2024-10-19: A Hot-Blooded Frenzy
- Log: A Hot-Blooded Frenzy
- Cast: Alto Saotome, Ranka Lee, Serinas Nikola, Kaworu Nagisa, Rose Tritten, Shinn Asuka, Liam 7-020, Lucine Azul, Kaiju Navi
- Where: Area 6 (Galapagos archipelago)
- OOC - IC Date: 19th October 0099
- Summary: NUNE goes on another Vajra nest hunt. But this one takes a strange turn as certain individuals plot in the background.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Off the western coast of the Britannian Union's Area 6 is the chain of
islands more locally known as the Galapagos archipelago. The population of the
islands is quite small, numbering at only around twenty thousand. But recently
that number has been growing rapidly.
Unfortunately, that added growth is not people.
Of the many volcanoes that make up the islands, a battle currently
wages at one of them. Having detected a Vajra nest there, a NUNE strike force
headed by the League is sent in its ongoing mission to clear the Earth Sphere
of the threat.
Upon arrival, the team found that the Vajra had infested the many magma
tunnels that that make up the currently dormant volcano. Thankfully they
haven't gone quite as deep as to meet any magma, so no death defying battles
over a pool of the stuff today. While, as part of their nesting, the Vajra
have widened a number of the tunnels they inhabit, they still don't quite
reach the size available for some of the team's larger units. So a plan was
hatched to send half the team in to flush out the Vajra while half remain
outside to ambush them. The exterior team also has the duty of protecting
Ranka as she sings.
Thus far the mission has been proceeding well enough. The Vajra are
still tough bastards with their adaptations to the weapons being used against
them. But with Ranka's singing, they've been thrown into confusion and aren't
putting up a strong defense.
Inside one of the tunnels, Alto unloads more rounds from his gunpod
into a pair of Mobile Soldiers. As they slump down and go still, he turns his
machine to face the cavern he had discovered. Inside he sees a collection of
eggs. His eyes glance across it, the Messiah's cockpit sensors picking up the
movement and assigning target locks. With a press of the trigger, one of the
micro-missile packs mounted on the unit opens and unleashes a small swarm of
missiles. They streak through the tunnel and into the cavern, rushing in to
the nest and exploding it.
As the eggs are exploded and burned away by the detonations, Alto opens
his visor for a moment to wipe his face. It's been a bit of a hunt, but
they're getting there. As his system reports the nest's successful
destruction, Alto radios, <"Another nest down. According to our initial scans,
there should be three left."> As Alto's Messiah starts to walk further through
the tunnel it's in, he asks, <"How is everyone else doing?">
KTS: Kaiju Navi has deployed in Vajra Heavy Soldier. KTS: Kaiju_Navi has deployed as a Boss for 7 opponents. KTS: Ranka Lee is now subpiloting for Alto Saotome. KTS: Alto Saotome targets Kaiju Navi with Gatling Shot! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Alto Saotome's Gatling Shot! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Physical Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Alto Saotome's Gatling Shot, taking 2325 damage! <Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Aimo O.C. - In Medias Res - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfN-vkzBGK8
Ranka was trying her hardest not to think of Sheryl in this moment, as the
Koenig Monster flew above the network of tunnels, within earth's atmosphere
the music was audible over more than just the comms, the speakers thrumming
their sound through the tunnels.
It was not how the music reached the Vajra, but it did not matter, for it was
effective to the people involved in the spectacle.
"Oh you- you the chosen people, blaze together with the meteors.
"We shall cleave the darkness and obtain eternal glory."
She told herself she was doing this to protect Alto, to make certain this never
happens to anyone ever again, like it did to Sheryl. But now one half of that
reason... she couldn't help but fret. Still, she was a professional, the
League was in a bad place.
They had to prove themselves and their sincerity to the people of Earth, and
this was the way, to clear out the alien invaders.
Ranka's eyelid twitches, as she feels a faint spasm of pain, but rather than
pay attention, she pushes through, her voice as clarion as it might be during
a concert.
"Aimo aimo nedel lushe
"Now wave our flags above our heads,"
Alto asks over the comms how everyone is doing, and her heart skips a beat with
relief, as Carnaria replies over the comms, "<All Green here. Our little
Songbird is in top form today.>" There's a faint tease, "<Sure you weren't
checking in as an excuse to check on her, Skull-4?>"
Ranka grows a little redder, but keeps on singing.
Shinn Asuka has arrived.
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
Defending the Earth Sphere from monsters is what Serinas should be
doing! Not having to fight humans who want to tear the Earth Sphere apart...
so this is a good day.
As they make their way into the tunnels, she primarily uses the gatling
lasers with precision, being able to aim two at once with the position of her
hands is pretty handy! And sometimes when they round a corner she just blasts
the chest beam cannons down it before stepping aside so they can all get
attacks downrange.
"Don't get too far ahead." she calls to Alto, concentrated gatling fire
finishing off and tearing through a warrior before the Queadluun-Reah flies to
the Valkyrie's side just as he's launching missiles at the eggs. "Oh, you
don't need to spend missiles on that..." But it's done, and she takes a moment
to look carefully at the walls, searching for side tunnels more attacks might
come from.
Kaiju_Navi has changed Boss level to 7
KTS: Shinn Asuka has deployed in ZGMF-X56S Sword Impulse Gundam. KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Kaiju Navi with LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers Focused Fire!
KTS: Kaiju Navi engages evade against Serinas Nikola's LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers Focused Fire!
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Force Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi moderately reacts to Serinas Nikola's LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers Focused Fire, taking 0 damage! <Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
NERV is of course part of NUNE, and battling against kaiju and hostile
aliens is part of their remit, so it's only logical for some of its pilots to
be here to assist. As is often the case these days, those pilots are Kaworu
and Liam. Kaworu Nagisa, the Fifth Child, is present in Evangelion Unit Beta,
her champagne gold armor a contrast to his dark plug suit. Her size means
there's difficulty in traversing the magma tunnels, but she manages.
He listens to Ranka's song as the team progresses, whenever it is that
she sings the remixed version of Aimo. He smiles, but it's a faint,
distant, sober thing. Still, the two of them spoke to each other's hearts; he
understands painfully well her wishes. He will support her in this.
He doesn't remark on Canaria's teasing or Alto's check-in. Unit Beta
spears a Mobile Soldier with her Heat Rapier, then cooks it from the inside
out as the plasma activates on the sword. <"Three left... I see,"> he muses,
gaze also distant. <"No significant problems here. Liam, are you well?">
There are others here whose condition Kaworu is concerned for, but Liam
is his subordinate, and he has a specific responsibility towards him.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Kaiju Navi with Forward Stab! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Forward Stab! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Physical Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Kaworu Nagisa's Forward Stab, taking 1875 damage!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa begins a Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Rose Tritten has posed.
With a mighty bang that shook the entire cavern, the first of three ZAKU
Warriors stepped out of another burning hive. "Make that two, Skull-4." Rose
radioed in. The girls had just deployed a new ZAFT incendiary charge, and the
results were popping eggs left and right. Rose took the opportunity to suck
back a banana-ginsing instant powder drink packet, popping it closed and
wedging it under her seat, remembering that gravity was back in play.
It had been an odd couple of days. Part of a brand new Task Force, back hunting
bugs, pretending that your entire understanding of your culture and society
was now completely topsy-turvy.
That last part got easier after a night of vomiting.
On the terrain map, Rose could see the path to the next hive, and a couple of
sonic detections inbound. Rose's ZAKU lifted it's beam assault rifle, and she
and Aspyn hosed down the approaching Mobile Soldiers.
"Miss Lee's lyrics are getting kinda..." Sushila radioed in from behind her
companions, her beam cannon not having much use in the tight confines of the
volcano, outside of the hives.
"Depressing?" Aspyn cut in, as a hose of energy from her beam gatlings light up
the entire cavern to the extent the sun visor dimming took effect in Rose's
cockpit. "Kinda. Not really a fan of the lyrics on this one...OOH! Is she
taking requests? Maybe she can sing 'Interstellar Flight'? I love that one!"
Aspyn started to hum the tune to Interstellar Flight as a salvo of Missiles
from Rose's Blaze pack screamed past her friend deeper into the tunnel.
KTS: Rose Tritten targets Kaiju Navi with AGM138 "Firebee" Guided Missile Barrage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Rose Tritten's AGM138 "Firebee" Guided Missile Barrage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Physical Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Rose Tritten's AGM138 "Firebee" Guided Missile Barrage, taking 2627 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Shinn Asuka has posed.
So it's a bug hunt.
Shinn has yet to do one of these.
The Core Splendor launches from its ship, sweeping over the area before the
other Silhouettes launch.
"Right. I'm thinking we do this close up so send the Sword Silhouette out."
Shinn says watching the initial combat underway.
Within moments, the Core Splendor locks into place with the other pieces,
guided by lasers as the Gundam forms. Finally the Sword Silhouette docks and
turns the Gundam's exterior a pleasant red color as it finishes its
transformation.
It is here when Shinn starts to hear Ranka's depressing song. <"Uhhh...I'm
kinda new to these bug hunts but is the depressing music necessary?">
The Sword Impulse draws it's Excalibur and ignites the blade. "I guess I'll
just get into the groove of it. Here I go! AAAAAAAAA" Shinn charges the
nearest bug, attempting to bisect it with a firm chop from the oversized sword.
KTS: Shinn Asuka targets Kaiju Navi with Excalibur Slash! KTS: Shinn Asuka has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Shinn Asuka's Excalibur Slash! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Shinn Asuka's Excalibur Slash, taking 750 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam knows from experience that the Vajra like to nest in relatively
enclosed spaces, turning them into fortresses full of choke points and
opportunities for ambush. An Eva might be nimble enough to navigate the lava
tunnels, but Liam's Akashima is not--so a field test has been kicked down the
curb, awaiting a more suitable operation.
Instead, a grey-and-black Dilanza Sol troops down the tunnel, its beam
rifle braced in the crook of one arm. Both of its shields sit low in front of
its torso. As a group of smaller Soldiers pour out of yet another of the side
tunnels, Liam puts down a field of fire, aiming and shooting for center-mass
with trained precision.
<"Suit's holding steady,"> he says to Kaworu, which is how his suit
is doing, and not how he is doing. Realizing, perhaps, that this is a cop-out,
he adds: <"Focused. Wasn't looking forward to this."> It wasn't that long ago
tha he ran into Sheryl Nome, out of the hospital and clearly, obviously
miserable. What even happened? His throat tightens at the memory. A moment
later, he flicks open a tightbeam to Alto, and Alto alone. <"You haven't seen
or heard from Sheryl lately, have you?"> Not the best thing to ask in such a
tense situation, but...
A moment later, he's back on the mission frequency. "<It's arranged to
mess with the Vajra,>" Liam says, to Shinn. A new guy? A new guy, in a Mobile
Suit, charging right into the fray. Liam shakes his head, and hopes he's not
going to have to save him, or watch him die.
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Kaiju Navi with Beam Rifle Shot! KTS: Liam 7-020's Tactical Intelligence activates Valor! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Liam 7-020's Beam Rifle Shot! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi moderately reacts to Liam 7-020's Beam Rifle Shot, taking 1890 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Lucine still has her reservations over Ranka being used as a weapon.
However, one nest in, she has to admit to herself that it's given them a
foothold they wouldn't have otherwise had.
< "... Just hitting my stride, Skull-4." > Having thrown her anger at
Alto's feet after the first mission that Ranka was deployed, Lucine's guilt
over how she handled herself pushes her in the present to be the perfect
scout, using the Dianthus's smaller size (at least in comparison to most of
the other units deployed) to navigate the tighter tunnels. < ".... Sending
coordinates for a potential nest area in sight. You'll have to find a better
route to it, though, this tunnel will be a tight fit for anyone over the
Dianthus's size. I'm sighting other entrances though-- ah." >
It seems she's not alone, as one of the Vajra discover her tunnel in
turn. < ".... Pulling back to meet up with all of you." >
Lucine has to admit, this version of the song does get her blood
boiling just the right way, when she ignores everything else.
< "Incoming." > Like a hawk out of the blue, the Dianthus seizes down
on top of a random soldier, the back of its 'cape' spread outwards in a
mandala behind it. < "... Some more Vajra may be coming to join us. I may stay
here with all of you for a while." > She pauses a beat, a smile in her voice.
< ".... I hope there are no objections." >
KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with CL0-V3 Glaive Dive! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Lucine Azul's CL0-V3 Glaive Dive! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Physical Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Lucine Azul's CL0-V3 Glaive Dive, taking 2880 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
<"... N-No! Just making sure everyone's still alive."> Alto stutters
briefly in response to the teasing from the Koenig's pilot. Yeah, that sounds
totally believable. Alto continues to walk his machine through the tunnel,
moving in the general direction of the next reported nest.
As Serinas critiques his choice of weapon to take out the egg clusters,
he replies, <"I'm going to make sure that not even one of those damned bugs
can hatch. Let them get big and they become a far greater threat."> His anger
is understandable, given his extensive history with the Vajra to this point.
Especially after...
Speaking off, Liam briefly private comms him. And Alto frowns,
responding just to Liam, <"No, I haven't... Haven't been able to get her on
the phone. And I've had no luck trying to find her so far."> He's definitely
tried, but he seems to keep hitting walls for one reason or another.
Rose's team report another nest down, while Lucine has narrowed down
the location of one of the last two, <"Nice. If we keep this up, we should be
done soon.">
-=-=-=-=-
"It seems everything is going well so far."
Grace O'Connor smiles as she stands upon a peak some distance away. Her
custom YF-27 'Ars Goetia' is parked nearby. Both are unlikely to be detected
due to electronic countermeasures. Especially as the Vajra hunting team are
distracted by the enemy in front of them.
Grace watches the battle playing out, a mixture of long range visual
and sensor scans displaying data inside her cybermental landscape. In
particular she is paying attention to the fold waves being unleashed by Ranka
as she sings, "Her skill has improved. It seems one of the conditions for
progressing to the next stage has been cleared."
Grace then turns her focus to another in the battle, underground scans
showing a wireframe of Alto's Messiah as it fights its way through the tunnel
it's currently in. A different set of readings appear as Grace says, "And it's
clear that Fairy-9 was not a complete failure, creating an interesting
unexpected variable such as this. It seems he is almost ready as well."
Grace turns her head to actually look at the one beside her, continuing
to smile, "Still, there's a few more tests that need to be run. Shall we
proceed with the next one, Doctor?"
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
The Vajra continue to fight, of course. Mobile Soldiers, spindly and
anthropoid, are too confused to effectively fight back. Eggs explode and
Vajra are burned as the group continuess to clean out the nest. They aren't
completely defenseless; some can dodge.
But elsewhere...
"Indeed," A mysterious woman next to grace answers, a small smile on her dark
lips. Doctor Kafim inclines her head. "Let's."
The crystals clasped in her hand begin to glow. And others, deep within the
caverns, glow as well...
There is a terrible SCREECHING as if dozens of voices suddenly call out at the
same time--in fury. In anger. In frenzy.
A blast ERUPTS out of the cavern. The Tritten Trio are its targets.
Micro-missiles scream outward next, for Lucine and Kaworu and Liam. A mobile
soldier attempts to TACKLE Shinn's machine outright. And a whole swarm
comes for Alto from three directions.
There is a buzzing, a heat, a terror.
And for Ranka, there is a horrific, horrific noise.
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Rose Tritten with Vajra Bio-Cannon Powered Blast! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Liam 7-020, Lucine Azul, and Kaworu Nagisa with Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Wide-Area Barrage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Shinn Asuka with Vajra Armored Claws Heavy Impact! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Alto Saotome with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Fire! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Serinas Nikola with Vajra Bio-Cannon Powered Blast! KTS: Shinn Asuka engages charge against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Heavy Impact!
KTS: Shinn Asuka's Physical Wall L3 activates, negating 3000 base damage. KTS: Shinn Asuka successfully reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Heavy Impact, taking 810 damage!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa engages block against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Wide-Area Barrage!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa successfully blocks Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Wide-Area Barrage, taking 2016 damage!
KTS: Rose Tritten has activated the Trust Spirit Command. KTS: Rose Tritten fails to engage evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Powered Blast!
KTS: Best Defense! Rose Tritten successfully reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Powered Blast, taking 2775 damage!
KTS: Alto Saotome engages block against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Fire!
KTS: Alto Saotome's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Alto Saotome successfully blocks Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Fire, taking 1320 damage!
KTS: Liam 7-020 engages block against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Wide-Area Barrage!
KTS: Best Defense! Liam 7-020 successfully blocks Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Wide-Area Barrage, taking 2666 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Shinn Asuka has posed.
<"Huh. So it's a bug killing song...Neat."> Shinn responds back to Liam, not
worried yet about charging into the bug zone. He wasn't aware that Idols had
this sort of music in their repertoire. It also shows how much he was paying
attention during the briefing.
Regardless, he is here now to back up this extermination.
And now the Impulse Gundam is being charged by a mobile soldier. Shinn pulls
back on the control stick, sending the Gundam flying at the soldier with just
as much power. "Tch. You think you'll get me with something like -that-?!"
The Gundam holds the Excalibur in one hand as the free hand grabs the second
Excalibur, brandishing both large swords.
The Impulse Gundam swings both swords in counter arcs, making an X in front of
the large bug soldier. Hopefully this takes care of Shinn's current rival
because he has a feeling it's about to get crowded here.
<"Right. So how do we turn up the song? It's getting a little hairy out here!">
Shinn says, pushing forward.
KTS: Shinn Asuka targets Kaiju Navi with Excalibur Dual Wield! KTS: Rose Tritten has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Serinas Nikola engages evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Powered Blast!
KTS: Critical Hit! Serinas Nikola poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Powered Blast, taking 4440 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Shinn Asuka has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul fails to engage evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Wide-Area Barrage!
KTS: Critical Hit! Lucine Azul poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Wide-Area Barrage, taking 5246 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle!
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
It does hearten her that Liam, Lucine, and Kaworu are here too, but it brings a
stab of guilt in Kaworu's case, because she knows he doesn't like this...
even if he accepts it.
For indeed, her reason is one he would understand more than almost anyone else.
"<Ohhhhh? What a guy~>" Carnaria teases lightly, before turning around and
winking at Ranka in her seat, perhaps the reason she can tease is that this
has been a total milk run so far.
Ranka is still quite red, but as a professional, she still manages to keep
singing...
... she has reached the end, and thus repeats from the top, just as she was
instructed, in this jingoistic encore.
"Aimo aimo nedel lus-"
Which is when there's a sudden... feeling, at first like static in her soul,
before it builds, and builds, until it is a deafening with the terrible music
of the beyond.
And Ranka Lee... shrieks, holding both sides of her helmet, writhing in her
seat, as Carnaria suddenly jolts, "Ranka?! Ranka!"
Ranka keeps incoherently shrieking in her seat, before it becomes her curling
up and sobbing on the spot. "Ranka! Speak to me!"
Carnaria pleads, but it's like it's being lost behind a thick wall of horrific
buzz, and Carnaria speaks into the comms, "<Emergency! Something's happened
to Ms. Lee! She just starts screaming out of nowhere after the Vajra started
acting strangely!>" And indeed, they can all hear it in the background of the
comms.
"<Taking evasive action!>"
The Koenig Monster begins to turn away from the tunnels, to avoid what's going
on... Shinn requests that the song turn up, but like the Tritten team's
request for Interstellar Flight, it seems she's in no shape to deliver upon
them.
KTS: Ranka Lee targets Kaiju Navi with All-Out! KTS: Kaiju Navi engages guard against Shinn Asuka's Excalibur Dual Wield! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully guards Shinn Asuka's Excalibur Dual Wield, taking 1700 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi accepts Ranka Lee's All-Out! KTS: Ranka Lee orders an all-out attack, raising Kaiju Navi's Skill! KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Ranka Lee's All-Out, taking 0 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Liam says his Dilanza Sol is holding steady, which is not the answer to
the question Kaworu was asking. <"I see,"> he says all the same. When Liam
actually answers, Kaworu listens quietly. <"Does it bother you?"> he
wonders. He wasn't very fond of the operation last time, either, and he went
into it some. But-- <"Why?">
He'd like to know Liam's reasons again.
But before too much of an answer can come, there is a sudden change.
Crystals glow, and the Vajra scream. Kaworu shoots a look towards what
would seem to be a solid rock wall, eyes narrowed. However, the Vajra are
here, and Ranka too is resonating with them, and they are an immediate
threat. When that blast erupts, Kaworu calls up Unit Beta's A.T. Field in time
to catch some of the follow-up missiles--but these are close quarters and Unit
Beta is large. Heat and rock crumble at the edges of the tunnel, and the
golden Evangelion cannot avoid them. Hopefully the much smaller units among
them, Lucine's especially, will have an easier time of it.
<"Something else is interfering with the Vajra,"> he tells the others
with gentle urgently. <"Ranka is in no shape to sing.">
The A.T. Field shines and inverts, and what remains of micro-missiles
hurtle back towards the Vajra, guided back to their source. This too will hurt
her, but he is resigned to that necessity, as he is most things.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Kaiju Navi with Distance! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Distance! KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Kaworu Nagisa's Distance, taking 4425 damage!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa continues a Formation attack!
FPT: Lightly Loaded Bonus=28 Alto Saotome transforms to VF-25F Messiah <GERWALK Mode> ["GU-17A Gatling Gun Pod" -> 179, "ROV-127C Beam Vulcans" -> 177, "VF-25F Bulletproof Shield" -> 618]
FPT: Lightly Loaded Bonus=18 ["CIMM-3A Micro-missile Launchers" -> 1156, "GU-17A Gatling Gun Pod" -> 179, "ROV-127C Beam Vulcans" -> 177, "VF-25F Bulletproof Shield" -> 618]
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
The terrible screech echoes throughout the tunnels. Alto winces a
little as the speakers in his cockpit transmit the horrible cry. An unknown
terror starts to creep into his heart.
He's never heard anything like that before. Not in all his missions
hunting the Vajra.
The Messiah stops at an intersection in the tunnels. Alerts begin
popping up on Alto's screens as his system detects more and more Vajra
approaching from multiple directions. This is not good! He starts to back up
the way he came just a little.
Alto doesn't get far though as the approaching Vajra begin to open fire
with their bio-machine guns. The Messiah raises its left arm, bringing the
attached shield up in front of it. A circular barrier of energy appears just
behind the shield, the pin-point barrier starting to block a lot of the shots.
It doesn't manage to stop all of the bullets though, some getting around its
edge to clip the outer parts of the Battroid.
Alto grunts under the assault, backing up faster now while keeping the
barrier pointed towards the swarming Vajra, <"This isn't good... Something's
changed. We need to regroup and-">
Canaria's alert and Kaworu's warning definitely put Alto on edge, far
more than the unusual behaviour of the Vajra, <"Ranka!? Ranka, what's
wrong!?"> He doesn't get an immediate response though.
Alto swears as he spins his machine around amidst the hail of
bio-gunfire from the swarming Vajra. The Messiah quickly separates into
multiple pieces, electromagnetic forces rearranging them as it transforms into
GERWALK mode. The engines its feet light up and the half-plane half-robot
rapidly accelerates, starting to fly back through the tunnel and back track
towards the surface. As he goes, he calls out, <"Fall back!">
As Alto maneuvers his Messiah through the tight spaces, his rear view
shows the Vajra chasing him through the tunnel. He targets them with the beam
vulcans just behind the cockpit, the two long turret barrels folding over to
point behind the VF and starts to rapid fire blue bolts into the pursuing
Mobile Soldiers.
KTS: Alto Saotome targets Kaiju Navi with Beam Vulcan Tracking Shot! KTS: Kaiju Navi engages block against Alto Saotome's Beam Vulcan Tracking Shot! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully blocks Alto Saotome's Beam Vulcan Tracking Shot, taking 1200 damage! <Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
"A song of victory to fight the bugs... Deculture is amazing..."
Serinas agrees when the 'bug-killing song' is mentioned.
And then a blast comes out of nowhere, she can't tell from where, and
she's surrounded by bugs in the now-weathered Queadluun suit. She's
immediately unloading with the beam cannons and gatling lasers again, trying
to get them some space. <"Ranka! No way, are the Vajra attacking her
somehow?!">
Alto calls for a retreat. Serinas nods, <"I concur. I'll help make an
exit, someone watch our backs!"> She turns and chases after Skull-4 in the
Meltrandi mecha, helping watch his back and spraying laser fire over any
bugs he misses!
KTS: Serinas Nikola's In the Zone activates! KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Kaiju Navi with LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers Sustained Fire!
KTS: Kaiju Navi engages guard against Serinas Nikola's LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers Sustained Fire!
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Force Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully guards Serinas Nikola's LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers Sustained Fire, taking 2400 damage! <Pose Tracker> Rose Tritten has posed.
The blast rips through the cavern, engulfing the trio and shaking their ZAKU
Warriors. Paint is scorched away as the seismic compensator grips fire into
the rock, keeping the three Mobile Suits on their feet.
"What the hell was that?" Sushila said, as Rose switched the ZAKU's thermals
on, the mobile suits of her two friends lighting up the scope. "I don't know
but we'd better take them out and quick!" Rose ordered. More glowing shapes,
chittering and crawling began to approach them. Rose deployed her Beam
Tomahawk, and started swinging.
KTS: Rose Tritten targets Kaiju Navi with Beam Tomahawk Combo!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Lucine feels a flush of pride in herself and the team, as the amount of
nests is wittled down. < "... Good. I'm sure Ranka will appreciate it too." >
The line is said with some humor, outlining her own concern, but, Lucine
hopes, acknowledging Ranka's efforts as well.
Unseen, Lucine's yellow eyes widen. Danger calls, but from what
direction?
< "... Something's happening." > Lucine's poor sense of timing strikes
again; her vague warning is issued moments before Ranka's song cuts out.
The next minutes may be more up to luck or a pilot's own sense of
defensive positioning and measures than any foresight Lucine may have provided.
Lucine certainly doesn't benefit from it, though Kaworu's assessment is
partially correct: she nimbly dodges one round of missiles, but the next
catches her against a cave wall, with no way to evade it in time. The Dianthus
sparks, but Lucine breathes, steeling her resolve. < "... It wouldn't be the
first time the Vajra have turned the tables on us. Ranka will be likely
counting on us to pull through." > She manages to keep the waver out of her
voice as she likewise disregards the Dianthus's warning bells.
".... We've pulled through worse, Didi," she says now, to her unit
alone. "You're not down for the count yet."
There is no answer, but none is expected.
She flips her radio back on. < ".... Liam, cover me. Orion Shot's never
let me down yet!!" > If Liam is able to respond, Lucine will brace the
Dianthus against Dilanza Sol, taking out the Argen-21 Beam Arbalest and
letting it charge to its maximum level as she carefully aims.
< "Bullseye!" >
A bright magenta beam shoots out from the Dianthus, aiming to tear a
hole in the pursuing swarm of Vajra.
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained proficiency bonus.
KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with Argen-21 Beam Arbalest Orion Shot!
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
<"Are you new here?"> Liam asks. He doesn't recognize that machine. (He
recognizes the Tritten Team's ZAKUs from Junius Seven, but for some reason,
he's keeping them in his periphery as much as possible. That design is still
hard for him to look at.) <"What's your name?">
Kaworu deserves an answer, and Liam gives him one, over a tightband to
Unit Beta. <"Feels wrong,"> he says. <"And that feels wrong because this
might be what we need to save people's lives."> It's an uneasy contradiction,
made even worse in the wake of the murder of millions. Every innocent life, no
matter how abstract it feels relative to him, matters so much more.
The horrid screech echoes down the tunnels. Sudden, icy fear shoots
down Liam's spine. Immediately, the Vajra snap out of the spell they've been
under; the cluster of soldiers he'd marked as his next targets opens fire,
sending a spray of missiles their way. "<Lu, Kaworu!>" Liam shouts, and it
feels like the words don't come out fast enough. The Dilanza Sol sets its
heels and braces, its shields swinging together with a solid CLANG. Missile
fire slams into the armored barrier, chewing into the metal. When the barrage
dies down, the shields are scarred and pitted, but still in one piece--for
now. The rest of the Dilanza is scored, here and there, by stray shrapnel.
Liam sits bolt upright as Canaria's transmission cuts through. He can
hear Ranka screaming in pain and terror in the background, plain as day. The
Dianthus takes a bad hit.
"<Lu,>" Liam says, urgently--it takes effort to keep himself from
screaming it--and the Dilanza Sol jets forward, roll-dashing across the
irregular surface of the lava tube. It sweeps in front of the Dianthus,
ignites the beam bayonet on the end of its rifle, and stabs it at the lead
Vajra in a single maneuver. "<Roger,>" Liam transmits back, "<Stay behind me.>"
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Kaiju Navi with Bayonet Charge! KTS: Liam 7-020's Tactical Intelligence activates Focus! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to engage guard against Rose Tritten's Beam Tomahawk Combo!
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Rose Tritten's Beam Tomahawk Combo, taking 2480 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to engage evade against Lucine Azul's Argen-21 Beam Arbalest Orion Shot!
KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Lucine Azul's Argen-21 Beam Arbalest Orion Shot, taking 5325 damage!
KTS: Lucine Azul completes the Formation attack! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to engage evade against Liam 7-020's Bayonet Charge! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Liam 7-020's Bayonet Charge, taking 1800 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
A large bug soldier runs right into Shinn's beam sabers... and survives. It
keeps attacking, trying to grab on with its remaining five legs even as one is
shorn off by the force of the beam saber. It's very angry, it would seem.
Relentless. Even injury doesn't slow it down until it's dead.
And it does get more crowded.
Micro missiles blast back at a Vajra, as Kaworu's Unit Beta inverts the AT
Field.
Falling back may be a wise idea. But the Vajra keep chasing after Alto and the
others, too. Two turrets fire blue bolts into Mobile Soldiers, and they take
them head-on without even stopping, though at least momentum and the laws of
physics mean that Alto gains some distance in the process. Luckily, Serinas
hits the same ones, and one explodes violently!!
Just one, though.
Rose's trio is able to bash down another, despite the resistance to her beam
tomahawk. Sheer force and determination are enough in this.
Liam and Lucine take on another, together, and the lead Vajra is only barely
fazed by Liam's bayonet--but is punched through by Lucine's Beam Arbalest.
However...
More swarm out still, and larger Vajra, though none of the truly gigantic
ones yet--a Heavy Soldier is crwling out of the lava turbes.
The one Lucine destroyed makes a parting shot, exploding on Liam and Lucine
both in an array of bio-beams.
The Mobile Soldieres rapidly start to advance, however. The Rose trio take a
few shots that become many more, as a few converge on them. And Alto gets
three Mobile Soldiers rushing ahead straight for him. Serinas is not spared;
the armored claws of one crash towards her, trying to knock her out of the
air outright.
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Shinn Asuka with Vajra Armored Claws Six-Legged Grab! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Lucine Azul with Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Liam 7-020 with Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Alto Saotome with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Converge! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Rose Tritten with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Rapid Advance! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Serinas Nikola with Vajra Armored Claws Heavy Impact!
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
While Kaworu, with his magical AT Field, gets a terrible tearing shot of
bio-electrical force aimed for center mass!!
KTS: Shinn Asuka engages charge against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Six-Legged Grab!
KTS: Shinn Asuka's Physical Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Critical Hit! Shinn Asuka poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Six-Legged Grab, taking 2760 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Kaworu Nagisa with Vajra Bio-Cannon Tearing Shot! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa engages guard against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Tearing Shot!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Critical Hit! Kaworu Nagisa poorly guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Tearing Shot, taking 2835 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Rose Tritten engages evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Rapid Advance!
KTS: Critical Hit! Rose Tritten poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Rapid Advance, taking 4840 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained proficiency bonus.
KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Can't find an attack from Kaiju. KTS: Alto Saotome engages evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Converge!
KTS: Alto Saotome's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Critical Hit! Alto Saotome poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Converge, taking 4440 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle!
<Pose Tracker> Shinn Asuka has posed.
The tunnels are making the whole swordplay thing a little tricky. Shinn takes a
deep breath, finding a opening in the ceiling to back up near. "Right! I need
the Blast Silhouette! This is going to be a little more destructive than I
anticipated." Shinn quickly docks the Excaliburs and watches the Silhouette
fly off as Shinn keeps himself defended with a anti-armor knife. This bug is
being a real pain the ass.
Within moments, the blast gear locks onto the Impulse and docks quickly, giving
the Gundam a pair of very large guns. "Ok. Aim for the tunnels and trap some
of these stupid bugs in the holes. That's easy enough for even me!"
Shinn hears the concerned Liam blinking a little as he focuses on all of the
bugs. <"It's my first bug hunt if that's what you mean...Uhhh, not that this
is a great time for introductions but I'm Shinn Asuka. I'm from ZAFT special
forces."> Shinn swings up the Kerberos cannons, aiming them toward THAT bug or
possibly something that could cut off an entrance without stranding someone.
KTS: Shinn Asuka targets Kaiju Navi with Beam Cannon Medium Power! KTS: Shinn Asuka has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Liam 7-020's The Hound activates! KTS: Liam 7-020 fails to engage guard against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct!
KTS: Critical Hit! Liam 7-020 poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct, taking 6960 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Shinn Asuka has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Serinas Nikola fails to engage evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Heavy Impact!
KTS: Critical Hit! Serinas Nikola poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Heavy Impact, taking 4290 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Kaiju Navi repulses Serinas Nikola, preventing her from Charging the next attack!
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
It's not beyond Kaworu's notice that Liam responds to him via
tightband, to make sure only the two of them hear what he has to say. <"It's
difficult, isn't it?"> he says with quiet sympathy. <"As long as two species
cannot coexist, one must face extinction for the other to survive. It is...
unfortunate.">
He listens too to Liam's conversation with Shinn, though he doesn't
weigh in. The Dianthus takes a hit and nearly crumples as a result. Liam moves
to defend her, though, as she requests. Kaworu smiles to see their
coordination. Love is so beautiful.
There's little time to admire it, though. The Vajra continue to warm in
towards and around them, and bigger and more powerful ones at that. Kaworu
lifts his chin to gaze at a spot in space again, before that bio-electrical
blast fires towards Unit Beta's central mass. Her A.T. Field mitigates some of
it, but closed quarters with mixed company as it is, some of it gets past. She
writhes as it impacts her, and Kaworu hunches over in sympathetic pain within
her entry plug.
<"...how unpleasant. But Ranka must be suffering far more,"> he
murmurs. <"This will not do...">
Unit Beta raises an elegant hand, silver hair akew around her. Light
shimmers iridescent orange for a brief instant, before her A.T. Field forms a
barrier that smashes into that Heavy Soldier crawling out to join the fray
in an attempt to force it back into the tunnels--even crush it.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Kaiju Navi with Rejection!
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
~*Elsewhere...*~
Grace's readouts are suddenly filled with anomalous spiking of the data, as she
looks over them with a scientist's analytical mind and the intense processing
speed of her brain, until something clicks.
"Doctor Kafim... she always did have an interest in our Little Queen."
"It would seem your failure to handle her has now endangered the experiment." A
Galaxy executive points out to her.
At that however, Grace smirks, "There is no danger. If she desired to get rid
of LQ then she would hardly need to resort to methods so indirect."
"Is that your professional analysis?"
"Call it my expert opinion..." She smiles, "...honestly she has my gratitude
for adding this new variable to our experiment."
-=-=-
Ranka cannot answer, does not answer, there is a long prolonged keening noise
and...
...it's not in her ears. She couldn't articulate it if she tried, it's like
it's some place, deeper. Her abdomen feels like it's writhing, while her head
pounds, like something was carrying through.
Carnaria, Alto, Serinas and others call out to her and it's like she both hears
it and can't as her lips form a long keening whine.
This aural horror feels... isolating in a sense, like it's trying to shut out
the rest of the world from her, and succeeding.
However...
This girl who was once too timid to entertain the thought of singing in front
of other people, who needed others to coax her into trying has changed over
the past two years.
And as she looks up through watery eyes, through the haze of static, she sees
something, like a distant pale blue dot.
For a moment, it's like even if she can't hear him, she feels him, and further
still beyond that...
... reminders. Reasons. As isolated as she feels right now, she has two of
them. Her mouth moves, and she can't even hear the words she's saying.
"What do you mean turn around!? Ranka the Vajra are going crazy! You're in no
state to do anything!"
Ranka's lips form more words.
I.
Have.
To.
Sing.
Carnaria stays the course for a few more moments, before making one long noise,
over the comms, things were sounding terrible, but, "You have thirty seconds
to turn this around, before I turn this around."
The Monster begins to loop back around towards the tunnels, even as the
Variable Fighters fall back to try and get out of them.
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
<"Oh no you d--"> Serinas blasts the mobile soldier point-blank with
everything to make it back off, but it doesn't work -- the Queadluun unit is
slammed to the ground, armor cracking and breaking, Serinas grunting in pain
as she's rattled in the cockpit. Unfortunately, the bigger they are the harder
they fall applies against her inside her machine, when she's macronized like
this!
Coordinator mind racing ahead, she has the anti-ship cannon blow
through the Soldier's arm to free herself, but the damage is done. At this
rate...
No time for extraneous thoughts. Find the path to victory. Dash this
way -- the Vajra can't keep her out of the air until they disable the suit,
really -- knee here. Rake with claws and lasers, kick back, dash to next,
repeat, she doesn't have to finish them all, just knock them back long enough
for her and the others to get away!
KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Serinas Nikola uses hyper reloader KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Kaiju Navi with LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers Execution!
KTS: Rose Tritten has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Rose Tritten has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul fails to engage evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct!
KTS: Critical Hit! Lucine Azul poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct, taking 6960 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Shinn Asuka's Beam Cannon Medium Power! KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Shinn Asuka's Beam Cannon Medium Power, taking 3600 damage!
KTS: Shinn Asuka bypasses Kaiju Navi, preventing its from Guarding the next attack!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to engage evade against Kaworu Nagisa's Rejection! KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Kaworu Nagisa's Rejection, taking 3330 damage!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa rattles Kaiju Navi, making its next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to engage charge against Serinas Nikola's LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers Execution!
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Force Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Serinas Nikola's LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers Execution, taking 3750 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Alto's breathing is rapidly rising as he maneuvers his machine through
the tight corridors at a speed well above the far saner choice of 'walking'.
All while Vajra are chasing behind him.
No, not just behind him.
Alto's system alerts him of more Vajra approaching from intersecting
tunnels ahead. He can't slow down now, if he does he'll be completely
surrounded!
Alto rapidly manipulates the pedals at his feet while he janks the
flight stick around. The Messiah's legs kick around behind it, engine flare
bursting out of their feet. The craft twists and turns through converging
Vajra, managing to avoid some of them.
But the last one slams into the Messiah, knocking it into the side of
the tunnel. The VF scrapes along the rocky wall, energy-conversion armor
keeping the craft from being torn to shreds as it continues to rocket through
the tunnel.
As rocky wall rushes past the canopy, just feet from Alto's cockpit, he
holds the cockpit back from being crushed using the shield on his left arm.
With the right arm. Alto moves grab at the knife slotted into said shield.
Drawing it he starts rapidly stabbing into the Vajra that's keeping him jammed
against the wall.
KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Alto Saotome targets Kaiju Navi with AK/VF-M9 Assault Knife Slash!
<Pose Tracker> Rose Tritten has posed.
The mass begins to overwhelm the ZAKU Warriors, the slamming of their
appendages rocking the cockpits of the three girls more and more.
"I hate fighting bugs I hate fighting bugs I FREAKIN HATE FIGHTING BUGS!!!"
Aspyn shrieks as her beam axe whips at the chittering mass.
"We should get the heck out of here!" Sushila adds, as her beam cannon smashes
through the mass once more.
But could they? Rose whipped her tomahawk at another warrior, bringing it down,
but yet another was approaching to take its place.
"Sushila Max output your cannon into the biggest one! Aspyn and I will follow
up!"
"I'm not blowing myself up again!" Sushila hissed back.
"Not that high!" Rose snapped, "We're gonna try and Alpha Strike them!"
Rose and Aspyn Slammed their thrusters, forcing a warrior each into the walls
as Sushila's cannon began to light up...
KTS: Rose Tritten targets Kaiju Navi with Anti-Ship Formation Alpha!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
< "Yes!!" > The combined shot makes it through, filling Lucine with a
heady rush of exhilaration. What comes next, however, is the explosion of what
explains, landing squarely on the two of them despite the Dianthus attempting
to dodge backwards.
The warning bells are even louder now in the Dianthus cockpit, as if
shaming Lucine for not holding up to her end of the bargain.
< "Health is extremely low. I'm going to let loose an attack that'll
give me and Liam a chance to double back. Use it to your advantage." > The
waver in Lucine's voice is noticable, but she still keeps firm. < "... This
one's a new one, designed by me. I'm rather proud of how it performed in
tests." >
Tests won't matter if the real thing it was designed for doesn't hold
true.
The glowing 'crown' atop the Dianthus's head projects a cloud of
spreading particles, catching light in a distracting and confusing way for
anyone caught up in it, Vajra or no. The shots that pierce through it will
make it even harder to trace, arcing around from multiple sides to keep from
telling which side is up, or what direction to go towards or away from.
< "Liam, now!" >
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained proficiency bonus.
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with Lunate Crown v.2 Cloud Forest! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to engage evade against Alto Saotome's AK/VF-M9 Assault Knife Slash!
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Physical Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Alto Saotome's AK/VF-M9 Assault Knife Slash, taking 2100 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Rose Tritten's Anti-Ship Formation Alpha! KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Rose Tritten's Anti-Ship Formation Alpha, taking 4950 damage!
KTS: Rose Tritten bypasses Kaiju Navi, preventing its from Guarding the next attack!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Lucine Azul's Lunate Crown v.2 Cloud Forest! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Lucine Azul's Lunate Crown v.2 Cloud Forest, taking 2580 damage!
KTS: Lucine Azul rattles Kaiju Navi, making its next maneuvers more difficult. <Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Shinn Asuka, then, from ZAFT Special Forces. If they survive the next
ten or so minutes, it will be nice to have met him.
The explosion hits at point-blank range. Liam has steadied his machine,
and kept the shields at the ready, but the force is overwhelming, regardless.
Armor shreds off the Dilanza's front; a shield groans with a tearing-metal
noise, and snaps free, flying across the cavern. Liam rocks back from the
impact, and when his machine stabilizes--a harrowing few seconds later--he's
breathing, heavily.
Lucine says she has something to get them out of here. Liam grunts in
acknowledgment--it feels like there's no time for words, for him--and floors
the accelerator. The Dilanza Sol 'skates' around the Dianthus, putting itself
between the lighter, smaller machine, and more Vajra--and then charging.
Liam levels the bayonet, and tries to RIP clean through one of the Mobile
Soldiers before they can swarm Lucine.
KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Kaiju Navi with Bayonet Crash! KTS: Liam 7-020's Tactical Intelligence activates Trick! KTS: Kaiju Navi engages guard against Liam 7-020's Bayonet Crash! KTS: Kaiju Navi moderately guards Liam 7-020's Bayonet Crash, taking 4930 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
Isolating. There is much going on that is isolating.
Kaworu is willing to deal with unpleasantness, it would seem, and elegantly
rejects the Heavy Soldier. Thanks to his intervention, that Vajra will be
stuck instead of out trying to kill them. While Serinas is still doing her
best in her mobile suit at least, freeing herself with a blast of her
anti-ship cannon. Serinas's weapons are powerful, and her aim is good, but
the adaptation of the Vajra is simply effective enough that her attack is only
half as powerful as it could be.
Shinn, in the meantime, handles matters very destructively. The tunnel
collapses on a group of Vajra, preventing them from continuing to chase him
for the moment, and if they can dig their way out, it won't be immediately.
Alto stabs into a Vajra!! While it's only a small weapon on mobile suit
terms, it manages to shear off the leg that was holding Alto's VF in place,
and that's enough for him to get free. The ZAKU Warriors meanwhile do not
like fighting bugs, but are good at it. The cannon ERUPTS with damage, and
one of the larger Vajra chasing them EXPLODES outright!!
Lucine's strnage particles don't hurt as much as they could, but their
secondary effect is quite useful--the shots that come after it are less
intent, less well-focused than before.
Finally, Liam rips through another warrior, just in time to spare Lucine
another blast.
For now. But the frenzy is not over, and the tunnels stretch on. Machine guns
/rip into the air, peppering Lucine's Dianthus and Liam's Dilanza Sol with
bio-bullets. Alto gets a swarm of bio-missiles from more that start emerging
from the folds of the tunnels.
Serinas gets one attempting to CRUSH her outright all in one go, and while it
probably doesn't understand that she's Macronized in there, it's a dangerous
attack nevertheless.
Shinn has very large guns. He'll need them, because one of the larger Vajra
manages to free a cannon from the tunnel and FIRES it straight at him!
A swarm tries to go after Rose, Aspyn, and Sushila next, after her great shot.
The blasts they fire are hard to avoid with sheer volume.
The one Alto freed himself of CHARGES, aiming to self-destruct right on top of
him!! While Kaworu's Heavy Soldier, mostly covered by the rubble, manages to
get free one claw--
But that's not the attack. The attack is three more swarming reckelssly!!
KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Liam 7-020 with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage! KTS: Lucine Azul's Morning Star activates! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Lucine Azul with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Serinas Nikola with Vajra Armored Claws Sharpened Crush! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Shinn Asuka with Vajra Bio-Cannon Charged Assault! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Rose Tritten with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Fire! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Kaworu Nagisa with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Reckless Stream!
KTS: Alto Saotome's Here Is The Warm Sea activates! KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Alto Saotome with Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct! KTS: Shinn Asuka fails to engage Charge against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Charged Assault!
KTS: Critical Hit! Shinn Asuka poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Charged Assault, taking 6120 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Kaiju Navi roots its unit, coming to a standstill and leaving it vulnerable.
KTS: Liam 7-020 fails to engage evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage!
KTS: Liam 7-020 successfully reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage, taking 3296 damage!
KTS: Alto Saotome engages evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct!
KTS: Alto Saotome's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Critical Hit! Alto Saotome poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct, taking 5830 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Rose Tritten engages evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Fire!
KTS: Critical Hit! Rose Tritten poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm Fire, taking 4080 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Kaworu Nagisa engages guard against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Reckless Stream!
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa's Will Barrier activates, negating 1500 base damage. KTS: Critical Hit! Kaworu Nagisa poorly guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Reckless Stream, taking 3224 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle! KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Lucine Azul engages evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage!
KTS: Lucine Azul poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping Barrage, taking 3392 damage!
KTS: Lucine Azul has been defeated!
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Despite the profound sense of isolation, the harm of this strange assault
trying to distract her with pain, Ranka's more focused now, even if it's just
on this sensation of color, blue, and pink...
Alto...
Someone in danger, this very moment, as the Vajra go berserk. And further
still...
Sheryl...
Somehow she knows she's out there. She can't say how she knows. Call it
'intuition' or call it simply the two people she can 'feel' through the Noise.
As painful, and frightening as it is.
She resolved to do this for them. Shakily, Ranka reaches out, and hits the
button that plays the Melody for the song, even if she can't hear it.
It doesn't matter.
She knows the timing perfectly by heart. Not because she likes this song. Not
because she wants to sing it - but because she needs to sing it.
Ai~mo
aimo
nedel
lushe
It's like something impossible at first, her mouth forms the words, and she
can't even feel the music flow forth through it, it's like her sense of
hearing is just, gone, it's like she's singing through some strange swamp of
static.
"-toll the bells of victory,
"For this place is my new planet."
... but it gets easier as it goes, as Ranka sings, without hearing. Blind to
everything but feeling that reminder of what she's doing beyond. She sings,
and the Vajra suddenly move from this strange frenzy, to subtle hesitation.
"Aimo aimo nedel lushe
"Now wave our flags above our heads,
"For this place is the new land of God."
Carnaria looks behind her and mouths, 'The hell?' impressed, but also confused,
what happened? But even if Ranka herself can't hear it, the rest of them do.
They all do, as she sings through this odd isolating interference.
"Go forward, to the frontier,
"While embracing your proud name.
"Fly away, to the frontier,
"And awaken your dormant power."
"<I'm not sure what's going on, she still looks like she's suffering... but
she's pulling it off.>"
And more and more do the Vajra respond...
KTS: Ranka Lee targets Kaiju Navi with Designate L2! KTS: Kaiju Navi accepts Ranka Lee's Designate L2! KTS: Ranka Lee designates Kaiju Navi, making it easier to target and opening it to indirect fire.
KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Ranka Lee's Designate L2, taking 0 damage!
KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Alto Saotome KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Alto Saotome
<Pose Tracker> Shinn Asuka has posed.
Making note of his progress on burying the Vajra, Shinn keeps focus loose as he
scans for more loose rock. He is doing pretty well until a certain jerk
manages to dig out a cannon. The Impulse Gundam doesn't have a lot of
maneuverability down here.
Shinn quickly takes defensive manuvers, leaping toward a rock to take some of
the blast. Still the blast burns Impulse's outer armor, holding up due to the
Variable Phase Shift Armor. Still Shinn takes a deep breath, bracing as he
lets out a string of expletives.
After a moment, the Impulse Gundam begins to move again, swinging around before
cannons this time as it begins to charge it's next assault. "So you want to
have a gun fight do you?! WELL LET'S GO!" The Impulse Gundam digs its feet in,
locking onto the big soldier with the cannon. "HAVE A TASTE OF THIS!!!" Shinn
pulls back on the trigger, letting out a blinding beam of power as Shinn Asuka
fires a powerful anti-ship weapon at an individual bug. That's the Shinn Asuka
difference.
He breaths heavily, starting to really like hearing that song. It meant that
they were still alive.
KTS: Shinn Asuka's Resurgence L3 activates! KTS: Shinn Asuka targets Kaiju Navi with Beam Cannon Full Power! KTS: Shinn Asuka's Resurgence L3 activates! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Shinn Asuka's Beam Cannon Full Power! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Shinn Asuka's Beam Cannon Full Power, taking 4260 damage!
KTS: Shinn Asuka roots his unit, coming to a standstill and leaving him vulnerable.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Alto rapidly advances through the tunnel now that he's been freed
again. He's starting to see natural light ahead...
... But the Vajra aren't giving up. Their bio-missiles streak in, Alto
once more twisting and turning his VF through the tunnel as the guided weapons
explode against the tunnel walls around him, shaking them. He's almost made
it...
The Mobile Soldier that Alto had escaped from comes rushing up from
behind, starting to glow with golden light. Alto's eyes widen as it rapidly
closes in on him.
On the surface, the entrance into the tunnel that Alto's currently in
unleashes a burst of flame from an explosion, before moments later the Messiah
comes blasting out of the cloud of fire. Its armor is heavily scorched and
slagged across multiple points. But the VF is still flying and now once more
above ground! The tunnel collapses behind Alto a moment later, stopping at
least those ones from following him.
But they're not the only ones.
As Alto rises up into the air, he notices the Koenig Monster is still
nearby. He frowns, asking, <"Ranka!? Why are you still here? Canaria, get out
of here...">
That won't be easy though, not with the Vajra swarming up out of the
tunnels in a frenzy. Surely they'd be able to catch up to the lumbering
Monster.
And then Ranka starts singing again. She's determined not to give up...
But as much as Alto wants to believe in her, this situation...
Beneath Alto's flight suit, the crystal hanging from his neck softly
glows unseen.
Alto can feel some of the terror of the situation fading...
<"Damnit!">
The Messiah comes to a stop, spinning around in the air to face down
towards the various tunnel entrances below. Already the Vajra are beginning to
follow out of them. Alto calls out, <"Everyone, get out of there and seal the
entrances! If we can't kill them all then we'll bury them!">
Alto activates the missile targeting system again, this time not only
locking on to all the Vajra rushing out into his view, but he also starts
tagging the tunnel entrances, only avoiding those that others on the team are
still escaping from.
Alto presses the trigger.
All of the Messiah's FAST Pack micro-missile launchers open this time.
Dozens of small missiles rush outwards, smoke trails blossoming behind them.
They dance through the air, some weaving their way towards the Vajra that are
heading up towards the Messiah and the Monster. Others close in towards the
tunnel openings, trying to explode inside and around them, breaking apart the
rock and causing cave-ins to fill the tunnels in at least part way.
KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Alto Saotome has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Alto Saotome targets Kaiju Navi with CIMM-3A Micro-missile Launchers Swarm Barrage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Alto Saotome's CIMM-3A Micro-missile Launchers Swarm Barrage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Physical Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Alto Saotome's CIMM-3A Micro-missile Launchers Swarm Barrage, taking 3564 damage!
KTS: Serinas Nikola fails to engage evade against Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Sharpened Crush!
KTS: Critical Hit! Serinas Nikola poorly reacts to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Sharpened Crush, taking 6480 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Ace Attacker activates, causing Insight L1! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Kaiju Navi's Defiance activates, causing Sparkle!
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Isolation... Yes. This time, this city will be polluted by 2000 light
years of rain. That is its final destiny.
But Sheryl Nome isn't here to sing of such things. It's Ranka Lee here
instead, who insists on Canaria bringing her back to the battlefield, who
insists on raising her voice again to interfere with the Vajra. The change is
palpable, visible and audible to anyone who looks and hears. Kaworu's smile is
gone entirely now. Even so, he will not let Ranka's efforts go to waste.
As the Heavy Soldier struggles to free itself, three more of its
compatriots rush in to attack, claws slashing towards Unit Beta. The closed
quarters mean Unit Beta can only continue to hold her ground, and while her
A.T. Field mitigates some of the attack, there are many of them coming in from
multiple angles cleaving into her armor.
Still, Unit Beta is far from the worst off. Lucine and the Dianthus are
having a terrible time. Kaworu can only leave her to Liam--but he knows that
Liam would stop at nothing to keep her from harm, so there's no need to fear.
Alto issues orders to the group, telling them to get out and seal the
entrances so they can bury the Vajra. It's a sensible course of action, so
Kaworu transmits back, <"Understood. Ranka wants us all to leave here alive.">
To honor her wishes is what he's here to do, so he'll do precisely
that. Guiding Unit Beta backwards, Kaworu provides cover for the others to the
extent that they're willing to accept. Shimmering radiance follows Unit Beta,
the expression of the light of her heart, to act as that cover.
Once everyone has gotten closer to the exit, that light shoots back
into the tunnels and twists, shearing down volcanic rock in its wake. It
may shear into the Vajra too, just before joining in with the others' missiles
and beams and whatnot to collapse those tunnels--though, helpfully and perhaps
noteworthy considering it would seem to defy logic and physics, that collapse
won't happen until after Alto and everyone have fully retreated.
KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Enable Spirit Command. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa has activated the Attune Spirit Command. KTS: Kaworu Nagisa targets Kaiju Navi with Longing!
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
Why do they keep trying to squish her?! What is this strange, bug
obsession with squishing peop-- oh. In the alternate timeline where her mother
became a pilot instead, Lani would have to agree that that is kind of fair.
But this isn't that timeline, and Serinas isn't the type to make jokes like
that at death's door.
Neither of them would extend any fairness or kindness to the Vajra.
Serinas dives to the side but again the Vajra is faster than she ever
expected, claws coming down with a terrible CRACK. The cowl and the top of the
'shoulders' are crunched in, and the Queadluun-Rhea's 'mask' is broken
through, pieces falling apart and revealing Serinas's head, curled forward so
the claw is stopped feet away from her skull by modern engineering.
Serinas remembers piloting Queadluun-Raus in the belt, while she was
learning. Has seen some accidents where another pilot crashed into an asteroid
or industial equipment, none fatal thank goodness, but she knows how resilient
they are, and if she'd been in one of those, she would be paste now.
Thank goodness for technology. And human engineers prioritizing the
life of pilots.
Her machine ducks and jukes to the side, Serinas staring up at the bug
in shock, turning to anger.
Kill, kill, kill! She's fighting for her life, now!
There's no time to think, only to escape, and kill anything that
absolutely prevents that.
Once she's out, a swarm of high-maneuverability micro-missiles assists
Alto's in collapsing the entrances!
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Bio-bullets rip the air.
Lucine tries to evade, complimenting Liam's Dilanza Sol's own
movements, but despite her smaller size, the tighter quarters leave little
room for the the Dianthus to effectively avoid the complete spread of
firepower.
The Dianthus sparks and crashes onto the cave wall floor. The angle the
Dianthus is at makes it awkward to stay in her seat, but she doesn't unbuckle
herself just yet. The ground outside is thankfully not magma, but it is
swarming with Vajra, so it's not that much safer to traverse on foot.
< ".... It knocked my flight function. I'm a sitting duck here now." >
The emergency lighting colors Lucine's face red. < "... Damn it... Liam, I'll
need to rely on you or someone else to get out of here." >
She's not panicking, because she knows she won't be left behind, and
Liam's much larger Dilanza Sol is right there in case the Vajra come in to
peel her right out. The frustration of having to be carried out still stings,
however.
She feels isolated, helpless. She can't hold her calm for much longer,
trapped like this. Hitting her closed fist against the side arm of her cockpit
seat, Lucine shuts her eyes, hearing the combat around her.
Ai~mo
aimo
nedel
lushe
< ".... Ranka..." > It's hard to effectively sense whatever part of
Ranka's heart may be out there in the ether, but the heart in her song speaks
for itself, at least, to Lucine. She has no idea why Ranka stopped, or if it's
more her nerves and paranoia talking than an actual reason to be worried.
Alto gives the orders to withdraw. It may not be under her own power,
but Lucine, hearing Ranka's song, feels some connection again.
Kaworu is right. < ".... Alright. Please, be careful, Skull-4." >
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Kaworu Nagisa's Longing! KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Kaworu Nagisa's Longing, taking 4875 damage!
KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Kaiju Navi with High-Maneuverability Missiles Itano Circus!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to engage intercept against Serinas Nikola's High-Maneuverability Missiles Itano Circus!
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Physical Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Serinas Nikola's High-Maneuverability Missiles Itano Circus, taking 4560 damage! <Pose Tracker> Rose Tritten has posed.
Like the rain from a pouring typhoon, the swarming fire hails down on the trio,
burning into the servos and pistons while drilling into the armour paneling
and beginning to make the ZAKU's resemble a trio of colanders. They continue
to retreat, hurling waist armour mounted grenades and spraying beam fire into
the advancing horde. Rose's trigger finger starts to burn like the barrel tips
of their beam machine guns.
Then, Ranka's song begins to play again. Will they at the very least, get out
alive?
The three continue to wage a fighting retreat, grinding their way back towards
an exit. As they exit, the girls give one final burst of fire.
KTS: Rose Tritten has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Rose Tritten targets Kaiju Navi with Formation Attack Pattern Epsilon!
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Another spray of fire rips through the cavern. The Dilanza Sol fires
its jets and jukes to the side. Only Liam's hair-trigger reflexes keep it from
being sliced to pieces from the hail of bio-bullet fire. Armor shreds off its
right arm, leg, and side, revealing the superstructure beneath. It lands with
a heavy crunch as one of the leg servos gives out. Warnings blare in the
cockpit, bathing Liam in red light. He takes a deep breath, and refocuses--
Lucine, Liam thinks, horror spiking through his mind. He watches the
Dianthus take that hit, lost for a moment in awful uncertainty. The smaller
machine comes to an awkward, violent stop against the wall, and the Dilanza
Sol reaches for it, trying to hoist it up with its left hand.
"<I've got you, Lu," he says, as the bigger Mobile Suit manages to
sling the smaller one over its forearm. It's undignified. But it's the best he
can do with one functional arm. The Dilanza spins about, and Liam hits the
jets. Its missile launchers swivel partway, targeting the Vajra coming at them
from the sides. "<Understood, Skull-4. Clearing out with Dianthus in tow.>"
Ranka's singing again. Liam never thought he'd be grateful to hear that
jingoistic garbage, but here he is. A moment later, missiles streak into the
cavern, peppering the enemy with fire.
KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Kaiju Navi with Split Missile! KTS: Liam 7-020's Tactical Intelligence activates Focus! KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to engage evade against Rose Tritten's Formation Attack Pattern Epsilon!
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Beam Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Rose Tritten's Formation Attack Pattern Epsilon, taking 2916 damage!
KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to engage intercept against Liam 7-020's Split Missile! KTS: Kaiju Navi's Physical Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage. KTS: Best Defense! Kaiju Navi successfully reacts to Liam 7-020's Split Missile, taking 2250 damage!
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
Shinn lets out a powerful ship weapon, as is Shinn's way. Even through their
beam resistance, this one splats an individual Vajra, powerful enough that
it simply deletes the enemy outright.
But three more take its place.
Alto calls the retreat. dozens of missiles start to collapse the caverns, and
while indidivudally few hit the Vajra, the tunnels start coming down all
right. But there's still la matter of escaping.
Kaowru shoots that light into the tunnels, and indeed, someone will notice
that way that that force doesn't start collapsing the tunnel until the right
moment.
Serinas is in trouble, but her missiles rock the entrances even more.
Everything shakes. And she kills.
Lucine can't know all the details... But she has friends to help her. And the
Rose trio keep blasting away until they're free. Finally, Liam pulls out the
Dianthus, and his missiles impact the cavern. Everything shakes harder. The
world is stone and sky and earth and dirt and explosions--
...And the screeching is gone. It stops, as rapidly as it began, and Ranka's
song is audible to many.
The Vajra are buried underground, and they do not appear to be escaping.
...But what happened...?
KTS: Kaiju Navi's Vajra Heavy Soldier has been disabled.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Watching the last moments of the battle play out, Grace is enthused by
Ranka's ability to start turning the tables at the end. It shows that her
strength has grown. A strength that Grace needs her to have.
However, it seems this is the end of the experiment as Grace says, "I
think that is enough for now. It wouldn't do to kill them before they've
fulfilled their part in all this." She closes the logs on the scientific data
she had been gathering. It's looking promising.
Grace turns to face Elisa, a smile on her face as she bows her head in
thanks, "Thank you for your efforts today, Doctor Kafim. I'm certain this
confirms the validity of the prototype. The base unit is already prepared,
which means we just need to make the alterations to the system at the
appropriate time."
Grace spins around, starting to walk back to her Variable Fighter. On
the way she says in farewell, "I look forward to working with you in the
future, Doctor."
For as long as it suits her needs.
<Pose Tracker> Kaiju Navi has posed.
"My," Elisa Kafim says as she notices Grace's enthusiasm and Ranka's rally. "I
knew that girl was special." A smile, at Grace. Elisa has the normal amount
of teeth. "Yes, that's sufficient for my needs, as well."
A pause. "You're welcome. You provided me with an interesting pitch..."
Elisa rises to see her guest off. "And I you," she answers Grace.
For so long as it remains more interesting than the alternative.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
"<Excuse me, but you all were getting killed out there!>" Carnaria replies back
to Alto readily, "<If there was even a chance she could salvage this...>"
Well it's worth risking Ozma being pissed at her, the two go back, at least -
enough that he won't give her too much shit.
Ranka sings, and- the tunnels start collapsing... and just as abruptly as it
began, it stops.
Ranka gasps, then shivers within her seat. "What was that?" She whispers,
genuinely disturbed.
"Everyone... okay?" She asks Carnaria who looks at her, "You're obviously not.
We're having you checked out the moment you're back."
Ranka takes a deep breath and just nods in acquiescence, leaning back, and not
telling Carnaria that the biggest relief she's ever known is that... she can
hear her.
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
The song came back.
Serinas wasn't focused on it, but unconsciously she heard it, and it
resonated with her.
They are victorious, even if by the skin of their teeth.
She turns around, flying backwards as she watches the tunnel recede
into the distance. No Vajra come forth.
<"Is Ranka okay...?!">
<Pose Tracker> Shinn Asuka has posed.
Shinn takes a deep breath as the battlefield goes quiet. He reclines on his
chair, just basking in the stillness after all those bugs swarmed them just
moments ago. Maybe he should leave the bug hunts to the professionals...Then
again, it seemed to take a lot out of the people here. He sighs, finally
getting his mind clear. <"Is the Idol doing ok?"> He sounds concerned for
someone who doesn't really know many people here.
For now, he just waits for the order to be recalled.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Alto holds his breath for a moment as he waits, watching the tunnels
collapsing in...
...
...
No Vajra come blasting out to chase them. Is that enough? Are they in
the clear?
Alto finally lets out the breath he had been holding.
<"Let's not stick around... Just in case they decide to dig themselves
out.">
The Messiah quickly switches over to fighter mode, accelerating and
swinging around to fly into formation with the Monster. As he does so, Alto
counters to Canaria, <"Hey! I was doing just fine."> The scorchmarks on his
VF's armor say otherwise.
Still, Alto says, <"... Thanks, Ranka."> He's hoping she's alright
now...
Though what happened?
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Lucine places her frustration at her helplessness aside. Liam's feeling
just as much, she knows for certain.
The Dianthus is like a limp doll in the Dilanza's grip, but its cockpit
holds firm and solid, protecting the pilot from doing the same inside. So,
when Lucine's voice cracks through on the com sounding hale and healthy, if
shaken, it may feel like it's coming from another place entirely as Liam
departs with his girlfriend in tow. < ".... Thank you, Liam. .... I'm sorry, I
wasn't careful enough this time." >
She doesn't mind the way the Dianthus is being held, at least. Just as
long as she's not being held upside down.
------
Outside, everyone is whole and accounted for, damaged units aside. <
".... Just... what was all that? I felt something shift just moments before
all hell broke loose... but I couldn't sense exactly what. Was it because
Ranka's song cut out?" > Lucine's not ready to rule out Ranka being injured
somehow, but she also wants to believe the cause was something mundane. <
".... Or was it the cause of Ranka's song cutting out..." > She lets out a
breath, slipping her helmet off and holding it loosely with one hand, as the
Dianthus still drapes in the Dilanza Sol's forearm. < "... Either way... does
Ranka know we all got out okay? I'm not sure if she's even able to hear our
comms." >
It'd be a shame if she felt isolated from the very pilots she wanted
to help, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
The Dilanza Sol joins the rear of the formation, the Dianthus draped
over one arm and balanced carefully by the other. "<I'm just glad you're all
right,>" Liam says. Heavily damaged, and listing to one side, his machine is
in no shape for atmospheric flight. "<I'll hail the transport for pickup,
Kaworu.>" A moment later, a second transmission patches through to the
Dianthus.
"<She sounded like she was in agony. Is she even okay in there?>"
<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.
Serinas stops to watch over those waiting for pickup. Just in case.
Worst comes to worst, they can bail out and she'll fly the pilots to safety.
"They seemed tougher that time." Serinas notes. She turns and looks at the
crunched shoulder armor on her machine. "...Stronger, too. Perhaps they're
evolving?"
"And yeah," she looks around for... she's not sure who is able to relay
this, <"Is she okay?">