2023-01-03: Die Zauberflote - Moby Dick
- Cast: Liu Mei Wang, Roger Smith, Vitaly Sokolov, Yuliana Kafim, Romilly Draid, Gary Biaggi, Regina Everhart, Juri Wu Nien, Teletha Testarossa, Banagher Links, Leina Ashta
- Where: Indian Ocean
- Date: U.C. 0097 01 03
- Summary: Colonel Garland's task force moves to intercept a Celestial Being transport - pursuing their recent acquisition of classified intel...though largely covering his own tracks.
KTS: Yuliana Kafim has deployed in Tiandong Annihilation Custom Mk. II.
<Pose Tracker> Liu Mei Wang has posed.
Aboard the bridge of the Saratoga, the next operation of the VF-X Ravens task force is presented to all participants - Colonel Wilbur Garland presenting the map of target forces and their movements through the Indian Ocean - charting, in particular, highlighting a path from eastern Arabia, through the Maldives (where the fleets are currently on standby) - and towards various estimated point ranging from India to Indonesia.
"We've discovered that terrorist forces have been siphoning key intel from bases across territory in the OAC - judging by the consistency, we suspect a handful of insider plants. These are tactics relatively unlike what we're used to with usual insurgent groups...and it's highly likely that this is closer in nature to the work of more sophisticated outfits, like Celestial Being or the Black Knights. We have reason to believe they are operating with submarines, but stop over somewhere here in the Maldives to re-organize and refuel - numerous unauthorized landings of personnel have been sighted here, in the northern atolls."
A wry smile crosses Garland's face. "We're going whale hunting, then! Operation Moby Dick - commence!"
The Saratoga and its escorts ascend from the waves in their own right - and from there, Variable Fighters launch in numerous squadrons, equipped with high-intensity scouting equipment, not too far off from what illegal whale hunters use themselves...
+++Offshore From Maalhosmadulu+++
"Look alive, everyone - someone squealed, or we may have been caught red-handed!" Mariafokina Barnrose, a green-haired Meltrandi leading the 'Vindirance' squadron - a prominent liaison to Celestial Being, alerts her own crew aboard a rugged if slightly outdated assault submarine, clicking her tongue at the detection of flocks of 'birds' homing in on their position.
"...Damn it. They're seriously on the hunt for us, I give it a few hours before they find us. ...All hands, get ready to deploy and hold them off - we've got to reach the rendezvous point in Goa by midnight-!"
With that, the submarine kicks into high gear, and mobile suits deploy as quietly as they can in its wake - awaiting the right point to leap up and hold off the Federation's advance...but it isn't too long before the engagement properly begins, gunfire exchanged between the skies and the waves in full force!
...Garland himself takes the rare opportunity to deploy, favoring a deep navy blue VF-14, an older model to be sure, and an unusual one to see in task force hands - but it's clearly seen quite a lot of combat all the same!
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has deployed in VF-14 Vampire <Fighter Mode>. KTS: Banagher Links has deployed in RX-0 Unicorn Gundam <Destroy Mode>. <Pose Tracker> Roger Smith has posed.
"Are you quite certain, sir? I believe your new associates are considered... terrorists."
"I'm well aware, Norman. I can't say I'm entirely happy with their choice of friends, but I'm choosing to give Ms. Testarossa the benefit of the doubt, today."
"Why would you choose to fight for something that doesn't make you happy, Roger Smith?"
"In order to maintain a professional relationship, it's necessary that both sides act in good faith. It would be inappropriate for me to allow my personal feelings to affect my behavior as a Negotiator. For now, I simply want to observe how Mithril and their friends choose to do business. Now! Big O! It's SHOWTIME!"
A tremendous carriage races beneath streets... beneath waves... honestly, it's unclear how it moves here, in the larger world. It certainly wasn't easy - one more reason Roger Smith is curious to cooperate with the mysterious organization asking him to intervene in this conflict.
Nevertheless, a pair of lights peer up from the gloom, first gently pink, then spotlight-gold, as the machine is righted... and bursts from the waves, a tall man in a slick black suit standing boldly in its palm! Roger Smith's watch unspools a long, thin wire, and he smoothly swings from the giant's palm to the cockpit in its chest, finding his place amongst its levers and pedals and loosening his tie.
"Federation forces! I won't insult you by asking you to turn back... but you might want to think about it." Two gloved hands find two standing levers. They swing back with force, and arms of black steel spring up, two heavy shields posed between the Valkyries and their prey, shining eyes peering from between them.
"And now... ACTION!"
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has placed a bucket with capacity 1! KTS: Gary Biaggi has placed a bucket with capacity 1! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has placed a bucket with capacity 1! KTS: Yuliana Kafim's Tiandong Annihilation Custom Mk. II has left Yuliana Kafim teleports out.
KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) KTS: Yuliana Kafim has deployed in Tiandong Annihilation Custom Mk. II. KTS: Yuliana Kafim has changed loadout. KTS: Juri Wu Nien has placed a bucket with capacity 1! KTS: Roger Smith has joined Vitaly Sokolov's bucket! KTS: Yuliana_Kafim has deployed as a Rival. KTS: Yuliana Kafim's Tiandong Annihilation Custom Mk. II has been disabled. KTS: Yuliana Kafim has deployed in Tiandong Annihilation Custom Mk. II. KTS: Yuliana_Kafim has deployed as a Boss for 2 opponents. KTS: Yuliana Kafim has changed loadout. KTS: Teletha Testarossa has deployed in TDD-1 Tuatha de Danaan. KTS: Yuliana Kafim's Tiandong Annihilation Custom Mk. II has been disabled. KTS: Yuliana Kafim has deployed in Tiandong Annihilation Custom Mk. II. KTS: Yuliana Kafim has changed loadout. KTS: Yuliana_Kafim has deployed as a Boss for 2 opponents. KTS: Yuliana Kafim has placed a bucket with capacity 2! KTS: Banagher Links has joined Yuliana Kafim's bucket! KTS: Romilly Draid has joined Mobile Weapon Team's bucket! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Accel Spirit Command and Has Engaged with Roger Smith KTS: Teletha Testarossa has joined Juri Wu Nien's bucket! KTS: Regina Everhart has joined Gary Biaggi's bucket!
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
As one of the higher ranking officers who keeps a closer watch for any kind of intelligence leaks within the Federations, Vitaly has been working as a colaborator to the task force, running scouting missions throughout the Indian Ocean itself. The Rabscuttle is uniquely qualified to seek throughout the various conditions in the water without drawing attention to itself.
When the actual mission begins, the Rabscuttle has been waiting amidst the waters as a quiet unknown looming in the dark. But she can hear the communications occuring at the top as something Great rises from the waters. Notable, a man upon its palm, entering the massive machine.
Big O. The details on this unusual machine are a relative unknown still. But she is at least familiar with the Title of the one who pilots it. A 'Negotiator'. A Professional.
So, as the Big Shields rise between Valkyrie and Prey, they draw the attention of the one meant to deal with the more unusual foes.
The water starts to show a white sheer-line approaching the Big O, only for this pale line to disappear. Suggesting something is coming for him, but not giving away whence it will come from. From behind? The sides?
No, the sudden appearance of the Mobile Armor comes from right in front. Like some kind of trilobite, splashing up to the surface. Two massive claws opening, beam emitters coming to high power immediately, trying to sink into those very shields. Slamming against the Big O in an attempt to possible push it back through the waters themselves.
<"We shall Negotiate your retreat then, yes?"> The ice cold voice of an old woman transfers through the contact-communications between the two machines.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Roger Smith with Hrududu II - Beam Claws! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
The Nega Force has leant their might to this operation -- they're in the area, broadly speaking. Yuliana made sure they had a good excuse, and she's been so very helpful to the coverup. The Nega Force are trained special operatives, so as it happens, they have quite a few skills in this area. Best not to ask too many questions why.
Meanwhile, the Celestial Being agent, Verdiska, makes a shadowy phone call during a moment alone. It's a shade more active treachery than she usually gets up to, but... let's just say Yuliana has some excellent reasons to spite her people, of late.
And of course, since she's here helping...
... that means Captain Kafim is on-hand to help.
Yuliana's fit the Annihilation with water jets in anticipation of this operation -- and the wanzer launches, crashing into the water more like a rock than a whale. (It's quite small.) Given Sokolov is on this mission, she can't risk not deploying; it would be far, far too suspicious.
If they can't take it, their resolve surely wasn't strong enough.
And so the Annihilation jets through the water, to crest back up, a horrible little shark in the waves. The emerald green machine is difficult to miss, with its flamethrower -- a flamethrower underwater, really?! -- and an axe on a chain, all coupled with those chaff launchers on its shoulders. It could do some real damage, if it got down to the submarine...
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov anchors Roger Smith, forcing him into close range. KTS: Roger Smith partially guards Vitaly Sokolov's Hrududu II - Beam Claws, taking 2160 damage! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Roger Smith!
<Pose Tracker> Romilly Draid has posed.
A seemingly inocuous fishing boat lazily drifts across the water, cutting a broad turn as its captain wisely decides to call it a day. It's a good cover--good enough that the Celestial Being agent who had been 'fishing' as part of the crew could, to this point, operate more or less in plain sight.
Romilly Draid reels in his line, tosses the cheap fishing pole to the deck, and leaves his hat in the care of a crewmate. "Don't lose sight of it, now," he says, before lifting a wristwatch to his face. "Junior, they been made. Come up and get me."
UNDERSTOOD. DECREASING DEPTH. PREPARE FOR ENTRY.
Romilly dives off the departing boat, loose flannel briefly flapping in the wind before he disappears beneath the wake. Below the water, a cyclopic blue wanzer with a butterfly painted on the cockpit rises up to meet him. It reaches out and gently catches him as the cockpit opens, ushering him inside and pumping water out of the cockpit as he settles in.
Thrusters and impellers curve the wanzer sharply away from the boat and towards the nascent engagement, its sole eye glaring blue in the deep as it dives lower, moving to get between the submarine and the Saratoga's deployed fighters.
If they picked out that sub, it won't be long 'fore they find us. Initiate Checkmate OS bootup. Begin data recording.
Romilly's hands guide the wanzer as much as his thoughts, as the interface spike slides into the port at his back. It rises from the water, heralded by a burst of misty spray, and shoulders an assault rifle with a large drum magazine, opening fire in short, controlled bursts that send bright yellow tracers screaming through the air.
KTS: Romilly Draid: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Romilly Draid targets Mobile Weapon Team with Chain Rifle Burst Fire! KTS: Romilly Draid has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.
Gary Biaggi, Lieutenant of the AEU and part time flyboy for G-Hound, all around a good normal every man, had heard about this leaked intel. Where? How? Those were details that only complicated things. The important thing was that Gary Biaggi was on the hunt for this white whale with that wonderful intel. As the discount FLAG unit , known as an Enact,descends from the clouds into the combat area it shifts into combat mode.
As the unit finishes shifting into it's combat mode it begins to descend, the feet of the ENACT skimming the water as the blade rifle sweeps across trying to find a target. Meanwhile Gary himself flips on his federation comms channel, <"Lt. Biaggi here, I am happy to be on this whale watching tour. First one who spots a whale shout out and I promise their first round is free."> Gary of course finishes it with a laugh as he continues to watch his sensors. Then of course the fun starts.
A giant robot rises from the sea and Gary can't help but frown, "Well it's a big whale, but wrong color. Oh well." The Enact raises it's rifle to begin to take aim on Big O. If only there was someone that can distract Gary and leave the giant robot to it's own fight.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Mobile Weapon Team successfully evades Romilly Draid's Chain Rifle Burst Fire
<Pose Tracker> Regina Everhart has posed.
A prominent liaison to Celestial Being is under attack. The information they've been gathering is integral and, therefore, the risk they've put themselves at to gather it must be repaid. Regina responds to the call, her flight-type Alto flying out over the seas. She much prefers fighting with the feel of the ground beneath her feet, but for the times when that isn't possible, she's prepared this machine specifically to compliment her fighting style, stripped down to only the basics in order to promote mobility.
"I am here to assist." She announces over Celestial Being communications... and then pauses, taking note of the presence of units belonging to their recent alliance. She considers for a moment and then adds, for their sake, "...I will fight under the guidelines previously established."
Her position in the air gives her a good view of the battlefield, though - and of the Enact lining up a shot on the BIg O. She descends like a bird of prey and goes in for a sweeping kick at the Enact's legs, to destabilize the machine and throw off its aim before it can fire.
KTS: Regina Everhart has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Regina Everhart targets Gary Biaggi with Leg Sweep! KTS: Regina Everhart has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Juri Wu Nien has posed.
On the bridge of the Saratoga, Colonel Garland is busy giving his briefing around the map. No doubt while a number of those who have gathered observe patiently.
Juri is not one of those people.
Oh, she definitely gathered here. Nergal's connections to the Federation present it with the occasional opportunity to assist with missions. And now that Juri is tangentially related to Nergal, she's able to capitalize on those for the benefits of the project she is currently working on.
But more relevantly, she differs from the others because she is not observing patiently. Instead she's sitting on the floor in a corner of the room, rapidly tapping away at the keyboard of her laptop. On the screen, the same map and routes currently being described by Garland. But supplemented by more detailed data.
As she types, Juri mutters to herself, "This isn't right... The algorithms have way too many flaws! Maybe if I..." Type type type. Hit enter. A new route appears. Juri smiles, "Yes, this might work!"
Come time to launch, the M1 Astray rises to the deck of the Saratoga. It's flight pack opens up, thrusters beginning to glow, before it leaps into the air and starts to blast forwards, following the rest of the search times. But it then quickly adjusts its flight path, breaking away at a slight angle to follow its own route.
A short time later, the Astray lands atop a tiny island, head turning left and right. In the cockpit, Juri muses, "Mmmmmmm, there should be something here! I'm sure of it!" Another moment of nothing passes, then a little more mournfully, "The data said so..." She eyes her screens... Nothing in sight. And nothing on sensors either. This is frustrating... Did she make a mistake with the modified code? This is no good! She can't go back empty handed... She has to prove she can do this.
... She can do this, right? So far this is not a good start...
KTS: Regina Everhart rattles Gary Biaggi, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Gary Biaggi fails to evade Regina Everhart's Leg Sweep, taking 3100 damage! KTS: Regina Everhart has engaged Gary Biaggi! <Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.
The ENACT begins to squeze the trigger of the rifle when suddenly it is flipped forward and ends up shooting straight into the ocean, unfortunately the ocean only gets a minor flesh wound and within moments any trace of the damage is gone. Gary is jolted in his seat as gravity pulls against the straps and yet Gary is not annoyed, or frustrated. If anything he is just a tad bit happy. At least now he won't be stealing someone elses prey, yet.
The ENACT spins in the air turning to try and find the one who hit him from behind before catching a lone Alto, "Well, even if it isn't the one to kick me, it is now. " Having not fully correcyted it's stabilizing or even straightened up into a fighting position the ENACT's thrusters increase as Gary moves the machine to gets within striking distance. The unit tips forward at the last moment , spinning forward and attempting to deliver a kick to the Alto and knock it down into the sea.
KTS: Gary Biaggi targets Regina Everhart with Spin Kick! KTS: Gary Biaggi has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.
A bit more. Just a bit more. With one extra special crew member, there was naught to do but wait.
"Time noted. Nothing in sight." The n+1th affirmation while on watch, looking out towards the horizon of the ocean. Hours had already passed by; People on watch, people on and off, doing their best to keep track and to scan over every vehicle in progress. In the middle of this patch, the TDD-1 waited.
A suggestion from Celestial Being was bringing forth fruitful endaveours, what with the information on Garland and his suspected activites. And here? A cooperative effort: Mithril had offered the TDD-1, and the condition of having the eccentric financier onboard was...mildly receieved, to say the least. But these were leads. Problems.
So, there was no choice but to accept.
"He should be here soon. Enough. Ready the torpedoes. Prime tubes one through five."
"Are you sure?"
"Unless he's acting strange, this should be his normal plan of action."
"Aye, ma'am. Ready the torpedoes! Prime tubes one through five!"
Two minutes later.
"Contact, bearing zero three five." Practiced professionalism.
She afforded herself an internal smile. Jackpot. "Begin evasive maneuvers. Twenty knots at bearing zero three five."
"Aye, ma'am. Begin movement! Twenty knots at bearing zero three five!"
Still, to think that she would be in such an operation...It did boggle the mind a bit. Brow furrowed and focused, her trusted Lt Colonel beside her, relaying and repeating all orders for clarification. Ex-military did know their stuff. And...
<"Everyone, be careful. We don't know how badly he wants this information.">
"Multiple bogeys spotted." DANA popped the information up, a quick view of what was in the surrounding area. So many, so quickly. One spotted, a target on a lone island.
"Surface. Fire tube one towards the island." A quick decision made, a quick relay.
"Aye, ma'am! Fire tube one!"
And the missile shot out from the underbelly of the steel beast, the slight angle ensuring that the torpedo would careen out from the water, aimed right at the M1 Astray. A giant submarine against a single robot. She could almost pity it.
...Almost.
KTS: Teletha Testarossa has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Teletha Testarossa targets Juri Wu Nien with Single Missile! KTS: Teletha Testarossa has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Regina Everhart has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Regina Everhart parries Gary Biaggi's Spin Kick, taking 525 damage! KTS: Gary Biaggi repulses Regina Everhart, forcing her to disengage. KTS: Juri Wu Nien blocks Teletha Testarossa's Single Missile, taking 1950 damage! <Pose Tracker> Mobile Weapon Team has posed.
An earthy rumble from the lead Valkyrie, as Colonel Garland himself takes point amidst the growing chaos - raising a few eyebrows from the rest of the Saratoga's crew...but, well, he's no doubt one of the more seasoned combat veterans in the fray right now. It comes as little surprise when even an underwater ambush from below sees Garland's squad break - and in turn, the missile pods on his VF-14 crack open, unveiling their wildly diverging payload into the Wanzer's trajectory.
<"Looks like our recon was spot-on. Callsign Pequod-1: don't let the big and flashy things like the Megadeus or the Unicorn distract your attention. Squadron Jeroboam, Jungfrau, fan out and try to maneuver around them. Multiple suspected repeat Celestial Being encounters here, along with a few unknowns.">
A much larger missile than should be mounted on the suspected submarine raises an eyebrow from Garland - that's the kind of launch you'd find on something much larger than the suspected smuggling operation merited. Desperation, maybe-? No, if it's actively engaging and probing, it signifies- <"Take note: report where the submarine is located and bearing if you catch wind of it. I suspect there may be two, one as a larger and heavier shield to the smaller and lighter runaway.">
The Variable Fighters are terribly coordinated - and the submarines are put under pressure from the Saratoga itself, launching heavier artillery right into the water...
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Romilly Draid with Bifors Missile Pods Lock! KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
Every fight with the Shuffle Alliance makes it more 'real' to Banagher. No matter how dire the situation, he's bolstered by a feeling of pride. This is doing the right thing. This is using the power he's been given to make a difference.
When the call goes out for aid, the Unicorn Gundam and her pilot are quick to answer. Flying alongside the smaller ZZ, Banagher can't help but marvel at the sea. He thinks back to his first visit to the Earth, landing in the ocean with Captain Zinnerman. Banagher smiles.
But this is a battle. He's got to focus. People are already starting to fight, all to protect that submarine. It's sad... If only they could talk this out, and do what's best for everyone. If only--
All those feelings of pride and sadness turn to ash as Banagher's gaze lands on the Annihilation.
Something beyond anger wells up in his heart, as his hands tense on the Unicorn's controls. Banagher's knuckles go white, and as if broadcasting his feelings, the Unicorn shines red. Armored panels flip open, revealing glowing psychoframe, increasing the Unicorn's stature.
"YULIANA!" Banagher shouts, rage in every pulse of his heart. The Unicorn screams in fury, the sound echoing through the minds of all those even slightly psychically Awake. "YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"
The young pilot of the Unicorn is a sweet, forgiving sort. He can understand so much of others, and look past so much harm. Empathy and forgiveness come to him naturally.
Except.
For those who harm the two young women Banagher loves.
Flamethrowers and bayonets have haunted his nightmares for weeks. Having to watch his girls, two inexperienced pilots, take to the battlefield to protect him while he was helpless was a special kind of horror. And now, here Yuliana is, trying to hurt even more people, and protect the Federation's corruption.
Banagher's anger loops back into his heart at the urging of the NT-D. He's still in control -- but only just. The Unicorn draws her beam magnum as she charges forward, psychic pressure rolling off of her in waves. Magenta fury gathers within the gun, roiling with power.
Leina. Leina wants to help this woman. Despite everything, Leina still believes in the possibility of Yuliana somehow finding a way to be... good. Gritting his teeth, Banagher forces the Unicorn's shot wide. Where before it was aimed to do some serious damage, now -- it'll serve as a warning, at best.
KTS: Banagher Links targets Yuliana Kafim with Beam Magnum Shot! KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Roger Smith has posed.
The trilobite rushes in. Its claws clatter against those immense iron shields, scraping hot gouges into them. The Big O pitches back, but rights itself, shoving the Rabscuttle aside with its considerable weight.
<"Hnf! So this is my dance partner for the evening? Well, miss, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. But I don't think I like your sense of humor!">
The behemoth rocks back, water spraying behind it, feet moving sluggishly in the underwater mire. But inside the cockpit, Roger slams the lever down, twists it, and leans in as he slams it forward. The Big O's shoulder pitches, and that massive arm skates above the water... One tremendous, spike fist aimed for the Rabscuttle! With an opponent larger and more suited for the environment than the Big O, the priority has to be ruining its mobility by crushing those massive engines.
His other hand reaches out to gently flick a switch on the console.
"Norman. Remind me to avoid these tropical jobs in the future... This cockpit gets unbearably humid."
"Of course, sir. Very good, sir."
KTS: Roger Smith targets Vitaly Sokolov with Strike Pile Jab! KTS: Roger Smith has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Regina Everhart has posed.
Regina observes the ENACT's movement. It comes in for a spinning kick - and the shaft of her spear is moved to catch and redirect it. In the air like this, it's impossible to negate all movement from an impact. She's pushed back out of melee range, but manages to stall her momentum before flying too far.
Again.
She moves forward, still attempting to capitalize on the ENACT's current situation. Gripping the spear in both hands she jams the butt of it toward the ENACT, then rolls fluidly with the motion of it to shift the spear under one arm to follow that up with a bare-handed jab. The movements are smooth - beyond what's typically expected of a machine like this. The pilot must be practiced.
KTS: Romilly Draid has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Regina Everhart has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Regina Everhart targets Gary Biaggi with One-Two Jab! KTS: Regina Everhart has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov parries Roger Smith's Strike Pile Jab, taking 900 damage! KTS: Roger Smith has engaged Vitaly Sokolov! KTS: Romilly Draid has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Gary Biaggi fails to parry Regina Everhart's One-Two Jab, taking 3675 damage! KTS: Regina Everhart has engaged Gary Biaggi! KTS: Romilly Draid successfully Intercepts Mobile Weapon Team's Bifors Missile Pods Lock <Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
Word came down from Shuffle channels about Vindirance's bold theft of evidence of Federation corruption.
Unfortunately hearing that the Federation forces were already on an intercept course of their escape submarine, led Spade-7 and Club-7 to plot an intercept course.
Like the young pilot of the Unicorn, she admires the sea, "<Beautiful out here. ... Shame that that calm won't last much longer..>"
Fortunately there were already allied friendlies that aren't just part of a tenuous armistice in the area, and her relief at that fact causes her to impulsively hail the TDD-1, "<I'm glad that you were close enough to get here in time Anzus. It sounds like their manhunt has become a whale hunt. ... Think they're about to get more whale than they bargained for out here...>"
It's a light joke perhaps, though everyone who hears it may understand how serious she is, like she's simply trying to break the tension...
... even if they were involved in the resistance of the PLANT in space, she's still not used to fighting the Federation.
On her scans however, is a very, very familiar Wanzer jetting across the water.
The Double Zeta's little sibling suddenly pivots as its retractable arm cannon swings up and fires a warning shot towards the Wanzer.
A narrow beam transmission is sent, it likely only hits Yuliana and Banagher, "<Turn back Yuliana.>" It's obvious who it is certainly despite new aggressively pink and white paint job, and the voice changer, how many Mass Produced Double Zeta's exist? Certainly not many.
"<After the stunt you just pulled with Lieutenant Stirner, I'm not feeling particularly charitable today.>"
Compared to that cold anger however, Banagher's heated fury is palpable, pounding through her connection, as Leina sends a message to just him in alarm, "<... Banagher. I know you're angry. I am too, but we have to keep our wits about us here.>" A beat. "<She wants us to make a mistake. Don't hand her one.>"
KTS: Leina Ashta targets Yuliana Kafim with MP ZZ Single-Barrel Beam Rifle Snap Shot! KTS: Leina Ashta has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Yuliana Kafim has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Yuliana Kafim has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Yuliana Kafim successfully evades Leina Ashta's MP ZZ Single-Barrel Beam Rifle Snap Shot KTS: Yuliana Kafim charges into the attack! KTS: [Mirage] Yuliana Kafim's Avoid20 activates, and she slips into a mirage. KTS: Yuliana Kafim partially guards Banagher Links's Beam Magnum Shot, taking 0 damage! <Pose Tracker> Juri Wu Nien has posed.
Juri turns her head to look at the screen showing the battle quickly picking up not too far away. Maybe she should go rejoin the pack. There doesn't appear to be anything he-
-SUDDEN MISSILE!
Juri cries out in surprise as an appropriately obnoxious alert warns her about the incoming missile. There's an explosion!
The smoke clears and the Astray is still standing, a scorched mark on its shield still smoking. In the cockpit, Juri is panting a little from the sudden shock. She barely had time to bring her machine's shield around into the path of the weapon before it hit. But she managed it!
The real question is, "WHERE DID THAT COME FROM!?" Juri wonders in surprise. She had adjusted her sensors to detect underwater units. This WAS a submarine hunt after all. She should have seen something. Unless this is no ordinary unit... So how is she going to find it?
... Ah!
The Astray raises its beam rifle and starts firing. However, it's aiming all over the place. Shot after shot of energy dart into the water around the Astray's position, almost as if the pilot is firing in panic. But it quickly becomes clear that it's not the case. There's a pattern to the placement of the shots.
Typetypetype.
"Recalculate the refraction index..."
Typetypetype.
"Track the energy dispersion..."
Pewpewpew.
"There! An anomaly!"
The Astray turns, raising its beam rifle to aim carefully before pulling the trigger. The beam hits the water's surface, before drilling further down towards the TDD-1.
KTS: Juri Wu Nien targets Teletha Testarossa with Type 71 Beam Rifle Sighted Shot! KTS: Juri Wu Nien has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Liu Mei Wang has posed.
The door to the TDD-1's bridge wooshes open - and in strides the coordinator at the heart of this whole operation, Liu Mei Wang, clad in a uniform that's...military-ish?! It's clearly a slightly out of date, slightly more fashion-oriented Da Han Zhong ceremonial dress, black primary with bright red and gold accents, all polished to a shine. She's just finished clicking a phone away when she strides past Mardukas, who surely doesn't appreciate someone like her just strolling in here-
"Unfortunately, they're liable to fight very, very hard for the servers we've secured," Liu Mei muses, hand on one hip and glancing between the bridge crew - but mostly gazing out the submarine's primary monitor. "Our informant just got off the phone confirming exactly which intel we got, and it's something really personal to that try-hard Colonel out there. I'd anticipate just a little more aggression out of them, for what that's worth to your planning."
A light little smile cracks across Liu Mei's face, when the Unicorn appears on the monitors. "I'd say the Unicorn appearing to help us is a blessing in many ways, though. Isn't that pilot a companion of Miss Ashta's, Captain Testarossa? He's unwittingly gotten himself into the eye of the storm quite a lot these days...what do you think? It's always a showy spectacle whenever it appears..."
KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Banagher Links KTS: Teletha Testarossa has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Teletha Testarossa successfully Evades Juri Wu Nien's Type 71 Beam Rifle Sighted Shot <Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
It is good to have other loyal members of the REA on the battlefield. People like Yuliana Kafim.
Only to hear Banagher Links scream for her ally. The woman's gaze slips towards that side of the battlefield for a moment, as the Unicorn turns its crimson color. Concern tries to draw upon her face, only to be halted by a series of wrinkles across her forehead, turning it into something closer to consternation.
The boy will make this situation difficult. But right now, she must focus upon this opponent.
As that massive spiked fist starts to rear back, one of the claws releases. Movement between the Trilobyte-like thing and the Giant before it are slow. Unlike the battle on the other side of the battlefield, this one can be followed easily with the bare eye... but additionally, each move is truly felt.
As that massive fist comes down, the claw shifts and is placed on the inside of the crushing punch. Sparks sear across its surface, and water is blasted outwards from beneath the Rabscuttle. Two giants duking it one. Even with that single punch of the Big O's, there's already severe lasting damage on the Rabscuttle. But its Daedalus mobily system remains functional.
The claw on the left releases as well now, trying to grab for the head of the Big O in an attempt to crush it, while multiple small emitters start to burn across the front side, creating searing small 'spears' of like that seek to rip across the Big O and tear at its thick armor!
<"Proper gentleman give name before complaining to a lady amidst dance. But - will go first. Name is Vitaly Sokolov."> Veteran of the Federation. A name that strikes a mixture of fear and respect in the hearts who truly know her. Her teachings known for producing some of the Federation's greatest and most ruthless pilots. But also, a former member of the Titans.
<"So, Negotiator. If you do not like humor, then answer. What are you Negotiating, if not your own Surrender?">
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Roger Smith with Hrududu II - Beam Reflector Trick! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Roger Smith partially guards Vitaly Sokolov's Hrududu II - Beam Reflector Trick, taking 1800 damage! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Roger Smith! <Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
That anger transmits, to Yuliana's radio, as she grinds her clutch to the side and forward. The wanzer dodges away from Leina's warning shot -- it's not an aquatic machine, by nature, but Yuliana can make it so.
"You don't know me," she says, to the Unicorn, as its panels unfold. She says it to her cockpit, because her radio isn't hot.
No, when she replies to them on a similarly restricted channel, her first answer... is laughter.
"Hahaha... hahahaha!" Something about Banagher's defiant yell and Leina's cold anger is delightful, to Yuliana, for some reason.
Perhaps it has something to do with Liu Mei's mysterious informant on the ground.
"Hmhmhm... but you see, I cannot!" She answers Leina, still chortling. She engages the water jets on the Annihilation, and -- thanks to the occasionally-reliable Avoid20 system -- her wanzer's onboard computing takes care of avoiding that beam magnum entirely.
Over a wide band, aggressively confident, Yuliana assures her people: "I'll take care of the Unicorn and that copy Double-Zeta. Leave it to me!" Perhaps it will reassure people like Vitaly, on her own side.
This is a kindness.
Her Grappler Axe lashes out, attempting to lodge into the Unicorn's exposed panels, so Yuliana can pull herself in towards Banagher. Mercifully, she returns to her narrow band of communication -- only speaking to Banagher and Leina. "I'll 'pay', will I? For engaging with opponents who chose to fight me? Speak up, boy! What crime have I committed, as you engage in this sporting spot of terrorism!"
Her answer to Leina is less immediately violent, at least physically: "And you know, dear little Alma is so charitable. Why, hearing your lack of charity would break her heart! Now, don't you think you two ought to leave these complicated things to the world of adults..?"
KTS: Yuliana Kafim targets Banagher Links with MULS-P Grappler Axe Acrobatics! KTS: Yuliana Kafim targets Leina Ashta with Goad! KTS: Yuliana Kafim has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.
The ENACT is slow to respawn, having to right itself from it's own strike and the system still trying to compensate for the last impact. The suit turns just in time to see the spear but to slow to reach it as the spear clears the ENACT's defenses leaving the face wide open to get jabbed and there is a audible *CRUNCH* as the fist puts a dent to the ENACTs head. Inside the ENACT, Gary watches his front cam gain an annoying line of static that now seems to cycle across the screen. Does it cause problems with Gary's combat capability, no but it is annoying. Almost dead pixel annoying.
Gary opens up comms to the Alto as he works to stabilize his unit, <"That wasn't a bad shot, so who exactly is the one that got this intel. I haven't heard any speeches or announcements that this is the so and so group, so which one is it ? Which wanna be group decided to stir the hornet nest?">
While Gary tries to gather intel the ENACT switches it's weapon from rifle mode to blade mode and dashes forward and beginning a telegraphed slash with it's right hand before midswing the unit drops the sword. The left hand of the unit catches the dropped sword and slashes horizontally toward the units midsection, trying to help lighten the Alto by 50%%.
KTS: Yuliana Kafim has activated the Daunt Spirit Command targeting Banagher Links KTS: Yuliana Kafim goads Leina Ashta, reducing her Intuition drastically. KTS: Gary Biaggi targets Regina Everhart with Feinting Strike! KTS: Gary Biaggi has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Banagher Links fails to rush. KTS: Yuliana Kafim anchors Banagher Links, forcing him into close range. KTS: Banagher Links partially guards Yuliana Kafim's MULS-P Grappler Axe Acrobatics, taking 3040 damage! KTS: Yuliana Kafim has engaged Banagher Links! KTS: Yuliana Kafim begins a Formation attack! <Pose Tracker> Romilly Draid has posed.
The Kingmaker's thrusters shine a bright white, carrying it across the surface of the water as its legs shift for balance in anticipation of the odd wave. Inside the cockpit, the pilot shudders a split second before alarms blare, warning of a missile lock. Romilly grits his teeth, eyes navigating context menus for countermeasures.
Displayed amidst blinking warnings, rangefinders, altimeters and other HUD elements is a new window, called forth mentally through use of the machine's aftermarket MMI. A metal cylinder pops up from the unit's shoulder, with a visible coil spooling up. The crackle of high-voltage electricity serves as the preamble for a spectacular display of arcing lightning, each finger bending crookedly across the sky to lance through the payload in rapid succession.
A sharp sigh of relief escapes the pilot, as the Kingmaker pivots on the ocean, cyclopic eye fixed on the lead Valkyrie. He's never met the pilot--but being a Cyber-Newtype does confer certain inklings.
You're used to this, ain't you. And you want it bad. Show me what else you got, then.
STAGE 1 ANALYSIS COMPLETE. ADJUSTING RAIMENT PARAMETERS.
The wanzer shoulders that rifle again, lining up a shot on the lead Valkyrie--but this time, a faint arc of electricity traces down its shoulder from that pylon, to the barrel. When its heavy articulated finger pulls the trigger, the bullets carry a visible electric charge, tinting the bright tracers blue as they zip angrily through the air, Romilly leading his shot to try and stay ahead of it.
<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.
The seas were never calm. It's something she'd love to quip back, save for the burtden of duty. They were raging, roiling, a mass of water that creaked and surged at everything. Seas were never, ever calm.
Teletha_Testarossa Confirmed hit. Bogey is still standing.
Teletha_Testarossa Copy. There was nothing more to relay.
Teletha_Testarossa You should know the answer to that. Is Celestial Being not smart enough for connections? The slightest hint of confident mockery. Granted, DANA had marked off the screen approrpiately, codenames where applicable....Including Leina's. "It's never good when the Unicorn shows up, but I trust in him and who he has around him"
Teletha_Testarossa Bogey is firing back! Beams shot into the water. Onscreen. One shot after the other, plotted on a top-down view. One after the other after the oth-
Teletha_Testarossa ...! Dive at twenty five bearing, twenty five knots!
Teletha_Testarossa Aye, ma'am! Dive at twenty five bearing, twenty five knots!
Teletha_Testarossa Confirmed shot at prior position! Calm.
Teletha_Testarossa Copy! Air tubes two, three, fire. Calm. Calm. Keep calm. One occupied suit meant one less gunning for the data. This was the important thing.
Teletha_Testarossa Aye, ma'am! Air tubes two, three, fire! Mardukas was always calm.
KTS: Romilly Draid uses Hyper Reloader KTS: Romilly Draid targets Mobile Weapon Team with Chain Rifle Charged Rounds! KTS: Romilly Draid has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.
The seas were never calm. It's something she'd love to quip back, save for the burtden of duty. They were raging, roiling, a mass of water that creaked and surged at everything. Seas were never, ever calm.
"Confirmed hit. Bogey is still standing."
"Copy." There was nothing more to relay.
Granted, Liu's own fashion sense wasn't exactly...distasteful to the Captain's own personal tastes, but she had to admit: In a sea of Mithril Uniforms, someone in a ceremonial dress popped out. Such was the world of brown and grey in a PMC ship. And no, Mardukas did not appreciate it...But he was the type to make entire sentences with his eyes, small movements as they were. "Unfortunate for us, then. Since it's related to Commander Garland, we can't afford to have it lost." An air of formal work wafted off of Tessa; As much as she wanted to relax, as much as she wanted to kick back...This was a combat scene. Live. Lives on the line.
"You should know the answer to that. Is Celestial Being not smart enough for connections?" The slightest hint of confident mockery. Granted, DANA had marked off the screen approrpiately, codenames where applicable....Including Leina's. "It's never good when the Unicorn shows up, but I trust in him and who he has around him"
"Bogey is firing back! Beams shot into the water." Onscreen. One shot after the other, plotted on a top-down view. One after the other after the oth-
"...! Dive at twenty five bearing, twenty five knots!"
"Aye, ma'am! Dive at twenty five bearing, twenty five knots!"
And the beast shifted, rudders shifting, engines roaring at the sudden change in movement. Down. Away. One moment. Two.
"Confirmed shot at prior position!" Calm.
"Copy! Air tubes two, three, fire." Calm. Calm. Keep calm. One occupied suit meant one less gunning for the data. This was the important thing.
"Aye, ma'am! Air tubes two, three, fire!" Mardukas was always calm.
Three missles hatches opened. Three missiles launched themselves up, three lazy arcs piercing through the border between water and land...before rockets activated on their sides, pivoting those same missiles parallel to the ocean and firing off towards the bogey.
Her eyes kept watch on the overall situation. Yuliana. Her. Unicorn. A Wazner, even. Big O. Others. Keep it. Keep it all in mind. Look at who's there, who needs help, who needs...guidance.
...Unicorn, please keep yourself together.
KTS: Teletha Testarossa has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Teletha Testarossa targets Juri Wu Nien with Multi-Missle Barrage! KTS: Teletha Testarossa has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Mobile Weapon Team fails to react to Romilly Draid's Chain Rifle Charged Rounds, taking 3680 damage! KTS: Regina Everhart has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Regina Everhart blocks Gary Biaggi's Feinting Strike, taking 3290 damage! KTS: Gary Biaggi has engaged Regina Everhart! CHANSYS: No channel with that name or alias found.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
"<She -- hurt you! And Audrey!>" Banagher rages through his connection to Leina, tears stinging his eyes. "<Now's my chance to make her pay!>"
Rapid breaths. Leina's right, he knows that.
"<Alright. I know -- we've got to be careful, she's dangerous. I've got your back, love.>" Banagher's words are broadcast just to Leina.
The battlefield has shrunk down to only have Leina, the Unicorn, and Yuliana. As his shot misses the Annihilation entirely, Banagher swears to himself. He can't afford mistakes like this. The Grappler Axe rockets forward, and the Unicorn rushes to meet it. Stowing her beam magnum, she pulls out her beam saber.
If Yuliana wants him close, he'll deal with that! Holding the beam saber out before the Unicorn, Banagher tries to use the momentum to stab into the Annihilation. Magenta light entwines with scarlet radiance, a show of obscene power -- that will mean nothing to Minovsky's Woman.
"<You tried to hurt Leina and Audrey! I don't care what side either of us are on. I'll never forgive you! They've been nothing but kind! Leina keeps -- hurting herself, trying over and over to help you. And you--!>" A choked noise, somewhere between a sob and a snarl. "<Let's see how you like it! Leaving your loved ones to watch you suffer!>"
Miss Alma... Banagher can't think about her right now. His anger will overwhelm him, and the NT-D will take control. Instead, he shakes his head, threatening to dislodge the metal arms holding him tight. "<You can't do anything but hurt people. You're nothing but poison!>"
Tess' feelings are so gentle, echoing from the ocean, as though the sea itself is reaching out to him. Banagher closes his eyes for a moment. He can do this. Stay calm. Ride the wave. Don't let the NT-D take control. He really should've brought Haro along.
KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Banagher Links targets Yuliana Kafim with Beam Saber Slash! KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Juri Wu Nien fails to evade Teletha Testarossa's Multi-Missle Barrage, taking 5280 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Regina Everhart has posed.
Communications...? The ENACT is attempting to contact her. Regina accepts it, and listens as Gary speaks.
"...I thank you. However. I must wonder if you truly expect me to answer. Or, if you could trust any answer I were to give." Regina replies. The ENACT flies at her, then, rifle becoming a blade. It comes in with a slash, and she responds by quickly drawing a parrying knife, ready to intercept the attack -
But, it's a feint. She recognizes it a moment too late for a proper parry - she takes up her spear in both hands. The blade digs deep into the Alto's armored midsection, but she manages to catch it with her spear before it can complete its route. Damaged, but still functional.
"...You are skilled, as well." She notes, before using the spear for its intended purpose this time - thrusting it forward for Gary's mobile suit.
KTS: Regina Everhart targets Gary Biaggi with ExAMACS Spear Swing! KTS: Regina Everhart has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
There's a wince, that Wanzer is so fast, it feels like her shot didn't come anywhere close to it.
"<You can.>" Is her rebuke. "<I'm sure someone of your talents will think of some viable excuse.>"
The Double Zeta skims away to try and keep its distance, Yuliana will note that it seems frustratingly agile, like it IS meant for aquatic combat.
What crimes has she committed? For some reason Leina doesn't feel like the actions of G-Hound will be persuasive to someone from the REA - at least openly... still she considers trying it, telling her how they stuffed the old and infirm into crates to die of starvation when their motive was to 'stop illegal experimentation'.
Banagher however shocks her out of trying with his words. Stunned at the idea that Banagher thinks she's hurting herself over and over... "<Banagher... I...>"
Yuliana's flippancy of tone however prevents her from framing that response at all, and there's a flare of heat in her anger that even Banagher feels, "<You! What is complicated about you mind controlling her to do your dirty work!? What she did to Audrey, what you did to Alma is simplicity itself! Have you no shame at all!?>"
And suddenly despite her advice to Banagher, Yuliana has indeed managed to push Leina into making a mistake, as her Gundam suddenly overcommits into the edges of the Annihilation's attack range, trying to come along at her flanks while Banagher pushes straight into that far too dangerous feel of the void.
A battery at the Double Zeta's hip suddenly unleashes a barrage of micromissiles that twist and turn in random patterns to try and make Yuliana's life abruptly more difficult.
KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained proficiency bonus. KTS: Leina Ashta targets Yuliana Kafim with MP ZZ Missile Pod Micro-Missile Fire! KTS: Leina Ashta has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Roger Smith has posed.
<"You're right, of course. I've been uncouth. My name is Roger Smith, Ms. Sokolov.">
The Rabscuttle's beams flare, coruscating off that broad orange crown and carving further tracks into the Big O's thick metal plate. The heft of the two machines crashing into each other reverberates through the water, sending up spray. Neither machine seems willing to give up ground. Those two big black hands come down on the wings of the Rabscuttle, forcing it into place as the golden eyes of Big O shine pink.
<"My services were requested in negotiating the publication of some exciting new information, in the interest of honest discussion with Federation leadership. Which means that the folks responsible for acquiring that information are going to have to make their escape today!">
Two bright beams pile out from the head of the Megadeus, twisting over and over each other. The Big O twists the Rabscuttle in its grip, trying to drag that beam over as much tender hardware as it can.
KTS: Roger Smith targets Vitaly Sokolov with Arc Line Helix Fire! KTS: Roger Smith has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Yuliana Kafim fails to parry Banagher Links's Beam Saber Slash, taking 3300 damage! KTS: Banagher Links has engaged Yuliana Kafim! KTS: Yuliana Kafim fails to intercept Leina Ashta's MP ZZ Missile Pod Micro-Missile Fire, taking 3960 damage! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov blocks Roger Smith's Arc Line Helix Fire, taking 2520 damage! KTS: Gary Biaggi parries Regina Everhart's ExAMACS Spear Swing, taking 675 damage! KTS: Regina Everhart has engaged Gary Biaggi! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Juri Wu Nien has posed.
Juri waits with her breath held to see the results from her shot... Nothing happens!
Her aim should have been perfect! That would have worked in the simulators. Did she miscalculate?
... No. A serious disruption in the energy dispersion from that shot. There was definitely something nearby. She just missed it. Did they anticipate her aim?
Nnnngh, this is not good! She doesn't want to go into the water. The Astrays weren't designed for it. She can brute force it with the flight pack but... It's dark down there...
Another missile alert. Juri gasps! Three of them this time. She probably can't block all of them... But if she can take advantage of their turning arcs...
The Astray blasts forward off its small island, starting to skim across the surface of the water directly towards one of the three missiles. Just before reaching it, the Astray turns, forcing the missile to do the same. Except not fast enough to intercept the Astray along its course. The second missile attempts a similar turning, also failing but coming much closer. The third...
"No!"
The third missile hits the Astray dead on. Juri cries out as her cockpit shakes. The Astray is blown off course, hitting the water's surface hard and vanishing beneath it.
The Astray sinks downwards into the ocean. Juri groans quietly as she recovers from the missile's impact. Looking at her screens... Why is it so dark? ... Oh.
She's in the enemy's territory now.
Juri considers stowing the beam rifle... But she eyes the underslung attachment. No, that may still come in handy. For now though... The thrusters in the Astray's flight pack ignite, beginning to push the machine through the water. Juri knows where the target WAS, which means if she can get close, she might be able to pick it up on her sensors at a shorter range.
...
...
... So dark. Not even space is like this...
... There!
Juri picks up a shadow on her scans. She raises her rifle to aim and pulls the trigger. But this time there is no beam shot. Instead the weapon's attachment fires a self-propelled projectile of some sort, not even the size of a torpedo. It streaks out towards the TDD-1 before impacting the hull. There's... No damage.
But then the TDD-1's systems will report something perhaps a little unexpected...
-- SYSTEM INTRUSION --
Juri smiles as her remote hacking pod makes a connection, "Alright then. Let's see what we're dealing with..." Typetypetype. "Woah, this thing has some serious defenses... But let's see what happens when I do this!" Tap.
KTS: Juri Wu Nien targets Teletha Testarossa with Prevent! KTS: Juri Wu Nien has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Mobile Weapon Team has posed.
Colonel Garland, for his part, emits very little in the realm of resonance across psychic domains - an Oldtype through and through, with merely the barest flicker of possibility.
The chain of lightning rears out with shocking power to the Pequod squad - one of Garland's wingmates taking the dearest brunt of the shock, with the Colonel lifting up mid-dive, clipping a wing quite dangerously in side-damage. Swiftly, though, the VF-14 shifts to deploy its legs, descending and landing gracefully upon the water's surface, engines roaring and sending frothy waves in its wake, gunpod focused and intent.
<"You're a fiercer one than expected, huh? Celestial Being makes a big parade of its Gundams, but repeatedly we encounter these over-specced older models...there's more to your outfit than just the lofty promise of 'waging war on war',"> Garland huffs, shuttling backwards until his feet are planted on the shore of a small, shallow atoll, firing a hailstorm all the while.
<"You'll just upend the world in total chaos, and reset the clock all the way through hell. It's nothing that different from when the Zekes talked all high and mighty about their cause - look at the mess that got us in!">
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Romilly Draid with 35mm Gun Pod Barrage! KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
"Oh, but I'm not suffering," Yuliana assures Banagher, all too warmly. "Why, in fact, this is great fun!"
And of course, how Yuliana's very protective wife feels about her getting into dangerous situations with the Federation is...
... not Yuliana's problem right now! She's not exactly in mortal peril, here, as far as she's concerned.
She brings her axe up to meet the beam saber, but the Unicorn is mightier than a standard Tiandong 3 -- even one with such heavy refurbishing and refinement. The sword cuts though the armor of one arm, and she repositions herself on the Unicorn before she can lose the whole thing. (Not yet, anyway. It would be terribly unconvincing.) "I could think of a viable excuse, I'm sure," she replies to Leina, as she moves. "And yet I'm here, instead!" She's still so, so amused by that.
Is she laughing at them?
Well, she's also laughing at them.
Climbing about the Unicorn, Yuliana is very much trying to tie it up in those massive chains, until such point as she slams her Grappler Axe into the place where most Gundams keep their secondary processing units. It's not, strictly speaking, the most deadly thing to target, but it will give him some trouble.
Unfortunately, Leina is brave enough to approach, anyway -- and the chaff release of her shoulder cannons isn't nearly as effective underwater. "Gah!!" She yelps, as her machine is blown, forcibly, off of Banagher's -- since the axe is attached to her, it comes with her, chains unwinding and whipping through the waves.
"Stupid girl," she replies, to Leina, as she reorients in space, flicking a series of switches to keep the Annihilation on target. "I don't use magic to brainwash people. I have drugs for that."
And so she launches herself at the MP ZZ Gundam, axe lashing through the water. "Why should I be ashamed?!"
KTS: Yuliana Kafim targets Banagher Links with MULS-P Grappler Axe Entangle! KTS: Yuliana Kafim targets Leina Ashta with MULS-P Grappler Axe Lunge! KTS: Yuliana Kafim has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
<"Pleased to meet you Negotiator Roger Smith."> Vitaly answers, as the Big O's hands come down on its 'wings', causing the entire body of the Rabscuttle to crash into the waters. A fountain of water spears up, and the body buckles a bit. Within the cockpit, Vitaly can hear the machine groan as the enormous weight pushes down on its body, only for its Daedalus systems to rise to the challenge.
Slowly. Shaking. Quaking. It rises back up. The pink light tears over its body, just as the I-Field systems activate across its body. Multiple points on its back opening up, right before the beam tears across its body.
The searing pink light ripples across its shell, then into the waters around it. A devastating steam-explosion follows, blinding both combattants from visual data in that moment. Only for the entirety of the Rabscuttle to suddenly SLAM forwards, tearing into the front of the Big O with enough force to almost topple it... only to fly off...
Revealing a machine standing before it at more even size. A Gundam, wearing what looks like some kind of 'backpack'. Enormous legs, and big arms that allow it to stand at the height of the Big-O, its pale blue eyes coming to light, as its large hands open up and grab for the Big O's hands - trying to lock and struggle.
<"But I fear you negotiate from weak position. Must first cut this red tape, before I can allow you to speak to Federation leadership. Permit me to mediate."> As the revealed Hazel Gundam takes a step forward!
KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Roger Smith with Ram! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Leina Ashta fails to Parry Yuliana Kafim's MULS-P Grappler Axe Lunge, taking 4000 damage! KTS: Yuliana Kafim has engaged Leina Ashta! KTS: Yuliana Kafim anchors Banagher Links, forcing him into close range. KTS: Banagher Links parries Yuliana Kafim's MULS-P Grappler Axe Entangle, taking 735 damage! KTS: Yuliana Kafim has engaged Banagher Links! KTS: Yuliana Kafim completes the Formation attack! KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov rattles Roger Smith, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Roger Smith blocks Vitaly Sokolov's Ram, taking 3000 damage! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Roger Smith! Vitaly Sokolov transforms to RX-123-P Gundam TR-S [Hazel Flare Proto]
KTS: Juri Wu Nien prevents Teletha Testarossa's maneuvers, reducing her Skill drastically. KTS: Romilly Draid has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Romilly Draid successfully Evades Mobile Weapon Team's 35mm Gun Pod Barrage
<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.
<"Do I expect you to answer?"> Gary asks, repeating the statement given by the enemy as he spins the downward to catch the spear. The shaft of the spear sliding along the blade, causing a shower of sparks before the ENACT's blade sweeps the spear off to the side, scraping along the side of the ENACT instead. <"If I didn't expect an answer why would I ask?">
The ENACT moves away from the weapon doing it's best to circle to the side of the Alto while Gary keeps talking, <"However perhaps you will tell me the truth or perhaps you will lie to me. Either way that is my decision to make after you answer, do I trust my enemy, or do I toss their answer away as garbage."> Gary's statement is given as he waits for a moment, whether it is to give the enemy a chance to answer or just wants to line up the attack.
Finally the ENACT acts as the unit moves forward and once again brings that right arm forwad with a slashing moment . This time though the strike is not a feint, the ENACT follows through attempting to aim for the shoulder of the Alto.
KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged. KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Valor Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
It's so rare to hear Leina truly angry. In the memories Banagher has seen through their bond, she wasn't even angry when-- That thought is quickly shut down. He can't risk it right now, with the NT-D pressing up against his consciousness.
"<Leina!>" Banagher cries through their private line, as she comes close. "<Remember! We have to be careful! We have to come home safe, for Audrey!>"
For Audrey. That's been his battlecry from the beginning, and even now, it fills him with strength. Her grace has saved him from the NT-D before, and again, it bolsters his defenses against the malicious program.
As Yuliana tries to entangle the Unicorn in chains, the Beast seems to take this personally. Rearing back, she slashes through the chains even before Leina knocks the Annihilation away. Banagher feels a thrill of pride at Leina's capability -- she's grown so much, so quickly.
"<Hell yeah!>" Banagher broadcasts to Leina. "<That was awesome!>"
His elation only lasts a moment before Yuliana is back on the offensive. As she launches herself toward Leina, Banagher guides the Unicorn in her path. Another saber ignites in the Unicorn's hand, and she stands protectively in front of the MP ZZ. The message is clear -- Yuliana will have to go through Banagher to get to Leina.
"<Don't talk to her like that.>" Banagher growls, to Yuliana. "<Leina's a thousand times the woman you are. If you had any sense at all, you'd be begging her forgiveness!>"
Banagher's determination is unassailable. He'll be damned if he lets Yuliana attack Leina with that axe -- not again. Twin sabers lash out as she approaches, aiming to sever the enemy's arm and force her to drop the axe. Let it sink into the waves, where it can never harm anyone again!
KTS: Banagher Links targets Yuliana Kafim with Two-Saber Combo! KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Gary Biaggi targets Regina Everhart with Blade Rifle - Melee Strike! KTS: Gary Biaggi has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Roger Smith has posed.
"Hmmf... That's a pretty impressive trick."
The Big O pitches back as Vitaly crashes into it. The machine's weighty legs screech and hiss, more mist spraying up around it as immense hydraulics blast pressure out to keep the machine from toppling. One of its hip anchors blasts out, sinking itself into the sand and stabilizing it... while the other hurtles towards the Gundam!
<"I appreciate the offer, and I'm not usually the type to refuse a lady. But I'm afraid it's first come, first serve today.">
The heavy steel chain whips through the air, looking to bind those advancing arms. As the Big O draws itself back to its full height, both hands pitch skyward, and with a slam of two levers, the tremendous pistons inside blast open, Roger flicking open the cap on the joysticks inside his cockpit.
<"Perhaps we'll dance again, Ms. Sokolov. But I think it's just about time for farewell.">
KTS: Roger Smith targets Vitaly Sokolov with Mobydick Anchor! KTS: Roger Smith has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Roger Smith anchors Vitaly Sokolov, forcing her into close range. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov parries Roger Smith's Mobydick Anchor, taking 765 damage! KTS: Roger Smith has engaged Vitaly Sokolov!
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
It does feel like she's laughing at them doesn't it? And despite her best efforts to stay calm, Leina seethes somewhat in her cockpit.
She's just playing games, toying with them. She understands that intrinsically, because she knows neither of them will try to kill her, and she has the skill to make that decision as painful as possible for them both.
"<Don't worry! I'm just here to back you up-!>" Leina says to Banagher in short order. The missiles at least strike home, helping free Banagher from that terrible position...
As he cheers at her she tries to promise "<I'll keep my dist->" but the Wanzer orients on her and immediately makes that promise undeliverable, "<-ance!>" - and the ZZ suddenly tries to back up rapidly, a hand pulling a Beam Saber from its place at her shoulder, as it flares to life.
As the two clash, the axe gets the better of it, slipping beneath her guard to crash into the armor of the Double Zeta while her blade swishes far over the smaller Wanzer's head.
In that instant however, the world becomes smaller, dizzying, nauseating, she feels like she's simply going to wretch in her cockpit, which is when the Unicorn interposes itself between them. Part of her is horrified that he's staying within the range of that biting void and those axes just to protect her, part of her is touched beyond belief as she cries out in alarm, "<B-Banagher! I'm
okay! Fall back away from her!>
The Double Zeta capitalizes on the time he bought her and abruptly submerges
underwater, the beam saber filling the entire area around Yuliana's Annihilation with bubbling steam that obfuscates vision of her.
"<... You jumped straight to magic, funny that.>"
Somehow she sounds a touch calmer, like she's starting to think things through again.
She still receives a transmission of her anyway, from deep within the waters, the Double Zeta seeming difficult to track with all the Minovsky particles around, short of sonar.
Yuliana may soon have to move, because the water becomes quite bright below her, right before a charged shot of her rifle tries to break the surface in an attempt to sheer off part of her Wanzer's leg.
Even the refraction of the water's surface doesn't seem to deter the accuracy of her shot.
"<... Given that I never accused you of using any. What are you gonna tell me next? That Lieutenant Stirner was slipping truth serum in Audrey's Ramen? Don't insult your own intelligence.>"
<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.
"Confirmed hit on bogey." One, two, three. One miss, two miss, three...hit. Ah, perfect. It wasn't a perfect maneuver, but it did have it's intended purpose: To knock one to the sea, to force it from the land to the domain in which she thrived.
"Copy. Keep an eye on the bogey." What would it do? Would it try something? Of course it would; With the amount of secrets on boiard, every suit was a potential threat. DANA focused on the Astray, the main focus of today's battle, keeping idle stock of the overall situation. Everyone was fighting their own battles.
This was her's.
The submarine lurks. Shuttling around, keeping the noise pointed at that Astray. Suspicious, predator and prey. "What are you going to do..." The lift. The aim. The trigger pull.
The hairs rise on the back of her neck. The idle brush of braid against nose halted. Thunk.
-- SYSTEM INTRUSION --
-- SHUTDOWN ATTEMPTED - DENIED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ACCESS --
-- BRUTE FORCE INTRUSION DETECTED --
-- DANA HACKING DEFENSE PROTOCOLS INITIATED --
backdoors sealed high alert safe mode initiated emergency functions online user te1eth@ba@#$Teletha Testarossai!i1 admin pass e2728c1b2054cb00d9812017b642456d2cd28a47786b78ba1f81c30f95de2b81 pin 9cd1c811782d319ea1fda50f7e792b557ae83aba4c36b3e2704dd01aa97f2aa1 permissions shutdown
It was never easy. A deep breath. DANA was opening a window on the side of the display: Hacking. Attempts to combat it, a stream of words that Tessa could only barely parse. But the intrusion was obvious.
"Adjust targeting line! DANA, 10% processes towards targeting! Prepare missile tubes seven, eight, and nine!" Keep calm keep calm keep calm. It's just a hacking attempt.
Even if the lights were dimming to conserve power, even if the mood in the room ratched up the tiniest bit. This was nothing. Just an intrusion.
"Aye, ma'am! Loading missile tubes seven, eight, and nine!"
And DANA worked. Resisting the hacking. Tuning, turning the submarine bit by bit to minutely adjust the tubes pointing right at the Astray. No. A bit to the left. To the right. Bit by bit by bit...
KTS: Leina Ashta targets Yuliana Kafim with MP ZZ Single-Barrel Beam Rifle Charged Shot! KTS: Leina Ashta has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Teletha Testarossa targets Juri Wu Nien with Designate L2! KTS: Teletha Testarossa has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Compared to the likes of Banagher's Unicorn Gundam, the Proto Hazel Gundam is practically ancient. With its sharp crest, forced to use an additional support gear to even get close to the kind of power that the modern day machines do. Within the machine itself, the old woman resists through sheer tenacity, and the special BUNNyS System.
As those massive chains tear through the air, seeking to bind those arms, the 'center' two arms of the machine come to life, pulling out Beam Sabers. As if a second pilot were focused on defending just those chains, those sabers lift in the exact positions they need to go to cause the chains to skate across its body, deflecting them down towards the waters. Each chain in the link tearing across its chasis, but the machine refuses to just go down!
<"Negotiator, do not declare victory before your opponent is down. Young people always in a hurry."> The woman answers him with cold precision, as a third 'pair' of arms show themselves. The massive weapon containers on its shoulders opening as the smaller arms pull out enormous rockets, and begins to place them into launchers on its back.
However, instead of using those weapons, it assault continues forwards, as those beam sabers lance down across the Big O's body, trying to shatter the chains at their base, and stop it from 'rooting' itself into place either, and begins to move around its opponent. The Minovsky Flight system coming to life, allowing the machine to 'skate' around the Big-O.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Roger Smith with Hrududu II - Long Blade Emission Assault! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov rattles Roger Smith, making his next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Roger Smith blocks Vitaly Sokolov's Hrududu II - Long Blade Emission Assault, taking 1650 damage! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Roger Smith! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov begins a Formation attack! KTS: Yuliana Kafim has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Yuliana Kafim has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Yuliana Kafim rushes into the attack! KTS: Banagher Links rattles Yuliana Kafim, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Yuliana Kafim partially guards Banagher Links's Two-Saber Combo, taking 2726 damage! KTS: Banagher Links has engaged Yuliana Kafim! KTS: [Mirage] Yuliana Kafim's Avoid20 activates, and she slips into a mirage. KTS: Yuliana Kafim fails to evade Leina Ashta's MP ZZ Single-Barrel Beam Rifle Charged Shot, taking 0 damage! KTS: Regina Everhart has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Regina Everhart parries Gary Biaggi's Blade Rifle - Melee Strike, taking 585 damage! KTS: Gary Biaggi has engaged Regina Everhart!
<Pose Tracker> Romilly Draid has posed.
Hair matted to his forehead with water, Romilly shivers in the cockpit as an unexplored sense rings alarm bells in his mind. The Kingmaker shifts on the water, thrusters at the legs angling to carry it up into the air, as 35mm rounds scream through the air and impact the water all around it. The blue Wanzer's form straightens out as it arcs into a dive below the water, losing distinction as it plunges deeper.
Inside the cockpit, a wan smile spreads across his face as the glow of internals on ocean depths replaces the feed of topside sunlight. <"Mister, your bosses have some pretty lofty ideals too. But at the end of the day, they still sent you out here 'cause they want the monopoly on violence. I've seen what the Feds, the Zekes, and the rest of the world considers 'order,' and I ain't sure I'm a fan!"> The spent drum mag is released, a new one rapidly slotted into place in the dark depths, while rounds from the Valkyre's guns make threatening, bubbling downward lances all around.
LEVEL 2 ANALYSIS COMPLETE. CHAIN RIFLE ACCELERATOR ONLINE.
"Good. Let's come up for air, then."
The Kingmaker bursts from the water a few hundred meters away from where it dove, its ascent once more heralded with a misty spray. Thrusters immediately push it back, keeping the Valkyrie in its cyclopic sights, as the rifle is shouldered. Drawing power from the Arc Pylon once again, this time the rate of fire is absurdly faster, forming a near-contiguous line of lead in a very tight spread.
KTS: Romilly Draid has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Romilly Draid targets Mobile Weapon Team with Chain Rifle Accelerator! KTS: Romilly Draid has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team fails to charge. KTS: Mobile Weapon Team partially guards Romilly Draid's Chain Rifle Accelerator, taking 6270 damage! KTS: Teletha Testarossa designates Juri Wu Nien, making her easier to target and opening her to indirect fire. <Pose Tracker> Juri Wu Nien has posed.
Juri's eyes start to go wide as she finds herself frantically trying to keep up as the enemy system's defenses keep trying to shut her out, "W-What the hell is with this system!?" Juri is usually pretty confident in her computer abilities, but she has to give credit to whoever is in charge of this submarine's IT department. She's not going to be able to keep this up...
She's going to have to change tactics.
Juri's voice filters in through speakers in the TDD-1's bridge, <"A-Ahem. Attention terrorist submarine. This is Juri Wu Nien with Morgenroete Incorporated... Currently on loan to Nergal Industries... Currently on loan to the Federation militiary... It's, uh, complicated. Anyway..."> Be confident. Be confident. Be confident. <"P-Please surrender!"> Nailed it.
<"Ah. But I suppose there's not much point to such a request without something to back it up. Soooo... Please tell the crew in... Uhhhhh... Hmmm. Non-critical... Non-critical... Oh, this looks non-critical. A-Ahem. Please tell the crew in this section to prepare for breach.">
The Astray's thrusters light up again as it begins to push forward through the water towards the TDD-1. It does stow its beam rifle this time, reaching for the hilt of one of the unfortunately (for the TDD-1) named Anti-Ship Swords currently attached at its waist. It pulls the weapon free and raises it, finally closing the distance and attempting to drive the weapon through the hull of the submarine at the previously indicated spot.
KTS: Juri Wu Nien has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Juri Wu Nien has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Juri Wu Nien targets Teletha Testarossa with Anti-Ship Swords Dashing Slash! KTS: Juri Wu Nien has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Regina Everhart has posed.
The pilot of the ENACT deftly parries her attack. Regina is impressed, of course - though she is less impressed with his words.
"If there is any one true culprit here, it is the Federation's own weakness, its hunger for war and bloodshed. Is it any wonder there are those crying out?" She replies.
The ENACT moves in - and this time, she's prepared. Whether than going for the parrying dagger, she uses the heft of of her spear, spinning it as a makeshift barrier to deflect the blade. She does however, still go for the parrying dagger - this time, drawing it and lunging forward to bury it into Gary's suit.
KTS: Regina Everhart targets Gary Biaggi with Parrying Knife Slash! KTS: Regina Everhart has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Teletha Testarossa has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Teletha Testarossa has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Teletha Testarossa has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Gary Biaggi blocks Regina Everhart's Parrying Knife Slash, taking 1020 damage! KTS: Regina Everhart has engaged Gary Biaggi! KTS: Teletha Testarossa successfully Evades Juri Wu Nien's Anti-Ship Swords Dashing Slash
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
Of course tying up the Unicorn didn't work.
She'll just have to bring more rope, next time.
"Begging her?" Yuliana sniffs, haughtiness entering her tone. "But no matter what I said, she'd never forgive me, would she? That is the line, isn't it? Or do you prefer the Japanese saying, oh, that's unforgivable?" Yurusanai, she slips into the language, and hers is accented but still perfectly understandable.
"So!" Yuliana concludes, all too brightly: "Why would I bother?!"
She isn't standing on the surface -- her wanzer doesn't have the capacity to water-ski -- but certainly she's close to the surface, as the Annihilation crashes into the Unicorn. She sees the way his sabers are moving --
Perhaps it's a mistake, the way her wanzer shifts to present its other side to the Unicorn, because certainly he slices through a arm. The Annihilation's flamethrower claw sinks into the depths of the ocean; it won't be employing that cruel heat today.
(You're STILL UNDERWATER, Yuliana, you NEED OXYGEN TO RUN THAT THING.)
But perhaps she does have some knowledge of that, because she's still holding her axe. And yet, now, she's half-disarmed. "Not bad," she comments, to him, as her wanzer presses closer. "But you know, your first mistake..."
The smile in her sentence is audible: "... was getting close to me," Yuliana reminds him, as she keeps herself sickeningly close to the Newtype inside the Unicorn.
Her smile is interrupted by a frown, though, as Leina points something out. "What?" She issues, petulant, and she actually does sound unsteadied by her point about the magic Leina never mentioned. "I mean, I..."
But Leina keeps talking, and Yuliana laughs, roughly. "Haha... hahahaha! Well, why would I bother with anything more, when you children will believe whatever I tell you?!"
She's unsteadied -- but unfortunately for Leina, Yuliana has developed her wanzer with automatic threat detection, and even though the system is so thoroughly kludged together that it doesn't often work... sometimes, it does. Once again, the Avoid20 system clues into the movement of the rifle shot, and the wanzer kicks -- off of the Unicorn, of course -- to clear itself away from the shot.
"Time to go fishing," she supposes, with a sigh, as she flings her axe into the depths to try and catch Leina's Gundam instead.
KTS: Yuliana Kafim targets Banagher Links with Jam! KTS: Yuliana Kafim targets Leina Ashta with MULS-P Grappler Axe Acrobatics! KTS: Yuliana Kafim has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: Yuliana Kafim anchors Leina Ashta, forcing her into close range. KTS: Leina Ashta blocks Yuliana Kafim's MULS-P Grappler Axe Acrobatics, taking 1600 damage! KTS: Yuliana Kafim has engaged Leina Ashta! KTS: Yuliana Kafim begins a Formation attack! KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Strike Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Roger Smith has posed.
<"It looks like you've caught me out again, ma'am. It's becoming a bad habit.">
Roger's voice is light and jovial, but in that dark suit, in this deep heat, and up against such a relentless opponent, there's no doubt Roger Smith is sweating bullets.
Still, the Negotiator doesn't care to back down. The Gundam lunges forward, and Roger leans in, the machine bringing those heavy shields down to interpose and protect its chains, rolling like the world's most ponderous heavyweight boxer. Another huff of exertion as arms and legs piston against the machine's controls, bringing the Big O around in a tremendous arc to once again slam its fists down on its nimbler opponent. If he can just get one clean shot!
<"You're right, of course. It's important to respect one's elders. So I'll defer to your experience... if you'll forgive a little youthful exuberance!">
The machine's internal monitor blinks to life. A kitchen scene.
"Sir, dinner is very nearly ready. Will you be returning soon?
"Hff... Norman, is now really the time? ...I might be a little late."
"Hmm. Very well, sir. Do try to come home before it gets cold."
KTS: Roger Smith targets Vitaly Sokolov with Strike Pile Jab! KTS: Roger Smith has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov parries Roger Smith's Strike Pile Jab, taking 900 damage! KTS: Roger Smith has engaged Vitaly Sokolov! KTS: Yuliana Kafim jams Banagher Links's sensors, reducing his accuracy. <Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
The Hazel continues to shift around upon the water. Skating just at the surface, as it shifts out of the way. The massive fists come down, and the Prototype Gundam intercedes by putting one of its arms in the way. Sparks fly, and even just the single arm of the Big O's arm causes it to dip into the waters.
<"It is perogative of youth to be exuberant. I will forgive. Is good learning opportunity, da?"> The woman answers Roger Smith with a strange... little lilt to her voice. It's not quite warmth, but it lacks the harsh tone she used earlier. To see someone admit to their own fault, and to learn from this experience. This is the kind of student that she enjoys having. It is this kind of person who will survive over the long term!
As the fist contineus to skate over the Hazel's armor, tearing off its armor, the other hand comes forward with a sudden SHOCK of speed. Its three fingers spreading open as the enormous beam emitters on its tips activate, trying to sink into the joint of the Big O's left arm - trying to get under its armor and lower the machine's effectiveness.
<"What secret so important, it must be revealed and used to negotiate with Federation? The populace is not ready for all of world's secrets.">
<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.
There's a sense of calmness that suddenly washed over the Colonel. A deep breath in. A deep breath out. DANA was managing it; It still was an intrusion, something to be ripped out and sewed up in the off-duty times. But for now, it was slowly being repelled. Enough to jostle her mind back into place, enough to not have to worry about system failure while trapped in the deep, deep, dark blue.
This was her pride and joy.
Her eyebrow raises at the declaration. Juri Wu Nien. A nod towards Mardukas; Who knew if they could hear what was inside. Check her out. Investigate. Hacking implementations were a dime a dozen in this world, but having the audacity to hit her ship, her pride and joy, the Toy Box that eluded so many...
A press of the button. Comms on an open line. <"...We refuse."> An attack was coming. Easy. Obvious. Non-critical? There were a few places. Intentional places. Unintentional places. Considering the size of the sword...trajectory...Think it. Assume.
BGM: https://youtu.be/eesho151rjQ
/THERE WAS THE TARGET\
it Whispered in her mind
bb-b-BBBbbbearing heading moVe right down right up zero point seven five zero four niner two radins radii cirle circle circle
"Emergency blow, left ballast tank! Twenty percent, hold for two seconds!"
It was coming in.
"Aye, ma'am! Emergency blow, left ballast tank, twenty percent, two seconds!"
Five seconds to impact.
BOOM
The submarine shifted to the right. Turning, turning. 43 degree true bearing, the sword swinging through nothing but water.
A breath in. Now... "Fire top missile four!"
"Aye, ma'am! Fire top missile four!"
The fourth hatch on the submarine opened, shooting out a missile to breach the surface...and rocket back down under the waves, streaking towards the Astray. Nearly. Nearly.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Roger Smith with 3-Barrel Beam Cannon Fingers! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Teletha Testarossa has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Teletha Testarossa targets Juri Wu Nien with Diversionary Distraction! KTS: Teletha Testarossa has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Roger Smith blocks Vitaly Sokolov's 3-Barrel Beam Cannon Fingers, taking 6600 damage! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Roger Smith! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov completes the Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.
The ENACT's right arm recoils back from the parried attack and at that split moment with the knife coming towards the ENACT's body Gary makes the decision that he doesn't need the ENACT's left hand and the ENACT pushes it's palms out so that it slides through the unit's left hand. Gary can't help but grin as he gets more and more involved in the fight.
With a boit fo joy in his voice, Gary responds to the Alto pilot, <" To be fair, you still haven't answered the original question, who is behind all this. Who is that is crying out and you have decided to fight. Who do you raise your spear for?">
The ENACT does not wait for answers though, Gary didn't want to lose the flow of the battle at the moment, it felt to good. The ENACT slashes with the sword, not once, not twice, but a total three times as the mobile suit doesn't let up from the attack while trying to get through the Alto's defense.
[Entertainment] Emilia Eschonbach> Tactics liking money havers, that person doing the cool FFT pics is opening up: https://twitter.com/marchbell_/status/1610403078578266112?s=20
[Entertainment] Lina Lombardi> oh this is a different FFT person oh dear that's 200 dollars
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
"<You're the best, love!>" Banagher calls back to Leina, gratefully. "<Don't ever doubt your piloting again!>"
As the Unicorn meets the Annihilation, things go the Gundam's way. He makes a triumphant little sound, grinning as the flamethrower falls away. It wasn't exactly what he was aiming for, but it's still good. Yuliana's fire won't hurt anyone today.
Leina sinks into the ocean, earning a spike of fear from Banagher, but -- she's okay. Leina cries out for him to retreat, and by the time he turns his attention back to Yuliana...
That sick feeling returns. Banagher's bond with Leina is cut off, leaving him isolated. He gasps, hunching forward in his seat. Don't throw up in your helmet, don't throw up in your helmet. Yuliana's words float through the cockpit, taunting him in his moment of weakness, and--
Even this can't destroy Banagher's connection to the Unicorn. But bereft of his coping mechanism, the NT-D bears down on him harder than ever. Anger, fear, even a little pity echo back in on him again and again, until his walls are beaten down to nothing.
The Beast of Possibility raises her head and screams, no longer held back by her pilot. The scarlet light shines like a supernova, wrathful. Darting around the Annihilation, trailing blue starlight, the Unicorn fires from her vulcans. It's an oddly soft attack from the vicious program... The NT-D is up to something.
---
Golden eyes blink open in a prison of scarlet light. Banagher breathes out, terror paralyzing him. Not that he could do anything.
KTS: Banagher Links targets Yuliana Kafim with Head Vulcans Burst! KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round <Pose Tracker> Mobile Weapon Team has posed.
<"So Nien's confirmed a second submarine. Kch. Just my luck,"> Garland grouses, the flanking squads thus far failing to find the smaller class of ship he's assumed he's looking for. <"...unless that massive thing really is what they've procured for this job? Damn it, it's hard to tell. ...Without any leads on a second craft, we have to assume the large one is what we're trying to secure, but we're poorly equipped for a dedicated attack sub...">
Additional plans are formulated - maneuvers to intercept potential runaways, but without a lead on where the final destination is, Garland can only get a bit more incensed - this was the stage of the operation that had the highest odds of actual success.
What's more...
<"Damn it, I've gotten rusty over the years, haven't I? Or maybe the tech you can bolt onto a Wanzer has improved?"> Garland brings up the Valkyrie's puny little shield, but it's swiftly torn away by the sheer devastating firepower Romilly brings to bear, and by now, his two wingmates have long been disabled or pulled away. <"We're on too rigid a time crunch here for me to play games about loftiness...tch."> To the rest of the task force, Garland signals, <"We're going to have to imminently regroup. I hate to say it, but especially with the Unicorn still looming over everything, we might get overextended, and gods know what they'd manage if we all got captured. I'm closing out my engagement-!"> And with that, the highest power beam cannons mounted on the Valkyrie's nose blare out to blind and stun Romilly, the engines flaring into a blitzing burn as the Colonel slowly makes way back to the Saratoga...
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Romilly Draid with Mauler Beam Cannons Sequential Fire! KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Gary Biaggi targets Regina Everhart with Blade Rifle - Sword Combo! KTS: Gary Biaggi has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Romilly Draid has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Romilly Draid's Will Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Romilly Draid fails to Evade Mobile Weapon Team's Mauler Beam Cannons Sequential Fire, taking 6300 damage! KTS: Regina Everhart has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Regina Everhart has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Regina Everhart has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Regina Everhart rushes into the attack! KTS: Regina Everhart partially guards Gary Biaggi's Blade Rifle - Sword Combo, taking 5320 damage! KTS: Gary Biaggi has engaged Regina Everhart! KTS: Teletha Testarossa rattles Juri Wu Nien, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Juri Wu Nien blocks Teletha Testarossa's Diversionary Distraction, taking 2100 damage! Teletha Testarossa has connected.
<Pose Tracker> Roger Smith has posed.
The beams slash up the Big O's elbow. Black steel slags off in thick waves, layer after layer, exposing an older and stranger alloy of gunmetal gray. Lights flicker through the gap like the leaping charge of scattered nerves, and Roger rears back in the cockpit. It takes a moment for him to collect himself - he gives his tie a little tug.
<"Why, Ms. Sokolov. Are you the sort of lady who prefers to bury unpleasant memories? That's just fine by me - I believe keeping secrets is an unfair privilege enjoyed by beautiful women. However! I won't grant the same courtesy to criminal conspiracies!">
The behemoth's big fist clenches, the arm coming up as a barrier - not intended to strike, but to force movement, to slow the Hazel just enough as the other arm springs up and the fist inside begins to whirr. The cuff around that fist begins to split, the entire hand rotating as four enormous barrels are revealed... each blazing pink until a shining halo stands at the tip of the Megadeus's fingertips. Then, all at once, a gatling flurry of plasma bolts lance out at the Gundam, seeking to repay it in kind for its assault.
"Norman... I'll be returning soon. Please pay extra attention to the hydraulic seals during Big O's repairs tomorrow. They were six percent less efficient than usual."
"Of course, sir. Your tea will be ready when you arrive."
"Thank you, Norman."
Of course, it wasn't Norman's fault at all. Today's results are, as always, Roger's responsibility.
KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Roger Smith targets Vitaly Sokolov with O Thunder Sustained Fire! KTS: Roger Smith has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Regina Everhart has posed.
"You will have to search your own heart for the answer to that question. For I have only one for you." Regina replies. The ENACT lashes out with its sword three times, and the Alto - dives into it. It rushes in, its body shifting to minimize the damage while not forfeiting the momentum such a reckless charge gains.
Though it doesn't reflect in her voice, she's fired up, too - and she uses that momentum to try and drive the spear straight into the ENACT. She doesn't attempt to retrieve it - instead, she follows it up with a brutal string of bared-handed punches with the singular goal of tearing through any defenses in her way and rendering the opposing machine incapable of fighting.
But not the pilot. She gave her word, after all.
KTS: Regina Everhart targets Gary Biaggi with Shattering Combination! KTS: Regina Everhart has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Accel Spirit Command and Has Engaged with Roger Smith KTS: Gary Biaggi fails to react to Regina Everhart's Shattering Combination, taking 6700 damage! KTS: Gary Biaggi has been defeated! KTS: Regina Everhart has engaged Gary Biaggi! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov's Beam Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov partially guards Roger Smith's O Thunder Sustained Fire, taking 5035 damage! KTS: Roger Smith roots his unit, coming to a standstill and leaving him vulnerable. <Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
Banagher's quick to tell her that she shouldn't doubt her piloting again, and Leina actually manages a small laugh, "<A-Ah I mean - you are kinda covering for me!>"
Somehow he managed to fluster her!?
The Double Zeta jets underwater in an attempt to keep its distance from that tiny Wanzer, but Yuliana goes fishing, and her fishing attempt is real effective!
Suddenly the chained axe is caught by the flap like shield, as it snags around it. She at least prevents it from a worse blow, but unfortunately now she's a fish on a line, and wherever she goes...
... Yuliana can follow.
"<Yeah and I'm sure next you'll say that those green crystals are traditional in Zaftra.>"
There's a problem however, and Leina doesn't feel it at first, with Banagher cut off from her, with herself so close to Yuliana, caught in that quagmire of null feeling.
And that's in the Unicorn itself, when it screams, Leina looks at it in alarm. And realizes she can't reach out to him, "<Banagher! Banagher you have to snap out of it! Listen to me! Listen to my voice! You have to regain control of yourself!>"
It's maddening, the knowledge that neither of them can feel each other, that she can't do a single thing to calm him down but to speak and hope he hears her while caught in the blinding light of the aperture within that beast of possibility.
It's useless though, and all of a sudden she stops fighting the chain in the snag, as the Double Zeta launches itself at the Annihilation wanzer, trying to sever the chain at close range.
"<Let GO of me!>" Leina suddenly grinds out through her teeth, trying to focus through the blinding, deafening tinnitus of the void, "<He needs me right now and you are IN MY WAY!>"
KTS: Leina Ashta targets Yuliana Kafim with MP ZZ Beam Saber Strike! KTS: Leina Ashta has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Yuliana Kafim successfully jobs Banagher Links's Head Vulcans Burst KTS: Yuliana Kafim fails to retreat. KTS: Yuliana Kafim fails to react to Leina Ashta's MP ZZ Beam Saber Strike, taking 2960 damage! KTS: Leina Ashta has engaged Yuliana Kafim!
<Pose Tracker> Juri Wu Nien has posed.
Looking into Juri's personal information reveals two things:
One. Her background is an open book. Born in Orb, Orphaned around the time of Second Impact, top marks at school. Nothing about it rings false. No contradictions or blank holes. It's legit.
Two. Her skills with computers are no joke. Graduating from a prestigious Orb university at age 16, with two degrees. One in computer science, the other mobile weapon engineering. She's currently listed as employed at Morgenroete Incorporated as a software engineer and test pilot. More guarded intel suggests she was part of the team that helped develop Morgenroete's new mobile suit OS.
She's clearly a straight shooter. And combined with her performance so far, clearly a novice pilot. Which then makes one wonder why she's here.
'We refuse.' Of course they refuse. Juri doesn't blame them. She's hardly been a threat to them at this point. Even now, her attempt to back up her request doesn't reach its intended mark. Juri is at a loss, "I-It's a submarine! How are they doing that!?"
The numbers don't add up... Even with her Astray not being as suitable for underwater operations, its smaller size should give it the mobility it needs to at least hit something as large as a submarine!
"Why..."
The TDD-1's missile launches, breaching the surface before coming back around to dive into the water above Juri's position. The Astray turns its body, moving its shield into the path of the weapon. The missile explodes against the shield, the resulting underwater pulse knocking the shield from the Astray's hand. It sinks down towards the ocean's floor.
"Why...!?"
The Astray moves its now free left hand to reach for the second Anti-Ship Sword at its waist. Wielding both now, its thrusters ignite again and it charges towards the TDD-1.
"Why isn't this working!?"
Reaching the submarine, the Astray attempts to drive both sword into roughly the same point then pull them along the hull to cleave for several moments to cleave a wound through the ship.
KTS: Juri Wu Nien has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Juri Wu Nien has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Juri Wu Nien has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Juri Wu Nien targets Teletha Testarossa with Anti-Ship Swords Cleave! KTS: Juri Wu Nien has completed their actions for the round. Vitaly Sokolov transforms to RX-123-P Gundam TR-S [Rabscuttle Proto]
KTS: Teletha Testarossa has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Resupply Spirit Command. KTS: Teletha Testarossa successfully Evades Juri Wu Nien's Anti-Ship Swords Cleave
<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.
Gary laughs at the answer given by his opponent, it is a bit to sappy for his own likes but it is a cute response. He will have to save it for another day. For now though the ENACT is pierced by the spear, through the blade rifle, through the armor on the chest and into the thruster system. It does though manage to miss the cockpit entirely.
The thrusters on the ENACT stop as it slides off the spear and splashes into the water. The good news about the ENACT being a discount FLAG unit is that all the parts are also discounted, so the damage isn't to costly. Eventually Gary would release the emergency ejection and make his way for retrieval, for now though he has oxygen and silence, might as well take a nap.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
<"Some people sleep easier when they forget unpleasant memories. I am not weak, I do not see need to bury them."> Vitaly Sokolov answers Roger Smith with a firm voice. She's impressed that he's taking his time to collect himself, and comes across quite so evenly spoken.
Indeed, a professional.
The enormous fist comes her way, and the Flare shifts out of the way, trying to halt the first strike from causing severe damage. It tries to strike again, but the massive shield halts its strike - causing some of the 'fingers' of its fist to crunch up and get torn!
Only for that cuff to split and the four barrels to be revealed.
"Ah..." Vitaly mumbles to herself. "It seems it has more weapons."
Followed by the flashing flurry of plasma bolts lancing across the Hazel. Sharp blast after blast tearing into its body. I-Fields being forced to their highest shielding values in an attempt to control the damage. Each spark causing the Hazel to be slugged backwards across the water.
Yet, the woman is calm, as the Hazel remains to be a target...
"Docking Sequence."
Another one of those fierce pink shots tears across one of its massive weapon bays, detonating it, followed by it lifting those large missile launchers, and firing them upon the Big O. They launch right into the path of those blasts, detonating close to the unit, causing enormous detonations above the waterline and blinding Roger Smith for a moment, making it seem like the Hazel Proto just detonated...
Before there's a sudden pale blue light at the center of the smoke. As the Rabscuttle, having docked back up with the wounded Hazel bores forward. Massive claws grabbing hold of the Big O!
At the center, an enormous emitter having charged up with enough energy to take down a small capital ship.
<"Perhaps, do svidaniya.">
Before the blue light sears forward, boring through the waters, as the claws release. Aiming to push back the Big O and disabing the Negotiator.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Roger Smith with High Mega Particle Cannon - Charge Beam! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Roger Smith has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Romilly Draid has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Roger Smith KTS: Roger Smith's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Roger Smith blocks Vitaly Sokolov's High Mega Particle Cannon - Charge Beam, taking 2775 damage! KTS: Roger Smith has been defeated!
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
"The Unicorn," Yuliana breathes, in awe and avarice, as Banagher checks out and the possibility checks in.
She forgets to shut off her radio to address it.
"But you cannot destroy me. No matter the crimes writ upon me... I am more. I am her miracle."
Even though Leina and Banagher can hear her, it's clearly a private conversation.
Fascinated, captivated, Yuliana doesn't even try to move the Annihilation out of the way of those vulcans -- they bite into its shoulders, through the chaff launcher there. The wail of a few more alarms in her cockpit shakes her back to reality, though, and she moves on to attacking Leina --
"Tch... do you have something against jewelry? That's too old-fashioned for youth!" She criticises Leina, as if that's what Leina had a problem with. (She's only ever seen Yuliana with the scarf on, hasn't she?) Her chain wraps about the Double Zeta, catching that fish, as her water jets take her down.
But she's left Banagher troubled, up there, with the memory of her aura, and Yuliana frowns as she listens to Leina crying out to orient him. She thinks, here, of all those times she's had to reach out to Elisa -- call her back from wherever she goes, when she goes away.
The ZZ Gundam carves through the Grappler Axe's chain in Leina's panic, and the wanzer pulls away from her blade.
There's a moment of silence.
"Go," Yuliana tells her, and her tone is less mocking, now. "I'm getting the signal to retreat, so I don't need to continue this engagement any further."
And the Annihilation -- rather than following Leina -- breaks away from her, and from the Unicorn she so desires.
She switches to the Federation's channel, to transmit, to Garland: "Copy that, Colonel. Now disengaging from the Unicorn and retreating. The Unicorn's pilot has been disrupted, so he shouldn't follow us too quickly."
And surely no one can accuse Yuliana of giving up too easily -- when she's just following orders.
<Pose Tracker> Regina Everhart has posed.
Regina takes hold of her spear, letting the ENACT slide off of it.
"You fought well." She assures, watching the mobile suit fall. She keeps an eye on it, just in case it looks like it might be dashed against the waves - but, it looks like it should be able to be retrieved. She switches communications over, back to her allies.
"Target unit has been disabled. Preparing to provide support." Regina states. Her Alto ascends - a watchful sentinel ready to descend with her spear wherever needed.
<Pose Tracker> Roger Smith has posed.
The Big O's arms begin to come up, covering its core with those big black shields... but the left is a little too slow. Its shoulders begin to screech open - but the damage slows them, too, and only the barest flicker of plasma intercedes, and the beam's energy waterfalls over Big O, sending up more sparks around the black titan. It comes to a standstill, staring down the Rabscuttle... though the golden light in its eyes slowly dims.
Through the internal monitor, there's a little chime, and the whistle of boiling water.
<"Ah, that's my cue. I think it's fair to say I've done all that my client required for today! It seems this is goodbye, Ms. Sokolov. I'll look forward to another of your dance lessons, some other time.">
Those big black arms lock in place and cross over the Big O's chest and, when it plunges into the water, it plunges well below the depth of this little sandbar. Wrapped in its steel harness, it thunders away into the darkness, carrying Paradigm City's Negotiator back towards home.
"What an interesting woman... I'm sure that won't be the last I see of her."
<Pose Tracker> Romilly Draid has posed.
Another shiver at the back of Romilly's neck, as Junior comes to the same conclusion through the Wanzer's MMI--Garland is coming around for another pass. Being able to see something coming, however, is not always the same as being able to prevent it.
Intending to press on the offensive, Romilly goes for a daring lateral dive, feathering the Wanzer's thrusters to tuck it into a roll that skips it across the water. Indeed, the longer the fight went on, the more responsive, quick and accurate it seemed to get, in a way that an experienced pilot like Garland can't entirely chalk up to pilot skill or Newtype affinity.
Everyone makes miscalculations in the heat of battle, human or computer--coming back up after that agressively-minded evasive maneuver, Romilly's Kingmaker is pierced once through the shoulder, a spray of disintegrating ablative plates rushing outwards from the impact point. More are coming--the Wanzer hurriedly righting itself to ski clear, darting forward in a harrowing obstacle course navigated with white-knuckled grip from the pilot. By the time he manages to get clear of the last of them, the Valkyrie is too close to the Saratoga to safely pursue. <"Next time, then.">
"Okay. He's breakin' off. No reason to pursue." As the Wanzer's cyclopic eye adjusts for the absence of those glaring energy cannons, Romilly coaxes it into a wide u-turn. "Looking good, but we ain't free and clear yet."
He switches to friendly comms. "<Draid here. Enemy flight leader popped me good, but he's peelin'. Moving to regroup with VIP; holler if you need a hand.">
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
Leina's voice echoes down to Banagher in his prison, like sunlight warming him enough to take action. Rushing to one of the walls, Banagher throws his weight into it.
"Let--!"
Another strike, this time with his fists.
"Me--!"
A miniscule crack appears on the energy barrier, scarlet light wavering for just a moment.
"OUT!"
Spidering cracks cover the walls of his prison. Leina's in danger, he can't check out now and leave her alone with Yuliana!
---
Yuliana claims the Unicorn can't destroy her. As if in answer, the Gundam ignites two more beam sabers. The pressure of her aura is immense, red light flowing from her in intense waves, disturbing the ocean below.
Even as Yuliana begins to retreat... The Unicorn remembers her pilot's rage. How Banagher's voice broke, his memories of watching Leina and Audrey fight for their lives.
Screaming in echoed fury, the Unicorn pursues the Annihilation. Tackling the hated mobile suit, she stands atop it, forcing it down into the water. Sabers lash out again and again, endlessly, as if to exorcise the void she senses. Depsite everything -- she never tries for a killing blow. Banagher's spirit is still present, even if he can't overtake the NT-D.
Scarlet and magenta, the heat of the stars brought to bear in hatred. Suffer, Banagher had said, Make your loved ones suffer.
KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Banagher Links targets Yuliana Kafim with Life & Death! KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.
There's a sense of something going so, so, painfully right. DANA recieves the results of the cursory search on what Mithril had on Juri. Truth after truth, verified on their own terms with sources gleaned via unethical means. Interesting. Interesting.
...Why was she here?
She shouldn't be here.
But if she's here...
Then she'll have no quarter drawn after threatening HER ship.
Prediction upon prediction. If she's a novice, then this is unusual. A submarine dodging. And if she's top-notch, then that only means that she'll want to regain the common sense she had suddenly lost.
Assumption after assumption. Therefore, after missing that swipe, she'd do it again. The conclusion.
A small smile perked at Tessa's lips, even among the massive failure to keep herself steady.
"Launch missiles two through seven! Detonate on my mark!"
"Aye, ma'am! Launching missiles two through seven! Waiting for your signal!"
And if it was at this angle...The TDD-1 was pointing away from the Astray. Five missiles poured out of the tubes, the remotely-armed torpedoes primed. Surging, fanning out, primed for explosive force as much as the physical impact.
Yes. The Astray would go this way. And.
"Blow the right ballast! Ten percent, three seconds!
"Aye, ma'am! Blow the right ballast, ten percent, three seconds!"
BOOM
The sudden adjustment barely shifted Tessa. She saw it in her head, the whispering darting her tongue along. Listen. It's right. It's all right.
The smooth motion of those swords missing their mark again. The falloff. The slowdown.
right
where
the
missiles
were
heading
"Now!"
"Yes, ma'am! Set off the missiles!"
And the area surrounding the Astray lit up with explosive fury, with the force of the seas, with six separate multi-million dollar torpedoes lighting up the ocean, the shockwaves of water pressure surging outwards.
Ah, this feeling was electrifying...scary, but so potent.
KTS: Yuliana Kafim has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Teletha Testarossa has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Yuliana Kafim has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Teletha Testarossa has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Yuliana Kafim parries Banagher Links's Life & Death, taking 1140 damage! KTS: Banagher Links has engaged Yuliana Kafim! KTS: Banagher Links roots his unit, coming to a standstill and leaving him vulnerable. KTS: Teletha Testarossa targets Juri Wu Nien with All Out Attack! KTS: Teletha Testarossa has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Juri Wu Nien blocks Teletha Testarossa's All Out Attack, taking 8880 damage! KTS: Juri Wu Nien has been defeated!
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
There's no biteback against the idea of jewelry being old fashioned, when she is mostly certain it's the source of Elisa - and Alma's powers.
Right now she has greater concerns. It takes her a moment to realize that the Annihilation isn't fighting back. 'Go,'
Yuliana can hear her holding down the comm button, "<...>"
There's a hiss of radio noise and white static, the sound of her breathing. It's hard to say whether its even on purpose, or in the intensity and panic of the moment.
The moment she leaves the range of the Void, it's like she's coming up for air from practice holding her breath at the bottom of the pool...
... and she can sense the intent of the Unicorn quite clearly, not that she needs to, she has eyes.
The scarlet and magenta plunge down, and the Double Zeta suddenly comes from low, directly behind him, as its arms slide up underneath the Unicorn's armpits, trying to hold its arms at bay from further attacks.
It's thrusters engage, and suddenly the wild beast of possibility feels a counterforce trying to rip it away and backwards from its target.
There's no words in this moment, because there's no need for them anymore. She can feel Banagher, and he can feel her.
Inside the Unicorn, as if in mirror to what's going on without, there's a spiritual brush, like two hands encircling around him on a level deeper than simple touch.
Beckoning him back. Calling for an end. Trying to prevent him from doing something he can't take back.
Mobile suits and souls a mirror, even if only the two of them can witness it.
KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged. KTS: Leina Ashta targets Banagher Links with Shock! KTS: Leina Ashta has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
With a request to fall back and with the Big O sparking and its pilot announcing he is retreating, the damaged Rabscuttle lowers its velocity as Vitaly glances aside through the linear cockpit view.
Important intelligence is being gone off with, and that is most certainly concerning. But it's starting to all become a theme in her life lately. Strange going-ons within the Federation. Information leaking left and right.
The woman's brow creases. Is this all just ZAFT's doing, or are there insiders?
She hit a dead end when she investigated Eight York. So perhaps the problem lies elsewhere.
<Pose Tracker> Juri Wu Nien has posed.
It's probably pretty boring for Tessa. Juri's movements are exactly as predicted. Perhaps even scarily so.
The Astray's dive towards the TDD-1 misses. Its course and momentum carry it onward towards where the trap had been prepared. Juri's eyes go wide, there's nothing she can do!
Pressure from the underwater explosion smashes into the Astray from multiple directions, rapidly throwing the machine around as if it's been dropped into a giant washing machine.
Inside the cockpit, Juri cries out as she is rapidly pulled in multiple directions. She can feel the safety belts of her chair digging into her through her suit as they try to hold her in place.
Finally a particularly large push snaps Juri's head to the side, sending it crashing into headrest and rapidly stopping. The sudden movement and then stopping is too much for her brain to handle. Everything goes dark.
The shockwaves from the explosions pass. The Astray goes still, unmoving, slowly sinking down towards the ocean floor.
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
Oh, Banagher.
Throw yourself at the walls long enough, and you learn they cannot be broken.
For one person -- for one person on this Earth -- Yuliana's isolation tank is constant and absolute.
Yuliana's letting Leina go, though. She was always going to let them go. There's a reason that for all her assaults -- she's never targeted anything they'd permanently miss, tangling them up in her chains and slashing at non-critical systems. She's here to support their informants, too... because she, herself, is an informant.
And she knows what the Federation is doing.
Even if that's who they're doing it to.
"Oh, make a LIAR of me, why don't you?!" Yuliana yelps, on a wide channel, as the Unicorn descends on her and pushes her deeper into the depths. Clutch pushing up and forward, she drives the Annihilation to bring its axe up to meet those beam saber slashes.
She turns a good many of them away -- but her wanzer's already missing an arm. The consequence of selling it.
"Shit," Yuliana bites out, as the alarms wail in her cockpit. Her teeth grit, as she forces away another blow. It hasn't escaped her that with one side more vulnerable, the Unicorn could plunge its beam saber right through her cockpit.
And it hasn't.
She still... doesn't understand.
The other Gundam comes up behind the one berserking, though, and Yuliana says: "Leina?!" She's surprised, even knowing what she knows, about her.
She's not about to throw away the opportunity, either, though. Engaging her water jets, the wanzer sinks deeper into the water, to escape the Unicorn and its rage. "If it's like that, then..." She issues, to Leina, and shakes her head as well as she can in a wanzer helmet. "Disengaging," she reports, military-sharp.
And she does.
Presuming the Unicorn will let her.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
For a moment, the Beast of Possibility reaches out, as if to take control of Leina's Biosensor...
---
Sunlight breaks through the cracks of the scarlet-lit prison, shattering the walls. Banagher breathes out in relief. His connection with Leina is restored, and he leans into the hands that beckon him.
He didn't have to fight. He only had to rely on the people he loves. "See?" Banagher says, glancing up at the source of scarlet light. "We can fight together. It doesn't have to be like this."
Leina is calling. Banagher can talk to the Unicorn later. A peaceful smile crosses his face as he feels himself fading back into reality.
"Thank you." He breathes, as his vision is overcome with her radiance. "I love you."
---
The Unicorn's hand falls. Scarlet light winks out as she transforms again, diminishing down to her single-horned form. Everything about the situation eases -- beam sabers extinguished and stowed away.
"<Leina.>" Banagher's voice is reverant, thankful. "<Thank you. I'm so glad you're here. Did I--?>"
Looking down, Bangher takes in Yuliana's machine. It's torn up badly. His breath catches in his throat -- did he kill her?
No. She's moving. The Annihilation sinks and races away, and Banagher slumps in his seat. No permanent damage. This wont' be another Torrington. Tears of relief come to Banagher's eyes, and he sniffles, tossing his helmet off and wiping at his face with his normal suit's sleeve.
"<I'm... ready to go home.>" He murmurs, to Leina alone.
The Unicorn, nor her pilot, will pursue Yuliana. Possibility endures.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Getting a reading moments later of one of the aiding Nergal forces, Vitaly's initial plans to try and chase the Toy Box are arrested. The Winter Witch has a very notable sense of duty, but there is one particular matter that comes before that.
And that is to protect the young ones.
So as Juri's consciousness fades, flickering in and out, a great Trilobite-like shape approaches her machine with massive claws, reaching out to hold the Astray and pull it out of the waters.
Perhaps, even just a little bit, this is reparations for all the people she could not save at JOSH-A.
<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.
There's something perversely enjoyable about watching a tactic play out. Parts played to perfection, the innate satisfaction of outwitting someone. Deep breaths. In. Out. Calm down. They've won. Others are retreating. Reaffirming themselves.
The sight of the unmoving Astray did send a chill down her spine. She won, yes. Was the pilot okay? Was she...
...
...
No, the cockpit didn't look crushed. The suit looked fine, even. And with proper restraints, it was merely the g-force that stopped her so, which meant...
A gulp. She wasn't in this for death.
"Send a signal flare out. Red, SOS variant."
"Aye, ma'am! Firing a signal flare, red, SOS variant!"
From one of the many chutes, a flare shot out, high into the sky. SOS. SOS. SOS. Help.
...They can't be seen here. This was all she could do.
"Shift to true bearing two one zero. Dive, fifteen knots."
"Aye, ma'am. Move to true bearing two one zero. Dive! Fifteen knots!"
And the Toy Box slipped away.
<"All units, be advised. There is an enemy Astray sinking to the ocean floor at the location of the SOS flare. Trust in their comrades to pick them up.">
<"...Good work, all of you.">