Difference between revisions of "2022-11-05: Operation Spitbreak"

Revision as of 05:12, 5 November 2022

Log: Operation Spitbreak
Cast: Rau Le Creuset, Serinas Nikola, Eight York, Rena Lancaster, Sayaka Yumi, Lina Lombardi, Riika Sheder, Yuliana Dispersal, Shiho Hahnenfuss, Himeyuri Oono, Michiru Tenjou, Asciel Colette, Anita Rosetta, Artemisia ka Britannia, Vitaly Sokolov, Treize Khushrenada
Where: JOSH-A, Alaska
OOC - IC Date: 2022-11-05
Summary: ZAFT launch a surprise attack against the Federation headquarters, JOSH-A. Things do not go quite as expected as both sides find themselves the victim of a devious plot to destroy them all.

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        On the western coast of Alaska, bordering the Bering sea, is the
Federation's 'JOint Supreme Headquarters - Alaska' base. More commonly
referred to as JOSH-A or 'Joshua'. While it is technically a Britannian
facility, on Britannian soil, it is used by all the major Federation blocs as
a place for their military forces and leaders to meet and coordinate the war
against ZAFT.

        The base itself is built almost entirely underground. A grand
subterranean city and military complex, built within a large open cavern.
Above ground there are only defensive emplacements. Cannons, anti-air
batteries, point defense turrets. The occasional elevator shaft dotting the
surface provides access from there to the underground.

        Other than the structures previously mentioned, the aboveground terrain
remains fairly natural. The base is built beneath a section of the Alaskan
wild that contains a somewhat large river, which reaches the coastal cliffs
and falls off into the Bering Sea as a waterfall. While Alaska is beginning to
get cold at this time of year, the river's surface has not yet frozen over.
Though the occasional chunk of ice may be seen floating down it. Either side
of the river is primarily forest, with the occasional clearing either natural
or man-made for the aforementioned defenses.

        While the elevator shafts do provide some access to the base, the main
entrances are actually within the cliffs at the water's edge. Several smaller
hangar doors dot the cliff-side at varying heights, housing launch catapults
attached to hangars further in. They are guarded by additional defensive
emplacements built into the cliffs. But the largest entrance is actually built
at the water's surface. A huge set of reinforced hangar doors, hidden behind
the waterfall itself. They are designed to provide access for ships to pass
through the cliffs and into the large port inside the cavern that houses the
main section of the complex. On a normal day, this port is filled with a
number of Britannian warships, the primary defense force for the base.

        Today is not a normal day.

        The Britannian warships and their accompanying mobile weapons that make
up JOSH-A's main defense are not currently here. They have been temporarily
reassigned to defend the Panama Canal, in the face of an impending ZAFT
attack. An attack that is not coming. As unbeknownst even to the vast majority
of ZAFT, until just recently the target of this operation, codenamed
Spitbreak, is not Panama as most believed.

        Emboldened by their victory at Torrington, ZAFT seeks to destroy the
military headquarters and symbol of Federation cooperation on Earth: JOSH-A
itself.

        Roughly three dozen ZAFT warships and submarines currently move through
the waters off the coast of Alaska, just outside of engagement range with
JOSH-A's defenses. On their decks stand numerous ZuOOTs, ZAFT's artillery
mobile suits. The waters churn with silhouettes of GOOhNs and ZnOs, the
machines designed for underwater combat visible just below the surface. In the
air, several flights of DINNs with their six wings make passes over the fleet.

        The Federation side barely makes up half of those numbers. The base's
defensive emplacements may help even the odds a little more. But it's clear
that the defenders are rather outnumbered. Regardless the joint forces of the
Federation's blocs stand ready to fight, supported by what units the other
organizations that support the Federation were able to send.

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        Standing atop the deck of one of the ZAFT warships is a white DINN. The
ZAFT forces of course know this to be the unit of the one leading the assault.
But even many in the Federation will be able to recognize the white custom
paint job of one of ZAFT's most infamous aces, Rau Le Creuset.

        Inside the cockpit, Rau watches his screens as his main camera scans
across the forces laid out against them. A knowing smirk briefly appears on
his face, before he reaches over, presses a button to establish comms, and
begins to speak.

        Rau's voice echoes not only within the units of ZAFT, but also through
the air from speakers on the warships, loud enough to be heard by the
Federation forces:

        <"Many ZAFT soldiers have given their lives in this war thus far. Dying
to protect their home, their loved ones, their ideals and beliefs in freedom.
Now, our duty to them demands that we be willing to do no less! To carry on
their fight. To see their hopes and dreams fulfilled! So that their deaths
were not in vain.">

        <"For too long those within the Federation had trodden upon us. Treated
us with disdain. Choked us with unjust restrictions. Called us abominations
against nature. Murdered us without reason. So we said 'no more!' We fought
back. Against overwhelming numbers, while facing starvation and ridicule, we
fought back.">

        <"Now we stand at their doorstep! They cannot run. They cannot hide.
Today we will strike the greatest blow against our oppressors to date. As we
turn their headquarters into nothing but rubble they will face well deserved
justice at the tips of our blades!">

        The white DINN draws forth a mecha-scale blade from its sheathe,
thrusting it into the air in front of it. A combined cheer can be heard across
the ZAFT comms as the entire force starts to move forward, closing towards the
JOSH-A base.

        The warships are the first to open fire, their large cannon barrels
rising up to aim and then fire. The large shells arc through the air before
coming down. Many create large bursts of water as they hit the sea. Others
explode as they strike the Federation warships. Yet more impact the cliff
side, sending chunks of rock flying.

        The DINNs, GOOhNs and ZnOs begin to rush forward. Faster in the skies,
the DINNs meet the enemy first primarily in the form of the AEU's Enacts. A
large furball break out in the skies over the water, machine gun fire and
missiles blasting through the air. ZAFT's underwater units meet their
counterparts soon after, a number of the OCU's Aqua GMs, cruising through the
water ahead of their warships. Torpedoes are soon rushing between the two,
underwater explosions causing bulges at the water's surface.

        The base defenses built into the cliff aim and begin to fire, cannon
rounds and rockets crashing down amidst the ZAFT fleet. The counterattack
comes from the various ZuOOTs atop the warship decks, their large
shoulder-mounted cannons aiming up and firing. The large rounds rise up and
over the cliff's edge, raining down onto the forest on the surface, where a
number of the OAC's Mistral IIs are taking cover. Coming under fire, the
wanzers begin to return it with their launchers, the rockets blasting down
from the cliff's edge to explode against the ZuOOTs, sending them falling over
the edge and sinking into the deep.

        The battle has well and truly started.

KTS: Anita Rosetta arrives loaded onto Eight York's combat deck!
KTS: Rena Lancaster arrives loaded onto Eight York's combat deck!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou has placed a bucket with capacity 2!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has deployed in Agrissa Type 13.
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss arrives loaded onto Himeyuri Oono's combat deck!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou arrives loaded onto Himeyuri Oono's combat deck!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has joined Michiru Tenjou's bucket!
KTS: Lina Lombardi has joined Michiru Tenjou's bucket!
KTS: Himeyuri_Oono has deployed as a Boss for 3 opponents.
KTS: Shiho_Hahnenfuss has deployed as a Rival.
KTS: Michiru_Tenjou has deployed as a Boss for 2 opponents.
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has deployed in P-143S Pescatore.
KTS: Lina Lombardi arrives loaded onto Vitaly Sokolov's combat deck!
KTS: Lina Lombardi arrives loaded onto Vitaly Sokolov's combat deck!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has deployed in OZ-06MS4G Leo Type IV Greif.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Standing elsewhere on the deck with that white DINN is a
Queadluun-Rhea, recognizable to most of the current generation as similar to
the Meltrandi assault suit, the Quadluun-Rau, from old movies about the
Zentradi war.

        Listening to their leader's speech, she doesn't want to die here...
but, she knows that if she doesn't fight, death will only come later in the
form of armed Blue Cosmos troops kicking down her family's door.

        Serinas nods along as le Crueset's speech continues, about the Feddies'
horrible treatment, getting fired up. As the ZAFT forces begin the attack, the
Queadluun-Rhea joins the DINNs in the sky, its anti-ship beam cannon fire
joining in the artillery fire raining down on the water and the warships.

KTS: Lina Lombardi has launched from Vitaly Sokolov's combat deck!
Serinas Nikola has moved to Depths

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

Captain York didn't think being Earthside was so bad. Alaska is very pretty,
actually, and a beautiful waterfall marks an entrance to the base proper,
which is on the whole very nice. However...

She had a bad feeling that she couldn't entirely shake, and that resulted in
her this morning being in Engineering, discussing with their chief engineer
the status of the ship. EARLIER:

"...So she's ready, if anything happens?"

"The Hyper Beam System has been fully repaired, and her engines are in top
shape. She is ready, Captain. ...But do you expect trouble?"

"I don't know," she says to Orlodhari. "...I don't know."

"...Then I will ensure all remains in readiness."

NOW:

Tempo Astelian says, "More ZAFT forces incoming!" from his position at the
comms, as the Ra Mari blass away at other ships and moves to deploy its mobile
suit wings. "Bastards," Fari starts, and Eight frowns at him, shaking her
head. "...We're here to defend the base and ourselves. Don't get distracted
by rhetoric, Fari."

"...Yes, ma'am." He's sullen about it though--what he's learned about the
Captain does not reassure him.

Regardless, the rest of the crew has a lot to do. Rezza is already on the line
with other parts of the ship; Chovan is directing what movement can be done in
these close quarters. And Eight...

"You have permission to deploy, Kakapo Squadron. Stay alert out there."

She had a bad feeling about this. She still does.

"Come back alive."

Then, to Fari, "Get me a solution on that battleship! Keep power to the
shield!"

The Ra Mari's gigantic cannons burn up pink as they fire on another ship.

KTS: Treize Khushrenada has joined Serinas Nikola's bucket!

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rena feels tense, as she sits inside the cockpit of the YF-25A Prophecy. She
looks up at the screens on her monitors that show the incredible array of
forces brought against JOSH-A. The Britannian base with, stunningly,
practically no Britannian forces present -- all redirected to the Panama
Canal. Her camera feeds show blasts slamming into emplacements, wanzers firing
missiles, and DINNs taking to the sky.

She sends a transmission to the bridge: "I read you. Stay safe, everyone.
Captain York..." She feels more than tense. She feels that nagging sense of
questioning -- of not knowing her worth, of wondering if she is just some
experiment gone wrong -- and she cannot banish it, entirely. Two steps
forward, one step back. "...I'll make sure I come back."

She smiles. Then, the feed closes a moment later. Rena flips onto another one,
this one to Anita. "Be careful out there, Annie. This looks about as bad as it
can be. Don't make me cry, okay?"

She nods at her. Then, she closes her eyes, and takes a moment, before opening
them. When she speaks next, it's over the local network: "Kakapo Leader,
YF-25A Prophecy... launching!"

The orange-and-white Valkyrie shoots down the catapult, afterburners firing. It
takes to the skies, leaving twin vapor trails off its wings, as it lifts up in
front of the Ra Mari. The fighter lifts up, its heads-up display alighting
with highlights and crosshairs. Rena sits up straighter in the cockpit, and
her eyes linger on it. She still feels tense.

These are Coordinator. She knows, now, that she is too.

Can she really do this?

KTS: Asciel Colette has joined Riika Sheder's bucket!

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"Mazinger Z? Absolutely not!" comes Sayaka's harsh rejection to the widescreen
in front of her, an emergency video call with Gennosuke Yumi, Prime Minister
of Japan. There's been an urgent call to deploy the currently understaffed
JOSH-A base from a massive ZAFT invasion, and the Photon Power Labs have of
course, been turned to for support.

"Returned to fighting or not, Mazinger Z is still a symbol of hope for the
people of Japan. Using it towards a cause that we haven't even fully committed
ourselves to is unthinkable!" Sayaka shakes her head. "I'll lead an Ichinana
squadron myself, instead, so we can feel out the situation and help out where
needed. But no more than that." Her harsh gaze turns slightly softer. "I know,
father. Of course I won't die out there."

And so, as promised to the Federation, the Photon Power Labs has lent an
Ichinana squadron to assist in defending JOSH-A. The commander herself flies a
completely unremarkably designed Ichinana, and it may take a closer look
inside the Pilder to see whose truly inside. This.. is not a fight for
Mazinger Z and it won't be for Aphrodite Areia either.

"Geez, isn't this guy pompous," Sayaka mutters; she's just in time for Le
Creuset's speech. But it's no time to get distracted by over-the-top war
speeches. Sayaka observes the surroundings. The Federation is greatly
outnumbered and it seems like their main force was all gone barking up the
wrong tree. If she had to guess it's mostly autonomous corps like Londo Bell,
and of course, her own Photon Power League, defending the base right now.

KTS: Artemisia_ka_Britannia has deployed as a Rival.

<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.

Alina Pride knew better than to ask her pilot why she wasn't wearing her jacket
when she came into the hangar. Even though she had never seen Lina without it,
she knew the story behind it well enough. In fact, Lina was a lot more quiet
than usual today. Typically, she'd be chatting up a storm, small talking the
technicians and pumping up the flight crew as she donned her normal suit and
hopped into her Nightmare, but she seemed like she could barely get two
syllables out at a time.

Of course, of all the times to abandon a jacket, she picked the day she was on
assignment in Alaska. Surprisingly, she had Vitaly as a wingman, they had
definitely fought together, but not in the same squad. Guess she's finally
trusting me a bit more, she thinks, or maybe she just wants me in sight in
case I go PTSD... She shakes her head. Whatever. Just focus.

"Juno 1, ready to engage?"

Mousetrap's voice held a wavering hesitation, as if she also didn't think Lina
was up to the task.

"Roger, engaging." Lina's reply is curt and professional, two things she
usually wasn't. She looks to her side at Vitaly, trying to shake any remaining
negativity before diving in.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

One of the costs, such as it is, of testing the big guns is that you are
expected to be one of the first people in.

Riika Sheder never thought of herself as a linebreaker, but that's the role
she's been put in today: approach the base, find or make a way in, let the
rest of ZAFT follow her. To that end she has been put in command of a squad: a
trio of GINNs, one of which is her old Assault GINN, though she's not the one
piloting it today.

Riika's extremely obvious GuAIZ, coloured in a rather distinctive safety
orange-yellow, is approaching on the back of some kind of subflight unit -
actually its backpack, it's designed for this. The GINNs have *actual*
subflight units and are skimming along behind her, mostly to stop her from
being ambushed while she gets into position.

Her orders, such as they are: get in and start blasting. She's already under
fire; machine gun fire skips off the GuAIZ as its Phase Shift Armour
activates, leaving the GINNs to fire at the various units taking aim at the
artillery machine. Riika has some misgivings, but they're the misgivings she
always gets on the battlefield: is she going to be able to keep her fellow
soldiers safe? Is she going to do what needs to be done? This is, at least, a
good target; JOSH-A is purely military and, as Rau's speech has reminded her,
vital to the defense of Earth.

"<Sheder. Beginning firing sequence!>"

The GuAIZ slows slightly, taking aim with its beam rifle and pair of hip
railguns. Riika lets out a breath, then fires, the trio of shots - two
supersonic shells and a high-powered green beam scaled to take out battleships
- shattering one of the stationary defenses on impact. One of the GINNs has
the two-shot Canus anti-fortress missile launcher, and it lets loose both of
the gigantic missiles, one after another, on other defenses.

"<Checking backup batteries,>" Riika adds a moment later, because the
assemblage of extra power cells in the lifter and the flared back of the suit
has just been refurbished and she wants to make sure the draw is okay. "<Looks
like we're good. Moving in!>"

The quartet of ZAFT suits approaches the shoreline, under significantly less
fire now that the stationary defenses that were tracking them are now gone.

KTS: Asciel Colette has changed loadout.

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Dispersal has posed.

        Even further north than here, there's tireless construction... but
don't worry about that, for now.

        For now.

        Captain Yuliana Dispersal and her Nega Force were sent to JOSH-A on
short notice to help coordinate the REA forces which the Republic sent to the
Panama Canal. (Why they're here is -- listen, you always get two things done
on a milk run.) The Captain herself has her cheek resting firmly on a fist, as
her fingers drum on the table, glaring at the transmission equipment. "Waste
of my goddamn time," she's been grumbling for ages.

        "Oh, yes," Parminder remarks, deadpan, as he tweaks a dial. "Your...
what was it, napkins? Yes, your napkins are far more important than
planetary defense."

        "Don't get shirty with me, Letda," Yuliana pouts. "The wrong
accessories can bring down an entire wedding!"

        "Oh, would you shut up about --" Cascade is about to tell Yuliana to
stop talking about the wedding they're both not invited to and definitely
don't want to attend, before Yuliana holds up a hand to stop them,
straightening up and adjusting her own headset.

        "Shh!"

        ...---...

        So, as it happens, the forces at the Panama have nothing to do.

        But as for the Nega Force --

        One squad which deploys from those underground launchers isn't
Britannian -- the machines are all distinctly of REA make. There's an RK-96
Savage II with a sniper rifle, a Laiying 1 all kitted out with explosive
launchers... and a familiar-looking Tiandong 3, all painted teal -- and
emerald! -- armed to the teeth with an axe on a chain, a bayonet-equipped
flamethrower, and a chaff launcher across one shoulder. Looking closely,
though, it's... a little more new, than the last time anyone saw it.

        Yuliana had to refit a whole new Tiandong after Torrington; this is the
second iteration on her modifications.

        "Lettu, Kadet, go fishing. See if you can stop them from coming
ashore." The Annihilation transmits, as Yuliana grasps her clutch and sends
her machine stomping forward. "I'll deal with the ones which make landfall.
Letda, keep an eye on things down there."

        (Parminder Chaudhri still doesn't have his mecha licence, so he's
stayed behind with their monitoring equipment to keep an eye on the battle. He
simply cannot drive anything with feet.)

        "Minovsky's Woman, on site," she reports, broad-band, still fearless of
what that name means to the people on the other side.

<Pose Tracker> Shiho Hahnenfuss has posed.

Shiho settles into her cockpit; the speech has an effect on her -- but a small
one. All truths told: it kind of makes her uneasy. It's not that she's against
the attack -- certainly it's the most valid military target, and certainly
it's not an unjust maneuver. But it's an escalation -- far from the probing
attacks against the OAC that she's been party to up to this point.

This will bring the war to a close, one way or another -- but is it the kind
of close she was hoping for?

Her grip on her sticks tightens. She looks out from her current position,
tether-cabled to the Socrates and mounted on a Shackles, her expression
flattening. "CGUE DEEP Arms, engaging," she says. "I'll be your close air
support; note that my flying range is limited, as I'll be relying on you for
additional power."

... Please, let this be the battle that ends the war, she tells herself. Please.

<Pose Tracker> Himeyuri Oono has posed.

        At the head of this ZAFT Fleet is the Nazca-class Socrates, the Mobile
Suit team on the deck. Team Leader Le Creuset's speech echoes in the hearts of
the troops. Well, it certainly echoes in Himeyuri's- the earthlings did this
to their people so long ago, and now they keep up their cruelty and
oppression. This is what it is to fight an Enemy of Justice.

        His speech done, the young captain opens comms to her crew. "You all
heard Le Creuset-san. This is your chance to bring our justice to these
bringers of cruelty and hate! I simply ask one thing of you all: come back
alive... or make your noble sacrifice count. I believe in all of you! Launch
at will!"

        The captain's voice, full of hope and conviction, falls still. Now is
the time to believe in the plan of a man who knows how to fight, not the young
lady who should not be captain. She is here to support him, and his ideals of
victory.

        "Enemy battleship has taken out one of ours, ma'am!" The report causes
her brow to furrow.

        "...That's the one who requested an alliance against the Vajra." For a
moment, Himeyuri almost seems conflicted. "And to think I thought that crew
held the spark of nobility. Fire the Beam Cannons, and lay down missile fire
to suppress their MS teams! We need to save our people, as Captain Laura
would!"

        She opens a channel. "Le Creuset-san, I'll handle things here. Do all
you can to scour these monsters from the face of our Earth. I believe in your
judgment."

KTS: Himeyuri Oono targets Eight York with 120cm High-Energy Beam Cannon
 Precision Assault!

KTS: Himeyuri_Oono Changes attack to Anita Rosetta and Rena Lancaster with
 450mm Multipurpose Vertical Launch System Bombing Run.

<Pose Tracker> Michiru Tenjou has posed.

ZAFT's forces are far more numerous than simply those forces leading the first
wave however. While at Torrington Michiru had displayed the versatility and
power of the ZnO, for this mission, Michiru has returned to the machine that
is so iconic to her. Between then and now, she's put in a few requests to
Himeyuri. Simple ideas for ways to modify the Galaxia, or iterate on it for
the future. One being a blade weapon. The other, was a suggestion to look into
ways of making use of the ZnO's sonic cannons. Neither of those have seen any
results as of yet.

And so, as they approach the ongoing fight, the Galaxia stands atop the
Socrates, an imposing protector and threat alike. Its arms are crossed over
its chest. Its singular eye glares over the field, watching for any who might
choose to endanger Himehime. Speaking of which... "Himehime! The adjustments
to Galaxia are perfect! You really outdid yourself, ironing away those errors
we kept seeing. She feels more responsive too!"

The fortress sickens her to see. Yet another symbol of the steel boot on the
throats of innocent lives. But she will never waver in her resolve, and the
roar in her heart. For the Federation and their tyrannical rule, destruction
awaits. Justice will come, on behalf of all those who have fallen, and all
those oppressed, who cannot fight for themselves! "Michiru Tenjou, Galaxia
ready to engage!"

KTS: Eight York blocks Himeyuri Oono's 120cm High-Energy Beam Cannon Precision
 Assault, taking 2800 damage!

KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Strike Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Asciel Colette has posed.

        <"Gooooood evening, adorable valiants of the Zodiac!">

        That merry wide-range call to ZAFT and their allied forces butts in oh
so loudly shortly before the decisive moment of assault on JOSH-A, midway to
the staging point. <"Shorly you'll be seeing an unfamiliar IFF. Do simply
label it aaaaas...Atrytone, for now! Yes, that'll be a lovely thing to call
me. No need for alarm that your wonderful banner to seize the crown of Earth
has been compromised - I represent interests that would be thrilled to see you
victorious~">

        <"And personally, I'll find it exciting to take part! <3!">

        Deep within the waves, Asciel Colette's teal-hued Codarl hailing ZAFT
maneuvers as easily as a fish, especially deft at catching the currents and
drifting almost too free-spiritedly alongside the fleet, spending a slightly
irresponsible amount of time calling a handful of specific pilots and asking
them somewhat mundane questions...all the while being oh so cheery and
supportive of their cause.

        There's an energetic little clap from Asciel, or 'Atrytone' as she's
going by here, at the end of Rau's speech. <"Oooh, what a rousing call to
arms!~ Hehehehe. To all of you: don't forget, today's your day for ~justice!~
Today's your day to set fire to this oh so rotten tree! I'll be helping myself
to their counter-attacking suits. I'm here to cover your grand assault, so you
can rely on me to hold back as many of their brutes as it takes!">

        Oh so noble a thing to say - but in truth, once the front line's
starting to get engaged with counterfire...Asciel's patently salivating at the
sight of JOSH-A's defense force diving into the water to stop ZAFT - their
little amphibious suits in a neat litle formation.

        Riika for her part sees that limber little Arm Slave zoom right past
her, immediately getting to work nimbly slashing and tearing at the
Federation's front-line with an almost dangerous amount of zeal. From the
looks of it, she's armed with fairly little in the way of heavy firepower -
clearly a specialist in anti-MS combat first and foremost.

        Though not to say she's -entirely- stuck at point blank range. Opening
up vents that hiss and bubble in the water, two suppressive fire gatling guns
fold up underneath Asciel's arms, merrily thrumming away at more intercepting
targets...

KTS: Anita Rosetta's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Anita Rosetta fails to intercept Himeyuri Oono's 450mm Multipurpose
 Vertical Launch System Bombing Run, taking 2960 damage!

KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster successfully evades Himeyuri Oono's 450mm Multipurpose
 Vertical Launch System Bombing Run

KTS: Asciel Colette has activated the Assail Spirit Command.
KTS: Asciel Colette targets Artemisia ka Britannia with AK-87 Gatling Cannon
 Sustained Fire!

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia blocks Asciel Colette's AK-87 Gatling Cannon
 Sustained Fire, taking 1440 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Himeyuri Oono has posed.

Himeyuri does find herself grinning at Michiru's praise. "Of course,
Michi! Now, show these earthlings what she's made of!" She shouldn't be
encouraging these tendencies, but there's a battle to win.

KTS: Himeyuri Oono targets Michiru Tenjou with Prospect!
KTS: Riika Sheder targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Pass!

<Pose Tracker> Shiho Hahnenfuss has posed.

Shiho takes a breath -- and opens communications to a familiar Tiandong 3
and... an Ichinana. The former, she hopes she can convince to retreat based on
the results of their previous battle; the latter reminds her of --

-- better times.

"Federation Forces," she transmits, as she delivers a quick burst of fire from
her energy cannons for each of them. "This is Shiho Hahnenfuss of ZAFT.
Surrender and you'll be treated..."

She gets a better look at what her camera is telling her mid-sentence. She
falters, and says instead, "... Doctor Yumi -- you don't need to do this.
Don't die on some Britannian's say-so!" There's a little more heat in her
voice than she expected -- but then, this is a battlefield.

Artemisia ka Britannia has moved to Depths

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss targets Yuliana Dispersal with JDP8-MSY0270 Directed
 Thermal Energy Cannon Wide-Area Blast!

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss targets Sayaka Yumi with JDP8-MSY0270 Directed Thermal
 Energy Cannon Wide-Area Blast!

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

In a surprise move, ZAFT is attacking JOSH-A. With the Federation's forces
already committed elsewhere, it's up to everyone currently available to help
defend it. The Ra Mari is among them, and with it, Anita Rosetta. She sits the
in the cockpit of her Valkyrie, the VF-25 Messiah Rosetta, leaning back in her
pilot seat with her eyes shut in rest and flexing the fingers of her EX-Gear
to keep herself ready.

Outside, a voice blares from the speakers of ZAFT warships. This guy... She'd
be lying if she said he didn't have a way with words.

Eight gives her permission to deploy, and Anita opens her eyes.

"Right. Good luck, Captain." She says with a nod... and soon enough, a feed
opens from Rena's Valkyrie.

"Same to you, Rena. And remember... I've got your back, okay? Always." Anita
replies, offering her usual casual smile.

Rena launches, and soon, Anita makes her own preparations.

"Anita Rosetta, on the way." Anita says. She pushes her machine forward and it
launches from the Ra Mari. As she flies, her machine shifts into GERWALK mode,
drawing out her gatling gun pod with its freed arms.

...As she does, though, she finds herself almost immediately coming under fire
- her exit is met with a barrage of missiles. Her beam vulcans blaze as they
cut through some of the missiles, but not nearly enough of them. They crash
into her, but the pinpoint barrier system flares to life in enough time to
dampen the blow.

"I'm okay - but be careful." Anita warns the others. The battleship... if they
could force it to retreat, that'd be great. She takes aim with her gun pod and
opens fire, sweeping it across the battleship - though careful to avoid the
bridge or any quarters.

KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Himeyuri Oono with Gatling Sweep!

<Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.

37 kilometers from JOSH-A is a military encampment. Military? Not quite; it's a
*royal* encampment. Far enough away from the base to be free of its immediate
impacts, as it is in a protected forest region; near enough to be surely safe.
After all, what kind of temerity would it take to attack this crown jewel of
the Earth Federation's mighty military alliance, that overcame Zeon? That
overcame Neo-Zeon? That has been tested and found to have the mettle, so many
times?

That kind of temerity, it would seem.

There is at least a little warning. A little bit. An all-call; a warning; a
wail of dismay from JOSH-A's mobile defense corps.

"Is that right," says the central figure of this encampment, Artemisia ka
Britannia.

"They don't have clear figures on the scope of the attack, but it's huge!" says
Lt. Salliette Ward, voice filled with threefold anxiety. "It's a big move -
this isn't a probing raid! I think that we got fooled, your Highness!"

"I didn't get fooled," Artemisia says, rubbing at the bridge of her nose, but
it's petulance and she herself knows it. "Ohh-h, what a bother. What's their
word?"

"Well," Sally dithers, "I, I mean - begging your pardon, your Highness - it's
honestly rather confused! It's more of an alert at this stage!"

"Then they aren't saying, evacuate, exactly," Artemisia says, her hips moving
first left, then right, as she turns to look at herself in the vanity mirror
in her command tent. "There's not some formal Federal advisory."

"No'm," Sally answers, with fourfold anxiety.

Artemisia takes a deep breath.

"You know, Sally," the 11th princess muses, "these bears weren't really much
sport. We came too late, even with the trends the way they were. In a way
we're fortunate, aren't we?"

Sally doesn't say anything. She goes with a weak smile.

Artemisia turns around and raises her voice. "Ready the frames! Infantry to
mount, get them mobile; we'll do this stylishly, and if they're not able to
fete us afterwards, we'll celebrate in Anchorage. Away, Sally! Away!"

NOW

There is unrest in the forest, of course, but there's a lot of shit blowing up
and exploding. You'd expect some stuff to happen. This isn't exactly the part
of Britannia with the nicest weather; that would be the part where the Emperor
actually lives.

A triad of DINNs with flight packs follow their established formation vector on
the left flank. They pass near the treeline.

The tree line does something unexpected for trees: it fires a pair of
high-speed projectiles outwards which snatch the DINN and jerk it out of its
flight path. The other end of the situation seems to be prepared for this but
still ends up moving, and it rises upwards-- before the DINN is shot in a
chatter of machine-rifle fire, puncturing the cockpit and much of the air.

"Eeh? -- Hah!" The Harkens stay anchored to the disabled suit even as the other
DINNS veer away with a panicked squack, receiving disciplined fire as they do
so.

"Well done, Pisaro! First blood! Alright, lads, rip out what you can - I see
bigger game." And then it finally emerges from the treeline, vaulting upwards
and skidding down to the scant beach hugging the river delta. It is not
conventionally armed. The Knightmare Frame's gray-and-green-and-black dappling
loses its illusory value on the beach, but the Harkens work fine. Even as it
launches, a thruster pack screaming to life as it takes into the air, more
cannon fire comes in. Raking the side of the Knightmare Frame, beating the
treeline, Artemisia ka Britannia --

Laughs!

It isn't a nice laugh. "Cover me--e-e," she calls, getting a rousing "YES, YOUR
HIGHNESS" that comprehensively reveals the presence of the trio of KMFs, one
of which, evidently, has some kind of mortar, which is fired several times
towards the sea.

"Welcome to Britannia! Die!" Artemisia greets the heavily-armed unit that she
approaches, even as the Harkens lash out to entangle against it.

KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Asciel Colette with Escudo Q Missiles!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Riika Sheder with Slash Harken Hook!
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal successfully evades Shiho Hahnenfuss's JDP8-MSY0270
 Directed Thermal Energy Cannon Wide-Area Blast

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to react to Riika Sheder's Pass, taking 0
 damage!

KTS: Riika Sheder successfully Evades Artemisia ka Britannia's Slash Harken Hook
KTS: Sayaka Yumi blocks Shiho Hahnenfuss's JDP8-MSY0270 Directed Thermal Energy
 Cannon Wide-Area Blast, taking 2300 damage!

KTS: Asciel Colette charges into the attack!
KTS: Asciel Colette successfully avoids Artemisia ka Britannia's Escudo Q
 Missiles

<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.

With Britannia having recalled some of the troops into the JOSH-A region,
there's a pattern that Vitaly has come to recognize. This isn't the first time
she has heard of a call to arms from certain lines. The last time ZAFT
approached a massive fortress, there was more information at play than there
should have been.

As the Rabscuttle lazily lays at the ocean floor, the woman breathes out smoke.
Cigarette in one hand, leg cross over the other, leaning back. Staring at the
screens before her with an intensely furrowed brow.

"What is going on. Where is information flowing from?" She mumbles to herself
as communications start to indicate the approach of warships upon the horizon.
The cigarette meets her lips once more, as violence begins. Detonations
starting above the waters.

The woman's head turns, gaze shifting towards a few files at the side. She came
here as requested - but her intent here is different. Her intent is to
witness, so she can learn more about what is going on in the background.

She then shuts down the screen and sets it to the standard linear display, and
adjusts her grip on the machine. Turning her arm a bit to shift through the
BUNNyS systems and integrate with one hand, before putting out her cigarette
on the metalic inner walls of her cockpit. The ventilation system taking care
of the smoke.

The cigarette thrown away, she finishes integration procedures, and looks out
into the waters as the detonations begin within the waters as well. <"Be
Careful, Lombardi."> Followed by, <"Zimnyaya ved'ma. Engaging.">

Beneath the waters, subtle lights light up in the dark. From the surface, it
seems like the underwater battle is going fairly silently, right before...

                             ____
                     __,-~~/~ `---.
                   _/_,---( , )
               __ < ) \___
- ------===;;;'====------------------===;;;===----- - -
         ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                        ~ ~

A fierce detonation bursts within the water, as an enormous explosive device
tears through a region of approaching ZnO units. Amidst the violent
detonation, a vessel suddenly bursts at at enormous speeds. Raising right up
towards Himeyuri Oono's Socrates. The vessel, clearly a Mobile Armor in type.
It looks like it's about to grab onto the Socrates itself. Water drifting off
of the vessel.

Almost like a torpedo, it shoots up towards the Socrates, while behind it,
various ZnO units turn into blips of nothing. On either side, the massive
claws open up, spreading out from the unit. But instead of attaching itself to
the battleship, it reaches out towards the Galaxia!

The massive claw lunges for her, attempting to literally snatch her from the
deck of the Nazca-class. Almost like a shark jumping out of the water in an
attempt to snag something out of the air and devour it. The unit however keeps
its turbines going. The Minovsky-Craft system, Daedalus, activating as it
keeps rocketing up into the air at high speeds as the claw tries to crush
Michiru Tenjou's Galaxia. If it succeeds the grab, trying to hold it so that
Lina Lombardi can get an easy shot off!

<"This is Vitaly Sokolov of Rapid Response Team. You have trespassed, and you
will pay price."> A firm statement from the Winter Witch of Ravnui.

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Accel Spirit Command and Has Engaged with
 Michiru Tenjou

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Michiru Tenjou with Hrududu II - Claw Grab!

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

Eight can feel the conflict in Rena, which makes her all the more inclined to
project confidence for her. Maybe Rena can't believe in herself right now,
but... "Looking forward to it, Lieutenant."

"Captain! Target disabled!" Fari is nervous--the odds are against them. But
taking out some of the enemy is heartening. Eight doesn't wait for him, "Then
get on--Shields! Now!"

Out of nowhere she has a flash of insight, and Fari knows better than to argue;
he raises power to the shield, and Chovan shifts the ship to point just right
towards the precision strike of the Socrates. The Beam Cannons slam into
those shields, and while it can't absorb all of their fire, what should be a
devastating hit becomes much less so.

"Captain," Astelian says, "That's the ship who we worked with against the
Vajra.."

Eight is stone-faced, though her feelings are not nearly so solid. Is this the
only way? "Then we know what they're capable of, Lieutenant. Don't
underestimate them."

Eight keeps an eye on the displays, where they show the beeping signals of
Anita and Rena and the others. ...She can see others, too. Her expression
tightens perceptibly as she sees Yuliana's Annihilation out there. It would
be so, so easy...

And so, so against what she stands for. She does not contact Captain
Dispersal's unit at all.

Instead, she focuses on the Socrates. "Should I open a channel, Captain?
Since we were able to talk before..." Astelian's heart is sinking, to have to
face someone they fought with. "No," Eight answers firmly. Not yet, anyway.
Instead she starts tapping away on her own datapad.

"Fari, Astelian, get me the data about that ship's flying patterns. We need to
disable it ASAP. It's moving..." She thinks, "Lancaster, Rosetta! Initiate
pattern delta mark seven, on my mark!" She transfers the data over with a
couple of taps, "Three, two... mark!"

KTS: Eight York targets Himeyuri Oono with Designate L1!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono assesses Michiru Tenjou's prospects, increasing her SP!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov anchors Michiru Tenjou, forcing her into close range.
KTS: Michiru Tenjou blocks Vitaly Sokolov's Hrududu II - Claw Grab, taking 5280
 damage!

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Michiru Tenjou!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov begins a Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        !! GM POSE !!

        It hasn't been long since the battle started. And yet already ZAFT is
making headway in its push forward. Not only do they have the advantage in
numbers, it also seems that the Federation defenders are rather lacking in a
cohesive defense plan as well. Which isn't all that unexpected given that the
majority of the defenders here were only recently assigned to fill in for the
vulnerability presented by the deployment of the main defense fleet to protect
Panama. An unfortunate decision which is allowing ZAFT to dominate.

        And the news is only getting worse.

        Alerts start to go out to the Federation forces. In addition to the
main ZAFT fleet that is attacking from the sea to the west, a squadron of
aerial transports are approaching from the north. And they do not have
friendly IFFs. And to top it all off, orbital recon is showing signs of drop
pods finishing re-entry into the atmosphere, on direct course for the base. It
appears that ZAFT is not kidding around with this assault.

        From within his DINN still standing atop the deck of one of the ZAFT
warships, Rau watches as the JOSH-A defenders begin to reorganize their lines
to account for the newly arriving ZAFT reinforcements. So far, everything is
going according to the plan laid out by ZAFT Command. Which means it's time
for the next phase...

        The ZAFT forces already engaged will receive updated orders via their
systems: Securing the exterior will fall to the fleet warships and the
arriving reinforcements. All other units that are able are to breach the main
entrance and advance through the base interior.

        And sure enough, the focus of the ZAFT forces begins to change. DINNs
begin to make runs towards the waterfall, gunfire and missiles aimed for the
large hangar doors hidden behind it. Some ZnOs and GOOhNs join in, rushing
past smoking, half-sunk, Federation warships to launch their torpedoes at the
underwater sections of the doors. Even with their heavy armour, it's only a
matter of time before the doors are breached.

        It's not all bad news for the Federation though, as a voice comm
crackles to life through their radios:

        <"Attention all JOSH-A defenders. This is Base Commander Castille. We
must NOT allow this attack-this INVASION-to succeed. We must not let JOSH-A
fall! This base stands as a testament of our cooperation. Our determination to
work together for the common good of all. These rabble from space will not
take it away from us! We need only hold the line until the main force can
return from Panama. Already the transport planes are in the air and on their
way. It's only a matter of time! But until they arrive, we must HOLD THE LINE!
At all costs. Castille out.">

<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.

"Roger that, LC. Juno 1, Fox 2." Lina lines up her sights with the hopefully
restrained enemy and lets loose a volley of missiles, sweeping overhead.

KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Michiru Tenjou with Micro-Missile Array Fire!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou blocks Lina Lombardi's Micro-Missile Array Fire, taking
 1050 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rena's eyes track the missiles -- eyes darting along the VF-25A's display --
and then she sends the fighter into a sharp bank at the last moment. Several
missiles shoot by her, their arc sending them into the sea before they can
redirect. The Prophecy straightens out, as Rena looks at the Socrates. She
recognizes it -- the same ship that worked with them, against the Vajra. And
over there...

Riika Sheder.

Her fingers tense more around the controls of the Prophecy. The only reason she
could code up a new OS for the Prophecy was because she is a Coordinator.
Worse than that, though; just a failed project. Hearing Yuliana's voice is a
twist of the knife her mind, making her want to hide. Rau le Creuset's words
make her wonder: is she on the right side? Is there a right side?

Except...

Eight believes in her. And she believes in Eight. Anita, Kamille, and the
others do, too. She can push herself forward.

She sees the way Anita's VF rattles with the impact of a missile on it. Her
entire body tenses, for a moment, before she sucks a breath in. "Gave me a
scare there, Annie," she says. "Roger that, Ra Mari. I'm getting in closer.
Don't worry."

She hits the thrusters. The YF-25A shoots forward, the sudden acceleration
slamming her forward. The Prophecy soars through the skies, a twisting pair of
vapor trails left in its wake, before it does a barrel roll -- and buzzes
across the port side of the Socrates, close enough that the pinpoint barriers,
all gathered on its wing tip, make lightning crackle and arc, threatening to
give the crew a fright that she'll ram her fighter into it (and to say nothing
of the electric discharge from the barriers so close to it).

She breaks past -- and sees the units dropping down from another direction.
Rena's shoulders tense -- and her teeth grit, as she hears the commander's
voice. "My God," she says. "This isn't looking good. I hope those transports
get here soon!"

KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Himeyuri Oono with Gladfly Buzz!
KTS: Eight York designates Himeyuri Oono, making her easier to target and
 opening her to indirect fire.

KTS: Himeyuri Oono's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono blocks Anita Rosetta's Gatling Sweep, taking 1050 damage!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Rena Lancaster rattles Himeyuri Oono, making her next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Himeyuri Oono blocks Rena Lancaster's Gladfly Buzz, taking 480 damage!
KTS: Rena Lancaster has engaged Himeyuri Oono!

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

"Wait, who's that?" one of the GINN pilots asks, after Asciel - 'Atrytone' -
sends a message.

"Who knows? Who cares? They're on our side, right?"

"What if they're *not* on our side and they just want us to think they are?"

"Then they can stay as long as they're fighting Feds," the first pilot says,
heat coming to her voice.

Riika, who hadn't spoken yet, clicks on her radio. "We'll keep them out of the
base, but if they want to engage Federation troops, I don't think we're in
much of a position to stop them... all it would do would be to split our
attention. Got it?"

"Yes ma'am!"

Honestly, Riika isn't sure about her decision - she always gets a little
uncomfortable about being in charge in a military position, she still feels
like the mechanic and engineer she signed up to be, in the test pilots. But it
needed to be made.

The GuAIZ finally reaches the shoreline just as a Knightmare Frame comes out of
the trees. Riika's first instinct is to bring up her beam rifle again, but she
holds her fire for just a second to avoid hitting a ZnO that is surfacing,
banking sharply to the left. It saves her from a Harken, which actually does
bounce off the GuAIZ's shoulder with a flicker of brighter yellow.

Phase Shift Armour. It should be the Federation's secret - and was, until ZAFT
stole the Phase Shift Armour Gundams. But this is a ZAFT-made machine...
nobody else makes GuAIZes.

"Hey, cover me, Schneider!" Riika calls into her radio, and one of the GINNs
moves to do just that, opening up with his machine gun to try to force the
Knightmare Frame out of line. Riika herself just accelerates right past it,
still riding her subflight lifter like a surfboard, flying *backwards* toward
JOSH-A. Why backwards? Because she's taking aim with the rifle, firing a
precisely aimed shot at the Knightmare Frame as she backs up.

"Sorry, I really don't have time for this right now...!" The GINNs have now
reached the shoreline too, and are starting to engage in combat more directly.
One has what looks like a *really* chunky beam rifle - the Barrus Kai cannon -
and is starting to join in the attack on the doors with it.
Riika Sheder has moved to Shallows

KTS: Riika Sheder targets Artemisia ka Britannia with MA-M20 Lupus Beam Rifle
 Sniper Shot!

<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.

        The Joint Supreme Headquarters in Alaska , JOSH-A, a place of headaches
for a certain G-Hound commander. If anything his presence here just meant a
long drawn out reminder of what futility looks like. In some ways the sirens
of an attack were much more welcomed then a bunch of federation officers
reminding him that G-Hound stood because they allowed it and if he didn't like
it they could disallow it.

         The fake Tallgeese, the Greif, launches from the base as he flies
towards the barrage of fire charging down putting him in the range of the
Queadluun-Rhea. Even as the words of Castille is heard Treize rolls his eyes,
there was an order to these things.

         <"To those who would attack the federation. I, Treize Khushrenada,
here by ask that you lay down your weapons and power off your suits. Those who
choose to surrender will be treated as prisoners of ware and will have G-Hound
protection. Those who choose instead to continue with this attack will forfeit
their right of surrender.">

        Yep, a surprise attack is launched and Treize still attempts to
negotiate peacefully.

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Dispersal has posed.

        "Ah," Yuliana's voice comes over the connection, smooth and unruffled,
taking over from Shiho's distraction. "Come begging for handouts again, have
you? Of course, of course," and there's too much sympathy, in her voice.

        "But you can't play the same trick twice, dear, and Halloween's come
and gone in any case."

        The energy blast comes in, but Yuliana's fought her before -- she has
the experience to know to send the Annihilation hurtling to one side, to evade
the fire. In her cockpit, she feels something trail down her lip, down her
chin, as her grin grows a little too stiff and the fang at her right side
presses to her lip.

        "Captain," Parminder's voice cuts in, "we've got hostiles coming in
from above."

        "Lettu, Kadet, take care of it," Yuliana transmits to her team,
sharply. "You've got the range. I don't."

        "Yes, ma'am," Wen Yuan, the Nega Force's sniper, affirms, as she
switches her targets from sea to sky.

        As Yuliana switches back to the band she's sharing with Sayaka, her
tone shifts -- still sharp, not quite so mocking, as she asks: "Doctor Yumi,
is it? That's the CGUE DEEP Arms -- it's attacked me before." She attacked
Shiho. "It's going to attack you like a pea-shooter until it spins up its
power, and then destroy you in one shot. Two options -- take it out fast, or
outlast that last one. It'll be a sitting duck after that, in my estimation."

        The Annihilation takes its Grappler Axe and swings it, looking to hook
the whole thing into the CGUE -- and quick as a whip, the wanzer is following
the attack.

        Yuliana flicks over to a private channel, briefly. Captain Eight York
had the scruples not to touch her or order her touched -- but Yuliana isn't
concerned with her. It's a friendly channel, allegedly, which opens on Rena
Lancaster's communications.

        "You've just discovered your people," Yuliana purrs, "and already
you're slaughtering them in their desperate assault? Lieutenant, you are a far
crueler woman than I. Hahaha..!"

        Her laughter cuts the line.

        She was -- at least -- merciful enough not to broadcast it to the
entire world.

        (Is it really mercy?)

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal has activated the Daunt Spirit Command targeting Rena
 Lancaster

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

Sayaka's eyes widen when she hears Shiho Hahnenfuss, who is sharp enough to
instantly recognize Sayaka and try to appeal for her to surrender. Indeed,
Sayaka would very much prefer not to fight the intern she had taken a liking
to, and even sympathizes with her after watching her be deported in front of
her eyes. Still, who knows what would happen to the Photon Power Labs if she
abandoned the base now? And how will she privately investigate this base's
energy sources if it's destroyed; Sayaka really isn't here because she loves
the Federation.

"Shiho, I'm not here for any Britannian. I'm here so someone else doesn't have
to be," Sayaka responds, coolly. "I won't die here, and neither will you, as
it happens." Sayaka agreed to defend a base, not kill people, and it's only
really Kikaiju who get to feel the full extent of Sayaka's wrath.

Shiho's opening attack really wasn't very strong, so Sayaka responds in kind.
"Rust Squall!" The Ichinana whips up a mass-produced version of Mazinger's
iconic Rust Hurricane, an attack that won't be very kind to Shiho's unit's
paintjob, but shouldn't harm the pilot herself to a great extent.

KTS: Sayaka Yumi targets Shiho Hahnenfuss with Rust Squall!
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss fails to react to Sayaka Yumi's Rust Squall, taking 2790
 damage!

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal targets Shiho Hahnenfuss with MULS-P Grappler Axe
 Acrobatics!

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal anchors Shiho Hahnenfuss, forcing her into close range.
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss fails to react to Yuliana Dispersal's MULS-P Grappler Axe
 Acrobatics, taking 2700 damage!

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal has engaged Shiho Hahnenfuss!
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to charge.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia partially guards Riika Sheder's MA-M20 Lupus Beam
 Rifle Sniper Shot, taking 2655 damage!

KTS: Michiru Tenjou has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Michiru Tenjou has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Shiho
 Hahnenfuss

KTS: Michiru Tenjou has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Himeyuri
 Oono

<Pose Tracker> Asciel Colette has posed.

        In the wake of Asciel charging ahead of Riika and her immediate
squadron - the Codarl gives a genuine little tousle of its slightly glowing
ponytail, followed by a vivid little peace sign over the Arm Slave's glowing
eye, as some form of reassurance.

        ...Whoever she is, isn't she taking this a little -too- lightheartedly?

        There's not an ounce of reluctance in Asciel's fighting style at all,
if it aids in massaging away doubts - her response to mortar volleys pummeling
her vicinity is to turn on the jets, launching herself right in immediate
close quarters with Artemisia and her squadron of Knightmare Frames. These
things may be some of the most nimble and agile military units in mass
production...but they struggle to match the eerily -human-like- flexibility
the Arm Slave performs, Asciel flashing her blade out in swift lunges at
knight after knight, leaping between engagements like a gymnast.

        Before then, Asciel holds a hand to her heart, and a vivid glow begins
to spiral from its core. <"So, a noble calling for aggressively cloying
servants to protect them? Mmmh~ What a delightfully easy thing to refuse.">
Feet digging into the sand, Asciel's voice raises in intensity.

        She calls out over her shoulder at Riika, <"I'll stop these corroded
hedonists from being too fiercely on your tail, though even I have my limits,
and I'm sure they'll be swift to pursue everyone into the base. It's up to you
to end the curse that these knights represent - it's up to me to deny them
passage into the new world that's about to be made~"">

        The aura at Asciel's chest whips up a fiercer and fiercer wind - and
with a single gesture of her open-palmed hand at Artemisia, as though telling
her to halt in her tracks...a force almost like gravity itself shoves the
Gloucester away...!

KTS: Asciel Colette has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Riika
 Sheder

KTS: Asciel Colette targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Lambda Driver Reject!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia rushes into the attack!
KTS: Asciel Colette rattles Artemisia ka Britannia, making her next maneuvers
 more difficult.

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia partially guards Asciel Colette's Lambda Driver
 Reject, taking 2204 damage!

KTS: Asciel Colette repulses Artemisia ka Britannia, forcing her to disengage.

<Pose Tracker> Michiru Tenjou has posed.

Before she can tell quite what's happening, Michiru is already under attack.
Some Federation slime had used the sanctity of HER precious seas to launch a
sneak attack. When she came from the water, she wasn't doing anything of the
sort! She was quite forward about her intent to attack. This cannot stand.
This PERSONAL offense to Michiru's sensibilities. "Fiends!" She's not really
addressing anyone, though that's certainly what she thinks of the clawed
monstrosity of a machine in front of her. To say nothing of its pilot.

She's grabbed quickly by one of the arms, but the Galaxia is a fortress,
difficult to move. So ascent is perhaps slower than she and her partner in
flight expect. And the target isn't so easily crushed, even if a few pieces of
the armor chip and crack away. "You seek to pull me away from defending my
ship? Then let's see what you feel about the consequences!" Galaxia's arm
begins to detach, thrusters firing up and causing the arm to rumble ominously.
"I'll handle these two, then I can back you all up. We'll all meet on the
Socrates for a Successful Mission Dinner tonight! So, just do what you can do,
and if anyone sides with justice, they'll understand your cause. Don't worry
about anything but that." That seems to be her way of inspiring her friends
here. Something simple. And it means, in a roundabout way, she's telling Shiho
it's fine not to go for kills. Michiru semi-often doesn't after all.

In the meantime, the Galaxia's enormous fist is taking off, to push the clawed
Mobile Armor off and drag it along on its course. She's trying to hit the
other pilot with both punch and friendly alike! "GALACTIC IMPACT!" And for
her, screaming out something like this is just... expected and mandatory.

KTS: Michiru Tenjou targets Vitaly Sokolov with Rocket Punch!!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou targets Lina Lombardi with Rocket Punch!!
KTS: Lina Lombardi has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Lina Lombardi fails to evade Michiru Tenjou's Rocket Punch!, taking 5160
 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Michiru Tenjou's Villainy Will Never Succeed! activates,
 causing Sparkle!

KTS: Michiru Tenjou has engaged Lina Lombardi!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov parries Michiru Tenjou's Rocket Punch!, taking 645 damage!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou has engaged Vitaly Sokolov!

<Pose Tracker> Shiho Hahnenfuss has posed.

Sayaka tells Shiho that neither of them are going to die here. "... I want to
believe that -- but one way or another, you're between ZAFT and the end of
this war." She lets out a long breath, and then affirms, "... I'll try to take
you alive. And..." This feels strange to say. Should she even --

-- "The directed energy weapon on this machine is my own design," she notes,
after a breath. "Let me show you what I've learned. And -- don't trust that
woman in the wanzer. I encountered her on a scouting mission... whatever she
tells you --"

... well, she doesn't have time to belabor that point. Because of the woman in
the wanzer, as it happens! The Rust Squall scores her unit and she's left as a
sitting duck for Yuliana's incoming axe strike -- the two of them end up
tangled up, and then an axe ends up firmly embedded in her armor. "Dammit!"
she hisses, before firing back, "You're the worst the Earth Federation has to
offer! To think I'm seeing you a second time..."

Her eyes narrow. "There won't be a third."

... she can't let this chew at her this badly, though. Even if it's Dr. Yumi --
even if it's that woman in the Tiandong -- she has to keep going. This insane
war is the Federation's fault -- she can't lose sight of that, no matter what.
She remains with the Socrates, expression turning a little more sour -- and,
for lack of a place for that emotional energy to go, it starts turning into
full-bodied anger.

Sayaka gets a short burst from Shiho's machine gun; it's Yuliana, predictably,
who gets the meat of her ire. If she wants to get close, fine; Shiho can draw
the enormous ship-cutting blade she uses and... well, the Tiandong is a little
close to get away with much, but she can at least try a basic slashing attack.

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss targets Sayaka Yumi with MMI-M7S 76mm Machine Gun Burst!
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss targets Yuliana Dispersal with NOL-Y941 Heavy Laser Sword
  Slash!

<Pose Tracker> Himeyuri Oono has posed.

        As the Ra Mari analyzes the Socrates movement, Himeyuri continues to
watch the battlefield- the suppressing fire works to some extent, but two
Kakapo's breach- only to meet a bizarre energy barrier. Bizarre, perhaps, if
you aren't familiar with the Nadesico. "Distortion field holding, ma'am."

        Himeyuri shakes her head. "Not if they get any closer. XO, launch Kite
Squadron!" The trio of DINN's launch, two opening up with Shotguns on Anita,
with the third opening fire with the Machine Gun, to keep her off balance.
It's co-ordinated- these three were trained well.

        Rena on the other hand gets to be on the receiving end of CIWS fire,
focused at keeping her Valkyrie at bay, and stopping her closing. It's close
range, a series of bursts. Both tactics are attempting to nail down, as the
Socrates turns to line up it's railgun.

        "It's a pity about that young comms officer, but she had no place on
the battlefield." Hime eyes the other ship on her screams. "...Fire!"

KTS: Himeyuri Oono has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono targets Rena Lancaster with 58mm CIWS Counterfire!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono targets Anita Rosetta with Kite Squadron Harrying Tactics!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono targets Eight York with 66mm Dual Railgun Anti-Ship Routine!
KTS: [Lucky] Anita Rosetta's Serious Mode activates, and luck goes her way!
KTS: Anita Rosetta successfully blocks Himeyuri Oono's Kite Squadron Harrying
 Tactics

KTS: Eight York has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster retreats from the attack!
KTS: Rena Lancaster successfully avoids Himeyuri Oono's 58mm CIWS Counterfire
KTS: Eight York fails to react to Himeyuri Oono's 66mm Dual Railgun Anti-Ship
 Routine, taking 5160 damage!

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal rushes into the attack!
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal's Force Wall L1 activates, negating 1000 base damage.
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal partially guards Shiho Hahnenfuss's NOL-Y941 Heavy Laser
 Sword  Slash, taking 2280 damage!

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss has engaged Yuliana Dispersal!

<Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.

Artemisia's lips crack into a red-lined grin of delight when the Harken flies
forwards, her Frame swerving slightly to avoid the ZNO - everything in its
time - and then in a flash of yellow it deflects off.

Artemisia's brow furrows.

"What in God's name? EARNEST!"

Crackling echoes through the increasing levels of Minovsky interference as the
signal is routed from Artemisia to one of the landwards KMFs and outwards, to
a transport craft in a holding pattern barely above the treetops. Captain
Penfold Earnest (Intelligence section, "Wild Hunt," Royal Guard - Artemisia,
home barracks in Havana) replies, "Yes, your Highness!"

"Some sort of yellow field! What is it?"

Earnest slow-blinks. "I'm sorry, miss, did you say yellow?-- A moment..."

Artemisia focuses on Riika. "Oh, is that right? How TERRIBLY rude of me,"
Artemisia answers her as the thruster pack tumbles the aerial customized KMF
around. It's not very graceful but it has power on it. It couldn't fly long,
but does it need to? This is friendly territory!

"Perhaps I should call back later, after you've destroyed what doesn't belong
to you!? Hah! You've got cheek, but the only thing cheek is good for is
*gentle roasting.*" One of the KMF's arms comes up - a thick piece of metal is
attached to it.

"Your highness!" "what." "It's the Phase Shift Armour!"

Artemisia's one eye widens. "WHAT? You little magpie! What's its weakness,
Earnest?"

"Energy consumption, ma'am," Earnest replies -- and that's when dreadful
winds(?) pick up.

The thruster pack is battered, and the KMF is pushed downwards - lower, though
Artemisia is able to struggle it enough to stay out of the water - and she
swears, "WHAT EFFONTRY IS THIS??"

"You come to MY planet - you dare to impose upon MY father's lands - you attack
MY precious allies - and you have the unmitigated gall to insult me in the
bargain!? HAH! Hahahaha!! They've programmed you well, spacegirl!" Artemisia
snaps the already-armed arm downwards, and her one eye narrows.

"*It's adorable.* Scream!"

The KMF's arm makes a loud SHUNK as the magnetic coils are burst-activated. The
thick piece of metal - a 200kilogram metal dart - is abruptly hurled forwards,
ripping through air and no doubt water alike on its way to punch through
metal. Metal such as that which contains Asciel.

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Riika Sheder with Pass!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Asciel Colette with Pilium Launcher!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Riika Sheder fails to react to Artemisia ka Britannia's Pass, taking 0
 damage!

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia anchors Asciel Colette, forcing her into close
 range.

KTS: Asciel Colette blocks Artemisia ka Britannia's Pilium Launcher, taking
 3300 damage!

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has engaged Asciel Colette!
KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Foresee Spirit Command.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi fails to Evade Shiho Hahnenfuss's MMI-M7S 76mm Machine Gun
 Burst, taking 3000 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.

As the fist comes barreling towards her, Lina's eyes squeeze shut for a second.

Her vision goes white...no, orange...no...

"Bandit, Fox 1! Juno 1, what are you doing?"

Lina shoots her eyes open and flails at her controls, attempting to evade, but
her moment of hesitation is her undoing. The punch scrapes at the bottom of
her fighter, shaking her around a bit.

It's been over a month, Lina...calm down!

"Nngh...LC, I'm going to shift into Battroid mode. I'll hopefully be able to
get past that barrier. Ready to dock." She maneuvers over top of the
Rabscuttle, the green jet quickly shifting into its humanoid mode and making a
three point landing on top of the mobile armor. Once she's set, she pulls out
her beam cannons and takes aim, hoping to break through the Galaxia's defenses.

KTS: Lina Lombardi arrives loaded onto Vitaly Sokolov's combat deck!
Lina Lombardi transforms to VF-171 Nightmare Plus <Battroid Mode>

KTS: Lina Lombardi has changed loadout.

<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.

More forces are coming their way. As the Minovsky interference begins to
increase in the combat arena, Vitaly Sokolov remains focused on her enemy.
Keeping her ears out for any information that is coming in.

When the radio-signal comes crackling through, the woman's expression remains a
firm thin line. Reinforcements are on the way from Panama this close to the
battle beginning. Should that stand out to her? Is this a well timed playbook?

How much concern should she have? How far is the corruption within the
Federation growing?

No time to consider that, as the Galaxia is proving to be quite the heavy unit.
Of course, the Rabscuttle itself is an enormous unit with rediculous amounts
of thrust thanks to its Daedalus system. It's meant to move entire teams of
Mobile Suits at high speeds across the world. It better be ready to move a lot
of weight.

Still, the Galaxia's fortress like weight, force Vitaly to disengage the claw
as the hand begins to move in a tell-tale manner. <"Lombardi. Fist!"> She
declares, hoping that by now, her mentee has learned what it means when she
warns of the fist on a unit.

It scrapes through the claw, and the Rabscuttle makes an awkward sideways
listing motion, spinning out ever so slightly as the fist slams into part of
its armor. It glances off and rockets for Lombardi's machine.

In that moment, the Rabscuttle turns at extremely high G-Forces. The woman
within feeling it crush against her body. Her cybernetics keeping her inners
alive while the flight suit she is wearing thickens immediately. Bloodflow
being regulated through her body as the Rabscuttle moves in place to catch the
Nightmare.

At the same time, the machine opens the nozzle at the front. A large Mega
Particle Cannon coming out from underneath the 'nose' of the large Mobile
Armor. At the same time, its claws retreat back towards its main body, and a
second set of 'hands' come out beneath, creating a strange screen of pale
reflective energy in the air.

The charge sequence is rapid, followed by a sudden flow of pale blue light
bursting forwards, scattering into the claws and hands as they spread
outwards. Constantly reflecting the beams amongst eachother - slowly turning
them and creating a massive field of piercing-thin lines of Megabeam energy
rippling towards the Galaxia and Socrates both!

<"You must train more, if Rocket Punch is to surprise me."> She answers
Michiru's earlier call with cold criticism. <"Come back in five year.">

KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Michiru Tenjou with Erikon Beam Cannons Trick Shot!

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Michiru Tenjou and Himeyuri Oono with Hrududu II -
 Beam Reflector Trick.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        The Queadluun-Rhea darts through the air, just as mobile as the movies
make its predecessors look. Dancing this way and that, raining down beam
cannon fire and then using the gatling lasers on enemies that get closer. It
does *not* go down as easily as the Quadluun-Raus in the movies, though,
taking hits and continuing on. The biggest upgrade to the -Rhea class is
probably 'its designers actually cared about the pilots' survival.'

        She feels *alive*. She feels *right*. The sounds of weaponfire and
exploding foes... is this the warsong of her Meltrandi ancestors? Not that
she's actually thinking about that. The same focus that empties her mother's
mind of everything but a scientific problem (or a videogame...) before her,
empties Serinas's mind of everything but the fight and the mission. And like
her mother, her Coordinator mind allows that 'focus' to track more factors,
more data, than any Natural's brain. Truly, a fearsome combination to face in
a situation like this...

        In the middle of the fight is a leo(?) that is... not attacking?
Something is fishy. Is it some kind of special strategy? Her brain drags
itself out of combat focus to process...

        ...Is he...

        ...Talking?

        The Meltrandi stops for a second. A burst of gunfire from one of the
defenders rattles it. <"You..."> She dashes towards the false Tallgeese. <"You
DARE talk like you're in the right?! Like you'll treat us as anything better
than oil on your boot!">

        The chest cannons fire a spray of crackling blue beams at the Greif.
<"YOU lay down your arms. YOU surrender. Unlike YOU, we're fighting to
survive! We don't have to kill you to do that!">

        ...And she pours on the speed, flying past Treize and onward towards
the base! He probably doesn't like whatever she's going to do if she gets
inside...

KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Treize Khushrenada with AA-55/QD Chest Cannons Beam
 Spray!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        !! GM POSE !!

        It takes some effort on the part of ZAFT. Concentrated fire from DINNs,
ZnO's, the warships. The heavy firepower of Riika's beam cannon in particular.
But finally they are able to breach the main hangar doors, creating a hole
large enough for their forces to begin filtering in to the base. An alert goes
out to all the Federation defenders:

        WARNING: JOSH-A main gate has been breached.

        With the breaching of the main entrance, Rau finally takes direction
action. His DINN spreads its wings, thrusters firing as he takes to the air

        As Rau begins to approach the opening in the main gate, he radios:

        <"Main force advance! We'll charge into the JOSH-A base and capture it.
The objective is to secure all critical locations then hold them while
cleaning up the stragglers.">

        On Rau's cue, many of the ZAFT fliers and amphibious suits begin to
rush through the hole into the base interior. Beyond the hole is a long canal,
which finally opens up into the large interior cavern that holds the vast
majority of the military complex that is JOSH-A.

        The cavern is more than large enough to hold not only the numerous
buildings that make up the complex, but also provide enough room for mobile
weapons to maneuver and even fly in, if only for brief periods without risk of
crashing into something. It does unfortunately mean that there is a lot of
ground to cover in order to weed out all the defenders.

        The tight streets laid out between the buildings that make up the
military complex also present some difficulty for the larger ZAFT mobile
suits. Especially as the majority of the base's interior defenders are made up
of the REA's Savage IIs, the Arm Slaves likely to prove more effective in the
close quarters.

        As the ZAFT forces begin to rush out of the canal and into the cavern
proper, a defense line of those Savages open up with gunfire, trying to halt
the ZAFT advance at this chokepoint. It works for a number of seconds, but
soon the Savages start to go down from return fire, while the number of ZAFT
units entering begins to rise. It's not long after that the defense line
breaks and the ZAFT invaders begin to move into the complex proper.

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

"Don't worry. I'm tough." Anita replies to Rena with a smile. She faces
forward, though, as she hears Eight's voice again. Pattern delta mark seven.
That's all she needed to say.

"On it." Anita replies. She moves to assist - but the Socrates is prepared for
their attack. Three DINNs launched, focused on her. Anita exhales. A pair of
shotguns fire her way... and the barrage is met with the Variable Fighter's
shield. The pinpoint barrier is redirected to cover her front as well,
limiting the damage to superficial.

As the third member of Kite Squadron opens fire, Anita allows herself to drop
out of the sky suddenly to avoid the barrage. The Messiah Rosetta falls...
before quickly shifting into Fighter mode and accelerating up, up, up - until
its above them, at which point it returns to GERWALK mode and opens fire on
Socrates' Kite Squadron in an attempt to drive them off! Her position in the
sky will also give her a good vantage point to provide supporting fire to
Eight or Rena.

"Careful, Rena, Eight - looks like we've got company. They're pretty good,
too... That was a close call." Anita warns. ...And if that's bad enough, it
sounds like things are going from bad to worse over at JOSH-A. She frowns,
just slightly... but right now, she's doing the best she can here.

KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Himeyuri Oono with Leading Fire!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou partially guards Lina Lombardi's Erikon Beam Cannons Trick
 Shot, taking 2115 damage!

KTS: Lina Lombardi completes the Formation attack!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada blocks Serinas Nikola's AA-55/QD Chest Cannons Beam
 Spray, taking 2340 damage!

KTS: Michiru Tenjou partially guards Vitaly Sokolov's Hrududu II - Beam
 Reflector Trick, taking 1800 damage!

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Michiru Tenjou!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono has activated the Foresee Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

Eight doesn't hear the communication, but she senses a spike in Rena's
emotions. But she has no time to focus there--not in the middle of a pitched
battle. Not as... Hold the Line, is the order.

These 'rabble from space', is it? Eight looks to the monitors on the screen.
"...Hold position," she confirms.

But Fari feels better!

"They've got a distortion field, Captain!" Fari says, and doesn't feel better
anymore. She is indeed familiar with the Nadesico. Eight frowns. "So,
that's a problem... We'll have to try to overwhelm it. ...I wasn't looking
forward to using these systems on..."

She pauses. Then, the railguns. They slam into the Ra Mari, dealing
significant damage to its hull as they batter across, ablative armor buckling
to protect the ship's more vulnerable decks. The whole thing shakes all the
same, and Eight is rattled in her seat, held in place by her safety belt more
than anything. "Gh--"

"Captain!" A voice calls, "We can't take many more hits like that!"

"Then let's arrange it otherwise. Fari, target those railguns. And..."

Eight closes her eyes. That woman, on the other ship, who...

Eight's eyes open. "Fari. Initiate Colossus Array."

"Captain!?" exclaims Chovan, who looks at her for a oment. "Target their
engines."

"...Gladly, Captain," says Fari, and starts flicking switches and adjusting
panels as Eight leans forward, completely focused. She gets on a line to
Engineering, "Engineering! Charge the Colossus Array, yesterday!"

"Yes, Captain," Lavhi says from his position in chief engineering, "It is
already ready. You said it must be so, yes?"

"Good. Fari--on my mark..."

The ship lights up, various anels opening and starting to gather light as the
whole thing hums to life. Its cannons move as one, opening up with multiple
barrels as the Ra Mari's firepower focuses entirely on the Socrates.

"Fire."

Pink energy lances forward towards the Socrates, and while she'll aim for the
engines, she'll take what she can get, a truly massive display of firepower
from the Federation warship.

"Just stay careful, Annie," Eight says to her. "It's too close as it is. But
we've got orders to hold the line."

KTS: Eight York has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Eight York has activated the Resupply Spirit Command.
KTS: Eight York has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained
 proficiency bonus.

KTS: Eight York targets Himeyuri Oono with Twin-Barrel Hyper Mega-Particle
 Cannons - Colossus Array!

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Dispersal has posed.

        "The worst? My dear, you flatter me!" Yuliana laughs, and her voice is
delighted, across the line. "Perhaps we've been enmeshed in Bloody Valentine
too long, mm? Old soldiers don't know words of love, so they say." /Ya staryy
soldat i ne znayu slov lyubvi/ is the phrase she's referring to -- 'I am an
old soldier and I don't know words of love' -- a quote from an ancient classic
Russian film, Zdravstvuyte, ya vasha tyotya.

        Contextually, it's an apology for not saying 'I love you' more often.

        Metacontextually, it's Soviet, which says quite a lot about the style
of Yuliana's upbringing.

        That greatsword juts out, and Yuliana moves her Tiandong alongside it,
grasping onto the CGUE itself. "But it's fascinating you'd call me the
worst," she remarks, too lightly, as she takes her machine's other hand and
grasps the flamethrower now firmly attached to its canisters on her back.
"When you're the one assaulting the symbol of our unity. Don't you think that
makes you look a little like... what's the word...? Oh! The bad guy!" With a
sharp, short stab, she's looking to breach Shiho's armour with the bayonet
equipped on its front -- to send a burst of flame through to her inner systems.

        "Doctor," she addresses Sayaka, again, "I trust you're able to
capitalise on an opportunity?"

KTS: Himeyuri Oono fails to Evade Vitaly Sokolov's Hrududu II - Beam Reflector
 Trick, taking 5200 damage!

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Himeyuri Oono!
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal targets Shiho Hahnenfuss with MULS-P Bayonet Flamer Heat
 Warper!

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal rattles Shiho Hahnenfuss, making her next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss fails to react to Yuliana Dispersal's MULS-P Bayonet
 Flamer Heat Warper, taking 2400 damage!

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal has engaged Shiho Hahnenfuss!
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal continues a Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Yuliana opens a private channel to Rena. Her face goes ashen for a moment, and
she glowers back at her. "Don't... don't talk to me, you miserable excuse for
a person!" she snaps back, heatedly. Eight -- any other Newtype nearby, for
that matter -- can hear it. A sudden flood of anger, that lasts past their
communications line cutting off.

But the words remain; Rena's eyes are more distant, as they focus back on the
Socrates. CIWS cannons track her and open fire; Rena sucks a breath in, hits
the afterburners, and sends the fighter shooting forward. She gets slammed
back into her seat again, her jaw setting, as she does a sharp twist through
the air.

The YF-25A does another hard, banking turn, back towards the Socrates. Then, it
jerks sharply as the legs unfold from it, thrusters firing to make it brake
in air -- and the arms unfold too. The Prophecy, now in GERWALK mode, aims the
gun pod down for the Socrates.

She fires, making a tight arc around ship, and looses controlled bursts down at
several of those CIWS turrets that fired on her. As she does, she swallows. "I
read you, Annie--I'll be here if you need help!"

Then, her eyes widen. Did the gate get breached? She sucks a breath in. "I
understand, Captain," Rena says. "I hope they can hold..."

KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Himeyuri Oono with Ultrasonic Arc!

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

There's no guarantee a Phase Shift armour is going to be yellow - it colours
the plating of the Mobile Suit, and reacts in that colour, too. For whatever
reason, Riika's is this obvious test yellow-orange, and the colour gets
brighter, sunnier when subjected to force as Riika manipulates the energy
flow. It needs a manual touch...

But hers is. It's the only thing that can be.

"<Well, thank you anyway,>" Riika transmits to Asciel, still not entirely sure
who she is and more than a little suspicious about the mysterious pilot. Is
she one of the irregulars that ZAFT sometimes recruits? A talented Natural, or
a Coordinator that simply isn't in the PLANTs? Why wouldn't she just
*announce* herself that way...?

But whatever she thinks of her, she *is* doing an admirable job of keeping the
Britannian off the GuAIZ and her squad of GINNs. Not everybody - the GINNs are
currently locked in combat with a pair of GM IIIs and an almost absurdly
blocky wanzer, a Grapple. "Could use your help here, boss," one of the GINNs
transmits, his voice sounding a little pinched. As well he might, given the
dent in the front of the GINN's torso from the Grapple's metal club.

Riika fires the hip-mounted railguns, as much to save power as anything. One
shell takes out one of the Grapple's legs in a shower of sparks, causing it to
skid out and crash; the other goes wide, taking a divot out of one of the
walls near the now-open entryway.

"We're moving in! Cover!"

Riika does indeed start to move in, dropping off the lifter, which flies up and
reconnects to the GuAIZ's back. The GINNs do so a little slower, one firing a
beam shot at Artemisia as they go, just in case she's pursuing. They've got to
find one of the strong points.

The GINN squad is engaged, again, as soon as they enter. Savages and other
smaller suits, more suited for the indoors. Here they're more limited to
machine guns and, in one case, the surprisingly fancy sword carried by the
GINN as an emergency weapon. Riika herself switches to a pair of beam sabers.

KTS: Riika Sheder targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Pass!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono blocks Eight York's Twin-Barrel Hyper Mega-Particle Cannons
 - Colossus Array, taking 3300 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"...Likewise," Sayaka quietly responds when Shiho tells her she'll try to take
her alive. The Federation shouldn't know this, but if the moment comes, Sayaka
would definitely just let Shiho go... she doesn't deserve to be in the
Federation's hands again, for sure.

After that, she receives an incoming comm from one captain Yuliana Dispersal,
who gives her a bit of intel on how Shiho fights. Well, from that, sounds like
Shiho studied her tactics well.. Sayaka would rather take her chances
surviving than trying to wipe out Shiho's unit recklessly.

But then... Shiho warns her of "the woman in the wanzer", not to trust her.
Normally, Sayaka wouldn't take the words of an enemy at face value, but Shiho
is not her enemy and she sounded genuinely unnerved. Besides, if that is
Yuliana Dispersal, Koji didn't have the most trusting words to say about her,
either.

"Captain Dispersal..? I'll keep all that in mind," Sayaka replies, totally
non-committedly. "I'd prefer not to use.. excessive force, and I have faith in
my Ichinana's armor." Sayaka smiles. She's not afraid of pissing the Feddies
off, but she sounds juuust pleasant enough.

A rocket punch whirrs past from a ZAFT unit, in another fight on the field, and
Sayaka just has to groan. "Come on, we did that first.", she thinks to
herself. Seems like the Federation aren't the only ones copying people's
homework. If only the Ichinana had a mini rocket-punch attack, so she could
try and show em' up. Maybe she should ask Hayato...

But enough daydreaming about Ichinana upgrades, time to focus on her fight.
Shiho wanted to demonstrate what she learned and Sayaka is impressed - that
was incredibly fast fire. But Dispersal gets another crippling hit in and asks
for Sayaka's follow-up. "It's no Rocket Punch, but..." The Ichinana lunges
forward with a powerful close quarters strike.. strong enough not to suggest
to Minovsky's Woman that Sayaka is throwing the fight, but still aimed
directly away from the cockpit.

KTS: Himeyuri Oono's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono blocks Rena Lancaster's Ultrasonic Arc, taking 1200 damage!
KTS: Sayaka Yumi targets Shiho Hahnenfuss with Ichinana CQC Focus Strike!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono blocks Anita Rosetta's Leading Fire, taking 1200 damage!
KTS: Anita Rosetta begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss fails to react to Sayaka Yumi's Ichinana CQC Focus
 Strike, taking 4800 damage!

KTS: Sayaka Yumi has engaged Shiho Hahnenfuss!
KTS: Sayaka Yumi completes the Formation attack!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged.

<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.

        The colonel sighs heavily inside the Greif as he hears the beginning of
the response from one of the ZAFT pilots, as he is forced to raise the mobile
suit's shield to protect himself from the spray of chest cannon and is knocked
back some in the air. The Greif auto corrects itself in air for a moment as it
readies itself to engage. Then the opponent that shot at him flies right past
him.

         Treize is certainly confused as he broadcasts to the enemy, <"Excuse
me, I fear you don't understandhow to ask someone how to surrender. You don't
run off after suggesting such a thing. We both seemto agree this is a useless
cost of life, now we can negoti...">

         Treize tilts head for a moment as he cuts his radio off noticing the
one who asked for surrender is getting out range. All he can does is give
chase and so tipping the Greif into a controlled dived propelled by it's
thrusters shield out ready to ram itself into the opponent so he can finish.

        The moment he gets into range he continues, <" now we can negotiate who
will truly surrender and on what terms. Again I ask that you do it and we will
treat you prisoners of war and all protections that come with it.">

KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Serinas Nikola with Dueling Shield Bash!
KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola fails to Evade Treize Khushrenada's Dueling Shield Bash,
 taking 2400 damage!

KTS: Treize Khushrenada has engaged Serinas Nikola!
KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to react to Riika Sheder's Pass, taking 0
 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Shiho Hahnenfuss has posed.

The flamethrower pierces in -- and Shiho finds herself needing to rely on the
Socrates's extra energy reserves to run the cooling system as hard as
possible, because she's in a dire situation if her machine overheats.
Indeed, she's kind of in a dire situation right now no matter what -- she's
handled threats of this scope before in the simulators, but an actual battle
with an actual battle's emotional landscape is...

"I'm not even going to humor that," Shiho says to Yuliana, at the notion that
JOSH-A is a symbol of Federation unity. She gears up to fire the main cannons
directly into the Tiandong --

-- but Sayaka drills her with a forceful strike, and she nearly loses her
footing on the Shackles. Quick check... armor on that side is shot. That's
fine -- she'll just have to be careful.

She lets her machine spiral through the air on the Shackles for a bit, focusing
entirely on rerouting power around; babying the reactor and the cooling system
has always been her best trick.

If Shiho were more aware, more focused, she'd realize that she's about to
overextend herself pointlessly and leave herself wide open to reprisals. Her
judgment's extremely compromised right now, though.

With an expression somewhere in the middle of a wince and gritted teeth, Shiho
gives the CGUE's shoulder-mounted cannons everything she's got. She might be
on the verge of a senseless mistake, but she can't get bogged down in
sentiment. Not now.

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged.
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained
 proficiency bonus.

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss targets Yuliana Dispersal and Sayaka Yumi with Touch Me
 Not.

KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Trust Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Asciel Colette has posed.

        <"So resilient and stubborn in your ways, even in the face of your
castle's collapse."> The same mysterious force of repulsion drags and impedes
on Artemisia's hurled spear - it still lances into Asciel's arm, bringing her
to wince and let out energetic little 'ouchie ouchie-!'s.

        <"It's shocking how short-sighted it is to frame today as merely the
conflict of the Earth and those who have been cast away from its gravity.
Personally - I've never set foot outside of this baleful blue planet, and even
I can recognize easily that this runs so much deeper. But of course, you, oh
noble and commanding knight - you're the epitome of the sort of insect that
would make the world desolate just so you could feast on more of the dead~ So
I doubt I'm breaking through to you so easily. That's fine. As much as I would
accept everyone's care and love-">

        <"I'm not too fussed if you have to burn to ash instead of getting to
live in paradise. <3">At the announcement that the base has been breached,
Asciel pivots from her position in the shallows, using the very spear hurled
at her as something of a pole vault to maneuver at even more preposterous
speeds. Ostensibly her 'job' ends out here, securing ZAFT's beach-head...but
this is a raid on -the- JOSH-A! How could Asciel possibly turn down a chance
to rip out the most guarded organs of the Federation, to feast on that which
is most vital to them?

        Indeed, once within those gates, Asciel's shooting up just about
everything she can - it's unlikely ZAFT can perhaps hold JOSH-A regardless
of today's outcome, but they can make it nigh-unusable. In Artemisia and her
cohort's inevitable pursuit to halt intruders like these...they soon find that
there's a bizarre...grid-like field of light before them, easily passed
through...but as soon as Asciel can track a 'square' they intersect, a burst
of that same force detonates in their tracks.

        All done while Asciel can even spare an arm launching suppressive fire
on any Savages that get too close to Rikka. She's perhaps -too- over-excited
and overworking herself here...

KTS: Asciel Colette has activated the Assail Spirit Command.
KTS: Asciel Colette targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Lambda Driver Pinpoint!
KTS: Sayaka Yumi blocks Shiho Hahnenfuss's Touch Me Not, taking 4860 damage!
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to evade Asciel Colette's Lambda Driver
 Pinpoint, taking 3960 damage!

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
Serinas Nikola has moved to Shallows

KTS: [Mirage] Yuliana Dispersal's Avoid20 activates, and she slips into a
 mirage.

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal fails to evade Shiho Hahnenfuss's Touch Me Not, taking 0
 damage!

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

<Pose Tracker> Himeyuri Oono has posed.

        Himeyuri's fears about the effective range of the Distortion Field
prove correct- not only does Vitaly's unit carve into the Socrates, so too
does the fire from Anita and Rena, the Kite Squadron moving into defensive
positions and returning to the deck-

        Just in time for the Colossus Array to tear fully into the engines and
railgun of the Socrates, rocking the ship. "Damage report!"

        "Engines two and four disabled, remaining engines functional! Reactor
output falling, railgun damaged but operational- we only have one or two more
shots before it fails."

        Himeyuri grabs a pen and a notepad, running calculations in her head.
They NEED to win here. Shiho and Riika deserve the fighting to end, and be
allowed their simple lives. "Helm, Engineering on my mark, hard cut engines
and start reactor reset. Re-engage reactor at 70% to stablize output, and
immediately activate engines and Minovsky Hover! Gunnery, aim starboard
cannons at 33 to 48, 3.5 degree intervals. Port, 28 to 60, 6 degree intervals.
Main cannon solution-"

        A stream of calculations intrude her thoughts, and her hand starts
writing involuntary. A second later, her eyes refocus. "Input the following
solution!" She barks out a series of numbers that a computer would struggle to
put together that fast. "MARK!"

        The Socrates drops from the sky in an instant, it's mass sending it
plummeting- only to reengage a second above the water, as the beam cannons
open fire all over- only for the main beam cannon to open on the Ra Mari with
a full power blast. "Michi! Shiho-chan! We can win this, okay! I believe in
you both, so come back- I'll make you your favourites!"

KTS: Himeyuri Oono has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono targets Vitaly Sokolov, Rena Lancaster, and Anita Rosetta
 with 120cm High-Energy Beam Cannon All-Out Fire.

KTS: Himeyuri Oono targets Eight York with 120cm High-Energy Beam Cannon Full
 Power Focused Assault!

KTS: Eight York fails to react to Himeyuri Oono's 120cm High-Energy Beam Cannon
 Full Power Focused Assault, taking 8160 damage!

KTS: Himeyuri_Oono Changes attack to Shiho Hahnenfuss and Michiru Tenjou with
 Awe.

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov blocks Himeyuri Oono's 120cm High-Energy Beam Cannon
 All-Out Fire, taking 1500 damage!

KTS: Himeyuri Oono roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

KTS: Rena Lancaster's EN Barrier activates, negating 1000 base damage.
KTS: Rena Lancaster blocks Himeyuri Oono's 120cm High-Energy Beam Cannon
 All-Out Fire, taking 3000 damage!

KTS: Himeyuri Oono roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

KTS: Himeyuri Oono inspires awe, increasing Michiru Tenjou's Morale!
KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Anita Rosetta blocks Himeyuri Oono's 120cm High-Energy Beam Cannon All-Out
 Fire, taking 2700 damage!

KTS: Himeyuri Oono roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        The base looms large in front of Serinas. Almost there...

        ...Is that guy... still talking? Huh, she didn't think a leo could take
that much... or move that fast! So this is a custom ace unit. But is the pilot
an ace, or someone like her who lucked into piloting her CGUE...?

        The meltran suit zigs and zags through the air, trying to evade. <"You
think I'm taking prisoners in the middle of a firefight?!">

        The not-Tallgeese rams her from behind. <"Oof!"> She frowns, the armor
briefly turning around. <"You wanna sit this out, fine, *I* got a base to take
out! You really think one soldier surrendering would make us leave the base
alone?? Earthnoids are strange...">

        With a bright flare from the suit's thrusters, she backflips and
aeleron rolls away, pouring on the speed towards the base. <"Quit pretending
to be so noble. You let Blue Cosmos run the show, you really think I'll
believe I'm safe as a prisoner of war? I bet you don't have a cell big enough
to hold me, you'll probably execute me just because it's more convenient!">

        Her words are punctuated by volleys of tiny missiles launching from the
knees and backpack, executing sharp turns and making a series of spidery
smoke-trails in the air as they home in back towards the Greif!

        Serinas's mouth ran a bit ahead of her brain there, she realizes as she
enters the base. She hadn't *actually* thought about that. Shit, *would* they
really kill her if they took her alive for such a reason? Damn, if anyone
who's actually part of Blue Cosmos is here they just might. Ugh... She shakes
her head. Don't think about that! It won't matter, because you're not going to
get captured! You're going to win this, and maybe, just maybe, this will
finally end the war...

<Pose Tracker> Michiru Tenjou has posed.

That the Clawed Monster is practiced against ranged punches. Against fists that
fly. Suggests only worse things in Michiru's mind. After all, that is a hero's
weapon. Thus it stands to reason this pilot fights AGAINST heroes regularly.
She's definitely not a pilot Michiru can reason with unfortunately. A shame
after her previous encounters with understanding adversaries.

She's barely steeled herself upon that revelation when two sets of beams spin
up and assault her. The first is targeted, and the second massive. A
bombarding attack against her and Himehime alike. She shouldn't have done
that. She REALLY shouldn't have attacked Himehime. attacks all wash over the
Galaxia, piercing its Field, but... as the cloud of debris clears, they've
only scratched the Miracle of Europa's machine. Scorched away much of its
lovely paint, and cracked away a few chunks more of its armoring. It's still
entirely capable of fighting, and will be.

Its singular eye looks to be on fire at that moment. "Every move you've made
has been an insult upon us. You, you're a part of the rot in the Earth.
Nothing good is born from your existence! Galaxia Blaster, SPREAD
CONFIGURATION!" Despite what she calls it, as the torso and eye of the Galaxia
open up to reveal its ultimate weapon. As the Galaxia takes on a pose with its
armed stretched out and flexing upward, a light grows inside it rapidly.
"Charging... Wide-Form Online. GALAXIA BLASTER, FIRE!"

The burst coming out from the machine is, despite how much it looks like the
other signature attack of the Photon Lab's units, also quite different, thanks
to the similarities with the Nadesico's own Gravity Blaster. It has a deep
blue, almost starry night appearance as it sweeps out to wash over both
targets. Of course, recklessly using this move NOW, means the Gardnova isn't
quite able to go rushing around. But... she's not exceptionally concerned
about motion, compared to bringing the hammer of righteous fury down on that
woman's head! And in the aftermath, the Socrates begins a dive, taking Galaxia
plummeting alongside it! "You've got it Himehime! I'll make sure to fix up
desserts for everyone as well, just let me know what all your favorites are!"
That last part, goes out to all their squadmates. Everyone the Socrates is
close to. Riika, Shiho... She's going to see to everybody's happiness.

KTS: Michiru Tenjou targets Vitaly Sokolov and Lina Lombardi with Galaxia
 Blaster Wide Mode!.

<Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.

IN THE AIRCRAFT,

Penfold Earnest is sweating. This is bad. He does not know about this
situation. It wasn't in 'the plan,' the part of 'the plan' that he has witness
to. Everything may be about to go to shit very fast, and he glances
occasionally across the aircraft towards Salliette, but she is arguing with
dispatch about something.

BUT IN THE FIELD OF WAR,

Riika has the benefit of moving away from Artemisia, who nonetheless has to
swerve against that discouraging beam shot. She is distracted primarily by
Asciel, naturally enough; Asciel who is closer to her; Asciel who is speaking
so eloquently. Artemisia curses and snarls as she loads her solenoid bow
again, but then Asciel does not strike -

She flees -

And she speaks.

'A noble and commanding knight...'

Artemisia turns her head and stares after the departing foe.

"A knight...?" she says.

She giggles.

She raises a hand, curled into a fist, and nudges the knuckle of her thumb in
between her lips. She bites it a little to stifle the giggle. It hurts, a
little, and she can feel the throb in her eye, but that's alright. Because -
because she doesn't know. Why would she, Artemisia thinks to herself. I hardly
wave the pennant on Skathi.

"My dear little lumpling," Artemisia says, "this feeling... THIS IS PARADISE
ALREADY!" She reaches over to slap a switch. Somewhere inside of the KMF's
power fillers, a cube of sakuradite trembles and begins to evanscene into
light and heat -- thrusters begin to scream...

MOOD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6y6-OgVDJc

And the KMF hurls itself forwards.

Near one of the hangar gates, several of the camouflaged KMFs, battered by
fires exchanged but not disabled, see the approaching vector. "Left bank!"
reports one to Artemisia, who doesn't reply; landing on the ground, she kills
the thrusters and activates the linear motors in one fluid motion of the hand,
sweeping downwards, banking left as advised, and --

-- emerging on the right, the KMF skating swiftly through the hangar as its
head turns.

"It's like you're TEASING me," Artemisia answers Asciel. "Are you teasing me?"
The sol bow is brought up and aimed towards that cluster of GINNs some
distance ahead, the metallic electromagnetic THUMP sending another great bolt
after Riika even as Artemisia vaults forwards, the Harkens snapping out to
anchor against Asciel's unit.

"Keep talking!" Artemisia pleads, even as she dismounts some sort of hooked axe
THING from the thigh of the KMF, which probably isn't good.

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov blocks Michiru Tenjou's Galaxia Blaster Wide Mode!, taking
 1350 damage!

KTS: Michiru Tenjou roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
Artemisia ka Britannia has moved to Shallows

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Riika Sheder with Pilium Launcher!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        !! GM POSE !!

        A ZnO blasts out of the water at the edge of the underground port. Its
large frame starts to lumber down the street, just barely fitting between the
buildings. Each robotic foot coming down causing the structures to shake and
windows to shatter. Though there's no sign of anyone actually IN the
buildings, perhaps thankfully.

        The ZnO doesn't get to advance too far though, as a pair of Savage IIs
rush out from hiding behind buildings. Their rifles filling the aquatic unit
with numerous holes. The machine sparks, before falling backwards to the
ground and a few moments later, exploding.

        The Savages have little time to rest though as a DINN blasts into the
air above them, machine gun in one hand, shotgun in the other. Both weapons
fire, filling the Savages with holes of their own. One explodes while the
other simply crumples to the ground.

        The DINN watches for a moment to make sure the enemy units are dealt
with, before it turns in the air and starts to fly away. It doesn't get far
though as a barrage of rockets from a Mistral II slam into its back, blowing
away its thrusters and wings and sending it crashing down to the ground.

        The battle both outside and within the JOSH-A base continues to be
fierce. ZAFT units continue to move in through the hole in the main hangar
doors, rushing into the cavern that is the base interior and pushing to gain
ground. There are several priority targets that need to be captured, including
the most obvious: The command center in the middle of the complex. That is
where the main focus of ZAFT's push is heading. It is naturally the main focus
of the Federation defenders too, the line of mostly non-Britannian units
holding firm.

        As the defenders fall one by one, the base commander's voice crackles
in through the comms again:

        <"Stand your ground, men! Make those monsters suffer for every inch of
ground they try to take from us. This is our land. Our planet. We will not
suffer these fools to trespass upon it! Every second that you hold, the closer
our reinforcements get. We may be outnumbered right now... But once the main
force arrives, it will be those Coordinators who will know the struggle of
being outnumbered!">

        Speaking of commanders... Strangely enough, while Rau's white DINN had
been seen entering the base with the first push through the main entrance, Rau
does not appear to be amidst the ZAFT forces currently advancing through the
complex. Perhaps a blessing for the defenders.

KTS: Riika Sheder successfully Evades Artemisia ka Britannia's Pilium Launcher
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Lina Lombardi retreats from the attack!
KTS: Lina Lombardi fails to evade Michiru Tenjou's Galaxia Blaster Wide Mode!,
 taking 5400 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Michiru Tenjou's Villainy Will Never Succeed! activates,
 causing Sparkle!

KTS: Michiru Tenjou roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Treize Khushrenada with Pass!
Vitaly Sokolov has moved to Shallows
Vitaly Sokolov transforms to RX-123-P Gundam TR-S [Hazel Flare Proto]

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Asciel Colette with Slash Harken Entangle!
KTS: Asciel Colette fails to retreat.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia enervates Asciel Colette, reducing her Morale
 significantly.

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia anchors Asciel Colette, forcing her into close
 range.

KTS: Asciel Colette fails to react to Artemisia ka Britannia's Slash Harken
 Entangle, taking 5760 damage!

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

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

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

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has engaged Asciel Colette!
Treize Khushrenada has moved to Shallows

KTS: Lina Lombardi has launched from Vitaly Sokolov's combat deck!
Serinas Nikola has cancelled her attack.

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Dispersal has posed.

        Yuliana is delighted to get a response like that from Rena, of
course. She doesn't belabour their communications any longer, but she's quite
happy to hear her snap with such boiling heat.

        And of course, if Rena complains, they'll have to audit their private
communications, and everyone will get to hear just what Rena is...

        ... Yuliana, as it happens, isn't a very nice lady.

        "Of course, we're all dedicated to using the minimum amount of force
necessary to deter ZAFT," Yuliana assures Sayaka -- and she can't cross her
fingers, because her hands are busy working every moment of operation, but if
she could she would. "But if you haven't noticed, Doctor, they've breached our
defences."

        She flicks her channels, briefly, to bark -- "Lettu! Did I or did I not
tell you to pick them off?!"

        "Sorry, Captain," the sniper in the Savage II replies, as Wen Yuan
cycles her rifle. "There's just too many of them. I'm going as fast as I can!"

        "Speed it up! You've got the Canary on you, get it done!" Yuliana snaps
-- she's talking about the Laiying 1 laying down explosive cover fire to try
and keep ZAFT out, with her incessant nicknames -- before she switches back to
Sayaka and Shiho's channel.

        Just in time, too, her voice raising to a sharp cry -- "DOCTOR! CLEAR
OUT!" -- because Yuliana recognises that build of energy, in her sensors.
Those superheated particles devastated her machine, last they fought, and
this time Parminder isn't coming in Rondo One to save her from her own
bloodlust.

        Yuliana, unlike the woman she was mocking earlier, isn't a
Coordinator -- she doesn't have the miraculous reflexes of peak human
capacity. If it were up to her, she'd surely still be caught in the blast. But
what she does have is mechanical knowledge, and she's programmed the legs of
her wanzer with automatic evasion protocols; it's something of a hack job,
pushing a Tiandong 3 this far, so it's something of a miracle when it works.

        It works now, though, and the Annihilation leaps away from the
building heat of the CGUE's might before it can scour her from the earth.

        "Tsk," she remarks, and the radio might just catch the hitch of a
breath which comes before the tongue-click, that little audio cue that Yuliana
isn't as disaffected as she puts on. "You're getting a little hot under the
collar."

        She kicks off of the slowly-sinking freighter she landed on, to throw
her machine towards the CGUE, again. "Here -- LET ME HELP!" She says, and then
she screams, thrusting her flamethrower forward to try and pierce its armour
again.

        Is it getting hotter?

KTS: Serinas Nikola targets Treize Khushrenada with High-Maneuverability
 Missiles Spread Fire!

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Michiru Tenjou with Pass!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Serinas Nikola rattles Treize Khushrenada, making his next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Treize Khushrenada blocks Serinas Nikola's High-Maneuverability Missiles
 Spread Fire, taking 3900 damage!

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal targets Shiho Hahnenfuss with MULS-P Bayonet Flamer
 Inner Fire!

KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Accel Spirit Command and Has NOT
 engaged with Serinas Nikola

<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.

The main gates have been breached. A Signal reaches Vitaly Sokolov's
Rabscuttle, and in that moment, the woman immediately turns the Rabscuttle
around. If JOSH-A is penetrated, ZAFT will be impossible to remove so easily.
And worst of all, she will not get any leads on what is happening within the
Federation. There is too much sensitive information within that place. And the
last time that a large army infiltrated a base like this -- she was part of
the Titans. She remembers Jaburo.

The Rabscuttle shifts and turns its angle, right as Himeyuri Oono levels the
beam cannons of her Socrates at so many targets. The deflector units are still
active, when the blasts purge outwards, spearing towards the Rabscuttle. The
machine lets much of it tear across the deflectors - the I-Field generators
keeping much of it at bay while a few smaller beam cannons tear into the
underbelly of the Rabscuttle as well as the field being generated by the
Daedalus system! The attack by Michiru Tenjou then immediately blasts deeper
into the rippling shimmer of its I-Fields, tearing further through, until
finally Michiru manages to puncture the side of the Rabscuttle, creating some
severe damage to its armor systems.

The machine drags Lina's machine with it as it begins to list, trying to shield
her as best as it can, as it suddenly increases in speed. The sudden JERK of
acceleration creating large G-Forces away, right before the Support Unit - the
Rabscuttle - and the main pilot machine disconnect whilst on approach to the
mainland itself - abandoning the assault on Himeyuri and Michiru for the time
being.

The Rabscuttle launches to the air, while something rapidly plummets down
towards the ground. Vitaly, within, takes note of the battle on the ground.
"Savages?" She mumbles to herself - as the Hazel Proto comes down. Its large
shoulder-weapon bays open, firing on the units down below. An enormous gatling
gun opening fire, tearing into some of the ZAFT units, before the Minivosky
Flight system activates, and it comes to a slow halt just a few meters from
the ground, then SLAMS to the ground for those last few inches - crunching the
concrete beneath its feet.

As the Gundam takes the field.

Entering the region of the Main Gate, its arms raising, as enormous
finger-lasers begin to tear through whilst the ZAFT units open up. Its I-Field
systems ramping up, draining severe amounts of energy as Vitaly Sokolov enters
what is basically a cross-fire. The machine being pushed around, taking on
further damage, as it tries to stop any further ZAFT units entering the Main
Gate!

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

The GINN squad is bogged down, again - there's just too many defenders in here;
Savages are dangerous at all ranges, especially when they have the terrain
advantage. GINNs are really meant for space, and this squad is about half
people who volunteered from colony police and defense squads; none of them are
very experienced in this kind of tunnel battle, at least not when there's
gravity and not the interior of an asteroid base.

Riika manages to fire the thrusters without hitting a wall, 'leaping' up and
then backwards as she kicks one leg, so close to the ceiling that the upthrust
part of the GuAIZ's helmet scrapes along it and kicks up sparks. One of the
GINNs is not so lucky, arm transfixed by the spike at the shoulder.

"Hey! Farkas!" One of the GINNs turns to look at his impaled unit.

"'m okay," the scrapped GINN's pilot replies. "Suit's done for, though - "

"Then pull back," the last of the GINN pilots says. "No shame. We can handle
it."

Easier said than done; Farkas has to try to get past Artemisia to get to the
exit again. Fortunately, she's trying to tie up Asciel, which gives him an
opportunity to go by - he's unarmed (literally, neither of his GINN's arms
work) and is simply trying to slip away.

That leaves two, one of whom is engaging in swordwork with Savages and another
Grapple and one of whom is laying down covering fire, Riika supporting. The
Commander had better be getting something out of this, she thinks to herself.
They're going to be pinned down if this keeps up.

...for that matter, where *is* the Commander? If he got shot down, at a time
like this -

Riika types in some commands, left-handed, while maneuvering her GuAIZ. All she
has to do is run the data backwards until she finds a match, and hope she was
in range to catch it. AND while she's flying the GuAIZ. If she wasn't a
Coordinator and as good at multitasking as she was, she wouldn't even try.

A few moments later, and she actually finds him, or at least his DINN. No
wonder she can't see him - it broke away from the main battle to go... where?
She has absolutely no idea what's down that route in JOSH-A, having never been
inside before, but it's not down the main battle line and it hasn't been
marked as a priority target.

Thoughts of him getting shot down, letting the Federation claim at least some
kind of victory, fill her mind. But also, she wants to see what's so important
about wherever he went. He didn't look like he was actively engaged with
anyone and chased them down there -

"Change of plans," Riika says to her squad. "I've got to provide backup. Can
you hold the Knightmare Frames for a minute?"

"Yeah, but - "

"Great! Thanks!" Riika's voice *sounds* like she's waving even though she is in
no way taking her hands off her controls as she jets down a side hall, going
out of sight quickly. The lifter detaches from her back as she goes, taking up
a hovering position near the GINNs on automatic.

The two remaining GINNs are basically trying to hold a corner of the entryway.
While one is tied up in melee, the other isn't; he fires a wide spray of
bullets, trying to pin down Artemisia from following either Riika or Farkas,
and the automated lifter engages in support, spraying machine gun rounds and
lightweight beam fire semi-indiscriminately. Without Riika controlling it
manually, it works more on quantity than accuracy of fire.

KTS: Riika Sheder has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Riika Sheder has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Riika Sheder targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Lifter Flyby Attack!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono inspires awe, increasing Shiho Hahnenfuss's Morale!
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal rattles Shiho Hahnenfuss, making her next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss fails to react to Yuliana Dispersal's MULS-P Bayonet
 Flamer Inner Fire, taking 4800 damage!

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal has engaged Shiho Hahnenfuss!

<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.

Beams...

Just like him...

The Battroid jumps back on instinct, but without a lot of room on the
Rabscuttle, the blaster is easily able to hit her. She winces in her cockpit,
already dripping sweat under her helmet. She pounds against her window,
letting out a desperate cry of frustration.

"Juno 1....status."

"I'M FINE, MOUSETRAP!" She barks back in a way she's never addressed her AWACS
before and is met with a hesitant silence.

She grunts as the Rabscuttle begins to descend, taking advantage of the change
in terrain to hop off and land next to Vitaly's Gundam. As she takes care of
the cross-fire, Lina's gaze is drawn to the Galaxia still in the air. "You
think I can't get you from down here? Well, EAT THIS!"

The Battroid braces itself and fires two missiles, shooting up into the sky and
towards their target.

KTS: Lina Lombardi has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Michiru Tenjou with Micro-Missile Array Long-Range
 Strike!

KTS: Michiru Tenjou fails to react to Lina Lombardi's Micro-Missile Array
 Long-Range Strike, taking 4230 damage!

KTS: Michiru Tenjou fails to react to Vitaly Sokolov's Pass, taking 0 damage!
KTS: Riika Sheder rattles Artemisia ka Britannia, making her next maneuvers
 more difficult.

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia fails to react to Riika Sheder's Lifter Flyby
 Attack, taking 5220 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

'Rena!' It's not over the radio. It's not over any channel. That flood of
anger is met by a stabilizing influence--or an attempt at one, anyway. Eight
just tries to reach out and enfold Rena in her aura. ...Distance doesn't
matter to something like this. But she can't focus on only her instead of the
battle, so it can't last.

She hopes they can hold, too.

But the Ra Mari's weapons system score a solid hi on the Socrates. Eight
doesn't feel any relief, though. "Report," Eight directs, and Rezza is the
one to reply, "Enemy ship's engines partially disabled. They are losing
power. Their railgun doesn't look as if it can keep firing forever."

"Right. With their reactor failing, they shouldn't be able to maintain the
Distortion Field indefinitely. If we can keep it up--"

Eight's eyes widen suddenly. The Socrates drops, and it's too quickly for
Eight to get her crew to react. "Chovan--"

The ship rattles, the main cannon slamming into the Ra Mari at full force,
cracking armor and bursting through her shields entirely. The ship is smoking
in the aftermath of that blast, and all over the ship parts burn and buckle.

Just in time for...

The whole bridge is silent as the base commander's voice talks about 'those
Coordinators', and 'our land', 'our planet'."

"..."

"Fuck him," Eight says. "We stay because we have people we care about here.
Don't worry about 'those Coordinators'. Worry about the people on your ship
right now."

"Speaking of right now..."

"Fari, fire missiles at that cannon, and keep charging the Array while you're
at it. Everyone..."

This goes out to Rena and Anita, "Good luck. I'll try to clear you a path
back--but we're going to have to start withdrawing, and soon--"

The missiles slam out towards the cannon, and the Ra Mari's engines spin up.
"Full evasive maneuvers," Eight advises Chovan. "And get those mobile suits
some cover!"

KTS: Eight York targets Himeyuri Oono with Clop Missile Array Anti-Ship Missile!

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

There's a touch of condescending in Dispersal's assurance to Sayaka, but Sayaka
certainly isn't above playing that sort of game. "Oh, I've noticed. Sending
ZAFT packing home is the main force's job, though, not ours." She taps her
cheek thoughtfully. "And I wonder where they are at a time like this?" That
is a good question, actually, they sure are taking their sweet time.

Sayaka can't help but scoff at the base commanders' sorry excuse for raising
morale, though. That was even worse than the ZAFT guy's speech. And calling
these soldiers "monsters" just doesn't sit right with her; she knows
intimately what it's like to fight monsters. It's nothing like fighting humans
like the Coordinators.

Sayaka's close combat strike actually seems to do a number in tandem with
Dispersal's attack, and Shiho responds in turn with a full burst from the
cannons. Although the Ichinana can take it, sensors are falling deep into the
orange. Sayaka won't hesitate to retreat if they get any lower. But for now..
best she can do is show Shiho an attack she will know very well. The
Ichinana's version of... "BREAST... FIRE!"

KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi targets Shiho Hahnenfuss with Ichinana Breast Fire!

<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.

        The Greif raises it shield as it follows after the ZAFT opponent,
through the barrage of missles as his unit begins to sound alarms for him that
panels are now exposed and wiring is notin best of shape. Treize's fingers fly
to automate the reroute but it will take time and the processing power of the
machine is going to slow the rest of his responses from the machine for the
time being. However none of this stops Treize from his persuit.

         Nor does it stop Treize from talking, something any other G-Hound
member could absolutely inform Serinas about if she stopped to ask them,
Treize really likes to hear himself talk. <"Are you implying that due to being
from space I would treat differently? That I would execute you for that fact
alone? I am... I don't ... that would just be wrong. How dare you insult me by
making the assumption that just by being from earth and fighting against you
that you would assume I am something so horrible. Truly I wonder if you are
not simply projecting your own hatreds on to me to make this easier on you.">

         Still the questions doesn't stop the Greif as it dashes towards
Serinas's unit and thrusts forward with a burst of speed at the end to drive
the blade deeper, however it would appear that the Greif isn't aiming for
anything critical.

KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Serinas Nikola with Beam Saber 100 High
 Penetration Strike!

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss fails to react to Sayaka Yumi's Ichinana Breast Fire,
 taking 6480 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rena can hear Eight's voice, even if she doesn't speak. Her eyes widen -- and
she sucks a breath in, even as she feels arms around her. She hesitates a
moment, before she feels a sense of calm over her.

The Socrates becomes a beacon of many criss-crossing lights as its main cannons
fire. Several of them shoot up at Rena's Prophecy -- she manages to weave
around one, fire the front-mounted thrusters to bounce back from antoher, and
then finds a third coming right for the GERWALK-mode VF. The left arm lifts,
all of the pinpoint barriers swiveling to come around to its forearm shield.
Then, it slams that shield into its way.

The beam breaks into a dozen arcs of light that shoot around the GERWALK. It's
blinding, a point of light at numerous parabolas of brilliant golden light
that arc all around it. The armor on the shield burns through the weight of
the pinpoint barriers. Layers of the armor ablate off, molten rivulets of
metal drizzling down into the sea below.

Rena sucks a deep breath in, as the beam barrage ends. The armor on the shield,
warped and burnt, glows a bright red now. It will take a few moments to cool.

'Those Coordinators who will know the struggle of being outnumbered.'

Rena deflates, almost physically, in her chair. Despite everything, despite all
of her efforts, if they knew... they wouldn't see her the same. Her thumb
hesitates -- even as she sees the mounting losses. Her eyes linger for a
moment on Rau's white DINN, and wonders what he would think. Maybe it is for
the best that she cannot read his emotions from here, Newtype or no.

She looks at the Ra Mari -- a sense of worry there, prominently -- and she nods
her head. "I understand, Captain," she says. "We'll... we'll do the best we
can." She looks ahead, even as she feels herself shaking. What is she doing?

She flips up a switch on her control stick -- and then looses one missile. The
reaction missile drops down, off screaming towards one of the large thrusters
on the back of the Socrates. The missile goes flying at it, with an immensely
explosive promise, even as the GERWALK begins to lift upward.

She swallows, before she opens a private transmission to Anita. "You... you
okay?" She's asking, because she isn't.

KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Himeyuri Oono with RRM-14 Reaction Missile!

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

"Right, thanks." Anita replies, with an appreciative nod as Eight tells her to
be careful, and Rena assures her that she'll be there to help if she needs it.
"Same to you, Rena."

They have her back... and she has theirs. They just have to hold strong for now.

Kite Squadron retreats... but Anita almot would have preferred dealing with
them compared to what comes next. The Socrates drops from the sky, only to
unleash a devastating beam cannon barrage. Anita's Variable Fighter brings its
arms in tight to cover as much as itself in its barrier as it can. The sheer
force of the blast sends the machine spiraling through the air, but it soon
manages to arrest its momentum.

"Rena, Eight, are you okay? That was pretty intense." Anita asks. She's not
sure how much more of that they can take. And the Ra Mari... Anita grimaces.
It's looking bad.

"...Right." She says, with a nod. A withdraw... Yeah, that might be best. Anita
accelerates backwards, closer to the Ra Mari while still keeping her sights on
the Socrates. Over the Messiah Rosetta's right shoulder, a beam cannon emerges
and fixes itself. Anita takes aim and opens fire - unleashing a focused beam
to give the Socrates something else to think about.

She can hear the base commander continue to speak, and Anita frowns. 'Those
Coordinators', huh...

"...This guy talks too much." Anita mutters privately to Eight and Rena. ...And
here Rena is, worried about her.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm right here, Rena." Anita says. The Messiah Rosetta adjusts
its course, putting itself closer to Rena's own Valkyrie as a sign of support.

KTS: Himeyuri Oono's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono fails to Intercept Eight York's Clop Missile Array Anti-Ship
 Missile, taking 3900 damage!

KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained
 proficiency bonus.

KTS: Himeyuri Oono successfully Intercepts Rena Lancaster's RRM-14 Reaction
 Missile

KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Strike Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

"Right, thanks." Anita replies, with an appreciative nod as Eight tells her to
be careful, and Rena assures her that she'll be there to help if she needs it.
"Same to you, Rena."

They have her back... and she has theirs. They just have to hold strong for now.

Kite Squadron retreats... but Anita almot would have preferred dealing with
them compared to what comes next. The Socrates drops from the sky, only to
unleash a devastating beam cannon barrage. Anita's Variable Fighter brings its
arms in tight to cover as much as itself in its barrier as it can. The sheer
force of the blast sends the machine spiraling through the air, but it soon
manages to arrest its momentum.

"Rena, Eight, are you okay? That was pretty intense." Anita asks. She's not
sure how much more of that they can take. And the Ra Mari... Anita grimaces.
It's looking bad.

"...Right." She says, with a nod. A withdraw... Yeah, that might be best. Anita
accelerates backwards, closer to the Ra Mari while still keeping her sights on
the Socrates. Over the Messiah Rosetta's right shoulder, a beam cannon emerges
and fixes itself. Anita takes aim and opens fire - unleashing a focused beam
to give the Socrates something else to think about.

She can hear the base commander continue to speak, and Anita frowns. 'Those
Coordinators', huh...

"...This guy talks too much." Anita mutters privately to Eight and Rena. ...And
here Rena is, worried about her.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm right here, Rena." Anita says. The Messiah Rosetta adjusts
its course, putting itself closer to Rena's own Valkyrie as a sign of support.

KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Himeyuri Oono with Targeted Beam Cannon Blast!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono blocks Anita Rosetta's Targeted Beam Cannon Blast, taking
 2250 damage!

KTS: Serinas Nikola fails to Parry Treize Khushrenada's Beam Saber 100 High
 Penetration Strike, taking 5022 damage!

KTS: Treize Khushrenada has engaged Serinas Nikola!

<Pose Tracker> Shiho Hahnenfuss has posed.

Shiho gets a stark reminder of being rooted for -- even as she has to
frantically manually load-balance every element of her unit's power and
cooling systems. It levels her off a bit. "Thank you, Captain," she says, her
expression leveling off just a tiny bit.

It doesn't last. Yuliana aggresses even more, with that flamethrower --
throwing a wrench into Shiho's work up to this point. The armor on the CGUE is
already weak -- now it's also melting, and its heat retention is ruining
everything besides.

... more importantly, Shiho feels like she's cooking in here. She has to pull
her helmet off just to feel like she can breathe --

-- and then it gets worse, as Sayaka gives her more of the same. It's so
miserably warm in this thing --

The CGUE limps along. Shiho considers whether to retreat to the Socrates. ...
The Captain's believing in her, though... She ought to give some of that back.
She can hold it together -- just a little longer.

The heavy laser sword is Shiho's best bet -- so she relies fully on it, giving
it a one-handed swing for Yuliana's machine. At that size, it's as likely to
bat the Wanzer away as it is to slice anything with its laser edge.

Sayaka... still gets the weaker end of Shiho's shots. The twin cannons go into
fire-linked mode, firing one shot from each simultaneously at the Ichinana --
at a much lower power. "D-dammit... I need to end this, but --"

... she's definitely getting less chatty.

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss targets Sayaka Yumi with MMI-M7S 76mm Machine Gun Burst!
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss targets Yuliana Dispersal with NOL-Y941 Heavy Laser Sword
  Cleave!

KTS: Michiru Tenjou has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Michiru Tenjou has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal fails to rush.
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal partially guards Shiho Hahnenfuss's NOL-Y941 Heavy Laser
 Sword  Cleave, taking 6600 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Shiho Hahnenfuss's Cool-Headed activates, causing Control
 Bonus!

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss has engaged Yuliana Dispersal!
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

<Pose Tracker> Michiru Tenjou has posed.

In the aftermath of her wide beam attack, the Clawed Monster backs off. Moving
toward the base. But while she's retreating, the remaining pilot barrages
Michiru with a burst of missiles. THOSE land a clean hit, even through the
armor. Galaxia creaks and sparks, damaged but not out of the fight. Her next
words don't go out to anyone. She only says them in silence. "...You don't
really seem like your heart is in this. You probably ought to leave." There's
a lot of people on the field that could apply to, honestly.

With an enemy in front of her though, she can't ignore it. She'll just have to
finish this one, and continue on forward. Then she can deal with the one who
has repeatedly insulted her. Made a mockery of everything she believes in. And
the Blaster is still cooling down. She can't use another shot so soon. There's
only one thing for it. Though this one's naming is a bit more subdued. She's
not used it a lot, and it's still being worked on. "Fatepiercer!" The plating
on the arms extend, shifting into a claw-like formation. And the Galaxia,
bulky, heavy thing that it is, lunges forward. Leaping at Lina's valkyrie to
impale it with a singular thrusting motion. Then withdraw. She has to go after
that other one.

KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi fails to evade Shiho Hahnenfuss's MMI-M7S 76mm Machine Gun
 Burst, taking 3360 damage!

KTS: Michiru Tenjou has launched from Himeyuri Oono's combat deck!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou targets Lina Lombardi with Dual Claw!!
KTS: Lina Lombardi has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Lina Lombardi fails to parry Michiru Tenjou's Dual Claw!, taking 6600
 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Michiru Tenjou's Villainy Will Never Succeed! activates,
 causing Sparkle!

KTS: Lina Lombardi has been defeated!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou has engaged Lina Lombardi!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou targets Vitaly Sokolov with Pass!

<Pose Tracker> Asciel Colette has posed.

        Gunfire and melee weaponry are easy to internalize the physics of -
Asciel has, effectively, learned that at the point where a newborn baby would
be learning about how a square hole can only be filled by a square block.

        ...But the wire-like weaponry the Britannians use, these now-popular
harkens that serve as a sort of 'long distance entanglement' - that fluidity
and flexibility is where she struggles.

        aIt's astonishing just how well that overly-agile teal Arm Slave is
bound and held captive by a weapon so conceptually simple. It's not struggling
in that pushy, desperate to escape way once the KMFs close in - it's
more...confusion, about how things aren't moving as they ought to.

        More importantly...

        <"...what a strange thing to hear someone say. 'This is paradise
already.'"> Asciel's normally big, in your face way of speaking mellows to
something almost...bewildered.

        <"...hehe, so you're either blind to the vastness of suffering, or you
simply don't believe it matters. I've worked with so, so many who say things
like that disingenuously, knowing full well who they are, what their position
is in the world, as part of a cog of this engine of despair the world has
become.">

                )The air around Asciel begins to quake.

        <"But the way you say it with such conviction . . . no . . . you
genuinely believe that. You well and truly see the slice of harmony propped up
by the anguish of so many as 'paradise.">

                )The star at Asciel's heart becomes blinding.

        The Arm Slave rises to its feet, arms still bound, movement still
constrained. The faceplate unfurls into an eerily human one, whose eyes are
closed, the coolant hair system fanning all around her, whipping and whirling
as though caught in a maelstrom.

        <"You fail to understand that today, the beginning of humanity's final
miracle is set in motion. With the crumbling of this fortress will come the
sundering of the world. Ahahahahahah...that will finally be 'paradise', the
light at the end of this world's terribly dark tunnel! The emissaries from the
stars I stand with today will seize their justice first - then, the rest of
humanity will follow!! I'm so very looking forward to the day that you, too,
can fall to your knees, and grovel for a humbler space in this new world!!!">

        Asciel's eyes open. They burn with radiant orange.

        Behind her, another eye opens, deeper in the winding road of JOSH-A's
bowels behind them. It blinds with prismatic white.

        And from its 'iris', a force that can only be equated to the kind of
high-particle cannon normally mounted on battleships erupts from this seeming
mirage, roaring towards Artemisia in judgment.

KTS: Asciel Colette uses hyper reloader
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov fails to react to Michiru Tenjou's Pass, taking 0 damage!
Vitaly Sokolov has moved to Shallows

KTS: Asciel Colette has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Asciel Colette targets Artemisia ka Britannia with Lambda Driver Smite!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia blocks Asciel Colette's Lambda Driver Smite, taking
 2220 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.

You don't seem like your heart is in this

You probably ought to leave

You probably ought to leave

The voice shifts and changes in her head.

Sokolov

Alina

Elsa

Amuro Ray

Voices, voices, voices, it's too noisy it's too noisy it's too noisy

"JUST SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!"

Lina cries out, loud enough to scratch at her throat as she attempts to grab
the approaching claws, catching them...right across her chest.

The Valkyrie is disabled.

Again.

She's fallen.

Again.

The Battroid falls to its knees, its pilot grabbing at her helmet. "This is
because all of you couldn't just be quiet! Just get out of my head!"

"Juno 1! Retreat if at all possible!"

Without a word of answer, the Nightmare struggles to its feet and boosts out of
the fray.

KTS: Lina Lombardi's VF-171 Nightmare Plus <Battroid Mode> has been disabled.

<Pose Tracker> Himeyuri Oono has posed.

        The Ra Mari's Anti-Ship missiles hit the rail cannon again hard, and
the engines are still coming back online- making defensive movements
impossible. The CIWS is up, however, and Rena's missiles are shot down
successfully- just in time, as the shrapnel impacts on Engine 3 with what
would have been a killing blow. "They're good... It's bad enough the reactor
can't maintain the distortion field enough in this fire, but... What sort of
men are these, these soldiers of the Ra Mari? It must be a real man of a
captain that keeps this force in line..." Can even earthlings embody the
spirit of Ken, Joe and Akira?

        "Ma'am, the Rail Cannon can't take another hit like that! We can't fire
more than one shot either, what are your orders!?" The beam scores through the
Socrates deck, and one of the DINNs of Kite Squadron goes down. Himeyuri bites
her lip... This is not a valiant sacrifice. This may just be dying uselessly.
Is that all she can expect from her crew? The years of Earthnoid oppression
have killed their spirit, surely...

        "Set the dual-railguns to max power but hold fire for barrage. Kite
Squadron, avenge your fallen! And set all cannons to take out that... ugly
walking machine!" How dare the earthlings make light of Gekiganger like this,
with such.... vulgar copies.

        The beam cannons open fire on the lifting Rena and her GERWALK horror,
with a concentrated barrage. The remaining two units of Kite Squadron aim to
rush Anita's Messiah, shotgun and machinegun firing. And then, the rail
cannons EXPLODE as one final barrage is fired from them at the Ra Mari, the
ship tilting up and skating the sea to do so. "Le Creuset-san, where did you
go? You should be leading us to victory?" She's uneasy.

        It's not very manly to leave a young lady unaccompanied in a
battlefield.

KTS: Himeyuri Oono has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Himeyuri Oono targets Anita Rosetta with Kite Squadron Swarm Tactics!
KTS: Himeyuri Oono targets Rena Lancaster with 120cm High-Energy Beam Cannon
 All Cannon Battery!

KTS: Himeyuri Oono targets Eight York with 66mm Dual Railgun Full Barrage!

<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.

~"Lina. Opponent is too strong for you."~ Vitaly Sokolov remarks as the
missiles impact the Galaxia at a distance. The woman still busy with the ZAFT
troops trying to storm into JOSH-A. Its large arms constantly moving in
sweeping motions, trying to smash away some of the melee troops while
directing the I-Field towards them. From afar, its mobility looks slow and
uncoordinated. But over time, it is getting more and more clear that isn't the
case. It never exposes its weak spots to the Coordinators, creating the kind
of challenge that Naturals don't often put up against the 'superior' genetic
cousins.

However, that dance allows the Galaxia to enter the mess without Vitaly being
able to interfere so easily. She bites a sound away as the claw-like formation
of arm tears and intends to impale Lina. ~"Retreat to Rabscuttle and dock!"~
Vitaly calls out to Lina as the Galaxia seeks to fully impale, moving the
Hazel Proto in the way to hopefully reduce some of the damage being done to
the outmoded Valkyrie and hold the pilot of the Galaxia at bay.

<"Is good tactical decision. Take out younger pilot. Now, we fight proper,
yes?"> Amidst all of these ZAFT troops, Vitaly still manages to maneuver the
Hazel. The massive gatling weapon on its shoulder tearing and biting at the
Coordinator units. All as the Gundam unit at the center of the large Hrududu
II construct pulls out its beam sabers...

Six.

Two claws. Two massive arms. Two beam saber arms. Six arms are being used. If
it were not for the BUNNyS system, there is no way that Vitaly could control
this. Her body aches. She can feel the metal cybernetics struggling.

Her legs, her arms. They ache.

Metalic joints stuck directly into the machine, interfacing with it. Minor
motions creating specific directives within the machine. A machine customized
for her, because she is the only one with the prosthetic situation that can
drive this. An old technology from an older time - being put to new use.

One of the beam sabers cutting straight towards the Galaxia's head, as another
swipes directly towards the cockpit. The moves of a villain before Michiru
Tenjou...

As Vitaly Sokolov tries to create the distance Lina needs to safely retreat.
Trying to allow her student to live another day, and improve from all of this.
Listening to her calls to be quiet. Knowing that she needs help... but it's
not help that she can give her.

The arms of the Hazel Proto trying to lay into the shoulders of the Galaxia to
hold it back. One of its claws grabbing s ZAFT unit and throwing it away from
the entrance! All while there is this filthy feeling within her mind.

This sickening feeling of Deja Vu.

KTS: Eight York has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Rena
 Lancaster

KTS: Eight York fails to react to Himeyuri Oono's 66mm Dual Railgun Full
 Barrage, taking 6200 damage!

KTS: Eight York has been defeated!

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Dispersal has posed.

        "Off with the fairies, again," Yuliana gripes, to Sayaka, even though
she probably shouldn't complain about the distribution of their main forces.
"We look like damn fools, always falling for these feints. Who the hell's
behind their coordination?"

        She could have just complimented the opposing commander for pulling
off those feints, but, well -- she just doesn't seem the type.

        Yuliana presses forward to move past the laser sword -- but this time,
it's attuned in such a way that it cleaves past the protective armour
designed to defend the Annihilation from its own melee flamethrower, and the
REA operative rocks forward heavily in her harness as the greatblade screams
into her metal. Her immediate barked reply -- "Shit!" -- can be heard over the
radio, too quick for her to turn it off and swear in private.

        She manages to pull herself away before it cuts deeply enough to
disable her -- but it's an excellent reminder of the differences between their
styles.

        Yuliana is a harrier, a saboteur, someone who creates opportunities
through a thousand stinging cuts.

        Shiho, on the other hand, pilots a VERY BIG GUN.

        (sometimes a gun is a sword.)

        Yuliana directs the Annihilation to land on another smoking ship -- the
crew's already evacuated, so she's hardly concerned. She lifts a hand to bang
her fist on the side of a yellow alarm, bleeping warnings to her which she's
never been able to disable, no matter how many times she delves into the
Tiandong 3's guts. The lights aren't red, yet, which means she simply
doesn't care about them at all!

        Yuliana pulls a breath in through her teeth, and fixes her teeth in a
grin. She can taste the blood from her pierced lip. She'll get used to it.
"What's the matter, sweetheart?" She asks, voice a little strained. "Lost for
words all a sudden?"

        As it happens, Shiho isn't the only one who can prime her engines.
With a few sharp inputs, Yuliana reroutes power from non-critical systems to
her weapons -- Yuliana's idea of non-critical systems, of course, might well
shock and horrify Sayaka, or even Shiho, given a good chunk of things
designed to protect herself get sidelined alongside the comfort systems -- and
grasps her flamethrower in a hand again.

        This time, she doesn't leap onto Shiho to cook her, at least --
Yuliana can at least pay that much attention to her self-preservation, given
her own protective armour is compromised. But as it happens, flamethrowers are
designed to be used at medium range, which means she can send a spread of
flame towards her without being so close.

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal has activated the Trick Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        The voice crackling over speakers now that she's inside the base makes
Serinas's blood boil. 'Monsters', huh...?

        The suit's claws twitch as her hands briefly ball into fists. She's
seen war movies. There have been times before when she felt a bit like Millia,
flying around and being in an impressive dogfight, but right now... She
remembers the scenes where a Zentradi battle pod or a Queadluun-Rau has made
it past the defenses, and the humans the viewer is supposed to be rooting for
are looking up at the alien monster in fear. She's half-human too, but... some
people will only see her as that, huh?

        'those Coordinators'

        ...Yeah. Her other half's a monster to them too. She's a double monster.

        These thoughts distract her for a split second. It may or may not make
a difference. The Greif comes in from behind, and she turns, trying to bat its
hand aside with a lanky arm, but the blade strikes true, cutting a great gash
across the armor. Something in the shoulder catches fire. Smoke and electric
arcs play near the chest cannons.

        The Feddie pilot keeps talking. <"Are you stupid?!"> Even with the base
commander's words, this pilot is still trying to play the reasonable one?! The
base lighting just happens to shine through the gash in her armor into the
pilot's compartment, at just the right angle so Treize can see the face of a
30-foot-tall woman glaring balefully back at him. <"You heard that guy!"> Her
other arm waves at the nearest base speaker. <"He doesn't even NEED the excuse
of me not fitting in a cell!">

        She makes a grab for the Greif's shoulder and tries to knee it in the
chest, then kick a leg out from under it. <"My MOM's from Earth but *she*
*helps* the PLANTs! I didn't hate anybody! I came here to see the Earth Sphere
from the stories, and, and... and all I find is hatred and war! Your Feddie
bosses are making a future where humans are divided like Zentradi and
Meltrandi were! And if they WIN they're going to kill my family and millions
more like us... quickly, or *slowly.*">

        Strike after strike from claws, feet, and joints is interspersed with
point-blank fire from the gatling lasers as Serinas tries to turn the leo into
a wreck around Treize. <"If you REALLY... if you're *really* different, you're
on the wrong side!">

KTS: Yuliana Dispersal has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Yuliana Dispersal targets Shiho Hahnenfuss with MULS-P Bayonet Flamer
 Backburning!

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

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Michiru Tenjou with Pass!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou fails to react to Vitaly Sokolov's Pass, taking 0 damage!
KTS: Michiru Tenjou targets Vitaly Sokolov with Pass!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov fails to react to Michiru Tenjou's Pass, taking 0 damage!
Michiru Tenjou has moved to Shallows
Vitaly Sokolov has moved to Shallows

KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss successfully avoids Yuliana Dispersal's MULS-P Bayonet
 Flamer Backburning

<Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.

Artemisia's Harkens begin to retract. She's ready. She's getting nearer every
time EVEN AS there is a sudden piece of BEDEVILMENT upon her. This probably
spares Asciel whatever horrible follow up coup-de-grace Artemisia had been
having lurid fantasies about, because her attention is split. The peril of the
battlefield, but at least she can do it. Many can't.

They're not here any more.

The flitting lifter hovers and supports two of the GINNs. "What in -- Are you
GUARDING me? You send AUTOMATICS after me! I'm insulted!" The sol bow is
whipped round and discharged, aiming towards the Lifter and spearing most of
it against the wall. This seems to be the conclusion of her ranged weaponry;
whatever can be said for the Knightmare Frame, she did NOT prepare for a base
assault.

But Asciel...

... is speaking.

"Tch," Artemisia says. "You understand nothing; least of all your place!" The
KMF ends up landing on the hangar floor, the wheels skidding as it circles,
the hook-axe in its hand held at the ready. Artemisia seems to listen, though;
she actually kind of... breathes into the microphone as Asciel speaks.

And her good eye lights up. "Beg...?"

Even as the air begins to tighten and distort, "ah - ah! Then you understand -
don't you?" The Harkens disengage. The KMF backs off -- swerves to the left -
no, she thinks with delight, it's not going to work, I have to go further. Get
round that corner. Even that -- hahaha, she thinks, biting her lower lip, my
heart's pounding! She's going to do this! She's putting her foot on my face --
can I reverse this?!

Song. Delight. And then the Sun rises.

White light purifies the interior sector of JOSH-A. There are a dozen or more
detonations as fragile and flammable things die in that primary-weapon
incandescence. It would have doubtless slagged the KMF had it stood there. Was
Artemisia able to get to cover in time?

There's a huge crackle...

(Captain Earnest leans forwards. Don't die, he thinks, you miserable woman;
this is the greatest lead we can have; don't have leaped into the fucking meat
grinder--)

and a little breathless giggle.

"Not enough," Artemisia said. "Hahaha... what a shame... you've really been
exciting... you've got something there with your, whatever it is, Super Phase
Shift Armor? It's quite a good trick! but -- ehehehe - it wasn't enough!"
There's a snap of Harkens - not at Asciel's Arm Slave - but at the wall --

The machine hurls itself forwards at an angle, Hook-Axe raising upwards.

"You're just another contender to the throne!! Your ideology took you this far,
but now you're going to die among your enemies!! Hahaa-- beg for me! Beg for
your life!!"

The arm is raised and then swings

down, down
DOWN
twist round for the hook to PULL, the KMF coming down behind it; the harkens
retracting, but slamming outwards purely for an additional strike;

Riika has, at least, lost pursuit for a moment. What else might be lost?

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Riika Sheder with Pilium Launcher!
KTS: Riika Sheder's Physical Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Riika Sheder's Combat Focus activates, and her spirit
 endures.

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia enervates Riika Sheder, reducing her Morale
 significantly.

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia anchors Riika Sheder, forcing her into close range.
KTS: Riika Sheder partially guards Artemisia ka Britannia's Pilium Launcher,
 taking 3840 damage!

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

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

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

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has engaged Riika Sheder!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Michiru Tenjou with Hrududu II - Long Blade
 Emission Assault!

KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia targets Asciel Colette with The Ecstasy and the
 Agony!

KTS: Michiru Tenjou's Beam Wall L2 activates, negating 2000 base damage.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov rattles Michiru Tenjou, making her next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Michiru Tenjou blocks Vitaly Sokolov's Hrududu II - Long Blade Emission
 Assault, taking 800 damage!

KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Michiru Tenjou!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Asciel Colette fails to rush.
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia enervates Asciel Colette, reducing her Morale
 significantly.

KTS: Asciel Colette partially guards Artemisia ka Britannia's The Ecstasy and
 the Agony, taking 9240 damage!

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

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

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

KTS: Asciel Colette has been defeated!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia has engaged Asciel Colette!
KTS: Artemisia ka Britannia roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving
 her vulnerable.

KTS: Treize Khushrenada fails to parry Serinas Nikola's LPG-30/3R Hand Gatling
 Lasers Execution, taking 8400 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Serinas Nikola's Can't Catch Me! activates, causing Sparkle!
KTS: Serinas Nikola has engaged Treize Khushrenada!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        !! GM POSE !!

        Checking her system, Riika is able to retrace Rau's path. Sure enough,
he appears to have broken away from the main advance into a less occupied
section of the base. Following, Riika will find herself going into and down a
long corridor. Numerous smaller corridors and doors break off from this one.
It's somewhat of a maze in here, though judging by the design most of the
corridors don't ultimately lead anywhere except back to each other.

        A quick look inside the rooms here will reveal storage bays. Warehouses
filled with uninteresting materials, supplies, basic vehicles. None of it
particularly important tactically. Neither is this path on the way to anything
of interest. Not that Riika knows of.

        As Riika passes by a corridor, her system gives her an alert. Looking
down it, she can see Rau's DINN pass by in a neighbouring corridor. The DINN's
mono-eye briefly turns to look down the corridor in Riika's direction. It
clearly sees her.

        A moment later, Rau's DINN is gone again, continuing down its own
corridor. Judging by his path, he appears to be returning back in the
direction of the main complex. Riika could go to follow...

        ... But her system is alerting her to a strange energy signal down the
path she's currently going. The same path that Rau seemed to have followed
before he started his return. Following this signal will take Riika to one of
many storage bays down here. But the door to this one appears to have been
blown open. Probably by Rau himself.

        Inside the mostly empty bay, there is just one object. A device,
anchored to the floor. Its design is not familiar, nor is its purpose
immediately obvious. But whatever it is, it's giving off an ominous glow,
suggesting that whatever it is, it's currently active. A quick check via her
system will reveal the source of the glow: High concentrations of auric
radiation, suspended within a containment field.

        Riika may or may not know what auric radiation is. But her system
clearly does as it practically screams at her:

        ALERT: CRITICAL THREAT DETECTED. EVACUATE VICINITY IMMEDIATELY.

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

Sayaka has to agree with Yuliana on that one; the Federation has been laughably
awful in coordinating this defense. And it's honestly very refreshing to get
to complain about along with a Federation officer.

And then she distantly hears a transmission from behind Shiho, likely one of
her allies in ZAFT. "...your heart isn't in this." Definitely not directed at
Sayaka, but true. She hates this.

Shiho's heart doesn't seem to be into fighting Sayaka likewise, even if she's
just fine hitting Captain Dispersal at full power. The shots leave even the
severely weakned Ichinana still standing.

And so, Sayaka turns down the firepower (heheh) as well, switching to the
Ichinana's bog-standard machine gun. It's almost a warning shot of sorts, to
retreat before it's too late, before she's at the mercy of an actual
Federation soldier.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

The melee GINN finally dispatches the last of the wanzers, forcing a retreat,
though not without taking damage; one of its arms is badly damaged, and so
it's switched the sword to bayonet mode, affixing it to the heavy-duty GINN
machine gun.

The other one with the lifter as fire support is doing better. "Ha, I got
another!" she calls, before Artemisia focuses on her -

No, on Riika's deployed Lifter. Even on automatic it can evade, but not very
well; it swerves, coming up short because of the close quarters of the walls
of JOSH-A, and so the bolt hits it anyway. It doesn't impale this time - it
more smashes it against the wall, dropping it to the ground and trailing some
chunks.

The GINN pilot lets out a sudden roar, as much surprised to be alive as
anything else, and fires recklessly at Artemisia. After a few moments, the
one-armed GINN joins in.

---

The back halls of JOSH-A are frankly a little creepy. It's mazelike - it
reminds Riika of the time she was stationed, however briefly, on a resource
mining asteroid. The interior wove around and bent like this.

There are fewer troops here, which leads Riika to believe that there's nothing
urgent down here. Interesting yes, probably, but if most of the troops are
elsewhere, defending the front lines, this is probably not the part of the
base that is useful in an active battle. (Which also means it's probably
exactly what ZAFT wants for after - there's almost certainly data or parts
down here.) What defenders were here are gone now, though she shoots out a
turret just to be safe. Her energy levels are looking okay, at least.
Surprisingly good for a battle of this intensity. She must be getting better
at manipulating it, or the extra battery really is that much help.

And indeed her guesses seem to be right. Gear. Supplies. The kinds of thing
JOSH-A needs in the medium- and long-term but not what they need right this
instant. She should turn around. She's not helping when she's back here, and
the Commander is gone -

No, he isn't. She sees his DINN, for a moment, and he sees her. And then he
departs, no words for her, not even a command to get herself and her heavily
armed, heavily armoured unit back in the firefight. Which is weird. Her skin
crawls. Something isn't right...

Riika really should return to the battle. She knows it. Rau doesn't need
assistance and he himself is returning. And she would, except the GuAIZ's
systems, so sensitive to energy fluctuations as a safety precaution, have
picked something up. A storage bay, blown open - must have been an attacker,
and the only one down here was Rau. Which means he knows about it. Which means
it probably isn't something she needs to deal with.

She looks in anyway, and her heart almost stops.

Riika has never seen that particular white-gold glow before. She doesn't need
to. The numbers her scanner is pulling up are nearly inconceiveable; the only
time she's seen anything similar is in theory, not in practice. Antimatter,
but with some other things she doesn't recognize in the perhaps two seconds
she allows herself to look at the readings. There's nothing that can be but a
bomb.

If that goes off, there isn't going to be a base here. She doesn't know how far
it would spread after that because she's never seen a weapon quite like this
before, but everyone in the base - Federation, ZAFT, other - will be gone.

She doesn't know whether Rau put it there, or merely found it. But he's not
saying anything. Why? *Why*? None of the ZAFT troops will survive it. None of
the *Federation* troops will survive it either. Either he didn't know what it
was - and she finds that unlikely - or he doesn't care. It's the most callous
thing she can think of for a commander to do.

And if he *didn't* put it there, but the Federation did, that means the
Federation is just as callous. More: they deployed troops for an impossible
defense.

And if it was someone else, some terrorist, then the world can only lose by
having this many combatants lost to a superweapon. She knows there are people
like that. BioNet; she heard it from NERV. Other people she doesn't have names
for.

Riika almost never swears. She doesn't now - instead she turns tail and fires
all her thrusters, heedless of the energy output, heedless of the reckless
speed she reaches. It would be all too easy for her GuAIZ to slam into a wall
at that speed, and in fact she almost does; she twists, getting her MS' feet
under her, and kicks off a wall to turn herself ninety degrees without slowing
down in a piloting maneuver somewhere between 'desperate' and 'insane'.

Bursting back into the primary hangar, Riika flips her communicator out of
secure mode. It crackles as it punches through the increasing interference on
the battlefield - and then *everyone* can hear her. ZAFT, Federation, anyone
within range. Anyone who doesn't know needs to know. And anyone who *does*
know should have said something. Riika can't find it in herself to leave
anybody out. It doesn't matter who put it there, right now; it is an
escalation, an unacceptable sacrifice on someone's behalf even if she doesn't
yet know who.

"<Attention! This is Riika Sheder, piloting YFX-600R GuAIZ EFT! There is a WMD
deployed inside JOSH-A! Repeat, there is a WMD deployed inside JOSH-A and it's
going critical! Recommend all forces evacuate immediately! Survival chances
are zero percent inside the facility - >"

Riika's radio crackles out as she puts action to words, thrusters blazing as
she accelerates toward the hangar door that ZAFT spent so many suits and
troops to open. She finally gets back onto a ZAFT frequency: "<Full retreat!
Get out or we're all dead!>"

KTS: Anita Rosetta's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Anita Rosetta blocks Himeyuri Oono's Kite Squadron Swarm Tactics, taking
 5500 damage!

KTS: Rena Lancaster partially guards Himeyuri Oono's 120cm High-Energy Beam
 Cannon All Cannon Battery, taking 6240 damage!

KTS: Sayaka Yumi targets Shiho Hahnenfuss with Ichinana MG Burst!
KTS: Shiho Hahnenfuss successfully avoids Sayaka Yumi's Ichinana MG Burst

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

The Ra Mari is looking bad. That's true. But Eight puts a brave face on it to
Anita, answering, "I'm fine! That's why they put seatbelts in these things.
Can you imagine a ship where you just rattled around?"

...Anita can tell she's bluffing a little though. The ship is not doing
well. And that's before what's about to happen.

"Agreed," Eight says on the private channel to Anita and Rena about this guy.
But Rena... Rena worries. Eight knows. She knows, and there isn't much she
can do to allay that worry.

Eight wonders what the Captain of the Socrates was doing, earlier today. Was
she just preparing for battle? ...Does she have someone special, like Eight
does? Does she like to cook for her friends, like Rena? Is she cool, like
Anita?

Eight can't dwell. She shakes her head. "Get moving," Eight says, "I can see
their weapons coming back online--"

The rail cannons explode, and Eight is surprised to note the Socrates willing
to go that hard on offense--but not shocked. They're clearly committed.

The Ra Mari shakes again, and loses another few decks, armor buckling and the
waystations of the Hyper Beam System winking out and losing power. She can
move, but she's in no further condition to fight. And even moving won't be
ideal forever.

"Gh--"

Fari scowls. "Damn them!" he says, and Rezza says, "Damage report, Captain:
Hyper Beam System completely offline. Starboard beam cannons' power depleted.
Hull breaches on--"

They go on, and Eight says, "Damn--Chovan, prepare to--"

Riika's voice crackles over. Eight's eyes widen. She had a bad feeling, but--

"Chovan! Get us out of here!" She calls over to the hangar, "Keep those bay
doors open until our pilots get here--and tie down everything you can! We
don't have time for safety!"

"Fari, divert all weapon power to the shields! Engineering!" She waits for
Lavhi's voice to answer her, and once he does, "Get us all the power you can
get on the engines--cut anything but the shields!"

Crackling over the radio she calls to Anita and Rena, "Get back here! The
ship's hull can shield you!"

Then, an unsecured channel--towards the Socrates. "I don't know if you heard
what we just did, but we're retreating. If you want to come after us, do what
you have to do, but we're breaking off defense of the base and you should
break off your assault if you want your crews to live. Captain York, out."

<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.

        The Greif is a well built machine based on an even better based machine
and even as the Queadluun-Rhea is tearing apart the machine powered by Serinas
rage, which may or may not be missplaced it still stands. The armor is ripped
away, the shield of the mess and the beam saber, well the beam saber is
flickering on and off as if it is sending morse code asking for someone to put
it out of it's misery. Still though Treize isn't sweating it, he will win this
fight and get through to the pilot for sure. That is until he hears Riika's
words and for a moment the glacier that is Treize cracks, "They would dare!"

         <"To all pilots, this is Colonel Treize Khushrenada. Disengage and
retreat. I repeat disengage and retreat.">

         For a moment Treize has completely forgot about Serinas and the fight
he is in, checking status of his pilots making sure they are getting away.
Then the Greif turns to look at Serinas, <"They seem quite capable of killing
themselves. I would suggest we both leave."> With that the Colonel doesn't
wait as he begins to fly away as fast his damaged Greif can go.

KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Serinas Nikola with Pass!

<Pose Tracker> Shiho Hahnenfuss has posed.

At mid-range, the flamethrower isn't quite as effective at making Shiho feel
like she's cooking in her cockpit -- though she does notice that Yuliana is
going somewhere beyond 'redlining' her wanzer and into 'actually unhinged
risks.' "You -- do you just want revenge?!" she asks, incredulous -- as she
takes the Shackles hard back toward the Socrates.

"Don't -- tell me where my heart is," Shiho hisses, as she flings her anti-ship
sword into the path of the machine gun rounds, letting it take the blows
rather than herself. It's a last-ditch effort, to say the least; she's rapidly
running out of defensive or offensive options, and her judgment is all over
the place, and she's still so hot that her vision's swimming --

'There is a WMD deployed inside JOSH-A and it's going critical!'

Already conflicted, Shiho's not going to try to get a win in the face of
that. She reports, "Socrates -- I'm withdrawing! Heat damage to systems is
going to leave me with no main weapon! Prep for my return!"

She books it back to one of the Socrates's launches, rather than continue the
fight. "Dr. Yumi -- I don't know if you heard what I just heard, but please
retreat. If you stay -- you'll die."

... she does spare a few harsh words for Yuliana, though, before properly
getting to the launch. "As for you, I hope that little trick blew an
actuator and you get stuck here." Shiho may not have it in her heart to hate
every single combatant on the Federation's side -- but Yuliana? Yeah, she can
do that.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

The beam cannons on the Socrates fire upward, slamming into the Prophecy from
below. One of the legs is struck -- and burns away into ash, armor blasting
away and the frame underneath vanishing. The GERWALK stumbles in midair, the
underside blackened. Rena hisses, gripping the controls tight, and sends her
machine into a banking turn, back towards the Ra Mari.

Smoke trails after it. Rena bites her lip with concern. Then, a voice she
didn't expect to hear crackles over her comms.

Her eyes widen. "Octo!" she yells over the radio. "Annie! We have to get out of
here!" The damaged machine shifts back to fighter mode -- and the working
afterburner kicks in, sending it hurtling for the Ra Mari.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        It feels *good*, taking her rage out on the Greif. This is *right*,
somehow. It might kind of worry her that she gets like this sometimes... She
doesn't have time to think about that, though as Riika's voice gets Serinas's
attention.

        Through the gash in her armor, one pinkish-purplish eye widens in
surprise, then looks dispassionately at the Leo's optical sensor. She opens
her mouth to speak, but he speaks first. She nods, grunting assent.

        The Meltrandi suit famed for its high-speed flight and maneuverability
dashes past the Greif... and then hesitates, turning back. <"Come on."> It
circles back behind the heavily damaged mobile suit, gets behind it, and grips
its sides with its claws. Those massive engines on the shoulders make the
thrusters flare hot as she pushes Treize's suit towards the exit faster. <"If
you meant what you said... you don't deserve to die here.">

<Pose Tracker> Michiru Tenjou has posed.

Michiru winces when she hears that scream. The woman piloting that transforming
machine... Something must have been wrong. Hopefully somebody will help her,
after she retreats from the field. Sending out those in the midst of turmoil
and pain, to a battlefield... That's just not right. Whoever threw that person
into the fray... Her gaze turns on the Clawed Monster. That one was leading
her formation. It's her, or somebody higher up the chain. Hurting people who
don't want to be fighting.

That pilot hails her then. As if she'd caught Michiru's thoughts somehow.
"We'll fight. And I'll put this to an end. All the suffering this Empire that
dares call itself 'Federation' causes to people." Her machine pulls out
blades. And more blades. And still more blades. A six armed beast. Truly on
every level that thing is indeed a Monster.

Galaxia was born for destroying monsters. No matter the form they take. She
swipes at the Galaxia. Swipes and impales. But these blades catch on the
Field. Shimmering and twisting. Distorting the beams and making their
impact... negligible. "Every pain you've brought upon innocents, is going to
come back on you." The way she says it doesn't sound threatening. It sounds
more... Well, her tone is escalating consistently. Louder with every word. Not
quite screaming. Not like her blood, roaring for her to defeat the monsters
before her.

But as she spins up the main reactor, beginning to pour power into the Blaster
for a decisive blow... She hears a familiar voice, frought with panic. And
settles her mind. Of COURSE the Federation would do this. Set up a bomb to
take everything with them. To wipe out any survivors of their own forces, just
to keep their boot on those who don't bend the knee. Right when Vitaly might
be expecting a beam to come washing over her... both arms grab her machine
instead, directing that power into them instead of the cannon, to dig the
claws into the Clawed Monster and HURL IT! She may get an arm torn off
incidentally, as she's doing this, but it's not the goal anymore. She's just
tossing it away from the gate to clear the path for everyone to get out.

And IMMEDIATELY turning to run back to the Socrates. She'll cover as many of
her allies as she can, on the retreat. But she can't finish this fight today.
"I suppose we'll have to do this another time after all. If your evil hasn't
caught up to you by then." To the pilot of the Clawed Monster. As if it isn't
catching up RIGHT NOW. "All squads, follow that retreat order IMMEDIATELY!"
She only has command over a certain set of pilots. Who are still with the
Socrates. But hopefully she can convince at least a few more obstinate
soldiers not to die in vain.

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

"Heh, yeah." Anita replies to Eight with a grin. She can tell Eight's bluffing.
She doesn't call her on it - there's no point. For now, she'll just trust her.

The two remaining units of Kite Squadron renew their attack. Anita has to split
their defenses as they both rush her down - raising her shield to intercept
the barrage of machine gun fire, and focusing the pinpoint barrier system in
the direction of the shotgun blast. She grimaces as both attacks collide with
her at once. She can hear the sound of straining metal and the flickering of
the barrier around her, but both manage to hold on for now. But... if she
wants to keep going, she'll have to fight off these mobile suits somehow. The
Messiah Rosetta draws its knife...

...But it doesn't get a chance to use it. Because soon after, a communication
that shakes the battlefield sounds out. There's a WMD deployed inside JOSH-A -
and it's going critical.

"...That's insane." Anita remarks, shaking her head in disbelief. It doesn't
matter who set it - those aren't exactly known for being discriminatory in
their destruction. She's inclined to trust Riika at her word - and Eight seems
to, too, and that's all she needs.

"Right - I'm returning to the Ra Mari." Anita says. Rena hurtles back to the Ra
Mari and Anita shifts to cover her retreat. Once she's sure she's far enough
away she returns her combat knife to its original position with a flourish
before offering the Socrates and Kite Squadron a respectful salute from her
Valkyrie before turning around. The Messiah Rosetta returns to Fighter mode,
then, immediately accelerating after Rena for the safety of the Ra Mari.

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Dispersal has posed.

        Yuliana -- who is at least thinking clearly enough to learn a thing or
two from Torrington -- flicks open a private channel, to Shiho, in the wake of
her incredulous question.

        She makes sure Sayaka won't hear her response -- it's only for Shiho's
ears.

        "Oh, sweetheart," she answers, too, too easily -- "I just want to /hurt
you./" And she sounds so eager for it, though she's only met Shiho the once,
and Yuliana was the one to force the issue.

        The Federation has people like Captain Eight York in it -- but it also
has people like Captain Yuliana Disperal.

        What a shame.

        She can hear the report coming through, though, and a scowl wipes the
grin from her face. She switches channels, again. "Lettu! Kadet! The enemy's
pulling out unexpectedly -- we're leaving, now! Letda, time to evacuate!"

        "The support staff's already leaving, Captain," and Parminder's report
must be accurate, because it has the scratchy, portable-transmission quality
of someone who isn't at a comms station, any more.

        "Whatever speed you're moving at, I want you to double it," Yuliana
issues, and not just to him. "ZAFT's got one over on us multiple times. We'd
be stupid not to follow their lead on this one. Get a lift if you need it."

        "We're leaving the base?" Wen asks, as her Savage II pulls the Laiying
1 her subordinate is piloting upright so that they can both evacuate.

        "Britannia wants to call it theirs, so they can save it," Yuliana
mutters, darkly. "Move it. I mean everyone!"

        She switches back to the local channel, to issue to Shiho, sharply:
"Oh, honey, you wish. Didn't I already show you how well I can move with
critical systems? If you can't bleed well, get off the battlefield. Doctor!"
She addresses the Ichinana, looking to her cameras. "Can you move your ass?
Tell me now if you need an assist. I don't care to leave a civilian attache
out here."

        And true to her word, she will help Sayaka, if she needs help leaving.

        But Yuliana and her team, at least, are leaving.

<Pose Tracker> Asciel Colette has posed.

        <there is nothing my will cannot achieve.>
        <there is nothing my certainty cannot achieve.><there is nothing my
determination cannot achieve.><there is nothing my solution cannot achieve.>

        That bombastic light show meets this icon of the nobility at full force
- - this spear which Asciel would wield to tear apart the very structures of
the world Artemisia represents - - and collapses, diffusing into motes of
light. The Arm Slave's cooling hair can't keep up - the sun at Asciel's heart
flickers and falters, as does the glow in her eyes.

        And before her, that most ancient of judgment rends forth. The axe of
authority, a symbol of the raw power of rulership, bears down on Asciel's
exhausted self at full force. There's a motion from her to lunge forward, to
mitigate its swing - but she's too staggered, too tripped up.

        And it rends the Codarl nearly clean in half.

        ...For a moment, Artemisia can surely see it. That'd be a killing blow
through the cockpit of any mech this small. The pilot would be reduced to a
horrific form of paste. Instead, naught but wires and sparking power supplies
within the upper body of the Codarl.
        <there is nothing<there is nothing<there is nothing

Critical system error detected.

Rebooting CR_OS.

-{emer_message "Attention. A lapse in some city services will be imminent.
Please be patient while operators work to restore working power to our
administrative functions. Be advised that forcibly operating public transit or
certain municipal industries will be hazardous under these condi
        IT IS NOT. GOING TO END. LIKE THIS.
        I PROMISED I WOULD BECOME A |||||||
        <"I promised I would free all of you.">

        The sun dimly lights back on. Not to fuel any sort of weaponry, no -
that enigmatic will-driven engine sputtering in the Codarl's heart is applying
itself . . . as threads between frayed circuit lines. With much greater
ferocity, Asciel tears herself free from her bonds, emitting harsh bursts of
static the whole while, thrashing and flailing animalistically - like the
skittering of a dying insect - away from Artemisia.

        <"I made a j u d g m e n t that this wa-a-a-a-a-s that |I would do
everything for all of you.| |If I ever give up, the world will die.|">

        Willpower alone wouldn't bring her victory. But, as though fate itself
favors Asciel - - she's familiar with what, exactly, 'auric radiation'
entails. She knows that judgment has, in one way or another, been rendered
unto this place.

        And now that fighting is utterly off the table, that there's no added
struggle that would bring her greater light.

        100% of what miracle is keeping her 'alive' is obligated towards
bringing the tattered Codarl at a reckless, fervent sprint towards the outside
world, back to where, hopefully, ZAFT will regroup in the face of this
explosive attainment of their goals.

        >nononononono I'M GOING TO HAVE TO -RELY- ON THEM TO HELP ME- |Log
partition disabled. Power supply insufficient. Rerouting towards survival
routines.|

KTS: Asciel Colette's Plan-1056 Codarl-a 'Glaux' has been disabled.

<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.

What is this creeping feeling? What is this sensation that keeps that turmoil
alive within Vitaly's heart. The normally ice cold woman is facing a powerful
opponent from the stars. And then, that creeping sensation turns into dread...

As a ZAFT machine steps out of JOSH-A. Her head turns for a moment. The Gundam
Proto turns, watching the GuAIZ as it begins to transmit a horrifying message.

---

'Forget about safety limits!'

  That shuttle.

              The struggling people.

    Soldiers falling down from that shuttle.

                             People grasping eachother, hoping to get out!

                    A man grabbing at her, trying to pull her out to make room.

               Her foot reaching, pushing that man away, sending him down to
his doom.

                           Survival of the fittest?

            Some of them thinking it's just a ruse.

                    That Pale White Light.

  A detonation of a base that stood for centuries.

---

How? How did something like that make it in here? In that moment, Vitaly's
veins run cold like Ice. As the enormous weapon-pods of the Hazel suddenly
disconnect and slam onto the ground behind it, and the Rabscuttle turns back
around immediately as she sends a laser-signal to the support unit.

    Every pain you've brought upon innocents, is going to come back on you.

What cruel coincidence to call something out as those thoughts come over the
Winter Witch. It doesn't dissuade the woman, but it certainly helps Michiru in
its attempt to grapple the heavy Gundam-type and fling it away - tearing some
of its arm and damaging it. Leaving Michiru with but one message: ~"You are
not ready to make me pay for my cruelties."~.

In mid-flight, the Rabscuttle docks with the Gundam, as it makes a turn back
towards the entrance. It would be able to stop there. It could easily pick up
some of the ZAFT units. It could help them. But all Vitaly is here for is to
pick up her student. Its arms moving to push off any ZAFT units that try to
grab hold in an attempt to flee!

As the 'cruel' woman, as the 'villain' aids her student, grabbing her by its
own claw if needed, before bursting off towards the oceans and continueing its
movement in a singular straight line.

<Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.

STRIKE and STRIKE and STRIKE and TEAR and the Arm Slave is rent asunder and
Artemisia feels glory and triumph as she gazes at the cockpit and she lets out
a single hot breath. She brings the hook-axe around, saying as she does, "What
are you-- gabbling about -- hah - strange words for a dying fool!" But then -

Artemisia hesitates just a little.

Was it already empty? And the Arm Slave flees; Artemisia hurls the axe after
it, but she scoffs as she sees it skitter and scutter. "Pathetic," she calls
after it, but to herself she says, "Is this automatics too...? Reversing its
earlier course to escape with the pilot dead? Not very satisfying if it's
still moving--"

Artemisia's OTHER prey calls for her attention. Her eye flicks to the side. Her
lip pulls up into a slight sneer as Riika transmits her words.

But the message is heard elsewhere--

And in the transport craft, Lt. Salliette Ward says, "Captain, can you please
-" But Capt. Earnest is already there. He stares downwards at the screens,
even as other support staff attempt to track the signals from the other Wild
Hunt KMFs.

"A bluff?" Earnest croaks.

"I - the one calling it - she's retreating? She's just leaving -"

"Then she planted it," Earnest says, running his tongue over dry lips. "That -
but then, why -"

Lt. Ward points at a little-used cosmic-ray flux sensor on the readouts for the
Skathi. Used primarily for space and colony operations. It's not high
sensitivity. More to avoid getting fried in a solar flare. But - it's ticking,
if only a little - "And they're dozens of meters underground--"

Captain Earnest swallows - and says, "Your Highness--"

IN THE KMF'S COCKPIT:

"-- It - it checks out."

Artemisia startles. That wonderful feeling of perfection is already pouring off
of her like a critically ruptured tank of water, spilling out fruitlessly into
the street. She clings to it, even as she says, "But how--"

"Unknown, but -- but the reporter's fleeing -- ZAFT would have no reason --"

"If they've left a bomb, I'll disable it!" Artemisia says, turning her head.

In the transport, Earnest holds his breath suddenly. Damn you, he thinks. You
willful stubborn miserable cruel vain despicable creature, don't -- So many
have died but you have to play your part, I - I have to convince her! God save
me, he thinks, how can I convince her!? How -

Lt. Ward bursts out, "PRINCESS!!"

Artemisia stares at her console even as words come out of it. "Princess even if
it m-might be a bluff if you STAY down there you won't have BACKUP they'll
pour in and your Frame will r-run out and you can't do that to your mother the
way poor sweet Prince Clovis -- Imagine how - how his MAJESTY will feel --
please!! Please!!"

Artemisia's jaw tightens. So does her neck. She snorts, wordlessly. She reaches
for a console with one hand. Several buttons are pressed... "Mother,"
Artemisia murmurs to herself. "I can't..."

The world is cold. Dry. Miserable again. But there is duty, at least. Grave and
weighty, like lead. She spots the GuAIZ in its recedance. Riika Sheder, she
thinks. You took this from me-- if you hadn't spoken, I might have--

Software codes are injected into the JOSH-A systems. Authority is digitally
exerted. On several screens, an icon of the Britannian flag crossed with the
arms of Area 4 glow. Artemisia turns her head slightly to address the pickup
in her cockpit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kSzP8syBt0

"Warriors of Britannia! Comrades of Britannia! This is Princess Artemisia ka
Britannia! My agents confirm an unknown MAPW class device within JOSH-A. In my
name, you are commanded to retreat! Swiftly and in good order, as suits
soldiers - but flee! None shall be called deserter, or I shall handle the
accuser! Once more, you are commanded to abandon the JOSH-A facility! Let no
foe stay you! Revenge comes naught for the dead!"

And after one last heartbeat of hesitation, and with a snarl of frustration,
Artemisia leans forwards and the Knightmare Frame speeds forwards - upwards -
out of JOSH-A. "If this is a bluff, Earnest, I'll wear your guts for garters,"
she says -- but largely to herself.

It's making her uneasy... or is it just that *lack of conclusion?*

<Pose Tracker> Himeyuri Oono has posed.

        Himeyuri bites her tongue. This is the part of the job she finds
unacceptable. Retreat. She can't drag them all back to their ship once they're
downed, though. Military strategy like this bothers her. "Gunnery, provide
covering fire for our people. We can't pursue under these circumstances, like
that enemy comms officer said. As soon as every one of ours is on the deck, we
pull out. XO Zelinn, give the order." She looks at the situation. We're down
engines so-" She pulls up direct control of the reactor, one of the strange
additions she has made. If she does this... At exactly the right time...

        The beam cannons fire and fire and fire, raining down random covering
fire so as to stop the Earthling monsters killing her people. And then one of
the cannons suddenly explodes, as if hit or overheating. There are several
explosions across the firing zone and then... the waterfall and the cliff it
falls from suddenly collapses- blocking the main flight exit from JOSH-A.

        "Everyone's back on deck, ma'am!"

        "Helm, get us to safe radius! All power to our engines, it's okay if we
burn them out as long as we survive, we can limp along to help." Hime feels
something wrong in her gut. "...Once we're clear, tell the mess crew to clear
the kitchens." There was something wrong with this plan. If only she'd known...

        They could have taken care of all of them, and this war would be over.

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        !! GM POSE !!

        As Riika's warning spreads to both the ZAFT attackers and Federation
defenders, there is a lot of confusion.

        On the ZAFT side, it seems there has been somewhat of a breakdown in
the command structure. Attempts to contact the force leader, Rau Le Creuset,
have been met with silence. Most of the other ZAFT commanders on site begin
heatedly debating whether to pull out now, when they are clearly winning and
on the cusp of victory. Some pilots within the ZAFT force do start to turn
around as they see some of the bigger names on their side doing the same. But
at this points, it's not so much a coordinated retreat as individual pilots
choosing to act.

        On the Federation side, many don't believe the warning. Both because
it's coming from a ZAFT source and because they can't imagine their own side
doing this. Treize attempts to issue a retreat, though given the disorganized
command structure of the multi-bloc defenders, it doesn't carry as much impact
as it might have in a more orderly battle. Artemisia too speaks up, using the
weight of her name to encourage a Federation retreat. This does get more to
start running for it. As for the actual on-site Federation command structure...

        Some distance away from the JOSH-A base, Base Commander James Castille
sits on a comfortable couch within a posh room. There are several others in
the room with him. Those looking as equally as comfortable as Castille would
be his staff officers. While the others, looking a little less comfortable
manning control consoles, are probably no where near as important.

        Castille reaches for a wine glass set on the table beside him and
raises it. As he swishes the wine within around the glass he calmly asks,
"Status?"

        One of those manning a console replies back, "It would appear that the
ZAFT forces have managed to occupy approximately sixty percent of the base
interior. Meanwhile the defense forces are down to only thirty five percent
operational capacity."

        One of the staff officers speaks up, "Those comm repeaters we set up
have certainly been useful in maintaining watch over the battle from this
distance."

        Another one speaks up more relevantly, "Any more than sixty percent and
we run risk of them discovering the device."

        Another hmms, "It seems they already have..." On his signal,
Artemisia's orders to retreat are piped through the room's speaker system.

        One asks with concern, "What ABOUT the princess?"

        Another dismisses with amusement, "There's more where she came from."

        Castille nods in agreement, "Yes, yes. I'd say it's about time then...
Though perhaps, one more hurrah?" He nods towards one of the operators.

        Back at JOSH-A, the defenders' comms crackle to life again with
Castille's voice:

        <"Fear not, my comrades! This is just a Coordinator trick. Though we
have had to give much ground to the invaders, their time has come. The main
force is scheduled to arrive within moments! With their help we shall cleanse
our home of the Coordinator filth. And then after that, strike back at the
source with all that we have! Fight on, comrades. We will not fail!">

        With the comms closed again, the staff officers chuckle in amusement at
the farce. Castille himself simply starts, "Right then..." He takes a sip from
his wine and then reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small device with a
button on it, "I suppose there's only one thing left to do." Moving his thumb
to the button he finishes with, "For the preservation of our blue and pure
world."

        The others in the room all echo back, "For the preservation of our blue
and pure world!"

        Castille presses the button.

        ...

        ...

        ...

        An almost supernatural stillness falls over the JOSH-A battlefield for
a moment as everyone's systems all report the same thing: A massive spike of
auric radiation.

        That stillness is completely shattered by the sudden sound of intense
rumbling and shearing, the ground above the JOSH-A base practically tearing
itself apart before it is suddenly engulfed by an intense golden light.

        As the light rapidly spreads, beams of it rush out to lance through the
sky across great distances. A whine of energy screeches through the air with
each beam, anyone or anything struck by the light finding itself instantly
vaporized.

        This incredibly dangerous, golden bloom grows in size quickly. It
expands out both below and above ground, ripping it up before completely
erasing it as it goes. The buildings and corridors that make up JOSH-A are no
better off, quickly destroyed by the blossoming energy. ZAFT and Federation
alike are caught in the light, many having failed to heed the warning and
escape the cavern in time. But even those outside are not free from its touch
as it spreads further and further, continuing to spew out those lancing beams
in even greater quantities.

        Soon enough the light reaches the water, beginning to swallow it up
without reserve. Plumes of steam rush outwards where the water touches it,
some of it managing to escape as gas for a few extra moments before the light
catches up. The Federation warships are hit first, having been forced back by
the attacking ZAFT fleet. But it's only moments later that the ZAFT warships
suffer the same fate, the light stretching out to engulf them, vaporizing them
as it passes over them until there is nothing left. Some of the ZnOs, GOOhNs
and Aqua GMs that did listen to the warning are trying to clear the area
quickly. Those that did not are faced with blinding light in their screens
until nothing, even those underwater unable to escape the danger.

        Those fleeing by air fair only a little better, as while they have the
speed to keep ahead of the growing source of golden light, they still have to
contend with the beams slicing through the air in all directions. Numerous
DINNs and Enacts alike are unable to maneuver their way through the barrage of
light, parts of their machines struck and leading either to them exploding or
crashing down to the ground only to have the source catching up with them soon
after.

        It's only once the light has reached out about twenty kilometers from
its source that it starts to slow, golden lightning arcing between it and the
matter around it until finally it fades away. It leaves behind a huge crater,
having completely destroyed the JOSH-A base as well as much of the surrounding
terrain. The water of the Bering Sea begins to rush into the crater to start
filling it, though it will take some time.

        A stillness returns, nothing remaining of the light nor the radiation
that created it. As if it never happened. Only the newly forming coastal bay
acting as evidence of it.

        With so many dead, including the vast majority of on-site leadership on
both sides, there is no semblance of organized action left. No declarations of
victory. No calls for retreat. The battle simply ends abruptly and
unceremoniously. And not by any side's victory over the other, but by the
sheer fact that there's so few left to fight it and literally nothing left to
fight over.

<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.

Lina's damaged unit manages to grab on to the Rabscuttle as it sweeps by,
dragging itself in by one arm to dock as the pilot trembles. She pulls off her
helmet and snoopy cap, slamming it into her control panel with another weak
cry.

"Papa...all these voices...I just want to hear yours again."

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"There's a WMD deployed inside JOSH-A and it's going critical!" Sayaka's heart
skips a beat. That's the trick this base had up its sleeve, then. Which
means the Federation main force being a complete no show was less incompetence
and more sheer malice.. Did they plan this all along? Sayaka assumes this
couldn't be a ZAFT plan if ZAFT themselves are taking the goodwill to inform
even the Federation defenders about the weapon.

"Exactly, like hell either of us should stay in a death trap like this,"
Sayaka hastily responds to Shiho. "All Ichinana units: RETREAT, NOW!"

To Yuliana, as much as she appreciates the assist, she doesn't much like being
in others' debt and the Ichinana is still perfectly capable of moving. "The
Ichinana's still good to go, plenty of photon power on reserve. And the rest
of the team is just about out the door," she replies, much more calmly now
that she's secured the safety of her unit. "In my estimate, we don't have much
time so focus on getting your own units out!"

"Photon Power: FULL CHARGE!" It's no Mazin Power, but Sayaka knows a thing or
two about using photon power right. And with that, Sayaka is out and away
before the destruction of the base can claim her. And gosh, does she have a
lot of things to say to a lot of people.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

There is a continuing spike of fire through Rena, as the Prophecy makes good
its flight. Her eyes are on the rear-view monitor -- making sure that Anita is
with her. This is how she sees the explosion that Riika promised. She listened
to her, but so many soldiers did not. They heard, instead, the message that
Castille gave.

Her sensors all flare with the spike of auric radiation -- and then the blast
of pure golden light, obliterating JOSH-A, so many warships and mobile
weapons, and their crews, and even the sea. A few Enacts behind her go up,
unable to keep up -- and then they vanish. She sits up straighter, bringing a
hand over her mouth.

It could have been her. Or, maybe tellingly, it could have been Eight or Anita.
Her fingers shake.

Was this ZAFT's doing? Or was it the Federation? Castille claimed that this was
a bluff. And yet...

Her eyes turn downward. Her shoulders tremble, as she silently brings the
Prophecy down on the landing deck of the Ra Mari. Rena's eyes narrow. "Kakapo
Leader," she says. "I'm landing."

<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.

Vitaly Sokolov is silent as stone on the retreat. Pulling Lina Lombardi with
her. Keeping speed to ensure that the golden light cannot keep up. Simply
retreating at combat speed as needed, while caring not to crush Lina's body by
increasing the speed too far. Swaying around as beams form at first, remaining
ahead of the light.

And then, when it finally stops climbing. When twenty kilometers away, the
light slows, the Rabscuttle finally turns, and then begins to float in place.
Slowing down so she can be witness to another one...

Another tragedy.

As her head tilts down for but a moment. A harsh gaze at the center of that
light as it all fades. Where JOSH-A once stood, now... naught but a crater.

The humming of her machine active around her, as it zooms in on the location.
And all she can do in that moment, is take in a deep breath... and release it.

"Is same playbook. History will repeat." She whispers to herself. Tension
within her chest, as the intensity of her PTSD is trying to pull her down a
hole.

As she reaches to her jacket pocket and pulls out a small bottle and turns it
around.

`C19H20FNO3` - Expiration date... 0087.

"Is still good." She mutters, as she opens the cap and dry-swallows a few of
them.

<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.

Treize feels the Greif grabbed by his once opponent and begin to help
him get away. In the end Treize has to be thankful for the assistant too, as
he witnesses the carnage that was released and frowns. "You fool, just what
hell has been wrought." Looking at what is happening he considers
momentarily that he should eject and self destruct, just like that one pilot
did all those months back. Then again in the end he was being saved, he owed
at least a polite thank you. For a moment he considers the situation before he
does what any leader should do delegate.

Over the Federation comms channel Treize's voice could be heard, <"To
all G-Hound, please coordinate and help find survivors. Work with Captain
York, I believe I saw her ship still intact. There are no enemies at the
moments only those who can help the surivors and those who need help. I
believe I am being invited to tea."> Treize leans back and awaits whereever he
is being carried off to.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

"Go, go!"

Riika can't help but try to make sure that some of the other troops are getting
out - her GINN squad in particular she feels responsible for. She half-runs,
half-leaps - without the Lifter she can't really fly in an atmosphere -
picking up speed.

The Federation is running too. They're echoing her message. That's the best she
can hope for. To sacrifice troops this way, no matter who did it - and she's
not sure who set it up, with both sides blaming the other it could easily be a
third party - is unthinkable. To fight for a purpose, that's one thing. But to
exterminate the other side...

...She can't bring herself to accept it.

She's a good distance away when the explosion actually erupts. A reaching
series of beams, some of which come close enough that she's worried about it -
but at this distance all she's hit with is the overpressure wave, enough to
bowl the GuAIZ over. She flares the Phase Shift armour as she goes through
several trees and rocks (well, mostly the rocks; the trees aren't surviving
any better than she is).

Energy levels: 5%. 4%. 3%... 0%.

The colour in the GuAIZ's armour fades away with a humming sound, leaving it
looking curiously unpainted. She turns off all the power draw to the weapons,
and the yellow-orange spreads across the armour again as she picks herself up
off the ground, some distance past the edge of the curiously sharp-edged
crater but close enough that she's not about to trust her GuAIZ to any kind of
combat operation.

She just stares at the crater, and the orb of energy still retracting, slowly,
as it crackles its way down to nothingness. Even with her warning, so many
dead. So many... and it's not only Federation dead. She can hear them trying
to contact Rau, and failing. Did he survive the burst? She sees Federation
ships she doesn't recognize (and one she does), and ZAFT ships she's more
familiar with. Not enough of them.

"Hey, you alive?" The GINN that kept engaging in melee's pilot sends to Riika,
her voice sounding worried.

"...yeah, I'm alive," Riika says, voice controlled, and then mutes her
communicator.

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

Later, Lavnadhim Orlodhari will notice something as he's going over the footage
of their way out, as he usually does after a battle. He will notice something
that he brings to the Captain's attention, about what the Socrates's guns
fired upon.

But here and now, Eight is focused on getting the ship out of there, relying on
Chovan's piloting and the shields--and even then, the Ra Mari has some narrow,
narrow misses. But they get their power to the engines, and they move out,
with the Kakapos on board... and as many of the people here as they can manage.

She hears Treize's voice, and she wonders. She wonders how much of this the
base commander knew, or how much was just raw blind pride. ...She can't say.
She doesn't know. But...

Over the Federation channel, "...Right. All survivors, form up on the Ra Mari.
I'll get shuttles out to search for anyone in the water."

But she doesn't expect to find many, already.

Eight looks around at her crew.

"...Come on. We have work to do."

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        Standing alone on a rocky outcropping not too far from the edge of the
crater is Rau's white DINN. The cockpit is open and Rau himself has climbed
out to stand on the shoulder of the machine. His eyes beneath his mask stare
out at the devestation wrought by the superweapon.

        He starts laughing joyfully.

        After he has felt the initial amusement pass, Rau muses to himself, "A
good start... But not enough. Not nearly enough."

<Pose Tracker> Artemisia ka Britannia has posed.

Artemisia guns it. She has lost several weapons and taken several large strikes
but her Frame is still intact and the drivetrain wasn't affected. Skathi was
ruggedized to go over rough landscape; despite wreckage, the interior is
almost a smooth road.

She seethes in displeasure and distemper, threatening towards depression,
before--

Artemisia glances to the side as the defense comms speak up. "-- What?!"

A trick, to humilate her? (Artemisia thinks only of herself in that moment.)

But then the cosmic-ray alert flashes on. Lt. Ward screams again. Artemisia can
see that launch ramp, and she steers into it, and the cosmic ray alert doesn't
go down. Emerging from the same way she came in, she finds that the Wild Hunt,
at least, did not abandon her -- but the two intact KMFs (one a loss, the
pilot riding shotgun with Pisaro) -- but there is no time to spare.

They drive into the treeline immediately. Artemisia turns her head for a moment
as she sees a false-dawn light and swears at the sight of whatever madness has
risen and begun to recede.

ZAFT treachery? A comm intrusion?
An enemy agent?
Some hellspawned science-criminal?
An effort on someone's life? HER life?

And the proof... is vaporizing behind them.

Artemisia shakes her head and looks away, clinging instead to rage. There is,
at least, the ghost of a thrill there; a dream of hunts to come.

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

Anita doesn't look back. The Prophecy and the Ra Mari are ahead of her, and
those are what's most important to her. But even still, she can see the
terrible golden light illuminating the world behind her. She doesn't think
about that now - she continues forward, and soon enough she joins Rena within
the interior of the Ra Mari.

"Anita Rosetta, returned safely." She announces herself... and then she
exhales, letting herself collapse back into her pilot seat. She reaches up,
undoes her helmet, and shuts her eyes for a moment.

...What was that? And why?

...

...She can worry about that later. She has more important things, more
important people to focus on right now.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Serinas flies. When the blast breaches the walls of the base, she
glances back... and then KEEPS FLYING when she sees that it's expanding!

        It's nerve-wracking, dodging the beams as she flies, and the blast just
keeps going, and she keeps flying...

        Finally, at last they're... safe?

        "What was that?" Serinas asks no one. What *happened*? Only now does
she have a moment to think, about how this doesn't seem like a Federation
attack, or a ZAFT attack...

        ...No, it fits what she knows about the Federation, doesn't it? Their
leadership would happily sacrifice a bunch of troops to take down so much of
ZAFT's force... right? Still... something isn't right.

        For now, she focuses on landing on the Socrates. On tight-beam, she
transmits: <"Serinas Nikola, landing. I've got a... guest. I mean, I've taken
a prisoner.">

        Then, on an open channel to Treize: "I guess you were right. One of us
ended up taking a prisoner after all." She's trying to make light, but her
heart isn't in it, her intonation plain and flat.

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Dispersal has posed.

<poem>

       The Annihilation is a high performer in all areas -- the result of all
those little tweaks -- but even Yuliana has to admit this is too much of a
trial by fire, as she and her team pile onto an REA transport. (It's another
of those old Salamis Kais -- their military always has a few around.)
"Lieutenant Chaudhri," Yuliana issues, sighting the Laiying 1 and Savage II
grasping retrieval wires to pull them up, "report!"

       His actual name and designation, and not her Indonesian slang, for once.

       "I'm here, I'm here," his voice comes through the radio, a moment
later. He sounds out of breath, but perhaps that's reasonable. He had to get
picked up, after all.

       But even though he's here, the Salamis Kai, leaving at top speeds,
almost isn't. Thanks to Yuliana's orders -- she's still a Captain, no matter
her circumstances -- the transport doesn't stick around when that rallying cry
goes out, which might well be the only thing which saves everyone aboard from
being consumed by so many rays of light.

       (Not all their forces are so lucky; the command structure in this fight
is too confused, too localised.)

       Yuliana looks at the explosion, cameras through cameras, and suddenly
feels... hungry. She narrows her eyes; her lips part, in something between
smile and sneer. Perhaps she doesn't know how to feel. Perhaps she's feeling
too much, all at once.

       "The symbol is broken," she says, to her cockpit, and the words are
weighed down with too much gravity.

       ... perhaps people like her and Eight York never could exist toether.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-*'''Log: 05112022'''
+*'''Log: Operation Spitbreak'''
 *'''Cast:''' [[Character :: Rau Le Creuset]], [[Character :: Serinas Nikola]], [[Character :: Eight York]], [[Character :: Rena Lancaster]], [[Character :: Sayaka Yumi]], [[Character :: Lina Lombardi]], [[Character :: Riika Sheder]], [[Character :: Yuliana Dispersal]], [[Character :: Shiho Hahnenfuss]], [[Character :: Himeyuri Oono]], [[Character :: Michiru Tenjou]], [[Character :: Asciel Colette]], [[Character :: Anita Rosetta]], [[Character :: Artemisia ka Britannia]], [[Character :: Vitaly Sokolov]], [[Character :: Treize Khushrenada]]
-*'''Where:'''
+*'''Where:''' JOSH-A, Alaska
-*'''OOC - IC Date:'''
+*'''OOC - IC Date:''' 2022-11-05
-*'''Summary''': ''<Summarize!>''
+*'''Summary''': ''ZAFT launch a surprise attack against the Federation headquarters, JOSH-A. Things do not go quite as expected as both sides find themselves the victim of a devious plot to destroy them all.''
 ----

Difference between revisions of "2022-11-05: Operation Spitbreak"

Revision as of 05:12, 5 November 2022

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