2022-12-29: A Very Gamia Christmas

• Log: A Very Gamia Christmas
• Cast: Cascade Vermilion, Sayaka Yumi, Roux Louka, Leina Ashta, Asciel Colette, Banagher Links
• Where: Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia
• OOC - IC Date: Dec 24 0096
• Summary: Gamia NX-2 makes her appearance - obtaining an archaeological item for a Christmas gift. 'Tis the season!
• Note: This scene occured OOCly on December 29th, but ICly on December 24.

---

<Pose Tracker> Cascade Vermilion has posed.

DECEMBER 24
23:17 JAPAN TIME

Late at night, the Japanese military tracks a fast-moving object moving through their airspace. At first the report is thought to be a joke by some idiot operating the scanners: a giant sleigh, pulled by something that Minovsky interference renders difficult to positively identify at long range but that appears to be trailing sparkles.

Nobody laughs.

A disciplinary action is already planned before someone a little older and with a good memory of the combat situation in the early 0080s gets a good look at the raw readout, turns pale, and actually sounds some alarms. Analysts to track its path are called in.

And, critically, some alerts go out. Alerts regarding a kikaiju that hasn't been seen in thirteen years.

DECEMBER 24
SLIGHTLY LATER, AT 22:01 LOCAL TIME (thanks, timezones)
BAYANKHONGOR DIG SITE, MONGOLIA

It's well past dark at the dig site in Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia.

Bayankhongor, located in central Mongolia, has been a barely productive dig location for months; a number of prefab buildings some distance from an excavation downward into a rocky mountain. Several people's research indicates that there may have been either a Great Subterranean Empire that extended through China and Mongolia some five thousand years ago, or that the Great Jama Empire made inroads this far onto the continent, but actual evidence has been somewhat scarce.

Until two weeks ago, when a shoulder guard and helmet of an enormous suit of armour was discovered. Preliminary investigation suggests that the suit it came from must have been between 35 and 40 meters tall, and it's old enough to be of historic interest, though common dating tests have not worked well on it for unknown reasons. No signs of what would have worn the armour (if anything) have been found, and it doesn't have any attachments that might suggest it's part of a relic machine like the ancient Talos. The current leading theory is 'it wasn't meant to be worn; it was decorative'... though it's awfully well constructed and sturdy for that, and the metallurgy is both strange and apparently extremely advanced for its age.

Currently the armour fragment, having been successfully retrieved from the ground intact and given a basic study, has been packed up for transport to a larger facility. A shuttle is expected to retrieve it within the next few days, though a combination of the increasing war footing of the Federation and poor weather has delayed it slightly. It's not exactly a high-priority transport.

It is also on the flight path of that mysterious object detected by Japanese military officials. And, indeed, its destination.

A giant sleigh with bladed runners, pulled by a pair of rockets that appear to be emitting streams of small energetic sparks instead of standard thruster flames (which would scorch the pilot), touches down next to the storage wing of the facility, a prefab building that appears to have been designed as a garage, but a Jeep is parked outside right now.

The sleigh lands on the Jeep, slicing it in half with those razor-sharp runners. The pilot stands up. Or, at least, the being controlling the sleigh.

It's a robot of a size to match the scale of the sleigh - perhaps twenty-five meters tall. It is wearing a red cloak that covers it from neck to ankle and has a high collar, obscuring the lower part of the face as well as making its entire body shapeless; in the upper part, yellow eye-lights gleam. The cloak is trimmed with white at the collar, lower arms and lower legs, and the robot is also wearing a hat - a long hat, with a white puff at the tip of it.

It's Satan Glaus P10's sleigh, and it's dressed like Satan Glaus P10, but it is not Satan Glaus P10. This robot coils the whip it was carrying, apparently to whip the rockets (?) and topped with what appears to be a launcher of some kind at the tip (??). With its other hand, it picks up the enormous sack that was next to it on the seat of the sleigh and hops off.

There is no standing military defense force here. This is a historical dig some distance from any civilization at all. There's a single petite Mobile Suit, but it isn't armed and currently has no pilot. Nobody from the living buildings calls out to the kikaiju and its rider, or tells them to leave; they are mostly hoping that they get through the night with zero fatalities. Any defense will have to come from elsewhere.

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

The evening of Christmas Eve, Director Sayaka Yumi and LiSA enjoyed a nice dinner at Boss Ramen. After which, Sayaka had no other plans aside from a visit from Roux Louka, nearby for the holidays.

Unfortunately, reports suggested very different plans as the Photon Labs receive an urgent emergency alert of a... kikaiju sighting! The Labs transition into full emergency mode - fighting kikaiju is their mandate, and even without Koji, Sayaka scrambles whatever resources they can combat the kikaiju with.

"Prepare Aphrodite Areia for launch!" She commands one of her subordinates, somehow already changed into her own pink pilot suit. "I'm deploying. Care to take the subpilot seat?" She notions to LiSA. "Yes, ma'm!" And to their visitor... "Roux, there's an Ichinana cleared for use if you'd like to come along. Ugh, talk about terrible timing..."

And so, the newest Mazin, Aphrodite Areia prepares for its first official sortie to Mongolia, in what looks to be a rematch against the rather silly Satan Glaus P10 at first glance. Something feels different about it this time, even if it has been 10 years since the last time...

"Time to show that Aprodite Areia is more than some fancy symbol of peace." Sayaka remarks, as Aphrodite Areia faces the kikaiju which threatens this historical site.

"Was the original Aphrodite A really so poorly designed?" LiSA curiously questions from the sub-pilot seat.

"Yes."

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

Roux Louka holds no great specific truck with Christmas. It's not religious for her; she is aware of family tradition that once they were part of the Catholic church, but that has more to do with old family stories involving a slightly legendary family member who went across North America and just ended up moving from one part of Britannia to another.

New Years' was always bigger; if nothing else, it's less ambiguous, and perhaps less commercial. Something to simply celebrate.

Anyway, that's why after rescuing Leina she went to Japan, again. ("I really should go somewhere else in the OCU," Roux had remarked while checking her passport.) (She hadn't used Sayla's credit card.)

But other than a visit, not entirely for pleasure... Roux intended to relax.

Which ran into a problem.

"Are you shitting me?" Roux says, with something not unlike wonder as she looks at the radar reconstruction outline of the kikaiju. "Boss! I thought you were shitting Mondo about this one! It's real?"

"Were... were they all real?" Roux says. Then, looking towards Sayaka, her mouth hangs open -- and with a toss of her hair, she says, "Of course! Maybe it's just some big prank. Catch you there, Miss Yumi~ - Lisa -"

BANG!

"They still didn't fix the AC?" Roux says, poking at a blocked-off air port. "At least this time of year the heat's enough."

The Ichinana's deployment was about ten seconds behind the Areia, which means it's about four squares away. Definitely enough room to tune in since (thank space-God) it's not full of Minovsky yet in the area. "I don't think I ever saw it in action," Roux says, swinging her legs up with an 'uff' and then coming in for a landing. "I liked that peach-like color scheme, though. Was the armor lousy?"

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

It's Christmas Eve, and two creatures were stirring - and nary a mouse was in sight. Two cats - and one sleepy teenager who just got back from a harrowing adventure in space after Roux's daring rescue.

Right now she was napping on the couch, with an ugly Christmas sweater on, one cat comfortably nestled on her lap, the other on the arm rest beside her.

A phone rings, not with her normal ringtone, and drowsily she stirs, answering it, "Hello."

Leina Ashta listens for a moment, before she arches an eyebrow, "Care to repeat that? What kind of Kikaiju just passed through OCU airspace?"

Pause...

"Alright... but if we're going to make it in time I need something dispatched immediately."

-=-=-

"<... I wish I were surprised that Ashura and OR Brocken are pulling something like this on Christmas Eve.>" Leina says over the comms, "<But I'm not. They're definitely being opportunists about the whole Tsutsujidai incident.>"

It's a BIT of a distance to Mongolia, and it was passing over REA airspace, which made her nervous in and of itself, but a Mass Produced Double Zeta was currently speeding towards the Mongolian dig site.

On a Base Jabber with booster rockets firing full burn to try and make up for the fact that it was nearly double the distance for them to get to Mongolia from the AEU as it was for the Kikaiju to get there from Japan.

En route, she's trying to watch some video footage of Mazinger versus the Santa Claus P10 from years back on the cockpit screen while reading through an intelligence report on the past conflict.

"You'd think I'd remember from all of Shiro's stories that there was a Santa Claus Kikaiju... but noooo." She mumbles to herself. "I really should have put in more visits to the museum. I bet they had an exhibit on this one. ... Maybe even a whole Christmas special."

Pause.

"Okay once this is over, definitely finding out if there was one - and if so who played Shiro in it."

Pause.

"... They better have given Sayaka good characterization in it - if they tried to depict her as just some love interest I swear to God..."

<Pose Tracker> Asciel Colette has posed.

        For Asciel Colette's part, this trip in the wake of 'Santa Claus' has been a wonderful diversion and jaunt across the steppe - after all, isn't it decadently greedy to follow the elusive and mythical present-bearer for the holiday? As part of her usual whims, she agreed to help intercept any ground-based interference - any anti-aircraft guns with a zesty trigger get rather mysteriously cut down by a shimmering, invisible assailant along the Kikaiju's path.

        Plus, she wanted to see the strange, unearthed relic for herself - the notion of ancient super-technology is a most...unsolved problem, perhaps a very, very big one that will need answering some day. It's good to have a glimpse before it winds up somewhere in Dr. Hell's assuredly colossal storerooms.

        ...there's another thing that needs answering, though. After all-

        <"It's just so ridiculous looking! They're all so preposterous! I know this isn't the exact one, but it's still propelled by sleigh!"> Beneath the bright, full moon illuminating the snowy steppes, a figure that'd been making erratic footprints in between immense leaps and bounds finally unveils itself, an ever-nosy teal Codarl with that strange (perhaps, arguably, ridiculous-looking?) human-esque face...though, in celebration of the season, her eyes are a bright, vivid swirl of red and green LED sparkles.

        <"I'm hardly going to pass up the chance to taste for myself why exactly these Machine Beasts were such a threat - how designs like this managed to make even the Fortress of Steel quake and struggle! ...hmhm, but it seems that its companion machine, the ever-inspiring Aphrodite, has arrived to settle a score too, so I'd best stretch my legs whilst I can~"> Of course...a small Arm Slave, prized for its agility and maneuverability in tight, constricting areas, is a little bit out of its element out here in the open, but she wasn't here to take it so seriously - part of this is just a playful 'workout' for Asciel, after all..

        A deep 'breath' echoes over the horizon - speakers in the Codarl's shoulders extending. And a soothing, melodic, carefully deep voice calls out, heralding the ideal song of battle...

        <"I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need~">
        <"I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree~">
        <"I just want you for my own...more than you could ever know~">
        <"Make my wish come truuuuuue...all I want for Christmas is <3 you! <3~">

        And Asciel launches herself into the air, harkens whirling from each wrist in a festive little aerial axel spin...welcoming each arriving defender with a blown kiss, complete with holographic heart blooming from her lips, before facing the imitation Kikaiju with a hungry little grin...!

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

"This really isn't a prank?" Banagher had said, back in Spain. "And it's happened before?"

The Earth is really, really weird sometimes.

---

Leina had filled Banagher in about kikaiju on their journey over. It doesn't get any less strange, but he feels prepared, at least. The Unicorn is riding its own Base Jabber next to Leina's ZZ. He hasn't activated the NT-D yet, no sense in wasting time until they're at the battle itself. Flying like this isn't the same as flying in space... but it's still pretty great, especially with so much amazing scenery to take in.

Haro, strapped in safely to his custom carseat, happily sings a festive tune next to Banagher. As they get closer, Asciel's song can be heard -- and Haro happily sings along with her. Banagher sighs. Christmas music isn't his favorite, no matter how much his mother had loved it. At least the annoyance will help keep him lucid if he has to use the NT-D.

<Pose Tracker> Cascade Vermilion has posed.

The new pilot of Satan Glaus P10's sleigh keeps its cloak wrapped entirely around it, enough that nothing between neck and ankle is visible. It looks ... well, if it was a different coloured and less festive cloak, it might look imposing. Here, it comes close - and is certainly imposing enough to those without the capability of fighting kikaiju - but there's still just a little bit of a disconnect there.

It manages to do this even as it walks, striding toward the garage. It isn't entirely clear what it does - the cloak ripples as if an arm moved beneath it, and the garage door slams itself open, less lifted and more punched upward with enough force to bend it. The robot starts to stride inward -

And then stops. It tilts its shrouded head, looking suddenly toward the sky. The tilt of its head makes it seem quizzical, even without any way to read facial expressions (which it may or may not have, anyway) or much in the way of visible body language. The eye-lights narrow; presumably the eyes do too.

As the defenders approach, it actually speaks. The voice is loud, clear - and very definitely female. Not the Satan Glaus voice you'd expect (not that the original Satan Glaus really spoke, anyway). "Mazin!" she shouts. "Mazin, and friends..."

Pause.

"...and music! Go back. This gift belongs to me, and if you persist, I will destroy you all as a second gift!" The robot tilts its head again slightly, and two things happen. One, a kinetic wave of force suddenly yanks at the interior of the garage. Several light objects come flying out - tool boxes, unused tarps, bits and pieces of equipment that Gamia NX-2 doesn't immediately recognize and doesn't want to spend the time to identify - but a packed transport crate also slides forward, as if being pulled across the ground toward her by unseen hands.

Two, the glowing eyes of the kikaiju (?) burn even brighter before emitting a yellow-red beam, which she drags recklessly across the approaching figures. She does all of it without moving her cloak too much, or indeed doing anything but standing there. She hasn't identified herself yet either, and neither the voice nor the robot is in any kind of Federation database.

KTS: Cascade Vermilion: Will Barrier Activates.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Roux Louka with Eye Blaster!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Sayaka Yumi with Eye Blaster!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Banagher Links with Eye Blaster!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Leina Ashta with Eye Blaster!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Asciel Colette with Eye Blaster!
KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 270.
KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 100.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Leina Ashta's Her Brother's Keeper activates, and her spirit endures.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion enervates Leina Ashta, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Leina Ashta partially guards Cascade Vermilion's Eye Blaster, taking 4560 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Eye activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Knife activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Sayaka Yumi fails to react to Cascade Vermilion's Eye Blaster, taking 3040 damage!
KTS: Roux Louka fails to charge.
KTS: Roux Louka partially guards Cascade Vermilion's Eye Blaster, taking 2660 damage!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion: Will Barrier Activates.
KTS: Banagher Links fails to evade Cascade Vermilion's Eye Blaster, taking 3420 damage!
KTS: Asciel Colette successfully avoids Cascade Vermilion's Eye Blaster

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"A prank, huh. Dr. Hell's army was always a bit of a joke, albeit a dangerous one." Sayaka asides to Roux. Of course someone like him would think a 'Satan Claus' kikaiju would be funny.

"Ahh.. guess I'll have to speak to Hayato on that one." She notes, in regards to the AC complaint. A common one from Shiro as well, undoubtedly.

Another voice over the comms coming from a very familiar voice, in a Mass Produced ZZ Gundam, arriving alongside the Unicorn. "Leina...? You're piloting?" As long as she's known her, Leina's always hated war and fighting. But well, she and Koji had much the same attitude for years, and look at them now.

"Well, hang on tight while we take this kikaiju for a wild ride!" Some of Sayaka's old spunk is in full throttle at the exhilerating feel of finally being able to pilot Aphrodite to her fuller potential.

Roux also catches her remark about the old Aphrodite's design. "The armor stopped being a problem when I finally got dad to fit her with Super Alloy Z. It was the weapons he refused to budge on." She sighs. "Thankfully, that's no longer a problem." She sounds quite pleased with herself Aphrodite draws a Mazinger Blade coupled with the Athena Shield. Even now, she has a few more ideas, like weaponizing the heat sinks similar to Mazinger Z.. but she can assess that after the battle.

What creates more of a shock is that the kikaiju speaks, warning that the next Christmas gift will be destruction. It's enough that it gives an opening to strike Aphrodite with an eye beam before she can pull up the Photon Barrier.

"Ugh... LiSA, damge report." Sayaka requests. "Mostly minimal! But please be more careful next time, ma'am."

"Alright. Try to get some data while I go for the counterattack." LiSA has special properties for understanding machines, but unfortunately she might not get much if she can't directly interface..."

"MAZINGER BLADE!" Sayaka calls as Aphrodite's wings suddenly fold, and she lunges with the drawn Mazinger Blade towards the mysterious kikaiju.

KTS: Sayaka Yumi targets Cascade Vermilion with Mazinger Blade: Areia Combo!
KTS: Sayaka Yumi has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Leina Ashta
KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Attune Spirit Command targeting Roux Louka
KTS: Cascade Vermilion's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion fails to Parry Sayaka Yumi's Mazinger Blade: Areia Combo, taking 4800 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 56812
KTS: Sayaka Yumi has engaged Cascade Vermilion!

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

Other people are coming... "Oh, it's Leina, I think," Roux muses. "We could invite them back but I don't know if that's her Base Jabber she's using. She might have to circle it back." She doesn't signal them 'hi it's me' beyond an IFF flick-flick and an upraised hand to wave with --

But as for someone else...

Roux grimaces. "It's that weird singer from the colony!" she complains, privately-ish to Sayaka and LiSA. "Oh my GOD is she singing about -- she is." Roux palms her face for a moment.

"God's sake," Roux says despite the irony, "why are people constantly harping on this! It's not like they give a crap about Jesus any more than they gave a crap about Zeon zum Deikum or Marx or Strugatsky! UGH!" She bangs on the console for a moment, before -- 'Mazin!'

They're being called out. "It's not a gift for you personally! Whatever they're digging out here, it belongs in a -"

The eyes are glowing.

"Museum," Roux says but her body is already leaning forwards with a firm grasp on the control cyclics for the Ichinana, the machine taking one step forward and bringing up the slightly battered AEUG-era beam rifle Roux had bucked out and left at the Labs for purposes of assessment reports.

SHRANKKKKK! The ray hits a glancing but long blow, a dark heated streak along the belly and right foreleg of the Ichinana before THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR - the ground quakes, subtly, because something weighing like fifty tons just belly flopped, but somehow Roux knew it wouldn't cause significant damage. "Yeah," Roux answers Sayaka, a little grimly. "She was."

"Let's see how well you hold up against this," Roux continues from this prone position, raising up the beam rifle and orienting it upwards slightly before proceeding to shoot a streaking superheated charge of megaparticles directly at the living image of a secular Christmas, the low proximity to the sere steppe soil muffling some of the usual shriek.

"Banagher! Leina! Be wary of that singer, I have no idea what she'll do!" Roux continues onwards while the Ichinana heaves upwards, moving ahead. Speaking as if Asciel is NOT EVEN THERE how rude. The struggle is real.

KTS: Roux Louka targets Cascade Vermilion with Roux Seven Beam Rifle Shot!
KTS: Roux Louka has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion fails to Evade Roux Louka's Roux Seven Beam Rifle Shot, taking 3150 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 53662

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

Asciel's song causes Leina to turn the footage off, and turn the radio up. Does she sound familiar?

"<Coming up on the Kikaiju, Banagher...>" Then she hears him humming, "<...well 'tis the season, and I admit it is pretty catchy...>"

The new IFF Signals draw her attention though and as she recognizes the Aphrodite Areia. She's about to try to obfuscate things when Sayaka just calls out who she is...!!!

And Leina just awkwardly answers, "<Heyyy Sayaka. Um - Merry Christmas? It's- long story but it's a pretty new development.>" A beat, "<Is that Shiro there with you? ... Shiro help me explain this once we have this handled.>"

Pause.

"<Roux!? Uhhhh - wow that's right you did head to Fujinomiya for the holidays...>"

Then the Kikaiju shouts, and Leina's cockpit automatically zooms in on the strange figure...

"It's talking?"

The wave of force goes out, drawing her gaze, right before the warning of a newtype flash bolts across her senses.

While she tries to steer out of the way, the Kikaiju's eye beams rake across the outer armor of the Double Zeta's younger sibling, burning gouges across its armor she can only barely twist away before it sears all the way through.

With an activation of thrusters, it takes off as the Base Jabber flies away on auto pilot, the boosters utterly expired.

Roux points the singer out however, and Leina finally catches that it's the Codarl from Denver, "<Wait - it's really you? You didn't follow us back from Denver did you!?>"

Despite the alarm it causes her, she has to prioritize at the moment, and the Codarl appears non hostile, all the same she sends a transmission to the Unicorn, "<Banagher - Roux's right, keep an eye on that Arm Slave just in case. It gave us a hard time just before I got back>"

She then switches back to a general channel, "<Sayaka - Banagher and I have got your back - let's show Ashura or Brocken or whoever sent this thing that just because we're a little short handed that we won't be pushed around.>"

The Double Zeta flies off at the flanks of the Aphrodite and the Ichinana, following their lead, before pivoting suddenly as an Arm mounted rifle unfolds and fires off a sudden shot without even targeting it to try and catch it while it's pinned down.

KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Sayaka Yumi
KTS: Leina Ashta targets Cascade Vermilion with MP ZZ Single-Barrel Beam Rifle Snap Shot!
KTS: Leina Ashta has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion successfully Evades Leina Ashta's MP ZZ Single-Barrel Beam Rifle Snap Shot

<Pose Tracker> Asciel Colette has posed.

        <"Tsk, no idea what I'll do, you say, even after I make a habit of pouring my heart out with every little action and statement I make!"> Asciel teases, lips pursing in a pout at Roux - midway through twisting herself around mid-air to avoid a burst of light from the Kikaiju's eyes. <"You should probably count on your dearest big sister Atrytone to appear in a flash whenever the wheels of destiny turn - and seldom events are more fateful than the advent of a false Santa Claus on the holiday venerating him! Or perhaps even more exciting - if it's the real one after all, and we're about to uncover his true nature via force of will alone!">

        <"...oh, and just so you know: it's a little rude of you to suggest I should abandon this very flexible and capable frame to somehow 'truly' see the world. I've thought a lot about what you told me, you know...the whole purpose of the humanoid mobile weapon is to expand one's agency beyond mortal limits, you know!~">

        Just as a little treat to herself, Asciel gets her willpower revving, the Codarl's hair starting to glow and rise in temperature...and, planting two fingers to her lips, she finger-guns a kiss at the Kikaiju - a pose that, unfairly, actually does launch a little pinprick of light to start bursting into power at the 'sleigh'. She does, of course, privately line in to Cascade-

        -<"Don't mind me too much, I'm just securing some personal training data. I won't go tooooo all out on you, and I'll try to find you a good moment to break through these defenders and secure your prize. Really, I just wanted a look at it~">-

        Finally, after all that, Asciel finally lands upon the ground once again, the Codarl's heat sinks melting the snow around it, provoking a mimed little wiping of sweat from her forehead. Loudly, she proclaims, at the sight of the Unicorn: <"Even more fateful a reunion!~ Will the light of possibility be a north star guiding us into a new year of prosperity...nnn, I'd rather it didn't burn so hotly for everyone's sake, but I suppose there's no stopping your drive to hope! Two Gundams blazing so brightly in this cold night sky, alongside the incarnation of Aphrodite herself...I have to do oh so much to keep up, don't I?~">

KTS: Asciel Colette targets Cascade Vermilion with Lambda Driver Pinpoint!
KTS: Asciel Colette has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion blocks Asciel Colette's Lambda Driver Pinpoint, taking 2340 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 51322

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

"What the hell..." Banagher mutters, zooming in on the Santa Claus styled figure before him. For a wild moment, Banagher wonders if this is some kind of prank Judau is pulling as revenge for all that Banagher's put him through this year.

Someone is waving at them. Banagher guides the Unicorn to wave back, as Haro continues singing with Asciel. Leina greets Sayaka and -- Roux! Chiming in with a <"Merry Christmas!">, he mostly stays quiet. Leina knows these people way more than he does.

Staying close to the younger ZZ, the Unicorn pulls out her beam magnum. <"Leina,"> Banagher radios to his girlfriend. <"Are we okay to shoot this thing? I -- look out!">

That answers that. Hostile intent clearly emanates from the... thing down there a second before yellow-red beams scorch through the air. In an effort to dodge, Banagher prioritizes the integrity of the Base Jabber over the Unicorn -- she can take way more hits. He still grits his teeth as the attack hits home.

"Sorry." Banagher murmurs to his Gundam. "I won't be so clumsy again. Alright, this weirdo asked for it!"

Magenta energy coalesces around the beam magnum's muzzle. Banagher takes aim as the shot charges -- aiming for the ground around the creature.

Roux's warning comes through, and Banagher replies with a, <"Wait, I know her, that pilot with the Arm Slave! We fought once."> The Unicorn turns toward Asciel. Can they trust her? They fought before, but Asciel chose not to kill him when he had the chance. <"...I think we can rely on her for this battle. Just not -- past that."> And if she fought Leina... A flash of anger echoes from the Unicorn.

"<Hey, arm slave pilot!>" Banagher radios to Asciel, trying to make his voice as friendly as possible. "<I'm counting on you! Don't let me down!>" Asciel can probably hear Haro's singing in the background.

With that, the Beam Magnum is ready. His Base Jabber should have just enough left to keep him in the air for a few shots -- hopefully, that'll be enough. Radiant magenta power tears the air, racing toward the kikaiju. The ground around it is obliterated, sending debris into the air and forcing it away from its target, if all goes right.

KTS: Banagher Links targets Cascade Vermilion with Ground Detonation!
KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion charges into the attack!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion partially guards Banagher Links's Ground Detonation, taking 1830 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 49492

<Pose Tracker> Cascade Vermilion has posed.

The robot just stands there, cloak in place. Until someone shoots at her, anyway.

Then she practically throws herself to one side, moving with a grace that something its size (25 meters or so; bigger than a mobile suit or the Ichinana, but not enormously so) doesn't normally have. She manages to completely avoid Leina's blast, which takes out a big chunk of empty dirt as she moves aside, but Roux's still catches her, burning a hole through the cloak and revealing a flash of red underneath as it impacts the armour.

She's still moving when Banagher's blast comes in, and that saves her. Several of the chunks of rocks are propelled away from the robot, or do not fly straight at it in the way that he might expect - but 'several' does not mean 'all', and it causes her to drop to the shattered ground for a moment, rebalancing herself. She hasn't entirely abandoned retrieving the package, but it isn't approaching her and her sack, for the moment.

While she's stilled, Asciel fires something. It looks like a kiss, a pinprick of light, and it strikes with strange force - but it strikes some kind of effect around the kikaiju (?), a twisting of space that distorts the incoming light and bends it slightly out of focus. She elects to not immediately respond to the message, though she's definitely received it. Perhaps that is an acceptance?

And finally Sayaka comes in, wielding her sword. she's ready - and the cloak finally opens, a smooth movement familiar to anyone who's seen a Gamia fight before. And she *catches the sword*.

It doesn't work perfectly. There's an instant where Sayaka feels like something is pushing against the sword before it's grabbed, and even when the robot catches it, it carves deeply into the hand. Whatever it's made of isn't Super Alloy Z, at least. But she does stop the sword from hitting her head.

Beneath the cloak, the robot - Androktasia X2 - is a red and black design. Deep red along the limbs, black at the chest and across the hips and between the legs. It uses copper as an accent several times, as trim to define the edges of its gauntlet or boot. The whole robot has a feminine build - and it does have a face, a strangely human-shaded one, as Venus A does.

"I am Gamia NX-2," Gamia says, "and my Androktasia X2 cannot be stopped by someone like you! This gift is for Baron Ashura alone! It is the 'spirit of Christmas'!" Releasing the blade, Gamia gives Sayaka a quick shove - and then performs a spinning kick that hits with far more impact than it should, as if something was amplifying the mass of Androktasia's boot.

Touching back down, Gamia spreads Androktasia's arms and then snaps them forward. The two halves of the Jeep she carved in half when she landed are launched upward with a ripple and a detectable gravitational surge as Mycenae equipment inside the Androktasia, compressing inward into javelin-like shapes as they fly.

Taking a running start, Gamia unwinds the whip, leaping into the air to literally try to grab Banagher out of the air - wrap it around him, drag him down, and literally throw him in the general direction of Asciel. She doesn't entirely expect him to get there so she follows it up with a flying kick, simply landing next to the Arm Slave and punting it. It's small. She's big. It seemed efficient to her.

KTS: Cascade Vermilion has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Sayaka Yumi with Mass Hammer!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Roux Louka with Shard Lancer!
Can't find target.

KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Banagher Links with Satan Glaus P10 Whip Lash!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Asciel Colette with Androkhastia CQC!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Leina Ashta with Shard Lancer!
KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 270.
KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 120.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion enervates Leina Ashta, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Leina Ashta blocks Cascade Vermilion's Shard Lancer, taking 6600 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Eye activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Knife activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Asciel Colette's Unwavering Assurance activates, and her spirit endures.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion enervates Asciel Colette, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Asciel Colette partially guards Cascade Vermilion's Androkhastia CQC, taking 4560 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Eye activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Knife activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has engaged Asciel Colette!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion enervates Roux Louka, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Roux Louka partially guards Cascade Vermilion's Shard Lancer, taking 6600 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Eye activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Knife activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Banagher Links rushes into the attack!
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Banagher Links's Determination activates, and his spirit endures.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion enervates Banagher Links, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion rattles Banagher Links, making his next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Banagher Links partially guards Cascade Vermilion's Satan Glaus P10 Whip Lash, taking 5400 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Eye activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Knife activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has engaged Banagher Links!
KTS: Sayaka Yumi's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Sayaka Yumi's Symbol of Peace and War activates, and her spirit is adjusted.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion enervates Sayaka Yumi, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi blocks Cascade Vermilion's Mass Hammer, taking 5160 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Eye activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Knife activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has engaged Sayaka Yumi!
KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Leina Ashta targets Banagher Links, Sayaka Yumi, and Roux Louka with Awe.
KTS: Leina Ashta has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Leina Ashta inspires awe, increasing Roux Louka's Morale!
KTS: Leina Ashta inspires awe, increasing Banagher Links's Morale!
KTS: Leina Ashta inspires awe, increasing Sayaka Yumi's Morale!

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"Weird singer...? Can't say I've heard of her." Sayaka replies to Roux. "I think her voice is really cute!" LiSA interjects. God help us all if LiSA starts singing Christmas Carols too...

"Merry Christmas, Leina. Don't worry - I won't question you for the time being." Sayaka beams back. Geez, not the best Christmas date night for her and Banagher, though. "The Federation were nice enough for once to give Shiro the day off for Christmas, so I didn't call him in." Sayaka explains about Shiro. Even if she's just sure this would be right up his alley. The kikaiju continues stirring. "We'll have to talk later!"

Roux, Leina and Banagher all seem to have their concerns about the singer, and Sayaka ultimately trusts them. Even if she did seem nice enough, complimenting Areia. "Despite your reservations, at least she's on our side right now. Best to focus on showing this kikaiju - and whoever's controlling it - what Mazin Power can do!" She agrees with Leina's point - to keep an eye but avoid hostilities.

The Mazin Blade perfectly connects but unexpectedly, the blade is caught, held in place despite stabbing through the hand. "You're--"

The robot piloting Satan Glaus unveils herself. First the corrupt Count Brocken, it's no shock that the wretched Baron Ashura would make their own return, along with their beloved daughters. Understandably, LiSA looks visibly distraught, her analysis put uncharacteristically on hold for a few moments. "S-She's- like me?" LiSA concludes after analyzing the contents of the machine. A machine that's more accurate to call a living person.

"One of Baron Ashura's daughters. Unlike you, she's chosen the path of a devil but..." Sayaka hesitates, before realizing she has to make this known to the other pilots.. "Attention! The pilot is Baron Ashura's daughter, Gamia. Capture if you must, but do not put the pilot to harm!" Sayaka broadcasts across the comms. After all, Baron Ashura would haunt them to the end of the Earth if they hurt their daughter. And neither would the Photon Labs like for this to turn out as it did the first time.

"Christmas is about family, you're right." Sayaka replies to Gamia. She can't actually tell her that Baron Ashura are terribly manipulative parents, but... "It's also about peace. That's why this symbol of peace and war will stop you!"

Even before the Mazinger Blade is freed, Sayaka already plans an attack, putting the Areia Missile system at full throttle. It's a bit of an embarrassing way to store missiles, but at least it's efficient? "Areia Missiles GO!" Sayaka fires, subsequently catching the blade with grace.

KTS: Sayaka Yumi targets Cascade Vermilion with Areia Missile Barrage!
KTS: Sayaka Yumi has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion retreats from the attack!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion fails to evade Sayaka Yumi's Areia Missile Barrage, taking 4500 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 44992

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

"I did! I'll be back for New Years, don't worry," Roux answers Leina with a seasoning of crab that is one hundred and ten percent Asciel induced. Why does this bother her? Why is she here? Is she eager to have her soul weighed down by gravity!?

Yup, Roux thinks grimly, she heard me.

"People aren't always at their best at any given moment, Atrytone!" Roux answers, with somewhat less sass and griping. "If you're backing us up, though, then..."

What in the actual hell is she doing, Roux thinks. Some kind of thermal manipulation weapon? Well that's - Roux's eyes flick towards the activation button for Breast Fire, and doesn't finish the thought internally. "... Thank you," Roux concludes, breathing out with some effort.

The Beam Rifle is brought around then as Sayaka swings the sword and -- it gets caught. It's tensing - and that cloaked machine... is...

Huh, Roux thinks as the outline of the machine bumps against several recently developed neurons, but the thought passes ahead as Roux raises her voice, "The spirit of Christmas isn't some junky old kikaiju, idiot!" She shoves Sayaka's machine away and then it becomes a deeper question of a roundhouse kick, and Roux adds a shrill, "Sayaka!!" even as

Kick!

The shard of hypercompressed jeep hits the Beam Rifle. Roux stares for a moment as she gets visual registration of the rupture of the e-cap -- or at least some kind of sensory impression -- and then hurls it away.

THOOM!

SO MUCH FOR THAT BEAM RIFLE. The rupture was still close enough to stagger the Ichinana, Roux hissing through her teeth as she segues into cursing to herself because that thing was her bread and butter and she's going to have to do this 'Shangrila Style' at this point.

"Leina, do you know Greek? Does Androktsasia mean anything, like, menacing?" Roux huffs as she turns her attention back to a previously foreshadowed button. The Ichinana staggers -- Leina (and perhaps others - LISA is a good candidate) can tell that while the damage is substantial, Roux is shamming, because trickery and deceit form a significant part of her approach to battle.

The Ichinana reels at nothing in particular - about to pitch over, one arm coming upwards *and wrapping around the hilt of the blade affixed to its back* as Roux's eyes cut back towards the Androktsasia. Her teeth bite the flesh of her lower lip because gravity is in fact a real thing here and it has a different taste to it than inside of a colony BUT

Time to commit. "Oh nnnnNNOOOOOOO," Roux says with fake sweetness before slamming her hip and her entire body in the other direction, the cockpit tilting hard enough for her to make an involuntary whoop of enthusiasm as the Mazinger Blade unlocks, swings upwards, and descends as Roux gets a second hand on the hilt in the way. A massive chop aimed at the back arc of the enemy machine!

"They had a daughter??" Roux exclaims. "Daughters??"

KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Roux Louka targets Cascade Vermilion with Mazinger Blade Topple Strike!
KTS: Roux Louka has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Roux Louka rattles Cascade Vermilion, making her next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion parries Roux Louka's Mazinger Blade Topple Strike, taking 1260 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 43732
KTS: Roux Louka has engaged Cascade Vermilion!

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

They will have to talk later, but that still doesn't stop her surprise over one aspect of that reveal, "<... Wow I'm not sure whether I'm more surprised that they gave him a night off or that he took it. Don't blame you for not calling him in.>" Though she does tell Roux, "<I'll have some Christmas leftovers waiting for you! Gonna be pretty indisposed that night, but let's meet up the day after!>"

It's definitely not the best kind of date night for either of them... though wait Banagher's fought Atrytone before? Well, her own words seem to confirm that...

"<'Big Sister Atrytone'. Really? I don't recall inviting you into my extended family.>" The hostility fades however as Banagher says he's counting on her and she hears the Haro singing, and she takes a deep breath, "<... It's Christmas. A time of new beginnings... just don't let him down.>"

Sure she's keeping one eye on the Codarl and its mystery pilot but...

... she's having to keep her eye on the Kikaiju, as she reveals herself to be, "<Gamia!? You mean like Ashura's->" Leina visibly pales, Shiro told her about these and...

... suddenly her confidence leaves her a little. Sayaka calls out for their capture, and what was a strange Kikaiju a few moments before now has personhood.

As those pointed projectiles lance towards the Double Zeta, and she tries to bring out its wing flap like shield to block it.

What happens instead is several of them pierce deeply into the armor. With alarms blaring it's harder than ever to calm those nerves, but she tries to force herself before she reaches out...

We understand now what we face. Stay calm. Focus. We can only manage this together.

Roux and Banagher perhaps feel it most keenly... but so too does Sayaka, in a more subdued way, this sensation that seems to not so much bind them together, but calls attention to a solidarity that's already shared between them.

It may not be enough, but - it has to be. "<We're all going home tonight.>" ... she can't allow herself to envision a future that isn't that.

For now, her Gundam focuses on falling back some, trying to keep its distance, because... she understands what a bad position she's suddenly in right now, and it's taking her a moment to get her head in the right space to start attacking the Android again.

"<Gamia - is this really the gift you want to give someone you care about for the holidays? How is something like this from the heart?>" She says, in light admonishment, before answering Roux, "<Sorry my Greek is pretty much non-existent but from what I remember - they're sorta these minor gods of crimes... I think?>"

<Pose Tracker> Asciel Colette has posed.

        Asciel hears a most wonderful sound in the back of what Banagher sends over to her. <"...say, that's the sound of a Haro singing along! How amazingly lively and inspiring! I wouldn't mind in the slightest if you put them on speaker to air their song to the whole wide world~"> If even a Haro can understand the power of music...it's clearly a sign of blessing and good fortune!

        Of course, first, she has to avoid the collision, bulwarking herself in barriers to try and brake the impact between herself and Banagher when the Gundam's hurled her way. Leaning over to give a merry little wink right into the Unicorn's face, Asciel tries grabbing the Androktasia's leg as it hurtles her way - but eats the brunt of the impact full on, crashing and making a gouge in the snow in her wake.

        <"Ouchie ouchie...! I suppose I can hardly make the claim of being a reliable shoulder for you all to rest upon when I'm getting my bottom handed to me!~ Don't worry too much about the idea of family when I say 'sister', thoooough!">

        Asciel does take the liberty to form a little heart shape with her hands at the praise from Sayaka's companion...she can surmise as much that the one in the Aphrodite is indeed the well known Sayaka Yumi - it matches voices from public appearances in her records too...but a partner? Not familiar at all. <"It looks like I've got a surprise fan out here, for once! I'll accept that as my present for the holiday, so for the rest, I'll just have to give back to you all! Let's see, where was I-?">

        With a limber leap upwards, the Codarl backflips onto its feet once more - only to immediately dash forwards, a wire-attached beam rifle unspooling from her back and latching onto one arm. <"Oh, I won't ask for much this Christmas, I won't even wish for snow~"> A few shots fired at Cascade's false Kikaiju from a less than advantageous advance . . . but bafflingly, the rifle's suddenly hurled skywards, the wire reel whirring-!

        <"I'm just gonna keep on waiting...underneath...the mistletoe!~>" ...And heralding that little cue, the laser rifle activates a few little verniers way up high, twisting down to aim at the Androktasia, firing a birst downwards before Asciel reels it back in!

KTS: Asciel Colette targets Cascade Vermilion with WG-1-KARASAWA Instantaneous Shot!
KTS: Asciel Colette has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion fails to react to Asciel Colette's WG-1-KARASAWA Instantaneous Shot, taking 4140 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 39592

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

Another flash of malicious intent echoes from Gamia, giving Banagher just a moment to position himself. The whip extends and wraps around the Unicorn, pulling her from her Base Jabber. Banagher closes his eyes.

Scarlet light shines out, adding an oddly festive glow to the battlefield. The Unicorn transforms as she falls, Psychoframe exposed in degrees the closer she gets to the ground. Landing on one knee, the Gundam raises her head, and her single horn splits into two.

"<Leina, we're not doing too great--"> Banagher calls, voice strained. That whip did a lot of damage. "<Please try and stay back. Get out here if it looks too risky, we'll be right behind you.>"

Twin sabers are pulled from the Unicorn's back, and two more ignite on her arms. If they're going down, they're at least going to tear this thing up as much as possible. Pressure rolls forth from the Gundam, and Banagher has to stop himself from snarling, his anger and fear echoing back in on him again and again as he prepares himself.

Haro isn't singing anymore.

Sayaka's message isn't heard, Banagher's hearing overcome by the sound of his own heartbeat. Thankfully, he's not likely to try and harm a pilot, even on his worst days. However... Leina's voice touches Banagher's heart, easily, cutting through the anger surrounding him like it was nothing but air.

The Unicorn is already in motion, bearing down on Gamia. Freed from her pilot's anger, she adjusts the angle of her attack -- swinging for the enemy's arms and legs more truly, definitively away from anything that could prove fatal.

"<We're going to be okay.>" Banagher sends back to Leina, as scarlet radiance melds with the flickering strength of his four beam sabers. "<We'll keep each other safe!>"

Banagher doesn't have any words for Gamia. He doesn't know her, or her circumstance. All she is to him is a threat.

KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
Banagher Links transforms to RX-0 Unicorn Gundam <Destroy Mode>

KTS: Banagher Links targets Cascade Vermilion with Four-Saber Combo!
KTS: Banagher Links has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion partially guards Banagher Links's Four-Saber Combo, taking 2250 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 37342
KTS: Banagher Links has engaged Cascade Vermilion!

<Pose Tracker> Cascade Vermilion has posed.

...?

Gamia absorbs the information given to her, but files it away. She has a role to play right now, and the role does not involve thinking about what Sayaka tells her about peace, or about what Leina tells her about gifts. She can think about that on her own time, in the moments when she does not have to be Cascade Vermilion or Gamia NX-2, even in her own mind.

Those moments are few and far between. It doesn't occur to Gamia that this is a problem.

"If your 'peace' can stop me, show me!" is what she actually says, her eyes blazing - and Androktasia's eyes more literally blazing, burning red-yellow. They don't fire another beam, thankfully, but that may be because Sayaka is firing missiles at her; Gamia makes a tremendous leap backwards, landing on top of the prefab garage, almost skittering as it scrambles backward.

With her whip still in hand, Gamia lashes out as Roux approaches. She can't entirely stop the blade but she can tangle Roux's arm with the length of it, tug it sharply to the side; Roux feels like her Ichinana got roughly shoved *from* the side even though Androktasia is not in that direction compared to the Ichinana, and it makes the slash much lighter than it otherwise should be. It does a good job of shredding one side of that red cloak, though - and the closeness gives Gamia an opportunity to discharge an electric shock through the weapon! That doesn't come standard.

"Yes... I am Baron Ashura's daughter. And that is all you need to know!" She cannot feel Leina (and Leina has some trouble feeling her, closed-off as she is - she feels strange, possibly because she's an AI or equally possibly because she's playing a role, rather than letting her true feelings out). She's there, she's a person, but she doesn't feel the same as the other people around her. Not even the same as LiSA.

It is unclear if she's detected LiSA at all. Though Androktasia keeps one eye on Aphrodite, all the time...

Asciel fires, then throws her rifle up, firing again. Androktasia takes to the air as Gamia attempts to evade it, leaping - and this time it does not come down as quickly as it should, as if gravity touched it only lightly. It makes a long, drifting bound toward Asciel's robot, lash reaching out again to smack her along.

It's impossible, though, to ignore Unicorn. Her eyes widen as the colours of Unicorn shift, the horn splitting. She may have just taken a scan as the pressure, largely unfelt, washes over her. Banagher comes in with swords, and Gamia is waiting.

She has the lash in hand, but she doesn't use it. The air in front of her stiffens and thickens, the beams of the blades warping as they pass through them. It's not enough to shut them off, or damage them, but it does mean the energy is less focused when it strikes; they don't cut so much as burn, and not as much as it seems like they should.

Gamia lets out a grunt of effort, and a spike of gravity so condensed it's visible as a purple-black aura surrounding a patch of space that ripples like a heat haze blasts out from the free hand of Androktasia towards Unicorn! She apparently only has one of those, because she leaps up afterwards, firing a much smaller and less intense blast from the palm at Leina to smash her ZZ to the ground.

After that, gravity shifts again, and Androktasia dives, improbably fast and hard, directly at Aphrodite Areia. Its foot-first landing is sufficient to embed the Androktasia up to the knee in soft dirt, or put a foot directly through most robots through the armour; she doesn't expect as solid a reaction against a Mazin, but she can hope.

Also, the crate is sliding towards her again - actually, towards the sleigh. It looks like it's being roughly shoved by another one of those purple hazes.

KTS: Cascade Vermilion has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Asciel Colette with Satan Glaus P10 Whip Lash!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Roux Louka with Satan Glaus P10 Whip Sting!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Banagher Links with Gravity Spike!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Leina Ashta with Pulsar Palm!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion targets Sayaka Yumi with Meteor Dive!
KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 253.
KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 110.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Asciel Colette's Unwavering Assurance activates, and her spirit endures.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion enervates Asciel Colette, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion rattles Asciel Colette, making her next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Asciel Colette partially guards Cascade Vermilion's Satan Glaus P10 Whip Lash, taking 5400 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Eye activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Knife activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has engaged Asciel Colette!
KTS: Leina Ashta has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Banagher Links has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Roux Louka blocks Cascade Vermilion's Satan Glaus P10 Whip Sting, taking 5394 damage!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has engaged Roux Louka!
KTS: Banagher Links retreats from the attack!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion enervates Banagher Links, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Banagher Links fails to evade Cascade Vermilion's Gravity Spike, taking 6960 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Eye activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Knife activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Banagher Links has been defeated!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion enervates Leina Ashta, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Leina Ashta blocks Cascade Vermilion's Pulsar Palm, taking 5760 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Eye activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Knife activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Leina Ashta has been defeated!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion repulses Leina Ashta, forcing her to disengage.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi's EN Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion enervates Sayaka Yumi, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi fails to Parry Cascade Vermilion's Meteor Dive, taking 5830 damage!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Eye activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Cascade Vermilion's Assassin's Knife activates, causing Deject!
KTS: Cascade Vermilion has engaged Sayaka Yumi!
KTS: Asciel Colette has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Sayaka Yumi
KTS: Asciel Colette has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Sayaka Yumi

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"They did.. I can't say I'm happy with how it ended, but then again, I was never expecting them to come back, either." Sayaka beams back to Roux. But perhaps that's an opportunity for it to turn out differently?

"The singer seems pleased by LiSA's praise, and although she's not currently in a state to respond, Sayaka opens a communication in return. "My assistant is endlessly curious, and loves music. It's her charm point. Although.. I have to wonder your motivations for helping in this battle." Goodwill towards the Photon Labs and hatred of mechanical monsters? She's not sure, from her friends' distrust of her.

And suddenly, a strange sensation... a message from Leina. She is no newtype, but she can still faintly hear it. "Right.. we'll make it through, together." She communicates back out loud. And she turns to LiSA, still struggling. "You understand what we're facing more than anyone, right? So you should also see possibilities within her." LiSA opens her eyes. "Possibilities... yes. Endless possibilities. Okay!"

Sayaka refocuses on the missile interface - "If we're going to win, or at least make it out unscatched, we'll need all the firepower we have. Can I trust you with that?" LiSA stirs for a moment. "Directing Photon Power into Areia Missile System - ready to fire!"

"FIRE!" Sayaka shouts, as giant missiles of light detach from Aphrodite Areia, straight into the kaiju's metal body.

"That's our choice to cover for our allies." Aphrodite jumps back, emitting a photon barrier in front of Leina and Banagher, giving them ample time to escape.

KTS: Sayaka Yumi has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Sayaka Yumi targets Cascade Vermilion with Areia Giganto Missile!
KTS: Sayaka Yumi has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

"Mm," Roux answers Sayaka at this information. "Well, your parents don't make you wicked..." She doesn't seem 100% certain of this, perhaps due to the combination of 'Baron Ashura being the parent/s? in question' and 'what is happening right now.

"Don't plan ahead too hard--" Roux answers Leina while everything's winding up - but that's in the past.

"You knew?" Roux asks Leina, because this seems to be *bothering* her, for some reason.

But these concerns are eroding. There is an enormous concern lurking ahead of them. Because this woman - Gamia NX-2? - is here, challenging their idea of 'peace'. She can feel Leina's vibrations, and hear the words of their collective big sister (self-appointed). Rou heaves her swor upwards and sucks in breath through her teeth before --

What in the hell is she doing?? Roux thinks, dimly remembering secondhand videos of one of those Angel things, but it's not quite that. She can feel her inner ear tugging towards OH MY GOD, Roux thinks, is it gravity?? The Ichinana raises one leg to take a step forwards--

CRACK! Something ruptures; crackling electricity, spraying hydraulic fluid that seeps out from the gaps in the joint as it slams onto the leg, swiftly immobilizing and screaming technical warnings into the cockpit. Roux draws the Ichinana upwards in haste because otherwise it will topple but -- SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, Roux thinks, which is probably clear as day to Leina, and may be dispiriting in its own right.

Because now, Roux thinks, I'm not going anywhere without a tow.

But there's a feeling in the air for her. A Yuletide tension. A feeling of the world drawing back and moving forwards at the same time. A dolly-zoom of the soul. Huh, thinks Roux: Is this...

... is this the Ichinana? she thinks a moment further...

She isn't able to get much of a 'feel' from the Androktsasis. It's moving too fast, and its pilot is likely well disciplined, whatever or whoever she might be. Space is rippling towards -- ah, Roux thinks as she sees the enemy unit orienting itself towards the surging, luminous Unicorn and the less-luminous but stout MP-Double Zeta behind it. That must be it.

"I guess he isn't here right now," Roux says irrelevantly as her eyes track the motions. The Ichinana raises its arms upwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQBKNFQlPz4

"... but that doesn't mean we don't have the same problems..."

The Ichinana pivots a little, facing towards a spot of empty air but it's not going to be empty at all. Roux reaches over for the control as she says to herself, "Breast..."

For the future, Roux thinks: For holiday traditions even if I don't get 'em: even if it doesn't work, get you to screw off, one way or another. Banagher - Leina - sorry I wasn't faster, but...

Androktasia descends. As it enters her field of vision, the two eyes she was born with, Roux's hand moves and *somehow* even if she didn't quite plan it, she cries out:

"FIIIIIIIIIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

as her hand presses the trigger AND:

SURGE! The red plates on the front of the Ichinana glow first red, then orange, then briefly in a violet phase before reaching shrieking white hot intensity, a howling burst of immense thermal energy pouring outwards towards the Androktasis! Enough heat energy that much of it phases to light; an early sunrise in the Mongolian steppe!

"Get lost! Scram!" Roux shouts over the furnace-roar echo. "If you want this thing so badly, go build your own!" (Can you? Roux isn't fact-checking herself too hard right now.)

KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Roux Louka targets Cascade Vermilion with Burning Fire!
KTS: Roux Louka has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion fails to react to Sayaka Yumi's Areia Giganto Missile, taking 4950 damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 32392
KTS: Cascade Vermilion successfully avoids Roux Louka's Burning Fire

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

The shipper brain in Leina can't help but wonder who the pilot of the Codarl wants to kiss for Christmas, but she doesn't actually ask that out loud. Besides she's likely just being playfully flirtatious given her personality.

She does mark at least that she's a music lover and a Haro lover though? Points in her favor despite it all.

Banagher tells her to back off, tells her that they're going to be okay, that they'll keep each other safe, "<... Alright - but once I get to max firing range you're following me - alright Banagher? No heroics.>"

And she means it, if Banagher wouldn't leave - then she won't either.

Leina has difficulty feeling Androids and Super AI on her best days, she doesn't assume that just because she has trouble sensing someone that they are one - but now that she knows she's a Gamia, it makes perfect sense WHY.

She'd argue that knowing she's Baron Ashura's daughter is the LEAST important fact about her - but the assault that follows is brutal and swift enough that she can put no argument forward.

Despite her backing off, she sees the palm blast coming her way, and while she puts up that flap like shield to intercept again, the sheer force of it sends the Double Zeta's little sibling crashing to the ground.

And she has Roux's 'SHIT, SHIT, SHIT' in her head all the way down.

There's a crunch, and within the cockpit Leina's head strikes a translucent airbag that erupts, before the back of the pilot seat. the situation is grave, and not just for her.

"<... We're pulling out, Banagher, I'm calling your Jabber back to you. Take Sayaka's cover and retreat. ... Sayaka, LiSA, Roux... we'll be waiting for you...>"

Her own Base Jabber circles back, moving at a low altitude. With a short burst of its damaged thrusters, the MP ZZ lands upon it with an unsteady wobble as the platform seeks to level back off and take her at least out to a safer range.

<Pose Tracker> Asciel Colette has posed.

        All Asciel can truly see of the NT-D is its light. The way the Unicorn surges with power is but a walled off mystery to her - and if anyone's words would utterly fail to reach Banagher in this state, it'd be hers.

        "<I'm a very simple guardian, Miss Yumi- ah! Do forgive me blurting that out without letting you properly introduce yourself, I just assumed it was fairly obvious! You see...>" Asciel raises one hand towards the moonlight. "<I'm a very passionate defender of this world, and think little good can come from awakening relics which were buried deep in its surface. Truth be told, I had my eye on the dig site pondering interfering with their affairs to drive them off, but it appears I wasn't the only one observing! ...Mm, and it looks like I had a previously sore encounter with your three friends, though from my perspective they were very exciting and interesting ways to meet them! They're right to be wary - I was engaged in quite pitched combat with all three, but in one of those circumstantial ways of conflict the world throws at us so often~>" Quite the chattery one, Sayaka quickly gleans-!

        Of course, the rampage Cascade is unleashing upon those who leapt in to stop the sudden Kikaiju thoroughly impresses Asciel - and the fact that the others are coordinating a retreat suits her perfectly fine. She pipes in: -<Ohohoh! Well done, 'Mr. Plutonium' never fails to provide interesting results. I'm very glad I came here - the passion you display in the heat of battle...even if I still kind of can't stand things like whips too easily, ahahahah~ It's impressive! If you need to break through the lines, now's the time~>-

        <"I'll help cover you all-! It's clear we're stuck on the back foot - even someone who refuses to give up like me knows when to fold them here. Do avoid a tragedy on this holiday! I'll hope for my song to resonate with each and every last one of you a later time. Farewell!~"> And instead of one last, big, dramatic burst - Asciel instead hurls out a thick, Minovsky particle-spreading 'chaff grenade' that essentially just mutually impairs sightlines and scanning - a smokescreen for Cascade just as much as it is for everyone else.

        Asciel herself disappears easily - though her voice carries on balefully upon the wind.

        <"All the lights are shining so brightly everywhere~">
        <"And the sound of children's laughter fills the air!~">

KTS: Asciel Colette targets Cascade Vermilion with Point Blank Minovsky Particle Chaff Release!
KTS: Asciel Colette has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage.
KTS: Asciel Colette rattles Cascade Vermilion, making her next maneuvers more difficult.
KTS: Cascade Vermilion fails to react to Asciel Colette's Point Blank Minovsky Particle Chaff Release, taking 500
damage!
KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 31892
KTS: Asciel Colette repulses Cascade Vermilion, forcing her to disengage.

<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.

Banagher yells with effort as his beam sabers are slowed by the air around Gamia. This should be a ferocious attack from the Unicorn, and it's turned aside far more than he's willing to accept. But before the Unicorn can strike again, her enemy weaponizes gravity itself, and sends the Gundam flying.

"<Leina!>" Banagher shouts in horror, watching the ZZ fall. Haro echoes him, calling, "Leina, Leina!"

Crashing to the ground, the Unicorn gets to her feet again -- but her strength has gone. Scarlet lit dims, then extinguishes, the machine folding into herself to disguise her Psychoframe once again. Banagher is stunned, half-aware after the Unicorn was sent flying. Two of the beam sabers have gone missing -- the other two are extinguished.

"Banagher! Banagher!" Haro calls, urgently.

"I'm -- awake." The young pilot manages, shaking his head.

Why are they okay? They went flying, clearly vulnerable. All Gamia had to do was shoot the cockpit and he would be finished. White armor is shattered, littering the ground. The Unicorn still has her shield, and Banagher raises it protectively, but -- oh. Sayaka has raised a barrier to protect him. When his eyes dart to Leina, Banagher sees she has one too, and breathes a sigh of relief.

"<Alright.>" Banagher replies to Leina, his voice rough. "<Thank you, Leina. Roux, everyone -- please be careful!>"

As Banagher's Base Jabber returns, the Unicorn manages to get aboard. More armor chips off, but she's steady, at least for the moment. Following after the MP ZZ, Banagher pulls Haro into his arms.

"We're okay, Haro." Banagher says, quietly. The little robot flaps its winglets against Banagher's normal suit. As Asciel's song reaches them, Haro seems to perk up. Once again, a little voice joins Asciel's in song. Banagher sighs and hugs Haro more tightly, glancing back as the Arm Slave disappears.

<Pose Tracker> Cascade Vermilion has posed.

The good news, such as it is, is that Gamia - despite the fact that Sayaka (and, honestly, probably other people, but Sayaka personally) knows perfectly well the *last* Gamia was an assassin - seems to have no interest whatsoever in striking at the downed units. She could make a pretty good attempt at killing Banagher or Leina before she gets away, but she doesn't even try.

Either she doesn't want to kill them, or she doesn't see the point - it's not like they were designated targets, and she has a different goal here tonight. Either way, the barrier before them goes untested.

Of course, maybe she's just busy with the incoming attacks. Sayaka charges up her missiles with energy, amplifying both their power and their size, and they come at Gamia so quickly that she can't do very much to disperse them. They pass through the barrier with a faint ripple but detonate on the inside, blowing back Androktasia - it tumbles, rolling until coming up to a kneeling position.

From the kneeling position, she leaps. It's an improbable jump, and one that really shows off how human-like the Androktasia's movements are. It's like Gamia has complete control over it - and indeed, in the cockpit, she is connected more directly than most pilots, moving it like her own body. The great beam passes underneath the Androktasia; part of it catches the cloak, and as Androktasia flips backwards it's wearing a robe of flame, trailing sparks and ash.

She lands on the sleigh, the flame scorching the sides and top of the mechanical sleigh but not catching the vehicle alight - it's too metal to catch fire easily. Androktasia spreads its arms wide, charging another shot -

But no. There is no shot. She pulls the crate, a stronger yank than before... which proves to be a mistake. The crate comes apart, not really meant for that kind of strain. An enormous dark-coloured shoulder guard and helmet, decorative inlay around the edges making it look significantly more fancy (no wonder they thought it was display armour) tumble across the shattered, scorched earth.

Androktasia leans well out from the sleigh and grabs the helmet, which rolls better. The shoulder guard is too far away for her to grab from where she is, and it's sliding only slowly across the crater it's landed in, so she doesn't even go for it; she shoves the helmet into the sack she came with just as Asciel's explosion of chaff, electromagnetic and physical and Minovsky all at once, goes off. It gives her a momentary headache, a twinge as the feedback from Androktasia's sensors really digs in.

But it also covers the sleigh lifting off. A moment later, and it is starting to move, the thrusters blazing with short flames and energetic sparks. "Mazin - and the rest of you! We will meet again," she calls, through the remnants of the chaff screening. "I'm sure of it. But for now..."

"...to all a good night!"

The thrusters blaze, and the sleigh practically leaps into the sky.

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"Doctor Yumi," Sayaka briefly corrects Asciel. If she can't have the opportunity to introduce herself first, she will take the opportunity to do it right. "I see. Let's hope our next encounter is a friendly one too." She really does mean that - even if she's understandably wary due to her friends' warnings.

Back in the heat of battle, once the giant photon missiles, coupled with the smokescreen and the threat of a blazing Breast Fire make their mark - Sayaka is expecting yet another relentless counterattack from what she assumes is a trained assassin, even after she expended most of her Photon Energy to protect her fallen allies.

The counterattack never comes, as Satan Glaus makes a dashing retreat - or perhaps breaks to hand out the yearly presents. But either way she promises they'll meet again. "I'm sure we will. But next time, you'll have Mazins plural to deal with, I'm sure of that." She retorts.

"Wooow, for her first sortie, Areia was really impressive! Although with photon generation on par with Mazinger Z.. imagine what else you could do with that." LiSA, despite her troubled reaction to Gamia's revelation seems her usual self. The reminder of endless possibilities was something Sayaka took from Koji, but nonetheless, she's glad it helped.

"Upping the output on the weapons perhaps," Sayaka replies, with a smile. "Something I can do freely now that I'm the director." Softly patting the android's head, her expression softens. "But that can wait. Once we check in on the others, we should have all of Christmas to ourselves."

Meeting Leina as a pilot was certainly unexpected, though. She can imagine what Shiro has to say about it, though. And will definitely make her plans to check in on how Leina is doing more interesting.

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

No one who loves Haro could be evil. Roux would believe that...

... but she didn't get a chance to know Haro during her own difficult journey.

The one most intact is the damn Atrytone - it figures, Roux thinks bitterly as her heat wave erupts outwards, the Minovsky chaff throwing familiar static, the kind of static you can get long-form recordings of to help you sleep - Banagher's alive, Leina's alive, good -

She's on the sleigh!

Roux shifts the Ichinana, brandishing the sword.

Just in case. She can't back it up. But will the Gamia woman know that?

The sleigh erupts...

... and flees!

Roux exhales. "Whatever it was... I guess she got it," she mutters. After this, she glances to the side. "I'd flatter myself, but... that machine is impressive. I guess you haven't been sleeping on what's up to date, huh?" It sounds like a vaguely rueful (rouxful?) sentiment.

But --

"Leina?"

"Banagher? (Haro?)"

"... Atrytone," Roux concludes. "I guess you probably have... Music Base or something to go back to, but... thank you. Call me later or something, I guess," and with that Roux starts driving the Ichinana to move nearer to the other machines, even if its leg is completely owned and getting dragged behind it.

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

"<Let Haro know I'm alright Banagher. Promise... just a minor bump on the head.>" She frames it that way perhaps to calm Banagher himself, by making it something to reassure Haro instead.

It's only once the sleigh is gone and Roux is limping away that she gets another transmission over the radio.

"<Hey Roux about what you said earlier about not planning ahead too hard->"

She then circles back around and the Base Jabber flies low as the mobile suit reaches out to grab the Ichinana, and haul it up beside her.

"<-need a lift back to Fujinomiya?>" Her radio crackles, but there's still a hint of obvious fondness.

KTS: Asciel Colette's Plan-1056 Codarl-a 'Glaux' has left
Asciel Colette teleports out.