2023-02-05: Black Unicorn
- Log: Black Unicorn
- Cast: Suberoa Zinnerman, Eight York, Crossfire Salem, Banagher Links, Sophia Mayhew Castellan, Rena Lancaster, Leina Ashta, Mineva Lao Zabi, Ujico Issa, Roux Louka, Ruri Hoshino, Arriety Hearn, Lina Lombardi, Anita Rosetta, Liam 7-020, Puru Two, Lucine Azul, Angelo Sauper, Full Frontal, Licia Chovan
- Where: Near-Earth Orbit
- OOC - IC Date: 0097 02 05
- Summary: While making a difficult orbital rendezvous with the Ra Mari II, the Garencieres comes under attack by G-Hound and the enigmatic Crossfire Salem, flying the Banshee, the dark counterpart to Banagher's Unicorn. In the midst of this melee, and with the support of the people in his life; something awakens within the young Newtype...
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
With Kwani deployed on his regular field operation allowing the Garencieres to maintain contact with a certain E.E., the crew have turned their attentions to the developing complications of the Earth's war on the PLANT and Sides, and a meeting arranged with the flagship of the newest player in the war.
"Are we sure about this, Cap?" Gilboa asks, leaning back in his helm chair. "This crew were Londo Bell only a couple months ago. Technically we're still enemies, right?"
Zinnerman grunts, scratching at his beard with a gloved hand. "They defected when the Federation invaded Orb, and they're joined by the Nadesico and the Eternal. I think it's safe to say that their allegiances are their own. Plus... I know the contact who arranged this rendezvous. We can trust her."
"If you say so." Gilboa assesses his console. "Speaking of, ETA ten minutes. Beginning the ascent now."
The Garencieres lifts out of the cloudbank it's been running silent in, its thrusters burning blue as it pushes towards the atmosphere and the massive Zentradi ship awaiting their arrival.
Ivan leans forward, frowning, as they start to clear atmosphere. "Captain? It was supposed to be just us and the Monitor, right?"
"What's wrong, Ivan?"
"I'm picking up a third ship. It should just be coming into visual range now."
Zinnerman looks at his personal screen. "That's a General Revil-class." He frowns, peering closer at the readouts. "No, it's the General Revil."
"It's on an intercept course for the Ra Mari II," Ivan explains, concern leaving a slight tremor in his voice.
"Our cover's blown. Gilboa?"
"It's too late to change course, if we can't make the rendezvous we'll crash back to Earth," the helmsman reports, as Ivan chimes in again with "I'm picking up two more signals to our aft."
Zinnerman says what they're all thinking: "It's a trap." The captain looks up at the silhouette of the Ra Mari II. "Get me a signal."
Aboard the Zentradi Monitor, a screen crackles to life, showing the grizzled old man's stern countenance. "Captain York. I trust you can see what we're seeing now; it seems we have some uninvited guests."
He looks directly at his camera - the nearest thing to making direct eye contact. "There are two more battleships behind us. If we fail to make the rendezvous, this ship will certainly be captured by G-Hound and the Vist Foundation. I
believe our only option is to fight our way clear."
One unarmed freighter and its complement of Geara Zulus; a losing proposition against three Federation battleships.
But even so...
<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.
Once, Eight York would've counted the Garencieres as an enemy. Any meeting with them would be fraught. ...These days, that's still Eight's instinct; people who are willing to fight with the Sleeves reprsent the very cause she joined Londo Bell to oppose. And yet... And yet, that woman had vouched for this crew. And the simple truth is that the Alliance needs all the allies it can get--if they can unify with more of those people, perhaps they can find a peaceful solution.
"Are you sure about this?" Licia Chovan asks Eight on the bridge, turning her head to talk back to Eight. "They're still with the Sleeves. Even if we're not Londo Bell anymore... I know how you feel about Zeon remnants. About... my old comrades."
"I'm sure," Eight answers. "If we have a chance to peacefully coexist, then we have to try. Besides; you're not the only one who's ex-Zeon here. I am, too. We have common ground with them, even if I don't like the way the Sleeves have fought in the past. ...We can negotiate about that much."
"...All right, Captain. If you didn't have that hopeful streak I wouldn't like you so much."
"But," Enba Rezza, the XO says, "I'll be sure to watch our back. In case there are people around who don't feel the same way."
"Noted," Eight answers. "Chovan, take us in."
The Ra Mari II' sinks lower towards atmosphere, the bright blue of the Earth far, far below. The great red ship is easy to spot at this distance, hangs there in the sky, a remnant of an ancient war that has been repurposed as a symbol of hope.
...In theory, anyway.
"Captain!" Astelian at the sensors speaks up in alarm. "I'm detecting another ship!"
"Not the Garencieres?"
"No, it's... The General Revil! On an intercept course with the Garencieres!"
"It's a trap," Rezza points out. "...If we don't help them, they'll be caught between three ships. Not a good start to negotiations..."
Astelian puts the message through immediately; the grizzled old Zinnerman appears on Eight's screen, where he sees the much younger Eight York with a grave expression. She's almost the image of his contact in youth. "So I see, Captain Zinnerman. You can count on us." More battleships on the way... "We'll just have to make sure you make it."
Eight addresses her crew, "You heard me. We're helping. Chovan, bring us about. Kazama, charge the weapon bays." She switches to a shipwide frequency, "All pilots, prepare to sortie. We have incoming. Our new allies need us."
Eight leans forward in her chair. An ambush like this puts them in a difficult position...
But even so.
<Pose Tracker> Crossfire Salem has posed.
Three ships ambush two rebels. They have the numbers, but they also have an ace up their sleeve.
This wasn't an exciting mission for the masked pilot working for Vist, but it was an important one. Perhaps one step closer to making things right. She has a terrifying ally, one she doesn't quite trust yet - but is far better than her 'jailers'.
"Crossfire Salem, RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee, deploying."
The black-and-gold Unicorn Gundam launches, the Banshee flying like a speeding bullet towards the two ships, maneuvering through space. It pauses, for a second, and then turns towards the Garencieres, focusing on it like a hawk.
Once it's in visual range - it's the same machine that attacked the Kafim wedding, then piloted by Lilith Aiden.
The short-wave comms go up before it gets into 'declaration of attack' range. Voice is modulated.
"I'm not going to mince words. Hand over the Unicorn Gundam and Banagher Links. Failure to cooperate will result in negative consequences."
The Armed Armor Beam Smartgun is raised from the right arm. It is not fired, but it is charging.
"This is not a threat."
The Banshee hovers in place.
"It is a promise."
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
"The day I met the Unicorn, almost everyone in my class died. Only three of us survived. I've been -- trying not to think about it, too much, but... Now, I have to. I have to face what happened. It's made me realize... I want to see
them again. Takuya and Micott. Even though they were so kind to me, I was never able to express how grateful I was for them. Now, I can. And I want to!"
"I'm sorry to ask for such a big favor. Please, Leina, can you find them for me?"
---
Freshly repaired and gleaming a valiant white, the Unicorn Gundam rests in the Garencieres' hangar. Banagher looks up at her, resting his arms on the railing of an upper walkway. Dressed in his red-and-white pilot suit, the young man is quiet.
Being back with Captain Zinnerman and his crew feels like being /home/, even more than the Mass Villa. It feels like it's been a lifetime since he was last here. So much has changed, both in Banagher himself, and the world around him.
"I wish we could've brought gifts for everyone. We missed Christmas. Maybe I can help out with something in exchange..." Banagher wonders aloud, a little smile making its way to his face. "Mister Tomura could always use a hand with the
mobile suits..."
In the midst of Banagher's quiet moment, a flash of awareness sears his mind. "Nngh--"
One hand clutching his chest, Banagher fights against the lingering pain. He's only felt this once before, this particular sense of dire fear and malevolence.
"It's her." He murmurs, straightening. Banagher hurries to a wall-mounted communicator. "Captain!"
---
G-Hound. The Banshee. Of all the times for them to find the Unicorn... Banagher curses to himself, waiting to launch with the Garencieres' own pilots.
"Banagher Links, Unicorn Gundam!" He calls, as the Unicorn rockets forward. "Launching!"
The stars rush to greet him. Effortlessly, Banagher feels his mind connect to the NT-D. White armor opens, revealing scarlet radiance within. The Unicorn grows taller, more formidable, even as she's still launching from the Garencieres. Her horn splits in two, and Banagher soars. Despite everything... this, too, feels like home.
Putting himself between the Banshee and the two ships she threatens, the Unicorn stretches her arms wide.
"<Banshee pilot! We don't have to fight!>" Banagher calls over the public line. Underneath the terror he feels from the black Unicorn's presence, there's a hint of familiarity. "<I... don't know who you are. But I recognize you! We're -- we're friends, aren't we? I don't want to hurt you!>"
Wira's body flashes in Banagher's mind. Gasping, wet breaths echo.
Squeezing his eyes closed, he takes a breath. Banagher knows what it is to kill someone, now. He never wants to experience it again.
But even so...
<Pose Tracker> Crossfire Salem has posed.
Banagher comes out. He says something about friendship and not wanting to hurt Crossfire.
"Little too late." Who is she?
"You think you can hurt me? You're practically a child in a weapon he doesn't even want to use. You should give it up. Spare people the pain of having to war over you. Or are you so selfish you only care about your own feelings?"
There's a bitterness behind the modulator to these words.
"Being selfish only gets you burned."
Crossfire pulls the Gundam back, landing on the Hyperion's deck...
And fires an absolute salvo of the Beam Smartgun...past Banagher. Even if he tries to block a few, most will route around him, undulating and homing towards the Garencieres.
"You didn't listen. Now you get burned-"
And then, there's a grunt. The Banshee detects Newtypes, detects a sibling, and the grunt turns into a roar of pain. "It's time..." She mutters to herself...
As systems inject into her, the Psychoframe reacting to her rage.
It's explosive, as the black frame of the machine extends outwards, golden joints revealed, and the pilot loses control.
Or more accurately - she gives it up, instead of fighting the inevitable once more.
"LET'S GO, BANSHEE!" She roars, allowing rage to wash over her.
( OST - Weapon by Against The Current: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrk8ITDW3Gk )
The horn splits, revealing the iconic v-fin, as the Armed Armor VibroNail on the left-hand splits into a claw, as the head rocks and the frame shifts with every disturbance.
This machine is no-longer using manual controls. The pilot, clearly a powerful Newtype, is using her mind.
Unlike the Unicorn, which is a fierce protector...
The Banshee presents an aura, to all Awakened, of a ferocious predator. A killer.
A monster with a roar of death.
KTS: Crossfire_Salem has deployed as a Boss for 8 opponents. KTS: Crossfire Salem targets Suberoa Zinnerman with Armed Armor BS Full Barrel! KTS: Crossfire Salem targets Banagher Links with Armed Armor BS Retreating Shot! KTS: Crossfire Salem has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Banagher Links fails to Charge. KTS: Banagher Links partially guards Crossfire Salem's Armed Armor BS Retreating Shot, taking 2460 damage! KTS: Crossfire Salem repulses Banagher Links, forcing him to disengage. KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman fails to react to Crossfire Salem's Armed Armor BS Full Barrel, taking 8190 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Sophia Mayhew Castellan has posed.
Barely finished with the work in Sri Lanka, Sophia Mayhew Castellan received word that Crossfire Salem, her erstwhile...let's call it a contractor, had been given orders to urgently participate in an ambush operation in orbit. She was at liberty to decline, of course. She had every reason to tell people she was much too busy for their absurd hunt for an irrelevant machine piloted by a child. But...
She wouldn't allow Crossfire to go into that alone.
Which is why now, running up along with the rest of the Vist compliment, is the Hyperion, with Flags braced down to her deck. It's a risky proposition, picking a fight in these circumstances, but...
She sits in her seat on the bridge, hands folded, watching the main screen flash with fire and lights.
Crossfire's roar of engagement is her own signal. "Keep those machines off of Banshee. Keep the rebel forces busy. Weapons, do you have formula?"
"Firing solutions calculated, ma'am!"
"Fire."
*
The Hyperion's forward guns bloom with electric light, rail cannons bursting down shells, past Garanceries and toward the ships that would offer it aid.
KTS: Sophia_Mayhew_Castellan has deployed as a Boss for 5 opponents. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Ruri Hoshino with Heavy Rail Cannon Shot! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Anita Rosetta with 270mm Light Rail Cannons Shot! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Rena Lancaster with 270mm Light Rail Cannons Shot! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Eight York with Heavy Rail Cannon Shot! KTS: Rena Lancaster successfully avoids Sophia Mayhew Castellan's 270mm Light Rail Cannons Shot KTS: Anita Rosetta's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Anita Rosetta blocks Sophia Mayhew Castellan's 270mm Light Rail Cannons Shot, taking 3410 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Sophia Mayhew Castellan's I See You activates, causing Designate L1! <Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"Another split-horn Gundam?" Ivan yelps in alarm, bringing the Banshee up on their screens.
"Pipe that down to Tomura so he can get a closer look at it, before the Minovsky saturation kicks in," Zinnerman orders. "If that is a third RX-0... That confirms the Vist Foundation's work here."
"And the gold one at Britannia?" Gilboa asks.
"She's a friend," Marida Cruz repeats, firmly, before inhaling sharply. "Gilboa - !"
It's too late. The smartgun fire slams into the starboard side of the Garencieres, ripping plates from its hull and breaching in several non-critical areas. Bulkheads immediately slam down to seal off the compromised internal sections, but one thruster gutters from the sudden bombardment.
"Captain, we can't take any more hits like that!" Tomura yells from Engineering.
The awakening of the Banshee's NT-D has answered the crew's questions about its nature, in the worst possible way.
Grimacing, Zinnerman opens a comline to the Unicorn. "Banagher. We're going to be all-hands-on-deck trying to keep the Garencieres on course for the rendezvous; we can't deploy the team to support you. If you're still comfortable
taking orders from this old man:
"Don't die on us, okay?"
He closes the comm. "Gilboa, do your best for whatever evasive action you can manage without breaking our course. Ivan, I want every camera we still have working pointed at the fight and laser lines on the mobile suits defending us. Marida, if we can't get connection,"
"I understand, Master." Marida closes her eyes and forces herself to exhale, reaching out. <<Banagher. I'm here. I have your back.>>
KTS: Eight York fails to react to Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Heavy Rail Cannon Shot, taking 4100 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 13320 KTS: Ruri Hoshino's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Ruri Hoshino partially guards Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Heavy Rail Cannon Shot, taking 1395 damage! KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman targets Banagher Links, Leina Ashta, and Ujico Issa with Caution. KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman suggests caution, raising Ujico Issa's Intuition! KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman suggests caution, raising Leina Ashta's Intuition!
<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.
Eight York wasn't there at the Kafim wedding, when the Banshee attacked. But she recognizes the power of the psychoframe. Something on the level of what Banagher uses, devoted to the destruction of her new allies...
"Damn," Eight says, as the Banshee comes out and starts swinging. Then she flips the communicator to 'on' on her own armrest console.
"All pilots! You have permission to launch!"
The Hyperion fires on them; the Ra Mari II takes a big blast along its bow, armor deforming and ablating under the assault. While actually getting through that armor is a problem... It's very possible to disable the ship's weaponry with a dedicated assault.
But not yet.
"Chovan!" Eight calls. "Evasive action!"
"Kazama, get me a firing solution on that battleship!"
Eight is on the comms towards the other ships, "York here. We've got company. I'll maintain formation and offer support."
"Captain!" Kazama says. "I have firing solution!"
"Fire!"
Missiles rocket towards the Hyperion, scything through space towards them.
"Chovan, get us back there. We need to help the Garencieres."
KTS: Eight York targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with High-Power Missile Armament System - Basic Shot! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 85. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 75. KTS: Eight York has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
"<NO!>" Banagher screams, as the Banshee fires on the Garencieres.
Before he's even consciously thought of it, the Unicorn's thrusters activate at full power, sending him racing toward the unknown pilot. Holding his shield before him, he takes as many of the Banshee's shots as he can -- but many still
get through to the ship behind him.
Golden light rips into the darkness of space, drowning out the stars. Banagher's eyes go wide. "It has... an NT-D as well?"
As the Banshee's psychoframe resonates, the Unicorn reacts in kind. It shudders jerkily. Already in her activated state, she can do nothing but attempt to pull control away from her pilot. Banagher shouts in effort, feeling the machine drag, knifelike, against his mind.
"No -- we can do this together! Unicorn!" Banagher cries out, beseeching his Gundam. "Rrgh--!"
A psychic shriek of fury echoes across the battlefield as the Unicorn charges to meet her foe. A beam saber is drawn at the last moment, almost an afterthought. The white Gundam seeks to crash into her sister, trying to grant her pilot's wishes of defending the Garencieres.
A slash, vertical, trying to disable one of the Banshee's arms. It's feral, vicious -- the young pilot is terrified. His fear and the echoed anger from the Banshee loop through Banagher's mind and the NT-D again and again, heightening his combat senses.
Before he can be completely lost to scarlet light, Zinnerman's voice reaches him. Banagher shakes his head, coming back to himself. "<I'll always listen to you, Captain! Don't worry, I'll keep everyone -->" The Unicorn pulls her beam saber back from the Banshee. "<Safe! Please do what you can!>"
Marida's soul touches Banagher's, and he relaxes just a bit more, nodding. <<Thank you, Miss Marida.>>
Leina, Audrey... The crew, even Micott and Takuya are here. Banagher snarls in protective rage. "<You won't take ANYONE from me..!>"
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
Rena can remember when the Garencieres was an enemy -- a ship with the Sleeves. She can't say that she agrees with the Sleeves, now...
...but she believes in Banagher and Leina. If they trust the Garencieres's crew, then she does the same. Once word comes that the General Revil is making itself known, one of the hangars opens -- and the Gaia Gear Alpha launches from the Ra Mari II's hangar, soaring outward.
Her eyes narrow. "Octo," she says sending a transmission to the ship. "We can't give up Banagher. Or the Unicorn Gundam. It's... it's important."
She looks at the Black Unicorn. Why... is she familiar? And why does she feel a wave of regret?
She doesn't have time to consider that, though. The Hyperion rises up -- and rail cannons fire, a shell hurtling in for the white Mobile Suit. It shoots hard to the side, the cannon shot firing past, and her eyes widen. "They're coming in for us!"
Her eyes narrow. "Annie, let's go. Together!"
The Gaia Gear Alpha's limbs fold up into it; the nose cone flips out, and the wings extend outward. Then, it boosts off, afterburners firing -- and three missiles drop off, hurtling towards the Hyperion. As the needle missiles get closer, the heads superheat to a bright orange-red.
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with Needle Missile Salvo! KTS: Rena Lancaster has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
"And why should we trust you!? You could be trying to trick us! You probably don't even know Banagher at-"
On the view screen of the transmission, Micott was met with a held up phone on the video feed, and an image of Banagher pressing a kiss to Leina's cheek in a photobooth.
"-that could be manipulated-!" She blurts out, only to be met with an image of Banagher and Leina in matching ugly Christmas Sweaters with Santa behatted Haros. Then another of her, Banagher, and Audrey in goofy sunglasses.
Takuya burst out laughing, Micott got red in the face, as she sputters, "Okay-! Whatever! Fine! But that still doesn't tell us why we should trust you!"
"Girl. I'm not trying to humiliate you here, you obviously feel very strongly for him." "What!? No I don-" Leina just gave her a dead stare, "Micott. Just because I'm dating him doesn't mean I'm oblivious to what he can be like, okay? I get it."
Takuya finished wiping his eyes, "Man I didn't realize our Banagher was going to become such a Lady's man after he left us!" He got met with a swipe to the shoulderblades by Micott.
Leina just sighs deeply, before straightening up, "Look. I understand that you might have mixed feelings about me coming out of nowhere to offer you this, but I'm the only one who can right now. Him and Audrey are fugitives. You're both important to him, even if he's always been awful at expressing that."
She smiles at them, "So would you like to see him again?" Micott looked... deescalated, but she still crossed her arms and looked away, "Hmmph." Whereas Takuya stated, "Of course we would, just give us the details-!"
Leina hit a button on her phone, tripping a short window on the ship's video feed where noone else could look in even if they could be heard. "There's a freighter that's going to be stopping by tomorrow around 1045 hours for a resupply, the Captain is a friend of mine. Be on board. It'll take you to a ship where you'll be able to meet with him soon."
In contrast to her words she was holding up a hand-written note in big print, "1 hour from now. Hit the maintenance shaft opposite to the port side of the ship. Normal suits and portable verniers will be waiting near the airlock. Code Alpha-7-Epsilon-9 to key out. A Pink and White Gundam will pick you up."
-=-=-
"Holy hell is that an actual Zentradi Cruiser!? Takuya suddenly had his face plastered on the viewscreen of the cockpit, while Micott sat in the passenger seat still buckled in."
"Uh Takuya." Leina tried to interject, only to be met with his boundless enthusiasm, "Just look at the size of those main guns!" "Takuya." Leina tried again.
"It has to be retrofitted from the Zentradi War era-! There's no other way for that model to be-" "TA! KU! YA!" Leina enunciated, raising her volume. "Huh!? What!?" He startled as he turned to face her, "I have to be able to SEE that screen to DOCK!"
"... Oh. Right."
He sheepishly moved behind her seat as he spotted the frilly ribbon affixed to the back of it, "... Uhhhh. Nice ribbon by the way." She put on a sunnier smile at that, "Thank you, it was a gift."
Micott turned to sideeye her in this moment, suspecting who the gift is from.
-=-=-
"Just a quick tour! Come on! Please!" Leina laughed at Takuya's enthusiasm from inside her guest room, "We can arrange something later, after we complete our rendezvous with the Garencieres. I'm a guest aboard the Ra Mari II, same as you. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to be offering..."
There's a moment of warning throughout her connections- and suddenly she understands the danger, to Zinnerman, to Marida, to Mineva and Banagher. "...tours."
Leina abruptly stands, and grabs her helmet, putting it on and sealing it. "Stay here!" "What's going on!?" Micott asked her in alarm, but Leina was already running out the door.
Even as Eight York announced on a ship wide frequency, Leina tuned in on her communicator, "Captain York, I'll be joining your pilots in the sortie. I hope you don't mind."
-=-=-
An aggressively pink and white Gundam descends, making small adjustments to keep just out of Earth's gravity well. Still, she could see the shape of the freighter below, could see the standoff, can see the sparks flying as the Banshee
roars to life and fires upon the Garencieres before clashing against the Unicorn.
Even though the threat is sent with a voice modulator, Leina sends her a laser transmission, "<Captain Aiden! I don't know if that's you or not, but if it is, know that we've been giving it all to try and save Alma! We're on the same side here!>'
There's incredible distress in her voice, knowing what's at stake if she shoots that freighter down, if she shoots the Unicorn down, "<... One of Alma's daughters is on that ship! Please don't do this! Please!>"
Leina continues making small adjustments with her thrusters, trying to get overhead the angle of the Garencieres' ascent on the intercept course without being drawn in. She hones in on Zinnerman's transmission. "Captain Zinnerman. I'll do my best to offer covering fire. Please, look out for them." And she definitely doesn't mean just Banagher and Mineva when she says that, even if she need not tell him to protect any of them.
Then a transmission is sent to the Unicorn, and the Garencieres, "Audrey, Banagher, no matter what happens, we're with you." Before she then adds, trying her best to smile in this awful situation, "I'm with you. We'll find a way to get
you out of this."
The arm mounted rifle snaps out as she sights down the Banshee from afar, waiting for her sights to compensate before firing a precision shot from a distance of beam fire right at the Banshee's chassis as if to tell it to back off. "<What the hell is the matter with you?! Get away from them!>"
This was going to be difficult to back them up like this from this position. Even more difficult to save everyone she cared about. Three battleships, and the Banshee with the Garencieres caught in the worst possible position, it felt
like a no win scenario for her, for them no matter what.
But even so...
KTS: Leina Ashta targets Crossfire Salem with MP ZZ Single-Barrel Beam Rifle Precision Shot! KTS: Leina Ashta has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Banagher Links KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Suberoa Zinnerman KTS: Banagher Links targets Crossfire Salem with Beam Saber Slash! KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.
Mineva Lao Zabi stands upon the bridge of the Ra Mari II--as someone with ties to both Captain York and the crew of the Garencieres, she was a natural choice to aid in the rendezvous. She looks at Licia as she expresses doubts, and nods to both her and Eight. "They may be Sleeves, but... I trust them," she affirms. "... They want the same thing we do."
But as the time approaches, there's a heavy anxiety in the pit of her stomach. Something just waiting to go wrong.
The General Revil. Her stomach drops. It was a trap.
A flash pings across her mind's eye, and she snaps her head toward the Revil, where the dark silhouette of a mobile suit streaks out of the catapult. The Banshee... and as it awakens, the pilot feels... familiar. But who...?
Worry comes over her as she feels Banagher deploying, as she hears his voice, and then Leina's. Trust them, she reassures herself. Part of her wishes she'd brought her own Mobile Suit--but she's hardly a fighter. In a battle like this, she'd just get in the way, wouldn't she?
She runs over toward the free seat as combat begins, bracing for impact. Looking to the captain, she asks, "Permission to access the console, captain?" she asks. "People I care about are out there." She's not subtle about who. She's reaching out to both of them, though she doesn't name either.
<Pose Tracker> Ujico Issa has posed.
The Garancieres isn't like the Ptolomaios. Ptolomaios is bright and clean, Celestial Being's home among the stars. Full of Haros and people she knows. The Garencieres is clean, but not very bright. It's honestly a little easier on Ujico's eyes.
Palisade is carried safely in the hangar. It's a little strange, being part of an alliance. But Ujico likes it. It feels like maybe, even just a few people can find ways to [connect]. Since the raid on the Institute she hasn't had much downtime. This is a good thing; she made herself at home in the ship's kitchen as soon as possible and started helping. This also meant that she got to try and make sure the others are eating properly. She brought them apple slices, cut into rabbits, with peanut butter for necessary protein.
Palisade's armor has been repaired, and Ujico is sitting in the pilot's seat with the cockpit open when Banagher realizes something is coming. Oblivious to it all, she continues to go through software checks. Tieria drilled it into her head once, to check and recheck. He didn't have to tell her a second time.
Now, she's glad for the lesson. Final preparations ended up being 'shutting the door and putting her helmet on'. "Palisade. Launching!" (Banagher already knows Palisade is her, being a Newtype is OP. It had felt very silly, working in the kitchen with her helmet on...)
The black mobile suit's thrusters ignite once she's free, catapulted into the starry sea. Ujico opens a radio line. < "Banagher, Leina. Apple and I will support the Garancieres too. So don't worry, just do your best." >
In the warm dark of the cockpit, Ujico closes her eyes.
Palisade's backpack opens once she's closed in, vents spewing green GN Particles that swarm for the Banshee, ready to blind it.
KTS: Ujico Issa targets Crossfire Salem with Jam! KTS: Ujico Issa has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Mineva Lao Zabi targets Leina Ashta and Banagher Links with Awe. KTS: Mineva Lao Zabi has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Crossfire Salem blocks Banagher Links's Beam Saber Slash, taking 1410 damage! KTS: Banagher Links has engaged Crossfire Salem! KTS: Mineva Lao Zabi inspires awe, increasing Leina Ashta's Morale! KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman suggests caution, raising Banagher Links's Intuition! KTS: Mineva Lao Zabi inspires awe, increasing Banagher Links's Morale!
<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.
Roux Louka has not had a very happy January. There were two separate moments of transcending horror and terror that touched into that strange realm of exaltation. Once was on Earth, in a facility beyond the pale of morality, operated solely for strategic research. Murder happened there. Power was grasped at, and there, it fell short.
Roux felt the lack of power at the other - the one that looms larger to her, perhaps because of the sheer overwhelming catastrophe that COULD have happened with a Macross's cannon - or rather, as she put it then, the problem wasn't power.
It was throughput. She could do the moves, but her strength wasn't up to the task. A useless dance. A routine of pecks and nicks that left her exhausted. Perhaps they were enough but they weren't *enough* -- you know?
Roux doesn't know. At the same time, she knows.
But fortunately for her, her main squeeze's little sister has developed a habit of grand theft.
SOMEWHERE OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN
In the relatively low-intensity boundary between the AEU and the OAC, the radar is known - adaptable for - especially when your radar-return profile is low to begin with. Roux breathes out as she hears the steadily laboring sound behind
her. "Getting too thin for you up here, huh?" Roux says - to who?
"Gonna have to switch over shortly. I hope all those refinements hold out." Roux reaches over to pat a weapons control console.
"Let's hope this doesn't go like Kilimanjaro... Now let's double it up -- Strike Zeta, insert mode!" And even as the THERMONUCLEAR RAMJET ENGINES shift to full afterburner, the supplementary thrusters attached with a bracing frame kick
in -- the acceleration pushes Roux into her seat as the noticeable acceleration of her eastward arc is joined by pure rocket force, long seconds of God's palm crushing her against the cushioned seat before --
It eases up as the ramjets flare out --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IdMp-H9vhA
The stars come out...
"YEAH!!" Roux shouts, slamming a console with her fist, the pseudogravity of acceleration holding out as more and more momentum pours into the STRIKE ZETA'S WAVERIDER FORM - "Perfect! Alright, Banagher, Leina, everybody, just hold out for Big Sister to get there--"
The Strike Zeta shifts subtly as auxiliary tanks shunt into the Mobile Suit's exhausted tanks and then the booster array decouples, falling back on a terminal deorbit burn where it will disintegrate into another shooting star. No different from the dozens each day.
Having attained orbital velocity, it is a matter of mild patience - but Roux is able to see the distant beam shine in a position where she doesn't like to see it. "Crap crap crap crap crap hold out--" Roux can feel them there - Leina, then Banagher - someone else... other sparkling lights, even as the Strike Zeta's software strives to keep up a zoom-and-interpolate on the point. It gets better and better and when it's just barely in the fuel envelope, Roux says, "Heck with it," and grasps the weapon control stick.
Something else. Something menacing. A shadow of death. Roux feels her heart quail. NO, she tells herself, squaring her shoulders, gritting her teeth. NO GOD DAMN IT -
"Hey, new suit!" Roux transmits. "Come on!" And as she does it, a pair of long-range missiles fly outwards, the onboard computer reinforcing the last-best image of the Banshee to what little guidance can make it through the chaos of
Minovsky partice density.
It takes long seconds before she's close enough to laser-comm anything else -- and she talks to Leina first. "Hey! Sorry I'm late! Don't put it on my time card, right?!" Her voice is tight despite the lighthearted words, but the Strike Zeta *did* make it, didn't it?
KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Roux Louka targets Crossfire Salem with Standoff Missile! KTS: Roux Louka has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
The Three Ships Alliance, notably, does not only consist of one ship. The Nadesico hangs here in space as well, to support the Ra Mari II.
"The Gundams are," says Ruri Hoshino, their eminently logical systems operator, positioned at the lower centre of the Nadesico's bridge,
"angry."
Her eyes are too gold and too bright, as they shine, reflecting the data of her IFS console.
"Ehh?" Erina Kinjo Won, the Nadesico's other helmswoman, scowls, as she looks to her side to Ruri. "This isn't the time for children's games!" (And Ruri is, indeed, a child. She's halfway through thirteen. Too young, still, amongst the young, with those youthful lapis pigtails.)
"Bring the Nadesico around," Jun Aoi, the Captain's XO and current head of the bridge, demands. "We have to --"
"Incoming," Ruri reports, stoic, with no trace of what she said before.
The Distortion Field absorbs the brunt of the Hyperion's anger, but Omoikane flashes up some warnings for Ruri, in the wake of it.
"That won't be enough damage to destroy the Nadesico." Ruri concludes her damage report, unblinking.
"Launch missiles," is Jun's order, as he grasps his console tightly. "Why did this have to happen now..?"
"Launching," Ruri confirms, as she commits the data -- and transmits her targeting solutions to the Ra Mari II, reflexively.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with Missile Launch! KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino has activated the Attune Spirit Command targeting Eight York <Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.
Arriety's arrival back on the battlefield is not terribly long ago; she's barely had time to cool down after the engagement with GENESIS and take a nap -- something she's ended up doing in the Zeta's cockpit basically right after docking with the Ra Mari II. By the time they've coasted towards the next engagement, Arriety's prepared as well.
She doesn't quite yet want to leave the cockpit, anyway. There's a lot here...
C'mon, Arriety... this is what your nerves were craving the entire time back in Londenion. How does it feel now? Complicated? Not that easy, is it?
Ex-Zeon... she knows from Rena's messages that 'bad things' happened, and she can kind of read between the lines from living with Rena and Eight for so long that they all had secret pasts that they escaped from. She'll let Eight decide whether or not she wants to explain that to her, later.
Right now, though, it's more fighting -- Eight gives the deploy; it looks like they've fallen into a trap. That's fine. She'll just fight to the fullest of her ability... she'll keep fighting, even now.
"... I'll protect the Ra Mari II and everyone important to it, just like before," she intones. Proceeding onto the catapult deck, the Zeta Gundam perches its feet upon the enclosures. Rena proceeds ahead, calling for Anita.
They're starting to work really well together. The Hyperion cannons rock the side of the ship, but Arriety's not deterred. Her crimson eyes narrow.
"Arriety... Zeta Gundam 3A, deploying."
The Zeta rockets into space in a streak of heavy light-blue vernier fire; even from afar, she can already sense the almost-hungry, murderous nature of the Banshee. It's not the first time she's fought a Unicorn; before she was
hospitalised, she was fighting against Banagher, who's here as well now, when he was taken over by the machine. It sounds like he's found his resolve now. But such machines...
...
It's not her problem now. She isn't going to do what she did six months prior and get distracted by how so many children are in such killer machines. She's accepted that now. On paper, she's at a massive disadvantage; the Zeta now lacks a Biosensor, because it went with Myrme. But... she doesn't really need it anymore. But maybe her reduced psychic profile and lack of a Biosensor might turn out to be a strange advantage against the NT-D? She's not sure. All she knows is that she only has herself to rely on now.
(It's okay... I have what I need to survive now, even on my own.)
The most surprising thing, however, is the presence of the pink-and-white Gundam, and the signature of the pilot within. And... another Zeta in the vicinity. Arriety blinks a few times.
Leina...? Roux?
Can't be distracted... "If they're sending all of this... and you... against us... the Federation's really serious about wiping all of us under the table, huh," Arriety remarks to Crossfire. "I've got a home to protect. So..."
The Zeta swerves in on the Banshee, into sensor lock distance; she jukes a left, a right, and its arm rises -- several dummy balloons pop out in rapid succession, and disappearing within the profiles of those decoys, she fires off a succession of off-angle shots.
"... I'll do whatever it takes."
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Arriety Hearn targets Crossfire Salem with Beam Rifle Trick Shot! KTS: Arriety Hearn has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
"Juno 1, prepare to deploy. Juno 1. Juno 1? LINA!"
Lina jumps with a shout. Geez, this was a battle. What was she doing spacing out? "Sorry, Mousetrap. Juno 1, engaged." The fighting had already begun between the two Unicorns. She remembered the white one from the battle at Torrington. The black one was new, but she had heard enough about it before the mission. And then there was their third sister...
~Your commander... I saw his future. He will cause a great war, worse than any the Earthsphere has seen so far. I don't know if this can be changed. But if he does this, I will guide the heroes of the living to try and stop him.~
She shook the thought out of her head. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about G-Hound's future. She just needs to fight who she's told to fight.
That's what a soldier does.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QDnYpXOV64
She engages the ReLion's thrusters and enters the fray, weaving through the various units engaged with each other, looking for someone to take her mind off this.
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
A meeting between the Ra Mari II and the Garencieres... Anita's own feelings on the Sleeves are complicated, but if it's possible for them to put their differences aside, then she's glad for any opportunity to do so. They have a lot of
enemies already - even one fewer is a big relief.
...Unfortunately, things could never be /that/ easy. It sounds like things are getting incredibly complicated... but, that's what she's here for. The moment she gets the order to prepare to sortie, Anita suits up and hurries over to the
Messiah Rosetta.
Rena contacts her, and a smile crosses over Anita's face.
"Together - let's push 'em back." Anita replies with a nod. "Anita Rosetta, launching."
The Messiah Rosetta accelerates out from the Ra Mari II - and almost immediately comes under fire. Anita braces herself, raising her shield as the Hyperion's rail cannons hammer into it.
"That's the Hyperion... I've seen first-hand what it's capable of. Be careful." Anita warns. She was there at the attack on the Institute... and now they're on separate sides of /this/ conflict. ...That's how it goes, she guesses.
The Messiah Rosetta flies in to strafe the side of the Hyperion, aiming for its weapons with a spray of beam vulcan fire.
KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with Beam Vulcans! KTS: Anita Rosetta has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Crossfire Salem charges into the attack! KTS: Crossfire Salem partially guards Leina Ashta's MP ZZ Single-Barrel Beam Rifle Precision Shot, taking 1890 damage! KTS: Ujico Issa jams Crossfire Salem's sensors, reducing her accuracy. <Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
This was supposed to be a straightforward mission: hitch a ride with one of the Nadesico's shuttles from a deniable drop point near Manila. Rendezvous with the Ra Mari II, retrieve Long Dagger, return to Tokyo-3.
Liam didn't know about the Ra Mari's own mission. He was in the hangar bay, shielded from everything happening, when the first shots hit the monitor's hull. Captain York put out the all-call for pilots not long after. Liam suited up, got in the Mobile Suit, and launched.
The Long Dagger races through the void. Unburdened by its Fortestra--which is still being rebuilt--it moves with uncanny grace. "<Lucine,>" Liam transmits, to his wingmate, "<That--that's the ship from yesterday. The Hyperion.>" The one that leveled the Institute, and could've easily wrecked the city around it, if it wanted to. "<G-Hound. I--there!>"
Yuliana's voice echoes in his mind.
But it feels so good. Nothing can stop me.
"<Captain York.>" Liam's voice grows tight. The Long Dagger keeps on its course towards the enemy. "<Mission objectives?>"
KTS: Crossfire Salem fails to Intercept Roux Louka's Standoff Missile, taking 2800 damage! KTS: Crossfire Salem blocks Arriety Hearn's Beam Rifle Trick Shot, taking 3750 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Puru Two has posed.
From one fight, to another.
A helmet with a splintered visor lies at the bottom of the AMX-004-03 Qubeley Mk. II's panoramic cockpit, as the one-armed machine recedes into the depths of the Ra Mari II reserved for battered old things in dire need of repair. The black cloak fashioned hurriedly over one missing binder is almost shorn clean entirely, a hazy veil over the Zeonic beast's chrome innards.
And another.
A different, taller mechanical monster stirs in the depths. Fourty metres of steel and psycoreactive materials glides across the hangar bay floor, searchlights casting a golden pallor onto the technicians waving it into the catapult steps. Its pilot stares at a phone in her lap. Why is there never any time?
And another.
Never, ever any time?
"Arriety, let's protect our home." the girl wearing the name Callisto softly speaks up, sending a message to her over the radio as much as she does straight to her heart. "I'm with you, and you're with me. Let's show them." her gloved hand clasps around a black and yellow switch. It fires, signalling the catapult to activate, and the Queen Mansa is hurled into the void of space with little to no fanfare.
"Puru Two, Queen Mansa. Going."
-=-
For such an unwieldy looking beast, the Queen Mansa takes to the emptiness with the ease and elegance of a bird lazily coasting the currents. The Banshee shrieks and awakens, in the distance, and a scarlet gleam burns in the great emerald weapon's own eyes in return. Before the NT-D swallows its pilots intentions into a yawning hole, Puru Two smirks at the distant burning of animalistic rage. "Oh. . . that's interesting. But are you wielding it," she wonders as her helmet seals shut. "Or is it wielding you?"
The Ra Mari II's defenders split up. "Arriety... show me how strong you've become." she calls, wistfully. "It hasn't been easy. But I know you're not weak."
Rather than charge in and get beat up, the Queen Mansa does something no doubt infuriating: it comes to a halt, at range, and unleashes a blinding shotgun-barrage of sunlight at the distant Banshee. A test, called to the animal behind the controls: are you resolved? Are you ready?
She could have asked, because the wide-angle fusillade of mega-particle beams is a rude way of saying hi.
KTS: Puru Two targets Crossfire Salem with Mega-Particle Cannon Diffuse Burst Wide Angle! KTS: Puru Two has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Crossfire Salem fails to Evade Puru Two's Mega-Particle Cannon Diffuse Burst Wide Angle, taking 2800 damage! <Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
"... The Dianthus was just repaired earlier today. So... I should be good to go, Ruri." Dressed in her black and red flight suit as she walks to the deployment bay, Lucine secures her hair up before putting on her helmet.
Soon, the Dianthus is deployed, quickly joining up with the Long Dagger. < ".... Yes. It doesn't feel like we'll be on the same side today, however... Gh...!" > Her head was already beginning to pound as the tension on the battlefield began to mount, but with the Banshee's shriek, it's like someone's taken an ice pick to her brain. With one hand pressed against her helmet, Lucine lets herself relax, gold eyes opening to take in the field in front of her. They're not quite the characteristic pale gold of Ruri's; when the two are side by side, it's easy to tell the difference.
< "..... This is Lucine Azul, from the Nadesico." > Lucine still hasn't found a better way of identifying herself. < "..... Banagher....?" > What is this rage? It's coming from both of them. Lucine's forward motion begins to slow. She hesitates. < ".... This is.... bad. That black one... it feels like the Unicorn." > Lucine switches her tightband to only transmit to Liam. < ".... Rita had me promise that if these two 'sisters' ever meet, I'd be far away. I don't know.... if I can get any closer, Liam. My head's already beginning to pound..." >
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Physical Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan fails to intercept Eight York's High-Power Missile Armament System - Basic Shot, taking 1350 damage! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan successfully intercepts Rena Lancaster's Needle Missile Salvo KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Physical Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan fails to intercept Ruri Hoshino's Missile Launch, taking 1125 damage! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan partially guards Anita Rosetta's Beam Vulcans, taking 2952 damage! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Crossfire Salem has posed.
The Unicorn awakens. The resonance blasts through the two machines, as the Banshee pushes off of the deck of the ship for now, though staying close.
Out goes the resonance, *exploding* through the debris field. Debris shreds through, creating a floating maze to navigate through.
While this is happening, the Unicorn's beam saber comes in. With merely a thought, the shield goes up, deflecting the brunt of the blow even as the machine buckles from the power.
Despite the Banshee's 'rage', it's not a mindless killer. Head vulcans fire on the Unicorn, trying to push it back. She wants to destroy.
But not the Unicorn, yet.
The Beam Magnum is aimed on the Garencieres. This is right as Leina's message gets out.
Muttering in her cockpit through the strain of the NT-D, Crossfire pauses. "Daughter...?"
And then the emotions flood through her. Alma's been taken from her and...
No one did anything to help her.
She was alone versus evil, and they opposed her...
For the Awakened, the rage is full of sorrow now, but it's rage nonetheless.
The shot is fired. The blast is aimed to impact with the Garencieres' damaged thruster, as she charges through Leina's shot, guarding with that shield and rushing in with a beam saber, attempting to slash across Leina's machine's frame. There's a deafening silence, only punctuated by the anger roiling off the Banshee.
The green GN particles spread out, blinding sensors. It'll reduce accuracy, but not completely - the Banshee uses the Psychoframe to pilot mentally, allowing her to turn her head in Roux's direction and fire off the vulcans thrice - once in a failed attempt to intercept her missiles, blasted across her frame, and another two to fire on the Strike Zeta and the Palisade in its own interceptive bursts.
The trick shot from the beam rifle fired by Arrietty impacts the shield once more, forcing her to not the arm buckle too much, as weapons shift again and another beam saber rush happens alongside the debris, stabbing inwards at a limb.
The Queen Mansa fires the wide angle shot, at range, and challenges the Banshee.
The Banshee tries to push up, go over the blast, but it smashes into its frame, even as the animalistic Gundam goes in with that claw, swiping heavily several times to build up a weak point.
Crossfire has no idea who she's attacking right now, inside that suit. Would it change anything if she did?
KTS: Crossfire Salem targets Banagher Links with Banshee Head Vulcans Retreating Volley! KTS: Crossfire Salem targets Suberoa Zinnerman with Beam Magnum Shot! KTS: Crossfire Salem targets Leina Ashta with Beam Saber Rush! KTS: Crossfire Salem targets Ujico Issa with Banshee Head Vulcans Dash-and-Fire! KTS: Crossfire Salem targets Roux Louka with Banshee Head Vulcans Burst! KTS: Crossfire Salem targets Arriety Hearn with Beam Saber Rush! KTS: Crossfire Salem targets Puru Two with Armed Armor VN Claw Swipe! KTS: Crossfire Salem has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Leina Ashta fails to Parry Crossfire Salem's Beam Saber Rush, taking 3960 damage! KTS: Crossfire Salem has engaged Leina Ashta! KTS: Banagher Links retreats from the attack! KTS: Banagher Links fails to evade Crossfire Salem's Banshee Head Vulcans Retreating Volley, taking 2880 damage! KTS: Crossfire Salem repulses Banagher Links, forcing him to disengage. KTS: Arriety Hearn's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Arriety Hearn blocks Crossfire Salem's Beam Saber Rush, taking 2340 damage! KTS: Crossfire Salem has engaged Arriety Hearn! KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman fails to evade Crossfire Salem's Beam Magnum Shot, taking 5580 damage! KTS: Roux Louka charges into the attack! KTS: Roux Louka fails to react to Crossfire Salem's Banshee Head Vulcans Burst, taking 3630 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"Shit, the Beam Magnum's coming out," Ivan yells as alarms blare on the Garencieres bridge.
"Gilboa, if we don't evade we're dead," Zinnerman barks.
"If we dodge we miss our window!"
"Are you our best pilot, or aren't you? Make it happen, that's an order!"
The Beam Magnum fires, terrible purple-blue-red lightning coruscating across the thin sky. Gilboa yells "hang on!" and puts the freighter into an aileron roll, spinning across its long axis to try and change the target profile just enough so that they don't take a direct hit.
The stress of this maneuver would have forced the struggling thruster to gutter out completely anyway, but Crossfire's impeccable aim puts paid to the entire nacelle housing, a gout of fire pluming from the aft of the freighter as it's knocked askew of its escape vector! Gilboa, to his credit, stabilises the ship very quickly, but...
"We're off the ETA," the helmsman reports grimly. "We're only twenty seconds short, but..." but in orbital maneuvers, seconds might as well be hours.
"Get me a laser line to the Ra Mari II," Zinnerman orders. "Captain York. We can no longer make the rendezvous under our own power. If you have any way to help... Please, save my people."
Worry tinges Marida's psychic presence, but... there it is again, approaching. <<Sister... help us.>>
KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman targets Puru Two with Awe. KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Puru Two has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Puru Two blocks Crossfire Salem's Armed Armor VN Claw Swipe, taking 5880 damage! KTS: Crossfire Salem has engaged Puru Two! KTS: Crossfire Salem begins a Formation attack! Sophia Mayhew Castellan has connected.
KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman inspires awe, increasing Puru Two's Morale! KTS: Ujico Issa has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Ujico Issa fails to evade Crossfire Salem's Banshee Head Vulcans Dash-and-Fire, taking 4800 damage! KTS: Crossfire Salem has engaged Ujico Issa!
<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.
"I agree," Eight says over the transmission back to Rena. "Please, protect him and it. But keep an eye out for that ship, too." A flash of feeling transmits with it--care, trust.
Then to Leina, "Noted, Leina. Be safe out there." She doesn't mind her deploying with them; frankly, they need all the hands they can get with that top of the line Hyperion out gunning for them...
Mineva, on the bridge, gets a nod. "Well, if we weren't going to trust them before--we have to now. This is the sort of time that forges a bond." They want the same thing we do. Licia nods to Mineva, too. "...Yeah," she says.
But indeed, it was a trap. And Mineva is offering to help. "You're welcome to it. It's a general console; you can support in general from there, and get readouts on the other stations."
Anita's warning gets a nod from Eight, though she says over the radio, "Noted."
Liam asks for Mission Objectives. Eight communicates to him and Lucine both, "Protect the Garencieres and the Unicorn both. Come back alive while doing it. Those are your objectives."
To Arriety she doesn't speak aloud, but she closes her eyes. 'We'll be counting on you, Ah-ri. Come back safe when you're done."
She hopes the same for Callisto. But that name she used, 'Puru Two'... Eight doesn't know what to say in the moment, and the moment passes her by.
Astelian takes on the data from the Nadesico and Omoikane, and transfers it to the relevant stations. Eight keeps her attention on the main screen for the moment, though in truth her other senses are reaching out as much--towards the Hyperion. But she gets a message quickly. Astelian patches it through.
"On it, Captain. We have tow lines we can use. Paired with our gravity generator, it should be enough. Just hang on."
Then, over the radio to the techs, "Get a tow line out there!" Eight orders, her arm moving across the area to point in the direction of the Garencieres. "Whatever you have to do, save that ship!"
"Yes, ma'am!" With that, the technicians scramble, one moving up to load to the tow cable apparatus immediately. She steps in to the machine, in a Normal Suit, and it begins to extend up out of the ship with a terrific noise. The huge cables are at the ready; this is just a matter of aiming.
"Getting coordinates," the technician reports. "...Aiming..."
"Fire!"
The hook shoots out, and the cable rockets towards the Garencieres from the Ra Mari II, reinforced by the ship's gravitic drives.
But... the ship is jostled, suddenly, by incoming fire--
"Shit!" the technician cries, but the tow cable is still going!!
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
Echoing through their bond, Leina's warmth and love form a protective wall between Banagher and the NT-D's urging.
"<Leina... Thank you. I'm with you too. Be careful, this thing -- it's not going to be easy.>" His voice is grim, but determined.
Audrey, too -- he knows she's nearby. Banagher brings a hand to his heart, focusing on her. Captain York will keep her safe. All he can do is trust in the Ra Mari II.
"<Ujico!>" Banagher calls, on a private line. There's still a hint of a snarl in his voice, but he's holding it together. "<Thank you! Stay safe, you and Apple both. HaroCon is coming up -- I want you both to come with us!>"
As Roux's missiles soar by, Banagher guides the Unicorn back, just managing to avoid them. With this much support, they must have a chance!
Arriety's Zeta races in. Banagher senses a vaguely familiar presence -- he turns a camera up to watch her mobile suit, but he doesn't have time to figure it out. Callisto, alongside her, is known immediately. "<Thank you, everyone!>"
Banagher calls, over a public line. "<We can do this!>"
Before he can offer any other encouragement, the psychoframes resonate, destroying everything around them. Gritting his teeth, Banagher and the Unicorn force themselves into another slash, chasing the Banshee through the eye of the storm of psychic destruction.
Just as the Banshee brings up her shields to block the Unicorn's saber, she raises her own to protect herself from her sister's Vulcans. "<If you hate us so much just fight me! Leave them alone! The Unicorn and I -- we're what you want!>"
Drawing another beam saber, the Unicorn glows all the more brilliantly, grappling with her sister, until --
The Banshee's beam magnum fires, shooting by the Unicorn, impacting with the Garencieres. Immediately, Banagher knows something is wrong. His heart freezes in his chest.
"<Captain..!>" The young pilot calls, desperately.
Both beam sabers are extinguished. The Unicorn races away from her sister, trailing blue stardust. He /has/ to be near the Garencieres. He has to -- Banagher doesn't know why, but why doesn't matter..!
The Garencieres is falling. That becomes all too clear as he approaches. Pushing the Unicorn faster than he ever has, he lands atop the ship. Grasping a protruding, reinforced hitch, the Unicorn activates every engine, every thruster she has, and pulls.
It isn't enough. Captain Zinnerman calls for aid, and Captain York doesn't let him down. Even as the tow cable is dragged off course, the Unicorn holds out her hand--
And grabs it.
There's a moment of pure elation from Banagher. The next moment, immense pressure pulls in two directions, threatening to wrench the Unicorn limb from limb. Banagher cries out in alarm, sweat beading on his brow. It's as though his own
arms are trying to defeat the Earth's gravity, to pull the Garenceries home..!
He'll be torn apart. Even if he wasn't an engineer, he'd know--
"No, no--!" Banagher chokes, as the Unicorn groans and cracks. "Captain--!"
It's too much. Even with all the might of the Unicorn, the NT-D, the psychoframe -- even with Banagher himself giving all he has, they're still falling.
---
In the medical bay wing of the Ra Mari II, Kamille drops his pen as he feels a shiver and a call from beyond. He looks around reflexively, all the while knowing it isn't coming from any of the patients or staff there. He recognizes that
feeling right away.
Banagher will feel and sense his presence, bright as the stars against the darkness of space. He'll see his face, eyes warm and full of compassion, as a shadow of him lends Banagher strength. More than the intense power of a strong
Newtype, he'll sense protection, guidance, love.
"You have to survive! You can't let it end like this. I know it's difficult! I know it feels like a struggle every day. But it's worth it! Think of those you love and remember...!"
---
Far below, on the green and blue Earth, a silver-haired youth waits inside an unmarked black transport vehicle along with several private soldiers buzzing around him. Appropos of seemingly nothing, he looks up--not at the roof of the
truck, but far, far beyond it. He may not be a Newtype, but his is a vast and ancient soul, and miracles are the realm of God. When the makings of one stir, it naturally draws his attention.
Banagher will see a vision of him as he first met him: silver-gray hair, red eyes, pale skin, and a simple school uniform of a white button-up shirt, a violet undershirt, and black belted slacks with beige sneakers, hands tucked into
his pockets. His demeanor is unruffled and his smile is encouraging.
"It's admirable for you to risk all you are for the future you desire. But those who love you will grieve if you fall," Kaworu says. "You are stronger than even this. You need only awaken to your true potential, Banagher Links. I know you can do it."
---
Up is a relative direction when you're inside the depths of the Orbital Ring. Since the fight started, Shelby Korts has been glued to the window in the maintenance area that has a tempered glass view of the Earth from the inner side of the ring; a view that some pay extra for, and others ... have their reasons for being there. Watching the twinkling lights against the glow of a whole world. She knows it's a fight. She knows he's there.
"I've been here before. I have! I had to learn how to let go of rage and believe in people. Don't give up, Banagher-- I'm with you."
---
Banagher raises his head, viewing the luminous-green visages of his friends before him. Deep within, it feels like... something is waking up. Almost...
<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Lina's head pulses as she gets closer to the two Unicorns. They're...psycoframe...that would make sense, she supposed. This Newtype nonsense was really becoming a headache.
"Juno 1, two bandits spotted!"
Lina had to shake herself off once more. "Copy. Getting into gun range." The ReLion bursts towards the Long Dagger and the Dianthus, getting its machine gun ready. "Can't let you two go any further, sorry!" She opens fire on the two, letting out a wide spray of suppressing fire.
KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Liam 7-020 and Lucine Azul with M950 Machine Gun Full Auto. KTS: Banagher Links targets Crossfire Salem with Pass! KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul successfully evades Lina Lombardi's M950 Machine Gun Full Auto Roux Louka transforms to MSZ-006-3 Zeta Gundam 'Strike Zeta' <Mobile Suit>
KTS: Crossfire Salem fails to react to Banagher Links's Pass, taking 0 damage! KTS: Liam 7-020 blocks Lina Lombardi's M950 Machine Gun Full Auto, taking 4620 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Lina Lombardi's Outmaneuver activates, causing Control Bonus! KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
The freighter shakes again, this time the shudder of something landing atop its hull.
"It's the Unicorn! Banagher's trying to pull us up!"
"The Ra Mari II is firing a tow cable!! It - ... connected?" Ivan punches a button, bringing up a view of the ship's dorsal superstructure, and inhales sharply. "That idiot! He'll be ripped apart!"
Zinnerman finds his own breath frozen in his throat. That boy...
he can't lose another child
"Banagher." He says, hoarsely. "Please..." He doesn't know what he's asking the young man to do. Save himself? Save his ship at the cost of his life? A conflict of emotions roils within him. Dread... and hope?
They are companions, after all. Hope is fear turned inside-out.
<Pose Tracker> Sophia Mayhew Castellan has posed.
So very recently, the Hyperion loomed over Sri Lanka, her guns taking eerily precise shots to avoid those attacking the Institute, culminating in a full barrage that reduced an entire structure to rubble. Her Captain in the kind of incandescent rage that sends Newtype senses pinging with alarm over the brazen injustice in the place.
Now she's here, and so is her captain. The fiery tar of land-consuming anger from the other day is gone, the demon in the sky that erased the ground, but Sophia Mayhew Castellan is not a soul one will forget so soon.
Though she's a bit subdued, today, watching the readouts with a dispassionate stare. "Ma'am, incoming missile barrage from hostile craft."
Sophia hums. "Get the interception turrets out, keep the sky busy," she says.
Another call: "Ma'am. Liese just checked our numbers, the Garanceries will not be able to re-enter safely in its current trajectory. It'll need external support."
"Tell her to keep an eye on our numbers," Sophia mutters back.
Amata Kole, next to her, XO and something vaguely resembling a morality checker, notes, "They....are Sleeves affiliates, Ma'am," uncomfortably.
"...our priority is keeping heat off the Banshee. If she grabs it for herself, that's her own choice. Keep pressure on the Ra Mari, Nadesico, and their Mobile Suit contingent."
"Aye."
Outside, a Union Flag strapped down to the deck takes a knee, pulling up a Linear Cannon plugged directly into a power cable on the deck. A single bullet leaps from the end of the cannon, blasting downrange to smash toward Rena's Gaia Gear. Pop-up turrets emerge from the deck, sweeping the sky to blot out the incoming missile fire; several waves of it slam home anyway, but the deck hardly even buckles under it, seeming to gleam meticulously after the waves of impacts crawl up the whole of the fighting deck.
"Energy Conversion Armor holding steady, Ma'am," systems remarks.
Sophia grunts, and taps a key to set the close-in cannons to swivel after Anita's Messiah Rosetta, blasting across it into space.
"Heavy guns," Sophia says, just before several more massive shots careen across the space. She taps into her Geass, and she sees the bonds of desperation - she thinks that's desperation - straining to connect the the Ra Mari II to the
Garancieres. She contemplates.
"...Fire on the Nadesico," she says, and several heavy-duty rounds blast across space from the heavy rails, cracking into the Nadesico's study hide. The smaller light rails fire toward Ra Mari II, peppering her side with heavy shells.
"Ma'am!" barks scanners: "Unknown reaction happening near the surface of the Garancieres! It's the Unicorn! It's doing... ...something!"
"I see it," she says, quietly, the bird of her eye showing her a world pulsing, flowing in ways she's never seen.
"What /is/ this...?"
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Rena Lancaster with Hyperion Battle Group Heavy Guns! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Anita Rosetta with Ship CIWS Barrage! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Ruri Hoshino with Heavy Rail Cannon Target Cracker! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Eight York with 270mm Light Rail Cannons Volley! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Ruri Hoshino's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Ruri Hoshino partially guards Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Heavy Rail Cannon Target Cracker, taking 2262 damage! KTS: Eight York has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Eight York fails to react to Sophia Mayhew Castellan's 270mm Light Rail Cannons Volley, taking 3870 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 9450 KTS: Anita Rosetta's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Anita Rosetta blocks Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Ship CIWS Barrage, taking 2310 damage! KTS: Rena Lancaster fails to charge. KTS: Rena Lancaster partially guards Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Hyperion Battle Group Heavy Guns, taking 6960 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Sophia Mayhew Castellan's I See You activates, causing Designate L1! <Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
She can feel him, losing the battle against it, she can feel the struggle, "Banagher...!" The psychic static is immeasurable, and she feels herself struggling herself against the immensity of it."
Arriety is here, which means-! A quick sensor check reveals the Queen Mansa, "<Arriety! Callisto! God am I glad you were both on the Ra Mari...! I'm going to do my best to keep them away from that ship!>"
Which is when Roux addresses on the radio. "There's a grace period on clocking in you know. It's fine! You're fine!" Leina's laugh is nervous, tinny with the adrenaline as she speaks to Roux, "Looks like they got that converted for you just in time."
Aka the universal language of 'Sweet Ride'.
Feeling only mildly chagrined that Ujico calls out to her by name, she still calls out gratitude, "<Thank you. Please cover them, a lot of people important to me are on that ship right now.>"
Audrey... I won't let you down.
Leina feels her, senses sharpening as the Banshee comes in fast, too fast. The NT-D is something she's accustomed to thanks to Banagher but Banagher has control - there's no malicious intent towards her when the two play in the sims.
Lilith is all berserker malice at the moment, as she rushes up on Leina's MP Double Zeta faster than she can blink. She received warning, and was drawing the Beam Saber at the same moment that the Banshee slashes down, watching armor
plating melt from the glancing blow.
"<You're out of control!>" Leina notes, focusing in on surviving the close quarters combat, fully drawing the Beam Saber to keep her guard up now, "<Good thing I know how to knock some sense into you!>"
Trying to keep facing the Banshee despite the speed of the NT-D, the Double Zeta's little sibling twists upside down, pivoting at the Banshee as if to feint with its Beam Saber.
At the same moment one of the hardpoints swivels her way firing a salvo of missiles at close range while the mobile suit switches directions, rockets twisting and turning to follow the erratic movements of the Banshee.
And it is this moment she sees it, feels it, the Garencieres falling... "NO!" It feels like it's over, if it falls - then... the Garencieres will have no chance of recovery.
... and she can feel it... this resonation... this presence seeking her so clearly through the static, this green auroral light of miracles...
And before she knows it, she's reaching back, as if to clasp ahold. A girl who desires not for miracles, for she knows the price, the collateral...
... wants one now... wants the miracle for Marida and the Garencieres that another girl she once knew did not receive...
Banagher - your father gave you far too heavy a burden for anyone to shoulder - but you have carried it. All that tragedy, all that sorrow. And you have grown from the boy you were when I first met without losing yourself!
And it's like she tightens her hold on that connection, seizes it, offers of herself to it.
I love you Banagher Links... so please even if he asked too much of you, even if we must ask more of you, carry this for us as well! For all of us!
KTS: Leina Ashta targets Crossfire Salem with MP ZZ Missile Pod Salvo! KTS: Leina Ashta has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Yeah. We can do this!" Rena transmits back to Anita. Though she hesitates, when she explains more. "I'll be careful, though. Those rail cannons don't play around."
She feels Arriety and Callisto, across the battlefield. She glances at her display -- it's surprisingly thorough, showing a wide-field view of the battle with holograms depicting units' placement -- and then she nods. "Be careful, Ah-
ri. Callie. That unit... it seems like Banagher's, but..."
Different, somehow.
The shot from the Union Flag slams into the Gaia Gear Alpha, striking its side. The fiery explosion paints the white armor black, leaving it deformed there, and railing a fiery blast after it. The Gaia Gear Alpha soars in, before it
unfolds back into its Mobile Suit mode -- legs and arms flying out, thrusters firing to change its trajectory.
The green eyes flash, as Rena calls out: "Ra Mari II," she says, "Send the Hyper Mega Launcher!"
On the ship, a port opens -- and the rocket on the back of a large white cannon fires. It flies out, a blur of white, until the Gaia Gear Alpha grabs it -- and a cable ejects, connecting into the side of the white Mobile Suit. It is
directed down, then.
"Uplink established--" Rena says, before the crosshairs appear, flicker, and lock onto the Hyperion's rear thrusters. "FIRING!"
When the Hyper Mega Launcher fires, it /fires/. A massive golden beam of light rips out of the enormous cannon, curving slightly with the Earth's gravity, and then comes hurtling down for the back of the ship.
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with Hyper Mega Launcher! KTS: Rena Lancaster has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.
Arriety feels Puru Two's resonance for a moment -- and then she quietly nods, even though her sister can't see it. "... yeah," she answers. It feels good, to stand side by side with Callie-sis like this, and yet... as she watches the monstrous presence of the Queen Mansa take up bside her, she ponders for a moment.
Then she urges her to show her how strong she's become. "... not every resolve needs to be pleasant. But it is a resolve I've made, nonetheless. But I've severely underestimated the steps in which every one from Winter Wonderland has made, whether it was before they came there, or in the year when they left to take up arms ..."
Arriety's eyes narrow further as the Banshee comes for her. The beam saber comes, and she spots it ahead of time and attempts another burst of vernier fire to evade -- but the NT-D picks up on her intent and drives it close,
causing white-hot sparks to shear through the Zeta's shield. It wasn't critical... but the shield's not going to withstand much more impact.
The sorrow hits her, and she murmurs, "It's like that, huh..."
Someone's calling for Callisto. Someone with a very strong and familiar resonance to her... is that what Leina was talking about, so long ago? "... you're needed, Callie-sis. People need you." Just as her mind's starting to
wander to darker places, Eight's thoughts wash through her. She's counting on her...
"The best thing I can do now is... to keep the Banshee from engaging either ship," she assesses for herself.
But she has time to bear witness to what's happening -- the Garencieres' distress call, the Ra Mari II's tow cable... it's not going to be enough. The ship's being pulled down by the weight of Earth's gravity... but then
Banagher -- Banagher descends onto the Garencieres and starts to /pull/.
Miracles...
"... ... ..."
Arriety dares to close her eyes, even when she's in striking distance of the Banshee.
"Banagher. Do you remember me? It's okay if you don't. Five, six months ago, your Unicorn went out of control in Torrington Base. I was there, forced to fight against you, even if you didn't want to... and I didn't want to
either. At that time, I lamented the existence of these machines, and us children that were all forced to climb aboard these machines... just how dark and violent was this world that this kept happening over and over again?"
As she focuses her will, a crimson SEED descends upon the shallow, reflective pool of her mind's eye. When she next opens her eyes, it's with dilated pupils and an almost inhuman sense of resolve.
"But even when I went back to civilian life, I couldn't get it out of my head. I didn't really want to acknowledge the role that we as individuals have on this cold and unforgiving place... and how I've come to bear witness
to so many wonderful people who can bring about the light and warmth. Even if you've been dealt a bad lot ... with the tools you've been granted, I believe you can do it, Banagher."
Quietly, to herself: "I can believe other people can bring miracles. I can believe other people can navigate this dark and violent world and bring light to it."
'Other people' is doing a lot of work here.
Arriety hasn't admitted it to anyone since coming back, but... she's not back here, right now, because she found noble resolve in hope and making the world a better place. She's here because after fighting for so long, she found civilian life really disconcerting. Because she can't get the echo of beam rifle fire out of her head; because every dropped pen or tin can has her jumping for the nearest cover... because when she chops cabbage to pickle it, her fingers twitch as if she's holding onto the flightsticks of the Zeta's cockpit... every single day away from the battlefield became extremely dull and meaningless, as if the colour had washed away...
... as much as she doesn't want to... Arriety found herself struggling immensely without war in her life. And how shameful is that? That it brought her to all her closest friends and family once more... that Myrme brought her
back here ... it's all just a really convenient excuse. Just like an addict would say...
The thought is more than she can spare at present, though, because if she focuses on this for too much longer, the Banshee's going to rip her apart. She turns towards the black mobile suit; the Zeta's movements are starting to
accelerate further.
Thoroughly engulfed in her strange 'SEED' phenomenon, Arriety jostles the Zeta to the limits of its vernier capacity; it streaks onwards, and she first prepares a salvo of grenades from her arm, which wildly careen and seemingly miss the Banshee's airspace--
"Have I got you?"
Then she fires her vulcans, prematurely detonating them with the hopes of clipping the Banshee in their wake -- and even if not, she's denied enough area to go for a daring string of rifle shots that'd be far too obvious without the distraction, ending with a beam saber strikethrough to pull her onto the other end of her attack run.
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Arriety Hearn targets Crossfire Salem with SEED Coordinated Assault! KTS: Arriety Hearn has completed their actions for the round. From afar to Eight York: Mineva Lao Zabi (Mineva) would like to do the whole group! She's not sure what this involves though
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
"Missile hit," Ruri reports, with just a little stiltedness to it. (It's on purpose.) "The enemy is defended against physical attacks," she clarifies, stoic.
(She clarifies this because Erina, in the background, yelps: "Do you call that a hit?!")
"But the Garencieres is in trouble," Megumi Reinard, their communications officer, reports as she clutches her headphones with one hand. "The Ra Mari II is trying to tow them out, but the line -- I mean, the line missed, but the Unicorn's with them, he grabbed it --"
"How can one pilot connect something like that?!" Erina barks. "Those cables are designed for warships! Even a Gundam can't handle that!" She's the sort of person who gets /angry,/ when she's concerned, and right now she's /very./
"Guh... it won't be easy, huh?" Jun frowns, a hand grasping to a fist, trembling. If he could just get out there..! But no -- Yurika needs him /here./ "Move to a defensive position," he barks out, looking to Erina. "Get us
between the Hyperion and the Ra Mari II, and make some noise! We need to keep the Hyperion off Captain York's back!" Even someone like Jun can get fired up, huh..?
As Erina brings them around, facing the Hyperion, the Nadesico's Distortion Field absorbs the brunt of those heavy rail cannons again. It is /still/ Nergal's flagship, even if it's not their newest model; it remains a defensive
bulwark. The Distortion Field ripples and shines, as the blasts impact it.
"Distortion Field... working adequately," Ruri concludes, glancing at the streams of impossibly-convoluted data on her console. "Moderate damage sustained."
"Can we hold this position?" Jun presses.
"Yes, XO. Now transmitting gravitational calculations," Ruri reports, as she calls on all the secrets of the engine they /found/ to offer data to Rena, Anita and Eight about the dangers of the gravity which pulls at them.
She pauses, looking out at the images of the Hyperion on their vast screens -- but she's not focused on the Hyperion, as she reaches out...
... to the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam itself.
/Are you the oldest?/ She asks, in a manner neither entirely electronic nor entirely psychic. /I can tell you have a lot of overwhelming feelings right now... and I guess you're being asked to do something very difficult./
/Even so, please don't give up. You're protecting some of my important friends... I don't think they'd give up on them, but humans can't survive a fall into Earth without a lot of help, either./
/... I don't want Eight-san and the others to die after we just got through GENESIS./
KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Eight York, Anita Rosetta, and Rena Lancaster with Caution. KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Eight York's Intuition! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 9450 <Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.
Dummy balloons and -- "Arriety!" Roux says, with something like delight. (Something like because, you know, it's not exactly a happy re-union at a pizza buffet or something.) "And Callisto -- alright --!"
Joy is somewhat shortlived because it seems that the Banshee is able to intuit, through luck or skill or software or Satan's assistance, the trajectory of a Waverider-mode MS which is still on an intercept trajectory. Roux feels a
momentary warning and swerves slightly, which mostly means that the shell that smashes into the front camera node does it *laterally), dinging things and putting static in the view as the software compensates, desperately--
"Damn it - Alright, we can't take her lightly, can we?"
She's getting closer, closer. It's now or never, Roux thinks; and with the activation of the transforming mechanism, the Waverider dives into itself, unfolding like mechatronic origami into the shape of a Mobile Suit, a mounted piece of
equipment grasped immediately as the eyes flash to green life.
"That ship - it's not going to make it," Roux says, with hushed tones, as if she can't jinx it. Puru Two and Arriety can hear her, though, and Leina probably can pick it up too. And yet something else is happening...
Something tender. Something on the interface of Earth and Space - why is it Earth, Roux wonders as her mind expands, reaches, once again reaches to that-which-is-to-be: Why not Mars or Jupiter or - is it - the density? Is it -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VDuLiqCmDE
The Queen Mansa (Callisto/Puru2) is in danger, Roux realizes. She's gone from that glimpse of the starry expanse into something else. There is no time to reflect. Only time to pick along that thread. Do the unexpected, Roux knows, will
work. And what is unexpected about the Strike Zeta? In its Waverider mode, the ramjet engines -- but here and now -
The panelling on the thighs of the Mobile Suit opens. "GET OFF HER!" Roux shouts to the Banshee--
It's wild, isn't it? I'm glad you're here, Callisto. Glad that you're alive--
Beams streak out, a short stutter of a barrage. Each shot might be weaker than a classical Beam Rifle, but the spread out adds up - more than twice the force behind one, backed by the Strike Zeta's fat reactor as Roux closes the distance, pivoting to keep the Queen Mansa out of her firing arc.
Banagher! I'd carry it for you, but I guess it's not mine to do. But I know you can do it. But there's something that moments like this give you. Nobody tells you - so I will!
The firing arc ends, with the beam-spray with it, and so the apertures close up. "Big ass force to take out one freighter," Roux continues. "Doesn't the Federation have better things to do??"
When moments come like this... and you succeed... It's forever. Nobody can take it from you. NOTHING can take it from you! We're all cheering for you, Banagher!!
KTS: Roux Louka targets Crossfire Salem with Thigh Beam Fountain! KTS: Roux Louka has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Anita Rosetta's Intuition! KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Rena Lancaster's Intuition! KTS: Crossfire Salem rushes into the attack! KTS: Crossfire Salem partially guards Leina Ashta's MP ZZ Missile Pod Salvo, taking 1800 damage! <Pose Tracker> Ujico Issa has posed.
Her interference alone won't be enough. But every little bit helps. Enough pennies in the tip jar make a dollar, a very old recipe book had said. Ujico thinks that's a kind of money, from Earth. Of course, she takes return fire - /wow/ those are strong for Vulcans!! Palisade is actually knocked backwards by the force, Ujico's body pulled against the restraints. "Nn-"
It's fine. Don't be afraid. Space is our home, after all.
Apple blinks silently from her spot in the dash. A new [friend] that she met, because she met [Banagher], because she met [Haro]. "HaroCon...?"
Palisade is her friend too. Because she is Palisade's friend, she met Rita. Rita, who said the most amazing thing to her just yesterday. Even now... it's too much for her to carry.
So she'll pass it on. That's what gifts are for.
She hears their voices, calling out. One after the other. She sees beams streaking through the darkness, and Palisade comes back to life. She won't let them. < "I'm on it!" > she answers Leina, and Palisade closes the distance
between herself and the Banshee, beam saber igniting from its place embedded in Palisade's palm. The afterburners ignite, pushing her faster and faster through space; as she's about to crash right into the black Gundam she jukes just
to the side, extending that arm to carve a distraction through her armor.
He's gone to save Captain Zinnerman and the others - Marida and Gilboa and everybody else. All she has is a secondhand gift... But it's one given gladly, and she means it. < "Banagher! I'm... I'm really glad I met you!!!!
Please, you've got to save them!">
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"<Acknowledged,>" Liam says, and a bit of normalcy settles into place. But even with that, it feels like yesterday reached down into him and ripped things loose, and he doesn't know what half of them are. His hand moves across the board to designate the Unicorn and Garancieres as mission-critical.
"<Black Unicorn is engaging objectives,>" Liam says, over the tightband to Lucine. "<We can't lose them.>" The Long Dagger accelerates. G-forces begin pile up on Liam's chest, but BioNet's thoracic reinforcement is up to the task. "<I'm sorry,>" he chokes out. Lucine must be suffering just by being here. Maybe this is what he's good for. The brilliance of the soul can't blind him if his is too broken to let him see it.
Moving this fast, Liam's evasive options are limited. He hears Lina's voice--does he know her?--and instinctively spins the Long Dagger to put its shield between the two of them. It almost works. The Mobile Suit rocks as bullets slam into the shield, and freshly-repaired armor peels off its right leg.
Up ahead, Liam sees the Garancieres take the hit, and knows it can't take another. The tiny The specter of mission failure flickers before his eyes, and he can't--
"<Cannot comply,>" Liam snaps back at Lina, and despite the instinctual, clinical words, there's a violence in his voice that scares him. The Long Dagger has its beam rifle in hand in the next heartbeat, and Liam locks the crosshairs on the enemy Lion. He pulls the trigger, and the E-cap counts down. One, two, three, four beams, rapid-fire--they race at the Lion, trying to hem it in, break the armor.
He's still too far away, but just close enough to see the Unicorn holding the tow cable. "<He'll tear himself apart,>" Liam chokes out, swapping the tightband back to Lucine. And then it's back to broadband. "<BANAGHER! HOLD ON, WE'RE COMING!>" What is he supposed to do?
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Lina Lombardi with M703 Beam Rifle Rapid Beams! KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ujico Issa targets Crossfire Salem with UTX-006 Palisade Palm Laser Saber - Delicata! KTS: Ujico Issa has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Crossfire Salem fails to Evade Arriety Hearn's SEED Coordinated Assault, taking 4700 damage! KTS: Crossfire Salem blocks Roux Louka's Thigh Beam Fountain, taking 1230 damage! KTS: Crossfire Salem blocks Ujico Issa's UTX-006 Palisade Palm Laser Saber - Delicata, taking 1440 damage! KTS: Ujico Issa has engaged Crossfire Salem! KTS: Puru Two has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Puru Two has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged. <Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
"We can." Anita repeats to Rena with a nod of assurance. "...And, yeah. Keep a close eye on 'em and be ready to move."
The Hyperion's close-in cannons are tracking her - at this range, trying to dodge /all/ the shots coming at her would just end up pushing her into more cannonfire. Anita elects not to worry about that - she trusts in her shield and the
Pinpoint Barrier, dodging what she can and letting her defenses handle the rest. She grits her teeth, pulling back. As she moves, a cannon emerges, settling in over her left shoulder and taking aim at the biggest of the Hyperion's guns she can reach from here.
"No hard feelings... I appreciate what you've done, but I've got people I gotta look after." Anita mutters, mostly to herself. The cannon fires twice, sending two beams soaring toward the Hyperion!
Maneuvering in this space is difficult - and would be even moreso, alone. But she has help - data is sent to her from the Nadesico, and in response she sends them back the digital-equivalent of a 'thumbs-up'. That should make things go a lot smoother here.
...As she's looking that over, however sensors, her sensors alert her to what's going on nearby. The Ra Mari II sent out a tow cable to the Garencieres... but it didn't /quite/ make it. Anita grimaces... and does a double-take as she sees a unit go for the cable.
"...Wait, that's-" She pauses. "...The Unicorn?"
Anita frowns. Banagher...
"...Didn't take you for the reckless type... Just hang in there, alright? You've got people waiting for you to come back." She murmurs. She's no Newtype - but maybe her sentiments will reach just the same.
KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with Beam Cannon Double Shot! KTS: Anita Rosetta has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Thanks, Nadesico," Rena responds, as she looks at the data flooding in. "I'll put it to good use!"
Then, she glances at her display -- seeing a cut-in of the RX-0, pulling on the cable. Her eyes widen for a moment. She knows what it's like to try to make a miracle happen. She did that already. Her mind reaches out.
You can do this, Banagher! Whatever you want the world to look like... what makes it important is having the people you love at your side! So... don't give up! I've known you can do incredible things since the day we met!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
< "Roger." > Lucine breaths, holding to her controls. < "I won't disappoint either of you, Eight, Ruri." > Liam apologizes. Lucine chuckles. < "I'd feel worse if I was just watching from the Nadesico." >
'Juno 1, two bandits spotted!' The Dianthus manages to barely slip back from the surpressing fire; its pilot, while she doesn't know Lina that well-- < ".... Understood. We're not backing down." > She is a daughter of a bounty
hunter, after all. Sometimes things aren't personal.
Lining up her shot to counterattack, the albarest remains rested in the Dianthus's hands as something clenches in Lucine's gut.
< "Banagher is... he's...." > He'll tear himself apart.
...... Then, a quiet revelation falls on her like a cool cloak on a hot summer night.
< ".... No, Liam, you're right. I feel it... This is.... the stage of a miracle....." > Her voice is a whisper over his tightband. < ".... Stay with me, Liam. I think.... I can reach him, as long as I know you have my back. Call out to him; even if your voice might not reach him, your feelings just might." >
For one second, she's connected. In the space of a single heartbeat, time unfolds.
".... Banagher." Lucine is there, yellow eyes lidded slightly as she looks back towards him, a smile on her face. "I know what it feels like, to stand before impossible odds... A seed can open after a fire. Blossoms open in the cold of winter. Blades of grass reaches for the sun, whether or not we're there to notice. Miracles can happen, in this world where flowers bloom."
"Can you feel it? Spring is coming. It's time for a miracle to happen."
KTS: Lina Lombardi charges into the attack! KTS: Lina Lombardi partially guards Liam 7-020's M703 Beam Rifle Rapid Beams, taking 3444 damage! KTS: Lucine Azul targets Lina Lombardi with Pass! KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Lina Lombardi fails to react to Lucine Azul's Pass, taking 0 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Puru Two has posed.
When the Banshee comes knocking, it really comes a-knockin'. The emerald juggernaut's arms and legs tense, like a fighter awaiting the hit, watching the black and gold wolverine scream towards it, claw raised. "Drunk on the scent of blood." mutters Puru Two, dismissive of her opponent because she is a jerk and a hypocrite when it comes to such things.
The Queen Mansa lunges in and out of the NT-D's range, and Puru Two can feel the emotions of the outside world filtering in and out. Flickering, dying and awakening again. Like a pissweak radio signal, passing in and out of tunnels. The abruptness of it is nauseating, but she takes a breath and stows this feeling in herself. You don't like it? Let it fuel you.
The Banshee's claw punches through one of the Mansa's titanic hands, and the beam saber in its grip shatters into a million spinning fragments of hyperconductive wire, plasma, and steel. But it does not slow, instead buying a moment's room with an ungainly and swift kick from monstrous legs.
"... you're needed, Callie-sis. People need you."
Arriety warns. And sure enough...
<<Sister... help us.>>
The thought reaches her as the Mansa's thrusters blaze, carrying it clear of the numbing influence of the Banshee's NT-D. "They do." she answers Arriety with surprising clarity, given the fury that coils around her spirit like vines from deep below. "I know they do... just like we need you." it's like...
(It's like something from far, far away is urging her on to be mad. Stay mad. It isn't always successful, but I wonder what that is?)
"Sis..." Puru Two's gaze flits to one side. Off to the Garencieres. Therein lies something she's yet to find the courage to face. Does she have the courage to lend her strength now? Does she have any right?
-=-
(Banagher... Roux... Sis...)
The Queen Mansa's pilot closes her eyes, letting her less physical senses take over. Even with the outside world blinking in and out of mental focus, there is a current she can ride there. She sucks in a breath. Holds it.
(Everyone's here, I guess. Fighting. Like always.)
The emerald giant purchases itself the space to retreat because, as it turns out, it has two mega-particle cannons embedded in the torso, and those are hard to predict. In a spraying burst of neon gold, the distance between it and the Banshee increases again. Puru Two has yet to open her eyes, or move a muscle, really.
(You have a lot of people who love you, and who are fighting for you...)
The Queen Mansa twirls as its thrusters fire in sequence, darting between the scattered beam-fire from Roux in the distance as if it were no more dangerous than the boughs of a spindly, glowing tree. Not to downplay your caution, Roux, but this girl is too extra.
(And a lot of people you need to protect.)
Such a thought cannot be made without thinking, in turn, of Arriety. Her closest adoptive family. One she would cross any boundary to protect. The Mansa responds to such a will, eyes alight with fuschia. Can she feel that far-off will to protect? Welcome or not, it's there.
(We're alive in a time when our hearts can make miracles happen... I guess that's neither good nor bad.)
Funnels depart from the Queen Mansa's rear berth in an expanding spiral of blue-white, scattering to the distance while Puru Two can still send them controls. You never know when the NT-D will blank it all out again. She has no option but to strike from range.
(I don't have that purity of heart you do, you know?)
But with her heart so set on this task, they lack something important.
(But that's what makes you... you. Right?)
There is no will to violence, no impulse to kill. They're just guns, with someone pulling the trigger from far away.
(I'm right there with you... okay? You can deny what fate wants, and change it.)
Puru Two's eyes open again as her thought finishes. She belongs in the here and now. The rest is up to the Unicorn.
(So make a wish.)
<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.
Mineva opens up the battlefield display suite, and sees the Garencieres' trajectory as the others do; it's going to crash..
"Fuck," she murmurs, the word sounding strange from her lips. The crew of the Ra Mari II takes action--but the tow cable goes wide, and she stands, unable to keep herself sitting down with this much tension. No...!
She feels the struggle as Banagher grabs the line, tries to bring it in, tries to use the Unicorn as a chain-link. It's not enough... it won't be enough...
Miracles are false hope. Something you can't rely on, a thing that makes the people complacent, reliant...
But all they can hope for is a miracle. She feels tendrils of mind reaching out toward him... and adds hers to the chorus, pulling her console's mic down. "Banagher... I'm here. I believe in you. I believe in the Unicorn. All of us..."
She makes a solemn prayer to the god called 'Possibility'.
KTS: Crossfire Salem blocks Puru Two's Queen Mansa Funnel Array - Veles Formation, taking 3000 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.
The pressure is on, all right. The Ra Mari II takes more shells to her side, risking yet more of her firepower as one of the cannons takes a near-miss. If this keeps up, she'll have to retreat before risking serious structural damage; the armor can only deflect so much, let alone while it's vulnerable and trying to tow the Garencieres...
"Damn," Eight mutters. "Damage report!" Kazama rattles off the damage from her tactical station, as Kall continues to monitor the tow line--and then--
"Captain, we've miss--" Pause. "No, the Unicorn has taken hold of the cable!"
"What's he doing!?" Licia exclaims from the helm, "It'll tear him apart!"
Suddenly, Eight feels it. So does Licia. It's too much, but--
"He's trying," Licia Chovan says suddenly, turning to look at Eight on the bridge. "What he's doing, it's... it's just like back then..." Back then. The Axis Shock.
"...Rezza," Eight says suddenly. "Take over helm functions for a moment. Licia, with me. Rezza, you have the conn." Unbuckling her seatbelt, Chovan meets Eight halfway, and they take hold of one another's hands. When Mineva stands, Eight and Licia both take her hands, too. "Banagher," Eight says, and closes her eyes.
'C'mon, buddy. You want to go back to your cute girlfriends, right? ...I know you can do this.' Chovan's mind and heart reach out to Banagher, from the deck of the Ra Mari II. They aren't close friends--but they have the smallest of bonds, and maybe that will be enough.
Eight, too, reaches out. 'Banagher... You asked me once, what I fought for. Why I fought. ...it's for times like this. When, against the odds, a few people can come together, and change the world. Maybe it's a small change, in the grand scheme. But to us--to them--it could be everything. ...Don't make me a liar, Banagher. Save them.'
Enba Rezza doesn't know exactly what the Captain is doing with Mineva and Licia; they have no sense for these things. But they know what they can do, in the moment. "Kall," she says. "Maintain the tow line's systems."
Astelian chimes in, "XO! We're getting data from the Nadesico! Transmitting to you!"
"Received," Rezza answers, and quickly begins to update their piloting to account for the gravitic forces acting on all the ships involved.
Rezza calls over the line to the Nadesico, "XO Rezza here. Thank you for your support. Please stand by for further data." A pause, and then on the Bridge itself, "Kazama. Target those railguns on the port side. On my mark..."
Kazama taps away at her console, turning a notch as she handles the controls. "Ready."
"Mark!"
The Ra Mari II's many cannons light up along its huge sides, teal beams rocketing towards the Hyperion's weapons systems.
Eight and Licia continue to send their hopes with Mineva's...
KTS: Eight York has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Eight York has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained proficiency bonus. KTS: Eight York targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with Guided Beam Cannons - Aiming Shot! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 90. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 45. KTS: Eight York has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
Pale blue energy settles over the Unicorn -- no, behind Banagher. A man from the REA, Wira Ulunjandi, who remembers taking his hand. (It is nothing but a memory; he is dead, if not gone.) His hand slips over Banagher's hand,
just the same.
All right, he eminates. I'll trust you... and your freedom. I don't understand, but...
You'd better protect them.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
<"A miracle? Lucine, what are you-->"
Liam is still raw from yesterday. He wasn't even supposed to be here. He launched because he was a pilot and the alternative was sitting on his hands while Lucine put herself in danger. He's lied to NERV, repeatedly, and in the perfect position to be court-martialed. Would they even bother with that?
Call out to him.
Liam's eyes hood behind his visor. Banagher saved his life when the School's trap nearly killed him, and helped rescue him from the ruined Proto Helios. They fought together against the Vajra. They sat together at Sheryl's concert.
Liam's heart is so full of holes, and Banagher isn't a match for any of them. He's not a Newtype. He doesn't know if their connection is strong enough.
He reaches out, anyway.
Banagher. Please. Save those people. Save yourself. This is all I can do.
<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
She can hear it too, you know. She can't hear it very clearly, but with all these voices, how could she not? Banagher Links...the pilot of the Unicorn...for a second, Lina turns her head towards the white Gundam.
All these voices...they're calling out to him. Her hands tighten around her controls, the tensing of her muscles causing them to shake and tremble.
~Congratulations..! You've awoken! Now you'll be able to communicate with others so much more easily. Someday, all of humanity will be like us!~
She stares down at the Dagger and the Dianthus. The latter hadn't even shot at her. Attacking an enemy that doesn't retaliate...she'd be no better than...
An image from the news flashed in her mind. People on the PLANTs in cages...her people had done that.
NO! That's not me! This is a battlefield! I'm a soldier! You're a soldier! This is what we do!
Don't you act like you're BETTER than me! I'm not like them! I'm just doing my job! I'm following orders! So do yours and just FIGHT BACK!
Lina rushes forwards towards the Dianthus, pulling out the Lion's Assault Blade and bringing it down on Lucine, completely ignoring the Dagger. "HEY! I'm still over here, you know!"
KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Liam 7-020 with Pass! KTS: Lina Lombardi has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Lucine Azul with Assault Blade Slash! KTS: Lucine Azul fails to evade Lina Lombardi's Assault Blade Slash, taking 5060 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Lina Lombardi's Outmaneuver activates, causing Control Bonus! KTS: Lina Lombardi has engaged Lucine Azul!
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
"I'll get us through this." Banagher insists, teeth gritted, even as he's being torn in two.
As the spirits of those he loves swirls around him, Banagher's agony... Eases. He relaxes his shoulders, sitting tall in the pilot's seat. A deep breath. In, out.
Even as the Unicorn is lifted from the Garencieres, her body forced taut, something changes. Where she has always gleamed scarlet...
Yes. I was the first. For so long, I've been alone.
Only Ruri can hear her, of course, but that doesn't make her words any less important.
But never again.
...her psychoframe shines white as stars, then green, so beautifully, terribly green.
Starlight emanates from the white Gundam, swirling around her. It begins in the cockpit; Kaworu, Kamille, and Shelby fading into constellation-like radiance. Banagher reaches his hands out, feeling their presence as though they were right next to him.
Light... Brilliant and soft. If you could touch it, it'd surely feel like the finest silk, ephemeral and fragile.
"Banagher. Please..."
Surrounding Banagher, swirling around him in warmth and grace, each new pinprick of brilliance echoes the words of those around him, as though the glimmering of the stars had become auditory.
"What is this...?"
Her starlight had always been blue, but now -- it turns to an aurora. Holding the Unicorn safe in its grasp, outlining her against the blackness of space.
"But even when I went back to civilian life, I couldn't get it out of my head. I didn't really want to acknowledge the role that we as individuals have on this cold and unforgiving place... and how I've come to bear witness to so many wonderful people who can bring about the light and warmth. Even if you've been dealt a bad lot ... with the tools you've been granted, I believe you can do it, Banagher."
Banagher eases his grasp on the controls, and the light surrounding the Unicorn spreads down around the hitch she clings to so desperately. It envelops the Garencieres, shining in through the freighter's windows.
When moments come like this... and you succeed... It's forever. Nobody can take it from you. NOTHING can take it from you! We're all cheering for you, Banagher!!
Hope, pure and strong, echoing out across space. Endless... This love, these auditory gleaming stars... There has never been a love so pure, a devotion so earned.
"Banagher! I'm... I'm really glad I met you!!!! Please, you've got to save them!"
Along the tow cable, the miraculous aurora swells and blooms, climbing, ascending. It ascends all the way up to the Ra Mari II, until this ship, too, is encompassed in light.
"...Didn't take you for the reckless type... Just hang in there, alright? You've got people waiting for you to come back."
Everyone is joined together, in these few heartbeats. The light that saved the world so many years ago, now has returned, summoned by a heart as pure and devoted as the Gundam pilot on that fateful day.
"Can you feel it? Spring is coming. It's time for a miracle to happen."
Factions fall away. Through one single link in the chain binding two ships to the same fate, the dreams of a young man resonate. Hope for all. Hope to determine their own fates... To remember this Miracle they created together.
So make a wish.
Each new voice takes the form of a newly-born star. Each one vital. Were even a single voice absent, it would not be enough.
'C'mon, buddy. You want to go back to your cute girlfriends, right? ...I know you can do this.' 'Banagher... You asked me once, what I fought for. Why I fought. ...it's for times like this. When, against the odds, a few people can come together, and change the world. Maybe it's a small change, in the grand scheme. But to us--to them--it could be everything. ...Don't make me a liar, Banagher. Save them.'
This tapestry of stars extends beyond the Gundam and her two ships, expanding across the battlefield, passing over each and every combatant. Perhaps they'll feel Banagher's wish, in this moment.
Banagher. Please. Save those people. Save yourself. This is all I can do.
There's only one thing left... It feels so easy, now. A familiar hand settles over Banagher's own, and his eyes fill with tears. "Wira..."
All right, I'll trust you... and your freedom. I don't understand, but... You'd better protect them.
The Unicorn ascends. Her thrusters are silent, her engines still. She lifts the Garencieres and the Ra Mari II with her. Forward, forward, toward home...
"Banagher... I'm here. I believe in you. I believe in the Unicorn. All of us..."
The Garencieres has stopped its fall. The starlight embracing the ship is more than enough to unbind it from gravity's hold.
I love you Banagher Links... so please even if he asked too much of you, even if we must ask more of you, carry this for us as well! For all of us!
Eyes, brilliant green, haloed by wild hair, open wide. He can see the expanse of space before them, feeling the hearts of the ones he loves -- and the one he fears -- across this battlefield. One final voice resonates in Banagher's heart, one he never knew how much he valued.
"Come on, come back to space! Banagher!"
Together. Together. No one is in danger, now. They're safe in the embrace of the stars. Far from the gravity well... This is home. For a few heartbeats more, the miraculous aurora shines for all to see, and then...
It fades.
Banagher gasps, feeling the stars fade around him. He blinks, his hands laid loosely on the controls... Then lays his head back against his seat and smiles. Tears trace down his cheeks.
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan blocks Rena Lancaster's Hyper Mega Launcher, taking 3780 damage! KTS: Rena Lancaster roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her vulnerable. KTS: Banagher Links targets Crossfire Salem with Pass! KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan partially guards Anita Rosetta's Beam Cannon Double Shot, taking 4560 damage! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan blocks Eight York's Guided Beam Cannons - Aiming Shot, taking 3120 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Crossfire Salem has posed.
The Banshee is in a rage, and Crossfire can't really communicate, nor does she want to. Violence is language.
There's a snarl over the radio as he practically invites her to a duel, since it wasn't HER idea to engage half a dozen people.
Well, her actions caused it, anyways, as lasers, missiles, beams, and blades slice into shield and frame alike, and she activates the Beam Smartgun again.
The full brunt goes at every suit in range, tricky to dodge and devastating if it hits, especially on larger machines which get more per shot.
There's another roar. It's still raring to go, and has plenty of endurance left.
And then a miracle occurs. Crossfire Salem's eyes watch the glow, as she avoids the final salvo, targeted on Zinnerman and the Unicorn.
"...that light..."
It's enough to allow her to will forward, and decide she doesn't want to shoot them. She's not done fighting, but...
She's open for an attack, as the golden glow begins to close. NT-D is shutting off - not out of control, but out of...a sibling respect? Who knows.
Certainly not any here.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
Silence reigns over the bridge of the freighter as the rainbow aurora fills the bridge viewports. Nobody can believe their eyes. Marida, her own closed, grasps the pilot of the Unicorn firmly in her mind.
<<You can do this, Banagher.>> She seems so calm, despite the threat her vessel is in. Perhaps she's found something to believe in too.
And then... It's over, the shimmering starlight fading to be replaced by the perfectly ordinary starscape.
It's Gilboa who breaks the silence. "What... just happened?"
"I don't believe it," Ivan murmurs. "We're clear."
Zinnerman lets out a long breath. "Status."
"Nacelle Two is completely useless. We're still a sitting duck, especially with the Ra Mari holding onto us, sir."
"Status of the General Revil?"
"Closing in. It's looking real bad, Cap - ... I'm getting another signal. It's coming in - it's coming in really fast!"
Zinnerman sighs in resignation. "It's him." He was hoping it was just the Vist Foundation that had compromised this mission, but, no. Of course his superior found out.
KTS: Crossfire Salem targets Arriety Hearn, Leina Ashta, Ujico Issa, Roux Louka, and Puru Two with Armed Armor BS Full Barrel. KTS: Crossfire Salem has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Full Frontal has deployed in MSN-06S Sinanju. KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: Leina Ashta blocks Crossfire Salem's Armed Armor BS Full Barrel, taking 4690 damage! KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Roux Louka retreats from the attack! KTS: Roux Louka successfully evades Crossfire Salem's Armed Armor BS Full Barrel KTS: Ujico Issa fails to rush. KTS: Ujico Issa partially guards Crossfire Salem's Armed Armor BS Full Barrel, taking 8040 damage! KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Arriety Hearn successfully evades Crossfire Salem's Armed Armor BS Full Barrel KTS: Puru Two has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Puru Two blocks Crossfire Salem's Armed Armor BS Full Barrel, taking 5025 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Sophia Mayhew Castellan has posed.
"Ma'am, Nadesico is moving to prevent us from interfering with the rescue operation."
Threads she could barely see for their fragility, bursting open with a light she didn't know. It's dazzling. Magnificent, event. She's never seen this world of connections MOVE, before, not like this, like strength and power could rush through it. But just the same...
...whatever it is, it's not hers to touch.
She blinks and that world falls away from her. Her eyes flick to where the Unicorn is doing the impossible to pull the Garancieres to safety, using forces its frame simply cannot, physically, possess. "Good," she says in response to scanners. "I think Crossfire's hunt has woken a beast."
Amid the melee, the Helios surges out from the underbelly of the Hyperion, the smaller escort vessel - almost more like a Mobile Armor, really, but more designed like a ship - scooting into the path of Rena's blast, its onboard shield
absorbing much of her assault, before all but skating into the firing lane of Eight's beam cannons. "Helios won't last like this forever, but it should buy you some time, Captain!" the ship's pilot calls over, Desmond Siege smiling as
placid as ever.
The blast from Anita's shot rakes across the rear rail cannons, damaging one of them. But being up close means something else:
Now Sophia's own mobile division can go to work. "Laurent! Time to fly!" Sophia calls.
The Union Flag wing roars off from the deck, moving to engage Rena and Anita directly. They swarm around the heavy guns on Rena's Gaiar Gear, rising up in formation to pepper her with gun fire before splitting apart to make retaliation
harder.
Anita finds herself assaulted by a group armed with Sonic Knives out, diving in to carve at her machine to try and force her off formation and make her easier prey.
"The Nadesico is limiting its offence!" Weapons notes.
"We won't," Sophia announces. "Punch a hole in that shield."
"Aye!"
The heavy guns go off, six cannons swiveling into position before firing huge shells downrange, enormous shells meant to punch through barrier defense.
As for the Ra Mari II...
The Helios surges past the Nadesico, the zippy escort skittering up close and firing along the whole length of the massive ship with its onboard rail cannons.
Sophia sits back, watching...something impossible, occur.
She sets her head back against her headrest and crosses her legs.
"Crossfire," she notes, finally opening comms to her pilot. "I think your beast may have become upset. Perhaps it would be well to try again another day."
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Foresee Spirit Command targeting Crossfire Salem KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Crossfire Salem with Caution! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Eight York with Helios Breakthrough! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Ruri Hoshino with Heavy Rail Cannon Concentrated Fire! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Anita Rosetta with Hyperion Battle Group Strike Formation! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Rena Lancaster with Hyperion Battle Group Flag Formation! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan suggests caution, raising Crossfire Salem's Intuition! KTS: Rena Lancaster fails to react to Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Hyperion Battle Group Flag Formation, taking 7410 damage! KTS: Eight York has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: Eight York fails to react to Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Helios Breakthrough, taking 5640 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 3810 KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Ruri Hoshino has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Ruri Hoshino partially guards Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Heavy Rail Cannon Concentrated Fire, taking 3363 damage! KTS: Anita Rosetta's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan rattles Anita Rosetta, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Anita Rosetta blocks Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Hyperion Battle Group Strike Formation, taking 3240 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Sophia Mayhew Castellan's I See You activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has engaged Anita Rosetta! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan begins a Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Something happens.
Auroral light shines into Liam's cockpit. It sparkles on his visor. His mouth falls open at the sight of it; his heart hammers against his ribs. Axis Shock. It's like the pictures. Banagher's doing it. Lucine was right. This is a miracle.
Raw, bittersweet hope floods from Liam's heart. The Long Dagger cuts the jets, turns to the Dianthus. "<He did it,>" Liam says, and then the Lion rips into her, its pilot insisting she's still here. "<LUCINE!>"
The Long Dagger descends on the Lion like a diving hawk. Liam barely manages to lock the rifle in its mount before all but ripping something free from a second--a long pole with a beam emitter head. Protective anger all but boils off of him as he drives the weapon towards the Lion's shoulder joint, trying to take that blade-arm clean off.
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Lina Lombardi with Beam Spear Slash! KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
The Union Flags rush in. It takes Rena a moment to disconnect the Hyper Mega Launcher -- and that gives them a chance, firing shots from their Linear Rifles. The Gaia Gear Alpha is pummeled by several shots, and that forces her to pull
backward.
Warnings flash across the 360-degree cockpit; cascading red boxes, with different readouts and alerts.
"Gh--" Rena grimaces. "Annie, Ra Mari II, I'm falling back--there's some power distribution issues from one of their shots. Be careful!" she says.
The Gaia Gear Alpha grabs ahold of the Hyper Mega Launcher -- then the wing binders fire, thrusters sending it hurtling off towards the Ra Mari II.
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
With baited breath, Leina waits to see if that light will shine brighter, she feels them all reaching out to him through their bond. All of them joining together in to help him make that light shine.
It was difficult to ask him to carry a burden for her, difficult for her to ask anyone to do that.
And then the light shines forth. Despite her best efforts to maintain composure, she chokes out a sob, and the tears pour out. Rainbows did not reach her eyes on the day of Axis.
All she could feel was someone's happiness dying, someone precious to her. All she could do was resent that the miracle which saved everyone took some of the light out of her.
The miracle which saved billions, which probably even saved her, she could not help but resent it, because the emotional connection was too strong. All she felt was sorrow and grief and loss.
Now she sees it, the light of a miracle, and she can't help but shed tears of joy.
Flipping her faceplate up, she dabs her eyes against the side of her arm... "Buh-Banagher... you... you-!" Unable to express her feelings with anything else, she wears the biggest smile, radiating appreciation, and love and warmth.
Keep holding on. Just a little longer.
The Beam smartgun is fired at close range, and in this moment she receives a warning, and suddenly jerks to the side, the unpredictable arc of the beam manages to lash the Double Zeta's little sibling before catching the last vestiges of its energy on the side of the flap like shield.
Alarms go off, she hardly hears them. She can feel that the NT-D has ceased it's fire upon the Unicorn and the Garencieres, but perhaps only for a moment, and she won't let Banagher's miracle go to waste on the whim of an out of
control pilot- "Roux! Callisto! I'm going to try and drive her off before she changes her mind! ... If either of you can spare any cover, I'm going to need it-!"
Activating her thrusters to keep her at a slight ascent to prevent the pull of Gravity, she positions herself above and outwards high above the Garencieres and the Miraculous Unicorn, as if waiting for them.
Cranking a lever on the side of her seat, there's a sudden alarming build up of plasmic particles at the head of the Double Zeta's little sibling, pointed right at the Banshee's lower half. Out of the forehead a cerulean light spirals
out in eruption, before it transforms into an enormous crimson beam from a cannon normally only mounted on battleships firing right towards her.
Even with the famed durability of the Psychoframe, the enormous power of the NT-D- she fully intends to try and melt the legs right off the Banshee, denying her the thrusters necessary to keep up with Banagher and the Garencieres' ascent into the heavens.
"<If you're in there... let this be your wake up call.>"
If there is a god named possibility, perhaps it will accept a second prayer, because not long after firing, her mobile suit goes entirely dark.
KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged. KTS: Leina Ashta targets Crossfire Salem with MP ZZ Simplified High Mega Cannon! KTS: Leina Ashta has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Angelo Sauper has posed.
In the distance lies the General Revil. Waiting out the enemy, taxing their strength, is not an uncommon tactic.
And now, as a Miracle is being performed, would be the perfect time to strike.
In the distance, mobile suits begin to deploy one by one off the launch bays of a ship laden with history. And then --
Something happens.
A flash. Rapid-fire blooms of green beams in triplicate ripping across the battlefield.
The lights of mobile suits darting across the black backdrop of space, before...
... In the distance, explosions ripple silently like the rapid bloom and death of stars as something starts tearing its way through the General Revil's troops.
The source makes itself swiftly known in the form of two large cannons flying through the battlefield, guided by wires and rocket propulsion that send them swerving and banking through the ranks of G-Hound. They wheel backward towards the form of a bulky, violet-hued mobile suit that looks like someone attached the upper body of a Geara Zulu to an ungodly mass of thrusters and armor. Mega particle barrels cool from brilliant jade towards vacant black as the Krake Zulu's propulsion ignites -- not to bring it towards the battlefield, towards that miracle --
But to turn its back to it, and face the red, supremely fast suit it has so fastidiously prepared the field for.
<"Captain,"> the cool voice of Angelo Sauper offers with gentle reverence. The upper body of the Krake dips in a bow, its right arm folded towards its chest, laying over where a heart might be.
<"The field is yours.">
Distantly, Angelo's attention turns back towards the Miracle that has unfolded before them all. Behind his helm, violet eyes narrow. He focuses wholly on the Unicorn, empowered by so many, reaching out like a field of stars offering the
sparkling splendor of possibility. For a moment, his expression goes unreadable, save for the spasmodic twitch of his right brow.
He feels something deep in his core. Something...
"... Tt."
... revolting.
Like the queasy quiver of nausea in the face of something too alien to grasp.
Disdain coats Angelo Sauper's expression as he turns his attention back towards the battlefield. His fingers tremble along the controls of the Krake Zulu as its mono-eye rolls to focus upon the Hyperion and its Flags deploying in the
distance. His lips curdle, as his fingers clench tight.
The Mega-Particle cannons detach again, and scream towards those Flags, unspooling with violent speed as they seek to catch those mobile suits within their spiraling cross-hairs in bright flashes of three churning green particle beams,
rippling across the emptiness of space.
Not to assist the others.
"The Captain's chosen battlefield is inviolable. None of you may interfere!!"
To create a wall between the Hyperion and his Captain's chosen prey.
KTS: Angelo Sauper has deployed in YAMS-130 Krake Zulu. KTS: Angelo Sauper has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Crossfire Salem fails to react to Banagher Links's Pass, taking 0 damage! KTS: Crossfire Salem fails to evade Leina Ashta's MP ZZ Simplified High Mega Cannon, taking 8400 damage! KTS: Leina Ashta roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her vulnerable. KTS: Angelo Sauper has activated the Trick Spirit Command. KTS: Angelo Sauper targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with Mega Particle Scorched Earth Formation! KTS: Angelo Sauper has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman targets Crossfire Salem with Pass! KTS: Suberoa Zinnerman has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Angelo Sauper has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Full Frontal KTS: Crossfire Salem fails to react to Suberoa Zinnerman's Pass, taking 0 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Full Frontal has posed.
As the chaos and din of battle echoed throughout the orbit of Earth, something stirred in the distance. Scanners pick it up. Then lose it. Rinse and repeat. Hurtling, screaming through the void of space, it comes.
A red comet.
The Ghost of Char dives and dips around space debris and the remnants of star-borne sins. Here lay a Zaku II's arm, floating and still clutching the remnants of a heat hawk. There lay a Nemo's torso, still grasping the shorn off edge of an Alexandria-class's launch bay.
Yet there was little time to observe, as Full Frontal and Angelo Sauper slashed their way through the inky blackness towards the Garencieres. A good commanding officer looks after their own...even if the captain was keen on keeping the ghosts in his ship at arm's length. Opening direct comms to his major domo, Angelo bowing in deference upon having cleared a path for his supreme commander, Full Frontal uttered his decree. "It's been quite some time since we've had quite the playground of fools, my dear Angelo. How about we give them a show to remember?"
Without waiting for a reply, Full Frontal punched the Sinanju's thrusters to their limit, the wing binders shrieking in the dead of space as the suit become a crimson flash, a scarlet meteor raining down towards Crossfire, towards the Banshee. The Ghost of Char looked at it with some amusement. "My, the Unicorn and Phenex's final sibling has finally come out to dance as well? Pity you're no Puru, but I'm sure you'll give me a good time all the same."
Raising its shield up, the stored rocket bazooka ejected and flipped upwards, the Sinanju casually catching the attachment with its rifle. Within the cockpit, a gleeful smile lights up on Full Frontal's face. A nihilist he may be, an empty vessel...and yet the body craves combat. Adrenaline and endorphins leading to an addictive high, the thrill of risking one's life for survival...even a shade has its hunger.
With a quick snap of its wrist, the Sinanju aims and fires an anti-MS rocket at the Banshee, blindsiding the lion.
A king you may be, but this no jungle. Here lies the court of the underworld, where ghosts reign supreme.
KTS: Full Frontal targets Crossfire Salem with Rifle Bazooka! KTS: Full Frontal has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Crossfire Salem fails to react to Full Frontal's Rifle Bazooka, taking 6890 damage! <Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.
The Beam Smartgun. It's not that scary a name when you look at it, is it?
But consider perhaps what it means. It means that you can control where an almost-indescribably devastating packet-streak of megaparticles goes. Force that defines a battlefield space. Force that is matched in some ways by *reflex weaponry*.
Roux sees the miracle -- but there isn't time to marvel, because if she marvels, the Beam Smartgun will punch a hole through the Strike Zeta intersecting the cockpit about halfway through the middle, which is, of course, going to
intersect a significant fraction of Roux Louka.
But in that auroral light...
Anything is possible.
The Strike Zeta's AMBAC sends it tumbling into a half cartwheel into the opposite direction at a moment slightly too late to take it just out of the way of the beam shot. Upwards then, accelerating towards the Z-plane of the battlefield, the vastness of the eastern side of Asia stretching out behind them as Roux moves into - from a certain point of view - a higher orbit for a moment, then suddenly decelerates - as she sees the Beam lance past her, she realizes she's done it. The laugh is spiritual. Joy in interface; the thing done, and done well.
Leina's there. they're all still there. That's the danger of performance alone: You can lose your context. Roux looks 'down' and the Strike Zeta moves towards the NT-D even as the Garenceries -- it's moving? It's not disintegrating -- and as she does, three-fourths of her view is of the Earth! But that's not what she's looking at--
"Got it! Come on, Banshee-- wake up--" A barrage as before from the thigh-mounted beam emitters, but she doesn't stop or swerve here. She's going to pass very close -- and that's when the AMBAC swings the Strike Zeta around again to *KICK DOWN* on the right side of the Banshee as it --
streaks past
like
a
"Oh, shit," Roux says, half-prays, almost to herself, as she passes near-enough-to-see to the Sinanju for heart-stopping seconds.
KTS: Roux Louka targets Crossfire Salem with Thigh Beam Crusher Combo! KTS: Roux Louka has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Roux Louka rattles Crossfire Salem, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Crossfire Salem blocks Roux Louka's Thigh Beam Crusher Combo, taking 3000 damage! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan partially guards Angelo Sauper's Mega Particle Scorched Earth Formation, taking 5795 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
You're not alone, Ruri affirms, to the Unicorn, even as everyone else assures Banagher of the same thing.
The blue energy in Banagher's cockpit, meanwhile, stays with Banagher as everyone's wishes come to him -- as he shines, alongside everyone. Wira's strength is with him, too. /They really believe in you,/ the soul eminates. /... so you should keep living, too./
When the miracle fades, so does he.
Ruri has no sense that a ghost was part of this exchange; her heart is less open, to humans. Even so, she -- along with the rest of the Nadesico's bridge -- see the shining light of that miracle, and even Erina is moved. "He
really pulled it off...?" The Nadesico's meaner helmswoman marvels, with a frown.
Even as the Hyperion's barrier-piercing volley rocks the Nadesico, the optimism on the bridge is hard to shake. Ruri, at least, still reports: "The Distortion Field can't defend against that fire. We're taking heavy damage."
"The Garcineres and the Ra Mari II are clear! The Unicorn, too!" Megumi reports, from her station, even as Ruri calculates the damages. "They're okay!"
"The Gaia Gear is retreating," Ruri reports, and sounds disaffected, as she says it. "And the Sinanju has entered the field." She doesn't sound nearly as bothered by that as she should. Don't take it as an insult; that's the
tone she wears for everything.
"Rrrrgh... all right!" Jun nods, looking out, to the screens. "In that case, it's time to send the Hyperion home before things get even worse--! Fire the Gravity Blast Cannon!"
"Fire," Ruri confirms. It's too simple a word for the calculations she commits, through her palms. The vast forward prongs of the Nadesico OPEN, like a stag beetle yawning wide, and gravitational energy --
-- that thing which Banagher needed a miracle to save them from --
-- gathers, there, into a beam of force which threatens to rock the Hyperion whole.
(Ruri did hear Anita's gratitude, earlier, though. It's not /solely/ for that reason that she aims their Cannon away from the Hyperion's critical systems, but certainly she thinks of her, as she tries not to destroy the ship
entirely.)
KTS: Ruri Hoshino has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with Gravity Blast! KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Crossfire Salem has posed.
As the Banshee is calming, Leina and Roux's massive shots force an evasion and a deflection, neither of which are entirely effective. The Banshee is still flying, and in fact, still space-worthy.
It does not fire on Leina again.
Crossfire's mulling over Sophia's words, when the cavalry arrives. The anti-MS missile blindsides the no-longer NT-D Banshee, who is hit head-on. It's the incredible make of the machine that keeps it going, as Crossfire grabs her comms - and communicates solely to G-Hound.
She cuts out Vist from this call.
"Captain. I suggest a retreat - if another Sleeves ship is here, we're at a loss. I'm not going to risk your crew when we're so out-numbered."
"Vist can't deny we tried."
Everyone has a chance to either fire on the Banshee or try suppressive fire to make sure the retreat is a retreat, but it's not a ruse in the end.
The woman behind the mask retains her humanity.
And as she retreats, she wonders...which one was Alma's daughter?
<Pose Tracker> Ujico Issa has posed.
A rainbow... no, an aurora. Brilliant and far-reaching and so, so close... as if she, too, could reach out and touch it. She would just have to... "Banagher," Ujico whispers in the quiet, tears spilling down her cheeks.
If he can't... everybody on board the Garancieres will...
But the [light] grows. It encompasses everything. Voices in another room, floating by her. She [cannot hear]. But Ujico can believe now - in miracles, and in Banagher. "...Thanks, Rita," she murmurs, though the Phenex isn't here.
For teaching her the words.
Targeting sensors - lock on. She doesn't want to tear herself away from it, she is so happy, it isn't over yet. Palisade finishes wheeling around, and there's no time to dodge - she'll go /through/ it. Ujico throws herself headlong between the beams, counting on her intuition to avoid them -- and then on her armor to protect her, when the first strikes Palisade's shoulder, knocking her into the course of a second, which threatens to sever one of her legs. "Ugh!"
Damage readouts pour across her screens, through her neural link, echo via sympathy tingles in the corresponding limb. Imaginary. Like Ujico. The idea of it makes her smile, a little.
Not a real human, not a real Newtype, but she saw! She saw a real miracle! A tear slips into her mouth, through her smile.
Palisade's incomm system launches from the black box on her back, wires writhing -- the quasi-bits fire on the Banshee, only stopping once it's making a full retreat. "...?"
Just who's piloting the red mobile suit? <Sinanju,> Palisade tells her, translating the IFF data.
< "...Is everybody all right?" > Ujico asks, weighing Palisade's damage against the possibility of a fresh enemy.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
The Rewloola is here, dispensing Full Frontal and his House Guard Captain to their rescue.
It tastes bitter in Zinnerman's mouth, after the beauty of Banagher's struggle to save them.
"Signal the Ra Mari II," he says to Ivan. "Prepare for docking procedures."
There is but one more thing to say. He doesn't want to, but the damage suffered is something the Three Ships Alliance would struggle to support them with, even with a behemoth like the Ra Mari II as their stronghold.
"All hands. Collect your affairs and prepare to abandon ship."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
The same space that Lucine felt, when she shook Leina's hand on the night of Sheryl Nome's concert.
A glimpse of something larger, as vast as the universe itself, deep enough to fill with all of humanity's collective thought.
'HEY! I'm still over here, you know!' The Dianthus begins to fall back away from the Lion's blade, but Lina has proven herself to be quick enough to know a good oppurtunity when she sees one, as conflicted as it makes her feel.
< ".... You felt it too, right?" > This is to Lina, specifically, as the Dianthus flies back, Liam's Long Dagger surging forward in its wake. < ".... That was the same power, during the Axis Shock. The time when enemies turned allies, and did the impossible." >
This *is* bad manners. A proper bounty hunter would never turn their back like this, even for a miracle.
< ".... However, you're right. You want a fight. I'll give you one. Can you keep up with me?" > The Dianthus does a spin in the air like it was floating in a nonexistent wind.
But then--
"....?" Lucine is distracted from this thrill by two new arrivals. < ".... What in the world are those?! That presence feels..." > 'Significant' feels like the best word to use, but also the worst. < ".... Either of them ring a bell to you?" >
The albarest fires, just as she finishes asking her question.
< "...... Now we're both proper mercenaries. Don't beat yourself up so much." >
KTS: Lucine Azul targets Lina Lombardi with Argen-21 Beam Arbalest Shot! KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
Slowly, the Unicorn's glow, too, is extinguished. Her armor folds in once more, and gently, she lowers herself to one knee atop the Garencieres.
Banagher faces Wira. He knows this will be the last time, and so he gives the other man a smile. "Thank you. I'm so sorry. I hope -- you find peace, Wira."
And with that, he's gone. Banagher brings a hand to his heart, even as tears float inside his helmet.
"Miracles are... really exhausting..." Banagher murmurs to himself. He breathes out a little sigh.
Unfortunately, his peace doesn't last long. A flash of awareness warns Banagher of the coming danger. More mobile suits are launching from the General Revil, and the Banshee's still out there. Leina fires her mega cannon, and Banagher
/knows/ that'll leave her helpless.
"No way--!"
Pushing forward on his controls... Nothing happens. Shocked, Banagher looks down at the screens before him. The Unicorn is out of fuel. Helpless, he watches the battle unfold.
Another flash of warning. This one is familiar -- Banagher can name it before it even comes streaking into view.
"Full Frontal..."
The Ghost of Char seems to be in a heroic mood today. Banagher's smile turns into a thin line as the Sinanju jets across the battlefield, taking on the Banshee without fear.
The weird guy with the white hair is here, too, and Banagher shudders. What do they want? Why would they act to save him from the Vist Foundation? Is it just because of the Garencieres' presence..?
No matter how much he frets, there's nothing Banagher can do but watch as the Banshee retreats. The Garencieres moves beneath the Unicorn, and it seems Banagher is along for the ride.
KTS: Lina Lombardi has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Lina Lombardi parries Liam 7-020's Beam Spear Slash, taking 600 damage! KTS: Liam 7-020 has engaged Lina Lombardi! KTS: Banagher Links targets Crossfire Salem with Pass! KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Lina Lombardi fails to rush. KTS: Lina Lombardi partially guards Lucine Azul's Argen-21 Beam Arbalest Shot, taking 2755 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
Through the combined hearts of many, a miracle occurs. Anita breathes out a sigh of relief and lets herself relax in her seat for just a moment.
"...You did it." She breathes out, for just a moment. ...She isn't allowed to enjoy it for more than that moment, though, as the Union Flag wings launch from the Hyperion and engage. Anita can /tell/ they're trying to force her out of
formation - but she also doesn't have much choice to let them. With a grimace she focuses on defending against their attacks, all the while keeping an eye on Rena and the rest of the battlefield. Speaking of Rena...
"Right! I'll cover you!" Anita calls back to her. Rena moves to retreat and Anita moves to cover her, combat knife drawn. She lashes out in a series of quick, precise thrusts against the Union Flags to force as many to retreat as she
can.
However... she can't help but notice that they have some unlikely help. Whether or not that's a /good/ thing, though... Anita isn't sure.
"Eight, looks like we have some unexpected company... What's the plan?" Anita asks.
KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with Wasp Stings! KTS: Anita Rosetta has completed their actions for the round. <Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.
Arriety hears Roux's call, and her heart is buoyed. "Miss Roux. ... I'm back." They're both back, in their own individual ways; she hears her more through her resonance as she reaches out to Banagher as well, and has a quiet smile for Callisto's sake too. To have people be glad she's alive...
"I'll protect Callie-sis with all my might too."
Even as she says that, Callisto's comment is in her head. Drunk on the scent of blood... doesn't that also describe her? It's part of the shame. Because ruthless-minded people aren't really part of the Kakapo Squadron profile; how, then, should she reconcile what she thinks she's become, and the rest of her friends and family? They might not be so different in the end, but Arriety doesn't see that right now. Not in the face of positive messages of hope and achivement and well-wishing.
The Beam Smartgun is out; Arriety senses its presence moments before it fires, and there's a moment in which her screens go white and so do her face--
The Zeta's profile is narrow enough that she's suddenly between shots; the surface of its white Gundarium armour start to buckle and give way, but the internals remain unaffected; her focus narrows even further and, between shots, she kicks back the transform and a single lancing beam that would've gone straight through her leg is suddenly going through nothing as the Waverider engages; several more glancing shots brush off the surface of the armour, but the I-Field Generator holds steady.
And then...
Reinforcements, as it were.
Leina doesn't call for her, but she listens to her plan; all she can do is wait as Angelo's Krake Zulu races forward to catch the reinforcements in the wake of its Mega Particle cannons and... of course, the ghost of Char himself. The Sinanju. The Banshee is retreating. Arriety considers opening fire, but...
A miracle did happen, after all. Could a miracle have saved Myrme... saved her?
A miracle never happened for her. Was it because she didn't believe hard enough? Was it because consigned herself to the darkness of the world? What force, in this world, truly chooses who deserves a miracle? Believing in others is the best she can do right now.
But Arriety's thoughts are distracted as she looks towards the Sinanju, though, and remembers when Callisto told her about what happened between her, Full Frontal, and the sleeper word from the Neo Zeon days. The Zeta lifts its rifle up.
Arriety really, really, really, really wants to start some shit right now. Her heart is boiling blood for the man who hurt Callisto.
...
...
"Let's go, Callie-sis," she murmurs, as her pupils start to resize to their usual shape and size. "We achieved what's really important."
<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Axis Shock...everything just has to come down to that, doesn't it?
She feels a momentary peace. Amuro Ray...Banagher Links...it just keeps happening to me...
Her request is answered with a spear and a shot. One parried, the other glanced. They're fighting back now, so why...doesn't it feel good? As if to answer her, a chill runs down her spine upon the arrival of the Sinanju. Sleeves...this got a bit complicated.
"Juno 1, looks like we're pulling back. Field's getting too hot."
The green Lion stalls for a second, then pulls back from the Dagger and the Dianthus.
I just don't know...
With that final uncertainty, the Lion turns and retreats. "Banshee, this is Juno 1. Copy. Pulling back."
KTS: Lina Lombardi's Lion 500 has been disabled. <Pose Tracker> Puru Two has posed.
It's one thing to send your well-wishes and fuel the miracle, but reality doesn't wait around. Doesn't give you time to cherish the afterglow of the happy ending.
And so, the Queen Mansa's throat-ripping duel with the Banshee never really slowed. Black and jade claws clash in the silence of space, ripples of force surging through each combatant's suit. Just as quickly again, they're worlds apart. Spinning, weaving between dummies and debris on glowing trails of spent fuel and broken dreams. Beams from heavy funnels cleave burning arcs through the night, melting steel and dust wherever they touch. A hailstorm of charged force from the Banshee's smartgun splashes upon an unseen field that flickers to life around the Neo-Zeon mobile armour, and it is forced backwards. Forced to burn precious fuel to steady itself, shields sapped.
The fight, really, enters a standstill.
"I don't have an appetite for this." Puru Two mutters, as a ghostly light filters through her sensors and casts her cockpit in a pallid hue. "Let's leave it for another day."
Perhaps she could tell what was coming, soon after. The Mansa's funnels go silent, spinning and returning to their berths. First to lower the gun, so to speak.
The silence grows overlong, especially as reinforcements take to the field. One can almost hear the drumming brass as the Sleeves cut a bloody path through space, their divine right made known. The Mansa swiftly coasts backwards, coming to a momentary halt near Arriety's Zeta as the two recuperate for a moment.
Puru Two's eyes follow the distant form of Full Frontal's Sinanju as the complex sensor suite inside her suit enlarge it helpfully. She feels no fear, in this moment, which surprises her. She feels only disgust. A raptor looking upon a spoiled peice of meat.
She can't quite explain it.
"Arriety..." she turns her attention to the sister who is here with her, right now. The one who came back for her, no less. She can feel the girl's intent long before the Zeta lifts its gun, and a tremendous green fist gently motions for her to lower it. But by the same token, no doubt Arriety can feel that same caution. The two operate on a much quicker link than any mere machine can hope to mimic, after all.
"Not this time." there's a gentle tiredness to that voice, underneath the trained tautness of one ready to shed blood at a moment's notice. And then, she nods soon after. "That's right. We did what's really important. The rest..."
Puru Two closes the magnification. The Sinanju becomes nothing but a red speck in the distance.
"Isn't worth our time right now."
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Foresee Spirit Command.
<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.
It works. It's enough. For now, at least. The Ra Mari II is successfully towing the Garencieres, though it's at a cost to both of their maneuverability. The larger ship can't turn to make use of its full firepower against the Hyperion, a dangerous proposition that puts them in a very bad spot.
At least her pilots are still out there supporting.
"Acknowledged," Rezza says to Rena. "The hangar will be ready for you."
But Eight opens her eyes again, and looks to Mineva, and Licia. "He did it," Eight and Licia both say, and grin--"All right, back to your station!" Eight rushes back to her chair, where she turns to take a seat and get a feel for what of the battle she's missed.
That includes: the damage from the railguns of the Helios, zipping along the whole side of the ship, prompting explosions the whole way along as armor buckles. Still, the ship is intact, but...
"Captain," Rezza says calmly. "If these conditions continue, I project multiple hull breaches. We should pull back, and pull the Garencieres with us."
"...If they give us the chance," Eight answers. Kall says, "Tow line holding; we can bring them along with us if we can get moving."
Chovan grins, back at her seat. "What, you think I can't? I can get this, Captain."
Two more show up. One moving to create a wall... the other directing itself at the Banshee. Kall on the sensors, "That's--the Sinanju! Full Frontal, the Sleeves's ace!"
Eight narrows her eyes. "Callie," she says over the radio, with a mental push. "Be careful."
She remembers, after all. What she was told about. Some things aren't quickly forgiven.
She hears Arriety murmur, and is it radio, or just knowing? "Come on home," Eight says over a frequency to both of them. "Good work out there." She can feel the tension in Arriety... But what else can she do, for now, but welcome her back? Maybe they can talk about it soon...
"Just come on home."
Then, she focuses her attention on the Hyperion. "...All rigt," Eight says. "We--"
"Signal from the Garencieres," Astelian reports. "They're requesting docking procedures."
"...All right," Eight says. "The Nadesico's engaged them... Kazama, lay down suppressive fire, pattern 4." Over the radio to the techs, "Disengage the cable and get the hangars ready. We're docking."
Kazama directs the ship's weapons; once again, the beam cannons studded all over the Ra Mari II blaze to life, signaling a barrage of shots against the Hyperion--but targeting her weapons systems, not her life support or her engines.
"All pilots," Eight announces. "Guard the Garencieres until she docks, then return to hangars. We need to be ready to move as soon as we can."
She's worried, though.
KTS: Eight York has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Eight York targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with Guided Beam Cannons - Pattern 4! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 59. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 40. KTS: Eight York has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan fails to evade Ruri Hoshino's Gravity Blast, taking 8160 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Ruri Hoshino's Scan activates, causing Designate L1! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Physical Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan partially guards Anita Rosetta's Wasp Stings, taking 4092 damage! KTS: Anita Rosetta has engaged Sophia Mayhew Castellan! KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan fails to evade Eight York's Guided Beam Cannons - Pattern 4, taking 6800 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
The cockpit of the Double Zeta's little sibling flickers at lowest power, no information shining through on the viewscreens.
... but she feels a familiar presence... an unmistakable one...
"No... no no-! Not now!" Leina cries out in alarm, not even for herself, but... for Banagher...
... but perhaps most of all for Callisto. Leina suddenly grabs at the controls, jerking them as if to force them to life, "Move! MOVE!" And then, it does. As she sees Full Frontal...
Chasing off the Banshee!?
Leina's head just tilttttssss to the side as if not believing what she's seeing. Then anger just bubbles up, for what he did, for what he's done. She almost, ALMOST gives him a piece of her mind...
... and then her courage fails her all at once. The reality of the situation kicks in, the survival instinct that Glemy instilled in her little by little to keep her head down begins to rise back to the surface.
The MP Double Zeta is heavily damaged, Banagher is alive, the Ghost of Char hasn't done something awful to Callisto today.
Keep her head down.
It's the Red Comet Reborn. A force of nature, a force to be reckoned with. She does not want to test the patience or the mercy of a Cyber Newtype that had Char infused into him by a Psychoframe.
She looks upon her viewscreens for a moment, homing in on the Queen Mansa and Arriety's Zeta... watching for a time, perhaps trying to sense the emotional tenor... then... after a moment, allows for a deep sigh.
"Come on Roux..." Leina says as bids the Double Zeta over to the Garencieres, not quite landing upon it, instead keeping apace alongside it, "Let's... let's bring everyone home."
She wants to live... she wants everyone she cares about to live... so she keeps her head down.
However, she will not rule out the possibility of duct taping Banagher to a stretcher again if he doesn't march his butt straight to his guest quarters after pulling a stunt like that.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam's face twists in an ugly snarl as the Lion pilot redirects his momentum. He falls past her, and guns the thrusters to keep from falling deeper into the gravity well. The Long Dagger grips the spear tightly, the AMBAC shifting its posture as it prepares for another stab. Liam hears Lucine talking to the pilot. She's talking like... the enemy felt that, too?
Something starts ripping through the G-Hound formation, and Liam's heart lurches again, this time with fear. A bright red spark, heading right towards the Unicorn's twin. Sleeves IFF likely.
"<Lucine,>" Liam says, "<Sleeves are here.>" His stomach churns at the thought of fighting them. He keeps the memories of Neo-Zeon locked up tight, and for good reason. "<We need to go.>" Fortunately, their opponent seems to agree.
As Liam disengages and boosts up towards the Ra Mari II, quietly hopes she makes it home safe. He knows her from somewhere, right...?
"<Ra Mari II, this is Long Dagger, 7-020 piloting. Leg damaged, in need of gantry crane.>"
<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.
Mineva opens her eyes to behold an aurora. Indescribable beauty--a symbol of hope.
The sort of miracle only possible through the will of many.
The Garencieres is safe, and Banagher and the Unicorn did the impossible to make sure it'd happen. She smiles, nodding as she's directed back to her post--and as she takes her seat, she feels a chill down her spine. Something worse than the explosions rocking the ship.
Full Frontal.
She watches as he streaks into the battlefield, steeling her jaw. The blazing star of psychic intent quiets, and intermittently becomes a whisper; she's hiding herself, or trying to.
Banagher, Leina... come back safe. Please.
Please...
KTS: Mineva Lao Zabi has activated the Foresee Spirit Command targeting Banagher Links KTS: Mineva Lao Zabi targets Leina Ashta and Banagher Links with Coordinate. KTS: Mineva Lao Zabi has completed their actions for the round.
<Pose Tracker> Sophia Mayhew Castellan has posed.
Things turn around really quite suddenly.
"Ma'am!" sensors calls to Sophia. "Two units approaching at top speed! It's...it's the Sinanju! That's Full Frontal!!"
Another unit appears alongside him, beam fire screaming out; Sophia's units survive, barely, but Laurent signals extreme danger immediately. And while Sophia's busy with THAT:
"Nadesico and Ra Mari II are converging heavy guns on us, ma'am!"
Sophia's Geass flares, and she turns her attention that way. "EVASION!" she roars at the helm, and the ship jerks rapidly away, but...
Just not enough. The Gravity Cannon engulfs it in a grinding, sheering gravitational wave that ought to shuck it like a crab, protected only by fortress-thick armor augmented by entire generators worth of energy conversion armor force; the Ra Mari's guns take this chance to blast hard into the frontal sections of the ship's bow, bringing the heavy rails out of commission. Anita, meanwhile, does manage to spook off a few Flags, at least, sawing one of their arms clean off before the general retreat is called.
"Think that's about enough," Sophia mutters. "All units, back to the ship! We'll rendezvous with Banshee at the designated point! Helios, Flag wing, cover the retreat!"
The Hyperion, apparently deciding it's not welcome, slips back and swerves away, carving down toward the planet and its own home territory. The Helios and the ship's Flag wings hold the rearguard, preparing to fend off any parting shots if they must.
Sophia, for her part, breathes shakily, and palms her face. "I hope your masters are satisfied with this, Crossfire," she mutters. Her Geass flares, and she gazes up, to the gathering knot of connections aboard the Ra Mari.
"This nearly cost me things I would bill for in blood," she whispers, harsh.
KTS: Mineva Lao Zabi coordinates maneuvers, raising Leina Ashta's Piloting! <Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
< "She felt it too." > Lucine waits until Lina leaves to confirm Liam's unasked question, by coincidence. < ".... I was in her shoes not too long ago, so... I hope she'll be okay." > Is it odd, to feel this way?
Lucine's father did say she never seemed like she'd be good with the dirty parts of being a bounty hunter. And she never had the passion or aptitude for science that her mother had.
But it was fine, because she didn't need to have an answer for what she wanted to be, right? She was only--
< "Those are..." > The Sleeves, then. < "Alright. I'll follow you. Let's head back." >
<Pose Tracker> Ujico Issa has posed.
The Garancieres is...
Ujico frowns. She was already risking a lot, merely by being on board the ship. It was only Banagher and Leina's goodwill and the treaty in place between the Shuffle Alliance, Celestial Being, and others that let her feel like it was all right to be there.
...Well. There's no help for it. And she can't just sit out here in a failing mobile suit, hoping the Ptolomaios can come pick her up.
"Maybe everybody will be nice," she muses at Apple. "Maybe we'll meet more friends there."
"Nice," Apple repeats. "Friends."
Palisade joins up with their battered formation, soaring alongside the MP Double Zeta. Secretly, Ujico will settle for 'not being immediately arrested and put into super space jail'.
<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.
"I'm glad," Roux answers Arriety. "I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye. Everything happened... we'll catch up when we can." Don't jinx it. Don't say you'll definitely get something later. Always offer up the possibility, so space doesn't decide to take it for itself.
The way it just sort of spit out Full Frontal and -
Roux gets an eye on what Angelo is doing. At this range, this level of focus, she hasn't 'felt' Angelo much yet - though he may feel HER, the way that one feels eyes across the room (and they say people aren't a little psychic!) - but his machine... Unidentified but the shape of it.
Shambling; laden in threat. But it's an illusion, isn't it? A shape like that might, perhaps, be ungainly on Earth or inside of a colony.
In space?
Leina signals her. Roux answers her, with some care. "That machine... Yeah, this is a bad situation. They've got the delta-V to keep clear of Earth from here?" ("I mean I can push a little," Roux adds, which is perhaps less ridiculous as an emergency motion additive than it may sound.)
But they're headed towards the Ra Mari II. A glance at it tells Roux about how long it will take to reach it.
Roux's estimate is off.
She's not used to ships that big - outside of the Jupiter Energy Fleet.
<Pose Tracker> Full Frontal has posed.
Disappointment echoes faintly throughout Full Frontal's being as the Banshee retreats from the battlefield alongside its compatriots. That was all it took to send the lion scurrying back to its den, tail tucked between its legs? Truly, the runt of the beasts of possibility.
Sheathing its rocket bazooka, the Sinanju rockets toward the Krake Zulu, Full Frontal rendezvousing with his erstwhile second in command. The opposition as a whole seemed to be retreating with nary an effort from either of them. A pity, they'd barely begun to whet the appetites of their suits. "Come Angelo. It appears Zinnerman has absconded the Garencieres onto a new means of transport...though I wager he's not much of a 'Captain' any more."
Hovering in front of the Ra Mari II, Full Frontal notes the presence of many a familiar face. The boy was here, along with Princess Mineva. The surviving Puru, a few other newtypes, and Zinnerman made up the rest of the noteworthy minds cradled by the warship. He can sense their loathing, their hatred, their disgust and discomfort. These were minds resolute in their defiance of him, their rejection of Full Frontal.
Good. The common folk still fear the ghosts in the night.
Opening comms, Full Frontal made his declaration. "Paging the captain of the Ra Mari II. You have some of my men aboard your ship, and you're towing one of my vessels. I request an audience with you, Princess Mineva, and Captain Suberoa Zinnerman aboard your warship. I repeat..." The Sinanju continued to hover closer as its pilot broadcasted on an open channel, but its wing binders moved to and fro, ready to spring into open combat.
What will it be?
<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.
A limb is severed. Anita makes no effort to go after any of the Flags that retreat. And then, she receives her own orders to pull back from the fight.
"Right." Anita replies with a nod. She turns her attention back to the Hyperion and its contingent. She hesitates briefly... and then the VF-25 sends them a respectful salute before folding up into Fighter Mode and accelerating back to the Ra Mari II and the Garancieres. ...But, in the time it takes her to get there, someone else has already arrived. Anita grimaces, briefly.
...For now, she can only do the job she's been tasked with. It'll be up to Eight how this goes from here...
<Pose Tracker> Mineva Lao Zabi has posed.
Mineva winces palpably as she hears Full Frontal's voice through her earphone.
The last time she met him face-to-face, it ended with a house collapsing around her. Slowly, she looks over toward Eight, taking off the headset.
As much as it disgusts her... she has more people than herself to think of. "Captain York... if Full Frontal wishes to speak with me, I'll defer to your judgment." She pauses, standing. Her tone grows stern and icy; any trust she may have is overruled by her previous experiences as she adds, "However: I do not consent to leaving this vessel in the custody of the Sleeves. I'm sure you can understand why."
It is not a request. She isn't exactly speaking from a position of power, here, but it's immediately clear that it's an unacceptable outcome.
<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.
It's Eight and Callisto's words that cut to the quick of Arriety, despite how much she feels like she's become a monster. No, nothing's changed on that front. "... yeah... thanks, Eight," she whispers through the comms, as she finally lets the unrelenting anger pass. She asks her -- asks them -- to come on home.
It's Callisto telling her they're not worth their time that guides her. "... mm." She's the one with the right to call, here; she just wants to be her sword. She wants to be her sword so bad, no matter if she breaks in the
process.
The Zeta quietly departs, following orders and stationing itself on guard as the Garencieres docks. These are ugly feelings, but that's her reality.
After all, isn't she the whole messy package?
<Pose Tracker> Angelo Sauper has posed.
In the end, the mission is a success.
Watching as the Hyperion and its detachment fall back, Angelo Sauper's gaze half-lids, a certain sort of emptiness pervading him that expresses no sense of triumph or joy to see his enemy retreat. The Mega Particle Cannons retract, hydraulic hisses lost in the vacuum of space as they lock into place on the Krake Zulu.
They saved lives. They saved the Unicorn's life.
But all Angelo feels about that is a certain kind of scorn that irritates at the back of his mind.
"... Federation dogs," he mutters to himself as the Banshee and its support become a distant memory. His gaze turns on the Unicorn. The doomed Garencieres. The Ra Mari II, the Nadesico...
Violet eyes narrow in contempt.
Whatever turbulent thoughts rolling through Angelo's closed hearts, they're dashed against the rocks as he hears Full Frontal's voice. He blinks, as if stirred from a reverie, his expression briefly turning towards something surprised and soft... and then a brief, warm smile alights his face, seeing how well the Sinanju still fares.
"... He's keeping fangless company now," is Angelo's unfiltered thoughts on what Full Frontal has to muse on Zinnerman, soft surprise and admiration dissolving into resolute neutrality. All the same...
Angelo bows his head in a deference that might not be seen, if the Krake Zulu didn't echo the gesture. The space-bound suit follows in the Sinanju's wake like its shadow, even as Angelo speaks.
"Of course, Captain."
With unflagging and absolute deference.
<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.
There are many who are coming back to the Ra Mari II, only some of whom came from her in the first place. Eight is fine with that; the Zentradi warship has plenty of space, after all, in her hangars.
But Eight has a 'feeling', when Full Frontal doesn't leave. When he hovers in front of her ship. And indeed, Astelian confirms it. "A channel from... the Sinanju, ma'am."
"Put him through. And bring him on-screen."
Eight listens to Full Frontal's 'request', along with noting that he's entirely prepared to continue combat. Combat, while many of her pilots are damaged and towing themselves in; while the Garencieres is trying to dock. ...No. Eight does not think that's much of an option.
But she does pause for a moment, waiting for Mineva's response. She holds up a hand to forestall the opening of a channel back, for a moment, to listen to Mineva. "...Frankly? I don't think we're in a position to deny him his audience; he could hurt a lot of people who are already limping back."
"But we won't let him take you."
"Open a channel," York instructs Astelian, and he does.
"This is Captain York of the Ra Mari II." Her voice goes over the open comms, as well. She doesn't bother dissembling about Mineva's presence. "Your request is granted. Please proceed to the starboard hangar, where I will meet you with my other guests. Your ally is also welcome."
'Ah-ri. Please, keep Callie away for now. I have to meet with him.'
"I'll see you soon," to Full Frontal, at which point she mutes her own line. "...Rezza. You have the bridge." She looks to Mineva. "...We'll keep you safe. I promise."
<Pose Tracker> Puru Two has posed.
Consider that the Queen Mansa is over fourty metres tall. That's one-hundred and thirty-one feet! That's a lot of metal. To that end, the cockpit of such a large and heavily-armed beast is more spacious than the cramped confines of the Qubeley-series. Puru Two, Callisto, whoever's at the fleshly controls that day has luxuries you can only dream of in a less messy prototype of a weapon. There's a survival equipment drawer underneath the pilot seat, even! It's open at the moment.
So when Puru Two can feel Eight's concern about keeping her away from the Sleeves crew, the sullen clone clicks her tongue in disgust and annoyance, and ceases the repetitive, meditative motion of loading 00 buckshot into the extended magazine in her lap and tosses the shotgun into the corner. "Bah."
"The whole messy package." she agrees with Arriety's sentiment, and folds her arms.