an eye; the Mobile Suit moves with fluid grace as it twists around to observe...
"...Zero?" It... looks like him, even if it's missing a cape, and colored wrong. The readings, though... The profile's more like a machine than the weird biological-energy-alien-nonsense of an actual Ultra. Liam watches, rifle at the ready, as the Darklops picks up one of the electrocrawlers. It's like a child studying a neat bug.
Then the Dynamo Queen bursts from its hiding spot, presenting Liam with a dilemma: turn his back on the unknown, or risk being downed by the one he knows is a threat. He chooses the former. The Long Dagger takes flight, its jets roaring as it ascends into the air. Liam's raw speed saves him from a catastrophic hit; the Long Dagger whips up its arm to pull it out of the way, presenting the Dynamo Queen with the Mobile Suit's profile. The punch slams into the machine's torso armor at a glancing angle, and knocks it back. Bits of armor fall to the street--mostly the Fortestra, but there's now a concave, sparking wound in the Long Dagger's side. Liam snarls.
"Of course," he says, his voice bitter. "You're with them." But he's not the only survivor on the field. Alouette charges forward, and Liam sees what she's trying to do. He racks the M703, and draws the ES01 in its place--the beam saber ignites with a hiss of ionized particles, and as the Guardienne tries to pin the Dynamo Queen's claw, the Long Dagger darts forward. It holds the beam saber in a reverse grip, and drives it right for the joints keeping that crab-claw mobile.
"Right behind you, Alouette!"
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Julia Ampere with ES01 Beam Saber Thrust! KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.
Anti isn't the only one who recognises BioNet when he sees it, and Gridknight's segmented visor glints, as it looks to the Guardienne. He jumps back, as that crablike mech emerges, and notes the approach of Long Dagger and Arbalest.
He called for aid, and aid came.
Liam recognises Julia by name -- and Gridknight turns, to her machine. "True to yourself... if that's who you say you are, I believe you!"
(He's something of a copy of Gridman, himself, much like Darklops evokes another design -- though, to hear Calibur tell it, he's the real deal.)
But Itsumi had been upset about where Anti walked. He doesn't think he's wrong, but he wasn't ignoring him, either.
All this to say he does see movement, hurrying into a building. And he sees Julia repositioning, too.
When people tell you who they are, Anti thinks, you should believe them. Anti doesn't think people say everything with their words, either.
He's a little distracted by this revelation, though, and his grasp of the Dynamo Queen's dynamic entry into his space is compromised -- grasping at her machine's fist with a hand, only to have the other come up into his space. He rocks back, heels digging into the empty road in.
"Julia Ampere!" Gridknight declares, and he doesn't need a megaphone to follow Milly's statement. "What is your reason for acting?!"
He darts back into the crab's space, with a straight-palmed strike, moving about it fluidly. None of his strikes, taken in isolation, are terribly damaging -- but enough of them might be exhausting.
KTS: Anti targets Julia Ampere with Gridknight Martial Arts! KTS: Anti has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere rushes into the attack! KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Liam 7-020's ES01 Beam Saber Thrust, taking 2610 damage! KTS: Liam 7-020 has engaged Julia Ampere! KTS: Liam 7-020 completes the Formation attack! KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Anti's Gridknight Martial Arts, taking 1470 damage! KTS: Anti has engaged Julia Ampere! <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
As the ground cracks open around the rising Dynamo Queen, AL reports, <<Sergeant. I have located the central unit.>>
"See it," Sousuke says. "Combat power and let's move, AL!"
<<Sergeant.>> "What?" <<We are receiving a complaint from a civilian.>>
AL highlights down on C.C., who is now in a huff as she storms off to another roof.
Sousuke growls low in his throat. "NOT our department, AL!" he barks. "Power!"
<Roger. Combat distribution complete.>>
A blast of searing light vaporizes the spot Arbalest was standing on moments before, as the nimble Arm Slave surges into the air, dozens of meters off the ground. Arbalest slams down into the street, whirling around to view the crab-shaped enemy.
'I realized there was something I wished to do, and I decided to do it,' she says.
<<Sergeant. Training message: Is this normally how one responds to interrogation regarding criminal activity?>>
"Not really!" Sousuke growls, and whips up his Shotcannon, blasting away at the hull of the crab.
<<Understood. Is this related to the meaning of 'Cagey?'>>
"Wh," Sousuke stammers. "Who said that!?"
AL highlights Milly on the map and Sousuke nearly chokes. "President Ashford's here...?!"
<<Tagging person of interest.>>
KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Julia Ampere with Boxer 57mm Shotcannon Shotshell! KTS: Sousuke Sagara has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Sousuke Sagara's Boxer 57mm Shotcannon Shotshell, taking 1620 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Julia Ampere has posed.
Gemini - or Geminine, rather - approaches with a combination attack using her sword! Her aggressiveness is a little surprising - she manages to get in through the Dynamo Queen's claws, cutting into the armor.
"My, you're quite intense this time. Did you exhaust your heroic banter in our previous encounter? I must confess, I am somewhat disappointed." Julia considers. But, her getting in close is somewhat of an advantage for her. One of the claws lashes out to clamp onto the Rodeo STAR and squeeze - just enough to put some pressure on the Spiricle Armor's structure, rather than to harm its pilot.
An Evangelion unit attacks next, forcing her to let go of the Rodeo STAR - a spear comes soaring toward the Dynamo Queen and its claws raise to intercept the attack!
"'Getting in the way', you say! You'll find I've done nothing to harm them." Julia replies. The Dynamo Queen's claws drop their defensive stance, one of them pointing directly at Eisen's Evangelion. The claw opens up and electricity begins to build, before unleashing a powerful burst in his direction!
But, then she hears a familiar voice, shouting at her from atop the rooftop. Milly...? But, why is she here?
"Ah, so you were here as well...?" Julia replies back - and for the first time so far, some of the confidence is shaken from her voice. "Well - I wish I could give you a better explanation... but I can't. This is my true face, I'm afraid."
The Darklops attacks next, and Julia looks on with interest. It goes for a haymaker, and Julia turns it away with a shifting of a claw.
"Are you that giant man from before - no, you're not, are you...?" She murmurs consideringly. She's faced Ultraman Zero before, and it so much resembles him. It is strange, too, that this imitation is here, facing her... Well, it's an opportunity to see what it's capable of. The Dynamo Queen's upper body spins, lashing out with claws!
Alouette's response, meanwhile... Well, Julia can't blame her for not being impressed.
"I'm glad you at least appreciate my methodology. It would put quite the damper on things were I to harm something truly valuable." Julia admits. Alouette's machine produces a rapier. It's hard to block a giant claw with a blade like that - but it certainly proves very effective at limiting her movements. "Ah, rather clever."
She can't do anything too fancy, but... there are some things she can still do. She attempts to use the sheer weight of the claws against Guardian Aviaire, raising them up and dropping them down, one after the other!
Still, it makes defending her Electrocrawlers against what comes next very difficult - but, thankfully, the Dynamo Queen is equipped for such matters. An explosive kunai sails toward them... and a bolt of lightning emits from the turrets, zapping it in mid-air and detonating it before it can reach them!
"Tsk, tsk... Don't think I'll allow you to harm my darlings so easily. Give that one a reminder of what you're capable of, would you?" Julia replies. At her bidding, some Electrocrawlers detach from the swarm, looking to leap onto and attach themselves to Sayoko's Savage! They grapple the machine, and attempt to drain it of fuel.
Liam is next, and he points out that she's with 'them'. Julia frowns, just slightly.
"...You're quite right. Things have been quiet thus far, but do remember that there are still predators here - and they are far less discerning than I as to what they sink their teeth into." She points out. Liam draws his beam saber, and looks to capitalize on Alouette's obstruction. She can't do much to stop him - the beam saber bites into the Dynamo Queen's armor and Julia lunges into it, pointing both of the Dynamo Queen's claws directly at his Long Dagger.
Electricity builds between them - but rather than fire it off as she did before, she allows the charge to carry into whatever's caught in the middle. Namely, Liam's machine.
Anti, meanwhile... says that he believes her. But more than that... he asks what her reason for acting is. She said that she did what she did because she wanted to... but if he's asking that, does he not believe her?
"My reason for acting... Why, to entertain myself, of course." Julia replies. "...But if that answer doesn't suffice, I'm afraid you'll have to do more than simply ask."
He comes in with a straight-palmed strike. They don't inflict a lot of damage to the machine... but his movements are quick, and each one prompts a small drain on the battery as it activates the Dynamo Queen's barriers. With her claws still electrified, she lashes out with a slash!
Sousuke's Arbalest comes next. Julia is forced to disengage quickly, claws raising to intercept the shotcannon blast.
"Darlings, please give our newest friend a warm welcome, would you?" Julia bids. Her Electrocrawlers, ever obedient, aim to do just that - by unleashing a volley of electrical blasts in Sousuke's direction!
KTS: Julia Ampere targets Anti with Electrified Claw! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Liam 7-020 with Hyper Shock! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Alouette Pommier with Claw Tantrum! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Gemini Sunrise with Single Clamp! KTS: Julia Ampere targets C.C. with Spinning Claws! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Sayoko Shinozaki with Electrocrawler Draining Grapple! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Eisen Daiwel with Electric Blaster! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Sousuke Sagara with Electrocrawler Volley! KTS: Julia Ampere has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere rattles Sayoko Shinozaki, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki fails to evade Julia Ampere's Electrocrawler Draining Grapple, taking 3534 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Sayoko Shinozaki! KTS: Julia Ampere begins a Formation attack! KTS: Gemini Sunrise has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Gemini Sunrise has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Gemini Sunrise has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Gemini Sunrise rushes into the attack! KTS: Gemini Sunrise successfully avoids Julia Ampere's Single Clamp KTS: Alouette Pommier fails to Parry Julia Ampere's Claw Tantrum, taking 5280 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Alouette Pommier! KTS: Eisen Daiwel's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere rattles Eisen Daiwel, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Eisen Daiwel blocks Julia Ampere's Electric Blaster, taking 4920 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Anti fails to rush. KTS: Anti partially guards Julia Ampere's Electrified Claw, taking 6120 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Anti! KTS: C.C. has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: C.C. fails to retreat. KTS: C.C. fails to react to Julia Ampere's Spinning Claws, taking 6760 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged C.C.! KTS: Julia Ampere rattles Liam 7-020, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Liam 7-020 blocks Julia Ampere's Hyper Shock, taking 4371 damage! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Liam 7-020! KTS: Sousuke Sagara partially guards Julia Ampere's Electrocrawler Volley, taking 5880 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Eisen Daiwel has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Eisen Daiwel has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Gemini Sunrise has posed.
With a grunt, Geminine again fires her thrusters, boosting through the attack to slide under the clamp before it can grab her. The approach brings her over to the other side of the Dynamo Queen, the armor digging its feet into the pavement to both stop and turn around.
"I'll bet you know a lot about disappointing people, huh? I don't wanna hear nothin' from a low-down, good-for-nothin', dirty varmint like you!"
With a twirl, the Rodeo STAR points its Gunbarrel Sword directly at the Dynamo Queen and fires off six shots from the hip, like an Arizona Ranger unloading into Texas Red.
KTS: Gemini Sunrise targets Julia Ampere with Quick Draw! KTS: Gemini Sunrise has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere rushes into the attack! KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Gemini Sunrise's Quick Draw, taking 1819 damage! <Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
Cyzarine? That is a surprise; Milly turns to face her, lowering her megaphone for now. She can have a side conversation. It's fine. It's fine! It's fine.
"Actually, she's a new friend of mine," she answers, quite honestly. "And up until now she's been... a little suspicious, but that's kind of... well, everyone's kind of suspicious. I could have guessed this a bit, but it's not the kind of thing I'm happy to be right about."
She reaches into her bag, producing a second pair of earplugs -- just in case.
"I'm going to be using a megaphone," Milly explains, "So you're probably going to want these." She gives her a minute to put them on... before turning her attention back to the battle -- and to Julia.
"I'm not impressed," she eventually settles for. ... causing chaos 'to entertain herself,' with a secondary reason known only to her, though...
Milly finds herself at a rare loss for words. The megaphone clicks back off. A little time to process would be in order, she thinks.
<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.
Eisen keeps feeling that sensation. The burning past his cheeks. Voices ring in the background, in the battlefield, but they all seem more distant than usual. Everything has this strange feeling to it, like he's behind a window, listening to it all from afar. Even as the pain cuts at him, waking him up slowly, he's looking for something to grab onto.
Julia's reply confuses the youth, it doesn't give him what he needs. The Carestia takes a step back, as he watches the electrical surge begin to build. Somewhere, at the back of his mind, he can hear the support staff call out to him. Except, they're not there. He's gone through so many simulations now, he can practically predict their words. High energy signature incoming!
The burst comes, and the Carestia, it takes it. It stands there, facing it, and lets it tear across its body. Immediately, the tearing burst ripples across. Armor plates superheats, the pain gets louder. Eisen grits his teeth, hissing, trying to find it. Find himself. Something to latch onto. Anything.
And then he finds it. The easiest emotion. A disappointing emotion. Cheap. Dirty. Yet even in this mood, in this state, he can find it. Anger!
> Why, to entertain myself, of course.
As the electric power still surges across Carestia, threatening to bring it down to a leg, its eyes suddenly flash. Amidst the pain, Eisen collects that little marble of anger, and uses it. As he finds that other part within the Evangelion he is looking for. Carestia itself.
The entire machine seems to come to life. That green flicker turns into a bold light, and a series of hexagons suddenly push outwards from itself, as it brings one arm to the side. "CARESTIA!" No need to communicate. No need to think. Just focus on that little bead.
The Evangelion roars, bringing its head up into the air, shouting to the skies, before it goes through its legs, and jumps into the melee that has started to form. <"ONYCHECTOMY! FIRST WAVE!">
"There you are... I've been looking for you." Eisen whispers within the Cockpit, as the searing LCL continues to burn across his body. Muscles tense within his body. Muscles tense across Carestia. The springing sprint coming down near Julia's Dynamo Queen in an attempt to grab hold of one of its claws between its arms, and to press it to its chest. The sudden whine as the Progressive Claws activate, and seek to dig into it. His focus on the larger target, instead of the swarm.
<"DROSSELMEYER'S EEEEEND!">
KTS: Eisen Daiwel targets Julia Ampere with Rending Devastation! KTS: Eisen Daiwel has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Eisen Daiwel enervates Julia Ampere, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Eisen Daiwel's Rending Devastation, taking 5070 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Eisen Daiwel's Experience This Curse With Me! activates, causing Deject! KTS: Eisen Daiwel has engaged Julia Ampere! <Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Alouette's scheme proves successful, as an ally has her back, with the familiar sight of a Long Dagger rushing in for a beam saber strike. When she hears the voice, she smiles - who better to back her up on an anti-BioNet mission? "Ah! Merci, Liam!"
The Aile Rapier, though sturdy, can't hold for much longer, unfortunately, which the Dynamo Queen promptly responds to by devastatingly making use of the sheer weight of her claws. The Program Matter making up the rapier fades, causing Guardienne Aviaire to be sent flying backwards. "Answering a trick move with brute force.., that was pretty clever yourself."
Contrary to her previous non-answer, Julia actually gives away a pretty interesting piece of data... she's perfectly aware of the other BioNet operatives preying on Tsutsujidai's situation. Alouette knows Renais was chasing down Ken Shinjo, but as far as she's aware she hasn't made much headway. "Wouldn't it be nice to call a truce against these so-called predators?" Alouette wonders aloud. "But even if I hate it, I understand how you think... your game comes first, right?"
Focusing again on the battle, coming up so close to the Dynamo Queen allowed her to recognize that machine had a barrier - as bullets and blades alike continued to bounce off it. As it happens, Alouette knows a perfect counter to such a tactic...
"Program Ring PLUS!" The arm of destruction that had previously held the Aile Rapier begins to violently spin and build speed until it transforms into a claw-like talon of her own. "BROKEN PHANTOM!" The talon-claw, aided by the Program Ring, jolts towards the Dynamo Queen, taking out a few Electrocrawlers in its wake.
KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Liam 7-020 KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Julia Ampere with Broken Phantom! KTS: Alouette Pommier has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Sayoko Shinozaki has posed.
A bolt of electricity suddenly strikes her thrown kunai, detonating it before it can reach its target. Sayoko hadn't expected that. Though to be fair, she doesn't have a lot of experience to draw on here. She'll just have to make do!
The Savage is still running as the Electrocrawlers start throwing themselves towards it. It weaves and ducks its way around the swarming machines. But their numbers and the continued need to evade them is wearing the old Savage down. Until finally something in its leg audibly breaks and the machine takes a tumble.
Sayoko grunts a little as she struggles to get her machine to rise again. Some of the Electrocrawlers are attached to it, apparently draining its fuel!? Given that the apparently abandoned machine didn't have a lot to begin with, it probably won't last much longer.
Sayoko takes a deep breath for a moment...
Focus...
Remember your training...
1/2 teaspoon of detergent. 1 teaspoon of vinegar. 1 cup... Wait, wrong training.
The Savage takes advantage of the low gravity to leap into the air with its one and a half functional legs, gaining a better angle to try and strike the source of the drones now draining it. Reaching behind it, another kunai is produced. Though hoping to a void a repeat of before, this one doesn't explode.
It is, however, quite sharp!
The kunai is thrown towards the Dynamo Queen.
KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki targets Julia Ampere with Kunai Throw! KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.
Graciously, C.C. takes the earplugs and sticks them in, getting herself a nice, secure seat on the edge of the roof, like you do, legs swaying aimlessly. She ties her hair back into a low, loose ponytail, since the wind's whipping around quite fiercely. That said, she does wince quite a bit when those whirling claws tear into her Darklops' armor, a grimace on her cheeks.
"The connection's good, but I wonder if it's impacting the results. Such a pain," she muses aloud, once Milly's finished her proclamation to Julia, and she slowly pulls her earplugs away to give Milly a lazy, hand-under-chin appraisal. "Well, that's a wonderful thing to hear. Knowing interesting people is half of the battle in this world. The real challenge is how you get everything good from them right up until they become a problem in need of dropping. The truly skilled know how to bobble them like a yo-yo, there when they need them, out of sight when they don't~"
The Darklops takes a backflip that careens out out of the way of one of Sayoko's kunai, and that odd sense of 'is this someone I know?' flares up again for C.C., immediately thinking on if she's met any ninja. Todoh...is a samurai, and he'd surely take intense offense to being called a ninja. But maybe he knows some? Can there be peace between their kinds?
...For a moment, Sayoko can surely feel it. From somewhere distant, there's a bit of...'extra information' flashing in her mind. Heightened instincts from her training kicking in? It's subtle enough that it might be just that...a little more intuition on where Julia's Dynamo Queen is liable to move next - where its weak points might be. And with a lazy little yawn, C.C. raises her hand, emanating a thought of, ((Alright, it's time to stop playing around. Give it your biggest beam, please.)), and the Darklops makes a swirl with its arms, in a mockery of the Ultraman it was made to imitate - before a powerful, purple-black swirl of energy radiates form its forearm, arcing towards the Dynamo Queen's head!
KTS: C.C. has activated the Attune Spirit Command targeting Sayoko Shinozaki KTS: C.C. has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: C.C. targets Julia Ampere with Darklops Shot! KTS: C.C. has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki targets Julia Ampere with Kunai Throw! KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Alouette Pommier's Broken Phantom, taking 5880 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Alouette Pommier's Vividity activates, causing Designate L1! <Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
Sousuke yelps, "What is she DOING!?"
<<She appears to be yelling at the science criminal with a megaphone, Sergeant.>>
"NOT WHAT I MEAN, AL"
<<Please clarify. I do not understand the inquiry.>>
Sousuke seethes in a breath and hisses, "Guess!" as he scans around the field with his eyes, Arbalest's head dashing left and right as the Dynamo Queen skitters away and leaves Electrocrawlers in her wake. "Hell. AL! Lambda Driver!" <<Roger.>>
Sousuke thrusts Arbalest's arm forward, and..
Absolutely nothing happens except lightning crackling across Arbalest's frame. "NNGH!" Sousuke calls out, the machine rattling and jerking from the irregular power surges. "What was that, AL!?"
<<Lambda Driver reports activation failure.>>
"Why!?"
<<I don't know.>> AL's usual reply. But while Sousuke's building up a FULL head of steam about it, AL adds, <<I will analyze. Please continue combat.>>
That cools him off. "....good. Can do," he says, attempting to come off measured. He hooks the shotcannon on his back and then whips the monomolecular cutter from the armpit weapon rack, then immediately charges toward Dynamo Queen. He has no particular standing or personal investment, though...
His eyes drag across the part of his monitor that still has a picture-in-picture of Milly and C.C. standing on a rooftop, one of them shouting into a megaphone.
He can't let her be harmed.
He surges to the Dynamo Queen and drives his knife in, carving through armor with the scream of monomolecular metal.
KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Julia Ampere with GRAW-2 Monomolecular Cutter Thrust! KTS: Sousuke Sagara has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Alouette isn't the only one who flashes back to Ken Shinjo, in that moment. While it's hard to forget anything he felt in that fight--the terror of seeing the Nameless Kaiju ripping Gridman's armor off, the relief and pride at Gridknight's appearance--what sticks in his craw is how thoroughly Ken Shinjo's robots beat him. Anger surges in his chest, despite his efforts to choke it down. "You," he grates out.
Electricity rips through the air, and the Long Dagger is caught directly in its path. Liam hits the jets, sends the suit flying up and back; the shield drops from its mount, and clamps into place on the forearm. It doesn't do much beyond providing more nominally-insulated material for the electrical discharge to pass through. The Long Dagger smokes, jerks violently, and drops to the ground. In the cockpit, Liam stares intently at the surge protectors. Two of them shorted out. Not good.
Liam tries to keep the pressure on, but one thing he's learned is that the Dynamo Queen is a great, mighty tank of a machine. He needs to destabilize it, like Alouette did, earlier. He can't do that right now, but if he can just make an opening... He kills the jets, lets the Long Dagger fall out of the air; it hits the street with a heavy THUD, shaking the windows of nearby buildings. It then jets forwards, making a quick, violent ram with its shield held out to soak the impact.
Liam's hands are tightened, white-knuckle, around the controls. At some point, he hunched over in his seat, the restraints tensing as they hold him back.
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Julia Ampere with Shield Bash! KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Julia Ampere with Shield Bash! KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere fails to intercept Sayoko Shinozaki's Kunai Throw, taking 4230 damage! KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere blocks C.C.'s Darklops Shot, taking 1680 damage! KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Sousuke Sagara's GRAW-2 Monomolecular Cutter Thrust, taking 3198 damage! KTS: Sousuke Sagara has engaged Julia Ampere! <Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.
She's discerning -- names value.
And that's why Anti asks.
"You're watching where you're stepping," Gridknight points out, stern. "Is that entertaining?"
He moves into that electrified strike, but it's still electrified -- it zaps his suit quite thoroughly! "Gh," Gridknight says, staggering back a heavy step. (He does not step on Milly. He moved in the other direction.)
His visor turns to regard the others -- and back to the Dynamo Queen. "Not everyone's taking this so lightly. But... you're not, either, are you?!"
He springs forward again, hands to the pavement before he launches himself up in a handspring to lash his legs around the crablike body of Dynamo Queen -- trying to swing it down, with his momentum, into the ground.
Anti would grapple a crab.
KTS: Anti targets Julia Ampere with Gridknight Headscissors! KTS: Anti has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere rushes into the attack! KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Liam 7-020's Shield Bash, taking 1889 damage! KTS: Liam 7-020 has engaged Julia Ampere! KTS: Julia Ampere fails to rush. KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Anti's Gridknight Headscissors, taking 2378 damage! KTS: Anti repulses Julia Ampere, forcing her to disengage.
<Pose Tracker> Julia Ampere has posed.
Geminine manages to get out of range of the attack, just in time to avoid getting grabbed. Julia raises an eyebrow, slightly impressed. She will admit, that was rather quick thinking. She smirks, though, at the response that reaches her.
"My. Your words cut even deeper than your blade, my dear! But I'm afraid that for the duration of this encounter you have no choice but to hear from me. 'Tis the price of admission, you see!" Julia replies with a chuckle. The Rodeo Star points its weapon at her and opens fire, six times. The Dynamo Queen rushes her down... but this turns out to be a feint, as the Electrocrawlers have taken the opportunity to flank the Rodeo STAR, opening fire at her back!
And then, there's Milly. Julia frowns a little as she says she's not impressed. ...Well, can she blame her for that, really?
"...I suppose that is to be expected." Julia admits, her tone reluctant. Ah, she really is good at disappointing people, isn't she...? ...Well. It's inevitable in this line of work, she supposes.
Eisen sprints toward the Dynamo Queen, looking to grasp one of the claws and dig in with his own. His claw bites deep... and a grin crosses Julia's face. Well then! She is perfectly agreeable to meeting claw with claw.
She rips the claw from his grasp, and then both of the Dynamo Queen's claws lunge in. Carestia is large than her machine is, but there's still plenty of room for the Dynamo Queen to grab onto. They squeeze, looking to crush what they can and limit the Evangelion's ability to move.
"Why, thank you." Julia replies, pleased at the compliment from Alouette. ...But she wonders aloud if it would be nice to call a truce. Well, she's clearly just thinking aloud, so Julia doesn't respond to that.
...Any way she could respond to it would put her in a difficult situation, really, so perhaps it's for the best.
"All too true." Julia agrees - that, at least, is a safe answer. The game is quite important, as are the theatrics around it.
But Alouette has had some time to figure her out, and she has a technique for this situation. Heralded by the popping sounds of Electrocrawlers destroyed in her wake, Alouette advances. The Broken Phantom makes its way through the Dynamo Queen's barrier, and even its claws - Guardienne Aviaire's own talon-claw digging in deep into the machine's main body.
"Watch your back, my dear... I'm afraid your daring action has made my darlings quite upset." Julia warns. While Alouette's focus is on the Dynamo Queen the Electrocrawlers advance toward her machine, lashing out with whip-like cables!
But Julia is also distracted, and Sayoko's acrobatics put her in a good position to launch an attack. With a leap, the Savage sends a kunai hurling right toward the Dynamo Queen! Like before, its defenses kick in, reflexively firing a bolt of lightning in its direction... this time, however, as predicted it only chars the kunai rather than halt its advance. It buries itself into the Dynamo Queen, jabbing into the armor!
The Darklops performs a gesture, emitting a beam - and this at least, is something the Dynamo Queen can defend against. The claws are raised to protect the Dynamo Queen's head, barrier flaring to life. The force of the beam pushes the machine back... but the Dynamo Queen lunges forward, breaking through!
The Arbalest charges toward her next, drawing out a monomolecular cutter and aiming to drive the knife in! One of the claws moves in to grapple the knife before it can cut in too deeply. This proves advantageous - with the way the monomolecular knife shears right through metal, she would've been in quite a bit of trouble. The claws push back, looking to clear some space.
...Right as Liam charges in - dropping from the sky and then rushing her. Julia rushes right back, looking to slam right into the Long Dagger with its full weight.
"Reckless. Quite reckless - but I respect it!" Julia replies. She points one of the claws at him, opening fire with a burst of electricity. But that's not all. "Darlings - give him a hand, won't you?"
The 'hand', unfortunately... is a swarm - they follow directly after her, concentrating their attack on the exact same location to maximise damage.
And Anti - calls out out. Points out what she's doing.
"...Ah, well. I suppose it isn't." She admits. "But I would be little more than a common bandit were I to not consider my situation, you see. I have standards, of course."
Not everyone's taking it lightly, he says... not even her. ...Julia smirks, just slightly.
"...You are an observant one, aren't you?" She wonders. Can he truly see right through her? She doesn't give a more concrete answer - not in the least because he has launches himself at her, grappled the Dynamo Queen with his legs, and slammed her into the ground.
Julia lands with an 'oof', and finds herself, briefly, slightly disoriented. It's... a clever tactic, certainly. The Dynamo Queen's legs wiggle in mid-air, as it finds itself overturned. One might think an overturned crab a sitting duck - but, she's prepared for this. The Dynamo Queen's arms stretch out and its body begins to spin, claws lashing out toward Gridknight even as the motion gives it just enough lift itself back up.
"Well now! You've all done quite well so far... But be careful - the weather can change at any moment, you know." Julia warns. As she says this, a hatch on the back of her machine opens up, launching something into the sky. She points her claws at it, blasting it with electricity - and in response, bolts of lightning pour down into the area!
The strikes seem random... but, they keep completely clear of the building on which Milly and C.C. stand, making sure not to bring harm to either of them.
KTS: Julia Ampere has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Julia Ampere has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Julia Ampere has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Julia Ampere targets Anti with Spinning Claws! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Liam 7-020 with Electrocrawler Focused Attack! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Alouette Pommier with Electrocrawler Charge! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Gemini Sunrise with Electrocrawler Flanking Attack! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Eisen Daiwel with Double Clamp! KTS: Julia_Ampere Changes attack to Sayoko Shinozaki, C.C., and Sousuke Sagara with Lightning Storm. KTS: Eisen Daiwel has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Eisen Daiwel has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Eisen Daiwel's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere anchors Eisen Daiwel, forcing him into close range. KTS: Eisen Daiwel blocks Julia Ampere's Double Clamp, taking 7200 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Eisen Daiwel! KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki partially guards Julia Ampere's Lightning Storm, taking 7410 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki has been defeated! KTS: Julia Ampere completes the Formation attack! KTS: C.C. has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: C.C. has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: C.C. has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: C.C. fails to retreat. KTS: C.C. fails to evade Julia Ampere's Lightning Storm, taking 4750 damage! KTS: C.C. has been defeated! KTS: Anti fails to parry Julia Ampere's Spinning Claws, taking 6760 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Anti has been defeated! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Anti! KTS: Alouette Pommier has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Alouette Pommier blocks Julia Ampere's Electrocrawler Charge, taking 3360 damage! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Alouette Pommier! KTS: Sousuke Sagara fails to rush. KTS: Sousuke Sagara partially guards Julia Ampere's Lightning Storm, taking 6500 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Liam 7-020 fails to Parry Julia Ampere's Electrocrawler Focused Attack, taking 5670 damage! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Liam 7-020! <Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.
Gridknight is observant. He is also coming into close quarters with a crab, because one might observe that crabs have difficulty, on their backs.
This, tragically, is an observation disproved by reality.
Gridknight juggles those claws, grasping one-and-the-other-and-the-other, and finally the Dynamo Queen uses its momentum to right itself -- and Gridknight, moving with its motion, goes flying off into the distance. Crash!
The building's been evacuated by now. It's fine. The repair robots might have something to deal with, though.
"I'll withdraw for now," Gridknight calls, the lamp atop his head flashing. "... but I think this one is more complicated than it looks."
With that advice to his allies (his friends), the giant Gridknight disappears, in a flash of light. Meanwhile, a small boy starts moving through the streets, taking a wide berth around the battle.
<Pose Tracker> Sayoko Shinozaki has posed.
Sayoko doesn't think much on the sudden spark of inspiration. It's probably just long dormant battle intuition rising to the surface again. It HAS been a while since she's been in a dangerous situation.
One that is only getting more so as lightning begins to fall from the sky. There's not much Sayoko can do against such force, not with what she currently has. So she can only endure it as the energy courses through her machine, systems frying left and right, sparks flashing, functions going off line. Sayoko quickly reaches for an emergency handle.
The Savage is still in the air from its leap when the lightning strikes and shortly afterwards there is an blast of smoke as the machine is quickly fried. No longer a leap but now a free fall, it crashes down unceremoniously to the ground, collapsing into a lifeless heap.
Completely unrelated, Sayoko speaks up from behind Milly and C.C. on the roof of the building, "Miss Milly, this situation is not looking good. Perhaps it is not safe to remain here?" Wait, when did she get there? Was she always there? As a maid, Sayoko has always been good at keeping her presence minimal. Perhaps she has been and she just wasn't noticed until now. Besides, the elevator hasn't moved in some time and how else would she get up here?
KTS: Sayoko Shinozaki's RK-92 Savage has been disabled. <Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.
Pain!
The claws of the Dynamo Queen find the Carestia lacking its usual luster and ability to defend itself. The Evangelion's A.T. field flickering, instead of burning bright before its claws as it clamps on, and SQUEEZES! Grinding into its legs, as Eisen cries out in pain within the cockpit.
There's no support staff to cut or lower the intensity of his connection to the Carestia in this moment. The machine comes down to one leg, as Eisen feels that pain around his legs. A flash. A memory. As his breathing labors, there is a moment in which he sees 'Gridman' within that damned wheelchair.
As he feels the pain grip down on his own legs, the Carestia tries to grab hold of the Dynamo Queen once more. Its attempt to lean forward soon met with another challenge, as the lightning bursts down from the skies.
"Carestia!" A hand rises, and an A.T. field catches the fierce and dangerous electricity coming down upon it. Worry flashes before his very eyes. His focus isn't quite there. He can feel even Carestia's focus slip. A dizziness in his head as this fierce opponent is putting them all on the back foot!
Gridknight retreats. Another falls further in the distance to the swarm itself.
Damage being taken, but is this all worth it? What, is he going to surrender. The Eisen Daiwel, surrender!?
The pain blinds his ability to think about this clearly, as the Carestia begins to fall forward, and answers by pushing. Its wings slamming into the ground, pinions moving like disgusting centipede-like walkers. Helping it forward like some kind of horrific monster. Reflecting a part of Eisen in that moment.
It isn't beautiful. It isn't a well strategized assault. It's pure unadulterated desperation. And it looks just... ugly. Rapidly approaching, wing-pinions, legs, arms, crawling, trying to grab at the side of one of those pinchers this time. Its tail swaying through the streets, trying to crush some of the swarms as it maw opens - showing its violent teeth. Seeking to tear into the joint leading to at least one of those claws, and to just tear into it like some kind of land-shark! If its claws can't do enough damage, then maybe a more violent tearing is required!
KTS: Eisen Daiwel targets Julia Ampere with Devour! KTS: Eisen Daiwel has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: [Spirit Defense] Julia Ampere's Unassailable Ego activates, and her spirit endures. KTS: Eisen Daiwel enervates Julia Ampere, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Eisen Daiwel rattles Julia Ampere, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Julia Ampere blocks Eisen Daiwel's Devour, taking 7320 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Eisen Daiwel's Experience This Curse With Me! activates, causing Deject! KTS: Eisen Daiwel has engaged Julia Ampere! KTS: Gemini Sunrise has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Gemini Sunrise rushes into the attack! KTS: Gemini Sunrise partially guards Julia Ampere's Electrocrawler Flanking Attack, taking 6480 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Julia Ampere begins a Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Julia deigns only to respond to Alouette's comment about the game - the theatrics. That's all well and good, but her response to Gridknight and her discretion when it comes to evacuees and buildings suggests there's something more at stake.
Regardless, the Broken Phantom strikes true, breaking the Dynamo Queen's defences and dealing some significant damage to its internals.
But as the Broken Phantom lodges itself back onto Guardienne Aviaire's arms, Julia warns her about the electrocrawlers' fury. "EMISSION!" She heeds it, summoning the Guardienne Shield in attempt to ward off the hoarde of angry bug-robots with whip-cables.
The battle does not look to be in their favour, as several machines are defeated and even Gridknight makes his retreat - before letting them all know he thinks there's something more to this situation. "...I agree, something's not right. Take care, Gridknight!" She calls.
Meanwhile, Guardienne Aviaire is still direly surrounded by electrocrawlers...! There's a much more practical way to take care of these pests, isn't there? Alouette prepares to transform them into light.
Alouette deploys the Program Ring, unleashing the maximum power of the fake, but no less effective GS-Ride. "Guardienne... FLASH!" Alouette shouts, as a massive beam of light envelops the nearby electrocrawlers, and unfortunately for Julia, is sure to deal considerable damage to her Dynamo Queen as well.
<Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
"I think that's kind of a callous way to look at it," Milly answers Cyzarine, making a bit of a face. "I don't think the way you solve a problem is by dropping it." Milly, ever the problem-solver for everyone but herself. The idea of managing people as a skill isn't a foreign one, but to hear it spelled out like that...
... then again, it's not as though Milly hasn't done her share of indelicate movement. The more she thinks about this the more she isn't sure how to feel about any component of it, actually.
She brings her megaphone back to her face, though, and gives Cyzarine a moment to reseat her ear protection.
She notices that Julia, too, is taking the time and effort to move the fight away from Milly and Cyzarine, despite the seeming random nature of her strikes. ... what should she even say to this?
"... I don't think anything I say to you right now is going to change things. Let's talk later," is what she settles for.
KTS: Julia Ampere has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Alouette Pommier KTS: Alouette Pommier targets Julia Ampere with Guardienne Flash! KTS: Alouette Pommier has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
Arbalest does some solid damage but is ultimately forced aside. The machine skids backward. "AL, do you have anything!?"
<<POIs unharmed. Enemy appears to be avoiding targeting them.>>
"For the electricity!?"
<<Negative. Outputs exceed all conventional electrostatic defense.>>
Sousuke curses, preparing to thrust back in, but he has to dodge his way through a lightning storm, first, which...he fails to do. He thinks he's getting in close, but a spear of electricity blasts completely through the Arbalest and SOUSUKE feels it, despite an insulated cockpit, a sharp scream echoing in through the central body.
<<Class A damage,>> AL states. <<We cannot continue much further in this state.>>
Sousuke bares his teeth and pulls back his arm a hair, bending his knees just a fraction. "I'll make that judgment!" he barks, and then Arbalest SURGES at the Dynamo Queen, driving the monocutter in DEEP and trying to saw completely through one of those arms.
KTS: Sousuke Sagara targets Julia Ampere with GRAW-2 Monomolecular Cutter Press! KTS: Sousuke Sagara has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Alouette Pommier's Guardienne Flash, taking 3190 damage! KTS: Alouette Pommier roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her vulnerable. <Pose Tracker> Gemini Sunrise has posed.
Geminine rushes into the Electrocrawlers to bodycheck them, but takes the majority of their attack. Julia...had a really annoying voice. Geminine hated it. The smug sense of superiority...she thinks she's BETTER than us...they all do. That's why we can only count on each other.
I'm seeing red.
We're seeing red.
Geminine, please calm down.
You have to be hearing her, Gemini!
Geminine raises the Gunbarrel Sword.
"All my feelings...gathered in my blade!"
She leaps. She knows this is probably her last attack. But anything to shut her up.
"My whole soul...is on edge!"
Her sword comes down, slicing the air itself in front of her. A brilliant sun of spirit energy blazes in front of her.
"RUMBLING WHEEL!"
The ball of energy launches directly into the center of the Dynamo Queen!
KTS: Gemini Sunrise targets Julia Ampere with Rumbling Wheel! KTS: Gemini Sunrise has completed their actions for the round. Liam 7-020 transforms to GAT-01D Long Dagger
KTS: Liam 7-020 has changed loadout. <Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.
A slight sigh from C.C., as the Darklops tumbles and crashes with a loud, screeching sputter, the storm of lightning sizzling its internals, crumbling the machine first to pieces...then dissolving it into showers of particles that sizzle and fade away. "What a disappointment," C.C. muses aloud, then, covering herself since Milly's in earshot. "People who get far too strong and indomitable get full of themselves. Isn't that what you're worried about, Milly? She's someone who's crossed a bridge somewhere - and today's result might validate all this havoc she's getting up to. Unfortunately, that gut instinct is right, and it's only going to get a little harder to break through to her..."
Even C.C. is surprised when Sayoko appears on the rooftop so shortly afterwards - eyes fixating on her just a little bit. Similar aura...no, it's changed. It's different. Or is that 'familiarity' she was feeling this whole time just that Sayoko was somewhere nearby? Perplexing. The maid isn't someone who makes any part of her very well known, so all C.C. can ever conclude is that...she's just a very diligent maid.
All the same, a smile crosses her lips. "Oh, don't worry. That woman who's off her rocker doesn't want to hurt Milly. Maybe I got an inkling of that and that's why I'm here, because it's the safest spot in Tsutsujidai right now." A little twirl of her umbrella to flick away the rain, her smile getting cattier at Sayoko. "Both you and Milly here have been so busy here, I admire it. It's hard for me to do much more than laze around, even though I'm caught up in this. But then, both of you are hard workers by nature - are you finding this mess a little bit stimulating, by any chance?~"
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
The Long Dagger reverses trajectory once again, burning its jets as it rockets up and away from its foe. Liam is playing fast and loose with the G-forces, like usual, because he can afford to. But the Electrocrawlers--which Liam has been trying to avoid--get much more proactive, at Julia's command. The Mobile Suit touches down, and a moment later, it's swarmed. Several of the larger machines grapple its torso and drag it off its feet. It lands on its back with a heavy CRUNCH, and disappears beneath the spindly limbs and arcing current. There's a horrible metallic screeching noise as the Electrocrawlers start sawing through the armor.
Liam bares his teeth and presses the small side-panel labeled ARMOR PURGE.
A blinding light erupts from beneath the pile. What's left of the Fortestra explodes from the Long Dagger's frame, potentially carrying Electrocrawlers with it--or destroying them outright. Beneath is the ragged, wounded Long Dagger, which has retrieved a new weapon from its mount: something like a beam naginata, but with a blade built more like a spear's. Liam lets out a wordless roar as he lunges, trying to bury the thing in the Dynamo Queen's underbelly, and then drag it across its frame. It's so heavily-armored the cockpit is likely not in danger, but Liam is not thinking about Julia's safety right now.
He's going to have mixed feelings about that later.
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Julia Ampere with Beam Spear Combo! KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: [Spirit Defense] Julia Ampere's Unassailable Ego activates, and her spirit endures. KTS: Sousuke Sagara enervates Julia Ampere, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Sousuke Sagara's GRAW-2 Monomolecular Cutter Press, taking 5040 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Sousuke Sagara's Where'd He Go!? activates, causing Deject! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Sousuke Sagara's Battlefield Mastery activates, causing Control Bonus! KTS: Sousuke Sagara has engaged Julia Ampere! Renais Cardiff teleports in.
KTS: Julia Ampere rushes into the attack! KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Gemini Sunrise's Rumbling Wheel, taking 5002 damage! KTS: Julia Ampere rushes into the attack! KTS: Julia Ampere's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere partially guards Liam 7-020's Beam Spear Combo, taking 6720 damage! KTS: Liam 7-020 has engaged Julia Ampere!
<Pose Tracker> Julia Ampere has posed.
Gridknight is thrown away into a building... and disappears, in a flash of light. Julia frowns, briefly. ...Hm, was that too much? No, he should be fine. The Savage is disabled as well, however. Julia makes a mental note to check on it later. The Darklops falls as well... she's less concerned about that one.
The Carestia, however, is still standing - or, falling...? It drops to the ground, and begins to move like a creature with far too many legs. It's... Julia frowns, just slightly.
"You've lost yourself, haven't you?" She comments, slightly disappointed. It's a desperate attack - but desperation decisively does not mean weakness, as the Evangelion tries to bite and tear. Julia grimaces. She's manuvering to minimize the damage, but there's only so much she can do. "...I think you need to be shocked back to your senses, hm?"
Carestia is in close range... so, Julia attempts to press both claws against it and discharge as much electricity as she can into it.
Alouette is surrounded... but, she has a plan. She unleashes the full power of her machine... and a beam of light envelops the area. The Dynamo Queen braces itself to minimize the damage... but her Electrocrawlers are less fortunate. Where the light passes, they pop - and the Dynamo Queen itself comes out looking a little worse for wear afterward, too.
"...Impressive. Quite impressive." Julia notes. ...A part of her is upset, of course, about the massive losses to her Electrocrawlers. But there's a certain excitement to being pushed this far, too. Claws still electrified, the Dynamo Queen lunges in delivering a strong, shocking claw strike.
Milly says that anything she says right now won't change anything - that they should talk later.
"...Yes. We should." She agrees.
Despite how much damage the Arbalest has taken, it surges in again - past the Dynamo Queen's claws, looking to drive the monomolecular cutter into and through the arm connecting it to the body. Julia grimaces.
"You're a persistent one... That's admirable in its own way, I suppose." She grimaces. But this close - all of the Dynamo Queen's front-faced point defense turrets are fixated on Sousuke's Arbalest. They unleash a hail of targeted beam-fire, with pinpoint accuracy.
And Geminine - Geminine gives it everything she has, with her feelings and her soul. The Dynamo Queen braces itself, as Geminine assails her with her very spirit. The Dynamo Queen's claws crack under the assault... but they hold firm.
"What a fascinating power... You are an interesting one." Julia observes. The Dynamo Queen can still fight. Its legs lower beneath it... and then, it jumps, right toward the Rodeo STAR. As it flies fires off a volley of electrical shots from its claws... and then, upon landing unleashes a pair of claw strikes, one after the other.
Liam, meanwhile, purges his machine's armor in a blinding flash - the Electrocrawler's dogpiling him don't survive the encounter. That's the last of them, too - leaving Julia well and truly on her own, now. She frowns, as she realises her sensors are reading that there are none left - but Liam gives her a more immediate problem to deal with as the Long Dagger emerges from its armor, Beam Spear in hand. It rushes her down, and takes her enough by surprise that he's fully capable of jabbing that spear straight into the underbelly of the Dynamo Queen before she can react. He drags it across, carving a deep slash through the frame. The Dynamo Queen buckles, briefly - but it's still on its feet.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to get a bit rough." She warns. Both claws lash out - like with Carestia before Julia tries to grab on and clamp tight, but this time there's much less of a size difference. She isn't trying to hurt Liam - but she might very well cause the limbs of his suit to buckle.
KTS: Julia Ampere has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Julia Ampere has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Julia Ampere has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Julia Ampere targets Liam 7-020 with Double Clamp! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Alouette Pommier with Electrified Claw! KTS: Julia Ampere has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Julia Ampere targets Gemini Sunrise with Shocking Combination! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Eisen Daiwel with Hyper Shock! KTS: Julia Ampere targets Sousuke Sagara with Beam Turret Focused Fire! KTS: Julia Ampere has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Gemini Sunrise has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Gemini Sunrise has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Gemini Sunrise fails to rush. KTS: Gemini Sunrise partially guards Julia Ampere's Shocking Combination, taking 9240 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Gemini Sunrise has been defeated! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Gemini Sunrise! KTS: Julia Ampere completes the Formation attack! KTS: Alouette Pommier fails to react to Julia Ampere's Electrified Claw, taking 6120 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Alouette Pommier has been defeated! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Alouette Pommier! KTS: Liam 7-020 rushes into the attack! KTS: Julia Ampere anchors Liam 7-020, forcing him into close range. KTS: Liam 7-020 partially guards Julia Ampere's Double Clamp, taking 5330 damage! KTS: Liam 7-020 has been defeated! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Liam 7-020! KTS: Eisen Daiwel fails to retreat. KTS: Eisen Daiwel's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Julia Ampere rattles Eisen Daiwel, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Eisen Daiwel fails to react to Julia Ampere's Hyper Shock, taking 4371 damage! KTS: Eisen Daiwel has been defeated! KTS: Julia Ampere has engaged Eisen Daiwel! KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Sousuke Sagara has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
It takes a moment for Milly to realize she's been approached; she's a little preoccupied at the moment. "Sayoko?" she starts, turning to face the maid with a bit of surprise. Not a lot -- just a raised eyebrow -- but even so. "You really do have no presence when you don't want to have any presence, huh..."
She lets out a small sigh and agrees, "Perhaps we should get going. I don't mind if you stay here, Cyzarine, but I think I'm going to return to the school..."
KTS: Sousuke Sagara fails to evade Julia Ampere's Beam Turret Focused Fire, taking 5400 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Julia Ampere's Immaculate Scheme activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Sousuke Sagara has been defeated!
<Pose Tracker> Gemini Sunrise has posed.
Geminine rushes in.
It's over.
The attack connects.
I can still do it!
The STAR is out of commission.
I reckon I did pretty alright there.
"You won't get away with this forever you...you big jerk!"
Gemini is back, her voice back to its regular pitch and her peppiness returned to her. The Rodeo STAR transforms back into flight mode and weaves under the Dynamo Queen's legs to return to its empty lot.
<Pose Tracker> Eisen Daiwel has posed.
It's a pitiful display for certain. Though when it comes to what Eisen has lost, it's still something he's figuring out himself. When the electricity charges into the Carestia, it tears across its A.T. field. Halted a few times, as it seeks to tear apart its opponent. But it's all quickly sinking in.
Until finally, the machine starts to slow. Its movements grow sluggish. Its body quivers and quakes, as its pinions start to miss its steps. Like slipping across a banana, until finally it just splats out and slams to the ground, grinding and tearing up the ground, and halting. Its green lit eyes flickering once again... until the machine just lays there.
As disgust bubbles up within Eisen. Disgust with himself. Disgust that he's gotten desperate this quickly - lost himself this quickly.
That he's allowed himself to fall like this, over something so...
The Carestia remains still for the time being, while Eisen stares off into the distance within the cockpit. That feeling of emptiness in his heart unable to be ignored anymore.
It seems that he cannot run from this any longer.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
The Guardienne Flash gambit pays off considerably for getting Alouette out of immediate trouble. Unfortunately, with so much energy spent on that one attack, there's not much she can do to mitigate that giant electrified claw coming her way.
"Looks like I concede this game to you, Dynamo Queen." Guardienne Aviaire comes to a complete halt, sparks still flying from the fighting mechanoid. Losing like this, to a BioNet member, she should feel so much more terrified... but she doesn't.
"I still don't forgive BioNet," Alouette admits. "But I can at least respect the way you fight, Miss Energy Thief." It's not everyday a BioNet member cares about the surroundings they're wreaking havoc in.
And with that, Guardienne Aviaire flies away, as Alouette prepares to write up a report about the battle and its minimal, but still existent damages.
KTS: Alouette Pommier's Guardienne Aviaire has been disabled. KTS: Eisen Daiwel's Evangelion Unit-Zahllos - Carestia has been disabled. <Pose Tracker> Sayoko Shinozaki has posed.
"Ah, yes, I suppose you are right, Miss Cyzarine. Perhaps I am simply being overcautious. But I feel it is my duty, being in service to the Ashford Family, to ensure the safety of all of the academy's students while we are here, of course. Some caution is forgiveable, I imagine."
Then C.C. asks if Sayoko is stimulated. She turns her focus to watch the remainder of the battle play out, tilting her head a little bit as she does so. There's a blinding light.
It's almost pretty.
Sayoko seems as if she's trying to decide. It actually takes a while before she responds, "I suppose this is stimulating to some degree. It's not often I am this close to an active battlefield. So there is some novelty to it. Though I can't say for certain that I understand its purpose... Or rather the purpose for the woman at the center of it. But then I imagine I live a relatively simple life compared to some."
Sayoko smiles at C.C., before clarifying further, "Certainly compared to the majestic thief she appears to be. It's no wonder my comprehension is lacking."
Then Milly comments on her skill and Sayoko smiles a little bit more, "It is a maid's duty to only be seen when it is required of her." She does go on the explain further, "I was nearby when this all started. And then I noticed you were here. I thought it best to remain near." No doubt because of what she previously described.
When Milly suggests it is time to return, Sayoko bows, "Of course, Miss Milly." She then raises the bag she holds a little more into view, "My scavenging today was met with above average success. I am sure we can help provide a nice dinner tonight." She glances over as more of the robots fighting nearby are finding defeat, "I daresay the boost to morale may be necessary..."
<Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.
Finding a perch on a building he didn't just land on, Anti watches the Dynamo Queen decimate the defending forces -- but never in a way, he notes, which does too much damage. She's evidently powerful enough to crush them all, and she's clearly positioned herself as the enemy, but...
"What's with you?" Anti, now small, wonders to himself, frowning as he watches the battle.
He wonders how he should feel about calling Liam and Sousuke to fight such a strong enemy.
But, it was their decision to fight, too.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
The sensors aren't reading any functional Electrocrawlers, Liam realizes. That's... a victory. Even with access to an appropriate fabricator, it will take Julia time to replace them. She might still have the stolen goods, but at least the drones won't be an issue for the foreseeable future.
It's a brief moment of triumph, as the Long Dagger cuts open the Dynamo Queen's underbelly.
And then...
'I'm afraid I'm going to have to get a bit rough.'
Julia was not kidding.
The Dynamo Queen maneuvers deftly, giving Liam only a few moments to try to reposition--jet back, don't put too much stress on the right leg--before the claws come down. Metal groans as it compresses. Hydraulics pop. Sparks fly. Red lights up Liam's board as both of his machine's arms are nearly sheared off.
Liam grits his teeth, the muscles in his neck cording. He wants to scream. Julia isn't even as awful as the people who made him, but she's a convenient target, and if he can't deal with her then WHAT WAS IT ALL FOR, WHAT WAS ANY OF IT WORTH--
Alouette speaks up, and guilt settles into Liam's heart. He feels like a petulent child.
"Alouette," Liam transmits, "need assistance returning to base." The legs are mostly holding, but the Electrocrawlers tore one up pretty bad. It's nothing the Hermes' fabricators won't be able to repair, but...
There's more damage than just what his machine endured.
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
Complete the mission. Protect the people here. The President's up there, and some of her entourage besides. Failure's not an option. It simply is not.
<<Sergeant. Damage pattern analysis suggests-->>
"Shut UP, AL!" Sousuke snaps, rips his knife free. He's swift, ducking through the legs, juking aside. Arbalest, despite the damage, is a nimble machine, and Sousuke a daring pilot. Keeping him in sight is a difficult task.
Still, the final blow comes. Sousuke puts all his strength into sweeping away, and it simply doesn't happen, rays of light blasting Arbalest away and smashing it into the asphalt.
<<Sergeant. Further combat is not possible. Retreat is recommended at once.>>
"We can't risk that!" Sousuke yells back, and Arbalest levers itself slowly, dragging itself into an almost punch-drunk kind of attack posture. "The President--!"
<<Damage pattern analysis indicates no danger. The enemy has been avoiding her specifically.>>
Sousuke snarls at that, and brandishes the Monocutter just the same.
<<We cannot achieve victory with the ARX-7 in its current state.>>
"We couldn't do it in perfect form, either! What is the purpose of a weapon that *doesn't turn on!?*"
<<I have identified the issue as pilot error.>>
Arbalest stops moving. "What did you say!?"
<<You are a component of the ARX-7's system. The ARX System can never be completed without you.>>
<<You are unfocused. It will never achieve functionality with you in this state.>>
...
Sousuke flicks a switch. "ECS," he seethes.
<<Roger. Engaging ECS in non-invisibility mode. Highlighting recommended exit route to operations base. Would you like to discuss this matter further? It is possible that I can provide support.>>
"I would not."
The Arbalest's armor slits open, just a second or two of visibility of holographic lenses scattered across its surface, before even Minvosky-resistant scanning loses all trace of the machine, and Arbalest leaps over the rubble of a standing building, disappearing from view.
<Pose Tracker> Julia Ampere has posed.
...It's over. That's the prevailing sense. Julia relaxes, as the machines around her come to a stop. She makes no attempt to prevent anyone retreating who goes to retreat - nor does she further attack any of the disabled machines.
"You are welcome to try again any time you like, miss. You fought valiantly today - all of you did." Julia enthuses, as Gemini expresses that she won't get away with this forever. "Though I was the victor, you all deserve credit for making it worth the effort!"
Alouette concedes the game... but says that she still can't forgive BioNet, but at least respects the way you fight.
"I wouldn't ask you to. I won't claim to be unaware of what my, ah... colleagues, get up to." Julia replies. "...However, given your allegiances, your respect means much."
Liam... Julia watches his machine for a moment. He shouldn't be harmed, but there's enough machines still functional that she isn't too worried about someone coming for him.
"At any rate... this has been quite exciting. Quite worth all the trouble to set this up! Let's do this again sometime, hm?" She says... and then, she makes to leave, disappearing through the buildings.
...And, leaving the maintenance hatch she emerged from unguarded. ...Did she forget about it, in her excitement...?
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Liam's Long Dagger got it pretty bad - and he transmits a request for help.
"Liam," She responds. "There's enough room in my cockpit for at least two. We'll come back later for the Long Dagger." She offers. It's just not safe to try and leave a battlefield with a one-legged mobile suit.
If he accepts, there's plenty of room inside the medium-sized mechanoid. "Fighting - and losing to BioNet is never easy.." Alouette says quietly. "She didn't seem like a really bad person, but..." She trails off. "Let's just get back to the ships, okay? We'll have plenty of time to think about it after we get some rest, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
There's silence from both the machine and its pilot, for a long moment. Then the cockpit hatch hisses open, and the emergency ladder unfurls from within. A moment later, Liam emerges, clad in his normal suit. He pauses, glances around, and then hurriedly clambers down and all but races for Alouette's machine. He doesn't speak until she's shut the hatch.
"She didn't hurt me. I wanted to hurt her." Liam's tone is clipped and terse, edging dangerously towards his old cadence. "It hurts. How could she--I don't--understand..."
<Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.
Anti chomps a CalorieMate he was keeping in his pocket, for just such an occasion as this. (Sousuke once advised him to keep some strength in reserve, and he does tend to be rather tired, when his timer runs down.)
The Long Dagger can't fight any more... but Liam is fine. (Anti still doesn't entirely understand psychic damage.) The Arbalest won't stop fighting, even though it can't... until, all a sudden, it disappears. The Guardienne had disengaged, and the Evangelion is at a standstill. Even that angry Rodeo Woman, the copy Ultraman, and...
(Narrative note: Anti does not know what a ninja is. This is a dangerous thing not to know after having seen those kunai.)
But Julia says she set this up, and Anti wonders just what she was setting up, when the communications are all down.
Ten minutes later, after sitting down a little longer, a scrap of a boy approaches the PLANT's maintenance hatch and climbs inside to see just what Julia was up to.
<Pose Tracker> Julia Ampere has posed.
The maintenance hatch leads into the PLANT's interior - but one doesn't have to go too far to find something of interest. The lighting has gone out in this sector - either turned off to save power or damaged at some point, but it is still possible to see thanks to a string of light bulbs that have been set up along the walls, guiding one through the hallway. It's very leading - one could be forgiven for thinking it's a trap, except for those sensitive to such things there is no sense of impending danger. This place is empty - now, especially, that all of Julia's Electrocrawlers can be confirmed to have been destroyed in battle.
Following the trail of lights, eventually, leads one to a room. Whatever the original intention of this room was, it has been converted into what may be a workshop of some kind.
Taking up one section of wall is a series of metal cabinets. They've been meticulously labeled - each drawer corresponding to a section of the city, and opening them will reveal the contents as the stolen electronics. None of them appear to be damaged in any way, beyond perhaps incidental scratches.
But there are other things of interest, too. At the far end is a device resembling some manner of generator from the way it hums, into which a large yellow canister has been inserted. The canister is labeled with voltage and other such power concerns, and an electronic readout on the front lists how much power is remaining, in percentage and life expectancy. On one side, several canisters marked as empty have been set aside, their readouts declaring them to have no power left, and on the other are many full ones.
Wires connect the string of lights to this generator... but also a desk lamp on the table, pointed at what appear to be a series of schematics. Schematics for the generator as well as for the canisters are present here - as well as instructions on how to refit them to connect to and power most common generators or electrical devices.
<Pose Tracker> Anti has posed.
Anti is a very credulous boy, so he walks right into what looks like an obvious trap.
(Being fair: he also has a sword, and even at this size, he's still not really human.)
In through the trail, and into the room... Anti blinks, as he pulls open a cabinet drawer. He reaches in, and pulls out... "It's a phone," Anti narrates to the empty room, stoically. It has a cheerful case, so it clearly belongs to someone. He puts it back where he found it.
The drawers are labelled, after all. He can go to the survivors and tell them where their things are so they can come and get them, later.
He investigates the generator, instead -- and after reading the various warning labels, experimentally disengages the yellow canister and tries putting in one of the empty ones.
He watches it fill up with the expression of a cat observing a fishbowl.
"... it's charging. This is what she set up?"
Anti frowns, as he looks over the schematics.
"... if she wanted to leave this, why..." His fingers still, against the page, as he recalls.
'Those machines were BioNet.'
'Unless you'd prefer to settle this transaction BioNet-style?'
'Julia Ampere, I thought you might be better than this.'
'Scum like you don't deserve mercy!'
'Stop getting in the way of people who are legitimately trying to survive and communicate with eachother.'
'As crimes go, this is kind of petty, and your explanation is pretty cagey.'
"... even if she'd offered, we wouldn't have believed her," Anti realises, in the middle of his sentence.
He contemplates this approach.
And, in due time, he lets the others know what he has found.