View source for 2022-12-16: A Christmas Tree Attacks a Sombrero

*'''Log: A Chrismas Tree Attacks a Sombrero'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Character :: Alto Saotome]], [[Character :: Yurika Misumaru]], [[Character :: Artemisia ka Britannia]], [[Character :: Vitaly Sokolov]], [[Character :: Ruri Hoshino]], [[Character :: Ranka Lee]], [[Character :: Brera Sterne]], [[Character :: Treize Khushrenada]], [[Character :: Lucine Azul]], [[Character :: Sheryl Nome]]
*'''Where:''' Neo Mexico Colony
*'''OOC - IC Date:''' 0096-12-16
*'''Summary''': ''What is initially mistaken to be a Christmas stunt turns out to be a Vajra invasion attempt to take over the Neo Mexico colony and turn it into one of their nests!''

----

 <Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
<poem>
        The Britannian owned colony of Neo Mexico is a bit of a strangely
 designed one, though that's not too uncommon amongst the Neo colonies. This
 was is very much shaped like a sombrero, complete with wide brim and giant
 cacti that aren't actually cacti. And for some strange reason, the main rise
 of the 'hat' is spiked, like a cactus.

        https://i.imgur.com/GsOxe1L.png

        Regardless of the strange appearance of the colony, it's still home to
 over a hundred thousand people. That's a lot of people who find their
 curiosity peaked by an oddity on slow approach to their colony from the depths
 of space. It was first noticed yesterday, long range cameras picking it up
 during their sweeps. It's not giving off any signals or identification and yet
 its course is not static, clearly indicating it's under some kind of power.
 And yet the course is quite strange, in that it's not straight. It continues
 to wobble around, though still heading in the same rough direction towards the
 colony and then the Earth beyond.

        Images zoomed and enhanced reveal an object that is roughly tree
 shaped. Pine tree, to be specific, with the well known wide base leading to a
 point. Details at that range were hard to pick out, but there were obvious
 flashing lights and the vague colours of the object were red and green. It
 even looked like the vaguely shaped 'branches' were moving in a wind that
 didn't exist in space.

        Given the above information, most just passed the object off as some
 kind of Christmas stunt. It is that time of year. Ideally the Britannian
 authorities on the station should have sent a scouting party, but they
 couldn't be bothered. It's the holidays period, no one really wants to do any
 more work than is necessary. And one strange Christmas themed object on a slow
 approach is hardly a threat to the colony's defenders. Right?

        Right?

        Wrong!

        The first sign that Something is amiss is when one of the few station
 controllers still bothering to pretend to focus on his work decides to do
 another zoom and enhance of the approaching object. Being closer than it was
 yesterday, the details are easier to pick out. The image begins to render on
 his screen. He goes to take a sip of his hot chocolate as the details start to
 come into focus. The 'branches' and 'leaves' are looking decidedly less
 tree-like. In fact, they're starting to look very...

        The controller spits out the mouthful of choclatey goodness and jumps
 up from his chair, starting to run out of the room, shouting, "COMMANDER!
 COMMANDERRRRRRRR!"

        An hour later and a collection of the colony's GM III defenders have
 assembled at the edge of the colony's rim. The 'Christmas tree' can be seen
 not far into space beyond them. While its 'branches' continue to sway in that
 invisible wind, it's quite clear that this is no stunt. The vast majority of
 the object was made up of alien creatures all grouped up together, their
 insectoid-like bodies continually moving and shifting. An ominous look, for
 sure.

        A call for help had gone out, though the commander for the colony's
 defense had not expected it would be necessary. It was just a few space bugs,
 they could handle it. Right?

        Right?

        Wrong!

        "Fire!"

        The GM IIIs open up with their beam rifles, the beams of light
 streaking out across the void towards the 'tree'. But just as they reach its
 edges, the tree blossoms like a flower! The collected creatures separate from
 each other, rocketing out of the way of the beam shots and out into space
 before turning on the defenders.

        Panic begins to grip the hearts of the Britannian pilots as they
 quickly find it damn hard to aim at the agile creatures. And soon enough the
 first wave of the smaller green creatures
 (https://www.mahq.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/vajra-small.jpg) reach the
 rim that the defenders are standing upon. They crash down into it, claws
 starting to rip into the 'ground' as they rush across it towards the GMs.
 Anguished cries begin to sound across local comms as the mobile suits are
 ripped to shreds by powerful claws and rapid barrages of organically formed
 bullets. The last of the initial defenders explodes as a lance of golden
 bio-energy rips his machine apart. The red creature
 (https://www.mahq.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/vajra-large.jpg) that fired
 it landing on the colony amidst the machine's floating remains, before it
 begins to claw its way along.

        The Vajra begin to spread out across the colony's surface even as more
 GM IIIs begin to pop out of airlocks to engage them with beam weapons,
 starting to create a veritable display of light and explosions that could even
 be called pretty at a distance...

</poem>
 KTS: Kaiju Navi has deployed in Vajra Heavy Soldier.
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has deployed in RX-123-P Gundam TR-S [Rabscuttle Proto].
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru has deployed in ND-001 Nadesico.
 KTS: Lucine Azul has deployed in Dianthus Mk. 3.
 KTS: Treize Khushrenada has deployed in OZ-06MS4G Leo Type IV Greif.
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has deployed in RPI-00/SH Gloucester Skathi.
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has changed loadout.
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino has deployed as a Sub Pilot for Yurika Misumaru!
 KTS: Brera Sterne has deployed in VF-27 Gamma Lucifer <Fighter Mode>.
 KTS: Sheryl Nome has deployed as a Sub Pilot for Lucine Azul!
 KTS: Kaiju_Navi has deployed as a Boss for 7 opponents.
 KTS: Treize Khushrenada arrives loaded onto Vitaly Sokolov's combat deck!
 KTS: Ranka Lee has deployed as a Sub Pilot for Brera Sterne!
 
 <Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.
<poem>
()()2 HOURS AGO()()

        Tumbleweeds kick up across the dusty streets. The sun moves slowly
 overhead. Anxious townfolk peek through the windows. Two figures stand back to
 back - one, a slightly beleaguered young man with scruffy brown hair, dressed
 in a light, ragged set of overalls. The other, a blue haired young woman in
 the full duster and cowboy hat affair, brim shaded over her eyes.

        "Heh. So it's come to this, hasn't it, pardner? For so long we were
 riding side by side, but you just had to sell me out right when we were about
 to pull off the heist of the century. One way or the other, one of us is
 walking out of this with everythin'. Are ya ready...? Ten paces...then we
 draw."

        "...Yurika, I think this is stretching the definition of a da-"

        The 'lone ranger' spins on her heel, balling up her fist and pouting
 and complaining. "Nooooo!! Akitoooo, I'm the Two Hammer Ranger, Bonnie
 Capone!! The whole point of this is to get way into it! Whoever loses will
 fall dramatically into the others' arms and confess how we did our betrayal
 out of love that couldn't yet bloom!"

        One of the saloon observers grouses, "Hey!! Cut to the chase already,
 I've got 200 gilla on the boy winning the duel, dammit-"

        BEEPBEEPBEEP, BEEPBEEPBEEP goes the sound of the Emergency Deployment
 alarm, and with a pout and huff, Yurika darts off, with an exhausted Akito
 trailing behind, passing through the swinging doors of the 'bank', heralded by
 a merry "Thank you for coming to the one and only Wild Britannian Frontier
 Experience, only here at Neo-Mexico! Don't forget to pick up photos on your
 way ou-"

        ()()NOW()()

        ...She hasn't bothered changing! No time for that! Megumi in particular
 is giving the captain a particularly beleaguered kind of look as the Nadesico
 boots up. There's a slight hotness in Yurika's cheeks.

        . . . o o o O O O (Oh noooo. . . they all think I'm super lame...!)

        A conference call flickers atop one of the many rather hyperactive
 floating screens of the Nadesico's comms - Yurika clearing boarding and
 operations with all the Neo-Mexico staff. Though she's looking a little less
 at the admirals and dock staff, and more at herself...

        . . . o o o O O O (...wow! They're staring at me because I look
 ridiculously cute like this!!!)

        "Alrighty!!! Let's get this show on the road! Everyone's counting on
 all of us together - we can't let any of these horrible space bugs through!
 The Nadesico's HITTIN' THE ROAD!~"

        With a twirl of her hat into Observation Mode, Yurika heralds Nergal's
 flagship to launch, missiles already ablaze and filling the expanse of space,
 arcing in myriad puffy cloud trails towards the tiny Vajra!
</poem>

 KTS: Yurika Misumaru targets Kaiju Navi with Missile Barrage!
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully evades Yurika Misumaru's Missile Barrage

 <Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.
<poem>

'Weird shit surrounding the spacemen' is not something that takes the top
 Britannian priority in a lot of situations. Some of this was likely because of
 the command staff being distracted by

A ROYAL VISIT!

Yes; one of the luminaries of Area 4, the empress-consort Olivia ka Britannia!
 And two of her children, the 11th Princess (Artemisia ka Britannia) and an
 as-yet unscored minor Princess (Charite ka Britannia) as well. There had been
 quite a reception, which has been

PROFOUNDLY

Interrupted.

NOW

"Oh, my!" says OLIVIA, an extremely elegant woman in her early 50s, from the
 colony command center, where she has been placed in a location of relative
 honor and powerful blast-wall protection. There is a well upholstered couch.
 This isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened. "It isn't a tree at
 all!"

"I'm putting a thousand on the invaders," says CHARITE, who is 12 years old and
 has a sullen face along with black sausage curls. "Do you take it, mama?"

"Darling, darling; this isn't appropriate," Olivia replies. She twirls open the
 folding fan with its cloth-of-gold webwork and stirs the air leisurely. "The
 odds are still all recovering from this shocking decision... and we would be
 cheering against your sister, wouldn't we?"

Charite pulls a :/ face but doesn't comment further, beyond folding her arms
 with huffiness.

IN ONE OF THE LAUNCH ZONES,

Artemisia ka Britannia presses the power-up sequence. The energy fillers hum as
 the chargers rise up - a non-typical but merry chime adding the thruster set's
 full functionality. "Damn things," Artemisia mutters to herself. Her eye
 closes and she takes several deep breaths as she reaches for another console,
 one that will allow her to speak Encouraging Things, should she need to.

She doesn't, just yet. "Worthless... might as well be &#42;&#42;&#42;&#42;ing plants. Why come
 here, anyway. Plants to the PLANTs," Artemisia mutters to herself. "By God, I
 hate space. Nothing good ever comes of it." One more deep breath and she
 clicks on the communication link:

"ARISE, SOLDIERS!" Artemisia shouts into the mic. "In the Emperor's name! DEATH
 TO EVERY FOE. The enemy has come this far and spilled blood, only to die in
 disgrace! Be stirred, and rise to glory!"

Artemisia raises her right hand forwards in a fist. You know it's coming:

                                        "ALL HAIL BRITANNIA!"

And the launcher fires, and Artemisia clicks down the comm as the Skathi
 accelerates down a magnetic rail and pivots as it flies into the great
 starring void of orbital space, thrusters pivoting it around -- "Yellow ones,
 eh? A bug that &#42;&#42;&#42;&#42;es megaparticles, how lovely - YOU!"

Harkens whip outwards towards one of the smaller units, aiming to smash into
 chitin and, vitally, provide anchoring. "Come to mother," Artemisia says, one
 hand already raising the space-axe magnetically attached to the KMF's frame.
 "If you even HAVE mothers, you damned--"

</poem>
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Kaiju Navi with Slash Harken Hook!
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has completed their actions for the round.

 <Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
<poem>
With the disappearance of some of the most prominent teams or team-members of
 NERV, the Federation stands at high alert. Part of this alert means a heavier
 presence of G-Hound forces at more vulnerable locations. The Rapid Response
 Team, normally based out of Earth itself, is instead currently maintaining a
 position in orbit in order to increase its range -- what with the
 disappearances having occurred near Junius-7.

So when a call for help goes out from the Colony of Neo Mexico, deployment
 preparations are almost immediate. The sizable 'Mobile Armor' going by the
 name of Rabscuttle being released from one of the G-Hound vessels in order to
 report to the site at illegal speeds.

Coming into range of the mass approaching Neo-Mexico, Vitaly Sokolov gets a
 peculiar signal from a high ranking officer in G-Hound. "Suit?" She asks
 somewhat incredulously. The support vessel is in fact carrying some additional
 support vessels in the form of some Leos at this time. But considering who the
 inquiry is coming from, she is quick to communicate to one of the Rapid
 Response Team members that they'll switch pilots on the suit in question.

----

Blinding light suddenly enters the region in front of Neo-Mexico. Big swarms of
 missiles are being unloaded into the edge of the approaching swarm!
 Unreasonably large blasts create obliterating screens of force between them
 and the colony itself, followed by an enormous Battleship class beam. A waving
 streak of blue carries through space, narrowly (in space distance terms, at
 the edge of regulation safety) streaming over the Nadesico's position.
 Followed by a barrage of machine-gun fire tearing in the same direction.

The source of which, the incredibly fast Rabscuttle, then ducks back into the
 Nadesico's shadow, using it for positional cover as it suddenly moves ''into''
 the colony, barely slowing down in time as it practically 'drifts' and does a
 U-turn as it arrived, expertly docking into the place and using one of its
 claws to stabilize itself.

The enginge continues on, as one of the Leos opens its hatch in order to
 welcome Treize Kushrenada on board to take control. The entire 'fire-drill' of
 change-around being performed with REA efficiency and expertise. And the
 moment Treize is on board and strapped in, a call comes in.

"Re-entering battlefield. Prepare for acceleration."

Followed by a sudden PUSH, forcing the commander into his seat as the
 Rabscuttle blasts back out of the hangar, and begins to move itself into a new
 combat position.
</poem>

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with High Mega Particle Cannon - Charge
  Beam!

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round.
 
 <Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
<poem>
The 'meaning of Christmas'... I wonder what that is?
It was never really relevant to me.
But aliens can resemble this stuff, too...
Is it really relevant to them?

        "Fool," was Ruri's succinct evaluation of Yurika's entrance. She, of
 course, was at her station the whole time. She's such a diligent girl!

        She pays attention to the pre-flight alerts with more concern than
 Yurika seems to; she remembers the Vajra. She spares a thought for Ranka, as
 she looks out at them, but someone like Ruri has no comforting words for her
 in the middle of a fight.

        "The Vajra employ swarm tactics," she tells their pilots, her face flat
 on the communication screen. "Now transmitting evasive data." She connects
 with the Dianthus and Gamma Lucifer to advise them, as Omoikane aligns his own
 combat data, too.

        (And her consciousness lingers, at the Dianthus, to ask the /machine
 itself/ if it's feeling strong enough to fight after its difficult experience.)

</poem>

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has cancelled her attack.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully evades Artemisia ka Britannia's Slash Harken Hook
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with High Mega Particle Cannon - Charge
  Beam!

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Yurika Misumaru, Brera Sterne, and Lucine Azul with
  Caution.

 KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round.

 <Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
<poem>

An attack by the Vajra is always terrifying enough as is, when the distress
 call by Neo-Mexico goes out, Ranka feels a certain panic well up in her
 throat.  She forces herself to swallow it.  The implications are awful.

If the Vajra are setting up more nests in the Earthsphere...

Ranka doesn't huddle with Ai-chan in the observation deck of the Nadesico this
 time, she's on the bridge...

...  every so often glancing to the Captain in wonder. "Wow, Captain Yurika
 looks adorable in that..." She murmurs as she tops off Prospector's coffee
 when she sees the first visuals.

She almost drops the pot.  Instead carefully putting the lid back on it and
 placing it on a stand near the back of the bridge.

Her eyes move from side to side trying to track the sheer amount of them and
 the missiles flying their way...  she watches their fighters launch.

It evokes so many horrible memories but...

Slowly she sidles up to Megumi and whispers something, who promptly nods back
 her way, and hands her a spare headset.

Clicking it, she murmurs into it, "&lt;Everyone.&gt;" There's a tremor in her voice,
 as she radios out, "&lt;Be careful out there.  Please take care of things and
 come back to us safely.&gt;"


</poem>

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has cancelled her attack.
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has deployed in RX-123-P Gundam TR-S [Rabscuttle Proto].
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with High Mega Particle Cannon - Charge
  Beam!

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Ranka Lee targets Brera Sterne, Lucine Azul, and Yurika Misumaru with
  Caution.

 KTS: Ranka Lee has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Brera Sterne
 KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Brera Sterne
 KTS: Treize Khushrenada arrives loaded onto Vitaly Sokolov's combat deck!
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Brera Sterne's Intuition!
 KTS: Ranka Lee suggests caution, raising Brera Sterne's Intuition!
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Yurika Misumaru's Intuition!
 KTS: Ranka Lee suggests caution, raising Yurika Misumaru's Intuition!

 <Pose Tracker> Brera Sterne has posed.
<poem>

The Vajra. Brera lives by his orders. He has no memory data to do anything but.
 It's his only reason for being... and those orders have always been toward a
 key, long term goal: destroy the Vajra. That's what she wants of him. That's
 what the Lucifer was designed for, and Brera was designed for the Lucifer. Yet
 his thoughts stray...

"Ranka?"

He speaks it, softly to himself, as he pilots the Lucifer is entirely through
 his cybernetic connections. He does not need to move at all within the cockpit
 as it sails through space toward their target. The UI is entirely within his
 own processors, Ruri's data directly transmitted to his own thoughts. If
 anyone were to watch from within, it may seem the ship flies itself. ...His
 diagnostics are spiking the closer they get to the enemy. That's unlike him.
 But he remembers how Ranka fainted that day, and how she awoke, her memories
 slipping away from her like his always have from himself.

Fighting the Vajra is his purpose for being here. His orders. But Ranka so
 close to the battlefield... Why should it matter?

"&lt;Ranka. Everything will be fine.&gt;"

His voice is stoic for someone piloting his VF into battle, it flying full
 speed in fighter form as a streak of red across the abyss of space. Metal
 plates split open, and clusters of missiles fire out toward the Vajra swarm in
 a spreadshot as he weaves through the aliens attackers.

</poem>
 KTS: Brera Sterne targets Kaiju Navi with Detonation Cluster!
 KTS: Brera Sterne has completed their actions for the round.
 
 <Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
<poem>

        Today of all days the Romefellar foundation had begun it's tour, a tour
 of nobility and humbleness abound to go from colony to colony and spread
 holiday cheer and festivity...to those they deemed worthy of it.  To top it
 all off the jolly old men  had volunteered the Colonel of G-Hound to be their
 escort for the day. Of course there is a benefit to all the trouble that
 Treize is being put through as  today he is not just Treize Khushrenada but is
 Treize Clause. That is right the Colonel of G-hound has been going around all
 day dressed as Santa (https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/47570044) handing out
 gifts to all he interacts with, despite the frowns the old men give.

        Unfortunately the festivities have been interupted by a  holiday tree
 that obviously just feels left out. The members of Romefellar being escorted
 to safety and Treize himself, still sporting the red santa hat and cloak makes
 his way to the hangar, as he looks at images sent to his communication device,
 " Of all the things to imitate, truly no worse fiend exists. To disguise
 itself as the image of holiday cheer, I can not allow this to stand " 
 Slipping a earbud fromt he device and places it in as he continues to the
 brisk walk to the hangar.

        &lt;"This is Colonel Claus,  we can not allow the people of the colony to
 suffer from this attack. Please by all means bring my sleigh around."&gt;

        The Colonel stands around ready for the arrival of the Greif, tethered
 to Vitaly's Rabscuttle. Over the private comm he speaks directly to Vitaly,
 &lt;"I appreciate the pick up. I will admit I had not expected to have to do tree
 trimming until my return to earth."&gt;

        As the Rabscuttle manuevers Treize takes the time to aim with the
 cannon on the Greif, acting as almost a seperate turret of the Rabscuttle for
 now, the shots are almost rhymically fired towards the minions of the Vajra
 trying to  keep the battle contained to one spot as best he can.
</poem>

 KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Kaiju Navi with Greif Cannon Anti-Ship Volley!
 KTS: Treize Khushrenada has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to evade Vitaly Sokolov's High Mega Particle Cannon -
  Charge Beam, taking 4230 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to intercept Brera Sterne's Detonation Cluster, taking
  6120 damage!

 <Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
<poem>
===EARLIER===
        "I got your message. I apologize for not getting back to you sooner.
 There's a new food lab opening up and the engineers have been annoying. 'Why
 do we need this' and 'why can't we just do this', as if they're the ones
 who've dealt with managing a colony's food supply from the ground, and...
 sorry. I should really do a retake, but..." The older woman in Lucine's screen
 sighs and massages her temples with one hand. She shared many of Lucine's own
 traits: the same blue teal hair (longer, in a braid, slightly lighter), the
 same mouth, the same facial shape. However, her eyes where a dark brown,
 framed by thick rim glasses that she had. Her face, further wrinkled from the
 stress and loss of the past year. "I hope you're feeling better, Lulu.
 Dimensions are not my field of expertise, but, there's nothing wrong with a
 practical amount of hope. Our grasp of logic just doesn't... hold up,
 sometimes, and for those times, you have to allow yourself the flexibility to
 realize the full potential of the universe. Which is something I'd like to
 covey to the _engineers_.... ah." There is a beeping off-screen. She looks
 off. "... It can't wait? Wait did those assh--" The scientist looks back at
 the screen. ".... You didn't hear that. Give me a message back when you get
 free, alright? I'll have time later tonight-- er, well, in Alba Standard Time.
 Love you lots, Lulu."

        The message ends, with the endcap of 'Dr. Diana Azul', as the darkened
 matte screen reflects Lucine's face at an unflattering angle, as she is holed
 up on the bean bag Liam got her. ".... oh, mom..." Lucine huffs a sigh, and
 turns into the bean bag. Maybe she'll just call it a night, and take it easy--

        Then Yurika's call comes, launching Lucine out of the bean bag with a
 startled yelp.

===NOW====        
        Yurika looks like she's anxious about something. There's a whiff of
 anxious coming from the direction of the observational deck. Could it be the
 outfit? It must be the outfit! "Captain, you look very nice!" Lucine is being
 supportive to the floating screen of Yurika, as she walks to the hangar. "...
 I'm... going to try to use the Dianthus instead of the Alto this time. Ruri,
 can you keep an eye out to make sure there's nothing irregular with the
 controls? The labs at NERV looked at it, but... just in case." Switching her
 screens off, she switches to her pilot suit, then steps into the bay, with the
 Dianthus sits.

        Looking up at it, Lucine frowns. "... Is it okay to still put a little
 of my hope in you, just a little bit...?"

        A few minutes later, the Dianthus deploys from the Nadesico.

        At Ranka's concern, Lucine is tempted to start with a 'don't worry',
 but instead... no, she'll acknowledge Ranka's worry. &lt; "I understand, Ranka. I
 won't let you down." &gt;

        It takes a little bit of getting used to the controls, but familiarity
 begins to take over. &lt;"Dealing with swarm tactics is what the Dianthus is best
 at, thankfully,"&gt; Lucine says, to Ruri. &lt; "I'll lay down a perimeter of energy
 explosives as I move in." &gt; The Dianthus flies in closer in a random path to
 the hat-shaped colony, dispersing a scattered trail of balls of light.

        For Ruri's other senses, the Dianthus's automatic system, while not to
 the point of a self-aware consciousness that some more advanced units would
 have, just might express a 'gladness', if it was possible. Perhaps the
 stylized image of a five petaled dianthus blossom, twirling.
</poem>

 KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Lucine Azul's Intuition!
 KTS: Ranka Lee suggests caution, raising Lucine Azul's Intuition!
 KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with Lunate Crown v.2 Fireflies!
 KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Treize Khushrenada's Greif Cannon Anti-Ship Volley,
  taking 5720 damage!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's Battlefield Prodigy activates, causing
  Insight L1!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's To Defy Destiny activates, causing
  Sparkle!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's Intended Target activates, causing
  Nullify!

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Lucine Azul's Lunate Crown v.2 Fireflies, taking 1200
  damage!

 KTS: Lucine Azul begins a Formation attack!
 
 <Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
<poem>
        Sheryl Nome has toured all through the Earth Sphere, including several
 locations in Britannia and Britannia-controlled Areas, and between what she's
 seen of their culture and learned of their history, and how they've treated
 less famous friends of hers, she can't say she has a positive impression of
 the empire. But as little as she likes Britannia, she hasn't really had a
 personal bad experience with them. The same can't be said of the Vajra.
        
        Gripping her taiyaki phone like she might squeeze the filling out of it
 while she glares at the holo-screen projected above showing the feed of the
 attack, Sheryl bolts to her feet from where she'd been resting in the
 Nadesico's observation deck.
        
        "The Vajra?! I ''knew'' they'd been quiet too long!!" She clenches her
 fists, her painted nails digging into her skin. She pays that no mind. The
 Nadesico doesn't have spare Variable Fighters (as far as she knows), and
 anyway, even she has to admit that she's just not good enough at piloting yet
 to jump into a battlefield with the Vajra. Still, there's no way she's just
 sitting back and doing nothing, either. Right now, it's time to storm straight
 to the bridge.
        
        &#42;whump&#42; &#42;echcachcachcach&#42;
        
        Right now, it's time to remember, just as she drops to her knees in a
 severe coughing fit, she was resting here because of a bad cold (as far as she
 knows). Next to her, her manager kneels at her side.
        
        "You can't! Sheryl, I know how frustrating this must be, but you know
 you can't push yourself right now," Grace chides her, one hand on her back.
 "Or do you want to have to take even more medicine?"
        
        Sheryl grimaces. She already hates those pills, and just standing up
 got her head swimming. Even so, she looks like she has half a mind to charge
 up there anyway...
        
        "...and Brera's out there. He'll be able to handle this one," Grace
 adds.
        
        Sheryl relaxes, if grudgingly. "Oh, all right," she relents. "But tell
 him to give them hell, for me!"
        
        Grace smiles sweetly. The light glints off one of the lenses of her
 glasses. "Of course. Now, let's get you back..."
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
<poem>
        Numerous cheers go out across local comms as the majestic shape of the
 Nadesico exits out of one of the larger hangars, missile barrage rushing out
 towards the groups of smaller Vajra flitting around in space above the colony.
 The cheers quickly recede though as the agility of the smaller creatures prove
 quite troublesome. Their movements are almost artistic as they dance through
 space, missiles trailing only to explode out of range of the fast creatures.
 Several groups of them turn their attention towards the Nadesico, beginning to
 rush the larger vessel, their sharp claws ready and eager to try and tear into
 its hull in multiple areas.

        Morale falls further as even an honoured Princess of Britannia is
 having trouble against these insectoid invaders. Her target wiggles out of the
 path of the fired Harkens, before it and a few of its brethren turn to swarm
 her. Bio-machine guns start to spit those organic bullets towards Artemisia,
 the creatures no doubt offended by the implication that she is their queen. Or
 so one would imagine they would be, if they were capable of understanding.

        The large beam that comes streaking in from the Rabscuttle proves more
 effective, catching a number of the smaller Vajra off guard by its sudden
 appearance. Their forms burn and rip apart under the beams effect, before
 their charred corpses float off into the darkness. The beam and deaths of the
 Mobile Soldiers draw the attention of one of the larger red ones, its head
 turning to watch the machine perform a quick docking manuever. The Heavy
 Soldier pushes off from the colony's structure, beginning to give chase. The
 large protrusion on its back begins to crackle with golden energy, before a
 large beam of light blasts off it, sweeping out towards the Rabscuttle just as
 it's accelerating away with its passenger.

        The Rabscuttle has additional help though now, as even as the large red
 Vajra fires, its target fires back. The cannon fire controlled by Trieze slams
 into the side of the Heavy Soldier, taking a large chunk out of the creature's
 exoskeleton. It doesn't look pleased. The red Vajra rapidly closes the
 distance to the Rabscuttle, its six limbs stretching wide before attempting to
 surround its prey and crush the life out of it.

        As if it was practically made just for this, Brera's Lucifer streaks
 through space, bouncing between the swarming groups of the small Vajra. Its
 missiles fan out, hunting them down even as they try to outrun or shoot the
 missiles down. But for most, they are chased to their deaths, the missiles
 exploding against them and sending chunks of Vajra floating. Those that do
 survive try to avenge their fallen, turning their attention on the VF,
 unleashing their own missiles in response. The swarms of bio-micro-missiles
 dance through space with golden trails towards Brera.

        Lucine's Dianthus tries to catch a large number the Vajra in a wide
 area attack, laying out of a veritable minefield of light. The Vajra appear to
 be smarter than one might suspect though, the swarms of Mobile Soldiers
 briefly slowing and allowing one of the larger Heavy Soldiers ahead. The red
 Vajra begins to intentional force its way through the field, its heavier armor
 tanking the blows where its smaller brethren might have been completely
 destroyed. Carving a hole through to the other side, the Heavy Soldier is
 rather scorched now and looking a little worse for wear. But its Mobile
 Soldiers charge through the opening, beginning to rush towards the Dianthus.
 They split up, before making multiple runs from multiple directions, their
 sharp claws lashing out at Lucine and trying to overwhelm her with numbers.

        Alto is the last to launch from the Nadesico, his VF-25F Messiah
 rocketing out of the catapult and out into space. The sight that greets him is
 a grim one... But as much as he wants to rush into the mess and destroy those
 vile creatures, he's more concerned about the Nadesico. Knowing the Vajra's
 capability for destruction-The Frontier Fleet lost numerous capital ships in
 the first Vajra attack-He can't just leave the ship unprotected. So he takes
 up a defensive position, his gunpod already trying to ward off the smaller
 Mobile Soldiers swarming towards the vessel.

        But Alto does warn over local comms, &lt;"We can't let the Vajra into the
 colony! There's no telling where they'll be able to hide and regrow their
 numbers."&gt;

</poem>
 KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy)
 KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy)
 KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy)
 KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy)
 KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy)
 KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy)
 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Yurika Misumaru with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm
  Converge!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm
  Fire!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Vitaly Sokolov with Vajra Bio-Cannon Powered Blast!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Treize Khushrenada with Vajra Armored Claws Six-Legged
  Grab!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Brera Sterne with Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Guiding
  Swarm!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Lucine Azul with Vajra Armored Claws Vicious Swipe!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
 KTS: Lucine Azul rushes into the attack!
 KTS: Lucine Azul partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Vicious
  Swipe, taking 4320 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Lucine Azul!
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov blocks Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Powered Blast, taking
  1850 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi rattles Yurika Misumaru, making her next maneuvers more
  difficult.

 KTS: Yurika Misumaru partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers Swarm
  Converge, taking 2940 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Yurika Misumaru!

 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to charge.
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers
  Swarm Fire, taking 4080 damage!

 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi anchors Treize Khushrenada, forcing him into close range.
 KTS: Treize Khushrenada fails to evade Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws
  Six-Legged Grab, taking 5160 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Treize Khushrenada!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi begins a Formation attack!
 KTS: [Lucky] Brera Sterne's Rival of Ares activates, and luck goes his way!
 KTS: Brera Sterne successfully evades Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles
  Guiding Swarm

 <Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.
<poem>
        In trying to fit with her ~outfit motif~, Yurika ponders her decision
 by leaning up against the side of the bridge's doorway, arms crossed, head
 tipped downward. "So it's a bunch of the little rascals, like rats that'll
 gnaw on our wagon wheels..." She's playing up her voice being kinda rugged and
 raspy - it's like she expects thinking about this like a frontier outlaw will
 give her a bit more insight.

        "Well, you can't just gear up for the trail while varmints are nibbling
 at your supplies - slow and steady wins the race even against these speedy
 little buggers!"

        She stands upright, beaming proudly and tall - and passing by Ranka on
 the way, she deposits a 'Christmas' gift to the green haired girl - a big,
 colorful sombrero hat, shaped just like Neo-Mexico! "That is to say : Alto's
 got the right of it! You, Lucine, and Akito-kun, make sure to be the
 Nadesico's rat poison of sorts, on the defensive! We're going to hold steady
 and charge up the Gravity Blast, and hopefully wipe that horribly ugly affront
 to the holidays off the map!"

        "You don't have to tell me twice! URYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH-!!!" Akito
 Tenkawa screams outwards (prompting Minato, in particular, to lightly pull her
 headphones away from her ears), his vivid pink Aestivalis shooting from the
 Nadesico and immediately entangling with several larger Vajra, stabbing and
 slicing at them in quite the violent fervor.

        "Aaah, he's such a hard worker!&lt;3 Oh, Ruri-ruri, if you can, catch!" A
 sombrero is whirled like a frisbee across the bridge - it impacts the front
 screen, then bounces back, drifting downwards and landing uncannily right atop
 Ruri's head-!
</poem>

 KTS: Yurika Misumaru targets Kaiju Navi with Gravity Blast - Charging...!
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru has completed their actions for the round.
 
 <Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
<poem>
The Rabscuttle's high velocity is limited by the fact that its maneuverability
 is limited. Luckily, those limits are lightened within space. It begins to
 turn its whole body, heavy boosters flaring across its hull to start its turn.
 &lt;"Hold on for extreme maneuvers."&gt; Vitaly warns its passengers, as the entire
 unit bends off at the same time that the Heavy Soldier takes aim.

The piercing golden energy tears right for the Rabscuttle, only for it to
 suddenly pull its massive claws out of their locked positions and spread their
 fingers. Multiple I-Fields suddenly form at their tips, catching the golden
 energy and letting them impact on the claws. The light spreads, forks, and
 pushes through, causing some hull damage and endangering some of the Leos on
 the machine, as it makes for its high-G maneuver, turning in the midst of
 space to turn its entire body towards the damaged Heavy Soldier. There's a
 moment where it's slowed and the Heavy Soldier gets its chance to let that
 line of gold arc towards one of her passengers.

But Vitaly believes Kushrenada isn't going to just all over from something like
 that. And she isn't one to play it entirely safe. Her piloting style is fast
 and ruthless in situations like this. One of those claws coming forward,
 I-Fields still activated, reaching for the nozzle of the golden beam, trying
 to grab into the machine and CLAMP ON!

From there, noting the powerful hull of Neo-Mexico, it PUSHES, its trusters
 suddenly all coming online in the same direction, meeting the Heavy Shoulder
 right in the midst of that 'jump'. The Rabscuttle's claw starting to close,
 trying to CRUSH the Heavy Shoulder while the Leos mounted on its shell open
 fire, trying to tear the enemy target open.

&lt;"Last battle report declare, Vajra launch from and protect main vessel.
 Perhaps, is Queen or Leader. Commander, see unusual target remaining back, or
 being swarmed and protected?"&gt; Vitaly Sokolov inquires with Treize Kushrenada.
 &lt;"Perhaps, inquire with Nadesico for sensor reading."&gt;
</poem>

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with Hrududu II - Claw Grab!
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round.
 
 <Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
<poem>

Hearing Brera say everything will be fine, helps her believe it, as a thin
 smile appears on her lips, "&lt;Thank you Brera - when you say it, I know it's
 true.&gt;" A beat, "&lt;And I know you won't Lucine.&gt;"

Yurika passes by and drops a Sombrero on her head, and Ranka looks confused for
 a moment, before beaming at her as if in sudden understanding, her hair even
 lifting in delight, "Oh I see!  This is a show of solidarity, isn't it..." She
 clears her throat, "...pardner?"

Ranka's eyes light up as Alto speaks over the radio, however the news is grim,
 and suddenly her expression falls...  which is when something appears on a
 display in front of her.

                                  &lt; REQUEST SONG = TRUE() &gt;

                                  &lt; SET MORALE = YES!&gt;

"Uh- if you think it will help, Omoikane, what song did you have in mind?"

Omoikane's response causes Ranka's eyes to widen, "I...  you're sure?"

An affirmative came soon after, and Ranka nods in determination. "Alright, no
 time to warm up...  here we go!" Ranka adjusts her headset and...  Omoikane
 provides the melody, as a dynamic intro starts to play.

BGM Change: Gekiganger 3 - OP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl4JVo87L9w

And over the general channel, a feminine voice starts to sing an energetic
 Shounen tune...  most of the Nadesico crew at least has heard it before, even
 if not everyone is a superfan.

        "A dream is calling for tomorrow, a Cry of the souls,
        "LET'S GO PASSION!
        "Some day we will get back peace with our bare hands,
        "LET'S GO GEKIGANGER 3!"

        "Do you know? You are Earth's treasure,
        "We want to protect your Freedom and Light,
        "Sky, Sea and Land are everybody's power,
        "One for all Show your courage; C'mon rise up!
        "(LET'S GEKIGAIN!)"

And so that is how we got there, with Ranka wearing a Sombrero shaped like
 Neo-Mexico, singing the theme of an almost century old anime over an open
 channel.

</poem>
 KTS: Ranka Lee targets Lucine Azul, Brera Sterne, and Yurika Misumaru with
  All-Out.

 KTS: Ranka Lee has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Ranka Lee orders an all-out attack, raising Yurika Misumaru's Skill!
 KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Brera Sterne
 KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Yurika Misumaru
 KTS: Ranka Lee orders an all-out attack, raising Brera Sterne's Skill!

 <Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.
<poem>

Someone speaks in general communication, rippling through the growing Minovsky
 density. Artemisia makes a noise best rendered as "?"

Her Harkens do not find purchase on the Damn Bug. "Your feelings do you
 credit," she answers Ranka, "but don't worry about US; worry about THEM."

Easy to say...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnHc08h_6DU

The underestimated soldiers rally, evading the Harkens as Artemisia bellows in
 displeasure at this turn of events. Weaving around, the maneuvering is poor;
 the Soldier units rain up their golden bio-bullets, and while a roundel of a
 shield is thrown up to spare the KMF from being simply disabled in a single
 blow, several other glancing hits leave ugly black marks on the flanks. "Tsk!"

Another Harken flies out -- but this time to anchor to the surface of
 Neo-Mexico, to pull downwards. "What's their vulnerability, man?" Artemisia
 challenges Alto as he gives a clear statement of -

IN THE COMMAND ROOM

"The stakes," Olivia ka Britannia says, "are revealed, then." She is not
 looking at all laughing any more. Her fan hides the lower half of her face,
 but what is visible is furrowed, spoiling the impression of ageless youth
 quite significantly.

"There are plenty of other," Charite begins to say, before being nudged -
 almost kicked - in the ankle several times. Olivia glares death for a moment,
 but then settles backwards.

BACK IN THE SEA OF STARS

With the Colony underneath its wheels, the KMF can operate in something nearer
 to its familiar environment, rather than dangling around legs as useful as
 teats on a boar. Artemisia, without words, pivots the shielding module towards
 the soldiers and mashes the thumb button to fire the standoff missiles, aiming
 to dump the mass and hopefully lead towards a somewhat thinner density of bugs.

As she does this, Artemisia hears something from Vitaly. Her eye turns upwards,
 towards - "Hnf," she says. "A mother hurling its children like missiles! How
 &#42;droll&#42;." With this, and a quick glance around, Artemisia begins to rocket
 down across the surface-district structures, tacking towards a rather
 questionable replica of an Aztec temple some distance away.

</poem>
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Kaiju Navi with Escudo Q Missiles!
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has completed their actions for the round.
 
 <Pose Tracker> Brera Sterne has posed.
<poem>

A smirk touches across Brera's face as the battle blossoms around him. His
 missiles exploding into the bodies of his alien adversaries, and theirs unable
 to touch him as he darts and weaves through their return assault with expert
 precision. The speed Lucifer sails at and the angles it whips around on to
 accomplish this should rattle an ordinary pilot into sludge. But not a cyborg.

His flight path burrows into the swarm and darling loops back out around to
 circle the perimeter, a flying herding dog (an attack dog) as he tries to cut
 off their approach toward the colony. The large beam rifle carried under the
 Lucifer remains quiet. It's the guns on his dorsal that light up with bright,
 neon energy, opening firing into the vajra.

"&lt;You're late&gt;," he tells Alto.

But every motion is aggressive, not protective. It's nearly happenstance that
 he may be diverting attention from the colony. Brera's intentions are to
 destroy as many as possible with merciless pursuit into their numbers.

Ranka's voice softens the smug look on Brera's face. It is true. It will be
 true. ...Why does her repeating it matter?

Then, she sings. It isn't Aimo, but Ranka's voice flows through with emotion
 all the same.

Ranka's voice... and her image in a Sombrero hat. Brera squints at the image,
 speaking his judgments only to himself.

"...Silly girl."

</poem>
 KTS: Brera Sterne has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
 KTS: Brera Sterne targets Kaiju Navi with Mauler Storm!
 KTS: Brera Sterne has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi successfully evades Yurika Misumaru's Gravity Blast -
  Charging...
 
 <Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
<poem>

        The Greif jostles and shakes, tossing Treize Claus around like a bowl
 full of jelly as the unit whines and sparks at being snatched by the claws of
 the Heavy soldier , the tether to the Rabscuttle being disconnected before the
 damage to the tether becomes to much.

        The Greif struggles and manages to reach it's beam saber, igniting the
 blade and begins to work to hack it's way out of the death grip that the Heavy
 Soldier is attempting to inflict. However just like his compatriot believes,
 Treize is not done and continues to flick the beam saber rapidly trying to cut
 the soldier's claws enough to free himself. \

        While trying to cut himself free Treize  is actively paying attention
 to Vitaly's comment and takes action opening the comm channel to broadcast to
 the area, &lt;"Greif to the Nadesico, Treize Khushrenada to the Nadesico. Please
 include us in your attack coordination, also the Rabscuttle noted we are
 looking for one unit leading the rest, if your sensors can pinpoint which one
 that is we will be able to end this fight sooner."&gt;
</poem>

 KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Kaiju Navi with Beam Saber 100 Combo!
 KTS: Treize Khushrenada has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov anchors Kaiju Navi, forcing it into close range.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to evade Vitaly Sokolov's Hrududu II - Claw Grab, taking
  5100 damage!

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Kaiju Navi!
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov continues a Formation attack!
 
 <Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
<poem>
        Ruri reads about the state of the world in her spare time, and she has
 to say that neither the REA nor the Britannian Union are particularly stellar,
 in her eyes. They both tell their people ''what to do.''

        Even so, she's glad that Artemisia and Vitaly are helping them, today.

        She monitors the Dianthus's systems -- and its lack of sentience is
 little barrier for ''her,'' who feels the emotions of even basic machines. Even
 if the Dianthus isn't curious about the world, she's still concerned for it!
 "You're doing well," she asides, surprisingly supportive, to the machine.
 Since she's speaking out loud, Lucine might hear, just the same.

        Her stoic appraisal of the battlefield is interrupted, though -- as a
 hat impacts the screen, bounces, and settles on Ruri's head. She blinks, once.
  Twice.

        "Catch," she echoes, in that particular Japanese way of 'I caught it!'
 rather than 'you'd better catch it'

        Her expression gentles, as Omoikane proposes an idea to Ranka -- offers
 her agency, in the middle of something so frightening to her. It's actually
 kind of funny... how he'd propose a song he was such a fan of.

        (Minato, their helmswoman, takes a moment to flash Ranka a big
 thumbs-up. "Nice!")

        When Trieze contacts them, Megumi's recognisable face -- speckled with
 freckles, her purple hair all tied up, she used to be a ''voice actress'' before
 she became their communications officer -- appears in a communication window,
 to him. "Nadesico to Greif, we hear you. We'll transmit the data now!" She
 looks to the side, and asks: "Ruri, can you..?"

        "Yes," Ruri responds, pressing her hands to her console. (The IFS
 connection is much, much faster than typing ever could be.) "Now transmitting
 evasive data to allied units." She reaches out to those Federation units, to
 advise their machines, just the same.

</poem>
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Vitaly Sokolov, Treize Khushrenada, and Artemisia ka
  Britannia with Caution.

 KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Vitaly Sokolov's Intuition!
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Artemisia ka Britannia's Intuition!
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Treize Khushrenada's Intuition!

 <Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
<poem>
        Lucine spoke too soon. Calling the bluff of the Mobile Soldiers, Lucine
 is on the losing end, recieving half her share of sharp claws against the
 Dianthus's chassis.

        &lt; ".... Gh!" &gt; Impossibly fluid black wax streams down the screen and
 onto the dash, welling under the controls. She is stuck inside, with the
 vacuum of space being the only safe harbor.

        Lucine breathes, and the wax is gone, a product of her own mind.       
  Whereever a paranoid Newtype goes, a witch is not needed in order to see past
 trauma.

        Besides, space isn't safe, she's covered in Vajra. Also, is Ranka
 singing....? &lt; "Ah.... I think I get it.... is that.... the theme to
 Gekiganger? The show Akito watches." &gt;

        Lucine is catching up! &lt; "Thank you, Ruri." &gt; The dianthus spinning in
 Ruri's mind's eye spins just a tad bit faster for the compliment.

        Imitating Akito's LETSUGO PASSION, Lucine delivers a yell of her own,
 trying to cover for the fellow Martian by attacking the other end of the same
 Vajra with two graceful swipes of her glaive, running a slivery criss cross
 against the larger Vajra's backside. &lt; "Heeeeya!" &gt;
</poem>

 KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
 KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with CL0-V3 Glaive Crescent Cross!
 KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia enervates Kaiju Navi, reducing its Morale
  significantly.

 KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to intercept Artemisia ka Britannia's Escudo Q Missiles,
  taking 7080 damage!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's Let this moment last forever
  activates, causing Sparkle!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's The Hunter's Song activates,
  causing Deject!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's Perfection of Movement activates,
  causing Nullify!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to evade Brera Sterne's Mauler Storm, taking 5250 damage!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi retreats from the attack!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Treize Khushrenada's Beam Saber 100 Combo,
  taking 4230 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Lucine Azul's CL0-V3 Glaive Crescent Cross, taking 1320
  damage!

 KTS: Lucine Azul has engaged Kaiju Navi!
 
 <Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
<poem>
        The Neo Mexico colony's defenders are thankfully no longer struggling
 so badly under the Vajra assault. Now that they have additional support.
 However, the arrival of said support has only slowed the Vajra advance across
 and around the colony. If they aren't dealt with quickly, they're going to
 spread too far to contain effectively. The Nadesico in particular, with its
 heightened battlefield awareness, will be able to tell that the Vajra are
 focusing their pushes towards any openings into the colony.

        Which is exactly why Captain Misumaru's plan is probably the smartest
 move they can make at this point. Even as the smaller Vajra are trying to claw
 their way through the Nadesico's hull-Akito and Alto's efforts to stop them
 certainly hampering their progress-the Nadesico charges its patented Gravity
 Blast Cannon. The rise in energy seems to turn some heads though, Vajra heads
 to be specific. A few of the larger Heavy Soldiers turn their attention to the
 Nadesico, their beady eyes observing it for a moment. Seemingly recognizing
 the threat, they rush down to land on the colony's surface and dig their claws
 in. The large bio-cannons on their back begin to crackle, charging up. At this
 point it's almost like a race to see who can fire first! A race which the
 Vajra win. The group of Heavy Soldiers unleash several charged bursts of
 golden bio-energy towards the Nadesico.

        The Heavy Soldier targetted by the Rabscuttle finds itself grabbed in
 those claws. The biomechanical creature tries to hold back against the force
 of the squeezing claws with its limbs. And for a moment it looks like it
 might. But the added firepower from the Leos weakens the Heavy Soldier to the
 point where it can no longer resist. The claws close, crushing and ripping
 through the alien which quickly goes still from the damage... Until it starts
 to thrash, rapidly! The large cannon on its back begins to crackle with
 energy, glowing brighter and brighter and brighter. Its energy levels are
 rising rapidly. It's going to explode!

        Alto grits his teeth as his gunpod tries to gun down a Mobile Soldier,
 the Gekiganger theme song starting to play in his ear. He hasn't seen the
 show, no matter how often Akito tries to make him. 'What's their
 vulnerability, man?' With his focus on aiming, Alto's reply is a bit rushed,
 &lt;"No idea! Shoot them till they die. Then some more for good measure. Even
 taking off their heads doesn't stop them."&gt;

        This seems to work for Artemisia, as her missiles explode against the
 Mobile Soldiers that had been harassing her despite attempts to shoot them
 down. Maybe missiles are their weakness? Regardless, their strength is clearly
 numbers as more of the smaller Vajra rush down to take the place of those that
 exploded, attempting to use said numbers to overwhelm Artemisia from all
 directions with a combination of gun fire and micro-missiles.

        The rapid beam fire from the Lucifer's guns rip through several Vajra
 in quick succession, causing them to explode in violent blooms of golden
 light. The deaths draw the attention of a Heavy Soldier that quickly gives
 chase after the agile VF. As it does so it raises one of its arms, the
 bio-machine gun within folding out and beginning to unleash a rapid stream of
 bullets at its target.

        Treize struggles against the grip of the Heavy Soldier holding him.
 Managing to unleash its beam saber, it cuts through a joint in one of the red
 Vajra's limbs, severing it and seemingly causing the Vajra pain. It releases
 its grip instinctively, rapidly backing up for a moment. Despite its injury,
 it doesn't relent as it charges back in again. There's no grab this time, just
 speed as it attempts to slam into the Grief and carry it crashing into the
 colony's surface.

        Trieze's request to the Nadesico does bring some attention back to the
 source of the Vajra. Turns out it's a derelict. A wreck of some old ship,
 possibly a transport. It appears to still have power to some degree, though
 intermitent, which explains the flashing lights the original videos had
 showed. The derelict appears abandoned though, having been left by the Vajra
 it has simply floated past the colony. Gripped by the Earth's gravity, it will
 no doubt fall at this point, likely to burn up in re-entry. Unfortunately,
 this seems to dismiss the idea of a single controlling leader. At least as far
 as anyone here is aware.

        Lucine charges one of the Heavy Soldiers with a cry and a glaive. The
 former can't be heard by the creature because space. The latter is met by two
 of the creature's arms which come up to meet the weapon, the heavy armor on
 them keeping it from inflicting much in the way of damage. Lucine is then
 treated to a disturbing sight: The large cannon on the creature's back
 swiveling and lowering to aim towards her at close range. Golden light
 crackles for a few moments as it charges, before firing the blast of
 bio-energy at point blank!

</poem>
 KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Yurika Misumaru with Vajra Bio-Cannon Tearing Shot!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Vitaly Sokolov with Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Vajra Mobile Soldiers
  Coordinated Encirclement!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Brera Sterne with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Reckless
  Stream!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Lucine Azul with Vajra Bio-Cannon Close Impact!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Treize Khushrenada with Vajra Armored Claws Heavy
  Impact!

 KTS: Yurika Misumaru partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Tearing
  Shot, taking 3990 damage!

 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to charge.
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Mobile Soldiers
  Coordinated Encirclement, taking 5880 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi rattles Brera Sterne, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
 KTS: Brera Sterne fails to evade Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Reckless
  Stream, taking 5980 damage!

 KTS: Ranka Lee orders an all-out attack, raising Lucine Azul's Skill!
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov parries Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Self Destruct, taking
  870 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Vitaly Sokolov!
 KTS: Lucine Azul rushes into the attack!
 KTS: Lucine Azul partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Close Impact,
  taking 5280 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Lucine Azul!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Treize Khushrenada fails to Evade Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Heavy
  Impact, taking 4290 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi repulses Treize Khushrenada, forcing him to disengage.

 <Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
<poem>
&lt;"Spasibo, Commander. Nadesico."&gt; Vitaly remarks, as not moments later she
 starts getting a flood of data from the Nadesico. Without a crew available to
 seperate out the data, Vitaly is having to do quick readings. But soon, the
 information starts flowing into the BUNNyS System, creating new movement
 sequences for the woman to work into the current battle.

Notably, she spots one particular blip, as the Heavy Soldier begins its
 detonation. The massive claw immediately shifts, the entire Rabscuttle using
 its established momentum against the colony to suddenly turn, flinging the
 Heavy Soldier away. Thanks to Ruri's evasive details, throwing it into a
 sector of the battle that consists of no allied forces. The sudden explosion
 is blinding, obscuring the entirety of the Rabscuttle for a moment..

&lt;"Releasing all Leo units from Rabscuttle. Rabscuttle Seperation Sequence."&gt;

Only for it to suddenly be rocketing towards earth, seperated from Vitaly's
 personal unit. Multiple commands are being given to the Support vessel - which
 is rushing right for the 'vessel' upon which the Vajra had arrived moments
 ago. Between herself giving remote commands, and the Co-Pilot on the
 Rabscuttle, what follows are sweeping lasers parsing through space. The
 Rabscuttle having to go at high speeds to keep up and intercept it, while the
 Hazel Gundam - which has undocked from it - remains near one of the colony
 entrances, revving up a massive machinegun, slowly tearing through some of the
 smaller troops.

Vitaly has an upper limit of how many things she can parse and do at the same
 time. But she trusts the co-pilot to execute the remainder of the Rabscuttle's
 commands.

In the distance, beam after beam sweeps near the vessel moving towards earth.
 Beams reflecting through the remaining Mega Beam Launcher's side parts, trying
 to cut across its hull like a chef trying to chop ingredients up, before
 launching a larger beam blast.
</poem>

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with 3-Barrel Beam Cannon Fingers!
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Vitaly Sokolov's 3-Barrel Beam Cannon Fingers, taking
  5760 damage!

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Kaiju Navi!
 
 <Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.
<poem>
        The airwaves fill with the sound of a...slightly familiar song. A
 rallying call from Ranka - the Gekiganger theme song. Akito, for one, is fired
 up all the more - capping off the theme's chorus with his own fierce "LET'S
 GEKIGAN FLAAAAARE!!!" on a particularly big Vajra before it tries to eat a
 hole into the Nadesico's undebelly. The Distortion Field-wrapped punch from
 the pink Aestivalis tears a hole clean through the center - and he's off to
 yet another horrible space bug in swift order, just a little bit in that
 'traumatized by space monsters berserker rage' mode.

        Yurika . . . has to put on a slightly brave face. Why this anime!! Why
 is it always Gekiganger. It's just some old toy commercial! ...but she can't
 get on that to ''Ranka''. She can't crush an innocent girl's hopes and dreams
 like that!! Or can she?! No, she can't! ...but maybe-

        The captain claps her cheeks to focus, shaking her head free of such
 petty concerns. "Alrighty! We're ready for the big bang, aren't we? Gravity
 Blast on full charge...it looks like we're locked and loaded!~ These critters
 might be tough to handle, but we're about to blast 'em where the sun don't
 shine! All cowpokes, at the rea-"

        "Captain, ''please''?" chimes in Minato Haruka, blipping in a little
 window in front of Yurika's face even though she's physically in the same room
 (albeit, it's a big room!) "Not sure what's gotten into you, but now's not the
 time to overdo it, alright?"

        It's enough to make Yurika recoil a little bit, the color draining from
 her face. If Minato's being stern... "...hai. Yes. Understood. Sorry about
 that. Mhm. I've got the angle we want to fire at, so. ...Please fire the
 Gravity Blast. Pretty please."

        That extremely non-bombastic request heralds a warning to the
 Nadesico's allies about the imminent firing of that most expected great column
 of light - and it surges out once they're out of the way - the whirling,
 strangely-hued column of gravitons lighting up the inkiness of space - and set
 to place a veritable star across the Vajra's false Christmas tree!

        ...Momentarily, Yurika does pipe in a comms window, to Lucine, not too
 long after that...vision, of hers. "...Uhm. ...For some reason, just now, I
 felt a very strong urge to make sure you're okay. ...You're okay, right? I'll
 be sure to make you a good cup of hot cocoa when you get back, so don't push
 too hard out there!"
</poem>

 KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru targets Kaiju Navi with Gravity Blast - Full Power!
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru has completed their actions for the round.

 <Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.
<poem>

Signals come in from the Nergal ship. Artemisia glances at them, head bobbing
 just a little as the KMF continues to accelerate towards that pyramid. It
 actually swerves to a separate approach vector.

The weakness seems to be 'shoot them until they die.' "Fair enough," Artemisia
 says, as she bears downwards. Accelerate, accelerate - ah, but they're there,
 aren't they? They're coming towards her. "That's right, you red bastards,"
 Artemisia says, "this is the threat you've brought upon you. I hope you're
 ready--!!"

One of them leaps from the top of a spire and nearly brings the Skathi down,
 smashing down with claws that make the machine lurch. It's eerily silent other
 than the THUMP, although there are some signal noises from the control
 interface -- efficient haptics in space mode, don't you know -- but Artemisia
 steers to scrape it off the side. A rain of incoming bullets -

Vault! Leap upwards - snap out a Harken to grip onto the side of some damn
 greeble or other (it's actually the sealed extension of a residential
 structure; Artemisia narrowly avoids smashing through a window while using the
 Harkens for maneuver) and then downwards, nearer to the surface. A burst of
 the thrusters to ensure she's ON them because she's using the drive to
 accelerate --

Another soldier leaps. This one's coming from the less-visually-impaired side
 of Artemisia -- she raises up the shield &#42;and the damn thing lands on it
 entirely&#42;.

Impulse makes Artemisia try to hurl it away but the KMF's arm is seized by
 horrid foreparts of some kind she can't quite make out. There's a great
 snapping tear, a burst of gas and explosive charges, and now -- one armed --
 the machine screams further forwards.

"Tsk... ha... HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA," Artemisia shouts, "You idiot bug! That's
 the arm you should have left me! Make me SCRAMBLE for this!" One last little
 bunny hop and -

Up the quasi-pyramid's steps -- no, the smoothed stone alongside it, the
 simulant limestone providing a perfect ramp. The KMF clears the top of the
 pyramid, the thruster pack kicking in as it keeps going, banking slightly to
 the left.

No, slightly more.

"You can't hide from me at this angle, you little &#42;&#42;&#42;&#42;s!"

IN THE CONTROL ROOM

"My, my, she does get excited," Olivia says, fanning herself. "But I think I
 know what's about to happen~!"

Charite, who has been told she is not permitted to say such words until she is
 old enough to fight her own mother, folds her arms in frustration.

BACK OUT THERE:

It's silent - not even very flashy, in the vacuum of space - but Artemisia has
 eight of these great darts, and in this situation she can simply float by,
 like a wolf hunter in a helicopter, and hurtle thunderbolts from on high. The
 solenoid bow uses a great crack of electricity to propel the darts
 magnetically.

They won't even see it coming!

</poem>
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Kaiju Navi with Pilium Coup-de-grace!
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has completed their actions for the round.
 
 <Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
<poem>

        The Greif is sent flying back as the Heavy Soldier slams into it and
 Treize's body reactively tenses up in preperation for the impact as the unit
 hits the ground with a thud and a nice Greif imprint in the surface of the
 colony.  Treize has the Greif lay there for a moment as he gathers himself.
 "Twas a night not  before christmas and all through the colony the kaijus were
 crawling." Taking a deep breath he begins to get the unit up.

         "All the colonist were stirring for they needed protection. " Gripping
 the beam saber the Greif raises it and points it at the Heavy soldier, "My
 unit is damage and will soon need care, but the colonist are expecting a hero
 to soon be here."

         The poem is said mostly for himself to help get him back into the
 fighting spirit  as he takes a deep breath, removing the santa hat for a
 moment and runs his hand through his hair making sure it is back before
 returning its hat to it's previous location. &lt;" I know you are all doing your
 best, but we can not afford to lose here, if you are holding anything back for
 reasons I ask of you to remember that lives are at stake. "&gt;

        The thrusters of the Greif glow as it lifts off the surface and
 launches itself back towards the heavy soldier attempting to drive the beam
 saber into it.
</poem>

 KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
 KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Accel Spirit Command and Has Engaged
  with Kaiju Navi

 KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Kaiju Navi with Beam Saber 100 Thrust!
 KTS: Treize Khushrenada has completed their actions for the round.

 <Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
<poem>


Even if Brera's judgment is kept to himself, even if he'd vocalized it, Ranka
 would have been happy just to get a reaction out of him at all.

She just enjoys seeing Brera more animated.

Minato gets a thumbs up from Ranka back mid-song.  Whereas her face appears on
 Lucine's screen mid-song, as she nods quickly in confirmation, her singing
 never stopping.

Fortunately there's no innocent girl's dreams involved here.  She learned the
 song because Omoikane likes it, she didn't watch the anime yet.

She breaks into an impromptu dance step, which is no hindrance given the
 headset and Omoikane keeping the 'cameras' on her so to speak.

        "Let's hold tight the Dream, just look towards the future,
        "LET'S GO PASSION
        "Bring down the King of Dark Space Demons!
        "LET'S GO GEKIGANGER 3!"

        "A tears' S.O.S can arrive from everywhere,
        "Burn! Power of Rage and Justice!
        "Run through Galaxy plain's Runaway,
        "All for one Love and Hope are the Warrior's Emblem
        "(JET, MARINE, TANK, ARE GO!)"

While it's not everyone's cup of tea, the song does seem to be hyping up some
 of the pilots at least!  They're definitely working with each other better!

Ranka's face appears on Lucine and Brera's comms midsong purely just to put up
 a V for Victory as if to tell them to win!!!!

</poem>
 KTS: Ranka Lee targets Brera Sterne, Lucine Azul, and Yurika Misumaru with
  Coordinate.

 KTS: Ranka Lee has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Brera Sterne
 KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Lucine Azul
 KTS: Ranka Lee has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Lucine Azul
 KTS: Ranka Lee coordinates maneuvers, raising Brera Sterne's Piloting!
 KTS: Ranka Lee coordinates maneuvers, raising Lucine Azul's Piloting!
 KTS: Ranka Lee coordinates maneuvers, raising Yurika Misumaru's Piloting!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Yurika Misumaru's Gravity Blast - Full Power,
  taking 10530 damage!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Yurika Misumaru's I've Got a Plan! activates, causing
  Control Bonus!

 <Pose Tracker> Brera Sterne has posed.
<poem>

"&lt;Your attacks will have limited effectiveness,&gt;" Brera states over
 communications, lacking urgency. "&lt;As the Vajra take damage, they share data
 with one another and learn to evolve against weapons used against them. Vary
 your attacks, but understand a greater weapon is necessary.&gt;"

Vajra burst and die from Lucifer's fire, and Brera watches. As it should be.

His eyes widen a fraction when the Heavy Soldier breaks from the pack. Lucifer
 twists on a pin to escape, but its minute shifts left and right are not
 enough. Bullets smash into the hull, tearing dents across it as Brera growls.
 Lucifer's Fighter form unfurls, shifting and taking shape into a bipedal
 silhouette, arming itself with the rifle the fighter once carried underneath.

Lucifer bursts toward the Heavy Soldier, pivoting gracefully and arcing around
 as he fires a spray of beam bullets in explosive streaks of neon violet. They
 aim to smash into his new adversary, but with plentiful fire for the 'missed'
 shots to still fire into the swarm beyond.

He flies to the tune of Ranka's singing, 'silly' and ridiculous as he may find
 it to be. But let him not protest too much: something in his heart stirs with
 it, Brera's expression, well, ''existing at all'' as he balks at the image he
 receives from Ranka on screen.

"Huh...?!" Stare. Staaaare. "&lt;I-I have no intention of losing. This is...
 unnecessary...&gt;"

Uncertainty is an unconvincing tone.

</poem>
 KTS: Brera Sterne has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
 KTS: Brera Sterne has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Brera Sterne targets Kaiju Navi with Angle Shooting!
 KTS: Brera Sterne has completed their actions for the round.

 <Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
<poem>
        "Now coordinating Gravity Blast parameters," Ruri reports, to Yurika.
 "Firing."

        Brera's machine -- and, subsequently, Brera, given how closely aligned
 they are -- may get the distinct sensation that someone ''else'' entirely
 focused on the battlefield is checking in on them. He says he has no intention
 of losing. "Even so," oh, it's Ruri, in her communication window, now wearing
 a silly hat with her same flat expression, "I'm transmitting targeting data
 now."

        To the Dianthus, she adds: "The Vajra are searching for openings.
 Please continue to lay down confounding fire."

        And when her face appears on ''Akito's'' screen, Ruri says, completely
 deadpan: "Let's go in progress."

</poem>
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Lucine Azul, Yurika Misumaru, and Brera Sterne with
  All-Out.

 KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino orders an all-out attack, raising Brera Sterne's Skill!
 KTS: Ruri Hoshino orders an all-out attack, raising Yurika Misumaru's Skill!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to rush.
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia enervates Kaiju Navi, reducing its Morale
  significantly.

 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia rattles Kaiju Navi, making its next maneuvers more
  difficult.

 KTS: Kaiju Navi partially guards Artemisia ka Britannia's Pilium Coup-de-grace,
  taking 6720 damage!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's Let this moment last forever
  activates, causing Sparkle!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's The Hunter's Song activates,
  causing Deject!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Artemisia ka Britannia's Perfection of Movement activates,
  causing Nullify!

 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has engaged Kaiju Navi!

 <Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
<poem>
         Akito isn't the only one in 'traumatized by space monsters' mode,
 though for Lucine, it hasn't quite translated to berserker rage. Her survival
 on the fields of Mars was build on a high-strung gauntlet of evasion and
 hiding, as well as lots of screaming. So, perhaps, in that way, it's still
 very similar.

        The creature's biocannon swivels downwards as its arms grip her glaive.
 For a moment, staring up at it, Lucine sees another type of chitinous invader
 with cannons, mindlessly attacking whatever it comes across like locusts in a
 field.

        And in that moment, Lucine lets out a stifled scream, the Dianthus
 twisting away with a rough jerk just as the blast hits With the Dianthus
 doubling backwards to avoid another attack, sweat staples a strand of hair
 against Lucine's forehead, inaccessible due to her helmet.

        '...Uhm. ...For some reason, just now--' Lucine meets Yurika's comms
 window with a surprised glance, which is subsumed by embarrassment. "....
 Sorry," she says, to the private comms window. "... I got too cocky. Though,
 ah... Yurika... say, ah, are you...?" Ranka's V for victory plays in the
 opposite screen as Lucine trails off. She smiles, giving a silent nod to
 Ranka. "... It's nothing. I'll do my best, Captain Misumaru!"

        Hearing Ruri's warning, Lucine turns the wider radio band on. &lt; "Ah,
 roger that. The Dianthus's meters are running low. I'm going to deliver my
 strongest offensive attack before heading back; I'll support from the bridge."
 &gt; Santa Treize may be disappointed, but Lucine simply gives a small smile. &lt;
 ".... With the Nadesico here to give presents, Mr. Claus, I imagine we will soon 
 no longer have a Vajra problem. But for now, the final act." &gt;

        Twisting in the void of space, the Dianthus lets loose a tightly banded
 burst of glowing magenta firepower. The shots spiral out and arc around in a
 pirouettes of sparkling explosions if and where they hit Vajra forces,
 settling around like a blizzard of bright sparks, letting the Dianthus
 withdraw backwards.
</poem>

 KTS: Lucine Azul targets Kaiju Navi with Lacrimosa!
 
 KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.
 
 KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Treize Khushrenada's Beam Saber 100 Thrust, taking 4180
  damage!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's Battlefield Prodigy activates, causing
  Insight L1!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's To Defy Destiny activates, causing
  Sparkle!

 KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Treize Khushrenada's Intended Target activates, causing
  Nullify!

 KTS: Treize Khushrenada has engaged Kaiju Navi!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Brera Sterne's Angle Shooting, taking 2940 damage!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi blocks Lucine Azul's Lacrimosa, taking 3750 damage!
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Resupply Spirit Command.

 <Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
<poem>
        It does seem like the battle is turning in the favour of the defenders!
 The Vajra numbers are beginning to dwindle. And so far indications are that
 none have been able to make it inside the colony. Which is a good thing. The
 last thing anyone needs is something as large as the Neo Mexico colony being
 turned into a Vajra hive.

        Vitaly splits her attention somewhat. Her support unit is sent rushing
 after the derelict that had floated by. They begin to carve it into pieces
 where their beams, causing secondary detonations. And sure enough, as the
 derelict is being lit up, several Vajra comes rushing out of it trying to
 escape the devestation. Only to fail, they themselves dying along with the
 rest of the derelict.

        Having seen what happened during a brief lull, Alto breathes a quick
 sigh of relief, "That could have been bad..."

        Meanwhile, the Hazel Gundam itself continues to engage the Vajra at the
 colony, its machine gun shredding a number of the smaller ones. But they don't
 take the deaths lightly, more closing in on him from multiple directions and
 unleashing a large barrage of their missiles!

        The Nadesico's Gravity Blast Cannon fires at the crescendo of Ranka's
 singing. The massive beam of energy rushes outwards from the ship, carving
 through space above the colony. It's a good thing Ruri's so perfect. You
 wouldn't want to miss aim that... The Vajra, small and large alike, engfuled
 in the energy are simply torn apart, disintegrating until there is practically
 nothing left.

        That one shot just wiped out a good third of the remaining Vajra.
 Dozens of Vajra lives extinguished in a single moment.

        At this moment... There is a distinct shift in the Vajra movements.
 They stop their pushes towards the colony. The smaller Mobile Soldiers pause
 before doing a quick 180 and beginning to fly AWAY from it. The Heavy Soldiers
 though...

        The remaining Heavy Soldiers not currently engaged with others group up
 into formation together. Floating in the void, they focus their attention on
 the Nadesico. The cannons on their backs charge and then fire, a deluge of
 golden light conveying incredible amounts of energy rush towards the Nergal
 ship.

        Artemisia's darts crack through several of the smaller Mobile Soldiers
 as they flee. One of the Heavies even finds itself with a large hole through
 its body, though unlike its brethren it manages to intends to keep fighting.
 It charges Artemisia, deadly sharp claws. As it reaches her it tries to plunge
 the claws right through the Knightmare and Artemisia herself!

        Treize's beam saber pierces through the center of the Heavy Soldier.
 The creature spasms, before turning its arms towards him. Bio-machine guns
 begin to unleash round after round towards him, trying to finish him off even
 as his blade pieces through it.

        The Lucifer and its Heavy Soldier opponent end up spiraling around each
 other. Brera's beams rip into the creature while it retaliates with barrages
 of missiles that streak out and try to chase the VF. It's clear that only one
 of them is going to get out of this clash intact!

        Lucine makes her way across space, magenta shots lighting up the sky as
 several of the Mobile Soldiers explode from the firepower. But her system
 quickly alerts her to a threat as a Heavy Soldier comes rushing in towards her
 from behind. Its claws open up, arms reaching out as it attempts to grab hold
 of the Dianthus's limbs. And if it succeeds, its large tail curls up,
 threatening spike on the end point towards the machine's center. The Vajra
 then sends its tail lancing forward, trying to pierce it through its prey.

        As the Heavy Soldiers make their last ditched attacks against the
 colony's defenders, ripples of light begin to form in space just beyond their
 smaller brethren. The Mobile Soldiers fly into them, engulfed and vanishing,
 leaving behind only sparkles.

        Breathing heavily, Alto turns his head to watch the motes of light in
 the distance, &lt;"They're leaving..."&gt;

</poem>
 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Vitaly Sokolov with Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Explosive
  Dance!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Vajra Armored Claws
  Sharpened Crush!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Treize Khushrenada with Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping
  Barrage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Brera Sterne with Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles Guiding
  Swarm!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Lucine Azul with Vajra Armored Claws Sharpened Crush!
 KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi targets Yurika Misumaru with Vajra Bio-Cannon Charged Assault!
 KTS: Yurika Misumaru fails to react to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Cannon Charged
  Assault, taking 4590 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi roots its unit, coming to a standstill and leaving it
  vulnerable.

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov fails to rush.
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov partially guards Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles
  Explosive Dance, taking 6500 damage!

 KTS: Treize Khushrenada blocks Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Machine Guns Ripping
  Barrage, taking 2400 damage!

 KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting
  Vitaly Sokolov

 KTS: [Lucky] Brera Sterne's Rival of Ares activates, and luck goes his way!
 KTS: Brera Sterne successfully evades Kaiju Navi's Vajra Bio-Micro-Missiles
  Guiding Swarm

 KTS: Ruri Hoshino orders an all-out attack, raising Lucine Azul's Skill!
 KTS: Lucine Azul retreats from the attack!
 KTS: Lucine Azul fails to react to Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws Sharpened
  Crush, taking 6480 damage!

 KTS: Lucine Azul has been defeated!

 <Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
<poem>
Brera Sterne begins to explain the matter of the Vajra, notably showing a
 significant amount of knowledge and understanding of their enemy where nobody
 else did. He can't see it, but within the cockpit of the Hazel Proto -
 undocked from the Rabscuttle - her brow furrows with all the wrinkles of an
 old woman.

&lt;"I have greater weapon."&gt; Vitaly Sokolov answers Brera, clearly not
 understanding the point he was making. &lt;"Not meet many alien or bug who do not
 fall to bigger weapon."&gt; As the Hazel Proto lands onto the 'hull' of the
 enormous Neo-Mexico colony, and turns its head 'up' towards the swarm of Vajra
 as they continue to be thinned out by the allies of the Federation.

The sizable and unbalanced looking Hazel Proto shifts its body around, the
 massive gatling cannon continueing to fire at the bugs. Careful and
 considerate not to fire any bullets in the direction of earth, worried about
 any kind of consequences of firing towards the Gravity Well itself.

Something something Sir Isaac Newton.

The enormous Gravity Cannon's wave tearing across so many of them truly makes
 Vitaly Sokolov both smile, and grimace at the same time. Such an awe-some
 weapon, yet it is in the hands of what is basically a civilian organization.
 And that much is truly worrisome. One can only imagine what a fleet of
 Nadesico class ships could do within the earth's sphere. It's a good thing
 that the weapon reportedly doesn't function as well within atmosphere.

The Dianthus dances, its magenta beams casting through space. Vajra that bend
 off towards the colony immediately being intercepted. But she's not yet
 moving, until she gets a reading back from the Rabscuttle, keeping a lasercomm
 as well as she can. Moving from this location will make it hard to maintain
 communications.

Multiple small arms can constantly be seem moving along the shoulders of the
 Hazel Proto, removing things from the absolutely massive weapon containers on
 its shoulders. Pulling out new ammo supplies to feed the 120mm Machine Gun,
 and pulling enormous missiles out of them as two sizable launchers come up
 from its back.

Then, as the detonation takes place of the vessel - the Vajra trying to 'sneak'
 onto earth decimated by the support vessel, Vitaly's attention turns to the
 forefront of the battle.

~"Engaging to safe distance to use N-Type WMD Weapon Type - Command, requesting
 permission"~ Vitaly establishes a private commlink with Treize Kushrenada.

Launchers that look remarkably like the ones used by the Federation to assault
 Junius 7, many years ago. More notably, what is being pulled out of the cargo
 containers...

Orange noses, a black ring, pale long bodies. Barely readable markings on them,
 that speak to their ominous nature.

A vessel like the Nadesico would immediately start getting readings from these
 missiles. Horrific readings that speak to the readiness and willingness of
 G-Hound to deal with massive space bugs with utter and complete finality.

As the Hazel Proto suddenly breaks formation entirely, and begins to move
 straight into the swarm of the Vajra! Heavy Soldiers tearing into the Hazel
 Proto, as its I-Field comes up. Some of the beam blasts being held back, while
 other smaller ones begin to swarm around the machine. But the Hazel Proto
 shows a remarkable bit of precision in its movement unlike the Daedalus.
 Avoiding attacks of finality.

Sparks fly across the machine, while Vitaly signals.

&lt;"TO ALL COMBATANT, please keep a distance of about fifty kilometers from my
 current position."&gt; Is the only warning they get as the machine proceeds
 closer towards the Fold windows open up. Another twosome of massive rockets
 are being prepared by the Hazel mid-flight, as the approval comes in.

As Vitaly whispers; "Forgive me."

Not moments, before the first rockets fly.

There's a momentary silence in space...

Then, an eerie white glow suddenly forms ahead of the Hazel Proto. A sphere of
 utter decimation that suddenly grows. Then a second..

A third...

As the shape of those missiles come to the forefront --
 https://i.imgur.com/uCLud9D.png

As horror visits space, as a terrifying weapon once again sees use.

A fourth sphere of light, before radiation and EMP spring forth.

And for some, memories that the Federation would rather ignore, due to how
 uncomfortable they are.

The screens within the Proto Hazel goes dark to protect against the pale light.
 Geiger counters within the Hazel Proto go off, and Vitaly checks for the
 status of the radiation protection within the cockpit. The metalic plating on
 her suit glinting with subtle green glow.
</poem>

 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Kaiju Navi with Long Tube!
 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has completed their actions for the round.
 KTS: Kaiju Navi fails to react to Vitaly Sokolov's Long Tube, taking 8320
  damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi has been defeated!

 <Pose Tracker> Brera Sterne has posed.
<poem>

If only Heavy Soldier or Brera will make it out intact, then Brera has already
 determined who it will be from the start.

Lucifer lifts its beam rifle, color bleeding through its barrel until it glows
 in brilliant neon. It opens up, splitting apart to allow a greater flow of
 energy as Brera calculates precisely the time he needs to charge it against
 the vajra's movements. The beam rifle fires before the vajra can hope to reach
 him, a massive beam of energy exploding into it and puncturing through with a
 powerful, piercing blow.

It is but one of countless many.

The Vajra pose a great threat, greater than Brera believes the fighters here
 will truly recognize, even with his attempted warning. They think their
 weapons are great enough, powerful enough, to decimate the vajra defenses.
 Foolish. But more foolish, perhaps, to do nothing. So let them use their
 'great weapons', let them kill as many vajra as they are able, and he will
 follow the one who can lead them to true victory in time.

He doesn't have a choice.

Brera, and Lucifer, lower the beam rifle, watching the rockets fly, and light
 takes over everything. Then Lucifer folds back up, compact and in its
 plane-like fighter form before launching off and away from a battlefield where
 he is no longer needed, leaving only a glowing trail in his wake.

No farewell or confirmation of disengagement, official or otherwise, is
 provided over communication channels.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
<poem>

Brera and Lucine's reactions earn a smile even as she keeps singing.  However-

The moment the gravity blast cannon tears into the Vajra, killing a third of
 them-

"A dream is calling for tom-NNNNhaaaaaaaaaa!"

The song is interrupted immediately, by a heartbeat that feels ephemeral. 
 Ranka stumbles, arms clutching her abdomen, sweat drenching her brow.

One deep breath after another is taken in, as she tries to recover...

... she isn't given the opportunity.  As the spheres of light form in her
 vision, the first knocks her breathless as she falls to her knees, the
 sensation not as bad as before by itself, but its like she's being punched in
 the gut, upon the second she clenches her teeth...  the third, she can't hold
 it in anymore, and it becomes one prolonged scream of agony,
 "aaaAAAAAAAaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Gravity, usually a boon on ships - is not one now, as she tries to fall on her
 side in the fetal position, still clutching her abdomen, the sombrero rolling
 forlornly off of her head."

</poem>
 
 <Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.
<poem>
        There's an obvious stillness once nuclear weapons begin launching out
 towards the last remnants of the Vajra. For oh so long, nuclear weaponry has
 been something feared - the judgment to not just raze something to the ground,
 but to leave it harmful long past the point of impact...even if innocents must
 be purged.

        ...That's how it should be, right?

        ...The distinctive shape of those weapons elicits only a slight tipping
 of Yurika's head, even as Jun, Megumi, and Minato hold their breaths. The
 tension in her crew at this weapon...is maybe slightly bewildering to her.

        After all, warfare's salted the earth since time immemorial, hasn't it?
 What makes these so much different? ...What makes her own command - this
 gravity-twisting phenomenon Yurika's been entrusted with handling - any
 different?

        Just which one the people afflicted have had to endure.

        "Phew! That will ''hopefully'' show the Vajra what's what," Yurika chimes
 in, with the same slightly weary but still upbeat tone she tries to end any
 mission on. "Good work, all of you, for defending the colony - I'd hate to
 imagine what tragedy could happen if they'd gotten in. Ruri-chan, you're a
 lifesaver as ever for having everything so ready to go even though me and
 Akito were running late."

        Maybe some on the bridge might think Yurika's strong for going about
 her way. But to her - this was just the use of force against a truly hostile
 enemy.

        It's not like she can say she's totally absolved of causing harm with
 her own entrusted force.

        Ranka-chan, I hope this wasn't too rough to witness - your singing
 definitely kept spiri- Ranka? RANKA?!" Yurika's hands fly up to her face at
 the sight of Ranka doubling over in agony, sucking in a terrified gasp. "Fetch
 the medics immediately! Injury on the bridge!" Yurika huddles down next to
 Ranka, running through the first aid motions of checking for fever, checking
 for obvious injury - assessing if there's something wrong with her pulse, like
 sudden cardiac arrest. -This- is what scares her. Far more than what shape of
 weaponry is used. "I...it'll be okay- emergency services are coming soon. Just
 hang in there...!" Her hand finds Ranka's and grips tightly for stability.
 It's warm, and certain - maybe that's the most important healing that could be
 done of all, if Ranka's affliction isn't one of physical ailment...
</poem>

 <Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.
<poem>

        Treize raises the arms of his unit as the barrage of bio bullets tink
 against the exterior of his unit like rain, behind the enemy he sees the light
 starting to form. A retreat, or perhaps reinforcements. The request comes in
 and Treize takes a moment before he states. ~~"I, Treize Khushrenada, here by
 give my authorization."~~ The voice analyzer would mark his words that he was
 the one that did that. It will require some PR to clean this up later.

         Treize watches his actions, he didn't pull the trigger but he gave the
 word so he might as well have. So he damn well better watch what he had
 created up till the moment of the bright flash. Shielding his eyes at that
 last moment turning away. &lt;"Hazel, you are authorized to return to dock. We
 will proceed with clean up. "&gt; Treize would justify what he had her do later,
 something about human life versus the lives of the kaiju, the innocent vs the
 aggressor, some form of rationalization that would allow him to sleep tonight.
</poem>

 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
 KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to parry Kaiju Navi's Vajra Armored Claws
  Sharpened Crush, taking 5400 damage!

 KTS: Kaiju Navi has engaged Artemisia ka Britannia!

 <Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.
<poem>

Artemisia, for all her unpleasant cackling at each hit, is watching what they
 do. So one sol bow will destroy the little ones, and it puts a hole in the big
 one but it DOESN'T cripple -

Ah.

The Vajra heavy soldier falls upon the Knightmare Frame, which tussles for a
 moment, chain-firing the Harkens to try to knock the damn thing LOOSE but it
 isn't working --

A Neo Mexican camera sweeps to track this scuffle. Olivia ka Britannia holds
 her breath. Charite ka Britannia leans forwards...

Gravity ripples; light distorts; Artemisia gets a leg up, enough to avoid the
 incoming power strike or at least to have it merely scrape the cockpit open
 rather than go THROUGH her - it feels so calm, she thinks, like I'm in the
 ocean - before the sol bow comes up, smashes against the head of the Heavy
 Soldier, and fires.

THUMP.

Silence. Continued life. The hiss of the Normal Suit she is wearing (and it's a
 &#42;very&#42; nice one, let us tell you, dear reader) becomes very palpable.
 Artemisia lifts her head and looks towards --

-- Ah.

The brutally torn-up KMF pivots a little, to put the Heavy Soldier still in the
 clinch between itself and what is to come.

"Huh," Artemisia says, presently, to herself.

"Might as well have gone to the gym." She sounds disappointed, obscurely, but
 the laughter does stop.


</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
<poem>
        A greater weapon...

        "The Rabscuttle is employing nuclear weaponry," Ruri reports, and her
 tone is unmoving, even as Ranka screams in the background.

        (Her heart is not so unmoved.)

        "The Vajra are retreating. Recalling all units for repair." This, too,
 is delivered without inflection. "Yes, Captain." She's a lifesaver. This is
 known.

        "Ranka-san requires medical attention," she goes on, stoic. "Contacting
 medical services now." And she does! Inez is a good doctor, even if her
 empathy could use work; she'll be able to help Ranka. Hopefully.

        Should she be screaming? Should she be shocked?

        She has a job to do.

</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
<poem>
        The nuclear explosions light up the sky around the fleeing Vajra. Some
 have already managed to escape, but the rest are caught in the fury of the
 weapons of mass destruction, leaving practically nothing behind but the
 occasional particle of dust.

        This, combined with the help from everyone else cleaning up the
 stragglers, leads to the final Vajra being eliminated from this part of space.
 It's a bit of a bitter victory, given the lives lost amongst the colony's
 defenders as well as the use of some truly frightening weapons. But it's clear
 that this path was far preferable to the alternative, where the Vajra used the
 colony to nest and grow their numbers to levels that could become unmanageable.

        Alto himself has just finished off the last Vajra in the vicinity of
 the Nadesico when he notices the vast explosions in space. He's honestly not
 all that concerned about the use of those weapons. If the Frontier Fleet had
 chosen to use Reaction weapons in its earlier engagements, perhaps things
 wouldn't have been so bad... The Vajra deserve it anyway. They-

        -Alto's thoughts are interupted by the sound of Ranka's scream through
 the comms. His eyes go wide as he calls out, &lt;"RANKA!"&gt; The Messiah spins
 around, quickly transforming back into fighter mode as its thrusters ignite
 and it starts blasting back towards the Nadesico's hangar.

</poem>
 <Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
<poem>
        Lucine hears Alto's voice. &lt; ".... They're... leaving?" &gt; She almost
 doesn't want to believe it. Why do they send so much on attacking someplace,
 only to leave? Could it be a tactical maneuver, or something else?

        Does she dare to hope?

        The Heavy Soldier manages to rush the Dianthus at that moment, grabbing
 the unit's limbs and leaving its center prone to a spear through with its
 tail. The spears through, hitting the shielding of the cockpit.

        &lt; Flee. Go. &gt;
        &lt; No, she can't leave the Dianthus behind. &gt;

        Before it has another chance to make another spear through, Lucine
 fires a blast of fuel, wheeling around until the Vajra is flung off.

        It's just a few meters she'll need to reach. A blast of fuel, and a
 strange, irregular path to the Nadesico...

        ... avoiding the Hazel, in a subtly rounded arc, a few moments before
 Vitaly's warning is made.

        Lucine couldn't say why she did, in that moment, but when as the
 Dianthus's screen dims the input of the bright explosion, Lucine 's stomach
 churns.

        Her head hurts. She needs to get back. &#42;Now&#42;. Because--

        --Ranka is hurting--
        
        &lt; "... Alto. Get to the Nadesico now. Please. Ranka's hurt." &gt; Lucine
 is too dazed to switch to a private line, though this is quickly corrected by
 the time she follows up with her second message. &lt; "I'll be right behind you.
 Go now." &gt; Sure, it was evident from the way the transmission cut off, but
 there's an urgent, clipped tightness to Lucine's voice that seems to suggest
 an emergency. But what sort of emergency specifically needs Alto?

        The sort of emergency Lucine would sense, of course, but that's a card
 she's not willing to reveal completely.
</poem>
[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Phase 1]]
[[Category:Phase 1, Turn 2]]