2022-07-22: Dangerous Descent P1

• Log: 2022-07-22: Dangerous Descent P1
• Cast: Rau Le Creuset, Lily Jung, Tsugumi Saionji, Setsuko Ohara, Gary Biaggi, Serinas Nikola, Asuka Shikinami Langley, Sophia Mayhew Castellan
• Where: Space
• OOC - IC Date: 22 July 0096
• Summary: A Federation recon fleet goes missing so a rescue team is sent to find them. They do so, but they're not alone as a ZAFT fleet pursues them doggedly in an attempt to keep important information from falling into the Federation's hands.

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<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        "This is the AEU Forces vessel Achilles to command! Do you copy!?
 Achilles to any Federation forces! Are you receiving?"

        "Give it up, Lieutenant. The jamming is too strong. Damnit! What's the
 status of the Saratoga?"

        "Heavy damage to engine pod three, they're falling behind!"

        "How long until we make it to third fleet?"

        "Still sixteen hours out, sir!"

        "... That's too long..."

        Four AEU ships had been on patrol at a point in space roughly between
 Side 2 and Earth. Their last check-in had been uninteresting, with little to
 report. Their next check-in has been overdue for some time. Concerned about
 the fate of their ships, a request goes out for any Federation forces in the
 vicinity to redirect to their last known location.

        Along the way, Minovsky particle counts begin to climb rapidly. Long
 range cameras pick up the flashes of battle occurring nearby. Redirecting, the
 rescue team does indeed find the missing patrol fleet. At least, what remains
 of them.

        Two of the four Clop-class ships that had been scouting the area are
 now on full burn towards Earth. The reason pretty obvious, as two Nazca-class
 ships are trailing behind them. The space between the two forces is
 occasionally marked with lights and, as the rescue team gets closer, the sight
 of mobile weapons engaging each other.

        The Federation ships are clearly running. And ZAFT is clearly chasing
 them.

        Attempts to communicate with the Clops is met only by static. The
 jamming in the area is way beyond normal battle conditions. And the source
 seems to be the ZAFT vessels. They clearly don't want anyone talking in this
 area, as these levels would make communication with anyone outside a couple
 hundred metres practically impossible to comprehend. Which makes contacting
 even their own forces currently battling difficult.

        While the Clop-class at the front is doing a good job of keeping ahead
 of the ZAFT vessels, the one behind is looking a little slow, falling closer
 and closer towards its hunters. Until finally, a pair of beams lance out from
 the forward Nazca, stretching across space and finally finding their mark
 against the trailing Clop. They pierce through the ship's length a good
 distance, secondary explosions start to rip it apart until finally, this area
 of space lights up briefly with the ship's large explosion.

        Watching the exploding ship from the bridge of the forward Nazca, Rau
 nods his head approvingly, before looking towards the ship's operations
 officer, "Status on the other vessel?"

        The reply is curt, "It's managing to maintain its distance from us."

        Rau nods some more, "Understood." He then turns his head for a moment,
 apparently considering something. Before he spins around and pushes himself
 towards the bridge rear, "Tell the hangar to prepare my unit. I'm going out."

        Captain Ades turns in his chair to look at Rau, "Sir?" Rau simply
 flashes Ades a knowing smile before the bridge lift doors shut. Ades stares
 for a moment, before turning back around.

        Just in time for a bridge officer to report, "Additional signatures
 detected on approach. They're not ours!"

        Ades frowns a little thoughtfully, but then replies, "Alert our pilots
 about the approaching forces. Though whether it'll work through the jamming...
 Well, try it anyway."

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji has deployed in AMS-129 Geara Zulu.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.

Lily Jung has been in charge of some of the Jamming so far against the enemy
 Clops classes. The EWAC Zack she pilots providing not only an ability to jam
 outgoing communications, but also the ability to keep Laser Communications
 with the Nazca class.

She only just recently docked with the Nazca, getting refueled and new energy
 forced into the Zack - when the call comes in about additional signatures
 approaching.

The young woman is quick to ready for battle, adjusting her helmet within the
 cockpit. It is not long there-after that the Zack deploys once again,
 extending its EWAC signature across the region to keep the ability to
 communicate low between enemy contacts!

<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.

        Hanging back in the assault force is a Geara Zulu in black and red
 colors. The bright red mono-eye scans back and forth across the battlefield.
 The pilot is looking for signs of runners, incoming reinforcements, enemy
 formations that need to be broken up, and a dozen other 'issues' to be solved.
 Coasting forward with a single pulse of the rear thrusters and then allowing
 momentum to take care of the rest, the Sleeves pilot chooses their target,
 begins charging their beam machinegun. It has been a long time since this
 person has been in live combat, but the old instincts burn through their veins
 like fire. Their body hasn't forgotten anything.

        Taking careful aim, the Zeonic Remnant pilot raises their Beam MG and
 fires so that the powered up shot can take the targeted Federation unit at the
 very edge of its range. Hopefully, that will break the formation they're part
 of, stunning them long enough for a more forward-oriented ally to finish them
 off.

        The thrusters pulse again, sending the Geara Zulu sideways. The
 mono-eye scans back and forth. Picking the next target.

<Pose Tracker> Setsuko Ohara has posed.

Though she spends much of her time attached to the Dreisstrager, Setsuko Ohara
 (Glory Star Test Team, Lunar Military Tactical Research Division) is in fact a
 full member of G-Hound. And that means she gets sent to G-Hound things.

G-Hound things like figuring out why in the world a few Clop-class ships
 suddenly went silent. It could be any number of reasons and literally none of
 them are good ones. Which means that it falls to Setsuko, among others, to
 figure out what the heck is going on.

So one of those 'new signatures' is, in fact, a mobile suit. A blue mobile
 suit, carrying a large boxy weapon of some kind, accelerating at top speed
 with the thrusters at leg and back and hip all burning.

"Star-3, in visual range. I can see combat," Setsuko says, and then frowns,
 because her transmission didn't actually transmit usefully to anyone; the
 forces incoming might have gotten a squeal of static, some half-received
 words, but that's all. She fiddles with the radio and mostly manages to get
 more static coming through. 'Jamming?' she thinks. That means she's on her
 own. She couldn't call for help even if she wanted to.

Her skin crawls with the thought of it.

Setsuko brings up the enormous blocky weapon, sighting at a ZAFT mobile suit
 harassing a Clop. She fires - a solid bullet cracking out through space. At
 this range it's more like sniping than shooting, but the Straighturret setting
 is meant for that and her accuracy is pretty good; she hits a leg, forcing the
 GINN to back off.

Unfortunately, the gunfire is also likely to draw attention to the Virgola...

<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.

        It is truly an annoying thing to have to scramble from earth,
 especially when you aren't even at yoru home hangar. IT like's being handed a
 rental car with the destination pre-programmed and told to just go there. So
 here Gary was, in a preprogrammed disposable surface to space transport drone,
 stuffed in the back already in a mobile suit that definately isn't his. Some
 days it just doesn't pay enough to be the hero. Infact if these rapid g's make
 him puke he is definately go on some stress relieving holiday

        The transport comes in hot and fast as by now the transport is doing
 it's job and is starting to degrade, one of those use and lose sort of things
 the AEU has been experimenting with, if the lab geeks were right it would make
 a real pretty meteor shower in a few weeks. As the transport disintegrates,
 the suit it was hauling continues on full speed, Netwon's first law on full
 display.

        Coming in fast on the scene Gary pipes up over the comms for every one
 to hear, <"This is Lietuenant Gary Biaggi of the AEU, don't worry I am here to
 save your asses.">

        The chonky Long Dagger Fortestra slows itself with rear thrusters as it
 comes to rest in front of the AEU ships as if his one unit will shield all
 fou..one ship now from danger.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Serinas steps out of the miclonization tank, which has been set up in
 one of the Nazcas' hangars with a large privacy curtain around it. It was
 decided to get this out of the way well before arrival at Earth so she
 wouldn't be indisposed at a critical moment (and also, with her CGUE left at a
 ZAFT base somewhere while mechanics review the battle data, she doesn't
 actually have a personal mobile suit ready.)

        But as she hurriedly gets dressed, there's talk of combat and
 launching. "What's going on?!" It seems they ran into some enemy ships while
 she was in the tank...

        Moments later, she's got her piloting suit on and slides the curtain
 aside, stepping out into the hangar. Oh, Lily's here! She leans over the
 little miclones, smiling and waving at Lily and le Creuset on the way to their
 suits. "Hello again, sir!" And then she abruptly stands up straight and
 salutes when she remembers just who she's talking to.

        While the mobile suits make their way to the launch catapult, the 30'
 tall Serinas climbs into the Queadluun-Rhea, connecting her suit and piloting
 harness and going through the abbreviated preflight checks before closing the
 cockpit.

        "Serinas Nikola, Queadluun-Rhea, going into battle!"

        Yep, although there are some *slight* differences, it is recognizably
 similar to the machines used by the Meltrandi in the Zentradi War! Everyone
 here has probably seen those in movies, if not surplus Raus or the new Rhea
 models in the field!

KTS: Serinas Nikola has deployed in Queadluun-Rhea.
KTS: Serinas Nikola has changed loadout.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

It was supposed be Asuka's 'light' weekend in the AEU. The kind where she just
 goes in, they force her to do some recruitment work and goes back to NERV.
 She hates it, she hates it even more as they noticed the trend when Lieutenant
 Gary Biaggi picks her up that she shows up to fewer mandated events. So they
 stopped doing that.

She at least managed to got some practice with some of their newer models of
 mobile suit, thanks to him. A training exercise in space. It was about to
 begin when - the alert came in.

And thankfully it was an 'all hands on deck' kind. In which a pilot like her
 warming the benches would be a complete waste, even if her deployment always
 makes everyone in the AEU very nervous for understandable reasons.

Launching in the VF 171 Nightmare Plus, one would usually be worried as an Eva
 is a lot different from a Fighter and the latter is difficult to get back
 into. Fortunately she keeps herself sharp in the simulators by varying it up
 to a VF over an Eva every few sessions.

She thinks of Riika, of Anti, of how her views have evolved recently. The
 connections between them.

This is war though. Anything less than all out will get her killed. "<Langley
 here. Feel free to save as many asses as you have a mind to Lieutenant.>"

Her hand grips the stick as she banks her fighter to swing by the other side of
 the CLOPs under fire. "<I'm here to light up some GINN Rats.>"

No room for doubts, it has to be just another day on the battlefield here.

<Pose Tracker> Sophia Mayhew Castellan has posed.

Hyperion is still lurking around Barge, having repair crews rapidly replace
 blown-out systems and damaged engines. After a fight like that, it's a
 testament to her Captain, crew, and integrity that the ship held together at
 all. Which does mean that when another call goes out for assistance, the
 Hyperion Battlegroup is not able to answer in full.

But it's already in space, so it can, at least, help a bit. The Captain's
 personal Flag soars out of the darkness in flight mode, coasting swiftly
 through the silence. Sophia Mayhew Castellan thumbs the control switches, eyes
 scanning the dark; with this thick of jamming, most attempts to scan for much
 of anything would fail. Fortunately, she doesn't use standard tools. She
 ignites her Geass, tracing the bonds of Federation service as they drift
 through the great web of humanity.

"Found them," she says, just to herself, and guns her thrusters a bit early.
 Fortunately, the rest of the rescue squad find the flashes of light soon
 enough. The Union Flag reaches engagement range, and Sophia grabs the control
 to switch into MS mode. She feels the subtle shift of the controls that
 acknowledge the machine has changed, brandishing its main linear rifle with
 combat intent. She flicks open a channel. "<This is Castellan. I see the scout
 team under fire. Moving to cover.>"

Not enough of them, she thinks, pulsing her Geass again. Already so many lost...

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji has deployed in AMS-129 Geara Zulu.
KTS: Lily Jung has activated the Rouse Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Serinas takes a breath. Space. She's done training maneuvers in space,
 sure, but her suit is tuned for earthside combat, so she hasn't actually used
 it in a real fight up here. No matter. She scans the battlefield. There's an
 unrecognized MS coming in fast, carrying a big weapon. In this situation, a
 high-mobility target is her job to handle, right? She turns towards it--

        The enemy snipes a GINN from way the hell over there. THAT cannot be
 allowed to continue!

        The Queadluun-Rhea accelerates FAST. Its predecessors were famed for
 their maneuverability in air and space, yes, even being able to FLY in Earth's
 atmosphere and agilely at that!

        She fires the chest cannons, a shower of blue beams like lightning
 spraying across the void to get the sniper's attention and hopefully distract
 them from shooting her before she can close! <"Your opponent is me today,
 Feddie!">

        And close she does, going faster and faster and oh she's not stopping!
 At the last second, the armor flips feet-first to try and deliver a flying
 kick!

KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Setsuko Ohara with Meltran CQC Dynamic Entry!

<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.

What strange sensation. There's this buzzing along the sides of Lily's body.
 Goosebumps running up her arms. It's an unpleasant feeling as enemy units
 start arriving to the battleground. With one particular unit, a Long Dagger,
 especially feeling... off.

Lily can't tell what it is at first. But there's this subtle irritation that
 rises within her that tells her that this pilot is a risk.

<"Nikola, I'm going after the Dagger."> The young woman calls out to the
 Half-Meltrandi, right before the EWAC Zack pushes forwards. And the moment she
 is close enough that her sensors can line up - well out of range of most
 standard sensors, she begins to line up the shot.

"I do not know why I feel like I recognize you, but you won't hurt my friends."
 Lily mumbles to herself, as her Haro begins to assist on the targetting on the
 Long Dagger taking its 'heroic stance' in space. Deep breath... then...
 squeeze!

The Longblade Rifle fires, and a purple beam lances out, right for Gary
 Biaggi's position!

KTS: Lily Jung targets Gary Biaggi with Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model -
 Sniper Shot!
Rena Lancaster has arrived.
Rena Lancaster leaves for Lagrange Point 5 [CTD].

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        "Sir... The Saratoga is gone..."

        Fist slam, "Damnit! Can't we push the engines any hotter!?"

        "We're already at 125% over recommended maximum! The Nazcas have the
 speed advantage... We're lucky we've been able to stay ahead of them for THIS
 long!"

        "Sir! Picking up new signals, Federation IFFs confirmed!"

        "Get them on comms!"

        "Achilles to incoming Federation forces, respond! Do you copy?
 Federation forces, please respond! We have urgent intel that needs to be
 delivered to REA command immediately! Are you receiving?"

        Those in the rescue team approaching the battle will pick up the comm
 signal coming from the Clop-class. But it's incredibly weak and only a few
 words come through, "... Respond... Urgent... Receive..."

        -------

        Rau's CGUE is catapulted out of the leading Nazca, accelerating ahead
 some distance until coming to a stop relative to the running battle. He
 doesn't immediately engage even as he watches the new Federation
 reinforcements joining the battle. Instead his unit just floats there on the
 battlefield, as if daring someone to attack him.

        But then Rau's head turns as he quietly muses to himself, "Hmmm..." He
 highlights one of the new arrivals on his screen, a Union Flag. He smirks,
 "That'll do."

        The CGUE bursts forward, quickly accelerating in the direction of
 Sophia's Flag. It raises its machine gun, firing off a simple burst. Little
 more than a friendly greeting, to get the other pilot's attention in the
 chaotic battlefield.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with MMI-M7S 76mm Machine
 Gun Burst!

KTS: Setsuko Ohara fails to Evade Serinas Nikola's Meltran CQC Dynamic Entry,
 taking 3600 damage!

KTS: Serinas Nikola has engaged Setsuko Ohara!
KTS: Serinas Nikola begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Gary Biaggi partially guards Lily Jung's Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco
 Model - Sniper Shot, taking 1980 damage!

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan blocks Rau Le Creuset's MMI-M7S 76mm Machine Gun
 Burst, taking 2550 damage!

KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 72.

<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.

        The Sleeves pilot may not be the commanding officer here, especially
 not over ZAFT personnel, but they have a very specific set of skills, and not
 making use of those skills would be an absolute waste. So having an officer
 just sniping from the back isn't very useful in this kind of fight. As a
 result, when the need arises, the Geara Zulu pilot transmits broadly, in a
 voice-scrambled message.

        <<NO SURVIVORS. RUN THEM DOWN TO THE LAST.>> Whether the verbal message
 is received or not, the Intent that roils outwards from that unassuming black
 and red Mobile Suit is like a sledgehammer of ice. However, it is THEIR
 sledgehammer, and the chill may bring clarity and focus to the chaos of war.

        It might be whispered among those aboard the ZAFT ship that this pilot
 launched from who do not know who that pilot is or why they are giving orders,
 the identity of the individual by those in the know.

        'That's the Specter.'

        'The specter? Who's that?'

        'The Specter of Axis. The Feddies have claimed to have killed them
 dozens of times, but they keep coming back. Some say they're immortal. Others
 that they're some sort of ghost.'

        'That's just rumors, right? No one like that could actually exist!'

        <<KILL THEM. KILL THEM. KILL THEM.>>

        '...Are you sure about that?'

        '....'

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji targets Lily Jung, Serinas Nikola, and Rau Le Creuset with
 All-Out.

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji orders an all-out attack, raising Lily Jung's Skill!
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji orders an all-out attack, raising Rau Le Creuset's Skill!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 15500

<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.

        The Long Dagger floats in front of the ship, as the AEU captain
 responds to Gary's posturing, <"Don't worry, I'll let you save a few too, it's
 only fa..."> In the middle of his chitchat his monitor tells him someone has a
 lock of him and before he can even respond the Long Dagger twist in space
 from Lily's shot.

         The smoke coming from the right shoulder is evident that the shot hit
 but the Fortresa armor appears to be good for something. "Looks like someone
 wants to play." The Fortresa begins to dash left and right back and forth as
 it puts itself into a position so that the lone ship is no longer behind him
 before dashing towards the direction of the shot, "Come out come out where
 ever... oh there you are."

         The moment the Long Dagger gets a lock, the panel on the left shoulder
 rises up revealing a large amount of missiles and they begin to fire towards
 the EWAC Zack, meanwhile Gary tilts his head as he looks at the signature, "Is
 this someone who got away?"

KTS: Gary Biaggi targets Lily Jung with 8-Tube Missile Launcher!

<Pose Tracker> Setsuko Ohara has posed.

Setsuko fires once, then pauses for a moment. She's fought people before, but
 rarely in situations quite like this and never ZAFT. Zeon remnants, certainly,
 but ZAFT... it just hadn't come up where she was deployed before.

She raises her gun to fire again -

"<Your opponent is me today, Feddie!>"

Well, what Setsuko actually hears is 'Your <crackle crackle> me <crackle>
 Feddie!' but she gets the general gist. She aborts sniping a second time,
 firing her thrusters to launch her straight 'up', doing her best to evade the
 crackling blue bolts.

They're not the most threatening part. The flying kick connects with the
 Virgola's reinforced chest armour and pushes the suit backwards, and not
 gently. Setsuko rocks in her cockpit, her aim definitely spoiled by the
 impact. Not to mention her armour, which is a little dented.

"Aah!" is her actual verbal response, though she had the sense to *not*
 transmit it. What she actually transmits is, with far more courage than she
 actually feels, "Please stop attacking our ships!"

...that lacked something. Regardless, Setsuko wields the boxy gun - and it's
 not just a gun, as what looks like a switchblade the size of a sword flips out
 from underneath. Setsuko wields it sharply, angling toward the
 Queadluun-Rhea's legs and the thrusters mounted there, thrusting hard with
 both arms to try to force the enemy suit away from her.

KTS: Setsuko Ohara has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Setsuko Ohara targets Serinas Nikola with Jack Carver Bayonet!
KTS: Lily Jung charges into the attack!
KTS: Lily Jung partially guards Gary Biaggi's 8-Tube Missile Launcher, taking
 1980 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Sophia Mayhew Castellan has posed.

"Still weak even at this range...this is a deliberate jamming attempt," Sophia
 mutters to herself. More than likely she'll need to rely on her power here
 more than she already does. That's fine, though.

Aggression and intent to kill are their own kind of bond.

Her Geass lights the cockpit in a dull red, and the world becomes clear to her
 even through the fog of war. Someone coming at her. She checks with her
 unshining eye, scanning the field until she finds, highlights, and tags the
 CGUE firing on her. She raises the Flag's Defense Rod, which spins up rapidly.
 The computer calculates the deflections, precision-timed RPM knocking the
 shots aside. Greeting received...but not returned yet. She diverts in Rau's
 direction, but rather than raise her weapon, she finishes compiling mapping
 data, connecting contacts in her battlefield monitoring suite to connections
 in the web of bonds.

"<This is Castellan,>" she reports, submitting the data out to her team. "<I'm
 passing trajectory data your way. Don't mistake this for a situation we can
 talk our way out of. Their aim is to kill.>"

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Setsuko Ohara, Gary Biaggi, and Asuka
 Shikinami Langley with Coordinate.

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan coordinates maneuvers, raising Gary Biaggi's
 Piloting!

<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.

Tsugumi Saionji's presence hits, and the pressure immediately presses down on
 Lily's shoulders. It actually makes her a bit sick in the stomach and causes
 prickles along her neck.

        KILL THEM. KILL THEM. KILL THEM.

It almost feels like she's with Loni again. Such disdain reminds me of when she
 was actively living in the plants. Some of the Veterans. The way they would
 get when talking about some of their campaigns. That anger that would just
 overflow and...

Missiles! Amidst the anger, her senses are sharpened, and she spots them coming
 in. Her heart races as she hits the pedals. Behind her, the flow of light
 engages, and the EWAC Zack rushes in! Firing upon the incoming missiles, using
 the verniers to make rapid adjustments, firing upon them and detonating them
 before they get too close to the unit. Detonations ripping into its armor,
 but it's surviving for the time being!

Indeed, she got away that time. She still lives, and her unit looks no worse
 for wear than last time the two had engaged. Then, the moment she gets close,
 the unit adjusts its angle, ducking beneath the Long Dagger, firing 'up'
 towards its feet as it rolls onto its back.

This close by...

<"It's you! I recognize you!"> Which... should be impossible. He hasn't spoken.
 He's in a totally different unit. Yet... <"The one who fought alongside
 Celestial Being.">

KTS: Lily Jung targets Gary Biaggi with Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model -
 Attuned Shot!

KTS: Lily Jung has activated the ROuse Spirit Command.
KTS: Gary Biaggi blocks Lily Jung's Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model -
 Attuned Shot, taking 1260 damage!

KTS: Lily Jung begins a Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

"<What are you, stupid - Lieutenant? In what world do you think you're going
 to upstage me out here?"
Asuka is hardly some Newtype, but she certainly feels that killing intent
 rolling off of the black and red mobile suit, conveyed by their radio
 messages. "<Heh. That's a bit more like it. Not some GINN Rat are you?>"

The aircraft banks around as the Gun Pod sends a hail of fire her way. It's
 meant to be a feint though, she's not seriously aiming with them instead just
 trying to lead her in a certain direction, to herd her through space like
 she's some inconvenient sheep in need of extreme husbandry.

The Mauler beam cannon turret abruptly sweeps a shot right where she's been
 leading her, in an attempt to cut her off before she can change direction.

"<Some Zeon ghost who's survived this long...>"

The Mauler Beam cuts across the sky in an attempt to run her down, "<-Just
 makes you a two time-> Given the age of the voice, she guesses, <-or maybe
 even THREE time loser->"

As she cuts by, she might get a viewscreen of the pilot, making an L shaped
 salute over her helm, "<-doesn't it? Painful! Think it's past time you
 settle down in your grave.>"

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Tsugumi Saionji with Mauler Beam Cannons
 Sweep!

KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola rushes into the attack!
KTS: Serinas Nikola partially guards Setsuko Ohara's Jack Carver Bayonet,
 taking 3610 damage!

KTS: Setsuko Ohara repulses Serinas Nikola, forcing her to disengage.
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji orders an all-out attack, raising Serinas Nikola's Skill!
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan coordinates maneuvers, raising Setsuko Ohara's
 Piloting!

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji charges into the attack!
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji partially guards Asuka Shikinami Langley's Mauler Beam
 Cannons Sweep, taking 1665 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        "I'm sorry sir, the jamming is too intense! Our signal isn't getting
 through."

        Chair grip, "Damnit... We can't let this information be destroyed with
 us." Fingertap... "How many missiles do we have left?"

        "Six, sir!"

        "Inform the chief to rip the warhead out of one and replace it with a
 storage drive and beacon."

        "Yes, sir!"

        -------

        Rau is just beginning his engagement against the flag when he feels...
 Something. A comms signal crackles in the speakers of his helmet. It's a
 little garbled... But it's hardly so complex as to not get the general idea.
 Rau smiles a little. He hadn't had the chance to meet the new pilot that their
 Sleeves allies had sent along with their force. But judging by what Rau is
 hearing, and feeling, he can't help but appreciate the pilot's attitude.

        But the focus now is the Flag that is now rapidly approaching... And
 not quite yet firing. Distracted, perhaps? It is a rather distracting
 situation. So Rau intends to make sure his presence is more keenly felt, "Now
 now. This is no time to be splitting focus."

        The CGUE closes in on the Union Flag, aiming its machine gun again. But
 at the last moment, the thruster packs on its shoulders quietly reorient,
 altering the machine's trajectory to the side for a different firing angle.
 Another burst of gun fire follows quickly afterwards.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with MMI-M7S 76mm Machine
 Gun Maneuver Shot!

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan fails to charge.
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan partially guards Rau Le Creuset's MMI-M7S 76mm
 Machine Gun Maneuver Shot, taking 4670 damage!

KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 76.

<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.

        The Specter feigns being led by their opponent's shots, only to
 suddenly cut across the arc of fire, expanding the shield on the Geara Zulu's
 left arm to cover the shoulder, and then charging forward at full speed with
 the shield in front to take the brunt of the beam cannons. Armor sears into
 metal vapor and white-hot fragments, but the majority of the damage is
 prevented or absorbed. So, while Asuka is making an L sign at the enemy pilot,
 the Specter may seem to have suddenly just appeared in the NERV pilot's face,
 beam machinegun raised to fire at close range. With how agile and fast a VF
 is, however, it might be a close enough thing that even with the surprise
 attack maneuver Asuka gets by without damage...

        ...Maybe...

        But it may throw into stark relief the distance between this Zeon
 Remnant and the grunts that Asuka likely trashes easily in other battles.

        This one knows how to fight, and that single baleful red eye is
 Watching Asuka personally as she zips by. Coldly evaluating. Like a predator
 hunting its prey.

        It's more than a little bit creepy, tbh. But Asuka is also used to
 fighting horrors, so perhaps not so much...?

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji has activated the Daunt Spirit Command targeting Asuka
 Shikinami Langley

<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.

        Gary could taste the killing intent in the air, it was a marvelous
 feeling and shows that at least someone out there knew how to do it right,
 then pinkie comes in over his comm. Hearing her voice reminds him who she was
 <"Well, well well if it isn't the would be pilot, pinkie. Did you come here
 with more resolve for battle today. Had to come get those easy kills didn't
 you? Seems like your speed."> Gary mentally jabs as he attempts to shield
 himself from the incoming fire, spinning and rolling to point his shield down
 in time to soak most the damage, though the right leg has some melted toes.

         Floating back, the Long Dagger retrieves the beam rifle from it's
 backpack and begins to take aim. Meanwhile the extra data comes in from the
 Hyperion which he feeds in to this tracking

         The Long Dagger begins to dash in a circle now that his target is more
 obvious and takes strafing shots at his target, one shot wouldn't
 neccessarily be enough for any real damage but strafing damage is suppose to
 add up over time anyways.

KTS: Gary Biaggi targets Lily Jung with Igelstellung 75mm Multibarrel CIWS
 Dash-and-Fire!

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with GZ Beam MG Beam Shot!
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan coordinates maneuvers, raising Asuka Shikinami
 Langley's Piloting!

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Lily Jung parries Gary Biaggi's Igelstellung 75mm Multibarrel CIWS
 Dash-and-Fire, taking 1080 damage!

KTS: Gary Biaggi has engaged Lily Jung!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley retreats from the attack!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley fails to evade Tsugumi Saionji's GZ Beam MG Beam
 Shot, taking 3540 damage!

KTS: Lily Jung has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Serinas Nikola

<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.

Killing intent flies across the battlefield, yet amongs all of that, Lily is
 like an island. She is... something else. As all around them, combatants call
 out to their enemies in anger, with intent, with malice. Here, Lily flies.

The EWAC Zack rushes right for Gary's position as the Beam Rifle comes down to
 try and angle its way towards Lily. A few strikes tear across its shoulders,
 but it soon has the Longblade Rifle parrying some of the shots. Keeping up
 with Gary's unit by means of those verniers on the suit.

Pinkish light begins to flush from its verniers as the two connect. The
 beamsaber of the Longblade Rifle then activates, trying to push away Gary's
 machine and cut into it.

<"I have more than enough Resolve!"> Lily Jung answers Gary Biaggi. The unit
 then makes for a crescent-shaped slash for the Long Dagger, before quickly
 turning the weapon and rapidly firing for the head of the unit. <"I may not be
 the best pilot in ZAFT, but I have enough energy to make up for it!"> The
 quick shots continue, until Lily declares; "BANG!" Right before a fierce wave
 of energy breaks out from the nozzle, with heavy piercing power!

KTS: Lily Jung targets Gary Biaggi with Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model -
 Blade and Beam - Combo!

KTS: Gary Biaggi successfully evades Lily Jung's Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco
 Model - Blade and Beam - Combo

KTS: Lily Jung completes the Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

The Spectre coming up on the Fighter's Face may wipe the confident smirk off
 her face, even as she suddenly rolls away from the Geara Zulu in a hasty
 pitch. The beam machine gun trail fires, chasing it, as Asuka shifts the
 pinpoint barrier system to cover her rear. The shots still score several hits
 despite the shifting of that barrier and it certainly looks like she has the
 upper hand on the pilot as it suddenly zips ahead then pulls up over a piece
 of free floating space debris from the battle at hand.

It never emerges from the other side. It's not long after that her sensors
 though will likely begin to hear a steady beep of a missile lock. The Space
 debris suddenly tilts over in its free floating axis, revealing the Battroid
 robot attached to it by magnetic hook.

The missiles have already fired though, bolstered by Sophia's trajectory data.

"<Tck. Not gonna say anything?>"

The battery of missiles arc through the space between them, trying to catch her
 in that lock.

"<I've fought Angels with more personality. Disappointing.>"

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Tsugumi Saionji with Micro-Missile Array
 Lock!

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        <"I'll take the sniper!"> Serinas remembers, slightly late, to alert
 her allies. What they hear is "I'll... *crackle crackle* ...per!" though. Oh,
 right, the jamming.

        <<KILL THEM. KILL THEM. KILL THEM.>> Why does THAT guy come through
 loud and clear?!

        There's no time to think about that. She is LOCKED IN MORTAL COMBAT
 WITH A DEADLY FOE.

> "Please stop attacking our ships!"
        Serinas frowns. The tone is so polite, asking like that. There's a part
 of her that wants to comply with a request stated like that, just to be nice.
 She won't, of course, because--

        "Gah!" As she tries to follow up her attack, that blade comes in,
 slicing into her suit's leg with a deep gash in the armor, the robot's
 strength and her own thrusters, momentarily at the wrong angle, sending her
 speeding away before she can arrest her movement. Immediately, she begins
 darting around evasively, firing bursts from the gatling lasers in the
 Queadluun-Rhea's claws to keep the enemy on their toes while she tries to get
 in close again. If they have a sniping gun and they don't WANT her in melee,
 then being in melee is good for her!

        And this close, they can actually talk through the jamming. <"*crackle
 crackle* so politely *now*... Where was that politeness when you bombed Junius
 Seven?! Do you let Blue Cosmos and Brittania call the shots because they asked
 nicely? If I go home, when Blue Cosmos comes to my door, for *my family*,
 should I just ask them to please stop?">

        For a moment, she brings her machine in close again, almost close
 enough for either mech to reach out and touch the other. <"Because when they
 ask us to please die, for their pure and blue world...">

        The shoulder cannon rotates into place, pointed at the Virgola--
 <"They're gonna ask with *guns*. So I ask you..."> --and fires one of those
 anti-ship beam blasts, trying to catch the Virgola point blank as she imitates
 Setsuko's tone, <"Please stop oppressing us!">

KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Setsuko Ohara with AA-76/QD Shoulder Cannon Close
 Contact Blast!

KTS: Setsuko Ohara fails to Parry Serinas Nikola's AA-76/QD Shoulder Cannon
 Close Contact Blast, taking 7200 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Serinas Nikola's Can't Catch Me! activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: Serinas Nikola has engaged Setsuko Ohara!
KTS: Serinas Nikola completes the Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Sophia Mayhew Castellan has posed.

With her message off, Sophia turns her attention on that CGUE. But he's good.
 The juke of that shot gets past her. She tries to challenge it, rushing in
 with thrusters blazing, but it snakes past her Defense Rod and spangs into her
 armor, sparks and soot flashing from the damaged arm. She checks her damage
 reports; still operational. Good enough.

Thus ranged, she raises her Linear Rifle finally, flicking the trigger to
 medium-charge defaults. "This one's good," she mutters. The Linear Rifle
 rattles out a series of rail shots, spattering across the space to try and
 force that CGUE into bad positioning.

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji charges into the attack!
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji partially guards Asuka Shikinami Langley's Micro-Missile
 Array Lock, taking 4305 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Asuka Shikinami Langley's Sole Shikinami activates, causing
 Insight L1!

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Rau Le Creuset with Linear Rifle Stagger!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: [Lucky] Rau Le Creuset's Newtype Flash activates, and luck goes his way!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset successfully avoids Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Linear Rifle
 Stagger

<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.

        Gary laughs in response to having a resolve, but doesn't have time yet
 to respond to the enemies comms before the attacks come and Gary manages to
 get away in time. Of course it still costs Gary and the Long Dagger, as to
 avoid that final wave of energy the Long Dagger had to eject the armor as a
 sacrifical lamb. The armor intercepts the attacks and slows things down just
 enough for the Long Dagger to escape. "Well shit that is going to get me
 chewed out."

         Dashing away the armorless Long Dagger was now a lot more manueverable
 and Gary was a lot happier with that. However first came the mental jabs, <"
 So you have resolve, everyone has resolve. It's about having the skill to
 follor through the resolve and you , by your own words lack the skill. If you
 were flying with us, I would ground you."> Gary says that, but really he has
 never grounded anyone before, they never seem to make it back to be grounded.

         Dashing back in to the fight the Long Dagger is no longer looking for
 keeping it's opponent at arm reach, no it's now getting right in there up
 close and personal as a pair of beam sabers light up in each hand. A over hand
 slash from the right before a follow up slash from the left, wide to make
 sure to catch anything that tries to escape.

KTS: Gary Biaggi has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Gary Biaggi has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Gary Biaggi targets Lily Jung with Whirling Blade Advance!
KTS: [Lucky] Lily Jung's Luckyyyy! activates, and luck goes her way!
KTS: Lily Jung parries Gary Biaggi's Whirling Blade Advance, taking 1380 damage!
KTS: Gary Biaggi has engaged Lily Jung!
KTS: Lily Jung has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Rau Le Creuset

<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.

        Again, an unusual tactic in response. Asuka's swift maneuver, taking
 her out of sight, only to reappear after her attack had already been launched,
 is a clever one. The Specter charges directly towards the Battroid mode VF,
 seemingly unaware of the missile lock. But they are also closing in on the one
 who fired the missiles. Quickly. With the missiles still locked onto them.

        The Geara Zulu manages to get within a hundred meters of Asuka before
 the mobile suit fails to outrun the missiles and is caught inthe middle of a
 conflagration of multiple explosions. Perhaps this ghost has finally been laid
 to rest after all?

        Then the Geara Zulu, trailing blue electrical fire, half of its face
 plate blown away along with other pieces of armor, lending it a skeletal look,
 comes surging out of the still-glowing spheres of energy. Its red mono-eye
 glares even more intensely, crimson light seeming to split both to its left
 and right, as though the sheer malice of the pilot cannot be contained within
 a mechanical frame.

        <<DIE.>> is the only reply that Asuka receives before the glowing blade
 of the Geara Zulu's Beam Tomahawk comes swinging down at high speed, the
 Specter trying to carve into the Battroid, and then follow up with a second
 chop, and a third, as though some slasher movie psychopath in the process of
 murdering their victim with an axe.

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with Beam Tomahawk Combo!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Focus Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.

<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.

Gary laughs in response to having a resolve, but doesn't have time yet to
 respond to the enemies comms before the attacks come and Gary manages to get
 away in time. Of course it still costs Gary and the Long Dagger, as to avoid
 that final wave of energy the Long Dagger had to eject the armor as a
 sacrifical lamb. The armor intercepts the attacks and slows things down just
 enough for the Long Dagger to escape. "Well shit that is going to get me
 chewed out."

Dashing away the armorless Long Dagger was now a lot more manueverable and Gary
 was a lot happier with that. However first came the mental jabs, <" So you
 have resolve, everyone has resolve. It's about having the skill to follor
 through the resolve and you , by your own words lack the skill. If you were
 flying with us, I would ground you."> Gary says that, but really he has never
 grounded anyone before, they never seem to make it back to be grounded.

Dashing back in to the fight the Long Dagger is no longer looking for keeping
 it's opponent at arm reach, no it's now getting right in there up close and
 personal as a pair of beam sabers light up in each hand. A over hand slash
 from the right before a follow up slash from the left, wide to make sure to
 catch anything that tries to escape.



"Tsssk." Lily ticks her tongue along the roof of her mouth as the Long Dagger
 sheds its armor, causing the shots to detonate against the ablative armor and
 for Gary to get away. The EWAC Zack keeps chasing him though, refusing to give
 up the chase.

<"How am I ever going to get the skill if I were grounded?! If it wasn't for
 people believing in me, teaching me, I'd never be able to help my friends!">
 Lily remarks as the unit's verniers burst a brighter pink and she keeps coming
 for him!

Faster! The motions turning more... natural. Pink glow pulses through the
 cockpit as the machine keeps coming for him. And as the Beam sabers come and
 light up, a single motion of her wielded Longblade blocks BOTH swings.

Her entire presence seems to grow. And those on the battlefield sensitive
 enough can start to feel this... warmth. Like a gentle sun beaming down upon
 them from above. This sense of... feeling Lucky reaches even Rau Le Creuset.

'Lucky Rabbit's Foot' is one of the names Lily has been known by. And it seems
 to be affecting her team in a very real way.

        The Flamingo opens its wings, as the girl grits her teeth.

<"You're a rediculous man! Now get out of my way!"> The second Longblade Rifle
 detaches from the EWAC Zack's back, and fires from a blindspot upon Gary
 Biaggi's unit, before the handheld one cuts towards the shoulder of that
 machine once more!

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley fails to Parry Tsugumi Saionji's Beam Tomahawk
 Combo, taking 4700 damage!

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji has engaged Asuka Shikinami Langley!
KTS: Lily Jung targets Gary Biaggi with Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model -
 Blade and Beam - Combo!

KTS: Gary Biaggi fails to evade Lily Jung's Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model
 - Blade and Beam - Combo, taking 4080 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        Nervous foot-tapping, "Status?"

        "The modifications are almost complete sir."

        Sudden explosion and shaking!

        "What was that!?"

        "Number two engine pod has overloaded from the strain! Our acceleration
 has slowed!" Sure enough, the bright burning of one of the Clop's engine pods
 has died down, smoke trailing from it.

        "It's only a matter of time now... Hurry up with the modifications!"

        -------

        That seems to have drawn the Flag's attention. Good. Rau stops
 his sidewards burst, returning to a direct course towards Sophia. Just as she
 brings her Linear Rifle around and starts to take shots towards him.

        But with each shot that Sophia takes, Rau is able to manipulate his
 controls with ease to just skirt around the shots. A quick burst here, a spin
 and a spiral there. The CGUE continues to close in as Sophia fires, rapidly
 closing the distance as it stows its machine gun and reaches up to grab the
 large sword on its back.

        The CGUE rushes past the Flag at speed, sword lashing out for a passing
 strike, before the white and grey machine spins around again and thrusters
 bring it to a relative stop. Now close enough for comms to be relatively
 clear, Rau radios the other pilot, <"You're too late. That ship is doomed. If
 you run now, maybe you'll keep your own life.">
 
        While Rau is briefly staring down the Flag, he gets a feeling in the
 back of his mind. A feeling of warmth, of peace... His eyebrows furrow a
 little in annoyance. It must be coming from THAT pilot.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with MA-M4A Heavy Sword
 Disorienting Blow!

KTS: Setsuko Ohara has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Already the Geara Zulu is up on her Variable Fighter. And at the last second,
 she detaches the Grappling Hook from the debris, the Battroid kicking off of
 it. It's not going to save her from the Beam Tomahawk. It's already swinging
 down, as one of its arms tries to come up, sheathed in the Pinpoint barrier.

It doesn't quite connect. The Tomahawk slips within the Guard, connecting to
 the chest plate of the Battroid, scoring a long slash. What probably only
 saves her from a Reactor hit is a split second shift of the pinpoint barrier
 to there. While the barrier system is nowhere near as powerful as an AT
 Field, it at least affords her so much more flexibility. Still there's a
 molten slash across her Variable Fighter. "<Heh Heh... Ahahaa!>"

However, tucked under the arm that she was bringing up to parry... is a
 charging nozzle of the Beam Mauler rifle, now held one handed, as the leg of
 the Battroid tries to sweep off to kick off just lightly. Not actually doing
 any damage.

"<THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!>" The teenager within, the child bred to fight Angels
 erupts forth, even as the first shot fires. Then the second. Each shot a
 short charge and a metronomic trigger press at short range. The third. The
 fourth. The nozzle flaring bright in terrible bursts of laser light in brutal
 sequential fire.

"<... If you think I'm joining you yet though - you've got ANOTHER THING
 COMING!>"

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Tsugumi Saionji with Mauler Beam Cannons
 Sequential Fire!

KTS: Setsuko Ohara has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Setsuko Ohara has activated the Trick Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Setsuko Ohara has posed.

Privately, Setsuko agrees with Serinas, because she is in some ways not a great
 fit at all for G-Hound.

Publically, she's not supposed to say that, and so she doesn't, though she
 feels decidedly guilty for a few long moments. Then again, she often does - so
 perhaps that's not really a surprise.

Whether Serinas intended to demoralize Setsuko or not, she did. It doesn't
 really interfere with her piloting, but nonetheless she's a little slow on the
 draw - Virgola is a new machine, a little fussy yet, and the Queadluun-Rhea
 has the advantage of her. Setsuko isn't *horrible* close in... but she's not
 really got the specs for it, either.

The shoulder cannons fire at Virgola, and her first instinct is to dodge - but
 she's too close to get away with it. Her second is to block, but her shield
 won't stand up to those - and her third is to push them out of line, but by
 that point it's too late. She wields the Gunnery Carver in both hands, diving
 *forward* to disrupt Serinas' attack, but instead the edge of the blast
 catches the Virgola, sending her flying back wildly.

Firing the thrusters, Setsuko attempts to straighten out with all the warning
 sirens blaring. Her heart is in her throat - but she doesn't retreat beyond
 that, doesn't pull back. The two of them are near the edge of the battlefield,
 but they're still in it and she's not going anywhere. (Yet.)

Setsuko raises the Gunnery Carver again. It looks like she's pointing the
 bullet-shooting barrel of the enormous weapon at Serinas - but instead the gun
 splits open down the length of it, dividing into two 'prongs' around a
 previously concealed central barrel. Which is beginning to glow a faint
 purple-white. On Earth, it would be whining faintly as the systems spin up;
 the green orb in the Carver is shining, faintly.

"...I can't change that here. But I can't let you hurt them either. So...
 Gunnery Carver, charging! Prepare to fire!"

Setsuko fires. The Gunnery Carver releases a beam; white, edged in violet, with
 energy crackling down the length; a mega particle beam, but one that's a
 little bit overkill for most situations. It leaves a glowing streak across the
 'sky' of space, a good twenty feet across, and it's aimed straight at Serinas'
 Queadluun-Rhea!

KTS: Setsuko Ohara targets Serinas Nikola with Ray Straighturret Charged Shot!
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji fails to rush.
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji partially guards Asuka Shikinami Langley's Mauler Beam
 Cannons Sequential Fire, taking 5700 damage!

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Foresee Spirit Command.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset rattles Sophia Mayhew Castellan, making her next maneuvers
 more difficult.

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan parries Rau Le Creuset's MA-M4A Heavy Sword
 Disorienting Blow, taking 555 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has engaged Sophia Mayhew Castellan!
KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 82.

<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.

        Gary can't get away from it again though, he is fresh out of ejectable
 armor to allow him to avoid the attacks and as he tries to avoid the attack
 from the blade by dropping down away from it but that damn rifle in the air,
 it's unexpected as the Long Dagger takes a shot in the back. Then another, and
 the inside of the cockpick is yelling at Gary to do better. Sparks here,
 sensor there, and the armor keeping him and space apart is now much thinner.

        <"Look lady, I am just saying that war isn't fit for someone like you.
 Go home, forget about fighting. Learn to enjoy peace."> Gary says as he does
 his best to normalize the system enough before it explodes, <"Bet you are
 fighting because of someoen else to huh? Not even your own decision right?">
 Gary tosses some random guesses at the dart board as the system hits a point
 of normalization.

         The Long Dagger seems to be moving a bit better then a couple of
 seconds ago as it stablizes and the stabilizing thrusters on it's back have
 redistributed thrust. Charing forward the unit slashes forward as a feinting
 strike before the real attack, a thrust from the right blade is seen trying to
 put an end to this fight.

KTS: Gary Biaggi has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Gary Biaggi has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Gary Biaggi targets Lily Jung with ES01 Twin Beam Sabers Thrust!
KTS: Lily Jung fails to parry Gary Biaggi's ES01 Twin Beam Sabers Thrust,
 taking 5280 damage!

KTS: Gary Biaggi has engaged Lily Jung!
KTS: Lily Jung has activated the Resupply Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola fails to Evade Setsuko Ohara's Ray Straighturret Charged
 Shot, taking 6300 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.

        The Specter attempts to follow after the escaping VF, but the
 combination of the release of the grappling hook and the kick off buy just
 enough distance that the outstretched, grasping, sizzling mehanical-frame hand
 falls short of grasping the enemy. The barrage of shots that comes seemingly
 blasts the Geara Zulu to pieces, one attack at a time, punching holes through
 it, shattering armor, and keeping it from pursuing. But at least the last
 couple shots are taken upon the arm shield again, sparing any further damage
 to the pilot.

        The damage when Asuka stops firing and the MS comes out from behind its
 shield, though, is something to behold. In particular, the air filtrator over
 the lower half of its face has cracked and broken, causing it hang down like
 the lower jaw of a skull, lending it an almost Eva-like appearance. Flaming,
 single eye shining red, 'mouth' hanging open, taken together with all the
 other damage, the nightmarish image of a machine that should probably have
 shut down by now but hasn't because its pilot will not ALLOW it to do so is
 complemented by the addition of something else.

        <<HAHAHAHA.>>

        Laughter.

        Slow, mechanical, synthesized laughter. Burning, sparking, falling
 apart, the Specter of Axis laughs coldly, sounding like coffin lids slamming
 shut somewhere deep beneath the Earth. It's the laugh one might expect to hear
 from Death.

        And it's as though the laughter itself is a wall of spectral hands
 reaching out for Asuka.

        <<HAHAHAHAHA.>>

        'Join us.' they say. 'It will be easier that way. No more horrors. No
 more tears. Just peace, darkness, and eternity. Join us. Join us. Join us.'

        <<HAHAHAHAHAHA.>>

        And still the enemy pilot laughs.

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with Demoralize!
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji demoralizes Asuka Shikinami Langley, reducing her Morale
 drastically.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.

Lily can't help but let out a little chuckle when Gary says that War isn't fit
 for someone like her. <"So who is War good for? People who have closed off
 their hearts? People who love slaughtering people!? This is my decision! I am
 here to fight for my people. For all the people that have suffered at the
 Federation's hands. People who have died due to the food shortages in the
 past. I am here to ensure~">

She's about to say more as the Long Dagger begins to strike. She tries to
 follow the feinting strike, but the unit doesn't keep up. Her reactions
 follow, but the unit creaks beneath the sudden demand upon it, and the blade
 cuts into the side of its arm, literally tearing the EWAC Zack's right arm
 entirely off!

Lily lets out a shout of surprise and fear for just a moment, her heart muddled
 for a moment, before that bright light returns. Almost like someone getting up
 immediately after falling.

<"I am here to ensure the dialogues will begin once more! For the Future!"> As
 the unit throws the other Longblade to the side and then points its hand at
 Gary Biaggi.

        'Don't treat them as extensions of yourself.'

<"LONGBLADES!">

As the Longblade Rifles come alive, and both rocket towards Gary Biaggi.
 Cutting towards him like large flying sabers. Like fangs trying to bite into
 his unit. Coming for the arms. For the legs. Firing upon him from various
 sides.

        'Treat them like family!'

Unlike standard Funnels, their output is far higher. Each shot is like a
 massive wave of energy being torn his way. One of them seems to almost be
 primary in attacks. But that's just a way to get Gary Biaggi to lower his
 guard, so the other can get into blind spots, trying to get a literal hold of
 his unit...

And when it's gotten close enough, it opens craw-like legs with heavy magnetic
 locks, trying to literally attach to the back of his unit, before turning the
 Beam Emitter at an angle along the thrusters and head, and begins to charge up
 a heavy beam assault!

KTS: Lily Jung targets Gary Biaggi with Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model -
 Psyco Weapon!

<Pose Tracker> Sophia Mayhew Castellan has posed.

Sophia's eye tells her a story is brewing. She doesn't know precisely what's
 about to happen, only that the people in that ship are changing, rapidly,
 somehow. Becoming new people, new bonds formed and broken. Some goal they all
 collectively must achieve.

She snaps out her Flag's Sonic Blade, a swift, practiced motion that batters
 the CGUE's sword aside. The high-speed strike still rattles through the frame,
 but actual damage is low. "<Maybe so,>" she says back to Rau. "<You've been
 quite thorough, haven't you?>"

The engines flare again. "<But don't mistake yourself for the only hunter
 about!>" she roars, and the Sonic Blade erupts, drive plasma venting directly
 through the knife, turning it into a beam saber, which she slashes with on the
 approach.

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Rau Le Creuset with Plasma Blade Strike!
KTS: Gary Biaggi parries Lily Jung's Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model - Psyco
 Weapon, taking 900 damage!

KTS: Lily Jung has engaged Gary Biaggi!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset parries Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Plasma Blade Strike,
 taking 1110 damage!

KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 14390
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has engaged Rau Le Creuset!

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

The mouth of the Geara Zulu hangs open red after she's finished firing, the
 single glowing eye flaring her way like a Specter's red eye. It certainly
 looks similar to her Eva in that sense, that nightmarish visage. That
 terrible synthesized laughter.

The Specter has no idea how acquainted with death Asuka Shikinami Langley is.
 Five hundred and twelve same faced girls were born together. Only one left
 that place. Some shut down, some broke, some couldn't take it anymore, some
 simply lost in their competitions and evaluations. Each one dragged through a
 door.

All of them knew what it meant.

As those spectral hands reach. Something else claws at her from within.

        See you soon See you soon
                See you soon
See you soon See you soon
                         See you soon
                                            See you soon

A cacophony in her subconscious, that she cannot hear. A shared soul. When
 she dies, she'll go back to them. To all of them. And each one of them is
 reaching, desperately to have her back. The one who got away. The one who
 got the life denied to the rest of them

The wail of laughter gets under her skin, as the girl's breathing picks up,
 going wild eyed as it keeps laughing at her. It certainly would be easier to
 submit. To not strive so hard towards her purpose of destroying Angels.

... but then what was the point of all of it?

"<... We'll see... we'll see...>"

The girl whispers, unsettled - but still resolved. And then she abandons her
 rifle, free-floating into space.

"<... who's LAUGHING LAST!>"

The Battroid launches a Grappling Hook, right at the Geara Zulu center mass,
 and whether it attaches or not, the Battroid tries to drive into it as quickly
 as it can, its fists sheathed in spiked wedges of its barrier system as
 improvised weapons, almost like she's utilizing an ATField. Fighting suddenly
 as if she were inside of her Eva. She aims a brutal blow towards the Zulu's
 neck with its right. While its left tries to slam right into its eyehole,
 before both arms try to wedge in further, then tear from both directions as if
 she were intent to rip its head off.

As if it were the source of the laughter. She's not finished though, there's a
 battlecry like sound of exertion as she tries to smash into it, again, and
 again, and again in just this display of battlefield savagery.

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Tsugumi Saionji with Pinpoint Barrier
 Melee Combo!

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        There is... such anger and malice here. Serinas isn't a newtype. She
 should be anything but, with her Zentradi genes. And yet... though not
 conscious of it, the emotions push her further towards anger. Thus her
 venomous words as she tries to shoot a big hole through this Federation mobile
 suit.

        But Lily passes by, and she feels... her spirits lifted. Clarity, as if
 seeing through a fog she didn't notice was there. Everything is... more right.

        Unfortunately for Setsuko, 'more right' for a Zentradi means feeling
 quite at home and confident in a battle.

        The enemy pilot either genuinely dislikes what her leaders are doing,
 or is pretending no responsibility. The teenager doesn't understand this
 behavior... if it really is only the leaders who are like that, WHY ARE THEIR
 PEOPLE LETTING THEM LEAD???? Why are the people of the Earth Sphere like
 this?! It's so frustrating!

        She tries to stay in close, but Setsuko isn't having it, briefly
 outpacing her once more again as the two machines dance across the void and
 pointing her own big gun at her. Serinas doesn't expect what comes next
 though--

        THATBEAMISHUGE

        She *barely* has time to not QUITE take it straight on center of mass,
 making a small portion of the beam miss, while the rest instantly burns the
 paint off her armor and makes the metal below briefly glow orange.

        Serinas feels a moment of panic. If she were in one of the
 Queadluun-Raus she'd trained in right now she'd be DEAD, that would've gone
 right through it AND her. Thank goodness for modern Earth Sphere armor
 technology and the engineers who prioritized pilot survivability when
 designing the new model.

        She's alive. She might even be able to take another hit like that and
 still be in condition to retreat. At least, her Zentradi instincts demand she
 rationalize it such, because victory is so close -- the anti-ship beam put the
 Feddie mobile suit in a similar state. If she can just finish them -- or at
 least drive them off...!

        Serinas takes a breath. The Queadluun-Rhea darts this way and that in
 the void again, putting those extremely maneuverable high-powered thrusters to
 work.

        <"I *can* change it here. They'll push us around *a little less*. And
 you'll be a *little less closer* to those jerks dividing your home and your
 people into an endless war between Naturals and Coordinators!">

        The signature Meltrandi suit raises its arms towards the Virgola. <"Let
 me show you the skills of my people -- forged in just the sort of endless war
 of endless death Blue Cosmos and the Federation want so badly for you!">

        And she

                        charges in

                bursts from the gatling lasers harry Setsuko, try to drive her
 where Serinas wants her

        She's close, going for another kick

                The Queadluun-Rhea flips and swipes with those claws while the
 lasers fire away

        pours on one more burst of speed

                        punches at one shoulder, tries to grab the opposite arm

        and pull the Virgola close, latching on with both claws and just
 repeatedly firing the lasers point-blank, and the lightning-like chest beams
 too

        before Serinas shouts wordlessly, trying to tear violently free with
 the claws and just keep firing those chest cannons until the Virgola can get
 away from them or stops moving!

KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Setsuko Ohara with LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers
 Execution!

KTS: Setsuko Ohara blocks Serinas Nikola's LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling Lasers
 Execution, taking 7370 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Serinas Nikola's Can't Catch Me! activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: Setsuko Ohara has been defeated!
KTS: Serinas Nikola has engaged Setsuko Ohara!

<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.

        Gary sees the two rifles come alive and only passes the surprise check
 by having seen them before. The primary target forces him to raise his shield
 to protect himself as he tracks the other on radar. IF they got into the right
 position they could probably snipe him to death before he could track them if
 he lost them. Then he gets lucky, the other one doesn't fly out of sensory
 range it comes in close and Gary swipes a blade at it. This of course leads
 the right side of his back open for more damage there. Truthfully the Long
 Dagger has a back made of swiss cheese right now.

         As Gary works to once again stabilize himself he gives the real answer
 to an empty cockpit, "War is made for those who want war, obviously" but that
 answer just like many things said in a damaged cockpit falls on deaf ears. No
 instead over the comms Gary put outs a different answer, <"trying to start
 dialogues by holding a gun to peoples' head. That sounds a whole like what
 terrorist do with hostages. Are you a terrorist?> Gary tosses the accusation
 out before he presses for the end.

         The Long Dagger begins to dash left and right, up and down, as it was
 swooping back and forth. It was nothing more then a diversionary tactic really
 , and also to make sure no thrusters are going to stall out at the wrong
 moment. Finally though the Long Dagger dashes in at full speed, charging head
 on this would really be it. Either he would hit or he would expose himself in
 such a way that would be fatal. The moment he gets in blade range, the Long
 Dagger strikes out for the waist of the Pink EWAC Zack, codenamed by Gary as
 the Flamingo.

KTS: Gary Biaggi has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Gary Biaggi has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Gary Biaggi has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Gary Biaggi has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Gary Biaggi targets Lily Jung with ES01 Twin Beam Sabers Combo!
KTS: Lily Jung parries Gary Biaggi's ES01 Twin Beam Sabers Combo, taking 1530
 damage!

KTS: Gary Biaggi has engaged Lily Jung!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        "Sir, the modifications are complete!"

        "Good, load it into the tube. Prepare a full salvo from our cannons and
 remaining missiles against the forward Nazca. Target the modified missile
 for..." Staring at a map of the battlefield. And one IFF signal that's towards
 the edge... "There. And set a sixty second delay on the beacon. The later ZAFT
 learns about it, the better."

        "Sir, we're still outside of effective targeting range."

        "We won't be for long... TURN US ABOUT! FULL BURN!"

        The Clop-class ship Achilles turns, coming face to face with its Nazca
 pursuers and starting to rush straight towards them.

        "FIRE!"

        The Achilles starts firing, its particle cannons firing repeatedly
 towards the Nazcas, while a wave of missiles rush out of its launchers and
 turn to rush towards their targets.

        But lost in the chaos of the last-ditched attack, one missile rushes
 off on a completely different course to the rest.

        -------

        Sophia's Flag rushes in towards Rau's CGUE, its knife drawn. But Rau is
 caught somewhat by surprise as the weapon starts to spew light. He was
 familiar with the Union Flag's specs and this was definitely not in them.

        Regardless, Rau brings his own blade around and the two clash against
 each other. Even with the anti-beam coating on the sword, the plasma blade is
 slowly starting to cut through. Rau isn't concerned though, as he replies,
 <"Perhaps. Or perhaps you should be less focused on hunting me and more focused on
 the lives of your fellow soldiers."> Sure enough, in the distance the Achilles
 can be seen making its last run against the Nazcas, who are starting to return
 fire in earnest.

        But Rau doesn't let Sophia off lightly, shifting his blade to the side
 to let hers slide off it. With a quick thruster burst, he pushes towards
 Sophia, shield attached on the left arm raised to smash into her.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with M7070 Shield+28mm
 Vulcan Bash!

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Tsugumi Saionji fails to Parry Asuka Shikinami Langley's Pinpoint Barrier
 Melee Combo, taking 4230 damage!

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji has been defeated!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has engaged Tsugumi Saionji!
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan parries Rau Le Creuset's M7070 Shield+28mm Vulcan
 Bash, taking 510 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has engaged Sophia Mayhew Castellan!
KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 93.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.

<"That is how war always has worked. Don't be naive. The only way for two
 nations to bring eachother to the negotiation table when war has broken out,
 is to make it not worth the other nation's time and resources to keep the war
 going!"> The young woman calls back out to Gary Biaggi, feeling awkward having
 to lecture someone like this.

She's so young, that's obvious from her voice. And this man she's fighting is
 clearly an adult. Yet...

The Long Dagger comes again, and the blades follow. One of them dashes right
 before the Long Dagger as the blade goes for the waist of the EWAC Zack.
 Sinking just a bit into its body, before the unit can move. The two Longblades
 keep dancing around it.

Like some kind of blade dancer, the machine keeps bobbing and weaving in
 unusual manner.

One of them pushes him back, while the other shifts to a new position, opening
 up on the thrusters of the Long Dagger.

KTS: Lily Jung targets Gary Biaggi with Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model -
 Blade and Beam - Combo!

KTS: Gary Biaggi fails to react to Lily Jung's Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco
 Model - Blade and Beam - Combo, taking 2550 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Tsugumi Saionji has posed.

        Asuka charges in pin-point barriers turning the fists of her VG into
 miniature AT fields as she pummels and pounds the Geara Zulu, tearing it apart
 practically bare-handed, while it continues to laugh and laugh and laugh. But
 when the red haze fades for Asuka, she may realize the laughter stopped at
 some point. And there's no sign of a pilot in the cockpit that has been torn
 in half. She has definitely won here. Her enemy is defeated, unable to fight.

        But the question left behind remains, 'Were you fighting a ghost,
 Asuka? Like the others who are waiting for you to join them? How much longer
 can you stay out of their grasp when they're coming into the battlefield for
 you? Will you still be able to fight them when they're hiding under your bed,
 waiting for your to fall asleep?'

        Unseen in the midst of the violence and destruction and the automated
 laughter, a humanoid figure in a black and purple flightsuit had already
 exited their Mobile Suit and headed for the asteroid that Asuka used in her
 own tactics.

        The Specter will continue to haunt the battlefield, and the Earth
 Federation, for awhile yet it seems...

        Tsugumi Saito watches from the darkness, her helmet's visor polarized
 so that it is completely black from the outside. From the exterior, there's no
 evidence that the normal suit isn't empty too.

KTS: Tsugumi Saionji's AMS-129 Geara Zulu has been disabled.

<Pose Tracker> Setsuko Ohara has posed.

The Gunnery Carver snaps back closed after firing, venting something from its
 ridged rear. The side grip, folded out so that Setsuko can get a good grip on
 it while she's firing, snaps back into place along its side.

Setsuko did not really want to kill her opponent. Her morale is already pretty
 much rock bottom and that would just make it worse. Seeing Serinas alive is a
 bit of a relief - she wants to disable her suit but she doesn't bear any
 particular ill will for the pilot inside, who she assumes is being used as
 much as -

Well, as much as she is. But she doesn't think of it that way, really.

"..."

Setsuko doesn't respond to Serinas, and if she felt guilty before she feels
 *really* guilty now. She starts to maneuver, firing her thrusters to kick 'up'
 again; space battles are of course fully 3D but the matched alignments in
 angles from the ships means that maneuvers tend to be at least mostly along a
 given axis. Also, Setsuko has to orient *somehow*.

Regardless, going up works... for a moment. The gatling lasers pace Setsuko,
 driving her further up and up, away from her allies - and away from most of
 her enemies too but that's not really a relief, given she is not getting
 further away from Serinas. The claws come in, too fast for her to avoid.

Setsuko *does* scream, then. Just once, and cut off sharply, not because of
 injury but because she's got enough control to not do that. She can't
 immediately break free, but she twists one arm free. It's not enough to
 maneuver the Gunnery Carver (wrong arm, anyway) but it does have a small flat
 shield, and she interposes it between the chestpiece of the Virgola and the
 chest cannons.

The last shots rock Virgola back. Setsuko, panicking, fires all the thrusters,
 and the Virgola practically ejects itself in a corkscrewing route. One of its
 legs comes halfway off as it does, the knee torn open by those harrying lasers
 from before; the actual structure is still mostly attached but she leaves a
 comet's-trail of shattered armour behind her, losing parts downward from knee
 to toe.

Heart pounding, Setsuko manages to straighten out and fly directly away from
 the battlefield. This time she doesn't come back. She's failed. She's
 disgraced Glory Star. She hasn't saved the ships.

She kind of wants to cry.

<Pose Tracker> Sophia Mayhew Castellan has posed.

She doesn't have her Geass up during much of the clash. The enemy pilot is
 right; she can't afford to split her attention too much. And she's blown one
 of her trump cards with that plasma blade trick. Still, it does keep the two
 locked up for several precious seconds.

Her eye ignites again, lighting up the cockpit as her consciousness phases
 toward another layer. Now there's something new, a bright spear of connection
 driving from the doomed ship toward...her.

She understands. She sets her computer's image recognition to start scannning
 that part of the sky for incoming targets, and while she's waiting for that,
 she ALSO sets her Linear Cannon charging. Then she turns the whole of her
 attention back to Rau. He breaks the blade lock, whipping around hard to
 surprise her with a high-speed dash. Just got to stay up a little bit
 longer...to see their hopes realized! She strikes fast, jabbing her Plasma
 Blade up to smash into that incoming shield. It won't saw right through it -
 this isn't even a proper-intensity beam for that kind of output - but it
 should exert enough force to repel the attack, and give Sophia an opportunity.

She stows the Sonic Blade, and plucks the Linear Cannon off its braced position
 on her machine's side. It's a huge gun, much larger than is usually mounted to
 a Flag in space conditions - which should, ideally, prevent Rau from looking
 around too hard.

"<A hunter's folly, perhaps,>" she sends back, allowing a thin smile to touch
 her lips. "<Tempting prey is so appealing.>"

Got to keep him thinking about her...just a few moments more...!

The Linear Cannon's barrel glows blue for a moment from electricity firing
 through it, then roars forth with a series of hypervelocity bolts, blue-white
 rods of accelerated metals blasting forth to tear into Rau's CGUE.

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Rau Le Creuset with Linear Cannon Burst!

<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.

        The attack that the Long Dagger initiated left it wide open from Lily's
 attacks and those damn rifles take advantage of him as they continue to
 disable the thrusters on the back tf the Long Dagger. Then the panel
 controlling the panel inside the cockpit sizzles and smells like Ozone. Gary
 frowns as he tries to reach out and use it only for the panel to again smack
 his hand with electricity. Long Dagger was now adrift but not completely out
 yet.

         As for the conversation Gary was pleased, he had been under the
 impression that Flamingo was some starry eyed believer in truth and justice
 and peace through violence like so many others out there. <"Good answer.
 Maybe you are suited for the battlefield."> Gary chuckels and turns the comm
 off for now. This outing had actually ended up rather fun, now though Gary had
 to take advantage of still being active.

         The Long Dagger begins to twist and turn to get the EWAC in it's
 sights, and the moment it can see the unit the two 75mm CIWS gun set into the
 head piece of the unit begins firing at the EWAC trying to possibly finish off
 the enemy before those damn Longblades come back around for another pass.

KTS: Gary Biaggi targets Lily Jung with Igelstellung 75mm Multibarrel CIWS
 Retreating Volley!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset successfully avoids Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Linear Cannon
 Burst

KTS: Lily Jung has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Lily Jung has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Lily Jung has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Lily Jung successfully evades Gary Biaggi's Igelstellung 75mm Multibarrel
 CIWS Retreating Volley

KTS: Lily Jung has activated the Resupply Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.

The Longblades keep pace, as the Flamingo moves. Moving right after the Long
 Blade as it begins to limp. Then, a sudden feeling in her heart. And as Gary
 Biaggi squeezes the trigger - before his unit even fires - he can see this
 wonderful sight of the unit moving out of the way.

The pink light of its verniers rolling it away, and the two Longblade Rifles
 flashing to the sides, avoiding the CIWS shots. Like a bird opening its wings,
 and letting the currents carry it away!

Before one of the Longblades reconnects to the only arm remaining on the Zack,
 and it turns its weapon downwards.

<"Go! Longblade!"> As the other fires a massive burst right beneath the Long
 Dagger - trying to cut off its escape, before a second massive burst of energy
 cascades downwards, straight for the Long Dagger's entire body!

KTS: Lily Jung targets Gary Biaggi with Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model -
 High Emission!

KTS: Gary Biaggi blocks Lily Jung's Twin Longblade Rifle - Psyco Model - High
 Emission, taking 6720 damage!

KTS: Gary Biaggi has been defeated!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        Things are exploding all around the Achilles's bridge, "Status on the
 modified missile!?"

        "It's successfully away. Approaching the target area. The beacon will
 activate soon!"

        "Good... Then maybe our deaths won't be for nothing." There's a bright
 light...

        The Achilles explodes, the last of the Federation ships lighting up the
 dark of space and drawing the attention of those fighting nearby.

        ------

        The CGUE's thruster packs swing around to apply significant thrust
 backwards, pulling the CGUE away from Sophia's Flag rapidly. The extra space
 buys Rau just a little more time to evade, which he does so successful, each
 shot that Sophia fires passing through a spot Rau had been just moments before
 he had deftly slipped out of it.

        The light of the exploding Achilles catches Rau's attention, at which
 point he chuckles, <"Well. It seems that is that. Failure... So many lives
 counting on you. Gone in a flash.">

        The CGUE raises its left arm, the attached gatling shield spinning up
 its weapon before starting to unleash a barrage of bullets at Sophia.

        Just as a lone missile, its thrust exhausted, floats into the general
 area of the two and starts transmitting a beacon on a Federation channel.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Sophia Mayhew Castellan with M7070 Shield+28mm
 Vulcan Barrage!

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Serinas stops firing, hear heart pounding as there's only the quiet of
 space and her own breathing in her ears. She didn't want to kill Setsuko
 either, although it was a possible outcome she had to accept, taking to the
 battlefield.

        It's worth risking a few lives, to stop the Earth Sphere from repeating
 her ancestors' mistakes... to stop untold billions in the future living lives
 of nothing but war... right?

        That's what she tells herself.

        But it remains untested-- for she didn't kill today.

        But she *did* emerge victorious. The enemy pilot is out of the fight!
 She should feel proud, and exhuberant! And she does, but...

        ...Why does she also feel like she failed, somehow? Like she wants to
 cry?

        The half-Meltrandi shakes her head and takes a few breaths, trying to
 steady her feelings, and turns to look over the battlefield. She opens her
 mouth to announce her status to her allies, but... right, the jamming. She'll
 have to decide for herself, whether to return to the Nazca now or try to help
 take down one of these other Federation units...

<Pose Tracker> Gary Biaggi has posed.

        Gary watches the CIWS get avoided by the Pink EWAC before a bright
 light appears in front of him. He was always told to go towards the light but
 if he was going its' feet first. Keeping the CIWS going he points the head
 'down' causing him to rotate backwards and put his feet in the way of the
 blast and the shield and anything else he can to keep the cockpit safe. It
 works it seems but well theres not much more then hot slag around the cockpit.
 It seems Gary can do nothing more now then hope by luck he rams into an enemy
 and destroys it before floating off into space forever.

KTS: Gary Biaggi's GAT-01D Long Dagger has been disabled.

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Does Asuka Shikinami Langley know ghosts exist?

... Yes.

So is it possible she thinks she was fighting one? Perhaps. Stranger things
 have happened, she fights eldritch horrors frequently, she's traveled to a
 dimension where none of the rules make sense to her, where reality rewrites
 itself and most people there barely exist.

She does not see the pilot exit the Geara Zulu. She just hears the laughter
 echoing, even after the Geara Zulu is nothing more than scrap metal.

It doesn't detonate. There was noone in the cockpit. Was it simply automated?
  Some strange Coordinator Technological advance that was messing with her?

Or was it really a ghost?

The Battroid scans the area as if looking for signs of the answer, not seeing
 one.

Her radio reply is a grunt, as she tries her best not to sound unsettled,
 "<Enemy mobile suit downed. Hey Lieutenant. You're still not finished up
 over there? Come on, don't tell me you actually need covering fire?>"

What she notably doesn't do is offer him covering fire. Because Gary, need
 covering fire? Really?

What she does instead is target one of the larger mobile suits on the enemy
 side. The Queadluun-Rhea. There's an urgent beeping that suddenly appears on
 their sensors. That becomes more urgent, because that's not just one lock.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
 BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

It's so many that it no longer distinguishes between the numerous locks. The
 Battroid opens all of its micro missile arrays at once, and cluster upon
 cluster of missiles arc out in winding chaotic patterns, all streaking towards
 the defining Zentradi war machine of years past.

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Serinas Nikola with Micro-Missile Array
 Itano Circus!

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan blocks Rau Le Creuset's M7070 Shield+28mm Vulcan
 Barrage, taking 5910 damage!

KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 95.
KTS: Serinas Nikola successfully Evades Asuka Shikinami Langley's Micro-Missile
 Array Itano Circus

<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.

Lily Jung stares down at the position of Gary's retreat, moving out of the way
 to ensure he doesn't collide with her. The pilot, she senses, is still alive.
 Sweat is dripping down her back.

If that pilot had been in their own unit, would it have gone this well?

Her hands rub over the controls of the EWAC Zack. She's growing. She's growing
 almost too fast. "How long will you keep up with me, Zack?" She whispers to
 her machine. "I can feel it. You're straining, aren't you?"

Looking towards the ZAFT forces as they continue battle.

"How long can I stay in the back of the lines... how long do you want me to
 remain at the back, daddy? I don't think I can bring the change that is needed
 from here..."

<Pose Tracker> Sophia Mayhew Castellan has posed.

She can't see a light. They didn't load a life into whatever payload she's
 looking for. So what is it?

Her computer pinpoints a shape like a missile against the night coming in their
 direction. Maybe...

....the Achilles blows. Rau taunts her coldly.

She activates her Geass and watches the lights go out. So, so much slower than
 they want you to think it happens.

And connections of hope bent so, so much more strongly in her direction.

"<Yes. It is a horrible thing you've done,>" she says, ice cold. "<The third,
 today.>"

The defense rod spins up, whirling into action to defend her as best it's able
 from that shield-vulcan barrage. Fire like that is beyond the Defense Rod's
 specifications; more shots begin piercing her armor. But her target has
 arrived.

She surges toward it, trying to keep the rod between her and Rau, provide
 herself some cover. Ding, ding, ding, pang, pang, alarms going off in her
 cockpit, the sounds of impacts rattling her senses. But she cruises straight
 to it, Sonic Blade drawn. The Flag's thick yet skeletal fingers grasp around
 the fuel portion of the missile. Her computer targets the seam between warhead
 and rocket. Her Geass cannot sense the contents - but the threads of lingering
 bonds, slowly vanishing, tell her roughly where it should be.

SHe slices the warhead clean off, a brief kiai from her heart, then clamps it
 onto one of the Flag's hardpoints.

"<But I am not the one who has failed here!>" she roars, and grabs and rams the
 transformation switch.

The Flag folds rapidly up into its Flight mode, and Sophia cries, "<I bought
 them all the time they needed, you petty little thing!>"

The Flag's twin missiles - stored in the shins in standinb mode, now tucked
 under the belly - fire, spiraling through the night to give Rau something to
 worry about while Sophia's Flag guns its thrusters and screams away from the
 field.

"<This is Castellan!>" she calls on Federation channels. "<I have the last
 transmission of the Achilles! We're done here! Get out while you can!>"
Sophia Mayhew Castellan transforms to SVM-01 Union Flag Sophia Custom - Flight
 Mode

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Another foe finds her first.

        Missile lock!

        More missile locks!

        Wow, That's A Lot Of Missile Locks!

        She's attempted to deal with this in simulations, with mixed success.
 It's that bit of the Max vs Milia fight from Do You Remember Love come to
 life, the Meltrandi suit darting evasively at high speed while the missiles
 chase after her, gatling lasers blazing as she targets one missile, then the
 next, then the next, choosing ones that will take out more when they explode.
 Some of them get reeeeal close before being shot down at the last split-second!

        Serinas's heart is pounding again. Holy cow, did I really just do that?!

        Her eyes fall on the variable fighter that fired those. An unfamiliar
 design, but recognizably a VF.

        It can't be allowed to do that again.

        As she did with the Virgola moments ago, she tries to close the
 distance once more, darting and zig-zagging until she gets close enough to go
 for a flying kick that she plans to follow up with a flurry of punches, kicks,
 and claw-swipes!

KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan has changed loadout.
KTS: Sophia Mayhew Castellan targets Rau Le Creuset with Onboard Missile Rack
 Double Fire!

KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with Cultural Exchange!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley fails to Parry Serinas Nikola's Cultural Exchange,
 taking 4410 damage!

KTS: Serinas Nikola has engaged Asuka Shikinami Langley!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Sophia Mayhew Castellan's Onboard Missile
 Rack Double Fire, taking 3990 damage!

KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 10400

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

All the empty missile batteries pop back into the array as she watches the Rhea
 dodge all of them. Unbeknowst to Serinas she can't do that again. There's
 a hiss of breath as she realizes what that means, before the Rhea Zig-Zags all
 the way to engage. Ordinarily she wouldn't mind up close combat, its her
 forte. However with a Variable Fighter it's not quite as capable of
 performing WELL in this kind of combat.

Asuka puts up the pinpoint barrier system on each fist, as the Rhea, much
 better in this area starts to hammer her in this extreme cultural exchange.
 The Battroid gets knocked to and fro - its armor denting, every so often
 something sparking across it as the Rhea shows that it's simply in a higher
 weight class.

However, it's not too different from an Evangelion fighting a larger and faster
 Kaiju isn't it?

She waits, and waits.

And then like a boxer that just saw an opening. She surges forward into its
 guard, maximizing the penetrating power of the Pinpoint Barrier System...

... and trying to drive it RIGHT THROUGH the Zentradi war machine.

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley targets Serinas Nikola with Pinpoint Barrier Melee
 Piercing Strike!

KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola parries Asuka Shikinami Langley's Pinpoint Barrier Melee
 Piercing Strike, taking 1290 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Asuka Shikinami Langley's Sole Shikinami activates, causing
 Insight L1!

KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has engaged Serinas Nikola!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        The third, huh? Part of Rau is curious as to what the previous two
 things are.

        The rest of him doesn't care.

        It would be hard for Rau to not notice Sophia's actions in retrieving
 the missile's payload. Though the distance between them makes it difficult to
 take any action to stop her. Well, besides shooting.

        But that action is pre-empted by a barrage of missiles sent his way.
 Rau once more kicks his machine into high thrust, swerving and spiraling to
 try and avoid the missiles. Several explode just short of him, but finally his
 skill falls short, the remaining catching up and exploding.

        As the light fades, Rau's CGUE can be seen to still be intact. Though
 the left arm has been blown off with the attached shield. Rau spins around
 towards the retreating Sophia, watching her rapidly fly away. He hmmms
 thoughtfully... Before turning back towards the Nazcas and starting to return
 to them. As he does so, his unit's visor starts flashing light at them.

        Shortly afterwards, three coloured flares light up around the Nazcas,
 signalling a Return To Base order for the ZAFT forces. At the same time, the
 intense jamming levels start to fall off. Apparently no longer necessary.

        -------

        With the modified missile returned to a Federation base, it can be
 pulled apart. The storage drive is found and the data on it retrieved. It
 seems that the patrol fleet had stumbled upon a ZAFT force and managed to
 intercept and decode some of their communications. And the information
 uncovered in those comms points to one undeniable fact:

        ZAFT is just days away from a major operation to assault and capture
 the REA's Verkhovnyy Fortress.

        The information on the plan is not complete, due to the means of
 obtaining it. But apparently ZAFT will be launching its invasion from orbit,
 using its usual means of drop pods.

        As for how they plan to deal with the railgun defending the fortress
 and threatening such an attack... Apparently they've discovered a flaw in the
 base's power grid which will allow them to disable the railgun. The specifics
 of the flaw aren't included in the information. But ZAFT appears confident it
 will work.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Serinas is breathing heavily. She doesn't actually have to move her
 limbs 1:1 with the suit's, but this is till a lot more rapid movements, more
 times in a fight than she'd usually have to use. Damn, this VF pilot is
 *good*. She's dealing damage, but she just can't land the fully clean hit she
 needs to secure victory.

        Asuka gets her opening. The pinpoint barrier punch comes in...

        Some people who aren't big enough mecha nerds to have looked up
 technical drawings labor under the mistaken impression that the Queadluun line
 of suits are worn power armor. That's simply not the case. Even the tallest of
 Zentradi are maybe 60%% of the suit's height (although they probably would
 struggle to fit. Serinas is a little more than half the Queadluun-Rhea's
 height, not counting the shoulder cannon.) It's actually piloted more like an
 arm slave, albeit one that is much smaller than any human arm slave relative
 to its pilot.

        Still. That punch going through would be very... NOT GOOD if it
 connects head-on. Fortunately, Serinas raises her suit's arm to smack the
 Battroid's to the side, several very important meters. It tears into the side
 of the suit, even the glancing blow from the pinpoint barrier crumpling armor
 and cracking the engine/missile launcher housing on that side.

        Serinas throws the angular momentum right back at Asuka, lunging
 forward to grab at the shoulder opposite the arm that just punched, planning
 to pull it in for a knee to the upper chest -- just *to the side* the cockpit,
 she's not going for a kill -- followed by a quick burst from the gatling lasers and
 then a shoving kick to the groin while tearing the claw free. She has to
 disable this suit!

        ...Doesn't she? She maaay have gotten a bit monofocused here, unaware
 that the objective they're all fighting over has already resolved.

KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Asuka Shikinami Langley with Cultural Exchange!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley fails to Parry Serinas Nikola's Cultural Exchange,
 taking 6120 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Serinas Nikola's Can't Catch Me! activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: Asuka Shikinami Langley has been defeated!
KTS: Serinas Nikola has engaged Asuka Shikinami Langley!

<Pose Tracker> Asuka Shikinami Langley has posed.

Whether or not she was going for the kill, it wouldn't matter other than the
 thought of the matter, that sense of moral high ground. Because Asuka
 understands the structural damage that's been done to her Battroid already.
 This isn't an Evangelion. She's not well protected in an entry plug at the
 base of a giant's neck behind the wall of an AT Field.

It's a fighter that's exhausted its missile batteries, lost it's beam rifle in
 space. And is now fighting a Rhea when it has a distinct disadvantage in a
 melee fight. For once she wishes she just had a Prog Knife sized to that of a
 VF. As it grabs her the shoulder joint, she understands what's going to
 happen.

"Tck."

And promptly ejects. It takes her in a diagonal just as the knee smashes above
 the cockpit, and she sails forward below that knee. The trajectory taking her
 away far in that initial burst. Her flight suit doing the rest as she quickly
 ducks behind some mobile suit debris that's loosely floating in space.

"Guess I can't give Lieutenant shit after all."

She grumbles, as her main complaint - sure she's upset she lost a VF-171, but
 the AEU has those almost on surplus. And she added another notch to her
 mobile suit tally, didn't she?

...
...
...

Didn't she? It's not something she wants to think about too much.

She decides to wait things out a short while before she'll fly back with that
 jetpack.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

<poem>

       Serinas knees the Nightmare and-- did the pilot just eject? She freezes
for a half-second, processing what she just saw. Yeah, the cockpit is open and
whatever zoomed by in her peripheral vision was about miclone-size. She's won.

       Still not having learned of the idea of the enemy self-destructing, she
maintains her hold on the damaged, expended VF and starts to fly back the way
she came. That was close. That punch was TOO close. No more fighting today.
It's time to get off the field. And this is some new-model Feddie VF, right?
(She's kind of conflating it with the VF-25 Messiah) Maybe some tech-head will
want to take a look at it!

       As she speeds across the void, she looks for the pilot. From the
trajectory they ejected at, they should be around there somewhere, but she
doesn't see them. Still, if they ARE still close enough to hear through the
jamming... <"You fought well."> Serinas transmits, before veering off towards
the Nazcas.